Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12645, John Curtis, Penn.
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[notecard]
[upper left]
SERVICE
Penn.
[center] Curtis, John
[upper right]
NUMBER
S.12645

carded
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[left-hand side]

23.967
Wheeling Virginia
______________________________
John Curtis
of Ohio in the State of Va.
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Garner of the Regt. commanded
by Col Erwin in the Penna
line for 9 months
reduced from $80.
___________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Wheeling
at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
__________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of May
1838 and sent A Woods Wheeling Va.
_________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept  31.66
[double line]

{Revolutionary Claim }
{Act June 7, 1832       }
Recorded by [illegible letters] Addison Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 6/2 Page 7

[right hand side of page]

Subt to Pen.
Agent May 10 1838
Letter to 3 auditors in June 1838
______________________________
Paid at the Treasury under 
the Act of the C April 1838
from 4th March 1836 to the
4 Sept. 1837 - Agent notified
13 June 1838
_______________________________
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State of Virginia} SS
County of Ohio }

On this 22nd day of April in the year of our Lord 1834 personally appeared before the County Court for the County aforesaid, John Curtis, a resident of the Town of West Liberty in the County of Ohio in the State of Virginia, aged Eighty One 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 1837; that he enlisted in the army of the United States, on the 5th day of May 1776, for the term of five years with Captain John Garner, (William Helms being at the time his recruiting Sergeant) and served in the Seventh Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, under the following named officers:  James Jack and William Moore, Lieutenants of the company, John Garner, Captain of the same [blank space] Boell (the first name not remembered) Major of the regiment for about three months after he joined the army, but being taken sick, resigned, and was succeeded by Major Bartholomew , -John Gibbins was Colonel of the same regiment. General Erwin commanded that division, though for nearly all the time General George Washington had the innumerate command upon Garner & Erwin's being taken prisoner at the Battle of White Marsh on Pheasant Hill, he was succeeded by [crossed out word] Colonel Boell, at that time promoted to the rank of General.
He resided at the time of his enlistment about eighteen miles from the Town of Old Lan
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caster in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and about two miles and a half from a Tavern called "The Square and Compass." He served [illegible] for Captain Gardner's company.  Rather more than three months after his enlistment the company marched to Smithfield, within about 10 miles of the City of Philadelphia, where they joined the regiment and remained there somewhat more than three months, after which they marched towards Reading and took up a position within about five miles of that [crossed out word] town, in a little village the name of which he does not now remember.  In this last position or the neighborhood they remained for about six months, and then descended the Schulykill as far as Sweets Ford, and then crossed over to Hicking Bridge which was at that time the Head Quarters of that division of the Army.  At Hicking Bridge they remained until the Battle of Chestnut Hill about the last of October in the year 1777 - in which engagement he was wounded by a ball immediately above the right knee. He had been in no engagement of importance except that of Chestnut Hill, although he was in several skirmishes. It was in the Battle of Chestnut Hill that General Erwin was wounded and taken prisoner, and died about three months after in the City of Philadelphia at that time in possession of the British. He was born in the year 1753 in the lower part of Lancaster county in the State of Pennsylvania.  He enlisted voluntarily and served until two or three months after the Battle of Chestnut Hill, when he was discharged in consequences wound before mentioned.  He had no other discharge than the
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certificate of Doctors Scott & Buchanan who were the surgeons of the regiment which certificate has been since lost by accident.  He remained for a short time after his discharge at an Uncle's in the lower part of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He then [crossed out word] remained to Sharpsburgh in [crossed out word] Washington County in the State of Maryland, where he resided until about the year 1806, when he removed to Fayette County in the State of Pennsylvania and remained there until about three years since when he removed to his present residence at West Liberty in the County of Ohio & State of Virginia. He has no documentary evidence of his service as above narrated, nor does he know of any individual who can testify from his own personal knowledge of the truth that he has stated above.

