Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2686, for John Oliver, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Oliver, John Elizabeth
No. 2686
B.L.Wt. 9186-160-53-
CONTENTS

969 Missouri
Elizabeth Oliver widow of John Oliver who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of Septm. 1852 and sent to
J. H. Oliver Present.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act July 29, 1848, Page 191 Vol. 4
Set to J. H. Oliver 29 Sep.

73.628 - act Mar 3/53
April 16/53
Elizabeth Oliver widow of John Oliver jr.
Capt Thomas & Roberts Va: State line
Revolutionary Pensioner
July 48-964 N o : 160 ac, Oct: 23 d 1855, Baptist
By J. H. [Signature]
Oliver Defendorf Weston Mo.
18
Vol. C. 49.

No 1112 Application of Elizabeth Oliver for Pension
Under act of July 29 th 1848
Missouri.
Adm d 2 yrs per $80. per annum. County 4 March 1848
James H. Oliver Cincinnati Ohio now present

State of Missouri County of Platte ss.
On this Twelfth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and fifty two personally appeared before me the undersigned Judge of the Western Court of Common Pleas, in and for the City of Weston, in the County and State aforesaid, Mrs. Elizabeth Oliver, Aged Seventy Eight (78) Years, a resident of the County and State above mentioned, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, according to the best of her knowledge and belief, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress, passed July 29 th 1848, entitled, "An act granting half pay pensions to certain widows." That she is the identical widow of the identical John Oliver who was a Private in Captain Mark Thomas or Captain Benjamin Roberts, Company in the Virginia State Line Service, in the War of the Revolution, in the Infantry Battalion or Regiment Commanded by Colonel Slaughter, that he enlisted or volunteered in the County of Stafford in the state of Virginia where he then resided as she believes, some time in the seventeen hundred Seventy nine, and after entering into the service of the United States as aforesaid he marched to and was stationed at the Falls of the Ohio River, (now Louisville Kentucky) for about two years, to wit: Seventeen hundred and Eighty (1780) & Eighty one, (1781,) after which he was regularly discharged, and returned to the state Virginia where his parents still resided, She further declares that the foregoing statements are made upon the information

imparted to her by her said husband during his life time in conversation with her and his children and others. She also further declares more particularly and of her own knowledge that she was lawfully married to said John Oliver on the thirtyfirst day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Ninety-four (1794) in Spotsylvania County in the state of Virginia, by the Rev. Jeremiah Chandler, a Baptist Clergyman as will more fully appear by Record proof hereto annexed, and asked to be taken as a part of this application, that after the marriage as aforesaid, she and her said husband removed to the state of Kentucky and settled in the County of Woodford in the fall of the year Eighteen hundred and three (1803) afterwards removed to Fayette County in the last mentioned state where they resided permanently until the death of her said husband which occurred on or about the Fourth (4 th ) day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and twentyfive (1825). She further declares that she is now a Widow and has been ever since the death of her said husband John Oliver, deceased, that she has never made application to or received a Pension from the government of the United States, but that about the second year after the death of her said husband, viz: in the year A.D. Eighteen hundred and twentyseven (1827), papers were made out going to establish the claim for Pension and was placed in the hands of one Mr Triplett a Lawyer of Frankfort Kentucky, for presentation at the proper Department, but that said Triplett in a short time after receiving said claim and before presentation, died, as applicant is informed and believes, and that the papers could not be recovered, although efforts were made so to do, and that in loosing said papers much

valuable Testimony was lost, that cannot now be procured, that one Benjamin Roberts, then and at that time residing in Henry County, Kentucky, as well as affiant remembers testified to the effect, that he had known her said husband while he was engaged in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, but that said Benjamin Roberts also died about the same time said Griflett died as she is informed and believes.
Subscribed and sworn to before me on the day and year first
Elizabeth Oliver
within written, And I certify that I believe the said Elizabeth Oliver to be the Widow of John Oliver, deceased, and that she is of the age herein stated. Witness my hand and seal, in testimony thereof, at the City of Weston, Missouri, this 12 th day of May Eighteen hundred and fiftytwo.
J. P. McLendy Seal Judge of the Weston Court of Common Pleas.
State of Missouri
County of Platte ss: Be it further known, that before me the undersigned Judge of the Court aforesaid personally appeared, Philadelphia Oxley, formerly Philadelphia Oliver, daughter of John and Elizabeth Oliver, aged fiftyseven (57) years, and Elizabeth Oliver, the applicant, and made oath in due form of law that the family Bible, now here produced for examination from the Records of which a Transcript is to be made, is now and has been according to the best of their recollection, ever since the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and twelve (1812) the family

