Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 35,835, Peter Cleer, Continental D.C. Agency And Residence
Page 1

(3 - 1776 )
SERVICE
Continental 
CONTENTS

Cleer, Peter
D.C. Agency and residence
NUMBER

S. 35,835
Page 2

SCHEDULE.
United States of America
(A.) Baltimore County SS.

On this Second day of January 1822; personally
appeared in open court (*) that is to say, being a court of record, (+) (B.) that is to say the regular
County Court holden
for the said (C) County within
the Sixth Judicial District of the State of Maryland
Peter Clear aged Sixty Eight years,
resident in the City of Baltimore in said (D) County and State
who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare, that he served
in the Revolutionary War, as follows,  (E) (illegible) he served (illegible) private in (illegible)
or Troops commanded by Captain Eselie in the Legion Commanded
by the Duke De Lauzun, from the year 1780 to the close of the
War in the year1783, when he was honorably discharged by Captain
Eselie at Wilmington in the State of Delaware - That while
engaged in battle with the enemy at Little York in Virginia
at the time Lord Cornwallis surrendered deponent received two
bullet wounds, one of which was received in the fleshy part
his side the other also a flesh wound, the ball passing through
the knee and entered the body of his Horse, who falling & Catching
deponent's leg under his body rendered him a cripple in the right 
foot and ankle, leaving a severe dislocation of the large joint in the thumb
foot. 
Still crippled, and I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th
March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed
of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring
myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to provide for
certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary
War,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has
any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me;
nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and
by me subscribed.
Page 3

( F.)
Schedule referred to within

Property none of any description
Family None
Is by trade or Tailor whereby managed to maintain
himself until by advanced age infirmities and the
want of eye sight he is rendered incapable of supporting
himself except by public or private charity, and
is actually "in such indigent circumstances as to be
unable to support himself without the assistance
of his country"
Peter Cher

SWORN to and declared on the Second
day of January Anno Domini 1822.
BEFORE, W H Ward associate Judge of 6th
judicial district of Maryland

I William Gibson  Clerk of Baltimore County Court
do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly
copied from the record of said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the
said court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule
is ____Dollars and _____Cents.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed
the Seal of the said court, on this 2d day of January 1822
Wm Gibson
Clerk of the County of Baltimore
(stamp)  35
CLEER Peter
(cont)
S-35835
Page 4

See letter to (illegible) S.H Smith
Pen. Aug (illegible) March 23,\1831

Dup. Cert: ifs  6th Sept. 1834 and
delivered to Archd Cheshire, at
the request of the Perv

Dead See letter to R. Johnston, Jr
July 28. 1836

20317
District of Columbia
Peter Cleer
of Washington City in the Dist of Columbia
who was a private in the company commanded 
r.
from
of Washing of in the name of Columbia
who was a pitie in the company commanded
of the the commanded
by Este of the Corps commanded
by the Duke De Lauzum in the French Allied Army
line, for the term of during the war
from 1778 to 1783

Inscribed on the roll of District of Columbia
at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to
commence on the 19th day of December 1825

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 of March
1831.and delivered to the
Pensioner

Arrears to 4th of March 1831 $500.38
Semi-anu'l all'ce ending Sep 1831 48-
$548. 38

Revolutionary Claim,
the 2 March 1838
Recording Book D
Vol 8th Page 180
B.L.B.
Page 5

The law of the 18th
March 1818, does not
provide for the French
troops who served in
the revolution.

Darlington 5.9.Rev > Pens
Page 6

Seventh District of Pennsylvania ss
On this seventh day of April 1818 before me the Subscriber one of the Judges
of the Seventh Judicial District of the State of Pennsylvania personally appears
Peter Cleer aged Sixty Seven years resident in the said District who being by
me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following
Declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled
An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and naval service of
the United States in the Revolutionary War that he the said Peter Cleer
Enlisted in the City of Paris in France in the year 1778 in Captain Enlays
Company in Duke De Larence Regiment of Light have for the American war
service, as a (illegible) and landed in the year 1780 at Newport (illegible), that he continued
to serve in the said Corps or in the service of the Under United States until
the year 1783 when he was discharged from service in Wilmington in the
State of Delaware. That he was in the Battle at York when Cornwallace was
captured and that he has remained a Citizen ever since of the United States
and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of
his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his
power of his services.
Peter Cleer

Sworn to and declared before me
the day and year aforesaid.
John Ralston

I John Ralston judge by as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction
that the said Peter Cleer did serve in the Revolutionary war as stated in the
preceding declaration against the Common Enemy; and of now  transmit the
proceedings and Testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the
Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned Act of Congress
John Ralston

I John Ralston Judge as aforesaid do further certify that it doth fully
appear to the by Testimony produced that he is in poor, and in indigent
circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country Given under
my hand the above date
John Ralston
Page 7

I John G. Wersler Prothonotary of the Court of
Common Pleas in and for the County of Chester in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Do Certify
that John Ralston Esquire before whom the within
declaration appears to have been made is and
that time was one of the associate Judges of the
Court aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified
to all whose official acts as such full faith and
credit are and ought to be given.

In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and the seal
of the said Court the twenty ninth
day of October in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
Jno G Wersler Prob
Page 8

CLEER, PETER
(CONT.)
S-35835

Decr 19 1825

49 - Peter Cler
Declaration of
Peter Cleer
Revolutionary Soldier 

Dec 19. 1825 - 
Ref. Comms is an (illegible)
(illegible)

Decr 18-1826-Ref to Comm on Mil pension

Dec 20 1826 Bill reported No 315
French Legion of (illegible)
under DeLequin

Apl 29, 1828
Bill reported No 283

December 5. 1828.
 to the Com. on Mill Pensions.

Dec 16Ref, 1829
Ref to Common Mil. Pensions

Dec. 24, 1830.
Refd to Commr on Mil. Pensions

Feb. 1. 1831 Comm decid - to lie

Howard
Page 9

*The whole of the form prescribed in the first section, to verify the amount of property of the applicant, the oath of the party, and the certificate of the clerk excepted, must be done while the court is in session.
All are courts of record, within the contemplation of the Act of Congress:

1st, Which are expressly made courts of record by the laws of the State which create them;
2d,  Which have been solemnly adjudged, by the tribunals of the several States, to be courts of record;
3d,  Which proceed according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount;
And courts which proceed according to civil and canon law, having neither of these attributes, are not courts of recor' although they may keep a registry of their proceedings, that it is a court of record, and state why it is such.   (Opinion of the Attorney General of the United States.

