Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

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Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Scott County (Va.) Declarations for Revolutionary War Pensions, 1832-1833, 1844. Local government records collection, Scott County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

These records came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Scott County.

Historical Information

On 1832 June 7, Congress enacted pension legislation extending benefits more universally than under any previous legislation. This act provided for full pay for life for all officers and enlisted men who served at least 2 years in the Continental Line, the state troops or militia, the navy or marines. Men who served less than 2 years but at least 6 months were granted pensions of less than full pay. Benefits were payable effective March 4, 1831, without regard to financial need or disability and widows or children of Revolutionary War veterans were entitled to collect any unpaid benefits due from the last payment to a veteran until his death.

Scott County was named for Winfield Scott, a native of Virginia, in recognition of his victories during the War of 1812; he was later commanding general of the American army during the war with Mexico, 1846-1848. It was formed from Lee, Russell, and Washington Counties by a statute adopted on 24 November 1814. The county court first met on 14 February 1815. The county seat is Gate City.

Scope and Content

Scott County (Va.) Declarations for Revolutionary War Pensions, 1832-1833, 1844, record the declarations of individuals seeking to obtain Revolutionary War pensions under an acts of Congress passed 1818 March 18, 1820 May 1, and 1832 June 7. The applicants present detailed testimony of their time of service during the Revolutionary War. Information found in the Declarations include date and location applicants entered into service, names of military companies they served in, names of military commanders they served under, names of fellow soldiers they served with, length of service, their age, and their place of birth. The predominant portion of the declarations are narratives of their tours of duty during the Revolutionary War with emphasis on battles they fought. The declarations also include affidavits from witnesses who could verify information provided by applicants.

Arrangement

Chronological by year and then alphabetical by surname of pension applicant within each year.

Related Material

Additional Scott County Military and Pension Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Scott County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• Military pensions -- Virginia -- Scott County
• Veterans -- Virginia -- Scott County

Geographical Names:

• Scott County -- History.
• United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
• Virginia -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783

Genre and Form Terms:

• Affidavits -- Virginia -- Scott County
• Declarations -- Virginia -- Scott County
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Scott County

Adjunct Descriptive Data