Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R.1,026, Richard Booz, Va.

SERVICE
Var.
Booz, Richard
NUMBER
R.1026
CONTENTS

Richard Booz Jr.
Declaration
30.158
Direct your reply to Allan C. Bryan.
Harrisonburg
Virginia

State of Virginia, County of Rockingham Sd.
On the 28 th day of January 1834, personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the County Court of Rockingham now sitting, Richard Booz, Senr. a resident of Harrisonburg, in the County of Rockingham and state of Virginia, aged sixty-nine 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated:
He was born in Amelia County, Virginia, on the 25 th of July 1764; his age was recorded in his father's bible, where he has often seen it, but his father removed to Kentucky, and carried his bible where he presumes it is at present in possession of some other member of his father's family. From Amelia County, his father removed to Lunenburg County, where he resided during the Revolutionary War. After his services in the Revolutionary War, he went to Fredericksburg, Va. where he learned his trade as a tailor. From Fredericksburg, he removed to Amelia Ct. House, from thence to Nottoway Ct. House, thence to Fredericksburg again, thence to Stanardsville in Orange County, thence to Madison Ct. House, thence to Rockingham, and thence to Augusta County, where he has resided for about twenty- seven years last past, until February 1833, when he removed back to Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, where he resides at present. Owing to his frequent removals, and loss of memory, he is unable to specify with accuracy the dates of his various removals, or the period which he remained at each place. He has resided longer in Augusta County Va. than in any other place, and it is to the neighbourhood in which he resided in that County, where he is best known, and the neighbours best acquainted with his services, that the certificate of the clergymen hereto annexed refers. He trusts this slight variance from the established form, but which is to the same effect substantially, will not present any obstacle to his success. He has not lived long enough in the place of his present residence, to enable him to procure the certificate in the usual form. His father John Booz, who was a private Soldier in the

Revolutionary Army, was at home on furlough in Shenandoah County, in the year 1778, and in the month of October, as well as he recollects he went in company with his father to Cumberland Court House, Virginia, and joined the troops stationed at that place, as a volunteer, with the view to serve as a musician, (a fifer), but finding no vacancy for him as a musician, the places being supplied, he mustered as a soldier for a few days, and in Capt. Green's company the same to which his father was attached: he was then ordered to work under the command of Sergeant James Bachelor of Capt. Green's Company, in making Cartridges, and continued thus employed during the whole period of his services. Besides Capt. Green's, there were Capt. Wiley & Lovely, with their companies, stationed at Cumberland, under the immediate command of Col. Mosby - After continuing at this place eight or nine months the detachment marched to New London in Bedford County Va. where they were under the command of Col. Babb. He volunteered for the time period of 18 months, and continued at New London until his time term expired. Sergeant Bachelor had under his command, eight or ten soldiers besides himself, who were employed in making Cartridges, canteens, and other articles for the use of the soldiers.
Their roll was regularly called, and they drew rations as other soldiers. The detachment with which he served had no engagement with the enemy during his term of service; and was under the command of Genl. Muhlenburg, whom he frequently saw - his father drove that officer's baggage-waggon for a considerable time.
This applicant and his father got a written discharge, on the same piece of paper, signed by Genl. Muhlenburg - it was kept by his father, who removed to Kentucky, and settled on the land drawn for his military services. He knows of no person living, by whom he can prove his services, unless a certain John Kirtly who removed to Woodford County, Kentucky, is yet alive - but his efforts to hear from him have proved fruitless heretofore. He has no documentary evidence of his services. For his character for veracity, and the belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution he refers to the Rev. Mr. Cunningham, John Brumley and Jeremiah Fuller of Staunton, Augusta County.
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 any agency in any State.
Sworn to, & subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Richard P.

