Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 47276, Joseph Hill, Continental New York Residence And Agency

SERVICE
NUMBER
continental
Bill Joseph Hills
847276
New York residence and agency
CONTENTS

Revolutionary Claims.
Under the Act, entitled, "An Act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution;" approved 15 May, 1828.
I Certify that Joseph Hills — of Fabius — in the County of Onondaga in the State of New York — is entitled to receive pay under the above mentioned Act, as a surviving Artillery Artificer — in the ————— Line of the Army of the Revolution, at the rate of Twelve dollars and ————— cents a month, payable during his life on the third day of March, and third day of September, in each year.
It is provided by law that the said pay, shall not in any way be transferable, or liable to attachment, levy, or seizure, by any legal process whatever.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Treasury of the United States, this third ————— day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine, and of Independence, the fifty fourth.
J. D. Ingham
Secretary of the Treasury
Eng. by Thos. Welch
Pay-Certificate of
Joseph A. Hills

Application for a Transfer
County of Crawford ss
On this 5 day of Sept r 1837 Before me the subscriber a Justice of Peace for the said County of Crawford personally appeared Joseph Hills who on his Oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company Commanded by Capt n Patten in the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Crane in the service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the State of Pennsylvania and County aforesaid where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be there payable in future and that his reasons for removing to the State of Pennsylvania are because he has a son living here
Crawford County ss Sworn & subscribed before me this 5th day of Sept r 1837 Joseph Hills State of Pennsylvania John Radle
I John Radle a Magistrate in the County above named do hereby certify that I have the most satisfactory evidence viz the personal knowledge of Obad Hills on oath who states that he is well known to Joseph Hills being the same person identical described in the above affidavit that the said Joseph Hills who has this day appeared before me to take the oath of identity is the identical person named in the pension certificate which he has exhibited before me numbered five hundred eighty six (586) and bearing date at the War office the third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine & signed by S.D. Ingham Secretary of the Treasury
John Radle Justice Peace

Crawford County ss
I do hereby certify that I believe Obed Wells who has this day made oath before me to the identity of Joseph Wells in the foregoing affidavit is a man of veracity Witness my hand & seal this fifth day of September 1837 John Pradle Esq
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Crawford County ss
I James Corbman Esquire of the several counties of Crawford County State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that John Pradle Esq before whom the foregoing proceedings were had is a justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine — In testimony whereof I have hereunto my seal of office and subscribed my Name this sixth day of September 1837
James Corbman Esq

Cassenaquo May 24 th - 1853
Sir
Permit me to address you once more in the case of the heirs of Joseph Hills deceased. on examining my Fathers will since I wrote to you on the seventeenth I think the mistake has been in not making the claim as an Executor It seems to me according to the will that I am the only heir of Joseph Hills deceased. I think it will not be improper to send you a copy of my Fathers will for the purpose of obtaining information from the department how I ought to have proceeded, the following is a copy of my Fathers will
In the name of God Amen - I Joseph Hills of the Town of Fabius in the County of Onondaga & state of New York being of sound mind and memory Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following viz  Witt First and principally I resign my soul with the utmost humility into the hands of Almighty God hoping for a blessed Immortality through the merits of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ and my body I desire may be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor. - And as for such temporal estate as the Lord in his great goodness and mercy hath entrusted me with, I give devise and dispose of the same in manner following viz I give and bequeath all my Estate both Real and Personal general, and particular of every name name and nature wheresoever it may be situated to my well beloved son Obed Hills. And I hereby declare -

— this only to be my last Will & Testament and I do hereby appoint my said Son Obed Hills Executor of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Hills have hereunto set my hand and Seal at Habins this fifteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine
Joseph Hills
Signed Sealed Published and delivered by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us, who have Subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the Presence of the said Testator
Sam l L. Stockham Russel Hills Elizha Sheldon
It will be seen from the above Will, that Martha Swullen was not an heir with me in my father's estate only claimed to be on account of the mistake made in the application for the pay from the department. I had not the least idea but the application was right at the time. Please to send me instructions in the way one ought to proceed to draw what they are justly entitled to in a case like mine where there is a will as above, I think there can be no need of any further investigation in my case —

