25 Dec 2009

Bradley Selected Documents

The following Revolutionary War documents are from the pension file of Leonard K. Bradley, Sr. The file was begun in response to a Congressional Act passed on 7 Jun 1832 which provided a lifetime pension at full pay for every officer or enlisted man who had served at least 2 years in the Continental Army or in a state militia during the war. Applicants were not required to demonstrate need, furthermore, money that was unpaid at the time of a pensioner’s death could be collected by his widow or children. This would explain why his heirs were still addressing the issue after his death.

Prisoner of War Parole during Revolutionary War

Revolutionary War Pension Files, National Archives and Records Administration

Copy
I do hereby acknowledge myself to be a Prifoner of War, upon my Parole, to his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, and that I am thereby engaged until I fhall be exchanged, or otherwife releafed therefrom, to remain at my plantation in the Parish of St. Jude in the County of Surry in the Province of North Carolina.

and that I fhall not in the mean Time do, or caufe any Thing to be done, prejudicial to the Succefs of His Majefty's Arms, or have Intercourfe or hold Correfpondence with his Enemies; and that upon a Summons from his Excellency, or other Perfon having Authority thereto, that I will furrender myself to him or them at fuch Time and Place as I fhall hereafter be required.

Witness my hand this 20th day of May 1780.
Leod. Bradley Lt.

Witness [G...?] [McKillop?] { I do hereby certifie that the above is a True copy of the Parole Signed this day by Major Stuart Comr. of Prisoners.

Declaration of Military Service

Revolutionary War Pension Files, National Archives and Records Administration

24 April 1833

State of Mifsouri
County of Randolph

On this 24th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared before me John Dysart presiding judge of the court of Randolph County, which court is a court of record, Leonard Bradley a resident of Randolph County aforesaid and state of Mifsouri aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congrefs pafsed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated as a private.

1st under Col Joseph Williams and Major Joseph Winston field officers, Richard Goode Captain Thomas Evans, Lieutenant and William Monday Ensign, in the month of January in the year 1776 then residing in Surry County in the state of North Carolina as a volunteer or minute man as then called, on this tour marched from Surry County, to Crofs Creek now Fayetteville, against the tories through Guilford Randolph and Chatham Counties, was in no battle on this tour, the tories having been defeated and dispersed before our arrival by Col Moore, thence returned to Surry County in April of the same year served four months on this tour,

2nd In the month of July 1776 again marched from Surry County under the same officers against the Cherokee Indians, crofsing the mountains and passing Ch[issel?]'s mines down the middle fork of [Holstein?] to what is called the long Island, their joined and was commanded by Gen Or[land?] Christy of Virginia, and thence marched to the Cherokee Towns, the country unsettled at this time recollects no points which they pafsed on their march until they arrived at the old Cherokee town which was on the 18th day of October 1776 found no Indians, and remained there ranging the country until the 8th day of November and having burnt their town + destroyed their crops commenced our return march, and [arriv?]ed at homes in Surry County NC the first of December, served under this engagement five months acquainted with Col Rupee + Maj Shelby of the Va line;

3rd Again in the year 1778 in the month of June a company being raised John Litten Jones elected captain, and this applicant Leutenant, and One Woods Ensign the company was drafted or designated from clafses On this tour marched through Guilford and into Caswell County, halted at Moon Creek and there a Regiment was organized under Col Archy Litle and Major Henry Dickson Regular officers, and here the Militia officers super[ced]ed in their command by supernumary Regular officers, He recollects the names of some of them, viz Captains Thomas Donah, [?] Dickson - [H?] = + Lewis the latter of whom afsumed the command of Cap Jones" Company, and then this applicant returned home on furlough and [arrived?] about the first day of September 1778 served on this tour three months

4th, again in the month of November 1778 marched under Captain Lewis by Sal[us?]berry Camden in S.C. from thence crofsed the [Santee?] River at Nelson's ferry thence to Ba[cons?] Bridge, on Ashly River thence to Jaksonsburg and from thence acrofs the Asapoo River to Sal[cates?] Bridge, and from thence to Puriesburg on the Savannah River and their joined Col Clapton's Regiment under Gen Sumner of N.C. arrived there a short time after Campbell had taken Savannah, and thence joined Gen Lincoln and thence marched with Gen Lincoln to the Black Swamp, here a detachment was left with baggage waggons of which this applicant was one remained at the Black Swamp until the latter part of the next spring, then marched after Gen Lincoln in the direction of Charleston, and being ordered halted with the waggons at Ashley ferry ten miles from Charleston, after the battle of stono [Battle of Stono Ferry 20 Jun 1779] were ordered with the baggage and waggons to sheldon Hill remained there until the first of august 1779. returned home to Surry County N.C. Served under this engagement nine months.

