Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4380, William Guin, Penn.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE | | NUMBER
Penn. | Guin, William | R.4380

CONTENTS
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V34.263
William Guin
Pennsylvania
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State of Pennsylvania
Allegheny County ss

On this twenty first day of October A.D. 1837 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable the District Court in and for the County aforesaid William Guin a resident of Indiania Township Allegheny County and State of Pennsylvania aged "eighty six" years last February who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his solemn oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th A.D. 1832

That he the said William Guin was born near the "head of Elk" in Maryland in February A.D. 1751. He has no written record of his age but relies on traditionary evidence. He had removed to Pennsylvania and was living in Path Valley now Franklin County Penna, with one David Elder since dead, when he enlisted in a volunteer company raised in Path Valley and the neighborhood of Shippensburgh Cumberland County Penna. He enlisted at first for the term of one year, and after serving that time - a part of said Company including said Guin enlisted for another year, which time he continued in the army, and was faithfully employed in active service so that he served two full years all that time in the capacity of a private soldier. The company of which he was a member, was commanded by Captain James McConnell and Lieut Samuel Johnson and the regiment to which he was attached was commanded by Colonel Samuel Culberson. He does not recollect distinctly the date or even the year, in which he entered the army - but knows that it was some time previous to the time when the British army gained possession of the City of Philadelphia. The company of which he was a member immediately after being raised was marched to Phil [cut off]
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was commanded by Colonel Samuel Culberson. He does not recollect distinctly the date or even the year in which he entered the army - but knows that it was some time previous to the time  when the British army gained possession of the City of Philadelphia. The company of which he was a member immediately after being raised were marched to Philadelphia and were engaged for some time in active duty in the vicinity of said City. He belonged to the main army - and though not in the immediate conflicts themselves - was stationed on guard at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. He was also among the troops detached by General Washington for the capture of the Hessians at Trenton - and during the time he was in the army - was frequently employed in less important detachments. He was marched with a detachment of the army through New Jersey under the command of General Sullivan and was stationed some time at Fort Lee on the Hudson. His company afterwards were marched back again and were discharged at or near Philadelphia. Shortly before his time of service expired he took sick and was confined at a place not very far from Philadelphia called "Big Valley" about three months, during which time his company were discharged, he recollects of several of his fellow soldiers calling to see him on their way home and informing him of their discharge - On his recovery, his time of service having expired - he returned home, without obtaining any written discharge. After leaving the army he spent some time in Path Valley afterward he removed to near Frankstown Huntington County, where he resided some years and has now lived upwards of thirty five years in Allegheny County Pennsylvania. Owing to old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot recollect the names of any other officers of the Militia or regular service with or under whom he served except those above mentioned. Nor can he remember the names of the continental or militia regiments to which he was from time to time attached. He cannot swear positively as to dates, but is quite confident
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according to the best of his recollection of having served two full years as aforesaid. He has no documentary evidence of his services but is well known to Henry Parry and Philip Miller of the neighborhood in which he resides and Thomas Fairman of the City of Pittsburgh all of whom can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his statement and that they have always understood that the said Guin had been a soldier of the revolution. The said Guin formerly attended the Presbyterian Church in the vicinity where he resides under the ministry of the Rev Joseph Stockton now deceased - but by reason of the infirmities of age has for sometime ceased to attend any Church - nor is there any clergyman in the vicinity with whom he is acquainted.

During all that period of his life, while he was able to support himself by his own industry, he  always refused to make any application for the relief provided by the pension laws, though often urged by his friends to make such application - He can now no longer support himself and is scarcely able to walk across the room and his aged wife is almost equally infirm, so that his repugnance to be a pensioner of the General government has at length yielded to his necessities - He never has received any pension, either from his own State or from the United States - And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State agency - or if any only on that of the agency of the State of Pennsylvania. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid ["before me" crossed out] in open Court

James Logan Pro

William his x mark Guin
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roll of any state agency - or if any only on that of the agency of the State of Pennsylvania. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid ["before me" crossed out] in open Court

James Logan
Hon Pro

William his x mark Guin

We Philip Miller and Henry Parry residing in Indiania Township Allegheny County do hereby certify that we are and have long been well acquainted with William Guin who has sworn and subscribed to the above declaration , that we believe him to be, as he states "eighty six 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 and do regard him as entitled and worthy to receive the bounty afforded by the pension laws. Sworn + subscribed this twenty first day of October 1837

In open Court
Hon James Logan
Pro.

