Below, transcribed as exact as possible from original documents located in the Library of Virginia in Richmond, is the pension application for Revolutionary War benefits for Captain John Stevens of Caroline County for Bounty Warrant by his heirs Proof of illegibility for John Stevens, Captain in the Navy 1. John Stevens a soldier of 2 Virginia State Regiment having served three years, the term of his enlistment, he is hereby discharged, the Service given under my hand at Williamsburg, the 2 day of May 1780 (Signed) Brent, Col'l J. Pendleton, JP 2. Rec'd 19 June 1778 of John Stevens the sum of Seventy pounds curency (sic) as sovern (sic) wages on the Schooner Gen'l Arnold Signed Gayner Jardner #70 3. Rec'd 20 June 1778 of Capt John Stevens the sum of one hundred and forty pounds currency for wages due me in the Continental Brig Chaucer (his X) Galley North Signed James Salling #140 Capt John Stevens of the Navy (Marked additional evidence formerly rejected) File May 20, 1838 This claim is allowed for a service, as Captain, in the State Navy of three years during the Revolutionary War. (Signed illegible) DC Allowed Jany 1, 1840 1776 Capt John Stevens of the Conten'l Schooner Lewis Sept 2 To 1 lb. Sulph 2lb Twine By the Commissioners of the Money - Ch's W. States 0.7.0 Journal 162 - 0.7.0 The above account is truly copied from Continental Ledger No. 20 page 121. Given under my hand at the Auditors office Richmond, Vir 29th day of March 1838 Jas. .E. Heath att'y Affidavit I I William White of the County of Caroline and State of Virginia do hereby certify that I was very well acquainted with Capt John Steven, late, of the County of Caroline who was a Captain in the American Navy during the war of the Revolution in which capacity he thinks said Stevens served fully five years. I recollect that while he was acting as a Captain in the Navy, he was sent by the Government to France for arms ammunition and that on his return he was taken prisoner just as he was pulling the port of Charleston and sent to St. Augustine where he was kept as a prisoner for sometime. I have frequently heard him speak of his sufferings as a prisoner and believe that he at one time commanded a vessel call the Lewis. I am satisfied I have seen said Stevens Commission but of this will not speak positively. I was well acquainted with said Stevens from his youth to his death. He was a Gentleman and living as his neighbour when he died. I think I knew him well. Given under my hand this the 3rd day of April 1838. Signed William White Caroline County Virg'a This day personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid, Wm White, a subscriber to the foregoing Certificate and in due form of law made oath to the facts therein set forth. I also certify that said White is an old and highly respectable Gentleman and that any declaration which he would make would be most readily believed in by any and every person that knows him. Given under my hand and seal this the 3rd day of April 1838. Atwell C. Coleman J. P. (Seal) Affidavit II I was well acquainted with John Stephens in the Revolutionary War, of Caroline County - I belonged to the Tempest, and John Stephens was Captain of the look out boat belonging to the Tempest call the Fly - When I entered the service in the fall of 1778, I found said Stephens then in service - In the fall of 1779 the Fly was captured on Cape Henry Point by two of the enemy's ships and taken - Captain Stephens left the Fly before the enemy took her and went to Norfolk - What became of him afterwards, I know not. Signed John Cannady State of Virginia Fauquier County, Va. John Canady personaly (sic) appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid and made oath that the above certificate contains the truth to the best of his knowledge and belief - I also certify that the said Canady resides near my, that he is a man of excelent (sic) character and that the fullest reliance may be placed in his statements = Given under my hand this 31th of October 1834. H. T. Kemper JP Affidavit III Caroline County State of Virginia (To Wit) This day personnally (sic) appeared before me, a Justice of the peace in and for said County of Virginia in and for said County, John Sutton, who after having been duly sworn, saith, that he is now upwards of eighty years of age; that he entered the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution in the year 1776 as purchasing Commissary, became a Pay master, and acted as such until he was taken prisoner; that he was well acquainted with Captain John Stevens of this County before and after the War; that he recollects well that report said that Capt Stevens was in the Sate Navy, Commanding a vessel during the war; that said Stevens has told him, Sutton, that he had a Commission, as Capt, in the Navy; and that from his knowledge of Stevens, as a Gentleman and a man of strict veracity, proven by a long and intimate acquaintance with said Stevens, he never had, nor has he at present, a doubt of his holding said Commission, as above stated. I do furthermore certify, that from a long and personal acquaintance with said Sutton, that his statement is entitled to full credit. Given under my hand and seal this the 14th day of May 1835. Warner W. Guy J.P. Report on the claim of the heirs of Capt. John Steven, of the Sates Navy, for County Land for his Service To the Governor Sir: The name of John Stevens, a Captain in the States Navy, has now basis found on the service register of the State line. I had seen no proof of record, that he was commanded to the Tempest, or any other vessel belonging to the Navy of Virginia, in the War of the Revolution. The following order may be service in this Cargo Navy journal vizt: "ordered that Mr...........illegible unto Capt John Stevens two barrels of Pork for the War of the Schooner Lewis, to be explained by Genl Lewis: A similar order for 6 pounds of beef for the use of the Schooner Lewis............date December 31, 1776. The Schooner Lewis was a different vessel from the Lewis Galley. The vessel .was always called in the navy journals then "Lewis Galley" - I have not seen any proof that the Schooner Lewis belongs to the Navy. She probably was a vessel in the service of the Board of Trades; under the influence of this opinion. I supported Capt Stevens in 1833 as having been supplied in trade and not entitled to County lands. (....a list of officers of the states navy. Look No 38 No 8 Journals of the House of Delegates......1830-34) I am still of the same opinion, notwithstanding, the testimony of living witnesses which in possession often afford to. These witnesses know him in services, but that service was probably not