Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4374, John Gruver, Penn.
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Service                                                                 
Penn. 
Gruver, John 
Number R.4374
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress June 7, 1832      
State of Pennsylvania      
Luzerne County, SS }   
On this twenty fifth day of May 1836 personally appeared, in open court before the Hon David Scott [unreadable] + William S. Ross + Charles D Shoemaker Esquire his associates, now holding a court of common pleas in and for said county, John Gruver a resident of Wilkes-Barre, in the county aforesaid aged seventy four years + upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832        
That he was born on the 24 of July 1760, of which he has a record in his family bible, in Richland Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania- That on the 2nd day of August 1776 he was drafted in Richland for a term of three months in Captain Ellis Couter's Company of Militia + on the 3d day of August same year he marched with his company to Doylestown thence to Newtown where his company joined a Regiment Commanded by Colonel John Keller, + Major Robert Smith, where he remained about three months, watching the movements of the British Army on the opposite side of the Delaware- at the End of his three months he was discharged, which was written + is now lost -
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3. Rev      
That on or about the fourth or fifth day of November 1776 he volunteered in the same Company under Captain Couter, at Newtown for three months - was attached to the same Regiment commanded by Colonel Hiller - That he [unreadable] in said Regiment at Newtown on the Delaware the whole of the said period watching the movements of the British any on the opposite side of the river which he often saw. At the Expiration of this tour he was again discharged - his said discharge was in writing & since lost.- That some time in the month of August 1778 he volunteered in a company of United States troops in command of Captain John Friese for a tour of six months at Richland aforesaid with the intention of going on to join General Sullivans Anny to assist the people of Wyoming against the British Tories & Savages - That he marched on towards Wyoming-- but before he reached that place his Captain has informed of the disastrous Battle there, and his Company & himself returned home after being out about three weeks - his Captain verbally discharged him & he returned home. That he resided in Richland Twenty years & upwards after the termination of the Revolutionary war, and then he removed to Easton, & from that to his present place of Residence. - That he does not know of any person now living who
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who can testify to his services in the Revolutionary war, but he would refer to the Rev. John Dorrance a clergyman and Daniel Collings Esquire as person with whom he is well acquainted and who can testify to his character for truth and veracity and their belief of his services as set forth in his declaration -       
He herby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension or annuity from the United States except the present, + declares that his name is not on the pension roll of this agency of any state, except that of the agency of the state of Pennsylvania  -       
He further states the names of some of the Commissioned officer attached to the Regiment in which he served- Cap Yost, Capt. Peter Middough, Lieutenant Couter, Lieut Sheets- Godfrey Keever, his brevmajor [brevet major] - that both his discharges were signed by Colonel Keller + Major Smith-    Johann Gruber
Sworn + subscribed to the day + year aforesaid in open court Jno Smith Prot }        
 We John Dorrance a clergyman, and Daniel Collings residing in Wilkes-Barre, herby certify that we are well acquainted with John Gruver who has sworn and subscribed to the above declaration-that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is reputed + believed in the neighbourhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concurs in that opinion          John Dorrance      D Collings     
sworn + subscribed in open court the day + year aforesaid Jno Smith Prothonatary
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and the said court do herby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the [illegible] prescribed by the War Depatment, that the aboe mentioned applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and seved as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that John Dorrance who had signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Wilkes-Barre, and that Daniel Collings who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place, and that their statement is entitled to credit-

 I John Smith clerk of the Court of Common pleas of Luzerne County do certify that the forgoing contains the original procedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Gruver for a pension.
In testimony wherof I have hereto set my hand & seal of office this twenty fifth day of May one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven.-
John Smith Prot.
By Harris Colh
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33716
John Gruver
Pennsylvania
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for a statement of the military history of John Gruver a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. Rej. F. H 3 7 4   Only John Gruver of Pa found on Rev. War pension records 

DATES OF ENLISTMENT   Aug. 2 1776   LENGTH OF SERVICE.   3 mos.      RANK  Pri.     OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Ellis Couter   Colonel John Keller   STATE  Pa.  
DATES OF ENLISTMENT   Nov. 5 1776   LENGTH OF SERVICE.   3 mos.      RANK  Pri.     OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Ellis Couter   Colonel John Keller   STATE  Pa.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT   Aug.  1778   LENGTH OF SERVICE.   3 mos.      RANK  Pri.     OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain John Friese   STATE  Pa.  
Battles engaged in,      
Residence of Soldier at enlistment, Enlisted at Richland, Pa       
Date of application for pension, May 25, 1836         
Residence at date of application, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne Co, Pa.     
Age at date of application, B.[born] in Richland Twp, Bucks Co, Pa July 24, 1760.       
Remarks: His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish satisfactory proof of his alleged services   as as required by the pension laws    Date of Death not on Record     
Very Respectfully,
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John Gruver
Pa
Rejected. sent
letter 20 June 1836
H. B. Wright.
did not serve six months. 
H37H
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Rev. War Section.     Ew      
December 23, 1921.      
Miss Hazel M. Poe,        
124 Parke Street,       
West Pittston, Pa.       
Madam:-      
In response to your letter dated December 9, 1921, you are advised that in the Rev. War pension claim of John Gruver, R. file No. 4374, it does not appear that his widow ever applied for pension, there being no mention therein of a widow, nor any other family data. 
Very respectfully,     
Commissioner.
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Rev Sec     
124 Parke Street      
West Pittston     
Penn.      
December 30, 1921        
Commissioner of Pensions      
Washington D.C.       
My dear Sir       
In your letter of December 23rd you state, that file R4374 concerning pension of John Gruver for Revolutionary war service does not mention his family. Could you tell me from your records if he ever obtained a pension? what your records state concerning service rendered? when his pension, if any, ceased? If so, was it through
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his death? is date of death given.

