Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 8733, Stephen Hook, Md.
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SERVICE
MD

Hook, Stephen

NUMBER
S8733
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Virginia 16449
Stephen Hook
of Alleghany in the state of VA
who was a Pri in the blank commanded by Captain blank in the Regiment commanded by
Col Johnson in the N.J. line for 6 months

Inscribed on the roll of Virginia at the rate of 20 dollars blank cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Apr xx
and sent to Andrew Fudge, Covington Co Va

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $40.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1933 $10.00
$50.00

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Nath; Rice - Clerk
Book E Vol 6 Page 12
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832
Virginia Alleghany County to wit:

On this 8th day of July in the year 1833 personally appeared before me one of the commonwealth's of the peace in and for the County of Alleghany aforesaid, Stephen Hook a resident of said county of Alleghany and state aforesaid, aged 76 years and was consequently born in the year 1756; 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 7th June 1832, That he was born in the county of Frederick in the state of Maryland that he entered the service in the revolutionary war and served under the following named officers as herein stated: he volunteered in the service of his country and entered the service in the year 1776 under the command of General George Washington at Morris Town in the State of new Jersey and was in the company commanded by Thomas Frazier and in the regiment commanded by Baker Johnston; during which tout this applicant was in a skirmish or engagement with a British Picket. This applicant served two months under the above-named officers and returned home to the county of Frederick and state of Maryland aforesaid. And in the year 1777 he entered the army again under the command of General Smallwood as a volunteer at Baltimore and was attached to the company commanded by Thomas Frazier as Captain, Thomas Fleming as Lieutenant and in the regiment commanded by Baker Johnston as Colonel and marched from Baltimore to a place called the Red Lion in the state of Pennsylvania where they joined the army commanded by General Wayne and afterwards joined the main army commanded by General Washington (The name of the place not recollected) during which tour of duty this applicant was engaged in the battle of wioming or Wyoming where General Wayne was commander this applicant was also at & engaged in a battle with the British at a placed called [illegible] town, where General Washington was commander, Shortly after which the time of service for which he volunteered
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expired and he again returned home to the county of Frederick and state of Maryland aforesaid. During this last tour he was about & engaged in the service two months - IN the year 1778 this applicant was drafted and served in the company commanded by Captain Brim (his baptismal name not known) and was marched to Frederick Town where Colonel Baker Johnston had the command and also resided, where he was detained for the term of about two months to gard (guard) the hessians after which time he was discharged and never afterward called into service making in all six months - This applicant is far advanced in life and being a great distance from the section of country in which he was born and raised & knows no person by whom he can swear the above services. This applicant is also infirm and has been confined to the house for years - this applicant has no documentary evidence of his services having long since given out all hopes of ever being reimbursed by his county. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the agency or the pension roll of any state. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Stephen Hook

Virginia Alleghany County To wit:

We William Shumaker a clergyman residing in the county of Alleghany aforesaid and George Stull residing in the same county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Hook who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 76 years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

William Shumaker
HIs X Mark

George Stull

I Douglas B Layne one of the commonwealths Justices of the Peace for the county of Alleghany do hereby certify that the above named Stephen Hook who hath sworn and subscribed the foregoing declaration is unable to attend the court of this
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County or Travel owing to the great bodily infirmity and that he is at this time and has been for some time past confined to the house & quite helpless and I do further certify that it is my 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 I do further certify that William Shumaker who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said county of Alleghany and that George Stull who also signed the same is a resident in said county of Alleghany and is a credible person and that their statements are entitled to full credit. Given under my hand and seal this 8th day of July 1833.

Douglas B Layne - SEAL

Viginia Alleghany County Court Clerk's Office 25th day of July 1833

I Andrew Fudge Clerk of the County Court of said County of Alleghany do hereby certify that Douglas B Layne who has signed the preceding certificate is one of the acting magistrates in and for the said county of Alleghany and duly commissioned as such and that full faith and credit ought to be given to all his acts as such. I do further certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the said matter of the application of Stephen Hook for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 25th day of July 1833.

Andrew Fudge - Clerk

SEAL
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No 24874
Stephen Hook
Alleghany Co
Virginia

Admitted as Private
6 mo $20

Andrew Fudge - Clerk
Alleghany Co Virginia
Covington C.H.
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War Department
Pension Office
May 20, 1833

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. 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 complying with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement showing the service of Steven Hook Alleghany Co, Virginia

Period when the service was rendered:
1. Vol - year not stated
2. Vol Fall
3. Drafted

Duration of claimant's service"
1. 2 months
2. 2 months
3. 2 months

Rank of the Claimant:
1. Private
2, Private
3. Private

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served:

General Washington
Capt. Frazier
Col. Johnson
General Smallwood
Col. Johnson
General Wayne
General Washington
Capt. Brim
Col. Johnson

Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service:
76 years
Morristown, New Jersey

Proof by which the declaration is supported:
Traditional Evidence

I am respectfully
Your obedient servant

J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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-2-
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 it 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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3 
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 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. [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 bis 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 mouths 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 au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie 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 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 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 [j] 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.

John N Ashton
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Rev & 1812 Wars Section

September 26, 1924

Mrs. P. A. Spence
Wytheville
VA

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary war pension claim S.8733 it appears that Stephen Hook was born in 1756 in Frederick County, Maryland.

He enlisted in 1776 and served two months as a private in Captain Thomas Frazier's Company, Colonel Baker Johnson's Maryland Regiment.

He enlisted in 1777 and served two months in Captain Thomas Frazier's Company, Colonel Baker Johnson's Maryland Regiment, and was in the battle of Germantown.

He enlisted in 1778 and served two months in Captain Brim's Company, Colonel Baker Johnson's Maryland Regiment.

He also stated that he was in a battle at Wyoming.

He was allowed pension on his application executed July 8, 1833 while a resident of Alleghany County, Virginia.

There is no data on file relative to his family.

The above noted is the only Stephen Hook found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.

Respectfully, 
Acting Commissioner.

This could not refer to Wyoming battle of July 1778 as soldier's period of service does not cover this date & Gen. Wayne was not in Wyoming battle of 1778.
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Wytheville, Virginia
Sept 2, 1924

Pension Office
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,

Please send me the military service records of Stephen Hooke who filed his declaration in Jan 1833 - and oblige

Respect...
(Mrs.) P A Spence

US PENSION OFFICE STAMP - Sep 4, 1924
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Left Side Page

1924 Sept 26 - Hist to Mrs. P A Spence

Right Side Page

8733
INVALID
Rev war

File No 8733
Stephen Hook
Priv Rev War

Act June 7th 1832

Index Vol {illegible}
Page 178

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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The National Archives
Form VAM -51
12-5-41

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Bounty Land Warrant Record Card*

Name Hook, William
Grade Private
Line Delaware
Warrant Number 10789
Acreage - 100
Issued July 9, 1799 to not shown