Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36247, for Peter Pusley, Delaware
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
Del.
Pusley, Peter
or Pursley
NUMBER
S. 36247
B.L.Wt. 2218-100
CONTENTS
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[Con'd defintte]

Nathl Smithers
Dover, Del
Apr 11, 1821


4,589
Roll of Delaware
Peter Pusley
Capt  Moore
Private 
4
Delaware line 1782 1 year
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Delaware
at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on
the 14th of April 1818
War
Certificate of Pension issued the 27th of Nov. 1818
and sent to the Honble John Fisher
Dover Del
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.  4 mos. & 21/30 -$37.60
Semi-anl, all'ce ending 4th March 1819 $48
$85.60 [total]
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}

Delaware district
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Peter Pusley
4589
March 1849
Con
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State of Delaware Ss.
On this 27th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty, personally appeared in the Court of Common Pleas of the said State held at Dover in and for Kent County, in Open Court, Peter Pusley aged sixty-three years and upwards and resident in the said County of Kent in the State of Delaware aforesaid; (the said Court being a Court of record for the said County expressly made so by the Laws and Constitution of the said State which created it and proceeding according to the course of the common law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount and keeping a record of its proceedings.;) and the said Peter Pusley being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, that is to say - That he enlisted some time during the said War (the year he does not recollect) under Captain James Moore whose company belonged to the Delaware Regiment and the Continental establishment; and that he served as a soldier from the time of his enlistment until the close of the said War; the length of time which he served he does not know exactly but he believes it was about two years: and the said Peter Pusley further declares, that his occupation is that of a labourer at the farming business, but from his advanced age in life he has become a good deal infirm, and considers that he stands in need of assistance from his country; that he has received a pension and the number of his pension certificate is 4580. and the date of his original declaration the 14th day of April 1818.
And I the said Peter Pusley do further solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of 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
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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 mentioned in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
Peter Pusley his X mark

Sworn to and declared in Open Court, on the 27th day of November 1820 -
Before me
[signed] Nathaniel Smithers, Prothy

Schedule
one bed and furniture.....Dlls 10"00
one pine table and four old chairs.....2"00
5 [illegible] plates ......0"15
Tin coffee pot & 4 cups & saucers .....0"12 1/2
an old chest and one old box ...... 0"50
a spade, shovel, 2 old axes & a grubbing hoe ...2"00
a pot; an oven and tin kettle .....1"50
a washing tub and water bucket ..... "75
4 jugs ...... "37 1/2
some old shoemaking tools ..... 1"00
a powdering tub, a pair of cotton cards & a small looking glass ..... "75
2 iron wedges and a pair of old andirons .... "90
an old spinning wheel and a bee hive ..... 1"50
a sow and 8 pigs ..... 19"00
9 head of geese ..... 2"00
4 old knives and forks ..... "12 1/2
5 dung hill fowls ...... "67
43"34 1/2
Debts due to the said Peter Pusley to the 
amount of about ..... 3"00
Dlls. 46"34 1/2
Peter Pusley his X mark
Attest,
[signed] N. Smithers, Prothy.
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State of Delaware
Kent County
I Nathaniel Smithers, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the State of Delaware in and for Kent County, do certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the 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 exhibitted in the aforesaid Schedule is forty three dollars thirty four and a half cents (exclusive of debts -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this twenty fifth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one.
Nathaniel Smithers, Prothy.
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Peter Pusley
Suspended for
Delaware Rolls
Admitted
4 for
Hon. John Fisher
Dover
Del.
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United States
Delaware district Sct. 
Depositions of witnesses produced sworn and examined before me John Fisher District Judge of the United States for the Delaware district, on the claim of Peter Pusley late a private soldier in the army of the revolutionary war; and now a resident and inhabitant of the district aforesaid, for a pension in pursuance of 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 of March 1818.
The aforesaid Peter Pusley aged sixty years in June next, being solemnly sworn in and due form of law, deposes and declares as follows, viz, That in the month of February 1782, this deponent enlisted as a private soldier in the army of the United States under Captain James Moore, for and during the continuance of the war, then existing between the United States and G Britain; that said enlistment took place in the town of Dover in the state of Delaware from which this deponent marched to Wilmington in the same state and thence to Philadelphia; that this deponent did duty in Philadelphia, as a soldier, until April 1783 when this deponent was sent with a detachment to convey British prisoners to Elizabethtown-point in the state of New-Jersey & that said detachment was commanded by a Captain Stricker of the Pennsylvania line; that
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that this deponent returned with said detachment to the
Philadelphia, where he continued to perform duty as a
private soldier until the month of June following,
when this deponent was with others marched down
to Newcastle in the State of Delaware and there
Joined such of the old Delaware Regiment, as were
not on furlough, in which deponent performed duty. The
said regiment was discharged about the 18th or 
20th of June 1783, that said discharge was
verbal, the commanding officer parading the regiment
and informing the soldiers, that they were
free men and might each return to his home; that
further orders would inform said soldier of the
time and place of settlement or payment of their
arrearages; that from the time of the enlistment of
this deponent, he belonged to the Delaware regiment
but did not join them till their return from the
Southward at Newcastle, as above mentioned that
This deponent has not now nor ever had any discharge
more than the verbal discharge aforesaid;-
And this deponent further saith, that by reason of his
reduced circumstances in life, he is now in need of assistance from his
country for support, and further this deponent saith not.
Peter Pusley his Mark

