Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7,544, for Henry Myers, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
Penn
Myers, Henry Susannah
NUMBER
R. 7544
CONTENTS
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2 + W

Ohio - Pittsburgh 29. 8. 28.
Henry Myers Ohio - Winnecoa Co. of the State of Ohio - who was a 1st in the Company commanded by Captain Stokes of the Regt commanded by Col. Appop. - in the Penn. C. time for
1 Yr 3 Mo P $ 50.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio P. & A. at the rate of 50 Dollars - Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of Feb y and sent to Wm W. Patterson N. Re.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 125.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending March '34 25.00
$ 150.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. P. Brague Clerk, Book 6 - Vol. 84 Page 119
✓

9. 8:52/
Henry Myers. _____
Retain
Adm. to year & 8 Months
40 10
Hon. W. Patterson H R
Clarmant Ripley Townsville Lincoln Co. Richland Co Ohio Ohio. _____

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
23 d Sep. 1833.
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 subjoined 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, showing the Service of Henry Myers.
   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.     1776. 9. Capt. C. Stokes 76 years Living Witnesses—   5 Col. Moore York   Capt. Duncan Penn a   3 Mo— Not definite " Linden  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. 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, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth 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 fix 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.

9852
Henry Myers
Declaration &c

At a Court continued and held in and for Berkeley County at the Court House, on Wednesday the 15 th day of August 1832.
"State of Virginia, Berkeley County, On the 15 th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Berkeley County now sitting, Henry Myers a resident of the County of Berkeley and State of Virginia, aged Seventy five years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That in the year 1776. he thinks it was in the April of that year, he enlisted in the regular service as a private soldier, in York Town, York County, Pennsylvania, (to which place he had gone to learn his trade) in a company commanded by Captain Christian Stokes, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Swoope, and remained in service during the whole period of his Enlistment, to wit, nine months. He was not engaged in any battle, but only in some skirmishes with scouting parties. He marched from York to Philadelphia, from thence to Trenton, from thence to Princeton,

thence North to Fort Lee, not far from Fort Washington. At the surrender of Fort Washington on the 16 th of No- vember 1776, his Company Officers were captured, the Regiment broken up, and most of them made prisoners. He was then transferred to a Corps commanded by General Putnam, and assisted in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton on the 26 th of December 1776. He was then sent on as one of the guards with the wounded prisoners to Philadelphia, where his time having expired he returned home. He subsequently to this, perform- ed two tours in the Militia service, the first under Captain Duncan of Berke- ley County Virginia, and the second un- der Captain Lueder. During the last tour, he was present and assisted in the capture of Lord Cornwallis at York- town. The first tour of Militia duty he was out three months. In the last he was permitted to return home a short  time before the expiration of the three  months . He has no documentary evidence of his services, and recollects of no person who can testify to his ser- vices except Major Henry Beinger of this County, who knew him in the regular service, and his Brother Peter

Myers who served with him one Militia term.
In reply to the particular interrogatories of the court,
1. He was born in Berkeley County Virginia on the 15 th of March 1756.
2. He has a record of his age which is herewith submitted to the court.
3. He was living in York Pennsylvania when called into service - Has been living in Berkeley County Virginia since the war.
4. Answered in the above declaration.
5. He recollects Col. Meriwether and Col. Lewis in the Regular Service.
6. He never received a discharge. His Officers were made prisoners, and the Regiment dispersed.
7. He refers to Archibald Shearer a Justice of the peace, and John Hisinger, as men who will testify to their confidence in his veracity, and belief of his services.
Henry Myers.
Henry Beinger being first sworn in open court, states that Henry Myers of the County of Berkeley, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, entered Captain Christian States company, of Col. Swoopes Regiment, of York town Pennsylvania, as a soldier in the month of April 1776. That

he served in said company until Col. Swoope, Captain Stake, Lieutenant Holsinger, and Ensign Barnett were captured at the surrender of Fort Wash- ington on York Island on the 16 th day of November 1776. His company Of- ficers captured, and indeed the Regiment broke up and mostly made prisoners. Said Myers was transferred to a mixed corps commanded by General Putnam. That said Myers assisted in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, on the 26 th December 1776. That he was then sent on as one of the guards with the wounded prisoners to Philadelphia. That his time expired for which he had engaged, on the first day of January 1777, that he remained sick a few days in the Hospital, and then returned to his home in Berkeley County Virginia. The said Henry Myers being a Neigh- bor son and a School mate, the Depo- sitant recollects particularly as to the above stated services; and also knows that he served in the Militia at the siege of Yorktown Virginia, and sur- render of Lord Cornwallis, but does not know how long he served at that time.  Peter Myers and John Myers person- ally appeared in open court, and being

