Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2684, for William Kent, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3--1776)
SERVICE
Penn.
Kent, William

Number
S.2684
carded
=============================
CONTENTS
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Paid at the Treasury under 
the Act of the C. April 1838 from 4 Sept 1838 to the 4 March 1839. Agt. notified 20 Dec. 1839
Ohio.     6181
William Kent
of Ross in the State of Ohio
who was a pr. in the Compy- commanded 
by Captain Bruce of the _____commanded
by_________in the Pena.
line for 6 months from 1781-
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio--
at the rate of 20- Dollars--Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Feby: 1833 and sent Hon. Wm. 
Creighton. H Rep.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1832. 30-
Semi-anl. allowance ending Mar 33 10-
$ 40-
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nathan Rice-Clerk
Book D Vol. 10- Page 38-
Page 3

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832--
State of Ohio Ross County SS- On this 13th day of October 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, now sitting, William Kent a resident of Paint Township, in the county of Ross, in the state of Ohio aged sixty nine 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 Captain Bruce in a Company of Volunteer Militia Commanded by General George R. Clark, about the first of June 1781, at which time he resided in Washington County, Pennsylvania and proceeded to McKay's Island, on the Ohio River below Pittsburg, where he joined the army and proceeded down the River to Louisville in Kentucky, where he remained in the said service till about the part of Dec of the same year, when he was discharged and was again drafted the next spring about March for one month to finish a fort at Louisville; at the expiration of which service, he served again one month at said Fort and finishing it, as a substitute for a man, he thinks by the name of Isaac Keller, in which several terms of service in the said army under General Clark, he was frequently, in skirmishes with the Indians, when a number of Indians were killed, but was not in any general Battle- from information obtained by his Indenture of apprentice ship to a Weaver's Trade he was born in the State of Maryland on the 3rd day of October 1763, from whence he removed to Pennsylvania then to Ross County, Ohio where he has resided more than thirty years. That he has no documentary evidence of any of said services, being sick when discharged, he did not receive his discharge until after his return home, where his master (by whose consent he had Volunteered) procured it for him, but he has no knowledge what became of it, but his recollection fails him in relating the line to which he belonged, and many other particulars-he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension
Page 4

or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State-
William Kent
Oct 13th 1832
Humphrey Fullerton Clerk

State of Ohio
Ross County, SS

We, James Gastich a clergyman of Paintow Township Ross County Ohio and William Rutledge of Chillicothe and George Yockem of Twin township in said County, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Kent who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be a man of truth and that he is sixty nine years of age or thereabouts that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides and has resided for the last thirty years to have been a soldier of the revolution as stated in his declaration and that we entirely concur in that opinion.
James Gaskill
Wm. Rutledge
George Yookem
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court Oct 13 1832
Humphrey Fullerton
Page 5

In the matter of William Kent for a pension the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogation 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 James Gaskill who signed the proceeding certification is a clergyman resident in Paxton Township in Ross County and that William Rutledge of Chillicothe & George Yoakum resident in Twin Township in said county are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

The State of Ohio
Ross County SS.
I Humphrey Fullerton Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that the aforegoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Kent for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th day of December 1832 & of this State the 31st.
Humphrey Fullerton Clerk
Page 6

OWN
In reply to your request of__, received_ for a statement of the military history of William Kent a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (crossed out "or his widow's") application for pension on file in this bureau. S 2,684  
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. June 1 1781 to last of Dec. 1781   LENGTH OF SERVICE.   RANK. Private  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Bruce   General George Rogers Clark STATE. Penn
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  Mch 1782  LENGTH OF SERVICE.  2 mos.   RANK.   OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  “completing Fort Louisville  STATE. 
Battles engaged in, none 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Washington Co., Penn. 
Date of application for pension, Oct. 13, 1832. His claim was allowed. 
Residence at date of application, Paint Township, Ross Co., Ohio. 
Age at date of application, born Oct. 3, 1763 in Maryland. 
Remarks: There is no family data on file. (Date of death not known.) 
Respectfully, Commissioner. 
6-285G
Page 7

Rev. War Section

April 22, 1918.

Mr. James T. Kent,
P. O. Box 309,
Danville, Ille.

Sir:
In reply to your letter of the 15" instant, you are advised that there is no provision of law that would entitle the grandchildren or other heirs of a pensioner of the Revolution to any arrears of his pension.

