Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8400, for Joseph Powel, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Penn.
Powel, Joseph
or Powell
Powl
or Paul
" Powels
NUMBER 
R. 8400
CONTENTS
Page 2

30.194
Joseph Powell

8400
Page 3

The State of Ohio
Marion County Ss}
Be it remembered that on this twenty
third day of May in the year eighteen hundred
and thirty eight personally appeared in open court
before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in
and for the County of Marion and State of Ohio, now
in Session, Joseph Powel or Paul a resident
in the said County aged seventy seven years, who
being first duly worn according to law upon his oath
maketh the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit
of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. who entered into the
service of U. States in service as follows to wit
I Joseph Powl or Paul say I was born the 3d day
of September 1760 according to the best information I have recd in old Lancaster County in Pennsa
I have no record of my age except a memorandum in my family bible made about thirty years
since. When I was 15 or 16 years of age in the
year 1776 after harvest in July or August of that
year I enlisted at Lancaster Pennsa in a rifle
Company. the recruiting officer's name was
Toups or Tups whom I thought was captain of
the company until he left us after we joind the
Regiment when he left us. In about 4 or 6 weeks
we marched with the company under Toups to
Downerstown there we joined another rifle
company. we then marched to Philadelphia, and
then marched to some town below Phila. I believe
it was Wilmington where we joined our Regiment
under Col. Green. There were there more troops
than Col. Green's Regt. but I cannot recollect how
many or who they were. Toups here left us and
were more under the command of a Captain
Page 4

whose names I now do not recollect, but who soon
was taken sick and died. Our next Capt. was
Curtis Grub. After him we had another Captain but I cannot recollect his name. I cannot recollect the names of my other officers. I recollect the
names of some of the men who were in the
Company with me. Daniel Stephens, John Gatz 
was in a number of scerimages in that part of the
country below Philadelphia. Marched above Philadel
was at Trenton in the winter when Washington took
The Hessians there. went to Vally Forge & wintered 
there. Was at the battle of Germantown.
After serving out this tour of one year I was
discharged some where in the neighbourhood of
Philadelphia but I cannot tell the name of the
place. 
I then joined a company of infantry
and entered as a substitute for a young man
by the name of Henry Slow or Slough, who
had one year & nine months to serve. I can
not recollect all the officers names under whom I served
this tour, I recollect I was once for a while under Capt. Isaac
Sencinger. I think Col. Elder was our Col. 
In consequence of old age & infirmities I cannot
recollect the names of my officers more distinctly.
I recollect the names of some of the men of this
company, to wit, John Thaw, Israel Clark,
[William Sparks has been struck]
 my brother Frederick Powl who
was killed at the battle of Brandywine.
Page 5

I cannot recollect all the places I was at during
this tour of one years & nine months. I was
at the battle of Brandywine, at Chestnut=ridge
I believe I was again over in New Jersey
with my Company. I received my discharge
from this town after I served one year & nine
months some where not far from Phila. and
near the Schoolkill river. I have lost all
my discharges. I served as a private during all
this time (the two tours) except, that during the
last tour while in the infantry our Sergant was killed in a battle and I was appointed a Sergant
in his place and served in that capacity at least 
three months. During this service I was
generally called Yoste or Yose-- Powl or Paul.
In consequence of at age & infirmities I can
not recollect the particulars any more accurate
in relation to my service, but state positively that I served in the manner above stated two years and 
nine months of which time I served at least
three months as a sergent and the residue as a
private, and no part of which time was spent
in any civil employment
I have no documentary evidence and no
other proof then those herewith submitted. 
I resided in Pennsylvania until about the year
1813 when I removed to Delaware County Ohio.
And about 1831 removed from Delaware County
to Marion County where I now reside.
The following named persons residing in my
present neighbourhood are persons to whom I am
known and who can testify to my character for
Page 6

veracity and of their belief of my service as a
soldier in the war of the revolution. }
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to
a pension or annuity except the present and
declare my name is not on the pension
roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn & subscribed to in open court
the day &c aforesaid. 
{ to wit, Honl. Ozias Bowen President Judge
of the Court of Com. Pleas for 2d Circuit. John
Worline, Michael Jacoby Esqrs. Titus King-
Daniel Worline, Michael Alshan Esqr
Samuel Calvert, James Godman Esqr.
Daniel Oburn Esqr Mr John Emery, Peter
Crawford. There is no clergyman in the neighbourhood.
Sworn &c
Joseph Powel X his mark

we John Williams & Michael Jacoby residing
in the said County of Marion & in the neighbourhood
of the above named Joseph Powel do upon our
oaths certify that we are well acquainted with the said
Joseph Powel who has subscribed & sworn to the above 
declaration that we believe him to be seventy
eight years of age as by him stated. That he is
reputed and believed in his neighborhood
where he resides to have been a soldier of
the revolution & that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn & subscribed to, 
[signature] Michael Jacoby
[signature] John Williams
May 22d A.D. 1838
G H Busby Clk

