Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1176, John Brent, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
Brent, John Jane
NUMBER
R. 1176
CONTENTS

John Brien petition for a pension
Pirate Col Spottswood Regt.
1776 3 years
On roll
Admitted

To the Honorable J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War
The petition of John Brent sheweth that in the fall of the year 1775. he enlisted for one year as a soldier in the 2 d Regiment of the Virginia continental line in Captain Morgan Alexanders company the Regiment was commanded by Col. Alex- ander Spottswood and served until August of the following year when he enlisted for three years, and was allowed a furlough of three months. under this second enlistment he served three years and was discharged on the 8 th day of August 1779. thereby On the 2 d day of April 1781. he again enlisted during the war in the 2 d Regiment of the Virginia Continental line in Capt. Kirkpatrick's company, the regim- ent was commanded then by Col. Chris- topher Tricebeger, and served faithfully during the war and was honorably dis- charged the 6 th day of June 1783. some part of this time he acted as an artificer he being a blacksmith, he has lost all his discharges. he fought in the battle of Brandywine, he assisted in defending Red Bank fort when besieged by the British during the whole time of the siege, he was in the battle of Monmouth and was then wounded in his right side he assisted at the storming of Paulus Hook under Major Lee. he served the United States faithfully and continually during the terms of his several enlistments except such times as he had leave of absence from his commanding officer, he knows of no person in Tennessee who knew him in the army.

after the war he resided some time in Virginia and married. Then removed to North Carolina where he continued to reside until about four years ago when he removed to the State of Tennessee and resides in Smith county near the town of Carthage. Your petitioner states that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the aid of his country for his support. He will have completed the sixty seventh year of his age on the 28 th day of November next. He has almost entirely lost the use of his right arm so that he is unable to work much. He has no property except two cows & pigs & some little household furniture. He has a wife & six children the youngest about six weeks old. and one of his children is affected with fits. He never has received a pension from the United States nor from the State of Virginia nor from any other State and releases all claim to the same. He therefore prays to be allowed a pension agreeably to the act of congress of the 18 th of March 1818.
John Brent
State of Tennessee to wit.
This day personally appeared before me Thomas Stuart one of the Judges of the circuit courts for the State of Tennessee. John Brent the above named petitioner, and made oath that the facts set forth in the above petition are true. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28 th day of July 1818.
John Brent
Thos Stuart.
State of Tennessee to wit.
I Thomas Stuart one of the Judges of the circuit courts for the State of Tennessee do certify that I am satisfied John Brent the above named petitioner was a soldier in the American Revolutionary war

in the Virginia continental line that he was enlisted and served in manner as is above set forth in his declaration and said service was a continued service of nine months and more, I am also satisfied that he is old de- spic and in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the aid of his country, in the manner intended by the act of Congress of 1818 concerning pensions. and that his above declaration is in substance true. Given under my hand at Williamson county in the state of Tennessee This 13 th day of August 1818. Thos. Stuart.
I William Smith Clerk of the circuit court of Williamson county in the State of Tennessee do certify that Thomas Stuart who has attested the above affidavit of John Brent, and who has signed the above certificate that John Brent is entitled to the benefit of the act of Congress concerning pensions is a Judge of the circuit courts for the State of Tennessee and presides as such in the circuit court of Williamson county at such times as he is directed by an act of assembly of the State of Tennessee Given under my hand and private seal there being no public seal of office yet provi- ded at office This 13 th day of August 1818.
William Smith

John Brent Declaration
No. 271.
[Faint, mirrored cursive text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. It appears to read "John Brent" and "Declaration" in reverse.]

