Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3,134, Christian Dentzler, Penn.

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(3-1776)

SERVICE                                              NUMBER
Penn.            Dentzler, Christian        N. 3,134
                                     Margaret

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12794 R
Pennsylvania
Chirstian Dentzler
of Lebanon in the state of Pennsylvania who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel (blank) of the Pennsylvania line, for the term of 2 yrs. Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at teh rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 14th of July 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd of July 1819 and sent to Henry Betz Esq Agent, Reading PA. Arrears to 4th of Mrch 1819 = $61.67 Semi anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept1819 48.00 7 mo 22/31 $109.67

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Dead Let to J. Pleasant Jan 4, 1844
MBates July 31, 1854
Wm Kramer Apl 22/56

#3259
Pennsylvania
#3259
Margaret Dentzler
widow of Christian Dentzler, died a pensioner under the Act of 1818, who died on the 20 July 1821 of Columbia in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Von Heer of the rgt commanded by Col (blank) in the Pennsylvania line for 2 years. 
Penna Mil
Inscribed on the Roll of Philadelphia at the rate of 100 Dollars cent per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of March 1840, J (illegible) James Pleasants, Catawissa, Pennsylvania
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1840 $900.00
Semi annual allowance ending 4Sept'40 50.00
$950.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836
Section the 3
Recorded by: DM. Curdy, Clerk 
Illegible A, Vol. 2 Page 138

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Christian Dentzler
Henry Betz
Agt.
Reading, PA
rec July 7. 1819

another affidavit (crossed out)
Illegible

Adm: 
(03 See Judge Peters's letter relative to Von Heer's Corps of Marchaufsees)
1443
Henry Betz

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Pennsylvania
Berks County 
On the fourteenth day of July AD 1818 Before me James Deisner (illegible) the Judges of the Court of Common pleas County of Berks in above said County personally appeared Christain Dentzler of the Township of Lebanon aforementioned state and year, taketh upon his solemn oath according to law, doth Illegible and say that he enlisted as a private soldier in the City of Philadelphia, in the service of the United States, in the month of July 1778 in a Company of Light Dragons Commanded by Captain Von Heer that he continued in service of Captain  with the Service approved until the month of August 1781 that he had obtained an Honorable discharge which is lost. And tha thae has not received any Pensions under the  Lgcy of the United States but by reason of his revised circumstances, stands in need of the (illegible) of his County for support.
Christian Dentzler

Sworn & Subscribed
(Illegible)
Jos. Diesner

On the 14th day of July AD 1818 Before me James Diesner Esquire on of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Berks, personally appeared John Fredrick Bickhart, aged seventy two years who upon his solemn oath according to law, doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with Christian Dentzler named with above affidavit that he is the same who served as a private in Capt Von Heer Company as above mentioned and that this depose and also served in said Company in the service of the United States as a private and that the said Christian Dentzler

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is poor, in indigent circumstances and that he stands in need of the assistance of his County for support. 
Sworn and Subscribed from aforesaid  (illegible)
James Deisner

I James Deisner Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Berks, do hereby certify that it appears to my satisfaction from the evidence provided that the said Christian Dentzler served with revolutionary War against the Common enemy and tha the is poor and in indigent circumstances as appears to me by the affidavits. 
(illegible) who was (illegible) here unto sets my hands upon and (illegible) the seal of the said court of to be affixed this 14th day of July AD 1818.
JW Deisner

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Berks County of 
On the 12th day of April AD 1819 Before me Gabriel Heister Jun. Esquire, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County who upon his solemn oath doth upon say that he belonged to Captain Vanhare Company being an independent Corp, attached to us Regiment or line to the best of his knowledge & belief.
Christian Dentzler

Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid Gab. Hiester Jun.

