Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7077, for Samuel Mead, Maryland
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Service
Md.

Mead, Samuel

Number
R 7077
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State of Maryland, 
Anne Arundel County, SCT.

On this 26 day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before [crossed out: the][handwritten insert] Orphans [end insert] Court of Anne Arundel county, now sitting, Samuel Mead, a resident of Annapolis City, in the county of Anne Arundel, and State of Maryland, aged 72 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 7, 1832:

That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, that he served under Captain John Steward; that he entered the service on the [blank] day of August, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, and left the same on the [blank] day of [blank], one thousand seven hundred and eighty three; 
[handwritten insert] that he had a [illegible] the same [end insert]
that he was in the battles of Brandy Wine, Red Bank and Stony Point, and in said engagements served under Captain John Steward; in the year one thousand seven hundred and 77 and 79 -, that he at the time of entering the service, resided [crossed out: in] near lower Marlborough town, in Calvert - country, and State of Maryland; that he [crossed out: was drafted] enlisted, that he marched through Maryland, Pennsylvania [crossed out: county], [illegible] that he served with the Maryland troops, that the names of the regular officers were General Smallwood, that he was [handwritten insert] severely [end insert] wounded in the battles of Brandy Wine and Stoney Point, that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service.
[handwritten insert] That he was born near [illegible] in Anne Arundele County in the year 1760, that he had a [illegible] his age but has [illegible][end insert]

The said Samuel Mead 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 any Agency, [crossed out: but that of the Agency of the State of]

Proven to subscribed, in Open Court, the day and year aforesaid, We Richard Hall, [crossed out: Clergyman,] residing in the City of Annapolis [handwritten insert] Samuel his + mark Mead [end insert] - and Joseph Williams residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Mead, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy Two 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.
[handwritten insert] Richard his X mark Hall  Joseph Williams X his mark [end insert]

Sworn and subscribed, to in Open Court - day and year aforesaid-

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, 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 Richard Hall, who has signed the preceding certificate, [crossed out: is a Clergyman,] resident in the City of Annapolis, and that Joseph Williams, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the City of Annapolis, and [crossed out: is a] an creditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. Gideon White Chief Justice of [illegible] Court

I Saml Brown Jun., clerk of the Court of Anne Arundel county, do hereby certify that the aforegoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Samuel Mead, for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this Twenty Sixth day of October, 1832

Saml Brown Jun. Reg. Wills. A. A. Coty
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No. 21623

Samuel Mead Anne Arundel 
County Maryland

[illegible]

7077

Jas F. Brice Esq. Annapolis
Maryland
E.E.
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War Department,
Pension Office,
October 15th, 1833

Sir:
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 show 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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Samuel Mead Anne Arundel County Maryland

[Column headings] Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. Year. | Months. | Days. | Rank of the 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. [end headings]

[Entered directly in heading for name and rank of officers] Gl Smallwood

Entered Augt. 1777 | Not Stated | [No rank listed] | Cap Steward | 72 years | [illegible] evidence [illegible] certified credible - no clergymans certificate. Two reason given paper correct

Served 1779 | Note Stated | | | Calvert County Maryland

Battles of Brandiwine, Red Bank, and Stony Point

The applicant states that he served to the close of the war.

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 claim-
ing 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 of
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  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 serv-
ed 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 per-
sons 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
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.
[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.
of the Court of
Also hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of  application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
&c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia.
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ,who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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, that the above named applicant was a evo-
lutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify 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, this day of & c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commis-
sion ; 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 ser-
vices 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
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
[Hand written] The depositions of his two witnesses are not satisfactory,
see note (j) If his name on the rolls
on Col. Hall's reg.
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3

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 live now?
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 you 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 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 the 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 enquiry 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.
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Know all men by these presents that I, Philip Mead of Baltimore City in the State of Maryland, do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint H.C. Spalding Esquire of Washington City, DC. My true and lawful attorney to prosecute for me and in my name any claim that I may have against the Government of the United States for arrears of pension due my father Samuel Mead at the time of his death.
Test.
Thomas F Pearce   J.P.}    Phillip + Mead (seal)
                                               his mark

State of Maryland
Baltimore City Sct.

