Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16390, Joseph Gray, Va.

SERVICE
Va
Gray Joseph
NUMBER
S. 16390
CONTENTS
carded

5445
Kentucky
Joseph Gray
of Spencer Co. in the State of Kentucky who was a Pr & Sergt in the Company commanded by Captain Miller of the reg t commanded by Col. Fontaine in the Virginia Milt time for 22 months fr 1778.
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 90 Dollars — Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of Febr uary 1833 and sent to Hon R. J. M. Johnson R. R.
Arrears to 4th of Sep. 32 — $135. — Pens ant. allowance ending 4 Mch. 33 45. —
$180. —
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. Allison Clerk Book 1 Vol. 9 Page 21

State of Kentucky, S.S. Spencer County
On this 18 th day of January 1833 personally appeared before me James H. Brown a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Spencer and State of Kentucky and by virtue of my Commission one of the Justices composing the County Court of Spencer County in the State of Kentucky which is a court of record for said County. Joseph Gray aged 79 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as here in after stated. 1 st in the month of August in the year 1778. he states he was drafted in the County of Goochland State of Virginia and entered the service under Captain Miller and was marched into Albemarle County Virginia he was there placed under the command of Colonel Fountain, to guard the British prisoners. During he performed a six months tour of duty in this service and was discharged in or about the month of February 1779. from the aforesaid service. 2 nd In the month of June in the year 1780. he states he was drafted for a six months tour of duty under Capt n Curd and was marched from Goochland Courthouse Virginia to Hillsborough North Carolina and then fell into the 1 st Regiment of the Virginia militia under the command of Colonel Lucas, Colonel Downman and Major Morris were field Officers under General Stephens and were then marched to Camden South Carolina and was there at the time that General Gates was defeated, after that defeat we marched to Salisbury from thence to Hillsborough North Carolina from thence to a place called the New Gardens from thence to Guilford Courthouse where discharged in the month of December 1780. during the aforesaid tour of six months he states he was in no battles or actual engagements except the Battle of Camden in that he was partially engaged being on the outskirts of the army

2 nd In a very short time say in the month of December 1780 or in the month of January 1781 his services were of the following character up to the month of November 1781. Took at the time that Richmond in Virginia was invaded by Arnold, or the invasion threatened he was called out under Capt ne Price marched to Williamsburg served as orderly sergeant, under Major Morris, he was then marched to Farns Island under the command of Colonel  Colonel  St. Clair  St. Clair  where  where  he  he  was  was  then  then  marched  marched from thence we marched to Richmond Virginia, he states he was then called on & placed under the command of Major Selton at Richmond Virginia and acted as an orderly sergeant until General La Fayette took the command of the Army, he states that he was then sent to the Hoban Hills in Henrico County Virginia to reinforce the light infantry under the command of Maj r Boyce he states he there served as Quarter master sergeant for a few days and was then promoted to Quarter master, he states he can't give a particular & detailed account of the movements of Army or rather a squadron to which he was attached, recollects that we were compelled to retreat towards the line between Maryland & Virginia and in the month of November 1781 we were there discharged. During all this latter mentioned period from December 1780 until November 1781 he was constantly engaged in actual service as orderly sergeant and Quarter master, but cannot give the dates of his changes from one place to another, or when he was changed from under the command of one Officer and placed under the command of another. He states he was born in the County of Hanover State of Virginia on the 9 th day of March in the Year 1757 he moved from Hanover County to the County of Goochland Virginia in the Year 1772 there lived until he moved to the County of Henrico Virginia which was in the Year 1780 or 81 he there lived until the 11 th of October 1805. Then moved to the County of Shelby State of Kentucky, in which County & the County of Spencer he has resided ever since now resides in Spencer County Kentucky. He states that he has no written discharges from his services aforesaid, neither has he any documentary evidence that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services aforesaid. He states he is well known

We Philip W. Taylor a clergyman and Joseph W. Alexander who are residents in his neighbourhood, who he believes can well testify as to his the said Joseph Gray's character for veracity, and as to their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. I sworn to subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Joseph Gray
We Philip W. Taylor a clergyman residing in the County of Spencer and Joseph W. Alexander residing in the same County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Gray who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be twenty nine years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. I sworn to subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Philip W. Taylor
Joseph W. Alexander
And I James H. Brown Justice of the peace for Spencer County in the State of Kentucky do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of this 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 I do further certify that it appears to me that Philip W. Taylor who has signed and made oath to the preceding Certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Spencer State of Kentucky and that Joseph W. Alexander who has signed the same is a resident in the County of Spencer, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. I further certify that the above named applicant, cannot, from bodily infirmity attend the court. Given under my hand this 18th day of January 1833.
James H. Brown J.P.S.C.

I Raphael Lancaster Clerk of the County Court for the County of Spencer in the State of Kentucky do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings had before James H. Brown Esquire a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Spencer in the State of Kentucky in the matter of the application of Joseph Gray for a Pension. I do further certify that said James H. Brown Esq. whose signature is affixed to the foregoing certificate is a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and duly empowered to administer oaths and that his signature thereto is well known to me to be genuine. I having a thorough knowledge of his hand writing.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my County Court Office at Taylorsville this 19 th day of January 1833. In the 21 st Year of the Commonwealth.
Raph d Lancaster Clerk Spencer Cty Ky

16390 INVALID.
File No. 16390
Joseph Gray Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7" 82
Index:—Vol. A , Page 443
[Arrangement of 1870.]

from 1778 (private) to 1780 (sergeant) 22 months
$90.
I recommend the allowance for a soldier & as sergeant for the whole 22 months when he served as sergeant in the quarter master department. I agree to advise that as his friend
Philip Johnson
allowed by Mr. Edwards.
Rev. R. S. Johnson

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
February 4
1833
SIR :
I return herewith the papers in support of the claims of the persons whose names are hereto annexed.
These papers are in several respects defective. Each case is accompanied by a brief. The objections are contained in the negative answers, in red ink, given to the questions.
Particular attention should be paid to the accompanying regulations and to the explanatory notes subjoined to the brief.
The extraordinary press of business in this office, arising from the great number of claims under the act of June 7, 1832, has hitherto prevented us from attending to the applications sent by you. The investigation of the cases presented under this law has been difficult and laborious, and notwithstanding the greatest exertions have been made by this Department, an earlier attention to your business has been found impracticable.
The brief has been prepared to meet all cases, and thus to save the excessive labor which would otherwise be imposed upon the office, and which would consume so much time as to render the delay two fold greater than it now is in the investigation of claims and writing letters. Each case is considered correct in all respects except in relation to those questions to which a negative answer is affixed. No other alteration or addition will be required.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant;
J L Edwards
Hon R. M. Johnson, } Joseph Gray House of Representatives } Laurene Hoover John Sanders.

Joseph Gray.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Gray 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? No. 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? 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? 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? 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? 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 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.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Gray, Joshua GRADE Sergeant LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER 4260 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Aug. 10, 1789 to Richard Peatt
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.