Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 8293, for David Poe, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE                                                       NUMBER
Continental (Md.)   Poe, David           R8293
Elizabeth

Grandfather of Edgar Allen [Allan] Poe
Contents
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[checkmark or "V" with a slash] 1803
Elizabeth Poe's heirs
Maryland
-----------
David
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State of Maryland
City of Baltimore   Baltimore City Court
On the Eighth day of May eighteen hundred and thirty seven personally appeared in open Court now sitting Henry Herring a resident of the city aforesaid, aged forty five years,  who being first duly sworn, according to the law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain for the heirs of Elizabeth Poe, deceased who was the widow of David Poe, deceased) the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4, 1836.  That he the said Henry Herring, intermarried with Eliza, a daughter of said David and Elizabeth Poe; which said David Poe was Assistant Deputy Quarter Master General for the United States in Baltimore County, the state of Maryland, in the War of the Revolution; That the said David Poe was married to said Elizabeth Poe before the last period of his Service in the Revolutionary War; That the said David Poe died many years ago [caret] say in the year Eighteen Hundred Seventeen leaving said Elizabeth Poe his widow; and, that She died his Widow, on or about the 7th day of July, eighteen hundred and thirty five; leaving the following named Grand Children, being child of the above named Henry Herring and Eliza Herring Vix[?]: Elizabeth Rebecca Herring, Louis David Herring, Henry Herring Jr, Emily Virginia Herring, and George Augustus Herring; as also the following name Grand Children being
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children of David Poe Jr, deceased son of the said (David Poe and Elizabeth Poe): [Vix?] Edgar Allen Poe , and Rosalie Poe; And Mrs. Maria Clemm daughter of the said David Poe and her the said Elizabeth Poe -- who are the only heirs of the said Elizabeth Poe.

H. Herring

Sworn and Subscribed to the day and year first with Written By
And I do hereby certify that the above named Deponent is known to this Court as a person of good character and we believe 
the matters and things set forth in the aforesaid deposition to be true.
N Brice, Chief Judge of Baltimore City Court State of Maryland City of Baltimore [illegible]
Thereby certify that the honourable Nicolas Brice before whom the above affidavit was
made and by whom the above certificate was given was at the time of so doing Chief Judge
of Baltimore City Court duly commissioned and qualified to all whose acts as such full
faith and credit are and ought to be given as well in Courts of Justice thereat
[illegible] Where of I have hereunto so Proscribed my name and appraised the [deal?] of said Court this eighth day of May
Nineteen Hundred and Thirty seven
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I do hereby certify that I was personally and well acquainted with Mrs. Eliza Poe: -- the publicly known and acknowledged wife of the late David Poe who acted as Quarter Master to the United States army in Baltimore County in the War of the Revolution at which time 
Say in the year 1781 I was employed by Mrs. Poe to aid her in preparing articles of Clothing for the use of the Army. I do further
Certify that Mr. & Mrs. Poe live together as Man and Wife during many years and raised a family of Children in great respectability of Character;
And that I never heard nor suspected anything derogatory to the moral standing of Said Mr. & Mrs. Poe as Man and Wife
witnessed my this the 2nd day of April 1839 in the Eighty Seventh year of my age. 

Susanah Sellers

Witness
[Chester?] A. Kinnard
State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, S.S.

Be it remembered that on this [illegible] eighteen hundred and thirty seven personally appeared
before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the City aforesaid, Susanna Sellers who has made
the foregoing Statement and Solemnly affirmed according to Law that the particulars therein
Stated are correct and true on the above Specified and Stated And I do hereby certify that
the above named Susanna Sellers is a lady Whose affirmation and Statements are entitled to ample Credit. 

[Chester?] A. Kinnard
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State of Maryland, City of Baltimore S.S
Be it known that on this 22d day of April eighteen hundred and thirty seven, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the said City, Came Martin Eichelberger aged 79--years a resident of Said City and being duly Sworn according to law -- Deposeth and Saith, That he was acquainted David Poe who acted, at Baltimore, as a deputy or assistant Quarter Master General, for the Army of the United States in the War of the Revolution; That he was also acquainted with Mrs. Elizabeth Poe, the publicly known and acknowledge Wife, of Said David Poe, That he knew them in the year 1781 and during many years thereafter as Man and wife in their public intercourse with the highly respectable Society with which they associated -- And that he never heard nor Suspected any thing derogatory to their moral or legal Standing as man and wife: Sworn to before me -- And I do hereby certify that the above named deponent Martin Eichelberger is known to me as a Gentleman whose deposition is entitled to ample credit.
[signed] Henry Brice
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State of Maryland
Baltimore County [illegible]

I hereby certify that Alexander A Kinnard and Henry Brice gentlemen in before whom the foregoing deposition was made and who have 
hereto subscribed these names were at the 
home {illegible] doing tow justices of peace of the  State of Maryland in and for the city of Baltimore duly commissioned and sworn

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Baltimore county Court this tenth day of May Eighteen hundred and hertz seven
Tho^s Kell Clk
Page 8

January 26, 1938.

