Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8,470, Henry Firor, Md.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Md.
Firor, Henry
or Heney
NUMBER
S.8.470
CONTENTS
carded
Page 2

Maryland 25.805
Heney Firor
of Frederick Co in the State of Maryland
who was a Pri  in the Company commanded
by Captain Cruger[??] of the Regt commanded
by Col Wood  in the Maryland
line for Militia-
6 Mo  Pr.  $20.00

Inscribed on the Roll of Maryland
at the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Jany
1834.  and Sent to
Hon W. C. Johnson  H or Rep.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833   50.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34    10.00
[total]  $60.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by John T Sprague  Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 3 [??or 5]  Page 105
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Henry Firor
Md.
Adm 6 Mo
$20.--

Hon. W. C. Johnson
H.R.
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
Novr. 14th 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 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.

A Statement, shewing the Service of -- [Name   State ]
=======================
[8 column table]
[Headings] 
[c-1]  Period when the service was rendered
[c-2 to c-4]  Declaration of the claimant's service
[c-2]  Years.
[c-3]  Months.
[c-4]  Days.
[c-5]  Rank of the claimant
[c-6]  Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
[c-7]  Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
[c-8]  Proof by which the declaration is supported.

[column data entered]
[c-1]  1781.
[c-2] 
[c-3]  6.
[c-4]  
[c-5]  priv
[c-6]  Cap. Creegon    Col Wood
[c-7]  73 years    Fredk. Co  Md.

I am, respectfully ,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.

It will be necessary for him, to apply to P. P. Brown, , Register of the Land Office Annapolis, Md, From whom he can undoubtedly obtain satisfactory information respecting his service, which at present is rather indefinite, and confused, The objection in Note (j) is indispensably necessary -
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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:
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, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of } ss.
On this    day of   personally appeared (a) before    
 A. B. a resident (b) of     in the county of    and State, Territory or District of     aged (c)     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 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     , A. B.
[Sworn to 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 (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I    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        & 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 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,a  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       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
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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?
{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 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 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 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 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 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 undavit 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 [illegible] 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.

[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. -- (to the credibility of the witness).
[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 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.
[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.
[image with finger pointing]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 note [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
-- and all certificates and information from S. S. Brewer
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28297
Henry Firor   apllication
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State of Maryland Frederick County Sct
On this eighth day of November 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the County Court of Frederick now sitting Henry Firor a resident the County of Frederick & State of Maryland aged 73 years on the 25th day of August 1833 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 7 1832

That he was born in Frederick County State of Maryland on the 25th day of August 1760 & that the record of his age is hereto annexed marked A. that he hath resided from his birth to this day in said County. that he volunteered in the militia company of said County, the captain whereof was Valentine Creeger; this was in April 1781; the Major was one Miller a resident of Fredericktown & a brewer by trade: Joseph Wood of Frederick County was the Colonel; about the middle of May 1781 he was ordered to rendezvous at Frederick Town; after remaining at this place for a few days we were marched to George Town then in Montgomery County but now in the District of Columbia to oppose an expected invasion of the British, up the Potomak; encamped at this place together with other troops & remained there until about the middle of June, when we returned to Frederick Town aforesaid under Capt Creager. After a few days we were allowed to return to our respective homes, until further orders this affiant having been informed at first by Col James Johnson that the volunteers of which affiant was one, were to serve for nine months from their enrollment as volunteers & accordingly he & others were required to go through the exercise regulars any week, & accerdingly did so, in order to prepare them for service This continued during the summer & fall of 1781. Affiant continued in this was in service, until the surrender of Cornwallis in Octer 1781. soon after this event he was ordered from his residence near
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[illegible] Town in Frederick County to guard the British prisoners who were brought to the barracks in Frederick Town consisting as has been informed of about 1100 men beside officers. Here affiant acted as guard to these prisoners from time to time until about Christmas 1781 when he was discharged by Capt. Winchester who commanded affiant while at the barracks. Affiant & others were at that time ordered to deliver up their arms to a gunsmith named Razor residing in Frederick Town the person from whom he had & received his arms when about to march to George Town in the spring of 1781 as above stated & did deliver them accordingly by to said Razer If he ever received a written discharge affiant hath forgotten it. He knows of no person whose testimony he can readily procure to prove his services, except Frederick Beard whose testimony is hereto annexed marked B. Affiant saith that he served as a volunteer in the company as aforesaid & that the period of his actual service was at least six months- He hereby [illegible ?? relinquishes] his every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Henry Firon
John Schley Clk

We David F. Schaeffer a clergyman residing in Frederick Town, Maryland & Jacob Weller residing in the County of Frederick State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Firor who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 73 years of age on the 25th of August 1833. that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion
David F Schaeffer
Jacob Weller  B. F
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in Court
John Schley   Clk
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatory prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he States - And the Court further certifies that [i]t appears to them that David F. Schaeffer who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergy man resident in Frederick Town & that Jacob Weller who has also signed the same is a resident of the County of Frederick & is a credible person & that their statement is [illegible ??enabled] to credit

I John Schley Clerk of the County Court of Frederick State of Maryland, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Henry Firor a pension - In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal of office this 8th day of November 1833-
John Schley  Clerk
Frederick County Court
Maryland
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Exhibit A

Firor[??]
Page 12

[not much help-sorry]
Ano 1771 [illegible]
Ano 1735 [illegible] 6 December [illegible]  Johan  [illegible] Firor  [illegible]
Ano 1754 [illegible] 27 [illegible]
Ano 1758 [illegible] 22 December [illegible] Johan [illegible] Firor [illegible]
Ano 1760 [illegible] 25 [illegible] 
Ano 1762 [illegible] 5 [illegible] Marai [illegible] Firorin [illegible]
Ano 1763 [illegible] 23 November[??] [illegible] Firorin [illegible]
Ano 1766 [illegible]
Ano 1751 [illegible]
Ano 1783 5 [illegible]
Page 13

In the year 1771, I bought the house for 3 £ [pounds].
In the year 1735, December 6, I Johan (John) Heinrich (Henry) Firor, was born.
In 1754, July 27, my mother died.
Dec. 22, 1758, was born our Son Johan (John) [illegible ??Lonhart] Firor.
May 25, 1760 is born our John Heinrich Firor.
June 5, 1762 our Maria Barbara Firorin[???] was born
November 23, 1763, was born our Marie Martha (or Magdalen) Firor.
June 7 1766, was born our _____ Firor, (Margaret) ?
Johan Heinrich Firor was married May 2, 1757
Sept. 2, 1735 was born my wife Madalena 
[illegible very faint small script following]
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8470
Rev War
INVALID.
our

File No. 8470
Henry Firor
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th. 1832
Index: --Vol. 1st , Page 124
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

[illegible words] Decr 14th

My dear Johnson
Please call on Mr. Edwards & submit the enclosed papers. Endeaver to procure his pay. He is one of your constituents residing near [illegible words]

No news-All well. On the 26th [illegible] to be at Jefferson to address the Temperance Society & will call as usual at head quarters. My respects to the Gen & family when you see them
Evr yrs truly
L Potts
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Exhibit B.
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State of Maryland Frederick County Set
On this 8th day of Novr 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Frederick County now sitting Frederick Beard who made solemn oath in due form of law that he does son of his own knowledge that Harry For who hath this day sworn & subscribed to his declaration in open Court inorder to obtain a pension under the Act of Congress of June 7 1832 was actually in the service as a volunteer in the spring of 1781 that this affiant & said Firor marched together from Frederick Town to George Town as he hath stated insaid declaration & doth believe that said Firor served as stated in said declaration-
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid -
Frederick Beard
John Schley Clk

I John Schley Clerk of the County Court of Frederick State of Maryland do hereby certify that the foregoing contain the original procedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Henry Firor for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 9th day of November 1833
John Schley Clk
Frederick County Court
Maryland
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[round postmark containing]
FREDERICK Md   DE[?] 26
[end postmark]

FREE
Hon William C Johnson
House of Representatives
Washington

Immediate 
Attention
Md

Hon W C Johnson 
HR