Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 6169, for Christopher Stewart, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(8-1776)                       W. 6169
                                        B.L.Wt.2009-H50-Lt.Col
Issued Dec. 7. 1791                       No papers
Penn.                              
                                                                          
Stewart, Christopher
or Stuart, 
Elizabeth 

Contents
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Pennsylvania 1453.
Elizabeth Stewart, widow of Christopher Stewart, Dec who died on the 31st of May 1799 of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania who was a Captain in the __________ commanded by Captain ________ of the ______ commanded by ________in the Pennsylvania line for 2 years Captain
_________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 480 Dollars ---- cents, [crossed out]per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
__________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of October, 1837 and sent to Hon J J Degraff Ho. [House] of Reps [Representatives]
____________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of September 1837=$3120:00 Semi=annual allowance ending 4th March 1838=240:00
$3360:00
Revolutionary Claim}
Act July 4 1836        }
Section the 3d         }
Recorded by S A Elliot Clerk, 
Book A, Vol. 2 Page 146
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2691
Widow Elizabeth Stewart
widow of
L Col Chris Stewart
29 Sept 1827

[very faded handwriting in middle of page]

Hon. J J Degraff
HR
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State of Pennsylvania}
City of Philadelphia   } SS

On this twenty third day of September
in the year one thousand eight hundred &
Ninety Seven personally appeared before me
Archibald Randall Esquire one of the judges
of the Court of Common Please of Philadelphia County
Elizabeth Stewart a resident of the City
of Philadelphia in the County of Philadelphia
and State of Pennsylvania a good eighty four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4. 1836. That she is the widow of Christopher Stewart who was a Captain of a company in the Pennsylvania Line & was afterwards promoted to the rank of Major; that the said Christopher Stewart her husband entered the Army in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six and served to nearly the close of the war; that he was in the Battle of Long Island and captured at Fort Washington but she cannot specify the particular period nor the name of the officers under whom he served [carrot inserted] except Col M. Green of the 5th Regiment [end of carrot], that when he entered the service of the United States her said husband resided in Warrington Township in the County of Montgomery PA and she has no documentary evidence and says
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part of the claim.

She further declares that she was married to the said Christopher Stuart on the Eighth day of May in the year one thousand nine hundred & seventy three.  That her husband the aforesaid Christopher Stuart died on the 30th or 31st day of May in the year one thousand seven hundred & ninety nine and that she has remained a widow ever since that period or will more fully appear by the reference to the proof hereto annexed.

Elizabeth [x] Stuart
her mark

Sworn to & subscribed      }
too on the day & year       }
above written before me   }
who do also hereby certify }
that the above named        }
applicant is unable             }
to attend Court by reason  }
of age & bodily infirmity    }
Jonas [?] Penn [illegible] [could be 12 May]
Philad County

Pennsylvania       }
Philada County  }  SS

I, Robert Morris Prothonotary for the Court of Common Pleas of said County do certify that the Honorable Archibald Randall  Esq. before whom the foregoing declaration under oath was made said & who has hereunto in his own proper hand writing subscribed his name was at the time of so doing and now is one of the Judges of the said Court of Common Pleas (to have his in a Court of Record, duly commissioned and qualified)to all whose assigns such full faith and credit are and ought to be given as well in Court of Indiana [?] as sub. - [?}
In testimony whereof I have
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Hereunto set my hand and affixed the
seal of the said Court at Philadelphia 25th day of September AD 1837

Robert Morris
Prothy [prothnotary]


[written at very bottom of page]

The old lady is blind but of sound mind & memory
John DeGraff
House of Representatives
Sept 1837
Page 7

[left-hand side of page]
Let. to Penn Agent Oct. 19, 1837.
1889
Dec 27 Capt J H Petterson history [illegible]

[right-hand side of page]
Pennsylvania 1453
_______________________________________________
Elizabeth Stewart widow of Christopher Stewart Decd who died [Penn inserted above] on the 31st of May 1799; of Philad [raised a] in the State of Penn who was a Major LT Col in the ___ commanded by Captain ____ of the _____ commanded by _______ in the Penn[raised a] line for 2 years Major and Lieut Col.
Increased from $480 per annum
__________________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania,
at the rate of 600 dollars _____ cents [crossed out] per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
________________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of October, 1837 and sent to Hon. J. J. DeGraff of Ho [House] R. [Representatives] / present
________________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1837 = 3,000:00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 M. '38 = 300:00
-----------
$4200:00
-----------
{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act July 4, 1836         }
Section the 3              }

Recorded by S. A. Elliot, Clerk,
Book A    Vol. 2    Page 146
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[A file jacket]

Hon. J.J. Degraff
HR
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Montgomery County SS

