Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5755, for William Jones, Maryland
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Md

Jones, William

NUMBER
R. 5755

CONTENTS
b June 13, 1760 in Somerset Co, Md + res. there at enl + in 1851
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No. 38217

William Jones
application for a
Revolutionary Pension

Edwards & Smith
agents
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State of Maryland}
Somerset County tw wit} on This 25th day of February in the year of our Lord 1851 personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Orphan's Court for Somerset County Col. William Jones the applicant for a pension whose declaration was before Certified by me + which appear on a former page who being first duly sworn according to law deposes and answers to the several interrogations propounded to him by me as follows -
1st Interrogatory? Where + in What year were you born?
to which he answers + says I was born in Somerset County Maryland on the 13th day of June 1760 -
2nd Interrogatory - Have you any record of your age? + if so, where is it?
To which he answers and says, I have, my age is recorded in Burkitts history of the New Testament, which my family will produce for your inspection - whereupon the Book is produced in which the age is recorded as stated by declarant + bears the appearance of great age + is a family record
3rd Interrogatory where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war; and where do you now live?
To which he answers and says - When I volunteered in the service, I was living at Monie in Somerset County Maryland, after the Revolution I lived in the same place, and I still live within a half mile of the place where I have lived most of the time - I have always resided in Somerset County Maryland from my birth up -
4th Interrogatory - How were you called into service; were you draughted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?
To which he answers and says - I was a volunteer
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If my recollection serves me right - the balance of the company were draughted - I was myself either too young to be forced into service, or else I stood a draught and was not taken I cannot recall which but I volunteered + was placed in the Company + was afterwards elected first sergeant I was thus elected in Consequence of my volunteering -
5th Interrogatory - 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? -
to which he answers + says - I cannot remember with safety the names of the Regular officers - None of them lived before the war or after in my neighborhood that I remember who were with the troops where I served - I cannot even call to mind one half of the men who served in the Company with me - I recollect those who were my neighbors and with whom I used to meet after the war + with whom I conversed frequently about the war - but they are all long since dead -
6th Interrogatory - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service? and if so what has become of it?
To which he answers + says - My imprefsion is that I never did receive a written discharge - if I did it has been long since lost or destroyed - I was permitted to return home after the period mentioned in my declaration - The people in this neighborhood were alarmed on account of the presence of the British in the Chesapeake bay and the frequent robberis made by the Torris, and injuries received by them from the British in barges and from the torris, and I was permitted to return + serve in garrison for their defense - I accordingly returned and the house of Levin Dashiell which stood precisely where the house that I now live in, now stands, was burnt by the enemy before my return - I served in garrison at Deal's Island for several weeks perhaps three under Capt. John Jones - at Dames Quarter Creek
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under Capt George Wilson Jr some considerable time and then served as a Captain in a garrison at Monie for a considerable time not lefs than three or four weeks, I was during this time ordered to proceed to Annapolis and arrest two torris by the name of Gunby who were very troublesome - here I acted under Capt Ewing - We did attest them + took them to Vienna in Dorchester County where they were handed over to some other Command + sent on for trail - I recollect there facts more distinctly from their occurrence in my own County +  from my frequent conversation about them after the war with persons who served with me - Cannot state upon oath anything which I do not remember distinctly ~
I never was in any general engagement with the Enemy -
7th Interrogatory - 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 serves as a soldier of the Revolution -
To which he answers + says - Old Mr - Nehemiah Covington is the most oldest man to myself in the neighborhood - He is ninety years of age, but I have not seen him for many years - Am too infirm to go about - I am willing and anxious for you to call on every body and any body you may select - Mr George B Walker is one of the oldest - there is also Mr Edmund Crosdale my next neighbor - Levin Woolford - Henry A White, Samuel G Holbrook, Robert Jones of Grnge, John Dougherty, Henry Leatherbury, Thomas G White, John Covington, William E Waters, The Hon John W Crisfield exmember of Congrefs - Hon. Edward Long, exmember of Congrefs - William W Handy
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and a great many others - you can call on any of them - I will mention another fact + request it to be interlined in my declaration that during the time when I was in the service of the United States, I was not employed in any civil pursuits -
I hereby certify that I have propounded the above questions and that the above are the answers made to the same, taken down fully and precisely in the words of the declarant
George L H Woolford one of
the Justices of the Orphans Court of
Somerset County

