/ COPIES OF THE APPLICATION OF JOYNES TO THE VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE SETTING UP THE REQUEST FOR THE LANDS OF JESSE & LUKE CANNON

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1 / COPIES OF THE APPLICATION OF JOYNES TO THE VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE SETTING UP THE REQUEST FOR THE LANDS OF JESSE & LUKE CANNON o Dear Sir, May I ask the favor of you to lay the claims of Luke & Jesse CANNON before the council? They are plain cases, and the testimony by which they are supported is the same which the executive pressed all the claims which I have had the honor to lay before them Your indisposition has heretofore prevented my pressing those claims, and I would not do in now was it not for the fact that the legislature must soon adjourn, and it would be to me a good convenience to have them acted upon before I return home. I have been informed my members of the council that you have, since your confinement to your house, sent some cases to them which they have acted upon. This information has induced me to make this request, with sincere wishes for your speedy recovery. I have the honor to be your obedient servant. Jno G. JOYNES o State of Virginia, City of Richmond - > The deposition of Scarborough BLOXAM, aged about seventy seven years, who deposes and says that he enlisted on board the Accomack galley as a midshipman before the galley was launched, and continued in that capacity until orders were received to dismantle and lay up the Accomack and Diligence, that he was well acquainted with Luke CANNON, who was a midshipman on board the Diligence; that he enlisted on board when the Diligence first went into service, and continued in that capacity until the Diligence was ordered to be laid up and dismantled. Signed, Scarborough BLOXSOM in 8 MAR 1831 Scarborough BLOXAM Deposition for Jesse CANNON same words as Luke CANNON well acquainted o Auditor s Office, 14 MAR Jesse CANNON, a lieutenant in the state navy recd on 13 OCT 1783 a certificate for the balance of his full pay or depreciation, amounting to ; and on the 27 APR 1785 he received another certificate for , which was delivered to Col. CROPPER. Luke CANNON, a midshipman received on the 27 APR 1785 a certificate for for the balance of his full pay as midshipman in the state navy; which said certificate was delivered to Col. CROPPER. There was another Luke CANNON a lieut. And quartermaster in the Continental Line who recd a certificate sent to himself. Signed James E HEATH o Land Office, 14 MAR I certify that it appears of record in this office that on the 31 MAY 1783 a military land bounty warrant for /3 acres was issued by the State of Virginia to Luke CANNON for 3 years service as a lieutenant in the Virginia Continental Line of the revolution; and I certify that on the 12 FEB 1808 another such military warrant for 148 acres issued to the said CANNON for 4 months service, more than 6 years. And I certify that it does not appear that any military warrant ever issued to Jesse CANNON or to Luke CANNON other than the aforesaid. Signed W. Selden, R. L. Office o Executive Department, APRIL18, The foregoing are true copies of papers found in this department. Thos H? RICHMOND Sen? Secy Comm. 1 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

2 2. EXHIBIT A: 30 MAR 1832 Accomack County, VA Certificate and Powers of Attorney from WESTON to JOYNES o At Court held for Accomack County on the 30 MAR 1832: It is ordered to be certified that is appears to the Court by satisfactory evidence that Catherine, alias Kittura WESTON, the wife of William WESTON now residents of Hartford CT, and Stephen DRUMMOND and Cary DRUMMOND of Elizabeth City County, VA are the only heirs-at-law of Jesse CANNON who was a Lt in the Virginia State Navy and of Luke CANNON, midshp Virginia State Navy in the Revolutionary War, the said Catherine alias Kittura WESTON being a child of Elizabeth DRUMMOND, dec d formerly Elizabeth CANNON, who was sister of said Jesse and Luke CANNON --- and the said Stephen and Cary DRUMMOND being the only children of Stephen DRUMMOND dec d another child of said Elizabeth DRUMMOND and that said Luke CANNON and Jesse CANNON left at their deaths no Parents or children nor descendants of children and no brothers or sister except the said Elizabeth DRUMMOND, formerly Elizabeth CANNON and that the said Elizabeth DRUMMOND left no children or descendants of children except the said Catherine or Kittura WESTON and Stephen and Cary DRUMMOND. A Copy Test Js J AILWORTH for Thos. R JOYNES, CC o At Court held for Accomack County 30 MAR 1832: It is ordered to be certified that Luke CANNON, midsh, died intestate that no original will of said Luke CANNON or any copy of any such will has ever been proved or offered for probate in this court Js J AILWORTH o At Court held for Accomack County 30 MAR 1832: It is ordered to be certified that Jesse CANNON, midsh, died intestate that no original will of said Jesse CANNON or any copy of any such will has ever been proved or offered for probate in this court Js J AILWORTH o State of Virginia, Accomack County: I, Thomas R JOYNES, Clerk of the County, certify that the above are truly copied from the records of said Court. Ordered 25 OCT 1832 Jas J AILWORTH Deputy for Tho R JOYNES CAC o POWER OF ATTORNEY: Know all men by these presents that we William H WESTON and Kitturah WESTON, wife of said William late of Elizabeth City County, VA now residing in Hartford, CT the said Kitturah being one of the heirs-at-law of Luke & Jesse CANNON (their offices are backwards here - NGM] do hereby constitute and appoint and employ John G JOINES as our agent and attorney to receive, draw and demand all the Land Warrants, Emoluments, Monies, Certificates, and Scrip, and all other things to which we may be entitled as heirs.. that JOYNES for his services rendered.. one-fourth part for his trouble JOYNES binds himself to pay over to WESTON & WIFE the remaining three parts clear of all costs that may arise or accrue in obtaining the above claims, the sd JOYNES to be at liberty to employ an agent at his own expense to transact any part of said business. Signed, William H WESTON, Kitturah WESTON 7 JUNE 1831 State of Connecticut, Hartford 7 JUN 1831 This day WESTON & WIFE personally appeared before me Nathan JOHNSON, JP, to make this power of attorney William WHITMAN, Hartford CT I certify WESTON & WIFE in my presence signed this document, and that Nathan JOHNSON, well known to me as JP also signed. WHITMAN signed o Thereby certify that the foregoing are true copies of the originals on file in the office. Testimony of Elijah HAYWARD, Washington, 3 NOV Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