We David H. Cunningham, a clergyman residing in Port Republic, County of Rockingham, and John Crumney residing in Harrisonburg, County of Rockingham, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Booz Sen r . who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be sixty-nine years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he lately resided, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
David H. Cunningham
John Crumney
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the Matter, and after putting the interrogatories by the war department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that David H. Cunningham who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the County of Rockingham and is a credible person that John Crumney who has also signed the same is a resident in the County of Rockingham, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit;
I Henry J. Gambill Clerk of the Court of Rockingham County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Richard Booz Sen r for a Pension. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 21 st day of January in the year 1834. and in the 58 th year of the Commonwealth.
H. J. Gambill Clerk of Rockingham County
Booz Sen r

State of Virginia Rockingham County } ss.
This day Henry Booz personally appeared before me the undersigned, a justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, and made oath in due form of law, that as early as the year 1808, or even earlier, he has heard his Father Richard Booz speak freely of his services in the Revolutionary War. So repeatedly has he heard him boast, and speak about having had a share in the struggle for the liberty of the Country, that the leading circumstances of his services, have been familiar to the mind of this deponent since his childhood. He always represented that he had served for the period of eighteen months, first as a musician, and afterwards as an artisan. This deponent believes that at the period above-mentioned, it was generally understood and believed and understood in this County, that his father had served in the Revolutionary War, but owing to his absence from the County for twenty years, and the death and removal of his acquaintances &c. it is not so generally known at present. This deponent believes that no doubt of his services have ever been entertained in any neighbourhood where he has resided for any considerable length of time, since the Revolution: on the contrary he it has generally been a matter of notoriety, in the various neighbourhoods, where he has resided.
Henry Booz
Sworn to and subscribed before me, by the said Henry Booz, who is known to me as a highly, honourable and respectable man, whose statements on oath are entitled to the most implicit faith & credit. Given under my hand August 5 th 1834.
R. P. Fletcher J.P.

I Henry J. Gambill Clerk of the Court of the County of Rockingham in the state of Virginia do hereby certify that Richard P. Fletcher esq. before whom the within Deposition was taken, was at the time of signing the same, and now is a Justice of the peace in and for said County, and that the signature thereto annexed is the proper signature of the said Richard P. Fletcher.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of office, this 5 th day of August 1834.
H. J. Gambill Clerk of Rockingham County Virginia

The State of Ohio Preble County ss. First Judicial Circuit of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the State of Ohio now sitting and holden at Eaton in and for the County of Preble aforesaid on this 24th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one. personally appeared in open Court Before the Hon. Judges of the court of common pleas aforesaid Richard Boaz a resident of Somers township in said Preble County aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832
That he entered the service of the united States at the County of Shenburgh in the State of Virginia early in the month of April in the year A.D. 1778, or 1779 as a Volunteer in a Company of Volunteer Virginia Militia Commanded by Capt. Greer in Col. Samuel Hick Boker's Regt. That on entering said compa- ny they were marched to Cumberland Court House where they joined Captain Loveless & Wiley's Company of Militia that they were there under the command General Muhlenburg who commanded in person. that they remain- ed at Cumberland Court House Eight months and engaged in watching movements of the British Army that from Cumberland Court House they marched to Bedford, C. H. (New London) where they were stationed and remained

in actual Service ten months and was still under the command of Col. Baker & Gen. or al Muhlenburgh. That at this place after serving ten months he got a permit to return home which he did that he arrived at home in the latter part of the month of October in the year A.D. 1779 or 1780 after serving eighteen months as aforesaid and that he did not again return to the army. that he after his return home got a written discharge from General Muhlenburgh for his said 18 months Service. which discharge he has lost long since. he avers and declares that he served as aforesaid 18 months he does not recollect the day of the month on which he entered the Service nor the day of the month on which he left the Service but he recollects that he entered the Service in April and left it in October and that he always computed his Service at 18 months actual Service. and he knows that he served not less than that length of time. he further states that he has no Documentary evidence of his said Services and that he does not know of any person now living by 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 the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. he further states that he has no record of his age but was told and understood

