Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 3428, Josiah Grimmit, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Grimmit, Josiah
S3428
boarded
CONTENTS

13964 West Tennessee
Josiah Grinnitt of Hawkins in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Lauer of the regiment commanded by Col. Persen in the Virginia line for 6 months and 10 days
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 21 Dollars 11 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of July 1832 and No 16
Nixon Centerville
Arrears to the 4th of March 41 22 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 10 33
$51. 77
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd
Clerk
Vol. 7
Page
79

See letts. to Pen agt & Josiah Grinnell ap d 16. 1836.
Order to Pay. 30. Sept 1837.
Letter to Pen agt. do do do.
do to P. Hagner 1. June 1838
Paid at the Treasury under Act 6 April 1838 from 4 Sept 1836 to 4 Sept 1837. Agt notified 5 June 1838
Letter to Hon. C. Johnson of 3 And 4 March 1842.
Paid as above under the Act of 6 th April 1838 from Sept 4 th 1838 to March 4 th 1841. Agt notified April 16 th 1842

State of Virginia } Circuit Court Sept 7 Term 1832 Henrico County }
On this 10 th day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the Circuit Court of the County aforesaid Josiah Grimmett aged Sixty Seven years who being first 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 June 7. 1832. That he entered the Service of the United States in the Virginia Militia in the year 1781. latter part of March or first of February for the term of three months as a Sergeant for one Edward Choat Jr under Capt David Lammer he left the Company in a short time & Josiah Shaw took the command of the Company & Ithiel Debris Gilliam was the Sergeant. Abraham Penn was our Col. & one Hughes or Walter was our Majr. I resided in Henrico County State of Virginia when I substituted. We marched to a place called the troublesome old Iron Works, & joined the main army under Gen. Greene. from there we went to Ramsey's Mills on Deep River, crossed there went through North Carolina & into the State of South Carolina to Camden and on the same night we had a skirmish with the British and for several days after. We remained here ten days after our term of Service had expired waiting for reinforcements, and after they arrive I was discharged & returned home to the County of Henrico aforesaid. I stayed there thirteen days & was drafted in the Virginia line for three months. I was mustered into Service at Pittsylvania old Court House & marched to Pittsylvania new Court House, stayed there a few days waiting for other troops, from thence I was marched to Prince Edward Court House, & from thence to Hickory Fork Church, from thence to Carters Ferry on James River, from thence to Danwidges old fields, (here there was a bad fight between two officers of the regular troops) on our march Majr. Purnell was shot accidentally the names of the officers under whom I served this tour are Capt. Swanson. Lieut. Alex r . Reeves or Middleton Woods. Col. Ducker, Gen. Lawson, & James Spencer Commissary. from the old fields we marched to a place called Boton's Bridges on a creek called Chickahominy from there I was marched to James Town on James River, & there we met the army under Gen. Washington returning from the capture of Lord Cornwallis, from thence I was marched back to said County of Henrico & discharged after serving three months in the army. in all six months

I am now old & near some aid from my country, I hereby request that you claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, & I mean that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in my state Learn to an open case and be entitled Josiah Groom the act and year of an act for Millington Early Clerk by deputy Sebastian And the said board to hereby declare as open case that the above named ap- = cant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states
J. Mitchell
Millington Early Clerk of the present board of the county of Washington hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said board in the matter of the application of Josiah Groom for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
Seal of office this the 14 th day of Sept r in the year of our lord Eighteen hundred & thirty two & of our independence the fifty seventh
Millington Early Clerk by deputy Sebastian

e 1225356
Josiah Grinnell Hickman County Tennessee
from 1781 private 6 months & 10 days. $21.61
H. Nixon Esq Centerville post Office Hickman County Tennessee

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Josiah Grummet Hickman County Tennessee
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Sub Mar. 1781 - 3 10 private Genl Green, Col Penn 67 years Henry County Virginia No evidence - paper authenticated   Drafted 1781 - 3 - " Capt Swanson, Col Tucker  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first 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 June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers; the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the name) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ 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.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the 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 the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 , or about two years , and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the time, 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 shown, 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; and as to when 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal at all, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[1] 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 claimant's 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.
[2] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [1] applies to continental troops only.
[3] The traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[4] If no witness can be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[5] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

