Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,358, for Michajah Posey, Pennsylvania
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Penn.
Posey, Michajah
Rachel
NUMBER
R. 8.358
CONTENTS
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State of Pennsylvania
Chester County SS

On this the Fifth day
of October 1853 personally appeared before
the subscriber an associate Judge of the ┃
County of Chester Rachal Posey a resident
of East Vincent township in said County
aged Eighty four years who being duly
sworn according to law doth declare in order to obtain the benefit of the
provision made by the act of Congress
passed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting
half pay and pensions to certain widows.
That she is the widow of Micajah Posey
who was a private in the Flying camp
during the Revolutionary war in Captain Hetherlings Company of Col Montgomery
battallion, that he was taken prisoner
at Fort Washington in 1776 and admitted
to parole in January 1777 under which he
continued one year. That he resided in
Chester County when he entered upon this
tour of duty and belonged to the
Pennsylvania portion of the flying Camp. That some time after he returned home
he enlisted in Captain Lusks company
of the Regiment of Col Harwed and was
discharged after serving three years at
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Princeton New Jersey. 
That she was married to the said Micajah
Posey on the 5th day of November 1793. that
her marriage certificate has been lost, that
her husband the said Posey died on the
31st day of March 1829. That he would have made an application for a pension
before he died but a severe attack of palsy
prevented his going to court to make his
declaration.
That she was not married to him previous
to his leaving the service but before the first
day of January 1794 at the time above stated. 
She further declares that she makes this
declaration in the alternative of obtaining
under that act of Congress which allows to
widows of Revolutionary soldiers a pension, if
they were married before the year 1800, in
case her first application is disallowed. 
That her husband the said Micajah Posey drew
a State pension.
That she would have made this application
before, but that in view of her having lost her marriage certificate she thought she could not obtain a pension.
X her mark Rachel Posey
sworn & subscribed before me
Mame Cohiene
Saml. Shafer
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I Judge as aforesaid do hereby certify
that Rachal Posey above named is too
infirm to attend Court to make her
declaration.
[signature] Saml. Shafer
Associate Judge

State of Pennsylvania
Chester County S.S. 
I William Wollerton Prothonotary
of the Court of Common Pleas in and
for the said County Do Certify that
Samuel Shafer Esqr. before whom the
foregoing affidavit was made, was at
the time thereof an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
of Chester County duly commissioned and qualified, and to all whose official as such due faith and credit are given
Witness my hand and the seal of the said Court at West Chester in
said County this Thirteenth day of October AD one thousand eight
hundred and fifty three
[signature] Wm Wollerton Prot.
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For information relative to said pension, you
should apply to the State Librarian at Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania.

Very respectfully,
[signature] G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner. 

[handwritten note} I did not make any definite statement about the troops he was in because the Pa. Archives how a man of his name in Lusk Harmer's regt. and it does not seem as if it ought to have been rejected when his officers offered testimony but I cannot help that now. And as far as her statements relative to war, etc. I used the words alleged. 

Posey - 2 -
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15266
Rachel Posey, widow of 
Micajah
Pa

8358
Let Hon. Wm Everhart
Feby 26 / 55
Hon G.W. Jones Feby 22 /56
Let. Wm J. Amweg Apl 18/61

Act July 7, 1838
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[circular stamp] U. S. PENSION OFFICE A
OCT 28 1915
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Revy
8358
P. O. of Pens
Rachel Posey
Service: Micajah
REJECTED 
Enlisted: , 18
Discharged: , 18
Application filed: , 18
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted: 
This soldier does not appear on the U.S. lists of Pa. Invalide printed in 1835 and
Attorney: I am not able to find his name as a 
P.O. pensioner on the printed archives of Pa. in the 2" series or 5 series. AW. Oct 28, 1915
Recognized. Contr
Cert. of Dis. Searched of , 18

[written perpendicular in left margin] 7915 Oct 28. Data to Dr. Wm C. Posey. AW 
1918 June 12 Hist. to Emma W. Sower
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Butte Mont.
June 4, 1918
Rev Rec
Juns
The Pension Bureau
Sirs, 
Kindly advise me
of any information in regard to
a certain
Micajah Posey, a
soldier of the war of the Revolution whose name is on the muster roll 
on file in Penn State Library
at Harrisburg Penn., 
Also of his widow Rachel Peck Posey
I am informed that he & widow
received a pension from the
government
for several years.
Any data in regard to residence
birth, marriage or death
would be of value & serve
as credentials for membership to
chapter of D.A.R.'s
at this
place -
Kindly mention the fee and
greatly oblige
yours truly
[signature] Emma W. Sower
728 N. Excelsior Ave. Butte Montana
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[circular stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE L
JUN 10 1918
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West Chester Pa
July 14 /56
Hon: & Dear Sir, 

