Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9591, for John Simpkins, New Jersey
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New Jersey
Simpkins, John
R 9591
Simkins or
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35462
John Simpkins
Pa

let to Hm A Plummer Feb 28 '43

Act 7 June 1832
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REJECTED
9591
John Simpkins

Service:
Wife
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:

The printed list of 1852 gives cause of suspension as "no proof of service"

Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
Contract
Cert. of Dis. Searched for 18


1927 Feb [illegible]
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35462
February [illegible] 1843
Attest James [illegible]

Pa 
John Simpkins
Pa
Act 7 June 32


9591


Hon 
A Plummer H. R. 
Feb 27 1843
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State of Pennsylvania
Clarion County
On this Eight day of December AD 1842, personally appeared in Open Court befor ethe Court of Common please now sitting for said County, John Simpkins, a resident Clarion County in the State of Pennsylvania aged Eighty-two years, and six 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 6 [illegible] the June 7 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. He enlisted in Cumberland County in the State of New Jersey in the fall of seventeen hundred and seventy-five in the month of September that he enlisted for the period of six months Captain William Kelsie was his captain and he was enlisted by him Colonel Potter was his colonel but he does not recollect his Christian name. General Putnam was the commander he was stationed away the whole term of his enlistment at Fort Belling fort below Philadelphia on the Jersey side deny the whole time we were at the Fort, and deny the whole time of his enlistment he was not engaged in any battle but two of the service [??] ships attempted to come up the river were cannonade from the Fort. I lived at the time of my enlistment resided in Cumberland County and lived there afterwards and in other parts of New Jersey until 1794. When I moved to Bertie County Pennsylvania where I remained until in 1802 from which place I moved to where I am now residing. I know one Major Buck who was in the Fort issued out my full time of enlistment and received an honorable discharge which has been lost for a great number of years and I know of no person now living who can prove my service and I said know until lately that I could be entitled to a pension. I have no property and am wholly dependent for my living. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or
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annuity, except the present; and acclaims that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any state
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Simkins
(illegible)

We George L Ben and William Thompson residents of the said County of Clarion, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Simpkins, who has subscribed and sworn to the alone declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty-years of age; that he is reputed an 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 day and year aforesaid

(signatures)
Geo. S Benn

William Thompson
James C Soe Pro

And the said Court do herby declare their opinion after the above interrogations of the matter, and after (illegible) the interrogations prescribed by the war department that the above applicant was a Revolutionary soldier. and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that George L Benn and William Thompson who have signed the proceeding certificate are entitled to credit
A. W Calmont P. Judge
Christian Myers
Charles Evans 
(appointed judges)
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Interrogatory put by the Court

Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer. I was born in the State of New Jersey in Cumberland County in May 1762-
2. Have you any record of your age? And if so where is it? Answer. I have no record of my age but received my knowledge through my parents.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and when as you live now? (illegible) I was living in Cumberland County New Jersey and have lived as stated declaration
4. How were you called into service? when you draughted (sic) did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom? Ans. For ann. to this I refer to my declaration under oath.
5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served such continental and malitia (sic) regiments, as you can recollect; and The general encounters of your service. Ans. For ann to this I refer to my general declaration.
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom were it given: and what has become of A. Ans I received a discharge it was signed by Col Ortten and have lost it long since
7. State the names of the persons to whim you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution?
Ans. Ephraim Gardner James Parkes George L Ben William Thompson Henry Ben William Curl Esq George Meers Esq John Boal Jacob Rinier Mather Hosey Jacob Watterson Joseph Flick Jacob McFadden
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Clarion County Ss-
I James Goe Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of Clarion County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the Said court in the matter of the application of John Simpkins for a pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this 18th day of February AD 1845

Attes James Goe Prothonotary

(vertically placed)

35.462
Pa
Johns Simpkins
Pa
act 7 June 32

9591
Hon
A Plumer H.R.
feb 27.1843
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 Han A. Plumer February 28 1843
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533
H3

Perr OH
Feby 28th   
Sir
      I have the honor to inform you that the claim of John Simpkins has been examined this declaration unsupported by a proof placed on file~
He alleges an enlistment and service of 6 mons in 79 while residing in Cumberland Co N.J. at a Fort in the Delaware below Philadelphia under Capt Kelsey 
Hol Potter- The Dept has no information of any such service~ it would not have been in the militia whose terms of service were limited to 1 month under draft (not enlistment) nor could it have been rendered in the N.J Line of which there are rolls that credit no services to claimant or the designated officers unless the records of Trenton confirm the alleged term of service of 6 months by those officers and the evidence of comrades shall prove that he served under them-
Hon A. Plumer H.R
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Sixty-Ninth Congress
Richard N. Elliott, Ind., Chairman
J. Will Taylor, Tenn.
Daniel A. Reed, N.Y.
W.F. Kopp, Iowa
Gale H. Stalker, N.Y.
Charles Brand, Ohio
Anderson H. Walters, PA
Clarence J. McLeod, Mich
ED. M. Irwin, Ill.
Charles Esterly, PA.
John M. Wolverton, W.VA.
F.H. LaGuardia, N.Y.
Fritz G. Lanham, Tex.
Edward B. Almon, Ala.
Frank Oliver, N.Y.
John H. Kerr, N.C.
Jeff Busby, Miss.
Clifton A. Woodrum, VA.
E.E. Cox, GA.
Edward E. Eslick, Tenn.

Congress of the United States
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.

February 23, 1927.

Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

Dear sirs:

I will appreciate it if you can give me information in regard to these men who served in the Revolutionary War: William McGuffey of York County, Pennsylvania; and Abner, James, John, Nicholas, Joseph or George Simpkins (may be spelled Simkins) from Gloucester County, New Jersey. Any information in regard to these names will be appreciated.
Yours very truly,
R.N. Elliott

RNE/mjd
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Rev. & 1812 Wars
Section.

February 24, 1927.

Honorable Richard N. Elliott,
House of Representatives

My dear Mr. Elliott:

In response to your letter of the twenty-third instant, I have the honor to advise you, that the Revolutionary War records fail to afford information in regard to any soldiers named William McGuffey and Abner, James, Nicholas, Joseph and George Simpkins, or Simkins of New Jersey and you are herewith furnished the history of the only John Simpkins of New Jersey found on said records.
From the papers in the pension claim, R. 9591, it appears that John Simpkins, or Simkins, was born in Cumberland County, New Jersey, and resided there during the Revolution. He alleged that he enlisted in September 1779, and served six months under Captain William Kelsie and Colonel Potter, but his claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service. When he applies for pension in 1842, he was living in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. There is no data on file as to family. 

Very truly yours,
Winfield Scott, Commissioner.