State of Maryland fc
I hereby Certify that it appears from the records and proceedings of the Orphans' Court of Somerset County that George L H Woolford who certified and signed the above, was at the time of so doing, one of the associate Justices of the Orphans' Court of said County duly commifsioned and sworn
In testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of Somerset County Orphans' Court this Eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one
S W Jones, Register of
Wills for Somerset County
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State of Maryland}
County of Somerset} to wit
On this 25th day of February in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and fifty one, personally appeared before me the undersigned, a justice of the Orphan's Court of Somerset County, (said Court being a Court of record, and the only Court of record, where of a justice is resident in said County) William Jones, a resident of Princefs Anne District, in the said County of Somerset and State of Maryland, aged ninety years, and eight months 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 Congrefs pafsed 7th June 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the Militia of the State of Maryland, under the following named officers, viz, Thomas Irving, Captain, John Dashiell, first Lieutenant, John Jones second Lieutenant, that he served as a first sergeant in said company, with William Laws, George Irving, and William Saper (whom he recollects) for upwards of the space of one year during the war of the Revolution, and that during his services aforesaid he was not employed in any civil pursuit, but the precise day of his entering the service, or the year, or the day when he was discharged he cannot from his extreme age, and the consequent failure of his memory, safely swear, that he has now no documentary evidence of his service, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service all his brother soldiers in said Company, and all the officers he believes to be long since dead, and that he knows that all those who resided after the termination of the war in Maryland are reputed to be dead long since, that he could have procured some five or six years ago the testimony of a witnefs, who did know + had personal knowledge of his service, (but who died about that time) had he known that he was entitled to a pension under that Act of Congrefs, but that he did not know until the present month of the present year that there was any act of Congrefs providing pensions
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for the Militia during the war of the Revolution who service in that war as Militia, that he has been afflicted with severe + long continued sicknefs, which has so impaired his memory that he cannot safely swear to a great number of the officers or men with whom he served ~
That he hereby relinquished every claim to a pension or annuity except the present ~ That at the time of his entering the service, he resided in Somerset County Maryland, and that since his discharge therefrom he has resided in Somerset County Maryland - That he cannot by reason of his bodily infirmity appear before the Court not having been able to leave his residence for a considerable time -
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, or (if any) only on the Agency of the State of Maryland, and that he has not received any pension from any state, or the United States, nor applied for any, until his present application ~ William Jones
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before George L H Woolford one of the Justices of the Orphans Court for Somerset County

State of Maryland Somerset County to wit: on this 25th day of February Anno Domini 1851 personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the State of Maryland's Justices of the peace in and for Somerset County aforesaid William Jones, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that by reason of old age, sicknefs, + the consequent lofs of memory he cannot positively swear as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not lefs than one year as a first sergeant in the company above declared to by him ~
Sworn to before
Theo G Dashiell J.P.
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State of Maryland Somerset County to wit:
Mr Thomas R B Trader a clergyman residing in the County of Somerset and State of Maryland, and George B Waller residing in the Same County and State aforesaid, being first duly sworn according to law, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Col. William Jones who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration; that we believe him to be upwards of ninety 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 ~ We also certify that said Col. Jones is a man of high standing, that he was for a very long time, as the records show for more than fifty years, a vestryman of the protestant Episcopal church for Somerset Parish, and that his character for veracity is of the highest order - In Witnefs whereof we have also signed our names hereto this eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty one ~ Thos B Trader
George B Waller
Sworn to and subscribed the day + year aforesaid before
Theo G Dashiell

