Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6307, for Abraham Lewis, Pennsylvania
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Penn. Lewis, Abraham R. 6307
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No. 25845
Abraham Lewis Randolph
County Virginia

J.J. Allen of
va

Return.
Re[illegible].

G. D. Camden
Clarksburg
va

S. Wyatt Glady Creek, & Roads [crossed out]
Randolph County Virginia [crossed out]
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BRIEF in the case of Abraham Lewis
County of Randolph in the State of Virginia
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Justice of the peace,

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 77 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
            | Years, Months, Days. | As a | Gen.
Entered 20th June In 1777 | 4-4-12 | Fifer | Cap [illegible], Cap Bird,

5. In what battles was he engaged? Iron Hill, Brandywine

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? New Castle County Pennsylvania

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence,

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

[x'd box] Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.

[illegible]
Examining Clerk.
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State of Virginia
County of Randolph 
On the 17th day of of April 1833
personally appeared before me John Horral,
one of the Commonwealth Justices of the peace in
and for the County of Randolph and state aforesaid
Abraham Lewis aged seventy five 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 posed hence the 7th 1832
That He enterd the service of the United States under the
following named officers and served as herein stated
He entered the service on the 20th day of June 1777 under
Captain Emanuel [illegible] and served until the first Day
of November 1781 being four yar, four Months and Twelve
days that he was a [Musation - illegible] a fifer for the Company
to which he belonged That during his services he was
in an engagement fought his General Maxwell at Iron Hill
where they were defeated and forced to retreat, which
they [illegible] across White Clay Creek with considerable loss
This he thinks took place about the 4 or 5th of September
1777 and about the 10th or 11th of the same month They
fought at the Battle of Brandywine; where after a days
Hard fighting they wore again forsced to retreat which
they Did to Chester; and there the Company Commander
by said Grub was discharged from said Army and wont to
where they had been befour these ingagements scouting
About the Delaware River to provent the Enemy from
Plundering there and to check the [illegible] and keep these from
furnishing the British with Provisions He That a [illegible]
Time after the Battle of Iron Hill and Brandywine
Captain Grubs health became bad and he resigned his officer
as Captain and Lieutanant Thomas Bird was appointed
Captain of said Company in his room who remained to
be the Captain during the service That during this time
of service He assisted in Hanging six Tories two at
one time and 4 at an other and let two of by [illegible]
five hundred Lashes will Laid [illegible] and agreeing to serve
in said Company so long as its services should be required; The
Tories that was Executed was left hanging on trees on the
Bank of the Delaware River not fore above Wilmington
Their names he has forgotton The reason they dealt so harsh
with them they wore Caught furnishing the Enemy with
fresh Provisions one of those Tories who was [illegible] was by
the name of Iseral Rumboe the others name he has forgotten
This declarant further stats that Captain [illegible]
was Pertickrlur fond of a March called Stones Grinds all
The time frequently [illegible] his mind Yet when sitting in his
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Lonesome Cobban unable to troute about and reminds
him of Old Langsine the company to which this
declarent belonged was Volunteer and had formed its
self for the special purpose of Protecting the
inhabitance on the Delaware from the ravages of
the British and Tories That they scouted about
and never wore incamped more then a week at
one Place unless When they wore found to the
Main Army Which the always did when a
Battle was expected in the country near
about where they wore [illegible] This declarent
resided in New Castal County Brandy Wine Hundreds
in the State of Pennsylvania When he entered the
Army: He dose not recolect of getting a written
discharge from the Army nor has he any documentary
Evidence nor he knows of no one living by which
he could Prove his services He being seldom in
Company with officer except those of his company
he know none They never being long stationed with
Any of the register officer of the Army after the
Battle of Brandy Wine this declarant states that his
company was sent back from where they had come
he further states that when they got home they
were let on furloe for two Days to go where and
do as they pleased,
He Hereby relinquishes every balance whatsoever
to a Pension or annuity except the Present
and he declaors that his name is not on
the Pension roll of any agency in our state
Sworn and Subscribed the Day and year aforesaid
Abraham Lewis
Sworn before me
John Havvas J M R 6
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4 | 4 | 12 | one Lower
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25,845
Abraham Lewis
Virginia
Feb 21 Mar: 35 Co: Clulc
Rejected

6307

Act 7th June 1833
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6307
P.O. 
Abraham Lewis
Service:
Enlisted: REJECTED [stamp], 18  .
Discharged: ,18  .

