Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 8291, Joseph Davis, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Davis, Joseph Plunkit, Penelope Plunket
R 8291
CONTENTS
He died while a prisoner of war
(Former widow)

4391
No. 5.
Penelope Plunket
N.Y.
Oct 4 July 36

Jas L Edwards Esq. Washington

Bellona, Yates Co. New York. March 4 th 1839.
Sir
I am requested, by my neighbour Penelope Plunkit, to send the enclosed papers to you, to substantiate her claims for a pension on account of the military services of her late husband, Joseph Davis, during the war of the Revolution. She is a person in extreme poverty, and altogether a desirable object for public liberality.
In the first place we show the date of her birth, from her own affidavit; and, from the record in the family Bible, the original entries of which are enclosed herewith. Secondly her marriage with Joseph Davis, and the date of it: First from the record in said Bible, which by affidavit No 3 we show to have been in existence for at least half a century; — secondly by her own affidavit; and, lastly, by the Will of Thomas Davis, the father of Joseph Davis, where she is spoken of as daughter-in-law to the testator .
Next we show the Revolutionary services of Joseph Davis, by her affidavit No 4, & his death while a prisoner of war. The date of his death is also shown by the family record.
Then appears her subsequent marriage,

with Thomas Plunkit, who has not been seen or heard of for sixteen or eighteen years, and therefore, in all probability, is dead. His continual absence is proved, by six affidavits, and the testimony, as to that point, could be increased to an indefinite extent, if thought necessary; in fact, the universal impression of all, who knew him, is, that he is dead; and his irregular, intemperate habits, render that conviction almost certain.
We next show that she has not since been married.
I am aware that in the above chain of evidence there are two points that are not as strong as could have been wished for. First the proof of the Revolutionary services of Joseph Davis rests on her affidavit alone, but it is within your power, I presume, to get that proof corroborated. She was a pensioner of the State of New Jersey, from the time of her husband's death, until her marriage with Thomas Plunkit; and the evidence, on which she was pensioned, is, doubtless, in existence. I have written to the Secretary of State of N Jersey, on the subject, but have not, at present, received any answer; and I need not

suggest to you, that, after a lapse of between sixty and seventy years, it is extremely difficult to prove any thing by living witnesses
The other point I alluded to is, the proof of her last husband's death, which, although by no means definite, is rendered almost conclusive by circum- stantial evidence.
Trusting that, after taking into consideration the peculiar nature of the case, you will be induced to look on it with a degree of indulgence. I beg leave to subscribe myself,
With much respect,
Your obedient servant,
James Simonds
P. S. If you desire any more evidence on any point we shall be pleased to furnish it as far as it can be procured.
Jas L Edwards Esq.

291 com Penelope Plunkett
Service: former wife of Jos. Davis
REJECTED
listed: _____, 18 .
charged: _____, 18 .
application filed: _____, 18 .
reasons: The printed list of 1851 gives cause of rejection as:
enlisted: "Suspended for further proof and specification"
attorney: _____
D. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

4399
Simons 13 Aug 39 W. S. Ellsworth 5 Feb 46 Same Sept 1846 Hon W. B. Jackson W.P. Dec 1849
R. 8291

Walter Angus - and Penelope Plunkett
Constance
John Young
18th Dec 1880 at the residence of the Rev. Mr. Plunkett the Rev. Mr. Angus and the Rev. Mr. Young

28 June 1873 saw 10 Sturges who had been off to the club at the Mrs. Sturges Papers, which her son they are not with the papers of the club the club of the club of the club
The Hon. John Greig
Canandaigua
Herbert S. Hough - and Frederick L. Plunkett

Benton May 17 th 1841
Dear Sir
I called on you to-day to request your kind interference in the matter of a Pension due to me; but not having found you at home I have taken the liberty of leaving this letter for you. My wife's mother was the widow of Joseph Davis who was taken prisoner by the British & died in jail confinement at New York during the Revolutionary war. She received a State Pension from New Jersey until her second marriage to Thomas Plunkit when it was forfeited, but by a recent Act of Congress widows of Revolutionary soldiers are entitled to Pensions even if they have married again provided their second husband be dead. Plunkit her second husband left her more than forty years ago & no intelligence of him has ever been received by any of his relations for twenty years who all supposed him to be dead as he was of very dissipated habits & wd be now if living a very old man. But we cannot get any positive proof of his death & this appears to be the only obstacle.