.
Page 7

And the said Court do hereby certify and 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 they further 
certify that it appears to them that Michael Jacoby
John Williams who have signed & sworn to the
above certificate are residents of the said County
of Marion and in the neighborhood of the above
applicant Joseph Powel, are creditable persons
and that their certificate is entitled to full credit.
It also appears to the court that there is no clergyman residing in the said neighbourhood. 
I George H. Busby Clerk of the said Court of
Common Pleas for the said County of Marion,
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceedings of the said Court in the matter
of the application of Joseph Powel for a pension. 
In testimony
whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & seal of my
office this 23d day of May
A.D. 1838.
[signature] G. H. Busby
Clerk
Page 8

[on right side of document] 
Power of Attorney to
examine the claim of
Frederick Paul an
Invalid Pensioner on the
Pennsylvania Roll for
services in the war of the
Revolution
Chas C. Tucker
Atty
Present.

[on the left side there is a mark drawn to underline and () the name Frederick and this text occurs] error, this should have been Jospeh = 
This paper found in claim of Frederick Powell Aug. 18-1927 
([initials illegible])
Page 10

know all men by these presents that I
Massay Paul of the County of Marion, and
State of Ohio, do hereby constitute and appoint
Charles C Tucker, of Washington, D.C. my true and
lawful agent and attorney, for me, and in my
name to prepare and prosecute my claim for a
Revolutionary Pension by reason of the services of
my deceased husband; and I hereby empower my
said attorney to Examine all records and documents in reference to said claim on file in the departments at Washington, to file additional evidence and
arguments, and to do all lawful acts and things
whatsoever, touching the premises, with full powers of
substitution. Hereby revoking and countermanding
all former powers of attorney, that may have been given
by me for the above specified purposes -
Witness my hand and seal this fourth day of
February
in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
fifty four
Massay Powel X her mark {seal}

attest
Daniel S. Drake
State of Ohio Marin County SS

On the fourth day of February AD 1854 personally
appeared before me George Snyder Probate Judge of said
County, at my office in said County, [inserted above] Massey Powell and 
and acknowledged
the foregoing power of attorney, to be her act and deed
for the purposes therein mentioned. 
In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature and
official seal the day & for  said. 
[signature] G Snyder PJ 
(over)
[lower left corner circular embossed seal]
Page 11

November 14, 1939
BA-J/AWF
Joseph Powel
R. 8400

Mrs. Nellie Kirby
La Grande, R.F.D. #2
Oregon

Dear Madam: 
The data which follow were obtained from
papers on file in claim for pension, R. 8400,
based upon service of Joseph Powel in the War
of the Revolution. This is the record of the
only Joseph Powel found on file in the Revolutionary War pension records of this office. The
surname was searched under similar spellings. This
surname is shown in the claim as Powel, Powell,
Powl, Powels, and Paul.

Joseph Powel was born September 3, 1760 in
"Old" Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The names
of his parents are not given.

Joseph Powel resided in Pennsylvania during the
Revolution and sometime in the year 1813, moved to
Delaware County, Ohio, and in the year 1831,
moved to Marion County, Ohio.

Joseph Powel applied for pension May 23, 1838,
then living in Marion County, Ohio, and stated that
he enlisted in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, sometime in
July or August, 1776, served one year as private in
Captain Curtis Grub's company, Colonel Green's
Pennsylvania regiment, that he reenlisted, served one
year and nine months, three months of which was as
sergeant in Captain Isaac Sencinger's company, Colonel
Elder's regiment, and that during his service he
was in the battles of Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown,
Page 12

Chestnut Ridge, and wintered at Valley Forge.

The claim for pension was not allowed as
proof of six months' service as required by the
pension law was not furnished.
Massa or Massay Powel, widow of the soldier,
Joseph Powel, was living in 1862 in Marits? or
Merits?, Ohio, and then stated that her husband,
Joseph Powel, died September 1, 1844.

Frederick Powel, brother of the soldier, was
killed at the battle of Brandywine.

In 1838, F. or T. W. Powell gave his address
Delaware, Ohio, and reference was made in 1855 to
Benjamin Powell. It is not shown that these persons
were related to the family of the soldier, Joseph
Powel.

The papers on file in this claim contain no
further discernible family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 15

Pension Office
August 23d 1862.

