Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2887, for John Murphey, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE    NUMBER

Penn.  Murphey, John  S2887
or Murphy

Carded
Page 2

written on left side:
Date of death seal not seen on A.B.

right side:
No. 3454
Pittsburgh
John Murphy of Mashing Co, in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Rogers of the Reg't commanded by Col. Lawry in the Militia for 8 months
John Murphey PA

Records ^corrected and completed July 18/06
==============================
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of Dec 1832 and sent to Hon. T.M.S. McKennan H.R.
Arrears to 4th of September 1832 39.99
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 March 1833  13.33
$53.32
Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book D. Vol 2 Page 200
Page 3

No 13.348
John Murphy
Susp. 14. Dec. '32
Obj. 11 & 12
Hon T. M. S. McKennan
Ho: of Rep's.


Admitted
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of John Murphey, Washington County
in the State of Pennsylvania
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 86 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
==============================
[column headings: 
Period. 
Duration of Service:  Years, Months, Days
Rank:  As a
Names of General and Field Officers under 
   whom he served.   Gen]
    
served under Gen. Putnam                                                                                       
1. In 1776 served 2 months as a private drafted 
    in Militia under Col. Alexander Lowry      
2. In 1776 served 2 months as a private drafted
    in Militia under Capt James Rodgers 
3. In 1777 served 2 months as a private drafted
    in Militia under Capt Ambrose Crainrip &   
    Capt Cofes Susfes
4. In 1777 served 2 months as a private drafted 
    in Militia under Capt John Wilie
==============================

5. In what battles was he engaged?  Battle of Brandywine & Germantown

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service:  Hanover township thru Lancaster County. Penn

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary Evidence

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Examination before the Court not signed by the Judge

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Vinal Luce  Examining Clerk.
Page 5

13.348
Declaration of 
John Murphy
{unknown}
8 mo Private
$26.66 per annum
Honble T. M. S. McKennan
Ho of Rep'r
Page 6

State of Pennsylvania
Washington County 

On this second day of October AD 1832 personally obtained in open court before the Hon. Th. H. Baird and his associates Judges of a court of Common pleas not sitting John Murphey, a resident of the Smith township Washington County State of Pennsylvania aged eighty six 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 act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he was drafted he thinks in the year 1776 for two months. The company was commanded by Capt. James Rodgers he then resided in Hanover township Lancaster County Pennsylvania; they marched to Philadelphia from thence up the river Delaware which they crossed at Trenton and marched through the state of New Jersey to somersett Courthouse where they joined the army under Gen Putnam and at the end of two months he was dismissed and returned home. And that he was drafted a second tour for two months. He marched under Capt Ambrose Crainrip the Susquehanna River to a place called Widow Smith Mill about thirteen miles above Northumberland on the west branch he remained at that place untill [sic] his time expired when he was marched to Sunbury and dismissed. And that he was drafted a third time for two months hehe belonged to Capt Copoheifer's [Copenhaver] Company the Regiment was commanded by Col. Alexr Lowry they marched through Lancaster to Chester while in the service of this tour he was in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown he thinks this tour was performed in the year 1777. At this time removed from Lancaster County before mentioned to Lurgan Township Cumberland County Pennsylvania where he was drafted a fourth tour for two months he marched under Capt John Wilie crossed the Allegheny mountains to Westmoreland County They were stationed at Hannas Town which had been burnt by the indians shortly before their arrival when his time expired he volunteered to go to Sandusky and marched as far as Fort Pitt at that place their marching orders were counter-manded and he returned home the whole time he served in the revolutionary was eight months exclusive of the time he served as a volunteer which was a few days. He never received a writen [sic] discharge he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service
Page 7

He was born in the County of Entrim [sic] Ireland in the year 1746 he has no record but received the information from his parents he was living in Hanover township (then) Lancaster County, Pennsylvania when first called into the service he removed as sated [sic] to Cumberland County and from thence to Washington County Pennsylvania where he still resides Mr Elijah Crafford. Moses Allen can testify as to his charecter [sic] for veracity and their belief of his services as a revolutionary soldier. His Colonel was Alexander Lowry in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. I recollect seeing Gen Washington accompanied by his staff on the day preceeding [sic] the first battle. I never received a written discharge.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to & subscribed, the day & year
aforesaid
{signed} Thomas Officer Prothy 
{signed} John Murphey
We Moses Allen & Elijah Crawford residing
in Smith township Washing Co. Penn hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John
Murphy who has subscribed & sworn to the
above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty six 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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
{signed} Thomas Officer Prothy
{signed} Moses Allen X (his mark)
{signed} E Crafford
Page 8

He was born in the County of Entrim [sic] Ireland in the year 1746 he has no record but received the information from his parents he was living in Hanover township (then) Lancaster County, Pennsylvania when first called into the service he removed as sated [sic] to Cumberland County and from thence to Washington County Pennsylvania where he still resides Mr Elijah Crafford. Moses Allen can testify as to his charecter [sic] for veracity and their belief of his services as a revolutionary soldier. His Colonel was Alexander Lowry in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. I recollect seeing Gen Washington accompanied by his staff on the day preceeding [sic] the first battle. I never received a written discharge.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to & subscribed, the day & year
aforesaid
{signed} Thomas Officer Prothy 
{signed} John Murphey
We Moses Allen & Elijah Crawford residing
in Smith township Washing Co. Penn hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John
Murphy who has subscribed & sworn to the
above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty six 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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
{signed} Thomas Officer Prothy
{signed} Moses Allen X (his mark)
{signed} E Crafford
Page 9


October 5, 1938
BA-J/AWF
John Murphey-S.2887
James Wright-W.C. 16417

Mr. H.B. Wright
1435 Wick Avenue
Youngstown, Ohio
Dear Sir:

The data which follow relative to John Murphey
were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension
S. 2887, based upon his military service in
the Revolutionary War.
John Murphey (as his signature is shown in
the claim) was born in 1746 in County Antrim,
Ireland; it was not shown when he arrived in this
country. The names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Hanover Township, Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, John Murphey served in 1776,
two months as private in Captain James Rodgers'
Pennsylvania company. He served two months in
Captain Ambrose Crain's company, dates of this service
not given. He served in 1777, two months in
Captain Copinhaffer's company, Colonel Alexander Lowrey's
Pennsylvania regiment, and was in the battles of Brandywine 
and Germantown. At the expiration of this
service he moved to Lurgan Township, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, and served two months in Captain John
Wilie's company, dates of this service not given.
He was allowed pension on his application
executed October 2, 1832, at which time he was living in
Smith Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
The papers on file in this claim contain no
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2
discernible data in regard to family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment
payment of pension, name and address of the person
paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner,
you should apply to The Comptroller General,
General Accounting Office, Records Division, 
Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data:
John Murphy (as he was pensioned)
Certificate #3459
Issued December 22, 1832
Rate $26.66 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Agency.

James Wright, W.C. 16417
The data furnished herein concerning James
Wright were obtained from papers on file in claims
for pension and bounty land, under W. C. 16417,
based upon his service in the War of 1812.
James Wright was born in either Lancaster or
Butler County, Pennsylvania, date not given, nor
were the names of his parents stated.
James Wright was drafted at his father's
house in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and served
as a private in Captain David Boyle's company of
Pennsylvania militia, from January 12, 1814, until
March 21, 1814.
He was allowed forty acres of bounty land on
his application executed April 10, 1852, at which
time he was sixty-three years of age, and living in
Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. He was
allowed, also, 
one hundred twenty acres of bounty land
on his application executed May 31, 1855, at which
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3
time he was living in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
The soldier, James Wright, died at his residence
in Jefferson Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania,
August 7, 1856 or 1857.
James Wright married in Buffalo township,
Pennsylvania, October 18, 1828 or 1838, Mary
Fleming, widow of Allen Fleming who died in 1819
or 1827; both dates are shown in the claim. She
stated that her name before marriage was Mary
Kennedy, and that her husband, Allen Fleming, was a
soldier in the War of 1812.
The widow, Mary Wright, was allowed pension
on account of the service of her husband, James
Wright, on her application executed June 1, 1878,
at which time she was eighty-four years of age, and
a resident of Jefferson Township, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Rebecca Walter who was born August 31,
1820, in 1878 a resident of Jefferson Township,
Pennsylvania, stated that she was present at the
marriage of her mother, Mary Fleming, to James
Wright; and John K. Fleming in 1878 a resident of
the Borough of Butler, Pennsylvania, stated that he
was, also, present at the marriage. The said John
K. Fleming was born about July 7, 1822; it was not
shown that he was related to the family.
Jacob W. Walter was twenty-one years of age
in 1880, and then living in Jefferson Township,
Pennsylvania; his relationship to the Mrs. Rebecca
Walter referred to above was not given.
It was stated, also, that the widow, Mary
Wright, had one son, and two sons-in-law in the
Union Army; no names were designated.
The papers on file in these claims contain no
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4
further discernible data relative to family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment
of pension, name and address of person paid, and
possibly the date of death of the widow, Mary
Wright, you should apply to The Comptroller General,
General Accounting Office, Records Division, 
Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data:
Mary Wright, widow of James Wright
Certificate #16417
Issued January 30, 1879
Rate $8.00 per month
Commenced March 9, 1878
Act of March 9, 1878
Pennsylvania Agency.

