Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,596, for Daniel Smith, Pennsylvania
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(8-1776)
SERVICE		NUMBER
Penn.		Smith, Daniel		S18,596
Va.

CONTENTS		Carded
S [illegible] 1785 at Redding Berks Co. Pa, there at first
[illegible] Frederick Co. Va. At 2nd [illegible], Ju 1833 w Harrison Co. Va.
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Danl Smith 25390
June 11
Va.

Daniel Smith
25390
Admit as a Private 18 mo
$60
pay rate

Report to J. Warresley
Weston Lewis county
Virginia
28 May 1833 J. Warresley
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Virginia State
Harrison County} 35
On this 20th day of May 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of Harrison County Court now sitting Daniel Smith a resident of Harrison County in said state of Virginia aged 77 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th of June 1832. That he entered the services of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in March 1777 he volunteered in a company of Pennsylvania militia in Berks County to serve six months in what was called the flying [illegible] his captains named Lazier, his Major Ross his Cols. name he has forgotten and the regiment to which he belonged. He was marched to Staten Island and to other places not now recollected in Pennsylvania N. York and New Jersey he served his six months and was discharged by captain Lazier in Sept 1777

He then removed to Frederick county in Virginia. Then in the spring of 1778 he volunteered as a Virginia Militia man in under Captain Heiskell the month of March 1778 to go to a town under general Morgan with 500 other citizen of Frederick County to what is now Hardy and Pendleton counties to suppress and captured a band of Tories that were collected there and [illegible] every meeting their forces. Genl Morgan had some regular soldiers but declarant belonged to the Militia 500 of whom had volunteered
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to join Genl. Morgan declarants captns name was Peter Hershell. They marched up to what is now Hardy & Pendleton counties killed a leading Tory named Mace [?] captured some others General Morgan narrowly escaped from one of Mace’s sons who lying in ambush aimed a shot at him, and hit his horse. Served six months was discharged and in Nov. 1778 returned to Winchester in Fredericks county. Then in the spring of 1781 in March was drafted to go on tour of six months in the Virginia Militia under Captain Gilcheson, Lieutenant Johnson marched towards Richmond was at Fredericksburg attached to Col. W. Darkers regiment arrived from there by Cornwallis retreated up the country was joined by Genl. Wayne, returned to Richmond then on to Williamsburg then to Yorktown there was Genls Washington Lincoln LaFayette – Mechlenburg – Steven Weedon and others many troops were there concentrated there
was in York river was the French fleet, and there sometime in October 1781 Lord Cornwallis surrendered to Genl. Lincoln. He then volunteered to continue in the Militia another 6 months was ordered to conduct British prisoners taken at York to Winchester neighborhood to the barracks. He arrived there safely and continued there a long time [missing text] he cannot [illegible] saw how long for he intended to continue serving the war after having been there some time some if not all of the prisoners were
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sent to Lancaster in Pennsylvania. From there he returned to Winchester in Virginia and was soon after discharged having been gone this campaign two years. He does not remember the name of his captain at Winchester his Col. W. Darke was there he thinks he then acted as a general. He was discharged sometime in the spring of 1783. He began his service in 1777 and ended it in 1783 having at different times served in all nearly or quite three years. He has no documentary – widowed. He knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity receipt the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
James X Smith
His mark

The court propounded to the declarant the review several interrogatorers inscribed by the war department to which he gave the following answers to the
1.	That he was born in the year 1755 at Reading in Berks county in Pennsylvania
2.	That he has no record of his age.
3.	That he was living in Berks County Pennsylvania
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3. nia [continuation of “Pennsylvania” from previous page]. That he removed from there in the winter of 1777 and 1778 to Winchester in Virginia lived there till the close of the revolutionary war. Then removed to Harrison county was 12 miles below Clarksburg where he now lives

4. That he volunteered first for six months in the flying camp (Pa. Md) Then in VA in 1778 he again volunteered in VA. Ma. Then in spring of 1781 was drafted for [illegible] serviced that time then volunteered to the end of the war in Va. Ma. and served under different Militia captains. He thinks two of them were name Parson & Stinson or Stephenson.

