Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22400, for William Miles, Pennsylvania
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Miles William
S.22400
CONTENTS
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11,470
Pennsylvania
William Miles
of Erie, Co. in the State of Penna [Pennsylvania]
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Freeland of the Regt (Regiment) commanded by Col Morrow in the Pennsylvania line for -
2 Yr Private - $80.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Penna [Pennsylvania]
at the rate of 80 Dollars -- per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of May 1833 and Sent to J. H. Sill, Erie Pa [Pennsylvania]
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 40
$200.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by John T. Sprague Clerk
Book E Vol. 5 Page 39

Duplicate certificate issued June 1836, and forwarded to [illegible] sioner Union Mill Erie Co Pennsylvania

original certificate returned to this office
22 Sept 1836 [illegible] [illegible]
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 183[illegible] from 4 March to 4 Sep 183[illegible] Agt [Agent] notified 5 Nov 18[illegible]
Letter to Hon Jas Harrisson 23 Decr [December] 1845
Duplicate Certificate issue 23d Decr  [December]1845, and sent to Hon 
James Harrisson House of Reps
Let to Hon J Crowell May 1, 1850
Agency book states "Child paid at Treasury September 16, 1846, to Mch 4, 1848"
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23522
William Miles
Erie County
Pennsylvania
Admitted
2 years
$80.-
J. H. Sill
Erie
Pennsylvania
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
183
Sir;
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed.
The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
Statement, showing the service of William Miles, Erie County Pennsylvania
[Table with nine columns with the following headings, left to right:]
Period when the service was rendered/Duration of the claimant’s services/Rank of the claimant/Names and rank of the company officers under whom he served/Names and Ranks of the general and field officers/Battles in which the applicant was engaged/Country through which he marched/Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period/Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
[Line 1, left to right, each column entry separated by a /] 1777/6 months, 15 days/private spies on the frontier/Captain Taggart, Lieutenant Wilson/Colonel Morrow/___/Indians’; Fort Freeland/70; Northumberland Pennsylvania/tradition-the judges declared favorably (from long acquaintance with applicant) of his character
[Line 2, left to right, each column entry separated by a /]1778//6 months, 15 days/Same officers Colonel Morrow/[as on line 1]/___/Freeland’s Fort again/tradition-the judges declared favorably (from long acquaintance with applicant) of his character
[Line 3, left to right, each column entry separated by a /]1779/2 months, 15 days/Captain Freeland/Colonel Morrow/Freeland’s Fort taking applicant in it a prisoner/Freeland’s Fort;/___/
[Line 4, left to right, each column entry separated by a /] Prisoner X/4 years/___/___/___/___/ Niagara; Montreal; Quebec; St. Paul’s Bay-released in 1783/___/His fellow prisoner proves his detention-other writings his services.

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions

X-Declarant avers Pennsylvania paid him (in depreciated money) for his services during captivity.
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2.  [upper middle]
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.  The Regular Troops.
2.  The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3.   Persons employed in the Naval service.
4.   Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance
, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.  [middle]
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory or District of >
County of                              >ss.

On this           day of     personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of     in the county of
and State, Territory or District of     aged (c)     
years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)      , with      and served in the
        (e) regiment of the       line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. ☛This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officer and [???]
sons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.             A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I            of the Court of         do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of            for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of                  & c.

If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
    and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
        ,who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
             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.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

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 A.B.           who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,                   Clerk of the Court of           do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of                  for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this            day of
       & c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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8
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
To an Officer
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what Town office, has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
[Line not legible] or by a Justice of the machine or Justice of a Court of Record, the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a]The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b]The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c]The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d]The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e]Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the definite as to claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:  -- For ______year ___________months, and ___________days, I served as a _______________________________. For ________________ months and ______________days, I served as a ____________________________________; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly  objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[i] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well is the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only. 
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

