Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24407, Richard Harry, Md.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Md

Harry, Richard
Rachel

NUMBER
W. 24407

CONTENTS
Page 2

8723
D. Columbia

Rachel Harry Dec'd
widow of Richard Harry
who was a pensioner under the Act of [blank]
and who died on the 25 Feb 1839
of [blank] in the State of [blank]
who was a Pri[vate]
in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank]
in the [blank] line for 6 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of Washington City
at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of
March, 1836. + ending 25 Feb. 1839
day of her Death
Certificate of Pension issued the 14
Septem 1844 and Sent to W J
Allison Esq Georgetown DC
Total Amount, $ [blank]

Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by F. L. Swann Clerk
Book D  Vol. 1 Page 475 
Pay'l to Richard, Harry, George Harry
and Eliza Creamer, only Sur[viving] child'n

see Let'r 14 Sept
1844. to Agent rep
-
New Cert Iss'd
March 21, 1845, at same
rate per annum-
Page 3

Declarations
made this 29th day of June 1817 for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the law
of Congress approved 4th July 1836 & 3rd of March 1837. By Rachel Harry
of Montgomery County State of Maryland who declares that she is the widow
of Richard Harry a soldier of the Revolution war and who was in the
war 4 to 6 years. He served to the North, and was at the Battle of Yorktown
in Virginia, soon after which he returned home on a farm which he
rent of Warren McGruder [Magruder] in Montgomery County, when they continued to
live untill the death of her Husband where she had remained & went Washington City to live a widow with a Daughter at each place untill this day. She further states that her husband Richd Harris enlisted in the company of
Capt Betty of Georgetown, (Thos J Betty she thinks) of Col Smallwoods Regt of
Maryland, then returned with her Husband from Virginia after the
Battle of Yorktown, Mr James Fulton a Taylor from Georgetown.
Her marriage took place at the House of William Hunt a person in Montgomery county
and the License she thinks was obtained at Georgetown but she
does not read and write, therefore cannot say positively as to date but the 
fact she is positive in that she was married by Parson Hunt as above
stated and at least two years before the Batt [crossed out] surrender of Cornwallis;
and that Richard Harry has been some time in the service before they were
married and she distinctly remembers hearing him say that he was
on Furlough & came home by the way Annapolis. [illegible] remained
after their marriage but about 3 weeks & returned to his duty, after which
she states that she saw him no more untill after the Battle of
York, bringing with him his discharge, which she often heard not but what was done with it cannot now say, nor had she any 
documentary evidence of his services left. Given under my hand & seal
this day & year above written. added before signed that the 84 years of age
witness John D Clark
Rachael her X mark Harry

---
Page 4

Circuit Court of the
District of Columbia  Washington County
This day personally appeared before me
William Cranch Chief Judge of the said Court, Rachel Harry
and made oath according to law, that the facts stated in the
foregoing declaration are true as stated 
Given under my hand 1st July 1837
Wm Cranch
Page 5

11295
Rachel Harry dec'd
D.C.
Act 7 July 38
adm'd
6 mo. pri
$20 to 25
Feby 39 the day of her
death
To Richd & Geo Harry &
Eliza Cramer only surviving children
W.S. Allison Esq
Mar 16 1843 [crossed out]
[faint] W. S. Allison  Pres't
Present
Page 6

District of Columbia
Washington County
Personally appeared before me
this thirteenth day
of March A.D. 1845
Richard Harry
who being duly sworn according to
law saith that his
mother Rachel Harry applied for a pension
on account of the Revolutionary service
of his father Richard Harry, in the Maryland
line and militia, that she was married
in March 1786 that his father died
in September 1828, and that his mother
died twenty fifth February one thousand
eight hundred and thirty nine, and that 
there are three children, viz, Richard
Harry, Eliza Creamer and George Harry
and that a pension is now claimed
under act 7th July 1838, from 4th March
1836 to 25th February 1839, the period of
his mothers death, and that the family
record is produced herewith in proof of
the marriage, being a Book of Common prayer, with writing in the blank leaves
Sworn and subscribed the day
and year aforesaid
Wm. Cranch, Ch. J. C.C. - D.C
his mark
Richard Harry
Page 7

