William Childress Bounty Land Application
War of 1812

Declaration Of A Soldier Who Has Never Received Bounty Land



William Childress a resident of Caldwell County Kentucky aged Seventy years, do make the following statement -viz- I am the identical William Childress who was a private in a company commanded by Captain Richard Daily in the Regiment of Virginia Drafted Militia commanded by Col. Burns in the service of the United States in the war with Great Britian declared in 1812.

I was drafted in Mecklenburg County Virginia on (or about) the 7th day of August A.D. 1814 to serve a term of three months in said war, and continued in actual service of more than 14 days and was honorable discharged at (or near) a place called Camp Powells Creek Va. on or about the 20th day of December, A. D. 1814 as will appear by reference to the rolls of the Department ....... My discharge was burnt up in my house with other papers, so that I cannot now return it.


I make this declaration for the purpose of receiving the benefit of the Bounty Land Act of March _ 1855 I have never received Bounty Land under this or any other Act of Congress and have never heretofor made any application.

Witness my hand in Caldwell County in the State of Kentucky on this 23rd day of August A.D. 1856. signed William Childress

AFFIDAVIT of George W. Jackson and Mary Blanks
aged respectively 87 years and about 61 years, both residents of Caldwell County
We, George W. Jackson and Mary Blanks aboved named and described do certify that William Childress did sign and acknowledge to the above declaration this day in our presence and we further state that said William Childress has been well known to us for many years and he is a reported soldier of the service of the United States of the war of 1812 as he set forth in his declaration, and from our acquaintance with him, and from his statements and his general undisputed reputation, we are fully satisfied of the truth of his above declaration and of his identity as he describes himself therein. And we are disinterested .

Witness our hands in Caldwell County Kentucky on this 23rd day of August A.D. 1856 in presence of two witnesses George (X his mark) W. Jackson Mary ( X her mark) Blanks both of Caldwell County and state of Kentucky.


From the personal files of Peggy Dean Childress Gilkey