Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30973, David Criswell, Penn.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Penn.

Criswell, David

NUMBER
S.30973
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CONTENTS

[rest of card blank]
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25388
Kentucky
---------------------------
David Criswell
of Henry Co in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the Com commanded
by Captain McLallen of the -------commanded
by ------------ in the Pennsylvania
line for 8 months
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Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of Janry 1833 and Edmund P. Thomas New Castle
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Arrears to the 4th of Sept   66.67
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March  13.33
$80.00 [double underlined]

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.      }

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book 8.   Vol. 7    Page 30
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N 28.594
David Criswell
Henry Co..
Kentucky.
------------
from 1782 private
8 months
$26.66/100

E. P. Thomas
New Castle
Clk  Kty
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State of Ky.     }
Henry County } ss.

On this 11 day of November 1833 personally appeared before me David Adams, one of the justices of the peace in and for Henry County, David Criswell, aged seventy-two years, who being first duly sworn according to law does on this oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832.

The declarant states that he entered the service of the United States as an Indian spy and served as herein stated (viz);

That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer soldier under Capt. Hugh McLellan of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, for a tour of two months; that he volunteered sometime in the month of September 1780 but on what day of the month he at this time does not recollect.  He marched with Capt. McLellan's company from said county of Cumberland to Bald Eagle Creek in the back part of Pennsylvania in pursuit of some Indians that were committing some depredations on the frontier settlement.  

On arriving at Bald Eagle Creek, he states that the Indians had taken and carried off two of the settlers viz. John Wilson and his son, besides committing many outrages upon the property of the inhabitants.  Capt. McLellan then ordered his men in pursuit of them and our march was directed to an Indian encampment called Chinclacompoose upon the head waters of the Susquehanna River.  

During this fatiguing march in pursuit of the savages he states that he suffered extensively for provisions passing through a once thinly settled country which was then almost entirely abandoned by the whites leaving nothing behind for a soldier to subsist upon arriving at Chinclacompoose.  The Indians
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had dispersed.  He states that after making several attempts to overtake them and being unsuccessful that Capt. McLellan ordered the men back to Cumberland County and on the way back they met Capt. Joseph Brown's
company going on the same expedition.  And after some consultation between the officers, it was agreed that both companies should return.  He states that they returned to Cumberland County and that he having fully and faithfully served out his time was discharged by the said captain sometime in the month of Nov. 1780.  

 The declarant states that sometime about the first of March 1781 that he again entered the service as an Indian spy under Capt. Thomas Alexander as a volunteer for a tour of two months.  He states that Capt. Alexander's company was marched from Cumberland County to the back parts of Pennsylvania with the view of protecting the frontier settlers and driving the Indians more westerly.  He states that they arrived after a tedious march in Nittany Valley on the waters of the Susquehanna where they rendezvoused for a short period, how long he does not distinctly remember, and during their stay in Nittany Valley they were employed in reconnoitering the country scouting and spying in various directions. 

He states that the company was then marched about 20 miles to Pricketts fort to prevent an attack upon that fort.  Thence they marched to Macommacks ^fort and after remaining there a short time.  They were then moved to Anderson's fort thence back to Cumberland County where ^ he was
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discharged by Capt. Thomas Alexander having fully, faithfully and laboriously served out his two month tour. 

He further states that some time in the month of Sept. 1781 that the Indians again recommenced their depredations on the frontier settlers, where Capt. Alexander solicited him to volunteer and head a scouting party.  He states that he volunteered a third time for a two month tour and started upon a third expedition.  

During this expedition he states that they marched in a western direction across Standing Stone Mountain and Tusk Mountain to Pricketts fort spying and pursuing the Indians endeavouring to prevent their depredations on McCormick's fort.  During the abandonment of Capt. Alexander's company the Indians had become troublesome that the fort was evacuated and the persons who had been there [illegible] fort had returned to the outer [illegible] of Pa. for security.  

He states that the length of time for which he volunteered having expired and he being worn down with fatigue travelling across pathass mountains and wandering through a savage wilderness returned with his scouting party to Capt. Alexander when they were discharged by him having served out his two months.  

In the month of Sept.1782 he states that he was again called into the service as a drafted militia man.  He was drafted in the county of Cumberland and commanded by Capt. Richard Coulter.  His time of draft was for two months.  They were then marched from Cumberland County, Pa. in a western direction to the frontier
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settlement on the headwaters of the Susquehanna after crossing Standing Stone Mountain.  He states that they were well above at Fetters Mill on Standing Stone Creek where they were employed in reconnoitering the country and defending the settlers from attacks by the Indians.  Another object for stationing the company at Fetters was to guard and protect the mill as it was the only mill on the frontier to supply both inhabitants and soldiers with bread.

In the month of Nov. 1782 Capt. Coulter and his company returned to Cumberland County, Pa. and having served out his time for which he was drafted, he was discharged by Capt. Coulter in writing.  His written discharge he states that he has lost many years since.  

He states that in the spring of 1873, about the middle of March as well as he now remembers that he again volunteered under his old Capt. Thomas Alexander for the purpose of pursuing some Indians who had broken into the settlements and after committing many depredations upon the property of the settlers.   They went to the house of David Eaton and took his whole family consisting of his wife and five children.  During the pursuit after the Indians, he states that they came across David Eaton's wife and two of his smallest children inhumanely butchered.  The three largest they forced off with such rapidity they were unable to overtake them.