State of Tennessee Smith County Court
August Term 1820.
On this 21 st day of August 1820 personally appeared in Open Court, being a Court of record for the County of aforesaid, John Brent aged sixty eight years, a resident in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he was in the revolutionary war as follows, he entered the service in 1775, and served 6 years, in the 2 d Virginia Regiment, and was discharged at Winchester Barracks. 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 or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby to diminish it, or 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, who were 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 to wit, am an old man, 2 cattle, 2 cows & 8 sheep, plow and gear, an pot, and spinning wheel, an axe, and hoe for a wife named Sarah, forty three years of age, has three children, Mary nine years old, August to date Franky

two years old, and Elizabeth, two years old - he is by profession a blacksmith, and so disabled that he cannot work
John Brent
Sworn to, and entered in Open Court, the 20 th day of August 1820. before
James Robbins Presiding Justice of Smith County Court
State of Tennessee, Smith County.
I James Robbins Presiding Justice of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions for the County of said, do certify, that it appears to the satisfaction of said Court that the said John Brent 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, in the Continental establishment, said Court is also satisfied that he made the appearance of his Country for support. And I now trans- mit his declaration to the Secretary for the Depart- ment of War, in conformity with an act of Congress of the 1 st of May 1820.
James Robbins Presiding Justice of Smith County Court

State of Tennessee Smith County I Jonathan Pickett Clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are true copies from the the original on file in my office, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of said Court, that the total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is forty seven dollars and fifty cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court at office in Hartsville, this 1 st day of September, in the year of our Lord 1820 and the 45 th year of our Independence.
J Pickett Clerk.

V1370 Jane Brent Tennessee
died 21 July '33
A & 4 July 1836

State of Tennessee Smith County. On this six th day of February 1837 personally appeared in open court it being the court of the monthly Session held for the county of Smith and State of Tennessee Jane Brent a resident of the county and State aforesaid aged seventy four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act Provisions made by the act of Congress on the passed July the 4 th 1836 That she is the widow of John Brent who was a Pensioner of the United States and drew his Pension from the agent for paying Pensions in West Tennessee That he drew his Pension for services rendered during the revolutionary War as can be seen by reference to the list of Pensioners in West Tennessee he having been a Pensioner and received his Pension at Nashville State of Tennessee for the a considerable time before his death
She further declares that she was married to the said John Brent as well as she can recollect on the sixth day of January in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy nine or 1779 That her husband the aforesaid John Brent died on the 21 st day of July 1833 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed
Sworn to and subscribed in open court on the ----- day and year above written her mark Jane X Brent
Reference is made to the proof furnished after his death to enable her to draw a balance of his Pension then due after his death (which is supposed to be within the possession of the War Department at Washington) Should any further evidence be necessary as to her marriage the

State of Tennessee Smith County Court of Monthly Sessions February term 1837
Personally appeared in open court Ebenezer William a resident of the county and state aforesaid who first being Duly Sworn according to law deposes and says that he has been acquainted with John Brent and his wife Jane Brent for the space of twenty years that he used to fix the old Mason Tinsler papers in his life time That the said Jane Brent is the widow of the said John Brent that he died as well as he can recollect on the 21 st day of July 1835 and that his wife Jane Brent has remained a widow ever since Sworn and subscribed in open court this day and date above mentioned
Ebenezer Whitley
State of Tennessee Smith County
I John S. Darnell clerk of Smith County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Jane Brent for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office in Carthage this 10 th day of February 1837 and the 61 st year of our Independence
John S. Darnell clerk of Smith County Court

State of Tennessee Smith County
On this 27 th day of October 1849 personally appeared Thomas Hall heir at law in right of his wife Elizabeth Hall formerly Elizabeth Brent heirs at law of Jane Brent deceased before me Samuel P Howard one of the Acting Justices of the peace for the county of Smith and a Justice of authorized to hold the County Court being a court of record who being duly sworn according to law makes the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the acts of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 and amendatory acts of the same allowing Pensions to widows who of Revolutionary officers and Soldiers whose marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1800 Seventeen hundred and ninety four That Samuel Brent and Elizabeth Hall wife of this Declarant are children and heirs at law of Jane Brent widow of John Brent a Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $96.00 dollars per annum That said Jane Brent after the death of her husband made application under act of 4 th July 1836 to be placed on the Pension list and said claim was rejected and afterwards made application for a Pension under act of

