Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 4532, for Henry Lewis, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Lewis, Henry
S 4532
CONTENTS
Carded.

Ohio. 13. 011.
Henry Lewis.
of Vincennes in the State of Ohio.
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Middle of the Regt. commanded by Col. Brady. in the Penna. line for 8 months.
$ 26. 66 / 100
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 26. Dollars 66. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of May '33 and sent to Henry B. Lewis. W th Vernon Knapp Ohio.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33. 53.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 st September. 1833. 13.33.
$ 66. 65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Acc d June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M ss Palmer Clerk, Book 8 . Vol. 8 Page 15 ,

24-182
13.04.
Henry Lewis Kens 6 o Ohio
Adm for 8 Months From 1780
Henry B Cartis Mount Vernon Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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. These 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 papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Henry Lewis
   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.     Spring 1780 to 1782 Periods and duration of service not stated The claimant states the whole term of actual service eight months & better Capt. Pideale Col. Bracy 18 years Cumberland Penn. of a citizen and a clergyman  
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 of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[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 mil_____ &c.]
He hereby relinquishes _____ 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) _____, who has 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 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 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 should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, 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 for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , 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 affix 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 [i] 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.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress June 7 th 1832
State of Ohio King County (Compt on ) By On this 16 th day of March, A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County now sitting Henry County of Liberty Township in the county of King County aforesaid and late aforesaid aged about 78 years (as near as declarant can ascertain), who being first duly sworn, is now on oath with on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 That he entered as a volunteer in the United States Service under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He enlisted as a volunteer to guard the frontier and neighbouring settlements from the attacks and massacres of the hostile savages under one James Potter as General James Potter as Col. and James Potter as Capt. (the two first officers according to the list of officers in existence in battalions in the regular service) all having command of the forces raised at that time in the State of Pennsylvania then  now Mifflin Cumberland County at which place declarant then resided at the spring of 1780. The Declarant's service consisted in opposing the Indians who occasionally committed depredations on the settlements by murdering the inhabitants and burning the habitations and also in assisting to guard a line of forts situated between Penn's Valley Northumberland County Pa. and Fishcoagualia Valley also in scouting through the country to ascertain the movement of the enemy. The services performed by declarant were necessarily very fatiguing and difficult having to march with great rapidity over a rough and mountainous country

In pursuit of the Indians, having to stand guard often both night and day because of the scarcity of soldiers and scour the country over rugged embankments and through deep and difficult ravines.
Declarant is now old and infirm being no longer able to earn his livelihood by the labor of his hands but dependant on a son whose utmost services are required to provide for the consuming of his own little family.
Declarant at the time he first enlisted and until the end of the war resided in Linn Creek Township on or near the Juniata river. That his engagement was ever indefinite as to time, but was whenever and as long as the safety of the country might require.
Declarant's last term of service was (in his memory now any time) in the year 1782 not being afterwards called on.
He could not say how long he served in all, the period of his service varying almost every time, but felt himself ready upon the shortest notice whenever given from the year 1780 till the close of the war. Declarant is now in possession of no documents by which he can prove his term of service and knows of no one now living by whom he can prove it, having been long absent from the place where his service was performed.
He may therefore respectfully ask now to declarant's said the greater part of the time since in Somerset
County Pennsylvania. He has resided for the last
years in Liberty Township, Allegheny Co. Ohio, where he now
resides. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to
a pension or annuity except the present and declares
that his name is not on the Pension roll of the
any of any state. And in reply to the interrogatories
proposed by the court under instruction of the war department. He further saith
1 That He cannot state directly the year in which being now in possession of no record to which he can refer, but thinking from the best of his recollection that he was in his 26 th year when he first enlisted which would make him to be born in the year 1764
2 nd He has no record of his age nor does know of any

