Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,186, for John Still, New Jersey
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Service
New Jersey
Still, John
Number
R. 10,186

Contents
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Application of John Still for a pension
Pennsylvania
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State of Pennsylvania
Columbia County }ss
On this twentieth day of January 1836 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Columbia aforesaid now sitting John Still, a resident of Mahoning Township in said County aged seventy five 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 provisions made by the act of congress passed 7th June 1832.  That he enlisted in Pittstown in the State of New Jersey into the service of the United States for six months in a company commanded by Sampson Howell under Col. Thompson & Genl Hays and served six months under their command and marched to Trenton and Bordertown & from a short time he marched to Smithgrove & New Borough and joined the army at Fishkill in the State of Connecticut where his company were stationed during the remainder of the six months, that he was discharged by Genl Hays in Fishkill at the end of his tour having served in the whole six months, that he has documentary evidence of his service & does not know now of any person who can testify to his service.  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of any agency of any state.
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Answers to Questions by the Court
Ans 1st  I was born in Germany in December 1760 & came to Pittstown when about 3 years of age with my father
Ans 2nd  The record of my age is with my brother in Pittstown N.J.
Ans 3rd   I lived in Pittstown where entered into service & soon after the revolution moved to Shamokin Township Northumberland Co Penn & where I lived about 10 years & moved to where I now live. 
Ans 4  I enlisted
Ans 5  Genl Washington, Genl Hays, Col, Thompson & others.  The particulars of my service are stated in my general declaration.
Ans 6 I received a written discharge from Genl Hays.  It is lost.
Ans 7  Hon. Jacob Gearhart, Sam C. York, Solomon Rushel, John Suhler, Michael Sunders
X his mark
John Still

Sworn & subscribed this 20 day of January AD 1836
Jacob Eyerly, Prot
Page 5

We, Michael Sunders of Mahoning Township Columbia County & John Mowerer of said township and county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Still who has sworn & subscribed to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy five year so age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion and that there is no clergyman in the neighbourhood where he resides.
Michael Sanders
John Mowerer
Sworn & subscribed this 20 day of January AD 1836
Jacob Eyerly Prot

And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states.  And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Michael Sanders & John Mowerer of Mahoning Township aforesaid who have signed the preceding certificate are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. 

Ellis Lewis
William Montgomery
Leonard Rupert
Page 6

Mary Maurer & Cornelius Still heir of John Still decd
Application for pension

Henry M. Fuller
Penna
Page 7

State of Pennsylvania
County of Montour }ss
Be it known, that on the twenty second day of December A.D. 1852 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mary Maurer (late Mary Still) and Cornelius Still residents of Danville in said County and made oath according to law that they are the legal heirs of John Still who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of ______  that they are directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.  
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint Hon. H.M. Fuller now of Washington City my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of John Still for any amount of Revolutionay Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D.C. Agency;  to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present.  Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
Mary Maurer  Cornelius Still

Sworn to, subscribed and acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Mary Maurer & Cornelius Still to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
William Kitchen J. P.

State of Pennsylvania
County of Montour }ss.
It is hereby certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County that Mary Maurer & Cornelius Still the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing declaration and Power of Attorney is the identical children of reputed soldier aforesaid.  I further certify that William Kelchen Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine.  
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this twenty second day of December 1852
William L. Davis, Prothy

Claimant's [illegible] Post Office address.
3. "That he is the [illegible]" or, "that she is the widow of the identical man," or, "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c. &c.
4.  Leave this line blank. - [illegible] He is," "she is" or "they are," - 6. Revolutionary soldier's full name. - 7.  Claimant's signature. - 8. Claimant's name. - 9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of." - 11.  Magistrate's name. - 12.  Clerk's signature.

N.B. - Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.
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John Still
Pennsylvania
Rejected
Waggoner
19 Mch 1803
17488
10186
G. N. Finch Esq
Danville, Pa
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Brief in the case of John Still co of COlumbia in the State of Pa. (Act 7th June,  1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  before the Court
2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3.  How old is he?  70
4.  State his service, as directed int he form annexed.

Period:  Army US  March in 1782
Duration of Service.  7 months
Rank. As a Wagoner
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
Gen,
Cap Howell

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  ---
6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Pittstown N. Jersey
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?
No witnesses of any kind.