3 3. DEPOSITION: JOHN BULL, SENR --> Accomack Co, VA 9 JAN 1833, 64 yrs old o Well acquainted with Jesse CANNON and Luke CANNON at the latter part of the Revolutionary War; Served on board the galley Diligence commanded by Captain Johannes WATSON. After the War the men left the county, he understood they went to New Jersey. o He thought they were Irishmen. Jesse was a low, thick man with sandy colored hair; Luke had the same colored hair but was taller and more slender and freckled o Also acquainted with Betsy (CANNON) DRUMMOND the wife of Stephen DRUMMOND and lived within 3 miles of them. Betsy left several children at her death, Stephen married twice more, the last to widow Betsy TURNER and then they moved to Elizabeth City County, VA. o Before the death of Betsy CANNON DRUMMOND he had seen Sales CANNON of Choptank, Talbot County, Maryland (where Betsy and Stephen married). He heard Betsy DRUMMOND say that Sales CANNON was the only brother she had and that she had no sister and that Jesse and Luke CANNON that were in the galley with him were no relation to her that she ever heard of or knew o He searched for heirs of Jesse and Luke CANNON in Summer of 1832 through lower Delaware and Maryland to Choptank but only found one man who knew Jesse CANNON and none who knew Luke CANNON. o He was told Jesse CANNON had lived in Laurel, Delaware but there found heirs of Sales CANNON who did not claim any title to the back pay owed Jesse and Luke CANNON. He believes any heirs in America probably live in New Jersey o Signed John BULL By Wm R CUSTIS, JP, Accomack County, VA o Elijah HEYWARD certifies this copy of the deposition in the General Land Office 3 NOV DEPOSITION: HUDSON & EZEKIEL CANNON Dorchester County, MD 13 AUG 1833 and POWER OF ATTORNEY of the CANNONS to Arthur DASHIELL of Somerset o Sons and nephews of Jesse CANNON and Luke CANNON who served in the Revolutionary War in the Naval Department of the Virginia line. They have always understood and believed that their uncle Jesse CANNON was a lieutenant of row galley, and their father Luke CANNON was a midshipman in the same service. o They nor anyone for them ever received compensation money or the land promised by the State of Virginia to her officers and soldiers who served in her line during the Revolutionary War o They have duly appointed Arthur DASHIELS of Somerset County, MD to demand whatever is due them as sons and nephews of the said Jesse and Luke CANNON o Signed Hudson CANNON, Ezekiel CANNON o Sworn and subscribed before two Maryland JPs: Clement McNAMARA, Timothy McNAMARA o POWER of ATTORNEY: Hudson and Ezekiel CANNON of Dorchester County, MD appoint Arthur DASHIELL of Somerset Co, MD our true and lawful attorney to ask, demand, sure for recovery and receive of and from the US Government all sums of money, debts, dues and demands whatsoever which are now due us being claimed on Jesse and Luke CANNON o 20 AUG 1833, Dorchester Co, MD, E. RICHARDSON, Clerk certifies JP McNAMARA signatures o 13 AUG 1833, Dorchester Co, MD - McNAMARAs certify the document 3 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

4 5. 4 NOV TRUE COPIES of ORIGINAL PAPERS FILED IN THIS OFFICE, by WOODBURY, SECY OF TREASURY: FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTS EXPOSED BY JAMES POLK o 17 SEP 1835 DEPOSITION of JOHN INSLEY, 79 years old, Somerset Co., MD o He was intimately acquainted with Jesse CANNON and Luke CANNON o They left Maryland and went to Virginia during the Revolutionary War, serving in the Naval Department there. He saw their discharges after peace was proclaimed o He saw Luke CANNON died in the year Jesse CANNON then took charge of Luke's two children which was all the family he had left. Jesse lived until DEC 1829 at which time deponent helped to bury him o Jesse CANNON was a lieutenant in the service and Luke a midshipman. They are both dead leaving only the two sons of Luke CANNON - Hudson CANNON and Ezekiel CANNON, which are the sole heirs of the above deceased as sons and nephews. There was no will left by either party. o Signed by John Dougherty, JP who certified knowing John INSLEY as a gentleman of respectable character o Certified by Geo HARDY, Clerk of Court 3 MAR 1834 o James POLK of Somerset County, MD, 4 JAN 1834, who swore on the Holy Evangel of Almighty God that he knows John INSLEY of respectable character, and full faith and credit should be given his statement o John INSLEY character witness, Theodore G DESHULE, JP o John INSLEY character witness, Little P DENNIS o [bottom note - Wm REDDIN, Esquire] o 26 APR 1834 DEPOSITION of COMFORT CANNON, 79 yrs old, Dorchester Co, MD o She intimately acquainted with Jesse CANNON and Luke CANNON. They were raised in Dorchester County, MD; they left for Virginia to enlist in the Navy until peace came. She heard their father read a left from Jesse CANNON which stated that Jesse was a lieutenant and Luke a midshipman. They did not return to live in Dorchester County. o Luke CANNON married and had two sons called Hudson CANNON and Ezekiel CANNON. Jesse CANNON never married. o Luke died in 1816 and left no will. Jesse died DEC 1829 in Dorchester County and his body lies in the graveyard where I now live. Jesse was insane for ten years before his death at times. He left no will. She heard Jesse and Luke CANNON state that they had made a good deal of money o Hudson and Ezekiel CANNON are the whole and sole heirs of Luke and Jesse, live in Dorchester County, MD on the place where their father Luke and Uncle Jesse died. She believes Hudson and Ezekiel received nothing that was promised them to Virginia. o Signed by her mark Comfort CANNON o Character witness by Timothy McNAMARA [this was left off copy where it was supposed to be and copied onto last page with a note stating this was a copying mistake] o 26 APR 1834 DEPOSITION OF JAMES CANNON, 81 yrs, Dorchester Co, MD o He personally knew Jesse and Luke CANNON. They were raised in Dorchester County, MD and he went with them to enlist in Virginia Navy. Jesse was a lieutenant and Luke a midshipman o They returned to Dorchester County and lived there until their deaths. Jesse CANNON never married, lived to DEC 1829 and left no will. Luke CANNON married, had 2 sons Hudson and Ezekiel CANNON in Dorchester County. Luke left no will. These two sons are whole and sole heirs of Jesse and Luke CANNON o He heard them say that had never been paid o Signed Timothy McNAMARA, JP, 26 APR character witness for James CANNON 4 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

