Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23958, for William Stephenson, Pennsylvania
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([illegible]-1776)

Service
Continental
Penn.
Stephenson, William
Number
S.23958

Contents
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11.099
Pennsylvania
William Stephenson
of Philadelphia [?] in the State of Pennsylvania
who was a Private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Lusk of the Reg commanded
by Col. Wayne in the Pennsylvania line
for 12 mos 18 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 41 Dollars 98 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of March
1833 and Sent to H. J. G. Watrough-Present

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33 $83.96
Semi-annl. allowance ending 4 Sep 33  20. 99
$104.95 

 Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by A B Thruston Clerk
Book E Vol. 5. Page 52

[vertical-right fold]
March 17, 1836 AW
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12 mo. 18 days

Hon J. G. Watrough
Presant
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State of Pennsylvania County of Philadelphia ss
On this Twenty ninth September AD 1832
personally appeared before the Judges of the District
for the City & County of Phila William Stephenson, a resident
of Kensington District in the County of Phila.
and State of Pennsylvania, aged sixty eight years,
who being first duly sworn according to law,
on his oath, make the following declaration,
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made
by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he enlisted in the army of the United States
in the year one thousand seven hundred eighty
with Captain Lusk, and served in the
Seventh Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line
under the following named officers, to wit -
General Wayne, Major Parr, Capt Lusk,
Sergeants Lucas, Beattie, killed at the capture of
Cornwallis, Sergeant Wm Gray.
The said Stephenson had previously served a tour
under Captain Holdgate & was engaged at the 
battle of Germantown with General Potter’s
Brigade. At the end of two months the Brigade was
discharged. That he was a resident of Germantown
Phila. County State of Penn. when he entered the
service. That during the period of his service, he
was actively engaged in the State of N. Jersey & on
the Hudson. He hereby relinquishes every
claim whatever to a pension or an annuity
except the present, and declared that his
is only on that of the agency in the State of
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Pennsylvania.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and
year aforesaid in open court.
F. H. Hindman Pro Prothy
William Stephenson

And the said court do hereby declare their
opinion that the above named applicant
was a revolutionary Soldier and served as
he states-
I John Lisle Esq Prothy of the District
Court for the City and County of Philadelphia
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said
Court, in the matter of the application of
William Stephenson for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this
twenty ninth day of September A.D. 1832-
John Lisle
Pro Dist Court
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I J. G. Watrough residing in the District of
Spring Garden County of Philad. Certify that
I am acquainted with William Stephenson
who has subscribed & sworn to the annexed declaration.
That I have reason to believe him to be sixty eight
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
I concur in that opinion.
Jno. G. Watrough
Sworn and subscribed 
in open Court Sept 27th 1832
F. W. Hindman
Pro. Prothy
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County of Philadelphia ss
On this Seventeenth of May Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and twenty six personally appeared in open Court before the honorable Edward King President of the Court of Common Pleas, William Stephenson resident in said
County, aged sixty two years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the act of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and the first of May 1820. That he the said William Stephenson enlisted during the
war on the 15th August 1782 in the regiment commanded by Colonel Miling in the State of Pennsylvania on the continental establishment in Capt Zebulon Pike’s Company. That he continued to serve in that corps to the end of the war when he was discharged in the fall of 1783. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension except the present,
and the one he has lately received from the State of Pennsylvania. That his name is not on the roll of any other state except Pennsylvania. And that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension. Namely, that so long as his health continued he was able
by his the labour, being a cordwainer, to maintain his family
decently, but through old age and loss of sight he is not now able
to support himself and family having a wife and one child,
a daughter being about 20th years of age and unless soon relieved 
will have to be relieved by public or private charity. And even
before this time but by the [charity? or limits] of my creditors, having no property [nal?] personal or mixed except what is contained in the following schedule, Namely a brick house, and lot fifteen feet front and fifty back, subject to a mortgage two hundred and fifty dollars, which is full half the value of the property. The value of his furniture does not exceed twenty
five dollars and in pursuance of the act of the first of May
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1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen
of the United States on the 18th March 1818. And that I have
not since that time by gift sale or any other manner
disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent
thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision
of an act of congress entitled an act to provide for certain
persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States
in revolutionary war past [passed] on the 18th March 1818. And
that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any
property or securities, contracts or debts due to me nor have
I any income other than what is contained in the schedule
above mentioned and the pension of $40 per annum as before
mentioned. And the following changes have been made in my
property since the 18th March 1818. Namely, in the year 1820
March 20th purchased a property at Sheriff sale in Miles Town
in the County of Philadelphia for the sum of $1000. for which
he paid $700 cash. John Johnson since deceased having
a Mortgage on the property of three hundred dollars
which then continued on the property. That in April
1827 he exchanged the above mentioned property with
John Bulman for the property he now owns, who paid
the Mortgage on said property and gave the said Stephenson
$225, in payment of his debts and that now at this
present time he own about $500-
William Stephenson {Seal}

