DANIEL MILLER
Revolutionary War Pension Declaration
Source: Montgomery County, VA court records

On this 17th day of September 1829 personally appeared in open court (being a court of record for the 12th judicial circuit in the state of Virginia) Daniel Miller resident in said county aged 82 in December next who being first duly sworn according to law, doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and the 1st May 1820, that he the said Daniel Miller enlisted for the term of three years on the __ day of __ in the year 1776 in the state of Virginia, in the company commanded by Captain Michael Bowyer in the regiment commanded by Colonel James Wood in the line of the state of Virginia on continental establishment, that he continued to serve in the said corps until the expiration of three years, when he was discharged from the service in the state of New York, that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present, that his name is not on the roll of any state except the state of Virginia, and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension.

That until November last, he was able to procure a subsistence, he having previous to that time owned a tract of land in the county of Montgomery, containing one hundred fifty five acres, more or less upon which he lived, and other personal property, which was however daily diminishing, for his support. That in November last he sold the tract of land aforesaid to his grandson John Miller for the sum of eight hundred dollars; Fifty dollars of which he has received and the said John Miller has bound himself to pay a debt to James Hoge of two hundred and thirteen dollars and some cents, for him, the terms of the sale was three hundred dollars in hand, and fifty dollars annually (giving ten years) for the payment of the whole) that now he is not permitted to live on the land any longer, he has however a cabin and half acre of ground (worth an annual rent of about three dollars) which he is to get possession of and live in for ten years from November next. That he has two leeds and some other articles of house hold and kitchen furniture, altogether worth not more than fifty dollars. That he is upwards of 81 years of age, and from infirmity is unable to labor, that his wife is about 60 years old and is unable by her labor to support both, that there is no other person a member of his family; and that having for several years been compelled to subsist on his little property has caused it gradually to decrease until he finds it unable for him to provide a comfortable support, and in pursuance of the act of the 1st May 1820.

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 other manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of the 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" 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. I have no property except a little cheap and necessary household furniture, my occupation has been a farmer: I am now feeble and not very able to labor. My family consists of my wife and myself only. Since the 18th of March 1818 I have sold three young horses, three milch cows and four calves, ten hogs, and twelve head of sheep, also one mare and colt. I have a few wild hogs running in the woods. The three first mentioned horses were sold for one hundred and fifty bushels of corn at a credit of one year to William Currin. I sold the cows and calves to my grandson last winter for about $28: I gave the ten hogs and sheep to my son in law, I have $500, the remainder of the price for which I sold my land, $50 of which will fall due in twelve months from November next and the balance yearly at $50 a year.

Daniel Miller Senior

Sworn to and declared on the 17th day of September 1829 before the Superior Court of Law for the county of Montgomery in term. It is ordered to be certified that it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the said Daniel Miller Sen. did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceeding declaration against the common enemy for the term of three years under an engagement on the continental establishment, and it is further ordered to be certified that it is the opinion of the court that the total amount in value of the property annexed in the aforesaid schedule is not more than Fifty dollars, exclusive of the $500, the balance due for his land and the annual rent of the cabin and half acre of land.