Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39975, Edward Bess, Penn.
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(3 - 1776)

SERVICE Penn.
Bess, Edward
NUMBER S.39975

CONTENTS
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10328
Pennsylvania

Edward Bess who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel McCoy of the Pennsyl
line, for the term of 3 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 20 of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 of May 19, and sent to Jas Allison .
Washington, Pa.

Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819 83.96
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 19.48
$131.96

Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818. & Nov. 28, 1821 

sent to W. Baird Esqr
Washington Pen.
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Edward Bess
Private
Col McCoys Regiment
Pennsylvania Line
1776- 3 years
Adm

Washington, Pa
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State of Pennsylvania
Washington County ss
On this twentieth day of May A.D. 1818, before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of the Court of Common pleas for the County of Washington aforesaid, personally appeared Edward Bess, aged seventy years, resident in the said County of Washington, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain
the provision made by the late 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". That he the said Edward Bess enlisted in Pittsburgh in the State of Pennsylvania, in the company commanded by Captain Van Swearingen of the eighth Pennsylvania Regiment which was commanded by Colonel McCoy on the ninth day of August A.D. one thousand seven hundred and seventy six that
he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the ninth day of October A.D. one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine (as appears by his discharge which he herewith transmits) when he was discharged from the service in Pittsburgh in the State of Pennsylvania aforesaid, having served three years and two months that his company was for some time attached to Col Morgan's regiment of riflemen in which regiment he served at the time of the capture of Burgoyne's army, having been present and engaged in the battle on that occasion; that he is in reduced circumstances
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circumstances, entirely unable to procure a subsistence having been confined to his bed for eight years by a palsy, and that he stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services
Edward X Bess his mark. [signature]

Sworn to and declared before me on the day and year aforesaid

I, James Allison, Judge of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Washington aforesaid, do certify that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Edward Bess did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment; and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary of the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twentieth day of May AD.
one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
James Allison seal
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Washington County Penns'a Ss
I, Alexander Murdoch Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do certify that James Allison Esquire before whom the foregoing proceedings was had is and was at the time one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County duly commissioned, and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the Ninth day of November
in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen
Alex'r Murdock Prothy
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Amplification of the proceedings
in the case of Edward Bess

Fees $0.83 1/2
-
Fees Charged by the Prothy to himself

10328
Washington County
Nov. 28. 1821
sent to W. Baird
Washington Pen
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In the Common Pleas, Sept term 1821
District of Pennsylvania, Washington County 
On this 4th day of October, 1821 personally appeared in open Court being a court of record for the said County Edward Bess aged 71 years resident in Canton Township in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows: for and during the term of three years in Capt. Liveringen's company, be longing to the eighteenth regiment, Pennsylvania line of the Revolutionary army - that his original declaration upon which a pension was granted under the act of Congress of March 1818, was made on the 20th April 1818 as appears from his certificate numbered 10328. 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 my manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it, 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,
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nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income of any kind or description, I was never possessed of any real property. I have resided for twenty five years in Canton Township in this County, eleven of which I have been confined to bed, unless when lifted from a paralytic affection, which has deprived me entirely of the use of one side and affected my speech so much that a Stranger cannot understand me.

My occupation was a farmer. I have no family since the death of my wife the care of me
has devolved on my Son Anning Bess, who has a wife and two children to support by his own labour. And further, the deponent doth declare and make oath that he is in such indigent circumstances, as to be unable to support himself without the assistance of his Country
Edward X Bess his Mark [signature]

Sworn & declared to in open Court on the 4th day of October 1821, before me
Thomas Morgan
Prothonotary
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Pennsylvania
Washington County  
I Thomas Morgan Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath is truly copied from the record of the said Court

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said, on this Sixth day October in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and twenty one
Thomas Morgan
Prothonotary
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Amplification of the proceedings in the case of Edward Hess a revolutionary Soldier
===
No fees charged

There is no law providing for such cases
Person incapable of attending Court from bodily infirmities cannot
avail themselves of the provisions of the act of 1st May 1820-

W Bair
Wash
Pa
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Pennsylvania
Washington County
On this 7th day of July 1820, personally appeared in open court being a court of record for said County, Anning Best, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath declare, that his father Edward Best, to whom a pension has been granted, by the United States under the Act of Congress, of the 18th of March 1818, is unable to appear in court, that he has been for the last ten years confined entirely to his bed, having been Struck about that time with the palsy, which caused the loss of one side entirely and effected his speech so much that Strangers cannot understand him - From the information of his father and the papers which were forwarded to the War Department when he made application for his pension, and which this deponent has seen, he, this deponent believes that the said Edward served during the term of three years, in Captain Swearingen's Company, belonging to the eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania line. his Original declaration was made as appears from his pension certificate, on the 20th day of April 1818. which certificate is numbered 1328. - his Father is now aged 70 years, and has been a resident of Canton Township is this County upwards of twenty five years- That he has never possessed as he this deponent believes, of any real property - That he has not now any property real or personal. That since the death of his wife, the Mother of this deponent, the entire care of the said Edward has devolved on him this deponent - The family of this deponent consists of his father as above stated, his wife and one child, that he this deponent is not possessed of any real property, that he rents Small farm on the shares and the little personal property he has got he acquired by his own labour.
Anning Bess  [signature]

Sworn to and declared in Open Court before the Judges thereof, the 7th of July 1820
M Sample Prothy.
.
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Pennsylvania 
Washington County
I , William Sample Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, do certify, that the foregoing Affidavit is truly copied from the record of said Court.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court at Washington, the twenty fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and twenty
W. Sample
Prothy
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Edward Bess
S 39.975
Penn.

Edward Bess
S 39.975
Penn.

[sideways]
Edward Bess
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Fort McIntosh December the 16th 1778

This is hereby to certify that Edward Bess A Soldier in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment and of my Company was enlisted the Ninth day of August in the year one Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy six to serve for the Term of three year and no longer unless sooner Discharged certified from under my Hand
Van Swearingen Capt.
8th Pa Regt

[stamp]
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES [illegible]

[illegible] 9th October 1779
This is to Certify that the bearer hereof Edward Bess Soldier in Eighth Pennsylvania Regt Enlisted for the term of Three years under Capt Van Swearingen from the ninth Day of August 1776 & having served out his time as said Solder is hereby discharged from the service Given under my hand this day & date above written
For all [illegible]

B[illegible]
Commander of 8th R
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39975
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 59, 975
Edward Bess
Pri Rev War

Act: 18 March 18
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 33
[Arrangement of 1870.]