Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38,311, for William May Porter, Virginia

SERVICE
Va.
Porter, William May
NUMBER
S. 38,311
CONTENTS

12591 Virginia
William May Porter
Nottingham in the state of Virginia who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Innis of the Virginia line, for the term of Fourteen months
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 3 of September 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 of July 1819 and sent to H. R. Anderson Kendersonville — Virginia
arrears to 4th of March 1819 — 5 \frac{28 \frac{3}{4}}{30 \frac{3}{4}} \text{ } 16.49 semi-annual all'ce ending Sept. 1819  48.
$ 96:49
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Nottingham sent 23 Sep: 1820 to H. R. Anderson Kendersonville Va

Wm M. Porter. Private.
Col. Ennis's Virginia Regt. 1777 - for 15 mos. B. Sept. 10/18 -
The deposition of a credible & disinterested witness, duly to be taken & authenticated (or the certificate of an officer of the Regt.) to prove the service of Applicant, is wanting.
Evidence is produced. Carroll -
Admitted
McNorway C. B.

Virginia
At a Court held for Botetourt County the 3 d day of September 1818.
William M. Porter this day appeared in Court and being sworn declared as followeth: - "That he enlisted in the Regular service of the Army during the revolutionary War under Capt. James Foster of the 15 th Virginia Regiment and served fourteen months, after which he hired Edward Belcher as a substitute for the balance of the time, who was received and he the said Porter discharged in Caroline County by General William Woodford (or Woolfolk), which discharge he has lost: - That he was in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown in the year 1777 and that he is in such reduced circumstances as to need the aid of his country for support!" which is ordered to be certified.
At a Court held for Botetourt County the 5 th day of November 1818.
Daniel Verser - and John L. Crute, Lieutenants late of the Revolutionary War, came into Court, and being first duly sworn deposed as follows: - "That William May Porter during the Revolutionary War was enlisted in the Regular Army for three years, and was attached to the fifteenth Virginia Regiment under Captain James Foster and that he the said Porter was in the same company with them the said Verser and Crute and was to their knowledge in several hard fought engagements during the campaign of 1777 at Brandywine and Germantown. - Also John Robertson and John Belcher being sworn, deposed that to their knowledge the said William May Porter is in reduced circumstances and needs the assistance of his country for a support."
I Francis Fitzgerald for Clerk of the County Court of Botetourt in the State of Virginia, do certify that the foregoing are true copies from the records of my office. F. Fitzgerald for Clk. June 1819

Virginia, County of Botetourt ss
On this fifth day of August 1820 personally appeared in open Court, (being a Court of Record by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia,) William M. Porter, aged sixty two years resident in the the County and State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows - In the 15 th Regiment commanded by Colonel Innes of the Virginia Continental line, in a company commanded by Captain James Foster, and that the date of the original declaration under which he obtained a pension warrant, was dated the 3 rd day of September 1818, and the number of the said pension certificate is 12594. And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of any property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, passed on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed - Viz: 3 wash tubs, 2 water pails, 1 powdering tub, 1 basket, 1 pair tailor shears, 2 pole axes, 2 weeding hoes, 1 tin sugar box, 1 small trunk, 1 pair cotton cards, 1 flesh fork, 31 shoemakers lasts, 7 shoemakers knives, 1 pair pinchers, 1 pair nippers, 1 claw hammer, 25 awls, 19 tacks, 1 pair pocket steelyards, 1 Razor & strop, 1 pair pot hooks, 1 lap stone, 2 drawing knives, 1 grind stone, 1 small box, 8 earthen plates 2 dishes, 1 pewter disk, 6 knives & forks, 2 coffee pots, 2 butter pots, 1 tea kettle, 3 iron pots, 1 dutch oven, 1 spider, 1 frying pan, 1 spinning wheel, 3 pine chests, 1 skimmer, 1 grid iron, 1 pair of flat irons, 1 trivet, 2 jugs, 1 candle stick & snuffers,

A womans saddle, 1 pair candle moulds, 1 pine safe, 2 pine tables, 4 old chairs — that he is a shoemaker by trade, but so old and infirm that he can work but little at it. That his family consists of his wife aged 61 years and very infirm and a negro woman about 30 years old and her two children, who are hirelings.
W m  his M c Porter mark
Sworn to and declared on the 5 th day of August 1820 before the County Court of Nelson aforesaid.
I Francis Fitzgerald Clerk of the County Court of Nelson in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court: And I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is twenty five dollars
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this seventh day of August 1820.
F. Fitzgerald CLK
I Richard Dennis presiding Justice of the County court of Nelson in the state of Virginia do certify that Francis Fitzgerald Justice who hath subscribed the foregoing certificate is clerk of our said court duly appointed and sworn, and due faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his attestations as such; and further that the seal to the said certificate annexed is the seal of the said County. Given under my hand and seal this 20 th day of August 1820
Richard Dennis CLK

William M Porter
12,594
ip July 1819.

