Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8448, for Jacob Preston, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Preston, Jacob Cecelia
P. 8448
Residence Loup City, Ne. in 1778.
CONTENTS

State of Virginia } ss. County of Fauquier
On this 25 th day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty four, personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace within and for said county and state aforesaid, William Preston, a resident of the county and state aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the son of Cecelia Preston deceased, who was the widow of Jacob Preston; the said Jacob Preston having been a Revolutionary soldier, as shown by the affidavit of James Martin on another page, and therefore claims the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836, for the benefit of the widows of Revolutionary soldiers, or their surviving children, his father, the said Jacob Preston having died in the year 1804, and the said Cecelia Preston; his mother, lived the widow of the said Jacob Preston, never marrying again, and died on the 9 th day of December A.D. 1847: He further states there are now surviving only six children of the said Jacob and Cecelia Preston, his father and mother. Viz Allen Preston, Jacob Preston, William Preston, John Preston, Jane Kearnes and Agnes Sandford.
William his Preston
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day and year above written. And I hereby certify that the said William Preston is a man of truth, and entitled to full confidence.
J. Willard Leach
J.P.

I do hereby certify that it appears to me by satisfactory evidence exhibited before me, and from my personal knowledge of the family I believe that Jacob Preston was a Revolu- tionary Soldier and died in the year 1814, and left a widow Cecilia Preston who survived until the 9 th day of December A.D. 1847, when she died (then the widow of the said Jacob Preston) and that there are now only five surviving children of the said Jacob and Cecilia Preston viz Allen Preston, Jacob Preston, William Preston, John Preston, Jane Kearns and Agnes Lancaster
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and seal this 25 th day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.
J. Willett Leach (Seal)
State of Virginia - Fauquier County, to wit:
I, William H. Jennings, Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that J. Willett Leach, whose genuine sig- nature appears on this and the preceding page, is now, and was on the 25 th day of October in the year 1854 - an acting justice of the peace in and for the said County of Fauquier - duly commissioned and qualified.
In testimony whereof I do hereto sub- scribe my name and affix the seal of the said Court this 27 th day of November 1854. Wm H. Jennings, Clk

State of Virginia } ss. county of Fauquier
On this 25 th day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty four, personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace within and for said county and state aforesaid, James Martin, aged eighty seven years, who being duly sworn according to law, testifies that he was well acquainted with Jacob Preston deceased, from his boyhood, and was on terms of intimacy with him as long as he lived, and knows that he, the said Jacob Preston was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the eighteen months drafts, and served out the term of his engagement, at which time he, the said Jacob Preston was a married man and had two sons, he married Cecilia Hughes; he, the said James Martin, states that he was not present at their marriage, but knows that they lived together as man and wife, and acknowledged each other as such, and were generally reputed man and wife, and as having been lawfully married, and he further states that the said Cecilia Preston, formerly Cecilia Hughes, remained the widow of the said Jacob Preston to the time of her death, which took place about seven years ago, never having married after his death in 1804: his residence was in this county during his life.
James his Martin mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day and year above written. And I hereby certify, that the said James Martin is a man of truth, and entitled to full confidence, and I believe he is of the age above stated.
William Keith J.P. "

H. Jennings.
On this 27 th day Nov. 1854 personally appeared before the county courts of Fauquier county in the State of Virginia John Preston a resident of the said county and State aforesaid aged fifty seven 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 July 4 th 1836: That he is the son of Cecelia Preston deceased, who was the widow of Jacob Preston, deceased, who was a Revolutionary soldier, as he has heard his mother (the said Cecelia Preston) often say, and believes served as stated by James Martin, in his affidavit, sworn to before J. Willett Beach, a justice of the peace within and for the said county and state aforesaid, on the 25 th day of October A.D. 1854; He further declares that he believes his father and mother, the said Jacob and Cecelia Preston were married in the year A.D. 1778; her name before marriage was Cecelia Hughes, as he has often heard his mother say. they were married by parson Craig, a Protestant minister of the Parish in this county, in which they were born and lived at the time of their marriage aforesaid, Parson Craig aforesaid kept a record of the marriages, births and deaths in his Parish, in the vestry books of his church; the most diligent search has been made for said vestry books, and as they cannot be found, we suppose they have been destroyed; My father, the said Jacob Preston died in the year 1804. My Mother the said Cecelia Preston died December 9 th A.D. 1847; still the widow of the said Jacob Preston. we have no family register. My father and mother had twelve children; the first, third, fourth, sixth, tenth and twelfth of whom have died; there are now survi-

