Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 4260, for William Lang, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE
Penna

Lang, William
Mary

Number
W.4260
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[Page is printed with blank spaces to fill in information]

4641

Pennsylvania, Phila

Mary Lang, decd. widow of William who died
on the [blank] of [illegible] in the State of [Penna] who was a [private] in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the [Revolution for 2 years]

Inscribed on the Roll of [Philadelphia] at the rate of [80] Dollars [00] Cents per assum, to commence on the [4"] day of March, 18[31 & Endg May, 29" 183[?] ]

Certificate of Pension issued the [19'] day of [Jany 1854] and sent to [Hon. Chas Skelton House of Reps]
Arrears to the 4th of [blank] Semiannual allowance 
[illegible]
0 [illegible] from $20

Revolutionary claim
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the 3

[Illegible] by H. R. Weightman Clerk,
Book D Vol. 2 Page 369
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Hon J. L. Edwards
 
   Sir:

          Elizabeth Lang, residing in Philadelphia, whose father William Lang was a Revolutionary soldier, his wife Mary Lang applied for a pension, and through her Lawyer Mr. Raybold obtained a pension.  And through said Raybold, received 24 dollars, the Daughter Elizabeth is desirous to know wheather there was any money due on [illegible] of pension the mother being dead about 9 years.  And wheather her father obtained his Land from government, if not what will be the necessary steps for her to take for to obtain it.  She is also desirous to obtain the Marriage Certificate of her mother, which she says was left in your office.
 
Yours Most Resptly

John T. Smith
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[Left Fold]

2986

[Right Fold]

2986

Mary Lang
Penna

[illegible]  Act 4 July '36

Wht.d

admitted for six months 2.00
Sec. Act 4 July 1836
from 4 March 1831
to 29 May 1832
$20 per an
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In the year 1774 I, William Lang landed at Arch Street Ferrey, then kept by the Widdow Ashton. Came in the Brig Freemason, Captain Butcher commander and owner paid [illegible] for my passage, in the year 1776  was in the Battle of Prince Town and remained in the army till discharge.

In the year 1777 on the first day of April
Cpt John Hewson   English , Callier Printer
William Lang    English, Cutter of Blocks for printing of Calieo
Cpt Cooper American and owner of a Plantation
Richard Cummings English, Drawer of Patterns for printing of Callieo
Savery Toy American, Farmer
was taken Prisoners  at [illegible] Wallaces Ferrey on the [illegible] 15 miles from Philadelphia by a detachment of boats sent from the British fleet headed by a person by the name of Salter [illegible] by a Lieutenant by the name of Likens that deserted his country and joined the British, went to them in the night & loged the information where we were to be found and we was all captured. 

We were brought down the Dellaware and landed at Arch Street Ferrey then kept by a [illegible] by the Name of {blank space] an Englishman and Farrier, from the Ferrey we was marched to Lord Howe's headquarters in Market St and whent on examination before Gallaway & Belfour  Lord Howes aid and sent to the jail under guard an remaind there till  Citty was Evacuated under the Command of Sir Harry Clinton and taken to New York after 4 months confinement got my discharge and returned to Philadelphia
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June 18th 1778 the British Army Evacuated Philadelphia taken Wm Lang with them to New York a prisoner was then 25 years old.

[Small Obituary from a newspaper]

  On the 29th instl. Mr. WILLIAM LANG, in his 80th year of his age.  He was a soldier of the revolution, and was in the battle at Princeton.  For 38 years he has been keeper of the Alms-house gate on Spruce Street. Funeral from the Alms-house, on Thursday morning, at 10 o'clock.
[Written 29" May 1832]
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'Exhibit C"

This is to certify whom it may concern that on Sat. the [illegible] Day of  Sept. [illegible] 1792 William Lang and Mary Meade were lawfully joined in hole Matrimony and pronounced Man & Wife together as witness my hand and seal

   Jos. Gilmore [illegible]
[Whole line is not readable]

Given in Philadelphia
the 20th Sept. 1792
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Philadelphia County   SS

