Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,835, Michael Decker, Penn. Ind War 1792-95-96, War. 1812.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Penn.
Ind War 1792-95-96,
War. 1812.

Decker, Michael

NUMBER
R. 2835

CONTENTS

[transcription note: blank]
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State of Pennsylvania }
and County of Berks }    On this 4th Day of January AD. 1847 Personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Berks County and State aforesaid now sitting Michael Decker a resident of the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania in his Eighty sevens year of age who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Provision made by the Act of Congress Passed June the 7th 1832
I shall now attempt to give a history about a Portion of my life to the Best of my knowledge and so far as my memory serves me.  I was bourn (sic) in the western part of Berks County and State aforesaid and resident there till I was i and about seventeen years of age.  (illegible) near Lebanon was drafted I then tuck (took) his place as  substitute under Capt Bowman we went to Lancastor (sic) and from there to the Delaware and when we came thru the English had left the place that they had incampt (encamped) I stayed there something like three months was Discharged came home.  I then remained in my native nabourhood (neighborhood) till I think in the year 1792.  I then vollenteert (volunteered) in the spring of the year my services under Capt Crage and under General Anthony Ware as an indian spie (spy).  I traveled west wart (westward) I been at a place cald (called) Greenville one ford name one cald (called) ford a (illegible) and one Calld (called) Troy att the head of lake Ere (Erie) and down thru Ohio and helpt (helped) to buyld (build) up fords at various places and at the miamma River an Ive had many scrimiches with indians but the (illegible) this (illegible) time that we had with the indians was at the miamma river.  I served three years under General Wane (Wayne) got my discarge (discharge) came home stayd (stayed) at home but a very short time I then traveld (traveled) to Verginia (Virginia) to Wt County of Verginia (Virginia) there got drafted to serve as an indian spie (spy) again I again served three tures (tours) each of (illegible) month from early in the Spring till late in the fall  i think when i first cam to Varginia to the Best of my knowledge it was in the year of 1795 or 1796 the first ture (tour) the first ture(tour) that I was out I was under Capt McChalfie
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we was up Clinch River and Lore Creek and Stone mountain (illegible) we had a Battle with the indians they had been out in the settlement since the late winner (winter) with the  and we overtuck (overtook) them at the aforesaid mountain (illegible) we placed ourselves behind trees and fired on the indians and a white women made her a cape from the indians and one of the indians foller (followed) her with his tomehock (tomahawk) I shot him down and saive (saved) her life the second and three ture (tour) I served under Capt Hawkens we had a battle with the indians at (illegible) Creek we had many other scrimiches with the indians but I cannot think of the places i at the expiration of the three tures (tours) I got my discharge in all in the Revolution and Indian war that I served is at least five years and a half and for such servises (services) services I clame (claim) a Pension of the secretary of war of the United States as I never have been on any Pension Rool (Roll) yet after some few years I returnd (returned) to Pennsylvania I again enlisted in the late war in Lancaster was shipt (shipped) to orleans and was in the Battle with Gen Jackson & again served out my time that I had enlisted for I afterwarts (afterwards) traveld(traveled) in a steamboat on the Misisispe (Mississippi) and I had my Discharge in the trunk the steamboat sunk I was compelt (compelled) to (illegible) save my life and my trunk was lost  I have ben (been) having about I have ben (been) in my native nabourhood (neighborhood) since the late war several times and I though being that I had lost my Discharges I could not draw a Pension or I should have made abbication (application) sooner and not only that I had nobody that would undertake it sooner and inderscet (intercede) for me and I had kno (no) knowledge how to apply for a pension I know reside in the Berks County Poorhouse and state aforesaid 
(signed) Michael Decker

Sworn & Subscribed
this 4d January AD 1847
before me
(signed) John Stauffer
a Judge of Berks County
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State of Pennsylvania }
and County of Berks }
 Be it know that before me  Charles J  Cummens a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Personally appeared George Decker and made oath in due form of law and Certifyd (Certified) that Michel Decker is the identical Person named in the above declaration.  I Certify the following is a true Copy Michel Decker is a Brother to my Father Jacob  Decker my father and Michel Decker and the nabourhood (neighborhood) Have informed me that Michel Decker was Bourn (Born) in Berks County and stated aforesaid and before my time and I am now going in Forty fore (four) years of age and they habe all ready informed me this that I am about to relate Twenty five years ago and later my father told me that Michel Decker was a long time in the Revolutionary war eh also told me that Michel Decker was from home during Rev war at different times over three years that he served in the Rev war.  I herd (heard) my father say that Michel Decker served under Genral Wane and that they traveld (traveled) out wet thru Greenville and threw (thru) ford (fort) wane (wayne) and to ford (fort) afience and build up foards.  I herd (heard) them likewise say that Michel Decker was drafted and also, under what officers but thare (their) names I cannot think of and then inlested (enlisted) and traveld (traveled) threw (thru) Virginia  I herd (heard) my Father say that he seen the Capt that Michel Decker served under when he was inlisted (enlisted) while they traveld (traveled) threw 9thru) Virginia Mic. Deck Capt told him about a battle they had with the Indians that they follard (followed) the indains and over tuck (overtook) them and they had they had women and children with them that is the indains had in the engagement they ware (were) behind trees and a white women that the indains had with them left the indians and started to come to them an indain follerd (followed) her with his tomyhock (tomahawk)  and Michel Decker shot the indain down and then (illegible) to the indain and tuck (took) his knife and slid the indains whole belly open and the balls that the indains (illegible) but the limbs on each side of his head and the Capt told my Father I herd (heard) him say that the Capt told him if he had all such soldiers as Michel Decker

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it would not have taken him but a shord (short) time to have settled the indians, my father was soldier of the Revolutionary war Jacob Decker drawd (drawed) a United States Pension  my Father that is Jacob Decker died in February 1844 he was Eighty Five years and ten months old when he died.  I herd(heard) been say that his Brother Michel was two years younger then what he was so Michel Decker is veery (very) near Eighty -seven years of age; and to the best of my knowledge since the Revolution war ented (ended) Michel  Decker returned home but has since traveld (traveled) about the Country a porsion (portion) of time I have been informed that he has been in the late war he was in the Battle under Gen. Jackson and since the late war Michel Decker has come in the nabourhood (neighborhood) where he was bourn (born) that is in Berks County and state aforesaid and remained (remained) a while and then was off again and Michel Decker now resides in the Poorhouse and has for the last four five years Michel Decker Caracter (character) for truth is such that I would belive (believe) him on oath at any tie that is from what Conversation that I had with him and from what I have herd (heard) from others.  I mean to say that Michel Decker is n the Poorhouse in Berks County and state aforesaid.  one thing I have to tell yet Michel Decker inlisted (enlisted) at Lancaster and was shipt (shipped) to orleans and served under General Jackson as stated above
(signed) George Decker

Sworn and Subscribed }
this 19th Day of December }
Anno Domini 1846
Before me Charles J Cummens J. P. }