The Deposition of Daniel Vesser, of lawfull age, taken at Nottoway Courthouse in the state of Virginia on Monday the fifth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen. This deponent states, that William May Porter, during the Revolutionary War, was enlisted in the Regular army for three years, and was attached to the fifteenth, Virginia Regi- -ment, under the command of Colonel James Ennis in the Company commanded by Captain James Foster, and that he the said Porter was in the same Regiment and Company with him the said Danl. Vesser, and was to his know- -ledge in several hard fought engagements du- -ring the Campaign of 1777, at Brandywine and Germantown, and was to his knowledge over nine months in the service of the United States, as they served together during the whole of the year 1777, and a part of the year 1778. and he the said Daniel Vesser further states that he is no way interested in the said claim of William May Porter. This deponent fur- -ther states that the said William May Porter is in very reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support — D. Vesser
Sworn to and subscribed before us Archer Robertson and Archibald A. Campbell Justices of the peace in the county of Nottoway in the state of Virginia; and we do certify that faith and credit ought to be given to any statement of facts related by the aforesaid Daniel Vesser. Given under our hands and seals this 5 th day of July 1819 A. Robertson — Archibald A. Campbell

I Francis Fitzgerald for clerk of the County Court of Nottoway in the State of Virginia do certify that Archibald Robertson and Archibald A. Campbell before whom the with- in deposition of Daniel Warner was taken and subscribed, are acting Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and that faith and credit ought to be given to all their attestations as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County, the 5 th day of July 1819, in the 44 th year of the Independence of the United States.
F. Fitzgerald for CC
I Richard Dennis presiding Justice of the County Court of Nottoway, in the State of Virginia, do certify that Francis Fitzgerald Esq. whose signature appears above, is clerk of our said Court, legally appointed and duly sworn, and that faith, and credit ought to be given to all his attes- tations as such; and that the seal annexed above to the above certificate is the seal of the said County.
Given under my hand this 6 th day of July 1819 . . . . .
Rich d Dennis u

William M. Pitts.
Off. 12,594.
Rec. 28 Aug. 20
Issued July 1819.
Notification sent to H. R. Harrison, Hen- sonville, Va. 23 Sep: 1820
Herewith see rec August 22nd
The Honorable John
Mail

Sir.
Nottoway Virginia. August 12: 1880.
I enclose you the schedule of Williams. Mr. Porter made in pursuance of the late law of Congress. in relation to Pensions: it is made from a printed form furnished him by Doctor Jones the member of Congress. from this District. Any communication you may address on this subject. Please direct to me at. Ben. - desportville Post Office in this County. I attend to this business for Mr. Porter. at his request. as from his age & inexperience he is entirely incapable
I am Sir. your Humble & obedient Servant.
A. R. Anderson

38 311
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 38 311
William M. Porter
Div Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 898
[Arrangement of 1870.]

amended declaration.
Case of Wm. M. Porter. 3857
H. R. Anderson, Hendersonville, Va.
Rec d  May 10. 1819.

State of Virginia } ss County of Botetourt } ss
On this fourth day of March 1819 personally appeared in open court, William May Porter aged sixty years, resident in Botetourt County, Virginia, who being first duly sworn in open court according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War." That he, the said William May Porter, enlisted for the term of three years, on the fourth Thursday in January in the year 1777, in Amelia County in the State of Virginia in the company commanded by Captain James Foster, of the Regiment commanded by Colonel James Ennis in the line of the State of Virginia on the Continental Establishment, that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, until the 29. th day of April 1778, when he was discharged from service in Caroline County, State of Virginia; that he was in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support. Sworn to and declared in open court, the day and year aforesaid.
And on its appearing to the satisfaction of the court that the said William May Porter did serve in the revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months at one time, on the Continental Establishment, and that he needs the assistance of his country for support, the same was ordered to be recorded, and a copy thereof certified and transmitted to the Secretary of War.
J Francis Fitzgerald Junr. Clerk of the County Court

Court of Botetourt in the State of Virginia, do certify that the foregoing is a true copy from the records of my office
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County the 23 d day of March 1819, in the 43 d year of the Independence of the United States.
F. Fitzgerald for Clk
I Richard Dennis presiding Justice of the County Court of Botetourt in the State of Virginia do certify that Francis Fitzgerald for whose signature appears above is Clerk of our said Court, legally appointed and duly sworn, and that faith and credit ought to be given to all his attestations as such; and that the seal annexed to the above certificate is the seal of the said County. Given under my hand this first — day of March 1819 April 1819 —
Rich: Dennis