Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9286, for Peter Shears, Maryland
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3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Number
Continental (MD)
Shears Peter W. 9286 Sheese or Sheas or 
CONTENTS
Sheais or
Barbary
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7937 Go. Ohio
From Pennsylvania
Peter Shears (or Sheese)
of Huntingdon Cy in the state of Pennsylvania who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Houssegger, German Regiment line for the term of one year, and nine months
Inscribed on the roll of Pennsylvania, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the 6 of July, 1818
Certificate of pension issued the 16 of March 181 and sent to Davbid Stewart judge Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 $63.71 Semi-annual all'ce ending Sept 1819 $48
7 months 30/31 $111.74
Revolutionary Claim
Act 18th March 1818
[illegible]
File Sept [illegible]
[illegible] Bradshaw June 9 1843
Notification sent to the Hon J. Sloane 22 January 1822
House of [illegible]
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3979
Ohio
Barbary Sheese widow of Peter Sheese or Shear who died on the 2 February 1824 of Clarke in the State of Ohio who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain of the Reg commanded by Co CA Haussegger in the Revolution line for 21 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh PA at the rate of 70 dollars _ cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of pension issued the 17 day of Feb 1844 and [illegible] to John Sutton Esq. Bolivar, Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 43 875.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 44 35.00
910.00
Revolutionary Claims Act July 4, 1836 
Section the 3rd
Recorded by [illegible] Clerk
Book C Vol 1 Page 1921
Letter to John Pattan & Pension Agent 30th April 1845
[illegible] 17 February 44
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June 9 43 Bolivar May 31
Free
Peter Shear Ohio Ohio [illegible] [illegible] 1818
J. L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington Dist-Co
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Bolivar [illegible] [illegible] AD 1843
[illegible] [illegible] Will you do me the favor to [illegible] to me at the [illegible] the necessary directions for obtaining back kpension due to widow as provided for in the act of Congress [illegible] AD 1834 or/36
The [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] these, Peter Sheese or Shias [illegible] revolutionary [illegible [illegible] Pensions was [illegible] by this [illegible] Luffer 
[illegible]
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State of Ohio Tuscarawas County
On the 11th day of July A.D. 1821 personally appeared in open court of Common Pleas of the county of Tuscarawas aforesaid in the fourth Federal circuit of Ohio and a court of records Peter Shears/or Sheese late of Huntingdon County Pennsylvania Now a resident of said Tuscarawas County aged seventy two years who being first sworn according to said doth are his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the provisions of the act of congress of the first of May 1820 that I the said Peter Shears 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 do as to diminish it as to being myself within the provisions of the 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 [illegible] on the 18th day of March 1818. nor that I have not nor has any person in [illegible] 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 & by me subscribed
I have no possessions but live on a rented place, my occupation farmer, but from age & infirmities of body, I am unable to support myself by my labour. I have a wife. She is sixty eight years of age & quite inform. no children under age
I have received a certificate of the United States under the Act of Congress of March 18th 1818, dated the 16th day of March 1819 and numbered 7937
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The following is a schedule of all the property by the said Sheese owned or possessed  and of the debts due to being [illegible] the necessary bedding and clothing [illegible] [illegible], one horse, one cow, one waggon, one iron kettle, one pot, one plough and pewter dish, four pewter plates, one platter three knives and forks, six spoons, one sett of horse gears, one calf, one olde shovel plough, one saddle, one scythe & one axe I leave no debts due to me.
Debts due and owing by the said Sheese 
Jacob Wells $8
Johnathan Kelly $2.25
George Kirkpatrick $9.33
John Fights $2.
George Fedder $4.68 3/4
Sworn to and declared in open court the day & year aforesaid Attest Geo W Canfield Clerk
Peter Sheese
His O mark 
State of Ohio Tuscarawas County
[illegible] Geo W Canfield Clerk of the court of Common Pleas for said county of Tuscarawas do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule therto annexed, are hereby [illegible] from the [illegible] 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 of exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is [illegible] dollars. In testimony where of I have [illegible] [illegible] my [illegible] and affixed the seal of the said court at New Philadelphia this 16th day of July A.D. 1821
Geo. W Canfield, Clerk
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Peter Shears must make an affidavit agreeable to the within form and transmit the same to the war department with his schedule before his name

J.B.E.