Joseph Crawford a resident of Montgomery County and State of Pennsylvania, aged seventy nine years, seven months and two days upon his oath duly administered saith that he was well acquainted with Christopher Stuart and Elizabeth his wife and has known them as man and wife since the year one thousand seven hundred three; that he has been acquainted with Elizabeth  Stuart. the wife of Christopher Stuart since his infancy, to wit since the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy; her maiden name was Elizabeth Ball, she was a daughter of William Ball; they were married as this deponent is informed & believes sometime in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy three and lived and cohabitated together as man and wife until his decease, which was in the year seventeen hundred and ninety nine; the said Christopher Stuart was an officer in the American Army during the revolutionary war and was taken prisoner at Fort Washington and was held for some time as a prisoner, or detained by the British army.

Jos Crawford [signature]

Sworn and subscribed     }
this 25th day of Sept. AD }
1837 [illegible]                 }
B. F. Hancock  [signature]
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Montgomery County SS

Levi Pawling a citizen of Montgomery County and State of Pennsylvania aged sixty four years and four months being duly sworn doth say he was well acquainted with Christopher Stuart and Elizabeth his wife who was the daughter of William Ball and Sister of the mother of this deponent. The deponent has known them ever since he was capable of Knowledge, at least fifty six years, they lived together ever since he knew them as man and wife until the decease of Christopher Stuart which occurred in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety nine: Christopher Stuart served during the Revolutionary war in the United States army in the capacity of Captain major and at the close of the war Colonel, he was taken prisoner at the surrender of fort Washington and was held as such for a considerable time: Elizabeth Stuart is now a widow old and infirmed, a true object of the nation's bounty.

Levi Pawling [signature]

Sworn and Subscribed          }
this 26th day of September  } 
AD 1837 Col and a                }
Justice of the peace in & for }
said County                           }
[signed] B F Hancock
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Montgomery County SS.
Be it known to whom these presents shall come greeting; that I, John Bean prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Montgomery in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that Benjamin F Hancock before whom the foregoing depositions of Joseph Crawford and Levi Pawling the latter is and at the time of taking the same was one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Montgomery aforesaid, with power to administer oaths and take depositions and that all said faith and credit - is and ought to be given to the same as well in Courts of Justice as this court

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court this twenty sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven (AD 1887)

J.W. Evans for John Bean Prothy

I hereby certify that I am acquainted with Levi Pawling & Joseph Crawford of Montgomery County Penn [raised a] and know them to be gentlemen of high respectability upon whose statements full faith & credit are due. Witness my hand.
J. Fry, Jr.
Hand Cap. 29.Sept.1837
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Recd 12 Oct 1837     1258
Department of War
Bounty and Office
Oct [raised r] 12th 1837

I certify that, it appears by the records in this office, said claimant M [raised o]. 2009 for 450. acres issued the 7th December 1791 to Christopher Stewart who was a Lieut Colonel in the Pennsylvania Line

Wm Gordon, First Clk [signature]
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Hon J .J. Degraff
HR
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Chester County, Ss

I, Benjamin J. Miller, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the county of Chester in the Commonwealth of Penna [sylvania] do Certify that John Davis Esquire before whom the foregoing acknowledgement was taken is, and at the time  which the same bears date, was one of the Justices of the Peace of said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified for the said county to all whose ?? as ?, full faith and credit are and ought to be allowed.
      In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at West Chester the 25th day of September A.D. 1837
     for B. J. Miller
     Prothy
    M Chamberlain

Col. Caleb North is one of the most respectable Citizens of Pennsylvania. Full credit may be given & implicit reliance placed upon any statement he may make.
     Hon. B Muhlenberg, M C
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I do hereby certify that I was in early life intimately acquainted with Christopher Stewart. We both lived in Montgomery County Pennsylvania before the Revolutionary War. To the best of my knowledge he enlised[sic] the Army in 1778 as a Captain in the Pennsylvania Line he was afterwards promoted to the rank of Major and Served until near the close of the war. He married a daughter of William Bull by the name of Elizabeth and I knew them as man and wife during the Revolutionary War. I understand that she is still living in Philadelphia.

