Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 937, William Bleakley, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Bleakley, William
R 937
CONTENTS

State of Tennessee } Bedford County } S.S.
On this 18 th day of April 1843, personally appeared in open court, before Samuel Anderson, Judge of the Circuit Court now sitting in and for Bedford County Tennessee, William Bleakley, a resident of said Bedford County and State of Tennessee, aged eighty years the 6 th day of August next, 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 7 th of June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That he entered the service as a drafted militia man, and private, in the year 1782 or 1783 as will as he can remember, but cannot be accurate as to the year; nor does he remember the month & day with accuracy; but knows it was early in the spring of the year. He served in Capt. Jones' Company (the baptismal name of his Captain, he cannot be certain about, but thinks it was either John or George, and is most inclined to think it was the former) in the Virginia Troops. — He lived in Bedford County Virginia at the time he was drafted. He does not remember the names of any of his other Company officers; nor does he

remember the names of his field officers. He was at the siege of Little York, and was there when Cornwallis surrendered. He marched from Bedford, through Charlotte, Amelia, Dinwiddie and Thicket, through Charles City County. He remembers a Capt. Fugate in the regular army with which he served. He remembers a field officer at Little York named Lawson. He also will remember General Washington at Little York. He also remembers Captain Thomas Bedford, who commanded a Company from Charlotte County. Declarant states he was born in Chesterfield County Virginia in the year 1763; that he has a record of his age in his family Bible, which was taken from the record kept by his Father. As above stated, he lived in Bedford County Virginia when called into service, and served a term of six months. Since the war he has lived in Bedford County Va., whither he returned after he left the service, and continued to reside there for ten years or upwards. From there he removed to Petersburg Va., where he resided about eight. From there he removed to Amelia, where he resided about twelve years. From there he removed to Madison County Kentucky, where he resided about ten years; from there he removed to Davidson County Tennessee, and resided there several years, when he removed to Bedford County Tennessee, where he has ever since

resided. Declarant states he received a discharge from Capt. Jones, and when he returned home, deposited it with his Father's papers, and it has since been lost; having left the country when his Father lived, he has no knowledge what has become of his papers. Declarant is known to William Murphy & Robert Blinkingbeard — residing in his present neighborhood, who he believes will testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. Declarant has no documentary evidence of his services and he knows of no person whose testimony can be procured, who can testify as to his services, except Caroline Matilda Sams of Rutherford County Tennessee, widow of Drury Sams.
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 or Territory.
Sworn and subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
William his Bleakley mark
John J. Kirk Clark
We William Murphy & Robert Blinkingbeard residing in Bedford County Tennessee, hereby certify that we are acquainted with William Bleakley, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be in his eightieth

year of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion Sworn and subscribed the day William Muphry and year aforesaid Robert Clinkingbeard John T. Neil Clerk
And the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to it, that William Muphry and Robert Clinkingbeard, who has signed the preceding certificate, are residents in Bedford County Tennessee, an credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Given under my hand this 18 th day of April 1843
J. Anderson Judge Presiding in Bedford Tennessee
I John T. Neil Clerk of the Circuit Court of Bedford County Tennessee, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Bleakley for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal this being no seal of said Court, done at office in Shelbyville this 18 th day of April
A. D. 1843. And in the 67 th year of American Independence.
John T. Neil Clerk

35589
William Blackley Ten
937
Set to Charles Ready Nov 6 1843.
act June 1832

FREE Sept. 6. 1843. W. Mackay James L. Edwards Esq. James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Customs Washington City

Murfreesboro' August the 28 th 1843. J. L. Edwards Esq r . Com r of Pensions.
Dear Sir,
Enclosed you will find the declaration of William Bleakley and the affidavit of Caroline Matilda Sand H o . in order to procure a pension under the act of 7 th of June 1832.
Please correspond with me on the subject.
Very respectfully H o . Charles Ready

_____ Ex'r.
INVALID.
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
9373
P. O. William Blackley
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

33589
William Bleakly
Gen:
at 7 June 32

State of Tennessee Rutherford County } to wit
Before me William Vinson a justice of the peace in and for Said County of Rutherford this day personally appeared Caroline Metelay Lane aged about Eighty seven years who being sworn deposeth and saith that she was well acquainted with William Blakely in the time of the Revolutionary war that they both lived in the same neighbourhood in the State of Virginia Bedford County that she recollects that it was generally understood that Said Blake- ly was gone in the army at a certain time but where he went to or how long gone she has no recollection and that she is still acquainted with Said Blakely and believes him a person entitled to credit
Subscribed and sworn to before me the 9 th day of August 1813 and do certify that said depo- -nat is a person of good character & worthy of credit
William Vinson (Seal) Justice of the peace
Caroline Metelay Lane mark

State of Tennessee } Rutherford County } I Robert S. Morris clerk of the County Court of said County do certify that William Vinson Esquire whose official signature appears to the within affidavit is now and was at the time of signing his name thereto an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County having been duly elected com- missioned and qualified as such and that the sign- ature purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office in Murfreesborough this 28th day of August A.D. 1843. Robt S. Morris clerk