Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,651, for Robert Porter, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE: Penn.
Porter, Robert
NUMBER: S. 4,651
carded
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Ohio Pittsburgh, 22622 
Robert Porter 
of Belmont in the State of Ohio 
who was a Pte & Sergt in the Co commanded 
by Captain Knox of the Rgt commanded 
by Col. Campbell in the Penna line 
for One year. 
10 mos. Sergt 50.--
2 do Private 6.66
[=] $56.66

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsbg. 
at the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of Novr 1833 
and sent to B.S. Cowen, St Clairville, Ohio.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833. - 141.65 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34  28.33
[=] $169.98 

{ Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act of June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 8. Page 123.
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Robert Porter
Declaration for Pension
20207
Page 4

The State of Ohio} 
Guernsey County} ss.
on this 19th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the court of common pleas of said county now sitting ^Robert Porter a resident of Madison Township in Guernsey county Ohio aged as he says seventy seven in the month of December 1832 who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, make following statement, 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 officers named herein and served as herein stated. 
In the Summer of 1776 he entered the service of the United States at Ligonier in the county of Westmoreland county Pennsylvania as a ^drafted militia man classed for service, to escort continental military stores to Pittsburgh under Capt Robert Knox, Col. Saffer & Lieut Edward Halferty  - about 30 or 40 men in service about two weeks. [II in margin] 
 [4 in margin?] He volunteered with a company of 30 or 40 men in the summer after harvest in the year 1777 under Captain John Hinkison as a sergeant they met at Ligonear Fort marched to crooked creek in the same county - were out two months this time - Guarding frontiers and spying upon the Indians [V in margin] 
[illegible # in margin] He also volunteered in 1777 with about a company and went up the Allegheny River to Catanea fort, which had been evacuated by the inhabitants, under Col Campbell who was afterwards Gen of Militia out about [2?] or 3 weeks 
[4 in margin] He volunteered in the month of February 1778 with 500 men their object was to go to the Cuyahoga country where the British were said to have stores for the Indians - They met at Pittsburgh and all proceeded on horseback ^all except 8 or 10 regulars who went on foot - crossed the alligheny - we took two Indian Towns one low down big Beaver Creek - one at the Salt works town on the same big Beaver stream - [1 in margin] they killed some indians and one Capt Morrison ^who was along was wounded in the arm he heard that he died of his wound after he got home but does not pretend to know that he did so die - he was in the service this time he is sure not less [V in margin] than five weeks there came a thaw and the ice broke up and they could not cross the streams and had to return without going to the point of destination.  
He entered Palmers Fort at Westmoreland county Pa. in July 1778 where he staid until in November of the same year - He served as much as 4 months at this time, he is sure it was not less, thinks it was more - while they were in Fort this time the militia came from Bedford county Pa to assist [V in margin]
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in guarding fort - there were about 50 or 60 Effective men in Fort - John Hinkison was in command at the fort [t]his applicants brother was Ensign there were some men killed about the fort by the Enemy and some children Killed & scalped while they were in the fort [e? in margin] 
[4 in margin] The four months ^served as a sergeant and entered the service as a volunteer at this time 
[d, 4 & V in margin] He served in Lagonear Fort Westmoreland county Pa 1779 as a substitute for his brother Joseph Porter in the months of April & May  2 months 
He answer to questions put to him by the court he states that 
1. he was born in Down county Ireland about Chrismas 1755 
2. That he has not now and never had any record of his age. 
3. That at all times when he Entered into the service of the United States he lived in the county of Westmoreland Pa - that at 18 years of age he came to america lived in Lancaster county Pa. one year - thence moved to Westmoreland County Pa ^lived there till about [no date]. then moved to Washington county Pa - lived there a few years and moved to Cotton[?] county Pa - thence to Wheeling Township Belmont county Ohio lived there 3 years and thence moved to Madison Township Guernsey County Ohio where he has ever since lived.
5. He was not in company with any regular officers when in the service.
5. He ^served with no continental regiments nor Militia Regiments as he recollects he cant tell whether 500 were called a regiment or not 
6. He never received a written discharge from the service
7. He states the names William Carlisle Esqr ^Isaac Bannel and Stewart Porter and William W. Porter to whom he is known in his present nighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for truth and veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution 
He knows of no person being who knew of his service as a soldier in the revolution whose testimony he can procure in this court.
[Signed] Robert Porter
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 19th day of September 1832 
[Signed] Moses Sarchet Clerk
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We William Carlisle, ^Isaac Bonnell, Stewart Porter and William W. Porter residing in Madison Township Guernsey county Ohio do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Porter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be 77 years of age - the said ^Isaac Bonnell, Stewart and William W. State that he is reputed in the neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution and they all state they concur in the opinion that he was a soldier of the revolution 
[Signed] Wm Carlisle
[Signed] Isaac Bonnel Jr
[Signed] Stewart Porter
[Signed] Wm W Porter
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of September 1832
[Signed] Moses Sarchet Clerk 