Sir [this is struck through]
Madam: 

In reply to your letter of the 17th [illegible]
I have to inform you that Joseph Powell of
Ohio applied for a pension, which was not
granted because he did not furnish
sufficient evidence of service. No application appears to have been made by
you as his widow.

[the following paragraph is scribbled through] If you can furnish evidence of your
husbands service from the records in 
Harrisburgh, and of her own marriage
to him a pension may possibly be obtained
for you.

Joseph Powell alleged that [this is struck through - in
the year] he served one year
from August 1776 in a company
commanded by Captain Toups and
Capt. Curtis Grub. in a Regiment under
command of Col. Green form Lancaster
Penn. and that after this tour ended.
he served again for one year & nine
Page 16

months, as a substitute for Henry How or
Hough, in a regiment commanded by
Col. Elder. If this service is sustained
by evidence from the rolls at Harrisburgh there will be no objection
to the allowance of a pension. if you
as his widow, and can prove your
Marriage.
Mrs Massa Powell
Marits.
Ohio
[written perpendicular to other text]
M. Powell
Aug 23
Page 17

[possible envelope?]
[stamped] FREE
To Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D. C. 

[written perpendicular to other text by another hand]  
Joseph Powell
Ohio ~ sus ~ 1832
Wid, Massey Powell - Ohio
let of Inq abt a pension

[circular stamp] OHIO MAIL DEC 3
Page 18

Marion C Dec. 3rd 1855
Commission of Pensions, Sir, I wish to know
whether a pension was obtained for the
reliet
of
Joseph Powell dec. who
served in the Revolutionary war of
U.S. under Col. Bull Capt not known
This pension is supposed to have been
obtained three years ago or about that time by 
One
Benj. Powell as agent of Massey
Powell by whom the pension is claimed
If you can give any information in
relation to this matter it will be rec.
gratefully
by yours Truly
J. W. Rhodes
Page 19

J W. Rhodes,
Decr 20 '55
Page 20

Pension Office
Dec 20 1855
Sir
No pension has been allowed for the alleged
services of Joseph Powell of Ohio, He
made application but his claim was
disallowed because he failed to furnish
the requisite proof that he had rendered the
service he claimed a pension for
1832/

J W Rhodes Esq
Marion
Ohio
Page 21

Pension Office
July 29 1856
Sir
no change has been made in the law or in
the Regulations of this office since the letter of
the 20th of Dec 1855 to you, which
will justify the allowance of the claim of Joseph
Powell of Ohio. 

JW. Rhodes Esq
Underwood
Marion Co
Ohio
Page 22

Merits Ohio
July 17 1862
To the Honorable Commissioner of
Pensions Dear Ser
I sent a
Declaration to your office
from Caladonia Ohio about
Ten years ago and I have
Never heard the result & 
applied for the a rebiage of 
Pension due my late husband
who was a Reveloshenary soldier
and died on the 1 day of Sept 1844
aged 101 years old I am Informed
that he served in the Company Comanded by Col
Sant Clear and I beleave
thar was a man in the com
by the Name of Abraham Bull

I hear by Cansil all Powars 
(over
Page 23

of Attorney hearte has given 
and Respectfuly ask the 
officer to Coraspond directly
with me My husbands
name was Joseph Powels
Your Most Respectfuly

Massa Powels X her mark
witness
John Hardman
Mars Powell
Page 24

War Dept. Pen Office
Oct 6 1838
Sir, 
The papers in the
case
of Joseph Powel have
been exe. &  filed with suspended cases. The officers under whom
he alleges to have served and
who are stated in the affidavit of
the witness were [illegible] 
officers, and from the statement
given by the applicant, it would
be much doubted whether he served
as an enlisted soldier of the regular
army
had no officers names been
given. 
The claim is considered
doubtful, and unless the service
Can
be more particularly specified
as required in the enclosed printed
regulations a pension cannot be
allowed. 

[this section has been struck through] It is somewhat unusual for
A person to declare making
application
for a pension when they are entitled to
it especially where the service was as a commissioned officer. [end strike through]
It would therefore be satisfactory to be informed as to the
Page 25

[this text has been struck through] character and standing in society of the witness [end strike through] 
Unless it be clearly shewn that the writer be his sarie has such a cha and standing in society as to render his statements above suspicion, his testimony cannot be admitted. 

[written perpendicular to other text] 
Ocha C, 1838
A. C. 

