Person:William Chivvis (2)

Youth

"When William was 12 years old, his father died of the plague which passed through Virginia, and his [father's] wife survived him only three months."

"The maternal uncle took possession, sold the property and took the children to his home, much against the wishes of his wife. I remember hearing grandfather say how dissatisfied he and his sister [Rebecca] were with this arrangement and he made up his mind that he would leave, when he was old enough. A teacher was provided to instruct them at home, and from their surroundings, I doubt not they received a good education."

"After a time, William went to Norfolk, Va. with friends who were attached to him and his sister. His uncle went to Norfolk to persuade him to return. But the boy refused, saying that he preferred to strive and do for himself. He remained in Virginia contrary to the wishes of his uncle, till the Revolutionary War broke out, when he enlisted."

Revolutionary War

"He joined the First Volunteer Corps that went with Washington to the war, suffering all kinds of hardships, except being wounded or taken prisoner. I remember well his telling how they even almost starved to death once, when a little flour was obtained and distributed among them. Those who could, made dough of it, and tried to bake it under the hot ashes and coals, many eating it before it was half done. The snow was mountains high, and to avoid freezing, they were obliged to make snow houses for protection. Washington shared in all their privations, and officers and men fared alike. He remained in the army until the close of the war." -The Record of the Chivvis Family.

"You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 44751, that William Chivvis enlisted in Gloucester County, Virginia, January 27, 1777, and served as a private in Captain Thomas Baytop's and John Champe Carter's companies, Colonel Charles Harrison's regiment of 1st Continental Artillery. He was in the battle of Monmouth and a skirmish at Fort Stevens, Virginia, and was discharged January 10, 1780." -DAR Patriot Index 1990 p. 559: "Sol VA" Rev. & 1812 Wars Section AWF:MLB 4/8/1931 R.W. Morgan letter

William Chivvis is said to have been in Norfolk, Va, at the breaking out of the War of the Revolution and to have joined the 1st Virginia Volunteer Corps and to have served throughout the war with Washington's Army. He is known to have been at Valley Forge. - letter in pension file from C.R. Comes

undated report from War Dept.: S 44751 Dates of enlistment or appointment Jan'y 27, 1777 discharged Jan 10, 1780 at the Park of Artillery near Morristown, N.J. Rank Private Officers Under whom service was rendered: Captain Thomas Baytop, John Champe Carter Colonel Charles Harrison State Continental Artillery"

Adulthood

"I think grandfather throughout his life must have been a very pleasant gentleman. I recollect him as plain, but extremely neat in appearance, in manner polished, but simple, quiet in deportment. In business he was strictly just and honest with all whom he employed, and he required diligence and the fulfillment of every duty from them. This exactness no doubt gave him the name of being severe."

"He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church on Franklin between Church and Chappel Sts. Rev. Christian Barke was pastor, and waited on grandfather in his last sickness and dying hours.

"When I look back on the past, I think he was a grand, great and good man, who passed through many trials, difficulties and sorrows that tried his soul to the quick, yet he was always uncomplaining and pleasant. He was a just, forseeing man, providing well for his household, giving to his children both a good education and home."

"One thing appeared strange to me in my childhood, that grandfather did not go to see his uncle in Virginia. I know he said he would have nothing to do with slaves or slaveholders, and he held the British in such contempt, after the war, that he made no effort to find his relations over the sea. The living he made was good enough for him, and he cared little for those he had not seen or heard very little about." - The Record of the Chivvis Family. p.1-3

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Mrs. Eldred Martin Yochim President General. DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition 1990. (National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Centennial Administration, Washington).

   559

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Chivvis S44751, Rev War pension.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} "The Record of the Chivvis Family" 10 typewritten pages.
4. ↑ RECORD of the Chivvis Family, 1746 - small typeset pages fit 4 on an 8/5x11 sheet.
5.   Latter Day Saints. Ancestral File compact disk. (Intellectual Reserve, Inc. dopyright 1987, June 1998).
6. ↑ Rev. & 1812 Wars Section AWF:MLB 4/8/1931 R.W. Morgan letter:
   "In 1820 he stated that he was seventy-one years old and referred to
   his wife as sixty-two years of age but did not give her name, and at
   this time he referred to the following children:
   Mary aged 30 years
   Margaret aged 22 years
   Eliza aged 17 years
   Peter aged 14 years"
7. ↑ [UL:The Record of the Chivvis Family.:UL]
   p.3
   "He owned a plot in the old Dutch burying ground, North St., and was
   interred there. All his family are buried there also."
   Record of the Chivvis Family, 1746. [4 pages per 8.5x11 sheet]
   p.3
   "He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, on Franklin Street,
   between Church and Chapel Streets. Rev. Christian Borke was pastor,
   and waited on grandfather in his last sickness and dying hours."
8. ↑ [UL:The Record of the Chivvis Family.:UL]
   p. 3
   "He owned a plot in the old Dutch burying ground, North St., and was
   interred there. All his family are buried there also."
9. ↑ [UL:The Record of the Chivvis Family.:UL]
   "The maternal uncle took possession, sold the property and took the
   children to his home, much against the wishes of his wife. I remember
   hearing grandfather say how dissatisfied he and his sister were with
   this arrangement and he made up his mind that he would leave, when he
   was old enough. A teacher was provided to instruct them at home, and
   from their surroundings, I doubt not they received a good education."
10. ↑ [UL:The Record of the Chivvis Family.:UL]
    "After a time, William went to Norfolk, Va. with friends who were
    attached to him and his sister. His uncle went to Norfolk to persuade
    him to return. But the boy refused, saying that he preferred to
    strive and do for himself. He remained in Virginia contrary to the
    wishes of his uncle, till the Revolutionary War broke out, when he
    enlisted."
11. ↑ [UL:The Record of the Chivvis Family.:UL]
    "He joined the First Volunteer Corps that went with Washington to the
    war, suffering all kinds of hardships, except being wounded or taken
    prisoner. I remember well his telling how they even almost starved to
    death once, when a little flour was obtained and distributed among
    them. Those who could, made dough of it, and tried to bake it under
    the hot ashes and coals, many eating it before it was half done. The
    snow was mountains high, and to avoid freezing, they were obliged to
    make snow houses for protection. Washington shared in all their
    privations, and officers and men fared alike. He remained in the army
    until the close of the war."
    DAR Patriot Index 1990 p. 559:
    "Sol VA"
    Rev. & 1812 Wars Section AWF:MLB 4/8/1931 R.W. Morgan letter:
    "You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary
    War pension claim, S. 44751, that William Chivvis enlisted in
    Gloucester County, Virginia, January 27, 1777, and served as a private
    in Captain Thomas Baytop's and John Champe Carter's companies, Colonel
    Charles Harrison's regiment of 1st Continental Artillery. He was in
    the battle of Monmouth and a skirmish at Fort Stevens, Virginia, and
    was discharged January 10, 1780."
    letter in pension file from C.R. Comes:
    "Garfield Safe Deposit Company, Masonic Temple, 23d St. and 6th Ave.,
    N.Y. Safes for Securities, and Storage for Valuables
    77 W. 23 St., New York, N.Y.
    Jan. 19, 1909
    U.S. Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
    Gentlemen,-...
    William Chivvis is said to have been in Norfolk, Va, at the breaking
    out of the War of the Revolution and to have joined the 1st Virginia
    Volunteer Corps and to have served throughout the war with
    Washington's Army. He is known to have been at Valley Forge.
    Kindly give full data concerning him or refer this letter to the War
    Dept. if the complete records are not lodged with your Bureau...."
12. ↑ [UL:The Record of the Chivvis Family.:UL]
    p.2
    "In 1779 we find him in Monmouth Co., N.J."
13. ↑ [UL:The Record of the Chivvis Family.:UL]
    "He remained in the army until the close of the war."
    undated report from War Dept.:
    "In reply to your request of -, received - for a statement of the
    military history of Wm. Chivvis a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR,
    you will find below the desired information as contained in his
    application for pension on file in this Bureau.
    S 44751
    Dates of enlistment or appointment Jan'y 27, 1777 discharged Jan 10,
    1780 at the Park of Artillery near Morristown, N.J.
    Rank Private
    Officers Under whom service was rendered:
    Captain Thomas Baytop, John Champe Carter
    Colonel Charles Harrison
    State Continental Artillery"
14. ↑ Rev. & 1812 Wars Section AWF:MLB 4/8/1931 R.W. Morgan letter:
    "He was allowed pension on his application executed March 31, 1818, at
    which time he was living in New York City.
    "In 1820 he stated that he was seventy-one years old and referred to
    his wife as sixty-two years of age but did not give her name, and at
    this time he referred to the following children:
    Mary aged 30 years
    Margaret aged 22 years
    Eliza aged 17 years
    Peter aged 14 years
    In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and
    address of the person paid and possibly the date of soldier's death,
    you should address the Comptroller General, General Accoutning Office,
    Records Division, Washington, D.C., citing all of the following data:-
    William Chivvis, Certificate 3096, issued September 29, 1818, rate $8
    per month, to commence March 31, 1818, Act March 18, 1818, New York
    Agency."
    letter in pension file from C.R. Comes:
    "Garfield Safe Deposit Company, Masonic Temple, 23d St. and 6th Ave.,
    N.Y. Safes for Securities, and Storage for Valuables
    77 W. 23 St., New York, N.Y.
    Jan. 19, 1909
    U.S. Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
    Gentlemen,-
    I will thank you if you will give me what information you can
    regarding one William Chivvis who was a private in the Revolutionary
    Army and to whom a pension was allowed from March 31"1818. His
    pension certificate (which I hold) is No 3096 - New York Agency - and
    pension was payable Mch. 4" and Sept. 4" at the "Branch Bank of the
    United States in the City of New York."