DIRECTIONS FOR FILLING UP THE BLANKS.
A. District,  circuit,  county,  or corporation as the cause may be.
B. State why a court of record.
C. After repeating the district, circuit, county, or corporation, insert the declarant's name.
D. District, circuit, county or corporation.
E. Here set forth the regiment, company and line; or ship, corps or vessel, and the date of the original declaration; and if he has a pension, the number of his pension-certificate should be inserted
Page 10

35835
Rev INVALID
File No. 35835
Peter Cleer
Pri Rev War
Act: 18 March 1881
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 75

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 11

The attention of Mr Foot is repectfully asked to this case by EAG

The Hon Ezekiel Chambers
of the House of Representation
at Wm Blakes
Page 12

Washington Jan 15th 1831

My dear Sir
I mentioned to  you "en passent," a few weeks
ago the case of old Peter Cleer of Baltimore
Petitioner for a pension on the revolutionary
establishment, who, after passing the House
of Representative in conjunction with his 
commander Polershy, his fellow soldiers, Nagle, &
(illegible) another, ever dropped in the  Senate
from the mere omission of the Clerk of the House
of Representatives to said up his papers. Given
your suggestion had been followed, of originating
a bill in the Senate, where the accident occurred,
but Gen Smith had previously handed the papers
to Col. Howard with a view of beginning, "de novo" we in 
the lower house-- I am grieved to find by a note
from Col. Howard, that he is not disposed to
patronize that claim with the seal to which I
think it entitled. I have written him a letter
on the subject, of which I enclose you a copy,
and I entreat you, my dear Sir, in the name of
humanity, to read it with attention. If you
approve it, I beg you, farther to take the 
prostration of this old man into your hands and not
to let the session pass without having him
placed on the same footing with those who
belong to the same corps. May I ask the
further favor of you to show the enclosed copy to
Genl Smith and to request his cooperation in rectifying
this his adventure to poor old Cleer with as little
Page 13

delay as possible.  I am still confined to my
room or I would wait upon you in person on
this subject as I am extremely fearful that 
the case of this unfortunate old man will be
lost sight of in the multiplicity of subject that
are pressing you
With great respect esteem
I remain, Dear Sir, Your Obt Sevt
Wm West

Hou Ezekiel Chambers
Senator of the U States
Page 14

20th Congress, 1st Session
H. R. 283.
April 29, 1828.
Read twice, and committed to the Committee of the Whole House to which is committed to the Bill (H.R. No. 166) for the relief of sundry officers, soldiers, and widows.
Mr. Forward, from the Committee on Military Pensions, reported the following bill:
A BILL
For the relief of sundry Revolutionary and other officers, and soldiers and for other purposes. 
1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
2 of the United States of America and Congress assembled, That 
3. the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and
4. required to place the following named Revolutionary officers
5 upon the pension list, viz: John L Polleresky, a major, at 
6. the rate of twenty dollars per month; Samuel Snow, a cap-
7 tain, at the rate of twenty dollars per month; Nathaniel El
8 litt, a second lieutenant, at the rate of twenty dollars per
9 month; and Samuel Espy, an ensign, at he rate of ten dol-
9 lars per month; to commence respectively, on the first day 
11of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.
1. Sec 2 And be it further enacted, That the Secretary 
2. of War be, and he is hereby directed to place the names of 
3. Samuel French, William Lawrence, Asa Wilkins, William
Page 15

2

4 Dalzell, Stephen Fuller, Stephen Wilcox, Elijah Johnston, 
5 Samuel Sykes, Josiah Morse, Samuel Eathforth, Abiel Brown,
6 John Lemmon, Andrew Bacon, Joseph Raynsford, Peter _____
7 Cleer, Benjamin Mott, Joseph Bass, Levi Hutchins, John 
8 Perry, second, James Johnston, James Robinson, Orsamus
9 Holmes, Chamberlain Hudson, Philemon Tiffany, Samuel
10 Pardee, Joseph Wilson, Isaac Smally, William Cole Hart-
11 man Lower, John Reizor, Aaron Gage, Daniel Hinds, Joseph
12 B. Jennison, Henry Romer, David Carswell, Samuel Harding,
13 Joseph Barlow, Hamblin Cole, William Johnston, John Pow-
14 ell, Christopher Carey, William Scott, of Connecticut, Wil-
15 liam Holgate, John Stouts, Philip Nagle, Frederick Stull,
16 James Porter, Frederick Burkhart, Absalom Baker, Richard
17 Neagle, Robert Ditcher, John Ferguson, Ezekiel Knowles,
18 Caleb Wiseman, Robert Huggins, Thomas Putney, Anselm
19 Baily, William Scott, of Pennsylvania, Micajah Mayfield,
20 Tristam Dagget, and Edward Currin, on the list of Revolu-
21 tionary pensioners; and to pay them at the rate of eight dollars
22 per month, each, commencing on the first day of January,
23 one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.
1
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary
2 of War be, and he is hereby, directed to restore to the list of
3 Revolutionary pensioners, the names of Zadock Morris, Fred
4 derick Wilheid, James Davison, Jacob Cramer, and George
5 Lucas; and that their pensions, respectively, shall recom-
Page 16

