Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9,387, Joseph Drake, Md.
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(3 - 1776 )
SERVICE                                                   NUMBER
Md.               Drake, Joseph                     S.9387
Born in N.J.                                             carded.
CONTENTS
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Ohio                 31.104

Joseph Drake
of Hamilton Co. in the State of Ohio
who was a Lieut in the cowpens comman
by Captain Walling of the regt comman
by Col.   in the Maryd mil
(crossed out) for six months.

( paper is torn on right hand side) 

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio.
at the rate of 80 Dollars _ Cents per annum
to commence of the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension ifsued the 22d day of May 1831 and sent to John Probasco jr Lebanon

Arrears to the 4th of March 1831         $480-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 31       40-
                                                              $520-
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1831
Recorded by Wm Allison Clerk
Book  E 2 Bol. 8 Page 15
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33590
Joseph Drake
Pension Papers
Ohio

Admitted 
for six months
Sent
$80

J Probasco in 
Lebanon, Ohio
Page 4

State of Ohio Warren County Court of Common Pleas

On this 4th day of July 1836 personally appeared in open court Joseph Drake a new resident of Hamilton County but who in consequence of great age and infirmity now applies in Warren County being nearer his residence in being more intimately acquainted therein and state aforesaid who is now 88 or 89 years of age 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 act of congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the militia of Maryland and served under the following named officers: Capt. James Wolling, Colonel Davis he thinks his given name was Benjamin. Major Oerndoff. He served as first Lieutenant in Capt. Wollings company. He had a commission but does not from the great length of time which has lapsed recollect by whom it was signed but he knows that it was procured by Capt. Wolling. When he entered the service the first time he resided within six miles of Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland. He entered the army about the first of December two or three years before the close of the war. His company marched from Maryland to Philadelphia. They stayed nine days in Philadelphia then by orders of Gen Washington marched up into Delaware to Cornels Ferry crossed there into New Jersey. The company crossed the Brunswick River about 12 miles above the town of Brunswick marched from thence to Quibble town where they took up winter quarters. He states that his commission is lost or mislaid and he being blind cannot find it he thinks however it was lost. The company according to orders returned home in Maryland about the first of March ensuring that they were required to stand in readiness to do service when called so. The following spring the company was ordered under Capt. Wolling this applicant being first Lieutenant John Simpkins was ensign at the time to repair to Fort [illegible] in Maryland to guard the Fort and prisoners. The said [illegible] was called out about the first of May and remained until about the middle of August. The company was then ordered home again to stand in readiness but was not afterward called out. Soon after the war was closed, he removed to [illegible] in the state of Pennsylvania. He resided at [illegible] about 8
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years. From Sunattal he removed to the Limeston County, and thence to what is now Ohio, He lived opposite the town of Columbus about two or three years from thence he removed to what is now Warner County, where he has resided until 3 or four years and now lives in the edge of Harriton County Ohio. The applicant states that every office who commanded in said company is dead and he further states that so far as he knows every private of the company is dead. He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
Sworn to and subscribed the and year aforesaid
J. Widd Clk
Joseph his x mark Drake
Court of Common Pleas of Warren County Ohio
The Said Court of Common Pleas within and for the county and state aforesaid declare it to be their opinion and the above named applicant Joseph Drake was a revolutionary soldier and a Lieutenant in the service as he states, of this they are satisfied from an investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories as prescribed by the War Department. And the Court further certifies that Nicholas Scott and Edward Drake who are residents of Warren County and whose affidavits were taken in this out of credibility of Joseph Drake are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
The State of Ohio}
Warren County} I Jonathan K. Wilds clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County do hereby certify that the prece-ding contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Drake for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand  & seal of office at Leberson this 8th day of July 1836
J, K Eillis clk

[bottom of page, upside down]
on this 4th day July 1836 personally appeared
Page 6

