Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,972, for Henry Rader, Virginia
Page 1

Va.
Rader, Henry
S. 5,972

Carded
Page 2

12.005

Virginia

Henry Rader
of Rockingham in the State of Va:
who was a pr. in the Army commanded
by Captain Cox of the Regt commanded 
by Chapham in the Va
line for 8 mo: 17 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia 
at the rate of 28 Dollars 54 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of March
1833 and Quit to HJ
Gambill, Harrisonburg

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 57.08
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept ~ 14.27
71.35

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Nathan Riel Clerk
Book 6 Vol. 6 Page 24

Setten 18 April 1887. A.C. Boyan
Pension Court
Let. to A.C. Bryan, June 
27, 1837.
Let. to Pen. April 4 A.C. 73.
July 5, 1837.

Order to payr. - 7. Sept 1837.
P.R. [Gerathlaw.?] do LoD.

Order to pay V [Astles?] to H L of
Land. 6th April 1838

Paid at the Treasury under 
Act to April 1838 from 4 [hiash?]
to 4 [legit?] 1837. [Agule hodefied?]
28 June 1838.
Page 3

6891 
Henry Rader

P63
Admit as private 8 mo
and 17 days from 1776

[?]
L.W. Melalec
2.3.13. $28.34

[Lu left?] Nov 17 1836
N. J. Gambill 
Harrisonburg
Va
Page 4

6891

Brief in the case of Henry Rader
County of Rockingham in the State of Virginia
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Jude?
Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?
75

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officer under whom he served.
In 17[76 or '77]. 0 Years, 3 Months, 0 Days. As a [Private]. Gen. [Cap. Cox, Col. Clapham.]
[again draftd]. 0 Years, 3 Months, 0 Days. ". [Maj West]
[1st Jany 1782 drftd]. 0 Years, 2 Months, 0 Days. ". [Cap. Downie, Col. Niswonger]
[1781 L fall drftd]. 0 Years, 0 Months, 17 Days. ". [Gen. Thorn.]
[1780 pressed as wagoner - (crossed out: 17 Days)]
[8 Months 17 Days]

5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Loudon Cty Va

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Traditionary

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
[Cassech?]

I CERTIFY that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

x [March he?] 1781

J. Naughe
Examining Clerk.
Page 5

6891.

Henry Rader
Declaration
Page 6

State of Virginia + County of Rockingham to wit.

On the 20th day of August 1832 presantly appeared
Ja eol Nd. Williamson, Bainid + Faridow Reuben Mo nu + Augustus L Valentinan
in open Court, before Justices of the County Court of Rockingham
County now sitting, Henry Rader, a resident of 
Augusta County, (near the Rockingham line) and State of Virginia,
aged about seventy-five, who being first duly sworn, according
to law doth on his oath make the following declarations
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under
the following officers and served as herein stated.

That he was born in the year 1756 as he believes, (the bible in which his age is recorded having been lost) in Pennsylvania,
near Bethlehem, and his parents removed to Loudon 
County, Virginia in 1769, and he resided in that County 
eleven years, and then removed to Shenandoah County Virginia.

In the year 1776 ^1777 while he resided in Loudon County, he 
volunteered and marched to Alexandria under Captain
Cox. His term of service commenced in the latter half of 
summer after harvest, and he continued in the service three
months,; was stationed at Alexandria the whole time, and was
employed in erecting a battery for the defence of the town.
He was under the command of Gen C. Coleman and
Col. Clapham, and was not in any engagement during this
term. He received no written discharge for this 
tour. About a week after the expiration of the 
above term of service, which was about the last of
October, as well as he now recollects, he was drafted
into the militia service from Loudon County. He marched
under Major West, and joined Head Quarters at White Plains,
and continued in the Service in that neighborhood three
Page 7

months. He was not engaged in any battle during this term of
service. He joined headquarters shortly after the battle of
Brandywine and was discharged at the expiration of three months
but got no written discharge. He was under the Command of
Genl. Crawford, Col. Clapham, and Major West, but cannot
recollect the name of the Captain under whom he served during this tour.