-as there is no one defrauded except myself. I am the greatest sufferer on account of the mistake please to give your opinion in this affair. yours Respectfully Obed Hills
L. P. Waldo Esq. Commissioner of Pensions

Palmyra Augt 11. 1852
Obid Hills -
Dear Sir - You will not recognize John Sculler Our Attorney in the pension money belonging to us - We have revoked all and every such power
Yours &c
Philip Sculler Lucinda Sculler Anna Stewart Lorina Sculler Jane Baker Nancy Howell
By James Read at the request all the except the last 2
And for Nancy by her father -
Charles not being here yet he would if here sign -

base transferred from New York to Penn. Agency, and after soldier's death an increase was al- lowed.
Original papers sent to W. S. Dist. Atty. Pittsburgh, Pa., July 1, 1852. They do not appear to have been returned.

From New York to Pennsylvania Joseph Hills Oct 15 May 1828
Artificer
$144-
James
Oct. 1828
From Gran Cation copying Memo
Albany N.Y. to Penn 3 March 1827. Notice sent to Pensioner ville Stamford County

REJECTED
5017
P. O. Joseph Hills
Service: See admitted Soldier file n o 47. 276 - the pension allowed r p under act May 15. 1828 & the original
Enlisted: papers deliv d July 1. 1852 , 18
Discharged: to U S Dist attorney , 18
Application filed: _____ , 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
orig Papers deliv d July 1, 1852 to U S Dist Atty Pittsburgh
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____ , 18

0586
Joseph Hills
Pa
Act 15. May 1838.
5017
A. P. Norton Esq. Pittsburg
Pa Jan 15-1857 -
Let to O. Wells, 21 Sept 52
" Hon J. K. Lawrence " " "
same 14 May 53
J. B. Switzer " " "
Obed Wells " " "
same 7 June "

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by
J. W. Rice
Claim No.
J. F. 47276
Certificate No.
Claimant
Joseph Hill or Hills
Soldier
Rev. War
Service
Act May 15, 1828.
Additional Service
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 191
No claim, combination records _____, 191
REMARKS:
No widow; no Rej. except Rej. 5017 (which refers to above file number, but con- tains no papers) and Rej. 5010, (not identical, soldier died in 1829 in N. C.). S. F. 17477, 37107, 32830, 33303 and 23702 in flat files have been examined but none is shown to be identical.
1944
Chief Division
DEC 10 1910

Cussetago May - 17 - 1853
Sir;
I wish to inform you of some of the circumstances of the case respecting the heirs of Martha Scullen and myself. Last June I received a letter from the Commissioners of pensions stating that the heirs of Martha Scullen were entitled to one half the increase allowed, and the amount must be paid over to them. I accordingly as soon as I could get the money changed I visited the heirs of Martha Scullen for the purpose of paying over the money and obtaining their receipts, but I did not succeed in obtaining only six out of nine. Anna Atwater refused to receive the money and sign a receipt, the next was Charles O Scullen saying that they were afraid to do so for fear that John Scullen and Washington Stockham would make them trouble on account of their selling out or agreeing to sell out to John Scullen who pretended to be an agent to collect their share of me. on going to see John Scullen he would not do anything but said he had sold out to W. Stockham. I then saw it was it in the hands of a blackleg —

This same artful villain with the help of John Sullen who I am sorry to say lacks honesty or else he would not have joined with W. Stockham to rob and cheat his brothers and Sisters by falsehood & deception. W. Stockham came to my house about one year ago and demanded money under the pretence of being employed by the heirs of Martha Sullen and said John Sullen sent him, but showed no writing from any of the heirs therefore I would have nothing to do with him knowing that he had no legal business with me this hapend before I knew that any mistake had been made in the claim. I have since learned to my sorrow that a mistake was made by me and that I had obtained money contrary to law through ignorance of the law and misunderstanding the meaning of the claim or the writing of A. P. Norton to the department supposing it meant or included no one but myself I had not the least idea of defrauding any one at the time the business was done. I still feel willing that the heirs of Martha Sullen that are unpaid should have their pay but the way it stands now there is no chance of their receiving the value of one cent if deposited —

deposited according to the directions of the department with the Agent at Pittsburgh. I am therefore unwilling to deposit the money knowing it will go into the hands of W. Stockham. I am not willing to give any support to such a lying villainous rascal, it is this Stockham I have no doubt that is importuning the department under the pretense of doing for the heirs. I will now give you the contents of a letter wrote to me by Nancy W. Howell
August the 12 Cartersville
Dear uncle I Take this opportunity to inform you what our situation is at present. Lucinda come here last Saturday night about 10 o'clock. She said Washington Stockham had been there and demanded one hundred and twenty five dollars of each one of them for his services or he would take them to prison Theron was frightened and he got the money you paid Lucinda and gave it to Stockham and what Stockham paid Anna and gave it all back to him and gave him not gave a vote for what he demanded of him and John A. Baker but John and Jane forbid it they would not give up theirs. Lucinda felt bad when she found hers was gone I had a letter yesterday stating that I had signed of property and I must come and settle it for it was a states prison —

offence, but I am not afraid yet, I calculate to stick for my right if he gets any money of me it will be after he proves his claims if ever. I have been that told that they have sent a receipt to Washington with all of our names signed to it and if they have presented my name on any of their receipts, I want to know it I will try to find out who put it there, for I have not put my name to any except yours. I want you to write to me as soon as you get this without fail N. W. H.
I was in hopes after I wrote to the department last summer that the commissioner of Pensions would not continue to listen to such a villianous character as Washington Stockham but I was disappointed I find. This affair could have all been settled last summer to the satisfaction of all parties had it not been for this rascal Stockham and John Seullen taking the course they did. I done all I could do to get it settled Theron Atwater Annas husband and Charles C Seullen went with me to see John Seullen to assist me in settling but all to no purpose
yours respectfully
L. P. Waldo Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Obed Hills

ner of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Cussewago P.O. Feb 23-1838
Revolutionary Claims
Dear Sir you will recollect that I made an application in September last for a transfer of my pension from the State of New York to the State of Pennsylvania the said transfer I have not yet received, I therefore beg your attention to the same. respectfully yours
J L Edwards
Joseph Hill
Note - Please to direct your communication to Crawford County Pennsylvania Cussewago Township Crossingsville P.O.

MECHANICS' & FARMERS' BANK,
Albany Pension Agency,
Sept. 28. 1837
JAMES L. EDWARDS, Esquire,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 25 th inst. I have to state, that Joseph Hill, a Pensioner under the Act of May 15. 1828 at 144 — Dollars per ann: — was last paid to the 3 d day of March 1837
I am, Sir,
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't,
Thos M Elliott
PRES'T, AND PENSION AGENT.

Rec d Pittsburgh. July 1, 1832, From S. Cole, Clerk in the U.S. Pension Office, the Yrs s upon which Joseph Kelly, dec d was allowed a revolutionary pension, number 8 from one to sixteen
L. B. Springer U. S. Atty per D. Reed

