Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,952, for Isaac Stimmel, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(?-1776)  
Service   Number
Penn  Stimmel, Isaac  S. 23.952
or Stimmell
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26.076
[illegible]
[illegible]
of [illegible] in the State of [illegible]
who was a [illegible] in the company commanded by Captain Bolton of the [illegible] commanded by St. Clair in the [illegible] one for

[illegible] $40.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburger Agency
at the rate of [illegible] dollars  cents per annu. to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of [illegible]
and
[illegible]

Anears to the 4th of Sept 1838 100.00
Semi-ment allowance ending [illegible] 20.00
$120.00

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by [illegible] clerk,
Book C vol. 5 Page 90
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State of Pennsylvania {On this 28th day of November
Westmorland County {Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and thirty three Personally appear before Justice J. Flohety Esquire, Isaac Stimmell a resident of South Huntingdon township int he county aforesaid, aged Eight two years, who being duly sworn according to Law, doth on his solemn oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress paped 7th June 1832.  That he entered the Army of the United States, in year 1776 with Captain William Butler and served in the second regiment commanded by Col. Arthur StClair of the Pennsylvania line. That he served under the following named officers and as herin stated about the 28th day of Feb in the year afore[?] declarent enlisted in Capt Butler's company in [unknown] in said county. From the places last mentioned he marched to Philadelphia by the way of Carlisle of Lancaster, from Phil.a he went up the Delaware river to a place called Burden Towne on the Jersey Shore and from there to Perth Amboy and from Perth Amboy he sailed to New York about the last of [unknown] up the Hudson River to Albany and from there to Lake George to Form McHenry, from the place last mentioned declared that led [unknown] Lake George, to or near the head of Lake Champlain here the army arrived sometime in teh month of May of that year. From there [unknown] sailed [unknown] Lake Champlain to the outlet of the Lake called Surrele, where there was a fort called St. Johns and then [unknown] down the [unknown] to its junction with the St. Lawrence.  Here the army lay several days, when Colonel Dehorse was sent by Gen Thomfeson with a detachment of which this declarent was one, up the river to retake some American prisoners, which the British had taken and confined near Fort St. Ames about eigthteen miles from MontreaO, declarent arrived at Fort St Ames about the beginning of June.  The object of the expedition was executed without much [unknown] some slight skirmishing with the British but Col De [unknown]'s Regt ammounting to 700 men the prisoners were got away and the detachment moved down the river to the place where they had started. When declarent started up the river under Col De{unknown], Gen Thompson proceeded down and at the battle of the three rivers was made a prisioner, the army after defeat at the place last mentioned retreated under the command of Col St Clair and arrived at the
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junction of the [unintelligible] & St. Laurence a few days after [unintelligible] returned from St [unintelligible]. Here Col. St. Clair was advanced  to General and Col Jos. Wood succeeded in his stead. The whole army there under General St. Clair proceeded to the [unintelligible], crossed Lake Champlain and landed at Ticonderoga, here Capt Butter was advanced to Col, and Capt Chisly succeed him,
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Interrog. 5 State the manner of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you [illegible] sash continental & militias Reg. as you can [illegible] & the general circumstances of you during.
Captain William Butler Co. [illegible] Col. Dehorse Co. Jos. Wood & General Thompson, the residue of the above Interog is answered in the forgoing declaration
Interrog 6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the [illegible] & if so by whom was it signed & what has become of it
Answer I did receive a discharge from the [illegible] signed by Co. Jos. Wood the residue is answered in the foregoing declaration
Interrog 7 State the names of persons to whom you are known in you present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for [illegible] and there belief of you [illegible] as a soldier of the Revolution [illegible] mention of the names of tho Rem.
George Friggs
Sworn and submitted before me the day and year aforesaid
I Plokely
Justice of the Peace
Signed Isaac Thimmel
X his mark

