Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,897, Bernard Cheatham, Va

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Cheatham, Bernard Judith
R. 1897
CONTENTS

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th July, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows—"
State of Virginia: Charlotte County To wit:
On this 11 th day of December, 1839, personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Judith Cheatham, a resident of said County and State, aged 79 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7 th 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows—"
That she is the widow of Bernard Cheatham, late of Charlotte County, Virginia, who enlisted in the Minute or Regular service of Virginia, and was drafted in the Militia service of Virginia, as a private soldier of Infantry, in the War of the Revolution— She declares, that she does not know any thing, as coming within her personal knowledge of the services of her late husband in the Revolutionary War, having married him some years after the close of the War— She has repeatedly heard from him in his life time, and from others, whom she believes, served with him, that about the month of August or September , 1775, in the County of Chesterfield, he was enlisted in the Minute service of Virginia, as a Minute man or Continental service for the term of Twelve months, under Capt Markham  Boone Boone, marched to Williamsburg, thence to Portsmouth, and was stationed for a considerable length of time at that place, and near Norfolk— That he was at Portsmouth at the time Governor Dun-

more was expected to land, with some troops on from his regts of War, then in the Chesapeake bay; and that he reached the Great Bridge, near Norfolk, the day after the battle fought at that place - That Col Woodford was the command- ing Officer - She recollects also his stating that Capt Fordyce was killed in the battle - That afterwards he was stationed principally at Portsmouth, and the lower ports of Virginia, until his term of 12 months expired - That in the year 1781, he was drafted in the militia for three months, under Capt Moore, and marched to Yorktown, and witnessed the surren- der of Cornwallis - He rendered other service be- sides the above mentioned, but she cannot at this time, call it to memory - That he suffered many hardships and privations during his service - She cannot state precisely how long he served altogether, but would suppose he was in actual service, at least 15 months, for which length of time, she claims a pension - She has no documentary evidence, the papers of her husband being lost or destroyed many years since; nor does she know any living witness in this section of the country, (being unable from bodi- ly infirmity to go abroad) by whom she can prove the services of her late husband - If in Chesterfield when her husband enlisted, and was drafted, she has no doubt an abundance of evidence might be obtained - She therefore relies in a great measure on the public Records of the Army, and such tradi- tionary evidence as she can obtain here and else- where, in support of her claim -
She further declares, that she was married in the County of Charlotte to the said Bernard Cheat-

= have on the 10 th day of December, 1791, by the Rev d Edward Almond; that her husband the said Bernard Cheatham, died on the 23 d day of January 1818 ; that she was not married to him, prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January, Seventeen hundred and ninety four: to wit, at the time above stated. —
Judith her + Cheatham mark
sworn to and subscribed before me a Justice of the peace in and for the county and State aforesaid, this 11 th day of December, 1839 —
George Hannah L.P.
Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:
I do hereby certify, that I do consider said Judith Cheatham from old age, and bodily infirmity unable to attend Charlotte Court in order to make this declaration. —
I further certify that the said Judith Cheatham is a credible and respectable Lady, and her statements entitled to the fullest confidence. Given under my hand this 11 th day of December, 1839 —
George Hannah L.P.
Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:
This day Elkanah H. Cheatham, came before me and made oath that the said Bernard Cheatham departed this life on the 23 d day of January, 1818; that his widow Judith Cheatham is still alive, residing in the county of Charlotte, and that she has never intermarried since the death of her said husband, Bernard Cheatham. —
E H Cheatham

sworn to and subscribed before me - I further certify that he is a credible person, and his statements entitled to full confidence - Given under my hand this 17 th day of December 1839 -
Cornelius Barnes J.P.
Virginia. At a Court held for Amherst County January 6 th 1840
On motion the declaration of Indebtedness of Amherst County Virginia, with accompanying documents and evidence as exhibited under the act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 was received in open Court, and the whole of the papers read and fully explained to the entire satisfaction of the Court. Ordered that said declaration with accompanying papers, be referred to the War Department.
Virginia. Amherst County Court. I William Robinson Clerk of the County Court of Amherst in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing order is a true copy from the records of my Office - and I do further certify that George Armstrong and Cornelius Barnes are acting justices of the peace in and for the said County duly commissioned and qualified according to law, and that the signatures annexed hereto are genuine -
Given under my hand, and the seal of my Office this 8 th day of January 1840
William Robinson C
7197 Declaration of Judith Chatham for a Pension under Act July 7 th 1838

