Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5715, for John Jones, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Jones, John
R. 5715-
CONTENTS
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15409
John Jones
2 March 1833
Obj. 16
P. 280
June 19. '33
5.
1416
How
Mr. Alexander Lombardy Grove Ripetech. 1833 1833
1833
J. P. Knight
E

BRIEF in the case of  John Jones County of Dinwiddie  in the State of  Virginia  (Act 7th June, 1882.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? History of the Pensions  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? Yes  3. How old is he? 76  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.  
In 17  His faculties are so much impaired that he can only be brought by some very strenuous circumstances to a recollection of any particular period of his life, and even that but in a general way. Upon the testimony of all his children, he has some of whom he has been in the Rebel army since the beginning of the war, and he is in no doubt that he was in the Rebel army during the war. He is now 76 years of age.
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dinwiddie Co. Va.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Incidental, & a map of traditional evidence as well as by living witnesses.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No, they are all correct. 
I  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. G. Wick Examining Clerk.  24th May 1882

State of Virginia County of Dinwiddie } ss.
On this 15 th day of Oct. 1832, J. M. G. M. - Wm a Justice of the County Court of Dinwiddie went to the house of John Lewis, a resident of Dinwiddie County, at the instance of some of his friends, he being entirely incapable from bodily infirmity of coming to Court, & personally appearing before Court, to take his declarations so far as he might be capable of making same, & making an examination of him, & such witnesses as might be produced, in order to his obtaining the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. And I certify that I find his mind to have become nearly non compos & was informed that it has been so for some years. His recollection seems almost obliterated, & to have lost the power of conception entirely. It is stated to me that he seldom recognized his most familiar acquaintance. When a leading question is proposed to him relating to any important incident in his former life, he seems to experience some sudden partial scintillation of intellect, & his answers bear the impression that he has a momentary consciousness of the circumstances, & incidents adverted to. For instance when asked whether during the revolutionary war he had not served as a soldier under Capt. Longhorne - & also under Capt. Brownell Godwyn? he replied at once "Yes". When asked if he had served as much in the army as two years? he replied "I think I did more". He said something the not very distinctly, of his having been in the army when Genl. Lafayette fired on Mr. Bollings house in Petersburg when Genl. Phillips was supposed to be in it - an incident generally believed in this part of the country. When asked where he was posted then he replied in Chesterfield - the County which is separated from Petersburg only by the River.

& when asked what Captain he then served under, he stated "I believe Capt. Orville Brodwyn". —
I certify that I then proceeded to take the foregoing certificates under the oaths of each of the Wit- nesses respectively which leave no doubt on my mind that the said John Jones was a faithful & active soldier in the revolutionary war for at least two years — From his appearance & my previ- ous understanding on the subject that he is about 70 years of age. I will add that he sustained a fair & unimpeachable character in the neighborhood, notwithstanding bodily infirmities, or other causes have disordered his intellect.
Pro. Nov 12 1813
I, Ephraim Vaughan of the County of Clinton do hereby certify that I have known John Jones of the said County well for between fifty & sixty years. That I know that he was a soldier in the militia in the service of the United States during the revolutionary war, and as well as myself served in all more than two years. I do not recollect what officers he served under always but I recollect his serving a tour in 1787 under Capt. Wm Lewis & another the same year, under Capt. John Nicholas. That the said Jones is about 70 years of age — he & myself having both been born — raised — & since resided in a mile of each other in Clinton County. That his mental faculties have become greatly impaired, & his pecuniary circumstances so much reduced that he or his family who have to support him stand in much need of the pension to which I know him to be justly entitled under the late Act of Congress. Subscribed to me this day aforesaid. —
Ephraim Vaughan

5415
P. O. 1832 Va
John Jones
Service: Enlisted in Va - non Engage- Dept for Jones & Goodridge
Enlisted: REJECTED , 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleged: The printed list of 1852 gives cause of rejection as:
Reenlisted: "Did not serve six months"
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

John Dores - Virginia
— Rejected — cannot find this letter Letter 4 April 1834 to
J. P. Crump

St. Louis.
Pa

John Jones BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
If the applicant is unable from mental enfeeblement to specify his service, and cannot procure proof of a definite period of service, - no action can be had in his case. —

(B.)
1872
1872

Dinwiddie September 8 th 1832
I do hereby certify that I have known John Jones of the County of Dinwiddie for upwards of fifty years - and I have always understood that the said John Jones was a very active and useful citizen during the Revolutionary war - in carrying in deserters from the Army &c. he has always supported the character of an honest man - and is at this time reduced in his circumstances and needs assistance - and that I have reason to believe the said Jones is about 70 years of age
John Crawford
Dinwiddie County to wit
This day Col. John Crawford of the Town of Petersburg personally appeared before me and made oath in due form of law to the above affidavit which is signed by him in my own hand written at his request he not being able to see how to write his name - having first read the same to the said Crawford in the presence of Nathaniel Gray & Thomas Jones - both of said County - given under my hand this 8 th day of September 1832 -
William Wynn J.P.
W.