Westmoreland County
Before me the undersigned subscriber a Justice of the Peace in said for said county personally came [illegible] a clergyman a resident of [illegible] township in said county and George Friggs and Henry Smith residing in the [illegible] who were duly sworn according to law read after this oath aforesaid do say that the are well [illegible] with Isaac Thimmel personally and Jonas [illegible] from difference and [illegible] information who has sworn to & [illegible] the above declarations that we believe him to be eighty two years of age, that he is [illegible] and he lived in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and all causes in that opinion
Jonas Mechling
George Friggs
Henry Smith
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
{illegible] Justice of the Peace
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Westmorland County PA
Before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said
County, personally came Isaac Stimonell, who upon his solemn oath taken according to law, saith that by reason of old age and bodily infirmity and the consequent loss of memory he cannot state precisely the day that he entered the service of the United States nor
the day that he left the same, but that he enlisted for one year and the full term of one year & not less as a private as afore
said, and for such sum he claims a pension.
Sworn & subscribed before me the day & year aforesaid 
__________
Isaac Shell
his mark
Westmoreland County
I, Joseph Stokely, Esquire, one of the Commonwealths Justices of the Peace in & for the County of Westmorland aforesaid do hereby certify that Isaac Stimmell Eighty-two years, who has sworn to and subscribed the annexed declaration Interrogations and affidavits before me is by reason of old age & body and their consequent debilities is unable to attend at Court 
 Signed under my hand & seal this 28th day of November 1833
J. Stokley 

And now to wit, January the 13th AD 1834, the Court of Common pleas of Westmoreland
County in the Commonwealth aforesaid, hereby declare their opinion that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states, and that it appears to them that Jonas Meckling a Clergyman and George Frick and Henry Smith are persons of good character, whose statements are entitled to credit. 
I, Randel M Laughlin, Prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas of Westmoreland County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Isaac Stimmell for a pension, that Joseph Stokely Esquire before whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed & sworn to, was at the time thereof and still is an acting Justice of the Peace commissioned & sworn, to whose official  acts as such full faith and credit is due, and that the name subscribed
there in the genuine Signature of the said Joseph Stokely, In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at the 13th day of January AD 1834
Randal McLaughlin, JP
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Pennsylvania} SS
Westmoreland County}
On this twentieth day of February Anno Domini Eight hundred and thirty four, Personally affirmed in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Common please in and for the county aforesaid Isaac Stimmell aged eighty two years, who being first sworn according to law doth on his solemn oath make the following supplementary declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congrefs [illegible] 7th June 1832 that the declaration interrogatories and affidavit here to [illegible] and sworn to and subscribed by him on the twenty eighth day of November last post before Justice Joseph Stokely Esq is true and correct.

signed Isaac x his mark Stimmell

Sworn and subscribed in open court before me
Randal McLaughlin Prot

At the same time and place appeared Gasper Farr who being truly affirmed according law on his solemn affirmation doth depose and say that about four or five years ago deponent seen and read an orig. in it discharge in the name of Isaac Stimmell purporting to be a discharge of said Isaac from the military service of the United States. The said discharge was very much worn, but it contained the date of the month the year and the signature of the person by whom it was purported to have been signed. deponent cannot say at this time who had signed the said discharge. Deponent further saith that from his acquaintance with the said Isaac which has been now fifty years he can say that the said Isaac is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that he concurs on that opinion.

signed Gasper Farr

Affirmed and subscribed in Open Court Before me Randal McLauglin Prot}

At the same time and place appeared Alexander Reagan who being duly sworn according to law doth in his solemn oath depose and say that about four or five years [illegible] deponent saw and read what he believes to have been an original discharge form
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the military service of the U. S. in the name of Isaac Stimell the paper was [illegible] and much worn. It was given to me to send as Isaac Stimmells discharge, deponent further saith tht the dischsrge was returned by deponent to the said Isaac Stimmell deponent is certain that the paper seen by him was ] positively a discharge statement the day of the month. the year and the name of an officer purporting to be a disdaying officer deponent cannot [illegible] positively that the discharge is [illegible], but from its  [illegible] appearance and other mark, he believes that it was genuine, he further believes that it was signed by Col Jms Wood. deponant further saith, that he believes the said Isaac Stimmell to be Eighty two yers of age and he represents, that he is [illegible] and believed in the [illegible] where he resides to ho]me [illegible] a Soldier of the Revolution and that he [illegible] in that [illegible]

signed Alex Reagan

[illegible]                                  }
[illegible]                                  }
Randal McLaughlin Prot    }

