Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40,163, for Valentine Miller, Pennsylvania
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(8-1776)
SERVICE                                        NUMBER
Penn.        Miller,Valentine            S.40.163
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(first page)
Let to G. Ottinger, present Apt. '37
per agt. April 3, 1837 
Paid to the the treasury under the acts of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March to 4 Sept. 1839 agt. notified 8 Sept. 1840
Date of death March [illegible]  (this was written sideways)
(second page)
18948 Pennsylvania Valentine Miller of Bedford Co. in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Humpry of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Harmer in the Penna line, for the term of three years Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 1 of March 1823 Certificate of Pension issued the 9 of May 1823 Bedford Penna. Arrears to the 4th of Mar: 1823 $1.03 Semianl. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1848 $49.03
{Revolutionary claim, Acts Marh 18, 1818, May 1, 1820 & 1 March 18____}
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Western District of Pennsylvania
Bedford County ss

In the Court of Common Pleas held at Bedford in and for Bedford County the eleventh day of
April A.D. 1823. being a Court of record and so established by Act of Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania and keeping a record
of its proceedings personally came into open Court Valentine Miller, aged Sixty nine years next May or sixty eight years last May, resident in Cumberland Valley Township in said County who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath decare [sic] that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows. That he enlisted in Reading in the
State of Pennsylvania in the month of August 1777, in the company commanded by Captain Jacob Bowers of the Sixth Regiment commanded by Colonel [blank space] Harner in the line of the State of Pennsylvania in the continental establishment. That he continued to serve in the said Regiment, under Colonel Harmer, and after him under Colonel Hampton, Captain Bowers and after him Captain Humphrey and under Major Talbert and after him Major Greer until the month of August 1780, when he was discharged from the service, after the expiration of the term of his enlistment in Little York town in the State of Pennsylvania; That he was in the Battle of Monmoth and Stony Point, besides Several small engagements, and that he is reduced in his circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for Support.

And I the said Valentine Miller, Do Solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818. And that I have not sier [sic] that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an Act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Navel service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War" passed the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities or contracts or Debts
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due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed, viz
Interest in a certain tract of land of two hundred acres held by improvement
situate in Cumberland Valley Township, County aforesaid, no part of the purchase money paid to the State of Pennsylvania.

Valued at $100.00

One old six plate Stove $6. Two cows at 8 each - $16- one Windmill $5.50. One calf $2.00- one mare $30- one sorrel horse $20. One Iron Cattle $3.00- One Barshare plough $3.00- One Shovel plough $1.00- 
Amounting in the whole to the sum of one hundred and eighty six dollars
and fifty cents.

I have been by occupation a labourer at farming and from age and infirmities am now wholly unable to labour; The only family that I have is a wife sixty three years of age last October - and one son at home or who
lives with me or to assist me in any way and this son farms my land and received his compensation out of the proceeds thereof.
his mark [hand-drawn "X"] Valentine Miller

Sworn and subscribed in open Court 11 Apr 1823
J. M. Espy
 
George Miller being also sworn doth depose ^and say that he is the brother of the before mentioned Valentine Miller, and is and has been all his life been well acquainted with him-. That some time in the year 1777
his said Brother Valentine Miller enlisted in the Pennsylvania line in the continental service for the term of three years during the 
Revolutionary War.
That the enlistment took place in Reading in the State of Pennsylvania - He was enlisted in the company of Captain Bowers in the Sixth
Regiment deponent thinks - Deponent was in the Revolutionary army himself and knows that the said Valentine, served the said three years in the Revolutionary Army in the said Pennsylvania line in the Continental establishment and was discharged honourably from the service at Little York in Pennsylvania - Deponent further states that the said Valentine is a poor man and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support - 
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court 11 Apr 1823. J.M Espy
his mark [hand drawn "X"] George Miller
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BA-J/AWF
Valentine Miller S. 40163
Florence  S. Richards
1387 Howard Avenue
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Dear Madam:
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 40163, based upon the service of Valentine Miller in the Revolutionary War. Valentine Miller was born in the month of May, 1754, place not stated, nor are the names of his parents given. Valentine Miller enlisted in Reading, Pennsylvania, sometime in August, 1777, served as private in Captains Jacob Bower's and Humphrey's Sixth Pennsylvania regiment; he was in the battle of Monmouth and Stony Point, and several skirmishes, was discharged sometime in August, 1780. Valentine Miller was allowed pension on his application executed April 11, 1823, at which time he was a resident of Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania.  He referred to his wife at that time as aged sixty-three years "last October, and to a son then living at home with him; the name of his wife and son were not stated.  George Miller, brother of the solder, Valentine Miller, stated in 1823 in Bedford County, (end of letter)
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Pennsylvania, that he served in the Revolutionary War.

The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible family data.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and
possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General
Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following data:
Valentine Miller
Certificate #18948
Issued May 9, 1823
Rate $8.00 per month
Commenced March 1, 1823
Acts of March 18, 1818 and May 1, 1820
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
August 25,  1840.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Valentine Miller, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, under the law of the 18th March 1818, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, to the 4th Sept. 1839.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions, 
Present.
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(Present) Apl. 3, 1837
Mr. Ottinger, will be kind enough to call on the Secretary of War & get an order to have the Pension paper accepted by the Girard Bank—

By late rule the order of the War Dept. is necessary.  The poor old fellow wants his money.

Very urgy(?)
J M Pauley
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Thereupon the Court aforesaid upon examination of John Cessna upon oath (the said John Cessna being a resident of Cumberland Valley Township in said county of Bedford) as to the value of the property of the said Valentine Miller do certify that from the proof aforesaid the value of the said property is one hundred and eighty six Dollars and fifty cents —

By the court 11th April 1823
J.M. Espy
Prothy

State of Pennsylvania 
Bedford County ss

I, Josiah M. Espy Prothonstary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Bedford Do hereby Certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original papers remaining on file in my office at Bedford.

Witness my hand & seal of office the first day of May Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and twenty three
J M Espy 
Proth
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Mrh(?) 18, 1892.

Valentine Miller
Bedford Co. Pa

A. Thomson,
Bedford, Pa.

Recd. of May 1823.

Admitted

[Stamped with seal:]
REDF.
MAY
2

[Written sideways down the middle, facing upwards:]

The Honourable J.C. Calhoun Esq
Secretary of the Department of War
Washington City
D.C.
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Bedford 2d May 1823

Sir

Enclosed is the application of Valentine Miller for a pension.  When the case is examined please to let me know its fate, and if it should be rejected, be so good as to mention the cause, that the applicant, if it be in his power, may remove the difficulty.

I am with the sentiments of the greatest respect your 
obedient servant

A. Thomson
The Honourable J.C. Calhoun
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(first page)
40163
INVALID.
Revy.

File No. 40,163 
Valentine Miller 
Pri   Rev War

Act: 18 March 18
index:—Vol. 3, Page 339

[Arrangement of 1870]

(second page)
1910 Sept. 13, Hist. to M.B.H.
Melancthon Usaw
1928—Feb. 2 - Hist. to Mrs. C. E. Shirk any
1937—Feb. 16 - hist. to Elijah H. Owen any
1939 May 9—hist to Florence S. Richards any
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418 Market St.
Harrisburg, Pa.,
Sept. 3, 1904

Chief Clerk, Bureau of Pensions,
Interior Department,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

I would like to have an abstract of the pension application of Mrs Elizabeth Saylor, whose 2nd husband, Geo. M. Saylor, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  She was born Switzer and her first husband was Abraham Miller, also said to be a Rev. soldier.  She died about 25 Dec., 1862, in Somerset Co., Pa., as did her husbands.  

I would also like to have the abstract of the application for Valentine Miller, born in Loudoun Co., Va.; living at the taking of the 6th Census; died in Cumberland Valley Twp., Bedford Co., Pa.

This information is desired for use in a (letter ends here)
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family history I am gathering notes for.  In case I should want a copy in full of these papers, can I get them, and what will the fee be?
Respectfully,
Melancthon Usaw
Page 15

MRS. C.E. SHIRK
809 SEVENTEENTH STREET
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

Bureau of Pensions,
Washington D.C.