     Personally appeared before me one of the Aldermen of the County of Philadelphia, Sarah Alcock who being duly sworn doth depose and say that she was well acquainted with William Lang formerly of said County, and that she knows that in the year previous to the British entering the City of Philadelphia he was a member of Captain Ogdens volunteer company of Col Benjamin Ayers Regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers and marched from Philadelphia with said company in the service of the United States; that he was absent in the service of [illegible] for some months and was taken prisoner in New Jersey and exchanged and returned home in seventeen hundred seventy eight; that he has frequently heard and 
has no doubt of the fact that said William Lang was in the battle of Princeton, and that he was exchanged at the same time + returned home  with deponent, Father, who was captain of a company in the Battle of Trenton - and that said William Lang resided in the family of Deponents father upwards of sixteen years which enables this deponent to state with accuracy the above facts
Sworn + Subscribed before me
this 19th day of July 1837
[Signature John Conrad]
Alderman

Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County   SS

I Robert Morris Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County  Do Certify that John Conrad Esq. before whom the aforegoing affidavit was made and whom his own proper 
handwriting has [illegible] Subscribed his name was at the time of so doing and [illegible] an Alderman in and for the said County and qualified to administer [illegible] and affirmation and to all whose acts  as such full faith and credit are and ought to be given as well in Court of said area as there [illegible]
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In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court at Phila. this 2d  day of December A.D. 1837 (December)

[Signature] Robert Morris

Prothy
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State of Pennsylvania
City of Philadelphia       SS

On the eighth day of November A. D. 1837.  Personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the City and County of Philadelphia -- Mary Lang a resident of the City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, aged [illegible] six years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress [illegible] 4 July 1836.   That she is the widow of William Lang who was a volunteer in the Revolutionary War, who went into the army as deponent has been often informed by him, and [illegible] believes in the early part of 1776.  That he was a member of Cap. Ogden's volunteer company of Colonel Benjamin Ayres Regiment Penn  volunteers.  That her husband was in the Battle of  Princeton - that he was afterwards taken prisoner by the British and kept in prison for a considerable, [blank]     He further states that the annexed paper marked "Exhibit A" is in the handwriting of the said William Lang and is his own brief memorandum or history of his service, that the paper marked as "Exhibit B", is also the handwriting of the said William Lang, being the statement of the time the British evacuated Philadelphia.   

He further declares that she was married to the said William Lang on the 29th day of September 1792 as will appear by the original marriage certificate.
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which she annexed here to marked "Exhibit C".  That her said husband died on the 29th day of May Eightteen hundred and thirty two, and that she had remained a widow ever since that period, and is now in very poor and destitute circumstances -- as will more fully appear by reference to the  proof hereunto annexed.

Mary Lang

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written before Edward King present Judge Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia City and County.
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City of Philadelphia  SS

On the Second day of December A. D. 1837 before the Court of Common Please of the City and County of Philadelphia personally appeared John A. Inslee City of Philadelphia real estate broker - aged fifty six years who being duly sworn according to Law saith that he was well acquainted with William Lang (He had [illegible] of the applicant in the annexed papers) from the year 1801 until his death which took place on 29 May 1832, that he said William Lang and Gate Keeper at the Philadelphia Alms House, that he was always considered as a revolutionary Soldier, deponent said Lang (who sustained a very good character for truth and veracity) declare that he was a revolutionary soldier in the American Army during the War of the Revolution; that he was in the Battle of Princeton; that he was afterwards taken prisoner and was for some considerable time in prison as a prisoner of wwar taken by the British.  Deponent always believed that said Lang was a soldier as he stated and that all his statements that were frequently made to his acquaintances were true, that such was the general and [illegible] opinion of the neighborhood and that all who knew him, that he was a man of good character
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woman - very old and very poor - that her statements are entitled to full credit, deponent fully believes what she has declared to in her application to be true and correct according to her best knowledge in the matter - 

Deponent further states that the papers hereunto annexed marked as Exhibit A and Exhibit B are the proper handwriting of said William Lang deceased.
[Signature J. A. Inslee]

Sworn + subscribed in open Court the 2d December, 1837.
Edward King Resident Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia City + County

Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County  SS

I Robert Morris Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that the Hon. Edward King, Esq. before whom the annexed declaration on oath of Mary Lang, and affidavit of John A. Inslee were made and who has hereunto in his own proper handwriting [illegible] subscribed his name was at the time after doing and [illegible] resident Judge of the said Court of Common Pleas which is a court of Record, duly commissioned and qualified to all whose acts of such [illegible] faith and credit and ought be given a [illegible] court of Judicature of thereout.

