Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,278, for Conrad Reager, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3-1778)
SERVICE
Penn. 
Reager, Conrad
NUMBER 
S. 14278
carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

[illegible] at Treasury, under 
Oct 6 April 1838, from
4th Sept 1843 to 7th Feb.
1844. Agent notified 20 Apl
1845.
letter M. W. Irwin Aug 25 49
Letter to Honl. J. N. Hone
Jany 15, 1850
Letter G H[illegible 21 Jul [illegible] 2

[right side] 
sleigh
11932
Pennsylvania
Conrad Reager 

Fayette Co in the State of Pennsylvania
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Houseman of the Regt commanded
by Col Slough in the Pa man
line for 18 mo.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
the rate of 60 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of July
1833 and Sent to

Hon. A. Stewart, U. Town
Arrears to the 4th of March 1831 $120.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept
30.00
$150.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 5 Page 89
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Declaration of 
Conrad Reager
Revolutionary Soldier












(18 months)
Page 4

State of Pennsylvania
Fayette County } ss on the 4th day of June 1833 appeared in open court before the Judge of the court of common pleas of Fayette Co Conrad Rager aged seventy seven years who being duly sworn according to low doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832

That he was born in .... county Pennsylvania on the 8th of March 1756 where he first entered the service of the United States as a drafted militia man about the first day of September 1776 - when the British lay at Staten Island and Elizabeth Town that he went out first under the command of Captain Leonard Randfarm Colonel Slough & Haverstick that they went to Elizabeth Town where they could see the British army across the water that he remained out six weeks when he was discharged that he next went out under command of Captain Houseman for one month this was about a month after he return from Elizabeth Town above mentioned went to Trenton New Jersey - The next tour was for the same term one month under Captain Yesler under Col. Ross He then went out again after being at home a month under Captain Houseman for one month went to Brunswick New Jersey for part of the time Col Hough commanded he afterwards went out under different officers many of whose names he cannot now recollect being other ... month & sometimes longer for three years but mostly under command of capt Houseman & different genl.(?) officers
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continued to perform monthly tours of service to the end of the war that the whole time he was in service would he thinks about to two years but to be certain & within the time he will put it down at Eighteen months that he continued to live in Lancaster County for two years after the war & then removed to the Connecheage settlement from where he still resides. That he had some paper which he got during the war but they are all now long distroyed & he dont mean whether they were discharges or not.
he has therefore no documentary evidence nor does he have any witness or testify living by whom he was known for service.
he hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the payment and
did say that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
in answer to the interrogations
required to be propounded be answers as follows
1. I was born 8 March 1756 in [Lancaster?] Co Pa
2.  That his age is recorded in a German testament at home
3. When called into service he lived in [Lancaster?] and that afterwards some years he lived in Franklin. & for 40 years has lived in Fayette O.
4. went over [as a?] drafted militiaman
5. for [?] to the ten be refers to the foregoing statement 
6. dont know that he has any discharge in writing of and if it is now distroyed [sic] or lost
7. the [illegible]
Conrad Reager
Clerk
from Subscribed in open court

4 June 1833 H W Beeson  Proth
Page 6

n
the Revd John Phillips and EP Oliphant, Esq both of Fayette County Penna certify that we are acquainted with Conrad Rager who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where
he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion
John Phillips
 E Oliphant
from John Phillips and affirmed by EP Oliphant [?] and subscribed by both in open Court 4th June 1833
E. Oliphant Proth

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war Department that the above named
applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states
And the said Court for this certifies that it appears to them that the above Signed John Phillips is a clergyman Resident in Fayette County and that P. P. Oliphant Esq is resident of the same place & that they are credible persons & that there [sic] statement is entitled to credit
I Henry W. Beeson Prothonotary
of the Court of Common pleas of said County of Fayette do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of
Conrad Reager for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of office this 4th of June 1833.
Henry W Beeson Proth
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
SECOND COMPTROLLERS OFFICE.
January 27th 1846
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, the child of Conrad Reager, decd
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pittsburg, Pa.
Agency, at the rate of Sixty [seven?] Dollars and        Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the
4th of Sept. 1843, to the 7th Feb'y 1844.
Respectfully, yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller
To the COMMISONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
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Conrad Reager Fayette County
Penn


Admitted 
18 mos
$60

Andrew Steward Union Town Penn
Page 9


WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
12 Mar 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 shew what is
necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). 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 shewing the Service of Conrad Reager Fayett County Pennsylvania
Draft Sept 1776   1 month 12 days private Cap Randfun, Col? 77 years Traditionary
Slough & Haverstick
Lancaster County Pennsylvania Paper authenticated
Served 1 month Cap Housemon
Served 1 month Cap Yesler, Col Rep
served 1 month Cap Housemon, Col Slough

Served under different officers every other month for 3 years he claims only for 18 months
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant, 
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were 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 the 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 Volunteer 
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
 4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claim ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians [sic] 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 by 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 }ss
On this     day of    personally appeared (a) before 
A. B. a resident (b) of      in the county of      and State, Territory or District of      aged (c)      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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year      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 the service; (and if he had under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers, the town or county 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 his 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 B. 
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 points out 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with       and C.D. residing in (the same subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be who has        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 for 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 certifies, that it appears to them that A. E. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the       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 the 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 it 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
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 your services.                                                                                                              6. To a Soldier To and Officer} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it signed and what has become of it? 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, and their belief of your services 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 don 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, 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 he is 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 certificates.
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 [?] 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 declarant must invariably be mentioned.
(d)	The declarant must mention the period or persons of the war when he served. Every continental officer or sooner must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every Clement and 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 or recall 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 , and in the following grades:--For---year----months, and for such service I claim a pension." 

