A-D, Revolutionary War Records (1775-1783), Rosters, Pensions and Bounty Land Warrants
ARMISTEAD, Churchill. Lieutenant in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775)
ARMISTEAD, Richard. Private, began his service in 1776 under Captain Josiah Foster and continued until the end of the war, primarily as a guard at New Point. During his time there, he participated in numerous skirmishes. Born in Kingston Parish, Richard Armistead married Elizabeth Jarvis on February 11, 1770, also in Kingston Parish. He died in the year 1824 in Mathews, Virginia, and his widow was pensioned under the Act of 1836. Elizabeth Jarvis Armistead, born August 22, 1773, died December 23, 1836, leaving the following children: Elizabeth Tumberlin, Susan Armistead, and Isaac Armistead. Pension W20633 (original) (transcription )
ARMSTED (ARMISTEAD), William. Private, entered the service in late 1776 under Captain Robert Gayle. He served at various times at Point Comfort, Pepper Creek, and several locations in present-day Gloucester, Virginia. He continued his service until 1782, during which time he served under Captains Robert Gayle, Peter Barnet, John Billups, and Colonels Sir John Peyton and Boswell. He was placed on the Virginia pension roll at $80 per annum under the Act of 1832. Certificate 23954 was issued on April 30, 1834, for his service in Colonel Boswell's Virginia State Line for two years. He was born in 1758 in Kingston Parish and died on February 4, 1836, in Mathews, Virginia. Pension S12001 (original) (transcription )
AYERS, John. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264)
AYERS, Richard. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264)
BANKS, Josiah. Private, entered service in 1776, and served under Captain Charles Tompkies for a term of two years in the Continental Line. After completing his first enlistment, he re-enlisted, was sent south, and was taken prisoner. He returned home at the end of the war. On July 13, 1835, the heirs of Josiah Banks applied for his Bounty Land Warrant: Armisted Stewart, Thomas Banks, Joice Banks, Fanny Banks, Polly Banks, Fanny Banks, John Banks, Solomon Banks, William Banks, Marper Banks, Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Stewart, Caleb Hudgins, Allen Banks, Polley Banks, Mildred Huggit, Margaret Banks, Nancy Ripl[e]y formerly Banks, and Sarah Banks. Pension VAS2366 (original) (transcription ); Bounty Land Warrant 8213: 100 acres; August 1, 1835. (Bockstruck, p 24)
BANKS, Richard. Commissary of Stores for Gloucester District 1775. (Gwathmey, p 37) Presumed to be from Kingston Parish.
BELL, William. Private, dates of service unknown, served in the Virginia or Continental Army. He died in 1806 in Mathews, Virginia. His daughter, Frances Bell, applied for bounty land in 1835, but the claim was rejected. Pension VAS2475 (original) (transcription ); Bounty Land Warrant: 100 acres; April 1, 1784 & 100 acres; September 7, 1784. (Bockstruck, p 37)
BERNARD (BARNARD, BARNETT), Peter. Ensign in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775) He entered service as a Captain on April 10, 1777, in the 2nd Virginia Regiment and resigned on August 24, 1779. During his time, he served as a recruiting officer and in the spring of 1778, he marched north with a company he had recruited, which was attached to Colonel Brent. He continued in service until the summer of 1781, when he returned to Virginia. After that, he then reentered the service and served as a Captain in the Virginia Troops until after the Siege of Yorktown. He was stationed at Point Comfort and at Hubbard’s Old Field until the end of the war. He passed away four or five years after the Revolution ended, dying intestate. Pension R19356 (original) (transcription ) Captain Bernard appears on the Valley Forge muster rolls from December 1777 to May 1778. (Valley Forge) He married Frances Dudley in Kington Parish by license on August 22, 1758. They had only one son and heir, Dudley Bernard, who embarked on a voyage to the West Indies and was never heard from again. In 1835, Peter Bernard's heirs made seven claims for bounty land totaling 5,500 acres. Although these claims were initially approved, they were later canceled. On August 5, 1837, the heirs submitted five additional claims, each 400 acres. (Burgess pp. 60-65)
BILLUPS, Christopher. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264)
BILLUPS, George. 1st Sergeant, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264) Sergeant, served in the 7th Virginia Regiment under the command of Colonel Alexander McClenachan. He is listed on the muster and payroll records from May 1777 to December 1777. During his service, he was hospitalized in June 1777. Service record
BILLUPS, George. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264)
BILLUPS, John Sr. Captain in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775) Captain Billups and his company of militia of Gloucester County captured the sloop Fortune and cargo in 1778. (Virginia Gazette, 3 April 1778) Captain, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781. (Burgess, p. 1264) He was born in 1743 in Gloucester, Virginia, and died on July 18, 1815, in Mathews, Virginia. DAR A010210
