Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5739, for John Mc Millen, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
McMillen, John
S. 5739
carded
CONTENTS

29.982 Pennsylvania (Pitts)
John McMillen Armstrong Co. in the State of Pennsylv a who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Lough of the reg t commanded by Col Grubh in the Pennsylv a . m l time for 8 months from 1775.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of June 1835 — and sent to H. N. Lee Pittsburgh, Pa.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1835 $ 106. 66 Pension allowance ending 26 Sep 35 13. 33 $ 120. 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Wilson Clerk Book C. 2 Vol. 3 Page 128

33.136
Application of John McMillen for a Pension.
P
for 1776 p er Sum $26.66 \frac{2}{3}
N. V. Ser. Kittanning Oct

State of Pennsylvania Armstrong County ss h
On the seventeenth  fourteenth day of June A.D. 1895. personally appeared in open Court in the County of Union John McMillen of Red Bank Township in the County of Armstrong and State of Pennsylvania of the age of seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the Pension now provided by Congress the 7th day of June A.D. 1832.
That he was born in the County Tyrone Ireland, on the first day of August A.D. 1756, and that he came to, and landed in this County on the 24th day of August A.D. 1772, and came immediately to Lancaster County in this State and settled there. That he was first drafted as a militiaman, and taken into the service of the United States in the year 1776, on a two months term, and that he was drafted four several times between the year 1776 and 1779, and that he served two months each time. That the first time he was drafted he went out in a Company commanded by Captain Loup, and that he served in a Regiment Comman- ded by Colonel Peter Griebel of Lancaster County, and that his brother Thomas McMillen was Ensign in Captain Loup's Company. Declarant does not recall the names of any other officers. That the Company in which declarant served marched from New Holland in Lancaster County to Phila- delphia, and remained there for one week or more in the Battle, and was marched from there to different places in the Eastern part of this State not now recalled by decla- rant until the two months for which they were drafted had expired & they were discharged.

That the second time de Clarens was drafted was in 1777. That he went out in a Company from Lancaster County Commanded by by Captain Perkins of said County and served in a Regiment Commanded by Colonel John Boyd and that General Potter was Chief in Command during the first part of the two months for which de Clarens was drafted, and that General Armstrong succeeded General Potter towards the latter part of said two months. That the Company in which de Clarens served marched from New Holland in Lancaster County to White Marsh Church near Germantown. That the British at that time were lying in Philadelphia. That during the time they were encamped at White Marsh Church orders were given for 3000 men to march to Philadelphia and to take three or four pieces of Cannon along to fire upon the British in Philadelphia. That they fired several rounds into the town under the Command of General Potter. That the number of men being insufficient to effect anything they were ordered back to their camp, which in the mean time had been removed from White Marsh Church to Norwells some three or four miles distant from White Marsh Church. That de Clarens was one of the 3000 men ordered from White Marsh Church to march to Philadelphia. That it was on Christmas Eve they marched to Philadelphia and that de Clarens together with the rest of his Company was discharged at Norwells some time in January following.
That the third time de Clarens was drafted for two months was in 1778. That he went out in a Company Commanded from Lancaster County Commanded by Captain Alexander Martin. That this de Clarens does not now recollect the names of other officers. That the Company in which de Clarens served this time marched from New Holland (the place of general rendezvous) to the Bull Tavern

Some short distance from Reading. This declaration does not now recollect any other place to which the Company were marched, as they were continually marching from place to place until they were discharged, at the end of the two months for which they had been drafted.
That after the declaration had been discharged from his third term of service he removed from Lancaster to York County, and that the fourth time he was drafted in 1779 he was a resident of
York County. That he served in a Company commanded by Captain William Lindsey, that Alexander Speer was first Lieutenant of said Company. That it was in the summer of 1779 that declaration was drafted the fourth time for two months service. That the Company marched from near Gettysburg (which was then in York County) the place of rendezvous, to a place about three miles below Little York in said County, for the purpose of guarding some British Soldiers who had been taken prisoners, and were placed there for safe keeping and that this declaration together with the whole Company remained there for the whole of the two months for which they had been drafted, and they were regularly discharged, and the declaration further states that he was regularly discharged at the expiration of each term of service.
And declaration hereby relinquishes any claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency list in any State.

In answer to the questions propounded by the Court agreeably to the instructions of the War Department the Declarant answers:
1st That he was born in the County of Tyrone, Ireland on the 1st day of August, A.D. 1756, as he heard from his parents and also by a record of it in the Bible.
2d That his birth was recorded in the Bible, which he had in his possession for many days, and which was used as a school-book by his children, and he believes that it is now entirely destroyed.
3d That he lived in Lancaster County, (Penn.) the three first terms he was drafted, and the last and fourth time he lived in York County, in the same state. That he lived for some years after the Revolutionary war, in York and Lancaster counties, and that he removed from thence to Westmoreland County in Western Pennsylvania and that he lived in Westmoreland County nearly twenty years, and then removed to Armstrong County, where he now lives and has lived upwards of twenty years.
4th. He was drafted as a militiaman.
5th. For an answer to the fifth interrogatory, the declarant refers to the declaration for as full information and detail of circumstances as his recollection now can furnish.
6th. That he received a discharge at the expiration of every term of service - That the discharge was always given by the Captain of his Company - That he did not keep or take care of them, not knowing that he would ever want to make use of them, or that they would ever be in requisition.
7th. In answer to the seventh interrogatory, the declarant states that he is well known to Hon Robert Orr one of the Judges of this Court, and James Moorhead who testify to his character as for truth and veracity and that they believe he was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War - And declarant further states that he is unable to procure a clergyman to certify on account of not living within eleven or twelve miles of any clergyman, and they being unwilling to certify as to his reputation in the neighborhood of his being a Revolutionary Soldier, and further says he not.
Given and subscribed in open Court, this 15th day of June A.D. 1835. John M. Miller

