Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7753, Matthias Travers, Md.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Md.


Travers, Matthias or Traverse, Mathias

NUMBER
S 7753.

CONTENTS                                         Carded
Page 2

[Two pages from a bound book]

[Page 1]

Maryland 30, 76[illegible]
Mathias Traverse
of Dorchester Co in the State of Maryland
who was a Captain in the Maryland Militia

     [signed] Mathias Travers [seal]
                              Sept. 21, [illegible year]

Inscribed on  the Roll of Maryland at the rate
of 120 Dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of July 1836 and sent to Jho Gill Balto. Md.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1830       600.00
Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept -   60.00
                                                        660.00

                                   {Revolutionary Claim,}
                                    {   Act June 7, 1832.  }

                                     June 28 1836
Recorded by Jno D Wilson      Clerk
 Book F  Vol. 5      Page 112

Act 28 June 1836

[Page 2]

Se[n]t to Md. Agency, July 20. 1836
& to Jno. Gill

Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the
act of the 6th April 1838
from 4 Sept 1837 to 26th Feby
1838. Agt Notified 20 Decr 1838.
Page 3

State of Maryland
Dorchester County

On this 20th day of August 1834 personally
appeared in open court before the judges of the Orphans Court of Dorchester County now sitting Matthias Traverse a resident of Dorchester County State of Maryland aged 78 years the 23d day of December last past who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 --
That he entered the service of the State of Maryland as a volenteer [sic]
in January 1776, and joined a volenteer [sic] company, which was commanded by Capt William Traverse, and attached to the 48th Regiment; That this company was raised in Meekins'es [sic] Neck in the State and County aforesaid: That from the time he joined it
untill [sic] he left it which was about the middle of February 1778, embracing a period or term of 2 years and one month, it was kept in readiness to march whenever ordered to do so; and to any place they might be ordered to; That during the period of service as above stated, they were not kept upon constant duty, but that they served upon actual
duty, the full amt of six months in the year 1776. That when on duty the service consisted in guarding the shores of Taylors Island and Hoopers Island in the Chesapeake Bay, and sometimes they were taken off to Meekins Neck, that they were twice ordered to Cambridge, the County Town; That the company served in the year 1777
upon actual duty the like term of six months; That the service performed, was such as
is above stated. That he was with the company during the entire 2 years and one month
and performed duty in common with the other members of the company; That the company [3 words cut off] at all times of the Superior officers of the Regiment to [word cut off]
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[this is a continuation of the previous transcription] in the Chesapeake Bay, [illegible] 
twice ordered to Cambridge, the County Town. That the company served in the year 1777
upon actual duty the like term of six months; That the service performed, was such as is above stated. That he was with the company during the entire 2 years and one month and performed duty in common with the other members of the company; That the company
active under the orders at all times of the Superior officers of the Regiment to wit
Genl Henry Hooper, Col Thomas Ennalls and Major Daniel Follin; That the company was ordered to march and perform the service as above stated, to protect the inhabitants, along the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay from the trespasses of the crews of the English  shipping then constantly in the Bay. That in February 1778 he was ordered to march to a place called Bishop's head, in the State and County aforesaid, this place is exposed to Hoopers straights, and is the extreme end of the County. That they were there joined by three other companies, to wit Capt Follins, Capt Lakes and Capt McNamara's all Militia, and belonging to the 48th Regt Genl Hooper
and Col Ennalls joined us in a few days after our arrival at the aforesaid place
That this force had been brought together at the Bishop's head, this place was exposed to Hoopers straights, and is the extreme end of the County; That they were there joined by three other companies, to wit Capt. Follins, Capt. Lakes and Capt. McNamara's, all Militia, and belonging to the 48th Regt. Genl. Hooper and Col. Ennalls joined us in a few days after our arrival at the aforesaid place That this force had been brought together at the Bishops head, to defend the inhabitants from any attack that might be made upon them by the crews of the two English Men of War, then lying off Hoopers Straights, That beside the afore named companies, there were several others, that came down with the Genl.& Col embracing a large portion of the Militia of the County, That the English had seriously injured the inhabitants of that section of the County, by plundering and burning their dwellings, and that it was expected something of the kind would be attempted by them at that time. That between the middle and last of February 1778 the two ships got under ways and went down the Bay. Genl. Hooper then stated that a large portion of the men were men of families, and were anxious to get home and in order that they might so he requested some person to volunteer as Captain of 100 men, to remain there untill [sic] furthur [sic] orders, and to do and perform whatever service might be required for the public good. That your petitioner immediately volenteered  [sic] as Captain, and that in a few
 minuits [[sic]110 Single
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Men came out and joined him; That Gen Hooper then gave him a written authority to 
command, untill [sic] he could obtain from Annapolis a Captains commission, which he did do and caused it to be delivered some short time thereafter it was dated 24th June 1778 as appears from the certificate of Thos. Calbreth Esq (Clk of the Executive Council of
Maryland) accompanying this declaration; that there were no United States or Regular
