Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41,920, for Joseph Neilson, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Pension
Neilson Joseph
S 41,920
CONTENTS

To Penn a Pittsburgh Agency 20, 180 for Pennsylvania
Joseph Neilson
of Lancaster Co. in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain McClure of the Regiment commanded by Colonel _____ in the Penn a line, for the term of from _____ 17 to _____ 17
Inscribed on the roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the first day of January 1828,
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th of July 1830 and sent to Pensioner care of Samuel Dale Lancaster.
Arrears to 4th of March 1830 $209. 03 Semi-annual all'ce ending 4 Sep. 1. 48
$257. 03
{ Revolutionary Claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. }
May 20. 1830
Re. Book D. Vol. 6. fol. 71
see letter to Hon. W. M. Greene H.A. Jan. 20. 1831.
Transf. to Penn a Pitts y Agency 12 Feb. 1831 from 4 Sept. 1830 and notification sent to Pensioner care of M. B. Lowrie Esq. Pittsburgh. Pa.

The Petition of Joseph Neilson, a soldier of the Revolution - for a Pension.
Jan. 2 nd 1824 Ref d to Mil. Pensions
Buchanan 15 Pensions

To the Honourable, The Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled,
The Petition of Joseph Nelson, a soldier of the Revolution humbly shews,
That he volunteered as a substitute in the place of Joseph Arbuckle, in the Militia company commanded by James McClure, at Jones Mill (Forks of Brandywine) in the Spring of 1776; then marched to Old Chester, and there a part of Capt. McClure's company (him- self one of them) joined the flying camp. He was then made Orderly Sergeant, marched to Philadelphia - Then to Bergen - thence to Fort Lee; and after serving a tour of three months duty, was regularly discharged from service in the flying camp. He then went to New York and attached himself to the Delaware Blues, commanded by Capt. Joseph Medham, in the regiment commanded by Col. Hazlett. He was not regularly enlisted, nor on the Master Roll of his company, but paraded with them, fought with them, and marched with them, and was in every requisite a member of the company, except the actual enlistment. He was with the Blues at the retreat of Long Island, on the retreat through the Passes, and was with them, at the battles of Trenton and Princeton; and helped to cut down the bridge on the Raritan, on the retreat of our army after the battle of Princeton. He then quit the army and went to sea in the Sloop, commanded by Thos. Fruxton, bound to Cape Francois, returned again, and again took three similar trips and finally returned to Wilmington; then went out in the brig Holker, commanded by Capt. Geddes and owned by Blair McPherson. She was a privateer, mounting eighteen nine pounders; cruised off Neversink, on the coast of Long Island, and captured two merchant vessels and two transports and brought them into Philadelphia. Then went out in the same brig, commanded at that time, by Matthew Loller, cruised off Neversink again, and again returned to Phila- delphia. Went a third time in the same brig commanded by Capt. Loller, on a cruise to the West Indies, and captured a Merchant- man off Anguilla, with a company of British Soldiers on board, con- sisting of a Captain, Lieutenant, Ensign and 54 privates; the vessel mount- ing eighteen guns; delivered the prisoners of war to the French at Mar- tinique, and brought the prize to Philadelphia. Your petitioner then went out in the brig Harlequin, James Earle master; a merchant vessel, bound for Cape Francois, and was captured off the Capes of Delaware, by the Greyhound frigate, and taken to New York and put on board of the Prison Ship - there was between 100 & 150 prisoners on board, they died very fast; from four to five a day; He

happened to find a small bit of copper sticking in his talk, and on his tongue; He went ashore to get fresh provisions, bought half a quarter of a yard of black gauze; he sifted his flour with it, and found copper among it; the rest of the prisoners all done the same and no more of them died after that time. An American Physician came on board, examined the flour and found no copper in it; He then gave the Physician better than half a pint of ground copper, which he had sifted from the flour, which the Doctor took to Gen. Washington. He was then taken from the Prison ship and put on board of the "London" 90 gun ship, Admiral Graves, commanded, at the Hook. He thinks this was done because he discovered the copper in the nations - He was then put in irons, on account of refusing to do duty, and kept so for eleven weeks; The irons were taken off the day of the battle with the French fleet off the capes of the Chesapeake, and put about a week before on board of the "Ardent" 64 gun ship - was on board of the Ardent, with the Fleet, when the American ship "Confederacy" was taken; remained on board of the "Ardent" when the fleet returned to New York. Was then sent to England in a ship commanded by Capt. Cantle, together with the officers of the American ship "Confederacy." (Of whom — Nourse, was a Midshipman.) There refused to pump one day and was cruelly beat by Lieutenant Dolan. Then taken into Portsmouth and put into prison together with Midshipman Nourse, and was kept there one year - Then exchanged as a French prisoner (on paying five guineas) and brought into St. Malus - Then discharged, which was in the year 1783. Then landed at Lewistown, Delaware; afterwards removed to Lancaster county, Pa. - got married, lived there twelve years; and then removed to Washington county, same state; and lives there now, in Hanover township. Was seventyseven years of age last August and is lame in the right ankle from the irons put on him while a prisoner on board of the fleet. Your petitioner has no property, neither real, personal or mixed. He has lately been at Philadelphia and through the state of Delaware to find some person to testify to these facts, but the hand of death has been upon them, and he has been unable to find a single individual who bared his breast to the battle storm in the perilous days of '76.
He therefore prays, your honorable bodies, to take his case into consideration, and to grant him that relief, which as a of the Revolution, Soldier, he is entitled to receive.
Joseph Nelson

