Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,178, Nicholas Bickers, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Bickers, Nicholas
S. 18178
Carded.
CONTENTS

Virginia
23. 7/33
Nicholas Pickens -
of Orange in the State of Va
who was a pr in the Regt commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col Edmund in the Va line for _____
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 10 Dollars _____ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 day of Mar 34. and Link  Prn: M.M. Patton. A.R.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1831 120- Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 Sept " 20-
140-
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Chas. Price Clerk.
Book E Vol. 64 Page 11
Note of check not on file

State of Virginia, Orange County to Wit: On this 24 th day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, personally ap- peared before me Samuel B. Bicknell , a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, also Nicholas Bicknell, a resident of the said county and state, aged eighty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, took on his oath make the following declaration. Supple- mentary to the declaration made by him in the County court of Orange on the 27 th of August 1833, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Con- gress passed June 7 th 1832. That by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection, indeed the fact has always been so deeply impressed upon his mind that he thinks he can- not be mistaken - he was drafted, for and served three months, on each of the four occasions referred to in his declaration, and that he served out the three months on every occa- sion. He claims a pension for twelve months service. Of this he is positive that he always served till he was discharged. Nor can he remember the Regiments to which he was attached, or the names of the Colonels except the last. In his last tour of duty he, with his company, was on his march to York, in Virginia, when just above Williamsburg, they met some of the prisoners of the British Army, were informed of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and the declarant, with his com- pany, was put under the command of Colonel Cornwall, who was guarding the prisoners, and marched as set forth in his declaration to Winchester, in Virginia, where he was discharged. The declarant further states that he was on march in the field or in camp during the twelve months if he is not mistaken, and he thinks he cannot be as to the length of service. And In the three first tours he was the greater part of his time in and a- bout Williamsburg, in Virginia; that he was neither employed or engaged in any civil pursuit whatsoever

during any portion of either of the periods of time for which he was drafted.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Nicholas X  his Bickers mark
And I the said Garland Ballard do hereby declare my opinion, that the above named appli- cant was a revolutionary soldier and served as so stated. I will add that I have known him long and well, and have always considered him a man of the strictest ve- racity and integrity, and that he is regarded as such by all who know him, so far as I ever heard or believe. In testimony of all which I hereto put my hand and seal this 24 th of January 1854.
Garland Ballard
State of Virginia,
Orange County to wit:
I, Reynold Chapman, clerk of the County Court of Orange, do hereby certify, that Garland Ballard, gentleman, before whom the above supplemental Declaration was made, and whose name is subscribed to the above certificate, is a justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such; and I further certify that the signature purporting to be his, is, as I verily believe, genuine.
In testimony of all which, I hereto put my hand at the seat of the said Court, this 24 th day of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, and in the 58 th year of the Commonwealth.
Reynold Chapman,

State of Virginia County of Orange } ss } being:
On this 27 th day of August 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the justices of the Court of Orange County now sitting. Nicholas Bickler a resident of the said County of Orange and State of Virginia aged 89 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.
That he was repeatedly in the service of the State of Virginia - during the old war - was a soldier in a small unit into which he was drafted on each of four  that he performed tours of service - that he does not recollect precisely the length of those tours - but he thinks the length of each tour was three months - that he recollects - on one of these tours - Belfield Cave was the captain of the company to which the declarant belonged - On another tour - May Burton was his captain he thinks - On another occasion Garland Bevela was his Captain - On the other two  tours John Craig was his Captain - On each of these tours except the last - you were marched down to Williamsburg where his company was stationed during the time of service - The last tour he marched up to Winchester Barracks to conduct some prisoners - and when they were discharged they received no compensation for their services whatever - He does not recollect the date of the first service performed by him nor at what precise date the he left the service - that he was when he served in the revolutionary war

