ROBERT W. WOODRUFF
compiled by Joyce (Woodruff) Terrana, Burleson, Tx. email salterr@aol.com

Robert was born Aug 1792 Brunswick Co, Va., died Aug 1873 either Cannon or Rutherford Co, Tn, married first about 1825 to ?, married second to Temperance Willis WHITFIELD. Robert had about 9 children by both wives, some have not been identified. He named one son Allen W. Woodruff after his brother. His known children married into the Ring, McCaslin, Sagely and Gregory families. Robert spent a few years in Alabama but lived after 1830 in  Cannon and Rutherford Co, Tennessee. Notice that Robert received 2 bounty land warrants by 1856, fairly typical for most vets of this war, pensions not offered (generally speaking) until 1871. WAR OF 1812 BOUNTY LAND APPLICATONS AND PENSION (my page numbers. my remarks within parenthesis-spelling unchanged)
 

page 1. State of Tennessee, Cannon Co. On this 8th day  Nov 1850 (?50 hard to read), personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace Robert W. Woodruff aged 58 yrs resident ot Cannon being duly sworn declares he is the identical Robert W. Woodruff who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain P. Pryer in the Regiment of Cavalry commanded by Col Byrne in the War with Great Britain, declared by the U. S. on the 18th day of June
1812....that he volunteered in Brunswick Co, Virginia on/about 1 August 1814 for term of 3 months and continued in actual service in said war for term of about 4 months and was honorably discharged at Petersburg, Va about 10 Dec 1814, as will appear by the muster rolls of said company (his certificate of discharge being lost). He makes this declaration for purpose of obtaining Bounty Land to which he may be entitled under the act granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and Soldiers....passsed Sept 28, 1850. (signed) ROBERT W. WOODRUFF. signed Samuel Gruad ? J. P.

page 2.  22459   Treasury Dept, Third Auditor’s Office, June 12, 1851. It appears from documents on file in this office that Robert W. Woodruff, a private of Capt. P. Pryer’s Company of Virginia Militia, entered the service on 29th Aug 1814 and served till 3 Dec 1814. signed R. F. Gallahan, F. ? Auditor, Commissioner of Pensions, Dept of the Interior.   page 3. Cannon Co, Tn. On this 17 day of May 1855, personally appeared
before me, a J. P. for said county, Robert W. Woodruff aged about 63 years, resident of Cannon Co, Tn being duly sworn...was a private in company commanded by Capt Prior in the Regiment of Mounted Men commanded by Colonel Burn in the war with Great Britian declared 18 June 1812. He stated he volunteered in Dinwiddie Co, Va. (Petersburg crossed out) about 29 Aug 1814 continued in actual service for terms of 14 days an upwards, discharged at Petersburg on/about 1st Dec 1814. He states he has heretofore made application for Bounty Land under Act of Sept 1850 and received a Land warrant, number not now recollected for 40 acres which he has since legally disposed of and cannot now return. He makes this declaration for purpose of obtaining the additional Bounty Land, to which he may be   page 4 entitled to under Act approved 3 Mar 1855. He also declares he has never applied for, nor received a warrant for Bounty Land under this or any other acts of Congress except the one above mentioned. (signed) Ropbert W. Woodruff, his mark.   We, David Patton and James Williams residents of Cannon Co, Tn upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed/acknowledged by Robert W. Woodruff in our presence and we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be and that they have no interest in the result of this claim. signed David Patton and James William. The foregoing declarations and affidavit was sworn to before me on date above written....Asa Todd, Justice of the Peace.   page 5.  State of Tn. I Brinkly Lasiter, Clerk of Cannon Co certify that Asa Todd Esqr  whose name appears to the foregoing declaration is now and was at the time, ...an acting Justice of the Peace....his signature is genuine...etc. B. Lasiter, Clerk, 2 July 1855.
  
The Commission of Pensions at Washington will send any Land warrants to my
address as follows:  Robert W. Woodruff, Bradyville, Cannon Co, Tn.
(written in left margin)  193976 (or 493976)
 
page 6.  Cannon Co, Tn. Personally appeared before me, a J. P., Robert W. Woodruff and makes oath in due form of law that he was an applicant for the Bounty Land under act of 28 Sept 1850 and receivd a Bounty Land warrant for 40 acres, the number or date of which is not now remembered which he legally transferred. That he is now an applicant for additional Bounty Land under Act of 3 Mar 1855 NUMBER 193.976 that he is an unlearned person; cannot now nor never could write his name that he always had his name signed at his request by some other person to any instrument of writing requiring his signatures name to be signed. Some times he would make his mark and at other times he would not. He does not now distinctly remember, whether he signed his name by making his mark to (?) either of the applications aforesaid; but believes from his bad recollection at this time, that he did not, that his name was signed in each case by some person at his special instance and request, And whether said application was signed at his request by some other person or signed by him, by making his mark thereto; he now rattifies and comfirms the same - that the same was in other events, fully authorized by him.  Robert W. Woodruff, his mark. ---- (by said Robert W. Woodruff by making his mark thereto) and sworn to before me, this 26 day of May 1856. signed Frankliln Coleman, J. P. attest by Robert William and Larkin Keaton
  
page 7.  No. 3636. Act of February 14, 1871 War of 1812, Robert W. Woodruff, Walter Hill, Rutherford Co, Tn. Capt Philip Pryor’s Co, Virginia Mil. discharged Dec 1814. Received March 27, 1871 Charles C. Tucker, Washington DC, Attorney. (Upper right corner) July 10, 1871 3rd Audt services July 17, 1871 Atty-legality of witnesses   Aug 10, 1871  (ditto)  Aug 30 Cert O P F C   page 8. Declaration of Surviving Soldier for Pension, Act of Feb 14, 1871. Rutherford Co, Tn. On March 21, 1871, personally appeared before me, James O. Oslin, Clerk of County Court....Robert W. Woodruff aged 77 yers, resident near Murfreesboro, Rutherford Co, Tn being duly sworn....declares that he was married twice, both wives dead, that he served the full period of 60 days in the Military service in War of 1812, ....volunteered in Capt Philip Pryors Company, Col Byrnes or Burns Regt, Winfield Scott at one time then -unl? Brne or Burns Div at Petersburg, Dinwiddie County, Va. on August 1814, discharged at Petersburgh, Va on Dec 1814, that he was not in any Battles wa stationed at Petersburg at Camp Powell Creek. Received 2 Land Warrants, one for 40 and one for 50 acres, the acts under which they were obtained not remembered (preprinted paragraph attesting that he did not give aid/comfort to enemies of the Government, etc)  that he makes this declaration for purpose of being placed on the pension roll under Act of Feb 14, 1871, and appoints Charles C. Tucker of Wshington DC his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim....that his post office is at Walter Hill, Rutherford Co, Tn, that his domicil or place of abode is near the same. signed Robert W. Woodruff his mark. Attest:  John Jones and Joseph  Watkins
  
page 9. War of 1812 Act of Feb 14, 1871. Department of the Interior, Pension Office, July 10, 1871. You are respectfully requested to furnish official evidence of the enrollment, muster service and duty of Robert W. Woodruff, who volunteered at Petersburg, Va Aug 1814 in Capt Philip Pryos Co, Virginia Mil, discharged Patersburg, Va Dec 1814. (more preprinted questions and blanks, not used). Claim No. 3636. Respectfully...J. H. Baker, H. Van Acruman (?) Commission.   page 10. (3 cards)  Card 1. Rbert W. Woodruff, Private, Capt Philip Pryor's Troop of Cav, 1st Regt Virginia Militia, War of 1812, appears on Company Pay Roll for Aug 27 to Dec 6, 1814. Term of service 3 months 4 days. Pay per month $8.00. Amount of pay $25.06.  Number of horses:  one.  Pay per day of horse:  40 cents. Amount of pay $37.60. Total amount: $62.66. signed J. L. orris copist.  Card 2. (same heading of name/mil unit) Company Muster Roll for Aug 28 to Nov 30, 1814, Camp Powells Creek, Dec 1, 1814. Aug 29, 1814 thru Dec 3, 1814. Present, number of horses: one. Miles from Home:  65. signed J. L. Norris coppied?   Third card. Treasure Dept, Tird Auditors Office, July 24, 1871. Respectfully returned to Commission of Pension with the information that the rolls of Capt Phillip Pryors Co of Va Mil, show that Robert W. Woodruff served from 29 Aug 1814 to 20 Dec 1814. 3 + 30 + 31+ 30 + 20 = 114 (?days). signed Allan Rutherford, Auditor.
 