5 o 26 APR 1834 DEPOSITION of HAGER CANNON, 76 yrs, Dorchester Co, MD o She intimately acquainted with Jesse and Luke CANNON, they were raised in Dorchester County. She knows they left for Virginia to enlist in the Virginia line Naval Department. They stayed in service until the war ended. In the time of their service she lived in the house of their father and mother and she heard several letters read that came from them. The old man shed many teats but then would say they were fighting a good cause and he hoped they would behave brave. o Jesse CANNON did not marry, died DEC 1829, leaving no will. He was insane for ten years at times. When the fits were off him he would say he believed it was in consequence of killing so many of the British in the War. Luke CANNON married and had two sons Hudson and Ezekiel CANNON. Luke died 1816 and left no will. Hudson and Luke are the whole and sole heirs of Luke and Jesse CANNON. o Signed by Hager CANNON by her mark o Certified by Timothy McNAMARA JP, she of reputable character o E. RICHARDSON, Clerk of Dorchester County Court certifies that Comfort, James and Hager CANNON swore these before him, 28 APR JUN LETTER of HENRY A WISE to SEC TREASURY: CLAIMING TO BE ATTORNEY FOR WESTON & WIFE, ASKING FOR SUSPENSION OF SCRIP o I was informed yesterday that parties claiming before your Department the half pay for the life for the service of Jesse CANNON, a lieutenant in the State Navy of Virginia. I know not who they are; but I am informed that a Mr. REDDIN is their agent. Now Sir, I hereby, as the attorney of Wm. H. WESTON & Kittura his wife, inform you that said Kittura, & two infants residing at Hampton, VA are the heirs-at-law of said Jesse CANNON, that they drew 4000 acres of land from the State of Virginia for his services, as will appear by reference to the Genl Land Office. And, for the said heirs of sd CANNON, and against their receiving the pay for this services o I am the attorney at Law for sd WESTON and wife & c against their former agent, in a suit now pending before the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Accomack County, VA as to his compensation. Their heirship was at one time disputed, but those contesting it in that suit have dismissed their proceeding, and Mr. REDDIN was apprised of this. Respectfully, Henry A WISE 5 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

6 7. PACKET 20 JUN 1834 to Hon. J. L. EDWARDS from James POLK, APPLICATION FOR THE HALF-PAY FOR LIFE of JESSE CANNON MADE BY RICHARD BUCK and HIS WIFE of NORTH CAROLINA o Claiming to be the heirs of Jesse CANNON by reason of Polly CANNON BUCK being his only child, the department has notified Wm H WESTON and wife and others claiming heirship as nieces and nephews and to whom heretofore scrip for the bounty land due CANNON has been issued that testimony on both sides would be received until the 1 st of JULY and then the question of heirship decided between the parties -- o In consequence of this notice, Henry A WISE, attorney for WESTON and WIFE and the DRUMMONDS has made a communication with you protesting against the action of the Department, and giving what he is pleased to call a "general statement of facts". This statement of Mr WISE contains several errors in fact. I count inaccuracies in chronological order and in relation, and with inferences unfavorable to myself and to the application I have made to the department and which cannot result from a full statement.. I am therefore compelled to give a short narrative of the case... that justice may be done. o On 4 FEB 1833 land scrip for the bounty lands due Jesse CANNON were issued in the names of Kittura WESTON & Stephen and Cary DRUMMOND as the heirs of Jesse CANNON and delivered to John G JOYNES of Accomack Co, VA their attorney. By JOYNES sold to a Wm STANBURY of Ohio. JOYNES did not pay over the monies due those whom he represented, so the WESTONS have instated a suit against JOYNES and BAYLY in Accomack County, VA, charging them with confederating to defraud. o Pending the suit and in the year 1833 Arthur DASHILL of Somerset County, MD brought the rights of Hudson and Ezekiel CANNON of Dorchester County MD to the bounty land and half-pay due Jesse and Luke CANNON, Hudson and Ezekiel professing to be the sons and only children of Luke and nephews of Jesse CANNON. For the evidence of this purchase see a power of attorney filed by DASHILL in the pension office in 1833 or o For the purpose of obtaining the half pay which might be due Jesse CANNON (and which had not been even applied for by WESTONS and DRUMMONDS or JOYNES although the scrip was), DASHILL caused certain depositions to be remitted in the Pension Office, filed by REDDIN in the Pension Office in MAY o The Hon Henry A WISE having heard that the papers on behalf of the application of DASHILL for the half-pay of Jesse CANNON were filed by Mr. REDDIN, WISE wrote on 20 JUN 1834 to the Secretary of the Treasury protesting against the half-pay being given anyone but his clients o On 20 OCT 1834 DASHILL sold to me the rights which he had bought from Hudson and Ezekiel CANNON as inducement for me to purchase these claims he gave to me a paper, being a memorandum of the paper which he had filed in Washington. o In a few days after this execution of these papers I to Washington and for the first time saw on file the depositions which had been presented at the Pension Office by REDDIN, & Of which DASHILL had given me the memorandum - saw what had been as presented to me all the contents of these depositions by DASHILL... I knew nothing until I read the papers. On that 4 NOV 1834 I procured copies of the papers and of Mr WISE... the certificate attached. See paper marked D o With these copies, which seem to represent the case so clear I went as fast as I could travel to Accomack (spending but one night at times) hoping that Mr. WISE attorney for WESTON & WIFE would abandon as fruitless that claims & that JOYNES who had the money on hand for the scrip would compensate --- Mr. WISE refused to abandon the claim and stated that the deposition of which I showed him the copies proved too much & that he did not regard them. He did not say that he suspected them of being forgeries, nor did he say in what them was too much proved. -- It had not seemed to me for a moment that a man would forge papers & then sell to another rights depending on those papers, which must... bear ultimately to his disgrace and punishment -- o When I returned home from Virginia which was towards the middle of November, I met with a man who was raised in the immediate neighborhood of the witnesses whose depositions DASHILL had 6 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