Sir
Carlisle Springs P o 16 th June 1852
In reply to a letter received from the Pension Office dated the 9 th instant in the case of Obed Hills or Joseph Hills heirs. State, that so far as my Agency goes in this case I am clear of any attempt to defraud the Department or any other person.
The rule which we supposed prevailed in the Pension Office at the time of the commencement of the prosecution of this claim, was that the then surviving children of a pensioner were the only legitimate heirs to a claim, and that an application made by the grand-children of a pensioner could not be entertained.
On this supposition the claim was prosecuted in the name of Obed Hills who it was shown was the only surviving child of Joseph Hills then living.
On this same supposition very many claims have been prosecuted allowed & paid.
If it shall appear that there has been

an error committed in the payment of this claim to Obed Hills only, we shall take pleasure in correcting any mistake
We have had no intimation of their being any dissatisfaction with our Agency in this case until the receipt of the letter from the Department. & as we know nothing of the heirs of Mrs Scullen or the place of their residence, we have submitted the letter of the Departm t ent to Mr Obed Hills. Mr Obed Hills we believe is the administrator of Joseph Hills dec d , & when the matter comes to be investigated presume all will be made satisfactory.
I have the honor to be, Sir, with the highest Respect Your O bt Serv t A. D. Norton
Hon J E Heath Comm r of Pensions Washington D.C.

Pension Office Sept 21, 1852 :
Sir,
Your letter, covering the receipts of six of the heirs of Martha Scullen, dec d , has been received,
Until you obtain receipts from the remaining heirs, this Department must hold you to an account for the amount of pension received in the case of Obed Hills, dec d , both by yourself and Mr Norton.
The original papers are now in the hands of the U.S. Dist Atty at Pittsburgh and unless you deposit with him, or the Pension Agent at that place the whole amount due the heirs unpaid, a prosecution will be immediately commenced — I return herewith the receipt from S. R. Scullen, Lucinda Scullen, Sarah Scullen, Philip Scullen, Nancy H. Howell, & Martha J. Baker,
Rev
11 red 14ccs. 17 Crossingsville Pa

Obed Hills
Sept 21/52
Memoranda a few words

Carrawago June 19 th 1852
Mr. J. C. Heath Commissioner of Pensions I received your letter June 9 th stating that on the 13 October last the Pension of Joseph Hills deceased was increased from $144 to $240 per annum and upon proof filed in this Office that you were the only Child who survived his death. I will state to you that on the 26 th of October 1850 Mr. A. P. Norton Esq of Pittsburgh came to my house and asked me if I was the son of Joseph Hills I told him I was he asked me if I had any brothers or Sisters living I told him I had not, that I was the only one left of my fathers family he Mr Norton then said to me that he thought he could obtain something from Government for me if I was willing that he should try or words to this effect according to my best recollection I therefore consented to his making application nothing was said to me concerning my having a brother or sister living at my fathers death. if there was any statement made in the writings made out by Mr Norton that I was the only surviving Child at my fathers death I have no recollection of it. all I meant to say was that I was the only one living at the time of the application I had no knowledge that any thing was due to my father at the time of the application or ever would be there is nothing among my fathers papers that ever intimated that any thing could be obtained after my fathers death except for the few days he lived after his pension became due which has never been applied for. Now if it is your decision that the heirs of Martha Scullen - to one half I have received I will pay it over to them as soon as it can be done conveniently. There will be no need of commencing a suit against me for the recovery of the amount

I feel willing to pay the heirs of Martha Sullen if it is all right it should be so there seems to be an error some where but where I am to tell  then not able to tell there is I believe ten Children of Martha Sullen deceased nine living in various parts of the state New York and one in the state of Pennsylvania I wish you to write me again and inform me what I am to do to satisfy you when I get it settled, it will take some time for me to ascertain the residences of all of them I wish therefore to have sufficient time There will be no need of commencing a suit against me to obtain right, I have been entirely ignorant of doing wrong or thinking of doing wrong to any one yours truly —
J E Heath Commissioner of Pensions
Obed Hils

Department Interior.
29 June 1852.
My dear Sir,
Allow me to introduce to you my friend Genl. Golo Esq of the Pensions office, who is making a flying visit Westward. I earnestly recommend him to your favor
Any attention shown him will be cheerfully reciprocated by. Your friend & obedient William Richard
John B. Esq Cleveland Ohio

