Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 21695, William Beckwith Head, Md.
Page 1

(3-1776)

Head, William Beckwith.

SERVICE
Md.

NUMBER 
R.21695

CONTENTS
[blank]
Page 2

Declaration of Captain William B. Head of the Revolutionary Army.

Re[..] of M3
Col[...]  M[...]

Rejected April 2d. 1883
Maj. Gen. A. Macomb
did not serve 6 months
Page 3

State of Maryland Frederick Sounty Sct

On this 20 day of March 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Frederick County, now sitting William B Head a resident of Frederick County Maryland, aged eighty four years on the 26th. day of October 1832, 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 received the commission of first leiutenant of Captain Mordecai Bealls company of militia in the middle District of Frederick County belonging to the thirty fourth battalion of the now state but then province of Maryland on the 15th. day of May Anno Domini 1776 as will appear by reference to the original commission that hereto annexed marked A, + prayed to be considered a part of this application: that during the summer or fall of 1776 said Captain Mordecai Beall died that on the death of said Beall this [...] was appointed captain of said Company in his place but whether he was appointed by the [crossed out] Delegates of the Freemen of Maryland in [...], who gave him the commission of first lieutenant as aforesaid, or by the field officers, he cannot now remember. So it is however that as captain in the room of said Beall named in the commission aforesaid, he did about the last of December 1776 as captain of said company, [...] with + in command of the same, march from Creagsers Town in Frederick County aforesaid: the first lieutenant was
Page 4

Bigger Head the brother of affiant: the second lieutenant was Cornelius Ridge, ensign Isaac Miller: there were about forty or perhaps fifty soldiers in the company. From Cregars-Town they passed through Taney Town -- thence on to Hanover thence to York, where they remained perhaps a night or two -- crossed the Susquehannah early in January on the ice with the baggage waggons - to Lancaster [...] on to Philadelphia. remained several days there: thence to German Town where they stayed one night, crossed the Delaware at Cerrells Ferry as he thinks: thence to Baskingridge in New Jersey. the quarters were Lord Sterlings buildings, where from time to time provisions were drawn -- Here this affiant found his Colonel James Johnson of Frederick County to whose regiment he was of course attached, also Col Charles A Beatty, Thomas Johnson Brigadier General [...] was afterwards the first Governor of Maryland, + this affiant was in company with said Thomas Johnson at head quarters where the [...] arrived with his commission as governer. Affiant was in the affair of Quibbletown in New Jersey, as a captain along with + under command of the aforesaid Charles A Beatty: three of our men were killed: they were from Federaltown: one of them was named Estter as he thinks + was a gunsmith: one from [...] was wounded -- Affiant thinks he was at Baskingridge perhaps about two months + at the [expiration?] of the time for which they were detailed, was honorably discharged: delivered up their arms + returned home as he had gone on foot, about the last of March 1777 to Frederick County where he has resided ever since -- Affiant further saith that the paper marked B hereto annexed is the very identical paper which he received as Captain when on the expedition aforesaid, which were the blank forms used at that time + which has been preserved by him to this day
Page 5

The affiant was a volunteer. He aided also in guarding the [Hipeaus?] captained at Trenton, when coming on to the South, from Woodsburogh in Frederick County to Nolands Ferry -- 

He hereby reliquishes every claim whether to a pension or annuity except the present + declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. [crossed out] Sworn to + subscribed this day + year aforesaid

David F. Schaeffer

Henry Baer

Wm B Head

Jno Schley Clerk

the David F. Schaeffer a clergyman residing in Fredericktown and Henry Baer residing in the same place do hereby certify that in all well acquainted with William B. Head who has subscribed + sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be eighty four years of age on the 26th. day of October 1832 that he is reported + believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a captain of a company in the Revolutionary war + served as he states ^ that we concur in that [...], and the court further [...] that it appears, to them that David F Schaeffer who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in Frederickton Frederick County, Maryland + that Henry Baer who has also signed the [...] is a resident in the said [...] of Fredericktown + is a credible person + that their statement is entitled to credit. and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter + after [...] the interrogation provided by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary officer + served as he states.

Sworn to in open Court 20 March 1833

[...] Jno Schley Clerk

I John Schley clerk of the Court of Frederick County, State of Maryland, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of William B Head for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand + seal of office this 20th. day of March 1832.

Jno Schley Clerk
Fredk County Court
Page 6

Rej

(3-223.)

No _21695_, Ex'r.

[stamp]REJECTED[/s]

OLD WAR INVALID.

_William B Head [checkmark] of Md._
[crossed out]P.O.[/c] _Capt-Colo Beals, Md Mila_

Service: [blank]

Enlisted: [blank]
Discharged: [blank]
Application filed: _1833_
Alleges: [blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Attorney: [blank]
P.O. _316_
Page 7

Frederick March 25 833

Dear General

Please file the enclosed document along with the other papers in support of Major Heads petition. I was especially amiss about Major Grahams case in [are sequenced?] of the destitute condition of his family -- In an all well.

[...] yours truly

L. P. W. Balch
Page 8

The DELEGATES of the FREEMEN of MARYLAND in CONVENTION,

TO _William Beckwith Head_ We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your fidelity, courage, good conduct, and attachment to the liberties of America, DO, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be _first Leiutenant of Captain Mordecai Beall's Company of Militia in the Middle District of Frederick County, belonging to the thirty fourth Battalion of this Province_

YOU are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the trust reposed in you, by disciplining all officers and soldiers under your command; and we do hereby strictly enjoin and require them to obey you as their _first Lieutenant_

And you are to observe and follow all such orders and directions as you shall, from time to time, receive from this or a future Convention, or from the Council of Safety of Maryland for the time being, according to the rule and regulations established by this or a future Convention. THIS Commission is to be in force until revoked by this or some future Convention of the Delegates of the Freemen of Maryland, or by the Council of Safety of Maryland for the time being, according to the powers and authorities in such Council of Safety to be hereafter vested by such Convention.

Given _in Council of Safety at Anapolis_ this _fifteenth_ day of _May_ Anno Domini, 17_76_

Danl H Thos Jenifer
J Hall
Benjamin Rumsey
Ir. Tilghman
Page 9

Deposition of James Johnson, in the case of Major W.m B. Head
Page 10

State of Maryland

City and County of Baltimore Sct.

Be it remembered that on this twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Three, before me the subscriber an associate Judge of the Sixth Judicial District of Maryland, personally appeared James Johnson of the said city of Baltimore, who being duly sworn by me upon the Holy Evangels of Al-Mighty God, did depose and say, that he is now in the fifty ninth year of his age, and that he has known Major William B. Head of Frederick County, State of Maryland, ever since he can remember. That he the said William B. Head was an officer in the Regiment commanded by the father of this Deposant, Col. James Johnson, which Regiment was in General (afterward, Governor) Johnson's Brigade which marched from Frederick County into the winter of the year 1776 and 7, through Little York, Lancaster, Philadelphia and part of New Jersey to Morris Town in the latter state and were encamped during the same Winter on the Basking Ridge, and were discharged in the month of March or April. That he does not know the actual rank which said Head held in that Regiment, but that he always was known as Captain William B. Head in the neighborhood, until he was appointed a Major in the Militia. That this deposant has heard his
Page 11

his Father frequently say that Major Head was an officer in his Regiment during the time it was in service in New Jersey, and he distinctly recollects Major Head's telling him that he was in Gen.l Johnson's Quarters when the Express from Annapolis arrived, informing him of his (Gen.l Johnson's) Election as Governor of Maryland, and this Deponent further states that Major Head has always borne the characters of a most estemeble, honest, and worthy gentleman, whose word would be taken by all who know him, as soon as his Bond or oath, and further Deposent said not.

In Testimony where I have hereunto subscribed my name, this twenty third day of March in the yea rof our Lord One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty three, at the City of Baltimore aforesaid.

R. B. Magruder

State of Maryland, Baltimore County

Hereby certify that Richard B Magruder, Esquire, before whom the foregoing Deposition was made, + who has thereto signed his name, was, at the time of so doing and yet is an [...] Judge of the Sixth Judicial District of the State of Maryland, duly commissioned and qualified

In Testimony whereof, thereto subscribe my name, and affix the seal of Baltimore County Court this twenty third day of march, Eighteen hundred and thirty three

Arad Israel, Clk of Balto County Court
Page 12

B

Original blank record by Captain Head at headquarters in 1777.
Page 13

RETURN of a Company, commanded by [blank] in the [blank] Regiment of Maryland Militia, in

Commissioned Officers. Captain. Lieutenant. Ensign. Officers Names. Rank. Captain. Lieutenant. Ensign. Date of Commission.

Non-commissioned officers. Serjeants. Corporals.

Musicians. Drummers. Fifers.

Rank and File.

Total.

Arms and Accoutrements.

Public Property. Complete Muskets. Other serviceable Firelocks. Bayonets. Cartridge Boxes.

Private property. Good Muskets. Other serviceable Pieces. Bayonets. Cartridge Boxes.

Bayonet Belts. Cartridges. Flints. Knapsacks.

Rifle equipments. Rifles. Shot Pouches. Powder Horns. Charges of Powder. Charges of Ball.

Music. Drum. Fife. 

Delinquencies. Amount of fines received. dol. cts. Amount paid to the Lieutenant-colonel. dol cts. Amount returned to the Lieutenant-colonel for collection. dol cts.

N. B. 

I Certify the above to be a true return.
Page 14

Wm. B. Heard

Petition of William B. Head of Frederick Co Maryland and officer of the Revolutionary War praying that he may be placed upon the pension list.

Dec. 27. 1833

Reported to the Committee on Revolutionary pensions

Jan. 9. 1834

[Came is object to lie?]

23

Lea T. 22  [...]