7 taken. I inquired of him the citation to Luke and Jesse CANNON, His statement was so totally different from that of the depositions that I began, for the first time, to suspect DASHILL of something wrong-- I immediately wrote to him that I wished to see him and recd a negative reply that he was sick but would see me in a few days -- my suspicions became stronger and having already paid him nearly $700 [or $100, hard to read], which I apprehended I could soon get back, I lost no time in visiting the witnesses & the magistrate before whom the depositions purported to be taken-- they appeared to be shocked at these depositions which I read to them and then stated the facts as they said they had represented them to DASHILL, among others, that Jesse CANNON after the Revolutionary War, went to North Carolina, married and settled in the Town of Newbern, had one child and died a few years before Luke CANNON who died in 1798 and that since his death they had heard nothing of his family-- On my return home from visiting these witnesses I made public the forging of DASHILL, the fraud he had thricely practiced on me, I mentioned it to many and among the member, to the attorney General of Maryland. I had not paid DASHILL all I was to give him, and of course refused to pay him anymore. This and the publicity which I gave to his conduct, produced a letter from him on the 2 nd of DEC 1834 charging me with a wish to throw him into difficulties, and asserting the integrity of his conduct in relation to the depositions-- This letter is herewith filed marked G. o Finding that I should lose what money I had paid DASHILL, I set out for North Carolina in search of the true heirs of Jesse CANNON and there found his daughter Mrs BUCK who had been known by his relations in Dorchester. On my way to Newbern I [stopped] in with Mr WISE in Norfolk and with Mr. MAYO in Baltimore(?); to both gentlemen I communicated that fact of these depositions being forged. On my return from North Carolina I stopped in Washington and informed Mr. DICKENS these commissions of persons that these papers were forgeries; in consequence of which information a note was addressed to me by the Secretary of the Treasury requesting me to make a written statement under oath of what I know on the subject.. A copy of this note marked E is herewith filed. -- o In the Spring of 1825 [sic] I cause suit in the Chancery on behalf of Hudson and Ezekiel CANNON, & Richard & Polly BUCK, the first as heirs of Luke CANNON, the second of Jesse CANNON, against John G JOYNES & others for the in Superior Court, Accomack Co, VA, for the receiving of the money which had fraudulently been obtained from the United States in the name of WESTON & WIFE and the DRUMMONDS o The first bill filed was d, and an amended bill was afterward filed, producing of course some delay, but by no means voluntary-- In these suits commission have issued court for taking depositions, notice has been given to the deponents of the terms and places of taking depositions, and of the names of the witnesses whose depositions were to be taken. To those deponents who reside in the State of Virginia the notice was given by subpoena, to those residing out of it by an advertisement in a newspaper published in the State for four consecutive weeks herewith filed and marked F o The depositions are regularly taken, by respectable magistrates and by them enclosed, under their hand and seal: Of the respectability of the CANNONS you have the testimony of the District Attorney of Maryland who had them as witnesses in the Baltimore trial of DASHILL Of the respectability of John EDMONDSON you have the letter from the Hon Rob H GOLDSBOROUGH Of the respectability of John BULL you have the deposition of?? AILWORTH, I will also on that point refer to Mr KELLEN of the Land Office, You have the united testimony of the Hon Jese SPEIGHT and Ed. PETTIGREW As to the respectability and credibility of David FORLAW and the testimony of the former in relation to that of Mr & Mrs JONES-- Should these not be sufficient, I can in relation to FORLAW add the testimony of the Hon Wm SHEPPARD-- Wm JONES and his wife are not only credible witnesses but are wealthy and of the first respectability in society in Craven County where they reside-- 7 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

8 The testimony given by these persons (JONES & WIFE) is particularly referred to by Mr WISE, as being doubtful or improperly taken-- this response is based on a conversation between him and myself in which I stated that Mr. & Mrs JONES could not say at what particular time Jesse CANNON died-- When in North Carolina in the winter of 1834 I understood Mr. & Mrs. JONES to say that Jesse CANNON died in the year 1792, but that they could not recall at what particular time, whether Spring or Fall or when and this is what, in the Summer of 1825 [sic] I told to Mr WISE-- When their testimony was taken in March 1836 they had not been able, by any circumstance to remember more that they had formerly communicated to me, and hence could not testify more particularly-- By referring to their depositions you will find that their testimony accords(?) precisely with what I communicated to Mr WISE the summer before... it took place about From the information which I recd from Jesse CANNON relations in Dorchester as to when they got information of Jesse's death I did, and do now myself believe he died in The Justice of the Peace who took the depositions of JONES & WIFE a very respectable man Abner MEAD is frequently a member of the North Carolina legislature. Can anyone, for a moment, suppose that the depositions of these witnesses, taken at any other time, under any other circumstances would contradict or alter materially the depositions already solemnly taken and now on file, both in the Chancery Court of Accomack & the Pension Office at Washington? The reason why none of the defendants were present at the taking of depositions was that they did not choose to attend, nor would they, I am pretty sure, were they to be taken twenty times over-- When the depositions of BULL and AILWORTH were taken, JOYNES, SEGAR, and Stephen DRUMMOND all were all were with Drummond Town(?) the place of taking, with or by their attorney. Stephen DRUMMOND was there in person and yet none attended the taking of the depositions. ELLIS, attorney of SEGAR was there a few minutes but it was because he had business of another sort-- At last May Term of the Accomack Court, SEGAR