5th In the month of October 1779 entered the service as Lieutenant under Captain Sal[?] Martin in the N.C. Militia marched to Charleston and there joined Col Hamptons Regiment from N.C. Gen Eatons Brigade remained fortifying the town until the first day of March, when our term expired and here this applicant will remark that during this tour he [bore?] the commifsion and had the command of Lieutenant Served on this tour four months,

6th, March 1780 at this period an attack upon Charleston was daily expected in order to prepare for its defence, Gov Rutledge applied to Col Litle to Raise a Regiment out of Eatons Brigade N.C. Militia the Battalion was raised and this applicant again entered the service as Lieutenant in John George Lowman's company under Col Archy Litle Major Benjamin Harbishan, continental officers, there we remained and stood the siege of Charleston, under Gen Lincoln until the 12th day of May when we were surrendered prisoners of war, and the regiment under Col Litle were parolled on the 20th day of May 1780, as will more fully appear by my parole herein enclosed which is dated on that day and is signed with my own signature, remained on parole until the General exchange of Prisoners in the summer of 1781. As well as this applicant now recollects acquainted on this tour with Gen Marion Col Harry. Gen Scott Cols Wallace + G[ue?]fs, remained in actual service in this engagement two months + twenty days, besides the time parolled, which this applicant believes to have been at least one year also acquainted on this tour with Col [?] Wood Jones' Brigade va line

7th, After the exchange of Prisoners as above stated, entered the service in the month of September 1781. as Lieutenant in Capt Min[er?] Smith's company of the Surry County Regiment N.C. Militia by draft, ordered to join Gen Rutherford against the British and Tories, our company being horsemen were put under the command of Major Smith this [j?]unction with Gen Rutherford was on the little Pede[o?] River, thence marched under the command of Major Smith in the direction of Wilmington, leaving Crofs Creek now Fayetteville on the left, he and Gen Butler was defeated Maj Smith's detachment ordered to march for Wilmington as a reinforcement to Gen Butler, joined Gen Butler on the S Side of Cape Fear River about twenty miles from Wilmington, and thence marched with Gen Butler against the British post, at what was called the Brickhouse, frequent skirmishes with the enemy on our march arrived at the Brickhouse and undertook to storm this post but were defeated, which was attibuted to our want of cannon, retreated a short distance in the vicinity, and remained there cutting off the supplies of the enemy, until winter set in, the British then removed their troops acrofs Cape Fear River to Wilmington Gen Rutherford then ordered Maj Smith's detachment of horse to Randolph County, against the tories under one Fanning who was [d?] much mischief, unable to meet with Fanning and his party we remained in service until the first of March 1782. about which time with some exceptions a general pardon was offered to the tories and the army was disbanded, Served under this engagement five months. and held the commifsion and command of Lieutenant on this tour in Capt Smiths Company. He further states to the best of his recollection and belief he served in the North Carolina Militia as above detailed under the 1st 2nd 3rd + 4th engagements as a private One year and nine months, and also under the 5th 6th + 7th engagements as above set forth having the command of Lieutenant the term of twenty three months, and twenty days [?] of the time he was parolled as a prisoner of war.
He resided in the County of Surry North Carolina where he entered the service, and remained there until 1783 when he removed to Kentucky and from thence in the year 1825 to the County of Randolph State of Mifsouri where he has ever since and now resides.

when he left the State of North Carolina he left his commifsion and most of his other Revolutionary papers at his fathers who shortly after died, and he does not know what was done with said papers as he never after sought them, supposing they were of no value to him. The only documentary evidence he has in his pofsefsion of has any knowledge of is his parole, herewith enclosed, whereby it is hoped it will manifestly appear that he was surrendered a prisoner of war at the siege of Charleston. He never received any written discharge for any of the above tours He further states that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services, having removed from the land of his nativity near fifty years ago. he is now unable to [?] or call upon any living witnefs, from information from his parents he believes his age to be as stated in the first part of this declaration seventy (77) years old - He thinks his commifsion was signed by Gov Burke. He further states that he was actualy employed in the service of the Country for and during the terms respectfully herein set forth, and that he was not engaged in any [?] pursuit during those periods mentioned and that he served with an [?boyded?] force called into service by the [?] or other competent authority. He is unable to give the numerical number of the different corps units which he served but thinks in all cases has given the names of his officers some of them correctly.

