Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 5923, for Walter Kimble, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey Penn.
Kimble, Walter
R 5923
CONTENTS

33. 141
Walter Humboldt
Paris,
—

The State of Ohio Holmes County ss.
On this second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five personally appeared in open court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Holmes aforesaid, now sitting, Walter Nimble , a resident of Hilltown township in the County of Holmes and State of Ohio, aged eighty one 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 Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States as an Indian Spy and served as herein stated - That in the year 1776 (as near as recollection serves) or five years before the close of the Revolutionary War, he commenced his operations as an Indian Spy, at the instance and request of one Major Mifflin who was stationed on the Bank of the Delaware river in the County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, (does not know whether the Major was an officer of the Continental Line, or of the State), and to whom he was directed to make report, and to return prisoners &c. That when he first started, he went with twenty five others, all volunteers, to Wallen  pack one of the branches of the Delaware River, where there was a settlement of about twenty five families, which had been a few days before driven in to the fort by the Indians & British & Tories - From that time until the close of the war, he served as an Indian Spy pursuing no other business from early in the Spring until late in the Fall and he thinks that it was on the fifth day of July in the year, when the Indians moved the settlement in, and that he staid behind watching their movements for eight days - During his seasons of reconnoitring, he sometimes went in company with 1. 2. 3. 4. & 5. but often with, and most frequently but one: That they would stay out from two to six weeks as occasion might require, and extend their views and travels from thirty to forty Miles into the interior, watching the movements of the Indians, ready upon the first discovery to give the alarm to the frontier settlers; and that he reconnoitred upon and between the branches of the Delaware River to the distance of fifty or sixty Miles, and sometimes extended their travels as far up as into the State of New York. The routine of duty which he, and others in company with him, appointed for themselves to pursue, was this, that when they ascended the

Delaware River, or any of its Branches the road separate and examine for the signs of the Indians &c. and meet at some place appointed, and so on continually, crossing from one Branch to another, traversing and re-traversing from Branch to Branch and to the Main River - And in that kind of service, during the season from Spring to Fall was the most of his time spent in the world - & never at home but a few days at any one time, no longer than was necessary to take a short rest and prepare for another Expedition, serving more than almost any other individual, being at that time a single man; He was never wounded by the Indians, but two of his comrades were - That he frequently put the people on their guard against Indian depredations - That during his services, at one time when he and two others were out they took three Tories prisoner like Indians, who had been to the Indians, & two of them had, and was on their way up the river going towards Canajoharie, and at that time he took two others, all of which he drove in, after tying them together, and surrendered them up to Major Mckerler - That he has no documentary proof of his services, but that he knows of three or four individuals, now resident in the neighbourhood of the place where he performed his services, whose testimony he will procure, if possible, to sustain him in this declaration, and who are perfectly aware of his services; but, it cannot be obtained only by writing, as he is too old to prove to go himself to take the depositions - The names of those referred to are, if living now, as they were a few weeks ago, to wit: Ephraim Killam (who was out with me sometimes) John Pellet, Phillip McCarty (who was out with me also) Sybil Kimble, Brother Enely & Benjamin Kimball -
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State -
By the Court. Where was  then  was  then what year were you born?
1. Ans. I was born in Norwich in the State of Connecticut in the year 1754 - he thinks
2. Have you any record of your age, if so, where is it?
Ans. I have it recorded in my Bible at home
3. Where were you living when called into the service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you

five & now live ?
Ans. - I lived in the State of Pennsylvania at the time I volunteered for an indian spy; and I lived in the State of Pennsylvania in the very neighbourhood where my services were performed for forty or fifty years as all events up to the time when I removed to the township of Killbuck in the County of Holmes, State of Ohio which will be eleven years ago this fall. where I now reside -
4. How were you called into the service? -
Ans. - At the request of Major Meeker, an officer in command on the Delaware River. I volunteered as a spy to watch the movements of the Indians and give reports to the neighborhood - and especially to him -
5-
6 Did you ever receive any discharge from the service? Ans. No. I performed all my services of my own free will for the good of my County and the defence of the citizens, without any control of any person, of course I could not receive a discharge
7 I can state the names of Nathaniel Purdy, William Purdy, Moses Chapman, Andrew Emerick, Abraham Shrimplin, all of whom can testify to my character, and some of them who came to my neighbourhood immediately after the close of the Revolutionary War Walter Kimble mark
In witness whereof, the day and year aforesaid Seth Hunt
Thomas Lissett Saml. Culbertson
Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Holmes Co. O.
We William Purdy clergymen, residing in the township of Killbuck in the County of Holmes, Ohio, and Nathaniel Purdy residing in the same place hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Walter Kimble, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty one years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides, where he been an