State of Virginia, Dinwiddie County, to wit
On this 31 st day of January 1834, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Dinwiddie, John Flanders aged 76 years, and Ephraim Vaughan aged upwards of sixty five years, respectively who being duly sworn according to law, deposed and saith each for himself, that some time in the summer of the year one thousand seven and seventy eight, John Jones and themselves were called into the service of the country, in the army of the Revolution, the said John Jones as a private in Captain Smith's  Company Powell Goodwyn's Company Virginia Militia Colonel Joseph Jones's Regiment, and during which term of service the said John Jones and themselves were in the battle fought between the Americans and British at Hood's on James River in the State aforesaid, and that the said John Jones continued in the said service as a soldier for and 32 during the space of six months; and that the said John Jones and themselves were, during the said term of six months, in the battle fought between the contending armies at Petersburg on the Appomattox River in the said State. —
And afterwards, to wit, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, the said John Jones was again called into, and entered the service of our country as a private in Captain William Lewis' Company of Virginia Militia, (believed to be in Colonel David Walker's Regiment,) but what length of time the said John Jones continued in this last tour of duty, the deponent Flanders, cannot positively say, but he understood and believes, that the said Jones continued in the said last term of service at least six months, And the said deponent Ephraim Vaughan recollects that they continued (Jones & himself) together in this last above named tour at least six months, they do not recollect with precision, the time that the said Jones was called out to serve this last tour; but believes it was in the early part of that year (1779) — Also that they have no doubt, but on the other hand, from reports and circumstances, they believe, the said John Jones did serve in the Army of the

2/ Resolution
as he has stated in his declaration dated 15 th of October 1832; - they have known the said John Jones from their youth. They have always understood the said Jones was born in the County of Dinwiddie, and know that he has resided therein from their first acquaintance with him except when he was in the service of the country, or or otherwise, when business compelled him, casually out of the same.
an erasure in 10 th & 11 th long lines from top in 1 st page an erasure in 3 rd long line from bottom in 1 st page an erasure in 5 th long line from top in 1 st page an interlineation in 19 th line from bottom, 1 st page an interlineation in 9 th line from bottom 1 st page interlineations in 1 st and 4 th lines from bottom 2 nd page an interlineation in 1 st line, top, 2 nd page
John Flanders the Ephraim his Vaughan mark
I hereby certify that the above named John Flanders and Ephraim Vaughan, are, by their neighbors, said to be respectable and credible, and to the best of what I know about them, I cheerfully subscribe to that opinion. I also certify that the the above was sworn to and subscribed before me. —
Benj m Johnson, J. P.
State of Virginia Dinwiddie County set:
I John R. Crump Clerk of the County Court of Dinwiddie County, in the State of Virginia aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Benjamin Johnson, is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office, and subscribed my name this 11 th day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty four. — J. R. Crump

J. Peter Epper, an Officer in the New-Batavia Briga- de in the Continental line, & subsequently in the Militia service, & a resident then, & now of the County of Dinwiddie, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Jones of the said County, and that I know that he was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War - that I saw him engaged in a portion of the militia services which he performed, & though I have no personal knowledge of all his services, I have no doubt that he fully & faithfully rendered it for the time that his friends now state that he served before the failure of his recollection. That I believe him to be about 76 years of age & that I never heard of his having rec d any pension & do not believe that his name is on any pension roll whatever. And I will add that he has always supported in the County the character of an honest correct man, & that it is generally asserted & believed that he performed con- siderable services in the Militia during the war. Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid. Peter Epper
We Alfred S. Vaughan John B. Cole, Bennet Aldridge and Wm. B. Warfield, of the County of Dinwiddie do hereby certify that we were all raised in the same neighborhood in which Wm. John Jones has resided in Dinwiddie County, by all residence in his neigh- borhood - I have been well acquainted with him ever since our recollection. That we verily believe him to be an honest, upright, & correct man - that he has become so infirm as to render it impractic- able for him to attend Court in person, & that his faculties of memory are so much impaired that it would be impossible for him to give a detailed declara- tion of his revolutionary services; but that it is

generally reported & believed in his neighborhood that he was a soldier in the revolutionary war, that we concur in that opinion. We had supposed him to be as much as 70 years of age, & do not believe that he has ever recd. any pension or that his name is on the pension roll of any state. Sworn to, & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Alfred T. Vaughan
Wm. H. Vaughn Bennett H. Hargrave
Seth Gray
John B. Cob
The testimony of Colonel James Scott (brother of Genl. W. Scott of the U.S. army) Col. Wm. Wynn (and) Col. Joseph Goodwyn, all of them justices of the County Court of Dinwiddie, is here referred to on another piece of paper marked (A.) — And the evidence of John Crawford, of Petersburg, taken before Col. Wynn, is also here exhibited marked (B.)
We the undersigned John M. Langhorne, Nathl. Gray, Jeremiah Gray, and Frederick Gray, and John Goodwyn do hereby certify that we reside in the neighborhood of Mr. John Jones of Dinwiddie County who bodily & mental faculties, are now very much impaired — so that it would be impracticable for him to attend Court in person, or give in a consistent & accurate declaration of his revolutionary services. That we have long known him well, & that it is generally reported & believed in the neighborhood that he was a revolutionary soldier, & performed considerable services in the militia. That we concur in that opinion. And we further certify that before the said Jones lost his memory, while his mind was unimpaired