filed a, instead of an answer to the bill and objections to the testimony as being leading & c, all obviously, to and delay the of the suit, manifestly intending not to rely on the merits of the case-- WESTON & WIFE have answered denying the heirship of Mrs BUCK and referring to the certificate of the Accomack Court on which land warrants were obtained by JOYNES from the VA Land Office as evidence of their heirship-- Mr. WISE told me this certificate was all the evidence the WESTONS have of heirship o From the time that I informed the department in FEB 1835 of the forgery of DASHILL, until about the 16 NOV last when Mr. WISE by letter called its attention to the subject and asked for an investigation, it remained unnoticed except in such conversations between Mr WISE and myself and others-- Shortly after Mr WISE wrote to the department, he informed me that he had done so, that Mr WILLIAMS the District Attorney had called on him for information, and that he had referred him to me-- He asked me to call on Mr WILLIAM, as I passed through Baltimore and give him what information I had-- I did so o From this statement and the accompanying papers together with those already on file, a careful and thorough f which investigation of the whole matter is respectfully solicited, o it will affirm that I did not as is stated by Mr WHITE show him the papers prepared by DASHILL but simply copies of them, obtained from the pension office nearly six months after DASHILL had filed them through his agent Mr REDDIN, o that I did not present them to the Treasury as is to be inferred from the content to Mr WISE's letter when he says, "The letter (POLK) showed me these papers prepared by DASHILL & They were presented to the Treasury Department", but that they were presented by Mr REDDIN (see report DASHILL case)-- o that Mr WISE did not inform the department that these papers were forgeries, but he informed it... a year after his suspicions-- 8 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

9 o that I did not set up a claim immediately for those whom I now "act" upon the prosecution of DASHILL but many months before DASHILL was prosecuted -- o that they delay has not been caused by me, at least voluntarily o that the testimony is not ex parte (according to my idea of the significance of the word) being taken under commission & after due notice in due form-- o that the time of Jesse CANNON's death is, although not found as to day or month, yet is sufficiently proved to take, exercising to the usage of the deponent the shortest time-- o that it was taken under circumstances calculated to entitle it to more credit than the ex parte depositions upon which the department has usually acted in such cases o There is a content in Mr WISE's letter to you which with from the error of facts or confusion of them, perhaps in some degree from both is whether designed by or not of WISE has tendency to words particularly to, when taken in with other errors in the.. but which when replaced and corrected, must. Mr WISE says "He (DASHELL) sold his interest as purchase or agent to said Jas POLK. The latter showed me the papers prepared by DASHILL & they were presented to the Treasury-- I suspected them to be forgeries & notified the pension office-- DASHILL has been lately convicted of forging these papers-- After my letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, POLK acknowledged the papers to be forgeries and prosecuted DASHILL" o The plain idea to be conveyed by the context of this quotation is that I had these original forged papers and filed them, that after WISE wrote his letter to the Secretary of the Treasury I finding I could do no better acknowledged that fact, and to get out of the matter prosecuted DASHILL-- It is not true... o Now sir, WISE wrote two letters, one as far back as 20 JUN 1834 and shortly after these forged papers were filed by DASHILL in the pension office and long before they were known to anyone to be forgeries for the purpose of suspending the payment of the half-pay, & another, about the middle of last November, calling for the prosecution of DASHILL-- o If when he says "after my letter to the Secy of Treasury" & c he refers to the first letter, it will, I think puzzle the imagination of anyone to concern, why he should introduce it an the subject of the forgeries, when it could have no possible relation to it unless it was, by confounding facts, to cause one to be taken for another,and to produce a result that, if put fairly in their place, could not flow from them-- o If he refers to his last letter, then it is not a fact that I acknowledged to him (as he is pleased to term my voluntary conversation and which I had, before communicated to him, mentioned to at least 20 others) that these papers were forged after that letter-- my statement was made to him first in NOV 1834 and his letter was written in NOV 1835 and shows that he prosecuted DASHILLS and not I as alleged-- o The government have heretofore granted script to WESTON & WIFE and the DRUMMONDS-- this scrip was obtained by the what devices and confidences of JOYNES and others in behalf of WESTON & WIFE and the DRUMMONDS, when in fact these persons have not only, not nephews and nieces of CANNON but were i no way related to ;... not even having the same name, and being of an old and well known family in Talbot County, MD-- Besides the proof, and the depositions of John EDMONDSON, that the mother of Mrs WESTON was named CANNOR not CANNON, it is a remarkable fact that the power of attorney forwarded by JOYNES from Hartfield CT by WESTON & WIFE, written by WESTON himself both spell the name CANNOR, and a number of letters written by WESTON to the department while in New England & until he came on and found that the name of the office was CANNON all show it to the spelt CANNOR-- Before the scrip was delivered to JOYNES there were depositions of respectable men filed in the Land Office, one of these the own uncle of Mrs. WESTON which put most positively that Mrs WESTON was not related to Jesse CANNON but that she was descended from another family-- Then... in domestic circumstance, as to cause no doubt of this accuracy and truth-- Yet with powers of attorney giving another name with giving and the name, & then depositions all before the department, they have issued and delivered the scrip to fraudulent 9 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

10 claimants, and left the true heirs of Jesse CANNON to get the money as they can, through a long, tedious and suit in Chancery from JOYNES who, for its use, will keep it as long as he can, which testators(?) who has nothing, will throw every difficulty in the way, to by which he may, if he cannot obtain all the fruits of his fraud, at least get a part--- Well the government t refused to act on the application of the half-pray, which the law of congress assigns that duty to? Will it repay the injury already done the true heirs by so wrongfully issuing the scrip, by withholding the half-pay, under the captious objections of WESTON-- The testimony if fully will then show that, as to the true heirs there can be no doubt, and that the grossest fraud has been heretofore practiced by JOYNES, for which, but that limitation they would be prosecuted by government. o The question in the suit in Virginia on which the counsel (Mr MAY for WESTON as he has aforesaid and not question of heirship, but questions of law, growing out of agency of JOYNES & the nature of scrip--- He has frequently told me he considered it a case of gross fraud on the part of JOYNES, but that as scrip was in the nature of land and JOYNES had sold it without guarantee & recd the money, he was in law, as agent responsible to his principals Mr WISE has told me he did not believe WESTON & WIFE were the heirs, and that he believed this whole was to use his own language, a wrotten concern -- o Mr WISE states in his letter that WESTON & WIFE are poor; if so I should supposed they would be anxious to have the question of half pay settled, so that they can get the money, if they were entitled to it-- It is worth some $90/year; a sum by no means inconsiderable to a poor man-- The truth is WESTON knows he is not entitled to it, that he never can get it; he never expected it for I have his letter, in which he says "to the money in the Treasury it is all fudge there is no hope there"-- but being disappointed getting hold of the money already fraudulently obtained saving of those who caused his disappointment, by throwing every impediment in the way--- This letter of WESTON, which I herewith file, if it is to be certain that Mr WISE's statement as to his circumstances is not correct; or of it is not to be believed it shows what sort of character he is--- Will the government then, when fraud is so manifest on one side, and justice on the other, suspend the reparation of a wrong, partly the result of the conduct of their own offices-- I think not-- o I understand that JOYNES has given Stephen DRUMMOND $50 for his interest in all these claims, with a contingency of one-half of whatever he may for DRUMMOND. I heard(?) a bond to that affect-- - o In conclusion I beg of you to give the case a patent to investigation. o Signed Jas POLK o By comparing the letter which I herewith file written by WESTON at Alexandria 20 JAN 1835, with the letters written by him in CT & NY to the department, it will be found that he spells the name CANNON very differently, in that letter it is CANNON, in these CANNOR-- When he wrote the last he had found out the true name and did not, as when he wrote those from NE & NY. Suppose that these officers were a branch of the CANNOR family from Talbot from whom Mr. WESTON descended-- There are several of Mrs WESTONS family on the CANNOR side now in Baltimore, Dorchester & Talbot Counties-- JP o I have referred to the Pension Office when I should have referred to the Treasury Department; and to Mr DICKENS as Commissioner when he was a clerk-- o You are at liberty to show this communication to all who wish to see it-- Jas POLK 10 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

11 8. THE CLERKS OFFICE of the SUPERIOR COURT of LAW and CHANCERY for the COUNTY of ACCOMACK, VA *** RULED AUGUST 1833 *** WM WESTON & KITTURAH HIS WIFE BY HENRY A WISE & PETER MAYO V. JOHN G. JOYNES AND THOMAS M BAYLY o Pg 1 -- Wm H WESTON and Kitturah his wife complainants 1. That during the Revolutionary War Virginia guaranteed officers and soldiers and sailors according to rank/grade - lieutenant 4000 acres, midshipman 2000 acres 2. They show faith that a certain Jesse CANNON was Lt and certain Luke CANNON was midshipman in the Navy of this State so each entitled to the bounty land 3. That Luke and Jesse CANNON have departed this life intestate, unmarried and without issue, and that Kitturah WESTON is one of the heirs-at-law of the CANNONS, and the children of a certain Stephen DRUMMOND who was brother to Kitturah and so entitled to the other half of the bounty as will appear by a copy of an entry made by the Court of County Elizabeth City herewith filed. 4. They allege that being ignorant of their right to the said land bounty they received information in MAY 1831 from a certain Samuel C WHITE that they were entitled thereto, and a contract with the said WHITE was in train, authorizing him to adjust and settle for them o Pg That they received a communication from a certain John G JOYNES that WHITE had fraudulently obtained from him all the information the said WHITE had upon this subject, and by his false suggestion he actually induced the WESTONS who were to the both, to suspend all faith and negotiation with the said WHITE and to confer on him the said JOYNES the necessary powers to act in the pursuing for the WESTONS, by way of promoting his machinations against WHITE of furthering his fraudulent schemes he represented himself as one well skilled in matters of his sort & that he was a member of the Senate of the State-- 2. That according to the solicitations and suggestions of the said JOYNES they granted to him the necessary power of attorney which was prepared by JOYNES and sent to the town of Hartford CT where they then resided as will appear by reference to his letters herewith filed marked No 1, No That since that time the WESTONS have discovered that many of the suggestions contained within said letters are untrue, and they were made no doubt with a view to intimidate and excite the apprehensions of Mrs WESTON 4. That Mrs WESTON further alleges that by virtue of the power conferred on JOYNES by the WESTONS as one of the heirs-at-law of the CANNONS he received from the Register of the Land Office of this State ½ of the land bounty due Luke CANNON and ½ of the bounty due Jesse CANNON and that he lodged the warrants for the land bounty aforesaid in the office of the Commissioners of the General Land Office at Washington, there to be converted into "Scrip" as will appear by a list of the said Land Warranty which list was procured from the Commissioners Office at Washington and is referred to as part of this bill. 5. The WESTONS also allege that by proper power of attorney the authorize the said JOYNES to sell the scrip that was given