Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 47, for John Miller, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776) 

SERVICE
Md.

Miller, John
Mary 

NUMBER
W. 47

b. 1765
carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

[Two panels]
[Left panel]

See letter of Feb
1835 to Pen Agt.

[Right panel]
West Tennessee  29,594
John Miller 
of White Co. in the State of Tennessee 
who was a Private in the company commanded 
by Captain Ott of the Regt. commanded 
by Col. Rollins in the Maryland 
line for 7 months

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee 
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 Decr.
1834 and sent to Hon. J. B. 
Forrester H.R. 

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1834  71.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th March '35 11.66
$83.32
=====

{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 182. }

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, 
Book E-2- Vol. 7 Page 97
Page 3

[Two panels]
[Left panel]

5179
Tennessee.

Mary Miller 
widow of John Miller 
Colo Rollins Maryland 
who served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a Private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
23 Dollars 33 
Cents per annum, to commence on 
the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 
30th day of Oct. '49
and sent to 
William Glenn
Sparta, Tenn.

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act 
February 2, 1848, Page 296 Vol. 3

[Right panel]

Reported 

Date of death 
not on AB
Page 4

"Shanandoah

"Agreeable to an act of Assembly I John Koonts being duly 
authorised [authorized] have married the following persons viz
John Miller and Mary Dolson  July 5" 1787"

Virginia to wit

I Samuel C. Williams Clerk of the County Court of the 
County of Shenandoah certify that the foregoing is a true extract 
from the record of marriages in my office
[Blurred seal of Court]  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 10th 
day of July 1849 and in the 74 year of the
Commonwealth  Saml. C. William Cl. S.C
Page 5

State of Tennessee 
White County Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions 
in the year 1834

On this thirteenth day of October in the year 1834 
personally appeared in open Court before the 
worshippul [worshipful] Thomas Eastland, John Bryan and 
William Hitchcock now sitting and holding court, John 
Miller a resident citizen of the County 
of White in the State of Tennessee aged sixty 
nine years who being first duly sworn 
according to the laws of the land 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 
under the following named officers and served 
as herein stated

He states he first entered the service of the United 
States in the war of the revolution in Washington 
County in the State of Maryland, as a substi
tute, for a tour of three months, and marched 
to a place called Fort Frederic [Frederick], in the same 
State, and was there employed in guarding 
prisoners.  The Colonel in command was 
called as he recollects Rollins 
He served out his full tour of three 
months as a guard and was discharged 
at Fort Frederic [Frederick]
[Number 3 in left margin]

Shortly after his return he again hired 
himself as a substitute for three months 
more and again was employed in guarding 
[word struck out] the same [illegible] prisoners [following lined through] that were as he  understood brought from Fredericktown.] His Captains
name as he recollects was called Ott or Utt
He states he served out his full tour 
of three months and was again discharged
So soon as this tour was closed he again 
hired as a substitute and continued in the 
same service for some more than as 
month and [illegible] in marching or guarding some prisoners from 
Frederectown [Fredericktown] & to Fort Frederic [Frederick]
when the prisoners were removed 
and he was released from further service
Page 6

This [illegible] his service as a soldier of the 
revolution [illegible] as to the state of his service he 
begs leave to refer the department to the facts 
he has stated.  It was before Cornwallis was taken.

He further states that given old age and 
great defect and [illegible] of recollection he has 
been unable to give names.  The officers were 
all strangers to him, and he [word struck out] cannot state 
their names. One fact he can clearly 
and most confidently state he served as 
much as seven months as a guard, and 
in the characcater [character] of a substitute.  He knew 
nothing of the men for whom he hired. 
They were not acquaintances, and their 
names have wholly left his memory
He is there wholly unable to make a 
more satisfactory statement than above, for 
the reasons stated

He states he has lost his discharges, he 
never considered them of any value, and 
therefore did not preserve them.

