Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5684, for Ephraim Lewis, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Lewis Ephraim
S. 5684.
B.L. Wt 79520-160-55
CONTENTS
1

May 10/18
Colonel's Company for 6 months Penn. Ephraim Lewis
Inscribed on the Roll of Jonesborough, Tenn. at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum. to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 st day of June 1842 and sent to William Rockhold, Elizabethton, Tenn.
Arrears to the 14th of Sep. 1842 230.00
Pension allowance ending March '43. 10.00
$ 240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim. } { At June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E. 2. Vol. 7. Page 152
236952

Act March 3/55
Feb 6/50
286.952
Elizabeth Lewis Minn child of Ephraim Lewis - pnr
Col. 99.520 Revolutionary pensioner
Zenmold 32-51959
AD:16009 Mel. 29/55
By. J. M. [unintelligible] B.
A. G. Graham Jonesboro Tenn
April 26/58. Warrant remitted to A. G. Graham Jonesboro Tenn with certicate thereon giving date of marriage; death - etc. They 3/60 bank returned to John Lewis New Land office - etc.
Vol L page

Act March 3/55 Feb 6/58 286.952
Elizabeth Lewis' min child of Ephraim Lewis - Jno
Sup 94.500 Col. ( ) mil Recd pensioner
Renewal 32-31959
(18:160) 114 Mich. 29/55
By Atty. B.
A. G. Graham Jonesboro Tenn
April 26/58. Warrant remailed to A. G. Graham Jonesboro Tenn with certificate thereon giving date of warrant's birth - 18/11 May 3/60 Warrt. returned to John Stock Gen Land office - D.F.
Vol L. page

No. 286.952
Elizabeth, minor child of Ephraim Lewis, No. 2
Claim for additional Bounty Land, under Act of 3rd. March, 1855; was a
of Capt. _____ Company
Col. _____ Regt 1 st Ma. War
of the Revolution; was a son of the present Lt. Genl. J. C. [?]
Obtained Land Warrant No. _____ for
_____ Acres, under Act of _____
Address. J. G. [?] Jonesborough East Tennessee.

STATE OF TENNESSEE, COUNTY OF Washington 33.
On this 2nd day of Febry 1858 personally appeared before me, a Notary Public, in and for said County and State, Elizabeth Lewis - aged 23 + years, a resident of Sullivan county, in the said State, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the only surviving child the 3rd March 1855, of Ephraim Lewis - who was a in the company commanded by Capt. in the Regiment of ( ) - Militia, commanded by Col. in the War with Great Britain declared by the U. S. on the 14th of June 1812 4 July 1776, War of the Revolution - for the term of 14 months, and continued in actual service in said war for the term of fourteen days (and upwards,) - that she has never made application for Bounty Land under the act 28th September 1850, and act 22 March 1852, and received a land warrant, No. for acres, which he has since legally disposed of, and cannot now return.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved the 3rd of March 1855. She also declares that she has never applied for nor received under this or any other act of Congress, any bounty land warrant except the one above mentioned. whatever, that her said father died the 8th Oct. 1845, leaving her mother, Elizabeth, a widow who subsequently intermarried with Calvin Little, and is yet living, married to him, that from the best knowledge she can give of her age - she was born the 31 Decr 1834; and she is the youngest of the family, the child next her in age being born 2 years previous - W. Martin Little and Elizabeth Little, sent into Supt. C. - Elizabeth Lewis
State, upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Elizabeth Lewis - in our presence; and that we know from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person who represents herself to be, and that we are not interested in this claim: that we know that said Ephraim Lewis was a pensioner at $20. per annum for services in the Revolution, and died the 8 Oct. 1845 in Carter Co. Tenn. the last of their affidavits was present at the funeral; that we know from the ages of the other children, that said Elizabeth Lewis was born the 31st of Decr 1834, and was under 21 years of age the 3rd March 1855, there being no person of age next to her, that she is the youngest, the next being 2 years old; and the said Elizabeth Little, who is the mother of said Elizabeth, hereby expressly waives her right to said Bounty under said act in favor of her said daughter Elizabeth Lewis - The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I
know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Calvin Little Elizabeth Lewis
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal at my Office in Jonesboro' on this 2nd day of February 1858, and recorded the same in Book A. page 32.
H. J. Graham Notary Public Washington Co. Tenn.

