Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39903, Gilbreath Wilson, Continental Md.
Page 1

(8-1776)
Service
Continental Md. 
Wilson, Golbreath
Number
S 39903
Contents
[illegible] in Md.
In 1820 aged 78 yrs, res. Allegheny Co. Pa. wife Christina
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18.651
Pennsylvania  Pitts
Glbreath Wilson (70 yrs)
of Allegany Co in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Rawlings of the Maryland line, for the term of 3 years. (1776)

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 1st of Sept 1820
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th of June 1822 and sent to R.J. Walker Esq. Pittsburg, Pa.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1822 $145.03
Semiannk akk'ce ending 4 Sept 1822 48.00
1 yr. 6 mo 4/31 $193.03

{Revolutionary Claim, Act 18th March 1818}
& 1 May 1820

Allegany Coy.
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United States of America
Western District of Pennsylvania
On this seventh day of May 1821 personally appeared in open court being a court of record for said district Galbreath Wilson aged seventy eight years resident in Allegany county in said district who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the acts of Congress of the 18 March 1818 and the first of May 1820 that he the said Galbreath Wilson enlisted for the term of three years on the day of July in the year 1776 in the state of Maryland in the company commanded by Capt. Richard Davis in the regiment commanded by Col. Moses Rawlings in the line of the State of Maryland on the Infantry Continental Establishment; that he continued to serve in the said corps until the year 1781; that in the year 1779 he enlisted during the war under Lieut. Adamson Tannehill at Fort Frederick in the state of Maryland in the Maryland Independent corps that he continued to serve in the said corps until the conclusion of the war on the Continental establishment , in one continued service & against the common enemy when he was discharged at Fort Pitt in the state of Pennsylvania by General William Irwin.  That in 1784 he sold his land & discharge.  That he was in the battles of Fort Washington, Trenton and various skirmishes and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services except this his own declaration and the depositions which are hereunto annexed.  That he applied in the court of common pleas January  term 1820 the proceedings of which were transmitted as he believes by the President of said court and to which he received no answer. That he also applied to the district court of the [illegible] on the 30 day of August 1820 and in pursuance of the act of the 1 May 1820.  I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 1 day of March 1818 & that
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I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof so as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war" passed on the 18 of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed.

Schedule
Two cows value $10
One mare value $10
$20
This property has been & is now [illegible] for a debt of $24 and he owes [illegible] $27
That his wife Christana Wilson aged 74 feeble and rheumatic and that he has no other person living with him; that his occupation was a farmer but thro old age & infirmity he is unable to pursue it.
Gilbreath his mark Wilson

Sworn & declared before me this eighth day of May 1821 at Pittsburgh in open court
Jonathan H. Walker
Judge of said court

United States of America
Western District of Pennsylvaia
On this eighth day of May 1821 personally appeared before me Judge of the United States in and for the western district of Pennsylvania Jacob Springer [illegible] an ensign in the revolutionary war who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that he first became acquainted with Gilbreath Wilson the within named applicant in the year 1777; he was then an enlisted soldier in Col. Moses Rawlings regiment in the line of the State of Maryland on the Continental establishment in the revolutionary war and against the common enemy; that the deponent belonged to the same Regiment and knew the applicant well as an honest man and brave soldier, that the deponent on his watch declared that he knows the applicant remained in the regiment until the close of war, on the Continental establishment & against the common
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enemy & further this deponent saith not .
Jacob Springer late an ensign in the revolutionary war

Sworn & declared before me this 8 day of May 1821 at Pittsburgh
Jon. H. Walker

United States of America
Western District of Pennsylvania
On this 8th day of May 1821 personally appeared before me Judge of the United States in and for the Western District of Pennsylvania Oliver Ormsby who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his
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oath depose that the within deponent Richard Sparr lived with his father for a number of years he believes him to be an honest man and that full reliance may be placed on his oath. 
O Ormsby
Sworn & subscribed before me this 8th May 1821
JH Walker

I [illegible] Walker clerk of the Distrcit Court of the United State for the Western Disctrict of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the depositions & schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is twenty seven dollars.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this first of November 1821
RJ Walker Clk.
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78,304
Gilbreath Wilson
Priv

Col Rawlings Maryland Regiment
1776- 3 years and subsequent service in an independent Regt. Was that Regt. Continental ?

