Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,639, for Richard Johnston, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
continental. Va.
Johnston, Richard
S. 5639
CONTENTS
carded.

Virginia
Richard Johnston
of Frederickburg in the State of Virginia who was a Corporal in the Dragoons commanded by Captain Woolfolk of the Reg't commanded by Major Buchanan in the Virginia line for two years from the year 1776
Va. 4th Continental June 22, 1902 Records completed
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 120 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of September 1832 and sent to Fayette Johnson Frederickburg Virginia
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 - $180 Pemi=ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33. 60
$240
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H McMain Clerk, Book D Vol. 7 Page 102
Dead
Let. to O. M. Gratchfield
L. Kennally - April 6, 1837 " " Pen. Agt - May 20 1837 " " " April 6, 1837 Do. May 20
Died Oct 24, 1834, (unmarried)

Gas. L. Edwards Esq.
$120 her ann Capt. Dugoni, B Cust. B Francisco John M. S. Jr President
Pension Office Washington City
Sept. 28
8105 29 9/25

Fredericksburg Virginia Augst 10 th 1872
Sir
I take the liberty of enclosing to you the papers relating to the application of my Father Richard Johnston for a Pension in the first and place I will call your attention to Document No 1 which sets forth the time and manner of his service in a State Corps termed McGuire's Troops under Major Buchanan No 2 is his affidavit or declaration as a soldier in Colonel Bland's Regiment of horse it is supported by the affidavit of Benjamin Huston - in fact his name can be found the roll of that Regt in your Department
No 3 sets forth his services a relation to him I believe the forms in relation to such cases is fully supplied with and under this his compensation would be great My Father has in former years given himself much trouble and spent a good deal in prosecuting his claims and procuring evidence

to support his claims, unfortunately all of his papers were burned in 1823 when he lost a large amt of Property very little being saved in the upper part of his
Home
May I ask the favour of your to give the accompanying papers your early attention and let me know the result - My Father is an old man with the infirmities of age on him and he is all anxiety to receive what may be coming to him, and believe me Sir truly
Fayette Clinton
P.S. I enclose you a letter from Genl Wm McDonald on the subject

No 3
Richard Sharpe
No 5078

Declaration
In Order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed 7 th June 1832.
State of Virginia Corporation of Fredericksburg } To wit:
On the ninth day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Justices of the Corporation Court of Fredericksburg Richard Johnston, a resident of the town of Fredericksburg, in the County of Spotsylvania, and State of Virginia, aged seventy four 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: He joined Cap t James Johnston's company as a volunteer, in the County of Caroline, Virginia, in the year 1780 and marched with said company to the south and the Company joined Col t Mott Richardson's Regiment at Hillsboro, in North Carolina, was in the Army at Gates's defeat in the south and in several skirmishes in the Carolinas, from the Carolinas returned with the Company to Gloucester Town, Virginia, and at Gloucester Town was Commissioned a Lieutenant. He served nine months in Cap t Johnston's company as a Sergeant; And he served nine months more as a Lieut. (after he was promoted) in Col t Philip Johnston's Regiment to the end of the war.
Gen l Weedon Commanded the Army at Gloucester Town, & Rockhambean the French troops. He has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services. His Commission and papers relating to his services in the war were destroyed by fire in the year 1823 at the time

that his house was burnt in Fredericksburg, with a good deal of his property.
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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Rich. D. John H. Johnston
We Samuel B Wilson a Chuggymen residing in the Town of Fredericksburg and George Rothrock residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Richard Johnston, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 74 years of age; that he is respected and beloved, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Sam B Wilson Geo Rothrock
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 served no in states. And the Court further certifies that to appear to them that Samuel B Wilson who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Chuggymen, resident in the Town of Fredericksburg and that George Rothrock who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town aforesaid and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I John James Chew, Clerk of the Court of

Capn. John Frederick Schurton to wit
This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the Corporation aforesaid, Fayette Schurton who states that he is the son of Richard Schurton now applying for a Pension under the late Act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832 - this deponent states that he well recollects his Father having visited Richmond & Washington City (for the purpose of obtaining Land in about money for his Revolutionary services) in the year 1808 or 1809 that coming home disappointed he at his failure he placed his papers in an old Paper Case not much used in a part of the House remote which case together with every thing, in that part of the house was destroyed by Fire in 1823 . This deponent recollects seeing the Bundle of papers in said case endorsed ("Papers relating to my own & Brother Larkin's services in the Revolution") - the the deponent remembers

saw the inside of the Bundle but always believed that it contained his Father's knit-ficatio Commission as a Lieut in the Militia of Virginia to which he was promoted (after long service in various parts of the country) at Gloucester Town or near Frederick's Church - This Document further states that he has good grounds for believing same as he has in former years heard his Father and some of his old Comrades relate some of their exploits.
Yours truly John Terrien
Augt 1832

