Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,411, for William Mc Pherson, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
McPherson, William
S. 2411
Carded.
CONTENTS

2.
27
Pennsylvanians
William W. Pherson.
of Adams Co. in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Serjeant in the company commanded by Captain McAlhight of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Miles in the Pennsylv a State line, for the term of two years from Spring of 1776 to Spring of 1778
Inscribed on the roll of Pennsylvanians at the rate of 320 Dollars per month, to commence on the 4 day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th of July 1831 and sent to the Hon: Thos H. Crawford . H.R.
  Arrears to 4th of March 1832  320: 00    Semi-annual all ce ending 4 th Sept 1832  160: 00     480: 00  
{ Revolutionary Claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. }
7 June 1832.
Recorded D: Vol 66. page 70
Subl te 10 July 1832 to A.H. Smith Pa. Agt Let G.6 Arns Oct 18/31.

State of Pennsylvania } County of Adams }
I know all men by these presents that I John B McPherson son - and executor of the estate of the late Colonel William McPherson late of Gettysburg Pennsylvania (lieutenant in the war of the Revolution and who was taken prisoner at the battle of Long Island in 1776) who was a pensioner of the United States under the act of the 7th of June 1832 - as by reference to the archives of the Pension Office will fully appear - believing the the services of said William McPherson entitled him to a higher pension than he was allowed - hereby constitute and appoint George C Arnes of the City of Washington my true and lawful Attorney with full power and authority to examine the papers and other evidences now on file in the Pension Office in support of the services of said McPherson and to prosecute my claim to an increase of the pension to the amount the services entitled him to receive and also the amount due the widow of said William McPherson from the 2 nd day of August A.D. 1832 to the 24 th day of August March A.D. 1834. Given under my hand and seal this tenth 10 th day of July. AD 1851
Witnesseth The interlineation of words above, from "and also" to "A.D. 1834," made before signing of this deed. A. Buehler Johnicking
John B McPherson Seal
State of Pennsylvania } County of Adams }
On this tenth day of July, A.D. 1851, personally appeared before me A Buehler one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said county the above named John B McPherson who is known to be a person of respectability and entitled to full credit and acknowledged the above to be his act, and deed. He further says on his oath that he is his interested in the above power of attorney and that the above named William McPherson died at his residence in Gettysburg on the 2 nd day of August AD 1832 and that his wife Sarah McPherson died at her residence in Gettysburg on the 12 th day of March AD 1834 - and that by the family record it appears that the above named William McPherson and Sarah his wife were married on the 23 rd day of June 1793

Witness my hand and seal the day and year last written
D. A. Buehler Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont County of Adams ss.
I John Picking, Notary Public of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify, that D. A. Buehler, Esq., whose genuine signature appears above, is, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts as such are en- titled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record, having general jurisdiction.
Given under my hand and seal of Office, at Rutland this Tenth day of July A.D. 1857.
John Picking

State of Pennsylvania } Adams County - }
On this fourth day of July 1832 personally appeared before William McLean Esquire, one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Adams, William M c Pherson a resident of the Borough of Gettysburg in the County of Adams and State of Pennsylvania, aged seventy five years who being 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 26 1832.
That he entered the service under the following named Officers, and served as therein stated.
That he was born on the 2 d day of December 1757 as appears by the Record of his Father now in his possession, that he lived in York County, (now Adams County) Pennsylvania, and has lived there ever since the Revolutionary war and lives there at this time, that he obtained a commission of second Lieutenant in the first Regiment of Riflemen, of Pennsylvania State Troops, raised as he believes for one year and nine months, commanded by Colonel Samuel Miles in the Battalion commanded by Lieut Col James Piper, and Company commanded by Captain Philip Albright, Lieutenant Thompson was the first Lieutenant of said Company and Major State Third Lieutenant; he received his said commission early in the Spring of 1776, it was taken from him by the enemy when he was taken prisoner as herein after mentioned, and never saw it since. Immediately on his receiving his commission he commenced recruiting, and enlisted between twenty five and thirty men, among whom was John M c Clay who is now living. On the 6 th day of May 1776 he marched his recruits from his Father's house in York (now Adams County), to York, and there joined Captain Albright's Company, and marched with the said Company to Philadelphia; when there, it was proposed (as they were State Troops and not obliged to go out of the State), that they should volunteer to go to New Jersey where men were much wanted: About the one half of the Regiment to which he belonged agreed to go, among whom he was. The company was then temporarily reorganized, and he marched into and through New Jersey, as 2 d Lieut. of the Company commanded by Capt Brown (Richard Brown he believes) under the command of Lieut Col Bridhead of the 2 d Rifle, Pennsylvania State Regiment. That they marched through Brunswick, Amboy, Raritan, Elizabeth town and other places in New Jersey back and forward for some time; at Elizabeth town he again joined his Company, commanded by Capt Philip Albright in the Battalion commanded by Lieut Col Piper and Regiment commanded by Col Miles. From there they went to New York, remaining there a few days. On the 23 rd or 24 th of August (as he believes), they were ordered to the Ferry, crossed over to Long Island, and marched to near Flatbush, remained in that neighborhood till the 27 th the day of the Battle of Long Island in which Battle he was, and was taken Prisoner that day; that he remained a prisoner  he was put on board about a week after he was taken prisoner a transport, or prison ship, and treated for five weeks

very badly, he was then taken to New York and kept there on a limited parole till in November 1776 when his parole was extended to the limits of the City of New York, that part of it which was improved on the 21 st January 1777 he with other Officers (prisoners) were sent to Long Island, and billeted out amongst the Farmers, there he remained paying two Dollars per week for boarding, till an alarm came, that the Americans were making an attempt to carry off the prisoners, when they were all put on board of Ships, and kept there and very badly treated for 13. or 14 days, when they were again sent to Long Island, where he remained till he was exchanged on the 12 th day of May 1778, he was then brought to Elizabethtown Point, and from there went to Elizabethtown, without a cent of money; and with great difficulty got to Valley Forge where the Army under Gen l Washington at that time lay; from whence he came home, having lost his rank by being a prisoner. Said Stake who marched to the line with him as Third Lieutenant in Captain Albright's Company was then a Captain —
This declarant further says, that the Honorable James Riddle late President of the Court of Common Pleas for the 3 rd Judicial District in Pennsylvania, Alexander Ruple Esquire, and others still alive know of his having served during the Revolutionary War, but suppose that they do not know the extent of his services; also John McElroy, one of the first men he recruited is still living, and who served with him till he was taken Prisoner, the said John McElroy was himself taken prisoner thereby as he knows by having seen McElroy when a prisoner in New York, he was literally starving with hunger, Declarant gave him a small sum of money to get him something to eat, it was but a small sum, but it was all he could spare as he had very little for himself — He has no documentary evidence that he knows of, and that he knows no person other than those above mentioned, who can testify to his services. He hereby extinguishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State.
Sworn and subscribed the day of year aforesaid before me
WM m Glean
William McPherson
Pennsylvania } Adams County }
Before me one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Adams, personally appeared John McElroy, who being sworn according to law, doth depose and say, that he is well acquainted with William McPherson (the abovenamed declarant), that early in the Spring of 1776 he enlisted with the said William McPherson, who was a second Lieutenant in the Company commanded by Capt t Albright, in the Battalion commanded by Lieut t Col t Piper.

