Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3162, for David Steel, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Steel David Mary
W. 3162
CONTENTS

Hon R. S. Rose July 24, 49,
3215
Pennsylvania
Mary Steel
widow of David Steel , die?
who died on the _____ 1820, of Lebanon (in the State of Penn a ) who was a private in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the Pa. Vol. commanded by Genl. Broadhead in the Penn a line for 2 years .
Inscribed on the Roll of Philad a at the rate of 80 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Feby 1840 , Genl. H. G. T. H. C. Genl. Commr of Pensions .
Arrears to the 4th of Sept r 1839 $ 280.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 40  40.00
$320.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d }
Recorded by D. M. Burdy , Clerk, Book A . Vol. 2 . Page 146 .

4781 Mary Steel of David Pennsylvania

State of Pennsylvania
Franklin County ss.
On this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before me Alexander Thomson President Judge of the 16 th Judicial District of the Courts of Pennsylvania, Mary Steel a resident of the Borough of Chambersburg in the said County aged  eighty years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed the 4 th July 1836 - That she is the widow of David Steel who died in the county of  who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war - he was a private soldier - That her said husband was enlisted to a unit of  said as appears by the records and certificate of the proper officer - She further declares that she was married to the said David Steel nearly a year before the  was made and before the expiration of the last period of his service - That her said husband the aforesaid David Steel died about twenty years ago and that she has remained a widow ever since that period - That this deponent applied to the Legislature of Pennsylvania some years ago as the widow of the said David Steel and a special act was passed granting her a pension as appears by the State records and the laws of the State. That the said David Steel was entitled for having the  - That this deponent saw the discharge which he received but that the same was burned at the time their house was burned about thirty five years ago - That this deponent thinks that her said husband before his discharge was a corporal or sergeant - That  the said David Steel was in the service of the United States several years before her marriage with him -
Mary Steel marks
sworn and subscribed before me - the above answers were made before it was subscribed
A Thomson

Franklin County Pa
I Alexander Thompson President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in the said county, The same being a court of Record, do certify, That, at present, there is no court sitting in the said county, nor will there be any in session, before the second Monday of November next; further, from the examination of a witness, who lives in the same house with the within mentioned Mary Stul, and from her great age and feeble health, I am satisfied, if the Court was in session she could not, from bodily infirmity, attend it, without great danger of her taking states of very distressing weakness, to which it was testified before me she is sub- ject on making any considerable exertion
Witness my hand & seal The A Thompson Seal
State of Pennsylvania Franklin county ss 3 I Matthias Nead Prothonotary of the county of Franklin and court of Common Pleas in said county, State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that A Thompson Esq before whom the foregoing proceedings were had is present Judge of the court of common Pleas in said county of Franklin duly commissioned and qualified; and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name the 29 th day of October 1839
Matthias Nead Protho

District No. 2
No 89 Drawn No. 101 David Steel Private No. 115 Drawn No. 90 Samuel Wood Private No. 102 Adam Wingart Private No. 116 David Spence Priv!
In testimony that the above is an extract from a general Draught of Surveys made in the first District of Donation lands re- maining in the Surveyor General's office I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said office at Harrisburg, the 5th of February, 1839.
John Taylor S.G.

3162. WIDOW, &c.
File No. 3162
Mary Steel Widow David Steel Bridegroom
Act: July 4, 1836
Index:—Vol. M. , Page 239
[Arrangement of 1870.]

4781
3215
Mary Steel of David Pennsylvania
admitted
P. 2 yrs - 880
Col Broadhead, Pa
8 Pa ref.
died - 1820.
Act 4 July 1836
Hon. J. H. Crawford Comr of Indian Affairs

Mary Steel Pennsylvania
Suspended let 30 Dec 39 No - S. M. Crawford, Com Ind. 88.
Act 4 July 1836

Jan'y 13/49
Dr Sir
Will you please give your attention to the within papers and return me the work at your earliest conven- -ience
Yours truly R. H. Rose
Hon J. L. Edwards Pensylvania

Canandaigua, N.Y. Jan, 9, 1849.
Sir:
A certificate from the Auditor General's Office of Pennsylvania, is herewith presented in the case of Mary Steele widow of David Steel deceased, in order that the stipend allowed her, at the rate of $80. per ann. may be increased. It is alleged that her husband David Steel served as a Sergeant and the certificate herewith presented shows the fact that he was of a grade higher than a Private -
This certificate connected with the proof already filed in the case, it is hoped will be deemed sufficient to increase Mrs Steele present Allowance -
Very respectfully -
Your Obedt Servt.
L.M. Drury.
J. L. Edwards Esq Court of Pensions Washington D.C.

