Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39,760, for Barney Idle, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Penn.
NUMBER 
S. 39,760

Idle, Barney

CONTENTS
Page 2

4,275
Pennsylvania.
_____
Barny Idle, Privat, Capt Beaty Pennsylvania line one year In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
[Handwritten in the gap is a large "4"]
_____
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 28th of May, 1818.
_____
Certificate of Pension issued the 9th of Nov., 1818 and sent to James Diemer, Esq. Judge &C Reading, Pa.
_____
Arrears to 4th Sept. 1818. 3 3/4, & 24/3  $26.09
Semi-snl. all'ce ending 4th Mar. 1819. $48.--
= $74.09

{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}

He died June 30, 1832 
Agency book

Exeter Berks County 
[illegible handwriting]

[written on righthand side]
Notification sent Dec. 28, 1820 to Henry Belz Regarding Pensions
Page 3

Barney Idle, private
McGaw's fifth Penn. Reg.
28th May 1818

Admitted
To James Diemer, Esq.
Reading, Penn.
Page 4

Pennsylvania Berks County

On the 28th day of May AD 1818 Before me, James Diemer Esquire, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas Court of Berks, aforesaid, personally appeared Barney Idle aged in his seventy second year, resided Exeter Township  County aforesaid, who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath made the following declaration in order to attain the provisions made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," that he the said Barney Idle enlisted in the year 1776 in the City of Philadelphia state aforesaid in the company commanded by Captain William Beaty, fifth Pennsylvania Regiment Col McGaw, that he continued in said company [illegible] months the time of his enlistment, in the service of the United States, And that he is in reduced circumstances, and stated in need of the assistance of his country for support, And that he has no other [illegible] in his person or of his son Louis, sworn & subscribed the day & year above written [illegible]

[signed] James Diemer
[signed] Barney Idle X his mark

[a few math problems are written across the page which appear to be in relation to the amount of pension he will receive]

Berks County, P

On the 28th AD 1818 Before me James Diemer Esquire, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid personally appeared Henry Betz of the Borough of Reading County of Berks aforesaid this upon his oath doth depose and say that he hath known Barney Idle named in the foregoing written affidavit after and of twenty years and that he is in reduced circumstances and seems in need of the assistance of his country for support. Sworn & Subscribed the day & year above written.

Jas. Diemer
Henry Betz
Page 5

Pennsylvania 
Berks County Js

[there is a space that likely used to be where a seal was affixed, but is no longer there or legible]

I, James Diemer, Esquire, one the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Barney Idle, did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in his declaration against the [illegible]; and I now [illegible] and had before me, to the Secretary of the department of War, [illegible] to the secretary of the aformentioned Act of Congress.
I witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and caused the seal of the said court to be affixed this 28th day of May A.D. 1818
[signed] Jas. Diemer
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DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, ss.

On the ninth day of August A.D. 1820, personally appeared in open Court of common Pleas, holden in the borough of Reading, county of Berks, being a court of record, proceeding according to the course of the common Law, with a Jurisdiction, unlimated in point of amount and keeping a record of its proceedings Barney Idle aged seventy four years, resident in the county of Berks, in said District, who being first duly sworn, according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision, made by the Acts of Congress, of the 18th March, 1818, and the first day of May, 1820. That he served in the revolutionary War, in the company, commanded by Capt. Wm. Beaty, in the regiment, commanded by Col. McGaw in the line of the state of Pennsylvania, and has obtained a pension, under the Act of the 18th day of March, 1818, his Certificate being numbered 4273 And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any other manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with an intent thereby, so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "and Act, to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person intrust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.

Barney Idle X his mark

Schedule of the property of Barney Idle
I have no real estate all that I have is a follows to wit,
2 tables....$2.00
1 chest....$1.50
3 chairs....$1.00
1 old kitchen dresser $1.00
1 small lot of crockery...$1.25
3 Iron pots ... $1.50
1 tub .... .75
1 bucket.... .30
1 spinning wheel ... 1.25
=$10.55

The court are of opinion that the property above mentioned is of the value of ten dollars and fifty five cents.

