Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9056, Joseph Harper, Del. Md. & 1812
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(8-1776)
Service
Del. 
Md. 
+1812
Contents
Harper, Joseph
Hetty 
Number
N. 9056
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Delaware 995
Hetty Harper
widow of Joseph Harper
Dela
who was a corporal in the Revolution 
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 88 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of July 1863 and sent to J. L. Harper Dover, Delaware
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A. 
Vol. 1. Page 146. 
Reported Deas. Let to JL. Harper aug 18 1843- 
JL Harper Oct 7 1856 - same
Jany 16 1856-
Jos. L. Harper. Den 19/87
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A
State of Delaware Kent County ss. On this tenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before the subscriber, Judge of a Court of Record of the said state and County, Hetty Harper a resident of the Town of Dover in the County and State aforesaid age 69 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." - 
That she is the widow of Joseph Harper, who was a soldier of the Revolution, now deceased, That she does not know the time her said husband entered the service nor when he left it, but she has often heard him speak of his sufferings in the army, and his continuing in it about four years altogether. That she has heard him say he was near Col. Hasket when he fell, and has particularly heard him speak in terms of high commendation of a Col Smallwood, whom he always praised as a brave man, and deponent suppoves her said husband was a good deal under the command of that officer in said war. That she had heard her said husband mention many other officers, that he served under,  be she cannot now remember any of their names or ranks, ex
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A
-cept a Captain Allen M. Lane, who she remembers obtained from her husband and a Captain Course some statement, many years ago, of a matter connected with said M. Lane, in which he (M. Lane) seemed much interested that occurred at the Battle of Water Plains where, (it appeared from their conversation), they were all three present. That deponent has heard her husband say, that he resided in this Town (Dover) Kent County and State of Delaware, when he entered the services in Col. Smallwood, regiment, which coaeneamped in the edge of the town. That she believes her said husband was a volunteer, but is not certain and has heard him say that his brother David and his two cousins Allen and John Harper, when he joined Col. Hasletts regiment, joined it also, that they were find young men, and that Allen after being but a short time in the war, returned home with a broken conviction and soon after died. - 
 That her husband was always fond of talking of the war and generally in the latter years of his life, entertained his company with talking of the battles he had fought and the many dangers through providence he had weaped, when he had seen so many of his brave comrades fall about him. That deponent has heard her husband say, that he
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was in said engagements in the Revolution and among them, she recollects Trenton, Princeton White plains and Long Island, and has on repeated occasions, heard him speak of the sufferings of the Soldiers for the want of warmer clothes + shoes in some battle, which was fought while there was snow on the ground, and that his own sufferings were so great on that occasion from the melted snow, for the want of good shoes, that he would have been glad at the time, if a cannon ball had relieved him. That deponents uncle, Col. Charles Pope was a frequent visitor at deponents husbands house, and also a Captain John Pettigrew both officers in the Revolution, and she has often heard then fight their battles over again, and relate many incidents connected with their service in the war. - That deponents husband often administered to the wants of a poor wounded soldier who often came to his house (named John Shelton) before, and indeed after his Country granted him a pension. That her husband always thought and said that said Shelton has assisted him in crossing a creek at the Battle of Long Island, while retreating
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A
from the English, when he might have been taken prisoner or killed. That deponent is not sufficiently acquainted with the Geography of the different theaters of the War of the Revolution, to say and name the Country through which her husband marched, but she infers he marched in Jersey from the fact of his stating that on one occasion a man had chained his pump handle in that state, to prevent as he supposed, the soldiers getting water, and the officers had some difficulty in preventing the solders from tearing his house down. - That deponents husband never would apply for a pension, that he always said it was not for money  he had served his Country, and that he could live without it. - That this deponent has no documentary evidence in support of her claim. - That her said husband head for more than thirty years a responsible office in this town under the State Government and was appointed to it and kept in it, (not with standing by being often appointed to the party in power politicks,) in consequence of his Revolutionary services. - That she was married to the said
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A
Joseph Harper, her said husband, by Parson Jacob Brush, at her uncle Col. Popes, in Smyrna, on the 24th of January 1790, and live with him in the utmost harmony, until the 9 of June 1824, when he died. - That a Mrs. Stevens residing here, was present at our marriage, and is the only person that she can remember, who is now living, that was there on that occasion. That the time of her said marriage is stated as above mentioned, in the hand writing of her said husband in the family bible, which is in the possession of the deponent's son Joseph L. Harper. That this deponent was never afterwards married. - 
Sworn + Subscribed Hetty Harper
10 august 1838 Cufon Me
W.H.J. Comegys
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MMMHS
Rev. &1813, Wars Section 
March 1, 1926

Janet H. Stine
44 South Gore Ave., 
Webster Groves, Missouri

Madam: 
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 9056 it appears that Jose Harper, while a resident of Dover, Kent County, Delaware, enlisted, February 9, 1776 as a Corporal in Captain Joseph Vaughan's Company, Colonel John Haslet's Delaware Regiment, and also served in Colonel Smallwood's Maryland Regiment and in Captain Allen McLane's Delaware Company and under other officers whose names are not given, a part of the time as Sergeant; was in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, and five others not name, and served until the spring of 1780. 
He was Lieutenant in Captain John Furbee's Volunteer Company of "Veterans" in Dover, Delaware for the defense of that place in the War of 1812. 
He died June 9, 1824 in Dover, Delaware in the sixty-eight year of his age. 
Soldier married January 24, 1790 in Smyrna, Delaware, 
(On side of letter)
Miss Nelson said use here officers, 1st Col. H-, 2nd Col. Smallwood, + 3 Capt McLane, as I have them -
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Miss Hetty West. They were married at the home of her uncle, Charles Pope, who had been a Colonel in the Revolution. She was allowed pension on her application executed August 10 1838, at which time she was aged sixty-nine years and living in Dover, Delaware with her son Joseph L. Harper, who was born in 1800 and was their only child. In 1857 he was living at 10 Duane St., New York City. She died Aug-13-1843- 
Soldier's brother David Harper, and his cousins Allen and John Harper, all of Dover, Delaware, also served in the Revolution. 
Respectfully, 
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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MMM+F
Rev.&1812 Wars Section
November 10, 1926
Janet H. Stine 
44 South Gore Ave., 
Webster Groves, MO. 

Madam: 
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 9056 of Hetty Harper, widow of Joseph Harper, it appears that said Joseph's brother David and his two cousin Allen and John Harper all served in the Revolution and Allen died during said war, or shortly thereafter. 
This Bureau is unable to furnish a history of a soldier of the Revolution unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services, and a careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the services of the above named Allen, David and John Harper, or of Jacob Rotheram. 
Respectfully, 
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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September 11, 1926
Winfield Scott, Commissioner
Pension Department
Dear Sir, 
I would like a copy of the pension record of David Harper of Dover, Delaware, mentioned in the Rev. War Claim W 9056, of his brother Joseph Harper, and of his cousins Allen and John Harper also of Dover. 
Have you any record of Jacob Rotheram of New Castle County, Delaware. Thanking you for any information and if there is a charge for this service please let me know, I remain
 Yours sincerely, 
Janet Harper Stine
44 South Gore Avenue
Webster Groves, Missouri
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Webster Groves, Missouri
January 17, 1926

Bureau of Pensions
Department of Interior

Is there anything on file concerning Joseph Harper of Delaware and his widow Hetty Harper who received a pension for Revolutionary Service.
Reference: - "Delaware Archives, Military". 
Page 57
A Muster Roll of Capt Joseph Vaughan's Co. and Dilawar Regiment of Continental Troops commanded by Col. John Haslet, and now in the Service of the United Colonies in Barracks at Dover, Del. 
April 12, 1776
Date of commission & enlistment.  Corporals
Feb 9, 1776                                Joseph Harper
" 10, 1776                            John Harper } cousins
"  10, 1776                           Allen Harper } cousins
Page 733
List of names of Delaware Pensions complied from the Report of the Secretary of War: "Act 7 July 1838 Hetty Harper, widow of Joseph Harper Corporal also the same under  "Act March 3, 1843." Amt. of Pension per Annum Residence Kent Co. 
Often pension records contain some family data.
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2. Is there anything on file concerning James Harper or his widow Catherine R. Harper for service in the War of 1812. 
The service would be from Delaware, but he later moved to Lexington Kentucky, and his widow lived there until her death about 1846. 
Thanking you for any information you may send me, I am 
Yours Sincerely, 
Janet Harper Stine
44 South Gore Avenue, 
Webster Groves, Missouri

{Not as described
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1926 - Mch. 1 Hist: to Janet Stine MMM+F
1926 - Nov - 10 - Janet H. Stine
no pen. claim for Alllen, David + John Harper named in - MM- 
Revy Widow, &c. 
File No 9056 Hetty Harper Wid. of Joseph Harper
Corpl. Rev War
Act: Moch. 3743
Index: - Vol. A, Page 306
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Delaware 114
Hetty Harper
widow of Joseph Harper dee
who was a pensioner under the Act of 
and who died on the 9th June 1824
of hliver in the State of Delaware who was a Corporal in the Company commended by Captain Vaughan of the Reg. commanded by Col. Haslet in the Delaware line for 8 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Delaware at the rate of 88 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued on the 30 day of Aug 1838 and sent J.L. Harper Ssq Present
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $176.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 sept. "   44.00
                                                   -----------
                                                      $220.00
Act July 7, 1838. 
Recorded by DD. Addison Clerk, Book A Vol. 50. Page 173
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9056
Hetty Harper wid of Joseph Harper For 1776 muster roll of Capt Vaughan See files of rolls to which transferred
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New York, Dec 8 [faded]

Hon. G. C. Whiting, Comish Pensions,

Sir, My father, Joseph Harper enlisted as a corporal in the [word cut off] Feb. 1776, in Capt Lanahan's Co. of the Delaware line.  He never applied for, or received a pension.  I am the only survivor of his children.  Would I be entitled to the pension which my father would have received, if he had claimed it, in his lifetime?  My mother, Hetty Harper, his widow, on proof of my father's services in the Revolution, received a pension up to the time of her decease.

The State of Mary-     [end of page]
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Letter is too faded to be read with accuracy.
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Letter is too faded to be read with any accuracy.
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Dover, Del. Aug 15. 1843.

Hon. J. S. Edwards,
Dear Sir

It is with extreme regret I have to communicate the decease of my mother Hetty Harper, who departed this life on Sunday last the 13 inst.-  I am Sir, her only surviving issue and heir, but I presume before entitling me to receive the amount due on her Pension Certificate, administration on her assets will be necessary.-  If so, you will please advise me, and if any particular forms are prescribed by the Department, to forward them, so as I may take early steps to make a close of the matter.

Your compliance will, Sir, very much oblige.
Yours VS.-
J. L. Harper
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New York, Dec. 11. 1856.

Sir,
My mother Hetty Harper, widow of my father Joseph Harper, (who was a soldier of the American Revolution, was entitled to and received a Pension up to the time of her death, which occurred some 20 years since.  She was a resident of the State of Delaware and on the Pension Roll of that State.-  I am her only survivor and issue.  Does her Pension descend to me?-  I will be obliged to you Sir, for an early reply, directed to 549 first avenue.-

Respectfully
Your obt servt
Jos. S. Harper

N. B.  Should I be entitled, you will Sir please forward to me in your reply, the forms to be used to prove my identity.-
J. L. H.
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New York  Sept. 29. '36

Sir,

My mother Hetty Harper, widow of my father Joseph Harper, who was in nine battles during the American Revolution, received a five years pension on proof of my father's services.  You will find her name inscribed on the Pension Roll of the State of Delaware.

I am their only survivor.  Will you be kind enough Sir, to inform me whether by any act of Congress, her pension descends to me from the time of her decease?

I am Sir, Respectfully,
your obt. serv't
J. L. Harper
549 - 1st Avenue.

N. B.  Under the circumstances, are there any act or acts of Congress, by which the only son of an old Revolutionary veteran can be benefitted?-  You will greatly oblige me Sir by an early reply.-
J. L. H.
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Free

Dover Del. 
Edwards, 
Comm of Pensions
Washington City
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Dover, Del. April 19. 1843.
 
Hon J. L. Edwards
Commr. Pensions, 
Dear Sir, 
I enclose to you the declaration of my mother; which I hope you will find in proper form and duly authenticated, to enable her to receive the benefit of the late act of Congress: 
I am Sir, very
respectfully, 
Your obt. serv't,
J.L. Harper.
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Deposition of Martin Rash
-23 Aug. 1832.
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Martin Rash aged 77 years appears before me and being ["sworn" crossed out] ^affirmed, Saith, that he was well acquainted with Joseph Harper, esquire, of Dover in the State of Delaware and had been acquainted with him and resided within a few miles of him for about 44 years before his death.  That Mr. Harper was a soldier of the revolution, and deponent has always heard him spoken of by his neighbors and people generally, as having been a faithful Soldier in said war.  That it has been generally understood that he served a long time in the revolution, but deponent does not know how long.  That deponent has on many occations heard Mr. Harper tell of being in the Army and the Battles he was in, and has particularly heard old Mr. Shelton, a badly wounded Soldier, who resided near deponent and connected with his family, say that he served in the Army with Mr. Harper in the revolution and that Mr. Harper was in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton and Princeton and was a good Soldier.-  And deponent further Saith that Mr. Shelton has frequently told deponent that he was the means of saving Mr. Harpers life at the Battle of Long Island.  
Martin Rash

Affirmed and Subscribed the 23rd August A. D. 1838 before
Thos. Stevenson Jus. P.
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State of Delaware}
Kent County ss.}

(Note:  A round stamp has been affixed but is illegible)

I John H. Eccleston Prothonotary of the Superior Court of said County, do hereby certify that Thomas Stevenson, esquire, before whom the aforegoing deposition was taken and subscribed, was at the time of taking and subscribing the same, a Justice of the Peace of said County and State, and that full faith and credit is justly due to all lawful transactions done by him as such.-  

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, this 23d day of August A. D. 1838.
John H. Eccleston Pro
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Wilmington  Aug 19th. 1838.

Dear Sir.

