Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31920, for Samuel Ramsey, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Penney
Ramsey, Samuel
S 31 920
CONTENTS

26581 Indiana
Samuel Ramsey of Floyd Co in the State of Indiana who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Boyd of the regt commanded by Col in the Pennsylvania line for 6 months.
Date of death not on A.B.
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of March 1834 and John Barn House of Dept
Arrears to the 4th of March 60.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1/2 10.00 $70.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Sam Boyd Clerk, Book Vol. Page 177

29 511 Samuel Ramsey Indiana
for 1776 p 6 - #20.
Hon John Carr,

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 subjunctive notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These 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, showing the Service of Samuel Ramsey
   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.     Sept 1816 Pn. Capt Boyd Col 73 Pa Institutional,   1778 2 Pn. Capt Potts   1781 2 Pn. " "   Not more than six months can be allowed. Time on furlough cannot be computed. Papers not authenticated see note i  
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] 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.

State of Indiana
loyd County ss on the 13 th Day of February 1834 personally appeared in Open Court before the Probate Court of the County of loyd State of Indiana now sitting Samuel Ramsey a resident of said County of Lloyd aged seventy three years on the 4 th of June last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declara- tion in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 — That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated
In the month of September 1776 he volunteered in the troops and commanded by Capt. Boyd at Lancaster County State of Pennsylvania and marched to Fort Lee on the north river in the State of New York and some time in November following a Draft was made from the Militia at Fort Lee to go over to Fort Washington on the other side of the north river, in that draft he went over, the next day Fort Washington was taken by the British & he was taken a prisoner, and put on board of a ship and kept a prisoner on board of said ship until some time

time , in the winter following which time he cannot recollect owing to being at the time such weak & very low, he was released on parole & carried to Leicester, Pennsylvania and in July following was discharged and obtained a discharge making a term of ten months, he was a private
In the month of January 1778 he again volunteered in a company commenced by Capt. Patten and Marked to be called Guard and served a term of two months & was then discharged & returned to Leicester —
In Oct. 1781 was drafted & served two months term in guarding prisoners at Leicester County State of Pennsylvania under Capt. Patten — & was then discharged he was born June 2 nd 1760 — has no record of his age — lived at Leicester County State of Pennsylvania when called into the service, since the revolutionary war he resided at Leicester until 1804 he then moved to Lehigh Sullivan County & resided in Lehigh until 1829 — then moved to

Whitty County State of Kentucky and lived there one year then moved to Floyd County State of Indiana where he has resided ever since & where he resides now
The name of his Capt in the first line of service was John Boyd and when at Fort Lee they were under General Putnam - In the second term & third he was under Capt John Patten -
He volunteered the first & second terms of service - The third was drafted -
He received discharges they have been lost for many years -
He is acquainted with Frederick Mearns, & John Bane
who reside in the same neighborhood with him
He has no documentary evidence & he knows of no person who can testify to his service - He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State
Subscribed the day & year aforesaid James Mearns H. Scribner Clk of the Floyd P. Court - James Ramsey

We Frederick Beaser a Clergyman residing in the County of Floyd and State of Indiana and John Rice residing residing in the same County certify that we are well ac- quainted with Samuel Ramsey who has submitted a swam to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion Swam & submitted this 29 th of redrick Beaser day and year aforesaid John Rice N. Jenbrow Clk. Floyd Probate Court
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states, and the Court further certify that it appears to them that Frederick Beaser who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman residing in the County of Floyd aforesaid and that

John. Rice who has also signed the same record in said County in the neighborhood of said Samuel Bremney and are credible persons and that their state- ments is entitled to credit.
I Harry Scribner Clerk of the probate Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of Samuel Bremney's application for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 13 th Day of February
1834
H. Scribner (Clk)

29.511 Sam. H. Harvey
John Barr and H. R.
I Harvey Scribner Clerk of the Probate Court of the County of Floyd State of Indiana do hereby certify that the within contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Harvey for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal at Evansville this 12 th day of March 1834
Harvey Scribner Clk

December 15, 1934.
Wilda C. Hackett 6746 Lafayette Avenue Chicago, Illinois.
BA-J/ILL Samuel Ramsey S. 31920 John Entsminger S. 42708
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Samuel Ramsey and John Entsminger, both pensioners.
The records of these two soldiers are furnished you herein as found in the papers on file in their claims for pension, based upon service in the Revolutionary War.
SAMUEL RAMSEY -S. 31920.
Samuel Ramsey was born June 4, 1760, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; the names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he enlisted sometime in September 1776, served as private in Captain John Boyd's Pennsylvania company, was stationed at Fort Lee, was at Fort Washington when it was taken by the enemy and was taken prisoner there, was confined to a prison ship until sometime in the winter, during which imprisonment he was sick, was paroled, returned to Lancaster and was exchanged later. He enlisted in January 1778 and served two months as private in Captain John Patton's Pennsylvania company, and from October 1781, served another tour of two months under the same officer.
The soldier resided in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, until 1804, moved then to Sullivan County, Tennessee, and remained until 1829, moved to Whitley County, Kentucky, and remained about one year, then moved to Floyd County, Indiana.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February 13, 1834, at which time he resided in said Floyd County, Indiana .
There are no data relative to the family of said soldier .
Samuel Ramsey
*****

