Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,277, George Dickinson, Md.
Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE
Md

Dickinson George

NUMBER
S. 4,277

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

See letter to M. Tiernan, P. A. [On.] [smudged illegible] 21. 1835__
Order to pay 21. [illegible] 1840.
Order to pay. 29. [illegible] 1841.
Order to pay 11. Nov. 1842.
Order to pay 15 Sept. 1843.
Order to pay 29. Oct 1844.

19.878
Ohio Pittsburgh
George Dickinson
of  in the State of Ohio was a private in the corps commanded by Captain Coxe of the regt. commanded by Col Luxe in the Md. line for 6 mos,,

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsburgh
at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept. 1833 and Benj S
Cowen SD Clarsville[illegible]
Arrears to the 4th of [illegible]  50.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 10.00
$60.00
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Danl Boyd
Book 6 Vol. 7 Pag[e]
Page 3

George Dickinson
Declaration for pension
Act 7 June 1832
20211
Page 4

The State of Ohio
Harrison County ⎬
-
On this 11th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the court of Common pleas of said County now sitting, George [smudged] Dickinson a resident of Dhormant Township Tuscarawas County Ohio aged as he states seventy four 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 June 7. 1832_.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. In the same year that the battle of Germantown was fought (he does not recollect exactly the year) In the spring or summer of that year at the County of Baltimore in the State of Maryland, at a place called Gunpowder falls, on a stream which empties into the Susquehannah River does not recollect what the stream was called, their was a will belonging, as he understood, to one Benjamin Rogers, [start underline] he entered the service as a V. [margin notation] drafted militia man for the term of six months [end underline], under one Capt. Coxe and Lieutenant Stanbury, and colonel Lux and General Smallwood of militia he does not now recollect the names of other militia officers. The army to which he belonged crossed the Susquehannah, and Schulkill Rivers, at one of the crossing was the place called the White horse, went by Brandywine they were often in company with regular soldiers but does not recollect the names of any of the regular officers, except Gen. Washington that was in command_
He states that he was in the battle of Germantown before battle march 
all night. the soldiers were ordered to put a white paper in hats__ In the night they halted and went to the house of a Quaker to see if the British white horse had been there__ the morning of the battle of Germantown was a foggy morning__ the battle began before sun rise _ the enemies force consisted of British soldiers _ the battle commenced out of Germantown _ American Army drove the British into the town and they took shelter in the houses of the town _ the British while in the town got a reinforcement from Philadelphia, as he thinks the reinforcement consisted of [illegible] three companies of Grenadiers _ on the arival of the reinforcement the Americans 
retreated he thinks the main body of the enemy staid in the town _ the enemies with horse were sent out after us _ This battle he thinks was fought in the fall _ 
17 [margin notation] [start underline] that he never got a written discharge from the army [end underline], and never got any pay for his services _ that he was discharged about 8 or 9 miles from Philadelphia it was cold weather when he was discharged, it was before Chrismas, he 
V [margin notation] [start underline] staid in the service six months [end underline] and was regularly discharged and they all 
went home as they [pleased] _
He was frequently out on scouts, at one time he recollects when out in the night, they were hailed by a company of Americans, all replying that they were friends of the government, they were fired upon, one man was wounded in the anch[unclear] another in the neck, the names of the men not recollected __
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At another time when out in the night on a scout they got within reach of the guns of the enemies piquet guards, who fired upon them and were near being surounded and taken saved themselves by running _
That he was born in England Lincolnshire Borta[unclear] was 14 years of age according to his
17_ [margin notation] best recollection of the account given him of his age ^has no clear remembrance of it [carat text difficult to read - zoomed in]
when about ten years of age he emigrated to America, to Baltimore County Maryland where he resided when he was called into service and from the time
he first settled there untill about the year 1802 when he moved to the County of Washington County Pennsylvania from then in the year 1821 he moved to Dhorment[illegible] Township Tuscarawas County Ohio where he has ever since resided, he now resides about 14 miles from this place and 17 or 18 miles from New Philadelphia the county seat of said Tuscarawas county 
V [margin notation] He states that he served as a private soldier [underlined]. __ He knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure to prove his services _ He states the names of Alexander Houston, and David Davis persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, who can testify as to his character for truth & veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & aforesaid before me
Wm Tingley Clerk.
his 
George T [his mark] Dickinson
 mark

