Pension Application of Michael Brill R1212
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Ohio } Court of Common Pleas
Muskingum County } Ss Nov’r. Term 1837
On this 23 day of November 1837 personally appeared in d open Court, at the Term aforesaid Michael Brill a resedent of said County of Muskingum aged about seventy six 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he was drafted as a private in the Militia of Frederick County State of Virginia in the month of January 1781 for a term of three months, and was mustered & incorporated in a company commanded by Capt John Reynolds, William Jenkins was the Ensign of said Company that he served said three months, and was engaged during his service one month in guarding prisoners of war at Winchester Virginia, and one month in the neighborhood of Winchester at the Barracks, his next employment was as of one of the Guard in marching said prisoners to the City of Philadelphia, in doing which we passed through Frederick Town Maryland, York and Lancaster Pennsylvania to said City, the company on the march was commanded by Ensign Jenkins Capt Reynolds not being with the company. That from Philadelphia said Company was marched back to Winchester by said Ensign Jenkins where he was discharged, having served in all three months. that he was not in any battle, nor attached to any other corps or company, nor under the command of any other officers but those he has named he further declares that he knows of no person who can prove his service except George Bruner [pension application S8097] of Frederick County Va. whose affidavit is hereto attached,
Furthermore, that he has a wife, (a feeble, old woman of about 60 years of age) living with him, and who is unable to support herself by labor and whom he is, of course, compelled to support. That he is very poor, having no property either real or personal. That he had the misfortune a few years since to have his leg broken, the consequence of which was amputation, which makes him entirely helpless, being unable to walk without assistance.
He further declares that he resided in Frederick County Virginia when he entered the service, that for 6 years past he has resided in Muskingum County aforesaid, and that he was a militia man. 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 roll of any Agency in any state whatsoever. He further states he has no acquaintance with any clergyman whom he can get to testify for him in this case.
[signed] Michel Brill
Question. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer: I was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1762.
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Answer: I do not know.
3. Where were you living when called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
Answer: When called into the service I was living in Frederick County Va. I was drafted.
4. Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, & where do you now live?
Answer: Since the Revolutionary, I have lived in Frederick County Va. until within the last 6 years, during which time I have lived in Muskingum Co. Ohio.
5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served?
Answer. Capt. Cruikshank. Capt. Brown. Capt. Seehern are all I recollect.
6. State such Continental & militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer: I cannot be more particular in answering this question than I have been in my declaration.
7. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Answer: I had a discharge. It was given to me by Capt. John Reynolds, but I have lost it, thinking it to be of no use.
8. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer. James Doster. Peter Prints & Thomas Lewis, all of Muskingum County.
[signed] Michael Brill
