Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2327, Reuben Howell, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Va.
Howell, Reuben
S 2327
Carded
CONTENTS

6543 Ohio, Pittsburgh
Reuben Howell
of Salem in the State of Ohio who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Brinsfield of the Regt. commanded by Col. Russell in the Virginia Line for 7 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsburgh at the rate of 35 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of March 1833 and due to Reuben Howell H. 987
Arrears to the 4th of Apr. 1832 $52.50 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1/1/33 17.50 $70.00
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832 Seab. Sals
Recorded by Book L Vol. 10 Page 52

5914. Percy Howell application
advised Yrs Sery 35/8
Hon. J. Thompson of Ohio

The State of Ohio Columbiana County ss. On this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of said county of Columbiana now sitting, Reuben Howells a resident of Salem Township County and State aforesaid, aged seventy years the 26th February 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 act of Congress, passed June 7th. 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated - I was born near Trenton the state of New Jersey on the 26th day of February 1762; at the age of about 15 months my father moved to Loudoun County state of Virginia - On the latter part of August on the first day of September 1780, I volunteered my services as a soldier for six months - My Captain was Adam Vinsel , Lieutenant, and myself first sergeant - Thomas Thomas , Colonel. Andrew Russell ; we rendezvous at Leesburg ; from thence we marched to Fredericksburg , from thence to Richmond , from thence to Petersburg ; at which place we received intelligence, that the British had landed at Suffolk we immediately took up the line of march for the latter place by Cabbinpoints , Scotts mills , at which place we remained for 3 or 4 weeks, where we received order to march back to Peters- burg - after having arrived here, we were ordered on parade by Baron Steuban to be reviewed, and after having reviewed us, he came to the officers of Loudoun County, and enquired of them how long their men had volunteered, and how long the men under them had to serve yet - he ( Steuban ) was informed by our officers who stated about 2 months; Steuban observed that it would not exert costs to march us to Hillsborough ; (the place the troops were most wanted at that time) inasmuch as our services were pretty well expired - Whereupon he ( Steuban ) ordered our officers to discharge us - which they accordingly did - We arrived at home one or two days before Christmas of the same year. I was and discharged sometime before my term of service had expired, though I received pay for 6 months; Baron Steuban was our com-
mander of. On the latter part of August 1781. I was called in the militia and called into immediate service; We rendezvous at Lacey's Tavern 12 miles below Leesburg - My Captain at this time was John Licket , Lieutenant - McClellan , ensign. Nicholas

elliner, Major Rucker, Colonel — West. From the Land of said we marched to Fredericksburg, from thence to Hanover Courthouse, here we received order to march immediately for Gloucester, here after arriving at Gloucester, we encamped with the French troops, as well as some regulars — we remained here until Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington — Cornwallis was blockaded between Yorktown and Gloucester — and after Cornwallis being surrendered we took charge of the prisoners, who were commanded by an Colonel Lord. Then marched them (Prisoners) to Holands Ferry on the Potomac, at which place we were discharged. I served some little time more than three months — General Muhlenburgh was our com- mander when at Gloucester.
He hereby relieves himself every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and de- clares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year
aforsaid — Coffin (M) Reuben Howell
We John Thompson and Joseph William D. Sepper the residing in the town of New Lisbon Columbia County Pa. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Reuben Howell, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age past, 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 aforsaid — Coffin (M) Wm. D. Sepper.
John Thompson
Questions by the Court. 1st — When and in what year were you born? Answer. I was born near Trenton New Jersey. I was born on the 26th February 1762.
2nd. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? Answer I had until a few years ago, which I drew off my mother's bible, (which I at this time well remember).

but lost it about 18 or 19 years since -
3rd - Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Answer. In Loudoun County state of Virginia, I lived in said county until 1870, since that time I have lived in Columbiana County Ohio - and I now live in Salem Township county and state aforesaid -
4th. When were you called into service.
Answer. I volunteered my services, the second time I was called or drafted for three months -
5th. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you have been, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances attending your services.
Answer. Captains. Adam Vinsil - Secret, colonels - Russell and Colonel West - Major Rucker - General Muhlenberg and Baron Steuban. I was no recollection of any continental and militia regiments - and the general circumstances of my services are such as detailed in my declaration -
6. - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Answer. I received two discharges one from Captain Adam Vinsil & second from Capt. Secret, both of which I have lost.
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 service as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer - John Thompson near 50 Long Gap W.D. Hopper Nathaniel McBracken John Brown -

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the inter- rogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and said as he states. And the Court further Certifies, John H. Murray & Wm. D. Doffin that it appears to them that Reuben Howell who has signed the preceding certificate are residents of Cumberland county and are creditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Charles Doffin Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Reuben Howell for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court this 15 th day of August 1832.
Charles Doffin Wm. D. Doffin
The department are referred to the above certificate of the Court , to obviate the 14th. Query .

