Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 876, William Bivins, Del.
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Service
Del

Bivins, William

Number
R. 876
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Wm. Bivens
Indiana
Rejected
     letter to
John Wilson, Clk
of the Court of Montgomery
Co
24 April 1835
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Invvalid


William Bivens 
 No. 826
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We Michael Combs
a Clergyman residing in Union
Township Montgomery County Indiana and
and Joshua Bruce and William Snoots & Josua Bruce of same county certify that we are acquainted with Willaim Bivins who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be Eighty four years of age
that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and the we concur in that opinion sworn and subscribed the day and yar aforesaid in open court Sept 22, 1834

Attest James Stitt
Abraham Ketcham
John Wilson Clerk



Michael Combs
Wm Snook
Joshua Bruce
 Judges
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State of Indiana
County of Montgomery
ss.
On the 22nd day of September, 1834. Personally appears in Open Court before the Judges of the Circuit Court of Montgomery County now sitting. William Bivins a resident of Ripley Township in the County of Montgomery, State of Indiana, aged Eighty five years on the 18th of April next. 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: namely that he first entered the service of the United State a private drafted in the Militia, in the State of Delaware in Sussex County. About the 4th or 5th year of the Revolutionary War the precise year not recollected, under Captain Wingate, don't recollect the name of my Colonel or Regiment but served out the term of three months for which I was drafted, on and about the Delaware bay of shore, in scouting parties and guard parties. Was in no regular battle this term, but was in several slight chases and skirmishes, with the enemy. At the end of said term of 3 months I was regularly discharged by my Capt. and received a discharge think signed by my Capt. or Colonel don't recollect certain, which discharge was burned [scratched out "about"] at the accidental burning of my house and effects about thirteen years ago in Lawrence County, Ohio. Private 1st. 3 Mo. Service. And said applicant further states that a short time, perhaps two months after the expiration of said first term of his service he again entered the Service of the United States, as Captain in [continued]
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[continued] a volunteer Company of Militia in the State of Delaware, Sussex County (my Lieutenant's names Conway) in Col. Mitchel's Regiment in Delaware, for the term of other three months and continued in said Service during the whole of said term mostly in and about the Delaware bay, was in some skirmishes with some plundering parties of the British, but in no considerable battle during the term, mostly engaged in guarding stores, scouting and such like light service as was commonly put on the county volunteer Militia to do and at the end of this term applicant received a regular discharge as he had on entering the Service this term received a Commission, but whose names were signed to discharged, or to Commission, does not now remember, but believes the name of his Col. (Mitchel) was to the discharged, that the Commission and discharged were both burned at the aforesaid burning of the house and effects of applicant as before stated....2? terms 3. Mo. Service. Capt. Militia. 
And this applicant further saith on oath that some time after the expiration of the aforesaid 2 ? terms service had expired, he thinks not to exceed eight months after; but the particular numbers of the year not recollected with sufficient accuracy in my mind to swear to same at this time, he, this applicant again entered the Service of the United States in what was called "the 9 month regular" as and ensign in Capt. Nathanuel Mitchels' company, of Regulars in Col. Mitchels Regiment, Delaware troops (this Col. Mitchel being the father of Capt. Mitchel.) that he enlisted in said Service at the house of Col. Mitchel in Blackfords Town, Sussex County Delaware State and receive a commission therein as such [illegible] that the principal part of his service in this tour were rendered in Virginia, was in a battle near a place called the Cowpens in Virginia and was wounded in an early part of the ingagements [engagements] by a ball in right hip, which then [continued]
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and ever since has injured applicant. 2 pieces of bones having been extracted from the wound, & leaves his right leg the shortest. That
this applicant continued in the hospital near the Cowpens
under the care of the Surgeons, by reason of said wound till
his term of service expired, he received a discharge from this
his last tour but does not recollect by whom signed. The same being put away with his other papers & preserved as he believes till his house was burned as
aforesaid. That applicant was at no time that he recollects of joined
with the main army except at the battle of the Cowpens. & there being wounded early in the engagement, & left afterwards in hospital. he cannot now recollect & give from actually the names of any regular offers with whom he served, unless his own company & offers above
given were regulars. & of this he is not positive, but this he knows they were called "nine months regulars." & when he joined he considered
himself as enlisting & receiving a commission of Ensign in the
regular service, but whether this discription of troops were returned as
of the regular army propper. he does not now know, but knows that
he served as above stated.
(3rd Tour. 9 mo. Regulars, Ensign.)
That this applicants being rendered unfit for service by his wounds received in service
never again entered the service.-- That since his service he has
lived in Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, & Indiana, that he is now
84 years old & will be 85 years old on 14th April next, that he had a
record of his age till about 13 years ago, when the same was lost
& destroyed by fire, at the burning of his house as aforesd, that he was born on 14th day of April 1748 in Maryland, [illegible], according to said record of his age, which he believes was correct, that he has no documentary evidence 
and he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure who can
testify to his services, and this applicant to the court now here give
offers. Michael Combs
a Clergyman of Union Township
of my neighborhood, and Joshua Bruce & William Snook -- of
the same
County who can testify as to the character of applicant & of their
belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
He your applicant 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 or Territory.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
William B. Bivins
mark --
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and the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after pulling the interrogations 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 Michael Combs who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in Union Township in Montgomery Count, Indiana, that William Snook + Joshua Bruce who has also signed the same are a resident in the same country and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
James Still
Absalom Ketcham
I John Wilson Clerk of the Court of Montgomery County do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Bivins for a pension
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 22 day of September AD 1834
John Wilson Clerk
32.928