Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9682, for John Smith, Pennsylvania
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(3-176)

SERVICE.                                           NUMBER

Penn.              Smith, John.               R. 9682
———-             ——————.               ————
———-                     , Agness.             ————
================================
CONTENTS
Res. At end. Phil’s. Pa.

14 blank lines
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House of Repres. January 10th 1840

Sir.  I have been requested by Dact. William Smith of York Co. Pa. As he acts as agent first his mother Mrs. (Last name is badly smudged) agents Smith of said State and County. And who made application some time last summer for pensions to obtain all the papers, and testimony which were sent by him to this commissioner of pensions.  In order to lay the whole claims before this committee on pensions. You will please therefore transmit the same as soon as convenient.

-Edward’s Esq               Very respectfully
Commissioner of.          Yours (NL) Donnell
Pensions.                         J. Gerry
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This is an address written across the back of a tri-fold journal type document. 

Chanceford, Pa.
James L. Edwards  Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC

Along the left side vertically written:
Jacob Axell
Pa
Written above Mr. Edward’s name:
9682
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Chanceford April 4th 1839

Sir

Find the written copy of a letter to the Hon. H Logan yesterday - Col. Logan had sent me by mail, previous, the original. I have now your letter for convenience to refer to the matter and in sending back your own letter mean no disrespect to you and hope you will not consider it so. Please to let me know if the papers which never been requested would be reconsidered on forwarding additional testimony of William Smith served  brother to John Smith the husband of Agness Smith. The claimant stating on oath, that he knew that John Smith his brother performed at least two months services as a volunteer between the two terms of service  January 2
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A substitute in 1776 and 1777. That this volunteer service was in addition to the services performed as a substitute. 
     My references to the original papers you observe Milhoun Smith deposed that John Smith was always considered as a revolutionary soldier of the militia (underlined) the words of the militia; were added because the despondent was ordered the term “soldier” meant a man enlisted in the regular (not legible) and to satisfy him the words were added my father after the first term of service wished to enlist but his friends interfered and he entered into a volunteer company. This fact is the most strongly important information the memory of William Smith of any part of the service.
Please to write by the return mail my mother is old and home and needs justice of any can be consistently given her.
Yours truly (not legible) Wm Smith
(One word by itself at the end of the letter not legible) then the signature William Smith Chanceford
 York Co Pa
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Copy.           War Department
                      Pension Office
                      March 8 1839

Sir,
     The papers in the case of Agnes Smith, widow of John Smith have been examined. It is alleged that her husband served as a substitute in the Pennsylvania militia, one tour in 1776, and a tour in 1777.  The militia served in tours of only. Two months under one engagement. Two tours, therefore, could not have been served than four months. The act of 7 July 1838,  provides for none who did not serve 6 months. The claim has consequently been rejected and the papers filed in this office.
I have the honor to be very respectfully your obt servant.
(Signed) J.L. Edwards

Hon. Henry Logan. 
Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
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4468

Chanceford}  Free
Feby 26}

Hon Henry Logan M.C.
Washington City
DC
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Chanceford 21st 1834

Hon and dear sir
We need your communication with a pamphlet  on the pension laws embodying the laws and negotiations on that subject up to 19th Jan 1838
I have observed and made new this pamphlet that a law passed 7th 1838 July granting half pay and pension to the widows of revolutionary soldiers for a certain time who was married previous to 1794 and after the last time of service of their husbands. This law of course was not in the pamphlet sent to me and of necessity we want forms on this subject.
I send you papers drawn up as well as we can of Agnes Smith (my mother)widow of John Smith (my father) who was engaged as a substitute and as a volunteer (not legible) during the years 1776 and 1777 but owing to the fact of being a very young man an apprentice In Philadelphia, at a distance from all his relations and known to very few there in Philadelphia it would impossible at this distant time to find compatriots who could by honest testimony from his services. 
The proof of a traditional kind; also of the veracity of my father can be said used to any extent reasonable we never sent on proof of a younger brother Wm Smith who was separated from him many miles and who could not swear directly to his service as he did not see him for many months after his last term of service. Records of marriage are not often kept
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Here there in a large family bible which cannot now be found I believe their marriage is NL written down and. Diligent NL perhaps could be obtained. Tho Wm Smith his brother was present at the celebration - he swears to the generally received opinion in his statement sent on to the department.
Mr NL was sworn (too light and a hole over a letter) previous to meeting him at the justice and it was thought that the universally received opinion of the neighbors would answer the purpose there was also a mistake made in William Smith’s statement in the date of the Act of the 7th July 1838 and it was altered in the presence of the Justice. I believe my brother was in many battles not testified to as my mother is so failed in her faculties by NL of age and not living at home with my brother for many years before his death I NL but is unsatisfactory statement but I make as our case is neither a peculiar one the commissioner of pensions will take it into consideration and if the papers we send NL not acceptable he will send us such directions and forms and will enable us the NL case and in accordance with the usual forms of the despondent so far as the means in our power will and not few persons been greater suffered by the revolutionary war than my own father two of my mothers brothers were taken in that war and one it is said starved
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To death at the fall of Fort Washington her other died of Camp fever a brother of my father was killed at the battle of Germantown and my father having entered the service at the age of eighteen and been in a great part of the war fought battles - fought in January and near Philadelphia often barefoot and nearly naked never received a sixpence of money His patrimony  which was considerable being lent out during his minority was paid entirely in continental money not worth single cent in the dollar
I hope dear sir you will present the enclosed papers to the commissioner of pensions and if rejected obtain such information as will enable us to act more in accordance with the rules that govern the department write to me immediately as I would like to send on other papers if necessary before congress adjourns
I am honored dear sir
Yours respectfully 
William Smith
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REJECTED
1682
P.O_____
Agness Smith
Service: John Penn.
res. Penn.

Enlisted: _____, 18  ,
Discharged: _____, 18   ,
Application filed: ______, 18   ,

Allegee: The printed list of 1852
gives cause of rejection as
Re-enlisted: "Did not serve six months"

Attorney: ___
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized.    ______ Contract.

Cert of Die Searched for
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Agnes Smith
Of (city is not legible)
Pennsylvania
Rejected
See letter 8 March 1839
Hon H Logan
See 29 March 1839 Wm Smith, also 12 April 1839
Also 12 Sept 1839
Did not same six months,
Letter 13 Jan: 1840 to Nov: James Gerry
Act of July 1838
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W. Smith
Mar 29th 1839
OC
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[notecard]
[upper left]
SERVICE
Penn.
[upper center]
Smith, John
Agness
[upper right]
NUMBER
R. 9682
[center left]
CONTENTS
res. at enl. Phila. Pa.
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195
War Dept. Pension Office
April 12. 1839

Sir,
In reply to your letter in the case of Mrs Agnes Smith widow of John Smith deceased I have to inform you that if it can be proved by witnesses from personal knowledge that her husband served six months, under different terms, there will be no objection to the admission of the claim on account of the service. Each tour should by particularly specified, showing the period and duration of each tour, under what officer, and the place or places where the service was NL - forward as required in the enclosed NL regulations. The period of the marriage should be proved - by witness who had a personal knowledge of it, if there be a record proof. If there be a family seen of the marriage or of the births of her children it should be exhibited if there be none of the facts would
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he stated under oath
Wm Smith Esq
Chanceford, Pa

4468
Act 7 Jul 1838

Wm Smith
12 Apl 1839
OC
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Hon (the document is crooked causing the initial and last name to be partially on and off the page. Please refer to original document for clarification)

Mar. 8th 1839
OC
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War Dept. Pension Office
March 8 1839

Sir,
The papers in the case of Agnes Smith widow of John Smith deceased have been examined.It is alleged that her husband served as a substitute in the Pennsylvania Militia one term in 1776 and a term as a substitute in 1777. The said served in terms of only two months under one engagement. The two tours could therefore not have been more than four months. The Act of 7 July, 1838 provides for none who did not serve six months. The claim has since greatly been rejected and the papers filed in this office.
Hon Henry Logan
Hills burg, Pa

—————————
4468
Act of 7 July 1838
—————————-
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Sept 12. 1839
O.C.
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                                                                  262
                               War Dept Pension Office
                                Sept 12 1839

Sir,
   The additional testimony in the case of Mrs.
Agnes Smth widow of John Smith, deceased has been examined and filed with her other papers. The proof of her husband’s having performed six months actual service is not sufficient.  It should be shown where each tour was performed the period and duration and under what officers. The declaration should be made in the claimant’s name to which her mark should be affixed.

D.C. William Smith
Chanceford
Pa

———-
4668 
Act 7 July 38
——————-
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James Gerry
Jany 13 1840
OC
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162

War Dept Pension Office
January 12, 1840

Sir,
Agreeably to your request I herewith enclose to you the papers of Mrs Agnes Smith widow of John Smith (an entire sentence was lined through) —-it said: and have to request that you will. Number from one to five and have to request that you sign the enclosed receipt and return it to this office. 

Hon. James Gerry
N.R.

(O.C
————
4468
Act of 7 July 1838
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This is an addressed envelope showing the following information:

C. Lanceford DR
March 25th

James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D C

Vertically on page: In at Mar 28 Mrs A Smith
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Chanceford York Co Pa
Dear Sir
I rec’d a note from you NL the 16th NL requesting me to give the names of my mother and deceased father in NL a claim of pension in support of which I sent to Col Logan of the House of Rep from this district - papers sometime on the first of this month, who wrote to me that in consequence of the NL town in which the papers were sent he could not attend personally to the matter but that he had sent the papers to you and requested you to correspond with me on the subject.
     My father’s name was John Smith and my mother’s name is Agnes Smith.
     I will have to request you
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if there are any informalities in the declaration, to be so good as to point them out to me in a letter as we seem unacquainted with these forms which are laid down by the department or if the proof is now sufficient, please let us know wherein it is so.
    I have to remark that the declaration was drawn up and signed by myself (Wm. Smith) as consequence of my mother's mental faculties being so far decayed by old age ass to render her incapable of actions in this matter or any other.
    William Smith who testifies to the services and marriage of my father is a younger brother of my father and was present at the marriage but the declaration was drawn up before this was known and the magistrate thought it quite sufficient as it was, if it is not sufficient, please send it back and it can be
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amended or the marriage can be substantiated by his oath to that effect.
   Please to write to me soon and let me know what you think (illegible) on the subject.

(illegible) Chanceford
York Co.
Penna.
//s//
William Smith