Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14966, Samuel Blair, Penn. N.J.

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(3-1776)

Service
Penn.
N.J.

Blair, Samuel

Number
S.14966

carded

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7612
Kentucky
Samuel Blair of Fayette Co in the State of Kentucky who was a Pr. S Sergt in the company commanded by Captain Burney of the regt commanded by [illegible] in the Pennsa Mila for six month from 1775
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issues the 4 day of May 1833 and sent to Hon W J Barry P.W Gent
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 33 $ 46.66
Semi-anl allowance ending March 33 1166
$58.33
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by WM Allison Clerk, Book EE Vol. 7 Page 3

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(Unidentified document probably a simple file card)

Saml Blair

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State of Kentucky County of Fayette  
Cert-
On this eighteenth day of March 1833 personally appeared in open court before  the AA Circuit Court of the County of Fayette now sitting Samuel Blair a resident ion the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky aged seventy five years the fourth day of last September, who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832- He states that he was born on the 24th day of September 1757 and that he entered the service of the United States on the   day of. being about one year before the battle at Princeton. The company to which he then belonged was drafted to serve a tour of two months and was stationed during that time at a fort called Mud Fort [later named Fort Mifflin] a few miles below the city of Philadelphia. He was one of the drafted members of the company and served through the two months at the fort aforesaid. The said company was raised in the city of Philadelphia of which city he was a resident. He does not remember the names of his captain or the names of any of the regular officers attached to the said company or fort-He was during this term in no battle and performed no duty except to march from Philadelphia to the said fort and to remain there as one of the sergeants of the company during the whole of said time in the discharge of said duties as devolved upon him. At the expiration of said term he returned to Philadelphia and was discharged, but doe snot recollect whether he received a written or verbal discharge. He has no documentary or other evidence of his having been drafted or of his having served as aforesaid- he knows of no one by whom he

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can prove such service.
2d He afterwards entered the service of the United States as a volunteer or as a drafted militia man in the company of a captain Burney of the Philadelphia militia- He does not remember the precise time  but he remembers that he + the whole company volunteered for a tour of two months- He, at the time of the commencement of this second service resided in the city of Philadelphia from which the company marched to a small town in New Jersey called Crosswicks - the company remained there a short time + then were marched under the command of a Captain Peel to Trenton at which place he with the said company engaged in that [illegible] battle and were marched from the battle ground in the night by a circuitous route to Princeton and there took part in that battle. He thinks that the company were, in the last battle, under the immediate command of Captain Peel- Soon after the battle at Princeton his term of service expired, whereupon he returned to Philadelphia his place of residence- He has no documentary evidence of his having served or of having been discharged during any part of the term aforesaid- He knows of no one by whom he can prove any of the foregoing statements - He saw Gen'l Washington frequently during this term- He does not remember the names of any other officers whom he met with during that expedition-
3d Shortly after his return to Philadelphia he removed to Pennington a small town in

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the State of
New Jersey and was there drafted
for a tour of two months-the
British at that time had large collections of soldiers in the City of New York + had
companies stationed in various parts of the
adjacent country who frequently com
depredations of various kinds upon 
those who were friendly to the cause of
the United States-
The company then raised by draft at Pennington was for the purpose
of [struck through: aiding] guarding the country + its inhabitants against the incursions
the British soldiers
He was in no engagement during this term
He does not recollect the name of his captain
or the names of any of the officers
then attached to or engaged in the same
service
-
He has no documentary evidence
of his having been drafted or discharged at the end of the term nor does
he know of any person by whom he
can prove any part of said service
He further states that he was born in Chester
County Pennsylvania at Hogs Manon - He has a
record of his age in a family Bible now in his
possession-
[struck through: After the Revolutionary War] he resided in Pennington in New Jersey for about two years
he moved from there to a County in Maryland
near the Pennsylvania line + about twenty
miles from Frederictown - He does not
remember the name of the County - He lived
there a little more than two years - he moved
from there to Fayette County Kentucky in which ┃
County he has resided ever since -
&
of
M
the
To
to
of

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He is well acquainted with Gen Thomas Bodley
Hon. Th.M. Hickey -Gen. Geo. M. McCallan
Capt. John Howler who all reside in the same
county with him & can testify as to his
character for veracity. He is also well known
to the Hon. Wm T. Barry & the Hon H. Clay
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 and year
aforesaid
Sam Blair
we Nathan H. Hall a Clergyman residing
in the County of Fayette Ky: and George Clarke
residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with Samuel Blarn 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 neighbourhood where
he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid
Hall
George Clark
And the said Court does hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter and of putting the interrogatories 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 it that Nathan H. Hall who has
signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Fayette and that George Clark
who has also signed the same is a resident in the County
of Fayette and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit-
J. M. Hickey