Very respectfully,
G. M. Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

Statute of hantution
see Act, Mar 2, 1895
Page 8

June 1, 1781
7 mos.

Prv.  Capt. Bruce- Pa

Gen Geo. R. Clarke--

Born Oct 3, 1763 in Md.
Death not stated

Miss Marfield
Chillicothe
Oh.

letter dated Feb. 6}
"           recd Feb. 8} 1910

in John Hutt S. F. 17507
Page 9

Rev Sec

Danville, Ill. April 24" 1918.

Hon. GAYLORD M. SALTZGABER,
Washington, D. C.
No answer required to this- 
See Bureau letter Apr. 24-
No verification in orig. claim of statement as
to children made in this letter

Hon. Sir:-
You now have claim of the heirs of WILLIAM KENT, Revolutionary War pensioner, and with a view of furnishing some additional records in the case I beg leave to furnish the following:-

WILLIAM KENT, son of Absalom and Nancy, was born in Hagerstown (Old town) Maryland, Oct. 3"1763.

Enlisted June 1" 1781 as Private under Capt. BRUCE, Gen. GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE. 
Re-enlisted March 1782 for two months to assist in completing a Fort at Louisville, Kentucky.

Applied for pension Oct. 13" 1832. Pension granted Cert. No. 6,181 issued June 7" 1832 at $20. per year.
Last paid at Columbus, Ohio agency, September 4" 1848, Act of June 7" 1832.

Died March 24" 1849 at Bainbridge, Ross Co., Ohio.

He was the father of 17 children, of whom six was born in Washington Co., Pa. and eleven in Ross Co. Ohio.-was burried at Bainbridge, Ohio.

With the hope the above will assist you in any additional records you may see fit to make, I remain,

Very respectfully,
James T. Kent

From
James T. Kent,
Danville, Ill.
P. O. Box 309.

stamped U. S. PENSION OFFICE D Apr 27 1918
Page 10

oval rubber stamp

RECEIVED
APR 16 1918
PENSION SECTION
Page 11

In pencil- Rev Sec
unreadable initials

Rectangle stamp
OFFICE AUDITOR (2 words unreadable)
APR 16 1918
DATE RECEIVED 

Auditor for the Interior Department, } Danville, Ill. April 15" 1918.
Washington, D. C.

Hon. Sir:-
Your favor of 22" inst, at hand. From this it appears that at the time of WILLIAM KENT'S death, which occurred on March 24" 1849, there was six month,s and twenty one day.s pension due him, viz: from Sept. 4" 1848 to March 24" 1849.
So far as I am able to ascertain all of his ("grandchildren" crossed out and "Sons" written in pencil over top) are dead. If his grand-children tht are now living are entitled to inherit whatever money due him at the time of his death (March 24"1849) would be pleased to have you send me whatever blanks necessary in the case and inform me how to proceed to collect and distribute the money among the heirs. I have the COMPLETE FAMILY RECORD OF WILLIAM KENT'S FAMILY.
Very respectfully,
James T. Kent

Case of 
WILLIAM KENT,

War of the Revolution,
Certificate No. 6181.

From

JAMES T. KENT,
P. O. Box 309,
Danville, Ill.
___________
Card to writer
____________

Round rubber stamps
PENSION
M
U.S. 
APR 
20
1918
OFFICE

PENSION 
U. S. 
date unreadable
1918
OFFICE
Page 12

single rubber stamp
PENSION
U. S.
O
MAR
5
1918
OFFICE
Page 13

in pncil 
Rev Sec 
EAC 
2

Danville, Ill. March 2" 1918

Hon. COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C. 

