Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File [Blank], for Molly Pitcher, [Blank]
Page 1

Pitcher Molly

This is not a pension claim and is not to be considered as such, but as it has been often inquired about and there is correspondence in regard to her I have filed it for convenience in reference and searching
Page 2

March 2, 1932
BA-J/MMHF:MLB
E. W. V. Kutz
Route No. 2
Douglassville, Pennsylvania
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter of February 18, 1932, relative to securing information in regard to Molly Pitcher.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims for pension and bounty land based upon service in that war.
There is no such claim on file based upon service
of Molly Pitcher.
It is suggested that you consult Lossing's "Field Book of the Revolution", Volume 2, page 155, and the magazine of the Daughters of the American Revolution, for September, 1917, for information
in regard to her; also the Pennsylvania State Librarian, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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Douglassville, Pa. 2/18-1932.
Route no. 2
Director of Pensions,
Veterans' Administration,
Washington, D.C.
Dear sir.
Can you give me any information about Molly Pitcher. What has she done to get her name
into history. Where was she born, and what was
her right name.
Sincerely yours
E.W.V. Kutz
[stamp at bottom. Numbers 1-12 around circle outside. Symbol above word Received. Text: RECEIVED FEB 19 1932 [illegible words] PENSION [illegible words and numbers]
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See Magazine Article giving history of Molly Pitcher on file in pension claim of Deborah Gannett
Mass - 
S[or 8]32722
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CITY OF SISSETON OFFICE OF THE CITY JUSTICE E.F. ATWOOD
SISSETON, S. DAK., Apr. 17, 1925.
(Revolutionary records)
Commissioner of Pensions,
Dear Sir:- Please let me have copy of such information as is in your office, of: -
1. Deborah Sampson Gannett, 1760 - 1828, who enlisted as Robert Shurtleff about 1781, Col. Shepherd's Mass. regt. pensioned by act of Congress 1805. Have part of facts and wish all possible to get.
2. Sergeant Molly Pitcher, if that is her right name - husband killed at Monmouth, Molly served cannon rest of day. Given rank of sergeant,
and half-pay for life by special act of Congress. If latter is not in your department, where would one be apt to find half pay rolls? Wanted for school library book,
Respectfully,
E. F. Atwood
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Kingston, N. Y. Nov. 15th, 1914.
262 Washington Ave.
Re Department of Pensions.
Gentlemen.
At the battle of Monmouth, June 1778,
in the Revolution, Molly Pitcher, the wife of a
soldier who was killed while firing his cannon,
took his place at the gun. She was complimented
by, and commissioned as sergeant by Washington. Was she ever granted a pension? If so when, how much, etc. would very much like a copy of the same or the order for the same.
I am not after the pension but am engaged in
writing her life, and find material for the same
very scant.
Any information you can give or suggestions as
to whom I can address in the matter will be
greatly appreciated.
Yours truly
[signature] A H Van Buren
[stamp at bottom of page - PENSION OFFICE NOV 17 1924]
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3 -- 871
RECORD DIVISION
Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Briefed by
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant
Soldier Molly Pitcher
Service [written lightly across this and next line is the word - Hays]
Additional Service
No    claim, State records , 191
No claim, combination records , 191
REMARKS:
see correspondence relative to [illegible] envelope in files marked Margaret Corbin
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3 -- 871
H[osbcured by water stain]
D[epartment of th]e Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by A.o.r. Apr. 9, 1910
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant Molly (Mary)
Soldier John Hays
Service N.Y. Rev
Additional Service
No   claim, State records , 190
No claim, combination records , 190
REMARKS:
No claim as above
No claim for any Molly or Mary wed of John Heays [Hays] except W.21245, S.C. line residence
0-5 Chief Division
W.21245 SC
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Record Division
Department of the Interior,
Pensions.
