Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9,176, Thomas Chancellor, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
Chancellor, Thomas
NUMBER
S. 9176
CONTENTS
carded

Health not in A B
Virginia 16. 195
Thomas Chancellor of Buckingham in the State of Virginia who was a pri: in the company commanded by Captain Reineth of the Regt. commanded by Col. Mathews in 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 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of July '33 and sent Maj. Wm. Duvall Oakville Mo.
  Arrears to the 14th of March '33 -  80    Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. -  20     $100  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk, Book E. Vol. 6. Page 5

State of Virginia Buckingham County to Wit On this day personally appeared Jonathan P. Shepard one of the Justices of the peace for the County of Buckingham and being first sworn, the facts as to the birth of Buckingham in the State of Virginia (which is a County of the Commonwealth of Virginia) and that he is a resident in the County of Buckingham and State of Virginia aged Seventy nine years who being first duly sworn, deposes and says that the following discharge is a true and correct copy of the original thereof, to wit: The Act of Congress passed March 3 rd 1832. That whereas the several of the several acts of Congress passed for the relief of the several officers and soldiers of the United States who have been honorably discharged from the service of the United States and who are now residing in the County of Buckingham and State of Virginia, do hereby certify that the names of the several officers and soldiers who have been honorably discharged from the service of the United States and who are now residing in the County of Buckingham and State of Virginia are as follows: That he was drafted from the County of Nansemond towards a second time, that he marched from Nansemond through Portsmouth to York, where he served during the war. He does not recollect the commanding officer's name at that time. All of this was true, to the best of his knowledge and belief. He was in no engagement when he was discharged but was in camp near Manassas at the time of his discharge. He does not know whether he was drafted a third time to clear out the roads, he does not know whether he staid quite three months but the service was to go for outside of their months that he was under

Comman d of a Lieutenant but does not recollect his name. That he once a for all time as a private for a man by the name of Benjamin Rootes who marched from the County of Mansfield through B. B. Howard to Mt. Vernon Hills to Charles City Court House and from there to Williamsburg, that while there Genl. Wayne had a skirmish with the enemy at or near James River, that in that battle he (the witness) was one of the men in consequence of the enemy being repulsed, Genl. Lafayette was the Commander He also recollects Maj. Arnold, and no other officers at this time he had a discharge but does not know where he came from or who signed it. That upon Interrogatories propounded to him in Answer to the first, that he was born in the County of Goochland and State of Virginia in the year 1748. In Answer to the second he states that he has no record of his age that his parents informed him of the date of his birth, In Answer to the third, he states that at such time he was called thereunder he decided on the County of Henrico and State of Virginia after the revolutionary war he removed to the County of Henrico where he still resides. In Answer to the fourth he states that he was three times drafted and once tried but as an substitute for a man by the name of R. Rootes. In Answer to the fifth he states that he does not recollect any of the officers except Genl. Laffey, Genl. Wayne Col. Mathews, Genl. Mead, Genl. Nelson & Maj. Arnold but he does not now recollect any of the Capt's names he was under except Capt. [?] In Answer to the sixth he states as he has before that he received a discharge but does not know who signed it and on what day he became a citizen. And in Answer to the seventh he refers to the affidavit of [?] (H. Marshall) and as to his character for veracity, he also refers to the belief that he was a soldier during the revolutionary war. He does not know whether Dugal, George Christian, the Rev. Gabriel Mathews, Charles [?] James Patterson, Col. Wallace, Col. [?], and [?]. He states that that from age and infirmity of body he is unable to attend at the Court House to qualify to his declaration for a pension; that strictly relinquishes every claim which he had to a pension or an annuity and that present had in his name is not on the pension roll of the Army of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above. Thomas [?] his Chancellor mark Ira Thomas R. Phelps

Dear Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th inst. and in reply to inform you that the same has been forwarded to the proper authorities for their consideration. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, John Walker John Walker
I received your letter of the 14th inst. and in reply to inform you that the same has been forwarded to the proper authorities for their consideration. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. M. [unclear]

St. Louis, Mo. March 18th 1884
This day James H. Marshall a credible man of the County aforesaid who States that since twenty years of age have been acquainted with Thomas of the place for the County aforesaid, and made oath that during the Revolu- tionary War he resided a part of the time in the County of Hanover and was acquainted with Thomas Chancellor who subscribed and swore to the foregoing statement that he knows that the said Thomas Chancellor served two terms of duty as a Militiaman during the War of the Revolution, the first he does not remember but he knows that the said Thomas Chancellor in either term from the County of Hanover, he has known the said Chancellor and knows him to be a man of great veracity, and further the day and year aforesaid before me Jonathan R. Phelps I do hereby certify that James H. Marshall who hath known the above Affiant is a man of veracity and has the fear of God before him. Jonathan R. Phelps
in the State of Virginia. I, Rolfe Eldridge, clerk of the County Court of Buckingham in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that Jonathan P. Phelps, before whom the declaration of Thomas Chancellor was sworn to, is also before whom the several affidavits in support of said declaration were sworn, is an acting justice of the peace in and for the said County of Buckingham, duly qualified according to law. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 9 th day of July 1833 Rolfe Eldridge Clk.

