Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3955, for William Spear, Pennsylvania
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Penn.  Spear, William.   S3955
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No. 4682

Pittsburgh Agency

William Spear
Butler Co. in the State of Pennsylvania
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Blythe of the Regiment commanded 
by Colonel Watt in the 
line of Private 19 months

Inscribed on the Roll of the Pittsburgh Agency
at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annual
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of January
1833 and sent to Hon. G. Glimond

Arrears to 4th of April 1832.                      94.99
Semi=anl. Allowance ending 4. March      31.66
                                                        1833    ======
                                                                     $126.65

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7. 1832


Recorded by D. Brown
Book D.   Vol 2
Page 3

Dead
Paid at the Treasury
the Act of the 6th April
from 4 Sep 1839 to 11 January
1840. the day of his death.
Agt ho died 16th March 1841

Hon Thowell. Howe
jny 31 1850
NMS. Dodds Apl 9/60
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State of Pennsylvania
County of Butler
On this seventh day of September AD 1832
Personally appeared before the Judges of the
Court of Common pleas of the County of
Bath now sitting in and for the said County
William Spear of Muddy Township in the
County and State aforesaid aged Seventy two
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
Act of Congress passed 7th June 1832
That on the first day of July 1776 he began
his service for five months in Captain
William Hustons Company Franklin County
Penna Marched to Amboy State of New Jersey
from thence to Bergain where the company was
requested and did agree to have their him of
service by there to were then this then marched
to Fort Lee and were attached to Col Fred
Bath Regiment and during their stay there were
engaged in frequent skirmishes and experienc
ced heavy cannon a day on the Hudson
He with others were ordered up the Hudson
live to a place called upon where there
was a hard engagement for a few hours with
the enemy some of their before pursued two
of the American Shallips loaded with flesh
destined for Albany the enemy were alleged
to give up the chase with considerable loss
of men. On the sixteenth of November he ob
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(ob)tained leave from the Commanding Officer at  (Topen) to return to Fort Lee as an engagement was expected on Fort Washington. Shortly after (??) the engagement commenced but before he arrived it was over, The distance is twenty five miles.. After considerable maneuvering it was thought advisable by General Washington to retreat from that place to Trenton in New Jersey.  In this march they experienced much suffering owning to the (??) of the season and the destitute condition of the men being clearly pursued by the enemy -   We crossed the Delaware at Trenton to the Penna. Shore where we lay till the 25th December when Genl Washington with part of the Army recrossed the river above Trenton and lost directions, (and) for the remainder (of the Army) to lay on their arms during the night so as to be ready to cross the river below the town when they would hear the attack commenced at day break on the 26 of December. The attack commenced, the party to which to which this deponent belonged immediately marched to the river in order to cross got two boats loaded with men but to owing to the unpassable state of river with ice was unable to cross until the battle was over.  Afterwards in May 1799, he served a term of two months militia duty in Captain Samuel Puttens Company of Franklin County Penna marched to Hanahs town, Westmoreland Co. Penna from thence to Walluces (??) near Conenauch - afterward in the 1st of June 1780 to Cum(berland)
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(Cum)berland and marched out under Capt Samuel Blyth of Franklin County Penna. for the purpose of guarding the frontier against the Indians. The term of service was for seven months, Marched to Bedford on the way buried Capt Phillip's men in the wood(duck) (??) who were slain by the Indians. Marched to Frankstown then returned to Bedford at which place received orders to march and join the standing army then near Topen, state of New Jersey  - at Philadelphia Capt Blyth returned home.  This deponent was then attached to Capt. Wm. Doyle's company of the 6th Penna Regiment  commanded by Major Tabbert. Thence marched to West Point to keep possession at the discovery of Arnold's Plot. At this place suffered much from (??) duty and scanty allowances - thence marched to Totoway - then to Lockey Hollow where term of service expired.  Afterwards in May 1781, he performed a tour of two months militia duty under Capt. Walter McKinney of Franklin County Penna. marched to Frankstown Huntington County and again in the latter part of the summer and  fall of 1781 he served a two months tour in the militia under Capt James McConnel of Franklin County Penna marched to Huntington County Penna and there engaged (in) scouting after the Indians in different parts of the county.  He has no other evidence of his services except what accompanies this application - he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except ......
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the p[illegible] and declares that he is not on  or in Roll of the agency of any state
sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
Cor Wm Stewart Pro} Wm Spear
and the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. 
Butler County Ss
I William Stewart Prothonotary of the courts of Common Pleas in and for said county Do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Spear for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 22d day of September AD 1832
Wm Stewart Prothy