U.S. Atty. Office
Syracuse July 12. 1852
Sir
I have yr letter of 24 th June, enclosing copy letter from you to A.P. Norton Esq in ans r to his of 16 th June (a copy of which you also enclose) in relation to the pension of Old Hills cl er . —
I was glad you took a bold stand — The att y on inspection we saw was evidently altered to meet the case. of his  Old Hills being the only heir — You gave them till the 30 th June to pay — nothing has been paid, although Old Hills is abundantly good —
Please send me the papers for the \frac{8}{9} of the increased pension to the heirs of Mrs Scullen — Very Respect ly yr Ob st Serv t
James R. Plaroner
J.E. Heath Esq

Cassowago August 9 th 1852
Mr. J E Heath. Dear Sir I received a letter from the department dated June 9 th directing me to divide and pay over to the heirs of Martha Scullen deceased I accordingly prepared myself to do so as soon as I could. I have settled and paid to over to six of the heirs and received a receipt. I send the same to the department you will therefore find the receipt enclosed with this communication. I wish to inform you the reason why I have not been able to settle with the rest John Scullen one of the heirs of Martha Scullen deceased and one Washington Stockham of the Town of Fabius have done everything they could seemingly to prevent my paying and settling with them the heirs by using every kind of deception and also have cheated three of the heirs by merely paying or promising to pay twenty five dollars apiece and obtaining a receipt for three hundred and sixty six dollars this I was informed by four or five of the heirs themselves I have also been threatened by the said Stockham to be immediately cast into prison if I went into New York State and likewise Scullen & Stockham had charged some of the heirs not to have nothing to do with me if I come there This invention was probably to get the money into their own hands by prosecuting me I feel as if it would be a satisfaction to me to have this affair settled without further trouble. it was merely a misunderstanding that the mistake was made which I feel perfectly willing to rectify but I can do no more. the way it stands I wish the department to decide and inform me yours truly J. E. Heath Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Obed Hills

Cagrewago June 24th 1852
Mr. J. E. Heath Esq. Dear Sir in my letter of the 19th
I stated there was ten Children left by Martha Sullen deceased her oldest Child was born sometime before her marriage with Sullen therefore illegitimate I wish therefore your decision whether this illegitimate Child is equally entitled to a share of the pension money or not. I wish you to send me an answer to the above as soon as you can after receiving this. I intend to start for the State of New York as soon as I can get your answer for the purpose of paying each one of these Children and receiving from them a receipt there and sending the receipt to the Department. I did not know but a question might arise concerning the Illegitimate Child and so involve me in another difficulty unforeseen. I wish therefore your decision in the matter. I think I must have misunderstood the writing made by A. P. Norton Esq for the Claim I did not think of saying I was the only Child living at my father's death neither did I know the law required it but so it is I expect I feel very sorry for it but it is a great mistake in me I will make it right if possible. I thank you for informing me. Yours &c.
To J. E. Heath Esq Commissioner of Pensions
Obed Hills

Cassewago June 20th 1853
Sir.
I beg your patience once more please to accept my thanks for the information you have given me in your letter of the 7 th instant, I consider it important now but could I have had it three years ago it would have saved me a great deal of trouble & perhaps total ruin that is - if the department inst insist on a prosecution, or on my depositing money to satisfy the demands of a pretended agent by the name of W. Stockham. I do not consider that W Stockham or John Scullen have any legal right to direct the Commissioner of pensions to have the money that is in my hands and that is due to the heirs of Martha Scullen deposited with the Agent at Pittsburgh at least I suppose it was so directed for the purpose of making the robbery more complete particularly in the case of L. R. Scullen who lives in this County a few miles from me, and who never signed any paper of agency for any one to collect his share from me, yet the whole amount was demanded from me, had the money been deposited as demanded then L. R. Scullen must have lost his share for all that I can discover, it would then gone into the hands of W. Stockham, a man who his most respectable neighbors when called upon have testified that they would not believe under oath, as I have been credibly informed, the commissioner first directed me to pay over to the heirs of Martha Scullen and had he —