Maryland, Somerset County to wit:
I hereby certify that Theodore G Dashiell, Gentleman before whom the foregoing affidavits were made and whose name appears thereto subscribed, was at the date thereof a justice of the of the State of Maryland in + for Somerset County duly commifsioned sworn + that to all his acts as such full faith + credit is + ought to be given as well in courts of justice as thereout + I also certify that his signatures thereto are genuine
In testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name + affix the seal of Somerset County Court this 2nd day of April 1851 
William T G Polk Clk
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State of Maryland Somerset County to wit:
At an Orphan's Court for Somerset County began and held at the Town of Princefs Anne on the fourth Tuesday of March A.D. 1851
Present The Honorable George Handy Chief Judge
John H Miles
George S H Woolford Esquires Afsociate Judges
Henry Jones Crin, Saml W Jones Regr
Among other proceedings were the following to wit ~
State of Maryland
Somerset County Orphans Court ~
We the undersigned, the Justices of the Orphans Court of Somerset County, in Maryland, now in sefsion in the Town of Princefs Anne in said County of Somerset having read the annexed certificates, and after a complete investigation of the matter, and after the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department having been put by one of the said Court as certified by him, and after the same being answered, as appeared by his certificate hereto annexed, do hereby declare our opinion that the above named applicant Col. William Jones was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states, and the said Court do hereby further certify that, if appears to them that, the Rev. Thomas R B Trader who has signed the preceding certificates is a clergyman, and rector of Wicomico Parish in Somerset County, and that he resides in Somerset County and that George B Waller, who has signed the same is a resident in the County of Somerset that they both reside in the neighborhood of Col. Jones, and that their statement is entitled to credit ~ and the said Court do hereby further declare + certify that Col. William Jones the above named applicant cannot by reason of bodily infirmity appear in Court, he being very old and infirm, and residing a long distance from the County town ~ The said Court further certify that the
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Gentleman whose names are subscribed to the other neighborhood certificate viz Nehemiah Covington and others, are all residents of Somerset County aforesaid are residents in the neighborhood of said applicant, that they are gentlemen of high standing and entitled to credit and that the said Court do believe that all the signatures to the said certificate are genuine ~ The said Court further certify that the belief seems to be general and uncontradicted in the neighborhood, that said applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states The said Court further certify that the said Col. William Jones is a man of high standing and respectability and enjoys the highest reputation for veracity and integrity
Geo Handy, John H Miles, George L H Woolford Judges of the Orphans Court of Somerset County

State of Maryland fc.
I hereby certify that it appears by the records and proceedings of the Orphans' Court of Somerset County that George Handy, John H Miles and George L H Woolford who certified and signed the foregoing certificate were at the time of so doing, Justices of the Orphans' Court of said County duly commifsioned and sworn -
In testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Somerset County Orphans' Court this 11th day of April Anno Domini 1851.
S W Jones, Register of Wills for Somerset County
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We the subscribers whose names are hereto annexed do hereby certify, that we have been for a long time acquainted with William Jones, that we are his neighbors all residing in Somerset County Maryland, that he has always engaged the very highest reputation for veracity and uniform good citizenship, that he was for a very long time, as the records show for more than fifty years a vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal Church for Somerset Parish in Somerset County, 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
Nehimiah Covington, Sam G Holbrook
John Covington, Leo L Waters [or Leo S Waters]
Henry Leatherbury, Henry A White
Thomas G White, Edmund Crosdale
R W Woolford, W W Johnston
Robert Jones of Geo, J W Crisfield
John Dougherty, Wm W Handy
Littleton Long, Edward Long
Wm E Waters, Geo B Waller
Isaac S Atkinson, Isaac D Jones
Saml K Handy, Geo S Atkinson
Cont
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The above certificate is contained in the general certificate of the Court ~
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REJECTED

5755
P. O. Md
Wm Jones
Service: ___

Enlisted: ___, 18
Discharged: ___, 18

Application filed: ___, 18

Alleges: Claim filed too late to have cause of rejection entered on printed list of 1852
Re-enlisted: ___

Attorney: ___
P. O. ___
___ Recognized. ___ Contract.
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No. 38217

William Jones
Md

Act 7th June '32

To Edwards & Smith [illegible] 51
To J L Edwards Mch 24, 1852

5755
No 1
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Affidavit of
James Gibson
---
Wm Jones, claim
for rev, Pension, Suspended
---
Addl. Evidence

Edwards & Smith
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State of Maryland Somerset County to wit:
Be it remembered that on this seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, before me the subscriber one of the State of Maryland Justices of the peace in and for Somerset County aforesaid personally appeared James Gibson of Somerset County, who being by me first duly sworn according to law deposes and says, that he is now eighty seven years of age, having been born in the year of our Lord 1764 - that from his infancy he has resided in Somerset County Maryland, that he has been from his earliest recollection acquainted with Col. William Jones, who he now understands has applied for a pension from the United States on account of his services in the war of the Revolution that he (witnefs) was very young at the breaking out of the war of the revolution, but that he distinctly remembers and does know, that Col. Jones did serve for some time during the war in the Militia which were called out, and in Capt. Thomas Irving's Company, that he (deponent) frequently saw said Col. Jones about that time, and recollects of his retiring the service, and of his being absent from his home and from the County for upwards of one year, as he deponent understood, and heard at the time in the neighborhood, in the service of the United States that he (deponent) recollects the time of said Col. Jones' return, which was shortly after old Mr. Dashiell's home was burnt by the British and that said Col. Jones afterwards raised a company himself as he (witnefs) thinks, and remained some time at Monie, Dames Quarter, and Deal's Island on guard, but he (witnefs) further declares that he does not know how said Col. Jones served in said first mentioned Company, further than, that he was an officer of some grade, but what grade he (witnefs)
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does not know, That he recollects that considerable talk was had in the neighborhood at the time of his departure, while he was away, and after his return, about his (Col. Jones) being engaged as a soldier in the War, and that these facts made are imprefsion upon his (witnefs') mind ~ That he long known Col. Jones all the time since he could recollect + that he is an upright honest, and credible man, and has always been a man of upstanding - That from his (witnefs') own age, compared with said Col. Jones' when he (witnefs) first recollects him, he knows that he must be ninety one or two years old or thereabouts ~
Sworn before Henry S Maddox

I certify that James Gibson the witnefs who made the above affidavit is well known to me and that he is a competent and credible witnefs and is a man of good character and that I am of opinion that he is at least of the age that he represents himself to be within above affidavit
Henry S Maddox
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Maryland, Fomerset [Somerset] County, towit;
I hereby certify that Henry S Maddox gentleman, before whom the within affidavit + certificate were made and whose name is thereto subscribed was at the date thereof a justice of the peace of the State of Maryland in and for Somerset County duly commifsioned + sworn
In testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Somerset County Court this 18th day of November eighteen hundred and fifty one
W T G Pock Clk
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State of Maryland}
Somerset County to wit} Be it remembered that on this 17th day of November Anno Domini 1851 before me the subscriber one of the State of Maryland Justices of the peace for Somerset County aforesaid personally appears Edmund Crosdale, of Somerset County who being first by me duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God deposes and says, that he was present and heard a conversation between Levin Woolford Esquire attorney for Col. William Jones who was an applicant for a pension from the United States on account of his service in the Revolutionary war, as a soldier and old Mr Nehemiah Covington, who was a gentleman of high standing as an upright and creditable man, that he accompanied said Mr Woolford to the house of Mr Covington, and that Mr Covington + Mr Woolford had a long conversation in regard to Col. Jones services as a soldier in that war ~ That he recollects the conversation well, and that Mr Covington signed a certificate of his belief that said Col. Jones was a soldier in said war and served as he had stated in his declaration - That he recollects hearing said Mr Covington say that he was an apprentice as Witnefs thinks to the Carpenter's businefs at the time said Col. Jones was enlisted or entered the service, that he was not present at the time but that the enlistment or entering said service was a matter of notoriety in the neighborhood and that he (said Mr Covington) recollects + distinctly to have heard the firing of the Company's guns, on that day, from the place where he (said Mr Covington was at work - He (witnefs) further recollects that said Mr Covington stated in conversation at the same time that he did not know in what capacity said Col. Jones served, but that he was sure he served
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In the space of one year or perhaps more ~ That he (witnefs) asked said Mr Woolford if it would not be better to take said Mr Covington's affidavit of the said facts he (said Mr Covington) being perhaps next to Col. Jones the oldest man in the neighborhood, he having represented himself at said time to be in his ninetieth or ninety first year, to which said Mr Woolford replied that from the fact that there was no justice of the peace near, it would be impofsible to get his (said Mr Covington's) affidavit that day, and that the same did not appear from the blank from which he had procured from the war department, to be strictly necefsary, but that if he could get a magistrate at some future day to go up there with him, he (said Mr. Woolford) would get said affidavit ~ That shortly after this time which was sometime in the early part of the last spring, said Mr Covington died. That he (witnefs) knew said Mr Covington well, and that he was a gentleman of high standing and entitled to credit and was universally so esteemed in the neighborhood in which he resided ~
Sworn before ~ John Miller