$63.33 per annm
Hon J Gilmore
HR 11174
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Wm Spear
Sullion Nr 79
Col & Doch Wm Spear
Cap Saml Blythe
deposition
Jan 8 1829
Feby 2 1830
Ref to Comm on mil pensions
with resolution claims
Bill
April 6th 1830
Report agt to be 
served as volunt
in imilita 6 mo
unfavorable
Dec 13 1832
Ref to commnr mil pension
with reso
Quare EHP
Gilmore Pa
Mar 19 1832
Bill reported No 494
Spear Wm 
Penn S3955
Spear Wm 
Penn S3955
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Dauphin County Ss
Before me the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for said county personally came Capt Samuel Blythe, who being sworn according to law deposeth and saith that William Speer enlisted in his Company of Rangers in June 1780 and marched in said compa to Bedford which s their station and [illegible] on the frontiers of edford and [illegible] counties and continued there untill the last of August when the said company received orders to march to Philadelphia, that they marched to that place and then the company had orders to march Gen Washington's Head Quarters  And this deponent further saith that to the best of his recollection, the said William Speer served seven months from the time of his enlistment or joining his company untill he was discharged  And further this deponent saith not.   
Saml Blythe
sworn & subscribed 
Decer 12th 1828 before John Brooks
[STAMPED
THE NATIONAL ILLEGIBLE UNITED STATES]
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House of Representatives
Washington Jany 25. 1854

Hon L. P. Waldo
Com of Pensions
Sir_
Will you have the goodness to give me such information on the subject of the injuries contained in the enclosed letter I will enable
me to reply to it and very greatly
obey Your Obt Sert
Tho. M Howe
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
January 15, 1841.

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The child of William Spear, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pittsburg, Pa. Agency, at the rate of Sixty three Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, under the law of 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from 4th of Sept. 1839 to the11th January 1840, the day of his death.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
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[Round Stamp]
PENSION  OFFICE
MAR 20

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

James Devinney
______
La_am 1832 - [Illegible]
________
Keir let of Aug
_________
William Spear
__________
Rec at 1832 - 4682
________
Edward Spear_La
[Illegible]
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Rev War 3955
INVALID.
---
File No. 3955
William Spear
Privt Rev War
---
Act June 7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 353

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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to 1895 Aug 26 Hist
Ed. Spear
Minneapolis Wisc.
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Prospect March 16th 1860

Commissioner of Pensions
Sir ther is an old lady
in this place by the name 
of Sarah Cummings. The
only surviving heir of
James Devinera a soldier of 
the Revolution. She received
a letter from some man that
wanted to act as agent for 
her in securing her something
on her fathers services as
a soldier for the 1/2. She spoke
to me about it and I told
her that there was no need
of employing an agent that 
there was men at the office
to attend to every claim
that is presented to them
and that if there is anything
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comeing to her she will be
there to get it if you will
give me some instructions
how to proceed I will do what
I can for the old lady as I 
know she needs more to
make her comfortable than
she is posesse of
My grandfather John Spears
was a soldier of the revolution
please examine how the
matter stands and his
brother Edward Spear was
I believe a regular in the 
army he belongs to artillery
and went out in 1791 and 
was killed on the 4 of Nov at
St Clairs defeat if there could
be any thing done with this claim
it would pay some person to 
attend to it please let me hear
from you at your earliest
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Convenience and oblige 
your humble servant
John S. Dodds


Address
John S. Dodds
Prospect
Butler Co
Pa
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To-
Moses Sulavan Esqr
Harrisburgh
Bakerstown
Nov 22 Pa.
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Butler county Ss Common
Before me the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for butler county personally came John Ranken and was swrn by me as the law directs and said deponent deposeth and seayeth that in the year of Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six William Sheer served as a rifle man in capt William Hustins Company for the space of six months the same being In Cornal Wats Regiment and said deponent further sayeth that the above mentioned William Speer now resides in Muddy Creek township butler county in the st t of Pennsylvania and said deponent further seayith not John x Ranken his mark
Sworn and subscribed before me this 25th day of November Eighteenhundred and twenty eight
Wm Campbell
I do certify that I am well acqua td with John Rankin he is a man of credibility I also know the signature of Wm Campbell above written he is an acting justice of the peace in Butler Co Penna
Jany 26th 1833
Jno Gilmore
MC