Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2721, for William Mains, Pennsylvania

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SERVICE
Penn.

Mains, William

NUMBER
S. 2721

carded
----------
CONTENTS

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4852
Pennsylvania
==========
William Mains
of __________ in the State of Pennsylvania 
who was a Private in the Company commanded
Captain Patterson of the Rej commanded
by __________ in the Pennsylvania
line for 10 mo ------- $33.33
==========
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
==========
Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of January
1833 and sent to T H Crawford
House of Reps
==========
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 - $119.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833- 16.66
$66.65

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Vuial Luce Clerk
Book D Vol. 6  Page 70

Let to P Cytg Hon T H Crawford May 12
1837.  letter Hon  J. Black June 7 '44

Date of death not on az

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State of Pennsylvania 
Franklin County SS

On this seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before Alexander Thompson president Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin county Pennsylvania and Matthew Patton Esquire associate Judge of the same court (being a court of record) now sitting William Mains a resident of the township of Lurgan in Franklin county aforesaid and state aforesaid aged seventy five years on the 16th day of May last who being 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 7th June 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That he was from in the county of Bucks in the state of Pennsylvania on the 16th May 1754 - That he has a record of his age now in his possession in the hand writing of his father which is a record of his fathers family - That he lived in his father family in Buck's county aforesaid during the revolutionary war. That at the time of the first call on the militia in the State of Pennsylvania he volunteered in the company of Captain Nicholas Patterson and the company marched to Amboy about twenty miles from New York and assisted there in making entrenchments and batteries - That his service under Captain Patterson continued two months - It was in seeding time when the call came - The company was discharged together and he got no written discharge. That he again entered the Service of the United States (still living in Bucks county aforesaid) as a volunteer. That he still belonged to Captain Patterson's company of volunteers. That the call came in the evening about one week before the Hessians were taken at Trenton; and sixteen of us there next morning started off under the command of Lieutenant William Mains and marched to Trenton Ferry this side of the river Delaware in sight of the town and lay there until the battle. We joined Captain Jamison's company and after the battle Captain Patterson arrived with thirty more men and we then joined our own company.

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we were under the command of General Washington. The Brigade Major told us to have three days provisions ready cooked & provided and be ready to march at one oclock at night this being the night of 25 December 1776. General Washington Marched with his division of the river on the Penna Side to McKonkey's ferry some eight or nine miles, and our division was kept standing where we were - we did not know what the orders would be - we were kept standing til day light. At day light the day was so bad that our captain thought Genl. Washington had failed and dismissed us and gave orders that at the firing of a cannon we should all parade at five minutes warning we was there soon paraded. We then attempted to cross the river but did not succeed as it hailed snowed & stormed down the river exceedingly bad and the storm beat us down the river and we came out the same side where we started. The ice was running so think that we could not get the craft to the shore and we had to jump out and made to the shore, then the craft were hauled to shore by the military horses and we got in again and this second attempt we got over - That be this applicant was wet to the arm pits when he got over - That by the time we got over to the town (Trenton) the British and Hessians had surrendered. The light horse of the British got off by us not getting up to the bridge in time - If we had got over the river the first attempt we would no doubt have prevented their escape. We moved into Trenton and our orders were to bring over the prisoners and arms and it it took us all day till sun down to bring then over as it was difficult on account of the  ice. General Washington marched back to where he had he had crossed the river (as I was informed) and recrossed the river - There were about 1000 Hessians taken prisoners. In a few days the army went back to Trenton. Before they went back I got sick and was left on the Pennsylvania side and a young boy took care of me. When I got better one Captain Haines got me and my cousin to assist with the artillery on the Penna side. I got the top of a house to see the British coming into Trenton eight men deep. Washington left the town to them and marched out on a hill in a 
field - & encamped and struck up fires. In the morning Washington and his army was gone and we thought they

