This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Wise, Campbell, Wayne, Brent, Stepheson, Glen, Shirtee, Norman Classification: pension Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wise/3610/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Connie Schuler has worked a miracle for us looking for Christian Wise information, She typed this from the photocopies she received from snail mail from the National Archives: To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America In Congress assembled The undersigned respectfully presents for the consideration and action of your Honorable Body, the case of Christian Wise, a soldier in the Indian war under General Anthony Wayne. The accompanying statement (marked A), made under oath, by the said Christian Wise, before P. S. Campbell Esq. a Justice of the peace for Coshocton County, Ohio, on the 15th of the present month, will show that the deponent was born in Delaware, in the year 1770, enlisted 1792, in the United States Service, as a private, and served three years in the campaign against the Indians under Gen. Wayne: that after a faithful, dangerous and active service, he was honorably discharged (see original disc! harge, signed by General Anthony Wayne 19 May 1795) and is now old, infirm and in great poverty, with a constitution seriously and permanently injured by the exposure and hardship of said service. The undersigned submits the annexed papers and proofs the favorable consideration of congress, with the hope and belief that such relief will be afforded to an aged, ___ and helpless soldier, as may be deemed fit and proper Washington December 22nd 1845 John Carroll Brent Attorney for pensioner State of Ohio Coshocton County On this 15th day of December A. D. 1845 personally appeared before me the subscriber an acting Justice of the peace in and for said county of Coshocton - Christian Wise a resident of Tuscarawas county in the state of Ohio, aged seventy five years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain relief from a generous county. I was born in the year A. D. 1770 in the state of ! Delaware and in the year 1792 I enlisted in the United States service as a private under Capt. Stepheson, Lieutenant James Glen and Ensign Patrick Shirtee recruiting officer under Gen. Anthony Wayne, and I served three years in the campaign against the Indians under Captain Steveson first, then under Capt. Henry De Butts -- I enlisted in Frederick County Virginia and joined the troops at Pittsburgh and was marched to Cincinnati and from there to Greenville on S. W. branch of the big Miami and there remained until we were marched out on the campaign to the Oglaze River where we had an engagement with the enemy in which I took an active part - after the battle we were marched to Fort Defiance at the mouth of the Maumee River. I there built the Fort in which I was much exposed - from there we were marched to the mouth of St. Joseph's and St. Mary's River and there built Fort Wayne - Before building fort Wayne we had to construct a bridge some 40 rods long to enable the army and baggage to pass over, in constructing such bridge, I took my regular turn, I had to be in the mud and water from a few inches, to 4 or 5 feet deep, where my health suffered severely and from which I have never since recovered my health. In building Fort Wayne I was again much exposed and constitution ruined. We were allowed only half rations, had to work exceedingly hard in very rainy weather, with only linen tents and slept on the ground for some 2 or 3 weeks - until the Fort was built. My health gave way so much whilst building fort Wayne that I was exempted from duty until I recovered a little and again performed duty as before - There in building the Fort I was attacked with a violent pain in my left shoulder for some 8 weeks or two months and my left shoulder is now much shriveled and reduce! d in size and power so as to disable me from labor and frequently so bad as to prevent raising my arm to my head - for the last 25 years I have at no time been able to lay on my left side to sleep even the shortest time. From Fort Wayne we were marched back to Greenville then headquarters and there I was honorably discharged in May 1795, but not receiving my pay then due me I was compelled to tarry until the fall of the year and then started for home, east of the mountains - from Marietta I had to take to the wilderness, through the Indiana country and aimed for Clarksburgh in the mountains, during which time I was alone and suffered beyond my power now to narrate. Without provisions after a few days travel I dared not fire a gun for game, or kindle a fire at night (though very cold weather) lest the Indians should perceive me - from the time I left Marriott in Ohio until I reached home I had to wade middle Island creek, elk River, Stony River, North B! ranch and ___ some thirty times - some of which were frozen over and much ice in most of them and now on the ground - The money I received for my services was not sufficient to carry me home and I had to sell my gun for half price to enable me to reach home. I also being too week to carry it further. During most of the three years I was in the campaign I acted as a regular spy or wood ranger, frequently alone and sometimes 2 or 3 days out at a time and not infrequently without food for 2 or 3 days at a time except what beechnuts I could find - lie bedding on the ground at night not daring to make a light for fear of the Indians. Acting in the capacity of a regular Spy is probably the most dangerous duty in the Indian war and in that capacity I suffered much. I am and have been for many years very poor and unable to maintain myself and had not the charities of my friends - acquaintance administer to my necessities I ___ have suffered more then I have - but they too are in limited circumstances and cannot in justice to themselves aid me further. He hereby relinquishes every claims 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. Sworn to and suborned the day and year aforesaid. Christian Wise X his mark And the said P. S. Campbell a Justus of the Peace as aforesaid doth hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was such soldier as he represents himself to have been and served as he states in testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and seal this 15th day of December 1845 P. S. Campbell J. P. his seal We Richard Taylor, Robert Corbett, James Hays, George Norman, John Powel, William Norman, Jabez Norman, Christian W. Norman and John B. Norman in the county of Coshocton in the state of Ohio do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Christian Wise who has ___ and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age and that he is reported and believed in the nationhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Indiana war under the command of Gen. Anthony Wayne, and that we concur in that opinion. Richard Taylor Robert Corbett - X his mark James Hays George Norman John Powel John Powel William Norman - X his mark Jabez Norman Christian W. Norman John B. Norman Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, and I the said P. S. Campbell a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid do hereby declare __ as my opinion that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Indian war under the command of Gen. Anthony Wayne and served as he states, and I do further certify that Richard Taylor, Robert Corbett, James Hayes, George Norman, John Powel, William Norman, Jabez Norman, Christian W. Norman and John B. Norman who have signed the preceding certificate are residence of Coshocton County Ohio and are reliable persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 15th day of December 1845. P. S. Campbell J. P. his seal The State of Ohio Coshocton County I Joseph Burns Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of the county and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Patrick S. Campbell Esq. is a Justice of the Pease in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified. That his commission was dated on the 10th of June 1845 and will expire on the 10th day of June 1848, and that his signature above written is genuine. Given under my hand and the seal of said court at Coshocton this 17th day of December A.D. 1845 Joseph Burns, clk Discharge paper: (ripped in one section with a tape mark on it making three lines unreadable) By his Excellency Anthony Wayne Esquire Major General and Commander in Chief of the Legion of the United States These are to certify that the bearer here of Christian Wise a private soldier has served in the above said Legion and in Captain Henry De Butts company for the space of three years and is fir the reason below mentioned Discharged from thr said Legion he having received his pay and arrears of pay up to the thirty first day of December 1794 in___ clothing of all sorts and all other just demands from the time of his entering into the said Legion to this day of his discharge as appears from the annexed receipt he having faithfully and honorably completed the full term for which he was enlisted. Unable to read next couple of lines - aforesaid Christian Wise he is aged twenty years, five feet nine inches high, dark complexion, dark brown hair and dark eyes, born in the State of Virginia, Frederick county, occupation farmer Given under my hand and seal at Greenville this nineteenth day of May Anno Domini ___ Anthony Wayne I do and acknowledge to have received my pay in full agreeable to the written discharge - as well as all other just demands from (torn spot) I enlisted until the day of my discharge. Christian Wise X his mark Witness Richard Chandler Ensign Pay master to the 4th __ Legion