Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42,181, John Donaldson, Penn.
Page 1

[notecard]
[upper left]
SERVICE
Penn
[center]
Donaldson, John
[upper right]
NUMBER
S 42.181
----------------------
CONTENTS
Page 2

[top left-hand corner of page torn off]
15.656
15.656
R
Pennsylvania
-------------------------------
John Donaldson
residing in Lycoming County in the state of Pennsylvania who was a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Harmer of the Pennsylvania line, for the term of three years ~
------------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 19th of February, 1819. ~
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Certificate of Pension issued the 26th.. of October 1819
and sent to Sith Chapman, Esq
Mifflinburg Pa
-------------------------------
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1819 6 mo. 10/28 4/30 51.91
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th March 1820. 48.06
$99.91 [double underlined]

{Revolutionary claim,  }
{Act 18th March, 1818.} 

Continued [written in faded handwriting at bottom of page]
Page 3

Notification sent November 11 1820 to
Thomas Hays Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Page 4

John Donaldson;
Sergeant
Col Harmer's Regiment
Pennsylvania Service
1776- 3 years
Adm C
3

Let the applicant process
from this [Illegible] of State of PA
a certified copy of the discharge
provided to him by
Col Harmon & transmit
this, together with 
declaration to this deposition
Page 5

John Donalson;
Sergeant
Col Harmer's Regiment
Pennsylvania Service
1776- 3 years
Adm C
3

Let the applicant process
from this [Illegible] of State of PA
a certified copy of the discharge
provided to him by
Col Harmon & transmit
this, together with
declaration to this deposition
Page 6

Union County in the Eighth Judiciary
District of Pennsylvania

On the nineteenth day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and nineteen before the subscriber, President Judge of the Eighth Judiciary District of Pennsylvania, personally appeared John Donaldson, aged seventy years, resident in Lycoming County in said district, who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War."

That the said John Donaldson went out in August A.D. 1775 as a volunteer in Captain William Cheesman's company in the battalion commanded by Colonel Camble at Quebec, and was discharged at the Three Rivers by General William Thompson on the lst of July A.D. 1776 and on the twenty-sixth day of July same year this deponent enlisted with Captain John Doyle in New York who commanded an independent company, as a sergeant, afterwards the company was joined to the fifth Pennsylvania regiment commanded by Colonel Josiah Harmer.

That he remained in in the service of the United States until July A.D. 1779 when he was discharged by Colonel Josiah Harmer from the service at West Point in the state of New York. 

That he was at the storming of Quebec with General Montgomery and was at the battle of White Plains, at the taking of the Hessians at Trenton, at the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, at the Paoli where he was taken prisoner and remained prisoner till the 2nd day of April following after being exchanged, was at the battle of Monmouth.

And that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support.  And that he had no other evidence now in his power of his services, but the discharge of Colonel Josiah Harmer, which discharge the deponent left in the State Treasury of Pennsylvania where it is filed.
Signed:  John Donaldson

Sworn and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
Signed:  Seth Chapman
Page 7

I, Seth Chapman, President Judge of the Eighth Judiciary District of Pennsylvania, do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said John Donaldson did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support.  And I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress of 1818.
Signed:  Seth Chapman

Pennsylvania
(illegible) County

I, Simon Snyder, Jr., prothonotary of the court of common pleas of said county, do certify that the Honorable Seth Chapman whose name affixed to the preceding certificate, was at that time and is President Judge of the Eighth Judiciary District of Pennsylvania to all where official acts are due faith and credit are and ought to be given both in courts of justice as elsewhere.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the court the thirtieth day of March A.D. eighteen hundred and (illegible). 
Signed:  Simon Snyder, Prothy.
Page 8

John Donaldson
15656
[Illegible]
Page 9

District of Pennsylvania Ss
On the 6th of September 1820, personally appeared in open Court of Common Pleas held in Williamsport for the County of Lycomming being a Court of record, proceeding according to the Course of Common Law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of Amount, and keeping a record of proceedings, John Donaldson, aged Seventy two years resident in Lycoming County in Said district, who being first duly Sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the Acts of Congress of the eighteenth of March 1818 and first of May 1820. that he served three years in the Revolutionary War in the company command by Capt John Dayle and in the Redgiment Commanded by Col Joziah Harmer in the line of the State of Pennsylvania and has obtained a pension under the Act of the 18th of March 1818 his certificate being Numbered 15.656. and I do Solemnly Swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the eighteenth of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof, wtih Intent thereby so as to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War Possessed on the 18th Day of March 1818 and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, my property or securities contracts of debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed 
Sworn & Subscribed in open Court the 6th September 1820
Thos. Hays Proty
[signed] John Donaldson
Page 10

Schedule of Property
I have beside necessary bedding and Clothing
One bed 13 dollars  $13.00
Two small shoats one doll each   2.00
Some old mathematical authory mostly disused   2.00 
one iron pot and teakettle 2 doll 50 cts   2.50
$19.50
Beside some small articles of no intrinsic value  