T. W. Powell Esq
Delaware
Ohio
Page 26

Underwood O. July 20th 1856
Commissioner of
Pensions

Sir I am informed that 
there are new regulations concerning evidence in regard to pension
claims, and this me to address you
There is a Mrs Powell an aged
woman widow of Joseph Powell of
Ohio formerly of
Penn, who served
some three
campaigns in the Revolutionary War and who never applied for a
pension.
Since his death Mrs Powell
has made application
and wasted her
little means in so doing without avail
the law requiring positive evidence of service
which is impossible under present circumstances
his discharge being lost
and no one of his
comrades alive to attest the validity of
of
the claim. Yet I think proof enough can be
furnished to satisfy you that the claim is
just if the law will allow it.
There
are men who will testify that they have heard
one of his comrades frequently talkes of him
saying they were together in the army; Mrs. P.  
will testify that that she has seen his
discharge paper frequency that they
Page 27

took no care of it thinking it of no
much use &c. &c.
If this sort of evidence would be of any
use you will confer a great favor by 
informing me of it as I cannot get it here

Very respectfully
Yours
J. W. Rhodes

[lower left side]
Commissioner Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 28

November 14, 1939
BA-J/AWF
Joseph Powel
R. 8400
[initialed] Our

Mrs. Nellie Kirby
La Grande, R.F.D. #2
Oregon

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which
you request information in regard to the following
soldiers of the Revolutionary War:
David John who was living in 1785 in Franklin
County, Pennsylvania, married Elenor or Rachel
Powell, moved to Miami Valley, Ohio, and died there about 1810; 
Samuel John of Chester County, Pennsylvania;
Joseph Powell of Franklin County, Pennsylvania
;
John Jacob Peeler was in the battle of Bunker
Hill and died in 1815 at Vernon, Vermont.

The Revolutionary War records of this office
have been searched and no claim for pension or
bounty land found based upon service of any David
John, or John Peeler, or of a Samuel John of Pennsylvania, or a Jacob Peeler as described by you.
These surnames were searched under similar spellings.
The Revolutionary War record of Joseph Powel
is furnished herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 29

[hand initialed upper right corner] MMH
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
August 18, 1927

Emma Thompson
202 W. Center St., 
Marion, Ohio
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary
War pension claim R. 8400 it appears that Joseph
Powell ( name also appears as Powel, Powels, Powl, Paul) was
born September 3, 1760 in Old Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
He applied for pension May 23, 1838 while living in
Marion County, Ohio and stated that he enlisted in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in July or August 1776 and served one
year as a private in Captain Curtis Grub's Company, Colonel
Green's Pennsylvania Regiment, and that he re-enlisted
and served one year and nine months as private and sergeant
in Captain Isaac Sencinger's Company, Colonel Elder's Regiment. It is also stated that he was in the battles of Trentton, Brandywine, Germantown, Chestnut Ridge, and wintered
at Valley Forge.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish
sufficient proof of the alleged services as required by the
Page 30

pension laws. 

In 1813 he moved from Pennsylvania to Delaware County, Ohio and in 1831 to Marion County, Ohio. 
In 1862 his wido Massa, or Massay, Powels was living in Marits?, or Merits?, Ohio and stated that her husband Joseph Powels died September 1, 1844. 
Respectfully, 

E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner. 


[handwritten & line drawn from September 1, 1844 date] I could not find where he died in 1855 as stated in former hist.
Page 31

In the pension claim, Rejected File 8400, it appears that
Joseph Powel, or Powl, or Paul, was born Sept. 3, 1760, in Old
Lancaster Co. Penn. He alleged that he enlisted there in August
1775, served one year as private under Capt. Curtis Grub and Col.
Green also that he re-enlisted and served one year and nine months
as Sergeant in Capt. Isaac Sencinger's Co. Col. Elder's Regt.
He applied for pension in 1838, while living in Marion Co. Ohio.
but his claim was rejected as he failed to furnish sufficient
proof of service as required by the pension laws. He died Sept.
1, 1844 or 1855.
The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford
any information in regard to Jay Riggin.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

[handwritten on lower part of letter] 
This is last part of letter
dated Nov. 30, 1920
addressed to Mrs. O. E. Leeka 
of Marion Ohio
who asked for 
data to mark tombstone
see correspondence
in David Potts
S40270

[another note handwriting different - arrow pointing to Mr. O. E. Leeka] see another letter from her requesting tombstone data, dated Apr. 15, 1935 in Samuel Boone, 
S.1168.
Page 32

[circular stamp] RECEIVED OCT 30, 1939
MAIL SUB-DIV
Reader No. 16
VETS ADM

Veterans Adm
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir
---
Will you kindly help me in tracing the
Revolutionary records of: --

1. . David John: 
In year, 1785
he lived in Franklin Co Pa and in 1785 was
married to Elenor or Rachael Powell the dau.
of Rev. Joseph Powell. only  sometime before
1810 David John and family of thirteen children
moved to Miami Valley, Ohio and he was killed
in the 1810 War.