Your letter of the 14th inst. on the subject of the late Pension law was duly recd.  I have no distinct recollection of the provisions of the Act and have not yet recd a copy of the laws of the last Session, nor have I been able to meet with a copy of that particular law, so that it is not in my power to reply satisfactorily to your inquiries.  Mr Edwards is the Commissioner of pensions and you will find him a prompt and attentive officer.  To him you will require no other interaction than that of having business which it is his duty to attend.  I know no one in Washington who could render you any assistance in the matter nor will you require any.  If the case of your mother comes within the      [end of letter}
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provisions of the act, you will have nothing to do but to present to the Commissioner the evidence of the fact, of which he is the Judge, and the business is concluded.-

If you should meet with any difficulty in the case, and it is in my power to give you any assistance or render you any service in relation to it, it will  give me much pleasure to do so.-

Yours respectfully
Rich H Bayard

Joseph L Harper Esq
Dover
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State of Delaware}
Kent County Ss}   On this nineteenth day of 
April in the year of our
Lord, one thousand eight
hundred and forty three, personally appeared
before the subscriber, a magistrate of the coun
ty of Kent and State aforesaid. Hetty Harper
a resident of the town of Dover in the county
and State aforesaid, aged about seventy
five years, who being first duly sworn ac-
-cording to law, doth on her oath make the 
following declaration in order to obtain the
benefits of the provision made by the act of
Congress, passed on the 3d of March 1843, gran
-ting pensions to widows of persons who ser-
-ved during the Revolutionary War. - That 
she is the widow of Joseph Harper, esquire
who was a corporal in Colonel Smallwood's
Regiment in the Revolution, and received
a pension of eighty eight dollars per an-
-num under the act of July 7, 1838. -
She further declares that she is still
a widow.~
Sworn to and subscribed}     Hetty Harper
on the day and year a-}
-bove written before, -} 
Thos. Stevenson J.P.}

I Thomas Stevenson, magistrate, do hereby certify
that the above named declarant, Hetty Har
-per, is personally known to me. 
Thos. Stevenson J.P.

State of Delaware}
Kent County, SS-}    I  Liston A. Houston, Clerk of
the Peace and also Clerk of the
Court of General Sessions, of said
County and State, do certify and
make known, that Thomas Steven
-son, esquire, before whom the above
declaration of Hetty Harper, was
made, was at the time and still
is, a magistrate of said County and State, duly com
missioned, and that his signature to the same
is in his won proper hand writing.-
In testimony where of the seal of the said
court is hereunto affixed.
Dover, April 19. 1843.~      L.A. Houston C.P.

[circular image of a stamp in lower left portion of this document; stamp is illegible]
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Depositions taken
on the
Application of Mrs Hetty Harper,
for a PENSION.



J. L. Harper
Page 32

B
Cornelius P. Comegys, esquire, Governor of the State
of Delaware, aged 58 years, residing near Dover
Delaware, being sworn saith that he was well
acquainted with Joseph Harper esquire of said
town for about 20 years before his death. That
the said deceased was a resident of the said
Town of Dover for many years and held respon
-sible offices under the State Government. That
mr. Harper was always reputed a Soldier
of the war of the Revolution. That deponent
has never known or heard his character as
a good and brave soldier in said war in 
the least impeached, but has always heard
him spoken of as having rendered good
and faithful service to his country.. That
deponent has heard an old wounded soldier
of the Revolution (John Shelton) speak of the
said Joseph Harper as his fellow soldier in
battle. That deponent is well acquainted with 
mrs Hatty Harper widow of mr. Harper, a highly 
and much respected old lady. who resides with 
her son Joseph L. Harper in Dover, and who has
never married since the death of her said husband:-
Sworn & Subscribed this           CP. Comegys
10th day of August 1838
Lefon mc    W.H.J. Comegys
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C
Myres Casson aged 82 years and upwards, being sworn
saith that he was intimately acquainted with Jos-
-eph Harper, late of Dover in Delaware, for a great
many years preceding his death. That mr. Har
-per was a soldier in the revolution, and depo-
-nent has always heard him spoken of as a 
brave one.- That deponent remembers the 
time that the said Joseph Harper and many
other young men joined the army and marched
from Dover, and thinks it was very soon after
the commencement of our troubles. That mr.
Harper did not return home for some years
after he marched away ^to stay any time,^ and deponent has
always understood among his brother soldiers,
and other people, that he was in the war
all the time he was gone from home. That
deponent has resided in Dover, and near
it, for the last 68 - years of his life, and 
with the exception of a short tour of duty in 
Capt Rodneys Volunteer company in the
Revolution, he has been but very little ab-
-sent. That deponent cannot remember nor
[crossed out: be] has he any data in his possession, by which
he can state the precise year in which
Mr. Harper & the other soldiers returned
from the war to Dover, he has an indistinct
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C
recollection however, of its being a short
time before the battle of Camden in
the South, as some of the soldiers soon
after their return from the northern cam
-paign, (among whom was Jacob Furbee
of Dover,) went South, and he has under-
-stood from Mr Furbee that he (Furbee)
was in the above mentioned battle. -
That deponent has frequently heard
Old Mr. Harper tell of his troubles and suffer-
-ings in the army, the many different times
he was engaged with the enemy, and his sur
-prize at escaping death. - That an old 
wounded soldier, John Shelton, has often 
told deponent of being in battle with
Mr. Harper, and having saved his life.
Myres Casson

