Jackson County, WV

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1834, Dec 26 - Revolutionary War Pension: Deposition of Samuel Tanner

Samuel Tanner Applicant

I the undersigned Samuel Tanner in pursuance of the requisition of the Secretary of War give the following Statement of my age & service.- I am about sixty odd years old.- I was 14 or 15 yrs at the close of the War of the Revolution.- and subsequently never done any service as a Soldier in said war.- but I was in Service in the Indian war. R. H. Lowther wrote my declaration to whom I gave the same narative I now give. In witness of all which I here to subscribe my name. Decr. 26, 1834.

Witness
J. M. Steed. [Josiah M. Steed, Esq., Parkersburg, VA]

Samuel {his X mark} Tanner

A Copy
W. G. Singleton
Jany 1, 1835

Footnotes:

1) In the declaration of Samuel Tanner dated 26 Dec 1834, he related that the narrative he gave to Robert H. Lowther Esq. on 22 Jun 1833, was the same as the one he was giving to Josiah M. Steed, Esq.

2) 1833 - Military Pension: Declaration of Samuel Tanner

3) Robert H. Lowther Esq. was part of the group termed by W. G. Singleton, U. S. District Attorney of Virginia, as the "Lewis Speculating Gentry". Singleton believed that this group convinced illiterate old men to sign fraudulent claims, which the "Gentry" would file with the War Pensions Office and collect a monthly fee from any pensions awarded.

4) Josiah M. Steed, Esq. of Parkersburg, VA was an attorney, who worked with W. G. Singleton, U. S. District Attorney of Virginia. He assited with the investigation of claims made to the War Pensions Office for Revolutionary War veterans desiring to obtain a pension for their military service.

5) A grand jury in September 1834 returned multiple indictments for perjury, subornation of perjury, and forgery against the chief perpetrators of the Lewis Speculating Gentry, whom included Jonathan Wamsley, James H. Bennett, and Robert H. Lowther, as well as indictments for subornation of perjury against Johnson F. Newlon and Jacob Coplin. Wamsley, Bennett, and Lowther could not be found on 2 Nov 1835 or 6 Sep 1836 when the Sheriff came to arrest them.

Sources:

NARA, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Roll M804, Pension #: R 10390, Pensioner: Samuel Tanner, 19 pages.

C. Leon Harris, Southern Campaign American Revolution Pensions Statements & Rosters, Pension Application of David W. Sleeth s6111, Appendix: The Lewis Speculating Gentry. View @ Southern Campaign