Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16059, John Brenton, Penn. Va.
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Penn. Va.
Brenton, John S.16059
carded
See N. C. Acc. No. 874
050022 Not Half Pay
John Brenton
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Indiana 3308
John Brenton
of Clark in the State of Indiana who was a Private in the compy. commanded by Captain Swearingen of the Regt. commanded by Clark in the Penn & Va line for 7 months from 1778
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of Dec '32 and sent to Hon. John Carr. House of Reps.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832          34.99
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4      11.67
   March 1833                             ---------
                                                 $46.66
{Revolutionary Claim
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Nathan Rice -- Clerk
Book D Vol. 9 Page 179.
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
State of Indiana}
Clark County} On this 23 day of October in the year 1832, personally appeared in open Court before John F Ross [illegible] Judge of the Circuit Court of Clark County in the State aforesaid, and John Carr and Samuel Prather his associates now sitting John Brenton a resident of said County of Clark and State aforesaid aged seventy 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 in Monagahala County in the State of Pennsylvania under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He entered the service in as a substitute for John Baldwin in the year 1778 under the command of General McIntosh at Pittsburgh in the state of Pennsylvania and marched from that placed through the [illegible]
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County herein called the State of Ohio to a place called [illegible] where he assisted in erecting a fort. His Captain's name was Andrew Swearingin his [illegible, possibly "Colonel's"] name was Smith, and his Ensign's name was Alexander. From this place he was marched back to Fort McIntosh on the Ohio River where he was regularly discharged after having served four months. That he again entered the service of the United States under General George Rogers Clark as an [illegible] in the year 1782 at Baywit's Station in the state of Virginia, now Kentucky, and from this place he was marched with the army to the mouth of Licking. When the army crossed the Ohio River and marched to the Shawnee town on the Miami River where they had a skirmish with the Indians. His Colonel's name was Benjamin Logon, his captain's name was Samuel Kirkham, the major's name not recollected. After the skirmish with the Indians he was marched back with the army to the Ohio River and there discharged after serving a tour of one month. He again entered the service of the United States as a drafted militia man in the year 1781 under Colo. Benjamin Logan and Captain Joseph Kinkaid and served one month in assisting in the erection of a fort at the Falls of Ohio
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and was there [two illegible words]. He again entered the service of the United States in the year 1781 as volunteer and served one month under the command of Lieutenant McCulloch in guarding [illegible] Linsey and [illegible] in the army then commanded by General George Rogers Clark at the Falls of Ohio and was then discharged. That he never received any written discharge. That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no persons whose testimony he can prove who can testify to his service excerpt Robert Brenton. That he came to Kentucky and resided in that State from the year 1779 until the year 1819 when he removed to Clark County in the State of Indiana where he's resided ever since. 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. John Brenton
Mordicai Cole a clergyman residing in the County of Clark and William Brenton residing in the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted John Brenton who has subscribed and
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sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age; that he is [illegible] and believed in the neighborhood 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. Mordecai Cole William Brenton
Henry Harrod Clk
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 Mordecai Cole who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said County of Clark, and that William Brenton who has also signed the same is a resident of the said County of Clark and a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Henry Harrod Clerk of the Circuit Court of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Brenton for a Pension his Testimony whereof I have herein to with my hand & that of office this 23rd day of October 1832
Attest Henry Harrod Clerk
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John Brenton's pension application
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And the said Robert Brenton in open Court makes oath that he served with the said John Brenton, in the war of the Revolution at the said several times mentioned in his declaration and he verily believes that the said declaration is true as stated in relation to the serving of the said John Brenton in the war of the Revolution. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court October 23rd 1832 Robert Brenton
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Power of Attorney
Heins of John Brenton, Revolutionary
Triplett
F F C Triplett
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Know all Men by these Presents, that we Ursula West and Mary McCleeray, sole surviving heirs of John Brenton, deceased, who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, on the Rolls of the Indiana agency, at the rate of twenty-three dollars and thirty three cents per annum, and who died in Clark County in the State of Indiana on the 21st day of March A. D. 1847, leaving no widow, she having died before him 
do hereby constitute and appoint George H. Monsarrat, our true and lawful Attorney, for us and in our name to prosecute against the Government of the United States, before any Department thereof, any and all claim or claims we have to arrears of pay or Pension money, under any Act or Acts, Resolution or Resolutions, of the Congress of the United States, and especially the Acts 4th July 1836, 7th July 1838, 3rd March 1843, 17th June 1844, 2nd February 1848, and 29th July 1848 -- as well as the more ancient Acts of 18th March 1818, 15th May 1828, and 7th June 1832. 
Said Attorney is moreover authorised [authorized] in our name to demand at any Department of the said Government, a reconsideration of any decision hitherto or hereafter to be given, touching our interests, and to obtain from any Department or the archives thereof, any and all information or evidence of whatever character relating to or in anywise bearing upon the claim or claims we hereby seek the investigation of.
Said Attorney is moreover authorised [authorized] to do any and all things necessary to carry out the foregoing purposes, and to receive the Certificates of Pension or other character of drafts or evidences of the amounts due us and to appoint one or more Sub-Attorneys, and to confer upon him or them all the powers therein conferred upon the said G H Monsarrat hereby ratifying and confirming all that our said Attorney may do by virtue of these presents.
Witness our hand and seal this 11th day of April 1853
Witnesses John T. Dyarnatt
Edmond B. West
Ursula [her mark] West
Mary [her mark] McCleeray