Application filed: , 18  .

Alleges: 
Re-enlisted: 

Attorney: 
P.O. 
Recognized.  Contract.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Abraham Lewis which require
further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes

V. *Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension
he is entitled? yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?
yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? the Justice of peace has

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? yes
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2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service? yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining 
it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes

XIV. [dagger symbol] If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. [double dagger symbol] Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
---------------------------------------------------------
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. 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 his 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 ------months
and ------days, I served as a ------; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3

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 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served ; the duration
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 field or in garrison ; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not 
employed in any civil pursuit.
[dagger symbol] QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
[double dagger symbol] QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
[symbol: hand with finger pointing to the right] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

[handwriting] The applicant must give the Col under
whom he served
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
11th Sept 1833
SIR :
I return herewith the papers in support of the claim['s' crossed out] of the person['s' crossed out] whose
name[''s crossed out] ['are' crossed out] is hereto annexed.
These papers are in several respects defective. ['Each' crossed out] This case is accompanied
by a brief. The objections are contained in the negative answers, in red ink,
given to the questions.
Particular attention should be paid to the accompanying regulations and to
the explanatory notes subjoined to the brief.
The extraordinary press of business in this office, arising from the great
number of claims under the act of June 7, 1832, has hitherto prevented us from
attending to the applications sent by you. The investigation of the cases presented
under this law has been difficult and laborious, and notwithstanding the
greatest exertions have been made by this Department, an earlier attention to
your business has been found impracticable.
The brief has been prepared to meet all cases, and thus to save the excessive
labor which would otherwise be imposed upon the office, and which would
consume so much time as to render the delay two fold greater than it now is in
the investigation of claims and writing letters. Each case is considered correct
in all respects except in relation to those questions to which a negative answer is
affixed. No other alteration or addition will be required.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
J L Edwards

S. Wyatt Esq
Glady Crek xe Roads
Randolph Co
Va
Abraham Lewis.
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Amendment [handwriting]
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State of Virginia
Randolph County
Personally appeared before the subscriber
a Justice of the Peace in and for said County
Abraham Lewis who on the 17th day of April
1833 before John Harras a Justice of the Peace
for said County of Randolph, made a Declaration
 in order to obtain a pension under the
act of the 7th June 1832, who being duly sworn,
by way of amendment to his said Declaration
stating thou Cap. Grubbs Company in which
officint served belonged to Col Stephensons
Regiment (his first name he has forgotten).
Andrew Waggoner was the major under
Col. Stephenson Abraham Lewis [signature]

Sworn and Subscribed before me a
Justice of the Peace this 25th day
of November 1833.
David Holden J.D.
State of Virginia
Randolph County. ⎬ [illegible]
I Archibald Earle Clerk
of the County Court in the County and
State aforesaid, do hereby certify thou
David Holder is a Justice of the
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Peace as above and thou the forejoining
signature purporting to be his is genuine
Given under my hand and
seal of the said County
this 27th day of November
1833.
AEarle clkRC
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Abraham Lewis-Appl
Ran Cty

Not Enleltis [illegible]-
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Abraham Lewis - Applicant

On Nov 1, 1834, this mane made the following Statement. was born in Chester County Pennsylvania in1758, and lived in the State of Delaware at the commencement of the Revolutionary war.  In his seventeenth year of age, can't recall in what year, he attached himself to Capt Manuel Grubb's Company of minute men, which in this company, it was called down the Delaware River to prevent the British from landing.  He, Lewis, was fifer whenever the company was called on for service.  himself & the Drummer had to turn out.  He continued in this kind of service until he was called out to the Battle of "Iron Hell" . Grubswas his captain in that battle and  was defeated.  he had given at this time at least two months.  from the Iron Hill he went to Brandywine, was that battle in which the American army was "beaten".  Thinks Washington commanded.  After the Battle was over, he was taken off to guard the [illegible].  He continued
in this kind of service until the close of the War.  Capt Byrd was his Captain after the Battle of BrandyWine.  Putting all his service together he thinks he was in actual service for eighteen months.  He was called on at all times after being fifer.  Was not known there any of his neighbors.  George Nester and Wyatt are his agents.  They both claim the particulars but did not at deem his service.

