Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4765, for Jacob Ream, Pennsylvania
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Service Penn.  Ream, Jacob   Number S.4765 carded
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[unreadable] letter to the Franklin Bank of Cinncinnati [unreadable] of the 27th of May 1834 in this case.
Ohio 13. 083
Jacob. Ream(Ream) of Fairfield in the State of Ohio who was a private in the company commanded by Captain__________-of the Regt. commanded __________in the Penna time for 13 months $48.33.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4 Day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued this 10 Day of May 1833 and sent to [unreadable] W.W. [unreadable] Lancaster, Fairfield Co. Ohio.
Arrears to the [unreadable] of March 1833 86.66
[unreadable] allowance [unreadable] 4 [unreadable] 21.67 $108.33
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Jacob Ream
application -
[first three words unreadable]
[unreadable] of the time [unreadable] [unreadable] in hospital

   1892
29-71752
____________
80:

1892
63
_____
69:
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The State of Ohio Fairfield County SS
On the [word crossed out] day of in the year 1832 personally appeared [unreadable] in court, before [word crossed out] [word crossed out] The Hon. [unreadable] Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, now setting, Jacob Ream a resident of Bern Township in said County, aged seventy eight years the eighteenth of this month, who being found 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 Jun 7. 1832.
That he in entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in stated.
In the year 1777 he enlisted, in a Rifle Company, in the militia, in Cocalico Township in Lancaster County in the State of Pennsylvania, commanded by Captain Gardner, and were marched to Sunburry and put under the command of Gen De{unreadable], and englishman, who was in Braddocks army and remaned in this country - they were then marched up the west branch of the Susquehnna
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river, [unreadable] [unreadable] Island, in what is called Potters Plain, to guard the frontier -then the company was divided into classes, to help the people in with their grain, and to protect them while doing so - He volunteered for three months, and served out the whole period and was discharged at Buffalow Valley & red'd discharged in Sunbury
This one given to this applicant is lost or mislaid
In the fall of the year 1777, he was drafted in the militia in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, he [unreadable] Gen. Washington Army, served under Capt Smuller- they were marched to the White Marsh when Gen Washington Army.  He served out this tour of two months for which he was drafted, and got home just before Christmas - Immediately on his return,  [unreadable] shortly thereafter he enlisted under Commissary John Kiddary for six months and served in the hospital in Reamstown in assisting in taking care of the sick soldiers there being about 70 or 80 mostly from Virginia - he served out the six months-
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After the loss of his tour, he was sent [word crossed out] on with horses to the army by Commissary Kiddary in which service he was engaged about 11 days.
In the year 1778 he was engaged to drive a waggon in the service for two months for which he was entitled to credit for a militia tour for two month - He went in company with three waggons which started from Reamstown in May or June 1778 for the army at Valley Forge- where the army was Marched in to Jersey they followed the army. Where he was discharged having served out his tour - He was discharged a few days before the battle of Monmouth and was in that engagement - He was while driving a waggon in the brigade of Gen. Wayne - He has no document in his property & knows of no witness to prove his service  He hereby relinquishes every claim [unreadable] to a  pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not in the pension roll of the agency of any states.
  Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
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In answer to the interrogation directed to be put by the court he state that he was born in 1754 in Lancaster county in Pennsylvania and that he has now no record of his age He lived in Lancaster County when called into the service at the [word crossed out or smudged] period aforesaid and continued there until he removed into Berks County in that state about thirty seven years ago.  He remained there about fourteen years when he removed to the County of Fairfield in the state of Ohio aforesaid where he now remained ever since.
   He has already stated the manner in which he was called in to the service and the officers which he served to the best of his recollection-
    He received discharges in the service but they are lost.  He received the discharges from his Captains.
     He is know by very many of the citizens of the county of Fairfield and will
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[unreadable] name Joseph Stukey and John Pannebaker.  He is also know to many of the principle inhabitants of the town of Lancaster, among whom is the Senator in Congress, J. Ewing Esq. & the [unreadable] Representative of the district.   

