Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 5909, for Jacob Peters, Pennsylvania
Page 1

SERVICE   Penn.
Peters, Jacob
NUMBER  S.5909
Carded
Page 2

Order to pay & letter to Hon A. Plumer H.R. [House of Representatives] 22 Mar 1838   
Letter to 3rd Auditor 5 Jany 1838.           
Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March 1836 to 4th March 1838   from 4 March 1838 Agt. notified 15 Jany 1839.   
Paid as above from 4 March 1838 to 4 March 1839. Agent notified 1 May 1840               
30. 567 - 30,567 – 
Pennsylvania     
Jacob Peters of Crawford Co in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the company commanded Captain Green  of the Regt commanded by Col. -  in the Pennsyl Ma [Militia] for Six months 
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.              
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of April 1836 and sent to David Derickson Meadville    
Arrears to the 4th of March 1836       $100. -   
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep ‘36   10 – 
$110 -    
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832 } 
Recorded by Wm. S. Allison Clerk, 
Book E 2    Vol. 5   Page 49
Page 3

Pennsylvania   
County Ss.   I Edward A. Reynolds  Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jacob Peters for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal of office at Meadville  this 8th July 1835.   Edward A. Reynolds   
Collt & Prothy of Said Court

33.147
Jacob Peters
Pennsy’a
Allow for six months JMO
David Derickson
Meadville Pa.
Page 4

Pennsylvania   
County Ss.   I Edward A. Reynolds  Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jacob Peters for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal of office at Meadville  this 8th July 1835.   Edward A. Reynolds   
Collt & Prothy of Said Court

33.147
Jacob Peters
Pennsy’a
Allow for six months JMO
David Derickson
Meadville Pa.
Page 5

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 by Jacob Peters.     
State of Pennsylvania            
Crawford County SS.                
On this sixth day of July 1835, personally appeared in open Court of Common Pleas held at Meadville in & for the County of Crawford, State of Pennsylvania before Henry Shippen President and Stephen Barlow & John H Work, Esquire, Judges thereof, Jacob Peters of Hayfield township, County of Crawford aforesaid, aged Seventy four years the fifth day of June last past, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, in 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 in the month of March 1779, the precise period of time being recollected from the circumstance, that it was about two months before deponent obtained his eighteenth year - the militia of Buffalo township, then Northumberland, but now Union County, Pennsylvania were called out to resist an attack made by the Indians on the settlement and North West parts of the County; that deponent went out in the company of Captain Joseph Green of said township, as a private was marched first to the [unreadable] of Sample a distance of twelve miles.  When the company lay for as much as two months, watching and keeping guard against the attacks of the Indians, but no skirmishing whereby any lives were lost on this side took place during that time, that deponent recollects of  - that after the expiration of the two months the company was ordered to march with all expedition to Fort Bosley in Chillisquaqua Count to the East of Northumberland County, as it was supposed an attack was meditated upon by some British Indians then in the neighbourhood, & when the company arrived within sight of the Fort the Indians fled. Persuit was made for a short distance, but the company & some others attached to the fort had not pursued far, till the dead body of - Mead, brother to David Mead the proprietor of Meadville, was found, having been killed & striped by the Indians. Deponent counted thirteen bullet holes made in him. The company remained at the fort but four days after this, when they were permitted to return to their   
2 mos.
4 days
Page 6

