Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,845, for William Slaughter, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE    Penn.
Slaughter, William
NUMBER   S.4845
carded
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13.071   
Ohio Pittsburgh        
Wm Slaughter of Trumbull the State of Ohio who was a Private in the commanded by Captain Smith of the Regt commanded by Col Bull in the Penna line for two years.        
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio. Pittsg.  at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.          
Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of May 1833 and sent to Birchard & Todd, Warren. Trumbull Co. Ohio            
Arrears to the 4th of March. 33.    160.00 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 33     40.00    
$200.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}   
Recorded by  Wm R. Palmer Clerk    
Book E  Vol. 8. Page 127
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23572
William Slaughter
Application
Filed October 1st
1832.
81 years
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The State of Ohio    
Trumbull County } ss On this first day of October 1832 personally appeared before Court of Common Pleas for the County of Trumbull and State of Ohio, William Slaughter - alias Schlatter a resident of Milton in the County of Trumbull and State of Ohio aged eighty one years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.   That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776 with and served in the 19th Regiment of the Pennsylvania line under the following named officers Colonel William Bull. Major George Wright. Captain Martin Swint, Lieutenant Peacock Major and Ensign John Hoot. That he left the service in the year 1779 - he resided at the time he entered the service in the Town of North Wales on Quinnett about 23 miles from Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania - That he was engaged in the Battle of Brandywine. That he marched from Philadelphia to Trenton from thence to Princetown - and from thence to Brunswick and from Brunswick to Amboy - That he was discharged at Amboy – 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he hereby declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state        
William Slaughter his mark   
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid George Parsons Clerk          
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier as he states
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I George Parsons Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas Trumbull County Ohio, do hereby certify that the within contains the original procedings of the said Court in the matter of the application William Slaughter for a pension -    
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 19th day of October AD 1832  
George Parsons   Clerk
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13.071
23572
William Slaughter
or Schlatter
Trumbull Co
Ohio
13.071-
Look on Pa  roll
not
Adm for 2 years from
1776
Birchard & Todd
Warren Ohio Trumbull County
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WAR DEPARTMENT.      
Pension Office,       
25 April 1833              
Sir:   
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A Statement,  shewing the Service of Wm. Slaughter Trumbull Co. Ohio
Period when service was rendered.  Entered 1776 and served till 1777  Duration of Claimant’s service  2 years and a mon   Rank of the claimant.  Private   Names and rank of Field officers under whom he served.   Col. Wm. Bull Maj. Geo Wright  Cap Swink  19th Regt Pa. Line   Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.  Age 81  [unreadable] Wales in Quinnett Pa.  Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Godfrey Schlatter as to two years and upwards
I am, respectfully,   
Your obedient servant,        
J. L. EDWARDS,      
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.            
The following regulations have been adopted:                  
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.              
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:  
1. The Regular Troops.  
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.    
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.             
4. Indian Spies.                 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.             
DECLARATION.                        
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.           
State, Territory, or District of 
County of } ss.
On this day of A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:    
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]            
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only that of Agency in the State of    
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]            
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I of the Court of hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of for a pension.               
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of & c.            
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.          
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: (k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.                 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.                 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]     
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.               
I, Clerk of the Court of contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of & c.         
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission ; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.            
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.            
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.    
1. Where and in what year were you born?                
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?          
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war , and where do you now live?               
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?              
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.           
6. To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? 
To an Officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what Town officer has become of it?              
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.                 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.         
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. 
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject     
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.        
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed his genuine signature.          
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.        
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.    
[b]   The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.     
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.    
[d]  The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
[e]  Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.        
Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: 
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as and for such service I claim a pension."   
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority ; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.    
[f]  The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
[g]  The opinion of the Court is always required.  
[h]  The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
[i]  The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.               
Mode of authenticating papers.              
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.         
Proof of Service.
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Pennsylvania SS. 
I Martin Randall Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia do certify that that James Grene Jun Esquire before whom the preceding affidavit was taken and who has thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing and now is one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Philadelphia duly commissioned and qualified to all whose acts as such full faith is due and ought to be given as well in Courts of Justice as without In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court at Philadelphia the 15th day of October 1827 
Matthew Randall Proy
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4845
Rev War
INVALID
OWN
File No. 4845
William Slaughter
Privt   Rev War
Act: June 7" 1832
Index:-Vol. M. Page 344
[Arrangement of 1870]
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Personally appeared before me, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Philadelphia Godfrey Schlatter aged 78 years an Inhabitant of the County of Philad’a, who deposes and says, that he is well acquainted with Wm Schlatter his brother, formerly of the State of Pennsylvania now of the State of Ohio and that he knows, that he was in the service of his country during the Revolutionary war for upwards of 2 years. That he was with him at the Battle of Brandywine under the command of Genl Potter. He further says that he was also with him at Amboy in the State of New Jersey under the command of Genl Doe on the same day that the battle of Long Island was fought he in company with others and this deponent was stationed to protect Staten Island. Deponent was in company with Mr Schlatter also at White Plains under the command of Capt Swenk, where we [unreadable] coming towards Amboy. At Amboy this deponent and Wm Schlatter were regularly discharged. They afterward was in the service at Billingsport in the State of New Jersey and Deponent in company with Wm. Schlatter, left that place and served at New Castle in the service of the country during the Revolutionary war Godfrey Schlatter  his mark    
Sworn and Subscribed before me this thirteenth day of October one thousand Eight hundred and twenty Seven    
James Ennie Junr Justice of the Peace 
[unreadable] acquainted
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coming towards Amboy. At Amboy this deponent and Wm Schlatter were regularly discharged. They afterward was in the service at Billingsport in the State of New Jersey and Deponent in company with Wm. Schlatter, left that place and served at New Castle in the service of the County during the Revolutionary War       
Godfrey Schlatter his mark  
Sworn and Subscribed before me this thirteenth Day of October one thousand Eight hundred and twenty seven 
James Ennie Junr Justice of the Peace 
I certify that I am well acquainted with Godfrey Schlatter, the above deponent and know him to be a man of the strictest veracity,    
J. B. Sutherland 
Washington April 4th 1828