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.  
George Dayton
Examining Clerk.
Page 10

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services. Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department.  Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.

O.W. & N. Div.
Revolutionary.

L.W.B.
R. 10186
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
January 18th, 1899.

Sir:-
In response to your recent communication you are advised that John Still made an application for pension on November 5, 1832, at which time he was 70 years of age and residing at Mahoning, Penna,. and in his application he alleges that he entered the service at Pittstown, N. J., and served a period of seven months as a wagoner in the company commanded by Capt. Howell.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Mr. John A. Mowrey
19 Vine Street,
Danville, Penna.
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Owon
No 1

Danville Pa Dec 26 1898

To Commissioner of the Pension Dpt Washington D.C.
Dear Sir, I address a few lines to you, asking for a little information relative to a supposed Revolutionary Pension.
I imagine that all government officers are busy men in view of this I shall be brief as possible.  Can you furnish me with record of a man named John Still or Cornelius Still one or the other to whom a pension was granted, either one was residents of Mahoning Tsp, Columbia Co which Tsp now is in Montour Co over
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2
State of Pennsylvania
Cornelius Still was son of John Still, this John Still was the soldier or it may have been his Father as near as I can find out, Cornelius had made application for the pension.  If you can give me the desired information I shall be greatly favored by you by an answer from you at your earliest convenience.
And your Humble servant will gratefully remember you
I am very respectfully yours
John A. Mowrey
19 Vine St
Danville
Montour Co
Pa
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Old War & Navy Files
Jan 8 1899

US Pension Office
Dec 29 1898
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[illegible]
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[illegible]
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V Rejected
See letter 20 Feb 36 to A Greenough
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Danville Columbia County
Will the war department please to inform the subscriber of the result of this application
Geo A Frich
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10,186
P.O.
John Still
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _________,18  .
Discharged: _________,18  .
Application Filed: _________,18  .
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized.
Contract.
Cert. of Dis.
Searched for  _________,18  .

Jany 18  '99
Jno A Mowrey
Danville, Pa
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Danville Jan 7, 1841
Sir
John Still of this place states that he had made application to receive a pension and has proceeded in part to comply with the requirements of the department in establishing his claim, that his evidence of a title to a pension under the Act of Congress were forwarded to the War Department, but were deficient in some particulars.
Will you please inform me what has been done, and forward to me the forms necessary for proceeding with the application, and completing the evidence.  He enlisted at Pittstown New Jersey under Sampson Howel and was discharged at Fishkill __ there under Colonel Thompson. 
Yours Very Respectfully
Paul Leidy

J. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
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Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these answered in the negative in red ink will apply to the claim of John Still which require further proof or explanation. 
I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?   yes
II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  yes
III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes
V.  *Has he mentioned 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?  yes
VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  yes
VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  yes
IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  yes
X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  yes
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2
XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service.  no
XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  no
XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? no
XIV.  †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI.  ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  yes
XVII,  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered.  yes  A t 1-2

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. 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.
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3
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 is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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.  
 † QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service
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 claimants 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 the seal of office. 
‡QUERE XVI.  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 paper 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.
--> In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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Washingtonville Pa  August 9 / 43
Dear Sir
An old soldier of the revolution has called on me and informed me that perhaps 7 or 8 years ago he employed an attorney by the name of Greenhoe to make application for him to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension, his declaration was before the court of this County (Columbia) and was sent on to you.  Shortly afterwards the attorney left the country and nothing has ever been heard what was done or if there was any difficulty what that difficulty was.
The name of the soldier is John Still, he was enlisted for six months and served out his time.  He says further that himself and ten or twelve more men taken out of the ranks and put to drive baggage waggons & after the army if any things or explanation is wanting if it can be explained I will attend to it.  Mr. Still is a man of good character but poor and needy.  
Very Respectfully
your obt servt
Robert McCoy

Hon J. L. Edwards
Page 24

National Hotel
Washington 5 Marh 1853
Dr Sir
I include you application of Mary Maurer & Cornelius Still legal representatives of John Still Decd.
Respy Yours
Henry M. Fuller

PS I have no final letter inquiring after A.L. Gage a Pension Agent.  I have written to him several times without receiving any reply.  Do you know the man & if aye will you please give me his address.
H M F

