Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5833, for Joseph Norman, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3 - 1776 )
SERVICE
Penn.

Norman, Joseph

NUMBER
S 5833
Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

Pennsylvania 27.611

Joseph Norman
of Philadelphia in the State of Pa. 
who was a Pri in the Company commanded
by Captain Bonner of the Regt commanded
by Col St Clair in the Penn’a
Line for Militia
1 Yr Pr $40.00

Inscribed on the Roll of  Penn’a
at the rate of 40 Dollars – Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of Sept
and Sent to [34] H. Zantzinger,  Philadelphia,  Pa

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 34 140.00
Semi-ann allowance ending 4 Mch. 20.00
160.00 [total]

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by S. T. Sprague Clerk,
Book E Vol. 5 Page 43

See letter 6. June 27
Joseph Butler
Letter to agent at Phil’a
C.I. Jack Esqr same place
Septr 20th 1842
Page 3

31.177
Joseph Norman
Pennsyl.

Andrew Armstrong 
Kent
Page 4

State of Pennsylvania
City of Philadelphia SS.
On this sixth day of July one thousand
Eight Hundred & thirty two, personally appeared in open
Court before the Hon’ble Edward King Esquire, President
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for
the City & County of Philadelphia in the State of
Pennsylvania, now sitting
Joseph Norman, a resident
of the said City in the County aforesaid in the State
aforesaid aged Seventy five years & upwards who
being 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 the Seventh day of June Eighteen Hundred
& thirty two. That deponent belonged to the Second
Battalion of Pennsylvania commanded as deponent
believes by General Arthur St Clair of the state
of Pennsylvania, in an expedition against
Canada in the year 1776; that deponent belonged
to the Company commanded by
Captain Rudolph Bonner.  deponent saith
at the Troops with which he served were always
called the Seventy sixers, that deponent
enlisted in the month of January or thereabouts
 in the year 1776, that the troops
with which he marched assembled at a
place called the Kings old Barracks
in North second street in the City of Philadelphia
Page 5

that the troops from Philadelphia ascended the
Delaware to Bordentown in the State of
New Jersey and marched thence in separate
Companies for the sake of [subscripting] more
easily and that his Company finally after
passing thro’ Albany in the State of New York
and other places arrived at Lake George
and went thence in open Boats
across said lake to Ticonderoga and
thence to St John's on said Lake and
after waiting a little while at St John's
to the three River & thence
they continued on to Three Rivers & Ithaca, to a place
 called the Wolf’s Cove,  not far as deponent believes
 from Quebec. deponent saith that about the time
he arrived with his company at Wolf’s Cove
that the American Troops were sallied out
upon and attacked by the enemy and that
they were forced to retreat and go back to
a place called Barke or Barque not
far from the Three Rivera before mentioned.
That deponent was put on board of an
[illegible] Boat which was sent to give
information to some troops that had
arrived that they might come & reinforce the
Troops at the three Rivers - which was
the Reason why deponent was not
Page 6

in the engagement of the Three Rivers that
took place on same day. Deponent was sent
on Board said Boat, deponent saith
that [he was lately after and] his Company
with the other troops; went back to the
Isle of Noire as deponent believes &
and he camped, and thence went back to Ticonderoga
 from which last place some of
the men marched home over land. That
deponent was sent back to Bethlehem in
the State of Pennsylvania in a waggon
with some of his comrades as the year
for which he had enlisted was about
to expire, which was as deponent
believes in the early part of the year
1777. Deponent saith that when he enlisted
he resided at Abington about Eleven miles from
Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania.
Deponent saith that he believes General
Schuyler had an important command
for part of the time deponent was with
the Troops.  That General Putnam was also with 
the troops; that Gen’l Wayne of Pennsylvania was also
with the Troops & had a command.
That Colonel Craig was also in command as
 deponent believes of a Regiment, and that Captain
Page 7

