Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23251, John Harman, Penn.

SERVICE
Penn.
NUMBER _____
Harman, John
S. 23251
CONTENTS

John Harman 26,068.
John Harman of Fayette Co. in the State of Penna who was a First Lieut in the Company commanded by Captain Hays of the 1st Regt commanded by Col Miller in the Penna Line for
2 Yrs Service at $320.00
Inscribed on the Pennsylvania at the rate of 32 Dollars 1 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd day of March 1834 to Hon A Stewart B.R.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 800.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending March 31 160.00 $960.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. J. Spayde Clerk Book 8 - Vol. 15 Page 24
Susp? see letter to P. Agt Nov. 9. 1835 do. to Hon. A. Stewart L.S. Smith 29 March 1836 - Do to Hon. A. Stewart ap. 11. 1836 do. to same ap. 22. 1836. - do. to P. Agt. June 28. 1836 -
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 16th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1837 to 16 Nov 1837 the day of his death. Age not fixed 4 June 1839
Lett Hon D. Sturgeon July 18, 1850 - Hon A. Stewart 12 Feb 1833, " D. Dawson Feb 18 1835.

Laythe county Pennsylvania
On this 9 th day of January A D 1883 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the court of common pleas for the county of Laythe State of Pennsylvania now sitting. John Harmon resident of the county & state of Pennsylvania, age eighty five years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of congress passed June the 7 th 1882
That he entered the service of the United States in the following manner.
That the first of June 1876 his uncle John Hough of Lancaster Penn a procured the department recruiting orders for the purpose of raising a company of Penn a for troops. That in pursuance of the order he proceeded on and enlisted about fifty soldiers for during the war. That he was near one year engaged in recruiting troops and that sometime in July 1877 the troops that he and a certain Jacob Hough enlisted were organized into a company and attached to the 2 nd Penn a Reg t . That as soon as the company was organized Jacob Hough was elected captain and the deponent first lieutenant and was commissioned as such by his Excellency George Washington. That the 2 nd Penn a Reg t at the time the company of the deponent was attached to it was commanded by Col Miller attached to a part of Penn a Line. Shortly after this the deponent marched with his company into the state of New Jersey and remained there a few weeks, and recov- =ed the deponent into Penn a and on the 11 th day of September 1877 was in the battle of Brandywine and on the 4 th day of October following was in the battle

of Germantown in which engagement the defendant was taken prisoner by the British, and taken to Philadelphia and kept about two months when he succeeded in making his escape, and returned to his old company then in winter quarters at "Woley Forge" and resumed his command as first Lieutenant. That sometime in the spring of 1778 his company was ordered again into the State of New Jersey and were stationed for sometime at a house called "White House" That he was in active service at different places in the State of New Jersey during the summer of 1778 and in the fall of that year his company with some others engaged a party of the British in a severe skirmish near a place called "White Marsh" in which engagement the defendant was again taken prisoner by the British - that he thinks was in October 1778. That he was taken to New York and kept in the Provost a prisoner about two months and was then sent to Sam = acca, and from thence to Portsmouth, and from thence to Liverpool where he was kept till after the war. That he was liberated after the treaty of peace the fall of 1783 and sent to Baltimore in the ship S t Be Margaretta commanded by Capt. Nelson Smith of Baltimore. That he was two years and five months in the service of his country (including the two months he was a prisoner in Philadelphia) when last taken prisoner. That he cannot recollect the precise date of his commission. (having lost it by fire) but thinks it was dated in July 1777. That the entire period of his service & the time he was a prisoner was seven years and some months. To the Interrogatories by the last defendant he replies as follows. 1 st That he was born in Leicesters County Penn a an