troops in Dorchester County during the whole of the Revolutionary war, and as the shores
on the Eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay from James's point (the mouth of Choptank
River) down to Bishop's head, (a distance of forty miles) was constantly harrassed [sic]
by the Barges from the English Shiping [sic] which remained in the Bay during the whole
of the war, it become necessary that a force should be disciplined for regular service
and it was with this view that Genl. Hooper ^requested a Capt. to volunteer, and for this service
your petitioner volenteered, [sic] and so did his men, not knowing how long it would continue
That he took command of the company, in the latter part of February 1778 (he thinks
the 25th day) with instructions from Genl. Hooper to remain there untill [sic] further orders
That after the Militia had left him and his company at Bishops Head - Some time
in March following he boarded and took possession of one Sloop and one Schooner
both having English men on board; that he took and made prisoners of the men, and
sent them to Cambridge four in number, two on board each vessel, they were doubless [doubtless] bound down the Bay to the English shiping [sic] then lying off the Tangier Island
That the schooner was laden with flour and belonged to Baltimore, she was afterwards given up to her owners, names not recollected, but the flour was taken out by Major Daniel Follin, who lived not more than two miles off: that the sloop was condemned, with her load, which was Iron, and Major Follin had her sold. That he remained at the aforesaid place, in the performance of the duties assigned the Company untill [sic] the following October, at which time he received orders from Col Ennalls through Major Follin, to repair to Hooper Island in the State & County aforesaid, some ten
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[after]wards given up to her owners names not recollected, but the flour was [text cut off;  on previous page] by Major Daniel Follin, who lived not more than two miles off: That the sloop was condemned with her load, which was Iron, and Major Follin had her sold. That he remained at the aforesaid place, in the performance of the duties assigned the company until the following October, at which time he received orders from Col Ennalls through Major Follin, to repair to Hoopers Island in the State & County aforesaid, some ten or fifteen mile higher up the Bay. That he was there stationed at a place called
the point of ponds, that he remained there guarding the shores of ^the Island untill [sic] the latter part of December following, when he received orders from Col William Traverse (who had then been appointed Col of the Regiment) to repair to Meekens's Neck. That he there went into winter quarters, and remained (perhaps two months,) untill [sic] February 1779 during which time his company were regularly drilled; That in February 1779 he was
ordered by Col Traverse to Taylors Island; That from Feby 1779 to the following October
he was continually on duty, sometimes on Taylors, and sometimes on Hoopers Island, that 
during this whole season, the inhabitants of both these islands suffered very much from
the constant depredations of the enemy: That the Chesapeake Bay was thronged during that
season, with English Shiping, [sic] and that it required the strictest attention to duty and the
utmost  vigilance on the part of the forces stationed on those two Islands (assisted by the
inhabitants,) to keep them and their property in safety, that early in Oct 1779 he went 
to Annapolis and got money from the Government to pay off his men, who were, and had been in the pay of ^the State from the time the company was organized, that he then
came home again and paid them off; That he had a short time before been elected
Captain of another company, which was upon the same Station, a company to which he had
formerly belonged, and had accepted the command; that in the latter part of the aforesaid month he gave up the command of his company to Capt Denwood Meekins whom they had elected, and took command of the company of which he had been elected ^Captain that in making this exchange no time was lost, and, that from that time until October 1780 he continued (with his company) in the service and pay of the State, performing the duties from time to time assigned him, which consisted in guarding the Shores of those two
Islands, which service they were obliged to keep up to prevent serious and extensive
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injury from being inflicted upon the inhabitants by the gang of English that infested those Shores; That in October 1780 the necessity of keeping up the guard began and continued to lessen, in concequence(sic) of the shiping(sic) leaving the Bay, and that he then went a second time to Annapolis, and recd pay for himself and company, come home and paid them off, and sent in his resignation to Col. Wm Traverse, who was then Col of the Regiment, Col. Ennalls having died some time prior thereto--That his service was not like that of the Militia in general, but more like the Regular troops, thus it was necessary for the public good that an armed force should be kept in that part of the County, and that the service required would be better performed by volunteers, who would agree to serve as long as the necessity lasted than by calls upon the Militia, which would require relief once in 3 or 6 months; that from the time he assumed the command (in February 1778) of his company, down to the date of his resignation (in Oct 1780) comprising a period of two years and eight months, he is confident there were not idle days enough to make up four months, including the time he was in winter quarters; that he was in the pay of the State during the whole time, and acted under the orders of Genl. Henry Hooper, Col Thos Ennalls, Col. Wm Traverse and Major Follin; That during the whole of the service here detailed he was not engaged in any civil pursuit in that he has no documentary evidence, save the accompanying certificate from the Clerk of the Executive Council of Maryland, and, that he knows of no person whoes(sic) testimony he can procure establishing the fact of his Service, save that annexed to this declaration; That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Rolls of the Agency of any State--Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Test: J.C. Henry, Arthur Ball