Bible of the family of John Oliver deceased, and that the original Record was made by Thomas True in the year Eighteen hundred and Twelve (1812) from an old Bible, from which was recorded the present Record the present Record by James H. Oliver of Cincinnati, in whose hand writing it is, and that this Bible has been in the hands of Elizabeth Oliver ever since the death of her said husband John Oliver See the original of a part of which Record (I certify the following to be a true copy: viz:)
"Family Register"
"Births"
"John Oliver son of John Oliver and Ann (Sharp) Oliver was born was born in Caroline County Virginia Jan 20 th 1768. (January Twentieth seventeen hundred and sixtyone)
"Elizabeth Oliver wife of John Oliver, and daughter of John and Phila- "delphia (Sholson) True; was born in Spotsylvania County Virginia, "August 18 th 1774." - August Eighteenth seventeen hundred and seventy four.
Next page,
"Family Register"
"Marriages"
"John Oliver was married to Elizabeth True, by the Rev. Jeremiah "Chandler in Spotsylvania County Virginia March 31 st 1794." March Thirtyfirst seventeen hundred and ninety four.
3 rd page -
"Family Register"
"Deaths"
"John Oliver Sr. died in Fayette County Kentucky October 4 th "1825. Aged 64 (sixtyfour) years 8. (Eight) Months & 16 (sixteen). "days." October fourth Eighteen hundred and twenty five.
Except the date which is written in full the foregoing is a true

Copy which is expressed on the record in a fair legible hand the figures plain and distinct, and further the said Elizabeth Oliver saith not, but the said Philadelphia Ooley further declares that often during the life time of her Father John Oliver decd. she heard him in substance say what is represented and set forth in her Mother's application for Pension, but that she does not know it of her own knowledge, except so far as concerns the papers that were made out about the second year after her Father's death and put in the hands of Thomas Triplett of Kentucky as per  who  was  informed and received  under her observation , and that she also knows that her Mother has remained a widow ever since the death of John Oliver her (affiant's) father, further she saith not,
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18 th day of May A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and fiftytwo.
Philad a Ooley
Elizabeth Oliver
And I hereby certify that by reason of extreme old age, and bodily infirmity of the applicant Elizabeth Oliver, I believe her unable to appear in open court for the purpose of consummating her claim for pension. I also further certify that I have carefully examined the transcript taken from the family Bible Record and am satisfied it is a true transcript.
In testimony of all which I hereunto set my hand and seal on the day & year last above written. J. S. McCloudy. (Seal)
Judge of the Western Court of Common Pleas.

Know all men by these presents that I, Elizabeth Oliver widow of John Oliver deceased of the City of Weston, in the County of Platte and state of Missouri, do hereby make constitute, and appoint James H. Oliver of the City of Cincinnati - in the state of Ohio my true and lawful attorney for me, and in my name, and for my use and benefit to present my Pension Claim at the proper Department of the Government of the United States in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 29 th 1848. Entitled "An act granting half pay pen- sion to certain widows" and prosecute the same to final adjustment, to receive any and all money and Bounties that I may be found entitled to, to give and take receipts therefor, with full power of substitution and revocation, and generally to do and perform all acts and things as my said Attorney shall deem necessary for the complete execution of the authority to him granted, as fully as I might or could do if I were personally present, I ratifying and confirming all the acts of my said Attorney or substitute done by virtue of these presents. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Thirteenth day of May A. D. One Thousand Eight hundred and fiftytwo. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Oliver Dieffendorf William C. Massey
Elizabeth Oliver Seal

State of Missouri County of Platte ss. Be it Remembered, that on this thirteenth day of May A.D One Thousand Eight hundred and fiftytwo, before me the undersigned Judge of the Weston Court of Common Pleas in and for the City of Weston, in the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Elizabeth Oliver who is personally known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Power of Attorney. She having executed the same in my presence and in presence of the Witneses thereto sub- scribed, and she acknowledged the same to be her act and deed for the uses and purposes therein contained.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal at the city of Weston, Missouri, on the day and year last above written.
Sol d McCurdy Judge of the Weston Court of Common Pleas.
State of Missouri County of Platte ss. I Oliver Dieffendorf Clerk of the Weston Court of Common Pleas, in and for the City of Weston, in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the Hon. Solomon D. McCurdy whose name is subscribed to the within application for Pension, as having administered the oath to applicant, declares that the foregoing statement is true up-

and certified thereto, and also as having administered the oath to the affidavit following the application as well as taking the acknowledgment of the Power of Attorney, is, and was at the time of signing the same, Sole Judge of said Court, duly elected, Commissioned and sworn fully authorized to administer oaths and take acknowledgments, and that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit, and that the said Court is a Court of Record, having general jurisdiction, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, the same being a Court of Record, at office in the City of Weston, Missouri, on this Thirteenth day of May A. D. one thousand Eight hundred and Fiftytwo.
Oliver Dieffendorf Clerk