It is possible that this
David John was the son of Samuel or Summerel
John who was in the Rev. War, I think from ┃
Chester Co. Pa.
"Uwchlan."

2. Rev. Joseph Powell: only
I do not
know anything about him only that he was
in the Rev.
He must have been in
Franklin Co. Pa. with his family in 1785
if his dau. was there
Yours truly
(Mrs) Nellie Kerby
(over)
Page 33

(3.)
John Jacob Peeler died in 1815 at
Vernon, Vt

He fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
He was born in Germany
He was supposed to be related to the
Pattersons and Marshalls.
Page 34

Chillicothe Ohio Feb 6th 1901
Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Gentlemen
Please send me
the record
if
any of
pension granted
Joseph
Powell of
Maryland in War of
Revolution and greatly oblige
T N Cunningham
Chillicothe
Ross County
Ohio
Page 36

The State of Ohio
Marion County Ss.
In the Court of Com. Pleas in 
& for the said County at May Term 1838.
I Samuel Sparks being duly sworn in open
Court depose and say that during the revolutionary war I 
became well acquainted with Joseph
Powl who is now an applicant in Court for a
pension from
the U.S. under the act of the 7th of 
June. I became first acquainted with
the said Joseph as a soldier in the service of
the United States two days before the battle of
Brandywine, when I was in a company which I
commanded came under the command of the same
Colonel whose name was Isaac Hutchins. The said Joseph & myself
were in the battle of Brandywine under the
command of Col. Hutchins who was a Col.
in the Continental service of the Pennsa. line
the said Josephs' captain at that time was
Green who was a brother I believe to Col.
Green
of the Revolution
In the battle of
Brandywine the said Joseph had a brother by
the name of Frederick Powl or Powel who was
badly wounded in the said battle or killed.
After the Battle of Brandywine Joseph Powl the
applicant was made the first Sergent of
his company in
consequence of a number
of the non commission officers being killed soon after the said Battle. in consequence
of the great many killed in my Company which
was a
company of horses, I was detached from
Col. Hutchins Regt. and attached to Col.
Luther Warren's Regiment in Genl. Putman's
Brigade. I saw the said Joseph Powel afterwards in the service after we parted after the battle of
Brandywine.
Page 38

The State of Ohio 
Marion County Ss.⎬ Personally appeared before me Michael
Alspach a justice of the peace in & for the said County Eli Steward who was duly sworn according to law, deposes & says that he has been well acquainted with Joseph
Powel of this County an applicant for a pension under the
law of Congress of the 7th of June, for the last twenty 
(20) years in Delaware County & in this County, and that
during that time it was always reputed & believed that the
said Joseph Powel was a soldier of the revolution.
that some years since I heard Israel Clark late
of this County decd a late pensioner of the United States
in his life time say that he was well acquainted with
the said Joseph Powel during the revolutionary War and
that they both the said Clark & Powel had served in the 
Revolutionary war in the same Regiment. 
There never has been the least doubt but that the said 
Joseph Powel had served in the Revolution as he
states. It has always been reputed & believed by all
and persons and acquaintance of the said Joseph that
he the said Joseph had served as a soldier the greater
part of the revolution. And further say not.
Eli Steward X his mark

And I the said justice do certify that on this
25th day of May 1838 the above named Eli
Steward submited the above affidavit and was duly sworn
thereto and I certify that I am well acquainted with the said 
Steward and say that his character is perfectly good and 
that he is entitled to full credit as to his
statements.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the
Date above written Michael Alsp;ach J. P.
Page 41

Delaware, August 24, 1838.
Sir, 
Enclosed I send you the declaration of
Joseph Powel with other papers for a pension.
the once before sent on his papers to the
Pension Office and were presented by Genl. McLene
Representative in Congress from Franklin Co.
They were returned for some defect, and were lost.
as it said. They have never been recd here
in return. 
The affidavit of Samuel Sparks is not
relied upon any further than it gives a clue
to investigation in the Pension office, we
do not know his character. He pretends
to know all about the applicant though the
applicant says he does not recollect His (Sparks) being
in the service; though the circumstances
he relates the applicant recollects and therefore
believes him-
As to the character of the applicant, and
traditionary evidence of his service we can
procure enough more of it if desired.
very respectfully
your obt. servant
T. W.  Powell
As it will be more convenient for the
applicant to receive communications through
me please direct to me at Delaware Ohio
T. W. Powell