can be continued on them
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Peter Sheais
admitted on certife[illegible] [illegible] [illegible] of the German Regiment
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State of Pennsylvania and Huntingdon County [illegible]
On this sixth day of July one thousand e4ight hundred and eighteen before me the subscriber one of the associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Huntingdon in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania aforesaid personally appears Peter Shears aged sixty nine years and four months and six days, resident in Huntingdon County aforesaid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the provisions made by the [illegible] [illegible] of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war, that he the said Peter Shears enlisted in Hagerstown in the state of Maryland in the company commanded by Captain William Heyser of the German Regiment the second day of August in the year one thousand seven hundred seventy six that he continued to serve in the said corps in the service of the United States until the second day of May in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight when he was discharged from service in Fredericktown in the State of Maryland  which discharge is here in to attached, that he was in the Battle of Brandywine and that he is poor and in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services within his reach to obtain.  That he hath no pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the United States to his knowledge & if any such exists he doth hereby fully entirely release the same to the United States; Sworn to subscribed declared before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Before David Stewart his Peter P Sheais mark
State of Pennsylvania Huntingdon County 
I David Stewart and associate judge of the court of Common pleas in and for said County in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania do certify that from the examination and oath of the said Peter Sheais it appears to my satisfaction that the said Peter Shais did serve in the Revolutionary War, ordered in the preceding declaration against the common enemy and that he is poor and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and I now [illegible] the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Honorable the Secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress July 6th 1818 David Stewart Seal
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that the said Peter Sharis did serve in the Revolutionary War, ordered in the preceding declaration against the common enemy and that he is poor and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and I now [illegible] the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Honorable the Secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress July 6th 1818 David Stewart Seal
[illegible] County [illegible] as it appears as Peter Sheais has been enlisted one year and nine months ago when condition in Capt William Heyser's Company of the German Reg. [illegible] [illegible] appears to me to entitled him to have his discharge and I do hereby discharge him from said Regiment. Given under my hand this 2nd day of May 1778
To all whom it may concern
Lud Weltner Lt. Colonel
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State of Pennsylvania Huntingdon County 
I William Steel, [illegible] notary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county of Huntingdon do certify that David Stewart Esquire [illegible] named before whom the witness declaration of Peter Sheais appears to have been made and who has signed the within certificate was at the time of taking declaration & making the said certificate one of the associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas duly commissioned  and sworn in and for said County and that to all his official acts as such full faith and credit is due and ought to be given as well in County of Justice as there out.
In testimony where of I have hereinto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Huntingdon the 11th day of July A.D. 1818
William Steel [illegible]
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5883
Barbary Sheese Ohio act of July '36
Services 21 mo pri
[illegible] 21 mo pri [illegible]
J Patton Esq Bolivar Ohio
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State of Ohio Stark County
On this seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty three personally affirmed before me the undersigned James S Kelly an associate Judge of said county Barbary Sheese a resident of the Township of Pike and county aforesaid, aged ninety years in the month of December last, who by reason of extreme age and bodily infirmity is unable to appear in court and being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July the fourth one thousand eight hundred and thirty six (1836). That she is the widow of Peter Sheese, who according to her best knowledge and belief, served in the War of the Revolution as a private soldier in the Maryland Continental lines and was a Pensioner under the act of Congress passed as she understood and believed in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; for the evidence which said service of the said Peter Sheese and of his being admitted a Pensioner aforesaid she refers to the papers on file in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions in the Department of War of the United States.  She further declares that she was married to the said Peter Sheese in the years one thousand seven hundred and seventy five; that the marriage was solemnized by a clergyman whose name was Morgan; near Rock Forge in the County of Washington and State of Maryland that they raised a family of nine children; two of whom were born before her husband the said Peter Sheese entered into the service of said war that as neither herself nor the said Peter Sheese could write. No family record was kept of their said marriage or the births of their said children that
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that her husband the aforesaid Peter Sheese died on the second day of February one thousand eight hundred and twenty four; that she had remained a widow even since that period; a will appears more fully by [illegible] once to the proof hereunto annexed.
Her Barbary X Sheese mark
[illegible] Patton
The within declaration of Barbary Sheese who by reason of extreme age and bodily infirmity is unable to appear in court is sworn to and subscribed, the day and year their first above written before me.
