Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23803, for Joseph Mendenhall, Pennsylvania
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Penn.

Mendenhall, Joseph
or Mindenhall

NUMBER
S. 23803

CONTENTS
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a captain's commission for three years.

That he served three tours of actual service as captain under the above named commission; one in the year 1780 when his company was ordered to Philadelphia with the intention of going in the state of New York, but after remaining in Philadelphia for some time was removed and returned home, performed a tour of two months.

That he was again out with his company in he thinks the spring of 1781 and was most of the time (illegible) the (illegible) of Elk and between that and Philadelphia.  That when Lord Cornwallis was besieged at Yorktown, he was ordered on to that place with his company. That the capitulation took place before he marched there.  That the whole (illegible) of his service (illegible) of his wagon service was eight months, six months more as a captain and two months as a private soldier.  

That all the documentary evidence he has is herewith transmitted; that his memory is being frail owing to his great age; that a few years earlier could made a much more satisfactory statement of his service; that he claims a pension from the government because he thinks he earned it in the Revolutionary War, although he received $40 per month for his services except he lost the whole of it being Continental money; that being  (illegible) his father (although a wealthy man) cut him off with a shilling; being so incensed for him entering the service
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1.  He was born in Chester County, Penna. in the year 1741.

2.  He has a record of his is age.

3.  He was living in Chester County when he first entered the service and during the whole time he served, removed from thence to Fayette County where he now resides. 

4.  By draft, (illegible) and as captain.

5.  The Rev. John Phillips and Simon Johnson certify as to his reputation.

6.  His commission signed by the president of the Executive Council. 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to any pension or annuity except the present and that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Signed:  Joseph Mendenhall

We, John Phillips, a clergyman resident of (illegible) Penna. and Simon Johnson of the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Mendenhall who has subscribed to the foregoing declaration.  That we believe him to be eighty-seven 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.
Signed:  John Phillips, Simon Johnson

Sworn by John Philips affirmed to by Simon Johnson in open court 14th Jan. 1834.
Signed:  Richd Beeson
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And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories proscribed by the War Department, that Capt. Joseph Mendenhall was a soldier and officer of the Revolutionary War and served as he states.  And the court also certify that it appears to them that Jno Phiillips, who has signed the foregoing certificate, is a clergyman resident of Fayette County, Penna. and that Simon Johnson, who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and i a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.  

THE CENTER OF THE DOCUMENT DESCRIBES ITS CONTENT:
Declaration of
Capt. Jos. Mendenhall
Revolutionary officer
29.419
Adam A. Heath
2 and priv.
Hon. A. Stewart
Ho of Rev


Fayette County
Pennsylvania

I, Richard Beeson, prothy. of the court of common pleas in and for said county do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said court on the matter of the application of Capt. Joseph Mendenhall for a pension. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said court this 15th day of Jany. 1834.
Signed:  Richd Beeson, Prothy.
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March 17, 1937

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/EWL
Joseph Mendenhall-S. 23803

Mrs. A. J. Berger
Box 379
Arkansas City, Kansas

Dear Madam:

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.23803, based upon the military service in that war of Joseph Mendenhall.

Joseph Mendenhall was born in 1761, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents are not shown. The soldier stated that his father was a Quaker and was greatly incensed at him for serving in the war.

While a resident of said Chester County, Joseph Mendenhall enlisted in September, 1777, and served two months as a private in Captain Isaac Taylor's Company, Colonel [unintelligible] 's Pennsylvania Regiment: he enlisted in September or October, 1778, and served two months as a teamster: May 10, 1780, he was commissioned captain in the 3" Battalion, Chester County, Pennsylvania troops, the commission signed by the President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, and served as [unintelligible] officer until after the surrender of Cornwallis, during which time he performed three tours of service, one of two months in 1780, when he was ordered with his company to Philadelphia; the second in the spring of 1781, when he was stationed at the head of Elk, length of this tour not given; and the third at the time of the siege at Yorktown, when he was ordered to that place with his company but did not reach there until after the surrender; length of this tour not shown; he stated that his entire service, in addition to his team service, amounted to eight months, two months as private and six months as captain.