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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier ^& served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that William Carlisle Esqr - Stewart Porter, William W. Porter & Isaac Bonnel - who have signed the forgoing certificate are residents of said ^Guernsey county and are credible persons and and that their statements are entitled to credit 
I Moses Sarchet Clerk of the Court of Common pleas for the county of Guernsey in the state of Ohio, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Robert Porter for a pension 
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto to set my hand and seal of Office this Nineteenth day of September Anno Domini One thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
[Ribboned SEAL]
[Signed] Moses Sarchet Clerk
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22,622.
20207 [stricken]
Robert Porter 
Ohio 

Admd 1 yr
10 Mo Serg. 50.
2 " pri 6.66
[=] 56.66
113.32
28.33
[=] 141.65

Benj. S Cowen
St. Clairsville
Belmont Co. Ohio
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BRIEF in the case of Robert Porter 
County of Guernsey in the State of Ohio 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 77 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period | Duration of service (Y-M-D) | Rank | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served
drafted In 1776 | about 14D | Private | Capt. Knox
Vol. 1777 | 2M | Sergeant | Capt Hinkison
Vol. 1778 | 14 or 21D | Private | Col. Campbell
"    " | 1M 7D | " | none mentioned
['78?] | 4M | Sergeant | Capt Hinkison
Sub 1779 | 2M | Private | none mentioned
5. In what battles was he engaged? None 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Westmoreland Co. Pa. 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No clergyman [obscured by fold] attached
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
[Signed] Chs. W. Forrest 
Examining Clerk.
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4651 
Rev War
INVALID. 
File No. 4651 
Robert Porter 
Sergt Rev. War 
Act: June 7" 1832 
Index: - Vol. A, Page 299 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Free [postage]
ST. CLAIRSVILLE [Postmark- cannot make out date]
Lewis Cass Secretary of War
[Washington] City
[D.]C.

Crosswise:
Ohio Nov. 1
retd.
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St Clairsville Octr 28 1833 
Sir, 
Enclosed are the declaration of Robert Porter heretofore returned, with an additional statement and proof designed to meet the objections of your department to the first declaration. The paper containing the objections is mislaid.
Upon examining his papers I have discovered some ambiguity. A part of it grows out of the hurried manner in which these declarations have to be drawn up during the hurry and confusion of a Term of our courts & part out of the difficulty of fully understanding these superanuated [sic] fathers of the country. I understand his last statement to fix the whole time of his service at 12 months & 10 months of that service as a Sergeant and 2 months as a private. 
Yours Respectfully 
[Signed] Benj S Cowen

Hon. L. Cass - Secy of War
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State[?] of Guernsey county ss.
Court of Common Pleas September Term 1833.
Personally appeared in open court Robert Porter a Revolutionary soldier who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is the same Robert Porter who made his declaration in the court of common pleas of said County at the September Term thereof A.D. 1832 for the purpose of obtaining a Pension from the United States under the act Congress of June 7 1832

That he was in the service of the United States ^as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and served as such soldier, in the character of a Sergeant for ten months, at least, he thinks he served considerably more than ten months as a Sergeant but will not positively swear it was more. That the two months service were performed as stated in his said declaration. He also states that he served as a private soldier in the year 1779 in the army of the Revolution two months as stated in his declaration. As to the names of the officers under whom he served, he states further that ["a" in margin] he thinks Capt. Knox was his captain when he went up the Allegheny River as stated in his declaration, he is not certain that Knox was with them at this time. ["b" in margin]  He belonged to Capt. Knox's company of militia and thinks he was in command. When he started from Pittsburgh for Cuyahoga county and while out in service that time, he was of a company commanded by Capt. Knox, Col Saffer Capt Hinkison and Ensign Porter were in the service with them beside the officers mentioned in his declaration ["c" in margin] At the time he was in service 6 months beside the officers in his declaration mentioned, with them there was Col. Edward Hafferty and Lieut Andrew Brown of his declarants own company
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["d" in margin] at the time he was in the service two months as a substitute and private the officers which he recollects that were in the service with him at the time were Captain Shannon who commanded the fort he recollects no other one of the officers-.
The Rev. ^Samuel Findley who is a clergyman has a knowledge of this deponent and of his character for truth & veracity and will state his belief as to his having been a soldier of the revolution and what his character is for truth and veracity. 
And the said Robert Porter 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 
[Signed] Robert Porter
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court this} 
23rd day of September A.D. 1833}
Before me, [signed]  Moses Sarchet Clerk 

I Samuel Findley a Clergyman residing in the Town of New Washington in the Township of Wills in the County of Guernsey and State of Ohio, hereby certify,  that I am well acquainted with ^the character [of] Robert Porter who has subscribed and sworn to the above affidavit, and a declaration of the 19th September 1832 made in the court of common pleas of Guernsey County Ohio at the Septr. Term thereof A.D. 1832, and I believe him to be seventy seven years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and I concur in that opinion, and that he is a man of good character for truth and veracity in the neighborhood where he resides - Sworn and subscribed in open Court this 23rd day of September A.D. 1833 Before me [Signed] Moses Sarchet Clerk 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, 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 Samuel Findley, who has signed the proceeding certificate is a Cler[gyman]
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[Cler]gyman, resident in the town of Washington in said County of Guernsey and that his statement is entitled to credit. 
I Moses Sarchet Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of Guernsey County, Ohio, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, had before said court at the September Term thereof AD 1833, in the matter of the application of Robert Porter for a pension. 
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this twenty-third day of September in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
[SEAL]
[Signed] Moses Sarchet Clerk