Admitted
Allegany Coy.
[illegible] & placed in pigeon hole
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I RJ Walker clerk of the District court of the United States and for the Western District of Pennsylvania do hereby that the Judge of said has filed his opinion [illegible] the records of said stating his opinion that the within named Richard Sparr and Jacob Springer are perfectly credible and disinterested with [illegible]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court this seventh day of March A.D. 1822
RJ Walker Clk.
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17,378
Gilbreath Wildson
Allegheny Co. Peensa.
1st September, 1820
Coln. Rawlings Regt.
Maryland Line,
1776 to 1781 from that year, to end of war
The auditor General of Maryland is requested to certify from the rolls, the period of this applicant's service.
Worth $25
Debts $47
R. Walker, agent
Pittsburg, Penna.
7 Sept. 1820
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Application of Gilreath Wilson for a pension
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The applicant named not appearing on the rolls in the office & no certificate of the auditor General not being satisfactory the claim cannot be admitted without positive proof of the service  is received from credible & disinterested witnesses.  If he made a former declaration the [illegible] of it should be certified by the judge or clerk of court.
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Among the pleas enrolled in the District court of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania are the following extracted from the records of an adjourned court held in said district at Pittsburgh on the first day of September eighteen hundred and twenty and of the Independence of the United States, [illegible] forty fifth.

United States of America
Western District of Pennsylvania
On this first day of September eighteen hundred and twenty personally appeared in open court being a court of record in said district Gilbreath Wilson aged seventy eight years, resident in Allegheny county in said district, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the acts of Congress of the eighteenth March eighteen hundred eighteen hundred and eighteen and first of May Eighteen hundred and twenty that he the said Gilbreath Wilson enlisted for the term of three years on the _ day of July in the year seventeen hundred & seventy six in the state of Maryland in the company commanded by Capt. Richard Davis in the regiment commanded by Col. Moses Rawlings in the line of the State of Maryland at the infantry Continental establishment, that he continued to serve in said comp. untill the year seventeen hundred & eighty one, that in the year seventeen hundred & seventy nine he enlisted for and during the war under Lieutenant Adamson Tannehill at Fort Frederick in the State of Maryland in the Maryland Independent corps. & which was never filled up, that he continued to serve in the said corps till the conclusion of the war where he was discharged at Fort Pitt in the State of Pennsylvania by Gen. William Irwin; that in seventeen hundred and eighty four he sold him county Land & discharge
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That he was in the battles of Fort Washington & Trenton and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his service except this his own declaration; That he applied in the court of Common pleas of Allegheny county last January [illegible] the proceedings were transmitted to the Department of War as he [illegible] [illegible] by the President of said court, but to shich no answer has ever been returned. And in pursuance of the act of the first day of May eighteen hundred and twenty, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March eighteen hundred and eighteen and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner whatever disposed of my property so to diminish it or 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 eighteenth day of March eighteen hundred and eighteen; and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property securities contracts or debts due to one; nor have  I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
Two cows worth $10, 1 old mare worth $10, 1 colt worth $15. this property has been and is pledged for a debt of $24 and he owes debts to the amount of $27
That he has a wife Christine Wilson aged seventy four years feeble & rheumatic that he has no family residing with him, that his occupation was a farmer but this old age and infirmities, he is totally unable to work in any manner whatever.