James S. Kelly associate Judge for Stark Co Ohio
The State of Ohio Stark County
I Harman Stidger clerk of the court of Common Pleas within and for the county of Stark and State of Ohio do certify that James S Kelly whose signature is above written is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the said County of Stark duly commissioned and qualifies testimony where of I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said court at Canton on the County aforesaid  the 17th day of February AD 1843
Harman Stidger Clerk by the Goodman Dept
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State of Ohio County of Stark
On the fifth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty three, personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, Mary Ellis, a resident of the Twonship of Pike in said county who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath [illegible] and say, that according to her best knowledge and belief derived from her parents, she is about sixty five years of age, that she is the second child of her said parents, Barbary Sheese and Peter Sheese, and that she is the oldest one living, that she always understood and believed that her parents were lawfully married and this deponant further deposeth and saith that the circumstances which enables her to determine that period of her parents marriage, the said Peter and Barbary Sheese are that at the time she had the first knowledge of her said parents, she resided near Rock Forge in the county of Washington, State of Maryland; that she often heard her said parents say that they were married near that place by a Clergyman shoes name was Morgan; that the marriage took place before the last term of service of the said Peter Sheese in the War of the Revolution expired, that this deponant clearly recalls that her said parents often spoke of their having [illegible] children previous to the said Peter Sheese entering into the Service of said War; that they the said Peter and Barbary Sheese continued to reside in said county of Washington until this deponant was about twelve years of age when they moved together with their children to the county of Huntingdon, State of Penn. and settled near the town of Alexandria in said county where they resided until this deponent was about twenty two years of age at about which period this deponent was married to her present husband.
Sometime after this marriage of this deponent, they, the said Peter and Barbary Sheese moved to the vicinity of Franks Town in said county of Huntingdon where
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Where they resided untill sometime in the years one thousand with hundred and eighteen, when they , the said Peter and Barbary Sheese moved to the Township of Pike in the County of Stark, Ohio as the deponent understood and believed that they then resided untill the winter of the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, when the said Peter Sheese died in the month of February of said last mentioned year as this deponent was informed by her mother the said Barbary Sheese. And this deponent further deposeth and saith that her parents the said Peter and Barbary Sheese housed a family of nine children that as they the said Peter and Barbary could not write; no family record was kept of their marriage or of the births of their said children; that the deponent [illegible] that ever since her infancy her parents the said Peter Sheese and Barbary Sheese were reputed to be husband and and wife and lived together as such; that she has at no time during her whole life heared a dout expressed or a suspicion intertained by any one, that they the said Peter and Barbary Sheese were not lawfully married and this deponent further depose and say that the said Barbary Sheese has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband Peter Sheese; that she still resides in said Township of Pike entirely dependent on the charity of her friends for support.
her Mary o Ellis mark
Daniel McKinney
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written before me.  Daniel McKinney [illegible] seal
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with the within named deponent Mary Ellis that she sustained a good moral character that her testimony is entitled to full belief, faith and credit.  Given under my [illegible] the day and year above written.  Daniel McKinney [illegible] seal
The State of Ohio Stark County
I Harman Stidger, Clerk of the court of Common Pleas within and for said county of Stark and State of Ohio do certify that Daniel McKinney is and on the day of the date of the above certificate was a Justice of the Peace within and for this said county duly commissioned and qualified. In testimony where of I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said court at Canton the 17th day of July AD 1843
Harman Stidger, Clerk by Thos Goodman Dept
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State of Ohio County of Stark
On the fifth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty three, before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for said county personally appeared Peter Cheese a resident of said county who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and say that according to his best knowledge and belief, he is about fifty five years of age, that he is a son of Peter Sheese late of said county deceased and Barbary Sheese who resides in the Township of Pike and county aforesaid; that he was born as he understood by the said Peter and Barbary Sheese, his parents, near Rock Forge in the county of Washington, State of Maryland, that when this deponent was about six or seven years of age his said parents moved to the county of Huntingdon State of Penn and settled near the Town of Alexandria in said county where they resided for about fourteen years, that they moved from thence to the vicinity of Franks Town in said county and that they resided there untill the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen when they moved to the Twonship of Pike, county of Stark, State of Ohio where the said Petr Sheese died on the second day of February eighteen hundred and twenty four. And this deponent further deposeth and saith that he often heared his said parents the said Peter and Barbary Sheese speak of their marriage; that they were married near said Rock Forge before the last term of service of the said Peter Sheese in the War of the Revolution [illegible] by a Clergyman whose name was Morgan; that he understood by his said parents that they had two children before the said Peter Sheese served in said War; that this deponent understood by his father the said Peter Sheese that he served as a private soldier in the War of the Revolution and that it is within the knowledge of this deponent that the said Peter Sheese for several years immediately proceeding his death received a pension from the United States government on account of his service in said War. And this deponent
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deponent further deposeth and saith that ever since his infancy, his said parents the said Peter Sheese and Barbary Sheese were reputed to be husband and wife and lived together as such; that this deponent has at no time during his life ever heared it doubted that the said Peter Sheese and Barbary Sheese were lawfully married. And this deponent further deposeth and saith that the said Barbary Sheese has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband Peter Sheese and that she still resides in said Township of Pike; destitute of any means of her own for her support; and deponent further deposeth and saith that said Peter and Barbary Sheese raised a family of nine children that as they the said Peter and Barbary Sheese were unable to write; no record of their marriage or of the births of their said children were kept.