Briefed by Sor.  Sept 9, 1910
Claim No 
Certificate No
Claimant Mary Pitcher
Soldier  Gottlieb Pitcher
Service Ly Rev Mar
Additional Service

No   claim, State records  ___________, 190 ____
No Claim, combination records ______, 190 ___
Remarks:
Widow File 26899
not[illegible}itievue  soldier
advised in 1832 &
married on Dec 1, 1789
Chief Division
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[water stain at top obscures printed text]
19
No. Claim,
Cert. No.
Claimant,
Soldier,
Co.
Reg't.
[stamp on lines of above that reads: BUREAU OF PENSIONS APR 9 1910 COMMISSIONER.]
ACTION AND ORDER:
Miss. Wilson
If we have anything in regard to this the
Commissioner would like you to bring the papers and see him about it
Mls [guessing at signature]
Commissioner.
6609b5m8-09
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TEL. MANSFIELD 1838
[stamp under the above. Numbers 1-12  going around the stamp. On stamp is a symbol at top and the words: RECEIVED SEP 28 1933 MAIL SUB-DIV. ET8, ADM. READER 18]
VANDERVEER PARK
ALBY H. SILSBY
929 EAST 34TH STREET
BROOKLYN, N.Y.
[Handwritten]
Refer to BA-J/MMHF/eel
Sept 26" 1933.
Mr A.D. Hiller
Veterans Administration
Washington, DC.
Dear Sir:
Replying to your letter of September 18th last in answer to mine of previous date wherein you state that there is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service of Molly Pitcher, would not the fact that according to letters in possession of the Silsby Family which State that General Washington granted the said Molly Pitcher a pension of half pay for life, obviate the
necessity of an application for a pension to
the Veteran's Administration.
Am I to understand that, from your letter, there is no record of any pension, that was paid to Molly Pitcher of Revolutionary War Fame.
I am communicating with the Daughters
of the American Revolution, the
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Pennsylvania State Librarian and Consulting Lossing's Field Book as recommended in your letter.
Thanking you for the information furnished, I remain,
Very Truly Yours
Albert H. Silsby
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[typewritten]
TEL. MANSFIELD 1838
VANDERVEER PARK
ALBY H. SILSBY
929 EAST 34TH STREET
BROOKLYN, N.Y.
[handwritten]
Aug 24" 1933.
[stamp underneath with numbers 1 - 12 around the circular edge. Upside down text on stamp [illegible] 25 1933 MAIL SUB-DIV. [illegible] NOV 64]
U.S. Pension Bureau,
Washington D.C.
Gentlemen:
Could you furnish me according to your files with a copy of the Military record of Mrs Robert Pitcher called in history "Molly Pitcher" of 
Revolutionary War fame.
According to records in our family, Lydia Silsby ancestral cousin, married John Diamond and their daughter Mary Silsby Diamond married Robert Pitcher and became the "Molly Pitcher" of the Battle of Monmouth. Commended in order by General Washington for bravery, promoted to a brevet captain in the Continental Army and put upon half pay for life.
I would like if possible to
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[handwritten]
get some official document from the Pension Bureau verifying the above records in our family.
Thanking you in advance, I remain,
Yours Truly,
Albert H. Silsby
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October 27, 1933.
BA-J/MMHF/ILL
Molly Pitcher
Alby H. Silsby
929 East 34 Street
Brooklyn, New York.
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request further information in regard to compensation awarded Molly Pitcher for service
in the Revolutionary War.
As stated in office letter of September 18, no claim for pension is on file in this office based upon service of Molly Pitcher in the
Revolutionary War. By recommendation of General Washington, her name was placed upon the list of half pay officers for life (See Lossing's
Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution). This office has no record of the payments, and is unable to name a definite source of information relative thereto, even if such record exists. It is suggested that information might be obtained from the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city.
Very truly yours,
A.D. HILLER,
Assistant to Administrator.
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September 18, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/MMHF/eel
Mr. Albert H. Silsby
929 East 34th Street
Brooklyn, New York
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Molly Pitcher of Revolutionary War fame.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims for pension and bounty land which have been made to the
United States based upon service in that war.
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service of Molly Pitcher.
