Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 16,172, for Gilbert Mc Cracken, Delaware
Page 1

(3 - 1776 )
SERVICE
War of 1812 (Del.)
CONTENTS
McCracken Gilbert or
McCrackman
NUMBER
R.16,172
Page 2

Treas Dept
19 Nov 35
Ref'd to
the Coms'r
of Pensions

Nov 19

M. 80 - Nov 19
Ref'd

[stamp]
PHIL 17 NOV

[Honorable?]
Secretary of the Treasury 
City of Washington
[Dr. of Pensions ?]
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Philadelphia
November 17th 1835

Hon. Levi Woodbury
Secretary of Treasury

[Representative?]

I take the liberty, in humbleness, of forwarding you
A few lines in reference to my father,  Gilbert McCraken,
who served in the Revolutionary War & in
the said war was  stationed in the Fort at Lewis Town,
Delaware, under the command of Col J. B. Davis.
I have to state in the [loading] the [cannon] at that
place, one of [his or the?] Eighteen [?]  exploded & my Father
  was seriously injured in the [Head sons]; the blood
 poured from both of his ears. At the same David
Halls & Greensburg Brown were both severely wounded.
Mr. [Monroe?] was President at the time of the [explosion?]
[?], [Sgt. Halls & Brown both]  wrote to him upon
the subject & sent the [necessary Unicheds?] & he allowed
them their due,  by the act of Congress.
It is recorded on the War Books & all the money paid
 to those individuals Halls & Brown. Halls died in 
1834; Brown is still living. & David [for President]. at
this time [Hon’ble Mr. Woodbury,] my Father, all through the
Revolutionary War, done his duty [ ??? in service of
the war. ???] by Delaware Bay & he saved the U.S.
Frigate at the times. This year on the shoals to the
South of Cape [Henlosen] with a pilot on Board.

He was chased with his boat. When the Frigate ran
aground he went on board by his Judgement [extricated]
the ship in [11 minutes?]  & she was free. When Commodore
Barry had ordered to throw overboard were articles to lighten
the ship that could be dispensed with. Commodore
[?] Llewellyn this to be true & Capt Jones of Phill. who was [?}]
man on board at the time it occurred.
it my duty to my Father by the ties of Nature to
make those representations, as he is of [poverty], professes of
 no income whatever,  & is upwards of eighty years old
Page 4

You are perfectly acquainted as to duty of [men or nations] by the
Requisitions of heaven, as you are the Father of Children.
So I shall have the Certificate of Col B Davis & all
other proofs necessary in the case their has [there have] been a number
of Gentlemen at Washington pledge to attend to this but never
fulfilled their promises.
Dear Sir, 
You know it is his due by the Laws of Congress,
I therefore solicit your kind aid in my behalf,
[?] places that [welcomes] on your Friendship.
If you will reply to my requisition it will save me
the trouble of comming [coming] to Washington [& how is]
 shall act by your advice in his case. 
Mr. Woodbury [Lafyett] has relived [relieved] my father in distress
from British prison by the Donation of
Five Guinea on the road between N. York
  and Philadelphia.
 [Those] consideration[s], if sufficient for his
[demands] & in his old ages so wounded in
the late War.
Pardon all imperfections in the within stated.
Your Reflections no doubt will do Justice
the within in all particulars.
Hoping this will find
you in health.
I Sign
Your Dutifull Friend
George [A or H] McCrackem

To Hon [?] Levi Woodbury
Secretary of the
Treasury
City Washington
D’st of Columbia

[?] an immediate Reply
will confer a favor to his [remarks]
Page 5

Referred to War Dept which 
has charge of such subjects
& so inform him,
 N.
Page 6

16172
 April 24. 1816

Gilbert McCracken
Delaware
REJECTED
[crossed out-  twice - 1580]
Page 7

Gilbert McCracken
Will the Third Auditor
be so good as to give the
necessary certificate in
this case?
War Dept
Pension Office
March 5, 1835
J L Edwards
See letter to Dr H. F. Hall, April
27. 1835. To H.F. McCracken, 19th
Nov. 1835 - To. the same, Aug. 23. 1838
Page 8

It is hereby certified that Gilbert McCrackman, a private
in a company of Volunteer Malitia, called [Seal Fencibles], in
the service of the United States commanded by William Marshall,
under Col W. N. Irwin,  32nd Reg’t U.S. Infantry,  is rendered 
 incapable of supporting himself by reason of injuries inflicted while
he was actually in the service aforesaid and in the line of his
duty. By satisfactory evidence and accurate examination it appears
that on the twenty seventh day of November Eighteen hundred
and fourteen being engaged in proving powder by command of Col


W. N. Irwin,  32nd Reg’t U.S. Infantry, at Fort Lewis, State of Delaware.
 He received a contusion on his cranium by the bursting of a cannon,
which caused the blood to flow profusely from his mouth and ears attended
with great [invisibility], which lasted some time. before that time he was
in perfect health, but since then he has continued to complain of his
 head, often saying and declaring that there must be some pieces of the
Cannon lodged in his head, although from any examination I have
made I cannot discover any  - but from the whole history of the case,
his present infirm state of health, complaining constantly of his
 head,  scarcely able to walk from his chimney corner,. It is the opinion
of the undersigned, that he is totally disabled from obtaining his
subsistence from manual labour.
H. F. Hall
Surgeon

State of Delaware
Sussex County SS Be it known that before me one of the Justices
of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Henry F
Hall Doctor of Medicine and made oath in due form of Law
that the above certificate is true and duly acknowledged, 
the signature annexed to be his
[Lewis] Feby 24 1835
An’  Thompson JP
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Dr. Hall was formerly a surgeons mate
or assistant Surgeon in the Army, and
is at this time, and has been for several 
years past, in the service of the United 
States as surgeon at the Delaware
Breakwater
[W. H.] John
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It is hereby certified that Gilbert McCracken, a private in a
Volunteer militia Company in the service of the U. States (called
Seal Fencibles) stationed at the fort at Lewis Delaware was 
wounded by the bursting of a cannon while proving powder by command
of Conl W N Irwin 32 Regt U.S. Inft’y  on the twenty seventh
day of November Eighteen hundred and fourteen, and the same
wounds arose while in the service of the United States and in the
line of his duty. He was last paid by Captain Phillips
of the U.S. Army paymaster at Philadelphia whilst under my
command.
Wm Marshall Lieut Command’r

State of Delaware
Sussex County
Be it Known that before me
one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County
personally appeared William Marshall and
made oath in due form of Law that the foregoing certificate
Is true and signed the same

Lewis Feby 24 1835
An’ Thompson J.P.

State of Delaware
Sussex County ss
I George R. Fisher, Prothonotary of the Superior Court of the
State of Delaware, for Sussex County, do hereby certify that the
above written Andrew Thompson Esqr. was at the above date
a lawful and an acting Justice of the Peace in and for Sussex
County aforesaid, duly commissioned, qualified and accredited
and by the laws of the said is duly authorised to take and
certify acknowledgements, affidavits &c. and that the
signature thereto purporting to be his is his usual signature, and I believe
it to be in his own proper hand writing. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal of my office, at Georgetown, the 26th day of
February, Anno Domini 1835
George R. Fisher. Pro.
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To Lt. J. F. Lane U. S. Army
Washington City
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Lewis. Del. Feby 17. 1835

To Sec’y F. Lane
Dear Sir

The long delay in transacting this
business has been caused by absence of William Marshall
and the confirmation of the Clerk of Sussex County.
I took [measures] immediately on receipt of your
communications, and sought out all the evidence I could find
in the case. I am satisfied of the facts as stated and also in
conversation with my mother and unto Rodney & Thompson.
I am certain he was confined in the Jersey prison ship at N. Y.
The Idea of that confinement is enough to convince my mind
that was action in the Revolution, for it was the test of [Participation], 
but this has nothing to do immediately with the case, as he cannot obtain
a pension from that service. but I think it ought to strengthen the
claim for last War. I hope you will succeed for certainly he is very
 needy and very infirm this winter.