Q Where and in what year were you born?
A. I was born in Somerset County New Jersey, the precise year I cannot recollect
Q. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it
A. I have no other record than my Father's Bible. My Father died on the Juniatta river Pen. and I presume the Bill is there.
Q. How were you called into the serivce
A. I was taken in the company too which I belonged the compa-nies took their turns regularly. I was drafted of taking the companiesin turn amount to a draft.
Q. State the names of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served; such continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect, and they general circumstances of your service.
A. I recollect the cicumstances particularly as stated in my declaration. The names of Capt Wolling. Collonel Davis, Major Verndall that we proceeded from Maryland to Philadelphia from the city to Quibbletown where we took up winter quarters, and that we were sent to guard the fort and prisoner in Fort Frederick
Q. Did you ever recieve a commission and if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it.
A. I did recieve a first sentence & commission but have lost or misplaced it but think I have lost it.
Q. State the persons to whom you are known in your neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity.
A. Nicholas and Edward Drake my nephew Mr. Foster and others if necessary.
Q. Where were  you living when you entered the service where have you and since the Revolutionary war and where do you
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9387
INVALID.
9387
Joseph Drake
Let. Rev. War
June 7th 1832
Vol. 1, Page 102
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 9

33.590
Ohio
Joseph Drake
Letter to Geo. G. Brewer
22. July.1836.
Let 4 Aug 1836
[unintelligible]
do. 29 Nov 1836
do. 15 March 37
do. 8 [unintelligible] 1837
Page 10

Jos Drake
[unintelligible postmark]
Aug 30
mail
FREE
Geo. Wm. [unintelligible]
[unintelligible] of  [unintelligible]
Washington [unintelligible]
D.C.
Page 11

Land Office, Annapolis, August 1st, 1836
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 22nd ultimo, I have to inform you, that I have carefully examined the records of the revolution in this office, and they afford no evidence of the services of Joseph Drake, who says he served in the Maryland Militia as first Leutenant,
I am respectfully,
[unintelligible signature]
G. G. Brewar
Geo. Wm. [unintelligible], Sgt
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Lebanon                                       Free
July 8th

Hon. Lewis Cass
Sec. of War
Washington City

Pension Office
July 14
Ohio
Original

Partial Text at Top:
... to
... partment, 
... 1832
... aterial
... Pension
... more
... proper
... the 
... on
... log
... [illegible] of
... [illegible] and
... himself
... assist him
... [illegible] poor
... in his
... [illegible] has
... [illegible]
... ant
Page 13

Ohio
Lebanon July 8th 1836
Sir,
Enclosed I send the papers in relation to the application of Josehp Drake to the department, of War for a pension under the law of 1836
I think he has complied in every thing material with the law and the regulations of the Pension Office. But of this the Commissioner is the more competent judge. One thing I [unintelligible] it proper to state since it has not been set out in the declaration of the applicant it is the reason why he has delayed his application this long  Heretofore he has not needed the assistance of the government being in good circumstances and feeling that so long as he could support himself he would not call upon his country to assist him But his condition is changed and he is now poor. We therefore consider it his duty to ask in his neccessitous condition for that which Congress has thought proper to confer upon  those who were [unintelligible] [unintelligible] in our Revolutionary contest.  Though unknown to you I cannot but state that to an extreme old age the applicant has sustained the highest character for honor [unintelliglble] integrity.
Yours respectfully
[unintelligible]
Hon. Lewis Cap
Page 14

Land Office, Annapolis, November 14th 1836,

Dear Sir, 

Your letter of the 6th [illegible], directed to The Secretary of State, has been handed me, in which you request information in relation to the services of Joseph Drake, a Soldier of the Revolution. I have carefully examined the rolls and find the name of Jos. Drake upon a roll of the Washington County Militia, to have been appointed a Second Lieutenant in Captain Patterson's Company in the Second Battalion, on the 21st of November 1780. The roll however does not show how long he was in service. I am therefore unable to furnish you with nothing more than the date of his appointment or Commission. The rolls relating to the Militia are very important, and they afford no evidence whatever as to the length or nature of the service performed. I have therefore given you above all the information that can be obtained from the records in this office.

[illegible]

I am respectfully,
[illegible]
George G. Brewer
[illegible]

John Probasco, [illegible]
Page 15

Text at top: 
[illegible]

Text at left:
[illegible] May 20
Jos. Drake
Ohio [illegible]?

