Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22273, William Griffith, Penn.
Page 1

[notecard] 
[upper left]
SERVICE
Penn.
[center]
Griffith, William
[upper right]
NUMBER
S.22273
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22.691.
Pennsylvania
--------------------------
Wm. Griffith
Bedford Co. in the State of Penna.
who was a private in the Co. commanded
by Captain Roberts of the Regt - commanded
by Col. Smith on the Penna
line for 6 months. ------------------------
---------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 20  Dollars 00 cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
--------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the sixth day of Dec. -
1833 and sent to Post Master
A Licking Creek. Bedford Co. Penna.
-----------------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833 ~  50. -
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34 ~ 10. -
$60.00 [double underlined]

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

Recorded by Wm R. Palmer Clerk,
Book E    Vol. five    Page 21.
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Order to pay D Decd 1837
Letter to Johnson & Tingley - Same
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state where the prisoner was taken off our land; was understood they would be forwarded onto Virginia other companys [sic] forwarded on prisoners at the same time to the same place; each by companys [sic] from Taneytown was marched back same route and when the term was expired was discharged return home to Bucks County, again entered the service drafted militia for two months Captn. Thomas commanded marched to Newtown and had to wait there for orders to go to the State of Jersey when our term expired was Discharged & returned home this Tour of Duty was in 1778 in the fall of the year. That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to 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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Wm. Griffith [signature]
before --- me John F. Davis J. P.

I do hereby certify that William Griffith the applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend the Court that his answers to the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department was put to him and are satisfactory & embodied in Declaration examined before me

John F. Davis J. P. [signature]

Mr. George Dansdill and John Noble both of Dublin Township County & State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Griffith who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration, that we believe him to be 74 years and 10 months of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to be a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

George Dansdill [signature]
John Noble [signature]

Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me}
John F. Davis J. P. [signature]

And the said Justice do hereby declare his opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above ^ named applicant was a soldier of the revolution and served as he states.  And the Justice further certifies that it appears to him that George Dansdill and John Noble is [sic] residents in the Township of Dublin Bedford County and is [sic] credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

John F. Davis J. P. [signature]
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We Moses Starr a clergyman resident in Belfort Township Bedford County and John Noble resident of Dublin Township County & State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Griffith who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be 75 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [sic] where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concurr [sic] in that opinion.
Moses Starr [signature]
John Noble [signature]

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me.
Jno Dickey [signature]
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State of Pennsylvania and }
County of Bedford            } Ss

On this 26th day of August 1833, personally appeared before John F. Davis a Justice of the Peace of Bedford County [page fold prohibits transcription of a word] William Griffith a resident of Dublin Township in the County of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania aged 74 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 was born in Bucks County in the State of Pennsylvania where he resided during the Revolutionary War, came to reside in Dublin Township in Bedford County State of Pennsylvania in the year 1800 where he has resided ever since.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.

Entered the service in August or Sept. 1776 to volunteer, assembled at Elicots [Elliott's] Tavern under Captn Wm Roberts the company in uniform armed of rifles & Tomahawk & scalping knife marched under our Captn to Trenton thence to Princeton thence to Brunswick thence to Amboy stationed there under command of Coln George Smith Major Hines some of the army lay in the barracks our company lay in the town a part of the time an alarm rose that the Brittish [sic] was crossing the river at the blasing starr was ordered to arms & marched in the  night some miles; being a false alarm ordered back to camp, the Flucks (Flux) was in our company one died there & some after they reached home, our time expired having served two months, was discharged at Amboy and returned home to Bucks County; again entered the service in December 1777 drafted militia for two months assembled at the river Daleware [sic] under Captain Wm Walker near the ferry where prisoners escaped, our company was engaged in guarding prisoners through Pennsylvania (said to be sent to Virginia) was in Lancaster Town on Christmas day the people of the vicinity flocked to see the German prisoners conversed with them & [illegible] some of them; thence marched through York Town, McKalisters (McAllisters) town, Peter Littles town & thence to Tawneytown [Taneytown] in Maryland
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Benjamin Griffith was born Nov. 22nd 1754
Jane Griffith was born February 8th 1756
William Griffith was born October 16th 1758
John Griffith was born July 20th 1760
Elizabeth Griffith was born August 31st 1765
Able Griffith was born August 21st 1767
Joseph Griffith was born July 9th 1769

A true coppy [sic] taken of the church book
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22.691

26,770
William Griffith

Adm 6 Months
$20

Postmaster
Licking Creek
Bedford Co.
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office

October 22, 1833

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 show what is necessary to be done.  These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (these: }).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling [sic] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
-----------------------------------------------
A Statement, showing the Service of
-----------------------------------------------
[First column]
Period when the service was rendered.
Aug. or Sept. 1776
Dec. 1777
1778
[second column]
Duration of claimant's service
2 months
2 months
2 months
[third column]
Rank of the Claimant.
Priv.
 "
"
[fourth column]
Names and  rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Col. Smith
Major Hines
[fifth column]
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
74
Bucks Co.
Penn.
[sixth column]
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary evidence
----------------------------------------------
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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:
1. 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.

