Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8015, for James Paul, Virginia

SERVICE
Va.
Paul James
NUMBER
R. 8015-
CONTENTS

37,676
James Paul
Esq
Act 7 June 1832
W. L. ...

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832.
State of Tennessee Blount County
On this 15 th day of March, One Thousand eight hundred and forty nine, personally appeared before the subscriber an acting justice of the Peace in and for the County of State aforesaid, James Paul a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged Eighty six 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 June 7 th , 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1780, and served as Lieutenant under Col. George Matthias in Capt. Madison Company in the Virginia State Troops. Declarant further states that when he entered the service he lived in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and that shortly in July 1780 after he joined the Army, the Company to which he belonged left Lexington and march d on to Staunton, and Winchester, and from thence to Long Island where they took winter quarters and remained there for some three months, at which time there were but very little done in the service, and after leaving Long Island, he marched to divers places through the Country, and in the Fall of 1781, he marched through the State of New Jersey until arriving at Morristown where they were stationed during part of the next Winter, and thence to West Point where the remainder of the Winter was past, after which time, in the Spring of 1782, he march d from West Point to Valley Forge, where they were stationed some short time, after which time he marched to several places through the Country until the expiration of two years, which was some time in July 1782 for which service he claims a pension.
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. — Declarant further states, that the reason for a pension he neglected to make application to the Department at an earlier period is that he was in affluent circumstances heretofore, so that he could live without the allowance of a pension from the United States and he further states that he has lost or misplaced his Commission & other papers so that he cannot find them, to aid him in proof of his services rendered the United States in the war of the Revolution.
Declarant further states that he knows of no one

now living, by whom he can make any proof of his services rendered the United States as above stated.
He further states that it is for the above reason that he has so long neglected to apply to the Department for a pension, and respectfully refers the Department to the rolls of the State troops of Virginia.
Sworn to and subscribed to James Paul the day and year above written before me -
Alex O. George Justice of the Peace for Blount County.
State of Tennessee I Alex. O. George an acting Justice of the Peace for and in the County Blount do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with James Paul an applicant for a pension in the foregoing Declaration is from bodily infirmity and old age unable to appear in court - And I further certify that I believe him to be a respectable Citizen of this County and am satisfied that the statements made by him in the foregoing Declaration are true. Witness my hand and seal this 15 th day of March 1849. -
Alex O. George (Seal) Justice of the Peace for Blount County
State of Tennessee Blount County } Personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, Lewis West and made Oath according to law that he has been personally acquainted with James Paul whose signature appears to the foregoing Declaration, and believe him to be a respectable Citizen of said County, and I recollect well to have often heard him say that he served the United States in the War of the Revolution as a Lieutenant and I believe that he served as he has stated in the in the foregoing Declaration, and that he is of the age he represents himself to be, and that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood to have

been a Revolutionary Soldier Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 16 th day of March 1849.
Lewis West
Alex O George (Seal) Justice of the Peace for Blount County
State of Tennessee Blount County
Personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the Peace for said County John Ridd and made oath according to law that he has been personally acquainted with James Paul, an applicant for a pension and remembers well to have often heard him say that he served in the Revolutionary war, and I concur in the belief with regard to his reputation and veracity, as stated in the above affidavit by Lewis West, whose signature appears to the foregoing affidavit. Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 16 th day of March 1849.
John Ridd
Alex O George (Seal) Justice of the Peace for Blount County
State of Tennessee Blount County
I Alex O. George an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, do certify that I am personally acquainted with Lewis West and John Ridd whose signatures appear to the above affidavits, and have no hesitation in saying that they are respectable citizens of said County whose veracity is not doubted in their neighborhood - Witness my hand and seal this 16 th day of March 1849.
Alex O George (Seal) Justice of the Peace for Blount County

State of Tennessee,
Blount County } I Robt. A. Ledford Clerk of the county Court of Blount County do hereby certify that Alex. A. George is, and was at the time the foregoing certificate bears date, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and that the signatures purporting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Office in Maryville this 24 th day of March 1849 Robt. A. Ledford C. L. S.
37676 James Paul True Act 7 June 1832
R. L. ... Maryville