and has been ever since - a resident of this county of Orange. That he never was engaged in battle. In going to Williamsburg his company marched through Caroline County - by the Court House - and also by New Kent Court House. During the last tour he met the prisoners this side of Williamsburg and marched up to Winchester. Through Freder- icksburg and Falmouth and then through the county of Fauquier. He does not recollect the continental regiments or companies - that served with him indeed he does not think there were any regulars - that he served with - though there might have been a few relief troops occasional at Williamsburg while he was there - Col. Edmund and Major Nathaniel Welch. Commanded the troops that conducted the prisoners to Winches- ter. That he has no documentary evidence of his service. Col. Thomas Row of this county he believes was with him in the service during one of the tours and all privates also Jeremiah White. 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 agen- cy of any State.
Nicholas Bickel
Teste Jerome Patten
Sworn to & subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
Jeremiah White was sworn and testified that he ever knows that Nicholas Bickel was in the revolutionary war, and that he served with him during one tour.
True Jos. Atkins they gave evidence in the court of Orange and Jeremiah White residing in the same  Orange county. Truly certify, that we are well ac- quainted with Nicholas Bickel, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be 89 years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that he concurs in that

opinion - we further certify that a clergyman is living in the immediate neighborhood where Mr. Bicknell lives -
Yr. Affectionate Jeremiah White.
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid
The court then proceeded to propound the following interrogatories to the declarant, and recorded the answers given by him - as follows. viz:
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer. I was born in Orange County, and became 89 years of age the 16 th day of this month - having been born in the year 1744.
I was 2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it.
Answer, I have a memorandum of my age at home.
3. Where were you living when called into the service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where as you now live?
Answer. I was born on the same tract of land on which I now live in the County of Orange - within 300 yards of the spot on which I now live - and where I have constantly resided since the revolutionary war.
4. How were you called into the service - answer I was drafted.
5. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service. I do not think we ever received any written discharge. but when the war ended - we were dismissed - and every man shifted for himself.
5. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service. I do not think we ever received any written discharge. but when the war ended - we were dismissed - and every man shifted for himself.
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Answer - George Osenton, William Mallory, Mallory Martin - Doctor Wm. Powell. Gov. ...

Lawrence T. and and indeed many others might be named - if necessary -
And the said court, do hereby declare their opin- ion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as a soldier and the court further certifies that it appears to them that there is no clergyman living in the immediate vicinity of the applicant, and that Joseph Athas and Jonathan White who have signed the preceding certificate, are resi- dents of the county of Orange in the neighborhood of Mr. Bickers - and that they are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Nicholas Bickers declaration
1833 Aug. 27
I, Reynold Chapman, clerk of the county court of Orange, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Nicholas Bickers for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 14 th day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Reynold Chapman

February 10, 1931
Mr. J. E. Bickers 558 Boulevard Westfield, New Jersey
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section REL
Dear Sir:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.18178, that Nicholas Bickers was born August 16, 1744, in Orange County, Virginia.
While residing in Orange County, Virginia, he enlisted and served four tours of three months each, dates of service not given, as a private under Captains Belfield Cave or Cane, Burton, Garland Beverly and John Cragg, and Colonel Edmunds, in the Virginia Troops. On the last tour under Colonel Edmunds, he acted as guard to the British prisoners taken to Winchester, Virginia, after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 27, 1833, while residing in Orange County, Virginia, where, he stated, he had always lived on the same tract of land where he was born.
There are no data as to his family.
Date of death not on AB The above is the history of the only soldier named Nicholas Bickers found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
In order to identify the record of any other Revolutionary soldier named Bicker or Bickers, in whom you may be interested, the full name is essential with as much as possible of the following data pertaining to him:

approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service and given name of widow.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

R 1814/8
INVALID.
File No. 18178  Nicholas Bickers  Mid River War  Act: June 7 th 32  Index: — Vol. 1 , Page 442
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1919 Dec. 29 Hist. to Mrs. C.P. Foy.
1931- Feb 10 - Hist. to Mr J.E. Bickers E.H.
1937 Feb 12 - J.E. Bickers informed name of pol's wife not shown in claim M.H.B.

