Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 2456-100, for Peter Topping, Maryland
Page 1

Service
Md.
Topping, Peter
Number
B.L.Wt.2456-100
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State of Maryland

Anne Arundel County JC

At an orphans Court held for said County on the fifth day of March Eighteen hundred and fifty, the same being a court record satisfactory evidence was addressed in court to prove that Aarn Hawkins of said county is the nephew and only surviving heir at law of Peter Topping deceased, who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain attached to a Compamy in the Second Regiment of the Maryland Contin-ental line commanded by Colonel John Grunby.  In Testimony whereof we the Judges of the Orphans Court of said County have subscribed our names the day and year above written.

John Wilmot
James H. Watkins
Gerrard R. Hopkins

In Testimony that the aforegoing attached copies from the minutes and proceeding of the Orphans Court of Anne Arundel County

I have hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of office this fifth day of March Eighteen Hundred and fifty

Benj. E Gantt   Reg Wells    [illegible name]
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Wm. Alexander
anod July 20th 51


Peter Topping
Md Con Service
2456-100

Rev

Rec'd July 3rd 51
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Balti July 2nd 1851

Sir

Your favour of the 28th [illegible] containing land warrant No. 2456 for one hundred acres of land issued from the department of the Interior on the 26th June 1851 to Aaron Haw-kins nephew and only surviving heir at law of Peter Topping died who was a private of the Maryland and Continental line, was duly reclined by me on the 30th [illegible]

In all similar cases heretofore attended to by me for same amount of land for Revo-lutionary bounty land I have received it in the shape of Treasure land scrip which was saleable and transferable, a plan far more convenient & profitable to the holders; this was done in the case of the heir of Danl Willis; warrant issued on or about the 8th August 1849.  I returned to Genl. land office with the order of warran-tee & [unclear] for it.

If this course can be pursued in this present case of Hawkins it would be much preferred.  Please advise me & co.

I am very truly your obt Sevt
Wm Alexander
No. 51 [illegible]

[To the left]
James E. Heath Esq
Commisions Pensions
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Peter Topping, dec'd

No. 2456

Mr. Wm. Alexander
Baltimore
Md.

[Upside down text]
Deposition of Aaron
Hawkins, of A.A.Co.
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STATE OF MARYLAND
SS
Anne Arundel County

I Aaron Hawkins, a resident of said County in said State,

do upon oath testify and declare, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that I am fifty six years of age and and only heir at law in fee of Peter Topping, [illegible], who enlisted for the term of during the Revolutionary War, between the United States and Great Britain, and served in the regiment, commanded by Colonel John Gumby of the Maryland Line; and that said Peter Topping continued in the service of the United States, until the end of said war,--I further declare that I have never received a Warrant for the Bounty Land, promised to the said Peter Topping on the part of the United States, nor do I believe that he ever received it or transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever.

Therefore know all men by these presents, that I, Aaron Hawkins aforesaid do hereby constitute and appoint William Alexander of the City of Baltimore, to be my true and lawful Attorney, for me, and in my name to demand and receive from the Secretary of War, of the United States, the quantity of Land due to me, as aforesaid, and my said Attorney, is hereby fully authorized and empowered to constitute one or more substitutes under him for the special purpose therein mentioned.

[signature] Aaron Hawkins, his name 

Sworn to and subscribed on this 28th day of September 1849, before me

[signature] Wm. Hawkins
Justice of the Peace

STATE OF MARYLAND
SS
Anne Arundel County

Be it remembered, that on this twenty eighth day of September A.D. 1849, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, of the State of Maryland, in and for said City, personally appeared Aaron Hawkins, subscriber to the aforegoing declaration, and in my presence acknowledged the Power Attorney, thereby subjoined to be his freeact and deed for the special purposes therein mentioned.

[signature]  Wm. Hawkins
[Seal]
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State of Maryland Anne Arundel County Court

I hereby certify that William Hawkins gentleman, before whom the within acknowledgment appeared to have been made and who has thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the said state in & for the county aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn.

In Testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Anne Arundel County Court this 9th day of March 1850.