Abraham Lewis

Note this is a very improbably story and the [illegible] untrue.  The opinion of his neighbor is decidedly against him.   If nothing less than proof could satisfy me of his right

W. Singleton
Nov 26 1834
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Abraham Lewis
director for Pensions

25.845

S. Wyatt Agent

Clady Creek and Roads 
Randolph Co. Va.
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We Simeon Harris, a clergyman residing in the County of Randolph and State of Virginia and Solomon Wyatt - residing in the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with Abraham Lewis who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration. that we him to be seventy five years of age.  that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and we Concur in that opinion.   sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Simeon Harris
Sol Wyatt

And I John Harris the Justice of the peace before whom the above proceeding were taken do hereby declare that it is my opinion after an investigation of said case and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and I do further certify that Simeon Harris who has signed the Preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Randolph and State of Virginia and that Solomon Wyatt who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place and is a creditable person and that their statements is entitled to Credit and I further certify that that the foregoing contains the original proceedings before me in relation to the application made by the said Abraham Lewis for Pension.  in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of April 1833

John Harris

and the Interrogatories prescribed by the war deportment being then propounded to the applicant were answered as follows:

To the 1st and 2nd, he says he was born in Chester County Pennsylvania in the year 1758. his age is written in a Bible which is with his Brother Evan, person who lives in the state of Ohio.

To the 3d He was living in Newcastle County when called into service in Brandywine hundreds in the state of Pennsylvania. He states that service he was discharged from the Army he came
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To Winchester Fredrick County Virginia and from there then he removed to or was residing of Union Town Pennsylvania.   from there he removed to Harrison County Virginia near County Lord, from there he moved to the [Cows] in Randolph County where he has resided for the last five years and where he now lives.

To the 4th.... he does not recollect how he was got in to the service but thinks that it was general call for all person, able to bear Arms and all who was not [illegible].  Turned out his Company was called a volunteer Company since they were not drafted.

to the 5th.... He never served with any other officer then those who commanded the company to which he belonged except at the Battles of Iron Hill & Brandy Wine and perhaps for 8 or ten days before. he got acquainted with none of the regular officers of the army.  His service was as [illegible] and the Company was principally kept a long term.  During one year reconnitering and checkinf the Tories and British and never was in any particular engagements except the Battles of Iron Hill and Prandywine.  The company never lay at any place long but was always often the scout.  He never was dismissed - only two days in all.

To the 6th.... he answers and says he never did receive a written discharge as he can recolect but he took the oath of allegiance when he joined the army; But has lost that certificate

To the 7th.....He states that he is well known in his neighbourhood by the Rev. Simeon Harris and Col Solomon Wyatt and many others all of whom do believe he has been revolutionary soldier. (the 3d Day after the Battle of Brandywine he again entered the service)

propounded by me, Abraham Lewis

John Harris, JP
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I, John Harris, a justice before whom these proceedings was taken, do further certify that Abraham Lewis the present aplicant for Pension cannot attend attend the Court of Randolph County in order to have an investigation be fore the Court of said County on the account of Bodily infirmities

John Harris, JP


Virgin
Randolph County 

I Archibald Earle, Clerk of the County Court of Randolph do hereby certify that John Harris before whom the foregoing declaration of Abraham Lewis for a pension
appears to have been taken also the certificates the annexed, is a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Randolph and that the foregoing signature to said declaration and  certificates thereto attached purporting to be the signatures of the said John Harris  are genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Beverly this 27th day of June 1833

A Earle, Clerk