Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9641, for John Skiles, Pennsylvania
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(3-1776)
SERVICE  Penn  Skiles, John   NUMBER R.9641
CONTENTS
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State of Pennsylvania}
County of Cumberland} 
On this twenty eighth day of April the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty, personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, now sitting, John Stiles a resident of the Borough of Casliola in the County of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania aged seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn answering 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.  Deponent entered the army of the United States during the Revolutionary war, as a private in the month of November A.D. 1778 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania under Captain McMullin in the militia - we marched from Wallans Tavern on the horse-shoe road, in Lancaster County, about eight miles East of Lancaster City Pennsylvania through Downingstown to Philadelphia.  From Philadelphia we marched to Couralls Ferry on the Delaware River - at this time the weather was very cold, the river was obstructed with floating ice and we were detained at the Ferry about two weeks before we could cross the river - we then crossed into the State of New Jersey & marched to a place called the crooked Billets in Jersey where we were detained two or three days - we then proceeded to Hackensack the head quarters of the army under Genl Washington, we continued in the service three months when we were discharged and returned home to Lancaster County Pennsylvania in February A.D.1779 - In June 1779 Deponent again entered the army of the Revolution under Capt. Brisbane - We marched from Mores Tavern on the old Pennsylvania road in Lacock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia, we lay at Philadelphia eight or ten days before we received orders to march
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We then proceeded to Trenton in New Jersey, from Newnton we marched through Princeton, Kingston, crossed this Puritan at New Brunswick and proceeded to New York State to the head quarter of the army-- we remained in the service three months, were then discharged & returned to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the last of September or beginning of October 1779. In August 1782 Deponent again entered the army in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, under Captain William Miles, marched to Lancaster City in said County, where he was employed in Guarding British prisoners captured at the surrender of Cornwallis and remained there in the service for two months & two weeks & was thus discharged & returned home the last of October A.D. 1782.

Deponent has no Documentary evidence, and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services. Capt Brisbane, under whom Deponent served three months as herein before stated, is still living & resides in Centre County Pennsylvania, and Deponent has made repeated attempts to procure his Deposition, but has been informed that Capt Brisbane is now so aged, weak & infirm both in body & mind as to be altogether unable to have his deposition taken.  Deponent in 1826 made applications to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and by act of 15th June 1836 was granted an annuity of forty dollars per annum during his life.  At that time he procured the evidence of Capt Brisbane who proved the services under him by deponent as herein before stated. He has endeavoured to obtain the depositions from Harrisburg & search has been made for it among the papers on file in the State of Pennsylvania, but deponent has been informed the same has been lost or mislaid & after diligent search cannot now be found. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State except that he received an annuity from the State of Pennsylvania as John Stiles.

Herein before mentioned Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court. 

Test. Geo. Sanderson, Prot
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We the Rev. Alexander G. Magill, a Clergyman residing in the Borough of Carlisle, Cumberland County & State of Pennsylvania and Charles B. Penrose, he residing in the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Miles, who has subscribed and sworn to the above and foregoing Dochration; that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court

Alex. McGill
C. B. Penrose

Coram. Geo. Sanderson Prothy

And the said Court do hereby declare this 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 the Rev Alexander G. Magill who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the Borough of Carlisle & County of
Cumberland, and that Charles B. Benson is a resident who has also signed the same is a resident in this Borough of Carlisle and County aforesaid and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit

Sam'l Hepton
John Stuart
John Lefever
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State of Pennsylvania
Cumberland County ss

At the same time personally appeared in open Court C.B. Penson who being duly sworn according to law deponth and saith that he as the representative in the Senate of the State of the district in which Mr Stiles then resided and still resides presented his petition for a pension on which an act of the general assembly referred to by him in his statement granting him such pension was passed.  That he remembered the deposition of Captain Brisbane testifying to the services of Mr Stiles refered to in his said statement which was put into his possession in support of his, William Stiles, application to the legislature of Pennsylvania for a pension, that he remembers that this deposition stated that Mr Stiles had served during the revolutionary war under the  command of the said Captain Brisbane, deponent does not remember the time
of or the duration of such service.  he this deponent has made and caused search to be made for the said deposition that he has been unable to find such deposition and he verily believes that same has been lost

Chas B Penrod

Sworn & Subscribed in open the 28th day of April, 1840.
Geo. Sanderson, Prothy

Cumberland County, PA

I, George Sanderson, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of John Stiles for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 28th day of April, A.D. 1840

Geo. Sanderson, Prothy
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Important Index

No duplicate
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Papers copied and sent to Hon W A Ramsey, House of Representatives, June 25, 1840

**** 
John Skyler
Pennsylvania
Rejected

See letter 23rd May 1840 to Hon W A Ramsey

same letter [illegible]
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Stamped  REJECTED

9641

Service:  John Stiles

AOT , Aug 7, 1906
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Rec

March 20, 1840

[illegible]
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John Stiles, Cumberland County, PA

applicant for a pension under the Act of 1832

Report to the Hon William Ramsey, HR  
(House of Representatives)
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Washington, May 1, 1840

J L Edward, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir:

I have the honor to state in relation to the delay in the application of John Stiles of Cumberland County, Penn, to apply for the benefits of the Act of 1832 concerning Revolutionary soldiers.  That in a conversation here with him before said application, he expressed his [illegible]
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of any such law.  And it was at my insistence that he was undertaken to become an applicant.

Very respectfully your servant,

William Ramsey
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June 24, 1840

J L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
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House of Reps
June 23, 1840

Sir:

Will you please send me as soon as convenient a copy of the declaration of John Stiles, an applicant for a pension?

Very respectfully yours,

William Ramsey
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24.937

John Stiles
Pennsylvania

Hon Wm Ramsey
J L Edwards, Comm of Pensions
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John Stiles
Pennsylvania

Hon Wm Ramsey
James  L Edwards,
Comm of Pensions
Washington City DC
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Carlisle, Oct 1, 1839

Dear Sir:

I enclose here the application of John Stiles for a pension and request that you will decide upon his case as soon as convenient.

Respectfully,

William Ramsey
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William Ramsey
HR
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Commissioner of Pensions
Washington CIty, DC
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House of Reps
Apr 6, 1840

Sir:

I would thank you to send me the papers of John Stiles, an applicant for a pension.

Very respectfully,
William Ramsey
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June 22, 1840

J L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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House of Reps
June 20, 1940

Sir:

I would thank you to send me a copy of the deposition of Captain Brisbane, reference to your communication to me of this, in relation to the application of John Stiles for a pension.

Very respectfully,

William Ramsey