by his parents that he was born in the County of Amelia and State of Virginia on the 25 th day of July A.D. 1764 according to the best of his recollection and at the time he entered the service he resided in the County of Lunenburg State of Virginia and that he served in a Company of Virginia Volunteer Mili- tia as aforesaid in the War of the Revolu- tion and that since the Revolutionary War he resided in Virginia and from that state he came to Preble County in the State of Ohio (and from the latter place he came to Preble County in said State of Ohio) where he now resides and has resided for the space of four — years past and that he is known to James Kilkenny and James Calladay who reside in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for truth and veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolutionary War
he further states that he would have made an early application for a pension under the act of Congress passed the 7 th June 1832 But that he had no knowledge of the passage of said act until he was informed by the Hon. J. B. Ullrich in the month of May last of the passage of said act. and that his services would come within its provisions
sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid A. H. Cunningham Clerk Public Claim Pleas
Mark B. Booz

we James Kilkenny and James Cassaday of Preble County Ohio
do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Boaz who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 77 years of age that he is believed and reputed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion and do believe no doubts have ever existed on the subject
Given and subscribed the 24th day of June A.D. 1841 James Kilkenny James Cassaday
J. H. Cunningham Clerk Preble Com Pleas
And the said 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 Richard Boaz was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that James Kilkenny and James Cassaday who has signed the preceding Certificate are residents of the County of Preble and that they are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit
The State of Ohio Preble County ss I Francis H. Cunningham clerk of the Court of Com. Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Richard Boaz for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 24th day of June A.D. 1841 J. H. Cunningham Clerk Preble Com Pleas

_____ Ex'r.
INVALID.
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
7120
RECEIVED
P. O. Richard Ditz
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

State of Virginia Augusta County ss!
This day Henry Beas & Jeremiah Fuller
personally appeared before the undersigned, a justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, and made oath in due form of law that he  they are well acquainted with Richard Booz, who resides in Rockingham Coun- ty at present, but for many years resided in their his neighbourhood in Augusta County. During the lapse of years which said Richard Booz resided in their  his neighbourhood, it was generally reputed and believed, that he had served in the Revolutionary War, and no doubts were ever entertained about his services, so far as he they knows or believe. - and they entertain none himself  themselves from the often repeated declarations of said Booz himself, and the tradition of the neighbourhood. Henry Beas Jeremiah Fuller sworn to and subscribed by the said Beas & Fuller who are known to me as a credible

person, and his statement, or oaths entitled to implicit faith and credit. Given under my hand this 22 nd day of July 1831. Wm Young
Virginia to wit.
I, Jefferson Kinney, Clerk of the County Court of Augusta, in the State aforesaid do hereby certify, that Wm Young before whom the above affidavit was made, now is and was at the time executing the same Justice of the peace in and for said County, duly commissioned & qualified; and that the same is true to the same, purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office, this 22 nd day of July 1831 & in the 59 th year of the Commonwealth
Jefferson Kinney Clerk A. G. G.

Richard Booz Kentucky
Rejected
See let. 6 th Dec. 1841 to Hon. J. B. Weller.
did not serve in a military capacity
1026
Act 9 June 1832
30158 Richard Booz Virginia
Rejected, per let - Allan C. Bryan
Aug 11. 1834
Sept. 18 - 1834 Same - do to same Oct. 3. 1834 -
Hon. G. B. Samuels 5 June 1840
Act June 7 34

