Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 255-100, James Chambers, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Chambers, James
B.L.Wt. 255-100.
CONTENTS

Mifflin Co. July 2. 1806 Rev. Mary Berkley. Application for Land enclosing documents 255
No 40. 7
" 40. 8
R
Issued warrant No 255
Washington City
State.
To the Secretary of War of the United States.
Rec. Oct. 11 th 1806

To The Honorable Henry Dearborn Esq. Secretary of War of the United States. —
Sir)
We are informed that Congress at their Last Session passed a Law extending the time for granting & Locating Military Land Warrants, And Directing Soldiers & their heirs to make Application to you. —
And as James Chambers Dec d who Belonged to the Regiment Commanded by Col. William Fadin of Carlisle Pennsylvania Troops and served during the war & after the peace came home to Cumberland now Mifflin County was here about two years; then went Below Pittsburgh where he was killed by the Indians And as John Chambers Dec d Brother to the above named James, & who Belonged to Pennsylvania Troops & Captain Thomas Butlers company in the third Regiment Commanded by Col. Craig, And — Died in the army in the Summer of 1780. — And I the Subscriber Mary Chambers, now Mary Barkley, am the only Sister & nearest friend alive to the above said James & John Chambers. —

And William Berkley now my Lawfull husband and we are the only proper heirs to the Estate. of the said James and John Chambers Decd. —
Therefore We do hereby make our — Application for the Donation Lands due to the heirs of the said James, and John Chambers, — And Inclosed is the Depositions proving the their Services, our heirship &c. —
And if your honor will please to think proper to grant us the said Lands, We will be in duty bound to pray Whilst our names are.
State of Pennsylvania
Mifflin County.
July 8. 1804.
Wm Berkley
Mary Berkley

8/1000 (P3 4. Do Chubbard 20 29 Shingle 24 4
18 12 3
13 1/2 13 0 4 4 18
10 8 01 15 2 51 11 4 11 26 2 27 0 27 28
10 01 15 2 51 11 4 11 26 2 27 0 27 28
15 2 51 1 10 1 13 4 1 1 01
15 2 51 1 10 1 13 4
[Faint, mirrored text bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

Upon Corp August 13th 1862
Honored father
Having this opportunity to inform you that I am in Good health at present thank the Lord for his mercy to me Who has led me through all things pleased to let before me I am sorry to inform you that Brother John Departed this life the sixth of last May which leaves me that I was on Corp at that time I did not see him before he was Entertained it was at Washington Hospital he died ————— We have had a good Deal of fighting Marching this time past it is expected that We will remain here some time on account the Enemy is all in York at present We do not know where we are to march to Next till the Enemy make a movement the best to Road to England But our troops & the french troops that was there before them to a speedy return back to York — I am sure that we have a fine army at present We have about eight thousand men fit for Action all in Good Spirits And very hot they the Enemy had a block house Neigh fort Lee with Refugees and slaves in it and We have Burned it & gone to York Remembrance my Love to Con. Chambers How. Lyons and Charles Polk and to all Enquiry friends & Neighbors No More at present But Remain your loving Son till Death
Wm Chambers

February 10, 1939
The Quartermaster General Memorial Branch War Department Washington, D. C.
BA-J/AWF Car James Chambers B.L.Wt. 255-100 acres
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to James Chambers, private in Captain Overmier's company, Frontier Rangers, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, War of the Revolution, and died May 18, 1780 in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania.
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and no claim for pension or bounty land found, based upon service of the James Chambers, as described above.
The record of a James Chambers of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, who died shortly after the close of the Revolution, has been found, and is furnished herein as found in papers on file in claim for bounty land.
The date and place of birth of James Chambers were not stated. He was the son of Samuel Chambers, who was living in 1780 in "Turkeyrun Valley", near Carlisle; name of his mother is not given.
James Chambers of Cumberland (later Mifflin) County, Pennsylvania, enlisted in 1778, served as a private in Captain Wilson's company, in Colonel William Irvine's Pennsylvania regiment, in Captain Thomas Butler's company, and in Colonel Craig's

Third Pennsylvania regiment, and continued in the service until "after peace with Great Britain was concluded".
The soldier, James Chambers, was killed by Indians, near Fort Pitt, about two years after the close of the Revolution.
On account of the service of James Chambers in the Revolutionary War, warrant # 255, for one hundred acres of bounty land was issued April 22, 1806, to his sister, Mary Barkley, wife of William Barkley, at which time they were both living in Millford Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.
The soldier's brother, John Chambers, served in the Revolutionary War, and died May 6, 1780, at "Baskinrige Hospital".
Reference was made to other brothers and sisters of the soldier, James Chambers, no names stated, other than the John and Mary as shown above.
The application for headstone for James Chambers is returned herewith. There was no correspondence enclosed.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

