Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5681, for Samuel Leidey, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn. Va.
Leidey, Samuel.
S 5681
Carded.
CONTENTS

Pennsylvania 29.021
Samuel Seidley of Bedford Co. in the State of Pa who was a Captain in the Company commanded by Captain Seidley of the Penna. A for services
5 c. 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2
Pa. and Va. Lines, Records completed June 3, 1844.
Inscribed on the Roll of Penna at the rate of 20 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of July 1834 to 1837 Hon. S. L. Hunt H.R.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 50. c. Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 30 10 c. $ 60. c.
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. S. ... Clerk, Book E - Vol. 5 Page 36
Pa
Paid at the rate the Act of the from 4 Sept 18 1838. Agt notice 1839.
Paid as above from 1841. to 4 March Notice 17 Oct. 1840
April 22 J. R. Seidley history Pr. 05

29. III.
Samuel Seidey Penn a
Return for Adm. 6. Months
$20.
Hon George Burd H d Bedford Penn a

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
11 th Jany 1834
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 subjjoined 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. Those 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, shewing the Service of Samuel Lidey
   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.     1779. 2 priv Col Hiester 76 years Traditionary of a living Witness Witness not certified Credible See Note p 2   4 " Cap. Rutter Berks County Pa   " Cap. McIntire  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES 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 militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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 inquiry 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, for a P. who being duly sworn, deponeth 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 tours, 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.
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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

State of Pennsylvania, Bedford County, ss
On this 29 th day of November A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Alexander Thomson President & his associates Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting Samuel Seidly a resident of Woodberry Township, in the County of Bedford, and State of Pennsylvania aged seventy six years who being duly affirmed according to law, doth on his said affirmation, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1833. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated viz. about the latter part of July A.D. 1779 in Greenwich Township Berks County Penn a he mustered with a company of Militia, attached to the Regiment under the command of Col. Joseph Hiester, & being ordered on a tour of two months duty, they marched to Reading in said County, where they laid eight or ten days, until the Battalion was filled up. They then marched from Reading towards the Delaware river which they crossed at Corrells ferry & proceeded to Trenton where they remained some time & were joined by an additional company from Berks County under the command of Captain Ritter. That from Trenton they marched towards New York, but before they reached the city he believes at or near Amboy their term the two months for which they were ordered out expired and they were discharged this Applicant by his Captain whose name he cannot now recollect and they returned home about the first of October having been out two months . Applicant immediately after his return home

went from Berks County to Shepherdstown Virginia whence he marched in a company under the command of Captain McIntire on a tour of four months in the militia of Berkeley now Jefferson County in said State. They marched from Shepherdstown as aforesaid to Weddingtons Mill where Charleston is now situated. That after they left Weddingtons mill, they made no regular marches, but were continually moving about from one place to another to intercept the British who were marching through the Country. That after some time they formed a junction with the regular army & the French at Williamsburg about the 25 th of September.
That shortly after said junction this applicant with others commenced work at the entrenchments, about the 6 th of October & within about six hundred yards of the British lines, and continued at work day & night until the whole works were completed, immediately after which his time having expired he returned to Shepherdstown. During said four months the company to which this applicant belonged was commanded first by Captain McIntire as above stated & afterwards by Captain Bettinger, and was attached to Col. Darks Regiment. Applicant states further that after his discharge which was signed by Captain Bettinger his shoes were stolen from, & not being able to procure others he was compelled to walk home a distance of two hundred & eighty miles barefooted. That during said tour he suffered many

hardships, as they were constantly engaged in active duty, were frequently short of provisions & sometimes were compelled to use putrid & spoiled provisions
Applicant states that he was born in Northampton County Pennsylvania in September 1757 but has no record of his age, That when called into service he lived first in Berks County Pennsylvania & the last time in Shepherdstown Virginia That when he went out he went as a substitute the first time for Peter Mausey & the second time for Philip Pencil - That he only recollects of the Officers Col Kreiter Capt Bittiger, Col Dack & Genl Washington That he had two discharges which were stolen from him with some other papers in Virginia
That Abraham Longanecker knowing him & can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services & That there is no clergyman whom certificate he could prove
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 agency of any state
Sworn & subscribed this day & year aforesaid W. Kannethy
his Samuel X Leidey mark

Pennsylvania Bedford County } ss
As I Abraham Longaneka residing in Woodbury Township in said County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Leidy who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seven six years of age; that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that I concur in that opinion. Abraham Longaneka
Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Job Mann Justice
State of Pennsylvania Bedford County } ss
And the Court do hereby declare their Opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories presented 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 ap- pears to them that Abraham Longaneka who has signed the preceding Certificate is a resident in the township of Woodbury in the County of Bedford, and is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
I Job Mann Justice (or Clerk) of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County of Bedford, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Leidy for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of my office at Bedford the 29 th day of November A o D i 1833.
Job Mann Justice