384 (already answered in the body of his declaration)
5 He has already stated the names of the officers the Indians harassed several families on Middle Creek valley early in the year of 1780 whereupon De- leware with others was called upon to pursue and punish them for the outrage. He followed them above Fort Swartz on the Susquehanna but finding them to have escaped all probable detection the company returned The fort having been burnt they moved up Eagle Creek to Fort Potter in Penn's valley where they for sometime remained as guard to the fort Under command of Col. Purdie Gen. Potter having left at Fort Swartz. In the next year Delaware was again called out in the early part of the year as a guard to the frontier and scout through the neighbouring country. He served as nearly as he can recollect about the same time as the preceding year each being about two months and a half - commencing in May and ending in August or after harvest. Next year some time in the spring two families one by the name of Shroup the other by the name of Shive were attacked in the night by Indians and four persons inhumanly mass- acred. This barbarous outrage called for declarants third term of service which commenced as the others again in May and lasted about three months. Making the whole term of actual service eight months and little written testimony 6 He never took any written testimony not knowing but he might be again called on in a short time.
7 John Davis & Sylvanus Bird are persons who reside in the same neighbourhood with applicant and who can testify as to declarant's reputation for truth and veracity and their belief as to his services in the revolutionary war.
Henry Lewis
Sworn to & subscribed before me in open court this day 2 year past above stated
Alex. Elliot H. Clerk

The State of Ohio } Frank County } ss
We John Davis ————— a clergyman
residing in Milford Township of Franklin County and in the neighborhood of the residence of Henry Lewis the above applicant for a pension. And Sylvanus Bird of the Liberty Township — also residents of the same neighborhood hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Lewis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations that we believe him to be 79 years of age or thereabouts that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where residing to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in this opinion.
Sworn to & subscribed to before me the date aforesaid Alex. Elliott Clerk
John Davis Sylvanus Bird
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears that John Davis who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Township and neighborhood as therein stated and Sylvanus Bird ————— who has also signed the same certificate is a resident of the same neighborhood and a respectable person that their statement is entitled to credit. I Alex Elliott Clerk of said court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Henry Lewis for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the aforesaid court the 16 th day of March AD 1833
Alex Elliott Clerk
Declaration of Henry Lewis for a pension
Direct to Henry B. Smith Esq. M.P.

Ans.
Did not use Loss Creek as it is not now in Cumberland Co - I inquired whether a Cumberland Co - man thought it might be confusing.
Rev. and 1812 War Section.
August 9, 1924.
W. T. Lewis, 200 N. Wade Ave., Washington, Pa.
Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 4532, it appears that Henry Lewis was born in 1754, place not stated.
While residing in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the spring of 1780 and served as a private at various times, until the close of the war, under Captain James Riddle, Colonel James Purdy in the Pennsylvania Troops, amounting in all to eight months.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 16, 1833, while a resident of Liberty Township, Knox County, Ohio.
In 1833, a son and family are referred to, no names stated and there is no further family data on file.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

Rev War
4532
INVALID.
File No. 4532
Henry Lewis
Point Rev War
Act: June 7 1852
Index:—Vol. 4 , Page 219
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1924-Aug. 9. Hist. Soc. W. J. Lewis ans. 1924, Aug. 29—W. M. J. Lewis referred to Gen. Accch. Off. for date of death

WILLIAM T. LEWIS CONSULTING GEOLOGIST AND ENGINEER 200 NORTH WADE AVENUE. WASHINGTON, PA.
July 12/24
Bureau of Pensions Washington D.C.
Gentlemen:-
Will you kindly examine your records and inform me if a pension was granted to Henry Lewis or Barbara Lewis his wife for the services of Henry Lewis in the Revolutionary war. He was my great grandfather and resided I believe in Cumberland Co Pa
He served in the Revolution and I wish to obtain his war record as complete as possible as well as any information regarding his age date of death &c and also any information regarding his wife Barbara
Yours very truly W. T. Lewis

WILLIAM T. LEWIS CONSULTING GEOLOGIST AND ENGINEER 200 NORTH WADE AVENUE, WASHINGTON, PA.
Aug 11 1924
Com. of Pensions Washington D C
Rev. + 1812 War Sec
Dear Sir:- I have your letter of Aug 9 th regarding war record of Henry Lewis for which I thank you.
Have you any records to show the date that the pension of Henry Lewis for Rev. war service was discontinued, thus fixing the date of his death? After his death was any pension paid to his widow and if so how long and what was her name?
Yours truly
P.S. Is the name of his son, you mention, given? W. G. Lewis

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
August 29, 1924.
William T. Lewis, 200 N. Wade Ave., Washington, PA.
Sir:
I have to advise you that the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.4532, of Henry Lewis do not show the name of his son and there is no widow's application for pension on file.
For date of last payment of pension, name of person paid and date of death, you should apply to the Pension Section, Civil Division, General Accounting Office, 1800 F St., N. W., Washington, D. C., citing all of the following data:
Henry Lewis, Certificate 13011 issued May 6, 1833, rate $26.66 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Ohio Agency.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.