Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32465, for Jonathan Rahn, Georgia
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(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Ga.

NUMBER
32465

Rahn, Jonathan S. 

CONTENTS
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[LEFT PAGE}
Georgia

Jonathan Rahn
Effingham in the State of Geo.
who was a pvt [crossed out] : Corp in the command 
of Captain Lucas of the Ryn command
& Col Habersham in the Geo
[CUTOFF] for 23 mons:
 
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 84 Dollars 23 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of June: 39 [REST CUTOFF]
and Lieut John Charlton
Springfield GA

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 210.82
Semi-anl. allowance ending [ILLEGIBLE] 34 42.17
$252,99

{Revolutionary Claim,
{June 7, 1832.
Recorded by C Price Clerk
Book E Vol. 6 Page 107

[RIGHT PAGE]

168.66
42.16
210.82
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By Major JOHN HABERSHAM, commanding
the Georgia Battalion, in the Service of
the United States of America.

In Purfuance [Pursuance]of a Proclamation iffued [issued] by his Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Efquire [Esquire], Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States of America, bearing Date the 4th day of November laft [last], the Bearer hereof, Jonathan Rahn, Corporal in the faid [said] Battalion, is difcharged [discharged] from the fame [same], he having been enlifted [enlisted] to ferve [serve] for two Years, if the War fhould  [should] continue fo [to] [too] long, which engagement he has fulfilled as a good and faithful Soldier.

Given at Savannah, in Georgia, the 10th
December, 1783.
John Habersham [SIGNATURE]

All concerned
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This will certify, that the birth of Mr Johnathan
Rahn, was recorded in proper form, and by
reference made to the church record
This day, I find that he was born on the
20th of March 1862
John D Schick
June 22d 1833
Pastor of the Lutheran
Church Ebenezer Geo.

June 22d 1838
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State of Georgia
County of Effingham

On this tenth day of december in -
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable William Law Judge of the Superior Court of the Eastern district of the State of Georgia, Jonathan Rahn a resident of the County of Effingham in the State of Georgia aged Seventy one 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 the 7th June 1832
That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one with Captain Lucas and served in the Georgia Battalion in the service of the United States, under the  following named officers. That when he so enlisted and entered the service he resided at Ebenezer in the County of Hingham and State of Georgia to wit (as nearly as he can recollect) in December one thousand seven hundred and eighty one. That the Major who 
 commanded the said Battalion was John Habersham -  his Captain's name was
Lucas, his first Lieutenant was Frederick Shick
the adjutant of the Batallion was W Berry and
Frederick Long was Sergeant Major. That from
the period of his said enlistment he served in
said Batalloin, under the officers aforesaid, until the tenth day of December one thousand and Seven hundred and eighty three when he received his discharge from his said Major, which original discharge
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he has ever since retained and now produces before the Court to be hereto annexed. That he so served for two years, during which two
years he was, and served as a Corporal in his said Company for the whole of the time And he further declares that he marched from Elenezer aforesaid where he enlisted to the City of Savannah in Georgia, and that his Batallion remained in Savannah from the time when the British left it until his discharge as aforesaid - That during his said enlistment, he was sent on an expedition with the command of twelve men from Savannah to Colonel Island near Sunbury in Georgia and at another
time, during his said enlistment, to Augusta
in Georgia under an ensign and twenty one men from Savannah to carry and guard public property. That when General Greene was in Savannah he served as his orderly for two months --that he served his said his years in Georgia at & between the places aforesaid
and that he was in no battle-that he was principally in Garrison and during his said enlistment and service of two years be followed not any civil pursuit He hereby relinquishes every claim 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
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Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
William Law
Judge Sup. Courts
East Dist. Georgia
Jonathan Rahn
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states-

William Law
Judge

We James S Olcott a Clergyman residing in the
town of Springfield in the County of Effingham
and David Metzger residing in the same County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Rahn who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: We have believe him to be seventy one 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 to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
William Law
Judge Sup Cts
E. D. Georgia

James S. Olcott
David Metzger
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And the said Court do hereby declare their
opinion, after the investigation of the matter
and after putting the interrogatories presented
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
James S Alcott who has signed the preceding
certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Springfield County of Effingham & State of Georgia and that David Metzger. who has also signed the same is a resident in the County of Effingham and state aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
William Law
Judge Sup. Courts
East Dist. Georgia
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Personally appeared in open Court before
the Honorable William Law Judge Jonathan Snider of said County aged Seventy two years who on his oath declares that he the deponent served in the Army of the Revolution in the Georgia Battalion in the service of the United States commanded by Major John Habersham 
that for such service he now received a pension from Government. He further
declares on his oath that he well and 
 personally knows Jonathan Rahn the present
applicant for a pension, that he has known him during and ever since the revolution and knows personally that he the said Jonathan Rahn served in the said Batallion with this deponent

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Jonathan his X mark Snyder

William Law
Judge Sup. Courts
East Dist. Georgia
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I John Charlton Clerk of the Superior Court
of Effingham County in the State of Georgia
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application Jonathan Roahn for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal (having no public seal of Office this tenth day of december in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
J N Charlton Clk
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32465
Ruy [ILLEGIBLE]
INVALID.
File No. 32465
Jonathan Rahn
Corp Rev War

Act: June 7 32

Index: -- Vol. D, Page 338
Arrangement of 1870.]
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Springfield Effingham Co. Ga.
11th Decr 1833

Honble Lewis Cass

Sir
Herewith you will receive the papers for the purpose of enabling Mr Jonathan Rahn to receive a pension, they have been rectified
and Mr Rahn is in hopes they are now put in
true form, should there be any necessity for a
Certificate that I am the Clerk of the Superior
Court of the County of Effingham, The members of Congress from the State of Georgia who are now in Washington, by making application to the Hon. James M Mayne, who is personally acquainted with me. I have no doubt will give
that Certificate
I have the honor to be
[ILLEGIBLE]
John N Charlton
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27.683
Jonathan Rahn

Admit as Corporal
23 mo. $4.33

13 Nov
John Charlton Esq.
Clk Effingham Co.
Willoughby
GA
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War Department,
Pension Office,

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 must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necefsary [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 [complying] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

[page break with line]

[chart title] A Statement, shewing the Service of 

[Column Headings: Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service.[separating the above column] Years. Months. Days. [column headings continued: Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.]

Lew '81

[under chart]
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, musicians 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, 1832. 
State Territory, or District of } ss. County of } 
On this [BLANK] day of [BLANK] personally appeared (a) before [BLANK] A.B. a resident (b) of [BLANK] in the county of [BLANK] and State, Territory or District of [BLANK] aged (c) [BLANK] 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) [BLANK], with [BLANK] and served in the [BLANK] (e) regiment of the [BLANK] line, under the following named officers: [BLANK] 

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers the time he left the service; (and if he served under 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 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 [BLANK] 
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. 
I [BLANK] of the Court of [BLANK] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [BLANK] for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [BLANK] day of [BLANK] & 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 [BLANK] and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [BLANK], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [BLANK] 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. [BLANK] who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [BLANK] and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [BLANK] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, [BLANK] Clerk of the Court of [BLANK] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [BLANK] for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [BLANK] day of [BLANK] &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
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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?
[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 person 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.
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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, 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 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 reasons 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 the 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 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:
"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."

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} [text in {}is italicized], 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.
{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 contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbons, 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
{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, 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 {a} to {i} are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in quote {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.