Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,596, George Dansdill, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Dansdill, George
S. 23596
CONTENTS

Pennsylvania - 11,449
George Gansdill
of Bedford Co. in the State of Penn a
who was a - Dr - in the Company - commanded by Captain Philips - of the Reg t - commanded by Col Chambers - in the Pennsylvanian line for -
1 Dr Private - 40.00
Inscribed on the Roll of - Pennsylvania at the rate of 40 Dollars - Pounds per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th day of May 1833 and sent to Jeb Mann Bedford Pa
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 80.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " 20.
$ - 100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. S. Sprague Clerk Book 8 - Vol. 5 - Page 13 -

Application of George Danadele
23549

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832.
State of Pennsylvania
County of Bedford } ss.
On this 28 th day of Janry 1833 personally appeared in open Court before Alex r Thomson & his Associates Judges of the Court now sitting George Dansdill a resident of Dublin Township, in the County of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania, aged Seventy four years & nine Months 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 Officers, and served as herein stated. in 1775 in May or June Drafted in the State of New Jersey County of Hun- terdon Amwell Township where said applicant then resided (State Law required one Month's Service and then Discharged) Rendezvous d at Prin- ge's Tavern (the Major's name not recollected) Col n Chambers was then Col n was in Capt n Phillips Company our Battalion March d to Amboy, crossing Somerset County and enter d into Essex County and Morris County along the sea shore serv d in all under Capt n Phillips three Tours of Military service under the same Field Officers; second Draft in the summer the third Draft in Sept r or begining of Oct r during these three Tours guarded the Whigs from being plundered by the British from Staten Island, at Blauvelt's Farm throwing up breast works march d from place to place, Headies Mills, Smith's Farms hurried Marches after night where most needed Guarding along the sea shore; each Draft con- sisted of not less than a Battalion Rendezvous d & march d from the County of Hunterdon afterwards disposed of by Companies where needed said General Ward then considered him to belong to the standing Army and frequently saw him afterwards when on other Tours of Duty was Discharg d and in the ensuing Winter Dec r or Jan y in 1776 again Drafted in the spring of same year Drafted and in the summer of same year Drafted each Draft for one Month these three Tours of Duty served under Capt n Jones, Major Stout, Col n Bray being Rendezvous d and March d from Hunterdon County under Major Stout afterwards only the Capt n was with us, no Battles as yet being fought in our District of Country the Duty perform d were similar to those before mentioned being perform d in the same District of Country about the last of these Tours the Bloods & Hacks prevailed in the camp and a number died was Discharg d about the begining of October same year 1776 again Drafted and served under Capt n Ely one Month (same Field Officers as when serving under Capt n Jones) During this Tour of Duty nothing differing from others occurred as now recollected being march d to the places most needed and being Discharged; about the begining of December 1776 was again Drafted for one Month serv d under Capt n Gerhart Major Gerhart Col n Furmon Rendezvous d at Flemington Hunterdon County March d under Major Gerhart to Elizabeth town point fifteen miles from New York & near Col n Bragg's guarded his House & property was ordered by Major Gerhart to be in readiness the next day we must join the Standing Army at New York (they then lay above New York) and to have a general Battle with the Enemy The Guns and Ammunition examined three new flint locks drawn one just in

And twenty four rounds cartridge The next day March towards New York on reaching the road leading from New York to Woodbridge there stood an officer of the Standing Army who gave orders to Major Gerhart to March on the road that led to Woodbridge and follow Washington's Army who had just passed Major Gerhart's Battalion turned in March in rear of the Standing Army after passing through Woodbridge to the forks of the road leading to Boundbrook & Brunswick they Standing Army encamped for the night & the Militia encamped in Woodbridge in the morning Genl. Lord gave orders to Major Gerhart to March to Boundbrook and destroy the Bridge over Rariton River & then March seven miles down the River to join Washington's Army at Brunswick This order being obeyed the Bridge tore up & thrown into The River & had March near a mile towards Washington's Army an express came to Major Gerhart from Washington's Army to March to Easton and take all the Boats & flats down the River to Corrells Ferry & those he could not fetch to destroy (The British Officers and Refugees was expected to stop there) the Artillery which came with Major Gerhart's Battalion from Elizabethtown point was to pro- ceed to Washington's Army and the fourteen Medicine Wagon was to continue with the Battalion this order was immediately obeyed (but some small delay took place in turning round in a lane the fence being post & rail the posts frozen in the ground) The March continued to twelve o'clock at night & commenced again before day in the morning on reaching Easton the air affected There mistook our Battalion for those they expected the British and Refugees they waved their hats & whirled for King George They exerted themselves & had our Battalion over the River very soon and each of them as could be recognized was put under Guard; a number of the Boats was destroyed being in bad condi- tion on reaching Corrells Ferry our Battalion commenced ferrying over prisoners to the Pennsylvanian Shore Washington's Army was then on the Pennsylvanian side of the Delaware River Major Gerhart's Battalion remained there some days guarding the Boats a good many men belonging to the Battalion was draft- ed from near the Delaware River was used on the Water & our officers & that was the cause why we had that duty assigned to us as ferrying over the Hessian Prisoners taken at Trenton the Ice was troublesome on the River being about the later end of December our Battalion March towards Princeton was within eight miles when the Battle was fought at Princeton by Washing- ton's Army our Battalion was then ordered back to Corrells Ferry assisted in getting over the Prisoners taken at Princeton also some of the Standing Army who guarded the prisoners soon after this time being relieved by another Draft after having served a few days over our time was discharged; in the Spring of 1777 was drafted & served one Month under Capt. Egle (same kind officers and in the same year served one Month under Capt. Gerhart both of these Tours of Service was performed in same District of Country & in like Service as in the two former years (only did not take up any Bridge) we ferryed over some prisoners at Corrells Ferry said

