Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39314, Silvester Chun, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER.
Var.
Khun, Silvester Khun
S 39314
 • CONTENTS 

West-Tennessee. 17,357 R.
Silvester Chun,
of Maury Co t in the state  dist tr of W. Tenn ee who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Lewis, of the Virginia line, for the term of three years.
Inscribed on the Roll of West-Tennessee, at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 31. of January, 1819.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 d of June, 1820. and sent to Parry W. Humphreys, Judge, Columbia, West-Tennessee.
Arrears to 4th of March, 1820. $: 105. 29.
Semi-anl. all ce ending 4. Sept. } 48 "
13 mo s . \frac{5}{31} . } 1820. $: 153. 29.
{ Revolutionary claim, { Act 18th March, 1818. }

State of Tennessee Jan 4 81 st 1819 Maury County see
This day before me Barry M Humphrey one of the Judges of the Circuit Courts in & for the State of Tennessee aforesaid now presiding in the County aforesaid came Silvester Bhum in the 61 st year of his age being an inhabitant of said County & being by me first lawfully sworn the truth to declare & speak touching his service in the Army of the United States in the revolution- ary war & present circumstances & situation in life in order to obtain the benefit of the pro- visions of the act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & Naval Service of the United States in the revolu- tionary war Declares & Says that to the best of his recollection above the 18 th of July  February in the year 1777. He enlisted with Captain Thomas Thrall of the 14 th Virginia Regiment Commanded by Col o Lewis for three years service as a common soldier in the Army of the United States He served all his time & marched back to the State of Virginia from the City of Philadelphia & was discharged some time in the winter or spring of the year 1780 & was never out of service for the space of

three years. at the time of his discharge Col. Daves commanded the Regiment to which he was attached that his discharge was in writing but he delivered it to some person for the purpose of procuring land which he understood the Colonies were entitled to by the Law of Virginia but he never received any thing for it nor does he know what has become of it. he further says that he acted in the Battles at Brandy wine German town & Monmouth, he has no further evidence of his service than his own decla- ration now in his power to produce. - that from age & infirmities he is at times disqua- lified from hard labour has no means of subsistence but his manual labour & in such reduced circumstances also stands in need of assistance from his coun- try for support
his Silvester J. Church Mark
Sworn & subscribed before me this day & year this 31 st Dec r 1819
Parry W. Humphrys

State of Tennessee Court of pleas and quarters sessions July term 1826 Maury County
On the 22 nd day of July 1826 personally appeared in the court being a court of records for said county being so expressly made by the law of the state and proceeding according to the common law with a jurisdiction limited in point of amount and keeping a record of their proceedings Silvester Churn aged between 69 and 70 years and resident in said Maury County West Tennessee who being first duly sworn states according to law that on his oath declared that he served in the revolutionary war as follows to wit that he enlisted in the county of Halifax State of Virginia under Capt. Thomas Streat in the 16 th Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. Charles Lewis the date of his enlistment he does not cannot precisely remember but it was before the battle of Brandywine as he was in that battle as likewise in the battle of Germantown & Monmouth at the battle of Monmouth he was commanded by Capt. Lambert and he thinks in Col. Davis Regiment and was commanded by him when he was discharged about three years after his enlistment that he was in the service of the united states in the revolutionary war three years commencing at the time of his enlistment under Captain Thomas Streat in Halifax county Virginia as above stated He further states that the following schedule contains every particle of property real & personal he owns on earth his necessary bedding excepted which two indifferent horses one of 17 years old worth about $60. one Colt $15. four heads of cattle $22. fifteen small pigs $2. twelve heads of stock hogs $21. some little household stuff of indifferent quality fifty acres of very poor land lying in the below not worth at a liberal calculation more than one dollar per acre $50. debts due him $35. he is by

occupation when able to labour any a farmer That he is old and has latterly become much more infirm than he was a few years ago. and that he has been for the last year much afflicted with the piles Inasmuch that he is unable to labour for his support That his family consists of himself and his second wife aged about 60 years. That she is likewise infirm and weak and unhealthy and unable to labour for a support That he had raised a tolerably large family of children who have all married off and left him and all of whom are poor and unable without injury to themselves to extend to him any relief or assistance That his little property that he still retains is of an unproduced in kind and in his decrepit and helpless state must constantly diminish till it is all exhausted which cannot be long. He states that under the act of congress of 18 th of March 1818 he made application to the government and obtained a pension at the rate of eight dollars per month That his pension certificate bears date on the 2 d of June 1820. and he commenced on the 31 st of January 1821. the amount of his certificate 11.35 That for some time he drew a pension But that it was stopped afterward and that for several years past he has been wholly dependent on his own exertions for his own support and therefore must seek the aid of his government and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the united States on the 18 th of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any other manner disposed of any property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it or to bring myself within the act of congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons"

engaged in the land and naval services of the United States In the revolution war" passed on the 18 th day of Decr 1818 and I have not now had any person in trust for me any property or security or contracts due to me nor have I any income other than that is contained in the schedule here annexed and by me subscribed.
Isaac Cham
Sworn to and subscribed before me in open court this 22 nd day of July 1826
Joseph B Porter clerk
State of Tennessee Maury County I Joseph B Porter clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for the county aforesaid hereby certify that the foregoing on the schedule annexed are truly copied from the records of said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is 208 dollars In testimony of which I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal office at office in Colum- bia in the county and state aforesaid this 30 th of January A D 1827 and 51 st year of American Independence
Joseph B Porter clerk