Hastings for the town and Corporation of Fredericton. I do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applica- tion of Richard Johnston for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of my Office to be hereunto affixed this 9 th day of August 1832.
Jas. Pat. Chute

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Richard Johnston a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S.F. 5639
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     76 9 mos. Charles Woolfolk Maj. Buchanan Va.   77 2 years Cuthbert Harrison Theoderick Bland 1 Cond. Briz.   80 9 mos. Sergt. James Johnston Holt Richardson Va.   9 mos. Lieut. Philip Johnston  
Battles engaged in, Brandy. Germ. Mon. Gates Defeat Camden, Pugh's Mills & Yellow Springs.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Caroline Co., Va.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 9, 1832
Residence at date of application, Fredericksburg, Va.
Age at date of application, 74 died Oct. 29, 1834 (Agency book)
Remarks:
1832 son Fayette stated that his father's papers were endorsed "Papers relating to my own & Brother Larkin's services in the Rev."
Very respectfully,

Rev War
5639
INVALID.
1908 Nov. 12. Hist. to Mrs. Mabel A. Norwood, letter in S. File 15.731 f 1921. May 19 Hist to Mrs. J. M. Cochran Letter in S. 8766 Richard Johnson.
File No. 5639
Richard Johnson
Cople Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: —Vol. m , Page 195
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Septm 4 1832 I hereby certify that I have known Mr Richard Johnson since the close of the war of the revolution and always heard of him as a soldier and believed that he was a soldier in one of the regiments of Virginia Continental establishment and that he lived until the end of the war - Ebenezer Root -

No 4
Richard D. Blackburn
Department of War Bounty Land Office
The Hon ble John M. Patton
House of Rep ts

Sir
War Dept. Bounty Land Office
Feb'y 20 th 1832
Yours of the 17 th inst. enclosing a letter to you from Mr. Fayette Johnston, accompanied by another from Gen l W m M c Donald, in relation to the claims of Mr. Richard Johnston, is received. From the statement of Mr. F. Johnston it appears that his father, after serving in Planas Reg t of Horse as a Corporal , became a Lieutenant in Col. Holt Richardsons Reg t of Infantry, and in it served to the end of the War — My investigations have therefore been principally directed to those Records of the Virginia line, which relate solely to Officers, and I regret to say that, the name of Richard Johnston is not returned among those, entitled to bounty lands from the U. States, either as a Supernumerary Officer, or as being in actual service at the close of the War.
It appears by a list of the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia line, (on file in the Pension Office) to whom Certificates for pay were granted by the State of Virginia, that Richard Johnston, Corporal of Cavalry, received on 20 th Oct. 1783. £114.2.6, and on the 20 th April 1785, the further sum of £39.11.8. These payments, are obviously in consideration of services rendered whilst holding the rank of Corporal. The list just referred to, furnishes no data

by which it can be ascertained, at what period any officer or soldier entered, or retired, from the service.
The foregoing contains the only information the records in this Department afford, in Mr. Johnstons case.
The letters & records are herewith returned
I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Yours
Wm Gordon
The Hon ble
J. M. Patton
House of Reps s

Mr. Fayette Johnston
Fredericksburg
Va

Balt. Feb 13. 1832
Mr. Fayette Johnston Dear Sir
My only apology for not answering your letter sooner is owing to a long indisposition having been confined to my bed room mostly since Feb last nearly every member of my family having been sick, but thanks be to God we are all likely to do well again - I now take up my pen to state all I can recollect of the services of your honored father at this remote period when it must be expected my memory is deficient - It was from your Father that I obtained the information, when we have met in Frederickburg in his own house the conversation almost always turning there all absorbing & interesting subject - He would relate of circumstances that took place somewhat later, he had been at which were satisfactory to my mind that there could be no mistake & moreover I have a perfect recollection of my recognizing him

as an old acquaintance the very first time after the Revolutionary War that I met him in Fredericksburg but I have forgotten the number of the Troop in Bland Reg't of Dragoons & the name of the officer who commanded it - there doubtless he remembers it thus being the case I should promise promise that a Record of all who served in the Virginia Line is to be found in the War or chancery office in Richmond I know this to be the case in Maryland & have reason to believe in all the States - This is the mode pursued by myself to obtain my land warrants from your State after finding that Col. Lee had made a return there of the members of the Legion though many of the members enlisted were citizens of other States I then sought return entitled each member to a sum of land reserved for the purpose - when I joined Col. Lee's Dragoons in the Winter 1776-7. near Bacon or Middle Brook on the Raritan River it was as if we were seldom with the Regiment being mostly kept on the lines near the Enemy watching his movements & in Sept 77 Col. Lee obtained a separate Command of his own men (except from Col. Bland) at the Head of Elk as short time & immediately after the Enemy made good his

landing was even after and when I was employed on the Lancaster, in the Winter of 1780-1. The Legion was ordered to the South - Thus you will perceive depriving us from that knowledge and acquaintance with the Officers & men which we otherwise would have acquired had the two Corps united under the same head - This, my Dear Sir, is all I can recollect. Pray in relation to the service of your Father, but which may put you in a proper way of obtaining that debt of gratitude due from the Government of the U.S. to the State of Virginia which he is in my humble opinion justly entitled to -
The land due from the U.S. for a Sergeant's share 200 acres from Virginia 4 to 600 - as for money or Certificate of arrears is out of the question but he would be entitled provided you can establish his claim, to two years full pay from 2 nd March 1828 to 2 nd March 1830 the monthly pay during life - Please make my kind respects to your honored Father James Shelby and your friend J. H. Smith.
Yours M c Donald