[right margin]
Norman

Brisbane of Pennsylvania was also along
and deponent believes commanded a
Company -  Deponent saith He was
Born about thirteen miles from
Philadelphia on the Schuylkill
at place Called Spring Mill in the
State of Pennsylvania - And the said Deponent
hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to be
pension or annuity except the present, and declares
that his name is not on the pension Roll
of the agency of any State. This Deponent further
States that he served an entire year, as a private
Soldier in the Revolutionary war above referred to.
Joseph Norman
Sworn and subscribed to
the day & year aforesaid
Edward King

We Isaac Williams of the City of Philadelphia, Hatter, aged 
fifty four years and John Jones of said City, Exchange
Broker, aged Forty three years
Hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph
Norman who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration, and that we believe him to be about 76
years of age - That he is reputed and believed in
the Neighbourhood in which he lives to be a soldier
of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion -
 We also know Joseph Norman to be a
highly respectable and deserving man.
Isaac Williams 
John L Jones
Sworn & Subscribed the day
 and year aforesaid.
F. A. Raybold
Page 8

And the said Court do hereby declare
their opinion after the investigation of the matter
& after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the
war department that the above named applicant
was a revolutionary soldier & served as he
States & the Court further state that it appears
Isaac Williams & John L. Jones who have
signed the foregoing deposition are residents of the
City of Philadelphia & credible persons and
that their statement is entitled to credit.
Edward King
Arch’d Randall

Philadelphia County ss
I Richard Palmer Prothonotary
of the Court of Common Pleas for the City & County of
Philadelphia Do hereby Certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Joseph Norman
for a pension.
In Witness Whereof I have hereto set my hand and
affix the Seal of the Court 
the thirty first day of May AD. 1834 
R. W. Palmer
Page 9

J L Edwards Esquire
Dr Sir, 
I enclose with this [illegible] shewing that
Joseph Norman a Revolutionary Soldier died on
the 3rd day of August last and that the parties
designated in the certificate of the clerk are his only [representaticves]  Viz his two Daughters. Have
the goodness to send directions to your pension agent [him] to pay them the balance due their father at the time of his death.
Yr obt svnt

C. J.  Jack

Philadelphia
Sept 17 1842
Page 10

31.177
Joseph Norman
Pennsylvania


for 1776 pr yr
$40

Henry Zantzinger
Philadelphia

[following text is crossed out] 
Andrew Armstrong 
Washington, D. C.
Page 11

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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, showing the service of Joseph Norman

Period when the services were rendered. 1776
Duration of the claimant's service. 1 Year
Rank of the claimant. Pr.
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Col Bonner, Col St. Clair
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
45  Pa.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary

Proof of service should be exhibited as required
in note. 

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES 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 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:
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.
Ste, Territor, or Distrit of } ss.
On this
day of
County of
of
A. B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
with and
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.
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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same)
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been 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 13

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 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.
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.
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.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
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, anddays
, 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 abouthree 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
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; 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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
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.
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.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note applies to continental troops only.
(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 14


5833

Rev War
INVALID.
File No. 5833
Joseph Norman
Pri Rev. War
Act: June 7" 1832
Index: -- Vol. M, Page 276
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 15

To the
Hon'ble Lewis Cass Esq.
Secretary at War
Page 16

Phil Sep 1st 1834.
Sir, 
The omissions and deficiencies stated
in your Letter of the 11th ult have been now supplied.
 You will recollect that they were a certificate
by the Alderman to the credibility of the Witness
and also a certificate by the Clerk of a Court to
the office and signature of the Alderman, These
are now furnished and we shall therefore look
 confidently forward to an early and favourable
 determination to this application.
Very Respectfully
Yr. Obedient Servant
Henry Zantzinger-

To the Hon’ble Lewis Cass Esq
Page 17

B 7292
Joseph Norman's application
for increase of pension
2 June 1837
Pension Office
Pa
Page 18

