Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9557, John Harrell, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
Harrell, John
NUMBER _____
S 9557
CONTENTS

Dead.
Virginia N. 23.238
John Harrell (7)
Monument Co. in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Riddick of the Reg't. commanded by Col. Willis in the Virginia Troops for 9 months 9 days
Enscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 30 Dollars 99 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10. day of Dec r , 1833 and sent to Rich d D. Webb Richmond V a .
  Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833  77. 47    Rem-ant. allowance ending to March 31  15. 49     $ 92.96  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E, Vol. 6 1/2 Page 17

In. Vansemond County Court 13 th May 1833 (1)
Virginia, County of Vansemond Sc.
On this 13 th day of May 1833, personally appeared in open court before Josiah Riddick, Hardy Crops, Edward R Hunter, & Edwin B Sumner, the court of Vansemond County now sitting, John Harrell a resident of Vansemond County and state aforesaid aged 71 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 he says that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated; that he entered as a militia man on his own account on day of 1777 under Captain and was placed under colonel Willis Riddick, and marched to Portsmouth Virginia, & placed under colonel Matthews, who placed the men under proper officers, that he remained there about 15 days, and was then substituted by Joseph Tildy, not long after two companies of young men were wanted, and so ordered out (he John Harrell in one) captain Robert McRiddick, took charge of one, and captain Roberts the other; he (Harrell) was under Riddick; he served that tour of 6 months in different places, but most of the time on Vansemond river, the British fleet there lying near Grady Island, a small engagement took place with some of the ships  barges on Kings point, Vansemond river, but no damage; at the end of the six months he was discharged, and not long after he was called out for the third tour of duty and served as he thinks about 6 weeks this time, officers not now recollected; he was here stationed in the  meads Old field called Mount Pleasant, colonel Parker was the field officer, he was then marched to

Isle of Wight County, where the enemy with the negroes and some Tories were doing some injury, in and about that section of country on the James River, we were stationed in different places and finally discharged at Blackwater bridge in Isle of Wight County; some short time there after he was called out on a fourth tour of duty for 6 weeks and mustered in a field called Mount Pleasant, under Captain Michael Hong, 14. where the men were mostly employed in cutting down some breast works, and when discharged from there he came home, and was never more called on, he thinks he served in all from 9 to 12 months, that he was marched and served in the Counties as stated; that he has no documentary evidence, that he knows of no one by whom he can prove this, that he has no discharge, that he recollects to have seen General Washington & General Lafayette at Williamsburg and Portsmouth, (Washington at the first place where he was serving as a substitute for one W m Wright) that he was born in Sussex County, that he has always lived in Sussex County, that the record of his age which is now at home, says that he was born the 12 th August 1761; that he has stated all he knows about the matter; further he cannot recollect (positively) 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 sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
(Signed)
John Harrell.
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,

(v) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
He omitted A. there we remained and was there discharged and not long before peace came he was again called out and sent to Portsmouth under Capt. Michael King.
Virginia County of Nansemond ss.
I John T. Kilby clerk of the County Court of Nansemond do hereby certify that the foregoing is a copy of the taken from the record of my office. In testimony and faith whereof
I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the seal of my County to be affixed this 7 th day of June
A. D. 1833.
John T. Kilby Clerk.

No 25420. ✓
John Harrell Fauquier County Virg a
Return d e to no
Admit as a private 9 mo 29 days $30.99
J. D. Hubby bld Fauquier County Virginia
Rich d D. Hubby Richmond Va

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
28 August 1880
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, showing the Service of John Hardie Vause Montgomery 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 1777 - - 15 private Capt. ... Col Willis Riddick, Col Mathews 71 years Montgomery County Virginia No evidence - paper authenticated   Served - 6 - " Capt Riddick   Called at - - 1 12 " officers not recollected Col Parker.   Called - - 1 12 " Capt Hning   Called - not stated " Capt Hning  
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.
[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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] 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.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. John Harrell S.F. 95-5-7 (8)
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1777 13 days Pvt. Willis Reddeck Matthews va   1777 6 mos. Robert M. Reddeck   1778 6 weeks Parker   1781 6 weeks Michael King  
Battles engaged in, 1 Residence of soldier at enlistment, Fauquier Co. Va. Date of application for pension, May 13, 1833 His ch. al. Residence at date of application, Fauquier Co. Va. Age at date of application, b. Aug 12, 1761 in Fauquier Co. Va.
Remarks: No family data
Very respectfully,

