Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 30,815, David Adams, Penn.
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[Printed]
(8-1776)
SERVICE    NUMBER

[Handwritten]
Penn
Adams, David
S. 30,815

[Printed]
CONTENTS

[Handwritten]
b. 1762 in Donegal Co. Ireland
res. at enl York Co. Pa -
res in 1834 Henry Co. Ky
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29518
Kentucky

David Adams Senior
Henry Co in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the com command
by Captain Covenhafer of the regt commanded
by Maj Baileyi n Penn Virginia [Virginia crossed out] line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at
the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum, to
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Feby 1834 and [illegible]
H. Pope

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 50.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending March 10.00
$60.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk,
Book 6
Vol. 1
Page 5
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[All Handwritten]

State of Kentucky
Henry County
SS

On this 31st day of January 1834
personally appeared before me David Adams a Justice of the peace in and for Henry County and one of the Judges of the County Court of said County of Henry David Adams Sr. aged 72 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed the 7 of June 1832

This declarant states that he entered the service of the United States and served as herein stated that he was residing in York County State of Pennsylvania and that
in the month of August in the year of 1780 a draft was ordered in said County of York and that he being in the fourth class of Pay Militia he was drafted for a tour of three months and served und Major Baily, and Capt. Covenhafer, he states that under the command of the aforesaid officers he was marched to an encampment about three miles distant from the town of Little York in Pa on arriving at this encampment he states that he and the ballance  [sic]of Capt Covenhafer's company
was stationed and placed as a guard over
some prisoners (about seven hundred in number)
that had been taken from Burgoyne by Gen,
Gates.

he states that during his tour of three months that he did faithfully guard said prisoners till his time of draft was out when he was discharged by his said Capt Covenhafer in the month of Nov 1780.

This declarant further states that shortly after he was discharged that the guard at the aforesaid encampment became small and in this month of Nov. 1780 a draft was ordered to supply the Barracks with a sufficient guard.  When Jacob Staley of York County Pa. was drafted for three months, he being unwilling to leave home proposed to the said

Hon. P.H. Pope [written vertically in left margin]
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[All Handwritten]

declarent [sic] to substitute in his place and serve out his three months accordingly for a certain consideration he the said declarent  [sic] did substitute in the place and stead of the aforesaid Jacob Staley and was stationed as a guard at the aforesaid Barracks and was under the command of Capt Covenhafer and Major Baily and during his three months he states that he did to the satisfaction of his said officers guard said prisoners until the three months for which he had substituted expired when he was discharged in the
month of February 1781. 

He states that from old age and bodily infirmity that he is unable to appear in open court to make his declaration he has no documentary evidence of his service
but he states he is able to prove that he did
render the service as stated in his declaration by two respectable living witnesses 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

David Adams Sr
x his mark

Sworn to and subscribed this date and year aforesaid

David Adams of [illegible] 

Interrogatories put by the magistrate
Ques  Where and in what year were you born  
Ans I was born in Dunegall County Ireland. 1762

(Ques) have you any record
your age, 
Ans My name is recorded in my fathers
Bible, and since his death it is in my possession-

(Ques) Where were you living when called into the service where have you lived since the revolution and where do you now live 
(ans) I was living in York Cty Pa, when I entered the service - since the revolution I remained in York Cty until 1794- I then moved to Scott Cty Ky where I lived til 1810.  I then moved to Henry County Ky where I now live, 

Ques) How were you called into the service, were you drafted
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[All Handwritten]

did you volunteer or were you a substitute and
if a substitute for whom 
ans, In August 1780 I was drafted for three month, [sic] in Nov of the same
year I substitute for Jacob Staley 

(Ques)did you ever receive a discharge and what has become of it, 
ans, about the first of Nov 1780
I received a discharge handed to me by Capt
Covenhafer which I have lost I do not remember of receiving a written discharge for my last tour

Ques 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.
ans Gen. Morgan Capt Fulton Capt Ferry and Lieuts Brown were regular officers who were accasionally [sic] at the Barracks - and Major Baley and Capt Covenhafer of the militia, 

Ques, states [sic] the names of some
of your neighbours who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution
Ans I will name William Adams and Mary Adams who can testify to my character for veracity and also they can testify to my services of the revolution from their personal knowledge

We William Adams aged 85 years last December and Mary Adams aged 74 years last June do certify that we are well acquainted with David Adams Sr who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration
we believe him to be 72 years of age. he is reputed in his neighbourhood to be a man of veracity and we concur in that opinion - We further certify that in the year of 1780 we were living in York County Pa and that in August of that year the aforesaid David Adams Sr was drafted into the service for three months and was marched from the
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[All Handwritten]

neighbourhood under the command of Capt Covenhafer and was in the service three months, he then returned home and sometime in the month of Nov 1790 in a few
days after he returned home he substituted for Jacob Staley and was absent again three months as substitute for said Staley. 

