Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1786, for Joshua Leach, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE Md.
Leach, Joshua
Priscilla
NUMBER
W.1786
CONTENTS
Page 2

Reported
[illegible]
W.S.A.
Date of death
not [illegible]

899
Ohio Cin.
Priscilla Leach
widow of Joshua Leach
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a
Private [illegible]
Md. Line

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 86
Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the
28th day of June 1850
and sent to
Hon. C. S. Morehead
House of Reps
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners
July 29 1848, Page 165. Vol 1
Book [illegible]
1 H
Page 3

Let. to Hon A
Kennedy March 1 '47

Ohio 19.848
Joshua Leach
of Hamilton in the State of Ohio,
who was a Private Leyt in the Co.
commanded by Captain Greenfield of the Reg. commanded
by ----
in the Maryland
line for 2 Yrs.
Leyt. 4.   20.00
Pte. 20.   66.66
-------
$86.66
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 86 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sep
1833 and sent to John
Milliken, Hamilton, Ohio  Butler Co.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833.   216.65
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. '34,  43.33
--------
$259.98

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Wm R. Palmer, Clerk,
Book E.  Vol. Eight. Page 15.
Page 4

19828
Josuha Leach
Ohio

Adm 2 years 4 months
thereof as Serg.
Pri $66.66
Serg $20.00
$86.66

Joshua M Millikin

Hamilton
Butler Co
Ohio
Page 5

Brief in the case of Joshua Leach 
County of Butler in the state of Ohio 
(Act 7th June 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a court or a Judge? Court 

2. Of before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 

3. How old is he? 76 

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
---
Period. - Duration of Service - Rank - Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served 
--              Years , Months, Days-- as a ---- Gen. Dent
Vol In 1776-- almost 6 ---------Private --- Capt Freeland 
" 1778 ---- " 7 ----- " ----- Capt Clayland 
"           ---- " 6 ----- " ----- Capt Greenfield 
            ----- About 4 --- Sargent ---- Capt Hugh 
            -----Almost 2 ----Private --- Not mentioned 
            -----" 3       ---- [?] ---- Commodore Dashiel 
-------------
5. In what battles was he engaged? Tanger Island 

6. Where did he reside when he entered service? Calvert Co. Md

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Neither if not on the rolls -

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No Clergyman 

x Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
Chs E Forest 
Examining Clerk.
Page 6

Sate of Maryland Calvert County Se 

Be it remembered that on the 27th day of November 1849 personally appears before me Robert B. Wilkinson a justice of the peace in and for said County 
William W. Harrison of said County who  is known to me to be a person of respectability and truth and made oath in due form of law that in the year of our lord seventeen hundred and eighty nine and in the month of January in said year a certain Joshua Leach and Priscilla Wilkinson both of said County were united in matrimony by the Revd Edward Gautt who was then a minister of the protestant Episcopal Church and authorised by the laws of said state of Maryland to solimnize marriages this deponent states  that at the time of said marriage he was seventeen years old and that he is now about seventy eight years old this deponent further states that he was married the twelfth day of Febuary seventeen hundred and ninety three and that the marriage of the aforesaid Joshua Leach & Priscilla Wilkinson took place about four years and nearly one month before that time as deponent well remembers, 
              his 
William W X Harrison 
                 Mark 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of Nov. 1849 
Robert B Wilkinson J. [?]
Page 7

State of Maryland Calvert County Sct:
I hereby certify that Robert B. Wilkinson, Esquire,
before whom the foregoing affidavit was made, and
who has thereto subscribed his name, was at the
time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the said
State, in and for Calvert County, duly commissioned
and sworn.
In testimony whereof, I hereto
set my hand and affix the seal
of Calvert County Court, this third
day of December in the year of
our Lord Eighteen hundred
and forty nine
Augustus Solters Clk

Maryland, [illegible]
Thomas B. Dorsey, Chief Judge of the
third Judicial District of the State of Maryland,
comprehending the counties Calvert, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Carroll & Howard District, do
certify that the [illegible] attestation of Augustus R. Solters, Clerk of Calvert County Court, in
the State of Maryland in said Judicial District
is in due form, and by the proper officer
---
Given under my hand this sixth day of December
Eighteen hundred and forty nine.
Tho. B. Dorsey
State of Maryland, Calvert County, to wit:
I hereby certify that Thomas B. Dorsey
who has signed the above certificate, was at the time of
Page 8

so doing, and still is chief Judge of the Third Judicial
district of the State of Maryland, comprehending the
Counties of Calvert, Anne Arundel, Montgomery,
Carroll, and Howard District.
In testimony whereof I hereto subscribe
my name and affix the seal of Calvert
County Court this Eleventh day of December 1849
Augustus R Solters, Clk of
Court County Court
Page 9

The State of Ohio
Butler County

Butler Common Pleas
October Term 1832

On this nineteenth day of October eighteen hundred thirty-two personally appeared before the Honorable the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in and for said county John A Leach a resident of said county aged seventy-six who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 - 
That in seventeen hundred & seventy-six in Calvert County Maryland he volunteered in Capt. Frisby Freeland's company by whom he was marched to Cherry Fields in St Mary's County where said company was attached to the forces commanded by Genl. Dent and at which place he remained for about six months & until Governor Dunmore sailed out of the Potomac after which he was discharged. That shortly after he returned, he again volunteered under Thos Clayland and remained & served in said Clayland company for about seven months during which time he was principally stationed at [illegible] Point of said state - that in seventeen hundred & seventy-eight he was again out as a volunteer in the company of Thoams Greenfield raised in said county of Calvert and served under him for about six months, during most of which said time said company was engaged in guarding Chesapeake Bay & Patuxent River from the incursion of the enemy - That he afterwards volunteered under James Heighe and marched to the same places that Captain Greenfields company
Page 10

had previously been stationed at and remained under him for about four months during which time he served as first Sergeant in said company - that he again was out as a volunteer and engaged as a guard and an assistant in driving fatted cattle to the American army then situated on the Brandywine that he arrived at near the American forces on the day the Battle of Brandywine was fought and that he continued as such volunteer in the service for almost two months. That he again volunteered under Commodore De Shields and was in an engagement between the Americans and British on the Chesapeake at the Tangier Islands in said Bay where one the British Barges was sunk and that he served under said commodore for about three months - Deponent sates that he received several certificates of his service all of which he left with John Lawrence in the State of Maryland in eighteen hundred & seventeen at which time he left said state and since which time he had resided in Butler County - that he has a record of his age by which it appeared that he was born in Maryland on the 10th day of May 1756. Deponent further states that he knows of no person in this state by whom he can prove his service but that he is acquainted with Jacob G Stillwell
Page 11

by whom he can prove his character for truth and veracity and that he believes him to have been a soldier of the revolution.

He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.

Joshua Leach

Sworn & subscribed in open court the day & year aforesaid - John Reily - Clerk

I Jacob G Stillwell resident of Butler County Ohio hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Joshua Leach who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration and that I believe him to be seventy-six years old that I believe him to be a man of truth and veracity and entitled to credit and that I believe him to have been a soldier of the revolution.

J G Stillwell

Sworn & subscribed in open court 19th October 1832
John Reily - Clerk
Page 12

I Samuel Gaston a resident of Butler County hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Joshua Leach who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration for about twelve years - that I believe him to have been a soldier of the revolution - that I believe him to be seventy-six years old and that his statement is entitled to credit.

Samuel Gastin 

Sworn & subscribed in open court 19th October 1832 - John Reily Clerk

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 named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Jacob G Stilwell and Samuel Gustin who have signed the certificates are residents in the county of Butler and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.

I John Reily Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Butler aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Joshua Leach for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Hamilton this twentieth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.

John Reily

Joshua Leach
A Revolutionary Soldier
Page 13

14039 Jany 7
Priscilla Leach
Wid of Joshua
Ohio

Wm Ames
Act 7 July 1838

Admitted under act 29 May 1848

Pension adm act 29 July 1848 illegible

Hon C S Morehead
H.R.
Page 14

The State of Ohio
Butler County

On this thirtieth day of November one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine personally appeared before the Honorable James O'Conner Esq one of the associate judges of the court of Common Pleas within and for the county of Butler and State of Ohio Priscilla Leach a resident of Hanover Township in said county aged eighty-five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress passed July seventh eighteen hundred and thirty eight entitled 'An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" that she is the widow of Joshua Leach who was a soldier in the war of the revolution and was at the time of his death a pensioner of the United States.

She further declares that she was married tot he said Joshua Leach on the sixth day of January in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-three that her husband the aforesaid Joshua Leach died on the sixth day of June one thousand eight hundred and forty-five that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to  the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety-four to wit; at the time above stated.

