Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,772, for John Tench, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Jench, John John R
S. 3.772
carded
CONTENTS

25261 West Virginia John French of Nathrop in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the com command by Captain Anderson of the regt command by Col. Mundy in the Virginia line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of West Virginia at the rate of 82 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Decr. 1833 and Ann D W Dickerson  11 B.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept  200.00 Sem-ant. allowance ending 4 Mo  40 00
$ 240 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 98

9.968
John Finch
Bethesda C. Ter u
John Finch
Laurens
10.11.12.16
from 1776 parts
272 #80
Re David W. Dickerson N.R.
See above
Murfreesboro Tenn.

BRIEF in the case of John Finch County of Butler in the State of Tennessee (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 74 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Feb 7     Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1776 1 6 Private Gen. Capt Anderson Col. Moore   Time of service not recollected Capt Garland, Col. of Bozell   Time of service not remembered Capt Tawney Bynum    The applicant declares that he continued in actual service from his first enlistment in 1776 until the spring of the year 1781 —
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wheat's barony 6' Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? His own declaration  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Nicholas Cottle Examining Clerk.

John Finch Tanager
H. N. D. 11/12, Dickinson H. R.

State of Tennessee } November Session 1888. Rutherford County }
On this 18 th day of November 1888. personally appeared in open court before H. D. Garrison V. D. Gaulton & J. P. Reed the justices of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now in session for Rutherford county the same being a court of record John Finch a citizen of the county and State aforesaid aged sixty five 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 June 7 th 1832. That he enlisted as a private soldier in the United States army in February or March 1776. but which of these months he cannot recollect. He enlisted under Capt James Anderson he thinks in the 3 d Virginia regiment commanded by Col. Meredy and the Brigade was commanded by Genl. Muhlenburg. He enlisted at that time as well as he now recollects for 18 months and served out the full period of his enlistment. During this enlistment he was present and aided in taking a British Sloop in James river, he thinks in May or June 1776 and took about 200 prisoners. He has no recollection of the officer who commanded in taking that Sloop. except his Captain James Anderson and Captain John Ballard both of whom went from Meckenburg county. There were several other companies with their officers and he thinks there was a Colonel who commanded but at this distant period he does not recollect their names. They were on their way from Meckenburg court house to Hampton town in Hampton road when they captured the Sloop. After this they proceeded to Hampton where they joined the Brigade commanded by Genl. Muhlenburg. He remained at this place until after the declaration of independence on the 4 th of July 1776. From Hampton he marched to Portsmouth where Governor Dunmore was stationed and besieged the fort until Governor Dunmore made his escape. He does not recollect he was in any other engagement or skirmish during the period of his first enlistment. but he was continually moving to different points up and down James river until the expiration of his term of enlistment when he was discharged verbally he thinks by Genl. Muhlenburg at a place called Rebb's old field making a period of 18 months he served under this enlistment. Some short time afterwards he thinks not exceeding 3 or 4 weeks he again enlisted in a company commanded by John Gatliff under the command of Maj. Peyton. He does not at this distance of time recollect the day or even month in which

he enlisted on the length of time for which he enlisted. But he recollects the field officers were Col. Samuel Gerland, Col. Thomas Blackburn & Maj. Beyer. During the period of this enlistment he marched to different points guarding the country. They marched to Cobham from there to Williamsburg from there to the Spring field camp then to Wachaprequee Chickahominy creek or mill where they marched to Richmond and to Gloucester Gloucester Ferry on James River and was kept constantly employed in scouting parties up and down Norfolk James and James River. At some of these points we would be stationed sometimes a week sometimes two weeks, and sometimes a month or two months, as circumstances required but he does not recollect of being engaged in any skirmish or fight during the time. He recollects of aiding in arresting some 5 or 6 men in crossing James River one night with Sharpshooters, with other provisions. It was believed they were Tories, carrying provisions to the British. At the expiration of this enlistment At the expiration of this enlistment he thinks he received a written discharge from Col. Samuel Gerland. On his return home it got wet and was destroyed. He thinks he served six months at least in this last enlistment tho' as before stated he does not recollect whether he served out the whole time of enlistment or not. Some ten or twelve months after this last discharge he again enlisted as a private soldier in a company commanded by Capt. William Hays at Greeneville court house alias Bellfield or Duke's Ford. He thinks he enlisted for 18 months this time. He marched under Capt. Hays to Petersburg from there to Richmond from there they marched up James River above the junction fork. From there they marched to Battletown county near the Sweet Springs where we lay six or eight weeks from there we were ordered to return to Richmond and marched as far as Prince Edward court house where I was verbally discharged or dismissed by Capt. Hays with orders to be in readiness at a moments warning to turn out again if called upon but I was never called upon again during the period for which I enlisted. He thinks he was in actual service three six months during this enlistment. Capt. Hays and his company never joined any other troops and there was none but the company officers. He recollects their lieutenant was of the name of Powell. Some six or eight months after this last discharge he volunteered as a private soldier under Capt. Peter Gerland for six months and marched to Williamsburg from there to Little York then up the south side of James River to Cobham from there to Petersburg at which place he was discharged by Col. Samuel Gerland having been in service