Henry H. Parry
Philip Miller

I Thomas Fairman of the City of Pittsburgh do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with William Guin the above named declarant for about forty years - that I believe him to be a man of truth and veracity, that I have no doubt that he is as he states eighty six years of age, that I have always understood him to have been a soldier of the revolution, and implicit confidence in the accuracy of his own statement as made above and believe him to be entitled to a pension - Sworn and subscribed this twenty first day of October 1837

In Open Court
Hon. James Logan
Pro

Thos Fairman
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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 and served as he stated. And the Court further certifies that that it appears that Henry Parry Phillip Miller and Thomas Fairman who have signed the foregoing certificates are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit, and that they are all residents of Allegheny County - and that a satisfactory reason has been assigned to the Court why the certificate of a clergyman has not been procured. 

R C Grier - [illegible] Judge

I James Logan Prothonotary of the District Court of the County of Allegheny do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Guin for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 21st day of October A.D. 1837

James Logan 
Pro.
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Rev. War Section

June 11, 1920.

Miss Mary H. Harlow,
1903 Kalorama Road,
Washington, D. C.

Madam:

In reply to your letter of the 17th ultimo, you are advised, that in the rejected Revolutionary War pension claim, File No. 4380, of William Guin of Indiana Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, ther is no data on file as to his family, other than that he had an aged wife in 1837, but her name is not stated.

If you desire the record of any other Revolutionary War soldier of that or similar surname, in addition the the full name of the soldier, it is essential that you should furnish as much as possible of the following data in regard to him, in order that a proper search of the records be made in your behalf; approximate dates of his birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after discharge, given name of widow. Only two reports are made to each inquirer.

Very respectfully,
G W Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
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[written vertically on paper]
Free
J L Taylor
M. C.

Hon J. E. Heath
Comm.
Washington
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[stamped in upper left corner]
Record Division May [illegible] 1920

1903 Kalorama Road
Washington D.C.
May 17, 1920

[stamped under return address]
U. S. Pension Office
May 18 1920

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D. C.

Sirs,
There was a William Guin, Indiana Pa. who applied for a pension in 1837.  His claim was rejected because he did not serve six months.  Is there any date on his application relative to his
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marriage?  Does there appear names of either his wife or children?  Can you give me any such information - also I there are any other Guin's or Gwinn's pensioned from either Maryland or Pennsylvania.  Thanking you in advance
Very truly yours,
Miss Mary H. Harlow
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43811
P.O.   William Guin
Service:
Enlisted:  Rejected
Discharged:
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.

[written along left side of form]
1920 June 11.  Mary H. Harlow advised no family data except aged wife.  aw[initials]
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W. H. Lowrie
Nov 22. 1837
Pa
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War Dept. Pa Office
Nov: 22, 1837

Sir
The declaration of William Guin has been examined.  He alleges to have served in Capt James McConnell's Co. and Col Samuel Culbertson's regt of Pennsylvania troops under two engagements, [crossed out - during which he was at the battles].  Those officers were militia officers and the militia of that state served in tours not exceeding two months.  The applicant could not therefore have served more than four months and the act of 7 June 1832, provided for none who did not serve six months.  The claim has consequently been rejected and the papers filed in this office.

Walter H. Lowrie Esq
Pittsburgh, Pa
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William Guin
Pennsylvania
line
Rejected
see letter 22d
Nov 1837 Walter N.
Lowrie
line
did not serve six months
line
4380
line
Act 7th June 1832
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[written vertically on left edge of page]
Penna
Nov 3d
 7 June 1832

postal stamp
Pittsburg Pa
Oct 30
Free

L. Edwards Esq
War Dept Pension office
Washington City
D.C.
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Pittsburg Oct. 30. 1837

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commr of Pensions,
Sir,
I enclose you the application of Mr. Wm. Guin for a pension.  I know nothing about it beyond what is developed in the enclosed paper.  The application was prepared under my direction.  I do not know Mr. Guin, but I am well acquainted with the witnesses, and have no doubt of their credibility.

You will please direct any communication to me.

Respectfully yours

Walter H. Lowrie
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Ho. of Rep.
2d March 1853

Sir,
Please [illegible] the application of William Guin for a Pension made in 1835, to be re-examined, and grant him, or his heirs a Pension if you can.  [illegible]

Your obt. Sevt.
J. L. Taylor

Hon. J. E. Heath
Commr.