Miss Edith Chesney
729 West Ash Avenue
Eldorado, Kansas.

BA-J/ILL
David Poe
R. 8293

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War  record of General David Poe of Baltimore, who, you state, received a pension.

The data which follow are shown in the papers on file in pension claim, R. 8293, based upon service of David Poe, of Baltimore,  Maryland, in the Revolutionary War.

The date and place of birth of David Poe are not shown, nor the names of his parents.

David Poe was commissioned April 8, 1778, Deputy Quartermaster General, served in that capacity until February 1780, then served as Assistant Deputy Quartermaster General, and from January 1781, as Contintental Quartermaster, and later as Quartermaster to the French Army; the entire length of his service is not shown.

David Poe and his wife, Elizabeth, lived in Baltimore, Maryland, as early as 1781; the date and place of their marriage, and Elizabeth's maiden name are not shown.  In 1784, they had "a growing family of interesting children", their names not designated.  This officer and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church.

The exact date of death of David Poe is not shown.  It was stated that he died probably in 1817. (The exact date of his death might be obtained from the Archives at Annapolis, Maryland, or from the American Historical Society in Baltimore, Maryland.)

Elizabeth Poe, the widow of David Poe, the above noted officer,

[notations in margins]

Mr Finch

Mr Finch

Hist. shows he was appointed Nov [last word very faint] 19-1777-Quartermaster

Hist. shows death - May 1820
Page 9

died July 7, 1835.

In May 1837, the names of the heirs of David Poe, the officer, and his wife, Elizabeth, were given as follow:  a daughter, Mrs. Maria Clemm; Edgar Allen Poe and Rosalie Poe, grandchildren, who were  the children of David Poe, Jr. deceased: and Eliza Herring, another daughter, whose husband was Henry Herring, and whose children were Elizabeth Rebecca Herring, Louis David Herring, Henry Herring, Jr., Emily Virginia Herring, and George Augustus Herring.

May 8, 1837, said Henry Herring applied in behalf of himself and the other heirs named above for the pension which might have been due on account of the service of David Poe in the Revolutionary War.  The claim for pension was not allowed as there was no provision of law under which the children and grandchildren of the officer were entitled to pension.

Henry Herring stated in 1837, that he was aged forty-five years; he did not give the date and place of his marriage to Eliza Poe.  There are not further data pertaining to the above noted children and grandchildren of this officer.

It is suggested that further information in regard to the military record of David Poe might be obtained from The Adjutant General, War Department, this city.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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Land Offices, Annapolis, April 14th 1837

I hereby testify, that by a record relating to the 
revolution, and remaining in this office, containing an
account of the State of Maryland against the United
States, for cash advancement to Regular officers and 
Soldiers in the Continental service, That the name of 
David Poe, appears upon said account, to have received as 
quarter Master to the Branch Army for his pay
$102 - on the 21st of April 1785. 

George G. Brewer
Roy Land Off. W  M
Page 11

[printed document with fill ins]

Investigation of the names on this record shows them as of __Reg't  Mil Stores Dept
John Pryor
Deputy field Courier M. S. 
Letters rel. to his claim for pay
See { Other ind. records
{General Index Military Cards. [last 4 words crossed out]
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[round stamp]
PENSION 
K
MAR
U.  27  S.
1919
OFFICE.
Page 13

Rec. Sec.
M

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

My Dear Sir

Can you give me information of the military record of David Poe of Maryland (or Pennsylvania) during the War of revolution.  have been informed that his Widow drew a pension after this war.  any information you give me will be gratefully received.  Respectfully
Mrs. J H Highley
Hesloje   M
(Desloge)
March 24-1919-

