Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5882, for William Patrick, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Patrick William
S 5882
Qa
Carded
CONTENTS

Virginia 12.553
William Patrick
of Augusta in the State of Virginia who was a pri. in the company commanded by Captain Rankin of the Regt. commanded by Col. Lewis in the Virginia line for 6 months and 8 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 20 Dollars 88 Cents per annum. commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9. day of May '33 and sent Jefferson to Staunton, Augusta Co. Va
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 - 41.76 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sept.. 10.44
$52.20
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by William Miller Clerk, Book E. Vol. 6. Page 21

5882
Reask
INVALID.
File No. 5882
William Patrick
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 1832
Index:—Vol. M , Page 287
[Arrangement of 1870.]

22,675
William Patrick: Virginia.
Amount for 6 mos (at 8 days. as per rate— $20.88)
Jefferson Kinney, Clk.: Augusta County Va.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of William Patrick, of Augusta Co., Va.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Drafted '81 — 3 19. Pv. Capt. H. Rankin, Capt. Charles Cameron. Col. Samson Matthews, Lieut. Col. Wm Bowyer, Major Alexander Robertson, Gen. Muhlenburg, Col. Samuel Lewis, Major Long, Washington, Col. Fayette, & Wayne. Fredricksburg: from thence to Ponto-mouth. New Can-ton: from thence to West Point, & to Cabin Point. Williamsburg: from thence to York town. Augus-ta County, Va. Aged 69 years. Traditionary.   Drafted. — 2. 19. Pv. Capt. William Fin-ley  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their 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 the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[t] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
W. R. Turner

Smith Thompson being first duly sworn declares that he knew William Patrick while the said Patrick was in the service in his Ind. For mentioned in the foregoing declaration made by the said Patrick - that he returned home with said Patrick & believes that he served as he states - sworn to & subscribed this 24th of August 1832 in open Court. - Smith Thompson
William Patrick for a Pension 22075 Declaration

State of Virginia - Augusta County, towit:
On this 25 th day of September 1882, personally in open Court before the Justices of the County Court of Augusta now sitting, William Patrick, a resident in the County & State aforesaid, aged 69 years on the 21 st day of last January, 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 1882. -
That he entered the service of the W. States under the following Officers & served as herein stated. -
That he was drafted as a Militiaman & entered the service on his first call on the 1 st day of January in the year 1781 at Lees (now Waynesborough) near Rockfish Gap in Augusta County Virginia under the command of Capt. Thomas Rankin of the Augusta Militia - That about 2 weeks afterwards he was assigned to Capt. Charles Cameron's Company - That his company was attached to Col. Sampson Matthews' Regiment of Augusta Militia, of which W m Bowyer was Lieutenant Colonel & Alex r Robertson Major - That he marched in said Companies & Regiment to the "old Bird ordinary" on the way to Richmond, when by reason of an Express being received (as was then said) that Arnold was about to come up the Rappahannock & destroy the stores at Fredericksburg, the march was changed to Fredericksburg - After remaining there a few weeks, he marched with his company & regiment to Portsmouth near Norfolk, about which place and the Dismal Swamp & surrounding country, he was in several little skirmishes with the British in scouting parties & detached companies, the events of which being very unimportant he does not particularly remember - Near Portsmouth his regiment joined Gen l Muhlenburg with several regiments of militia & perhaps some regular troops or "18 months' men" - Baronastadt was at this time training the men at this & some adjacent stations - He knew no other regular officers - He was stationed about Portsmouth till he was regularly dismissed & returned

home after being out in the service on this Tour 3 months & 19 days — Being a drafted militiaman he received no discharge. —
On his second Tour he was a drafted militiaman & entered the service about the 1st day of August at the same place as before under the command of Capt. H. Wm Wiley of the Augusta militia — This company was attached to Col. Saml. Lewis' regiment, in which Song was Major — In this Company & regiment was  was to New Canton — thence to West Point between Matapeñi & Pamunkey — remaining here 8 or 10 days, marched back by new Canton, down to Cabin Point — crossing James River about 20 miles perhaps above James Town & again crossing at Jamestown or near it marched on to Williamsburg — encamped near Williamsburg 2 or 3 weeks, then proceeded to York Town joining there the main Army under Washington, Lafayette, Wayne & H. — He remained here till he was discharged, having been engaged in no battle or skirmish during his Tour — The battle of Yorktown was fought a very short time after he was discharged — He was out in the service on this Tour 2 months & 19 days. Being a drafted militiaman he received no written discharge — He was born in Augusta County, Virginia about 12 or 14 miles east of Staunton on the 21st of January 1763, & has continued to reside at the same place ever since — The record of his age he has in a family bible at home — Alex d Williams  John Thompson who was in the service with the Defenders declarant on his 2nd. Tour. was in the same regiment with the Declarant on both his  was in the same regiment with the Declarant on both his Tours, & Smith Thompson who returned home with him from the 2nd in the absence of Documentary Testimony are referred to for evidence of his services as stated above; and the Davis & Thomas Calbreath can testify as to this Declarant's character for veracity & 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 & declares that his name is not on the pension Role of any agency of any state — Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. —

We Wm Davis & Thomas Calbreath residing in Augusta County Virginia hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Wm Patrick who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing statement - That we believe him to be 69 years of age - that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion - Also that he is a man of strict veracity - sworn to in open Court & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. -
Wm Davis Thos Calbreath
And the said County Court of Augusta do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the said Applicant Wm Patrick was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. - And the Court further certify that Wm Davis & Thomas Calbreath are credible persons & that their certificate is entitled to credit
State of Virginia - Augusta County to wit:
I, Jefferson Kinney Clerk of the County Court of Augusta do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of William Patrick for a pension - That the Affidavit of Smith Thompson & Alex r William was made in open Court. - In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office, this 6th day of February 1833.
Jefferson Kinney C.C.
Aug 21 decl two an
first duly sworn, declared that having heard the foregoing read, that I remember distinctly of having served the states & that the facts of his service as stated by him are to my recollection - sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above - in Court. -

Smith Thompson being first duly sworn, declares that he knew William Patrick while the said Patrick was in the service in his 2nd Tour mentioned in the foregoing declaration made by the said Patrick - that he returned home with said Patrick & believes that he served as he states. sworn to & subscribed this 28th of August 1832, in open Court. - Smith Thompson
William Patrick for a Pension 22075 Declaration
I Alex s Williams of Augusta County being first duly sworn say that I recollect to have seen W m Patrick in the service near Yorktown in the Revolution. & I have often heard my brother say that he was with said Patrick at or near Portsmouth previous to the time I saw him in the service & that I believe from these circumstances & from my knowledge of said Patrick as a man of truth that he served as he has stated in his declaration.
Sworn to & subscribed in Open Court - Alexander Williams Mark