Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2916, James Armstrong, Penn.
Page 1

Service
Penn.

Armstrong, James

Number S.2916

Carded
Page 2

(3-1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
Penn.  Armstrong, James  S.2916

Carded
CONTENTS

------ Update below---
Ohio 1797
James Armstrong
of (illegible) in the State of Ohio
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Robsinson of the (Regiment?) commanded by Col. Jamison in the (Pess?)
.. for seven months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 23. Dollars 33. Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of April. 1833. and sent to 
G.H.R. Livan (?). Columbia. O.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1833.                46.66
Semi-anl allowance ending 4. (?)               11.66
                                             1833           $ 58.32
Page 3

Declaration

In order to obtain a pension under the act of Congress
Passed June 7 1832
The State of Ohio Franklin County On this 25th day of September in the year 1832 personally appearing in open court before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Franklin State of Ohio now sitting James Armstrong a resident of Franklinton township in the county of Franklin State of Ohio aged seventy one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress  passed June 7 1832
He was born at Springfield in Bucks County in the state of Pennsylvania in July 1761
Has a record of his age as above taken about two years ago from the family record of his father, in Penelton County Virginia. Was living in Springfield township Bucks County Pennsylvania when fist went into the service as a volunteer in the last of June or middle of July 1776 in Pennsylvania for three months under following officers Capt John Jamison Leut Enoch Morgan Ensign John McCanimon - Col Robinson - Dont reccollect the number of the Regiment to which he belonged. Marched from Bucks County through Trenton and Princeton J New Brunswick to Amboy when we stayed about two months in August and thereabouts 1776. The British were on the opposite side of the river. From Amboy on the day the battle of Long Island was fought we went to Newark and there stationed until time was out Rec'd no written discharge. Capt John Jameson then received a commission to raise a flying camp company for six months in which Declarant enlisted at Newark a few days after discharged. Served about one month and then obtained leave of absence and during his absence
Page 4

was informed that the whole company was taken at Fort Washington in consequence of which Declarant did not return to service under said enlistment.
  In the summer of 1778 at Springfield township in Bucks County in the state of Pennsylvania Declarant volunteered in the militia for three months under the following officers Capt Wagoner pronounced by the dutch Wigner Col [Joseph?] Savage Sen.t Abrm Keithline. Marched from Springfield to Trenton where stationed during the terms of service. The militia in which Declarant was called out were called out to guard the coast [ illegible ] after the battle of Monmouth. The Berks County militia and Philadelphia artilary also lay at Trenton and the Bucks County Militia lay between them. Moved from Springfield to Loudon County Virginia New Middleburg in 1783 and from thence to Franklinton in Franklin township Franklin County Ohio in August 1831 and still resides in the same township -- Never had a written discharge. 
He hereby relinquishes all claim whatever to a pension or amnesty except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state -
He has no documentary Evidence and knows of no person who can testify to his service
    Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid - 
   James Armstrong
Page 5

13438.7.797
James Armstrong
Adm for 7 months
from 1776  2.3.33

G. & J. R. Swan
Columbus
Ohio
Page 6

[BLANK PAGE]
Page 7

BRIEF in the case of James Armstrong of Franklin township County of Franklin in the State Ohio
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. Duration of Service. Rank.
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Years, Months, Days.  As a   Gen.

Volunteer'd last of June or middle of July In 1776 -- 3 --  private } Col. Robinson Capt John Jamison } Penn. troop

a few days after his discharge from above service enlisted  -- 1 -- "  Capt John Jamison's Flying Camp

Volunteered summer 1778 -- 3 -- "  } Col. Savage Capt John Wagoner} Pa troop,

5. In what battles was he engaged?
not any
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Springfield township, Bucks Co. Penna
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Chas G Wilcox Examining Clerk.
23.d Feby 1833
Page 8

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF/eel

June 11, 1929

Robert Armstrong
1836 East 5th Street
Long Beach, California

Sir:
June 11, 1929
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.2916, it appears that James Armstrong was born in July, 1761, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
While residing there, he enlisted and served with the Pennsylvania Troops as follows:
From in June or July, 1776, four months in Captain John Jamison's Company, Colonel Robinson's Regiment; in the summer of 1778, three months in Captain Wagoner's
Company, Colonel Savage's Regiment.
In 1783, he moved to Loudoun County, Virginia, and then to Franklin Township, Franklin County, Ohio, where he was living when he was allowed pension on his application executed September 25, 1832.

He stated that his father -- he did not, his name not given, at one time lived in Pendleton County, Virginia.
There are no further data as to family.
Respectfully,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
Page 9

2916
INVALID.
RevWar

File No. 2916.
James Armstrong
Pri', Pa. Line
Act: June 7 1832
Index: ---Vol. A, Page 10
[Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 10

1929 - June 11 -  Hist to Robert Armstrong
see letter in Joshua Armstrong
XV. 23461 aug
Page 11

The undersigned residing in Franklin township
Franklin County Ohio hereby certifies that he
has been acquainted with James Armstrong about one year  That said Armstrong was often at affiants store in Franklinton and well remembers that during the last winter said Armstrong who hath subscribed and sworn to the within declaration mentioned to him in conversation the to facts in substance set forth in the within declaration. Affiant believes that said Armstrong is seventy years of age. That
said Armstrong has sustained during the acquaintance of affiant the character of a moral and civil man and that affiant verily believes that said Armstrong has been a soldier of the revolution and served as he states. 
Sworn and subscribed the day and
year aforesaid
Jacob Grubb

[Illegible ] 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 state
and the court further certifies that Jacob Grubb who signed the above certificate is a resident of Franklinton in the township of Franklin in Ohio County of Franklin
and they certify from their own personal knowledge of said Jacob Grubb that he is of unblemished character a worthy member of the Methodist Church has for several years been a justice of the peace of Franklin
County and that the most implicit confidence can
Page 12

be placed in his statement. And it appears to them that there is no clergyman residing in the neighbourhood of said applicant-

I Abram I McDowell Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said Franklin County do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Armstrong for a pension --
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 25th day of September AD 1832.

A, McDowell
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of 
James Armstrong 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
Page 14

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? No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? Yes

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? Yes

XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
 If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
 Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

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?

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?  5th

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.
Page 15

3

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 three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state 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 shewn 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.

+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. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.