His Peter X Sheese mark
[illegible] Daniel McKinney
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written before me.  Daniel McKinney [illegible] seal 
State of Ohio Stark County
I certify that I am personally acquainted with the within named deponent Peter Sheese that he sustains a good characters for marality and that his statements and declarations made under oath are entitled to full faith, belief and credit.  Given under my hand and seal the fifth day of June AD 1843. Daniel McKinney [illegible] seal
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The State of Ohio Stark County
I Harman Stidger, clerk of this court of common Pleas within and for said county of Stark and State of Ohio do certify that Daniel McKinney is and was on the date of the foregoing certificate a Justice of the Peace within and for said county duly commissioned and qualified.  
In testimony where of I hereto subscribe my name and affix this seal of said court at Canton the 17th day of July AD 1813
Harman Stidger Clerk by the Goodman Dept
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State of Ohio County of Stark
On the fifth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty three before me the undersigned is Justice of the Peace for said county personally appeared, Sarah Tawney who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath depose and say that she is a daughter of Peter Sheese, late of Stark County, Ohio deceased and Barbary Sheese, who now resides in Pike Township in said county; that according to her best knowledge and belief, she is about forty eight years of age; that she was born in the county of Huntingdon, State of Penn; that she resided with her parents the said Peter and Barbary Sheese near the town of Alexandria in said county of Huntingdonuntil she this deponent was about thirteen years of age, when they moved to the vicinity of Franks Town in said county of Huntingdon; that some time in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen her said parents the said Peter and Barbary Sheese moved to the county of Stark and State of Ohio, and settled in the Township of Pike, in said county of Stark, where they resided together untill the second day of February eighteen hundred and twenty four, the day on which said Peter Sheese died.  And this deponent further deposeth and saith that she often heared her said parents speak of their marriage and of her father, the said Peter Sheese, having served as a private soldier in the War of the Revolution; that they were married near Rock Forge in Washington County, State of Maryland by a Clergyman by the name of Morgan; that their marriage took place before the last term of service of the said Peter Sheese, in said War expired; and that they had two children before before the said Peter Sheese entered into the service of said War.  And this deponent further depose and say that  that from her infancy, her parents the said Peter and Barbary Sheese were reputed to be husband and wife and lived
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lived together as such and that this deponent at no time ever heared it doubted that they, the said Peter and Barbara Sheese were lawfully married; And this deponent further deposeth and saith that the said Barbany Sheese has remained a widow even since the death of her husband the said Peter Sheese.
Her Sarah X Tawney mark
[illegible] Daniel McKinney
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written before me.  Daniel McKinney seal
State of Ohio County of Stark
I do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the within named deponent Sarah Tawney, that she sustained a good moral character and that her statement and declarations made under oath are entitled to full faith, credit and belief.  Given under my name and seal the fifth day of July AD 1843
Daniel McKinney seal
The State of Ohio Stark County
I Harman Stidger, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Stark & State of Ohio do certify that Daniel McKinney is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned and qualified. In testimony  where of I hereto at my hand & the seal of said Court at Canton the 17th day of July AD 1843
Harman Stidger, Clerk by Thos Goodman Dept
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State of Ohio County of Stark
On the fifth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty three, before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid, personally appeared Henny Looper a resident of the Township of [illegible] and county of Tuscarawas Ohio who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that he is about forty four years of age; that he has resided in the vicinity of said Township ever since the year one thousand eight hundred and sixteen; that he was personally acquainted with Peter Sheese of the [illegible] City of Pike and said county of Stark, deceased and his wife Barbary Sheese who still resides in said Township of Pike that he this deponent first became acquainted with the said Peter and Barbany Sheese in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen that this deponent resided within two miles of the residence of the said Peter and Barbany Sheese from the last mentioned period untill the death of the said Peter Sheese which took place at this deponent understood and believed in the winter of eighteen hundred and twenty four.  and this deponent further depose and say that he understood and believes that the said Peter Sheese served as a private soldier in the War of the Revolution and that for some years previous to his death he received a pension from the government of the United States on account of his services in said War. And this deponent further depose and say that during his whole acquaintance with the said Peter and Barbary Sheese they were refuted to be husband and wife and lived together as such. And this deponent further depose and say that the said Barbany Sheese has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband Peter Sheese. 