State of Indiana Clark County, sec....
Be it known, that on the 11th day of April 1853, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Ursula West, and Mary McCleeray subscribers to the foregoing Power of Attorney, and acknowledging the signing, sealing and delivering the same to be their own voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein set forth.
In Testimony whereof, I do hereunto subscribe my name, John T. Dyarnatt
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October 27,1936
RA-J/EEL
John Brenton S.16059
Robert Brenton S.16062
Miss Lydia Campbell
403 East Market Street
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John and Robert Brenton, who served in the Pennsylvania Militia, and were pensioned in 1832, while residing in Clark County, Indiana.
The records of those soldiers are furnished you herein.
John Brenton
S.16059
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.16059, based upon the military service in that war of John Brenton.
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of John Brenton are not shown.
While residing in "Monongahala County, Pennsylvania," John Brenton enlisted in 1776, served in Captain Andrew Swearingen's Company, [text inserted in right margin: Found this man as Capt in Perm Archives] marched to Pittsburgh, and went on General McIntosh's expedition to what was later the state of Ohio, assisted in building a fort at [blurred & illegible, starts with "T"], after which he marched to Fort McIntosh on the Ohio River, and was discharged, having served four months in 1779, he moved to Kentucky, and in 1781, served two months at the Falls of the Ohio, one month under Captain John Kincaid and Colonel Benjamin Logan and assisted in building a fort at the falls, and the other month under Lieutenant McCulloch and acted as a guard to Joseph Linsey, commissary for the army under General George Rogers Clark he enlisted in 1782, at Bryant's Station, served in Captain Samuel [name blurred thus illegible] [inserted text: could not find this capt.] Company, Colonel General Benjamin Logan's Regiment and went on an expedition to the Shawnee towns in Ohio under General George Rogers Clark and was in a skirmish with the Indians.
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After the Revolution, John Brenton resided in Kentucky, county not named, until 1819, when he moved to Clark County, Indiana.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 23, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy years and resided in Clark County, Indiana.
He died March 21, 1847, in said Clark County. He left no widow, his wife having previously died. There are no further data in regard to her.
In 1863, Ursula West and Mary McCleery made affidavit in Clark County, Indiana, that they were the sole surviving heirs of the soldier, John Brenton, but did not state their relationship. In same year, the name Edmond B. West appears no relationship to Ursula West was stated.
One William Brenton was a resident of Clark County, Indiana, in 1832, and same year, one Robert Brenton stated that he served in the Revolution with John Brenton no relationship of either to the soldier, John Brenton, was shown.

Robert Brenton
S.16062
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.16062, based upon the military service of Robert Brenton in that war.
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Robert Brenton are not shown.
Robert Brenton entered the service in 177?, as a substitute for Henry Brenton (no relationship was stated) "who was drafted in Monogahala through the state of Pennsylvania, served in Captain Swearingen's Company under Colonel's William Crawford and Brodhead, went on [name illegible] expedition to this [illegible] the Indiana and served four months; in 18?? he moved to Kentucky, served one month under Captain Peter Sturgus and Colonel George Rogers Clark, went on one expedition to Piqua, Ohio, and was in the battle at the [illegible] with the Indians. In 178? he served one month under Captain John [illegible] and guarded McAfee's
                -2- [page number]
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Fort; in 1782, he served one month under Captain Samuel Kirkham and General George Rogers Clark.
In 1806, Robert Brenton moved to Clark County, Indiana, where he was residing when he was allowed pension on his application executed October 23, 1832, then aged seventy-four years.
It is not stated that soldier was ever married.
In 1832, soldier's brother, John Brenton, made affidavit in Clark County, Indiana, and in same year, the same William Brenton appears no relationship of William to Robert and John was shown.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Robert Brenton (S.16062), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Robert Brenton, Certificate No. 3601, issued December 28, 1832, rate $23.33 per annum, commenced March 4, 1832, Act of June 7, 1832, Indiana Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. Miller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
 [page] 3
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for 1778 private
[illegible]
$23.33/100

Hon. J. Carr
H. R. [House of Representatives] 23.33
                                                    11.66
                                                   _______                           
                                                    34.99
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Brenton 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? --
IV. Has the declarant 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 entitled? 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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[page]  2
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 neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? --
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? has a witness
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? yes. 
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes.
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? yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1,2,6
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."
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[page] 3

It is important in all cases 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 XIV. 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 claimants 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.

QUERE XVI. Mod 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 paper 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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[text on left side of document:]
16059
INVALID.
File No. 16059
John Brenton
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7"32
Index:--Vol. 1, Page 437
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[text on right side:]
1936 - Oct 27 - Hist to Mrs. Lydia Campbell EL
193? Sept 23 -- Hist to Forrest C [illegible]
Page 19

Sept. 2, 1939
Los Angeles, Cal.
Veterans Administration
Wash. D. C.
Mr. A. D. Hiller, Executive Assistant
Dear Sir:
Thank you very much for the information contained in your letter of Aug. 28, 1939 regarding Richard Blalock. I have followed your suggestion about writing the Commissioner of Land and to the Dept. of Pensions for further data about the land he received as a bounty for service in 1812.
My father's maternal ancestor Brenton about whom you need more data was living in Ky. in 1786 when his daughter Ann was married. It may have been Lincoln, Fayette or Mercer Co. Garrard Co. was formed from portions of those three counties in 1794. There is a tradition in the family that he was major Brenton and that he had a large family. He lived near a place known as "Blue Lick." I have no further
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data concerning him. I do not know what his first name was -- it may have been John.
Thanking you for your great kindness in assisting me to weave an accurate story of my ancestor. I am 
Respectfully
Forrest Blalock
3528 Fernwood
L. A. Cal.
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[letterhead:] Lydia Campbell 403 East Market Street Jeffersonville, Indiana
October 31, 1936
[written in "Answered Oct 27/36]
Veterans Administration
Washington, D. C.
Attention of A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Gentlemen:
BA-J/EEL
John Brenton - S.16059
Robert Brenton - S.16062
I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of October 27, under the above reference, and to thank you for the information given me from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claims S-16059 and 16062.
Yours very truly,
Lydia Campbell
Registrar, Ann Rogers Clark Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
[stamped:] Received Nov 2 1936 Mail Sub-Div Vets Ad, 35. Reader
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[letterhead:] L C
Jeffersonville, Indiana
September 12, 1936
Veterans Administration
Washington, D. C.
[Stamped:] Received Sep 14 1936 Mail Sub-Div.
Vets. Adm Reader 37
Gentlemen:
As registrar of our local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, I am anxious to obtain the record of the Revolutionary services of John Brenton and Robert Brenton both of whom served in Pennsylvania Militia and were pensioned in 1832 while living in Clark County, Indiana.
If you can send this information to me, it will be very greatly appreciated.
Thanking you,
Yours very truly
[signature] Lydia Campbell
Registrar, Ann Rogers Clark Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution

Address: Miss Lydia Campbell
403 East Market Street
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Page 23