To the Honorable Mifflin Town Act 1 st April Henry Dearbourn Esq r Secretary of War U.S. Washington City. —

We the undersigned Subscribers being of Mifflin County State of Pennsylvania.
DO certify that we are acquainted with the following named persons persons Whose Depositions we understand are herewith Sent on to you. — And that they are credit- able Characters and that full faith and Credit are due & is paid to their Words and Depositions in our neighbourhood where they have long Resided & are Well known. (To wit) John Brop who proves the Service of James Chambers a Soldier in the Late Revolutionary- war. — & John M c Mullin Who proves the — Service of John Chambers a Soldier in the war aforesaid. — And also W m Martin, & W m Cheyney Who proves the Service &c of Robt M c Culley, in the War as above. — & Jesse Jefferies who — proves the Service &c of James Dailey a Soldier as above.

And also With Bruce Collins & James Wilson Who Proves the Service &c of Thomas Tull in the said War. — And also With capt. Wilson, William Henderson, & Margaret Henderson, Who proves the service of Samuel Henderson in said war.
And also Col. James Purdy Who proves the Service &c of Francis Ferrin in the war aforesaid
given under our hands This 18th of Sept 1804
To Henry Dearborn Esq. W m Beale
I do not know if — W m Stewart Esq. Jeffries

Mifflin Co. Pa. July 2 nd 04 W m Beale Application for Lands enclosing document
Dear Sir,
Henry Dearborn Esq r
Secretary of War of the United States.
Washington City
Dear Sir,
Yours Mifflin Penn Oct 1
Rec d Oct. 11 th 1804
also acting - Power of Attorney hereby make an allotment due to the

To The Honorable Henry Dearborn Esq. Secretary of War of the United States. —
Sir) I am informed that Congress at their Last Session passed a law extending the time for granting & Locating Military Land Warrants, And Directing Soldiers & their heirs to make their applications to you, Sir. —
And as Francis Ferran D r who belonged to the Pennsylvania Hoops & 12 th Regiment, — & served part of his time a Soldier in Captain Chambers Company, & part as Waggons & forage Mater & died in the army in the Winter of 1778. — And as Catharine Ferran, now Dailey was the only child & heir to the said Francis Ferran, & Jean Ferran his Wife, — And as I the Subscri- ber are now applying from Behalf & for the use of the said Catharine Ferran, now Dailey & W m Dailey her husband, & also acting — under a Legal Executed Power of Attorney
Therefore I do hereby make an — Application for the Donation Land due to the

heirs of the said Francis Ferrand, and I relied on the Deputation proving his services. *
And if your honor should think Proper to grant said Donation Land it Will help to relieve the necessity of the uninformed needy orphans & heirs of the said Francis Ferrand.
State of Pennsylvania Mifflin County
July 2 d 1804.
I am With due Respect yours. J. Beale
72

David Chambers.
Pennsylvania.
Subj. by Mr VanHome
John Repp.
Deposition.

Mifflin County, Pa.
Personally came before me none of the Justices of the peace for said County in the State of Pennsylvania, John Ross of the County aforesaid & Being known as Law Directs, Deposeeth & saith that he was well acquainted with James Chambers late of Cumberland County, who enlisted & went out in the American army in Captain Wilford's Company Commanded by Colonel William Irvine of Carlisle, & marched from thence in the year 1776. — & further saith that he lay in the Camp with said Chambers at Crown-point from the 28th of June 1776 till some time in November the same year, & that he was particularly acquainted with him in the Army & that in different years and at different places, during the war. And said Deponent also well remembers, that said Chambers returned home from the army after the peace with Great Britain was concluded. & as said Deponent believes said Chambers served throughout the whole war though he was not all the time in the same Regiment with him, and of course not constantly in his company. — And said Deponent further saith, he lived in the same neighborhood with said Chambers about two years after the peace, And as this Deponent always understood & believes that said Chambers then went Below fort pit and was there killed by the Indians. — And said Deponent further saith that he was acquainted with said Chambers Father & all said Chambers Brothers & Sisters, who are now all dead & died without ever being Married or having lawfull Issue, except Mary Chambers the youngest Sister who is now living & Married to William Barkley, — And said Deponent further saith that said James Chambers died without ever being Married or having lawfull Issue. —
Sworn & subscribed this 12th day of June 1804. — Before me
John Kelly

Lancaster January 11 th 1805
Dear Sir By the last mail I received from you the Patent to W m Martin from the U. S. for 100 acres of Military Bounty Land, appears to be in Lot C. P. 35 in 4 th District, 2 d Township in 16 th Range E. but as I have no Draft I shall still be at a loss to inform Martin in what part of the country to go to find his Land. Can you send a Draft of it, or can you describe the country it lies in, as it is in the  the wilderness.
In yours of the 16 th instant you mention that some Difficulty arises to obtain Military Land to some of  all the claimants that I sent forward, you think it highly Probable that not more than two will obtain without more Septamoney (to wit) the heirs of James Chambers, & Samuel Henderson. — Enclosed I send you an old Letter Wrote by the above named James Chambers when in camp, home to his father James Chambers who then lived within 2 miles of me then Cumberland now Mifflin County, and giving account of his Brother John Chambers Death who is the same John Chambers alluded to in John M c Mullins Deposition, I hope this this may be Evidence Sufficient for to Identify John Chambers and that the applicants for his Bounty Land are the Real heirs to wit W m & Mary Berkley, late Mary Chambers, And in addition I could be very clear in being Qualified that that she is the Real and only heir to the said John Chambers. Therefore hope they may obtain, — you hinted in your last that a certified from the Land office here that any of them had deceased Lands from this State would go great length towards Establishing the claim, accordingly Enclosed I send you a Draft certifying that one of the claimants (to wit) John

Mr. Mullin has been Donated land from this State. — I forget the Evidence sent forward in his favour But you will see that he has gave his Deposition that he was in the 3 d Regiment commanded by Col, Craig in Capt. Butlers Company with John Chambers and helped bury him, I know John M c Mullin — well he is an honest poor old soul, I hope he may obtain as he needs the Relief much. — as for the other Covenants, (to wit) the heirs of Robert M c Cully Francis Ferrin and James Dailey I have no other Proofs sent forward to me yet neither do I suppose they can be obtained at this length of time, the heirs of — M c Cully and Ferrin I am well acquainted with and am well assured they are just and that they ought to obtain as for the heirs of Daileys claim I dont know of my own knowledge, but his Brother John Dailey who — applied through me is lately De d and left no heirs that I know of. therefore further pursuit of that claim may as well be giving, and let it becheat to the U. S. in a former letter you stated that John Wright was entitled to Bounty Lands from the State of — virginia, and that you would try to make arrange- ments with some of the Virginia members to send to — Richmond to get his Patent, there must be some — Mistake about the name of Michael M c Crum for if Wright is entitled, M c Crum certainly must be as the Both lived together before they went out and served in the same troop & Company. Discharged together & yet lives in the same neighbourhood. Together, M c Crum has his Discharge, I have wrote to him to send it on, but have get no answer. turn over

P.S. Just as I finished writing the other side of this Letter I Rec d the with applications and Digests in favour of John Wright & Michael W. Crum, & also an old Letter from Capt. Joseph Eggleston which helps to prove & identify Wright & W m Crum, and their previous application, & their merits, - they will be returned to them after the proper application made of it. - So I beg to assure you of your attention to all this troublesome business before Congress breaks up, I Subscribe myself your friend in sincerity,
Yours Sincerely W m Beale
I send
P.S. I also send enclosed a recommendation & recommendation in favour of our old friend Davidson obtaining the contract for carrying the mail the route therein described, I expect by this time him and his friends in Wofflin have sent on his application. will you please to lay the application before Mr c Granger and if the present contractor should decline (Which I believe is Mr c Cadwallader) then I very much wish that Davidson may obtain the contract, -
W.B.

Power of Attorney W m & Mary Berkley
To
W m Beale to draw U.S. Lands James Chambers.

Know all men by these presents that we William Barkley, and Mary Berkley his wife late Mary Chambers, Both of Millford Township Mifflin County & State of Pennsylvania do hereby Authorise constitute & appoint William Beale Esq. for us and in our name and for our use to make Application to such persons and Officers as are appointed by Law to give Rights for the Lands granted by Congress of the U.S. to Soldiers & their heirs who served in the American Army in the Revolutionary war — with Great Britain, Therefore we do hereby Authorise and impower our said Attorney to apply for & receive for our use all the Donation or Bounty Land due to us as the Brother and Sister and only legal heirs of James Chambers a Soldier in the late American Army in the the third Regiment commanded by Colonel — Craig in Thomas Butlers company in the Penn- =sylvania line. — And to take all Lawfull ways and means to recover said Land & to do all such acts and things that may be necessary to be done respecting =ing the same as we or either of us could do were we personally present. Ratifying & confirming all that the said William Beale as our lawfull Attorney shall do in & about the premises. as Witness our hands and seals this 19 th day of March A.D 1806.
Witness present
George Meloy William Hager
William Barkley
Mary his  his Barkley

Mifflin County ss
Personally came before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace for S d County the within named William Barkley and Mary Barkley his Wife (alias Mary Chambers) and acknowledged the within Power of Attorney to be their Act and deed. Witness my hand and Seal This 19 th day of March A.D. 1806.
George Meloy