Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9586, Miles Howell, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Howell, Miles
S. 9586
Carded
CONTENTS

Virginia No. 23.237
Miles Howell
Nansemond Co. in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Foster of the Regt. commanded by _____ in the Virginia Troops time for 9 months & 24 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia the rate of 32 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of Dec r , 1833 and sent to R.D. Webb Richmond Va.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833 81.66 2 / 3 Semi-ann. allowance ending March 34. 16.33 1 / 3
$98.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E, Vol. 67 1 / 2 Page 17

In Nansemond County Court 13 th May 1833. State of Virginia, County of Nansemond S.S.
On this 13 th day of May 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before Josiah Riddick, Hardy Croft, Edward R Hunter and Edw. B Sumner the Court of Nansemond, now sitting. Miles Howell a resident of Nansemond County and State of Virginia, age 72 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 act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under Captain Robert Riddick, Captain Foster, Captain James M c Clenny, Captain Willis Parker and Captain Kinchen Godwin - Josiah Riddick and Book Wills were his different Colonels; that he served under the above named officers eight or ten different tours of six weeks each, making in all at least twelve months service, that he marched to Portsmouth, and was several times on James River, that he was drafted into service that he resided in Nansemond County State of Virginia, when he entered the service, that he was in a skirmish with the enemy at troublesome point on Nansemond River that he recollects there were regular troops at Portsmouth, but does not, at this time, recollect the number of the regiment or the names of the officer, that he was on James River at the time the battle was fought at Little York that he was discharged at Portsmouth by Captain Foster, does not now recollect whether he received a written discharge or not, and that he has no documentary evidence to offer in support of his claim. He hereby renounces 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. Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
(Signed)
Miles his Howell mark
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.
Virginia, County of Nansemond ss.
I John T. Kelby, Clerk of the County Court of Nansemond, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy as taken from the records of my office.
In testimony and faith whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, and cause the seal of my county to be affixed this 7 th day of June 1833.
John T. Kelby clk
Amended Declaration of Miles Howell.
State of Virginia, County of Nansemond,
I, Miles Howell of the aforesaid County and State, being duly sworn according to law, doth, on my oath, make the following amended declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832. — That by reason of of old age and the

recollection, I served during that war, in the militia a period not less than Eleven Months, and six days, and for which service I claim a pension. — That to the best of my recollections, I entered the service of the United States in the year 1778 under Captain Robert Riddick, under whom I served two tours of six weeks each; during the same year I served one other tour of six weeks under Captain Foster — in the year 1779 I served two tours of six weeks each under Captain James McElhinny and one tour of six weeks under Captain Willis Parker, and in 1780 I served one other tour of six weeks under Captain Willis Parker, and one tour of six weeks under Captain Kinchin Goodwin, making in all eight tours, now recollected, of six weeks each. (I said in my original declaration that I served twelve months, because I calculated four weeks to the month.) Colonel Josiah Riddick of this county and Colonel Brook Willis of Isle of Wight were the field officers who commanded generally when I was in service —
That I was called into service by competent authority, that my service was performed in the field in the counties of Nansemond, Norfolk, Isle of Wight and Surry Virginia, that I was not engaged in any civil pursuit during the performance of this service, and that I know of no person now living who can testify to the length of my service. — Sworn to and subscribed, this 9 th day of November 1833.
This Miles X Howell sen r mark
We, Solomon Whitfield & Elijah Jones, residing in the County of Nansemond and State of Virginia, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Miles Howell, who has, in our presence subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy-two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. — Sworn to and subscribed, this 9 th day of November 1833.
Solomon Whitfield Elijah Jones

State of Virginia, County of Nansemond,
Personally appeared before the undersigned, a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, Miles Howell, subscriber to the foregoing declaration and made oath to the truth and correctness of the same — and I hereby declare it as my opinion, that the above named applicant, Miles Howell, was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, — and I further certify, that Solomon Whitfield & Elijah Jones who have, before me, subscribed and sworn to the preceding certificate, are residents of Nansemond County and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. —
Given, under my hand and seal, as a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid this 9 th day of Nov. 1833.
Isaac Lee
State of Virginia, County of Nansemond,
I, John T. Kilby, Clerk of the County Court of Nansemond, and in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Isaac Lee, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate, is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Nansemond duly commissioned, qualified and authorized to act as such, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, and cause the seal of my County to be affixed this 14 th day of November 1833.
John T. Kilby Clerk