[Signature] Josiah Nicholson, Clk of 
Anne Arundel County Court
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State of Maryland
Anne Arundel County Court

On the 29th day of November A.D. 1849 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace of the said state in and for the said County, personally appeared John Short aged about eighty one years a resident of said County and a native of the same who made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he well knew and was personally acquainted with Peter Topping private of the Second Regiment of the Maryland and Continental line under the command of Colonel John Gunby, in which position the said Peter Topping continued his said service in the Army of the United States until the close of the Revolution War in 1783.  After completing his revolutionary services the said Topping returned home to his native county aforesaid, where he lived up to his death.

This deponent further declared that he is intimately acquainted with Aaron Hawkins a resident of said county and a native of the same and knows him to be the nephew and only surviving heir at [unclear] in fee of the said Peter Topping who served as aforesaid until the close of the said war as he believes.

[signature] John Short - his X mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me
Dennis Griffith
Justice of the Peace

This is to certify that deponent John Short who has subscribed and sworn to the affidavit on the oposite [sic] side is an Old Man of Character [2 words unclear]
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integrity and crediability [sic] and that his oath would be taken in any Court of Justice
Dennis Griffith, J.P.

In Testimony that the within is a true copy taken from the original Plea and remain-ing in the Office of the Register of Wills for Anne Arundel County

I have hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of office this fifth day of March Eight hundred and fifty.
[Sea] Benj. E. Gannt, Reg. Wills A.A. Cty
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State of Maryland
Anne Arundel County Court

On the 29th day of November A.D. 1849 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace of the said state in and for the said County, personally appeared Samuel Baldwin a native resident of said County and a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States who made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he well knew and was intimately acquainted with Peter Topping who was a revolutionary soldier attached to a Company in the Second Regiment of the Maryland and Continental line commanded by Colonel John Gunby, attached to the the United States Army during the whole of the Revolution War with Great Britain.  This deponent further declares that after the said Topping had completed his war revolutionary services he returned home to his native county aforesaid, where he lived and died.  This deponent further states and declares that he is well acquainted with Aaron Hawkins a native resident of the said county and  knows him to be the nephew and only surviving heir of said Peter Topping who served as aforesaid until the close of the said war in 1783 as he believes.

[signature] Samuel Baldwin - his X mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me
Dennis Griffith
Justice of the Peace
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This is to certify that deponent Mr. Samuel Baldwin is a man of good of Character and that his oath would be taken in any Court of Justice
Dennis Griffith, J.P.

In Testimony that the within is a true copy taken from the original Plea and remaining in the Office of the Register of Wills for Anne Arundel County

I have hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of office this fifth day of March Eight hundred and fifty.
[Sea] Benj. E. Gannt, Reg. Wills A.A. Cty
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Wm. Alexander

Peter Topping, dec'd  Md. Line

Recd March 13th 50
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Baltimore March 11th 1850

Sir,

I herewith file for your consideration the declaration, and evidence in the cases of Aaron Hawkins and Isaac M Nichols's claims (separate) for revolutionary services of the persons therein mentioned:  please examine them, and let me know the result.

I filed with you on the 3rd Jan'y last two depositions in support of a claim of Susan Logan for Revolutionary Services, please do me the favour to let me hear from you in reference to her claim and early as practical-ble.

I am Sir with great your obt sevt
Wm. Alexander
No. 51 Fayett St

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commission Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Register Wills Office
Anne Arundel County
1st June 1851

Dr Sir

As requested by your of 31 letter I return the paper corrections the same being an error in the copy and not in the original as recorded here (the name Topping is the original name)

Very Respectfully,
Benj. E. Gannt
[illegible]

To
Wm. Alexander Esq.
Balto.
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Balto. June 3rd 1851

Dr Sir

I return herewith the paper in the case of Hawkins, corrected from the original.  I also send on the letter of the Register of Wills of A A County to shew that the error was merely clerical.  [unclear]

I am sir very respt your obt sevt
Wm. Alexander

Jas E Heath, Esq
Commissions of Pensions
Washington D.C.