(e)	It is important, in 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 of his service. The use of the phrase about here 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, went specifying the tours, the sale of the 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 said 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. of the assistant Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and has be 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 Militiamen, 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.
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14278
INVALID.
File No. 14.278
Conrad Reager
Priv. Rev. war
Act: June 7th 1852
Index:-Vol. 1, Page 313
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

Washington Jany. 2. 1850
n.L. Edwards
Sir
I have the honor
Page 14

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
FREE
[black ink stamp: UNIONTOWN JUN 22 Pa.]
Page 15

JL Edwards
I herewith return these papers of Conrad Reager with the required corrections.
I think in justice he ought to have
full pension but having
that his service is at 18 months
he lets it stand so. Although he
swears to more than two years which
appears where he gives a more minute detail.
She speaks her English very badly
and in the hurry about it was [?] 18 months
[illegible],
A. Stewart
June 20, 1833
Page 16

Mercer Penna Feb 4 1852
Hon Jas E Heath
Sir
The Legislature of Penna before granting a pension to widows require "A Certified Copy from War Department of the documents on which a pension was procured" as evidence of the right of the widow. Will you therefore please send me a copy of the evidence in which a pension was granted to "Conrad Reager" lately of Westmoreland County died who was a Revolutionary pensioner. And was
I think a corporal in the cavalry-- so as to enable his widow main the benefits of said Con
and this by your kind act "make the widows
heart laugh for joy" and prove yourself
to be, what you definitely are, the "widows
friend"
With Respect
Truly Yours
Samuel Holstein
Page 17

Union Town
Penna my 20th 19
To J. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir:
The heirs of Conrad Reg[Struck Thru] (or Rager) late a pensioner and soldier of the Revolutionary War allege that their father in his life-time did not receive the semi-annual
payment due him as a pensioner for a part of the year of 1842.
The deceased pensioner had been drawing his pensions from the pension Agency at Pittsburg, and his heirs think he was enlisted from Pennsylvania. This is the only description I can obtain of the case, but the only allegation and claim is that he neglected to have drawn so much as is above mentioned of his pension as was due him. No doubt the records of your office will furnish the facts. Will you be good enough to inform me
Page 18

upon the subject
Respectfully
Your Obt. Sevt
M.W. Irwin
Page 19

Fayette County
Pennsylvania

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and from said County Conrad Rager who being duly sworn deposeth  & saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services.
but according to the best of his recollection to
served not less than the periods mentioned at
and in the following grades: For six weeks I served as a drafted militiaman in Captain Randfarms Comp
of A J. McT[?] S  :. Slough at this term of service two weeks over my term having drafted for one month; for one month I served as a drafted Militiaman in Capt Housemans compy of A.J. [Nistakes?] Col Slough,
For one months I served as a drafted militiaman in Capt Yesters company of New J militia, this service was performed in the year 1776 in the year 1777 he went out as a militia man under captains Powel Houseman in March and served one month in New Jersey that
he continued to serve every alternate month and sometimes more than a month during this year 1777
he went out under different officers but oftener under Capt Housman, Captain Ross and Captain Randfarm than any others he recollects serving under Col Ross, Col Haverstick, Genl Mercer Genl Green and many 
others in 1778 he was not a member of tours of a month each under the above named officers and others 
Capt Smith was his captain for several tours and Capt Jones and others whose
names he cannot now remember in
this year he was out at least five months in 1779 he was also out at least three
tours of one month each in 1780. 1781 and 1782 he was out in the militia on monthly tours under different officers some above named but owing to old age he cannot now undertake to designate the particular months in each year that he served, nor the names
of the officers but he is confident he was out as much as four months in each year he was out when Cornwallis was captured and afterwards was out in
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the militia in New Jersey and in Pennsylvania at
different tours of a month & two months at a time till the war was over and peace was restored
he was in almost every part of the State of
New Jersey and the Eastern part of Pennsylvania and Maryland at Charles
the head of Elk, Trenton Elizabeth Tour,  Brunswick, Allentown, Valley Forge, Lancaster Philadelphia, Reading, Fort Lee  Fort Washington and many other places He was
out more or less every year during the war from 1776 1783 for some of that year he was out more than half the time & some less he thinks the average would not be less than five months, but owing to old age & is infirmities and his inability at that time to speak English being a German he is unable to give a minute description of his service as to dates & names besides his heath by been bad and for fifteen years he has not been able to work or walk except on crutches he was always
dependant [sic] on his daily labor for
subsistence and since he has been unable
to work say for fifteen years) he has been
dependent entirely or Charity & his neighbors
and friends for a subsistence, he verily believes
he was out nearer three years than Eighteen
months he would have been definitely safe
in saying he was out two years but having
in his declaration put it down at Eighteen
months he is now willing to let it stand at that for which he claims a pension
He knows of no witness to serve his services
Conrad (his mark) Reager
Sworn & Subscribed
Before James Lindsay
June 20 1833
Pennsylvania
Fayette County ⎬ I Henry W. Beeson Prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas in the forsaid County do certify that James Lindsay Esq is a magistrate as stated in the foregoing & that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand &  affixed the seal of said Court at Minor town the 20th
day of June 1833
Henry W. Beeson
Proth
Page 21

I hereby certify that I have known Conrad
Reager the foregoing named applicant for
more than thirty years who is a German
and always sustained the character of
an industrious and honest man, & has had
the character of having been Revolutionary Soldier__ for 12 or 15 years he has being on crutches and has been entirely dependent on private charity for a  subsistence
Andrew Stewart
June 20th 1833