State of Virginia Spotsylvania County { First
This is to certify that I have joined together in the Holy State of Matrimony the following persons and the time when to wit, John Oliver and Elizabeth True, May the 14 th 1794.
Jeremiah Chandler
State of Virginia Spotsylvania County { to wit.
I Robert C. Dabney Clerk of the County Court of Spotsylvania County in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that the foregoing writing is a true copy of the marriage return of John Oliver and Elizabeth True from the records of my office.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County Court this 8 th day of April A.D. 1852.
R. C. Dabney Clerk

Spotsylvania C.H. Va
April 22 d 1853.
Mr. Jas. H. Oliver
Re Sir-
Your favor of the 14 th inst has been received, and in reply thereto have to state that I sent you a copy of the record verbatim in the case of the marriage of John Oliver & Elizabeth Friend. As all probability the date was intended to represent the return but of course I can not certify to that, & the literal construction would seem to show the date represented the ceremony. Mistakes of this character not unfrequently occur, as ministers will confide in such matters. I should be glad to render you any assistance, though do not know how it can be done.
Very Respectfully Robt. L. Dubray

State of Illinois } County of Coles } ss.
Be it remembered that on this second day of April in the year of Our Lord One Thousand eight hundred fifty two. Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County John True a resident of said County being a citizen of good standing & respectable who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on this matter give testimony and state he the brother of Elizabeth Oliver, now residing in Weston Platte County Missouri; and that said Elizabeth Oliver was married to John Oliver in the County of Spottsylvania State of Virginia by the Rev. Jeremiah Chandler on some day in March 1794. I was present at the Marriage Ceremony, and that the said parties lived together as man & wife until October 1824 or 1825 at which time said John Oliver died being at the time a resident of Fayette County Kentucky having removed from Virginia to that vicinity in the year 1803 in company with myself. That said John Oliver was a private in the Virginia State line of the Revolution Service under Captain Slaughter (Regiment not remem- bered) at the Falls of Ohio now Louisville Kentucky (This information is from the best of my recollection & from what he told me himself & from Papers that I saw in his possession) That he was considered as entitled to Pension under the several acts of Congress. That he never received a Pension. That the knowledge of said John Oliver's services as a soldier was derived from his own declaration & common report

That the said Elizabeth Oliver has not been married the second time & that her present age is about Seventy eight years. That the said John Oliver was a man of truth & veracity to be relied on at all times to the best of my knowledge.
Witnessed By
James M. True
John True
A B True
Sworn & subscribed to on the day & year above written before me
Elizabeth Marm S.P.

State of Illinois, } ss. Coles county. }
I, Enos Stutsman, Clerk of the Coles County Court, in and for said county, which is a Court of Record, using a Seal, do hereby certify that
Hezekiah Mann Esq., whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Certificate was on the day of the date thereof, and still is an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the said county of Coles, duly commissioned & qualified to office, & as such full faith & credit are due, & of right ought to be given all his official acts, as well out of, as in Court.
In testimony whereof, I, Enos Stutsman, Clerk of the Coles county court as aforesaid, have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court, at my office in Charleston, on the Second day of April in the year of our Lord 1852
Enos Stutsman Clerk.

State of Illinois
County of Cumberland
Be it Remember- ed this that on this 5 th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Thomas True A Resident of said County being a citizen of good standing and res- pectable who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath give testimony and state that he is the Brother of Elizabeth Oliver now residing in western Watt County Missouri (by information I know the above fact) being before my recollection by information the follow- ing fact is known to me viz That the said Elizabeth Oliver was married to John Oliver in Spottsylvania County Virginia on the 31 st day of March 1794. The following is of my own knowledge. That the said parties lived together as man and wife until October 1824 at which time said John Oliver died being at that time a resident of Fayette County Kentucky having removed from Virginia to that vicinity in the year 1803 from his own declaration he was a private Soldier in the Revolutionary Service and that he was at the fall of the Ohio now Louisville Kentucky That said Elizabeth Oliver has not been married the second time and that her present age is about seventy eight years said John Oliver was as man of an entirely good and

unblemished Character both as a Citizen and Member of Society Witnesseth The True
Subscribed to and subscribed before me on the day and date above written
Wm B Dunning
I do hereby certify that Wm B Dunning is a Clerk of the Superior Court for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that he was duly authorized to act as such on the day and date of the foregoing Application and the signature purporting to be his to the foregoing Certificate is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of said Court at my office in Greenup this 10th day of April A.D. 1882 J. R. Bowdon Clerk
[Faint handwritten scribbles]
[Faint handwritten scribbles]

