Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16048, Peter Bellesfelt, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Perm.
Bellesfelt, Peter
S. 16048
carded
CONTENTS

Ohio 19.758
Peter Bellesfell
of Trumbull in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Butler of the Regt. commanded by Col. Butler in the Penna. line for 7 Mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Sep. 1833 and to D. Todd Widow
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 33 $ 58.33 Pemi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mo. 34 11.66 $ 69.99
Revolutionary Claim, } acted June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by C. A. Steles Clerk, Book 6. Vol. 8. Page 107
Was placed on the Ohio Book by mistake
Per. Appt. Mar. 15, 1837. Letter to P. Hagner 3 Acad. 16. March 1840
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 8th April 1838 from 4 March 1837 to 4 March 1839. Age Notified 21 April 1840
Pension of Peter Bellesfell

8.187. Peter Bellasfitt Ohio.
Left on the 20th Nov
Return 14. a.m. 7. Months
8.187 46.66 11.66 58.32 David Burchard Fodd Warren Columbiana Ohio

100 BRIEF in the case of  Peter Bellisfelt  of  Simville  in the State of  Ohio  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? before the Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75  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. As a Gen.     9 th P.A. Regiment April-May In 1780 1 Sergeant Col. Butler Col. Butler Genl. Wayne  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Skirmish at Bryan Point Ky.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Works Co. Pa.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary or testimonial evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Testimonial  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Sayler
Examining Clerk.

Peter Bellisfill
8187
Held August 23 rd 1832

The State of Ohio Trumbull County ss
} On this 23 d day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio within and for the county aforesaid in person Peter Bellisfelt a resident of Farmington in said County aged seventy five 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 7. 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated Col — Butler commanded the Reg t in which he served to wit the 9 th Penn a Reg t Capt — Butler commanded the Company in which he served in said Reg t . He does not recollect the Christian names of the above officers, or the names of the other field officers of said Regiment. He entered the service in the latter part of April or fore part of May in the year 1780 as a seven months man a private soldier and served until about one week before Christmas of the same year, when he received a regular discharge from service, (which discharge he has lost) at a place called called Rockaway in the state of New- Jersey, after they had taken their winter quarters at that place. He states that at the commencement of the war he resided at Hamilton, in the county of Northampton Penn a . but in consequence of the extreme danger of residing on the frontier his father in law together with himself and his wife and her father's family removed to Newtown in Berks County Pa. when he enlisted as a volunteer as he then supposed to go into the service of protecting the frontier settlements against the Indians, after he volunteered, he immediately went to Philadelphia, and took an oath of some kind which was then required of similar soldiers, from Philadelphia he went with other soldiers then called into the service to the army and joined the command of Gen l Anthony Wayne at some place in New Jersey the place name of which he does not recollect, but believes it was in the county of Bergen. He remained at the place but a short time before they marched to another station. Soon after

this he was in a skirmish or fight on Bergen Point against the Tories, consisting of a few whites and about 100 negroes in a fortified block house, Gen. Wayne commanded in person the troops engaged. nearly one hundred of our soldiers were either killed or wounded and he thinks but five or six of the enemy were killed and they by the sharpshooters who were concealed and fired as they exposed themselves in the block house our forces finally retreated without driving them from the block house . He recollects that Col. Butler was much dissatisfied with Wayne's plan of attack. & it was said & believed in his Regt that their Col. had offered to resign his commission in preference to directing the attack on Wayne's plan. and that Gen Wayne refused to accept of his commission or to follow his advice. but whether this belief or report was well founded or not he cannot state. The affair was hushed up, & a slight account only was given of the fight. This was the only engagement in which he was concerned during his term of service, and after it the soldiers of his Regt always nick named Gen Wayne as Martin Mad Anthony . After this skirmish his company were most constantly in motion, moving from one place to another in the northern part of New Jersey and hardly three days at a place at any one time and he cannot now recollect the names of places through which he passed or at which he was stationed, as they were then all new to him, and he has not been in that region of country since or been made familiar with their names by reading, he can neither read or write. He states that he was near West Point & saw Benedict Arnold at the time he left the American Army in a boat & deserted to the British vessel. He says they were marching to West Point when Andre the British officer was executed as a spy and passed Stony Point on the day of his execution after he was cut down & before he was buried but did not witness the execution. He states that his regiment belonged to the 2 d Brigade & that the 5 th Regt were generally stated on their left. He states that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no

person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services - To the following interrogatories propounded by the court. He states as follows -
1st Where and in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born in the year 1756 on the 10th February near Flemington New Jersey.
2d Have you any record of your age & if so when is it -
Ans. I have no record of my age but  have  only  one  except  have a memorandum of my birth entered in my bible after I was married
3d When were you living when called into the service, when have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Ans. I lived four miles from Newton Berks Co Pa when I entered the service, since the revolutionary war I lived about 12 years in Hamilton, in the county of Northampton Pa after that I lived in the county of Washington Pa until within five years, when I removed to the State of Ohio & resided in Parkman in the county of Geauga until this summer when I removed to the place where I now live in Farmington
4th How were you called into the service, were you drafted did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom - Ans. I think I enlisted or volunteered as I well recollect that I recd a bounty for entering the service
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such continental or militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service - Ans. I cannot well state with more particularity than I have stated, except that an english deserter by the name of Thompson acted as adjutant of our Regt during the first part of my service that he was a severe arbitrary man who became extremely unpopular with the regiment and was removed or dismissed and that a Mr McKinney who was more agreeable in his demeanor to the private soldiers was put in his place as adjutant
6th Did you receive a discharge from the service & if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Ans I received a discharge from the service after I had served nearly eight months, I think it was signed

by Col Butler. The commanding officer of the 9 th Regt 2 d Brigade Pa line. but what has become of it I do not know. but suppose it has been lost in some of the removals from place to place. or that it is destroyed by accident. I have had search made among all my papers by a person who could read writing & it could not be found. & being unable to read myself I can only state from the information of others as to its contents. & from its having been given to me, as a discharge from service of the State the names of Persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood & who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a revolutionary soldier.
Ans Henry Lane Esqr and Ephraim Quimby of Warren in this county are acquainted with me & have been for a great many years and can state as to my reputation for truth and veracity & their belief of my service in the revolutionary army. There is no clergyman residing in this neighborhood or vicinity who has been much acquainted with me or who has known me long enough to be enabled to state any thing about either with certainty.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before me George Parsons S t At. Peter his Bellesfell mark
We Henry Lane and Ephraim Quimby residing in the town of Warren in the county of Trumbull & State of Ohio hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Peter Bellesfell who has subscribed and sworn to the above and foregoing declaration, and have been for about forty years, and we believe him to be seventy six years of age. That he is a man of truth and veracity. That he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he now resides and where he has resided for a great many years, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we do not know that any doubts have ever existed on this subject, and we concur in the general opinion that he was a soldier of the revolution and believe

That he served as he has stated
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before me George Parsons Clerk.
Henry Lane Capt D. D. D. D.
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 Henry Lane Esq & Ephraim Quimby are residents in the township of Warren aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. And the said court further certifies that appears that there is no clergyman in this vicinity who has resided in the neighborhood a sufficient length of time to enable him to give a certificate that would afford material evidence either in favor of or against the applicant.
The People of Ohio & George Parsons Clerk of the Supreme court of Trumbull County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Peter Bellesfelt for a pension.
In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29 th day of August 1832 George Parsons Clerk

May 6, 1936
Peter Bellesfelt S.16048 BA-J/AWF
Mr. Ezra M. Kuhns The National Cash Register Co. Dayton, Ohio
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information relative to Peter Bellesfelt, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and pensioned while a resident of Trumbull County, Ohio.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 16048, based upon the service of Peter Bellesfelt in the War of the Revolution.
Peter Bellesfelt was born February 10, 1756 in Flemington, New Jersey. The names of his parents were not stated. Early in the Revolution, he was living in Hamilton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, but moved with his wife, and wife's father and family to near Newtown, Pennsylvania, no names given family shown.
While residing near Newtown, Peter Bellesfelt enlisted late in April or early in May, 1780 and served as a private in Captain Butler's company, Colonel Butler's 9th Pennsylvania regiment, was in the battle at Bergen Point, and saw "Benedict Arnold at the time he left the American Army in a boat and deserted to the British", and was discharged late in December, 1780.
After the Revolution, he lived about twelve years in Hamilton, Pennsylvania, moved to Washington County,