BILLUPS, John Jr. Lieutenant in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775)
BILLUPS, Joseph Jr. Sergeant, served in the 7th Virginia Regiment under the command of Colonel Alexander McClenachan. He is listed on the muster and payroll records from May 1777 to January 1778 and was discharged on February 20, 1778, at Valley Forge. During his service, he was hospitalized from September 1777 to January 1778. (Service record) (Valley Forge) He was born on September 28, 1760, in Kingston Parish and died on April 5, 1815, in Mathews, Virginia. On February 14, 1784, he married Joice Respass in Kingston Parish. DAR A010213
BILLUPS, Richard. Captain in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775) Billups and his company captured a sloop in the Chesapeake Bay in September 1777. (Virginia Gazette, 6 March 1778) He was born on April 28, 1753, in Gloucester, Virginia, and died on September 30, 1822, in Mathews, Virginia. On September 10, 1778, he married Lucy Lilly in Kingston Parish. DAR A010214
BONNIFIELD, Samuel. He was sent to Gloucester in 1778 to manufacture salt. Shortly after his arrival, he enlisted as a private in a company commanded by Captain Richard Billups. He served until 1783, often marching from place to place to monitor British movements on the waters of Chesapeake Bay. In 1781, the company joined General Washington at Yorktown, where he was involved in producing salt for the Army. He was born in Prince George County, Maryland, on April 11, 1752. Pension rejected for lack of proof of service. Pension R1007 (transcription) DAR A011969
BOSWELL, Machen. Lt., entered service 18 Nov 1776 and served until 6 Feb 1781, Virginia State Line; d. 10 Dec 1793; heirs: Martha Roy, Thomas M. B. Roy, grandson. Pension R19364 (original) (transcription ); Service Record; (Valley Forge) Bounty Land Warrant: 4000 acres; Jan 1783 (Bockstruck, p 53)
BOSWELL, Thomas. Major in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775)
BRIDGES (MORGAN), Ransone. Pvt., entered service in 1776 for a term of two years, served under Col. Charles Tompkies in the 7th Regiment Virginia Continental Line, reenlisted in 1778 in Capt. Joseph Eggleston's troop of Horse, commanded by Col. Henry Lee for three years; b. April 1756, Kingston Parish, d. 8 Dec 1824, m. Nancy [unknown]; children: John, Polly, Betsey, and niece Elizabeth Bridges. Pension S39245 (original) (transcription ); Bounty Land Warrant: 200 acres; 25 Jan 1808 (Bockstruck, p 61)
BROMLEY (BROWNLEY, BRUMLEY), Philip. Seaman enlisted in the service in 1776 or 1777 aboard the Henry Galley, under Captain Robert Tompkins. He served in the Virginia State Navy for three years until the end of the war. The children and sole heirs of Philip Brownley—John, Polley T., and Thomas C. Brownley—were granted 100 acres of bounty land on March 21, 1840. Pension VAS2671 (original) (transcription ); Service record; Bounty Land Warrant: 100 acres; 21 March 1840 (Bockstruck, p 63)
BROMLY (BROWNLEY, BRUMLEY), William. Seaman entered service on board the Henry Galley under Capt. Robert Tompkins served three years; children: Elizabeth, Polly, and William; grandson Columbus, son of William, who is deceased by 1835. Pension VAS2672 (original) (transcription ); Bounty Land Warrant: 100 acres; 21 March 1840. (Bockstruck, p 63)
BROMLY (BROWNLEY, BRUMLEY), William. Seaman joined the service aboard the Henry Galley, under the command of Captain Robert Tompkins. He served three years. Two men named William Brownley enlisted in the Virginia State Navy: one was the father of Elizabeth, Polly, and William; the other was Columbus, the deceased son of William, who had passed away by 1835. The heirs of William Bromly were allowed 100 acres of bounty land on March 21, 1840. Pension VAS2672 (original) (transcription )
BROOKS, George. Pvt., entered service in 1776, served under Capt. Josiah Foster; b. Kingston Parish, d. 1791, Mathews Co.; m. 1779 Barshaba Diggs; child: Mary (m. Hudgins). Pension W18665 (original) (transcription ); Bounty Land Warrant: 100 acres; 27 May 1783 (Bockstruck, p 64)
BROWN, Francis. Steward, entered service in 1776/77 on board the Henry Galley and served till the end of the war, serving under Capt. Robert Tompkins; children: Spencer Brown, Nancy Gayle, and Frances Walden. Pension VAS2691 (original) (transcription ); Bounty Land Warrant: 100 acres; 18 June 1835. (Bockstruck, p 66)
BROWN, George. Midshipman, entered service in 1776/77 on board the Henry Galley under Capt. Robert Tompkins, until 1778, served for three years on board the Gloucester Galley under Captains Thomas Lilley; children: Joshua G. and George (dec’d.); grandchildren (children of George dec’d.): Worner, James, Bengamin [sic], Nancy Brown Guardian for George and Robert Brown. Pension VAS2693 (original) (transcription ); Bounty Land Warrant: 1333 1/3 acres; 2 June 1835. (Bockstruck, p 66)
BROWN, George. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264) Presumed to be from Kingston Parish.
