Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 254, Joseph Armstrong, Penn
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Penn.

Armstrong, Joseph

NUMBER
R. 254
-----------------------------
CONTENTS
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Joseph Armstrong
Pennsylvania
--------------
Rejected
See let 23 Nov. 1809
D. N. Mulvany [hard to read]

did not serve six
months.

Act of June1832.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.

State of Pennsylvania     }
County of Montgomery } S.S.

On this nineteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Montgomery, now sitting, [Joseph Armstrong] [name underlined] of the township of Lower Merrion [sic] in said county, [aged seven seven years] [underlined] 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 7. 1832:  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers; and served as hereinafter stated.

In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, in the month of May of the same year (the precise day of which month I cannot call to mind), I, being there living with my father in Norriton ^Township (then of Philadelphia County, but now of) Montgomery County in the State of Pennsylvania, entered the service of the United States, as a substitute [word underlined] for my father in a small body of militia [underlined] raised in that part of this State which then was embraced within the limits of Philadelphia County, but since that period divided so as to form the present counties of Philadelphia and Montgomery.  This body of militia was ^ then commanded by colonel Robert Curry.  It was divided into two companies:  Captain John Hamilton commanded the company in which I [word crossed out] was first enrolled.  The day on which I thus entered the service of the United States, we were ordered to rendezvous at a public house in Worcester township, now of Montgomery County; from this rendezvous we were forthwith marched under command of Captain Hamilton to the vicinity of Doylestown in Bucks County; here we remained  encamped for a few days.  From this place we were led to the vicinity of Plumstead meetinghouse, where we lay for some time, and from whence we were often sent out on foraging [word crossed out] excursions among the Tories, along the right bank of the Delaware, to near the lines of the British who were then in occupation of Philadelphia. It is my belief that these excursions were ordered or planned by General Lacy, who was generally supposed by the privates of our company to be the chief in command over us.  From the position near Plumstead meetinghouse, we were ordered to Trenton in New Jersey.  We proceeded as ordered where, soon after we arrived, our company was attached to a regiment of New Jersey militia.  The other company which accompanied us through all the places I have mentioned, were also attached to the same New Jersey regiment.  I do not now recollect the name of the colonel commanding that regiment.  After delaying a day or two in Trenton, we with the other troops lying there, were put in motion in order to follow the then retreating British.  We pursued, and finally  caught up with ^ them at the court-house of Monmouth.  I was out on picquet
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the night before the battle of Monmouth; and so near the sentinels  [word crossed out] of the British army that I could hear them talking.  Early in the morning of the battle, we were called in from our posts, and immediately ordered out to intercept the retreat of the enemy.  We were actively engaged till betwixt nine and ten A.M. in manourving [sic] and exchanging some shaggling [sic] shots with the enemy, till the coming up of the commander-in-chief, with the continentals, when we were order to occupy the third line, which we did during the engagement which followed.  In the evening after the battle, we fell back to Englishtown, about two miles from the courthouse of Monmouth.  Next morning, the New Jersey regiment to which we were attached, having been disbanded, our two companies of Pennsylvania militia, were permitted to march back to their old station near Doylestown, Bucks, whence we were permitted to visit our homes; and a few days after having been ordered to go to Philadelphia, to deliver up our arms, and having complied with this order we were discharged on the 5th day of July A. D. 1778, having served in this [word tour crossed out] my first tour, not less than two months.  From this period I lived with my father in beforementioned township of Norriton, till the later part of September 1778, at which time I was again called as a substitute for my father.  Colonel Robt. Curry still remained in command of the militia corps, and Captain Cline then commanded our company.  We were embodied in our own county and marched to [words crossed out] the bank of the Delaware at or near New Hope in Bucks county where we met and took under escort a number of British prisoners, formerly of Burgoyne's army, (as we were informed) and from thence conducted them to the town of Lancaster in this State; we remained at Lancaster on duty, till the end of this my second tour, where I was again discharged, having served in this tour not less than two months.  I then came home to my father's in Norriton township, where I lived till I was called out the third and last time.

Lastly in the beginning of September A. D. 1779, I was again called out as a substitute for my father.  Colonel Vaugh then commanded our militia corps; Captain Lowry commanded our  company.  Having been embodied, we were order to Newtown in Bucks county, whither we marched and there remained and  performed camp duty, till the end of this tour when I was discharged, having served in this tour not less than two months.

