Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,212, Samuel Denny, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Denny, Samuel
S. 32,212
Born in Penn.
CONTENTS

30,785  Indiana
Samuel Penny of Putnam Co in the State of Indiana who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Babb of the 10th Regt commanded by Col. the  the  Wm  Wm  Wm  Wm for one year - one year  one year  one year  one year
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of $5 Dollars 20 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of August 1836 and sent to James Mitchell Esq. Stilesville
Arrears to the 4th of March 1836 $226. - Semi-ann. allowance ending 1/4 Sep. 22.60 $248.60
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Allison Clerk Book 6. 2 Vol. 7 Page 120
Letter to J. F. Harley Esq. the March 23. June 1838. -

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832.
State of Indiana Putnam County. } ss.
On this 23 rd day of April, in the year of our Lord, 1835, personally appeared in open court, before the Circuit Court in and for the county of Putnam aforesaid, now sitting, Samuel Denny a resident of Putnam County in the State of Indiana, aged seventy nine years on the 28 th day of August last past, 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 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in stated: That belonging at the time to a company of rifle-men volunteers, called minute men (from their liability to enter upon active service whenever called on) in the Virginia militia in Frederick county in the State of Virginia (where he then resided) this applicant, on the 6 th of March in the year, 1777, in said county of Frederick with the said company entered upon active service in the war of the revolution, in a campaign against the Indians; Peter Babb being the Captain; Aaron Mercer (or Mespel) the first lieutenant and William Denny (a brother of the applicant) the second lieutenant of said company. This applicant with said company continued in service in said campaign until the 20 th of June next following under the same officers, and the corps of which said company formed a part, and during that period was mostly occupied between Pittsburgh (then Fort Pitt) and Wheeling for the protection of the frontiers, having frequent skirmishes with the Indians; that said company was on returning to the town of Winchester in Frederick county aforesaid, duly discharged and this applicant received a written discharge signed by Col. John Smith who was Colonel of the 2 nd regiment of militia of said county to which said company belonged; James Kennedy being the Lieutenant Colonel and John Gilherson the Major of said regiment; that soon after his return in the same summer, the applicant with the said company was called into service on his second tour at said town of Winchester under the said Aaron Mercer as captain, the said William Denny as first lieutenant, and this applicant as second lieutenant. (the said Peter Babb having previously resigned his office of Captain of said company in consequence of old age) and was march

ed into the eastern part of Virginia to prevent the depredations of the enemy and returned taking said town of Winchester after an absence on said service of two months and three days when he with said company was again discharged: That during said last tour the applicant saw no fighting or skirmishing. That shortly afterwards, applicant believes in the latter part of August, 1777, he with the said company was again called into service at Winchester, whence they marched and joined the American army and were at the battle of Brandywine, and was attached to a part of the army which was dispatched to check a detachment of the British army which had crossed the Brandywine about 3 miles above Chadd's ford where the main body of the armies were engaged, for the purpose (as was supposed) of falling on the left flank of the American army or of attacking it in rear; that at the close of the engagement the corps to which he was attached was separated from the main army and came in contact unexpectedly in the night time with the encampment of a part of the British army, from which they escaped with some difficulty; that on their retreat, on the first light of the next morning, they discovered the British troops in pursuit, who at length stopped and engaged in killing cattle, when the retreating corps returning and making a brisk attack on their pursuers, compelled them to retreat, and took possession of the slaughtered cattle; after which they succeeded in rejoining the American army, on the same day about 2 O'clock P.M. That afterwards he with his company was in the battle of Germantown, afterwards they returned to the said town of Winchester where they were again honorably discharged after a tour of (the applicant does not recollect the precise length of time, but positively) at least two months: That during the following year (1778) in very warm weather (he does not recollect the precise time) he , with the said company, were again marched from Winchester through Pennsylvania into New Jersey; and were near the main body of the American army at the time it was engaged in the battle of Monmouth, but were not up with it, at the time. The applicant with his company were again dismissed on their return to Winchester having been engaged in the last mentioned tour of at least two months: That towards the latter part of the same year (1778) he recollects that it was cold weather at the time, the applicant was employed with said company in guarding some British prisoners stationed in the said town of

