Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 26, John Cheshire, Va. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va. Sea Service
Cheshire, John Cheshire or
R 26
Va. Half Pay
CONTENTS

State of Virginia.
At a Court held for Norfolk County the 18 th day of April 1848.
From satisfactory evidence this day produced before the County Court of Norfolk it does hereby certify that William A. G. Chesire, Sarah T. B. Oliver, Margaret R Chesire, Thomas I Chesire and George W Chesire are the lawful children and heirs of William A Chesire and Sarah his wife both deceased and are the only surviving heirs of John Chesire a Lieutenant in the Navy at the time of the Revolutionary War and that the said John Chesire left only one child and heir, to wit: the aforesaid William A Chesire.
I Arthur Emmerson Clerk of the County Court of Norfolk County in the State of Virginia aforesaid hereby certify that the foregoing is a true transcript from the records of the said Court.
In testimony thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court this twenty first day of November in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred forty eight of our Independence the seventy third.
Arthur Emmerson Clerk

October 21, 1931
RA-J/122HP
Mr. Mark C. Lewis 333 N. Michigan Avenue, Room 1325 Chicago, Illinois
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to John Cheshire , of Virginia.
The data herein are obtained from papers on file in claim, R.26, for Virginia half pay that might have been due on account of his services in the Revolutionary War.
John Cheshire was recommended September 2, 1778, as a proper person to be appointed lieutenant in the Virginia State Navy. He was commissioned and served in said navy; the length of his service is not given.
His age, residence, name of his wife and date of his death are not stated.
He was survived by one child only, whose name was William H. Cheshire. William H. Cheshire married Sarah, maiden name not given.
On April 18, 1848, evidence was produced at the County Court of Norfolk, County, Virginia, that William H.C. Cheshire, Sarah T.B. Oliver, Margaret R. Cheshire, Thomas I. (or J.) Cheshire and George W. Cheshire were the lawful children and heirs of William H. Cheshire and Sarah, his wife, both then deceased, and that they were the only surviving heirs of Lieutenant John Cheshire, above named, of the Revolutionary War.
There is no statement in the papers on file in this claim to show whether or not the claim was allowed.
In order to obtain information relative to the payment, if such were made, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.

St John Cheshire Caveat filed with papers of Skinner

Pension Office April 15 th 1853
Sir
In answer to your letter of yesterday asking for certain information in regard to the commencement of the sittings of the Navy board of Virginia and other matters connected with its action, I am able to furnish you with the following statement.
In a volume marked "Virginia Claims" now in this office, there are numerous certified extracts from the Revolutionary records records of Virginia, particularly in reference to the officers of the State line. Many of these extracts are taken from the "Journal of the Navy Board" and would seem to indicate that the first sitting of the Board took place on the 8 th of July 1776. There is nothing positively to show when the sessions of the board ceased, but its last action as exhibited by these extracts was on the 18 th of June 1779. It would appear that its duties were then transferred to the

Board of War and were discharged by this Body until the 7 th Aprie 1780. It is possible that it remained in Session after this period, but no evidence of the fact is furnished by these extracts.
Among the extract from the Journal of the Navy Board, there is one showing that on the 2 September 1778. John Chesire was recommended to the Executive as a proper person to be appointed a Lieutenant in the Navy.
see page 79 of this book
There is nothing in the Minutes of the Board to show that he ever resigned his Commission, but there is an entry on the Back of the Journal, as certified by the Auditor of Virginia which states that he did resign. It does not appear by whom this Entry was made.
Very Respectfully Your aff Servt
Commission
M rs Keelin Esq Present

Feb 26 40
John Cheshire, Jr. Navy
Half Pay: 5 July 32
Admiral
Rev. Mr. Case
Rev. Mr. Case
Commissioner of Patents
Washington
James M. Smith
Chester
Richard B. ...

14 April 1853
Wm Helms
Relation to John Chesire Lt Va State Navy
Let. to W Helms 15 April 1853

Washington 14 Apl 53 Comm r . of Pensions
Sir,
Will you please state the date of the commencement of the sittings of the Navy Board of Virginia & the termination thereof so far as the same are shown by the copies of extracts furnished to your office, Salvo the date of the recommendation of John Cherrie as Lieutenant & whether in the journals or minutes of said Board his resignation appears?
I oblige
Grosv d W m Nelson

ADDRESS REPLY TO THE DISTRICT ENGINEER FIRST CHICAGO DISTRICT
WAR DEPARTMENT UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE FIRST CHICAGO DISTRICT 333 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE, ROOM 1325 CHICAGO, ILL.
REFER TO FILE No. _____
September 28, 1931.
Veterans' Administration, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen: In re: Revolutionary and 1812 Wars Section
It appears that a pension was granted to the heirs of John Cheshire, variously spelled Chesher and Chesser, for services in the Revolutionary War. The said John Cheshire was a native of Accomack County, Virginia.
Please let me have any information you may have as to the term of service and heirs of the said John Cheshire.
Respectfully,
Mark C. Lewis Mark C. Lewis,
333 N. Michigan Ave., Rm. 1325 Chicago, Ill.

1931-Oct 21-List To Mark C. Lewis M.M.H.F.
N Nº 26
ACT OF JULY 14, 1862.
3064
Lieut John Cheshire
Vol Navy Revolutionary
Discharged _____, 186
11-0
3064
Hf. Pay — act '32
Received _____, 187
26.