Sworn & Subscribed 
before me this 10th day of
Aug. 1838.
W.H.J. Comegys
Page 35

D
John Reed, merchant, aged 50 years, residing in Dover in
the State of Delaware, being sworn, saith, he knew Joseph
Harper a resident of said town for about seventeen years
before his deccase. That he always heard the said
Joseph Harper spoken of by the people generally as hag-
-ing rendered faithful service to his country in the
Revolution. That the said Joseph Harper in his life-
-time has often told deponent of the many times, he
was engaged with the enemy in said war, and of
his sufferings in the army. That deponent has
on several occasions heard Capt. John Corse and
John Shelton, fellow soldiers of said Harper in the
Revolution (both of whom were wounded and depo-
nent believes pensioners) and both now dead,
say, that said Harper was a good soldier and
served about four years in said war. And
deponent further says that he has heard the said 
Shelton often boast of saving the said Joseph
Harper's life on the retreat of the American
Army at the battle of Long Island, by assisting
him over a creek, when the British were firing at them from the oposite bank.-
And deponent further states that the in-
scription on the Tomb of the said Joseph Harper
mentions the time of his decease, on the 9th
of June 1824, in the 68th year of his age. -
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D
That Hetty Harper his widow is living in Dover
aforesaid and unmarried. That she is a high-
ly respectable old lady, and an exemplary mem-
-ber of the Methodist Church, to which she
has belonged in this town for a period, ac-
-cording to common report ^of^ nearly forty years.
John Reed
Sworn & Subscribed
before me this 10th day of 
Aug 1838
W.H.J. Comegys
Page 37

E
Martin W. Bates attorney at law, aged 51 years, a
resident of Dover in the State of Delaware, being
sworn, deposeth and saith, that he has repeatedly
heard John Shelton say, that Joseph Harper late
of the said town of Dover in said State, was his
(Sheltons) fellow soldier in the revolution, and 
has particularly heard said Shelton speak of
having saved the life of Mr Harper at the termi
-nation of the battle of Long Island. That Shelton
was badly wounded in the army and received a
-pension until his death. That Joseph Harper
was generally spoken of in the neighborhoods
as a faithful soldier of the revolution. That he
is dead, and died according to the best of this de-
ponents recollection and belief in the summer of 1824. That his widow, a very respectable 
old lady, still resides in Dover aforesaid and
is unmarried.~
Martin W Bates

Sworn & Subscribed}
before me this 10th day}
of Aug 1838}
W.H.J.Comegys
Page 38

F
Henry M Ridgely, attorney at law, aged 59 years
a resident of Dover, Delaware, being sworn, saith
that he was well acquainted, from his infancy with
Joseph Harper who resided in Dover in said State
for many years previous to his death. That is
was generally believed that he was a soldier
in the revolutionary war, and was in several
engagements in said war.-
That deponent believes the said Joseph
Harper died in the year 1824, and that his 
widow Hetty Harper, is still living and unmar-
-ried. - That she was never married after
the death of her said husband. - That
he is well acquainted with er, and^that she^ has
to his knowledge, resided in this town
(Dover), for a grat many years past, and
is an Old lady of high standing and res-
-pectability.-  H.M. Ridgely
Page 39

G
James Kimmey aged 59 years and upwards, maketh
affirmation, that he was well acquainted with 
Joseph Harper a resident of dover in the State
of Delaware, that he was a soldier in the Revo-
-lutionary Army, and he has often heard the said
Joseph Harper speak of the battles he was in,
in the said war, and particularly of the battle of the "White Plains." That he distinctly recol-
-lects on one occasion, a conversation held
between the said Joseph Harper and a certain
John Shelton (another soldier of the said war
and who was badly wounded.) on the anniver-
-sary of said Battle, and heard them say, "be-
-fore that hour of the day ^they saw^ a many a poor
fellow bite the dust." - And deponent further
saith that the said Joseph Harper is dean
and that his widow Hetty Harper is still
living in the town of Dover in the State of 
Delaware aforesaid, and unmarried. -
James Kimmey

[crossed out: Sworn &] Affirmed & Subscribed}
before me this 10th day of Aug}
1838.}
W.H.J. Comegys
Page 40