We, Alexander Houston and David Davis farmers residing in the Township of Dharmant[illegible] and County of Tuscarawas Ohio hereby certify that we are 
well acquainted with George Dickinson the above named demandant, ^who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration  [crossed out].
[Hous]ton that he has been acquainted with the said Dickinson about 8 or 9 years [crossed out] and Davis about 25 __ years_ We believe him to be 74 years 
of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides and the said Davis, that he was reputed in the neighborhood where he resided [crossed out]
in Washington County Pennsylvania, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day & year aforesaid in open Court, before me 
Wm Tingley Clerk of Court
Alexander Houston
David Davis
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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 Alexander Houston & David Davis who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the township of  [illegible] Tuscarawas County Ohio are credible persons and their statement is entitled to credit.

J H Hallock
Thos Bingham
John McCollough
John W Bean

Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Harrison County

The state of Ohio
Harrison County

I William Tingley Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of George Dickinson for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at Cadiz this eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.

William Tingley - Clerk

SEAL
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George Dickinson
Revolutionary declaration
awarded
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The State of Ohio Court of Common pleas
Harrison County ⎬ July Term 1833-
Personally appeared in open court
this 23rd day of July A.D. 1833 George Dickerson who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is the same identical George Dickerson who made his declaration in the same court on the 11th day of September A.D. 1832. that the reasons why he did not make the said declaration in Tuscarawas County where he  then resided, were first that the
said declarant then lived nearer to Cadiz in the County seat of Harrison County then to New Philadelphia the county seat of Tuscarawas County & that the road to Cadiz was and is better than the road to New Philadelphia,  & that he applied to Benjamin S. Cower to prepare his declaration & he could not, as he state, owing to his
being obliged to attend at the Term of the Supreme Court for 
Belmont County on the same day
when the court would set in the fall of 1832
Tuscarawas, attend the Court of Com Pleas
of Tuscarawas County in the fall of 1832-
that he served at all times when in the army of
the revolution as a private soldiers he served six months  in the army of the revolution. He never obtained any written discharge from the army and that he has not now and never had any record of his age that he is known to and is acquainted with the Rev. John Johnston a Preacher  in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, who resides, or his family resides 
in the neighborhood of Surburgh in Tuscarawas County 20 miles  from this place & 8 or 10 from his place of residence that said Johnson is on a circuit north of Surburgh he does not know exactly where. He has applied to said Johnston to procure his attendance at this Term of this Court & received from him the hereunto annexed certificate that he is acquainted with no other preacher in this country - whose attendance would have
be procured at the time he made his said declaration that this time, and that he could not procure the attendance of the said Johnson where he made his
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said declaration he living there on the same circuit where he now is.

And he hereby relinquishe 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.

George Dickinson
His X Mark

The State of Ohio
Harrison County

I William Tingley Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said Harrison County do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration was sworn to & subscribed by the above-named George Dickinson in open court at the July term of said court in session at Cadiz in said county on the 23rd day of July AD 1833.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Cadiz this 27th day of July AD 1833.

William Tingley - Clerk

Monroe Township Harrison County Ohio 4th July 1833

I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with George Dickinson some upwards of eleven years have frequently conversed with him about his services in the revolutionary war and have ever since been of opinion that they merited the reward government has been giving to other heroes of the revolution; he is poor though I know him to have been industrious; and the money thus bestowed on him should he receive it will not be wasted but will go for the support of himself & family. His morals are good & he is very far from being a spendthrift. I feel no hesitancy in recommending him to these concerned in the pension department but do most sincerely wish he may receive the reward he so much needs and merits.

John Johnson of the Pittsburgh 
American Conference of the M E Church
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20211
Geo Dickinson
Tuscarawas Co Ohio

From 1777 Private
6 months $20
Return 2.3.5.7.11.12

Benj S Cowen
St Clairsville
Belmont Co
Ohio
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Brief in the case of George Dickinson 
County of Tuscarawas in the state of Ohio

(Act 7th June, 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? - BLANK
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? - BLANK
3. How old is he? 74
4. State his Service as directed in the form annexed.