Now to wit the twentieth day of February Eighteen hundred and Thirty four, the said court certifies that Gasper Tarr Esq and Alexander Reagan who have sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavits are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit

I Randal McLaughlin Prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas of Westmoreland County do hereby certify that the foregoing contained the original proceedings in the matter of the supplementary declaration of Isaac Stimmell for a pension.
The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Greensburg the twentieth day of February Eighteen hundred and thirty four.
Randal McLaughlin Prot
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21.123

Isaac Stimmel

              Penna

Adm 1 year

        $40

John H. Beard
Greensburg 
Northumberland Co
Pa
  


Commissioner of Pensions
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
21 Jany 1836

    The evidence in support of your claim, under act of June 7 1832 has examined, and the papers 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 necefsary 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 you papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A STATEMENT, showing the Service of Isaac Stimmel
Period where service was rendered: 1776
Duration of the claimants service: [illegible}
Rank of the claimant: [illegible]
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served:[illegible]
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.: 82 years 
Westmoreland Co Pa
Proof by which the declaration is supported.: [illegible]


I am respectfully,
   Your obedient servant,
      James L. Edwards,
        Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, 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 offices;) the town or county and State in which re 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 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 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.
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 ans 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 names 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 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 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 and 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 i 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
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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 care.

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 ifso, 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 whome?
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  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 een 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 directs 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 daties, 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 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 guulaaee.
(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 office 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, the precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. IN a case where the applicant cannot, 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. E. 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 lenghth of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served no less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: --For______year_____months, and ______days, I served as a __________. For_____months and ______days, 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, 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 about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expression 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 the other particulars respecting their service. This form of 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 inscriptions by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of  Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

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.

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 to 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.
The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troups 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 [illegible] to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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November 7, 1932.

BA-J/ILL
Isaac Stimmel
S. 23952

Miss Lucy Bowman
R. D. #5
Canton
Ohio.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of Isaac Stimmel, a Revolutionary War pensioner.

The record given below is obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 23952, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Isaac Stimmel, or Stimmell.

Isaac Stimmel was born in September, 1751 in Washington County, Maryland; the day of his birth and names of his parents are not given.

While residing in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, he enlisted about February 28, 1776, served as private in Captain William Butler's Company,, Colonel Arthur St. Clair's 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment, and was on the expedition to Canada and in a skirmish with the British while with a detachment under Colonel
DeHaas at Fort St. Anne (about eighteen miles above Montreal) to re-take the American prisoners confined at that place; following the retreat from the battle of Three Rivers, he was stationed at Ticonderoga, where he served from September, 1776, in Captain Christie's Company, Colonel Joseph Wood's Pennsylvania Regiment and in January 1777, proceeded to Philadelphia where he was discharged, having served one year. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 28, 1833, at which time he resided in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

The soldier died March 1, 1836.

There is no reference to his family in the papers in this claim.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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R D No. 5, Canton, Ohio.
October 28, 1932
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

The name of Isaac Stimmel, Private, 40 a year, Militia, 83 years old, Placed on roll March 1, 1834, Revolutionary Soldiers, appears in the Senate Documents Pension Roll.

Will you kindly give me whatever information you may have about this Isaac Stimmel, since I think he is my great-great-grandfather. Anything about his ancestry, descendants, etc. would be of interest as well as his own movements, tho doubtless only a part of this would be in your records.

Thanking you for your courtesy in sending me anything you may have on record about this man. I am

Yours very truly,

(Miss Lucy Bowman
RD No. 5,
Canton, Ohio.

stamped Received Oct 31 1931
Page 15

Revolution

File No. 23952
INVALID.
23952
Isaac Stimmel
---
Act.
Index: -- Vol. Page
Arrangement of 1870.)