Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3666, for John Percel, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Percel John
S 3666
carded
CONTENTS

4856
Pittsburgh Agency
John Percel
of ————— in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the Comp y . commanded by Captain Luce — of the Reg t — commanded by Col Seely — in the New Jersey line for Jun t 12 mo 11 days of 61.690 1 " Private — 3.33 $65.23
for increase per letter A. D. Atkinson 20 Sept 1836.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh Agency at the rate of 65 Dollars 23 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of June 1833 and paid to Hon. T. M. T. McKimman. Home Rep s
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 — $97.84 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833 32.61 $130.45
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Viral Luce Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 181

18933
Declaration of John Pacel

Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
On this 12 th day of November 1832. personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of State aforesaid. John Pierce a resident of Morris Township, & County aforesaid. aged eighty two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, cloth on his oath say making the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, & served as herein stated.
That in the month of April, in the year 1776, I resided in Morris Co. N. Jersey, & at that time, I was drafted under Capt. Joseph Lewis, & marched to the upper end of the County, to intercept a body of Tories, who were com- mitting great depredations. we brought them to conditions & returned home after an absence of some days. In the month of May following, in Bucks Valley, I was ordered by John Jacob Hark, who I think was acting under Col. Biddle to commence work in the Valley, to prepare a large number of "entrenching shovels," for the Army. There was a very great & pressing call for these instruments, at that time, & I was obliged to continue my labours on the Biddle's charge. In this employment, I was steadily engaged, for the full term of five months. At this time, I was told, that I should receive soldier pay. I received a small portion, of money, but for a great portion, I was never compensated. In the month of April, 1777, I was drafted under Capt. Cook, & Lieutenant Samuel Day, & marched from Morris Co. to Elizabeth town N. Jersey. We remained there one month in extending the lines on the water side. The enemy at this time were in New York, & would frequently raid over & commit great depredations, upon persons & property. I returned home

after the expiration of our monthly tour, & in the month of June following, I was drafted under Capt. Antenus Day, & again marched to Elizabethton, & was employed one month in guarding the lines. In August & October in the same year, I served monthly tours, at Elizabethton, & our object & employment was to guard the lines, prevent depredations, & check the encroachments of the enemy. The name of the captain, & in these two last tours, I am not able from my extreme age, & impaired memory, to recollect a state. In April or May in the following year, 1872, I was drafted under Capt. Lewis. I think, & served two monthly tours, one in April or May, & the other in July at Elizabethton, in guarding the lines. In September in this year, I was again ordered by Col. Biddle, through his agent Vincent Benham, to commence smith work, in Mondak Township, Moore County, N. Jersey. I was engaged for the term of seven months, in manufacturing horse shoes & nails, for the use of the Army. I manufactured near two thousand gross of shoes, together with the requisite quantity of nails, & performed various other kinds of work. In this same year, I was employed better than two weeks, in guarding prisoners, at Moorestown, N. Jersey. During the preceding monthly tours, I always acted as first sergeant in the companies, in which I served. In the Spring of 1879, I was again drafted under Capt. Moore Morrison, & marched to Elizabethton, for the purpose of guarding the lines. In the summer of this same year, I served two more monthly tours, at the same place, Elizabethton, & was employed in the same way, watching the enemy & guarding the lines. In the first tour we met, at Elizabethton, Col. Christopher Sealy, & in the second, Col. Bennion Wathaney. At the different times, these officers, had command of the troops at Elizabethton. In the Spring of 1880, I was again drafted & served one monthly tour at Elizabethton, & in a short time afterwards, served another monthly tour, at the same place. The name of the captain, I cannot now recollect. The first one

was with Capt. Moore Harrison. The field officers, were I think Col. Lucas or Col. Ford. Between the foregoing monthly tours, I was frequently called out by alarm, & was out some times, two weeks, ten days, & one week, & was occasionally so employed, for a period of three or four years. I also served one monthly tour, at the Red Banks, below Philadelphia, under Lieutenant Jeremiah Hicks , & Major John Hicks, & returned home in the month of December, last the year. I am not able to state, I was born in the year 1750, as my parents always informed me, & in the county of Essex in the State of New Jersey. I have no record of my age. As before stated when I entered the service, I lived in Morris New Jersey, & came to the county of Washington Pa. about the year of 1787, or 1788, & have lived here ever since. In my monthly tours, I was always drafted. I met some of the Regular officers, & Regiments, during my service, but their names I cannot now remember. I never received a written discharge, & when I served as Sergeant, I was appointed by the Company, & received five shillings per month, more than the other soldiers. I have no documentary evidence of my services, & I know of no witness except Benjamin Reckrey , who can testify to my services, at the Red Banks. I am well known by the Rev. Isaac Pettit, Nathan Simpson, William Lindley Esq., & Jacob Waltham , & Doct. Henry Bletchley, who can testify to my character for veracity, & who believe that I was a soldier of the revolution.
I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity except the present, & declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
John Ford
Secondly Subscribed the day & year aforesaid in Open Court. Thomas Officer Pro
We Isaac Pettit a clergyman, & William Lindley a Justice of the Peace, both residing in Morris Township, Washington County aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with

