Vanpelt, Peter Revolutionary War Widows Pension Claim W18198 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Harriet Welch hwelch@rica.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (cover sheet) Richmond Virginia Agnes VanPelt widow of Peter VanPelt decd who died on the 4th April 1831 in Rockingham in the State of Va who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Nevill of the Regt commanded by Col Nevill in the Virginia line for 15 months Va Inscribed on the Roll of Richmond Va at the rate of 50 dollars__cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831 Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of April 1838 and sent Hon. J.T Pennybacker ___ Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $350.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 25.00 ------ 375.00 Revolutionary Claim Act July 4, 1836 Section the 3rd Recorded by __ Addison Clerk Book A Vol 2nd Page 160 Duplicate certificate issued 5 June 1838 and sent to Allan C. Bryan Harrisonburg Va Let to same Oct 3 1840 (Dead) Dead Letter to Hon. G.B. Samuell & pay (?) agent on Jany 1841 Died August 25 - 1840 ----------------------------------------------------------- (From letter in Revolutionary War Pension file summarizing file information) Dated 23-June-1925 I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 18198 it appears that Peter Van Pelt while a resident of Amherst County (my note: obviously an error, should be Augusta Co.), (that part which was later Rockingham County), Virginia enlisted in the fall of 1777 and served three months as a private in Captain Robert Cravens' Virginia Company against the Indians in Tygart's Valley, Virginia. He enlisted in April 1778, served about eighteen months as a private in Captain David Stephenson and John Steed's Companies, Colonel Neville's Virginia Regiment and was at the battle of Monmouth, and in several skirmishes. He died April 4, 1831 in Rockingham County, Virginia. His age is not given. Soldier married March 13, 1778 in Rockingham County, Virginia, Agness whose maiden name is not stated. She was allowed pension on her application executed April 17, 1837 while living in said Rockingham County aged seventy-six years. She died August 25, 1840. Their fourth child was living in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1838 aged about fifty-one years. A son Benjamin was referred to in 1837. The widow was survived by children, no names give. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- State of Virginia Rockingham County > SS Be it known that before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Edward S. Smith and made oath the papers which he has exhibited before me which purports to be a pay roll of Capt Daniel Smith's company, and has a certificate attached to it in the following words, viz I certify the above to be a copy of Capt Daniel Smith's pay roll as settled by the auditors Saml McDowell was found among the papers of his Grandfather Daniel Smith, who was an officer of militia and held the office of County Lieutenant or Colonel in Rockingham County near the close of the Revolutionary War: The paper above mentioned was found among a considerable bundle of papers connected with the revolutionary war. The above mentioned papers have been in the possession of the affiant or his mother for a considerable period, perhaps thirty years, and it is only recently that he communicated to Benjamin VanPelt, son of Agnes Vanpelt, that he had in his possession such a paper, with the name of Peter Vanpelt connected with his revolutionary services; and this affiant presumes said Agnes Vanpelt could have had no knowledge whatever of the existence of such a paper in April last or for a considerable period afterward. Edward H. Smith Subscribed and sworn to by the said Edward H. Smith, who is known to me as a credible person, and his statements on oath entitled to full confidence. Given under my hand this 26th day of September 1837. Abraham Smith -------------------------------------------------------------------- State of Virginia Rockingham County to wit This day William Bryan aged between seventy and seventy one years personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and made oath that he was intimately acquainted with the late Peter VanPelt deceased, late husband of Agnes VanPelt who is still living. This affiant was born within a mile and a half of said VanPelt and was well acquainted with him up to the date of his death. When this affiant was a lad of perhaps 13 or 14 years of age said VanPelt was drafted for a tour of eighteen months, in the Rockingham militia and he has a distinct recollection of said VanPelt returning from the service after a lapse of about 18 months and this affiant always understood that said VanPelt served out his term of 18 months with credit and honour as a private soldier. Affiant further recollects distinctly that a very short time before said VanPelt set out on this tour he supposes it might have been a space of a week or two before, said VanPelt was married to his wife, who is still living as his widow. Wm Bryan Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of March 1837 by the said William Bryan who is known to me as a person of veracity and his statements on oath entitled to credit. Given under my hand Richard P Fletcher ------------------------------------------------------------------ Rockingham County State