Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension Application of John Shaver S36753
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
County of Switzerland, Sct.
On this 18 day of April A.D. 1827 personally appeared in open Court, in the th Switzerland Circuit
Court, being a Court of Record, made so expressly by the Laws of the State of Indiana John Shaver a
resident of said County, aged sixty one years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his
oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provisions made by the acts of Congress of the
18th of March 1818, and the 1st May 1820. That he the said John Shaver enlisted for the Term of three years
on or about the 19th day of February A.D. 1781 in the State of Virginia in the company commanded by
Captain Reuben Field in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Gaskins in the Line of the State of
Virginia on the Continental Establishment; that he continued to serve in the said corps until about the first
day of September A.D. 1783 when he was discharged from the Service on James River (Rockingham Co)
in the State of Virginia; that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, except the present;
that his name is not on the [pension] Roll of any state; and that the following are the reasons for not
making earlier application for a pension, Viz, (This Deponent made Application in 1818 which is on file in
the war Office but was informal) And in pursuance of the act of the 1st of May A.D. 1820 I John Shaver do
solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I
have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with
intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled “an
act to provide for certain person engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the
Revolutionary War” passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust
for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is
contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
Schedule
2 Blind horses $17.00
1 Lot of hogs 20.00
1 Lot of cattle 35.00
Beds & Bedding 25.00
Farming utensils 5.00
Kitchen Furniture 8.00
Cupboard Furniture 2.00
Saddle & Bridle 3.00
1000 lbs[?] Tobacco 10.00
$125.00
Debts by me due & owing sundry persons 88.80
$36.30
John hisXmark Shaver
My Occupation is a Farmer, and I am not able to do much work, owing to old age and severe affliction
from Rheumatism, I have three Children one aged 17, the second 14 and the third 11 years. My Wife is
afflicted with the Dropsy and consumption.
Since the 18th March 1818 the following changes have been made in my property, Viz, one of the above
blind horses is dead – the other horse is nineteen years old. I have consumed in My Family a considerable
quantity to my then stock of Hogs. what I have on hand now is worth about ten Dollars. Two of the cattle
died & I have butchered one for My Family use – the cattle on hand now is worth about Twenty Dollars,
the Tobacco I sold to James Epperson of Madison Indiana, who gave me a saddle in payment which I
have now in use, of the Value of Ten Dollars
The State of Indiana }
Jefferson County Ss } Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace for
the County aforesaid John Grinstead Sen’r. [pension application S35988] a revolutionary soldier who is a
lawful and credible witness and after being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with
John Shaver a revolutionary soldier and that the said Shaver served with this deponent in the same
regiment & service aforesaid in the company commanded by Capt. Reuben Field in the regiment
commanded by Colonel Gaskins in the Virginia line and that they served together for the period of
Eighteen months from about the 7 day of March 1781 until the 7 day of Sept. 1783 th th and that he was a
faithful & [illegible word] soldier and served his country with fidelity as such. And further this deponant
saith not. [signed 2 June 1823] John Grinsted
[On 19 Apr 1827 Medley Shelton (W8717) stated that he had served in the same regiment with John
Shaver.]
NOTE: A size roll of noncommissioned officers and privates compiled at Powhatan Courthouse VA lists
the following: John Shaver/ age 16/ height 5’ 1½”/ light hair/ hazel eyes/ fair complexion/ scar on forehead/
farmer/ born in Pennsylvania/ residing in Fauquier County VA where he enlisted as a substitute on 21 Mar
1781 for three years. Sized 27 Apr 1781.
