James Bishop, Sr.
No. S.6637
Revolutionary War Pension Application
Transcribed and Submitted by William M. Bishop, Jr.

State of Virginia
County of Dinwiddie

            On this 30^th day of August in the year 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the justices of the County Court of Dinwiddie County, now sitting, James Bishop, a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to laws, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7^th 1832.

            That he entered into the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.  That service time was in the year 1777, but he does not recollect the date for he has no written memoranda of his services.  He was called out as a drafted militiaman and performed a three months tour of duty under Capt. Peterson Goodwyn of the County of Dinwiddie (who subsequently represented the Dinwiddie District in the Congress of the United States) and was stationed at Smithfield, in Va until the expiration of the period of services.  That he found himself unable at this much distance of time and having been so frequently in service at different times and under different officers to recall to his recollection the names of the superior officers, to whose command this company was attached at Smithfield.
 

            That he was subsequently drafted in regular routine of numbers in militia service to perform a tour of duty under Capt John Burwell for three months, - that Alex Walker was the lieutenant of the company but he does not recollect who was the ensign. - that the company was marched to Cabins Point, and other positions on James River, where  the corps was received and trained occasionally by Barone Staten, whom he well recollects, and that the company was attached to a regiment commanded by  Capt J. Bannister.

            That the next tour of three months was the tour of duty which he was drafted to and performed, was under Capt. Richard Jones, whose company was stationed principally at Williamsburg, yet formed part of a Reg. commanded by Col. Joseph Jones.

            That he served the next tour of similar services under Capt William Meanly and served principally at Babbitsfield near Blount’s Mill in Prince George and other places in James River for the same period.  But does not recollect the name of any other officers at that time in command there

             That he served the next tour, for the same period, and called out in the same mode under Capt. John R. Davis who had been previously for several years, as was then stated, in the regular services and where Lieutenant was Wm Hudson and Ensign _____ Eppes.  That he was placed under command of Capt. Davis at Petersburg after having been detained in the County of Dinwiddie and marched to that place.  That during this tour the troops were marched under command he thinks, of Maj Burwell and Col. Jones to City Point where he saw the commotion between the British Ships lying there and a company of artillery commanded by Capt. Richard Hill.  That he was also at Stoners Mill where he remembers to have seen Gen. Lawson, who he understood was the commander of all the troops in that neighborhood.  He also recollects to have seen  Col. Faulkner there.

That subsequently he was one of a detachment moved to Petersburg to guard the magazines there where he remained in service three weeks when the party was discharged.  The party was commanded during the time by an Ensign John Jackson.

           That the only remaining services to which he was called during the war was under Capt Baker Pegram who was ordered, with his company detailed for the purpose, to march to Yorktown in VA but on the arrival of the company in Petersburg on their way, they were met by intelligence of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and were immediately discharged within a very few days after they had been called out.  Allowing for the time consumed in marching to and from the different points at which he served, he has always computed the period of his services for his country at nearly two years.

            The Declarant states that he was born in the County of Dinwiddie and has from that time and still does reside there.  That there was a record of his age formerly in an old family bible, but which has been completely destroyed many years ago, but that his recollection of that record and other material information leaving him no doubt that his age is what it is above represented.  That he never had any written discharge in his life – the custom having been on the expiration of a tour of service, for the Capt. verbally to discharge the whole company together sometimes at the point when the service was rendered, and sometimes after marching them to the County, he himself acting no doubt under written orders.  That he has no documentary evidence of his said services but can prove by Wm Nunnally, Nimrod Burrow, Ann Jackson, his brother Jeremiah Bishop and perhaps others that the services  above detailed or different portions of them were performed.  Indeed, that his brother Jeremiah served with him on all but one of the different tours above spoken of.

He the said James Bishop hereby relinquishes any claims 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 whatever.  Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

We, Isham E. Hargrave a clergyman residing in the County of Dinwiddie, in the State of Virginia, and Joseph Goodwyn, a planter and farmer, residing also in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Bishop who, has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 72 years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the United States and that we concur in that opinion.

            Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

            And, the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  Also the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Isham E. Hargrave has signed the preceding certificate as a clergyman and resident in the County of Dinwiddie and that Joseph Goodwyn, who has also signed the same is a resident of the same County, and is a credible, respectable person and that this statement is entitled to credit.

            I, John P. Crump, Clerk of the County Court of Dinwiddie County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matters of the application of James Bishop for a pension.

            In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office, this 20^th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1832, and of our Independence this 57^th year

                                                                                               

                                    7757

BRIEF in the case of James Bishop

County of Dinwiddie in the State of Virginia

                                    (Act 7^th June, 1832)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?    Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?   72

4.  State his services, as directed in the form annexed.