Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,564, Bethuel Vincent, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Pen
Vincent Bethuel
D. 22.564
CONTENTS

Declaration. of 7048. Bethuel Vincent. "

Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid Ed. B. Bright Prothonotary
B. Vincent
We John Bryson, a clergyman residing in the township of Turbut in the county of Northumberland & state of Penn a . and Samuel Hepburn residing in the county and state aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Bethuel Vincent who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age; that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution as upcountry and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day & year aforesaid 22 nd Aug t 1832 -
John Bryson Sam l Hepburn
Ed. B. Bright Prothonotary
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 John Bryson who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the township of Turbut in the county of Northumberland and state of Penn a . and that Samuel Hepburn who has also signed the same is a resident of the place in said certificate mentioned & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Seth Chapman Henry Shaffer Jacob Garhart
Ed. B. Bright
clerk of the court of common pleas in & for the county of Northumberland 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 Bethuel Vincent for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 22 nd day of August A.D. 1832 Ed. B. Bright Prothonotary

Northumberland county State of Penn. a } v. c. t.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid Bethuel Vincent, the applicant named in the above declaration who being duly sworn deposeth and saith in reply to objection No. XIII of the War Department that he and his companions were in close confinement at Montreal for six weeks - and for a few weeks after they went to the Three Rivers - that after that period they were on parole but never permitted to go out of town without permission from their officers - The Deponent further states that at the time his declaration was sent to the War department he had no documentary evidence, nor the testimony of any witness proving his services as a soldier of the revolution - that the deposition of William Miles (hereto annexed) of the county of Erie in the state of Penn. a proving his services in the revolution had not been transmitted to him in time to have it sent to the War Department with his declaration and that he now sends it to the War Department attached to his affidavit and declaration in order to give the Department the best evidence he can now obtain to prove his revolutionary services -
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2 d day of March 1833 Jos. Bonar
B. Vincent
I Edward J Bright - clerk of the court of common Pleas in and for the county of Northumberland and state of Penn. a do hereby certify that Joseph Bonar before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been made is a Justice of the peace in and for said county legally authorized to act as such and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature -
Ed J Bright Prothon per Robt M Hegenrider Deputy

State of Pennsylvania
Erie County ss) Before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County Personally appeared William Miles a resident Citizen of said County well known to me as a Creditable wit- ness and a highly respectable man who on his Solemn oath by me duly administered saith that Bethuel Vincent now residing in in Milton Northumberland County P. A., was in the month of July 1779 in the Public Service of said State being duty as a Militiaman in Freeland Fort Separent being similarly Engaged & doing duty with him at that time that near the last of said month of July 1779 the said Fort situated in the forks of Susquehanna about Eighteen miles above the town of North- umberland was surrounded in the night by a body of Indians & Tories commanded by a British Lieutenant named McDonald that after a few hours fighting the Garrison capitulated by the terms of which all those being Military Duty about twenty two in number were made Prisoners of war and marched immediately thence to Fort Niagara thence to Montreal and they were next distributed among the dif- ferent Prisons at that place three rivers & Quebec where we remained until peace was made said Vincent & Separent with most of the other Prisoners taken in said fort with many others were brought round to New York in a  landed and discharged on the Jersey shore by the British Squadron which took the British forces from that City - at their final evacuation thereof and a short time previous thereto - Separent and said Vincent are the only ones of said Prisoners known to Separent to be still alive Sworn to & subscribed before me the 14 th day of Jan y 1832 John Vincent W. Miles

State of Pennsylvania } Northumberland County } S. C. t. —
On this twent second day of August eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared before the Hon. ble Seth Chapman & his associates Judges of the court of Common Pleas of said county in open court (the same being a court of Record) Bethuel Vincent a resident of Milton in the county of Northumberland and state of Pennsylvania, aged seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his solemn oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed the 7 th of June A.D. 1832 — To wit. That he was born in the state of New Jersey on the 3 d . day of June A.D. 1762 and removed thence to Northumberland county in the state of Pennsylvania where he has since continued to reside except the period of his imprisonment hereafter referred to — That in the month of May 1778 he volunteered as a substitute for William Gayton & was stationed at Fort Muncy, now in Lycoming county Pennsylvania under Col. Peter Hosterman in a company commanded by Captain Robert Reynolds, wherein William Gingles was Lieutenant & Dennis M c . Saughlin Ensign. The services they were employed in were scouting and guarding forts Muncy — Antes & Horn — the frontier posts on the West Branch of the Susquehannah. After the massacre at Wyoming the forts were no longer deemed tenable and we brought off the inhabitants assembled in the two latter forts — guarding them down to the town of Northumberland a distance of sixty miles, this deponent being on the advance guard the entire way. A stand was made there. In July 1779 he enrolled in the service in Fort Freeland — then the frontier fort on the West Branch of the Susquehannah, eighteen miles above Northumberland. On the 28 th of July 1779 the Fort was attacked by a large party of British — Tories — and Indians supposed to

amount to some three hundred men - commanded by a British officer - captain John M c . Donald, who summoned the Fort to surrender. The Fort being unable to resist such a force a negotiation was opened for the surrender of the Fort - terms were agreed upon and we became prisoners of war. Twenty two prisoners were taken - the remainder consisting of old men, women, and children were allowed their liberty & the protection of a flag to some Southern station. This deponent was one of the prisoners - they were marched through the Indian settlements to Niagara - thence crossed Lake Ontario & were marched to Montreal where they remained six weeks - thence they were removed down the St Lawrence to Three Rivers where they remained three years. - In Oct. 1782 they were taken to Quebec, whence on the 12 th Nov. 1782 they were shipped for New York - where on the 28 th of Dec. 1782 they were released being three years and five months detained as prisoners. - - Deponent further states that seven days before the capture of Fort Freeland his brother Isaac was killed by the Indians and scalped in sight of this deponent - and that his brother Daniel & Father (both now deceased) were captured with him at Fort Freeland and taken also as Prisoners to Montreal. - -
Deponent further saith that he was on frequent scouting parties against the Indians - and on one particular occasion for two successive weeks on the North Branch of the Susquehannah under Capt. John Foster - and was arduously engaged in military services against the Indians on this frontier from the commencement of hostilities till his capture. - - - The deponent further states that he is personally known to the Judges of the court - to Gen. Hugh Brady - and Col. Alexander Cummings both formerly of this county - to Lewis Dewart and the other Members of the congress from this district, and indeed to a large majority of the people of this county - all of whom can testify in support of his veracity. Deponent further states that he has a record of his age in his Family Bible which accords with his age as given. The deponent further states that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. and has no discharge from the service

11483 Pennsylvania
Bethuel Vincent
of Northumbria the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain R. Reynold of the Reg't commanded by Col. Hesterman in the Pa. Militia line for two years
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of Eighty Dollars. — Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of May 1833. and sent to Mr. Whitings Milton, N. H. la. Pa.
Arrears to the 14th of Mar 1832 $160.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 1 st Sep 33 40.00 $200.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. B. Whitings Clerk, Book 40 Vol. 3 Page 63

Brooklyn
22 564 INVALID.
File No. 22564
Bethuel Vincent
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 192
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Bethuel Vincent
2 years service $80
due F Wolfinger age Milton Worth 62 Pa
Hon. L. Stewart H R

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Bethuel Vincent further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? V. * Has he mentioned 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? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No.
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and 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 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
‡QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
Was he in close confinement for three years? Please return this brief.

March 8.
Pennsylvania Returned.
FREE
Miss Catharine Seymour Secretary of War Washington City.

Milton Feb. 24 th 1833—
Dear Sir. Inclosed I send you the declaration of Vincent Bethuel corrected according to your directions— Will you have the goodness to let us have an answer as soon as it examined.
Be good enough also to let me hear from you as it regards the Pension claims of John Roen — Mathias Webb — and Henry Graham . Mr. Ino. Hill's was to have been sent to me but was by mistake sent to the Hon. Judge Scarthart. I will have the errors therein rectified as soon as I get the declaration find it on to your Honor.
I would be very thankful if you could attend to the above claims; for a few days to these heroic old fellows seems to them like an age !— and if you don't hurry they will all be dead before we hear from you! Yours &c.
Ino. F. Wolfinger Milton North Co Penn a

State of Pennsylvania } I Alvin Kelce Prothonotary Erie County ss } of the Court of Common Pleas in
and for the County of Erie. Do hereby Certify that John Vincent Esquire before whom the within deposition of William Miles, purports to have been taken was at the time of taking the same
one of the Images of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County. Duly commissioned and sworn In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this eighteenth day of December A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two—
Alvin Kelce Pro