Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22356, for John Leasure, Pennsylvania
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Penn.
War of 1792

Leasure, John

NUMBER
S. 22356

CONTENTS
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Pittsburgh No. 18,981

John Leasure Westd. [Westmoreland] Co. in the State of Penna. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Sparks of the Regt. commanded by   in the Penn. Troops for 9 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh at the rate of 30 Dollars [cents crossed out] per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25. day of Novr. [November] 1833 and sent to J. J. Young Greensburgh, Pa.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833 75.00
Semi-anl. [annual] allowance ending 4 march 1836 15.00
$90.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E. Vol,. 5. Page 83

see letter 2 Jany [January] 1835 to Hon R. Coulter, do. to Hon A. G. March and H. R. Dec 6. 1842 - 

[illegible faint writing]
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State of Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County

On this twenty-second day of August A.D. 1833 personally appeared before the Honorable John Young and his associated judges of the court of common pleas in and for said county now sitting, John Leasure, a resident of Unity Township in the county of Westmoreland and state of Pennsylvania, aged seventy-three years, who being first duly sworn according to aw doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7th of 1832. 

That he volunteered in the service of the United States in Westmoreland County in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-five, about the 7th of March in said year in a company of militia commanded by Captain Sparks and Lieutenant Reed for the term of three months.  He rendezvoused with the company at Hannastown occasionally but most of the term they were pretty constantly engaged in scouting and protecting the frontier, which was at that time very much harassed by the Indians.  He believes he was dismissed on or about the fifth of June following from service with the rest of the company.  This declarant had not during this tour arrived at that age by which the law could exact a service from him.

He continued to volunteer after the said tour his service in case of emergency, but not for any great length of time, until he arrived at that age when his services were commanded, when he was drafted about the first of August seventeen hundred and seventy-seven in a company of militia commanded by Captain James Wilson (who was afterwards a major) for the term of three months.  This declarant with the company was stationed at Baird(?) Fort near the Chestnut Ridge where they were employed until the end of their term in driving the Indians from the ridge where they had concealed themselves.  This declarant was in this and the above mentioned tour under Sparks but a mere private.  He was dismissed as he believes about the last of October or first of November following.    

This declarant was again drafted sometime in January in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-two in a company commanded by Peter Title for the term of three months.  They rendezvoused a short time at the house of Colonel Campbell's near the Conemaugh River.
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River, then proceeded by the way of Clark's(?) Mill on Crooked Creek to Green's(?) Station on the Allegheny.  This declarant as first sergeant was left with the command of eight men at Clark's Mill on Crooked Creek to protect the settlement.  This declarant remained at Clark's Mill until the return of Captain Title with the rest of the company from Green's Station when they all returned to their homes in Westmoreland County when they were dismissed by their captain at or near the expiration of their tour for which they were drafted.

In the year seventeen hundred and seventy-nine, about the first of July, this declarant volunteered as a spy with four others under the command of Captain Joseph Edgar for the term of six months against the Indians. He spied between Crooked Creek and (illegible).  After spying about three months, the weather became pretty cold and we were marched home and dismissed with an order to be ready at a minute's warning to serve the rest of our tou

This declarant mentions that he was at the burning of Hannastown; that he joined a party commanded by Captain Proctor(?) on the evening of the day the Indians burned the town.  He managed with a few more to get into the fort.  The Indians, perceiving the (illegible) flocking in from the settlements, retreated in the night with their plunder.  This declarant with others pursued them the next day but having no prospects of overtaking them, returned their homes.  

This declarant knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to establish the foregoing facts except his brother, Abraham Leasure, whose deposition will be hereto annexed and Captain Peter Title and John Morrison whose depositions will also be annexed when they can be procured. 

He further states that has not in his possession any documentary evidence whatever in support of the same.  He claims a pension for twelve months service viz: three months under Captain Sparks in the year 1775; three months under Captain Nelson in the year 1777 and three months under Captain Peter Title in the year 1792 and three months under Captain Edgar, although he volunteered six months and if he is entitled to a pension for the last three months for which
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He did not serve as a spy although had volunteered to serve the same and was dismissed.  He leaves the same to the pleasure of the War Department whether to grant it or not.  

He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he further declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.  (The words "January" and "I've" underlined before signing.) 
Signed:  John Leasure

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.
Signed:  Randal McLaughlin

Interrogatory propended by the court:

1.  Where and in what year were you born?
On the 13th of May in the year 1760.

2. Have you any record of your age and if so, where is it?
Answer:  I have a record as kept by my father at my residence in Unity Township. 

3.  Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?  
Answer:  In Unity Township, Westmoreland County.  I have lived since in the Kiskiminetas River in the same county but do not recollect the township.  I now live in Unity Township and in same county in the state of Pennsylvania.

4.  How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if so for whom?
Answer:  This interrogatory is answered in the declaration. 

