Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,506, for Mordecai Mc Clanan, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
McClanan, Mordecai
S 18,506
Carded
CONTENTS

Chis. No. 13476.
Mordecai M c Claran of Newbern in the State of Ohio. who was a Private in the Co. G by Captain Brown. — of the Reg t commanded by Mr. Dickerson in the War of 1812. line for two years. $80
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio. at the rate of 80. Dollars 00. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th day of July 1832 and sent to W. H. Delfenstein. Dayton. Ohio.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1832. 160. 00. Pension allowance ending 4th of March 1832. 40. 00
$ 200. 00.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Palmer Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 8. Page 17.

12.943
13.476
Mardecán McElanan
Return
adm 2 years
$80
M. L. Helmslien Esq. Dayton Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
25 th June ~ 1833
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, &c. - 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 Mardecai M c Clannan
   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.     1776 or 77 2 Private Capt Schenck 71 years   1 6 Capt Maxfield Hunterdon Traditionary   Maj Chamber Co.   Gen Dickinson New Jersey  
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 following declaration, years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the benefit of the act of Congress, passed served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers: with and
[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 the investigations 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 shall, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is a Revolutionary soldier, 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 _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____." [The words in italics are those of the act, and the words in bold are those of the rule.]
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the period for which a pension is claimed. The use of the phrase about three or four years 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 years, 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 fix 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 [f] 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.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

1 The State of Ohio } } Montgomery County } P.
On this eleventh day of September personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas in & for the county aforesaid Elbordécai M c Clanahan of Madison Township in the county and State aforesaid aged twenty one on the birth of next betoken , who being duly affirmed according to law doth on his affirmation make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of December passed June 7. 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers & served as herein stated. He was drafted some time in '46 or '47 and became attached to the  militia Company under the command of Capt. Schenck , which shortly after joined the regular army under the command of Genl. Dickinson , Col. Chamberlain & Major Agder which was encamped at Pyramus in New-York, whence they proceeded to the Booth-Plains , where a battle was fought terminating favourably to the American Army - They next proceeded to Connerset , & thence to New-Brunswick where he remained two months & was engaged in a battle which resulted favourably to

He was called out a short time after & under the same officers, made various unimportant expeditions, until he was engaged in the bat- tle of Monmouth. He afterwards was engaged in the battles of Trenton & Princeton. Afterwards he was engaged in sundry short expeditions of one & two months in duration. After this period he had charge of a company in the service, went to Yorktown & was there at the surrender of Cornwallis, thence he returned & in the same capacity went on to the South Prison where he was discharged. He thinks the whole length of the time of his service was about three years & six months.
At this time he has no documentary evidence & he knows of no person whose testimony he can produce, who can testify to his service. When he entered the service he lived in Ramsey Town- ship, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, after the war he lived there until within 14 years ago when he removed to Montgomery Co. Ohio, where he now resides. He has a record of his age in a family bible. He did not receive a regular discharge from service. His wages were $8. per month.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the Pension

Roll of the Agency of any State -
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. in open Court
clordecia his X mark  Clordecia
Clordecia
We the undersigned  Henry Slaughter & James Slaughter residing in the county of Montgomery, Ohio, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with clordecia Clordecia residing in the county, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declarations; that we believe him to be seventy one years of age; that he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & James Slaughter year aforesaid, in open Court Henry Slaughter
Clordecia
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & 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 Henry & James Daugherty who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the County aforesaid and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court Attest
A. P. Greene Clk
I Charles Green Clerk of the Court at Common Pleas for Clermont County State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Deborah De Launey for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 13th. Sept. 1832
Deborah De Launey 12.943
A. P. Greene Clk
State of Ohio Clermont County ss - Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for & within the County aforesaid, Deborah De Launey who being duly sworn, deposed & states, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot say certainly 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 & in the following order: For Two Years served as a private in the Militia under the command of Capt. Schenck. For eighteen months I served in the Regular Army having enlisted in it a short time before the Battle of Trenton, under Gen. Washington, Dickerson, Maj. Chambers, Capt. Van Marcke & for such service I claim a pension. That as appears above I have the evidence of two respectable & credible citizens who testify to the facts required; that the evidence of a clergyman who was not obtained because those whom I know reside in a distant part of the County & could not have been conveniently present in Court. This 31 st day of May 1855
Abraham Barnett J.P.

I Charles P. Greene Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Columbiana County State of Ohio do hereby certify that Abraham Barnes whose signature is at- tached to the above affidavit is an acting Jus- tice of the Peace within & for said County & was duly commissioned at the time of taking said affi- davit. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 2 nd day of July 1835
C. P. Greene Clerk

P
18506
1928 Aug 9. N.E. Nutt adria as to witnesses, MNRF
INVALID.
File No. 18506
Medical W. H. Lane.
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 249
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

War Department Pension Office 25 th June 1893.
Sir
The evidence in support of the claim of Mardecai McClannan has been again examined. The papers are still defective, the accompanying regulations will point out very clearly the defects and also the corrections necessary.
I am Sir
Very Respectfully Your Obedt Servt J. Edwards
H. L. Helmsen Esq Dayton Ohio

Dayton July 2 d 1883
Sir - My reference to an accompanying paper I perceive one brace, which designates two defects in the declaration of Mr. Mc c lellan, one of which you will perceive is supplied, the other it will I presume be unnecessary to correct, inasmuch as the applicant entered and served for a time in a militia company which afterwards became in some measure connected with the Regular Army altho not perhaps so identified with it as to produce a transfer of his enrollment to the records of the regular service.
Very Respectfully
By. Abt. Ser.
Wm. L. Henderson
J. L. Edwards Esq.

Glencoe, Illinois. July 18. 1928.
U.S. Pension Dept. Washington
Dear Sir:-
Please advise who are the witnesses in procuring the pensions of
1) Nathaniel Lyon , private Nf. militia
2) Mordecai M c Flannan , private Nf. militia
both of Montgomery County, Ohio, placed on the pension rolls ninety-five (95) (!) years ago on July 1893.
Thank you.
Yours truly
H. E. Nutt
Glencoe
Illinois

COPIED BY ADY
August 9, 1928.
H. F. E. Nutt, Glencoe, Illinois.
Sir:
I advise you that the names of the persons who testified in support of the Revolutionary War pension claim of Mordecai McClanan (S. 18506), of Montgomery County, Ohio in 1833, were James Slaght and Henry Slaght.
Those who testified in support of the Revolutionary War pension claim of Nathaniel Lyon (W.9510), of Montgomery County, Ohio in 1832, were Reverend Andrew Henkel, Daniel Brunner, Phebe Clark of Cincinnati and the soldier's sister, Susannah Carey, of Dearborn County, Indiana, and those who testified in support of the pension claim of Marcy Lyon of Marion County, Indiana, widow of above named Nathaniel Lyon, were their son, Jotham Lyon and J. W. Johnston.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.