POWER OF ATTORNEY.
State of Pennsylvania } ss. County of Franklin That I Mary Steel County & State
Know all Men by these Presents,
of Chambersburgh in said do hereby authorize, constitute, and appoint Leander M. Drury of Canandaigua State of New York my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute for me and on my behalf all and singular claim or claims I may have against the General Government of the United States on account of the services of my husband
David Steel
deceased, in the war of the Revolution.
And the said Leander M. Drury is hereby authorized to take all necessary and proper steps in the prosecution of said claim or claims on my behalf.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of December 1848
Signed in my presence, {
Margaret Reickel
Her Mary + Steel mark

Chambersburg September 25 1830
I Certify that I have known Mrs Mary Steel, Widow for about thirty years since her residence in Chambersburg where she raised & maintained her family of children, most if not all of whom were females, and that she has sustained a good character for honesty, industry & propriety of behavior - I have understood that her husband had been a Revolutionary Soldier and as the Widow is now aged, infirm, indigent, very very dependent & poor, I think she is a proper object for the bounty of government, as well as contributions from the public.
Geo Chambers
I certify that I have known Mrs Mary Steel for upwards of thirty years, & that she & her family when I first knew them lived near Carlisle, & that the family were unfortunate in having their worldly means diminished, - they were poor, industrious & honest - Mrs Mary Steel, is now an aged, infirm, helpless, & indigent Widow sustaining always a good character for industry & propriety of behavior.
Sept 25 1839
Miss Geo. Chambers

Omissions of the Diffs ts Regiments, & Gratuity.
We and each of us whose names are hereunto subscribed, do acknowledge to have received from Major Thomas P. Bowen and Captain Erasmus Bratty, Agents of the late Pennsylvania Line, the several sums opposite to our names respectively, in certificates dated Feby 1 1785 bearing interest at six per cent from November the fourth 1783, signed by John Pierce, Commissioner, and described as below, being for the Balance of a settlement between the United States and us for Pay & Gratuity to November the fourth 1783. —
   Date of Issue No. of Certificate Letter Names dollars cents gills Signers     March 3 1785 4 C x M c Kinney — 1229 93 30 f loose receipt Fra. White.   do 17 th do 5 C x David Steel 130 60 David Steel  
Auditor General's Office Harrisburg Dec r 11 th 1848
I certify that the above is a true copy and extract from Payroll book A, page 249, pertaining to the Revolutionary War, and now remaining in this department. —
Witness my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid. —
John S. Parrance Aud. Gen. —

We and each of us whose names are hereunto subscribed do acknowledge to have received from Major Thomas D. Brown and Captain Virarius Beatty, Agents for the late Pennsylvania Line, the several sums opposite to our names respectively in certificates, dated July 1st 1785, bearing interest at six per cent, from November the fourth 1783 Signed by John Pierce Commissioner and described as below, being for the Balance of a settlement between the United States and us for Pay and Gratuity to November the 4th 1783.
  Date of Issue  {  Names  {  Signers names    March 19 th 1785.   David Steel   $120.40. David Steel  
Auditor Genl Office Harrisburg Oct r 28 th 1839
I certify that the foregoing is a correct copy from the original in this office. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid
GEORGE COPY Auditor Genl
There is another rec d of Mr Steel in the office for $160 but I presume the above from the payroll will be sufficient evidence

Rev. John N. Hoffman
Chambersburg.
P a
Penn a .
M. Steele
Hon. T. H. Crawford Com r Indian Affairs

David Steel, a soldier in the Pennsylvania line, & Miss Mary Hamilton were lawfully married by the Rev. Henry Muhlenberg March 30. 1783, according to the records of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Holy Trinity in the city of Lancaster.
Lancaster, Penn a } January 30. 1840. }
John C. Baker h. t. Pastor.
The above is a true extract from the records of the Congregation, of which I am pastor, partly translated from the German language.
John C. Baker.
Sworn & Subscribed January 30 th 1840 before me, an Alderman for the City of Lancaster
Sam d Dale

State of Pennsylvania } Lancaster County ss. }
I, the undersigned, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said Lancaster County, Do Certify, that Samuel Dale Esq. before whom the within affidavit was made is an acting alderman of the city and County of Lancaster duly commissioned and qualified: and that Rev. John C. Baker is the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Holy Trinity in the city of Lancaster; and that the respective signatures of the said Samuel Dale Esq. and the Rev. John C. Baker are genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & official seal the 30th day of January 1840.
J. M. Lenehan Prothonotary

