Edward Pediford (Pedigo)'s warrant in context with the Virginia Military Warrant Act

Edward Pediford (Pedigo) received a warrant for 100 acres of land for his three years' service during the Revolutionary War.

This page presents his Land Office Military Warrant in context with the Virginia Military Warrant Act

"During the Revolution it was not possible to obtain land patents. A state Land Office was created in 1779 by the new state government and it set about the business of approving land claims that had languished since 1775, and processing military service warrants. . . .

"With the creation of the Federal Government, Virginia and other states were asked to cede their western lands to the fledgling government, which used them to create the Northwest and Southwest Territories. In 1781 Virginia relinquished its claim to lands in the Northwest Territories in exchange for being able to award bounty lands (land grants in lieu of payment for military service) in the "Virginia Military District" in what is now south-central Ohio. Virginia proceeded to award its military bounty lands in the Kentucky territory (until Kentucky became a state in 1792), and then in the Military District (after 1792 and before Ohio achieved statehood in 1803.)

"The Virginia Military District opened in 1784. It was located between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers in the south-central portion of the state. Virginia issued bounty land grants there until Ohio achieved statehood in 1803. . . ."

Edward Pediford (Pedigo) - Land Office Military Warrant No. 2233, was received on 12 Jan 1784 from Commonwealth of Virginia, 100 acres for his three years' Revolutionary War service as soldier (private) in the Virginia Continental Line. (Click HERE to see a copy of the warrant he received.)

The Virginia Military Warrant Act of August 10, 1790 enabled the officers and soldiers of the Virginia Line on continental establishment, to obtain titles to certain lands lying northwest of the Ohio River, between the Little Miami and Sciota Rivers. The text of that law appears below.

Chap. XL.-An Act to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Line on continental Establishment, to obtain Titles to certain Lands lying northwest of the River Ohio, between the Little Miami and Sciota.(a)

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act of Congress of the seventeenth of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, relative to certain locations and surveys made by, or on account of the Virginia troops on continental establishment upon lands between the Little Miami and Sciota rivers, northwest of the Ohio, be, and the same is hereby repealed.(b) And whereas the agents for such of the troops of the state of Virginia, who served on the continental establishment in the army of the United States, during the late war, have reported to the executive of the said state, that there is not a sufficiency of good land on the south-easterly side of the river Ohio, according to the act of cession from the said state to the United States, and within the limits assigned by the laws of the said state, to satisfy the said troops for the bounty lands due to them, in conformity to the said laws: to the intent therefore that the difference between what has already been located for the said troops, on the south-easterly side of the said river, and the aggregate of what is due to the whole of the said troops, may be located on the north-westerly side of the said river, and between the Sciota and Little Miami rivers, as stipulated by the said state:

Sec. 2 Be it further enacted, That the secretary of the department of war shall make return to the executive of the state of Virginia of the names of such of the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of the line of the said state, who served in the army of the United States, on the continental establishment, during the late war, and who, in conformity to the laws of the said state, are entitled to bounty lands; and shall also in such return state the aggregate amount in acres due to the said line by the laws aforesaid.

Sec. 3 And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said agents to locate to and for the use of the said troops, between the rivers Sciota and Little Miami, such a number of acres of good land as shall, together with the number already located between the said two rivers, and the number already located on the south-easterly side of the river Ohio, be equal to the aggregate amount, so to be returned as aforesaid by the secretary of the department of war.

Sec. 4 And be it further enacted, That the said agents, as soon as may be after the locations, surveys and allotments are made and completed, shall enter in regular order, in a book to be by them provided for that purpose, the bounds of each location and survey between the said two rivers, annexing the name of the officer, non-commissioned officer or private originally entitled to each; which entries being certified by the said agents or the majority of them, to be true entries, the book containing the same shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

Sec. 5 And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to cause letters patent to be made out in such words and form as he shall devise and direct, granting to such person so originally entitled to bounty lands, to his use, and to the use of his heirs or assigns, or his or their legal representative or representatives, his her or their heirs or assigns, the lands designated in the said entries: Provided always, That before the seal of the United States shall be affixed to such letters patent, the secretary of the department of war shall have indorsed thereon that the grantee therein named, was originally entitled to such bounty lands, and that he has examined the bounds thereof with the book of entries filed in the office of the Secretary State, and finds the same truly inserted; and every such letters patent shall be countersigned by the Secretary of State, and a minute of the date thereof, and of the name of the grantee shall be entered of record in his office, in a book to be specially provided for the purpose.

Sec. 6 And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State, as soon as may be after the letters patent shall be so completed and entered of record, to transmit the same to the executive of the state of Virginia, to be by them delivered to each grantee; or in case of his death, or that the right of the grantees shall have been legally transferred before such delivery, then to his legal representative or representatives, or to one of them.

Sec. 7 And be it further enacted, That no fees shall be charged for such letters patent and record, to the grantees, their heirs or assigns, or to his or their legal representative or representatives.