He served as a private [underlined] for the space of one year and seven months --from the 5th of May 1776 until New Year 1778 where he was discharged as before mentioned in consequence of his wound.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares he does not require any annuity or pension and or any law of the United States providing for revolutionary officers and soldiers.
John Curtis [signature]
Sworn to and subscribed   }
this day and year aforesaid}
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he has stated - and that, Alexander Hile, Joseph Hood and Jesse Wheat, deponents in the annexed depositions taken before George Dulty [carrot inserted] and Richard Simmons [ nearly illegible] two of Justices of this court, are credible witnesses and that their statements are entitled to credit and further that John Good whose deposition is also annexed, taken before Isaac Leffler - one of the justices of this court, is a credible witness and that his statements are entitled to credit --
I, John McColloch, Clerk of the County Court for Ohio County & State of Virginia, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Curtis for a pension and I do further certify that George Dulty, Richard Simmons & Isaac Leffler Esquire Gentlemen [crossed out words] before whom the annexed affidavits were taken are now and were at the time of taking the same, Justices of the Peace in and for the said county duly commissioned and qualified according to Law,.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 22nd day of April 1804.
John McColloch [giant seal and stamped impression]
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Adm 2 years
$800.___

Hon E. C Wilson
House of Reps.
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accord [raised g] [according] to his own
[illegible] he served
only 17months
and this was doubtful
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.

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 shew[sic] what is
necessary to be done.  Those points to which
your attention is more particularly directed, 
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }).  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, shewing[sic] the Service of
===========================
[tabs]
Period when the service w
as rendered. |
Duration of the claimant's service. | Years. | 
   Months. | Days |
Rank of the claimant. |
Names and rank of the Field officers under 
   whom he served. |
Age at present, and place of abode when he 
   entered the service. |
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
_______________________________________________
[following information is handwritten]
From 5th May 1776 to 1 Jany 1778 |
1 | 7 | [blank] | Private | 
John Garner CapE 
  James Jack &
  Wm. Moore Lieuts - 
  Boell and Bartholomew Majors.
  John Gibbins Col.
  Erwin & Washington Generals |
[illegible] Lawncaster - | age 84 | 
His declaration -affidavit be

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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     2
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 turn 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[sic] 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.

[the following section is highlighted by { } 
          DECLARATION,
   In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of 
    Congress of the 7th of June 1832.

State, Territory, of District of Couty of} ss

    On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A.B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory of District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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, padded June 7th, 1832.  that he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] 9e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers: [blank]

[ the use of [ ] below are part of this document]
    {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 erm 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.  [[right pointing finger]] this form is to be varied sa as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
[Here ended the use of [ ] in this part of this document]

   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 [blank]
   Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.

[the use of [ ] below are part of this document]
      [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.}
[Here ended the use of [ ] in this part of this document]

   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 [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] 
for a pension. 
  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] & c.
[Here ended the use of {} in this part of this document]

   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 Virgina, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
   (k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration;  that we believe him to be [blank] 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 days 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. and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
     I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
   In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &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 of 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 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 had.  Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grad3es 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 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."
  It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which said 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 
[italics used] about three 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 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 authenticated 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 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 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 for [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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[left margin] Rev War 
12.645
INVALID.
___________
File No. 12, 645
John Curtis 
Priv Rev War
_______________
Act: __________
Index: - Vol. , Page
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 13

The sum [illegible] on the original certificate, to be deducted 
HH

Archibald Wood
Per Agent
Wheeling 
W [west] V [raised a] [Virginia]
Page 14

Virginia 23 907
John Curtis
of Ohio Co in the State of Va
who was a Pr in the company commanded by Captain Garner of the Regt commanded by Cl[colonel]  Erwin in the Penn [raised a] line of Militia

QY Pr $80.00
Reduce 1 d [day] 19 mth [months] $83.33
Inscribed on the roll of Virginia at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents [crossed out] per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of May and sent to 
1831 Hon  C E Wilson Prth [prothonotary]
Arrears to the 4th of [illegible] 240.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 September 40.00
$280.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by JT Sprague Clerk
Book C Vol. 6 1/2 Page 7