about six months. The discharge was a verbal one. He was not in any skirmish or battle this last tour. They were stationed at the different points mentioned above at some of them longer and others a shorter period. He thinks they lay at Little York about two months. During this tour the field officers who commanded were Col Samuel Gerland, Col Edward Gjerland, Col Thomas Blackhurst and he thinks Maj Thomas Bracy but he does not recollect the names of any of the other officers. He thinks about three weeks after this last discharge he was drafted out of William Greenough's company a Militia Captain in Mecklenburg county Virginia for a tour of three months and marched from Mecklenburg court house to Sussex court house under the command of Col James Hicks. They were stationed at Sussex court house some short time and then dismissed before the expiration of the three months for which they had been drafted by Col Gray Gjerland at his house near a church called the Raccoon Chapel having been in service about four weeks. Some months after this Lord Cornwallis was taken at Little York and he never served any more. He was in actual service as a private soldier during the revolutionary war thirty four months at least if not longer. In fact he attended to but little other business from the time he first entered the service in February or March 1776 until the capture of Lord Cornwallis. It is impossible however owing to age, length of time and decay of memory to state with any thing like precision the day or even month he entered the service at the different periods of his enlistment except the first time which he believes was the time here stated.
He further states he was born on the 9th day of March, 1758 near Annapolis in the State of Maryland agreeably to the information of his parents but he has no record of the time of his birth he has been informed the book in which his parents had the day of his birth recorded was destroyed by fire. But when he first enlisted he resided in Mecklenburg county Virginia. After serving his first enlistment he removed to Brunswick county Virginia where he resided at each of the other times he entered the army except the last time in which he was drafted he had at that time returned to Mecklenburg county and had enrolled himself but a short time before he was drafted.

After the revolutionary war he remained from Shenenburg to Brunswick from thence to Lunenburg county Virginia from thence he remained to Botetourt county Virginia when he lived about four years from thence he removed to Rutherford county Tennessee where he has resided the last nineteen or twenty years.
This applicant once prepared a declaration for a pension under the Act of Congress passed the 19th March 1818. and at the time he prepared his declaration he procured the affidavits of Jesse Taylor & William Cain who were both revolutionary soldiers with whom he became acquainted during the revolutionary war who identified the person of this applicant and proved his services in the revolutionary war. Viz Jesse Taylor stated in his affidavit he served with this applicant his first term of 18 months or a part of the term in the same company with him which is true. William Cain stated in his affidavit he served with applicant the second term stated in this declaration though in a different company which is also true. These affidavits as well as applicant's declaration were in the hands of Genl. William Brady who had drawn them up and undertook to get the necessary certificates affixed to them and forward them to the war department in order to obtain a pension. But it so happened Genl. Brady lost or mislaid this applicant's declaration and the above two affidavits owing to which they have never been forwarded. He has been informed since Genl. Brady has made frequent search for said papers but cannot find them. Jesse Taylor and William Cain are both now dead and he knows of no living witness by whom he can prove his services and he has no documentary evidence that will testify to his services.
He is known to a great many persons in his neighborhood Viz Colt George Brannen Colt Nathan Hays Joshua Barton Esq. David Hall Joseph Ramsey Mordecai Hilliard David Clark and many others who he believes would testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
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 — Subscribed & sworn to in Open court - November 18. 1833. John French J. P. Langston, Clk.

