Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7975, Robert Wright, Continental Mass. New Jersey
Page 1

Continental Wright, Robert S.7975
Mass
New Jersey
Page 2

Ohio
Robert Wright
Coe
who was a
by Captain
Col. Indue-
29.932
Wright
in the State of Ohio
in the
commanded
the
commanded
in the Mass.
4
Mass, Pontinal
record completed
Inscribed on the Roll of Co
the rate of 33 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Mar
and metaphed
Tate
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 35
26.54
Semi-anl. allowance ending
25.33
O
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
June 7, 1832.
forded by Cath Price Clerk,
2 Vol. 8. Page of
Page 3

Letter to Hon J. A. Wright 3 April 1844
Paid at the ┃
Treasury under the ┃
act 6 April 1838 from 4th
Sep 1838 to
4. March 1839.
12 Dec 1844
Agt notified
Page 4

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed
June 7 - 1832
On this 30th day of October 1833 personally
appeared in open court before the Court of
as
of Brown County in the State of Ohio Robert Wright aged
seventy four years last and
ding to law doth on his oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congref pafsed
June 7 1832
That he entered the sevof

the United States under the
following named officer"
4
ed
as herein stated
that in June in the year 1775 he was drafted at a
are in Massachusetts for the month in Capt Samuel
Gardner Company in the Regiment comman
by Col
James Gardner time provincial troops, that about has
after his draft he was marched to Bunker Hill
where was fought a several
battle in which he participated
after which he was marched back to Cambridge and the
detained until the term of his draft expired when he was
dismissed having served three months.
that in the fall of 1775 he moved to Bordentown
Burlington County New Jersey and in the fall he voluntered
as a private soldier
in Capt Joseph Vandy
company in the Regiment
commanded by Col William
Steve Major Okey Horton in the very
during this engaged
the battle of Trenton took place
and Capt Vandys Company together with Capt Quigley
were stationed at Yarkeys ferry
in order to keep the same service open
in case Washington should be defeated in order
to ferry the survivor of the Delaware
after the battle he was dismissed it not be contrary to
discharge during this tour he served six weeks
In February 1777, he enlisted as a private soldier
Page 5


PhilAdelphia in Capt Nathaniel Dris: Company of Artilery in
Benjamin Flowers Regiment who was styled Commissary
Seal of the Military stores in the Pennsylvania line said
pany about the 1st May following were marched to
parish where they were stationed and employed in
building a Magalien and barracks and making other military
works for and having served out his term of enlistment
being twelve months he was honorably discharged, his discharge
has been 
lost or mislaid
that in the fall of 1778 he volunteered at Bordentown
in Newberry in Capt. Marmaduke Custer company
in Col William Shewes Regiment in the Militia of said
State. He was marched from
Bordentown to Springfield
where they joined Gen Washington and when they had
skirmish with the British and decd
the
down to Elizabeth
after which they returned to Bordentoon have
the he was dismissed having served at
times under different
to as
ante me
the and a half
That he has no document
person whose testitimony
the
evidence and knows of no
who can testify to
his service
Answer to Interrogatories 1st He maker
Cambridge in Massachusetts in the pen of 1759, and he has
record of his age taken from his father's family bible and
which was 3d He lived at Cambridge Bordentown
and Philadelphia when called into the ver
and he
the Revolution he moved to Westmorland
Pennsylvania where he lived until 1792 he then
Mason County Kentucky where he lived for 7 years
and then moved to what is now called Brown
County I
where he still lives - 5th ay he knew Genl Warren
who was
killed at Bunker hill Gent Ward Major Mifflin and
Bigelow who belonged to the provincial service and Genl
Knox and Mayborn who belonged to the Continental line
Page 6

the
He never received but one discharge which has been lost
it was given by May Charles L
only about two years
---
known to Joseph Sla,
to Mr Joseph Willman George
hell Nathaniel Woods
and Samuel Hodges
they of my
&
be
hood who
testify to my character for truth and veracity, and the
as a soldier of the Revolution
He hereby relinquishes even
as
have
to a per
son
annuity except the present and declares that his
Ala
on the pension roll of the Agency of
any
State
Sue
to and subscribed in open
on the day and year
a
be it right
King Clerk
We Moses His & Samuel Rop citizens
County of Brown hereby certify that
to
with Robert Wright who has subscribed and
to the
above declaration, that we believe him to be
by four
years of age past - that he is reputed and believed in the
neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier
of the Revolution and that my
in that opinion
Son
and subscribed this Moses Hicks
day of October AD 1853
open court Whing Clerk
Samuel Ross
the
And the 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 states that it appears to them that Moses
Hicks and Samuel Ross who have signed the
preceding certificate are residents of the County
of Brown & State of Ohio and are credible
persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Page 7

The State of Ohio
foregoing
said for
Robert
whereof
of Ohio
Brown County SS
J G. King Clerk of the Court of
Common Pleas
of the County & State
aforesaid do hereby certify that the
contains the original proceedings of the
it in the matter of the application of
Wight for a pension. In Testimony
I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office this sixth day of November AD 1833
G. W. King Clerk
Page 8

28.489.
Robert Wright
Ohio

William
Shepherd
George Cowan
Brown Co
Ohio
Page 9

Sir
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
27 June 1833
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 must 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 brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
Period when the
rendered.
1775 ┃
1777.
A Statement, shewing the service of Robert Right or Wright
Duration of the
claimant's service.
S.
3
1
12
Rank of
the
claimant.
prie
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Cap. Gardner
Col Gardner
┃ Cap. Vandyke
Col Shrewes
Cap. Iris
Col Flowers
Cap. Curtis
Col Shreves
Age at present,
┃ and place of abode
┃ when he entered
the service.
┃ 74 years
┃ Cambrage ┃
Mass
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
---
Traditionary
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
The claimant should endeavour to obtain some evidence
by a living witness or Witnesses of his service under
Col Flowers
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law 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 benefits 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, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of 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, 1852.
State, Territory, or District of
County of
On this
day of
A.
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
of
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)
with and
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 servterm
of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
ed under more till
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 or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate 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
the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
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
and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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 days 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.
1,
Clerk of the Court of
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
day of
& 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
Page 11

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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 (m) 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?
And if a substitute, for whom?
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 given
, and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
To an Officer 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 the 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.
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
inquiry 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
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
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 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.
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.
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 the rule.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
contental 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 claimant must state, 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 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 an affidavit in the following words:
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
served as a . For months and --- days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."
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 that 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 shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of 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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
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 pubthe
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 contains
the affidavit, or other papers 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.
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 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 to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note il applies to continental troops only.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 12

Rev War
7975
INVALID.
---
File No.
Robert Wright ┃
Privt Rev War ┃
---
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: --Vol. 1, Page 17
(Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 13

Robert Wright.

Declaration Affidavit & Discharge[underlined]
Page 14

The State of Ohio
Brown county ss.

Personally came before the undersigned one of the associate judges of the court of Common Pleas in and for the county aforesaid Robert Wright who being duly sworn according to law saith that sometime about the first weeks in March 1835 he found his discharge for a twleve months tour or inlistment in Col Benj Flowerd regiment which is signed by Charles Lukins Major_ which discharge is herewith exhibited as evidence in support of his original application for a pension under the act Congress passed June 1832 and further he saith not.

[signature]Robert Wright

Sworn to and subscribed this 23d day of April A.D. 1835

[signature]David Johnson
Associate Judge


The State of Ohio
Brown county ss.

I George W. King clerk of the court of Common Pleas in and for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that David Johnson Esqr is an associate judge as above stated and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Georgetown this 24th day of April A.D. 1835.

[signature]GW. King Clerk
Page 15

[left side of page]
Robert Wright

[right side of page, written sideways]
S. 7975
Robert Wright
Cont-
Page 16

These may certify that the bearer hereof Robert Wright having served the Term of one year (in the Regiment at present commanded by Col Benjamin Flower, Com'y Gen'l: of Military stores) according to the Articles of his inlistment; is now honourable discharged from the service and permitted to pass to his own home. Given at Carlisle this 21st: day of February 1778.

[signature]Chas. Lukens Major
Page 17

[text written sideways down page]
Georgetown, O.
April 25th

May 5
Ohio,

not allow [illegible] some
no such [illegible] being performed for that term
[illegible] town in N Jery
2 mo [illegible] Infty
12 mo [illegible] Artillery
$54.66

[text written sideways down page, under text above]
James L. Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

Entd.
Page 18

Georgetown Brown county Ohio
April 24- 1835

Sir,

I enclose to you again the Declaration of Robert Wright for the benefit of the pension law of 1832 with his discharge for his service under Col Flowers together with his affidavit of having found it- He informs me that about five years ago he had his pocket book with some money and other papers stolen from him- and that he recently found it stuck up in a his corn crib with the money missing the papers all safe- You will perceive that the discharge corresponds with his declaration beyond what could reasonably be expected for so old a man and such a length of time

You will please attend to his case as soon as convenient

Respectfully yours &c
William Shepherd
Page 19

GIDEON, PRINTER[all underlined]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
Jan'y 12th, 1844.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, Robert Wright, a Pensioner on the Role of the Richmond, Va Agency, at the rate of Thirty three Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1838 to the 4th March 1839.

Respectfully yours,

[signature]Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
Page 20

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

NAME
Wright, Robert

GRADE
Private

LINE
Maryland

WARRANT NUMBER
11807

ACREAGE
100

ISSUED
January 11, 1798 to Joshua Ward, assignee

[footnote]
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issues Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.