He has no documentary evidence of his 
service nor does he know of any living 
which by whom he can prove his services 
or any part thereof.

He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension 
or annuity whatever except the present nor is his name on the 
pension roll of the agency of any State
John his X mark Miller 

I was born in Pennsylvania
I have no record of my age but from the 
best information I have I was born in 1765 
When called into service I was living in Washing
ton County Maryland.  My father moved & I with 
him, to Pennsylvania, from thence to Shenandoah 
County Virginia, from that I moved to Buletourt [Botetourt]
County Virginia from there to Greenbryur [Greenbrier] 
County, from there to Granger [Grainger] County Tennessee 
From there to White County, where I now 
reside & where I have lived twenty four years 
I was called into service as a substitute, but 
cannot state the names.  I cannot say more
Page 7

more of officers than I have already stated ┃ my service being altogether as a guard. I can say nothing of regiments; I recollect there were  some regulars in the service at the same time and that while I served there were two sets of presences - I think I received two or charges, but I do not know what become of them - I believe that my neighbors without any exception will testify as to my character for veracity, and if any one doubts my service as a soldier of the revolution. I do not know it I will name lot, Levier Evans, Daniel Dale Capt. John White, John Dotson [possibly Denton], his X Sworn to in open Court 13th Oct 1839 John Turner Lane Miller and A Lane Clerk by L. Oldham DC We John Green a clergyman residing in the County of White [illegible] and Don. Griffith residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Miller who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age, at least we can say he is very old man. That he is reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that pension. He is letter to full credit on his event of justice Sworn to in open Court John Green this 13th day of October 1834. Jacob Adam Clerk Dan Griffith By Cham D.C. I am not acquainted with the applicant but I am well acquainted with the above witness are men of good character and their statement is entitled to high credit if the whole cannot be allowed. I will take what can. John Green
Page 8

And the said Thomas Eastland, [name struck out] John Bryan and 
William Hitchcock presiding and holding said Court 
according the laws of the Court, do hereby declare 
their opinion after the investigation of the matter and 
after [repeated: 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 certify 
that it appears to them that John Green who 
signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman 
residing in said County of White. And that 
Dan Griffith who has also signed the same 
is a resident in the same County and is a 
credible person.  And that their Statement is entitled 
to full credit
Thos Eastland J.P [word Seal encircled]
John Bryan J.P [word Seal encircled]
Wm. Hitchcock [word Seal encricled]
Justice of the peace

I, Jacob A Lane Clerk of the Court of Pleas
and quarter Sessions for the County of White in 
the State of Tennessee, do hereby certify that the 
foregoing contains the original proceedings of 
the said Court in the matter of the application 
of John Miller for a pension
Given under my hand and the seal 
of my office at office this fourteenth 
day of October in the year of our Lord 
[Blurred seal of office] one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty four
Jacob Lane Clerk 
of said Court 
[illegible] Oldham DC

[Written vertically from right margin across the above paragraph]
John Miller Tenn.
32176 Tennessee
for - pen 7 mos
$23 33/100

[Written vertically left margin]
Hon J B Forrester

[Written vertically at bottom of page right margin]
Hon J B Forrester
Page 9

13964
Mary Miller 
wid. Jno Miller
Tenn 
Act 7 July 1838 

Married 1787 
Rejected husband decd
4 Novm 1846
July 1838

Admd. act 17 June 44
$23/33 per ann 
pen 4 Novem 1846

Admd act 2 Feby 48 
$23/33 per ann
pen 4 March 48


William Glenn
Sparta
Ten
Page 10

The following is the Declaration of 
Mary Miller of the County of White in the 
State of Tennessee -In order to obtain the 
benefits of the 3rd Section of the act of Congress 
of 4th. July 1836, and of the 1st. Section of the act 
of 3rd. March 1837, And all other subsequent acts 
of Congress in relation to granting the widows 
of Revolutionary Soldiers half pay To wit.

