State of North Carolina Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions

County of Randolph November Term 1832

On this 5th day of November A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting Michael Luther, a resident of the County of Randolph and State of North Carolina, aged eighty two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated--viz:

That he was born in Strasburg - Germany March 7th 1751, and emigrated to this Country about the year 1759; his parents settled near Alexandria D.C.--and afterwards in Frederick County where he resided at the time he entered the service, in December, 1776. He states that the first two tours of his service were with his brother George--that all the circumstances of his service in said tours are detailed as far as he recollects them in his brother George Luther's declaration, to which he refers--that they served in the same companies under the same officers, and were discharged at the same times, down to Dec 1777, and that he received no written discharge.

He states that in June 1781 he was drafted, in Frederick City Md. and went into service under Captn. Burged and was marched to Georgetown D.C. thence to Fredericktown Md. where the tories had risen--He states that he had permission during the service occasionally to go home, which he did for short intervals--: that in the month of October he was marched to Nolan's Ferry, on the Potomac, whence he assisted in Guarding the prisoners of Lord Cornwallis's army to Fredericktown Md. where they remained until February 1782--thence he assisted in Guarding them to Pennsylvania, and between Yorktown, in York County and the Susquehanna, they met the regular troops from New York who came on to take charge of said prisoners; whereupon he with the rest of the militia was sent back to Maryland, and he was engaged in the tory service untill some time in April and he was discharged, in Fredericktown; but received no written discharge. He declares that his service amounted altogether to twenty months. He knows of no person by whom he can prove his service, except his brother George with whom he served as before stated--he has no documentary evidence of his service, and never had any--He recollects the officers mentioned in his brother's declaration and the regiments they commanded. He is well known in his neighborhood, in which he has resided since January 1790, that previous to that time after the war he resided in Frederick City Md. He expects to prove his reputation for service, and his character for veracity by the Rev. Micajah Hill, Benjamin Brookshire and Reuben Lamb--

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except for the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed his

the day and year aforesaid Michael X Luther

mark

We, Micajah Hill, a Clergyman residing in the County of Randolph and State of North Carolina, and Benjm Brookshire and Reuben Lamb residing in the same County and State hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Michael Luther who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty two years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur with that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed Micajah Hill

the day and year aforesaid B Brookshire

R Lamb

And the said Court do hereby declare this opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Micajah Hill who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergiman, resident in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and that Benjamin Brookshire and Reuben Lamb who have also signed the same are residents of the same County and State, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit

Wood

I, Hugh M Cain, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Michael Luther for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand

and seal of office this Tenth day of November

AD 1832

Hugh M Cain CCC

-Amendment-

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Randolph, and State of North Carolina, Michael Luther, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he has a record of his age taken from the Church or Parish Register of his native Parish in Germany, that on or about December 15, 1776, he was called into service with the militia of Frederick County, Maryland, under Capt. Duvall, and Col. Baker Johnston, and was marched through York County, Pa--Lancaster, Philadelphia, where he drew arms and ammunition, Trenton, New Jersey, to Lord Stirling's Castle where they arrived the last of Feb. or the 1st of January in A.D. 1777--He states that they were under the command of Brigadier Genl. Thomas Johnston from the time they were called into service untill they arrived at Lord Sterling's Castle: they were then placed under the command of Maj. Genl. Sterling. While stationed at the Castle, the British under Lord Cornwallis were stationed at or near Brunswick, and on the 1st March 1777 there was a skirmish between the American and British Picket guards which brought on a smart engagement on both sides in which the Americans were beaten: this occured at Piscataway, 16 miles from the Castle. He was discharged on or about the 1st of April 1777--having served three months and 15 days: received no written discharge--//--He states that the Maryland militia were classed, into eight classes, and that he belonged to Class No. 1 to the best of his recollection; and in August, as early as the 15th of the month, the first two classes, No. 1 and No. 2. were called into service under Capt. Hilary and Col. Baker Johnston, crossing the Susquehanna at Johnston's ferry where they met with General Smallwood, and were placed under his command,--thence to Oxford meeting-house to Pensylvania, where they drew ammunition and some muskets, thence to Downington on the Brandywine, whence they marched in the night to Peoli to meet Genl. Wayne, but before they reached that place they learned that he had been defeated by Genl. Gray: they joined him next morning at the Red-Lion tavern, thence to the Schylkill crossing it at Potsgrove, and joined Genl. Washington's army untill the Battle of Germantown Oct. 4, 1777, in which the American army was defeated, and retreated to Perkiomy Creek, where they remained a few days, thence to Skeppark Creek,--thence to White Marsh, where the remains of the Frederick County militia were discharged from Washington's army and were marched by Col. Johnston to Fredericktown Md. and finally discharged by him to the best of his recollection on or about the 25 of December 1777, having served four months. He received no written discharge. His other services are specified, as well as he can recollect them in the Declaration above--He states that he has no documentary evidence of his service, and knows o no one by whom he can prove it or any part of it, except his brother George Luther whose certificate accompanies this amendment of his declaration: He states that by reason of old age, the consequent loss of memory, and the lapse of time since the events of service, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grade: For twenty months, I served as a private, in the American Revolutionary armies and for such service I claim a pension.

Sworn to and subscribed Mil Lut Snr

before me March 11, 1833

B. Elliott, J. P.

I, George Luther, residing in Randolph County, do hereby certify that Michael Luther who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration and amendment served as he states, to wit: from Dec 15, 1776, to April 1, 1777, and that he was regularly discharged, also from August 15th 1777 or thereabouts to Dec 20 or 25th 1777 and was regularly discharged. That he was for many months in service, in the State of Maryland, against the tories and that he was one of the guard that guarded the prisoners of Cornwallis's army, at Nolan's Ferry, and to Pensylvania, as stated in his Declaration; and that he believes he (Michael) served at the least twenty months.

George Luther

Sworn to and subscribed before

me at Asheboro March the 11, 1833

B. Elliott J.P.

Randolph County

I, Benjamin Elliott, Justice of the Peace as aforesaid do hereby certify that George Luther, who has subscribed and sworn to the above certificate is a credible man, and that his statement is entitled to belief.

March the 11, 1833

B. Elliott J.P.

I, Hugh M Cain, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Randolph County, North Carolina, do hereby testify that the above are the official signatures of Benjamin Elliott Esquire, who was at time of making the same an acting Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid, and that full faith and credit are given to his official acts.

In teastimony whereof I have

hereunto set my hand and seal of

office, this the 13th day of March

A.D. 1833

Hugh M Cain CCC