Sworn to and subscribed before the judge of the said court this first day of September eighteen hundred and twenty.
Gilbreath his O mark Wilson

Jonathan H. Walker
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I Robert J. Walker clerk of the court in and for the western district of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said court; And I do further certify that it is the opinions of said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is twenty five dollars subject to the payment of debts to the amount of forty seven dollars; The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this first day of September eighteen hundred and twenty.
R. Walker Clk.
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Rev. and 1812
War Section.
November 26, 1926
Eng
Miss Grace Wilson
1514 Walnut St.
Edgewood, Pa. Swissvale P. O.
Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 39903,
it appears that Gilbreath Wilson enlisted in
Maryland in July 1776 and served three years
as a private in Captain Richard Davis' Company,
Colonel Moses Rawlings Regiment, and was in the battle of Fort Washington, and Trenton; and from 1779 to 1781, he served in Captain Adamson Tannehills Company of the Maryland Independent Corps.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 1, 1920, while a resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, aged seventy-eight years. The date and place of his birth are not on record.
In 1820, soldier referred to his wife, Christana,
aged seventy-four years. No further family data on file.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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39903
Revy 
INVALID
File No. 39.903
Gilbreath Wilson
Pri Rev War
Act: 18th March 18
Index:-Vol. S Page 567
[Arrangement of 1879]

1908 Oct. 16 History to F. W.  Powelson
1925 Nov. 12 Rev. Mr S Duncan adv as to name of soldier's wife W [illegible]
1926 Jan 26 Rev. John S. Duncan advised how to obtain date of each payment of pension lets- [illegible]
1926 Nov 26 Hist to Grace Wilson [illegible]
Page 17

G. Wilson
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Auditor's Office Annapolis, Dec. 7th 1821
I hereby certify, that it appears from the muster-rolls remaining in the Auditor's Office, that Gilbreath Wilson enlisted as a private in the Rawlings Maryland Regiment, on the __day of --
and was discharged on the __-
Thos Karney Aud S. M.
date of Enlistment and
discharge Blank on Roll
T. K.
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Gilbreath Wilson
Pa
Died July 29,1826
Sept 1822

Free
Pension Auditor's Office 
To the War Department
City of Washington

Pittsburgh Jul 24
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Pittsburgh July 20 1826

In obedience to your notice of the 30th Auditor's Office Annapolis, Dec. 7th 1821
requesting the United States Pensioner to report themselves.  I beg leave to report to your department that my mane is Gilbreath Wilson a U States Revolutionary pensioner.  I have long lived in Allegheny County and State of Pennsylvania and still continue to live in the same place, 
I am very
Respectfully yours [illegible]
Gilbreath his O mark Wilson

To the Honorable Secretary of War
Test M. B. Lourie 

I John Warner a U States Pensioner do also report that I have long lived in the county of Allegheny & state of Pennsylvania and still reside there.
John Warner
MB Lourie

Allegheny County Js.
I Mathew B Lourie a Notary Public by authority of the State of Pennsylvania do certify that I am personally acquainted with Gilbreath Wilson who signed his mark to the above report and also with John Warner who signed the above.  I am also personally acquainted with P. Fitzgerald who signed the enclosed report [illegible] these all to be U States pensioners & to resided in this county Witness my hand & Notarial Seal this 20th day of July 1826
Mathew B. Lourie Not Pub
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September 29, 1926
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions.
Revolutionary Section,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:
will you kindly send me from your records anything you have concerning GALBRAITH WILSON, who served in the 7th Virginia, which was organized in and near Pittsburgh, in what
is now Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.
I am quite sure he had a pension. He was in the battle of Brandywine and assisted Gen. Lafayette after he was wounded in that battle. He died about 1832, in Allegheny county, Penna.
Any dates or names that will assist in placing him, or the place of his birth will be very much appreciated.
with thanks for anything you may do for me, I am,
Yours very truly
(Miss) Grace Wilson
Miss Grace Wilson,
1514 Walnut Street
Edgewood, Penna.
Swissvale Post Office.
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REV. JOHN STEELE DUNCAN, D.D.
MERCER PENNSYLVANIA
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

October 12, 1925.