Sworn and subscribed before me
Edward King
President of the Court
Common Pleas of Philadelphia
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Description of Property
in Miles Town situated on the New York Turnpike road bounded by said road. & on the east, on the North
by land on the west by the same and on the south by land of John Hinkle.
This property was sold to John Burman
26 March 1823 and received $225 as before stated. And the
property he now owns described as follows:
On that lot or piece of ground situated on the North side
of Lombard street between 12 & 13 Street in the City of Philadelphia, Beginning at the distance of 56 feet from the west side of
said 12 street thence extending westward in front on
said Lombard street 15 feet. And in depth Northward
50 feet to a three feet wide ally into the four feet wide ally on
the west by the grounds of Edward Shipper {bound?] on the south
by the said Lombard street and on the west by a lot of ground
granted to Samuel [Rees].
William Stephenson {seal]
Sworn and subscribed before
Edward King
President of the Court
of Common Pleas
Sworn in open Court the
17 May 1826
Matthew Randall
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Philadelphia Court.
Philadelphia County SS.
I Matthew Randall, Prothonotary of
the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, do certify
that in the opinion of the said Court the value of property
returned by the within applicant is twenty five dollars and
that the foregoing is truly certified from the records of the said court.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set
my hand and affixed the Seal of the said
court, at Philadelphia, the first day of June
Eighteen hundred and twenty six
Matthew Randall

[right margin-vertical]
Wm Stephenson
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February 11, 1936

Mrs. W. H. Tangeman 
215 El Morado Court 
Ontario, California

William Stephenson 
S. 23958 
BA-J/AWF

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to William Stevenson who served in the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment, War of the Revolution.

The record of William Stephenson which follows was obtained from the papers on file in pension claim S. 23958, based upon his service in the Revoolutionary War.

The date and place of birth of this soldier are not given, nor are the names of his parents stated.

While residing in Germantown, Pennsylvania, William Stephenson (as his signature appears in the claim) served two months in Captain Holgate's Company of Pennsylvania troops, and was in the battle of Germantown. He enlisted sometime in the year 1780 and served in Captain Lusk's Company under Major Parron the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment, length of this service not given. He enlisted August 15, 1782, served in Captain Zebulon Pike's Company, Colonenel Miling's Pennsylvania Regiment (this Colonel's name was probably Moylan), and was discharged in the fall of 1783.

William Stephenson was living in 1826 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, then aged sixty-two years; he at this time referred to his wife and to
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a daughter aged twenty years.  He did not give the name of his wife or daughter, nor did he state the age of his wife.

The soldier, William Stephenson, was allowed pension on his application executed, September 29, 1832, then a resident of Kensington District, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  He was also granted a pension by the State of Pennsylvania at the rate of $40.00 per annum.

This soldier died March 17, 1836.

The papers in this claim contain no further reference to the family of William Stephenson.

If you desire information relative to the name and address of the person to whom the last payment of pension was sent, you should apply to the The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and cite the following:

William Stephenson
Certificate #11009
Issued March 15, 1833
Rate $41.96 per annum
To commence March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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23958
Revolution INVALID

File No. 23.958
William Stephenson
Pri. Rev. War

Act June 7 32
Index: - Vol. 2 Page 393
(Arrangement of 1870.)

Feb 11 hist. to [Mrs. W. H. Tangeman Ontario, Calf]
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WILLIAM H. TANGEMAN
215 EL MORADO COURT
ONTARIO CALIFORNIA

U.S. Commissioner of
Washington, D.C.

[circle stamp]
RECEIVED FEB 3 1936
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADMIN
READER #4

In trying to establish
the service of my Revolutionary
ancestor for membership in the Daughters
of Revolution I am referred to your
office.
Can you assist me with
a record of a pension to William
Stevenson, who served in Captain
Miller’s Company, 7th Pennsylvania
in 1780. Family records show he was
pensioned on account of wounds.
Does the pension record give
any other information, such as 
dates of birth, etc. and whether
pension was paid to his wife? Is her
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WILLIAM H. TANGEMAN
215 EL MORADO COURT
ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA
name given?
I should appreciate any
information and be glad to pay
the fee connected with the
service.
Very sincerely,
Mrs. W. H. Tangeman
215 El Morado Court
Ontario, Calf