See letter to JS Whist Oct 14 1834
See let [letter] J Mc Culloch Aug 14 1831
Suspended
The Hon W. S. Morgen 28 Mar 16
Copies of the paper sent to 
Hn W.S. Morgan HR
Apl 19 1836
Letter to Wheeling WV
Feb 24 1837.
Per Agent March 14 1838
Page 15

To what time was John Curtis last paid?
He was pensioned under act June 7, at $80. 
V [raised a] [Virginia] roll
posted  4 March 1834
 JH
Page 16

Pension Agency
NW Bank of Virginia
December 7 1837

Dear Sir
Accompanying this letter, please receive two other addended to me by Major Good & James S Whent Esq in relation to the case of Jno [John] Curtis
From Mr Curtis' own representation and from the general opinion of those acquainted with him I am convinced that he served in the Army of the Revolution and think that he is justly entitled to a pension He was formerly on the roll of the Richmond Agency. But at the time of Mr Singleton's investigation of the vouchers of Pensioners in this District, his name was stricken from the roll.
Mr Curtis is very old and imbecile; and in consequence of the almost entire failure of his memory, may have made some contradictory or unsatisfactory Statements to Mr Singleton; If such was the case, due allowance should be made for his very advanced age and the failure of his mind. He is, as is represented in the accompanying note of Mr Whent, in very necessitous circumstances.
over
Page 17

and upon the whole it would be not only an Act of Justice but of Charity to replace his name on the roll - 
The statements of Major Good and Mr Wheat may be relied upon as correct. The former is one of our oldest citizens, and both are gentlemen of the highest respectability.
I am very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
[signed] Arche C Woods
Pension Agent

J L Edwards,Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 18

Col. Wood,
Dear Sir; 
Accompanying this note you have another from Major Wood in relation to the pension of John Curtis, which has been suspended by vote of the Court of Pensions. You may remember my formerly requests a letter from you to the Commissioner giving your opinion as to Curtis's right to a pension you thought you could do so, if you had seen a letter as I have here left, upon which to found your opinion.
M. Curtis & his wife, both very aged & infirm are now in necessitous circumstances, and the renewal of this pension would secure the few remaining years from penury and want. From the best information I have been able to obtain I am satisfied that he is justly entitled to the pension that was granted and I am inclined to believe that such a letter from you to the Commissioner as I have mentioned above will secure the restitution of this pension. You may therefore have it in your power to relieve the wants of an aged & suffering soldier of his country-
Yours very respectfully
James S. Whent
Dec. 20, 1831
Page 19

Col. Archibald Wood
Pension Agent
Wheeling Va
Page 20


To Col. Archibald Wood Pension Agent
Sir,
Whilst I resided in Sharpsburg Washington County, Maryland, Mr. John Curtis came there to live, having just left the Army.  This was during the Revolutionary War. That he had served in the Army as he represented, was the general opinion and belief of the people in that place and neighbourhood, and I never heard the fact doubted by anyone at that time.  From the report and general belief of every one at that time as to the fact of John Curtis having served in the Army as he represented, I am of the opinion that he ought to receive a pension.
Very respectfully yours etc
John Good

Cascade farm
November 15: 1837
Page 21

Jh [raised o] [John] Curtis
Apl. [April] 15
Va
Copies of letters

James L. Edwards Esq
Pension Office

W. H. Morgan HR
Page 22

House of Reps.  April 14, 1836

Sir:

In bringing before the committee certain Revolutionary pension claims, I hope you will not think that I distrust or in any way whatever censure your decisions.  I do not [underlined].  I have the utmost confidence in them, and in my reports to the House I have in nearly every instance been governed by them.

But my constituents require this of me in some few instances &  I of course, must give their claims all attention.  I therefore must again ask a favour of you.  It is to have prepared & send me copies of the pension papers of John Curtis of Ohio Co. Va. as soon as convenient.

I am, Sir
Most respectfully
WM. L. Morgan

J. L. Edwards, Esq.}
Page 23

John Willson
affidavit
of service

[illegible] of Curtis
Page 24

State of Maryland Washington County} SS

On the 7th day of August 1809 personally appeared John Willson before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that in the year 1794 he the said John Willson in company with John Curtis called upon Captain John Gardner and he heard in a conversation between them that Captain John Gardner express his regret for the said John Curtis being wounded at Chestnut Hill and the said John Curtis was then a soldier in his company and one of the best he had and further this deponent saith not.

Sworn before
John Good
Page 25

Treasury Department,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,

June 7-1838
Sir,
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," John Curtis a Pensioner on the Roll of the Wheeling, Va. Agency, at the rate of sixty three Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1834 to the 4th of September 1837

Respectfully, yours,
Albion K Parris
Comptroller

TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
Page 26


Payments to be made at Richmond Va by Prost. U.S. [illegible]

Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Va.

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book C Vol. 6 1/2 Page 7 by
J T Sprague Clerk.
Page 27

WAR DEPARTMENT.

REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, John Curtis of the State of Virginia who was a  Private during the Revolutionary War is entitled to receive Eighty dollars and---cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semiannually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States this 
7th day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four
Lewis Cass
Secretary of War

Examined and Countersigned.}
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 28

Virginia Ohio County to wit:} SS
Personally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county  aforesaid, Jesse Wheat and being solemnly sworn, made oath and said-that he has known John Curtis, declarant in the annexed [crossed out word] declaration for the twenty years last past and from the ultimate acquaintance he has had with him he believes that said Curtis to be a man worthy of all credit being a man of truth and veracity. That he has always understood  and from many circumstances is  convinced and believed  that said Curtis was a revolutionary soldier and served in the manner said Curtis has stated in his declaration hereto annexed: further he saith not. And I hereby certify that to Jesse  Wheat the deponent is a man worthy of belief as a credible witness from my knowledge of him and his reputation and amongst his fellow citizens-
Jesse Wheat
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 22nd day of April 1834} 
Richd Simons JP
Page 29

Virginia
Ohio County to wit} SS

Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, Joseph Wood, and being solemnly sworn deposes and said that he has been acquainted with the said John Curtis, declarant in the annexed declaration, for the last twenty eight years, and that from many circumstances, together with the conceded belief of all who know the said Curtis [crossed out word] & the said deponent is convinced and believes that said Curtis was a revolutionary soldier and has served as he has set forth in his declaration.  That this deponent has known the said Curtis intimately during the service mentioned above, and that he esteems him the said Curtis to be a man of prolity and worthy of full faith and confidance [misspelled] in every thing that he has stated & further this deponent saith not.
And I hereby certify that from my knowledge of Joseph Wood I believe him to be a man of truth and prolity & well deserving of all confidence.
Sworn & subscribed to}
before me this 22n day}      Joseph Wood
of April 1834                }
Rich [Richard] [last name illegible]
Page 30

Virginia
Ohio County to wit} SS

Personally appeared before me the subscribed [crossed out words] a Justice of the Peace in [carrot] & for [end of carrot] the county aforesaid, John Wood and being solemnly sworn, made oath and said: --
That during the Revolutionary War (the precise year not remembered) this deponent resided at Sharpsburgh, Washington County and State of Maryland, and that at the time he became acquainted with John Curtis, the declarant in the declaration hereto annexed, and that the  said Curtis was said just from the army and it was generally believed and spoken of that he had served as a soldier, and that he and the deponent had resided in the same towns for many years--and the deponent believes that the said Curtis had seen comes from the Army as had been represented --
And this deponent further states that the paper hereto annexed [crossed out word] is a deposition taken before him [crossed out word] in the year 1809--7th of August of one Jus[tice] Wilson this deponent being at the time a justice of the peace in and for the county of Washington and State of Maryland. -- the s[raised d] [said] Jho [John] Wilson had called upon Capt. Jho [John] Garner or Gardner in company with said Curtis, and that said garner or
Page 31

