Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,238, George Epperly, Md.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
MD
Born in Penn
CONTENTS

Epperly, George

NUMBER
S. 32, 238
Page 2

25217
23217
Indiana

George Epperly
of Wayne in the State of Indiana
who was a private in the unit commanded
by Captain Snowdenbarger of the regt commanded 
by Col Wood in the Maryland
line for 7 months & 22 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana
at the rate of 24 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of Decr
1823 and Jonathe McCarty

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 61.67
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 12.33
$74.00.

⎨Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 710
Page 3

Date of death
not au AB

(stamp - illegible)
Page 4

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832

The State of Indiana
County of Wayne

On this thirteenth day of
November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the
Honorable Nathan Smith Judge of the Wayne Probate
Court the same being a Court of record, George Epperly a
resident of said County of Wayne and State of Indiana, aged
Seventy three years on the 2nd day of March last who being
first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make this
following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered in the Army of the United States in the
year 1776 and served as herein stated (To wit) In the month of
December 1776 my father then living in Frederick County in the State of
Maryland was drafted to perform a tour of duty of three months, And
and served a tour of three months a private in
I went as a substitute in his place and served a tour of three months as a private militiaman in the Company I was attached to
rendezvoused at Bentley's Tavern in Frederick County Maryland, and
I joined them on their march at Peter Little's town, our Captain
was Capt Snowdenbarger, Lieut. Adam Morningstar and 2nd
Luit. Philip Sowers. I cannot all the No. or name of our Regiment
two other Companies of Militia belonged to our Regiment who started
about one week before us and our Col went with them and we
did not overtake them, but I think his name was Joseph Woods
we marched from Frederick County to near Trenton New Jersey
under the immediate command of Capt Snowdenbarger and were
bivouacked in a house on the American lines, near to Trenton
where the British Army then lay in Winter quarters and
remained there until our term of service expired and were then
orally discharged by our Captain, I do not remember to have seen
our Col. during our service although I was informed he was
in our neighbourhood. we performed no other services tent keeping
guard and sending out small scouting parties to annoy the 
enemy, and I served this whole three month tour as a private soldier in a
militia Company of infantry. Afterwards I served a three months
tour of duty as a private militiaman as a substitute. I then
resided in the same County of Frederick Maryland And
Page 5

in the month of August 1778 joined a Company of Militia
the Regiment commanded by Col. Johnson, a Major was
infantry and served as a private soldier three months in
[3 handwritten] Benjamin Ogle, our Company commanded by Capt Tarr We
were attached to a Brigade of militia & Regulars and marched
from Frederick County MD for the purpose of joining the
American army then under the order of Gen. Wayne which
was encamped at a place in the State of Pennsylvania called
the Chestnut hills not far from Philadelphia which last
mentioned place was then in possession of the English,
on our March we were met and attacked at the White Horse Tavern in
Pennsylvania by a party of British and compelled to retreat
three of a company were killed in the attack, and we then
retired to a distance of 40 or 50 miles from Philadelphia
we lay some time at Balling's tavern and the balance of
the time were scouting about in different places. But did
not join the main army before our term of service expired
1.12 and we were again orally discharged by our Captain
Afterwards in the month of January 1782 I served a six weeks
tour as a private militiaman. I was drafted and joined a
Company of Militia Infantry commanded by Capt Wilson
and was stationed at Fredericktown Maryland as a
guard over a party of British prisoners taken with
Lord Cornwallis, we guarded them at Fredericktown
four weeks and then conducted them to Little York in the
State of Pennsylvania where we were discharged after
having served six weeks as a private militiaman. In the three tours above
Specified and described I served as a private at all times 
making the whole seven months and two weeks service as a private militiaman, for which I claim a pension.

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or
an annuity except the present and I do declare that my
name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency in any
State. I have no documentary evidence and I know of no
person whose testimony I can procure who can testify
to my service.

George Epperly his x mark


Sworn to and subscribed by
making his mark
the day and year aforesaid
in open Court
Saml Hannah Clk
Page 6

We Isaac Cotton a Clergyman residing in the
County of Wayne and State of Indiana and Henry
Cronk Residing in the same County and State hereby
certify that we are acquainted with George Epperly
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that
he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he
resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that
we concur in that opinion.
Isaac Cotton
Henry Cronk

Sworn and subscribed the 
day and year aforesaid in
open court.
Saml Hannah Clk

Questions propounded by the Court
1 Where and in what year were you born?
I was born in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in the
year 1760

2 Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
And I have none here. I have seen my age recorded in my
fathers bible

3Where were you living when called into service; where
have you lived since the Revolutionary war; and where
do you now live? 
Ans. I lived Frederick County State of
Maryland, when called into the service. I continued to
reside in Maryland after the Revolutionary War until
the year 1791 and I then removed to Montgomery County
Virginia and resided there until the year 1828 when
I removed from thence to Wayne County Indiana where 
I have continued to reside ever since and where I now
live

