Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6666, for Philip Mc Crackin, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Mcbrackin Philip Mary
R. 6666
CONTENTS

July 21. 1840
Mary M. Bruckner
RLh
Mr J L Edwards,
Pension Office
Washington
to

Philadelphia July 26 1840
Mr S L Edwards,
again Sir I presume upon your kind- ness and it is with reluctance I make my request and that is to transmit to me a copy of any letter which I wrote to you June the 15 1840 requesting a copy of my Mothers papers. These papers I received on or about the 27 Day of June and thinking they would be of material satis- faction to us I showed them to my Brother James Mc Grath. He a few Days afterward, sent to me a request that I would lend them to him he wished like to show them to some of his friends, and as every thing respecting the revolutionary war is looked up with interest I thought it very selfish to deny my Brothers request, I therefor gave his Daughter the papers saying when your father is done with them return them and at any time he wants them he can have them gain to show his friends after keeping them sufficient time to answer his purpose I called upon him for them and he said the papers were his property and I should not have them again and he would not so much as allow me to look at the Date, Declaring them to be his property and his alone in all responsibility in a short time the papers if allowed to be in his possession will be lost or disposal of the receipt for the papers which my

Mother Mrs Mary M c Grathen Widow of Stephen M c Grathen Recieved for her paper from the Post Office. Mr James M c Grathen came to my House and got Sarg in he which Mr Paynte to procure a copy of the paper I gave him the receipt at the same time charging him to take care of it that it was as important to us as the papers, this is the last I ever saw or heard of the receipt and no copy was ever procured but the one I wrote for, and had it not been for the letter of M c Grathen which I still have in my possession there would have been no way of referring to the Doctor, I am the youngest child of my Parent and at the Death of my Father was one year and ten months old I and my Mother lived together until my Marriage and after that my Mother lived with me until her Death.
Respectfully Yours
Martha Copeland
Mr J L Edwards,
Sir on the follow page is a copy of the letter which I wrot requesting a copy of my Mother Papers would you please send me a copy of it will be most thankfully recieved and may Sostly settle the Difficult between my Brother and myself

Philadelfia Jan 15 1840
Mr Edward,
You will confer a favor by transmitting to me a copy of my Mother's papers, which were filed in your Office in February 1837 the receipt which my Mother Mrs Mary M c Gracken Widow of Philip M c Gracken received for them from the Pension Office was given to Mr Painter in the Session of Congress 1839 to procure a copy of them he has not attended to it nor return the receipt they may be of use to us some time and a copy of them for a receipt for the same from your office would be thankfully Received
I Respectfully Your
Martha Copeland 2888 South-Third Street Philadelphia
Mr J L Edward

June 17. 1840.
May 26. 1840. Fr.
[Handwritten signature/initials]
J. L. Edwards,
Penson Office
Washington.
4

Philadelphia Jan 15 1840
M r Edwards, Sir.
You will confer a favor by transmitting to me a Copy of my Mother's Papers which was filed in your Office on or about February the 27 1837 the Receipt which my Mother, M rs Mary M c Cracken Widow of Philip M c Cracken Received for them from the Pension Office when her Claim was rejected, was given to M r Paynter to procure a Copy of them M r Paynter did not attend to it nor return the receipt they may be of use to us sometime and a copy of them or a receipt for the same will be thankfully received with the form of your pension Law.
Yours Respectfully
388 South Third Street Phil a
M rs M c Cracken
We received your letter of June the 9 which informed me that as the Children of Philip and Mary M c Cracken was not entitled to a pension because our Mother was not living at the Date of the Law this rejection is quite as unjust as that of my Mother it is in accordance with the Laws of your office but not in accordance with the Laws of justice and Equity. The Children of the men who suffered Hunger and thirst and Nakedness for your Country should not so be treated.

K1281
Mary McCrackin Pennsylvania

City & County of Philadelphia In the State of Pennsylvania ss
On this 22 nd day of February A.D. 1837 Before the Subscriber Archibald Randall Esq., one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia in the aforesaid State of Pennsylvania a Mary Mc Crachin a Resident of the District of Southwark in the County of Philadelphia in the State aforesaid aged Sixty four years or upwards into open Court Came who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the fol- lowing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4. 1836: That she is the widow of Philip Mc Crachin who was a private in the Infantry, and in the Corps of Sappers & Miners having faithfully served the United States in the war of the Revo- lution Six years and two months (viz three years and four months in the Infantry and two years and ten months in the Corps) under the command of D. Burnside Captain & Commandant of Sappers and Miners and was duly discharged from the said Army on the 11 th day of June 1783 and was honored with the badge of merit for Six years faithful service at which with full pay appear by the discharge under the proper signature of General Washington together with the certificate of D. Burnside Cap- tain & Commandant Sappers and Miners which is hereto appended She further declares that she was married to the said Philip Mc Crachin on the third day of April A.D. 1787 by the Rev. George Duffield then Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church - Philadelphia . as will appear by the Certificate of E. S. Ely D.D. Pastor of said Church which is also hereto annexed, That her husband the aforesaid Philip Mc Crachin died on the thirteenth day of December 1826 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
her Mary Mc Crachin made
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written in open Court Before me Archibald Randall Judge Ampleat Philad a County

