Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,656, Charles Blechynden, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
Blehynden Charles
NUMBER
S.6656
CONTENTS
carded

Rea man
6656
INVALID.
June
File No. 6656
Charles Blickynden
Prin Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 24, Page 34
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Virginia 12.508
Charles Blechyn den of Pendleton in the State of Virginia who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Davis - of the 3d Regt - commanded by Gen Washington the Virginia line for 12 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of May, 33 and sent to Wm. McCay Franklin Va -
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 - 80 — Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Septm. 20 — 100 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { No. June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Rush Newman Clerk, Book E — Vol. 5 — Page 2

Charles Blechynden's Declaration
24 067
State of Virginia Pendleton County ss

State of Virginia } Pendleton County } ss.
On this 7 th day of March 1833, personally appeared in open court before the justices of the County Court of Pendleton, now sitting, Charles Blechlynden a resident of said County who aged 75 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 is herein stated. —
In the month of August 1778 he engaged as a substitute to perform a three months tour of service in the room of James Dyer of the County of Rockingham, who had been drafted to perform the said tour against the Indians. He was marched from the County of Rockingham aforesaid across the Alleghany mountains under the command of Captain Robert Davis, and stationed at Mutton's Fort, on the West Fork of the Monongahela, where he continued to serve until the expiration of the said three months term of service — When he was discharged and returned home.
In the month of August 1780, he engaged as a substitute for George Cowgar of the (then) County of Hampshire Va. who had been drafted to perform a tour of three months against the Indians, and (as he then understood) to build a Fort at Point Pleasant. The Company of Hampshire Militia in which he served this second tour of three months, was commanded by Captain Mester, and Lieut. Joseph Lindon, under whom he continued to serve until the expiration of his term of service when he was discharged —
In the month of November 1780 he served a third tour of three months as a substitute for George Dawson, in a company of Virginia Militia commanded by Captain Josiah Harrison of the County of Rockingham. During this third tour he was marched to Richmond Va. under the command of Captain Harrison aforesaid, and was there stationed on what is now called Bacon-Branch, where he continued to serve until the expiration of the three months term of service when he was discharged and returned home.

In the month of August 1781 he volunteered to serve a fourth tour of three months, as a private in a company of militia of the County of Rockingham Virginia under command of Captain Josiah Harrison aforesaid, whose company was organized and marched from the County of Rockingham in the month of August 1781 as aforesaid, he was marched to York Town, and there stationed under the command of Genl. Washington, and Lafayette, and served until after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, when he was discharged, and returned home to his residence in Rockingham County V a —
During the four terms of service aforesaid, of three months each, he faithfully served at least Seven months , in the whole —
He has no documentary evidence of his services, never having received a written or printed discharge — Two of the three months terms of service he expects to establish by the testimony of men who served with him. —
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 — Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
We Zachariah Renrod and W m McCoy Jr. residing in the County of Pendleton and State of Virginia, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Charles Blechenden who has subscribed and and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy five 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 we concur in that opinion. —
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. —
Zachariah Renrod Mark W m McCoy Jr.
And the said Court do hereby certify declare their opinion, 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 he states —
And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that

Zachariah Rexrode and Wm M Coy Jr. who have signed the preceding certificates are residents of the County of Pendleton, Virginia and that they are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to full credit. —
Virginia Pendleton County SO
I Titulus Dyer Clerk of the Court of Pendleton County do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of Charles Blechynaden for a pension —
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 27 th day of March 1833 and in the 57 th year of the Commonwealth —
L Dyer
Virginia Pendleton County ss.
I Thomas Hoover of the said County do hereby certify that I served a term of three months service in the Militia of Pendle- ton County Virginia during the War of the Revolution in the Company commanded by Captain Robert Davis whose Company was marched from the said County across the Allegha- ny Mountains, and Stationed in forts on the waters of the Monongahela; And that Charles Blechynaden also served with me in the said Company as a private, during the whole of the said term of three months service, when the Company was discharged. And that, as nearly as I can recollect, the said term was performed in the latter part of the year 1778.
Thomas Hoover his mark
sworn and subscribed this 19 th day of March 1833 before the subscriber a justice of the peace for Pendleton County Virginia
Wm M Coy Jr.

Virginia Pendleton County ss.
Zachariah Rexroad a resident of the county aforesaid do hereby certify that I of my own knowledge am positively certain that Charles Blecklynden who has made oath to the foregoing declaration served a term of three months service as a private in the militia of Pendleton County as he states, it was at the siege of York and Capture of Lord Cornwallis, and that at the expiration of the said three months service he the said Charles Blecklynden was honourably discharged having faithfully performed the term of service for which he had volunteered himself.
Sworn and subscribed this 23 rd day of March 1833 before me
Zachariah Rexroad mark
William McCoy Jr. a Justice of the peace in & for Pendleton County Virginia
State of Virginia Pendleton County ss
I Titulus Dyer Clerk of the Court of Pendleton County certify that William McCoy Jr is a magistrate as above stated and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are Genuine-
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office, and subscribed my name This 27 th day of March 1833 and in the 57 th year of the Commonwealth-
T Dyer

No 24067
Charles Blanchynden Pendleton Co Virginia-
Admrs, as a private for 12mo. $40.00
Wm M. Boyd Jr Franklin Co. House Pendleton Co Virginia-

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
Virginia  A Statement, shewing the Service of Charles Blinchyn den Pendleton Co
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Sept 1778 Subs. Augt 1778 - for J. Dyer 3 Private Capt Davis 75 years Roanoke 2 living witneps & tradition   Subs. Augt 1780 for G. Crouger 3 Capt Mifflin 76 years Virginia el evidence witneps for 3 mos each - witneps   Subs. Augt 1781 for G. Downie 3 Capt Hanson   Subs. Augt 1781 3 Capt Harrison   12 = Genl Washington   Lafayette  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. □ This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____, who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the years, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
John R. [unclear]