{"id":139,"date":"2013-08-24T11:52:45","date_gmt":"2013-08-24T16:52:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/?p=139"},"modified":"2013-08-24T11:52:45","modified_gmt":"2013-08-24T16:52:45","slug":"john-litterals-war-of-1812-pension-filed-by-elizabeth-rowland-litteral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/?p=139","title":{"rendered":"John Litteral’s War of 1812 Pension Filed By Elizabeth Rowland Litteral"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was happy to make contact with another Litteral cousin this week, David Litteral. \u00a0David is descended from John Litteral and Elizabeth Rowland through\u00a0their second son Daniel as am I. \u00a0David has done extensive research on our family for years and he has graciously volunteered to share it with us. \u00a0Several years ago, he visited the National Archives and transcribed the file for a pension filed by Elizabeth (Rowland) Litteral that she filed in 1875–35 years after her husband’s death. \u00a0Sadly her claim was denied due to a question of records and almost no surviving witnesses to corroborate her sworn testimony. The reason for filing so long after her husband’s death appears to be an act of Congress from 14FEB1871<\/a>. Elizabeth would die in 1878 at age 86.<\/p>\n

The following is David Litteral’s transcription of the pension file, followed by his notes and remarks. \u00a0I have also placed a downloadable PDF here<\/a>. \u00a0Thank you David for sharing such a wonderful treasure with us!<\/p>\n


\nWar of 1812<\/span><\/div>\n
Widow Declaration for Pension<\/span><\/div>\n
State of Kentucky<\/span><\/div>\n
County of Johnson<\/span><\/div>\n
January 15 1875<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
On this 15th day of January 1875 personally appearing before the Clerk<\/span><\/div>\n
of Johnson County in and for this County and State aforesaid Elizabeth<\/span><\/div>\n
Litteral aged eighty four years is a resident of this County of Johnson<\/span><\/div>\n
in this State of Kentucky. \u00a0She having duly sworn according to law,<\/span><\/div>\n
declared that she is the widow of John Littera<\/span>l who served the full<\/span><\/div>\n
period of sixty days in the military service of the United States in the<\/span><\/div>\n
War of 1812 and who was the identical John Litteral who was drafted in<\/span><\/div>\n
the Capt. G. W. Kemp’s Company; Col. C<\/span>oonce Regiment; Gen. Taylor’s<\/span><\/div>\n
Brigade at Lee County, State of Vi<\/span>rginia on the xx day of September<\/span><\/div>\n
1813. And, was honorably discharged at xxxfalls Va. on or about this xx<\/span><\/div>\n
day of January 1814. \u00a0As well as she now remembers, these were the dates<\/span><\/div>\n
of her said husband’s enlistment and d<\/span>i<\/span>scharge and that the above was<\/span><\/div>\n
his officers as she now remembers. \u00a0She was married under the name of<\/span><\/div>\n
Elizabeth Rowland to said John Litteral in the month of August 1807, but<\/span><\/div>\n
does not remember the day, in the State of Tennessee, and does not<\/span><\/div>\n
remember the name of the county. \u00a0She states further that she does not<\/span><\/div>\n
know who presided over the ceremony and that there is no individual<\/span><\/div>\n
living that was present at the sa<\/span>id marriage. \u00a0She has no knowledge of<\/span><\/div>\n
it and there being no legal barriers to this marriage that her said<\/span><\/div>\n
husband died at his residence in Floyd County Kentucky on the 4th of<\/span><\/div>\n
October 1840 and that she has not remarried since his death. \u00a0 She<\/span><\/div>\n
further swears that at no time during the late Rebellion against the<\/span><\/div>\n
authorities of the U.S. did she or her said husband adhere to the cause<\/span><\/div>\n
of the enemies of the Government giving them aid or comfort, or<\/span><\/div>\n
exercised the function of any office \u00a0whatever under any authority or<\/span><\/div>\n
pretended authority in hostility to the U.S. \u00a0 She will support this<\/span><\/div>\n
Constitution of the United States and that she is not in receipt of a<\/span><\/div>\n
pension under any previous acts. \u00a0She makes this declaration for the<\/span><\/div>\n
purposes of being placed on the pension rolls of the United States under<\/span><\/div>\n
the provisions of the act approved February 14 1871. \u00a0She hereby<\/span><\/div>\n
constitutes and appoints A.P. Cooper of Salyersville Magoffin County Ky.<\/span><\/div>\n
her attorney to present his claim and obtain the pension certificate<\/span><\/div>\n
that may issue therein that his post office address is Salyersville<\/span><\/div>\n
Magoffin County Ky.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Attest: \u00a0W. E. Litteral & A. J. Ward (signed)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Elizabeth Litteral (her mark)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Affidavit in Pension Application of<\/span><\/div>\n
Elizabeth Litteral wife of<\/span><\/div>\n
John Litteral Dec’d<\/span><\/div>\n
War of 1812<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
The affiant Hairston Litteral, a resident of the County of Johnson in<\/span><\/div>\n
the State of Kentucky deposes and says in relation to the aforesaid<\/span><\/div>\n
claim:<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
1st. \u00a0That my age is 66 years<\/span><\/div>\n
2nd. \u00a0That I am a son of the above named Elizabeth Litteral and John<\/span><\/div>\n
Litteral, Dec’d<\/span><\/div>\n
3rd. \u00a0I was personally present when my Father, t he said John Litteral<\/span><\/div>\n
died and that he died on the 4th day of October 1840 at his residence in<\/span><\/div>\n
the in the County of Floyd in the State of Kentucky.<\/span><\/div>\n
4th. \u00a0That my Mother Elizabeth Litteral has remained a widow ever since<\/span><\/div>\n
the death of said Father and is now a widow.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
5th. \u00a0That as far back as my memory can run, my Father and Mother, to<\/span><\/div>\n