[signature]
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Wm Miles
Pension application
23522
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State of Pennsylvania
Erie County ss:
On this twenty Seventh day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County of Erie being a Court of Record, now sitting William Miles a resident of the Township Union in the said County of Erie aged Seventy years 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 hereto 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. At the time he performed the services hereinafter stated, he was a resident of the County of Northumberland, in the State of
Pennsylvania, and was residing on Warren, 
run, about twenty miles from the Town of Northumberland. In the year 1776 the families in that part of the State erected a Fort, on the
Farm of Garrett Freeland (afterwards [illegible]
Freeland Fort) and fled to it for protection.
In the year 1777 the Indians committed many
murders. We had seven men slain by them.
Colonel Samuel Hunter (the Lieutenant of the
County) presented to the men in the fort, fit to
bear arms, that, as Lieutenant of the County, he would enroll them, and take them into the public service as militia, while they remained at the Fort - and, on or about the 1st of May 1777, this [illegible], and the other men in the Fort, were
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by his orders, enrolled in the militia-- Arthur
Taggert was the Captain of our Company, and
James Wilson and Jacob Freeland were our
Lieutenants. We continued doing duty, as militia in and about the Fort during that season and until the snow fell in the fall, which I believe was about the middle of November 1777. We were employed keeping guard in the Fort and in scouting parties about the County-We were frequently called out on scouting parties While there we were presented with rations, and ammunition, we had arms of our own.  after the snows had fallen, in the fall of that year the families, returned to the farm, and the Militia in the fort returned to their homes-
Early in the fourth of May in the year 1778, the same company of Militia were again called to Freeland Fort, and the families in the surrounding country, again fled to the Fort for protection. The same officer, commanded our Company, as had done the preceding year, and our company was employed in protecting the Fort, and scouting the Country as
we had been in the preceding year. In this
year (1778) we had three men killed, and one
woman wounded and scalped, who afterwards 
recovered. I remained at the Fort, with the said
Company doing duty as before mentioned from about the first of May, until the snow fell
in the fall, probably about the middle of November, when the families again returned to their homes and the Militia left the Fort
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and retuned to their homes

In the Spring of the year 1779 our companey [company] was again called on to the same Fort and myself, with them. This was early in
the Month of May. Our company was then
commanded by Jacob Freeland; the other
officers were not there. The families in
the Neighboring county had again fled to
the Fort for protection, and we were employed
in the same manner as we had been the two
preceding years. About the fifteenth of July
(1779) six of our men were surprised near the
Fort, by a party of Indians - Jacob Freeland
Garrett Freeland and Isaac Vincent were killed; Michal Freeland and Benjamin Vincent, were made prisoners the other Daniel Vincent , escaped. Near the last of July in the same year, the Fort was attacked by the enemy, commanded by a Lieutenant John McDonald
of the Royal Highland Emigrants. Their force
consisted of twelve British Soldiers, ninety tories, and about two hundred and Forty Indians. The Fort was surrendered by capitulation. The men fit to bear arms among whom, was this applicant, were taken prisoners. The old men, women, and children were left at liberty. After the surrender, a party from a station five miles below us, commanded by Captain Hankins Perry (an invalid belonging to the twelfth Pennsylvania
Regiment) and Captain James Cambliter, of
the rangers, consisting of thirty five men,
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surprised the enemy. Captain Perry and
several of his men were killed. We lost on
that day, twenty men among whom was an
elder Brother of mine