in exchange for said warranty and the said JOYNES for his services in the matter was to receive ¼ and be at all expense in adjusting the same as will appear by a copy of the said power of attorney herewith filed o Pg That the scrip to be given in exchange for the land warranty was ready for delivery 8 DEC 1832 and about this time a certain Thomas M. BAYLY of Washington, he and said JOYNES confederated together to throw obstacles in the way of a final settlement of the WESTONS claim and to defraud them out of their right The said BAYLY most falsely and fraudulently pretended to have full proof in his possession to show that the WESTONS are not heirs of the CANNONS and that Mrs WESTON was no kin to then and that he BAYLY had powers of attorney from pending whom her pretended were the rightful heirs-at-law to apply for and receive the said scrip for them Sd BAYLY threatened to use his utmost endeavoring to defeat the settlement of the claim 11 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

12 The said JOYNES well knowing that the said BAYLY was practicing a gross fraud upon the rights of the WESTONS and pretending to fear that the claim of the WESTONS would be defeated by the fraudulent acts of this sd BAYLY entered into an agreement as he JOYNES alleges, with the said BAYLY to allow him ¼ of the WESTON'S claim if he BAYLY would not urge his claim to the scrip, which claim the sd JOYNES well knew to be false and fraudulent and was a mere trick on the part of BAYLY The WESTONS expressly allege that the sd Thomas BAYLY had not been employed by any person or persons to attend in any manner to the said scrip, and that every assertion and suggestion made by him touching the cause was utterly false and fraudulent, and made by him knowingly, to defraud the WESTONS The WESTONS have been informed and therefore assert it as a fact, that the said Thos M BAYLY previous to DEC 1832 employed an agent to hunt up in Maryland, other heirs of Luke and Jesse CANNON and as in truth now exist but those already specified in this bill, the said BAYLY failed in his enterprise-- o Pg 4 -- Although the sd John G JOYNES hath frequently denied that he has sold the scrip belonging to the WESTONS, yet they assert and more positively allege that he sold the same on the 4 th of FEB 1833 and transferred the same, although, on the 7 th of the same month he informed Wm WESTON that the Scrip was still contested and he advised WESTON to come to this county with proof showing he was entitled to it, saying at the same time that the claim then was in a better condition than it had ever been; thus fraudulently intimating to WESTON & inducing him to believe that the claim was still sub judice, at the department in Washington; and at the very time that he made this false impression up the mind of WESTON he then had in his possession several thousand dollars arising from the sale of WESTON's scrip which he had previously sold The WESTONS allege that their sd agent has never informed them that he sold sd scrip or what he got for it; and that the fact that he did sell it, came to the knowledge of the WESTONS accidentally; nor has he ever yet information them what he got for it, and the price at which he iniquitously and unjustly sacrificed it for also came to their knowledge casually and without his agency; for in fact he has practiced every artifice and subterfuge to keep the WESTONS in ignorance touching this whole affair The WESTONS further allege that having understood that JOYNES had sold their scrip, came to this county for the purpose of settling with him, but JOYNES seeking to consummate the fraudulent intent that the WESTONS began to suspect him of, refused to pay the WESTONS and denied and now denies their right to the sd scrip or the proceeds thereof, alleging that the Mrs. WESTON is not an heir of Luke or Jesse CANNON; and this denial too is made after he had used the name of Mrs WESTON to obtain the funds from the Government, thus evincing a thorough determination to defraud either the Government or the WESTONS of the warrants; for if Mrs WESTON is not entitled to it, he ought not to have received it from the Government as her agent, and if she is entitled (and of this there can be no doubt) he cannot in justice withhold it from her. o Pg 5 -- Allege further that they have been informed that JOYNES sold their scrip for the reduced price of 85 per acre when it was worth $1.17 per acre, but for as much as the sd JOYNES has not informed them for what price he sold it at all, the WESTONS are induced to hope that he did not sell it at that reduced price, if however, what they have heard from the other sources be true, the WESTONS refuse most positively to recognize the sale at 85, and he must have been induced to some private motive to have sold it at so great a sacrifice & thus invoke the aid of this court to redress so gross a fraud upon their rights. They further allege that since the reputed sale of the sd scrip they have called repeatedly upon the sd JOYNES to pay them; at one time he denies that the WESTONS have any demand on him saying that the WESTONS are not the heirs of Luke & Jesse CANNON, at one other time he agrees to pay them about 1/4 th of their just demand and if they will give him a receipt in full; at another time he agrees to settle provided the WESTONS will agree to let him retain in his hand the warrant covered by the before mentioned fraudulent contract with Thos BAYLY and to relinquish to him 12 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

13 (JOYNES) everything that he can prevent the sd BAYLY from getting out of him under sd fraudulent contract wherever BAYLY may thing proper to sue upon it this the sd JOYNES recognized no fixed principle founded in justice for the settlement of this claim; but knowing that WESTON is in needy circumstances and remote from home he uses every artifice that fraud, oppression and ingenuity can invent to harass the WESTONS and to force them into his unjust and iniquitous measures, and he affects to be not only just, but most liberal and kind to the WESTONS in being willing allow the WESTONS any part of the proceeds of sd scrip when, to use his own language they are not entitled to the "parings of his nails." 