Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4587, Joseph Harborn, Penn. Sea Service
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(3-1776)  
SERVICE                                                   NUMBER
Penn. Sea Service   Harborn, Joseph   R.4587
[The rest of the form is blank.]
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Joseph Harborn
Petition for extension
of [illegible] grants.
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Joseph Harborn is afflicted with a rupture
which unfits him for labor, and enlisted
duty. He wishes upon the amount of it,
to be exempt from paying taxes.
Aug 11, 1802  Benjin Rush
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[The original document is missing a section of paper where the majority of the text was contained. The only fully readable portion is the file number.]

4587

[In the lower right corner is the item written vertically below.]
War Dept.
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This doth certify that Joseph Harbourne served
with me on board the Brig Fair American in
the year one thousand seven Hundred and
Eighty: during which time he conducted himself
with Propriety.
[illegible] date September 30 1807 Stephen Decatus
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[The following has been crossed out at the top]
Acts of July 14, 1862 and March March 3, 1879
REJECTED
4587
P.O.
Joseph Harborn
Service:
Enlisted: ___, 18
Discharged: ___, 18

Application filed: ___, 18

Alleges: ___ [no entry]

Re-enlisted: __ [no entry]

Attorney: __ [no entry]
P.O. ___ [no entry]

___ Recognized.  ____ Contr.
___ Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ___, 18
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[Note added at the top]
From the Let.of the Navy
Washington 
[To the right is the following written vertically]
Let. 18 March 1824
Philadephia [Philadelphia] Nov 6th 1824
Your partioner is an old revolutioner born in Philad. [Philadelphia] 1769 Dec 27. I shiped [shipped] on board Polly Cape Longbound to
St. Croix the year 1776 nothing particular happened that voyage after this. I sailed again in the same vessel bound to St. Croix. The third voyage in said vessel I was taken by Capt. John Phillips in sloop Revenge of Antigua and coming through sail Rock passage was retaken by Capt Waters in the Bottomsout
Hero amount 10 guns he set me ashore at Dehais from there I got up to Bastare then I got down to St Croix and there I met Capt. John Beans in Sloop Liberty with 10 guns who wanted me to enter but I being apprehensive that he would keep me some length of time I signed the articles when he promised me on his honour [honor] to give me my discharge at the first port we make on the continent of America, then I went to work we took in salt for balance some rum some chests of arms a quantity of gun powder cant [can't] tell how much then I proceeded on our home & passage we met two small privateers we beat them of as our orders was [were] not
to chase them we saw no more then till we
got to Bermuda where we fell in with the
74 she was calmed and they highest out their [there]
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boat and lowered one of the quarter deck guns
into the boat then they came to us with
the boat full of men & they hove a signal
for us to show our colours our Capt would
not show them our colours till they fired
a gun then we swept her broad side around
to the boat & fired grape shot as far as
would reach them [the word "we" is crossed out] and then fired
round shot, a breeze started up about the
middle of the night & we cleared them in
the dark we were chased from one day to
another till we got of Cape Fear to the 
Southern we got up then to Adenton N.C.
I was apprehended to take those of legions
to the Country which I complied with, then
I travelled by Land to Williamsburg VA.
There were I was brought a four Colonel
Mason there to take those of Legions again
then I travelled down towards Philadelphia
were I remained till the English landed
at the head of Elk, then I went off to
Baltimore when the English got into
Philadelphia, I remained there as Barkeeper
with Jacob Myers Tavern keeper corner of 
Gay St. There I married & when Lord Howe
went out of Philadelphia I came in I brought
m wife, I looked for another vessel
to get satisfaction. I shiped [sic] with Capt Harmitage
in the year 79. I went out to Sea the 3rd day we were out
we met with three privateers belonging to 
Eutrage, we engaged them two hours and a 
half and there I was taken & carried to New 
York, there I lay a prisoner that winter
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When I saw David Sprout come aboard
of the old Jersey as he was commisary [commissary] of American prisoners, I begged of him get me exchanged as soon as possible in about a week after that there was a Flag
Ship came along side the old Jersey
a Boat load went ashore [eve crossed out] dead every [I was crossed out] morning to be buried in the sand.
Mr Sprout sent his Flag Ship along side
& took 300 of us in which I was among
and I came up to Philadelphia. I went
to one Blair G. McClenahan, a noted
merchant to return him thanks for
kindness to my family while I was
a prisoner, while I was there old Stephen
Decature came in & asked me if I was one
of the men that got exchanged. I told him
I was he asked me if I would try it again
I said I would. He said if you come with
me you [wh crossed out] what it is I went with him the Fair American was then upon her
Stocks. I shipt [shipped] with him and went out ^with 150 of us aboard & took 13 sail of English vessels & got them all safe in we brok [broke] up. Her cruse [cruise] then for the [the crossed out] honour [honor] of 13 States, & then we went out again & took 7 more & then
we went out again [in the crossed out] & fell in with the Hulker and crused [cruised] together of Charleston Bar where we took some five prizes, we fell in with the ship Richmond, we engaged her from 12 o'clock at night til 4 o'clock next day in the afternoon when her colours [colors] came
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down, we brought the Capt of the Richmond
& all the well men with us, to Philadelphia
but we had the misfortune to lose the prize.
he Honourable board will be so good as
to let me have a pension for it to live upon
in my old days.
I am now 75 years old.
[signed] Joseph Harborn
Shippen St. No. 11
Philad. County
And now personally come
Above named Joseph Harborn who being
duly sworn saith the foregoing statement
of his Revolutionary Services and sufferings
is correct and true.
[The following is contained in a brace with a second signature of Joseph Harborn to the right]
Sworn and Subscribed
before me this 8 day
of Nov 1824
[signed] John Thompson
Justice of Peace