Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 4257, for William Knowles, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
W.
Knowles, William Mary
W 4257
CONTENTS

Virginia 3137
Mary Hunsicker widow of William Hunsicker deceased.
who died on the 10th day of Sept. 1811 of Augusta in the State of Virginia who was a private in the Virginia Line commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] by [blank] in the Virginia Line for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of W. Hunsicker at the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Decr. 1837 Genl. and David P. Smith Dip. of Virginia Pension.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1837 $720.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. 40.00 $760.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3rd }
Recorded by Wm Bundy Clerk Book A . Vol. 2 . Page 157 .

State of Virginia
Augusta County to wit:
On this 5 th day of September, 1839, personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid, Mary Knowles, a resident of the Town of Staunton, in the County and State aforesaid, aged eighty-four years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836: That she is the widow of William Knowles, who was a private in the Virginia Line on Continental establishment in the War of the Revolution. That she believes her husband, the aforesaid William Knowles, enlisted in the year 1776, and that he was in the service till near the close of the War. That she does not recollect the names of the officers, nor does she recollect the Regiments to which her husband belonged.
She further declares that she was married to the aforesaid William Knowles in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-eight, and whilst the said William Knowles was in service, and that he, William Knowles, died in the month of September, Eighteen hundred and Eleven, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by a reference to the proofs hereto annexed. And she further declares that she has no documentary or record evidence of her marriage.
her Mary X Knowles Mark
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me, a justice of the peace as aforesaid.
James Bell
I do hereby certify that Mary Knowles, who made the foregoing declaration before me, is, on account of bodily infirmity, unable to attend Court. Given under my hand, this 5 th day of September, 1839.
James Bell

State of Virginia, Augusta County, Set
I, Jefferson Simney Clerk of the County Court of Augusta, in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that James Bice Esq. whose name appears twice on the preceding page is an acting Justice of the peace, in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified as such, according to law. That full faith & credit are due him in all things given to all his acts as such.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this 5th day of September 1839. In the 60th year of the Commonwealth.
Jefferson Simney Atty at Law

State of Virginia,
Augusta County to wit:
On this 23 rd day of November 1839, personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid, Mary Knowles, widow of William Knowles, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make this further declaration: That she was married, as she stated before, to William Knowles, in the year 1778, whilst the said Knowles was in the service. That Captain Robert Stevens, who was the magistrate that married her, gave her a certificate of marriage, which she preserved till the year 1791, at which time it was destroyed by fire: The house in which she then lived having been partially burnt. That she lived at the time of the fire, on a plantation belonging to Judge Archibald Stuart, situate on the South River, in Augusta County. That she has, as she stated in her declaration of the 5 th September last, no record or documentary evidence of her marriage. That the only paper she had to show the date of her marriage, was the certificate of marriage from the magistrate, which certificate was destroyed, as already stated. That her family record does not contain her marriage. That only the births of her children were registered, with the exception of her three first children; the two first were twins, born, as near as she can recollect, in 1780. One was dead born; the other survived but a short time. The third child was an untimely birth, born in 1782. These three children's births were never registered. That the first child registered was Jane Knowles, who was born, 2 nd of May, 1783, and is her fourth child, and is now living. That she knows of no other evidence in existence to prove the date of her marriage, but the evidence hereto annexed.
her Mary Knowles Mark
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me, a justice of the peace as aforesaid.
L. Waddell
I do hereby certify that Mary Knowles, who made the foregoing declaration before me, is, on account of bodily infirmity, unable to attend court. Given under my hand, this 25 th day of November, 1839.
L. Waddell

State of Virginia
At abant held for Augusta County the 25th day of November 1839
Ordered that it be certified to the War Department that the Declaration of Mary Knowles widow of William Knowles deceased made before Samuel Bice Esq on the 5th day of September 1839. And also her further declaration made before Wadsworth Esq on the 23rd day of November 1839 have been examined by the Court and approved.
In Testimony that the foregoing is a correct copy from the minutes of the said Court. I Jesse H. Fleming Clerk thereof have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed my seal of Office this 25th day of November 1839 and in the 5th year of the Commonwealth
Jesse H. Fleming Atty at Law
11