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they had crossed the  (missing page part)
time we heard the firing at  Trenton (missing page part)
minutes we saw the British and Hessions running toward
Princeton. But before they got there Washington had taken their
baggage and marched to Morristown.  Some days after I
joined my company again. Our company was then
stationed at the Ferry till spring until march.  The militia
from Cumberland County Penna came down and we ferried
them across, the most of our company being used to boating.
Our company was discharged in March after having
being out three months. The company were discharged
all together we got no written discharge.  The Captain
drew our money and paid us, we were taken to the field
and paraded and discharged. That he this applicant was
afterwards drafted in the militia for three months in
Captain William Irwin's company. This company, and
he with them, marched to Bristol below Philadelphia
and we lay there all the time - that he served out
the three months for which he was drafted.  He got no
written discharge - five or six companies were discharged
together. This was in the fall of the year. He is not certain
whether it was the next year of the second year after
the taking the Hessians at Trenton.  That in all, this
applicant has served the United States, in the revolution, was
nine months. 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. That the spring after peace was declared after
the end of the revolution war he moved to Shippensburg in
Cumberland County Penna and that he has lived in that
County and the adjoining County of Franklin even since
and for the last thirty five years in Franklin County.
That no clergyman lives in his immediate neighbourhood who
could be brought to certify but he names in his present neighbors
Richard Morrow Esq and William Bard Esq and could
name many others if necessary.
to whom he is known who can testify as to his character for veracity
and their belief of his services in the revolution. That this applicant
was drafted in the militia in Captain Nicholas Patterson's company
and marched to Wilmington and that he served the United States in this
tour two months at least and he thinks three months, and was
discharged without a written discharge -
William Mains /s/
Sworn and subscribed in open Court
November 7th 1832
John Hanagan Prothy

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NOTE: page damaged

residing in the County of
Pennsylvania hereby certify that we are well
inted with William Mains who has subscribed & sworn to the
above & foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy five
years of age the 16th of last May. 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. William Bard has known him
since the year 1792 and Richard Morrow has known him for twenty
years. We have been well acquainted with him-- he is a man of very
good moral character, and have always heard him spoken of as a
Revolutionary soldier and never heard his revolution, services doubted
sworn and subscribed in open Court
7th November 1832.
Richard Morrow  /s/
William Bard   /s/
John Flanagan  Prothy /s/

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 do further certify that it appears to them that Richard
Morrow and William Bard
who have signed the preceeding certificate are resident in the
said County of Franklin Pennsylvania and are credible
persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. It appears
that no clergyman resides in the applicant immediate neighbourhood
who could conveniently be brought to certify-
A Thomson /s/
Wm Patton  /s/

John Flanagan Clerk and Prothonotary of the Court of Common
Pleas of Franklin County (being a court of record in the State of
Pennsylvania) do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of William Mains for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand
and the seal of said Court this Seventh day of November
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty two.
John Flanagan Prothy  /s/

Williams Means

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April 12, 1938
William Mains
S. 2721
BA-J/AWF

Mrs. J. H. Letton
Valrico
Florida

Dear Madam:

The data furnished herein were obtained
from papers on file in pension claim, S. 2721,
based on the military service of William Mains
in the Revolutionary War.

William Mains was born May 16, 1757 in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The names of his
parents were not given; he lived in his "father's
family" in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, during the
Revolutionary War.

William Mains volunteered, date not given,
served two or three months in Captain Nicholas
Patterson's company of Pennsylvania troops. He
volunteered about one week before the "Hessians
were taken at Trenton", marched under Lieutenant
William Mains to Trenton Ferry, lay there until
the battle, joined Captain Jamison's company,
suffered much from the cold and storms of snow
and rain, and after the battle joined Captain
Patterson's company; he was sick at the time of
the battle of Princeton, was discharged sometime
in March, having served three months. He volunteered
a year or two later, served three months
in Captain William Irwin's company, and was
stationed at Bristol, below Philadelphia.

The spring after "Peace was declared" he
moved from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to Shippens-

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burg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and from
there to Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

The soldier, William Mains, was allowed
pension on his application executed November 7,
1832, then living in the Township of Lurgan,
Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he had lived
about thirty-five years.

The papers on file in this claim contain no
reference to wife or children, and it was not shown
that the Lieutenant William Mains, under whom the
soldier served was a relative.

