Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40,515, for Levi Starling, Pennsylvania
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE New York Penn.
Starling or Sterling, Levi
NUMBER S. 40.515

CONTENTS
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[left side]
13,712 R
Pennsylvania

Levi Sterling of Phila Co in the State of Pennsyl, who was a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Gansvoort of the New York line, for the term of six years   War

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 26th of June 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 4th of August 1819 and sent to D. Caldwell Esqr
Philadelphia

Arrears to 4th of March 1819 66.36
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep 1819 48.
8 mo. 8/30 4/30  $114.36

Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818

[illegible] Continued

[right side]
Letter to C E DuBois 17 Sep 1838
Death Certificate [illegible] 4 Oct  1838 and sent to C. E. Dubois Doylestown Penna

[sideways]
Date of death not on AB

Certification sent July 24th 1820 to Dr. Samuel Moore Doylestown Pa.
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Levi Sterling
77-6 years

Service
Admitted
New York rolls

Certificate of need not annexed in this case to the Genl Certificate

I sent the certificate that I was satisfied of the Need of the applicant, in a Separate Paper
Richard Peters
P----
29th July 1819
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Penns'a District 
Adam Happel of the City of Philadelphia being sworn according to law deposes and says that during the war of the revolution he was a soldier in a Regiment of the New York line, on the continental establishment, then commanded by Colonel Gansvoort and that he was well acquainted with Levi Starling who was a Corporal in the same Regiment, and served with him during a term of more than three years, and that the Levi Starling who is now an applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of April 18. 188. is the same Levi Starling with whom he was acquainted as aforesaid
The Mark of
Adam X Happel

Sworn to & subscribed this 26th day of June 1818 before me

Richard Peters
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DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, ss.
On this Twenty sixth day of June A. D. 1818, before me, Richard Peters, Judge of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Pennsylvania District, personally appeared Levi Sterling
of Philadelphia County who being duly sworn deposes and declares, that during the War of the Revolution he served against the common enemy as a Sergeant in the army on the Continental Establishment, that on the -- day of A. D. 1777 near Kings Ferry in the state of New York he enlisted in Captain Craig's company and was afterwards transferred to Captain Orson's company in Colonel Gansvoort Regiment of the New York Line on the continental establishment, that on the reformation or consolidation of the said Line, the company to which he belonged was transferred to the first Regiment commanded by Colonel Van Schaich that he continued in service until the peace of 1783 when he received an honorable Discharge. That he served for the term of Seven years & eight months- that he was present & assisting of the capture of Burgoyne and Cornwallis, and was with General Sullivan in the expedition against the Indians at Tioga &C where he was severely wounded-- that he is now Sixty years of age

That by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, he is in need of assistance from his country for support, that he never has received, or been allowed any Pension by the laws of the United States -- that he is a resident citizen of the United States, and that his present Declaration is made in order to obtain provision under the late act of Congress to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States during the War of the Revolution.
Levi Starling [signature]

Sworn and subscribed this 26th day of June A. D. 1918, before me
Richard Peters
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Levi Sterling
13.712
(Sept. 1819.)

Continue

$1.80 Schedule
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District of Pennsylvania ss:
On this 30th day of June 1820 Personally appeared in open Court of Common Pleas holden in Doyleston for the County of Bucks being a Court of record proceeding according to the course of the Common  Law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount and keeping a record of its proceeding Levi Sterling aged 69 years resident in Bucks County, in said district, who being first sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 and part of May 1820. That he served in the Revolutionary war in the Company commanded by Captain Thomas Craig in the regiment commanded by Col Baxter in the line of the State of Pennsylvania, and in the Company commanded by Captain James Gregg in the regiment commanded by Col Gainsworth in the line of the State of New York and also served as Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Arsons in the last mentioned regiment and has obtained a pension under the act of the 18th of March 1818 his Certificate being numbered 13712