She further declares that she has caused search to be made of the records of marriages at the proper office in the county of Calvert in the state of Maryland where she and her late hus
Page 15

band the said Joshua Leach resided at the time of their marriage and where they continued to reside for about thirty years thereafter, that she is informed and verily believes that the said records were destroyed during the existence of the war with Great Britain and that in like manner she has caused search to be made for the family records which through mistake was left in the State of Maryland where she & her deceased husband removed from that  state to the state of Ohio where she now resides. The bible of another family was brought instead thereof, and she verify believes and is informed that the said family records is lost.

Priscilla Leach
Her X Mark

Sworn to & subscribed before this 30th day of November 1849

James O'Connor
Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County

And I do further certify that I was fully satisfied from personal observation that the said Priscilla Leach from old age and bodily infirmity is unable to have leave her home or to attend court. Given under my hand this 30th day of November 1849.  

James O'Connor
Associate Judge of The Court of Common Pleas of Butler County
Page 16

State of Ohio Butler County

I James McBride Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County Ohio do hereby certify that James O'Connor who has subscribed his name to the foregoing certificate is one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Plea of said county, that the said signature is in his own proper handwriting and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such associate Judge.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed by name and affixed the seal of said court at Hamilton in said county this thirtieth day of November AD eighteen hundred and forty-nine.

James McBride - Clerk
Page 17

April 22, 1938
BA-J/EEL
Joshua Leach-w.1786

Mrs. George A Humphrey
21 Brattle Street 
Worcester, Massachusetts 

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Joshua Leach, who enlisted at Lichfield, Connecticut, for service in the Revolutionary War and near the close of the war married Priscilla Wilkinson, a close relative of General James Wilkinson of the United States Army, and of General Joseph Wilkinson, of Maryland. 

You are furnished herein the history of Joshua Leach, as found in the papers filed in pension claim, w.1786, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. This is the record of the only soldier of that name that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office. 

Joshua Leach was born May 10, 1756, in the state of Maryland. The names of his parents are not shown, nor does it appear that he ever lived in the state of Connecticut. 

Joshua Leach enlisted in Calvert County, Maryland, sometime in 1776, and served six months in Captain Frisby Freeland's Maryland Company: he enlisted again, date not given, and served seven months in Captain Thomas Clayland's Maryland Company: he enlisted in 1778, and served six months in Captain Thomas Greenfield's Maryland Company and guarded the shores of Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxtant River: his next service was four months as 1" sergeant in Captain James Heighe's Maryland Company, no dates given: he then served almost two months, dates and names of officers not given, served as a guard assisted in driving cattle to the army at the Brandywine: he again served, this time almost three months under commodore de Shields and was in an engagement at Tangier Island when a British barge was sunk: no further details of this service given. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 19,1832, while living in Butler County, Ohio.
Page 18

Joshua Leach died June 6,1845, place not shown. 

The soldier married January 6, 1783 or 1789 (both dates appear), in Calvert County, Maryland, Priscilla Wilkinson, date and place of her birth and names of her parents are not shown. 

Soldier's widow, Priscilla, was allowed pension on her application executed November 30, 1849, at which time she was aged eighty-five years and resided in Hanover Township, Butler County, Ohio. 

No reference was made to any children. 

In 1849, one Robert B. Wilkinson was a Justice of the Peace for Calvert County Maryland; no relationship to the widow, Priscilla Wilkinson Leach, was shown. 

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the revolutionary War pensioner, Priscilla Leach, widow of Joshua Leach (w.1786), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data ;

Priscilla, Leach widow of Joshua Leach 
Certificate No. 599
Issued June 28, 1850 
Rate $86.66 per annum 
Commenced March 4, 1848
Act of July 29, 1848
Ohio Agency. 

Very truly yours 
A.D. Miller 
Executive Assistant 
to the administrater.
Page 19

Free
Pension Papers

Hamilton Ohio
5 Aug

Ohio Aug 10

Hon Lewis Cass - Secretary of War
Washington City D.C.
Page 20

Hamilton August 3es 1833

Hon Lewis Cass

Sir

Enclosed I return the declarations of Robert Lythe and Joshua Leach with supplementary affidavits and respectfully request their examination by the department at as early a period as possible

Somet time last winter I received for a Mr. Thomas Berry a certificate from the Department allowing him $80 per annum which is as by accident destroyed and in February last I think forwarded to the Honorable Thos Corwin, Mr. Berry's affidavit and other petitioning for a duplicate certificate - Mr. Corwin states that he delivered the affidavits & received and that they should be examined - as yet however I have received no answer - Mr. Berry is very far advanced in life, very frail & in necessitous circumstance and therefore hopes that as early intelligence will be given of the disposition the Department has made of his claim as will be practicable.

I am Respectfully yours

John M Milliken
Page 21

Joshua Leach
Page 22

No 14039
Priscilla Leach

Letter Hon C S Morehead 15th Jany 1850
Letter Hon C S Morehead 1 Apr 1850

Act 7 July 1838
Page 23

Col J L Edwards
Page 24

Col. J L Edwards
***

I send you herewith the certificate of the proper office showing the destruction of the records of marriage prior to the year 1800 to be filed in the papers of Mrs. Priscilla Leach for a pension.

May I ask you to take up this case as soon as your convenience will allow.

The son of Mrs. Leach is my constituent.

Respectfully

C S Morehead
Page 25

C S Morehead
Page 26

State of Maryland
Calvert County to wit

I Ausentus P Soller clerk of Calvert County Court do hereby certify that I have examined the records of the marriages in this office and that I find that there is no record of marriage in this office prior to the year 1810 they having been as it is supposed destroyed by fire in the year 1814 by the British and the records is the marriage therefore between Joshua Leach and Priscilla Wilkerson is not to be found.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of Calvert County Court this 12th day of March 1850.

A P Soller - Clerk
Page 27

Mar 30/50

Water
Page 28

Washington Mar 30th 1850

Col J L Edwards

Dear Sir

I sent you some days ago the evidence of the destruction of record testimony of the marriage of Mrs. Priscilla Leach of Ohio.

Will you please take up the case and send me the pension certificate as soon as possible.

Respectfully

C S Morehead
Page 29

Washington City
Sept 23, '47

J L Edwards Esq
Comm Pensions

Sir

Have the kindness to inform me whether the name of Joshua Leach mentioned in the letter enclosed was upon the pension roll as stated and the amt he received per annum; also, of proof of marriage, before 1794 & identity will be sufficient to entitle the widow to receive a pension.

Have the kindness to enclose me the requisite forms in such a case and also the letter of Mr. Leach which is herewith sent.

Very Respectfully

A Kennedy
Page 30

No 711
Priscilla Leach
Wid of Joshua

Act 29 July 1848

Adm 86.66 per
4 March 1848

Hon C S Morehead
House of Rep
Page 31

House of Rep - June 17th/50

Col J L Edwards Comm

Dear Sir

Your letter stating that you were willing to issue a pension certificate to Mrs. P Leach under the act of July 1848 has been duly rec'd - I have rec'd a letter from the son of Mrs. Leach requesting me to have it issued provided it would not prejudice her claim in case the bill now before congress should pass - am considering that it could do so I have to request that you would send me the certificate.

Respectfully

C S Morehead
Page 32

May 13, 1938

BA-J/EEL

Mrs. George A Humphrey
#21 Brattle Street
Worcester, Massachusetts

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request to know if there is any bureau that could give you the names of the children of Joshua Leach. You request further that you be furnished the revolutionary war records of Thoms and William Ogle, said Thomas of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

There are no claims for pension on file based upon the service in the revolutionary war of either of the above named soldiers.

This office has no further data in regard to Joshua Lech (W. 1786) than were furnished you April 222, 1938. It is suggested that as a possible means of obtaining the information you desire, you apply to the Director, United states Census this city.

Very truly yours

A D Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 33

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Md.
Leach, Joshua
             Priscilla
NUMBER
W.1786

CONTENTS
Page 34

Joshua leach married January 6, 1783 or 1789 (both dates appear in Calvert County, Maryland) Priscilla Wilkinson.

Soldier's widow Priscilla was allowed pension on her application executed November 30, 1849 at which time she was aged eighty-five years and resided in Hanover Township, Butler County, Ohio.

No reference is made to children.

In 1849, one Robert B Wilkinson was a Justice of the Peace for Calvert County, Maryland; no relationship to the widow, Priscilla Wilkinson, was shown.

