Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8232, William Coates, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Coates, William
S 8232
CONTENTS
boarded

see letters to H. M. Patton & P. Agt. Oct. 19. 1835-
C. J. Fox Jr. & Pen. Agent, May 11, 1837.
Letter to P and D 28 th Nov 1839.
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 Sept 1837 to 4 March 1839. Agt. notified 7 Dec 1839
Virginia 12.941 William Coates
of Caroline in the State of Virginia who was a Pri: in the company commanded by Captain Marshall of the ————— commanded by ————— in the Virginia time for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th day of June '32 and sent T. Dickerson Bowling Green Va.
Arrears to the 4 th of March '33 — 53.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " — 13.33
$66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk, Book E Vol. 6. Page 5

Declaration of William Coates in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832
State of Virginia Caroline County
On this 8 th day of October 1832 personally appeared before the County Court of Caroline William Coates a resident of said County State of Virginia aged 77 years, but I have no record of this fact who being 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 the 7 th June 1832
I was born, raised and educated in the County of Caroline and have lived in the said County all my life. I entered the War of the Revolution first as a Volunteer under Capt. Wm. Marshall from this County for a term of 2 months. We marched first to Williamsburg where we staid about a fortnight and proceeded from thence to York Town where we remained a short time & then returned back to Williamsburg where we were discharged.
I engaged in another term of 3 months service in the year 1778 as a volunteer in the Company commanded by Capt. Philip Buckner from this County. We marched first to Richmond, & then joined the Third Regiment of the Virginia State Line, then commanded by Major Coleman & Majors. We remained there but a short time before we proceeded to Williamsburg. We returned up the James River to a place called Ruffins Ferry where we crossed over the river & proceeded on to a place called Cabin Point, which I believe lies in the County of Surry or Isle of Wight. We proceeded from thence to a place called Mackays where we remained several days. We were then marched back to Cabin Point from thence to Petersburg where we remained until discharged.
I was also called into service by a regular draft upon the militia of this County, was drafted into a Company commanded by Thomas Hurres specially appointed to guard a parcel of powder & military stores at the Bull Church in this County in which service we were engaged for about two months.
In the year 1781 I was again drafted into the service by a regular draft upon the militia of our County & was allotted to the Company commanded by Capt. Francis Tompkins. We were detailed on this occasion to procure & drive Cattle for the army. We collected a good parcel which we drove then to Barker's old tavern from where they were taken on to the army then lying in Gloucester. We were engaged as well as I recollect about two months in this service which was the last time I was called out.

The field officers whom I remember were Generals Hotchkiss Col Taylor + Col Matthews Genl Lafayette + Genl Nelson I am well known to Wm W Dickinson Henry C Coleman Col Fleming Jemill Maj Philip Samuel Col Arch Samuel and Trull Coleman I declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state whatsoever, and I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present -
Wm Coates
Sworn to and subscribed
The day & year aforesaid
We Spilsbee Woolfolk a clergyman residing in the County of Caroline and James Galtwood residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Coates who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be 77 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
Spilsbee Woolfolk
Sworn to and subscribed The day & year aforesaid
James Galtwood

And the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after perusing 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 Spilts, Morfett, James Galtwood, who have signed the preceding certificate, are residents of the County of Caroline State of Virginia, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I John L. Pendleton Clerk of the County Court of Caroline, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of William Coates for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 8th day of October 1832.
John L. Pendleton
State of Virginia: Caroline County to wit:
On the 13th day of May 1833 W m Coates personally appeared before the County Court of Caroline, who being duly sworn according to law doth make the following statement by way of amendment to the preceding declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 7 th June 1832.
That he distinctly recollects that his services during the revolution were for a period of time of eight months, at least as as approximately  as his memory not accurate upon the subject he feels willing to put them down to the lowest period. He has no documentary evidence to establish his services that he is apprised of. W m Patrick Carnall and Mr. John Lewis  as the only living witnesses who can prove any portion of his services whose affidavits are hereto annexed.
W m Coates mark