And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of
March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed
Levi Sterling [signature]

Schedule of Property
I have besides necessary clothing one Scythe and tackling
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The following debts are due to me and recoverable
One debt of two dollars and forty eight cents
One debt of fifty Cents

I am indebted in the following sums
One debt of twenty eight dollars
One debt of Seventeen dollars
One debt of sixteen dollars
One debt of two and a half dollars
One debt of one dollar,

My occupation is a labourer but by reason of age wounds received in the service and infirmities I am not able to pursue it
I have no family
Levi Starling [signature]

Sworn before me this 30th of June 1820
Wm Watts one of the Judges

Bucks County ss:
I John I Bernezet Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County Do hereby Certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of said Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is one dollar. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 10th day of July 1820
John S Bernezet Prothy
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
MMF/EEL

Philadelphia Co.
April 15, 1929

Warren S. Ely
Library
Bucks County Historical Society
Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Sir:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary war pension claim S.40515 it appears that Levi Starling (pensioned Sterling) enlisted near King's Ferry, New York, his place of residence at that time not stated, served as sergeant in Captain Thomas Craig's Company, Colonel Baxter's Pennsylvania Regiment, was transferred to Captain James Gregg's Company and served in Colonels Van Schaick's and Gansevoort's New York Regiments, Captain Aaron Aerson's Company, Colonel Marinus Willett's New York Regiment, was in General Sullivan's Expedition against the Indians at Tioga where he was severely wounded, nature of wound not stated, was at the capture of Burgoyne and surrender of Cornwallis and as discharged in 1783, having served seven years and eight months.

He was allowed pension on his application executed June 26, 1818 at which time he was a resident of Phila-

[handwritten sideways with arrow to 'enlisted near Kings Ferry"]
I did not say when as he stated he served 7 years & 8 mos. & 1777 would not have given him that length
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-delphia County, Pennsylvania and stated that he was aged sixty years, but in 1820 stated that he was aged sixty-nine years.

In 1826 he was a resident of Warwick Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

It is not stated that soldier was ever married, and the names of his parents are not given.

This is the history of the only soldier named Levi Starling, or similar spelling, found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.

No charge is made for this service.

Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.
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1828 papers to be filed with Ad
owi
#40515
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678.

L. Starling
mld 29 July 1828 and
ack .15 Aug.

States himself to be on the pension list
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Bucks County ss for the purpose of obtaining the Benefit, of an act for the relief of certain Surviving officers and Soldiers of the Revolution approved the 15th of May 1828 I Levi Sterling of Warwick Township in the County of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania Do hereby declare that
I enlisted in the Continental Line of the army of the Revolution for and during the war and continued in its service untill it's Termination at which period I was a Sargent in Captain Aaron Anson's Company Colonel Willets Regiment of the New York Line and I also declare that I have not received a certificate for the reward of Eighty Dollars to which I was entitled under a resolve of Congress past the 15th day of May 1778

and I further declare that I am on the pension list before the 15 day of March 1828 and I further declare that I received at the United States Bank pension of Eight Dollars a month on the fourth of March 1828
Levi Starling [signature]

Bucks County ss Before me John Simpson Esqr one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County of Bucks in the State of Pennsylvania Personally appeared this day Before me General  Samuel Smith and Abraham Smith of said County to severally make oath that Levi Sterling by whom the forgoing is subscribed is generally reputed and relieved to have been an officer in the Revolution in manner as therein stated as Witness my hand this 25th day of July 1848
John Simpson 
Sam'l Smith
Abraham Smith

Bucks County Ss.
I John S Benezet Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Bucks Certify
that John Simpson Esquire before whom the above declaration was made and who has subscribed his the name thereto is a Justice of the peace of said County of Bucks duly commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit are given to his acts as such In witness whereof have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 16th day of July AD 1828
John Benezet
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County of Bucks
State of Penn [illegible]

On this heavenly Seventh day of September A.D. 
1838 before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Bucks personally appeared Levi Sterling who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Anison in the regiment commanded by Colonel Massimus Willet in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Pennsylvania, that he received a certificate of that fact under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which Certificate on or about the fifteenth day of July 1838 he lost out of his pocket the said certificate at the time of its [illegible] was very much torn and mutilated-
Sworn to and Subscribed before me on the day and year  of one as  Levi Starling
John Pugh J.P.    
Bucks County 
John Shive having been duly sworn according to Law says that he is well acquainted with the above Levi Sterling and know him to be the same person described in the above affidavit.
Sworn and Subscribed to before me a Justice of the Peace of Bucks County the day and year aforesaid. 
John Pugh J.P.  John Shive
Bucks County  I John Pugh Esquire a Justice of the Peace in and foresaid County before whom the above affidavit were taken to certify that I am well acquainted with John Shive and that he is a person of veracity. 
John Pugh
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Bucks County
I Elias Gilhlyson Esq Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify the John Pugh Esquire before whom the within affidavits were taken was at the time of taking the same and now is a regularly commissioned Justice of the Peace and afore said County and has been duly qualified as such according to Law, and I verily believe the signature to be his. 
Witness my Hand and Seal of Office this twenty seventh day of September Anno Domini One thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. 
Elias Gilhlyson Prothonotary
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FREDERICK KERR DAVIS
1193 Pearl Street
Eugene, Oregon

                                                 January 10, 1929

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

    Can information be obtained through you as to the names of parents and children of Revolutionary War soldiers, or were such records preserved instead by the various states instead of the national government? 

    I wish to get information as to the parents, children, places of residence, and other information that might be available, of Levi Stirling, who enlisted in the revolutionary war at the age of sixteen, lost one eye in battle, received several wounds, had one hand (the left) cut off by a saber wielded by a British officer, was a Pennsylvanian (probably) married three times and was buried at Neshamany Cemetery in Pennsylvania. 

    He doubtless received a pension, and it is hoped to trace thereby family and personal history pertaining to him and establish the identity of certain descendants.  He was my great-great-grandfather.

   It is possible that he spelled his name "Sterling", also that he did not enlist with Pennsylvania troops, although his last days were spent near Philadelphia.

    Any assistance your department can give me will be appreciated.

                                 Sincerely yours,
                                          //s//
                               Frederick Davis

(Date stamp)

PENSION
       O
     JAN
 U.   15  S.
    1929
    OFFICE
Page 17

40515
INVALID
Revy.

File No. 40,616
Levi Starling
Serg. Rev. War

Act: 18 March 1818
Index:-Vol. 3, Page 487

(Arrangement of 1870.)

1920 June 23, Hist to Elma S. Morris
1929 Apr 15, Hist to Frederick Ker Davis and Warren S. Ely                              MMNS
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(Transcriber's note: This is an addressed envelope.)

                             FREE

J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Comms of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

(illegible) 
   Sept 14
W. Evans
   
(Date stamp)
   ( Doylestown)
             SEP
              12
              PA
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Doylestown Sept 11, 1838

Sir, 

   Levi Starling a revolutionary pension has lost his certificate of Pension and I wish you would be so good as to send me a form and information to procure a new one.

                                   Yours respectfully
                                     Ch E. Dubois

J. L. Edwards
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    (Transcriber's note: an addressed envelope)

                              FREE

J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pension
Washington, D.C.

J. W. Every  Oct. 1.
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Doylestown  Sep. 27, 1832

Dear Sir,

   Enclosed is the application of Levi Starling a Rev. Soldier for a new certificate in lieu of one lost - I am well acquainted with Levi Starling and there can be no doubt as to the truth of his having lost his certificate. 

