Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2187, James Duncan, Penn.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
Penn.

Duncan, James

NUMBER S. 2187

carded
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4073 Pittsburgh Agency
James Duncan of ---- in the state of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Ramsay of the Reg commanded by Col Porter in the Pennsylvania line for Private 6 mo --- $20.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh Agency at the rate of 20 dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of January 1833 and sent to T. M. G. McKerman, House Reps.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 - $30.
Semiannual allowance ending 4 Mar 1833 - 10
$40.00
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk, Book D Vol.2 Page 193
Let. 30July1841
Hon B.D. Ro(illegible)
Rem J Barrich December 14:43
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Declaration. In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832.
Pennsylvania, Washington County
On this 13th day of November 1732 personally appeared in open court before the judge of the court of common pleas. James Dunkin a resident of Nottingham township in the county of Washington and state aforesaid. Aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to claim the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832 that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein noted.
On the month of August in the year 1776 I was drafted under first Lieutenant John Hickman with a number of others in Lancaster County Pennsylvania and marched to the city of Philadelphia, then on to Trenton, New Jersey and hence to Amboy in the same state, where there were a number of regiments of militia under the command of Genl Irwin of Va and Genl Anthony Robert Greenwall and Colonel Porter and other field officers whose names I do not recollect. After being there (at Amboy) for some time a portion of the militia were taken to form the [illegible] camp. and the remainder were discharged and I returned home in October after an absence of two months. In the month of December of the same year I was drafted again under Capt Robert Ramsey and Lieutenant John Wickham and John Ramsey as ensign and marched from Lancaster County through Philadelphia and Correll Ferry thirty miles afore the city where we met Genl Washington with the army, on the same day in the evening, we all crossed the Delaware river. Genl Washington and his army being in the front and the militia under Genl Roberdeaux in the rear. We marched the whole night and about the dawn of the day we arrived at Trenton N.Jersey and the militia through the direction of Genl Washington surrounded the town whilst he with his army marched in and took prisoners about nine hundred hessians. This memorable capture was made....
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of December 1776. We remained there two or three days and then proceeded to Princeton in the same State.  Upon corner there we
commenced cannonading the town and finally took about three hundred British as prisoner. We then returned to Trenton, when
two or three companies were detached to Philadelphia, to strengthen the forces in that place and prevent the British, who were then in
Brunswick, N Jersey, from crossing the river, and making an attack upon the city. I served out my tour and returned home after an absence of two months. In the month of August in the year 1777, I was again drafted under Capt John Scott of Lancaster Co. Pa. and marched to Old Chester, on the Delaware
River, where we met the whole Pennsylvania militia, under the command of Genl Armstrong.  At this place there were two
regiments of "rifle men" made up from the militia. Our company, with the exception of one member, under Capt Scott, entered the
first regiment, which was placed under the command of Col James Dunlap of Cumberland Co. Pa.  Our regiment immediately
marched on to the State of Delaware and were stationed on the lines at the head of Elk River. The day after our several here we returned to
New Ark in Delaware where there were a party of British, who immediately retreated to their main body, at Elk. We flanked them on their march, till they reached Brandywine. The day
after our arrival there, the 11th of September in the year 1777, we fought the battle of Brandywine under Genl Washington,
Lafayette, & others and were defeated. On the same night, we retreated to Old Chester, thence to Philadelphia, thence up the
road near to Downing town, then we crossed the Schuylkill and lay for about one week, at Pottsgrove. We then went down to
Germantown, and on the next day after we met the British and fought the Battle of Germantown and defeated the enemy. On
the next day after the battle, we proceeded to a place called White Marsh and were then discharged after a service of two months.

In the year 1778, 79, & 80, I served three tours, two months each, in the wagon service. This service was performed under the orders of the officers. The orders were that every tour of
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Two months in the waggon service should be deemed as so much service under arms. I served my Country in all twelve months. I have no documentary evidence to prove any service, nor do I know of any person to prove my service except my sister Elizabeth McCord who has been blind for a number of years & who is entirely unable to attend Court. I was born in the year 1755 in Lancaster Co Pa. I have no record of my age who before stated I lived in Lancaster Co. Pa. I have been in Washington County for forty three years past. I was always ? dreughted[sp]I am not able to state the names of any of the continental regiments with whom I served. The names of a number of Regular officers I have already stated. I never received a written discharge. I am well known by Sarid Hamilton Esq. Robert Gore, John Witherow & ? John Hamilton & Robert Burr who can testify to my character per recruits & who believe that I was a soldier of the revolution. I do hereby relinquish any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declare that my name is not on the pension roll or the agency of any State. James Duncan