___
ansd
___
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Pa _ Jan 23

John Still
Postmarked Danville Pa Jan 20  

FREE

To J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
District of Columbia
Page 26

Danville Columbia County
Jany 20th 1836
Dear Sir,
Enclosed I send an application for a pension and wish to know the result when acted upon.
Yours truly
E.A. Greenough
Page 27

State of Pennsylvania
Columbia County Sct
On this fifth day of November 1832 personally appeared before Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County aforesaid now sitting John Still a resident of Mahoning township in the state and county aforesaid aged seventy 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 7, 1832.  That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1782 with Mol. or Mos. Firman whom deponent believes was Quarter Master General.  Deponent enlisted at Pittstown in New Jersey the 22nd day of March 1782 and served as a wagoner for seven months under the following named officers.  Deponent at the time of his enlistment resided in Amwell township Hunterdon County New Jersey.  At the time of his enlistment.  Sampson Howell was captain of thirteen wagons, one of which deponent drove.  Thomson had the command of all the wagons.  Deponent was first ordered to Bound brook New Jersey. Drove a common wagon from Pittstown to there & then got a red ammunition wagon to drive.  A large body of troops lay at Bound brook at that time, there were better then [illegible] ammunition wagons there; deponent thinks Green had the command of the army but as his duty was with the teams he knows but little of the officers except than that had command of the wagons.  The army marched from Bound brook to Windson on the North River & deponent went with the teams there, when deponent staid out his time for which he was enlisted and one month over.  The officers said they would keep us until the campain was pretty well over.  Deponent is sure he served full seven months & may have served a few days over.  He does not recollect the exact day of his discharge but it was the latter part of October 1782 & not earlier than the 22nd day of that month.  He was discharged at Fishkill, the discharge was signed by a General Hayes who had the command of the company to which deponent was attached after it crossed the North River.  Deponent has lost his discharge.  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 of any state.  
X his mark
John Still

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Jacob Eyerly Prot
Page 28

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
Seth Chapman
William Montgomery

I Jacob Eyerly Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Still for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office at Danville this fifth day of November A.D. eighteen hundred thirty two.
Jacob Eyerly Prothonotary
Page 29

Revolutionary
Power of Attorney
heir of 
John Still
Penna Suspended 1832
Col Anderson

Filed Sep 16, 1833
F. E. Hassler
Washington
Page 30

State of Pennsylvania
County of Montour ss.
Be it known, that on this twelfth day of September A.D. 1853 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mrs. Mary Maurer and Cornelius Still both children of John Still residents of Danville in said County and made oath according to law that they are the children of the identical John Still whose name, under Act of .......
That they are directly interested as a claimants in said claim and made this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim. 
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint F.E. Hassler of  Washington City our true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of John Still for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and for the purpose of establishing additional services by the soldier for whose military duty in the Revolution the aforesaid Pension was granted, I hereby authorize my said Attorney to apply for and obtain from State archives or other sources, certified proofs of such service.  To examine all papers or documents in relation to said service on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my benefit, the certificate for INCREASE which may be issued in satisfaction of said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Pension Agency of this State; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
Mary Maurer Cornelius Still

Sworn to, subscribed and acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Mary Maurer & Cornelius Still to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged, in whose claim I am in no wise interested
William Kitchen J. P.


State of Pennsylvania
County of Montour }ss.
It is hereby certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Montour County that John Still died on the second day of November eighteen hundred and forty seven leaving surviving the following named children and none other, to wit: Mary Maurer & Cornelius Still
It is further certified that William Kitchen Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine; and further that in the within claim for Increase of Pension I am in no degree interested..
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this twelfth day of September 1853
William L. Davis Prothy


1. Claimant's [illegible] address.
3. "That he is the [illegible]  she is the widow of" or, "that he, she or they are the child or children of," &c.
4. Pensioner's full [illegible]  if known. -6.  Give the state where pensioned. -7. Name the yearly amount received. -8.  "He is," "she is" or "they are," - 9. Claimant's signature. - 8. Claimant's name. - 10. Magistrate's signature. *If the Pensioner be living, this part of the Clerk's certificate should be omitted. 11. Here name each of the survivors. -12. Magistrates Name. -13. Clerk's signature

N.B. - Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.