Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2810, for John Mc Pike, Pennsylvania
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Penn
CONTENTS
McPike, John
NUMBER
S2810.
Carded
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Ohio. 13168
John McPike of Adams in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Compy. [Company] commanded by Captain Lynch of the Regt. commanded by Colo. Scott in the Penna. line for 21. months

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio the rate of 70 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of May 1833 and sent to Hon Wm Russell, West Union, Ohio

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. 140.
Semi-anl. [annual] allowance ending 4 Sept 33. 35
$175.

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer Clerk.
Book E Vol. 8 Page 16

16 Jany [January] 1836 [illegible] N. S. D. Hamon
do 25 Oct 1836
do 15 Dec; 1837
let 15 Oct '39 to S.C. Suggett
let. 16 March 1840 to Hon R. M. Johnson
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John McPike
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State of Ohio Adams County SS.}
On this twenty seventh day of October 1832 personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas being a Court of record in and for the County aforesaid now in session. John McPike a resident of Adams County Ohio aged Eighty one 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 the 7th June 1832-
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated- That at the time he entered the service he was living in York County Pennsylvania that as early as the fifteenth day of March 1775 he volunteered and entered the Militia as a private-- under Captain- Lynch, that they were commanded by Colonel Scott - that soon after he joined the
company he was appointed orderly sergeant and served in that capacity until the end of the tour. that he entered the service at Sandy Creek glades was marched to . . Cheat River Dunkard Bottom that the duties of his service were to guard the frontiers from the enactments of the Indians in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] of Dunkards Bottom and on cheat River and that he served in said Lynchs Company four months and was discharged and returned home to York County Pa -
That again in the in the month of September 1775 he left home and went to Sandy Creek and Voluntered [volunteered] and entered the service as orderly Sergeant as early as the 25th of September 1775 under Captain Andrew McCreary was marched to Fort Pitt where they were stationed to keep guard and employed to watch the movements of the indians and prevent their encroachments-- on the settlements, and that in this tour he served full four months and was discharged and returned home to your County Pa.
That again in 1776 as early in the 10th of March (being commissioned and qualified as 1st Lieutenant) he volunteered and entered the service in the Militia in that capacity under Captain Robert Rowan, Major Hugh Dinwiddie Colonel Kennedy was marched from York-to Swedes ford on the Schuylkill thence to the Delaware River and crossed at East Town Thence to Warwick town in the State of New York. Thence to Florida thence to Goshen thence to East Chester thence to New Windsor on the North River during this tour and while he was in the State of
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New York the Declaration of Independence was made and proclaimed that he served in this tour four months in the capacity of 1st Lieutenant and was discharged at New Windsor and returned home again -
Again in the year 1776 as early as the first of December as he best recollects - he volunteered and entered the militia service at Yorktown Pa. in the capacity of 1st Lieut. under Captain William Lindsay - Major Hugh Dinwiddie was marched with a detachment from York County Pa though snows to Philadelphia and on their march at the Black horse six miles this side of Philadelphia the met the Hessian prisoners which had been captured at the Battle of Trenton -- at Philadelphia Major Dinwiddie died, and Major Vance took the command was marched from thence to Trenton, thence to Princeton General Putnam now commanded- thence were marched three miles down to Kingston on Picket guard While laying at Kingston his knapsack some clothing and the pocket book which contained his commission were stolen, none of which articles were ever recovered - after
serving two months in this tour in the capacity of 1st Lieut [Lieutenant] he was discharged and returned home- That again as early as the first of April 1777 he again volunteered and entered the service at York Pa in the capacity of 1st Lieut.
under Captain William Lynn, Major Vance -- General Putnam was marched from York County Pa to Philadelphia Thence to Trenton thence to Princeton, there under General Putnam he was ordered to Allentown thence along the British lines (the British Army then lying at New Brunswick) to a connoitre [reconnoiter] and watch their movements, one day of this service with a detachment of fifteen men he espied 5 British soldiers driving off some cattle belonging to American farmers and [illegible] and took three of the British prisoners-- On this tour he served in the capacity of 1st Lieutenant two months and was discharged and returned home-
