Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1867, Erasmus Chapman, Va

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Chapman, Erasmus
R. 1867
CONTENTS

①
I Erasmus Chapman of the County of Howard and State of Missouri doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7 th day of June A.D. 1832 "I was born in County of Spottsylvania in the State of Virginia some time in the month of October A.D. One thousand seven hundred and fifty nine my birth day is to be found in my fathers family Bible if it is not destroyed, this I have been told by my relations and this is all I know of my age by that account I was Seventy three years of age some time last month; While a resident of the County of my nativity I entered the service as a soldier in the Army of the American Confederacy, and as a substitute for a certain Thomas Coleman of the County last named above, who had been drafted for a tour of three months in the Virginia militia, John Farhessley being my Captain Edward Stephens Commander of the Brigade, and - Meriwether alias - Meriwether - Commander of the Regiment, the particular month or year I do not now recollect, but believe it was in the latter part of the summer of the year A.D. 1781 - that I commenced the march from Peter Stubblefields in the County aforesaid (the place of rendezvous) in a direction to Little York, we proceeded through several Counties (the names of many of them I have forgotten) till we reached the town of Williamsburg in Virginia where we joined Genl. Washingtons main army who had camped below the town about two miles, at a place where a former Govr. or under the British government had thrown up Breast works (as I was told) the remains were plain to be seen, at this camp we staid some time how long I can not recollect; While the army continued here I frequently stood Sentry at a place called the Stone Bridge

2) Bridge which was made over a creek that emptied into York river not far distant, while on duty one night a Boat was sailed or was rowed up the creek to the bridge, I hailed it, and detained the Boat, till a file of men and an Officer from our camp came; the Boat proved to be a British one, and came with a flag bearing an American Colonel who had been taken prisoner by them and was dangerously wounded. I may have been forgotten his name but I now think the Col's name was Cuthbert, Scamel, or Campbell, he was immediately sent to the Doctors at Williamsburg in a litter the British boat was suffered to return; Shortly after this we (meaning the whole American Army) marched to Little York where Cornwallis was stationed, and encamped around the town on the Land side on the Water side it was blocked up by the French Fleet we now com- menced throwing up breast works, perhaps about a mile from the buildings, or perhaps from the British Breast works, and we continued at this work for many nights & days advancing each succeeding night a little nearer the enemy, all this time the British were continually firing their Cannon at us whenever they could see where we were, when we had got as near as I thought, our Commander wished, a flag was sent to Genl Washingtons marker from the British Commander Cornwallis with a proportion to surrender his army prisoners of war, the terms not being agreed to, as soon as the flag returned, Genl Knox ordered the officers of the Artillery to open a fire on the British

③ British works, at this instant I was below the cannon in the ditch in advance a little of the platform on which the cannon played, the shock of the explosion over my head was so powerful that in an instant I was deprived of my hearing and have continued so ever since; I was so bad that I was sent to the hospital, but I did not stay long there, but returned to my station being more willing to endure the malady than be deprived of my brother companions in arms, for some time after this I could hear a little, but as I got older my hearing grew worse, and for several years past I can scarcely hear the loudest thunder. Notwithstanding I continued to do duty as before, throwing banks, standing on the watch tower, and performing all the usual duties of a soldier, till the surrender of the enemy, and when the British march out to stack their arms, I was in one of the columns; As well as I remember the regulars formed one column and the Militia the other, between which the prisoners of war marched out of the town and grounded their arms at the head of the columns, and then returned into the town, and in a few days were marched out again and guarded by our troops to the upper part of the State I assisted in guarding them till they reached the falls of the Rappahannock when my time of service expired and I was discharged, a written discharge was sent to me some time afterwards but I do not recollect by whom it was signed but think it was signed by my Captain Tankerley. This discharge I put into

① my pocket Book which was afterwards burnt with many other papers; after leaving the army I returned to Spottsylvania aforesaid and continued to live there till I removed to Culpepper Virginia where I lived several years, and then removed to Roe Ann County in the State of North Carolina where I lived many years, after which I removed to Lincoln County State of Tennessee where I live some time, I lived in this State during the Creek and Seminole War, being too old for an active Soldier I went along with the Tennessee Troops on that expedition with my waggon & team as a transport for the provisions of the army I continued in this service nine months, I had two Sons in this campaign, one a Lieutenant; Some time after my return from the army I visited my relations in the State of Mississippi and not long after removed to the County of Lincoln in the State of Missouri near the town of Troy, lived here a short time and then moved to the County of St Francois in said State, lived there three years and then removed to Howard County State aforesaid where I now live. I have never before applied for a pension and hereby relinquish all right to claim a pension by virtue of any act of Congress passed before the 19 th of June 1832. I have no documentary evidence to establish my service as a Soldier of the Revolution, nor do I know of any person in this State by whom I can prove the same; And I will here remark that owing to my great deafness I am unable to communicate many circumstances which might be important in the establishment of my claim from not being able to hear what is said to me. It may be said that questions can be put in writing, but these questions are frequently put in such in such language or words that I cannot answer them, either in the negative or affirmative
which