Henry Lupper
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written before me.  Daniel McKinney Justice of the Peace
(continued over)
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State of Ohio Stark County
I Daniel McKinney the Justice of the Peace before whom the within deposition was acknowledged, do certify that I am personally acquainted with the within deponent Henry Looper that he is a man of good moral character and that his statements and declarations under oath are entitled to full faith, credit and belief.  Given under my hand and seal the fifth day of July A.D. 1843
Daniel McKinney seal
The State of Ohio Stark County
I Harman Stidger, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the said county of Stark and State of Ohio do certify that Daniel McKinney is and was at the date of the above certificate a Justice of the Peace within and for said county duly commissioned and qualified.  In testimony where of I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at Canton the 17th day of July A.D. 1843
Harman Stidger, Clerk by Thos Goodman Dept
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[illegible] WIDOW, &c.
File No. 9286
Barbary Sheese
Wid of ┃
Peter Sheese or Shear
Post Rev line
Act: July [illegible] /36, Sec. 3.
Index:--Vol. 16, Page 206
Arrangement of 1870.
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Ohio
Barbary Sheese
[illegible] J. Patton 16 Nov 1863
[illegible] J. Mauhen Decem 15 43
[illegible] 1836
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1844 J. L. Edwards Esq Hagerstown July 29
Dear Sir- At the request of Judge John Patton of Bolivar, Ohio I enclose you a certificate from the clerk of our court.
Yours [illegible]
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Maryland, Washington County Court
I hereby certify that I have examined the Records of my office and can find no record evidence of a marriage license ever having issued to Peter & Barbara Sheese.
In testimony where of I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Washington County Court this 13th day of February 1844.
O.H Williams, Clk
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Land Office, Annapolis 16th September, 1863
Sir, In reply to your letter of the 14th [illegible]. I have to inform you that the muster and pay rolls of the Revolution in this office, have been very carefully examined and they afford no evidence of the service of Peter Shears or Sheese. his name I do not find upon any of the Rolls.
I am very respectfully your obt sert
G.G.Brewer
J.L. Edwards, Esq Comm of Pensions
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Washington City Dec. 9th 1843
Dear Sir, Please return me with the enclosed letter the answer to the enquired there in made - 
Respectfully your abt. servant Jas. Mathews
Hon. J. L. Edwards
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Auditors Office Post Office Dept August 21st 1843
Sir, I send to you the letters of Judge Patton, under date of the 11th. When the application of Mrs. Barbary Sheese under the act of July 4th 1836 for relief shall be examined and decided; be pleased to let me know the results. It seems to me that no benefit to Mrs. Sheese can be expected by sending any papers through me and permit me to request you to send to her or to Judge Patton.  He is worthy of your confidence. 
Very Respectfully Yours E Whittlesey
J. L. Edwards Esq Com of Pensions
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Bolivar Ohio Sugust 11th 1843
Sir, I some time since transmited to the commissioner on Pensions, the declaration of Barbary Sheese, the widow of a Revolutionary Pensioner, in order to obtain the benefit of the 3d sec of the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 granting pensions to such widows in certain cases together with Sundry depositions in support of her claim.  As it is contrary to a provision of said act for the proper accounting officer to deliver any warrant in such case to the agent or atty of the applicant without taking the oath prescribed in said act.  I have taken the liberty to ask the favor of you Sir, in the event of Mrs. Sheeses pension being granted to receive the  warrant and enclose it to her addressed to this Post Office.  My friend J.W. Allen [illegible] from Cleveland when last in Congress acted as the agent of a Mrs. Mary Palmer for whom I had prepared the necessary papers to obtain her grant in [illegible] and transmitting to me her warrant. I acted as pension Agent only for a few very deserving and destitute widows and received as a reward whatever compensation the successfully applicants deemed proper
[illegible]
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to allow me after receiving their pension your kind attention to this matter will confer a charitable favor on a very worthy and aged widow in very destitute circumstances and who until lately was ignorant of her claim upon the government. Hoping you a long and happy life I remain very respectfully your sincere friend.