Honorable J. R. [Poinsett]
Secretary of War.
Philadelphia May 29th 1837
Sir

In compliance with the request of Joseph Norman, an aged man,
 who entered into the service, in the early part of the war
the Revolution, in the Company, commanded by Capt Bonner, Col. Allen
and Gen St. Clair. March'd from Philadelphia, in the year 1775. to Canada, on
to Wolf's Cove, five miles this side of Quebec, after some time [illegible insert] were
 sent on to Ticonderoga; after the campaign was at an end; was discharged and sent home. 
In 1834, after becoming very poor, applied and was granted a pension of 40
Dollars year pension Certificate dated 8th of Septem’r 1834. He is now in his 83rd year,
past labour. He therefore solicits an increase of pension, such as in your wisdom may
seem due, for services rendered the cause, that gave Independence to the country. throng
a severe campaign which nearly lost him his life. The small sum of 40. Dollars, is insufficient
to keep him in victuals, & without the help and assistance of some friends, he would
for two years past have suffered. He now prays you would take his poverty into consideration, and grant him such additional pension, as will sustain him the few remaining days, it may please providence, to suffer him to remain amongst men.
in his younger days after being discharged, from the army, he drove wagon or Team
from this city, loaded with Clothing to South Carrolina, 18 miles this side Bacon bridge
for the Army under the command of Genl Green. All which is most respectfully
submitted for your consideration, and he will ever pray &c.
For and in behalf of the said Joseph Norman
Joseph Butler
We the subscribers citizens of the City & County of Philadelphia, being well acquainted with
the above applicant, Joseph Norman, do hereby declare, that he is a sober, honest, upright
man and of good credit. He being very aged and reduced by loss of property, is now very
poor & past labour; we do most Respectfully recommend him to notice. And to this, 
we cheerfully subscribe this 29th day of May 1837.
G Noss
Henry Toland
Frederick Fritz
John Waterman
Henry Horn
Alexander Cook
John S Jones
Adam Dialogue
John Davis
Page 19

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.

3 -- 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C. _____ 19 __

S. F. 1833

In reply to your request of ___, received ___, 
For a statement of the military history of Joseph Norman
A soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
 on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR LENGTH OF APPOINTMENT. - Jany 1776
SERVICE. - 1 year
RANK. - Pvt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. - Rudolph Bonner
COLONEL. - Arthur St. Clair,  Allen
STATE. - Pa.

Battles engaged in, Was in Canadian Expedition
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Abington Penn
Date of application for pension, July 1832 His cl was al.
Residence at date of application, Philadelphia, Penn.
Age at date of application born at Spring Mill near Phila in 1757
Remarks:  died August 3, 1842
There is no data on file as to his family.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Not Inf.
Feb 86

1832 [-] 75 [=] 1757
Page 20

Jacob Martin a Witness examined in behalf
of Joseph Norman (a Petitioner for a Pension under the
laws of the United States) aged seventy seven
years and upwards, being duly sworn said that
he has known Joseph Norman since the 1755 in Abington
 Pennsylvania. That this deponent knew
that the said Joseph enlisted in the year 1776
as I think in the United States service and
proceeded to Canada. This deponent was
in the service of the United States, and entered the
 said service after the said Joseph but in a different company and
Regiment- This deponent has
continued to be acquainted with the said Joseph
Norman from that time to this and has always
understood and believed that the said Joseph
continued in the service for One year-
Deponent is now a pensioner of the United States.
Joseph Norman for upwards of Thirty years has
been a resident of the City of Philadelphia and
was at one time very wealthy but is at present
very much reduced and impoverished.
Jacob Martin
Sworn and subscribed before
me this 1st day of September 1834
A. Pettit  [illegible initials]

I Andrew Pettit Alderman of the City of Philadelphia
 certify that the above Jacob Martin is a resident in 
the County of Philadelphia and that he is a credible
 person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
A. Pettit  [illegible initials]
Page 21

I Richard Palmer Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia
do hereby certify that Andrew Pettit Esq whose
name is subscribed to the within affidavit and
certificate is an Alderman of the City of Philadelphia.
In testimony
whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this first day
of September 1834
R W Palmer
Prothonotary