He further states that on the first of January 1782, 
he was drafted into the militia service from Shenandoah County
under Captain Downie, and served a tour of two
months at Winchester Barracks in Virginia, under Col.
Niswonger. He was then discharged, but received no written
discharge. [crossed out: After the first part of 1782, he entered the service]

In the fall of 1781, he was drafted from Shenandoah County and marched to Bowling-green in Carolina 
County Va and met the army with the British [crossed out: army]
prisoners, and returned assisting to guard the prisoners
to Noland's Ferry on Potomas River, and was discharged
after serving seventeen days. This tour was performed under
the Command of Genl. Thorn of the militia. He received
no written discharge. In the year 1780 as well he 
remembers, he was returning from Philadelphia with a [crossed out: his]
waggon, and was impressed, with his waggon to carry some
sick prisoners from Winchester, Va to Lancaster Pennsylvania. He
was engaged in this service seventeen days, and got a receipt
for the delivery of the prisoners, which receipt he delivered
to Reuben-Moore the owner of the wagon and team. Neither
himself, or Moore have ever received any pay for 
this service as far as he knows or believes but it was
allowed in lieu of a militia tour.

He has no documentary evidence of his service but 
relies on the testimony of his brother Conrad Rader,
and his brother-in-law Lawrence Howdeshill to prove his
Page 8

services. For his character [crossed out: he] and standing in his neighborhood,
and the belief in his services he refers to Joseph Bantes
Esqr. High Sheriff, of Rockingham County, Mr. Wm. Hopkins,
Mr. Peter Driver, Mr. Benjamin Bowman, David Hinton Esqr.,
and the neighbors generally. He has resided in Rockingham
and Augusta Counties (near the Rockingham line) since 
1802, or thereabouts, the last 13 or 14 years of the time
in Augusta.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension or annuity except the present and declares
that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day + year aforesaid.

Henry [?] Rader
[Wash?]

Mr. Michael Meyrhoeffer, a clergyman residing in the County
of [crossed out: and] Rockingham and Joseph Baxter 
residing in Rockingham hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Henry Rader, who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe
him to be seventy-five years of age, that he is reputed and 
believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been
a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that 
opinion.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

M Meyerhoffer
Joseph Baxter

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the
above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & 
served as he states. And the Court further certifies that 
it offers to him that Michael Meyerhoeffer who has 
signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the
County of Rockingham and that Joseph Baxter 
who has also signed the same is a resident of Rockingham County and is a
Page 9

a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, Henry J Gambill, Clerk of the County of Rockingham, so hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original procedings of the said Court in the
Matter of the application of Henry Rader for a Pension,
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of my office this 24th day of August
the year 1832, and in the 54th year of the 
[Commonwealth?]

H. J. Gambill Clerk
of Rockingham County Virginia
Page 10

[Revhan?]

5972

INVALID.

File No. 5972
Henry Rader
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 132
Index: - Vol. M, Page 308

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 11

Three of the affidavits on the accompanying sheet relate to 
the claim of Henry Rader, and the fourth to the claim
of Conrad Rader. It was thought best not to separate
them, as the authentication of the Clerk's seal and certificate
applies to all of them, and it saves trouble & 
expense to include both cases under one certificate + seal.
Page 12

Harrisburg Va.
[delvr 20?]

[Schl?]
M Evans

[Free?]

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 13

Harrisonburg Rockingham County
Virginia April 3? 1808.

Sir, I send you for examination the power of 
attorney herewith enclosed. If it is found to be in 
proper form, you will please to encloze and 
remit it to the Doctor Haglett Lofland, Richmond,
Virginia, as soon as practical: If 
not in form, please to return it to me.

Yours respectfully,
Allan C Bryan
Page 14

Harrisburg Va.
[delvr 20?]
[Soft?]

M Evans

Free

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 15

[duplicate of previous page]

Harrisburg Va.
[delvr 20?]
[Soft?]

M Evans

Free

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 16

Harrisonburg Rockingham County
Virginia Sept 2nd 1837.

Sir, 

In June, I transmitted to you two powers
of attorney given by Lawrence Hordershell
+ Henry Rader, to [Percy?] R. Grattan
Esq of Richmond, appointing him their attorney
to draw their pensions. Upon reply of the
5th of July, informed me that the agent at
Richmond was directed to pay the amount.

For want of a convenient opportunity the papers
were not forwarded to Mr. Grattan until 
the [crossed out: latter half] middle of August: he received
them on the 18th of August, in the evening, and
made affidavit that evening, & left the papers
with the Son of the agent, requesting him 
to hand the papers to his father, which 
was done. Mr. Grattan left Richmond on the morning of the 19th to attend Goschland
Court, and on his return, the agent refused
to pay the money, on the ground that ninety
Page 17

days had elapsed after the execution of the
power of attorney. The ninety days expired on 
the 22nd of August - + that day had passed.

One of these pensioners is nearly blind, + 
very poor, + the other is very infirm, + lives 
in a remote part of the country, and it is 
attended with very great trouble + inconvenience, 
+ some expense for them to execute 
new powers of attorney, + my office is waiting
now, is to request you, if not inconsistent
with any regulation, of your Department
to instruct the agent of Richmond
to pay the amount of ALL pensions, to
Mr. Grattan, notwithstanding the ninety days
have elapsed. Mr. Grattan leaves Richmond on 
the 11th of [crossed out: Rich] this month and if the agent
gets the instruction before that day, it 
will save the pensioners in question, considerable
trouble + some expense

Very respectfully
Your [official?]
Allan C. Bryan
Page 18

Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office
June 27, 1838.

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," Henry Rader,
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va Agency, at
the rate of twenty eight Dollars and fifty four Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1837
to the 4th of September 1837.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller
Page 19

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Page 20

Harrisonburg Rockingham County Virginia July 1st 1837.

Sir,

The enclosed powers of attorney, in which Mr. Grattan is
named as the attorney, and the accompanying note were received from 
you by the last mail, but I can not understand from your note
whether [Howdershell?] + Rader's pensions will be paid to Grattan
whom these papers assent. It is true, as you say, the agent at
Richmond was instructed to pay the amount due these pensioners
on the 18th of April last: but it was upon the accompanying power
of attorney given to Samuel Liggett, but Mr. Liggett never received
it: Before the papers were returned from your office he had
gone to Richmond. [crossed out: and (illegible)] I now send them to you, in order
that you may see the money has not been paid to Liggett,
and to request you to instruct the agent at Richmond to
pay to Grattan, and return them to me as soon as convenient.
Retaining the papers subjects the pensioner to great
inconvenience, as in the present case, they heard of Mr. Liggett's 
intention to go to Richmond, but before the return of the
papers from Washington, he had set out, and they are subject
to the expense and inconvenience of getting new papers
[accuted?]

Very respectfully
Your off. Servt.
Allan C. Bryan

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Page 21

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Henry Rader which require further
proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 
No.

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
signed for his not doing so?
No

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
Yes.

V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?
Yes

VI. Has he given the names of officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes.

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of 
June 7, 1832?
Yes.

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
Yes.

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
Yes.

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished 
from any other seal?
Yes.
Page 22

2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service?
Yes.

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 
---

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
Says he can obtain the testimony of witnesses. This he should
do.

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
---
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his
seal of office?
---

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
---

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?
Answered

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ---
year --- months and --- days, I served as a ---. For --- months and --- days, I served as a ---: and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 23

3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase [italic: about three or four months] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.

In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as
well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature
of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not 
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the 
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.
Page 24

Henry Rader & Conrad Rader.
Page 25

Rockingham County, Virginia to wit:

This day personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the
Peace for the County of Rockingham, [crossed out: Michael] Lawrence Howdershell and
made oath that he has seen the declaration made by Henry Rader Senr.
of Augusta County, on the 20th of August 1832 in the County Court
of Rockingham County, and knows the same to be true, in relation
to three of the tours of militia duty therein mentioned. In the
first of the tours therein spoken of, served in the year 1776 at 
Alexandria, the said [crossed out: Michael] Lawrence Howdershell served with the
said Henry Rader Senr. He further states that he knows Henry Rader
Senr. marched in 1776 or 1777 under Major West, to Pennsylvania, and 
was absent three months. He also knows that the said Henry Rader Senr.
marched from Shenandoah Cty Va. in the year 1781 and was gone a short
time, and he always understood that Cornwallis had surrendered before
he reached Yorks Town. The said [crossed out: Michael] Lawrence Howdershell further states
that he was sworn in the Rockingham Court at the time the said
Henry Rader declaration was made and sworn to in court, and was
examined by the said Court, and gave the same statement then, which
he makes in this affidavit.

The undersigned further certifies that the said [crossed out: Michael] Lawrence Howdershell 
is a credible person, and his statement on oath is
entitled to full faith and credit. Given under my hand
the 11th day of February 1833.

A. V. Smith

This day personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of 
the Peace for Rockingham County, Va. Conrad Rader, who made
oath that he has seen the declaration made by his brother 
Henry Rader Sr. on the 20th of August 1832, in the Rockingham
County Court, and knows the same to be true. During the time
the said Henry Rader Senr. served at Winchester Barracks the 
said Conrad Rader served with him, the services rendered by
Henry Rader Sr. at Winchester, he thinks amounted to two months the first time & to forty days
the last time the said Conrad Rader further states that he knows his
Page 26

brother Henry rendered the other services mentioned in his declarations,
although he was not personally engaged with him. And the 
said Conrad Rader further states that he was sworn in the Rockingham
County Court, at the time the declaration of his brother
was made, and was examined by the Court, and made the same
statements then which he makes in this affidavit.

And the undersigned further certifies that the said [crossed out: Henry] Conrad Rader
is a credible person, and his statement on oath is entitled to full
faith and credit. Given under my hand this 11th of February 1833.

A.V. Smith

This day personally appeared before the undersigned, Justice of
the Peace for Rockingham County Va., Henry Rader Senr. and made oath
that the reasons why he made his declaration, on an application for
a pension, in Rockingham, and not Augusta County are the following.
Although he has resided in Augusta County for some years,
it is near the Rockingham line, and he has very little acquaintance 
in Augusta. His brother Conrad Rader, and his brother-in-law
Lawrence Howdershell, who are his witnesses to his services
both reside in Rockingham, and could much more conveniently
attend the Rockingham, than the Augusta Court. His brother was an
applicant himself, and they were mutual witnesses for each other
and it would save much trouble to have it all done at the 
same time. The only clergyman who was acquainted with
him, also resided in Rockingham and could attend the Rockingham
Court much more conveniently than the Augusta Court.

He was not aware that the regulations of the War Department
required him to make his declaration in the County where
he resides - nor was he informed of that fact by the person
who acted as his advisor in the matter.

The undersigned further certifies that the said Henry Rader Senr.
is a credible person, and his statement on oath is entitled to full
faith and credit. Given under my hand February 11th 1833.

A.V. Smith
Page 27

Rockingham County Virginia - To wit:

This day personally appeared before the undersigned, a Justice of the
Peace for the County of Rockingham, Henry Rader Senr. of Augusta
County and made oath that has seen the declaration made and sworn
to by his brother Conrad Rader, in the Rockingham County Court
on the 20th day of August 1832, and knows the same to be
true in regard to the two latter tours of militia service
mentioned therein: the said Henry Rader Sr. having served in
both the said tours with his brother. The said Henry
Rader Senr. further states that he was sworn in Court on
the 20th August 1832, when his brother's declaration was sworn
to, and was examined by the Court, and made the same statement
then, which he makes in this affidavit.

The undersigned further certifies that the said Henry Rader
Senr. is a credible person and his statements on oath are
entitled to full faith and credit. Given under my hand
this 11th day of February 1833.

A.V. Smith

State of Virginia Rockingham County to wit

I Henry J Gambill Clerk of the Court of Rockingham 
County do hereby Certify that Abraham Smith before whom the
foregoing affidavits were made is a Magistrate in and for said
County duly [compensated?] and qualified, and that the foregoing
signature purporting to be his is genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have
here unto set my hand and affixed
the seal of my said County this
13th day of February 1833 and in the
57th year of the Commonwealth

Henry J Gambill, Clerk of the
Court of Rockingham County