State of Ohio } Hamilton County } p.
Be it remembered that on this 24th day of May, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty two, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, James H. Oliver, who is a resident Cincinnati in said County. Who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following statement to the best of his knowledge & belief. — That he is the son of John & Elizabeth Oliver. That John Oliver his father was a resident of Fayette County Kentucky at the time of his death which occurred on the 4th day of October 1825. That he, the said James H. Oliver was then in his 16th year — That he had often heard his father speak of having served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary War, & of incidents which occurred at the "Falls of Ohio," (Now Louisville Ky.) during his term of service. That he has heard him speak of the provisions of Congress by which he was entitled to pension, but could not claim it, in consequence of a property disqualification, that he did not ask it. "He had fought for his country's freedom. His country was free, & that was all he asked or desired or expected when he offered & rendered his service." That about two years subsequent to the decease of said John Oliver, an effort was made by which it was believed a Pension would be secured to the widow of said John Oliver dec. And the testimony of One Capt. Ben. Roberts then residing in Henry County (I think) Ky. was obtained (by Frederick G. Oliver who died soon after) to the effect that the said Ben. Roberts was, & had been personally acquainted with said John Oliver, & that he had faithfully performed his service as a private during his full term, & was honorable discharged, that he knew him while at the "Falls of Ohio" & that the said testimony of Roberts was duly subscribed to by him, & certified to by a Justice of the Peace &c. That other papers were procured by said Frederick G. Oliver dec. from persons who had known said John Oliver, among whom were A. S. Higgins & Micajah Cyley of Fayette County Kentucky (who did not however have any personal knowledge of said Oliver's of Military services) and the papers thus obtained which was deemed sufficient to establish the claim to Pension were placed in the hands of One Thomas Triplett of Frankfort of Frankfort Kentucky for the purpose of being presented to the proper department. That soon after, said Triplett died. Since which no traces of said papers have been discovered, though repeated efforts have been made to recover them. That Elizabeth Oliver now a resident of Weston Missouri soon after the application papers were given into the hands of said Triplett removed from Kentucky to Missouri where she has since resided, & that she has not been married a second

True, That she is very infirm & feeble being now in her 78 th year. That he the said James H. Oliver has no claim or pecuniary interest in, and to any Pension that may be granted to said Elizabeth Oliver - That most of the facts & Circumstances set forth in this statement are derived from what others have said & common report - There is one item, however which seems very clear as having been seen by him, and that is, the written testimony of the said Ben. Roberts and the impression is that the signature was written Ben. instead of Benjamin - Also that the spirit of the statement went to show an intimacy on the part of said Ben. Roberts with his father's services &c. that caused some astonishment, having never heard his said father speak of said Roberts to the best of his rec- ollection. That he has almost from his earliest recollection been impress- with the idea that his his father the said John Oliver had served in the Revolutionary War and that he was entitled to the Provisions made by Congress granting Pension to such as had thus served - Further he saith Not
Ja. H. Oliver
Sworn to and subscribed before me this twenty fourth day of May 1852
David L. Snellbaker. Justice of the peace

STATE OF OHIO, } ss. Hamilton County, }
I, James M. McMaster, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County of Hamilton, do hereby certify that David T. Snellbaker before whom the foregoing Statement
appears to have been acknowledged at the time of taking and subscribing the same, was acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Hamilton, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such
In Testimony Whereof, I, the Clerk aforesaid have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Court, at Cincinnati, in the said County, this 24 th day of May A. D. 1852
J. M. McMaster Clerk, H. C. C. P. By W. H. Sayre  D. Fry