[signed] Matthias Traverse
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[Content of previous page appears at the top of this page; see transcription of previous page to the name Arthur Bell or Ball]

We Jonathan Judd a Clergyman, residing in Dorchester County State of Maryland and Samuel LeCompte residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Matthias Traverse who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 78 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.---

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Jonathan Judd and Sam. Lecompte.

Test. J.C. Henry

And the said Court do hereby declaire their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations 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 Revd Jonathan Judd who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the State & County aforesaid and that Saml. LeCompte who has also signed the same is a resident as aforesaid, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

J.C. Henry
Arthur Bells
James Thompson
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(109)
I William W Eccleston, clerk of the Orphans Court of Dorchester County (Maryland) do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the orginal proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Matthias Traverse for a pension.

In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand  and affixed my seal of Office this 20th day of Augt 1834.

William W Eecleston Regs WDG

Interrogatories propounded by the  Court:

1st Where and in what year were you born? Answer: On Hoopers Island, Dorchester County State of Maryland on the 23 of December 1755

2d Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it? Answer: I have, it is in a family bible now at my house.

3d Where were you living when called into Service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer: In Dorchester County State of Maryland

4th How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom?
Answer: I volunteered.

5th State the names of some of the officers who were with the troops where you served.
Such continental and militia regiments and you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service--
Answer: Genl. Henry Hooper, Col. Thos. Ennalls, Col Wm Traverse, Major Danl Follin and Major Daffin were with the troops where I served, then were no real troops with us and no Militia Regiment save our own the 48th as to the circumstances of my service see my declaration, where they are detailed at Some length--

6th Did you ever receive a commission, and if so by when was it signed and what has become with it-- 
Answer: I did, but do not recollect by whom it [illegible]..Johnson, but cannot say certainly, as it has long since been mislayed or destroyed.

7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present  neighborhood, who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolutionary War-
-Answer: Msrs John Bell and John Geoghegan can testify in my favour.

Test. J.C. Henry          Matthias Traverse
Page 10

[Text above the signature of Matthias Traverse is transcribed on the previous page.]

State of Maryland Dorchester County SS

On this 20 day of August 1834 personally appeared on open Court before the judges of the Orphans Court of Dorchester now sitting  James Rewarks, who being duly sworn declares, that he knew Matthias Traverse (the petitioner in the foregoing declaration) in the Revolutionary War, that he was Capt of a volunteer company raised at Bishops head, that deponent joined said company some 7 or 8 months after it was first organised, that it was then stationed at the point of ponds, on Hoopers Island, that he served under said Capt. Traverse about 12 months, and that the duties alledged [sic] to have been performed by said company as set forth in  Capt. Traverse's declaration is substantively correct; that in Oct. 1777 Capt Traverse gave up the command of his company to Capts Denwood & Meekins, and took command of a company of which he had been elected Capt. and to which he had formerly belonged, that from than time to the following Oct he was on duty on Hoopers Island and Taylors Island, where deponent was in the habit of seeing him frequently, that he is positively certain that Capt. Traverse served two full years in that capacity, during the revolutionary war.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

James (X his mark) Rewark

Tester. J.C. Henry
James Thompson
Arthur Bell
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a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Matthias Travers S.F. 7753
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT LENGTH OF SERVICE RANK OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED STATE CAPTAIN COLONEL
Jany 1776 2 yrs./mo. Pvt. William Traverse Dorchester Co. Militia, Md.
Feby 25 1778 Oct. 1780 Capt. {Thomas Ennalls
Wm. Traverse
Battles engaged in, boarded and took as prizes a sloop and schooner in service of the enemy and made prisoners part of their crew.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Dorchester County, MD
Date of application for pension, Aug. 20, 1834 His [illegible]
Residence at date of application, Dorchester County, MD
Age at date of application, born Dec. 23, 1755 on Hoopers Island, Dorchester County, Md. Died Feby 26, 1838,
1833
78
1755
Remarks: Children are referred to but no names are stated
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
5-2856
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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
December 11th, 1838
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled, "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," the children of Matthias Traverse, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Baltimore, Md, Agency, at the rate of one hundred twenty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1837 to the 26th February, 1838.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller
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Rev H  
Grundy Center, Iowa

April 27, 1921

U.S. Pension Officer
Revolutionary War Section
Washington, D.C.

Sirs:

I am wondering if your files show whether or not a pension was ever granted to the Families of any of the following Revolutionary War soldiers all of whom served from Maryland.

Matthew Cox pos. 5th & 7th Regiments
Matthew Travers Capt. Militia Dorchester Co.
William Sergeant pos. First Regiment

Any information about the records of these men that you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Very truly,

Bertha K. Sargent
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1921 May 18 Hist. to Bertha K Sargent

Rev War

7753 INVALID.

File No. 7753
Mathias Traverse
Capt. Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832

Index:--Vol. Nez, Page 378

[Arrangement of 1870]

Matthias Traverse SS
Records corrected Sept. 21/04
Page 15

Rev. War.

S. File 7753

Correct the Record to show--

Matthias Travers; Mathias Traverse is correct.

Surname on File

Jacket also incorrect.

A.H.M.

Sept. 13/04
Page 16

H.R. 423

Mathias Travers

Act 28 June 1836

$120 Pr Am. from 4 Mar 1831. Md Roll.

Jno. Gill

Not: Pub: 
Balto, Md.
Page 17

No. 423

A Bill for the relief of Matthias Traverse.

Bill 423

Morgan bq. [?]

450. 1030
Page 18

State of Maryland
CouncilChamber
Annapolis June 21 1833
I hereby certify that it appears by the Records of Proceedings of the governor and Council of this State, that on the 24th day of June in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, Matthias Traverse was appointed Captain of the Militia in Dorchester County.
Thos. Culbreth, Clerk of the Executive Council
Page 19

Fra

For

The Hon. John N. Steele
House of Representatives
Washington City

1836 March 2nd.

I well know Messrs Travers, Slacum, Crawford & Tubman & know them to be gentlemen worthy of all credit.

Jno. N. Steele
Page 20

Whereas Edwd Rewark of Dorchester County in the State of Maryland did on the 20 day of August 1834 personally appear before the Hon. the Judges of the Orphans Court for the County and State aforesaid, and make certain declarations under oath touching the Revolutionary Services of Capt. Matthias Traverse, also of the County and State aforesaid-and whereas, we have been called upon to testify to the correctness of said Rewarks Character; We do therefore severely Certify that we are, and have for many years, been (each of us) personally acquainted with the said Reward; that, we believe him to be a man of sterling integrity--that in all the relations in life, so far as our knowledge of him extends, he has uniformly sustained, a character for truth and probity--and, that we should be bound to regard his statements on any subject, as being entitled to full credit--

In testimony of our sincerity in the above affidavit we have (each for himself) subscribed our names and affixed our seals.