Thomas Chancellor Buckingham Co. Va
Rev
rom d 12 mo fri 4 o off
Wm Duvall = Buckingham Pa

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 3 d 1833
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 subjoined 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.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Thomas Chancellor
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     3 Private Capt McClellan Col. Matthews Hanover to Williamsburg 78 years Hanover Va. Tradition a Col. in War Serving W. & L.   3 Hanover to York   3 Hanover to Williamsburg   3 15 Genl Lafayette  
he does not recollect whether he still quite sure Mr. M c is still alive
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 _____ in the county 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) _____ 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 day 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 he 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. Infirmity
[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 tours, 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 (i) 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.

January 14, 1939
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS
Thomas Chancellor, S.9176 John Roe, W.5726
Mr. George H. S. King 1301 Prince Edward Street Fredericksburg, Virginia
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to Revolutionary War soldiers, Thomas Chancellor, who was pensioned from Buckingham County, Virginia, and John Roe who was pensioned from Harrison County, Virginia.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S.9176, based on the military service of Thomas Chancellor.
He was born in 1754 in Goochland County, Virginia. The names of his parents are not shown.
While living in Hanover County, Virginia, he enlisted early in the Revolution and served at various times on tours of about three months each, amounting in all to one year as private with the Virginia troops, a part of the time under Captain Meriwether and Colonel Mathews, was also engaged in clearing roads under a lieutenant whose name he did not recollect.
Thomas Chancellor was allowed pension on his application executed July 3, 1833, at which time he was living in Buckingham County, Virginia, having moved there after the close of the Revolution.
The papers in this claim contain no data relative to the family of Thomas Chancellor.
*****
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W.5726, based on the military service of John Roe (pensioned as John Row).

The date and place of birth of John Roe and the names of his parents are not shown.
He enlisted in Morris County, New Jersey, in 1779, as private in Captain Richard Cox's company in Colonel Dayton's Third New Jersey Regiment, was in the battles of Springfield and Jamestown and was discharged in 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 18, 1818, at which time he was fifty-seven years of age and was living in Harrison County, Virginia.
He died September 29, 1829, in Harrison County, Virginia.
John Roe married March 27, 1779, in Westfield, Essex County, New Jersey, Susannah, her maiden name not given.
As the widow of John Roe, Susannah Roe (personal signature Roe) was allowed pension on her application executed January 18, 1837, at which time she was seventy-two years of age and was living in Harrison County, Virginia. She stated that they lived in Essex County, New Jersey, until the spring of 1784 when they moved to New York City and lived there until 1790 when they moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, lived there until 1796 when they moved to Harrison County, Virginia.
John and Susannah Roe had the following children:
   Clarrissa  born June  18, 1782.     Lewis  " August  23, 1784,  filed a power of attorney in Washington County, Ohio, in 1855.    Elizabeth  " April  7, 1788.     Edward  " May  18, 1791.     John  " February  6, 1794.     James  " February  1, 1797,  his post office address in 1839 was Bridgeport, Harrison County, Virginia.   
In 1822 it was stated that the Revolutionary soldier, John Roe, had sons in the War of 1812 and reference was made to his son-in-law, no names given.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Omitted Francis Carter as he was the H. Col. under Col. Dayton & was never made Col. until Jan. 1783. MCS

130 1 Prince Edward Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 3, 1938.
Veterans Administration , Old Pension Division, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
In the newly published Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution by Gwathmey I see that THOMAS CHANCELLOR is on your pension list from Buckingham county.
Will you kindly furnish me with a copy of his pension records giving all pertinent family data.
I should also like an abstract of the pension record of my kinsman JOHN ROE , sometime spelt Rowe, Wroe, etc. who received pension while residing in Harrison county, Virginia, according to the Gwathmey book.
I shall appreciate your giving careful attention to the above requested Buckingham pension of Thos. Chancellor. I have been told it was of record in your office; was not of record; - I would like to know if there has been a mistake about this matter or not. I am not interested in Thos. Chandler .
Thanking you for this valuable service, I am
Very sincerely yours,
Geo. H. S. King George H.S.King
Part of here

Rev War
9176
INVALID.
File No. 9176
Thomas Chancellor
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: Vol. 1 et, Page 65
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1939 Jan. 14 hist. to Mr. Geo. H. S. King. m.c.s.