John Jones 7 Declaration of for a Pension
15409
✓

we have frequently heard him converse about his services in the army - & speak of the officers under whom he had served on various occasions - incidents which had occurred be fore and that on those occasions when the length of time that he was altogether engaged in the military service was mentioned, he uniformly stated himself, that he had served upwards of two years. We have never heard of his receiving any pension for his revolutionary services, & have no idea that his name is on the pension roll of any state. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. —
Seth Gray Frederick Gray Ephraim his Langham mark Jeremiah Conway pro. G. W. Lynn
all of which certificates, were subscribed, & sworn to before me, as above stated.
pro. G. W. Lynn
I, John P. Crump, Clerk of the County Court of Indiana - widdie, which is a Court of record, do hereby certify that John Goodwyns before whom the above original proceedings were had, in the matter of the application of John Sars for a pension is a Justice of the said Court, & of the peace, & that the signature above is his true and correct signature. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand, & the seal of my office this 15 th day of October in the year of our Lord 1832, and of our Independence the 57 th .
J. P. Crump C.D.C.

State of Virginia, Dinwiddie County Court &c, At a County Court held for the said County on the 20th day of March 1833 the subjoined proceedings, in behalf of John Jones an applicant for a pension were presented and examined by the Court, whereupon the said Court doth order it to be certified that John Goodwyn, John F. Lydon, James Scott, L. P. Lanier, William Wynn, and John Goodwyn, whose names and official acts appear in the said proceedings are Justices of the peace for the said County and due faith is to be ascribed to all their acts as such - and also that the said enumerated individuals and the following witnesses to wit Peter Spies, Alfred S. Vaughan, John B. the Bennet Aldridge, John S. Waugh, Nathl. Gray, Ephraim Vaughan, Jeremiah Conway, Frederic Gray, are creditable and respectable witnesses whose testimony is entitled to due credit and that they are all residents of this County. That W m John Crawford whose affidavit also is appended said when it was given (being since dead) not in Dinwiddie County but in the town of Petersburg adjoining it, and is believed by the Court to have been a respectable and credible witness; - And the Court, after an investigation of the whole matter, declares it to be its opinion, that the applicant John Jones was a Revolutionary soldier, and served at least as much as two years, as is stated in the said proceedings. -
I John P. Green Clerk of the County Court of Dinwiddie County, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the additional proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Jones for a pension: - And I do further certify that John Goodwyn, John F. Lydon, James Scott, L. P. Lanier

William Wynn and Joseph Woodhull, and acting Justices of the peace for the said County, and that due faith & credit ought to be given to their Official Acts: — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 20 th day of May 1833, in the 57 th year of the Commonwealth.
J. B. Crump, D.C.

I Peter Eales of the county of Dinwiddie do hereby certify that Mr John Jones of the the said county was a soldier in the Revolutionary war in the militia service and acted as a soldier in the year 1781 as given under my hand this 18 th day of Septm 1832
The above certificate was sworn to before me this 18 th Septm 1832
John B. Sydnor J.D.
Mr. E. Waugh Mrs. Sarah E. Waugh do hereby certify that I was raised in the neighbourhood of Mr John Jones and now live not more than 2 miles from him and have been intimately acquainted with him ever since my recollection and merely believe him to be an honest upright and correct man as given under my hand this 18 th Septm 1832
(S. Waugh)
The above certificate was this day duly sworn to before me
John B. Bate 18 th Septm 1832 - John B. Sydnor J.D. Bennett Aldridge
Wm E Waugh
Dinwiddie County to wit
I James Scott of the said county do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with the said John Jones from my early youth that the said Jones rented Dinwiddie house from me for the space of four years that I have always found him an honest man. That I believe from report he has he assets as above stated that is now reduced

in his circumstances and mental faculties so as to require such aid as he is entitled to by virtue of the Act providing for Revolutionary soldiers given under my hand this fourth day of September 1832 - -
James Scott
Dinwiddie County to wit
Personally appeared before me James Scott and made oath to the within affidavit. The 4 th day of September 1832.
L. P. Lencer J.P.
I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with the above named John Jones from my earliest recollection and now reside within 4 miles of him and I have always considered him an honest and correct man - and that he has always supported that character - he is now reduced in circumstances and his natural faculties - and needs assistance given under my hand this 6 th day of Sep r 1832
William Wynn
Dinwiddie (Va) Sept. 4 th 1832.
I do hereby certify that I have known John Jones for forty years or upwards, and all ways believed him to be an honest man, and have never heard to the contrary from any other person given under my hand the day as aforesaid
Geo. Goodwyn
(A)