Early in the year 1777 while at home in York County Pa and Shortly after the Battle of Trenton applications were made by many of the officers and friends of the American army to borrow money and raise funds to procure clothing and subsistence for the destitute American soldiers
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He handed of his own money seventy five dollars to Colonel Kennedy to be laid out for the use of the army and to this day he has not received my payment or
consideration therefor -
that again in the year 1777 as Early on the 20th of November as he now best recollects he again volunteered and entered the Militia service in York County Pa a 1st Leut [Lieutenant] under Captain John Paxton - Major Vance Colonel- Kennedy General Potter at this time Genl [General] Washingtons Army up for winter quarters at Valley Forge, he was marched to near the Valley Forge and the Great Mills and was marched about to various places and in various excursions
along the lines, sometimes intercepting supplies designed for the British, were sometime sent or marched to Chester, and Derby Town in this service he continued two months and at the end of two months was discharged, and forthwith he again volunteered and entered the service rather continued to serve another tour of two months in the capacity of Lieut. under the same officers, and at the expiration of two months was discharged and returned home 
After this in the year 1779 and as early as the first day of July he again entered the service as a volunteer and served as 1st Lieutenant under Captain John Paxton-Major Vance we marched from York County to Lancaster Pa. where he was employed to assist in building a fort for the British Prisoners after the fort was completed and two full months service upon he was discharged and again returned home --
That he served as before mentioned in the capacity of 1st or orderly Sergeant Eight months at least - and in all as 1st Lieutenant at least fourteen months - and for those periods and ranks he claims a pension-
That he never received any written discharge-- and knows of no surviving witness that could prove his services-
He herby relinquishes every claim 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-
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Quest 1st Where and in what year were you born
Ansr [Answer] In Chester County Pennsylvania on the 17th Septembers 1750-
Q - 2 Have you any record of your age and if so where is it ?
Ans I have no record of it-- but have seen it frequently in my Fathers Family Bible
Q. 3. Where were you living when called into the service  where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live -
Ans. When called into the service I lived in York County Pennsylvania. In the year 1792 I removed to Virginia - and in the year 1823 I removed from Virginia to Adams County Ohio where I now live
4 How you called into the service were your drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute & and if a substitute for whom?
Answer I volunteered in every tour as particularly stated in the foregoing declaration and served as orderly Sergeant the two first tours of four months each and as 1st Lieutenant for the remaining tours making in all fourteen months as 1st Lieutenant-
5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service-
General Washington was at the Valley Forge, and the same winter I saw  Occasionally, Generals Wayne, Potter & Sullivan and Colonel Hartley -
The general circumstances of the service are as detailed in the foregoing declaration-
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6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it--
Answer I never received any written discharge from the service-
Did you ever receive a commission and if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it? 
Answer I did receive a commission as 1st Lieutan [Lieutenant] and in the militia as early as the first day of March 1776 It was signed by the Vice President
and countersigned by Colonel Scott  - the Lieut [Lieutenant] of the county as I best recollect and verily believe-- It was stolen from me with my pocket book and some other articles while on duty at Kingston in the month of January - 1777 - and has not been recovered since
7 State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood [neighborhood] and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Answer Thomas Carry, John Stevens Henry Gray
his
John Ⓧ McPike
mark
Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Joseph Darlinton Clk [clerk] A.C.
We Thomas Cary Clergyman residing in Adams County State of Ohio and John Stivens Junr [Junior] residing in the same hereby certify that on all well acquainted with John McPike who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty one years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion Thomas Curry
John Stivers
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Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Joseph Darlinton, Clk [Clerk] A.C.

