MILITARY SERVICE
RACHEL (COBB)
HALSEY WIDOW'S DECLARATION
RE: WILLIAM HALSEY REVOLUTIONARY WAR SERVICE
State of Virginia
County of Grayson
On this 4th day of July 1844 personally appeared before
me one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for
said County RACHEL HALSEY a resident of Grayson County
and State aforesaid aged 81 years, who being first duly
sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the
following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of
the provision made by the act of Congress passed 4th of
July 1836.
That she is the widow of WILLIAM HALSEY who was a Soldier
in the Revolution and Served as herein stated.
That he entered the service while he resided in the state
of New Jersey as a Volunteer in or about the year of
seventeen hundred & seventyfive (1775). The day or
month he entered the service she does not recollect.
That he was under CAPTAIN EMILY who was commanded by
GENERAL DAYTON during some period of the War - was at the
BATTLES OF BRANDYWINE, BUNKERHILL, ASH SWAMP, COWPENS,
and many other battles, but being old and infirm, she
cannot now recollect the number of battles, the several
officers he served under, or the length of time that
intervened between the battles.
But that during some of those battles, or during some
considerable portion of the War, he the aforesaid WILLIAM
HALSEY was one of GENERAL WASHINGTON'S LifeGuards and
served in that capacity during the time GENERAL
WASHINGTON was stationed at MORRISTOWN in the state of
NEW JERSEY and in addition hereto she thinks he served
through many privations and dangers as the LifeGuard of
WASHINGTON for a period of three years.
That he marched mostly through the New England States,
and that owing to the scarcity of provisions and the
strength of the enemy in those states, they were oft
stript of all provisions and compelled to go for days
without food.
And finally near the close of the War as in or about the
year 1782 he returned to his father's house in County of
MORRIS and State of NEW JERSEY. And that he was not in
the Service afterwards.
She further declares that she was married to the said
WILLIAM HALSEY on the 3rd day of November 1780 and that
she was married to him by Joseph Gravies a Minister of
the Presbyterian Church. And that her husband the
aforesaid WILLIAM HALSEY died on the 21st day of February
1832 and that she has remained a widow ever since that
period.
And she further declares owing to rising old age and
great bodily infirmity, she is not able to go to the
courthouse to make this her declarations. And she knows
of no documentary evidence she has to prove her husband's
services all of which will more fully appear by reference
to the proof hereunto annexed.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written
her
RACHEL X HALSEY
mark
Before me
William Young JP
State of Virginia
Grayson County
I William Young an acting Magistrate in and for said
County do hereby certify that the above declaration of
the signature of RACHEL HALSEY is her act and deed, and
that she is a credible and Christian woman and is to be
believed on Oath. I further certify that she is the widow
of the identical WILLIAM HALSEY who was in the War of the
Revolution and died on the 21st of February 1832, as
declared by the above declarant.
I also certify that I have known the afforesaid WILLIAM
and RACHEL HALSEY for the last thirty years during which
time they have lived together as man and wife up to the
time of his death, and that the legality of their
marriage has never been for a moment doubted.
I further certify that owing to old age and bodily
infirmity, she the afforesaid RACHEL HALSEY is not able
to go to the Courthouse to file her declaration.
Given under my hand and seal
This the 4th day of July A.D. 1844
William Young J.P.
Virginia
Grayson County
I, John Dickinson, Clerk of the County
Court of Grayson County do hereby
certify that William Young is Magistrate
as above and that the foregoing
signature purporting to be his is
genuine. In testimony thereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed the
seal of my office this 28th day of July 1845.
John Dickinson
Clerk of the County Court
Of Grayson County
(from the Revolutionary War Veterans Records file of
William Halsey; National Archives, Atlanta)
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