respective homes. The Indians having in the mean time, as was then believed, left that region of the country.               
That in March or April 1780, deponent was ordered out again with the other militia man attached to Captain Joseph Greens company in Buffalo township to march to the neighbourhood of Fort Watson about thirty miles distant up the Susquehanna River, to repel the Indians who were committing ravages on the settlements.     
2 days
On the way the company passed Fort Montgomery & between it & Fort Hawkins, the bodies of two men, who had recently been tomahawked & stripped by the Indians were found, these were buried & the men proceeded on to Fort Hawkins reached there on the evening of the second days march; 
2 days
at this place the company remained but two days, when orders came to march to Jacob Fouts Mills in Buffalo township as the Indians were expected to make an assault upon it.    
2 days
The company started and in two days got to Fouts where the men lay for as much as one month    
1 mo.
During this time some of the men of the company went a few rods from the mill to assist in repairing the dam when an attack was made by same Indians, and a man by the name Rough (Row) belonging to the company was killed by a shot from the Indians. The man at the dam immediately returned to the mill & the Indians fled.  The time spent during this period in actual service was not less than one month & ten days. At the expiration of which time a number of militia or volunteers from Punton, Dauphin County Pennsylvania came & relieved Captain Greens Company then the men of which were marched to White Deer valley towards the upper end, now Union, then Northumberland County – distance of about twenty miles - here the company lay for three months.  Almost every day some of the men of the company were sent out to reconnoiter, but they at no time, that deponent recollects had any engagement with the Indians. 
3 months
From White Deer the company was marched back again to Fouts’ Mill remained then for as much as the week during which time Captain Green with six men of the company,              
3 weeks
deponent being one went on a reconnoitering party as far north as the Bald Eagle [unreadable] in now in Canton County & was absent about one week, his nothing worthy of notice occured that deponent recollects of
Page 7

After the expiration of the three weeks at Fouts’ Mill the company was marched to Andrew Punchy’s a distance of two miles, where the men were stationed & kept for as much as two months when they were dismissed,            
2 mos.
the fall season setting in & no further dangers for that season apprehended from the Indians        
The Spring, March 1781, deponent was again ordered out in Captain Greens company and was stationed at the house of John Kelly about 8 miles distant from the residence of deponent fully in Buffalo township and was kept then on duty till November following with this exception,  viz -  that provisions being secured & [unreadable] at them might be a failure in the crops, 
(8 [unreadable]). 4. Mos.
each man in the company was required to remain three days on duty at Kelly station, then return to his home & work the crops & then return again to the station, which order was kept up until the time mentioned, this would make the period of deponents service at this time equal to four months but might a few days over or under; he having no document evidence by which he can certain the precise time.    The season following in May the Indians reappeared in Buffalo killed a number of persons then took two horses & a rifle of deponent when his father thinking it prudent to leave that place, moved with his family & deponent to Punton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  John Laughly was the Lieutenant of Captain Green’s Company who was killed during harvest time of 1780, and John Hester the Ensign; deponent cant recollect who succeeded Laughly.    
Deponent states that he received a certificate of his services as here detailed, but he believes the same has been destroyed as he has not seen it for this thirty years & as far as he conceiving it to be of no use after the war was over.  He has no documentary evidence to establish any of the foregoing facts he knows of no one who has evidence of them other than what George Meeck states in his affidavit taken upon S. Barlow Esq one of the Judges of this Court & hereto annexed. He is acquainted with Philip Straw & Joseph Hinebaugh & John Pfeiffer three of his neighbours in Hayfield
Page 8

township who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a solder in the Revolutionary war . He further states that from his infirmities which render him unable to attend the meeting he is so improperly acquainted with the clergyman of the neighborhood that he cannot call on him to give testimony     
Deponent states that he was born the June One thousand seven hundred sixty one in Morris County, State New Jersey, but he has no record nothing but memory as told him by his parents of his age. that his father’s name was Leonard Peters & have in all twelve children - that his father moved, when deponent was about five years old, with his family to Buffalo Valley, then Northumberland County, where they continued till June 1781 when for [unreadable] safety they all moved to Punton, Dauphin County Penna. where deponent continued with his father for two years, when they returned to Buffalo Valley,  Deponent continued to reside in said Buffalo for eight years & then moved to Beaver township in then Northumberland now Union County, a distance of about twenty five miles from his former residence; here he resided fourteen years when he came to Venango, now Hayfield township, by alteration of time, where he has continued to reside ever since                  
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state.               
Jacob Peters his mark
Sworn & subscribed this 6th July 1835 in open Court          
Henry Shippen Pres’t. [President}     
Mr. Philip Straw of Hayfield township Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Farmer, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Peters who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to
Page 9

