Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22106, John Barns, Md.
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Service
MD

Name
Barns, John

Number
S.22106
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25708
Penn Pittsburgh
John Barns
of Northumberland in the state of Penn
who was a private in the co commanded 
by Captain Holland of the Regt commanded
by Col. Mercer in the MD
line for 8 months

Inscribed on the roll of Penn & Pittsburgh at the rate of 26 dollars 66 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of Dec 1833 and sent to Jos J Young Greensburg Penn

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 - $66.65
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mar 34 $13.33
$79.98

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Wm R Palmer - Clerk
Book E Vol Five page 72
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State of Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County

On this twenty-first day of November AD 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable John Young and his associates holding a court of Common Pleas in said court of Westmoreland now sitting John Barns a resident of Unity Township in said county and state aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following supplementary declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832.

That he knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure to establish the grades in which he served as mentioned in the foregoing declaration - that at one time he could have been fully established by a certain Jacob Brewer who has long since died in this county - that he now declares for a pension as a simple private for all of said tours as mentioned in his former declaration which is hereto annexed - 

That he entered the service by volunteering in the Hartford Greens on the first day of September 1776 under the command of Francis Hollard for the term of four months - and was dismissed from said tour on or about the thirty-first day December 1776.

That he also as stated in the foregoing declaration volunteered on the twenty-ninth day of July 1777 in the same company and under the same Captain for the term of five months - and was dismissed as he believes about the last of September or first of October in the same year - it was at all times a day or two before the expiration of the two months or a day or two after - 

That his declarant volunteered under Captain Samuel Smith in the Hartford Greens for the term of two months on or about the first of June 1778 and was dismissed sometime about the first of August 1778.

This declarant claims a pension for the term of eight months - This declarant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the roll of the agency of any state

John Barns

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
attest. Randal McLaughlin - Proth.
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Westmoreland County

I Randal McLaughlin Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing supplementary declaration contains the original proceedings in the same in the matter of the application of John Barns for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Greenburgh the twenty-first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.

Randal McLaughlin - Prot.

SEAL
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No 25153  25708

John Barns Westmoreland
County Pennsylvania
Witness proves service - not given

Adm 8 Months
$26.66

Jos J Young, Greensburgh
Westmoreland County Penna
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War Department
Pension Office
11 June 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 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 show 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 showing the service of John Barns Westmoreland County Pennsylvania

Period with the service was rendered:
1. Vol 1 Sept 1776
2. Vol 29 July 1777
3. Vol June 1778

Duration of the claimant's service
1. 4 months
2. 2 months
3. 2 months

Rank of the claimant:
1. Serg't
2. Serg't
3. Serg't

Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served:
Gen Mercer
1. Capt. Holland
2. Capt. Holland
3.Capt. Smith

Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service:
77 years
Harford County Maryland

Proof by which the declaration is supported:
Traditionary evidence & one witness papers correctly attached.

Battle of White Plains

I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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-2-
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," all 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 Volunteers. 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, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians 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 County 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 (d) , 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 served 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 (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, 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 and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 day 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 after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. 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 it neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if 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 of his
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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. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? To an Officer. 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 done, 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 open 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 claimant must invariably be mentioned. [d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. [e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must 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 precisely 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 bis service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For year months, and days, I served as a ; For mouths and days, I served as a and for such service I claim a pension." {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 three 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, &c. without specifying the tours, the names 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 au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie was either in the field 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 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. Proof of Service. [j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the 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 line to 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 [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in 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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The Declaration of John Barns of Westmoreland County State of Pennsylvania in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832 - 

State of Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County

On this eighth day of April AD 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable John Young and his associates holding a court of Common Pleas in said county of Westmoreland now sitting John Barns a resident of Unity Township in said county and state aforesaid aged seventy-seven 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 act of congress passed June the 7th 1832 - 

That he is a native of Harford County in the state of Maryladn. That on the first of September seventeen hundred and seventy-six at Susquehanna Hundred in said county and state he entered the service by volunteering in the Harford Greens for the term of four months - the company to which the said John belonged was commanded by Capt. Francis Holland. First Lieutenant John Carlisle - Second Lieutenant William Young - Ensign Robert Morgan - First Sergeant Aquila Picker - this company consisted of about eighty eight men besides the commanding officers - we were marched to Perth Amboy in New Jersey where we remained about three weeks under the command of General Mercer when we were marched to [illegible] force Fort Washington but when crossing the North River we learned that said fort was taken by the British when we were marched to Fort Lee where we destroyed our stores through fear the British would obtain them, as they were in close pursuit of us and from thence to the White Plains where we had an engagement and was obliged to retreat to Brunswick Heights on the Raritan River from thence to Trenton in New Jersey where we were dismissed about the thirty-first of December 1776. This declarant again volunteered at Susquehanna Hundred in the county of Harford State of Maryland on the twenty-ninth day of July 1777 in the same company commanded by Francis
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Holland for the term of five months. We marched from Headquarters at the house of a certain Amos Garrett in Persooci Hundred in the state of  Maryland to the landing on the Chesapeake Bay, thence by the order of Lieutenant Dullam to Persooci Island from which plan we drew to the Maryland side three hundred and fifty cattle through fear the British coming up the bay under the command of Lord Howe would take them. The declarant continued with the company near the bay of the Chesapeake watching the British until his five months expired when he was dismissed with the rest of the company - 