FAMILY RECORD.
BIRTHS.
BIRTHS.
Jane was born
Jane Knowles the daughter of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born the 9 th day of May 1783
Elender Knowles the daughter of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born the 27 th day of October 1784
Abigail Knowles the daughter of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born the 1 st of August 1786
Robert Knowles the son of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born the 16 th day of September 1788
William Knowles the son of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born the 11 th of January 1789
Daniel Knowles the son of Mr and Mary Knowles was Born the 11 th of January 1791
Ischibald Knowles the son of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born the 17 th of August 1793
Catharine & Mary Knowles the daughters of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born 17 th of Oct 1795
John Knowles the son of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born the 8 th of March 1799
Sarah Knowles the daughter of Mr & Mary Knowles was Born the 3 rd day of May 1800
William Sennecfield Matheny son of James & Catharine Matheny was Born 23 rd of June 1827

FAMILY RECORD.
MARRIAGES.
MARRIAGES.
Robert Knowles was Married to Susannah Brooks on the 2 d of february in the year of our Lord 1811
Robert Knowles was Married to Susannah Brooks on the 2 d of february in the year of our Lord 1811
James Matheny was married to Catherine Knowles the 6 th day of April in the year of our Lord 1820
James Matheny was married to Catherine Knowles the 6 th day of April in the year of our Lord 1820

State of Virginia,
Augusta County, to wit:
This day personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace for the county aforesaid, Smith Thompson, who made oath that he gave an affidavit some time ago relative to the service of William Knowles, in the war of the Revolution; and also of the marriage of William and Mary Knowles. That he was not at that time asked who it was that married William & Mary Knowles, nor the name of Mary Knowles before her marriage. That he has a clear recollection that the marriage took place in the year 1778, as he stated on a former occasion. That he witnessed the performance of the ceremony; and that the magistrate who solemnized the marriage, was Captain Robert Stevens; and that Mary Knowles's maiden name was Donaho.
That he did not see Captain Stevens give Knowles a certificate of marriage at the time it took place; but that he frequently saw a certificate of their marriage which Knowles had in his possession. That he understood from both Knowles & his wife that their certificate of marriage was burnt at the time their house took fire in 1791. That he has a distinct recollection of the fire.
Knowles lived at the time on a plantation belonging to Judge Archibald Stuart, on the South River, in Augusta County. That he (Thompson) had lived on the same place. That the house was only partially burnt; but that there were a good many things destroyed, before the fire was extinguished. That he frequently afterwards heard both Knowles & his wife regretting the loss of their certificate of marriage. That as it respects William & Mary Knowles having any children before 1783, all he recollects about that, is, that they had two, to his personal knowledge, which two were twins; but they were dead born, or at least one was dead born, and the other survived but a little while. That he understood they had another child, but of that he has no personal knowledge. Given under my hand, this 19 th day of November, 1839.
George L. Searight

I do hereby certify that Smith Thompson, who made the within affidavit before me, is a credible witness. Given under my hand, this 19 th day of November, 1839.
George L. Dauright
State of Virginia
At a County Court of Augusta held the 25 th day of November 1839
Order that it be certified to the War Department that it has been satisfactorily proven to the Court that Mary Stoude's widow of William Stoude, was married to said Stoude in the year 1778.
In testimony that the foregoing is a correct copy from the Minutes of the said Court. I, Jefferson Sturtevant, Clerk thereof have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed my seal of Office this 25 th day of November 1839 in the 54 th year of the Commonwealth.
Jefferson Sturtevant Clerk of Court

Know all men by these presents that I, Mary Knowles, widow of William Knowles, dec d . who was a private in the war of the Revolution, and of the Virginia State line on continental establishments, do hereby ordain, constitute and appoint James Points, of the County of Augusta, in the State of Virginia, my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my name to ask, demand, settle and adjust and receive of and from the proper Officers of the United States Government, all sum or sums of money that may be due and payable to me, as the widow of the aforesaid William Knowles, by virtue of an act of Congress passed July 4 th , 1836, "granting half pay to Widows or Orphans where their husbands or fathers have died of wounds received in the Military service of the United States in certain cases, and for other purposes", and all receipts, discharges and acquittances given and executed by the said James Points in my name, for the same shall be as valid and sufficient as executed and given by me, hereby authorizing and empowering said James Points to act as fully in the premises as I might, could, or would do, were I personally present assenting thereto. Given under my hand and seal, this 23 d day of August, 1839.
her Mary Knowles Mark
State of Virginia,
Augusta County, to wit:
We the undersigned, William Young & Littleton Waddell, Justices of the peace in the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that Mary Knowles, party to the foregoing power of Attorney, done on the 23 d day of August, 1839, personally appeared before us in our County aforesaid, and acknowledged the same to be her act and deed.
Given under our hands and seals, this 23 d day of August, 1839.
My Young (Seal)
L. Waddell (Seal)