Weston C. Donaldson & William Copeland being duly sworn according to law do depose & say that they are personally acquainted with the within named Mary M c Cracken widow of Philip M c Cracken deceased and of their own knowledge on their oaths do say that the said Mary M c Cracken is still unmarried and remains and from the time of his decease always has remained the widow of Philip M c Cracken deceased.
Sworn & subscribed in open Court this 22 day of February A.D. 1837 before me Archibald Randall Esq. one of the special Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania.
Rich d A. Hough
Judge Common Pleas
W. C. Donaldson
William Copeland
I, Archibald Randall Esq., one of the special Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing affidavits of Weston C. Donaldson & William Copeland were made and subscribed before me this day & year above written, and that the said Affiants are persons within my knowledge to be of credible credit. Witness my hand & seal this day & year above written.
Rich d A. Hough
seal
Philadelphia County ss.
I Robert Morris Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County do certify that the Honorable Archibald Randall before whom the above and foregoing affidavits were made and by whom the certificate was made and given and who at the time of so doing and still is an associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county to all whose acts as such full faith and credit are and ought to be given as well in courts of judicature as elsewhere.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Philadelphia this twenty second day of February A.D. 1837.
Robert Morris Prothonotary

June 5. 1847
Pa.
McCrae & Ken
Rh
Mr J L Edwards Pension Office Washington

Philadelphia June the 6 1846
W m Edwards,
The Papers in the case of M rs Mary M c Cracken were transmitted to the Office by Michel W m Ash on or about the 25 of February 1837 M rs Mary M c Cracken Widow of Philip M c Cracken Died June the 21 1838; and we there Children Apply for the benefit of the late act respecting the Children of Revolutionary Soldiers we are six in Number our names as follows
M rs Margaret Holden M rs Anne Blattenburgh M rs Catharine Mitchell James M c Cracken Daniel M c Cracken M rs Martha Copeland
Please direct to M rs Martha Copeland N o 398 South Third Street Philadelphia
M rs Martha Copeland

M
Claim of KH Horace Blackford for the discharge of Philip McCracken
Ak e valid claim of Solon
O. 29 K. M.

State of Ohio } On this 16 day of Wayne County } February A D 1895 personally came before me Mayor of The Village of Smithville Ohio Horace Blattenberg a resident of Smithville Wayne County Ohio after being duly sworn says that I am the grand son of Philip McCracken a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and of Mary McCracken his wife. And to my best knowledge and belief I am the oldest male descendant of the above named soldier. And this affidavit is made for the purpose of securing possession of the original discharge of the said Philip McCracken and the business papers of his widow Mary McCracken. I promise to sacredly preserve these papers if they come into my possession and if by chance a nearer relative should appear at any time and make a claim for them I will return them to the Bureau of Pensions.
Horace Blattenberg

Sworn to before me, and subscribed in my presence. and I further certify that I have no interest in this claim.
L H Smith Mayor of The Village of Smithville Ohio

1894 Aug 17 Horace Blattenberg Smithville Ohio that soldier's disch y is on file and will be surrendered to nearest living relative upon receipt of proper affidavit S.S.
July 1993 Dis. C. returned to Horace Blattenberg Smithville Wayne Co. Ohio.
6666.
P. O. _____
Mary M c Crackin
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

No. 1281.
Mary McCrackin Penn a
6666
Rejected
let 27 Feb '37
To Mr. W. Ash.
let: 9 June 1840 M rs . Martha Copeland.
Papers copied & sent to M rs . Martha Copeland, No. 398 South Third Street, Philad a . same July 22 1840. let to Hon E. Dean Aug 12. 1841. let to C. Black April 4. 43
Act 4 July 1836

Ms. A. 9. 2. 43
Mr. [unclear]
L Edward Legaine Commissaire of Pensions Windsor

J L Edwards Esq Dear Sir,
The daughter of Mrs Mary McCracken the wife of Phillip McCracken of the Corps of Sappers & Miners, in the Revolutionary Army - and who died before she obtained her Pension under the act of 1838. wishes to know for the right to a Pension to her Mrs Mary as late to obtain her Pension - he kind enough to send me an answer.
Yours truly
C. J. Sack
Philada March 7. 1843

