Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,806, Christopher Gumpf, Penn.
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(3-1776) SERVICE NUMBER
Penn Gumph, Christopher S. 22806
CONTENTS
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11,588
Pennsylvania                                                 
Christopher Gumpf
of Lancaster Co. in the State of Penn.
who was a pr in the Company commanded
by Captain Davis of the Regt commanded
by Col Shafer in the Pennsylvania
line for Militia

7 Mo Private - 23.23

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of May - and Sent to 1833 H. M Leonard Lancaster P
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " 11.66
$58.32
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 183
Recorded by J. S. Sprague
Book C Vol. 5 Page [illegible]
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 2d 1832

State of Pennsylvania
Lancaster County ss

on this Eighteenth day of March A. D. 1833. personally appeared in Open Court, before Walter Franklin, Esquire, President of the Courts of Common Pleas of the second Judicial District of Pennsylvania, consisting of the counties of York and Lancaster, and Justice of the Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery and Quarter Sessions of the Peace, in the said District, and Samuel Dale and John Lightner Esquires, Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Lancaster and Assistant Justices of the Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery and Quarter Sessions of the Peace in and for the said county of Lancaster now sitting, Christopher Gumpf, a resident of the city of Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster + State of Pennsylvania aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th [written over "2nd"] 1832-

That he entered the service of the United States, in the year 1778, as a Militia Man - My Captain was John Hubley of the Town or Borough, now City, of Lancaster in the county of Lancaster + state of Pennsylvania - Our Company left Lancaster in the year 1778, to the best of my recollection, for Shamokin - the first class of the Lancaster County Militia was called into service, amounting to between seven and eight hundred men - our company went from Lancaster to Middletown - thence on to [illegible] Ferry House on the Susquehanna River, where we remained one night - thence up the River
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River to a place called Coxe's Town, where we remained about a week - the other companies who were called into service from Lancaster County come entered here - all the companies now took up their line of March (illegible) Peter's Mountain, on to Clark's Town, on the Susquehanna River, where we crossed over - from thence along the said River to a place called Celine Grove - thence on to the Town Sunberry when the companies were ordered to their several posts - Our company was stationed at the said town of Sunberry, where we remained to the best of recollection about two months when we returned home to the Borough of Lancaster, where we arrived the evening before Christmas - in a few days we were discharged - I was in Service to the best of my present recollection between two and three months, at least two months, - Major Shaufler was our Commander

The following year 1779.  I again entered the service of the United States for two months, as a militia man.  My Captain was Samuel Davis of the Town or Borough now city of Lancaster. We (illegible) our Company in guarding British Prisoners of war at the Lancaster Barracks.  I stood guard and was on duty two months.

I again entered service of the United States as a militia man for two months the year I do not now remember.  My Captain was John Widle, of the Said Borough of Lancaster.  I stood guard at the Lancaster Barracks the said two months.

I again entered the service of the United States in the year 1781 to the best of my recollection, for Shepardstown now in Jefferson County in the State of Virginia, where I again entered the service of the United States as a Substitute for Thomas Shepard, a militia man in
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Captain Beddinger's Company - we left Shepardstown and went on to a place called Battle Town, where the Battalion met - our captain could only raise or muster twenty-one men - 10 from Shepardstown and two out of the Battalion - after being in Service from three to four weeks, we again marched back to Shepardstown - we had been called out for forty days encampment.

I do not personally know one man now living who served with me in any of my tours of.  I was born in the Town or Borough, now the City of Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, October 26th A.D. 1760.

Lancaster County (illegible)
Personally appeared before me the undersigned  Justice of the Peace in and for the city and county of Lancaster Christopher Gumpf, who being duly sworn (illegible) & south, that by reason of old age and the consequence less of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his Service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned before and above, and in the following grades - for Six Months, at-least-, I served as a private Militia Man, and one month as a substitute.
Sworn and (illegible) this 18th day of March A.D. 1833  Christopher Gumpf
Before me
William Bausman

I hereby relinquish every claim relative to a pension or annuity (illegible) the present & declare that my name is not on the pension rolls of the agency of any State, or is any, only one that of the agency of the State of Pennsylvania.
Sworn to and subscribed this Eighteenth day of March A.D. 1833 in Open Court.
Christ Bachman Christopher Gumpf
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Mr. John Baker pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran congregation in the City of Lancaster, residing in said city, and Peter Shindel, residing in the same, herby certify that we are well acquainted with Christopher Gumpf who has subscribed and sworn to the above and foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.  
aforesaid in open court
Attest Christ Jackson [attney]
Sworn and subscribed the day and year
John C. Baker
Peter Shindel

And the said court do hereby their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that [foreg...] and within named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states - and the court further certifies that it appears to them that John Baker who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the city of Lancaster in the county of Lancaster and state of Pennsylvania and that Peter Shindle who has also signed the same is a resident in the said city, county and state aforesaid, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
Walter Franklin
Saml Dale
John Lightner

I Christian Backman Prothonotary of the county of common place of Lancaster county do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court on the matter of the application of Christopher Gumpf for pension. And I further certify that William Newman esquire before whom the written affidavit was made was at that time a justice of the court peace, for said county duly commissioned and qualified; and that the signature answered is his genuine signature. 
In testimony whereof I have hereinto set my hand and the seal of said county of Lancaster, this 26th day of April Anuo Domini 1833 - Christ Backman, Prothy.
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[stamp] Lancaster APR

Honorable Lewis Cass. Esquire
Secretary of War- 
Washington City
District of Columbia

[hand written across] May 14 Pa 
Christopher Grumpf 24906
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Honorable Lewis Cass. Esquire,

Should the within named applicant for a pension meet your application, be pleased to direct your communication to Henry M. Leonard, Attorney at Lancaster City.

Yours very respectfully,

Lancaster May 26th 1839 - Henry M. Leonard
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No. 24906

Christopher Gumpf Lancaster
County Pensylvannia

Com.e
7 Mos
2333

H.Y. M. Leonard Lancaster Penn.a
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War Department 
Pension Office 
183

Sir: 
The evidence in support of our claim, under the act of June 7, 1832 has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those point to which your attention is more particular directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). you will when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of you claim. 

A Statement, shewing the Service of Christopher Gumpf Lancaster County Pennsylvania

Period when the service was rendered
Entered: 1778
Duration of the claimant's service: 2 months
Rant of the claimant: private
Names and rand of the Field officers under whom he served: Cpt Hubley Major Shaufler
Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service: 72 Years Lancaster County Pennsylvania
Proof of which the declaration is supported: Traditional evidence [obligarian] certificate - .....credible, application corrected. 
Period when the service was rendered
Entered 1779 
Duration of the claimant's service 2 months
Rank of the claimant: private
Names and rank of the field officers under whom he served: Cap Davis
Period when the service was rendered
Entered [blank]
Duration of the claimant's service: 2 months
Rank of the claimant: private
Names and rank of the field officer under whom he served: Cap Widle
Period when the service was rendered
Sub - 1781
Duration of the claimant's service: about 28 months
Rank of the claimant: private
Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served: 
Cap Beddinger

I am, respectfully, 
your obedient servant, 
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line, " "State troops," "militia,'' and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service. but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } 88.
County of

On this        day of      personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of      in the county of      and State, Territory or District
of      aged (c)      years, 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)      , with      and served in the      (c) regiment of the      line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service : (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers ;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. [icon of hand pointing to the right] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
      Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.      A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I      of the Court of      do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of      for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of      &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing. with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the      and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with      , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the      and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,      Clerk of the Count of      do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of      for a pension.
In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this      day of      &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you live now?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {
- To a Soldier.:
-- Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it gen, and what has become of it?
- To an Officer.:
-- Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peach, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
----
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: --For __ year __ months, and __ days, I served as a ___. For __ months and __ days, I served as a __; and for such services I claim as pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grades of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase [italics] about three or four months [/italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served: the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached therein by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his services by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[??] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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Revolution
22806
Invalid
File No. 22806
Christopher Gumpf
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7n 33

Index Vol. 2, Page 163

Arrangement of 1870.

[Handwritten upside down]
Oct. 14 1904 
Mr. Hope d. Sul...
Dubuque Iowa
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Oct. 14, 1904 [,,,] to Mrs. Hope D. Sul...
Dubuque Iowa