in behalf of the heirs by their attorney by letter was made 7 th July 1838 That the Said Jane Brent died on the Nineteenth of day July 1838 and having lived until after the passage of said act of Congress 7 th July 1838 her children are entitled to the amount of Pension that She would have drawn if living from the 4 th day of March 1836 the time of her Pension commencing under said act to the 19 th July 1838 the day of her death That Said Jane Brent died in Lawrence county Alabama having removed from Tennessee after making her first application and that this Declarant lived in Alabama and moved to Tennessee last October which accounts for the reason why application to renew this claim was not made previous to this date. That the That the proof of Marriage to the Said John John Brent is ample and sufficiently made out and on file in the Pension office among the original papers in support of her claim under act of 7 th July 1836 which is here referred to and prayed to be taken as part of this application That the children of the Said Jane Brent are entitled to a Pension equal to the amount drawn by their father John Brent from the 4 th day of July 1836 to the day 19 th day of July 1838 pay to be paid to them the Said Samuel Brent and Elizabeth Hall children of the Said Jane Brent and

and that the same be paid to them and or their legal representatives
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27 th day of October 1849
Sam d Howard JR
Thomas his X Hall Mark
Tennessee
Smith County 33 I William V. R. Wallum clerk of the County Court of said County. do hereby certify that Samuel P. Howard whose name appears officially to the foregoing declaration is and was at the time the same bears date an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified as the law directs and that the said signature thereto purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office this the 30 th day of October 1849. W. R. Wallum Clerk

July 8, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS John Brent, R.1176
Mr. Chester H. Brent 512 East Beverly Street Staunton, Virginia
Dear Sir:
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, R.1176, based upon the military service of John Brent.
He was born November 21 (date of month illegible), 1751. The place of birth and names of parents were not given.
John Brent enlisted, place not given, in the fall of 1775 as private in Captain Morgan Alexander's company in Colonel Alexander Spotswood's Virginia regiment and served under these officers until August, 1776, when he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, was in the battle of Brandywine, the siege of Mud Island Fort, was wounded in right side in battle of Monmouth, was at the storming of Paulus Hook and was discharged August 8, 1779. He enlisted April 2, 1781, in Captain Kirkpatrick's company in Colonel Christopher Febiger's Virginia regiment and was discharged June 6, 1783. He was a blacksmith during a part of his service.
He stated that after the Revolution he lived for sometime in Virginia and married, that he then moved to North Carolina where he lived until about 1814 when he moved to Tennessee.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 28, 1818, at which time he was living near Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee.
In July, 1818, John Brent stated that he had a wife and six children and that the youngest was about six weeks old, no names given. In 1820 he stated that his wife, Jane, was forty-three years of age and referred to the following children: Nancy aged nine, Franky aged six, and Elizabeth aged two.

On February 6, 1837, Jane Brent, resident of Smith County, Tennessee, aged seventy-four years, applied for pension as the widow of John Brent and stated that she married him January 9, 1779, and that he died July 21, 1833. The claim was not allowed as proof in support of the claim was not furnished in accordance with the requirement of the pension law.
On January 3, 1842, Samuel Brent, aged fifty years, appeared before the court in Smith County, Tennessee, and stated that his father, John Brent, a Revolutionary War pensioner, died in Smith County, Tennessee, and that his mother, Jane Brent, had since died and that the following children survived: Samuel Brent, Polly Johnson, Susannah Hall and Elizabeth Hall. Samuel Brent stated that he had heard his mother and father speak of their marriage and that to the best of his recollection they stated they were married about 1785.
On October 27, 1849, Thomas Hall, husband of Elizabeth Hall, appeared before a court of record in Smith County, Tennessee, and stated that Jane Brent died July 19, 1838, in Lawrence County, Alabama, where he (Thomas Hall) lived until October, 1848, when he moved to Tennessee.
Very truly yours
A. D. BILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