of the First Rifle Regiment of Pennsylvania State Troops, commanded by Col. Samuel Miles that in May 1776 he marched with him to York where they joined Capt. Allbright's Company, the 1st Lieut was John Thompson (as he believes) and the 2nd Lieut or ensign was Jacob Hake, he continued with Lieut. McPherson till the Battle of Long Island in August 1776 where Lieut. McPherson was taken prisoner; that he afterwards saw him when a prisoner in New York, he being also a Prisoner, and got two eighteen penny pieces from him, to keep him (Deponent) from starving, he did not see Lieut. McPherson afterwards till he came home, he does not know exactly when McPherson got home, but from several circumstances he believes he did not get home till some time in 1778, particularly that in the spring of 1778 this Deponent was taken up and put in Jail in York as a deserter, and he would have applied to him if he had been at home Sworn & subscribed July 5 th
John M c Elroy
1032 before me
W m McLean
Pennsylvania Adams County
Also appeared the Honorable James Riddle, who on his oath doth say that he has been intimately acquainted with William McPherson since the beginning of the Declarant, since before the Revolutionary War, that he knows he entered the Army of the Revo- lution early in the year 1776, but at what time exactly he cannot recollect, that he remained in the Army till the Battle of Long Island, when he was taken prisoner, that he continued a Prisoner till sometime in the year 1778, but at what time in that year he was exchanged he does not recollect, that he understood at the time and believed that he passed through our Army when it lay at Valley Forge sometime in that year Sworn & subscribed July 5 th
1032 before me
W m McLean
James Riddle
Pennsylvania Adams County
Also appeared Alexander Russell Esqr., who on his oath doth say, that he has been acquainted with William McPherson Esqr., the before mentioned de- clarant, since before the Revolutionary War, he knows that he was an Officer in the Ar- my early in the year 1776, that he always understood that he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Long Island, he knows that McPherson Father had some trouble in obtaining his money to send to him when he was a Prisoner; Deponent further says that he was in the Army at Valley Forge in 1778, when William McPherson returned after he had been

exchanged, he had a Brother in the Army at Valley Forge, who as he understood procured him an honor to enable him to go home, it was in May or June 1778 sworn & subscribed July 5 th
J. Russell
1832 before me
Wm. McLellan
And I the said William McLellan one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Adams and State of Pennsylvania, do certify that William McPherson, the beforementioned Declarant, cannot from bodily infirmity attend in Court, he being confined to his bed. And I do hereby declare my opinion, after investigating the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, that the before named Applicant, was a Revolutionary Officer, and served as he states, and I do further certify that James Redden, Belyman Rupert Equine, and John McElroy, whose Depositions have been taken before me, are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit
Wm. McLellan
How. Mr. Brown Teste July 5 th 1832
Pennsylv a Adams County Jo. 11
George Welsh for the notary of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County of Adams do hereby certify that William McLellan Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits were made and taken, and who has subscribed his name to the above certificate, is and was at the time of doing the same, one of our Associate Judges of the said Court of Common Pleas for Adams County, and that due faith and credit is given to all his official acts and Deeds.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Gettysburg the sixth day of July 1832.
G. Welsh Prothry.

Rev. Mar
INVALID. WIDOW, etc.
File No. 2411
William McPherson Lieut. Albright Co Pa Line
Act _____
Index: Vol _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Oct. 27/98. Mrs. W. A. Casler. Cape Vincent. N.Y.

Washington July 17 1857 James E Heath Esq Sir
Enclosed you will please find Power of Attorney from John B McPherson Esq and Executor of William McPherson, late a pensioner on the Pennsylvania Rolls, authorizing me to examine the papers on which his Claim was allowed with a view to an increase of the amount granted.
It is alleged that he was taken prisoner at Fort Washington with many other officers of the Flying Camp and returned in Captivity more than 2 years. No part of which period was disputed in the adjustment of his pension. In order to ascertain the true situation of the case I ask the pur- pose of examining the papers in relation to his Claim now in your files
With Much Resp s Your ob t Serv t Geo. C. Ames

W. V. MK
Commission of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
Will you kindly inform me if there are any records of one Wm Mcpherson of Deering N.H. later of Chaumont Jeff. Co. New York, having received a pension for services in the Rev. olutionary war? It will doubtless be recorded be- fore 1838. Any inform

ake Vincent M

notations that you can give me from the Pension records. Will be most gratefully received. as I am unable as yet to gather any dates later than the war records. Any expense attached to search I will gladly pay.
Yours truly Mrs W. A. Clarke.
Box 156.
Capatment N.Y.
Oct 13. 1898