It is suggested that you consult Lossing's "Field Book of the Revolution," Volume 2, page 155, and the magazine of the Daughters of the American Revolution, for September, 1917, for information
in regard to her; also the Pennsylvania State Librarian, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
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[aw signature handwritten in top right corner]
Rev. & 1[water stain took away rest of numbers/words]
April 25, 1925.
Mr. E. F. Atwood,
City Justice,
Sisseton, S. Dak.
Sir:
I have to advise you, that this Bureau has the
histories of only such persons as applied to the
United States for pension, or bounty land on account of service in the War of the Revolution and a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file for Molly Pitcher.
It is suggested that you consult Lossing's
Field Book of the Revolution, Volume 2, page 155, and the Magazine of the Daughters of the American Revolution for Spetember [September] 1917, for data in regard to her.
Respectfully,
[handwritten signature] Wilder S. Metcalf
[typewritten] WILDER S. METCALF, 
Commissioner.
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[aw signature handwritten on top right]
[water stain took away first part of word]v. & 1812 Wars S[water stain took away last part of word]
Nov. 24, 1924.
A. H. Van Buren,
3[5 or 6]2 Washington Ave.
Kingston, N. Y.
Sir:
I have to advise you, that this Bureau has the
histories of only such persons as applied to the United States for pension, or bounty land, on account of service in the War of the Revolution, and a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file for Molly Pitcher,
It is suggested that you consult Lossings"Field
Book of the Revolution" Volume 2, page 155, and the Magazine of the Daughters of the American Revolution, for September 1917, for data in regard to her.
Respectfully,
Washington Gardner
Commissioner.
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[handwritten on top left corner] aw.
[typewritten] Rev. War Section. action.
October 15, 1913.
Mr. Arthur P. Abbott,
360 West 50th Street,
New York City.
Sir:
In response to your letter dated the 7" and received the 9" instant, you are advised that on the 15" ultimo you were informed that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau failed to afford any information in regard to Molly
Pitcher or "Captain Molly".
For information relative to payments made by the quarter Master General U.S.A., you should address the War Department.
Very respectfully,
[handwritten signature, illegible]
Commissioner.
[handwritten at bottom of letter] This woman is no on any list of [illegible words] of U.S- or on American State papers under Pitcher, Hays or McAuley nor do I find her in the Pa. Archives war of the Rev. 
[handwritten underneath and text is very light and hard to decipher all] Office Min[illegible] Molly Pitcher was [illegible words] by the State [illegible words] Pa, [illegible] Feb. 21, 1802 she was the wife of John Hays [illegible] after the death of George McAuley. This [illegible words] from [illegible] article written by [illegible] Grace [illegible words] Sept. 1917 [illegible words]
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September 18, 1913.
Mr. Arthur P. Abbott,
360 West 50th Street,
New York City,
Sir:
In response to your letter dated the 13" and received the 15" instant, you are advised that this Bureau has the history of only such persons as applied for pension or bounty land on account of services in the War of the Revolution, and
a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file for Molly Pitcher or "Captain Molly" described in your letter.
It is suggested that you consult "Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution" [carrot annotation marked here, but no word for it] for her history.
Very respectfully,
E.C. Tieman
Acting Commissioner.
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8 - 871 [added by hand to right of this is the word 'over']
RECORD DIVISION
Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Briefed by aw. Sept. 16, 1913
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant
Soldier Molly Pitcher or
Service "Capt Molly"
Additional Service Rev.
No [blank line space] claim, State records, 191
No claim, combination records, 191
REMARKS:
No claim for this woman who fought
at bat of Monmouth
see Lossing.
[at bottom of form is]
6-1944 Chief Division.
[To right of this form appears to be typewritten words from back of document, so the writing is backwards, Acting [illegible].]
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Rt
There is no pension claim on file for this woman.
in Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, Vol. 2 Page 155 it is stated that the day after the battle of Monmouth she was commissioned Sergeant by General Washington and by his recommendation placed upon the list of half pay officers for life, but that may be tradition as he does not quote his authority.
If the Commissioner wishes me to write a letter in regard to this matter please return the papers.