Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40,514, for Robert Sturgeon, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Penn.
Sturgeon, Robert
NUMBER
S. 40,514
CONTENTS
Page 2

[left page]
16.302 R
Pennsylvania
Robert Sturgeon
of Perry Co in the state of Pennsylvania
who was a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Stewart of the Pennsylvania
line, for the term of 21 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 26 of Jany 1819.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th of Jany 1820.
and deld. [delivered] to Hon. W. P. Maclay
of the House of Reps.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1819 - 7 6/31 + 4/30 mos. $58.60
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Mar 1820 $48.-
$106.60
Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.
Continued on Roll
under law 1 May [illegible]

[right page]
Dead. See letters to J. Morris
& N. Buell, Pa. Agt. March
1, 1832

Notification sent
to Wm. P. Maclay Esq
Lewistown Pa.
Page 3

[left-hand side]
Wm. McClay

[center]
Robert Sturgeon private
and Sergeant, in Colonels Miles
Bull and Stewart's Regts.
Pennsylvania line
1776 to 1778

[crossed out stuff] Address the [illegible] to
[Roswell?] [illegible]
[Somerset?]
Ohio

[the fainter portion largely illegible, but:
...
Credible witnesses
the Certificate of an
officer of the Royal
Navy
...]

Depd. Feb. 11, 1819.

[right-hand side illegible]
Page 4

Mifflin county
State of Pennsylvania Ss.
Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid personaly appears Samuel McManamy who being duly sworn according to law doth say that he is well acquainted with Robert Sturgeon who makes the within declaration that he knows the said Robert to serve in the army of the revolution for one year and more as a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Marshal in the regiment under the command of Colonel Walter Stewart that he well recollects that the said Robert was discharged while the army lay at the Valley forge that he this deponent enlisted in the army of the revolution in the year 1777 and served for the period of four years in the Regiment first commanded by Colonel Hartley and afterwards by Colonel Hubley of the Pennsylvania line
Sworn and subscribed
this 23 day of august
AD 1819
[signed] Wm A. Patterson
[seal on paper affixed to right side]
[signed n right] Samuel McManamy [drawn circle] his mark
I have known the above Samuel McManamy for a number of years and have and never heard his credibility called in question
[signed on right] W Mackay MC 
January 11th 1820

Pennsylvania
Mifflin County Ss
I Ephraim Banks Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in aforesaid county do certify that William A. Patterson Esquire, before whom the above deposition was taken is and of our commonwealth Justice of the Peas duly appointed and commissioned and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Lewistown in said county August 23rd Anno Domini 1819. E Banks Proth.
Page 5

State of Ohio
Perry County
Robert Sturgeon being duly sworn
declareth and saith that he enlisted in March
1776 with John Thomson first Lieutenant in
Capt. Philip Albright's Company in Cumberland
County, Pensylvania for one year and
nine months in Colonel Miles' regiment of
Pennsylvania Riflemen, that at first the Regiment
was attached to Lord Sterling's division;
that in the battle of Long Island
both Sterling and Miles were taken prisoner,
that the regiment was afterwards placed under
the command of Colonel Bull who was
superceded by Col. Walter Stewart who continued
in command until this declarants time
of service expired and in January 1778 this
deponent being then Sergeant was honorably
discharged by Col. Stewart at the Valley forge,
worn down with fatigue and hardships, having
been almost incessantly employed in scouting parties
and other fatiguing bearings. This declarant further
saith that in the year 1780 or 1781 he left
his Discharge & some other papers which he did
not wish to take to sea with John Mill in Baltimore,
and on his return voyage he did not
land at Baltimore & does not know what became
of his discharge, having never been at Baltimore
since, as this declarant further saith
that after his enlistment while marching to Mareces
Hook, the company stopt in York County and
this declarant with a number more were sworn in
by Col. McPherson Esq. This declarant now saith
that he is in his 67th year, that he has been unfortunate
in business and is now reduced to very indigent
circumstances and in need of his country's
assistance for his support, and that he relinquises
all pensions heretofore granted to him.
Robert A. Sturgeon

9
12
21
Page 6

State of Ohio
Perry County
I , George Trout, one of the Associate
Judges in said county do
hereby certify that the within
named Robert Sturgeon appeared
before me this day and made oath
to and subscribed the within declaration
before me and I being fully
satisfied that he served for more
than nine months at one time against the
Common Enemy in the Revolutionary War
of the United States, and I, having ascertained that
he is in indigent circumstances and needing
his country's assistance for his support, have
caused the seal of our said Court to be hereunto
affixed and do hereby certify the same to the
Secretary at War, this 26th day of January 1819.
George Trout