Jacob Ream
Sworn to in open court this [word crossed out] day of Nov 1832
[unreadable] Hu Boyle clk

We George Wise   Clergyman, [unreadable] in the [unreadable] of said Jacob Ream and Joseph Stukey John Panebaker [unreadable] in the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Ream who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 78 years of age; that he is respected and [unreadable] in the neighborhood where he resides, he has been a soldier of the revolution and that we [unreadable] in that opinion.
George Wise
John Panabaker
Joseph Stukey
Sworn to & [unreadable] in open court this 1st day of Nov. 1832
[unreadable] Hu Boyle clk
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatory prescribed by the war department that the within named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that George Wise who has signed the within certificate is a clergyman resident in the county within named and John Panabaker and Joseph Stukey who have also signed the same are residents in this county of Fairfield, within named, and that are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Hough Boyle clerk of this court of common pleas in and for the County of Fairfield and State of Ohio, do herby certify that the foregoing containing the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jacob Ream for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my and and seal of office, this 2d day of November AD1832
Hugh Boyle clk
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13.083.
Jacob Ream
Adm for 13 Months
from 1777

Hon W.W. Irvin
Lancaster Ohio
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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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Jacob Ream
Period when the service was rendered and 
Duration of the claimant's service.  1777 3 months and 2 months in the fall.  1778 6 months and 2 months.
Rank of the claimant in 1777 Private.  In 1778 served in the hospital and to [unreadable]
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served: 1777 Gen De [unreadable] and General Washington
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 78 Lancaster County Pennsylvania
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
[unreadable]
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.  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 Cngress, 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 herby 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 poper record, the names of applicants, makin 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 Clegyman, residing in the           and C. D. residing in (the same) herby 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 days and ear 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 name applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to the that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the        and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.    I,      Clerk of the Court of      do herby 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 circumstance 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 of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are know at the Department.  a very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The fact 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 name 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 you services.    (6) To a Soldier -  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it giben, 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 incovenience 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 the 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 ill 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 of 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 i 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 incase 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 allow 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 same of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must stat 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, 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, [unreadable] 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 that 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 each 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 serve.  The use of the phrase 'about three or four months' is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who spply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement, the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f]  The law makes the relinquishment 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 sea, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.  In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
    Proof of Service
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
   -The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l]  If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers in the interrogatories must all be written, and [unreadable] to the War Department, with the declaration.
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Irvin
James L Edward [unreadable]

[unreadable] [unreadable]
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[unreadable] 18th 1833-
James L. Edward [unreadable]

Sir
Do the rolls of the army of the revolution in any instance, show the names of those who [unreadable] or engaged as Teamsters or Wagoners under Wagon Masters for terms of service not exceeding six month or for any term of service?  When hospital surgeons or [unreadable] having charge of hospitals, engaged the services of individuals to take care of the sick or for any other object connected with the hospitals, are they intitled to the benefit of th e act of 1832: & if so, do the rolls of the army in any instance notice the services of those [unreadable] [unreadable]
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If no record was [unreadable], will the same [unreadable] pensions intended for the Militia be extended to them for services [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable] valuable
Very respectfully yours Wm. W. Irvin
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Bureau of Pensions  Washington, D.C
Will you kindly send me the Revolutionary War record of Abraham Ream- who was born in Reamstown, Co. Lancaster Penn.- in 1746.  Also please send me the record of his half brother Jacob Ream.  Who was also a soldier of the Rev. War from Pennsylvania.
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They moved from PA to Ohio in 1798-1800.  Thanking you in advance I am yours Respectfully
Mrs. Clara E. B. Towt  Lancaster Ohio 139 N. 5th Ave.  May 5th 1908
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[unreadable] Hist to C S Ream Bonard, [unreadable] May 14, '08 Hist to Mrs Clara EB Towt FW

Revhan 4765 Invalid.
File No. 4765  Jacob Ream Privt Rev War  Act: June 7th 1832.  Index  Vol M,  Page 311
[Arrangement of 1870}
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In reply to your request of        for a statement of the military history of Jacob Ream a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) [crossed out] application for pension on file in this Bureau.  S. F. 4765    [unreadable smudged]
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment 1777, Fall 1777, 1778. 
 Length of Service 1777 3 mos. Fall of 1777 2 mos.  Soon after 6 mos.  1778 2 mos.
  Rank 1777 Prvt. Fall of 1777 Prvt.
  Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered
1777 Captain Gardner.  Fall of 1777 Captain Smoler
Under Commisary John Kiddary and stationed at the hospital in Reamstown.
1778 General Wagoner's Brigade
Colonel -
State PA
Battles engaged in, Monmouth
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Lancaster Co. PA
Date of application for pension Nov 1, 1832 et al
Residence at date of applications, Berne Twp Fairfield Co. Ohio.
Age at date of application, B. Nov. 18, 1754 in Lancaster Co. PA
Remarks:  The above noted is the only Jacob Ream of PA found in the Rev. War pension records and said records fail to afford any information in regard to Abraham Ream of PA
Very respectfully, Mrs. Clara E. B. Towt