We have had any [remainder] and at this time old boreas is
bellowing in a snow storm, and pay Master Winton and men in the
health, but I can [???? ] of the Court this winter have suffered
 plenty.  Mr. White has been sick all winter and others have been much
afflicted. I took a look at your establishment today. I think I shall
have to get them a load of wood and maybe some trifle more. I made
mentions of instructions, my very best [wishes] to General [Jepsen].  
and now for Co-op’n keeping, I [??] all that is major in this case,
and that you will kindly attend to duty.
I remain yours,
Respectfully, 
H. F. Hale
Page 13

free

Lewis, D.
Aug 11th

Hon. J.L. Edwards
War Dept
Pension Office
City Washington

Augt 6
[Mab?]
Gilbert McCracken
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Cape Henlopen
Light House
August 29th 1838

Mr. J. L. Edwards
War Dept Pension Office
City of Washington

Respected Sir
Permit me once more the condescension or Liberty of forwarding a
Reply to a communication of yours,  Sir,  dated 19th of November
Eighteen hundred & thirty five of respect of a Letter addressed in
[support] of my father Gilbert McCracken who was wounded in the
Last War.  Mr Edwards, I have had many reflections of a very serious
Nature upon this subject, although I have laid dormant. Consider
[ ] My duty by the ties of Parental affection to seek for what is
right due to my Father, who is old & infirm & who was in
Revolutionary war, as well as the last war, for his [precarious]
Situation demands his right by the Acts of Congress.
Mr. Edwards, I Solicit this may be taken into consideration
Immediately, as the law and Principle justify the same [ & ]
I [need] a letter with yours a Copy of Letter addressed
To Doctor [F Cauley T Hall] of Lewis Delaware,  in which
 is Stated according to the Muster Roll. Mr Edwards he was
reported disabled. Sir,  Permit me to state that
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Doctor White who was attached to the Garrison at the
time was very Neglectful in proper representation of those
who were unfortunately wounded. I was standing beside
the Eighteen [  ] when she exploded. i was very much shocked.
I saw the sufferings of my Father & David Hall & Greensburg
Brown, Wm Edwards & his father who was ever deaf untill his
Death.
Sir I wrote to Mr. Monroe & stated the particulars. he by the 
Act of Congress Justifyed the Claim David Halls & Brown,
Both [term] theirs. If Bravery after a man is Severley injured
and has the marks to prove in his Body & hundreds to
Prove it,  the Words wounded inserted in the act of
Congress is Synonomous & without utility. Mr. Edwards in going
 through the details of our heroes in the Revolution [their or there]. 
Was Capt Biddle who when he was wounded on board of the
[Epo Lise] & thirty of the West Indies in Engaging an English Sixty Four?
He would not leave his ship’s deck, he was placed in an arm
Chair & encouraged his men at their quarters. For such men
who are seriously injured [is] to be disannulled for bravery
the word wound will become [pucclanimous].

Sir I  Shall collect the evidence that was in the
Garrison according to the due form of Law.
With the Seal of the State & Governor’s Signature
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Mr. Edwards Sir
An immediate reply will confer a peculiar
favor.
Hoping this will find you well.
I Subscribe Yours

Respectfully
Pry [inty C. F.M. Grant?]

-
To
J. L. Edwards Esq
War Deptment
Washington


P.S.
J. L. Edwards Sir

I hope you will
endeavor to assist an old Revolutionary Veteran. Now [Existing of none] duly entitled by the rights of his Country.

[?] the reason this was not [attend too tan] Earley, the Doctor,
& they promised but never performed
[C. F.M. Grant?]
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Treasury Department
[said] Auditors Office
March 19th 1835

It appears from the Rolls of Capt
Marshall's Company of Delaware Volunteers
from the 11th October 1814 to the 13 March
1815, that Gilbert McCracking a private
entered the service the 12 September
1814 for 12 months and is mustered present without remark.
The above embraces the period
in which he is stated to have been wounded
but the Rolls afford no evidence of the
fact.

Peter Hagner Aud

Pension Office
War Department