Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22884, for Elial Long, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE   Penn.
Long, Elial
NUMBER  S. 22884
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Greene County 
Pennsylvania} ss  On the 17th day of September one thousand Eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the court of common pleas now sitting Elial Long aged seventy seven years who on oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed the 7th June 1832. 
That he entered the service under the following named officers & served as follows
That he first entered the service of the United States in Green County State of Pennsylvania as a drafted militia man under Capt. John Gutherie in September 1778 and was out for two months 
2
that he next went out in the in May 1779 under Capt John Minor as a militiaman for two months-
2
that after the Expiration of this service he went out as a volunteer under Valentine Nichols & served for one month. 
1
The next was in the Spring of 1780 he went out in the militia under Capt Rail served one month. 
1
The next tour he performed was a tour of two months under Samuel Swingler against the indians in 1780
2
these services were rendered in guardian the frontiers against the hostile attacks of the indians, and in pursuing them & driving them from the western parts of Virginia & Pennsylvania which were much annoyed by the savages at this period that in the fall of 1780 he again went out to 
2
 Garrets Fort & served two months as a volunteer under capt Swingler. Col Crawford was then in command - in the Spring of 1781 he went out and served one month under John Holton – 
1
He next went out under the same officer Capt John Holton in the same [unreadable] & Marched to Borroh’s station & was placed under command of Major Carmichael & served two months
2
That the foregoing are all the regular tours which he served under officers but independent of this on the whole period of the war he lived or the frontiers and was out as a spy and minute man on all occasion of alarms when the indians made there appearance the Skirts & borders of the settlement which was of
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of my command frequent occurrence during the while time of the war he was in this kind of scouting service against the Indians for a week, two weeks & some times a few days at a time as long as the [unreadable] on these occasions they went out in small parties without any organization or officers but were exposed to more dangers & hardship than when we were in the  camp or field with large bodies of troops - all his services rendered as a spy & scout for short periods as above mentioned which he cannot from lapse of time & loss of memory [unreadable] prove [unreadable] specifically & minutely to set forth & particularize would amount to more than one year he feels perfectly safe & sure that he is under the time in fixing it at that time - this is exclusive of the several times before for the amount together to thirteen months making in all twenty five months service for which he claims a pension - he has no documentary evidence nor does he at present know of any witness to prove his services but the Reverend John Fordyce & Caleb Spragg will certify to his good character & his reputation as a revolutionary soldier. 
He herby relinquishes any claim to a pension or annuity Except the present and declares his name is not on the roll of the agency of my State 
In answer to the questions required to be put by the war Department he answers: 
1 That be as born in Queen Ann's county Maryland 6th August 1756 
2 That he has no record of his age- 
3. that he lived when he entered the service in Greene County State of Penn’a where he now resides & has resided ever since the war
4 Most the officers under whom he served were as before stated viz Captains Gutherie, Minor, Nichols, Reed, Holton, Long, Col. Crawford Major Carmichael.
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Elial Long
Declaration
27.102
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that Elial Long who has sworn and subscribed the foregoing declaration, was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court do further certify that appears to them that John Fordyce who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergiman resident in Greene County Penn and that Caleb Spragg who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible person and that there statement is entitled to credit 
I agree to take a pension for 15 months  A. Stewart 21 Dec ‘33 
Greene County  
Pennsylvania } Ss  
I Enos Hook Prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas in & for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of Elial Long for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said court this 17th day of September A.D. 1833 
Enos Hook Prothy
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Elial Long
for Amendment  
tours more specific
Admt’d 1 yr & 3 Months
Hon A. Stewart
Uniontown
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WAR DEPARTMENT 
Pension Office, 
1 October 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 compling with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
Statement, showing the Service of Elial Long
Period when the service was rendered  1778  Duration of Claimant’s Service  2 Months.  Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served. Cap Guthrie  Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported. 