of Virginia > SS Be it known that on the 23rd day of March 1837 David Rolstone of said County, a revolutionary pensioner of the United States aged between 76 and 77 personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and made oath that he is a native of Rockingham County and acquainted with the late Peter VanPelt, of said County from his early boyhood: that he lived a nigh neighbor to said VanPelt up to the time of his death, that he always understood and believed that said VanPelt served a tour of 18 months in the revolutionary war. He also states that said VanPelt was married a few days before he marched on the tour aforesaid to the same woman who is now living as his widow. David Rolstone Sworn to & subscribed by the said David Rolston who is known to me as a man of unquestionable character for veracity. Given under my hand this 23rd day of March 1837. Abraham Smith Rockingham County to wit This day David Rolston the same affiant mentioned in the foregoing affidavit, again personally appeared before this subscriber and made oath that he has a clear and distinct recollection that the draft mentioned in the foregoing affidavit under which Peter VanPelt decd marched to the North, was an eighteen months draft and that he always understood and believed that said VanPelt served out the whole period, and never heard a doubt of this fact expressed in his neighborhood. This affiant was well acquainted with James Blain & Benjamin Crow, two men who served under the same 18 months draft with VanPelt and returned from the army about the same time, having also served out their term of service, and continued to live in the same neighborhood for many years afterwards. This affiant served in the army with said Crow in North & South Carolina, he and said Crow being mess-mates the whole tour. David Rolstone Sworn to & subscribed this 25th day of September 1837 Abraham Smith --------------------------------------------------------------------- State of Virginia Rockingham County > SS On this 17th day of April 1837 personally appeared before the Justices of the County Court of said County, Agnes VanPelt, a resident of the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia, aged seventy-six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1826: That she is the widow of Peter VanPelt, who was a private in the militia service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, and served as follows. viz In the fall of the year 1777 and before she was married to said Peter VanPelt, he was drafted as a private in the Rockingham Militia, and marched against the Indians in Tygers or Tygarts Valley in Virginia, under Capt. Robert Cravens, and served a three months tour, as she has always understood from her husband, and believes. On the 13th of March 1778, this applicant and her husband were married, and in a very short time after their marriage, she thinks it was not more than three weeks afterwards, he marched as a private militia man under a draft, made upon the Rockingham Militia, he marched directly to Genl Washington's headquarters at Valley Forge, as she has always understood and believes; and entered the service of the United States in Genl Washington's army under the immediate command of Col Nevill, Capt John Steed and Lieut Benjamin Kinley. She cannot be very positive as to the exact time of his return, owing to her advanced age, and partial loss of memory, but she believes it was some time in the year 1779 after an absence of not less than twelve months, and perhaps more. She understood from her husband that he was with the army at the time of the battle of Monmouth took place although he was not immediately engaged in the battle himself he having been appointed one of the guard for the baggage wagons on that day, but he was within hearing of the whole engagement: and she has often heard him speak in strong terms of censure of Genl Lee's conduct on that occasion. If she ever heard him speak of having been in any other engagement with the enemy during this tour, it has escaped her recollection. She has no documentary evidence of her husband serving that she is aware of. She further declares that she was married to the said Peter VanPelt as already stated on the 13th of March 1778, that her husband the aforesaid Peter VanPelt died on the 4th day of April 1831, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. her Agness X VanPelt mark Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before us Samuel Lewis Jacob Rurk (?) Isaac Thomas Reuben Moore Virginia to wit At a Court held for the County of Rockingham the 17th day of April 1837 a declaration was presented in Court and subscribed and sworn to by Agness Vanpelt, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 which Declaration is ordered to be certified to the war department. A copy Teste H J Gambill Clerk of Rockingham County Va I Henry J Gambill Clerk of the Court of the County of Rockingham, do hereby certify, that the above is a true transcript of the order of Court therein mentioned and I further certify that Samuel H. Lewis, Jacob Rurk, Isaac Thomas, Reuben Moore, Richard R Fletcher and Abraham Smith are acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county and that the within signatures purporting to be theirs, are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of my office, and subscribed my name, this 27th day of September in the year 1837 H J Gambill ---------------------------------------------------------------- State of Indiana Monroe County This day before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of and for said County, personally came, James Blain (Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States) who being by me duly sworn according to law upon his oath makes the following statement relative to the Revolutionary services of Peter VanPelt who he says lived in Augusta County Virginia but now Rockingham County when he entered the service of the United States; he was drafted for one year, and received a bounty of fifteen dollars, we had liberty to join any Regiment or company we pleased when we joined the Army, and Peter VanPelt and myself were drafted at the same time and ___ and received fifteen dollars each bounty and joined the Army at Valley Forge under Captain David Stevenson in the Eighth Virginia Regiment - Scotts Brigade as called - Colonal Nevil also command - from Valley forge we marched with the army in pursuit of the Brittish (sic) through New Jersey to Monmouth and was in the Battle on the 28th day of June 1777 - Peter VanPelt was in the same mess (?) with my self and was in said Battle - he was not in any other Genl engagement as deponent knows of but he was in several scrimages - after the battle of Monmouth we were sent to Brunswick under the same officers and from thence to Kings Aerey (?) and then to White Plains in York State where we were stationed about two months - and from thence we marched to West Point on the North - or Hudson River, where we remained until late in the fall - when we marched back to New Jersey and went into Winter quarters - at Bonbrook (?) and Midle (sic) Brook. We remained at the last mentioned place until the 10th day of February 1778 when we were discharged - by Lieutenant Cooper having been transferred into the 4th Virginia Regiment at the time of our discharge deponent thinks Col Getz commanded the brigade from which we were discharged Col Neville being sick at the time - Peter VanPelt and myself started as before stated in the service together at the time before mentioned namely - about the tenth of June 1777 - and served together one year and as well as deponent recollects were all the time in one mess, and under the same officer and discharged at the same time and went home together to Rockingham County which had been made or struck off from Augusta County - during the time we were in the Army - He may be mistaken as to some of the particulars owing to the length of time - and might state many other circumstances - but he is certain that his statement is substantialy correct. his James X Blain mark [Certificate is unreadable on my copy] State of Indiana Monroe County I Jacob D (?) Lowe Clerk of the Circuit Court of said County do certify that John W. Lee Esq. Whose signature appears to the foregoing certificate of acknowledgment was then and is now an acting Justice of the Peace of said County duly elected commissioned and qualified and that all his official acts especially the foregoing are ___ and credit that his signature thereto attached is genuine Given under my hand and seal of said Court this 10 day of November 1837 J D Lowe, Clk CC ------------------------------------------------------------------ (Letter from pension file) Harrisonburg Rockingham County Virginia February 11 1838 Sir I send you the affidavit James Blain in support of the application of Agnes Vanpelt widow of Peter Vanpelt [middle section of letter unreadable] There is no record of the marriage to be found. You will find a certificate of the Clerk of our Court showing that no record of marriages are to be found in his office at _____ in the case of Jane (?) O'Roark. If additional proof of Agnes Vanpelts marriage is required ___ persons in her neighborhood old enough to remember it. Their marriage took place only a few days or a week__ before he marched to the north in 1777. They had no child until upwards of nine months after his return in 1778 and they would ___ the birth of the first child to 1779. The fourth child lives in this town & now is fifty one years of age and there was not ____ two years between the birth of any of their children. ___ can be proved if required I presume but it is __ sufficient (?) it is unnessary to go to the trouble. I am desirous of hearing the result of Mrs. O'Rourks application. Very respectfully Your ___ & servant Allan C Bryan ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Letter from pension file) Harrisonburg Rockingham County Virginia September 28 1840 Sir It appearing from a communication received from you bearing date July 23d that ___ a certificate would issue for Philip Hartman (?) under the law of July 20th 1840 he must send a statement under oath in relation to his case. & This has been complied with as well as his failure of memory would enable him. He also sends an order authorizing me to receive his new certificate & sends his former certificate. Agnes VanPelt a pensioner under the 3d section of the law of July 4th 1836 lately died with some arrears due her. She left children. I wish information from you about the payment of her arrears. Will it be paid to her children (& grandchildren, children of a deceased child) or will it be paid an administrator? Very respectfully yours Allan C Bryan ----------------------------------------------------------------------