Revolutionary War Pension Applications of John Somerville State of Kentucky County of Garrard

Know all men by these presents, that I John Somerville of the County of Garrard, and State of Kentucky, Labourer, have this day, ordained, constituted and appointed, and by these presents, do make, ordain, constitute, and appoint the honorable George Robison, of said county and state aforesaid, my true and faithful attorney, my sole and full power, and authority, to demand, and receive, the pension allotted me by the Congress of the United States, for my services in the Revolutionary War, upwards of seven years as I myself could do, will personally present, and upon receipt of the same, acquaintances and for other sufficient, for me, to make sign, seal and deliver, perform and execute for me, and in my name, all and any singular thing or things which shall be necessary, touching and concerning said pension, thoroughly and entirely, as I the said John Summerville, in my own person ought or could do, in and about the same, ratifying, allowing, and confirming whatsoever my said attorney shall lawfully do, by virtue of these presents. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this --- day of October 1818. John Somervell

No. 10382 To the GEOGRAPHER of the UNITED STATES, or to the surveyors appointed by him to survey the military lands. You are hereby required to survey for John Sommerville – late a Corporal in the Pennsylvania Line.

One Hundred acres of land, in any of the districts appropriated for satisfying the Bounties of Land, due to the late Army of the United States, and return this Warrant to the Board of Treasury, agreeably to the Act of Congress of the ninth day of July 1788. Given at the WAR OFFICE, this sixth day of April, One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Garrard County Circuit Court

I hereby certify that John Somerville personally appeared before me, Samuel McKee, an acting circuit judge for the commonwealth aforesaid, and made oath, that he is sixty-four years of age and in indigent circumstances, and has not the means to support himself, and that he has for a considerable time subsisted on the charity of his friends, that he is badly afflicted with the palsy, that he served in the Revolutionary War as a private soldier the most of the time, and a Corporal towards the last from the 8th day of February 1776 until the 14th day of August 1783 continually. That he enlisted with Capt. James Wilson at Carlisle in Pennsylvania and was incorporated immediately into the 6th Regiment of Continental Infantry, commanded by Col. Wm. Irvine and continued in that regiment for one year. That he was transferred to other regiments and continued in the northern army under Genl Washington, was at the Battles of Germantown and Monmouth and many skirmishes, and at the Siege of Cornwallis at York, and from York marched under Col. Josiah Harmer and joined Genl Green and continued under Green until the cessation of hostilities. That he held his discharge until the defeat of Genl St. Clair, where he lost it, but having received his pay as a soldier, he prized it lightly. Given under my hand and seal this 18th May 1818. Samuel McKee Circuit Judge I do hereby further certify that the above named John Somerville is now and has been a citizen and inhabitant of Garrard County and Commonwealth of, and from the evidence of James McCoy taken before me, I am satisfied that the said John Somerville did actually serve in the Revolutionary War and is in very low and indigent circumstances. Given under my hand and seal as Circuit Judge this 27th day of May 1818. Samuel McKee

District of Kentucky

On this 16th day of October 1820 personally appeared in open court, being a court of record, for the County of Garrard and State aforesaid, John Somerville, aged 69 years, resident in the aforesaid County of Garrard in said District, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: That he enlisted as a regular soldier, for the term of one year, at Carlisle in Pennsylvania, on the 8th day of February in the year of 1776, under Capt James Wilson, and marched immediately to Philadelphia, where he was incorporated into the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment on the Continental establishment, commanded by Col. William Ervin, and marched from there to Canada with Genl Sullivan, and was taken prisoner on the 8th of June at the Three Rivers, that he remained a prisoner five months, at Quebec, on board of a prison ship; that he was paroled by Sir Guy Carlton sometime the next winter and went home to Pennsylvania, and was shortly exchanged; and in the spring of the year 1777 he again enlisted for the duration of the war. That he was again incorporated into Ervin’s Regiment, until Ervin was promoted to a Brigadier. I was then transferred to the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Col. Josiah Harmer; that he was at the Battle of Three Rivers, above Quebec; at the Battle of Monmouth; with Wayne at the taking of Stony Point; at the Battle of Germantown; and at the Siege of York; that he was discharged on the 14th day of August 1783 at Philadelphia; that he has lost his discharge. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with the intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled, “An Act to provide for certain engaged in the land and naval services of the United States of the Revolutionary War”, passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed to wit. About $6 due me by account. John Somerville The original declaration is dated on the 18 May 1818; the pension certificate issued from the War Office on the 5th day of February 1819.