I have a pension of forty eight Dollars per annum from the State of Pennsylvania and have at present no debts due to me of account, nor do I owe any of money perhaps nearby an equal ballance I have transacted no business for my self upwards of nine years having at that time become an absolute cripple, and was most dependent on my children for support since that time but the greater part are married into different families I and my wife Abigail who is now upwards of sixty years, absolute infirm reside with and on the property of my oldest son a bachelor and Mill rights by trade
I have formerly, while able to gain a livelihood by industry, been chiefly engage as an instructor of youth and taught school until the above mentioned time when rendered incapible by infirmity 
Sworn and Subscribed as above
[signed] Thos Hays Proty
[signed] John Donaldson

We the subscribing freeholders of Lycoming County do hereby certify that the within schedule and situation in life as herein stated by John Donaldson is literally true, and hath not according to our knowledge been falsely stated nor his bodily infirmity been exagerated, Given under our hand this fifth Day of September 1820
[signed] John Brown
[signed] D Hunter
Page 11

War Department
Revolutionary Claim
I Certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, on the 18th March 1818, John Donaldson, late a Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension list roll of the Pennsylvania Agency at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the nineteenth Day of February on thousand eight hundred and Nineteen.
War Office Seal
Given at the War Office of the United States, this twenty-sixth Day of October, One thousand eight hundred and Nineteen
J.C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
Endorsement
Payable semi-annually; The first payment on this certificate will be made on the 4th of March next, in Philadelphia, at the Bank of the United States. Recorded No. 15,656
Lycoming County
I, Thomas Hays, prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas - do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto awarded, are truly enforced from the record of said caveat, and I do further certify that it is in the opinion of the same; [Illegible] that the total assessment in the value of the property, established in the aforesaid schedule, is nineteen dollars and forty cents. [Illegible] whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed the seal of said court at Williamsport the sixth day of September AD 1820.
Thos. Hays
Page 12

March 20, 1913.
Mr. J.C. Donaldson,
Library
U.S. Senate
Sir:
In response to your letter dated the 17th and received the 19th instant, you are advised that John Donaldson. Sur. File No. 42,181, Rev. War, was allowed pension on his application executed February 19, 1819, at which time he was seventy years of age and a resident of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
He stated that he volunteered in august 1775, in Captain William Chessman's company, Colonel Campbell's battalion, was in the storming of Quebec, and was discharged July 1, 1776, at Three Rivers.
Enlisted July 26, 1776, as Sergeant in Captain John Doyle's Independent company, attached to Colonel Robert Magaw's 5th Pennsylvania and 6th Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Josiah Harmer; he was in the battle of White Plains, Trenton December 26, 1776, Princeton and Brandywine; He was captured in the battle of Paoli and held prisoner until exchanged April 2, 1778, after which he was in the battle of Monmouth and finally discharged July 24, 1779 at West Point, New York, by Lieut. Col. Josiah Harmer
Page 13

Sur. File No. 42,181 - 2
In 1820, he referred to his wife Abigail who was upwards of sixty years of age. Children's names not stated.
For the date of the soldier's death and name of the person to whom the arrears of his pension were paid, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U.S. treasury Department, giving him all of the following data:
"John Donaldson, Certificate No. 15,656,
issued October 26, 1819, under the Act of
March 18, 1818, at the Pennsylvania Agency."
Very respectfully,
J.L. Davenport
Page 14

I do hereby certify that the bearer hereof John Donaldson served in the sixth Pennsylvania regiment of foot commanded by Colonel Robert Morgan Esq and Captain John Doyles company. has faithfully and honestly served during the term of three years and his time of enlistment being now expired is hereby discharged he having first received his full pay, arrearages of pay. Clothing. Vc as doth appear by the Receipt on the back of said discharge given under my hand at Camp West Point July the twenty fourth 1779
Jos Harman Lt. Col. Comm

I certify that the foregoing with it endorsement is correctly copied from the original discharge now on file in the office of the auditor General - Witness my hand and the seal of said office the 15 September 1819
[signed] Geo Bryan Aud Gen.
Page 15

Received of Capt. John Doyle my full pay, arrearages of pay and Clothing from my Enlistment to this date as Witness my hand this twenty fourth day of July 1779
[signed] Jno Donaldson

Tested
Thomas Dungan. P M
Page 16

[A printed form with information written in]

In reply to your request of for a statement of the military history of John Donaldson a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([“or his widow's” lined out]) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

S. File 42,181

[A table with the following columns]

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  
        Aug. 1775
	July 1776

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
	to July 1 1776
        to July 24, 1779

RANK.
	[first line blank]
        Sergt.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
     CAPTAIN.
          William Cheesman
          John Doyle

     COLONEL.
          Campbell
          Robert Magee   Josiah Hallmar

STATE.
	Pa

He was captured at the title of Paoli & held prisoner until exchanged Apl 2 1778.