5. That he saw Genl Washington in his first tour in 1777 saw many generals whose names he has forgotten. In his second tour saw genl. Morgan in his last campaign saw Genls Washington, London Lay Fayette [Lafayette], Weedon, Michlenburg. Stevens, Wayne & he cannot remember the names of regiments but knows he saw Va. And PA troops, militia and regulars continental and state troops. At York he saw after the surrender he saw many English & French officers the general circumstances of his serve is set forth above as nearly as a frail memory now enables him to do

6. That he recd a discharge from his first serve by captain Lazier from his second by P. Heiskell his captain from first 6 months in his last campaign
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6. by Capt Gilcheson. The later? service he can not now recollect the names of his captains but knows he served under more than one his discharges are all lost long since.

7. That he is known in his neighborhood to William Lucas a clergyman and Nathan Ogden both citizens of Harrison County Virginia They can testify as to his character for veracity and their and the neighborhood belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution –

Daniel X Smith 
His mark

We William Lucas a clergyman residing in Harrison County, Va. and Nathan Ogden, residing in the same county do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Daniel Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations. That we believe him to be 77 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

William Lucas
Nathan Ogden

And the court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories proscribed by the war department, that the above named application was a revolutionary soldier and
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served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Williams Lucas – who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in Harrison County Va and that Nathan Ogden who has also signed the same is a resident in the said county of Harrison and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit

Virginia State
Harrison County } ss

Personally appeared before me the undersigned justice of the peace in Harrison State of Virginia Daniel Smith who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reasons of old age and the consequent loss of memory he can not swear positively as to the precise length of his service But according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following [illegible]. For six months which he served as a Private soldier in the Pa. Ma. in the flying camp for 6 months volunteer in Capt Hieshalls company of Virginia Militia (by a prorate). For six months under a draft in Captain Gilchesons company of Virginia militia, as a private for 18 months under different officers in the Virginia militia from Oct. 1781 till may 1783 as a Private and for such services he claims a pension

Joseph Johnson

Subscribed & sworn to before me this 20th day of May 1833 } SS
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I David Davisson Clerk of the Court of Harrison County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said 
Court in the matter of the application of Daniel Smith for a pention. And I do further certify that Joseph Johnson whose signature appears to the last preceding certificate is an acting
Justice of the peace in and for the County of
Harrison in Virginia and that the signature 
purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and Seal of Office this 27th
day of May 1833
D Davisson C.H.C.

V
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Virginia 16.890
David Smith
Harrison in the state of Va
Was a Pr in the Company commanded Captain Heiskell of the ___ commanded ___ in the Va. & Pa. [missing text] for 18 months

Drop

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 00 dollars __ Cents per annum,
[missing text] commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of Octr 33 and [illegible] J Wamsley
Weston, Lewis C. Va.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833
Semi anl. Allowance ending 4 March 36
150
30
____
$180
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Nate Rice, Clerk, 
[missing text – “B”]ook E Vol. 6 ½ Page 32
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Le[illegible] Pen: Agt. 10 March 1835
" N. Goff 10 March 1835
“ B Reeder 17 Feby 1836
“ [illegible] A. Stewart May 12 1846
Wm. M. Strickland Dec. 24/5[illegible]
Returned to files May 23/60
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18596
INVALID.
File No. 18596
Daniel Smith
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 358
[Arrangement of 1878]

July - 29 - 190[illegible - may be 4 or 1]
Prof. Geo. W Smith
Carbondale [illegible]
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March
Volunteered in Penn. ser'd 1 mo. 77 (illegible)
Aug. - Sept. 77
Nov.-Mar. 78 (illegible)
Aug.-Mar 78 Gen. Magan
May 7th  81 dep. 6 mo.
vol. (illegible)
left Pen. 20 yr. old for vol. when a boy, can't cite what year.  ser'd 3 mo. in N J
next duty at (illegible) of York, (illegible) 3 mo. after (illegible) 3 mo.
{three more lines illegible}
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Shinnston Va
10 Feby
Feb 16 Va
Free

J L Edwards Esqr
Commr of Pensions
Washington City

B. Reeder
Danl Smith
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Shinnston Va. 10 Feb 36
J L Edwards Esqr

Sir
If I am importunate – you will excuse me, I am impelled to it by the wishes of my poor old neighbor Daniel Smith, and those who live around him, as well as by my own solemn convictions.

