Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15961, for John Read, Virginia

SERVICE-
Wa.
Head, John
NUMBER
S. 15961
carded
CONTENTS

W. H. Beecher - Mr. A. J. Dyer " to John '37 to H. H. Hays and wife " to Phoebe a spinster. Feb. 21, 1837.
of Hawaiian in the State of who was is P. in the C. command by Captain L. of the command by — in the line for L. S.
Inscribed on the Roll of W. H. C. C. at the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum. to commence on the 1 st day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the _____ day of _____ and _____ E. H. _____
Arrears to the 4th of ... Peni-ant. allowance ending ...
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. G. G. Book 6 Vol. 6 Pag 1

Declaration in Order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed 7 th of June 1832. State of Virginia Harrison County ss To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
On this 7 th day of November 1832 personally appeared John Read now a resident of the same County aged Eighty Eight Years before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Harrison and the said John Read who first being sworn according to law doth declare that he is unable from bodily infirmity to appear in Open Court to make this his declaration in Order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832.
"That he was born in Prince Edward County in the State of Virginia (as he understood from his parents) in the year 1745 - That he has no record of his age) from thence he removed to the County of Bedford in 1753 where he resided about sixteen years and from thence to the then District of West Augusta in the State aforesaid afterwards Monongalia County (now Harrison) where he married and has resided the greater part of his time and being so a resident of said District volunteered as a private in the Militia Service of the said State for the defence and protection of her North western frontier under Captain William Lowther at Nuttall's fort in the Year 1777 and served a term of six months during said year. In the year 1778 he again volunteered under the said Capt William Lowther at Nuttall's fort in the now County of Harrison as a private and served a term of six months. And that in the year 1779 he volunteered again under the said Captain William Lowther at Nuttall's fort as aforesaid for the term of six months and served as a private his said term as aforesaid. - That also in the Year 1780 he volunteered as a private soldier for the term of six months and served the same under the said Captain William Lowther at a Block House where Clark'sburg now stands in the County of Harrison and State of Virginia. That in the Year of 1781 he volunteered,

under Captain John P. Duvall (lately known as Col. Duvall of Kentucky) for the term of six months and served the same as a private soldier and also in another term of six months that he volunteered under the said Capt. John P. Duvall he was appointed by the said Captain and Indian Spy and served his said last mentioned term as such in the year 1782 - Not from his great age and loss of memory he is unable to state the several dates on which he so volunteered, or the exact termination of his several terms of services as aforesaid That whilst so engaged he was in several engagements with the Indians enemy under the said Captain Lowther in one of which the Indians were had been committing depredations and doing many murders in Gygarts Valley (now in Randolph County Va) And The said Lowther with his company after pursuing them until they overtook them on Indian Creek (so called because of the battle then fought), a branch of Hughes River (now in Lewis County Va) That in the engagement with the enemy the said Capt. Lowther so victorious (retaking from the savages several prisoners and killing a number of the enemy two of whom he this Applicant killed with his own weapon) This affair was considered a brilliant one at the time and took place in the year 1780 - he also states while under the command of said Lowther & Duvall he was necessarily exposed to great danger inconvenience, hardships and sufferings attendant upon the mode of warfare in which he was employed, by his said Commanding Officers as all those engaged in Indian Warfare can well avouch as he among others was frequently commanded to repair to points some 30 or 40 miles distant from his post to pursue a wily and artful enemy until they were driven far from the white settlements on the then frontier of Virginia - We further states that Captain William Lowther and Captain J. P. Duvall under whom he served at the times he has stated were duly Commissioned Officers and in the service of the State of Virginia as Militia

Certains and served as such - And that whilst so in service during the tours above mentioned he was not re-employed in any civil pursuits - He further states that he never received any written discharges for his said terms of service that he now remembers; or if so he has lost or mislaid them - He further states that Capt. William Lowther & Captain John P. Davis under whom he served are both dead and that he has no documentary evidence to establish his services as aforesaid - The evidence he can adduce in support of his claim that can certify to the same who are now living he will refer to Christopher Stratten, John Dickman; and Josiah Dampson all of the County of Harrison State of Virginia nearly all the rest of his associates in arms being dead or left the County and their place of residence being to him unknown. That the facts stated are true to the best of his knowledge
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Rev. of any agency or state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Isaac Coffield S.P.
We John Davis a Cergimen residing in the said County of Harrison and John Summers also of the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Road the within named Applicant who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 88 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and an Indian spy and that we concur in that opinion.
John Davis John Summers
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

And I, Jacob Coptlin a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Harrison and State of Virginia do hereby declare as my opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and Indian Spy during the Revolutionary War and lived as he states. And I do further certify that it appears to me that John Davis who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Virginian Resident in the said County of Harrison and that John Sumner will who has also signed the same is a Resident also of the said County of Harrison and is a credible Person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Jacob Coptlin
Presiding Magistrate of the County Court of Harrison County
I further certify that in consequence of age and infirmity, the above named John Reed is unable to attend at the Court house, in order to qualify to his Declaration.
Jacob Coptlin J.P.