We further certify that we were
living within ten or twelve miles of the Barracks and have a personal knowledge of his service, which was as he has stated in his declaration 

William Adams Mary Adams his x mark

Sworn to and subscribed this 31st day of January 1834

David Adams [illegible] Sr

I David Adams a Justice of peace in and for Henry County and one of the Judges of the County Court of said County do hereby declare my opinion that after investigating the matter
and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution and served as he has stated in his declaration and it appears to my satisfaction that William Adams and Mary Adams who have sworn to and subscribed the preceeding [sic] certificate
are persons of sound mind and good recollection and they are persons of good reputable character and their statement is entitled to credit. I further certify
that in consequence of old age bodily infirmity
and a very large eating Cancer on the face of
above applicant that he is unable to appear in
open Court to make his declaration

January 31st 1834
David Adams [illegible] Sr

I Edmund P Thomas Clerk of the County Court of Henry County do certify that David Adams
before whom this declaration was made is a
Justice of the peace in and for Henry Cty
and one of the Judges of the Court for which
I am Clerk and full faith is and ought to be
given to his official acts in testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of my office this 6th of February 1834.

Edmund P. Thomas
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[All Handwritten]

No 28,593
David Adams Sr.
Henry Co. Kentucky

from 1780 for 6 mo $20

a.j.k. [crossed out]

Hon P.H Pope

E P Thomas [crossed out]

clk
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[Printed]

WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office.

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. 

[Underlined] 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 compling [sic] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of [Handwritten] David Adams Sr.

[Printed]
Period when the service was rendered.
[Handwritten]
1780

[Printed]
Duration of the claimant's service.  Years.  Months.  Days.
[Handwritten under Months]
3      
3

[Printed]
Rank of the claimant.
[Handwritten]
P       
P

[Printed]
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.

[Printed]
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
[Handwritten]
71
Pa

[Printed] 
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
[Handwritten]
Witnesses not certified to be credible

The certifier should state how they became acquainted with the applicant's service. 

[Printed]
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES 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, mucicians [sic] 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   day of    personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of    in the county of   
and State, Territory or District of   aged (c)  
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. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)   , with    and served in the
(e) regiment of the    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 rank and names of his officers;) 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 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
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    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    for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of   & 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
    , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be   
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
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.

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

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is 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 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 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
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 atlempted [sic]; 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 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 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.

[Squiggly lines drawn by these next two  paragraphs]
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 inquiry 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.

[(a) bracketed on the right in writing]
[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 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  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, 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. 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 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 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 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. 

[Underlined in ink] 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.

["5" written in left margin by [k], bracketed on the right]
[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

[Handwritten]
[illegible] S. F. 30815

[Printed]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.,   19

[Printed]
In reply to your request of     , received    for a statement of the military history of [handwritten] David Adams [printed]
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.
[Handwritten] Aug. 1780  Nov. 1780

[Printed] LENGTH OF SERVICE.
[Handwritten] 3 mos   3 mos.

[Printed] RANK.

[Printed] OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
[Handwritten] Covenhafer  Covenhafer

[Printed] COLONEL.
[Handwritten] Major Baily    Major Baily

[Printed] STATE.
[Handwritten] Penn.

[Printed] Battles engaged in,
[Handwritten] v

[Printed] Residence of soldier at enlistment, [Handwritten] York Co. Penn

[Printed] Date of application for pension, 
[Handwritten] Jany 21. 1834, His cl. al

[Printed] Residence at date of application, [Handwritten] Henry Co. Ky.

[Printed] Age at date of application, 
[Handwritten] born in 1762 in Donegal County, Ireland.

[Printed] Remarks: 
[Handwritten] There is no data as to his family.

[Printed]
Respectfully,
6-2856  Commissioner.
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30815
Rev  INVALID.

File No.  30,815

David Adams

Priv  Rev  War

Act:  June 7th 32

{Arrangement of 1870}


1915 Nov 10 Hist to Jessie Adams Young
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[All Handwritten]

Rev: Dec 7OL/1
1894 N. Walnut St.  Franklin deed
Nov. 3-1915

Commissioner of Pensions:
Please send to the above address, pension record of David Adams, who applied for pension from Henry Co. Ky. in 1834.

As I am applying for membership to the D.A.R. any help will be thankfully recieved [sic].

Yours Respectfully,
Jessie (Adams) Young