Armstrong County, Pa.
We, Col. Robert Orr and James Moorhead residing in the County aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John McMillen who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration and that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he lived to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary war & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed this 5 18th day of June A.D. 1833
Meek: Rohrer, Pro
Robert Orr
James Moorhead
And the Court also hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories presented 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 Col. Robert Orr & James Moorhead who signed the preceding Certificate are residents of Armstrong County and that they are credible persons & that their statements are entitled to due credit.

State of Pennsylvania - Hunting County, Set I, Frederick Rohrer Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Hunting County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John McMillen for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 18th day of June A.D. 1835.
Frederick Rohrer, Pro.

12 1/2
Mr. John M. Miller
Blue Bank
Armstrong County
Birmingham Pa Nov 26th Penn ce

Washington Feb 10th 1834 Dear Brother, According to request I have sent you my dispositions, as far as I know concerning your service in the revolutionary war I wish to inform you that I am still in the land of the living, and have my health as well as can be expected for one of my age, My Family are all in tolerable health, and I am sorry to think you are left in so doubt a condition I have been receiving my pension, this same time, and had no great difficulty in getting it fixed at Washington City, We have nothing of moment to write to you, but remain your loving brother till Death shall separate us
To Mr. Schuyler Miller [Signature]
Thomas M. Miller [Signature]
Thomas M. Miller
[Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]
[Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]

Huntingdon County ss
Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for the aforesaid County personally appeared Thomas M c Millen of Tyrone Township in the County of Huntingdon who being sworn as Law directs doth depose and say that John M c Millen of [blank] Township in the County of Armstrong and State of Pennsylvania was then as a privet Soldier during the Revolutionary War under Captain Alexander M c Cartan of Lancaster County in the State of Pennsylvania for the space of two months, and also under Captain William Lindsey which guarding the British Soldiers at Little York in York County and State aforesaid, this deponent further saith that the aforesaid John M c Millen lived in Lancaster County at the time he was drafted and that he is a Brother to this deponent and further this deponent saith not known and subscribed the tenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four Thomas M c Millen sworn and subscribed Jacob Van Fries
Huntingdon County ss
I do Certify that that I am Well acquainted with the above named Thomas M c Millen and that he is a man whose character is good for Truth and Veracity.
Witness my hand and Seal at Wannichtown Township in the County of Huntingdon the tenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four
Jacob Van Fries

State of Pennsylvania Huntingdon County
I David R Pate Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in and for the said county of Huntingdon Do Certify that Jacob Van Fries Esquire before whom the foregoing acknowledgment appears to have been taken is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the said coun- ty, duly commissioned & qualified to all whose of- ficial acts, full faith and credit are due and ought to be given as well in courts of Justice as elsewhere. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hands & seal of the said court at Hunt- ington the 18 th day of November A.D. 1834
J. N. Pate Pro.

Harvey
5439- INVALID.
No. 5739
John McMillen Dis. Rev War
Act: June 1 st 82
Index: Vol. M , Page 244
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Pennsylvania Armstrong County Kittanning June 20. 1835.
Sir
Herewith I transmit to your Department the application of John McMillen for a pension. The declaration is not quite so full and definite as I could have desired, but as much so as could well be expected from the extreme age of the declarant, and the great lapse of time since the service was rendered. The declaration is quite full and explicit as to the two first terms, but it is somewhat defective as to the first third. The facts and circumstances of the fourth term are quite fully stated. In support of the third and fourth terms of service mentioned in the declaration, I have attached the deposition of applicant's brother, which I think will remove any difficulty with the Department. You will observe in that there was but a single company in the service while guarding the prisoners at Little York.
Another difficulty occurred as to getting a clergyman to certify. However you will perceive that one of the persons who certifies is one of the judges before whom the declaration was sworn and subscribed so that I apprehend that will entirely cure that any defect in that respect. The reason why a clergyman could not be had is stated in the answer to the 7th interrogatory.
The neighborhood of such a man as Mr McMillen extends but five miles round him. Hence the difficulty no clergymen living within 11 or 12 miles of the old man.

The fact of the old man having come into the Country but a short time before he was drafted will I think sufficiently account for his not stating more more particularly the different places to which he moved. Indeed a majority of the Irish in this part of the Country are very ignorant when they come to the Country.
I trust the whole may be satisfactory to the Department and that the action upon the matter may be favorable to the applicants.
I request the Department, at the instance of the war now, to act, and answer as soon as possible.
Very respectfully
H. N. Lee
Hon J. G. Edwards.
Commissioner of Revenue