Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 7912, for William Palmer, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Palmer, William
R 7912
CONTENTS

The Declaration of Mr Palmer in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 June 1832-
State of Virginia, County of Westmoreland
S.S.
On this 24 day of February 1834 personally ap-
peared before the County court of Westmoreland William Palmer, a resident of said County & state aforesaid; aged about 70 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to ob- =tain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, June 7 th 1832. That he was called out in service, between the years 1776 & 83 as well as he can recollect, the precise year he does not recollect, under a Capt n W m Edwards, who commanded a company of militia; & when the British first came up the Potomac river, his com- pany with others defended the shores as well as they could, against the depredations of the enemy. He was first stationed at Cromony ferry on the Cromony creek a branch of the Potomac river, where we had boats &c. & guarded them, so that the servants or slaves in the neighbourhood might not go to the enemy; also to guard the to- =bacco warehouses at that place. Where he continued four months. The enemy having left the river as was believed, he was discharged for a short time, but was soon called out again under the same officers, and marched to Bushfield at the mouth of the Cromony creek or river, and continued there some time. From thence he was moved down the Potomac river to sundry stations: and last to Sandy point; during which time he served six months. The enemy then went up the river, and he was attached to Capt n Edw d Sanford's company and marched from the mouth of Cromony to Stratford on the Potomac; where he was in a small engagement. From thence up the river a short distance to Lee's mill, making in the last tour eight months. This whole service of 18 months, is at this distance of time all he can recollect: but he commenced the service. Soon after the war began, he was more or less engaged during the war. In one year particularly, he cultivated no crop. He relinquishes hereby every claim whatever, to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he de- clares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state except this present application. Sworn to and subscribed the day

and year aforesaid.
Teste William H. H. Clerk
William H. Palmer
And the the court aforesaid do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
I William H. H. Clerk of the County Court of Westmoreland do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said C in the matter of the application of Mr. Palmer for a pension.
In testimony whereof I do hereby set my hand and affix the seal. of My office this 25 th day of February 1834.
William H. H. Clerk
And I Sam d . Templeman & Thomas Mr. Washington a clergyman residing in the County of Westmoreland do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Mr. Palmer who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. that I believe him to be about 70 Years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that I concur in that opinion - Sworn and subscribed This 24 day of March 1834 Samuel Templeman

Answer to the 3 d Question - I have lived all my life in Westmoreland County; having in my life made several removals, but never out of the County -
4 th How were you call d into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? Answer - I was call d into service as a Militia man, was not drafted, nor was I a substitute for any person.
5 th State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services.
Answer. Capt n W m Edwards, Capt n Richard Muse, & Capt n Conrad Sanford were the principal officers that was with the troops where I was. I do not now recollect the different Continental & Militia Regiments. The general circumstances of my service are set forth in my declaration.
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Answer. I do not recollect to have rec d a discharge from service; if I did, I have forgotten it -
7 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, who can testify as to your character & services, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer. Capt. Geo. Blaircock, Randall Pierce & James Ditt have known me for a length of time, and I have no doubt would testify as to my honesty & veracity as well as many others in the neighbourhood, & friends of my services. The foregoing is in testimony of my services as taken before me James Ditt a Justice of the Peace of the County of Westmoreland, at the house of said Palmer, whose bodily infirmity forbids his attendance in open Court at this time sign d and sworn to according to law in my presence, the day & year above written -
I W m Hutt Clk of Westm t County do hereby certify that James Ditt whose signature is written above is an acting Magistrate of this County & was so at the time of signing & that his signature is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affix d my hand & seal of office - James Ditt This 23 d of April 1834
(W m Hutt) Clerk of Westmoreland County Court
Westmoreland County 23 d
The amend d Declaration of W m Palmer taken at his own house in consequence of bodily infirmity forbidding his attendance at Court, before me James Ditt a Justice of the peace for the County afores d this 12 th of May 1834. Question. In your former declaration, you state a service of 18 months; however that service rendered?

County Court
Westmoreland County Vg a
The amended Declaration of W m Palmer taken at his own house in consequence of bodily infirmity forbidding his attendance at Court, before me James Jett a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid this 12 th day of July 1834. Question. In your former declaration, you state a service of 18 months. How was that service rendered?
I will answer by being stated at the time of my service 4 months as set forth in my former declaration; The residue of my service, charged, say 6 & 8 months, was rendered in Regular State Company, but at different times; some times I would be called out for one month & discharged; & in a few days be called in again, & serve another period of some two or three weeks & again discharged. I again began called out accordingly as the Enemy would make their appearance in our walls, & so on nearly as long as the war continued, making my total time from the whole service, at least 18 months as above stated from home in actual service. William Palmer Mark Sworn & subscribed to before me The day & year first above written H. G.
Westmoreland County Vg a S.S.
A supplement to an amended declaration made by W m Palmer a soldier of the Revolution at his own house in consequence of bodily infirmity, forbidding his attendance at Court, & taken before me James Jett a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid this 29 th day of July 1834, by way of question & answer as follows viz:
1 st Question. In your first declaration made the 24 th  July 1834, you state that you served 18 months as a militia man in the Revolutionary War from May 1834.