State of Tennessee
Smith County
county court held for Smith County January 30 1842
Personally appeared in open court Samuel Brent who says he is fifty years of age and made oath in due form of law that his father John Brent died in the county of Smith and state of Tennessee was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $96.00 Dollars per annum that his mother Jane Brent has since his father's death, made application for a Pension and under act of July 17th 1838 as she is infirm
This Deponent further states that his father and mother left the following children to wit Samuel Brent Polly Johnson Susannah Hall and Elizabeth Hall as the only heirs at law of her the said Jane Brent
This Deponent further states that he has heard his father and mother speak of their marriage and will state to the best of his recollection that they dated their marriage about five years after the date of the Revolutionary War say in Seventeen hundred and eighty five this Deponent knows of no record or other documentary evidence as regards the marriage of his father or mother or the births of their children
Sworn to in open court the date above
Samuel Brent
Sworn to in open court
J. J. Bennett
State of Tennessee Smith County
I John J. Burnett clerk of the county court of said Smith county do hereby certify that the above proceedings were had in open court on the day and year above mentioned
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal at office at Carthage this 4th day of January 1842
John J. Burnett clerk of Smith County Court

Ex 19 Wolfs
1820
March
43
1777

Jane Brent Tennessee file with suspended cause. a fraudulent claim the husband states in his paper under act of March 18. 1818 that he was married after the war, and in his schedule under act of May 1820, made in 1820 that his wife Jane was four years of age. See papers of Lydia Ross & Catherine Cobb, which were sent to the claim.
Tennessee. Jane Brent. Ltt to A. Ferguson 21. June 1845 " " " 7 th Dec r 1849 " " Hon. H. Ewing Marshall Ltt to A. Ferguson, May 30. 1837 do. 7 th Sept 1840 let 1 st March 1842 to do
Act July 4. 1836
1176

10-241 R West Tennessee
Sent Hon R Allen Dec 30. 1820
Wolf W.Rap.
John Brent
of Smith Co in the state of Tennessee who was a private in the regiment, commanded by Colonel Pittswood Ptey of the Virginia line, for the term of Five years War.
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 28 of July 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 of May 1816 and sent to Thomas Stuart Franklin Tennessee
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 7 3/4 58.00 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sep. 1819 - 6 mo 1/8.
$106.00
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Cont -
Health met in A.B

Carthage Tennessee 29 th December 1849
Sir
Yours of the 17 th instant is before me relating the cause why the claim of arrears of Pension due Jane Brent widow of John Brent cannot be allowed Namely "That John Brent her husband died in 1833 and that her own death occurred in July 1838 after the passage of the act but before the passage of the Joint Resolution of the 16 th August 1842 and that no widow whose husband was living on the 7 th June 1832 was entitled under said act until the passage of the Joint Resolution above referred to," I respectfully call your attention to the fact that in said act of 7 th July 1838 no proviso or condition is contained in said act prohibiting a Pension to widows whose husbands were living and in receipt of a Pension on the 7 th June 1832 The act is now before me printed under a Resolution of last Congress and contains no such condition nor do I recollect of any such question being made in obtaining any Pension from the time said act was passed until the Joint Resolution 16 th August 1842 I know in this very case of Mrs Brent you were pleased to recommend to me in your decision on the papers first presented under act of 7 th July 1832 1836

4 th July 1836 rejecting the claim under said act on account that the date of the marriage alleged to have taken place previous to the last period of his service was not satisfactory. That from the proof "a claim might be allowed under act of 7 th July 1838," The only question made by you then was the marriage which under act of 1838 was extended to 1 st January 1794 within which period you were of opinion the marriage might have taken place. And in your decision of the 1 st April 1839 you clearly express in the later part of said decision that the same rule has obtained under act of 7 th July 1838 to wit to commence at the day of the husband's death if he died after the 4 th July 1836 at which period the law fixes the date for the Pension to commence provided they the widow was living at the date of its passage. The necessity of passing the Court Resolution of 16 th August 1842 was to allow a full Pension of five years to commence 4 th July 1836 notwithstanding the husband had lived part of the time and drew the same Pension after the 4 th July 1836 as for instance previous to the passage of this Resolution widows were only allowed to commence drawing from the date of their husband's death. Your decision and the opinion of the Attorney General was that the Pension was her own and consequently after the passage of the Resolution above referred to Pensions were drawn back to 4 th July 1836 although the husband drew part of

