Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 32523, for Lucas Sliker, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE   Penn.
Sliker, Lucas
NUMBER  S.32523
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22171 
Indiana 
Lucas Sliker of Franklin in the State of Indiana who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Cott of the regt commanded by Col Piper in the Pa Mila [Militia] for 15 months from 1776 
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 50 Dollars - Cents per ann to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.           
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of Oct 1833 - and sent to George Holland Brookville 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833    $125 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34 25     
$150.    
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}  
Recorded by Wm. Allison Clerk,   
Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 129 
Death not recorded in A.B.
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State of Indiana      
Franklin County }   
On this 12th day of August A.D. 1833 personally appeared before the Probate Court of Franklin County aforesaid, Lucas Sliker a resident of Franklin County and State of Indiana aforesaid aged eighty one 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 act of Congress passed June of 1832.       
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He lived in Bedford County State of Pennsylvania, and in the spring of the year 1776 volunteered in the service of the United States under Captain Jeremiah Cott for the term of nine months. He did not go out of the State of Pennsylvania, nor was he in any engagement during the period of nine months for which he volunteered. He went with the company, to which he belonged from Bedford County of to Junietta, and there served three months Col. Piper commanded and Samuel Crawson was our Lieutenant. From Junietta, he went with his company to Fort Waltharbour and there served three months; and from there he went down to near Fort Pitt and served three months, which completed the nine months for which he volunteered, and he was then
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discharged and he returned back to Bedford County In about one year after he returned from near Fort Pitt as aforesaid, he enlisted in the service of the United States under Captain Nehemiah Stokely for the term of six months; he did not go out of Pennsylvania during this tour, and lived in Bedford County when he enlisted as aforesaid - he was in several small engagements with the Indians , he went up the Alleghany river a piece and when his six months were out, he was discharged and returned home; and he avers that he served as aforesaid in the United States service fifteen months, 
Answers to the seven interrogatories propounded by the war department  -   
1. He was born in Sussex County, State of New Jersey sometime in the year 1752.      
2 The record of his age is lost -  
3. He lived in Bedford County Penn. when called into the service -  From whence he moved to Rockingham County, State of Virginia in Shanuston and lived four or five years, and then moved to Patterson Creek in the same state and lived seven or eight years, he lived on Sleepy creek in the same State about 2 years and then went back to Pennsylvania and lived 10 or 15 years, and then moved to Fairfield County Ohio and lived about 16 years from whence he came in 1822- 3 to Franklin County Indiana, where he has since resided and where he now resides -
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4.   He volunteered for one tour of nine months and enlisted for another tour of six months – 
5.  In addition to the officers he has already named he was acquainted with Capt. Brady and Col. Gilson.     
6. He received a discharge but has lost it-     
7.  He is acquainted with Joseph A. Ball and Samuel Howell of his present neighborhood who can testify &c &c. He has no documentary evidence, and he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service - 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. He served do in the whole time as a private soldier –
Lucas Sliker his mark
Sworn to & subscribed his the day & year aforesaid Robert John Clk P.C. F.C. 
We Joseph A Ball a Clergyman residing in the County of Franklin and State aforesaid and Samuel Howell - residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Lucas Sliker who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty one 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   
Samuel Howell
Joseph A. Ball
Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Robert John Clk P C F C
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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 Joseph A Ball who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the County of Franklin and State aforesaid that the said Samuel Howell who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit – 
Henry Berry } Probate Judge of the Probate Court aforesaid    
26.738
I Robert John Clerk of the Probate Court of Franklin County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Lucas Sliker for a Pension – 
In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal of office this 12th day of August A.D. 1833    
Robert John Clk P.C. F.C.
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26.738
Lucas Sliker
Franklin Co. Indiana
from 1776 private
15 months.  
$50
George Holland
Brookville
Indiana
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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 shew 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 this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A statement, shewing the service of Lucas Sliker 
Period when the service was rendered.  1776  Duration of the claimant's service. 3 Months  Rank of the claimant.  Pvt   Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.  Capt Cott  Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.   81  Pa.   Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Period when the service was rendered.  1776  Duration of the claimant's service.  3 Months   Rank of the claimant.  Pvt.  Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.   Col. Piper   
Period when the service was rendered.  Duration of the claimant's service.  3 Months Rank of the claimant.  Pvt.  Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.  Cap. Stokely  
Period when the service was rendered.    Duration of the claimant's service. 6 Months  Rank of the claimant.  Pvt   
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 or privates, will in the first in stance, 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 A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in 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) 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 that of 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 hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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 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 Town officer 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 he 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. 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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, 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---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as 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 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 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. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the wife nesses, 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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January 26, 1937    
Lucas Sliker, S.32523 
BA-J/MCS
Miss Martha Jaques 
Benton Hall
Oxford, Ohio 
Dear Madam: 
Reference is made to your request the Revolutionary War record of Lucas Slicer who was pensioned while living in Franklin County, Indiana.    
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 32523, based upon the military service of Lucas Sliker. The name does not appear as Slicer.     
Lucas Sliker was born in 1752 in Sussex County, New Jersey. The names of his parents were not given.     
While living in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the spring of 1776 and served nine months as private in Captain Jeremiah Cott's company in Colonel Piper's Pennsylvania regiment. About one year later he enlisted and served six months as private in Captain Nehemiah Stokeley's Pennsylvania company and was in several small engagements with the Indians. 
From Bedford County, Pennsylvania, he moved to Rockingham County, Virginia; four or five years later he moved to Patterson Creek, Virginia; seven or eight years later he move to Sleepy Creek, Virginia, and lived there about two years; he then went back to Pennsylvania and lived ten or fifteen years; he then moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, and after living there about sixteen years he moved in 1822 or 1823 to Franklin County, Indiana. 
Lucas Sliker was allowed pension on his application executed August 12, 1832, at which time he was living in Franklin County, Indiana.
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The papers in this claim contain no data relative to the family of Lucas Sliker,
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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32523
Revy INVALID
File No. 32,523
Lucas Sliker
Pri  Rev War
Act:  June 7th 32"
Index:- Vol. 2 Page 375
[Arrangement of 1870]
1937 Jan. 26 hist. to Miss Martha Jaques. WCS
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Stearns   gone when rec. in Res. 1812  Mrs Seat.  F.    
January 13, 1937
RECEIVED JAN 15 1937 
SUB-DIV VETS ADM NO. 31
Veterans Administration,              
Washington, D. C.    
Please send me the revolutionary service of Lucas Slicer, a private in the Pennsylvania militia, pensioned in 1831 while living in Franklin County, Indiana.    
Yours very truly, Martha Jaques   
Miss Martha Jacques
Benton Hall
Oxford, Ohio
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Aug 21
Pension
Ind'a
Free  26.738
26.738
Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary at War
Washington D. C. 
BROOKS 
AUG 15
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Brookville Franklin Co. Ia.
August 14 1832 
Lewis Cass Esqr
Enclosed I send you the declaration, made by Lucas Sliker of this County, to obtain a pension agreeably to the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.   You will please direct your communication to me at Brookville    
I remain your obedient Servt 
Geo. Holland Atty