BROWN, Robert. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264) Presumed to be from Kingston Parish.
BROWN, William. Midshipman, entered service in 1776 on board the Ship Tempest under Captain Celey Saunders, served three years; m. Judith [Longest]; children: [Judith], Mary, Nancy, Thomas, and William. Pension VAS2721 (transcription ); Bounty Land Warrant: 2666 2/3 acres; 23 July 1833. (Bockstruck, p 68)
BUCKNER, William. Master Navigating Officer, served more than three years, taken prisoner and detained at least twelve months; d. Feb 1804; children: Mary (m Capt. Thomas Norman), Elizabeth (m Francis Armistead), Dorothy (m Dr. Bartlett Gayle), Susan (m Ephraim Beazley), Martha (m Dr. Bartlett Gayle). Pension VAS2746 (original) (transcription ) R17; Bounty Land Warrant: 2666 2/3 acres; 24 June 1833. (Bockstruck, p 72)
BURROUGHS, John. Pvt., 6th Virginia Reg. Mathews Pension Roll of 1835. No record of service.
CALLIS, George. Pvt., entered service in 1777 under Capt. John Billups, discharged in the fall of 1781; m. Elizabeth [last name unknown] after 2 Jan 1800; son-in-law Samuel Callis. Pension W14444 (original) (transcription )
CALLIS, James. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264), Virginia Line, Honorably discharged in 1780. Service record
CALLIS, William. Private, who began his service in 1780 under Captain Houlder Hudgins, had previously volunteered as a guard at Cricket Hill in 1776. During his enlistment, he served as a guard at Cricket Hill, was called out to Hubard’s Old Field, and then to Seawell’s Old Field. He was stationed in Gloucester Town when Cornwallis was at Yorktown. He was born in 1765 in Kingston Parish. Pension S16683 (original) (transcription )
CARY, Dudley. Lieutenant in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775)
CELLERS (SELLERS), William. He enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Regiment around the year 1776, under the command of Captain Peter Bernard, for a three-year term. He was discharged in Fredericksburg. In 1835, his daughter, Mary Cellers, applied for his bounty land, but her claim was rejected. Pension VAS294 (original) (transcription ) (Valley Forge)
CHRISTIAN, John. Pvt., entered service about 1777 under Capt. Peter Bernard served periods amounting to eleven months; b. 16 Oct 1761, d. 6 July 1838. Pension S15276 (transcription )
CLARK, George. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264) Presumed to be from Kingston Parish.