wit the above named Elizabeth and John Litteral lived and cohabited<\/span><\/div>\n
together as husband and wife up to the date of my Father’s death as<\/span><\/div>\n
above stated. \u00a0 And, that they were always so reputed and recognized by<\/span><\/div>\n
the community in which they lived and the fact of this marriage was<\/span><\/div>\n
never disputed nor questioned.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Hairston Litteral (signed)<\/span><\/div>\n
Attest: \u00a0H.J. Litteral & W.E. Litteral (signed)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Sworn to and subscribed before me by Hairston Literal and I hereby<\/span><\/div>\n
certify that the foregoing affidavit was carefully read to and fully<\/span><\/div>\n
explained to said affiant before swearing to and signing the same and<\/span><\/div>\n
that said affiant is personally known to me to be respectable and<\/span><\/div>\n
entitled to credit. \u00a0I further certify that I am not interested in this<\/span><\/div>\n
matter for a pension given under my hand and seal of said county this<\/span><\/div>\n
15th day of January 1875.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
T.S. Williams (signed)\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Also, Personally affiants W.E Litteral and A.J. Ward residence of the<\/span><\/div>\n
County of Johnson and State of Kentucky, persons whom I certify to be<\/span><\/div>\n
respectable and entitled to the credit, and who being by me duly sworn<\/span><\/div>\n
say they were present and saw Elizabeth Litteral make her mark to the<\/span><\/div>\n
foregoing declaration and that they every reason to believe from the<\/span><\/div>\n
appearance the said claimant and their acquaintances with her that she<\/span><\/div>\n
is the identical person she represents herself to be, and she has not<\/span><\/div>\n
remarried since the death of her said husband, but remains his widow and<\/span><\/div>\n
at no time during the late Rebellion against the authorities of the U.S.<\/span><\/div>\n
did she or her said husband adhere to the cause of the enemies of the<\/span><\/div>\n
Government or give them aid or comfort, and that they have no interest<\/span><\/div>\n
in this claim for a pension.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
W.E. Litteral & A.J. Ward (signed)<\/span><\/div>\n
Attest: \u00a0Lindsey Litteral & R.A. Meed (signed)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of January 1875 and I<\/span><\/div>\n
hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing declaration and joint<\/span><\/div>\n
affidavits were explained and fully made known to the respective parties<\/span><\/div>\n
before swearing to and signing the same. \u00a0And, that I have no interest<\/span><\/div>\n
direct or indirect in this matter given under my hand and seal of said<\/span><\/div>\n
County.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
T.S. \u00a0Williams<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Add Evidence in Pension Claim of<\/span><\/div>\n
Elizabeth Litteral Widow of<\/span><\/div>\n
John Litteral<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
I Edward Conley a resident of the County of Magoffin in the State of Ky.<\/span><\/div>\n
Depose and say in relation to the aforesaid claim that my age is about<\/span><\/div>\n
seventy years. \u00a0I further say that I was personally well acquainted with<\/span><\/div>\n
the above named Elizabeth and John Litteral and when I first became<\/span><\/div>\n
acquainted with them they were living together as husband and wife and<\/span><\/div>\n
continued so to live up to the date of the said John Litteral’s death,<\/span><\/div>\n
which was over twenty years from my first acquaintance with them to the<\/span><\/div>\n
date of the said John Litteral’s death, which occurred in Floyd County<\/span><\/div>\n
Ky. on or about the 4th day of October 1840. \u00a0And, I further say that I<\/span><\/div>\n
never heard the fact of the marriage of the said Elizabeth and John<\/span><\/div>\n
Litteral disputed or questioned, and that they were regarded as man and<\/span><\/div>\n
wife by the community in which they lived, that they had several<\/span><\/div>\n
children born unto them which was treated as legitimate by them and the<\/span><\/div>\n
community. \u00a0I further say that I was personally present when the said<\/span><\/div>\n
John Litteral died and that I have no interest in this matter.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Edward Conley (his mark)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Attest: Jilson P. Conley & Wm. Garlew (sp)\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Sworn to and subscribed before me and on the same day personally<\/span><\/div>\n
appeared Nancy Conley a resident of the County of Magoffin in the State<\/span><\/div>\n
of Ky. who deposes and says that she is about eighty two years of age<\/span><\/div>\n
and was personally well acquainted with Elizabeth Litteral who is an<\/span><\/div>\n
applicant for a Pension under the Laws of the U.S. and also with her<\/span><\/div>\n
husband John Litteral Dec’d who died in Floyd County Ky. On or about the<\/span><\/div>\n
4th day of October 1840 and that she had been acquainted with said<\/span><\/div>\n
Elizabeth and John Litteral for upwards of twenty years previous to the<\/span><\/div>\n
death of said John Litteral. \u00a0During the time I was acquainted with<\/span><\/div>\n
them, they lived and cohabited together as man and wife and were so<\/span><\/div>\n
reputed and recognized by the community in which they lived. \u00a0They were<\/span><\/div>\n
also living together when the said John Litteral died. \u00a0She further says<\/span><\/div>\n
that she saw said John Litteral after he died and before he was buried<\/span><\/div>\n
and that she has no interest in this matter.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Nancy Conley (her mark)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Attest: \u00a0Wm. Garlew & \u00a0Isaith Conley<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
