Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5, 939, for Archibald Pleasants, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Pleasants, Archibald
S. 5,939
carded
CONTENTS

37 Virginia
Archibald Pleasants of Goochland in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the Comp y : commanded by Captain Smith of the Reg t commanded by Col: Fleming in the Virginia line for 6 months from 1780-
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 20 -- Dollars -- Cents per ann m , to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of Dec r and delivered Maj. Handy. Presents
Arrears to 4th of Sept-1832 30- Semi-ann l . allowance ending 4 Mar: 33 10- $40-
{ Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Chatham Rice - Clerk Book D Vol. 7 Page 110-

Rev War
5939
INVALID.
1925 Nov. 17. History to Mrs. Mattie Mc Culloch. au. (see her letter in Robert Pleas- ants S.8964) au
File No. 5939
Archibald Pleasants
Rev War
Act: June 1 st 82
Index:—Vol. M , Page 298
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Virginia } County of Goochland } S.S.
On this 15 th day of October 1832 personally appeared before R. H. Pleasants one of the justices of the peace in and for the county of Goochland, being one of the judges of the County Court of Goochland, in the said county, Archibald Pleasants sen., a resident citizen of the said county of Goochland and State of Virginia, aged eighty five years, who is from age and bodily infirmity unable to attend the Court of Goochland County to make his declaration: 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. The length of time that has passed by, renders his recollection very imperfect as to dates, when he was in service and the minutiae attending each tour he was called on to perform. But he well remembers that in the year 1780 in the county of Goochland he was drafted as a militia man to guard the British prisoners in two different towns at the Albemarle Barracks in the county of Albemarle, each a month or more, for which tour, he hired a substitute: in the winter following at the time that was called Arnold's invasion, he was again drafted & put under the command of Captain Gideon Hatcher, and after marching to Appo, in the lower counties for about three weeks, was then stationed for some time at Cabin point in the County of Surry, where a part of the militia from Goochland county were discharged: he was then put under the command of Capt. Edward Smith in Col. Charles Fleming's Regiment which was then under the command of Gen. Muhlenburgh; after serving out the tour for which he was drafted, the length of which he has no distinct recollection of, he was discharged: — in the month of May or June following he was again drafted under the same Captain and marched to Richmond, where the troops were organized and he was attached to the 4 th Regiment commanded by Colonel John Pleasants, and marched down to near Osburns, where the American shipping was taken by the enemy, where he saw one of the vessels blown up: soon after that time he was made quarter master sergeant His Regiment was joined by three other Regiments, and were continually

marching to, &c. as the movements of the enemy, rendered necessary: General Thomas Nelson had the chief command of the troops, till he the said Archibald Pleasants was discharged near Richmond: he served out the time for which he was drafted, but cannot say what was the length of the tour last mentioned or the one previous thereto; but he is certain that in the various tours that he actually served, the time, when united, amounted to at least six months. He was again drafted to go to Little York at the time Cornwallis was besieged there, and after marching one day on the expedition towards York, was taken sick, and permitted to return home, and in about a week was ready to march again, and would have followed on & joined the Regiment, but was ordered by Col. Nathaniel Morris, not to go, but to hold himself in readiness for the next tour of duty, & was never called for afterwards. He never received any written discharge.
He was born in the County of Henrico on the 11 th day of Jan 1746. Old style: has no record of his age: except the family bible - lived in the county of Goochland when called into service; and has resided in the County of Goochland since the Revolutionary war till this time. He is known by almost every person in the county of Goochland; particularly by James Pleasants late Governor of Virginia; the Rev. Matthew Webber, Doctor Thomas Curd, William Miller clerk of the Courts in Goochland County; John Satterwhite, Frances M. Royster, David Royster, Col. Wm. Rolling, Col. Wm. Gray Col. Benjamin Anderson, Col. Joseph S. Watkins & Col. John Guerrant
who can testify as to his character for veracity &c. He has no documentary evidence; he knows of no person whose evidence he can now procure who can testify as to his services except John Woodson & & James Pleasants late Governor of Virginia.
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
Arch d Pleasants
Affirmed Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid
[Handwritten signature: Archd Pleasants]

We Matthew Webber a clergyman residing in the county of Goochland and Thomas Curd — residing in the same county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Archibald Pleasants sen. who has subscribed therein  affirmed to the foregoing and annexed declaration; that we believe him to be eighty five years of age: that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, that we concur in that opinion by Tho. Curd & affirmed by Matthew Webber Sworn to, & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Matthew W. Webber Tho. Curd
And I Robert W. Pleasants Judge, as aforesaid hereby certify that Archibald Pleasants who has subscribed and affirmed to the above declaration, is, as I do verily believe, from great age and infirmity unable to attend the court of which I am Judge nor do I believe he will be able to attend said court at its next session. And I do hereby declare my 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 as he states. And I further certify that it appears to me, that Matthew Webber who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the county of Goochland, and that Tho. Curd — who has also signed the same is a resident of the same county, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit
Robert W. Pleasants
(Virginia Goochland County ss)
On this 15 th day of October 1852 personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the county aforesaid James Pleasants Esquire a citizen of said county and as appears to me a credible person who being first duly sworn, deposes — that in the time of the Revolution he was a boy and lives very near to Arch d Pleasants who has made the above declaration and perfectly recollects that said Pleasants

Pleasants was several times in the Militia service of the state (though on account of his youth he does not recollect the officers) particularly during Arnold's invasion — And also John Woodson a citizen of the county of Fauquier and a credible person who being duly sworn also deposith — that Archibald Pleasants who has subscribed the above declaration served with him on several occasions in the Militia service during the revolutionary war — particularly the tour at Arnold's invasion at which time he served the whole tour, and also another tour in the same part of the country officers not recollecting at which time he very believes he served the whole tour also — Given under my hand this day and year aforesaid
Benj Anderson
State of Virginia } ss. Goochland County }
I William Miller Clerk of the County Court of the said County do hereby certify that Robert W. Pleasants before whom Archibald Pleasants made the annexed Declaration of his services as a Revolutionary soldier; and who has certified the same, is a Judge of the said Court, duly commissioned and qualified — And I do further certify that Benjamin Anderson, before whom James Pleasants & John Woodson made the foregoing Affidavits, and who has certified the same, is a Justice of the peace of the said County, duly authorized to administer oaths, and that the signatures of the said Robert W. Pleasants & Benjamin Anderson to their respective Certificates, are genuine
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office. This 20 th day of October in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Will. Miller, Cld
1028 apparent test 08/1 recd
That as the within declaration does not specify the length of time the applicant served as a quarter Master Sergeant, the form of a private is accepted with the provision that the applicant can amend his declaration by affidavit specifying the length of time he served as an M c Sergeant if the applicant wishes to claim the additional pay H t Handy

85939
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Archibald Pleasants a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Winter 1780 Served Pvt. Colonel Nathan Edm Smith Chas Fleming Va   May or June 1781 in all 7 mos 2d M Sgt Edw Smith John Pleasants  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Goodland Co Va
Date of application for pension, Oct 15 1832  which was al -
Residence at date of application, Goodland Co Va -
Age at date of application, 85. At Henrico Co Va. Jan'y 11 1746-7 Old Style
Remarks: It is not stated whether he was married
Respectfully,
Commissioner.