rendered in the Navy. In this opinion, I may be mistaken. The mistakes made positively and with confidence. The facts which now have been proofed by witnesses are as follow - vitz- John Cannaday a man of excellent......says that he belonged to the Tempest, that John Stevens (with whom he was well acquainted) was Captain of the look boat belonging to the Tempest, called the Fly - that when ....the said Cannady entered the services in 1778, he found the said Stevens in service - that was the fall of 1779, then said vessel Fly was driven on shore at Cape Henry by two of the enemy's ships and taken; that Capt Stevens left the Fly before the enemy took her, and went to Norfolk - What became of him afterwards the witness know not. (Say the aff'd of John Cannaday) John Sutton, was officer of the Revolution and whose statements were said to be entitled to full credit, says that he was well acquainted with Captain John Stevens of Caroline County fore and after the war of the Revolution - that it was reported that the said Stevens was in the States navy, commanding a vessel during the war; the said Stevens told him that he held a Commission of Captain in the Navy; that the said Stevens was a man of good character and he has no doubt of his holding the said commission (say the aff'd of John Sutton_ Two receipts now been found by the claimants - They have entry journal 19th and 20th 1778 and were given by James Salling and Gayner Jardner for wages in the Continental Brig Chance and in the Schooner General Arnold respectively. I report then above states of fact and have nothing to add..... Respectively Submitted John H. Smith July 27th 1833. To the Governor of Virginia The petition of the heirs of Capt John Stevens, service duly states - that their claim to laid bounty have been heretofore rejected, refer the service as they believe; that there was no proof of his belonging to the Virginia Navy - knowing him to have been from Caroline County and to have been in the Naval service; they had supposed he was in the State Navy. Your petitioners,as informed; that evidence has been discovered from the records, to show that Captain Stevens was in the Continental Navy. See the auditors certificate; that he was Captain of the Continental Schooner Lewis 2 Sept 1776 - see also copy from Continental Journal No 22 of 11 December ‘76 The statement in the journal of 2 September ‘76 is as follows. The above vessel is in the service of the Continental. The affidavit of William White, new filed, states that he was sent to France and was taken a prisoner - which accrues for his name not appearing more frequently. The witness is certified he has seen his commission and that he served fully five years. As the receipts filed, for payments made by him in ‘78 show that he was ten on the American Court, the presumption is, that he was captured after that period, and that the witness included the period of captivity in his estimate of the term of service. Your petitioner ask the bounty due a citizen of Virginia in the Continental Navy, for 3 years, as a Captain may be allowed them. All which is respectfully submitted. Thomas Green Attorney for the heirs. To his excellency Littleton Tazewell, Governor of Virginia The memorial of Harriet Corr formerly Harriet Stevens, Charlotte Cannon, formerly Charlotte Stevens of the County of Caroline, Frances Coleman formerly Frances Stevens of the State of Tennessee. Respectfully represent that they are the only heirs at law of the late Captain John Stevens of said county who was a Captain during the Revolutionary war in the State Navy. Your memorial is respectfully stated that they know nothing of the service of their Father but believe he entered the Navy very early in the year 1777 and continued nearly or quite to the close of the war in said service. Your memorialist states that as one of the heirs is in Tennessee and her residence not known, they hope your excellency will take into consideration the almost impropriety of complying with an exact fulfilment of that order which requires that all the heirs shall sign this memorial and which order if rigidly inforced (sic) would so delay the proceedings as positively to exclude them from all the benefits of an appropriation made by congress to pay those officers and soldiers who served an enlistment in the revolutionary war which appropriation they understand will be the last. Your memorialist beg to refer your excellency to two affidavits and two receipts accompanying this memorial. One of the affidavits is of an individual who served with said Stevens and the receipts was (sic) found with the papers of said Stevens after his death. Your memorialists know that he had his com. But have not been able to find it. They beg leave also respectfully to refer your excellency to Com Smith's report. Respectfully, Yours Harriett Corr Charlotte Cannon Caroline County, State of Virginia (To Wit) This day personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for the county aforesaid Harriett Corr and Charlotte Cannon and subscribed to and swore to the best of their belief the facts set forth in the foregoing memorial Given under my hand and seal this the 15th day of July 1835. Atwell C. Coleman JP Seal Ex. Warrant for 888 6/9 acres issued 12 May 1835 to Archibald Blair, Assee of Harriet Carr and Elizabeth Cannon in exchange for Warrant 8790. Record Book III, page 567 of the Land Office. Caroline County Court held 13 January 1840 - Certified that it was proven to the court by the evidence given by Lewis Carnell, that John Stevens, late of the County of Caroline, and an officer in the Navy died 1817 leaving a widow and the following daughters: Harriet, who married Charles R. Corr, Frances who married William Coleman, and Charlotte who married William Cannon; which said widow and daughters are now living. Copy Teste, John L. Pendleton, clerk. At the same Court held 10 March 1840 it was ordered that the court order of 13 January 1840 be amended. The name of John Stevens should be inserted instead of Richard Stevens. The name Richard Stevens being improperly entered. Copy Teste, John L. Pendleton, clerk. Warrants 8789-8792 for 888 8/9 acres each issued 4 May 1840, to the above named daughters of Captain John Stevens in Book III, page 482 of the Land Office. NOTE: There was a Captain Richard Stevens of Caroline County who served in the Revolutionary War. His heirs were Nancy Stevens Howell, Lucy, Lewis, and Robert C. Stevens, Mary Stevens Winston, and others. See service of Captain Richard Stevens. ****************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carol Maxwell - cgmaxwell@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.