Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,642, Thomas Birchfield, Penn.
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(3-1776)

Service Penn

Birchfield, Thomas

Number S6642

carded
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Pennsylvania 
26.332 
Thomas Birchfield of Juniata Co. in the State of PA who was a Pvt in the Company commanded by Captain Mathias of the Rgt commanded by Col Potter in the Penna line for 7 Mo Pr  $23.33   
Inscribed in the roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.      
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of May and sent to 1834  Hon J Miller H.R.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 34    70.00 
Semi-anl. allowance ending Septr  11.66 ½  
$81.66 
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}    
Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk, 
Book C   Vol. 5 Page 5
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State of Pennsylvania 
Juniata County }SS  
On this twenty-first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared before me an associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Juniata County Thomas Birchfield a resident of Greenwood Township Juniata County & State aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 
That he was born near Havre De Grace in the State of Maryland on the nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five by a copy taken from the record in his father's family Bible (which copy is yet in his possession) that he entered the service of the United States during the revolutionary war as a militia man being drafted for a two month tour. That he was under the command of General Potter & Colonel Samuel Lyons - that his Captains name was Mathias his lieutenants name was Wilson - that at the time of entering he service he resided in Greenwood Township aforesaid then Cumberland County since Mifflin & now Juniata County - that the company to which he belonged met at what is now Millerstown now in Perry County that from there they marched to Carlisle from that on to Lancaster where we met General Potter from Lancaster we were marched to the gulph hills from there we were marched across the Schuylkills & went to Chestnut Hill and there we joined General Washington's army and in a few days after we had a severe engagement with the British who retreated & we followed them to within six miles of Philadelphia Here we remained for a few days when we were marched back again to the gulph hills & here we had another engagement with the British who again retreated. These are the only engagements your deponent was in during his tour as a militia man. That his time of service was two months at the
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expiration of which time he was discharged being a few days before Christmas (year not recollected) that he has no written or other documentary evidence of this his service that he received no written discharge - That James Deviney is the only person now alive (as he believes) who can testify to this his service the said Deviney being a private in Captain Elliotts company – that through age & infirmity he cannot fix the dates - That your deponent afterward entered the service of the United States as a volunteer about two years after the former service under the command General Sullivan That the company met at Middletown some time in May year not recollected, Captain Mathias again the command of our company-- from Middletown we proceeded in boats with provisions to Wyoming and from thence we went to Tioga where we joined General Sullivan, that his time of service was five months at the expiration of which time he was discharged- That he has no written or documentary evidence of this his service. That he received no written discharge - That during this tour he was not engaged in any battle. That the hardships he underwent & his frequent exposure in the war during this tour brought on a swelling in the joint of his since which has rendered him a cripple nearly ever since - That he knows of no person who can testify to this his second service under General Sullivan. That he is unable to appear in open court to make this declaration in consequence of the situation of his knee & his bad health that there is no clergyman who resides near whose certificate he can procure. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever 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  
Thomas Birchfield
Sworn to & subscribed before Thomas Burchfield me this 28th Feby. AD 1834 
Danl Christy
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State of Pensylvania 
Juniata County} 
Personally appeared in open court James Deviney aged Eighty three years who being duly sworn according to law says that he is well acquainted with Thomas Birchfield mentioned in the foregoing declaration - that said Birchfield was a private in Captain Mathias Company. that he Deviney was a private in Captain Elliotts company being both drafted militia man that they were marched to Carlisle from thence to Harris’ ferry from there to Middletown & thence to Lancaster from them to what is called the gulph in Chester County where there had a skirmish with the British from there they went to Chestnut hill where they had another Skirmish with the enemy - That the aforessaid Thomas Birchfield was also engaged in these Skirmishes that they were both drafted for a two months tour at the expiration of which they were discharged - That the aforesaid Thomas Birchfield served out his two months as stated in his declaration and they both served under General Potter - the name of his Colonel he cannot recollect - Through age and infirmity he cannot fix the dates, but that this service was rendered during the revolutionary war & further saith not      
James Deviney
Sworn & subscribed in open Court before me
Wm W. Kirk Prothy 
We Hugh T McAlister & William McAlister residing in the township of Fermanagh County & State aforesaid hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thomas Birchfield, who has subscribed Sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be of the age he represents himself to be; that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion 
William McAlister
Hugh T. McAlister
Sworn & Subscribed this 25th day of February AD 1834 before me in open court 
Wm W. Kirk, Prothy
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State of Pennsylvania 
Juniata County} Ss   I William W Kirk, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Juniata County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Birchfield for a pension. *And before whom the foregoing declaration & proceedings were had and that Daniel Christy Esquire is one of the Associate Judges in & for said County-- & that I believe his Signature to be genuine 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at the borough of Mifflintown this 25th day of February AD 1834 
*The words (before whom the foregoing declaration & proceedings were had, were written before signing 
Wm W. Kirk clk    
And the said Court do hereby state their opinion after the investigation of the matter, after pulling 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 there is no clergyman in the neighborhood - That Hugh T. McCallister & William McCallister and of Fermanagh Township aforesaid & that they are credible persons & their entitled to credit 
Danl Christy 
State of Penna 
Juniata County Sct   
I William W. Kirk Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Juniata County Aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Birchfield for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Office this 25th day of Feb AD 1834
29.883
Wm W. Kirk clk
Hon. J. Miller H R
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Jesse Miller
H R
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And the said Court further certifies that James Deviney the above named deponent is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit 
Danl Christy 
State of Pennsylvania 
Juniata County Sct  
I William W. Kirk of the Court of Common Pleas of Juniata County & State aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Birchfield for a pension, and that Daniel Christy before whom these proceeding were had is an associate Judge in & for said County and that his signature is genuine &c 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Office this 5th May AD 1834 Wm W. Kirk clk
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29.883
Thomas Birchfield
Penna
[unreadable]
Hon J. Miller
House of Reps
JAMES L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
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WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Pension Office, 
24 March 1834 
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 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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A Statement, showing the service of Thomas Birchfield 
Period when service was rendered.     Duration of the claimant's service.  2 months   Rank of the claimant.   Priv.   Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.  Cap. Matthias  Col. Potter    Age at present. and place of abode when he entered the service.   79 years    Proof by which the declaration is supported.  Traditionary and one living witness – living witness not Certified to be Credible   See Notes  J - 
Period when service was rendered.  Duration of the claimant's service. 5 months   Rank of the claimant.  Priv.   Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.  Cap. Matthias   Gen. Sullivan   
I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant 
JAMES L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 in stance, 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 } ss.
On this day of A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) 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 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. 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 that of Agency in the State of    
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B. 
[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 hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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 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 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. who 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. do hereby certify 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, 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
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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 Town officer 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. 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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 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 best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as and for such service I claim a pension."   
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly 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 authenticates 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 wife nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
The notes from [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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Rev. and 1812 War Section.

