Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,321, Joshua Edwards, Navy (Penn.)
Page 1

(8-1776)
Service
Navy (Penn.)
Edwards, Joshua
Number S.3,321

Born in Phila, Pa.
carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

3540
Pennsylvania

Joshua Edwards
of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania who was a Surgeon's Mate in the ship Hyden Ally commanded by Captain Barney in the Naval Service for 1 year.    Penn.

Inscribed on the Rolls of Pennsylvania at the rate of 90 dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued on the 26th day of Dec. 1832 and sent to Pensioner.

Arrear to 4th of Sept. 1832                     $135.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 March 1833  45.00
---------
$180.00 [double underlined]

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


Recorded by T. Luce Clerk
Book D, Vol. 6 Page 54
Page 3

City of Philadelphia in the 
State of Pennsylvania} ss

    On this sixteenth day of November in the year 1832, personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the city and county of Philadelphia  Joshua Edwards a native of Pennsylvania, at this time a resident of said city, aged 68 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.  That sometime in March 1782 he was entered, by letter of appointment from Doctor Marrow, as Surgeon's Mate of the state ship Hyder Alley of 16 guns, of which was Captain Joshua Barney - Lieutenants, Justus Starr and Luke Matheman. Surgeon, Doctor Marrow, - Sailing Master - Dunton - Ship's Bay Pilot P. Higgins. - Lieut. of Marines Scull, - Master's Mate Coram, Grimes & Nicols; that he sailed in said ship from Philadelphia, on the first day of April following to her appointed station in the Bay of Delaware where, on the 8th of the same month, she captured the British Sloop of War General Monk, of 18 guns, after a very severe action of 35 minutes and shortly after she captured also the Refugee three masted schooner "Hook'em Snivey",.  That he continued serving as Surgeon's Mate in the said ship, for a time under Captain Barney and afterwards under Captain Starr, 'til early in October 1782, when she returned to Philadelphia to be relieved by new appointments.  That some time in November 1782 he was engaged by letter of appointment from Doctor Duff of Newport, in the state of Delaware, as his assistant surgeon in the Duc de Lauzun, a ship of 20 (or 22) long 9 pounders, provided and put into Continental service by the Superintendent of Finance for the special purpose of bringing home public money, the proceeds of bills on Spain negotiated in Havana by the agent John Brown Esquire of which ship was Commander John Green - Lieutenants Lyon and Hodgkinson - sailing master John Rhodes - Lieutenant of Marines Hoffner - Master's Mates Campbell & Mitchell - midshipmen Hodge & Hubbard Boatswain Wm. Davis;  That the said ship sailed from Philadelphia late in November to Reedy Island and from there, about the 1st of December following to Havana in Cuba, where money to a large amount was taken on board with (continues on next page).
Page 4

with which he sailed from Havana, bound to Philadelphia, early in March 1783 - that while proceeding on her homeward passage, the said ship was pursued and at length overtaken by two British men of war - first by a 20 gun ship which was soon obliged to sheer off; and shortly after by a large frigate, with which a close running fight was sustained until continental frigate Alliance, Captain Barry, bore down to her assistance - with which timely aid & the expedient of throwing over several guns, an escape from imminent danger was effected - and the said ship reached to anchorage in the Delaware on 17th March 1783 - with which month, in the said year 1783, he considers his service to have terminated; and for all which, as specified in the foregoing declaration, and amounting to one full year, he now claims pension.
    To the several interrogations proposed the said declarant answers -
That he was born in the year 1764 at Philadelphia, where he was residing when he entered into service;
That he knows of no record of his age; his father's Bible, which contained it, having been destroyed when his house was burnt; his father being a clergyman of the Baptist denomination, which makes no church records of births.
That since the Revolutionary War he has resided chiefly in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia where he now resides. 
That he has not now any documentary evidence of his appointments or services; and that he refers to the Hon. Lewis Condict, whose adjoining neighbor he was at Morristown, N. Jersey for more than fifteen years - to Richard Harrison Esq. first auditor of the Treasury Department; and to the attestation hereto subjoined, in support of his character.
    He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present; and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the United States. --

Jo'a. Edwards [signature]

Sworn & subscribed in open 
court Nov. 16, 1832.
//s//
F.A. Raybold

On the day and year above written, and before the same court, personally appeared David Caldwell Esquire, of the City of Philadelphia and lately Clerk of the United States Court for this District, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he has known the declarant Joshua Edwards, above named, for nearly forty years; during all that time he has known the said Edwards to be of respectable character and standing and has always considered his testimony fully entitled to confidence; and that he has a clear recollection of having heard in former remote time, the fact and  (continued on next page)
Page 5

circumstances of services performed by the said Edwards in the revolutionary naval warfare, in a surgical character, and more especially of his service in the state ship Hyder Ally.