State of Missouri County of Platte
On this Second day of April A. D one Thousand Eight hundred and fifty five, before me the undersigned Clerk of the Platte Court of Com- mon Pleas, within the County and State aforesaid, personally came Elizabeth Oliver, aged Eighty one (81) years, a resident of the city of Weston in the County and State above mentioned, to me personally known, who upon after being by me duly sworn according to law upon her oath, declares that she is the widow of John Oliver deceased, who was a private in the Company Commanded by Captain Mark Thomas or Capt. Benjamin Roberts of the Virginia State Line Service in the War of the Revolution, in the Infantry Battalion or Regiment Commanded by Colonel Slaughter, that her said husband enlisted or volunteered about or within the year Seventeen hundred and seventy nine, and after serving for about the space of two years was as this applicant believes regularly and honorably discharged. She further states that she was lawfully married to said John Oliver, in Spotsylvania County Virginia on the (30 th ) thirty first day of March A. D (1794) one Thousand Seven hundred and ninety four by one Jeremiah Chandler a Minister of the Gospel, that her name before her said Marriage with John Oliver was Elizabeth Fane, that her said husband

died at his residence in Fayette County Kentucky on or about the fourth (4 th ) day of October A. D. One Thousand Eight hundred and Twenty five, and that she is now and has been ever since the death of her said husband, a Widow, And the said Elizabeth Oliver, Widow as aforesaid, upon her oath further declares, that she is the identical person named in an original certificate in her possession of which, (I certify) the following is a true copy: viz:
"Department of the Interior"
"Widow's Pension"
"Elizabeth Oliver, Widow of John Oliver, who was a private in the Revolutionary War, is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Eighty dollars and 83 Cents per annum, Commencing on the 4 th day of March 1848, And continuing for life, unless she should again marry; in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such marriage"
"Given at the Department of the Interior this 9 th day of September One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty two"
"J. P. Kirtland"
"Acting Secretary of the Interior"
"Examined and countersigned"
"J. E. Heath"
"Commissioner of Pensions"

Recorded in the Pension Office on the Roll of Pension- ers under act February 2d. 1848. Page 196, col. A 2 She further declares that she can produce the same kind of testimony of her Marriage with said John Oliver, and of his death as was produced in her papers for procuring pension, and which has been granted to her, and prays that the evidence on file for pension be taken as evidence in this application. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty land to which she may be entitled under the "act approved March 3, 1855" She also declares that she has not received a warrant for Bounty land under this or any other act of Congress, nor made any other application therefor.
Witness:
Elizabeth Oliver Elizabeth Oliver
Subscribed and sworn to before me on this second day of April A. D 1855.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, the same being a Court of Record, at office, in the city of Weston, Michigan, on the day and year last above written,
Oliver Diefendorf Clerk

Then at the same time and place before the Clerk of the Weston Court of Common Pleas, aforesaid, also personally came Philadelphia Oxley and Sarah M c Namara, residents of the City of Weston, in the County of Platte and State of Missouri, to me well known, who after being by me duly sworn according to law, upon their respective oaths declare, that the within and foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Elizabeth Oliver in their presence, and that they believe, from the ap- -pearance and statements of the applicant, and from our personal knowledge of her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.
Witness:
Philadelphia Pa.
J. H. Dyer
Sarah M c Namara
J. H. Dyer
Subscribed and sworn to before me on this second day of April A D 1855. And I hereby certify, that the foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me and in presence of the witnesses whose names are thereto subscribed, on the day and year above written, and I further certify that I am well acquainted with the affiants and know them to be credible persons, that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be,

And that I have no interest in this claim.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, the same being a Court of Record, at office, in the City of Weston, Mississippi on the day and year last written written.
Oliver Diefendorf Clerk

From the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 2686, it appears that one John Oliver, the son of John and Ann (Sharp) Oliver, was born January 20, 1761 in Caroline County, Virginia.
While residing in Stafford County, Virginia, he enlisted in 1779, served about two years as a private in Captain Mark Thomas or Benjamin Roberts' Company, Colonel Slaughter's Virginia Regiment and was stationed at the Falls of the Ohio.
In 1803 he moved to Woodford County, and afterwards to Fayette County, Kentucky.
He died October 4, 1825 in Fayette County, Kentucky.
It seems clear that the date of marriage was really the date of the marriage return The soldier married March 31, 1794, or May 14, 1794, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Philadelphia (Cholson) True.
She was born August 19, 1774 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
The widow Elizabeth was allowed pension on her application executed May 12, 1852, at which time she was living in Platte County, Missouri.
I note the mar. date A daughter, Philadelphia Oxley was aged fifty-seven years in 1852 and in 1855 was residing in Weston, Platte County, Missouri, and a son,
- 2 -
Dr. James H. Oliver, who was born about 1810, was a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1852.
The name of Frederick G. Oliver appears, relationship to soldier not stated.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No.
2686
Elizabeth Oliver Widow
John Oliver Bis. Rev. M...
Act:
July 27, 1848
Index:—Vol.
M.
Page
99.
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1930-June 9-List. to Hon. Harry B. Harbo for R. B. Oliver- Letter in case of James Oliver- D. 38 269- E Esh

✓ 9186
S
160 Aug