Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L. Wt. 624-100, Andrew Besterfield, Continental (Penn.)
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SERVICE
Continental (Penn.)

Besterfield, Andrew 
NUMBER B.L. Wt. 624-100
Wilson, Elizabeth, Former Widow
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non.loc.

No. 624
Andrew Besterfield.
Private.
Armand's Legion.

Warrant issued under the above number, dated 12th of January 1814 and delivered to the [illegible] David Bard, M.C. on the 20th Jan. 1814.

Noted on [illegible] Dec. 23, 1813 and 8th Jan. 1814.
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8

Ms. Elizabeth Wilson
Chambersburg
Martinsburgh
5 March
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In the name of God Amen, I Andrew Besterfield of Chambersburg in the County of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding Thanks be to God.
To make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. To wit, I give and bequeath to my best beloved wife Elizabeth all my estate real and personal of whatsoever kind it may be to her, and to her heirs and [illegible] signs forevers.  And lastly, I do nominate and appoint my beloved wife Elizabeth Executor [blank] of this my last will and testament hereby Revoking all other and former Wills by me at any time herebefore made and declaring this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third Day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four.
Andrew his X mark Besterfield    Seal [circled]
Signed Sealed and 
published in the presence of us
Stephen Rigler
John Kirkpatrick
On the third day of February 1794 John Kirpatrick and Stephen Rigler thereness to the within writing appeared before me Subscriber [illegible] and on the solemn oaths deposeth and  saidth that they were personally present and saw and heard Andrew Besterfield (within mentioned, now Dec. 8) make his mark unto and Seal and publish the within writing as and for his last will and testament, and that at the time of doing thereof he the said Andrew was of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding according to the best of their knowledge and belief - and that their names signed thereto is of their own proper handwriting done at the same time.
Sworn and Subscriber before 
Edw Crawford Reg
Stephen Rigler
John Kirkpatrick
Franklin County, Lt. J Edw. Crawford Register for the probate of Will and granting letter of [illegible] for Franklin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Last Will and Testament of Andrew Besterfield [illegible] proved as aforesaid and now remaining of record in the said office
[illegible], my hand and seal of said office at Chambersburg the 25 February 1802.
Edw Crawford Reg
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Huntingdon County, ss Personally appeared Elizabeth Wilson of the Borough of Huntingdon Widow and
being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she is the person
named in the annexed Will and that she was formerly
the wife of Andrew Besterfield the Testator and that she verily believes herself entitled to the donation Land
which her former husband Andrew Besterfield was
entitled to from the United States and that she never
has assigned or transfered the right to the same and that
she verily believes that her husband never did receive
the same or make any sale or transfer thereof -
Elizabeth Wilson
X her mark
Sworn & subscribed
before the undersigned
Justice of the Peace in
and for the said County
this 10th day of Novr 1813
John Travis
Huntingdon County
[seal]
on the same day and year aforesaid personally appeared Richard Cox & Esther Cox
his wife Before me and being duly sworn in presence of ┃
the above named Elizabeth Wilson did depose and say
that they have long been personally acquainted with the
said Elizabeth Wilson and that she is the same person
designated in the annexed will as the wife of the Testator
Andrew Besterfield - Sworn and subscribed on the same
day and year before the undersigned Justice of
peace in and for the said County to whom the depon
are personally known and the undersigned Justice
believes them to be worthy of full credit-
Witness my hand
and seal
John Travis
Richard
Esther Cox
X her mark
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State of Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County 
I William Steel Prothonatary of
the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do certify
that John Travis Esquire before whom the within Depositions
appear to have been taken was at that time and still is a Justice
of the peace in and for said County, and due faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said County
at Huntingdon the thirteenth day of December
A.D. 1813
William Steel Proty
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To the Honorable David Bard
Dear Sir
As Andrew Besterfield my late husband died
is entitled to Military Bounty Land for his services as a
soldier in the Revolutionary war with great Brittain
and as by his last will & Testament he has left
his whole & sole heir to all his Estate Real and
personal. I therefore request order & direct
you to receive and receipt for the Land warrant
and do all other acts and things necessary to be
done in the premises to compleat the title of the same
to me in as full and ample a manner as
myself could or would do were I personally
present,
Given under my hand this 25th day of
January 1813
Signed in the presence of us
William Steel
John Steel
Elizabeth Besterfield
X her mark
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This appears to be a form that was returned and the form is no longer legible. An “M” shows as the only signature and it is illegible due to age, fading and paper deterioration. “Illegible man is returned of the illegible of illegible bay”
Please refer to the original document for possible clarification.
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THIS is to certify that Andrew Besterfield a private [illegible]
in the First Partisan Legion, under my command; has served
faithly bravely
to this Day, is hereby discharged from
the Service of the United States, in Pursuance of Orders received from
the Commander in Chief, bearing date the third instant.
I farther certify that [illegible]
having been [illegible] in the State of
Pennsylvania
is intituled by the
Resolution of Congress, of the 18th February, 1779, to the Benefits
that have been, or hereafter shall be granted by the said State to the
Noncommissioned Officers and Soldiers of the said Line.
Given under my Hand and seal at York Town, this tenth Day of November, 1783
[illegible] Brigadier General.
Entered in the Books of the Legion.
Attest.
Adjutant of the Legion
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Copy of the will & Testament of Andrew Besterfield late of the Co. of Franklin Penna.
deceased

