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Greathouse Point > Greathouse Archvies > USA > WV > Jackson County

Jackson County, WV

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1833, Jun 22 - Military Pension: Declaration of Samuel Tanner

Murder of Cornstalk
Photo of mural at River Front Park, Point Pleasant, WV

Caution: The declaration of Samuel Tanner dated 22 Jun 1833, as related by Samuel Tanner in his second declaration, dated 26 Dec 1834, was written by Robert H. Lowther, Esq., who was part of the group termed by W. G. Singleton, U. S. District Attorney for Virginia, as the "Lewis Speculating Gentry". Singleton believed that this group convinced illiterate old men to sign fraudulent claims, which the "Gentry" would file with the War Pensions Office and collect a monthly fee from any pensions awarded.

In the second declaration Samuel Tanner gave to Singleton's representative, Josiah M. Steed, Esq. of Parkerburg, he related, "I am about sixty odd years old.- I was 14 or 15 yrs at the close of the War of the Revolution.- and subsequently never done any service as a Soldier in said war.- but I was in Service in the Indian war. R. H. Lowther wrote my declaration to whom I gave the same narative I now give."

Footnotes:

1) 1834 - Military Pension: Declaration of Samuel Tanner

Declaration of Samuel Tanner, written by Robert H. Lowther Esq.:

State of Virginia
County of Jackson

On the 22d day of June AD 1833 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Lewis and State of Virginia Samuel Tanner a resident of Spring Creek in the county of Jackson and State of Virginia aged 74 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 June7t 1832. That he entered service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in stated. In April in the year 1777, in the County of Rockbridge in the State of Virginia he volunteered as a private in a company of militia commanded by the Capt. _____ [James] Hall, marched to Lexington in the said county, where the said company assembled and was organized and about the 10th of May commenced a march toward Point Pleasant at the mouth of the Great Kananwha river. Marched via Warm Springs and Hot Springs in the Bath County. Crossed Jackson river 5 miles from the Hot Springs. Proceeded to the fort where Lewisburg now is there joined a companies of regular and militia under command of Col George Skillern, remained here two or three weeks for the purpose of obtaining a supply of cattle and other provisions. Then proceeded on the march by Walker's meadows on the head of the Meadow River, crossing the Sewell Mountains, fell on to Gauley River near it's mouth crossing the same fell on to the Great Kanawha a short distance below the falls thereof lay here a week or two in consequence of some sickness among the officers. Then proceeded on the march to Point Pleasant where they arrived some time in the month of August. Found the fort garrisoned with a few regulars under command of Capt Matthew Arbuckle. Halted at Point Pleasant in expectation of being joined by Genl. Hand from Fort Pitt and then the which to proceded against the Indian villages on the North west side of the Ohio. In October some of the company to which declarant belonged was on the west side of the Kana river hunting. One of whom was killed by some Indians who were lurking about at which the soldiary became greatly enraged and proceeded to the guard house and killed Cornstalk and som other Indians who were detained as hostages in the fort. Soon after this event Genl. Hand arrived without an army, in consequence of which after a few days consultation the expedition against the Indians was abandoned, and some time in Nov. they left the fort and retraced their steps to the forts on the Greenbrier river, arrived here in declarant was marched to his county Rockbridge, arrived at home about the first of Jany 1778, having served 8 months and about 20 days as a private militia man.

In the year 1779, he migrated to the frontier settlements on the Greenbrier river and in February 1780 volunteered as an Indian Spy, was stationed at Col. Andrew Donnelley's fort. Placed by Col. Donnelley under the immediate command of Lieut John McClung and during the spring, summer and fall of this year made many excursions in the adjacent countries spying, to wit, on the Greenbrier, Kanawha, Meadow, Gauley, Cole and Guyandott rivers and reporting periodically to the fort. Was near the last of Nov 1780 dismiss by Col Conally, having served as private Indian spy 9 months.