Very respectfully,
Your Ob. Svt.
CH. E. Dubois

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Comm of Pensions
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Organized 1880
Incorporated 1885

Warren S. Ely
Librarian

Library of Bucky County Historical Society
Doylestown, PA. 
April 2, 1929

Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Gentleman;
I am desirous of learning whether there is any record of one Levis Sterling, drawing a pension as a Revolutionary Soldier from this county.
The only record we have of him as a soldier is as a member of the Associated Company of Buckingham township, August 1775.
His granddaughter is the authority for a statement that "he lost an eye, had several bullet wounds, and had a hand slashed off by a sabre", while in the service of his country in the Revolutionary war.
Innasmuch as the Associated Companies of 1775, did not as such render any military service in the field, we are at a loss to account for the service in which he received these wounds?
I suspect that he went into the active service, either at Long Island in the disastrous campaigh of 1776, or elsewhere under Captain John Lacey, who was the Captain of the Associated Company above referred to, and the rolls of the early service are very incomplete and unless a pension was granted him, there is no way of proving service.
If there is a charge for search, and copy of record, this will be cheerfully met.
Thanking you in advance for a prompt reply to the above inquiry, I am,
Respectfully Yours,
Warren S. Ely
Librarian

[Stamp]
U. S. Pension Office
April 3, 1929
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(Date stamp)
PENSION
      D
    JUN
U.    2    S.
     1920
   OFFICE

Revolutionary War

Commissioner of Pensions

Gentlemen,

    Was Levi Starling granted a pension for services rendered during the Revolutionary War, and if so, does the War Office records show in what part of New York state he was living when the pension (next page)
Page 24

was granted?

Yours truly
(Miss) Elma S. Morris
150 Guy Park Ave.
Amsterdam, New York

May 31st,1920
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR SECTION
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C. _______, 19__.

   In reply to your request of _____, receive ______ for a statement of the military history of Levi Starling a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his wife's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.  Pensioned Levi Starling.
=========================
Date of Enlistment of Appointment/Length of Service/rank/Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered/State.

1777/1783/Sergt/Captains Thomas Craig, James Gregg, Aaron Korson 
Colonels Baxter, Van Schaick, Gansevoort, Marinus Willet/Pa. and N.Y.
He was in General Sullivan's expedition against Indians at Liegn , when he was severely wounded.

Battles engaged in, Capture of Burgoyne and Cornwallis
Residence of soldier at enlistment, no stated.
Date of application for pension, June 26, 1818. Hist cl. was ab.
Residence at date e of application, Philadelphia Co. Penna.
Age at date of application, 60 years.
Remarks:  There is no data on file as to his family.  In 1828 soldier was a resident of Warwick Township, Bucks Co, Penna.

Respectfully,


Commissioner
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April 15, 1929

Frederick Kerr Davis
1193 Pearl Street
Eugene, Oregon

Sir:

   I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S.40515 it appears that Levi Starling (pensioned Sterling) enlisted near Kings Ferry, New York, his place of residence at that time not stated, served an sergeant in Captain Thomas Craig's Company, Colonel Baxter's Pennsylvania Regiment, was transferred to Captain James Gregg's Company and served in Colonel Van Schaick's and  Ganse Voort's New York Regiments, Captain Aaron Aorson's Company, Colonel Marinus Willett's New York Regiment, was in General Sullivan's Expedition against the Indians at Tioga where he was severely wounded, nature of wound not stated, was at the capture of Burgoyne and surrender of Cornwallis and was discharged in 1783, having served seven years and eight months.
    He was allowed pension on his application executed June 26, 1818 at which time he was a resident of Philadelphia (next page)
Page 27

(illegible), Pennsylvania and stated that he was aged sixty years, but in 1820 stated that he was aged sixty-nine years.
    In 1828 he was a resident of Warwick Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
    It is not stated that soldier was ever married, and the names of his parents are not given.
    This is the history of the only soldier named Levi Starling, or similar spelling, found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.

                                 Respectfully,

                                 E. W. Morgan
                                 Acting Commissioner.