Free

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Com. of Pensions
Washington City
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Lebanon May 13th 1837

Sir

Yours of the 8th [illegible] was received last evening communicating to me the intelligence that you could not allow the claim of Joseph Drake because in his original declaration he is supposed to have stated that he served but 5 1/2 months. I know that you have been mistaken in the length of service and the facts stated in your letter show it. I apprehend you could not have read the letter perhaps in consequence of he multiplicity of your [illegible]. Such things must often occur and you will be convinced from a reexamination of your letter to me and of the declarations of the  applicant that such is the fact. Instead of a discrepancy you will find the utmost consistency in the statements of Mr. Drake. You state in your letter that the applicant in his original declaration states that he was called out about the 1st December 1776 and returned home about the 1st March. December January and February are three months the same length
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of time sworn to in his last amended declaration of these three months there can to no doubt. Let us examine the second tour. As to this tour your letter says "That about the 1st of May 1777 he was again called out and returned home about the middle of August. and it is very erroneously concluded that the second tour added to the first makes only 5 1/2 months. If he entered the first of May you would of course count May. June. July. to the middle of August which would make 3 months and fifteen days. so that insted of 5 1/2 months your letter makes the time 6 1/2 months. In his second amended declaration he states that he served 3 months and 21 days The only difference in his declarations is about 5 or 6 days. By referring to your last letter to me you will perceive the mistake and of hope we will be put to no further trouble about it. From my knowledge of the man I would believe any thing he would state and I think you cannot hesitate to allow a pension on the evidence now on file in your office. Please to return me an answer as soon as possible as I expect to be under the necessity of leaving home for one or two months in about
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fifteen or twenty days.  I am satisfied the certificate would not have been delayed this long if your letter to me had not been hastily written as I suppose by a clerk in the Department and without calculating the time
Yours respectfully
J. Probasco jr
J. L. Edwards Esq

[fragment]
[?]app
etter poste
Page 19


Ohio Nov 28   [at right angles at top of page left]

Lebanon Nov. 22nd }

Free

J. L. Edwards Com of Pensions
Washington City
Page 20

Lebanon this Nov 22nd 1836
Sir

In your letter of August 4th I understand
your objection to granting a pension to Joseph
Drake to be insufficient evidence of his having
received a commission to fill up that deficiency
in our proff many inquiries have been made but none have a personal knowledge of the fact. But hearsay testimony is abundant
To ascertain whether a commission had been
issued to him I addressed a letter to the
Sec of State Maryland which was handed to
the Regs. [illegible] Office who informs me that after having carefully examined the rolls he finds the name of Joseph Drake upon a roll of the Washington county militia that he was appointed second Lieutenant in
the second Battalion on the 21st
of November 1780. The roll does not state how long he was in the service and does not furnish us with any other fact than the date
of his appointment of commission He states moreover that the rolls are
very imperfect and afford no evidence of the length of service as I infer from your letter that in other
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things the proff is sufficiently full to entitle him to a pension as a common soldier and that the defect in the proff of his commission is all that is wanting to entitle him as an officer. I wish therefore to know of you if the statements made as appearing on the Rolls of the State of Maryland are sufficient according to the rules prescribed by the Department  Without you should so determine we are unable to prove it by direct testimony and if it is you will inform me as your regulations do not point out the manner in what manner a copy of the rolls should be authenticated to be admitted by you. If the letter of the officer is sufficient I will enclose it immediately and if not I will persue whatever practicable method you may be pleased to suggest But if such evidence would be insufficient I presume you would from your letter have no hesitancy in granting him a pension as a common soldier if so you will furnish us with the proper authority so that he may present his certificate to the Agency and receive his money This last suggestion I make with consulting the applicant as he lives at a distance and is blind and so infirm that it is with great difficulty he is conveyed from one place to another. But I do it knowing that even the pittance of a common soldier would be gratefully received by him in his present situation. Please reply to this immediately
Yours respectfully
John Probasco, jr

J. L. Edwards, Esq
Page 22

State of Ohio   }
Warren County } ss

On this 10th day of January eighteen hundred and thirty seven Joseph Drake in person appeared before Abraham Phillips an acting Justice of the Peace for the County and State aforesaid the Court of Common Pleas for said County not now being in session and the applicant being too aged and infirm to attend said Court if it were in session, who first being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make this declaration in addition to one heretofore made and on file in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions. That he entered the service of the United States under the officers named in the first declaration and served as herein stated that he was cauled into actuel service about the first of Decr. and returned about the first of March following with orders to hold him self in readiness to march at a minuet warning if cauld upon. and was cauled out the 2nd time about the first of May the next year and was orderd home sometime in August & allowing with orders to stand in readiness to march at Minuet warning if cauld upon