Sworn to & subscribed this 
day and year aforesaid Thomas Officer Pro

We David Hamilton, residing in Nottingham township & County aforesaid, & David Bolton, of Hallowfield township in the same County, of Nottingham township, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed & believe in the neighbourhood where he resides & has been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinions.
David Hamilton
David Bolton

Sworn & Subscribed this 
day and year aforesaid
Thomas Officer ?Pro
& ? The said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogations
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Penn
Duncan, James
S.2187
carded
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No. 18932
James Duncan
Susp. b. Dec. '32
[illegible] 5 [illegible]
Hon'ble T,M.G. McKerman
[    ] of Recpt
Admd
Private
6 mo.
$20.00
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Brief in the case of James Duncan
of Washington Co. in the State of Pennsylvania
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 77 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed: Period, Duration of Service, Rank,
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
In 1776 Aug. 2 months as a [no rank listed]
General [illegible], Gen'l Armstrong & others. 
Lt. Hickman, Col Porter & others
In 1776 Aug. 2 months as a [no rank listed] Capt. Ramsay
1777 Aug. 2 months as a [no rank listed]
Capt. Scott, Genl Armstrong, Col. Dunlap
1778-79-80 served 3 tours 2 months each 6  wagon service, performed under order of the officers.
5. In what battles was he engaged? Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Lancaster, Pa.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses, & traditionary evidence.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Certif of witnesses not attached to dec'n.
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
D. Brown
Examining Clerk




D. Brown
Examining Clerk.
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December 2nd 1843

Dear Sir I am authorized to ask some information by the widow of James Duncan who was a pensioner of Washington County Penna and did receive 20 dollars per annum. Now the question is if the widow produces two certificates from the auditor genl office at Harrisburg on the pay roll showing that James Duncan received upward of 250 dollars for services as belonging to the tenth Pennsylvania Regiment whether she would be entitled to any thing more for time her husband lived after his application which appears he commenced his pension March 4th 1831 died some time in 1835. it is supposed that he was only able to prove ten month service at that time now if the pay roll will be an evidence I think there can be 2 certificates produced to the amount above stated and if entitled please let me know how she is to proceed to obtain it.
I am yours, Respectfully Jacob Barrich, Waynesboro Franklin County Penna

J.L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.
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{handwritten in top margin} }returned from College Park Ga P.C. Unclaimed Apr 17, 1916
Revolutionary War Records Section. 
3-525
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C. March 30, 1916
Ltr
S.F.2187
Rev War
Mrs. Lucy D Douglass College Park Georgia
Madam
In reply to your request of March 4, received March 7 for a statement of the military history of James Duncan a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in the Bureau.
{TABLE}
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment
Aug 1776
Dec 1776
Aug 1777
Length of Service
2 mos
2 mos
2 mos
Rank
Pri
Officers uner whom service was rendered:
Captain.
Lieut John Hickman
Capt Robt Ramsey
Capt John Scott
Colonel.
--
--
James Dunlap
State
PA.
Battles engaged in Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown.
Residence of soldier at enlistment - Lancaster Co. Pa.
Date of application for pension Nov 13 1832 his claim was allowed
Residence at date of application Nottingham Township Washington Co PA
Age at date of application Born in 1755 in Lancaster Co Pa
Remarks: He died in 1835 Leaving a widow, name not stated. I was not stated whether they had children.
Respectfully GM Saltzgaber, Commissioner
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Rev War
2187
INVALID.
File No. 2187
James Duncan
Par. Rev. War
Act: June 7. 1832.
Index:— Vol. A., Page 103
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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1916 Mch. 30. History to Mrs. Lucy D. Douglass. FW. Letter with Cl. S. 40.995 John McDowell.
1921, Nov. 14 hirl-to Mrs. F. H. Henry Ew.
stamped as returned
1924 Mar. 31. History to Dr. J.M. McKee & one dollar returned aw.
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Elisebeth McCord
Deposition
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Washington County Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

personally came before the Subscriber one of the
Commonwealth Justices of the peace in and for said County Elisabeth McCord a creditable witness and being Duly Sworn as law Directs Deposeth and States that she lived in the same family with James Dunkin in Lanchester County Bart Township in the time of the Revolutionary War that he was three times Draughted five Months Each turn that he was in Brandiwein
Battel and Germantown Battel we could hear the Canon at Brandiwine, where we lived and that her Brother James Dunkin went three trips wagoning to the North River and to Correll's ferry for the american army

that this deponent husband Mark McCord was Likewise Draughted in the Militia and taken prisonor by the Inglish on Long Iland and remained a prisonor five Month who is Long since Dead and that this Deponent
has been [illegible] blind for Eleven years past and have to [illegible] Depend on Brother James Dunken for Mentenance and Suport Who is in Low income -- and further saith not & Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 11 day of September in the year of our Lord 1832

this Deponent age [illegible] years
James Dunken
David Hamilton

Elizabeth McCord
her X Mark [written vertically between names]