State of Pennsylvania Lancaster county } Sct.
Personally came, before me Samuel Dale, senior associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Lancaster, Joseph Nelson, the aforesaid Petitioner, who being duly sworn, doth say, that all the facts, contained in the foregoing petition, are true, to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Sworn and subscribed before me the 2 d of October 1826. }
Joseph Nelson
Sam d Dale

War Department Recd Pension Office
J. L. Edwards Esq. Washington City D. C.
Transferred to Penn. State Agency
James Wilson Feb 8 1831

Allegheny County Pennsylvania
On this second day of February 1831 before me the Subscribed an Alderman of the City of Pittsburgh and Notary Public by authority of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania duly commissioned and sworn residing in the City of Pittsburgh personally appeared Joseph Neilson who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Col d James McClure in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Montgomery in the service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Pennsylvania on the 9 th July 1830 that he resides in Washington County Penn a and has resided there since the latter part of the last summer. That previous thereto he resided in Lancaster County Penn a . That he intends to remain in Washington County and wishes his pension in future to be made payable at Pittsburgh Agency. That the cause of his removing to Washington County is owing to his having six children living in that County & it being his own former residence he wishes to be there the remainder of his days.
Sworn & Subscribed before me the day & year aforesaid
W B Lowrie
Joseph Neilson
at some time John Wilson .. to me well known as a man of veracity being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that he is acquainted with the above named Joseph Neilson and knows him to be identical person who he represents himself to be in the above deposition sworn and subscribed before me the day & year above stated In Witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Notarial Seal of Office this day
John Wilson W B Lowrie Not. Pub.

The so kind as to direct to me the care of Mrs Laura E. G. Pillsbury
I L d E d wards Esq Joseph Neilson
✓ Br.

41,920/8
Joseph Nelson
Master 1876 - 77 Western Q. Pa.
Sp576. — Pa
Capt Jas. McClure
Cul Oct 3 mo
Fulln. Capt Jas. Steadham Cul Hazlett Oct.
Trenton & Princeton
Then joined navy & was on various vessels & was captured by Portuguese Frigate
"Greyhound" - kept on various vessels in England till released in 1783
Gives no dates, 4 capt as above
Recd by Spat Ash May 20 1880

1- com Da
41920
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 41.920
Joseph Neilson Rev. Rev. Rev.
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 868
[Arrangement of 1870.]

PA JUL
Sir
Hon John H Eaton Secretary of War City Washington

To the Honorable John R Eaton Secretary of War.
Sir Having been named in the Act of Congress of 20 th May last (1830) as entitled to be placed on the Pension List of Soldiers of the Revolution - I do hereby request that you will be pleased to forward to me a certificate to enable me to draw the amount to which I will be entitled. Joseph Neilson
Lancaster July 6 th 1830.
I certify that Joseph Neilson abovenamed is the same Joseph Neilson to whom a pension has been allowed under the Act of Congress of the 20 th May last. I am acquainted with this fact from actual knowledge, having been instrumental in obtaining the pension for him.
James Buchanan
Lancaster 6 July 1830.
The above named Joseph Neilson is about 80- years of age lives a great distance from this place he came here to get the certificate of Mr Buchanan he is anxious to return home and would be greatly glad if a certificate could be forwarded to him soon directed to him now in the City of Lancaster & to the care of
Sam d Dale

Cassia Office July 9 th 1830
Penn: Rev. Roll $8 per month from 1 Jan. 1828 - act. May 20. 1830. -

Mr. Burges
" Military Pensions" 2

20 th Congress 1 st Session
Congress of the United States In the House of Representatives
December 24, 1827.
On motion of Mr. Lawrence
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting a pension to Joseph Nelson, a Revolu- tionary Soldier -
Attest. M c Clain Clarke Clerk

Documents in the of Joseph Nelson
Lawrence 8. Penyon addl doc.