5.  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services?
Answer:  All that I can recollect is stated in the foregoing declaration. 

6.  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what became of it?
Answer:  I never did a written one.

7.  State the names of the person 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.
Answer:  John Graff, Daniel Kilgon, Hon. Richard Coulter, John Chambers and the judges who compose this honorable court.
Signed:  John Leasure

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.
Signed: Randal McLaughin, Prothy.
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I, John Barnet of Unity Township, Westmoreland County in the state of Pennsylvania do:
hereby certify that I am well acquainted John Leasure who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that I believe him to be seventy-three years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that concur in that opinion.
Signed:  John Barnet

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.
Signed:  Randal McLaughlin

State of Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County

On this twenty-second day of August A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable John young Esquire and his associate judges of a court of common pleas in and for the said county now sitting, Abraham Leasure, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that he is the brother of John Leasure, the declarant in the foregoing declaration, and that he was in a in a tour against  the Indians with John Leasure the declarant under the command of Captain Peter Title. 

 He was drafted with this deponent sometime in January the year 1792 for the term of three months.  This deponent thinks they were dismissed a short time before the expiration of the tour in consequence of the cold weather.  It, however, was so near the close of the war that it stood for a (illegible).  This deponent went in this tour to Green Station and on their way to the same place John Leasure, the declarant, was a field sergeant in the company was stationed at Clark's(?) Mill on the Crooked Creek with a number of men to protect the settlement there.  I believe the number of men was nearer fifteen than eight.  He then aided both in the capacity of first sergeant and ensign.

This deponent further states that he knew John Leasure to be appointed a spy under the command of Joseph Edgar about the first of July in the year 1779 for the time of six months.  I accompanied the said declarant about ten miles when he started out as a spy and carried the knapsacks and blankets of the declarant, Captain Edgar and others on a horse the same distance.  

This deponent saw the said declarant after his return from the tour as a spy.  He had been gone about three months.  He was dismissed in consequence of the cold weather setting in, but with orders to hold himself in readiness to serve out the rest of the tour at minute's warning.

This deponent further states on oath that he knows the said declarant served a tour under Captain Sparks for the term of three months and a tour of three months under Captain Wilson.  This deponent knows these facts from memory as well as the common (illegible) of the neighborhood in those days.  And this deponent further saith not.
Signed:  Abraham Leasure

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.
Signed:  Randal McLaughlin
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Deposition of Rev. H. O. Patterson
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Westmoreland county ss.
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace for the County of Westmoreland, the Rev. A. O. Patterson the Worthy and highly respectable Pastor of Mountpleasant Congregation in said County, who being first duly sworn according to Law saith that he is well acquainted with John Leisure, who has been a Ruling Elder in the Mountpleasant Congregation for many Years, and that during the period of said deponants [deponents] acquaintance, with said John Leisure, he the said Leisure has sustained a respectable character, both official and private, and has also enjoyed the Confidence and esteem of the church with which he is connected; And further, from information received, in the neighborhood, said deponent [illegible] that Jn. Leisure was a soldier of the Revolution. 
A. A. Patterson
Sworn and subscribed before me the 24th day of August 1833.}
John E. Fleming
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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
HARRISBURG
August 7, 1929

IN YOUR REPLY PLEASE REFER TO O.R.107

Commissioner of Pensions
Department of the Interior
Washington, D. C.

Attention: Division of Records

Dear Sir:
I am seeking information as to the army record of John Leasure, of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, who died December 20, 1844. the census of 1840 gives his residence at the home of Andrew Shields in Mahoning Township.
I find record of a pension in January 1838 in the State Library here at Harrisburg, in Pension Book 3, page 221.
I wish to find out the date he enlisted, and secure as complete a record of his service as you may have, and will greatly appreciate any information you can give me.

Very truly yours
[Signature]
Edward J. McElwee
Statistician

[Stamp]
U.S. Pension Office Aug 8, 1929
[Stamp]
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Revolution
22356
INVALID.
file No. 22,356
John Leasure Pri [Private] Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 239