Period when the service was rendered   1778  Duration of Claimant’s Service  2 Monthsl  Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.  Cap John Mines 
Period when the service was rendered  1778  Duration of Claimant’s Service  1 Month  Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.  Cap Nicholls   
Period when the service was rendered   1780   Duration of Claimant’s Service   1 Month.  Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.  Cap Rail   
Period when the service was rendered  1780  Duration of Claimant’s Service  2 Months  Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.  Cap. Swingler   
Period when the service was rendered  1781   Duration of Claimant’s Service  2 Months  Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.  Capt Swingler
Period when the service was rendered  1781 Duration of Claimant’s Service  1 Month Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.  Cap Holton 
Period when the service was rendered  1781   Duration of Claimant’s Service  2 Months Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.  Cap Holton  Major Carmichael   
I am, respectfully 
Your obedient servant 
JAMES 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
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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.         
[j]  In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the wife nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note [j]  applies to continental troops only.     
[k]  This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 
Washington, D. C., 19 
OWN
S. F. 22884
In reply to your request of - received  - a statement of the military history of Elial Long soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired formation as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  Sept 1778  LENGTH OF SERVICE. 2 mos.   RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain John Guthrie STATE  Penn.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  May 1779  LENGTH OF SERVICE.  2 Mos.    RANK.  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain John Minor  
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  Afterwards   LENGTH OF SERVICE.  1 Mo.   RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Valentine Nichols  
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  Spring 1780  LENGTH OF SERVICE. 1 Mo.    RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Rail
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. Spring 1780  LENGTH OF SERVICE. 2 Mos.    RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Samuel Springler
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  Fall 1780   LENGTH OF SERVICE.    2 Mos.  RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.   Captain Samuel Springler
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. Spring 1781  LENGTH OF SERVICE.  1 Mo.    RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.   Captain John Holton
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  Spring 1781  LENGTH OF SERVICE.  2 Mos.    RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain John Holton
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  1781  LENGTH OF SERVICE.  1 year   RANK.  Spy Minute Man  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  During Whole of War protecting frontier
Battles engaged in.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Greene County Penn.
Date of application for pension, Sept 17 1833, His cl. al. [claim was allowed]
Residence at date of application, Greene Co. Penn.
Age at date of application, born Aug 9 1756 in Queen Anne County Md. died Jany 13 1835 (from A. B. [agency book])
Remarks:  There is no data on file as to family.
Respectfully
Commissioner
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April 6
April 6
MORGANTOWN Va APR 2
Free
Col J. L. Edwards
Com’r of Pen’s 
Washington
6424
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Morgantown 2 April 1835 
Col. J. L Edwards 
Com’r of Pensions 
Sir.
Long to whom I alluded in a former letter, as having made a declaration in Greene Co. Pa. resides in this county about 25 miles from here - I believe his name is Elial.  As soon as I can obtain any information on the subject, I will write you 
I am resp’y 
Your
Thos. P. Ray
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Merchants & Manufacturers Bk. 
Pittsburgh Nov 8th 1836  
Sir
I have the honor of transmitting papers in case of Mary Long widow of Elial Long dec’d Pensioner under the Act of the 7th June 1832 who was last paid up to the 4 March 1834 for your inspection
I am with great Respect 
Your obt Servt 
Fred’k Kahl Pension Clerk 
J. L Edwards Esq 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington
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Apl 10
Resp’g Long
MORGANTOWN Va APR 6
Free
Col. J. L. Edwards
Com’r of Pen’s
Washington
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Elial Long 
Act June 7 1832 
Pennsylvania file with Rejected Cases 
Enclosed are two letters from Thos P. Ray, Esq. Morgantown, Va in relation to this case
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22884, 
Revolution
INVALID. 
File No. 22.884 
Elial Long 
Pri Rev War – 
Act: June 7" 32”
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 245 – 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
1917 Nov. 19 Hist. to Sarah V. Long  Letter in W.F. 3270 Gideon Long