State of Tennessee } On this 16 th day of June 1850 personally Leather County } appeared before me Isaac Tipton one of the Justices of the Peace for said County Ephraim Lewis residant of Leather County in said State aged eighty two years deposes & sayeth in his the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 that he entered the service under the following officers and served as here after stated. That he volunteered in Buck County Pennsylvania he thinks in the year 1777 and served three months under Captain John Wisner Co. B. M c Cambley Regiment and marched to West Point Fort, and was employed in keeping garrison, and at the expiration of three months or thereabouts, was verbally discharged. Very shortly after return ing home, he thinks in the same year 77, he again volunteered from Buck County Pen. under Capt. Welling and was marched to a station on western Course, known by the name of Paramis and served three months the time he had volunteered to have, under Col. Smith Horn. in this service was attacked by the British light horse and after a short engagement, we drove them and kept the field and again we received a verbal discharge. And very shortly afterwards, he thinks in the following year 78, he volunteered from Susquehanna River near Luzerne County Pen. under Capt. David McCambley and was marched to West Point Fort and there joined Genl. Dickinson, and was marched to meet the British on their way to a town called Sophia, and arrived after the British had laid the town and had again gone on towards New Brunswick. We encamped there three nights

the next morning Lieutenant Luekey with twelve of his men & a deponent was ordered out to reconnoitre the town and suburbs and detect spies & enemies if any there found, our party being discovered in British uniform while out a good looking man came up and gave his hand to the Lieutenant and accosted him saying he was glad to see him there and when attempting to shake hands the Lieutenant held him fast telling him he was his prisoner. The man instantly drew some thing from his pocket and slipping it in his mouth, we supposed he swallowed some thing, we instantly marched him to camp and presented his case to the General. Medical aid was immediately called in and after having given him large doses of purgatives, some kind of a metalic ball passed from the prisoner deponent, believed to be silver in which was found a letter from Lord Cornwallis to Burgoyne with request for them to march his forces and join him in Philadelphia Pa. after trial or consultation the prisoner was hanged on an apple tree in the in camp presents of the deponent, immediately after as was understood letters were despatched to Genl Washington and we were immediately ordered to Saratoga to join Genl Arnold and we arrived during the engagement between Arnold and Burgoyne. As we advanced, Arnolds troops spread to the right and to the left and we were marched into the center after which we charged bayonets, and deponent was an eye witness to the surrender of Genl Burgoyne and we were then marched back to West Point Fort having charge of the prisoners taken in the engagement and after having served the term for which we volunteered, we were again verbally discharged as deponent believes, shortly thereafter perhaps in the next year deponent volunteered again from Rensselaer County Pa. under Captain Fitch-

ours, commanded by Col d Dennis and marched to place called Forty Forts and gained Col d Butler a continental officer who took the command from distance from where we were stationed the Indians and Sioux had taken possession of Winter Mole's Fort, we were marched to dislodge them the Enemy met us on the way and after an engagement our forces were defeated with a heavy loss our retreat was in confusion every man making for himself, My self with some others swam the Snake River twice in our retreat, and arrived at the Fort same time in the night, after which we abandoned the Fort and country for awhile the Enemy having overcome us; after some time, we were ordered to return and did so, under Col d Butler Deponent then served two summers as the commander of a small scouting party under the immediate command of Col d Butler Deponent believes in all he served the United States as a sol- dier from Eighteen months to two years at least and if he ever had a written discharge, he does not recall it and believes he was on every occasion verbally discharged and that from and that from the loss of time and indigent circumstances not having much intercourse with the World he does not know of any living witness by whom he can es- tablish the above facts from his situated situation he never knew till recently that the Militia were paid for their Revolutionary services, But believed it was exclusively con- fined to the Regulars that this is the first application he ever made for a pension, He is proud to say that he knows of none who would not believe him when on oath

That his name is not on any pension list whatever and that he relinquishes all claims to any pension except the present
Ephraim Lewis
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year as before written before me. Isaac Tipton - (Seal) Justice of the Peace for Carter County
Mr. Benjamin White a Clergyman residing in the county of Carter State of Kentucky, and W. M. Powell residing in the same, hereby certify that we are acquainted with Ephraim Lewis, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty two years of age, that he is of upright and believe in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Benjamin White
W. M. Powell
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year as above written before me. Isaac Tipton (Seal) Justice of the Peace for Carter County
And to the said Isaac Tipton, do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter , and after putting the necessary in- terrogatories, that the above named applicant, Ephraim Lewis was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, and I further certify that Benjamin White is a Preacher of the Gospel

and Robert W Purcell both of whom has signed the preceding certificate, and are Citizens of this County, and faith and Credit are due to their Statements and I concur in the Opinions that as above Noted.
Given under my hand and Seal the day & year above written
Isaac Tipton Seal Justice of the peace for Carter County

State of Tennessee & James L. Bradley Clerk of the Gatlin County Court for said County do Certify that Isaac Tilton whose name appears to the within Certificate is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace for said County, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official attestations.
Given under my hand and seal at Gatlin in Elizabethton this 25 th day of July Anno Domini 1840.
James L. Bradley Clerk By C.H. Wilson, Dep. Clk.
35.100
Chas. M. Lewis Tennessee

35.100
Col. William Lloyd Tennessee
...my name and seal as of in Elizabethton this 25 th day of July Anno Domini 1840.
James L. Brantley Clerk By C.H. Wilson. Dep. Clk.

State of Tennessee } On this 16 th day of June 1840 personally Coastal County } appeared before me Isaac Tipton one of the Justices of the peace for said County Ephraim Lewis president of Coastal County in said State aged eighty two years deposes & saith in his the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 that he entered the service under the following officers and served as here after stated. That he volunteered in Buck County Pennsylvania he thinks in the year 1777 and served three months under Captain John Wisher Co. K th Gamble's Regiment and marched to West Point Fort and was employed in keeping garrison, and at the expiration of three months or thereabouts, was verbally discharged. Very shortly after return- ing home, he thinks in the same year 77, he again volunteered from Buck County Penn. under Capt. Wedling and was marched to a station or water course known by the name of Paramus and served three months the time he had volunteered to serve, under Col. Schickhorn. in this service was attacked by the British light infantry and after a short engagement. We drove them and kept the field and again we received a verbal discharge. And very shortly afterwards, he thinks in the following year 78, he volunteered from Sugahara River near Luzerne County Penn. under Capt. David McCamley and was marched to West Point Fort and there joined Genl. Schickhorn, and was marched to meet the British on their way to a town called Saffron and arrived after the British had fired their guns and had again gone on board of their vessels. He encamped there the night

the next morning Lieutenant Lucey with twelve soldiers of his own detachment was ordered out to reconnoitre the town and suburbs and detect spies & enemies if any there found, our party being discovered in British uniform & while out a good looking man came up and gave his hand to the Lieutenant and accosted him saying he was glad to see him there and when attempting to withdraw his hand, the Lieutenant held him fast telling him he was his prisoner, the man instantaneous- ly drew some thing from his pocket and swallowing it in his mouth. We supposed he swallowed some thing, we instantly marched him to camp and presented his case to the General. Medical aid was immediately called in and after having given him large doses of purgatives, some kind of a metallic bowl passed from the prisoner's detainer, believed to be silver in which was found a letter from Lord Cornwallis to Burgoyne with request for him to march his forces and join him in Philadelphia Pen y , after trial or consultation the prisoner was hanged on an apple tree in the presents of the detainer, immediately after as was understood in camp letters were dispatched to Genl Washington and we were immediately ordered to Saratoga to join Genl Arnold and we arrived during the engagement between Arnold and Burgoyne, as we advanced, Arnold's troops spread to the right and to the left and we were marched into the center after which we charged bayonets, and detainer was an eye witness to the surrender of Genl Burgoyne and we were then marched back to West Point Fort having charge of the prisoners taken in the engagement and after having served the term for which we volunteered, we were again verbally discharged as detainer believes, shortly thereafter perhaps in the next year detainer volunteered again from Rensselaer County Pen y , under Captain Fletcher -

ours, commanded by Col Dennisan and marched to a place called Forty Forts and gained Col Butler a continental officer who took the command; from distance from where we were stationed the Indians and Sioux had taken possession of Winter Mole's Fort, we were marched to dislodge them the enemy met us on the way, and after an engagement our forces were defeated with a heavy loss our retreat was in confusion every man making for himself, My self with some others swam the Liquehona River twice in our retreat, and arrived at the Fort same time in the night, after which we abandoned the Fort and country for awhile the enemy having overcome us; after some time, we were ordered to return and did so, under Col Butler Deponent then served two summers as the commander of a small scouting party under the immediate command of Col Butler Deponent believes in all he served the United States as a sol- dier from Eighteen Months to two years at least and if he ever had a written discharge, he does not recollect it and believes he was on every occasion verbally discharged and that from all that from the loss of time, and indigent circumstances not having much intercourse with the world he does not know of any living witness by whom he can es- tablish the above facts from his situated situation he never knew till recently that the Militia were paid for their Revolutionary Services, But blessed it was exclusively con- fined to the Regulars that this is the first application he ever made for a pension, He is proud to say that he knows of none who would not believe him when on oath

That his name is not on any pension list whatever and that he relinquishes all claims to any pension except the present
Ephraim Lewis
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year as before written before me.
Isaac Tipton — (Seal)
Justice of the Peace for Clinton County
We Benjamin White a Clergyman residing in the county of Clinton State of New York and W. M. Powell residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are acquainted with Ephraim Lewis, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations, that we believe him to be eighty two years of age, that he is a justice and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Benjamin White
W. M. Powell
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year as above written before me.
Isaac Tipton (Seal)
Justice of the Peace for Clinton County
And the said Isaac Tipton, do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the necessary int- errogatories, that the above named applicant, Ephraim Lewis was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, and I further certify that Benjamin White is a Preacher of the Gospel

and Robert W Powell both of them has signed the proceeding certificate, and are Citizens of this County, and faith and Credit are due to their Statements and I concur in the opinions that as above Notice.
Given under my hand and seal the day & year above written
Isaac Tipton Seal Justice of the peace for Carter County

State of Tennessee I James L Bradley Clerk of the Gaston County Court for said County do. Certify that Isaac Tilton whose name appears to the within Certificate is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace for said County, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official attestations
Given under my hand and seal at in Elizabethton this 20 th day of July Anno Domini 1840.
James L. Bradley Clerk By C.H. Wilson, Dep. Clk.
35.100
Chairman Secy Jury

Sir:
Quesada? Paris, April 19th 1855.
Louis Richard St. Louis, bearing a widow. Louis was a Revolutionary Pensioner, act June 7, 1832. Widowed in 1849, Mrs. Little. In 1855, Little deserts his wife, the widow of Louis, is divorced on her appli- cation by the Courts of this state. Now the questions I wish to ask of you are
1st
Is Mrs. Louis, or Little, entitled to a pension since the act July 3, 1853, as the widow of said Louis, and
2nd
If so, when does the pension commence; at the date of the passage of the act - 3 Feb 1853 - or at a subsequent period.
The law I think contemplates the idea that if the applicant is a widow, that is unmarried, she will receive a pension as other widows; that is at the same rate her husband drew, in this case $10 per annum, and from the date of the passage of the act.
As it incurs some expense to prepare papers, I wish to have your interpretation of the law before commencing, so as to avoid a useless cost.
Yrs. Truly A. J. Graham
His Excellency Com. of Pensions W.C. R.

Ephraim Lewis Tennessee
Suspended.
Set at 15 Sep. 1840 M. Rockhold let. to do. 16 Dec. 1841
Acty June 1832.

286.952
PAID
George C. Whiting Esq Commissioner of Pensions. Washington City, D.C.

Mail Direct
Geo. C. Whiting
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City,
D.C.
FREE
[Handwritten signature or mark]
79320-166
Box 122

35, 100 Ephraim Lewis Tennessee Jonesborough agent
Admitted
" Private 6 m $20 Capt Wm Col. McCombley, Pa.
Act 7 June 1862
M c Rockhold " Elizabethton, Tenn

Augt 7. 1840 Ten.
Ephm. Lewis
Act 7 June 1832
(Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page)

Elizabeth town 27th July 1848
Sir
Inclosed is Mr Lewis papers apply- ing for appointment will please give your early attention and correspond with me as far as can & oblige hence I will attend for him any thing more wanting give you its very attention.
Respt obt IBC From Rockhold

May 23. 1842 Elizabeth To Dempsey May 13
for
Ephraim Hon. Mr. J. L. Edwards City of Washington

Elizabethston 13 th May 1842
Sir Inclosed is the affidavit sustaining Mr Lewis' claim for apportion it has been detained on account of Mr Lewis' Indispo- -sition he living near the county line you will see the business was transacted in Sullivan in place of Carter for convenience he Lewis thinks his case hard if he on general decision is thrown down to the extent intimated in your letter, hence you have the sub- ject before you & will make such dis- position of this case as the law & facts will warrant, your early attention is re- quested In brief your obedient S r .
Yrs Respectfully

Elizabethtown Tenn. Dec. 3. 1841.
Wm Rockhold.
About a Mr Lewis pen- sion claim.
R193. Rec. Dec. 13. 1841. Pension Office.
Tenn.
City
South
Hon. Rev.
Chas. William Leno D. & Co. N

Elizabeth Town Ind Dec 16 th
J
Hon. Rev.
Secretary of war City of Washington
Dear:
Religionschwarze Arm. Dec. 3. 1841. Wm. Prechtel. Abner M. Dennis' per Wm. Clark. 18193. Rec. Acc. 13.1841. Pension Office.

Elizabeth Town 30 Decr. 1841 -
Hon. B. L. Secretary of War
Sir
The letter of Mr. J. L. Edwards is before me of the 15 th Sept. 1840. The unsettled state of the incumbents in the War Office as well as other offices at the city & my recent bad health is the apology I offer for not attending to this business longer. Since together with some before care other proof Mr. Edwards' arguments for objecting that the State of Pennsylvania was not called out for three months as set forth in Mr. Lewis' Declaration & that there is some discrepancy in the nature of the services from known facts, all this may be correct & yet Mr. Lewis may have rendered the services as to the different kinds of duty & may have been retained the three months and only called out for two or one month the history of the revolution as well as the subsequent war furnishes many similar facts or it may have happened that the applicant committed error in his statements from the lapse of time it cannot be presumed that his memory could serve him so that he could be definite as to time place and all minutiae of an army fifty or sixty years back and the law makes ample provision for old age & defect of memory. The individuals that I have had placed on the pension list is not open and among the No. very few

has been able to be specific as I would humbly sug- gest that justice can rarely be done to the soul soldier in any other way than to take a patient & charitable view of the different officers set forth in the declara- -tion the places of rendezvous the occurrences of the day, and if one out of ten or twenty should agree as it strong presumptive proof that the allegation is only remiss for want of memory to ask Mr Lewis for other proof as at once rejecting his claim he is in form very poor and the mind is in proportion with the body he six hundred miles from the place of his alleged services left there forty or fifty years ago & cannot get any letter from any individual he has written to himself he is left to the provisions of the law under he claims his petition that is in the absence of positive proof to furnish such as he has already forwarded he has directed me to say to the department that he has nothing to take back that is set forth in his declaration & that he is utterly unable to furnish proof of his services But if further proof of his apparent age & character for truth & respectability it is always at hand & will be forwarded By asking for, I am further requested to say to the department that execution of his declaration is requi- red and if all he asks & claims is not awarded

time give him the unit that the department may think in equity and good conscience he is entitled to receive he asks this as a matter of justice and not as charity &c. &c.
Will the department cause this letter immediately to be handed over to the proper offi- -cer & cause an early release on the premises of the applicant as entitled to any thing he is in great want one fact with many others that he has acted honestly in his declaration the frailties of age excepted he is thought to be an excellent man having long been a member of respectable church and my individual acquaintance with him is such that I am compelled to confide in what he says on oath or other wise making proper allowances for the frailty age & memory all things considered I have not the slightest doubt he rendered services in the Revolution and that he thinks those services were as set forth in his Declaration, in that he may have committed some errors &c. &c.
and fondly hope such compensation will be early awarded as the department shall think he is entitled
Very Respectfully &c. IVD
Wm Rockwell

5
79. 520
160 acrs

Ephraim...
PAID
Dear Friend Commissioner of Pensions Washington City.

Private Capt John Wisner 5684 Capt Welling Rev War, INVALID. certificate 35700
File No. 5684
Ephraim Lewis Print Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 92 , Page 220
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Tennessee on this 30 th day of April 1842 Sullivan County } I have caused Wallentin Little and Martin Little to come before me and after being duly sworn according to Law they depose and say on their oaths that they have bin well acquainted with Ephraim Lewis for the last thirteen or fourteen years apart of which time he lived a near neighbour and deponents sayeth that they have frequently heard him say that he was in the Revolutionary war and that they allways have and do believe that he was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war and Deponents further sayeth that they allways have and do believe that said Lewis is a man of veracity and truth and that faith and credit is due to his statements when made on oath or otherwise further deponents sayeth not
Wallentin Little Martin Little
State of Tennessee Sullivan County } on the day and date above written I do testify that the above affidavit was sworn and subscribed before me and that I concur in the opinion with the Deponents, given under my hand and seal
Dan W. Moore Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee \S I. John C. Rutledge Clerk of the Sullivan County \equiv County Court for said County do certify that Danl W. Crumley Esq. whose name appears to the within Certificate of Concurrence of the within affidavit is now and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County and that his signature appears to be in his own proper hand writing - Given under my hand and seal of Office at Office in Blountville the 2nd day of May, 1842
John C. Rutledge Clerk

Amesboro June 10 th 1852
Sir:
I herewith enclose to you Land Wt. 79.520, for 160 a , issued in the name of Elizabeth Lewis, a minor, as appears from the face thereof, but who arrived at lawful age 31 Dec r 1850, or will appear from the papers on which the application was made, in a file in your office.
You are requested to certify that fact on the face of the Wt., and return the same to me as early as you can, and oblige
Yrs &c
J. G. Gaham
Hon. Geo. C. Whiting Com r . of Pensions W. C. D. Co