Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8942, for Joseph Parsons, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Parsons, Joseph
S 8942
boarded
CONTENTS

Virginia - 23.321
Joseph Parsons of Lewis in the State of Virginia who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Burt - of the - commanded by - - - - - in the Virginia line for 2 years -
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 80 - Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of Dec r 29. and John H. D. I Allen - D R
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 200 Semi-annual allowance ending March 34 40 $240 -
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nath: Rice - Clerk, Book E Vol. 64 Page 28
R
Joseph Parsons from roll, Col. H. Regt. H. Lee's Inf. March 16. 1831 - When taken a list of above enrolled for that date

Joseph Parsons - Parsons
Jackson county - 14 miles from Lewis county -
Fraudulent

Joseph Parsons, Pension. account $80. paid and Elias Parsons, nephew of Joseph. Son of Charles who was a brother of Joseph. - States to the undersigned on the 27 th December 1834, that his Father Charles was ten years older than his uncle Joseph. - has often heard his Father in his life time say - his uncle was in service as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. for rather less than three months, only - and then as a substitute in the place of one of Capt Trumble's men. - Capt Trumble had been sent to Buckhannon Ft. in New Lewis county. from Augusta county with a company of Militia. for three. one of his men becoming dissatisfied with the service - gave his rifle gun to Joseph Parsons. to serve the balance of the term. and that this was all the service he underwent.
Capt. William Parsons aged 65 yrs of Jackson county. States to the undersigned on the 28 th Decr. 1834. - that he was a nephew of Joseph Parsons, and that the only service his uncle Joseph underwent as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. was a substitute. for less than three in the place of one of Capt Trumble's soldiers - Trumble had been sent from Augusta with a company of Militia drafted for three. to the relief of Buckhannon Fort. in New Lewis county. - that whilst Trumble's company was there. his uncle Joseph substituted in the place of one of Trumble's soldiers for the balance of the term & received a rifle gun. - and that this was all the service he underwent - that they resided together at the same Fort Buckhannon. for several years after the close of the Revolution. after the Fort broke up, (in 1782) they with others went to Beverly Randolph county from parts there during the balance of the war. W. G. Dugdale -
Note. I have in my notes proof for Lewis county. - further evidence showing that the man Parsons. is a man

imposter - but the evidence there is conclusive. - I shall hereafter. (on my return to Clarkstown when my Xmas notes are) report the additional evidence - Parson is a man of Bad character. and no one with him I have met. believe that he is related to a Parson - he is now in the State of Ohio -
W. G. G. G.
Jan'y 2. 1835
Joseph P. ...
Encl. ... from a ...
Francis ...

28.764
Alma Lasa private 2 years $80-
30 Nov 1873 J. J. Allan #R

State of Virginia } ss Lewis County }
On this first day of October 1833 Personally appeared in open Court, before us James M Camp, David Pleeth, William McKinley and Samuel Z Jones. The court of Lewis County now sitting, Joseph Parsons aged seventy eight years - a resident of Jackson County in the State of Virginia - 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 17 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States as an Indian spy, about the first of May 1777 under the command of Capt James Booth, Lieut Edmond Freeman and Ensign Stephen Radcliff in the district of Country known then by the name of West Augusta in the State of Virginia now comprising the Counties of Harrison, Lewis, Randolph and Wood - That he remained under said Booths command - until he was killed by the Indians on Booths Creek, now in Harrison County which event occurred in the month of June 1778 - and in consequence of his Captains death he did not receive a written discharge although he remained in the service under the command of Lieut Freeman some five or six months afterwards, making out his term of eighteen Months the time for which he had

enlisted the company being somewhat informally disbanded - Affiant further states that during the above mentioned period he was occasionally stationed at Buchanan, Wests, Arnolds, and Sutlers forts, to guard the families that were collected at those places, from the attacks of the savages - and occasionally employed in spying through the surrounding country - watching the passes - and looking out for the skulking of the enemy - Affiant further states, that within a few days from the disbanding of Lieut. Freemans company - which was in the fall of 1778 - the Indians being exceedingly troublesome, he again entered the service as a spy - by volunteering - under the command of Capt Alexander Maxwell - other officers not recollected, for a term of Three Months - and was employed as before - principally in spying on the waters of Buchanan - the Little Kanawha and West Fork Rivers - That he received from Capt Maxwell a written discharge and returned home - Affiant further states sometime in the year 1789 if his memory serves him right he served a term of Three Months as a probabion in the room of a soldier - whose name is not recollected under the command of a Capt Tremble - who had been sent from near Station in Augusta County to defend the settlers on Buchanan and the West Fork Rivers - That he obtained from Capt Tremble a written discharge and again returned home - but the scattered settlements being so much annoyed by the Indians at this time

