Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1815, Alexander Frazier, Del. Penn. Privateer

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(8-1776)

SERVICE | | NUMBER

Del. | Frazier, Alexander | S. 1815
Penn
Privateer
|| carded
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CONTENTS

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7234
West Tennessee
-----
Alexander Frazier
of Montgomery in the State of W. T.
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Hodkinson of the Rgt commanded 
by Col ---- in the Penn^a
line for 6 months.

Pa and Privateer. Records O.K. Dec 19 '03
-----
Inscribed on the Roll of W Tennessee
at the rate of 20 Dollars --- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
-----
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of March
1833 and sent
Andrew Vance C. C. Montgomery Co.
-----
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 | 40.00
Semi=-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept | 10.00
| $50.00

{Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Daniel [illegible] Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 78

[next column, text rotated 90 degrees]
Death not in A. B.

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State of Tennessee
Montgomery County

This Eighteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one Thousand and eight hundred & Thirty two Alexander Frasier, a resident of said county aged seventy two, personally appeared in open court & being duly sworn according to law, doth make the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832 --- that he was born in the County of Philadelphia on the 28th of February 1760 as he has been informed & believes, he having no record of his age & having never seen one, if any ever was kept by his parents, that he continued near Philadelphia until the city was taken by the British, that the gentleman to whom he was bound as an apprentice then went into the State of Delaware & the applicant entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in Lewes town in a company commanded by Capt. Smoot for a tour of six months, that they even occupied in guarding the coasts against the British & protecting the citizens against them & the Tories, & during the time they had a skirmish with the tories & took some of them prisoners --- He continued in the service until the [illegible] had expired --- he thinks he entered the service in the spring of 1780 or 1781 but which he is not certain --- that he received a discharge signed by the captain & the same has been lost or destroyed--- he then returned to Philadelphia & again entered the service of the United States as a Sailor, he does not recollect any precise time, which he agreed to serve, & was placed on board the Letter of Marque Brigg Virginia commanded

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by Capt. Hodkinson and sailed on a cruise in company with the Seltor of Marque Brig [Brigantine] Ariel commanded by Capt Miller in the fall of the year 1781 & was enrolled as a marine private --- that he sailed to & cruised on the coasts of Scotland, Norway & Sweden making sundry prizes, after which on main passage towards the American Coast in a gale of wind, we lost Company with the Ariel & was greatly damaged in the storm whilst under Jury --- masts was taken by the British ship New Adventure of 32 guns & carried to Lisbon whilst there, thro. [through] the assistance of the Swedish [crossed out American] consul of Lisbon, he was enabled to get to Cadiz & then by the assistance of the American Consul he shipped on board the Cutter ship Hope of 16 guns belonging & bound to Philadelphia commanded by Capt Haman and on the passage was captured near the coast of America by the British brig [Brigantine] Quebec 36 guns ship & carried to New York & there sent on board the prison ship "Old Jersey" where he remained a prisoner about thirteen months until after the conclusion of peace --- he was then discharged from on board the Old Jersey which was then lying hear New York --- he then returned to Philadelphia & commenced his business that of a silver smith & continued some time in Philadelphia then went to Baltimore then to New York & again returned to Philadelphia & again to Baltimore & then to Alexandria Winchester in Virginia & then sailed for Charleston & stopped some time in Edenton in North Carolina & came from then to the State of Tennessee & settled in Montgomery County about Twenty six years ago where he has ever since resided --- that he has no written evidence of the performance of any of the services above mentioned and does

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not know of any living witness by whom the same can be proven --- that he is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State --- thereby relinquishes all claim to any pension or annuity from the United States except the present one.

Alex^r Frazier [signed]

Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court the day & date above written

Andrew Vance Clk [signed]

State of Tennessee
Montgomery County

This day C. Norfleet Carney & John B. Dortch citizens resident of Montgomery County personally appeared in open court & being duly sworn according to law, declare that they have been for many years well acquainted with Alexander Frasier who signed & sworn to the preceding declaration that they believe him to be of the age of seventy two years as stated in said Declaration ---- that he has the reputation in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides of having been a soldier of the Revolution & that they concur in that opinion
[signed by]
J. B. Dortch
C. N. Carney

Sworn to & subscribed in open court

Andrew Vance Clk

And the said Court an of opinion after having examined the matter of his application fully & putting to him the questions as required by the War department that the said Alexander Frasier was a soldier of the Revolution and that he served as he states in said Declaration & that the said Christopher Norfleet Carney and John B. Dortch are citizens resident of said County & in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] of said Frasier & creditible [credible] persons & that this statement is above made and entitled to full credit --- that s^d [said] court further certify that the nearest clergyman to said Frasier, as they are informed & believe, is one of those conscientious clergymen who decline swearing or affirming, to any thing, in any way therefore his presence is not required by the court. That there is no other Clergyman in said County in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] of s^d [said] Frasier.
[Signed by]
Am. Rogers
N E Baywell
A Lowe.

