Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12751, John Dean, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Dean John
S 12751
boarded
CONTENTS

11.929 Pennsylvania
John Dean
of Huntingdon Co in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Siminton of the Regt commanded by Col Piper in the Pa Res line for 19 mos s .
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of $13 Dollars 33 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of July 1833 and sent to
Jn. Dean Water Street
Arrears to the 4th of March 1830 $126. 66 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept " 31. 66
$158.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book E Vol. 5 Page 13 .

Application of John Dean for a Pension
24904

State of Pennsylvania County of Huntingdon } ss.
On this eighteenth day of April in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred thirty three, personally appeared in Open court, before the Honorable Thomas Barride Esq. President, and his associates, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county of Huntingdon, now sitting, John Dean a resident of Morris township, in the county of Huntingdon, and State of Pennsylvania, aforesaid, aged sixty nine 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, and served as herein stated, viz. That in the fall of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, several depredations and murders were committed by the Indians in what is now called the county of Huntingdon, aforesaid, which was then a part of Bedford county, and was at that time the frontier settlements next the Indians, in which deponent resided; that early in the spring of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, a number of the inhabitants in said settlements collected together and raised a fort in a place called Hartslog valley near the Juniata river in said county, which was named by the fort, in which they resided during said summer, deponent who was then about fifteen years old, assisted at raising said fort and done duty therein as a substitute for his father during the greater part of said summer; that early in the spring of the year One thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, deponent enlisted for a term of three months with Captain William Simonton who commanded a company of Militia, which was raised in said neighborhood, over which company and some others, raised in said county of Bedford, John Piper of Bedford was the colonel; that as soon as said term of enlistment of three months had expired, deponent again enlisted with said Captain in said company for another term of three months and as soon as said last term of three months ex-

-pired, again enlisted with him for the further term of three months, which three terms of enlistment amounting to not less than nine months in all, he served in the company of Mililia aforesaid, in the said year of one thousand seven hundred & seventy nine, that their service during said terms consisted chiefly in being out on scouting parties, watching the motion of the Indians, being sometimes stationary at certain places, and being always ready and doing every thing they could to save the lives of the defenceless inhabitants from the cruelty of the savages: That early in the spring of the year one thousand seven hundred & eighty, deponent again enlisted with said Captain Simonton, in the said company, and served therein in like manner as in the foregoing season for a span of time not less than six months; that near the latter end of said time, declarant and fourteen or fifteen others had been stationed at the house of said deponents fa- -ther, that while the men were at some distance during the day, the house was burnt by the Indians, and deponents mother, two brothers & one sister were killed, & the house burned; after which time depo- -nent with the rest who were there retreated to said Mytles fort, where they were stationed until the said term expired: That after said term of six months had expired, deponent again enlisted in a company -ny of Mililia, of said Regiment commanded by Colonel John Piper, which company was com- -manded by Captain John Thornton, for a term of two months, and served therein in such sort of service as he has already stated during said time after : That in the spring of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, deponent again enlisted in the said company of Mililia commanded by Captain John Thornton for a term of two months, and served during said term in defending the inhabitants from the depredations of the Indians, that in all the said recited terms together, he served not less than nineteen months as a Mililia man. And the only man he knows of who can bear any testimony to his services is George Vangant. -

and that the clergyman of his neighborhood on whom he depended to certify for him (from Thomas, and that he can not without much difficulty procure one to a pension) 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 & subscribed the day and year aforesaid John Dean
We John Stewart, residing in Morris township, county of Huntingdon & State aforesaid, and Thomas Jackson of Williamsburgh borough, county and state aforesaid, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Dean who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine 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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid - -
Thomas Jackson John Stewart
Questions by the court -
1 st Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans r . I was born in the county of York, in the State of Pennsylvania, the township I do not recollect; and as near as I know I was born in the year One thousand seven hundred & sixty three.
2 d Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?
Answer - I have no record of my age, I believe it was burned in my father's house, when the house was destroyed by the Indians, but I believe my age to be between sixty nine and seventy years.
3 rd When were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Answer - When called into service I was living in what was then called Barree township, then in the county of Bedford and now in the county of Huntingdon, aforesaid. I was living four or five years since the Revolutionary war at Chambers- burg in Franklin county in state aforesaid, and have lived all the rest of the time, and do now live in the county of Huntingdon aforesaid, and in the township of Morris
said county -
4 th How were you called into service; were you drafted, and you volunteered, or were you a substitute?
Answer - I had been enrolled in the Militia, and joined or enlisted in the company & unit, the captain I have stated, which I be- lieve were at that time said to be on the Continental

establishment, I was not a substitute. During the nine- -teen months, I have stated, for any purpose - 5 th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect; and the gene- -ral circumstances of your service?.
Answer - I remember Colonel John Piper, Colonel Samuel Jack, Captain William Simonton, Captain John Thornton, Captain Noah Abraham, Capt. David Shultz & Captain John McDonald. I do not recollect during my service of any Regular or Militia regiments being encamped with us, but several times we were encamped with companies of Militia of which companies the above named officers had some of them the command. 6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service of so; by whom was it given & what has become of it?.
Answer - I never received any discharge, I received certificates for my services from the Comptroller General of Revenue -various, John Nicholson, which I had to sell at a reduced price.
7 th 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?
Answer - Thomas Jackson Esq., John Stewart Esq., Hon. Robert Allison, Hon. John Scott, James Clarke Esq. Sam. Royer Esq. and many others -
George Vanzant, appeared in open court on the day and year aforesaid, and being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he is well acquainted with the aforesaid John Dean, and remembers of his being a soldier during the Revolutionary war; that Deponent served as a soldier in a company of Militia commanded by Captain William Simonton & in the regiment of John Piper, Colonel, which was raised in what was then a part of Bedford county, now Huntingdon county in the state of Pennsylvania; which Militia, to the best of deponent's belief were said to be on the Continental establishment. That to the best of deponent's belief he served not less than nine months in said company under

said Captain Simonton, during all of which time, the said John Dean served in, and was a member of said company, that the frailty of deponents memory, does not enable him to say to a full certainty in what year it was, but to the best of his belief, it was in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy nine; that the principal duty they performed, was guarding the inhabitants on the frontier against the depredations of the Indians. And in the following year, deponent served not less than six months in said company, during which time the said John Dean was a member of the same, and that said deponent resides in the township of Shingle in the county of Huntingdon aforesaid -
George his Vanzant Mark
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 John Stewart Esquire, and Thomas Jackson Esquire, who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the county aforesaid, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit; and the court also certifies that George Vanzant who has given testimony to the services of the said John Dean, is a resident of the said county of Huntingdon, and that he is a credible person, and that his statement is entitled to credit.
W. W. Wrenn } Judge J. Adams
I David R. Porter, Clerk, or Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Huntingdon, aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of John Dean for a Pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said office, this eighteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three -
D. R. Porter Clerk

addrs - John Dean Esq., Waterstreet, Huntingdon County, Pa. or to care of R. Walcan, Huntingdon Pa.
1. 1855

c 1024/01 John Dean Huntingdon County Pennsylvania
19 mts $ 63.30
Jn o Dean Esq r Waterstreet Huntingdon County Penn a
E

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 John Dean Huntingdon County Pennsylvania
   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.     fall 1777 69 years Bedford County Pennsylvania Traditionary evidence to one living witness, all entitled credible by the court, no clergyman's certificate - papers not properly attached   Sub. Spring 1778 Not stated Officers not named.   Enlisted Spring 1779 - 3 - private Capt Simonton Colonel Piper   Enlisted 1779 - 3 - " Same officers   Enlisted 1779 - 3 - " Same officers   Enlisted Spring 1780 - 6 - " Capt Simonton   Enlisted - - 2 - " Col Piper Capt Thornton   Enlisted Spring 1781 - 2 - " Capt Thornton  
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 days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[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 troops, 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 is 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.

Perman
12.751 ✓ INVALID.
File No. 12.751
John Dean Prin. R.R. man
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]