05/09/2026
Recently, as we researched American Revolutionary War Patriots, in our America 250 Celebration, we uncovered a fire that occurred, 10 Oct 1844, in Piketon, in Solomon S Allison's Office, the local Veterans office, holding pension certificates for pensioners, and a Pike County Justice of the Peace.
This loss of pension papers created such a condition, that this document was created, and mention of Reuben Bristol's file is made, in the other gentlemen's pension files, to help explain issues, and hopefully help resolve them sooner, especially in an era with no computers.
We felt this was important to share. Below we do our best to transcribe these three pages.
US Pension Revolutionary War, Reuben Bristol, S.12316, Piketon Fire, 1844, P1
Transcription
The State of Ohio
Pike County Es. Before me Solomon S. Allison an acting Justice of the peace within and for said County this day personally appeared Calean Hempstead resident of said County of Pike, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that for several years last past he has been in the habit of making out or causing to be made out under his immediate direction, the Pensions Papers preparatory to drawing the pensions of the following named United States Pensioners, all of whose names may be found on the Pension List, Role of the Ohio Agency to wit:
John Violet a Revolutionary Pensioner
Joshua Brooks a Revolutionary Pensioner
Reuben Bristol a Revolutionary Pensioner
Benjamin Daniels an Invalid Pensioner
Charles Love an Invalid Pensioner
All of whom are now living and residing within this County (Pike) except Joshua Brooks who resides in Scioto County State of Ohio - And from Memorandum in his possession the said Hempstead is enabled to state that the said John Violet's Pension Certificate was Numbered 1007. issued in lieu of N°631 which was cancelled in consequence of being lost. And dated 14 May 1830. and that he was entitled to receive $6.66 2/3 cts a month -
That the said Joshua Brooks' Certificate was numbered 1057. the date of which this affiant can- not now ascertain, and that he was entitled to receive $6.66 2/3 cents a month -
That the said Reuben Bristol's Certificate was numbered 22.440 and dated 8th Nov 1833. and that he was entitled to receive $40. per annum -
US Pension Revolutionary War, Reuben Bristol, S.12316, Piketon Fire, 1844, P2
Transcription
The said Benjamin Daniels Certificate was dated some time in the year 1818 as near as this affiant can now recollect, that said Benjamin Daniels was originally placed on the Pension Roll at the rate of twenty five Dollars per month, and was afterwards reduced to twelve Dollars and fifty cents per month –
The date of the said Charles Love’s Certificate is not recollected but this affiant thinks his last Certificate was issued within the last two years he having been originally placed on the pension Roll at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, and was afterwards reduced to four, then raised to six, and is now on the roll at Seven Dollars per month –
This affiant further states that the Pension Certificates of the aforesaid several Pensioners were deposited with him for safe keeping, and that the same were all destroyed by fire on the morning of the 10th of October last at the burning of the public Offices in Piketon, in one room of which this affiant kept his office
And it is now requested that new Certificates may be issued to the aforesaid several Pensioners in lieu of those destroyed as above –
Sworn to & Subscribed H. Calkins Hempstead before me Feb 11th 1845 -
Solomon S. Allison J.P.
US Pension Revolutionary War, Reuben Bristol, S.12316, Piketon Fire, 1844, P3
Transcription
State of Ohio
Pike County I George Corwine Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the county aforgan do hereby certify that Solomon S. Allison Esq before whom the foregoing or within affidavit appears to have been sworn to and who has subscribed his name to the within Certificate was at the date thereof and still is an acting Justice of the peace within and for said county of Pike duly commissioned, and qualified, and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all his official acts as such as well in county of Justice as elsewhere
In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed the seal of my office at Piketon this 11th day of Feb AD 1845
George Corwine Clerk
US Pension Revolutionary War, Reuben Bristol, S.12316, Piketon Fire, 1844, P1.
US Pension Revolutionary War, Reuben Bristol, S.12316, Piketon Fire, 1844, P2.
US Pension Revolutionary War, Reuben Bristol, S.12316, Piketon Fire, 1844, P3.