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Nov 20 96 To H. M. Shields Chicago Ills.
1912 Apr. 5 Hist. to John A. Markle, V. L. M.
1921 May 31 Hist to Mrs. Norman Reeves.
1923 Jan. 19 Hist to Mrs. Chester Boon. AMG.
1923 Apr. 9 2nd hist. furnished Mrs. C. J. Boon. she state 1: Hist was destroyed - also $1.00 bill returned by Reg. mail AMF.
1929 - Aug. 10- Hist to Edward J. McElevee AMF.
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27775
John Leasure
J.J. Young
Greensburgh
Penna. 
Admit with letter 9 months
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ribbon cut to read the papers.
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Westmoreland County
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Peter Title a person of high respectability and credibility who first being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath depose and say that John Leasure of Unity Township and County aforesaid served a tour of three months against the Indians under his command. He the said Leasure was drafted to serve said tour on the 11th of January Seventeen hundred and ninety-two according to the date of the orders which this Deponent received in writing from Charles Campbell then the Colonel which said orders this Deponent now Exhibits in writing. The said Leasure acted as a first Sergeant under said Deponents command as Captain and behaved himself well and manfully during the whole of said tour of three months - This Deponent stationed said Leasure on their way to Green Station at Clarks Mill in crooked creek with the command of some men to protect the settlement in that neighbourhood [neighborhood] which was at that time very much annoyed by the Indians. This Deponent was discharged with the company by Colonel Campbell before the three months had quite expired 
Peter Tittle
Sworn and subscribed before me this second day of September A.D. 1833}
John Morrison
I John Morrison a Justice of the peace in the County aforesaid do hereby certify that the above deponent is 89 years of age and was too frail to attend the court when the said Leasures declaration was to have been presented and I further certify that I served the tour above mentioned with the said Leasure under Capt. Peter Title and that the
facts are all true as above stated
John Morrison
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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 John Barnet who has signed the preceding certificate is a Resident of Unity Township Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, and is a Credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
And the Court further certifies that Abraham Leasure who has sworn to and subscribed in open Court the annexed Deposition is well known to them as very respectable and credible person, and that his Deposition is entitled to full Credit
I Randal McLaughlin Clerk of the Court of Common do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Leasure for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office at Greensburgh this twenty second day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty three-
Randal McLaughlin, Prot [Prothonotary]
[white paper folded on left margin]
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State of Pennsylvania
Westmorland County ss
I Randal McLaughlin Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Westmoreland in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Do hereby certify that John Morrison Esquire before whom the Deposition of Peter Title was made, and whose name in his own proper hand writing is to the said foregoing or annexed Deposition appended, as John E. Fleming Esquire before whom the annexed certificate of the Reverend A. O. Patterson was made and whose name in his own hand writing is to the said annexed certificate appended, were then, and now acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Westmoreland duly commissioned and appointed and to all whose Official Acts and Deeds full faith and credit are of right due.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at
Greensburgh the second day of September in the year of our Lord of one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three-
Randal McLaughlin, Prot [Prothonotary]
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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 said Court further Certifies that it appears to them that Nicolas P. Hacke who has
signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Westmoreland County and that Frederick Weaver who has also signed the same and who has sworn to and subscribed the above deposition is also a resident of the said County that they are credible persons and that then statements is entitled to credit
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Dec 23
John Leasure.
[illegible] for increase
R [illegible] Pa