State of Virginia. Augusta County, Set
I Jefferson Kinney Clerk of Augusta County in the State aforesaid do certify that the Jurors now in the said County who have signed a certificate of acknowledgment on the preceding page are now and were at the time of signing the same acting Justices of the peace in & for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified according to law and that full faith & credit are due and ought to be given to all their acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of Office at Staunton the 23 rd day of August A.D. 1839 in the 63 rd year of the Commonwealth
Jefferson Kinney Clerk for Aug a County

States of Virginia
Augusta County to Wit:
This day personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid, Smith Thompson, a Revolutionary soldier, and a very aged man, who made oath that he was intimately acquainted with William Knowles, who was a private in the War of the Revolution, and who belonged to the Virginia Line on Continental establishment, and that he had been in habits of intimacy with him during the War and after its close.
That he cannot say how long William Knowles was in service before the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, but that he (Thompson) saw Knowles in service in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, and that Knowles continued in service for more than two years, to his personal knowledge, from the time he first saw him in service. That he always understood Knowles had been in some battles before he saw him in camp, and that he had been wounded in the arms, and that it was the general belief that he was wounded, as he had marks about him, evidently from wounds received in battle. That he does not now recollect the officers or Regiment to which Knowles belonged. That he is well acquainted with Mary Knowles, widow of the aforesaid William Knowles; that she was married to William Knowles, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight, in the State of Maryland, but does not at this time recollect the name of the County in which the marriage took place; that it was not far from the Potomac River, and that he thinks it was not far from Martinsburg, in Virginia, and that the ceremony was performed by a Magistrate. That he recollects distinctly of seeing Mary Knowles in camp after her marriage to William Knowles, and that she was treated by the officers and men as a married woman. That he saw them afterwards in Augusta County, Virginia, where they removed after the war, and that they lived together as man and wife to the day of Knowles death, which occurred in September, Eighteen hundred and Eleven. And that Mary Knowles, who now resides in Staunton, Virginia, is the identical person and widow of the aforesaid William Knowles, and is at this time a widow, and has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband, William Knowles. Given under my hand, this 4 th day of September, Eighteen hundred and thirty nine.
John C. Sowers J. P.

I do hereby certify that Smith Thompson, who made the within affidavit, is a credible witness. Given under my hand, this 4 th day of September, 1839.
John C. Scovell J. P.
State of Virginia,
Augusta county, to wit:
This day personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace for the county aforesaid, John Moore, who made oath that he is now eighty four years of age, and that he was well acquainted with William Knowles, who was a private in the Virginia Line on Continental establishment in the war of the Revolution, and that he is acquainted with the widow of the aforesaid William Knowles, who resides in Staunton Virginia, and that her name is Mary Knowles. That he was acquainted with them both in the time of the Revolutionary war. That William Knowles and Mary Knowles were married in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight, and that they lived together as man and wife to the day of William Knowles death, which occurred in the fall of 1811. And that Mary Knowles who resides in Staunton W o . is the identical person and widow of the aforesaid William Knowles, and has remained a widow ever since his death. Given under my hand, this 4 th day of September, 1839.
Benjamin Crawford
I hereby certify that John Moore, who made the foregoing affidavit before me, is a credible witness. Given under my hand, this 4 th day of September, 1839. Benjamin Crawford
State of Virginia,
Augusta county, to wit:
This day personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace for the county aforesaid, Peter Heiskell, who made oath that he was well acquainted with William Knowles, who was the husband of Mary Knowles, that now resides in Staunton, that his first acquaintance with Mary & William Knowles, was fifty six years ago. That they lived at that time on a plantation, which he subsequently be-

came the owner of. And that they were living together as man and wife, and had, he has every reason to believe, some family at the time, but cannot, from the great length of time, say how many children they had. And that William and Mary Knowles lived together as man and wife to the day of Knowles death, and raised a large family of children, and that Mary Knowles has sustained a good character from the day he first knew her to the present time, and that any declaration she may make in relation to her marriage, and her being in service with her husband, William Knowles, in the War of the Revolution, the utmost confidence can be placed in it. Given under my hand, this 4 th day of September, 1839.
L Wooddell
I do hereby certify that Peter Hinkell, who made the foregoing affidavit before me, is a credible witness. Given under my hand, this 4 th day of September, 1839.
L Wooddell
State of Virginia Augusta County I, Spencer Kinney Clerk of the County of Augusta in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that John C. Lewis Benjamin Crawford & L Wooddell Esq. 3. whose names appear on the foregoing, are a true list of the persons who for the County aforesaid have been commissioned & qualified as such according to law & that their fees & credit are now thought to be given to all their acts as such
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 31 st day of September 1839 in the 64 th year of the Commonwealth
Spencer Kinney Clerk