June 23, 1926

Ralph M.G. Smith
Brookfield
Mo

Sir:

I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claims S. 6642, it appears that Thomas Birchfield was born September 19, 1755 near Havre de Grace, Maryland.

While residing at Greenwod Township, then in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, he served as a private in the Pennsylvania Troops, as follows - 

Two months in Captain Mathias's Company, Colonel Samuel Lyon's Regiment, and was in engagements at Chestnut Hill and Gulph Hills, dates of service not stated; about two years after this service, he served five months in Captain Mathias' Company under General Sullivan, dates of this service not given.

He was allowed pension on his application executed February 21, 1834, while a resident of Green-
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wood Township, Juniata County, Pennsylvania.

There is no data on file as to family.

The above noted Thomas Birchfield (all spellings of that name searched) is the only solider of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.

Respectfully

Winfield Scott
Commissioner.
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Rev War
6642
Invalid.

File No. 6642

Thomas Birchfield
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832

Index: - Vol. A, Page 32

[Arrangement of 1870]


1926 June 22 
Hist to Ralph G Smith [sent?]

Ralph M.G. Smith, Pastor
Park Baptist Church
Brookfield, Missouri
#2
Thomas Birchfield, 7th Battalion Cumberland County, Penn., Militia commanded by Col Purdy.
Thanking you for this information, I am
Respectfully,
Ralph MG Smith