Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8035, for Philip Pearce, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Pearce, Philip
P.8035
CONTENTS

37618
Philip Pearce
Trn
act 7 June 1832

30 June 1848
Claus
Woodbury Tenn June 21
15
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

State of Tennessee Cannon County S.S.
On this 20 th day of June 1848, personally appeared in open court, before the Circuit Court of Cannon County, now sitting, Philip Pearce, a resident of said County, in the State of Tennessee, aged Eighty three years, six months & eighteen days, 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 the 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. He served his first campaign or tour, in the State troops, of the State of Virginia as a substitute for his elder brother Thomas Pearce, who was draughted for the term of three months, as a private; that he entered the service in March 1781 , in Captain Shackelford's company. The captain's given name, he does not distinctly remember, but thinks it was John. The names of his other company officers, he does not remember. Col. Mathews was the Colonel of the Regiment in which he served. He does not remember his given name. When he entered the service, he resided in King & Queen County , in the State of Virginia. He rendezvoused with his company, at Anderson's old store on the main road leading through the County in which he resided, and marched from thence to Morgan hills, a short distance below Richmond Virginia, where he joined his Regiment, and when he remained in garrison with his Company & Regiment, three months, until the term of his service expired. There was a Regiment of regular troops stationed at the same place, during all the term of declarant's service there. There was a Colonel in command of the Regiment of regulars, but he does not remember his name. While stationed as aforesaid, he distinctly remembers that Gen. George Washington & the Marquis de la Fayette, with their staff, came to the place to review the troops there. When his term of service expired he was honorably discharged by his Captain. He received a certificate in writing, from his Captain, certifying that he was entitled to draw a certain amount per month, (he thinks twenty shillings per month) for his services, but he

never drew any thing. He has lost said certificate, and does not know what became of it. Unless said certificate could be considered a written discharge, he received no discharge in writing. He was not employed in any civil pursuit, during his term of service, but was for all the term of three months in actual military service. —
Declarant states that in about one week after he returned home, he was drafted to serve three months on his own account in the State troops, of the State of Virginia, that he marched to the same place at which he was garrisoned during the first term of his service, to wit, Morgan hills, a short distance below Richmond, Virginia, that he marched to the same place and served three months in the Company commanded by Captain Barnet Todd. The name of the orderly sergeant in the Company was Lewis Bosedery. He does not remember the names of any of his other Company officers. He served as a private. His Company belonged to the Regiment commanded by the same Colonel who commanded the Regiment during his first term of service, to wit, Col. Matthews. He remained at Morgan Hills a short time, until the British crossed James River at Woodson's ferry about twelve miles below Morgan hills, and marched to New Kent Court House, from thence to Williamsburg, and from thence towards Yorktown, that his Regiment followed on after the British, and marched on a few miles below Williamsburg where they halted, and remained as a picket guard, or out post, until declarant's term of three months expired, when he was discharged and returned home. He served out his full term and was not employed in any civil pursuit during his term of service. He was verbally discharged by his Captain. After he returned home he received a Certificate from his Captain authorizing him to draw twenty shillings per month for his service. He gave his Certificate to a younger brother, David Peared, who served in the same Campaign with him, to draw the money for him. He never received any thing on it, and does not know that his brother ever drew any thing on it. He has no knowledge as to what became of the Certificate after he gave it to his brother. His said brother died a

few years afterwards. When declarant marched to Morgan hills this last term of service, there were regular troops there, but he did not march from there in company with them, and he has no personal knowledge as to when said regular troops marched. He does not remember the name of any of the officers by whom they were commanded. Declarant was discharged from this last term of service about the 1 st of October 1781.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency in any State or territory.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid J. L. Weatherford clk
Philip Pearce
And the said Court hereby declares his opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states
Anderson Presiding Judge
I John L. Weatherford Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cannon County, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Philip Pearce for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and private seal, there being no seal of office, this 20 th day of June 1848. Seal J. L. Weatherford clk
Aug 5 th 1848
Then I Edward, Com of Pensions. I am personally acquainted with Charles Ready Esqr & know him to be a man of Honour & Veracity. He writes me that J. Weatherford is the Circuit Court Clerk of Cannon County Tennessee & I am personally acquainted with S. Anderson who is the Circuit Court Judge for the Circuit in which Cannon County is situated. My knowledge of Mr Ready & Judge Anderson is such that I am satisfied with as much certainty that J. Weatherford is the Clerk of Cannon Co & that the above is his official signature as if I had been present when he wrote his name. Respectfully Th. H. Shelby

No 37618
Philip E Pearce
Tex
Oct 7 June 1832
Hon. M. P. Gentry Representative in Gen Washington
Gooding Tex June 21

Woodbury Tenn June 21
40
Hon. M. P. Gentry Representation in Congress Washington City

Woodbury Tenn. June the 20 th 1848.
Hon. M. P. Gentry,
Dear Sir,
I have this day enclosed for transmission, from this place, to the War Department, or rather to the Pension office, the declaration of Philip Pearce, a revolutionary soldier, to obtain a pension. The Clerk of the court here, John L. Weatherford, who certifies the declaration, has no seal of office, and has annexed a scroll to his name for his private seal. I believe the rules of the War Department require that, in such cases, the member of Congress representing the county from which the papers are sent shall certify as to the official character of the person who signs his name to the authentication of the declaration, as clerk. I have therefore to request that you will file your certificate in the Pension office, with the papers in Philip Pearce's application, that John L. Weatherford is clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, Tenn. He was re-elected in March last. Judge Anderson hereto annexes his certificate that John L. Weatherford is clerk of said court, in order that with the certificate of the presiding judge of the court before you, you may file your certificate with

the highest assurance that you are correct in so doing.
Very truly yours &c.
Charles Ready
John I Weatherford is the clerk of the Circuit court of Cannon being elected as such clerk at the last March elections and has qualified as such clerk by entering into bond and taking the oaths required by law
Anderson
To The Commissioner of Pensions
The Author of this Letter is a lawyer of good reputation and a Gentle- man of high standing. Sam Anderson is the Judge of the Circuit in which Cannon County is embraced. Mr Ready's Statement & Judge Anderson's Certificate is conclusive proof that John I Weatherford is the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cannon County , and upon that proof, I certify to the fact, that he is Clerk of said Court
Respectfully M P Gentry
Hon L L Edwards

N 37. 618
Philip Pearce
Ten
Lt. Gen. M. P. Gentry
July 6 th 1848
at home August 16. 48
8035
Oct 7 June 1832

Phillip Pease Turner Rev. Oct 1832. Suspended
Paper
L.M.
Mr. Read.

8035- P. O. Philip Pearce
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

James L. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pensions Washington City

Woodbury Tenn. June the 20 th 1848. James L. Edwards Esq., Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir,
I herewith enclose the declaration of Philip Pease, a revolutionary soldier, for a pension under the act of June the 7 th 1848. The applicant claims to have served in the State Troops of Virginia, and his declar- ation is prepared and authenticated in accord- ance, as near as practicable, with the directions of the war department, as understood here.
The Clerk of the Court has certified the dec- laration, and affixed a scroll for his private seal, there being no seal of office. I have written to the Hon. M. P. Gentry, the Rep. in Congress from this district, requesting him to file his certifi- cate as to the official character of the Clerk, if it be deemed necessary. Mr. Gentry knows the fact that the person who certifies as Clerk, is the clerk of the Court.
When the case is determined, address me at Murfreesboro' Tenn., and enclose to me, any documents for the applicant.
Very respectfully &c.
Charles Ready