3
6mence on the first day of January, one thousand eight hun-
7 dred and twenty-eight, at the rate of eight dollars per month,
8 each.
1. Sec 4. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of
2 War be, and he is hereby, directed to place of John
3 Hudson, a soldier of the Revolutionary and late wars, upon
4 the list of Revolutionary pensioners; and to pay him at the 
5 rate of eight dollars per month; to commence on the first
6 day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.
1. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of 
2 War be, and he is hereby, directed to placed the name of An
3 drew Herrick, a soldier of the Revolution, and now a lunatic, 
4 upon the list Revolutionary pensioners; and to pay to such 
5 person or persons as may be commissioned for the time being,
6 to take care of his person and estate, the sum of eight dollars
7 per month; to commence on the first day of January, one
8 thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.
1 Sec 6.  Be it further enacted, That the Secretary of 
2 War be, and he is hereby, directed to place the name of Tho-
3 mas Scott, alias Knox, a soldier of the late war, and now a 
4 lunatic, on the list of invalid pensioners; and to pay such 
5 person or person as may be properly authorized to receive 
6 the same, for the use of said Thomas Scott, alias Know,
7 at the rate of eight dollars per month; to commence on the 
8 first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twen-
Page 17

4

ty-eight, and to continue as long as the Secretary of War
10 shall be satisfied of the continuance of the disability afore-
11 said.
SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of
2 War be, and he is hereby, directed to place the names of Zachariah
3 S. Conger, a third lieutenant, and Henry Starring, an
4 ensign in the late war, upon the list of invalid pensioners,
5 and to pay the former at the rate of fourteen dollars, and
6 the latter at the rate of ten dollars per month, to commence
7 on the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and
8 twenty-eight.

1 SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of
2 War be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to place
3 the names of Jacob Zimmerman, and Levi Hathaway, Revo-
4 lutionary soldiers, upon the list of invalid pensioners, the
5 former at the rate of four dollars, and the latter at the rate
6 of eight dollars, in lieu of his present pension; to commence
7 respectively, on the first day of January one thousand
8 eight hundred and twenty-eight.

1 SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of
2 War be directed to place the names of the following soldiers
3 of the late war upon the list of invalid pensioners, viz: Samuel
4 Hagerman, James McFarland, Henry Hauser, James
5 Farrel, Esau Ritchey, George W. Morrison, Robert Gumbleton,
6  and Joseph Booth, each, at the rate of eight dollars per
Page 18

5

7 month; Benjamin Gates, at the rate of six dollars per month;
8 Henry Barton, Robert Mophet, and Daniel Depuy, each at
9 the rate of five dollars thirty-three and one-third cents per
10 month; Thomas Gilbert, Jonathan Edwards, and Henry
11 Johnston, an Indian warrior of the Six Nations of Indians,
12 each at the rate of four dollars per month, to commence, re-
13 spectively, on the first day of January, one thousand eight
14 hundred and twenty-eight.

1 SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary
2 of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to pay
3 to the minor child or children of Collins Hurlbut, a soldier
4 of the late war, their guardians, or such other person or per-
5 sons as may be lawfully authorized to receive the same for
6 their use, the sum of four dollars per month, for five years;
7 commencing on the first day of January, one thousand eight
8 hundred and twenty - eight.

1 SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary
2 of War be, and he is hereby, directed to pay to Ann Little,
4 administratrix of the estate of William Little, deceased, the
5 amount of pension of the said William Little, for one year
6 nine months and twenty-nine days.

1 SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary
2 of War be, and he is hereby authorized and required to place
3 the following named persons on the list of invalid pensioners,
Page 19

6

4 viz: Adrian Peters, a sailor in the late war, and John Mc-
5 Claim, a sailor in the Revolutionary war, at eight dollars per
6 month each; Isaac Plumer, a musician in the late war, and
7 William Gamage, a sailor in the late war, at the rate of four
8 dollars per month, to commence respectively, on the first
9 day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.

1 SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary
2 of War be, and he is hereby authorized and required to
3 place the names of James Riley and David Hendricks, upon
4 the list of invalid pensioners, and to pay them at the rate of
5 eight dollars per month, each, to commence on the first day
6 of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, so
7 far as respects the pension of David Hendricks, aforesaid;
8 and so far as respects the pension of James Riley, aforesaid,
9 to commence on the day aforesaid, or as soon as he shall
10 have been discharged from service.

1 Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That the pensions
2 aforesaid shall be paid out of any money in the Treasury,
3 not otherwise appropriated.
Page 20

See letter to R. Johnson
July 28, 1836.


4 Sep 1831.
Page 21

owd

#35,835
Page 22

Peter (Cleer) or Clair  Soldier
Ma. line - probably

Maryland

In File No 35.835
o/l lds

Nov 11/19

Rejected Act 1828
Page 23

Declaration
of
Peter Cleer
Page 24

59.

For the purpose of obtaining the benefits
of the Act entitled “An Act for the relief
of certain surviving Officers & Soldiers of the
Army of the Revolution,” approved on the 15th
of May 1828— I, Peter Elder of the State
of Maryland, do hereby declare that I
enlisted in the Continental line of the
Army of the Revolution for and during
the War and continued in its service until
its termination; at which period I was
a private in Captain Eddis’s company of
horse in the Legion commanded by the Duke of
Lauzun— and I also declare that I was
promised the same quantity of land to which
American Soldiers were entitled under a
resolve of Congress, passed the 15th of May,
1778.

And I further declare that I was not,
on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the Pension
List of the United States.

Witness my hand this 10th day of June in
the year 1828.
                                       Peter Elder

See Journal of Congress
of 15th May 1778.
Fed.
Page 25

Upper Section:


Before me the undersigned a Justice of 
the peace in the County of Washington Dist. 
of Columbia, personally appeared this day 
Peter Mills of the same County & District and 
a captain in the late Revolutionary Army, & 
did make oath on the holy Evangelists that 
the foregoing statement signed by Peter Elder 
is correct & that he personally knew Peter 
Elder & saw him at the Surrender of 
Cornwallis at Yorktown when the French 
& American Armies were united. 

Witness my hand this 10th day of 
June in the year of our Lord 1828  
                            Charles W. Walter, J.P. (seal)
Lower Section:



Before me Rich'd S. Briscoe a Justice of the peace 
in the County of Washington in the District of 
Columbia personally appeared this day Fred'k Keller 
of said County & made oath that Peter Elder 
by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed 
is generally reputed & believed to have been a 
soldier in the army of the Revolution as manner 
as therein stated. 

Witness my hand this 12 day of June in the year 
1828.  
                           R. S. Briscoe
                           J. Peace
Page 26

District of Columbia, to wit,

I William Brent Clerk of the 
Circuit Court of Washington County in the Dist.
of Columbia do hereby certify that Charles
W. Wharton & Richard S. Briscoe before 
whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn, were 
at the time Justices of the peace and duly 
empowered to administer oaths—

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand, and affixed the seal 
of said Court this 12 day of June 1828.

                        Wm Brent Clk
Page 27

To The Honble  
Richard Rush  
Secretary of the Treasury

The subscriber respectfully submits for the  
consideration of the Secretary of the Treasury the  
enclosed papers which have been filed in the  
House of Representatives of the Congress of the U.S.  
upon which he has founded a claim to a pension  
for military services rendered during the Revolu-  
tionary War. The justice of his claim is con-  
firmed by the bill of which a copy is among  
the papers & which passed the House of Representatives  
in 1826, but too late to be acted on by the  
Senate—he now respectfully requests to be  
placed on the pension list under the act of  
the last session of Congress entitled an act  
for the Relief of certain Surviving Officers  
and Soldiers of the army of the Revolution  
approved 15th May 1828—

With the greatest Respect  
I have the honor to be yr. obdt. st.  
Peter Elder

Washington  
11th June 1828
Page 28

Treasury Dept

Hon: John H.  Eaton

Suq of War
Washington
Page 29

Treasury Department
March 7th 1831

Sir
I have recd your note of this
morning requesting the information whether a requisition
from the war dept in favor of Peter Chur would help aid at 
the treasury. This requisition will be (illegible) by a warrant
provided the amount he placed under the land of Revolutionary
Pension (illegible) act  29th Jany 1831

I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Yr Ob. Serv
H Ingham

Hon John H. Eaton
Secy of war
Page 30

The Hon Benjamin C. Howard

?. Sheet

By W. Cleer
Page 31

My Dear Sir

The Bearer of this is Mr Peter Cleer whose papers Earl Smith
put in your hands - If you are at leisure enough to hear him
I think you will find him very interesting as I understand his name
was struck off the Bill last year by or omission to send up his
services to the Senate ought not his pension to take date from
the date of the last bill?  He will hand you a packet of his
papers and will explain-- knowing as I do all the localities
at Little York, and from the late do Laval having heard
some years ago the position of Lansan Legion on the (illegible)
(illegible) of East River and their operations there, the coincidence of
Cleer's statements on the same subject & the implicitly of his character 
are to me integral proof  of the services of his claim.
Wm Wist

(illegible)
Page 32

the Honorable
Mr Foot,
Chairman of the Commitee
Pensions.

S160
Mr Chembers
P Cleer
Page 33

In Senate U. States,
January 20th 1831
---
Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions be
instructed to inquire into the propriety of placing
Peter Cleer, formerly a private soldier in the war
of the Revolution, on the Pension List
Attest
Walter Lawell  Secretary
Page 34

The Hon. Samuel Smith
Senate of the United States

Peter Cleer

pen: to com: 19 Dec.
1825, at $8 per mo:
Revo. Roll D. Col.
Act March 2. 1831
Pentioner present
Page 35

Washington, Dec 19. 1820

Dear Sir

There is an interesting old man in Baltimore, of name Peter Clow,
whose name was on a pension bill which was sent up from the house of the
representatives, to the Senate last winter, but was there struck out and not
acted upon with this subject. I am under the impression that this must
have happened from mistake, or perhaps under the impression that the man
was dead. Yet his claim is exactly on a footing with several of the rest
which passed. He came to see me soon after my return from the Supreme
court last spring, or in the beginning of the summer, to state his case and
ask if there was no redress for him. I have had repeated interviews with
him since in the course of the summer and fall, and he is ready to come
down and make what in law is called a prospect of his term, if
it shall be thought necessary. He was among the troops that came over
from France under Doct. Franklin's freedom plan — and belonged to the
corps of cannoners before him, his immediate commander being Gen. Holtz.
Page 36

certcy, I then name with that of a private (or perhaps two) is on the bill
as it passed. I have had a great deal of conversation with Clow and am fully
satisfied that his claim is a genuine one; not only from copies of his papers
which I have seen, but from the universal evidence arising from the simplicity
of his character, and the muniments of his claim compared as to the
directions of the corps to which he belonged, and which are almost conic
dence with what I have heard from the late Col. Burris, and others, &c.
He has become very infirm, and is now supported by private charity. He
is ignorant of the cause why his name was struck from the list in the Senate.
At his request I wrote to Mr. Holmes and Mr. Stagner to inquire of Holmes,
in case further evidence did not satisfy in favor of Clow and in their letter
by which it appears that he had died deceased shortly after the passage of
the Bill in his favor — I wrote also to Mr. Rhea and Mr. Sawyer of the
House of Representatives, who had appeared to take much interest in the pension
bill to ask if they can inform me of the cause of Cleer’s name being struck from...
Page 37

the bill — but this, and indeed all this is one of your constituents. I suppose it must
prefer to trouble you with this note to ask whether it is not possible to have his
D man's name placed among the pensioners — and whether you think his presence
will be necessary to promote this end. Should you turn early into the
subject that there may be full time to pass the bill through.

Yours very respectfully

[Signature: illegible but possibly “W. Wirt”]

The Hon. Elamere Smith.
Page 38

Peter
Cleer's
Application
for assistance
Page 39

To all to whom these presents may come, Greeting:
Having for many years past been in the habit of assisting 
Revolutionary Soldiers in their application for Pensions (missing) Land
claims I perused the several documents produced (missing)
Clare or P Clare and have had his claim laid before the
Secretary of War, as also the Pension Committee in Congress-- owing
to the peculiar situation of his case the Pension has not as yet
been awarded him but I have no doubt he will eventually be
placed on the Revy Pension list along with others whose claims
passed the House of Representatives at the last Session of Congress
and now pending before the Senate; In the mean time this
Meritorious veteran of the Revolutionary war is to my certain
knowledge in extreme indigence and penury and an
actual object of charity-- It is with extreme regret
I use this strong language as an appeal to the feelings
of the benevolent, but the agency of his case requires it.
Tho Baily Justice of the peace
in & for Balto City

Balto: 20th Octr 1829
The within named Peter Cleer
is deserving the assistance of every friend
to Revolutionary
Soldiers of this Member he is one.
J Kelly
Page 40

Peter Cleer
Mil Pensions
Page 41

21st Congress
26 Session
Congress of the United States 
In the House of Representatives
December 24, 1830
On motion of W. F. Howard,
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing the name of Peter Cleer upon the Pension roll.

