Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,064, for John Reardon, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Va. or Pa.

Reardon, John

NUMBER
S. 4,064

carded
===============================
CONTENTS
Page 2

22107
Kentucky
=======================
John Reardon
of Campbell in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Sullivan of the Regiment commanded
by Col. Smith in the Virginia
line for two years
=============================
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 80 Dollars --Cents per annum.
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of 
[rest of portion illegible - too faded]
==============================
Arrears to the 4th day of Sept                  400
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March     40
==============================
                                                             $440.00
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk
Book E.  Vol. 7.  Page 2?5
Page 3

John Reardon
Declaration
----------------

Please send me
the result as soon
as possible.  I pledge
myself for the
respectability of the party
more personal 
knowledge

RN Johnson
Page 4

State of Kentucky}
County of Campbell} SS
On this 7th day of September eighteen hundred and thirty three, personally appeared before me Samuel Baker a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Campbell and state aforesaid, John Reardon a resident of the county of Pendleton and state of Kentucky, age seventy nine Years from the information of his father, 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 on the 7th day of June 1832--And he further states the reason why he makes his declaration in the County of Campbell is that he resides in the county for the space of fifteen or sixteen years and was , and is now better acquainted in that county than in Pendleton and that his residence is within a few yards of the county line and the preacher and Capt. Wheeler who certifies for me live in Campbell County and not more than one mile from me and this declaration is made at the house of Capt. Wheeler, and further that I belong to the Methodist Church and that church is in the said County of Campbell and the Justice before whom I make my declaration has a more intimate acquaintance with me that any Justice of Pendleton County and it is about 25 miles from where I now live to the Court house of Campbell County and nearly the same distance to Pendleton Court- That he entered the service of the United States in the Twentieth Year of his age as stated by his Father, as a drafted man, for the term of three months that he resided in the state of Virginia he thinks but is not certain but knows positively that it was at
Page 5

Pittsburg, [sic] under the following named officers that is Capt. Cobe Sullivan, Ensign Walter Grimes, the Lieut. name I do not recollect, and I served out my full time and rec'd no pay, he entered on the first day of May and was discharged on the first day of August following, Then he entered as a volunteer under Capt. James Smith (now known by the name of Indian Jos. Smith and he learned us how to exercise after the Indian manner of exercising, but I do not remember the names of any of the officers and served this time from the first day of August 1775 to the last day of October in the same year. And we were stationed at (word crossed out) Turtle Creek twelve miles above Pittsburg [sic] and we marched from there to a place called Wallowery and from there to a place called Nicholas Station and we were mostly in search of Indians and Tories and we caught two men that we supposed to be Tories and put them in Hannahstown Jail but they made their escape The name of one of them was Curchelow and the other name was Downey, and then I returned home to my fathers on the Monongahela River twenty five miles above Pittsburg [sic]  - In the spring of the year 1776 Cols Cook wrote to Col. George Tilandigam, to call out the militia and get all the Volunteers that he could and on the first day of March I entered as a Volunteer under the said Tilandigam, Capt Josiah Records was the name of the Capt. the names of the other officers I have forgotten, they were mostly young men and nearly all killed by the Indians, he served this time from the first day of March to the last day of October making eight months and we were stationed on the Ohio River all this time, and were employed in
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in building Block houses and guarding the fronteers [sic] from from the ravages of the Indians; and on the first day of Nov. 1776 not leaving the Army I entered under Captain Sam'l. Beeler Lieut. James Rankin Ensign Andrew Poe and continued on the Ohio River, in the same employ and at the same place, and this time he served one Year that is from the first day of Nov. 1776 to the last day of Oct. 1777 and did not return home this time but entered for one year more as a volunteer under Capt. William Hogland and I believe that the Colonels name was Vanswearingem he entered on the first day of November 1777 and continued to the last day of October following making it all three years and two months and then he returned home again. I was well acquainted with Gen'l George Washington, and Col. William Crawford, and his brother Valentine Crawford, and the Stinson family and I served under Jack Stinson in what was called Dunmore's war for I was out at that time I was also well acquainted with Simon Gerly and James his Brother. He also states that he knows of no person that he can prove the service by except the proof of John Record and he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity whatever except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any state or territory of the United States 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Reardon
His    X    mark
Mr George Fisher a Clergyman residing in the County of Campbell and State of Kentucky and in the same Neighborhood of John Reardon, and John Wheeler residing in the aforesaid state and county hereby certify that we are well
Page 7

well acquainted with John Reardon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be of the age of seventy nine Years. and have no doubt of his being a Soldier of the Revolution and it is generally believed in the neighborhood that he was a soldier of that war, and that we concur in that opinion, and the reasons that he assigns for giving his declaration in Campbell county and also true to the best of our knowledge and we have heard him often make the statement in his declaration before the law, passed allowing him a pension. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
/s/ George Fisher
/s/ John Wheeler

(small round stamp on document unreadable)

Personally came before me, Samuel Baker a Justice of the [peace] in and for the county of Campbell, John Records, at the house of Capt. John Wheeler and after being duly sworn declares that when he was a boy he saw the above named John Reardon going to or returning from the Army and that he was equipt with his gun, shot pouch, tomahawk and Butcher knife, and the general opinion was that he was a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and date above
/s/ John Records

And the said Justice does hereby declare his opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states, and that he had his declaration prepared to attend court but from a fall from his horse was disabled from attending, and also that the applicant is much debilitated from age and his memory much impaired consequently unable to appear in court and that George Fisher is a clergyman of irreproachable character and Capt. Wheeler is in good standing and was the Representative of Pendleton two years ago and so both at this time residents of Campbell County and in the same neighborhood of the above named applicant, and that their statement is entitled to credit
/s/ Samuel Baker J. P. C. C. , Esq.
Page 8