May 1, 1783, Joseph Mendenhall was commissioned captain of the 7" Battalion of Chester County Militia, and May 1, 1786, was commissioned captain of the 6" Company, 5" Battalion, Chester County Militia. Both commissions were signed by the President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
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Joseph Mendenhall was allowed pension on his application executed January 14, 1834, while a resident of Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

There are no data as to soldier's family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner. Joseph Mendenhall (S.23803). you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Joseph Mendenhall
Certificate No.25994
Issued February 9, 1834
Rate $126.66 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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To Capt. Joseph Mendenhall of the [illegible] of the Militia forces in the township Pennsbury - 
complaint has been made to me by James Brinton that his son Moses stands charged with Militia forces and that the said Moses is insane and not capable of that duty. They are therefore to decline you not to collect of fines until the [illegible] James Brinton hopes has an opportunity of being heard by the judges of an approval he like wife informs me that [illegible] finger is under a decay and not capable of the duties form as you are defined, of to collect form from him until he has been heard October 23, 1780.
(signed) Thomas [illegible]
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(heading shows a date stamp) Received Sep 23 1936. Mail sub-div [illegible]
Monmouth Kaus
Sept 21-1936
Veteran's Bureau
Washington D.C.
Dear Sirs: - Do you have a war record of Joseph Mendenhall about time of Revolution.  I'm not sure where he lived but eastern Ohio I think? His son Isaac Henry, soldier of War of 1812, was born in Guernsey Co. Ohio.  His wife's name was Jane. His father was Thomas and his mother's name was Sarah.  Do your records show anything of either Thomas or Joseph Mendenhall of an
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early day?
Thanks very much 
Mrs. Susie Wilson Miller
Monmouth Kaus
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service in War.
If there is a charge for this record lett me know and I will send the fee.
Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Harry Gorley
#145 East Fayette St.
Uniontown, Pa
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March 16, 1937.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/ady

Mrs. A. J. Berger
Box 379
Arkansas City, Kansas

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letters relative to Henry Briscoe, John Grizzle, William Siggins, Joseph Mendenhall, William Jeffries, and Daniel Johnson, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information it is impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

The record of the only Joseph Mendenhall that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office is furnished you herewith on separate page, as found in the claim for pension based upon service in that war.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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October 9, 1936

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/EEL
Joseph Mendenhall-S.23803

Mrs. Susie Wilson Miller
Monmouth
Kansas

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Thomas and Joseph Mendenhall.

There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon the military service in the Revolutionary War of a Thomas Mendenhall. Such claims are the source of the data furnished by this office.

It is suggested that as a possible means of obtaining information in regard to the military service of that soldier, you apply to The Adjutant General, War Department, this city, who is custodian of military records.

The records of one soldier only named Joseph Mendenhall has been found. His history is furnished herein, the data for which were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim. S. 23803, based upon his service in that war.

Joseph Mendenhall was born in 1741, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents are not shown. Soldier stated that his father was a Quaker and was greatly incensed at him for serving in the war.

While a resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Joseph Mendenhall enlisted in September, 1777, and served two months as a private in Captain Isaac Tayler's Company, Colonel [illegible] Pennsylvania Regiments: he enlisted in September or October, 1778, and served two months as a teamster: May 10, 1780, he was commissioned captain in the 3" Battalion, Chester County, Pennsylvania Troops, the commission signed by the President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, and served as such officer until after the surrender of Cornwallis, during which time he performed three tours of service, one of two months in 1780, when he was ordered with his company to
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Philadelphia; the second in the spring of 1781, when he was stationed at the head of Elk, length of this tour not given: and the third at the time of the siege at Yorktown, when he was ordered to that place with his company, but did not reach there until after the surrender; length of this tour net shown: he stated that his entire service in addition to his team service, amounted to eight months, two months as private and six months as captain.

May 1, 1783, Joseph Mendenhall was commissioned captain of the 7" Battalion of Chester County Militia, and May 1, 1786, was commissioned captain of the 6" Company, 5" Battalion, Chester County Militia. Both commissions were signed by the President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania.

Joseph Mendenhall was allowed pension on his application executed January 14, 1834, while a resident of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. (It is not shown that he ever lived in the state of Ohio.)

There are no data as to soldier's family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Joseph Mendenhall (S.23803), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Joseph Mendenhall, Certificate No. 25994, issued February 9, 1834, rate $126.66 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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(stamp on side) Received Feb 15 1937 [illegible]

Box 379
Arkansas city, Kansas
February 12th, 1937

Veteran's Administration,
Bureau of Pensions,
Revolutionary War Section
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Will you please send me all family data, including names mentioned and all dates of birth, marriage and death, and also service record claimed - in the Revolutionary War Pension record of Henry Briscoe ---probably of Maryland.  I should also like to have the certificate number etc. so I may write to the comptroller General regarding last payment made.  I am not certain from what meager data I have, but this may not be correct.  
      I shall also greatly appreciate your advising me if you have on file the pension application or rejected claim for the following, - and if so I should like to have all family data as outlined about for Henry Briscoe and also certificate number etc. so further information can be obtained from Comptroller General:- 
1. John Grizzle or Grizzel of either North or South Carolina and who probably died in Kentucky.
2.  William Siggins of Penn.. he probably died in Warren County, Penn.
Thanking you most kindly for any information you may be able to five me regarding the about and trusting I may hear from you at an early date, I am
Respectfully
(signed)Ruth Norris Berger
Mrs. A. J. Berger