Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9378, for Samuel Lyons, Delaware
Page 1

(3-1776) [form no.]
SERVICE Del.
Lyons, Samuel 
NUMBER S. 9378
carded
contents [blank]
Page 2

25,860
Ohio --Pittsburgh Agency

Samuel Lyons
Of Columbiana in the State of Ohio
was Pr [private]
in the Company command
by Captain _________ of the Regt commanded 
by Col Haslet in the Penn.
line for ______________
Pr $80.00
[drawn star]
Delaware Line.
Record corrected Dec 19/??

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio, J.A.
At the rate of 80 Dollars ______cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Jany
1834
and sent to
Hon John Thompson, Ho [sp] of Re??
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34 40.00
=====
240.00
=====
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by John T. Sprague Clerk,
Book E Vol. 8 Page 118
Page 3

vh. [sp] 441.
Samuel Lyons
Ohio
Adm 2 years
$80 __
Hon John Thompson
Columbiana County
ASsa of Rep [or Ress] Ohio.
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Ofice,
19th October 1833.
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.
The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, showing the service of Samuel Lyons

[each column heading with it's information]
Period when the service was rendered.  1 Sep. 1775 
Duration of the claimant's service. 2 years.
Rank of the claimant. Serg. [Sergeant]
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Col Haslet
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 72 years WIlmington Delaware
Proof by which the declaration is supported. Traditionary. ----

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

The claimant should make an effort to to obtain some
evidence of service. He may Succeed by applying to
the Secy of State of Delaware See note J. L. [sp]
Page 5

2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers,
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, 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.
State, Territory, or istrict of _______ County of _______ } ss.

On this _______ day of ________ personally appeared (a) before ______________

___________ A. B. a resident (b) of ________ in the county of ______________ and State, Territory or District
of _____ aged (c) _____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) _____, with _____ and 
served in the _____ (e) regiment of the __________ line, under the following named officers: _______________

Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he
served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) 
the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, [image of hand with finger pointing right] and the country unough 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.
[above paragraph has square bracket at each end]

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. [sentence has square bracket at each end]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
I _________________________________ of the Court of ____________________
do hereby certify (h) 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 (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 _______________ and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _______________________ who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _________________________
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. [sentence has square bracket on both ends]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a 
Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that 
A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the __________________
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, __________________ Clerk of the Court of __________________ 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. [etc.]

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 derail his personal knowledge of the 
services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw 
light uponthe 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
Page 6

3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be 
attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be 
expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
,and where do you now live? 
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom? 
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.

6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and 
what has become of it.
6. { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what 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.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
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
inquiry 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.
---------------------
(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; 
in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he 
must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise 
a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length 
of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department 
to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit
in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, 
deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively 
as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the
periods mentioned below, and in the following grades.: __For ____ year __________ months, and ____________ days, 
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 indefinite, and all such 
qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served 
two years without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. 
This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers 
the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;the particular place or places where the service 
was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority;
 that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was 
not employed in any civil pursuit.
(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i)The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any 
other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official 
character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on 
the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be 
attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of
the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
(j) In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove 
his service by two credible witnesses 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.
[image of hand with finger pointing right] The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of 
Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k) The traditionary evidence is indispensible in militia cases.
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
(m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 7

Lyons.
26.441
Page 8

State of Ohio Columbiana County }  ss.
On this 14th day of August AD 1833 personally appeared in open 
court before the Court of Common Pleas, now ┃sitting Samuel 
Lord, a resident of St. Clair Township  in Said Columbiana County, 
Ohio, aged 72 years on the 3rd day of January next, who being first 
duly Sworn according to law, doth on his Oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress 
passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the Service of the United 
States as volunteer at Wilmington in the State of Delaware, on the 
first day of September 1775, at the time of Entering the Service, he
does not now know to what Company in particular he was attached, 
but well recollects that a few days only Elapsed, after his volunteering 
until Col. Haglet called on him or ordered him to officiate in the 
Character of a drill [underline] Sergeant [underline]. In this Capacity 
he officiated until some time in the latter part of August 1776, when 
having by a fall, been severely wounded, he was permitted to return 
from Trenton N. Jersey, where he then was with a Regt commanded 
by said Col. Haglet to Wilmington, at which place he arrived in the 
first week of Sept 76. -- He had very early in life, become familiar
with the disciplining & exercise of the soldiers, and while in the army 
was great portion of his time engaged in drilling the new recruits,
volunteers & militia, & for his activity in So doing was much
applauded by the officers of the army who were present with him 
where he
Page 9

served. Among these were Col. McKinly, Col Haglet Liut. Col. Bedford, Major 
McDonough, Captains Stedlian, Pasce Hall, Derly, &Lieut Kirkwood & Lieut
Anderson and Ensign Pettigrew. --
After he volunteered as aforesaid he & the rest of the troops at Wilmington
lay there till the latter part of June, 1776, when the Said troops marched thro' 
Philadelphia Pa. to Trenton, New Jersey, & were in Philadelphia Pa on the
4th July 1776. --  On returning home, having recovered from the injury he
had received, he again some time in September, 1776, again volunteered 
his Service and Entered the service of the United States, atWilmington 
aforesaid, and served until the battle of Brandywine which battle is the only 
one at which he was present. This took place on the 11th of September 1777. ---
In this battle he was ordered by Major Bush to go to his father's in Wilmington, 
and bring Said Major Lewis Bush a fresh horse; this he did, and in a few minutes 
after Said horse was furnished, both Major Bush & the horse were killed. --
After the battle he was immediately discharged  (but received no written discharge) 
having served at least two years in all: that he has no documentary evidence, and 
that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his
Page 10