Indian spy in the Revolutionary War, and that we fully concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Nathaniel Purdy before me
R. H. Emos Clerk
And the said board 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 spy in the Revolutionary War, and served as he states. And the board further certifies, that it appears to them that William Purdy who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the township of Killbuck in the County of Holmes, Ohio, and that Nathaniel Purdy, who also signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I R. H. Emos Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Holmes, Ohio. Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Walter Kimble for a pension -
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventh day of July - A.D. 1835 -
R. H. Emos Clerk

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Walter Kimble a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. W. 5923.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     r r Indian spy r Mayer — Meeker N.J.   1776 r " Eliz. Varnum r Penn.          
Battles engaged in, None stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl. in Pennsylvania.
Date of application for pension, July 2, 1835.
Residence at date of application, Willuck Township, Holmes Co. Ohio.
Age at date of application, born Norwich, Conn. in 1754.
Remarks: A son in law name not stated was alive in 1836. Mr. Spr. family data. This claim was rejected on the ground that the applicant's service as an Indian Spy was not pensionable under the Act of June 7, 1832 under which he applied.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

REJECTED
5953
1914 Apr 15: First to Miss Alice M. Weeks.
1914 Dec 26: History to Mr. Elisha L. Rogers. M.B.H.
P. O.
Walter Kimball
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
hjt -
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
Pa _____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Walter Reinbold suspended Ohio.
See letter 27 July 36 A. P. Leadbetter.
do. 16 on T. P. Lead better 11 Sept.
1837 same Jan. 4
1838 let. 6 July 39 C. M. R. let. 8 July 39 16 on T. P. Leadbetter.

Walter Kemble
Feb d 14 1838
Ref d to the Committee on Rev d  Glavin
Feb d 23 1838
Ref d to Com e on Rev d  Pensions
two clams -
Leadbetter
Leadbetter
Rev. Ch.

War Department, Pension Office, January 4. 1838.
Sir,
In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 1 st inst. I enclose herewith the original papers of Walter Kimball. Be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of them.
I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, Your ob dt Serv t . J. L. Edwards
Hon. D. P. Leadbetter, House of Representatives.

Walter Kimble. Ohio
Millersburg O June 29
Free
Walter Kimble
C. L. Edwards Comr of Pensions Washington City D.C.

Millersburg. Holmes Co. Ohio, June 28 th 1885.
Dear Sir
You doubtless recollect the reception of the application of Walter Kimble for a pension as an Indian spy during the Revolutionary War - I wrote you concerning the testimony which would be taken by his cousin-law for him in Wayne County in the State of Pennsylvania - It has been a long time since he sent his application forward - and also since the testimony was forwarded from Wayne County to your Department - Whether that testimony sustains the Memorial or not I cannot say - not having seen them, and whether they testified as to the very facts set forth by Kimble or not, I cannot tell - or whether they were conversant of what he had set forth in his application or not, I cannot say - But I supposed that they had not sworn hardly to the mark, or that you had not got the depositions, for this reason, that I heard nothing since filing - Will you be so good as to let me know why a pension is not granted, or what is wrong - The old man is poor and feeble - write if you please, on this account, I have no interest - I do not pretend to charge the old man on account -
Yours truly in haste.
J. L. Edwards Comm. of Pensions
W. P. Leadbetter

Office of Rep. H. S. July 8th. 1839.
Sir,
In compliance with the request in yours of the 6th. inst. I have the honor to transmit herewith the papers in the case of Walter Noble of Ohio.
Respectfully your Obt. Servt for J. A. Garland E. C. French J. D. Colk. R.W.
Walter Edwards Esq. Comt of Pensions

Jan 2 nd 38
Walter Kimble
Wm. A. J. P. G. Schwartz
Comr. of Revenue
Mar. 2 nd 38
Wm. D. P. Scadbetter H. R.

Washington January 1. '38-
Hon. S. S. Edwards,
Sir,
If not contrary to the rules of your Office, I should be pleased to have the papers in the rejected case of Walter Brimble of Ohio - otherwise full copies of all including the depositions, for the purpose of presenting his claims to Congress. If services entitles a man to a pension, I have no doubt of success -
Yours Respectfully -
D. P. Lowber,

Millersburgh, Holmes Co. Ohio
June 29th 1859
Hon. J. L. Edwards -
Sir - I herewith transmit for your consideration a supplemental statement of Walter Kinibler, you will refer to his first declaration, which is on file in the Clerk's office of the House of Reps. Among the paps. referred to the Com. on Revolutionary pensions -
There is found among them the deposition of Hannah Beach, an actress of that day. The old man has become almost blind and hard of hearing, and I advised and directed that he should make out his supplemental statement before one of the judges of the Court of Com. Pleas for this County, in manner and form as he has done - all of which I submit for your consideration -
With respect yours &c.
D. P. Leadbetter.
P. S. If you could furnish me with the names of the witnesses who proved the services of Brig. Haines, perhaps we can satisfy you that we are entitled to a pension. - D. P. L.

Millersburgh Pa Millersburgh Pa
Free
Capt. Genl. of War
Washington City -
D.C.
Pension office
Atkins 9th July 1835.

Millerburgh July 8 th 1856-
To S. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions -
Dear Sir, Enclosed is the Declaration of Walter Kimble, upon application for a pension - If there is any thing wanting or lacking I shall expect the papers returned - In reference to additional testimony, I can inform the Department that it is almost impossible for him to procure the testimony of the individuals named in his declaration, unless he can procure the same by writing - Therefore I have, of this Mail, forwarded on to Wayne Co. Pa. a letter to his friends there, to procure the deposition of some of them who were out with him and of others who are perfectly conversant of his services - Kimble cannot prove his services by any one in this County. The two Purcells, who have testified for him, one of which is a regular Baptist preacher, can testify that shortly after the Revolutionary war, Nathaniel in particular who is the eldest - moved into Wallen  now  frack neighborhood and was a neighbor to Walter Kimble, who can testify that he has heard others talk frequently of the privations and the ingenuity and intrepidity of the old man in the most troublous times of the war with the Indians - That he has heard them who were out with him, speak of his willingness to go at all times, and recount their tramps over and over, so that he says, that he is perfectly satisfied that the old man served even more than he has declared to - that he has been well acquainted with him for about 50. years - I make this remark to show, what care he gives. Here - But the testimony I did not take because of the proof position, for which I have written, and which I hope & expect will be forwarded to you - I know, that under the law, at his circumstances be what they may, if the proof sustains him, he will receive a pension - But I will remark that upon my own responsibility that the old man is a man of truth, that he works me to be very careful in drawing up his declaration, and put nothing in but what was strictly true, and what

was still plain to his recollection - That the old man is poor, almost blind, and very hard of hearing - bowed with age, but upon recounting his services, and the difficulties of the country at that time, the old man will straighten up and exhibit a good muscular form of about six feet and four inches, as " stout as an Indian ". I am informed that he has been a man, of whom dexterity, intrepidity and nobleness of mind, his neighbors delighted to boast - But a few years more is all he can expect, and is all that he does expect - he says that at the time he served, he did not serve for pay, nor never expected to receive any thing, but his circumstances have compelled him to resort to the fountain of his country's bounty.
Yours Respectfully.
D. P. Leadbetter

care Walter Newhall
Dr. P. Leadbetter H. A. -
Ohio
5925
Porter 9 dis. Inr. & to Rev.
Hon. D. P. Leadbetter H. A.
Newhall

The State of Ohio Portage County ss
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid.
Hannah Beach, who being duly sworn according to law Depositions and saith that Walter Kimble an applicant for a pension for service rendered during the revolutionary war that he served as a spy to watch the movem- -ents of the Indians, under the command of Major Merkel, who was stationed on the Delaware River, from the 6 th of July A D 1778 the remaining part of the summer and part the most part of five successive summer seasons that in the winter or spring of the year 1779 The Indians came upon him out settle- -ment and fired at some of our men while in a blockhouse, that Walter Kimble was cut off from the party and took to the woods for safety and was out so long, before he came in that his feet was frozen, which confined him some weeks and his sufferings was very great in consequence thereof that it was thought necessary to have spies in order to our safety
Hannah Beach
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 31 st Day of July A D 1837 Milo Stone Jutg of the Peace
I Milo Stone Justice of the Peace do hereby certify that the above named Hannah Beach is a credible person, and whose deposition is entitled to full confidence and belief and that I have been acquainted with her for more than twenty years July 31 st 1837 - Milo Stone Jutg of the Peace

The State of Ohio } Portage County ss. }
I Geo. Kirkum Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Portage do hereby certify that Molo Stone Esq. before whom the within Deposition was taken was at the time of taking said Deposition a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified. I further certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and I verily believe the within Signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this thirty first day of July A. D. 1837 - Geo. Kirkum Clerk of Portage Com. Pleas

State of Ohio. No. 100. 60. 10.
Personally appeared before me, one of the associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas for and within the County aforesaid, Walter Kimble, and made oath in due form of law, to the following additional statement for the purpose of obtaining a pension for his services in the Revolutionary War - To wit: The said Walter Kimble declares that he is now in his eightieth or eighty fifth year of his age, and that in making out his first statement to the Department, he neglected and forgot to state, that before he read the act of the settlers before the were driven off by the British and Indians, he was not enrolled in the service under one Elias Varnum who was Captain of the Militia and Elijah Winton was Lieutenant. That under that enrollment he was called out three times; the first time he was directed to make an attack upon a place of rendezvous upon the Delaware River, where Indians and Tories were harbored and assembled for the purpose of attacking the citizens of the settlements, and commencing and otherwise aiding and assisting the enemy. The second time he was ordered out to the Giraffe roads for the purpose of keeping an espionage over the movements of the Indians and Tories about thirty miles from the settlement; only one man was with him, (Benjamin Horner) and about ten days the second time (near the Cashattin settlement between the Delaware and Susquehanna). The third time, after they were defeated they were directed, Walter Kimble as Captain, to go and escort them if it would be possible to make their escape from the Indians and British, by making their way to the regular

army then under the command of Major Sturtevant  Sturtevant and Col. Bennion  Bennion , situated on the Delaware  Delaware River. He was retained from the command whilst the skuld remain in the fort and defend it. But the woods being full of British Indians and Tories, and meeting some men who had just escaped from the enemy, advised himself  himself (and Clark) to return immediately and warn the captain to remove immediately, and as it happened, they then barely escaped from the not when the enemy made their appearance; and after which, his services as a regular soldier for commenced under the command of Major Sturtevant  Sturtevant ; Sturtevant was an officer of Pennylvania, Sturtevant was from Jersey, and Sturtevant He was a regular officer and a militia officer The declarant cannot swear to it, but that He had a poor man's pension bill They commenced about a week or ten days after the first time there are all the services that he performed as a militia man, under Capt. Bennion  Bennion , after which he performed duty at the request and the command of the said Major Sturtevant  Sturtevant , is set forth in his said declaration. The declarant will here remark, that understanding that Sturtevant He was of course, drew a pension up to the time of his death, only performing similar services with the declarant, when having a family at the time, was not out half the time or half as often as this declarant; but that when He was there  there , he almost invariably went with this declarant, as they were neighbors and are on very friendly terms; and declarant thinks and believes that He never went out, but twice, when himself was not along; that He was the right kind of a

916000
to go out with; understand the words are now a fixed rate Soldier - That Witness who attested to the services of the "Borj. Standard" if living, must certify to the services of the services of this declaration, and that the services of the be equally entitled to a pension - Therefore this declaration with notes
Walter of  the Penobscot manuscript.

January 29, 1906.
Hon. A. L. Brick, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Brick:
In response to the enclosed letter of George Kimble, of Bremen, Indiana, dated January 24, 1906 and received January 29, 1906, I have the honor to advise you that a careful search of the records of this Bureau fails to show that a claim has been filed on account of the Revolutionary service of a Walter Kimble, who died August 4, 1838, and there is no existing law granting pensions to the descendents of Revolutionary soldiers.
Very respectfully,
Deputy Commissioner.

99 Division St., Norwich, Conn. Dec. 22, 1914.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
In the KIMBALL GENEALOGY it is stated that a WALTER KIMBALL who was born in Norwich, Connecticut, April 26, 1756, removed to Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and there in 1776, commenced to serve as an Indian spy, and so continued throughout the Revolutionary War, "as stated in pension paers in Washington, D.C."
Will you kindly inform me whether such papers are in your custody, and what information concerning this Walter Kimball, as can be learned from them, particularly concerning his wife and children.
Did he receive a pension? Thanking you for past favors, and in advance, for the present one, I am
Very truly yours,
E. M. Rogers.
(Mrs. Elisha G.)
This man afterwards went to Killbuck, Holmes County, Ohio, where he was living in July 1835.

ALLEGAN CHAPTER. ALLEGAN, MICH. OFFICE OF REGISTRAR.
133 Crescent St April 3, 1914.
Department of the Interior - Bureau of Pensions - Rev. War Section - Washington D.C.
Will you kindly tell me whether you have records of the following Rev. soldiers and, if so, please send copies of same -
Walter Knible - probably born in Conn. - Owned land in Stony Creek Pa. - to which place he returned after Rev. War - (also lived in Honesdale, Wayne Co. Pa.)
Eli Rood (Rude) of Conn. Simeon Rood - Dato, N.Y. Philip Heck -
Thanking you for past favors which have greatly helped our B.A.P. organization.
Respectfully,
(Miss) Alice M. Weeks.