[round stamp]
PENSION 
K
MAR 
U.  27  S.
1919
OFFICE
Page 14

Elizabeth Poe's
Pens
Maryland
Rejected
See letter 29 June 1837
A. Yearley

8293
widow died before passage of act 4 July 1836
Page 15

A. Yearley
June 29 1837
M C
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War Dept. Pen Office
June 29, 1837
Sir
Since writing to you yesterday I have again examined the cases of the heirs of Mrs. Elizabeth Poe and Mrs. Catharine Clemm and have to state that the fact of their having died before the passage of the act of 4 July 1836 was overlooked by the clerk who examined the papers.  The 3'd section of that act does not provide for the heirs of widows who died before its passage.  The above mentioned claims have therefore been rejected and the papers filed in this office.
A. Yearley Esq
Baltimore
Mary'd
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[left side of page]
1910 Mch 23. Hist. to Mrs. Martha Roe Weeks, letter in R.8292 Adam Poe. 
1919 Apl.2. Hist to Mrs. J. Higley. 
1919 June 23. "    " Francis B. Culver
___________
1921, 
Feb 21  Hist to Jed W. Robinson_ Eu
___________
1938 - Jan 26 - Hist to Miss Edith Chesney [illegible]

[right side of page]

8293

P.O.     Elizabeth Poe
Service:  Widow of David

1-0
M-0

REJECTED [stamped]

List of rejected claims_
printed in 1852, shows cause of rejection as follows: "Died before the passage of the Act."
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Rev. War Section.

April 2, 1919
David Poe
R8293

Mrs. J. W. Higley, 
Desloge,
Missouri.

Madam:

In response to your letter dated the twenty-fourth ultimo, you are advised that in the papers in claim R. File No. 8,293 Rev. War, it is stated that David Poe was appointed a Quartermaster in the Continental Army for the County of Baltimore, Maryland; commissioned April 8, 1778,  Deputy Quartermaster General; and that he served as Quartermaster General of the United States Army for Baltimore County; but the date of his discharge is not shown.

It is further stated that he married before the last period of his service, Elizabeth -------, date and place of marriage and maiden name of wife are not stated; that he died about 1817, and she died July 7, 1835.

In 1837, an application was made for the pension which might have been due the widow on account of her husband's services, for the benefit of their heirs viz, 
Daughter Mrs. Maria Clemm, 
Daughter Eliza, wife of Henry Herring, their children, 
Elizabeth Rebecca Herring
Louis David Herring
Henry Herring Jr.
Emily Virginia Herring
George Augustus Herring

Children of son David Poe Jr deceased.
Edgar Allen Poe
Rosalie Poe

The claim was rejected on the ground that the widow died prior to the Act of July 4, 1836 under which she might have applied, therefore the heirs had no title to the pension. 

Very respectfully, 

[illegible]

Commisioner.
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[top left corner]
HERALDRY
MEMBER OF
Scions of Colonial Cavaliers
Society of Colonial Wars
Sons of American Revolution
Society War of 1812

[top center]
Coats of Arms Investigated and Tinctured
GENEALOGY
FRANCIS B. CULVER
2203 North Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland

[top right corner]
Rev Sec [handwritten]
BIOGRAPHY
MEMBER OF
Maryland Historical Society
The Order of Washington
Knights of Golden Horseshoe
Order of LaFayette
[/top right corner]


28 May 1919

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

Dear Sir:

Kindly supply the Revolutionary War record (with personal data) of David Poe [name underlined] who was quartermaster general of Baltimore, Maryland, about 1778.

Yours Truly,
Francis B. Culver

[round stamp]
PENSION
K
MAY
U.   29  S.
1919 
OFFICE
Page 20

[round stamp]
arrow pointing to "1" of 1-12 around edge 
RECEIVED
JAN 17 1938
[illegible]
[illegible[ 11
Page 21

729 WEST ASH AVENUE
ELDORADO, KANSAS


January 15, 1930

Pension and War Dep't.
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sirs:_

The records say that "general" David Poe of Baltimore, ret'd a pension for service in Revolutionary War.

If the names of his children were on this record, will you please sent them to me and I shall be very grateful.

Most sincerely yours
(Miss) Edith Chesney
Page 22

[oval stamp]
RECORD
JAN 25 1921
DIVISION
Page 23

[top left corner]
??. A. E Recd  [handwritten]

Hugh Warder         Jed W. Robinson
WARDER & ROBINSON
LAWYERS
First National Bank Building
GRAFTON, W. VA.


January 22nd, 1921

Pension Bureau,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:
I am very desirous of learning something of the descendants of Revolutionary General David Poe, grand-father of the poet Edgar Allan Poe.  I believe that my wife, whose maiden name was Poe, and wishes to join the Daughters of the American Revolution, is one of the descendants of the General.  Have you any data upon this family that would be of assistance to me?