Dear brother
I have examined the records of the congregation, of which I am pastor, & found the marriage, of which you desire a certificate. I have sworn to the certificate, & requested the prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of this county, to state officially, that I am the pastor of Trinity Church in this city, & that Judge Dake is an alderman. Without this I know that the certificate would be of no avail.
In haste
Yours affectionately
Rev. John N. Hoffman.
John C. Baker. agrega

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met.
The petition of Mary Steel widow and relict of David Steel a Soldier in the Revolutionary War. Respectfully Representing.
That your petitioner's husband David Steel was an enlisted Soldier in the Army of the Revolution, when she was married to him in Lancaster during the war of the Revolution, and that after they were married he left her and was absent eighteen months or two years before he returned home in the Service. That she believing he was honorably discharged as he had a discharge in writing, which she believing has been destroyed by fire which consumed their house several years since. That he got lands which he parted with many years ago. Petitioner further states that her husband has been dead about fifteen years and died poor without any property but a little household furniture and your petitioner is very poor and helpless and has to depend for her support on two of her daughters who are unmarried and who hire out to make a livelihood for themselves and her. That she had a family of twelve children all of whom are scattered or dead but the two with whom she lives. And Your petitioner prays your honorable body to take her situation into consideration and grant her such relief as you may see fit and she as in duty bound will pray &c. Mary Steel Mark

Dauphin County ss.
Before me a justice of the peace in and for the County of Dauphin personally came Mary Steel widow & relict of David Steel deceased and being duly sworn doth depose & say that the facts stated in the foregoing petition are true and further saith not. Sworn & Subscribed before me this 6 th day of March 1828. } Mary Steel W m Ayres. } her mark
Dauphin County ss.
Before a justice of the peace in and for the County of Dauphin personally came Thomas Hamilton and on his solemn oath deposed and saith that he knew Mary Steel and her husband David Steel and that said David was an enlisted soldier in the Pennsylvania line in the Revolutionary War and deponent further says that he has seen the discharge of the said David Steel after the end of the War and deponent further says that the said David and Mary were married sometime during the continuance of the War and said David was in the Army after he was married to the said Mary. And the deponent further says that the said Mary is poor and dependent on her two daughters who are likewise poor & further saith not. Sworn & Subscribed before me this } Thomas G. Hamilton 6 th day of March 1828. W m Ayres. } his mark

I do certify that I was well acquainted with David Steel the husband of the bearer Mary Steel. David Steel and family resided at Mt. Pleasant Iron Works for some time in the employ of Dunn & King.
3 March 1828.
John King James Findlay
David Steel. Soldier - 8 Regt Penn a line - See pay roll book B. 247 & 249.
Presented March 7. 1828.
I do certify that the foregoing petition is a true copy of the petition & documents of Mary Steel which remain on the file of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania.
Given under my hand at Harrisburg this 26 th . day of October 1839.
J. Seiler Clk Ho of Repn

Chambersburg Oct. 29 th 1839
Sir -
I send you the application of Mary Steel for a pension. The old lady is unable to be particular in her statement. She is very infirm and very poor indeed. It is however presumed that the documentary evidence sent with her application is amply sufficient to make out her case - With regard to her marriage the special act of Assembly passed in the year 1828 pamphlet laws page 366 is conclusive - and also must be considered so with respect to the services of her husband. I have been in the Legislature of this State several years and have some knowledge of the rules which governed in such cases - The Legislature required satisfactory evidence of the marriage of the widow before the expiration of the services of her husband either by documentary evidence or the personal knowledge of some one of the members of the Legislature - I have procured a copy of her application from the present Clerk of the House of Representatives, to the Legislature in 1828 and herewith send it you - The application was made or papers presented on the 7 th March 1828 and the law was passed in her favor the 12 th April following.
The following documents accompany this application -
1 st The declaration of the applicant before Judge Thomson 2 d The Copy of her application to the Legislature of this State in 1828 - 3 d The certificate of the Surveyor General of this State that David Steel was entitled to a tract of donation land - 4 th The certificate of the auditor General furnishing evidence that the name of David Steel is on the books in his office as a revolutionary soldier - 5 th The certificate of the Hon. Ch. George Chambers and his lady in relation to the character of the applicant &c.
I need not state what services were required in Pennsylvania to entitle a soldier to lands -

These are matters well known to you - The applicant and her friends request that any communication necessary in her case may be addressed to me - I have written to the Honb. J. H. Crawford to call at the Pension office in relation to this application. I have no doubt but the applicant is entitled to the benefits of the law - She is really in extreme poverty - and she no friends who can give her much assistance - You will please send the certificate to me if there should be one granted -
James L. Edwards Esq.
Yours & Fredk. Smith