Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 4456, Frederick Hoyd, Penn.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE        Penn                              
NUMBER     W. 4456

Hoyd, Frederick         
 Elizabeth
__________________
CONTENTS
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Pennsylvania 3620
---
Elizabeth Hoyd
widow of Frederick Hoyd
who died in the year 1788
of Montgomery Co. in the State of Penn.
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain ____ of the regt. commanded
by Col. Chambers    in the Penn.
line for 2 years
--------
Inscribed on the Roll of Philadelphia
at the rate of 80 Dollars __ Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of
Oct 1841 and sent Hon. Jacob
Fry Jr. Trap, Penn.
---
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1841              $840.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. '42 40.00
                                                               $880.00
Revolutionary Claim,}
Act July 4, 1836}
Section the 3.}

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book C. Vol. 1. Page 153

Pen. Agent notified
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Elizabeth Hoyd
No 5451
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State of Pennsylvania    }
Montgomery county Ss }

Be it remembered that on the thirty first day of August A.D. 1848 personally appeared before the undersigned one of the Judges of the court of Common pleas for the said county of Montgomery  Elizabeth Hoyd a resident of Limerick township in the county aforesaid, aged [second digit blurred] 86 years who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836: That she is the widow of Frederick Hoyd, late of the said county of Montgomery who was an enlisted Soldier in the revolutionary war from February 1776 to the end of the war, as will appear by the certificate of discharge hereunto annexed. that she was married to the said Frederick Hoyd, in the Spring of 1777. I think in April. I cannot recollect the day. I had a certificate but it has been destroyed long ago. I was married at ?the
Trap[sic for Trappe] by the Rev∂. W Muhlenberg. Hoyd came home from the army when we got married, and was at several times at home after our marriage, but not very often until he came home to stay. after our marriage I remained at my father’s for about a year when my husband rented a House, or part of a house of Peter Hoof and removed me there where we lived about 10 years until Hoyd died- [underlined next 12 words] he died in 1788 late in the Spring. I know that by the age of my Son who was born about five months
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after Hoyd died. my husband was a very active ?healthy before he went into the army and for some time after but a few years after the peace he became ?dessical as the doctors then said from exposure while in camp; he at some time was shot in the right arm and it was very near being necessary to have it taken off; he told me after that he lay whole nights under the snow and even hid comrades buried in holes before life was extinct. he had related to me of Several Battles that he was in but I cannot now ?nessitestate all the circumstances. I lived at Hoof’s alone while my husband was out in one part of the House while Hoofs occupied the remainder. I was married about nine years before I had children. I had two one of whom is living yet. the oldest was born in November 1786 the youngest in September 1788– I had preserved my marriage Certificate for a number of years but it was torn & destroyed by my daughter’s children while I lived with her and not thinking it would ever be wanted for any thing I did not look after it.__ I have long since been told by people that I could draw a pension but I knew of no person who could attend to it for me, and living Still with the assistance of my children being able to get a living, I did not try, but I am getting helpless and needy and ask a favourable[sic] consideration for my claim. the age of my children have been entered in a Book but the leaves have been torn out and nothing left of it. I was married at 22 years old and never since
      Elizabeth her X mark Hoyd

