Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,682, for John Taylor, Virginia

SERVICE
Va.
★ Taylor, John
NUMBER
S.7682
carded.
CONTENTS
applied from Rockingham Co Va

7144 Virginia
John Taylor
of Rockingham in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Craven of the Regt. commanded by Col. Harrison in the Virginia militia time for 7 mos. from '78
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of March 1833 and sent to James Hall Esq. Harrisonburg Va
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. $46.66 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833. 11.66
$58.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 1 Page 28

No 13.726 John Taylor Rockingham County (Virginia)
from 1778 private 7 months, $23 \frac{33}{100} .
James Maccarty Harrisonburg (Virginia)

BRIEF in the case of  John Taylor  County of Rockingham in the State of Virginia  (Act 7th June, 1889.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     Vol. In 1778 - 8 - private Capt Craven   Vol. 1778 - 4 - Capt Craven Col. Harrison  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rockingham Co. (Virginia)  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? he says he has a witness but has produced them  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Am. Clayton Examining Clerk.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Taylor which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? Yes
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? He states that he has witnesses but has not produced them XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? No XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1, 2.
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Rev May
7682 INVALID.
Com
File No. 7682
John Taylor Pris New No.
Act: June 1 st 82
Index:—Vol. 1 st , Page 369
[Arrangement of 1870.]

13.726 John Dayle's
(No Skall)

State of Virginia Rockingham County ss.
On this 17 th day of September 1832 — Personally appeared before in open Court before Jacob Strubarger, Robert Grotton Jr. Jonathan Peabody & Charles C. Speers Gentlemen Justices the Court of Rockingham County now sitting. John Taylor a resident of the County of Rockingham in the State of Virginia, aged Seventy- five years who being first duly sworn according to law — Woth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7 th day of June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That he first entered the service of the United States from his residence in said County some time some time in the year 1778 as a volunteer under Captain Robert Cravens — Michael Trout Lieutenant, George Mallow Ensign served in Tygers Valley — served three months was discharged but received no written discharge.
That he entered the service of the United States the second time as a volunteer some time about the first day of September 1778 under Captain Robert Cravens, under the command of Col Crawford & Gen McKittrick Col Benjamin Warren, served at Fort McIntosh — Muskingum on the Ohio River, served four months this tour was regularly discharged but rec d no written discharge.
That he has no distinct recollection other than before stated of the dates or names of officers — That he has no documentary evidence of his services — That he can prove his services as aforesaid by John Nicholas & Geo Argabright
Who is now in Court for that purpose. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid
John Taylor

We Michael Meyerhoefter a Clergyman residing in the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia and Robert Harrison  John Nicholas of residing in the same County State. Do hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with John Taylor who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be about Seventyfive Years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
M. Meyerhoefter,
John Nicholas
And the said Court do hereby Declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and since as he states, and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Michael Meyerhoefter, who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the aforesaid County, and that John Nicholas, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same County, and is a Creditable person and that their statements is extra entitled to Credit. I Henry J. Gambill Clerk of the Court of the said County, do hereby Certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Taylor, for a pension.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my said office this 23 rd day of September in the year 1832, and in the 57 th year of the Commonwealth
H. J. Gambill Clerk of Rockingham County Virginia