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Christian Dentzler
Lebanon
12794
Con
July 19

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12th Judicial District of Penna
Lebanon County 
On this 9th day of August 1820 personally appeared in open court of Common Pleas being a Court of record for the said County in the said district Christian Dentzler aged 70 years and 11 months a resident in Lebanon Township in the said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath say that he served in the revolutionary war as follows belonging and serving under Capt Bartholomew Von Hairs as a Light Dragoon penna line that his original declartion for pension is filed sometime in the fall of 1819. That he has received a pension as a Private in the REvolutionary army is inscribed on the pension list roll of the Penna Agency at the rate of eight dollars per month to commence on the fourteenth day of July 1818 in conformity with the laws of the United States of the 18th March 1818 Certificate has me number was given at teh war office of the United States on the 22nd day of July 1819 and is endorsed Christian Dentzler payable semi annually the first payment on this Certificate will be made on the 4th day of September next in Philadelphia at the Bank of the United States, recorded 
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th March 1818. and that I have not by gift, sale or in any other manner dispared of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby to deminish it so as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "an act to provide to certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person or persons in past for former any property or security contract or duty due to me nor have I any other income than what is contained in the schedule hereunto ammended and by me subscribed,
A Stove & Pipe $10.00
2 Chests $2.00
6 Chairs $3.00
3 Barrells $4.00
3 Tubs $7.00
1 (illegible) hoe $1.00
1 (illegible) $1.25
1 Shovels 50
2 Benches  75
1 Table $2.00

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1 Table 2.00
1 Iron Kettle 2.00
1 " Pot  2.50
3 " Pans 1.00
3 Cythes  1.37
2 axes 1.75
Sundry Articles 2.00
1 Hand saw 1.5
Sundry Articles 4.00
3 Hog forks 1.50
2 Barrells 50
2 Spinning wheels 4.00
1 reels .50
1 Hog 5.00
1 looking glass  1.25
Sundry Articles 6.00
4 buckets  2.00
1 kitchen dresser 3.00
1 copper tea kettle 2.00
sundry articles .75
Tongs and shovel 2.00
1 Grind stone  1.00
Sundry articles 3.00
1 (illegible) yard  1.25
Sundry Articles 3.00
Sundry Articles 2.00
1 washing machine .50
$96.87 Total
Christian Dentzler
That the declarant is a mason by trade but is unable to do anything at this trade I have six children one of whom only lives with me and a wife who is about 62 years of age who is unable to get out of the house. Teh daughter who lives with me has no means of support then what she earns by her labor out doors
Sworn & subscribed in open court before the President and his associated judges of the Ct of Common Pleas in said district11 Aug 1820. JA Shultze

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Penn Lebanon County
JA Shulze Clk of the Ct of Common Pleas of Lebanon Cty & State of Penna do hereby certify that the within and foregoing schedule and oath are truly copied from the record of the said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount exhibited in the schedule in value in Ninety Six dollars and eighty seven cents. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Lebanon the 11th day of August AD 1820.
JA. Shulze Prothy

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State of Pennsylvania
County of Columbia

on this twenty seventh day of January in the year eighteen hundred and forty personally appeared before the Honorable William Montgomery one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Columbia Margaret Dentzler a resident of Catawisa township in the County of Columbia and state of Pennsylvania aged Eighty two years, three months and five days...who being first duly sworn...according to Law doth on her oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836 = That she is the widow of Christian Dentzler who was a soldier in the army of the Revolution and whose name is inscribed on the Pension list of the Pennsylvania agency under the act of March 18. 1818 under date the 22nd July 1819 as a pensioner of the Unted States under said act, the particulars of whose service during the Revolutionary War will fully appear by reference to his application for said pension =
She further declared that she was married to the said Christian Dentzler on the   (blank space) day of (blank space) in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, in teh autumn but she cannot recollect either the month or the day of the month, that she has no means of ascertaining the date of her marriage to said Christian Dentzler more particularly because the only family record she ever had of her marriage was destroyed by a fire, which consumed their dwelling house and all

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their house hold goods more than forty years ago and she does not know of any other evidence or any person living who can prove the time of her said marriage, other than that hereunto annexed that her husband the aforesaid Christian Dentzler died on the twentieth day of July in the year Eighteen Hundred and Twenty One and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Margaret Dentzler

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before me and I hereby certify that she the said Margaret Dentzler by reason of bodily infirmity is unable to attend upon and appear in Court and further that the said Margaret Dentzler is a person of creditability whose word may be relied upon. 
William Montgomery
One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania

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State of Pennsylvania 
County of ⎬ 
On this 17th day of July A.D. One 
Thousand Eight Hundred and fifty four personally affirmed
before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the 
County & State aforesaid, George Dentzler, aged sixty six 
years, and made oath in due form of Law, that he is the son 
of the identical Christian Dentzler, who was a Revolution 
ary Pensioner under the act of March 18, 1818, and was 
Pensioned in Lebanon County, and died on the 20th of July 
1821. That the aforesaid Christian Dentzler was married in 
the County of Berks in the State of Pennsylvania on or about
the [blank] day of [blank] in the year Seventeen Hundred
and eighty four to one Margarett Werney, who lived 
and continued the widow of the said Christian Dentzler
until the Thirteenth (13) day of September, One Thousand 
Eight Hundred and Forty Three at which time she de 
parted this life at the advanced age of Eighty one years 
That the aforesaid Christian & Margaret, had ten children 
To wit, Christina, George, Rachel, John, Catharine, Kate, Catharine, Eliz 
beth, Eve, Rebecca & Christian, 
all of whom except the present Deponent, it is believed 
are long since dead, as the said Deponent has not had any 
information as to their whereabouts for many years, 
That the deponent has no family or other Record of the date 
of the Marriage of the said Christian Dentyler, and Marga
ret Weiney (his father & mother), nor does he know or believe 
that there is such record in existence, but he knows that 
they were married in the year above named from the 
fact that his mother has often stated it to him and in his 
hearing, and from the fact of the ages of himself & the
children above named 
He therefore makes this Oath of 
identity for the purpose of obtaining whatever pension his

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mother may have been entitled to at the time of her death under Act of July 7, 1838 & subsequent Acts of Congress
George Dentzler

Sworn to and subscribed before me on this day and year before written, and I further certify that I have known the aforesaid George Dentzler for two years or more and that he is a man of good and reputable character in his neighbourhood and in every way entitled to credit for truth and veracity 

Jacob Weidel
Justice of the Peace


Lebanon County S.S

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State of Pennsylvania
County of
On this 17th day of July
A.D 1854
Personally appeared Leonard Greenwalt who being duly sworn according to law, deposes & says that he has known George Dentzler for 30 years or more, that he believes him to be of the age stated in his foregoing deposition, that he is a man of good & reputable character, and that he is the son and believed to be the only child of Christian Dentzler, and Margaret his wife, non living; that he knew Mrs Margaret daughter that she was the widow of the said Christian Dentzler who was a Revolutionary Pensioner; and that the said Margaret died in the fall of 1843 (as stated in the foregoing deposition) at a very advanced age; that he has no means of knowing the exact date of the marriage of the aforesaid Christian & Margaret, but has no doubt they were married as early as the year 1784 from the fact that their oldest child would be near 70 years of age if living. 
Leonard Greenwalt.
Sworn to and subscribed, this day and year first written before me and I certify that said Leonard Greenwalt is a resident of the Borough of Lebanon aged 77 years, and that he is a reputable and creditable witness.
Jared Weidle JD.

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Palmyra April the 4th AD 1856 
Mr George Densler of Londonderry Township Lebanon County 
State of Penna requested me to ask for information respecting 
back standing pension of his Father Christian Densler who was 
a cavalry soldier in the Revolutionary war, and drew pension at the 
time of his death, which happened in the month of July AD 1821 
and that agents have requested him to make application to the 
pension office, that he is informed that the heirs of said Christian 
Densler, are entitled to money from the pension office under the present 
Pension Laws. In case it is not out of the line of business of the 
department to impart such information. He would respectfully solicit 
information respecting his claim and what is necessary to be done 
in the matter to bring the claim before the Department, in a formal 
legal manner 
The name of Christian Densler will be found on the Pensions 
Roles, Having drawn pension at the time of his death 
which took place to wit, in the month of July AD 1821 .
Respectfully
Thos Kramer 
Palmyra 
Lebanon Co 
PA
or 
George Densler 
Campbelltown 
Lebanon Co 
Pa

