Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22116, John Bell, Penn. Va
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Penn.
Va

Bell, John

NUMBER
S. 22116

CONTENTS
Page 2

[two-column page]

[left side]
Date of death
not on A. B. 

[right side]
25.701.
Pennsylvania
John Bell
of Clearfield Co in the State of Penna. 
w.. [illegible] as a Private in the Co commanded
by Captain West of the Rgt commanded
by [illegible] Cadwallader in the Penna. 
line for two years.
"

[illegible] ...ribed on the Roll of Penna.
[illegible] the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
[illegible] ...mence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 19. day of Dec.
1833 and sent to Hon
Saml. S. Harrison, H of R.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 - 200
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34 40
$240.
[equation: $200 + 40 = $240]

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm R Palmer Clerk,
Book E Vol. five [word crossed out] Page four
Page 3

State of Pennsylvania}
Clearfield County ss}
On this third day of September AD
1833 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for Clearfield County in open Court John Bell
aged 81 years a resident of Pike Township in said County
who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
provisions made by Act of Congress, passed 7th June 1832.

That he resided in the year 1776 in the County of Lancaster 
Paxton township, State of Pennsylvania. That in the
month of February 1776 in the township aforesaid he enlisted
in the army of the United States with Captain William West
and served in the 2nd Regiment of the Pennsylvania line
and served under the following named Officers, viz
Colonel Shay [possibly John Shee]
Lt Colonel Cadwallader [possibly Lambert Cadwalader]
Major Biddle
Capt William West
Adjutant -- Biddle
1st Lieutenant Stokes

The applicant served the full term of his enlistment, viz
One year.  The company marched from Lancaster County
aforesaid to Philadelphia and thence to Trenton on board
shallops, thence to Princeton, thence to New Brunswick, thence
to New York, and from thence to Fort Washington where we
remained about two months.  From thence to [crossed out: Fort Washington]
Long Island, where the company, then under the command
of Captain Stewart, arrived just at the conclusion of the
battle, and were ordered back to Fort Washington, and were
stationed there when the fort was besieged and taken.  The applicant
being on piquet guard at the time of the surrender
made his escape with twenty-five others to Fort - Lee, from
thence to New Brunswick, from thence to Philadelphia, where
he again joined in the army and remained in quarters until
the expiration of his time of service under Lieutenant Stout
of the Regular army.  He received a regular discharge, but
since lost it.  He afterwards joined the 4th Virginia
Regiment, and drove team for eighteen months, having been
Page 4

employed by the Waggonmaster, whose name he does not
now recollect.  I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to
a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my
name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State
except that I receive an annuity of forty dollars for my service
aforesaid from the State of Pennsylvania.  The applicant knew
[words crossed out] regular Officers, belonging to the army but
being principally employed in garrison duty he had not a
very extensive knowledge of the Officers.  He knew & well
recollects Col Magaw who commanded in Fort Washington.  He
also knew Col. Nagle, but thinks he was not at Fort Washington.

The fort was taken sometime in the month of October 1776.  He
also recollects, Captain Lenox of the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment who he
thinks was taken prisoner at the Fort.
[illegible signature, probably John Bell]

Sworn to & subscribed the}
day & year aforesaid}
before me Jos Boone}

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the
above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as
he states
[illegible] }
Moses Boggs} Judges
Hugh Jordan

I Joseph Boone Prothonotary of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, 
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceedings in the matter of the application
of John Bell for a pension--

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & seal of Office Sept 3d 1833
Jos Boone Prothonotary
Page 5

June 1, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

JOHN BELL [illegible initials]
S. 22116
BA - J/MLB

Mr. Raymond M. Bell
55 Wilson Street
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Dear Sir:
The data herein were obtained from the papers on file in
pension claim, S. 22116, based upon the Revolutionary War 
service of John Bell.

The date and place of soldier's birth and names of his
parents are not shown in the claim.

While residing in Paxton Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 
he volunteered in February, 1776, served as a private in
Captains William West's and Stewart's company, Colonel Shee's
Pennsylvania regiment, was in the siege of Fort Washington as a
picket guard and made his escape when the fort was besieged and
taken, length of this service one year.  He afterwards served
eighteen months as a teamster in the 4" Virginia Regiment, dates
of service and names of officers not given.

After the Revolutionary War the soldier returned to his
father's home in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

John Bell was allowed pension on his application executed
September 3, 1833, at which time he was aged eighty-one years
and living in Pike township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.

The soldier also received a pension from the State of
Pennsylvania.

No reference was made in the claim to wife or children.

In 1833, one Mary Bell was living in Dauphin County,
Pennsylvania; in the same year, one William Bell was Justice of
the Peace for said Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; their relation
ship to the soldier was not stated.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 6

[two-column page]

[left side]
[written diagonally] Revolution

22116
INVALID.
File No. 22,116
John Bell
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 30

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side] 
1907 Apr 2. Hist to J.B. Hegarty

1933 June 1 - Hist to Raymond
M Bell (See ltr. in clm. S23537 of
John Bell) --
Page 7

John Bell for
a Pension

filed 3d Sepr. [Feby. crossed out]1833

found the Va
Cant. role

Hon. Saml. P. Harrison
Page 8

J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of
Pensions
Page 9

W. City Decr. 14 1833 --

Sir,
Enclosed is the application of John Bell 
a Revolutionary soldier for a pension under 
the Act of Congress 1832.

