Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31319, for Minus Radcliffe, Delaware
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(8-1776)
SERVICE
Del.
Radcliffe, Minus
Number
S.31319
CONTENTS
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25173
Kentucky
Minus Radcliffe
of Owen Co in the State of Kentucky
who was a fifer in the [illegible] commanded
by Captain Radcliffe of the  Regt commanded
by Col Hall in the Delaware 
line for 2 years Fifer

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 88 Dollars [no] Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 02 day of Dec
1833 and Thomas A. Berryman Owenton
Arrears to the 4th of Sept     220.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March    44.00

                                                        $264.00
                                   {Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 7 Page 26
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Minus Radcliffe
please communicate the
result to me at Owenton
Owen County, Ky.
Thos A. Berryman
atto: for Radcliffe
Page 4

State of Kentucky
County of Owen St
On this 1st day of July 1833 personally appeared
in open Court before the Justices of the Owen County Court now
sitting Minus Radcliffe a resident of the said County of Owen
and State of Kentucky aged 70 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 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following
named officers and served as herein stated that is to say in the month
of May in the year 1775 as well as he remembers he entered the
service of the United States as a fifer in the company of Captain
William Radcliffe - He states that Capt. Radcliffe was his fa-
ther and that he (this declarent) was taken into the service as a fifer
as aforesaid being at the time only thirteen years of age and was
kept by his said father in the service as such and attached to his
said Company. He states that the name of the Lieutenant of said
company was Sego Potten that an Englishman by the name
Squires was the drummer and that this was another fifer by
the name of Andrew Heavelow as well as he remembers. He states
that he does not know whether his father the said William Rad
cliffe was a regular [officer - crossed out] or militia officer - that he has
always looked upon his own services as having been voluntary -
He further declares that at the time of his said entry into the
service he resided with his father in the County of Sussex in the
State of Delaware and he marched with his said [father - crossed out] com
pany to the Delaware Cape in the said County of Sussex
while there were some other troops stationed at the time, that he
does not recollect with any degree of certainty or precision to
what regiment his said company was attached nor the names
of the field officers, but he is impressed with the belief that the
said company was attached to the regiment of Col. Hall
whom he recollects to have been very [illegible] in the time of his service was
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and with whom he became well acquainted after the revolutionary war. He further states and declares that from his present best recollection he did not enter into the service as a musician as above stated for any definite period but that time thereof depended upon the pleasure & will of his said father under whose care guidance and direction he entered the service. He further States and declares that he remained in the service as a musician
as abovenamed from the time of his entry therein in the year 1775 with some intermissions until the capture of Corn
Wallis at York in Virginia - that he was stationed the whole time of his services at Cape Henlopen in the County of Sussex and
State of Delaware - that during the whole of his service he was with his said Father William Radcliffe who continued in the command of a company and that soon after the surren-
der of Cornwallis he returned with his said father to their home [in the County - crossed out] which still continued to be in Sussex County in the State of Delaware. He states that there was a good many soldiers besides those attached to the company to which he belonged stationed at Cape Henlopen.
He states that from his extreme youth at the time of his entry into the service and his consequent inattention to passing events, and his present advanced age being now seventy years of age, and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service nor the manner
in which he entered the service, nor the precise periods at which his service commenced, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than three years as a Musician
being a fifer in the revolutionary war and for such service he claims a pension.
He further states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person [by whom- crossed out] whose testimony he can
procure, who can testify to his service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an
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nuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid

Interrogatories propounded to the above named applicant by the court
1st Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born in the County of Sussex and State of Delaware in the year 1762 according to the best information which I have 
2d Have you any record of your age; and if so where is it?
Answer. I have not a record of my age at this time; my knowledge of my age depends altogether upon my recollection of the notice taken of my birth in my fathers family register and I do not know what has become of that for it has been many years since I saw it.
3d Where were you living when called into the service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer - I was living with my father in the County of Sussex and State of Delaware when I entered the service and I continued to
live in the same County and State for about twenty years after the revolution when I moved to Scott County Kentucky and there
lived for about 9 years and then moved to the then County of Gallatin now Owen County Ky where I have continued to live ever
since.
4th How were you called into the service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute; and if a substitute for whom?
Answer - I can only say that my services according to the best of my recollection were those of a volunteer.
5th 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.
Answer. I do not recollect the name of any field officer who served with the troops where I was but Col. Hall and I believe that
he was a regular officer. I recollect the Lieutenant Johnathan Hammonds but whether he was a regular or milita officer name
unable to [illegible] I recollect that one Squires an Englishman was
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a drummer and that Andrew Heavalow was a fifer. There was generally a good many officers and soldiers stationed where I was but I have forgotten the names of the officers mostly - I was during the whole of my service in Sussex County in the State of Delaware and stationed for the most part at Cape Henlopen.  I served as a musician being a fifer.
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it.
Answer I do not recollect that I ever did receive a discharge.
7th State the names of persons living in your present neighbourhood to whom you are known, and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Answer I will name Bartlett Mason and
William Stafford as persons to whom I am known and who live in my neighbourhood.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Minus Radcliffe
Mark

The Bartlett Mason residing in the County of Owen and State of Kentucky and Will Stafford residing in the same county and state hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Minus
Radcliffe who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 70 years of age; that he is reputable and believed in the neighbourhood where he [lives - crossed out] resides to have been a [fifer - crossed out] Musician in the revolutionary war, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Bartlett Mason
mark
his
William Stafford
mark
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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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the
Court further certifies, that it appears to them that B. Macon & William Stafford who has signed the preceding certificate are residents
in the said County of Owen and State of Kentucky [who has also signed the name is a resident of the same county and state - crossed out] and are credible persons and that
their statement is written to credit and it is further certified that it would have been attached with too much cost to the applct. & 
inconvenience to have produced a Clergyman in Court & that there is no clergyman residing in his neighborhood.
Cyrus Wingate
Jacob H. Smith
Casius Claron
Justices of Owen County Court

State of Kentucky
County of Owen
[what looks like seal with string]
feb.