I certify that Edmund Crosdale Esq who appeared before me and made oath to the above statement of facts contained in the above affidavit made by him is a gentleman of high standing and entitled to credit and is so reputed in his neighborhood, I further certify, that said old Mr Nehemiah Covington was known to me to be a gentlemen of the highest respectability and that his character for veracity + honesty was of the highest order up to the day of his death ~ 
John Miller J. P.
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State of Maryland Somerset County to wit: Be it remembered that on this 17th day of November Anno Domini 1851 before me the subscriber one of the State of Maryland Justices of the peace in and for Somerset County aforesaid personally appears Levin Woolford who being first duly sworn according to law deposes and says that he has read the above affidavit made by Edmund Crosdale Esq and that he recollects the conversation stated in the same to have been held with old Mr Nehemiah Covington, and that the same is correctly detailed in said affidavit - he (witnefs) further recollects that said Mr Covington told him (witnefs) at the same time that, he recollected that Col. Jones had been engaged also in keeping guard at Monie and perhaps at other places, but that he (said Mr Covington) not being one of his men he (said Mr Covington) could not state for how long, or precisely at what places ~ He witnefs further declares that said old Mr Covington was a gentleman of very high standing for integrity and veracity, and that he (witnefs) was anxious to take said Mr Covington's affidavit in regard to this matter, but failed in getting a magistrate to accompany him to said Mr Covington's house before said Mr Covingtons death
sworn to before ~
John Miller

I hereby certify that Levin Woolford who made the above affidavit is a gentleman of high standing for integrity and veracity and that his character in his neighborhood is of the highest order -
John Miller J. P.
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Maryland, Somerset County, towit:
I hereby certify that John Miller Gentleman before whom the written affidavits + certificates were made and whose name is thereto subscribed was at the time of so doing a justice of the peace of the State of Maryland in and for Somerset County duly commifsioned and sworn
In testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Somerset County Court this 18th day of November Anno Domini 1851
Wm T G Polk Clk
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Wm Jones
Md
Act 7 June 1832
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Washington 27 June 1851
Sir,
Enclosed is the application of William Jones for a revolutionary pension under the act of 7 June 1832, Please report to us on the case,
Very Respectfully
Edwards & Smith

J E Heath Esq
Com. Pens.
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Washington 21. Nov 1851
Sir
Enclosed we send add? evidence in the case of Mr Jones, an applicant for a revolutionary pension, which case was was suspended on the 20. Oct, )utl, + hope it will be found satisfactory,
Very Respectfully
Edwards & Smith

J E heath Esq
Com Pens
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[handwritten]
J. L. Edward
March 24 / 52
[/handwritten]
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[handwritten]
265

Pension Office
March 24. 1852

Sir:

The additional evidence filed by you in the case of Wm Jones of Maryland, Act 7 June 1832 does not remove the objection urged against the admission of this claim in my letter to you of the 18 Oct last. Neither of the witnesses whose testimony you produce, pretend to have been in service with the claimant, and have no knowledge of that service except by tradition. Unless the service is particularly set forth and proved in conformity with the long established rules of the office, no allowance can be made.

J. L. Edward, Esq
Present
[/handwritten]
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[handwritten]
Copy

Pension Office
October 18, 1851

Messers Edwards & Smith Present

Gent:

The declaration of William Jones under the act of June 7, 1832 has been received. Of his high respectability and that of his avouchers no doubt its entertained but I regret to say that I find nothing in his case to exempt it from the operation of the rule applied to all similar ones. He has adduced no evidence of his service and does not himself pretend to any accuracy with regard to its duration.

Long since the passage of the law under which he claims, that evidence, he says, might have been obtained, but for his ignorance of the provisions of the law. Such ignorance cannot be urged by the party before this office any more than before a Court of Justice of the claim cannot be admitted, only on the production of satisfactory proof.
[/handwritten]