Amended Declaration of John Harrell. (4)
State of Virginia, County of Kanawha.
I, John Harrell of the aforesaid County & 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 I am now Seventy-Two years of age, (born August 12 th 1761,) and by reason of the loss of memory, I cannot swear positively as to the precise length of my service during the Revolutionary War; but according to the best of my recollection, I served during that War a period not less than nine months and nine days, and for which service I claim a pension — That I performed this service as a private in the Militia, under the following named officers, and, as near as I can recollect, at the periods of the war here stated. — That in the year 1777 I entered the service of the United States, and was marched down to Portsmouth, Virginia, and placed under the Command of Colonel Matthews, under whom I served a term of fifteen days — that during the same year, 1777, I again entered the service, and served a term of six months, under the

command of Captain Robert M. Riddick on Nansemond River and in the County of Nansemond — in the year 1778, I again entered the service under the command of Colonel Packer and served a term of six weeks, in the Counties of Isle of Wight and Nansemond, Virginia — and in the year 1781, I again entered the service under the command of Captain Michael King, and served a term of six weeks, in the neighborhood of Portsmouth in the County of Norfolk, Virginia. —
That my service was performed in the field, all except the first term of fifteen days, in the Town of Portsmouth, Va. — that my service was performed, in the field in the Counties of Nansemond, Nor- -folk, Isle of Wight and in the neighborhood of Williamsburg Virginia, and that I was not engaged in any civil pursuit during the performance of the service above stated. — Sworn to and subscribed this 11 day of Octo. 1833.
John Gaskill
We, Stephen Rawls & Robert Duke residing in the County of Nansemond and State of Virginia, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Gaskill, who has, in our presence, subscribed and sworn to the

foregoing declaration; that we believe him (5) to be of the age he represents; 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 to and subscribed, this 11 th day of Nov. 1833.
Amos Rawls Robert his Duke mark.
State of Virginia, County of Nansemond ss.
Personally appeared before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, John Harrell, 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, John Harrell, was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. — And I further certify, that Amos Rawls & Robert Duke whom 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 & seal as a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, this 11 th day of Nov. 1833.
Dempsey Langston

State of Virginia, County of Nansemond. ss
I, John T. Kilby Clerk of the County Court of Nansemond, in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Dempsey Langston 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.

Mrs. J. E. Sanders, 1445 College Ave Racine, Wis.
ms. 21. Rev. Sec.
Racine, Wis. Feb. 16. 1916.
Bureau of Pensions - Rev. War Sec. Dear Sir, -
The following data was sent me from records in Washington. 89557 John Harrell - Nansemond Co. Va. Received pension 1835 Probably lived in Clay Co. Ky.
James Harrell (2766)
Priv. 200 A. Vol. 1. P. 9.
Va. Cont. line. War - rec.
Mar. 16. 1784

College Park, Ga 10/2/11. Department of the Interior, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
It is recorded in the Senate Document 1 st Session of the 23 rd Congress [514] 1833-1834 on the Virginia Revolutionary Pension Roll page 175; That William Byrd private in the Va. Mil th , entered 5/13/834 com'd 3/4/833 age 71
Nansemond Co., Va. Also in same County and State, same Senate Document same page 175, Va. Pen. Roll

2 appears one John Harrell private in the Virginia Mil. entered 12/20/1833 - Com'd 3/4/1833-
If you will please give me all data regarding these two men as to age family history, wives & children, officers under whom they served as well as any other information you can throw upon the history and service of these two soldiers, I will be very much obliged and Thanking you in advance, I am Very respectfully, Mrs. Minnie E. Hogan.

Reorgan
9557 INVALID.
1911 Oct. 7 Hist. to Mrs. Kizzie E. Hagan V.L.M. 1910 July 25 Hist. to det. 72. Sanders.
File No. 9557 John Harrell ★ Prim Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: — Vol. 1 , Page 162
[Arrangement of 1870.]
John Harrell ★ Records corrected. Dec 28, 1904

Ins: Harrell
Payments to be made at Richmond by the Res. U. S. Br. Bk. Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of Virginia
Drawn up to March 4. 1836. D o D o to Sept. 4. 1836 " " to Sept. 4. 1837 " " to Sept. 4. 1838 " " to Sept. 4. 1839
Deed to be returned
Recorded in the Pension Of- fice, in Book E. Vol. 67 2 Page 17 by D. Brown Clerk.

(6) WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, John Harrell of the State of Virginia who was a Private in the Revolutionary War is entitled to receive Thirty dollars and Ninety nine cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 10 th day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty=three
L. D. Chap
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.