given me time and not shifted the calculation so suddenly I could have succeeded in settling with the heirs but the change of the affairs give W. Stockham and John Scullen a chance to take advantage of me and some of the heirs also This change of the affair places me in a very difficult situation as I am unable to raise the amount demanded, the amount is eleven hundred dollars demanded if I do not get or obtain receipts from the three remaining heirs which to me seems to be impossible as long as W. Stockham is induced to believe by the department that he will get the money, and so cheat the heirs out of it Stockham of course will do every thing he can to prevent my settling with the heirs the same as he has done. Now what I desire and wish and pray for is that the said W. Stockham be put out of the question as to ever getting any thing and the case made hopeless to him, I believe then I could settle with the heirs if the Commissioner of Pensions would give me time and give me assurance that he will not prosecute me and let me know that I can have the privilege of settling with the three remaining heirs without molestation from the department. I beg you will consider my case as it happened through misunderstanding when the claim was made supposing all was right I had no intention of fraud. I claim to be an honest man, I desire to deal honestly and justly with all mankind, I think I can say that I have not knowingly wronged any man to the value of one cent. I hope you will not be displeased—

-with me for writing to you so many times I enclose with this a paper containing a part of the names of the heirs of Martha Sullen deceased. Anna Atwater is one of the heirs unpaid and also Charles O Sullen the last name mentioned below you will doubtless understand the meaning by reading it.
I was informed by L. B. Dune United States Pension Agent last year that something more might be obtained for the heirs of Joseph Hills deceased by making furnishing additional testimony from the army rolls in his possession I wish to be informed if L B Dune is now Pension Agent if not who is. I remain yours &c.
Obed Hills
L. P. Waldo Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.

Syracuse Sept. 15. 1852
Dear Sir
I wrote you about 10 th Aug h  20 th July in relation to Bleid Hills monuments with the heirs of Martha Scullen, I have cur d no aw d - Will you do me the favor to let me know what has been done & how the matters stands - very Respect ly Y r fr d & ob st serv t James R. Ravenel
Sam l Cole Esq r Washington

Hon. L. R. Lawrence U.S. Dist. Atty. Sept 21/52
Mr. J. M. [?] 111 [?] [?]

Pension Office Sept 21, 1832
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 15 th inst. respecting the case of Obed Wills, dec d I have to inform you that a short time since Obed Wills, one of the heirs, enclosed to this office a receipt in full from six of the  heirs of the heirs of Martha Scullen, dec d and stated the others refused to settle with him.
He has this day been notified that unless he deposits with the U.S. District Atty at Pittsburgh; or the Pension Agent the whole amount due the remaining heirs, a prosecution will be immediately commenced.
I have &c
Hon. J. R. Lawrence U.S. Dist Atty, Syracuse, N.Y.

U. S. Atty. Office Syracuse Ap. 26. 1853
To the Comt. of Pensions
Sir
I refer you to your several letters to me in relation to the pension of Joseph Hills due? of Ap. 28 th May 6 th June 16 th 24 th & July 12 th 1852 — The back pension was paid to Obed Hills ad o of Joseph — whereas Mrs Scullins heirs were entitled to half, as will be seen by the papers furnished at the Depart t . — We have understood that Obed Hills paid some of the heirs of Mrs Scullin & forwarded Rec d to the Depart t . — but 3 of the heirs of Mrs S. viz Anna Stewart, John Scullin & Charles O Scullin remain unpaid — Obed Hills tendered them, or rather offered to pay them $61. each if they would sign rec d in full whereas the share of each is over $122 — This they refused of course & they remain unpaid — I have to request that the pension Agent at Albany N. Y. (in whose district all reside) be directed to pay these 3 heirs without further delay — They have no claim on Obed Hills — Their claim is on the Govt. & it is unreasonable they should be longer delayed awaiting the collection of the pension illegally h d to Obed Hills very Respectfully, Yr. obt. Servt. Ja. R. Rochester

