Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9036, for Reuben Morris, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Morris, Reuben
S 9036
Carded
CONTENTS

Ohio 25,752
Reuben Morris
of Wayne Co. in the State of Ohio who was a S in the Company commanded by Captain Green of the Regt commanded by Col Haining in the Volunteer line for
2 Yrs 3 M $ 80. —
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th day of Oct and Sept 16 1833 Rev Thos Conover , Ho of Rep
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 200.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th March 34, 40. —
$ 240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. A. Sprague Clerk, Book C Vol. 8 Page 17

15090 Reuben Morrison ✓

State of Ohio Warren County } ss:
On this third day of October  October 1832 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in the County of Warren aforesaid, Reuben Morris resident of Union Village in the said County, aged 76 years who be- ing duly affirmed, according to law, doth, on his solemn affirma- tion make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832:
That at the commencement of the revolutionary war he resided in Orange County, State of Virginia & in the year 1776 enlisted in the army of the United States for the term of one year under Capt. John Green in whose Company Richard Taylor was the First Lieutenant, John Us- bridge was Second Lieut. & John Lee was Ensign; - That this Company belonged to the First Virginia Regiment commanded by Patrick Hen- ry, & afterwards by Col. Christy; That he was marched to Williams- burg where he remained a few months, in which period he re-enlist- ed for two years to go on board of a privateer, serving as a Marine under Capt. John Lee during the term of about one year & an half; That he then accepted an offer to enlist for three years in the Land Ser- vice & on the 28 Decr. 1777 was enrolled under Capt. John Willis, & Lieut. Benjamin Holmes of the Second Virginia Regiment, & was marched to Williamsburg & was stationed there till the first day of March 1778; thence was marched with the Regiment to Baltimore; thence (by sea) to the Eastern Shore of Maryland; thence to New- Castle, in the State of Delaware; That he lay there ill with the Small- pox & Camp fever & was otherwise absent on furlough for about three months, after which he rejoined the main army on the day they marched through Philadelphia to meet the British at Brandywine; That he was in the Brandywine Battle & in the retreat to German- town & also in the Germantown Battle & through all the succeeding manoeuvres until the army was conducted to Winter quarters at The Valley Forge; That he remained there until the following June; was then marched to Monmouth, - there overtook the British & was in the Battle fought there in June 1778; That thence he was marched back, - crossed the North river at Kings ferry & marched on to the White Plains; That he remained there several weeks; That their Brigade was then marched to Newark & stationed there till about Christmas, - thence conducted to Head quarters at Middlebrook, where remained till about the first of June, when a Company of Volunteers was raised under Col. Anthony Wayne into which Company

Company this Applicant entered & was marched to a place on the North River called Plank-house-point & thence to the storming & taking of Stony point, after which this Applicant, with others returned to their respective Regiments, That on the 9 th of September following he was discharged by Capt. William Taylor under the signature of Col. Christian Rebiger. This Applicant further states that some time in the beginning of June 1781 he again entered the service as a substitute for Thomas Davis & served under Capt. Richard Webb, the first Lieutenant of whose Company was William Young belonging to the Regiment in which George Stubblefield was first & Edward Spencer was the second Colonel of the Brigade commanded by General Edward Stephens; that he was marched to Hillsborough then to Rugely's mill in South Carolina where his Company was joined to Genl. Gates's army, whence after the battle at Camden he was marched back to Hillsborough in North Carolina, & from thence was sent on duty to Richmond in Virginia, where he received a furlough from Gov r Thomas Jefferson to go home for his winter clothes, & Gates's army being defeated & disbanded Genl. Stephens returned home & gave said Applicant his discharge about a month before his term of service was ended. This Applicant further states that some time in March 1782 he again entered the service as a substitute for one Some of Spotsylvania County for the term of two months & served out that term at Williamsburg & elsewhere under a Militia Captain whose name is not recollected belonging to a Regiment in the Brigade of Genl. La Fayette. That afterwards in the summer of the same year he again served as a substitute for one month in the room of one whose name is not recollected, & then engaged for two months as a substitute for one whose name is also forgotten, under Col. John Slaughter, & served 15 days & by hiring a substitute for the remainder of the term got a final discharge from Col. John Slaughter. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State
Reuben H. Conner Mark
I worn to and subscribe in open Court the day & year aforesaid J. K. Wilds clk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary sol- dier and served as he stated.
I Jonathan K Wilds clerk of the court of Common Pleas within & for the county afo d do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Reuben Morris for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the court of Common Pleas at Lebanon this 14 th day of Oct r A D 1832
J. K. Wilds Clk
State the no. of years in service
1 when & where born
have you any record of your age
State the names of persons to whom you are known

Reuben Morris Warren County
Return e. f. Adm 2 years $80.-
For Thomas Corrin Lebanon Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 15 th 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 subj d 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. These 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 Reuben Morris, Warren County Ohio
   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 1 private Capt John Green Col P. Henry 76 years Orange Co Virginia   after a few months Enlisted on board of a privateer 1 6   28 Dec 1777 3 " Capt Mills M c Colonel Capt Noble Col Huthfield   beginning June 1781.   1782 3   " 1 15  
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 duty 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) 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 enquiry 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.
[e] 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 affix 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.
[k] The notes from [e] 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.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

The declaration of Reuben Morris, supplementary to his original declaration... of the County of... and the State of... in order to obtain the benefit of the... the... Bight...
Be it remembered that on this 29th day... Reuben Morris... according to law... state, in addition to his original declaration... made as aforesaid... when he made his... original declaration... neighbor... any clergyman... known... further states that he has no... or by which he... the revolution... sent his discharges... to which every... warrant... he knows... states... by whom he... the revolution... always understood... County... and now in his... that he has... the same... further... and that he... resolution... Valentine... neighbor... and to all of whom he is well known.
Reuben Morris Mark
Subscribed in Open Court 29 May 1833 J. H. Wilder Clk

Wm Nathan Sharp and Joshua Worthy. advising with the friendship of friends in the county of Warren and State of Ohio, hereby certify that we have been acquainted with Reuben Morris who had the fi- cussed and given to the above declarant that to be about twenty years of age that he is upstate and he lived in the highland like West said Reuben which to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion: and to further state that he is the same individual who did exhibit a document to an original declaration before the Com. plan of of Warner County which on the 3 rd day of Oct. 1835 affirmed to subscribed with us Nathan Sharp Joshua Worthy Oct 29 th 1835 J. K. Wilds clk
And the result of it distinctly showed that the above-mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier. He served as he states in the War of the Rebellion in Company H, 1st Regiment of New York Heavy Artillery, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Certificates are credible persons of residing in the County of Onondaga.
The State of New York vs. Jonathan H. Wilds the court of Common Pleas within the county aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- ceedings of said court in the matter of the applica- tion of Resolved Store for a new trial.
His testimony whereof has been reduced to writing and the same has been read to the said the undersigned and the same the day of May 1853 J. B. W. B.

This is to Certify , That it appears from a List in this Office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War, as settled their Accounts, and received Certificates for the balance of their Full Pay, according to an Act of Assembly, passed the November Session, 1781, that a Certificate issued on the Seventh day of June 1781 , in the name of Reuben Morris as a Soldier of Infantry for £48. 3. 8, which Certificate appears to have been delivered to Robt Coleman and was given for services prior to the 1st January, 1782.
{ No Seal of Office. }
Given under my hand at the Auditor's Office, Richmond, this 16 th day of December 1833.
W. Heath
AUDITOR.

Resknap
9036
INVALID.
File No. 9036
Reuben Morris
Prv. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1932
Index:—Vol. 1st , Page 264
[Arrangement of 1870.]