Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,081, John Bradley, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
Bradley, John
NUMBER _____
L 3081
Carded
CONTENTS

19083 West Tennessee
John Bradley of Wilson Co. in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Meredith of the Vols. commanded by Col. Shipworth on the Virginia line for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of W Tennessee at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of July 1832 and Switzer A. McLain Lebanon
Arrears to the 4th of March 40 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 10 00
$50 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Sam Boyd Clerk Book E Vol. 7 Page 74

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832. State of Tennessee } S. Wilson County }
On this 21 st day of September 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for said County of Wilson now sitting, John Bradley a resident of the County of Wilson & State of Tennessee aged Eighty one years since the 10 th of August last according to his father's Record in the Family Bible, 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. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In the Winter or Spring of the year 1781 he entered the Militia Service in the County of Cumberland & State of Virginia the place of his birth & residence, in a company commanded by Capt. William Meredith of the same County, the name of the Lieut. of our Company not recollected, he was mustered in service at William Talley's Tavern and attached to the Regiment of Virginia State troops commanded by Col. Henry Skipworth (or Skipworth), Majr. Devault, was one of our field officers, the names of the Lieut. Col. & other field officers not recollected. While in this service at Chaney hills in view of the City of Richmond, he recollected distinctly. From Talley's Tavern the troops were marched to Falling Creek, where they remained encamped about two weeks - during which time the British left their shipping near Petersburg and came up to Richmond & burnt the Public buildings - they marched from thence Falling Creek to Bance hill in view of the City of Richmond, where we were reviewed by the Marquis De La Fayette, thence to Hobbs hills , perhaps about ten miles below Richmond where they remained about two weeks - they then returned and crossed James River at Richmond and marched by Warwick & near Petersburg, thence from place to place reconnoitering the Country, and probably the design of the commanding officers was that the troops might be kept in motion and the Tories in check . Much damage to private property was done. When the term of service, which was three months, expired he was regularly discharged in writing by Capt. Meredith; he has lost his discharge - he was not in any engagement this tour of service.
In the fall of the same year he was again called upon to serve a tour of three months in the Militia - in a company commanded by Capt. Joseph Carrington. he was mustered in service at Montague's Tavern in Cumberland County, Virginia, marched down near Richmond on the south side of James River in Chesterfield County, and then marched from place to place through that County and into Powhatan County without being in any engagement, and did but little more than eat our rations when they could be had, and annoy the Tories. at the end of our three months service I was again regularly discharged in writing by our Capt. but has lost it also; not

John Bradley.
expecting them ever to be of any advantage, he did not take particular care and left them in the State of Virginia, when he removed to Wilson County, Tennessee.
He has no documentary, and knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure, to testify as to his services above set forth.
He resided in Cumberland County, Virginia, up to the year 1805, when he removed to Tennessee, made one crop in Knox County, Tennessee then moved to Wilson County, Tennessee in the fall of the year 1805, where he has resided ever since - on the waters of Jennings fork of Round Suck Creek.
He is well acquainted with the Rev d John Borum & knew him in the State of Virginia - also well acquainted with Isaiah Lee, James Seoby, & Shelah Waters & James Hobbs, some of whom can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
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 & year aforesaid.
John L. Bradley, Mark
We John Borum, a clergyman, residing in Wilson County, & Isaiah Lee of the same County, hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with John Bradly who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be Eighty one years old - that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Isaiah Lee further certifies that he has heard his father in law & the son of Capt. Wm Meredith often speak of John Bradly the applicant as a soldier of the Revolution. -
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Borum, & Isaiah Lee
And the 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 soldier of the Revolution, and served as he states. And the court further Certifies that it appears to them that John Borum who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, Resident in the County of Wilson and that Isaiah Lee who has also signed the same is a resident of this County and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Doct. Wilford H. Stephen McDonald, Jr. Frederick Cost, Jr.
for paid.

14, 303
John Bradley 2 nd from 1781 private 6 months p. 20.
John Bradley 2 nd =
J. S. McLean Lebanon Tenn

14,303
BRIEF in the case of of Wilson by
Jno Bradley in the State of Tenn (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? all court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? →  3. How old is he? 81  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.     Union Sp. 81 In 17 fall of 81 3 private Gen. Capt. Meredith - Col. Skipworth or Skipworth   3 " Capt. Carrington  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Cumberland by ro.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Tradition  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
The papers not properly authenticated
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. C. Easton Examining Clerk. 18 Feb 1833

14,303
Mrs Bradley

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Bradley which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes 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? Yes IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes 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? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes 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? Yes

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 ?
Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ?
→
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 ?
Yes
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? →
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
→
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 ?
→
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ?
no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ?
Yes
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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† 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 authenticates 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 ends 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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Penkay
3081.
INVALID
File No. 3081
John Bradley Port. low. line
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. A , Page 23
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Tennessee Wilson County I Josiah S. M c Clain Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed- ings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Brady for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at office in the town of Lebanon this 7 th day of May A D 1855
J. S. M c Clain