     Caleb North [signature]

In the presence of us}
C. M. North               }

Chester County SS.
     Personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county the above named Caleb North who on his solemn affirmation deposes and says that the facts set forth in the above affidavit is just and true according to the best of his belief.
Caleb North [signature]

Affirmed & Subscribed to
before me this Twenty first day
of Septem. 1837-
John Davis J.P.
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Washington 
10 Oct  1837

Dear Sir
     I have examined the records in relation to the revolutionary services of Christopher Stewart & find that he was the Major of the 5th Pen [raised a] Regt [regiment]. Before the 27 Augt. 1778/for evidence of which part in enclosed letter from Secy of State Marked A.) I also find that at the end of his service he was a Lieut. Col./ in enclosed certificate of Col Gordon marked B.) and I further find that final settlement certificates No. 76.38 [last number is off page and not seen] 76.390 & 76.391 aforesaid to him for his commutation which proves him to have been in service on or after 1st Jan [raised ry] 1781 & consequently to have been more than two years a Major & Lieut. Col & his widow to be entitled to a pension of $600.00 per ann [um] 
Yours sincerely
The Hon.                        Francis A. Dickin
John J. DeGraff
House of Representatives
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House Rep 29 Sept 1837

J L Edwards Esquire 

Dear Sir

I recd yesterday from my nephew Jos Patterson of Philadelphia the enclosed paper, identifying clearly his grandmother Mrs Elizabeth Stewart widow of the late Col. Chris Stewart who held the rank of Lt Co or Col. in the Revolutionary army and to whom Congress [illegible] a medal.  In this case are not require much examination.  I solicit your early attention to it.

 Also to Mrs Helen Thome widow of Captain Thome of New York
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Who has written to me, the old lady is a native of my place and is a near relation  I do not recollection that I ever saw her papers they were made out by Mr G F Yates
I am yours truly
John J Degraff
House Reps 

John J De Graff
Mb in Congress from NY
1827-9 & 1837-9
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[A file jacket]

Payment to be made at Philadelphia by Jas. Schott, Esq. 

Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of
Pennsylvania

Issue mo Certificate for 600$

Hon J. J. De Graff
Present.

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book A, Vol. 2,
Page 146, by

 S. A. Elliot, Clerk.
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[A certificate]

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM

I certify that in conformity with the 3d section of
the law of the United States, of the 4th July, 1836, Elizabeth Stewart of Pennsylvania, widow of Christopher Stewart, who was a Captain in the
Revolutionary War is entitled to receive four hundred & eighty dollars and ____ cents per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September. 

Given at the War Office of the United States, this fifth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven. 

J.R. Poinsett
Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned} 
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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Re [raised d] 12 Oct 1837          1257

Department of State 
October 12th 1837

Francis A. Dickins Esqr
Washington

Sir, 

In answer to your letter of this date, asking whether there is any thing in the Washington Papers to show that the late Christopher Stewart was the Major of the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, I enclose an extract from a volume of those papers, marked "Arrangements of Officers vol. 5. N.Y. & Penn." 

I am, Sir
Your obedient Servant
John Forsyth
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Extract from a volume of the Washington Papers filed in the Department of State, marked, "Arrangements of Officers, in Vol. 5. N. Y. & Penn."

"Return of all the officers who have served in the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment since Jany 1st 1777 until the present day August 27th 1778."

[A Table with four columns]

Rank | Names | Dates of Commissions | Remarks of Occurrences. 

Field Officers. | Christopher Stewart Maj
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U.S. Recruiting [Illegible]
Albany N.Y. Dec 6th 1889. 

To the Honorable
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C. 

Sir,

I [illegible] under many obligations to you for any information obtainable from the Records of the Continental Army on file in your office as to Lieut Col Christopher Stewart 5th Regt Pennsylvania Line. 

I want to ascertain his age at any time to fix date of his birth death, place of his birth, which somehow, none of his descendents - they are very few - know, the date of his discharge from the Continental Army, wishes to find 

There is nothing in this inquiry, Which infers in any way to a claim of any Character from the Government, it acquainted an application grant [illegible] to join a Society Called the Sons of the Revolution.  The dates asked for being Called for in the form of application.  Stewarts daughter, an only child
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was my fathers mother, my father died 32 years ago.  There is no living link between this generation and the past, so other than vague tradition nothing is known of the place or date of Christopher Stewarts birth, or when he left the continental Army. I risk to owing you with these details to explain what my request means --

I am [illegible] 
Your Most Obedient Servant

H Patterson
Captain, 20th US Infantry
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[A partially torn slip of paper with writing horizontally and vertically; horizontally from the top is written]

Oct 16
Ann

Eliz Stewart
[partial word] letter Oct 16. 1837 to
[partial word] J.J. De Graff
[partial word] When Mr Stuarts
certificate shall
have been returned to
the offic, let a new
one be issued allowing
$600  per ann

Hon. J J Degraff
HR

[The vertical righting, from right side of paper to left, is partially obscured by being overwritten]

John J Degraff
J L Edwards Esq
Washington DC
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Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 6169

11
Elizabeth Stewart
●
Wid.
Christopher Steward
Lt. Col. Pa. line
Act: July 4" of 36, Sec 3d
Index:--Vol. A, [or could be an M]
Page 240 [or 8]
[Arrangement of 1870.]