Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2078, James Blackburn, Penn.
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(3-1776)
Service                                            Number
Penn.           Blackburn, James        S. 2078   

Born in Pa
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Letter to J. B. Weller 15 July 183- (unclear)
do. to P. Hagner 13 Feb 1839
Paid at the Treasury and (unclear)
the Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4th March 1837 to 4th Sept 1838.  Agt notified 31. Aug 1839.
Letter to Hon J. Weller 2d March 1841.
Same person and 3d. Auditor 3d. June 1841
Paid as above from 4. Sept. 1839 to 4 March 1840 Agt notified 9. June 1841
Letter to Hon J. B. Weller 20 Jany 1842.
Date of death (rest unclear)
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The State of Ohio
Butler County ss

On this thirtieth day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable the (unclear) Judge of the Court of Common pleas now sitting James Blackburn a resident of Fairfield Township in the County of Butler and State of Ohio aged Seventy four 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 -
That he entered the Service of the United States in the month of June in Seventeen hundred and Seventy six by enlistment in the "Flying Camp" Company commanded by Captain John Paxton of Gettysburgh Pennsylvania at which place he entered said service  - that Colonel McCallister commanded the Flying Camp Regt assisted by Lieut Col Kennedy and Major Clark and that Hugh King was 1st Lieut - Jacob Chazat 2nd Lieut and Thomas Reed ensign of said Company - that said Regt (unclear) to Philadelphia to Amboy to Staten Island or Governors Island and to many other places (unclear) to (unclear) Constitution on North River where said regt remained for some time that a portion of said regt volunteered under said Lieut Hugh King to march to York Island where on the 16th day of November the entire army were captured and taken prisoners by the British army under Command of Genl House - Colonel McLaw being commander of the United States forces in said battle - That Deponent was taken to New York by the British and there placed in a Prison Ship called the "Dutton" where he together with a few others who survived the cruelty  inflicted upon them remained for about three months after which he was let out upon parole or to return when called upon by said British Officers - that he never was
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exchanged by the British but returned home under said Parole in February or March succeeding his enlistment
This deponent further states that before his capture at York Island he was at a battle on Long Island, afterwards in another on Staten Island where the first Hessians were captured in the revolutionary war - that at the battle or skirmish on Staten Island the American forces were commanded as this deponent believes (crossed out) by Colonel Jefferson - This deponent had since his capture procured from his Lieut. Hugh King a certificate of his having served in said Captn John Paxton's company and of having been taken Prisoner at the time before specified on York Island, which said certificate is hereto attached (cross out) which this deponent prays maybe refered to as a portion of his testimony  Deponent states that he was born in York County Pennsylvania on the 19th day of June seventeen hundred and fifty eight of which he has a record - that he has resided in Butler County for about twenty eight years that previous thereto he resided in Kentucky about four years and that he has for a long time been acquainted with Wm Orson by whom he expects to prove the fact of his having been reputed a soldier of the revolution for upwards of forty years and that he has also been long acquainted with James Beaty and James Elliott by whom he will be able to prove the same facts -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever for pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agence of any State
James Blackburn
Sworn to Subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
John Reily   Clerk
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James Blackburn
Ohio
No 2375.
From 1776 private 8 months
$26.66
(unclear)
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Brief in the case of James Blackburn of Butler County in the State of Ohio
(Act 7 June, 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?  74 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period/ Duration of Service./ Rank./ Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
June In 1776 to March 1777/ 3 year, 8 months, " days/ As a Private/Gen.eal McGaw, Col McCallister, Major Clark, Capt John Paxtons compy Flying Camp

5. In what battles was he engaged?  York Island , Long Island and Staten Island

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Gittysburgh Pennsylvania

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence or by the rolls?  Documentary in part and Traditionary

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

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
C Sitte   Examining Clerk.
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Ba-J/AWF (not clear)
James Blackburn
S. 2078

Miss Helen Posey
Rockport
Indiana

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of James Blackburn of Pennsylvania, who was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, and later lived in Butler County, Ohio.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 2078, based on service of James Blackburn in the War of the Revolution.
James Blackburn was born June 19, 1758 in York County, Pennsylvania.  The names of his (parents?) were not given.
James Blackburn enlisted in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, sometime in June, 1776, served as private in Captain John Paxton's company, Colonel Charles McCallister's Pennsylvania regiment in the Flying Camp; he was in the battle of Long Island, in a skirmish on Staten Island, and was taken prisoner, November 16, 1776, at Fort Washington, carried to New York, and held in British prison ship "Dutton", three months, then paroled and returned home sometime in March, 1777, and was never exchanged, remained a prisoner on parole during the war.
He lived, after the Revolution, in Kentucky
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about four years, then moved to Ohio.
The soldier, James Blackburn, was allowed pension on his application executed July 30, 1832, at which time he was living in Fairfield Township, Butler County, Ohio, having lived in said county, about twenty-eight years.
The papers on file in this claim contain no reference to the family of James Blackburn.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data:
James Blackburn
Certificate #1654
Issued November 8, 1832
Rate $26.66 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Ohio Agency.

Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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I William Orson residing in Hamilton County hereby certify that I have been acquainted with James Blackburn for upwards of forty years - that I believe him to be Seventy four years of age - that has been reputed and believed both in this State and in Pennsylvania to be a soldier of the Revolution - that I concur fully in that opinion and further that early in my acquaintance with him he informed me of his having been taken prisoner at Fort Washington on York Island as set forth in his declaration subscribed and sworn to above by him
               his
William   (blot)  Orson
             mark
Sworn and Subscribed this day & year aforesaid
John Reily  Clerk

We James Beaty & James Elliott residents of Butler County & State of Ohio hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Blackburn who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be Seventy four years of age - that we have (crossed out word) heard him reputed to have been a soldier of the Revolution during our acquaintaince with him which has been upwards of thirty years - that we both have heard our Fathers state that he was a soldier of the revolution and that he was taken prisoner by the British on York Island and that we have always believed the report to be true
James Beaty
James Elliott
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Reily   Clerk
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And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interogatories 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 William Orson who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of the county of Hamilton, and that James Beaty and James Elliott who have also signed the same are residents in the said county of Butler and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
I John Reily Clerk of the court of Common pleas of the county of Butler aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Blackburn for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office at Hamilton this fourth day of August One thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
John Reily
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J. L. Edwards Esq
Pension Office
Washington
DC
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Washington City   Dec 1833.

Sir,
I am informed by James Blackburn of Butler County Ohio, pensioner, that he only draws $24 per year.  He thinks he should draw more.
He entered the service in June 1776 & was among those most unfortunate prisoners who were taken 16 Nov. following at Fort Washing. and of whom the greater part perished in the prison ship Grosvenor, in the North River.  He was not paroled until March following which would make at least nine months, and then he, and his Lieutenant who died three weeks afterwards of disease contracted in the ship were the only men of his company who left it.  He was not exchanged during the war but remained a prison on parole
You will please notify me of your decision upon review.
Your most (unclear)
Taylor Webster
Hon. Jas L. Edwards
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(Postmark) Washington City DC Jan 19
Jan 20 1842
Im at (unclear)

Hon J. L. Edwards
Com Pensions
Presents
(unclear overwriting)
Hon J. B. Weller
W R
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House Rep
19th Jan, 1842

(Sir)
I believe I sent to your defendant during the last summer the pension papers of James Blackburn of this who had neglected to draw his pension at the Agency at Cin (unclear) for 8 months - It could not then be paid (according to my recollection) because the Agent at that (unclear) had not made a return of unclaimed pensions to you - will you please advise me whether the pension can now be paid?
Respectfully
Your ob servt
John B Weller

Hon J. L. Edwards
Com Pensions
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S file 2078
James Blackburn
Penn.
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These are to certify that James Blackburn serv'd as a Private In Captain John Paxton's company of York County Flying Camp.  And was made Prisoner on the Sixteen of November 1776.  Certified by
Hugh King
then Lieut. In said company
(unclear)
28 March 1791
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(Postmark) Hamilton(unclear)
July 1

July 12.
(unclear)

Hon J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington City
D.C. 

Free
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Hamilton (unclear, date?)

Hon J. L. Edwards
Sir
I enclose  you a affidavit of James Blackburn a Pensioner who has neglected to draw his pension for the last two years.  If the paper is not sufficient (unclear) the rules of your department to (authorize?) the ordering of the Agent to pay it please advise me what  further is necessary - The pension is payable at Cincinnati
Respectfully 
Your (unclear)
John B. Weller
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House Rep
1st (unclear) 1841

Hon J. L. Edwards
Com pensions
Sir
I send you herewith the application of James Blackburn who neglected to apply at the proper time for his pension - If the papers are deemed satisfactory advise me as soon as convenient
Respectfully
your ob servt
John B Weller
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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
June 4th, 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," James Blackburn, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio Agency, at the rate of Twenty Six Dollars and 66 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at the Department, from the 4 of Sept. 1839.  to the 4th March 1840.
Respectfully your,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pension,
Present.
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Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Blackburn which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?   Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes
V. Has he mentioned 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?  Yes
VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes
IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  Yes
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2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  No Clergyman
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of a least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. *If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI.  **Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Yes
______________________________________
Explanatory Notes.
Quere V. 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______________________ year_________________ months and _____days, I served as a _______.  For _____months and ______days, I served as a ________; and for such service I claim a pension"
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as 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.

