Pension Application of John Slusher R9666

                        Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

 

On this 8^th day of June 1835

            John Slusher a resident of the County of Montgomery & State of Virginia Personally appeared before Charles Black a Justice of the peace for the County & State aforesaid, aged 81 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on is oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed 7^th June 1832  that he inlisted in March 1775 & was then 21 years of age in a company under the command of Capt John Nelson, at that time He was a Citizen near Hagerstown Maryland  We marched from thence to New York to Caniday [sic: Canada] by the way of Ticonderoga, at Staunton Island we had a small ingagement and took thirty two prisoners, & several water crafts who came on shore to get water. from Caniday we went to Fort Ann [NY] at that place we released five hundred prisoners who had been taken by the British & Indians  when we left Fort Ann we was attached to the first Regiment of Pensylvania [sic: Pennsylvania] under the command of Colonel John Dehors; We remained at ticonderoga until March 1776  We then marched to Philadelphia at which place he was discharged

He was also a Volunteer after he left Philadelphia and was wounded at the Battle of the Branday Wine [sic: Brandywine PA, 11 Sep 1777]. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on any pension roll of any agency in any state. Sworn & subscribed to the day & year aforesaid.

                        John hisXmark Slusher

 

I Christopher Slusher a Citizen of Floyd County Virginia aged 78 years, am a brother of the Applicant, John Slusher, do certify that I was a soldier of the revolution, and from the best of my recolection, believe that my Brother John enlisted at the time stated in his declaration, but cannot say for what length of time, as we at the time I hea[r]d he had enlisted  resided a considerable distance apart, say one hundred miles, nor were we near each other to my knowledge during the time of our servitude.

                        Christopher hisXmark Slusher

Floyd county to wit

            This day Christopher Slusher came before me Thomas McCabe a Justice of the peace for the county above and made oath to the above certificate  Given under my hand this 18^th day of June 1835.                    Thomas McCabe

 

            War Department Pension Office  July 9, 185

Sir        I have recd the declaration of Jno Slusher and have placed it on file

            This claim carries [illegible word] internal evidence of its not being well founded

            The claimant alleges to have enlisted in Maryland in March 1775 & to have marched from New York to Canada, and was subsequently discharged at Philad’a in March 1776.

            The Battle of Lexington did not take place until Apl 1775, and I have never heard of troops being raised in Maryland before that time; neither have I any knowledge of any troops from the South having engaged in the expedition to Ticonderoga. The most positive proof will be required to establish a claim so doubtful & which has been so long delayed

                        [illegible signature]

W. Hiram Amiss  Blacksburg Va.