Gardner, in the presence of said Wilson had expressed his regret that said Curtis had been wounded at the Battle of Chestnut Hill and that he the said Curtis was [carrot] one of [end of carrot] the best soldiers in the company of said Garner or Gardner.
And this deponent further states that the said John Curtis is now before him and that he is the same individual of whom he has above spoken [crossed out word] and that from his knowledge of said Curtis, he believes that he is of the age that he represents and that he served in the revolutionary army and he has stated in his declaration ~ & further he saith not.
Sworn to & subscribed }
before me this 2nd day }
of april ~ 1834               }     John Good

                                              Issac Seffler, JP
Page 32

Virginia                   }
Ohio County to wit } SS

Personally appeared before me [carrot] the subscriber [end of carrot] a justice of the peace, in and for County aforesaid, Alexander Hill, and being solemnly sworn deposeth and saith; that he was a volunteer in the Revolutionary Army of the United States, and served from the fall of the year 1776, until the spring of the year 1777 as lieutenant in a troop of cavalry, and for about three years as Major Master in the Army - that he was familiar with the current transactions of the day during the Revolution: - that he has had several conversations with John Curtis the declarant in the annexed declaration, that he believes from many circumstances mentioned by said Curtis that he the said Curtis was a Revolutionary soldier & has served as he has stated in his declaration hereto annexed.  That he is convinced of this, not only from his own knowledge of the said Curtis, but from the general belief and representations of those who are more intimately acquainted with the said declarant
Sworn to and subscribed }
before me this 22nd day  }     A. Hill
of April 1834                     }
Geo Dulty                          }
Page 33

John Curtis Served 2 yrs.

I the undersigned John Curtis in pursuance of this requisition of the Secretary of war give the following narative [misspelled] of my Service as a Solder if the war of the Revo[lution] and Statement of my age to wit.

I am a native of Lancaster County Pa. was born on the 5th May 1753. - I lived in the county of Frederick V [raised a]. during the war of the Revo[lution]- I think it was in the year 1776. I was drafted in Frederick County Va to Serve in the army west of the Alleghanies [Allegheny] Mountains against the Indians. I resisted to stand the draft and went into Pennsylvania to evade pursuit which was made. On getting to the Square and Compass a tavern in Lancaster Cty Pa on the road from Lanca. {Lancaster] to  Philadelphia - I fell in with then Capt Gardner a recruiting officer, under whom I enlisted for three years or during this war, Capt Garner or Gardner marched his company (about sixty men) to Hicken Ridge Pa then joined Genl Washingtons army was attached to Col Gibbons Regt don't recollect it [illegible] Major Bowl & Bartholamey Balathers] - Genl Snow was also at Hicken bridge and in command. Capt Garner's company to which I belonged was a rifle company. his  [illegible] [illegible] was. James Jack & William Mine. our company was scouting about was marched from Port to Port. Some times pursuing & some times being pursued by the enemy. At Sevects fird an [illegible] in a party of Hessens and fired upon them. - they after spekeing one of our [illegible] and casting it into that Schoolshill retreated across this river without returning our fire - they had even come across the river for the purpose of plundering - after our company had been rangeing about and around its country for about thre years. We returned to Hicken bridge and found the the army then under Genl Washington. Thntly after we rejoined Washington he had an engagement with the British army - the latter occupied Chestnut Hill our army the revn between Chesnut and [illegible] Hill on that Heghts of the latter Hill. Genl Washington was stationed.
Page 34

during the engagement a flag was sent in from the British army asking a cessation of Hostility. the proposition was declined by General Washington - the British army made a charge upon the Americans, the latter retreated- in this engagement I received a wound from Musket ball just above the knee (here he shewed the wound. it seemed to have been a severe one) --after recovering partially from  the effects of my wound I was discharged and sent home - I got a written discharge which I sent on with my Declaration - I was upwards of ten years inactive since.  James Wheat with my Declaration to whom I gave this same statement in substance now given - he charged me $20. In collecting of all which I hereto [illegible] cash say same July 1 1835 []
John Curtis
N Goff
A copy -  W G Singleton 
July 5 1835

John Curtis
Per Ohio Cy [county]