Paid
PAID
W. H. [unclear] Dec 27 1864
Mr. Wm Lloyd
Bounty Land Office
War Dept
Washington City
mail

Dr. J. M.
Sept 27/1832
I have concluded to take my Father's Pension as settled by Mr. Edwards for the present - Please enclose me the necessary papers to draw it -
Yrs in haste J. Smith

J. L. Edwards Esq. Pension Office Ward 8th Washington City
small

Dr Jui
Friendship Sept 7 th 1832
I enclose an additional certificate of the Har Judge Works of the Court of Appeals, as further testimony in the case of my Father Richd Thornton
And may I again request your early attention to it, he is asking daily if I have heard from you —
As I be Respectfully
Fayette Thornton

Col Edwards esq Pension Agt etc
Richmond May 16. 1835
I enclose the Pension Documents of Richard Johnson's widow, whose claim is from the 4th Sep. 1834 to 29th Oct. 1834, which you are requested to examine, and if found to be satisfactory, you will order the Agent here to make payment etc
Respectfully J. Skirmally

No 1
Richd. H. Martin
No 5076

Declaration
In Order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed the 7 th June 1832.
State of Virginia } To Wit Corporation of Fredericksburg }
On this ninth day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Justices of the Corporation Court of Fredericksburg Richard Johnston a resident of the town of Fredericksburg in the County of Spotsylvania and State of Virginia, aged seventy four years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision, made by the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832. That he enlisted in the service of the state troops of Virginia in a Corps of Minute Men some time in the year 1776, which Corps was commanded by Capt. Charles Moresfield of Caroline Co. Va. and said Corps joined a Regiment at Hampton in Va. under the Command of Major Buchanan. He was in actual service as a Minute Man in the Corps aforesaid Nine months, paid off at Williamsburg, Va. with the rest of the Company and returned home in Caroline County, Virginia, where he lived when he entered the Corps aforesaid.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pen- sion or an annuity, except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any Agency in any State
Rich d Johnston
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named Applicant was a

Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
I John James Chen, Clerk of the Herring Court for the town and Corporation of Sandwich, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Johnston for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of my Office to be hereunto affixed this 9 th day of August 1832.
John James Chen

AP 2
Richard E. Lane
No 5077

Declaration
In Order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7 th of June 1832.
State of Virginia Corporation of Fredericksburg } No. 1000
On this ninth day of August 1823 personally appeared before the Justices of the Corporation Court of Fredericksburg Richard Johnston a resident of the town of Fredericksburg in the County of Spotsylvania and State of Virginia, aged seventy four 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 provision, made by the act of Congress, passed 7 th June 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States sometime in the year 1777 with Catharine Harrison, Cap d of a troop of Cavalry and served in the 4 th Reg t he believes. He enlisted under Captain Catharine Harrison in the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Cavalry. The Reg t Troop was commanded by Cap d Harrison, one Belfield was the Lieutenant and Baylor Hill was the Cornet. The Regiment to which the troop, (to which he belonged) was attached, was commanded by Col. Theodrick Bland. The officers of the Regiment were Col. Bland and Major Harrison. He served two years and he thinks more and was discharged at Winchester in Virginia.
He was at the Battles of Brandywine, Red Bank, Red Bank's Mill, Yellow Springs, Germantown and Monmouth Ct. House.
He went with the troop to which he belonged from Fredericksburg Va to Philadelphia, thence to Trenton thence, to Morristown, N Jersey, thence to a place called Battle Hill, from there down down to a place then called Lubbertown, and marched to and fro in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York and

returned to Winchester in Virginia and was there discharged.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any Agency in any state.
Sworn to and Subscribed this Rich d Johnston day and year aforesaid.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
I John James Chew, Clerk of the Court of Straits for the town and Corporation of Frederickburg, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Johnston for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and seal of the said office this 9 th day of August 1832.
Jno Jas Chew

Cooperation of Frederickburg to wit
This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid Benjamin Snulow, who makes oath that he knew Richard Shurton now of Frederickburg during the Revolutionary war, and that he said Shurton was in Blands Regiment of Horse and further that he said Snulow recognizes him to be same person and has lived in the adjoining County for a number of Years
Given under my hand & seal this 9 th day of August 1832
John Terrier J. P. Seal