If you desire information in regard to the
location of the land referred to herein, you should
apply to The Commissioner of the General Land Office,
Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data:
Warrant #63433 - 40 acres- Act of 1850
Warrant #59958-120 acres- Act of 1855.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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Rev War
2887
INVALID.
File No. 2887
John Murphy
Pri. Pa. Mil.
---
Act: June 7, '32
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]
John Murphey
Records/corrected
July 28, 1906
1912 Dec. 18 Hist to Mrs. F. E.
Shallenberge
V. L. M.
1938 Oct 5 refer to H.B.  Wright cases
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The Pension Office
Washington D. C
Dec 8
Any information in
regard to John Murphy
who served in the war of
the Revolution for seven
years enlisted from Lancaster
Penn. will be highly
appreciated
Yours Sincerely
Mrs F.E. Shallenberger
1216 S. Cheyenne Ave
Tulsa Oklahoma
Page 15

October 5, 1938
BA-J/AWF
Mr. H. B. Wright
1435 Wick Avenue
Youngstown, Ohio
Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letters in which
you request the Revolutionary War record of John
Murphy, born in Ireland and served with the Pennsylvania
troops, and information in regard to
James Wright from Jefferson Township, Butler
County, Pennsylvania, soldier in the War of 1812,
also his brother, Alexander Wright, War of 1812.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War
and War of 1812 data and the limited trained
clerical force available for furnishing such information,
it is not possible to comply in full with
each request which requires so much time and research.
You are furnished herewith the Revolutionary War
record of John Murphey, and the War of 1812
record of James Wright.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
---
2 letters received
one placed in Rev pen. claim
John Murphy S.2887
and 1 in in War of
1812 claim of
James Wright W.C. 16417
Page 16


1435 Wick Ave.,
Youngstown, Ohio.
Sept., 11th, 1938,
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Will you be good enough to give me, if possible, any and all
facts regarding JOHN MURPHY who, according to family tradition, fought it
the Revolutionary War.
The facts or statements following regarding this man are those
handed down by relatives and their accuracy is very doubtful.
John Murphy born in or came from Londonderry Ireland, Landed in
America somewhere below Philadelphia but probably in Penna. Said to have
led a party of settlers to Westmoreland County in early days and was driven
back by Indians.
Married a Miss Gilfillan or Gillilan. Penna. Archives
reports a marriage between one John Murphy and a Miss Catherine Gillyan
on Dec., 4th, 1770 but does not state where. He is said to have fought in
Revolutionary War and to be buried in Westmoreland County, Penna.
He died January 23rd, 1828 at 93 years of age.
This man had at least one son -- Jeremiah Murphy, who fought in
the War of 1812 -- Your file W.C. 20584, and who enlisted for that War at
Greensburgh, Westmoreland Co., Pa.
Now I find this name frequently in Rev. Records in Penna.
Archives but of course nothing to designate this particular man and I feel
there were more than one of that name in this struggle. To verify his
existance in Westmoreland Co., Pa., there is mention of his name as
Warrantee of 125 acres of land surveyed Apr. 17th, 1787 also for 100 acres
in that Co. surveyed Feb. 9th, 1786. Both of above are listed with names
of Warrantees of land dated 1773. His name appears on tax list of the
assessor in Mt. Pleasant district of Westmoreland Co., in 1783.
Among the many references to military connections of this name
I find one John Murphy who enlisted in Capt. John Moore's Company, Col's
John Bull and Walter Stewart, mustered in at Red Bank, Pa. May 9th, 1777.
I am referring to this point as a likely starting point but his entry, if
any, may have been from a point in Eastern or South central Penna, and it is
possible that he left Westmoreland County, 1790 census does not give his
name there, and settled somewhere in Virginia or in the portion of that
state now in West Va. The family appears around 1830 up to about 1850 in
Holliday's Cove W. Va.,

May I request your careful investigation of Rev., Records to
locate this man and I regret my inability to give you more definate facts
about him. If successful will you give me all facts pretaining to family
and service that may be recorded.
Thanking you for your trouble I am,
Very truly yours
H. B. Wright
Page 17

Rev. R
RECORD DIVISION.
3-525S

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _________
19___
S.F. 2887
In reply to your request of
---,
received _________ for 
a statement of the military history of John Murphey
soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
1776
1777

LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
2 mo 
2 mos
2 mos
2 mos
RANK.
Prt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL.
James Rodgers
Ambrose Crain [illegible] Alexander Lowry
John Wills
STATE.
Penn.
Battles engaged in, Brandywine Germantown
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hanover [illegible]T Lancaster Co. Penn
Date of application for pension, Oct. 8th
Residence at date of application for pension, Oct. 2, 1832 [illegible]
Residence at date of application, Smith Top Washington Co .Penn 
Age at date of application, b. in Antrim Co. Ireland in 1746
Remarks: No data as to family

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

6-2856