No 2548. ✓
Miles Howell Mansermond County Virginia
Return to me
Amount as per note 9 mo & 24 days 32.11
J. S. Hilby Suffolk, Mansermond County Virginia R. D. Webb Richmond Va.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
5 th August 1833
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 subjoined 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 Miles Howell Mansermond  County Virginia
   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.     Entered - 1 12 private Cap Riddick 72 years No evidence - paper Authenticated   Served - - 1 12 " Cap Foster Colony of   Served - - 1 12 " Cap M c Glenny Mansermond   Served - 1 12 " Parker Virginia   Served - 1 12 " Cap W. Baker   Served - 1 12 " Cap Goodwin   Served - 1 12 " Cap Josiah Riddick   Served - - 1 12 " Cap Wills   9 24   The applicant states that he served at least 12 months in all -  
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 same), 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. 2
[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 , is too indefinite, 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 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 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; 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.
[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 of office, 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.
[j] 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.
□ 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 [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 2
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 2
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration. 2

Revbran
9586 INVALID.
File No. 9586
Miles Howell
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 178
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Suffolk, Virginia
J. L. Edwards Esq:
Nov: 15,, 1833.
Sir:
I have the honor to send you herewith, the Amended declarations of Miles Howell, Elijah Jones, Elisha Betha*, William Boyd, James Wright, Henry Skinner, Jeremiah Peale, John Hamill, Joseph Rops, Abram of Read and Amos of Read for a pension. — I cannot doubt, from their statements, and from my personal knowledge of these men, together with what seems to be the universal opinion in our County, (Nassau and,) that these men were soldiers of the Revolution, & served even longer than they have stated in their declarations. — It is almost impossible, when a man served ten or twelve different times, under different officers, in the militia, during the War of the Revolution, that, from mere memory he could recollect the name of every officer under whom he served, and the particular period of the war that he served under each officer — more particularly men like these, who are unlettered, and have taken no note of their Revolutionary transactions.
It must be known to you Sir, and to the War Department, from our particular locality

and on proximity to Portsmouth & Norfolk, that the Militia of this County, during a greater part of the Revolutionary War, were almost constantly under arms — An contingency to the scenes of action, necessarily compelled us to keep as many men in the field as we could well raise. — One of these applicants, Mr. Joseph Rop, who is now so blind that he can scarcely discern day from night, pledges me his sacred honor, (and he has been a pious man for twenty years, within my knowledge,) that he believes, he was, in service at least five years during the Revolutionary War.
There are some Tenure or four Ten in the County who have made their declaratory in open Court, and they have all been returned with objections. — Two of the applicants have died without being able to make any amended declarations — The objections to them now enclosed have been removed so far as the applicants are enabled to do — And I hope their statements will be satisfactory to the Department. — I understood at the Pension Office when I was in Washington, about the last of September, that the applicants might amend their declaratory before a single Magistrate; otherwise it could never have been done, for they are,

excepting two or three, very inferior men and live from fifteen to twenty-five miles from the Court house. —
I have not undertaken this business for these old men as a matter of pecuniary gain, for I will not receive one cent for my labour, but honestly, because I believe they are entitled to a pension in consideration of their Revolutionary ser- -vices, and because they are old and needy. — Most of these applicants are personally known to my friends, the Hon. George Layall, our member of Congress from this district — you can make any enquiry of him as to their character for veracity. — I have the honor to represent the County of Fauquier in our State Legislature, and if the enclosed amended declarations are examined after the first Monday in Decr (at which time our legislature will meet,) be pleased to advise me of the decision of the Department upon them, at Richmond, Virginia.
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Obt: Servant, Rich d D. Webb.

* Elisha Butten is dead leaving a very poor widow & several children. — Three of his neighbors, of high respectability, have testified to their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution, and as has a neighboring magistrate. — I hope this will enable his wife & children to draw his pension up to the period of his death.
Washington Ag.
Commission of Pensions
23 March 1833
Wm. H. Crawford Secy of War