The declarant again volunteered or was called into service in a company commanded by Samuel Smith (Francis Holland having been advanced to the rank of Colonel) on or about the first of June 1778 for the term of two months - We were marched to the head of Eck thence to New Castle to keep the Tories in order and from stealing cattle for the British then returned to the Head of Eck where we all remained until dismissed which was sometime about the first of August 1778.

The declarant further states that the "Harford Greens" the company in which he served as aforesaid had volunteers that served as "minute men" for the term of eighteen months during which term the said company was called into service at the different periods above stated, except the last when this declarant with the few remaining of Capt. Holland's company volunteered in the company of Captain Smith - as above stated - 

This declarant claims a pension for the term of eight months being the whole time he was in the actual service of the United States - 

This declarant further states that he had no documentary evidence to establish the fat of his service and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to the same, except Alexander Ford whose deposition is hereto annexed.

This declarant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

John Barns

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid - 

Attest - Randal McLaughlin - Proth.
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Interrogatories propounded by the Court as follows - 
Question 1 - Where and in what year where you born?
Answer - In Susquehanna Hundred, Harford County in the state of Maryland - and in the year 1756

Quest 2 - Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?
Answer - I have not

Quest 3 - Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Answer - In Susquehanna Hundred, Harford County Maryland Since I first left Maryland, I have lived in Unity Township Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania which is near forty years

Question 4 - How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer - Volunteered

Question 5 - State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Answer - Colonel Hall who commanded the Maryland Regiment of Regulars, Colonel Samuel Smith, Major Carlisle, & many others I might mention - the last of the foregoing question is answered in the declaration.

Quest 6 - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so, by whom was it given & what had become of it?
Answer - I never did was always dismissed as they were all at the end of each tour.

Question 7 - State the names of the 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
Answer - James Fleming, Doctor, John Morrison, Abram Horbach, Simon Drum, Hon Richard Coulter

John Barns

We John White a clergyman residing in Mt. Pleasant & Simon Drum residing in the Borough of Greensburg Westmoreland County hereby certify that we are acquainted with John Barns who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; That we believe him to be seventy-seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

Simon Drum
John White

Sworn to and subscribed the day ad yar aforesaid

Randal McLaughlin - Proth.
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State of Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County

On the twenty-seventh day of February AD 1833 personally appears before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county Alexander Ford who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that he has been acquainted with John Barnes from the time they were both lads grown - that he lived in Harford County in the State of Maryland when the said declarant John Barns served in the company called "Harford Greens" at different periods in the service of the United States - and further this deponent states that the periods are the same as mentioned in the foregoing declaration of the said declarant - and this deponent further saith not.

Alexander Ford

Sworn & subscribed before me

James Keenan

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above-named applicant John Barnes was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that Simon Drum who signed the preceding certificate is a resident of Greensburg in the county of Westmoreland and that John White who signed the same certificate is a clergyman & a resident of Mount Pleasant in the same county and that they are credible persons that their statement is entitled to credit - and the said court further certifies that James Keenan is an acting Justice of Peace in & for the county of Westmoreland and that the certificate below was annexed when this declaration above was presented to the court.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this twenty-seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three

Randal McLaughlin - Proth.

Westmoreland County

I James Keenan a Justice of the Peace in and for said county do certify that Alexander Ford the above deponent from old age, bodily infirmity & extreme sickness is unable to attend the court now sitting at Greensburg for thee said county and do further certify that Alexander Ford the above deponent is a man of truth - witness my hand and seal this twenty-seventh day of February, AD 1833

James Keenan
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22106
Revolution
INVALID

File No 22106
John Barns
Priv Rev War

Act June 7th '32

Index Vol 2 Page 21

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

John Barns pensioner Act 1818 or 1832
Pennsylvania Roll

25708
'32
[illegible]
Mar 9/57
Page 15

Brookville, Jefferson, County [illegible]

In his [illegible] James Buchanan
Page 16

25138

John Barns

J.J. Young
Greensburgh
Penna
Page 17

Westmoreland County

I Randal McLaughlin Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of John Barns for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.

Randal McLaughlin - Proth.