Pension application ofWilliam Meriwether (Merewether)1 S47954 f163VA
Transcribed by Will Graves 1/16/12
[f p. 10]
State of Kentucky Jefferson County:
On this 13th day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Circuit Court of the said County William Meriwether a Resident Citizen of the County aforesaid aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. That in the year 1776 he entered the service of the United States as a Cadet in Captain Benja. Pollards [Benjamin Pollard's] company of the Virginia Continental line that he was with the Grand Army to the North in the said Pollard's company until sometime after the battle of Monmouth on the 28th of June 1778 in which he deponent was, After which he returned to Charlottesville Virginia as a guard to the Prisoners. That sometime in the year 1779 he enlisted as 1st Sergeant in the Illinois Troop of light Dragoons commanded by Captain John Rogers of which his Brother James2 was Lieutenant, that he remained with said Troop in the Western Country until their Services expired with the year 1781 [?, last digit unclear]3 that sometime in the Summer of that year his Brother James Meriwether returned into Virginia from the West and joined Dabneys [Charles Dabney's] Legion when he the said deponent was appointed by Colonel or General Clark [George Rogers Clark] as a Lieutenant in his brothers place it being then at that time understood that Cornett Rountree [Cornet Rountree] intended leaving the Service and did not wish the appointment that he deponent had a separate command of troops as Lieutenant aforesaid at and around Logan's Station.
That he hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid
S/ W. Meriwether
[f p. 27]
I hereby certify that it appears by a copy of a payroll filed in the Treasury Department that William Meriwether, a Sergeant in Captain Rogers' Company of the Illinois Regiment enlisted 21 August 1779 and was discharged 9 August 1781, having been in service 1 year 11 months & 19 days.
S/ Francis A Dickins, Clerk
Treasury Department
9th February 1833
Captain Rogers' Company with was light Dragoons
F. A. Dickins
[f p. 79]
The affidavit of Thomas Young4 taken at the Town of may spell on the 18th day of January 1833 to be used before the Governor and Council of the State of Virginia on the behalf of William Meriwether
This affiant being about 82 years old deposeth and saith that he was an acting Captain commissioned in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Crockett [Joseph Crockett] in the detachment of Illinois Troops commanded by General George Rogers Clark and was stationed at the falls of Ohio at Louisville and in the year 1781 became acquainted with William Meriwether, who was at that time an acting Commissioned officer in the Regiment called the Illinois Regiment commanded at that time by Colonel John Montgomery, he does not recollect the grade that he held, and does not know at what time he entered the service, or at what time he left it the service, but knows there was no other man by that name in said Regiment.
This affiant further states that in December 1781 he left Louisville and returned to Virginia as a supernumerary officer and at that time he left William Meriwether at Louisville in the service further saith not.
S/ Thos. Young
[f p. 81 & 133]
State of Kentucky Jefferson County: Sct.
The affidavit of Amos Goodwin5 of said County aged very ancient [spelled 'antient'] deposeth and saith, that in the year 1779 in the month of August or September, Captain John Rogers was recruiting a troop of Horse in the County of Culpeper in the State of Virginia, which troop of Horse was to be attached to the Illinois Regiment under the command of General George Rogers Clarke [sic] who acted in the Virginia State line, in the Western Country said Troop of Horse were enlisted for the Term of two years, that this Affiant had a brother William Goodwin who enlisted in said Troop, that in the fall of the year 1779 said Troop was sent to Illinois where this affiant understood the said Troop together with other Troops carried on [an] expedition against the Northward Indians and that in the fall of 1780 or spring of 1781 the Troop of Horse was ordered from Illinois to the falls of Ohio, where this affiant became acquainted with Captain William Meriwether who was stationed for a while in the same Fort with this affiant and others at the falls of the Ohio and that the said Meriwether was then acting as Lieutenant in said Troop of Horse this affiant cannot state positively but is well satisfied that said Meriwether served out the Term of two years in said Troop of Horse
S/ Amos Goodwin
[f p. 123]
The affidavit of Benjamin Roberts6 taken in Shelby County [Kentucky] on the 14th day of January 1833 to be used on the behalf of William Meriwether of Jefferson County Kentucky
This affiant being of lawful age and first duly cautioned Charged and sworn deposeth and saith that in the year 1779 he was duly commissioned a Captain in the Army of the revolution in & by the State of Virginia in George Slaughter's Regiment Core [Corps] of two Companies which said Slaughter commanded as Major, that said Corps came from the County of Culpeper State of Virginia to Fort Pitt in the spring 1780, and in the spring of 1780 said Corps came to the falls of the Ohio this affiant however came on at head of the Corps by order to prepare for the reception of said Corps at the falls of the Ohio which he did in the winter of 1779 & 1780 through the wilderness, and resumed his command at the falls of Ohio when said Corps landed in the spring of 1780. The falls of Ohio being the head quarters of General George Rogers Clarke's Regiment that said Slaughter's Corps joined and was under said Clarke's command that at the falls as aforesaid this affiant remained until December 1781 except about six months which time he was at Fort Jefferson & Kaskaskia bringing the sick and wounded from said places to the falls of the Ohio.
That this affiant was well acquainted with Captain Rogers who commanded a company of Light Dragoons of about thirty-two privates, a Captain, a Lieutenant & Cornet, which company was commanded by Captain John Rogers Lieutenant Wm Meriwether and Cornet Thruston,7 that said Troop of Horse was joined to & formed a portion of Clarke's Illinois Regiment and was under his command. This affiant states when he first left the falls of Ohio and went under orders of General Clark to Fort Jefferson and Kaskaskia as aforesaid, James Meriwether a brother of William Meriwether was then acting Lieutenant in said Rogers' Company of Dragoons but where this affiant returned to the falls of Ohio in the spring 1781 the said William Meriwether was then acting Lieutenant in said John Rogers' Troop of Light Dragoons in the place and stead of James Meriwether, who had resigned his Commission in said Troop of Horse and accepted a lieutenant's commission in Colonel Dabney's Legion, as this affiant understood and believes.
The saidWilliam Meriwether whilst acting Lieutenant aforesaid was in the summer of 1781 by order of General Clarke ordered to take a portion of said John Rogers' Troop of Horse and with said Horse guard and protect a frontier Fort or Station called Logan's Station in Lincoln County by and under said order Lieutenant William Meriwether took a portion of said men & Horse and marched to said Station and there continued to command as Lieutenant aforesaid until the fall of 1781 when he was recalled by General Clarke and said Troop was disbanded Shortly after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis [October 19, 1781], about the time I myself and all Slaughter's Corps [indecipherable word], said William Meriwether and myself was supernumeraries each liable to be called into actual service at any time when our services were required, but this affiant was not nor was said William Meriwether ever again required to go into service, this affiant states that he was intimately acquainted with William Meriwether from the time he said Roberts returned to the falls of Ohio in 1781 until he said Meriwether was disbanded in the fall of 1781 when they all were disbanded. That the said William Meriwether is the same man that now lives in Jackson County Kentucky on the Ohio River a few miles below Louisville and the said William is now before me.
This affiant states that he has some time since given a deposition on the behalf of the heirs of James Meriwether, in which he now finds he was mistaken if he said that James Meriwether served to the end of the said Rogers' Troop of Horse because he is now confident on mature reflection that in the spring 1781 that said James Meriwether was not then in command of said Troop but that said William Meriwether was then in command and continued so until the troop was disbanded in the fall or winter of 1781. This affiant is now in the 83rd year of his age, and believes himself to be the oldest Settler in the Mississippi Valley having settled here in 1775 – further saith not.
S/ Ben Roberts
[f p. 131]
State of Kentucky Shelby County
The Deposition of Colonel Blan W. Ballard8 of the said County aged 73 years old deposeth & saith that he became acquainted with Captain William Meriwether in the spring of the year 1781 when the Troop of Horse commanded by Captain John Rogers was ordered from the Illinois to the falls of Ohio the headquarters of General George Rogers Clark that the said William Meriwether was detached, to the Fort commanded by Colonel Benjamin Logan it being a frontier fort about 70 or 80 miles from the falls of Ohio now in the County of Lincoln, & that he said Meriwether was detached as Lieutenant and acted in the said capacity during that year until about the last of October or first of November of the same year when the said horse was discharged that this deponent knows that the William Meriwether stated above is the said person who acted as Lieutenant as above and that the said Meriwether served two years and upwards.
