Pension File of Jacob Surber The State of Ohio Personally appeared before the subscriber Highland County one of the justice of the peace in for said county on the 21st day of June AD 1833 Jacob Surber, a resident of the said county of Highland, aged 89 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath *** the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th AD 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. The following intergoratories were *** by said justice of the peace to said applicant to which the annexed answers were returned: 1st Question. Where and in what year were you born? I was born in Germantown in the State of Pennsylvania in the year of our Lord 1744. 2nd Q. Have you any record of your age? Answer: I have not. 3rd Q. Where were you living when called into service: Where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live? Ans. I lived when called into service in the County of Shenandoah in the State of Virginia. After performing my several tours of service in the revolutionary war. & again returned to said county of Shenandoah where I lived 'till the year 1801 when I moved to the state of Tennessee, remained there about 9 years when I moved to Highland County Ohio where I have ever since lived. 4th Q. How were you called into service? Answer. I always volunteered. 5th Q. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served; such continental & militia regiment, as you can recollect, & the general, circumstances of your service. Answer: In the month of March AD 1777, I volunteered in the company of Virginia Militia commanded by Captain Jonathan Denton in the county of Shenandoah in the said state of Virginia. Said company was stationed at place called Wendall's fort in said county of Shenandoah. Soon after I joined said company, I among others was sent out by my said captain as a spy against the Indians with orders to range through the mountains of said County of Shenandoah & the neighboring counties. I acted as a spy in this tour six months during which time I frequently returned to the fort to give information to my said captain. The spies of the Company killed the hostile Indians during the tour of my service. I was discharged verbally by captain Denton in September 1777. 2. In the month of April AD 1778, I again volunteered under said Captain Denton by the Virginia Militia. I served as a spy against the Indians over the same tract of county **** at the same fort Wendall. I was discharged after six month service by my said Captain. 3. In the month of March AD 1779, I again volunteered under the same Captain Jonathan Denton of the Virginia 7ilitia as a spy against the Indians. Served as a spy for the term of six months over the same tract of country after which I was again verbally discharged by my said Captain at said fort Wendall. 4. In the month of April AD 1780 I again volunteered under the same Captain Denton at said fort Wendall for a six month tour as a spy against the Indians. I served as a spy through the same tract of country for six months. I was then discharged verbally at said fort Wendall by my said captain. As a spy against the Indians, I spent two years at least during which times I repeatedly saw hostile Indians and frequently gave intelligence of this fact to my said captain Denton who was stationed at principal fort of **** 2 years in said fort Wendall with a part of his company. There was at said fort Wendall in a higher office. There was a Captain during my service as a spy. * **** had an account of my *** that I can not recollect the name of Colonel who commanded the regiment of which said Denton company was a part. 5. Sometime in the first of March AD 1781, I again volunteered in the company of Virginia Militia commanded by Captain *** Riker at said county of Shenandoah in Virginia. Our regiment was commanded by Colonel Jacob Rinker. We were called together at that time for the purpose of driving off **** who were collecting in force at a place called Gap Capon in the mountains of Shenandoah county. We marched immediately to Gap Capon. I dispersed the tories then collected after wounding one and taking four prisoners. After serving three months in the tour I received a written discharge from my said Corporal Rinker. 6. About the middle of July AD 1781 I again volunteered in said county of Shenandoah under Captain George Riker of the Virginia Militia in the regiment commanded by Colonel Tipton. This was soon after the army of General Cornwallis invaded the state of Virginia. I marched under 8 officers to a place called the burnt ordinary. >From the fact that a part of the British army under Cornwallis had burned the place a few days previous and from there to the place where I volunteered when I was charged by my said colonel. I volunteered for about 20 days. This tour served out my 20 days with a written discharge. 7. In the month of August AD 1781 I again volunteered in said county of Shenandoah for the Virginia Militia under Captain See for a three month term. Colonel was named Darke. The object of being called out at this time was to defend the state against the invasion of the British under Lord Cornwallis. We marched under command of said officers to Yorktown soon after I volunteered. I remained under i officer before tour of York which was then occupied by Cornwallis. Seized by Washington until the surrender of Cornwallis. I after serving three months was discharged by my said Captain ***. I received at this time a written discharge. In all the 7 terms of service in the revolutionary war above mentioned I served two years, six months and 20 days at least. 6th Question: State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for VERACITY and their belief of your service as soldier of the revolution? Answer: Hercules Murphy, Nathan Julhan, Jacob Coffman, John Wardton, Anthony Sonner, many others will testify as if requested. 7th Question: Did you receive a discharge? Ans. After the 4 first above mention times of service as a spy, I was verbally discharged by my officer. After the three last tours, I've in each case a written discharge all of which I have since lost. This applicant says that at the said siege of Yorktown, Va, he was wounded in the left arm by a musket ball. That during said siege he became acquainted with General Washington, Fayette Wayne and Stephenson. *** no other officers or regiment other than already mentioned. He has no documentary proof nor does he know any individual who can testify as to his service. That said applicant resides *** ** **** from the place where the court of record for said county but I think he is unable from bodily infirmity to go such a distance from home without serious injury to hisself. It is hereby a linguistics every claim whatever to a pension or sanctity except the present declaration that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to subscribe the day His of year foresaid before me Jacob S Surber Mark John Colvin (s) Mr. Nathan Pullham, a Clergyman residing in said county of Highland, Frederick Gibler & Anthony *** residing in the same county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Surber who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 89 years of age; that he is reputed & *** in the neighborhood where he resides, to *** a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to the subscriber before me the day of year aforesaid John Colvin (s) Nathan Pulliam (s) Fr Gibler (s) Antoni *** (s) And the Court of Common Pleas in forsaid county of Highland, I do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter that the interrogatories prescribes by the war department were put by said justice of the peace to said applicant, that said applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states & that he could not *** attend personally before this court to make his declaration by reason of old age & consequent bodily infirmity. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Nathan Pulliam who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in said county of Highland & that Frederick Gibler & Anthony **** who have also signed the same and also residents of said county are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit. July 16th AD 1833 I, Samuel Bell, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county of Highland in the State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the applicant of Jacob Surber for a pension. Witness my hand & seal of office this 16th day of July AD 1833. Samuel Bell (s) Clerk of Highland County, Ohio The State of Ohio, Highland County: Personally appeared before me one of the justices of the peace in the aforsaid county **** Jacob Surber in his *** solemn oath that he was in the service of the United States *** the revolutionary war as an Indian spy at four different times & that each time when he went out as a spy against the Indians & served six months as he has stated in the written declaration he was in actual service either as Indian spy or under arms **** garrison duty in fort Wendall where the *** of Shenandoah headquarters. And that during the time in which this applicant's service as mentioned in the written declaration was performed, he was never employed in any civil pursuit but always was under arms & performing military duty. His Jacob S Surber (s) Mark Sworn to the subscribed before me a justice of the peace of said county this 23rd day of October In the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred thirty three John Colvin (s) SEAL I, Samuel Bell, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county of Highland in the State of Ohio do hereby certify that John Colvin who has subscribed his service to the above certificate is & was at the time of signing the same one of the justices of Peace in the Highland County Ohio duly **** & justified & that the above signature pusporting to be his genuine. In testimony whereof I have herein to set my hand. Seal of Office this 24th day of October AD 1833 Samuel Bell (s) Clerk --------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Elvina Hiatt hiatt@flash.net USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material AND permission is obtained from the CONTRIBUTOR of the file. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.