J. R. Lawrence
May 4. 1853

Peruian Office May 11, 1853
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 26 th ult., respecting the case of Joseph Hills, dec d , I have to inform you that the Second Comptroller has decided that where the balance due a deceased person is paid to a person deriving his authority from a court of competent jurisdiction, though obtained by fraudulent means, payment will not again be made when claimed by the true representative of the deceased.
In this case, the certificate of the Court showed that Obed Hills was the only child who survived the death of his father, the amount due, therefore, was directed to be paid to him.
I have, however, written the U.S. District Attorney to commence "prosecution" against Obed Hills for obtaining this money by fraud.
M rs Nath l R. Lawrence Yrs Syracuse, N.Y.
Ro

Obed Hills
May 4. 1853

Pension Office May 4, 1853
Sir,
My predecessor informed you on the 21 September last, that unless you deposited with the Pension Agent at Pittsburgh, Pa. the amount due the remaining heirs of Martha Scullen deceased, a prosecution would be immediately commenced.
You have paid no attention to this letter and as the heirs are becoming importunate, I have this day written to the U.S. District Attorney at Pittsburgh, that to commence an investigation
Chas. Wells Esq Crepingtonville Pennsylvania,
Rev

J. B. Switzer
May 4. 1853

Pension Office May 4, 1853
Sir,
On the 1 st July last, the papers in the case of Chas Joseph Hills, dec d , were left at your office, with a request from the late Commissioner of Pensions that a for criminal prosecution should be commenced against Chas Hills for perjury in obtaining arrears of pension due said Joseph Hills, unless the amount due the heirs of Martha Scallen dec d , should be deposited with the Pension Agent at Pittsburgh, Pa.
It appears that Chas Hills has not complied with the instructions from this office and I therefore request that no investigation prosecution may be commenced against him. He resides at Cassavago, Crawford Co; Post Office address "Crosingville, Pa."
Wm J. B. Switzer U.S. Dist Atty, Pittsburgh, Pa
Rev

Syracuse N.Y. July 14. 1853
Sir
Several of the heirs of Martha Scullen whose pension was erroneously paid by the Pension Depart to Oliver Hills. — are still without payment — This is the case of Joseph Hills — a soldier, about which we have had considerable correspondence —
The Depart. long ago assured me, measures should be taken whereby the heirs should be paid — Charles D. Scullen & John Scullen reside here they & Mrs. Stewart have rec d nothing — They have no claim which they can enforce against Oliver Hills — They look to the Depart. Their papers showing their right, have been passed upon long since — pray inform me when & where they can get their money —
I have the honor to be with great respect y r obedt servt
James Lawrence
Com d Pension Washington

Obed Hills June 7. 1873

98 Pension Office June 7, 1853
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 24 th ult, I have to inform you that pensions, or arrears of pensions can be paid to Executors, or Administrators, only as trustees for the benefit of all of the children, and not as Executors, or Administrators for the purpose of being assets in their hands, consequently you were entitled only to your proportionate share of the claim allowed the in the case of Joseph Helle, dec d
Chas Wells, Esq Crossingville Pa
Rev

Pittsburgh May 27, 1853
Colon S. P. Waldo,
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
Pursuant to instructions contained in your letter of May 4, 1853 addressed to J. B. Sweetzer Esq., as W. S. D. atty and which he handed over to me as part of his official correspondence I have commenced a prosecution against Obed Hills for perjury in obtaining arrears of pension.
A warrant has been issued to arrest him and I have had the agent through whose instrumentality the pension was obtained recognized as a witness.
I will barely remark that I seriously doubt whether the facts will be sufficient to sustain a prosecution for willfully & corruptly falsifying under oath.
Respectfully Yours &c
Charles Miley
W S D atty for Western District of Pennsylvania.