Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6779, Richard Crisswell, Md.
Page 1

Service
MD

Name
Crisswell, Richard

Number 
S.6779

Carded
Page 2

Left Side Page

12708
Virginia
Rich'd Crisswell
of Brooke Co in the State of Virg'a
who was a private in the compy commanded
by Captain Owens of the Regt commanded
by Col. Luck in the Virginia line for 9 mos.

Inscribed on the roll of Virginia
at the rate of 30 dollars 00 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of May 1833 and sent to Adam Kuhn Leesburg, B. Co Va

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $60.00
Semi-annl allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 $15.00
$75.00

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Wm R Palmer - Clerk
Book E Vol G Page 4

Right Side Page

Let Agent July 27, 1981
Let A. Kuhn
Let A. Robinson Jr Nov 7, 1836
Page 3

Richard Crisswell

23682

Please to address
Wellsburg, Brooke County
Virginia
Page 4

State of Virginia
County of Brooke

On the twenty-seventh day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the County Court of Brooke in the state of Virginia now sitting Richard Crisswell a resident in the same county and state aged eighty-four years past who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

That he was born near Baltimore, in Baltimore County, Maryland that he was drafted and served six months under the command of Captain Christopher Owens in Col Lucks regiment of Baltimore militia but that from old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the year or months but remembers that when drafted declarant was mowing in a meadow. That he was marched from Baltimore to New Jersey and arrived at the American Camp about two miles from Philadelphia - the British troops being then in possession of that city. When arrived in camp, General Washington commanded Captain's Mackason John Owens commanded a company of Maryland militia in the same regiment with declarant - Gen. Smallwood was also in camp. We had several skirmishes with the enemy but no regular battle.

Immediately after the said service was performed, declarants brother Andrew Crisswell who lived in the same family with declarant was drafted to serve a tour of militia duty of three months but he being unwell and engaging to take care of declarants family during his absence, declarant served the said three months as a substitute for his said brother, under the command of the said Captain Chirstopher Owens during the latter service, declarant as well as he can now recollect was in the battle of Brandywine - he remembers to have been in one hard battle but from want of memory occasioned by extreme old age and bodily infirmity cannot with certainty state the place but thinks it was at Brandywine. Declarant has nearly lost his eye sight and is in very indigent circumstances - having no property and living occasionally with his children but most frequently with one of his grandchildren who is also a poor man. Declarant served six months as a drafted militia man and three as a substitute.

That he has no documentary evidence of his said service and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except the annexed deposition of Richard Jourdan who served in the same regiment.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Richard Crisswell
His X Mark
Page 5

On the same day also appeared in open court Susannah Gossage wife of Nichols Gossage of the said county of Brooke, aged fifty-years who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that she has been personally acquainted with the declarant Richard Crisswell since her infancy (He is uncle by marriage to deponent). She has repeatedly heard her father say that when declarant was on duty in the revolutionary war, he deponent's father had to take care of Declarant wife and two children. From the very frequent conversations she has heard in her father's family and generally in the neighborhood where they resided in Baltimore County, Maryland, deponent verily believes that declarant served as he states in the militia in the American Army at the time of the revolutionary war.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Susannah Gossage

We Nicholas Headington a clergyman residing in the county of Brooke and state of Virginian and Benjamin Jacobs residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Crisswell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty-four years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed in open court on the 28th day of January 1833.

Nicholas Headington
Benjamin Jacobs

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 certified that it appears to them that Nicholas Headington, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said county of Brooke and that Benjamin Jacobs who has also signed
Page 6

the same is a resident in the same county; and Susannah Gossage who has sworn to and subscribed the proceeding deposition and is also a resident of the same county are credible persons and their statements are entitled to credit.

I Adam Kuhn clerk of the Court of Brooke County  in the state of Virginia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Richard Crisswell for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at Wellsburg this 30th day of January 1833 and in the 57th year of the commonwealth.

Adam Kuhn - Clerk

SEAL
Page 7

23682
Richard Crisswell
Va 12508

Adm for 9 months

Adam Kuhn
Wellsburg
Brooke County
Va
Page 8

War Department
Pension Office

Sir

The evidence in support of your claim under the act of June 7, 1832 has been examined and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will 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 Richard Crisswell, VA

Period with the service was rendered - Balt Militia
1. Date Forgotten
2. Directly After

Duration of the claimant's service
1. 6 months
2. 3 months

Rankd of the Claimant
1. Private
2. Substitute

Names and rank of the field officers under whom he served - Both times Capt. Owens and Col. Luck

Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service - 84 years, born in Baltimore County and entered there and now lives in Brook County VA

Proof by which the declaration is supported - Certificate of Clergyman and a citizen. Knows of no living witness who can prove his service is up one and he is not produced.

I am respectfully
Your obedient servant

J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 9

-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
Page 10

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.
Page 11

Richard Crisswell
Pen Brook Cty

Note - this pensioner was not upon the list sent to me - I understand that he draws $30 per annum - he is a very old and indigent man, and consequently gives rather an unsatisfactory account of his services - he is said to be an honest man.

W. G. Singleton
Page 12

Richard Crisswell

I the undersigned Richard Crisswell in pursuance of the requisition of the secretary of war make the following re-declaration for the purpose of listing my right to a pension for revolutionary services.

I do not know my age correctly but believe I am 86 or 87 years old - I am native of Maryland lived near the city of Baltimore during the war and called to this county 23 yrs ago. Some time during the war of the revolution (I cannot recollect the year) I was drafted for a six months tour was rendezvoused at Baltimore and attached to Capt. Stephen Owens company which together with two other companies all under Col. Luck marched into Jersey, joined Gen Washington and Gen Smallwood's army at [illegible] remained in service until my six months expired. Was then discharged and went home - shortly after my return my brother Andrew was drafted for a three months tour, being sickly and [illegible] unable to endure the hardships of a camp life, I voluntarily took his place, I again rendezvoused at Owens company marched across the county crossed the Susquehanna at Polls Town and where the American army at near Philadelphia - served out the three months there and went home. I did not get a written discharge for either tour. I prove my services by Mrs. Gossage & Richard Indan, Capt. McCluney with my declaration to them I gave the said statement in substance and he charged me $10.  I certify of all which I hereto subscribe my name July 10, 1835

Nicholas Crisswell
His X Mark

a copy W.G. Singleton

Witness: W McCluney
Page 13

Rev War

6779

INVALID

File No. 6779
Rich'd Crisswell
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832

Index: Vol [illegible] Page 81

[Arrangement of 1870.]