Pennsylvania, where lived about five years, then to Parkman, Geauga County, Ohio.
The soldier, Peter Bellesfelt, was allowed pension on his application executed August 23, 1832, then a resident of Farmington, Trumbull County, Ohio, where he had been living only a short time.
The papers in this claim contain no other data relative to the family of the soldier, other than the reference to his wife and wife's father and family.
If you desire information in regard to the last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and give the following:
Peter Bellesfelt Certificate # 19758 Issued September 16, 1833 Rate $23.33 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Pittsburgh, Ohio Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

P 16048 INVALID.
File No. 16048 Peter Bellesfelt Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 31
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1913 June 28. Hest. To Alice L. Ruby. Potter in 97. 225-1-1. Leopold Smith of Lin. 1927-Oct 4. Hest. to Mrs. Fred V. Thomas awf. 1927-Nov 30. Hest. to Sarah J. Walls awf. 1936-May 6. Hest. to Syra M. Kuhn awf.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
March 18 th , 1848.
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," Peter Billesfelt, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pittsburgh Agency, at the rate of Twenty Three Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 4 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of March 1837, to the 1 st March 1839.
Respectfully, yours,
William L. Parry 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 Peter Schierfolt which require 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? Certified by two Citizens XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no 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? no 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? Not 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? no XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? no
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 in their affidavits the time of 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.

Michael Henry [?] [?]
Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?]
Michael Henry [?] Michael Henry [?]

Rev.

CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY
GREENCASTLE, INDIANA
May 14-1927
Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Please send me the record of pension to Peter Bellesfelt or (Bellesfeld). He was living in Pennsylvania and also Preble Co., Ohio after the War of the Revolution.
I greatly appreciate your kindness
Sincerely
Mrs. Fred V. Thomas Librarian

Greencastle, Ind
June 22, 1927
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please send me any record you have in your office of pension granted to one PETER BELLESFELT(BELLESFELD)
He lived in Kentucky and also in Trumbull County, Ohio,
I will indeed be very grateful for this favor.
Yours truly,
Sarah J. Walls.
403 West Walnut St.

THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY
DAYTON, OHIO
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
April 21, 1936
Secretary of the Interior, Department of Revolutionary Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Peter Bellsfelt, a resident of Trumbull County, Ohio, obtained a pension as a private in Pennsylvania Regiment of the Line under the act of Congress, June 7, 1832. Will you kindly be good enough to furnish me with an abstract of the application, affidavits of witnesses in connection therewith, and the final disposition of the application.
Yours very truly,
EZRA M. KUHNS,
Secretary.
EMK-lr

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of _____ a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     April 10 1775 1 yr 1 mo Pt. Katler Katler Pa.                                                   
Battles engaged in, Bunker Hill Residence of soldier at enlistment, 4 miles from Newtown, Penn. Date of application for pension, Aug 10 1812 Residence at date of application, Terre Haute, Ind. Age at date of application, 70
Remarks: He was a free white male of the United States. He was a resident of the United States at the time of his application for pension. He was not a pensioner at the time of his application.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
awg
October 4, 1927
Mrs. Fred V. Thomas, Librarian Carnegie Public Library Greencastle, Ind
Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 16048, it appears that Peter Bellesfelt was born Feb- ruary 10, 1756 at Flemington, New Jersey.
While residing four  residing four miles from Newtown, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in April or May 1780 and serve and served until in December 1780 as a private in Captain Butler's Company, Colonel Butler's Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment, and was in the battle at Bergen Point.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 23, 1832, while a resident of Farmington, Trumbull County, Ohio.
Soldier referred to his wife moving with him, at the beginning of the War, from Hamilton,

Northampton County, Pennsylvania to Newtown, Pennsylvania, her name is not stated, nor are there any data as to children.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.