Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8737, for Nathan Riale, Pennsylvania
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{notecard}
SERVICE
Penn

Riale, Nathan
or 
Reale

NUIMBER
R8737
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37691
Nathan Riale
Pennsylvania

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Act of June 7 1832

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Revolutionary
Common Pleas of Charles.
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State of Pennsylvania 
& County of Chester.

On this 23rd day of August 1849 personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in and for the County of Chester and state of Pennsylvania Nathan Riale a resident of the county aforesaid aged Ninety two years and seven months, 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 enlisted in the service of the United states under the following named officers as here in stated.
Enlisted under Captain Derrah [sp, “Darrah”] in the month of August 1776 as a militia man in New Britain Township Bucks County and state of Pennsylvania and was appointed 1st Sergt- and Marched to Amboy in the state of New Jersey and then Captain Derrah[sic] took Charge of the “Flying Camp” and he enlisted under him (Captain Derrah[sic]) for the period of five months and was appointed 1st sergt- in the Flying Camp. From Amboy he and company Marched to Bordentown and there Captain Derrah[sic] died with the fever and dysentery and then he (Nathan Riale) acted as Captain until the Company was transferred or attached to (he thinks) Capt. Robinson and afterwards Colonel [left blank] and then they marched to a place Called Black Water in the state of New Jersey and from thence marched to Princeton in the state aforesaid and remained there but a short time (the Hessians being close after them) and from thence marched to Morrisville and there the Flying camp received Orders from General Washington that they should cross the River Delaware about one mile above Morrisville up the River and he and said Company marched to the place ordered and when they came there they could not cross it had Snowed on the previous night and the ice broke
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and therefore could not cross and then returned to Morrisville to their ?Camp and at about 4 o clock in the morning on Christmas day in the year aforesaid. They heard the Cannons fireing[sic] on the Opposite side the River Delaware at Princeton and Washington trapped the Hessians and took a number prisoner.

Col. Ball received Orders that all the rails Should be gathered above Trenton and he Nathan Riale and the flying Camp already had crossed the river and he and company helped to gather the rails from the fences and were carried to heaps and set a fire in the evening in order to deceive General Howe and then they Crossed the River Delaware and Marched to Morristown and there remained until January 1777 and there and engagement took place with the English at Trenton,  The Cannons were fired over to Trenton the whole day and there he lost his hearing in a great measure.  He thinks Col. Robinson commanded.  Was honorable[sic] discharged in the latter part of January 1777 by Captain Dean and returned home to his father at New Britain Township Bucks County Pa.

He states that Congress had passed a Law (as simply told him) if any two men would enlist One man for Seven months in the Standby Army, they Should be free of all military duty for one year  He and his brother John Riale enlisted a man by the name of Hugh Watson for seven months and paid him (Watson) $80- and a new blanket as premium and took him (Watson) to Captain Murphy in the standing army—Captain Murphy sent word to him (Nathan Riale) that Watson had enlisted for the war and that he Nathan Riale had to serve in Watsons place   He (Nathan Riale) served out his time and received an honorable discharge as 1st Sergt—from Captain Murphy for seven months and returned home to his fathers place at New Britain Township Bucks County Pa..
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In the month of Oct. or Nov 1778 he enlisted as 1st sergt- under Captain Shannon at Doyles town Bucks County Pa— for the term of three months and he and said Company were sent to a place called “Crucked[sic] Billlet” in Montgomery Co. Pa.and remained a short time- The English Surrounded them and killed [inserted] wound a great many Americans- He was wounded in his left arm, hand and heard the wound was the cut of a Sword and also received shot of a ball through his right leg.  Was discharged with honor by Captain Shannon for the term of Three months and was pronounced a cripple for life by Captain Shannon.

He further swears that the discharge received from Captain Dean for five months & discharge of Captain Murphy for 7 months were given to Uriah Rupert (a resident of the County aforesaid and a near neighbor of him (Mr. Riale) some Eight or Ten years ago and lost then   And the discharge of Captain Shannon for three months and the 3 Commissions as ?? were destroyed by mice.

And further swears that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service—All he new[sic] that could swear to the fact are dead.