We David Clark a clergyman residing in the county of Rutherford and State of Tennessee and Madison Hillard residing in the same county and state hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Finch who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
David Clark his Madison Hillard mark
Subscribed sworn to in open court. November 18th. 1833.
St. Clairsville, O.
State of Tennessee Rutherford County
Be it remembered, that on this 19 th day of Nov. 1833 personally appeared in open court William Brady and made oath, that some winter months since or soon, John R. French the within applicant for a pension, placed in his hands the affidavits of Jesse Taylor and William Cain, sworn to and subscribed, before some justice of the peace; whose names are not now remembered by the affiant - But affiant well recollects, that the affidavits, went to prove the services of John R. French in the Revolutionary War - and about as said French has set forth in his declaration - Affiant states that he has lost or misplaced said affidavits - altho he has had diligent search made for them, and affiant cannot find them - Subscribed sworn to in open court November 19. 1833. John R. French, O.K. J. W. [unintelligible]

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after reading interrogatories presented 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 David Clark who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the county of Rutherford and State of Tennessee and that Monduei Lillard who has also signed the same is a resident in the county and State aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. And the said court do further declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
W. D. Garrison J.P.
James Read J.P. V.D. Cowan J.P.
I John R. Laughlin clerk of the court of pleas and Quarter Sessions of Rutherford county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the arreginal proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John French for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this 22 nd day of November 1838 -
John R. Laughlin, C.K.

Acid
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37%

Revolutionary Claims
For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of an Act entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution" approved on the 15 th of May 1828, I John R. French, in the County of Rutherford in the State of Tennessee do hereby declare that I enlisted in the continental line of the Army of the Revolution in the State of Virginia, for twelve months, and was in the service at the close of the war; at which period I was a private in Capt Anderson Company, Third Regiment, commanded by Col. Samuel Cleveland, I do not recollect of having rec d , the Certificate of Congress under the Act 15 th May 1778 - and I further declare that I was not on the 15 th day of May 1828 on the pension list of the U. States.
Witness my hand, this 10 th day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty eight
H. Garrison J.P. John R. French Encl d Inv. of old Books
Before me H. Garrison an acting justice of the peace in the County of Rutherford and State of Tennessee, personally appeared Mordica Sellard and John Taylor, of the said County, who did severally make oath, that John R. French, by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally reputed and believed to have been a soldier in the Army of the revolution, in manner as therein stated.
Witness my hand, this 10 th day of December in the year aforesaid 1828
H. Garrison J.P. Clerk
John Taylor Mordica Sellard mark

John R. Langhlin, clerk of the court of the county of Rutherford in the state of Tennessee, do hereby certify that H. D. Garrison — Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn, was, at the time, a justice of the peace, and duly empowered to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, this 10th. day of December 1828.
John R. Langhlin, C.W.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of _____ 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.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Feb. 1776 12 mos. Private James Anderson Samuel Meredith Va.   Six mos. after above 6 mos. John Garland Samuel Garland   in 1777 3 mos. William Hays ✓   in 1778 6 mos. Peter Garland ✓   3 mos. 1 mo. James Shick ✓  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistments, _____
Date of application for pension, Nov. 18, 1833. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, _____
Age at date of application, _____
Remarks: _____
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

1918 May 3. Hith to Mrs. Elizabeth Smith. $
Rev. Han
3772.
INVALID.
File No. 3772
John Leach Pete Wa. Cinna
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 4 , Page 37
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Recd ans
Apt. 22 - 1430 Rhode Island Avenue,
April 25, 1918.
The Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir:
Will you kindly have the proper division in your Office furnish me (for the purpose of enabling me to become a member of the D. A. R.) with the service of John Tench, my great grand-father. I think he was from Petersburg, Virginia, and went from there to South Carolina. I am not sure whether he went to the latter State before or after his service in the Revolution; but he was granted bounty-land for said services in the State of Ohio. I think his wife's maiden name was Creagh. This is all the data I possess, and I hope it will enable him to be identified, and I will thank you so much for your kindness.
Cordially yours,
(Mrs.) Elizabeth Smith.
I hope as the name is unusual you will not have very much trouble in locating him; any other facts of family history disclosed by your papers concerning him will be appreciated.
Miss Wilson said to read this way it is the only one I do