Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22596, Joseph Wilson, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Wilson, Joseph
S. 22596
CONTENTS

Pennsylvania 21.15 3/4
Joseph Wilson
of Fayette Co. in the State of Pa who was a Pr in the Company commanded by Captain Humphries of the R.A. commanded by Col. Hemen in the Penn a line for
2 Yrs 3 M $ 80.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 80 Dollars per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of March and sent to 1834 Mar 24 Stewart, H.R.
Arrears to the 4th of March '34 240.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 2 Apr. 40.00
$ 280.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. P. Sprague Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 15 Page 115
Duplicate Certificate issued the State Reps and sent to the Exrs. H. B. - House of Reps
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 Sept 1838 to 4 March 1839. Cgts notice 30. April 1840
Duplicate Certificate issued 7 July 1840 and sent to Board Exrs. H. B. House of Reps

State of Pennsylvania Fayette Co Pa
3/1 on the 2 nd day of September
one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court Joseph Wilson a resident of said county aged twenty three years before the judges of said court now sitting 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 the 7 th June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as follows. That he first entered the service of the United States under an enlistment for three years at Germantown near Phila. Penna under Captain Jacob Humphries belonging to the Sixth Penn a Regiment commanded by Col. Josiah Harmar. He entered the service on the 4 th day of June 1777 and served out his term of three years and was discharged at Nick's farm in Morris County State of New Jersey in the summer or fall of 1780. That he left his discharge with Dan l Haythorn his father-in-law who lost the same many years ago. That during the time of his service he was in the following battles besides many skirmishes of minor importance
1 st . He was in the battle at the Short Hills near C. St. Johns 2 nd . In the Battle of Brandywine 3 rd . He was in the Battle of Germantown 4 th . He was at the taking of Stony Point under Gen l Wayne He was detached on this occasion & served under Jacob Brown of Reading Pa.

Besides the foregoing he was in many engagements & skirmishes with the enemy at Pompton New Jersey Pompton Town & at Bound Brook - Staten Island where he got his feet frozen - he was wounded in his leg by a ball at Stony Point & slightly in the breast with a bayonet at Bound Brook he served under Col Henry Baker at Valley Forge in 1778 under Lord Sterling, Genl St Clair - in 1779 he served under Genl Lafayette at a place called the "English neighbourhood" & Paulus Hook
In answer to the interrogatories required to be put by the War Department he answers as follows: viz.
 1. He was born in Philadelphia 27 May 1760 -  2. He has no record of his age  3. He lived in Germantown near Phil - when he entered the service after he left the service he went to Brunswick N. Jersey & removed to Fayette Co Pa where he now resides in Oct. 1795 & has resided here since.  4. He entered the service as a regular as above mentioned  5. He served under Capt. Jacob Humphreys - Col's Henry Baker, Josiah Harmar, Genl. Irvine Genl. Wayne, Ld. Sterling, St Clair & as above stated.  6. He received a discharge which he left in the Dard. May then many years ago say forty years & he has never been or heard of it since  7. answered above He has no written or documentary evidence to prove his services nor does he know of any witnesses whose testimony he can procure to prove the same. He can prove his character and reputation as a meritorious soldier by He hereby relinquishes all claim to any other pension or annuity except the pension & the pension of his wife during her lifetime which he draws from the State of Pennsylvania & declares that he draws the pension as the widow of no other State whatever.  Affirmed in open court 2 nd Sept 1833 R Burn Pro J Oglethorpe

Application of Joseph Wilson for a pension.-

The Honorable Charles Porter one of the Judges of the court and Gideon Johns High Sheriff of Fayette county Penn a both residents in said county - do certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Wilson who has sworn to & signed the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years of age that he has always been respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion.
Affirmed to by Gideon Johns & Sworn to by C Porter in open court 12 th Sept r , 1833
Gideon Johns Charles Porter
Rich d Bresson Prok.
And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the various statutes presented by the war department. That Joseph Wilson who has sworn & subscribed the foregoing declaration was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court do further certify, that it appears to them that the hon Charles Porter, & Gideon Johns Esq r who have signed the above declaration certificate are residents of Fayette county & are credible persons - and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Fayette County, Pa Pennsylvania
Richard Bresson & notary of the court of common pleas in & for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the ap- plication of Joseph Wilson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the said court this 12 th day of Sept. 1833
Rich d Bresson Pro.