I [illegible] from a very respectable 
[illegible] 
[illegible] ready and have been requested to ask
[illegible] a decision on his claim so the  
[illegible] will allow

I have the [illegible]
to be very respectfully
your obt. Sert.
Saml  P. Harrison

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of pensions
Page 10

Dauphin County SS
[drawing of a round seal with scalloped edges] Seal

Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the
Peace in and for the County of Dauphin Personally
appeared Mary Bell who being sworn according to
law did depose and Say that John Bell volenteerd 
and went out in the Revolutionary warr and Stayed
out to the warr was ended.  and then returned back to
his fathers in Dauphin County Said John Bell now
resides in Clearfield County Penna.
Mary Bell

Sworn and Subscribed}
the fifth day of November}
AD 1833}
Before me [signature] Wm Bell}
[flourish]

I William Bell the Justice of the Peace above
mentioned do certify that the above deponent
is of a good morel Carector in Every Respect
[signature] Wm Bell
[flourish]

Dauphin County Sct
I John Roberts Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas
of said County, do certify that William Bell Esquire before
whom the above deposition was taken, was at that time
and yet is an acting justice of the Peace duly Commissioned
and qualified, to all whose official acts due faith &
credit is and of right ought to be given as well in
courts of justice as elsewhere

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the Court at
Harrisburg the 12th day of November A.D. 1833 
For Jno Roberts Prot
C A Snyder
Page 11

Second Regiment 1783
==================

We and each of us whose names are hereunto subscribed do acknowledge to have received from Major Thomas B. Bowen and Captain Ercunius Beatty Agents for the late Pennsylvania Line the several sums opposite to our names respectively in certificates dated July 1, 1784, bearing interest at six percent from November the fourth 1783 signed by John Pierce Commissioner and described as below being for the Balance of a settlement between the United States and us for pay to November 3rd 1783.
===========================
Date of Issue/No of Certificate/Letter/Names/-/Sums (dollars - cents)/signers

Sept. 17th, 1784/73099/E/John Bell/584/$79.30/Alex Powers

Auditor General's Office
November 2nd, 1833

I certify that the above is a true copy of the original remaining on file in this department.

Witness my hand & seal of office the day and year aforesaid.

                                   //s//
                        Dennis Sturgeon
Page 12

28.823 
John Bell
Penna.

Adm. 2 years
$80



Hon. Saml. S. Harrison
Ho. of Reps.
Page 13

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.

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 exists, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done.  These 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, showing the service of
==========================
Period when the service was rendered/Duration of the claimant's service/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.

(No information provided on this form.)


I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
James L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 14

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 [musicians] 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 (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. [hand with right-pointing finger icon] 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 ___
Sworn 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.
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.

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 Revolutionary
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.

I, _____ 
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 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 15

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. 
[d] 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 apartment to determine to what amount of pension he is entited. In a case where the applicant, by by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, 
according to the best of his 
[illegible, but obscured text is: 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,
[illegible, but obscured text is: 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,
[illegible, but obscured text is: 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 [in italics] "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.

[in italics] 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.

[in italics] 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 as the regiment, company, and 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.
 ☞ Then the notes from [a] to [i] area 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] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
 [l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 16

[upside down circular date stamp] MAR 16 1907 O. W. & N. DIV. [illegible]
Utahville, Penna.
March 12, 07

U.S. Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C

Dear Sir:
Please advise me if any of the following
soldiers in the War of the Revolution were pensioners.

William Bell, Cap. of a company, Fourth Battalion,
Lancaster Co. Associators.
Arthur Bell, Private in same Company.
John Bell Sr. Private in Capt. Murray's Company
Fourth Battalion Lancaster Co. Associators
John Bell Jr. Private in same Company.
John Roll. Private in Eighth Battalion Cumberland
Co. Militia.

This information is desired to enable me to join
the Society of D. A. R.
Thanking you for any courtesy you may extend
to me.

Very Respectfully
Mrs. Josephine Bell Hegarty
Page 17

John Bell

[top left of standard form is cut off, but are likely the table headings:  
1. DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. - 
2. LENGTH OF SERVICE. - 3. RANK. - 
4. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED,]

 CAPTAIN. COLONEL. - 
5. STATE.

1. Feb. 1776 - 1 year - [blank] - Cap Wm. West and Colonel Stewart Shee
[crossed out: 2nd regt] - Pa.

2. [blank] - 18 mos - teamster for the 4th regt of [Va] - [blank] - Va.
[end of table]

[signature] John Bell

Battles engaged in, Seige of Fort Washington and escaped when same was surrendered
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Paxton Township, Lancaster Co. Pa
Date of application for pension, Sept 3, 1833. His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application, Pike Township, Clearfield Co Pa.
Age at date of application, 81.

Remarks: Soldiers father (name not stated) resided in Dauphin Co Pa
at time of the Rev. [blank] no further family data
A careful search of the records of this Bureau fails to show that a claim was filed on 
account of the Service of any John Bell of Lancaster Pa in the Revolution,
other than the above

Very respectfully,
Page 18

June 1, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxx
John Bell, S. 22116
John Bell, S. 23537
BA-J/MLB

Mr. Raymond Bell
55 Wilson Street
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Dear Sir:

    Reference is made to your letter of May 23, in which you request the records of John Bell who was pensioned December 19, 1833, in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and John Bell, pensioned in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1833.

    You are furnished herewith their records as found in the claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.

                                 Very truly yours

                                  A. D. HIller
                                  Assistant to Administrator