2. In tender consideration of the premises and for as much as the WESTONS are iless in the premises except in a Court of equity, they pray that your honor will cause the sd JOYNES and BAYLY to be made defendants hereto and that your honor will cause the sd JOYNES to answer the following interrogatories on oath, substantially and not evasively -- o Pg 6 1. Whether he did not receive in the name of WESTON & WIFE military land warrants for 2000 acres as one of the heirs of Jesse CANNON and /3 acres as one of the heirs of Luke CANNON dec d 2. Whether he did not receive Scrip and Sell the scrip for said warrants, on the 4 th of Feby 1833, if so at what price and what was the current price of scrip at that time? 3. Whether he ever denied the right of WESTON & WIFE to said scrip until he got the money therefore & whether he had not denied this right thereto since? o And WESTON & WIFE want Thomas BAYLY to have to answer the following interrogatories under oath, substantially and not evasively 1. From whom did he receive proven authority to act in any matter touching the scrip due to Jesse and Luke CANNON, stating their reasons & place of residence? Whose interest in the said scrip did he represent? 2. In whose names & for whose benefit was the contract made with the said JOYNES & himself touching the Scrip due for the services of Jesse & Luke CANNON 3. Whether he did not employ some person to go into Maryland or elsewhere to ascertain who were the heirs of Jesse & Luke CANNON o WESTON & WIFE further pray that both the said JOYNES and BAYLY be made to exhibit in Court the agreement made between them touching said scrip The also pray that your honor will declare the said contract entered into between the said JOYNES and BAYLY to be void and of no effect against the rights of WESTON & WIFE -- further prayer that your honor will cause the sd JOYNES to account with them for the full market value of the said scrip -- WESTON & WIFE pray for all other and further relief, that their case may require may it please your honor to grant to WESTON & WIFE the Commonwealth s writ of subpoena against the said Thomas M BAYLY & John G JOYNES Signed WISE & MAYO o Pg 7 o And afterward -- on the court day in September, October, November and December 1833, and January, February, March and April 1834 this case was continued, and on court day April 1834 a sci fa was issued against Jane O BAYLY and Thomas H BAYLY, the executors of the last will and testament of Thomas M BAYLY dec d, on which the sheriff the following return, viz Executed o The letter marked No. 1 and referred to as a part of the Plaintiffs bill is in then words, viz. Accomack the 23 rd of May 1831 William H WESTON & Lady Some short time since, I discovered that the heirs of Luke & Jesse CANNON are entitled to Six thousand two hundred and sixty six and 2/3 acres of land & I am of opinion that Mrs WESTON is 13 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy

14 o Pg 8 entitled being one of the children of Stephen DRUMMOND who married Nancy CANNON who is believed to be the sister of Luke and Jesse being well acquainted with all Mrs. WESTON S relations as well on the Eastern Shore. I wrote to Mr. Hutchinson KELLAM requesting him to find the heirs of Stephen DRUMMOND and inform them of it and make a contract with them. I am in possession of proof to establish the claim and have been engaged in many cases being a member of the Senate of Virginia. A Mr Samuel C WHITE of this place got same light of their being such a claim and got a sight of a letter addressed to Mr KELLAM while he was showing it to your son Henry H GRAY be false representation he induced your son to believe he was acquainted with this business & this case which induced your son to write you requesting you to forward him a power of attorney, it is your son s wish since he has been informed of the facts of this case that you should not to the said WHITE any a sign any paper forwarded to you as he wish me to do the business and I will agree to do it on the same terms should you have signed any contract sent to you. I will stand between you and him. I will forward the papers to you as soon as I hear from you, first your letter to Accomack Court Honor Virginia. Your son now takes. Yours with respect, Jno G JOYNES I wish you to comply with this letter but not with Mr WHITE is the wish of your son. Henry H GUY On the back of the said letter there is this following directions: Accomack Court Honor, 25 th May -- William H WESTON & Catherine WESTON Hartford, Connecticut o The letter marked No. 2 & referred to as a part of the Plaintiff s bill, is in these words Accomack the 27 th July 1831 Dear Sir Your favor of June 28 th has just come to hand, the tenor of your letter has occasioned both surprise and indignation. Surprise that after the full explanation five Mr GUY that you should know so little about this business and indignation at the false communication made by WHITE and your threat to write to the Executive to prevent warrants issuing on these papers which you forwarded to me, with respect to having drawn warrants last winter in co sion with Col BAYLY. I pronounce it a malicious falsehood it is impossible for any person to draw a land warrant for another unless he has a power of attorney regularly executed and whenever you choose to put your threat in execution relative to stopping my proceeding in this matter you can do so but depend upon it that I shell take measures to stop you from getting any part of these claims if they are ever obtained which is very doubtful, how far your conduct was justifiable in violating the contract made with your agent Mr GUY and changing it from 1/3 to ¼ is a matter for the present I will leave to your own reflections my cause in this business has been open fair and above board, I have now no secrets about it, & I will endeavor to give you a history of the whole matter; while I was in Richmond last winter I discovered that Luke & Jesse o Pg 9 -- CANNON were officers in the two Galleys Accomack and Diligence, stationed during the Revolutionary War within the limits of this county and manned by Eastern Shore man, I knew there were no persons in the county by these names and I set about to endeavor to find out their heirs upon inquiry I find out that Stephen DRUMMOND married a woman by the name of CANNON. I knew that he removed to the county of Elizabeth City & I wrote to a magistrate residing in that county requesting him to seek out the heirs and make to them a full and fair statement of the facts of the case and the quantity of land that the heirs of the CANNONS would be entitled to & I make a contract with them for me. Mr GUY & my first letter informed you of the agency of WHITE in this matter. Mr GUY after he understood the matter applying to me for money to bear his expenses to do on and see you & his mother to prevent your giving WHITE the agency & he took with him a 14 Revolutionary War Pension Claim File of Jesse CANNON, Navy