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Application for Pension 
under Act July 7 1838 
George Dentzler
Margt Dentzler 
Pa ad 36
Filed July 27/54 by R W Bates

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L. P. Waldo Esq 
Comr of Pensions ⎬ 
Washington July 27, 1854
Sir
I enclose herewith the application 
of George Dentzler for Pension on account his mother 
or Margarett Dentzler widow of Christian who was a Pensioner 
under act of March 18,1818, under Act July 7. 1838 
I am Sir Very Respectfully 
Your Obt Servant R W Bates

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[Handwriting illegible] WIDOW, &c. [Handwriting illegible]
File No. 3134
Margaret Dentzler
Widow Christian Dentzler
Pri. Rev/ [illegible]Act: July 4, 1836
Index:[ blank], Vol. A, Page 174
[Arrangement of 1870]

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4917
Margaret Gentzler
of Christian
Pennsylvania

admitted
Pa. [illegible] 2 yr $100
loaf [illegible] [illegible].

died 20 July 1821

At 4 July 1836

James Pleasants
        [illegible] 
              Pa

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State of Pennsylvania L.L. 
County of Columbia Office of the Prothonotary of said County: Danville-
I do hereby certify that it appears by the records of the office of the prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Columbia that William Montgomery whose name is signed to the annexed affidavits of Margaret Dentzler and John C. Lessig was at the time of signing his name as aforesaid and still is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County aforesaid, and that the name of William Montgomery signed as aforesaid to said affidavits is the true a nd genuine hand writing and signature of said William Montgomery = In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Said Court at Danville in Said County of Columbia this twenty Eighth day of January One thousand eight hundred and forty -
Jacob Eyerly [illegible]

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Lebanon County Ss
Before me Joel Spyker Esq one of the Justices of the Pease in and for Lebanon County, Came George Hiller, who on his solemn oath did say that he and Christian Dentzler late of the borough of Lebanon in the County of Lebanon, deceased where in Captain Von Hehrs Company in the Revolution War and that said Christian Dentzler served a tour of Duty in said War and that he and said Dentzler received Pension of the United States for their services, until the Decease of said Dentzler and that Margaret Dentzler the Widow of said Christian Dentzler were married to him in the year 1779, and that he and said Christian Dentzler were discharged in 1781 of said War and further said Deponant saith not Sworn and Subscribed before me the 7th day of March AD 1833} George his X mark Hiller  Joel Spyker
I do hereby certify that I know the above Margaret Dentzler upwards of twenty five years, that she is the widow of Christian Dentzler, that she is in very indigent circumstances, unable to support herself any longer by her own industry and is intirely dependent for support in her old  age on her Son in -Law   J Stoever

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Penna Lebanon Cy SS I John Stine [Probs] of the Court of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Lebanon Do Certify that Joel Spyker Esq before whom the witness affidavit of George Hiller was taken was at the time of taking the same an acting  Justice of the Peace duly commissioned to and that the signature of Joel Spyker is in his own Proper hand writing In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the 29th day of February 1840  John Stine [Probs]

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Pennsylvania [illegible]
Secretary's Office
Harrisburg January 25th 1840

I do certify that it appears by the Records in this Office that Joel Spyker was appointed and commissioned on the 23rd day of November [illegible] 1830, by the Governor, to be a Justice of the Peace in and for district numbered three, composed of the townships of Bethel and Swatara including Jonestown in the County of Lebanon in the said State of Pennsylvania, and that to all his official acts as such full faith and credit are due and ought to be given.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Harrisburg the date above.