And he further states that the season he did not before make application to the department for a pension is that he was blind at the time of the Enactments of the Act and did not know that the Millitia men could apply under the act for two or three years after the passage of the act.  as soon as he was informed that he was intitled to a pension he endevered to have it attended to was not able to attende to it him self and could not git any person
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sooner to attend to it for him
As before stated he relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State
Sworn to and subscribed this 10th day of January 1837
Abraham Phillips J.P.

The State of Ohio }
Warren County     } ss
I Jonathan K. Wilds clerk of the court of Common Pleas within & for the County aforesaid certify that Abraham Phillips Esq who appears to have taken the above declaration and Joseph Smithers who appears to have taken the annexed affidav it were at the dates they were taken & now are acting Justices of the peace duly commissioned & sworn into office as such for the County aforesaid I further certify that the signatures to said papers are the genuine signatures of the said Abraham & Joseph ---
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court at Lebanon this 28th Jany 1837
J. K. Wilds   clk
[paper covered seal to left of signature]
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owt [handwritten initials upper left corner] 
State of Ohio    } 
Warren County }
 In the matter of Joseph Drake, Application for a Pension 

Personally appeared in open Court Isaac Miller who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is now seventy five years of age. Deponent states that he knew Joseph Drake living near Hagerstown Maryland and near Hughes Furnace he states that he and Joseph Drake were living in the same neighborhood when they were young men and that Joseph Drake is some years older than himself deponent states that he was 2nd Lieutenant in Captain Benjamin Prices company towards the close of the Revolutionary war but does not recollect the superior officers except that the company was for a time under the command of the Commander in Chief Gen Washington. Deponent states that he was living in the same neighborhood with Capt. Wolling has seen Capt. Walling commanding his company and knows that Joseph Drake commanded under him in the capacity of 1st Lieutenent. Deponent further states that he Joseph Drake was in the service during the whole time that he deponent served which deponent states was four months. Deponent states that it his belief that Joseph Drake served a greater length of time their he deponent did, but how much longer deponent cannot state. Deponent states that the companies commanded by Captain Benjamin Price and Capt Wolling were marching at the same time to join the army when they received information of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and that when they received that information they were ordered to return and both companies were disbanded at Hagerstown, and that Joseph Drake was in the company of Capt. Wolling but that afterwards they were required to gaurd prisoners at Fort Cumberland. Deponent does not recoll[ect]
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[recoll]ect whether Joseph Drake was with them at Fort Cumberland Deponent states that he never saw but has frequently heard that Joseph Drake had a Commission and believes it to a true from his serving as 1st Lieutenant. Deponent states that he has known Joseph Drake ever since that time and that he now resides in Warren County or near the County line near a place called twenty mile [??mill] stand, and deponent also states that the said Joseph Drake has uniformly sustained a good character for integrity and veracity and further deponent saith not
Isaac Miller
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court 11th April 1837
J. K. Wilds Clk
Page 26

State of Ohio    }
Warren County  }
The amended Declaration of Joseph Drake an applicant for a Pension
 
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid Joseph Drake who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and 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 grade In the first tour I served in the army of the revolution for three months and twenty one days In the second tour I served for the space of three months and ____  days.  and of served as a first Lieutenant as stated in my declaration under Captain Wolling and for such service I claim a pension. The affiant states that after the first tour he was required to stand in readiness to enter the service when called upon and the same requisition was made when the company was dismissed at the close of the second tour but was not called in afterwards. Deponent states that by reason of such requisition he lost much time
Joseph his x mark Drake
Sworn to and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace for Warren County on this 19th day of April 1837
Joseph Smithers  JP
Page 27

The State of Ohio  }
Warren County   } ss
I Jonathan K Wilds Clerk of the Court of Common pleas in & for said County do certify that Joseph Smithers Esqr, who appears to have taken & signed the aforegoing affidavit of Joseph Drake to the within declaration is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for said County that his Commission bears date the 24th day of May 1834 & will expire on the 23d day of May 1837 & that his signature as within written is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Lebanon this 22nd day of April AD 1837
J. K. Wild  clk

[paper covered seal at right of signature]
Page 28

State of Ohio   }
Warren County } 

Court of Common Pleas of the Term
of April 1837 -
Application of Joseph Drake for a
Pension &c

Personally appeared in Open Court - Thomas Pugh, David Loucks, Jacob Vanschoyck, Isaac Pigeon, Jacob Hester & Henry Sherwood who being duly sworn severally say they have resided in Warren County Ohio, 15 years that they are well acquainted with Isaac Miller, that they have known him 15 years during which time he has resided in said Warren County, that they believe him to be a man of truth & veracity & entitled to Credit as a witness ---
Isaac Pigeon
Jacob his x mark Vanschoyck
David his x mark Loucks
Henry Sherwood
Thomas Pugh
Jacob his x mark Hester

Sworn & affirmed to & subscribed in open Court 15th April 1837 & affirmed to & subscribed
J. R. Wilds   cle
Page 29

[ignored words on edge sheet underneath that were showing]

Free

J. S. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington City

[illegible] Jany 29

[at right angle to page]
Feb 4
Ohio
Allison 
Joseph Drake
Page 30

Lebanon Jan 29th 1837
Sir
Yours of the 29th November has been received informing me that a more particular statement of the first tour of Joseph Drake should be given I sent your letter to the applicant who has endeavored to supply the deficiencies in his first declaration as you will percieve by the additional declaration with the affidavit of Mr.  Mocker appended to it. Whether he has removed the obstacles suggested in your letter is a matter of which you alone can judge. If the evidence we have brought forward is insufficient he will be unable ever to procure the pension which no one in this country doubts he is justly entitled to.  In my last I enquired of you whether the letter of the Register of the Land Office of Maryland would be evidence of Mr. Drake having received a commission. At the time I wrote you supposed that Capt. Patterson the person named in the letter was the commandant of the company in which Mr. Drake served as 1st Lieutenant. In this I find I am mistaken. The applicant states that Patterson had been the captain of the Militia in the neighborhood and that he was a second lieutenant under him but that Patterson never was in the service in consequence of some inability that Wolling was made captain and that he was promoted to the 1st Lieutenancy. I herewith send you the letter of Mr Brewar by which you will perceive that the statement of Drake being a second lieutenant in that Company is true.  If you cannot under the law grant him a Lieutenants pension the applicant instructs me though with much reluctance to ask you to give him the pension of a soldier
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I must be permitted to express my opinion that the applicant has given as clear and satisfactory proof of his service and commission as from the great length of time could possibly be expected. It would seem that the department requires the same particularity of proof that courts of justice demands.  This after a lapse of 56 years we are able to procured; to require it would in the language of the directions you have been pleased to send me be to deprive many of the benefit of the law We have stated the time of his entering the service as near as possible: to state the day of entering and the particular day of leaving the service would require a memory more retentive that men are usually found to possess. We have proved by Mrs Worley a very aged woman that he was in the service as he states and that he had a commission and we now prove by Mrs. Meeker another old lady that she has heard others besides the applicant say that he had a commission other witnesses have testified as to his unblemished character for veracity. His relatives have been at much trouble and labor in procuring testimony and have almost by accident discovered there old Ladies who resided in his immediate neighborhood in Maryland. We have therefore in all human probability shown you all our proffs and these proffs we think are as full as are required by the rules of your department. If any doubt should remain with you I think the honorable Thomas Corwin is acquainted with Mr. Joseph Drake and would be able to satisfy you that he maintains an irreprochable character. Whatever may be your decision on the case as it now stands you will relieve the old gentleman from much anxiety by immediately communicating it to me
Yours respectfully
John Probasco jr
of S. Edwards  C of P.
Page 32

