Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 11205, Joseph Harper, Md.
Page 1

Service
MD

Name
Harper, joseph

Number
S.

This man's widow Eleanor was pensioned as the widow of James Ryan, MD. W.11205
Page 2

Left Side Page

Rec'd 26 July

This man's widow claims under act '36 - see letter for Alma Wright, Nov 30, 1844

Right Side Page

Maryland - 32060
Joseph Harper
of Baltimore Co in the state of Maryland
who was a private in the blank commanded
by Captain blank of the blank commanded
by blank in the Maryland
line for 2 years

Inscribed on the roll of Maryland at the rate of 80 dollars blank cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day of July 1843 and sent to Alex'r Yearly - Balto, MD

Arrears to the 4th of march '43 $960.00
Semi.anl allowance ending 4 Sept $40.00
$1000.00

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Wm Stewart - Clerk
Book E.2 Vol 5 Page 103
Page 3

Baltimore MD - Stamp
Dec 2

Free

George Wm Crump Esq
Acting Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

Dec 3
Maryland
Joseph Harper
Act 1832

Alex Yearly
Baltimore, MD

34878
Joseph Harper
Maryland
Act 7 June '32

Adm - 2 yrs - Pri
$80 per
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State of Maryland
Baltimore County

On this thirteenth day of November eighteen hundred and thirty-nine personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the associate Justices of the Orphans Court for Baltimore County, Joseph Harper a resident of said county aged ninety-seven 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 8th 1832 that he enlisted as a private in the army of the United States in the fourth Maryland Regiment in the month of August 1781 and continued in the service until November 1783. That he was during much of that period employed as Waggoner or Teamster in and with the regular army; That at his present advanced age of 97 years his memory fails him as to the particular officers under whom he served; but he remembers perfectly that he was at the surrender of Cornwallis and his army in Virginia.

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 any agency in any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Joseph Harper
His X Mark

Witness:
N R Merryman

Made, sworn to and subscribed before me at the residence of said Joseph Harper in Baltimore County aforesaid, he being from old age and bodily infirmity unable to appear in open court: And I do hereby certify and declare my opinion and belief that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states.

(As witness)
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As witness my hand the day and year first within written.

James B Price

Maryland

I hereby certify that James B Price Esq before whom the aforegoing declaration was made and whose name is subscribed thereto was at the time of so doing an Associate Justice of the orphans Court for Baltimore County duly commissioned and sworn according to law.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribed my name and affix the seal of said court this second day of December in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-nine.

Test:

D M Perine, Register
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Berkeley County Virginia

I do hereby certify that Joseph Harper hath taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance and fidelity as directed by an act of General Assembly entitled an act to oblige the free male inhabitants of this state above a certain age to give assurance of allegiance to the same and for other purposes given under my hand and seal this 18th day of March 1778.

Goodwin Swift - SEAL
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I do hereby discharge the Baires Joseph Harper Waggoner in the pack of Artillery from the service his time being out that he was enlisted April 15, 1779.

A Turner D.W.Mgr
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[illegible] 7th Apr [illegible] Seved with three days provision at this post

John Brooks - T. Major
Page 9

Jan 20, 1840
Mary
add proof
Joseph Harper

BALTIMORE STAMP

FREE

Geo Wm Crump
Acting Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
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Baltimore, Jany 1840

Geo Wm Crump Esq 
Acting Comm of Pensions

Sir

In compliance with your letter of 4 Dec 1839 relative to the case of Joseph Harper, I herewith send you this statement (under oath) of his reasons why he never applied for a pension under the Act of 19 March 1818 and for applying earlier under the act of 7 June 1832. Also the detailed statement of John Spindler as to his identity.

His case was mentioned to me by a benevolent Lady in June 1838; but no definite step was taken therein until recently; and having found that his own statement was in correspondence with the Records of the Maryland Line and with the testimony of an aged and very respectable neighbor (John Spindler) I have no doubt but that he is entitled to a pension under the Act of June 7, 1832.

He is now 97 years of age and cannot long be a charge to his country. May the evening of his days be cheered with a ray of comfort.

Very Respectfully
Your obt servant

Alexr Yearley
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To what time was Joseph Harper, Maryland Roll, act June 7, 1832m last paid?

Yours

J.L. Edwards
Nov 30 '44

Died 4th April 1844 paid to that period - J.H.
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J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

June 3, '43

BALTIMORE STAMP
Maryland
Joseph Harper
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Baltimore, June 2, 1843

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Comm of Pensions

Sir

Most respectfully I solicit your attention to the case of Joseph Harper whose application for Pension under the act of June 7, 1832 was sent to your office Dec 2, 1839. The proof at first presented in his case was deemed unsatisfactory as was also the additional proof sent you Jan 1840. The Honorable Judge Price who went 22 miles in the country to see him had certified his belief from the testimony taken by him in the neighborhood that he was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.

The old soldier is still living, and he has sent me the two certificates herewith enclosed; one of which shows that he took the oath of allegiance to his county in the year 1778; the other shows that he was a soldier of the revolution in 1779; and of course, is a person entitled to some consideration.

I hope you will on reconsidering his case deem the testimony of Mr. Spindler (now on file with his papers) together with his own declaration and the certified belief of Judge Price satisfactory as to his identity as the same individual mentioned in Mr. Brewer's certificates; there is no person now living who knew him at the time of his enlistment and of his return home at the close
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close of the war, except this Mr. Spindler who lives near him and who is a man of undoubted veracity.

Can you do anything for this old soldier of the revolution - Joseph Harper now living in his log cabin in Baltimore County in the one hundred and first year of his age?