On the 15th of March 1843
At the same time [crossed out]
personally appeared
before me chief Judge of the Circuit Court of the
District of Columbia John Harry a credible
and respectable witness, who being also duly
sworn states that the within named Rachel
Harry died 25th
February, 1839 and that
she left three children viz. Richard Harry
Eliza Creamer, and George Harry
sworn and subscribed
this fifteenth
day of March
A.D. 1843
before me,
W. Cranch

John O Harry
Page 8

War Department
Pension Office
September 15th 1837
Sir 
I have examined the claim of
Rachel Harry Widow of Richard Harry
decd & herewith return the papers
For proof in support of the alleged service of
Mr Harry I will refer you to the Register of
the Land Office, I. G. Brewer, Esq. at Annapolis Md
The proof in support of the date of the
marriage is not satisfactory Record Evidence
of the marriage should be furnished if
to be found; such as the record of the Clergyman who married them, or family record
shewing the birth of children &c. In case
no such proof can be had, the testimony
of respectable persons who were present, or
personally knowing to the fact, may be receive
I am very respectfully
Respectfully
Yr. Mo. Obt. S't.

J L Edwards
Thomas Sangster Esq
Present
Page 9

Georgetown, DC, Sept: 9. 1843

Sir,
Enclosed herewith you will find
Mr Lufborough's testimony of the character
of John Harry in the case of Mrs
Rachel Harry, decd under act of 7th
July 1838. As it regards the first objection
to the claim the affidavit of Mr John
Harry, which has been exhibited since
the date of the enclosed letter, shews that
the record was made by his grandfather
and that it went into the possession of
of an aunt who resided in Montgomery
County.
The 2d objection is as to service. I 
would refer to the letter of Mr Brewer
filed since the last action on the case
wherein it is shewn that the Battallion
to which Richd Harry belonged was named to
serve from 10th May to 31 Dec 1781 and that what
was paid was a balance due.
I am respectfy
Your obt. Servt.
Wm S Allison

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commisr of Pensions
Page 10

Mrs Harry
Document No. 2
Page 11

Washington County
District of Columbia   Sct
appeared personally before me this [crossed out] a justice of the
peace for the County aforesaid, George Beckwith a pensioner of the Revolutionary War aged 77 years who being duly sworn, deposed & said that he
had been well acquainted with Richard Harry since the year 1777 & that
he knew him at the white plains and at Trenton & other places at
the north, that Harry returned home to Montgomery county from whence
he enlisted, before the expiration of his time, & and married Rachel Ligon in 1779 with
whom he remained but a  very short time and proceeded on
to the south, when he remained until after the surrender of Cornwallis
and until the expiration of his enlistment, that then he returned home
& settled with his wife the pension applicant, to whom he was legally
married by Parson Hunt in the year 1779 on a farm of Warren
McGruder Father in the County of Montgomery, when he remained until his
death, raised a large family, all of which time I knew both him & his
wife Rachel, as he the deponent settled in the same county, the deponant
will not speak positively as to the company of to which Harry belonged, but 
thinks it was Thos J Betty of Smallwoods Regt he himself belonged to [faint] Capt George [illegible] comp'y
formed from Fredk County, Maryl'd but his intimate acquaintance
with Harry from the period before mentioned justifies him unequivocally
in the declaration that Harry served many years in the regular army
that he was married long before the expiration of his service, [faint] September
11th [faint] September 1837
George Beckwith

[faint] Washington County
District of Col  Sct
this day personally appreared
Page 12


before me John D Clark Justice of the Peace [inserted] in & for said County
George Beckwith
 a respectble & [dependable?] Witness and
made oath in due form of law to the truth
of the forgoing deposition & subscribed the same
[crossed out] George Beckwith
John Clark D Peace
Page 13

