Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4809, for Henry Safley, Maryland
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Service      Number
Md.  Safley, Henry   [Unknown symbol or letter} 4809
Va.    Carded

Contents
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Ohio Sa [illegible] 204
Henry Safley
of Champaign in the State of Ohio
who was a Pri in the Comp commanded by Captain Reynolds of the Regt commanded by [blank line] in the Maryland line for 11 months
Md. x Va. Line: [unknown]
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of May 1833 and sent to [illegible] Pearson [illegible] Champaign Co [illegible] Arrears to the 4th of Nov. 1833 $73.32
Semi annl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833
$91.65
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by JMlagett Clerk,
Book 3 Vol. 8 Page 15
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No 24.941
Henry Safley
Champaign Co
Ohio

[unknown] for 11 Months
John C. Pearson Clk
[unknown] Champaign Co
Ohio
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1831, 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 show 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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
Co. Ohio
Statement, showing the Service of Henry Safley Co Champaign
Period when the service was rendered. [column]
┃[illegible] 1778 ┃
┃[illegible] - 79 [illegible] 8┃
┃[illegible] 81┃
Duration of the claimant's service. [column] 
┃Years.┃
┃Months.┃
5  3  3
┃Days. ┃
Rank of the claimant. [column]
┃Private┃
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. [column]
Capt Reynolds
Capt Lincoln
Capt Hartman
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. [column]
73 years
Champaign
Town
Maryland
Proof by which the declaration is supported. [column]
Traditional evidence only

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.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 claim
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, 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.
territor a
County of
On this
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
Following declaration, in order to obtain 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
and
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he servunder
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 on that of
the 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.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
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
and C. D. residing in (the same
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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 days 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.
Clerk of the Court of
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 exexpected
. 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.
, and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
son 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 the 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.
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.
If 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 is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
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 the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
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
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.
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
er of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
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---year----months, anddays
, I served as a -. For - months and - days, I served as a -; 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, 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 indemnite, and it such quarrying expressions are ectionable. 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 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
purstall.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
the opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
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.
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 witcent
, in the initial character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Mintia inon, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
applies to continental troops only.
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
┃ The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration
John N Ashton
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State of Ohio
County of Champaign

On this twentieth day of April AD 1833 personally appeared in open court, before the Court of Common Pleas for the County and state aforesaid now sitting, Henry Safley a resident of Goshen Township in the county of Champaign and state aforesaid aged seventy-three 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He enlisted in the army of the United States in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-eight for the term of five months and served in the Flying Camp under Captain Reynolds. He volunteered and entered the service as above said some time in the month of July in the year 1778 but what time in the month he cannot now recollect. Chaplin was first Lieutenant and [illegible] was second Lieutenant of the company to which applicant belonged. Colonel [illegible] commanded the regiment to which this company belonged but the company was mostly by itself and sometimes with another company. He volunteered at [illegible] town Frederick, State of Maryland and first marched from there to Philadelphia and remained at that place about a week - was there uniformed thence he marched to New York halted there but a few days and thence marched to Fort Washington - remained
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there perhaps six weeks or two months the precise time this applicant does not recollect. From Fort Washington he crossed the North River to Fort Lee opposite Fort Washington - from Fort Lee he retreated with the flying camp driven by the British to Philadelphia where he was discharged and received a written discharge which he cannot now produce as he thought it unnecessary to preserve it and which has been lost for years; he was engaged in no battle during this tour except a slight skirmish a short distance below Fort Washington - he knows of no one who can testify positively to his service as above stated. Again in the year 1779 or 1780 he was drafted for the term of three months and entered the service under Captain Lincoln, Lieutenant Lincoln and Ensign David Robinson officers of the company; the company was attached to a regiment commanded by Colonel Campbell - at the time he was drafted he resided in Augusta County Virginia and thence he marched to the Ohio River where he assisted in building Fort McIntosh on the West Bank of the river from thence marched to go to [illegible] River about 70 miles west of the Ohio where they built a stockade he remained there but a few days, returned to Fort McIntosh and was discharged his term of service having expired - the company was disbanded without written discharges - he knows of no one whom me can procure to testify to his service in this last mentioned tour. In the year 1781 he was again drafted for three months and entered the service in the latter part of
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of the summer of that year - he marched from Augusta County Virginia to Little York - he belonged to a company commanded by Capt. Hartman, Lieutenant Lincoln and Ensign Robinson - he remained at Little York until the capture of Cornwallis and a short time after was discharged, the three months for which he was drafted having expired he has no documentary evidence of his service during said term of three months nor can he procure testimony to such service; He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. He was born in the county of York in the state of Pennsylvania in the month of November in the year 1759. He has a record of his age at house in his bible. He lived in Frederick County State of Maryland when first called into the service and at the other tours he lived in Augusta County Virginia. Since the Revolutionary war he has lived in Augusta, Rockingham and Ballestant county Virginia, he moved from there to Champaign County Ohio where he now lives about thirteen years since. He is acquainted with John Owen, John C. Pearson, John Reynolds residents in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services in the revolution.

Henry Safley

Sworn to and subscribed in Court April 20th 1833
Jno C Pearson

We John C Pearson a clergyman residing in the town of Urbana in Champaign County & state of Ohio and John Owens residing in the town of Urbana aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Safley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-three years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and of that we concur in that opinion.

John C Pearson
John Owens

Sworn to and subscribed in court Apri 20th 1833

John C Pearson - Clerk
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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 john C Pearson who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Urbana, Champaign County State of Ohio and that John Owen who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

April 20, 1833
By the Court Jno C Pearson - Clerk

Henry Safley 24941

I John C Pearson clerk of the court of common pleas of the county of Champaign in the State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the said court in the matter of the application of Henry Safley for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office this 20th day of April 1833.

John C Pearson - Clerk

SEAL
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Rev War Section

April 3, 1915

Mrs. Fannie Baker
McLean Illinois

madam:

In response to the request of Mr. Whitehead, Chief of S.E. Division you are advised that in the Revolutionary War pension claim survivor's file No 4809 it appears that Henry Safley was born in York County Pennsylvania, in November 1759 and while living in Frederick County, Maryland, enlisted in July 1776, served five months in Captain Reynolds' company under Colonel Shryock, in the "Flying Camp" and was in a skirmish near Fort Washington. IN 1778 while residing in August County, Virgnia, he served three months in Captain Lincoln's Company, Colonel Campbell's regiment, and aided in building Fort McIntosh. In 1781 he served three months in Captain Hartman's company and was at Yorktown until after the capture of Cornwallis.

He was allowed pension on an application executed April 20, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Goshen Township, Champaign County, Ohio. There is no data on file as to his family.

Very respectfully

G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

Office Note
1st service was not in 1778; soldier gave wrong date. The Flying Camp only existed from July to Dec 1776, and he describes the campaign in which it took part quite accurately.

2 service was not in 1779 or 1780 because he helped build Fort McIntosh that was built in Spring 1778.

Hence the arrangement of dates in this letter.
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The enclose cancelled certificates for Stewart [illegible] please file with the papers according to the numbers.

Fr S. Evans
11 July 1833
Page 13

No changes 9th July 1833
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On Apr 2, 1915 Mr. Whitehead Clief of S E D requested that record of Henry Safley S.48009 be sent to:
Mrs. Fannie Baker
McLean Ills.
through his desk.
Page 15

J.L. Edwards Esq

Sir

The enclosed claim was sent to Henry Safley you will observe that there is a mistake in the name Lafley - instead of Safley - the same mistake is made at Cincinnati. Will you please have the papers corrected and forwarded.

The names of John McAdams & Jese Welden were not found at Cincinnati they were unable to draw their pensions.

Your Respty

W D McDonald
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No 13,204

Payments to be made
at Cincinatti Ohio
by the Pres B Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Ohio

Cancelled

Recorded in the Pension Office in Book E Vol 8 Page 13 by J W Clagett

Clerk
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                             WAR DEPATMENT.

                            Revolutionary Claim.

    I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States
of the 7th June, 1832, Henry Lafley 
  of the State of Ohio
who was a private in the Army of the
                        Revolution
is entitled to receive    Thirty Six-- dollars and
sixty six cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing
on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the
4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
         Given at the War Office of the United
                 States, this Twenty Eighth day of
                            May one thousand
         eight hundred and thirty three


                             [signature?]
                                 Secretary of War.

Cancelled [stamped]

[?]  

                        J L Edwards
                          Commissioner of Pensions.
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1915 Apr. 3. History to
Mrs Fannie Baker this
of McLean Ills,
desk of Mortimer
Whitehead Claif, S.E. Div.
Rev War
480 -9
INVALID.
File No. 4809

Henry Safley
Privt Rev War
---
Act: June 7" 18
Index:- Vol. M, Page 329
[Arrangement of 1870.}