State of Kentucky, Magoffin County: \u00a0I, \u00a0B.F. Howard, Clerk of the<\/span><\/div>\n
County Court in and for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing<\/span><\/div>\n
affidavits of Edward and Nancy Conley were carefully read to and<\/span><\/div>\n
understood by them before swearing to and signing the same, and I<\/span><\/div>\n
further certify that said affiants personally appeared before me and<\/span><\/div>\n
made oaths and signed said affidavits before me. \u00a0The affiants are<\/span><\/div>\n
personally known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit. \u00a0I<\/span><\/div>\n
further certify that I have no interest whatever in this matter given<\/span><\/div>\n
under my hand and seal of said county this 16th day of February 1875.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
B.F. Howard (signed)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
August 1, 1924<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
—————————————————————————————–
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
Capt. Herbert H. Price<\/span><\/div>\n
623 Allison St. N.W.<\/span><\/div>\n
Washington D.C.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Sir:<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I have to advise you that from the papers in the War of 1812<\/span><\/div>\n
pension claim Widow Original No. 11321 it appears that John Litteral<\/span><\/div>\n
married Elizabeth Rowland in August 1807 in Tennessee, the county not<\/span><\/div>\n
stated. \u00a0He died at his home in Floyd County Kentucky on October 4,<\/span><\/div>\n
1840.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0His widow Elizabeth applied for pension January 15, 1875 while<\/span><\/div>\n
living in Johnson County, Kentucky aged eighty-four years, but the claim<\/span><\/div>\n
was not allowed on account of insufficient service, as the record showed<\/span><\/div>\n
that John Litteral served as a private in Lieutenant James Grahm’s<\/span><\/div>\n
Company of Virginia Militia from September 19,1813 to October 29, 1813<\/span><\/div>\n
and the pension laws required a service of at least sixty days.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0They had several children; the only name given is Hairston who was<\/span><\/div>\n
aged sixty-six years in 1875.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Respectfully,<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Commissioner<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
—————————————————————————————-<\/div>\n
Notes.<\/strong> \u00a0The above information was found on file in the National<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
Archives, Washington D.C. \u00a0In summary, it appears that Elizabeth in<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
1875, at the age of 84 (three years before her death), applied for a<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
pension and possibly a bounty land grant under an act approved by<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
Congress, 14 February 1871. \u00a0Hairston, and Wiley, her grandsons filed<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
affidavits in support of their grandmother’s claim. \u00a0Some of her<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
acquaintances, Edward and Nancy Conley (neighbors in Floyd Co) also filed affidavits. \u00a0Remember that this claim<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
was filed 35 years after John had died and over 60 \u00a0years from when he<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
served. \u00a0The claim was denied as can be seen from the above letter from<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
Washington. \u00a0It was disputed based on the number of days John served.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
Sixty days was the requirement. \u00a0Elizabeth claimed he served from<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
September 1813 to January 1814. \u00a0The Government claimed he served from<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
September 19,1813 to October 29, 1813. \u00a0I found only one Muster Role<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
report in his folder and it was dated the week of 5 October 1814. \u00a0I<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
believe he served From September 1813 to at least October 1814 and the<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
Government wrongly denied the pension.<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
Also note that the letter denying the claim is dated August 1924, almost<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
fifty years after the denied claim. \u00a0Someone else must have been arguing<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
the case. \u00a0I wonder who? \u00a0I also noted the letter stated that John was<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
in Lt. Graham’s Company of the Virginia Militia. \u00a0The Muster Roll<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
clearly shows it was Bramham not Graham in the 41st Va. Militia. \u00a0Wonder<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
what the history of this Militia says?<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was happy to make contact with another Litteral cousin this week, David Litteral. \u00a0David is descended from John Litteral and Elizabeth Rowland through\u00a0their second son Daniel as am I. \u00a0David has done extensive research on our family for years … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3d3Bn-2f","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=139"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154,"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139\/revisions\/154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/litterals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}