Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41,188, for James Stephenson, Maryland
Page 1

Service
MD Sea Service
Navy

Name
Stephenson, James

Number 
S.41188
Page 2

4964

Pennsylvania
James Stephenson
Mariner
Frigate Virginia for 1 year
in the army of the United States Capt Nicholson, Maryland during the Revolutionary War
Navy & MD Sea Service

Inscribed on the roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 dollars per month to commence on the 5th of May 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th of Dec 1818 and delivered to the pensioner [illegible] at Wash

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818 3-27/100 11/30 $32.02
Semin-anl all'ce ending 4 Mar 1819 $48.00
Total $80.02

{Revolutionary Claim Act 18th March 1818}

MD
Continued
Page 3

See letters to J Cummings & Pen Agent Oct 6, 1830 do to Th. Reeves & P. Agent 23 March 1836

Letter to Hon W W Potter 11 Jany 1838 paid at the treasury under the act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 5 July 1838 the day of his death.
Agt notified 6 June 1839.

Notification sent November 7, 1820 to J P Jackson, Lewistown, Pa
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Application 
of
James Stephenson

Con
4964
Mifflin by
Dec'r 18
Page 5

District of Pennsylvania
Mifflin County

On this 22nd day of August 1820 personally appeared in open court being court of record held at Lewistown in and for Mifflin County- James Stephenson aged sixty-three years - resident in Fermanagh township of Mifflin County and state of Pennsylvania who being first duly sworn according to law - doth on his oath doth declare that he served in the naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War as follows - viz - that he entered on board the Adrew Doria then in the continental service commanded by Captain Robinson on the 19th day of April 1777 at the city of Philadelphia and that he served on board this vessel to the middle of November in said year - when she was burnt to prevent her falling into the enemies hands - that deponent was then sent to Baltimore and shipped on board the Frigate Virginia  commanded by Captain Nicholson and Lieutenant Barney and remained on board said frigate until she was captured by the British in the Chesapeake Bay - and that he remained a prisoner on board a prison ship until 1779 when he was released and let ashore at Paulus Hook New York - and that deponent now enjoys a pension from the United States under the law of the 18 March 1818 No 4964 and that his original application is dated 5 May 1818.

And I do swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of march 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of the act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th day of March 1818 - and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me - nor have I any income
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other than what is contained in the schedule that follows and by me subscribed viz
 A lot of ground, containing 15 acres, in  Fermanagh Township Mifflin county, with a small house and stable, located at the foot of the mountains, duly out to a mortgage for the payment of the purchase money recorded in the register office, Lewistown valued at $110.00
1 tin plate stove $20.00
2 cows & calves $22.00
2  sheep & 2 lambs 3.00
2 pigs .50
 1 chest of drawers $10.00
1 small table 1.00
 1small Looking Glass 0.50 
4 chairs 1.50
 1 tub and bucket 1.50
 1 churn 0.50
2 pots $1.00
1stew kettle .50
1 iron tea kettle 0.50
1 pair flat irons .30
1grid iron .50
shovel and tongs 1.00
6 six plates .25
6 saucers .25
3 Bowls .25
 one wheel and reel  $2.00

James Stephenson, the deponent aged sixty three years, by occupation a tailor, but incapable of making a support for himself and family at it.
Sarah Stephenson aged 52 years wife of applicant.
 Susanna Stephenson 21 years. eldest daughter of applicant
Sarah Stephenson aged 18 years 2nd daughter
 Cleary Ann Stephenson 13 years 3rd do
The eldest daughter hired out in her support.
 I owe about eighty dollars ad have no debts owed me.
 James Stephenson
 Sworn and subscribed before me this 22nd day of August 1820 in open court
 E Banks Prot
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Mifflin Co ss
Personally appeared in open court, Stephen Reynolds and Benjamin Reynolds, who being duly [illegible] as law directs, sayeth that the foregoing is a fair and considerable appraisement of all the property of James Stephenson.
Stephen Reynolds
Benjamin Reynolds
Affirmed and subscribed in open court 22nd Aug 1820 before
 E Banks Proth

I Ephraim Banks Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, being a court of record, and having unlimited jurisdiction in amount, held at Lewistown in Mifflin County do certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said court. And I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the said schedule is (exclusive of the mortgage) $178.00 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County this 22nd day of August AD 1820.
 E Banks Prot
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Unless there is a roll for the period of service to which the oath of the applicant refers, additional testimony will not be required on the point. The proof of reduced circumstances is admitted.  If there is no other [illegible] the applicant will be allowed the pension. JCC


The deposition of a credible witness as to the service is required in the case. The judge must certify in every case that the claimant is in Indigent circumstances.

Admitted 
The pensioner
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State of Pennsylvania Mifflin County ss
On the 5th day of May AD 1818, before me the subscriber one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Mifflin and state of Pennsylvania personally appears, James Stephenson, aged sixty years, resident in Fermanagh Township & County aforesaid - who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of Congress “entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval service of the United States during the Revolutionary”. That he, the said James Stephenson, entered on board the Continental Brig Andrew Doria, at the Port of Philadelphia, commanded by Captain Robinson on the 19th day of April, in the year 1777. Which before was burnt for fear of her falling into the hands of the British. That in the month of December of the same year, he was put into the frigate Virginia, commanded by Captain Nicholson. And the frigate was captured by the British in the Chesapeake Bay in the month of April 1778. And that he was taken to New York and placed on board the Thunder Bomb prison ship. And he was held a prisoner to the treaty of peace in the month of Feb’y 1783 - when he was discharged. And that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence of his said services now in his possession.
James Stephenson
Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year above written.
Joseph Edmiston
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I Joseph Edmiston Judge as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said James Stephenson did serve in the Revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy. I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken & had before me, to the Secretary of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.  Given under my hand at Lewistown this fifth day of May AD 1818.
 Jos Edmiston

Pennsylvania Mifflin County ss
I Ephraim Banks Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mifflin in the state of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the above named Joseph Edmiston Esquire was and is one of the associate Judges of said Court of Common Pleas, duly appointed & commissioned and that true faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such, as well in Courts of Justice as thereout.
Witness my hand and seal of said Court at Lewistown in said County the sixth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
E Banks Prothy
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And now 24th November 1818 appeared James Stephenson before the subscriber, one of the associate Judges in and for the county, and makes  [illegible] [illegible] [illegible], that he is poor and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support. The evidence whereof I hereby transmit to the Department of War - Being the affidavit to them before James Mackey Esq one of the Justices of the Peace in and for Mifflin County.
Joseph Edmiston
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State of Pennsylvania Mifflin County ss
Personally appeared before the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace duly commissioned and sworn in and for the said County, Joseph Douglas and William Henry who being duly sworn sayeth that they have known James Stephenson the applicant for a number of years. That they always understood by the said applicant that he had been in the naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War. And that the said Stephenson to their knowledge of the deponent is now poor and old with all a large family to support and standing in need of the assistance of his country for support. 
Sworn and subscribed before me this 21st day of November AD 1818.
 James Mackey

Joseph Douglas 
William Henry

I am acquainted with the above named Joseph Douglas and know him to be a man of veracity and believe his statements.
 WP Marley 19 Dec 1818
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J L Edwards
Dear Sir
You will please furnish me information so as to enable me to reply to the inquiries of the enclosed note.
Your Obd’t serv’t
 W W  Potter 
4th Jany 1819
 House of Rep’t
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Philadel’a March 16th 1836
 James L Edwards Esq

 Dear Sir
 The inclosed certificate for the pension of James Stephenson for 6 months due from the 4th September 1835 to 4th March 1836 has been presented for payment at the Girard's bank and refused on account of the signatures not being precisely similar.
 There is no doubt of the correctness of the inclosed. I have been attorney for Mr Stephenson for some time and no difficulty has occurred previously. Will you have the goodness to give your order on the inclosed that payment may be made. The claimant is an old and infirm man, and much in want of his pension. Your attention will oblige
 yours respectfully,
Wm Reeves

 P S If you wish a reference  Genl M W Ash
J R [illegible] Esq
 are both acquainted with my standing and respectability
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller's Office
May 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," The children of James Stephenson, dec’d, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Eight Dollars and — Cents per month, under the law of the 18th March 1818, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838 to the 5th July 1838, the day of his death. Respectfully yours,
J Seaver
Acting Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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Invalid
File No  41188
James Stephenson
Marine Frigate Va &c
Revolutionary
Act Mch 18 1818
Index : Vol [blank] Page [blank]
(Arrangement of 1870.)