Pension Application

W.8102 (Widow: Polly)
B.L.Wt.887-100
B.L.Wt.212-60-55
Pennsylvania
Wayne County SS.
            On this second day of April Anno Dimini 1818 before me Alisha Woodward one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the Court of Wayne in the State of Pennsylvania, personally appears Jonathan Arnold aged 60 years a resident in the said county of Wayne who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain he provision made by the late act of Congress entitled “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war.” That he the said Jonathan Arnold enlisted at the east end of Long Island in the State of New York in the Spring of 1776 in the company commanded by Captain Bailey of Col. Samuel Drake’s regiment; that he continued to serve in the said corps until late in the fall when he was discharged at the White House at King’s Ferry; that in the spring of 1777 he enlisted for the term of three years in Captain Hall’s company belonging to the second Connecticut regiment commanded by Col. Herman Swift in Genl. Huntingdon’s Brigade. That he served in said corps about two and a half years, then exchanged enlistment with John Strong who was an orderly sergeant in the same company and who had enlisted during the war; and that he served in the said corps or service of the United States until the end of the war when he was discharged from service as an Orderly Sergeant in Capt. Taylor’s Company of light Infantry belonging to the 2d Conn. Regt at Nellons Point opposite West Point in the State of New York with 2 stripes on the left arm the honors due for six years faithful service on the 3d of July 1783.
            That he was in the battles of Long Island under Lord Sterling at Flatbush—at Harlem Heights—at York Island—at the night expeci8tion at Mononere Island at the mouth of Harlem River—at White Plains—at Danbury under Captain Potter from Beauford at the battle of Germantown under col. Swift—at Monmouth –at Morrisena—at the battle of Petersburg in Virginia and at JamesTown Plains in a regiment commanded by James Jermott and brigade by General Wayne—at the Battle of YorkTown where col. Wallace was taken and at the storm with Jermotts Regt on the night of the 14 October the same year.
            And that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
            Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid. Alisha Woodward.

Letter dated April 8, 1931, written in response to a request for information.
            You are advised that it appeared from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W.8102, that Jonathan Arnold enlisted on Long Island, New York, in the spring of 1776, and served nine months as a private in Captain Bailey’s Company, Colonel Samuel Drake’s New York regiment, and was in the battles of Flatbush, Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains and York Island. He enlisted in the spring of 1777, and served in Captain Stephen Hall’s Company, Colonel Herman Swift’s Connecticut regiment; he was at the Danbury alarm under Captain Potter, and was in the battles of Germantown, Monmouth, Morrisania, and a year before the capture of Cornwallis he was transferred to Captain St. John’s company in Colonel Gimat’s regiment, and was in the battles of Petersburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, after which he was in Captain Taylor’s company and in Colonel Swift’s regiment, as [Orderly Sergeant, 2nd Conn.?] and was discharged July 3, 1783.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed April 2, 1818, at which time he was living in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and was aged sixty years.
            In 1820 he stated that he was residing in Dyberry Township in Wayne County. He died March 31, 1838, in Wayne County, Pennsylvania.
            The soldier married in 1798 at Milford, Pike County, Pennsylvania, Mary or Polly Lester or Lister.
            She was allowed pension on her application executed February 18, 1850, at which time she was a resident of Clinton Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and was aged seventy-four years.
            In 1855 she was residing in Canaan Township, Pennsylvania.
            In 1820 the following children were referred to:
            Phineas aged 17 years.
            Priscilla aged 14 years.
            Lucinda aged 12 years.
            Huldah aged 10 years.
            Hepzibah aged 8 years.
            Elizabeth aged 6 years.
            Sarah aged 3 years.
            It is shown that they had one child living in December 1799, name not edesignated.

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