 In Testimony whereof I have hereinto set my hand and affixed my seal of the said Court at  Philadelphia this second day of December A.D. 1837.

[Signature Robert Morris Prothy]
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[There are written notations in all directions and locations on this page.  They are being transcribed starting from top of page]

Dec 6
Pa 4 July 1836
[illegible] See [illegible]  Enfi

James L Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

[Stamped FREE]

14 Mos 2.5 Ins

100
  24
____

Report to H. D. Gilpin
Solicitor   Treasy
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Phila Pa Dec 2/37

To
James L. Edwards Esq.
Commr of Pensions

As an act of charity to a very poor and deserving widow Mary Lang-- I have collected, and now transmit her declaration and evidence in support of a claim for pension money -- To which I want to earnestly request your attentions as early convenient,

With great respect
I remain your Obt Svt.

F. A. Raybold


Please direct to 
F. A. Raybold
Philad [?]
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Mary Lang decd
Widow of Wm
Pa
Act July 4 1836. 2d Section
Admitted Private of Infantry 2 years
at $80- per annum from Mar 4.1831
to May 29.1832, when he died, (deducting
former payments)

Certificate payable to
Eliza M. Lang, her only surviving child.

Enclose certificate to Hon Chas. Skelton
H. of Reps.
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Brief in the case of Mary Lang, decd. widow of Wm. Philadelphia County and State of Pennsylvania 2d[illegible] act July 4. 1836

Claim, ("original" crossed out] "for increase.")

Proof exhibited. (if original.)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls?  If either, state the substance.

(if for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?  

Afft of Rev Wm Hewoon that Lang served for most part of the war, and Certificate of Hon. Chas Skelton- Proof of heirship.

From Lang's own memorandum, apparently at the time, he and Capt. Hewoon- affiants father, were both taken prisoners at the same time.

S. G. Dodge
Examining Clerk.

Name and residence of Agent
Hon. Chas Skelton
H of Reps.
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Philad. July 14th 1838. 

Dear Sir,

Mary Lang the widow of William Lang a revolutionary soldier, obtained a pension under the act of 4th July 1836.  She rec.d, I am informed  24 dollars, at the Girard Bank in Philada. in December  last.  She died in this City where she and her husband had resided for many years, the 15th of last March. They have left but one child, ELizabeth Lang - who is desirous of knowing whether there is not some areas of pension coming to her, and whether or not she is entitled to Lands for her father's services  .  The papers exhibited by Mary Lang in support of her claim were forwarded you some time in the latter part of last year. A reference to them will inform you of all the facts necessary to enable you to reply to this.

If you will give this matter
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your early attention and satisfy the inquiries of Elizabeth Lang as I have stated them above. You will greatly ablige.

Very Respectfully
Your Obed. Servt.
Charles Taylor


To  J. L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions

P. S. Please direct your answers to me at this time. 
 C.T.
.
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Hon J. L. Edwards,

Sir
Elizabeth Lang, Daughter of William and Mary Lang is very desirous to obtain a duplicate of the Marriage certificate of her Father + Mother, the original being on file in your office.

Your compliance when convenient will be 
much obliged
yours most Respt
John T Smith

3 [illegible] Pa.

Philadelphia 
March 26th 1 845
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P. Lang [crossed out]

Committee on
Revolutionary
Claims

Charles Skelton
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State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On the twenty third day of November A. D. 1852 personally appeared before me an Alderman and exofficio a Justice of the Pease within and for the County and State aforesaid. John Hewson and being sworn according to Law doth depose and say that he was acquainted with William Lang and that he was in the service of the United States in the Army in the Revolutionary War  with Great Britain that said William Lang was a private in the volunteer company of the City and County of Philadelphia commanded by Captain John Hewson he served during the war from 1775 to 1783 and was honourably discharged at the end of the war.  He further says that he is acquainted with the present applicant for a pension and that she is the only child of the said William Lang and that her name is 
Eliza M. Lang and that said William Lang and his wife, Mary Lang have been dead a number of years that that Captain John Hewson the commander of said company was the Father of the deponent. 
John Hewson
Sworn to and subscribed before me the 23d day of November A.D. 1 852 
John Clouds
Alderman
Sworn and subscribed in my presence
Charles Skelton, [initials illegible]
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Mary Lang
Wid  of Willam
Pa act. 36

Hon
Charles Walton
U. N. m
M C
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I am personally acquainted with the deponent in the [illegible] case, Rev. John Hewson, and know him to be a man of the highest respectability and worthy of all confidence.