JOHN ENTSMINGER-S. 42708
John Entsminger(which name was sometimes spelled Hentsminger), enlisted in Botetourt County, Virginia, at the head of the James River, in October 1776 in Captain William Givens' Virginia company, marched to Keene's Fort in Greenbrier County, Virginia, where he enlisted, served as private in Captain William McKee's Virginia company on the western frontier, was in several skirmishes and continued in service until October 1778, at which time he was discharged by Captain William Arbuckle. Subsequently, he served three months as private in Captain Alexander Ranley's Virginia company, during which service he was in a sharp skirmish on Atkins River.
It was stated that during the time John Entsminger was at the fort on the western frontier, his mother prepared clothing for him and sent it to that fort; the name of his mother is not shown, nor is there any reference to his father.
John Entsminger was allowed pension on his application executed June 25, 1818, at which time he resided in Gallia County, Ohio. He was then aged sixty-one years; the date and place of his birth are not shown. In 1826, the soldier was a resident of Meigs County, Ohio; he referred then to his wife, aged sixty-eight years, but did not give her name. There are no further data relative to the soldier's family.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

31920 Rev INVALID.
Jan 23/94 Mail Dist. 6 Mrs. Emily Todd Fleming Elizabethown, Hardin Co. Ky. C 1934-Dec. 15-Heir. to Milda C. Hackett J.L.L.
File No. 31,920
Samuel Ramsey
His Res. mrs.
Act: June 1 st 1822
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 333
[Arrangement of 1870.]

6746 Lafayette Ave. Chicago, Illinois November 23, 1934
Veterans Administration Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
I should like very much to secure as much information as I possibly can relative to the following men who served as soldiers in the American Revolution, and I shall be grateful to receive from you a copy of any data that you may possess pertaining to them and their families.
 1. Samuel Ramsey who was a private in the Pennsylvania militia and who applied for a pension while a resident of Floyd County, Indiana, in 1831, when he was about 75 years of age. He was not, however, placed on the pension roll until January 22nd, 1834.  2. John Entsminger (or Ensminger) who was a private in the Virginia Line. He married Jane Reese "somewhere in Virginia" about the year 1787 and died at Langsville, Ohio, sometime during 1830. He applied for a pension while living in Meigs County, Ohio, where he spent his declining years. As I understand it, his service file number at the Veterans Administration is 42708. 
Assuring you of my appreciation of any information you will kindly send me, I am
Cordially yours,
Wilda C. Hackett Wilda C. Hackett

DEC 14 378737 1893
Elizabethtown, Ky Dec. 12 90
David Todd. Montgomery Co. Pa. Andrew Todd. Cal. Montgomery Co. Pa. Ex Samuel Ramsey of Parma. Mrs Emily Todd Helm.
Asks if above named men served in the Revolutionary War
Record and Pension Office,
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, Dec'r 14th, 1893
Respectfully returned to
Mrs. Emily Todd Helm, Elizabethtown, Ky.,
with the information that the records of the Revolutionary War are filed in the Pension Office and in the Department of State.
Communications of this nature should, therefore, be addressed to the Commissioner of Pensions and to the Secretary of State, Washington, D.C.
BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
J. P. Clancey
Colonel, U. S. Army, Chief of Office.
Per H
(300a)

J & R
Elysebahtown Kentucky.
Adj Genl - Wm Selyth
I am anxious to learn if no pen. David Todd of Montgomery Co Pennsylvania was in the Revolutionary war. & if so in what capacity - Also if Colonel Andrew no pen. Todd of Montgomery Co. Pa was of Chester Co. Pa was his home upon the roll. His Regiment I do not know but they were with Pennsylv vania Men - Also if Samuel Ramsey of Pennsylvania was in the Revolutionary Army. By attending to this you will greatly oblige
Mrs Emily Todd Helm
Elysebahtown
12/12 93. Kentucky

J N P O. W. and N. Division.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., Jany , 1894
Madam
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Samuel Ramsey , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE. CAPTAIN. COLONEL. Sept 1776 10 mo s Pn John Boyd Fort Lee & Washington Pen m Jany 1778 2 " " John Patten } on Guard do Oct 1781 2 " " do } guarding prisoners do
Battles engaged in, Fort Washington Nov 16. 1776 & made prisoner -
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Lancaster Pen m
Date of application for pension, February 1834
Residence at date of application, Floyd County Ind a
Age at date of application, born June 4. 1760 at Lancaster Pen m
Remarks: Moved 1804 to Pen m , then 1829 to Whitley Ky & in 1830 to Floyd Co Ind a . While sick prisoner he was paroled to Lancaster Pen m & exchanged in July 1776 -
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mrs Emily Todd Helm
Elizabeth town
Hardin County Ky