Pennsylvania
Centre County Ss
Before the subscriber Register for the Probate of
Wills & granting Letters of administration & ex officio
one of the Judges of the Registers Court & also one of
the Justices of the Peace in & for the County of Centre aforesaid Personally
appeared Joseph McKibben and Sarah McKibben persons well known
to me to be persons of truth & veracity & to whom full faith & credit is
due and ought to be given, who sayeth on their solemn oath that they were
personally acquainted with Robert Sturgeon in the foregoing Declaration named
before his enlistment- That they know that he enlisted in the service of the
United States in the Revolutionary Army in Curgan Township Cumberland
County in the year 1776 in the beginning of that year, with Ins. Thompson
a Lieut in the said service; that he marched from Cumberland County in the
Spring of the year - That they know he continued in the army of the
Revolution as aforesaid more than nine months at one time & that they are disinterested in this case.
Joseph McKibben
her
Sarah [mark] McKibben
mark
Sworn & subscribed Before me the 10th
day of August 1819-
In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my
hand & seal of office at
Bellefonte the day &
year aforesaid
Wm Petrikin
Page 7

Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania
Centre County Ss
I John Rankin Prothonotary of the Court of Common
Pleas in & for the County of Centre and State aforesaid, do
certify that William Petrikin before whom the foregoing
& within deposition of Joseph McKibben & Sarah McKibben
was taken, and who certifies the same under his hand and
seal of office, was at the time & now is, Register for the
probate of wills & granting letters of administration, &
ex officio, one of the Judges of the Registers Court, & also one of the
Justices of the peace in & for said County of Centre afsd [aforesaid]
duly commissioned and sworn, and that full faith and
credit are due and ought to be given to all his official
acts as such as well in Courts of Justice as elsewhere
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said
Court at Bellefonte the eleventh day of August in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, 1819
Jn. Rankin Prothy
Page 8

Affidavit [?] of
Robert Sturgeon
No. 16302
Issd. 11 Jany. 1820.
Page 9

Mifflin County Ss
District of Pennsylvania
On this 15th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open
Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County being a court
of record for said County Robert Sturgeon aged sixty
nine years now residing in Lewistown in said County who
being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare
that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows viz.
In the regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Miles
and in the company commanded by Captain Philip
Albright Pennsylvania Rifle regiment that declarations
of said service was made on the 26th day of January 1819
and that said applicant has received a certificate no. 18,302 dated
the eleventh day of January one thousand eight hundred
and twenty signed J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War
which certifies that in conformity with the law of the
United States of the 18th of March 1818 Robert Sturgeon
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
twenty sixth day of January one thousand eight hundred
and nineteen. And I do solemnly swear that I was a
resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day 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 with intent thereby so 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 passed on the eighteenth
day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any
person in trust for me any property or securities contracts
or debts due to me nor have I any income
other than what is contained in the schedule hereto
annexed and by me subscribed.
Page 10

Schedule of property
One unimproved lot of ground in the town of Rehoboth
Clayton township Muskingum County and State of Ohio
consideration fourteen Dollars no other property except necessary
cloathing
Signed Robert Sturgeon

I have no family never having been married and from
age and infirmity am not of ability to follow any occupations
Signed Robert Sturgeon
Sworn and declared in open Court 
of Common Pleas of Mifflin County
this 15th day of June 1820
E Banks, Prot

Mifflin County Ss
I Ephraim Banks Prothonotary and Clerk of
the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County
in the State of Pennsylvania do hereby
certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto
annexed are truly copied from the record of said Court
and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said
Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited
in the aforesaid schedule is Fourteen Dollars. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
seal of said Court on this fifteenth day of June one thousand
eight hundred and twenty.
E Banks, Prot
Page 11

W. C. S.
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
May 19, 1926
C. C. Cline
1339 Mondamin
Des Moines, Iowa
Sir:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim, S. 40514, it appears that ROBERT STURGEON enlisted in
Lurgan Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in March, 1776, and
served as private and sergeant in Captains Philip Albright's and Marshall's
Companies, Colonels Samuel Miles', Bull's and Walter Stewart's
Pennsylvania Regiments; he was in the battles of White Plains, Trenton
on December 26, 1776, Princeton, and Brandywine where he received a
slight wound, and he was discharged in January, 1778.
He was allowed pension on his application executed in Perry
County, Ohio, January 26, 1819, at which time he was sixty-six years of
Age.
In 1820 he was living in Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania,
and stated then that he had never married. He also stated in 1820 that
he owned "one unimproved lot of ground" in Rehoboth, Muskingum County,
Ohio.
The above noted is the only soldier by the name of Robert Sturgeon
found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner
Page 12

40514
Revy
INVALID.
File No. 40.514
Robert Sturgeon
Sergt Rev War
Act : 18 March 18
Index: -- Vol. F, Page 487
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

1339 Mondamin
Des Moines, Ia., 3/19 -26
Dept. of Interior,
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
I would like to have
personal and war record of
one Robt Sturgeon, who was
with Capt. Phil Albrights Co.
at Battle of L. I. and in camp
near King's Bridge, N.Y. Sept 1st, 1776.
He was also with the "State
Regiment on foot" from York
county Penna.
His home was in York Co.
Penna. and later moved to
Fayette Co., Penna if my records
can be proven. I am a descendant
of Robt Sturgeon of York Co. and
want to prove up a Revolutionary
Page 14

Lineage. He married Margaret
-? and sons Robt. Wm. and
daughters Nancy, Jane and Mary.
Would be pleased to receive
any records bearing on the
above said Robt. Sturgeon so
can verify my records.
Yours very truly,
C. C. Cline.
Page 15

[postmark]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
MAR
22
1926
Page 16

[written over Pennsylvania]
Robert Sturgeon
Lewistown, Pa
Free
No. 16,302.
isd. [issued] 11 Jan. 1820
W. P. Maclay
Lewistown,
Pa.

[written vertically]
Hon John C Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington City

[upside down]
Continue

[postmark? illegible]
Page 17

Lewistown Penn June 20th 1820
The Hon J C Calhoun Scty [Secretary] of War
Sir
I enclose the
affidavit [?] of Robert Sturgeon a pensioner
under the act of the 18th March 1818 and which
affidavit was made in pursuance of the act
of the 1st of May 1820. Please to address
result of your examination of the case to me
at this place
very respectfully
your obt svt [obedient servant]
W. P. Maclay
Page 18

1 old case
The attention of Mr Edwards
is particularly requested to this
case. I have no doubt that
the applicant served as within
stated nor of his poverty. He is
of a reputable family and
has made his living for some
years by attending [store?] and
keeping school but a tremor
has latterly so injured his hand
writing as to destroy those means
of support
W. P. Maclay
March 1820
Page 19

To the Secretary of War
Sir
In obedience to the orders sent me I have come into the parts where
I engaged in the war and has obtained what was required I have left
the State of Ohio and does not expect to return as I am not able either
in body or purse, and for further confirmation of my service in the
war we marched to camp in April 1776 to Marcus Hook from thence to
Delaware State quell an insuraction [insurrection] of the tories thence back to red
bank where we begun a fort, thence to Philada and from thence
to paules Hook York and long Island, I was not in that battle being left
ill of a fever, when recovered I joined my regment on their way
to the white plains where we fought at intrivals about five
hours, but being overpower, d we retreated over the north river
the enemey pursued us through the Jerseys sometimes in sight untill
they chased us over the Delaware, We riffle men encamped
nearly aposite [opposite] Carells ferry, tarried there some weeks when orders
came to recross it was in the night it was stormey snow and sleet
we came down on trent-town [Trenton] Seized and took near 1000 Hessians
with amunition and two fine brass field pieces 6 pounders, the prisoners
were sent to Philada. we came to our camp at Carells again and tarried
a few days. crossed back to trent-town [Trenton], the enemy being aprised of
their loss come down on us in full force and drove us out of the town
we crossed the bridge and encamped between Sink-pank creek and
Delaware river and knowing we were not able to fight them we
stole away silently about 11 OClock at night, a little after day-break
we discried Mawhood and his men formed on an eminance a little
South of Prince town we marched up within about 50 yards of
the enemy when a most tremendious five comenced our Brave
Commanders fell the second five Mercer and Hazlet. myself and my
platoon were near the Center, where Hazlet commanded as soon
as he fell they rushed forward with charged bynots [bayonets] but we having
none was obliged to give way, but we met a reinforcement and we
wheel,d about and drove them over the Battle ground
Page 20

at that instant Doctor Scott met me and ordered me to go and
press a waggon and take as many of the wounded as I could to philada
which I did. The next battle was Brandywine where we
ware overpower'd and retreated to Darby in the night I received
a Slight wound but did not prevent me from duty, the next
was Germantown Battle but I was not in it I being on command
at Bethleham [Bethlehem], I am also one of the nine that captured the
Sixteen armed [Maldeckers?] the day before the battle of the White
plains killed two wounded one and brought thirteen to
General Washington, I received my discharge with honour from
my Colnel Walter Stewart at the Vally Forge in January 1778.
having served full twenty one months which was the term
that Miles,s Riffle Ragiment [Rifle Regiment] was enlisted is well known.
Miles was captur,d o long-Island and never served afterward
my officers when I left the army were Col. Walter Stewart
Major John Morrow Leut. Col. Farmer and Capt Marchel
Sin
Your Humble Servant
Robert Sturgeon
Novr. 6th 1819.
Lewistown
Pa

Mifflin County ss
Personally appeared before me the subscriber
one of the Justices of the peace in and the County of Mifflin
aforesaid the above signed Robert Sturgeon who being duly
sworn according to law doth depose and say that the above and
foregoing statement made by this deponant is just and
true and further saith not
Robert Sturgeon
Sworn & Subscribed
at the Borough of
Lewistown the sixth
day of November
[AD?] 1819 Before me
Wm A. Patterson