to be seventy four years of age as he represents, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood when he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion, & further that he is a man of truth, entitled to credit as such           Philip Straw
Sworn & subscribed this 6th July 1835 in open Court         
Henry Shippen }    
John Pfeiffer being sworn Saith that he has been acquainted with Jacob Peters for Eighteen years past that it is believed in the neighborhood that he was out as a militia man in the Revolutionary war that he is a man of veracity and his pregoing statement is entitled to credit       John Pfeiffer    
Sworn & subscribed in open Court this 6 July 1835 -            
Henry Shippen }     
And the said Court do declare their opinion after investigation of the matter & putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that Jacob Peters the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states, and that Philip Straw & John Pfeiffer whose affidavits are above or respectable citizens of this County of Crawford in whose testimony full reliance may be placed           
Certified July 6 1835          
Henry Shippen       
Pres’t P of 6th Dist
Page 10

Pennsylvania             
Crawford County }      I Edward A. Reynolds, Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jacob Peters for a pension     
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of office at Meadville this 8th day of July A.D. 1835.
Page 11

Pennsylvania        
Crawford County } ss.        
Personally came before me the subscriber an associate Judge of the Court of Common pleas &c in & for the County of Crawford, George Meeck of Breon township, in Union County, Pennsylvania, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say that he has known Jacob Peters between fifty five and sixty years. that his first acquaintance was with him in Buffalo township Union County aforesaid, during the Revolutionary war, when the said Peters resided untill about thirty years since when he left them and moved to Crawford County, where he has seen him several times since, and when he the said Peters is now residing. That about the years 1778 or 1780. at which of them, deponent, from failed of recollection consequent in old age, cannot now say.  he deponent - with the militia in Union then Northumberland County, was called out to defend the frontiers from the terrors and ravages of the Indians, that Joseph Green was the Captain of the Company deponent was attached to, and Jacob Peters was one of the Company as a private and deponent recollects well of seeing him out on duty at two different times, but the length of them he cannot say - that at one time the company, (deponent & Peters being in it) lay at Frank Jacob's Mills in Union County, when a body of Indians made an attack and shot & tomahawked four men of another company about two miles distance – The Indians was repulsed and report afterwards came in that one of them had been severely wounded. Deponent recollects that the militia was frequently called out in defense against the Indians but he cannot tell the number of times or the length of each period.  Deponent further states that from his knowledge & acquaintance with Peters he would put reliance in his word, whether under oath or not     George Meeck
Sworn & subscribed this fifteenth day of June A.D. 1835  
Stephe Barlow
Page 12

Rev War
5909
INVALID
File No.  5909
Jacob Peters
Pri  Rev. War
Act:  June 7 1832
Index: - Vol  M   Page 292
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 13

30.567        
Pennsylvania          
Jacob Peters             
of    in the State of              
who was a private in the             commanded by Captain Green of the         commanded by in the Penna Mil [Militia]   for 6 months            
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania the rate of 20. Dollars – Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.              
Certificate of Pension issued the  14 day of April 1836          and sent to         
D. Derickson,  Meadville Pa.  
Arrears to the 4th of    
Semi-annual allowance ending 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.)     
Recorded by Wm. S. Allison Clerk             
 Book E r    Vol. 5  Page 49.
Page 14

Jacob Peters   Penn’a.  7 June 1832.  $ 20 per annum
To what time last paid
Pd to the 4th March 1831, 
JH
Pension Office 22 March 1838.
Page 15

War Department           
Pension Office             
July 16, 1835.             
Sir,
The papers in the case of Jacob Peters have been examined and they are herewith returned. The applicant claims for continuous service as a militia man on the western frontiers of Pennsylvania for between five and six months at one time and for four months at another besides several shorter tours. The militia of that state were not called out at any time to serve so long as four months under one engagement. The declaration should therefore be amended, showing such tours of actual service as the applicant was called upon to perform by order of the proper authorities and such voluntary service as he performed by him without such authority. It is believed that the last service for which he claims and a part of the service in 1780 was of that character. The witness should be certified to be credible as pointed out in note j in the enclosed printed sheet. The enclosed papers should be returned            
I am respectfully 
Your Obt. Servt
J. L. Edwards
D. Derickson Esq           
Meadville Penn’a.
Page 16