February 17, 1931
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section EEL
Nelle Chunn 214 East Ford Street Harrisburg, Illinois
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.39314, that Silvester Chun (the name also appears as Chunn) enlisted in Halifax County, Virginia, February 1, 1777, served as a private in Captains Thomas Thweat's and Lambert's Companies, Colonel Charles Lewis and Davies' Virginia Regiment, was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth, and was discharged in the spring of 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed December 31, 1819, at which time he was a resident of Maury County, Tennessee, and was in the sixty-first year of his age. In 1826, it was stated that he was between sixty-nine and seventy years of age, no explanation made for this discrepancy in age.
In 1826, he referred to his wife, as then aged about sixty years, and stated that she was his second wife, but he did not give her name or the name of his first wife or the dates of his marriages. He also stated that he had a family of children, all of whom were then married. No names of children are given. Two stepsons, Jack Harris and Moses Atkins are referred to.
From AB He died April 12, 1841. The date and place of his birth are not given. No reference is made to his ever having lived in the State of North Carolina.
The above is the history of the only soldier named Silvester Chun or Chunn, found on the Revolutionary War

records of this bureau and said records fail to afford any information in regard to Alexander Jackson, as described by you or to Archibald Pullen.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

1 May 1820
Sylvester Church Yarm
Hon. J. B. North
Recd. 23 Feb. 1827
Ms. A. 9. 2. 20 office Mass Department of Justice Washington D.C.

No. Rep o Feb y 22 nd 1827. —
Sir!
Enclosed are two declarations for = = marked to me, with a request that I would present them for the purpose to the proper Department for the purpose of obtaining pensions. — The names of the applicants as you will see are M rs Sings & Setueta Shunna . When their cases are examined advise me of the decision.
Very Respectfully Y r ob t Serv t —
L. S. Polwarth Pension Office War Department Washington City.
Samuel D. Locke
M rs Sings's can file with orig l cases.

Washington City Feb 7 11 th 1828
Sir
After the receipt of your letter of the 17 th Dec r last in relation to the application of Sylvester Chunn to be re-instated on the pension list, I wrote to the applicant and informed him that you required him to resign the "reason for not making earlier application for a continuance of his pension". I have to day received from him an additional statement resigning the reason, which I enclose to you together with the other papers. I presume the widow will now be satisfactory. Advise me when you decide on his case. —
I Have the Honor to be Sir
Very Respectfully Yrs
Rev d Sir
Sam l G. Dack

J. D. Edwards Esq r Pension Office War Department Washington City "

17.357
West Tennessee
Silvester C. Muncy,
of Maury Co. in the State of W. Tennessee who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Stewart of the Regt commanded by Colonel Lewis in the Virginia line, for the term of three years from February 1777 to 1780
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 31 day of January 1819.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd of June 1828 and sent to P. W. Humphreys, Judge, Columbia, W. Tenn.
Continued or Restored to the Roll on the 12 day of February 1828 and notification sent to the Hon. J. H. Polk, H. Re. Pension commencing on the 23rd of January 1828
Amount due on 4th of March 1828 } $ 11.85
Died Apr 12, 1841
{ Revolutionary Claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. }
Hon. J. H. Polk, June 25/60
7 2 6 3 3 5

Case of Silvester 5654  Chinn  Chinn
Harry W. Humphreys Judge
Columbia Tenn.
vs? Jan. 1820.
Maurr Co. W. Tenn e
31. January, 1819.
Col. Lewis's (14 th Virginia regim t . 3 years.
found on the rolls.
Admitted.
Columbia Tenn Jan. 1820

I Parry W Humphrys Judge as afore said do hereby certify that it appears to my satis- faction that Silvester Church above mentioned once did serve against the Commonwealth enemy for the term of nine months in the army of the United States on continental establishment in the War of the rebellion & that he is now in such reduced circumstances as to require assis- tance from his country for support I there- fore certify & warrants to the Honble Secretary of the War department the foregoing declaration being all the testimony & pro- ceedings had before me Certified this 31 st of Dec r 1819.
Parry W Humphrys
I George M. Barton Clerk of the Circuit Court. For the County of Allegheny do certify that the Honorable Parry W Humphrys is one of the Judges of the Circuit Court for the State of Pennsylvania & that full faith & credit is to be given to all his Judicial acts.
Given under my hand & private seal at Office, having no seal of Office this 1 st day of January 1820.
George M. Barton Clerk