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I Andrew Vance Clerk of the County Court of Montgomery certify that the preceding is the original papers before the county court of Montgomery, in the matter of the application of A. Frazier for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office of Clarksville this 18th day of October 1832

Andrew Vance Clk

[Seal]

[in pencil]
15544
Alexander Frazier

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No 15544
Alexander Frazier
Montgomery County
Tennessee

From 1784 private
6 months
$20.

Service on board after
letter of [illegible] not 
allowed.

Andrew Vance Clk
Montgomery County Court
Tennessee

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BRIEF in the case of Alexander Frasier
of Montgomery Co in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7 June 1832.)

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

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

3. How old is he? 
72

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

-----
Period | Duration of Service. | | | Rank | Names of General and Field Offices under whom he served.
| Years | Months, | Days. | As a | Gen.

Del. In 1780 or 81 | | 6 | | Private | Capt Smoot

Autumn of 1781 remain^d till peace was concluded | | | | [crossed out Sailor] Marine | " Hodkinson, Letter of Marque Brig Virginia

-----

5. In what battles was he engaged?
Skirmishes with the tories

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Delaware & Philadelphia

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

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

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

Dyer Castor Examining Clerk.

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May 29, 1936

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Alexander Frazier,S.1815
BA-J/MCS [handwritten [illegible]]

Mrs. Withers Clay
311 Holmes Avenue, South
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dear Madam:

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim,S.1815, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Alexander Frazier.

He was born February 28, 1760, in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents were not given. He lived near Philadelphia until that city was taken by the British when he moved to Delaware with the gentleman to whom he was bound as an apprentice.

He enlisted in the town of Lewes in the spring of 1780 or 1781 and served six months a private in Captain Smoot's company and was engaged in guarding the coast against the British and Tories. He then returned to Philadelphia and entered the service as a marine with rank of private on board the letter of marque brig, Virginia, which was commanded by Captain Hodkinson [handwritten See p. 167 "Statistical Hist. of U.S. Navy"?] and in the fall of 1781 sailed in company with the letter of marque brig, Ariel, to the coasts of Scotland, Norway and Sweden. After "making sundry prizes" the Virginia was captured by the British ship, New Adventure, and carried to Lisbon. By the aid of the Swedish consul at Lisbon, Alexander Frazier got to Cadiz where by aid of the American consul he shipped on board the cutter ship, Hope, commanded by Captain Haman and bound for Philadelphia and on the passage said vessel was captured near the coast of America by the British brig, Quebec. Alexander Frazier was carried to New York and placed on board the prison ship, "Old Jersey", where he remained a prisoner until after the conclusion of peace which was about thirteen months, when he was discharged.

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Alexander Frazier returned to Philadelphia and there commenced his business as a silversmith. From there he went to Baltimore, from there to New York. He again returned to Philadelphia and Baltimore. From there he went to Alexandria and Winchester, Virginia. He then went to Edenton, North Carolina, and from there to Tennessee and settled in Montgomery County about 1806.

Alexander Frazier was allowed pension on his application executed October 18, 1832, at which time he was living in Montgomery County, Tennessee.

The papers in this claim contain no data relative to the soldier's family.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

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1936 May 29. hist to Mrs. Withers Clay. See corres in Rev. Clm. Isaac Freeman. S. 21173 M. C. S.

[next column]
1815
Rev War.
[checkmark]

INVALID.
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File No. 1815
Alexander Frazier.
Priv. Pa. Line.
-----
Act: June 7. 1832.
Index: -Vol. A, Page 131

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Pa and Privateer. Records O.K. Dec. 19. '03 [illegible]

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

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

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

V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amout of pension he is entitled?
[crossed out No]

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

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

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?

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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?
No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No

XIII. If the application 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?

XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witness as to his service?

If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? 

Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

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?
no

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

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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each 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 about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

† QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case whether 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 authenticates 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 ends 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.
[hand pointing right] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

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[Postmark]
CLARKSVILLE TGENN.

Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City

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Oct. 30
Tenn.
15544

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FREE

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Pension Papers

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May 29, 1936

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Isaac Earthman,S.21173
Alexander Frazier,S.1815
BAJ/MCS

Mrs. Withers Clay
3111 Holmes Avenue, South
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information relative to Revolutionary War soldiers, Samuel Bates, Isaac Earthman, Alexander Frazier, Thomas Frazier and Richard Saunders, and Micajah Frazier who served in the War with Mexico.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for Pension and bounty land based upon the military service of the soldiers in that war.

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited clerical force available for furnishing such information it is impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of this war. The records of Alexander Frazier and Isaac Earthman are furnished herewith.

For information relative to land that may have been granted Micajah Frazier by the State of Texas for service in the Mexican War, it is suggested that you address the Custodian of Old Military Records, Austin, Texas.

Very truly yours

Ad. D. HILLER
Executive Assistance
to the Administrator