In June 1781, in the county of _________ in the State of Virginia he again volunteered as a private Indian spy, was placed under the command of Ensign George Hamilton was engaged in spying as in the preceding year, subject to the orders of Col. Donneley at whose fort they were stationed and to whome they from time to time reported was engaged in spying from June 1781 until Dec 1781 making six months additional service.

In May 1782 he again volunteered as an Indian spy in the said county of Greenbrier was again stationed at Donnelleys Fort and placed under command of Ens. James Graham, was engaged in spying and reporting to the said Fort subject to the the orders of Col Donnelly until Nov. Was then dismissed having performed six months additional service as a private Indian spy.

He was born in Augusta County now Rockbridge, VA on the 15th May 1759, was living there when first called into service, from thence moved to Greenbrier Co. VA where he lived until the year 1790 when he moved to Monongalia County, VA [Harrison County, VA] where he resided until the year 1802, at which time he moved to Jackson then Mason County, VA, where he still lives.

He has no documentary evidence by which to prove his services. He was at the end of the first tour of service discharged by Capt. Hall, but not knowing if ever could be of service to him did not preserve it. At the end of each years service as an Indian spy he was mercily discharged. He knows of no man living whose testimony he can procure by which to prove his services.

He hereby relinquishes every claim what ever 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 they and year aforesaid.

Samuel X Tanner (his mark)

Ye the seven several interogatories presented by the War Department he answers as follows viz - To the

1st I was born in Augusta now Rockbridge County in the State of Virginia on the 15th May 1759.

2d I have no record of my age. I remember the account there of given me by my parents.

3d When called into service I was living in Augusta now Rockbridge County, VA. I moved from thence to Greenbrier Co. VA in the year 1779 and was living there when I entered the service as an Indian spy. I have since lived in Monongalia Co., VA. I now live in Jackson County, VA.

4 I volunteered.

5th At Point Pleasant I seen Capt. R. Arbuckle a regular officer who commanded the garrison at that place, I also seen Genl. Hand who came down the Ohio from Fort Pitt & Col. George Skillern who commanded the Boutetourt troops Capt Hall Stewart & militia officers at Col. Donnally's fort. Knew Col. Donnally Col. Stewart Capt Hamilton & Capt Stewart.

6th I recd. a discharge by Capt Hall which is lost. signed by Capt Hull. From the service as a spy. I was only dismissed.

7th I am known to Elijah Runion & Jesse Carpenter in my neighborhood who can testify to my character for veracity.

We Elijah Runnion and Jesse Carpenter residing in the county of Jackson in the state of Virginia hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Tanner who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration that we believe him to be 74 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.

Elijah (his x mark) Runion
Jesse Carpenter

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

And I the said Justice of the peace do hereby certify and declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the investigatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And I the said Justice do further certify, that in appease to me that Elijah Runion and Jesse Carpenter who have signed the preceeding certificate are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. And I the said Justice do further certify that there is no clergyman living in the neighborhood of the above named applicant. And that him (the said applicant) resided more than 20 mile from the Court house of the said County of Jackson and from bodily infirmity is unable to travel thereto. And I the said Justice do further certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of my self in the matter of the application of Samuel Tanner for a pension. In testemony whereof I have hereuntio set my hand and seal this 22 day of June 1833.

Thomas Boggs (Seal)

I Benjamin Wright Clerk of the County Court of Jackson County in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that Thomas Boggs is a Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Jackson duly commissioned and qualified as such, and that his acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit, as well in the Court as therewith. In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and private seal there being no seal of office this 4th day July 1833.

Benjamin Wright {seal}

I do hereby certify that Benjamin Wright is clerk of the County court of Jackson County, VA and that the signature above is in his proper hand writing.

July 29th 1833
Lewis Manwell

Sources:

NARA, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Roll M804, Pension #: R 10390, Pensioner: Samuel Tanner, 19 pages.

C. Leon Harris, Southern Campaign American Revolution Pensions Statements & Rosters, Pension Application of David W. Sleeth s6111, Appendix: The Lewis Speculating Gentry. View @ Southern Campaign

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