Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11712, Henry Wells, Del.
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Del.
Wells, Henry
S11712
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[ illegible 'Tea Cir'] Apl 1 1837
Transportd Wheeling fr.
4 Mar 1837 -  Apl 12 - 37
[next page]
[illegible] in the State of
was a [illegible] 
in the Company commanded by 
Captain Carson of the [illegible]  commanded 
by Col Meade in the [illegible] 
line for
Delaware Line
[illegible] $8.0
26239

Inscribed on the Roll of [illegible] 
at the rate of 8 Dollars 0 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the [illegible] day of May
and Sent to [illegible] 

Arrears to the 4th of [illegible March? ] $240.00
Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept.  40.00 
$80.00 [total]
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832 

Recorded by [illegible] Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 5 Page 90
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Declaration of Henry Wells, in order to
obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress,
passed June 7th 1832
State of Pennsylvania in
Washington County
On this 29th day of January A.D. 1834 personally appeared
in Open Court before the Judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas now setting in and
for the County aforesaid and ^ Henry Wells aged seventy 
seven years past, 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 enlisted in the army of the
United States in the year 1776 (about
the 1st of September being then about 20 ys
& 6 : months old) under Captain - Carson
and Lieut Edward (commonly called Neddy)
Palk, and served in (not recollected) Regiment
of the Deleware line, under the following named
officers - This Regiment was commanded by Colonel
Thomas Hall and Major (James I think) Perry and
 other officers whose names I cannot now
recollect. At this time there were two or three other
Regiments ? in Delaware the whole of
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which were placed under the command
of Colonel afterwards General Anthony
Wayne Shortly after my enlistment the
Company in which I served was placed
under the command of Captain William
McKennan (the father of the present
representative in Congress from this district) I am not
certain whether Capt McKennan assumed the
command of the company to which I was
attached before or after the Battle of
Trenton but, I believe it was previous to
that engagement. When I was enlisted I lived
on the Capes of Delaware in the State of Delaware
in Sussex County near Lewistown The Regiment
to which I ^belonged was rendezvous together with another
Regiment at Newcastle ^near which (at Christiana
Bridge we laid encamped for several weeks 
and were joined by another Regiment and
the whole detachment put under the
command of Col. Anthony Wayne, From this
place we were marched to join the Army 
under General Washington, and we
formed a junction with him at "Valey forge"
in Penn and not far from Philadelphia near
the Schuylkill river. From Valey forge
we were marched across the Delaware
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into New Jersey, - to Burlington and other
places after scouting about through Jersey
for several week we returned to Valey 
forge. After laying at Valey forge for a short
time a detachment under Gen or Col Wayne,
to which I belonged was ordered to the
'Red Banks' by Gen Washington - The Red 
Banks are situated on the Delaware in
... a few miles below Philadelphia 
Before we arrived at the Banks the British
force stationed there had been attacked
and routed by another detachment of
the Americans. Just as we arrive in sight
of the Banks, two British Ships of the Line
were blown up by our victorious countrymen
(If I recollect right, Col Green commanded)
the Americans in this affair of the Red Banks
From Red Banks we were marched back to 
Valey forge where the whole force under Gen
Washington lay til late in December of the
year 1776 On Christmas day we understood
that the enemy were marching out of
Philadelphia to attack our encampment, when 
we received this intelligence we marched ahead
out in front of our Camp to a Sand Bank
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and a small creek 4 which (I think) enters into
the Schuylkill. Here we were halted under arms
until the enemy marched up in full view on 
the other side of the creek. Instead of attacking
us as we expected the British halted and
encamped for the night. So soon as it became
dark Gen Washington ordered large and 
numerous watch fires to be lighted 
and kept burning, throughout the...
night. And a party of soldiers was de...
expressly for this purpose - Soon after dark
a Council of War was held by the officers
and about midnight the whole army
except those left to keep up the fires
was marched quietly out of the camp
up the Delaware towards Trenton ...
the Jersey side. After a cold fatiguing 
march we arrived nearly opposite Trenton
just at the dawn of day. Here our general
halted his army and raising on his steps
made us such an animating speech that
we forgot the cold, the hunger and the toil
under which we were ready to sink and 
each man seemed only to be anxious for the onset
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The snow & shush ice covered the firm
ice in the river, yet when our brave commander
gave the word and turned his horse's 
head across the stream, no one complained
or hung back, but all plunged in ...
... should next touch the Jersey shore
after our beloved General. Before
we crossed the river the Army was divided into
three attachments - Gen Wayne commanded
the left wing - Gen Washington the centre -and
(I think) General Lee commanded the right
I was in Wayne's detachment - We had
surrounded the town before before the
Hessians were aware of our presence - In this
battle a great number were killed, some even
before they were dressed, and nine hundred
or upwards taken prisoners - We remained
in Trenton several days, and lived like
fighting Cocks, on the spoils of the 
vanquished. Our good cheer more than repaid
the toils of our ... - From Trenton we went
back to Philadelphia, but before our 
arrival our friends the British had 
decamped leaving the "beauty & booty" of that 
city to their respectful owners
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At Philadelphia and in the vicinity the army took up their winter quarters, and it remained there until the Spring. A part (I think 500) of the prisoners taken at Trenton were sent to Little York, in the interior of Pennsylvania, into winter quarters.  I was one of the guard who accompanied the prisoners to little York.  At which place I remained about two months.  While at York Sargeant Thompson was the officer of the Guard.  After remaining at York 2 months our detachment was relieved by another from the main army and we were marched back to Philadelphia.  During the Spring and Summer of 1777 we were encamped in and about Phila.  A greater part of this time I was stationed at Valley Forge under Gen Wayne a part of the time I was in Phila.  About the first of September of this year we herd that the Brittish were coming up the Delaware again.  The regular force under General Washington was concentrated at Phila and [illegible] were sent into the Country
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to raise the militia.  At this time I still remained in the same Regiment but I am positive that at this time Capt McKennan commanded my Company.  Early in September the army left Phila and marched in the direction of the Brandawine.  On our way we were joined by numbers of the militia of Penna Deleware & Maryland.  We halted on the tenth of September for a short time at Church Mann Bridge & on the 11th we met the enemy on the Brandywine Creek and on this occasion was [illegible] at the memorable battle of Brandywine. The Battle commenced early in the day & lasted 'til near night when the Americans were ordered to retreat their lines having been previously broken by the British Light horse.  During the fight, the wind favored the enemy and drove the smoke directly in our faces which was one great cause of our disconfiture.  In the action Gen LaFayette was wounded in the leg. The principle damage sustained by the Americans was caused by the frequent Charges of the British cavalry under cover of the smoke.  We were led from field into a swamp where the efforts of the horse were rendered ineffectual from the
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nature of the ground.  In the action I received a flesh wound in the right hounch the scar occasioned by which is plainly visible at this day. On this occasion Gen Washington commanded in person and Gen La Fayette was Second in Command.  The Brittish were commanded by Genl Cornwallis.  The American lost about 300 killed and 600 wounded & the British loss was estimated at about 500 hundred.  After the Battle we ordered to rendezvous at the "Red House" [illegible]ly on the line between Deleware & Maryland and about nine miles from the scene of action.  After the battle the militia generally went home.  The Regiment in which I served laid encamped at the "Red House" and "Christiana Bridge" alternately until early in the spring of 1778, during which time nothing happened worthy of particular notice.  In the spring of '78 we took our line of March for the Carolinas and were joined the way by troops from Maryland and Virginia.  In this expedition Col Thos Hall commanded the detachment from Delaware & the Maryland & Virginia troops were commanded
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9 
by their own officers severally until Gen Green fell in with us and assumed the Command of the entire force.  We met with Genl Green in the Southern part of Virginia.  Under Genl Green we were marched into N. Carolina.  No affair of much importance occurred in North Carolina.  We were principally engaged in scouting parties around Georgetown, which was ocupied at this time by Col. Tarlton & his cavalry.  Our principal business was watching Col. Tarlton and his allies the Carolina Tories.  It was but a few days before Christmas 1778 when we arrived in the neighbourhood of Georgetown.  I think Col Tarlton remained in Georgetown 'til the Spring of 1779, and we remained in and about the town for the purpose of keeping the tories in check until I think the Spring of 1780, without anything of importance occuring during all that time.  In the Spring of 1780 Col. Hall still commanding my Regt and Acpt McKennan my Company we were march into South Carolina.  During this Summer we were on
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dered to march down further south of farm a junction with Gen S Gates, who at this time commanded the southern division of the Army, but we did not arrive in time to participate in the battle of Camden, we arrived two or three days after the defeat of the Americans, just when the enemy were in the act of evacuating the place. From Camden the enemy marched into, and took possession of Charlestown. I always understood that the American [illegible] in this engagement was exceptionally severe. The Regiment to which I followed [illegible] in the vicinity of the field of Camden where we stay for service week and many a time we were [illegible] out for drill on the Battle ground I understand that the object our officer had in view in keeping as we camped at Camden was to keep the torey in subjection, and to array the British foraging parties who occasionally came out to Charleston-during this time we hold frequent skirmishes with small parties of British who came out of the city, but the affair of great public importance occurred during this time. During the time we lay here a certain Sergeant Jasper  [illegible] to
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our detachment went frequently into Charleston to see his two brothers, each of whom had connections in the British Service. When he made those visits it was his uniform custom to gain all the information he could in regard to the [illegible] movements of the enemy and communicate it to General Marrion his commander at the time when he was in the British camp his brothers promised him a [illegible] in the key service if he would abandon the [illegible] cause of the Americans. He told them he would accept the proposal but first he must go out in the country and there he could  [illegible] the same time he had no idea of taking up arms against America, but was only playing the spy. When he communicated this matter ro Gen. Marrion he positively forbid him to be thus exposing himself  to an arrest and execution s a spy. And this I believe put and to his communication with the enemies camp. Jasper was a very brave man and frequently distinguished himself as the commander of small scouting parties. On one occasion in one of his wild freaks, he and another gallaped down the streets of Charleston in broad day light at the time the who British army lay encamped in that city, and escaped uninjured. I could tell of other little affairs that happened in those times but I think
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the naration unnecessary. We left the encampment 
at Camden in the winter. I think about
the 1st of January 1781 and marched towards
the Cowpens. An express had come for Gen
Marion about the time of our leaving Camden
and he and most of his cavalry left us.
We pursued our march under our old officers
until within about one and a half days before
we arrived at the "Cowpens” when we fell in
with the brave Col. Morgan and his party
and he assumed the command of the detachment
and Col. Washington was second in
Command. Our whole force at this time numbered
something less than 900 men a greater proportion 
of whom were militia, & less than
100 horse. By this time our Deleware Regiments
were reduced at least one half-- Some died
on the field, some fell by disease, and some died
from hand treatment while prisoners- Two of my
Cousins fell into the hands of the enemy at Camden one
died from the severity of their treatment-- the other
lived to be exchanged, but he returned with
a shattered constitution. A few days after
our junction with Col Morgan (having halted for a day or
two) we fell in with a much Superior force
of the enemy, at the Cowpens under Col.
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Tarleton. He outnumbered us infantry
and had three or four times as many Cavalry.
Yet notwithstanding our great disparity
of force we came off victorious, having killed
and wounded between 4 and 500 men and
taken 500 prisoners. The result of this victory
is mainly owing to the skill and
bravery of Cols. Morgan & Washington for
who could refuse to follow & fight for
such leaders-- The total loss of the Americans
in this engagement in killed & wounded, was
considerably under 100 men I think not more than
fifty - The Battle commenced about 10
or 11 O'clock A.M. and continued ‘til late
in the evening. At the onset we were much
alarmed by the Superiority of the enemy in numbers but the
powerful & trumpet like voice of our Commanders
drove fear from every bosom, and gave new
energies to every aim. During the day at every
turn we seemed to gain new advantages. 
Washington & Morgan knew how to turn every 
circumstance to good account, they were an host within
themselves. After the Battle was over it was reported
in the Camp that some stray fingers were found,
on the field which were said to belong to Col.
Tarleton, The Battle was fought about the middle
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of January 1781, Col. Tarleton was hard run
by a small detachment of American horse
and barely escaped being taken prisoner. It
was generally agreed in the Camp that Tarleton
could easily have been shot by those in pursuit
of him, but their object was to take him
alive. In this fight I was struck across the left shoulder
by one of Tarleton's troopers, with his sword with
such violence, that the colar [collar] of my coat, my vest
and my shirt, were each cut though, and the
flesh & skin Sleightly scratched and [illegilbe]
So much so that there was a considerable
[k]not or welt on my sholder for a number
of day[s], the wound did not infit me for
duty. The prisoners taken in the engagement
were sent into the interior of the Country (the
name of the place I do not now recollect)
and a part of the troops were sent to guard
them the ballance of us went into winter quarters
and remained near the Cowpens until
the Spring,, when the detachment sent off
with the prisoners returned. During this time
nothing perticular occured the Brittish were driven
out of the neighbourhood and the tories were
so much under that they were afraid to make a show of oposition
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About the 1st of April we left the Cowpens
and were marched up into South Carolina
in to the neighbourhood of Georgetown
where we encamped and remained until
about the 1st of September, when myself
and a number of others belonging to my
Regiment were discharged, the term of our
enlistment (being five years) having expired
Soon after our discharge myself & eight others
started home for Delaware, we had
not got a mile from the camp when we held
a council whether we would return to our
comrades or put on for our houses and
it was determined by a majority that we
should try and get home. We had not a dollar
in the world save Continental money
A hundred dollars of which would not
by one of us our breakfast-- we with a
great deal of dificulty reached Georgetown
in Maryland (now District of Columbia). From
Georgtown we made our way to Baltimore where
we lay one night in the Barracks. On the
next day some of us went over into Queen
Ann's County, where we hired out to earn
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sufficient money to carry us home-- The others
went home so soon as they could get off, but
I having procured a good birth and winter
setting in, I remained to Spring when I
returned home having been absent nearly
Six years. Others of my Comrades in arms
who had enlisted for seven years, and
during the war did not get home until
after the surrender of Cornwallis at York
Town, & after articles of peace were definitely
concluded. I forgot to mention
in its proper place that Major Dullinor
of Rent Co Del. had a command for
same time in the Regt to which I was attached —
(the Declarant makes the following answers to the questions ordered to be proposed
by the War Department)
1st I was born on the 16th [partly illegible, might be 16th, 18th or 19th] day of May 1756 in Sussex County in the State of Delaware.
2. I have a record of my age in my fathers bible which is now in my possession and
which I now produce in Open Court.
3. When called into service, I lived in Sussex County Delaware, at which place I lived till
the year 1787 or 98. When I removed to Washington
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County Pennsylvania to the place where
I now live and have lived ever since.
4th When I entered the service I enlisted for
five years the whole of which time I
remained in the service of my country
5th This query is answered at large in my declaration.
6th I did receive a discharge from the service.
It was signed & given to me by Col. Washingto
ton, with his own hand. This discharge I
gave to Col Thomas Hall - the Col of my Regt.
And a great number of others of his men
also handed their discharges to him that
he might keep them, and produce them
if ever any dispute arose on the subject
or in other words if ever we were charged
with desertion, our Colonel could Shew
to the contrary.
7th The following named persons in my neighbourhood,
are well acquainted with me and
can testify to my character for veracity, and
their belief of my services as a soldier of
the Revolution viz Lewis Hewit, Isaac Leet, 
Wm V. Leet, William Wylie, James Orr Esq,
John Wilson Esq and others.
I have no doubt that the Hon. Th. M. T.McKennan at present
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a member of Congress, can give some
traditionary evidence of my services, he must
have herd his father, who was my Captain
for about four years, during this service
speak of me as one of his soldiers.
I know of no person living who has a personal
knowledge of my services, but I have
herd that there is a man living in Greene
Co in this State, by name Daniel Jones
who served with me in the Revolution.
I know there was a man of that name
belonging to the Delaware Line, but I have
not seen him for 44 or 45 years and of
Course I cannot tell whether he now
recollects of my service or not. But
I will try to procure his affidavit
I know of no clergyman who I can
procure to be sworn to & subscribe the
Certificate prescribed by the War
Department. My father was generally called
Wales & it is possible that my name
is so spelled on the rolls of the Department
ment but I have always been called Wells.
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 have no documentary evidence to prove
my service & can procure none unless
can find Daniel Jones before refered to
and he can recollect my service
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to
a pension or annuity except the present
and I declare that my name is not
on the pension roll of any agency in 
any State

Sworn and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid
Thomas Officer Pro

Henry his H mark Wells

And the Said Court do hereby declare their
opinion, that the above applicant was 
a Revolutionary soldier and served as he States.
We [blank - see signatures/marks on next page]
residing in the County of Washington & State of Penn. do hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with
Henry Wells who has subscribed and sworn
to the above declaration; that we believe him
To be seventy years of age that he is reputed and
believed in the neighbourhood where he
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Resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution
we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day and year
aforesaid
And the Said Court do hereby declare
there 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
who have signed the same are
resident in the County of Washington and
are credible persons and that their
Statement is entitled to credit
J Thomas Officer Clerk
a Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas
in and for the County of Washington Co. do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said
Court in the matter of the application
of Henry Wells for a pension. In testimony whereof I have
thereunto set my hand & seal of office the day & year aforesaid.
Thomas Officer Pro
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Henry Wells'
Claim for pay
under the act of
the 15th May 1828
Re'. 8 Oct
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1742 
State of Pennsylvania
[illegible] Washington
County of same    

For the purpose of obtaining the benefit of an act for the relief of
certain surviving officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Interior, approved on the 16th day of May 1828.
I Henry Wells aged 70 years and a resident in the County of Washingtonfor more than 68 years, State of Pennsylvania
do hereby declare that I enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the  Revolution  
for and during the same and continued in its service until its termination at which period I was
Private in Captain McCannon’s Company in the Regiment of the Delaware line
and I declare that I afterwards received certificate for the reward of Eighty dollars to which
I was entitled, under a resolve of Congress passed the 16th day of May, 1778.
And I further declare that I was not on the 16th day of March 1828 on the pension list of the ┃
United States, nor have ever received any pension in no case whatever
Witness James Orr J.P.

Henry his H mark Wells

Before me a Justice of the peace in the County [illegible] of Washington in the State of Pennsylvania aforesaid 
personally appeared this day Edward Stevens, aged 69, & James Hudson of the said County, who
make formally oath that Henry Wells - whom the foregoing declaration was
Subscribed is generally reputed and believed to have been a Soldier in the army of the Revolution in the manner as therein stated. 
Witness my hand this 20th day of November in the year 1828
Edwd W Stephens
James Hudson
Sworn to and subscribed
November 24th 1828 before James Orr J.P.


Know all men by these presents that I Henry Wells of Canton Twnship of the County of Washington and State of Pennsylvania do hereby Constitute and appoint Samuel [illegible Sutton or Col Jo Watson of Washington City 
true and lawful attorney with a power of substitution, for me and in my name to
receive from the United States the amount pay now due to me, under the act for the
relief of certain surviving officers and Soldiers of the Revolution, approved May 1828
As a private in the Regiment of the [blank] line of the army of the Revolution.
Witness my hand and seal this 26th day of November in the year 1828
Sealed and delivered in presence of
James Orr
Henry his H mark Wells


Before me a Justice of the peace in the County of [crossed out] Washington in the State of Pennsylvania
personally appeared this day Henry Wells whose name is subscribed to the foregoing
power of attorney, and acknowledged the same to be his true act and deed.
Witness my hand this 24th day of November in the year of our Lord 1828

James Orr J P
John Reed
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Before me a Justice of the peace in the County of Washington, State
of Pennsylvania personally appeared this day the attorney named in
foregoing power of attorney and made oath that the same was not
by reason of any transfer, or seizure, or by any legal process whatever of the pay
therein authorized to be received, but that the Said pay is intended to enure wholly to
person by whom the Said power was executed.
Witness my hand this the 26th day of November in the year 1828
John Reed
James Orr. J.P.

William Sample Prothy [notary] of the Court of the County of Washington
in the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby certify that James Orr Esquire before
whom the foregoing affidavits were given sworn was at the time a Justice of the peace
duly empowered to administer [illegible]
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
Court this 25th day of November in the year 1828
for Wm Sample Proth’y
Z. Reynolds
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 The Hon. Tho. M. T. McKennan
Washington
[illegible]
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Wilmington Del, April 7th 1834
Hon. J. M. F. McKennan
My dear Sir
I had the pleasure
on Saturday last of receiving your
friendly communication of the 3d [Apr?]
requesting any information in my power
respecting Henry Wells or Wales an
old Revolutionary soldier now engaged
in the prosecution of his claim upon
the Justice of his Country. I have
now before me a muster roll of the
Company formed of the later [balance] Regt.
after the battle of Camden in August
1780, South Carolina, and have the
satisfaction of informing you, that the
names of Henry Willis stands No.
2 on the list of Privates, is the counted
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man alluded to-- The following is a
copy of the title. "Muster Roll of
the late Delaware Regiment now the
first company in the second Battalion
of Col. G. H. William's Regt of Infantry
for the month of Oct, 1786". After giving
the names of the non Com’d officers and
music, Henry Willes stand 2 on the
lish and I am under the impression
that he never had a final settlement
with the Government, on account of
his claim for land &. it appears to
me at this day that he was left from
some consideration behind when the
Regt. returned to Delaware. but I have
no certain knowledge of the fact. - 
The muster Roll thus concludes "I do swear
that the within Muster Roll is a true
State of the late Delaware Regiment
(the Five Commissioners, and staff officers
excepted)
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as it is formed in one Company under
my command without fraud to the
United States, or any Individual according
to the best of my knowledge
Signed Peter Jaquett

I have always felt a deep interest in your
family ever since they left Delaware
and am pleased and gratified that you have
opened the door of communication, and
on my part it shall be kept up. I have
had it in constant contemplation ever since
you have had a seat in Congress to break
the way myself. I should have been verry
much gratified with a personal interview
And be better acquainted with the son of
early friend. I have at all times made
(when opportunity offered) the necessary
enquiry. I however intend ere long to place
under cover to you, one for your mother, my old
and much respected friend, never to be forgotten
while I live: My hand and kind respects to
her, and all that remains of my lost friend & family.
Dear Sir, accept of my best assurances  C. P. by [ennette]
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[illegible] P
Mar 21 
Free
Hon. Th. M. F. McKennan
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
Page 31

Pennsylvania
Washington County
Personally appeared before the
subscriber, a justice of the peace, in and for the County
aforesaid Benjamin S Stewart who being duly sworn doth depose and
say that he made strict enquiry in the County of Greene in
this State, for the Daniel Jones mentioned in the declaration
of Henry Wells, a Revolution, Soldier, and by whom he expected
to prove his services, and could gain no intelligence of
such a person now living. He the deponent was informed
that a person by that name formerly from Delaware,
who had the reputation of having served in the 
Revolutionary War, had resided in that county for several
years, but that the said person had been dead for some
ten or twelve years past.

The said deponent further states
that there is a large scar some five or six inches in length
by one and a half or two inches in breadth) on the side
or haunch of the said Henry Wells who is now an applicant
for a pension, which the said Henry informed
him, was produced by a wound he received at the
battle of Brandywine from the discharge of a pistol
by a British Dragoon
Sworn and subscribed this 21st
day of March A.D. 1834
Benj. Stewart
before me
John Marshel

I do certify that J Marshel Esqr before whom the above applicant
was made is an acting Justice of the peace in & for the County
of Washington Penn - May 3d 1834.
Thomas T.Herman
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Washington March 21st 1834
My dear Sir
According to your suggestion I have
this day transmitted to your address the declaration
of Henry Wells an applicant for the benefits of
the act of 7th June 1831 -
You will much oblige me
by procuring the action of the department on it
immediately for this reason, I understand that the
old man intends to remove to Ohio on the
first of April, and I would like to have the decision
before his departure-  if unfavorable that the
papers can be amended  - if favourable that
he can carry the bounty of his country with him
to his new house.
I have made an affidavit of
the annexed leaf which perhaps may be of some
importance in the investigation of his claim &
which you will be good enough to lay before
the Department. His declaration which is very
long is written nearly in his own language, which is very
remarkably good considering that he has never had
the benefit of any thing more than a very limited
education. He details the incidents of the Revolution
with more minuteness and precision than
any of those remnents of olden times with whom
I have conversed. If I had written all he was disposed
to narate it would have made a small
volume. He speaks of those events as if they were the affair
of yesterday-- Yours B. S. Stewart
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Dover
Office of the Secretary of State April 1834
In the case of Henry Wells or Wales
There are in this office but two pay rolls
of Capt [illegible-Corse?] Company,  they are for March & April 1780. the
name of Henry Wells or Wales is not in either of them. There
are in this office pay rolls of Capt Enoch Anderson's Company
from January 1777 till February 1779, and of Col. David Hall’s
Company from Sept 1778 till April 1780, and of Lieut Col
Charles Pope's Company from Oct 1775 till Feb 1784 in all
three of which said Companies John [illegible- Corse, Goode,, Corde?]  acted as a
Lieutenant sometimes commanding-- All these pay rolls have
been examined and the name of Henry Wells or Wales is
not to be found on any of them. There is in this office an
original paper purporting to be a "Muster roll of the non
commissioned officers drummers and fifers and rank and file
of the late Delaware Regiment, now the first Company of
the second battalion in Col. Williams Regiment, serving in
the southern army of the United States" dated Hillsborough
N. Carolina Sept 1780 (a copy of which paper has heretofore
been sent to the war Department at Washington) in this
muster roll among the privates No 2 is the name of "Henry
Williss" but the name of Henry Wells or Wales is not on it
James Rogers
Secy of State
Page 34

State of Virginia
Brooke County
 On this 25th day of March, 1837 before the Subscriber a Justice of the
peace for the said County of Brooke personally appeared Henry Wells
who, on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company
commanded by Captain William McKennan, in the regiment commanded by Colonel
Thomas Hall in the service of the United States in the revolutionary war; that his
name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Pennsylvania, from whence he
has lately removed; that he now resides in the State of Virginia where he intends
to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable in future, namely at the
Wheeling agency; and that his reasons for removing to the State of Virginia is to
reside in the family of his son, who occupies a rented farm in Brooke County.
Sworn and subscribed to before me,
the day and year aforesaid
John Gardner

Henry X (his mark) Wells

On the same day, and at the same place also personally appeared William
M. Cluney, who after being duly sworn according to law, says that he
is well acquainted with the above named Henry Wells, and that he well knows
him to be the person described in the above affidavit.
W. M. Cluney
And I do certify that the said William M. Cluney, is a person of veracity.
Sworn to and subscribed
as above, before me.

John Gardner


State of Virginia
Brooke County

I Adam Kuhn, Clerk of the Courts of Brooke County, certify
that John Gardner is a Justice of the peace, as above,
and that the foregoing signatures, purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed
my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this
25th day of March in the year 1837.
Adam Kuhn
Clk of Brooke
County Court
Please Address, Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virg
Page 35

[Blank page, or else rinting is too light to decipher]
]
Page 36

1828
to be filed
with A[illegible]
Inv File
# 11.712
Page 37

Henry Wells Pvt.
Delaware line
Penn

A[illegible]. File No 11.712
Act 1828
See letter No 3761
Page 38

Hon Mr McKennan
Adm 2 years
[illegible] 6.818
Declaration of
Henry Wells an
enlisted Rev. Soldier
Benj. S. Stewart Atty
Washington Penn
Page 39

Apl 10
[circular seal on envelope, most printing is too light to decipher]
James L. Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 40

Henry Wills
Per [illegible]
to
 [illegible]

FREE

James L. Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[circular seal on envelope}
WELLSBURG
MAR 29
VA

 [2 lines of illegible written vertically on side of document]
Page 41

Rev-lary [written vertically on side of document]

No. 17112

INVALID.

11712
Henry Wells
Pri. [illegible Del Mar. ?]

Act: -- June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 399
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 42

1742
Revolutionary Claims.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
9 Oct 1829

Henry Wells of [blank] in the county of Washington
in the State of Pennsylvania has applied to the Secretary
of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled ""An act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution," approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its terminatio , at which period he was a Private---in captain
McCannon's company, in the regiment of the Delaware line; 
and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve of the
15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, nothing.
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by the
records in his office.
By Order of the Secretary.
F. A. Dickins

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
10th October 1829
It appears by the records in this office, that a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars has been issued to [separated cross marks] in the [separated cross marks]
It further appears that Henry Wells is not now on the pension
list of any agency, and has not been so since the 3 March 1826
[crossed out - ‘at the rate of dollars’ and ‘ per month.’]

A certificate for the gratuity of Eighty Dollars, appears to have been issued
in the name of Henry Willis of the Delaware
line - and on reference to the Register of
Muster of that line, it appears that a man
by the name of Henry Willis enlisted on
the 24th December 1777 for the war. He was
attached to Cap’n Kirkwood’s Company-
Peter Hagner Asst.