page 11. Issued in lieu of previous instructions from this office July 1871. War of 1812. Department of the INterior, Pension Office, Washington DC, Aug 10, 1871. Sir. In the claim for pension of Robert W. Woodruff, a survivor of the War of 1812 under the Act of Feb 14, 1871, No. 3636, John Jones and Jos Watkins testify to the claimant loyalty. You are required to show by certificte of an officer of the U. S. Court,.....to the stisfaction of this Office, that after creful investigation he is convinced the above witnesses are men of undoubted good character .....and that their statements are worthy of full faith and credit.  Very respectfully. F. H. Baker, Commissioner, signed Carles C. Tucker, Washington DC
 

page 12. War of 1812 Act of Feb 14, 871. Brief of Claim for a Survivor's Pension in the case of Robert W. Woodruff, a Pri. of Capt Phillips Pryos Company of Va. Mil, residence, Rutherford Co, Tn...post office address, Walter Hill, Rutherford Co, Tn, enlisted Aug 29, discharged Dec 20, 1814, filed March 27, 1871. Service for 60 days shown as follows:  Report from 3rd Auditor shows that Robert W. Woodruff, Pri. served....etc, length of service, 114 days. Claimant declares he is not a pensioner under any previous act. Name not on list of pensioners. Loyalty--claimants everment and testimony of John Jones and Joseph Watkins. Character of witnesses--certified to by Ed. S. Wheat, Asst assessor, 4th dist, Tn. Oath to support the Constitution of U. S. subscribed.  Admitted Aug 24, 1871 to a Pension of $8.00 per month from Feb 14, 1871. signed Charles C. Tcker, Washington DC and Wm. W. Hays, Exext. Approved.   page 13. Form of Certificate. I, Ed. S. Wheat, Asst Assessor, 4th Dist of Tenn, do hereby certify that after careful investigation, I am convinced that John Jones and Joseph Watkins who, as I am informed, have testified to the loyalty of Robert W. Woodruff are  persons of undoubted good character for truth and veracity, and that their statements in the affidavit referred to are worthy of full faith and credit. Dated at Murfreesboro, Tn 18 Aug 1871. signed Ed S. Wheat, Asst Assessor, 4th Dist Tenn.
 

page 14 (two cards, hard to read with some writing at an angle, on top of other writing) Card 1. 193.976 Act Mar 3, 1855 22.459 July 25, 18? 11 or ? Robert Woodruff. Capt Prior, Col Burn Va. Mil. Ent 29 Aug 1814 dis 1 Dec 1814. War of 1812. Rec wt 40 A       8.834  7? Apr 1856. --?-- ?  Jan 11, 1856  --?-- Robert W. Woodruff Bradyville. (Written diagonally) ??  77538 iss’d June 20, 1856  Card 2. No. 22,459 Dec 2, 18??  193.976  Robert W. Woodruff Private Capt Pryer, Col Byrne, War of 1812, Va. Vols. --? 1 Aug 1814 1 Dec.  8.17.1 Warrant 8834 issued June 19, 1851 & sent to Davis V. Wood, Woodbury, Tn. vol 46 page 100
 
page 15 (one card)  No. 3375. War of 1812 Dec’d Aug 19, 1873 paid June 4, 1873. Survivors Pension. Tennessee. Robert W. Woodruff, Private, Capt P. Pryor Regt, Va. Militia. Nashville Agency, certificate dated 26 Aug 1871. Act 14 Feb 1871, Tennessee page 127. signed W. L. White, Clerk. (Upper right) Apr 16 Second Co (?Court) Voucher for arrears?  Bills $20 Dec 20, ? W. L. Sprague.