Taken, sworn and subscribed
this 14 April 1818-
Before

John Fisher, District Judge-
Delaware district.
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The deposition of Stayton Morris aged fifty two years and
upwards, who being sworn in due form of law deposes
as follows, viz that he knew Peter Pusley in the time of the
revolutionary war as a soldier belonging to the Delaware
regiment, that the first knowledge which this deponent had of
said Peter Pusley, was about the first of April 1782, that
said Peter was then a recruit and was present when this
deponent enlisted as a soldier; that said Peter was recruited
by Capt James Moore, was put under the command of
Captain John Wilson, under whose command he continued
to perform duty till the spring 1783, when he was placed
under command of Capt Peter Jacquet, who marched
the said Peter and the rest of the company down to
Newcastle in the State of Delaware where they met the
remnant of the Delaware regiment, to file which they
had been enlisted, that they continued to do duty
with the regiment aforesaid until about the last of
June 1783, when the whole of said regiment,
whereof the said Peter continued to be a soldier were
finally disbanded, by order of the Continental
Congress, as this deponent then understood, that said
discharge was verbal and not in writing; that this deponent
is not acquainted with the circumstances in life of said Peter
Pusley so fully as to be able to testify in relation to them; and
further this deponent saith not
Stayton Morris

Taken, sworn & subscribed
this 15th April 1818
Before
John Fisher District Judge
Delaware district.
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The deposition of John Jackson aged about fifty
six years, who being sworn in due form of law deposes
as follows, viz, that he knew Peter Pursley as a recruit for
the Delaware regiment from the month of June 1782 till
the final disbandment of said regiment at Newcastle
in June 1783 - that said Peter did duty in Philad’a
as a soldier belonging to said regiment, both under
Captains Wilson and Jacquet, under the last of whom
he was marched to Newcastle and finally disbanded
with the rest of said regiment in the last of June 1783,
that this deponent believes said Peter Pursley to be a
very poor man and from his reduced circumstances
 in life to stand in need of assistance from his country for
support; and further this deponent knows nothing-
John Jackson

Taken sworn & subscribed
this 15th April 1818
Before
John Fisher District Judge
Delaware district

The deposition of John Clarke of the town of Dover, Kent
County and district aforesaid, Esquire aged forty-seven
years and upwards, who being sworn in due form of law
deposes and says as follows, viz, that he knows Peter Pursley
above named and has known him for eight years, that
he first became acquainted with him while said Peter
lived in the forest of Kent County aforesaid in a logged
house, that said Peter was then sick and in great
 want and desperate circumstances, that this deponent
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deponent relieved the said Peter’s distresses for the time
then being; that in January 1811 this deponent took
said Peter, his wife and two children, under his care
and has contributed to the support ever since and in
now continuing the same weekly, and that from the
certain knowledge of this deponent the said Peter is in
such reduced circumstances in life as to stand in need
of assistance from his county for support, and further
this deponent saith not.
John Clarke

Taken sworn and subscribed
this 1st day of May 1818.
Before
John Fisher district Judge
Delaware district

To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War

The undersigned District Judge of the United States
for the Delaware district, prays leave to certify,
That it appears to the satisfaction of the undersigned, 
that the above named applicant Peter Pursley served in the revolutionary war,
 as a private soldier in the Delaware regiment on the continental establishment,
against the [common enemy] and for the term or time mentioned in the foregoing deposition
[illegible] several witnesses who have made the said depositions
are entitled to full faith and credit - And
the undersigned accordingly transmits the said
depositions to the Hon the Secretary of the department
of War, agreeably to 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
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passed on the 18th day of March 1818.