State of Virginia Rockingham County } ss.
This day Richard Booz personally appeared before the undersigned, and a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, and made oath in due form of law, that in the year 1777 as well as he now recollects he entered the military service of the United States, he being then about 14 years of age. He went with his father, and joined the troops stationed at Cumberland Court House, Virginia, with a view to serve as a musician, but finding no vacancy for him as a musician, he entered the ranks, and bore arms as a soldier, and was regularly subject to military duty as a soldier, mustered and carried a gun, and his name was called at the calling of the rolls - in the same manner as any other soldier, and was in all respects subject to all military duty, as completely as any soldier in either of the Companies. After continuing in the ranks for some time, he was ordered to quit the ranks, and to work in the laboratory - together with two other soldiers, (Long and Yates,) from the same Company, and had no no option whatever, but nor any contract whatever, but he was ordered to that duty, and was under the command of a sergeant, subject to military duty, and the roll called regularly every day, and his own name, in the same manner with any other soldier. He was tasked as to the quantity of work required to be done, and subject to be flogged if the task was not performed. He drew rations while in the laboratory, as another soldier, was not permitted to leave the encampment, without a written permit, and on one occasion he recollects getting such written permit. He was entitled to the same monthly pay as another soldier, & never considered his services in the nature of a civil contract, and in fact had no contract whatever, other than his military engagement. When the detachment to which he belonged was marched from Cumberland Court House, to New-

London, in Bedford County, he marched with the troops, as much subject to military discipline, and military regulation, as any soldier in the Corps, and if he had quit the troops would have been considered a deserter, and as liable to be apprehended as such, as much so as any soldier in the Corps. When the roll was called on the march between those two places, his name was called as another soldier - and he encamped with the troops, and was not permitted to quit the encampment at night, any more than another soldier, and if he had done so, would certainly have been punished as another soldier. When he quit the service he got a written permit, from his officers, and did not get a regular discharge for some considerable time afterwards. Before the detachment left Cumberland St. House he was employed in building huts for the use of the soldiery, and laboured with the other soldiers, and at the same time he was regularly mustered twice a day as a soldier, and his name regularly called whenever the roll was called, as another soldier's. And had he refused to work, would have been subject to military punishment; and had no contract for this kind of labour, different from any other soldier in the detachment. While he was employed in the laboratory or work-shop, at New-London, there were about eight or ten other soldiers under the command of Sergeant Bachelor, besides, himself, as well as he now recollects. The troops with whom he served, were partly regulars, and partly militia, but his memory does not serve him sufficiently to designate particularly, which of the officers were regular and which were militia. but his present impression is that Captains Wiley & Lovely were regular officers, and Capt. Greer a militia officer, but he cannot speak positively.
Richard Booz 5 th before me, Sworn to and subscribed by the said Richard Booz, who is known to me as a credible man, and his statements on oath entitled to full confidence & credit. Given under my hand this 29 th day of August 1834 -
J. Brazens

I Henry J. Gambill Clerk of the Court of Rockingham County Certify that Joseph Bravens is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature, hereto annexed, purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have affixed my seal of office, and sub- scribed my name this 11 th day of September in the year 1834- H. J. Gambill Clerk of Rockingham County
Sir
Harrisonburg Va. Sept r 9 th 1834-
I learned with some surprise from your letter of the 11 th August, to Allan C. Bryan, (who has acted as my agent and adviser,) that my claim for a pension under the law of June 7 th 1832, was rejected, on the ground that I was not a soldier, but a labourer on civil contract.
It never for a moment entered my imagination that I was not as much a soldier, bound to military service, as any soldier in the Camp. My memory does not serve me sufficiently to enable me to say what portion of the troops with whom I served, were militia, and what portion were reg- ulars, but I do not entertain any doubt of there being both kind of troops employed, and if I am not mistaken, the records will show that some of the officers named in my declaration were regulars, and others only militia; eighteen months militia-men. I presumed if I had joined the militia, as a volunteer

Richard Booz -
and served eighteen months in the ranks as another soldier. there would be no doubt of my right to the pension, subject to the rules and regulations of militia cases, for the proof of my services; and it is extremely hard indeed, because I was ordered and compelled to perform a particular kind of service, which had to be performed by some of the soldiers, that I should be deprived of the bounty of the government. As to my being a boy of only fourteen years of age, I believe that is about the age at which Genl. Jackson served in the Revolution, who has received the honour of being styled the hero of two wars.
The printed instructions of the War Department on the subject, say the law has been construed to embrace "all persons enlisted or drafted, or who volunteered, and who were bound to military service". If the facts stated by me, on oath on this sheet, are to be believed, I do not see how it can be denied for a moment that I come within the description of a volunteer bound to military service. If the certificate of the magistrate, who administered the oath as to my veracity, is not deemed sufficient on the subject, I would have no difficulty in procuring additional testimonials in abundance.
I flatter myself therefore that you will not find it inconsistent with your official duties, to review my case and reverse a decision, honestly made I doubt not, but under a misapprehension of the facts.
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Very respectfully
Your obt. Servt!
Richard Booz

Harrisonburg Va Sept. 26 th 1834 -
Sir, I have received two communications from your office lately, on the subject of Richard Booz's claim for a Pension, the first dated August 11 th & the latter Sept. 18 th . I disliked to appear importunate or troublesome, on the subject; but after having had some opportunity of understanding the regulations of your office, on the subject of Pensions under the law of June 7 th , 1832 I feel such entire confidence that Mr Booz has brought his case within those regulations, before that I must suspect some misapprehension has taken place, either from my unskillfulness in preparing his papers, or from some other cause. I hoped therefore it will not be considered an intrusion if I take a brief review of his case, with a view to show that he has unquestionably established his services, agreeably to the regulations, which would entitle him to the benefit of the law -
In the first place Mr. Booz's declaration was authenticated in court, agreeably to the rules prescribed for militia cases, with the certificate of a clergyman & another respectable individual, as to neighbourhood repute, to supply the place of positive proof. In that declaration he alleged that his father John Booz, was a regular soldier, and was at home on furlough, and his son Richard, who was then a lad, returned with his father to the army, to serve as a volunteer for 18 months, as a musician, but finding no vacancy, for a fifer, he entered the ranks as a volunteer soldier , & continued there until he with other soldiers were ordered into work as artisans in the Laboratory & continued thus employed under rigid military discipline, until the expiration of his period of 18 months; & that he got a written discharge for 18 months military service in Capt. Green's company, on the same piece of paper with his father's discharge & Mr. Booz relates circumstances which show that he cannot be mistaken about the fact of the discharge. The first reply on the subject from your office, communicated to the Hon. Mr. Beale, was to this effect, that Richard Booz claimed

* The word not probably misplaced here through mistake.
ed for services as a regular soldier with his father, & neither the name of John Booz the father or Richard the son could be found on the Virginia rolls, and Richard must prove his services agreeably to the regulations, by two witnesses. A certificate was then procured from Richmond, establishing the services of John Booz the father; and it was represented that it could not be expected to find the name of Richard Booz, as he never enlisted but served as a mere volunteer ; and volunteers were subject to the same regulations as militia, as regards proof of services. No objection was made in the first communication, from your office, as to the nature of Rich d Booz's services - but only as to the kind of proof - and in my answer to that, it was urged that his case was a militia case. The second communication from your office on the subject was dated August 11 th - and in the following words. "The claim of Richard Booz cannot be admitted. It seems from his statement that he was only a boy of 14 years of age, and not old enough to be enrolled in the militia, and that he engaged not as a soldier but as a labourer, for a given period, and that he was acting under a civil contract only - There were but two classes of soldiers during the revolution, those of the state and continental lines, & those composed of the militia; Mr. Booz admits that he did not belong to the former, and his age and services clearly prove that he was* a soldier bound to military duty in the latter. The papers remain on file." The ground of objection is here changed - the first ground was as to the proof; & here as to the nature of the services - A second declaration was then drawn & sworn to by Mr. Booz, going into many details going to show most conclusively that he was a soldier , bound to military service, and subject to military penalties & military discipline. To that declaration, or affidavit there was a brief argument annexed - urging two points viz. that he served as a volunteer & not in the line , and that he was a soldier and not a labourer merely - It is there alleged that if a part of the troops with whom he served were militia, and a part were regulars - & it will turn out - I presume that Capt. Greer, his officer was a militia officer - The foregoing communication, from you says there were but two kinds of troops during the revolution - those of the state & continental lines, & those composed of the militia. The law, however, speaks of another class viz volunteers . & the regulation, say it embraces all

