Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,644, for William Johnson, Pennsylvania
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Penn.

contents                             carded

NUMBER 
S.5.644
Johnson, William
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[Left Page]

Pennsylvania 29.631

William Johnson  died May 16, 1847, [illegible] Widow of Huntingdon Co. in the State of Penn.
who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Stuart of the Regt. commanded by Col. Morgan in the Penn.a mil for 6 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 20 Dollars ______ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.  

Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of Jan 1835 and sent to Hon. G. Henderson M.R.

   70.00    Arrears to the 4th of Sep.'34                   
   10.00  Semi-anl allowance ending 4 March 35  
 $80.00   
{Revolutionary Claim}
{  Act June 7, 1832    }
Recorded by    D. Brown  Clerk
Book 80-2.   Vol.   5    Page  32

[Right side page]

Left to Page + A. B. Norris 

Mar 18, 1837
Letter to A. B. Norris [?] Pension
Agent 26 March 1838 Letter to [illegible] Auditor 24th Nov 1840.l  

Paid at  the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 Sep 1839.l  Age notified 3rd Dec 1940. 

Dead
Paid as above from 4th Sep 1839 to 4th Sep 1940.  Agent notified 23d Sep 1841.  

Paid as above from 4th Sept 1840 to the 14th May 1841. Agt notified June 6th 1842.
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 20thk, 1842.

Sir:

Under the date 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."  

The widow of William Johnson, deceased, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia, Pa. Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and [blank] Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June.   [Illegible] has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1840 to the 14th May 1841.

Respectfully yours,
 Albion K. Parris
Comptroller


To the Commissioner of Pensions, 
Pesent.
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State of Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County   }  SS

On this 16rh day of August 1834, personally appeared before Thomas
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remained here a considerable time afterwards we were marched up the said river, until we came to the head waters of the Monongahala [Monongahela] [illegible], at which place the four months, the time for which I went out having [illegible] was dismissed, I did not receive a written discharge Our officers to this time were Colonel Zachariah [illegible] Captain Edward Sh[illegible], 1st Lieutenant John O Donell, Ensign Baldwin Clifton, also Captain Benjamin Wheeley 1st Lieutenant James Paul
In the month of May 1782, Pro[illegible] under Captain John Beason for a term of service during the war we came together at Washington in said
County of Washington, and were marched to Wells Fort at the Cross creek, we remained here a Short time, we from thence crossed the river, and were marched to the "Mingo Bottem" a place where there had been an Indian
town - at which place we continued a considerable time our object in continuing at this place was for recruits which were daily expected we from thence we marched to the middle Moravian town, we staid [stayed] here a short time we then ordered to the Upper Moravian town, and from this place we were marched to Mohican John's lake thence we proceeded on to an Indian town called I think,  Cohulinkive from here were marched to the plains of Sandusky, where we were attacked by the Indians, we had tow [two] men killed, and we left about forty or fifty wounded on the field of action and [illegible] to the [illegible] being more numerous there we were
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we were compelled to retreat which being done in great confusion part of us lost ourselves and this deponent was out twenty two days, and the first place he came to was Wheeling Fort he remained here about ten days [illegible] himself when he
returned home to Washington County Deponent was out on this tour two months and three weeks his Officers to this tour were Captain John Benson 1s Lieutenant
John McDowell William Crawford and Colonel David Williamson was Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Light was major
Interogatory [interrogatory] 1st where and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born in Baltimore County State of Maryland in the year 1766
Interogatory [interrogatory] 2d Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
answer No. I never had. I derived the information of my age from my mother, who is long since dead
Interogatory [interrogatory] 3d Where were you living when called into service; Where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live?
answer - I was living in Washington County Pennsylvania when called into service and lived there two years after I returned. I then came to [illegible] Valley in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1784. In the year 1795 I moved from there to Stone Valley in Berks township Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania where I now reside, and have ever sin resided.
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Interogatory [interrogatory] 4th How were you called into service, were you drafted: did you volunteer: or were you a substitute for whom?
Answer - I was a substitute in the first tour of service: and volunteered in the second tour-
Interogatory [interrogatory] 5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such continental & militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer - That he has given the answer to this interogatory [interrogatory] to the best of his recollection in the declaration
Interogatory [interrogatory] 6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service: and if so: by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Answer - He received a verbal discharge from the first tour but not a written one -
name the persons to whom you are
Interogatory [interrogatory] 7th Name the persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood [neighborhood], and who can testify to your character for veracity and the general belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Answer - Joseph Jackson Esqr [Esquire] and William Hirst Esqr [Esquire]
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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
his
William X Johnston
mark
Sworn and subscribed in open Court this 16th day of August AD 1834. }
D. N. Porter Proty [Prothonotary]

We Joseph Jackson and William Hirst both of [illegible] Township in the County of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William
Johnston who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarration, that we believe him to be seventy one years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion, and that said William Johnston is reputed to belong to the Church of England or Episcopal church & that no 
clergyman of that denomination is placed in or convenient to his neighbourhood [neighborhood] 
Joseph Jackson
William Hirst
Sworn & subscribed in open Court this 16th day of August AD 1834}
D. N. Porter Prothy [Prothonotary]

Huntingdon County ss
the said William Johnston being sworn according to law in open Court before the Judges aforesaid doth further depose and say that he belongs to the Episcopal Church and that no Clergymen of that denomination is placed or resides near or within any reasonable distance of him, and that no clergyman of any denomination is placed or resides near or convenient to his residence 
his
William X Johnston
mark
Sworn & subscribed in open Court this 16th day of August AD 1834
D N. Porter Proty [Prothonotary]
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and the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interogatories [interrogatories] prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the court further certify that it appears to them that no clergymen of any denomination resides in or convenient to the neighbourhood [neighborhood] in which the said William Johnston resides, and that Joseph Jackson and William Hirst Esquires are both Justices of the peace residing in the said Township of Berrce & County of Huntingdon and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit
[illegible]}
Joseph [illegible]}
Jos. Adams} Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County