of the same time. Thus operating under the Joint Resolution of 16 th August widows were allowed to draw back to 4 th July 1836 their husbands having lived during part of that time and drew their Pensions as such
This being so clear a mistake I hope you will reverse your decision you were pleased to make in this case on the 7 th instant & allow the claim from 4 th July 1836 4 th March 1836 to the day of her death in the latter part of July 1838 after the passage of the act as stated in the last declaration
My friend Mr Ewing Member of Congress will hand you this who is requested to attend to it. You can communicate to him or to me as you may think proper. The claim is a legal one and ought to be allowed without further delay having been presented more than ten years ago until the claimant has died and by a former decision in this case you were pleased to reject her claim under act of 4 th July 1836 and by which her Pension ought to commence at husband's death in 1833 whereas under the present application it only commences if allowed on 4 th March 1836 and terminates at her death a little more than two years. Be pleased to allow the claim and hand the certificate to Mr Ewing to be transmitted to me Respectfully
W. H.ergussou
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

111 Pension Office Decem r 17 th 1849
Sir
The application for an pension under the act of 7 May 1838, in the case of Jane Burt do widow of John Burt, has been received, and the papers placed on file.
It appears from the evidence presented in support of this claim that Mrs Burt's husband died in 1833 and that her own death occurred in July 1838. Prior to the passage of the joint resolution of 26 August 1842 no widow, whose husband was living on 7 June 1832 was entitled to the benefit of the act of 7 May 1838. As Mrs Burt's death occurred before the passage of that Resolution, therefor she acquired no right to a pension under the act of 7 May 1838, and  therefore the claim of her children for an cannot be allowed.
A. Ferguson Esq Cachage Trn.

Husband died 1833
Wife died 1838
No Claim under the act of 7 July 1838, and Inst Resolution of 16 August 42

Carthage 30 th October 1849
Sir
Inclosed Please find the Declaration of one of the heirs of Jane Brent widow of John Brent renewing her application for a Pension under act of 7 th July 1838. Jane Brent made application for a Pension under act 4 th July 1836 but owing to her not being able to prove her marriage to have taken place previous to the last term of service of her husband before the termination of war of the Revolution her claim was not admitted. The letters received by me and on file show that a great deal of proof have been furnished and one of the last letters suggests the propriety of her making a new Declaration under act 7 th July 1838 and that a claim so made out would be admissible. She left the country previous to this being done and died in Alabama as the Declaration shows leaving children and she having lived until the 19 th day of July 1838 which was after the passage of the act of 7 th July 1838 she acquired a right to all the benefits of said act and the right accrued to her children to receive the amount due her if living that would have been paid to her from the 4 th day of July 1836 to the 19 th day of July 1838 the day of her death I therefore renew the application and if any other

Other and further proof be necessary be pleased to point it out and I will endeavour to have it furnished I hope your early attention will be drawn to this claim and make as favourable a decision as to the sitting of the claim as to you shall seem right I have no doubt but she was entitled to the benefits of the act of 7 th July 1888 Respectfully A. Bergusson
James L Edward Esda Commission of Pensions Washington D C

A. Ferguson
1 March 1842
OC

Pen. Office
13
Feb. March 1. 1862
Sir,
The affidavit of Samuel Brent in the case of Mrs. Jane Brent decd. widow of John Brent, decd has been examined. Before any further He should amend his affidavit and state at what time his mother died, It is  know and produce some records evidence showing the period of her death in order to a favorable decision. It is probable she died before the passage of the act of 7 th July 1855, and if so, the heirs are not entitled to a pension in her right. She was not entitled under act 4 July 1836, having been married before the  beginning after the close of the revolutionary war.
E
A. Ferguson Esq Bartley, Ten
00 1370 at 136