The 2 d day of February 1747.
2 d That the wound of his age got him no work for commission
3 d That he lived in Lancaster County when he entered the service. That he continued to reside in Lancaster County some years after the war, removed from there into the state of Virginia. Lived there a few years and from there he removed to Fayette County where he still resides.
4 th That he went into the service as above stated a military officer.
5 th The names of his officers are as follows after the forgoing declaration.
6 th He did receive a commission as first Lieut. signed by Genl Washington. that it was burned in a house on the Shenango river in Fayette County
7 th  That has no documentary evidence of his services. but that the Revd Thornton Fleming & Revd Harrison will certify to his reputation. and Paul Thorp will testify to his life in the service. (no. at present)
He hereby acknowledges his every claim whatever to any pension or annuity except the present. and declares that his name is not on pension roll or agency of any state
9 th Jan y 1843. From Subscribed to John Harman in Open Court T. C. McEuen (Proth) hi with R
Rev Thornton Fleming a clergyman resident of Union town Fayette County Penn s and Rev Harrison of the same town
do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Harman who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration. That we believe him to be eighty five years of age. That he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
affirmed in Open Court 9 th Jan y 1843 T. C. McEuen (Proth)
Thornton Fleming Rev. Harrison

And the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the foregoing order that John Harmon who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration was an officer of the cor- poration & served as he states. And the Court do further certify that it appears to them that Thom- as Fleming who has signed the foregoing decla- tion certificate is a clergyman residing at Uniontown Fayette County Penn a and that Rev. Fleming resident of the same town who has signed the same is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Declaration of John Harmon to the matter herein.
29/131-
Adam Rogers Clerk
A. Fleming
H.R.
Fayette County Pennsylvania
I Henry M c Beem Prothry of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the applica- tion of Lieut. John Harmon for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 19 th day of Jany A.D. 1833
Henry M c Beem Prothry

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
May 18 th 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1833 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The children of John Harman, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia, Pa, Agency, at the rate of Three hundred twenty Dollars and _____ Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1837, to the 16 th Nov. 1837, the day of his death.
Respectfully, yours,
acting J. H. Lane Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

S Smith for John Harman Rec d 7 July 1829 162
P Musk Union Town Pa

Uniontown Pa 1680
July 1 st 1829
Sir enclosed is the case of Lieutenant John Harman for the benefit of an act of Congress for the relief of surviving Officers and Soldiers of the revolutionary war. The affidavits of Paul Sharp and Ephraim Sutton in corroboration of his statements is also enclosed. Please be so good as to forward his Certificate to me as early as your convenience will admit.
The Honorable Secretary of the Treasury Washington City D.C.
I am Sir respectfully
Your obedt Servt Alexander H. Potter for Samuel Smith
W.B. Lt Harman is a poor old man; his statement & any corroboration of him being one of those who helped to blow the breath of life into this great Republic.

Smith

Lt. Harman's
Papers -

Samuel Smith for.
John Hearman.
Rec. 15 Aug 1829.
276.

Union Town Pa August 11 th 1829
Dr Sir in your letter of 22 nd ulto you sent back and directed to Charles Smith Esqr instead of me, the paper of St John Harman for him to signe his name, he was this day in the office and according to your request has signed his name, I believe it was an Errand of my own last court in not attending to it - I filed the form agreeably to his and his witnesses statements the best I could pleas direct to Samuel Smith Union Town Penn s
I am Respectfully yours O ur Serv t Samuel Smith
to B d L d St John Harman was disown before me J Smith
Hon ble D r Ingham Sec y of the Treasury of U S Washington City D C

Mar 26
Mr. Harmon Pam
1026,068
Free J. P. Kennedy Esq. Correspondent of Union Washington City D.C.

Union Town
March 21. 1846
Dear Sir
A power of Atty executed by Mr. Harmar to draw his Semi annual pension has been return'd "suspended by order of War department"
Will you be so good as to inform me by return of Mail upon whose application & upon what grounds this suspension has been made.
very respectfully
Yr. M c . Ct. Servt
Andrew Stewart
J. L. Edwards Esq
Compt d of Pensions
Washington

M c Harmon Pa. R.R.
James S. Edwards Esq. Somerville & Union Washington D.C.
Free