Charles Skelton
John Robbins Jr
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Hon. L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.
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[Too faint to read]
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 Pension Office
Jany 13. 1856.

Sir:
I have examined and filed the affidavit of Rev. John Hewson of Philadelphia relative to the military service of William Lang whose daughter is desirous of processing any arrears of pension moneys which may be due in [illegible] of those services.

Mary Lang the widow of William of Pa. received a pension certificate at the rate of twenty dollars per annum from the 4th of March 1831 to the 29th of May 1832, the date of his death under the second act of July 4, 1836. The widow in making her application, declared that her husband served in Captain Ogden's Company of Col. Benj. Ayers Regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers and was in the Battle of Princeton and was taken prisoner by the British and kept in prison a considerable time, after which she does not claim that he performed any service + memorandums filed with her declaration, in the handwriting of Wm Lang, represents that his imprisonment continued until the fall of 1778 and that he was in service at the Battle of Princeton, at the close of the year 1776 and was taken prisoner the first of April 1 777 in company with  Capt. John 
Hewson and others, at Wallace's Ferry, about fifteen miles from Philad.  The affidavit of Hewson represents
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that Lang served under his father Capt. Hewson, and was in service from 1775 to the end of the war.  Our [illegible] shows that Lang was not such a "war-man"; and even if it were admitted that he served as much as two years the arrears due and unpaid would only amount to about seventy-five dollars.  A certificate from the Auditor Gen'l of Pa showing that Captains Hewson and Ogden both served in the same regiment on any
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Washhttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngington January 18th, 1854
Hon. L. P Waldo Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir,
I have been , for many years, personally acquainted with the relatives and friends of the late William Lang of Philadelphia.  The opinion of all, I believe, has been, that he served during the entire time of the Revolutionary War.  That he was wounded at the Battle of Princeton, that he was three months a prisoner of war, and that he lost all his property in said [illegible]. These, I believe, have been entertained by a number of persons acquainted with him from the close of the war.  My acquaintance with many of the friends of the late William Lang extends back about thirty years and I have never had the above points questioned.
Very respectfully yours &c.
     Charles Skelton
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Copies of this are to be made and sent to
Hon. C. Wilton to be [illegible] before Congress.

L. P.  Waldo  Com.
Jany 30 [illegible]
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Washington February 1st, 54.
Hon. L. P. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions, 
Sir
You will much oblige me by furnishing me with a copy of the papers of William, Mary and Eliza M. Lang on file in your office.
 
Very respectfully yours &c.
Charles Skelton
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Mary Lang widow William

Act /36-Pa  No 1641 

Commissioner June 9/54
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[Illegible] WIDOW, &c.

File No.  4260
Mary Lang
Wid.
Wm. Lang
Pvt. Rev. War
Act:  July 4/36, Dec., 30
Index:--Vol.  A   Page 416

[Arrangement of 187 0.]
Page 34

Claim of

Mary Lang

Widow

of

Wm. Lang
Page 35

[Left page]
1641
PENNSYLVANIA

Mary Lang
widow of William Lang decd.
who died on the 29 May 1832
of Philadelphia in the State of Pa.
who was a Private in the Company commanded by  Captain Ogden of the [left blank] commanded by [left blank] in the Pa
line for 6 months

Enscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 20 Dollars --- Cents, per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of Dec. 1837 and sent Hon. H. D. Gilpin Solicitor Treasury

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1832    $20.00
Allowance ending 29 May              
1832 the date of her                        4.67 husband's death.                          _______
                                                       24.67
Revolutionary Claim, Act
July 4, 1836, Section 2d

Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
Book A  Vol. 2.    Page 142

[Right side of page]

Let. to Hon C. Naylor, July 16, 1838
Let. to Hon. J. T. Stuart, Dec. 24 1844
Copy of marriage certificate sent to 
J T Stuart Phil. [illegible] 29 1845
Hon C. Skelton Jany 13, 1854
Page 36

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
 Form VAN-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Langdon, Benjamin   GRADE Private
LINE New York

WARRANT NUMBER  7386  
ACREAGE 100    ISSUED Sept. 27, 1790
To Jacob Tremper, assignee

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