Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8002, for James Patterson, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE
Penn.
Patterson, James
NUMBER
R.8002
CONTENTS
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35.059
James Patterson
Pennsylvania
Hon. J. Gerry
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the Seventh, eighteen hundred and thirty-two.
State of Pennsylvania
York County, SS.
On this Fifth day of January in the year eighteen hundred and forty-one, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the aforesaid County of York now sitting, James Patterson, a resident of Upper Chaunceford Township in said County of York and State of Pennsylvania, aged seventy-nine 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 June 7th 1832.
That he entered the United States service under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
The Regiment in which he served was commanded by Colonel George Ross, and the Company by Capt. Thompson, but what the Christian name of Captain Thompson was declarant, from age and defect of memory is unable to recollect; Declarant entered the service on the first of May 1778 and left it the month of November in the same year, thus remaining in the service six months; at the time of his entering the service he resided in the County of York in the State of Pennsylvania; he entered the service as a volunteer and the portion of the army to which he was attached was called "The Flying Camp";  after his enlistment at Lancaster, he was marched to Chester County, thence to Delaware County, and afterwards to the County of Philadelphia, Declarant recollects a Colonel Clotz on Klotz, who he thinks marched the company in which he entered out of Lancaster after his enlistment; knew a Colonel or General Halen (who he thinks was also a physician); recollects that the British vacated Philadelphia about a month after his enlistment. Declarant has no documentary evidence. During the earlier part of his life, never expecting
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any compensation for his services, he took no pains to preserve the discharge he received an Lancaster.
Declarant 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 any agency for the United States, although he receives a pension from the State of Pennsylvania.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court.
James Patterson
W. Ilgenfritz, Prothonotary
We, John Kener and Zachariah Spangler residing the latter in the Borough of York and the former in Chaunceford Township in the County of York and State of Pennsylvania, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Patterson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy-nine 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.
Zachariah Spangler
John Kener
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court.
W. Ilgenfritz, Prothonotary
To the interrogatories propounded by this Court in pursuance of the Regulations of the Secretary of War as the same are set forth in Rules issued from the Pension Office on the 27th June 1832, for the guidance of applicants for Pensions under the act of June 7th 1832: Declarant answers as follows:
To the first interrogatory he answers and says that he was born in the County of Down in Ireland in or about the year seventeen hundred and sixty.
To the second that he has no record of his age beyond that which he supposes was place there at the time of his birth.
To the third that he was living in the County of York, State of Pennsylvania, when called into service, his father having removed with his family to this County within three or four years after declarant's birth. That he has resided in said York County, where has been a Justice of the Peace for thirty-five years, since the Revolutionary war; and that he still lives there.
Declarant answers to the fourth Interrogations that he entered the
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service as a volunteer, as stated in his declaration above.
Declarant can only state the names of Colonel George Ross, Captain Thompson, and Colonel or General (also Doctor) Halen. Does not recollect the Regiment with which he served by number. Was enlisted in Lancaster in May 1778, shortly before the British vacated Philadelphia, went with his Regiment to the Counties of Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia, and returned to Lancaster in the fall when he received his discharge in November.
To the sixth interrogatory, Declarant answers that he did receive a discharge from service from Captain Thompson. The discharge has been lost, as declarant has before stated, not being accounted of very particular value by him in the early part of his life.
Declarant states that his circumstances being tolerably good in the early part of his life and for many years, he did not require a pension as the means of support, nor deem it necessary to go through the trouble and expense requisite for the obtaining of one, but that since he has grown old and embarrassed in his circumstances, more especially since the death of his last son four or five years ago, he has been under a greater necessity of making the present application, believing as he does that he has an unquestionable title to the relief which is provided by Congress in the act of June 7th 1832, for the surviving soldiers of the Revolution.
The said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the war department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Kener and Zachariah Spangler, who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the places where they respectively state themselves to reside, that they are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
D. Durkin
John L Hinkle
Saml. C. Bonham
Pennsylvania
York County, SS.
I, William Ilgenfritz, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of James Patterson for a pension.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, this 5th day of January 1841.
W. Ilgenfritz, Prothonotary
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April 26, 1938
JAMES PATTERSON
R. 8002
BA-J/MLB
Mrs. W. K. Adams
14 North Avenue
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Dear Madam:
The data which follow in regard to James Patterson were obtained from pension claim, R. 8002, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
James Patterson was born in County Down, Ireland, about 1760. When about three or four years of age he came to America with his father and settled in York County, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents were not given.
James Patterson applied for pension January 5, 1841, while residing in Upper Chanceford Township, York County, Pennsylvania. He gave his age then as seventy-nine years, with no explanation of the discrepancy. He alleged that while a resident of York County, Pennsylvania, he volunteered May 1, 1778, marched from Lancaster and served until in November, of that year, as a private in Captain Thompson's company, Colonel George Ross' Pennsylvania regiment of the flying camp, and that after being discharged he returned to York County, Pennsylvania.
His claim for pension was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months' military service in accordance with the requirements of the pension law. He was, however, granted a pension in June, 1836, by the State of Pennsylvania, no other details of which were stated.
In 1841, the soldier stated that he had been a Justice of the Peace for York County, Pennsylvania, thirty-five years.
No reference was made in the claim to James Patterson's wife. It was stated that he lost his last son about 1836; no names of children were given.
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In 1840, James Patterson's brother, Hugh Patterson, testified in his behalf in York County, Pennsylvania. His age and place of residence were not given.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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York Dec. 16th 1843
Dear Sir,
I hope you will not consider me impertinent in bringing up a subject upon which I have already had some correspondence with you. Some years since, I was the agent for James Patterson in his application for a pension. The claim was, if I mistake not, examined and suspended. He has visited my office many times since, and invariably insists that he has performed the services necessary to entitle him to the bounty of government. No doubt there has been some informality in the application which prevents him from getting his allowance. 
My object in writing is to request a copy of the papers, if it is your custom to allow them, and if there should be any fees payable, I would at once forward them. He says that there was once a copy requested, and that he was informed it was sent to him, but that he never received it. From the manner in which he persists in asserting the justice of his claim, I have been led to believe that whilst he performed the requisite service, there has been some error committed which in the present state of his application precludes him from having it allowed. I should be much rejoiced, if consistently with your official position there could be something done which would enable me to aid you in bringing the matter to a termination.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
W. R. Morris
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Hon. J. Gerry
Aug 21, 1841
D.C.
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Pension Office
August 21, 1841
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 19th instant, requesting that what papers of John Patterson, an applicant for a pension under act 7 June 1832, may be sent to you for the purpose of transmitting them to the applicant, I have to inform you that they cannot be sent out of this office for that purpose arguably to our regulations. A copy of the papers were made and sent to the applicant on the 14th June last.
Hon. J. Gerry
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Copy
June 11. 1841
Sir
You allege that you entered the service in May 1778 in Pa. under Col. Ross and Capt. Thompson, left it Nov. following - 6 months and state that the British left Phila - about a month after you entered the service, and that your belonged to the "Flying Camp".
It would appear from the affidavit of John Logan that you served at the time the British were in Phila, and that you were employed as a Smith and Farrier. The "Flying Camp" was raised in 1776 and served in that year only. The British occupied Phila. from the fall of 1777 and [illegible] that city in June 1778. You could not, therefore, have belonged to the Flying Camp as alleged. Col. Ross commanded a Militia Regiment -- and the militia were called out to serve in tours of only 2 months under one engagement. If you served for a longer term and as a smith and farrier as stated, you were
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for which [blank] formerly pensioned at $[blank] per month, has increased since the last examination to such an extent as to entitle [blank] to a rating therefor in excess of $[blank] per month, which [blank] now receiving under the act of June 27, 1890.
To enable this Bureau to determine whether an examination by a board of surgeons is justified, medical testimony should be furnished in which the physician should give a full and specific description of the conditions resulting from [blank] thus showing the extent to which [blank] incapacitated for the performance of manual labor thereby, independently of any other disabling cause.
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engaged under a civil contract and were not subject to perform military duty. The Act of June 7, 1832 does not provide for anyone who did not perform six months service subject to military discipline.
Your claim has been rejected from the fact that John Logan's affidavit was made in May 1836 and you were pensioned by the State of Pa. June 1836, it is presumed that the same was allowed upon his testimony.
