Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,519, Daniel Ferry, Del. Penn. Sea Service

Page 1

Service

Number

Del. 

Ferry, Daniel R. 3.519

Penn. Sea Service

Born in Ireland

Page 2

D. Ferry.
Daniel Ferry
17889
[unclear whether this is "v" or a check mark]

Walter Thrall
Granville
Licking Co,
Ohio

Page 3

Declaration  In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress [illegible] June 7th 1832
State of Ohio
County of Licking [illegible] On the 3rd day of November 1832 
Personally appeared in open Court before the judges of the court of Comison [sp] Pleas of said County [illegible] [illegible] Daniel Ferry a resident of Harrison Township County of Licking and State of Ohio aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress proposed June 7th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as follows. He volunteered in the Militia of the State of Delaware under Captain Hugh McCracken & Col. Niel, entered the service the 2nd year after the battle of Brandywine the time
not exactly recollected served four months. left the service at the end of the four month Resided when he entered the service in Appaquinnama hundred in the County of New Castle in the State of Delaware was a volunteer was in a skirmish in the North River with some British Boats Marched through New Jersey to the North River lay at Dobsters Ferry and built a blockade there.
He also served two months in a sixteen gun Brig the "Argo" under Captain Griffin sailed from Philadelphia in the first year after the battle of Brandywine, he then [illegible] the Brig Argo sailed in the fall, she was commisioned [sp] by the Government of the United States as he was informed He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person that can testify to his service
Questions [illegible] by the Court
1st Where and what year were you born?
Ans. He was born in Ireland he thinks in the year 1758 and came to America before the commencement of the Revolutionary War.
2nd Have you any record of your age if so where is it?
Ans. he has none he only remembers from what his parents told him.
3rd Where were you living when called into service where have you lived since the revolution and where do now live
Ans. When called into service he lived in Newcastle County and State of Delaware, and lived there till about

Page 4

The year 1800 then moves to [illegible] county New York, in about the year [illegible] he moved to County of Hart in the state of Kentucky left there for this place in Nov. 1831. Since then he has lived in Licking County Ohio
4 How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute. Ans. He was a volunteer in both terms of service
5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with you such continental and militia [illegible] as you can recolect and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. He does not recolect the names of officers. There were six companies of Delaware troops together, built a block house and kept guard, in his service on the water. They were employed protecting the coast.
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service
Ans. He never received a written discharge
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Ans. John N. Starr and Jesse Belknap. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity [illegible]  the present and declares that his is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any state Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid [illegible] Daniel his mark Ferry. We John W. Starr a clergyman residing in the county of Licking and state of Ohio and Jesse Belknap residing in the same county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Daniel Ferry. Who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be 74 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. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogation

Page 5

prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  And the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that John W. Starr who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Licking and State of Ohio and that Jesse Belknap who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Amos H. Caffer Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Licking in the State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Daniel Ferry for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 30th day of November 1832.
Amos H Caffer Clk

Page 6

Folded paper- left side says:
Journal of Congress (faded)
March 7 1780- Aug (illegible)
28 August 1787

Right side: 
17,889
Danl Ferry
Ohio
3519

faded and illegible

The claim cannot be allowed there being no evidence the Argo was a public _______ (illegible)

The Argo was a Continental
illegible

Walter Thrall

       Granville
          illegible

Page 7

[Handwritten] 17.889

[form]
BRIEF in the case of [handwritten] Daniel Ferry
[type] of [handwritten] Licking Cy [type] in the State of [handwritten] Ohio
[type] (Act of 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? [handwritten] a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? [handwritten] 74
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[table with information written in]
Period | Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 

[handwritten] 2nd for after Battle of
Brandywine | - 4 [months] - | private | 
failed full of the year after battle of Brandywine | Capt McCracken Col. Niel

[handwritten] failed full of the year after battle of Brandywine | - 2 [months] - | Seaman | In the Sixteen [illegible], Capt Griffin

5. In what battles was he engaged?
[handwritten] none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
[handwritten] New Castle by Delaware
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
[handwritten] Tradition
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect mentioned.
[handwritten] Right
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
[handwritten] Wm. C. Easton
Examining Clerk
[handwritten] 21 Feb 1833

Page 8

Act 7 June 1832
Rejected

See letter 19th April 1833
To
Walter Thrall
Granville
Licking County
Ohio

Page 9

[type crossed out]
Act of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.

[stamp] REJECTED

[Hand written] 
3517
Daniel Ferry

[form that was not filled in]
P.O.
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
___ Recognized. ____ Contract.
Cert. of Dis. Searched for __,18__.

Page 10

17, 889
Daniel Ferry
Seaman
at the Edward
Walter Thrall
Granville
Lucking
by
Ohio

Page 11

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Danl Ferry
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? Yes
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? Yes
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? Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the 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
from any other seal?
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 12

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?

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?

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

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, desposeth 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 (BLANK) year (BLANK) months, and (BLANK) days, I served as a (BLANK) For (BLANK) months and (BLANK) days, I served as a (BLANK); and for such service I claim a pension.

Page 13

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 the 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 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 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has not 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.