Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7834, for Stephen Outterbridge, Maryland
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Service
MD

Outterbridge, Stephen

Number
R.7834
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State of Maryland
Dorchester County

On this eighth day of October personally appeared before the judges of the Orphan's Court of Dorchester County now sitting, Stephen Outterbridge a resident of Dorchester County State of Maryland aged seventh-one years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of congress passed June 7, 1832.

That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1777 under Major John Eccleston (afterwards Gen Eccleston) and served in the Fifth Regiment of the Maryland line under the following named officers - Gen Washing, Gen Putnum, Gen Smallwood, Col Howard, Major Eccleston and Capt. Levin Handy are all the officers he can remember now - that he left the service about the 1st Jany 1780 after having served out his term of enlistment which was three years. That previous to his enlistment he served nine months as a substitute being hired by the following men (viz) Levi Brown, Whitey Brown, Jesse Brown and Joseph Douglas which relieved them from standing aa draft - that when he entered the service as a substitute he was taken to the western shore of Maryland somewhere near Baltimore where he remained stationed until called off to attack the enemy at Brandywine in which action he was engaged. He does not remember whether this action took place before or after his nine months had expired as soon however as the nine months were out, he enlisted as he states for three years. That from Brandywine he went with the army to Valley Forge into Winter quarters from thence to Philadelphia, early in the spring where he remained sometime. From thence to Germantown and shared a part of the day [illegible] of the battle of that name. That after his battle he was one of the party 500 strong who were detached from the army and put under the command to Col Howard and
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and Major Eccleston and sent to Staten Island where we engaged the enemy and forced them into their words, after which we joined the army at Elizabeth Town.

The army then began their march for the south. His regiment was marched to Petersburg in Virginia and there he was discharged. That he got a written discharge which has been subsequently burnt with his house and everything of any value which the applicant possessed. That these are substantially the facts touching his service to the best of his recollection.

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declare that my name if not on the pension roll of any agency in any state or if any only on that of the agency of the state of Maryland.

Stephen Outterbridge
HIs X Mark

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Test: J C Henry

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.

John C Henry
James Thompson
Arthur Bell

Justices of the O Court of Dorchester

I Wiliam W Eccleston clerk of the Orphans Court of Dorchester County do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Stephen Outterbridge for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8th day of October 1832.

William W Eccleston - Register of Wills Dor County
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REJECTED
7834
Stephen Outterbridge
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Stephen Outterbridge
Maryland
act June 7, 1832

Rejected - see letter 3rd Sept 1834 to E P Le Compte - Cambridge Maryland - 7834
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Stephen Outterbridge
Maryland
See letter to G C Brewer Esq 28 Mch 1833

Suspended
see letter 3rd Sept 1836 to 
E P LeCompte Esq
Cambridge MD
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H S Handy Esq
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Cambridge Jany 8, 1833

H S Handy Esq

Dear Sir

I have at length been unable to prepare and have executed Lieut. Frapins declaration as you directed, you will perceive that you are referred in that instrument for an act of his service in the army to the original declaration made by him to the department upon which he obtained the certificate you now have in your possession, his reason for doing so is that his memory is not quite clear upon that subject - and fearing that he might be somewhat imperfect he has thought it best to refer as above these papers may no doubt be found in addition to his service on land he has been unable to prove the service of 30 months as a Lieut and 18 mos as a midshipman in the Navy which of itself would I should suppose be sufficient to attach his claim. he is now old and inform and
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it cannot be expected that his memory can reach all the minutia of circumstances so long since transpired, he is very positive however that he served 30 months as Lieutenant in the Navy and 18 months as midshipman - you will retain the certificates in his favor which I forwarded you until you find whether you can get his pay extended and if you should see any difficulty in the way though I presume there can be none you may desist and return it to me. He must then do as well as he can upon what he has already got - your particular attention to this case shall not go unrewarded.

I also return you the declaration of Wm L Merrick with the affidavit as directed. Mr. Merrick says his mother's name was Levitt and that he was christened with the L in his name but was never in the habit of using it - he was as the certificate has specified born in Talbot County, but he has lived in this county since '83. You will be kind enough in your next communication to send me your acct so that I may have it to exhibit when I come to a settlement with the applicant
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The case of Outterbridge comes next to view.

I have not been able to obtain anything from Annapolis to advance his [illegible]. If you can urge his pretentions before the department successfully you need not wait to hear from Annapolis - the information you will get from there will not be over serviceable the fact is I believe he has stated nearly the truth in his declaration but I do not think he has stated the whole truth - he forgot to say that he ran away - or as some say deserted, the old fellow is now very needy and as he did serve from the 15 May 1778 to the 1st Sept 1780 a period of 2 yrs and nearly 4 months it would be nothing but justice that he should have something for that service though it is a bad precedent.

You will do the best you can, and I shall be satisfied.

Very Respectfully

Edw P LeCompte

PS - He entered the service on 15 May 1778 and deserted on the 1st Sept 1780 so says the record of the Land Office at Annapolis. If you are like the lawyers generally you will have the department to find this out ha!! ha!!
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FREE

To J L Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
Washington City
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Cambridge, Sept 9 1834

To J L Edwards Esq

Sir

Your favor of the 3rd inst. is at hand in which you notify me that the claim of Stephen Outterbridge has been examined and rejected in consequence of his having deserted and in which you request me to say whether I had not before been informed of that fact; In answer to which I state that I have not been able to find any communications from the department over which you preside touching his claim but in overhauling my papers I find a letter from Mr. Brewer to that effect (i.e. that he had deserted) which had entirely escaped my recollections - owning I presume to it having been rec'd by me some considerable time after the declaration had been filed with you.

Very respectfully sir
Your obt servt

Edw P LeCompte