Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5757, for John Miller, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Miller, John
S. 5757
b. 1755 d. 1838
carded
CONTENTS

Pension Agent notified { see letter - }
31,883
Pennsylvania
John Miller, dec. d survivable to Elizabeth Bising, daughter, of Philadelphia in the State of Penn. who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Rich of the regt commanded by Col. Smith in the Penn. militia time for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Philadelphia at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. to the 7 th August 1838, the time of his death.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9. day of Sept. 1841 and sent to Hon. C. J. Ingersoll, House of Representatives
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending
Amount due to 7. Aug. 1838 $ 148.69
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Book E. 2. Vol. 5.
Clerk,
Page 41

Be it Remembered That at a Court of Common Pleas held at Philadelphia for said County On the Fourth day of September A.D 1841
Due proof having been exhibited to the satisfaction of the Court, It was Ordered to be Certified that John Miller late of the County of Philadelphia departed this life on or about the Twenty Seventh day of August A.D 1838 leaving no Widow surviving him - and leaving but One child to wit Elizabeth Bisbing his daughter who is intermarried with George Bisbing - and Two Grand children to wit John Hay and William Hay who are sons of Ann Hay also deceased, who was a Daughter of the said John Miller and intermarried with William Hay who is now likewise deceased and that the said John Miller left no other child or children or Grand children or other descendants except as aforesaid
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of said Court at Philadelphia this Fourth day of September A.D 1841
J. Hart Porthondary

34.100
John Miller Pennsylvanian

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. —
State of Pennsylvania County of Philadelphia S.S.
On this day of day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven personally appeared in Open Court of Common Pleas for the City & County of Philadelphia now sitting John Miller a resident of the Northern Liberties of the County of Philadelphia aforesaid in the said State of Pennsylvania 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 was born in Dauphin County in the State of Pennsylvania on the ninth day of November A.D. 1755 and is now nearly eighty two years of age but the record of his age is lost and he was baptized at an early age at the place of his birth as he believes; That when called into the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war he resided in Cherry Street in the City of Philadelphia & County of Philadelphia & has lived in the said City until within the last several years past he has resided and now resides in the Northern Liberties in the County of Philadelphia That he entered into the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war as a private volunteer in December 1776 & was in that winter's Campaign under the Command of Col. Bayard Lieutenant Col. Cox & Major Bradford who afterwards kept an hotel in the City of Phila. & was in the service during that Campaign about two months; That in the year 1777 he entered again as a private volunteer in the third class of Pennsylvania militia in a

Regiment commanded by Col. Jonathan Bayard Smith and in which was a Major Payson, Captain Conrad Rush commanded the Company in which deponent was & J. Binder was Lieutenant; Christian Shaffer he thinks 2 was the Adjutant and declarant also about two months in this Regiment; That he was in the battles of Princeton & Brandywine & on this term of service having expired he again volunteered in a Company commanded by Capt. Whiteman who joined a Regiment commanded by Col. Knapp & Major Capsey; That whilst at Whittemore's during this last mentioned campaign he was one of the volunteers who went on a secret ex- pedition; That they cut the ropes, by which the middle Ferry on the River Schuylkill was cropp'd, for the purpose of obstructing the British Army in order to effect which object he remembers had to wade the Schuylkill at the Swede's Ford and from thence march to where the permanent Bridge now is on that River, & afterwards the party took forty two heads of cattle into camp which were ordered to be sold & the value paid to the captors; That after he was discharged from this last mentioned campaign declarant Votter among whom were Col. Coates Capt. Swift & a Mr. Peart were captured in the night of the 3 d February 1778 by the enemy & on the day following (the 4 th ) were confined in the Philadel- phia Prison in Walnut Street & there remained a prisoner till the 16 th June of same year & was then put on board one of the British Transports taken to New York & there confined in the "North Church" & remained a prisoner until about the middle of August when an exchange of prisoners was made & declarant was released & he reached his home in Philad. a 27 th August of the same year That at the time he was taken prisoner his last discharge was in his pocket & he supposes it was

worn out or lost & he does not remember by whom it was signed; and the declarant further says that he was also under the command of Col. M c Mill, Major Pancake & was a Sergeant in a Company commanded by Capt. Burkhardt & was one of a reserve Corps at the Battle of Trenton, having been at Dunkes Ferry on a service which failed from the severity of the weather & being unable to get the cannon across the River Delaware; That he declarant served in every Campaign the Philadelphia militia made except the first & would have served in that too but the person to whom he was apprenticed refused his permission altho' declarant offered to serve him two months additional to his term of apprenticeship; That the Declarant also served as a substitute for the Noble Jacob Rush (Rusk) of Philad. a now deceased who had been drafted for the purpose of guarding City property & served there for about two months;
That he, this declarant, has no documentary evidence but has been enabled to procure the testimony to be found in the depositions herewith annexed & he would also state that at the time the late Matthew Lawler was Mayor of Philad. a the Honorable Mahlon Dickerson now Secretary of the Navy called with another gentleman on deponent to accept the office of High Constable of Philad. a to which he was afterwards appointed & held four years which was as he believes on account of his Revolutionary services which probably the Noble. Secretary will remember.
That the Rev. d C. R. Dennis & Philip Worn of the City of Philad. a & John Clapp & Elizabeth Lendewig of the County of Philadelphia are among the persons to whom he is known & who can testify to his character for veracity and their knowledge & belief respectively of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
We 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 to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Joseph Goy W. H. Randall
John Miller
Judge Com. Phila County
We Charles R. Demme Pastor of the German Lutheran Congregation in the City of Philadelphia and Philip Worn both residing in the said City of Philadelphia hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Miller who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration and that we believe him to be in the eighty second year of his age; That he is a member of the said Lutheran Congregation; That he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
in open Court
W. H. Randall
Judge Com. Phila
Chas. R. Demme
Philip Worn
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 the Reverend C. R. Demme who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resi- dent in the City of Philadelphia and that Philip Worn who has signed the same is a resident in the said City of Philadel-

phia and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Robert Morris clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the City & County of Philadelphia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Miller for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this Twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & Thirty seven.
Robert Morris
Clerk.

State Pennsylvania } Philadelphia County } ss
Before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid personally appeared Elizabeth Ludwig of the District of Spring Garden county aforesaid widow, aged seventy six years, who being duly sworn on her oath saith, that she is well acquainted with John Miller in the annexed declaration named, and has known him , since his boyhood. That she knows the said John Miller was a prisoner, captured by the British, during the war of rebellion and was confined in the Walnut street prison, in the city of Philadelphia; saw the said John Miller whilst he was in prison, and saw him when he was going to prison with others, under a guard, officer  officer  believed  believed Refugees; that she has been informed and believes he was taken to New York. That she has known the said John Miller and so well, that she can confidently swear, that he is a man of veracity and truth, and is entitled to belief; and from her knowledge of him , believes his declaration contains the truth, and believes the amended declaration he has made (being read to her) contains the truth. He is deemed and reported to be a man of truth and veracity by all his neighbours and acquaintances. —
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 18 th day of July A.D. 1837.
W. B. Norbury J. P.
Elizabeth her Ludwig Mark

State of Pennsylvania } Feb. Philadelphia county }
The deposition of John Bloss who from age and infirmity, (being bed ridden) is unable to appear in court.
On this twenty eighth day of June A.D. 1837 John Bloss a resident of the Northern Liberties, in the county aforesaid, was by me duly sworn according to law, and testified, as follows: That he is in the seventy seventh year of his age; that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and knows that John Miller, now applying for a pension, was also, and at the time Deponent knew him as a soldier, he was a sergeant in Capt. Andrew Burkarts company attached to a Regiment commanded by Col. Knox; that he knows he was in the army encamped at White Marsh in 1777- or 8; that the said John Miller, this Deponent, and others, were ordered on a service considered vitally important, and were successful in its performance; that the detachment marched from the encampment to the middle ferry on the River Schuylkill and assisted in cutting the ropes by which the crossing was effected, to prevent or retard the crossing of the British army; all of the detachment volunteered for this service; that on their return to camp they brought in forty two head of cattle which Genl. Washington ordered to be sold and the proceeds to be distributed among the captors of the cattle; that the cattle were

sold, but the commissary never paid the men who performed that service; that he has known the said John Miller since his youth, that he is a man of truth and integrity and entitled to belief. —
his John X Blopp mark
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 28 th day of June A.D. 1837.
Jos. B. Norbury Justice of the Peace Salon
Philadelphia County Pa.
Robert Morris Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County do certify that Jos. B. Norbury Esq. before whom the above affidavit was made and who has there- unto subscribed his name was at the time of so- doing and still is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of said and duly commissioned and qualified to all whose acts as such full faith and credit are and ought to be given as well in Courts of Judicature as elsewhere —
In Testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Philadelphia this 28 th day of June A.D. 1837
Robert Morris Protho ry

August 24, 1939
BA-J/AWF John Miller S. 5757
Mrs. George Wheldon RR No. 1 by way of Osseo Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Miller, born about 1756, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served from there, and died about the year 1840, in Pennsylvania, whose daughter, Ann or Nancy Miller, was your grandmother.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 5757, based upon the service of John Miller, in the War of the Revolution.
John Miller was born November 9, 1755, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents are not given.
While residing on Cherry Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John Miller enlisted sometime in December, 1776, served two months as a private in Colonel Bayard's Pennsylvania regiment, at the time of the battle of Trenton he was at "Dunks Ferry", in the endeavor to get the cannon across the Delaware River, was in the battle of Princeton. He served in 1777, two months in Captain Conrad Rush's company, Colonel Jonathan Bayard Smith's Pennsylvania regiment, and was in the battle of Brandywine. He volunteered, again, in 1777, and went on a secret expedition, under Captain Whiteman and Colonel Knox, waded the Schuylkill

River at "Swedes' Ford" and cut the ropes, by which the "middle Ferry on the River Schuylkill was crossed," to prevent the British from crossing, after which he assisted in taking forty-two head of cattle into camp, length of this tour not stated. He was captured the night of February 3, 1778, with Captain Swift and Colonel Coates, put in the Philadelphia Prison, on Walnut Street, held there until June 16, 1778, then put on a British Transport and carried to New York City and held a prisoner in North Church until exchanged sometime in August. He was a sergeant in Captain Andrew Burkhardt's company, also served under Colonel Will, and two months as guard in Philadelphia. He stated that he served in almost every campaign in the Philadelphia Militia, during the Revolution.
After the Revolution, this soldier, John Miller, was "High Constable" of Philadelphia, four years, definite dates not given.
Pension was allowed on his application executed October 12, 1837, at which time he was a resident of Northern Liberties, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, where he had lived a few years.
John Miller died August 27, 1838, leaving no widow. The name of his wife is not shown, nor are there any data in regard to their marriage.
He was survived by one child, a daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of George Bisbing, both of whom were living in 1841.
The only other child mentioned was Ann Miller, who married William Hay, she died before her father, John Miller, and her husband, William Hay, was referred to as deceased, in 1841 ; their two children, John and William Hay, were living in 1841. (in 1841)
Elizabeth Ludwig a widow in 1837, aged seventy-

six years, and living in the District of Spring Garden, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, stated that she had known the soldier, John Miller, since his childhood, but gave no relationship.
The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible data relative to the family of John Miller.
Very truly yours
A. D. MILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

34,100 John Miller, decd Pennsylvania
Admitted
Pa: 6 mo. $20. — bap Rush Col built Pa mile
died 7 th Aug t 1838, leaving one child Elizabeth Bising.
Act 7 June 1832
Hon. L. J. Ingersoll H. R.

Revtran
5757 INVALID.
1929-Aug 24 - left to Mrs. George W. Holden
File No. 5757
John Miller Miss Rev War
Act: June 1st 1882
Index: Vol. M , Page 257
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Chief Clerk W. C. Black Rev 1812
Veterans Administration
Washington D.C.
My Dear Sir,
Since writing you on June 22nd I have secured information that will help you to find my ancestors records and perhaps give me the information I am wanting.
I find John Miller was born at Philadelphia Penn in 1766 and died also at Philadelphia in 1840.
John Miller served in Capt John Eyer's Company of Philadelphia Militia. He was at Brandywine crossed the Delaware with Washington and lost two fingers at the Battle of Trenton. Died at the age of 84 and was buried with the honors of War.
His name is on the Honor Roll at Memorial Continental Hall at Washington D.C. I would appreciate his pension record and any names of his children.

that you might possibly have as I knew his wife's name which was Mary Eaton.
There are as you say quite a number of John Miller's who served in the Revolutionary war and I wish to connect up my line with his if possible so I can join the D.A.R.
Will appreciate anything you can do to help me as I am unable to find names of his children anywhere excepting his daughter Elizabeth Miller.
My Grandmother's name was Ann or Nancy Miller she was the daughter of John Miller.
Sincerely Yours
Mrs George Wheldon RR No 1 by way of Osseo Minneapolis Minn
enclosing stamp for reply. recd Aug 14