Carthage Tennessee 4th January 1842
Sir
Inclosed you will find the Declaration of Samuel Brent a son of Jane Brent Widow of John Brent Deceased. In the hurry of the business of court I did not confine his Statements to the form of the usual Declaration in such cases which I hope will not materially affect the rights of the heirs. If it should be necessary to make the Statements of the included in a more formal way the same can be done. The fact of there being no Documentary evidence in support of the claim is certain I have tried to get at it if possible both in the old Ladys lifetime and since but I am now convinced there is no such record. The probability is that the old man neglected keeping a family record either of the marriage or the births of their children and his wife and children were ignorant of the advantage of such. You will please inform me what further proof is necessary. Respectfully James L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions A. Hargraves Esq

Cathay June 1840 22 nd July 1840
Dear Sir
Inclosed you will find the amended Declaration of Sarah Brent previous to her death taken before John Gordon Esqr also the affidavits of three Witnesses of high Respectability in Support of her claim. They were misplaced among my papers so that I thought they had been sent to you all this while. Please give as favour- able a report as the nature of the case will admit and if the heirs cannot obtain the Pension up to her death under act of 4 th July 1836 they certainly can under act of July 7 th 1838 Please inform me as soon as you can Respectfully A Ferguson James L Edwards Esqr

Genl. Office
76.
Sept 7. 1840
Sir,
The additional testimony in the case of Mrs Jane Brent widow of John Brent deceased has been examined and filed with her original declaration. There is a great discrepancy between her statement of her age and the period of her marriage and the statement made in her husband's declaration under act of 7 July 1838 18 March 1838. No proof of the period of her marriage has been exhibited. The heirs are not entitled under act of 4 July 1836. A declaration should be made by the parties interested under act of 7 July 1838 and the most undoubted proof of the period of the marriage exhibited. If there be any family records

of the marriage or of the birth of the children it should be exhibited. If there be none the facts should be stated under oath. Perhaps there may be some record in the office of the Clerk of the County where she was married. The clerk's certificate should be exhibited.
A. Ferguson Sept. 7 1840 88
A. Ferguson Esq. Dear Sir,
00 1370 at 36

319 1/2 Pension Office March 13 1850
Sir,
I reply to Mr Ferguson of the 29 th Dec r last, in the case of Jane Brent de widow of John Brent under a title by 1836 . I have to state that her children are not entitled to a pension on her account. Enclosed I her. You will receive by this days mail a copy of the pension laws and decisions under those laws, from which you will perceive the reasons for rejecting the claim. I would refer you particularly to the R. Mr Segar's decision page 66,
Hon A. Davis M.P. A. Ferguson Esq Earlham I. L.

State of Tennessee Jonathan Fairs Smith county } personally affirmed before me and made oath that to the best of his knowledge that John Brent was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and did belong to the same brigade in which he the said Fairs was a sergeant at the time of the siege at Fort Mifflin and the battle at the Red Bank fort note that the said Fairs was personally acquainted with the said Brent but from several inquiries which the said Fairs asked the Brent on occasions which took place at the above mentioned battles and his answers to me convinces me that he the said Brent must have been then given under my hand and seal
Jonathan Fairs
sworn and subscribed to this the 9 th day of August 1819 before me
Little B. Hughes Clerk
Lester Price

State of Tennessee Smith County } Robert Allen Clerk of the Court of Pleas & quarters Sessions for said County. do hereby certify that Little B. Hughes esquire whose name appears signed to the within affidavit is & was at the time of signing the same an acting justice of the Pleas for said County of Smiths Duly Commissioned and sworn etc
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office at Carthage the 10th day of August 1815 & 40th Year of American Independence
Robert Allen

State of Tennessee Smith County On this day personally appeared Isaiah R. Smith before me Esquire Whitley one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county and made oath in due form of law that he has been acquainted with John Brent and Jane Brent from twenty five to thirty years during the time they were citizens of the county aforesaid That John Brent was known as a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States That he never heard or believed that they were any other than man and wife they had several children Sons and Daughters They were very old people he would say from appearances they were if living now upwards of eighty years of age The old man died several years ago and his wife as this affiant has heard has died last fall or latter part of the summer they have left several children living this affiant cannot say as to the precise time or period of their marriage but is willing to believe from the best information and all the circumstances taken together as well as their own statements to him that they must have been married during the war of the Revolution The old Lady had moved previous to her death out of the neighborhood Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of February 1839 I. R. Smith