After a tiresome chase after these Indians he states he returned home to Cumberland County (being unable to overtake them.)  

He states that he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no living witness by
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whom he can prove his service. 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Signed:  David Criswell

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11 day of Nov. 1833
Signed:  David Adams 

1 - Where and in what year were you born?
Ans:  I was born in Chester County, Nottinggham Township in 1762

2.  Have you any record of your age?
Ans:  I have as taken from my father's register.

3.  Where were you living when called into the service?
Ans:  In Cumberland County, Pa.

4.  Where have you lived since the Revolution and where do you now live?
Ans:  I have lived in Huntington and Bedford counties in Pa. and in the year of 1790 removed to Ky.  I have lived ^ in Scott county, Ky and I now live in Henry county, Ky.  

5.  How were you called into the service?
Ans:  I volunteered three tours of two months each.  I was drafted once for a tour of two months.  A fourth time I volunteered to pursue some Indians. The length of time I was gone was about one month upon (illegible).

6.  Did you ever receive a discharge and by whom was it given?
Ans:  For the three first tours I received no written discharge.  When I was drafted, I was discharged by Richard Coulter- in writing, which discharge I lost the same year and on my fourth expedition I returned home after pursuing the Indians and received no discharge. 

7.  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served and such Continental and militia regiment as you can recollect.
Ans. These were
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regular officers or troops except Capt. Broadhead's regiment which remained but a short time.  The Indians having displaced Col. Broadhead with his regiments returned to the settlements in Pa. 

8.  All the names of some of your neighbors who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.  
Ans:  I will name Mr. Samuel Jones, a clergyman and Mr. Henson Williams. 

We, Samuel Jones, clergyman and Henson Williams residing in the neighborhood of David Criswell, who has sworn to the above declaration say that we have been acquainted with Mr. Criswell for several years; and that we believe him to be 72 years old; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and a man of veracity and that he endured the same that he has stated in the above declaration and that we concur in the opinion.  
Signed:  Samuel Jones, Henson Williams

Sworn to and subscribed before me this date and year aforesaid.
Signed:  David Adams


Samuel Jones who has been subscribed and sworn to the veracity age and reputation of Mr. Criswell and Henson Williams residing in the neighborhood is a man of good character, granted under my hand this day and year aforesaid.
Signed:  David Adams J.P.

The declarant states that he is of bodily infirmity and advanced age; that he is unable to appear in open court to make his declaration with without naturally injuring his health having been unable to ride on horseback without great pain for some years,
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and of putting the above interrogatories prescribed by the war department to the above named applicant and investigating the matter I am satisfied that he was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states.
Given under my hand this 11 day of Nov. 1833.
Signed:  David Adams J.P. H6

I, Edmund P. Thomas, clerk of the county court of Henry County, do certify that David Adams is a justice of the peace in and for said county and one of the judges of the court for which I am clerk.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office.
Signed:  Edmund P Thomas, Clerk
Nov. 18. 1833
[seal]
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Robert Criswell
Son of
David Criswell


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FFC Triplette [?]
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Know all men by these presents that I Robert Criswell of Henry County Kentucky one of the sons of David Criswell who died in said County in the spring of the year 1841 and who at the time of his death was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States on the Kentucky Agency at the rate of $26.60 or near that amount do hereby appoint  George H Mousanat of Louisville Kentucky my true and lawful attorney with full power of substitution for me and in my name to prosecute against the United States any claim I have to arrears or allowance or increase of pension to which my father became entitled in his lifetime.

Said attorney is authorized to do all necessary Acts and Deeds to carry out the foregoing purposes, and to receive from any Department of the Government or the archives thereof any information or evidence of whatever character he may on this claim.

Said attorney is authorized to receive any character of drafts or evidences or
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amounts due me And I hereby ratify all his lawful deeds in this behalf.

Witness my hand and seal in Henry County Kentucky on this 16th day of March 1833

Robert Criswell [signature] [seal]

Henry County Kentucky } ss.

Be it known that on this 16th day of March 1853 before me Edward Turner a justice of the peace in and for said county personally appeared Robert Criswell the subscriber to the foregoing power of attorney and acknowledged the signing sealing and delivering the same to be his own voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein set forth, and I certify the said Robert Criswell has been well known to me for many years and that he is one of the sons of David Criswell deceased a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States And I certify that I am disinterested. 

In Testimony of which I do hereto subscribe my name - Edward Turner, J.P HC
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Henry County Kentucky} ss.

I Edmd P. Thomas clerk of the County Court for said County do certify that Edward Turner whose genuine
signature appears to the forgoing certificate
was at the date of signing the same
an acting Justice of the Peace in and
or said County duly commissioned and
qualified

In Testimony whereof
I have hereto set my hand
and affixed the seal of sd [said]
Court this 19" day of March
1853
Edmd P. Thomas
By W Montfort DC
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30 973
INVALID.
Revy
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File . 30,973
David Criswell
Priv Rev War
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Act: June 7" 32"
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 87

[Arrangement of 1870.]