Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5377, William Humphrey, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Wa
Humphrey William or Humphreys
R. 5377
CONTENTS

State of Virginia } To all Smith County }
Be it known that before me a justice of the peace in and for said County of Smith in the state of Virginia duly appointed & commission personally appeared David J. Humphrey & John L. Humphrey citizens of said County who being duly sworn according to law says they are sons of William Humphrey (whose name was by some called and written Humphreys) deceased who was a revolutionary soldier who applied during his life time for a pension under the act of 1832 but died before receiving it that the said William Humphrey died on the 22 day of March in the year 1850 that the said William Humphrey left no widow & that they David J. Humphrey & John L. Humphrey & Mary Humphrey & Eliza Bennett formerly Eliza Humphrey & Susan Rector formerly Susan Humphrey & Nancy Brown formerly Nancy Humphrey that they are the only children he left living that they are the legal heirs of the said William Humphrey and as such makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining from the government of the United States the pension to which their said Father was entitled for his services in the war of the Revolution
D. J. Humphrey
J. L. Humphrey
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17 th the day of May 1853 And I do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with David J. Humphrey & John L. Humphrey who has sworn to & subscribed the above declaration & that they are the sons of the in mentioned William Humphrey deceased as above declared & who was considered & believed to have been a revolutionary soldier by his old & intimate acquaintances in the neighborhood where he lived In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 17 th the of May 1853
M. C. Spatigal J. P. {seal}

Washington D.C.
26.6.1883
June 1st Four Horsemen
P.S. 305
This is to certify that we was present at the burial of William Humphrey. He a father of D. G. Humphrey & John L. Humphrey. Mary Humphrey etc who was very old & was believed to have bin a Revolutionary soldier by all persons that was acquainted with him we her unto set our hand and affix our seal this 17th day of may 1853
Andrew Blankenbicker seal John Henson seal
William G. Henson seal

State of Virginia Smyth County (to wit
Know all men by these presents that we D. H. Humphrey John S. Humphrey Mary Humphrey D. B. Bennett & Eliza his wife formerly Eliza Humphrey D. W. Rector and his wife formerly Susan Humphrey & William Brown & his wife formerly Nancy Humphrey heirs of William Humphrey deceased of the county of Smyth in the state of Virginia do hereby constitute and appoint H. C. Spalding of the City of Washington D. C.
our sufficient and lawful attorney to prosecute for us and in our names the claim that we justly have upon the county states for services rendered by our father the said William Humphrey in the revolutionary war and the said H. C. Spalding is hereby & for us & in our names to examine any public records which we might of right examine ourselves in relation to the said services or do any act which we ourselves might lawfully do to prosecute the said claim to a successful issue as fully and effectually in every respect in the premises as we might do ourselves if we were personally present hereby ratifying and confirming all lawful acts done by our said attorney by virtue hereof in testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this 16 th day of May 1853
D. H. Humphrey (Seal) J. S. Humphrey (Seal) Mary Humphrey (Seal) D. B. Bennett (Seal) Eliza Bennett (Seal)
State of Virginia Smyth County } 88
On this day D. H. Humphrey John S. Humphrey & Mary Humphrey personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for the said County and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be their act and deed given under my hand this day of A.D. 1853
Jos. P. Benham J.P.

State of Virginia Smyth County to wit
I James F Pendleton Clerk of the county court of Smyth county do hereby certify that Gov P Boyd whose name subscribed to the foregoing certificate is an acting justice of the peace for this county duly commissioned and that full faith and credit due and ought to be given to all such his official acts
Given under my hand and the Seal of the said court at Marion in the aforesaid county on this 17 th day of May A.D. 1853
J. F. Pendleton Clerk of Smyth County Court
Specimen of Attorney from History of the Commonwealth Recd 2107. May 1853

William Humphrey 27/152.
William Humphrey, Virginia. "
June 7, 1832 "
Ensp o .
Lt Gen W Fuller Nov 6 1834 " " Gen Hopkins Jan 24 1836 " John W. Johnston October, 9. 1844
By John Lewis Alex o Payne

