Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2830, for Henry Miller, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn Va.
Miller, Henry.
S. 2830
CONTENTS

Letter to 3 d Auditor Genl 3 June 1839 Paid at the Treasury under the acts of the 6 th April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 Sept 1838 Agt notified 29 th July 1839
Ohio. 7859.
Henry Miller of Clinton Franklin Co in the State of Ohio. who was a Private Rifleman in the Regt. commanded by Captain Farns of the Rifles commanded by Col. Riddell, in the Penn. Cont. line for three years.
Paid Var. Line Records corrected Feb'y, 1904
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio. at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of April, 1833 and sent to G. H. R. Swan. Columbus Ohio.
Arrears to the 4th of March. '33 160 - Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. '33 40 -
$200.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M. P. Palmer Clerk, Book 6. Vol. 8. Page sixteen.

13431. S 859
Henry Miller
Admitted for 2 years from 1896. $80 on roll
G. & I. R. Swan Columbus Ohio

BRIEF in the case of  Henry Miller of Clinton Township  County of Franklin in the State of Ohio  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 74  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.     Enlisted in May In 1776 3 Rifleman Gen. Col. C. Smith { Penna. 2 nd Regt } Capt Geo. Farmer { Rifles Regt }   Volunteered Sept 1779 discharged 10 days before Christmas 3 private Col. Riddle { Virgin } Capt Robt Cunningham { Troops }  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? 
Gerantown
 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? 
Olney, Reading Co. Penna
 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary 
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
No
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. S. Wilson Examining Clerk.
20. July 1833

The State of Ohio
Franklin County ss
On this 28 th day of September A D 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Franklin in the State of Ohio Present Hon: Frederick Grimké President Judge and Samuel S. Hemenway William McElvain and Amos Rootes associate judges now sitting Henry Miller a resident of Clinton Township in said County of Franklin State of Ohio aged seventy four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. That he was born in Germany on the 10 th day of June 1758 with his father's family came to America and settled at Olney in the County of Reading in the state of Pennsylvania in 1771 and continued there until he enlisted at said place in the month of May 1776 as a private for three years in a rifle Company - State troops and served first in the second and afterwards in the ninth Regiment and under the following officers. Capt. George Farmer Lieut. Michael Farmer Col. - Arnold - he thinks - and Brig d Genl. Lee - he thinks - From Reading marched to Philadelphia and through Amboy to the City of New York and from there to Valley Forge about ten miles from Reading (the County where he first enlisted)
He was with the army and engaged as a Rifleman in the battle of Germantown - Was in the woods with other riflemen during that battle. The enemy fired cannon into the woods which dislodged us
That he was with the army when Lord Howe would have surrendered and was with those who took about 250 of the prisoners to Cross Creek about 45 miles from Philadelphia on the Schuylkill and also took and left about 250 prisoners at Reading - Returned to Valley Forge when army wintered and next spring regularly discharged having performed the three years service. Capt. Farmer having accidentally shot one of his men at Amboy and the company believing (some of them) that it was done purposely left the company and Capt.
Thompson commanded in his place. He is not certain but thinks that Thompson continued to command until he was discharged at Valley Forge but Capt. Farmer again took command at Valley Forge His Company with others acted as flankers - When he left Virginia he burnt with other papers his discharge. He can neither read nor write but supposes from hearing said discharge read that it was signed by Capt. Farmer & Genl. Washington
He then returned to Olney in Reading County Pa. and a few days after went to the County of Hampshire Virginia In September 1779 volunteered in Hampshire County (which not recalled) for six months against the Indians under Capt. Robert Cunningham Col. Riddell Genl. McIntosh. Marched from

Hampshire County - built Fort McIntosh at mouth of Big Beaver on the Ohio. and a stockade on Tuscarawas River. Discharged 8 or ten days before Christmas.
The next spring after Cornwallis was taken the Indians broke out and he volunteered for six months against them & a company of 84 men under Capt Daniel Severyburgh - marched to Valley River and there and along the west fork of Monongahela and Cheat River until his time expired and returned to Hampshire and about 16 years ago removed to Franklin County, Ohio where he now resides
Declarant has no documentary evidence and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify as to his services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his claim is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Done to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
Henry Miller his Mark
A. M. Duncal M
We Samuel G Fleming resident in the township of Clinton in said county of Franklin and John Thompson a resident of Columbus in same county The said Samuel G Fleming hereby certifies that he has been acquainted with the above applicant Henry Miller since last spring, personally  has known  that that he believes him to be seventy four years of age that he is reputed as believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a revolutionary soldier and the affiant Fleming concurs in that opinion. Said Miller sustains the character of an inoffensive and moral man among his neighbors and he has often heard him mention in substance the matters in his declaration set forth - And said Thompson certifies that some years ago he heard said Miller mention the particulars of said difficulty between Capt. Farnes and his company in the declaration above mentioned. That he (said Thompson) well recollects the circumstances and was the Capt. who took the place of said Farnes and verily believes that said Miller could not have made said statements unless he was present and verily believes that he was in said company that recollects there was a soldier of the name of Henry Miller in said company and verily believes said applicant is the same person and thinks he recognizes

recovery of the pension of his deceased husband him from his countenance but is not willing to so state positively.
Samuel G. Flenniken
John H. Thompson
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
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 Henry Miller was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certify that it appears to them that there is no clergyman residing in the neighborhood of said applicant. The Court further certify that the above named Samuel G. Flenniken is one of the members of this Court and that they are personally acquainted with Col. John Thompson who has made the above certificate under oath and that his statements are entitled to the fullest credit.
I, Abraham J. McDownie clerk of said Court of Common Pleas of said do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Henry Miller for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28 th day of September A D 1839.
A. McDownie. W.

Rea War
2830
INVALID.
am
File No. 2830
Henry Miller Pa. Pa. Canth. Line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 256
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Pa. and Va. Line, Records corrected Feb'y, 1904

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
July 8 th , 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Henry Miller, _____ a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio _____ Agency, at the rate of Eighty _____ Dollars and _____ Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March, 1838, to the 4 th Sept., 1838.
Respectfully, yours,
William B. Tassie Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Henry Miller
further proof or explanation,
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned 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? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service ? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ? Yes
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had ? Yes
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service ?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ? 2 P 55
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 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 shewn 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.
‡ QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the claimants 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.
‡ QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.