66 Cents paid
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Washington County ss
On the 10th day of January 1803
Personally came Jonathan Trenttle before Me, One of the Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid & being duly sworn
oath and saith, that having served in the Pennsylvania
Artillery during the late Revolutionary War, he became acquainted with Andrew Besterfield, a Soldier in the First
Partisan Legion, Commanded by General Armand, that the said Besterfield to the knowledge of this deponent was enlisted
into said Legion in the State of Pennsylvania, that at the time of enlisting into said Legion. He the said Besterfield was a
residenter of the state of Pennsylvania, and further this
deponent saith, that to his knowledge, the said Andrew
Besterfield men drew any had, nor obtained right for any 
from the State of Pennsylvania, the United States, nor from
any the state in the Union, for his services as a soldier in
Legion aforesaid, further this deponent saith
Sworn before
year
State of Maryland Washington County for I
Otho Holland Williams Clerk of Washington County
hereby certify that William Vantour Esquire who appears
to have taken and signed the annexed affadavit was
at the time of taking and signing thereof, ever since hath
been and still is, one of the Justices of the peace in
and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned
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[cut off]
from the State of Pennsylvania, the United States, nor from any other state in the Union, for his services as a soldier in Legion aforesaid, further this deponent saith [illegible]
Sworn before
WM Vanlear
[cut off]
State of Maryland Washington County Pa
I Otho Holland Williams Clerk of Washington County hereby certify that William Vanlear Esquire who appears to have taken and signed the annexed affadavit was at the time of taking and signing thereof, ever since hath been, and still is, one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and
qualified; and that to all his acts as such, due faith and credit is and ought to be given as well in Court of Justice as thereout
[seal applied]
In Testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affix as his public seal of Washington County Court this twelfth day of
January in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and three, and in twenty seventh year of the Independence of the United States-
Otho H. Williams Clk
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To the honorable John Armstrong Esquire Secretary of War of the United States of America
Sir,
Whereas I Elizabeth Wilson late widdow
and Relict of Andrew Besterfield Deceased have
by his last will and Testament become entitled to
Warrant for a Tract of Donation Lands due him
for his military Services in the Revolutionary war
with Great Brittain, I therefore request and
desire that you will give the said warrant to the
honorable David Bard member of Congress from
Huntingdon County in the State of Pennsylvania
and oblige your most obedient & Humble servant
Best
William Steel
her mark x
Elizabeth Wilson
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Fourth District of Pennsylvania Bedford County SS
           Before the undersigned President of the several courts of Common Pleas of the said district, personally appeared Samuel Riddle counselor at law of the Boron and of Redford and been duly sworn deposeth and saith that whilst he was a student at law and resident in Chambersburg he was well acquainted with Andrew Besterfield the testator named in the last will and testament of which the annexed papers certified by Edward Crawford Esquire register for the probate of wills and purports to be a copy that this Deponent was informed and believes in an true and said Andrew Besterfield served as a soldier in the American army in the revolutionary war. That this Deponent was at the same time and serve well acquainted with Elizabeth the wife of the said Andrew.  That true time after the death of the said Andrew the said Elizabeth intermarried with. Person of the name of Wilson and removed from Chambersburg to Martinsburg. That about six or seven years ago the said Elizabeth removed to illegible town of Lancaster and close in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania and at that time it was reported that her second husband Wilson was dead and this Deponent believes the report to be true.
           This Deponent further saith that he saw the said Elizabeth Wilson at her dwelling in Huntingdon in May last and he (end of page)
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He is informed and believes that she still resides in the place.
Sworn and subscribed this 19th day of June 1818
 Jonathan Walker.                 Samuel Riddle
——————————————————————-

State of Pennsylvania 
Huntingdon County ss
     I William Steel Prothonotary of the said district Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Huntingdon in the fourth Judicial District of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that Jonathan Walker Esquire before whom the above and foregoing declaration appears to have been taken was at that time President of the several courts of Common Pleas in and for said district,  and that all illegible faith and credit is and aught to be given to all his official acts as such as well in courts of Justice as thereout
      In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my had and affixed the seal of said County at Huntingdon the 25th day of June AD 1813
William Steel Prothy
(It appears the seal was placed to the left of his signature but, it has faded off the page)
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I certify that it appears by the final settlement certificate issued for Armand's Corps that Andrew Besterfield enlisted for and served to the End of the War.
Dept. of War
Ad. Office
July 6, 1813.
Wm Simmons