Dear Sirs,
Among my ancestors was one Galbraith Wilson, who was a soldier in the
War for American Indpendence. The war records show that the given name was
variously spelled, Galbraith, Gilbreth, Galbreth, Kilbreth, and even Colbreth.
The varied spelling of first names was, I believe, not at all uncommon in
that day. The records of the War Department show that he was a private in
Capt. Benjamin Riggs' Company, 7th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Col. John
Gibson. The records of the War Department are, however, not complete. What
we are most anxious to know is the name of this man's wife. He was my
great-great grandfather, and I have the line of my ancestry complete right
down the line with the exception of my great-great grandmother. At the
time of his death, and for many years before, Galbraith Wilson lived near
Pittsburgh, about twieve miles from the center of the city, at a place called
Whitehall. In the early days all of this section of the state was included
in Westmoreland County and some records of taxes show the name in that
county, but anything in your records would probably be in Allegheny County,
the county in which Pittsburgh lies.
Can you tell me if there is anything in the records of your department
which show anything that might give the missing name of the wife? without
this name I was admitted to membership in the Society of the sons of the
American Revolution, but I find that the D.A.R. requires the missing name. As
my sister wishes to apply for admission to the Society of the Daughters of
the American Revolution we are trying to get the name of Galbraith Wilson's
wife. If you can furnish me this name, I shall be grateful. Hoping to hear
Sincerely yours,
John S Duncan

Pension Office
H
Oct 14 1925
US
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REV. JOHN STEELE DUNCAN, D. D.
MERCER PENNSYLVANIA
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
December 14, 1925.
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs,
some weeks age you furnished me some facts concerning an ancestor who
was a soldier in the Revolution. From what you wrote me I was able to get
the date of his birth and the first name of his wife. I write to ask if
you can give me the date of his death. My reason for asking this is that
my daughter is seeking membership in the Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution. Her application has been sent in, but there is some
discrepancy between the dates we furnished and those of the National Society
of the D.A.R. These are the birth date and the death date of my ancestor
. According to your letter of some weeks ago he was born in 1744. Can
you tell me in what year he died. His name was Galbraith Wilson. The
first name is variously spelled in the records of the War Department. It is
spelled Galbreth, Gillbreth, Galereth, and even Collbreth. The correct
spelling is Galbraith. Now if you can give me the date of his death, I
shall be grateful. If possible, I should like to have it this week, as action
on the application is held back for the clearing up of this discrepancy
. Hoping, therefore, to hear from you soon and grateful for information
already furnished, I am
Sincerely yours,
John S. Duncan
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Md.
EDWARD B. FRANZHEIM
Archibald L. Klieves
Franzheim & Klieves
Architects
Wheeling West Virginia

Ocotber 6, 1908.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I have been trying to find the war
record of Gilbraith Wilson, who served in
the Revolutionary War. I have written to
the War Department, and they suggest that I
write to you.
If you can give me any information
on this subject, I will appreciate the same
very much.
Yours very truly,
F. W. Powelson
110-15th [illegible]

FWP/ET

Pension P 
Oct 7 1908
US
Office

Kindly return enclosed copy
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
November 12, 1925
Rev. John S. Duncan
Mercer
Pa.

Sir:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim, S. 39903, it appears that GILBREATH WILSON was living in
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1820, at which time he was
seventy-eight years of age.
The name of his wife was CHRISTINA or CHRISTIANA (her maiden
name not stated).
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
January 26, 1926

Rev. John S. Duncan
Mercer, Penna.
Sir:
I have to advise you relative to the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 39903, that in order to obtain the date of last payment of pension of Gilbreath Wilson, the name of person paid and possibly the date of his death, you should apply to the Record Section, Civil Division,
General Accounting Office, 1800 E. Street, N. W. Washington, D. C.
citing all of the following data: " Gilbreath Wilson,
Certificate No. 18651, issued June 17, 1832, rate $8 per
month, commenced September 1, 1820, Act of March 18, 1818,
Pennsylvania Agency"".
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 27

In reply to your request of __ received __
for a statement of the Military history of Gilbreth Wilson a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau.
S. File 39903
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
July 1776
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
3 years.
RANK.
Pri.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Richard Davis
COLONEL.
Moses Rawlings
STATE.
MD. Continental

DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
1779 to 1781
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
RANK.
Pri.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Adamson Tennehill
COLONEL.
MD Indp. Corps
STATE.
MD. Continental

Battles engaged in, Ft. Washington & Trenton
Residence of soldier at enlistment, enl in Md
Date of application for pension, Sept 1 1820
Residence at date of application, Allegheny Co, Pa
Age at date of application, 78
Remarks: 1820 wife Christana al 74