Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,671, Peter Darst, Penn

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Service: Penn

Darst, Peter or Dart. 

Number: R.2.671

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Peter Darst

26 540. (?)
Peter Darst

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The State of Ohio
Delaware county [illegible]. Be it remembered that on the twenty first day of May in the year eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before the judges of the court of Common Pleas in & for the  County of Delaware and State of Ohio, now in session, Peter Darst a resident of Troy Township in the said County, aged seventy one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, upon his oath maketh the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
I the said Peter Darst on my said oath state that I entered into the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, to wit: -
I have no record of my age and do not know what it precisely is, but I recollect I was 20 years old [illegible] the last year of the revolution [illegible] was 1782 ^ which I believe renders me now 71 years of age ^ [illegible].  I was born in Berks County Pennsa. about 3 miles from Reeding where I resided during the revolution.  In the spring of the year 1782 I went into the service as a substitute for my brother Philip Darst who was drafted for six months.  I entered as a private and served ^as such substitute in a company ^ Penna. militia under Capt. Robinson.  Never joined the Regt. and do not know the name of the Col. The company was mustered at Reeding.  I marched with my company and along with another company under Capt. James Quill.  We first marched to the Delaware River, which we crossed and went to Trenton, New Jersey, where we were stationed some time.  We next marched back to Reeding where after I had served at least four months and was discharged at Reeding.
In August 1782 I was drafted and called out to serve a tour of six months in a company of Pennsa. militia.  I served this tour under officers whose names I do not recollect.
[Along left side of page: Peter Darst of Frey Township aged 71.]

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I marched with the company towards Philadelphia untill we came to a little town called [illegible], where we turned to the left and went up the Delaware River to a place called Coryell's Ferry, where we crossed the river over to New Jersey.  We next went to a place in New Jersey called Lamberts Meeting house where we laid some time.  We next returned to Reeding where we delivered up our arms and were discharged.  During this tour my company never joined our Regt.  I therefore know not who the Col. was.  I was discharged from this tour (before the six months had expired,) after I had served four months.  I never received a written discharge.   I resided for some time [crossed out]  I thus served as near as I can now recollect eight months [crossed out] as a private soldier in the militia of Pennsa. in the war of the revolution at least eight months in actual service no part of which was spent in any civil employment, and for which I claim a pension.
I resided some time after the war in Berks County.  About 30 years since I removed from there to Berkley County Virginia.  Soon after the last war in 1815 or 16 I removed from Berkley County Vir^a to Fairfield Co. Ohio, where I resided untill November 1830 when I removed to Delaware County where I now reside.
I give the following names of persons residing in my present neighborhood, who can testify to my character for veracity and of their belief of my service as a soldier of the revolution, to wit,  Benjamin Martin, David Dix, W.G. Norris, & David [illegible].

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Henry Willey, Heira Wilcox and others ---
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn and subscribed to me
Peter Darst

Mr. Benjamin Martin (a Baptist Clergyman.) David Dix, Henry Willey rendering in the said Township of Troy and County of Delaware and in the neighborhood of the above named Peter Darst do upon our oaths certify that we are all acquainted with the above named Peter Darst who has substantiated & sworn the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy .-- .-- years of age as by him stated, that he is respected and believed in this neighborhood where he resides and has been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & Subscribed to
Benjamin Martin
Henry Willey
And the said court do hereby certify and declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Peter Darst was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he stated; and the court further certify that it appears to them that Benjamin Martin who signed the preceding certification is a clergyman residing in Troy Township and in the neighborhood of the above named applicant

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Peter Darst, and that Henry Willey who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place and is a creditable person; and that their statement is entitled to full faith & credit.  
I Thomas Reynolds, Clerk of the __ Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify, that the fore-going contains the original proceedings of the said court in the application of Peter Durst for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of my office this 21st day of March A.D. 1833
T. Reynolds, Clerk

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?? 540
Peter Darst.
Ohio

2671

Returns. S.

T. __ Reynolds
Delaware __  __
Delaware County
Ohio

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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,

Sir:
     The evidence is 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 tabullar 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] what is necessary to be done.  Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margins with a brace, (thus: }).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling [sic] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Peter Darst
Period when the service was rendered
  1782
     "
---------------------------------------
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years  Months  Days
               4
               4
---------------------------------------
Rank of the claimant.
Private
    "
---------------------------------------
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served
Capt. Robinson
---------------------------------------
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
71 years
Berks County, PA
---------------------------------------
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary._____

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," "Said 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 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, mucicians [sic] 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  }ss.
          County of
On this     day of        personally appeared (a) before
   A.B. a resident (b) of        in the country 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.  This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, nave, &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 belongs 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 interragatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named application was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. 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 hearby 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

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alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be 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 if so, where is it?
   3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do 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?
   6.  { 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 persons 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 one 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 have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that 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 the other persons giving such certificates.
   The traditionary evidence of service is deemed 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 inquiry 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 of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will e3xecute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
   Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or 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 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.
----------------------------------------------------------[The following footnotes are in reference to the citation letters in brackets above.]

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; is n 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 invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[The following section is enclosed by brackets, which was noted on the previous page as needing additional response]
[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. 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 is 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 direct 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 that 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 shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place of 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.
[end of bracketed text]
[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, proving 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 officer, under his seal of office.
[image of pointing finger] 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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April 15, 1936
Peter Darst-R.2671
BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Lars O. Peterson
282 Hathaway Lane
Winnewood, Pennsylvania.

Dear Madam:

The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, R. 2671, based upon the service of Peter Darst in the Revolutionary War. 

Peter Darst was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, about three miles from Reading. The date of his birth was not given, nor were the names of his parents stated. 

He lived during the Revolutionary War in Berks County, Pennsylvania, after which he moved to Berkeley County, Virginia, and in 1815 or 1816, moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, and in 1830, moved to Delaware County, Ohio.  

He applied for pension, May 21, 1833, then living in Troy Township, Delaware County, Ohio, and was aged seventy-one years.  He stated that he served from the spring of 1782, as substitute for his brother Philip Darst, as private four months in either Captain Robinson's or Michael Lutz's company, Colonel David Hunter's regiment of Pennsylvania militia, and later in 1782, served in Captain Robinson's company.  

The claim was not allowed as he did not furnish proof of six months' service, as required by the pension law. 

Reference was made in 1857 to the heirs of Peter

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Darst; their names were not stated, nor is the date of death of Peter Darst shown.
The papers in this claim contain no further reference to the family.
Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

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2671
P.O.
Peter Darst
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted:  , 18
Discharged:    , 18
Application filed:   , 18
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for rejection- "not six months' service"
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O. 
Recognized. Contra
Cert. of Dis. Searched for     , 18

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Peter Darst Ohio [illegible] 1832
DELAWARE MAR25
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City DC

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[illegible] Ebenezer Lewis
Rejected
See letter 5
[Tab] 35 to T. Reynolds
Delaware P.O.
this
Hon. B.M. Corwin 5 May 1854
[strikeout - W. W. Reid April 18, 1857

1832

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McRae or 
Cole
Peter Darst
Ohio [ ] 32

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The State of Ohio Delaware County [ ]
The additional declaration of Peter Darst whose original declaration was made before the Court of Common Pleas for Delaware County on the 21st day of May 1833,
I the said Peter Darst an applicant for a pension + being duly sworn upon my oath say that in consequence of old age and the loss of memory I  can not recollect all the particulars of my service as time, places, or the names of officers. But I know that I served at least eight months as a private soldier in the Pennsa. militia in the manner stated in my former declaration. But upon further recollection I think it was during the last tour I served in the manner stated in my declaration that I was commanded by Capt. Robinson and that my company went in company with another company commanded by Scull. These two companies were the two last companies who were called out into the service from Reeding. The first tour of service as stated in my declaration I think I was commanded by a Capt. a young man by the name of Michael Lutz, whose father was a Col. in the service. During the first tour of four months My messmates' names were Martin Cost, Peter Hice, John Brown, John Acre, the names of the others I do not recollect as I was not as well acquainted with them.

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My messmates during the last tour, were Phillip Mowrer, George Rader, Jacob Smith, _Fox and _ Leonard. It is impressed  upon my memory that during my service the Regiment to which my companies belong was commanded by Col. David Hunter but I am not certain. When returning home the last your from Lamberts' Meeting house in New Jersey we passed through Trenton, it was in the last of August or September. The farmers were then engaged in making cider. At that time there were a large body of troops at Trenton, 12 or 15,00. I do not recollect by whom they were commanded. My memory will not serve to state any further particulars. 
Peter Darst
Delaware County [ ] appeared before the  subscriber ^ a justice of the peace the above named Peter Darst and was duly sworn to the contents of the foregoing declaration this 6th day of June 1835. I further certify that the said Darst reputation is good. Sidney Moore Justice of the Peace

...
State of Ohio, Delaware County,__.
I, Thomas Reynolds, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in & for said County, hereby certify that Sidney Moore Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been taken, & whose name is thereunto subscribed, was at the time of taking the same, an acting Justice of the Peace in & for said County, duly commissioned & qualified ____. 
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Delaware, This 6th day of June 1835.
T. Reynolds Clerk

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3-1776
Service  Number
Penn  Darst, Peter  R.2.671
or Dart.
Contents

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Delaware Sept. 13. 1852
John W. Jones Esqr.
Dean Sir,

Mr. Darst, has request
us to write a letter to Mr Hassler, enclosed;
but not knowing him, and do not know his
wife a person he want her to be intrusted with
it, we have conclude to entrust it to you, and if
if you find him perfectly safe you will
seal the letter and give it to him.
If he is not in your opinion safe, give it to
some one who is, who will attend to it
We are sorry to trouble you with this matter
but Mr Darst is not acquaint with any other person
to whom it can be sent
Yours,
truly
Powell & Buck

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Pension Office. 
April 18, 1857.
Sir, 
Peter Darst, of Ohio, claims to have served 8 months in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolution, but his claim was ___ allowed, as he ____ that he served as he alleged.
The condition of the ___ has been twice ....

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Delawan C Mont 25/57
Commissioner of Pensions
Is
{illegible} years ago
Peter Darst of this Co made application
for the allowance of a pension to him
for
Military service during the Revolutionary
War, & no advice have
been received from the departed
in reference that
I write you at the
interst of his heirs to ask that you
may take it & dispose of the
Application
If
further proof is desired
be kind enough to inform
what
is {illegible}
This

W. P. Reid

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April 15,1936

BA-J/AWF

Mrs. Lars O. Peterson
282 Hathaway Lane
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to records of soldiers of the Revolutionary War with surnames Brous and Darst.

The records of Michael Brauss an Peter Darst have been found, and their records furnished herewith as found in claims for pension based upon service in the War of the Revolution.

Very truly yours

A. D, HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator