Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 4429, for Jonathan James, Pennsylvania
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Service Penn
James, Jonathan
Number S4429
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4429
Invalid
File No. 4429
Jonathan James
[Pri] Pa. line
Act: June 7,'32
Index:-Vol.A, Page 190
Arrangement of 1870.
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3586
Pennsylvania
Jonathan James
of Chester [lo] in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Bodley - of the Reg commanded by Col Grover - in the [Pres] line for 6 months Private - $20.00


Transcribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 20 dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issues the 27th day of Dec. 18321 and [forth] to UV. Pennsylvania West Chester Penn.

Arrears to 4th Sept 1832 - $30.00
Semi=ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833 10.--

$40.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk, 
Book D
Vol 6
Page 63
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3605
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Chester County 

On this 21st day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in open court beofre the Court of Common pleas now sitting Jonathan James a resident of Schuylkill Township in the county of Chester aged about eighty-one years who being first-duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. 

That he resided in the Charlestown Township Chester County Pennsylvania was drafted as a militia man in the Company commanded by Capt William Bodley- that they rendezvoused at the Bull Tavern and marched to Philadelphia in the summer of 1776 from  their to Trenton through the Jerseys and from their to Amboy in in conjunction with a militia company drafted in Charlestown Township and commanded by Capt Isaac Morgan. They joined the militia forces at Amboy and he served in two months duty. Col Lewis Grover Major John Bartholomew were the officers in the Battalion.  The English layon Staten Island during this period of his duty. This term of service expired he was [illegible] and went home to Charlestown Township Chester County. He came home in November 1776 and in about two weeks he was drafted again for the term of two months in the company commanded by Capt William Bodley and marched from the Bull Tavern [illegible] to the continental powder mile in Pikeland Township on the French Creek and there [wood] guard performing active for five months. They joined the battalion stationed there commanded but Col William Dewees. This term again expired he was dismissed and went home. 

That in 1777 during the time the British occupied Phila he was again drafted for two months in the company commanded by Capt William Bodley which rendezvoused a the Bull Tavern in Charlestown Township. Then the company marched from there to Whitemarsh on the
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Schuylkill and joined the militia forces [illegible] at that place. Your applicant notes he cannot rem{member] the regular officers there except John Bartholomew the Major. He continued in service during the time for which he was drafted. That he was not engaged in battle during this time but on one occasion the corpse to which he belonged marched with the [illegible] the troops to engage the enemy who however retired to Phila. After this his company under command of Capt Wm Bodley marched to Montgomery from there to Smithfield from there to Bucks County the {illegible} of the Buck and was there dismissed and he returned home. Your applicant further states that he was born in Bucks County on the25th of April Ad 1751. That his age was inscribed in a bible which is in his possession. That he was living in Charlestown Township Chester County when first drafted in the militia and has continued to reside there since that time. That while at Amboy he stood guard ex{illegible} himself very much with his life in continual peril from the enemy who were firing cannon balls for several days. That he obtained no discharge of the end of either period of his service is not being customary to give discharge to the militia whose time was out and has not documenting evidence in support of his claim on this account. That the officers under whom he served are now as he believes all deceased and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services except Isaac Anderson and Thomas Bodley Esq the last named who served with him in the same company of militia during the three periods of service as above specified. 
He herby 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. 

Sworn and subscribed this 21st day of August AD 1832 } Jonathan (his X mark) James 
in open court 
John J Cunningham Prov
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State of Pennsylvania
Chester County

Thomas Bodley Esq being affirmed according to law declares and says that he is well acquainted with the said Jonathan James. That he was in the same company of militia in the Charlestown Township Chester County commanded by his brother Capt William Bodley in the summer of 1776 that they marched together to Amboy and served there together and that was again with the said Jonathan James at the Continental Powder Mills in Pikeland Township and that he was at White Marsh also when the said Jonathan James was there in service all which he verily believes is true as stated in his application. 
Affirmed and subscribed
this 21st day of August Ad 1832 } Tho Bodley
in open court
John Cunningham Prt

State of Pennsylvania
Chester County

Isaac Anderson being affirmed according to law declares and says that he is well acquainted with the said Jonathan James that he served in the militia at the Continental Powder Mills in Pikeland Township and that he well remembers seeing him there on duty performing his services as stated in his application. 
Affirmed and subscribed
this 21st day of August Ad 1832 } Isaac Anderson
in open court
John Cunningham Prt
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Chester County, sp
John G Wersler residing in Charlestown Township Chester County and John B Nuester residing in West Town Township herby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan James who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 81 years of age that he is reputed and believes in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in their opinion.

Sworn & subscribed this 21st day of August [illegible]
in open court

JG Wersler
John B Nuester

John Cunningham Prot

And said court herby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after furthering 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 John G Wersler who has sworn and signed the preceding certificate and also John B [illegible] who signed the same are residents in the County of Chester and are credible persons and their statements are entitled to credit. 

By the Court John Cunningham Prot

I John W Cunningham Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chester do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jonathan James for a pension. 

In testimony where of I have here writ set by law and affixed the seal of said court at West Chester this twenty first day of August AD 1832.

John W Cunningham Prot
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December 15th 1832. The said Court further certify that Thomas Bodley and Isaac Anderson who have testified to the services of the said Jonathan James as a soldier of the Revolution are "persons of credibility"

By the Court 
John W Cunningham Prot

Commonwealth of Penns
Chester County
I John Cunningham Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas and for the said County of Chester do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jonathan James for a pension. 
In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at West Chester this fifteenth day of December AD 1832

John W Cunningham Prot
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[illegible]
Nov. 1 1832
U.V. Pennypacker
West Chester Penn
Oly. 14 & 16
p. 50

Admitted 
Private
6mo.
20.
U.V. Pennypacker
West Chester PA
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Brief in the case of Jonathan James of Chester County in the state of Pennsylvania. (Act 7 June, 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In the Court of Common Pleas
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? --
3. How old is he? 81 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 

- In summer 1776 summer, 2 months, as a private, PA militia Capt Bodley, Col Grover
- 1776 Nov, 2 months, as a private, drafted under Capt Bodley, Col Devees 
- 1777, 2 months, as a private, drafted under Capt. Bodley, Maj Bartholomew 

5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned
6.Where did he reside when he entered the service? Chester County, Pa
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Two witnesses sworn to the 2nd period one of who swears to the 1st and 3rd. 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
Correct, except that they are not properly attached

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

JM Duffield, Examining Clerk.