I herewith send to
your care and special attention
the petition of Rachel Posey (relist of
Micajah Posey a soldier of the Revolution) for
a pension
from the U. States as stated in her petition she applied to the Pension office for relief and
as you will see (by the accompanying papers ) was refused on the ground of a want of service for the full him of six months.
The Department it seems refuses to allow for the time a soldier may have been on parol. 
At this remote period from the time of his service it is difficult to establish the full time he served but personally I have not doubt that he was in actual service for a  much longer period than even the rule requires to authorise a pension to his widow. By a reference to the recollections of my Grand-father Col: Thomas Bull I have no doubt you will find the name of Micajah Posey mentioned in terms calculated
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draw tears from the eyes of any true lover of Liberty See Recollections of Col. Thomas Bull in the Pension office.  
It seems to me that this is one of those cases to which gratitude demands that our Government should treat with great liberality. She cannot long need support. She has long been in extreme poverty. See then if you cannot obtain for her a liberal allowance and if possible let the bounty extend back some years to make up to some extent for the long time she has been in indigence. I could recount to you "tales of a Grandfather" connected with old "Cage Posey" which when a boy drew many a tear from my eyes and embittered my feelings against old England to such an extent that I never can feel cordially her friend. When he was released from "The Prison Ship" my Grandfather found him almost starved, took him up behind him on his horse, and by using nourishment delicately, brought him back to health after he had almost despaired of his life. 
I send this matter to you, after having
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consulted the Hon J. Hickman. He is of opinion that the action of Congress would be more speedy if the Bill for relief originated in the Senate. 
I send herewith the letter of the Pension Office to Hon Wm Everhart The note & memorandum of the Hon J Hickman in relation to requisites for obtaining a pension from that office. And the petition of the applicant accompanied with proof of cohabitation &c certificate &c
Be kind enough to let me hear from you on the receipt of this 
Very respectfuly & truly yours
Jas H. Bull

Hon: Wm Bigler
U.S.S. 
Washington
D.C.
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Pension Office
July 22d 1856.

Sir: 
I have the honor to enclose the papers in the case of Rachel Posey of Pennsylvania, and to inform you, that the letter of the 26th of February 1855, to Hom. Wm Everhart, discloses the time condition of her claim so far as the facts appear before this office. 

I am, Sir
Very Rsp'ly
Your Obt Sevt
J. Minot
Commissioner

Hon. Geo. W. Jones
Chm Com. on Pens.
U.S. Senate
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Washington July 17 o/56,

Sir, 
I am directed by Hon Geo. W. Jones, Chairman of  Com. on Pensions, to request you to furnish to this office, such information as you may be able, in reference to the petition of Effie Van Ness enclosed; also any information in addition to that contained in Comm's letter July 26 '/55 in regard to enclosed case of Rachel Posey. 
Respectfully I sans
H. B. Cozzens
Ck Com. on Pensions

To
Hon J. Minot
Comm Pensions
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Wm. J. Amweg
April '18
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Pension Office, 
February 26 1855.

Sir, 
I have received and examined the papers transmitted through you in support of a claim for pension of Rachel Posey, widow of Micajah Posey, an alledged revolutionary soldier.  
It appears he entered the service in Pennsylvania, in what is termed the "Flying Camp" in August 1776, was taken prisoner, and released upon parole on the 1st January 1777 = It was evidently for this service that he received a pension from the state of Pennsylvania, if he received one at all - of which there is no conclusive proof filed. The length of service thus shown is not sufficient to entitle the party to pension - being less than six months = A soldier is not entitle to the time he may have been on parole under the act of June 7, 1832. 

As to the service of the years in the continental army under Captain Lusk, there is no proof whatever files, and our rolls do not
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show that he so served. Possibly evidence of this service may be obtained on application at Harrisburg. 
The marriage in this case is not substantiated nor is the applicant identified as the widow of the soldier who is stated to have received a pension from Pennsylvania. 
The claim for these reasons is suspended for further proof, and the paper files under the act of July 7, 1838. 
Very respectfully
&c 

Hon Wm. Everhart
House of Reps. 

[written perpendicular in right margin] Feb 26 / 55
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Pension Office
Feby 26, 1855

Sir, 
I have received and examined the papers transmitted through you in support of a claim for pension of Rachel Posey, widow of Micajah Posey, an alledged revolutionary soldier. 
It appears he entered the service in Pennsylvania in what is termed the "Flying Camp" in August 1776, was taken prisoner and released upon parole on the 1st January 1777 - It was evidently for this service that he received a pension from the State of Pennsylvania, if he received one at all - of which there is no conclusive proof filed. The length of service thus shown is not sufficient to entitle the party to pension - being less than six months - A soldier is not entitled to the time he may have been on parole under the act of Jun 7, 1832. 
As to the service of three years in the continental army under Captain Lusk there is no proof whatever filed, and our rolls do not show that he so served. Possibly evidence of this service may be obtained on application at Harrisburg. 
The marriage in this case is not substantiated, nor is the applicant identified as to widow of the soldier who is stated to have received a pension from Pennsylvania. 
The claim for these reasons is suspended for further proof, and the papers filed under the act of July 7, 1838.
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3. J. Jones. Chester. 
Mich. Poseys
& Thos Bull } Deposition