At the time Fort Freeland was taken as before mentioned, twenty two of us were made prisoners. We were marched to Montreal by the way of Niagara. From there we were sent to Chambler, Sorrell, and from thence to Quebec, and from thence to St Pauls Bay, sixty miles below Quebec. We remained there till the last year of the War, when we, with many other prisoners of War, were taken, by Sea, to the City of New York. We arrived at New York in the fall of 1783, or that time before the British troops evacuated that place. We were taken from thence in a flag [illegible] to Dobbs Ferry on the North River and then released.
The State of Pennsylvania paid me, and I
believe all the prisoners, that were taken at
Freeland Fort, and returned, wages, from the time of our capture in 1779 till the time we
were realeased in 1783. The pay was in depreciated paper of little value. I have no
knowledge that any of the twenty two, who were taken as before mentioned are yet living except Bethuel Vincent of Miller in the County of Northumberland in this State. This statement is made from recollection; there may be some mistakes as to dates, but none as to material facts. I have no documentary evidence in support of my application, and know of no persons who can prove my services, except
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Bethuel Vincent, John Vincent Esqr (a Judge of the Court of Com. Pleas of Erie County), Moran Miles, and Wm Harrison.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Question 1 he answers
he was born in Ireland in 1762
2) he answers he has none
3 he lived in Northumberland County
Pennsylvania when called into service
that he resided in that place from
his return from Captivity till 1796
he then removed to Allegheny County
now Erie County Pennsylvania
where he now reside
4 he Entered as a volunteer
5 to the 5th he answers
Col James Morrow Commanded
the regiment to which he belonged
James McMahan was a Major
6th he never recd a Discharge
7 refers to the present a pariate
Judges of this Court to the Recd [Received]
Robt Reid . Robert Brown and John Warren
Wm Miles

Sworn & Subscribed in Open Court the day & year aforesaid
Edwin J Kello Po
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We [illegible] Robert Pierce  a clergymen
residing in the Borough of Erie in the County of Erie aforesaid, and John Warren of
the Borough of Erie aforesaid hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with
William Miles who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, the said John Warren having known the said William Miles for a period of thirty five years and the said Robert Reid for a period of about twenty years; that he believe him to be Seventy years of age, as he represents, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Militia and that We concur in that [illegible].
Robert Reid
John Warren
Sworn to and Subscribed
the day and year
aforesaid, in open court
Edwin J. Kello Prothonotary
Page 14

And the said Court do herby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the Interrogatories presented 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 Robert Reid who has signed the preceding cetificate is a clergyman resident in the
Borough of Erie, and that John Warren Esqr who has also signed the same is a resident in the said Borough of Erie and is a credible person and that this statement is entitled to credit.
John Vincent
[illegible]
State of Pennsylvania
Erie County

I Edwin J. Kello  Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Erie do hereby certify that the foregoing (contained on two Sheets of paper attached by a red ribbon over which the seal is affixed,) contains the original
proceedings of the Said Court in the matter of the application of William Miles for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set
my hand and Seal of office this 23rd day of January 1833
Edwin J  Kello Clerk
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There a new certificate
Hon Jas Thompson
HR
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State of Pennsylvania
Erie County ss.
James Miles of the township of Girard in said County after being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith, That his father William Miles has drawn a pension from the United States since the date of his pension certificate of which a copy is hereto annexed. That from old age and bodily infirmities he has become entirely unable to do any business and his recollection is gone. That he has lost his original Pension certificate and retains nothing but a copy from which the annexed copy is made. That this deponent has made diligent search among all the papers of the said William Miles for the said original Pension Certificate and has made diligent inquire and search elsewhere in all places where it might be likely to be found and has hitherto been unable to find it and he verily believes the same to be lost, that there is now due and
coming to the said William Miles one years
pension and that the same cannot be drawn
without a new certificate, that the said
William Miles was a resident of Erie County
at the time said certificate was granted and
still resides therein
(copy of certificate)
"War department, Revolutionary Claim, I certify
that in conformity with the Law of the United States of the seventh of June 1832 William Miles of the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the Revolutionary war is intitled to receive Eighty dollars per annum during his natural life commencing on the fourth day of March 1831 and payable semi annually in the
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"fourth day of March and fourth day of
September in every year, Given at the War
office of the United States this 11th of May 1833
J. L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Lewis Cass Secy of War"
Sworn to and subscribed
before me the 2d day of
December A.D. 1845
James Miles
Miron Hutchinson
Associate Judge of the Common Pleas of Erie County

