Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,958, for Nathaniel Puckett, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Puckett, Nathaniel
S. 5,958
Born in Va.
CONTENTS
carded

Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 11 th April 1838 from 1 st Sept 1837 to the 1 st March 1838. - age notified 3 rd April 1839.
Paid as above from March 1 st 1841 to Sept 4 th 1841. age notified June 28 th 1842
2198-
Virginia
Nathaniel Puckett
of Chesterfield in the State of Virginia who was a private - in the Compy. commanded by Captain Goode - of the Regt - commanded by Col. Jones - in the Virginia line for 10 months - from 1775 -
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia - at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Nov. 1832 - and South Park Poindexter. Chesterfield, Va.
  Arrears to 4 th of Sept 1832  49.99    Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 th March '33  16.67     66.66  
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathaniel Rice - Clerk Book D Vol. 7 - Page 110.

Nathaniel Backett's N o 6206. declaration.
for a pension under act of Congress June 7 th 1832.
1832 August 13 th presented, sworn to allowed & ordered to be certified.
OV

State of Virginia, Chesterfield county 8 th
On this 13 th day of August anno Dom: 1832: — personally appeared in open court, before the county court of Chesterfield county, now sitting, Nathaniel Puckett a resident of the said county of Chesterfield in the state of Virginia, aged seventy 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 act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, entitled "An act supplementary to the act for "the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers "of the Revolution". — That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein after stated. —
Vo z He entered as a minute man in the militia of the state of Virginia, in the year 1775, he served three tours of duty, whilst he was a minute man of two months each, the company to which he belonged was commanded by Capt n Francis Goode of Chesterfield county, he thinks Colo. Joseph Jones late of the town of Petersburg, commanded the Regiment, but the detachment was under the command of Patrick Henry; he was in no battle during this minute service. —
He then entered as a volunteer at Chester- field court house under Colo Robert Goode of said county, shortly after the battle at Guilford court house North Carolina, in the year , and served one tour of two months under Capt n Geo: Markham and marched to Nansemond county near the town

of Norfolk, the detachment of troops during this tour was commanded by Col s Mercer & Monroe; he was discharged at Petersburg: — He then served one tour of two months in the Militia, being called out by draft according to his number; this was a short time before the siege of York, the company to which he belonged was commanded by Capt n John Knight of Amelia county, and the Regiment was commanded by Col o Boyce, and attached to the army under the Marquis La Fayette: — He was regularly discharged every time, but the said discharges from service were not in writing: He was engaged in no battle, during these tours of duty: —
The applicant was living in Chesterfield county Virg a when called into service the several times above mentioned, and has lived there ever since;
He was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, June 6 th 1755, his birth was recorded (by his father) in the family bible now at his house: He has no documentary evidence by which to sustain this declaration; But Philip H. Vest and Allen Whitworth of Chesterfield county, recollect and can testify that at least a portion of the above mentioned service was performed.
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.
William Pickett

We William Fendley — and Philip H. Vest, residing in the county of Chesterfield in the state of Virginia, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Puckett who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion: Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
William Fendley
Philip H Vest his mark
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War department, that the above named applicant Nathaniel Puckett was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that William Fendley & Philip H. Vest who have signed the proceeding certificate are residents of the county of Chesterfield in the state of Virginia, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Parke Corindexter clerk of the county court of Chesterfield county, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Puckett for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 15 th day of August anno Dom 1832 & in the 57 th year of our Independence.
Parke Corindexter, Clerk.

6206 Puckett Nathaniel Perkins
from 1775 points 10 months $33. 33 100
J. Poindexter

11200
BRIEF in the case of  Nathaniel Puckett  County of Chesterfield  in the State of  Virginia  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 77  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 17 75 into serv'd three tours of 2 months each private Gen. Jos. Jones. Capt. Francis Goode Col.   — vol. two months Capt. Geo. Markham   drafted two do Cols. Mercer & Monroe Capt. Wright Col. / Boyd  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Chesterfield City Va  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & Witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Weagle
Examining Clerk.

Reckay
5958
INVALID.
File No. 5958
Nathaniel Puckett.
Bi Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. M , Page 304
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathaniel Tuckett which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? ss II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? ss III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? ss IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? ss V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? ss VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? ss VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? ss VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? ss IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? ss X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? ss

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
no clergyman but credible persons
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
There are witnesses
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? no  certified by the court. And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
7
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____: and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
19 March 1839
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Nathaniel Prickett a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond Agency, at the rate of thirty three Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the first of September 1837 to the first of March 1838.
Respectfully, yours,
William B. Parsons Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
June 11 th , 1842.
Sir:
Under the date of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,"
Nathaniel Puckett, _____
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Virginia Agency, at the rate of Thirty three — Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March 1841, to the 4 th Sept. 1841.
Respectfully, yours,
William B. Lewis
COMPTROLLER.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

Affidavits in support of
Nathaniel Puckett's
declaration
D.

The affidavit of Capt. Allen Whitworth a soldier of the Revolution taken this 6 th day of August 1832 in support of Nathaniel Puckett's Declaration.
This affiant saith. I know that Nathaniel Puckett enlisted in the volunteer service as stated in his declaration, and know he was in service at other different times but the lapse of so long a period I cannot particularize the times nor the nature of the service. And further this affiant saith not. Allen Whitworth Chesterfield County to Wit:
The above was sworn to before me a justice of the peace for the county aforesaid and State of Virginia. this 6 th day of August 1832.
William Ellis J.P.
The affidavit of Philip West taken (also an old soldier of the Revolution taken this 6 th day of August 1832 in support of Nathaniel Puckett's Declaration.
This affiant saith. I know that Nathaniel Puckett was in service with me at two different times, and was legally discharged, we were in a mess together, but the time has been so long and my memory somewhat impaired I cannot particularly make a statement of the length of time he served. and further this affiant saith not. Philip West. matz
Virginia Chesterfield County to Wit.
The above affidavit was sworn to before me a justice of the peace for the said County & State in due form of law. Given under my hand this 6 th day of August 1832
William Ellis J.P.

Virginia, Chesterfield county Court;
I Parke Poindeater clerk of the county court of Chesterfield county, do hereby certify that William Ellis esquire who has subscribed the foregoing affidavits of Allen Whitworth and Philip H. Vest (written on the opposite page hereof) is and was at the date of the same a Justice of the said court, and that the signatures thereto subscribed, are the genuine signatures of the said William Ellis esquire. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed and set my name and seal of Office this 15 th day of August anno Dom: 1852, and in the 57 th year of our Independence.
Parke Poindeater, Clerk
Affidavits in support of
Nathaniel Puckett
declared