Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 821, George Bickel, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
Bickel, George or Bickle
NUMBER
R. 821
or served in 1793.
- CONTENTS
Mary

State of Virginia } ss On this 30 th day of October 1833 Lewis County } personally appeared before me John S. Conner and known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing application for the said County of Lewis and State of Virginia George Buel a resident of the said County of Lewis and State of Virginia aged 69 years who being first duly sworn according to law took up his oath and made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832 that he entered the service of the united states under the following names Officers and served as under stated that in the year 1780 in the County of Monongalia State of Virginia on the 30 day of March volunteer volunteered as an indian spy as a private soldier and was present under the command of Capt Cornelius Bogard Lieutenant White ensigns name not recollects of present was then marched to Wood's station on the Tygarts Valley River and engaged in spying the Country from said station towards the Ohio River on the waters of Middle fork of that river Buck hammer River Harkers Creek Lost Creek Rotten Creek then to Harkers station on Tygarts Valley River of present Continental the above named service until some time in the month of December of the year last aforesaid at which time he was discharged by his said Capt Cornelius Bogard having served nine months as an indian spy as a private soldier during the winter of 1780 and remained at his residence on the Tygarts Valley River in the County of Monongalia state of Virginia the colonies of the winter of 1780 had called the inhabitants into a state of security and it was believed that the Indians would not make their appearance as early as usual but on the return of the spring of the the Indians made their appearance some time in the month of March and killed

a woman by the name of Ann on the Tygart Valley River intelligence was then received that active preparations were making by the Indians to penetrate north western Virginia Capt Bafant was very active in stimulating the hands of young men of the country to volunteer their services in defense of the settlements which were then forming on Tygart Valley River West fork river Harkers creek and Rooting Creek and on the twenty eighth day of March 1781 declarant volunteered his services in defense of the settlements as an irregular spy and was placed under the command of Capt Cornelius who commanded a company of irregulars William White was a Lieutenant under Capt Bafant the Ensign declarant does not recollect declarant was then stationed at Capt George Orimans as a place of rendezvous and engaged in spying the country as mentioned in his first letter to on the waters of West fork River Harkers Creek Rooting Creek officer continued in spying the country and watching and examining for their trail for the security of the settlements as aforesaid until sometime in the month of November 1781 at which time he was discharged by his said Capt Cornelius Bafant having served faithfully as an irregular spy for eight months This tower as a private soldier declarant cannot under take to enumerate all the occurrences which took place during his services of service having been greatly afflicted with bodily pain for the last ten years his memory is very much impaired having lost an eye by a cataract and having had his foot eat of up to his instep with the a corn and then to prolong life had his leg amputated he is now poor and frail declarant has no documentary evidence of his services neither does he know of any person by whom he can prove his services by - he hereby Relieves himself every claim to a pension that ever was or or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of

any stat
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above said George his Breker marks
To the several interrogatories presented by me was the respondent official answer as follows
1 I was Born in County of Berkle - state of Virginia in the year 1764
2 when called into the service I was living in the County of Monongalia on the Rygorts Valley river State of Virginia
Since the Revolutionary war I have lived in the County of Randolph Nicholas and now live in the County of Lewis State of Virginia
3 I have no record of my age I have the recollection of my parents who told me I all my terms of service were those of a Volunteer
5 in consequence of the Circumstances & range of my service I saw and become acquainted with but very few officers and regiments but I saw and became acquainted with Col Benjamin Wilson Major William Luther Capt George Jackson Capt George Erskine and Capt Stuart
6 I was regularly discharged by the officers under whom I served to wit Capt Bogard but all my discharges are all lost or mislaid
7 I am known to Jacob Calzada a Clergyman who resides in the neighbourhood with me and Samuel Statnake who can testify to my character and my age and the fact of my having been a soldier of the Revolution
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above said George his Breker marks
in Jacob Calzada a Clergyman residing in the County of Lewis and State of Virginia and Samuel Statnake residing in

The same County and State do hereby certify That we have been acquainted with George Bickel who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 69 years of age that he is respected 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 this day and year of our Lord
Isaac Bagdad Samuel Stalnaker mark
and I the said Justice of the peace do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the Ward department that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and I the said Justice further certify that Isaac Bagdad who has signed the foregoing certificate is a Clergyman and Samuel Stalnaker who has also signed the same is also respectable and that they are both respectable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and I the said Justice further certify that the above named Applicant from bodily infirmity is unable to travel to the Court house of the said County of Lewis from which he lives 12 miles and I the said Justice further certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of myself in the matter of the Application of George Bickel for a pension
in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30 day of October 1833
State of Virginia Lewis County S.S.
John S. [unclear] for [unclear]
I John Talbot Clerk of the County Court of Lewis County aforesaid, do certify that David W. Heath is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Seal of Office at Weston this 4 th day of November 1833 -
J. Talbot clk

28. 4. 48
George Bickle Virginia
William L. Mitchell Weston Lewis County Virginia
Commissioner of Pensions.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
24 th Nov. 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 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, shewing the Service of George Bickel
   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.     1780 9. Priv Cap. Bogard 19. years   1787. 8 " " Carmelius Momanga -lia County Virginia Traditionary  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES 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) 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 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.
□ 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.

Mary Bickel widow of George Bickel Petition
35 Cong. 3 2 Sess. 3
✓ Petition of Mary Bickel widow of George Bickel, praying a pension.
1859 Jan. 5, Referred ✓ to the Com. on Pensions. Feb. 23 Mr. Foster reports adversely.
Howard
Atkins
Filed Aug 3 d 1859 S. S. Sayton Clerk.
Mr. Mason

State of Virginia, Braxton County, ss:
Be it known, That on this 15 day of December , one thousand eight hundred and fifty- Eight , personally appeared before me, Thomas Salisbury , a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Mary Bickel aged about 70 years, a resident of the County of Braintree , who being duly sworn according to law, declared that she is the identical  Widow of George Bickel deceased.
who was a private in a Company commanded by Captain Cornelius Bezard and of the Virginia Rangers, in a War with the Indians, that h. volunteered in  Lygrats Bally in the County of Randolph in the State of Virginia , on or about the Spring  of  of , the year of 1795. or 94. for the term of first  six months, and continued in actual service of the United States for the term of twelve months, and  Lygrats Bally  six months at the mouth for which  six months in , and that Lygrats Bally was Honorably Discharged in the county of Randolph , on or about the the  day at what time  at what time  A.D., 179 , for which services s. e. received a Land Warrant of one hundred and sixty acres, which will more fully appear by reference to the records of the Pension Office. Your petitioner is advanced in years, and does not expect to live but a short time, and is poor and needs assistance, and prays Congress to grant her a pension for said services, from the 3d day of Febru- ary, 1853, to assist her in her declining years.
has Mary X Beckel marks
Sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day and year above written; and I hereby certify that I believe the said Mary Bickel , to be the identical person she represents herself to be, and that her  said husband served as above stated, and that she is of the age above stated. Given under my hand, this 15 day of December , 1858.
Tho' I am bury....., J. P.

Virginia Branton County to wit: I, John P. Bynne clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby certify that Thomas Saulsbury before whom the foregoing declaration was made was at the date of the same a Justice of the peace in & for said County duly authorized by law to administer oaths, & take acknowledgments & that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this 17. day of December 1858.
John P. Bynne

_____ Ex'r.
INVALID.
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
82 ✓
REJECTED
P. O. _____
George Sickle
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____
Discharged: _____
Application filed: _____
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

Hon. Simon Cameron, Dec. 21/60
Ms. 26.4.18 George Pickle Virginia
- Rejected -
Singlet's Report Lib. March 35 N. Hoffman
821
1833 53
1780
act. 7 th June 1832

Elizabeth Fletcher - Adams va - c 1832 (Indus)
and this same - paper
See letter enclosed
Thos Shinar & Clement
Hon Geo C. Whiting Comr of Pensions Washington D.C.
George Brickle - va - Indus and by Indus
See letter - va - c 32
See letter - no offer see letter - no offer see letter - no offer
Thos Shinar & Clement
Hon Geo C. Whiting Comr of Pensions Washington D.C.

Washington Dec 20. 1860.
Sir
I enclose papers from Prof. P. Byrne, for an official answer from you, as requested in his letter, herewith communicated.
Very Resp. Yours
Richard Clemen.

Report in George Beckler case, an applicant.
Not Excluded. Ref: Singleton Rep.

Lewis county
George Pickle. aged 69. Served one year in Minn. Mints.
Henry Fletcher of Harrison county aged 58 yrs. has known Pickle from a boy. he is younger than himself. Father Pickle's Father moved to this country, & Har- ety, long after its rise after Revolutionary war. George was then a boy 15 or 16 yrs old.
Isaac Jackson has known Pickle for many years. thinks that he can't be sixty years old.
William Clark has known Pickle for a long time. thinks him between fifty & sixty years of age.
Barbara Clark wife of William Clark. went to school with Pickle. thinks him ten years older than her self. This was in her 13 th yr.
Respectfully Reported.
W. G. Langston.
Special agent.
July 1882.