Person:Peter Miller (42)

Notes

Peter Miller served as Private for three or four months in the summer of 1777, Capt. Marion's Company, from New Jersey. Engaged in the battle of White Plains. Residence at the time of enlistment was Tippon, New Jersey. Residence at time of application for pension was Monongalia County, Virginia. - Bulletin No. 701925, West Virginia Sons of the Revolution.

Note: Source:Pension Records; VA.#12053 -# W. 7456 Born in Woodridge, NJ, May 15, 1759; died April 14, 1838 in what is now Marion County. Enlisted 1776 in Orange Co, NY and served under Capt. Blauvelt, Parsons and Martin in NY and NJ lines under Col. Drake, Gen. Scott and James Clinton. Took part in battle of Long Island and on guard duties. Married in Goshen, NY on Feb. 5, 1785. Name of wife was Mary, age 82 in 1845. Pension granted in Monongalia Co, VA in 1833 to soldier and also to his widow. Supporting data filed by M. Fleming, Ann Carpenter, sister of Mary Miller and John Miller.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Peter Miller Revolutionary War Pension File.
2. ↑ Fairmont District Cemeteries, Marion County, West Virginia. (Fairmont, West Virginia: Marion County Genealogical Club, Inc., 1993)
   93.
3.   Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.

   Pension Application of Peter Miller W7456 Mary Miller NJ NY
   Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris.
   
   Commonwealth of Virginia } s.s.
   County of Monongalia }
   On this twenty third day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before the county court of Monongalia, Peter Miller, a resident of said county, aged seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. that he enlisted for five months in the army of the United States at the age of sixteen in the month of May 1776 at a small town then called Toppond [Tappan?] in the state of New Jersey with captain Blovelt, that after two or three weeks, he with the troops marched to the city of New York where the troops joined the regiment under the command of Col. Drake attachted to the brigade under Genl. [John Morin] Scott – that the troops marched from the city to Long Island where they remained two or three weeks, during which the enemy landed at Flatt-bush [sic: Flatbush] – from Long Island we again marched to the city, and from thence to the Kings bridge where we were encamped ten or fifteen days, and at the battle of the White plains [28 Oct 1776]. a short time after he the said Peter was one of the rear guard directed to cut down the bridge and burn the barracks on the heights above the bridge – in a few days after, the term of his enlistment being out, he was discharged by Capt. Blovett, as well as he can now recollect.
   That he again enlisted for three or four months in a company commanded by Capt. Parsons at Smiths clove Orange county New York – this company remained at Minisinks [sic: Minisink] during all the term of his enlistment guarding the inhabitants against the Indians who had just before burnt down a village called Peanpack [sic: Peenpack, 20 Jul 1779]. that as well as he can recollect capt Parsons signed his discharge from this service.
   That he again enlisted for three or four months in a company commanded by Capt. Marvin at Cloester [Closter] New Jersey in the summer of 1777 [sic] as well as he can now recollect, he cannot recollect the name of the Colonel, but the troops were under the command of Gen’l. James Clinton – during this enlistment the troops were stationed along the borders of New Jersey and the North river at a service called scouting frequently moveing from place to place during which he was in several skirmishes – that he was discharged at a farm belonging to Slutts who lived on a stream called Ramipo creek [sic: Ramapo River] where we had a small garrison.
   That after these several enlistments he served the residue of the war at different times in the militia, they being classed and liable to be called on at any time, that during this service he assisted to build fort Montgomery and West Point – the most of this service was in the line of New Jersey, and he believes that he was engaged in such service at least two or three years, after deducting the periods he was permitted to be at home – that on removeing to this country from New York he left his discharges with his mother, who is long since dead, and he supposes his discharges are lost.
   He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an anuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of any agency in any state.
   Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
   (Signed) Peter [his X mark] Miller
   
   Commonwealth of Virginia } SS.
   County of Monongalia } On this 28th of January in the year 1833, personally appeared before the County court of Monongalia, in open court, Peter Miler, named in the foregoing declaration, who being first duly sworn, doth on his oath, say, That Capt. Parsons, he beleives was a militia officer, and lived near Blomingrove [Blooming Grove] in Orange county and that his service he supposes must have been as a militia man – that Capt. Marvin was also a militia officer, that it was under Parsons or Marvin that he served four months but which he is unable to say – that he is confident that he served more than three year’s but his memory has failed so much, and he was so often called out, that he cannot possibly recollect minutely or particularly more than he has stated – that it is so long since he left the scenes of his youth, that he does not know of a single person by whom he can prove his services – that he was born at Woodridge in New Jersey on the 15th of May 1759 and at the age of five was removed to the Highlands of Orange county New York – that he moved last fall thirty six years from Orange county to this county, where he has ever since resided – that he has the Bible in which his birth is recorded – that he recollects a capt. Sanford, who was a regular officer – that he enlisted a man by the name of Phineas Maps for Sandford for during the war – this was on the Ramipo – that there were many regular officers at Fort Montgomery and West Point but he cannot recollect their names. that he has been personally known to the Rev’d. Joseph Shackelford, John S. Barns esq’r. Matthew Fleming esq’r Col. Thomas S Haymond for many years, and he beleives they can testify as to his character and the general beleif of his services in the Revolution.
   (Signed) Peter [his X mark] Miller
   
   [The following report is by US District Attorney Washington G. Singleton who investigated hundreds of pension applications from present West Virginia. For details see my appendix to the pension application of David W. Sleeth S6111. Singleton wrote on this report “Entitled.”]
   Peter Miller. draws $40.
   
   I the undersigned Peter Miller at the requisition of the Secretary of war, give the folowing statement of my age and Revolutionary Services to Wit. I am in my 76th year of age – in the month of May (I think in 1776) I enlisted at Topan New Jersey, under Capt Blovett for 5 months and marched to New York thence to Long Island & joined the main army under Genl. Washington attached to Genl. Scotts Brigade. Col Drakes Regt. from Long Island we went to Kingsbridge were among others I was left to destroy the bridge, the army having gone on to the white plains. after the Battle was over we joined the army at Dobs Ferry [sic: Dobbs Ferry NY] on the North River. at that place my term expired I got my discharge and went home, – In the next succeeding Spring (I think it was in 1777) we were called out in classes. I was frequently out in these classifications 8 or 10 days at a time but cant pretend to say with any degree of certainty how Long I was in this kind of service.
   
   Shortly after the last mentioned service (I cant say in what year) I volunteered at Smith Clove New York, under Captain Parsons for 3 months – was in service at that place for the 3 mo. – in June few months after the last mentioned tour I again volunteered at the same place under Captain Marvin for four months (4) we marched to Hackinsack & Peeks bridge on Ramapo River & there joined Genl James Clintons Brigade. My term expired at that place. I afterwards done some other service in short and detached tours of 8 or 10 days making in the whole of my service at least one year
   Thos P. Ray wrote my Declaration. told him the same in substance I now tell. I had no evidence of my services.
   In Witness of all which I hereto subscribe my name Nov. 3, 1834
   Witness/ Isaac Corssen
   (Signed) Peter [his X mark] Miller
   
   NOTES: On 20 March 1833 Peter Miller was issued a certificate for a pension of $40 per year for one year of service.
   
   On 3 Feb 1845 Mary Miller, 82, of Marion County VA, applied for a pension stating that she married Peter Miller on 5 Feb 1785, and he died on 20 April 1838. It was stated that Mary Miller still lived on the farm where her husband had lived, in the part of Marion County taken from Monongalia in 1842.
   
   http://revwarapps.org/w7456.pdf