Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 2220-200, for Philip Lightfoot, Virginia

SERVICE
Continental (Va.)
Lightfoot, Philip
NUMBER
B.L. Ut. 2220-200
CONTENTS

PHILIP LIGHTFOOT—HEIRS OF.
[To accompany bill H. R. No. 718.]
—♦— APRIL 6, 1838. —♦—
Mr. TALIAFERRO, from the Committee on Revolutionary Claims, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Claims, to whom the petition of Philip Lightfoot was referred, report:
That the petitioner claims, as only son and sole heir at law of Philip Lightfoot, deceased, the commutation pay due to his said father for his services as a lieutenant in the Virginia line on continental establishment in the army of the Revolution. Diligent inquiry has been made at all the Departments here and at Richmond, and no record evidence has been found to show that Philip Lightfoot was an officer. It does appear that on the 11th of July, 1835, Governor Tazewell allowed land bounty to Philip Lightfoot, as a lieutenant in the continental line, for three years' service. (See the certificate of the register of the land office at Richmond, Virginia.) This allowance was made by Governor Tazewell, on the evidence of two highly respectable and intelligent officers in the continental regiment of artillery commanded by Colonel Charles Harrison, to wit: Judge Francis T. Brooke and the late Colonel Edmond Brooke—both in service to the end of the war, and both have received commutation pay and land bounty from the United States. By the testimony of these officers, it is proven that Philip Lightfoot, father of the petitioner, was a lieutenant in Harrison's regiment of artillery on continental establishment; that he served in the campaign of 1781, in the army commanded by General Lafayette; that he was in actual service in July, 1781, and at the siege of York; that in the summer of 1781, about July, nearly all the regular soldiers attached to the portions of Harrison's regiment then in Virginia, were marched to the South, to join the army under General Greene; that nearly all the junior officers in Harrison's regiment were, by the foregoing detachment of the men, left in Virginia without regular command; that, to supply this, militia draughts and recruits were placed under their command, to aid in repelling the then invasion of Virginia; that after the siege of York, these militia draughts and recruits were discharged, and the officers were again without men to command, and so remained to the end of the war. Judge Brooke says he knew Philip Lightfoot well; that he was wealthy, and did not regard pay; that he never heard
Thomas Allen, print.

of his resignation ; that he considered him in the condition of five-sixths of the officers of that regiment—at home, having no troops to command, virtually in service, though not actually in the field. (For the foregoing statement of the evidence in this case, see the affidavits of Francis T. Brooke and Edmond Brooke, and a certificate of John Taliaferro.) In acting on these cases, the committee receive with great caution parol evidence to show that the claimant was an officer in the continental service, and, as such, entitled to commutation pay. In all cases, record evidence, when attainable, is required to show—first, that the claimant was an officer ; secondly, that his service was such as to entitle him to the pay claimed. There is no rule, however, so general in its application, as not to require necessary exceptions, in order to do justice. And it has generally been the practice to admit secondary evidence, when the best evidence is not in possession of, or attainable by, the party claiming. As to the present case, there are circumstances arising out of the history of the then, and past times, sufficient to create a strong presumption that the records as to Harrison's regiment, from the time Lightfoot joined it to the close of the war, never were very perfect, owing to the reduced and scattered condition of its officers during that period ; and that, imperfect as those records were, nearly all of them have been destroyed and lost. It is under these circumstances the petitioner offers secondary evidence to show that he was a lieutenant in Charles Harrison's regiment of artillery, and the evidence offered is that of the two officers of the same regiment above referred to. The committee being satisfied, by the evidence in the case, that Philip Lightfoot was a lieutenant in the continental regiment of artillery commanded by Charles Harrison ; that he was, as such, in actual service in the campaign in Virginia to its close in 1781 ; and that subsequent to that time he became supernumerary to the close of the war, are of opinion that he was entitled to commutation pay, and report a bill.

Know all men by these presents, That I Philip Lightfoot, only Son, & sole Heir at Law of Philip Lightfoot, late an officer in the Army of the United States, in the War of the Revolution, do hereby constitute John Taliaferro, my lawful Attorney, for me, in my name, & behalf, to apply for, & receive from the Agent of the United States, a warrant for the Land Bounty due to the aforesaid Philip Lightfoot for his military service. And my said Attorney is further empowered to exchange the said warrant at the Treasury of the United States for Scrip, and the same to sell & assign. All which acts of my said Attorney shall be valid & obligatory on me. Witness my hand & seal this 5 th day of May 1838.
Philip Lightfoot (L.S.)
S: Virginia, Caroline County - to wit - }
Personally came before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, Philip Lightfoot, who acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his Act & Deed. Given under my hand this 5 th day of May — 1838.
John Taylor Jr. J.P.
The undersigned knows that John Taylor whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is an acting Justice of the Peace in Caroline County, Virg a . R M Z Hunter

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON
May 17, 1932
Philip Lightfoot XXXXXXXXXXXX Wt.#2230-200- 1000 RA-J/REL aw
Honorable Frank L. Bowman House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
My dear Mr. Bowman:
The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in the claim for bounty land based upon the military service of Philip Lightfoot in the War of the Revolution.
It was stated that Philip Lightfoot had a large and commanding fortune and was the ward of Colonel F. Lewis, who married the sister of General Washington. The date and place of birth of Philip Lightfoot are not shown.
While still in school, Philip Lightfoot, of Cedar Creek, Caroline County, Virginia, entered the service about the last of 1780 or the beginning of 1781, served as lieutenant in Colonel Charles Harrison's First Regiment of Continental Artillery and was in the battle of Green Springs and at the siege of Yorktown, length of service three years.
His will, dated September 13, 1785, was probated June 8, 1786, in Caroline County, Virginia. The date of his death is not given.
In 1855, John Taliaferro stated: "The wife of the said Philip Lightfoot was a relative of the undersigned and her mother was of the same name before her marriage". There are no further particulars in regard to the wife of Philip Lightfoot.
On July 27, 1835, Warrant No. 8180 for 2666-2/3 acres of bounty land was issued by the state of Virginia, to P. Lightfoot, heir, on account of the services of Philip Lightfoot, lieutenant in the Continental Line, War of the Revolution.
On May 5, 1838, Philip Lightfoot, of Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia, only son and sole heir of Philip Lightfoot, applied for the bounty land which was due on account of the services of his father.

Warrant No. 2320, for 200 acres of bounty land was issued June 14, 1838, to Philip Lightfoot, son and only heir, on account of the services of Philip Lightfoot, lieutenant, War of the Revolution.
The names of no other children are given.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.

Ph: Lightfoot~
Philip Lightfoot N. 2220.
N. May 23, 1838

Congress
Session
Congress of the United States
In the House of Representatives
Virginia.
Caroline County to wit;
I John L. Pendleton Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that it appears from the records of my office that the will of Philip Lightfoot Esq. dated the 13 th day of September 1785 was duly proved and admitted to record on the 8 th day of June 1786
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of my said office this 9 th day of January 1836
John L. Pendleton, CLK.
May 23 d , 1834 I certify that Philip Lightfoot of Cedar Creek, Caroline County, Virginia, was a Lieutenant in Harrison's Continental Regiment of Artillery he served in the campaign of 1781 in the army commanded by the Marquis La Fayette, after the battle of Green Spring sometimes called the battle of James Town. I was ordered to join the army commanded by General Green and kno

nothing of the services of Lieutenant Lightfoot afterwards, though I understood from others and believe the fact, that he was with a part of regiment at the siege of York. I knew him well he was wealthy, and did not regard pay. I never heard that he resigned and considered him in the condition of five sixths of the officers of that regiment, at home there being no troops to command, virtually in service though not actually, in the field.
Francis V. Brooke.
Richmond, March 6 th 1834.
My dear Sir,
I did not receive your letter of the 26 th ult. until my return here on Saturday last, and have taken the earliest opportunity to comply with your request. I have examined the records of the army in the Auditor's office, and was disappointed in not finding your father's name in any of the rolls of the army. I knew your father was a Lieutenant in the same regiment (Harrison's regiment of Artillery) to which I belonged, that he was in actual service in that regiment I know, and that I left him with a part of it in Virginia, when after the battle of Green Spring sometimes called James Town, I was ordered to join General Greene's army in the south, after that I could

know nothing more of his services, as I remained with the Army of the South until the end of the war - his commission I presume will hardly be found any where, as I was told when at Washington some years ago, that there were no commissions in the war office. - How should there be, as they were generally worn out in service, as was the case of my own - with cordial respects to your family Philip Lightfoot, Esq. } Yours. Francis T. Brooke Post Royal, Caroline County }
I hereby certify that the rolls of the Army of the United States will show that I was a Lieutenant of Artillery in the first Continental regiment commanded by Charles Harrison; I accepted a commission in the said regiment in the year 1780. and continued in service to the end of the war, never having during the time gone without the limits of the State of Virginia. I well remember that Philip Lightfoot was a Lieuten- ant in the same Regiment in the year 1781, about the time of the battle of Green Spring; after which time the regiment was considerably reduced by a draft of most of the regular soldiers belonging to the same, to join the army of General Green, which was in great want of men, leaving many officers here belonging to Harrison's regiment without any com- mand. The vacancy produced in the company of Captain Coleman to which I belonged was filled up