Where and in what year were you born? I cannot state the year or the place precisely, but my Father's information was that I was born near Harris' ferry on the Susquehanna River, and was twenty years old when I went to war. I think that the county was not then laid off into states. When I was first called into service I lived near to Pittsburg [sic] and I think it was in the state of Virginia and I lived there after I was discharged many years and from there I came to Kentucky about 23 or 4 years ago and lived in Campbell county for 16 or 17 years and then moved into Pendleton county where I now live- The first three months that I entered the service I was drafted, and the balance of the time, I was a volunteer, Col. William Crawford and Col. McKoy commanded the regular troop, but from the length of time and loss of memory I cannot name any others.
I certify that all these questions have been answered by John Reardon in the presence of the aforesaid George Fisher Capt. Wheeler and one or two other Gentleman. 
/s/ James Baler J. P. C. C. Esq.

State of Kentucky
Campbell County Sct.
I John N. Taliafaro clerk of the county court for the county aforesaid do certify that Samuel Baker is a Magistrate as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this 23rd day of Sept'r 1833
/s/ Jno. N. Taliafaro Clerk
Campbell County Court
(seal appears to be small stamp to the left of the above signature)
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John Reardon
Kentucky


Adm. 2 years



Hon. R. M. Johnson
Great Crossings
Kentucky
Page 10

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

A STATEMENT, shewing the Service of John Reardon
(following in columns-transcribed in lines)
1. Period when the service was rendered- 1775
2. Duration of the claimant's service-Years 1 etc.; months 3, 3, 8 etc.; days 0
3. Rank of this claimant-private, private, private etc.
4. Name and rank of the Field officers under whom he served-Cap. Sullivan; Cap. Smith; Cap. Records; Cap. Beeler
5. Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service-79 years; Virginia
6. Proof by which the declaration is supported-Traditionary and a Living Witness Living Witness not certified to be credible
(round stamp under columns)
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 of (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, etc.]

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 declarations:  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
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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 listed 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 signed, 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 service 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 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 is 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 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 name 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 he has 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 s 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 the 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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November 20, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mrs. Harold Murphy
Franklin
Indiana

JOHN REARDON
S. 4064
BA-J/MLB

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of John Reardon (variously spelled),
from Pennsylvania, who later lived in Kentucky and died in 1835.

The record of a John Reardon has been found which is possibly
that of the one in whom you are interested. His record is given
herein as shown in pension claim, S. 4064, based upon his service
in the Revolutionary War.

John Reardon was born near Harris Ferry on the Susquehanna
River; the date of his birth and names of parents are not given.

While residing near Pittsburgh, and in the twentieth year of
his age, he enlisted May 1, 1775, and served three months under
Captain Cobe Sullivan. He volunteered August 1, 1775, served under
Captain James Smith against Indians and Tories, was discharged
October 31, 1775, and returned to his father's home on the Mononga
hela River, twenty-five miles above Pittsburgh. He volunteered
March 1, 1776, served under Captain Josiah Record and Colonel
Filandigham, was stationed on the Ohio River building blockhouses
and guarding the frontiers against Indian without leaving the
army, he volunteered again November 1, 1776, this time under Captain
Samuel Beeler and was engaged as before until October 31, 1777; he
did not return home, but volunteered November 1, 1777, for another
year, served under Captain William Hogland and Colonel Van Swearingen
until October 31, 1778, then returned home. This soldier stated that he served also under Captain Jack Stinson in Dunmore's
War, length of service and details not given.

John Reardon lived at his old home near Pittsburgh for many
years after his Revolutionary War service. About 1810 he moved
Page 14

from there to Campbell County, Kentucky, where he resided about
seventeen years, then moved to Pendleton County, Kentucky.

John Reardon was allowed pension on his application executed
September 7, 1833, in Campbell County, Kentucky. He then resided
in Pendleton County, Kentucky, within a few yards of the county
line of Campbell, and was aged seventy-nine years. He belonged to
the Methodist Church in said Campbell County, where more of his acquaintances lived.

John Reardon died February 12, 1835.

It is not stated whether this soldier was ever married and there
are no family data whatever except the reference to his father.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 15

[stamp at center of page]

RECEIVED
OCT 29 1934
[rest of stamped too faded to transcribe]

[rest of page is blank]
Page 16

Franklin, Ind
Oct 26, 1934.

The Verterans Administration
Washington D.C.

Dear Sirs:-

I wish to know if you have the name of
John Rardon or Rardin
from Pennsylvania on your
list of Revolutionary War Veterans.
Different members of our family
now spell it Rairdon,
Reardon, Rearden etc but the
original spelling is Rardon
and Rardin.

Thank you

Mrs Harold Murphy

I might add that if pension was granted to soldiers in 1800's
that he died in Ky in 1835
Page 17

[left-hand side of page]

1934 Nov. 22 Hist to Mrs. Harold
Murphy - MLB.

[right-hand side of page]

Rev War

4064
INVALID
--------------
File No. 4064
John Reardon
Pri. Va. Line
---------------
Act:  June 7, 1832

Index:--Vol. A, Page 311


[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

[across the top of the page]
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Name Reasoner, John
Grade  Private
Line  Virginia

Warrant
Number   12489
Acreage  100
Issued  December 2, 1793 to--not shown--

--------
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates.  Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.  Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.