S/ Blan W. Ballard
[Attested January 9, 1833]
[f p. 140]
The affidavit of Anthony Crockett9 taken at the Town of Frankfort on the 12th day of January 1833
The deponent being of lawful age and being duly cautioned, charged and sworn deposeth and saith, that in the winter of 1778 & 1779, he received the appointment of Lieutenant with recruiting instructions and money from Lieutenant Colonel John Montgomery of the Illinois Regiment commanded by General George Rogers Clarke. That in virtue thereof he enlisted a Lieutenant's quota of men whilst he was a citizen of Wythe County State of Virginia. That said quota of men was made a portion of Captain Jesse Evans' Company of the same County and State. That afterwards said company marched to Long Island on the Holston River, where they rendezvoused with five other companies. That after an expedition against the Chickamauga Indians was completed, the five companies, Evans' being one sailed down the River Tennessee to the Ohio, then down the Ohio to the Mississippi then up the same to the Kaskaskies [Kaskaskia], the Illinois Town where the aforesaid five companies joined General Clarke's Regiment, composed of a few officers and a few soldiers, in the month of May 1779. That when the affiant got there they remained there until the month of August,When a portion of said Regiment was ordered to Vincennes. That sometime before this in the winter, in the month of February 1779, General Clarke had taken the several post of the British in the Illinois Country. That he has on this day examined a report made by a board of field Officers who convened at Richmond Virginia in 1782 & 1784 to report to the Executive of Virginia as to who was entitled to the benefits of half pay or commutation promised to the officers of the State and Continental Line of the State of Virginia passed by an Act of Virginia Assembly in 1779 upon which he finds the following persons named above and belonging to said Regiment of General George R Clarke's entitled to half pay – to wit
G. R. Clarke, Col. John Gerault, Capt.
John Montgomery, Lt. Col. Michael Perault, Capt.
Thomas Quirk, Major Joseph Calvert, Lieut.
Robert Todd, Capt. James Montgomery, do
Isaac Taylor – Capt. Abraham Chaplain, do
John Bailey, Capt. Richard Clarke, do
Richard Braskin, Capt. Jarret Williams, do
William Clarke do
This affiant concurs in the opinion that all named in said list are entitled, but that there are others which are not joined on said roll that are likewise entitled to wit Edward Worthington Captain, James Shelby a Captain, Jesse Evans a Captain, Abr. Keller, a Captain, Major Joseph Bowman, Captain George Todd, an officer, Josep Ramsey [Joseph Ramsey?] a Lieutenant, John Roberts a Lieutenant, and this affiant Anthony Crockett, a Lieutenant. The foregoing persons served in Clark's Regiment as officers acting in the stations as officers and commissioned according to mark of title, attached to each of their names, until after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in Virginia, after which time a number of the Officers were discharged by Clarke, and were supernumeraries, and were not again required to go into the service by General Clarke, as this affiant understood – this affiant remained in the service until the close of the War. The last tour he performed in taking the Miami Towns in 1782 after the Blue Lick defeat. This affiant was personally acquainted with all the persons named in this list last recited, and was also acquainted with every man on the list reported by the aforesaid Board of Officers in 1782 & 1784 except two, and it is confident that the last list made out by himself are equally entitled to commutation with the first for many officers who were on the first list left the service before some who were on the latter. This affiant is certain that all he has named are entitled to the character of supernumeraries, if one that is on the first list is entitled because he personally knew all of them in the service they all performed in said Regiment he states that he never heard of one residing or so behaving as to lose his title to his rank or Commission. This affiant can only account for the omission or defect in the role made out by the Board of Officers who sat in Richmond as aforesaid because that is the same sat many hundred miles distant from Illinois Country or the falls of the Ohio River where the services were performed and while many were
yet fighting the savages, in guarding parts of the Frontiers, when not one of the field Officers were there of the Illinois Regiment, but were in the Western Country defending the Frontiers. He knows that there was a troop of Light Dragoons belonging to said Regiment, but has no recollection of the officers who commanded them, except that they were called Rogers Horse – and further saith not.
S/ A. Crockett
[f p. 137]
The affidavit of William Meriwether taken at the town of Shelbyville on the 15th day of January 1833, to be laid before the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, or elsewhere:
This affiant being of lawful age and first duly sworn deposeth and saith that in the year 1776, he entered the service of the state of Virginia as a Captain that in Colonel Benjamin Pollard's company of the Virginia State Line. That in the beginning of 1777, this affiant marched with the Troops under Colonel Gipson [George Gibson], and joined the Continental Army, and remained at Valley Forge the winter of 1777 & 8 in said Pollard's company. That he was with the troops to the North in the year aforesaid in Pollard's Company until sometime after the Battle of Monmouth, on the 28th of June 1778 in which this Deponent was: Afterwards he returned to Charlottesville Virginia as a guard to the prisoners; That sometime in the year 1779 he entered the service of the Illinois Troop of Light Dragoons, commanded by Captain John Rogers, to which his brother James acted as Lieutenant and Thruston [John Thruston] Cornet. That is said troop of Horse he was appointed 1st Sergeant, and acted as such until the month of March 1781, When the said James Meriwether his brother, resigned his commission in said Troop of Captain John Rogers, and the said Thruston the Cornet not wishing the appointment he, the said William Meriwether, was appointed by General George Rogers Clark Lieutenant in said Troop of Horse, in place of his brother James who had resigned in the winter of 1780 & 1781 in said Troop, and had gone up the Ohio to Virginia, and was appointed Lieutenant in Charles Dabney's Legion, and acted in said Dabney's Legion until the end of the war as this affiant believes. That this affiant under said appointment of Lieutenant in said Troop acted at the falls of the Ohio some time until he was detached from said Company, with a command of about 24 of said Horse and ordered by General Clark to take a command of said quota of men as Lieutenant in said company and march to Logan's Fort or station about 70 miles distant and guard the same until further orders. Pursuant to said order, this affiant did march to said station and took command as Lieutenant, and remained at said station until November 1781 when this affiant was ordered to return to Head Quarters at the Falls of Ohio with his command, which he did; That when he got there, the surrender of Lord Cornwallis was announced to him, in said Troop of Horse was disbanded or reduced. And this affiant, together with Captain John Rogers, Cornet Thruston and John Crittenden traveled to the state of Virginia in company, they being all disbanded at one and the same time, that whilst in the state of Virginia Captain John Rogers was taken sick and died, and this affiant was at his burial in Richmond Virginia. This affiant states it was when he was in the State of Virginia in 1782, that he knew well of his brother James Meriwether's being in Dabney's Regiment. This affiant states, what makes him the more certain is that James Meriwether had issued to him a Bounty Land Warrant for 2666 2/3 acres from the State of Virginia for service in said Dabney's Regiment, which warrant or a copy of which is herewith made part which issued to him, and no one else, to this affiant's personal knowledge. That there was also another James Meriwether in the Continental line, also a Lieutenant, who had a warrant issued from Virginia which is also made part hereof. The one in the Continental Line was this affiant's own Cozzen [cousin], the brother of Major Meriwether [Thomas Meriwether
10] in the second State Regiment: That he knew them all well, being relations as aforesaid. That he has often converse with his brother James in his lifetime on the subject, and then fully understood the whole matter, this affiant moved to Kentucky in 1805, and has lived here ever since. That James Meriwether came to Kentucky in or about 1787 and died in 1801 as he believes. That he has since he came to Kentucky acted as the Guardian of his brother's children or some of them, and feels nowise selfish on the subject, but that he believes it his right to demand of the Government the Half Pay for life due him up to the 4th of March 1831, when he expects to be placed on the pension roll to receive his full pay. He has never asserted in a Court of Justice his claim against the State of Virginia because he had enough to live on and yet has a competency but now ask as matter of right this claim. That for his services as Lieutenant he never has received his Bounty Land from Virginia, nor transferred his right to the same. This affiant has no doubt but that said James has a valid claim to half pay as an officer of Dabney's Regiment in which he served to the end of the war as this affiant believes. This affiant asked in support of this his affidavit the testimony of Benjamin Roberts with which he was well acquainted, and Amos Goodwin and Bland W. Ballard, all of whom knew he served until the Troop of Rogers was disbanded in 1781 – And was a supernumerary Officer, and he also refers to the warrant issued to both of the James Meriwethers who were all the Meriwethers of that name, that served in the war of the Revolution. This affiant states that said James now living, he would have no doubt of establishing his claim to half pay and a pensioner also.
S/ W. Meriwether
[f p. 147]
The affidavit of John Hughes of the County of Jefferson State of Kentucky taken at Louisville on the __day of February 1833
Deponent being of lawful age and first duly sworn deposeth and saith that he became acquainted with James Meriwether in Louisa County Virginia in the winter of 1783. That said Meriwether was at that time Lieutenant in Colonel Charles Dabney's Legion and continued to act in such until the end of the war in the fall of that year. I was intimately acquainted with said James, him and myself shortly after we became acquainted, married two sisters daughters of Colonel William Meriwether of Louisa County Virginia from which state we removed with our families to the State of Kentucky, where the said James continued to live until his death: which took place in or about the fall of the year 1801. This deponent sayeth that he has oftimes heard the said James Meriwether and Captain John Rogers speak of their services together in the Illinois, and of the said Meriwether's having been a Lieutenant in said Rogers Company – this deponent further states, that he has oftimes heard Captain John Rogers, Colonel John Thruston, in the aforesaid James Meriwether State that William Meriwether (a brother of the aforesaid James) belonged to said Rogers' Company and served with them in the Illinois.