of militia drafted for a short term, which I very well remember were recruited by myself. Between this period and the siege of York, our army was much harassed by frequent movements, and the troops unavoidably subjected exposed to bad weather, this circumstance, together with a scanty and by bad supply of provisions, brought on me a spell of sickness by which I was compelled to retire about a week or ten days before the siege of York, and I remained extremely ill six or eight weeks being incapable of rendering any service.
I do not recollect seeing Lieutenant Lightfoot after the battle of Green Spring. The company to which I belonged was detached from the other part of the regiment, and I saw none of the officers except those who belonged to the same company with myself after the separation took place by the draft aforesaid. I never did hear that Lieutenant Lightfoot did resign or intend to resign his commission, if such vacancy occurred I presume it must have come to the knowledge of some of the officers of the regiment; and I think it highly probable that his name not being on the return roll of the army at the conclusion of the war, must have resulted from the reduction of the the regiment by the draft aforesaid, which left him and others without any command. I know of no living testimony by which the circumstance of Lieutenant Lightfoot's service after the period spoken of above, can be ascertained - all the officers of the said regiment, with the exception of our judge Brooke and myself, being dead.
Given under my hand this 21 st day of April 1834.
Edmund Brooke.

The undersigned was well acquainted, in early life, with Philip Lightfoot, to whom the foregoing affidavits of Francis T. and Edmund Brooke relate. The wife of the said Philip Lightfoot was a relative of the undersigned and her mother was of the same name before her marriage. Her residence prior to, and during the entire war of the revolution, was in the neighborhood of the father of the undersigned. Being relatives and neighbors, the intercourse between the families was such as to produce an intimate acquaintance amongst the respective members of each. It was in this way, the undersigned became intimately acquainted with Philip Lightfoot, who was a young man of large and commanding fortune, and who to the knowledge of the undersigned entered the army about the last of the year 1780, or early in 1781, as a Lieutenant in Colo. Charles Harrison's Regiment of Artillery. said Lightfoot, John T., Francis T. and Edmund Brooke all joined the said Regiment about the same time as Lieutenants. The three last went from the school at which the undersigned was. — Colo. F. Lewis, who married the sister of General Washington, was the guardian of the said T. Lightfoot.
Certified by me the 2 d of April 1838.
John Taliaferro

Rec d of the Register military warrant N o 8180 for 2666 2 / 3 and issued to P. Lightfoot's heir - this 27 th July 1835. E. B. Bentley.
Virginia.
At a monthly Court held for Caroline County, on the 13 th day of October 1834.
Satisfactory evidence being produced to the Court they do hereby certify that Philip Lightfoot of Port Royal in this county is the only child and heir of Philip Lightfoot of Cedar Creek who was a Lieutenant in Charles Harrison's first Regiment of Artil- lery of the Revolutionary War of the Continental Line.
From the records
a copy
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 3 rd day of Nov r 1834 and 59 th year of the Commonwealth. J. G. John Bradlee, clk.
Know all men by these presents, that I Philip Lightfoot do hereby constitute & appoint Efford B. Bentley my true and lawful attorney, for me, my heirs or assigns to receive of the Register of the Land Office of Virginia and military land bounty warrant that may be due me on account of the Revolutionary services of my father Philip Lightfoot, dec d .
Witness my hand and seal this eleventh day of June one thou- sand eight hundred and thirty five.
J. T. Swann.
Philip Lightfoot (Seal)
Executive Department Richmond July 11 th 1835
The heirs of Philip Lightfoot are allowed land bounty for his services as a Lieutenant in the Continental Line for three years. The Register will issue a warrant accordingly, if not heretofore drawn.
attest W. B. Richardson
Litt n M. Tazewell
The above is a true copy of papers filed in Land Office of Virginia.
M. Selden R. L. Off.

Congress Session
Congress of the United States In the House of Representatives
May. 21. 1838. —
I do certify that the copies of the papers contained on the preceding six pages of paper, are true copies of documents in support of the claim of Philip Lightfoot, of Fort Royal in Virginia, for commutation of half pay due to his father Philip Lightfoot, as an officer in the Army of the Revolution, which claim is depending before the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States.
W. F. Franklin Clerk H. R. U. S.

FRANK L. BOWMAN 2D DIST. WEST VIRGINIA
COMMITTEES: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MERCHANT MARINE, RADIO, AND FISHERIES INVALID PENSIONS
R. L. JEFFERYS SECRETARY
Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
SUBCOMMITTEES: CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC HEALTH, HOSPITALS, AND CHARITIES PUBLIC UTILITIES FISCAL AFFAIRS RADIO FISHERIES
May 9, 1932.
Revolutionary War Records Division Director of Pensions Veterans Administration Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:
I enclose herewith a communication from Mrs. Link, who would like to obtain the Revolutionary service records of the persons listed. I suggest that you hold this communication until you can advise Mrs. Link of the additional information necessary in locating these records, and the probable cost.
Yours very truly
FRANK L. BOWMAN
FLB:T