Washington City DC  ss
I hereby Certify that the Honorable Myron Hutchinson before whom the above affidavit was subscribed was at the date thereof an acting associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Pennsylvania duly commissioned as such and that the signature of the said Miron Hutchinson is well known to me having frequently seen him write and aforesaid  is in the proper hand writing of the said Miron Hutchinson, and further that the affiant James Miles, is well known to me, he is the son of William Miles named in his affidavit and the signature of the affiant is also known to me having seen him write and the same is the hand writing and proper signature of James Miles the affiant aforesaid. Witness my hand this 20th day of
December AD 1845
James Mumper
Representative 23 Congressional Diistrict
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 29th Congress
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Colonel Edwards
Dr [Dear] Sir-- I think Enclosed paper is sufficient to authorize you to issue a new or duplicate of the pension Certificate named therein. I
shall be very glad to hear from the [illegible] at your earliest convenience
I have the honor to be 
Very Respectfully yours
James Thompson
Page 19

William Miles
11 May 1836
Pension office
W Burdine      answered May 11 [18]36

Honorable Lewis Cass
Secretary at War
Washington City
[ROUND POSTAL STAMP READING "ERIE Pennsylvania"
5]
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Erie, Erie County Pa. 4 May 1836
Hon Lewis Cass
Secretary of War

I Certify that William Miles Esquire of Union township in the County deposited his pension Certificate with me, for the purpose of preparing and certifying his necessary papers to draw his money as it become due. That by some accident or misfortune I have either lost or mislaid said certificate and cannot, after
diligent search, find it. Mr Miles wishes me to make this statement in order to Attain another certificate
William Kelley
Justice peace
Send the above certificate to the address of William Miles Postmaster Union Mill Erie County Pennsylvania
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office
October 27th 1840
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," Williams Miles a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Eighty
Dollars and Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March to the 4th Sept. 1839
Respectfully yours,
1863
Albion H. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
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M. 409
June 22. 1836.
Pension Office
W Bundine
William Miles
Pen
for
new Co
Page 23

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
County of Erie
On this 13th day of June 1836 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Erie personally appeared William Miles, who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company Commanded by Captain Arthur Taggert, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel James Murray in the service of the United States, that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Pennsylvania, that he received a certificate of that fact under the 
Signature and Seal of the Secretary of War, which certificate he deposited with William Kelley Esq a magistrate for the purpose of having his papers drawn out to draw his semiannual payments, that on or about the 4th of March last, he called at the office of said William Kelley Esquire, who by some accident had mislaid or lost the same, so that deponent could not get it.
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid
Joseph. M. Sterrett
William Miles
Page 24

Erie County ss.
Before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared William Kelly Esq who being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that William Miles a Revolutionary Pensioner to me well known and who subscribed the foregoing
affidavit, deposited with me his Certificate of Pension for the purpose of drawing up the
necessary papers for the semi annual payments as they become due. That on or about the 4th of March last the said William
Miles called on me to draw his papers for the payment due at that time, and after making diligent search for the Certificate I could not find it, I cannot account for the loss of it, other
than by the removal of my office, which took place in the mean time, when the Certificate was probably either mislaid or lost. I am well acquainted with William Miles who swore to the within affidavit, and that he is the same
William Miles who deposited with me the Certificate lost as aforesaid
William Kelley
Sworn and subscribed before me this 13 June 1836
Jos. M. Sterrett
Page 25

Errie County ss.
I certify that I am well acquainted with William
Kelly who took an subscribed the forgoing affidavit, and that he is reputed a man of veracity. 
Witness my hand this 13t June 1836
Joseph M. Sterrett

State of Pennsylvania
Erie County  ss.

William Kelley Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do Certify that Joseph M Sterrett Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavits of William Miles and William Kelley were Sworn to, was at the time an acting Justice of the Peace of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn to all whose acts as such full faith and credit is due.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this 13th June 1836
William Kelly Prothonotary
Page 26

William Miles, Pri. Penn. roll = 80 Pen Ann
7 June 32
To what time was he last paid?
Pension Office
June 23. 36
R. B.
3d Auditor
He was paid to the 4 Sep 1835
J H
Page 27

W Miles Poll Free
J L Edwards Esqr
Comm Pensions
Washington City
D

Union Mills
16 Sept
Sept 22
Mr William Miles
Pennsyl
No certificate
Page 28

Union Mills 16 Sept 1836
having found the enclosed order I returne the same as directed by you
Wm Miles
J L Edwards Com of Pensions
Page 29

SUBMIT IN DUPLICATE.
1 - 6881
PHONE Branch 476
All inquiries regarding this job should refer to Requisition No. 25604

Requisition for Duplicating, Addressograph, Photostat, and Blue Print Work.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
CHIEF, Division of Publications, August 6, 1928   192
Room G 137.
Please furnish work specified below.
Bureau ordering PENSION
Deliver to Room No 5033
(ALL COPY FOR DUPLICATING WORK SHOULD BE PLAIN AND WRITTEN IN ELITE TYPE, EXACTLY LINE FOR LINE AS IT IS TO APPEAR ON FINISHED JOB.)
Title and description of job photostatic copies of 12 pages from Rev. War pension claim of Wm. Miles, S. 22400
No. of copies 1 of each Shall form be kept standing? _______ days
For further information see M. M.H. Finch Room No. 5033 Phone No. 541
Approved: A D Wilkinson
Chief Clerk of Bureau
Margaret M. H. Finch
Chief of Branch or Division
NOTE: No order made ""SPECIAL"" unless statement showing necessity is written
below and approved by Chief Clerk of Bureau ordering

CHECK WORK DESIRED
Duplicate
Multigraph
Mimeograph single or double space? Facsimile signature?
Mimeograph Folding once or twice?
Assembling Stapling Once? Twice? Side? End?
Electric typewriter Fill in addresses? Dated?

Addressograph from lists
Envelopes, size
Proof list
Labels (submit sample)
Fill in letters
Cards, size
Pay rolls
Corrections
Tabulation sheets

Photostat  X  Size Actual  Official use?  Repay? Yes $1.80
Blue Print Size Official use? Repay? $
Remarks
(OVER)
Page 30

NOTE: Routine changes of addresses may be made on this blank without formal reference through or initialing of chiefs of branches or chief clerks of bureaus.
( Date )
INDICATE BY AN X IN PROPER SQUARE ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
Make new addressograph plate
Change present addressograph plate
Destroy present addressograph plate
On list _____________ as follows:
Now reads
1
2
3
4
5
Should read
1
2
3
4
5
FOR USE OF DUPLICATING AND ADDRESSING SECTION
ADDRESSOGRAPH
The above change was made __________ 192     .
Operator
MULTIGRAPH
Operator _______ Date _____ Type set by _____ Date _____
Remarks
MIMEOGRAPH
Operator _____ Date _____ Cut by _____
Remarks
Page 31

Erie County ss
before John Grubb Esqr one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas for said County I John Vincent on my Solemn oath do say that I was in Freeland fort in July 1779 when it was
taken. I was then seven years and a half old
I remember they called the British officers name McDonald.  I Remember seeing my father & my brothers Daniel and Bethuel taking leave of my mother and the other friends whom they were then leaving and of seeing them marched of off under a guard as prisioners and that William Miles was amongst the prisioners & marched with them-- I have
heard said Miles and my brothers converse
about their being prisoners together in Canada and, and have frequently heard my father and my Brother Daniel both of whom are dead say that William Miles was a prisoner with them during their imprisonment of three or four years in Canada
John Vincent
Sworn & subscribed the 
27th day of December
1832 Before J Grubb

I further certify that the deponent is to me well known as a Judge of the Court of Erie County & a man of the strictest voracity and of whose statement I have the fullest confidence
J Grubb
Page 32

J. C.allahan
State of Pennsylvania
Erie County ss
I, Edwin J. Kello Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Erie do hereby certify that John Grubb Esquire before whom the within deposition was taken, was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly commissioned and Sworn. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court this 23rd day of January AD. 1833
Edwin J. Kello Clk

declaration John Vincent
John Vincent
Page 33

Revolution
22.400
INVALID.
File No. 22, 400
William Miles
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. 2 Page 275
(Arrangement of 1870.)

1928 July 24. Mrs. J. M. Hall
advised cost of photos. See
claim of Cornelius DeVore MMNF
1928 Aug 15. Photos to Mrs. J. M. Hall. See corres. in Rev War - Cornelius DeVore, S. 2219 MMNF
Page 34

Wellile
Payments to be made
at Philadelphia- Po
by Preat U S Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Penna
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E Vol. 5
Page 39 by
John. T. Sprague Clerk
Page 35

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, William
Miles of the State of Pennsylvania who was a Pr. in the Revolutionary War is entitled to receive Eighty dollars per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the
March, and 4th of September, in every year,
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 11th day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty -three
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned.
J L Edward
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 36

State of Pennsylvania
Northumberland County
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said
County on this twenty seventh day of December AD 1832 Bethuel Vincent a resident of the borough of Milton in the County
and State aforesaid well known to me as a credible witness and highly respectable gentleman, who, being first duly sworn according to law doth on his solemn oath depose and say that William Miles of Union Mills in the County of Erie and State of Pennsylvania some time in the month of July 1779 entered the public service of Penna  at the County of Northumberland aforesaid and
did duty as a Militiaman at Freeland's Fort situated in the forks of the Susquehannah about eighteen miles above the town of Northumberland in said County-- that the deponent himself served at the same
time at the same place, and in the same capacity that near the close of July 1779 said Fort was surrounded in the night by a body of Indians and Tories commanded by a British Lieutenant named McDonald that after a few hours fighting the Fort capitulated on terms by which all those doing military duty being twenty two in number, were made prisoners
of war-- they were marched immediately to Fort Niagara - thence to Montreal, and were then distributed among the different prisons at Montreal--The Three Rivers and Quebec, where they remained until peace was declared. Said Miles & deponent with most of those taken Prisoners at Fort Freeland & many others were brought round to New York, and on the Jersey shore were discharged by the British
Squadron which took the British forces from
New York a short time previous to and at its
final evacuation-- and that the deponent
Page 37

and said Miles are the only persons of the aforesaid prisoners now known to this deponent to be alive -
Sworn and subscribed before me the day & year first above written
Jos. Bount
B. Vincent
Page 38

Northumberland County [illegible[
I Edward Y Bright Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that Joseph Bound Esquire
before whom the within deposition of Bethuel Vincent purports to have been taken was, at the time of taking the same & now is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, legally authorized to act as such and that the signature annexed to the said certificate is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 28th day of December AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Ed Y Bright Prothy
Page 39

Erie County State of Pennsylvania ss
Before me John Vincent one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County Personally appeared Isabella Himrod aged sixty six years known to me as a creditable witness who on her solemn oath by me duly  administered saith that she was in Freelands Fort (situated in the forks of the susquehanna river about Eighteen miles above Northumberland) in the month of July one thousand and seven hundred and seventy nine when it was surrounded in the night and captured the next day by a combined
body of tories and Indians headed by a few
british regulars commanded by a British
officer called McDonald, that the aged
Invalids women and children were set at
liberty and all those doing Military duty
between twenty and thirty in number among
whom was William Miles of this County
and Bethuel Vincent of Milton Northumberland County Pa. were marched off under guard as Prisoners of war from which time Deponent saw them no more untill they returned to the same naborhood after the war Ended that it was uniformly said and [illegible] us believed that they had been marched to Canada and detained there in Imprisonment till after peace was made of the truth of all of which deponent has no doubt
Sworn & Subscribed the 7th day of Jan AD 1833 before me
John Vincent
Isabella Himrod
Page 40

State of Pennsylvania 
Erie County ss.
 I Edwin J. Kelso Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Erie do hereby
certify that John Vincent Esquire before whom the within affidavit was taken, was at the
date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly Commissioned and sworn. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 23rd day of January AD 1833
Edwin J Kelso Clerk