Westmoreland County Va } S.S. }
A supplement to an amended declaration made by Wm Palmer a soldier of the Revolution at his own house in consequence of bodily infirmity, for bidding his attendance at Court, & taken before me James Jess a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid this 29 day of June 1834, by way of question & answer as follows viz:
1 st Question. In your first declaration made the 24 Sept 1834, you say that you served 18 months as a militia man in the Revolutionary war, and in your amended declaration, made the 12 May 1834, you say this 18 months service was performed, at different times and at different stations without designating the length of time at each place.
You will if you can, say how long you staid at each place & what were the names of the different stations. Answer. I am still confident that I served in all at least 18 months as before said on oath; for I was out off & on, 6 years, & one year I cultivated no corn.
I will state such places, & such time at each, as I can now distinctly recollect; I shall not mention the many days & weeks lost in marching from place to place, which I suppose I shall have to lose.
In my first station at Romney ferry I continued 4 months. Next at Buckfield, I staid 2 weeks. From there down to Sandy point, I staid one month. Then coming up the river, was stationed at Booths 2 months. Then at Curyomon house 2 weeks. Then at Hollis' Marsh 2 weeks. Then at Chantilly house 6 weeks. From there to Stratford Lees Mill; at the first place, I staid one month, & at the last, 3 months, where we had a battle with the Enemy. And further he saith not.
William his Palmer Sw. Sworn to, & subscribed before me a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid the day & year first above written.
James Jess
State of Virginia
Westmoreland County to wit. I William Hutt, clerk of Westmoreland county court do hereby certify that James Jess whose signature is annexed to the above supplemental declaration of William Palmer is and was at the time of annexing thereto his said signature a justice of the peace for said county duly commissioned and sworn; and that the said signature is the genuine signature of the said Jess, as his testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court this 2 day of July 1834 in the 5 th year of the Commonwealth.
William Hutt Clerk

This day personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for said County, Sam d . Templeman & Thomas not Washington and made oath to the foregoing certificate. That the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in my office. 1834
and that they are he is a creditable person & this statement entitled to credit - Given under my hand this 24 day of March 1834
I William Dutt Clerk of Westmoreland County do hereby certify James Lett, to be an acting Magistrate in the said County & the above signature purporting to be his, is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and seal of Office this 24 day of March 1834.
The oaths in the above certificate given by me, were made before signing the same -
Given under my hand this 24 day of Mar: 1834 J Lett.
Questions propounded to the aforesaid Complainant, which should have been put by the Court aforesaid, but being omitted at that time, and the said Palmer being of infirm health, & unable to attend again in open Court avails himself of the law in that case provided, before a justice of the peace, this 24 day of March 1834.
1 st Where, in what year were you born?
Answer. In Westmoreland County, but the precise year I don't recollect I believe about the year 1764.
2 nd Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Answer. I have no record of my age, if it was made, I have never seen it -
3 rd Where were you living when called into service? Richard lived since the Revolutionary war, where do you now live?
[Faint, illegible handwriting at the bottom of the page]

Hon. J. M. Palmer
(Westmoreland County to wit.)
I William H. Kirk clerk of the County Court of Westmoreland do hereby certify that William Palmer Francis Jett, before whom the within annexed declaration of William Palmer was read and who has given his certificate in attestation thereof is now at the time of so doing a justice of the peace in and for the said County duly commissioned and sworn; and that the signature, written is the genuine signature of the said James Jett. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Official Seal this 14 th day of May 1834 —
(William H. Kirk) clerk of Westmoreland County Court

7,912 P. O.
William Palmer
Service: _____
Enlisted: REJECTED _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

William Palmer
Virginia
Rejected
S. S. Pitts
25 Sep 1934
7912

The deposition of Daniel Marmaduke of Richmond County aged about 65 years taken at the house of William Palmer in West County an old Revolutionary soldier on this 15 th day of July 1834 - by way of Easton Kansas as follows -
Ques Do you know whether William Palmer sen. was a soldier in the Revolutionary War,
Ans. Yes I am sure that he was - he was generally on the Potomac River with the other troops -
Ques Do you know under what officer he served -
Ans. I do not know further this defendant saith not - - - Dan Marmaduke
West County to wit,
The foregoing deposition taken before me a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid this 15 th day July 1834
J. H. G.

Westmoreland County S.S.
I, William  Stutt Clerk of Westmoreland County do hereby certify that James Lett whose signature is attached to the within, was when signing the same an acting Magistrate of the County aforesaid, and that the signature is genuine - In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal of office the 23 rd day of April 1834
William Stutt Clerk of Westm d County Court
Memoranda's testimony to establish Mr. Paterson's living
Westmoreland County ss to May 1834, I James Lett Justice of the peace for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the within named Daniel Man- -maduke who has subscribed & sworn to the within affidavit, is a man of Credibility, whose testi- -mony is entitled to credit - Given under my hand the day & year above written -
J Lett
Westmoreland County ss
I William Stutt Clerk of Westmoreland County do hereby certify that James Lett, whose signature is attached to the above certificate is and was, at the time of signing the same an acting Magistrate of the County aforesaid and that his signature is genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 14 th day of July 1834
William Stutt Clerk of Westm d County Court

Westmount VA. Sep. 18 -
Free
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office War Department Washington D.C.
30 691
VA
William Palmer

Westmoreland C.W. Sept. 15. 1834
Dear Sir,
Mr Palmer, I imagine, can do no more to establish his pension claim than has been done; he therefore must be satisfied with whatever decision the Department can arrive at from the papers, which are here enclosed.
Let me hear as soon as convenient, what shall have been determined upon, (and if favourable to Palmer, shall be pleased to receive his certificate with that information)
Most respectfully,
I am Sir Yours,
J. P. Pitts
P.S. I have the pleasure to say, that the Certificate for George Connolly's pension, has been deliv d to him, and he has doubtless, ere this, rec d his money.
J. P.