State, Territory, or District of
County of }ss.
On this day of personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of in the country of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the 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. [hand with finger pointing to the right] 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.
I 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
and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day 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
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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 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 the 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.

[a] 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.
[b] 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.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] 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 laid. 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 mention 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."
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 about the 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] 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.
[j] In 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 [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] 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:
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Revolution [written sideways  in upper left-hand corner of page]

22 273
INVALID
-------------------
File No. 22,273
William Griffith
Pri Rev War
------------------
Act: June 7th 32 "

Index:--Vol. 2   , Page 160

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Bucks Co. to Bedford Co. 1800  Born 38
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State of Pennsylvania
Bedford County Ss
I, Job Mann Prothonotary (or Clerk) of the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Bedford in the State of Penna do hereby Certify that John F Davis Esq. before whom the foregoing and within proceedings appear to have been had and taken and whose name is subscribed to the same was at the time of the date thereof and now is a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Bedford duly Commissioned and qualified by legal authority and acting as such - And that the Signature John F Davis hereto is genuine.
[seal affixed]

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Bedford the 29th day of August A.D. 1833 eighteen hundred and thirty three.
[signed] Job Mann, Prothy  
               
On this 15th day of November 1833, personally appeared before John Dickey a Judge of the County of Bedford County William Griffith a resident of Dublin Township in the County of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania aged 75 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration that he was born A.D. 1758 That all the statements and Traditionary evidence exhibited in the Declaration made before John F. Davis a Justice of the peace dated the 24th day of  August 1833 to which this additional evidence and examination is subjoined thereto are Just and true and further saith that for the time during which the service was performed he was not employed in any civil pursuit, in all six months for such service 
[signed] William Griffith
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid. before me
[signed] Jno Dickey

1st Interogatore [sic]    And I was born in Bucks County State of Pennsylvania AD 1758
2nd " " I have and herewith forwarded - 
3rd " - " in Bucks County resided there during R. War I now live in 
4th " - " First 2 months volunteer, the other two tours of 2 mo each drafted
5th " - " Coln Smith Major Hines two last tours none recollected served under Captn Wm Walker & Captn Thomas
6th" - " I cannot recollect that I recd any certificate
7th " - " John Noble John F. Davis Esq James Sexton P.M.
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And the said Judge do hereby declare his opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department (the answers at length are all written and sent with the Declaration) that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier ,and served as he states.  And the judge further certifies that the above applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend the court - 
And also further certifies that it appears to him that Moses Starr who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in Belfort Township Bedford County and that John Noble who has also signed the same is a credible person is resident of Dublin Township & County of Bedford and that their statements is[sic] entitled to credit.

Jno Dickey [signature

[written at left-hand side of page sideways]
Postmaster of
Licking Creek
Bedford Co. Pa.
[written at right-hand margin of page sideways]
26.770
William Griffith
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Pennsylvania
Bedford County Ss

I, Job Mann Prothonotary (or clerk) of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Bedford in the State of Pennsylvania; do certify that the Honble John Dickey before whom the foregoing Depositions appear to have been taken, on the annexed papers, and by whom the foregoing Certificate appears to have been made, was on the day of the date thereof and now is an associate Judge in and for the Said County of Bedford, duly commissioned and qualified by legal authority and acting as such - and that the signatures "Jno Dickey" thereto are genuine. - 

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court at Bedford the 23d day of November A.D. 1833
[seal affixed]
[signed] Job Mann Prothy.
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There to certify
That we the undernamed Subscribers are well acquainted with William Griffith who is now an applicant to obtain a Pension that we believe him to be 44 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [sic] where he resides to have been a soldier in the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
August 20th 1839
[names signed below]
George Dansdill
John Noble
Jacob Ambrose
John F Davis
John Davis
Joseph B Noble
Nehamiah Grayson
James Austin
Vincent Stephens
John Cooks
John F Davis
John Chestnut
Wm Chesney
William Noble
John Hieght
John Forcourte
Ludwick Betz
John Nierr
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Philad [raised a] Nov. 29: 1837.

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Comr. of Pensions
Washington City.

De [Dear] Sir

We beg to enclose to you Certificate of Pension due Wm Griffith, the same having run beyond one year without presentation for payment; in such case we are informed by the Girard Bank it requires a special order from you to the Bank before payment can be had.  Please to favor us with the requisite order & return this document as early as convenient.
Obliging
Yr. Obt. Svts.

Johnson & Tingley