Sir, Greenville Ten. 17 th January 1850.
Yours of the 17 th December last part was received and the contents examined,
In pursuance to the requirements of your letter bearing the above date. — (You desired in that letter required of me to give the names of all who are connected with the case of James Paul applicant for a pension. — In answer thereto I would say that I know of none connected with the case. —
Some time last Spring or the latter part of last Winter as I was passing through the neighborhood of James Paul's residence some one of his neighbors informed me that Mr. Paul was a revolutionary soldier, and wished to have his claims laid before the Department. I accordingly went to his Son-in-law with whom he resided, and on my arrival there he informed me that he had served the United in the Revolutionary war as a lieutenant, alledging at the same time that he had a discharge from his dept. but that it was lost or mislaid, and some time since when on my way to Kingston, I called to see him & he informed me that one of his Grand Daughters had discovered the paper he spoke of as a discharge which I sent on to the Department.
I never saw any thing manifested by Mr. Paul or any other member of the family bearing any feature like fraud & in fact all the neighbors that I heard speak of his versatility, spoke very favorably of him the .
Your Oht Servt
R. Lanning —

September 8, 1916
Miss Kathleen Paul, 712 E. Clinton Street, Huntsville, Alabama.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the twenty-eighth ultimo, you are advised that from the records of this Bureau, it appears that on March 15, 1849, while a resident of Blount County, Tennessee, aged eighty-six years, James Paul made an application for pension, alleging that in July, 1780, while residing in Rockbridge County, Virginia, he enlisted and served as Lieutenant in Captain Madison's company, Colonel George Matthews' regiment, Virginia Troops, until discharged in July, 1782. In support of his claim, he filed what purported to be a certificate of discharge, dated February 23, 1781, signed by "Thomas Mattison, Captain in the 23" regiment", and stating that James Paul served as a Lieutenant in said Captain's company, in the Regular Service of the first American War against England, for one year and nine months.
The claim was rejected on the ground that the alleged discharge certificate was an apparent fabrication, there having

been no such regiment as the 23 rd in the Virginia Continental or State lines during the War of the Revolution, and the reference to the first American War implying that the aforesaid paper must have been written subsequent to the second war between America and England.
In 1850, a son-in-law and granddaughter of James Paul were referred to. Their names are not stated. There is no other data relative to family.
Very respectfully,
E. C. Lienan,
Acting Commissioner.
Paul - 2 -
R. File No. 8015.
The main description of his services are very queer, the Va troops were not operating around N.Y. + N.J. at those dates.
Long Island then in possession of enemy & they were not there at Valley Forge in Spg 1782

✓ Rev Sec
W. L. Halsey, Pres.
W. L. Halsey, Jr., Vice Pres. and Gen. Mgr.
R. S. Halsey, Secy.
8MILES AT MILES ZIG-ZAG TREAD SMOOTH TREAD INNER TUBES ACCESSORIES
LEE Tires PNEUMATIC NON-SKID PUNCTURE-PROOF
Zig-Zag Tread
W. L. Halsey Grocery Company
Wholesale Grocers. Cigars and Tobacco. Coal Oil, Cottonseed Meal and Hulls. Bagging and Iron Ties Huntsville, Alabama
August 28, 1916.
The Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
The War Department suggests that possibly you can give me some information concerning one James Paul of Rockbridge County, Va. who claimed to have been a Revolutionary soldier. His grand-daughter told me that he once applied for a pension through a pension agent named Lening (I believe,) of Sevier County, Tennessee, as he was then living in that state. She said this was, as well as she could remember, between 1845 and 1850, most probably 1846 or '47. At first they could not find his discharge so Lening took affidavit. Then the Department wrote to find out why he waited so long before applying. By Lening's third visit they had found the discharge among his papers, signed by one Mattison, (possibly Madison or Mathewson). Lening took the discharge and----vanished.
Now, what I am seeking is proof, if there be any, of this man's service for my family records, and if you can give me any information I shall be most grateful.
Yours very truly,
(Miss) Kathleen Paul
712 E. Clinton St.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
aw aw
January 28, 1927.
Mrs. H. G. Jones, 109 White St. Huntsville, Ala.
Madam:
See all the former cor- respondence as to fraudulent- discharge of. I consulted Mr. Gantner Chief Clerk before writing this & he said not to furnish a copy. aw
In response to your letter of the seventeenth in- st ant , I have to advise you, relative to the Revolutionary war pension claim, R. 8015, of James Paul, that owing to the nature of the paper, therein, which was referred to in your let- ter; it is not deemed advisable to make an official copy of the same.
A careful search of the records fails to show a claim for pension filed in 1839, or previous thereto, on account of the services of a soldier named Audley Paul of Virginia.
But if you will state the name of war in which he ser- ved, or period of service and as much as possible of the following data in regard to him, another search of the re- cords will be made in your behalf. Approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service, given name of widow.
There is an 1872 but not cor. to inquiry not Va. Tenn. & Ind. & not dead until 1863. W.L. 12233
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. R.8015 and
January 7, 1927.
Mrs. Howard C. Jones, 109 White St. Huntsville, Ala.
Madam:
I have to advise you, relative to the Revolutionary War pension claim, of James Paul, that the discharge certificate referred to in the bureau letter of September 8, 1916, is an file in the claim.
On October 30, 1849, James Paul stated under oath that after diligent search he had found his discharge, certified by his Captain.
His agent, Richard Lanning of Sevierville, Tennessee, was informed on December 17, 1849 of the rejection of the claim. Said agent on January 17, 1850, in reply to that letter said when he last called to see Mr. Paul that he was informed that one of Mr. Paul's granddaughters had discovered the discharge and that he, Mr. Lanning had sent it to the department.
Inasmuch as this claim is now historical matter, not a pending claim and not open for re-adjudication, it is regretted that the bureau is unable to aid you further in this matter, than by placing your letter of protest in the claim.

