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| Letter to Pension Board From
Descendants of Francis Ramsey and James Chasteen |
Submitted by Joe W. Hardiman
"I found this two page letter in the Revolutionary War Pension file of,
Nancy Chasteen, the widow of James Chasteen. Ancestors of James Chasteen and
the Revolutionary War Soldier Francis Ramsey must have been chatting about
their ancestors after a 4th of July Celebration in 1855. Ancestors of Francis
Ramsey probably are not aware of this letter because it was filed with the
records of James Chasteen. There was a very small notation in the archive
records of Francis Ramsey referencing this letter.
"James Chasteen and Francis were privates. My first instinct was to
chuckle at this request, but the request was based on real facts about the
pension amounts of Calvary and Officers being higher than that of enlisted
infantry. James Chasteen was a dragoon in the Calvary under Colonel Armand who
reported to General Lafayette. James Chasteen began drawing his pension in
1818.
"Francis Ramsey was a 15 year old Drum Major under the command of
Lighthorse Harry Lee. Lighthorse Lee had a very famous son named Robert E. Lee.
"The descendants of James Chasteen and Francis Ramsey never received the
difference in the pay that could have been due their ancestors. Francis and
James must not have known about the higher pay. These pension files had several
interviews with these soldiers, but neither ever asked for anything other that
the pension due an infantry private.
"Francis Ramsey was the brother of the Revolutionary War soldier Thomas
Ramsey. Their brother James also served in the Revolutionary War. James
Chasteen also had a brother in Rockcastle County, Jesse Shasteen, who served in
the Revolutionary War. No pension file record has been found for Jesse.
"If anyone is able to better understand some of this script please feel
free to identify where I made my mistakes."
File of Nancy Kennedy Chasteen:
(Page 1)
Honl Commissior of Mt Vernon, Rockcastle
Pensions, Washington DC County Ky 19 July 1855
Dear Sir
Francis Ramsey was a United States Revolutionary Pensionor in the County of
Rockcastle and State of Kentucky at the rate of $100 per annum under act of
Congress passed 15 May 1828. He died some time before 1842 when his widow was
placed upon the pension list in the same county and at the same rate. His
children only two now surviving states that Francis Ramsey was a Drum Major of
infantry over two years. If that be the case him decd his widow was entitled to
$108 per annum. If he belong to the Cavalry the pay was $124.50cts per annum
thereby entitling the surviving heirs to the increase commencing 4th of March
1826 to the date the widow died. The heirs requested me to address you upon
this subject, and should there be an increase due please give me the necessary
information, the amount due, and how to proceed to recover for the heirs the
amount due. You are referred to the appropriate Pn file in the Department. Your
early reply to this will confer a favor upon the heirs and ???? me
. I Am Dear Sir
Very Respectfully, Alfred Smith
OVER
(Page 2)
Please inform me if a Drum Major is a Commissioned officer.
I am Dear Sir
Very Respectfully
Alfred Smith
Did Mrs Ramsey draw the same amount per annum her husband drew? If she did not
is his children entitled to the ?residue? to make up the amount her husband
drew togeather with the increase if there be any due.
James Chasteen was a pensioner of the United States under act of 18th March
1818 at $96 per annum in Rockcastle County Ky. His children thinks he was a
Drum Major or an officer of some grade and they are thereby entitled to an
increase of pension under act of 1828 and same 1832. Commencing the 4th March
1826 or the 4th March 1831. After the death of Chasteen which took place in
Rockcastle County after 1836 and before 1842 possibly, his widow was placed
upon the pension list while she resided in Rockcastle County Ky. You are
respectfully referred to the papers on file in the department. Should you find
an increase due the heirs or any money due them please state the amount due per
annum and when the pay commenced and when it stopped. His widow died two or
three years ago probably in 1849. Please give me full instructions
I am very much ?????? the heirs. Alfred Smith
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