DS as Governor, signed “P. Henry,” one page, 6.5 x 8.25, October 20, 1785. Broadside issued from the Virginia Council Chamber to the clerks of the county courts, respecting the pensions for disabled veterans of the Revolution. In part: "The act of Assembly passed last session for further continuing the 'Act concerning Pensioners,' directs the Courts of the several counties within this commonwealth to make, to the Executive, returns respecting the bodily abilities of all persons receiving annual pensions from the public, those who are proper objects to be continued on the list. Conceiving it possible that there are many on the list unknown to the several Courts, and seeing the obstacles in consequence thereof to a strict and efficacious inquiry into their respective conditions, I have caused an accurate list of them to be struck off, and do herewith forward one to you, that thereby you may see in what proportion they add to the burthen of taxes, and that by having their names your inquiries may be facilitated. I need not undertake to prove the good that will result from a strict examination into the conditions of the Pensioners, and making proper and punctual returns thereof to the Executive, nothing being more evident than the advantage of lessening the public debt. I could wish to have a return as soon as possible after the receipt hereof, and that afterwards you make returns punctually in months of April and May annually, as directed by the act of October, 1782, concerning Pensioners. In these returns it will be well to specify who are dead, and the intermarriage of widows." Boldly signed at the conclusion by Governor Patrick Henry. Archivally mounted, matted, and framed under Tru-Vue Museum Glass with an engraved portrait to an overall size of 20.25 x 16. In very good to fine condition, with professional repairs (and possible complete backing) to repair areas of paper loss, and of separation to the central vertical fold.
Between 1777 and 1785, the Virginia General Assembly passed several laws authorizing pensions for disabled soldiers and for widows of soldiers who died while on active duty. The county clerks were responsible for verifying lists of pensioners (including whether or not a soldier was truly disabled and entitled to a pension), disbursing funds, and implementing associated record keeping and reporting provisions. On June 7, 1785, the Continental Congress passed a resolution recommending to the States that they adopt a uniform method of providing for invalid pensioners: wholly disabled commissioned officers were to be allowed a half pay pension for life; wholly disabled non-commissioned officers or privates were entitled for $5 per month for life; and proportionate allowance was to be made for partial disabilities. In October 1785, the Virginia General Assembly passed an act that adopted all of Congress’s recommendations. In notifying the clerks of the act, Governor Henry sought to make a proper accounting of pension liabilities and ensure that the disabled heroes of the Revolutionary War continued to receive their fair share. A desirable document signed by the great patriot orator.
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