The whole period of my service was six months [underlined].  I served as a private.  I never received a written discharge.  I have no documentary evidence of my service.  I know of no person living whose testimony I can procure who could testify to my service.  I know of no person living who served with me, or has a personal knowledge of my services above-mentioned.  I was born in Norriton township, now in the county of Montgomery on the first day of February 1762.
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When called into ^ this service, I was living with my father in the aforesaid township of Norriton.  I have resided there since the Revolutionary War, till within the past seven years; these last seven years, I have resided in Upper Merrion [sic] township, Montgomery County and still reside.

I was called into the service as a substitute for my father.  Col. Robert Curry, Capt. John Kline, Capt. John Hamilton and Lieutenant Sheen were officers with the militia where I served--I can recollect Col. Curry's regiment of militia and Col. Mcbaugh's militia regiment.  I never received a discharge from the service--I can state the names of Col. George W. Rotstein, Jonathan Roberts, Levi Pawling, Esq. and John Elliott who can testify as to my character for veracity, and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution.

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and I declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Joseph Armstrong [signature]

Sworn and subscribed in open court}
the day and year aforesaid.              }
J.W. Evans Prot. [signature]

Montgomery County Ss - Thomas Lowry Esq. and Nathan Matthew Roberts, both of Upper Merrion [sic] in the county of Montgomery, Penna do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Armstrong who has sworn and subscribed to the above declaration; that we believe him to be of the age which in the above declaration he represents himself to be; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood [sic] where he resides, to be a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
And we do further certify that there is no clergyman residing in Upper Merrion [sic] , or in the immediately vicinity of the said Joseph Armstrong who has any personal knowledge of him, or any knowledge of the reputation of the neighbourhood [sic] respecting his revolutionary services.
J. Lowry [signature]
Matthew Roberts [signature]

Affirmed and subscribed          }
in open court the day and year}
aforesaid.                                  }
J. W. Evans Prot. [signature]

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 certify that it appears to them that Thomas Lowry and Matthew Roberts who have signed the above certificate, are residents in the township of Upper Merrion [sic]  aforesaid, are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.  And the court also certify that it appears to them that there is no clergyman residing in the township of Upper Merrion [sic], or in the immediate vicinity of the said applicant who has any personal knowledge
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of him, or any knowledge of the reputation of the neighbourhood [sic] respecting his Revolutionary services.

John Fox Presiding Judge [signature]
Richd B. Jones associate judge [signature]
Jos. Royer associate judge [signature]

I Josiah W. Evans Prothonotary of the court of
common pleas in and for the county of Montgomery, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Joseph Armstrong for a pension.  Witness my hand and the seal of the said court this 19th day of August, A. D. 1839.
J. W. Evans Prot. [SEAL]

Montgomery County S.S.
I, Josiah W. Evans Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, do hereby certify that the Honorable John Fox, Richard B. Jones & Joseph Royer Esqrs. whose names are subscribed to the preceding certificate are Judges of the said court, duly appointed and commissioned and that their signatures on the said certificate are their genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said court the nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
J. W. Evans Prot [signature]
[SEAL]

[sideways in lower right-hand margin]
34.904
Joseph Armstrong
Pennsylvania
Page 7

[left-hand side of page]

1887 Feby 4 Joseph Armstrong
for more data to identify
1887 Feby 16 Jos Armstrong (see copy of prior
letter within--)
1914 May 4. Brief outline for identification to Mrs. M. Alma Emmons letter in S. File 22090
Joseph Armstrong. &c

[right-hand side of page]

---------------Ex'r.      INVALID.
No. 904
[line crossed out] [initials]
REJECTED

Joseph Armstrong
P. O. Private Penn.
Service:_________________
Enlisted: ________________, 18  .
Discharged: ____________, 18  .

Application filed: _______________, 18  .
Alleges: ___________________________
Re-enlisted: _______________________

Attorney: _________________________
P. O. ______________________________
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free

James L. Edwards,  Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington,
D. C.
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Norristown, Sept. 5, 1839.

James L. Edwards, Esqr.

Dear Sir:

I beg leave to enclose to you the application of Joseph Armstrong for a Pension, and trust it will meet the favorable consideration of your Bureau.  You will confer a great favor by communicating the result of the application to me, at as early a period as may suit your convenience.

