Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9262, John Cunningham, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Cunningham, John
S 9262
CONTENTS
carded

13131 Virginia
John Cunningham of Rockbridge in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the Cont'l. commanded by Captain Patton of the Reg't. commanded by _____ in the Penna line for six months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of May D. Reed. 1833 and sent to. Saml. Lee Lexington. Ky. Co. Vir a
Arrears to the 4th of March '33, 40.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 1 Sept. 1833, 10.00 $50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. M. Palmer Clerk, Book 2. Vol. 8 Page 4
See

M c Cunnigham
22014

State of Virginia
Rockbridge County to wit:
On this 3 rd day of September 1832
personally appeared in open court, before the court of Rockbridge County now sitting, John Cunningham a resident of Colliers Creek in said County and State: aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declarations, 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. to wit: under Capt. Bird, and marched from Lancaster County in Pennsylvania in the year 1776 to Philadelphia under said Capt. Bird, and was taken under the command of Capt. Patten and marched to Amboy in the state of New Jersey, and was in the command of General Rohide. This was a tour of two months which he served, during the whole time, the day he entered, and the day he was discharged not recollected, but the year he well recollects as above stated, that he resided in the said County of Lancaster in the State of Pennsylvania when he was drafted, as herein above stated. That he was in no Battle during this his first service. That he served a second tour of two months in the year 1777 from the same County and State, under Capt. White, and marched toward Philadelphia, at White Marsh, the British Army being then in the City of Philadelphia, and was under the command of General Irvine, was in several skirmishes with the enemy during this tour, and served a little more than two months, by the difference of the time taken in joining the Army and returning home; Genl. Irvine was taken prisoner in one of the Encounters with the Enemy, at Chestnut Hill, during the time of this service. That in the year 1781, he was again drafted and served two months within the County of Lancaster, principally in guarding prisoners, and remained in service at the time Genl. Cornwallis was taken with his Army at York Town in Virginia. This service was performed under the same

Capt. Patton with which he served the latter part of the first tour. - That he has no Documentary evidence in his possession of his service. That William Elliott whose testimony accompanies this declaration knows of the last service.
And 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 to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John Cunningham
William Elliott of said County personally appeared in open court, and being duly sworn, according to Law, on his oath saith, that he resided in the neighbourhood in Lancaster County in the State of Pennsylvania, where the above named John Cunningham resided, when he was in the Army of the United States, during the Revolutionary war, that he was young at the time, and knows of the said John Cunningham being considered as a Militia Man drafted into the service, he frequently heard the said Cunningham, and his companions in the Army, talking of their services, and this affiant has no doubt of his having served, as stated by him in his declaration.
William Elliott.
I John B. Rulay of S d County and Neighbourhood, do hereby certify, that I am acquainted with S d Applicant who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration. That I believe him to be 76 years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood in which he resides to have been a Revolutionary Soldier, as stated in his declaration. And that I am also of that opinion.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year above written
Jno. B. Rulay.
Virginia
At Rockbridge County court September 3 rd 1832.
The declaration of John Cunningham together with the affidavits of William Elliott and John B. Rulay, of which the foregoing are true copies, was produced in court, severally sworn to & subscribed in open court. And the said Court declared their opinion after investigating

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 certified that William Elliott & John B. Ruley who signed the proceeding certificates are residents in this county and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit —
In testimony whereof I Samuel D Reid Clerk of the said county court have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said county this 4 th day of September 1832 and in the 57 th year of the commonwealth
Sam d D Reid

No 22014 John Cunningham J. W.
13.137.
Adm for 6. Months from 1776
Samuel M c D Reid Clerk Rockbridge Lexington County Court Va

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 subjoined 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. These 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 Cunningham See Mr Dyle
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1774 2 Priv Capt Geo " Patten Genl Robts Skir Penn Aged 74 Living Writings   1777 2 Hours " " White " Irvine Brandy NJ Lancaster Traditionary   Draft 1781 2 " " Patten Pa Co Penn  
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 day 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 he 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 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 _____; 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 tours, 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 [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in 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. } 1. 2. 5

Rev. and 1812 War Section.
December 1, 1926
Mrs. W. D. Patton 101 Market St Kittanning, Pa.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 9262, it appears that John Cunningham, while residing in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, enlisted and served as a private in the Pennsylvania Troops, as follows-
In 1776, two months in Captains Bird's and Patton's Companies; in 1777, two months in Captain White's Company, and was in some skirmishes; in 1781, two months in Captain Patton's Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 3, 1832, while a resident of Rockbridge County, Virginia, aged seventy-six years.
There is no data on file as to family.
The above noted John Cunningham is the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau, who served from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

Ex. A. W. F. Div. Rev. & 1812
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C. Jan. 18, 1926
The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is not sufficient to enable this Bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau.
1st name of widow (wife) died XXXXXXX
Anne Lauree before - John C Cunningham
Name of soldier John Cunningham
Mt Joy Twp (near by) soldier at enlistment XXXX address of XXXXXXX
& after service in 1796 - moved
XXXXXXX settled in Westmoreland Co
XXXXXXX afterward Armstrong Co
State where enlisted Lancaster Co
----- Date of XXXXXXX birth about 1758 or 1759
Date of XXXXXXX death about 1856
If unable to furnish company and regiment give names of commanding officers.
Lancaster Co Militia
Return attached letter with reply.
Winfield Scott WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

Stark
MRS. WILLIS D. PATTON 101 MARKET STREET KITTANNING, PENNSYLVANIA
Dec. 3rd/25
Pension Bureau Washington D.C. -
Gentlemen!
Could I get information whether records show that a pension was granted to one John Cunningham of Franklin Twp. Armstrong Pa (just across the river from Kittanning Pa.) for services during  Revolutionary war? if there are any charges please inform me - Please address
Mrs. W. D. Patton
Return attached letter with reply WILLIE D. SCOTT CLERK

1926-Dec. 1 - H. Col. to mmo W.D. R. & Co. G. & Co.
Revhas
9262
INVALID.
File No. 9262
John Cunningham P. Rev War
Act: June 7 th '82
Index: Vol. 102, Page 88-
[Arrangement of 1870.]