William Smith deposeth and saith that his father Francis Smith left a register of the ages of his children and on examination of that register I find his son William Smith was born the fourteenth december One Thousand and Seven hundred and fifty five. In the year One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy five, I Wm. Smith removed from Hanover County the place of my maturity. In the County Louise in January One Thousand Seven hundred and eighty one I received a letter from Mr. Jefferson then Govenor of Virginia under date January eighteenth One thousand Seven hundred and eighty one above copy of which marked A may be seen. The original letter lost or misplaced immediately on the receipt of the letter alluded to I waited on Col. Wood at Charlottesville Albemarle County. Col. Wood commanded the guards of the prisoners called ? troops. Col. Wood informed me he was disappointed in getting the gun smiths he expected with loss of time. I waited on Mr. Jefferson and reported to him the result of the trip. I then was requested with delay to get gun smiths in the County where they were to be had to repair the publick armes at their own shopes. I knew of many good workmen then engagued in repairing and making guns on their private interest. I waited on them. I showed them Mr. Jefferson’s letter above alluded, on the faith of which I engagued William Duggen, James ?, Joseph Speirs?, and James Sea, then at work in Mr. Duggens shop Hanover County, John Higgoson imployed Hanover County, Matthew Bansord? Fluvania, Wm James, Goochland, an englishman, William and Francis Gidens, Louisa, Joel higgens, Caroline. Many other persons worked on the public arms in the shops of the principal persons I have mentioned. I reported to Col. John? Davis the men employed by me to repair the publick arms. Col. Davis had charge of the War Department in Virginia at the time. I was requested by Col. Davis to superentend the persons I had engagued and to report to him how the work progressed from time to time. I knew of a large number of damaged armes deposited in the prison at Hanover Courthouse. I sent them on the persons employed. When they were repaired, they were received and other sent as directed. The work went on with spirit until the surrender of Cornwallis at York town after which prospects was _? _? _? price of independence the repairs of publick armes went on but not with great spirrit it had done. Col. Davis thought proper to continue the gunsmiths in service. All of those employed is dead or removed to some of the United States except James Hall, Joseph Spicer, James Seay. To fair as I know or belive and they are very old and enfirm and have purported good characters through life. I furnished my own horse and paid my own money while in publick service The money then in circulation was worth but little. I don’t of course know no do I believe, the men employed received any thing for the work done for the publick. I paid them money Colonel William Davis alluded to in the forgoing part of this my note?. Nemb? has been dead many years. Was he living no doubt but should he obtane a certificate to elucidate or fully establish to the satisfaction of the officer of the justice of my clame. The quarter master General at the time I was ingagued in publick service is long since dead. He well know the livings? I was ingagued in. he lived in the City Richmond it is generally known that Mr. Jefferson is dead. I know of no other persons living by whom I can prove that I am the identical Wm. Smith that Mr. Jefferson addressed the letter to alluded to in the forgoing part of this my declaration bit James Hall Joseph Spicer? and James Seay. I made no contract positavely with any person how or in what manner I was to be renumerated but had confidence at sometime or other I would be noted? and paid by my country. I leave the whole business to be settled by the offices appointed to settle such clames as mine and will be satisfied with what is done for this obligation.

(at this late time of life it is difficult to write

to as to be understood. My nerves is much affected) William Smith

August, 1833

Louisa County, State of Virginia, to wit,

This day William Smith, (whose signature is above) personally appreared before me a Justice of the Peace in afore said County, and made Oath to the foregoing Declaration, in due form of sworn in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this third day of Sept. 1833.

James Poindexter

Louisa County (to wit), I James Poindexter of the said County, do hereby certify that he is in the sixty ninth year of his age, that he has known the above named William Smith from the time the said Poindexter was ten or twelve years of age, about which time said Smith settled and lived near my Fathers, that he has resided in said county ever since; that he has ever been respectable and respected, and that full credit is, and ought to be given to his declarations: that the said Smith is now an old man, and the only man of this compitance to perform the services spoken of in Thomas Jeffersons letter to Wm. Smith.

Given under my hand this third day of September 1833,

James Poindexter