Hon. C. J. Ingersoll
July 16. 41
OC

Pen: Official July 16. 1841
Sir, The letter of Mr. J. T. Whitecar stating the name of Mrs. Bickings father to be John Miller has been received. As the letter of Mr. Whitecar which was returned to you on the 10th inst. contains the particulars about which information is required in the case of Mrs. Bickings father, I will thank you to return again enclose it to me, in order that I may be enabled to give the necessary information in the case. The papers in support of the claim of John Miller of Philadelphia county, are on file in this office.
Hon. C. J. Ingersoll N. R.
0 - 2 enter in index

J. Keene Nov 17. 1837 Pa.

War Dept. Pen. Office Nov 17. 1887
Sir
The papers in the case of John Miller have been ex- filed with suspended cases. in He has not specified each term of actual service as the regulations require, or with such precision as to enable the Dept. to decide to what amount of pension he is entitled. It does not appear that he was in for- =forming a term of service at the time he was taken prisoner and therefore the time during which he was a prisoner cannot be computed. It is alleged that in his second term of two years he was in the battles of Princeton & Brandywine which could not have been the case. A satisfactory reason should be given by the applicant under oath for not having made an earlier application for a pension which he has failed to do in the annexed declaration exhibits.
A. Keppel S. Keppel Esq corner 4 th & Cherry Streets Phil a

Pen: Office July 19. 1841
Sir,
In the case of John Miller now deceased I have to inform you that his claim was suspended in November 1837 because he had  not specified in his declaration each term of actual service performed by him as a military man of Pennsylvania. Upon a re-examination of the papers it is found that he had  performed a sufficient the performed service of sufficient duration to entitle him to a pension at the rate of $20 per annum, the lowest rate provided for by the act of 7 June 1832. He claimed for four terms of service besides for the time during which he was a prisoner but the precise duration of each term not being specified and it not being clearly shown that he was in the performance of his duty as a soldier of the army at the time he was taken prisoner further proof was required to entitle him to a pension for the whole

of the time that he served and for the time that he was a prisoner.
To obtain a pension at the rate of $20 per annum from the 4 th March 1831 to the period of his death, Mrs. Elizabeth Bisbing, the daughter of the decd. should prove her relationship in open court and the period of his death, and if there be other children living it should be shown in court. The proceedings in the cases should be exhibited at this office.
19. July 1841. O.C.
M c Whorter's letters are herewith returned.
O.C. into order
Hon. C. J. Ingersoll N. R.

8. Sept 1841
Mrs Allison John Miller
Mr. Cohen etc.
Pension Agent
Hon C. J. Ingersoll H. R.

Mr. Ingersoll rec d the enclosed to day just as it is without any letter of advice, and is therefore at a loss whether he does right in troubling Mr. Edwards with it - If not Mr. Edwards is requested to return it to Mr. I. who thinks, without being sure, that it relates to a subject heretofore presented by him to Mr. Edwards
Sep. 7.

16. July 1841 Letter re: of Bicknells Care
Allen or
Mr. Edwards
60m in pensions
How to J. Lugerolle

Enclosed with Mr. Ingersoll's respects and request for a proper answer
July 15

Oct 18.
for mail Oct 7 P.M. John P.
L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, Dist. of Col.
A

Philad. Oct. 16 th 1837.
Sir,
I take the liberty, on behalf of Mr. John Miller, of the Northern liberties of this city of enclosing you his application for the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7. 1832. There was I believe some defect in his former application made by him & I thought best to draw anew his declaration according to the forms & regulations of the war department under the act, complying with those where I judged there was any omission & stating the whole according to his knowledge & recollection. I trust his papers will now be found correct.
I will thank you to addresse any communication on the above subject to me at the corner 4 th & Cherry streets, Philad a .
I am very respectfully Yrs. &c.
J. L. Edwards Esq rs Commrs. &c.
J. Keene

John Miller Pennsylvania
Suspended.
Let 17 Feb 1837
S. T. ...
Let 16 July 1837
C. J. ...
Let 19 July 1837
14
At 7 June 1832

( Copy )
War Department.
Revolutionary Claims.
I certify, that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7 th June 1832, John Miller, of the State of Pennsylvania, who was a Private in the War of the Revolution, was entitled to receive Twenty Dollars per annum, during his natural life; and that having died on the 7 th of August 1838, the amount due, from the 4 th March 1831 to the time of his death is payable to Elizabeth Bising, daughter of said dec d .
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 9. Sep. 1841.