Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,189, for John Mc Gill, Pennsylvania
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Service Penn
McGill John
Number S 4189   carded
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[left side]
7930 Ohio Pittsburgh
John McGill
Trumbull Co in the State of Ohio
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Lamb of the Regt commanded by Col Lyons in the Penna line for six months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsburgh at the rate of 20. Dollars 00. Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of April 1833 and sent to L. Haynes, Poland, Ohio.
Arrears to the 4th of March, 1833              40.
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Septm '33    10.
                                                                    /$50
{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Benj. J. Palmer, Clerk
Book 7?  Vol. 8  Page 119
 
[right side]
Three of the four children paid at Treasury, under act of 6 April 1838, from 4 Mar '33, to 21 Apl '34.  Agent notified 26 March '40.
Green  7 Marh 1848
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE
April 2d, 1845.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, Three of the four childr. of John McGill, de'd, a Pensioner on the Roll of Pittsburg, Pa.. Agency at the rate of Twenty Dollars and ___ ents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department from the 4th of March 1833, to the 21st April 1834.
Respectfully, yours,
?  H. Parris  Comptroller
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John McGill
Application
23581
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The State of Ohio
Trumbull County ss
On this Eighth day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and Thirty Two personally appeared before me Eli Baldwin one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County aforesaid.
John McGill, a resident of Poland in the County of Trumbull & State of Ohio aged Eighty Five 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 7 1832 - 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated - That in the Year 1776 he was called as a soldier into the service of the United States for their different terms of two months each, which terms he served the first term under Capt. John Carothers  & the two last under Captain John Lamb - Colonel Lyons commanded the Regiment  General Potter commanded the militia part of the time & General Lucey a part - That one Captain James Waugh belonged to the Regular army when this applicant was called -
That this applicant was drafted for the fourth tour and hired Robert Galbraith to go as his substitute -  This applicant was born in the year 1747 - had no record of his age - was a resident of Cumberland County Pa when called into service - resided in Cumberland County for some years after the war- has resided for the last Thirty Two years in Poland in Trumbull  County Ohio - 
That he has none of his discharges at present - no documentary evidence - that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procurr who can testify to his service -
This applicant was in no general engagement with the British except a skirmish at a place called Chesnut Hill when General Washington was at Whitemarsh -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declared that his
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his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any states       John McGill
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year above written.
Eli Baldwin  associate Judge

The State of Ohio  Trumbull County ss.
Poland Township  8th September 1832
Mr. James Adair & Hugh Truesdale
residing in the township of Poland hereby certify that, we are well acquainted with John McGill who has sworn to & subscribed the above declaration that we believe him to be Eighty Five Years of age - that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in the above opinion -
Sworn to & subscribed this Eighth day of September A.D. 1832
James Adair
Hugh Truesdalee
Eli Baldwin  Associate Judge

I, Eli Baldwin associate judge of the Common Pleas in & for the County of Trumbull & State of Ohio do declare that after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department - I believe the above name John McGill was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he states - I further certify that James Adair & Hugh Truesdale who signed the above certificate are residents of said Poland and are creditable persons & that their statement is entitled to credit - I further certify that in consequence of bodily infirmity the applicant is unable to attend court to make his application in open court - he living more than twenty miles from the county seat
8h September A.D. 1832  
 Eli Baldwin associate judge
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The State of Ohio  Trumbull County  ss
I George Parsons Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County do hereby certify that Eli Baldwin Esquire whose name in his own proper handwriting is affixed to the foregoing affidavit and certificate is and was at the time of subscribing the same an associate Judge of the Court aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn agreeably to the Laws of said State and that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to all his certificates
In testimony whereof I hae hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Warren in said County this 22d day of September A.D. 1832.
George Parsons  Clerk
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23581  7930
Jno. McGill
Trumbull Co
Ohio
Admitted for 6 months from 1776
Selden Haynes  agt
Poland Ohio  Trumbull County
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War Department, Pension Office, 20 April 1833
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 show what is necessary to be done.  These points to which your attention is mor3 particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus s ). 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 John McGill Trumbull Co. Ohio
Period when the service was rendered  - called 1776
Duration of claimant's service - 6 months
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served -
Cap Carothers
Cap Lamb
Cor Lyons
Gen Potter
Gen Lacy
Cap James Waugh
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service - 85 Cumberland Co. Pa.
Proof by which the declaration is supported -
Traditionary
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions
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2 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 was 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 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 Services
4. Indian Spies,
All 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 a 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 ] ss
On this ___ day of ___ personally appeared (a) before ___ A.D., a resident of (b) of ____in the county of ___  and State, Territory or District of ___ aged (c)____years, who are 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 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 country 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 is 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.D.
(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 ____, who has 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 War Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that A.B. 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 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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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 our service, 
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, an their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied 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, and 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 heis 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 certificate.
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 claims 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  ____, I served as a ____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important i 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 o 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 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 places 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' entering the service, and the time and manner of 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 [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is 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.

