Henry Hartline was born 1 Jan, 1789 in Tioga County, New York. He was married twice. His Military file gives us some very important information and clues with which to further our research. There is a letter written by Henry himself that gives us his date of birth, his years, places, dates of service as well as his last known address and the fact that he was married twice, both wives deceased at the time said letter was written
Henry filed his application for Pension on 21 April, 1871 in Washington County, Illinois. His application was rejected for “want of evidence of Sixty Days service in the war of 1812 and presumptive abandonment of the claim. Three months having elapsed after sending the Special Circular Copy enclosed. Calls for this evidence were made July 10, 1872, and by Special Circular, October 23, 1872”.
His claim was rejected on 23 January, 1873. The Survivors Pension Claim #11,317 stating Henry Hartline served in the 3rd Michigan Militia under Captain Miller. The report at the bottom of the document states the following: “Discharge on file shows service of Henry Hartline, Cap. John Garland`s Company, 3rd U.S.I from 22 April, 1824-22 April, 1829, Enlisted in Detroit, Michigan and Discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Mo. Age 72. Above was the only Henry Hartline to be found”.
Henry first enlisted on 8th October, 1812 in Buffalo, Erie, New York. He served under Captain Garland`s Company 8th Regiment and was discharged in December of 1815. He alleged that he was a substitute for one Nicholas Winans, Also stated he served in Capt Miller`s Company K during that same enlistment term. Discharged: Surrendered by Hull. His file states that he made several enlistments and his final date of discharge was in 1832.
Henry`s original letter regarding his pension was dated 31st March, 1871. The letter submitted by his attorney, L.M Phillips, dated 25 Jun 1872, stated that Henry “is old and feeble and I doubt whether he could give a better description of his service than is stated by him. He is needy and desirous to have his claim settled early for which season. I forward his letter without waiting as I would otherwise do.To have a special answer made by him, if this letter of his is not sufficient, let me have notice and I will have him present another statement of his service…”
The Pension office then sent a letter, dated 19 Jun, 1872, to Henry`s attorney stating “no evidence of claimants service in the 3rd U.S Infantry prior to 28 June, 1819.” Said letter goes on to state that there are no rolls of Captain Miller`s company on file. They ask that if he has any service prior to the date of Ratification of the Theory of Peace, dated 17 Feb, 1815 they request him to forward such evidence.
18th April, 1871 a court document where Henry Hartline appeared before the Clerk of the Court, J.B. Needles. Document states: “Henry Hartline, aged eighty seven years, a resident of the County, two miles South West of Ashley and in Washington county, Illinois..” ….”Declares that he is an unmarried man, that his wife died about sixteen years ago.” Henry stated that he had “filed to obtain a land patent under Barrett. Barrett has since died and his Discharge was not found among his papers' ' This statement which I have shared here on my blog, was attested by: N.E (Ninion) Hartline and W. J Stephenson.
Proof of Date and Place of Birth
Henry stated in his Letter he sent with his application for pension some concrete things that can be backed up with several sources. While he did not state where he was born he did give the day, month and year of his birth within his letter. He also stated that he had served in Louisville, Kentucky for a period of 5 years and that he was in the 3rd Regiment, Company K. In looking at the United States Army, Register of Enlistments, page 396, dated 8 Feb, 1819 in Louisville, Kentucky we can glean the following:
Henry was 5 foot, 6 inches tall, blue eyes, fair hair and fair skin. He was 23 years of age at the time, giving him an estimated birth year of 1796. Said record gives his place of birth as Tioga County, New York. An enlistment date of 28 June, 1819 in Louisville, Kentucky. Serving at Fort Howard during his 5 year term of this enlistment, as of 30 April, 1821 he was listed as being in confinement.
Further, his Bounty Land Warrant #24156 for 160 Acres in Jefferson County, Illinois gives the following information:
“Henry Hartline, Private in Captain Gray`s and other Companies, 3rd United States Infantry, March 1812”
We know from Henry`s Letter and other Military File info that he indeed served in Captain Gray`s company, therefore we can ascertain that the Henry Hartline living in Jefferson County, Illinois in 1853 is the same Henry Hartline who was born in Tioga County, New York. This info coupled with the Deed dated February, 1854 in Deed Book G, pg 117, 80 Acres in Jefferson County, Illinois from William J. Gamble Jr and wife Mary lends credence to this being the same Henry who married Mary Gambil in St. Clair County, Illinois. Mary was William`s Sister.
Proof of Mary Gambil-Hartline`s Death
In one document contained in his Military file, we read that Henry stated his wife had been dead 16 years. At the time he wrote that on 1 Jan, 1874, that would give her an approximate Death Year of 1858. Henry and Mary appear on the 1850 Census living in Jefferson County, with their children. By the 1860 Census Henry was living alone with his two youngest daughters. The youngest daughter Elizabeth was born about 1854. We can then suppose that Mary died sometime between the year 1854-1860, which backs up Henry`s claim of her having been dead 16 years.
