Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 1636, Joseph Campbell, Penn.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER  Campbell, Joseph  R 1636
Penn
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State of Pennsylvania
County of Mercer }ss

    On this 22d day of October 1835 Personally appeared in open court before John Breden President and his associate Judges Joseph Campell resident of Springfield Township in the county of Mercer and state of Pennsylvania, aged 76 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.  viz. 
 That in September 1775, the indians became troublesome in Westmoreland County near the Conemaugh River, There were scouting parties kept out, and they reported that the Indians were on the frontiers and many of them fled to the Forts for protection, generally all on the north side of the river. This deponant [sic] father, and family, went to Wallace Fort for protection and were generally there until the winter set in when the Indians returned home.  In February 1776 being remarkably fine, open winter, the Indians came, and we were obliged to go to Fort Wallace at the beginning of February. They formed a company Capt Andrew Lowers Commanded, and this Deponant [sic], his Father, and two Brothers, all joined the company (but he believes they his friends all are dead.) They drew rations rations, performed duty regularly, for two months, when Capt Lower two months were up another Capt came and brot [sic] some fresh men with him and a number of them in the Fort continued on; This deponant [sic] continued in the Fort and joined with every Captain that came, did not leave the service, nor do any work the whole season, until the winter set in and the Indians were obliged to return home. Some time in the Spring of 1776  Col Charles Campbell and 2 or 3 others were taken prisoners, by a large party of Indians across the river, perhaps 5 miles from Wallace Fort, They Indians [illegible] at him Campbell how many men were in the Fort and said they were going to take it to discourage them he told them they were to have a large reinforcement about that time, and they could not take it with the few men they had (which was supposed to be 300) but they said they would take it. This however was what Campbel stated when he returned. But the Indians came and did attack the Fort, and the men fought and defended it, beat them off and killed a number of Indians, supposed by accounts afterward about 30 of them. This deponant [sic] was in the Fort at the time, again in the Fall; Thomas Taylor, his wife, and James Evans, were coming from Taylor's farm in an evening having gone on errand the morning of the same day. Evans was riding
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and went on some distance before, to look out for fear of being waylaid, passed a large log or tree lying where a number of Indians were concealed, a white man rose, called Evans by name told him to give up and they would not hurt him, he then saw the Indians, laid whip to his horse, they fired, and shot his horse, but he carried him to the Fort. He Evans reported what had taken place, being near the Fort, about 27 or 29 men (not certain which) went out of the Fort and fell in with the indians and none of them were killed, the rest got in, Taylor and wife, took the alarm when Evans was shot at, and escaped into the woods and concealed themselves, got clear, such was the situation of the County at that time that it was necessary to keep a significant force in the Fort constantly to protect the frontier settlement which would have otherwise to have broken up entirely, when the scouting parties would discover signs of Indians coming, they gave the alarm and the families had often to fly to the forts and sometimes in the night fall. This deponant [sic] served under a number of Captains that Summer and fall, he recollects Lower named above, Joseph Hopkins, David Marchant & McKee & Major Jos. Wilkins who commanded the day after the Fort was attacked.  The time since is so long his memory failed and having no documentary evidence, that he cannot now state the time when such captains came and went away, but he never left the service until the winter set in, so that the [illegible] was over, say in December 76. Says he enlisted once or twice for two months, but cannot say certainly which Captain it was with. having continued the season, he is certain he was in all not less than ten months in actual service for which he claims a pension. The nature of service was such, against the Indians, and on the frontier, so that there were no regular Troops there. He was born in Cumberland County Pennsylvania, has no record of his birth, but from his best recollection and information, he believes he is 76 or 77 years old. He was in Westmorland County Penn when called into service, he enlisted once or twice and volunteered, served for himself, drew his arms (an elegant rifle) of the Publick [sic] arms in the Fort, ammunition, rations etc. regularly.
He has no documentary evidence and knows of no one now living by whom he can prove his service except Henry Steentufs deposition, attached.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except to this present one and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any state nor ever was.
/s/ Joseph Campbell
Sworn and subscribed in open Court Oct. 20 1835
/s/ John Kich [illegible]
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I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Joseph Campbell named within who is now applying for a pension. For many years past and believe and believe that his credit for truth and veracity is good, have never been heard it doubted - given under my hand this 29th day of March 1836.
 /s/ Wm. Wood (illegible)

Signed in presence of A. Brown 

I Alexander Brown, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Mercer. Do hereby certify and declare that after a careful investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, It is my opinion, that this applicant Joseph Campbell was a soldier in the Revolutionary War as he states, and believe that he performed the services which he states in his declaration.  I have not heard his veracity called into question.  I am well acquainted with and know that William Wood who signed the above certificate is a clergyman in good standing in the Presbyterian Body very respectable and entitled to belief, & a resident of Mercer County and also that Samuel Anderson and Michael Hotenbaugh are residents of Mercer County and credible persons - I am not acquainted with Henry Steenturf.  
Given under my hand at Mercer this 2d day of April 1836.
/s/ A. Brown

State of Pennsylvania
Mercer County }ss

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and 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 further appears to them that Samuel Anderson and Michael Helenbaugh  residents of Mercer County and Henry Steenturf a resident of Butler County are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.

By order of the Court
/s/ Hugh Bingham Clerk 

I Hugh Bingham Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county do further certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Campbell for a pension, that John Emery, Andrew Denniston and James Luck Esquires before whom the 
over
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foregoing dispositions were taken and Alexander Brown Esquire who signed the foregoing certificate is a Judge of the Court and for said county that they are duly commissioned and acting as such, that full faith and credit is due to all their official [acts].