He further states that since the pafsage of the Act of Congrefs of June the 7th 1832 he has made diligent enquiry, but has been unable to obtain the testimony of any person to his services aforesaid. And this applicant further states that by reason of great bodily infirmity and old age he is unable to appear before the Court in proper person to sign + be sworn to this declaration, being nearly blind and otherwise greatly diseased so as to be wholly unable to appear in Court. And He the said Leonard Bradley doth [Re?shy?] relinquish [e?ry?] claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed before the undersigned
Presiding judge of Randolph County Court
John Dysert
Leonard Bradley X his mark

Revolutionary War Pension Records

Revolutionary War Pension Files, National Archives and Records Administration

Dept of Interior

To the Commefsioner of Pensions

We the heirs of Leonard Bradley who was a Lieut in the Virginia [North Carolina] State line during the war of the revolution respectfully represent that our father the said Lieut Leonard Bradley was admitted to the benifets of the act of 7 June 1832 Randolph Co Mo Sept 18, 1833.
Letter by heirs of LK Bradley
in or after 1844 We know at the time of his application for his pension, a copy of his parole as a prisoner of war at the surrender of Charleston May 12, 1780 was forwarded to the pension office with other documents in relation to his services and claims. We understand and beleive he remained a prisoner for a considerable time and we are informed from the Report of Robert Cooke D "Com" of prisoners Southern Dept and which is on file in the State Dept (Washington papers) dated 23rd Oct 1782, "That all the officers taken prisoners in the Southern Dept, prisoners to the date and not included in the list given are to consider themselves as exchanged". It will appear from the list of officers prisoners to the date 23rd Oct 1782, that Lieut Bradley was not included and that by the said order he was then exchanged. Your memorialists are informed that Congrefs has repeatedly decided that when an officer is proved in Service as late as 21st Oct 1780 that they consider his as supernumerary under the resolutions of Congrefs of that date, or that he served to the end of the war unlefs the contrary is proved. See Rept No 436-1 Ses 26 Cong [?] [?] page 24-25-123.4- Your memorialists therefore beleiving that their father was supernumerary under the Virg Resolution of 1779, or of Cong 21st Oct 1780, or that he served to the end of the war, claim his half pay for life under the act of 5 July 1832, with interest on each years half pay, as it became due. See Laws of U States Vol 8 pa 654.43 Sec [?] 5 July 1832, also case of [Wm Rufonurm?] Sen Doc No 222-1 Ses 28 Cong Vol 4 pa 3 Rept March 24, 1844.

Signed by heirs of Leonard Bradley
Milton Bradley
Calvin Bradley
Louisa Dry X [her mark]
Terry Bradley
Samuel Bradley
Thomas Bradly
Levi D Bradly
Squire B Bradley

Revolutionary War Service Summary

Revolutionary War Pension Files, National Archives and Records Administration

Dept of Interior summary
of military service DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Washington, D.C., _________, 19____
Case R12679

In reply to your request of ________, received _________ for a statement of the military history of Leonard Bradley a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.

Battles engaged in, Captured May 12, 1780 when Charleston surrended + parolled May 20, 1780
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Parish of St Jude, Surry Co NC
Date of application for pension, Apl 24, 1833, His et al
Residence at date of application, Randolph Co. Mo.
Age at date of application, 77 yrs born in NC
Remarks: Sol died Dec 2 1834 leaving a widow Mary and children as follows: Milton, Calvin, Terry, Samuel, Thomas Loeni O (?) [Thomas, Levi D.], and Service (or Squire) [Squire] B. Bradley and Lovisa (or Louisa) [Louisa] Dry.

He removed to Ky in 1783 and to Mo. in 1825.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Obituaries

Atchison Daily Globe, Atchison, KS, [newspaper].

8 Apr 1949

Funeral services for Mrs. Annie Barber, whose death occurred yesterday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. D. Judah, in Iola, will be held at the Cummings Methodist church at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Burial will be in Broadview cemetery. Mrs. Barber had been bedfast several years. She was the widow of Charles Barber, who passed away in 1906 [1899]. Besides her daughter, she is survived by a son, Joe Barber.

14 Apr 1949

Funeral services were held Saturday at the Methodist church for Mrs. Annie Barber of Iola. The Rev. W. H. Tulliver officiated. She was born Nov. 5, 1859 at Huntsville, Mo., and came to the Cummings community when a child with her parents, the late L. K. and Mary Agnes Bradley, and grew to womanhood on the farm where Wilbur Stull lives. She was married to Charles Barber of this community. She has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. J. D. Judah in Iola the last 14 years. She was a member of the Baptist church. In addition to her daughter she is survived by a son, Joe Barber of Atchison, 13 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She was the last of a family of 10 children.