Union Town ap! 1836
Dr Sir
In your letter of the 29 th ulto you say the suspension of John Harmon's pension will be removed "Unless more satisfactory charges be produced sustained by proof." He would be glad to know whether any addition charges or proof have been since produced and if so what they are, & by whom exhibited so as to enable him to meet & obviate them.
The old man, looking to his pension for the means of payment, has purchased property & incurred liabilities which must result in the loss of all he has & imprisonment should his pension now be withheld, it is natural therefore that he should be anxious & importunate to know the result as soon as possible
very respectfully
Y. M: B. L. S. S.
Andrew Stewart
J. S. Edwards Esq
Commissr of Pensions
War Dept Washington City

Mem o . Nov. 9. 1835. In this case Samuel Smith of Union Town Pa. says in a letter to P. Hagner Esq. "The Hon. A. Stewart has rec d . 12 or 1300 $ on acc t . of John Harmon's pension - The case is no better than it should be - I will forward evidence of it, if you desire it." The case of Harmon was susp d . on the receipt of this letter -

John Harman - Lieut - Penn line - Rev -
Penn -
See File no 23.251

End
*
23.251
—

M c Hannis Pa 18th
Free
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commission Merchant Washington City D.C.

Munson Town
Apr. 1. 1836
Dear Sir
Yours of the 29 th ult. is received in answer to mine requesting to be informed of the name of the person & the grounds of objection to the pension of Geo Harman. I made this request because last fall early in Nov r a dissipated & worthless individual of this place attempted to extort unjustly a sum of money from this pensioner which he resisted - this individual then threatened that he would write himself, or procure another to do so, to stop his pension these are facts known to myself & I have no doubt that it was the malice of this individual that produced the difficulty & hence the inquiry as to the name . A more infamous man lives not in our community than the one refused to & if necessary

I am preprepared to prove it & pledge myself to do so. - I trust however the suspension will be removed which you say will be done "Unless more satisfactory charges be produced sustained by proof" that I know is out of the question as the individual who created the difficulty will never attempt to sustain his charges.
Should you order the suspension to be removed, as I trust you will, be so good as to advise me of it by return mail.
very respectfully
Your obed servt
Andrew Stewart
J. L. Edwards Esq Commission of Review

Mr. Edwards to In o Harman's case
J. A. Stewart Comm ee of Pensions FREE Hon. A. Stewart Union Town Penn a .

War Department
Pension Office
March 29. 1836
Sir,
The pension of John Harman was suspended, on account of information having been received here, which leads to distrust the evidence in his case. Unless, however, more satisfactory charges be produced, sustained by proof, the suspension will be removed.
I am very respectfully
Your Obet. Servt.
J. L. Edwards
Hon. A. Stewart Union Town Penn a .

Senate Chamber
July 17 th 1850
Hon. J. L. Williams Chair of Pension
Dr Sir
Please
inform me as early as possible the amount of money the Hon J Stewart was authorized to draw for John Harmon an old soldier, as his agent, and where it was authorized to be paid
Yours Truly
Danl. H. Henshaw

Resolution 23251 INVALID.
File No. 23251
John Hasmann First Nat. Bank
Act: June 1 st 1892
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 165
[Arrangement of 1870.]

FREE
L. P. Waldo Esq. Comr. of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Union Town July 7. 1855
Dr Sir
The Pension of Mr. Harman a lieut in the Revolutionary war was suspended in 1836 (prior to ap l 22 d when I rec d a letter on the subject) Will you be so good as to inform me whether he was restored - when & how much was paid after his restoration & to whom?
Yours Respectfully
L. P. Waldo Esq Com: of Pensions
A. Stewart

Fayette County Pennsylvania
Personally appeared before me one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the Peace in & for said County Paul Sharp who being duly sworn according to law deponeth & saith that he was well acquainted with John Harman (whose declaration accompanies this affidavit) That he knew him in the service of the Revolutionary War - That he the said Harman served and performed the duties of Lieutenant. That this deponent saw and knew the said Harman to perform services as aforesaid in the State of New Jersey. That this deponent himself was a soldier of the Revolution but did not belong to the said Harman's company. That this deponent can swear positively that the said Harman was in the service of the Revolution and served as a Lieutenant. and further saith not.
Sworn & Subscribed before me 22 nd January 1833.
This Paul Sharp Mark
James Piper
I do hereby certify that Paul Sharp who has made the above affidavit is a credible witness and entitled to full credence & belief
James Piper
Fayette County Pa.
I Henry W Beem Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in & for said County do hereby certify that James Piper Esq is a Justice of the peace as above stated & that the above signatures purporting to be his are genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court at Union town the 23 rd day of January 1833
H. W. Beem
Proth.