On this thirtieth day of May A.D. 1853 personally appeared Philip Mead before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said City and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above mentioned.
Thomas F Pearce [J.P.}

I hereby certify that Thomas F. Pearce Esquire before whom the foregoing acknowledgement was made and who has thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the City of Baltimore duly
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Commissioned and sworn,

In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of the Superior Court of Baltimore City this thirtieth day of May A.D. 1853.

Edward Dowling
Clerk of the Superior Court
of Baltimore City
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Annapolis, January 8, 1834

I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Mr Samuel Mead of the City of Annapolis upwards of thirty years, and have always considered him an honest and industrious man, and I believe he is so generally considered. Given under my hand.

James Hunter
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No 21623
Samuel Mead
Maryland
Let. to James F. Brice
"""""Dec 4th 1832
"""""Jan 22 1834
"""""Apr 12th 1834
see letter of G.G. Brewer enclosed

Act 7th June 1832
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Rejected
7077
Samuel Meade
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Annapolis, 8th January 1834

I certify that I have been intimately acquainted with Samuel Mead for upwards of thirty years. He has always conducted as an orderly and well-disposed man, and he has always been noted for his Industry and upright conduct as a peaceable and well disposed citizen. He is now far advanced in years and incapable of labour. I take great pleasure in bearing testimony to the uprightness and general good conduct of this man through life.

R Welch of [illegible]
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State of Maryland
Anne Arundel County

Be it remembered that on the 30th day of August 1833, personally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for Anne Arundel County, Richard Hale, aged about eighty-four years and makes oath in due form of Law that Samuel Mead was a Soldier of revolution and the said Samuel Mead served in the same regiment with him the deponent sworn to before.

Gideon White

I certify that I have been acquainted with the above named Richard Hale for more than forty years and that he is a man of good moral character and much respected and his [illegible] will be respected in any Court of Justice.

August 30th, 1833      Gideon White


State of Maryland Anne Arundel County [illegible] Be it remembered that on the 30th day of August 1833 personally appeared Noble Baker, a revolutionary soldier aged about 74 years, and makes oath in due form of Law that Samuel Mead was a soldier in the revolution and the said Samuel Mead enlisted during the war under Captain John Stewart, and this I certify that the said Baker I consider a competent witness sworn to before.

Gideon White


Anne Arundel County Court

I hereby certify that Gideon White gentleman was [illegible] appear to have taken  and [illegible] the aforegoing affidavit was [illegible] of so many [illegible] of the State of Maryland Justice of the Peace in and for Anne Arundel County duly commissioned and sworn.

The testimony above I hereto set my name and affix  the seal of Anne Arundel County Court this 2nd day of September 1833.

[illegible]
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7th June 1832

Rejected

See letter to James F Brice
1833
4 December     Annapolis, MD

Letter to J.F. Brice
April 12, 1838

See letter G.G. Brewer
enclosed
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Revolutionary Act 1832

Honorable L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
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Washington, August 4th, 1853

Honorable S.P. Waldo
Court of Pensions

Sir,

I have the honor to submit a power of attorney from Phillip Mead of the city of Baltimore. The son of Samuel Mead, a Revolutionary soldier and an applicant for a pension under Act of the June 1832 from Anne Arundel County State of Maryland.

You will please permit me to examine the papers on file in the case.

Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
H. C. Spalding 
Attorney
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Annapolis, January 9th, 1834

Mr Samuel Mead

Dear Sir,

It offers me a pleasure to write with other of my fellow citizens, in an expression of your character. I have known you personally for 34 years past and can truly [illegible], in the several relations of Husband, Father and Citizen you have sustained general approbation if Honesty and Industry, could have insured him a competency few men used more to acquire it, he is now advanced in age and without a home to shelter him from the inclemency of season, and if I [illegible] on to point to an object on whom public munificence ought to be applied. I could not find within my knowledge a man more worthy.

William McParlin
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Pension Office
January 13, 1834


Hon,
Law Case
Washington
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Annapolis January 3rd, 1834

Sir,

I hope you will excuse my again objecting to the claim of Samuel Mead for a pension, since from what I can collect, I have every reason to believe that the evidence on which his claim is rejected, was sent from this city, and that it originated from no other, than a political motive. Mr Mead, having, I understand, given [illegible], by voting for the Jackson, instead of the Clay ticket. Should you, under these circumstances, permit the case to be re-opened for investigation, I think ample proof can be produced, to them, that the testimony, neither of Mr Mead, nor his witnesses, ought to be discredited.

