Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2827, for John Miles, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Md.

Miles, John

NUMBER
S. 2827.

carded.
Page 2

Ohio  7963
John Miles of Licking Co. in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Compy (sic) commanded by Captain Walker of the Regt (sic) commanded by Col. Dorsey in the Maryland line for one year.

$40.

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of April 1833 and sent to J. D. Johnson  Martinsburg Ohio

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833          80.
Sem ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 37   20.
                                                             $100.

{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832.       }

Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer  Clerk,
Book E  Vol.  8   Page 10.

Letter to J. S. Shields.  June 12, 1845
See letter March 20, 1847 to W. H. Medary
Page 3

7963

23590
John Miles
Licking Co
Ohio

Admitted for one year from 1778

(illegible)  $40.


J. D. Johnston agt
Martinsburg Knox Co  Ohio
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
19 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 show 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, showing the Service of John Miles, Licking Co Ohio

Period when the service was rendered
1778

Duration of the claimant's service

Years           Months         Days
1                                                

Rank of the Claimant.
Private

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Cap. Walker

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Gen. Smallwood,  Col Dorsey, Col. Dorsey

Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
(Blank)

Country through which he marched.
(illegible)  (illegible) Susquahanah up the Schuykill, Jones Mills

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
77
Anne Arundel Co Md.

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary

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 instance, 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  (blank) day of (blank) personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of (blank) county of (blank) State, Territory or District of (blank) aged (c) (blank) 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 provion (sic) made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) (blank), with (blank) and served in the (blank) (e) regiment of the (blank) 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 rand and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered (sic) 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 on that of the Agency in the State of (blank)
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  (blank) of the Court of  (blank) do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of (blank) for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this (blank) day of (blank) &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 not (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, vis:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the (blank) and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify that we are well acquainted with (blank), who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be (blank) 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 the that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the (blank) and that C.D. who has also signed the same is a resident in the (blank) and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, (blank) Clerk of the Court of (blank) do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation (sic) of (blank) for pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this (blank) day of (blank) &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge of 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 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 b e 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 who 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 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 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.  If 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 of 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 of Territory, or of the proper Clerk of Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is Judge of Justice of a  Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is 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 the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a  Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period 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 (sic) and saith, that, by reason of old age, and 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:  (blank) For (blank) year (blank) months, and (blank) days I served as a (blank); 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, as 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 years in the militia, &c with out 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 by 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 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 witnesses 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 i indispensable to militia cases.
[l]   If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m]  The answers to a interrogatories must all be written and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.


Geo. B. Whiting
Page 7

John Miles
Declaration
23590
Page 9

County in the State of Maryland in the year 1755 from the record his parents had of his age he having no record of his age at present.  he states that since the revolutionary war he has lived part of the time in Maryland part in Pennsylvania and now live in Licking  County Ohio as aforesaid.
He also states that he is known in the neighborhood of Martinsburg Knox County where he recently lived to David Honon and Wm Porterfield Esqr and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.

The hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an anuity (sic) except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

John  X his mark   Miles

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid  
A H Coffee, Clk

We Abraham Day of Knox County Ohio and David Motes residing in the county of Licking and State of Ohio hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Miles who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
David Moats
Abraham Day

Sworn and subscribed in open court
A. H. Coffee  Clk
Page 10

In the natter of the application of John Miles for a pension the following Interogatories (sic) was by the order of the court propounded and the answers herein after mentioned was by him given.

1st  Where and in what year were you born
Answer  I was born in Annarundell County in the State of Maryland in the year 1755 according to the record my parents had of my age.

2nd  Have you any record of your age and if so where is it.  
Answer     I have no record of my age

3rd   Where were you living when called in to the service  Where have you lived since the revolutionary war
Answer   When called into the service I lived at Elkridge landing on Patapsco river in Annarudell County State of Maryland.  Since the revolutionary I have lived part of the time in Maryland and then moved to Pennsylvania, then State of Ohio am now live in Licking County Ohio.

