Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34956, for James Leonard, Delaware
Page 1

[printed and handwritten]

SERVICE
Del.
Md.
Leonard, James
S. 34956
CONTENTS
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[handwritten]

Date of death not  on A.B.
Notif. delivd to the Pension 28 April 1828
Transferred to Maryland 30th April 1828. to take effect from and after the 4th
March 1828, and notification delivered to Pensioner a special letter at same time
written to N. York agent to strike off his list
(20)
Dist: of Columbia
James Leonard, 4 Maryland private, 1781 2 years
In the army of the M. States
At $8 per mo. to com. 30th March 1818
Cert. issued the 31st March 1818.
and delivered to the Pensioner.
Arrs. [arrears] to 4th Sept. 1818. 5 2/28 mos. $40.57
(Rev. Claim Act 18th March, 1818)
Continued
Transferred to N. York, Apl 1st 1828
to take effect from & after the 4 March 1828
and notification sent to James 
Davidson Esq. Washington City
Washington City
Washington Dist Col
Page 3

[handwritten]

Date of death not on A.B.
Notif. delivd to the Pension 28 April 1828
Transferred to Maryland 30th April 1828. to take effect from and after the 4th
March 1828, and notification delivered to Pensioner a special letter at same time
written to N. York agent to strike off his list
(20)
Dist: of Columbia
James Leonard, 4 Maryland private, 1781 2 years
In the army of the M. States
At $8 per mo. to com. 30th March 1818
Cert. issued the 31st March 1818.
and delivered to the Pensioner.
Arrs. [arrears] to 4th Sept. 1818. 5 2/28 mos. $40.57
(Rev. Claim Act 18th March, 1818)
Continued
Transferred to N. York, Apl 1st 1828
to take effect from & after the 4 March 1828
and notification sent to James
Davidson Esq. Washington City
Washington City
Washington Dist Col
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[handwritten]

I shall be obliged
to Judge
Thruston, to [?] this certificate
in [?]of the Bearer,
James Leonard, altho he
does not belong to the
District of Columbia & as
he has, in his own possession
ample proofs of his being
entitled to pension under
the law
Most respectfully,
G Boyd
31 March 18
(20)
31st March 1818
issued same day
notes enveloped
1818.9.4
1818.3.30 [underlined]
5-2/28
8 [underlined]
$40.57 [underlined]
8
2 [underlined]
28)1600(5
)140(
200
[illegible]
Page 5

[handwritten]

District of Columbia ss
On this 31 day of March 1818 before me the
subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of the United States
for the said District, personally appears James Leonard
aged 65 years, resident in Washington in the said District,
who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on
his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain
the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled "an
act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval
service of the U States in the Revolutionary war" - That he the 
said James Leonard enlisted ^[insert] in 1781 at Court house point in the State of
Maryland in the company commanded by Captain Vezey
of the 2 Regiment Maryland line; that he
continued to serve in the said Corps, or in the service of the
U States until the end of the war, when he was
discharged from service in Newcastle State of Delaware - ,
that he was in the Battle of Monmouth, German Town and ^[insert]
the siege of York and that he is in reduced circumstances, and
stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support, &
he has no other evidence now in his power of his said service ^[insert] except
a certificate of Hezekiah Ford, and other accompanying documents
Sworn to and declared before me the day
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[handwritten]

and year aforesaid

I, Buckner Thruston, 
Judge &c. as aforesaid do
certify, that it appears to my satisfaction,
that the said James Leonard did serve in the Revolutionary War,
as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common
enemy ; and I now transmit the proceedings and
testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary
of the Department of War, pursuant to the directions
of the aforementioned act of Congress
March 31st. - 1818
B. Thruston 
Seal of the Court [hand circled]
To the Honble
The Secretary at War
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[handwritten]

(Copy)
I certify that it appears from the Register
of the Delaware line, during the Revolutionary War
that James Leonard enlisted May 1st 1781, for the War,
and served to the end thereof. If he has not received his land
warrant he is entitled to Land.
Treasury Dept auditor's Office
June 17th 1817-
Peter Hagner, Aud
(Copy) (Signed)

Cecil County, Maryland May 24. 1817-
I do hereby certify that the bearer hereof James
Leonard was a soldier in the Maryland line in the
time of the revolutionary war that the said Leonard
served three years in the second Maryland regiment
during which time he behaved himself as an orderly
Good Soldier - given under my hand the day
and year first above written,
(Signed) Hezekiah Foard
formerly an officer in the
2d Maryland Regiment
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[printed and handwritten]