May 13, 1931.
Mr. Fred Howard Jones 204 West Main Street Sparta, Illinois.
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section ILL Care
Dear Sir:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 3438, that Josiah Grinnit , while a resident of Henry County, Virginia, enlisted in February or March, 1781 and served three months and ten days as a private in Captains David Lanier's and Josiah Shaw's Companies in Colonel Abraham Penn's Virginia Regiment and was in a skirmish with the enemy near Camden; he returned to Henry County, Virginia, and after thirteen days, enlisted, served as a private in Captain Swanson's Company, Colonel Tucker's Virginia Regiment and was discharged after the surrender of Cornwallis, having served three months.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 10, 1832, in Hickman County, Tennessee. He was then sixty-seven years of age.
In 1838, soldier's post office address was Centerville, Hickman County, Tennessee.
There are no data relative to his family in the papers in this claim.
Very truly yours,
Date of death not on A Book
E. W. MORGAN, Acting Commissioner.

Rev. Man
3428 INVALID.
File No. 3428
Josiah Grimmel Pvt. Va. line
Act: June 11/932
Index:—Vol. A , Page 149
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1931 - May 13 - Visit to Mr. Pugh H. Jones - see his list - N o more - S. 21391 - J.L.H.

Joseph Greenfield Dedication for a pension
25358

Cape Henryville L. - March 6 28th 13964 M 100th Mail
Three
Hon James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

State of Tennessee Hickman County
This day personally appeared before me
Eli B. Hornbeck an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, Josiah Grinnell a Revolution- ary pensioner of the United States and made oath, That he obtained a pension from the United States dated the 18 th of July — 1833 amounting to twenty one Dollars and eleven cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th March 1831 — That he has drawn from the Agent for paying pensions at Nashville, 2 years and six months pay — since which time he has not drawn any thing — The last payment having been made up to the 4 th Sept 1833 — since which time he has not drawn any thing — He has made application to the Agent at Nashville by his attorney on the 17 th March 1836, and payment was refused to his agent on the ground that he had not made application sooner. He makes oath that he did not know of this regulation of the Department, That he is old and infirm, and is not very able to make

frequent trips to Nashville it being about 50 miles from where he resides He states that the amount he is entitled to per annum is so small that he would pay dear for his money if he had to go every six months to Nashville or propose papers authorizing an attorney to draw it for him. He also states that he did last summer propose a power of attorney for an agent to draw his money and he disappointed him by not going as he had promised. He states that if he had known that it was a regulation of the Pension department requiring pensioners to apply within certain times that he would have made application sooner — He therefore prays that he may be reinstated on the roll of the Pension agency at Nashville — and that he be authorized to draw his arrears of pension, which is two years & six months pay up to the 4 March 1836 — I am a United States District Court Clerk 1836 8/10 Hennickel (D)

I Samuel Sebastian Clerk of the County Court of Hickman county do certify that Eli B. Dornback whose name is attached to the foregoing affidavit is an acting Justice of the peace in for the county aforesaid and that his signature is genuine given under my hand and seal of office at R o ffice This 26 March 1836 Sebastian, clerk

Union Bank of Tennessee Nashville 20 th Sept. 1837
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir
At the request of Josiah Grimmett a Revolutionary Pensioner under the act of the 7 June 1832 to whom there is one years Pension due up to the 1 st Instant I herewith transmit you his claim for your examination and permission of his payment. Mr. Grimmett says he was not informed that it was necessary he should draw his pension every six months. He has made a power of attorney to his son whom he designs sending for it if allowed to him
Please to return his claim to him at Beaverkill Hickman County Tennessee with your instructions Very Respectfully Sir
Y. ob. Serv t John M. Bais P.A. By S. Cantrall

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
March 7 th 1842.
Sir:
Under the date 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," Joseph Grimmer — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville, Ky. Agency, at the rate of Twenty one Dollars and 11 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1838, to the 4 th March 1841.
Respectfully, yours,
James B. Davis
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Treasury Department,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
June 4 th 1838.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1832, 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," Josiah Grinnell a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville Agency, at the rate of twenty one Dollars and eleven Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1836, to the 4 th September 1837.
Respectfully yours,
Abner K. Partin Comptroller
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.