ans You are further advised that it does not appear that bounty land was allowed by the United States on account of the services of any James Paul of the Virginia Troops, War of the Revolution; nor was there any provision of law that would have entitled a Lieutenant of that war, as he claimed to be, to more than two hundred acres of bounty land from the United States.
For further information in regard to his land grant of six hundred and forty acres in Tennessee, you should consult the archives at the state capital of North Carolina, as Tennessee was originally a part of that state, or the archives of Virginia, in whose troops it is claimed that he rendered service.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.
Old book of Va soldiers prior to 1800 also searched for land.

January 17, 1927
Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington D. C.
Old Records Div. R. 8015
Gentlemen:
I have your letter of January 9 th in regard to the application for Revolutionary Pension by James Paul, and thank you for placing my letter with the claim. That is all I could ask.
Would it be possible for me to secure a copy of the discharge?

I'm going to continue to work on it — for if the old gentleman was a forger his the only one the family ever produced! I'd love to have a photographic copy, but know they cost a good deal, & thought perhaps I could get just a typed copy from you.
Also — Morton's History of Rockbridge Co. Va. states in 1839 Audley Paul Jr. of that county asked for the pension of his father, Audley Paul Sr. Please tell me whether he made any state- ment regarding any other children of the said Audley Paul Sr., or if he, Audley Jr. was his father's only heir.

I shall be most grate ful if you can send me the information I desire.
Yours very truly,
Kathleen Paul Jones
Mrs. H. C. Jones 109 white St Huntsville Ala.
No Rev Paul - Audrey Paul - None on Old War Catalogue - but there is an 1872 Widow of a - Same Soldier hence request for more info

January 4, 1927
Pension Department, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen -
Please advise me if it is possible to add a marginal note to a supplementary sheet to your records. There is a matter I desire very, very much to have straightened out, merely as a matter of justice to a man who did his part in freeing his country.
In 1916 you wrote me - R. file no 8015 - that James Paul's appli- cation for a pension was disallowed on the ground that the discharge

Submitted was a forgery. Now, I've spent some time, as I had it, tracing up this matter, & this is what I have learned.
1st. James Paul turned his dis- charge over to a pension agent who took it, & went off with it, & never came back. It may be he lost the original discharge and sub- stituted another. It may be it was the original discharge submitted and the officer simply didn't make it out correctly — many of them weren't over burdened with education. At any rate, if he,

James Paul, had ever been advised of the cause of his not getting the pension the matter could have been straightened out for he had a military land grant in Tennessee - 640 acres in Greene (now Blount) County - Grant no. 874, Vol. B, p. 140 - as shown by the records at Nashville.
I do not think it is just to allow this man's record be clouded and feel that some note should be made on it, and I shall appreciate it very much if you can do it. Very truly yours,
Kathleen Paul Jones,
Mrs. Howard C. Jones 109 White St., Huntsville, Alabama.

Whereby certify that James Paul of the County of Rockbridge and State of Virginia hath served as a Lieutenant in My Company in the Regular service of the first American war against England. The Term of one year and Nine months and Behaved Himself as a true Patriot during sd Term As witness My hand this 22 nd Thomas Matteson Col l Day of February 1781 in the 23 rd Regiment

Pension Office August 4, 1849
The application of James Paul for a pension under the act of 9 June 1832 has been examined and his papers filed
Claimant alleges that he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1780 and served as a Lieutenant under Col. Geo. Matthews and Captain Madison, in the Virginia State Troops and that he was discharged in July 1782. No evidence whatever to sustain this allegation has been produced, nor does his claim derive any support from either from the records of the Virginia Continental or State Service in this office. He will be required before he can be allowed a pension to establish his rank as a Commissioned Officer by the production of his Commission or some other valid proof, and to show the amount of his service by clear and satisfactory evidence, and also to assign some good and sufficient reason for not having presented his claim until this late period. The failure to do so raises so strong a presumption against its validity that evidence of a high order will be required to satisfy this Department that he under no circumstances served in the Virginia State Line at least for two years.
He should be required to show that he was at least 70 years of age at the time of filing his claim.

