Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 15859, for John Leach, Pennsylvania
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Penn.             

Leach, John                  
or Leech

R. 15859
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Declaration of John Leech for Pension, under Act of June 7th 1832_
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Declaration 
of John Leech, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832 -

District of Columbia Washington County } SS:

On this 12th day March AD 1862 in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty two, personally appeared before the Subscriber JM Bamado Justices of the peace in and said County.

John Leech, a resident of the City of Washington in the District of Columbia, aged over one hundred and 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 provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. oir: that he the said John Leech was born on the Tenth day of February 1761 in the house of his father, which then stood over or near the spot on which the Equestrian Statue of Washington has been erected, in the City and District aforesaid. 

That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the Year 1777, at Little Fork in the Pennsylvania Continental Line under Gen Anthony Wayne and served in the Company of Scouts or Spies commanded by Captain Yates, in which service he continued during the Revolutionary War. That he was wounded by a bayonet through his wrist in the night of the attack on their encampment at Paoli, under Wayne, by the British and Indians, in which a large portion of the men were killed, for which surprise and disaster Wayne was Court Martialed and acquitted. That he was also at the Storming of Stony Point; that besides these battles, the spies were generally on active and detached service against the forces and Indians, and on one occasion, they went in pursuit of a party of Indians who had captured and carried off three young girls, overtook them, and in the
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night, stealthily entered their camp, and killed and scalped the whole party and recovered the three girls whom they restored back in safety to their parents. 
That from the remote period of time which has elapsed since he has rendered the service herein stated, he has no recollection of the names of any of the officers of the Pennsylvania Line, except that of Gen Wayne with whom he had a friendly acquaintance and the commander of the Spies, Capt Yates.
That he learns the name John Leech is found on a list of names to whom certain pay was due, in 2nd Reg. Pa, all of whom had received certificates for the same, except two, namely, Michael Thaw, and John Leech showing $53.30 to be due each, and that he verily believes that he is the person therein named. that he never received any pay for his whole service, except $10 continental money, which was given him by Gen Wayne.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension on 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 Pennsylvania.
The Declarant further states that at this advanced period, he is unable to present any other proof of his services than what is herein given, and appended thereto, and also that by reason of his advanced age and bodily infirmity, he is unable to appear in open court to testify to his declaration. 

Mtinfs J.M. Bamado JR
John his X mark Leach

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
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District of Columbia
County of Washington} SS: Leech remembered that on this 12th day March AD 1862. Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for said District and County, John Leech, who has signed the foregoing Declaration, who being duly sworn, deposed and said 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 that he served, as stated in his declaration, during the whole war of the Revolution in the company of spies or Scouts under Capt Yates as a private, for which services he claims a pension.

J.M. Bamado Jr. {Seal}

District of Columbia
County of Washington} SS:

On this 13th day of March 1802, personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for said District and County, John S. Millians and MD W. Seaton, residents therein, who being duly sworn, depose and say that from their acquaintance with the above named John Leech, 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 in the service as stated by him, and that they concur in the opinion.

Sworn and subscribed to in Washington City District of Columbia

Tha. Donoho, J. P.
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May 23, 1935.

Mr. Earl E. Metz
709 South 53 Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

BA-J/ILL
John Leach
R. 15859

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John Leech and Isaac Hays, who served from Philadelphia County.

A search of the Revolutionary War records fails to show a claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service of an Isaac Hays of Pennsylvania, under any spelling of that surname. The record of only one John Leach, or Leech who served in the Pennsylvania troops has been found; his record is given herein as found in the papers on file in pension claim, R. 15859.

John Leach, or Leech was born February 10, 1761 in his father's house, located near the place on which the "equestrian statue of Washington" stood in what was later Washington, District of Columbia: the names of his parents are not shown.

On March 12, 1862, while a resident of Washington, District of Columbia, he applied for pension on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. He stated that he enlisted in 1777, at "Little York", served in Captain Yates' company of Pennsylvania scouts and spies under General Anthony Wayne, that he was wounded in his wrist in the battle of Paoli, that he was at the storming of Stony Point, and continued to serve until the close of the war. He stated further that he was John Leech who served in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment, but did not remember the names of officers other than General Wayne.

His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of the alleged service, or proof of his identity with the John Leech
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who rendered service in the 2nd Pennsylvania regiment, as required by the pension laws.

There are no further data regarding the family of John Leach, or Leech in said pension claim.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller,
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
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No. 39.179
John Leech.

District of Columbia

Lit. Hon. Edw. McPherson.
in claim (April 5. 1862 strikethrough)

Act 7th June 1832.
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Declaration of John Leech, to obtain pension under Act of Congress dated 7th June 1832_

John Leech Dob
Original case

Address 
Hon Edward McPherson. M.B.
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Hon. E. McPherson
April 5th 1862
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Pension Office.
April 5th 1862.

Sir:

The declaration of John Leach for a pension under the Act of 7th June 1832, was for the first time presented, has been examined + filed. 

strikethrough (While it would) 
While his motion to strikethrough (make of) assert his rights, strikethrough (for thirty) at anytime during the last thirty years since the law has been in existence, strikethrough (while it) should not be taken as a proof that he did not strikethrough (entitled to a) render service in the revolutionary war, yet it is calculated to raise a presumption that he did not consider himself entitled to a pension, and strikethrough (render it as the more) that the regulations requiring adequate strikethrough (satisfactory) proof of service should be adhered to. 

There is however, only his assertion, that he did serve but it is not accompanied by any evidence strikethrough (of service) to sustain it, except strikethrough (the testimony) that he has bore the reputation of having been a revolutionary soldier.
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that he enlisted in the year 1777 in the Pennsylvania strikethrough (Line. under) Continental Line under General Wayne. in a company of scouts and spies under Capt. Yates. and that he continued in service during the war. If he had served under a period of enlistment for three years or during the war, his name should be returned on the rolls of the line in this office or at Harrisburg. But it is not bore on there for any such service and the name of Captain Yates is not found at all. strikethrough (The service as a spy or a scout). The name of John Leach is found on the rolls for about eight months in the year 1781. in the 2nd Regiment of the Continental Line commanded by Colonel Walter Stewart. A strikethrough (balance of pay was allege to whom) sum of money is stated strikethrough (on the records) to be due to John Leech. strikethrough (a man or). which does not appear to have been called for. strikethrough (It is impossible to infer) It cannot be inferred, in the absence of any proof strikethrough (that).
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from the identity of names that the applicant is the individual who is enlisted with that service. The opposite strikethrough (might) inference is warrantable because the applicant deserves a different character of service, strikethrough (and) under a captain not belonging to that Regiment. If he served through the war strikethrough (and it is scarcely probable) in a regularly organized Military Company, it is strikethrough (scarcely) exceedingly improbable that no pay was ever received. and if he had so served but had not drawn his wages the amount due him would have been a much larger sum than that specified on the rolls as due his namesake and his name would have appeared in the same rolls for similar service in the year 1780. 

Under the regulations, strikethrough (is it improbable) this claim cannot be admitted without substantial proof of service nor can that service shown to have been rendered by a man of the same name strikethrough (without strict) he appropriated without satisfying evidence of identity. 

Hon. Edw. McPherson House of Reps.
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Rev. & 1812 Mrs
Section.

October 7, 1926

Miss Keren J. Gallmer,
Box 145
Bay View, Mich.

Madam:

I have to advise you, that one John Leech, or Leach applied for pension, March 12, 1862, while living in Washington, D. C. He was born in what later was Washington, D. C on February 10, 1861.

He alleged that he enlisted at "Little York" in 1777 and served in Captain Yates' Company of Pennsylvania Scouts and Spies, under General Anthony Wayne, that he was wounded at the battle of Paoli in the wrist, that he was at the storming of Stony Point and continued in this service, until the close of the Revolution.

He also stated that the name John Leech was found on a list of the Second Pennsylvania Regiment and that he believed he was that person, but that he had no recollection of the names of any officers of the Pennsylvania Line, other than General Wayne.

His claim was not allowed, as he failed to furnish proof of services in Captain Yates' Company, or to prove that he was the man who served in the Second Penn., Reg-
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iment.

There is no data on file as to his family,

Respectfully,

E.W. Morgan,
Acting Commissioner.
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(Left Margin)

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Metz & Company
709 S. 52nd Street
Philadelphia

April 25th 1935

Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen: -
Have been advised to write to you regarding information on the following two men, who served in the Revolution from (1776) Philadelphia County and would appreciate it if you could give me any information as to the dates of their birth and address as I presume both of them received a pension.

John Leech only Pa John Leach (all of
Isaac Hays or Pa

Thanking you kindly, I am 
Yours very truly,
Signature?
Earl E. Metz
709 S. 52nd Street
Philadelphia, Pa.

(text in stamp: Received APR 30 1935 Mail Sub-Div. Vets. Adm / 28)

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After........days, return to Keren J. Gaumer
211 W. Church
Urbana, Ohio
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Box 145 
Bay View, Mich.
Aug. 20, 1926

The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-

Can you please tell me the rank and period of service of John Leech of the Second Pennsylvania Regiment during the Revolutionary war?

Very truly yours, 
(miss) Keren J. Gaumer.

(pension, D, Aug 23 1926, U.S. Office)
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15859

P.O. John Seech

Service:

Enlisted: Rejected
Discharged: Rejected

Application filed:

Alleges:

Re-enlisted: claim filed too late to be inferred on the printed list of rejected claims

Attorney:
P.O.

1926 Oct. 7. Heist - to K. J. Gallumer on 1935 May 22 Hist. to Earl E. Metz - I L. L.