Harrison Co., WV: Walter Cunningham's Revolutionary War Pension Record ******************************************************************* 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. ******************************************************************* Submitted to the WVGenWeb Project by Linda Cunningham Fluharty (LCFlu@aol.com). REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION RECORD OF WALTER CUNNINGHAM Note: The Revolutionary War service of Walter Cunningham has been accepted by both the D. A. R. (October, 1997, #0781325) and the S. A. R. (September, 1998). *~*~*~*~* Declaration of Walter Cunningham: Pension Claim Number - S 9263 Virginia Harrison County On the 21st day of August in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court before the justices of said county of Harrison in court now sitting Walter Cunningham a resident of Simpson's Creek Harrison county aged 83 years who being said duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That in the year 1776 he resided in the county of Shenandoah State of Va. That in the summer of the aforesaid year he visited the county of Monongalia in said State. That in there he enlisted in a company of rangers under the command of Capt. David Scott. That he was employed in reconnoitering the country between the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. That while thus engaged, the company was frequently successful in discovering the approach of Indians and in conveying intelligence to the forts and settlements, so as to apprise and guard them against danger. That he was discharged at the termination of three months the discharge is here with enclosed. In the fall of 1777 after having returned home to Shenandoah he enlisted under Capt. Michael Rader marched to Fort Pitt was attached to a regiment commanded by General Hand. From there he descended the Ohio river to Wheeling where he was discharged after having served three months. He was not personally engaged in any battle during his continuance in said service. That he has no documentary evidence except the accompanying discharge signed by lieutenant John Mahon. That he knows of no living witness except his brother Adam Cunningham whose affidavit is here with subjoined. That he was acquainted with John Wilson, David Davisson, William A. Harrison, John J. Allen and various other persons in the neighborhood where he resides to whom reference may be had. That he hereby relinquishes all claim whatever 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 and subscribed to this 21st day of August 1832. (Signature of Walter Cunningham) That Hamilton Goss a clergyman in the county of Harrison and State of Virginia and Joseph J. Winters do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Walter Cunningham who has subscribed and sworn the above declaration that we believe him to be 83 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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year of afore said. (Signatures of Hamilton Goss and Joseph J. Winters) And the court do hereby declare after the investigation of the matter and after putting interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court finds and certifies that it appears to them that Hamilton Goss who has signed the certificate is a clergyman resident in the county of Harrison and that J. J. Winters who has also signed the same is a resident in the county afore said and is a credible person, and that there statement is entitled to credit. (Signature of Jacob Coplin, J.P.) I David Davisson Clerk of Court of Harrison county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Walter Cunningham for a pension. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal of office this 2nd day of November 1832 (Signature of D. Davisson) The amended declaration of Walter Cunningham who being sworn before me gave the following answers: Where and in what year were you born. Answer is Shenandoah County Virginia in Dec 1749. Question. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it A. my age is recorded in an old Family Bible now in my possession. Sworn & subscribed this *~*~*~*~* Affidavit: I David Davisson, Clerk of Harrison County Court do hereby certify that Benjamin J. Brice is an acting Justice of the peace in and said county. In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal of office this 26th of January 1833 (Signature of DDavisson C.H.C.) *~*~*~*~* Affidavit: Harrison County Virginia to wit- Having been called upon by Walter Cunningham is whose favor, as to service rendered by him in the war of the Revolution, the deposition of Anthony Kuhn was taken before me some time ago: I do certify that I have known the said Kuhn upwards of thirty years & have no reason to doubt the veracity of his statement made in relation to the said Cunningham's service. Given under my hand this 19th January 1832. (Signature of B.J. Brice) *~*~*~*~* Affidavit: Harrison County Va. Personally came Anthony Kuhn before me Benj. J. Brice a justice of the peace in & for the said County of Harrison and Commonwealth of Virginia & made oath that Walter Cunningham served full three months in Capt David Scott's Company of Rangers. In John Mahon Lieutenant in the year 1777. Sworn to & subscribed this __ day of Aug 1832. (Mark of Anthony Kuhn; signature of B. J. Brice) *~*~*~*~* Discharge: Walter and Thomas Cunanham is discharged as Ranging Company Febuary 1 day 1777 owing under my hand (Signature of John Mahon).....The word between/above the words Ranging and Company, appears to be Josep. *~*~*~*~* Statement of W. G. Singleton: Walter Cunningham. draws $20- July 12, 1834, Mr Cunningham made the following statement of his age and service as a soldier in the war of the Revolution - Remained home in the county of Shenandoah until the year 1776. In the fall of that year he came across the Allegheny Mountains to see his brother in Bingamom creek Harrison cty.- Capt. David Scott was then enlisting men for Rangers - he enlisted under Scott was then enlisted under Scott for three months. - and ranger on the west fork on Bingamon, fishing creek and through the ____ part of Harrison county as at present named. He was Ranging and scouting until his term expired which was on the 7th day of February 1777. Knew nothing about the authority under which Scott acted. Nor does he know whether he was _____ or Captain by then. States ___ he got his discharge and returned home, made a crop in the succeeding summer and in the fall volunteered for three months under Capt. M. Reeder (Rader) to go against the Shawnee tribes on the Ohio River.Marched to Winchester and joined three or four more companies, marched from Winchester to Fort Pitt. then joined Genl Hands army. Went thence to Fort Wheeling remained there several weeks. - then companies returned to Pitt. After he got back his three months expired got his discharge from Capt. Rader and went home,- he gave the discharge to Colonel Johnson. Anthony Boon served with him the first turn - know his last turn by Adam Cunningham. Note: The service details in the first turn must have been irregular and unauthorized - it was a neighborhood matter -- as to the second turn, it is probable that men there have been drafted in Shenandoah county for three months for service on the Ohio River. In the then state of the country and war it would have taken an army three months to have ,marched from Shenandoah cty across the Allegheny Mts to the Ohio River. Next Page - Nov 18, 1834 Since writing preceding note- I have seen Capt. Rader under whom Cunningham alledges to have marched from Shenandoah to Fort Pitt to the Ohio river -- Rader satisfied me beyond all question that he did march a company from Shenandoah county to the Ohio River to Pittsburg Wheeling and was in service 3 mo- & I also know that Capt Buck of Frederick county also marched a company from same county- to the same places and at the same time-- so that I must be mistaken in the opinion first intimated. (Signature of W. G. Singleton) *~*~*~*~* Handwritten note: Depart of War Pension Office March 12, 1835 I have directed that the name of Walter Cunningham be stricken from the pension roll, he not being entitled under the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. And along the name of Thomas Smith, both of Harrison Co Please inform him of the fact..... (Initials of writer illegible) At the bottom left is: Nathan Goss Es Clarksburg Va ***********************************************************************