State of Tennessee } S.S.
White County }  On this 14th day of August 
A.D. 1849 personally appeared 
before me Joseph G. Mitchell an acting Justice 
of the peace in and for said County of White Mary 
Miller aged eighty one years who being 
first duly sworn according to law, doth on her 
oath make the following Declaration in order to 
obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the 
several acts of Congress in relation to the granting 
of half pay to the widows & orphans of deceased 
Revolutionary soldiers That she was married 
to John Miller who was a private in the war of the 
Revolution and who also was a Revolutionary 
pensioner as appears more fully from his certifi
cate granted at the war office of the United States 
on the 19th day of December one thousand eight hund
red and thirty four - and which is herewith filed and 
made part of this Declaration.  And for the particular 
services of her said husband she refers to his Declar
ation now on file in the War Office.

She further declares, that she was married to 
the said John Miller in Shanandoa [Shenandoah] County 
in the State of Virginia on the 5th. day of 
July 1787.  And that her husband the aforesaid
Page 11

John Miller died on the 4th. day of November 1846 
and that she still remains his widow.
Sworn to & subscribed the day }  Mary her X mark Miller [word Seal encircled]
and year above written, before me. }
Joseph G. Mitchell
Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee } S.S.
White County }. Be it known that before me 
Joseph G. Mitchell a justice of the peace 
in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared 
Hiram Dodson and Valentine Dodson - And 
made oath in due form of law that they were well 
acquainted with John Miller a Revolutionary 
pensioner and are also well acquainted with 
Mary Miller his wife the foregoing applicant and 
that the said John Miller died on the 4th day of 
November 1846 in the County of White in the State 
of Tennessee And that the said Mary Miller still 
remains his widow.  Hiram Dodson [word Seal encircled]
Sworn to & subscribed before me } Valentine Dodson [word Seal encircled]
the 14th day of August 1849. }
Joseph G. Mitchell [word Seal encircled]
Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee }
White County } I Joseph G. Mitchell Justice 
of the peace in and for said County 
do hereby certify that Mary Miller the above and 
foregoing applicant from bodily infirmity is wholy [wholly]
unable to attend at the Courthouse of the County 
to be sworn to her foregoing Declaration.
Given under my hand and seal
Page 12

this 14h day of August A.D. 1849.
Joseph G. Mitchell [word Seal encircled]
Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee }
White County } I George G Ditral Clerk of White County 
Court hereby certify that Joseph G
Mitchell Esq whose genuine signatures appear to the fore
going affidavits and certificates is now and was at the 
time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace 
in and for the County and State aforesaid duly commissioned 
and legally sworn that all his official acts as such 
are entitled to full faith and credit
[Blurred seal of Court] In Testimony whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and affixed 
the seal of said Court at office 
in Sparta this 14th day of August 
A D 1849
Test G. G. Ditral Clerk 
of White County Court
Page 13

April 8, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
B4-J/EEL
John Miller-W.47

Mrs. S. M. Arnold
Sparta
Tennessee

Dear Madam:

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in
Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 47, based upon the military service
of John Miller in that war.

John Miller was born in 1765. The place of his birth and the
names of his parents are not shown.

While residing in Washington County, Maryland, John Miller
enlisted and served three tours, seven months in all, as a private
under Captain Utt or Ott and Colonel Rollins in the Maryland Troops
and was engaged during his entire service as a guard for the prisoners
held at Frederick, Maryland; no dates of his service are given.

[Handwritten in margin: Could not identify any of those officers]

After the Revolution, he moved with his father to the state of
Pennsylvania; thence to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia; thence
to Botetourt County, Virginia; thence to Grainger County Tennessee;
thence to White County, Tennessee. He did not state whether or not
his father accompanied him when he left Pennsylvania.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 13,
1834, while residing in White County, Tennessee, where he had lived
for twenty-four years.

He died November 4, 1846, in said White County.

The soldier married July 5, 1787, in Shenandoah County, Virginia, Mary Dotson. Their marriage was recorded on the records of
the clerk for Shenandoah County, Virginia.

The soldier's widow, Mary, was allowed pension on her application
executed August 14, 1849 at which time she was aged eighty-one years
and resided in White County, Tennessee.
Page 14

No reference was made to children of John and Mary Miller.

In 1846, Hiram Dodson and Valentine Dodson made affidavits in
White County, Tennessee; no relationship to the widow was shown.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the
name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of
the Revolutionary War pension, Mary Miller, widow of John Miller (W.47), you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Mary Miller, widow of John Miller, Certificate No. 5179,
issued October 30, 1849, rate $23.33 per annum, commenced March 4,
1848, Act of February 2, 1848, Tennessee Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 15

John Miller, White County Tenn. Act 7 June 1832 $23.33

To what time was he last paid?
[Initials: GC ?]A.
Pd. to 4th Sept 1846.
[Initials:] BLB.

Pension Office
October. 25 1849
Page 16

627
Tennessee
------------
Mary Miller
widow of John
who was a Private
in the Revolution
-------------
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
23 Dollars 33
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of [lined out: March] Novm., 1846.
-------------
Certificate of Pension issued the
30th day of Oct 1847
and sent to
William Glenn
Sparta
Tenn.
--------------
[Act of JUNE 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2 Page 19[illegible 7?]
Page 17

John Miller
1166

Payment to be made
at Nashville
by the Prest. U.S. Br Bk. V
Agent for paying Pensioners 
in the Agency of West Tenn

Recorded in the Pension
Office, in Book E.2. Vol. 7
Page 97
by D. Brown
Clerk.
Page 18

WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United
 States, of the 7th June, 1832, John Miller
of the State of Tennessee
who was a Private in the War of the Revolution

is entitled to receive Twenty three dollars and
Thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life 
commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-
annually, on the 4th of March and 4th of September, in
every year.

Given at the War Office of the United 
States, this 19th day of
December one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-four
[signature:] Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Examined and
Countersigned. }
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 19

Left Side Page

1935 Apr 8 - Hist to Mrs. S.M. Arnold

Right Side Page

47
WIDOW, etc.
Revy
File No. 47
Mary Miller
widow
John Miller
Priv Rev War

Act Feb 2, 1848
Index Vol M Page 47
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 20

April 8, 1935

BA-J/EEL
John Miller
W.47

Mrs. S.M. Arnold
Sparta
Tennessee

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of John H. Miller, who lived in White County, Tennessee, in 1840, and Samuel Miller, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

In order to identify the particular record of the Samuel Miller in which you may be interested, should it be on file, in addition to the full name of the soldier, it is essential that you furnish as much as possible of the following data in regard to him; approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service and given name of widow. It will expedite the matter if you will return this letter with your reply.

The record of John Miller, W.47 the only solder of that name who applied for pension while residing in White County, Tennessee is furnished you herewith.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 21

Sparta Tenn
Nov-23-34

Pension Dept

Will you please give me records of John H. Miller who lived in White Co. Sparta Tenn. in 1840 who his wife was and his children. Also, Samuel Miller and his record. Thanking you very much.

Respt.
Mrs. S.M. Arnold

Look in regt files [illegible]

STAMP: Received Nov 26, 1934
Mail.Sub.Div
Page 22

Sparta, 14th August 1849

James L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir

Enclosed is the declaration of Sally Bradley & Mary Miller, Sally Bradley's husband was a pensioner in the state of North Carolina, where will be found his certificate & declarations which she refers to for his services.

The certificate of John Miller is herewith enclosed. I have know acquaintance in the city to refer you to though if you will examine the receipts of the pensioners from Tennessee for the last fifteen years you will find my signature as attorney to many of them. Please attend to them for me.

Yours Respectfully

William Glenn
By  O.H. P. Simms