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.
Saml. Lyons [signature]

Sworn to and Subscribed the day andyear aforesaid
C K Giffin Clk [signature and title]

We William Crawford, John Criffy, and George Shirts, Residing in the neighborhood of the above 
Samuel Lyons do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Said Samuel Lyons, who has 
subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be upwards of 70 years 
of age, and of the age by him in his aforesaid declaration stated, that he is reputed & believed
 in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we
 concur in that opinion; and moreover that we are of opinion in that there is no Clergyman in 
his immediate neighborhood acquainted with his reputation as being a Revolutionary Soldier &c.
William Crawford [signature]
George Shirt
John Cripps Mark
C
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after 
putting the interrogatories presented by the department that the above named applicant was a 
revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further
Page 11

fy [finds] that it appears to them that William Crawford, George Shirts and John Cripps
who have signed the preceding Certificate are resident in the neighborhood of 
said applicant, are Credible persons & that their statements are Entitled to Credit; 
and also that it appears to them that no Clergyman resides in the immediate vicinity
of Said Applicant, who is acquainted with his Character & reputation to have served 
as aforesaid.
Questions propounded by Said Said Court, and the answers as given:

1. Where & in what year were you born? I was born on the 3rd of January 1762, in 
Lancaster County Pennsylvania.

2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it? I have none. it was set down
in my father's bible, whence I took it; but that did not fall to my possession.

3. Where were you living when Called into service; where have you lived since the 
Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
A. (Answer) "When I Indentured each time I lived in Willmington, in Delaware. Since the 
Revolution I lived first 2 or 3 years at Wilmington: then lived about 20 years in
Northumberland County Pennsylvania, till the County was divided so as to make 
Union County, after which I continued perhaps 20 years more in Union Co. Pa. 
-- then moved from thence to this
Page 12

Columbiana County Ohio, where I have resided ever since.

4. How were you called into Service; were you drafted, did you volunteer 
or were you a Substitute? And if a Substitute, for whom?
A. [Answer] I volunteered

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 service?
A. [Answer] The officers known to me so far as I now recollect who were 
with me any considerable length of time are named in the preceding
declaration: so also are the other circumstances then mentioned.

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service & if so by whom 
was it given & what has become of it? I never to the best of my
recollection received a written discharge.

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present 
neighborhood, and who can testify to your character for veracity and
their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution. --
Page 13

A. (Answer) William Crawford, George Shirts, James French, 
James Bruck -

I Charles S. Coffin Clerk of the said Court of Common Pleas
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application 
for a pension of Samuel Lyons, aforesaid --

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal 
of Office, this 16th. --- day of August, AD. 1833
Charles S. Coffin [signature]
Clk. Court of Common Pleas
Page 14

[this is a typed letter]

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
MCS:MLB
[illegible initials]

November 11, 1930

Dr. A. S. Miller
1611 Roselyn Terrace
Lincoln, Nebraska

Dear Sir:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 9378, that Samuel Lyons
was born January 3, 1762 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

While a resident of Wilmington, Delaware, he enlisted
September 1, 1775 and served until the latter part of August,
1776, as drill sergeant in Colonel Haslet's Delaware regiment.
He enlisted in September, 1776, was in the battle of Brandywine
and was discharged immediately afterward; the names of officers
during this enlistment not stated.

After the Revolution he lived in Wilmington, Delaware,
Northumberland and Union 
Counties, Pennsylvania, and in
Columbiana County, Ohio.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August
14, 1833, at which time he was living in St. Clair Township,
Columbiana County, Ohio.

There are no data relative to his family.

Very truly yours

E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner[the following hand written]
Date of death
not on Agency book
Page 15

Washington Jan 15th 1844

Mr. Edwards

Sir

I am pretty well acquainted with Mr Lyons of 
Columbiana who applied for a Pension, and 
have no hesitation in Saying that I believe every 
word he has stated as facts in his case is true
and that he ought to have a pension I have no 
doubt.
John Thomas [signature]
of Ohio
Page 16


A. S. Miller, Opt. D.
Genealogies of the
Babcok, Ludwick, Lyons & Miller Families
Correspondence Solicited
1611 Roseign Terrace, Lincoln, Nebraska

Oct. 16, 1930.

Bureau of Pension
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sirs:-

Will you please give me all the information that
you can about Samuel Lyons, pr. P. M. Pennsylvania Pensioner
living at East Liverpool, Columbiana Co., Ohio, Jan. 17, 1834
aet [age] 73 yrs.

Thanking you for same, I am

Sincerely yours, [signature]
A. S. Miller, O.D.
Page 17

[left page]
Dr. A.S. Miller furn,
hist. Nov. 11. 1930.
Tue
[end left page]

[right page]
9378
INVALID.
--------
File No. 9378
Samuel Lyons
Privo. Rev. War
--------
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 231
(Arrangement of 1870.

[upper left on it's side]
Reohan [checkmark]