Mr. James Patterson
York Co., Pa.
c/o Hon. J Gerry
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House [illegible] August 19th, 1841
Sir
I am requested by James Patterson of York County, Pa., to make application to you for the purpose of withdrawing his papers from the pension office which were left there during the present Session of Congress on his application for a pension, for the purpose of sending them to him,
Very Respectfully
J Gerry
J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
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House [illegible] August 19th, 1841
Sir
I am requested by James Patterson of York County, Pa., to make application to you for the purpose of withdrawing his papers from the pension office which were left there during the present Session of Congress on his application for a pension, for the purpose of sending them to him,
Very Respectfully
J Gerry
J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
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157
Pension Office
June 11, 1841
Sir,
The papers in support of your claim to a pension under Act 7 June 1832, have been examined. You allege to have entered the service in May 1778 in Pennsylvania under Col Ross and Captain Thompson and left it in November following, having served six months, and state that the British left Philadelphia about a month after entered the service, and that you belonged to the Flying Camp. It would appear from the affidavit of John Logan that you served at the time the British were in Philadelphia and that you were employed as a Smith and Farrier. The "Flying Camp" was raised in 1776, and served in that year only. The British occupied Philadelphia from the fall of 1777 and evacuated that City in June 1778. You could not therefore have belonged to the Flying Camp as alleged. Col. Ross com-
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manded a militia regiment, and the militia were called out to serve in tours of only two months under one engagement. If you served for a longer term and as a smith and farrier as stated, you were engaged under a civil contract, and was not subject to perform military duty. The act of 7th June 1832 does not provide for anyone who did not perform six months' service, subject to military disciple. Your claim has consequently been rejected and your papers filed in this office. From the fact of the affidavit of John Logan having been made in May 1836 and that you were allowed a pension by the state of Pennsylvania in June following, it is presumed that your pension was allowed upon the testimony contained in said affidavit.
Mr. James Patterson
of York Co., Penna.
Present Care of Hon. J. Gerry, H. Reps
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Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
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York August 20th 1840
Sir,
A letter from you to an old revolutionary soldier, James Patterson, together with the requirements of the act of 1832 embodied, having been shown to me, I take the liberty of stating, and begging you to assist in obviating, as far as consistent with your official duty, the difficulty under which he labors in obtaining the provision to which he is in justice entitled. Having been several times employed by him as Counsel, I am able to state of my own knowledge, that his memory, owing to his extreme age is exceedingly defective; and I am not surprised that, after the lapse of many years (he having enlisted in 1778), he should be unable to recollect the name of any other than the commanding Officer of a regiment in which he only served for six months. I repeat that I have not the slightest doubt of the fact of his having served, and in the very regiment he alleges. He has ever since I have known him, been reputed a revolutionary soldier and his office of justice of the peace may perhaps be admitted to go some may at last in establishing a personal claim to credibility. The declaration set forth in the printed instructions which you gave him requires the names of the "field and Company officers." These he is unable to give. Is it absolutely essential that he should do so? Is it as they as they not on record somewhere in the department or might they not be discovered by referring to the application of some other
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survivor of the same regiment. I am not aware of any impropriety in giving the names directly to the applicant, leaving it to his conscience to make oath or not, after having, as witnesses in a court of justice are allowed, and to employ the legal phrase "refreshed his memory." If, however, your better judgment, and more thorough acquaintance with the spirit of the law upon this subject, should give you a different view of it, I could perhaps suggest another cause, if the desired knowledge is within your possession or could readily be obtained, which might possibly be less liable to objection. If I were furnished with the correct names, and would pass them before the petitioner, with a number of others, emphasizing them all alike, I think it probable he would select the proper ones; and his recollection, aided in this manner, would be entitled to precisely the same degree of credit as if he had remembered them from the beginning. This plan, if my request to acceded to, I pledge myself to pursue. The name of the Colonel was George Ross, and the place when he enlisted, Lancaster. The body of troops to which he belonged was called "the flying camp." I believe there will not be found the slightest difficulty in complying with all the other requirements of the act, and I should deem it a great pity, if the old man, simply in consequence of a failure of memory which I have cause to complain of whenever and I conduct the most ordinary business with him, should be prevented from obtaining the provision intended for him by the gratitude and liberality of his country. I have been en-
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couraged to write to you this freely upon this subject by the great kindness of your letter to the old man, and also by the statement of Mr. Thomas Walsh (lately in the war department) of the generous empathy always manifested by you in cases of this description. Trusting that I have not trespassed too far in relying upon that sympathy in the present instance, I am,
With great respect,
Your obedient servant,
Wm. R. Morris
J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
I should state that Mr. Patterson has a pension from the State of Pennsylvania, and a certificate, properly authenticated, to establish the fact.