Nicholas Bickers Supplemental Declaration
Admit a provere 12mo. ff 40

Free FREE
Honble John M. Patton M.P.
Washington City

Mr John M Patton
See in the papers respecting old Mr Bickers Calame for opinion which was returned to the Orange office for amendment that amendment has been made & the papers sent on to Washington two or three months & there has been no return Dr Mr Bickers is waiting very impatiently for the Return of the papers & you would confer a special favor on the old man to attend to the business for then your compliance would able your press & unable prevent
Benj n Hawkins March 2 nd 1834

70
Genl. L. Edwards. Esq. Coun. of Prusins Washington
Hon. D. D. Patton

Washington - 27 th March 1834
Sir
Will you do me the favor to inform me what has been done with the old Mr. Beckers application for a pension - mentioned in the enclosed letter.
Yrs in haste
Wm Patton

Rev Sec m
Greeneville, Tenn., December 13th., 1919.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Sir:
Please supply me with the Revolutionary War record of my ancestor, Nicholas Bickers, of Orange County, Virginia. He proved his Revolutionary War service in open Court in Orange County, Va., on Tuesday, August 27th., 1833. His will was proven in the same County in June 1836. His children were as follows:
Joanna Bickers Marshall; Benjamin C. Bickers, Moses Bickers, Polly Bickers Hawkins, and Joel Bickers..
Respectfully,
(Mrs. C. P. Fox)
Frank Marshall Fox-

J. E. Bickers, 558 Boulevard, Westfield, New Jersey. 1/19/1931.
The Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
My dear Sir,-
In the Virginia State Library Report of the Revolutionary Soldiers of Virginia Vol 9 page 32 is listed one Captain Bicker (probably Capt Nicholas Bickers) as "Captain At Large under Washington July 177 8.
Will you kindly advise me if this service is among your records, and if so, will you please send me a copy with full name and place of enlistment.
Appreciating this assistance, and thanking you.
Sincerely yours,
J E Bickers
J. E. Bickers, 558 Boulevard, Westfield, New Jersey, January 20, 1937.
U. S. Bureau of Pensions, Department of Widows of the Revolution, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen,-
I have the Revolutionary War pension claim S.18178 of Nicholas Bickers of Orange County, Virginia. This pension was allowed August 27, 1833.
May I please inquire if Nicholas Bickers wife, Janey Bickers, received a pension after the death of her husband, and if so may I have a copy of her record and information she furnished in her application.
This information for genealogical purposes, and thanking you.
Very truly yours,
J E Bickers
Feb 9/1931 J E Bickers Westfield N.J.

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 Nicholas Bickers 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.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     ✓ 3 mos. Pvt. Bufford Leane ✓ Va.   ✓ 6 mos. Burton ✓   ✓ 3 mos. Garland Burnley ✓   1781 5 mos. John Cross Edmunds  
Battles engaged in, none stated.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Orange County, Va.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 27. 1835 His d. al.
Residence at date of application, Orange County, Va.
Age at date of application, born Aug. 16. 1744 in Orange County, Va.
Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

February 12, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. J. E. Bickers 558 Boulevard Westfield, New Jersey
NICHOLAS BICKERS S. 18178 BA-J/MLB Am
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter of recent date in which you desire to know if Janey Bickers, widow of Nicholas Bickers whose Revolutionary War record was furnished you some time ago, received pension after the death of her husband.
As you were informed February 10, 1931, the history furnished you then was that of the only soldier named Nicholas Bickers found in the Revolutionary War records of this office. The name of his wife was not shown therein nor were any other family data given.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of death of Nicholas Bickers, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Nicholas Bickers Certificate #23733 Issued March 31, 1834 Rate $40 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act June 7, 1832 Virginia Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator