Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 4th of July, 1836:

State of Virginia, Russell County, to-wit:
On this 7th day of October, 1846, personally appeared before the County Court of the County aforesaid, being a Court of record, Oney Self, a resident of said County in the State aforesaid, aged eighty six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath make this following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed 4th July, 1836 - That she is the widow of Thomas Self who was a private during the Revolutionary War, but as to the service rendered by her said husband she begs leave to refer the Department to her said husbands original declaration and other pension papers in the first place; and further, she says, that she recollects that after the marriage of herself and husband, which took place in Amelia County, Virginia, on or about the 10th day of December, 1779, her said husband was actually called into service once or twice, and also substituted twice. She does not pretend to have a perfect recollection of the order of events, so long since passed, but she thinks his first service after the marriage aforesaid was in a call upon the whole militia for some purpose; that in the call aforesaid her said husband was gone some time, but now remembered, but she remembers that her husband on his return stated among other things that they had been to Chesterfield Court house. She thinks his next service after marriage was a call on a tour of five months as she now remembers to go to Camden; that upon that tour her said husband was gone from some time, and returned saying he had substituted a man in his stead. She remembers when they started on this last mentioned tour thry started some cattle for the use of the army. Shortly after this her husband hired one McMullins to go a tour for him to the South, which she thinks was also a five months tour. Applicant thinks her said husband Thomas Self performed more services after his said marriage than are above stated, both by himself and by his substitute, but the great lapse of time since, and the many revolutions of her, now pretty long life have put it out of her power to specify them certainly. She further declares that her siad husband Thomas Self aforesaid, died in the County of Russell aforesaid on the 13th day of March, 1836, and that she remarried a widower since that period as will more sull appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written, in open Court.

Oney Self

This day also appeared John Hay in open court a credible witness, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that he first became acquainted with Thomas Self and family about 40 years ago in Pyttsylvania County, Virginia, and has been intimately acquainted with them ever since. Upon witness' first acquaintanc, and evre since the present applicant Oney Self was passed and reputed to be the lawful wife of said Thomas Self, living with him as such; that they then had three children, the oldest of which must have been about 20 years old. Witness has lived in the immediate neighborhood of the family ever since. He and they removed to the County of Russell about 24 years ago and have still remained in the same neighborhood. Witness ever since his first acquaintance with them, heard from all the family they had originally come from Amelia County. He has also frequently heard them, long ago, speak of Thomas Self being a Revolutionary Soldier - has heard said Thomas Self detail his tours of service, both before and after his marriage, heard him speak of his tours in Camden, Portsmouth, Williamsburg & Norfolk. Said Thomas Self died in this County about the 13th of March, 1836, leaving the present applicant Oney Self his widow, who has remarried a widower since; she is now quite poor and destitute - Witness has always, ever since his first acquaintance with the family, understood from the family and others, their acquaintances, that Mrs. Self's name before her marriage was Oney Ham. Witness was also acquainted with the brothers, sisters and mother of Mrs. Self, and is confident that was her name; and further saith not.

John Hay