I should like to have the pension record of Valentine Miller of Bradford Co. Penna. aged 80 years who is listed in Vol. 23 Pg. 501 Penna Archives as having drawn a pension for Rev. serviceS on May 9, 1823.  

Also I should like to know if you have any record of (letter ends here)
Page 16

Arthur Scott who died in 1843 in Washington Co. Penna.  He was born Lancaster Co. 1760 and enlisted when 16 years old, probably in Lancaster York or Adams Co.  He was at Valley Forge 1777. His family lived around Gettysburg for a time we think although that is not certain.  If you have any records of Arthur Scotts in these three counties or in Franklin Co. I should like to have them.
Thanking you.
Yours Truly,
(Mrs. C R) Claire R. Shirk
Page 17

A.O.T.(?)

3—871.

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.

Briefed by A. McJ.(?) 9/9'/10
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant b. Loudoun Co Va.
d. Cumberland Valley Townsh. Bedford Co. Pa
Soldier Valentine Miller
Service Pa.
Additional Service Rev.
No. [blank] claim, State records [blank], 191__
No claim, combination records ________, 191__

REMARKS:

Serv. 740,163 (Pa.)
No other serv.
No wife, or Rej.

6—1944
Chief Division
Page 18

1327 Howard Avenue
Pottsville, Penna.
April 13, 1939 
(Seal RECEIVED Apr 17, 1939)

A.D. Hiller, Executive Assit
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

My dear Sir- Your answer to my inquiry of February 21st received yesterday, April 12th.

Immediately, after mailing the above mentioned letter to you, I received from Henry W. Shoemaker, State Archivist at Harrisburg, Penna., the Revolutionary War record of the Valentine Miller who was my great great grandfather.  He was a resident of Whitehall Township, Northampton County, now Lehigh.  The record (letter ends here)
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3.(page 3)
3. April 23, 1782. Return of Inhabitants of First Company, Fourth Battalion, Vallinden [sic] Miller, Private of the Fifth Class.  
Reference on page 383

4. Fourth Battalion, Lieut Colonel Philip Boehm, First Company, Captain Anthony Lark, Valentine Miller, Private of the Fifth Class. Reference on page 354.

Now, did Valentine Miller of Whitehall Township, Northampton County receive a pension for any or all of these services? there is a tradition in the family that he did.

I am the great, great grand daughter of Valentine Miller, and would like to know the details of his pension record, wife's name, where died and dates.

Very truly yours,
Florence S. Richards.
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2.
I sent you February 24th was of another Valentine Miller.  

The following is a copy of the State Archivists letter:

" Dear Miss Richards:
In reply to your letter of February 21st we find that the name of Valentine Miller appears on the following returns of the Northampton County Militia published in the Fifth Series, 8th Volume of Pennsylvania Archives.

1. First Battalion, Colonel George Hubner, Captain Joseph Fry, capacity of Private of the Fifth Class. 
Valentine Miller, 
Reference  on Page 81

2. Third Battalion, Colonel Michael Bobst, May 21, 1777, Eighth Company under Captain Joseph Sigfriet, Vallentin [sic] Miller served in the capacity of Ensign.  Reference on page 226 Same for 1778. Reference on page 238.
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3011 West Philadelphia Ave.
Detroit, Michigan
Feb 1, 1937

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.,

Please advise if you can furnish information relative to the following Revolutionary soldiers and families:

JOHN BARTHOLOMEW  b abt 1745 d abt 1788, of Coventry, Chester Co. Pa- widow Elizabeth Heatherlin
(This is not Col John Bartholomew of same county)

VALENTINE MILLER (Müller) of Chester Co, Pa

Yours very truly
Elijah H. Owen (signed)
Elijah H. Owen
(Stamped RECEIVED Feb 8 1937)
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May 9, 1939

Florence S. Richards
1327 Howard Avenue
Pottsville, Pennsylvania

BA-J/AWF
George Miller
S. 7288
Valentine Miller
S. 40163

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which
you request the Revolutionary War record of Valentine Miller of Whitehall Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
You are furnished herewith the Revolutionary War record of Valentine Miller, pension claim,
S. 40163. This is the record of the only Valentine Miller (Millar) who served with the Pennsylvania troops, found in the Revolutionary War pension records of this office. You are furnished, also, the Revolutionary War record of George Miller of Whitehall Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, as found in pension claim, S. 7235. It is hoped these records will aid you in your research.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

[handwritten at the bottom: 
"See her letter in Valentine Miller- 
[???] S. 40163"]
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February 13, 1937.

Elijah H. Owen
3011 West Philadelphia Avenue
Detroit, Michigan.

BA-J/ILL
Valentine Miller
S. 40163

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Bartholomew who was born about 1745, died about 1782, and whose widow was Elizabeth Heatherlin, also the record of Valentine Miller of Chester County, Pennsylvania.
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of the John Bartholomew cited by you. The record has been found of one Valentine Miller of Pennsylvania; his record is furnished herewith from pension claim, S. 40163.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 24

February 16, 1937

Valentine Miller 
BA-40163
BA-J/AWF

Mr. Elijah H. Owen
3011 West Philadelphia Avenue
Detroit, Michigan

Dear Sir:
The data which follow were obtained from
papers on file in pension claim, S. 40163, based upon the service of Valentine Miller during the Revolutionary War.
Valentine Miller was born in the month of
May, 1754, place not stated, nor were the names of his parents given.
Valentine Miller enlisted in Reading, Pennsylvania, sometime in August, 1777, served as a private in Captains Jacob Bower's and Humphrey's companies in Colonels Harmar's and Humpton's Sixth Pennsylvania regiment; he was in the battles of Monmouth and Stony Point, and several small engagements, was discharged sometime in August, 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 11, 1823, at which time he was a resident of Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He at that time stated that his wife was sixty-three years old last October, and referred to a son then living at home with him, but did not give the name of wife or son.
Soldier's brother, George Miller, stated in
1823 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, that he, also,
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served in the Revolutionary War.
The papers in this claim contain no further
reference to the family of Valentine Miller.
In order to obtain the date of last payment
of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C. giving the following-

Valentine Miller
Certificate #18948
Issued May 9, 1823
Rate $8.00 per month
Commenced March 1, 1823
Acts of March 18, 1818 and May 1, 1820
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 26

Rev. and 1818 Wars Section.

February 2, 1928

Mrs. C. E. Shirk
809 N. Seventeenth St
Harrisburg, Pa

Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 40163, it appears that Valentine Miller was born in May 1754, place not stated.
He enlisted in Reading, Pennsylvania in August 1777 and served as a private in Captains Jacob Bowers' and Humphrey's Company, Colonels Harmar's and Humpton's Pennsylvania Regiment, he was in the battle of Monmouth, battle of Stony Point, and several small engagements, and served until in August 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application
executed April 11, 1823, while a resident of
Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
In 1823 soldier referred to his wife, who was
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born in October 1759  and to a son, but did not give their names.
The Revolutionary War records of the Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to a soldier named Arthur Scott, as described by you
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 28

In reply to your request of Sept. 3, received Sept. 7, 1910 for a statement of the military history of Valentine Miller 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.
S.F. 40.163.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT
Aug. 1777.

LENGTH OF SERVICE
Aug. 1780

RANK
Pvt.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED-
CAPTAIN.
Jacob Bowers.
Humphreys

COLONEL. 
Harmar; 
Hampton

STATE.
Penn.

2.

Battles engaged in, Monmouth & Stony Point; sev small eng
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl. in Reading Penn.
Date of application for pension, Apr. 11,1823, His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford Co., Penn.
Age at date of application b. May 1754
Remarks: In 1823 soldier refers to his wife b. Oct. 1759 and to a son, but did not state their names.
OK
Page 29

Record Division.
September 18, 1910
Mr. Melancthon Usaw
418 Market Street,
Harrisburg, Pa.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 3" and received the 6" instant, you are furnished herewith the history of Valentine Miller, Sur. File No. 40,163, Rev. War. and are advised that the history of George Michael Sayler, R. No. 9,345, Rev. War,  was furnished you under date of October 16, 1907.
Owing to the lack of clerical force available for such a purpose, this Bureau is unable to furnish full copies of newspapers on file, but any person designated by you will be allowed to examine and copy the papers in the above noted claims.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner