War of 1812
Declaration of a widow for Pension State of West Virginia, County of Pendleton
On this 6th day of October AD 1871 personally appeared before Isaac P. Boggs Clerk of the Circuit Court a court of record in and from the county and state aforesaid, Elizabeth Botkin aged 94 years, a resident of Pendleton County state of West Virginia who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of John BOTKIN deceased who served the full period of sixty-days in the military service of the United States in the War of 1812 and who was the identical John BOTKIN who was Captain of Company __Regiment__Brigade__Division at Franklin on the __day of __1814__and was honorably discharged at Moorefield on the __day of __1815.
That she was married under the name of Elizabeth Vint to said John Botkin on the 20th day of December AD 1796 by George Guthrie at Pendleton Co. There being no legal barrier to such marriage, that her said husband died on the 21st day of March 1849 and that she has not remarried since his death; that at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States did she or her said husband adhere to the cause of the enemies of the government, giving them aid or comfort, or exercise the functions of any office whatever under any authority, or pretended authority is hostility to the United States, that she will support the constitution of the United States that she is not in receipt of a pension under any previous act, that she makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension rolls of the United States under the provision of the act approved February 14th 1871, that her post office is at Franklin, Pendleton County, state of West Virginia, that her domicide or place of abode is Blackthorn in said county and state and she also states that she received a land warrant for the service of her husband (who was dead) in said __.
Signed Elizabeth Botkin X (her mark)
Attest
C.F. Eye
Benjamin Eye
Also personally appeared C.F. Eye and Benjamin Eye residents of Pendleton County, West Virginia persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit and who being by me duly sworn say they were present and saw Elizabeth BOTKIN the claimant, make her mark to the foregoing declarations, that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person, she represents herself to be, and at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United Sates did she, or her said husband, adhere to the cause of the enemies of the government, or give their aid or comfort and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
Signed
C.F. Eye
Benjamin Eye
I.P. Boggs
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of October, AD 1871, and I duly certify that the contents of the above declaration were fully made known and explained to the Applicant and witnesses before swearing including the words crossed and the words added and that I have no interest, direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim.
Signed
I.P. Boggs, Clerk
State of West Virginia
Pendleton County (Sealed)
This day personally William McCoy and John E. Wilson men who are in every way credible, who make oath and say that they are acquainted with Elizabeth BOTKIN the Claimant and know that she has never remarried since the death of her late husband John BOTKIN who died several years ago; and they further say they know that the said John BOTKIN and Elizabeth
VINT were married and lived together as man and wife. I further certify that I found her marriage recorded in her family bible it being the best evidence that could be found.
Signed
I.P. Boggs, Clerk
State of West Virginia
Pendleton County (Sealed)
In the Claim for Pension of Elizabeth BOTKIN a survivor of the War of 1812 under act of February 14th 1871, that after careful investigation I am convinced the above witnesses Jno E. Wilson and William McCoy are credible persons and for full faith and credit for such and ___ and their affidavits are to be relied upon in every respect.
Signed
John E. Wilson
Post Master of Franklin
Pendleton County West Virginia
Signed
I.P. Boggs, Clerk
Circuit Court of Pendleton County