Your Obedient Humble Servant
James F Brice
Attorney for [illegible]

P.S. Since writing the above I have deemed it advisable to to procure testimonials of the character of Samuel Mead, which I herewith transmit. Should these not be sufficient, more, I understand, can be obtained.
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Land Office, Annapolis, Nov 30th 1833

Dear Sir,

Yours of the 20th Inst. with the declaration of Samuel Mead enclosed, was received, the name of Samuel Mead does not appear upon any of the rolls in this office. In your letters forwarding on the declarations of Old Soldiers, my opinion is generally asked, as to whether the applicant is entitled or not, I have in no case that recollect of, given any opinion, as I was not acquainted with the party applying, but if their names appeared upon the rolls forwarded on Certificates, and leaving it with the Department, on comparing their declarations with the certificates from this office, to judge whether the applicant was entitled or not. Samuel Mead the applicant, is a resident of this city, and is well known to me. My opinion is, that he never served in the revolution, and is therefore not entitled to the benefit of the Act of Congress of June 1832. I have been informed by old and respectable citizens of this place, and say that he never did serve in the revolution, and that he is not as old as he represents himself to be in his declaration. Mr Hall, one of the persons who
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that he served in the revolution, is I believe a respectable old man, he is however upwards of eighty years of age and is not able to recollect anything. I do not myself conceive him at this time to be a competent witness, his declaration you will also perceive is not supported by the certificate of two clergymen, and the reason he assigns is that he is not acquainted with one who could certify for him although he has resided in this city for forty years. In making this statement, I would beg leave to remark that I have no unfriendly feelings whatever to Mr Mead, I if I believed that he served in the revolution, and was entitled to a pension, it would afford me much pleasure to say so, but believing as I do, that if his case passes he will receive money from the public treasury for services he never rendered. I conceive it my duty as a public officer having charge of the records relating to the revolution, to put you in possession of all the information in my [illegible], so that you may guard against a fraud being practiced upon the treasury, by requiring further and stronger evidence in his case. Mr. Brice who appears to be the Attorney in this case, I am also well acquainted with; he is a correct and honorable man, and I feel satisfied that he believed Mr. Mead was entitled, or he would not have presented
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his papers, as also the magistrate before whom the affidavit was made, but neither of them, I am sure, are in possession of the same information that I am, or they would have thought otherwise. It has always been the practice to furnish certificates from the rolls to any person applying, provided the name appeared upon the rolls. This I have thought to be a bad practice, and have lately come to the  determination to refuse giving a certificate in any case, without the application comes through the Department, or I am well acquainted with the person applying, and have implicit confidence in his integrity. There are many persons of the same name; a man therefore who never served  in the revolution, might apply here for a certificate, the name appearing upon the roll, and he is furnished with a certificate showing the time he enlisted and when discharged, would enable him to make his declaration to correspond with that certificate, and thereby imposed upon the Government. I should have adopted this course before, but have always doubted whether I had the authority to refuse, under the Act of Assembly, requiring me to take charge of the revolutionary rolls. I have still my doubts, but feel satisfied that I shall be sustained by the next Legislature, when my motive for
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refusing is made known. Some of the persons who have applied here as agents for Old Soldiers, I know to be entirely destitute of truth and character, and it is right and proper that they should be refused certificates, let the applicant first make his declaration, it can then be forwarded on and compared with the rolls, which will enable one to judge whether he is entitled or not. I must conclude for fear that I have already troubled you with too long a letter.

Very respectfully,
Your Obedient [illegible]
G.G. Brewer


J.L. Edwards, Esq.
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State of Maryland
Anne Arundel County

Be it remembered, that in this 28th day of August 1833, personally appears before me the subscribed, a Justice of the Peace, for Anne Arundel County, Samuel Mead and makes oath, in [illegible] form of law, that he enlisted during the war, and served under Colonel [illegible] [illegible] and that the reason he could not procure a clergyman, was, that he was not acquainted with who could certify for him.

Gideon White


Anne Arundel County [illegible]
I hereby Certify that Gideon White gentleman who [illegible] whereas when we regard the aforegoing  [illegible] was all the time of [illegible] [illegible] of the State of Pennsylvania Justices of the Peace in [illegible] for Anne Srundel County duly commissioned and I was.

In testimony whereof I hereto set my [illegible] and [illegible] [illegible] of Anne Arundel County this 2nd day of September 1833.

[illegible]