Mr. Smith has lived in our neighborhood upward of twelve years, and before any law in relation to Pensions, was passed that would embrace his case, has [illegible]lated to myself and where his services as now claimed in the revolutionary war and incidents, attending them, and at a time, when his mind was sound and he could have had no sinister motive, besides his habitual probity would induce any person acquainted with him to believe what he said. For three or four years his mind has been occasionally very aberrant – which increases with his age. I wrote to the attorney Mr Singleton not long since, requesting he would make inquiry about Winchester where Mr Smith formerly lived respecting his services, he informed me there were many respectable persons who were satisfied he had been in service, and that he himself was satisfied he was entitled to some pension but that he had been imposed upon by his agent Warmsley, and could not be again placed on the Roll until he refunded the money drawn on his account with interest and made a new declaration – How much money was drawn he does not know he has himself received only sixty dollars – to refund he is not able, and to make a new declaration his faculties does not admit. To prove positively his services, at the distance of sixty years:  by any other means than is own oath would seem impracticable and in his present situation, no prudent officer would believe it right to administer an oath to him.  What is to be done in the poor old mans case. I daresay there is scarcely a man that knows him, but would be willing to be qualified that they believe what he had stated when in his right mind was true. For one I showed willingly do so – that he should suffer by the misconduct of an agent in whom he had placed confident seems to be a hard case. What would be more just and reasonable, considering all circumstances, than to calculate his Pension from the time it ought to have commenced. (I believe in ’30 or 31) – deduct the money that has been drawn on his account from the amounts, pay him any balance that may be now due, and continue him on the Roll the short remainder of
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of his life. It is earnestly hoped by the friends of this from old man that the department will view this as an Isolated case, and act upon it accordingly. To comply with the rules of the department is now impossible. While no person acquainted with the man doubts the Justice of his claim.
Very respectfully
Yr. Mo. Obt. Svt.
B. Reeder
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Shinnston
Mar 25
Free
The
Commissioner
of Pensions
Washington City
Va Mar 3
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near Shinnston Va.  21 March '35

Sir
Daniel Smith-a poor old Pensioner has asked me to inquire into his case. A Mr. Groff who had heretofore drawn for him, informs me that he believes, Mr Singleton U. S. attorney, who had made Some investigations had reported unfavorably in that case, on account of some discrepancy in his examination-I have known Mr. Smith many years. and consider him an honest man, and that he is entitled to a pension I have no doubt having entirely Satisfied me, that he served Six months in the Flying Camp in the early part of the War, afterwards three months with Morgan & others after the Tories on the (??) Breach of the Potomac & 6 months in the militia in Va. immediately proceeding the Capture of Lord Cornwallis- If any discrepancy should have lost his Pension-I think I would readily account for it from the following circumstances. He is an old man upwards  of eighty, has in a great degree lost his mind- is deaf and was embarrassed at the unexpected call of Mr. Singleton and not improbably may have made some contradictions.
I must apologize as a Stranger for thus troubling you-by saying it is in the course of Humanity for the Subject, in my estimation, is not only deserving but in great want, and I will take the liberty of references to the Humble Mr. Anderson & Mr. Maxcey of the Treasury department, to whom I am some what Known-
You will be pleased to enable me to give the poor old man some answers to his request
Very respectfully
yr ob svnt
B Reeder
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Daniel Smith Prv
Harrison Cty
Frand
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Daniel Smith draws $60 -
On the 22nd of July 1834, Smith made the following Statement of his age and Revolutionary service to wit - is a citizen of Pennsylvania born in the year 1734 - left then when 20 yrs old and settled in Westchester Virginia -
when a boy and an apprentice (can't tell what year) has Served a tour of duty of three months at North Amboy and South Amboy, he as a Substitute (doesn't recollect in whose place) Marched from Redding [Reading] Penn (does not recollect the names of any of the officers) to Amboy there was fifteen hundred men at that Station -
The next tour duty he preformed was at the Siege of York - he went as a Substitute-but don't know for whom, Col. Holmes of Manchester hired substitutes for (??)  (??) hired him from quaker - he marched from Westchester under Capt. Samuel Gelkerson, to York town, his (word crossed out) tour of three months expired 4 days before Cornwallis surrendered on his way home hears G Cornwallis capture, -- afterwards he was drafted and guarded the prisoners at Westchester 2 months (word crossed out) this service Capt. Raynold's was his captain 
Jonathan Wamsley wrote his declaration-gave him $60 -
In witness that this statement contains the truth -- he hereto subscribes his name July 22 1834
Daniel  his X mark.  Smith
Witness
Danl. Smith
Nathan Groff
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I Daniel Smith of Harrison County Virginia aged upwards of eighty years, who served during the Revolutionary War six months in the Flying Camp in 1776, afterwards three months against the Tories in the South Branch of Potomac and afterwards six months in the Virginia militia against Cornwallis, do hereby authorize and empower Benjamin Reeder to receive for me and to apply for my use any Pension that may be Justly due to me for my said Services. Witness my hand and seal this 10th February 1836
Daniel  his X mark Smith
Seal (circled)
name written at the request of Daniel Smith by Jesse Flowers J. P.