Before Jesse James
Esquire of Chester County
W.R. Feb. 8. 1823. 
Clme

No 64

Bill $40 qur & $40 anna.
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Chester County ss

Seal              Before me Jesse James one of the Justices of the peace in and for the county of Chester Personally appeared Col. Thos Bull of the place aforesaid who after being sworn according to law deposed & said That what He certified under his hand to a Petition of Michajah Poseys directed to the General Assembly of this Commonwealth praying for an annuity for his services in the Revolutionary War was just & true

further saith not
Thos. Bull L Col

Sworn & Subscribed 
Jany 29" 1823
before me
Jesse James
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Chester County ss

Seal       Before me Jesse James one of the Justices of the peace in and for the county of Chester Personally appeared Michajah Posey of the place aforesaid who after being solemnly affirmed deposed and says That the statement made of his services and sufferings in the Revolutionary war in a Petition sent by him to the General Assembly of this Commonwealth praying for an annuity was just and true  And that his name was wrote to the same at his request and by his orders  And further saith not
Michajah Posey  his X Mark

Affirmed & subscribed before me at West Nantmeal Township Jany 28" 1823
Jesse James
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4. Morgan  B Chester
Rachel Posey Wid Rev
H.N. Dr 5 1828
Clm

4) 
Petition
of 
Rachel Posey
Widow of Micajah
Posey a Revolutionary
soldier pray F Relief
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4. Morgan  B Chester
Rachel Posey Wid Rev.
HN Dr 5 1828
Clm

4) Petition
of Rachel Posey
Widow of Micajah
Posey a Revolutionary
Soldier pray F Relief
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To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States

The petition of Rachel Posey, widow of Macajah Posey deceased, of the County of Chester, and State of Pennsylvania respectfully represents. 
That her late husband the said Michajah Posey was a soldier in the revolutionary war between the United States and Great Britain and was attached to the Flying Camp and while engaged as a soldier was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, conveyed on board a prison ship and there endured great suffering until he was finally released on parole. 
That he never received any pension or other assistance or relief from the Government of the United States. That he died on or about the 30th day of March A.D. 1828 and since that time your petitioner has remained a widow in extreme poverty. That she made an application to the pension office for a pension in the early part of the year 1855 and was informed no pension could be granted her unless she could prove her said husband had been in service during said war for at least six months exclusive of the time he was upon parole. That owing to the death of those who had knowledge of his suffering she was unable to prove a longer service by him there about five months. That your petitioner was married to the said Micajah Posey on the tenth day of November A. D. 1793 and lived with him as his wife until the time of his death and that no public record exists of their said marriage. Your petitioner is now in the 87th year of her age. 
She therefore humbly prays that such relief may be extended to her as under these circumstances
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may seem just and proper. 
Rachel Posey X her mark
Witnesses present The figures 1829 struck out and the figures 1828 inserted before signing
Addison May
Henry Shafer 

State of Pennsylvania 
Chester County SS. 
Rachel Posey the above petitioner being duly sworn saith that the facts set forth in the foregoing petition are such and true as she verify believes. 
Rachel Posey X her mark 

Sworn & subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said county this 10th day of July A D 1856
[signature] Nathan Michener

Witnesses present 
Addison May
Henry Shafer

State of Pennsylvania
Chester Co SS.
Mary McCord of the township of West Nantwell Co. & state aforesaid being duly affirmed declares & says That she was well acquainted with Micajah Posey that he and Rachel Posey his widow lived together as man and wife until the time of his death - That they had several children, That said Rachel has remained a widow since the death of her husband & in extreme poverty. 
[signature] Mary J McLord

Affd & subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace this 4th day of July AD 1856
[signature] Elijah Bull {sine}
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State of Pennsylvania
Chester Co: SS.

Henry Sheeler [and Mary McCord is struck thru] of the township of West Nantwell County aforesaid being duly affirmed declared and says that they was well acquainted with Macajah Posey that he was always reputed to have been a revolutionary soldier, That he and Rachel Posey his widow lived together as man & wife until the time of his death - that they had several children. That said Rachel has remained a widow since the death of her husband and in extreme poverty
[signature] Henry Sheeler
Affirmed & subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace this 10th day of July AD 1838.
[signature] Elijah Bull {seas}
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State of Pennsylvania
Chester County SS.

I James B. Jefferis Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do certify that Nathan Michener and Elijah Bull Esqrs before whom the foregoing affidavit and affirmations were made and taken were at the time the same bear date and now are acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county duly commissioned and authorized to take acknowledgements and to administer oaths for general purposes and that their signatures thereto are genuine as I verify believe.
Witness my hand and the seal of the said Court at West Chester this Fourteenth day of July AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty six
[signature] Mordecui T. Ruth
Dep. Prothy 

[circular seal affixed]