[circle stamp]
RECEIVED FEB 3 1936
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADMIN
READER #4
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Philadelphia County ss
The 17th May A.D. 1826 personally
appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace
in and for the said County Rachael Nace and on her
solemn affirmation says, that the Mortgage shown me for the said [illegible] for $250. dated 18th March 1825 and given by Wm Stephenson
to the said Rachel Nace on the property situated on the north
side of Lombard Street between 12 & 13 Streets in the City of Philadelphia, beginning at the distance of 56 feet from the west side of the said 12th Street then extending westward in front or breadth on said Lombard 15 feet and in length or depth North of the same breadth
50 feet to a 3 feet wide alley & also on the eastern side thereof by a
four feet wide alley [pending?] into the said 12th Street (being the same property mentioned in his William Stephenson’s petition) is still a lien upon the above described property and that no part of the principal has been paid. Witness her hand and seal in the day and year first above written
Rachel Nace [seal]
Affirmed before me
Jedidiah Strong
Justice of Peace

17th May 1826 Philadelphia County ss
The 17th May 1826 personally appeared before
the subscriber one of the Justice of the peace in and for
said County, John Burman and on his oath
say that he purchased the property in Miles town [insert] of William Stephenson and paid
for the same as follows, Namely, paid to John Johnson, Judgement gave Wm Stephenson the property described in
the Mortgage given by the said Stephenson to Rachel Nace
and two hundred and fifty dollars cash and good
and further says not. Witness his hand and seal
“Wm Stephenson” interlined before signing.
John Burman his mark {seal]

Affirmed before
Jedidiah Strong
Justice of Peace

17th May 1826
Philadelphia County St
The 20th May Anno Domini 1826 
personally appeared before me the subscriber one
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of the Justices of the peace in and
for the said County, William Reyser, and
on his solemn affirmation says that he holds
a note of hand against Wm Stephenson amounting
 with the interest to $88.90 which is now
due and owing to me and further he knows the
said Wm Stephenson was an enlisted soldier in the
Continental Army and that he served nine months
and upwards under one enlistment according to
the best of the said Wm Reyser’s knowledge and
belief. Witness his hand and seal -
William Reyser {seal]
[Aff’d?] and Sub’d before
Jedediah Strong
20th May 1826.

Philadelphia County Ss
George Peters on his solemn oath says
that according to the best of his knowledge and belief Wm
Stephenson served upwards of nine months under one enlistment in the continental war. Witness his hand and seal this 20 May 1826 
George Peters {seal}
Sworn and subscribed
before Jedediah Strong
20th May 1826

Philadelphia County ss
On the 20th May 1826 personally
appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices
of the Peace in and for the said County, John
Smith, and on his Solemn affirmation say that Wm
Stephenson is an honest and industrious man but
is now poor and in distress. Witness my hand
Seal. John Smith {seal}
[Aff’d?] and Sub’d before
Jedediah Strong
20th May 1826
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Philadelphia County ss
The 20th May 1826 personally
appeared before me the Subscriber one of the
Justice of the peace in and for the said County, 
George Wunder, and on his solemn oath says that he has viewed
the property now owned by Wm Stephenson and he considers
the same not to exceed in value five hundred dollars
and that the house is much out of repair he thinks
it would take seventy five dollars to put it decent repair.
Witness his hand and seal. George Wunder {seal}
Sworn and subscribed before
Jedidiah Strong
20th May 1826

I certify that the foregoing affidavits were taken before me
and that they are all respectable people and in good
standing in society. I also understand that Wm Stephenson owes several small debts on doctors bill $15 House rent $60
bin for leather $15.50 &c all which I consider not necessary
to obtain their affidavits, it being attended with considerable
expense, for which he was unable to pay.
 Witness my hand and all this 20th May 1826
 Jedidiah Strong {seal}
N.B. Wm Stephenson belonged to the troop of Light horse

Philadelphia County ss
I Matthew Randall, Prothonotary of the
Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, do certify that
Jedediah Strong, Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavits
were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was
at that time of so doing, and still is a Justice of the Peace
in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Philadelphia on this the first day of June A D 1846
Matthew Randall
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The petition of William Stephenson, now on file
in the war department, set forth that he enlisted
in August 15th 1782 amid hostilities and 
some 7 or 8 months after. Your petitioner would
further state that although there was a cessation of
hostilities yet he was not discharged till November 1783
at Lancaster being retained in the army to guard the
prisoners and give them up to the British. He was in
the company commanded by Cap Zebulon Pike and
you will see that his company and in fact the whole regiment
were discharged about that time at Lancaster.
Hence he served about 15 months from his
enlistment to his discharge.
Witness his hand and seal this 4th March 1830
William Stephenson {seal}

Philadelphia County ss
The 4th March A.D. 1830 personally appeared before
me the subscriber one of the Justice of the peace in and for said county the above named William Stephenson and on his solemn affirmation says that the above statement is just and true according to the best of his recollection.
witness my hand and seal.
Jedediah Strong {seal}
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Mr. Stephenson is now in reduced 
circumstances and so infirm that
he is not able to work for a livelihood,

Jedidiah Strong