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I Thomas Bodley, clerk of the Fayette Circuit Court in the State of Kentucky do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Samuel Blair for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, at the City of Lexington this 18th day of March 1833.
Thos. Bodley 0766

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Samuel Blair Kentucky From 1775 Private Sergeant 6 months $23.33/100
Hon. W.J. Barry P.Mr Gent

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War department pension Office May 4 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew [sic] [show] what is necessary to be done. These points to which you attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement showing the service of Samuel Blair
Period when the service was rendered | Duration of the claimant's service| Years.|Months.|Days.| Rank of the Claimant.| Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served | Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.| Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Drafted 1775 | 2 months | Sergt| not recollected| 75| living witnesses
Vol 1776 | 2 months| Private | Capt. Burney| Phila
Drafted - | 2 moths| do| not recollected| Pennington, NJ
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. L.Edwards, Commissioner of pensions

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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops, "militia" and "volunteers, all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular
places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State Territory, or District of County of} ss.
On this    day of     personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of      in the county of
and State, Territory or District of     aged (c)
years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)      ,
with     and served in the       (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the, town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. [Figure of hand pointing] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.     A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I           of the Court of        do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of 
the application of         for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this      day of      & c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the
and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with         , who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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 and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I ,           Clerk of the Court of          do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of           for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this       day of        & c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

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3

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford on of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one by attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and is so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer - Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of person to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if ones lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to be a revolutionary soldier, and they they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is seemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State ot Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must be invariably mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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 amount of pension he is entitled. Ina case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by makin an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Just 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."
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 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 that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the offices, and other particulars respecting their service, This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown 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 in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case,
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, providing the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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 office under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally Applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the war Department, with the declaration.

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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3--525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
S.F. 14966
Washington, D.C., _____, 19__
---
---
---
In reply to your request of ____, received ____ for a statement of the military history of [cursive] __ Samuel Blair __ a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's [his widow has a strike-through]) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
[form first column]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT
about one year before battle Princeton 1777

shortly after

[form second column]
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
2 mos.
2 mos.

2 mos.

[form third column] Rank
Sergt
[form fourth column] Officers Under whom service was rendered| Captain |Colonel
AT Mud Fort no officers stated
Burney
Peel
Officers not remembered
[form fifth column] State
Penn.
N.J. 
Battles engaged in, Trenton + Princeton
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Philadelphia, Penn.
Date of application for pension, Mch 18, 1833
Residence at date of application, Fayette County, Ky
Age at date of application, born Sept 4 or 24, 1757 in Chester Co. Penn
1832
75
_____
1757
Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family
Respectfully, Commissioner

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(2 or 3 Unintelligible faded words on page)

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1708 Roll of Philadelphia, Pa.
June 7. 1918.
Mr.G.Salzgeber Commissioner
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
[upside down stamp
Pension
L
Jun
8
1918
offic
with U and S. on the sides of the stamp]
dear Sir--
Kindly send me the Pension Records of the following Rev. Soldiers:
1. Francis Hardesty of Portage Co. Ohio
whose application was made May 2, 1834 and is Classified as "Pennlly loanis pr. P.M."
2. Sammuel Blair, Fayette Co. Ky.
Application dated May 4, 1831. "Pr. and Ser."
3. John Blair, Lieut. P. 7th Regt.
Application April 8, 1811 [unintelligible] Wash Co. Sns
Rev. see B.L.Wt, 1809-20 0

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All of these are listed as Pennsylvania Pensions.
I Should also like to find the Pension data relating to George Fullerton who was killed in the Continential Field. An application was made by his widow, Margaret Fullerton. George Fullerton was I think in the Navy. He was a Philadelphia Mariner and ship once before the Rev. War.
Yours Sincerely,
(Dr.) E. M. Heistand. Moore.

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1918 June 13 Hist. to Dr. E. M. H. Moore
Revlvary
14.966
INVALID.
File No. 14,966
Samuel Blair
Serghi Rev. War

___

Act: June 7th 1832
Index:--Vol. 1, Page 86
[Arrangement of 1870.]