Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1235, for Jesse Miles, Virginia

SERVICÈ
NUMBER _____
Na.
Miles, Jesse
S 1235
Boyer in Md -
Carded
CONTENTS

19593 Kentucky
Jesse Miles of Bullitt Co in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Vanwinkle of the regt commanded by Col. W. H. H. Lee in the Virginia line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Sept 1832 and George H. Pope Shepherdsville
Arrears to the 4th of Sept $73 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 15 00 $890 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk Book E Vol. 7 Page
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of 6. April 1838 from 4. Sept 1837 to 11. April 1838 Notified 11. Decr 1844

26. 686
Jesse Miles Bullett Co. Ken.
from 1781 private 19 months $30.
George F. Pope Shepherdsville Ken.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 subjjoined 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 Jobe Miles
   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.     1781 3 Pt. Capt Bonner M c Colonel 70 Pa one witness & Traditionary   " 6 " Capt Bonner  
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, deposes 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.
[k] 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.
[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.

State of Kentucky Pulaski County
On this 19 th day of August 1833 personally appeared in Open Court before the Justices of the Pulaski County Court now sitting Leese Miles a Resident of Pulaski County in the State of Kentucky aged twenty 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 Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers named as if herein stated. In the year 1781 he was living in Berkeley County, Virginia, and was enrolled in the Militia of said County and was drafted in the Militia Company commanded by Captain John Vanmeter, Lieutenants Thomas Thornbury & Euseius Kearney or Carney for a tour of duty of three months The Company rendezvoused at Battletown in the State of Virginia and was marched from there through different Counties & places in said State and during the whole period, to wit three months, he was marched from place to place but he cannot, at this day, particularly name the Counties & places thro' which he was marched. After having served out his tour of duty of three months he was discharged and he returned home some short time after he returned home a Regulation of Militia-men was made and this declarants father was drafted for a tour of six months in the Company commanded by the said Captain John Vanmeter Lieutenants Thomas Thornbury & Euseius Kearney or Carney in the said year 1781. His Father being unable to perform said tour

he, the Declarant, offered himself as a Substitute for his father and was accepted He was then marched through the Country & Passed through the Counties of Albemarle Pulasky and other Sections of the Country in Virginia and joined the main Army of the United States in that Section Commanded by General George Washington at York Town in Virginia. He remained Continued with the Army at that place until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis after his term had expired, (having actually served six months) a few days before the surrender and he then received his written discharge from the Service as a Substitute as aforesaid He does not now recollect who signed his discharge, having destroyed it a short time after his release from the Army believing that it would be of no service to him to keep it. He states that he has no docu- mentary evidence in his possession by which he can prove his service and he knows of no person now living by whose testimony he can prove it except by the Affidavit hereto attached, of Joseph Simmery. He further states that there is no Clergyman residing in his neighbourhood and he has to resort to the Certificate of the Joseph Simmery, Henry Creek George F. Pope who can testify as to his character for veracity and good behaviour and the belief in his neighbourhood of his having served in the Army of the Revolution. I hereby renounce every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency of any

State. To the questions directed by the War department to be propounded by the Court & which are now propounded he makes the following answers. To the 1 st Interrogatory he answers that he was born in Prince George's County State of Maryland on the 1 st day of July 1763.
To the 2 nd Interrogatory he answers that he now is is now at his home
To the 3 rd Interrogatory. He was living in Berkeley County State of Virginia when called into service. After he quit the Army he remained there in said County for some time - about forty years ago, probably more he moved to the County of Nelson Kentucky. Since which time Pulaski County was formed out of the Counties of Nelson & Jefferson he now resides in Pulaski County.
To the 4 th Interrogatory. I was drafted for my first term of three months. I served the second term of six months as the substitute of my father
To the 5 th Interrogatory. In my first term of three months I do not recollect any officers either Regular or Militia except the officers of my Company) we were almost constantly marching from place to place. In my second term I recollect Major General George Washington commanded the Army where I served - a Col o : Darke (I think), Gen l . Green were also with the Army. I also recollect a Major Wardman was also with the Troops but whether he was a Militia or Regular Officer I cannot now recollect. I cannot recollect the member of Regiments Continental & Militia or who commanded them.
To the 6 th Interrogatory. I answered I did receive a written discharge, By whom it

it was signed I do not now recollect. believing that it would be of no service to me to keep it I destroyed it not long after I quit the service.
To the 7 th Interrogatory I answer that I am known to Joseph Simmons, Mary Crest & George F. Pope of my present neighbourhood who can testi- fy as to my character of good veracity & good behaviour; they do not know of my service only from reports except Joseph Simmons who will Certify — The said Jesse Miles on oath also depre- setts and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the days or the month on which he entered the service of the United States. He recollects that it was in the year 1781. And according to the best of his recollections he served not less than the period men- tioned below and in the following grade For nine months I served as a private in two Regiments one of three months & one of six months and for which service I claim a pension.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Jesse his Miles mark
Joseph Simmons a Citizen of Rutledge County State of Kentucky do hereby certify that I well recollect that Jesse Miles who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing declaration, went out as a Drafted militia man for three months during the Revolu- tionary War in the year 1781 and about two weeks after his P. M. 's return home he went

May 9, 1934.
Everett E. Miles 4126 Arlington Avenue Fort Wayne, Indiana.
BA-J/ILL our
>Jesse Miles-S. 1235 John Miles -S. 36138
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Jesse Miles and John Miles, pensioners of Kentucky.
The records of these two soldiers are given herein as shown in the papers on file in pension claims, based upon service in that war.
JESSE MILES -S. 1235.
Jesse Miles, the son of Richard Miles, was born July 1, 1763 in Prince George's County, Maryland.
While a resident of Berkeley County, Virginia, he enlisted and served two tours, amounting to a little more than nine months, as private in the Virginia troops; the first tour of three months, he served in Captain John Vanmetre's company; the second tour was rendered in that same company as substitute for his father, and, during this period, he was with the main army at Yorktown under General George Washington until after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.
After the war, he resided for some time in Berkeley County, Virginia, then moved to Nelson County, Kentucky.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 19, 1833, at which time he resided in Bullitt County, which county was formed from part of Nelson County, Kentucky. He had lived in Kentucky then forty years or more.
Jesse Miles died April 11, 1838.
In order to obtain the name of the person to whom the last payment

of pension was paid, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following:
Jesse Miles Certificate 19593 Issued September 25, 1833 Rate of $30 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831. Act of June 7, 1832. Kentucky Agency.
*****
JOHN MILES -S. 36138.
John Miles enlisted in February 1777, in Frederick County, Maryland, served as private in Captain John Bailey's company, Colonel Gist's Maryland regiment, was in the battle of Paoli under Colonel Gist, in the battle Germantown under General Sullivan and the "Yellow Banks on the Schuylkill" under General Smallwood, and was discharged October 25, 1779, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Next time- Battles of Paoli, Germantown, the "Yellow Banks on the Schuylkill", and was discharged Oct. 25, 1779, in Baltimore, Md.)
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 2, 1818, at which time he resided in Green County, Kentucky; he was then aged about eighty-six years, the date and place of his birth and names of his parents not shown. In 1820, the soldier stated that his wife was then seventy-eight years of age, but he did not give her name; there is no reference to children.
John Miles died March 17, 1827.
For information in regard to the name of the person to whom the last payment of pension was paid, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following: John Miles, 2d (as he was pensioned), Certificate 14872, issued September 22, 1819, commenced May 2, 1818, rate $8 per month, Act of March 18, 1818, Kentucky Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Assistant to Administrator.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
Nov. 1 st 1844.
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," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The Admin: of Jesse Miles, decd. a Pensioner on the Roll of the Kentucky Agency, at the rate of — Thirty — 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 Sept. 1837, to the 11 th April 1838.
Respectfully, yours,
William H. Harrison
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.

INVALID.
1934-May 9 - List. to Everett E. Miles see letter in John Miles - Rev. S-36138- JEL
File No.
1235
Rev War
Jesse Miles. Pa. Va. Line.
Act:
June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol.
2
, Page 25-6
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Lesse Moiles 26. 680
Geo. H. Pope Shepherdville Ky

out as a substitute for his father Richard Miles, and as he thinks after Cornwallis was taken the said Richard Miles went after the said Ipson who had gone out on his return home
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Joseph Simmons marks
We Joseph Simmons Henry Crist & George F. Pope Citizens residing in Pulaski County & State of Kentucky hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Ipson Miles who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid.
Joseph his Simmons marks
H Crist
Geo. F. Pope
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after spitting 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 Joseph Simmons, Henry Crist & George F. Pope who have signed the preceding Certificates and that J. Joseph Simmons who has signed the separate Certificate, are residents in the County of

Bullett and State of Kentucky and are Credible Persons and that their Statement is entitled to credit."
I, Noah C. Summers Clerk of the Court of the County of Bullitt & State of Kentucky do hereby certify that the foregoing Contains the Original Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jesse Miles for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 19 th day of August 1833.
No. C. Summers Clerk.