State of Pennsylvania}
Huntingdon County} ss
I David R Porter Prothonatory [Prothonotary] of the Court of Common Pleas of Huntingdon County in the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Johnston for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 16th day of August AD 1834
D. N. Porter Proty [Prothonotary]
[dark and white paper attached to left margin]
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Wm. Johnson
Va.
No. 22654-
can allow for six months for 1781

18. April 1833
Obj. e. send circular to [illegible] J. Henderson, C

Recd [received] Dec 23

Hon. J. Henderson
H. R
Esq.
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183

Sir:

   The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been annexed, 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 show what is necessary to be done.  These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margins with a brace, (thus: }).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
______________________________________________
A STATEMENT, showing the Service of Wm. Johnson
==============================
Period when the service was rendered/Duration of the claimant's service/Rank of the claimant/Names and ranks of the Company officers under whom he served/Name and rank of the General and Field officers/Battles in which the applicant was engaged/Country through which he marched/Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period/Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
---------------------------------------------------
August 1781 Sub/4 months/Private/Capt. E. Stewart Colonel Z. Morgan/-/From Washington to Fort Wheeling then to the falls of Ohio/69 years charters settlement near Washington Co. Pa./Traditionary Evidence.

May 1782 vol./no duration indicated/Priv. Cav./Captain Jno. Beeson Colonel Wm. Crawford/-/From Washington to Sandusky/-/Traditionary evidence.

                          I am, respectfully,
                          Your obedient servant,
                           J. L. Edwards,
                                 Commissioner of Pension.
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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 turned 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, musicians 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.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of 

On this    day of   personally appeard (a)     A.B. a resident (b) of          in the county of     
and State, Territory or District of       aged (c)     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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)    and served in the    (e) regiment of the    line, under the following named officers:

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 term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

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     

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)

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      of the Court of       do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of      for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this     day of        & c.

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 Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the      hereby certify, that we are well acquainted withand C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with     , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be     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 opinon.

Sworn and subscribed the day 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 presented 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.        has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the      and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the        and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I,        Clerk of the Court of       do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of        for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal       of office, this      day of   
& 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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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 Town offer 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 he 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 enquiry 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 early 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 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 grades 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 unit of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For years, and
days, I served as a-
For months and - days, I served and for such service I claim a pension,
with all the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
it is the
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the
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 is
highly objectionable. It must every case, be clearly
where the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
handicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent
for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
That makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must all 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 pubhis
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the metal 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 authenticates the panes to not written on the same sheet of paper which conin
the antidavit, or other pr authenticated, the certicate 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 cornfying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the corticate.
Proof of Service.
to a case where the name of the mendicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who pay the to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the wilhere
, and the omenal character and signature of the magistrate must be certined by the proper officer, under his seal of office
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
note applies to continental troops only.
The traditionary evidence is indispensable in
ence in the
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[illegible] 
5644
INVALID.
Rev War
File No. 5644
William Johnson
Pri [Private] Rev War
Act: June 7" "32
Index: --Vol. M, Page 195
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office
August 26th, 1841
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," The widow of William Johnson, decd., a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at
the rate of Twenty - Dollars [crossed out and Cents] per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th Sept 1839 to the 4th of Sept. 1840.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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Washington Dec 20th 1834
Dear Sir
I would ask your attention to the enclosed letter of enquiry from W Morris
Very Respectfy [respectfully] your most [illegible]
To Henderson
J L Edwards Esq
Page 17

Lewiston November 1st 1834
J L Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
Enclosed you will find the papers of William Johnston. Have the goodness to give them as early examination as possible And much oblige
Your Obt Sert. [obedient servant]
A. P. Norris
Lewistown
Mifflin County
Pennsa [Pennsylvania]
Page 18

Vanns Mills March 11th 1837
Sir,
Enclosed you will find the certificate of Joseph Jackson, as to the identity of William Johnson, a pensioner, who has neglected to draw his pension for two years,
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sert [Obedient Servant] 
A.P. Norris
To 
The acting Secretary of War
Washington City
D. C. 

Browns Mills
Mifflin County
Pennsa. [Pennsylvania]
Page 19

A B Norr

return to [illegible] Henderson
Page 20

Browns Mills December 18th 1834
Hon. Joseph Henderson
Dear Sir
Some time since I enclosed to J. L. Edwards Esqr [Esquire] Commissioner of Pensions the Pension Papers of William Johnston since which I have not heard a word concerning them. Would you be good enough to enquire at the Pension Office and endeavour [endeavor] to ascertain whether they have been acted upon yet and if not, have them attended to as soon as convenient. as the above applicant is in a very necesitious State and requires the immediate assistance of his pension. Mr Maclay is not any better this evening the last application he has relieved him some, but not materially.
your obt sevt. [obedient servant]
A. R Norris
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
November 26th 1840.
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," William Johnson,-
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Twenty - Dollars [crossed out and  Cents] per annum, under the law of the 7 June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838 to the 4th Sept.
1839.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 22

Hon
J R Poinsette
Secretary of War.
Browns Mills March 19th 1838.
Enclosed I send you the certificate of identity of William Johnson, a Revolutionary solder to enable him to draw his money at Philada [Philadelphia] which is due him for the last year. you will have the goodness to notify the Agent for paying pensions at Phila of this and oblige
Your Obt Sert [Obedient Servant]
A.P. Norris
Browns Mills
Mifflin County
Penna