To be returned when acted upon by the committee
Page 42

Revolutionary Claim.
(B.)
Form of a Declaration to be made by the Non-commissioned Officers, Musicians, and Privates.
For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved on the 15th of May 15828, I, Peter Clear of Baltimore in the county of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, do hereby declare, that I enlisted in the Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution , for and during the war, and continued in its service until its termination; at which period, I was a private in Captain Esclees Company, in the Legion of the Duke De Laurzin LIne.  And , I also declare that I was promised bounty to which American soldiers were entitled, under a resolve of Congress, passed the 15th of May, 1778. 
And I further declare that I was not, on the fifteenth day of May, 1828 on the Pension List of the United States. 
Witness my hand, this ninth day of June in the year 1828.  
Peter Cleer
Before me A Hall Justice of the Peace the county of Washington in the District of Columbia, personally appeared this day Peter Clear and of the said county, who did severally make oath that 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 day of in the year
I. Clerk of the Court of the County of in the State of do hereby certify that before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn was at the time a and duly empowered to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Court, this day of 
*Sergeant, Corporal Musician, or Private, as the case may be.  
t The claimant, though not on the pension list on the 15th May, 1828, may have been on the list on or since the 3rd of March, 1826, and afterwards stricken off; if so, he will add, and that I have revied of the United States as a pensioner since the 3d of March 
1826, the sum of   dollars, paid to me by the Agent for paying pensions in the State of 
=Here insert a Justice of Peace, or other Magistrate duly empowered to administer oaths. 
88Justice of the Peace, or otherwise, as the case may be.
Page 43

19th CONGRESS
1st. SESSION.
H. R. 119.

REPORTED BY THE COMMITEE ON MILITARY PENSIONS.
FEBRUARY 23, 1826.
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the whole House to-morrow.

A BILL
Authorizing certain persons to be placed on the Pension List of 
Revolutionary Pensioners.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That
3 the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby directed to place
4 the following named persons on the pension list of revolu-
5 tionary pensioners of the United States, who shall be entitled
6 to, and shall receive, pensions according to the rates, and commencing
7 at the times hereinafter mentioned, to wit:
8 James Robinson, at the rate of eight dollars per month,
9 to commence on the twenty - fifth day of January one thou-
10 sand eight hundred and twenty-six.
11 Valentine Holmes, at the rate of eight dollars per month,
12 to commence on the tenth day of January, one thousand eight
13 hundred and twenty-six.
14 John Perry, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to
15 commence on the twelfth day of January, one thousand eight
16 hundred and twenty-six
Page 44

17 Lemuel Pardee, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to 
18 commence on the twelfth (missing) January, one thousand eight 
19 hundred and twenty - six.
20 Thomas Hayes, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to
21 commence on the ____day of ____one thou -
22 sand eight hundred and twenty-six.
23 John Cabos, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to
24 commence on the sixth day of February, one thousand eight
25 hundred and twenty - six.
26 Peter Cleer, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to
27 commence on the nineteenth day of December, one thousand
28 eight hundred and twenty-five; to be paid in the same manner
29 as the revolutionary pensioners who have been placed on the
30 pension list are now paid, and under such restrictions as now
31 are, or may hereafter be prescribed by law.
Page 45

referred to the secretary of war.  There appears no appropriation in the act requiring the soldier to be placed on the pension list; unless a surplus in the general appropriation for the pay of pensions.  This cannot be advanced must remain for a (illegible) appropriation.
A. J.
Page 46

Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.  That the secretary of War be authorized and directed to place the name of Peter Cleer on the roll of revolutionary pensions and to cause him to be paid at the rate of eight dollars per month to commence on the nineteenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and twenty five
Page 47

Washington March 14th 1831
Dear Sir:
During past session of Congress I obtained the passage of a law giving a Pension to an old Soldier by the name of Peter Clear beginning from 1825 .  There is now due to him about 500$, which they acting Secretary of War (Gen Eaton being sick) declines to pay out of the pension fund.  Being just about the leave the city, it is impossible for me to see the acting Secretary of War upon the subject, and I take the liberty to appeal to you to see the old soldier properly dealt with.  I enclose a rough draft of a copy of the Law, which like most of the pension laws contains no appropriating clause, intending that the payment shall be made out of the general appropriate for pensions leaving the old man to your kindness
I am with great respect your ob. serv. 
Benjamin C Howard
Gen: Andrew Jackson
Pres U. S.
Page 48

(copy)
An Act for the relive of Peter Cleer, of Maryland.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled that the Secretary of War be authorized and directed to place the name Peter Cleer on the roll of revolutionary pensions, and to cause him to be paid at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the ninetieth day of December one thousand eight hundred and twenty five.  
approved March 2 1831.
Seal
A true copy of the Roll in the Office
Department of State 
March 5, 1831
(Signed) Daniel Brent CC
True copy from the certified copy of the act filed in the pension office.
J L Edwards
War Dep Pen Office
March 7 1831
Page 49

Baltimore October 19th 1829
Peter Cleer the bearer of this an old revolutionary soldier who volunteered his services in Paris unider the Proclamation of Doctor Franklin in 1780 came opver with LaFayette and Count DeGrasse served under Washington the remainder of the war; was wounded in the affair with Tarteton 46 years ago, beside the Battles of Long Island White Plains, honourably discharged in Delaware State in 1783, he has never received any pension although he petitioned congress as early as 1806 since which time he repeatedly applyed to congress, who in 1825 and 26 twice reported a bill in the lower house and passed as the journals will shew, as also certified by the member for Baltimore City and County but when his claim was sent tot he senate was rejected or not acted on, as the committee always put his claim with a list of doubtfull claimants. When he and Major Foloresy are the only survivors know of his corps, he has lived in this county ever since is now 76 years old, having passed through much affliction from want.  he now wishes to make a last effort by getting the signatures of those who know him and asking assistance from those humane persons who will give him any sum they may feel at
Page 50