John Travers (Seal)
William A. Slacum (Seal)
John Crawford (Seal)
Hubert F Tubman (Seal)

Sworn to and subscribed this 22d day of February 1836 in the presence of James Houston} a Justice of the Peace for Dorchester County Mary'd
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Maryland, Dorchester County to wit I hereby certify that James Houston Gentleman before whom the within affidavit was taken and whose name is thereto subscribed was at the time of taking and Subscribing the same and still is one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the public seal of my office this 22d day of February anno Domini 1830

E Richardson Clerk

Co 269
Page 22

Cambridge Feb 22 1836

Dear Sir

I have this moment finished the annexed affidavit and procured the certificate of our clk to the same, and hasten to forward it, you will find at the commencement of it two blanks which you will be enabled to fill up, by refering(sic) to Capt. Traverse's declaration, now in the hand (I suppose) of the Court to which is attached Mr. Rewarks certificate, the whole instrument was executed the same day, hoping the Committee may report favourably and desiring you will advise me of the result so soon as you may be apprised of it I subscribe myself

Your Sincere friend

Edw P LeCompte

PS. the gentlemen Capt. John Traverse, Wm A Slacum, John Crawford and Dr. Tubman are all your personal acquaintances, you will therefore know the estimate to place upon the certificate.

EPL
Page 23

T 280

Treasury Dept.

July 18, 1836

Respectfully referred to the Secretary of War

July 19 1836

Pension Office.

Let to J Edmonson, July 20, 1836
Page 24

Dorchester County Maryland near [Hs] Vienna July 12, 1830

Sir

A law passed of the late session granting a pension to Capt. Mathias Traverse of Maryland he desires his certificate to be made payable at the Union Bank of Maryland and to be sent to the care of Mr. Jno. Edmonson Baltimore & by so instructing its issue &c: you will oblije(sic) him as well as myself

Your resp. & obt. servant

Jno. N. Steele
Page 25

G 237

July 20, 1826.

Pension Office
Page 26

Baltimore 19 July 1836

Sir

Captain Mathias Travers mentioned in the private Act of Congress No 450 approved 28 June 1836 is now here, & has been at the Union Bank expecting to receive the arrears of his Pension but is informed they have not received any Instructions about it. he seemed desirous of going to Washington to see about ^it himself, but on my telling him it could be done as well by letter, & save the expense and Labour of a Journey, he desired me to write to you, to enquire when & where it will be paid & if any other Document than the enclosed will be required of him --he will remain here until he has an answer to this Letter which he hopes will be in a few days any Communications for him to  my care will be delivered to him.

Your most obedt Servt

Jno. Gill

The Honorable Lewis Cass
Secretary at War
Washington D.C.
Page 27

The Honorable Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington D.C.
Page 28

24th CONGRESS, Rep. No. 412. HO. OF REPS.
1st Session
Mathias Travers.
[To accompany bill H. R. No. 423.]
March 3, 1836
Mr. MORGAN, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following REPORT: The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions to which was referred the petition of Mathias Travers, report: That the petitioner alleges that he is seventy-eight years of age; that he volunteered in the service of the State of Maryland in the year 1776, in Captain Travers's company and 48th regiment; that he remained upon duty six months, in the year 1776; that he served a like term of six months in the year 1777. These two terms of service were performed under the orders and command of General Henry Hooper and Colonel Thomas Ennals, and that they were stationed on and engaged in defending Hooper's and Taylor's islands.
By order of General Hooper and with the intention to have a permanent guard, he volunteered as captain, and raised one hundred and ten men, over whom he took command on the 25th of February, 1778, and received his commission, which was dated the 24th June, 1778. In some short time after its date, his orders from General Hooper were to guard the lives and property of the inhabitants of the Eastern shore of Maryland, from James's point to Bishop's head, a distance of forty miles, until further orders.
In March following the assumption of his command, he annoyed the boats and small vessels of the enemy much, and actually boarded and took as prizes one schooner and one sloop, in the service of the enemy, and made prisoners of their crews. Late in the fall he went into winter quarters.
In October, of the year 1779, he was elected captain of another company to which he had formerly belonged as a private. In command of this company, and in actual service, he remained until October, 1780, when he paid off his men and resigned his commission.
During his last term of service he was continnually on duty; sometimes on Taylor's and at other times on Hooper's island. That this service was absolutely necessary, as the inhabitants of those islands suffered much from small companies in boats and barges from the British ships of war then lying in the bay.
In this whole period of service from February 1778, until October, 1780, a term of two years and eight monthsm he was cut off from all civil pursuits, and even while in winter quarters a regular system of drilling was kept up. And he is confident, that counting in the time he was in winter quarters, with all other losses of time from actual service, he did not lose as much as four months.
Blair & Rives, printers
Page 29