Inv. 5681:Rev.War.
Oct. 29, 1904.
Sir:
In reply to your inquiry, you are advised that Samuel Leidey, aged 76 years, residing in Bedford county, Pa., made an application for pension November 29, 1833. He stated that he was born in Northampton county, Pa., in September, 1757; that about the last of July, 1779, while living in Greenwich township, Berks county, Pa., he enlisted as a private under Captain Ritter in Colonel Hiester's regiment, Pennsylvania militia, and served two months; that immediately after his return home he went to Shepherdstown, Va., where he enlisted as a private under Captain McIntire in Colonel Dark's Virginia regiment, and served four months, and that the latter part of this term his company was commanded by Captain Bittinger. No battles are mentioned.
His claim was allowed.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

JRW
File FILE WITH CASE
January 8, 1904.
No. 5,681, Inv., Revolutionary War.
Sir:
In reply to your inquiry, you are advised that the name of Samuel Leidey's wife, and the date of his death are not of record in this Bureau. He stated he was born in 1757 in Northampton county, Pennsylvania; the day and month are not shown.
For date of last payment of pension, apply to the Auditor for the Interior Department, at the Treasury Department, this city, citing the following data, viz.: "Certificate No. 29,021, act of June 7, 1832, issued February 25, 1834, Pennsylvania agency."
He was pensioned at $20 per annum, from March 4, 1831.
Literal copies of papers filed in pension claims cannot be furnished.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mr. N. B. Studebaker,
2556 California Street,
Denver, Colorado.

Rev. Elias Leidy Studebaker Bendersville, Adams Co., Pa.
Geo. I. Studebaker.
722. N. Gilmor St. Balt. Md. Mrs. Nettie M. Studebaker
1237 Lagon Ave. Denver Colo.
Albert H. Studebaker D. D.
2010 Park Ave. Balt. Md.
Mrs. Wallie Broadwell.
Urbana, Ohio.
J. E. Studebaker M.D. Ph. D.
Springfield Ohio
Chas. A. Studebaker
1690 3 rd St. BKlyn. N.Y.
Mrs. F. E. McConnell.
212 E. Church St. Urbana, O.
N. B. Studebaker
722 N. Gilmor St. Balt. Md.

Philadelphia 3/24/90 To the Commissioners Of Pension
Sir
Will You please inform me whether You have a record in Your Office Of a pension ever having been paid to Samuel Leidy Of Bedford Co. Pa. a private Soldier in the Pennsylvania Militia, during the Revolutionary War ; he was placed on the Pension roll Feb 25 th 1834, his pension commenced March 4 th 1831.
Yours Respectfully J. R. Leidy 4678 Green St Germantown Phil a Pa

is a - of ymed His lo alts
Rev War
5681
INVALID.
File No. 5681
Samuel Leidey
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: — Vol. M , Page 219
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Nov 12 1903 - N N.B. Studebaker Balt. Md.
Jan'y 8, 1904. Date of death & name wife not stated. How to get date of birth & copies not furnished
Oct. 29-1904 N.B. Studebaker 4 copies

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office, December 28 th , 1838.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Samuel Leidey, _____ a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia, Agency, at the rate of Twenty — Dollars and _____ Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1836, to the 4 th March, 1838.
Respectfully, yours,
Wilson B. Purdie Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

2 m. 6. 11
Application of Samuel Leidig of Bedford County Penn s

Jefferson County So wit
This day personally came before me a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, Peter Fisher, and made oath that he and Samuel Lidy, marched from Shepherds Town, Jefferson County (then Berkeley County) under the command of Capt. M c Intire to York Town, on York River, in the State of Virginia, and were there at the Commencement of the siege in which Lord Cornwallis was taken by the American Army - that they were regularly joined to the American army at York Town, and served their tour of duty in the American service, in the Regiment Commanded by Col. Dark, received their discharges at the expiration of their term, and both returned home together.
Given under my hand this 9 th day of Novem. r 1833.
David Sively
Jefferson County Let.
I Paul J. Cramer, clerk of the County Court of Jefferson in Virginia, hereby certify that David Sively esq: is a magistrate as above & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
Given under my hand this and the seal of said Court this 9 th day of November, 1833.
Paul J. Cramer c l .

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
July 24 th , 1843.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, Samuel Leidey , a Pensioner on the Roll of the Phil. P. Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1841, to the 4 th March 1842.  Respectfully, yours,
J. Haver, acting Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.