Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5304, James Bryan, Del.

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[printed form with handwriting]

SERVICE
Del
Bryan, James
NUMBER
S5304
Carded

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[printed form with handwriting]
31,155
Pennsylvania
James Bryan of Fayette Co in the State of Pennsyla who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Shafer of the regt. commanded by Col. Mitchel in the Delaware mila ['line' lined out] for seven months
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of July 1837 and sent to W. E. Austin Esqr Union Town
Arrears to the 4th of March 1837 $140.-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 37 11.66
$151.66
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm L Allison Clerk
Book E, 2 Vol. 5 Page 4
Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 Sept 1838. Agt notified 10 June 1839

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[printed form with handwriting]

State of Pennsylvania}
County of Fayette} ss.
On this 2d day of Septe^[insert] mber 1834 personally appeared before the Hon. Thomas H. Baird, Judge of the Court for said County now sitting James Bryan a resident of the Township of Union in the County of Fayette and State of Penna. aforesaid aged 71 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he engaged in the Service of the United States in the year A. D. 1779 as a volunteer for the term of 8 months on the 12th April ^[insert] of said year under the following named officers.
That he first volunteered as aforesaid in the company commanded by Captain Shafer and that he believes that he was attached to Col. Mitchels Redgment [sic] all of the ['Maryland line' lined out] Delaware line of Sussex County, in the State of Delaware, and that they was [sic] ordered to the mouth of Misspillion [Mispillion] creek of said county and then to continue to guard against ['the' lined out] the enimy [sic] viz, Refugees, Tories, and British who was [sic] repeatedly commiting [sic] there many depredations from the mouth of said creek, up to Waltons landing, and that they was [sic] ^[insert] also guarding the Bay at Capehenlapen [Cape Henlopen], Broadkill Creek,  Pilot Town, and Plumb Point, and that he thus continued in the said service until he was honorably discharged by the said officers on or about the 26th day of December of said year at Plumb Point
Second tour in which he volunteered for the term of 8 months more, under the said officers on or about the 10th day of March 1780, and again ordered out to the said Misspillion [Mispillion] creek, also as ocassion [sic] required they was [sic] ordered to the forenamed places, and likewise to Lewis Town, and in which neighbourhood they continued for some conssiderable [sic] time, until ordered to the Lighthouse, at Capeh^[insert]enlopen [Cape Henlopen] &c, where they remained perhaps about 2 months as near as he declarent [sic] can recollect, and from thence to Indian River, and after about one week they was [sic] ordered from the said river to Rehoboth Bay where they remained there and in that part of the country for several weeks, after which they was [sic] ordered to the said Lewistown, and deponent believes from there to the Lighthous [sic] at Capehenlopen [Cape Henlopen] where they remained until they was [sic] taken to Broadkill creek, and detained there until they was [sic] ordered from thence to Pilot town where they remained until he was honorably discharged by his said officers on or about the 13th of November of said year, - And that some time in the Sumer [sic] of 1781 deponent engaged for the term of 3 months under the said officers as well as deponent at present recollects and that they then expected to march to or near New York, but not being reddy [sic] ['in' lined out] in time they was [sic] not called, or at least did not march to that place, that some time after which they was [sic] ordered to march to Philadelphia, & deponent believes from that to Virginia but that there[sic] orders was [sic] remanded, and that they was [sic] discharged ^[insert] in Sussex County about two weeks before his said three months tour expired which was about the time of Lord Cornwallis's surrender, after which he was never caled [sic] out in the said service; deponent ^[insert] states that from his late sickness, and infirmity, that having no record of his age, that his birth may have been in the year 1763 but that he believes that he was only in his 15th year when he first engaged in the said service, and that the statement contains the whole of his services as near as deponent can passibly [sic] recollect, amounting to 19 months as a volunteer, for which he claims a pension, but his last 3 months tour may not be satisfactory to the Hon. Department, as not having served but 2 months and two weeks, he claims a pension for the said 2 ^[insert] eight month's tours of 16 months and 16 days that he cannot recollect the dates of his 3 month tour further than above stated.

