Greenbrier County, WV War of 1812 Widow's Pension file of Fanny Rucker ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any 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. *********************************************************************** *********************************************************************** The records for this work have been submitted by Cara Miller, email: grider @c2i2.com, submitted December 7, 1998 *********************************************************************** *********************************************************************** I, Thomas Cole a resident of Greenbrier County and the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that I served a tour of three months in the Virginia Militia, wit Elzaphen Rucker a privat drafted at Lewisburg in the County and state afore said, and, that he is the identical Elzaphen Rucker who was drafted and marched to Norfolk in a company of Virginia Militia, which was commanded by Capt John McClung in the war with Grate Britain, he was drafted at Lewisburgh on or about 20 of April 1814, for three months and was marched to Norfolk, was there taken sick and was sent to the Hospitle and died therin, on the day on which his term of servis expired, and that I atended on him in the Hospital and shaved him after he was dead that I was personally acquainted with Elzaphen Rucker and Fanny Rucker his widow and believe that they lived together as husband and wife and they wer so reported to be. Given from under my hand this 9th day of April 1852 Subscribed and Sworn to before me this the 9th day of April A.D. 1852 and I herby certify that Thomas Cole is a credible witness. .................................................................... I, William Hull of Greenbrier County and State of Virginia certify that Elzaphen Rucker and Fanny Donaldson whos names ________fore going declaration for pention, said Fanny is the widow of said Elzaphen Rucker deseased, and that I, was present at the hous of Jerimiah Burns a minester of the gospel and saw them married by him the said Burns, on or about the 15th day of August 1810. and that I was aquainted with them in the lifetime of her husband Elzaphen Rucker, and I believe they lived together as husband and wife and they wer reported to be, and since the death of her said husband she has remained a widow never again married, and that I am a disinterested witness [signature] Wm Hull Given from under my hand this 18th day of September A.D. 1852. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of september A.D. 1852. And I hereby certify that William Hull is a credible witness [signature] Tho. A. Bell J.P. ............................................................... I, Mary Hull of Greenbrier County and Satat of Virginia do hearby Certify that Elzaphen Rucker and Fanny Donaldson whos names are stated in the foregoing declaration ar the persons that I saw married by one Jerimiah Burns a minister of the gospel on or about the 15th day of August 1810. and that I was aquainted with them after they wer married in the life time of her husband, and I believe they lived together as husband and wife and they wer so reported to be that they wer married in the House of Jerimiah Burns; the same Fanny is now the widow of Elzaphen Rucker decesd, and since the death of her said husband she has remaind a widow never again married; and that I, am a disinterested witness, Given from under my hand this 25th day of September 1852 [signature] Mary Hull Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 25 day of September A.D. 1852 And I hereby certify that Mary Hull is a credible witness [signature] Tho. A. Bell J.P. .................................................................... I Thomas Perry a resident of Greenbrier County and state of Virginia do hereby certify that I served a tower of three months in the Virginia Militia with Elzaphen Rucker a privet who was drafted on or about the 20th of April 1814. for three months service in the war with great Britain commenced in 1812 and that I have obtained a Land warrant for 40 acres dated December 22nd 1851. and No. 34,649-from the pention office for my services, and that the identical Elzaphen Rucker was drafted at Lewisburg in the County and state afore said, and marched in a company commanded by John McClung in the war with great Britain, him and me wer mess mates in the afore said Company we wer marched to Norfolk, he was ther taken sick and was sent to the Hospital and died therin on the day on which his term of servis expired, as I heard and believe tho I, at the same time was sick and did not see him die, I was acquainted with Elzaphen Rucker and his widow Fanny Rucker and believe they lived togetheras husband and wife, and they were so reported to be Given from under my hand this 25th day of September 1852 [signature Thomas (his mark) Perry mark only with his name printed] Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 25th day of September A.D. 1852. And I hereby certify that Thomas Perry is a credible witness [signature] Tho. A Bell J.P. {written below} I further certify that I am not Interested in obtaining the foregoing Pension asked for; [signature] Tho A. Bell 11th May 1853 ..................................................................... Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 16th April 1816. and of other acts granting and continuing half pay to the widows, of Soldiers of the Militia who died in service during the war with Great Britain Commenced in June 1812. State of Virginia County of Greenbrier On this twenty seventh day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty two, personally appeared in open court for said County, Fanny Rucker a resident of said County, aged sixty one 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 arts above stated that she is the widow of the identical Elzaphen Rucker, who was a private in the Company of Militia of the State of Virginia, which was Commanded by Capt John McClung in the war with Great Britain, that her said husband (besides having served in the year 1813, a touer of six months a substitute in a Company of Militia Commanded by Capt James Robenson, in the N.W. army of the United States in the Virginia Militia.) entered or was drafted at Lewisburg in said County, on or about the 20th of April 1814. for three months and was marched to Norfolk, was ther taken sick and was sent to the Hospital and died therin on the day wich his term of service expired, as she the said Fanny has heard and belives, that she was married to the said Elzaphan Rucker in the House of one Jerimiah Burns a minister of the gospel, who it apears has faild to return the licens to the Clerks office after their marriage was Solommised by him, not a very uncommon thing heare about that time with the clergy who did not live near the Clerks office, therefore it apears ther cannot be a record of the marriage found, William Hull and his sister Mary Hull ware two persons present at the marriage and thay do certify an oath that they wer present and saw them married and that they wer acquinted {turn on other side no other side available} ...................................................................... Anthony's Creek Va. July 28th-1853 Mr. L.P. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions Dear Sir, Yours of July 18- 1853. from the Pension office has been res'd and noticed, you state that in relation to the claim of widow Fanny Rucker for pension it is necessary that the claimant should make her declaration, before a court of rcord. now I believe all this has been done, so far as certificats from disinterested persons can do, serch and inquire has been made but has faild to find any record of her marriage more than that certified to by William & Mary Hull two persons present with others at the marriage. the conclusion is that the par= =son that married them faild to return the lisens to the Clerks office, as he lived near 40 miles off, was an old man, and has gon west and no doube did before now. I have not seen Mrs Rucker since yours was res'd but owing to the dificualty under which I do know she is placed by extreem indigence and age and no friends to assist her I have doubts whether or not she will resume the task of renewing her declaration and all that seems to be necessary to be done to ensure success and after all her trouble and expence not sertain of being successfull. She lives near 50 Miles from the Court House, and has no hors to ride, (some of the persons whoose certificates are atached to her declaration to prove her husband Elzaphan Ruckers Millitary service and his death while in the servise, is living at a distance of 30 miles from her) knowing as I did that her claim was a just one I volluntiered in the absence of another ____ able to assist her to have her papers prepard in form. to make application to the Pensions office for her ____ which may be judged of by reffrance __ ___ of the certificates subscribed to and verified on that papers, has papers ready last october with the exception ofo the certificate of Thomas Cole who says that he was present in the hospital at ___ and saw the afore said Elzaphan Rucker draw his last breath, death with many other Comrads by the unhealthy state of that______ at that time, turn over {no reverse side available} ..................................................................... Dear Sir I am well aware that I am transposing on you in your official________when I atempt to corrispond with you in this manner but I hope to be excused and it is understood, that I, do know that the claim of Mrs. Fanny Rucker of _______Bounty Land and Pension is undoubtedly just and right and no fraud in the case I, was well acquinted with them both before ther marriag and after and do know that they lived together as husband and wife, them and me lived in the same neighbourhood three or four milse distance I saw him when he march to join the Militia Company that went on a six months tower to fort or Meiggs in Sept 1812. I saw him after he served the tower, and returned home. I saw him again on his march to Norfolk Va, wen drafted for a three months tower under the Command of Capt John McClung, and have never seen him since, She is now living about six miles from me and she is still a widow has not been married again and her means for subsistans is very limited I, do know, and if she is not successful in obtaining what the government has granted for her Desesed husbands Military Services it will be hard case that is all, it is hard that th Laws have to be made so strict to prevent Sharpers and Shirks from practiseing frauds on the government that have honest people is deprived of obtaining ther just rights, I have been Post Master of Anthonys Creed Va, for more than 20 years I, prepared papers for several Claimants for Bounty Land and have not faild in a single case, two of them wer for Jas Scott and Jas White who served in the company with Elzaphan Rucker Commanded by Capt Jas Robenson at fourt Meggs in the N, Western _____. and Declaration for Jas Scotts services was mad by his widow Ann Scott after his decease and was successfull, another case was Thomas Perry for a three month touer in the same company with Elzaphan Rucker comanded by Cpt John McClung at Norfolk and Hampton Va allso successfull I am aware thease statements made by me are not to be taken as proof, but pleas notice them and if it does not interfear to mutch with your offical business give me an answer sho_____________________________ and oblige your Respectfully Yours Williams Rodgers P.M. at Anthony'sCreek Va .......................................................................