4th  How were you called into the service, were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom.
Answer   I entered the service as a volunteer

5.  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served and such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Answer   General Smallwood, Col Dorsey were with the troops where I served the number of the regiments I do not recollect.
Page 11

6th  Did you ever receive a discharge from the and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Answer   I received a discharge from Col. Dorse but have since lost it

7th.  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as soldier of the revolution
Answer   David Honn & Wm Porterfield

And the court do hereby declare their opinion that [on an investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department] the said applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, that David Moats & Abraham Day are person of credit & that their statement hereunto is entitled to belief.
A. H. Coffee, Clerk of the said court do hereby certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings in the matter of the application of John Miles for a pension.  I further certify that David Moats and Abraham Day are residents of said County know to the court as persons of credit.

In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of said Court Dec. 1st 1832, 
A. H. Coffee  clk
Page 12

October 23, 1939

BA-J/AWF
John Miles - S. 2827
John Miles S. 36138

Mrs. Pearl Wilson
903 Barnes Building
Muskogee, Oklahoma

Dear Madam:  

The data which follow relative to this John Miles were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 2827, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

John Miles was born March 28, 1755 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  The names of his parents was not given.

While a resident at Elkridge Landing on the Atapsco river, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, John Miles enlisted sometime in April, 1778, served one year in Captain James Walker's company, Colonel Thomas Dorsey's Maryland regiment.

After the close of the Revolution, John Miles lived in Pennsylvania, then moved to Knox County, Ohio, then to Licking County, Ohio.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 29, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Eden Township, Licking County, Ohio.

The papers on file in this claim contain no discernible data in regard to family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment
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of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following data:

John Miles
Certificate #7963
Issued April 26, 1833
Rate $40.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Ohio Agency.

***********************

John Miles- S.36138

The data in regard to this John Miles were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 36138, based upon his service in the War of the Revolution, and are shown as follows.

The date and place of birth of John Miles and names of his parents were not stated.

John Miles enlisted in Frederick County, Maryland, sometime in February, 1777, served as a private in Captain John Bailey's company, Colonel Gist's Maryland regiment; he was in the battles of Paoli, Germantown, "Yellow Banks on the Schuylkill", and was discharged October 25, 1779, in Baltimore, Maryland.

He was allowed pension on his application executed May 2, 1818, at which time he was eighty six years, and residing in Green County, Kentucky.  He stated in 1820 that his wife was then seventy-
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of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the death of this pensioner, you should
Page 15

3-

eight years of age, but he did not give the name of his wife, and there is o reference to children.

John Miles died March 17, 1827 place not stated. 

The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible family data.

In order to obtain the name and address of the person who received the last payment of this pension, you should use the same address as given herein, and furnish the following data:

John Miles, 2d (as he was pensioned)
Certificate #14872
Issued September 22, 1819
Rate $8.00 per month
Commenced May 2, 1818
Act of March 18, 1818
Kentucky Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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Rev War

2827
INVALID.

File No.   2827
John Miles
Pri. Md. Line

Act:  June 7, 1832
Index:  - Vol. A, Page 256

[Arrangement of 1870.]

1939 Oct. 25  - Hist. to Mrs. Pearl Wilson (illeglible)
Page 17

Stamped Received Oct 17 1939
MAIL Sub-VIV
Reader No. 6
VETS ADM

Muskogee Okla
Oct. 16, 39

Veterans Administration
Washington D. C.

Dear Sirs - Will you please assist me in getting the information of John Miles my great uncle who fought in the Revolutionary War.  He enlisted from the state of Maryland died a very old man in State of Ark. drew pension for yrs.

I'm very desirous of getting this as soon as possible as I'm trying to get in as a charter member with
Page 19

October 25, 1939

BA-J/AWF
John Miles - S. 2827
John Miles - S. 36138


Mrs. Pearl Wilson
903 Barnes Building
Muskogee, Oklahoma

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Miles who served from the State of Maryland, died "a very old man in State of Arkansas", drew a pension for years.

You are furnished herewith the Revolutionary War records of two soldiers named John Miles both of whom served from Maryland.  These are the records of the only John Miles found on file in the Revolutionary War pension records of this office, who served with the Maryland troops.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator


See her letter in John Miles S. 2827