Liberty to give, to enable him to Travel to those place is Pennsylvania Maryland and Delaware where he has lived many years. and finally to enable him to live and prosecute his claim in washington the next session of Congress, which is to be hoped will not pass over without doing him Justice one more session.  Whoever has seen Doctor Franklin living or his likeness, will see in this old veteran a striking likeness of features- it is hoped this appeal to the humane will not be made in vain as he will shew his papers to any who will doubt the above state of facts, it is a humiliating fact he has lived in penury and went for 40 years with the American government his debtor "To do good and communicate forget not, for with such sacrifice God is well Pleased."
Page 51

July 28
(stamp)
(illegible)

Peter Cleer
D. C. wh

J. L. Edwards Esq
Pension Office
Washington
Page 52

Alexandria July 27, 1836.
Sir:
Peter Cleer, one of the Revolutionary Pensioners on your Rolls died on the 24 inst. His widow, who is very poor, desires me to write and request you to let her know whether she can draw the portion of pension from March last, when last payment was made him, to the time of his death.
Very respectfully
Your Ob. Serv.

Please address your reply to - R Johnston
P.S. I think he was an invalid pensioner.  Please inform me whether there is any provision for the widow as such.
R J
Page 53

Peter Clare
31 1827
Ref Commissioner of Pensions
To The Honourable THe Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States 
Washington
was reported upon favourable at the last session.
Petition of Peter Clare Pension
Page 54

TO the Honourable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, now in Session.
The humble petition of Peter Clare a soldier of the Revolutionary War respectfully request, that feeling confidence in the justice of his claim to a pension for services rendered during the war of the Revolution, he memorialized the Congress of the U. S.; in the year 1806 or 1807 being then unsuccessful, he again petitioned under the act of March 1818, and continued to apply at every succeeding session from that time when at length at the last session, say the legion of 1826, the merits of your petitioners claim was recognized by the Committee of Military Pensions, of which the hono M Burgess  was chairman, reported favourably a bill predicated therefore passed the House of Representees placing your petitioner on the Revolutionary Pension List and the Bill sent to the Senate test at too late a period of the session to be acted upon before their time.  Your petitioner being far advanced in years and in a state of penury which he forbears to mention, humbly begs leave to recall the attention of the Honourable House, especially the Senate to the Bill passed in his favour at the (illegible) by the House of Representatives a foresaid with a hope the same may be finally passed, so that he may be at last to receive some remuneration for his voluntary exile from his native country in company with the Gallant, now venerable and revered LaFayette, and the wound which disabled his hand, thereby rendering him a cripple and for which services and injury received in assisting to obtain the independence
Page 55

of these united states he has received no compensation since he received an Honourable discharge at Washington in the State of Delaware at the close of the war within hath he received the Bounty or Bounty land promised, or arrears of pay due him at the time. 
By passing the aforementioned Bill and placing your petitioner on the Pension list and as in duly will ever pray and soforth.  
Peter Clare
Rec'd 20th Dec 1827
Page 56

Peter Clare
Certificate of 
Naturalization
Page 57

State of Maryland,
City Of Baltimore to wit:
At a Baltimore City Court begun and held at the Court House in the City of Baltimore, in and for the City aforesaid, on the first Monday of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight, for the trial of all felonies and other crimes, offences and misdemeanors committed in the city of Baltimore
The Honorable Nicholas Brice, Chief Judge 
William McMechen and
Alexander Nisbet   Associate Judges 
Among other were the following proceedings to wit:
Be it remembered, that on the fourth day of October in the year aforesaid Peter Clare a nice of France and at present residing in the City of Baltimore, appeared in open Court here, and applied to be admitted to become a citizen of the United States.  And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court here, that the said Peter Clare was a resident within the limits under the jurisdiction of the United States, between the fourteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and two, and the eighteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twelve, and that he hath continued to reside within the same.  And it also appearing to the satisfaction of the Court here, upon the testimony Aquilla Jones and George Keyser citizens of the United States, that the said Peter Clare hath continued to reside within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States, five years at least, and one year at least immediately preceding this application, within the State of Maryland, that during the said term of five years, he hath resided in the City of Baltimore and hath conducted himself as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same and the said Peter Clare having declared on oath, taken in Open Court here, that he will support the Constitution of the United States; and that he doth absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince,. Potentate, State of Sovereignty whatever, and particularly all allegiance and fidelity of the King of France. 
In testimony that the foregoing is a true copy, take from the record of proceedings of the Court aforesaid, I subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, to this Certificate of Naturalization, this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Twenty Eight.  

William Medcalf 
Clerk of the Court of Baltimore
Page 58

The Secretary of War
March 16, 1821
Pension Office
Page 59

Gen'l Andrew Jackson
Pres  U.S..
Page 60

referred to the
Secretary of
War. A. F
March 18th 1831

Set the arrears
of Pensioner due
Peter Cleer
(illegible) 2nd March
1831, be paid-
Mr Edwards
will instruct
the Pension Dept
Accordingly
Btr Randolph
Page 61

To the President of the United States
The Memorial  of Peter Cleer one of the few surviving soldiers
of the Revolution respectfully represents, that after repeated
application to Congress for ten years & bill was finally
passed for his relief during the past session and approved
the 20 day of March last, by which he was placed upon
the pension roll, at the rate of $8 per month to date
from
the 19th day of December 1825. The bill however
omitted to make a specific appropriation for the purpose
and the Secretary of war not having estimated for
his case, declines to discharge the claim directed by the
act out of the general fined appropriated for 
revolutionary pensions, he has received a certificate 
authorizing him to receive $8 per month payable on the
4th day of March and 4th day of September which
being issued from the War Office on the 7th March 
preclude him from receiving one cent until the 4th day
of September next, and the decision of the Secretary will
compel him to wait for the payment of his arrearages until 
the ensuing session of Congress. In the mean time his 
age and many infirmities render it most probable
he will not live to see either of those periods,
if the clemency of the President is not extended to
him, he must struggle them the few remaining days
of his existence depending for his bread upon the 
humanity of strangers and at last go down
to the grave
without the means of procuring the rites of decent sepulture.  He has incurred debts by visiting Washington
to the amount of about $100, the payment of which is
demanded, and unless the President will kindly take
his case into consideration and cause the amount which the justice of his country has awarded to be paid him,
he is in danger of ending his miserable existence in a
Prison,
in that country, whose infant liberties were nourished 
with his blood.  Those who stood upon his right
and his left in days of peril, and whose 
sympathies might now prompt to the relief of his necessities
where are they, 
the echo of the tomb answers, where are
they.  They have followed their great leader to the
world of spirits; he looks around him
but he see only
them
Page 62

the faces of Stangers.  Overcome by present distresses, appalled
by the anticipation of impending evils, he humbly throws
himself upon the consideration of the President, confident
that he will not fail to receive from him, all the relief
which under the circumstances of the case, he may feel
himself authorized to extend to him
Peter Cleer
Page 63

To the Honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of 
America, in Congress assembled-
The Petition of Peter Cleer now
residing in Baltimore CIty in the 
State of Maryland
respectfully sets forth.
That in the year 1778, your Petitioner was
Enlisted in France in Captain Esle's company,
in the Corps of the Duke De Lazegum 
for the service of the United States of 
America. (That the said Corps was raised
in France under a proclamation & engagement
of Benjamin Franklin Esqr then the
minister of the U.S. in France that ask
the soldiers enlisted in it to serve during the
Revolutionary war, should be placed
on the Continental Establishment & be
entitled to the same pay as well as all other
allowances made to the soldiers of the
U.S. Continental army upon their becoming
Citizens of the said United States. That
your Petitioner enlisted under the faith
of such engagement, and at the time of
his enlistment was promised the same
quantity of land that Congress had engaged
or should give to the American soldiers
That your Petitioner arrived in the U.S.
with his Corps in the year 1780 and continued 
to serve during the whole of the 
Revolutionary war and during such service
was severely wounded. That upon
his arrival he took the oath of allegiance 
to the U..S. and upon the conclusion
of the war was honorably discharged =
Page 64


and has since become and is now a citizen 
of the United States. That he never received
of the Land promised to him, & which 
Congress allow to the Revolutionary Soldiers
That he is now old poor and infirm and
unable to support himself by manual labour
and conceives himself entitled to some
compensation for his suffering & service 
the cause of the U.S.  That believing
himself fairly entitled to the Pension allowed
by the late act of Congress to the soldiers
of the Revolutionary army he applied
for support but was informed that his case
is not embraced within the provision of
that act.  He therefore prays your
Honorable body pass an act to place
him upon the pension List of U. S. as
Revolutionary Soldier or to make
such other allowance to him as may
be thought right & just. The Documents
shewing his services in the Revolutionary War
are hereto annexed.
your Petitioner with &c
Peter Cleer
Baltimore 4th January 1822
Page 65

We the undersigned subscribers have examined the case of Peter Clear and find that he has been afflicted for several years past with the disease denominated hernia, which renders him unable at his advanced period of life to ear a livelihood.  He also exhibits several wounds which he sates were received during the revolutionary war while serving in the legion commanded by Duke De Luzerne.
J Bain MD
Baltimore 2nd Dec. 1825
Thomas Bailey Jus Peace
in the city of Baltimore  M G Bear
State of Maryland SS
I Thomas Bailey one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the city of Baltimore do certify that Doctors Bain and Bear whose signatures are above written, are respectable practicing Physicians in the City of Baltimore and credible witnesses- also that the above certificate under oath, and that they are the attendant physicians at the "Baltimore Dispensary" Given under my hand and seal this second day of December 1825 Thomas Bailey seal
Page 66

Duplicate
Copy
Page 67

To the American Congress
This petition of your subscriber, respectfully represents that he
came over to this Country in the year 1780, having volunteered
his services, with others, who came over from France with
Lafayett and Genl Loshong (Duke Laguze) to unite with the Americans
in fighting the Battly of their country, to gain their independence
The French assistant with whom he was joined
came more immediately under the command of Washington
at the White Plains, Long Island. N York in 1781, and
your petitioner was one who continued to serve in the
army during the whole of the war, and was after the
surrender of Cornwallis; honorably discharged in the
State of Delaware in 1783. But for the whole of his
said services, he never has, as yet, rec'd from the
American Govant, any remuneration. He waited on
Lafayette, while on his recent visit to the states, both 
in Baltimore & Washington, who recognized him, and
to whom he related all the circumstances on which
this petition is predicated-- stating to him that
he had never rec'd any pay whatever. Lafayett observed
you ought to have rec'd it long since, and that
he would speak to some of the members of Congress,
in order to see me righted. Agreeable to Doctor
Franklin's proclamation, while Minister in
France, which promised to all volunteers, who
world embark in the cause of American Independance, 
Bounty and Bounty Lands. And not
doubting that the American Govern would most
honorably & freely remunerate those who embarked
in the cause of her Independence & also honorable
pay them for their services "when the storm of
man was one " I fearless entered and fought
and now come forward with an honest boldness
for the fulfillment of said nation's promise,
even from an act of a late date 1818
promising to redeem the pledge, made long before
Page 68

and which Washington, the Father of his Country
pronounced to be a debt of gratitude, to honorably
reward the faithful Veterans of the Revolutionary army
wounded also in defending the cause of an adopted
County, in an engagement near Yorktown (the British
forces, or rather the Dragoons, commanded by Colo
Charlton, and which country he has never left, from
the time of embarking in all cause, but remained as a
citizen of the same, with good credit, paying his
regular taxes, as can be made to appear from original
Certificate. But being now far advanced in age,
and his hairs blossoming for the grave-- and from
uncontnotable events, reduced to the very lowest
state, in his pecuniary circumstances, and means for
support, poor and penniless, he cannot but believe
that the American Government will now honorably 
reward him for his past services, by granting him
a pension, agreeable to his disability from his
wounds rec'd in defending its cause, as well also, to
grant him his Bounty of Bounty lands, and his
regular monthly pay for his services, while engaged
in their cause-- and as in duty bound, your
petitioner will ever pray.