I am by occupation a day labourer but old age and infirmity of body together with a stroke of the palsy I have entirely lost the use of my right arm. I have five children. Three girls & 2 sons. They are all married except one daughter. My wife is 65 years of age. None of them are able to contribute to my support. I cannot support myself without the assistance of my country or some public or private charity.

Sworn & Subscribed in Open Court,
this 9th day of August, 1820,
before the Jno. Addams, Prothy
[signed] Barney Idle X his mark
Page 7

I  John Addams, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the forgoing oath and schedule thereby annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court and I further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid [illegible] testimony whereof I have here unto [illegible] my hand and affix the seal of the said court this eleventh day of November AD 1820.
John Addams, Notary
Page 8

Mrs. Vera I. Moore
University of Oklahoma
Norman, Okla

Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 39760 it appears that Barney Idle enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1776 and served twelve months in Captain William Beatty's Company, Colonel Magaw's Pennsylvania Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 28, 818 while a resident of Exeter Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in his seventy second year.
In 1820, he referred to five children- three girls and two sons, all of whom were married but one daughter, and at same referred to his wife, as aged sixty-five years, but did not give the names of any of them.
Soldier died June 30, 1832,
There is no further data on file.
Page 9

39780
INVALID
[illegible]
File No. 29760
Barney Idle
Div [illegible]
Act: 18 March 18
Index: Vol 5, page 250

[side notes illegible]
Page 10

March 14, 1927

Mrs. Vera I. Moore
The University of Oklahoma
Norman, Okla

Madam:
I have to advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to any Barnett Idol.
One Barney Idle (3.39760) was a soldier in the Pennsylvania Troops, War of the Revolution, and when pensioned in 1818, he was living in Berks County, Pennsylvania, aged seventy-one years.
If you desire the history of this soldier, please so state, and the same will be furnished you.
Respectfully,
Page 11

School of Home Economics
The University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Feb. 27 - 1927

U. S. Pension Office
Washington, D.C. 

Dear Sirs:  May I ask your assistance in tracing my eligibility to the Daughters of the American Revolution?  My paternal name is uncommon and should be easily traced.
I am a descendant of Barnett Idol who came from Germany to Pa. in 1750.  He married Elizabeth Meier, a daughter of Conrad Meier of the Parish of Burlach, Switzerland in 1760 and they settled in Rowan Co. N.C. in 1776.  My father Barnett  Benjamin Idol was born to  [illegible] Idol and Elizabeth Hedgecock, a daughter of Isabel Hedgecock and Hannah Teague of N.C., at Browntown  N.C.. on May 24th 1838.
On my maternal side, I am a granddaughter of [illegible] Hendricks Fenley and Elizabeth Mary Ford, either of Shelbyville or Louisville, Kentucky.  Grandma was a daughter of a Baptist minister named Ford.  I know nothing farther of either family.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I am very truly,
(Mrs.) Vera Idol Moore
Box 194 Faculty Ex. Univ. of Okla.
Norman,
Page 12

School of Home Economics
The University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
March 18, 1927
My dear Miss Scott:
Your letter of March 14 saying that you could not find Barnett Idol on the records but that you have a record of Barney Idle, and that you could send me the history of this man.
Our family name, as I understand it, was spelled Idol but was changed by some members of the family from time to time and spelled Idle and also Idel in some cases but were all from the same stock.  I would be delighted to have this history and will you please send it as soon as possible.  Will there be any charges for this service and if there is, please send me the bill.
Barnett, nicknames Barney was a family name and one male child in generation bore this name.  My father was Barnett Bynum but he failed to name his son Barnett so the old name of Barnett has ceased, in so far as I now know, unless my brother does and then only one generation would have missed the custom.  I feel confident that this Barney Idle is my ancestor.
Yours very truly,
Mrs. Vera Idol Moore