Washington Feby 25th 1837.
Sir
I enclose the Volume of our library at Franklin to your Department and will very respectfully ask an early decision, as the volume of my work is drawing to a close.
Very respectfully Your Friend & Servt Michael Brann, Postmaster
Rev. J. L. Edwards via Dr. [illegible] office addrs

I do hereby certify that I have known the widow Mary M c Brackin for twenty two years past; that she has sustained during all that time a good character; and that according to records now un- der my hand she was lawfully united in marriage on the 3 d day of April, A. D. 1787 to Philip M c Brack- in, by the Rev. George Duffield, D.D., then Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church.
Philadelphia, Attestat, Feb. 11. 1837.
Ezra Stiles Ely, D.D. Late pastor of said Church.

SR
By His Excellency
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq;
General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America.
These are to CERTIFY that the Bearer hereof Philip McCrackin Private in the Corps of Sappers & Miners having faithfully served the United States Six Years & two months (viz three years & four months in the Infantry & two years & ten months in the Corps) and being inlisted for the War only, is hereby Discharged from the American Army.
GIVEN at Head-Quarters the eleventh Day of June 1783
Go. Washington
By His Excellency's
Command,
J. Trumbull Jnr Sy
REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment,
D. Bushnell Capt
THE above Philip McCrackin Private has been honored with the Badge of Merit for Six Years faithful Service.
D. Bushnell Capt. Comd
Sappers & Miners.
This is to certify that the above is a correct copy of the discharge certificate of Philip McCrackin, filed in the case of his widow, Mary McCrackin, Rev. War.
Chief O. W. & N. Division.
July 18, 1895.
Bureau of Pensions.

Smythville, O July 8 1895 To Hon. Mr. Lockhart Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C. Dear Sir—
The accompanying affidavit as I understand my instructions will entitle me to the discharge of my grand father Philip McCracken who was a soldier of the Revolutionary war
These papers have been so carefully taken care of so long that I have hesitated to ask make the demand for them and I would respectfully ask whether if circumstances are such as to require it I may be permitted to return them to the Pension Bureau again for safe keeping
Very Respectfully
Horace Blatenberg
Smythville
Wayne County
Ohio

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
O. W. & N. Div. F. S. M. E. C.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 18, 1895.
Sir:
You will please find enclosed the original discharge certificate of Philip McCrackin, a private soldier in the war of the Revolution, the same having been filed in this Bureau many years ago as evidence in the claim for pension of his widow, Mary McCrackin. You are at liberty to return the same to this Bureau at any time, should you so desire.
Please acknowledge the receipt of the above named discharge upon the back of this letter, which should be returned to this Bureau in the enclosed envelope without payment of postage.
Very respectfully,
A handwritten signature in cursive, reading "D. D. Murphy".
Acting Commissioner.
Horace Blattenberg, Esq., Smithville, Wayne Co., Ohio.

Sweetville Ohio July 25/89. To the Honorable Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Sir
The original discharge of my grandfather Philip McCracken a Revolutionary Soldier reached me to day. For which please accept my sincere thanks.
I most at some time in the future avail myself of the privilege of returning to your Bureau for safe keeping.
Very Respectfully Horace Blattenberg
Sweetville Wayne Co Ohio

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
O. W. & N. Div. P. S. M. B. C.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 18, 1895.
Sir:
You will please find enclosed the original discharge certificate of Philip McCrackin, a private soldier in the war of the Revolution, the same having been filed in this Bureau many years ago as evidence in the claim for pension of his widow, Mary McCrackin. You are at liberty to return the same to this Bureau at any time, should you so desire.
Please acknowledge the receipt of the above named discharge upon the back of this letter, which should be returned to this Bureau in the enclosed envelope without payment of postage.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Horace Blattenberg, Esq., Smithville, Wayne Co., Ohio.

O. W. & N. Div. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, P. S. M. B. C. BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27, 1895.
Sir:-
Referring to your request that the original discharge certificate of Philip McCrackin, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, be surrendered to you, you are advised that the discharge in question cannot be so surrendered as you state in your sworn affidavit that you are the eldest surviving male descendant of the soldier. The rule followed by this Bureau in such cases makes no discrimination as to sex; such papers being surrendered to the eldest surviving lineal descendant. Should there be a female descendant of the above named soldier now living, older than yourself, it is possible that you may be able to obtain her consent to have the discharge in question surrendered to you. If such consent is obtained the discharge will at once be forwarded to your address.
Very respectfully,
Horace Blattenberg, Esq.,
Commissioner.
Smithville,
Wayne Co., Ohio.