2 [Rep. No. 412.]
James Rewark testifies that he knew Captain Travers, the memorialist, in the revolutionary war; that said Travers commanded a company of volunteers which was raised at Bishop's head; that the deponent joined the said company of Travers some seven or eight months after its organization; that he served under Captain Travers about twelve months; that the duties performed by the company were substantially as described in said declaration. That in October 1779, said Travers took command of another company stationed on Hooper's island; that the deponent was in the habit of seeing Travers frequently; that he is positively certain that Captain Travers served two full years in the revolutionary war as captain.
John Travers, William A. Slacum, John Crawford and Hoburt F. Tubman swear that they are personally acquainted with James Rewark, and that he is a man of sterling integrity, he has sustained a character for truth and probity, and that they should be bound to regard his statements on any subject as being entitled to full credit.
The Hon. J. N. Steele certifies the above named gentlemen as worthy of all credit.
The committee think that the petitioner is entitled to a pension, and report a bill.
Page 30

24th Congress, 1st Session.
An Act for the relief Mathias Traverse.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, required to place the name of Mathias Traverse, of Dorchester county, Maryland, on the roll of revolutionary pensioners; to pay him a pension at the rate of one hundred and twenty dollars per annum, to commence and be computed from the fourth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty one, and to continue during his natural life.
Approved June 28th 1836
A true copy compared with the Roll in this office.
Dept. of State} Arbury Dickins
June 30th 1836 Chief Clerk
Page 31

Jan 1. 1836

Refered(sic) to the Commission of Pensions

Matthias Travers
We approve get papers

DWI File 7753

F.S. Evans  
1st Jany 1835.
Let. 6 June 36 to E.P. Lecompte, Cambridge MD

Matthias Travers

Hon. S Morgan, M.C.

Mr. French S. Evans.
Pension Office 
Washington City

Hon W.S. Morgan, H.R.
Page 32

Washington, Dec. 31, 1835

Dear Sir,

I must beg of you to secure copies of the evidence which may be found in your department in favour of the written petitioners & to send the same to me at Mrs. Ball, as quick as possible.

I dare not to venture out in the wet, or I should have come to see you myself.

Very respectfully yours. W.S. Morgan

French S. Evans Esq}

N.B. I enclose the petitions, which you will have the goodness to return with the evidence. I have addressed you, because I have forgotten the name of the individual whom you pointed out to me as the proper person.

W.L.M.
Page 33

United States of America, STATE OF MARYLAND, to wit:

I John Gill, Notary Public, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the State of Maryland, commissioned and duly qualified, residing in the City of Baltimore, in the State aforesaid, do hereby Certify, Attest, and Make known, That on the day of the date hereof, before me personally appeared Matthias Travers of Taylors Island Dorchester County State of Maryland & made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that he was a Captain in a volunteer company of the forty eighth Regiment of Maryland Militia in the year one thousand Seven Hundred seventy six & is the same person mentioned in an act of Congress passed at its late session, Private No 150, approved 28 June 1836 at the same time personally appeared as aforesaid John Edmondson of this City to me notary well Known & worthy of full faith and credit & made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that he has been acquainted with the above named Matthias Travers about Forty years and knows he is the same person mentioned in the above recited Act of Congress.

Matthias Travers
John Edmondson

Of which an Act having been of me requested, I have granted these presents, to serve and avail as need and occasion may require.

In Testimony whereof, the said deponent share hereunto subscribed their names and I, the said Notary, have hereunto set my Hand and affixed by Notarial Seal, the Nineteenth day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty six.