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State of Pennsylvania
York County, SS.
Personally came before me the, subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, Hugh Patterson, who upon his solemn oath saith that his brother,  James Patterson, an applicant for a Pension, enlisted in the United States Service, in the year Seventeen hundred seventy-eight, or seventeen hundred and seventy-nine, and that he the said James served out the period of his enlistment and that at the end of said term, he, deponent saw his, the said James' discharge, the said James having served for six months and that the said James is now in the eightieth year of his age and that the said James went from York County, Pennsylvania when he enlisted with a [illegible] and at the end of his enlistment returned to York County aforesaid and has always since that time and now lives in
York County.
Hugh Patterson
Sworn to and subscribed August 18. 1840 before
John A Wilson
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York County, SS.
I hereby certify that Hugh Patterson, who took and subscribed the foregoing affidavit is a respectable and creditable witness. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at York in the said County the eighteenth day of August Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty.
John A Wilson [seal]
Pennsylvania
York County, SS.
I, William Ilgenfritz, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, certify, that John A. Wilson, Esquire, before whom the foregoing Affidavit was made, is and was at the time of signing, the same, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court.
January 5, 1841
W. Ilgenfritz
Prothonotary
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Section 3. That the State Treasurer is hereby authorized and required to pay to Joshua Heidler, and Mathias Featherhoof of Adams County, John Fisher and Henry Christ of Lancaster City, William Hentzel of Lancaster County, James Patterson of York County, Philip Keesey of Montgomery County, Thomas Birch of Fayette County, George Skilhamer of Dauphin County and William Frazer of Bedford County. James Skelton of Crawford County and John Francis of Philadelphia County, soldiers, and to Mary Strunk and Elizabeth Heaton, Elizabeth Roch of Berks County, Catherine Brown and Elizabeth Sommer of the City of Lancaster, Jane Turner of Braver County, Rachael Cycencider of Crawford County, widows of soldiers of the revolutionary war, or to their respective orders, forty dollars immediately and an annuity of forty dollars to each during life, payable half yearly to commence on the first day of January, One thousand eight hundred and thirty six.
Pennsylvania, SS.
Secretary's Office
July 15th 1840
I certify that the above is a true copy of the third section of "An act for the relief of Joseph Barnett and others, soldiers and widows of soldiers of the Revolutionary war," approved the fifteenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, as the same remains filed in this office. Witness my hand and the seal of the said Office at Harrisburg the day and year aforesaid.
R. Strunk
Secretary Com.
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Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, SS.
I, Z. McLenegan, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, certify that Daniel Kendig, Esquire, before whom the affidavit hereto attached was taken bearing date the 20th day of May A.D. 1836, was at the time of the doing thereof an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereto affixed the seal of said Court and Subscribed my name the 15th day of July A.D. 1840
Z. McLenegan, Prothonotary
[illegible]
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Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, SS.
I, Z. McLenegan, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, certify that Daniel Kendig, Esquire, before whom the affidavit hereto attached was taken bearing date the 20th day of May A.D. 1836, was at the time of the doing thereof an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereto affixed the seal of said Court and Subscribed my name the 15th day of July A.D. 1840
Z. McLenegan, Prothonotary
[illegible]
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Lancaster County, SS.
Personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of the justices of the peace in and for said county, John Logan, who being sworn as have directs sayeth that he was well acquainted with James Patterson, an applicant for pension, and had a [illegible] knowledge of said [illegible] at the time he enlisted in the United States service with a certain Captain Thompson for six months in the town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and that he served out the said six months and at the end of the term, I saw his discharge and understood that during the term he was drafted to be smith and farrier in a certain division, all at or about the time the British was in or about the City of Philadelphia, in the revolutionary war.