I have been well acquainted with Paul Sharp for many years he is an honest man & credible witness
At 20 th Street!
July 26. 1834
Paul Sharp officer

PAID FREE
Hon d Sam l D. Ingham Sec y of the Treasury U.S. Washington City D.C. Revolution Claim
[Faint, mirrored handwriting from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original letter.]

12 Oct 1829.
911. Union Town Pa 8th October 1829
Dr Sir In this moment heard your letter of the 25th ult to me by Samuel Smith Esqr, my attorney to assist me in securing my claim. I beg leave to state that I am fairly entitled to the benefits of the act you allude to. I was entered as Lieutenants for the War, was first Lieutenant of Capt Roberts of Pa line Col Lukens Regt. I was taken Prisoner three times and the last time transported to Liverpool Eng, and after peace came to America in a ship capt the same Margareta owned by a Merchant in Baltimore Md. I therefore beg a Reconsideration in my case. My names is on the Penn t Rolls or in the Treasury department as will appear by a letter from Doctor Surgeon Esqr. Speaker of the Senate of Penn t . If I should be so unfortunate as not to succeed be so good to transmit my papers to Samuel Smith Esqr. Union Town Penn t .
In the letter alluded to I am bound on the Pa. Rolls to 1780 about the time I was last taken Captive.
I am Sir Respectfully your obed Serv t John Harnan
Henry D. Ingham Sec y of the Treasury

REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
24 Augt 1829
John Harman — of ————— in the County of Fayette — in the State of Pennsylvania has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution," approved on the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he was as an officer on the Continental line, and served as such until the end of the war,
at which period he was a Lieutenant in the second regiment of the Pennsylvania line; and that he received commutation certificates for the five years full pay granted by the resolve of 22 March, 1783; and, further, that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, dollars, paid to him by the agent in the State of nothing
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far these several statements are corroborated by the records in his office.
By order of the Secretary J. H. Dickinson.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
25. August 1829
It appears by the records in this office, that final settlement certificates have been issued for the commutation of five years full pay to the line, amounting to dollars
It further appears that John Harmon is now on the pension list of the any — — — — — agency, and has been since the 3 d March 1826 at the rate of per month.
The various Revolutionary records in this Office furnish no information in relation to the services of Lieutenant John Harmon of the Pennsylvania line —
R. Hagner And
/correct/

REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE
January 1, 1848
to the Honorable JAMES K. POLK President of the United States
Respectfully JAMES M. WAYLAND Commissioner
Sir: In reply to your letter of the 14th inst.
John Harmon not found on muster rolls in Pension Office.

Fayette County Pa Pennsylvania
John Harman Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for the said county who being duly sworn upon the and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively 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 two years and five months (from June 1776 to October 1778) as first Lieutenant in Jacob Stough's company in the 2 d Penn a Regiment commanded by Col. H. Miller (for two months of which time he was a prisoner at Phil a having been taken by the British at the battle of German town) that he was again taken prisoner at the Battle of "White Plains" in Oct r 1778 and taken to England & detained a prisoner till release was restored in the fall of 1783 having been a prisoner a little upwards of five years making the whole period of his service & imprisonment about seven years five months & two years & three months in service as first mentioned as above stated & two months a prisoner the first time & upwards of five years the last time the theater of his service was in principally in New Jersey & Penn a as set forth in his declaration under General Washington General Greene &c Affirmed & subscribed before me this 24 th day of May 1832. James Bridway John Harman mark

I hereby certify that James Lindsay by before whom the within affidavit was made is & was at the date thereof an acting justice of the peace in & for Fayette County and that the same was sworn to & subscribed in my presence
Andrew Stewart M.C.
May 24 1833

