Person:John Douglass (16)

Military Service

American Revolutionary War Veteran

Revolutionary War Pension Information

Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 2, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :

Douglass, John - entered service 1776 in Halifax County, Virginia; died 3/17/1818; married 5/23/1793 to Mary Esther/Hester Brawner; widow granted Pension age 73 in Pittsylvania Co., VA, 1818, when blind; widow abt. age 76 there abt. 1843; living with daughter Mary 1860 in Wood County, Virginia. F-W7032, R841.

1.   Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.

   Pension Application of John Douglass W7032 Mary Douglass VA
   Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris.
   
   State of Virginia
   Pittsylvania County (to wit)
   On this 21st day of September 1838 Personally appeared before Thomas Williams a Justice of the
   Peace for the County aforesaid Mary Douglass a Resident of said County Aged Seventy three years, who being 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 7th 1838 entitled, “An Act granting half pay and Pensions to Certain Widows: That she is the Widow of John Douglass who was, as she was informed by him and Others a private in the Continental Army of the Revolution of the Virginia line, as will fully appear from the testimony of David Street [pension application W6164] who was a soldier in service with him, She further declares that she was married to the said John Douglass on the 23rd day of May seventeen hundred and ninety three that her husband the said John Douglass died on the 17th day of March 1818 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the Marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four (viz) at the time above stated.
   [Signed] Mary [her X mark] Douglass
   
   I David Street of the County of Halifax in the state of Virginia do hereby Certify from my own Personal knowledge that John Douglass late of Pittsylvania County was a Regular Soldier and served two years in the Army of the Revolution He enlisted with Capt. Nathaniel Cocke [R13415] in the County of Halifax Va. in the year 1776 for two years and marched from the said County of Halifax to Williamsburg was attached to the 5 Virginia Regiment under Colo. [Josiah] Parker in Stephens Brigade He marched to the north and was transfered to Colo. Morgans [Daniel Morgan’s] Rifle Corps in June 1777. he was with me and served as a faithful soldier until his term of service expired he was Honorbly Discharged from the service in the year 1778 at Vally forge [sic: Valley Forge] in the state of Pensylvania. After the end of the War the said John Douglass was married to Mary Brawner and lived with her untill the year 1818 when he died and left her a widow and she has never since marr[ied] but in now the Widow of the said John Dougl[ass] who was in the service of the Revolution w[ith] me. Given under my hand this 19th day of September 183[8]
   Witness/ Sarah Street
   
   NOTE:
   Isham Farmer and Elizabeth Sheals certified that they were present when Rev. Lazarus Dodson
   solemnized the marriage of John Douglass and Mary Brawner.
   On 4 May 1843 Mary Douglass was said to be 76.
   The file contains the following three unsigned letters, apparently relating to a different John
   Douglass, and apparently addressed to President James Buchanan and forwarded to the Pension Office.
   The last letter may relate to the John Douglass above.
   
   May the 5 1860
   Mr Buchanan I was looking amoung John Douglass Papers one day and i found his discharge from the
   Revolution war i found it in one of his booke i took a True Coppy of it and it was very much wore out and verry dim his daughter mary Requested uv me two Coppy it for her and i did so he was a faithful soldier under general washing for seven long years he faught hard for a mariad[?] sufferd many hard ships he faught sever hard Battles he faught the Battle of Brandywine [11 Sep 1777] and that was a hard Battle he wan the Race and gaind the day on the fourth day of July and it was a happy day two america this discharge was proven and acknoleg Before two good witteness I think it was Recorded at philadelphia offices and i think his poor afflicted given by george Washington afflicted daughter [two illegible words] drew his wages she is very much afflictd with longe Running soars on her nect she is not able half the time two dew anything tall [at all] she is under a good character and good credit She has nether father nor mother nor house nor housefourne[?] and I lived neighbours two her fathers thirty five years and I obligate my self two be a friend two her I will dew all i can for her and i want you two dew the same and grant her a Pension if your please and she wants two know a bout it as soon as possible about it Send it two Mary Douglass living in Wood County virgenia
   Wood County Bull Creek post offices
   these are the names that it was proveen before
   Mr Buchanan the President
   Mary Douglass
   My name I gard
   
   June the 1 year 60
   Dear Sir you are mistaken bout John Douglass death he died in the year twenty five the fifth day of august in the year twenty four there was a law past that all the old revelutioners widows and children should drew a pension John Douglass lieved in delaware state at that time his name was recorded in offices of philadelphia and understood that the officis got burnt and he moved from there two pennsylia he faught hard for a maried[?] and joind services and i think his poor widow and children aught two be loud somthing for it i want you if you please two grant her a order two drew a pension i undertook two git it for her and i want you two dew do if you please and i want you two send her answer about it as soon as you can direct your letter two Bull creek post offices Wood County virginia
   Mr James Buccanan the President
   Mrs Mary hester Douglass
   Ta gard[?]
   
   June the twenty fifth the year 60
   Dear Sir you stated in your letter a bout the name of John Douglass widow her name is Mary Easther and she has a daughter called mary and she has ben righting don in her name and she wants two draw it in her daughters name for fear of a confusion she had grant for her pension when general Jackeson [Andrew Jackson] was president but before it was fenly done his time was up and she wants you two grant it two her, if you please and she wants you two git it printed and dont put pension offices on the out side of the letter put it in the inside direct your lette two
   Mr James Buccanan the Bull Creek post offices President
   Mary E Douglass
   Wood County virginia I am yours
   
   Parkersburg Va. Oct 23rd 1861
   Sir/ John Duglass was granted a Pension in the year 1830 his widow drew the pension for
   several years and died in Augest 1859 having one child now an old maid she says there is considerable comieing to her please examine & see what amount if any, and who the last was drawn by, and I will furnish the necessary evidence that she is the only remaining heir and is entitled to it,
   yours &c/ P. M. Adams
   
   https://revwarapps.org/w7032.pdf

2.   Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).

   https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/66895247/person/44158898279/facts

3.   .

   154 - 85 . Searching for parents of John DOUGLAS and Mary BRAWNER . John and Mary were md. 1793, Halifax Co . His will was probated June 1818, Pittsylvania Co. Trying to find the names of children of Newton FARMER and his three wives, Sarah HAM, md. 1812; Sarah WOODSON, md . 1823 and Rebecca Douglas BUTLER, md. 1834 . All children b. Pittsylvania Co., VA. Jodie UPDIKE, Rt . 1, Box 281, Billings, MO 65610
   
   http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/files/original/50/4914/VANv9n3.pdf