H

Mary Stevens widow, of the Town of Dover, aged
71 years, being sworn, saith, that she was
present at the marriage of Joseph Harper
and Hetty West the present widow of said
Joseph Harper, deceased. That they were
married by Parson Brush at the House of
Colonel Pope of the Revolutionary Army, the
uncle of miss West, in Smyrna in the State 
of Delaware: that said marriage according
to the best of deponent's belief took place
in the winter of the year 1790.  That the
said Joseph Harper was an old soldier of
the revolution and served several years
in the war, but how may years deponent
cannot say.  That deponent well remembers
when Joseph Harper aforesaid, John Shelton, Mr.
McNatt, Peter Fox, Capt. John Corse, Peter Presley
Henry Bell and many other soldiers returned
to Dover after the war, and the rejoicings that
took place on that occasion and according
to the best of her recollection she believes it was
in the spring of 1780.  That the said Joseph
Harper kept old Mr. Shelton in clothes for
some years before his death, and willed him
his land in token of the respect and veneration
he had for him by assistance he had rendered
Page 41

H

rendered him at the Battle of Long Island.

That deponent has resided in the said
town of Dover for the last 59 years. That
the said Joseph Harper is dead and his wi-
dow Hetty Harper is living and resides in
this Town and is unmarred.

Mary Stevens

Sworn & Subscribed before }
me this 10th day of Aug }
1838 }
W.H.J. Comegys
Page 42

I

Elizabeth Welsh aged 76 years and upwards makes
oath, that she was well acquainted with old Mr.
Harper of Dover, Delaware and lived in the same
town with him nearly all her life.  That he was
a soldier in the old war and deponent has
always heard him spoken of, as a "good old
soldier".  That deponent distinctly remembers
the time the old gentleman (Mr. Harper), old
Mr. McNatt, Capt Furbee, her uncle Bell and
a great many other old soldiers came back
to Dover after the war, and she feels sure it
was in '80 as she was married to her first
husband the same year.  That the soldiers
on their return had a great frolick in Dover,
and well she remembers it, and the rejoicings
they had.  That Mr. Harper had the reputation
of serving in the war all the time of his being
absent from Dover until he returned home.
That the old man is dead, & his widow who is
much respected as a pious good old lady, is
still alive, and has never been married since
the death of her said husband.

Elizabeth Welsh

Sworn & Subscribed }
this 11th day of August 1838 }
before me }

W.H.J. Comegys
Page 43

K

Wesley McDowell aged 52 years of the Town of Dover, Delaware, being
affirmed, saith that he was well acquainted with Jo-
sept Harper a revolutionary soldier, who resided in this
Town for many years previous to his decease.  That he
has often heard Col. Allen McLane, Capt John Corse
and John Shelton who were in the war of the Revo
lution, speak of the said Joseph Harper as having
faithfully served his country in said war.  That
deponent has repeatedly heard the said McLane
Corse and Shelton mention that said Joseph
Harper was in the Battles of Trenton, Prince-
ton, Long Island and White Plains and served
in the army about four years, and was a
brave soldier.  That deponent has particularly
heard the said Joseph Harper commended by
Col. McLane for his good conduct and bravery in
the battle of White Plains and deponent fur
ther saith that the said Joseph Harper has often
told him of how he suffered for the want of
good shoes at the Battle of Trenton to protect his
feet from the snow, and of the slight manner
in which he was clad in said battle.  That the
said Joseph Harper is dead, his widow still living in
Dover aforesaid and unmarried.

Affirmed & Subscribed before  Wesley McDowell
me this 10th day of August 1838.
W.H.J. Comegys
Page 44

L

Matthew Manlove aged about 59 years being ^affirmed, saith that he was acquainted with Joseph Harper now deceased an old soldier of the Revolutionary War, & had been acquainted with him from his youth, and resided the principal part of his life near him.  That Deponent has often heard Capt. Corse, Old Mr. McNatt and John Shelton, old revolutionary soldiers, speak in the highest terms of old Mr. Harper's bravery in the war, and has heard them say that the old gentleman continued in the war about four years, or until the Army was ordered to the South.-  That he has heard Shelton say and oftentimes boast of saving Mr. Harpers life in the Battle of Long Island, and he knows that the old man Shelton received a great deal of charity in different ways from Mr. Harper up to the time he died.-  That Mr. Harper in his lifetime often told deponent of the many different battles he was in & how miraculously ^he had been preserved, & how strange he thought it was, that his constitution, which he never thought good, should have withstood so much fatigue & exposure without being more affected.-  That Mr. Harper always bore the character in the community in which he lived of being a gallant, brave        [end of page]
Page 45

and unflinching soldier in the Revolution.
That his military disposition continued
till the close of his life, and in [word struck out] our late
war was lieutenant of a volunteer com-
pany of "veterans", of which an older man
than himself (Jacob Furbee) was Captain,
got up, with a view of protecting Dover
from attack.  That old Mr. Harper and
deponent were members of the same
church for many years.  That deponent
is well acquainted with his widow
Hetty Harper, who is a pious old lady,
and has been a useful member of the
Methodist Church in this place for
a great many years.  That she has
never married since the death of her
said husband.

Matthew Manlove

Affirmed & Subscribed before }
me this 12 day of August }
1838. }
W.H.J. Comegys
Page 46

M

Joseph L Harper, son of Joseph Harper, esquire, de-
ceased, of Dover in the State of Delaware, makes oath
that the family record of his said late father is in
his possession, and has been kept by him since his
said fathers death.  That amongst other me-
morials in the large family bible of the deceas-
ed, of his family, there is the following entry,

"January the 24th 1790 then married
Joseph Harper and Hetty West."

That the said entry was made by his said father
and is in his proper hand writing & is here pro-
duced.

J. L. Harper
__________
Sworn & Subscribed this 12
of August 1838 before me  WHJ Comegys

The undersigned residents of Dover, Delaware, do
make oath and affirmation and certify, (having been
shown by Joseph L. Harper the family record of his said 
late father, containing the entry mentioned in the
above deposition, and being familiar with the hand
writing of said deceased) that the said entry,
in these words,

"January 24th 1790 then married
Joseph Harper and Hetty West."

is in the proper hand writing of the said
Joseph Harper, deceased.  That the said
Joseph
Page 47

M

Joseph Harper and Hetty his wife resided in this Town for many years, and lived together as man and wife from the time of their marriage until the death of the former in the Year 1824.-

 J  H M Ridgely
S  John Reed
S  Martin W Bates
A  James Kimmey
A  Matthew Manlove
S  W. K. Lockwood
S  Tho. L Temple
S  Saml Kimmey

The said H. M. Ridgely John Reed Martil W Bates William K Lockwood Thomas L. Temple & Samuel Kimmey Sworn, and the said James Kimmey and Mathew Manlove affirmed before me this 12th day of August A. D. 1838.
W. H. J. Comegys
Page 48

N

Joseph L. Harper aged 38 Years, son of Joseph Harper deceased, being sworn saith, that he had always resided with his said father from his birth, until the time of his decease.-  That his services in the Revolution was almost the constant theme of his fathers conversation, with all visitors at his house, particularly in the latter part of his life.  That he has heard his said father say that he first joined the army under Colonel Smallwood, and saw some hard service under that officer and afterwards enlisted in Col. Hasletts regiment in Dover, and Served altogether in the army about four Years, was very little absent on furlough, and not on the sick list during the time.-  That he has often heard his said father say that he was in the Battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton and Princeton and several other engagements amounting altogether to nine.-  That he was near his Col (Haslet) when he fell.  That old officers and soldiers frequently met at is fathers house to fight over their battles, and he recollects a Col. Allen McLane calling on Capt. Corse, an old soldier, and deponents father, and obtaining their depositions in relation to some statement in "Wilkinsons Memoirs", that reflected, if deponent
[end of page]
Page 49

N

recollects rightly, on Col McLane's conduct at
the Battle of White Plains.

That deponents father in his lifetime al-
ways held in the greatest veneration and respect
an old badly wounded soldier named John Shel-
ton, for having assisted with other soldiers, to get
him a passage across a creek, on the retreat of the
part of the American Army, to which he was at-
tached, at the Battle of Long Island.  That his
father before Shelton obtained a pension, assisted
him with clothes and other necessaries and indeed
was his chief support for a long time.

That deponent has, with the aid of the Sec-
retary of State, examined the records of the Executive
Department of this State, and can find no papers
relating to Col. Smallwoods regiment, but has
found a muster roll (of which there is a dupli-
cate) of Col. Hasletts regiment by which it appears
that his father enlisted in that officers regiment
and in Capt. Joseph Vaughans Company of Continen
tal troops, on the 9 February 1776, and was second
corporal of said company.  That deponent has been
unable to trace him further in the said Department
by reason of the very imperfect state of said papers,
many of them being destroyed and mislaid, many
of the remaining ones, so mutilated as to be dif-
Page 50

N

ficult to be understood and so dry rotted and tender as scarcely to bear being handled; and deponent further saith that in examining the said papers (and it was with a great deal of care) he could find fewer remaining of Capt Vaughans company than any others, and those in the most dilapidated condition.-  That deponent was not aware of his said father ever being a corporal until examining said muster roll, that he has heard him say, he was third second and first Serjeant [sic], but never went higher in the army.  That his father thought if his pretensions had been pushed, he could have obtained a commission in the Revolution.  That deponent has heard his said father say, that his brother David Harper and his two cousins Allen Harper and John Harper enlisted in Col. Hasletts regiment about the same time that he did, and in the same company, and that Allens constitution couldn't stand the hardships of the war, and after a short tour of duty in the army returned home and died shortly after the Battle of Trenton, in which battle deponent has heard his father say his ^own sufferings were very severe from the snow, for the want of tight shoes and that he and many other poor Soldiers were nearly barefootted[sic] at the time.-  That deponents
[end of page]
Page 51

N

father in consideration of his revolutionary servi-
ces held an important and responsible public
office in this State for upwards of thirty years
before his decease, and no Governor, altho adverse
with him in politicks ever removed him.  That
deponent since the recent law was passed
by Congress in favor of the widows of Revolution-
ary soldiers, has made the most diligent en-
quiry and has not been able either to hear of,
or find any commissioned officer or soldier, now
living, who served with his said father in the
war, on whom he could personally call for
proof of his fathers services.  That deponent
well remembers the exertions made by his said
father in this town (Dover) during the late war,
in raising a Volunteer Company of old men (of
which he was lieutenant) for the protection
of this Town and neighborhood, and his expression
of regret that he was not a young man again,
so as to enable him to perform more active
duty and again march away in defence of his
country.  That deponents mother Hetty Harper never
married after the death of deponents father, that she
has resided with deponent since the decease
of her said husband.

Sworn & Subscribed this 12th day } J. L. Harper
of August 1838 before me }
WHJ Comegys
Page 52

Continuation of Mrs. Hetty Harper's
Statement.
27 Aug. 1838-
Page 53

Hetty Harper widow of Joseph Harper, esquire, deceased, appears before the undersigned, Justice of the Peace this 27th August A D 1838, and being Sworn, wishes to add the following, to her statement made on the 10th inst.-  That she has made general inquiry herself, and through her son Joseph S. Harper, has made particular inquiry and does not know, nor has she been able to hear, of any Commissioned Officer, non commissioned officer or private, now living, (and who served with her husband), on whom she can call for personal proof of her said husbands Services in the War of the Revolution.  That she has also requested her said son to make application by letter at the War Department at the City of Washington, for record proof, if it can be had, of his said services.  That she has also requested her said son to apply in person at the office of the Secretary of State of Anapolis[sic] to ascertain, (as Col. Smallwood was from Maryland and his regiment composed of Delaware and Maryland Troops) if any record evidence exists there of his said Services; and has requested her son to report to the Commissioner of Pensions the result of his investigations.
Betty Harper

Thos Stevenson J. P.
Page 54

State of Delaware }
Kent County SS }

I certify that the aforegoing depositions,
marked with the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M & N, were taken sworn and affirmed and subscribed before me in open Court, at the times mentioned in my certificate annexed to each of them.

And I further certify that the said persons, who
were sworn and affirmed, and, whose depositions were taken before me as aforesaid, are personally known to me and are of high standing and respectability in this Town and neighbourhood.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand this fifteenth day of August A D 1838.

W.H.J. Comegys
Page 55

Office of the Secretary of State,
Dover, Delaware August 16 - 1838

I Charles Marim, Secretary of the State of Delaware, and as such, keeper of the Great Seal and of the Register of the official acts and proceedings of the Governor of said State, do hereby certify, that William H. J. Comegys, Esquire, before whom the annexed depositions were taken, was at the time of the taking thereof and now is, a Judge of a Court of Record, in Kent County and State aforesaid, that the certificates annexed to said depositions are in his proper hand writing, and that to all his official acts, full faith and credit should be given

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of Delaware, at Dover, the day and year aforesaid.

Ch: Marim,
Secretary of the State
of Delaware

Note:  A large, round seal was affixed to this document with the only legible part being "OF DELAWARE
Page 56

Admitted
Corporal
2 yrs $88

J. L. Harper, Esq.
[illegible]
Aug 30 1838
Page 57

Office of the Secretary of State,
Dover, Del. August 11, 1838

I Charles Marim Secretary of the State of
Delaware do hereby certify that the names of Joseph Harper, Allen Harper and John Harper appear as second, third and fourth corporals on the muster roll of Captain Joseph Vaughan's company & Delaware Regiment of Continental troops, commanded by Col.
John Haslett in the service of the United Colonies then in Barracks at Dover, the 12th day of April 1776, and that it appears by the said muster roll that the said Joseph Harper enlisted on the ninth day of February, and the said Allen Har[remainder of sentence missing]
and John Harper enlisted on the tenth day of
February 1776 and that the other commissioned
officers, in said company, as appears from said
muster roll, were Joseph Truitt and John Perkins,  Lieutenants and William Vaughan, ensign.

And I further certify that the name of
the aforesaid Joseph Harper does not appear on any
Page 58

other papers relating to the Revolutionary War, in this office.  The papers in this office consist principally of pay rolls, made for each month in the year.  None of them extend to the close of the war, and many of them have been lost or mislaid.  Of those connected with Captain Vaughans Company, very few are to be found.

In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affix the seal of my office at Dover the day and year aforesaid

Ch: Marim
Secretary of the State

The imprint of a seal is present on lower left side.  It is not legible.