TREASURY DEPARTMENT           
Second Comptroller's Office           
January 8th 1839         
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,"   Jacob Peters -  a Pensioner on the Roll of the   Philadelphia Pa.  Agency, at the rate of Twenty - Dollars and --- Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, 1836, to the 4th March, 1838.         
Respectfully, yours,              
Albion K. Parris            
Comptroller.              
To the Commissioner of Pensions Present.
Page 17

TREASURY DEPARTMENT           
Second Comptroller's Office           
January 8th 1839         
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,"   Jacob Peters -  a Pensioner on the Roll of the   Philadelphia Pa.  Agency, at the rate of Twenty - Dollars and --- Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, 1836, to the 4th March, 1838.         
Respectfully, yours,              
Albion K. Parris            
Comptroller.              
To the Commissioner of Pensions Present.
Page 18

Jn Ab
MEADVILLE  MAR 9
Mr. Evans
Hon. A. Plumer
Hs. Reps.
Washington City
H
Hon A. Plumer
H02
March 16
Page 19

Meadville    March 8. 1838                   
Dr. Sir
Will you oblige Mr Peters by getting a certificate of allowance from Mr. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions to have the arrearages of his 
Very truly   
David Derickson
Page 20

Supplemental declaration of Jacob Peters, the applicant for a pension named in the forgoing declaration &c            
February 10th 1836. the said Jacob Peters appeared in open Court of Common pleas of Crawford County, Pennsylvania before Henry Shippen, President & Stephen Barlow John H. Work Justices of said Court; who being first duly sworn according to law, doth depose & say that from the great lapse of time since he rendered the services mentioned in his application and the failure of his memory he cannot say whether there were orders given by the state other entities at the different times he speaks of, for the militia to which he belonged to turns out for actual service, but he does recollect that he was called upon required to march with his company at the several periods mentioned. He has no recollection & he does not believe that he volunteered for service, but went, though willingly, yet by command & authority of his commanding officer - He also recollects that before he was eighteen years of age, he was urged by Captain Joseph Green to suffer himself to be enrolled as a militia man in his company, that he finally consented after which it was that he deponent, was called into actual service.   
Deponent further states that he can make no alteration as to the time & length of his services mentioned in his application, though it is possible he may have been incorrect in both, owing to the causes aforesaid length of time since & failure of memory, yet he honestly lives that what he stated is correct. If his period of service at any one time exceeded that for which he was called out he has no recollection of it. neither does he remember of the term of service being prolonged, while out on duty, by his voluntary consent, although such may have been the fact -- and deponent made his former application viz 6 July 1835 he has become much more infirm in body & memory in consequence of which he is unable to give the specific statements –              
Jacob Peters his mark
Sworn in open Court 10 February 1836.                 
Edw A. Reynolds Prothy & Clk Courts
Page 21

And the said Court do hereby certify that Philip Straw and John Peiffer, mentioned in the former certificate of the said count annexed to the application & declaration of the said Jacob Peters, and to which this supplemental declaration is appended attached are credible witnesses.    
Certified Feb 10 1836           
Henry Sheppin Pres    
State of Pennsylvania             
Crawford County } ss.         I Edward A. Reynolds, Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the supplemental application of Jacob Peters for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court made this 10th day of February A.D. 1836     
Edw. A. Reynolds Prothy & Clk of Court
Page 22

Pa. Feb 22   
Jacob Peters
MEADVILLE Pa.  FEB 14     
Free
J. L. Edwards, Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 23

Meadville, Penn’a Feby 13. 1836            
J.L. Edwards Esqr.    
Dr Sir    
 I herewith return you the application of Jacob Peter amended as far as practicable. Also your letter to me accompanying the papers when sent back, which I understand you to say you wish to have returned.            
I am Sir        
Your obdt svt.         
David Derickson
Page 24

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES            
Form VAM-51               
12 - 5 - 41        
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*   
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
NAME   Peters, James   GRADE  Private    LINE  Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER  4850   ACREAGE  100   ISSUED   Apr. 19, 1792
To Isaac Bronson
The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued 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.