ving, the second child, Allen Preston, who was born in the year A.D. 1780, according mothers account, the fifth, Jane Kearns, aged about sixty nine years, the seventh Agnes Sandford aged sixty seven years, the eighth Jacob Preston aged sixty five years, the ninth William Preston aged sixty three years, and the eleventh John Preston aged fifty seven years, making six children of the said Cecelia Preston now surviving, whose names and ages, I believe are as above stated. The most diligent search has been made among all the old papers of the family for my fathers discharge, which he got when he left the army; but it cannot be found. was therefore conclude it has been destroyed.
John Preston
Sworn to in open court by John Preston. on the 27th day of November 1854.
Teste,
Wm. A. Jennings CLO

Fauquier County Court, 27 th November 1851.
It is ordered to be certified, (that upon the testimony of Richard Stone and T. B. Warder two respectable citizens of this county, who are entitled to full confidence, and have testified in open court this day, after being first duly sworn according to law,) that the court believe Jacob Preston deceased, was a Revolutionary soldier, and that he died in the year A.D. 1804, and left a widow Cecilia Preston who survived until the 9 th day of December A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty seven, when she died still the widow of the said Jacob Preston, never having married again after his death; and and that she had twelve children, the first, third, fourth, sixth, tenth and twelfth of whom have died, and that there are now surviving, Allen Preston the second child of the said Cecilia Preston, aged seventy four years, Jane Kearns, the fifth child, aged sixty nine years, Agnes Sandford, the seventh, aged sixty seven years, Jacob Preston, the eighth aged sixty five years, William Preston, the ninth aged sixty three years, and John Preston the eleventh aged fifty seven years, being six children only of the said Cecilia Preston now surviving, whose names and ages are as above stated.
It is ordered to be certified further that the affidavits of James Martin, and Williams Preston, taken before J. Willett Leach, a justice of the peace within and for the county of Fauquier and State of Virginia aforesaid, on the 25 th day of October A.D. 1854, and the certificates of said J. Willett Leach thereto annexed

were produced in open court this day and the proceedings about the same approved of by the court; and that the said Richard Stone & J. B. Warder further testify that they are personally well acquainted with John Preston of this county who subscribed and swore to his declaration on another page of this sheet, this day in open court, and in their presence and know him to be the identical John Preston he represents himself to be, in said declaration, viz. the son of Cecilia Preston aforesaid, with whom they were also personally well acquainted.
State of Virginia: Fauquier County, to wit: I, William H. Jennings, clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of an order taken from the minutes of the said Court.
In testimony whereof, I do hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of the said Court this 27th day of November 1854. Wm. H. Jennings C.C.

In 1854
1 d.
2 Allen ae 74 1850
3 d.
4 d.
5 Jane Kearns ae 69.
6 d.
7 Agnes Sanford ae 67
8 Jacob ae 65
9 Wm ae 63
10 d.
11 John ae 57
12 d.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of * Jacob Preston 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. Rej- 8448 *only Jacob Preston
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 15, 80 18 mos. Markam Churchwell                                                   
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, _____
Date of application for pension, for widow per her son John Nov 27. 1854
Residence at date of application, Fauquier Co., Va
Age at date of application, 57
Remarks: Sol d. 1804 he mar. 1778 Cecilia Hughes  she d. Dec. 9. 1847 12 d.
Claim was never completed as therequired proof of soldier's service and his marriage was not furnished. over Brch.
Very respectfully,

✓ No 8,106
Cecelia Preston, ad
Ge
Lt. W. Preston, Dec. 28/54
84218
July 4, 1836.