Mary Knowles m 1778 William a 1811 71. to class of 1811

Mary Knowles M a of William Jr 4701 Ad July 4 1896 Married 1778 died 1811 Allen $80 per ann V o Con d line a nly
Dana Point G Station Brent Jr

Staunton, September 5 th , 1839.
Sir,
At the request of my brother James Points, to whom Mary Knowles, widow of William Knowles, executed a power of attorney, for the purposes therein specified, I herewith enclose to you her declaration, together with the evidence in support of her claim, and also the power of attorney. Mrs Knowles claims a pension by virtue of an act of Congress passed July 4 th , 1836.
My brother desired me to request you to act upon this case at as early a day as would suit your convenience, and to let him know the result. He is absent attending court.
I am yours, &c.
David Points
J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Comm ee of Pensions
I would remark that the name of William Knowles will be seen by a reference to the army register. His name is in a list of non-commissioned officers and soldiers, who had not received bounty lands, and which list was reported to the Governor of Virginia, by J. H. Smith, Commissioner, on the 7 th day of January, 1835.
The list, or documents, to which I allude, contains the names of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Virginia line upon continental establishment.
D.P.

Sept 9.
Ver. file with Mary Knowles (spokes) rec'd 7th
James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington City D.C.

Staunton, Sept. 6 th , 1839.
Sir,
I herewith enclose & send to you the Certificate of the Auditor of Virginia, which will show service in the case of William Knowles, for upwards of three years. The above Certificate came to hand, in about half an hour after I had mailed my letter to you of the 5 th inst, containing the papers in relation to the claim of Mary Knowles, widow of the aforesaid William Knowles.
I am yours &c
David Fouts
J. Le. Edwards, Esq.
Comm ee of Pensions.

Staunton, Nov. 26 th , 1839.
Sir,
Your letter of the 12 th inst. was received, returning to me the papers of Mrs. Mary Knowles, widow of William Knowles, dec d , in order that her declaration made before James Bell, Esq. might be laid before the Court of which he is a member, for examination and approval. I had the paper laid before the Court, which was examined and approved. Mrs. Knowles made a further declaration before L. Waddell, Esq. which was also laid before the Court, and was examined and approved.
Mrs. Knowles states, she has no other evidence of the date of her marriage, than the evidence herewith sent. That the only paper she had to show the date of her marriage, was destroyed by fire, in 1791, which was the certificate she received from Captain Robert Stevens, the magistrate that married her . She further states that her marriage never was registered in her family Register. That the births of her children were registered, with the exception of her three first children, born before the year 1783.
I had Smith Thompson again examined on the subject of Mrs. Knowles' marriage. His evidence was before the Court. The Court directed an order to be made, that it be certified to the War Department, that it was satisfactorily proven in Court, that Mary Knowles was married to William Knowles, in the year 1778. There is no person here that would doubt for one moment, Mrs. Knowles being married at the time she states, and also her being in the service with her husband, William Knowles. She has always been considered a camp woman. That is, as having been in the service during the Revolutionary War. She requested me to send her family Register to the Department, although it only shows the births of her children from 1783. The births, before 1783, which were not registered, were omitted, because, as she states, the first were twins, one dead born, the other, surviving but a little time. The third child was born before its time, and was dead. She states, that the loss of these children, was in consequence of her exposure in camp, and otherwise.
I am, sir, very respectfully, Your ob t servant, David Points
G. W. Crump, Esq., Acting Com d of Pensions, Washington City, D.C.

Geo WIDOW, &c.
File No. 4257
Mary Knowles
Wid.
Wm Knowles
Port. Va. line
Act: July 14/36, Sec. 34
Index:—Vol. a , Page 407
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Inf 182 57/18 11 1
Sep 1 1865 Sda 187 60 57/10
20 11/12 3

This is to Certify, That it appears from a List in this Office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War, as settled their Accounts, and received Certificates for the balance of their Full Pay, according to an Act of Assembly, passed the November Session, 1781, that a Certificate issued on the 1st day of September 1786 , in the name of William Knowles as a Soldier for £ 60. 5. 10, which Certificate appears to have been delivered to Dan l Wilson and was given for services prior to the 1st January, 1782.
1839 { No Seal of Office. }
Given under my hand at the Auditor's Office, Richmond, this 3rd day of September 1839.
J. H. Heath, AUDITOR.