Sworn & subscribed Augt.
31. 1841 before
     Jos: Roger} Judge of the
7th Judicial Dist.
     Penn
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Sophia Umstead being sworn doth depose and
say that she is a sister to the petitioner, that
she was born on the 20th January 1757 according to the record she has of her own age which she kept on a slip of paper, my father kept no record of our ages.  He could not write.  there was nine of us children the eldest was John then Catharine, Anna Maria, Elizabeth, myself. Susanna, Daniel,
Luding, & Christiana there was about an average difference of two years between us, there was between me & Betty except I was born in January & Betty in  March.  they all lived at home with my father till they married. my oldest brother died at 9 years old.  My eldest sister married first to John Custer, then Anna Maria married Frederick Shrander, and then Betty to Frederich Hoyd.
I knew Hoyd some time before he married Betty he was a shoemaker by trade, and a very smart, active, and daring man. my mother died in '7[5?] in May. the war had already begun. Elisabeth or Betty the petitioner was married next spring after by the Rev "Father" Mechlenburg at the Trass, I have a perfect recollection of this because in the Summer of 1777 when I was twenty years of age I went to live with my Brother in law John Cutter, and Betty was married shortly before I went there to live. I then lived several years at Cutters. in the fall of the first year 1777 Washington
with his army encamped over night at Custer's.
he had been done by the British from Germantown he staid but one night there and I shall never forget it so many people collected, and such a exitement. Cutter had several very good beds in the
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house but Washington Selected the ? looking bed for himself and would have no other to sleep in. he would not allow us to cook for him, but had his own cook along and would eat nothing cooked by any other. he was a fresh, healthy looking man and after remaining over night the next day they took up their march towards the Schuykill. they had guards around the house all night. those circumstances are all fresh in my memory. Custer had a mill on Skippack creek at this time Betty was married and according to my best recollection moved to Peter Hoofs next Spring after my father had just married a second wife. a cross woman was the reason why we got from home— my father lived to be a very old man, a little over 100 years—I have yet two sisters and one Brother living. I was 25 years old when I was married to my first husband. I know Betty was married three years younger than I was according to the best of my recollection Betty was married about ten years before she had any children. We used to think she never would have any, but a few years after the war was over and Hoyt was settled at home they had two children one before and one some months after Hoyt’s death—I never had any children. have been married twice: after Betty was married her husband was yet a long time out in the war. he came home occasionally. not often. one time I recollect in particular he told me he was nigh being taken prisoner and escaped only by swimming a large river and was So exhausted that he thought several times he could never reach shore. he was a very active man at that time
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and seemed if he feared nothing— I have another circumstance which enables me to recollec Elizabeth’s marriage: there was an old man, Wendle Young living near my father who died a very short time either before or after Betty was married. I cannot recollect whether it was before or after but was very near the Same time. he was buried at the Trap[sic for Trappe] church where we all belonged and further saith not.
     Sophia her X mark Umstead

Sworn & Subscribed
Augt 21. 1841 before
Jos: Royer
Judge of the 7th district Penn

Frederick Hoyd sworn says that he is the Son of Elizabeth Hoyd the petitioner that he will be fifty three years old in September and that ? his sister was a little less than two years older than himself. She is dead—there was no record of his age except an entry upon a torn leaf of a small Book from which he transcribed it. the original is destroyed. he further says that he has for a number of years written his name High instead of Hoyd
              Fredrick[sic] High

Sworn & Subscribed
Augt 31. 1841 before
Jos: Royer
Judge of 
  in Penn
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Margaret Moser, a resident of Upper Providence township, Montgomery county Penna. being sworn according to law saith that she was ninety two years old on the 5th July last. She has no record of it. my father had my age entered in a Book but it has been destroyed many years ago: I knew Elizabeth Hoyd, the within petitioner from youth. She was my earliest playmate. I knew her father & mother. his name was Lawrence Miller. the children were Said Elizabeth, Sophia, Maria, John Catharine[sic] Susanna, David, Ludwig & Christiana—Elizabeth is about six younger than I am. In our single days we went out Spinning & carding together for some years. there was no carding machine at that time, and while one would spin the other would card the rolls: We lived for Several years about two miles apart and for Several years about one mile apart. I also knew her husband (and his fathers[sic] family) before their marriage. I was often at their house. he was a shoemaker by trade and was always considered a very smart active man. he was the only child his parents had and I can very well recollect how they Strove to prevent his going into the army. Both before and after he had gone they were exceedingly grieved about it: he was a soldier a long time. I think throughout the whole war. he was ???act  a gard[sic] while both before and after he married Elizabeth. his name was Frederick Hoyd._He was married about one year before me by theRev∂ W Muhlenberg at the Trap[sic for Trappe] where I was married also: my sister Mary was maid
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at Mr. Muhlenbing at the time Hoyd was married.
I was married in May 1778. I have no
certificate of my marriage: it was published in
church as the custom then was and no certificate given unless particularly asked for. I have not a record of it, except my recollection, but I recollect well & think I shall never forget it. I can tell you and you may reckon for yourself. It was not long after Washington left Valley Forge where his army had encamped for the winter and where his soldiers suffered so much for want of food & clothing as I was told by my husband who done trains for two years
in the army up to near the time of our marriage after which he was out no more. I was married in the spring and Elizabeth was married the spring before but the exact day & month I cannot recollect altho. I lived within about one mile of her father's not long after her marriage her husband removed her from her fathers to Peter Hoofs where they lived
till Hoyd died. I never had any children,  nor
Elizabeth any for a long time. I lived about seven years in the neighborhood after her marriage during which time she had none, after I left the neighborhood some time I heard the had one soon before and one soon
after Hoyt's death, said Elizabeth has never been married since said Hoyt's death and after he came home from the war they lived together as man & wife until he died. I was about 29 years of age when I married.
Margaret Moser
X her mark
Sworn & Subscribed
this 6th Sep. 1841
before me
Jos: Royer
Judge of the 7th Judicial district Penn
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Hon. 
John Bell