5) which make it laborious to the writer as well as my self, and my true meaning mistaken. But I cannot suppose, that my Country is more unfortunate than myself, and will be deaf to the claim of one whose greatest calamity has been produced by his devotion to her dearest cause, merely because that misfortune prevents him from making a full disclosure of his services.
Erasmus Chapman
We Sion Bradley and James Wilson residing in the neighbourhood of the above named applicant Erasmus Chapman do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said Erasmus Chapman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be the number of years of age stated in his said declaration that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he used to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sion Bradley
James Wilson
The above and foregoing affidavit of Sion Bradley and James Wilson was subscribed and sworn to in open court the sixth day of November A.D 1832
John B. Clark Clk

State of Missouri County of Howard ss Be it remembered that at a County Court began and held at the Court House in the Town of Fayette within and for the County of Howard on the sixth day of November Eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court on the said last mentioned day before the Justices of said Court then sitting Erasmus Chapman a Resident of the State of Missouri in the County of Howard and subscribed and sworn to the above and foregoing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations 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 Simon Bradley why has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman Resident in the Neigh- bourhood of the said applicant and that James Wilson who has also signed the same is a Resident of the Neighbourhood of the said applicant and are credible persons and that their statement is intitled to Credit
I John B Clark Clerk of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Erasmus Chapman for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this sixth day of November A.D. 1832
John B. Clark, C.W.

Erasmus Carnegie Chapman & Missouri
Rejected Sent only 3 Months
St. M c H Ashley H.R. July 5 1833
St. M c H Ashley

by  BRIEF in the case of  Erasmus Chapman  of Howard  in the State of  Missouri  (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?  3. How old is he? 73  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.     Sumner In 1787 9 Priv Gen. Capt Tankisley, Genl. Stephens, Col. Morrison, Col. Shelby, Knox   Simonsville March 9 Buffalo  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? York  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Spotsylvania Co. Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? No testimony  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Stephens  Examining Clerk.  July 23 1833

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 2, 1870.
1867 REJECTED
P. O. Erasmus Chapman
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Ages: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

Erasmus Chapman Missouri
1867
Rejected - see let: to the Hon: W.H. Ashley of the 5 th Feby 1833 - let 25 March 1840
Wm L. Williams let 25 May 1840 Hon Thos H. Benton, do to Hon. A Babcock, Jan 13. 1842.
Act 7 June '32

Erasmus Barnes Chapman of Missouri
Rev. Mr. 3 months Seminary South Indian Mar — 9 "

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Edward Chapman which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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? no XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no 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? knows of no persons in the state XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

Mar 29. 1840
M o .
James L Edwards Esqr Comm ee of Pensions Washington —
Hon. Lewis Williams, H.R.
From Benedict Williams Ans. Mar 21, 1840

Washington March 19 th 1840
Sir.
I enclose to you a letter recd from Mr Erasmus Chapman who claims a pension at At the time I was a child, and enclosed till I was grown up to full age, this man Mr Erasmus Chapman, lived in my Father's neighborhood in North Carolina, and I always heard him spoken of as a Revolutionary Soldier - He moved from our neighborhood to Tennessee from there to Mississippi as appears from the inclosed letter - When he lived in North Carolina, he was universally believed to be an honest man - and I presume that is still his character - I will thank you to inform me what has been done in the case your obt Able Servt Lewis Williams
James L Edmonds Esq -

Dec 28. 1841
William Chapman Esq. No.
Copies from Dec 29. 1841
90 Niles 18th
Hon. A. Babcock H. S.
Ebenezer D. E. S.
Commissioner Lucius Washington City D. C.

H.R. Sec. 28 th 1841
Sir
I am directed by the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions to ask for any papers there may be in your office in relation to the claim of Erasmus Chapman of St Clair Co. Missouri for a pension for Revolutionary services
Your obedient Servt
Alfred Babcock
J. L. Edwards
Memb. Comt. Rev. Pensions
Comm. Pensions