SS. By way of memo in order to refresh the memory of
the Committee, before whom my petition will be laid I merely
remark, that all the French troops, who came over with
Lafayette or Genl Loshong, took the oath of allegiance to the
American Govermt, required by its constitution, immediately
on their arrival in America: and altho they came over
in the fleet commanded by Count D Crass, who also brought
over the kings troops, yet we were, in no  way attached
or belonging to them. This remark is made, purely to distin (illegible) as belonging the volunteer joined with
Page 69

Peter Mills, Captain in the Revolutionary war
and now a pensioner under Goverment, do hereby certify
that having served as a Captain during the whole
of the war, consequently had are opportunity of being
intimately acquainted with many connected with
many with the army I do say and affirm that
I well knew a man by the name of Peter Cleer, a
Frenchman who came over to our country, when
we most wanted help, with Lafayette and Genl
Loshong (Lanzun), to unite with us as a soldier in fighting
the battles of our Country; and from my own 
individual observations of natural connection with the
army, I will strongly and honestly add my own
testimony, in conjunction with the faithful history
of our was, that the French Allies, with whom
Mr Clear came over, and was united, done us
much good (illegible) (illegible)
a narrow chance to establish our independence.
and after a lapse of many years. Mr Cleer calling 
on me, but a few days since, I perfectly recognized
him, which brought to my mind fresh
indeed! the events of the war, as well as revived
my uniform sentiments of gratitude towards those
of the French nation, who so nobly volunteered
their services in gaining our Independence
also well remember having (illegible) Mr Cleer at the 
surrender of Cornwallis at Little York, being then 
gaged of united with the French Allies, with whom
he was first associated for the defense of our
American Independence

27th Dcr 1828
Peter Cleer
Washington City of Columbia is fully appear before
me the subscribed of the peace for the bounty
District of this Will and made oath
on the holy evangely of Almighty God that the above
Statement of fact
Page 70

James
Danelson's
Affirmation
Page 71

Chester County, ss.
Personally came before
subscriber one of the parties of the Peace
in and for the said County of Chester, James
Denelson, signed to this deposition, when on
his solemn affirmation doth say: That he
forty nine years of age, that he served his
the membership to the blacksmiths trade, in
the borough of Wilmington, State of Delaware
that he was there at the time the French troops
which aided the Americans against the Bristol
forces in the revolutionary war (illegible) in that leave in that he 
knew Peter Clear to belong to the French
squadron of Light horse, that he was a tailor by 
to trade and not leave to work at one Starnd's
opposite his master's shop and there the despondent became
acquainted with him the said Peter, and that
to know the said Peter to be the same
person who now heirs in Brandywine
township, County of Chester, Pennsylvania
that he is now poor, and infirm and in
his opinion has not the means of supporting
himself. And further saith not.
Jas Denelson

Affirmed before me
the 29th day of Dec. 1817
⎬C. Mowry J. P.

I Jesse John Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas
and for the County of Chester in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
do Certify that C. Mowry Esquire before whom the
two annexed Depositions of John Nicholas and Jos Denelson
were to him at the time of taking the said Depositions was a Justice
of the Peace duly commissioned and qualified to all whose of
act as such full faith and credit are and ought to be

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court at
West Chester the 8th day of April A.D. 1818.
Jesse John Prot
Page 72

Peter Ledeer
Revolutionary Soldier
Ref'd to the Comm'r on Rev.y Pensions

Jany 29 1823

Ref'd to comm'r of Revry pensions
with a notation

Dec 20 1824
Ref'd to Comm'r on Rev Pensions

Jan 21. 1825
Report eys an to lie

M Kim l3 Rev Pensions
Page 73

State of Pennsylvania
Chester County {illegible]

Before the subscriber one of the [illegible] Judges of the Court of Commonpleas in and for said County Seventh Judicial District, personally came John Keansy, a Native of Franch but not a citizen of the State of Delaware, aged seventy eight years -- and being duly [illegible] and [illegible] and say that he has been long acquainted with Peter Clors that he served as a [illegible] in a [illegible] commanded by Duke Delosang, which [illegible] was enlisted in France in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight [illegible] service of the United States, to be on the Continental [illegible], that they arrived in America in the year 1780, that the both [illegible] in the service of the United States until the year one thousand seven hundred & eighty three, when he the said [illegible] was regularly discharged at Wilmington in the State of Delaware.
Sworn & subscribed this first day of Dec. 1879 before Th Rimey   Johan Knowles
Page 74

Application for a New Certificate
District of Columbia
County of Washington ss.
On this Sixth day of September 1834, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Washington aforesaid personally appeared Peter Claar who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commended by Captain [illegible] of horse under the command of the Duke de Lausanne in the service of the United States in the Revolution; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of ____________________ that he received a certificate of that fact under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which certificate was lost on or about the fourth day of March 1834 at or on his way to the Branch bank [illegible] at Washington City or that it has been about the same period mislaid by him --
Peter Claar X his mark
Sworn and subscribed to before me, the day and year aforesaid
James [illegible]

Notes. -- The last four blanks are left for the applicant to set forth the time, place and manner of the loss or destruction of the original certificate.

The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be properly authenticated.

[  ] If the Pensioner has never received a formal certificate, but has drawn his pension on a mere notification, as was the case in a few instances many years ago, he should leave out the above words in italics, and insert, in lieu thereof, "but has never received a formal certificate, and now wishes to obtain one."

The Pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identify.  The person must swear that he well knows him to be the same person described in the above affidavit.  The Magistrate must certify that the deponent is a person of veracity.  This oath must also be authenticated by the certificate of the proper officer, under his seal of office, setting forth that the officer before whom the affidavit may be made is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, or Notary Public, as the case may be.

When a person acting as an agent or Attorney for a pensioner, loses the certificate, the affidavit of that person is also required, which must be authenticated as above.

[   ] In every case where the Clerk of the Court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should be sent with the papers.

[   ] Mode of authenticating papers. -- In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officers who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a peace of tape or small 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.

[   ] No attention will be given to applications from persons who act as agents, unless they are known at the War Department, or are vouched for as respectable persons by some one who is known to the Department.