Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6132, for Robert Snodgrass, Pennsylvania
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Penn.
Snodgrass, Robert     S. 6122
Contents
Carded
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Marysville    Union Co  Ohio June 14, 32
  [faint] Ss
To The Commissioner of pensions

Sir. There was one Robert Snodgrass of our country that served in the Revolutionary War and in ins June 7th 1832 recd from the war department the pension and associate which you will find Recorded in the pension Office in Book E Vol * Page 24 the Asset of the Communication is that said Robrt Snodgrass did not claim his land and it is supposed that his certificate of discharge is in the Pension office & he is since dead and it will be hard to prove the ? time of enrollment                                                                    place & &c. I wish you would see to the  same & send me word at the earliest convenats[sic]  also tell me nakst[sic] course to persue [sic]to obtain it (the land warrant[sic]) 

Yours with respect
Ransom Clark Jur
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Penn.
Robert Snodgrass
S. 6122
Contents
Carded
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State of Ohio County of Union} 
On this 5th day of April 1833 before Frederick Greenkie Resident and his associates Judges of the court of Common Pleas [illegible] [illegible] personally appeared Robert Snodgrass a resident of the County of Union Union Township and state of Ohio aged seventy [crossed out] five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7- 1832 that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated (field officers not recollected) Capt John Patton (Lieut and ensign not recollected) in the fall of 1777 (year not positively recollected) and that he left the service three months after he entered that he then resided in Pennsylvania in the County of Lancaster. That he entered as a substitute for his father William Snodgrass, that he was in no battles on this tour of services, that the company met at Thompson Haven on the Philadelphia road and was marched thence by Capt Patton to Philadelphia and was stationed therein the Barracks for some weeks that he was then marched through Princeton and Trenton to Amboy where he was stationed until the expiration of the tenure of three months [illegible] he was dismissed. No particulars further recollected that he no documentary evidence and never (had of his) discharge and that he knows of no person whose testimony further than stated Samuel Reed (below) he can procure who can testify to his service. Also that he entered the service of the United States under the following name officers and served as herein stated General Bull (possibly Colonel Bull and not general Bull.] Capt Marshall and Lieut Joseph Allison in the fall of 1779 or 1780 that he left the service three months after that. he then resided in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania that he was drafted that he was in no battle but
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was attacked by surprise by a company of Brittish[sic] in which Skirmish Capt. marshal was killed by his side.  that he was engaged marching and s\Stationed in the east area counties of pennsylvania. Sometimes Stationed at the featherbed hill or Carbuncle hill where the where the regular army was then stationed. that he recollects none of the regular officers names. that he neither has or never had documentary evidence of his discharge, that he knows of no person (far than Samuel Reed) whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service that he has a record of his age in his bible at home he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to  a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state 
sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Robert his X mark Snodgrass 

I Hezekiah Bardick a Clergyman in the County of Union State & Ohio hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Robert Snodgrass who has Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration.  that I believe him to be 75 years of age that he is reputed a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in that opinion
Sworn and Subscribed this day and year aforesaid
Hezekiah Bardik

I Samuel Reed a Resident of Union County Ohio hereby certify that I was acquainted with Robert Snodgrass who had Sworn to and Subscribed the above declaration before he entered the service of the United States as Stated above. that I have Some recollection of his being in the service that I have known him ever Since that he is reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the revolution in the neighborhood where he resides and that I concur with that opinion
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Samuel Reed

And the Said Court do hereby declare this opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served
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as he states and the said court further certifies that it appears to them that Hezekiah Bardick who has signed the above certificate is a clergyman resident in the county of Union, Ohio and that Samuel Reed is a resident of Union County Ohio and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Silas G Strong clerk of the court of common pleas hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Robert Snodgrass for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 5th day of April 1833.
Silas G. Strong. Clerk
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Ohio 13193
Robert Snodgrass
of Union in the State of Ohio
who was a Pri in the Compy commanded by Captain Marshall of the Regt. commanded by Col. Ball in the Pennsylvania line for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 20 Dollars_____Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of May 1833 and sent to Silas G Strong
Clk Union Co. Maysville [Cincinatti] Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1833 $40.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 10.00
$50.00
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by JM Cagett Clerk,
Book E Vol. 8 Page 24
[illegible] Ransom Clark [illegible] 25th June 1850
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No. 24.926
Robert Snodgrass
Union Co--
Ohio
Adm for 6 months
Silas G. Strong Clk
Union Co
Marysville Ohio
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 WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 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. These 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 the printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

Statement, shewing the Service of Robert Snodgrass of Union Co. Ohio
Period when the service was rendered. Sub Fall 1777|Years--|Months 3| Days--
Rank of Claimant| Private| Names and rank of Field officers under whom he served. Capt. Batton| Age at present, and place of abode when he entered service 75 years| Proof by which the declaration is supported Traditional evidence--
[illegible] Fall 79 or so| Years--|Months 3| Days-|Names and rank of Field officers under whom he served. Col. Ball, Capt Marshall, no field officer stated|

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 [mucicians], 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 each 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] in the county of [BLANK] and State, Territory or District of [BLANK] aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth in his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States of America in the year (d) [BLANK], with [BLANK] and served in the [BLANK](e) regiment of the [BLANK] line, under the following named officers: [BLANK]
[Here set forth the names and ranks 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 officer;)s and 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 county through which he marched. [Symbol of Hand] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militias, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatsoever 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 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 (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I---of the Court of--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 and seal of office (i) this 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 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 --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 days 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 [BLANK], and is a credible person, and 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,--Clerk of the Court of [BLANK] do hereby certify 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, this [BLANK] day of [BLANK] &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof of his power. 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 service of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war , and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a soldier : Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
To an office: 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 the 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.
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 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 is a Judge or 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.
{footnotes}
(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 do, 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 _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. 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 ia 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. 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 Cour 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 offer the 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 cuds 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 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
J. F. 6132

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.           19
In reply to your request of ___________ received ______________  for a statement of the military history of Robert Snodgrass a 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.
Fall of 1777
Fall of 1780

LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
3 months

RANK.
Pot.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
John Patton
         Marshall

COLONEL.
Ball

STATE.
Penna

Battles engaged in, (illegible)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Lancaster County, Penn.
Date of application for pension, Sept 5, 1833
Residence at date of application, (illegible) Ohio
Age at date of application, 73 years to date given (illegible)
Remarks: Solider was the son of William Snodgrass.  There is no other data as to his family.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
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1918 being 23 Hist to H. J. Curry
6132
INVALID.
Rev. War

File No. 6132
Robert Snodgrass
Privt Rev War

Act: June 7. 1832
Index: - Vol. M, Page 35
(Arrangement of 1870.)
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President
Herman A. Kelley -- Cleveland
Guardian Building
Vice President
Robert H. Kellogg ---- Delaware
170 W. Lincoln Ave.
Secretary and Registrar
William L. Curry - Columbus
Box 645
Treasurer
Stimpson G. Harvey -- Toledo
650 Oakland Ave
Historian
Joseph B. Doyle -- Steubenville
Law Library
Chaplain
Dr. William F. Peirce --- Gambier

Board of Managers.
Herman A. Kelley -- Cleveland
Robert H. Kellogg-- Delaware
William L. Curry -- Columbus
Stimpson G. Harvey -- Toledo
George E. Pomeroy 
Gardnar Bldg.- - Toledo
Edward M. Hall
1116 Guardian Bldg.--  Clevland
Moulton Houk
727 Nicholas Bldg. -- Toledo
D. H. Morris
70 N. Ohio Ave. --Columbus
Edward L. Howe- -  Cleveland
Harry P. Ward
225 N. Fourth St. -- Columbus
Ezra Kuhns
8381 Manhattan Ave. -- Dayton
Prof. George H. Johnson
Case School-  - Cleveland

Executive Committee
Herman A. Kelley -- Cleveland
Moulton Houk-- Toledo
D. H. Morris -- Columbus
Harry P. Ward--Columbus
Edward M. Hall--Cleveland

Sons of the American Revolution
Ohio Society

Columbus, Ohio January 14, 1918
Hon. G. H. Saltzgaber,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington D. C.

Dear Sir:
Will you please send me a certificate
of the service of Robert Snodgrass, a soldier
of the Revolutionary War. The data given
me by an applicant for membership in the D. A. R. is " Pension Roll, 1st Session, 23d. Congress Volume 3d., Ohio Pension Roll; page 161. "
He served in a Pennsylvania regiment, and at the time he received his pension resided in Union county, Ohio, where he died September 30, 1834, aged 76.
Very respectfully
W. L. Curry
Secretary.
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[stamp]
PENSION OFFFICE.
U.S.
O JAN 18 1918