There are no further family data.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 35

Volney L Humphrey
21 Brattle Street
Worcester, Mass

April 28, 1938

My dear Mr. Hiller:

Thank you so much for the information you sent me regarding Joshua Leach, you say "The soldier married Jan 6, 1783, or 1789,) both dates appear);" may I suggest that he must have been married in 83, since his oldest child (Joshua, my great grandfather) was born in 1787. Is there any bureau there that could give me the names of the children of Joshua and Priscilla Leach? I know there were Joshua, Thos, and a sister who married a brother of Wm. Henry Harrison., but I would like to get more information if I can. At your suggestion I have written the comptroller General.

Will you please send me the Revolutionary War records of Thomas and William Ogle?

Kindly advise me if there is any charge of this research.

Thanking you again for your courtesy,

I am
Very respectfully
Georgie J. Humphrey
21 Brattle St
Worcester, Mass

Thomas Ogle is my maternal Great, great grandfather. He was from Dauphin Co. Penn and fought in the revolutionary war. I did not know whom he married but will be grateful for any information you may be able to send me. I do not know where he was born but he died about the close of the last century in Dauphin Co. PA.

Thank you again.
Page 36

Volney L Humphrey
21 Brattle Street
Worcester, Mass

April 11, 1938

Mr. A D Hiller
Executive Assistant
Veteran's Administration
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Will you please send me all the information you may have regarding Joshua Leach? He enlisted in the Revolutionary forces at Litchfield, Conn. and towards the close of the revolution married Priscilla Wilkinson (she was a close relative of Gen. James Wilkinson of the U.S. Army and of Gen Joseph Wilkinson of MD). 

Thanking you in advance for any and all information you may be able to send me.

I am very respectfully

(Mrs.) George A Humphry
21 Brattle St.
Worcester, Mass.
(no signature?)

Vest Adm Stamp - Received Apr 12, 1938
Page 37

June 21, 1934

Revolutionary war Pension Department
18th and Constitution Avenue
Washington D.C.

Gentlemen:

In order to try to locate the grave of Joshua Leach, private and sergeant in Maryland militia who was pensioned 9-21-1833 while living in Butler Co, Ohio will you please send me all the data your office has concerning him or his family?

I thank you,
Cordially yours,

(Miss) Keren J Gaumer

211 W. Church St
Urbana, Ohio
Page 38

THE STATE OF OHIO
Butler County

Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within afore said county Joshua Leach who being duly sworn deposeth and [illegible] that on the 19th day of October 1832 he made & swore to the Declaration hereto attached- that he is unable from extreme old age & consequent lapse of memory to state with much greater certainty the precise length of time he served in the Army of the Revolution- He is clearly satisfied that he served as stated in said declaration the full term of two years in the character of a private and as a first sergeant in the Company of James   [Her?he] for the term of four months. Deponent is confident that he served at least the length of time above stated of two years four months in this Companies and at the times heretofore stated in said declaration-
Deponent further states that he is very frail and therefore is unable to have much intercourse with the clergyman of the County or with the citizens of the Township in which he resides- He is not particularly acquainted with any clergymen of his neighborhood to whom he could apply to testify to his character and therefore relied upon the testimony of two of his immediate neighbors who have testified to his character for truth & veracity.
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 22nd day of July 1833.  William Hunter JP

Joshua Leach
Page 39

The State of Ohio Butler County ss
I John Reily Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid Certify that William
Hunter Esq.  [wether] named before whom the
deposition within stated was taken at
[illegible] thereof a Justice duly assigned
keep the peace in the said County of Butler.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and Official seal at
Hamilton the twenty fourth day
of July one thousand eight hundred
and & thirty three
John Reily
Page 40

1934 July 3. Hist
to Miss Kercy J.
Gaumer  [Eres]
-
1938 Apr 22. Hist to Mrs.
Geo. A. Humphrey [EL]

1938 - May 13 A. Mrs Humphrey
no further data than my
or here Apr 22/ 3 8 and ad
her to apply to M. Spensus

REV WAR
WIDOW, &c.
File No 1786
Prisella Leach,
Widow
Joshua Leach
Priv and Sergt Rev War

Act July 29, 1848.

Index: -- Vol. A
Page 426

Arrangement of 1870.
Page 41

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12 - 5 - 41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Name - Leach, Lewis
GRADE-Private
LINE - Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 6082
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED June 29, 1791
to not shown-


The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.