Yours very truly,
Jed W. Robinson [signature]

[round stamp]
PENSION
JAN
U.  24  S.
1921
OFFICE
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Baltimore, April 27 - 1837

This is to certify that in the year 1784, when I first came to reside in the city of Baltimore, I found residing in said city, Mr. David Poe and Mrs. Elizabeth Poe, with whom I then became acquainted : They were then publicly known and recognized as Man and Wife in the very respectable society in which they moved; having around them a growing family of interesting children.  My acquaintance with them continued during a long period of succeeding years.  They were known as persons of good moral standing and as members and communicants of the Presbyterian church : And I further certify that no doubt ever existed as to the legality of their Marriage.  

James Mosher [signature]

State of Maryland City of Baltimore [illegible]

On the 27 day of April eighteen hundred and thirty seven, before me the subscriber a Justice of Peace in and for the city aforesaid came the above named James Mosher, who is a Gentleman well known to me as entitled to full credit, and in my presence signed the above certificate: And made oath according to law that the particulars therein stated are correct and true to the best of his knowledge and belief.  

Subscribed and sworn before William Warfield
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State of Maryland, City of Baltimore S.S.

On the twenty seventh day of April eighteen hundred and thirty seven, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for said city, personally appeared John McKeen of the same city aged 73 years, he being well known, to me, as a Gentleman entitled to full credit, and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he personally knew David Poe, who acted as a deputy Quarter Master General for the Army of the United States in Baltimore in the War of the Revolution; that at the same time he also knew Elizabeth Poe the reputed and acknowledge wife of him the said David Poe.  That his acquaintance with them extended back to a period antecedent to the year Seventeen hundred and eighty and forward from that time during a period of many years.  That they sustained an excellent moral character, raised an interesting and respectable family of children- were members and communicants of a highly respectable Christian Church; And that there is not, nor ever was, any doubt of their being legally man and wife, to the best of his knowledge and belief.  

Sworn to Before   William Warfield [signature]
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State of Maryland, Baltimore County  S A

I hereby certify that William Warfield gentleman before whom the foregoing depositions were made and who has hereto signed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the City of Baltimore duly commissioned and sworn. 

In Testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of Baltimore County court this 10th day of May 1837

[illegible signature]  Balto Coty [illegible]
Page 27

Extracts

"Saturday 19th February 1780.

The Commission of David Poe, from James Calhoun, Esquire Deputy Quarter Master Genl of the 8th April 1778 being produced to this Board, license is hereby granted, according to the Act of Assembly in such case made and provided, to the Said David Poe to act as an Assistant Depy  QMaster Genl of the Army of the United States for Baltimore County, having previously taken the Oath prescribed by the said Act.

Monday 25th September 1780

Ordered that the Western Shore Treasurer pay to David Poe one thousand pounds of the new emission aforesaid to be delivered over to Thomas Donellan of Balt on account.
-That the Said Treasurer pay to David Poe one hundred and twenty five pounds of the new emission aforesaid on account.
-That the Said Treasurer pay to David Poe Esq eleven thousand nine hundred and forty five pounds nineteen shillings and eleven pence and one thousand four hundred and forty one pounds to be paid in the new emission of this State at one for forty due him P acts passed by the Aud Genl.

Tuesday 25th January 1781
Ordered that the Western Shore Treasurer pay to David Poe Continental Quarter Master for the District of Baltimore Town forty hhds of Tobacco amounting to seven thousand, one hundred and three pounds for the use of that Department on account and to be charged to the United States.

Tuesday 31st July 1781
Ordered that the Water Shore Treasurer pay to David Poe Quarter Master Six hundred and fifty pounds of the bills emitted under the Act for the Emission of Bills of Credit
Page 28

credit not exceeding two hundred thousand pounds [illegible] of the money appropriated for the present campaign part thereof to be expended in purchasing fifty common tents, five horseman's tents and one hundred camp kettles.
Thursday 16th August 1781
Ordered that the [illegible] commissary deliver to Capt. John McGowan three days rations for three hands of the sloop Success impressed in the public service by D. Poe.
Monday November 11th 1782
Ordered that the Western Shore Treasurer pay to David Poe one hundred and twenty one pounds, fourteen shillings specie to be charged to the United States per account [illegible].
Council Chamber
Annapolis April 15th 1837
I, Thomas Culbreth, Clerk of the Executive Council of the State of Maryland, do hereby certify that the aforegoing are true and correct extracts taken from the records of the Executive Council belonging to my office.
Given under my hand the day and year above written.
Thos: Culbreth