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[printed form with handwriting]

And that he was born on the 12th of April AD 1764, in the said County of Sussex in the State of Delaware aforesaid, where he resided during the whole period of the said Revolutionary War, about two miles from the town of Milford, and that the year AD 1795 he moved to Fort Cumberland County of Aleghany [sic] in the State of Maryland, where he resided until the year of 1825, and from thence over to the State of Pennsylvania, in the County of Fayette, & Township ['of' lined out] of Union aforesaid, where he resides. - And that he has no documentary evidence of his said services, that his discharge was destroyed before he came to the said county of Fayette where he yet resides.
that HE hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State whatsoever.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Richd. Beeson Prothy
James Bryan seal [hand circled]
We Thornton Fleming a Clergyman residing in the Town of Union of said ['and' lined out] county & Samuel Sutton ['residing' lined out] in the Kingsbridge do hereby certify, that they are acquainted with the said James Bryan who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that they believe him to be 70 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 they concur in that opinion
Affirmed ['sworn' lined out] and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Richd. Beeson Prothy
Thornton Fleming seal [hand circled] [L. S.] [L. S.]
Saml. Sutton seal [hand circled]
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 Thornton Fleming who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman and a resident in the County aforesaid and that Saml. Sutton who has also signed the same is resident in the said County and is a credible person and that their statements are entitled to credit. 
I Richard Beeson clerk of the court of said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Bryan for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 3d day of October AD 1834
Richd. Beeson Clerk

[written vertically right side]
32.721
James Bryan
Pennsylvania

[written vertically left side]
Hon. A. Stuart

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[handwritten]

State of Pennsylvania
County of Fayette ss.
Personally appeared before me the under Signed a Justice of the ^[insert] Peace in and for said county James Bryan who being duly sworn deposeth and saieth [sic] ^[insert] that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his services, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades as a volunteer for the term of ^[insert] ['eight' lined out] six months in my first tour, and that after my said term expired late in the year of 1779 I was discharged by Col. Mitchel.
And that in the following year, on or about the tenth of March 1780 I again volunteered and service for ^[insert] six ['eight' lined out] months longer in the ^[insert] said company commanded by Captain Shafer [underlined], and of Colonel Mitchels [underlined] Regiment, and by whom I was honorably discharged on or about the 12th of September 1780, or not exceeding the 16th of the said month of September, by the said Officers under whom he was first, & secondly under during the above mentioned two six month tours
And that on or about the first of August 1781 he again volunteered for the term of three month, under the said officers (or at least under the same Captain, & Colonel) who told us that our next campaign would be to New York, but when we went to Philadelphia, & remained there for one month, & from thence we was [sic] expected to have marched to Virginia, but before we marched the said orders was [sic] remanded, and that on or about the first or second day of September of said year I was honourably discharged by the said officers, and that I served as a volunteer for the term of ['eight' lined out] six months as above, and that I also served for six months more which was in my second tour, likewise as a volunteer, and that in my third tour which was for the term of three months as a volunteer, but discharged as serving one month, making in the whole at least, thirteen months, and for such service ^[insert] I claim a pension
And that after being under a particular charge for more than one year first, for to endeavor to recollect all the facts relative to my said services, of which I had been under the impression that I had actually served much longer than the above periods, but that on repeated, & particular examinations &c, that I could not clearly recollect of any further services other than the above & together with my former declaration sworn to at Union Town some time on or about the last of August or first of September last of which I have no copy preserved ^[insert] but I believe it all to be correct with the above amendment which hope will be found to be satisfactory and that I have no knowledge of any person living who served with me for to testify in support of my claim, for whom I have made many enquiries, and that itis out of my power to recollect as distinctly as I would wish, since my memory have [sic] been so much impaired by sickness, & age.
Sworn and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, given under my hand at Union Town this 20th day of April AD 1835}
James Bryan seal [hand circled]
Clement Wood
Pennsylvania}
Fayette County ss} I, Richard Beeson Clerk of the Court of Fayette County certify that Clement Wood is a magistrate as above & that the above certificate & signature purporting to be his is genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said court at Union Town the 21st day of April 1835
Richd. Beeson Clk

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[handwritten]

State of Pennsylvania
County of Fayette ss
I Richard Beeson Clerk of the Court of the County aforesaid certify that ['James' lined out] Clement Wood is a Magistrate above, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this day of April in the year AD 1835

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[handwritten]

admitted for 7 months $23.33/100
W. E. Austin
Union Town Pa

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[handwritten]

Declaration, In order to obtain the benefit of [illegible] of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832
State of Pennsylvania,}
County of Fayette.} ss.
On this [illegible] of June, personally appeared in open court, before the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Fayette, in the State of Pennsylvania, now sitting, James Bryan, a resident of Franklin township, in the County of Fayette, and State of Pennsylvania, who, being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration: That he served in the Revolutionary army, as stated in his declaration, filed in the Pension Office; that he served two tours of at least [underlined] three months each. He further states, that, during that time, that he was engaged in no other pursuits than the business and duties of a soldier. [underlined]
June 5th 1837 -
James Bryan
Sworn & subscribed in open court
Thos. Sloan Prothy
I, Thomas Sloan, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Fayette in the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of James Bryan for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 5th day of June 1837.
Thomas Sloan
Prothy

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[printed form with handwriting]

Rev War
5304
INVALID.
File No 5304
James Bryan
Pri. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 1832
Index: - Vol. M, Page 43
[Arrangement of 1870.]

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[handwritten]

Suspended
See letter to Hon. A. Stewart
4. Feb. 1835
28 April 1835 Saml. Sutton -
Let 3 May 1837 W. E. Austin

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[handwritten]

James L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D. C.

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[handwritten]

Union Town Oct 10 1834
James L. Edwards Esqr
Sir:
At the request of Mr. Saml. Sutton [illegible] that, I am personally acquainted with James Bryant, James Emberson, Victor Shaw, and Danl. McCarther who are applicants for pensions under the act of 7th June 1832 and that from my knowledge of them I do not believe that they would on oath misstate facts they are all in very indigent circumstances & stand in need of assistance from their country for support - I have no reason to doubt the Justice of their claims
Very Respectfully
yr mo Obdt. Servt. [your most Obedient Servant]
Hiram Stewart

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[handwritten]

Pa Apl. 27
[ink stamp]
UNIONTOWN 
APR 24 Pa
[appears vertically]
J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC
Free

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[handwritten]

Union Town Fayette County Pennsylvania
23d April 1835
Sir
The enclosed declaration of old Mr. Bryan's which perhaps do not contain the whole of his services, but it contains all that he can recollect also all that he appears to be perfectly willing to testify to, his memory, & health are much impaired. His character is unquestionably good. - I do not know whether I sould [sic] have enserted [sic] the whole as in a new declara^[insert] tion or not, as I am but little acquainted with the proper manner of proceeding - Please to reply when convenient
I have the honor to be Respectfully Sir Your Obt. Servant
Samuel Sutton
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

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[printed form with handwriting]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office
June 3d, 1839
Sir:
Under the act of 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," James Bryan, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Pa Agency, at the rate of Twenty three Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838, to the 4th Sept. 1838.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

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[handwritten]

Union Town, June 5th, 1837.
Mr. Edwards,
I send you an amendment to James Bryan's Declaration, to obtain the the [duplicate] benefit of the Pension Act of 1832. From the letters to Messrs. Sutton and Stewart, I find that the defects of Mr. Bryan's declaration were, his neglecting to state that he was not engaged in any other business that of a soldier, and the too great length of the tours sworn to. The enclosed Declaration, you will observe, remedies the first defect. - In regard to the second, he still thinks that the tours were of longer duration that three months, but is certain that he was in arms for that length of time, at least. [underlined]
When the former declaration was made, Mr. Bryan lived in Union Town; he now lives in Franklin township.
If this Declaration, in conjunction with the others, will entitle him to a pension, in the opinion of the Department, you will please to send me word as soon as you conveniently can, as Mr. Bryan is both old and feeble. If not, you would confer a great favour by letting me know what else is wanting. He ['can' lined out] ^[insert] will then make a fourth application; as he thinks himself justly entitled to the pension he claims. -
Please accept Mr. Bryan's and my thanks for your prompt and satisfactory answer to my former letter.
Very respectfully yours, 
Wm. E. Austin.
Mr. J. L. Edwards