Rachel Harry
Dist Col'a
--
Suspended
--
See letter 11th
June 1838 to Thos
W Cost Johnson
let to W S Allison April 4 1843
do. to same May 16. 1843
" " " July 24 "
" " " Sep 16 "
" " " Nov. 3 "
" " " Apl 27, 1844
Act 4 July 1836
Page 14

WIDOW, &c.
File No. 2440

Rachel Harry
Wid of
Richard Harry
P Sir-
---
Act: July 7th 1838
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 318
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

I have known John Harry from his boyhood he is a sober, industrious
and as I believe, a most truthful man having always sustained that
character. As an evidence of my confidence in him, he has, at my suggestion,
been appointed the Collector of Tolls, at Tenally town, for the Washington Turn
Pike Company, over whose affairs I preside.
A.D. 1843
Given under my hand this 8th Decemb'r
Nathan Sufborough

Dist. Columbia-
Washington County towit
On this 8th Dec'r 1843 Nathan Lufborough above
named appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace
in and for the County aforesaid, and made oath to the truth of the facts
above stated under his signature to the best of his knowledge and belief.
J A Stull
Page 16


Georgetown D.C. Dec 11. 1843
Sir
Enclosed is the affidavit of
Nathan Loufborough Esq at to the credibility
 of one of the witnesses in the
case of Mrs Rachel Harry of this
Dist act 7 July 1838, W. Brewer in one of
his letters on file states the date
the act of Maryland authorizing the
raising two Battallions [sic] for (I think)
nine months from the spring of 1780,
to one of which the record evidence
shows that the claimants husband
belonged. Mr Brewer gives it as his
opinion that the payment made
was a balance due and there is one
witness, a pensioner, who served
with Harry who swears to seven
months service. It is within my
knowledge that a number of claims
have been allowed for said service
some to the Commiss'n himself, and for
the whole of the nine months, under all the
circumstances I hope that a
Page 17

favorable decisions will now be
had in the case
I am respectfully
your Ob't Ser't
Wm L Allison

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commiss'r of Pensions
Page 18

Washington March 6, 1845
Sir
I am authorized by the
heirs [crossed out] children
of Mrs Rachel Harry to accept
a pension for six months service [illegible]
under act 7 July 1838, Dist of Col'a
Wm L Allison

J. L. Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions,
Page 19

2597
Rachel Harry
Dis't Col'a

T. Sangster
Pres't
Sept 15
Page 20

Washington County
District Columbia  S.S. 
On this 30 day of June 1837 personally appeared before
me John A Clark a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid Mrs Winifred
Allen aged about 83 years & made oath in due form of Law that she was well
and intimately acquainted with Richard Harry & his wife Rachel Harry
since the Revolutionary war, that she was Winifred Allen lived with Parson
Hunt in Montgomery County, soon after the war, M + Ms Harry lived
near and she was often at the House of said Harry, and knew them to be man
and wife, that they raised a large family of children 7 or 8. Respectably that
they were good people and highly esteemed by all the neighbors, she further
States that Richard Harry was out in the war of the Revolution for a length
of time, in the Regular army. she has not seen Rachel Harry for about 40
years untill this day when she was introduced for the purpose of making
proof in her behalf, which she does unhesitatingly says that she is the wife
of Rich'd Harry who was in the Regular Army of the Maryland Line.
that she was often at the House and cut out clothes for her sons & their
father. She emphatically reports that they were respectably & notoriously
understood to be man and wife 
given under her hand the day and
date above written.-
Winifred Allen
District of Columbia to wit
Washington County
On this 30th June 1837 before me the Subscribed
Justice of Peace in and for said County
Personally appeared Winifred Allen a Disinterested
& credible witness and made oath on
the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that the
above statement is true in all particulars
---
Subscribed and Sworn before
John R. Clark J Peace
-
Page 21

July 29 1843
Mr Richard Harry
Dis't of Col'a
art 38 [illegible]
[stamped ANNAPOLIS Md JUL 27]

