Campbell County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Military Records 
   Nelson & Frances BROOKS, Revolutionary War pension applications, 1832-1838 

Transcription of the pension application of Nelson Brooks (1760-1833), 
     Revolutionary War Soldier from Campbell County, VA. 
Other names mentioned: Frances Trent Brooks, Mina Trent Finch, 
     & Barnet Finch, Sr. [FINCH] 

[Document begins Page 1] Service, Va. Brooks, Nelson. Frances. Number W5912.

[Page 2] Dead. See letter to J. Robertson, att. ???? April 4, 1835.
Virginia 16.372 Nelson Brooks of Campbell in the State of Va who was a pri in 
the ---- commanded by Captain ---- of the Regt. commanded by Col. Lynch in the 
Va line for 8 months. M 82 A 33. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of Augt: 33 and sent to 
Hon. ?? Davenport, Meadsville, Va. 
Arrears to the 4th of March '33, 53.22; 
??????? allowance ending 4 Sept '33, 13.33. Total 66.65 
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832. 
Recorded by A. Rice, clerk, Book E Vol. 6 Page 3.

[Page 3] 6615 Richmond, Virginia. 
Frances Brooks widow of Nelson Brooks, Va, who was a Private in the Revolution. 
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, 
to commence on 4th day of March, 1843. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of January 1845 
and sent to J.H. Routon, New Store, Va. Act of March 3, 1843. 
Recorded in Book A June 17, 1844. Vol. 2 Page 134.

[Page 4] State of Virginia, Campbell County. 
On this the 14th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before 
the Justice of the court of Campbell County now sitting, Nelson Brooks a 
resident of the county of Campbell and state afore said aged 73 years on the 
5th day of July last, 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 the 7th day of June 1832. 
That in the year 1779 and towards the last of July he met at Capt. Cock's on 
Falling River in the county of Campbell (then Bedford) and volunteered his 
service under Captain James Adams, Henry E????? Lieutenant, and John McGee, 
Ensign and marched the same day for lead mines in Montgomery County where he 
served two months. Colonel Lynch having the command of the troops at the lead 
mines at the same time that he was discharged some time in October of the same 
year and that he received a discharge but have since lost the same. 
That about the first of January 1781 he again met at Holts [illegible] Store 
in the afore said county of Campbell (then Bedford) and was drafted and sent 
into Service under Captain Thomas McReynolds, who marched the company to 
Cabin Point on James River where he was put under the command of Captain John 
Otey, William Dooly Lieutenant, and ensign not recollected. They then marched 
to Portsmouth Va in and near which place they served out their three months 
tour and was discharged and that about the last of September of the same year 
he again met at John Bryans and was drafted and sent in the service under 
Captain James Bullock, he thinks the name of the Lieutenant and Ensign were 
Parker and ?????. We were then Marched ????

[Page 5] to Yorktown and joined General Lawsons Brigade were we remained until 
after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, a few days after which we were marched 
to Williamsburg and discharged. This tour was three months long. He does not 
recollect the name of the Colo. of his Regt. He saw while at Yorktown General 
Washington and Lafayette. 
That he still lives in the County of Campbell and about fifteen miles from the 
place were he was born and raised. He has no documentary evidence, that James 
Brooks and Charles Glass are the only witnesses known or recollected by him 
now living by whom he can prove his service. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or amnesty except 
the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the 
agency of any state. 
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid. Nelson Brooks, his mark. 
State of Virginia, Campbell County Court.  This day John Woolridge, Sr. of the 
said county, personally appeared before Mr. Ellis Hunter, a Justice of the 
Peace for the County aforesaid and made oath, that in January 1781 he was 
drafted at Holts Store in Campbell County (then Bedford) and was marched by 
Capt. Thomas McReynolds to Portsmouth by way of Petersburg, Cabin Point, and 
that he served a three months tour and that Nelson Brooks of said county was 
also drafted at the same time and marched in the same company to Cabin Point 
where he the said Brooks joined Capt. Otey's company, but the two companies 
remained together until we were discharged at Portsmouth, and that the said 
Brooks to his knowledge served at that time a three months tour. 
And I the said Ellis Hunter justice of the peace aforesaid do hereby certify 
that the testimony of the said John Woolridge is entitled to full credit. 
Given under my hand this 18th day May 1833. Ellis Hunter, J.P.

[Page 6] 
Question the first by this Court: When and in what place were you born. 
Answer: I was born in the year 1760 in the month of July in Bedford now 
   Campbell County, Va. 
Question the 2nd by this Court: Have you any record of your ???? if so 
   where is it? Answer: I have the account of my age and home in my bible. 
Question 3rd : Where were you living when called into service; 
   where have you lived since the Revolutionary War now where do you live? 
Answer: I lived in Bedford County, Va now Campbell County on Falling River 
   when called into service; since the war I have lived a part of my time in 
   Prince Edward county and a part of my time in Buckingham county but live 
   at this time in county of Campbell Va. I have lived only six years out of 
   the county of Campbell Va since the Revolutionary War. 
Question the 4th: How were you called into service; 
   were you drafted did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? 
Answer: The 1st tour I volunteered, the 2nd tour I was drafted, 
   and the 3rd tour I was drafted. 
Question the 5th: State the names of some of the regular officers who were 
   with the troops where you served; ????? Continental and Militia regiments 
   as can recollect; and the general circumstances of your service. 
Answer: Maj. Long and Col. Hick at Portsmouth, and Col. Lawson and Capt. James 
   Adams at the lead mines, I do not know the No. of the regiment I belong to 
   nor the No. of any other regiments; and as to the general circumstances of 
   my service they were set down in my declaration. 
Question the 6th: Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so 
   by whom was it given and what has become of it? 
Answer: I received a discharge from Capt. James Bullock at Yorktown and one 
   from Capt. Otey and the other from Capt. James Adams, but have since lost 
   them all. 
Question the 7th: State the names of persons to whom you are known in your 
   present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for ???????? 
   and their belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution? 
Answer: William Rosser, ????? ????????, Jesse Wood, and Capt. Thom. Harvey. 

Campbell County Court January Term 1833. 
On the motion of Nelson Brooks, Revolutionary Soldier, whose declaration has 
been presented and acted upon at a former term of this Court. It is ordered 
that the ... to him by this Court According to the regulations of the War 
Department and the ...Hereto made and duly sworn to, to be also Certified to 
the War Department. John Alexander, Clerk of County Court of Campbell do 
hereby certify the above is a true transcription of the order made at the 
Jan term of said court 1833 in the matter of application of Nelson 
[remainder is not visible]

[Page 7] State of Virginia, Campbell County. 
This day Charles Glass of the said county personally appeared before me 
Ellis Hunter a justice of peace for the county aforesaid and made oath that 
Nelson Brooks to his knowledge served a tour of two months at the lead mines 
in Montgomery County under the command of Capt. James Adams in the year 1779 
or 1780, and the said Brooks served a tour of three months at Portsmouth 
Virginia, under Capt. Otey and Col. Alex Dick, and that he the said Glass 
served with him. 
Given under my hand this 25th day of August 1832. Ellis Hunter (J.P.) 

[Page 8] State of Virginia, County of Campbell towit: 
On this 2nd day of November 1838 personally appeared before me Thomas Rudd a 
justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Mina Finch a 
respectable resident of the said county, and made affirmation in due form of 
law that she is the sister of Frances Brooks named in the foregoing 
declaration, and upon her affirmation doth say, that the said Frances Brooks 
is the identical widow of the late Nelson Brooks who was a revolutionary 
pensioner of the United States, during his life and up to the time of his 
death, which happened in the month of October 1833. 
That she the said Mina Finch is about ten years older than her sister Frances 
above named; that they have lived near each other in this county nearly all 
their lives; that she has been intimate with her, and her late husband the 
said Nelson Brooks ever since their marriage, which took place previously to 
the year 1794, to wit, about the year 1782, near about ten years after she 
herself married to her present husband Barnet Finch Senior in the year 1772. 
That the said Frances Brooks maiden name was Frances Trent; that she is now a 
widow and has been since the death of her husband Nelson Brooks as aforesaid. 
Mina Finch, her mark. 
Affirmed and subscribed on the day and year first above written before me, 
Thom. Rudd, 

State of Virginia, Campbell County to wit, 
I Thom. Rudd, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, do duly 
certify that Mrs Frances Brooks (the widow of Nelson Brooks, decd.) and 
married in the forgoing declaration and in the affidavits of Barnett Finch, 
and Mina Finch is in my opinion of too infirm body to go to court in person, 
not without inconvenience of body, and danger of health, or life. 
Given under [remainder missing].

[Page 9] State of Virginia, County of Campbell to wit: 
On this second day of November 1838 personally appeared before me Thomas Rudd, 
a justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, 
Frances Brooks, a resident in the County aforesaid; who being first duly sworn 
according to law, doth, on her oath say that she is upwards of seventy four 
years of age, and doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the 
benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed the 7th day of 
July 1838, entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows". 
That she, the said Frances, is the widow of Nelson Brooks, who was a pensioner 
of the United States, under the law of the 7th June 1832, and who was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
That for proof of which, she will have to rely upon documentary evidence, and 
the records of the War department of the United States at Washington City; and 
in the pension Agency Office at Richmond, Virginia. 
That she was lawfully married to the aforesaid Nelson Brooks, in the said 
County of Campbell, in the year 1782, or about that period. 
That her said husband, died on the 10th day of October 1833, in the said 
County of Campbell, and that she has remained a widow since his death and is a 
widow now. 
That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the said service, and 
that her marriage to the said Nelson Brooks took place before the year 1794, 
about the period above stated. 
That her maiden name was Frances Trent. 
Frances Brooks, her mark. 
Witness to mark Thom. Rudd J.P. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year first above written before. 
Thom. Rudd J.P.

[Page 10 is my abstract] 
A printed form letter from the War Department, Pension Office, regarding the 
evidence that was submitted in support of Nelson Brooks claim, under the Act 
of June 7, 1832, to obtain a pension as Revolutionary Soldier. 
The letter summarizes the evidence received by the War Department and asks for 
some additional information concerning his third tour of duty, as to the 
regiment and an account of his tour until after the capture of Yorktown. 
At this point they are accepting his first tour of two months, his second tour 
of three months, but need information as to the length of time served during 
his third period of service. 
He needed to have a total time served of six months to qualify for a pension. 
The letter is undated and has the printed signature of 
J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.

[Page 11] Campbell County Court Clerks Office 1st November 1838. 
I do hereby Certify that I have this day examined the records of the Clerks 
Office of said County Court for a marriage license bond executed by 
Nelson Brooks for the solemnization of marriage between himself and 
Frances Trent supposed to have taken place about the year 1781 or two and 
that no such bond can be found. 
Therin given under my hand the date above. William A. Clement, Clerk. 
[End of Document]


Source: NARA Series: M805, Roll: 125, Image: 92, File: W5912. 
By Don Trent 17 Dec 2006. 

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Don Trent  trenthistory@yahoo.com

[line breaks inserted by USGenWeb County Coordinator] 

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