Westmoreland County ss
I Randal McLaughlin Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings in the matter of the application of John Leasure for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court at my office at Greensburgh, this fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty four
Randall M Laughlin, Prot [ Prothonotary]
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832
State of Pennsylvania Westmoreland County ss
On this Twentieth day of November in the year 1834 personally appeared in Open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania John Leasure a resident of Unity Township in the County and State aforesaid aged Seventy five 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 the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
In the month of March in the year 1776 as near as the declarant can recollect, he entered the army as a volunteer in the County of Westmoreland Pennsylvania he was attached to a company commanded by Captain Sparks we were marched to Kittaning on the Allegany River for the protection of the stores collected there, a company of Continental troops. that had been  raised in the west for the protection of the Frontiers having been withdrawn from the past. our company consisted of near thirty men, about three months after we came to Kittinging we received information that we were to be attacked by two hundred Indians, that were said to be advancing to attach the station, upon receiving this information we immediately commenced our retreat
in our way we forded Crooked Creek, in crossing which this declarant was exposed to considerable danger from the depth and rapidity of the steam but by the aid of one of his comrades he got safely through this Tour lasted three months when this declarant returned to his Fathers
In the month august in the year 1776. the declarants father was drafted in a company that was
raised to guard the stores at Kittaning no attack having been made thereon as was anticipated when declarant
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and the company to which he was attached retreated from thence, the term of service was three months declart [declarant] joined a the company as a substitute for his Father Abraham Leasure
we were commanded by Lieutenant Reed and Captain was absent from sickness or some other cause we marched from Hannahs Town in Westmoreland County to Kittaning where we remained three months. Lieutenant Reed was the only officer, we had only Twenty Two men, at the end of three months declarant was discharged and returned home 
In the month of June in the year 1777 as nearly as declarant can recollect he was selected as a minute man. His first service in this capacity as under Captain Mathew Jack. We were called to the relief of Fort Hann near the Kiskeminitas River which was besieged by the Indians for four days upon our approach they raised the Siege, and we pursued them across the Kiskeminitas River. When selected as minute man it was understood that we would only be called out on particular occasions but the frontier being at this time much exposed to the incursions of the the Indians declarant and the company to which he was attached was continued in the service at this period for three months and business was to protect the frontier settlers from the depredations of the Indians though notwithstanding in all our vigilance they frequently broke in upon the settlements and killed some of the Inhabitants
In the year 1779 in the spring declarant cannot speak with certainty as to the month. he was drafted in the County of Westmoreland for the time of three months he was under the command of Captain Edward Cahill our duty was to protect the settlements from the inroads of the Indians
we were not stationed at any particular point our distance from the settlements was generally from twenty to thirty miles each man carried a weeks provissions [provisions] along, if we procured game we remained longer than a week. When are provisions were exhausted we came to Wallace' Fort where we obtained a supply at the end of three months declarant
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was discharged and returned home
he the month of June 1778 declarant also served a tour of duty for the term of three months he was drafted in Westmoreland County in a company commanded by Captain John McClelland
we formed at Hannahs Town, and marched to Barrs Fort near the Chesnut Ridge our principal duly was to drive the Indians out of the Ridge out of which they frequently issued to plunder the inhabitants. we sometimes went to Wallaces Fort distant five or six miles from Barr's Fort. Captain Wilson commanded at Barrs Fort, at the end of three months declarant was discharged
In the the spring of 1780 or 1781 declarant was selected as an Indian spy and served for six months in that capacity our Company was commanded by Captain Edgar, we were organized in Westmoreland County - we marched into the wilderness and remained during the greater part of this tour about forty miles from the settlements. We were obliged to subsist entirely on the game we killed at the end of the six months declarant returned home
Declarant further states that in August in the year 1833. he made and forwarded to the department a declaration, in which he narrated his service for nine months of the above period that on said declaration a pension certificate was issued in his favour [favor] at the war department bearing date the 25th day of November 1833 authorizing him to receive annually during his life the sum of thirty dollars. That at the time of his making the said declaration, he was informed that the length of his service was of no importance, that it was only necessary for him to shew that he had been a Revolutionary soldier to entitle him to all the benefits of the act of the 7th of June 1832 that this was the reason of his not stating all his services in the war of the Revolution. Declarant states that he served in all Twenty one months including the nine
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months for which he has already been allowed a pension and for the whole time he claims a pension by reason of age and infirmity delarant [declarant] cannot speak with certainly as to date but is certain he served not less than the period before mentioned
When and in what year were you born?
I was born in York County (Now Adams) in the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1759
Have you any Record of your age?
My age was recorded by my Father in his family Bible, it is now in my possession
Where were you living when called into into service where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live?
When called into service I lived in Westmorland County Pennsylvania, I have had there since the Revolutionary war and I now live there
How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute? and if a substitute for whom?
Nine months of the service I went as a volunteer, I was drafted there times and in this capacity I served nine months, and I served three months as a substitute for Abraham Leasure
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 service
No Regular officers were with the troops when declarant served. he thinks Col. Laughrey had the
the Chief Command in Westmorland County though he was never under his immediate command for the general circumstances of his services he refers to
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his declaration
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
I her received a written discharge but upon the expiration of the Tour I served under Captain McClelland he gave me a discharge in writing, but it has been lost many years
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood [neighborhood] and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Declarant States as persons to Whom he is known in his present neighbourhood [neighborhood] who can Testify as to his character for veracity and belief of his services as a Revolutionary soldier the names of the Hon. Richard Coulter, John Labingtin Esqr [Esquire] John Giffin Nathaniel Hunt
Fredrick Weaver Casper Weaver and Adam Bear
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any State, only on that of the agency of Pittsburgh in the State of Pennsylvania for the amount of pension stated in his declaration
John Leasure
sworn and subscribed in Open Court Nov 20th. 1834}
Randal McLaughlin, Prot.
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We Nicholas P. Hacke a layman residing in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania and Frederick Weaver residing in the same County and State hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Leasure who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to
be seventy five years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides to have been a Revolutionary soldier and that we concur in
that opinion
Nicolas P. Hacke
Fredrick Weaver
Sworn and subscribed in open Court this 20th day of Novr [November] 1834.}
Randal McLaughten, Prot [Prothonotary]

Fredrick Weaver a Resident of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania aged Seventy years being sworn in open Court doth depose and say that he has known John Leasure who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration since his childhood my father and his lived within a mile and a half of each other during the Revolutionary war and long afterwards our residence was about six miles from what was then called the Frontier, I remember distinctly of his  being engaged in the Indians wars during the Revolution he was about on duty as a militia frequently for months at a time, I recollect at one time he was gone six months as an Indian spy. I cannot
speak with certainty as to the number of his tours or the length of time he was gone upon every accasion [occasion] but I know that he was actively engaged during all the disturbances on the Frontiers, occasioned by the inroads of the Indians
Fredrick Weaver
Sworn and subscribed in open Court this 20th day of Novr [November] 1834
Randal McLaughlin, Prot [Prothonotary]