Winchester and continued there in such service for two months , when they were again honorably discharged. The applicant further states, that afterwards, in the autumn of the year, 1781 , he, with the said company, was again called into service at the said town of Winchester, in again guarding there some British prisoners who were stationed there, and had been taken as he was informed with Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, and he, with said company were continued in such service in so guarding said prisoners for another term of two months which was the last military service performed by him during the war of the Revolution. The applicant further states that during the five last mentioned tours of duty, Aaron Mercer (or Meifer) was the Captain, William Denny was the first lieutenant and this applicant was the second lieutenant of said company and served as such; and this applicant was commissioned as such second lieutenant by Thomas Jefferson as Governor of Virginia; that during said tours into New Jersey, and at Brandywine the said company was attached to the immediate command of General Morgan; that during the same tours the applicant recollects seeing General Putnam Brigadier Genl. Porterfield, Col. Wood, and Genl. Washington and La Fayette. This applicant does not know of any living person by whom he could prove any of the above services; after considerable enquiry: That he lived in said county of Frederick from the war until the year 1789, when he removed to Mercer county, Kentucky, where he continued to live until the year 1826, when he removed to the said county of Putnam in the State of Indiana where he has ever since continued to live; that when about to move from Kentucky in searching over his papers, he burnt his written discharges and lieutenant's commission believing that, as he had only served in the militia, they would only be a useless incumbrance.
The applicant states that he was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania on the 28 th of August 1755, as he uniformly learned from his parents; that his age stands thus recorded in a Bible given him by his father, which is very old, and which he yet keeps. 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.
Samuel his Denny mark.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Mr John Mercer a clergyman residing in the county of Putnam aforesaid and James M c Aschan and Isaac Blossough resi-

ding in the same in the neighbourhood of the said Samuel Denny hereby certify that we are well acquainted with him the said Samuel who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be between 79 and 80 years of age; 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 and the said M c Achan and Allspaugh severally further certify that they have been acquainted with the said Samuel Denny, the said Allspaugh for at least 30 years, and the said M c Achan for at least 57 years, and have lived a large portion of that time in the same neighbourhood with him and have uniformly heard it reported and believed that he was a soldier of the Revolution, and have never heard a doubt expressed to the contrary; And the said M c Achan says that he resided in  forty miles of said town of Min- Chester at the time of the guarding of the British Prisoners as mentioned in said declaration and distinctly recollects hearing it spoken of then , that the said Samuel was engaged in so guarding them, in said service .
James M c Achan Isaac Allspaugh John Mercer
sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
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 Mercer — who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the neighborhood of said applicant in Patnam County aforesaid and that Isaac Allspaugh and James M c Achan who have also signed the same are residents in the same neighborhood in the said County and are credible persons of respectability, and that their statement is entitled to credit, and the two several interlineations in their statement were made before sworn to. I Arthur M c Gaughey Clerk of the circuit Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Denny for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 23 rd day of April, in the year, 1835.
A M c Gaughey Clerk

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
AWF/HBM
October 14, 1929.
Miss Mary B. Denny 506 E. Hanna Street Greencastle Indiana.
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 32212 , it appears that Samuel Denny was born August 28, 1755 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
While residing in Frederick County, Virginia, he enlisted and served with the Virginia Troops as follows:
From March 6, 1777 to June 20, 1777 as a private in Captain Peter Babb's Company, Colonel John Smith's Regiment and was in several skirmishes with the Indians. The soldier's brother, William Denny, was Second Lieutenant of this Company; in the summer of 1777 two months and three days as Second Lieutenant in Captain Aaron Mercer's Company; from August 1777 two months as Second Lieutenant in Captain Aaron Mercer's Company and was in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown; in 1778 four months as Second Lieutenant in Captain Aaron Mercer's Company; in 1781 two months as Second Lieutenant in Captain Aaron Mercer's Company, guarding the prisoners taken at the surrender of Cornwallis.

W.H. / W.H.
NOTES OF THE RECORDS
In 1789 the soldier moved to Mercer County, Kentucky, and in 1826 to Putnam County, Indiana.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 23, 1835, at which time he was living in Putnam County, Indiana.
It is not stated whether the soldier ever married.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.

sion on file in this Bureau. See F. 32,212.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Mch. 6 1777 to June 20, 77 Priv. Peter Babb Wm Denny 2 nd Lt. 2 nd Co. John Smith Col Va.   Summer 1777 2 mo. 3 da. 2 nd Lt. Aaron Mercer Wm Denny 1 st Lt. — "   Aug. 1777 2 mo. 2 nd Lt. " — "   1778 2 " 2 nd Lt. " — "   1778 2 " 2 nd Lt. " — "   1781 2 " " " — "  
Battles engaged in, Brandywine, Germantown.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Frederick Co. Va.
Date of application for pension, Apr. 23, 1835
Residence at date of application, Putnam Co., Ind.
Age at date of application, Born Aug. 28, 1755 - in Chester Co. Pa.
Remarks: For date of last payment of pension and probable date of death, you should apply to the Auditor for the Interior Dept., Treasury Dept., citing the following data: Samuel Denny, Cy. no. 30,785, issued Aug. 5, 1836, Act June 7, 1832, Agency, Indiana.
Very respectfully,
(Tombstone letter)

