Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6665, for William Mc Cracken, Pennsylvania
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Penn McCracken, William R. 6665
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Commissioner of Pensions. 
29.851 
William McCracken 
Maryland 
Return 
He did not serve six months
6665 
Hon James Turner 
Ho of Reps
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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office, 
11th March 1834 
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.  
A Statement, shewing the service of William McCracken 
Period when service was rendered   1777   Duration of the claimant's service.   Rank of the claimant.     Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.   Cap Strawbridge    Col Montgomery    Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 88 years Chester Co. Pa.   Proof by which the declaration is supported. Living Witness   
I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,  
JAMES L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.            
The following regulations have been adopted:                  
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.              
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:  
1. The Regular Troops.  
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.    
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.             
4. Indian Spies.                 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.             
DECLARATION.                        
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.           
State, Territory, or District of 
County of } ss.
On this day of A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:    
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]            
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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 in any State, or (if any) only that of Agency in the State of    
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]            
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I of the Court of hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of for a pension.               
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of & c.            
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.          
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: (k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.                 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.                 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]     
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after 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 appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.               
I, Clerk of the Court of contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of & c.         
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission ; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.            
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.            
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.    
1. Where and in what year were you born?                
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?          
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war , and where do you now live?               
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?              
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.           
6. To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? 
To an Officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what Town officer has become of it?              
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.                 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.         
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that 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 that they concur in that opinion. one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. 
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject     
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.        
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed his genuine signature.          
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.        
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.    
[b]   The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.     
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.    
[d]  The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
[e]  Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.        
Every claimant must state, 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. 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---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as and for such service I claim a pension."   
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held 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 that they served two 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.    
[f]  The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
[g]  The opinion of the Court is always required.  
[h]  The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
[i]  The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.               
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 papers 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.         
Proof of Service.         
[j]  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 claimant's 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 wife nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note [j]  applies to continental troops only.     
[k]  This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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State of Maryland Harford County Sct 
On this 20th day of January 1834 personally me the subscriber Chief Judge of the South Judicial District appeared in open court before the of Maryland & Court of Harford County State of Maryland William McCracken a resident of Harford County and State of Maryland aged eighty eight 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 June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers served as herein stated -  
That a short time anterior to the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, there was a draft of militia in Chester County Pennsylvania, that he resided at that time near New London Cross Roads was drafted into Capt Thomas Strawbridges Company. the first Lieut was Joseph Strawbridge, John Ramsay was 2d Lieutenant that the Ensigns name was Criswell - that his Lieutenant Cols name was Evan Evans that his Cols name was William Montgomery and that he belonged to General Miflins brigade that his company proceded to Philadelphia where he heard immediately
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of the capture of the Hessians, that his company went up the Delaware to Bordentown or Burlington he is not certain which after saying there two nights he went with his company across the County to Princeton as they marched or heard the form of the conflicting armies, and was ordered to break down a bridge which they in part cut down & set fire to repose of it when the British fired field pieces from an [unreadable] Hill, they went from thence to Somerset Court House having in Charge some of the British Prisoners taken at the Battle of Princeton, from thence he went to a place called Pluckemin & went from thence to Morristown after remaining there some time his company was there discharged & Genl Mifflin made a speech to the troops at the time that the length of time he
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was out during this tour of service he is unable to say but he well remembers having served out the time for which he was drafted. That he was called out again the next winter after the Battle of Germantown and was stationed at a place he thinks called White Marsh near Philadelphia and remained on service this time also until discharged but does not remember how long the time of service was he does not now remember who his officers were at this last service But he was commanded by officers not from the neighbourhood to which he lived he has forgotten their names.  That he has no papers whatever & never got any discharge.  He well remembers that  there was some officers buried with the honour of War at Plaquemine. He can not remember the name of any continental officer except Genl Mercer who was killed.  He has lived in Chester County Pennsylvania and in Cecil & Harford Counties Mayland since the war He has no record of his age
Wm. McCracken his mark
Sworn to before me Stevenson Archer 
Chief Judge of Harford County Court
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State 
Wm. McCracken his mark
Sworn before me this 20th Jan’y 1834 
Stevenson Archer Chief Judge Harford Co 
I Stevenson Archer Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial district of Maryland & of Harford County Court do certify that Wm McCracken made the aforegoing oath before me, that he is from bodily infirmity unable to attend Court to have his examination taken, that after an investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatory prescribed by the war department I am satisfied that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states &  I do further certify that there is no clergyman residing in the neighborhood to whom the said applicant could the appeal for the veracity of his statement & further certify that Jeremiah Harlan before whom the annexed Deposition was taken has been long known to me as a man of the most unquestionable veracity & character & that he is entitled the fullest credit 
Jany 27th 1834   Stevenson Archer  Chief Judge &c
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6665
Wm McCracken
REJECTED
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Wm McCracken
Pension Papers
Md
29.851
Jas Turner
Md
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James L Edwards, Esquire
Comr of Pensions
War Office
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James L Edwards Esq 
Com of Pensions  
Baltimore Sept 2d 1834 
Sir
Inturn you the papers of William McCracken with the Clerks certificate of Evidence of the Duration of McCrackens Service.  I flatter myself with the hope that the poor Soldiers papers will be found to be correct.  Be pleased to notify me by letter directed to me at this place the result of his application 
Yrs respectfully 
Stevenson Archer
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I Jeremiah Harlan now of Harford County but formerly of Chester County to do solemnly [unreadable] & truly declare & affirm that I lived in Chester County Pa in the year 1774 & that at that time he was about fourteen years of age that he knew William McCracken well lived near him & knows of his own knowledge that the said McCracken was twice drafted into the Pennsylvania Militia during the revolutionary war - at one period he was under  Capt Strawbridge under Colo Montgomery how long he was out this affiant cannot say but he believes the militia were not drafted for a shorter period than two months & he may have been out longer that he knew of his being out the second time but does not remember
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the officers nor where he was stationed nor the particular duty he performed - that he has known the said McCracken from that time to this time that he has resided in Maryland & Pennsylvania since the war  & is a man of correct habits & good character & is now old and infirm and this affirmant States that in Chester County in it was known by all who Knew McCracken that he was a solder in the Revolutionary [unreadable]
Jeremiah Harlan 
Affirmed before me the subscriber Chief Judge of Harford County Court this 27th Jany 1834 Stevenson Archer
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On this 12th day of Augt 1834 personally appeared before me the Subscriber Chief Judge of the South Judicial district of Maryland Jeremiah Harlan about 74 years of age who being duly affirmed according to law did declare and affirm that Wm McCracken was drafted twice in the Pennsylvania Militia that the drafts were never made for less time than two months each tour, that McCracken was out when Genl Washington went to winter Quarters at Valley Forge – He thinks during one of the Tours Capt Strawbridge commanded McCracken - That he is under the belief and impression that McCracken was out two months in each tour of duty. That deponent believes on one of his military Excursions
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McCracken joined the American Army after the battle of Trenton – McCracken was a private and was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
Stevenson Archer 
State of Maryland Harford County Sct
1 Henry Donley Clerk of Harford County Court do hereby certify that the Honorable Stevenson Archer before whom the within affidavit and affirmation were made, and who has subscribed his name thereto, and when has given the within certificate and also signed his name thereto was at the time of so doing Chief Judge of the - Sixth Judicial District composed of Baltimore and Harford Counties 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of Harford County Court this twenty Seventh day of August Eighteen hundred and thirty four 
Henry Donley Clk 
Har’d Cty Court
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Pension office
4 September 1834
BALTIMORE MD SEP 5
Hon’ble L. Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City
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Baltimore Sept 2 1834 
Sir
Be pleased to transmit the enclosed papers to the Pension Office.  
I have the honor to be 
with great respect 
Yr Obt Svt
Stevenson Archer
Hon’ble Lew Cass
Secretary of War