Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38213, for Major Merritt, Virginia

SERVICE
Va.
Merritt, Major
NUMBER
S. 38213
CONTENTS

Noted here that December 18. 1820 to the Rev. Joseph Brown, Richmond, Virginia John T. T. T. T. July 22 1853
17.001  Virginia R
Major Merrill.
of Bedford Coy in the state of Virginia who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Bland of the Virginia line, for the term of 4 years - War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia. at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 26 of May 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th of May 1820. and sent to Col. Samuel Staplecock Hendricks Store, Bedford County, Va.
Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1820 — $170.32 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 1 Sept. 1820 " 48. 21 mo 9 /31 $218.32
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued

Let the claimant Dr. Major Merritt, make a declaration, agree- ably to the enclosed form and, with the original original declaration accompanying this blank, add Dr. Bowyer's testimony as to his service, transmit to the War Dep. His name will then be placed on the Pension Roll -

Henrico County, Virg a
DISTRICT OF
, ss.
On this 15 th day of December 1819, before me, the subscriber, one of the Judges of the General Court of Virginia , & as such Judge of the superior for the Court of Law for said County District, personally appeared Major Merritt aged 60 years, resident in Bedford County, State of the said Virginia , who, being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war:" That he, the said Major Merritt enlisted for the term of the whole war on the  day of February in the year 1779 in Spex County in the state of Virginia in the company commanded by Captain first of light dragoons of the Regiment commanded by Colonel  Anthony Walton White Lt. Col o - Bland Col o in the line of the State of Virginia on the Continental Establishment; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, until the army was disbanded 19 th June 1783 , when he was discharged from service on Santee state of So. Carolina that he was in the battles of Rutaw Springs, Hoback & Hickory Creek church near Wm. Burg Virg a , and of the Indians & Tories in Georgia under Genl. Wayne and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid.
W m Brockenbrough
I, W m Brockenbrough Judge, &c. as aforesaid, do certify that it appears, to my satisfaction, that the said Major Merritt did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months at one time, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. I am also satisfied that he needs the assistance of his country for support, as proved by the annexed Certificate of Saml. Hancock who is proved to be a man of strict veracity by John P. Gray, a member of the House of Delegates of Virginia .
W m Brockenbrough

Bedford County Sept the 14 th 1818
I do Certify that I live a neare neighbour to Major. Merritt that he is a poor man & very Infirm and has an Expensive family & I dont think he is able from his own labour to Support them possibly ought
Sam l Hancock

SCHEDULE.
District of Virginia — 88.
On this 10 th day of November 1820, personally appeared in open court, being a court of record for the County of Henrico Major Merritt aged sixty years, a resident in the county of Henrico in said district, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows: (c) In the 1 st Virginia Regiment of Light Dragoons commanded by Col. Bland in Capt. John Baynes Troop on the continental line in the Revolutionary war and that his original declaration was made on the 26 th day of May 1818 and the Number of his Pension Certificate is 17011
and I do solemnly swear — that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed (d) That he has no real nor Personal Estate (Necessary clothing and bedding Excepted) That he been a Carpenter by Occupation but owing to his low state of health has not been able to Pursue it for Six years his family is a wife about sixty three years of age entirely helpless and the deponent further makes oath that he stands in need of the assistance of his country for Support. Major Merritt
Sworn to, and declared, on the 10 th day of November 1820 before the County Court of Henrico.
William Price
Virginia Henrico County to Wit;
I, Isaac Bacon Whitlocke clerk of Henrico County do hereby certify, that the foregoing affidavit and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is dollars and cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 21 st day of November 1820.
I. B. Whitlocke
Clerk of the Court for the County of Henrico.

In this case the Secretary of the War Department Will Return the Papers to Lieut. Elijah Brown at the City of Richmond Virginia
7 p.m.
Sep. 20
Thos. M. Harris
6
and the following thereon contained the only copies from the record of the said court, and a of the said court that the said matter in value of the property which is the subject of cent. In testimony whereof, the said court has hereunto set its hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on the day of

16,865 old card
Major Merritt Bedford Co. Va.
J. Steptoe, blk of Bedford Co. agt. Liberty, Va.
Washington
W. Secretary
the Mon. lec.
Col Samuel Hancock Hendricks Store, Bedford County Virginia

Richmond, Dec. 16 th 1879.
Sir,
You will be pleased to enclose the certificate to which I shall be entitled on your receiving the enclosed papers, addressed to me at this place, as I expect to remain here until March next.
With high respect,
I have the honor to be
Yr ob t servant
Mayor Merritt
The Rev. Mr.
The Secretary of War, Washington City.