I Thomas Office Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Washington, do hereby certify that Said Hamilton before whom Elizabeth McCord was sworn to & subscribed the above deposition is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid & as such his official act & certificates are entitled to full faith & credit.

Given over my [illegible] & seal of office this 31 
day of Dec 1872,
Thomas Officer Prothy,
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July 29 1841
Ohio
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C. 

B. S. Cowen
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Washington July 27, 1841
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com. of Pensions
Sir
Enclosed I hand you a letter received from
a friend making certain inquiries. Will you
do me the favor to look into it and if there is
probable grounds to suppose that the widow named can obtain a pension, will you please return the letter and with it the forms and instructions prepared in such cases.
I particularly desire your opinion whether the
widow can obtain a pension where the husband
died after July 7. 1838.
Please return the enclosed letter with your answer.
I am sir most
respectfully your
Obt. Servant
B.S. Cowen
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Post Office Department
OFFICIAL BUSINESS 
REGISTRED ARTICLE 
NO. 253781
INSURED PARCEL 
NO._______________
Return Washington ------
Street or Number of Post Office Box 
Commissioner of Pensions
Rev. War Section Washington, D.C.
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RETURN RECEIPT.
Received from the Postmaster the Registered or insured article, the original of which appears on the face of this card. 

Jamie Mckee (signature or name of addressee)
CB---- (----)
Date of Delivery April 3 1924
James Duncan S2187
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M 233
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
Mar. 28,1924.
Chief Rev Sect Division.
Sir:
I have this day received
from Jennie M. McKee
cash No.
for $1.00, requesting
copy (post office address) as per
letter herewith
Finance Div notif of return of $1 
A Wilson 
Mar 31. 24
Respectfully, 
O. J. RANDALL
Chief Finance Div.
H.C.L.
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Stamped Env. 

Reedsburg, Wisc.
Oct. 19, 1920.
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
I wish to enquire whether
or not there is any record
of a soldier in the Revolutionary war
by the name of
James Duncan of Pennsylvania
who drew a pension.
I am not sure, but
I am inclined to believe
that he enlisted from
Lancaster Co., Penn. For
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this or any other
information which you
may have, I shall be very
grateful.
Thanking you for the
favor,
I am 
Sincerely yours,
(Mrs. F.H.) Florence D. Henry
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Bureau of Pensioners, (Rev.Dept.)
Washington D.C.
Finance Division 
March 23 1924
Bureau of Pensions

Dear sirs:
Will you kindly give me all the information, dates, etc., that you can find in your records about the following soldiers of the Revolutionary War, whose names I have taken from the Pennsylvania Archives, Historical Society of Pennsylvania . 
Fayette County, Penna ( 3d.series, vol. 23. page 506.)
McKee, John pr.P.L. Nov27. 1821; 76.
McKee , William pr.P.L. Aug.31. 1829; 89; Dec 2, 1831.
Washingon Co., Penna (3d. Series, Vol.23. Page542.)
Duncan, James pr.P.L. June 10 1833;79
Duncan, James pr.P.L.  Sept 21,1818;80 d.Aug.29, 1832 
My great, grand father's names were Wm. McKee and James Duncan and the date of Wm. McKee's death is the same as the date of my relative. I do not have any dates concerning my other relative James Duncan , but I am very anxious to prove my right to belong to the Daughters of the Revolution, as I know that both my great, grandfathers on my father's side were in the Revolutionary  War.
Am enclosing a dollar for postage, etc., and will be ever and ever so much obliged to you for the information.
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
March 31, 1924

Dr. Jennie M. McKee
1222 Locust St.
 Philadelphia, Penn.

Madam: 
In response to your letter of the 27th instant, you are herewith furnished the histories of the four pensioners of the Revolution, as requested. There is no fee charged for this service, therefore your dollar bill is returned.
Respectfully,
Washington Gardiner
Commissioner.