And further this deponent sayeth not
S/ John Hughes
[f p. 148]
The affidavit of Bladen W Ballard of Shelby County Kentucky, taken on the 29th day of October 1833.
Deponent being now in the 74th year of his age & first duly sworn deposeth & saith, that he came to Kentucky in the year 1779. That he was in all the Indian hostilities that infested the Western Country from 1779 until its final termination in 1795 or thereabouts under General Wayne. That in the year 1780 and 1781, he lived at the Falls of Ohio in Slaughter's Corps, that he frequently was dispatched, to bear expresses from General Clarke to the station and places distant from the falls of Ohio, because he knew the woods and traces as well, if not better than anyone else, because he had acted at all times as a spy in & to said Regiment: That in the spring of 1781, he became intimately acquainted with William Meriwether who was then acting as a Lieutenant in Captain Rogers' troop of Light Dragoons of the Illinois Regiment: That said Captain Rogers was at that time absent from the command and William Meriwether had the sole command, and as such was ordered by General Clarke to go in command of said Troop to Logan's Fort or Station in now Lincoln County Kentucky near 100 miles from the Falls: that said William Meriwether went accordingly to said Fort commanding said Troop: that while he was there, in the summer of said year 1781 Colonel or General Clarke sent this Affiant with an express the said William Meriwether in which he, said General Clarke style him Lieutenant Meriwether, and so addressed him in writing. He took said express said Meriwether recognized him and gave him a receipt for the papers so safely brought. Said Meriwether set other papers to General Clarke as Lieutenant. General Clarke so received them as such, that he knew of General Clarke's filling vacancies that did occur in his Regiment among the commissioned officers: That James Meriwether who was previous to said William's appointment a Lieutenant in said Corps, had in the summer of 1780 & 1781 when up the Ohio River to the Old settlement and never returned again to said command, until the same was disbanded – whether he resigned or not this affiant cannot say. This affiant always recognized, and saw recognized by said officers and soldiers said William Meriwether as Lieutenant of said Troop – That he gave commands as such and was obeyed: That General Clarke so considered him in his councils: & in all situations when called to act. That said William was a gallant officer and guarded and were detected the Fort of said Logans until late in the fall of 1781 when he was ordered to return to the Falls of Ohio, when said Troop was disbanded together with many others: That said William Meriwether was a supernumerary. That the spring of 1781 was a time of great hostilities committed by the Indians upon the whites: That he and said spring the defeat of Floyd took place, not far from the Falls, and many other hostilities done to the whites by the Indians: That owing to his said hostilities no communication could possibly be had with the Council and Governor of Virginia without a strong guard and because hostilities were so severe in the West, no guard could be spared to go to Richmond. It took all to protect the unprotected forts and consequently no communication was made by General Clarke to Virginia from the spring 1781 until after hostilities somewhat ceased, in the fall of 1781: And that no one who was appointed to fill a vacancy by General Clarke, could have been commissioned by the Governor and Council between those times. But this affiant always understood and believes that General Clarke had power to fill vacancies that occurred 5 or 600 miles in the wilderness of the savages. That said William Meriwether now lives blow [below] Louisville, and is the identical man who commanded said troop. Further this affiant sayeth not
S/ Blan. W. Ballard
[f p. 128]
The Honorable P. H. Pope11 Belmont Jefferson County 1835
Sir
before [sic] I received a copy of my papers sent to the govner [Governor ] & consel [Council] at Richmond Virginia to obtain a Land warrant for my services in the Elinoise Regiment [Illinois Regiment] you had left Louisville for the City of Washington. I now enclose them to you to use them in my behalf & hope you will excuse me for the trouble I am about to give you.
I have enclosed the warrants to James Meriwether my Brother you will please observe that they were issued to James Meriwether (DL) which means Dabney Legion – (it was in the artillery) & for services for three years, & that he could not have served three years in said Legion unless he had served in the year 1781, '82 and '83 as the Revolutionary war ended in the year 1783, I mention this circumstance because the board of officers who sat in the city of Richmond in the year 1782 and 1784 reported that he had served in Rogerses [John Rogers'] Troop of Corps until the end of the war or three years although Rogerses Troop of Horse was only enlisted for two years & was disbanded in the fall and winter of 1781 the term of their enlistment having expired.
I now beg leave to mention the particular reasons which prevailed on your Grand Father not to receive the promotion of Lieutenant which he was entitled to & which General Clark offered him, sometime in the month or spring of 1781 a gentleman by the name of Vanmeter came to the Fort at Louisville with a letter from his Mr. Thruston's Father, requesting him to resign & return to Virginia he also brought $100 in specie to buy him a Horse & bear his expenses in [complying with his request]. He had purchased the Horse from Moses Curkendol [Moses Kuykendall] & was waiting until a company should go through the wilderness; for at that time the Indians had killed many persons traveling through, & as he expected to resign himself & leave the country & there was a command to be sent to Logan's Fort he consented that I should have the appointment & take the command, however no company was raised until the fall or winter & he remained in the Troop until we were discharged & we came in together with the soldiers who was discharged. I have also sent a copy of the other James Meriwether's warrant to enable you to see how they designated [distinguished] between the two James Meriwether's, one is endorsed (son of James) the other (DL) Dabney's Legion & part of James Meriwether's children are now living on the land which he obtained for his services in Dabney's Legion.
I have sent you the Deposition of Amos Goodwin which I believe has not been Exhibited, said Captain Goodwin – Captain Benjamin Roberts & ColonelW. B. Ballard I have no doubt you are well acquainted with, which are all the officers & soldiers that I know of who are now living except Squire Murphey & I would have taken his deposition but as he would only prove that he went part of the way with James Meriwether to Virginia in the year 1780 in the fall, I did not suppose it would be of any service to me.
I have been thus particular in consequence of my having been allowed only sergeant's pay instead of Lieutenant's because I have not received a commission from the Governor; but when you consider that in the year 1781 ConWallace [Cornwallis] was ravaging Virginia & the Indians was waylaying the tract [track] which led through the wilderness cutting off many Families and other persons, coming to Kentucky the Governor of Virginia retreating from one place to another sometimes in the Charlottesville & then at Stanton & the Britians [British] in possession of Richmond the Capitol of the State you would be led to see the impossibility of my obtaining a commission, for Governor Henry seeing the almost impossibility of conveyances to the Western country shortly after the capture of Cornwallis wrote a letter to General Clark authorizing him to commission & fill up vacancies in his Regiment – Mr. GeorgeWoolford who manages the estate of General Clark is now in possession of the letter.
Before Kentucky was taken from Virginia a man by the name of Daniel Broadhear went to the legislature of Virginia as representative from the County of Jackson he took with him the pay roll of Captain John Rogerses Company & drew the Certificates of the soldiers & he gave his body with Mr. Ambler Treasurer of Virginia as surety to deliver them to those who was entitled he failed to do so & when we applied to the auditor (Mr. Pendleton) for the bond & pay roll, they could not be found & we lost the whole of our two years pay this can be proved by Mr. John Murphey.
I believe the donation to the Officers & soldiers of the revolution was whole pay during their lives to all who had served two years agreeable to the rank they bore in the Army – although I was placed in such a situation as not to receive a commission still I rendered the services of Lieutenant & ranked as Lieutenant & no doubt many of the southern Army were promoted & served who have drawn pay without having had a Commission.
My warrant from Virginia for the bounty land as Lieutenant has been put on File to obtain scrip I will esteem it a singular favor if you will be so kind as to forward the scrip as soon as the appropriation is made
Your Cordial Friend
S/ W. Merriwether
PS the Honorable Mr. Beb was kind enough to send me word he would assist me in this matter. I have no doubt Mr. Clay & Colonel Johnson will do the same – Please speak to them on this subject & right knee as early as convenient
S/ WM
[f p. 3: Power of attorney signed February 8, 1851 in Jefferson County Kentucky by David Meriwether, administrator of the estate of William Meriwether deceased "late of the County of Jefferson and State of Kentucky who was a Cadet Sergeant and Lieutenant in the Army of the Revolution and a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832."
]
[facts in file: Veteran died February 10, 1842 in Jefferson County, Kentucky. His brother, James Meriwether, went to Kentucky about 1787 and died about the fall of 1801. Veteran's son, David Meriwether, was a resident of Jefferson County Kentucky in 1851 and in 1852 was a United States Senator.12 Veteran's sons, Albert G and Thomas W Meriwether were both residents of Hickman County Kentucky in 1851; veteran's daughter, Catharine R Davis, who married William R Davis, was residing in New Madrid, Missouri in 1851. In 1851 Mildred E Meriwether, who married Martin D McHenry, was the daughter of the veteran's dead son, James B Meriwether and was residing in Shelby County, Kentucky. The only other child of James B Meriwether, was EmilyA Meriwether, who married William H Meriwether, and was residing in Jefferson County Kentucky in 1851. The name of the veteran's wife is not stated in the file.]
[f pp. 161-162]
Wmsburg [Williamsburg] December 1778
Instructions to George Rogers Clark Esquire Colonel & Commandant Chief of the Virginia Troops in the County of Illinois
Sir,
You are to retain the Command of the troops now at the several posts in the county of Illinois and on the Wabash, which fall within the limits of the County now erected and called Illinois County, which troops marched out with, and have been embodied by you- You are also to take the Command of five other Companies, raised under the act of Assembly which I send herewith, and which if completed, as I hope they will be speedily, will have orders to join you without loss of time, and are likewise to be under your command; With your whole force you are to protect the Inhabitants of the County, & as occasions may serve, annoy the enemy. It is thought that the Indian Nations may be overawed and inclined to peace with us, by the Adoption of proper measures with you. Or if that cannot be effected, that such of them as send out parties towards our Frontiers on this side of the Ohio, may be chastised by detachments from your quarter. For this purpose it will behoove you to watch their motions, and to consider, that one great advantage expected from your situation is to prevent the Indians from warring on this side of Ohio.
In order more effectually to prevent this, you are to establish such posts in different parts of the Country as you judge best for your troops to occupy.
I consider your further success as depending upon the goodwill and friendship of the Frenchmen and Indians who inhabit your part of the Commonwealth. With their concurrence great things may he accomplished. But their animosity will spoil the fair prospect which your past successes have opened. You will therefore spare no pains to conciliate the affections of the French and Indians. Let them see and feel the advantages of being fellow citizens and freemen.
Guard most carefully against every infringement of their property, particularly with respect to land, as our enemies have alarmed them as to that. Strict, and even severe, Discipline with your Soldiers may be essential, to preserve from injury those whom they were sent to protect and conciliate. This is a great and capital matter, and I confide that you will never lose sight of it, or suffer your troops to injure any person without feeling the punishment due to the offense. The Honor & Interest of the State are deeply concerned in this & the attachment of the French & Indians depends upon a due observance of it.
John Todd Esqr being appointed County Lieutenant according to Law during pleasure, with ample powers chiefly confined to the civil Department, will have Directions to act in Concert with you wherever it can be done. On your part, you will omit no opportunity to give him the necessary Cooperation of the Troops where the case necessarily requires it. Much will depend upon the mutual assistances you may occasionally afford each other in your respective Departments. And I trust that a sincere Cordiality will subsist between you. The contrary will prove highly detrimental.
Some measures will be fallen on for carrying on a Trade to supply Inhabitants of your County. You will afford the Agents such aid or protection from time to time as affairs require & your Circumstances will permit.
I send you herewith some Copies of the Act of Government & Bill of Rights, together with the french Alliance. These will serve to shew our new friends; the Ground upon which they are to stand, & the Support to he expected from their Countrymen of France. Equal Liberty & Happiness are the objects, to a participation of which we invite them. upon a fair presumption that the people about Detroit have similar Inclinations with those at Illinois & Wabash I think it probable, that they may be brought to expell their British Masters. & become fellow Citizens of a free State. I recommend this to your Serious Consideration, & to consult with some confidential persons on the Subject. Perhaps Mr. Gibault, the Priest (to whom this country owes many Thanks for his Zeal & Services) may promote this affair. But 1 refer it to you to select the proper persons to advise with & to act as occasion offers. But you are to push at any favourable Occurance which Fortune may present to you. For our peace & Safety are not secure while the Enemy are so near as Detroit.
I wish you to testify to all the subjects of Spain upon every occasion, the high regard, & sincere friendship of this Commonwealth towards them. And I hope it will soon be manifest that mutual advantages will derive from the neighbourhood of the Virginians & the Subjects of his, Catholic Majesty.
I must observe to you, that your Situation is critical. Far detached from the Body of your Country, placed among French Spaniards & Indian nations Strangers to our people, anxiously watching your Actions & Behaviour, & ready to receive Impressions favorable, or not so, of our Commonwealth &-its Government, which Impression will be hard to remove & will produce lasting Good or ill Effects to your Country; These Considerations will make you cautious & Circumspect. I feel the Delicacy & difficulty of your Situation, but I doubt not your Virtue will accomplish the Arduous Work with Honor to yourself & advantage to the Commonwealth. The Advice & assistance of discreet good men will be highly necessary. For at the Distance of your County, I cannot be consulted. General Discretionary powers therefore are given you
to act for the best in all Cases where these Instructions are Silent, & the Law has made no provision.
I desire your particular attention to Mrs. Rocheblare & her Children, & that you suffer them to want for nothing. let Mr. Rocheblares property which was taken be restored to his Lady so far as it can be done. - You, have the Sum of sixty pounds - sent for her use in case you cant find her husbands Effects to restore.
Prudence requires that provisions be laid in to subsist the Troops you have & those to be expected to arrive with you Colonel Bowman has contracted to deliver 35,000lb Bear Bacon at Kentucky, But Bread must be had at Illinois. You will provide it if possible before the arrival of the Troops, or the necessity to buy it becomes generally known as perhaps advantages may be taken by raising the price. Lay up also a good Stock of powder & Lead.
There is a Cargo of Goods at a Spanish post near you belonging either to the Continent or
this State. Rather than let your Troops be naked, you are to take a Supply for them out of these goods. But this is not to he done but in Case of absolute necessity. Let an exact Account be Kept of what is used & let me receive it.
In your Negotiations or Treaties with the Indians, you will he assisted by Mr. Todd. Let the treatys be confined to the Subject of amity & peace with our people, & not to touch the Subject of Lands. You may accept of any Services they offer, for expelling the English from Detroit & elsewhere. In case you find presents to the Savages necessary, make them sparingly as possible, letting them know our stock of Goods is small at present, but by means of our Trade with the french & other nations we expect plenty of Goods before it is long.
Lieutenant Colonel Montgomery will convey to you ten thousand pounds for payment of the Troops & for other Matters requiring money; In the Distribution of money you will be carefull to keep exact accounts from time to time & take Security where it is proper.
I am, Sir
yr. hble. Serv
S/ P. Henry
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $213.91 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, and ending February 10, 1843, for service as a Lieutenant and Sergeant of Cavalry; 4 months as Lieutenant and one year and 7 months 19 days as Sergeant in the Virginia State line.]
1 Va. Balf Pay
2 One of the officer so named and whose pension files are FPA R16407 and FPA R16407 !/2 transcribed and posted in this database 1/16/12.
3
4 Thomas Young S11921
5 FPA W2096
6 Benjamin Roberts S31343
7 John Thruston R18489
8 Bland W. Ballard W20655
9 Anthony Crockett S10492
10 Thomas Meriwether BLWt1920-400 and
11 POPE, Patrick Hamilton, a Representative from Kentucky; born in Louisville, Ky., March 17, 1806; attended the common schools and was graduated from St. Joseph College, Bardstown, Ky.; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1827 and commenced practice in Louisville; declined the position of secretary of state tendered by Gov. John Breathitt in 1832; elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-third Congress (March 4, 1833-March 3, 1835); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1834; elected a member of the State house of representatives in 1836; resumed the practice of law; died in Louisville, Ky., May 4, 1841; interment in Cave Hill Cemetery.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000433
12 MERIWETHER, David, a Senator from Kentucky; born in Louisa County, Va., October 30, 1800; moved with his parents to Jefferson County, Ky., in 1803; attended the common schools; engaged in fur trading in 1818 near what is now Council Bluffs, Iowa; later engaged in agricultural pursuits in Jefferson County, Ky.; studied law; admitted to the bar and commenced practice; member, State house of representatives 1832-1845; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1846 to the Thirtieth Congress; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1849; secretary of State of Kentucky 1851; appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Clay and served from July 6, to August 31, 1852, when a successor was elected; was not a candidate for renomination in 1852; appointed by President Franklin Pierce as Governor of the Territory of New Mexico 1853-1855; member, Kentucky house of representatives 1858-1885, and served as speaker in 1859; retired to his plantation near Louisville, Ky., where he died April 4, 1893; interment in Cave Hill Cemetery.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000650
http://revwarapps.org/s47954.pdf