examined in open Court, that their Brother Henry Myers performed two tours of Militia service during the War of the Revolution - The first under Captain Duncan of Berkeley County Virginia, the second, under Captain Jacob Linder. In the first tour, under Capt. Duncan, the Affiant Peter Myers was with him - That tour the said Henry Myers was out three months. They do not know how long he was gone the second tour -
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 Major Henry Repringer, Peter Myers, and John Myers, who were sworn and examined in open Court, are residents of the County of Berkeley, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit."
A copy
Teste
Harrison Waite C.R.
Virginia. Berkeley County Set.
J Harrison Waite Clerk of the

County Court of Berkeley, do hereby certify that the foregoing proceeding is truly transcribed from the records of the proceedings of said Court.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Martinsburg this 4 th day of September 1832 and 57 th year of the Commonwealth.
Harrison White
Virginia. Berkeley County Court,
I Charles Orrick presiding Justice of the County Court of Berkeley, do hereby certify that Harrison White under whose hand and seal of Office the foregoing proceeding of said Court is certified, is the Clerk of said Court, and that his certificate is in due form. Given under my hand and seal this 4 th day of September 1832.
Chas. Orrick 

Personally appeared before me the un- derigned a Justice of the peace of the County of Seneca and State of Ohio Henry Myers who being duly sworn deponeth and saith that on the 15th day of August 1832 he was a resident of Berkley County Virginia and that he then and there before the County Court of said Berkley made a certain declaration for the purpose of attaining the benefit of the act of Congress passed March 7. 1832 — That he transmitted the said decl- aration &c. to the Pension office which declaration was subsequently returned by the Pension Department with two exceptions — That subsequently to his sending said declaration as aforesaid he removed to Crawford County in the State of Ohio where he now resides — That from the situation of his residence (it being on the line of said Crawford County, adjoining said Seneca) it is more convenient to do this business in said Seneca — And now in addition to his third term of service (as a Revolutionary soldier), as in said declaration is mentioned he on his said oath says that although after the capture of Lord Cornwallis he was permitted to return before he had been three months in the field, yet he says that necessarily in going to the place of actual service, and returning from the same to his home he was engaged three months and more Henry Myers
Sworn to and subscribed this 25 day of January A.D. 1834 before me Nucius Williams Justice of the peace

The State of Ohio Seneca County, ss
I Luther A. Hall Deputy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Seneca and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Rubin Williams before whom the within declaration and oath was made and who has certified the same was, at the time of certifying the same and now is, a Justice of the Peace duly commissioned, and in all respects legally qualified to act as such in said County of Seneca, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such — and that the within is his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court at Tiffin this 28 th day of January A. D. 1834
Luther A. Hall Deputy Clerk
I Benjamin Pittinger Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Seneca and State of Ohio do hereby certify that the above signature is the true and genuine signature of Luther A. Hall that he was, at the time of signing the same and now is, Deputy Clerk of said last mentioned Court duly qualified to act as such, that the above seal is the seal of said Court last mentioned, and that the above certificate is in due form of law Done at Tiffin this 28 th day of January A. D. 1834
Benjamin Pittinger
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Seneca and State of Ohio

War Department Pension Office 23 d Sep. 1882
Sir
The only objection to the admission of your claim, is, that you have not stated definitely the length of your last term of service, and the papers are not authenticated as the regulations require. See notes e and i of the accompanying brief.
I am Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt J L Edwards
Henry Myers Esq Trumanville Richland County Ohio.

Tiffin Jan. 20. 1834
Honored Sir
I enclose in I presume the last Pension application with which your Hon. will be troubled by our Revolutionary Soldiers —
Suffer me to offer my grateful acknowledgment for the polite favor of the President's Message
I am very
Respectfully yours
Edw. Smith

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1870.
REJECTED
7544.
P. O. Susannah Meyers
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

N o 15189
Susannah Myles die? widow of Henry.
Ohio.
Hon. F. W. Green 17 th July 1854.
Rejected.
did not receive passage of Joint Resolution of 16 th August 1842.
75-44
Act of July 1838.

Washington July 14/54
Gov t of Pension Sir
Enclosed I hand You the application of Priscilla Start for arrears of Pension due her father Henry Myers dec d of Greenfield Co. Ohio
Yrs & c
J. W. Green