Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,397, William Brown, Penn.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE                                       NUMBER
Penn.           Brown, William            S.2397

                                                       carded.

CONTENTS
res at enl. Bedford Co. Pa
res in 1832 Walnut Twp. Pickaway Co. Ohio aged 73 yrs
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Paid at the treasury under the Act of the 6, July 1838. From the 4 Sept 1836 to 4 Sep 1837. Agent notified 27 June 1838.

Letter to (Unknow) auditor 12 January 1840

Paid as above for 4 Sept 1837 to 4 March 1839 
Agent notified 2 march 1840.

Paid as above from 4 March to 4 Sep 1839. Agt notified 3 June 1849
Letter to A J.
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Declaration
of William Brown made in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7, 1832
State of Ohio
Pickaway County ⎬
On the 22nd day of October in the the year of our lord eight thousand thirty two appeared in open court appeared before Frederick Quinh [?] President and David Ken
Thomas Rich and Samuel Lynand associate

Judges of the

County now
Court
Common Pleas of Pickaway
In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty two personally appeared in open court before Frederick Quinak President and David [illegible] Thomas Renick and Samuel Lynard appointed judges of the court of common pleas of Pickaway county now sitting William Brown
of Walnut township in the County of Pickaway and of Ohio aged seventy three years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th1832.
That he entered the service of the United States
in the Pennsylvania line of State troop in the month
of March 1778 for a tour of eight months to go the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania to erect fortifications on the frontier line - The majors name under whom he Robert Clurdige, the Captain's name was Thomas
the Lieutenant's name was David Long and the company in which he enlisted belonged to an odd battalion which was ever arranged into a regiment so as to require as Colonel. He marched on the 1st of April from Bedford County Pennsylvania where he resided at the time of his enlistment, to
are called sinking valley on the
side of the Alleghanged through the
tisnow
Huntington and as the settled county fifty
or more miles north of the town of Bed
said County of Bedford, where he
the whole eight months to guard the parties
was stationed
Setherin that region from the Indians.
while stationed there, he assisted in erecting a
fort called "read, mine fort, by
at washed
in no battle or skirmish during his said service
He was honorably discharged of that fort on the
1st of December 1788, which discharge is now lost
destroyed, said discharge was signed by the com
manding officers. After he was discharged, his
returned to Bedford County where he resided in
in the year 1805 when he removed to this State, or
Turkey run in the County of Franklin and now
County of Pickaway where he has ever since resided
and still resides there were no continental
in service with this battallion and has begine
acquainted with nongular officer has
Know of
person whose testimony he can procure to prove his ┃
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no. 20189. 7849
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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 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 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 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 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 principle 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 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.
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 are required to submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a 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] 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, be 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 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 indispenable.
[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 distinguish
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. 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 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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William Brown was aged seventy-three years at the time he made application for his pension. He made no reference to wife or children.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name 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:

William Brown,
Certificate #7849
Issued April 11, 1833
Rate $26.66 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832.
Ohio Agency.

Very truly yours,

A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.

2.
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while residing in pickaway county, Ohio Zachariah Burwell died July 19 1835 there are no data as to his family very truly yours A. D. Hiller assistant to administrator.
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NL1

M.C. Shafer
Attorney Counsellor At Law
Findlay, Ohio

U.S. Pension Office
Washington, D.C.
     Can you give me any information of William Brown, a Revolutionary soldier?  I have always understood that he was a pensioner. He died in 1855. His last P.O. Address was Hancock Co. Ohio.  Before that he lived in Pictaway Co. Ohio. He enlisted from Pennsylvania.  I think from Huntington Co. Would be very glad to learn something of him. 
                         Sincerely yours,
                         Mrs. M.C. Shafer
                         216 Second St.
                         Findlay, Ohio
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                          Treasury Department, 
                                 Second Comptroller’s Office
                                        June 25, 1838

Sir:
           Under the Act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled “An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,” William Brown a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio, Agency, at the rate of Twenty six Dollars and Sixty six cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept 6, 1836 to the 4th of September 1837 -
                          Respectfully yours,
                          Albion K. Pariss
                          Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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J.G. Turner
Oct. 12. 1850
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                                                                     246

Pension Office
October 12. 1856

Sir,
     I have to inform you that the voucher in the case of William Brown, a Revolutionary pensioner of Ohio, have this day been referred to JS Gallaher, Esq kind auditor of the Treasury, that payment may be made in conformity with the divisions of. The Act of 6 April 1838 and 23rd August 1842

J.G. Turner Esq.
Tiffin 
Ohio