In Testimony
whereof the undersigned hereto set his 
hand, at Dover, in the district aforesaid and causes the seal
of the Court for said district to be hereto affixed, this first day of May in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and of the
Independence of the United States, the forty second.
John Fisher Dist Judge
Delaware district

Attest
Tho Witherspoon 
Clk Dist. Cot
D. D.
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Pusley, alias, Pursley, Peter

N.2218.
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page 1
The affidavit of Martin Rash who being duly
affirmed [‘sworn’ is crossed out] deposeth & saith that he was well
acquainted with Peter Pusley of this County,
who was a Revolutionary soldier of the
Delaware line, that said Peter Pursley died
about 1822 or 1823 leaving a son Joseph Pusley
who was his only have that said Joseph Pusley
left this County about nine or ten years ago
a single man, & has not been heard from
same that time so far as this affiant knows
&  believes, but that he is generally reputed
& believed to be dead-- that s’d Peter Pusley
left an only sister Mary who is also dead;
that James Chadwick, Mary McKinley &
George Shelton are her only heirs
and that said James, Mary & George are reputed and
believed to be the only heirs at law of
S’d Peter Pursley now living. 
Martin Rash

State of Delaware County of Kent S.S.
This day Martin Rash personally appeared
before me & made affirmation [‘oath’ is crossed out] to the above affidavit
& I certify that he is a man worthy of
credit & confidence as a witness.

Given under my hand this 18th day of May 1836
Thos Stevenson J. P.
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Page 2
STATE of Delaware
COUNTY OF Kent
1 James Chadwick heir at law of Peter Pusley
do upon my oath declare and testify, that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the said  Peter Pusley did enlist in the year [blank] for the term of during the War.
and served in the Regiment, called the Delaware Regt
under the command of Colonel Hall, 
of the Delaware line, and that he continued in the service until the war ended.
I  further declare that I have never received a warrant for the Bounty Land promised to said Peter Pusley on the part of the United States; nor do I believe he ever received it or
transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever: Therefore Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Js. Chadwick aforesaid do hereby constitute and appoint Vespasian Ellis of Accomack, Virginia, to be my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name to demand and
receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, a warrant for the quantity of land due to me as aforesaid;
and my said attorney is hereby fully authorised and empowered to constitute and appoint one or more substitutes
or attornies under him for the special purposes above expressed. Witness my hand and seal this twentyeth day of May 1836.
James Chadwick his Mark

ATTEST
Joseph Soward


PERSONALLY APPEARED THE ABOVE NAMED James Chadwick
subscriber to the foregoing declaration, and in my presence acknowledged the Power of Attorney thereto subscribed to be his act and deed. Witness my hand and seal this Twentyeth day of May 1836.

Thos Stevenson J.P.

IN TESTIMONY that the above written Thomas Stevenson Esquire
is one of the Justices of the peace in and for Kent County & as a
Magistrate is authorised to administer Oaths and take acknowledgements, &c. in the State of Delaware, at the above date thereof and that the name above - subscribed to the foregoing
certificates &c. appears to be his usual signatures. I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and
subscribed my name and quality as Prothonotary of Super Court of Delaware
at Dover this Second day of June 1836

John H. Eccleston Prothy
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p. 3 

Office of Register of wills for the County of 
Kent and State of Delaware.
Satisfactory proof was this day adduced to prove that 
Peter Pursley alias Pusley a soldier of the Delaware 
line in the revolutionary war died about 1822 or 1823 leaving 
one son Joseph Pursley his only heir. That said Joseph 
Pursley left this Country about nine or ten years ago a 
single man and has not been heard from since that time 
and that he is regarded as being dead in contemplation 
of the laws of Delaware, & that James Chadawick , 
Mary Mc Kinley, & Gerry Shelton are the only 
children and & heirs of Mary Pursley who was an only sister 
of said Peter Pursley who left no brother, and that they are the only heirs of said Peter Pursley now 
living.

Given under my hand and seal of Office of Delaware this 24 day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand and Eight Hundred and Thirty Eight-
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36247
INVALID
Revy

File No. 36247
Peter Pusley
Priv Rev War

Act: 18th March 18
Index:- Vol. 2, Page 329

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Richmond Va  June 7. 1838

Sir
In 1836 I prepared the papers
P. Pusleys case & presented to your
deptmnt  - when I was informed the
will had been changed admitting
the proof of heirship to be made
by witnesses before a Justice
that a certificate of a Court or Judge
or Reg’r of wills was req’d.
I forthwith
prepared the papers anew &
sent them to Delaware, 
but the then Register of
Wills said he knew nothing about
any law requiring him
to certify heirship
that the customary mode
in Delaware was to prove heirship
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by 2 witnesses &c &c.
Of course the case was not prepared
agreeably to your altered requirement.
There the matter lay till a few
days since, when the present Register of Wills [be]
on being applied to by J. H. Stevenson Esq of Dover
readily granted the certificate of hership upon proof
made to him, & Mr  Stevenson sent it to me. 
I herewith forward it to you. If satisfactory, 
I wish you to send the Warrant to the
Genl Land Off. for [said], as I
shall be in Washington on next
Monday & would be glad to dispose
of the case.  Very respectfully
Your obt svt
V. Ellis