//s//
D. Caldwell

Sworn & subscribed
in open court Nov. 16, 1832.

//s//
F.A. Raybold
              JCP

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Surgeon's Mate in the state ship Hyder Ally Duc de Lauzun and served as he states.

//s//
Edward King
President of the Court of Common Pleas

City & County of Philadelphia ss

    I Richard Palmer Prothonotary of the same court do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said court in the matter of the application of Joshua Edwards for a pension.

    In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court at Philadelphia this sixteenth day of November A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

//s//
R. Palmer
Page 6

City of Philadelphia in the }
State of Pennsylvania        } Ss

    On this eleventh day of December in the year 1832, personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in and for the City and County of Philadelphia, Joshua Edwards, the declarant named in the foregoing proceedings who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following further declaration in amendment of and to supply defects in that which is hereon before written: That his term of services in the state ship Hyder Ally was full seven months; computing the same date of his appointment some time in March 1782 to about the same time in October next following when officers were settled with, and when they were  at liberty to continue in the service or be discharged.-- That in the Ship Duc de Lauzun he  served about five months that is from early in November 1782 to the end of March 1783: That he estimates his whole term of service in both of the said ships to be twelve months, as well also from the fact of his being so engaged, with only a few days interruption of continuity, from early in March 1782 to the end of the same month in 1783 and that he knows not of any living witness from whom he can obtain testimony in behalf of his claim hereby made other than that which is specified in the  two adjoined certificates--

//s//Jo. Edwards

Sworn & Subscribed                }
in Open Court 11 Deceb 1832}
//s//
F.A. Raybold
Page 7

At the day of date aforesaid, and before the same court, personally appeared Ezekiel H. Teel of this city, pilot and mariner, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and say that in the year 1782, from March to October of said year, he served as a lad in the state ship Hyden Ally, and in the sloop that was employed as the tender to said ship. That he has remembrances of the name of Joshua Edwards as being during the same time, the surgeon's mate of said ship; but has no recollection of the person or features of said Edward's which he thinks is owing to his having had no intercourse or acquaintance with him for nearly fifty years.  

//s// Ezekiel H. Teel

Sworn & subscribed
in open court 11th
Dec. 1832
//s//
F.A. Raybold

     On the same day and before the same Court, personally appeared John Brown of this city, gentleman, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and say - That in the year 1782 he was appointed by Robert Morris Esquire, then Superintendent of Finance, as his agent, to obtain public money from Spain by the negotiation of Bills in Havana.  That about the month of October in the same year an armed ship called the Duc de Lauzun was provided by the said Morris for the special purpose of bringing from thence the money so to be obtained;  That the said ship sailed from Philadelphia to Havana, under the command of Captain John Green, some time in November following, and returned again with public money so as to arrive in the bay of Delaware about the middle of March 1783;  That he went and returned as passenger in said ship, and has remembrance of facts and circumstances respecting the same which he believes to be correctly set forth in the foregoing declaration;  That he has no recollection of the declarant Joshua Edwards, with whom he has had not any acquaintance or intercourse, was come on board, in all the time since until very lately; but satisfied from conversations has with the said Edwards, that he was an officer of said ship, and hereby freely testifies his belief of the same. 

//s//
John Brown

Sworn & subscribed
in open court Dec 11, 1832.
//s//
F.A. Raybold
Page 8

And thereupon the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the aforementioned applicant was a Surgeon's Mate in the ships Hyder Ally and Duc de Lauzen and served as he stated herein.

//s//
Edward King

City & county of Philadelphia Ss

    I Richard Palmer Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County do certify that the above and foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Joshua Edwards for a pension.

    In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and 
the seal of the said court at 
Philadelphia this eleventh 
day of December AD 1832.
[SEAL]

 //s//
R.W. Palmer
                     Proth.
Page 9

18905
Joshua Edwards

Susp.  Dec. 8, '32
Obj; 5.11.12.13.

Claimant 
Philadelphia

Susp.  17 Dec. '32
Obj. 14     CLS.