He affiant again Volunteered as a spy or Minuteman under the Command of Capt George Jackson Jacob Braker Lieutenant and Timothy Borman. Ensign — The stipulation was, that the company were to be constantly in readiness and subject to the call of the Officers at a Moments warning — affiant further states that he continued in said Jacksons Company for near two years occasionally stationed in some one of the above mentioned forts sometimes permitted to spend a short time at home — and frequently called out in pursuit of the marauding companies of Indians who were then making terrible inroads among the scattered inhabitants — affiant further states that while under the command of Capt. Jackson he was in several skirmishes with the Indians in one of which two of the company — Jeremiah Burl and a — Schoelcraft were both slightly wounded by Indian balls — at another time a fellow soldier and Messmate by the name of John Cutright was severely wounded close by affiant's side — and that he remained in the service untill after the destruction of the Buchanon fort which happened he thinks some time in the year 1782 about which time the Indians stole affiant horse — affiant states that at this time the country was overrun with savages — and the Settlers nearly all removed with their effects to places thought to be more secure — that he affiant lived nearly three years in the Valley now Randolph County and was in several scouts after the Indians during the remainder of the Indian war

That when peace was made with the Indians, he removed with his family near to the Ohio River at which place affiant states he had the misfortune to get his house burned and all the effects that were in it - and amongst the rest all the discharges he had ever received. affiant further states that he was induced to travel to the place of his toil - aided by his aged wife - being himself very feeble and almost blind - in order to procure of some evidence of his services - which may account for his application to the Court of Lewis County, and refers to David W. Lee the 59 th - Mr. Adam Fisher and Mr. William Lee
In answer to the several interrogatories propounded by the war department, affiant further states - That he was born in Queen Ann County State of Maryland in the year 1755 and removed to Virginia when he was seven or eight years old - either in Rockingham or Augusta Counties - and that he removed to Buckhoun - now in Lewis County in the year 1776 - and was living there when he entered the service - That he never saw any record of his age - but recollected that his parents told him when he was born - That since the revolutionary war he had lived on the Ohio River in Wood County - he now lives in Jackson County - That he entered the service first by enlistment - and afterward served both as a Volunteer and substitute - but did not recollect for whom he substituted - The soldier was a stranger from Augusta - under the command of Capt. Tremble - That he knew none of the Regular officers, there being no continental or Militia Regiments when

He served - That he had received at least two discharges, one from Capt. Maxwell the other from Capt. Tremble - but they were destroyed with the rest of his effects, by fire - and that he could refer to many more persons who, in his information is still living within the counties of Lewis and Harrison - that could testify to his services as a Soldier of the revolution - but that neither his circumstances nor his bodily strength would permit - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
his Joseph X Parsons
David W Sleeth personally appeared in open Court and made oath that he was well acquainted with Joseph Parsons the applicant who has subscribed the above declaration - That he has no doubt he is as much as seventy eight years of age - That he affiant served with the applicant in Capt. Booths Company a term of 18 Months that they enlisted about the same time in the Spring of 1777 - That he also served with him a three months tour under the command of Capt. Tremble - he believes that the applicant served a three months tour under Capt. Maxwell. Though affiant did not serve in that Company and that he also served several Months with the applicant under the command of Capt. Jackson in the years 1781 and 2 - and that from his certain knowledge. Joseph Parsons must have served upwards of two years.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
David W Sleeth 40

Personally appeared in open Court Adam Fletcher and made oath that he knew Mr Joseph Parsons and also knew him to be a spy in Capt. Boeths Company - he also knew him to be a soldier or a substitute in Capt. Trembles Company and also believes him to be as much as 70 years of age Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Adam Fletcher
Personally appeared in open Court Alexander West and made oath that he knew Mr Joseph Parsons to be a soldier or Indian Spy under the command of Capt. Alexander Mawwell in the year 1778 or 9 and he is as much as 70 years of age
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Alexander West
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 or Indian spy and served as he states and the court further certifies that David W Steeth who signed the preceding Affidavit and who was sworn in open Court is a Justice of the Peace in the County of Lewis - and that Alexander West and Adam Fletcher both citizens of this County, whose affidavits are hereto annexed, are highly respectable Men and entitled to credit
State of Virginia
Lewis County S.S.
John Talbott, clerk of the

County Court of Lewis County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Joseph Parsons for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Seal of Office at Weston this 6 th day of November 1833
Y. Talbot Clk

Reuben
8942
INVALID.
File No. 8942
Joseph Parsons Brn Brn War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 102 , Page 288
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Department of War Pension Office December 11. 1853
Sir,
The declaration of Joseph Parsons has been examined, and is herewith returned.
As the applicant claims to have enlisted in the regular Army, and as he has furnished no testimony to sustain his allegation, it becomes necessary that it should be presented in due form.
In all cases the credibility of witnesses should be certified to, this is omitted in the case of David M. Sleeth. I would enquire whether the witness, (Sleeth) is also the Justice of the Peace, or whether there are two persons of that name. —
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
J L Edwards
Hon. J. J. Allen House of Representatives