County of Fayette Pennsylvania ss
Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in the said County. Ephraim Sutton a Credible Witness and being sworn sayeth that he is well acquainted with John Harman and that he knew said John Harman as a Lieutenant in the Second Pennsylvania Regiment on Continental Establishment in the Revolutionary War. and that said Harman was known to him as a Lieutenant for some years. before he was taken Prisoner the last time. and that said Harman was under a Captain Roberts and of Col. Lukens or Lukes Regiment of the Pennsylvania line on Continental Establishment
Sworn to and Subscribed this 22 nd day of May 1829
Samuel Smith
Ephraim Sutton
County of Fayette ss
Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in said County. Paul Thompson and being sworn sayeth that he is well acquainted with John Harman, who now lives in the County of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, and that the said John Harman was known to him this deponent as a Lieutenant under Captain Roberts of the Second Pennsylvania Regiment on Continental Establishment in the Revolutionary war. for several years before said Harman was taken Prisoner and. and that after his (Harman's) return from captivity he once saw him, and that it was some time after Cornwallis was taken, and this deponent saith that he belonged to the first Pennsylvania Regiment on Continental establishment. Sworn and subscribed this tenth day of June 1829 before me Samuel Smith a Justice of the peace as aforesaid.
Paul Thompson Mark
I Certify that the deponents are Credible witnesses June 16-1829 Sam l Smith J.P.

I hereby certify that I knew Ephraim Shelton with in named that he was a credible witness but is now dead that I have on behalf of said applicant who is very old & frail & poor endeavored to find other witnesses but none are to be found now living & I have no doubt of the justice of his claim Andrew Stewart
July 28. 1834
affidavits of E. Shelton & P. Sharp for D. & H. claim
transferred to the War Department at the request of the Hon. A Stewart of Pa Treasury Department.
17 May 1833.
J. Smith

Pennsylvania
Fayette County ss I James Todd Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County Do certify that Samuel Smith Esq r before whom the foregoing affidavit was made was at the time of so doing and now is an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County duly Commissioned & qualified to all whose official acts full faith and credit are due and ought to be given. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said court at Uniontown the 10 th day of June A. D. 1829.
James Todd Prothy

Revolutionary Claims
For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of an act, intitled "An act for the relief of certain receiving Officers, and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution" approved on the 15 th of June 1828 I John Harman of Clay Township
in the county of Fayette in the State of Pennsylvania do hereby declare that I was an officer in the Continental Line in the Army of the Revolution, and served as such from seventeen hundred and seventy Sep. until he was taken a Prisoner in 1781 he thinks, and was shipped to Liverpool England and remained a prisoner until some time in 1782 or 1783 when he got a parole in a ship called the Margaretta owned by a Merchant in Baltimore. Named William Smith, and that when restored peace was made at which period I was a Lieutenant and always before in the Second Regiment of the Pennsylvania
And I also declare that I afterwards received certificates (commonly called certificates) for a sum equal to the amount of five years full pay, which sum was paid by the residue of Congress on the 20 th of March 1883, instead of the half pay for life, to which I was entitled under the act of the 29 th of October 1780. And I do further declare that I have received of the United States no pension since the 3 rd day of March 1826, and that I never received any Certificate that his Commission was destroyed by the British after he was a prisoner
Given under my hand, this tenth day of June in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty Nine
John Harman
Before me Samuel Smith a Justice of the peace in the County of Fayette in the State of Pennsylvania
Personally appeared the xx tenth day of June 1829 Ephram Sutton and Paul Sharp
of the said County did solemnly make oath that they well knew St John Harman by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally reputed and believed to have been an officer in the Army of the Revolution in manner as therein stated.
Given under my hand this tenth day of June in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and twenty Nine Samuel Smith J P

Pennsylvania
1680.
Fayette County
I James Todd Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do certify that Samuel Smith Esq before whom the within affidavit was made was at the time of so doing and now is an acting justice of the peace in and for said County duly Commissioned & qualified to all whose official acts full faith & credit are due & ought to be given - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court at Uniontown this 24 th day of June 1829 -
James Todd Prothy