REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION DECLARATION: Christian RICE Sr., 1838, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Amy Bernocco Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ Christian Rice Sr.'s Pension Application Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832 State of Pennsylvania County of Somerset On this thirtieth day of January 1838 personally appeared before the Court of Common pleas of Somerset County, Christian Rice a resident of Milford Township Somerset County and state of Pennsylvania first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his solemn 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 1777 in the latter part of May or first of June at Sunbury Northumberland County Pennsylvania (where he then resided) in the company of Captain Thomas Gascon, first Lieutenant Moses Van Camp, Second Lieutenant John Meeds that he enlisted for six months and at the expiration of that time he received a written discharge signed by Captain Thomas Gascon which was destroyed in his mother's house when the same was burned by the Indians. From Sunbury Declarant marched with the principal part of his company to Wyoming on the Susquehanna River where the company joined the army where it was assembled. General Sullivan was the commander of the army at Wyoming. The troops raided three officers who had been killed by the Indians a few days before and buried, and they were again buried with military honors. From Wyoming we marched to Tioga in Pennsylvania where we built a fort called Tioga fort between the Chemung and the North fork. From Tioga fort Declarant marched with part of the army to Chemung where the Indians occupied a fort. A severe action took place here in which there were thirty four Indians killed and about he same number of our troops killed and wounded, the Indians were dislodged by throwing in bomb schells and scaling the works. Declarant was sent back to Wyoming with the wounded. From Chemung we marched to Queen Esther's town, an Indian village. From Queen Esther's town, declarant returned with part of the army to Tioga fort. From Tioga fort we marched to Wyoming and from thence to Cox's town twelve miles above Harrisburg, where declarant with many others was discharged at the battle of Chemung. Amongst others killed or wounded declarant remembers Lieutenant [McCurdy] killed and he thinks Lieutenant Davison shot through the knee. At Tioga fort declarant well recollects that the following circumstance occurred. Two soldiers who had been convicted of taking a keg of flour from some of the officers and were sentenced to run the [gruntles]. When they passed declarant he had broken his stick close to his hand so as not to be able to strike. A lieutenant came up behind declarant and struck him three blows with rattan at the same time using this [casseression] "you damned young rascal I will make an honest soldier of you". From lapse of time and loss of memory condegaent upon old age he is unable to state the names of any other general officers or circumstances than those mentioned already. Declarant further states that the record of his age was lost at the burning of his mother's house. After his discharge he went to Lancaster Pennsylvania. He resided between Lancaster and Columbia seven or eight years. From thence he removed to Somerset County where he has resided ever since. Declarant was unwilling to apply for a pension as long as he could work or live comfortably without it, but as he is old and has become a perfect cripple as he believes through the hardships endured while in the army. He is compelled to ask aid from a generous country whom he has faithfully served. Declarant further states that he knows of no living witness who can prove his service. George Johnston, Esquire who died about a year since and who was a pensioner was the only person declarant ever knew in this country who could have stated his service. Since stating the foregoing facts declarant remembers that Patrick Sullivan was the commissary. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension Role of any agency in any state or (if only on that. Declarant further states in answer to a question by the court that he was born in the state of New York. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. W.H. Postleshweite, Prothonotary Christian Rice We George Gebhart and Michael Frease residing in Milford Township Somerset County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Christian Rice who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion sworn and subscribed before me in open court the day and year aforesaid. W.H. Postleshweite, Prothonotary George Gebhart Michael Frease And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the questions or interrogations prescribed by the [Mar] Department that the within named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that George Gebhart and Michael Frease are residents in the township of Milford and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. A. [Thomason Prescatent] I William H. Postleshweite, Prothonotary of the court of common pleas of Somerset County do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Christian Rice for a pension. In testimony whereof I have [herecante] set my hand and Seal of [office], this thirtieth day of January, eighteen hundred and thirty eight. William H. Postleshweite, Prothonotary