Synchburg Apne 26 th 1853
Dear Sir
I have written to the 3 rd Auditor relative to a claim, of the "heirs" of Major Merritt, a soldier of the Revolution. supposing that the proper office, to apply too, for a pension that had not been called for, after a certain time, but I have not heard from the 3 rd auditor, have concluded to drop a line, to you on the subject, any information, which you may, give, on that subject will be thankfully received by, his "heirs" it appears, he received a pension, until, within 18 months, of his death, which occurred about the year 1826. his wife Hapsy h Merritt died, about 8 1/2 years, afterwards say about the year, 1829.
I should take it as a favor if you will Reply to this as early as possible
Respectfully
John S. Murrice
Mr Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions

The line and regiment in which the applicant serves must be expressed —
The colonel's name must be expressed
The judge will please to refer to the reduced cir- cumstances of the applicant.
Major Merrill Genl. S. L.

Virginia Pet.
At a court held for Bedford County at the courthouse the 26 th day of May 1818-
Major Merritt came into court (aged fifty seven years) it being a court of record and made oath light that he enlisted as a private in the First Regiment of Dragoons on the continental establishment on the army of the United States in the revolutionary war with Great Britain. That he enlisted in the year 1780 and served til the army was disbanded in 1783 that he never received any pension from the United States and that from his reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for support - which was supported by the affidavit of Henry Boyer made before a Justice of the peace & exhibited in court which states that he was a lieutenant and adjutant in the First Regiment of Light Dragoons on the continental establishment in the army of the United States - That Major Merritt now a resident and citizen of the County of Bedford and state of Virginia enlisted in the said Regiment for during the said war as the said Boyer believes and that the said Boyer served in the said Regiment until the army was disbanded in the year 1783.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 28 th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred eighteen.
J. Hopton C.M.B.

Wiggins Bridge County S.C.
I Thomas Logwood junior Justice of the Peace in & for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that James Stephens whose name is subscribed to the within Certificate (indictment) is clerk of the aforesaid county in the Commonwealth aforesaid & that full faith & credit are due & should be given to his official acts as such. I do hereby further certify that Major Merritt came before me as presiding magistrate in said court & in open court made solemn oath in due legal form of law to the facts set forth in the within affidavit which is certified by the aforesaid James Stephens clerk of said Court & that I have full confidence in the facts which are so set forth in said affidavit as also the one of Henry Bowyer exhibited in court in support of the same all which I do hereby read & certify to the secretary of War of the United States - This day 1st 1878.
Thomas Logwood.

Huntsville 21 st May 1820
The Honorable Secretary of War Washington City
Dear Sir

Bedford County May 12 th 1820 The Honorable Secretary of War Dear Sir I
Have sent two certificates concerning my petition which were both sent back for further evidence I then came on to Washington City myself and there proved my services in the land office by my claim to One Hundred Acres of land due me from the State of Virginia and Two Hundred Acres from the United States which I think very hard if that with the attested testimony of Col. o Henry Bowyer of Botetourt County who served as a Lieutenant and Adjutant in the First Regiment of light dragoons with me until the end of the Revolutionary war, when I was in Washington I obtained a printed certificate from the pension office and came on to Richmond while the assembly were in session and had it filled up according to law before Judge Brackenborough by having a certificate from Col. o Samuel Hancock stating my situation and getting Col. o Hancock's veracity certified by Major John P. Grey who was then a Member of the assembly from Bedford County

These certificates are both sealed to mine & inclosed in a letter to your honour With a request to send my petition certificate to me in Richmond half as I am now in Bedford County I will be Very Thankful to your honour if my proofs are Sufficient to obtain a petition, if you will be so kind as to send it on to Col o James Hancock of Bedford County as he is now the presiding Judge with Thomas Logwood being out of Office and your Compliance will Very Much Oblige
Yours Respectfully Mayor Merritt

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
July 21, 1853.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States;" and the third section of the Act of August 28, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the Pension agents,
the ADM ty of Major Merritt, dec d , a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond Agency, at the rate of Eight Dollars and Cents per month  annum , under the law of the 18 th March 1818 has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of March 1825 to the 1 st Dec r , 1826.
Respectfully, yours,
J. M. Broadhead Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

38 213
Pay INVALID.
File No. 88 218
Major Merritt Dis Rev Med
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 269
[Arrangement of 1870.]

5
FREE
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.

April 28. 1853
In behalf of "Major Merrit's" heirs
John T. Murrill Lynchburg va
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. PENSION OFFICE, OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Commissioner.