John Percel, of Morris Township, in the County & State aforesaid, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be about eighty two years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood, where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Isaac Pettit Wm Lindley
Sworn & Subscribed the
day & year aforesaid in open Court,
Thos Officer Pro tem 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, & served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Isaac Pettit, of Morris Township, who has signed the preceding certificate is a disinterested person, & that William Lindley who has also signed the same, is a Justice of the Peace in the same township, & is a credible person, & that their statement, is entitled to credit.
I Thomas Officer Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Percel, for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this 12 day of November, 1832.
Thomas Officer, Pro tem

N o 18933
John Parcel
Susp. 6. Dec. '32
Obj. 5.
Honble T. M. S. McRennan
House of Rep's.
Susp 14. Dec. '32
Hon. T. M. S. McRennan
P/55.
Ho. of Rep's.
12 mo. 14 d. Sngt. 61.90
1 mo Private 3.33
$ 65.23
E
E
P/55.

BRIEF in the case of  John Percel  of Washington Co., in the State of Pennsylvania  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 82 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     In 1776 April a few days Private Capt. Linn,   " May " 5 " " making Shovels for the army by order of } Col. Biddle   1777 April " 1 " " Capt. Cook, Lt. Day,   " June " 1 " Private 1st Sgt. " Day.   " Aug. " 1 " " names of officers forgotten. }   " Oct. " 1 " " Capt. Linn   1778 Apr. and May " 1 " " "   " July " 7 " " making horse shoes & nails for the army, order of Col. Biddle   " Sept. " 14 " " guarding prisoners   1779 " 2 " " Col. Beely   1781 " 1 "   " " 1 "    5. In what battles was he engaged? Living witnesses, 14 guarding prisoners  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Morris Co. N. J.
 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses, traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Witnesses' certif. not attached 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
D. Brown
Examining Clerk.

State of Pennsylvania Washington County ss
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, John Parel a resident of Morris township in the county of said and a pensioner of the United States, and an applicant for an increase of Pension. Who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and make the following amended declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That at the time I made my original declaration, I omitted putting down three tours of Military Service performed by me in the year 1781. The fact of my having performed them was not altogether forgotten by me at the time, but I was unable to recollect or bring to my remembrance how or where I had performed them, hence I concluded to omit them. During the summer of 1781, a portion of the Militia of New Jersey were continually out on duty, especially from that section of the State in which I resided, and the circumstance in relation to my service in 1781, are now brought to my recollection. I belonged to and was sergeant in Captain Moses Mearns company of Col. Benona Bathaways Regiment of Militia of Morris County New Jersey. In the month of May 1781, I was drafted and performed a tour of one month service as sergeant under Captain Mearns, being marched to and stationed at Elizabeth town, under the command of Col Seely, Genl. Mearns however had the command of the Military encampment at Elizabeth town. In the month of July I was again drafted and served one month as sergeant, being stationed at Elizabeth town, and to the best of my recollection I performed this tour under the command of Lieutenant Lindley, and in the month of September 1781, I was drafted and performed my third and last tour of one month as sergeant under my Captain Mearns, being marched to and stationed at Elizabeth town, until my term of one month had expired when I was discharged, I got no written discharge for any of the tours of duty thus performed. Having as I have herein stated neglected in my former application to charge these three months service I now claim an increase of Pension for three months service as sergeant of Militia, in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary war.
Sworn to and subscribed this 2 nd day of September 1836 before me Luther Day Esq d
John Parel mark

State of Pennsylvania } Washington County }
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Stephen Simpson, who being duly sworn, according to law doth, on his oath, depose and say, that he is and has been for fifty five years and upwards well acquainted with John Parcel who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration. I know him to have been a soldier in the Army of the United States during the War of the Revolution. I was also well acquainted with Captain Muncan, Col Seely and General Mines, I had some knowledge also of Col Hathaway, when he was a Major. I had no personal knowledge myself that the said John Parcel actually performed the three tours of Militia Service in 1781, for which he now claims an increase of Pension, not being called out or leaving with him at the time to my knowledge, least that I had known, that the Militia were called out during the summer of 1781, as detailed by him in the within statement, and that from common report at the time and from my knowledge of John Parcel and of the circumstances of the times I had no doubt then as I have now but what the said John Parcel did perform the three tours of Militia Service in the year 1781 as detailed by him in the within declaration, and that such was the common report and belief in the neighbourhood where he resided at the time the Service was performed.
Stephen Simpson
Sworn to and Subscribed } before me this 2 d day of } September 1836 Luther Day Clerk
I do hereby certify that Stephen Simpson who has sworn to and subscribed the above statement is a resident of Morris township Green County Pennsylvania well known to me to be a man of veracity whose statement is entitled to credit, he is moreover a reputed soldier of the Revolution and is a United States Pensioner. Given under my hand this 2 d day of September 1836 Luther Day Justice of the Peace

The commonwealth of Pennsylvania Washington County ss. I George Wm Acheson Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, for said County do hereby certify that Luther Day Esquire, before whom the foregoing proceedings were had, was at the time a justice of the peace in and for said county duly commission- ed, and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts. and that the signature purporting to be his I believe to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, at Washington, the 9th day of September A. Domini 1836.
Geo. Wm Acheson Proth.
Cost 25 cts paid

Common Pleas Washington County Pa
In the Court of Common Pleas of said County, personally appeared John P. Reckey of Small Township, in the County & State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say, that he is well acquainted with John Purcell of Morris Township in the County aforesaid, & that he well remembers of serving in the same company, under Lieutenant Jeremiah Black, as a private with the said John Purcell, & served with him one monthly tour of duty, at the Red Bank, below Philadelphia, that the regiment of militia was commanded, by Major John Hartman, this was in the month of October, in the year 1777. That the said John Purcell, is a man of good character, & has supported a fair reputation in the community where he resides.
Sworn & subscribed in Open Court this 12 th day of November 1832.
David Reckey
Thomas Officer Pro.
To the said Court, do hereby declare, that the above-named deponent Benjamin Reckey, is a resident of Small Township in said County, that he is a person of good moral character, & that his statement is entitled to full credit & belief.
In testimony whereof I Thomas Officer Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Washington aforesaid have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the day & year aforesaid,
Thomas Officer Pro
James Blair Esq. before whom the within affidavit of John Purcell is taken & sworn to the best of the knowledge of the person in & for the County of Washington
Thos S. McIlwaine
July 26-1833.

Description of Betsy Richney for John Peral
Pennsylvania Washington County
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid John Peral who being duly sworn according to law, doth say, that by reason of old age and infirmity & 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 men- tioned below, & in the following grades. For a period of at least twelve months, and two weeks. I served
as first Sergeant in the various companies, & for one month at the very lowest, I served as a Private, & for such service I claim a pension. For twelve months I served as an Artillery, & was told by the Agent, I should claim soldier pay. If I had not been so employed, I would have been drafted & compelled to go out in the service on the lines. I would greatly have preferred to have gone out in the service, than compelled to labor, as I did as an Artillery. John Peral 
Sworn & Subscribed before me January 27, 1873 James Blaine

Pennsylvania Washington County Pa
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, John Boeck, 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 a period of at least two years , I served as a Sergeant; For two years at least I served as a private; For Twelve Months I served as an Artificer, but was not enlisted in said service, and was permitted to do nothing but the work of an "Artificer" during the whole of this time; and for such service I claim a pension.
Sworn and subscribed before me the 3rd day of January A.D. 1833.
John Boeck
Samuel Blaine
The above was drawn up in a mistake
S. W.

Rev War
3666.
INVALID.
am
File No. 8666
John Percel
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 291
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

The papers in the case of John Pernal do not present a fair aspect; but I am perfectly satisfied of the old man's honesty and of the honesty of his claim - The manner in which the alteration occurred is this as I am informed - after I returned the papers the old man went to town to have the defects supplied - the gentleman who had drawn up his papers was absent and another gentleman, a member of our bar who was unacquainted with the facts, drew the additional statement which is erased - He asked the old man how long he acted as sergeant - he replied three years memory that he held the office that length of time but not that he was in the service during the whole of it - The gentleman who drew the statement misunderstood him & put it down as it appears in the affidavit - The moment I saw the papers I detected the error and returned them - They are now corrected and as exhibited show that there is no intention of concealment - as I said before I am perfectly satisfied of the old man's honesty & hope the certificate will give -
Th. N. S. McHerran

Sir
Washington, Penn a September 7 th 1836
I enclose you an amended declaration of John Parcel, together with his certificate, for an increase of Pension for three months services, which he alleges were omitted in his original declaration. Mr. Parcel is a very conscientious and I believe a very honest man, of his having performed the service I have no doubt.
Very Respectfully
Your att. Serv t
David Atkinson
J. L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions