Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,855, for John Mc Curdy, Pennsylvania
Page 1

Service
Penn,
McCurdy, John
Number S.31.855
Page 2


Georgia 12.809

John McCurday of Madison
in the State of Georgia
who was a priv?
in the company commanded
by Captain Jordan of the (Regt command by-crossed out)
in the Pennsylvania line
for 13 months and 4 days.

inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at
the rate of 43 Dollars 77 Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of May '33
and sent Wm Sanders
Danielsville (indecipherable)
-
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 - 87.54
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 21.88
$10942 ½

Revolutionary Act June
Recorded by Wm Miller
Book E   Vol. 6   Page
Page 3

State of Georgia       Court of Ordinary
County of Madison   March Adjourned Term 1833

On this Eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before James Long, Robert Grovy, James Anderson and Noah Pittman justices of the inferior court no sitting as a Court of Ordinary. John McGundy a resident of Capt. Smiths Company District of Georgia Militia in the County of Madison and State of Georgia aged seventy years who being first duly sworn according to law on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress June 1832 that he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and issued as herein states to wit - he entered as a volunteer in September 1777 as a private under the command of Gen. Putnam and served a tour of nine months and thirteen days - the next was a tour of three months and twenty one days under the command of Capt, John Jordan - the first term of service under Capt. Camel he joined the army under Gen. Putnam at Trenton shortly after the engagement he was marched with the army under Gen Putnam to Carlisle in Cumberland County Pennsylvania where said army took up winter quarters. the next spring he was marched with the army to Amboy where he was discharged some time in June 1778. The next under Capt. Jordan(?) he was marched from Carlisle in Pennsylvania to Lanbury where he remained the whole term of tine as above states in guarding a fort he entered the service in February 1779 and was discharged some time in June following - he has no documentary evidence and he knows of no
Page 4

evidence he can procure who can testify to his Services except the affidavit of Stephen Groves herewith enclosed in answer to the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department and propounded by the Court he answereth as follows to wit.  

Answer to the first Inter. he was born the 5th day of July 1762 in Cumberland County Pennsylvania
Answer to Second Inter. he has a record of his age at his own house.
Answer to third Inter. he was living in Cumberland County Pennsylvania when called into Service and resided there until the year 1790. he then removed within the bounds of Madison County (then Colbert(?) County) and now resides in the County of Madison
Answer to fourth Inter.  he volunteered
Answer to fifth Inter. he does not now recollect the names of any of the regular officers in that part of the Army with which he served except Genl. Putnam
Answer to Sixth Inter. he received his discharge from Captain Thomas Camel for his first term of Service and for the last tour from Capt. John Jordan both of which are lost.
Answer to the Seventh Inter. he refers you to David Evans, James Rhoads, Robert Griffeth, Nathaniel Etchieson, Charles Tuggle, Stephen White, Francis Eberhart. 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the foresaid-and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to transcribed the day and year aforesaid
John McCurdy
Page 5

Mr. Benjamin Brown   a Clergyman residing in the County of Madison and David Evans        residing in the same hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with John McCurdy who has subscribed  (?) to the above declaration-that we believe him to be Seventy years of age and that he is ? andbelieved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution - and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn ? the day and year aforesaid
Benj. Brown, ?
David Evans G.P.

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the Investigation of the matters 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 Benjamin Brown is clergyman resident in the county of Madision and that David Evans who has also signed the same is a resident of same and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

(undecipherable)
James Anderson 
Robert Groves, J.J.G.
Noah W. Pittman, J.J. G
Page 6

I William Sanders Clerk of the Court of Ordinary do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the
Matter of application of John M. Curdy for a pension. In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Ordinary Office this Eleventh
day of March
Eighteen hundred and thirty three

William Sanders C. C
Page 7

(indecipherable)

John McCurdy
Georgia
Admit for 13 mo and
4 days-- $43.77
Wm Landers Esq
All Court
Madison County Geo
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
183

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 a 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 shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to 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.

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

A Statement, shewing the Service of John McCurday, County of Madison Geo


Duration of the
claimant's service.
1777    9 months 13 days
1779    3 months 20 days

Names and
rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
1777
Capt Camel
Mr Smith
Genl Putnam

1779
Capt. Jordan
Genl Putnam

Rank of
the
claimant.
Priv.

Age at present,
and place of abode
70 Years, Cumb County, Penns.

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary ? and ?for 3 mos or more.
Page 9

              REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1852.

     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 Troops, 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 claim-
ing 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, or District of   _______
           County of ________

      On this___ day of ___ personally appeared (a) before __________________________
_____________A.B. a resident (b) of _____________ in the county of _____________ and State, Territory or District
of ______ aged (c) ______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) _____. with _______ and
served in the _______(e) regiment of the _______line, under the following named officers.

     [Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the 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. 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 any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of  ____________________

     Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.    A. B.

     [And then will follow the certificate 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 states.

          I ______________________of the Court of ___________________________________
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _______________________________for a pension.

             In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this   ___________
                    day of ______________________ & 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 ___________________ and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with __________________________
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be __________
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, 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 it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____________
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ___________________
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

     I, _____________________________, Clerk of the Court of __________________do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ___________
for a pension.

     In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this ______day of ______& 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, (l) 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
Page 10

                                                                          3

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) interrogatories 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 Oficer:  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 embodies in the declaration, 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
enquiry 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 Judge or Justice of 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,
and 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 a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
     No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the 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 services 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 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 claimant 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 to what amount of pension he is entitled. 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, &c. 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-____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 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 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 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 place 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.
     [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 it 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 narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
     [j] 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 claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner 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.
     The notes from to are all equally applicable to the 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] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 11

May 24, 1932

BA-J/MS
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
John McCurdy
S. 31855

Miss Elva Jane Hann
Mission
Texas

Dear Madam:

      Reference is made to your letter requesting information
in regard to John McCurdy, a soldier of the Revolution.

      The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on
file in the pension claim, S. 31855, based upon the military
service of John McCurdy ( personal signature McCurdy, pensioned
McCurday).

      He was born July 5, 1762, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

      While living there he enlisted and served as private with the
Pennsylvania troops as follows: from September, 1777, until some
time in June, 1778, nine months and thirteen days in Captain Thomas
Campbell's Company: from February, 1779, until sometime in June, 1779,
three months and twenty-one days under Captain John Jordan and was
engaged in guarding a fort at Sunbury.

      In 1790 he moved to Elbert ( which was later Madison County,
Georgia.

      He was allowed pension on his application executed March 11,
1833, at which time he was living in Madison County, Georgia.

     There are no data relative to the family of the soldier.

      This is the history of the only soldier from Pennsylvania
named John McCurdy that is found in the Revolutionary War records of
this office.
Page 12

      Because of the large number of requests for records of soldiers
of the Revolution and the lack of clerical force available for a
ing the information, this office is unable to send more that two his
tories to each inquirer.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 13

31855
Reg. INVALID
---------------
File No. 31.855

John McCurday
Priv. Rev War

Act:  June 7th, 32

Index: - Vol. 2, Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870]

1907 May 16  Hist to Gen Thomas Vincent
1913 Aug 9     "     "    Mrs. D.T. Pye
_________________________________________
1932 May 24  hist to Miss Elva Jane Hann
Page 14

Genl Thos. M. Vincent
1221 N St, N.W.
Page 15

Monticello, Georgia
Aug 1, 1913-

The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Sir:- Will you please advise
me what your records show concerning
the Revolutionary service of
my ancestor John McCurdy of
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, or
Georgia? The given name of his
wife was Elizabeth. He drew a
pension.

Very respectfully,
Mrs. D. T. Pye
Monticello, Georgia
Page 16

May 16, 1907.

General Thomas M. Vincent,
1821 N St. N. W.
Washington, D. C.

Sir:

     In response to your personal request for a statement of
the military services of John McCurdy, a soldier of the War
of the Revolution, you are advised that John McCurdy Survivor's File 31855) was allowed pension on an application
executed March 21, 1833, at which time he was a resident of
Madison County, Georgia.

     He stated that he was born July 6, 1762, in Cumberland
county, Pennsylvania, where he resided when he volunteered in September, 1777, Private under the command of Captain Thomas Campbell, Major James Smith, joined the army under General Putnam at Trenton, marched with them to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. where they took up winter quarters; the next spring they were marched to Amboy where he was discharged in June, 1778; nine months, thirteen days. Enlisted in February, 1779, under Capttain John Jordan, marched from Carlisle, Pennsylvania to Sunbury where he guarded the Fort until discharged in June; three months, twenty-one days.

      No data as to family.
                           Very respectfully,
                           Commissioner.
Page 17

Mission, Texas,
March 22, 1932.

Mr. A. D. Hiller,
Veterans Bureau,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Hiller:

I am interested in securing some definite information
about some of my ancestors who are said to have been in
the Revolutionary War, and have been advised to ask
your assistance in looking up their records. These are
the names, I should like to have all information you may
be able to give me. Lieut. John McCurdy, of Carlisle, Pa.
said to have settled in Westmoreland Co. Pa. Capt. Wm.
McCurdy, said to have been in the Army from beginning of
Revolution till June 1791. Sergeant Alexander McCurdy,
said to have been in the Revolution and also in the war
of 1812: I understand he was from Beaver, Pa.

I am looking up all information relative to these
veterans, and should like to have their War Records,
length of time served etc. and will appreciate very
much all information you may be able to give me, and
feel sure that I will be able to secure some reliable
information, one of my friends here has told me of
how much your office has assisted her in looking up old
records. I am much interested also in the record of
Sergeant Alexander McCurdy's record of the war of 1812.

I am, cordially yours,

(Miss) Elva Jane Hann
(Miss Elva Jane Hann.
Mission, Texas.

Received Mar 26, 1932
Page 18

Georgia
Madison County

Personly appeared Stephen Groves
before me and being Duly Sworn
Saith that he knew John McCurdy in the year
1777 & that he knew of his going into the service
bout that time under the command of one Capt
John Jordan. that he thinks he served Something over three
months at that time & that he understood of his
being in service at diferent other times
but was not personly knowing any but the
one under Capt Jordan. Sworn to and
Subscribed before me this 12th of March 1833
Robert Groves, J.J.C.
Stephen Groves

Georgia
Madison Country

William Sanders Clerk of the Superior Court
do certify that Robert Groves whose name appears to the
foregoing affidavit is one of the Justices of the Superior Court in
and for Madison County and that good faith and credit is and
ought to be given to his official acts as such and that the foreging
is in due form. Given under my hand and private Seal having no Seal of Office this 12th March 1833

William Sanders Clk
Page 19

Georgia
Madison County ⎬

I James Long one of the Justices of the
Inferior Court do certify that William
Sanders whose name appears to the foregoing authentification is the acting Clerk of the Inferior Court in and for said County and that good faith and credit is and ought to be given to his official acts as such Given under my hand & private Seal this 12th March 1833

James Long J.J.C.