Pension Application of John Romine S6008
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
[A note in the file states that the original pension application was sent to District Attorney Washington G. Singleton for his investigation of pensioners from Harrison, Lewis, and other counties in present West Virginia. For details see pension application S6111 of David W. Sleeth ad the note below. The following is Singleton’s report.]
John Romine draws $20—
Samuel Davis [pension application W2534] states that he has known Romine ever since he was a boy. – that Romine and himself served a three months term together during the War of the Revolution. they marched from Loudoun County in July previous to the Surrender of Cornwallis [19 Oct 1781] to Fredericksburg & then Williamsburg – is certain that Romine never done any other service than the 3 months term above detailed. – Romine was drafted for a 6 months tour, but Col. Peyton let him off after serving the 3 months as before stated – at the instance of Capt. Davis Father of said Samuel.
on the 9th July [1834] the forgoing statement of Samuel Davis was read to Romine – who acknowledged that it was true in all particulars – that a 3 months tour was all the service he had done during the War of the Revo. and that it is all that he gave into Col. Joseph Johnson & Jacob Copelan [see note below] who wrote his Declaration – he gave them $20—
A Copy. W. G Singleton Nov. 17, 1834,
NOTE: Jacob Coplin was a party to what Singleton called the “Lewis Speculating Gentry,” who tricked many illiterate old men into putting their Xs on fraudulent pension claims. Singleton wrote “Fraud” on the cover of Romine’s report, and his pension, issued in Harrison County VA, was suspended on 10 Mar 1835.