[below]
W S Allison
Pres't

mail
William S Allison Esq
Washington City
District of Columbia
Page 22

Land Office Annapolis, 27th July, 1843
Dear Sir,
I have just received your letter of the 26th Inst, and
In reply have to state, That I find upon a list or roll of
discharged Soldiers of two Battalions of Militia raised to serve
in the Continental Army in the year 1781, the name of Richard
Harry or Harvey, to have received L10. 5s, and 0d and to have been 
discharged on the 3rd of December, 1781, These Battalions of militia, were raised under an act of Assembly of May Session 1781,
ch'r 15, to serve until the 10th of December, 1781, and were in service
I should presume some six or seven months, the name of Robert
Beall,
I do not find upon the roll, but the name of Harey
entered as above Richard Harry or Harvey, whether it was
intended for Richard Harry or not, I am unable to say, but 
I do not find the name of Richard Harry upon any of the
Militia rolls, - the amount paid Richd Harry or Harvey at the time
of his discharge, I presume was the balance of pension due
at the time of his discharge on the 3rd Decr 1781. 
I can furnish you with a certificate of Richard Harey or
Harvey, if you desire it
very respectfully,
Yr obt ser
G. G. Brewer,

William S. Allison, Esqr
P.S. I do not know what other person you could write to in
Calvert, for information respecting the marriage of Mr Hall, except
the Clerk of the County, Mr Hanes
---
G. G. Brewer,
Page 23

District of Columbia
Washington County
Ss
Whereas it would appear
from the records of the pension office
that a pension certificate has been
issued entitling
the children of Mrs
Rachel Harry
decd to a pension of
twenty dollars per annum, in September
last, I hereby testify that neither said
children or myself have ever received
said certificate 
In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 20
the
day of March 1845
Wm Allison
Sworn & Subribe
before me
C DC R Beth J.P.
Page 24

Pension Office,
May 16. 1863.

Sir,

I have examined the claim presented by you on behalf
of the children of Rachel Harry, deceased, who was the widoe of Richard
Harry: and I find the following objections to the claim:

1. Rachel Harry, in June 1837, swore that she was married
to Richarry Harry at least two or three years before the surrender of Cornwallis; 
yet Richard Harry, the son of the deceased, swears that his parent
were married in March 1786. The son could not have known, except from
hearsay, or from some record, when they were married. Perfect accuracy
could not have been expected, and therefore recourse was had to the
Family Record; but the entries in the book which is exhibited are
not more to be relied on that the affidavits, for if the record had been in
existence in 1837, why did not Rachel Harry refer to it. The book being in possession 
of the daughter furnishes no sufficient reason for not resorting to it. I cannot by
satisfied with such proof. No one pretends to say in whose hand the entries are made.

2. There is no satisfactory proof that Richard Harry served so long as six
months. It appears from the certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Annapolis
that a man of that name received £10.5 for militia service; but that sum
paid for little more than three months service.
I cannot allow the claim.
I am respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt.
J.L Edwards

Mr William S. Allison,
Present,
Page 25

March 21, 35

Dear Sir,
Will you have a
duplicate certificate issued
for Mrs Harry so that I 
can get it tomorrow.
I shall be placed in the
most distressing circumstances
if I do not get some
of my claim acted on soon
If you can possibly do so
you will do me the greatest
favor by taking this up.
The last evidence in the case 
of Mrs Mersereau has a letter
of her husband and Gordon's
History of N. Jersey with a letter
of mine. Now am I to [illegible] a
Mr Schoukican.
I am very Wm S Allison
J. L. Edwards Esq
Page 26

Oct 9. 1843
Rachel Harry
L. Col
Act 7 July 1838

[upside down on the page follows]

[round black stamp inscribed as follows: ANNAPOLIS MD SEP 28]

William S Allison, Esqr
George Town
District of Columbia

mail

[back to original page orientation, below]

W.S. Allison
Prest.
Page 27

Land Office, Annapolis, 28th Septr. 1843.

Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 26th Inst. I have just recieved, Enclosed,
I send you a certificate or copy under seal of office, from the
record as the name of Richard Harey or Harvey, appears upon the
roll. as to my opinion, which you desire, I gave it to you
in my last letter and can do nothing more. there can be no doubt
upon looking at the roll, that the amount paid Richd. Harey
or Harvey, was a balance due him, and not for the whole of
his service, because upon the same roll, soldiers discharged the
same day, some appear to have received more and some less. the
act of Assembly, to which I also refered you in my last letter
of 1781, [illegible] 15, will shew that the two battalions of militia
mentioned in the certificate, were housed to serve until the 10th
of Decr. 1781, which from the time of the draft, would make
about seven months.
(In haste) I am respectfully,
Yr. Obd. St
G.G. Brewer

Wm. S. Allison, Esqr.
Page 28

Mrs [illegible]

[round black stamp inscribed as follows: ANNAPOLIS MD DEC 1]
10
Francis A. Dickins, Esqr.
Washington City,
District of Columbia

mail
Page 29

[illegible] 3d Dec 1837
1344
Land Office, Annapolis, 1st December, 1837.
I hereby certify, that by "an Alphabetical List of discharged
Soldiers of the two Battalions of Militia, raised to serve in the
Continental Army in the year 1781," remaining in this office,
That the name of Richard Harey or Harvey, appears upon
said List to have received £10,5, and was discharged the 3rd of
December, 1781, -
George G. Brewer,
Regr. Land Off. W.S. Md

Dr Sir,
Above, I send you a certificate from the rolls of the
revolution, in the case of Richd Harey, as requested in your's of
29th ultimo, the name is entered upon the roll Harey or Harvey,
I do not find the name of Harry upon any of the rolls, - the
above is all the evidence the rolls afford of his service
Very respectfully y[illegible]
G. G. Brewer

Francis A. Dickins, Esqr.
Page 30

State of Maryland Sct
I George G. Brewer, Register of the Land Office
of the State of Maryland, do hereby certify, that there is deposited
in and belonging to the office aforesaid, a certain record
book, and that the said record book in the first page thereof,
under the caption of "An Alphabetical List of discharged
Soldiers of the two Battalions of Militia raised to serve in the
Continental Army in the year 1781," contains among others,
the following entry to wit.

| Names | Discharged | Sum's paid. |
| Richard Harey or Harvey | 3d Decr. 1781 | £10,,5,,0 |

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed my official seal,
this 28th day of September,
1843.
George G. Brewer
Regr. Land Off. Md.,
Page 31

State of Maryland Montgomery County
2nd day of June 1838 personally appears before me
a Justice of the peace for the county aforesaid, James Day aged
76 or about, a respectable and disinterested witness, who being
duly Sworn agreeable to Law, depozed and Said that
he was acquainted with Richard Harry and Rachel Lingo
whose marriage he attended at the house of Carson Hunts of
Said county, and from refference to his (said days) family record,
age of his eldest son, and other circumstances, he and
has reasons to believe that the marriage of Richard Harry &
Rachel Lingo took place previous to the year Seventeen
Hundred & Eighty, and recognise the present applicant
to be the woman that Richard Harry married ~ and
further this deponent saith not ~
James Day
Sworn to and subscribed before me a Justice of the peace
the day and date above
Evan Thompson

Being familiar with the hand writing
of James Day, I have no hesitancy in
saying that I recognise in the above
name his won signature - I also
know Evan Thompson to be one of
the Justices of the Peace of Montgomery
County Maryland
Wm Cost Johnson
June 9th 1838

I have very great confidence in
the accuracy of W. Days statement
as he is a man of high integrity and
I have found on other occasions that his
statements in relation to events of
Page 32

the Revolution very accurate &
corroborated by other
evidence, both documentary &
otherwise -
Wm Cost Johnson
Page 33