Am very anxious to obtain this information. If there are any charges, I will gladly pay them.

Thanking you for your trouble I am very truly yours

(Miss) Hazel M. Poe

PENSION OFFICE
U S
DEC 31 1921

RECORD DIVISION
JAN 5 1922
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RECORD DIVISION
DEC 10 1921
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Rev Sec

124 Parke Street
West Pittston
Pa
Dec 9, 1921

The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.

PENSION D OFFICE
U. S.
DEC 10 1921

Dear Sir
I am seeking information concerning the widow of John Gruver who served during the revolutionary war.

Said John Gruver
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enlisted at Richland, Penna. He applied for a pension in 1836 but was denied it. His wife later obtained one. 

As I am anxious to know the first name of said wife, also date of birth + marriage, I thought perhaps you would have documents concerning this information.

If so, I would be very grateful for anything you could send

Thanking you I am very truly yours

Miss Hazel M. Poe
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OFFICE AUDITOR INTERIOR DEPT. SEP 2 1908 A. M. 9 2 4 P. M.      
OFFICE OF AUDITOR INTERIOR DEPT. SEP 2 1908 Pension Division      
109 Luzerne Ave.      
W. Pittston, Pa.     
Aug. 31. 1908,         
To the Auditor for the Interior Department, Treasury Dept. Washington, D.C.      
Dear Sir,         
Please to inform me if the name John Gruver appears on your Records as a pensioner of the War of the Revolution. His widow spent her last days in Wilkes-
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Barre, Penna and received her pension as his widow.

His great daughter will be very grateful for the record of his service as found in the Government Records

Please send to
Mrs George D. Johnson
109 Luzerne Ave.
W. Pittston
Pa.

PENSION OFFICE
H
U. S.
SEP 3 1908
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Rev 4374  dk 
W. Pittston, Pa.       
109 Luzerne Ave.,       
August 31, 1908.       
Mrs. George D. Johnson.       
Makes inquiry relative to John Gruver, a solder of the War of the Revolution.       
TREASURY DEPARTMENT      
Office of Auditor for the Interior Department.       
September 2, 1908.          
Respectfully referred to the Commissioner of Pensions. The writer has been informed of this reference. 
R. S. Person
Auditor S. K
U. S. PENSION OFFICE SEPT 9 1908
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RECORD DIVISION
SEP 3 1908
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1908, Sept. 10, History to Mrs. Geo. D. Johnson, 109 Luzerne Ave, W. Pittston, Pa.   F. W.        
1921, Dec. 23 Letter to Miss Hazel M. Poe. Ikal  wid. [widow]  did not apply for pension -  E.W.         
1922 Jan. 16. Hist. to Miss Hazel M. Poe.  A.W.        
4,374         
John Gruver 
REJECTED      
HW  printed list of 1852 gives cause of rejection as: "He did not serve 6 mos."
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Azor Philo
John Gruver
May 31
Pa.

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
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J. L. Edwards Esquire
Dr Sir
Enclosed I send you the best proof Azor Philo had been enabled to obtain in faith proof and explanation of his service and age.
Your Ob &c
H.B. Wright
Wilkes-Barre May 26, 1836

Also the application of John Gruver
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War Dept. Pen. office
June 20, 1836
Sir, The amended statement of Azor Philo whose pension has been suspended has been examined, together with the certificate of the comptroller of public accounts of Connecticut and filed with his other papers in this office. Some other evidence should be exhibited as to the age of the claimant besides his explanatory statement If there be a record of his age, aa copy from said records should be exhibited. He alleges service from 1778 until the close of the war as a militia man of Connecticut. The militia did not perform continuous service as alleged. An amended statement should therefore be made by the claimant in which he should specify fully and distinctly each term of service performed by him.
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The declaration of John Gruver has been examined. He alleges to have been drafted in August 1776 for three months as a militia man of Pennsylvania and that he was engaged in watching the movements of the enemy on the New Jersey side of the Delaware river, He also alleges a second term of three months from 7 November 1776 the service being similar to that of the first term, and also a third term of six weeks. The Pennsylvania militia were called out to serve only two months under one engagement     The applicant did not  perform six months actual service, The claim has consequently been rejected and the papers filed.   Cor
N. B. Wright Esq     
Wilkesbarre Pa         
Record Vol 41, PIO        
June 20, 1836