B
15961 INVALID.
File No. 15,291
John Read Fin. Rev. Mr.
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 318
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Virginia Harrison County } To Wit
on the 16th day of November 1833 personally appeared before me Jacob Copenhine an acting Justice of the peace in the County and State aforesaid Christopher Mütter aged 74 years and made oath that he is well acquainted with John Reed the present applicant for a pension and that he believes the said John Reed not to be less then eighty eight years of age and that in 1777 he knows John Reed volunteered under Capt William Lowther at Nutter fort as a private soldier and served a tour of six months and that he knows that the said John Reed volunteered as a private soldier under the said Capt William Lowther at Nutter's fort for a tour of six months and served the same 1778 and that he knows that John Reed volunteered under the said Capt William Lowther at Nutter's fort and served a tour of six months in the year of 1779 as a private soldier and that in 1780 he knows that the said John Reed volunteered for a tour of six months and served said tour as a private soldier under the said Capt William Lowther and that in 1781 he knows that John Reed volunteered as a private soldier under Capt John P Devall at a Blockhouse near Clark'sburg now stands and served a tour of six months and that in 1782 the said John Reed volunteered under the said Capt John P Devall and was appointed spy and served a tour of six months and further swears that Nutter's fort is in the present County of Harrison as well as the Blockhouse and that and that the said John Reed was considered a fullf. soldier on the frontiers of Virginia during the Revolutionary War Sworn to the day and year aforesaid before me me Jacob Copenhine and I do hereby certify that Christopher Mütter is a credible person and his testimony is entitled to credit here & elsewhere Jacob Copenhine 97

State of Virginia } Harrison County }
To Wit
on the 16th day of November 1833 personally appeared Josiah Davison of Brushy Fork in Harrison County Virginia in his 76 th year of his age and made oath that he is well acquainted with John Reed the present applicant for a pension that he believes him not less than eighty eight years of age and that in 1777 he knew that John Reed volunteered under Capt William Lowther and served six months as a private soldier and that in 1778 at Watters fort and that in 1778 he knows the said John Reed volunteered as a private soldier under Capt William Lowther at Watters fort and served a tour of six months and that in 1779 he knows that the said John Reed volunteered under Capt William Lowther at Watters fort as a private soldier and served six months and that in 1780 he knows that the said John Reed volunteered under the said Capt William Lowther at Watters fort and served a tour of six months and that in 1781 that he knows that the said John Reed volunteered under Capt John D. Sewall at a Blockhouse where Clarkburg now stands and served a tour of six months as a private soldier and that in 1782 that the said John Reed was appointed an Indian spy and served six months and that Watters fort and the Blockhouse are both in the present county of Harrison and State of Virginia and that the said John Reed was considered a good soldier & a active defender of the frontier of Virginia during the Revolutionary War
His mark Josiah Davison
I sworn to the day and year aforesaid before me Jacob Coflin and do certify that Josiah Davison is a creditable person and that his testimony is intitled to credit here and elsewhere
Jacob Coflin J.P.

State of Virginia
Harrison County
on the 16th day of November 1883 personally appeared Sotha Hickman in his 96th year of age before me Jacob Coplein an acting justice of the peace and made oath that he is well acquainted with John Reed the present applicant for a pension that he believes the said Reed to be eighty eight years of age and that in 1777 he knows the said John Reed volunteered under Capt William Lowther at Wether's Fort and served a tour of six months and that in 1778 he knows the said John Reed volunteered under Capt William Lowther at Wether's Fort and served a tour of six months and that in 1779 he knows that the said John Reed volunteered at Wether's Fort and served a tour of six months under Capt William Lowther and that 1780 he knows that himself and John Reed were both soldiers under Capt William Lowther and served a tour of six months and that in 1781 he knows that John Reed volunteered under Capt John P. Bevell at a block house where blocks =bag now stands and served a tour of six months and that 1782 he knows that John Reed was offered an Indian spy by Capt John P. Bevell and that he served a tour of six months and that Wether's Fort and block house are both in the present County of Harrison & State of Virginia and that he believes that John Reed served all of his tours as a private soldier and was considered a bold and active defender of the frontier of Virginia
Sotha Hickman mark
sworn to the day and year aforesaid before me Jacob Coplein and I do certify that Sotha Hickman is a credible person and that his testimony is entitled to credit here and elsewhere
Jacob Coplein J.P.

Harrison County Virginia
I David Davis Clerk of the Court of Harrison County testify that Jacob Caplin is a Magistrate as above and that the foregoing signa- tures purporting to be his are genuine in Testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my Seal of Office and subscribed my name this 29 th day of November in the year of our Lord 1833
D. Davis