who were from  volunteered and were bound to military service" - see the printed regulations published June 24 th 1832. (Doc. No. 298 page 2) In page 4 same Doc. it is said "every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service, in the state troops, volunteer or militia, except as is above provided, will make & subscribe the following declaration": thus putting volunteers & militia upon the same footing as regards proofs of service.
The last communication received from your office in the subject is dated Sept r 18 th and is in these words - viz - "The additional declaration of Richard Booz, directly conflicts with the grounds upon which his claim has heretofore been urged. As his name is not borne upon the Virginia rolls, the explanation heretofore given has been that he simply volunteered, and did not enlist - and of course his name would not be found among those of the enlisted soldiers. But on the objections being stated that services such as he alleges must have been performed under a civil contract, of hire, & were not military services within the act, he turns entirely around in his new statement, avers he  that  then enlisted, was mustered, and was  mustered and was liable to military penalties during a long period of service. Without further criticism, upon the character of the service it is sufficient to state that having enlisted as he now states, and his name not being borne on the Va. rolls, he must prove the particulars of his services in detail, by two credible witnesses, agreeably to the long established regulations of this department, or the claim cannot be allowed & admitted." This communication produced great surprise and mortification in my mind. I wrote Mr. Booz's second declaration, and if it is there averred that he ever enlisted , I must have been most unfortunate in conveying my meaning, and Mr. Booz's likewise; I certainly never understood any thing of the kind from him, and as certainly never intended to convey any such idea. I have uniformly understood from Mr. Booz that he entered the service as a volunteer, to serve as a soldier; and when interrogated whether he ever enlisted , by taking a bounty &c. he has invariably replied in the negative. I was exceedingly mortified that both Mr. Booz & myself had been so much misunderstood as to be considered as having averred that he enlisted . In the last affidavit or declaration, he speaks of his having civil no contract, nor any contract whatever except his military engagement. By the term military engagement , I certainly did not mean enlistment . Nothing was further from my intention. The term certainly applies to a volunteering as appropriately as to an enlistment. In page 4 of the same Doc. heretofore quoted. in the 10 th line from

the bottom, the term engagement is used in the very identical sense that I employed it; & is there applied to volunteers & militia. I have not a copy of the additional declaration, or second one, to refer to, but would be very thankful indeed, & solicit it as a personal favor, as well as with a view to enable me to do justice to Mr. Booz, if you would point out the part of that paper from which the inference is drawn that he enlisted. I am certain it must be an inference merely , for I am confident the term is not used in the whole course of his papers, as regards his own services - or the manner of his engaging in them. It is true he speaks of mustering in the last affidavit, or being mustered , but I did not understand that term as applying exclusively to enlisted recruits - on the contrary, I understood it as applying to a volunteer as appropriately as a regular. But I may be mistaken in the true military, technical meaning of that term - as I am not well versed in military phrases or military affairs.
The whole drift of the last affidavit, as well as I recollect it, was to show that Mr. Booz served first as a soldier and not upon civil contract, & second, that he volunteered , & did not enlist . He speaks of his being subject to military discipline, & military penalties - but this would certainly apply to a soldier who had volunteered as well as one who had enlisted.
As I understand Mr. Booz's case, there are two points involved. First - Was he a soldier bound to military service, or was he a labourer, on civil contract merely? If the details sworn to in his last declaration are to be credited, there is no resisting the conclusion that he was the former. He states that two other soldiers whom he names, were ordered from the ranks of the same company with himself, at the same time, to the same service. I presume this did not constitute those two soldiers, thus compelled to perform a particular service, labourers on civil contract - although under strict military regulations, as well as Booz. This would be a transformation, which I cannot understand.
I presume a labourer upon civil contract, would have had some bargain, different from his military engagement, and would have contracted for wages at a given rate, instead of drawing rations & monthly pay as a soldier - & being subject to all the military regulations of a camp. Mr. Booz swears that before they left Cumberland Court-house, he carried a gun & served in the ranks - as another soldier - was he a labourer on contract then, & if so, he was not then, how or when did his character undergo the change - surely not by ordering him, without any option on his part, to a most irksome and disagreeable service - in the work-shop.
The second point in Mr. Booz's case is this. Did he enlist, or was he a mere volunteer? I will merely repeat here the request to have pointed out to me, the phrase, or passage, or expression in the whole course of his papers, which leads to the inference that he ever enlisted, or served as a regular. If there is any such, it was certainly ignorantly, or inadvertently employed by me, and does not convey Mr. Booz's true meaning.
Very respectfully Your obedt. Servt.
Allan C. Bryan.