Admitted
Surgeon's Mate
1 year
$90.00
Pension

P 140 
p 162
Page 10

BRIEF in the case of Joshua Edwards
of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania.

(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court of Judge?  In the Court of C. Pleas.
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 68 years.
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.

In 1782 March/7 months/Surgeon's Mate/Ship Hyder Alley Capt's Barney & Starr.
In 1782 November/5 month/Surgeon's Mate/Ship Duc de Lauzun Capt Green Lieut. Lyon and Hodgkinson

5. In what battle was he engaged?  with the Genl. Monk & the Refugee.

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Philadelphia, Pa.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence or by the rolls?  I presume he depends upon the rolls if any.

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct.

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.           

//s//
J.M. Duffield
Examining Clerk.
Page 11

O. W. and N. Division    3-525

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.   ----------, 190-.

    In reply to your request of September 1st received September 4th for a statement of the military history of Joshua Edwards a sailor [Soldier crossed out] of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired  information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.

Dates of enlistments or appointment./Length of service./rank./Officers under whom service was rendered - Captain, Colonel/ State.

March 1782 to October 1782/Surgeon's Mate/Joshua Barney and Starr/on ship Hyder Ally. In engagement with & captured British Sloop of War Gen. Monk and captured Schooner Hook'em Snively.

November 1782 to March 14, 1783/ Asst Surgeon/John Green/On ship  Duc de Lauzun in engagement with two British ships. 

Battles engaged in, _____________________.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Philadelphia, Pa.
Date of application for pension,  Nov. 16, 1832.  claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Philadelphia, Pa.
Age at date of application,  born Philadelphia 1764 & place of death not stated.
Remarks:  Soldier's father was a Baptist Minister. No name stated. No further family data.

Very Respectfully,

//s//
B.F. Edwards of 20 S. 8th  St. Burlington Iowa.

27225b3ml-07
Page 12

Rev War

Cedar Falls, Iowa, June 20 1919.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir.

   Will you please send me a record of the service in the Revolution of Joshua Edwards, son of Morgan Edwards, born at Philadelphia, Pa., died at Mauch-Chunk, Pa. I believe there was a pension granted him.

Your truly,
//s//
Mildred Baron Ives
2013 College St., Cedar Falls, Iowa


Date Stamp

Pension
      K
    JUN
U. 23  S.
    1919
   Office
Page 13

December 19th, 1832,

At a Court of Common Pleas held at Philadelphia, the annexed affidavits being exhibited, the said court do hereby declare and certify that the witnesses who have made and signed the said affidavits, are credible witnesses and their statements are believed to be true.

By the Court
//s//
Edward King
President Judge

City & County of Philadelphia

   I Richard Palmer Prothonotary of the said Court do certify the Honorable Edward King President Judge of the same Court, has signed the above certificate in his own hand writing and that he was at the time of signing the same and still is President Judge as aforesaid, duly commissioned and appointed.

     In witness thereof I have set 
my hand and the seal of the said court 
at Philadelphia the 19th Dec. 1832.
                   
//s//
R. Palmer
Prothonotary [SEAL]

City & County of Philadelphia Ss

   I Edward King President of the same Court do certify that the above certificate is made by the proper officers and that the seal affixed is the proper seal of the said court.
    Witness my hand and seal this 
19 Dec. 1832.

 //s//
Edward King
Proth
Page 14

[center column]
(An addressed envelope)

Josh. Edwards
 Pa. [Del crossed out] Vol '32


FREE

Hon. Mahlon Dickerson
Secretary of the Navy 
Washington. D.C.

3540
[illegible stamp]
[seal]

[left-hand margin of page]
E(dwards) Jan 2  Rass

[right-hand margin of page]
Notify J. L. Edwards the
Commis of Pensions & give Mr. E. the 
information wanted
Page 15

Wilmington, Del. December 1837.

Honbl. Mahlon Dickerson

Respected & Dear Sir.