Revolution
22596 INVALID.
File No. 22,596
Joseph Wilson His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 252
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Fayette County Pa
Joseph Wilson appeared before me one of the Justices of the peace for Fayette County Pennsylvania and made oath, that he is the identical person named in the Certificate herewith returned to be renewed on account of its being defaced; which is numbered 26,154, and dated the Office 21 st March 1834.
Sworn & Subscribed Before James Lindsay July 8 th 1840
Joseph Wilson
Fayette County Pa
On the 3 rd July 1840, before me one of the Justices of said County, J. G. Campbell, and on his oath, saith that Joseph Wilson, the above applicant, is the identical person for whom the original Pension Certificate, which is herewith enclosed; and which bears number and date as above stated, was issued.
Sworn & Subscribed Before James Lindsay
J. G. Campbell

I certify that James Lowden Esq. before whom the within affidavits were sworn to him at the date thereof an attesting officer of the court and that the within signature is proper to be so given.
Attest 6 July 1840.
James Lowden
H. E. Heath H. O. R.

State of Pennsylvania County of Fayette
Personally appear Peter Braker long a resident in said County, aged 78 years, late a Revolutionary, & Continental Soldier of the Pennsylvania line, a pensioner &c, and after being duly sworn as the law directs doth on his solemn oath declare, that after hearing the statement, & declaration, of Joseph Wilson, also a continental Soldier of the said Pennsylvania line, who enlisted in June (A.D.) 1777, in the company commanded by Captain Humphris, and in the 6th Regiment commanded by Colonel Baker alias Braker, also had been commanded by Colonel Galt Halbert under all of whom he served for the term of three years, and that he was honorably discharged at Morris town New Jersey or near the said place, at Vicks farms, by the said Col. Galt, in the month of October, or November, in the year of 1780, or little preceding the revolt of the Penn te line; deponent further states that he has not a distinct recollection of all the said Wilson's said services, as set forth in his statement & declaration, but said deponent verily believes the same to be just and true, as he deponent served under some of the the said officers of the said Regiment, and well knew the said Wilson at the battle of Brandywine, & Germantown, & also knew him at the Valley Forge, also at Vicks farms where he was discharged in 1780, & that deponent knew the said identical Col. Wilson in the said service for at least three years, having a personal knowledge of the said Wilson's actual service as above stated, but did not know him in the militia.
Sworn and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County given under my hand at Union Town the 5th day of March (A.D.) 1834
his Peter Braker (Seal) Mark
Clement Wood J.P.
I hereby certify that Clement Wood before whom the above affidavit was taken is a Justice of the Peace in Union Town Pa & that Peter Braker I believe to be a credible witness & further that I am informed that he, the said Wilson a pensioner from the State of Penn te as a regular of the Penn te line
A Stewart 28 March 1834

Payments to be made at Cincinnati Ohio Post Druggist BR Agent for paying Pension- ers in the Agency of Ohio
Recorded in the Pension Of- fice in Book C Vol 8. Page 13 by J. P. Prague Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Joseph Wilson of the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private during the Revolutionary War
is entitled to receive Eighty dollars and cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States this 21 st day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty- four
L. Wood Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions.
N o 26.152

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
April 28 th 1840.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Joseph Wilson, — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Sixty — Dollars and — Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1838, to the 4 th March, 1839.
Respectfully, yours,
William E. Parry Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Mar 10. 1840
Brook Me.
Mr Ewan.
Hon. E. L. Edwards Committee of Privileges Washington City
Dear Hook Mr.

House of Reps. March 9. 1870.
Sir.
I am requested by one of my Old Revolutionary friends to surrender the enclosed Certificate, which is defaced & worn out, and ask that a new one may open to him
Very Respectfully Yrs. etc. H. B. Chas. Hook
Hon. J. J. Edwards Comm. of Pensions

Peter Braker affidavit

29. 869.
Joseph Wilson
Penn a
Adm 2 years $80
Hon A. Stewart Ho of Rep -

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in 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 tabular 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 what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.              
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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," "State 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 the 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, musicians 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 county 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, navy, &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 belonged 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 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 A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the 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 hereby 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

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 you 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?  { 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 other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional 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 execute 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 may 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.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in 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.
[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 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 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 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.
[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.
[k] 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.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] This traditional evidence is indispensable to the fact.
[n] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[o] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.