Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,508, for Hilary Mears, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Va.
Mear, Hilary or Hillary
L 18508
Carded
CONTENTS

16865
Virginia
William Mears aged of Accomack Co. in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the Corps commanded by Captain Palk of the Regt commanded by Col Simpson in the Virginia line for 3 years
Ending 1 st April 1836.
Inscribed on the Roll of Richmonds at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1832, at which time he was last paid
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of July 1832 and sent to J. Godwin Esq
Arrears to the 4th of Pensional allowance ending
Present
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Weightman Clerk, Book 6 th Vol. 6 th Page 28
Reserve

Let. to Agents at Richmond Aug 12 '37 Supt o . Lt. H. Allen 24 p. 7. 1831 " Agent Oct 15 " do. id " Francis A. Dickinson July 13, 1838.
Virginia 16.865.
Hilary Mears.
of Accomack in the State of Va who was a Private in the Co. commanded by Captain Polk. — of the Regt. commanded by Col. Thompson in the Virginia line for Woodpecker.
9986.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of Oct r 1833 and sent to D. Ellis. Accomack. Ch. No.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept r 1833. — 200 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept r 31. 40.
$ 240.
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm. Palmer Clerk. Book 6 Vol. 6 1/2 Page 24

Vol Hillary Means 16865 9986 deposition etc
Adm 2 years $80
See Hon Mr Wises - letter filed with the papers of J. B. Hickman
N. Ellis Accomack Co.

The deposition of Hillary Mears an applicant for a pension who says in answer to the 4 th & 5 th objections that he was enrolled in the Militia at 16 years of age and just before the War commenced I was in service each & every year during the War - that the 9 th Regt was marched away in the first of the year 1776 & that this County was left undefended excepting by the Militia - that the militia companies were closed & services by the Officers, & portions performed duty regularly - that guard was kept during all the War - that he kept guard once in 3 or 4 weeks for about 8 days each time in each & every year during all the War I was in service regularly at said stated times - that besides these regular times of duty there were alarms frequently given & that he attended all alarms - that it is impossible to state the periods of commencing & finishing said times of duty - that he was in service at least one third or more of his time & probably nearly half of his time including the time in going to & leaving from alarms - that he is confident he was in service three years in the time of the War - In answer to the 17 th objection

As to the 4 th & 5 th of the interrogatories, he says -
as to the 4 th interrogatory
That he was regularly enrolled in the Militia & performed his tours of duty according to directions of his officers - that he was never a volunteer only at alarms for a day or two at a time - that he was not a substitute -
as to the 5 th interrogatory -
That no discharges were given in writing but the militia were dismissed by their commanding officers when their tours of duty ended -
As to the 7 th interrogatory
That in his original application he referred to the Rev d Matthew Hiley, John Hanna of H. & William Elliott for testimony as to his character for truth & for their belief as to his services - and he mentions also George Bell - Jacob Bell, Edward B. Grimey Esq., Thomas Ashby, Thomas W. Smith, Littleton Willis, Lord Herbert Willis all of whom are my neighbours & will testify as to my character for truth & veracity -
William Means his mark

The deposition of Houston Killian age upwards of 76 years who says that he has lived nearly all his lifetime a neighbor to Hillary Means & knows that he did serve his regular term of duty on guard & that he attended alarms & performed services as he states in his deposition aforesaid.
his Houston Killian X mark
The deposition of John Harmon of H. aged about 69 years who says he has known Hillary Means ever since he himself was a boy & knows that he did serve his regular term of duty & attended alarms as he states in his deposition.
John Harmon of H
State of Virginia Accomack County ss June 22 d 1873
This day Hillary Means, Houston Killian & John Harmon of H. made oath to the truth of their respective depositions aforesaid and I certify that they are each of them men of truth & good character & entitled to credit & confidence. Witness my hand & seal this day
Edward O'Grimey

1 State of Virginia, Surry and county ss a Thomas R Paynes Clerk of the county court of Surry and in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that Edward O. Furney whose name is subscribed to the above Certificate is a justice of the Peace of the county aforesaid duly commissioned & qualified and that full faith and credit ought to be placed in all his acts as such, and that the signature of the said Edward O. Furney subscribed as aforesaid appear to be genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court this 24 th day of June 1833 in the 7 th Year of the Commonwealth. seal for J. Gilmore the D y for Thos R Paynes C le

Order relative to Hillary Mearns, Order of S t Ben Esq r
make it payable to Adm r Suse don't forget
J. Godwin
Capt. Triplett