[End of table]

Battles engaged in Quebec, White Pl, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Paoli, Monmouth

Residence of soldier at enlistment,    [left blank but for a check mark]

Date of application for pension, July 19, 1819. His cl. was al

Residence at date of application, Lycoming Co., Pa-

Age at date of application, seventy years

Remarks:  In 1820 he referred to his wife Abigail who was upwards of sixty years of age. Childrens’ names not stated.
Page 17

[A printed form with information written in]

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of John Donaldson, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([the words “or his widow's” lined through]) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

[A table with the following columns]

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
     Aug 1775
     July 26. 1776

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
     July 1. 1776
     July 1779

RANK.
     [left blank]
     Sergt.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
     CAPTAIN.
          William Cheeseman.
          John Doyle (2ndpt co) 

     COLONEL.
          Camble
          Josiah Harmar

STATE.
     [left blank]
     Penn.

Battles engaged in, Quebec. White Plains, Capture of Hessians at Trenton, Princeton Brandywine Pauls [a stylized cross] and Monmouth

Residence of soldier at enlistment,       [left blank]

Date of application for pension, Feb. 19 1819

Residence at date of application, Lycoming Co. Penn.

Age at date of application, 70 years

Remarks: His claim was admitted

Married Abigail - 60 years of age in 1820.

[a stylized cross] Taken prisoner and Exchanged Apr 2. 1778.
Page 18

Rev.Sur. File No.42,181,
John Donaldson.

Oct. 21, 1905

Sir:
Herewith are forwarded a statement of the service of John Donaldson, Revolutionary Soldier, and your copies of papers in his claim.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
{Encs.)

Capt. I. C. Donaldson, 
Senate Library,
Washington, D.C.
Page 19

Keckuk, Iowa, 
June 1, 1925.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
In making application for membership in the Sons American Revolution it is necessary that I have a certified copy of Pension No. 15656, issued to Robert John Donaldson, under date of October 26, 1819.
Will you kindly forward the above and any charges will be gladly remitted.
Thanking you, I remain.

Yours very truly,

[signed] B. H. Moore
c/o Mississippi River Power Co
Keokuk Iowa

[stamped] US Pension Office Jun 4 1923
Page 20

3-068

Bureau of Pensions.

Capt. J.C. Donaldson

Please send such statement of service as is required in [illegible].

Pay acct
Return these papers please, at once
CMB



[A rectangular stamp reading]

PAY DESK
Old War and Navy Division 
21 1905
Page 21

3-068

Bureau of Pensions.

Jno. Donaldson
Trenton N.J.
Capt. Cheesmans’

Jacob. C.
Senate Library
Page 22

United States Senate,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Mch 29 /11
LIBRARY.

Hon James L Davenport
Commr Pensions

Dear Sir

Will you kindly favor Mrs Paul M. Bower, P.O. Box #557 Silver City New Mexico with a certificate of the Military Service and record of John Donaldson a revolutionary pensioner who enlisted in the Continental Army at Trenton New Jersey Aug 1775 and was discharged on account of the Expiration of his term of Enlistment at West Point NY, and died at White Deer Vally Pa.

Mrs Bower is a great, great granddaughter of the said John Donaldson, and desires this certificate to enable her to become a member of the D.A.R.

My dear Davenport, though late in the day I take this occasion to congratulate you most
cordially and sincerely on your promotion to the Commissionership, and to [illegible] for 
you still further and more distinguished honors.

Thanking you in advance for the courtesy of early attention to my request for Mrs Dr Bower

I am Faithfully your friend
JD Donaldson
Page 23

Library
United States Senate,
WASHINGTON. D.C. Mar 17 /13

Hon J.L. Davenport
Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir,

Will you kindly furnish me the Revolutionary War record of John Donaldson who mustered in the Continental Army at Trenton NJ., Sept 1775 in Capt Cheesman Co Col. Cam[illegible]s regiment, and who died at White Dear Valley Pa, as shown by the records in your Bureau

Thanking you in advance for the courtesy of an early reply

I have the honor to be
my Respectfully
J C Donaldson
Page 24

319 Vine St
Staunton Va

Commissioner of Pensions - 
Washington D.C. - 

Dear Sir:
Will you please send me a certificate of the pension of John Donaldson who served as a corporal in Capt. John Doyles Co - 6 y Pa Regiment commanded by Lieut Col. Josiah Harmer Revolutionary War - 
Respectfully
Mrs. R.Y. Johnson
Jan 25 1912.
Page 25

New York City
April 15th 07

Com of Pensions

Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly send me a certificate of the service of John Donaldson in the Revolutionary War who enlisted at Trenton New Jersey Aug 1775 thanking you in advance I remain
Yours truly
J S Thatcher
510 West 124st

[stamped] U.S. Pension Office. F Apr 16 1907
Page 26

[Left Edge of document cut off]

42 181
Revy INVALID.

ile No.   42, 181 John Donaldson
Serg Rev War

Act: 18th March 18[illegible]
ndex:---Vol. F, Page 131

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 27

1905. Oct 21. Family [illegible] military
History to Capt J C. Dona[illegible]dson
Senate Library                   m.12 [illegible]

1906 Oct. 3.  History to above – c 

1907 May 6. Hist to J.S. Thatcher  c
1911 Apl. 4. Mrs. Paul M. Bower  ¢
1912 Feby.6. to Mrs. R. G. Donaldson. ¢
1913 Mch.20. to J.C. Donaldson  ¢
1923 July 20- Hist. to B.H. Moore   mmHf