Hon. Sir:-
Sons and Daughters of the "AMERICAN REVOLUTION" are very anxious to obtain the complete Military service of my Grand father, WILLIAM KENT, and are willing to pay any one of your clerks who may have the leisure to look the record up. The memoranda I have reads as follows:- "WILLIAM KENT-Volunteered about June 1" 1781 in a Co. of volunteer militia under Capt. BREEN and General George R. Clark. Discharged about the last of December, 1781. Drafted about March for one month to finish a fort at Louisville, Ky. When term expired, served again for one month as a substitute for ISAAC KELLER under Gen. CLARK. Frequently in skirmishes with indians. Resided at the date of application for pension in Paint township, Kansas Co. Ohio. Resided at date of enlistment in Washington Co. Penn.
Applied for a Pension Oct. 13" 1832.
WILLIAM KENT. Died March 24" 1849.
Plese favor me in this matter if possible.
Very respectfully,
James T. Kent

From
JAMES T. KENT,
Box 309, Danville, Ill.
Page 14

round rubber stamp

PENSION
U. S.
OFFICE
O
MAR
11
1928
Page 15

REVOLUTIONARY WAR SECTION

I.S. C.
S. File 2,684
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

HON. COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,

Washington, D. C. 

Hon. Sir:-
Record of the military service of my grandfather, WILLIAM KENT, received this morning.
You state that he filed an application for  pension Oct. 13"1832, which was allowed. (Several words crosses out) Will you please state at what rate? and whether paid to him direct or to his heirs?

Very respectfully,
James T. Kent

From
JAMES T. KENT,
Danville, Ill. 
P. O.Box 309.
Page 16

Rev. Sec.
K. T. G.
1-
Hillsboro, O. Sep- 6-  1916

To The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir.

Will you kindly send me a copy of the Pension record of William Kent,- a revolutionary soldier. Served in Pennsylvania Militia- and was placed on pension roll Feb 25-1833. Ross. County, Ohio. He died March 24th, 1849, aged 85 yrs. and is buried in cemetery in Bainbridge, Ross Co., O.

Yours truly.

Mrs. P. B. Zink
232 Vine St.

(round rubber stamp)
PENSION
U. S. 
D
SEP
8
1916
OFFICE
Page 17

Form letter with written text added

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller's Office
December 11, 1839

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Kent, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio Agency, at the rate of twenty Dollars and --- Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the fourth of September 1838 to the 4th of March 1839

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 18

Two sided document

left side

Rev War
2684
INVALID
File No. 2684
Wm. Kent
Pri Pa line

Act: June 7, '32

Index;-- Vol. A, Page 201

[Arrangement of 1870.]

right side

1910 Feb. 18. Hist. to Miss Marfield
from catalogue ¢
1916 Sept. 21. Hist. to Mrs. P. B. Zink ¢
1918 Mch. 6. "   "  James T. Kent ¢
1918 Mch 12, James T. Kent ref to Auditor. ¢
1918 Apr. 22 James T. Kent advised heirs 
no title to arrears. AW.
Page 19

Wm Kent



Hon W Creighton
Page 20

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Wm Kent which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? line through answer area

IV. Has the declarent mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes

V. *Has he mentioned 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 entitles? Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under  the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate. Yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  Yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhoodrelative to his revolutionary service? Yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has nit been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? Line drawn through answer area

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Yes

XIV.†If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Line drawn through answer area
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office. Line drawn through answer area

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service.? Line drawn through answer area

XVI. ∑ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No Yes crossed throgh

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
_____________________________________

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

*Quere V. 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 and _____ days. I served as a _____. For ____ months and _____ days, I served as a ___ ___; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 22

                 3

It is important in all cses to determine with precision the period for which the 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" is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

†QUERE XVI. "Proof of Service"
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of th Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the laimants entering the dervice, 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 witness, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper pfficer, under his seal of office.

∑QUERE XVI. "Mode of authenticating papers."
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.
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Folded letter with writing in several directions

J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Pension Office
War Dept.

Wm Kent

Adm

6. months from
1781-- $20
_______________

Hon. W. Creighton
______________
______________
Page 24

Sir.         Washington July 18th 1833

The papers of William Kent which you returned to me with others a few days since are now enclosed.
My only objection ststed is that the papers are not authenticated as the regulations direct, that is, the certificate is not attached by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon to the sheet that contains the affidavit.
I have been acquainted with Mr. William Kent for upwards of Thirty years, his papers were prepared under my direction and the affidavit signed by William Gashill, William Rutledge and George Yookem is in my hand writing- I presented the papers to the Court, and attended to the testimony pertaining and left them with the Clerk Humphrey Fullerton Esq. to make the requested certificate. He forwarded the papers to me at this place. I vouch for the correctness of this transaction and those that the pension certificate will issue in this case.

Very Respectfully.
Your Obt. Serv.
W. Creighton

J. L. Edwards Esq.