Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16196, for James Mc Clung, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE
Penn.

McClung, James
-
NUMBER
S16196
Carded
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James McClung     
[unreadable]  in the State of New York  a Private in the Comp’y commanded Captain Grey of the Reg’t commanded by Col Potter in the Pennsylvania line 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars – per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Feb 1834 and sent to J McAllister Waterloo N Y
Arrears to the 4th of Sep ’33 -   $50.00
Semi-Anl. Allowance ending 4 Mar ’34  10.00
$ 60.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832 }
Recorded by Jno Cromwell Clerk
Book   E  Vol $  Page 106
Order to pay 29 Decr 1837
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19874
James McClung
N.Y.
All - -
Admitted
Private 6 months
Jno McAllister
Waterloo NY
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WAR DEPARTMENT        
Pension Office,         
20th May 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 a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which mush be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a braces (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. Statement showing the Service of James McClung Seneca Co. NY     
Period when Service was Rendered.  5th Dec’r. ’76    Length of claimant’s service.  3 months    Rank of the claimant.  Pr.  Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.   Cap. Grey  Name and Rank of the General and Field Officers.  Col. Potter   Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  Cannonade of Princeton    County through which he marched.  Pa.  NJ.  Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.   88 Northumberland Pa.  Evidence by which the declaration is supported.  Trad’y, Witness to 1st tour
Period when Service was Rendered. 5th Dec’r ‘78   Length of claimant’s service.  3 mo.  Rank of the claimant.  Pr.  Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.   Cap. Jageart or Jagart  Name and Rank of the General and Field Officers.   Col. Morrow   Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  Trenton  
I am, respectfully,   
Your obedient servant,    
J. L. EDWARDS,       
Commissioner of Pensions
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This has 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 benefit 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 in stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Rendered 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 A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before and State, Territory or District 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) 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 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 on an annuity, [unreadable] that he  declares that he is not the Agency in the State of any Agency in any State, [unreadable] or the Agency in the State of
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
{And then will follow the certificates 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. of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with and C. D. residing in (the same) subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be who has 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of  for a pension. 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 & c.        
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission ; but if 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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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 an 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?          
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 signed 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 he 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 , 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 service ing 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 this 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 clamant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language at 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 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 this recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:  - For year months 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 pension merely state they served two years in the militia &c without specifying the particular place or places where the service was performed;  that the applicat 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.  
[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 affix 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 conother paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece or 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 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 [i] are equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule [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         
W. L. Williams  Clerk
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In the matter of the application of James McClung for a Pension  
Mc Allister
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State of New York       
County of Seneca } ss.        On this fifth day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in and for the County of Seneca James McClung a resident of the town of Fayette in the County of Seneca and State of New York aged Eighty Eight 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 7th 1832 -    
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated that on the tenth day of December in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in Captain William Greys Company in the regiment commanded by Col James Potter, in Northumberland County in the State of Pennsylvania, where he resided at that time, for three months, and marched to Philadelphia thence in to the State of New Jersey and was in the engagements known as the Cannonade of Princetown, and Trenton, that he was regularly discharged from said service on the tenth day of March in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven at Morris town in the State of New Jersey, that the discharges were in writing each one including four or five names, as many as were in one mess and
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which was handed to one of the mess, that this deponents discharge was thus handed to one of his mess mates and that he was no documentary evidence of his service at discharge that Joseph Hall who now resides in the town of Fayette in said County of Seneca Served in the same regiment at the same time and was then well acquainted with this deponent and knew him before he entered the service that he entered the service a second time as a volunteer in Northumberland County in the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1778 in the company commanded by Capt Arthur Jagaert or Jagart or apart as an Indian Scout which company was under the command of Col. Morrow. That Capt. Jagaerts company were stationed at Freelands Port in said County that he served three months in this last mentioned company that he knows at no person now living who served with him during said last mentioned term or that personally knows that he performed the service that he has no documents evidence of any of his services that Cornelius Atkinson was his Lieutenant during his last service, that in the first tour Cornelius Vincent Served in the same Company also John McGlaughlin who were his mess States also John Daugherty all from Cumberland County, that the believes they are all dead that his name is not on any pension List & he has never drawn any Pension
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and he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the Present and declares that his name is not are any pension roll of the agency of any State     
James McClung
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid in Open Court    
Seba Murphy Clerk of    
Seneca County &C }
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State of New York     
County of Seneca ss }    
On this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Seneca in the State of New York Joseph Hall who being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that he is of the age seventy nine years and up wards that in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six he resided in the County of Northumberland in the State of Pennsylvania that he was then acquainted with James McClung who is named in the above  Declaration and that said James McClung Served three months as a volunteer in the Pennsylvania regiment of Militia Commanded by Col. James Patter and was dismissed from said service at Morris town in the State of New Jersey on the tenth day of March A.D. 1777 that this deponent was a soldier in the same regiment and was well acquainted with said James being during his service and that said James Served three months that said James McClung now resides in the town of Fayette in the County of Seneca where he has resided for about thirty years, that the deponent further saith that he has been acquainted with the said James McClung Since the year 1776. and believes him to be a man of truth and veracity and that
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his general character for truth and Veracity is good      Joseph Hall             
Subscribed & Sworn to the 5th day of October in Open Court        
Seba Murphy Clerk of County &C - }
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we Aaron D. Lane, a clergyman residing in the Village of Waterloo in the County of Seneca and State of New York and John Knox of the Secure Place nearby certify that we are well acquainted with James McClung- who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Eighty Eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and Subscribed this fifth day of October A.D. 1832 in open court Aaron D. Lane John Knox Seba Murphy, clerk of Seneca County
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In the matter of the application for a Pension of James McClung 
19874
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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 James McClung was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Aaron D. Lane who signed the preceeding certificate is a Clergyman residing in the town of Waterloo in Seneca County and that John Knox who signed the same is a resident of said town of Waterloo is a creditable Person and that there statement is entitled to credit, and that Joseph Hall who subscibed & swore to the annexed affidavit is a person entitled to credit  -     
I Seba Murphy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Seneca in the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the James McClung for a Pension                
In testimony whereof I have hereto hand and seal of Office this fifth day of October 1832                  
Seba Murphy clk.
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In the Matter of
James McClung
for Pension
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State of New York      
Seneca County Ss      On this twenty sixth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in Open Court in a circuit Court now holding in & for the County of Seneca before the Hon. Daniel Moseley one of the Circuit Judges of the State of New York James McClung, who being first duly sworn according to Law makes the following declaration in addition to the declaration made by him on the fifth day of October in the year 1832 and which is hereto annexed in answer to the Interrogatories put to him by the Court pursuant to the requirements of the war office to entitle him to the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 -      
1st he was born in West Pennsborough Town in Cumberland County in the State of Pennsylvania on the twenty second day of November in the year one thousand hundred and forty four – 
2d  that he has no record of his age except A memorandum in his family bible which he entered himself about thirty years ago-     
3d at the several times he was called into the service he resided in Northumberland County in the State of Pennsylvania    
4  that lived in said County of Northumberland about fourteen years after the war that he then removed into the neighbourhood where he now resides in Seneca
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County & State of New York     
4.  That the first three months he served in the Revolutionary war he served as a Volunteer. the Second three months service he was Drafted -     
that he was out several times after he had served said six months as a minute man on an alarms from two to six days each under the command of Colonel James Morrow - in the year Seventy Eight & Seventy Nine - at all of those times they marched up the west branch of the Susquehanna River, and two or three times in the Lycoming River to Eel town and ranged the mountains back to Northumberland - that in those several services he served in all on alarms & as a minute man one full month 
5 that during his first three months service at the Battle of Trenton General Mifflin was there but he does not know that he was in the Engagement - General Washington was there and commanded - that General Washington commanded at the battle of Princetown in which this declarant was engaged - that General Mercer was killed in said battle at Prince town- 
6  that he never received a written discharge otherwise than stated in his first declaration – 
7 that he has known the Rev. A.D. Lane about ten years  - 
Subscribed & Sworn to the open court this 26th November AD 1833,             
Seba Murphy clk
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the Investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories as prescribed by the war department that the above named James McClung  was a soldier in the revolutionary war and that he served as he State, and the Court further certify that it appears to them that the said Aaron D. Lane is a Clergyman residing in Waterloo and that John Knox who also signed the above certificate with said Lane is a resident of Waterloo and is entitled to credit and that the said James McClung is a creditable person & his Statements are entitled to Credit     
I Seba Murphy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Seneca in the State of New York and of the Circuit Courts of the same County Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court of Common Pleas and of the said Circuit Court in the matter of James McClung on an Application for a Pension            
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of my office this 26th day of November A.D. 1833. 
Seba Murphy clk
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OWN    
In reply to your request of  received  for a statement of the military history of James McClung - a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his  application for pension on file in this Bureau.    S. F. 16196            
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.   Dec 10, 1776 to Mch 10, ‘77     LENGTH OF SERVICE.    RANK.   Pri     OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.   Captain William Grey   Colonel James Potter  STATE.   Pa.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  1778      LENGTH OF SERVICE.  3 mos.  RANK.     OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.   Captain Arthur Taggart  Colonel Morrow    STATE
Battles engaged in, Trenton, Princeton,            
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Northumberland Co, Pa.               
Date of application for pension, Oct. 5, 1832. His cl was al [claim was allowed]    
Residence at date of application, Fayette, Seneca Co. N. Y. 
Age at date of application, B. [born] Nov. 22, 1745 West Pennsborough Cumberland Co. Pa    Remarks: There is no data relative to family     
Respectfully,        
Commissioner.
6-2856
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16196  
INVALID    
File No.  16196   
James McClung            
Pri Rev War              
Act: June 7 ‘32          
Index:- Vol. 1, Page 248 
[Arrangement of 1870.]    
16. Jan. 28.                  
History to Rev. N.B. McClung      
Letter with Cl. Matthew McClung W.F.9984. Rev War
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Mech. & Farmer’s Bank
Albany Pension Agency
December 23d 1837
James L. Edwards Esquire,            
Commissioner of Pensions          
Sir            
James McClung a Pensioner under the act of June 7, 1832, claims pay on the enclosed vouchers from 4 March 1836 to 4 Sept 1837  -   
I am, Sir,    
Very respectfully           
Your obt Servt 
Tho. W. Olcott
[unreadable]