Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,661, William Brown, Penn.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Penn.
Brown, William
NUMBER
S. 22,661
CONTENTS
S. Derry Co, Ireland.
res at [illegible], Westmoreland Co. Pa.  [?? there ??] in 1833 aged 70 yrs
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18.310
Pittsburgh
William Brown
Westmoreland in the State of Pennsylvania
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Clark of the Reg. commanded
by Col. Hand in the Pa. [illegible]
line for 14 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
[at] the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
[to] commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

[cer]tificate of Pension issued the 10 day of August
1839 and sent to 
J.J. Young,  Greensburgh [Greensburg]

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833   $86.66
semi-anl. allowance ending [illegible]   21.66
[total] $108.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
[Re]corded by W. L. Williams   Clerk,
[Boo]k  E  Vol. 5 Page 72
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State of Pennsylvania  Westmoreland County  ss }
On this twenty seventh - day of May AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Honourable John Young and his Associates Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting William Brown a resident of Fairfield - Township in the County of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania aged Seventy years or more, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832- That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated-

This Declarant states that he was about seventeen or Eighteen years old when he first entered the service of the United States, and was then  drafted at Fort Ligonier in Westmoreland County and State aforesaid for a term of two months in what was called the "Squaw Campaign" under the command of Captain James Clark or Captain Samuel Shannon which of the two this declarant cannot now recollect - By reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he is unable to State the date and all the particulars of this service-

He states that he at present only recollects of leaving Fort Ligonier for Pittsburgh and there for the Indian Towns where we found but one Indian and squaw whom we killed, and then returned back to Pittsburgh where this Declarant was discharged-

This Declarant was again drafted at Fort Legonier for another term of two months as he thinks under the command of Captain Shannon or Clark. This Declarant cannot recollect the month or year of this tour. He was marched to Pittsburgh then to Wheeling, the particulars he cannot recollect- They returned to Pittsburgh where this Declarant was discharged and then returned to his home near Fort Ligonier - This Declarant was always a private

This Declarant enlisted in a company commanded by Matthew Jack for the term of six months - This said Company was attached to Colonel Brodheads Regiment - This Declarant cannot recollect the year or month when he enlisted, but that he was marched from Hannahstown to Pittsburgh then to Fort Kittanning then back to Pittsburgh when they joined the Army commanded by Colonel Brodhead, then were marched to Fort Kittanning
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thence up the Allegheny River - This Declarant cannot now recollect the nature of this service or any thing further respecting it- This Declarant received a written discharge at Pittsburgh as he believes from Captain Matthew Jack. He also states that he believes his discharge was a written one which he received when on the squaw Campaign also on the Wheeling campaign He further states that he has lost them how or when he does not now recollect. He never at that time deemed them of any importance

He again states that he was drafted and served a tour of two months at Wallace's Fort under the command of Lieutenant Moore It was about the time that Hannahs town was burned by the Indians He cannot recollect the month or year of the particulars of this service, except that he and Lieutenant Moore were the only persons that knew the way from Wallaces Fort to Colonel or General Hands Fort to which place this Declarant had to go twice a week until he showed the way to others. The distance was Eighteen miles-

He again was drafted and served at McCarney's Fort at or after the close of the Revolutionary war another term of two months under the command of Serjeant McCurdy - Colonel Henry commanded the Fort - The Indians were very troublesome on the frontiers when he served this his last tour. He cannot recollect of receiving a discharge in writing from the officers for the two last tours, but he remembers that he received nothing for the two last tours service-

He claims a pension for one year and two months service to wit two months under Shannon or Clark in the Squaw Campaign -- two months as he thinks under Shannon in the Wheeling Campaign Six months under Captain Jack - two months at Wallaces Fort - and two months at McCarney's Fort - making in all fourteen months-

This Declarant avows[??] these facts to be true, and states that he has no Documentary Evidence to establish them, and that knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service Except Captain Matthew Jack who has testified to a part of the same and whose testimony is herewith Exhibited to the Court -

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State - the Interrogatories prescribed by the war department follow with their answers [illegible]
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1st.  Where and in what year were you born?
Answer -  In the County of Derry in Ireland - dont' remember the year - My memory as well as light is nearly gone.
2d.  Have you any Record of your age and if so where is it?
Answer - Never had any, but think I am between seventy and seventy four years of age or thereabouts.

3d.  Where were you living when called into service, where have lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer - In Ligonier Valley in Westmoreland County of State of Penna. and have lived them since, and yet live there -

4th.  How were you called into service; were you Drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute? and if a substitute for whom?
Answer - This question is fully answered in the foregoing Declaration.