    Allow me to say in limine that this address having no claim to official notice, may be laid aside to wait your entire convenience; - it being only an availance of the permission which you kindly granted me at our last interview - having on that pleasant occasion desired leave to solicit your inquiry in my behalf respecting the "continental" ship  Duc de Lauzun (underlined) that is, wherefore the service I performed in her, as established in my declaration, was not allowed the benefit intended by the Act of June 7th, 1832? a decision so contrary to the real merits of the case, that I must necessarily consider it as founded on erroneous or defective testimony; and therefore as being rather arbitrary than just.  The case of the said ship is as follows for the confirmation of which I might refer to Treasury statements which I have seen, if the fire had spared them.  In the autumn of 1782, a  vessel was wanted for the purpose of bringing home a large sum of money.  The result of a hour contract made with the minister of Spain - The frigate Trumbull, then at Philadelphia, was found to be too much out of repair and was deemed too dull a sailor.  In consequence the Marine Board of Congress purchased the Duc de Lauzun (underlined), a frigate built ship which had been constructed for certain French agents, from a model that promised swift sailing and admitted a formidable, covered battery of long guns.  The command was given to Capt. John Green - the officers of Marines were obtained from the Army and the whole equipment was most efficiently arranged.  We sailed to Havana, where the money was procured by the negotiation of Bills on Madrid - returned from thence in company with the frigate Alliance, Capt. Barry, pursued nearly the whole way by a squadron of British ships, with two of which we had engagements and beat them off - arrived to Delaware Bay on the 17th March 1783 and found that the preliminaries of peace were signed - While on the homeward passage the Alliance (underlined) - which outsailed every other ship - parted from us and proceeded to Rhode Island; probably to attract from us the pursuit of a line of battle ship: - and as some of Captain Barry's officers were living in the year 1833, surely their declarations must detail also some of the facts. - Having safely terminated the voyage, the war being ended.  We were settled with & discharged by a public (underlined) agent; and supposed that we had been employed in the public (underlined) service - in the correctness of opinion the Journals of Congress will always bear me up - especially Journal in 1832.  I there authenticated my declaration, before the public Notary, with which my respected namesake of the Pension Office was then so fully satisfied, that he filled up a Certificate for my entire claim, which Genl. Cass objected to confirming, not - as he was pleased to assure me - because of  any (continues on next page)
Page 16

any doubt of correctness, but merely because he deemed it essential, in point of form, that pension claims should be verified in Open Court - which processes, into notoriety, appeared to me in a shape so onerous (having associated rather hastily the idea of pension ship with that of mendicity) that my first impression was to relinquish the claim altogether, which the same gentleman kindly opposed in showing that the certificate for revolutionary services would be honorary and ought therefore to be valued.  On this score I was sensibly mortified that the testimonial sent me abated a moiety of the honor.
    The thought of troubling you, my dear sir, with this small endeavor, took its (illegible) from a supposition that, when in the Senate, you were one of the Committee on Revolutionary claims - and therefore likely to be acquainted with the rules prescribed for the government of the Pension Office - and the same thought has been encouraged into the present engagement by your long known amenity - such as you shall be pleased to think the merit of the case - that is,  whether entitled to any or no attention, shall likewise be pleasing to me; for with respect to it.  I most willingly resign myself to your discretion.
   Permit me to say inter nos that something which has transpired here, through the late Gov. Bennett, and having reference to Doctor McLean, leads to a suspicion that the action on my claim was more or less influenced by personal motives.
    Being obliged to use my left hand in writing, I fear the sample of its performance will be found rather too sinister (underlined) to be easily legible.
    A line from you of whatever length or whatever import, directed for me at this place, and at your entire convenience as to time, shall be much esteemed by.

Respected & Dear Sir,
Your friend & most Obed.
//s//
Joshua Edwards

P.S. Senility will account & apologize for defective penmanship, and I have commenced my 74th year.
Page 17

Burlington, Iowa; Sept. 1 - 1907.
Pension Bureau.
Washington, D.C.

Will you please give me the military record or service for which he received a pension of Joshua Edwards, born at Philadelphia Dec. 29 - 1764 and died at Mauck Chump, Pa. 1854.

Yours truly,
//s//
B.F. Edwards

720 S. 8th St.
Page 18

[center of page]

Navy
INVALID.
-----------------
File No. 3321
Joshua Edwards
Surgeon's Mate
Naval Service
Rev. War
----------------
Act: June 7, 1832.

Index:-Vol. 6. Page 54.

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right-hand side of page]
Oct 2 - Hist Siewers Phila., Pa.
on D.A. Bingham
H.R.
------------------------
1907 Oct 5. Hist to B.L. Edwards.
1919 July 3, Hist to Mildred B. Ives
V.L.M.

[left-hand margin of page]
1893 to E.R. thro it