Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 881, Alexander Black, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Black, Alexander
R. 881
CONTENTS

State of Indiana
Crawford County Probate Court
August Term A.D. 1835
On the eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Michael Real Esqr. Judge of the Probate Court of the County of Crawford in the State of Indiana now sitting (being a court of Record) Alexander Black a resident of Crawford County in the State of Indiana aged seventy five years the 22 nd day of last February 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. 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he enlisted or engaged in the said service on or about the first day of March 1780. at a place on New River in the State of Virginia at the house of Major Taylor and under the command of said Taylor he took the bounty at the time of enlisting and enlisted for "during the war". has no recollection of what line he belonged to. his captain's name was John Preston who commanded the company to which he belonged which consisted of about twenty men, went under the command of said Preston from Major Taylor's to a place called Lincolshire on the waters of the Clinch River. sometimes called Clinch Station, went on frequent scouting parties, while stationed here the Indians came upon a place at no great distance from the station called Elk Garden and sometimes called New Garden killed one man and took his wife and two children prisoners. he. (thes? Alexander Black) with fourteen others then pursued, thinks the name of the officer there who commanded this party was Oliver Gwin. but does not recollect what

grade he was of, after pursuing the Indians three days overtook them fired on them wounded several, and reclaimed the woman and two children was in no other engagement during the time he was in the service continued in the service until the first of December following being nine months when he was discharged at the aforesaid station by an officer by the name of Crockett. does not know what grade he was of received a written discharge which he took home to his father (who then lived in Augusta County Virginia within five miles Stanton) left it in the possession of his father which he saw many times afterwards and which remained in his father's possession until his death, which then fell into the hands of his brother Robert Black who now (if alive) resides in some where in the State of Illinois. since which time has not seen said discharge.
Was born near a place called Bennett's forge (he thinks) in Berkeley County Virginia. from there his father moved to Augusta County Virginia with whom he resided until he enlisted. after returning from the service he removed with his father to a place called Jennings' gap. where he was married and resided about one year he removed to Bullpasture River he thinks in Pendleton County Virginia where he resided 12 or 15 years. from there he removed to Buchanan River in Harrison County Virginia where he resided about 25 years from there he emigrated to Crawford County Indiana in the fall of the year 1834 where he now resides as above stated. That he got his father to give him a record of his age which he done before his death, which was written by Squire Hall. under the direction of his father. on a small piece of paper which was in his possession until last spring which is lost or mislaid and is now not in the possession of this declarant. He is well acquainted with Christopher Swiger

and George Sowerheber who are residents of the same neighbourhood and who can testify as to his veracity and of their belief of his being services as a soldier of the Revolution, that he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on pension roll of any the agency of any State.
Sworn to in open court } E. D. Root August 11 th 1835
Attest. E. E. Morganth
We Christopher Swiger and George Sowerheber (There being no Chesgymman in the neighbourhood) residing in the County of Crawford aforesaid do hereby certify that we are both well acquainted with Alexander Black who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years old of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution.
Christopher Swiger
George Sowerheber
Sworn to in open court } August 11 th 1835
Attest E. E. Morganth
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears that Christopher Swiger and George Sowerheber who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County of Crawford Indiana are creditable persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Michael Real

State of Indiana ss.
I E. E. Morgan clerk of the Probate court of the County of Crawford in said State of Indiana Do hereby certify the forgoing contains the original proceeding of the said court in the matter of the application of Alexander Black for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- scribed my name as clerk as aforesaid and affixed the seal of said court hereunto at Terre Haute 15 th day of August A. D. 1835
E. E. Morgan clerk
33. 221 Alexander Black Terre Haute

33,221 Suspended let 28 Augt 1835- D. S. Morgan cannot find this Indiana letter Alexander Black 881 act 7 th June 1832
MRS. F. R. BURNS 301 EAST MAIN STREET MENTONE, INDIANA
April 1 1936.
Veterans Administrations, Rev. War Records Division, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:
Would you please send me the Rev. War service of Alexander Black who is listed in the 1840 census as receiving a pension while a resident of Crawford County, Indiana. Aged 80 at that time.
Do you have any record of a man by the name of Matthias as Stockberger who lived in Westmoreland Co., Pa. at the time of the Rev. War. who might have received a pension? Also a man named John Bitters of Northampton Co Pa. John Bitters had a son named John who married Sarah Ann Major of the same County. Matthias Stockberger's wife's name was Sarah(Salome) Dumbauld.
Any information you can send me will be greatly appreciated.
Yours very truly,
Mrs. F. R. Burns.

Ex'r.
INVALID.
NO. 1001
REFLECTED
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
Alexander Black
P. O. _____
Service: _____
Printed list of 1852 shows cause of induction
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: For further service _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
1913. Dec 17. History to Miss Agnes Bayne, Keer in S.F. 18587. Joseph Bayne. M.13.H. 1936- July 6- Visit to Mrs. F. R. Burns - S.F.

July 6, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/EEL Q Alexander Black-P.881
Mrs. F.R.Burns 301 East Main Street Mentone, Indiana
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of Alexander Black, listed in 1840 as a pensioner of Crawford County, Indiana; you request, also, the records of Matthias Stockberger and John Bitters, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of that war. The record of Alexander Black is furnished you herein as found in the papers on file in pension claim, R.881, based upon the military service of that soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Alexander Black was born February 22, 1760, at Bennett's Forge, Berkeley County, Virginia(now West Virginia) and moved with his father to Augusta County, Virginia, within five miles of Staunton, that county. The names of his parents are not shown.
After the Revolution, he moved to Jennings Gap, state not named; then to Pendleton County, Virginia(now West Virginia), where he lived twelve or fifteen years; thence to Harrison County, Indiana, and lived about twenty-five years; thence in the fall of 1834, to Crawford County, Indiana.
While residing in said Crawford County, Alexander Black applied August 11, 1835, for the pension which might have been due on account of his services in the Revolutionary War and alleged that while residing with his father in Augusta County, Virginia, he enlisted at the home of Major Taylor on New River, about March 1, 1780, served in Captain John Preston's Company, under the above noted Major Taylor in the Virginia Troops; that they marched to Clinch Station on Clinch River, which station was commanded by one Crockett, Christian name and rank not stated, and while here went out on numerous scouting

parties, on one occasion under one Oliver Gwin, when they marched to Elk Garden or New Garden in pursuit of some Indians who had killed a settler and taken his wife and two children prisoners, and that they had an encounter with the savages and rescued the woman and her children, and that he continued to serve until December, 1780, when he was discharged.
The claim of Alexander Black was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service of six months as required by the pension law. The pension which he received and which induced him to report himself a pensioner to the marshal of the Sixth Judicial District in 1840, may have been paid by the state from which he served.
The soldier stated that he married while residing in Jennings Gap but he did not give the name of his wife or the exact date of their marriage. No reference was made to children.
In 1835, the soldier stated that his brother, Robert, if still alive, was living in the state of Illinois.
The date of soldier's death is not shown.
Very truly yours
A. D. MILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Alexander Black a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. RE. 881.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Mch 1. 1780 John Preston Va   and went out on scouting parties until the following December        
Battles engaged in, Some skirmishes with Indians. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enlisted on New river, Va. Date of application for pension, Aug. 11. 1835. Residence at date of application, Crawfords Co. Ind. Age at date of application, 75 years. Feb 22 1835: F. near Pennels forge, Pendleton Co. Va. Remarks: he married in Pendleton Co. Va. name of wife not stated  The claim was not allowed on account of insufficient proof of service.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.