5th.  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 service?
Answer - The answer to this question is stated as fully as this declarant can recollect in his foregoing Declaration -

6th.  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Answer - The answer to this will be found in the foregoing Declaration -

7th.  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and good behaviour your services as a Soldier in the Revolution -
Answer - His Honor Judge Pollock, Peter Tosh, John[??] Blair Robert Piper, Alexander Blair  Reverend Samuel Swan and and Colonel Jacob D. Matthias [?? or Matthiat] --
William  his X mark  Brown

Sworn to subscribed this  day and year aforesaid
Randal McLaughlin  Prot.
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This Declarant gives as a reason of his having a Clergyman to the following Certificate the distance that the only clergyman who is well acquainted with lies from the County town and the interference of duties which prevent such attendance -

We William Ogden and Hugh Hammill both residing in Fairfield Township Westmoreland County & State of Pennsylvania hereby certify that we are acquainted with William Brown who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age or thereabouts that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in Revolution and that we concur in that opinion -
William Ogden
Hugh Hamill
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid-
Randal McLaughlin   Prot.

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 soldier of the Revolution and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that William Ogden who has signed the preceding Certificate is a resident of Fairfield Township in the County of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania and that Hugh Hamil who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Township County & State and that they are credible persons and that their Statement is entitled to full credit -- And further the Court certify that Captain Matthew Jack who has signed the following Deposition is a person of credibility and that Daniel McKown before whom the said Deposition was taken was at the date of the same and is now an acting Justice of the Peace in and for Westmoreland County duly commissioned and appointed and that his signature is genuine and in his own proper hand writing and that all his acts and Deeds are entitled to full faith and credit --

I Randal McLaughlin Prothonotary and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas Do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings in the matter of the application of William Brown for a Pension- In Testimony whereof I have hereunto hand and affixed the seal of my Office this twenty seventh day of May A.D. 1833-
Randal M Laughlin,  Prot.
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No. 26063
William Brown  Westmoreland County
Pennsylvania

Admitted
14 mos.

Joseph J Young  Greensburgh [Greensburg] Penna.
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,

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 compling [complying] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of William Brown Westmoreland County Pennsylvania
Period when the service was rendered.

           Duration of the claimant's service.
          Years.   Months.    Days.
Draft     -           2             -
Draft      -          2             -
Enlisted   -        6              -
Draft       -         2             -
Draft       -         2              -

Rank of the claimant.
private 
  "
  "
   "
   "
   "

Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Cap Clark or Cap Shanon
Same officers
Cap Jack, Col Broadhead
Lieut. Moore, Coln G L Hand
Sergt. McGurdy, Col Henry

Age at present, and place of abode
when he entered the service.
70 years
County of Westmoreland Pennsylvania

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary evidence and one witness
certified credible by the Court - papers
properly attached-

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

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 provision 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 entered 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 officers and persons 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 days 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 application 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
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 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 the 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 inquiry 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.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of 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 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 only sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, 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 that 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 authenticated 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.
[j] 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 name, as well as 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.
[drawing of pointing hand] 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 rule [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.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
DUREAU OF PENSIONS.
S. F. 22.661
Washington, D.C., ________, 19 __.

    In reply to your request of ______, received ____ for a statement of the military history of William Brown a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension in file in this Bureau. 
=============================
Dates of Enlistment of Appointment/Length of Service/Rank/Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered/State.

When 17 or 18 years old/2 mos/.Pvt/Captains Clarkson or Samuel Shannon in Squant Campaign/Penna.

" /2 mos/Pvt/Captains Shannon or Clark/-/-.

Spring 1779/6 mos/Pvt/Captain Matthew Black Colonel Broadhead/-.

" /2 mos/Pvt/Lieut Moore at Wallace's Fort/-.

" /2 mos/Pvt/at McCarney's Fort Henry/-.
============================
Battles engaged in, ___________

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland Co., Pa.

Date of Application for Pension, May 27, 1833, His cl. al.

Residence at date of application, Fairfield Twp, Westmoreland Co., Penn.

Age at date of application, 70 yrs born in Durey Cos. Ireland.

Remarks:  No data as to family.

                              Respectfully,

6-2836                   Commissioner.
Page 12

Revolution

22661
INVALID.

File No. 22,661
William Brown
Pri   Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 55

[Arrangement of 1870.]


1914 Mch. 10  Hist. to Alice C Truby
Letter in S. F. 22,284 Robt. Hanna
Page 13

(Pension Declaration)

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City 

GREEN[illegible]
JUN 

June 29
Pa
26062 [illegible] 3
Page 14

Greensburgh [Greensburg] Penna

My Dear Sir

Enclosed are the Declarations of Andrew Haslett and William Brown which I have the honor to forward you by request - 

After they have been acted on be pleased to communicate the result - 

Yours with much respect
Joseph J. Young

June 16th 1833
Page 15

J Y Barclay, Esqr
Greensburgh [Greensburg]

12 [illegible]

Address Joseph J. Young
Greensburgh [Greensburg]
Pennsylvania
Page 16

Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County ss

Captain Matthew Jack a Soldier of the Revolution & a person of Credibility on his oath declares that he knew William Brown in the Revolutionary War & still is acquainted with him - He Enlisted in a Company of Rangers (commanded by this [word crossed out] Deponent) in the Spring of 1779, for the Term of Six months - Accompanied deponent on Brodhead campaign - Served out his time faithfully & was honourably discharged - This Company of Rangers deponent raised by Order of Genl McIntosh, the Commanding at Pittsburgh - 
Matthew Jack

Sworn & Subscribed this 25th day of Febry, 1833 - Before me
Daniel McGown