in the way of obtaining the Pension There are cases in which strong presumptive evidence has been received at the Pension Office in lieu of positive proof of a persons decease, & I think that aided by your powerful interference the affidavits which we have brought forward would be considered conclusive in this case also. About twenty three years ago the old woman became destitute of the means of support and I took her into my family where she remained until her death, about two years ago, having previously been blind and confined to her bed for above seven years.
She made a Will and left me the amount due to her on the Pension if it should ever be obtained. I have proved every thing that was required of me excepting the death of Thomas Plunkett & I have shown that by several affidavits to be highly probable.
The papers are left in the charge of the Hon. Meredith Mallory our Representative in Congress who does not appear to have taken much interest in the matter. & I write this to request you to take charge of the

papers & try what you can do for me Edward Stubbs Esq formerly of Steubenville but now in the Secretary's Office at Washington is acquainted with all the circumstances of the case & I am certain would be very much pleased to render any assistance in his power.
Now you are going to Washington you will probably have many calls of this kind upon your time and attention & I was very reluctant to add any mine to the number; but, when I considered that we were both Scotchmen & you were one of my oldest and most valued friends I ventured to solicit your kind offices
Yours with respect Walter Angell

Samuel G. Ingham
May 13. 1828
26

War Dept.
Jan: 1869 May 13 th 69
The papers in the case of Mrs Penelope formerly Huntell widow of Joseph Davis rec d are herewith returned - The credibility of each witness should be certified by the judge or justice who adminis ters the oath -
The pension allowed by the act of July 26 is a pro rata one and hence the rules indispensably require that each term of service taken into the computation of it, should be ascertained with satisfactory precision as to period - length & grade - names of officers - Stations - &c - In this case no one term of service is set forth as required and the proofs go no farther than to show that he did a prisoner of war in 77 and that the claimant rec d a pension under the laws of New Jersey in consequence thereof - More specific proof as to the death

of the Second will be necessary - Their absence without being heard from is merely presumptive of a fact which should be established by direct proof - viz. that she was a widow on 4 July '36
James Simons Esq. Beloosa Yates N.Y.

Wm Lloyd Williams
Feb 5 '46
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]

84 Pension Office February 5th 1846
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 31 st ult I have the honor to inform you that it does not appear that any additional evidence has been received in the case of Penelope Plunkett formerly widow of Joseph Davis since the date of my letter to James Simons of the 13 th May 1839 a copy of which is herewith enclosed.
Since the date of the above letter Mrs Plunkett has applied to Congress for a special act granting her a pension. But the Committee thereon an adverse reported against her claim.
Col S. S. Elseworth House of Reps

Wm J. J. Ellsworth
April 1. '46

Sir
18 Pen A Apr 1.
46
Agreeably to your request I have the honor to enclose you the papers in the case of Penelope Plunket and to refer you to my letter of 13 May 39 of which I furnished you a copy on 5 Feby last
Genl. S. Ellesworth H.R.

Washington Dec 11/49
Hon J G Edwards Comm. of Pensions
By
Penelope
Plunket formerly widow of Joseph Davis, An Applicant of New York. - What is the Objection to granting this Pension?
Very Respectfully Yours &c
W. T. Jackson

14 o Dec r 1849

Sir
Pension Office 311 Decem 14 th 1847
In answer to your letter of the 11 inst. respecting the Case of Penelope Plunket formerly widow of Joseph Davis I have the honor to inform you that Mrs P. has no Claim before this office at this time. My papers were enclosed to Hon. S. S. Ellsworth on 1 st April 1846. and have not since been returned.
The enclosed Copy of My letter to James Simons of 13 May 1839 will show why the Claim of Mrs Plunket was not allowed.
Rev W. J. Jackson House of Reps