Very respectfully

I am your obt servant

Alexr Yearley.
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State of Maryland
Baltimore County

On this 21st day of December eighteen hundred and thirty-nine before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace of the state of Maryland in and for Baltimore County personally appeared John Spindler a resident of said county aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to law makes and subscribes the following statement: That being called on to state more definitely his knowledge of Joseph Harper of said County in addition to the general statement given before the Hon. Judge Price on the 30th Nov 1839 he now declares that he when a youth knew said Joseph Harper prior to his enlistment in the Maryland line of the army in the war of the revolution. That he saw him in his uniform very shortly after he was discharged and came home at the close of the said war; that he has no doubt but said Joseph Harper is the identical person whose name appears on the roll of the Maryland line; as he was gone between two and three years in the service. That he has known him the said Jospeh Harper ever since his return from the army. That said Harper has for many years past been in a very friendless and destitute condition and further he saith not.

John Spindler
His X Mark

Witness:
N R Merryman

Sworn to and subscribed before me and I do hereby certify
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certify that the above named deponent John Spindler is a person of good character and entitled to full credit. As witness my hand the day and year first above written.

John Gailey
Justice of the Peace

State of Maryland Baltimore County Set.
I hereby certify that John Gailey Gentleman before whom the within deposition was made and who has thereto signed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of said state in and for the City of Baltimore duly commissioned & sworn.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of Baltimore County Court this 13th day of January 1840.

Thos Kell - Clerk of Balto County Court
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Joseph Harper
Maryland
Suspended
Let Dec 4, 1839
A Yearley do 25 April 1840

Act 7 June 1832
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Baltimore, Dec 2, 1839

Geo Wm, Crump Esq
Acting Commissioner of Pensions

Sir

Having ascertained that Joseph Harper a very aged and friendless resident of Baltimore County was a soldier of the revolution and that he was by reason of old age & bodily infirmity unable to appear in open court the Honorable Judge Price was so kind as to go with me to his residence - 22 miles from this city - where we found him and his wife, about the oldest an poorest couple I ever saw. His case is respectfully submitted to you as truly meritorious.

With Great Respect
Your obt servant

Alexr Yearley
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Baltimore County 
Novr 30th 1839-
Sir, Herewith I send you my declaration and application for a Pension under the provisions of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
Refering you to the accompanying documents I am, Very Respectfully Your obt. Servant his Joseph X Harper
Mark
(Illegible) James B Price
Please to direct to the care of Mr Alexr Yearley, No. 10 St Paul Street Baltimore City
To Geo Wm Crump Esq
Acting Commissioner of Pensions
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{State of Maryland
Baltimore County} SS
On this Twenty first day of December eighteern hundred and thirty nine Before me the subscriber & Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Joseph Harper a resident of said county aged 97 years, who being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith: - That he had lived in great obscurity and almost friendless during many years past: That he did ^not^ know until very lately, any thing about the act of 18 March 1818, which provided Pensions for Revolutionary Soldiers, and not being informed thereof he did not apply - That as to the act of June 7th 1832, he heard something about it, four or five years ago, but has no friend who offered to aid him in making application; until about 15 or 18 months ago a benevolent lady, (illegible) Ford, having heard of his case, called on him, and made a statement thereof to Mr Alexr Yearley of Baltimore who with one of the judges of the orphans Court of Baltimore County, ately called on him, at his residence in said Bounty about 22 miles from Baltimore City; he being unable to go to Baltimore and appear in opn Court
Joseph X^mark^ Harper
Witness N R Merryman
Sworn to and subscribed before me, and I do hereby - (certify)
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certify my belief in the truth of the statement as witnessed by my hand this twenty first day of Decr eightdred hundred and thirty nine
John Gailey Justice of the Peace
State of Maryland}
Baltimore County}
I hereby certify that Jon Gailey Gentleman before whom the aforegoing deposition was mad, and who has thereto signed his name, was (illegible) also doing, one of the Justices of the Peace of the State of Maryland of and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned sworn
In Testimony Whereof I have and subscribe my name and I affix the Seal of Baltimore County Court on this 13th day of January 1840
The Seal (illegible) of Baltr Coty (illegible)
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(Circular Stamp)
ANNAPOLIS Md
Nov 7
Alexr Yearley Esqy
 Baltimore, Md
Mail
====
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Land Office, Annapolis, November 7th 1839
I hereby certify that it appears by the muster rolls of the Revolution, remaining in the office that Joseph Harper enlisted as a private in the 4th Reft for the term of three years, on the 26th day August, 1781 - and by a pay roll kept by John Hamilton Maryland line, he appears to have received pay up to the 15th of November, 1783 -
George G Brewer
Reg. Land Off. (illegible)
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State of Maryland Baltimore County SS
On this 30th day of November Eighteen hundred and thirty nine, before me the subscriber one of the associate Justices of the Orphans Court for Baltimore County
Personally appeared John Spindler -
a resident of said county aged 75 years, who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that he hath known Joseph Harper, a resident of this County during a period of at least fifty four years -
That said Harper has always been spoken of and believed to have been a Teamster Solder in the War of the Revolution - that he the said Harper is a very aged man and in needy circumstances; and it is believed to believed he is entitled to a pension from the United States on account of his serviced in the army of the Revolution.
John X ^mark^ Spindler
Witness (illegible)
Sworn to and subscribed before me (illebible) I do hereby certify that the above named John Spindler is a person of good character and entitled to full credit - its witness my hand the day year first above written
James B Price
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the seal of said Court this second day December in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty none.
Test:
D M. Perine Regr