Geo. B. Whiting
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November 9, 1936
John McGill-S.4189
BA-J/AWF
[initialed]
Mrs. William Francis
Elk City
Oklahoma
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the pension record of John McGill, born in 1747, served in the Pennsylvania militia, and pensioned while a resident of Trumbull County, Ohio.
The data which follow were obtained from pension claim, S. 4189, based upon the service of John McGill in the Revolutionary War.
John McGill was born in the year 1747, place
not given, nor are the names of his parents shown.
While a resident of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, John McGill enlisted in 1776, served a tour of two months as private in Captain John Carothers' Pennsylvania, and two tours of two months each in Captain John Lamb's company, Colonel Lyons' Pennsylvania regiment. During his service he was in a skirmish at Chestnut Hill.
He lived "for some years" after the Revolution in Cumberland County, and moved to Trumbull County, Ohio.
He was allowed pension on his application executed, September 8, 1832, then living in Poland, Trumbull County, Ohio, where he had lived about thirty-two years. He died April 21, 1834, leaving children, their names not given, nor is the name of his wife stated.
In order to obtain the name and address of the [page ends]
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person paid the last payment of this pension, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and give the following data:
John McGill
Certificate # 7930
Issued April 20, 1833
Rate $20.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Ohio (Pittsburgh) Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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4189
Rev. War
INVALID

File No.  4189
John McGill
Priv. Pa. Line

Act: June 7, 1932
Index:-Vol. A,  Page 244

{Arrangement of 1870.}

Sept. 1, 1909 History to James L. McGill.   F.W.
1927 Feb 11. Hist. to Mrs. William M. Francis - letter sent to Record Div. for reply to Civil War.
Inquiring.      AWF
1936 Nov. 9. Hist. to Mrs. Wm. Francis.     AWF
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3-817
Record Division
DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions.

Briefed by........JWB
Claim No........
Certificate No.......
Claimant .........
Soldier...John McGill
Service ....Rev War
Additional Service ......
No....claim, State records...., 190...
No claim, combination records ....., 190....

REMARKS
No (OW) No Wid or Rej  Except File No 4189
Aug. 26 1909

..............Chief Division
0-8
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Buffalo N.Y.
August, 22d 1909.
Hon. Commission of Pensions,
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir
I am desirous of obtaining the Pension record of John McGill who inlisted as a Revolutionary Soldier In Trumble Co Ohio, and who have a son Hugh McGill This John Owen McGill lives in Philadelphia Co. Pa. and various other Counties in Penna Bucks Chester, Westmoreland and, Cumberland C. I would thank you very much for the record. 
[initialed] 
You will probably find him In Dept of Ohio {
Very respectfully yours,
James L. McGill
23 Mariner St.
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Elk City, Oklahoma
October 12, 1936

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs,

    I should like to have some information concerning John McGill born in New Jersey 1747 - died 1834. From Trumbull Co. Ohio.
     Pension list, Revolutionary War. Act of 1834 - 35. John McGill, Penn Mil. granted pension April 20, 1933 - age 86.
    The information I desire most might appear on his application for pension. The name of his wife, date of marriage, number & name of children.

                                      Very truly yours
                                               //s//
                                   Mrs. William Francis
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(First sentence cut off)

...for a statement of the military history of John Mcgill a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.    S. F. 4189

Date of Enlistment of Appointment
Length of Service.
Rank.
Officers under whom service was rendered.
Captain,   Colonel.
State.

3 tours of 2 mos. each 1776  (total of 6 mos.)
Priv.
(Captain) John Carothers and (Captain) John Lamb)
(Colonel) Lyons
Pa.

Battles engaged in, --------
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cumberland Co. Pa.
Date of application for pension, Sept 8, 1832.  His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Poland Trumbull Co. Ohio.
Age at date of application, Born 1747, died Apr 21, 1834.
Remarks: four children survived soldier, no names stated.

an.
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Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
[initialed]
Mrs. William M. Francis
807 West Third
Elk City, Okla.
Madam:
February 11, 1927
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 4189, it appears that John McGill was born in 1747, place not stated.
While residing in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in 1776 and served three tours of two months each, as a private under Captains John Carothers and John Lamb, and Colonel Lyons, in the Pennsylvania Troops, and was in an engagement at Chestnut Hill.
He was allowed pension on his application
executed September 8, 1832, while a resident of
Poland, Trumbull County, Ohio.
He died April 21, 1834, leaving four children, their names are not stated, nor is the name of his
wife on record. There is no further family data on
[page ends]
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file.
The above noted John McGill is the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War
records of this Bureau.
The War of 1812 records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to pension having been claimed on account of the services of any Stephen Hussey.
That portion of your letter relative to the Civil War service of Finton Andrew McGill Hussey,
has been referred to the proper division for reply.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Letter of inquiry referred to Record Division for reply as to the Civil War service of Finton Andrew McGill Hussey
[initialed]