Caroline County to wit. Patrick Carnall and William Harris personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for the County of Caroline & made oath that they will know of two terms of three months each which Wm Coates served as a soldier of the revolutionary war in the Militia drafted from the County of Caroline - and I do hereby certify that the said Carnall and Harris are men of good character and that full credit ought to be given to their statement. Witness my hand this 13 th day of May 1833.
Atwell Coleman JP
State of Virginia Caroline County to Wit
I John S. Pendleton Clerk of the Court of the aforesaid County do hereby certify that Atwell C. Coleman whose name is subscribed to the above Certificate, is and was at the time of subscribing the same an acting Justice of the peace in and for the said County duly commissioned & qualified and that his said signature is genuine.
15379 Wm Bates Seclin Bates
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the said County this 23 rd day of May 1833 In the 57 th year of the Commonwealth John S. Pendleton

No 15379.
William Coates of Caroline County Virginia
Pa
Admit as private 8 mo. $26.66
5. 13 -
2nd. 7.
ap. 30. 33 -
P. 364
T. Dickinson Bowling Green Virginia

BRIEF in the case of William Coates County of Caroline in the State of Virginia (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? No  3. How old is he? 44 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Vol In 17 not stated private Gen. Capt. W. Marshall   Vol - 1798 - not stated - private Capt. Philip Buchner - Majors Churman & Magill -   Draft - 1798 - - 2 - private Capt. Thos. Hurns   Draft - 1798 - - 2 - private Capt. D. Tompkins  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Caroline County Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richd. Lee Walter Examining Clerk.

for a statement of the military history of William Costes a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. File 8232
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     ✓ 2 mos(?) Pri. Wm. Marshall Va. Mil.   1778 3 " (?) Philip Buechner Major Deklan 3 Va. State   " 2 " Thomas Hawes " McLellan Magill Va. Mil.   1781* 2 " Francis Tompkins "   served at least 8 mos.  
Battles engaged in, ✓ Residence of soldier at enlistment, Caroline Co. Va. Date of application for pension, Oct. 8, 1832.  Albany. Residence at date of application, Caroline Co. Va. Age at date of application, 77 yrs.  born in Caroline Co. Va. Remarks: Brach not shown.

Golannville 3 rd May 1837
Sir
You will find enclosed a power of attorney from Mr. Coats of Caroline County Va. to me to draw his pension from the 4 th of September 1835 to the 4 th of March 1837 which the agent for paying pensions at Richmond Va. refuses to pay without an order from you, I see his Memorandum enclosed, please enclose the order with the necessary papers by return mail to enable me to draw said pension as Mr. Coats is in need of the same
Very Respectfully Your obed Servt.
Chs. J. Fox. Jr.
PS a general certificate from the clerk of Caroline County Court is filed in the office of the agent for paying pensions at Richmond Va. that Mr. W. Dickenson is a magistrate, therefore it is not thought necessary to have one offered to the power of attorney herewith enclosed
C. J. Fox. Jr.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
Nov. 22 d 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Coates, ————— a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va. , Agency, at the rate of Twenty Six Dollars and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1837, to the 4 th March, 1839.
Respectfully, yours,
Wilson B. Larrabee Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Coale which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? the Court has Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 4.
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 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 shewn 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.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
‡QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

Oct 19
1794
FREE
Mr. boats on Roll 10 gm 23
V o M c Edwards Esq r Commissaire of Pensions Washington D c

W. Edwards Esq.
Harney Branch Fredericks Oct. 16 th 1875
Dear Sir
The enclosed pension documents have been returned to me from Richmond with directions to forward them to you for examination. The pensioner has not drawn his pay for two years. In addition to the oath of the respectable gentleman who has sworn to his identity, I know the fact that he is the same person who originally received the pension certificate as the pensioner is in want of his money. I will thank you if there should be no objection to send the enclosed paper to Richmond, with directions to send me the money.
Yours Very respectfully Hugh M. Patton

Rev War
8232
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 8232
William Coates
Pris Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 st , Page 74
[Arrangement of 1870.]