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of Washington D.C. ss.
On this Thirtieth day of April 1828,
before me, the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, for the said County of
Washington personally appeared James Leonard
who, on his oath, declares that he is
the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by
Captain Vezey in the Regiment commanded by
Colonel Smallwood in the Service of the
United States; that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the ['State' lined out] Dist of
Columbia and ^[insert] lately transferred to the State of N York 
['from where he has lately removed' lined out] ; that he now resides in the State 
[['District, or Territory' lined out]], of Maryland
where he intends to remain, and
wishes his Pension to be there payable, in future; and that 
['his reason for removing to the State' lined out]
that he has always resided in the State of Maryland.
Sworn ['and subscribed to' lined out], before me, the Day and Year aforesaid}
E. Brooke P.P. District Columbia, Washington County
NOTES.
The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be proved
by the Certificate of the proper Officer, under his seal of Office, setting forth that the person taking the Testimony is a
Justice of the Peace, Judge, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is
genuine.
The Pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identity. The witness must
swear that he well knows the person who has taken the above oath to be the same person described therein, and no
other than the identical person to whom the pension was originally granted. The magistrate must certify that the witness
is a person of veracity. The witness's affidavit must be authenticated in the manner above described.
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[handwritten]

Mr. Edwards
Pension Office
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[printed and handwritten]

SCHEDULE.
District of Columbia ss. County of Washington
Cole County of
On this 28th day of April 1821, personally
appeared, in open court, (a) being a court of record (b) for the ['said District' lined out] 
[circuit Court of the District of ['country, or corporation, as the case may be,' lined out]
of the said District Col - County of Washington
James Leonard aged 65 years
resident in Washington in said district, [['circuit, county, or corporation', lined out]]
who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that
he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: (c) Three years in the
2d Maryland Regiment and afterwards in the
Delaware Line. That he has received a
Pension, and that the No. of his Certificate is 20. [underlined]
And I do solemnly swear ('or affirm, as the case may be,' lined out]) that I was a resident
citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since
that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof
, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of
an act of Congress, entitled ""An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the
land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war,” passed on
the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for
me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income
other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed
. (d)
No property whatever
I have no family - nor have I any occupation.

Sworn to, and declared, on the 28th day of April 1821.
before the Circuit Court of the District of
Columbia for the County of Washington

I, William Brent Clerk of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia County of Washington
do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath (or affirmation) and the schedule thereto
are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify,
the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property
exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is nothing
['dollars and cents.' lined out]
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the
Court, on this 28th day of April 1821
Wm Brent Clerk of the Court for the Circuit Court of the
District of Columbia County of Washington
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[printed]

( 2 ) The whole of the form prescribed in the first section, to verify the amount of property of the
applicant, the oath of the party, and the certificate of the clerk excepted, must be done while the court is
in session.
( 3 ) All are courts of record, within the contemplation of the act of Congress,
1st. Which are expressly made courts of record by the laws of the state which create them;
2d. Which have been solemnly adjudged, by the tribunals of the several states, to be courts of
record;
3d. Which proceed according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in
point of amount, keeping a record of their proceedings.
4th. Which have the power of fine and imprisonment;
And courts which proceed according to the course of the civil and canon law, having neither of
those attributes, are not courts of record, although they may keep a registry of their proceedings, and
possess a seal. The court should, in every instance, state, on the face of the proceedings, that it is a court
of record, and state why it is such. -- Opinion of the Attorney General of the United State
( e ) Here set forth the regiment, company, and line, or ship, corps, or vessel, and the date of the
original declaration; and, if he has received a pension, the number of the pension certificate should be
inserted.
(d) Here enumerate each article of real and personal estate, necessary clothing and bedding excepted
, and subscribe the same. The declarant must also mention his occupation, his ability to pursue it
the number and names of his family residing with him, their ages, and their capacity to contribute to their
support, in order that the department may be enabled to decide whether the applicant is in such indigent
circumstances as to be entitled to the pension. It is the opinion of the Attorney General, that the words
of the third section of the act of the 1st of May, 1820, ""in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to
support himself without the assistance of his country," comprehend those only who are incapable of supporting
themselves without the aid of the government, except by private or public charity.
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[typewritten]