He hereby relinquishes any claim whatsoever 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
Nathan his X mark Riale

sworn & subscribed this
day and year aforesaid
before me. Andrew McNeil} JP

I Nathan Riale do depose and swear that I am nearly blind and to[sic] weak in body to go to West chester Court to have my declaration taken. 
Nathan his X mark Riale

Sworn & subscribed before me
the 23rd of August 1849
Andrew McNeil} JP
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[written upside down at top of an attached page]
State of Penns[ylvania]

I I. B. Lyons a clergyman residing in the County of Chester and state of Pennsylvania hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Nathan Riale who has subscribed and sworn to the within declaration; that I believe him be of 92 years of age & 7 months; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that I concur fully with the within Declaration
IB Lyons

Affirmed and subscribed
before me this 23rd day of
August 1849.
Andrew McNeil}JP

And I the said Justice of the peace do hereby declare that I am of the Opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department that the Within named Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and Served as he states. And I further Certify that I.B. Lyons who has singed[sic] the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the County of Chester & state of Pa. and is a creditable person and that his Statement is entitled to full credit

Andrew McNeil }JP  [handwritten] seal
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State of Pennsylvania
& County of Chester

I Uriah Rupert do depose and swear that 8 or 10 years a go Nathan Riale handed me two of his dicharges that he received one of Captain Dean and the other I do not recollect the Captains names. The one discharge of Captain Dean stated that Nathan Riale was honorable discharge as 1st Sept of his term of service five months, signed Captain Dean The other discharge stated that Nathan Riale has honorable discharge as 1st Sept of his term of service length of tour I do not recollect Signed Captain _____ I lost the said discharges or mislaid them and can not be found.
{signed}
Uriah Rupert
{hand drawn seal}

Sworn & subscribed before
me this 23rd day of August 1819
{signed} Andrew McNeil JP
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State of Pennsylvania
& County of Chester

Sir
I hereby certify that Andrew McNeil Esquire before whom the foregoing affiants and acknowledgement were made and who has hereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn,
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Chester County Court this 28th day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty nine.
{signed} Saml. B Thomas
Protonotary
Common Pleas of Chester Co.

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37691
Nathan Riale
Pennsylvania
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Act of June 1832
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[crossed through] Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873

8721
P.O.
Nathan Riale
Service:
Enlisted: REJECTED, 18    .
Discharged:     , 18  .
Application filed:      , 18   .
Alleges:     
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized. Contract
Cert. of Dis. Searched for   , 18  .
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J. L. Edwards, Esq
Comm of Pensions
Dec 10/[illegible]
Nathan Rial
W. Allenson
[other illegible writing]
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Washington Dec 7 1849

Dear Sir
The enclosed letter was forwarded to me with a request that I would deliver it to you - 
It is sent as evidence in the case of Nathan Riale, an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7 1832 from Pennsylvania.
I am very  respectfully
Your Mo Ob Svt
D. D. Addison

J.L. Edwards, Esq
Com of Pensions
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{small note paper}
31691
Nathan Riale
Pennsylvania
Suspended
See letter Nov 1st
1849 to D. D. Addison
Act 7 June 1832
{different writing}
8737
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Dept 14/47
September 14th 1849
Respect
Nathan Riale

act 7 Jun 32

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Revolutionary 
J.L. Edwards, Esq
Commis of Pensions
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Washington City D.C.
Sept 14th 1849

Dear Sir - 
Enclosed is the declaration of Nathan Riale, for a pension under the act of June 7th, 1832 to which I respectfully call your early attention.

Most respectfully
YOBS
D.D. Addison

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J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Comm of Pensions
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Lancaster, October 8th 1849
State of Pennsylvania

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir, 
I am told that Nathan Riale of Chester County Penn & is about applying to your department for a pension from the General Government. It gives me pleasure to state to you that I am acquainted, and have been with him for the last 35 years. and I used to be a near neighbour of his, and he was always reputed considered and believed to have been a revolutionary soldier, and was elected immediately after the war a militia Captain in consequence of his valuable service rendered to his country, and in fact I spoke with men who were in the receipt of Pension from the Gen Govt for their service in the Revolutionary War, and they always said and told me that Nathan Riale was in the service of his country during the Revolution. I am satisfied it would be an act of justice if he would be allowed a Pension. He is now 93 or 94 yrs of age and I have before this late hour urged upon him to apply for a Pension. He always said as long as he could live without a pension he would not have  it. At one time he was a wealthy man but by misfortune he became reduced and is now very poor and houseless. It would give general satisfaction to his numerous friends in this county and that of Chester. You will please pardon me for this
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addressing you, I wrote to you without the knowledge or solicitation of Mr Riale or any of his friends, but feel and interest for this good man and do sincerely believe him to be justly entitled for what he is asking at your hands - as he was always a most worthy and good citizen

Very Respy yrs - 
Francis Russel