The State of Ohio  }
Warren County   }
before me Joseph Smithers one of the acting justices of the peace within and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Elizabeth Meeker who after being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that she was acquainted with Joseph Drake in the State of Maryland in Washington County near Hagerstown upwards of forty years ago and that she has been personaly acquainted with him ever since and that he now lives in the County of Warren and state of Ohio and this deponent saith that she has frequently heard the said Joseph Drake say that he had served as first Leutennant under Captain Wollin in the war of the Revelation in the united states of America and she has heard him say that he had a Commission as an officer and she has heard others say that he had a Commission and she verily Beleves that the said Joseph Drake was a Commission officer of the Revolution war
Elizabeth her x mark Meeker
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of January AD 1837  }
Joseph Smithers  }
Justice of the peace
Page 33

Lebanon
April 22
free

May 1
Ohio  Addl. p'ff

J. L. Edwards  Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 34

Lebanon Ohio   April 22nd 1837
Dr Sir
Enclosed are the additional evidence of the service of Joseph Drake whose original and amended declarations with the testimony, I have heretofore transmitted to the War Department. you will be convinced by the affidavit of Isaac Miller that Mr. Drake has not misrepresented the capacity in which he served and that all the statements of the applicant are substantially proven by Mrs Wooley, Mrs Meeker and Isaac Miller.  The additional statement of the applicant as to the claration of each tour of service is as full as the rules of the department require.  & from the papers in the case you think he is entitled to a pension you will direct the certificate to me or to Joseph Drake in my care or in any other manner so that I may be apprised of it and give him notice. An early attention to the claim will be agreeable as it has been defend for reason [illegible] [(sa]tisfactory to you) for a great length of time for things [of] this kind
Yours respectfully
John Probasco. jr
Page 35

State of Ohio   }
Warren County } ss
Before me Joseph Smithers a Justice of the Peace within and for Union Township Warren County this personally came Ann Worley who being duly sworn deposeth and says that she knows Joseph Drake to have been in the army of the Revolution and to have served as a first Lieutenant under her Father James Wolling who was Captain of the company.  She perfectly recollects that the company was called out twice the first time was in the fall of the year and they returned as the believes from New Jersey the following spring. She recollects that Perry McRoy was second Lieutenat. and that John Simpkins was ensign She knows that the company assembled in her fathers yard before their departure for Philadelphia, and that Joseph Drake was with them in the character of first Lieutenant and returned in the same She knows that the company was called out a second time and that the company of which her Father was Captain met with others at Hagerstown. Maryland and she thinks that they went thence to gaurd prisoners but where the prisoners were she does not know. She was living at that time with her Father about 6 miles from Hagerstown Maryland, Mr: Joseph Drake was living at that time in the neighborhood. These occurrences took place some two or three years before the close of the Revolutionary War. as deponent thinks but of this she cannot be positive. Deponent further states that ever since that time she has been intimately acquainted and knows him to be a man of irreproachable character for truth and veracity. Deponent has heard her Father Capt. James Wolling state that Joseph Drake was a first Lieutenant and that he had a commission. Deponent states that she thinks she has frequently seen the commission of Mr. Joseph Drake Deponent states that the reason she did not appear at the Court of Common Pleas at the term at which Mr. Joseph Drake made his declaration for the purpose of procuring a pension was that being aged and infirm
Page 36

being about 77 years of age she did feel able to undergo the fatigues of the side
Ann her X mark Worley
Sworn to and subscribed this 7th day of July before me }
Joseph Smith  J.P }

I Joseph Smithers. a Justice of the Peace within and for Union Township Warren County Ohio do certify that the above named deponent Ann Worley who has fixed her mark to the above affidavit is a lady of the best character for the truth and that whatever she might say would be entitled to credit any where. and I further state that I have known M: Joseph Drake upwards of fifteen years and that since I have been acquainted with him he has sustained an unexceptionable character for truth and that I believe him to have been a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary Army from reports in the neighborhood and the statements of Mrs Ann Worley sometime since [illegible]
Joseph Smithers  J. P

State of Ohio  }
Warren County } ss
I Jonathan K. Wilds Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for the County aforesaid certify that Joseph Smithers who signed the above affidavit & certificate was at the time of the date thereof & now is an acting Justice of the peace for said County duly commissioned & sworn into office & that the above signatures purporting to be his are genuine --
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court aforesaid at Lebanon this 9th July 1836
J.K. Wilds  clk

[paper covered seal at left of signature]