Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 7251, Tunis Covert, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Covert, Tunis Fell, Catherine
W. 7251
Former widow
CONTENTS

Pennsylvania 580
Catharine Fell former Catharine Covert, who was widow of James Covert, dec.
who died on the year 1811 in Luzerne Co. in the State of Penn a who was a Private in the by Captain [blank] of the Reg t . by Col. Ogden in the N. Jersey line for 2 years
Enrolled on the Roll of Pennsylvania at a rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of March 1837 and sent to Wm. A. Deaumont, Wilkesbarre, Penn a
Arrear to the 4th of March '37 1880.00 Pemi-ant. allowance ending 4. Sep. " 40.00 $ 520.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3. }
Recorded by D. Brown Vol. 1 ————— Cle

State of Pennsylvania Suzerne County ss
On this twenty eighth day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty six before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Luzerne of said a personally appeared Catharine Fell aged seventy three years (who on account of bodily infirmities is unable to attend or appear in Court) who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed the 4 th day of July 1836: That she is the widow of Jesse Fell late of the Borough of Wilkes-Barre in the County & State of said deceased and was formerly to her marriage with the said Fell the widow of Junis Covert who was a private soldier in the Revolutionary Army and served as follows as near as the recollection of the declarant can serve to wit the said Junis Covert entered the service as she believes for the term of one year he afterwards enlisted as she thinks under John Philenus and served in the company as a private commanded by Capt John Horns or Holmes in the first New Jersey Regiment commanded as she believes by Col Ogden of the New Jersey line of the Continental Army and served until the close of the war

She further declares that she was married to the said Junis Cower in the year 1779 on the 22 d day of July (nearly four years before his service expired) by John Franklin then a justice of the Peace and that her husband the aforesaid Junis Cower died in the year 1811 in the month of August and that she remained a widow until her marriage with the said Jesse Hill who died as she thinks in the month of August 1830 and she still remains a widow as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. She has been a resident of this County to wit the County of Luzerne for upwards of fifty seven years Sworn and subscribed on
the day and year above written before
her Catharine Fell for Catharine + Cower Mark
J. M. Robt. Associate Judge
Witness present at making her Mark A. Beaumont

Pay WIDOW, &c
File No. 7251
Catharine Fell, for Wid of Junius Everett Port N.J. line
Act: July 4/36, sec 3rd
Index: —Vol. A , Page 232
[Arrangement of 1870.]
not identical with 2383 Ry. ✓

Pennsylvania Role 3 d lev. at 4 July 36
Catharine Fell, formerly Catharine Covert; who was widow of Tunis Covert, dec d . who served as a Private in the 1 st N. Jersey cont. regt.
$80 per ann. out send cut: to Hon. A. Beaumont Wilkes barre, Penn a .

State of Pennsylvania, Suzer County ss
On this twenty sixth day of November 1836 before me Wm S. Nap one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Suzer- aforsaid personally appeared Rufus Bennet aged about eighty years and Martha Bennet his wife aged seventy years, both of sound memory who being by me first duly sworn according to law do on their oaths depose & say that they became acquainted with Junis Covert and Catharine Covert his wife named in the annexed declaration about the close of the Revolu- tionary war in 1783 that he the said Junis Covert was always reputed to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary Army that when they first became acquainted with the said Junis Covert & Catharine Covert they were living together as man & wife & were so considered as such and to this day so considered, that about the year 1788 or 89 as near as their recollection can go the said Junis & his wife & family were the tenants to the said Rufus Bennet & continued so for several years and that at the time the said Junis Covert became the tenant of said Bennet they had four or five children one of which named John Covert was eight or nine years of age and from their acquaintance & knowledge of the said Junis Covert and Catharine Covert & their condition of family the deponents have not a doubt of the marriage of said Catharine with the said Junis Covert at the time or then about, set forth in the accompanying declaration. Depos. & deposed Sworn & subscribed before me this twenty sixth day of November 1836. Wm S. Nap. Associate Judge
Martha Bennet

State of Pennsylvania Lebanon County ss
I John Smith Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that William S. Drost whose name is subscribed to the foregoing declaration and affidavit is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned as such and that full credence is to be had to his official acts and deeds In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Milner Barre this twenty eighth day of November Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty six
John Smith Pro. By Amos B. Smith

781. 3. Sec.
Catharine File
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible but appears to be a formal letter or record.]
Wm. C. Beaumont
H.R.
Dec 10
[Handwritten signature, possibly "Wm. C. Beaumont"]

Catharine Fell widow of Tunis Covert
Penn a adm d .
Col Anderson Apr 3/54

Treasury Department. Third Auditor's Office. April 24. 1854.
Sir,
I herewith return the papers in the case of Catharine Fell, widow of Lewis Covent, dec. and have to inform you that her pension has been paid in full to the day of her death.
I am, Sir, your Obedient Servant F. Burt Third Auditor
H. E. Hapgood Esq. Washington.
S. C.

War Department Pension Office November 4, 1836.
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 31 st ultimo, I have to inform you that on reference being made to the rolls of service in this office, it is found that Tunis Covert served as stated in your letter.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully Your Obedt. Servt. J. L. Edwards
Hon: A. Beaumont, Wilkesbarre Pennsylvania

U
Dec 17
Co 4 July 1836
J. L. Edwards Esq Comm Pension Washington City D.C.
Mr Beaumont H.R.
[Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]

Washington Dec 16 1896
J. L. Edwards Esq
On arrival at Wash n I transmitted sundry documents among which were two declarations of widows of Rev. Galds. One of Catherine Fell the other of Susan Donaldson also
10/12/96 { a memorandum in relation to a certain Constant Matthewson & one other whose name I at present forget.
From the burning of the P. Office I have thought it possible some of the answers or allusions in the above cases may have been destroyed & I merely wish to know if any answer in the above named cases had been sent.
Yours friend truly A. Beaumont

Washington Dec 10 1836
J. L. Edwards Esqr Sir
I herewith transmit the applications & proof of Catharine Fell and Susanna Donalson widows of Rev- olutionary soldiers. The case of Catharine Fell requires a particular explanation. I perceive by the letter of instructions to claimants under the act of July 4 1836 you construe that law as barring the claim of any individual who has been subsequently married after the death of the husband who perform- ed the Revolutionary Service notwith- standing she be now a widow. I hope that on a review of the law you will change your opinion in this respect. I believe the uniform rule in construing the different laws relating

Revolutionary services, has been to give them a liberal interpretation - that the end of those patriotic acts should be accomplished rather than defeated. Now My Dr Sir I apprehend that the consideration for which the pension of the husband was intended to be made available for his widow, was her participation in the dangers provocations & sufferings of the Revolutionary struggle by being his wife , during his the time he was in the service - and I further apprehend that this consideration is not impaired by a subsequent marriage if she be now a widow. It would seem that the pension was intended to be given to the widows of Revolutionary Officers & Soldiers in consideration of their own services & sufferings in supporting themselves & children

during that perilous struggle while their husbands were in the Army than rather than the means of the husband; and that the only reasonable or equitable bar to their claim is their being the wife of some one at this time who is bound to provide for their support.
Most respectfully
Your obedient
A. Beaumont
N. B. The language of the law is (if I rightly understand) so long as she remains a widow not so long as she remains the widow of the officer or sailor.