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 23rd day of April AD.1836.

/s/ Hugh Bingham Clerk

[The following is written in the margin below the above text.]
33694
Joseph Campbell
Pennsylvania
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.

December 18, 1924.

Honorable Sam D. McReynolds,
House of Representatives.

My dear Mr. McReynolds:

In response to your letter of the seventeenth instant, I have the honor to advise you, that the name Joseph Campbell appears but twice on the revolutionary War records of this Bureau, as follows:
Joseph Campbell born about 1762, in Culpeper County, Virginia, enlisted from Albemarle and Washington Counties, Virginia, was allowed pension while residing in Hamilton County, Tennessee and died in Bradley County, Tennessee, on January 8, 1841. (S.2414)
Josepb [sic] Campbell was born about 1758, or 1759, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and resided in Westmorland County, Pa. during the Revolution. He applied for pension in 1835, while living in Mercer County, Pa., on account of having served at Fort Wallace on the frontiers, guarding against the Indians, but his claim was not allowed as he did not serve in a regular military organization as required by the pension laws. The date of his death is not on record. (R.1636)

Very truly yours,
/s/ Hays Haymaker
Acting Commissioner.

[The following is written in the left margin]
The M.C. asked for place of residence only.
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1636  REJECTED
P.O. Joseph Campbell

Service:

Enlisted:   , 18  .
Discharged:   , 18  .

Application filed:  , 18  .


Alleges: list of rejected claims printed in 1852, shows
Re-enlisted: cause of rejection as follows: "He did not serve in any regularly organized corps."
Attorney:
P.O.:

   Recognized.    Contract.
  Cert. of. Dis.  Searched for   , 18  .

[The following is written in the upper left margin]
1912 Sept 210. History to Mrs. H.B. Cater & 1924 Dec 18. data as to residences to Hon S.D. McReynolds
aw
see his letter on Joseph Campbell Va. (S2414)
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Mercer County ss: State of Pennsylvania

Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for Said County personally appeared Samuel Anderson of Said County he being by me sworn as law directs did depose and say that he has known Joseph Campbell upwards of twenty five years and that he always supported a good moral character and that he often heard said Campbell the applicant for a pention [sic] tell of his services at Wallace fort the time of the Revolutionary war and from said Campbell present afterward I have no doubt but his ages is about Seventy Six.   /s/ Samuel Anderson
Sworn and subscribed before me this 9th day of October A.D. 1835
/s/ Andw Denniston
The above witness is intltled [sic] to good credit. /s/ Andw. Denniston
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Mercer County ss.
Before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for Said County Personally appeared Michael Hettenbough of said County and being duly sworn according to Law did depose and say that he has known Joseph Cambpell upwards of Forty years and the he always supported a good moral Character and that he often heard said Campbell the applicant for a pention [sic] tell of his services at Fort Wallace the time of the revolutionary war and to the best of his knowledge said Campbells age is about Seventy Six years.
/s/ Michael Hettenbough
Sworn and subscribed before me this 12th day of October A.D. 1835
/s/ James Locke
I hereby Certify that the above deponant [sic] is entitled to good Credit.
/s/ James Locke
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Mercer Pa   Revolutionary Claim
[illegible]   Free
Penn [written vertically upward]
Hon Lewis Cass
Sect. of War
City of Washington
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Mercer April 23rd 1836
Dear Sir
I have enclosed to you the declaration of Joseph Campbell, an old revolutioner, who is applying for a Pension, he has taken a good  date of Trouble to procure Testimony, but the lapse of time, the death of many of those revolutionary men and the infirmity of those yet remaining renders it very difficult to obtain testimony, when the matter is examine [sic] and duly considered & acted upon, you will please to me return to me, (Alexr Brown in Mercer, Mercer County, Pennsylvania) and oblige this applicant, and your Noble Servant
/s/ A. Brown

Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
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State of Pennsylvania }
Mercer County } ss:

Be it known that on the fifth day of October 1835 Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Henry Steenturf and Henry Steentufs is Resident of Butler County & State aforesaid Residents of Mercer County and being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that they have been long acquainted with Joseph Campbell who is now applying for a pension, and have many years ago heard him tell of his services and especially at Wallace Fort, and telling many incidents that happened at that time too numerous to mention more, we have no doubt but that he is about the age he states, from his appearance. he is reputed and believed in his neighborhood to have done the services stated in the Revolutionary War, and we concur in that opinion. We know that he supports a good moral character, and for truth and veracity, have never heard it questioned. Henry Steenturf further states he was personally acquainted with Joseph Campbell at Wallace Fort and knows he Rendered services.
[signed with the note "his mark"]  Henry Steenturf
Sworn & subscribed October 5th 1835 Before me
/s/ John Emery

I hereby certify that the above deponants [sic] are credible persons and entitled to belief.  /s/ John Emery
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August 28, 1912
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Sir, Please give me what you have on record about Joseph Campbell, Sugar Creek Township, Venango Co. Penn, died 1843. He stood guard at Fort Wallace at the age of fourteen and drew a pension for
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[illegible] received, performing this service.
Yours truly,
/s/ Mrs. H.B. Carter
2321 West End Ave. 
Nashville Tenn.

[Stamped with a Postmark
PENSION D
U.  AUG  S.
31
1912
OFFICE
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Rejected.
See let: 19 May 1836
A. Brown

did not serve in a regularly organized corps under a competent authority