I John C. Bacon Clerk of the Court for the County of OWen in the State of Kentucky, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Minus Radcliffe for a pension as the same remains of record in my office.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set
my hand and affixed my seal of office this 5 day of [March - crossed out] July 1833.
JCBacon Clk
Owen County Court
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Minus Radcliffe

please communicate the
result to me at Owenton
Owen County Ky.
Thos A. Berryman
atto: for Radcliffe
Page 10

State of Kentucky
Owen County
Be it Known that on this 28th day of October
1833 personally appeared before the  subscriber a Justice of the
Peace in and for Owen County Ky. Minus Radcliffe who being first duly sworn according to law upon his oath states and deposes that he is the identical Minus Radcliffe who made
his declaration before the Owen County Court on the 1st day of July 1833 in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Court passed June 7th 1832. He states upon his said oath that
from his youth at the time of his entry into the service of the United States, his present advanced age and in consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, nor as to the precise period at which he entered the service, but according to the best of of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades: that is to say: In the year 1775 I served not less than five months as a fifer. In the year 1776 I served not less than five months as a fifer. In the year 1777 I served not less than five months as a fifer. In the year 1778 I served not less than six months as a fifer. In the year 1779 I served not less than five months as a fifer. In the year 1780 I served not less than five months as a fifer. In the year 1781 I served not less
than five months as a fifer all said service being performed in Sussex County in the State of Delaware at Cape Henlopen in the company of Capt Radcliffe.  He states that he was a volunteer and that he is confident he served longer than above stated but that he does not desire to make his service out larger than they really were & therefore to be absolutely certain that he does not do so, he
has confined himself to the periods above mentioned
Minus Radcliffe
[his X mark]
Sworn & subscribed this
28th Oct 1833 before me
Wm Bacon jp
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The affidavit of William G. Bower taken in the Town of Owenton Owen County Ky on the 28th day of October 1833 who being duly sworn according to law upon his oath states that he is well acquainted with Minus Radcliffe above
named who resides in Owen County Kentucky. He states that he has the reputation of being an honest and truthful man and that his statements are entitled to credit
He states that he is an old man and poor and [illegible] greatly in need of whatever the Government may have provided for his revolutionary services.
Sworn to and subscribed 
this 28th Octr 1833 before
Mr N M Bacon jp

State of Kentucky
Owen County

I Nathan M Bacon a Justice of the peace in and for Owen County Ky. hereby certify that the foregoing affidavits of Minus Radcliffe were this day taken subscribed and sworn to before me. And I further certify that the said affiants both live in Owen County Ky and are
credible persons. Given under my hand this 28th October
1833.
NM Bacon jp06
State of Kentucky  Set
Owen County
I John C Bacon Clerk of the Court of
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Owen County Ky hereby certify that W.M. Bacon whose name appears to the preceding certificate is now and was at the date of said certificate a Justice of the peace in and for said County and a member of the Court of which I am clerk and that the foregoing signature purporting to his is his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereto
set my name and affixed my seal
of office this 2d day of Nov 1833
H Bacon
Clerk of the Court of Owen County
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26.710
Minus Radcliffe
Kentucky
from 1775 fifer
2yr (?)
$88
Thos A. Berryman
Owenton.
Kentucky
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 Minus Radcliffe
Period when the service was rendered.┃Duration of the claimant's service. |  [sub columns] Years. | Months. | Days.
Rank of the claimant. | Names and rankd of the Field officers under whom he served. | Age at present, and place of above when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported.
May 1775 to 1781 | 3 | | | Fifer | Capt Radcliffe Col Heald | 70. Del.

The different periods of actual service should be stated in order to a favorable decision.


I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 ivil 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 District of } ss.
County of

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, 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.
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.]
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.
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
Page 16

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?
   { 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 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, stated 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 - in italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. 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 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.
[the previous paragraph (starting with "It is important..." was highlighted by a squiggly bracket on the right margin, apparently this is where the initial application was not acceptable.]
[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, 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 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 witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[pointing finger character] 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] This traditionary evidence is indispensable 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 17


31319
in Reg INVALID.
file no 31319
Minne Radcliffe
fifer Rev War
Act: June 7" 32"
Index: -- Vol. D, Page 333
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

The National Archives 
Form VAN-51
12-5-41

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

NAME Rademacker, John GRADE Private LINE Crane's Continental Artillery (Massachusetts)

WARRANT NUMBER 4964 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Nov. 15, 1791 To not shown

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issues Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.