Patrick Gass was very interested in pension laws since the small amount he drew from the government was his sole means of support. Very late in life, infirmity took hold of him and he was thrown upon the charity of the county.
He was involved in the convention in Washington, D.C., held January 8, 1855, A call had emanated from the veterans of the War of 1812 at a meeting in Philadelphia the year before for surviving veterans to meet in their respective neighborhoods and elect delegates for a Washington convention. Mr. Gass had the post of honor at Wellsburg and was one of a committee of three selected to go to D.C..
During that convention, they were received by President Pierce and his cabinet. However, the veterans returned home with the usual barren result.
--Brock-Perry