The above was signed and acknowledged before me a Justice of the peace for Harrison County Virginia
Test
Jesse Flowers

We the subscribers residing in the neighborhood of the above name Daniel Smith do certify that he has always been considered an industrious Honest man. That he is now very infirm from age-with his mind evidently impaired from the same causes and likewise his Speech very much impaired and that his circumstances are indigent and poor. Given under our hands
Jesse Flowers
Nathan Ogden
A J Shinn
J G Bigler
B Young
Edward Shine
F. P. Wamsley Esq.
J A Ogden
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R Reeder
Va
25 Jany V

Danl Smith

Edwards Esquire
Comm. of Pensions
Washington City
Free

Shinnston Va
27 Jany

Mr. Sye
Feb 5
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             near Shinnston Va 25 Janry 36

Sir

Commisserating the situation of my poor old neighbor Daniel Smith, and perfectly satisfied that he is entitled to a Pension, you will pardon me for troubling you again on the subject.  That he served 6 months in the Flying Camp of ’76 afterwards 3 months on a tour against tories on the upper potamac and 6 months in the Virginia Militia while Cornwallis was at the South I am entirely satisfied. 

Believing that he had been stricken from the list of pensioners on account of his embarrassment occasioned by his weak and impaired mind and by the sudden call of the attorney Mr. Singleton - as well as by his inability, scarcely to articulate, I recently wrote to Mr Singleton requesting he would make inquiry in about Winchester, where this poor honest old man had resided nearly 50 years.  Mr Singletons reply states thatt he had made the inquiry requested, and from highly respectable authority is satisfied Daniel Smith is entitled to a pension, but had been imposed upon by that infamous Mr Warmsley [illegible] was his agent, and has since absconded - that the only [tear in paper, words missing] in which he can be reinstated is by refunding the money that had been drawn on his account, and applying under a new declaration, neither of which is he now able to comply with, for he Knows not how much has been drawn, has himself received only about 60 dollars, and from imbecility of mind, and want of articulation, now unable to make a new declaration, and not able refund a dollar. 

Permit me now my dear sir to ask whether it would it be just and equitable, that Mr Smith should be reinstated according to the time of his declaration, that any sum drawn above his just pension for 15 months service, should be deducted from what is now due to him - and the balance, if any, be paid to him, and that he should be continued on the list for the remaining short period of his life. It really seems to me that such a course ought to be adopted towards a poor and [illegible]nable old man, then whom, I believe none more honest or deserving and who I trust you will agree with me ought not to suffer from the infamy of others in whom he had placed confidence

with great respect
yr mo. obt Servt
B Reeder
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16890
May 6 46
Danl Smith
Va / de
16.890
Free
Hon A Stewart HR

A Stewart

J L Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions
War Dept
R
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Ho of Rep
May 5th 1846

J L Edwards Esq
Dr Sir

Will you please inform me to what time the pension granted to Daniel Smith Monongalia County Virg'a was paid & to whom the last payment  made
Yours respectfully
J. Carney

J. L. Edwards