I herewith return the papers in the case of Richard Booz, upon an application for a pension. In the communication to Col. Beale of March 25 th on this sheet, you say that neither his nor his father's name is found upon the Virginia Continental rolls. In relation to John Booz, the father of Richard, the present applicant, the certificates herewith submitted, fully and satisfactorily establish his services as they are set forth by his son as to Richard Booz, the declaration herewith returned sets forth that he served as a Volunteer , and not as a regularly enlisted Continental Soldier, & of course his name would not appear on the Continental rolls of the Va. line. On the contrary I presume his services were in the nature of militia services, & therefore his case should be decided by the regulations prescribed by the Department for the determining of volunteer & militia cases. It was so received when his declaration was drawn up, and the Certificate which is prescribed in militia cases was accordingly procured. I also submit some additional evidence of neighborhood repute, on the subject of R d Booz's services - affidavits of a similar import, could be procured in abundance, but I presume the accompanying ones, will be amply sufficient, if his case is to be judged of as a volunteer or militia case, and I do not see how it can be properly received otherwise.
It is manifest, from an examination of the law of the Va. assembly passed at the Nov r Session 1781, referred to in the enclosed Certificate, which may be seen in the 10 th Vol. of Hening's Va. Stat.

ates at Large page 462, that the case of R d Booz would not be embraced by that act, it only applying to Soldiers, who enlisted & served in the Va. Continental line, and no Certificate would issue to Rich d Booz; & consequently his name would not be found on the records at Richmond. To require him therefore to conform to the rules established by the Department for the regulation of Continental cases, where the absence of the applicant's name from the rolls, properly raises a presumption against him, would certainly operate injustice in his case; & in all probability adversely deprived him of the benefit of the law of 1832, when his old neighbours & acquaintances, entertain not the slightest doubt of his services.
Your obt Serv t
J. L. Edwards Esq r
Allan C. Bryan

War Department
Pension Office
March 25, 1834
Sir,
The claim of Richard Fong has been examined. He alleges to have served in the Continental Army for 18 months in the same company with his father. No evidence has been produced in support of his allegation.
Neither his, nor his father's name is found upon the Virginia Continental rolls. —
He will be required therefore to show that he did serve in manner and form alleged or his claim cannot be allowed.
I have the honor to be,
Mr. Off. Servant
J L Edwards
Hon:
J. M. H. Beale } Hos. of Rep's }

Hon. L. L. L. W. M. a. d. Cona P. u. s. i. n.

Dear Roger 6th Decr 1821
Dear Sir, Edward & I Pension Pensions Sir
I enclose you herewith the application of Richard Boaz a Soldier of the Pensylvania Line a Pension and ask you at an early convenience
Respectfully Jno. H. Smith Wm B Miller

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Booze, John GRADE Private LINE Virginia
WARRANT NUMBER 11917 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED May 5, 1790 To H. M. Jr. Wreedenburgh, assignee J.
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.