At a Court held for Accomack County, on the 30 th day of December 1850.
Ordered to be Certified that it appears to the Court, by satisfactory evidence that Hillary Mearz was a soldier of the Revolution, that he died on or about the 1 st day of April in the year 1836, that he left no widow but that he left the following Children to wit, William B. Mearz, Sepia Mearz, Nancy Mearz who intermarried with John Furlington, George Mearz and Elizabeth Mearz - That since his death, the following have died, Nancy Furlington, wife of the said John Furlington, who left as her Children William F. Furlington and Nathaniel Furlington who are twenty one years of age and upwards, Elizabeth F. Furlington and John H. Furlington, who are minors - and that Peter Furlington is their guardian - William B. Mearz, who left Children to wit, David P. Mearz who is upwards of twenty one years of age - Sepia Mearz and Thomas Mearz who are minors - It is ordered to be further Certified that George H. Bell is the legally constituted Administrator of the estate of the above named Hillary Mearz. -
State of Virginia Accomack County } S c .
I, John W. Gillet, Clerk of the County Court of Accomack County, in the State aforesaid, do hereby Certify that the foregoing is a true transcript from the records of said Court -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this 13 th day of January A. D. 1851. And in the 75 th year of the Commonwealth.
Test: - T. J. Rayfield D y . For: Mr. W. Gillet, C. S. C.

P
18508
INVALID.
File No. 18508
Hillary Mears
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 235
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Restored.
William Means and you
Act 7 - June 1882 had 2 yrs Pic $80 for annu from 4 th Mar 1834, to which time he was last paid, to 1 st Apr 1836, when he died.
Payable to Geo. H. Bell, Adm, for the benefit of wife Means, Geo. Means & Elizabeth Means, his only surviving children.
Cert. sent to
P. Godwin
Present.

William Means Va Richmond Agency- St 7- June; 1832, at $80 per run. To what time last paid? A. F. C. I.
Per vim Affair July 28. 1811.
DA to 4 th Mar. 1834. W. M.

At a court held for Accomack county at the Court House thereof by adjournment on Wednesday the 1 st day of August 1832.
Hilary Mearns of the county of Accomack this day personally appeared in court and made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th day of June 1832 viz "State of Virginia, Accomack county to wit, On this 1 st day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the county court now sitting, Hilary Mearns a resident of the said county & parish of St. George, aged Seventy three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his corporal oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he served in the militia of Accomack county from the time he was sixteen years of age until he was discharged by reason of age; that during the war of the Revolution he served in Capt. William Polk's company that during the war of the Militia Revolution the militia were frequently called out to keep guard & were in actual service a considerable portion of the time - the companies were divided & a part of them performed duty alternately. That Col. Simms was commander of the militia of the county of Accomack, during part of the war. Col. Kerlin after him & Col. Cropper after Col. Kerlin that this department was engaged principally on the Sea & Chesapeake Bay coast in preventing the enemy from landing for the purpose of obtaining supplies & plundering the inhabitants - in consequence of the very exposed situation of this county there were frequent alarms given and the militia were compelled to turn out to defend the county. This deponent performed duty at Upshur's point, at Paramore's landing, at Metompkin point & other points as the urgency of the occasion required - this deponent verily believes & so therefore does not hesitate to declare, that he was in actual service under arms at least three years during the war of the Revolution, in the county of Accomack, - This deponent was born in St. George's Parish, Accomack county Va., in or about the year 1759 and he has memory

his age at home - That he has resided in St. George's Parish since the Revolutionary War & lives there now and lived there when he entered the Service - he has now acted as a substitute - This deponent further states that Smith Sneed, Thomas Parker, John Cropper, Levin Ferguson were officers attached to the regular Army & went from the County where he rendered Service - they belonged to the 7 th Virginia Continental establishment - This deponent states that the Rev. Mathew Floyd (John Harman of H.G.) William Elliott are my neighbors & can testify to my character for veracity, and as to their belief of my services as a Soldier in the Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War - This deponent has now received a discharge - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State - Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Hilary Mears
We Mathew Floyd a clergyman residing in the County of Accomack & John Harman of H.G. residing in the same County certify that we are well acquainted with Hilary Mears who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in the Militia of Virginia in the Revolutionary War, & that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Matthew Floyd
John Harman of H.G.
And the Court do declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatory prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Mathew Floyd who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in this County - and that John Harman of H.G. who has also signed the same is a resident of this County and is a credible person, and that their certificate is entitled to credit - It was also proved by the testimony of Hemstew Stillman & John Harman of H.G. who are residents of this County & are credible persons, that the facts set forth in the

foregoing application are true.
Attest - Teste Jas. J. Silworth Dy for Thos. R. Hughes C.A.L.
State of Virginia, Accomack county ss I Thomas R. Hughes Clerk of the County Court of Accomack in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains a true copy of the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Hilary Mearns for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 5 th day of September 1832. In the 57 th year of the Commonwealth.
Jas. J. Silworth Dy for Thos. R. Hughes C.A.L.