December 16, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
JAMES LEONARD
S. 34956
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. Hazel F. Ure
1169 Warnock Avenue
Salt Lake City, Utah
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of James Leonard who served three years
in the Maryland Line.
You are furnished herein the record of the only soldier named
James Leonard, of Maryland, found in the Revolutionary War records
of this office. The data therein were obtained from the papers on
file in claim for pension, S. 34956, based upon his service in the
Revolutionary War.
The date and place of birth and names of the parents of James
Leonard are not given.
While residing in the State of Maryland, James Leonard enlisted
and served as private in Captain Veazy's company, Colonel Smallwood's
Maryland regiment, was in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth and
was discharged from the Maryland Line after having served three years.
He enlisted May 1, 1781, in the Delaware Line for the war, names of
officers not given, was in the siege of Yorktown and was discharged
at the close of the war at New Castle, Delaware.
James Leonard was allowed pension on his application executed
March 31, 1818, at which time he was aged sixty-five years and a
resident of Washington, D. C. He received a pension also from the
State of Maryland, no further details in regard to it given.
In 1821, the soldier was still living in Washington, D. C. and
stated that he then had no family. It is not shown whether or not he
was ever married, April 1, 1828, he was living in the State of New York
, where he had lately moved, but April 30, 1828, stated that he
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[typewritten]

had moved back to Maryland.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name of
person paid and possibly the date of death of James Leonard, you
should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office,
Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
James Leonard
Certificate No. 20
Issued March 31, 1818
Rate, $8 per month
Commenced March 31, 1818
Act 18th March, 1818
District of Columbia Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
- 2 -
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[handwritten]

1169 Warnock Ave
Salt Lake City
Dec. 1, 1936

Veterans Administration Bureau
Washington, D.C
Dear Sir;
Do you ^[insert] have a record of application for pension
of James Leonard of Maryland who enlisted in 2nd
regiment, 20 Jan. 1777, dischared [sic] 20 Jan. 1780?
I would appreciate a copy of the same.
Enclosing
a self addressed envelope for reply
Thanking you,
I am yours truly
Mrs. Hazel F. Ure

no envelope encl.
when rec. in Rev. & 1812 Wars Dept - F

[ink stamp] RECEIVED DEC 3 1936 MAIL [?] DIV 23
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[printed and handwritten]

1936 Dec. 16 - Hist to Mrs. Hazel F. Ure
MLB

34956
Revy INVALID.
File No. 34,956
James Leonard
Pri Rev War
Act: 18 March 18"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 237
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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[handwritten]

J. L. Edwards Esqr
War Department
Pension Office
Washington
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[handwritten]

Auditors Office
Annapolis April 12th, 1828,
Sir.
James Leonard, a revolutionary soldier, who is
placed on the pension list of the United States, as well as
on the pension list of the State of Maryland, who
has (and I believe at his own request,) been transfered
from the roll of the District of Columbia to that of
New York, regret, that he made such an arangement,
and desires to be replaced on the roll of the District of
Columbia. If you will have the goodness to attend to
this for the old man, you will serve him essentially
and oblige me.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Svt.
Thomas Karney
J.L. Edwards Esqr}
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[printed and handwritten]

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
District Columbia 
County of Washington ss.
ON this first day of April 1828,
before me, the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, for the said County of
Washington personally appeared James Leonard who,
, on his oath, declares that he is
the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by
Captain Vezey in the Regiment commanded by
Colonel Smallwood in the Service of the
United States; that his Name was placed on the Pension Roll of the ['State of' lined out] 
District of Columbia from whence he has lately
removed; that he now resides in the State [District, or Territory,] of
New York where he intends to remain, and
wishes his Pension to be there payable, in future; and that his reasons for
removing to the State of New York.
James Linold
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the Day and Year aforesaid.}
E. Brooke J.P.
NOTES.
The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be proved
by the Certificate of the proper Officer, under his seal of Office, setting forth that the person taking the Testimony is
Justice of the Peace, Judge, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is
genuine.
The Pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identity. The witness must
swear that he well knows the person who has taken the above oath to be the same person described therein, and no
other than the identical person to whom the pension was originally granted. The magistrate must certify that the witness
is a person of veracity. The witness's affidavit must be authenticated in the manner above described.
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[handwritten]

Washington County}  SS.
District of Columbia}
James Davidson of the aforesaid County & 
District aforesaid, personally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice
of the Peace in and for the said County, and made oath that he is
personally acquainted with James Leonard, the Pensioner whose
name is mentioned in the within affidavit, and knows him to be
the same man whose name was inscribed on the Roll of 
Revolutionary Pensioners for the District of Columbia. Given 
under under [duplicate] my hand and seal this 1st day of April 1828
E. Brooke J.P.