John Patton
Honorable Elisha Whittlesy Post Office Dept Washington City
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Bolivar Tuscarawas County Ohio December 1st 1843
Sir, Your letter of the 14th [illegible] in relation to the application for a pension on behalf of Barbary Sheese is received.  I have addressed a letter to the clerk of the court of Washington County [illegible] in which Mrs. Sheese alledges she was married, requesting his official certificate to made out and forwarded to you.
[illegible] inquiries I have made of Pensions who long since resided in the state of Ohio it is doubtfully whether under the Colonial Government, the law made it the duty of any public officer to keep records of marriages.  In consequence of the inability of Mrs. Sheese and her husband to write, no record was kept of their marriage or of the births of their children. The deposition of Mary Ellis, the second child of her parents, proves that she is about sixty four years of age at least.  She says, she understood from her parents that their oldest child was but about eighteen months old when she was borne, that she remembers what age her parents told her she was , on the day of her marriage, which was corroborated by the previous account they had always given her respecting her age.  According then to her testimony, she must have been borne about the year 1779. Her appearance, the opinion  of her neighbours, some of whom were acquainted with her more than thirty years ago, and the age of her children, [illegible] in all, the rest of whom is [illegible] pf forty years of age, and the youngest about twenty three years old; all these facts and circumstances go conclusively to corroborate the facts set forth in her deposition. You will receive herewith the deposition of Peter Fettens a very respectable man, who was intimately acquainted with the family of Mrs. Sheese.
In the case of Mary Palmer of this county, her pension was allowed in 1841[illegible] the act of July 7th 1838 without [illegible] positive proof of her marriage.  As I was the agent in that case, I recollect that no record of her marriage or of the birth of her children could
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could be obtained. The most conclusive testimony in [illegible] of admitting her claim was that part of the evidence of her brother Peter Hausman which stated he heard his sister say she was going to be married by a Justice of the Peace whose mane was Miller, that on the return of his sister with [illegible] they said they were married and Housman's mother gave them a dinner on the occasion. That Housman was about twelve years of age at the period of the marriage.  As it appears that the requisition of the act of July 4th 1836 and of July 7th 1838 in relation to the proof of the marriage of applicants are substancially the same.  I hope with the deposition of Mr Fetter that Mrs. Sheese will be admitted a pension under the former act , notwithstand no record evidence may exist of her marriage in the County in which she alledges she was married. 
I am Sir, very Respectfully your obt. serve John Patton 
J.L Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions Washington City Dist Col
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Bolivar Ohio July 17 1843
Sir, You will receive herewith the declaration of Barbary Sheese and sundry depositions in support of her application for a pension under the 3rd [illegible] act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. There are no persons in this region who were acquainted with Mrs Sheese in either Penn or Maryland with exception of her children whose depositions are enclosed.  There are many who have known her besides Mr. [illegible] since the year 1818 and who could strictly corroborate his evidence, but it is not by good lawyers that it is unnecessary to add to the expense that they consider the proof sufficient.  The interlineations in Mr Luppers depositions was [illegible] in consequence of his living in Tuscarawas County instead of Stark County as I understood when I took the minutes from which his deposition was made. He resided but a short distance from the county line and came into Pike Township when his deposition was acknowledged.  Mrs. Sheese has but three children living, all of whom are in [illegible] [illegible] circumstances. Their parents where Germans and [illegible] up their children without education as was generally the case with that class of people who lived on and immediately after the Revolution. [illegible]
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Mrs. Sheese husband drew a pension up to the period of his death, which took place on the 2nd Feb 1824. His heirs alledge that his administrator did not acct for his last years pension.  Could you without much trouble inform me whether it was paid to his administrator Henry Loffer. Please let me have your reply. I am, Sir very respectfully your obt. serve. John Patton
J.L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington DC
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Bolivar Ohio Oct 23, 1843 
Sir, It is now more than three months since I transmitted to your [illegible] the declaration of Mrs Barbary Sheese, together with Sundry expenditures in relation to her application for a pension under the act of Congress of March 4th 1830. As the old lady is in very destitute circumstances and as I am weekly inportuned for information on this subject and some times accused of neglecting her business I take the liberty most respectfully to call your attention to this matter as early as the duties of your office will admit.  I am Sir, very respectfully your most obt. servet. John Patton
James L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington City
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The State of Ohio County of Tuscarawas
On this thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty three personally appeared before me John Patton a Justice of the Peace within and for the county aforesaid, Peter Fetters of lawful age and a resident of said county and being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that he is personally acquainted with Barba Sheese, widow of Peter Sheese, late of Pike Township Stark County [illegible] that he first became acquainted with the said Barbary and Peter Sheese in the County of Huntingdon State of Pennsylvania about thirty six years ago; that in the year one thousand eight hundred and twelve, this deponant moved from said county of Huntingdon to the county of Stark aforesaid that about the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen said Peter and Barbary Sheese moved with their family from said county of Huntingdon to said Township of Pike, that said Peter Sheese resided in said Township until the day of his death and that the said Barbary Sheese had continued to reside there since the death of her said husband; that this deponant lived within five miles of the residence of the said Peter and Barbary Sheese in the State of Pennsylvania aforesaid and that part of the period in which this deponant has loved in the State of Ohio aforesaid he resided within one mile and one half of their residence and has at no time lived more than six miles from their place of residence during the periode they lived in said Township of Pike.  And this deponant further depose and say that during his whole acquaintance which was very general and intimate with the said Barbary and Peter Sheese, he always understood and believed that they were lawfully married that they lived and cohabited together as man and wife that they raised a family of nine children who together with their parents always so far as this deponant ever knew or learned sustained good characters for truth, veracity and morality. And this deponant further deposed and say that he has often heard sundry pensions much older
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older than himself and who were acquated with the said Barbary and Peter Sheese before the remembrance of this deponant. Speak of their good character and that he at no time was heard any one express an intimation or suspicion that the said Barbary and Peter Sheese were not lawfully married or that they lived together in an unlawfull or disrespectfull manner.  And this deponant further depose and say that he under stood and believes that the said Peter Sheese was for several years previous to his death a Revolutionary Pensioner and that his widow Barbary Sheese has not married since his death. [illegible]
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me.
John Patton, Justice of the Peace Lawrence Township Tuscarawas County Ohio
The State of Ohio, County of Tuscarawas [illegible] I do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named deponant Peter Fettens that he sustains a good character for truth, veracity and morality and that his declarations made under oath are entitled to full faith, credit and belief.
Given under my hand and said this thirtieth day of November AD 1843.
John Patton, Justice of the Peace, Lawrence Township, Tuscarawas County Ohio Seal
State of Ohio Tuscarawas County
I Charles H. Mitchener Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that John Patton Esq. before whom the fore going acknowledgement was taken, was at that time & still is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly [illegible] and commissioned to act as such and to whose official act full faith
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and credit are due. In testimony whereof I
hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of
said Court at New Philadelphia this second
day of December A.D. 1843
C. H. Mitchener
Clerk
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State of Ohio Tuscarawas County

On this tenth day of November 1821 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Tuscarawas personally appeared Peter Shears who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Colonel Leornard Welty in the service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of Pennsylvania from whence he has lately removed, that he now resides in the state of Ohio where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be there payable in future.

Peter Shears
HIs X Mark

Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid.

Hugh Russell - Justice of the Peace

State of Ohio
Tuscarawas County

I Geo W. Canfield clerk of the court of Common Pleas for said county of Tuscarawas do hereby certify that Hugh Russell Esquire before whom the above declaration appears to have been made and who hath subscribed his name thereto was at the time of the execution thereof and still is one of the acting Justices of the Peace within and for said county duly commissioned & qualified. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at New Philadelphia the eighth day of January AD 1822.

Geo W Canfield - Clerk
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Peter Shears or Sheese Transfered from PA to Ohio 22 January 1822 from 4 March 1820
[illegible] 19
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Bolivar Ohio March 7th 1845
Sir, Enclosed is the Declaration of Barbary Sheese in order to obtain her pension due on the 4th [illegible] one years pension is due.  She not having drawn any on the 4th September last. I am sir, very respectfully your obt. servt.]
John Patton