Period - Drafted in 1777
Duration of Service - 6 months, frequently out as a scout the time he served as such not stated
Rank - Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served - Gen Smallwood, Capt. Cox, Col Luxe (none mentioned when Scout)

5. In what battles was he engaged - Germantown
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Baltimore Co MD
7. Is his statement support by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evident or by the rolls? Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No clergyman

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Chs W Forrest
Examining Clerk
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George Dickinson
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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 George Dickinson which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? - BLANK

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? - NO

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? - NO

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? - BLANK

V. Has he mentioned 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? - NO

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? - BLANK

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? - NO

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? - BLANK

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? - BLANK

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? – BLANK
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2

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? - NO

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reasons assigned for not obtaining it? - NO

XIII. If the applicant has no 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? - BLANK

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?
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?

BLANK

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? - BLANK

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? - BLANK

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them s not so answered? - NO, 2 & 6

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, etc. 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 blank year, blank months and blank days, I served as a blank for blank months and blank days I served as a blank; 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, etc. 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.

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 matter 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 form 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.
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Rev War

4277
INVALID

File No 4277
George Dickinson
Prvt Rev War

Act June 7, 1832

Index Vol A Page 96

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

St Clairsville August 18, 1833

Sir

Enclosed is a supplementary declaration of George Dickinson a revolutionary soldier - it is believed that every objection in the brief forwarded from your department is herein answered - the annexed certificate was not drawn with reference to the form prescribed - I thought proper to forward it annexed - I should state that the affidavit on the back of it was by me drawn during the term of the court & while Jospeh Johnson was in attendance - while I was engaged in the trial of a cause he left and failed to procure his affidavit I did not show the artifact to him - the old man left the obtaining of his affidavit for me to do - It was in consequence of my mission I suppose that it was not got having no doubt but Mr. Johnson would have made it - I have no knowledge personally of Mr. Jno Johnson - have often heard of him as a member of the Pittsburgh M.E. conference & this year having seen his name in the prepared minutes extracts in the N. Papers - I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Dickinson statement - he is a man of but small intellect and incapable of making the preparations which one more intelligent might to sustain his statement. He is by all drive honest as far as I have heard. The place where he lives was last written attached to Harrison County.

Yours Respectfully
Benj S. Cowen

J L Edwards
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having understood that you prefer to have the brief of objectives returned to your department and having omitted to return the brief in the case of Matthews I enclose it herewith. The declaration on this Matthews case was originally sent on about the same time of Dickinson - *** sometime in the latter part of June or forepart of July last.

Benj S Cowen

J L Edwards
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Revolutionary Claim

FREE

J L Edwards
Pension Office
Washington City
D.C.

Mail Stamp
Aug 14
Ohio
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Agent's Office Merch & Manuf Bank
Pittsburgh, 16 Oct 1835

Sir

I herewith submit the voucher of George Dickinson, whose claim has not been presented for two years.

Very respectfully
Your most obt servant

J Cowey - Aud
for M Tiernan - Pr

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
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Pension Agency
North Western Bank of Va
Wheeling Sept 15, 1840

Sir

Enclosed please receive voucher of George Dickinson for examination act 7 June 1832.

Respectfully
Archd Woods
Pension Agent
for J Steen Browne
Page 22

Pension Agency
North Western Bank of Virginia
Wheeling, Sept 25, 1841

Dear Sir;

I enclose for your inspection voucher of Geo Dickinson pensioner Act 7 June 1832, claiming 12 mo pay.

Respectfully

A. Woods - agent
J Steen Browne

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 23

Pension Agency
Wheeling October 26th 1844

Sir

I enclose for examination voucher of George Dickinson pensioner Act 7th June 1832.

Very respectfully
Your obt servt

J Steen Browne
Pension Agent

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 24

Pension Agency
Wheeling Sept 12, 1843

Sir

I enclose for examination voucher of Geo Dickinson, pensioner Act 7 June 1832, claiming 12 months pay.

Very respectfully
J Steen Browne
Pension Agt

J L Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions
Washington City
Page 25

Pension Agency
North Western Bank of Va
Wheeling Nov 8, 1842

Sir

I enclose for examination voucher of Geo Dickinson.

I am very respectfully
your obt servt

Arch. Woods - Agt
for J Steen Browne

J L Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
Washington City