An amendment to the amended declaration of Silvester Chun.
The declarant, Silvester Chun, makes oath & saith that the reason that induced him to postpone sending on his petition to be restored to the pension list under the act of the first of March 1823, until the time that he did forward it on; was that up to the time of petitioning he had living with him to help him in procuring a living a couple of step- sons; That just before he petitioned these step- sons married & left him & that he was then left helpless & continues so; that he was in- formed & believed that the provisions of said act would & did not extend to him while he had the help of the aforesaid step sons to wit - Sack Harris & Moses Atkins; but becoming entirely helpless & destitute by their leaving him, he considering that the said act did extend to him, therefore petitioned.
Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court - Danby 21 st 1825
Joseph B Porter Clerk

State of Tennessee McLean County
I Joseph B Porter clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for said county hereby certify that the within declaration is correctly copied from the record of said court being a court of record and that the said court the Justices thereof being present preceding was satisfied of the truth of the said declaration
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office as the seal of said court at office in Columbia in the county aforesaid this 23 rd day of January 1828
Joseph B Porter clerk of the said court

Lt. Col. R. D. Blandley about preparing Sylvester Church Gen. des. or Woodley- Rev. A. C.
S. J. Nicholas In. C.
Hon. George C. Whiting Comm. Pensions Washington D.C.
Sylvester Church Mar - 27 1867

DeLoester Shum Copy of Declaration Pensioner
Con: on roll. Pen: to com: 23 Jan. 1828
Hon. J. K. Polk H. R.

The amended declaration of Silvester Chunn State of Tennessee Court of pleas and quarter Maury County Sessions July Term 1837
On this 23 rd day of July 1837 personally appeared in Open court being a court of record for said county being so expressly made by the laws of the state and proceeding according to the course of the Law common law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount and Resuing a record of their proceedings Silvester Chunn aged between 70 and 71 years resident in said Maury County West Tennessee who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath declare that in addition to the facts truly stated in his declaration for a pension made according to the requisitions of the act of Congress in such case provided and provided and to which this is an amendment that since the exhibition of my first schedule the following changes have been made in my property viz thirty head of hogs sold to Branch & Bradford in the year of our Lord 1834 for about the sum of seventy five dollars in money
One young cow to Charles Headman in the year of our Lord 1835 for ten dollars in money One young cow to David Camden in the year A.D. 1835 for ten dollars in money
One young cow to Sneed in the year of our Lord 1835 for eight dollars in money
The above sales I do further make oath and say were made through necessity in order to procure the means necessary to a just subsistence and that the money arising out of said sales

has been all expended in the purchase of the reversion of Life and that I am now in a poor penury and helpless condition
Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court this 23 rd day of July 1827 Joseph B Porter clerk
His Silvester Churn mark
State of Tennessee Court of Pleas and Quarters Montgomery County Session July Term 1827
On this 23 rd day of July A D 1827 personally appeared in Open Court being a court of record in said County being so expressly made by the Laws of the State and proceedings according to the Courts of the common Law with a jurisdiction antemable in point of amount and refusing a record of its proceedings James N Smith who being first duly sworn according to Law maketh oath that Silvester Churn who declared for a pension sold the hogs and cows in manner as stated in his declaration and to the best of his know ledge and belief and he has good reason to believe living a near neighbour to Churn that the proceeds of said sale was appropriated exclusively to the procuring of a subsistence for said Churn & his wife.
Sworn to subscribed in Open Court July 23 rd 1827
James N Smith
Joseph B Porter clerk

State of Tennessee Joseph B Porter clerk of the Waverly County Court of pleas and quarters Sessions for said County of Waverly do hereby certify that the foregoing transcript from the declaration Silvester Okun and James N Smith is correctly copied from the original now on record in my office In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office in the County aforesaid this 14 th day of October A D 1827 59 th Year of American Independence Joseph B Porter clk

Jacob M. Myers
Attorney at Law Harrisburg, Ill.
January 22, 1931.
Department of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Revolutionary War, Washington D. C.
Gentlemen:
I am desirous of obtaining the war records of Silvester Chun , or perhaps Chunn , and would also like to have any other information disclosed by the records.
We find from the First Census of the United States taken in North Carolina, Fayette District, Richmond County, in the year 1790, page 62, that Silvester Chun was the head of a family, with one free white male of sixteen years and upward, including heads of families, two free white males under sixteen years, five free white females, including heads of families, and one slave.
We know that Silvester Chun took part in the Revolutionary War, but we know nothing else concerning him, except that disclosed by the Census Record. If there is anything recorded in your office, please give me any information you are able to obtain. We would like to know if possible the date of Silvester Chun's birth, the record of his war services, the date of his marriage, his wife's maiden name, the names of their children and the date of his death.
We are also desirous of obtaining any information possible of Alexander Jackson . He married one Margaret Salkup and their home was in Kentucky, in or near what is now Graves County.
O I would also like to have any obtainable information of Archibald Pullen , who lived in Pitsylvania County, Virginia, and later moved to Dickson County, Tennessee.
Thanking you in advance for this information, I am,
Very truly yours,
Nelle Chunn.
NELLE CHUNN 214 East Ford Street Harrisburg, Illinois.

39 314 INVALID.
Rey
File No. 39,314
Sylvester Chinn Rev Rev Ind
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 88
[Arrangement of 1870.]
EEF 1931- Feb 17 - dist. to Steele chum