Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16896, for Richard Johnson, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
ala
Johnson, Richard
S. 16896
boarded
CONTENTS

Alabama 7.907.
Richard Johnson
of Green Co in the State of Alabama who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Nichools of the Brigade commanded by Gen. Mullenburg in the Virginia line for Five Months from 1775.
$20.
Inscribed on the Roll of Alabama at the rate of 20. Dollars 00. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of April 1833 and sent to Jas. M. Rushing Agt. Crim. Green Co. Alabama
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. 40- Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 September 10-
$50.80
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm. Palmer, Clerk, Book 8. Vol. 8 Page 46.
Order to pay Nov. 17. 1836 Order to pay 29. March 1838 Letter to 3 Auds 24 th Febry 1841. Paid at the Treasury under the Act of Mar 3. April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 th March 1840. Agt notified 24 th March 1841.

19610 - 7907.
Richard Johnson Alabama
Admitted for 6 months from 1795.
Enid Green County Alabama Jas M. Rushing

BRIEF in the case of Richard Johnson  County of Greene in the State of Alabama  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 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? 72 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.     Substitute In 1795 private Gen. Mulenburg   Substituted Virginia " Capt. Nickolls   drafted } at least 6 months " Capt. Whitehead Col Parker   drafted " Capt. Lewis   " Capt. Boykin Col Blount  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Southampton Va  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? papers informally attached 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Jno Watson
Examining Clerk.
25th feby 1833

19610
Richard Johnson
Declaration
For a fusion

1 Declaration of Richard Johnson, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed the 7 th June 1832.
State of Alabama § Greene County §
On this 5 th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. — personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Thomas H. Woody Judge of the County Court of Greene County and State of Alabama, now sitting Richard Johnson, a resident of the County of Greene and State of Alabama. Aged seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress. Passed the 7 th of June 1832.
That he has no record of his age (but from the best information he can obtain) is seventy two years old, was born in Southampton County in the State of Virginia, in the year Seventeen hundred and sixty and entered the service of the United States in his fiftieth year which was in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy five (the day, nor year month recollected) but from his best information and belief) it was some little time before (Christmas of that year) a Substitute, in place of his brother Jordan Johnson in the County of Southampton and State of Virginia, under Joshua Nicholls a Captain of the Militia of that State and Paul Merrick Lieutenant (no other company officers names recollected) in the service of the United States, and first marched to Portsmouth Virginia through the Isle of Wight and Southampton Counties under the said Captain Nicholls and Lieut. Merrick a Substitute as aforesaid in the Militia of that State and service of the United States, and turned at that place under the aforesaid Company officers of the Militia (Commanded by Field-officer General Mendenhall) (and he believes a Major

McClowan) no colonels name recollect d having served there some six or eight weeks his term of service expired he was discharged by his officers and returned home to his father's residence in Southampton County, Virginia (he believes sometime in the latter part of that winter (being the first part of the year Seventeen hundred and twenty six) no battles or any particular occurrences having taken place among them (neither does he recollect of any in that section of country to have taken place) —
And the applicant further saith that in some eight or ten months after he again entered the service of the United States in the County of Southampton and State of Virginia under a Captain Whitehead (no other company officers name recollect d ) of the militia of that State in the service of the United States; (take a substitute in place of his brother) and marched to Suffolk, Virginia under the aforesaid Captain & through the Isle of Wight (and probably some part of Southampton) counties (time not remembered) there, commanded by Field officers Colonel Parker (as he believes and who he believes) was chief commander at that place) if he was under any General it was General Mendenhall for he does not recollect that he was under any other General) no other field officers names recollect d ) That he stayed mostly at Suffolk the aforesaid place for six or eight weeks under the command of the aforesaid officers as well as he recollect d ) his term of service having expired he was again discharged and returned home in Southampton County (time not recollect d ) (no battles or particular occurrences having taken place among them.) But this campaign must have been sometime in the winter of Seventeen hundred and twenty Seven & eight
And the applicant further saith that the third campaign in which he entered (time not recollect d ) was in the County of Southampton and State of Virginia as a drafted militia man under Captain Shadrick Lewis Lieutenant Thomas Vaughan and Cordy Rowe (enr d ) company officers of the militia of that State and in the service of the United States) and marched under them to a place called Mendenhall's Old field, (he believes in the County of Isle of Wight

an extensive plan of operations, then commanded by Field officer Colonel Wells & Major Daniel Dandridge (and none other recollected) he was frequently stationed off from that place (when it was thought requisite) but it was his general place of parade etc, for six or eight weeks (time not remembered) the time of his service) and that time having expired he was again discharged by his officers and returned him to Southampton County, (time not recollected) nor any battles or occurrences recollected to have taken place with or near them) there during that campaign; —
And the applicant further saith that his fourth campaign in which he entered was in the County of Southam- pton and State of Virginia a drafted militia man under a Captain Boykin of the militia of that State and in the service of the United States and he (believes a Lieutenant Boykin) saw other Company officers names recollected) and marched under them (he believes) to a place called Shadwell Hill in the County of the Isle of Wight not far from Smithfield and near James River (time not recollected) commanded there by Field officer Colonel Benjamin Blount (none other recollected) that he was moved from place to place and under different officers) but this names not recollected) for divers purposes in annoying and evading the British & Tories and recollects of having been at the taking of a small Brig a Barge or Sloop Boat, (The name of - nor commander's name recollected) during this campaign - at the high banks of James River, having been placed under Captain Elias Herren and Lieutenant Young of the militia to guard a Colonel Barnell's possessions on said River (he having been greatly disturbed by the British and Tories the events which led to the taking of said Brig or etc, was that the same having privately taken two negroes of Colonel Barnell who were engaged in making a fish weare, on said River (They the guard were quickly informed of it, and hastened to the place) and saw the boat going down the river it was hailed by Lieutenant Young (with whom he was then under the command having been stationed off as a company guard) by Captain Herren

4 The continued to keep sail a few was ordered and immediately given, which being heard by Captain Heron and company who immediately formed and advanced to the men and fired on them and killed one man) but they were then in the act of firing (they were accordingly taken and the Captain declared he was a true whig and only took the negroes in order to see if they would go with the British or Tories provided they were to come to that - he intended returning them again). . . A court martial was held the next morning they were tried and dismissed (on what grounds he does not recollect) from this he remained some time on the Banks of James River and thence at Sholam Hill (time not recollected) until his brother Jordan Johnson - for whom he first went into the service for and took his place in reciprocation of his former services for him, (he does not recollect of having ever been with any other soldiers than those of the militia (or of ever having received a written discharge) he returned home to Southampton County Virginia the place of his residence his brother remained in the service until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown which was not a great while after - his final leave of the service,
This applicant further states that his whole term of service was including the four campaigns at least six months
and that he has lived ever since the revolution in the county of Southampton Virginia until the year 1800. Then he moved to Johnston County N. Carolina and remained there until the fall of 1833 from that time he moved to Greene County Alabama where he has resided ever since and where he now resides
And this applicant further states in answer to the further interrogatories to him propounded by the Court - South &c.
That the same is all answered in his declaration so far as he has any knowledge or recollection of the same,
This applicant further states that he is known in his present neighborhood by Dr Hugh McCann

James Yeats & James McCarte & Parsons) Ryan who can testify as to his reality and a belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution
And the applicant further states that he has no documentary evidence of his services (nor knows of any person living whose testimony he can procure to testify to his services. And that he hereby relinquishes any claim whether to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state or territory (only as he now applicably
sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court
Attest J. G. Spedden or clerk
Richard D. Johnson Stark
Dr Hugh McLean
residing in the
county of Greene and state of Alabama and James McCarte residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Johnson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy two years of age, that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we cannot in that opinion
sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.
Attest J. G. Spedden or clerk
Hugh McLean James McCarte
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and said as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to him that Dr Hugh McLean who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the County of Greene and State of Alabama and that James McCarte who has also signed the same is a resident of the County of Greene and

6 State of Alabama and They are credible persons And That their statement is entitled to credit further certifies that no clergyman could conveniently be had by the applicants Tho. H. Shovely Judge
Isaac Anderson clerk of the Court of Grant County and State of Alabama do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Johnson for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 5 th day of November in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty two and of American Independence the 57 th year —
Attest Isaac Anderson clerk
19610 Richard Johnson's Declaration for a Pension

16.896 INVALID.
16.896
File No. _____
Richard Johnson
Rich. Johnson
—————♦♦♦♦—————
Act: June 1872
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 447
[Arrangement of 1870.]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
February 26 th 1841.
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," Richard Johnson, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pascagoula Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and _____ Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of March 1838, to the 1 st March 1840.
Respectfully yours,
William B. Lewis
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Richard Johnson 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? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? no 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? no 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? no clergyman XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no 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? yes 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? no 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? 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? no XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
 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 shewn 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.

Agents Office W. March 16 March 1838
Rev Yours of the 27 & 28 ult. have been received. I indeed for- givingly examined the Yankees of Richard Johnson, opinion for act of June 1832 & 2 of forfeiture . I am Very respectfully your obedt Servt. Geo. T. Gann OA
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr. of Customs Washington City D.C.

The Hon. Secretary at war

Erie Green County Alabama
November 12 th 1832
It will be perceived on the opening of this packet that there are here several applicants for a pension under the act of the 7 th June 1832 — Some of which are informally drawn the same being handed over to me I endeavored to make them as explicit as possible. Should there be any thing necessary to be known further the same will be directed to the subscriber (and all information on the subject should it be the custom of the Department to communicate the same to any one in- dividual — as agent &c —
The Hon Secretary of War } Col. M. Rushing