Virginia Smyth County to wit
Be it remembered that on this 23 d day of August in the Year 1833 personally appeared in open Court holder for the said County of Smyth and being a Court of Record William Humphrey resident in the County aforesaid and aged seventy one Years who being first sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832. That he the said William Humphrey was a drafted Militia man from the County of Fluvanna in the State of Virginia (the place of my birth) in the Year 1780 for eighteen months, was put under the Command of Captain Grava and marched to the County of Dinwiddie was then transferred to the Command of Captain Holt Richardson and marched to the South about July 1780 and arrived in Carolina just after the battle of Guilford, some time after that time but cannot recollect correctly from a failure of memory he was again marched back into Virginia and attached to the 3 d Regiment of Infantry commanded by Colo Dobney by him he was marched to York where he remained until after the Siege and surrender of the British army some time in November he was discharged by the Commandant of the Regiment Colo Dobney having filled up the time of Seventeen months served of seven days for which he has never received one cent of Pay, his

discharge was signed by Colo Dabney, and dated at Rock Favon but which has been long since lost being considered of no value after the War - The affiant is now old and Pal- sed and can not bring forward but only one evidence of his ser- vice unless his name may be found on the Roll of the 3 d Reg t of Infantry commanded by Colo Dabney or of the 18 months men drop- ped in 1780 in Fluvanna Virg a that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension except the present and that his name is not on the Roll of any State nor has he hereto- fore received one cent of Pay or Pension for the service before stated. Sworn to and declared on the 23 d day of August 1833
William his X Humphrey mark
Smyth County to wit
I Edward Barker of said County am well acquainted with William Humphrey who has signed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration and believe him to be seventy one years of age and know that he was a revolutionary Soldier having seen him doing duty as a private Soldier at York during the Siege and believe he was attached to the 3 d Regiment that he himself was often detail'd with the said William Humphrey on various duties and that he remained there until after the enemy had surrendered - Sworn to the 23 d day of August 1833
Edward his X Barker mark
As Robert Beatie Clerk of the County Court of Smyth and well acquainted with William Humphrey who has signed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that he believes him to be of the age of seventy one years and that he is reputed and be- lieved in the neighbourhood to have been a revolutionary Soldier

Soldier and that I can concur in that opinion. Given to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid. Robert Beatie
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrog- atories prescribed by the war department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier as he states. And the Court fur- ther certify that the said Robert Beatie our Clerk residents of the said County of Smyth and that his state- ments are entitled to credit.
I James Pendleton Deputy Clerk of the County Court of Smyth in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said William Humphrey was a revolutionary Soldier and did serve as stated in the foregoing Declaration against the Common Enemy and do hereby further certify that the foregoing Declaration and Affidavits are contained and embodied in the original proceedings of the Court In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my mark Seal having no Seal of Office on this 23 rd day of August 1833. James P. Pendleton
Virginia John H. Fulton member of Congress elect for the District of Washington Virginia do certify that James P. Pendleton who has signed the above certificate is the Deputy Clerk of Robert Beatie Clerk of Smyth Coun- ty Virginia Given under my hand the 9 th of October 1833 John H. Fulton

October 30, 1939
BA-J/MCS CW William Humphrey R.5377
Mrs. W. C. Haggard 620 Harrold Street Americus, Georgia
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to William Humphrey, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data which follow were taken from papers on file in the pension claim, R.5377, based on the military service of William Humphrey.
William Humphrey was born in Fluvanna County, Virginia. The date of his birth and the names of his parents are not shown.
While living in Smyth County, Virginia, aged seventy-one years, William Humphrey applied for pension August 23, 1833. He alleged that he enlisted from Fluvanna County in 1780 and served seventeen months as private with the Virginia troops under Captains Graves and Holt Richardson and Colonel Dabney and was at the siege of Yorktown. The claim was not allowed as proof of the alleged service was not furnished in accordance with the requirement of the pension law.
William Humphrey died March 22, 1850, in Smyth County, Virginia. His wife (name not given) did not survive him.
The following children of William Humphrey were living in 1853: David F. and John L. Humphrey, both residents of Smyth County; Eliza, the wife of J. Benett; Susan, the wife of M. Rector; and Nancy, the wife of William Brown.
The papers in this claim contain no further data relative to the soldier's family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

July 29 44
Dear Mr. C.H. Hays
Sir:
18 3/4
Mr. Coddington
Wm Humphrey
Commissioner of Pensions
near Department
Washington
D.C.
Mail 3

State of Virginia County of Smyth ss
We James Brumfield a clergyman residing in the County of Smyth and Alfred H Atkins residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Humphrey, who has applied for a pension; that we believe him to be eighty one 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
Given to and subscribed this 17 day of July 1844 James Brumfield Alfred H Atkins
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named William Humphrey was a Revolutionary soldier and serves as stated in a declaration made by him in this Court the 23 August 1833 and forwarded to the War Department, and the Court further certify that it appears to them that James Brumfield who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Smyth and that Alfred H Atkins is a creditable person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Smyth County Virginia
I James F Bouldton Clerk of the County of Smyth do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Humphrey for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 18 day July 1844 in the 69 year of the Independence of the United States James F Bouldton Clerk Smyth County Court
County of
Isaac D. Poston presiding justice of the