* Quere XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
**Quere XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon the end 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.
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Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office,
August 17th, 1839.

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," James Blackburn, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio Agency, at the rate of twenty six Dollars and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1837, to the 4th Sept., 1838.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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(First line of typing is obscured)
for a statement of the military history of James Blackburn a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (crossed out words) application for pension on file in this Bureau.     S. 2078

Dates of enlistment or appointment./ Length of service./ Rank/ Officers under whom service was rendered. / State.
--/----/-----/Captain.   Colonel./ ----
June 76/ ----/ Pri./ John Paxton.   McCallister/ Penn. "Flying Camp"
captured Nov. 16, 1776 Ft. Washington, carried to New York &
confined in British prison ship "Dutton" (crossed out words -"and after") 3 mos.
(crossed out words "of cruelty & suffering") he was paroled in (crossed out "Febr") Mch. 1777.

Battles engaged in, Long Island, skirmish on Staten Is.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl. at Gettysburg, Pa.
Date of application for pension, July 30, 1832.
Residence at date of application, Fairfield Twp., Butler Co., Ohio.
Age at date of application, June 19, 1758 in York Co., Pa.
Remarks: His claim was allowed.  No family data.

Very respectfully,
(unsigned)
Commissioner

6-2856
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O. W. & N. Division

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C. , January 25, 1896.

F. S.
M. E. C.

Madam:
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of James Blackburn a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Date of enlistment or appointment./ Length of service./ Rank./ Officers under whom service was rendered./ State.


See Supplemental statement.

Battles engaged in,   See Supplement
Residence of soldier at enlistment,  Probably, York Co., Pa.
Date of application for pension.  July 13, 1832.
Residence at date of application,  Butler, Butler Co., Ohio.
Age at date of application,  Born in York Co., Pa., June 19, 1758.
Remarks:  His pension was allowed.

Very respectfully,
(unsigned)
Commissioner

870blm
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Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,

Supplement.
(James Blackburn)

At Gettysburg, Pa., in the month of June, 1776, he joined the "Flying Camp" as a private in Capt. John Paxton's company, Col. McCallister's Pa. regiment, and marched to Philadelphia, thence to Amboy, thence to Staten Island, thence to Governor's Island, and from there to Ft. Constitution, where his regiment remained for a considerable time.  He then volunteered under Lt. Hugh King and marched to Ft. Washington where, on the 16th of November, 1776, he was taken prisoner and carried to New York, where he was placed on board the prison ship "Dutton" and held as a prisoner for about three months.  Previous to his capture at Ft. Washington he had participated in the battle of Long Island and in a skirmish on Staten Island, where the first Hessians taken during the Revolutionary war were captured.
No other details of his services are given.
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(Stamp) - Received Jun 25 1938 
Mail Sub. Div.
Vets. Adm.
Reader No. 31

Rockport, Indiana
June 23, 1938

Veterans Administration
Division of Revolutionary War Records
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:
Will you please give me such information as you have in your records of the service of James Blackburn of Pennsylvania, who, our family records say, was taken prisoner at Ft. Washington.  If you have any data concerning his family, please give that also.  My information is that he died in Butler County, Ohio.

Yours very truly,
(Miss) Helen Posey
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(Stamp) - U. S. Pension Office, D. Aug 14 1913
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Blackburn's Pharmacy
Cor. Main and Wabash
Next to the bank

Pittsburg, Pa. Aug 13 1913

Commissioner of Pensions -
Dear Sir -
In attempting to qualify as a Son of the American Revolution, I find that James, Joseph, Thomas Jr. and Anthony Blackburn were expelled from the Menallen Meeting of Quakers in Pennsylvania in 1777, for enlisting in the Army.
The Adjutant's General's office in Washington has records of only John Blackburn; but suggests me seeking further information from the Commissioner of Pensions.
Any information you can give me will be thankfully received.
Yours very truly
Chas. E. Blackburn
Pittsburg Pa
20 Wabash Ave
Page 31

Jan. 25
Mil Histy to
Mrs V. A. Boyles
Denver, Col.
(see Moses Blackburn 16645)
1913 Ang. 25 Hist. to Chas. E. Blackburn
1938- July 15 hist to Helen Posey

- 2596
(unclear) 16.645
V. A Boyles

Rev War 2078  1896
Invalid.
File No. 2078
James Blackburn
Privt. Rev. War 

Act: June 7. 1832.
Index: - Vol. A., Page 34
[Arrangement of 1870.]