CLAYTON, Jasper. Captain in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775) Captain, July 18, 1776, “warrant issued to pay his militia company on duty at Gwynn’s Island”, clerk to Gloucester Committee of Safety in 1775-1776. (Gwathmey, p 156) He died in May 1779 in Gloucester, Virginia. (Virginia Gazette, 22 May 1779) DAR A022907
CLAYTON, Thomas Whiting. Lieutenant in the Gloucester Militia. He was the son of Captain Jasper Clayton. (Gwathmey, p 157)
CRAY, Thomas. Seaman, entered service in 1776 under Col. Charles Tompkies in the Virginia Continental Line, served until the end of the war; heirs: Edward Jarvis, Thomas Jarvis, Maria Jarvis, Alec Jarvis, Elizabeth Jarvis, James Jarvis, Alexander Cray, John Cray, Lydia Cray now Lydia Bassett, Francis Williams, John Williams, George Bailey, Mary Bailey, and Fanny Bailey. Pension VAS3178 (original) (transcription )
CULLEY, Armistead. Pvt., entered service in 1776 under Capt. William Smith, Sgt. in 1777, enlisted as Continental Soldier for 3 years; moved to Portsmouth, Virginia from 1821-1828, then moved to Baltimore, Md.; b. 1758, Kingston Parish, d. 18 Feb 1839, Baltimore, Md. Pension S8270 (original) (transcription )
CULLEY, Robert. Carpenter enlisted in the Virginia State Navy on July 30, 1776, aboard the Brig Liberty, initially commanded by Captain Thomas Lilly from May 18 to July 30, 1776. He was captured when the Liberty, commanded by Captain John Rogers, was seized by a British cruiser and taken to Halifax. He did not return from captivity until around 1780. Robert was the older brother of Armistead Cully. Pension application John Rogers R88 & R88.5, George Rodgers (Rogers) VAS2143, Alexander Massenburg (Mapenburg) R16060) (Stewart, p 176)
DAVIS, James. Master Carpenter who began service in 1776 with the Virginia State Navy. On August 15, 1776, he was contracted by the Navy Board as a master carpenter to build the Gloucester Galley at Pepper Creek. He was then ordered to the Cumberland Yard to work as an artificer assistant and was later sent to South Quay to perform repairs until the end of the Revolutionary War. He was employed for three years at one or more shipyards. In 1837, the heirs of William Davis—Samuel and Humphrey Davis—applied for his bounty land. On March 31, 1838, their bounty land claim was rejected. Pension VAS3286 (original) (transcription )
DAVIS, John. Private, entered service in 1776 in the 7th Virginia Regiment, serving in Captain Charles Tompkies’ Company for a five-year term. At the end of the term, he held the rank of Sergeant. He was born in 1755 and passed away on March 4, 1825. He married Nancy, and their children—Rose (who married William Foster), Harriott (who married James Matthews), John W., and Joice (who married Owen)—applied for bounty land in 1835, but their claim was rejected. Pension S39403 (original) (transcription )
DAVIS, Richard. Ensign in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775) Lieutenant in 1777. (Gwathmey, p 212)
DAVIS, Thomas. Private, on duty in Gloucester County from August 2 to October 8, 1781, Captain John Billups’ Company. (Burgess, p 1264) During his service, he was stationed as a guard at Gwynn’s Island and Little Yorke in 1777. He also served at Seawell’s Old Field for one month and Hubbard’s Old Field for three months. He completed his service and left in October 1781. He was born in 1762 and passed away on July 19, 1845. He married Francis [last name unknown] on December 4, 1824, and together they had one child, Thomas B. Davis. On June 13, 1853, Francis Davis applied for a widow’s pension, and on May 30, 1855, she applied for bounty land. Pension W539 (transcription )
DIGGES (Diggs), William. Militiaman, entered service in 1775, served under Captains Josiah Foster, Richard Billups, John Gayle, Philip Tabb, Peter Barnett [Bernard], and Col. John Peyton, served two years; b. 18 Dec 1760, d. 27 Aug 1841. Pension S8327 (original) (transcription )
DIXON, John Jr. Captain in the Gloucester Militia, appointed on September 13, 1775, at a committee meeting held for Gloucester County. (Virginia Gazette, 13 Oct 1775) Presumed to be John Dixon, who married Elizabeth Peyton, the daughter of Sir John Peyton and Frances Cooke, in Kingston Parish by license on February 6, 1773.
DRIVER, Emanuel. Pvt., Capt. Peter Bernard’s Co. 2nd Virginia State Regiment, commanded by Col. Gregory Smith; heir: nephew John Driver. Pension VAS3425 (original) (transcription ) (Valley Forge)
DRIVER, John. Soldier, entered service in 1776 or 1777 in the 2nd Virginia Regiment, commanded by Co. William Brent and Lt. Col. Charles Dabney; child: John. Pension VAS1083 (original) (transcription )
DRIVER, William. Pvt., entered service last of 1776 or early part of 1777 in the 2nd Virginia Regiment, commanded by Capt. Peter Bernard; d. Nov 1803, drowned; m. Lucy [last name unknown], child: Louisa married William Green. Pension VAS3426 (original) (transcription ) (Valley Forge)
DUDLEY, John. Seaman aboard the Virginia State Navy galley Dragon enlisted in either 1776 or 1777 for a three-year term. Ship's papers indicate he was part of the crew in 1799. On July 12, 1835, Judith Dudley, the niece of John Dudley, applied for his bounty land on behalf of herself, the late Ann Dudley Woods—another niece—and Ann's children: James, Ann, and Sarah Wood. The claim was rejected. Pension VAS1068 (transcription)
DUDLEY, Robert. Seaman aboard the Virginia State Navy galley Dragon in 1779, he served under Captain Ebenezer Callender, who took command in October 1777, and Captain James Markham in 1778. (Stewart, p. 183). Presumed to be from Kingston Parish.