September 23, 1939
BA-J/AWF
John Brenton-S.16059
Robert Brenton-S.16062
Mr. Forrest Blalook
3528 Fernwood
Los Angeles, California
Dear Sir"
Reference is made to your letter in which you state that your father's surname whose name was "Brenton," lived about 1786, in Kentucky, and that probably his given name was John.
The Revolutionary War records of John and Robert Brenton are furnished you herein. It is hoped these records will be of interest to you.
John Brenton--S.16059
The data which follow in regard to John Brenton were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 16059, based upon his military service in the Revolutionary War.
The date and place of birth of John Brenton and names of his parents are not given.
While residing in "Monongahala County, Pennsylvania," John Brenton enlisted sometime in 1778, served in Captain Andrew Swearingen's company, marched to Pittsburgh, and went on General McIntosh's Expedition to what was later the State of Ohio, assisted in building a fort at Tuscarawas, after which he marched to Fort McIntosh on the Ohio River, and was discharged, having served four months. He moved to Kentucky, in 17789, served two
[written on bottom of document: "See his letter in John Brenton S.16059"]
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[page] 2-
months at the Falls of Ohio, one month under Captain Joseph Kincaid and Colonel Benjamin Logan and assisted in building a fort at the falls, and the other month under Lieutenant McCulloch and acted as guard to Joseph Linsey, commissary for the army under General George Rogers Clark. He enlisted sometime in 1782, at Bryant's Station, served in Captain Camuel Kirkham's Company, Colonel Benjamin Logan's regiment, and went on an expedition to the Shawnee town in Ohio, under General George Rogers Clark and was in a skirmish with the Indians.
John Brenton continued to reside in Kentucky (county not named) until sometime in 1829, when he moved to Clark County, Indiana.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 23, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy years and living in Clark County, Indiana.
He died in said Clark County, March 21, 1847. He left no widow, his wife died previous to his death.  There are no further data in regard to her.
In 1853, Ursula West and Mary McCleery made affidavit in Clark County, Indiana, that they were the sole surviving heirs of the soldier, John Brenton, but did not state their relationship. In the same year, the name Edmond B. West is shown; no relationship to Ursula West was stated.
William Brenton was a resident of Clark County, Indiana, in 1832, and in same year, Robert Brenton stated that he served in the Revolution with John Brenton; their relationship to John Brenton was not stated.
The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible family data.
In order to obtain the name and address of the person, who received the last payment of this pension, you should apply to the Comptroller
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[page] 3-

General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this City, and furnish the following data:
John Brenton
Certificate #3308
Issued December 18, 1832
Rate $23.33 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Indiana Agency.
*******************
Robert Brenton-S.16062
The data which follow concerning Robert Brenton were obtained from papers on file in pension claim S.16062, based upon his military service in the War of the Revolution.
The date and place of birth of Robert Brenton, and names of his parents are not shown.
Robert Brenton entered the service sometime in 1778, as a substitute for Henry Brenton (no relationship stated) "who was drafted in Monogahela County, in the State of Pennsylvania," served in Captain Swearingen's company, under Colonel William Crawford and Colonel Brodhead, went on General McIntosh's Expedition to Ohio against the Indians and served four months. Robert Brenton moved to Kentucky sometime in 1778, and served one month under Captain Peter Sturgis and Colonel George Rogers Clark, went on an expedition to Piqua, Ohio, and was in the battle at that place with the Indians. He served one month in 1781, under Captain John Dougherty and guarded McAfee's Fort, He served in 1782, one month under Captain Samuel Kirkham and General George Rogers Clark.
Robert Brenton moved sometime in 1805 to Clark County
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[page] 4-
County, Indiana.
The soldier, Robert Brenton, was allowed pension on his application executed October 23, 1832, then aged seventy-four years, and living in Clark County, Indiana.
It was not stated that this soldier was ever married.
John Brenton, brother of Robert Brenton, made affidavit in 1832, in Clark County, Indiana, and in same year, the name William Brenton is shown; it was not stated that William Brenton was related to Robert and John Brenton.
The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should inquire of the same address as given herein, and furnish the following data:
Robert Brenton
Certificate #3601
Issued December 23, 1832
Rate $23.33 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Indiana Agency.