Married on the 10 th day of December 1791 by the Rev d Edward Alward - Bernard Cheetham and Judith Hampton
I Charles Robinson Clerk of the County Court of Albemarle in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the registration of the said marriage from the book of registers filed in my Office -
Given under my Hand and the Seal of my Office this 28 th June 1837
Charles Robinson C

Bernard Cheatham d. 1818
Judith ————— m. 1791
Aug 75 1 st . Minute service
81 3 mo. Allone
Amelia Christy Humbolt? 1 st d. 1818 Jul 75 / Bat in act of 500.
20 sue days & 4 days in each mo ex. De Fow Yrl. be ent d here in year after the 20 a for days.
12 mo. 1/4 per day when on duty a
 on active service 20  36  24   80 

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
1897
RECEIVED
P. O. Judith Chapman
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Abages: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

va / act 1838-7197
Judith Cheatham widow of Bernard m arried July 1820 to M r J. B. Bedford set sum May 30/63 set T. A. Dickins June 1/63
1897

State of Virginia Charlotte Ct. House July 3 d 1840—
Sir,
You will find enclosed the Decla- ration with accompanying evidence, of Mrs. Judith Cheathams, widow of Bernard Cheathams, deceased, for a Pension under Act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838—
I am very respectfully your most Obt. Servt. &c W m J. B. Bedford,
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions — War Department—

Judith Cheatham widow of Bernard Cheatham application for re- re-examination of claim under act 7 July 1838. a suspended claim. Virginia.
H. A. Dickins Agent

Washington 28 Jany 1853
Sir,
I have been requested to ask an re-examination of the claim of Judith Cheatham, widow of Bernard Cheatham dec'd of Va. — This is a claim under the act of 7 July 1838 and has been suspended for further evidence. — Among the papers in the case you will find the testimony of John Coupton and Mary Beach which establishes part of the service, and should secure a small pension. — It is true that they only prove a small part of the service for which a pension was claimed. —
Yours very respectfully Francis A. Dickinson.
To the Commission of Pensions.

Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:
I John Crafton of Charlotte, do hereby certify, that I was well acquainted with Bernard Cheatham, deceased, in the War of the Revolution; and recollect that in the year 1775, he enlisted under Capt Markham, in the Virginia Minute Service , or continental line, for the term of One year; which term, I have every reason to believe, he served faithfully - I know the fact, he enlisted, or was drafted, in the Minute, or Continental service, in Sept. r 1775, under Capt Markham in Chesterfield, for one year, and was in 1. st Va. Regiment, commanded by Col Patrick Henry, & others - He served the said term faithfully - His widow is still living in Charlotte - where he married her - I am 80 years old - John Crafton
Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:
This day John Crafton, came before me a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, and made oath to the foregoing certificate, subscribed by him in my presence - I further certify, that he is a credible person, and his statement entitled to full confidence -
Given under my hand this 1 st day of May, 1840 -
Geo. Davis J.P.

State of Virginia, Charlotte County Inss:
I William Robinson Clerk of the County Court of Charlotte in the State of Virginia do hereby Certify that Giles Harris is an acting justice of the peace in and for the said County duly Commissioned and qualified, and that the signature annexed to and purporting like his is genuine - Given under my hand and Seal of my Office this 20 day of May 1840
William Robinson

Virginia: Lunenburg County to wit:
I do hereby certify, that I was raised in Chesterfield County, State of Virginia, and resided there during the whole of the Revolutionary War, and have a distinct recollection that Bernard Cheatham was drafted, or enlisted, in that county, in September, year 1775, under Capt Markham, for one year, either in the Virginia Minute, or continental service, and believe he served the whole term - I further certify, said B. Cheatham married in Charlotte County, and that his widow is still alive - The said Bernard Cheatham was raised & lived in my immediate neighbor- hood, which makes me recollect the above stated facts, so distinctly - I am 94 years old - Mary his X mark Beach
Virginia: Lunenburg County to wit:
This day Mary Beach, came before me a Justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, and made oath to the foregoing certificate - I further certify, that she is a credible person, and her statement enti- tled to the fullest confidence and belief - Given un- der my hand this 12 th day of May, 1840 -
State of Virginia: Lunenburg County to wit; E Clark J.P.
I William H Taylor Clerk of the county Court of Lunenburg in the state of Virginia, do hereby certify that, Elison Clark is a magistrate as above and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine - In testimony whereof I have hereunto annexed the seal of the said court, and subscribed my name this 18 th day of May 1840.
W. H. Taylor