Sir!
City of Washington 20 th February 1820
In compliance with your Letter of the 10 th January last, I wrote to my Brother Mr William Durne living in the Neighbourhood of Danville Kentucky and sent to him a copy of the Petition of Joseph Nelson, with a request that he would furnish me with all the Information his recollection might afford in relation to his fellow Colliers, and fellow Prisoner in Forton Jail. In consequence of my Letter, he has sent to me the Certificate which I have now the pleasure of inclosing to you, and which I hope will bear the weight of evidence the peculiar hardships bearing of the Petitioner requires. My Brother's Petition, I think, may have been read by the Honorable Member of your House Mr S. P. Moore, who represents the District in which my Brother resides. I pray you, Sir, to confer with that Gentleman; I beg leave to hand you a copy of my Brother's Petition; and to ask the favour of your returning it to me about the time you may leave the City.
I am with great respect Sir!
Your most obed t
& most humble Serv t
Joseph Young
Hon ble
J. Laurence
House of Representatives United States

A. J. LOGAN & CO., 119 THIRD AVENUE, COR. CHANCERY LANE, PITTSBURGH, - PA.
W.H. ...
Pgh. Pa Oct. 7-
100 10 100 10 10 100 10 10 100
The U.S. Com. of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir - Will you kindly furnish me with the military record of my G.G. Grandfather Joseph Nelson who was a Revolutionary Soldier and a pensioner.
Thanking you in advance for your kindness, I am
Yours respectfully
Robt. B. Harrison
119-3 rd Ave.
Pittsburgh Pa.
P.S. Joseph Nelson was a son of Thomas Nelson who was a brother of Lord Nelson of Trafalgar fame, Joseph Nelson lived in Washington Co Penna, and died at Washington Pa.

State of Kentucky Mercer County } set
Personally came before me Jas. Lillard one of the Justices of the peace for the County of Mercer Will- -Nourse formerly a Midshipman on Board The United States Frigate "Confederacy" and afterwards a prisoner with the British enemy during the Revolutionary War, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he well remembers the name of  Neilson as a fellow prisoner with him in the hands of the British in Forton Prison England and thinks it probable that he messed with him, but from the great lapse of time since those unhappy days his memory does not serve him to be more particular.
William Nourse
Sworn and subscribed before me this 15 th February 1827.
Jas. Lillard JP

William Nourse } Dep ~ in behalf of Jos. Neilson }

The Petition of Joseph Neilson a Soldier of the revolution for a pension
Jan y 2 d 1827
Ref d to Com ee on Mil. Pensions
The object of the Petitioner is to obtain a Certificate from William Nourse of the Trade naval d. so far as may be within his recollection at this time being to certify and return to the Clerk Joseph Nourse W m Nourse
Feb. 26 - 1827
Ref d to Com ee on Mil. Pensions other papers with Com ee
Dec. 24. 1827.
Ref d to Com ee on Military Affairs
Feb. 13. 1828
Bill reported - No. 166
December 10. 1828
Ref d to the Com ee on Mil. Pensions -

To the Honourable The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled.
The Petition of Joseph Nelson a soldier of the Revolution humbly shews That he volunteered as a substitute in the place of Joseph Arbuckle, in the militia company commanded by James McCloud, at Moore's Mill (Fork of Brandywine) in the spring of 1776; then marched to Old Chester, and there a part of Capt. McCloud's company (himself one of them) joined the flying camp. He was then made Orderly Sergeant, marched to Philadelphia - then to Bergen - thence to Fort Lee, and after serving a tour of three months duty, was regularly discharged from service in the flying camp. He then went to New York and attached himself to the Delaware Blues commanded by Capt. Joseph Stearns, in the regiment commanded by Col. Hallett. He was not regularly enlisted, nor on the muster roll of his company, but paraded with them, fought with them, and messes with them, and was in every requisite a member of the company except the actual enlistment. He was with the Blues at the retreat of Long Island, on the retreat through the Jerseys, and was with them at the battles of Trenton and Princeton, and helped to cut down the bridge on the Raritan, on the retreat of our army after the battle of Princeton. He then quit the army and went to sea in the sloop commanded by Thos. Truett bound to Cape Francois, returned again, and again took three similar trips and finally returned to Wilmington. Then went out the brig Holker commanded by Capt. Geddes and owned by Blair McBlenehan. She was a privateer, mounting eighteen nine pounders; cruised off Navesink on the coast of Long Island, and captured two merchant vessels and two transports and brought them into Philadelphia. Then went out in the same brig, commanded at that time, by Matthew Loller, cruised off Navesink again, and again returned to Philadelphia. Went a third time in the same brig commanded by Capt. Loller on a cruise to the West Indies, and captured a merchant-man off Anguilla, with a company of British Soldiers on board, consisting of a captain, lieutenant, ensign, and 54 privates; the vessel mounting eighteen guns; delivered the prisoners of war to the French at Martinique and brought the prize to Philadelphia. Your petitioner then went out in the brig Hallelujah James Earle master, a merchant vessel bound for Cape Francois, and was captured off the capes of Delaware, by the Greyhound frigate, and taken to New York and put on board of the Prison Ship. There was between 100 & 150 prisoners on board. They died very fast: from four to five a day. He happened to find a small bit of copper sticking in his teeth, and on his tongue; He went ashore to get fresh provisions, bought half a quarter of

of a yard of black gauze; he sifted his flour with it, and found coppsen among it, the rest of the prisoners all done the same, and no man of them died after that time. An American Physician came on board examined the flour and found no coppsen in it; He then gave the Physician better than half a pint of ground coppsen, which he had sifted from the flour, which the Doctor took to Genl. Washington. He was then taken from the Prison ship and put on board of the London 90 gun ship Admiral Graves commanden, at the Hook. He thinks this was done because he discovered the coppsen in the rations, he was then put in irons, on account of refusing to do duty, and kept so for eleven weeks. The irons were taken off the day of the battle with the French fleet off the coast of the Chesapeake and put about a week before on board of the Ardent 64 gun ship was on board of the Ardent with the Fleet when the American ship Confederacy was taken, remained on board of the Ardent when the fleet returned to New York. Was then sent to England in a ship commanded by Capt. Cantle together with the Officers of the American ship Confederacy of whom — Nourse was a midshipman. There refused to drink one day and was cruelly beat by Lieutenant Dolan, Then taken into Portsmouth and put into prison together with Midshipman Nourse and was kept there one year, Then exchanged as a French prisoner on paying five guineas, and brought into St Maloes, Then discharged which was in the year 1783. Then landed at Lewistown Delaware afterwards removed to Lancaster county Pa. got married lived there twelve years: and then removed to Washington county same state, and lives there now in Hanover township. Was seventy seven years of age last August and is lame in the right ankle from the irons put on him while a prisoner on board of the fleet. Your petitioner has no property, neither real personal or mixed. He has lately been at Philadelphia and through the state of Delaware to find some person to testify to their facts but the hand of death has been upon them, and he has been unable to find a single individual who based his bread to the battle storm in the perilous days of '76.
He therefore prays your Honorable bodies to take his case into consideration, and to grant him that relief, which as a soldier of the Revolution he is entitled to receive.
Signed Joseph Neilson

State of Pennsylvania Lancaster County } set
Personally came before me Samuel Dale senior associate Judge of the court of common Pleas of the County of Lancaster Joseph Neilson the aforesaid Petitioner, who being duly sworn, doth say that all the facts contained on the foregoing petition are true to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Joseph Neilson
Sworn and subscribed before me the 2 d of October 1826 }
Sam. Dale

Joseph  Nelson
granted

Report

Petition of Joseph Neilson. by W m . Laurence.
States he volunteered as a substitute for Joseph Arbuckle, in the Malitia Company commanded by Saml. W m Lane (Capt.) in the Spring of 1776. Joined the flying camp at Old Chester and was made orderly sergeant, Marched to Philadelphia and several other places, at the expiration of 3 Mo was regularly discharged. afterwards attached himself to the Delaware Blues at N o York under Capt. Stephen in Col. Hays 1 st Regt. Not regularly enlisted nor on the muster book but performed all the duties of a soldier, was with the Blues at the Retreat at Long Island and with them at the Battles of Trenton & Princeton and helped cut down the Bridge on the Rariton on the Retreat of our Army after the Battle of Princeton. He then went several successful Voyages at Sea privateering. finally was captured off the Copes of Delaware and taken to N o York and put aboard the prison ship. "from that transferred to a gun ship and put in irons for refusing to do duty and kept so for 11 weeks. The irons taken off the day before the Battle with the french fleet off the Copes of the Chesapeake, was then sent to England in a ship commanded by Capt. Cantle, together with the officers of the American ship of which - Nourse was a midshipman was cruelly beaten for refusing to jump. then taken to Portsmouth and put into prison with Nourse 1 year then exchanged as a french prisoner on paying 5 Guineas and discharged in 1783 - (7 years). He swears to all the facts and prays by Reverend William Nourse certifies on Oath that he well remembers the name of Neilson as a fellow prisoner in the hands of the British. 77 years old; lame by his loins while in prison, has no property - asks a pension.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Neitherhouse, Daniel GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 10142 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED March 2, 1792 to Adam Harbison, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.