to be from Burgoyne's Army they were sent towards Lancaster; the Men who were drafted at other times had to go forward up to Bunker's Hill some of them at the Battle of Bunker's Hill & were severely distressed by sickness & some died even after they returned home; the applicant enjoyed good Health was not taken very far from home never happened to be in any Battle, never had any wounds whilst in the service in 1778 saw two Regiments of Military Service each drafted for one Month served under Captains Egley & Gerhart terms became more troublesome some times delayed by long & hurried Marches we were discharged but either had no papers or does not recollect of getting any have no documents and knows of no person now alive who served with him in any form of service having in all served twelve Months was not again called into service during the War. One Thousand seven hundred and seventy eight the State of Jersey resided four years in York County State of Pennsylvania then moved into Dublin Township Bedford County State of Pennsylvania where said applicant has resided ever since. There is no Clergyman who can certify for him can be procured. 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.
An Open Court John Mann Prov. } George Darsdill hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the original George Darsdill
We John Noble and Jacob Ambrose residing in Dublin Township Bedford County and State of Pennsylvania hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with George Darsdill, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years and nine Months 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 26 th day of January A. D. 1833. before John Chesnut S. D.
John Noble Jacob A. Ambrose mark

And the Court 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 states and certifies that it appears to them that John Noble and Jacob Ambrose who have sworn to and subscribed the preceding certificate, are resident in the County of Bedford, and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Job Mann Notary of the Court of Common Pleas of Bedford County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of George Dana see for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court and my office at Bedford this 30 th day of January A. D. 1833.
Job Mann Not.

23549 George Dansdill Bedford county Pennsylvania
10m c 12 mos $40.-
Job Mann, North. Bedford River.

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 subjunct 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 Darsdill, Bedford Co Penn.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Drafted 1775 3 private Capt Phillips Col Chambers Anboy 74 tradition,   1776 3 Capt Jones Col May Blosington Hudson Co Penn. certificate signed by 39 acquaintances, who vouch for his veracity, &c.   — 1 Capt Ely My Stout Elizabeth town   — 1 Capt Girtart My Girtart Easton   1777 1 Capt Ely same Rariton   1778 2 Capt Ely Col May & D Conwell's ferry   — 1 Capt Girtart My Girtart Princeton  
"In all 12 months"
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) _____ 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 day 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 he 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.
[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. [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.
J. B. 10/2/21

Reproduction
23596
INVALID.
No. 23596
George Dandill
Rev. Rev. Dandill
Act June 7 th 32 nd
Index: Vol. 2, Page 101
[Arrangement of 1870.]

To all to whom it may concern We the undersigned subscribers do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Sandall who is now an applicant in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 that we believe him to be 74 years of age a man of veracity 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. Jan'y 1 st 1833.
George Mullins
  John Noble  Geo. W. U. King     Joseph B. Noble  John Chesnut  J. R. Getty    Thomas Bawles  George Gaster     Jacob Houger  Jacob Ambrose     John F. Davis  Jacob Gaster     Robert Drenning  George Chesnut     David Hunsberger  John Sanderson     Joseph M. Farland      Wm Chesnut    
  James ...  Wm Chesnut     John Hunsberger  William Griffith     John Jordan  James Gaster     Matthias Huber  Robert Gaster     Balser Mergart  James Gaster     Philip Mergart  Samuel Spicem     John ...    
Benjamin Stevens William Stephen Oliver Stephens Christian Harris Benjamin Baker Henry Ziegler Joseph Ziegler Leonard Ziegler Sr