County Court of Smyth County do hereby certify that James F. Pendleton is clerk of the County Court of Smyth County and that the above seal and signature purporting to be his are genuine. Given under my hand and seal this 18 day of July 1824
W D Porton

Faint handwritten text in the right margin: "and justice had" Fazendell C.H. Va July 22 nd 1844.
Sir
William Humphrey, whose declaration for a pension is on record in your office, has employed me to prosecute his claim. I learn, from a letter of yours' that the matter has been suspended for want of proof, & having been informed that the affidavit of Mr Basker had been forwarded, I infered that the traditional testimony required by the department was what was wanting; & I herewith send it. If anything else is lacking, you will do me a favor by letting me know at your earliest convenience.
Yours &c
John M. Johnston.

H. St Job Dixon
Re vol. 10
Da 430

Dept of War
Nov. 28 1883
Sir In reply to yours of the 10th instant, I have to observe that in the matter of Nelson Garafany, that had not by his own free will belong to the militia but to the regular army, and was probably drafted as was often the case during the revolution, to fill vacancies what occurred in several regiments. Being then a regular soldier, and not finding his name upon the rolls where it should appear, he will be required to join his service.
I also remark that further that there was no militia service of the kind alleged to have been performed by the applicant of 17 mo. continuous service, but inasmuch as that and other papers from Oct to Dec 1861.
The papers are placed on file Henry H. John Street E.W. Abingdon Va.

State of North Carolina Comptroller's Office
I, William I. Clarke, Comptroller of Public Accounts in and for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears of record in my office, among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for Military services, in the Revolutionary War, as follows, to wit:
William Humphrey
Book A. No. 11 page 245 20 S 5 specie for Militia services
" " " " " 55 S 3 — " " " "
" All " 16 " 8, £40 currency (No date given)
" — " 180 " 30 S 18 S 12 specie for Militia services
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this 21st day of June A.D. 1853.
Wm. I. Clarke Compt.

Hon. F. McMullen
Mar 8/54

March 8, 1837
Sir,
In accordance with your request, I enclose, herewith, certain fixed copies of the papers in the case of William Humphrey for a revolutionary pension.
Wm H. M c Millen, H of R

Oct 9. 44
refers to Decr 8/34
Feb 18. 1857
Refers to same day
Case regd because name not on roll of B alleged

27.152 Revolutionary.
27.18
William Humphrey Virginia Disbanded early in 32
Letter 28 Nov 33
Hon Mr. Fulton died 6. 1834
Let H.C. Spalding Feb.

Washington, 2 nd Novr 1852.
Humble for E. Keath born of Peruvians.
I have the honor to ask to see the papers of William Humphrey of Smyth County, Virginia, who applied for a pension under act 1832.
Very respectfully, Your obt. Servt. H. C. Spalding Attorney

Hon. L. H. Fulton VA Dec 8-1834
AC
CPH 11/21/34

Department of War Pension Office.
Dec 8- 1874
Sir
In reply to the letter of Mr. Sheffield  your letter upon the subject of the claim of William Skumpkins. I have the honor to state, that the claim was prepared in Oct 1833, for want of proof of service his name not appearing upon the rolls, in the Office; and at the same time a letter was addressed to Henry Stephens Senior Esq, stating the fact — The papers still remain on file, awaiting the exhibition of proof — Mr. Sheffield's letter cannot be returned
I have the honor
For J. H. Br Walter H. R.

Washington City D.C.
Jan'y 27/54,
Genl. Waldo,
Dear Sir
I wish you to send me the papers of the heirs of William Humphrey of Lynch City Va in my District applying for a revolutionary pension. As I wish to present them to Congress for which I have the honor to remain very
Respectfully Yours &c J. McKim

Pension Office Sept 9. 1853
211
Sir
The additional proofs in support of the claim of W m Humphreys, deceased, of Va., under the act of June 7. 1832, have been examined.
The proof and certificate of heirship are irregular: they should be made in conformity to number 2 of the enclosed printed rules.
The certificate of the comptroller of N. Carolina does not aid the claim. Humphreys declared that he only served about 18 months in all, a very small portion of which time he was in Carolina. The comptroller's certificate covers about 18 months' service. The claimant declared that he was first attached to Col Holt Richeson's Regt; afterwards to Col Dabney's. In June 1780, Holt Richeson was made Col of one of the regiments raised from the militia to aid So. Carolina, and the claimant says he joined that Regt in July 1780.
Evidence of the service may, perhaps, be found in the office of the Auditor of Va. I do not

for it on the rolls in this office.
H. C. Spalding, Sept 9/83
H. C. Spalding Esq. Present.

5377 Va. Isabel Spalding Sept 9/53 Paper copied & sent to him Will Smither church 8-1932 act 7 Jan 32

Shurton 12 th July 1823.
Harold L. P. Hall County of Pinal, Ariz.
3-6-67
I have the honor to submit the declaration of Dr. John Humphrey V. L. Humphrey children of William Humphrey deceased, who was a Revolutionary soldier and was appointed for a pension, but suspended on the alleged ground that there was not sufficient proof of service. I mean sub- mit also a certificate from the Comptroller of the State, in which he advised after receiving from me, that the payments made to the Hum- phrey claim I was first employed in this case by the soldier himself to handle without receiving the benefit of his hard earned pension. He died as you evidence on the 22nd day of March 1850. William Humphrey a relation made in his lifetime is much respected by all who knew him as he has always been admitted to be entitled to the highest consideration, after he was an honors to every body. But he sold now himself a Revolutionary pension, testified positively that William Humphrey was a Revolutionary Soldier. That he was then an elderly man and a soldier at York during the siege. That he himself was often detailed with the said William Humphrey in various duties, and that he he remained his after the surrender

of the ceremony at Yorktown, which occurred 19 October 1781. Surely this is a good witness.
Robert Beattie, Clerk of the peace, testified that he never knew William Humphreys, and that he is beloved and respected in his neighborhood, (where he was long and well known) to have been a revolutionary soldier, and that he main- tains in that belief: - Surely that is a credit- able testimony, and is so respectfully recognized by the rules of the Department.
The affidavits of Reverend James Greenfield & Alfred H. Morris, both testify their belief that he was a Revolutionary Soldier.
A query was made as to the accumulated testimony as to the admission and judicial certificate of the Court of Pensions . I assert in the State of Virginia that they, the Court have subscribed that William Humphreys served as stated in his applica- tion, and the verification of the list of the Deceased.
The father having died, I was by law to present the declaration of the children, he having left no will and for their claim to the amount of Pension due to their father upon the day of his death, and I apprehend that was a fair and equitable examination.

of the case, and the evidence being clearly against the claim, he no doubt is taken out of the pocket of the claimant. We respectfully ask that the case may be respectfully and not heartily , considered, so that a fair and equitable decision may be arrived at based upon the merits of the case.
If there is a trace of unfriendly reference , either in the publication of the old man's name or his life time as to events that happened more than twenty years ago, or in the affidavit of the old man's residence , I would take it to the Honorable Court of Lehigh County , or the Court of the Commonwealth of the State of Pennsylvania & appeal that decision, as in the certificate of the  Commissioner of the  State of Pennsylvania if we say there is a trace of friendly reference . I trust you will ask the attorney of the claimant the attorney of the claimant if the papers are entitled to the consideration which the Department has always accorded to all claimants , we respectfully sub- mit that the case will be allowed to be well pro- secuted .
Very respectfully, John H. Spelt, U.S. Spelling Attorney

Oct. 15, 1939
Mrs W.C. Haggard 620 Harold St Americus, Ga.
Va. Humphrey, William R. 5377

1939 Oct. 20. list. to Mrs. W. C. Haggard file
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
5375
P. O. William Humphrey
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
List of 1852 gives no reason for suspension "for further proof of service."
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contra
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Washington Nov 26th 1850.
Honble Comm. of Pensions
Dear Sir
In reply to an enquiry I had the honor to address you some time since, in the case of William Humphrey or Humphrey, a Revolutionary Soldier, from Virginia; you informed me that it did not appear from the files & records that any papers had been filed in his case from Virginia. His son E. F. Humphrey says his father served most of his time in North Carolina, and a part of the time in Va. That he was an 18 months man, and he thinks his father said that Col Dobrey commanded the Regiment in which he served. William Humphrey died in April last in Smyth County Va. He stated that he had not drawn a pension, altho' he considered himself entitled, but his discharge got lost, and he was at a loss how to establish his claim. May I ask the favor of you to have an examination made to ascertain his service on the rolls of North-Carolina, and Virginia also.
Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt. H. C. Spalding Attorney