REJECTED
8448
P. O.
Cecelia Preston
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18
1907 Apr. 23. Handed to Mr. R. Preston attorney for file 14230 Shadwell Preston

No 8,106
Cecilia Preston, ad m a v Jacob
19
July 4, 1836
M rs Preston St Stephen 19

Fauquier County, Virginia. St. Stephens, P. Office.
December 16th. 1854.
Sir.
I herewith enclose such proofs as I have been able to obtain (at this late day) of my Father's services in the Revolutionary war, his marriage to Cecilia Hughes, (my mother) the period of his death, the exact period of my Mother's death, and the names and ages of her children now living, all of which is respectfully submitted for your examination, hoping that, (considering the lapse of time since the Revolutionary war) you will give the case the most charitable decision your duty will permit.
James Martin, (who married my Mother's sister, Agnes Hughes, was born and raised in the same neighbourhood, and married by the same parson (Craig), that my Father and Mother were) now resides about 15 miles from us, and visited myself and two brothers Jacob and John in October last; while with us , I had his affidavit taken, which is herewith enclosed. I made a declaration at the same time; (not having received your instructions at that time ) I got a friend to do the writing, as you will see by the papers I cannot write myself; My Father was sick while in the army, and never was healthy after, and died in 1804, and left my Mother a poor widow, with a number of children, and having to work very hard for a support; but few of us got any education.
When uncle Martin's affidavit was read over to him by the Justice of the peace (J. Willett Leach) before swearing him, he said it was all right except his age, and being asked by the Magistrate how old he called himself, he answered about ninety one, that when Cornwallis was taken he was nearly 18 years old, and if there had have been another draft he would have had to go in the army. J. Willett Leach Esq. who is a physician, being in a hurry to go to see a patient, could not wait to write it over, & remarked that would make no difference as it was

making another calculation found he had made a mistake in his age stated in his affidavit less than his age really was. The writer, on,
After receiving your letter of 3d. Ult. and therewith the necessary forms and instructions, and finding, therefrom, that the court had to give a certificate, I had to wait until the 27 th Ult. which was the first day of our county court; on which day said certificate was made, which is herewith enclosed.
My brother, John Preston, went with our Mother, at the time Mr. Hoard undertook the prosecution of the claim for her, in search of Parson Craig's Westry books referred to in his declaration, herewith enclosed, and to see several old persons who had knowledge of our Father's services in the Revolution, marriage, death &c., to whom we cited Mr. Hoard for proofs, and he promised to obtain their affidavits, which we thought he had done, until we received your reply (of 10th June 1854,) to my letter to you of a prior date: When all the old persons referred to had died, but James Martin aforesaid.
The writer says it is stated in my first letter to you my father served 6 months, if so, it is wrong; Brother Allen was born in January 1786, and our Mother said Father went into the army about the 15 th of April following and returned home about the time Cornwallis was taken; and to the best of our recollection, went out in a company commanded by Capt. Markham, and in Col. Churchwell's Regt. He spoke of being with different officers while in the army, whose names are not now recollected, (except Gen. Lafayette.) The first letter to you was to ascertain what had been done in the case, and how to proceed further; I requested the writer to write it, seal it, and send it to the post office, and went out to my work; which he did before I returned, and he made the mistake, or I was not particular enough in telling him. My main object being to know what had been done, and how to proceed further. My Father was employed as an overseer for the year 1780. and

and being called into the Army in the spring of that year (as before named) his employer got another overseer. My Mother had to move, as the other overseer had to occupy the house, and was assisted in the support of her family by her friends, until Father's return from the Army; his health was much impaired while in the Army, which was never entirely restored, (though he lived until 1804.)
Neither My Father nor Mother could write, which accounts for there being no family register kept in the family; if the vestry books before named, were deposited in the clerk's office of this county after Parson Craig's death, they have been destroyed, as the office has been burned since that time.
J. B. Ward (our county surveyor) and Richard Stone, (the justice of the peace for our district), who testified before the court, resided in our immediate neighbourhood.
I hope you will excuse this long letter, as I have done, it thinking it may be of some service in the investigation of the claim.
I have deferred sending the papers in this case until now, because I thought the clerks were generally engaged in making out the annual reports.
Very respectfully Yr. Obt. Servant.
William Preston.
L. P. Waldo Esq. Comt. of Pensions. Washington City, D. C.