Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1,593, for Philip Swatzel, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE                                              NUMBER

Penn.          Swatzel, Philip                 S. 1593


                                                               
                                                                    carded
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SERVICE   NUMBER
Penn Swatzel, Philip   S.1593
carded
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27. 16 (9?)
Philip Swatzel
Green C(?)
(Illegible)
(Illegible) 177 (illegible)
6 months

$20

(Signature)

W. C. Winston
Roger (illegible)
(Illegible)
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War Department,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points in which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
——————————————
A Statement, showing the Service of Philip Swiatzel

Period when the service was rendered: 1777
Duration of claimant’s service: 3 months 
Rank of the claimant: Pr.
Name and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served: (rank?) Johnson
                                (Rank?) Smith

Period when the service was rendered: 1779
Duration of claimant’s service: 3 months
Rank of claimant: Pr.
Name and rank of the field Officers under whom he served: (rank) Paugh

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service: 75. Pa

Proof by which the declaration is supported: T(?)ad(?)ti(?)g

I am respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. L. Edward’s
Commissioner of Pensions
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Regulations Under the act of June 7, 1832

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms “Continental Line”, “State troops,” “militia,” and “volunteers,” all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops
2.The State Trops, Militia and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers mucicians or privates, will in the first instance make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, District of, County of } ss.

On this [blank] Day of [blank]   Personally appeared (u) before
A. B. A resident (b) of [blank] In the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers:

[here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched (illegible). This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in the State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  A. B. 

[and then will follow the certificates of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he state
I [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of  [blank ] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(K) We, A. B. a Clergyman. Residing in the [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well aquainted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] years of age; that he is reputed and believe in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[and then will follow the Certificate of the Court.]
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 is appears to them that A. B. And that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do here certify that the foregoing contains the original Proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension. 

[blank] In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this [blank] day of [blank] &c. 

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction. If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration. (I) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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Alleged service, as they are known at the department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.
The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some
Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) intertogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia. 
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.

6. {To a Soldier} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
{To an Officer} Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaraton, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary
evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party.
And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the  subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Court of record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. 

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

No payments can be male on account of the services of any person, who may have die before taking effect of the act of June 7. 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the service of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. 
c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 
d) The declarant must mention of the period or periods of the war when he served. 
e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every element must state, 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 what amount of pension he is entitled. 
In the case where the applicant cannot, by the 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, &c. A. B. who being duly sworn, deposith and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear precisely to the length of his service; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned below in the following grades; —-For—-year————-months, and —- —- days, I served as a ——-. For —- months and —— days, I served as a ——-; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank 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 that they served two years in the militia &c, without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. 
It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the durations of each term of engagement; the particular place or places 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
[g] The Opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which is can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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. 

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 papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or a narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of the office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 

Proof of Service. 
[j] In the 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 manner of him 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. 

(Pointing hand ->) The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only. 
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] True answers to the Interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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(Signature) Philip Swatzel 
Jennifer?
27169
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State of Tennessee, Circuit Court
Green County, September Term 1833
On this 3rd day of September 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Circuit Court now sitting Philip Swatzel a resident of Green County & State of Tennessee aged 75 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, & served as herein stated: That he was born in Lancaster County in the State of Pennsylvania on the 10th day of June 1758 that he had a record of his age ^ not now in his possession,  set down by his father in a family Bible ^that the Bible is in the possession of his brother in law that from Lancaster County his father removed when this Applicant was small, into Cumberland County Pennsylvania where he was living when he was drafted into the service of the United States in the year 1777 as well as he can remember, the month he dose not recollect, under Capt Thomas Johnson that they marched to Chambersburg where they united with other Companies & formed a Regiment under the command of Col Abram Smith & Maj John Johnson as well as he recalled, that from Chambersburg they marched to Carlile  & from thence to Lancaster, & from thence to Philadelphia where they remained a few days & then went in pursuit of Lord [illegible], the object for which they were called out, that from Philadelphia they cr[illegible] the Delaware & went to Trenton where the united with the grand army  under General Washington, that they remained at this place a short time, when the battle of Trenton was commence by the Hessians under the command of General Bergain on the one side & the American Regulars under General Washington on the other, that the Malitia to which this Applicant belonged was under the command of General James Potter & were not in the action but was kept as a reserve to assist the Regulars whenever they should need them that after the battle they remained a short time & then the Malitia were marched to Amboy &
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the Regulars remained at Trenton to prevent the landing of the British, that the Americans in the battle of Trenton conquered the Nations, that this Applicant + the other Malitia [militia] remained at Amboy till they were discharged, that he received his discharge from his Capt + returned home, that he has lost his discharge thinking he would have no use for it he took no care of it, that this term of service lasted 3 months or probably more, but to be certain he will not say more.

This Applicant further states that in the year 1779 he was again drafted into the service for the purpose of going against the Shawnee Indians who had been braking [breaking] in on the frontier setlers [settlers] + kill them by families that he was drafted under Capt James Paugh + were marched to the Standing stone where they were stationed to guard; the frontier that after remaining at this place for some time he was discharged by his Capt + returned home, that during his stay at the Standing Stone he was frequently taken out on scouts after the Indians, that his term of service lasted 3 months that he also lost or had distroyed [destroyed] this discharge together with the former discharge. This applicant further states that there is no one now living that he knows by whom he can prove his service, that there is no Clergyman living in his neighborhood, but that he is known in his present neighborhood to Jeremiah Farnsworth + Henry Feezel - who can testify as to his character + their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. This applicant further states that an account of the top of his memory produced by old age sickness so he is unable to state the final time he served but to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods above mentioned making in all six months + for which service he claims a pension, he further states that about 20 years ago he was unfortunate in having his hip joint put out of place by the fall of a log so that he is now unable to do any work of account. That in Maryland + Virgina
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lived, but for the last 33 years he has been living in Green [Greene] County Tennessee. He 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency of the State of Tennessee [illegible] to + [and] subscribed, the day [illegible] aforesaid Philip Swatzel
[illegible]
By M. [illegible]
[illegible] residing in the neighborhood
[illegible] that we are [illegible] Philip [illegible] who has subscribed [illegible] that we believe him to be 74 [illegible] refuted +[and] believed, in the neighborhood [illegible] to have been a soldier of the Revolution +[and] that we concur in that opinion sworn +[and] subscribed the day +[and] year aforesaid
Jeremiah Farnsworth
Henry Feezel
[illegible] Service [illegible]
By M. Payne DC
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter, and after putting their interrogation [illegible] by the War-department, that the above named [illegible] Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, And the [illegible] certifies, that it appears to them that Jeremiah Farnsworth +[and] Henry Feezel who have signed the preceding [illegible] residents in the neighborhood +[and] are credible [illegible] statement is entitled to credit
[illegible]
2 Valentine Service clerk of the Circuit Court [illegible] County State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the [illegible] -al proceeding of the said Court in the matter [illegible] of Philip Swatzel for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand +[and] seal of Office, this 3rd day of September 1833
[illegible] Service [illegible]
By M. Payne DC
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Rev War.
1593
INVALID.
File No. 1593
Philip Swatzel.
Pro. Pa. Line.
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -
Vol. A,
Page 365
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Term: Sept 13
27.168 169
Rogersville L
Sept 5
[illegible]
J. L. Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
[illegible] - Col -
Page 13

Rogersville 5th September 1833

Sir
Enclosed I send the Pension claims of John Cook + [and] Philip Swatzel, two dutch men of Green [Greene] County Tennessee, it was with dificulty [difficulty] I could understand the old men in making out their claims, the names of the Officers that is, the most of them, they pronounced in dutch, + [and] I spelt the names as near the pronouncation [pronunciation] as I could, I hope you will get along with them, + [and] advise me of the result at this place.
I am yours [illegible]
W. Winston