In order to obtain the date of last payment
of pension, name and address of person paid, and
possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you
should apply to The Comptroller General, General
Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., 
and furnish the following data

William Mains
Certificate #4852
Issued January 29, 1833
Rate $33.33 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

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2721
INVALID
Rev War

File No. 2721
William, Mains
Privt.  Rev. War

Act: June 7, 1832
Index:-Vol. A, Page 234

{Arrangement of 1870.}

1935 Nov. 16 Hist. to W. H. Ohnsorg       AWG
1938 Apr. 12 Hist. to Mrs. J/H/ Lettore

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Washington City June 5th 1844

J L Edwards
Dear Sir Enclosed is the letter of
Frederick Smith making certain enquiry
you will pleas answer his enqury or
both subjects and send them to me as soon
as you can posible make it convenient

your obedeant servt

James Mack

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Pennsylvania
Franklin County ss

Personally came before me the
subscriber a justice of the peace in and for said County
Soloman Patterson Esquire who being duly sworn
according to law doth depose and say that he is well
acquainted with William Mains of Lurgan Township
in this county who is an applicant for a pension and
has known him from his youth up - That he is a man
of good moral character and worthy of credit - That my
father Nicholas Patterson lived in Bucks County in
Pennsylvania during the revolutionary war and was
out in the service of his country in the revolution as a
captain for several tours - I myself was out one
tour in the militia-- I know that William Mains
was out in the service of the United States at Trenton
in the year 1776 - This I am certain of and
I am lead to believe that he was out two other
times but am not possitive of this from personal
knowledge, but of his being at Trenton I know of my
personal knowledge and I believe most implicity
all he says in his application in relation to his
military services in the revolution.  Mr. Mains has
always, when his services were spoken of, been represend
as a revolutionary soldier and I have never heard his
having doubted-
P Laurston

Sworn and Subscribed before
me this 9th Nov. 1832
Robert W Crackin

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I do certify that I am well acquainted with
Soloman Patterson Esq. who has subscribed the within
deposition and that he is a man of good character
and worthy of credit-
Robert McCrackin


Franklin County ss
I John Flanagan Prothy of the Court of
Common Pleas of Franklin County Penna
to hereby certify that Robert McCracken Esq
before whom the within affidavit was
made //////// where name is attached to the
above certificate is one of the acting
Justices of the peace in and for the County of Franklin
duly Commissioned and sworn by lawful authority.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed
my name and affixed the seal of the said Court at
Chambersburg November the truth one thousand
eight hundred and thirty two
John Flanagan Prothy

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(An addressed envelope.)

                                   Free

       Honorable Lewis Cass
                  Secretary of War
                           Washington City,
                                           D.C.

Pension. 
Pa.
Nov. 12
17535

(Date Stamp)
CHAMBR. NOV 12 PA

$33.33 per annum

Hon. T.H. Crawford 
                  H.R.

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Chambersburg Franklin County Penna.
Nov. 10th 1832.

Enclosed are the papers in relation to the application of William Mains of this county for a pension - any communications on the subject will be directed to me - If any evidence be wanting, I will endeavor to supply it - but I presume there will no further evidence be wanting - I desire to know in what manner he is to draw the pension - he desires to draw it through me in this place.

                                     Your obt.
                                         //s//
                                  Fredk. Smith

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April 11, 1938.
BA-H/ILL
William Mains
S. 2721

Mrs. J. H. Letton
Valrico
Florida.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of William Means (Mains) who was born in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, also, the records in that same war of
James C. Means who was born in 1758, married Margaret Mayes in 1762
and lived in South Carolina, Hugh Means, who was born in 1761 and
married Nancy Shields, lived in South Carolina, and Joseph Means (Mains)
of South Carolina who married his consin, Rachel Means.

Another search of the Revolutionary War records has been
made and no claim for pension found based upon service of the James
or Hugh Means described by you, nor of any Joseph Means or James C.
Means; similar spellings of the surnames Means and Mains were searched.
The record of William Means, the only one who was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is furnished herewith from pension claim, S. 2721.

Very truly yours,

A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.

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November 16, 1935
William Mains-S.2721
BA-J/AWF

Mr. W. H. Ohnsorg
1205 Sidney Street
St. Louis, Missouri

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you
request the Revolutionary War record of William Mains,
a pensioner in 1833 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania,
to aid you in your research in connection with the
War of 1812 records of Elisha and Jacob Maness, which
have been furnished you by this office.

The data which follow were obtained from the
papers on file in pension claim, S. 2721, based upon
the service of William Mains in the War of the Revolution.

He was born May 16, 1757 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 
names of his parents not given. He lived in
"his father's family" in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 
during the Revolutionary War.

William Mains volunteered, date not given, served
two or three months in Captain Nicholas Patterson's company
of Pennsylvania troops. He volunteered about one
week before the "Hessians were taken at Trenton", marched
under Lieutenant William Mains to Trenton Ferry and lay
there until the battle, joined Captain Jamison's company,
suffered much from the cold and storms of snow and rain,
after the battle joined Captain Patterson's company; he
was sick at the time of the battle of Princeton, and was
discharged sometime in March, having served three months.
He volunteered a year or two later, served three months
in Captain William Irwin's company, and was stationed at
Bristol, below Philadelphia.