affadavit
of R. Besde
in case of Mr Harry
Rachel Harry ded
Act 38

W.S. Allison
Prest.
June 3d 1843
Page 34

District of Columbia }
Washington County } Ss.
Personally appeared
before me Charles R. Bell a Justice
of the Peace for said county, John O. Harry
of said county, aged between thirty two and
thirty three years, who being first duly
sworn according to law, deposeth and saith
that he is the grandson of Richard
and Rachel Harry, that his father
Thomas Harry was their oldest child,
I further depose that at the time 
my grandmother made application
for a pension, she resided and made
her home with a daughter in Washington
City, which daughter is now dead.
That the family records produced in
support of my grandmothers claim
to a pension in March or April last
was delivered to me by my Aunt Mrs
Creamer, and that I then examined it
and the record therein contained of
my father Thomas Harry's births and
the records of the births of my uncles
and aunts I believe to be correct.
I lived with my grandfather when a boy, (my
father having died when I was about ten years
of age,) and to the best of my belief the
record was made by him and was afterwards
given to my Aunt Mrs Creamer, When a
boy I frequently heard my grandfather speak
of his service in the revolutionary war, and
particularly of being at Yorktown at the 
time of the surrender of Cornwallis.
I further depose that my Aunt Mrs
Page 35

Creamer has always lived in
Montgomery County. I further depose
that in March last I went to see
Mr Robert Beall, a Revolutionary pensioner
to procure his testimony as to
the service of my grandfather, they
having served together, but owing to
a difficulty in getting a magistrate
to go to his house to take his
deposition, his testimony has not yet
been obtained, but will be, it is
believed, in two or three days.
John O Harry
Sworn and subscribed
this twentieth day of May
A.D. 1843. before me,
Chs R. Belt J.P.

I hereby certify that John O Harry
who has given the foregoing testimony
is a credible witness, I have been
well acquainted with him from
boy
Chs R Belt J.P.
Page 36

District of Columbia
Washington County ] SS

Personally appeared before me [Chs R Boh?] a Justice of the Peace in said county, Robert L . [Booll?] aged eigthy years, who being first duly sworn according to law testifies that he was well and intimately acquainted with Richard Harry during the revolutionary war and had a personal knowledge of his service in 1781 as follows: that early in that year he and others with Richard Harry were drafted to serve nine months; that they were marched from Georgetown D. Col. under Capt Selman to Annapolis and were there placed under the command of Captain [Symon? ]that after remaining there some considerable time but saw said Harry was marched with his company for Yorktown. I did not go with our company to Yorktown, having been furloughed at the time the company was marched there but [?] the said Harry immediately after his discharge which was in December, 1781, after having served at least seven months. I was well acquainted with said Harry for that time to the time of his death, and know
Page 37

his family.

Sword and subscribed this twenty second day of Mary A.D. 1843

[signed] Robert L. Beall

before me [Ch. R. Boh?] J.P.
I hereby certify that I have known [?] for many years and [believe?] him to be a credible witness in any case.
[Ch. R. Boh?] J.P. 

Affidavit of R. Bealle in case of [Mc Henry?]

Rachel Harry [ded?]
Act 38

W. S. Allison
[P?]
June 3, 1843.
Page 38


Addl proof
Rachel Harry
W.S. Allison
Pres
May 3d 1843
Page 39

District of Columbia
Washington County

On this third day of May A.D. 1843, personally appeared before me Thomas Holtzman - a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid Mrs. Eliza Creamer who being first duly sworn according to the law doth state that she is forty years of age and is the daughter of Mrs Rachel Harry, who applied for a pension under Act of 4 July 1836, as the widow of Richard Harry, dec'd. She further states that the Prayer Book containing the ages of her brothers and sisters and herself and which has been exhibited in support of the claim to a pension of the children of said Rachel Harry under Act 7 July 1838 has been known to her before her marriage, and she has been married at least twenty years under the records of the births of her brother and sisters and herself were all made in said Book as they appear therein from before the time of her first knowledge of said Book. The said Book was delivered by me to my nephew John Harry
Page 40

of Tenleytown, and by him presents to Judge Cranch, as evidence, and there deposited in the pension office.

Sworn and subscribed the day & year before written before me.
[signed] Eliza Creamer.

Ths Holtzman, J. Peace

District of Columbia
County of Washington ] to wit
This will certify that I have known Mrs. Eliza Creamer the person who has signed the foregoing affidavit for several years past and that she is of worthy character and of good standing in Society and a credible witness.
Ths Holtzman, J. Peace