Jno. Gill Notary
Page 34

Matthias Travers 
Petition of Matthias Traverse a officer Revol.}

for a Pension

Committee on Revoly. Pen.}

Mr Steele

Dec. 16 1835

Refd to the Committee on Revy. Pensions

Mar. 3 1836--Bill No. 423

(109.) Rev. Pension
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To the Honl. of the Senate and House Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled--The petition of the subscriber, of Dorchester County State of Maryland, respectfully sheweth, to your Honl. body: That your petitioner was a soldier of the Revolution, and that he--faithfully performed the duties which devolved upon him in that capacity for several successive years; during which time he endured many privations--your petitioner believed that the act of your Honl. body passed June the 7th 1832 relative to certain surviving Officers Soldiers &c. of the Revolution, was likely to do justice to the few participants of that glorious struggle, who were then remaining. And believing as he does that he merits a share of the largess of his Country, (which the aforesaid act of your Honl body designed to bestow upon all those, then living, who assisted in defending her rights for a certain time during the Revolutionary War he drew up and executed on the 20th day of August 1834 a declaration, under the form issued from the War Department, setting forth the nature and duration of his services in the full confidence of obtaining a pension, proportioned to his rank and time of service according to the Stipulations of the aforesaid act of your Honl body: Which declaration together with a certificate from the Clerk of the Executive Council of Maryland, shewing the date of your petitioners commission will accompany this petition--your petitioner after having made two unsuccessful attempts, at the War Department (by attorney) to obtain a pension, which he feels he is justly entitled to, drew up the accompanying declaration (the former one being somewhat defective in form) and presented it (in person) at the War Department for a decision; on the 30th August 1834 he recd from J.L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, a letter of objections, (returning his declaration) stating that there was no evidence in that Department, that the Militia or volunteers of Maryland were ever in the Service for such a length of time under one engagement as is represented in your petition declaration--your
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petitioner has endeavoured to shew in said declaration why it was that himself and company (as volunteers) were kept so long upon duty; it ^was in consequence of the absence of regular troops--during the whole of the Revolutionary War, there were no regular troops in Dorchester County Eastern Shore of Maryland when your petitioners services were rendered; and as the exposed situation of that part of the County, where the Service was performed (along the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay) rendered it necessary to keep up a suitable force for its defence  [sic]--it was therefore (in the absences of regular troops) necessary to keep up a militia force (your petitioner refers your Honl body to his declaration, for the particulars of his service--) It was further objected, that, as your petitioner states, he was in the pay of the state of Maryland during his service, some evidence of that fact should appear in some of the executive offices at Annapolis--In order to throw all the light upon the subject, of which he could avail himself; your petitioner has employed agents at Annapolis (the incumbents, of the offices alluded to) to make the necessary search for the documentary evidence required without affect Your petitioner has learned with regret that very many valuable books and documents relating to revolutionary services, which ought of right to have been preserved at Annapolis, are lost; and he feels assured that those that did contain the evidences of his service (now so desirable to him) are unfortunately of that number; your petitioner has therefore no alternative left him for obtaining ^justice but through an application to your Honl. body and did he not believe any other course would be a dereliction of the duty he owes to himself and his family, he would not trouble your Honl body with this petition, your petitioner submits his claim to a pension, to the wisdom of your Honl. body, with entire confidence in the justice and integrity of your intentions; and should you think him entitled to your favourable consideration he will as in duty bound ever pray--Matthias Travers
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To the Honl. The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of American in Congress assembled--We the subscribers citizens of Dorchester County State of Maryland beg leave to state to your Honl body, that we have long been personally acquainted with our fellow citizen Capt Matthias Traverse, who has subscribed the annexed petition; and that we have entire confidence in his honesty and integrity--that he has supported through a long life, an upright and irreproachable character; that he is reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the revolution, in the neighborhood where he lives, and that we concur in that opinion; we do therefore recommend him to your Honl. body, as entirely worthy of your favourable consideration--

Subscribers names
Joseph E Muse
William W. Eccleston
Ezekial Richardson
James A. Stewart
Thomas Basswood
E.W. Callahan
James Houston
Edwd LeCompte
S. Mitchell
Jno. Newton
C.W. Reed
William Pen
J.C. Wright
Ben J. Goldsborough
Josiah Bayly Juror
Thomas J. H. Eccleston
John H. Hooper
Curtis Anderson
Sam Lecompte
Anthony C. Thompson
Benj. G. Keene