Secy. of War.
I the underwritten Subscribed and one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Mont'y County forming part of the Seventh Judicial District of Penna do certify that I am
personally acquainted with Mrs. Hoyd the applicant for a Pension under the 3d Section of
the Act of Congress passed July the 4th 1836, entitled "An Act granting half pay to Widows & orphans whose husbands & Fathers have died of wounds etc"
That she is unable from bodily infirmity to appear in Court to make her declaration-
That she is an old Lady of good moral character & entitled to credit.-  I further certify that Sophia Umstead & Margaret Moser are both women of good character & of sound
minds sufficiently competent to testify in a court of Justice, & in my opinion are entitled
to full credit & belief-
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Frederick Hoyd whose affidavit is also among the Testimony is a man of excellent moral character & entitled to belief.
diligent enquiry after Records had been
to corroborate the testimony of the Witnesses
but am informed without records, unless they may be found among the records of the old
Lutheran Church of this place, which if found may be certified to by the Rev'd Mr. Miller Paster of the Congregation.
The annexed certificate of discharge I have no doubt was the property of the Petitioner's husband & has been in her possession since his death.
for the information of the Department I
further state, that Mrs Hoyd the Petitioner lives
within three or four miles of my residence, & within my recollection lived in this neighborhood, that I have been acquainted with her for many years & though poor has always supported a good character. Mrs Umstead & Mrs. Moser live near neighbors to me, I have known them from my infancy, &
have for many years been personally
acquainted with them both, during which 
time they have maintained
[unassailable?] character.
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They are a few of the remnant of our hardy German population.-- The quite old Mrs, 
old Lady Mrs. Moser of 92 yrs. of age is remarkably healthy & robust & able to walk with her staff two or three miles with apparent ease.  I will only add from my own conviction
that I believe the application just & free
from any doubt whatever.
I further certify the depositions accompanying
this have been drawn up by the Hon. Fry Sr. late member of Congress from the District
to whom Mrs. Hoyd under application
with my approbation, taking due care
myself to examine each witness upon the
facts by each respectively given.

Witness my hand this 11th Sept 1841
Jos. Royer
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Montgomery County
Pennsylvania
I Josiah W. Evans Prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas for the said County of Montgomery do hereby certify that Joseph Roger Esquire before whom the foregoing declaration and affadavits were made & taken was at the time and yet is one of the Judges of in said Court, and that full faith & credit are due his official acts, and further that his signature to the same as well as the accompanying certificate written upon a sheet of green paper and hereto attached with a [illegible] are all in his own proper hand writing
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court the fourteenth day of September AD. 1841.
J. W. Evans Prothy
[seal]
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Revy WIDOW, &c.
---
File No. 4456
Elizabeth Hoyd
Wid.
Frederick Hoyd
Pvt Pa. line
---
Act: July 4th 36, Sec. 3d,
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 342

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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THESE are to CERTIFY that the bearer hereof
Frederick Hoyd Soldier
in the 1st Pennsylvania regiment, having faithfully served the United States from February 1776 to the present date and being inlisted for the war is hereby discharged from the American army.
Given at the war office the 4th August 1783
●
Penns land draua
By order of the secretary at war
B Lincoln
Jos Carleton
Paid TBB
Registered in the books of the
regiment Richd Fullerton adjutant.
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War Office, August 16 1783.

THE within CERTIFICATE shall not avail the
bearer as a discharge, until the ratification of the definitive treaty of peace; previous to which time, and until proclamation thereof shall be made, he is to be considered as on furlough.

[Illegible]
HOYD, FREDERICK
Penn. W4456
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[Trappe] Montgomery County Pa
Sep 15. 1841
James L. Edwards Esq

I herewith send you the application and papers
made out, of an old lady acquaintance of mine
for a pension - there has been no member in Congress from this district & country for more than twenty years and consequently old people living in this part of the country generally who have claims have had no 
convenient opportunity of presenting them The consequence is that since I am at [illegible], I have had a number of application processed.
When ever I think there is a case that can be
fairly made out  I give my aid.  but the large majority I have to put off because of want of
sufficient proof. this case I conceive to be certainly clear, so far as I am qualified to judge. the certificate of Judge Royer (who is a gentleman over 60 years of age)
was drawn upon paper by himself for me to
copy with the rest of the papers upon reflection I thought best with his consent, to attach the original.  Should there be any informality about the proceeding, it may
be amended upon your suggestion.
The death of Wendle Young who it appears resided near Mrs. Hoyd & Mrs. Umstead's father was referred to by Mrs. Umstead in her 
examination as being about the same friend with Mrs Hoyd's marriage
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the Certificate of the Rev Mr Miller from the
church records.  It fully corroborates her recollection that it would be useless for me further to dwell upon the correctness of her testimony
Upon the while I hope you will be justified as soon as you have examined the papers to send
me, or her to this place a certificate for her
full pension from 4 March 1831 to this time.
Very truly Jones
Jacob Fry Jr.
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5451
Elizabeth Hoyd
of Frederick
Pennsylvania
---
Admitted
---
Pr. Inf 2 yrs #80
Cap ---  Col Chambers 1st
Pa Rgt_

died 1788

Act 4 July 1836

Hon Jacob Fry Jr.
Trap
Pa
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Trap[sic]. Sept. 14 1841

Jacob Fry ? Esq.
     Sir
        Your letter of the 8th inst. is before me. I have examined our church records with great care, & can find no entry therein of the marriage of Frederic[sic] Hoyd to Elizabeth Miller, the record of our congregation though apparently kept with ?care are deficient for a period of time, viz. from 1774 & ? to 1790– there is no marriage recorded from December 1774 to 1790—
there is no death recorded fromNovember 1777 to 1790—& no baptism recorded between the same last two periods— from 1790 forward there is a record— Maby[sic] no record was kept within the period mentioned. I am at a loss to know— Father Muhlenberg was then Pastor of this congregation & this was the place of his residence, at the time long before & long after the period that this marriage took place, whether the outbreak of the revolutionary war, or what occasioned this deficiency I have never been able to ascertain, though I have made frequent attempts, in order to fill up this deficiency of time— I have come to the conclusion that there is no record extant, for that period—-.
As to the age of Mrs. Hoyd, I find the following that on the 5th June 1774 there were seventeen persons admitted as members, by the rite of confirmation —
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among them were
Catharine Miller daughter of Lorenz Miller,    
                           aged-   24
Elizabeth  —  da — — — 19
Sophia  —      da — — — 17 
Susanna  —    da — — — 16

there can be no doubt these are the persons to whom you allude, as the church records mention of no other Lorenz Miller’s family—

As to your next inquiry, the church records show that Mendel Young died May 26th 1777 aged 72 years— there are but two deaths recorded after his & those in the same year—-

I take great pleasure further to add my testimony to the character & standing of Mrs. Hoyd & Mrs. Sophia Umstead both of whom are communicant members of my congregation & have sustained exemplary reputation, for truth, honesty, & strict observance of christian duties— Mrs. Hoyd in consequence of debility & bodily infirmity, does not attend church latterly as regular as formerly— as to Mrs. Moser she is not a member of my church, though she frequently attends it— she is a member of the reformed church & as I understand the oldest person now living in this part of the country, she bears the reputation (& I believe very justly) of an honest, upright & pious woman.— All, or so much of the foregoing as is taken from the record of the church, I certify to be strictly correct & true—
   Yours with respect
        H S Miller Pastor of the 
        Ev. Luth. congregation
        Trap[sic]. Montgy Co.
                Pa.