Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9,415, for John Miller, North Carolina
Page 1

Service: NC

Miller, John

Number: S.9415

Carded.
Page 2

North Carolina

16,300

John Miller of Ash in the State of N. Car. Who was a pri. In the compy commanded by Captain Loft of the - commanded by - in the NC line for 10 mo: 12 days

N.C. Line
Jany 6/65
Records corrected.SS

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 34 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of July “33 and sent to Andrew Mitchell, Wilkesboro, NC.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.    69.32
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept.  17.33

$86.65

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by N. Rice Clerk
Book E Vol. 6 Page 49.
Page 3

The Declaration  of John Miller for the purpose of obtaining a provision under the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

State of North Carolina
Ashe County
Court of pleas & quarter sessions 
November Term 1832
On this the 12th day of November AD 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Justices of the court of pleas & quarters Session  of Ashe County now sitting John Miller resident of in the County of Ashe and State of North Carolina 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

I was born in Muddy Creek, in what is now Davidson County in this state [North Carolina] & as I have always understood on the 9th of March AD 1763 - I continued to live at the same place until I was fifteen years old when as was I can now recollect during the spring of the year. I went 
as a substitute for one Hardy Jones to Charlotte in Mecklenburg County,[Virginia] where I was attached to a body of Light Infantry who marched into South Carolina where we were placed under the command of a Frenchman called Col. Malvary or Malvauain [Francois de Malmedy] 

Our operations were between Charleston [South Carolina] and the Savannah River but chiefly about the Savannah. The British were lying at the Stono River and the body of men to which I belonged were always moving to prevent their landing to plunder and obtain provisions.  At the same time a large body of Americans under
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the command of Genl. [John] Butler were stationed  near the Savannah River and when we were not in motion our station was with his army - 
During the same summer the British entrenched themselves on Stono river and Genl. [John] Butler attacked them in their entrenchments but after a fight of about two hours & half the Americans retreated & retired to their former station with the loss of about forty killed & a number wounded.The British however abandoned their entrenchments the next night -This Tour I served three months & returned home - 

I was afterwards drafted and in the beginning of the year Seventeen hundred and eighty I went to Charlotte [North Carolina] and from thence  marched with several hundred men to Charleston [South Carolina] - During my service there about a month I laboured at the breast work about a month & half I had no other services than to stand sentry every third day & for about three weeks I was on board I was on board of a ship between John's Island & Sullivan''s Island [both South Carolina] where we were stationed to watch the motions of the British.

Within a few weeks after I arrived at home, the news came that charleston was taken [Charleston, South Carolina, British occupied May 1780] 

Sometime afterwards the length of time not now recollected, I went as a substitute for one Henry Hauser under a Dutchman Capt. Lopt [John Lopp] We were all mounted men & were continually in motion thro [through] the counties of Rowan, Guilford, Randolph [all North Carolina counties] & the surrounding Country to repress the Tories and particularly to check the depredations of the Fanning [David Fanning Loyalist leader] This tour was also three months- we had no fighting - We caught many
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Tories  whipped them & turned them loose - Our body of men amounted to about sixty and were generally drafted. Again immediately afterwards, the time I cannot otherwise recollect than that it was after Guilford battle [Battle of Guilford Courthouse, NC March 1781] I went as a substitute for Henry Miller under the same Captain [John] Lopp who commanded as before a company of mounted men, we accompanied an expedition to Wilmington [North Carolina] under the command of Genl. [Griffith] Rutherford but during the expedition we were rarely immediately along with the main army but generally scouring the country in our progress, when we arrived near Wilmington [NC] we had a slight Skirmish with a small party of the British about two miles from the Town at a place called the Brick house.

As soon as we arrived at Wilmington [NC] news arrived that the Tories had broke out & were doing great mischief in Rowan [County NC] & the adjoining Counties - And our company was sent back & on our return we encountered [David] Fanning and his body of Tories - 
a few fires passed between us and we retired. It being about night we built our fires & moved from them a small distance to spend the night expecting the Tories might be upon us

Another term of five or six weeks I served about Charlotte in N. [North] Carolina under Capt Bungardner -The year is not now recollected, but we were called out on account of an  apprehension that the British were approaching that place & it was before the guilford battle [Battle of Guilford Courthouse, NC March 1781] 

I had regular discharges but not appreciating their value, nor attention was ever given towards their preservation & I do not now recollect by whom they were signed
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I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written.
John Miller [his mark] X
T. Callaway Clk
by R Gentry D Clk
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March 20, 1940

BA-J/AWF
John Miller
S. 9415

Mrs. George Wheldon
West River Road
By way of Route 1 Osseo
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dear Madam:

The data furnished herein were obtained
from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 9415, based upon military service of John Miller, in the Revolutionary War.

John Miller was born on Muddy Creek in Rowan County, North Carolina, March 7 or 9, 1763. The names of his parents were not given, his father died about 1780.

John Miller enlisted in the spring of the
year "when he was about sixteen years old", and served three months as private under Colonel Malvary (probably meant for Malmedy) a Frenchman. He enlisted early in January, 1780, served three months as private, marched to Charleston, names of
officers not given. He enlisted sometime in June, 1780, served three months under Captain Loft (a Dutchman) out in pursuit of Tories. He served five or six weeks, before the battle of Guilford Court House, in Captain Bungarnet's 
( ? ) company, and served after the battle of Guilford Court House, as substitute for Henry Miller, three months as private in Captain Loft's company, in an expedition to Wilmington,
and was in several skirmishes.

John Miller moved in 1797 to Ashe County, North
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Carolina.

John Miller was allowed pension on his 
application executed November 12, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Ashe County, North Carolina.

There is no reference to wife or children of
John Miller, nor was it stated that the Henry Miller for whom he served as substitute was a relative.

In order to obtain the date of last payment
of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and
furnish the following data:

John Miller
Certificate #16300
Issued July 24, 1833
Rate $34.66 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
North Carolina Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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We Jacob Faw, clergyman resident in the county of Ashe and state of North Carolina and Isaac John [lined out] Taylor residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Miller who has
Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that were believe him to be Seventy 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. I, Jacob Faw lived in the neighborhood when John Miller resided in the revolutionary war &
know that he was in many terms of service during the same
I Isaac Taylor certify that I saw the sd [said[ Miller returning [illegible] expedition under Capt Loft & have heard Loft say that Miller served & I know that when Miller then [illegible] it was generally believed he served as he states 
Jacob Faw
Isaac his mark Taylor
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year
above written - T. Callaway Clk
by R Gentrey D Clk

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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, And the court further certifies, that appears to them that Jacob Faw who has signed the
preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Ashe and state of North Carolina, and that Isaac Taylor who has also signed the same is a resident in
the same state & county and is a credible
person, and that their statement is
entitled to credit -
A.W. Millan Chair, C.C.
D Farthing JP
Gideon Lewis JP
Page 10

State of North Carolina } 
Ashe County }
I Thomas Calloway clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing applications John Miller for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12th day of Nov 1832
T. Callaway Clk
by R Gentrey A Clk

State of North Carolina }
Ashe County }
Court of pleas and quarter sessions
May Term. 1833
On this the 22nd day of May 1833 personally
appeared in open Court before the Justice of
said court John Miller. he being the same John
Miller whose name is subscribed to the foregoing declaration and a resident of said County. and makes statement in amendment of his sol. declaration,
That his memory has faded more even than is common with those of his age, that he is
quite illiterate and never was able to read the english language, that his situation & habits of life have not been favourable [favorable] to the recollection of the events of the revolutionary war as is the case with those who [illegible] [illegible] in life and taste for reading frequently refresh their memory of past events. He believes upon further reflection that he was sixteen years of age when he was in the army
about Stono River between Charleston and
Savannah, that he returned home from this tour about the last of July 1779, & that a battle was fought on Stono
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river about a month before his return home- 
This Tour I served as a private & as a substitute for Hardy Jones and for three months - Jones had been drafted -

I joined a considerable body of men at Charlotte N.C.  with whom I marched to the south - I had a discharge for this time sequence by Col.  Maladge or Mallendy [Francois de Malmedy] and which not considering it, as of any value, I suffered to be lost by neglect -

In the month of January 1780 I went as a private, drafted, in the militia. to Charleston [South Carolina] and Served there in the army of the Americans three  months I received a regular discharge for this term of service, but from weakness of memory cannot now recollect by whom it was signed. It was lost by neglect.

About the last of June 1780 I entered into the service under Capt Lopt [John Lopp] & served three months. This term was performed as a private & a substitute for Henry Hauser who had been drafted for the service -  Our Company was called out to keep the tories in subjection thro [through] the counties of Rowan, Randolph &c. [etcetera]
A discharge was granted me by Capt, Lopt [John Lopp] but is lost

In th winter of 1781-82 as well I can now recollect I performed a Tour under the same Capt Lopt [John Lopp] with the army under Genl. [Griffith] Rutherford on an expedition to Wilmington [North Carolina] this term was three months as a private substitute for Henry Miller who had been drafted 

For this term I got discharge from Capt Lopt [John Lopp] which has been lost  The [illegible] of the service of six weeks performed under Capt [illegible] I cannot recollect more distinctly than I have already stated 

Philip Weakman is the only person  that I know of who can prove any part of the service performed by me in the revolutionary war- And I have not offered his affidavit because he is a feeble old man without a horse, living 9 or 10 miles from this place & does not know of his own knowledge & but three weeks of my service
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He was drafted for 3 months under Capt Lopt [Lopp] & was sent off after being with us a short time, as a guard for some distinguished persons & he never returned to us any more - I could procure the circumstantial testimony of several persons living in Riwan [Rowan] & Davidson Counties [both North Carolina] but of the same report which what has been stated by Isaac Taylor & Jacob Haw.
John Miller [his mark] X

North Carolina
Ashe County
We the undersigned Justices of the peace for said County certify that the foregoing statement was sworn to by John Miller whose mark is affixed before us in open Court, that the sd [said] Miller is a man of strict respect for truth, that his statement is entitled to credit & that his memory appears to be much improved 
Geo. Bower JP [George]
Jno Ray JP [John]
Sutherland JP

[illegible stamp with ribbon attached]

State of North Carolina
Ashe County 
Court of pleas & quarter sessions 
May Term 1833
I Thomas Calloway -clerk of the sd [said] Court hereby that George Bower, John Ray and [illegible] Sutherland whose names are subscribed to the foregoing certificates are justices, of the peace for our said county, that their signatures are genuine and also the above statement of John Miller was sworn to by him in open Court
T Callaway Clerk of Ashe County Court
R Gentry DC

[attached illegible seal attached]

Free
Wilkesboro NC
14st Nov 1832
Honble [Honorable] Lewis Cas [Cass]
Secy of War
Washington 
D.C. 

Nov 23?
N.C. 
18524
Page 13

Admit as private
10 mo & 12 days 33.33
1.33
$34.66
Andrew Mitchell
Wilkesboro' NC

N.C. June [two illegible words]

Free
Jefferson N.C. 
July 27 1833 

John L. Edwards
War Department
Pension Office
Washington City
D.C.
Page 14

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Miller, which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in
the county where he resides?
.
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?  No.

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 amout [amount] of pension he is entitled?  No.

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?
Page 15

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?

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

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?

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

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 a service I claim a pension.

Communications for the [illegible] of John Miller [illegible] [unreadable] to Indiana [illegible/unreadable] [illegible[ Carolina or to Col. Geo. Bower Adm Court house [? N.C?]
Page 16

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 that 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 in 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 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 witnesses and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his 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 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. 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.

It is believed that the object of the department in prescribing a cursory factual detail way to procure lists of the truth of the declaration and it is not therefore deemed [illegible] to model Miller declaration msg from the purpose of inserting a statement of one or two particularly, when the corroborating statement of 2 testimonys & the auditing testimony of many respectable men plan the main forts agenda doubt.  There is an opinion as to residents.  The widow in Rowan noro Davidson until about 1797 & then removed to this county when he has resided [illegible].  The old man has lived this obscure life after a mountain -- sand digger -- of no great [illegible] to himself.  Ignorrant & inoffensive.
A. Mitchell
Assign John Cours or to Co. Geo. Bower
Page 17

[left hand page]
9415
INVALID . 
Rev War
File No. 9415
John Miller
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:- Vol. 1, Page 258
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[Right hand page]
6- Oct 26- Hist [history] to Bessie S. Spencer aug
10 March 20 - hist [history] to Mrs. George Sheldon aug
Page 18

[circular stamp]
PUEBLO
OCT 2
5:30 PM
1936
COLO

[stamp] THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

[postage stamp]

[circular stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
OCT 5 1936
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM.
Reader 29


Veterans Administration
Washington,
D. C.
Page 19

Oct. 2, 1936.

Dear Sir:

Will you please send me any information
you have concerning:
John Miller, Revolutionary soldier,
Private in the North Carolina Line, drew
pension under Acts of 1818-32.
I am a descendant of this soldier
and seek this information for genealogical
purposes.

Respectfully,
Bessie S. Spencer. [signature]
Bessie S. Spencer,
209 Bradford Ave.
Pueblo, Colorado.
Page 20

October 26, 1936

John Miller-S.9415
BA-J/AWF

Bessie S. Spencer
209 Bradford Avenue
Pueblo, Colorado

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information in regard to John Miller, private in the North Carolina Line, soldier of the Revolutionary War and a pensioner.

The data furnished herein were obtained from
pension claim, S.9415, based upon the service of John Miller in the Revolutionary War.

John Miller was born on Muddy Creek in Rowan County, North Carolina, March 7 or 9, 1763. The names of his parents were not given, his father died about the year 1780.

John Miller enlisted in the spring of the year,
when he was about sixteen years old, and served three months as a private under Colonel Malvary (probably meant for Malmedy) a Frenchman. He enlisted early in
January, 1780, served three months as a private, and marched to Charleston, names of officers not given.
He enlisted sometime in June, 1780, served three months under Captain Loft (a Dutchman) in pursuit of Tories. He served five or six weeks, before the battle of Guilford Court House, in Captain Bungarnot's company, and served after the battle of Guilford Court House, as substitute for Henry Miller, three months as private in Captain Loft's company, in an expedition to Wilmington, and was in several skirmishes.

He moved in 1797 to Ashe County, North Carolina.
Page 21

The soldier, John Miller, was allowed pension on his application executed, November 12, 1832, at which time he was living in Ashe County, North Carolina.

There is no reference to wife or children, nor
was it stated that the Henry Miller, for whom he served as substitute was a relative.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of
pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and give the following data:

John Miller
Certificate # 16300
Issued July 24, 1833
Rate $34.66 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
North Carolina Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 22

March 20, 1940

BA-J/AWF
John Miller
S. 9415

Mrs. George Wheldon
West River Road,
By way of Route 1 Osseo
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which
you request the Revolutionary War record of your ancestor, John Miller, who served as private in Captain Charles Polk's company of light horse of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, whose pension number you think is "90562", also, the Revolutionary War
record of Leonard Spicknall, Sr., whose family
record you state is now in the possession of his
descendant, B. F. Tucker, a copy of which record you enclosed with your letter, which records him as a Revolutionary War soldier. You request to know whether or not that record, with legal affadavits substantiating
its authenticity, would be sufficient evidence to establish the fact that he was a Revolutionary War soldier.

The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and no claim for pension or bounty land found based upon service of Leonard Spicknall, under any spelling of the name, nor of a John Miller who served from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The
number " 90562" is not a file or certificate number for John Miller, Revolutionary War soldier of North Carolina.

You are furnished herewith the Revolutionary War record of a John Miller of North Carolina. It is hoped this will help you in your research.

The matter of whether or not the family record
Page 23

prepared as you propose to do would be sufficient proof that your ancestor served in the Revolutionary War, would depend entirely upon the attitude of the organization to which you sunmit [submit] it. It may be that
you have not applied to The [illegible], War
Department, this city, for further Revolutionary War record of that soldier. That official is custodian of military records.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 24

An old Family Bible came into the possession of B.F. Tucker at the time of the death of his mother Sarah Spicknall Tucker which
occurred on Mar 15 - 1908. The family Bible having been used by her family since about the year 1800 and among its Records we find the following Record.

Leonard Spicknall was born in Virginia in 1752, he served with General Washington in the Revolution and was Buried with the "Honors of War" at Wilmington Indiana in 1834.

This is an exact copy of a Bible Record now in possession of B.F. Turker residing at 598 Maple tree Galesburg Illinois who is a Great Grandson
of the above Leonard Spicknall the record being taken from his mothers old Family Bible.
The Mother of B.F. Tucker who is Sarah Spicknall Tucker was born at Wilmington Indiana on Dec 17- 1824 and died at Wever Lee County Iowa on March 15-1903.
She was the daughter of Richard M. Spicknall born in Rockbridge County Virginia in 1752 and died in 1834 at Wilmington Indiana.
This above was lawfully made out and signed
before a Notary Public by B. F. Tucker in Jan 16th 1940 before Bert McLaughlin Notary Public for Knox Co Illinois
over
Page 25

This was another copy B.F. Tucker had made.
Leonard Spicknall was born in Rockbridge County Virginia in 1752. Served with General Washington in the war of Revolution was buried with "Honors of War" at Wilmington Indiana
in 1834.

The above is a true copy taken from an old family Bible belonging to Sarah Spicknall Tucker who was a Granddaughter of Leonard Spicknall.

This Bible is about one hundred and forty years
old and was handed down to me B.F. Tucker by
my mother, Sarah Spicknall Tucker.
my address is 598 Maple Avenue
Galesburg Illinois.
B. F. Tucker.

This copy also signed before a Notary Public on a separate sheet making two copies of this Record legally signed

[circular stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
FEB 26 1940
MAIL SUB-DIV
Reader No. [3?]
VETS ADM
Page 26

Sketch of Richard Spicknall
Lawrenceburg Ind

[circular stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
FED 26 1940
MAIL SUB-DIV
Reader No. 35
VETS ADM

Spicknall Richard.
Born 1897 at Anne Arundel Co Maryland
was the son of Leonard Spicknall sr. [senior]
Service enlisted Aug 4-1814 place not given
served as private in Captain Thomas Carberry's
company in the 36th regiment of the
United States Infantry and was discharged
March 31st 1815 at Baltimore Maryland.
He applied for bounty]in 1817 at which time his address was Washington City
he received warrant 13485 for 160 acres under the Act of Dec 24 -1811 and Jan 11 - 1812 The warrent [warrant] was issued to Richard Spicknall Dec 1817

Richard Spicknall received bounty land located
near Lawrenceburg in Dearborn Co. Indiana
where he moved with his Father Leonard
Spicknall sr.  his brothers William; Leonard Jr:
Thomas; and his sister Mary their mother having died several years previous.
The father Leonard sr. and his son William
and daughter Mary bought a farm at Wilmington in Dearborn Co. Leonard and Richard and Thomas at Lawrenceburg.
Richard Spicknall married Ann Miller
daughter of a Revolutionary Patriot in 1821
they had ten children
Mary Jane; Sarah; Susanna; Emma
John Miller; Catherine; Alvira; Ellen;
Leonard; and Hannah. (Eight girl and two boys.)
(over)
Page 27

Richard Spicknall was a Methodist minister
for many years A circuit Rider in Dearborn
County. He was a very successful farmer
and a great horse trader was known as
The Horse Trading Preacher.
In 1851 he sold his farm and with his wife Ann
moved his big family to Wever Lee Co Iowa.
His four oldest girls married and
all settled near together in their own
homes. Richard Spicknall lived only a little over
a year in his new house he contracted pneumonia and died  in his 57th year was buried
near his home in the churchyard on
Sep 1- 1853, his wife Ann was buried by
his side on Oct 25 1875.
Many of their descendants are to
be found in Iowa and Missouri
Page 28

copy from Page 254
Roster
Soldiers and Patriots
of the
American Revolution
Buried in Indiana
completed and edited by
Mrs Roscoe C O Bryne.
Brookville Indiana

[circular stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
FEB 26 1940
MAIL SUB-DIV
Reader No. 35
VETS ADM

Miller John
Born December 10 -1752 near Pittsburgh Penn
Service Enlisted Aug 1776 Pennsylvania.
3 years as private under Captain's Montgomery and Findlay and Colonel Broadhead.
Engaged in taking of Burgoyne.
Proof - Pension Claim S. 16974.
Died 1841- Buried in Hurst Graveyard in
Walker Township. Name on bronze tablet in
Rush County Court House by Rushville Chapter
D.A. R.
married Margaret Bowier who died 1838.
children John Jr (who married Ellen Beckell) Mary; Jane; Nancy; Alliners
Sarah; Cove; William
material collected by Mrs Willard Amos
Rushville Indiana
Page 29

Veteran's Administration
Washington

Executive Assistant
to the Administration
A. D Hiller

[circular stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
FEB 26 1940
MAIL SUB-DIV
Reader No. 35
VETS ADM

Dear Sir:-
I have been unable so far to
connect up my ancestor John Miller
I would like to have the record of
John Miller private who was in the
"Light Horse to Brunswick" Company
of Captain Chas. Polk in Mecklinburg [Mecklenburg] County
North Carolina 1776 services from March 1776
to May 1776. The Officers of this company were Captain Chas Polk Lieut William Ramsey
John Lemmond [ ? ensign], John McGurty Sergeant William Lemmond clerk and Surgeon.
John Miller's name army list of privates
or foot soldiers as they called them who
served 53 days. I think this could be my John Miller. did he have other service to his record and is there any family data. I may be mistaken but think this John Miller's pension number is 90562.
Page 30

2
John Miller was listed among this company
as one of North Carolina Revolutionary
pensioners under the act of 1818 and 1832 as
reputed by Sec of State to Congress in 1835.
I found since writing you where my Grandmother Ann or Nancy Miller was born in North Carolina in 1803. which has led me to search the Records of this State for my John Miller.

Now I am going to ask for some advice
with this I am sending a copy of a Record
I found of my other ancestor Leonard Spicknall who was a Revolutionary Soldier as you know all the records of the Revolutionary war was destroyed by fire when the Capitals of Virginia and Maryland were burned in the war of 1812.
My Great Grandfather was sincerely religious
a Huegonot [Huguenot] I believe as his ancestors were 
he felt it was his duty to serve his Country
without pay and I presume he never asked
for a pension or land as we have so far
not found any records of this.
You may remember in November
you [illegible] [illegible] my Grandfather's war
record of 1812.  when name was
(over)

[circular stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
FEB 26 1940
MAIL SUB-DIV
Reader No [? 3 ]
VETS ADM
Page 31

3.
Richard Spicknall of course this was when
he was single and just a boy as he was
born in 1797. Then at least one brother
Leonard Spicknall Jr.  served in this war
who was six years older than Richard
and they both received land. Of course
they were younger and perhaps felt differently
than did the father Leonard Spicknall
I am told Leonard Spicknall Sr had all
his war records in his Family Bible and
they were very complete he slept with
this Bible near him always account of fire
a few weeks after his death his old home
burned and all his records burned too.
Richard however had this record I am
sending you in his family bible and
after his death his wife Nancy or Ann had
it until her death, at which time she
gave it to her daughter (my aunt )
Sarah Spicknall Tucker then as you
will see by the record I am sending she gave it to her son Frank or B.F. Tucker and I
just found out he had it so I had it sworn
to and have it all lawfully signed.
Now is this sufficient to place my
ancestors name among the Revolutionary ancestors or in the Veterans Records, 2
Page 32

4.
I wish you would advise me please
Some of our D.O.R State Officers think it
quite sufficient. If you consider it at all I will send you the Record I have to copy as it is much more complete and gotten up in better form and is printed and notarized so it would have more weight.
You would want perhaps
to make your own copy for your records any
way but I would like to keep this copy
if I could for my own use in future.
If this record is not sufficient to
establish his enrollment as a Revolutionay
Soldier how much more would I need.
Since I come to think about it I dont [don't]
believe I ever wrote you to see if you
had his name or record, as I have
written the pension Dept some ten years
ago also the War department but at that
time I knew nothing of the Veterans Bureau
On Nov. 9th you sent me also
the Revolutionary Record of John Miller where
pension claim number is S. 16974.
I want to say his war record was very
complete. I have looked up this John Miller
quite a little and in no library or records have

[circular stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
FEB 26 1940
MAIL SUB DIV
Reader No. [illegible]
VETS ADM
Page 33

5
I found so complete Record as you have
but you did not have his date of birth
or enlistment or anything concerning
his death or family, believing you
would like to have this I am going 
to copy it for you and send with this
as many descendants have gone in the
D. A. R. on his line.
I believe this man
was the Great Grand father I am searching
for and altho [although] his daughter Ann was born in North Carolina this means [illegible]
and record are very much like my John Miller.
You said in his record he
went to Rush Co Indiana to live with a son - it could be he and also the son
moved there because his daughter who
was Ann Spicknall lived in the adjoining
county Dearborn at Lawrenceburg with her
husband Richard Spicknall and a house full
of children, her oldest son named for his Grand
father John Miller and her only other son who
was yet not born was named for his other
Grand Father Leonard Spicknall who had
been his friend and chum during their
war work as tradition has it Leonard
Spicknall participated in some of these
same wars.
I am now working on
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6
my John Miller line which I sincerely
hope to finish soon
Am enclosing with this the Bible
record of Leonard Spicknall and some
data I found on the lives of John Miller
also on my Grand Father Richard Spicknall
you need not return any of these
records.
Sincerely
Mrs George Wheldon
West River Road

Minneapolis Minn.
By way of Route 1 Osseo.