506 E. Hanna St., Greencastle, Indiana, August 6, 1929.
Hon. Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
(Dept. of Revolutionary War.)
Sir: Please send me, as soon as is convenient, the military record of Samuel Denny as given in War Pension Claim S. 32212. Mr. Denny served in the Virginia Troops during the Revolutionary War, enlisting, I believe, at Winchester, Virginia. If there is any statement as to his marriage, please include that. Respectfully, (Miss) Mary B. Denny.

ina, Ind. F.W.
32212 Pay INVALID.
File No. 32,212
Samuel Denny His Rev. Rev.
Act: June 1 st 1827
Index: —Vol. 2 , Page 107
[Arrangement of 1870.]
May 9, '08.
Hist. to Col. John T. Barnett, Pres. Sons of Rev. of Indpls.
2001 N. Delaware St., Indpls.
For monument.
1929 - Oct. 14 - His L. Miss Mary B. Denny awd.

Suspended see letter 30 May 1835 to James Whitecomb, Bloom- ington. Indiana see letter 22 June 1836 to Hon. R. M. John- son

Green castle Putnam Co - Indiana
June 12th 1838
V. L. Ednards Esq. Commissioner of pensions. Dear Sir. I am requested by the individu- als interested in the enclosed its. state to you Revolutionary Claims, that they were presented to the Pension Agent at Terre Haute some time in the last Months And were surprised to learn that, not having been pre- sented sooner, no money could be had on them; until presented at the War office of the U. S. I have not seen the regulation requiring such a course. And know not in what manner to proceed in order to obtain the slender pittance due. I therefore transmit to you Sir. the papers just as they were presented to me, & hope you will give the holders such instruction as may be necessary.
I am Sir Your Obedient Servt. Joseph F. Harley

Ms. A. May 28.
(Revolutionary Claim.)
Free.
Bloomington Ill May 17 th
James L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington City, D. C.

Bloomington, May 16, 1835.
Sir,
Enclosed I forward to you the declaration of Samuel Denny in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832, and hope the evidence may prove satisfactory to the department.
Mr Denny's character as a citizen and christian are unquestioned wherever he is known, and I regret to say that at his advanced age the aid that may be extended to him by his country will be not only an act of justice, but, from his poverty, an act of charity also. Please communicate with me at this place in relation to the claim, if necessary.
Very Respectfully, &c.
Jas Whitcomb.

July 27
Col. J. L. Edwards Commissioner Pension Office Washington City
Ms. A. 1. 6 v. 2 p. 10
Stilesville Ia July 16 - 1872

State of Indiana Putnam County National Road July 13 th 1836
Sir
Yours of the 22 nd June 1836 to Col. R. M. Johnson with his instructions has come to hand. I have shewed it to Mr. Samuel Denny and he directs me to inform you that he is willing to receive what his country is willing to give, and that it was from his inability to labor that induced him to call on his country for any thing; as it has always been his opinion that all his exertions were due to his country without remuneration.
I have sent your letter to Col. R. M. Johnson as directed by him
I am very respectfully
Your Ob t Serv t
James M. Schran
Col. J. L. Edwards Washington City

The Prison will men back to begin 4 th March H 31 — which is 5 years at upwards of 40 s per year

War Department
Pension Office
June 22, 1836.
Sir,
I herewith return Mr. James M c Adrian's letter to you respecting the case of Samuel Denny of Indiana and have to state that upon an examination of his declarations on file in this office, it would appear that he performed six tours as an officer of the Virginia militia amounting in all to one year, one month and a seventeen days. He can be allowed a pension for that length of service at the rate of the pay of a private.
I have the honor to be
very respectfully
Your O bt Serv t
J. L. Edwards
Friend Gould no nothing in the case as officer I have succeeded if he will take on a soldier he will draw now up- wards of 200$ nearly 90$ per annum which is better than nothing if he will take this write to Col Edwards I send back this the will send the certificate to you or John see not be here R. M. Johnson House of Representatives
Edwards I send back this the will send the certificate to you or John see not be here R. M. Johnson