[illegible]

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4917
Margaret Dentzler of Christian
Pennsylvania
Died 20 July 1820
Protestant

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State of Pennsylvania
County of Columbia
Be it remembered that on the twenty-seventh day of January in the year eighteen hundred and forty before me, William Montgomery, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Columbia aforesaid personally appeared John C Lessig a resident of Catawissa Township in the said County of Columbia who being first duly sworn according to the Law doth of his oath depose and say as follows to wit, that he is personally and well acquainted with Margaret Dentzler who has made the foregoing declaration that he has been personally acquainted with her ever since the Year eighteen hundred and seventeen also that he was personally acquainted with Christian Dentzler that he lived in Lebanon Township in the County of Lebanon in the state of Pennsylvania that since Christian Dentzler and said Margaret Dentzler always from the time he first became acquainted with them until the death of said Christian lived together as husband and wife and they were reputed by the neighborhood and wherever they were known, to be husband and wife and that he verily believes both from the declarations and statements and conversations in their family. Ever since his first acquaintance with them and from the common repute that said Christian Dentzler and Margaret Dentzler were legally married prior to the year seventeen hundred and eighty and that said Margaret Dentzler removed to said Township of Carawissa in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-seven and that said Christian Dentzler died on the twentieth day of July

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Eighteen hundred and twenty one and that she has remained the widow of Said Christian Dentzler ever since his death and that she has continued to reside there ever since that time- and said John C Lessig further saith that he was personally and well acquainted with George Hiller who made the annexed affidavit and that said George Hiller was a man of veracity and credibility and was esteemed as such in his neighborhood and wherever he was known, that he lived in the county of Lebanon in the State of Pennsylvania at the time he made said affidavit and that he is now dead: and also that he was well acquainted with Joel Spyker before whom the said affiant George Hiller was sworn to said affidavit, that he was an active Justice of the Peace in and for Said  County of Lebanon - and that he was a man of veracity and credibility and esteemed as such by all who knew him, that the name purporting to be his annexed to the oath of the affidavit of said George Hiller is the true and genuine signature of said Joel Spyker and that said John C Lessig saw him sign his name to said oath of said affidavit, that Said Joel Spyker is now dead = That Jacob Stower whose name is inscribed to a note appended to said affidavit of George Hiller was at that time a member of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ---- Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid, before me and I hereby certify that said John C Lessig is a man  of credibility whose word may be relied upon John C. Lessig  William Montgomery one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania

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https://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.png4917 
Feb 17 1840
Marge. Dentzler 
Edwards (illegible)
Commissioner of Pensions
War Depart 
H D Petrikin

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House of Representatives
Feb. 17 1840
J.L. Edwards Esq
Sir
Would you be so good as to inform me what action has been had on the application of Mrs Margaret Dentzler of Col. Coy Pa for a Pension which was forwarded to your office about two weeks since by James Pleasant Esq of that County.
Yours
D. [illegible]

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Jan. 
Marg Dentzler
Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City

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29 Dec. 1840
Sir
I will thank you to inform me of whether the accruing pension of the current half year, of a Pensioner under the 3rd section of the act of Congress of 4th July 1836, is payable to any person after her death, and if so to whom. Margaret Dentzler died on 25 widowed and her family would wish to receive the portion accrued from 4 Sept last til her death. Please give the informed action.
Very respectfully,
James Pleasants
[illegible]
Columbia County Penna
To J.L Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions

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Catawisse Pa 
[Illegible) 
the War Departments
Washington City

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To the Department of War of the United States
A very old lady the widow of Christian Dentzler, deceased, in needy circumstances wishes to make an application for a pension under the act of July 1836. Her husband was a Revolutionary Soldier and as I am informed drew a Pension under the early laws of Congress. Please to inform me by certificate as in such manner as is usual, if his name is not on the Pension roll, as a Pensioner from Pennsylvania, to receive a pension under the first laws granting pensions and give me also such a description of a reference to the Records of his application, in the proper office, as will be suitable to insert in her application as a reference to said records and state whether the proof of service annexed to contains in his recorded application will be sufficiently satisfactory proof of service to sustain her application referred to [?]
Also please state if in a case in which all family record of marriage has been accidentally destroyed by a fire which burnt down the dwelling house and there is no other documentary evidence and no linving witness known who has a knowledge of the first marriage, whether a certified copy [illegible] of an affidavit of the fact of a marriage, made many years ago by one having then a knowledge of the fact, taken in relation to another proceeding and filed on record with proof of the death of the applicant if that he was a man of credibility in conjunction with the declaration of the widow to the same effect; will not be taken as sufficiently satisfactory proof of marriage.
James Pleasant
Catawissa Columbia County Pennsylvania 
30th December 1839

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To the War Department of the United States
enclosed you will find the Declaration of Margaret Dentzler, made for the purpose of obtaining a Pension. She is the old lady, the widow of Christian Dentzler deceased formerly a pensioner under the Act of Congress of 18 March 1818, about whom I wrote to the department, a few weeks ago.  She is in very indigent circumstances and is a fair object to receive the Bounty of Government by means of the Pension Laws. Accompanying the Declaration is the affidavit of George Hiller taken 7th March 1833 proving the marriage of said Margaret Dentler with said Christian Dentzler in the year 1779 and also the affidavit of Mr. John C Lessig proving the death of Christian Dentzler and that said Margaret has continued a widow ever since his death date. It will be observed that the affidavit of George Hiller is not certified in the usual manner, nor in exact accordance with the rules and regulations of the department - the credibility of the affiant is not certified by the officer before whom it was made and the signature of the officer annexed to the affidavit is not certified to be genuine by an officer under the seal of his office. This affidavit was taken many years ago, as its date shows, in relation to a proceeding then pending before the Legislature of Pennsylvania and was filed among the Records of the Senate , and upon application to that Body permission was granted to withdraw the affidavit; the deficiency in the certificate as to the credibility of the affiant is now supplied by the affidavit of John C Lessig and the signature of Joel Spyker the officer before whom the affidavit was made

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is also proved by John C Lessig, who saw him write the name purporting to be his annexed to said affidavit and he also proves the credibility of Joel Spyker and the annexed certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shows that Joel Spyker was a commissioned Justice of the Peace.
It cannot be expected that much evidence can be procured or many witnesses found at this late day to have events so unimportant in themselves as the marriages of these old people, who lived in very humble ranks of life and in frontier settlements and therefore where the requirements of the Laws and the Department are substantially and virtually complied with, the more formal parts should not be scanned with too much strictness, especially when the only known witnesses are dead, the old offices are removed and the proof of submitted comes from an unquestionable source and is made under circumstances and at a time strengthing and increasing the probability of its truth.
I hope therefore, the whole paper and proofs submitted will be taken as sufficient to procure for this old lady the Pension she is entitled to receive under the 3rd section of Act 4 July 1836 in which might have been allowed to her husband by virtue of the act of 7 June 1832 if he had been living at the time it was [?] viz from March 1831 ro continue during her life.
Very Respectfully,
James Pleasants
Danville 28 January 182?
address Catawissa Columbia County Penna

PS I refer you to Hon David Petrikin for information respecting persons in anything else that is required and is within his knowleged J.P.

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Sir
Allow me to solicit from you the information desired in the enclosed letter, and return me the letters with the answer when is conveniently [illegible] your department.
Very truly your [?]
Geo M Kenn
H of R January 3, 1840

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Hon J.L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Washington City

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Hon. J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Catawissa 4 March 1840
I received by due course of mail the 
papers in the case of Mrs. Margaret Dentzler’s application 
for a pension returned from the Department for the pur
pose of amendment, and also your letter of the 19th 
[illegible] addressed to Hon. D. Petrikin stating that the 
department required “that the broken officer should 
“certify, under his seal of office that Joel Spyker, 
“before whom the affidavit of George Hiller purports 
“to have been made was at the time a magistrate 
“and that his name which appears at the foot of 
“said affidavit in his own broken handwriting”
You will now find the required certificate en
dorsed on the back of George Hiller’s affidavit.
I presume that the pension was applied for will now 
be granted to the old lady with a little delay as the 
other duties & engagements department will permit 
and I hope that when it is granted the certificate 
of pensions will be forwarded to use without delay 
and as the widow claims under the 3rd section of the 
act Congress 4 July 1836 the same pension 
“which might have been allowed to her husband by virtue

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of the act of 7 June 1832 "if he had been living at that time it was hoped, she will be entitled to averages of ninety six dollars a year from 4 March 1831 a certificate for which I hope will be forwarded at the same time
Very Respectfully 
James Pleasants