The spring after "Peace was declared" he moved from

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Bucks County, Pennsylvania to Shippensburg, Cumberland 
County, Pennsylvania, for there to Franklin County, 
Pennsylvania.

The soldier, William Mains, was allowed pension 
on his application executed, November 7, 1832, then 
living in the Township of Lurgan, Franklin County, 
Pennsylvania, where he had lived about thirty-five 
years.

There is no reference to wife or children, and 
it is not stated that the Lieutenant William Mains 
under whom the soldier served, was a relative.

If you desire information in regard to the last 
payment of pension, name and address of the person paid, 
and possibly the date of death of pensioner, William 
Mains, you should address the Comptroller General, General 
Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and 
cite the following:

William Mains
Certificate # 4852
Issued January 29, 1833
Rate $33.33 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours
                                      
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

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Handwritten note: Wm Mains S2721 Bucks Co always lived in Pa - send if she asks again

Valrico, Florida
April 5, 1938

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Hiller:

Re: BA J/ILL
William Means
W - 5368

Handwritten note: We sent this one who went to S.C.

Thank you so much for the letter of March 28,
1938 about the Revolutionary War Soldier William Means of
South Carolina. He is a son of the William Means (Mains) whose
Revolutionary War record I am seeking. As you offer to make
further search, I will be most grateful.

William Means (also Mains) was born in Bucks Co
Pa., married Nancy Simonton about 1750. In 1765 were living in
Augusta Co. Va., near Staunton. During the Revolution they
were living in South Carolina, in what is now Union Co. At that
time it was probably Ninety Six District.

Some descendants think he returned to Bucks Co
Pa., and was the soldier who enlisted in the Militia belonging
to Capt. Patterson's Co Tunican Township, Bucks Co. Pa. Returned
May 22, 1780 -- Class 3, First Co., 3rd Battalion. Wm Means, Ensign
page 357, Vol 5 - Fifth Series Pa. Archives. Have you any record
that would show if this Bucks Co. Pa William Means (Mains) was the
one who married Nancy Simonton?

I would also be grateful for Revolutionary War
data about his sons --
James C. Means ( Mains ) born 1758
married 1762 Margaret Mayes Lived in South Carolina
Hugh Means (Maine), born 1761
a married Nancy Shields, lived near Spartanburg S.C.

Handwritten note: Penna - & stayed on Penna

and son-in-law
Joseph Means ( Mains) of South Carolina
married his cousin Rachel Means.

Thanking you very much for any aid
Very truly yours
Minerva Hamblin Letton /s/

Mrs. J. H. Letton
Valrico, Florida

Family records show that all of
there were soldiers in Rev & I want to prove it

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1205 Sidney St.
St Lois, Mo.
Oct. 18, 1935

Mr. A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

This letter connects with your;
Elisha Maness W.C. 22277-BA-J/AWF. 1 of 7/34
   "           "                  "          "  /MLB. 9/25/34
Jacob      "        B.L.Wt41265,-80-85.BA.J/MMHF.
MLB 9/26/35
This writes has been for these 2 records.

My Dear Mr. Hiller,

    As you are aware I am seeking to uncover the back trail that leads to the marriage of Elisha Maness and Susanna Stouter at Greeneville, Tenn. Oct 25, 1818.

    I have located a William Mains who lived - a pensioner of the War of the Revolution - in Franklin County, Penn in 1833.

    I have only this information about him, given to me by Jessica C. Ferguson, Genealogist, for Penn.

   " William Mains, Pennsylvania Militia received a federal pension according to the report of the Secretary of War which was to date from March 4, 1831.  His name was placed on the roll January 22, 1833,  He (next page)

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"was a resident of Franklin County, Pa., according to the pension report.  The date of his birth and probably the place if his birth and the company in which he served all appear upon his pension record."

    Will you kindly give one any and all detail information you can relative to this Wm. Mains.

    Sometimes a exceedingly unimportant search of comment in these old records throws open a previously unseen door.
                                  Your sincerely
                                     //s//
                                W. H. Ohnsorg. 

(Date stamp) 

RECEIVED
OCT 21, 1935
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADM
READER #23