[Official Character.]
I, _____, Clerk of the County Court in and for aforesaid County and State, do certify that _____, Esq., who has signed his name to the foregoing declaration and affidavit was at the time of so doing _____ in and for said County and State, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereunto is genuine.
Witness my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____, 18_____
[L. S.]
Clerk of the _____
NOTE.—This should be sworn to before a CLERK OF COURT, NOTARY PUBLIC, or JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. If before a JUSTICE or NOTARY, then CLERK OF COUNTY COURT must add his certificate of character hereon, and not on a separate slip of paper, unless the Justice or Notary already has a certificate on file in the Pension Office, showing his authority. If such be the case, he must say so in his jurat.
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE.
CLAIM OF
Horace Blattenberg to secure the original discharge of Philip McCracken a Revolutionary soldier
AFFIDAVIT OF
Mary A Thomas Pens
Filed by
Clarence Smithville Ohio

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.
For neighbors, employers, or fellow workmen of soldier, (other than relatives,) who knew him before his enlistment, or since his return from the army.
State of Illinois, County of Edgar, ss.
In the matter of the application for pension of Horace Blattenberg to secure the discharge of Philip McCracken a Revolutionary soldier
ON THIS 23 d day of May A. D. 1895, personally appeared before me a
Candy Olsen in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths,
Mary A Thomas aged 67 years, a resident of Paris
in the County of Edgar and State of Ill
whose Post-Office address is the same and
aged years, a resident of
in the County of and State of
whose Post-Office address is
well known to me to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the afore-
said case as follows: That she have been well and personally acquainted with claimant
for 58 years, and years respectively, and that she is the grand
daughter and eldest living lineal
descendant of the above named Philip
McCracken who served in the
Revolutionary war and she hereby
relinquishes all claim to the discharge
and all other papers relating to the
service of the above named soldier
and requests that the same be
surrendered to her brother Horace
Blattenberg of Smithville Wayne
County Ohio
Read these instructions carefully.
The witnesses must state:
1st. Their respective ages and occupation; the length of time they have known the claimant, and in what year or years of the said period they have employed, worked with or for him, or lived in the same neighborhood with him, and how near to him.
2d. If they knew him before he joined the army or navy what his physical condition was at that time, and that he was then free from disability, and especially free from the diseases for which he claims pension.
3d. If they have employed or worked with him since his discharge from the army, they should state where it was, and at what business, or if they have known him as neighbors only, they should state about what distance from him they lived; how frequently, on an average, each week, month, or year, they saw him and conversed with him, and how intimate they were with him during this time, and from what disease or disability he has suffered during all the time they employed him, worked with him, or lived near him, and how severely; whether at any time during this period he was obliged to stop work, was confined to his bed or house, or was wholly unable to do any manual labor because of his alleged disabilities, and give dates as near as recollected when such attacks occurred, how long they lasted, and how severe they were. In this connection, if the witnesses have been his employers, or have worked with or for him, they should state about what proportion of a sound able-bodied man's work he was able to do—whether 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or as the case may have been; what his actual earnings were, and whether or not the wages paid him were less in amount, and how much less on account of his inability to labor, than were paid to others physically sound, and doing the same kind of work. They should also state how they are able to say what his disabilities have been and are now, and they should describe fully and clearly the symptoms as they appear to them in his case; in fact, describe his physical condition fully during each year of their acquaintance with him.

..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... further declare that.....no interest in said case and.....not concerned in its prosecution.
Wm A Jones
[If Affiants sign by mark, two persons who can write, sign here.]
[Signature of Affiants.]
NOTE.—The witnesses, if not themselves equal to the task of drawing the affidavits, should go to some Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, or other officer or competent person, and have the blank filled out and properly executed.
STATE OF Illinois .....COUNTY OF Edgar .....ss :
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above-named affiant , and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant , including the words.....erased, and the words.....added and acquainted her with its contents before she executed the same. I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiant is personally known to me and that she is a credible person.
Stephen Maddox [Official Signature.] County Clerk [Official Character.]
[L. s.]
I, _____, Clerk of the County Court in and for aforesaid County and State, do certify that _____, Esq., who has signed his name to the foregoing declaration and affidavit was at the time of so doing _____ in and for said County and State, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereunto is genuine.
Witness my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____, 18 ____ .
[L. s.]
Clerk of the _____
NOTE.—This should be sworn to before a CLERK OF COURT, NOTARY PUBLIC, or JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. If before a JUSTICE or NOTARY, then CLERK OF COUNTY COURT must add his certificate of character hereon, and not on a separate slip of paper, unless the Justice or Notary already has a certificate on file in the Pension Office, showing his authority. If such be the case, he must say so in his jurat.