State of Tennessee Smith County
I know Whitley one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid to hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Josiah R. Smith who has made the foregoing affidavit before me That he is a man of respectability and truth and a regular minister of the gospel and that full faith and credit are due his statements
Given under my hand and Seal this 17th day of February 1839
Erwin Whitley Justice of the Peace

State of Mississippi Smith County
I John D. Bunnell Clerk of Smith County Court hereby Certify that John Dudley Smathers L.D. was and now is wholly an Justice of the Peace as above at the time the same purporting to bear date can now act for the County of Smith, duly Commissioned and qualified as the law directs and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office in Carthage the 22 nd July 1840
John D. Bunnell

State of Tennessee Smith County
On this Day personally appeared Jane Brent widow of John Brent a Pensioner of the United States Deceased who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following amended Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Pension made by the acts of Congress passed July 4 th 1836 and 3 d of March 1837 That since making her previous declaration she has endeavored to ascertain where she can find proof but upon strict search she is unable to find any person living who was present at her marriage. That she has no documentary or record proof in support of her claim That she is far situated from the place of her early acquaintance and knows of no person living by which she can make proof of the day and date when she and the said John Brent was married. She further declares that through old age and loss of memory she cannot recollect the circumstances of his services but will say that she is the identical widow of the said John Brent and that she was married to him previous to his last hour of service and has remained a widow ever since his death.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27 th Day of October 1837
her Jane x Brent mark
John Gordon Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee Smith County } I John Gordon one of the acting Justices of the peace for the county of Smith and State aforesaid hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jane Brent who has appeared before me and made oath to the foregoing amended Declaration That she is a woman of truth and veracity and that full faith and credit are due to her statements Given under my hand and seal this 24 th December 1837
John Gordon Justice of the peace
State of Tennessee Smith County } This day personally appeared Obadiah Paris Inn and John W. Paty two res- pectable citizens of the county of Smith and made oath in due form of law that they have been well acquainted with John Brent and his wife Jane Brent they have lived residents of Smith county for the last twenty years The general understanding of all their acquaintances and the character they bore all confirmed in the entire belief of the legitimacy of their marriage In- truth such a question was never raised nor never doubted nor is it now disputed or doubtful
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8 th December 1837
J. L. Hare (JL) Justice of the peace
Obadiah his Parris his mark J. W. Paty

State of Tennessee
Smith County
I Jonathan L Hare one of the acting Justices of the Peace for the county of Smith and State aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the Obadiah Paris Inn and John W. Patey that they are men of Respectability and truth and that full faith and credit are due to their statements
Given under my hand and Seal This 8 th Day of December 1834
J. L. Hare (J. P.) Justice of the Peace for Smith County

512 East Beverly St. Staunton Va. May 26th, 1936.
U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington D.C.
Gentlemen:
I am compiling a genealogy of the Brent family, and am interested in finding out how I can get from your records data showing service in the Revolutionary War of members of this family then living in Virginia.
If this material is not supplied directly by you, please advise me how I can get it, and at what cost.
Yours very truly,
A handwritten signature in cursive, appearing to read "Chester H. Brent".
Chester H. Brent.

1936 July 8. hist. to Mr. Chester H. Brent 11/1/36
11176
REJECTED
P. O.
James Brent Widow of John
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Reapplication filed: _____, 18
Discharges: _____
Reenlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
_____ _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

July 8, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS
John Brent, R. 1176
Wm. Brent, R. 20335
Mr. Chester H. Brent 512 East Beverly Street Staunton, Virginia
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you state that you are compiling a genealogy of the Brent family and desire the Revolutionary War records of those then residing in Virginia.
Revolutionary War data furnished by the Veterans Administration are obtained from claims for pension and bounty, land which have been made to the United States based upon service in that war. There are only two such claims on file based upon service of soldiers with surname Brent from any state. The records of these two soldiers, John and William Brent, are furnished herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator