Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 46,437, John Browne Cutting, Continental
Page 1

(3—1776)

Cutting, John Browne

SERVICE
Continental

NUMBER
S.46.437
B.L. WT. 650-450

Washington D.C. Agency and residence
also VA res.

CONTENTS
Page 2

[2—230.] Cert

Re-Issues { Revy.
No. 4

46.437

Name: John Browne Cutting
Rank: Apothecary Comp'y: [blank]
Reg't: General Hospital
Continental

} Agency

RATE PER MONTH, AND DATE OF COMMENCEMENT.
1st Issue. { [blank] Comm'g [blank]
2nd Issue. { [blank] Comm'g [blank]
3rd Issue. { [blank] Comm'g [blank]

DATE OF CERTIFICATE, AND TO WHOM SENT.
1st Issue. { [blank] Sent to [blank]
2nd Issue. { [blank] Sent to [blank]
3rd Issue. { [blank] Sent to [blank]
[check mark]

Bk. G., Vol. [blank], Page [blank]
Registering Clerk: [blank]

Allowed.
Act 1828.

Disability. { [blank]

1922 Dec. 18, Hist. to Samuel F. Batchelder 73 Tremons St
Boston, Mass. See his letter in James Thacher S 3788 au
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No. 650.

John Browne Cutting.
Apothecary.

Medical Staff in the Revolutionary
Army of the United States.

Warrant issued under date 28th Feby.
1816 — to Walter Jones Esq.
in Trust for A.A. Cutting, and
sold to him on the 31st March
1816.

Deposited 16th Feby. 1816.
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[seal]

Certificates from the
Accountant's Office, War Dep't.
substantiating the Claim of 
John Browne Cutting
As U.S. Revoly. Bounyt Land.

Feby. 13th. 1816.

Mr. N. Cutting
War Office
Page 5

I certify that it appears by the Record of Officers entitled to Land for services during the Revolutionary War that "John B. Cutting Apothecary" is returned for Land The Resolution of 30 Sep. 1780 allows to Apothecary four hundred & fifty acres — . The necessary examination will of course be made at the War Office that a warrant has not issued.

Dep. of War
Acco Office
Feb: 13 - 1816

P. Hagner
Act Clk
Page 6

Revolutionary Claims.

[A.]

Form of a Declaration to be made by the Officers.

For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of an act, entitled ""An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved on the 15th of May, 1828, I, John Browne Cutting, of Washington, in the county of Washington in the of District of Columbia, do hereby declare that I was an officer in the Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution, and served as such* to the end of the war, at which period I was an apothecary in the regiment of the General Hospital.

And I also declare, that I afterwards received certificates (commonly called commutation certificates) for a sum equal to the amount of five years' full pay; which sum was offered by the resolve of Congress, of the 22d of March, 1783, instead of the half pay for life, to which I was entitled under the resolve of the 21st of October, 1780.

And I do further declare, that I have received of the United States as a pensioner since the 3d day of March, 1826, + nothing —

Witness my hand, this thirty first day of May, in the year 1828

John Browne Cutting



Before me Richard Briscoe a Justice of the peace in the County of Washington, in the District of Columbia personally appeared, this day, Philip Reed of Maryland, and Richard Anderson of South Carolina, who did severally make oath that John Browne Cutting, by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally reputed and believed to have been an officer in the Army of the Revolution, in manner as therein stated.

Witness my hand, this thirty first day of May, in the year 1828.

R.S. Briscoe J. Peace



I, [blank], Clerk of the Court
of the county of [blank], in the State of
[blank], do hereby certify, that
[blank], before whom
the foregoing affidavits were sworn, was, at the time, a ±
and duly empowered to administer oaths.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the
[L s.] [blank] said Court, this [blank] day of



* Here insert the end of the war, or as the case may be to the time when the regiment of the Army provided by the resolves of Congress of the 3d and 21st of October, 1780, was carried into effect: and that I was reduced under that arrangement.
+ Here insert the sum of [blank] dollars paid to me by the agent for paying pensions in the State of [blank]. If the claimant has not been a pensioner, this part of the declaration may be omitted.
± A Justice of the Peace, or other magistrate duly empowered to administer oaths, as the case may be.
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Bellevue, — Dolars: 11th. Feby. 1876.
Doctor James Tilton, - (late 
Physician Genl. of the Hospital,
of the U.S.) — Certifying that 
Grade that John B. Cutting 
held in the medical staff
during the Revolutionary War
of the U.S. —
Page 8

Bellevue (near Wilmington Delw.)
11th Feby 1816. - 

Sir,

Your letter of the 12th Instant came to hand this morning. I recollect perfectly that John Browne Cutting [illegible] to the medical staff of the army in the Service of the United States, during the revolutionary war. As well as I recollect, he was in the quality of an Apothecary. I know he was in service, in the year 1780, and believe he served to the end of the war. - 

With great respect, I am,
Sir, your obt. Servt.
James Tilton

N. Cuttin Esqr:
Page 9

State of Virginia to wit.

I Wilson Cary Nicholas Governor of the State of Virginia aforesaid, do hereby certify and make known to all persons whom these presents s hall or may concern. That John R Jones whose name is subscribed to the annexed attestation, was at the time of subscribing the same a Notary Public in and for the City of Richmond duly Commissioned and Sworn, and that to all certificates, attestations or other acts done by him in his official capacity, full faith and credit are had, and ought to be as well in Courts of Justice, as elsewhere —

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and have caused to be affixed, the great seal of the State. Done at the City of Richmond this Twenty sixth day of February in the year of Our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and sixteen. - 

W.C. Nicholas
Page 10

Know all Men by these Presents, that I, John Browne cutting, of Stafford County in the State of Virginia, who served the United States during their Revolutionary War in quality of Apothecary, - and in consequence thereof I am by virtue of a Resolution of Congress  of the 30th. of September 1780, entitled to Four hundred and Fifty acres of Land generally designated and known  by the appellation of "Military Bounty Land;" Now, be it known that, in consideration of Two hundred and Twenty five dollars to me in hand paid to and for the sole and separate use of Anne Angelique Cutting, the Wife of my Brother Nathaniel Cutting, now residing and being in the City of Washington and District of Columbia, to be  laid out, invested, and disposed of under her sole orders and directions, and subject to her sole and separate management, use, benefit and behoof, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, sold, assigned and transferred, and by these Presents do grant, bargain, sell, assign and transfer unto Walter Jones, Counsellor at Law, of Washington aforesaid, in trust for the aforesaid Anne Angelique Cutting, all the aforesaid tract or parcel of Land that I am entitled to receive from the United States, and all my Right, Title, Interest, Claim, or Demand, as to and in the same and every part and parcel thereof.

 To Have and to Hold all the said Lands, Heriditaments and Premises to him the said Walter Jones, in Trust for the aforesaid Anne Angelique Cutting, her Heirs and Assigns, for her and their own proper and separate use, benefit and behoof forever: and to and for the use, benefit and behoof of such Person or Persons, their Heirs and Assigns forever, as she, by her last Will and Testament, or by Deed under her sole and separate hand and seal, shall or may appoint to take the same, either at her Death, or at any time during her Life. —

And I do hereby authorise and empower the said Walter Jones, in Trust

as

[continued]
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[continued]

as aforesaid, to ask, demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, or the proper Officer, all the Warrants, Deeds, Patents and other Writings to the same belonging, or in anywise appertaining.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal, at Richmond in Virginia, this twenty sixth day of February, A.D. One thousand Eight hundred and Sixteen.

John Browne Cutting 
[word "seal" enclosed in a circle]

Signed and Sealed in presence of

Geo Greenhow
Jocob Valentine
Crawford Irvine



Be it known that on the twenty sixth day of February, One thousand Eight hundred and Sixteen, and in. the Fortieth year of the Independence of the United States of America, before me, John R. Jones — Notary Public, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the State of Virginia duly Commissioned and Sworn, residing and practicing in the City of Richmond in the said State, personally appeared John Browne Cutting in the preceding Instrument of Writing before named and to me well known and acknowledge in [illegible] Geo Greehow & Jacob Valentine above named, said statement to be his Free Act and Deed.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office, at Richmond, the day and year above mentioned

J.R. Jones. N.P.
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Sir:

Considering the agency that I have had in promoting the passage of a bill for the relief of the surviving officers of the Army of the Revolution; and the active correspondence touching their claims, in which I have been engaged so many year; I trust that you will not deem it obtrusive in me, & I now try to assist in expounding it.

The main intent of this law of Congress is clear — namely to provide an equivalent for the half-pay — the whold half pay — and nothing but the half pay which in the fallacious shape of commutation had heretofore been promised to each Officer who belonged to the Continental Army on the 21st of October 1780. I speak of these Officers exclusively. Half pay never having been promised but to them. The medical Officers who were on that day attachd to the Continental Line have always been considered as virtually included in that resolve; and this notwithstanding the peculiar resolve which touches the in half pay is dated the 17th of January 1781. If you will examine the Journals of the old Congress 7. Vol. Pa 19. You will find this discrepancy explained. It [illegible] thus. [continued]
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Sd Journals of Congress Volume 1st Pa. 475 
Monday September 16 1776

That Congress make provision for granting lands, in the following proportions: to the Officers and Soldiers who shall so engage in the service, and continue therein tothe close of the war or until its changed by Congress, and to the representatives of such officers and soldiers as shall be slain by the Enemy

To a Colonel 500 acres; to a Lieutenant Col. 450; to a Major 400; to a Captain 300; to a Lieutenant 200; to an Ensign 150; each non-commissioned officer and soldier, 100.

[continued]
Page 14

Journals of Old Congress Vol. III. Pa. 53
September 30. 1780.

That All Officers in the Hospital or Medical Department shall be subjected to trial by Courts Martial for all offences, in the same manner as officers in the Line of the Army.

The the Several Officers whose pay is established as above (except the stewards and Ward=Masters, shall at the end of the war be entitled to a certain provision of land , in the proportion following viz

The Director to have the same quantity as a Brigadier General;

Chief Physician & Purveyor the same as Colonel;

Physicians and Surgeons and Apothecary, the same as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Regimental Surgeons and Assistants to the Purveyor and Apothecary, the same as a Major;

Hospital and regimental Surgeons Mates the same as Captain.

[continued]
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Journals of the old Congress Monday February the 7. 1785
Congress assembled present as yesterday

The Committee consisting of Mr Williamson, Mr Elery and Mr King, to whom was recommitteed a letter from Edward Fox Commissioner of accounts - of December 9th 1784 With a letter from J.B. Cutting of the 30th of October and a memorial from Mr Cutting of the 20th of January 1785.

Report.

That it appears from affidavits and certificates in the hands of the Committee that on or before the 30 of November 1780 — Mr Cutting who had been Apothecary General in the middle district had settled his accounts with certain officers who had been appointed to that duty and that a balance remained due to him. That on the last year being called on by Mr Fox, the Commissioner of Hospital accounts to review his accounts and make a final settlement; he rendered his cash account and a balance was found due to him of $2,473 48/00 of a dollar But his expenditure of medicines, instruments and shop furniture was also to be reviewed On this head the committee observe that it must in any case be very difficult to determine whether the amount of medicines delivered exactly agreed with the drugs and medicines received, especially when the enquiry respects a period in which the hospital system was extremely imperfect. It appears however that Mr Cutting did not shun the enquiry, but readily delivered to Mr Fox a box [continued]
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[continued[

containing a number of books and papers containing receipts and entries. These were produced as full vouchers. But Mr Fox returned the books to Mr Cutting that he might arrange the papers in proper order. For this purpose he retired to Eaton where he cut the voucher out of the books & laying them in order he placed them loose in a box to be returned for examination. On his [illegible - possibly: way to Philadelphia] the box fell into the Delaware, by [illegible] vouchers were damaged and some of them [illegible] paper were rendered absolutely [illegible] the whole as Mr Cutting has not declined [illegible] to render an account, as he had readily [illegible] the whole of his vouchers to the proper [illegible] for examination and was repossessed of them merely to alter their arrangement; the Committee are bound to suppose that the injury which befel the papers was purely accidental; especially when they add that Mr Cutting's general character is not only unimpeachd but that he does not appear to have impov'd his estate, while he was charged with public property: Where upon 

Resolved,

That Mr J. B. Cutting be allowed to verify upon oath his abstract of issues and expeditures in the hospital departmental and that his cash account be finally settled.


Exd [illegible] about
 the [illegible] wars

[continued]
Page 17

[continued]

I certify the aforegoing Report to be truly which from the 4th Vol. of the old Journals of Congress folio 465.

22 Oct 1825

Wm J Clair Clarke
Clerk Ho. Repts
Page 18

Washingtono
 13th May, 1828
Do A J.B. Cutting

Claim under the act
of Congress for the
relief of officers of the
Revolution
Page 19

Webster. The bill is intended for those, who bing in the army in October, 1780, then received a solemn promise of half-pay for life, on condition that they woud continue to serve through the war.

Mr. Woodbary. Said that the number of the survivors was about two hundred & thirty five —

Mr. Smith of Maryland. Said. that as to this bill fraud was out of the question: since no individual could be embraced by this measure, who had not been on the commutation roll, and received the commutation. And the Individuals coud be easily ascertained

Mr Chambers. That the claim was founded in the establishd priniciples of law; and of the people from whom it was record be made amenable to the ordinary administration of the law, it would be recovered by A process. Are they put upon the pension life? not at all. The act requires no previous humiliating ceremony, or any prelimenary whatever. It is the direct unqualified grant of a gripsam and a subsequent annuity.
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To the Hon. Richard Rush S. T. U. S.

Sir,

The old Congress, by their Acts of the 3d and 22nd of October, 780, and of the 17th of January 1781, 

"Resolved, that the Officers who should be reduced on the reform of the Army, should receive half pay from the time of their reduction, during life; and that those of the line of the Army and the independent corps thereof, and of the Hospital and Medical Staff who shoud continue in service to the termination of the War should receive the like half pay, for the same period; provided, how: ever, that none of the Medical Staff, shoud receive more than the half pay of a Captain."

Upon these Acts, the Act for the relief of the Surviving Officers of the revolutionary Army is mainly grounded. As Apothecary General of the Middle Department, during the War of the Revolution, I now claim such emoluments by virtue of this Act, as shall be appropriated to Lieutenant Colonels on the line of that Army. Had I tender authentic documents of proof, to verify such claim.

Very respectfully, Sir, Your Obed Servt
John Browne Cutting

16 May 1828.
Page 21

Journals of the Old Congress. 27 October 1779
5 Vol Pa. 394

Resolved, that the Director General, each of the Deputies Director General; Each Senior physician and Surgeon, each Garrison Surgeon, each Apothecary General & is in the Hospital of the United States, shall be entitled annually to cloathing in the same manner and under the same regulations, as one establishd for Officers of the Line.

Resolved, Until the further order of Congress, the said Officers of the Military Hospital shall also be entitled to subsistence in like manner as is granted to Officers of the Line, to be estimated in the following ratio:

1st. The Director General to receive the same subsistence as a Colonel in the Line.

2nd. The Deputies Director General, the Physicians, Surgeons and Apothecary General the same as Lieutenant Colonels

November 20. 1779

Resolved, until further order of Congress, the following Officers of the Military Hospital shall be entitled to subsistence in like manner as is granted to Officers of the Line by a resolution of the 12th August
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Washington City, Bounty Land Officer
15th May 1828

I hereby Certify that it appears from an examination of the records of this office, that land warrant No. 650 passed on the 28th day of February 1816 to Walter Jones as assignee of John Browne Cutting late apothecary in the General Hospital, during the War of the revolution, for four hundred fifty acres of land, being the said Cutting's bounty land & being the quantity apportioned to Lieunt: Colonels of the revolutionary Army, who were returned as having served to the end of the War.

Robert Taylor C.B.L.O.
War Department
Page 23

Philadelphia
20th Augt. '84

Received of John Pierce Esq PM G Three certificates No 6,484 to 67,486 for Eight hundred dollars each on Interest from the 22nd March 1783 in full for Commutation due me as Apothecary in the General Hospital - 

Signed, J B Cutting

[in the margin, the following lines are written]
67,484
to
67,486

True copy from the Receipt Book on file in this office

Treasury Dept
& Land Offices
Aug 23d 1824
Peter Hagmen Aud
Page 24

Treasury Department
3 Aud. office

John Browne Cutting Esq
Washington
Page 25

Treasury Department
3d Auditors office
August 23d. 1874

Sir;

I have received your letter of the date and send you a certified copy of your receipt for the final settlement certificates for your Commutation, the evidence of your account being settled as to so joined in the Record of Officers entitled to Land in the Bounty Land office -

My letter to you of the 21st was intended to shew that you had no open account on the Books of this office - Consequently it cannot be necessary to furnish any additional certificate of the fact - 

Respectfuly
Your Obt Servt
Peter Hagmer Aud

John Browne Cutting Esq
Washington
Page 26

Treasury Department
3d Aud. Office

Jno Brown Cutting Esq
Washington City
Page 27

Treasury Department
3d Auditors Office
August 21st. 1824

Sir;

Since you called on me this morning I find on reference to the Record of Officers of the Revolutionary Army who were returned for Land, that opposite to your name it is stated that your account was settled and I also find by a Receipt Book on file in this office that you received final settlement certificates for the full amount of your commutation -

Consequently can state that you have no account open on the Books in this office - 

Respectfully
Your Obt Servt.
Peter Hagmer
Aud

Jno Brown Cutting Esq
Washington City
Page 28

Allowed
Act 1828

TO ALL WHOM T HESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, Greeting:

I CERTIFY, That Richard L. Briscoe, whose name is subscribed to the annexed document, is, and w as at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace for Washington County in the District of Columbia, duly appointed and commissioned, and that full faith is due to all his acts as such — "

[seal affixed]

In testimony whereof, I, Henry Clay -
Secretary of State of the United States, have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the Seal of the Department of State to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this thirty first day of May A.D. 1826 and of the Independence of the United states of America the fifty second.

H. Clay

No Record 
[illegible]
Nov 12/86
Page 29

No of org Point 4:

REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
May 31, 1828

John Browne Cutting of Washington in the District - Columbia, has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution,” approved on the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he was as an officer on the Continental line, and served as such to the end of the War, at which period he was an apothecary in the General Hospital; and that he received commutation certificates for the five years full pay granted by the resolve of 22, March, 1783; and, further, that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, nothing. —

The Third Auditor is requested to report how far these several statements are corroborated by the records in his office.

By order of the Secretary,
A. Dickins.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
31st. May 1828

It appears by the records in this office, that final settlement certificates have been issued for the commutation of five years full pay to John B. Cutting in the General Hospital line, amounting to Twenty Four Hundred dollars.

It further appears that he is not on the pension list of the any agency, and has not been since the 3d March 1826.

For Peter Hagner
Third Auditor
J. Thompson
Cheif Clk