Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,391, for William Mc Lure, New Jersey

SERVICE
• NUMBER
New Jersey
McLure, William
S. 22391
CONTENTS

N o . 18842 Pennsylvania
William Mc. Lure of Lycoming Co. in the State of Penn a who was a Private in the _____ company by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Frelinghuysen in the Penn a Troops time for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 30 Dollars _____ Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8. day of Oct. 1833 and sent to R. Fleming Williamsport P a
Arrears to the 14th of Sep r . 1833 75.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending March 1834 15.00 $90.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book E. Vol. 5 Page 40

State of Pennsylvania
Lycoming County
On this en  sixth  seventh day of December —
One thousand eight hundred and thirtytwo, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County aforesaid now sitting, William McClure a resident of Washington Township Lycoming County and state of Pennsylvania, aged, seventyfour or seventyfive 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 act of Congress passed June 7th. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That he volunteered under Captain Nathaniel Porter, in Somerset County in the state of New Jersey in the year seven hundred and seventy six, the first Lieutenants name was Lane, I was marched to Quibble town, where we were encamped for some time we were then marched to the Ash Swamp, where we had an engagement with the enemy, in which battle Captain Porter was wounded in the ankle, and I was wounded in the thumb of my right hand, General Allen commanded the American forces in that battle, assisted by Colonel Trevelyan and Medich, we retreated until the regular American Troops came to our assistance, as soon as they arrived at the scene of action the enemy retreated and the firing ceased. I continued in Captain Porters Company until the expiration of three months that being the time for which I had volunteered. The state of New Jersey being under continual excitement from the daily depredations of the enemy, the militia were called, I was called with the militia, and was next drafted to go to Elizabeth town in the state of New Jersey, whence I marched as a militia man

under Captain Gary, First Lieutenant Ingard, where I was in camped for one month, the enemy at that time laid on Staten Island, and we were placed at Elizabethtown for the purpose of watching the motions of the enemy and of gaining and giving intelligence of what they were doing, I was then discharged for one month, when I was again drafted and marched to Amboy under the Command of Lieutenant Rudolph Sutman , to prevent the enemy from plundering and carrying away provisions from that neighborhood, after being at Amboy one month I was again discharged for a short time, I was then called out under Captain William Moffit and marched to Wood Bridge where I was on duty one month, during the time I was there General Caines was at Wood Bridge several times, at the expiration of one month I was again suffered to return home, after remaining at home a short time I was again marched to Elizabethtown under Captain William Moffit, where I remained one month, and was again allowed to return home, I was next marched to Elizabethtown under Captain Philip Vanaddel and Lieutenant Peter Vandemunder, where I served one month  one month , I was then allowed to return home, I afterwards served under Captain William Moffit one month at Elizabethtown, I was at Elizabethtown about six months altogether, under different Officers, I was also in camped under Captain Moffit one month at Middletown, I was during all this time required to be ready to march at a moment's warning, and was frequently called out for a few days to assist in driving small parties of the enemy out of the neighborhood, who frequently plundered the people of provisions, horses and cattle, I was out at the time General Lee was taken prisoner, by the enemy.

 1, I was born in Somerset County in the State of New Jersey, in the year Seventeen hundred and fifty nine or sixty -  2. I have no record of my age.  3 When I was called into the service; I lived in Somerset County in the State of New Jersey, where I lived several years after the Revolutionary war, I then removed to Northumberland County Pennsylvania, where I resided three years, from whence I removed to Washington township where I now live,  4 I was called into the service as stated in the foregoing declaration.  5 I cannot state the names of more of the Regular Officers than are set forth in my declaration. Nor more of the circumstances of my service.  6 I never received a discharge in writing.  7 I never received a Commission. 
I am known in my present neighbourhood to Samuel Oakes and John Foreman. (There is no Minister of the Gospel resident in my neighbourhood) who can testify to my character for veracity, and their knowledge of my services as a soldier of the Revolution. I do not know of any person now living who could testify to my actual services as a soldier of the Revolution. And I do hereby relinquish my claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn and subscribed William G. Gove in Open Court the 7 th day of December 1832.  J. Wood Proxy

We John Faresman and Samuel Oakes
do certify, that we are well acquainted with William McClure, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventyfour or seventyfive of age years; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
John Faresman Samuel Oakes
Sworn and subscribed in Open Court December 7th A. D. 1832.
J. Wood Proty.
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 Faresman and Samuel Oakes who have signed the preceding certificate are gentlemen of veracity and that their statement is intitled to credit.
Seth Chapman John Cummings A. Davidson
State of Penna. Lycoming County ss. I Joseph Wood
Notary Public of the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William McClure for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventh day of December 1832.
J. Wood Proty.

19972 William M c Clure
E
Robt Fleming Esq. Williamport Lycoming County Pa

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjunct 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. 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, shewing the Service of William M. Clure of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1776 3 Private Capt Porter Genl Wines - Colo Battle of Dibble thru state New Jersey Dorset County New Jersey aged 74 or 75 years Traditional Evidence   Rec'd not stated 1 " Carey Lieut Frelinghuysen Iowa St. 2.   again 1 " Subran Capt   then 1 " maffit   again 1 " "   next 1 " Vanassco   afterwards 1 " maffit   also 1 " maffit  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. 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 day 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; therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. If, before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there found 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 enquiry 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 , 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.
[t] 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.

Resolutions
22391 INVALID.
File No. 22,391
William M c Lure
Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 256
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Pennsylvania Lycoming County ss.
William McClure being duly sworn according to law doth make the following supplemental declaration (to his declaration dated December Seventh one thousand eight hundred and thirty two and now laid at the Pension Office 19972) in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June Seventh one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. That he served as ser t for th th in his declaration three months as a volunteer under Captain Porter. I next served one month as a drafted militia man under Captain Carey of Elizabethtown. I next served one month under Lt. Rudolph Sutton at Inverness as a drafted militia man. I next served one month as a drafted militiaman under Capt. William Moffit at Woodbridge. I next served under Capt. Moffit one month as a drafted militiaman at Elizabethtown. I next served as a drafted militiaman under Capt. Philip Crassfeld one month at Elizabethtown. I next served as a drafted militiaman under Capt. William Moffit one month at Elizabethtown. All of the above services were performed in the state of New Jersey in Seventeen hundred and seventy six and Seventeen hundred and seventy seven in the state of New Jersey . That I am unable to state more fully the particulars of my services than is set forth in my original declaration and this my Supplement thereto, on account of lapse of time, extreme old age and loss of memory.
Sworn & Subscribed Sept 16 th 1833. before J. P. Musgrave Dep. Clerk
William McClure