Sworn and subscribed before me, May the 20th A.D. 1836.
John Logan [his mark]
Daniel Kendig
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Lancaster County, SS.
I, hereby certify that John Logan, who took and subscribed the foregoing deposition, is a man of good credit and respect where he is known in the County.
In testimony whereof, I have set my name, May 20th AD. 1836.
Daniel Kendig
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1908 Oct. 8. History to Miss Alice C. Truly
1938 Apr. 26 History to Mrs. W. K. Adams MLB
8002
P.O. James Patterson
Service: REJECTED
Not an officer
Enlisted: [blank]
Discharged: [blank]
1852 List. of Rejected and Suspended Claims shows cause of rejection, as follows:
"He did not perform 6 months' military service"
Alleges: [blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Born in Co. of Down, Ireland, in or about 1760. While residing in York Co., Pa., he enlisted about May 1, 1778 at Lancaster for 6 months with Capt. Thompson in Regiment Col. Ross. Supposed to have been a Smith and Farrier.
Attorney: [blank]
His father removed to York Co. when he was 3 or 4 years old.
P.O. [blank]
Recognized.
Contract.
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Painesville, Ohio
Sept. 25th, 1908
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly furnish me with a statement of the Revolutionary services of James Patterson, born in Ireland, it is believed, and a resident of either Westmoreland or Allegheny County, Pa., at the time of his death; and of Stephen Mehaffey, who resided in Armstrong County, Pa. about 1833, where he died.
Trusting to hear from you at your convenience, I am,
Very truly yours,
(Miss) Alice C. Truly,
Painesville, Ohio
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Mrs. W. K. Adams 14 South Ave, Elizabeth N.J.
Dear Sir:-
I would appreciate knowing if you have the military record of
James Patterson who died in Birmingham near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dec 20, 1841, or any sons he might have had.
Also do you have the name William Calloway or Callaway who lived in Delaware or Maryland at
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the time of the Revolution. I am in hopes that I might find some clue to these people. Thanking you, I am, 
Very truly yours,
Jane C. Adams (Mrs. W.R.)
April Sixth
[Stamp: Received Apr 8 193 ]
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In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of James Patterson, 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.
Rev. 8002
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. (CAPTAIN, COLONEL) | STATE.
May 1, 1778 | 6 mos. | Smith & Farrier | (Thompson, George Ross) | Pa. "Flying Camp"
Battles engaged in, [blank]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, York Co., Pa. where his father removed with his family three or four years after soldier's birth.
Date of application for pension, January 5, 1841
Residence at date of application, Upper Chaunceford Twp., York Co., Pa.
Age at date of application, 1779 born in County Down, Ireland, about 1760.
Remarks: His claim was not allowed for the reason that he failed to furnish [illegible] proof that he served six months in a military capacity as required by act of June 7, 1832, under which he applied 1840 before Hugh alive. No other found data.
Very respectfully,
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April 26, 1938
JAMES PATTERSON
R. 8002
BA-J/MLB
Mrs. W. K. Adams
14 North Avenue
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of James Patterson who, you state, died December 20, 1841, in Birmingham, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, or the records of any of his sons, also, the Revolutionary War record of William Calloway or Callaway who served in the Revolution from either Delaware or Maryland.
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and no claim for pension or bounty land was found based upon service in that war of a William Calloway, under any spelling. No claims could be identified of any of James Patterson's sons, if on file, without the full name of each soldier, the name of the war in which he served and any data you might have in regard to him, such as date and place of birth, places of residence at enlistment and after service and given name of wife or widow. Please furnish such information when a search of the records will be made and a report furnished.
The record of James Patterson is furnished you herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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W. R. Morris
Dec 16, 1843
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138
Pension office
Dec 16. 1843
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 13th instant, I have to inform you that the pressure of business in this offer is such that we cannot copy papers. If time permitted, it would, however, be contrary to [illegible] to furnish copies of the papers of James Patterson, he having been furnished with copies on the 14th of June 1841.
W. R. Morris, Esq.
York, Pa.
[illegible] 1832
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James Patterson
Pennsylvania
Rejected
did not serve six months in a military capacity
papers copied for applicant June 14, 1841
8002
Act 7 June 1832