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 soldier of the Revolution and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Thomas Curry who has signed the preceeding [preceding] certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the County of Adams and State of Ohio and that John Stivers who has signed the same is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit

I Joseph Darlinton Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Adams and State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of John McPike
for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 27th day
of October in the year of our Lord 1832
Joseph Darlinton Clk [Clerk] A.C.
[white paper and dark ribbon on left margin]
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Rev War
2810
INVALID.
File No. 2810
John McPike
Privat Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 244
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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(An addressed envelope)


James L. Edwards Esqr.
Pension Office
Washington City, D.C.
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form although his proof of being an officer may not be strenthened [strengthened] yet I believe there is no doubt but he was a soldier of the revolution as by him stated But should you deem his proof of being an officer deficient the allowance of a soldier would be important to him as he is in extreme want and subsisting on public charity I would thank to give his case an early examination
I also send you the papers of John Thompson whom I have long known
and have no doubt but he performed the service as stated by him
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt [Obedient Servant]
William Rupel
J. L. Edwards Esqr [Esquire]
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Mar 16. 1840
Col J. L. Edwards
Hon R. M. Johnson 
Vice-Pres U. S.
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13168
John McPike
Adams Co Ohio
Adm for 21 months from 1775 (as per agreement of agent as private see
enclosed letter)
Hon. Wm Russell
Mt. Union. Ohio.
Russell

1775 3. Months. [illegible]
" 4 " "
6 4.
" 2
7 2
2
2
" 2
21
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claim, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John McPike
which require further proof or explanation.
[Questions written in roman numerals]
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? _
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length 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? Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes
[End of page]
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2
[Question numbers are listed as roman numerals]
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason for not obtaining it? _
XIII. If the applicant has not documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Yes
XIV. *If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? [crossed out, illegible]
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? _
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? _
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service _
XVI. *Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. 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 a pension.
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3
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 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 shewn 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
The claimant should produce evidence of
his having received a commission and of his
services as a Lieutenant
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14 March: 1840
My dear Sir,
I wish you to examine particularly that part of the within which speakes [speaks] of the Pension papers of the writer -- write fully. also read that part of the letter which speakes [speaks] of the widow of Genl [General] Green & give the information requested as far as you can. Bend the rules for widow of Genl [General] Green
I do not understand the Paragraph about Mrs Green [illegible] it proper that the widow of Genl [General] Green, who died in Georgia is now above 111 [illegible] years
R A Johnson
Col J. L. Edwards
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Washington 12th Decr [December] 1837
Sir: I am requested by John McPike of the Pennsylvania line of the
Revolutionary Army & now a pensioner on the roll of Ohio to ascertain whether his pension can be increased (from a sergeant to a 
Lieutenant) upon the proofs he has filed since he was [illegible] upon the roll; also to enquire for his lands to which he is entitled on account of his revolutionary services. Will you have the goodness to answer in regard to the Pension & to forward this letter to the proper office for information as to the land?
Respectfully yr obt svt [your obedient servant]
J. L. Edward Esqr. [Esquire]}
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[round stamp GEORGETOWN KY OCT 9]
Free
Hon James L Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D. C. 
[illegible] at Oct 15
Pens
John Pike for Increase
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Georgetown Scott Co Ky Oct 7. 1839
Dear Sir
Mr John McPike has Just address a Letter to the Hon Richard M Johnson Vice Presiden [President] of the United State which letter was refered [referred] to me to make the nessary [necessary] enquire in relation to increasing of Mr Pikes Pension he States that he is now a Pensioner in Brown County State of Ohio at 70$ per Annum and that he was in the services 22 Months during the war of the Revolution and served 8 months as a First Sergent, [Sergeant] and 14 months as a Leutenant [Lieutenant] and that he produced the evidence some years ago of his services as an officer and that he has received no answer in relation to the Last evidence Produced
You will mean to have the kindness to inform me whether his Pension can be increased
Yours with Great Respect
Lewis C Suggett
Hon James L Edwards
Commission of Pensions
Washington City
D C
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Hon T L Hamer
H R
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State of Ohio}
Adams County} ss.
On this 27th day of October 1835 personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting Henry Gray & John Francis both residing in Liberty township County & State aforesaid in the immediate vicinity of John McPike a Pensioner for services rendered during the Revolutionary war who being duly sworn depose & say - that they are well acquainted with said John Pike and that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a First Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War & to have rendered service as such officer. This reputation & belief is of many years standing in the neighborhood, is general among the people so far as we know or believe and we concur in that opinion.
Henry Gray
John L Francis
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid}

And the said Court hereby certifies that it appears to them that Henry Gray & John Francis who have signed the preceding Certificate & affidavit are credible persons
residing in the township & neighborhood of said John McPike and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I Joseph Darlinton Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County Ohio do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original pro
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ceedings of the said Court in the matter of proof of said John McPikes services as a first Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War & his application for an increase of his pension on account of said services.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 27th day of October A.D. 1835. -
Joseph Darlinton Clk [Clerk] A.C.
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12 - 5 - 41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
NAME McPike, Richard GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9875 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 27, 478: (torn)
to Richard Platt, assigned

*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.