Mich. Damm
Aug 4. 49

W Lanning Riverside, La.

State of Tennessee Blount County
Personally appeared before me Alexander O. George an acting justice of the Peace for said County, James Paul and made Oath in due form of law, that he is the identical person who some time last Spring, made an application to the Department for a pension, at which time he stated in his declaration that his papers relative to his services in the Revolutionary War, were lost or misplaced misplaced, at that time but that some days since, by diligent search he has been enabled to find his discharge certified by his Capt. which is hereto appended, and it being the only evidence that he is able to produce to establish the amount of service performed by him in the Revolutionary War. And he further states, as he stated heretofore in his former declaration, that the reasons for not presenting his claim before so late a day, are first that he was in affluent circumstances, so that he could live without the allowance of a pension from the United States, and secondly that he had lost or misplaced his Commission & other papers, but since he has become penniless, he humbly submits his case to the consideration of the Department, presuming the additional evidence will prove satisfactory for at least one year and nine months service - Sworn to & subscribed this 30 th day of October 1849. James Paul before me.
Also O. George Justice of the Peace
State of Tennessee Blount County
I Alexander O. George an acting justice of the Peace in & for said County do hereby certify that James Paul, whose signature appears to the above affidavit, is well known to me and I believe him to be a respectable citizen of this County and am satisfied that the statements made therein by him are true
Witness my hand and seal this 30 th day of October 1849.
Also O. George Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
I Robt A. Telford Clerk of the County Court of Blount County, do hereby certify that Alexander O. George whose name appears to the foregoing Certificate as Justice of the Peace of said County is duly authorized to administer Oaths, and that full confidence should be placed in all his acts and proceedings as such Justice of the Peace and that his signature is genuine.
Given under my hand and seal of Office at Office in Maryville this 31 st day of October 1849.
Robt A. Telford Clerk By J. W. Love D. Cl.

Pension Office
Decem 17 th 1849
Sir
The paper which you transmitted to this Office in the Case of James Paul purporting to be his discharge from Service in the Virginia State Line Shows conclusively that he has no claim to pension.
This Certificate is signed by Thomas Matusen Captain in the 23 d Regiment, and is dated 22 nd Feby 1781. and states that James Paul served as a Lieutenant in said Capt Matusen's Company in the Virginia Service of the first American war against England for one year and nine months.
This paper is an entire fabrication. No Officer of the Virginia Continental or State Line could have given such a Certificate as this.
There was no such Regiment as the 23 d , either in the Virginia Continental or State Lines and although it bears date 22 nd Feby 1781. it refers to James Paul's Service in the first war with England and must therefore have been written subsequently to the second , or war of 1812, such that Paul
There is a great impropriety, to say the least, in presenting such a paper to this Department

ment. It bears the appearance of an attempt on the part of those interested to establish a fraudulent claim against the Government. You are requested, therefore, to give us the names of all who are connected with the case, in order that they may be called upon  brought to justice to answer for such conduct; on their part and also to make some  and I request of you an explanation on your part for the presentation of such a paper.
Dec. 17 th 1849
Richard Leavitt Eddy Sewerille Tenn

N 37676 James Paul I'm Libt Richard Lanning August 10th 49 to same 17 Dec r 1849 both in class 8015
act of June 1832

Senierville 2 nd April 1849. Dear Sir
The Declaration of Mr. Paul for a pension will be found enclosed which if you please examine & file -
Yours very Respectfully R. Lanning
I have learned through the medium of Newspaper prints that the last Congress had passed several pension laws. - I have received only one, & that of the 29 th August 1848, - Should there be any others, be pleased to forward them and you will have the hearty thanks of your most Obedient servant R. Lanning

1886 Mar. 19 Ed Paul with history 1916 Sept. 8. Heir to Miss Prior Kathleen Paul - F.W. 1927 Jan 7 Mrs Kathleen Paul Jones wife as to dis. est. and that no bounty land, etc. 1927 Jan 28 Mrs Jones wife P.O. copy of dis. not furnished.
8015.
James Paul
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
blank filed too late for cause of rejection to be entered on printed
Attorney: list of 1852 _____
P. O. _____
Rev VV Recognized. _____ Contract

Look out!
Bureau has refused to furnish Copy of fraudulent dis- charge etc. see correspondence in claim.
aw.