Very Respectfully,
Yours Tr.
D. N. Mulvany [signature]
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Old war Div.
[illegible] Ex'r.
----------------No. ----------------
Co. ---------------Reg't -----------
----:o:----

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PENSION OFFICE
Washington, D.C.  February 15th, 1887

Return this letter with your reply.

Sir,
In reply  to yours of the 9th inst. relative to your grandfather, Joseph Armstrong, a Revolutionary Soldier from Pennsylvania, I have to state that the additional data furnished, has enabled this office to identify his application for a pension.

All the service he claimed did not exceed six months, which was unsupported by documentary evidence, or by a single witness who had been a soldier, and even if he had been able to establish (which from the character of the service) may have been doubtful, an actual duty of six months, the limit required by law to entitle him to a pension, he would have been allowed ^ only the minimum rate of twenty dollars per annum ~

There is no law existing that will give to his children or other heirs, the right to claim a pension after his decease ~

Very respectfully
Commissioner

Mr. Joseph Armstrong
Waverly
Pike Co
Ohio

now and then
now & then
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Old war Div.
[illegible] Ex'r.
-------------No. --------------
-------------------------------
Co. -----------------Reg't ---------------
----:0:----

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PENSION OFFICE
Washington, D. C.  February 4, 1887

Return this letter with your reply.

Sir
In reply to yours of the 31st ult. relative to a pension supposed to be due on account of the services of Joseph Armstrong in the Revolutionary War, I have to state that there are three of this name on record as applicants for a pensions, but you have not furnished any data by which your grandfather could be identified as one of them.  There is no law existing that gives to his children or other heirs the right to claim his pension after his decease --
Immediately after the close of the war the Continental Congress provided for the presentation and settlement of all army claims (which would include the regular pay of officers and soldiers) and limited the time for the same to four years, and since then, no person, nor any one of the Executive Department has been authorized to adjudicate such claims ~
Your attention is invited to the enclosed printed circular.
Very respectfully
John C. Black [signature]
Commissioner

Mr. Joseph Armstrong
Waverly 
Pike Co
Ohio
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Auditor's Office,
Pike County.

Waverly, O., Feby 9 1887

Hon J  C Black      }
Comms. Pensions }

Dr. Sir,
In ans to yours of Feby 4th would state the Jos Armstrong I refer to joined the army in Norriton Township Montgomery County, Pa.  Went as a substitute for his father Ephraim Armstrong.  I suppose the papers on file in the pension department were sent from Norristown. P. O. [illegible] [said?] county.
The judge at Norristown at the time the pension was applied for was ~ Ross. being about 1832.  If you can give me the names of the witnesses on each of their applications my mother  could probably tell which belongs to my grandfather if the statements above will not enable you to do so.  Would like to get the amount of his claim up to the  time of his death to
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Auditor's Office
Pike County.

Waverly O., ------------- 188--

see if it would justify me to get a special act passed if it cannot be other-wise paid.  In my former letter I stated my grandfather was a major that was a mistake he was a private the title of Maj. was acquired in the state service of Pennsylvania after the war.

Your Respt
Jos Armstrong
aurl [?]
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Joseph Armstrong   Ohio
Jany 31. 1887
-----------------------
CC
Joseph Armstrong

[stamp]
Pension Office
U S
FEB 2 1887
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Waverly O  Jany. 31/87

Hon. J C Black
Commis of Pensions

Dr Sir,

Can the heirs of a soldier of the revolution draw the pension and back pay due said soldier.  My grandfather Joseph Armstrong was a soldier under Washington, was a Major in rank, died in 1844.  Am informed by my mother he never rec'd pay or pension.  His papers are on file at pension department.  My father rec'd notice from an atty. some years since that the claim was good and could be collected, but he paid no attention to the matter.  Can the grandchildren draw the money if the claim is good.

Yours Respt
Jos Armstrong [signature]

[stamp]
U S 
PENSION OFFICE
FEB
2
1887
Page 16

Joseph Armstrong, auditor for Pike Co., O.
Feby 9, 1887 stated that his grandfather
Joseph Armstrong Norriton Twp. Montgomery 
Co., Penn. application sent from Norristown,
substituted for his father Ephraim Armstrong.

Ephraim Armstrong
grandfather - Joseph Armstrong [word son written above name]

mother living in 1887.
Joseph Armstrong Auditor in 1887