Quest 4th How were you called into service; were
you drafted did you volunteer, or were you a substitute-
And if a substitute for whom? 
Ans. The two first tours
of three months each I served as a substitute in the
first tour in the year 1776 I served as a substitute for my
father Jacob Epperly, and in the second three months tour
I served as a substitute for Matthias Link, in my last
Tour of six weeks I was drafted

Quest 5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the
Page 7

troops where you served; such Continental and Militia
Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. 
Ans. Gen Anthony Wayne is
the only Regular Officer I can name in particular my
Service was confined during my first tour to watching
the English army then lying at Trenton N.J. in my second
tour.  We intended to join Gen. Wayne's army at the Chestnut
hills but were prevented by being attacked and defeated
by the British and my tour of six weeks was spent in
guarding prisoners 

Quest 5th Did you ever receive discharge from the service?
Ans I never did other than by "word of mouth"

Quest 7th State the names of persons
to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood
and who can testify to your character for veracity, and
their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Ans. I will name John Stigleman, John Jones Representative
Philip Kitterman

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 as above stated that above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier
and served as he states. And the Court further certifies
that it appears to them that Isaac Cotton who has signed
the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the
said County of Wayne, and that Henry Cronk who has
also signed the same is a resident of the same County of
Wayne in the State of Indiana, and is a credible person
and that their statement is entitled to credit

State of Indiana

Wayne County I Saml Hannah Clerk of the Probate
Court for the County of Wayne in the State of Indiana do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the
application of George Epperly for a pension.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my
hand and affix the seal of our said Wayne
Probate Court at Centreville this 15th day
of November A.D. 1833
Saml Hannah Clk W. C.
Page 8

July 8, 1935
XXXXXXXXX

BA-J/ENL  ann
George Epperly - S.32238

Mrs. Voyle Martindale
324 East Main Street
Cambridge City, Indiana

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
record of George Epperly, private Maryland Troops, who received
pension in 1831, while a resident of Wayne County, Indiana.

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file
in Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 22826, based upon the military service of George Epperly in that war.

George Epperly, the son of Jacob, was born March 2, 1780, in
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The name of the mother of George
is not shown.

While residing with his father in Frederick County, Maryland,
George Epperly enlisted in December, 1776, served as a substitute
for his father, as a private in Captain Snowenberger's Company
Colonel Joseph Wayne's Maryland Regiment, marched to Trenton, New 
Jersey, where he served throughout as a guard and on scouting
parties he enlisted in August 1778, served as a private in
Captain Tarr's Company, Colonel Johnson's Maryland Regiment, was
ordered to join General Wayne at Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, but
before arriving there, was attacked by the British at White Horse
Tavern and had a sharp encounter with them and was not able to
Join General Wayne; length of this service, three months he again
enlisted in January, 1782, served six weeks in Captain Wilson's
Maryland Company and was stationed in Frederick Maryland, as 
guard to the British prisoners taken with Lord Cornwallis.

He continued to reside in Maryland until 1781, then moved to
Montgomery County, Virginia, where he lived until 1828, then moved
to Wayne County, Indiana.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November

[note:] Could not identify any of these of. in Md book or Heitman
Page 9

13, 1833, while residing in Wayne County, Indiana.

It is not stated that soldier was ever married.

Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
-
Page 10

MRS. VOYLE MARTINDALE
324 EAST MAIN STREET
CAMBRIDGE CITY INDIANA

May 4th 1936

Veterans Administration
Rev. War Records Division
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir.

Would you please send me
the war record or service of George Eperly
private in Maryland Militia, pensioned
in 1831 while a resident of Wayne Co.
Indiana
Thank you kindly.
signature?

(stamp)
Received
May 6 1936
Mail Sub-Div
Reader 38
Page 11

32238
Revy INVALID
File No. 32,338

George Epperly
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: --Vol. 2, Page 125

[Arrangement of 1870}
Page 12

1936 July 8 - Hist to Mrs
Voyle Martindale - sl
Page 13

28.718
George Epperly
Indiana

7mo 12 days
$24.66
100

1233
5
61.65

Hon Jonathan McCarty
H. R.
Page 14

Sir:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
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 compiling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of
Duration of the
claimant's service.
Rank of
claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Age at present,
and place of abode 
when he entered
the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
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, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, 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
County of  ss
On this ____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before ____
A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____and State, Territory or District 
of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 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) _____, with _____ and 
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 on that of
the Agency in the State of _____ A.B. 
Sworn to 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 (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
 I _____ of the Court of _____
do hereby certify (h) 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 (i) 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
Page 16

3
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 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 the 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.
If 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
inquiry 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 is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
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 the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, 
taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
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.
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
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" 
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
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
line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, 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) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
(l) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.