The way circumstances make out pension papers requires more skill than I possess to put them in a shape to look respectable. ————— (GMR)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Reuben Howell  _____ a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
$2327
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Aug 11 Sept 11/80 4 mos 1 st Sgt Adam Vinseel Andrew Russell Va.   Aug 1781 3 mos " John Suckett West        
Battles engaged in, siege of Yorktown Residence of soldier at enlistment, Loudoun Co. Va. Date of application for pension, Aug. 15. 1832. His cl. was al. Residence at date of application, Salem Twp. Columbiana Co. Ohio. Age at date of application, Feb 26 1862 near Trenton N.J.
Remarks: No data as to family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rea Mar
2327 INVALID.
1915. July 20. History to Mrs. P. B. Gink 232 Vine St Hillsboro Ohio. (her letter in claim Joseph Horton W4477.) aw.
File No. 2327
Reuben Howell
St. Va. line
Act: June 7, '32
Index:—Vol. A , Page 176
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Ohio, Columbiana county, ss. }
Personally appeared be- fore me, John Burns, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said Columbiana county, Ohio. Reuben Howell, signer of the preceding supplemental Declaration & upon oath saith that the matters and things stated therein are true. Given under my hand and official seal this nineteenth day of Feb. 7 1833.
John Burns
Justice of the Peace.
State of Ohio, Columbiana county, ss. }
On this, 19th day of February, A.D. 1833, came personally before me, John Burns an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, Jonathan Lodge, with whom I am well acquainted, and whom I know to be a person worthy of credit, and on oath makes the following statement:
The said Deponent says that during the Revolutionary War, he was well acquainted with Reuben Howell, the aforesaid Applicant, who, as well as himself, then resided in Loudon county, Va. and had been acquainted with him since the Revolution in said Loudon county, Va. — and that for the last twenty years they have both resided within a few miles of each other in Columbiana county, Ohio, aforesaid; and that from his know- ledge of the good character for truth and ver- acity of the said applicant, the general rep- utation in the neighborhood that the said ap- plicant was a soldier of the Revolution, as well as from the after named circum-

stance, of this deponent's actual knowledge of his having gone out as a soldier he has no doubt of the truth of the said Applicant's statements about his service as they are contained in his Declaration &c. This deponent well remembers that said applicant left his home as a soldier of the Revolution and went into the service of the United States, either in one or two campaigns. But this deponent, from the great lapse of time, old age, and loss of memory, can not say at what time or times he entered the service, or quit the same: nor can he say whether he was drafted, enlisted, or served as a volunteer. — He knows however that the company officers named by said Howell, went out into service, and he thinks the said applicant went under them, but of this he can not say positively. And further this deponent saith not.
Jonathan Lodge
Sworn & subscribed this 19 th February A.D. 1833 - before
me — John Burns Justice of the Peace the State of Ohio Columbiana county ss:
I Charles L. Offin. Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county do certify that John Burns Esquire before whom the foregoing declaration of Reuben Howell was sworn to, and also the affidavit of said Jonathan Lodge, and whose signature to the certificate of each, was at the time thereof and now is a Justice of the peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified, to whose official acts as such full faith and credit are due. Witness my signature & the Seal of said Court this 19 th . Feb 1833.
Charles L. Offin (Clerk)

With a view to obviate the "Brief objection &c." made by the War Department to the Pension claim of Reuben Howell he makes the following Supple- mental Declaration:
He said Reuben, on oath states that he served in both tours named in his annexed origin- al declaration as second  serjeant , and that the statement contained in the original Declara- tion of his having served as first  serjeant , was put there by mistake of the writer of his dec- laration, and not observed by him till returned: that he is confident of having served as stated in his declaration, that is, during the first tour in which he volunteered for 6 months , he knows he served at least four months , and until discharged as stated in the declaration, and during the second tour that he served more than three months as stated in said Declaration; but that, by reason of old age, and consequent loss of memory he can not swear positively as to the precise length of his services; but that he knows according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For four months , I served as a volunteer second as a second serjeant and for three other months I served as a drafted second serjeant; and for such service I claim a pension."
Said applicant states further, (In answer to Q 12th ) that he was not and is not intimately acquainted with any clergymen in his im- mediate neighborhood, who could testify anything about the general belief in the neighborhood of his re- ligionary services, and that for this reason the clergyman's affidavit was omitted, but the applicant states on oath that the

witnesses to traditional evidence, are and for many years have had good opportunity of being informed as to the matters by them in their affidavit set forth; their residence, for many years having been in the same country with the said applicant. One of them moreover, is Genl. John Thomson , now a member of Congress.
The said applicant knows of no other evidence, of a higher nature now in his power, except the testimony of Jonathan Lodge, herewith intended to be remitted.
Said applicant refers the Department of War, to the certificate of the court as to the credibility of the witnesses to the original declaration, to answer the objection to Query 14.
Attest:
Reuben Howell
W. D. Burns, } John Burns }