Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5828, for George Keller, Virginia
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(8-1776)
SERVICE
Va 
Keller, George
NUMBER 
R.5828
S. died between Oct 19 & Nov 7, 1836
CONTENTS
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Pension roll of any agency of any state 
Georg Keller
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid before me Absalom Rinker as aforesaid, and I hereby certify that the aforementioned George Keller is a man of truth and entitled to full confidence and that he is unable, from bodily infirmity, to attend the court and I hereby declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. Given under my hand and seal this 19th day of August A.D. 1836
A Rinker [seal]
Virginia 
Shenandoah County Set.
This day Christian Dellinger, aged about seventy one or two years, personally came before the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for said county and made oath that he has been well acquainted with George Keller subscriber to the declaration hereto annexed, about 65 years last past, and knows that the said George Keller served the last Tour Mentioned in said declaration, (at Little York Va) as he, (the said Dellinger), was with said Keller in the same service; and hes frequently heard it talked in the neighbourhood that said Keller did serve the other tours mentioned in said declaration; in the Revolutionary War; and that he has no hesitation in saying, that he, is fully convinced the declaration hereto annexed, and sworn to, by the said George Keller, is substantially true, I hereby certify that the said Christian Dellinger is a man of truth, and entitled to full confidence. Given under my hand and seal this 19th day of August AD 1836
I, John Nicholas Schmucker, clergyman residing in shenandoah county Virginia, hereby certify, that I am well acquainted, with George Keller, who has subscribed and sworn to the declaration hereto annexed, that I believe him to be about seventy three years of age; that from my own knowledge, as well as his general character, as a man of truth and veracity; as well as from other information, upon which I can fully rely, I have no hesitation in declaring that it is my belief, that the said George Keller was engaged in the Revolutionary War, and served as he states in his declaration hereto annexed. 
John Nicholas Schmucker 
Virginia 
Shenandoah county Ses. 
This day, John Nicholas Schmucker, a clergyman residing in the county aforesaid, personally came before me, Jacob Hawn a justice of the Peace in and for the said county aforesaid, and solemnly affirmed, that the facts contained in his certificate hereto annexed, and by him subscribed are true, and I certify that his statement is entitled to full credit. Given under my hand and seal this 10th day of September A. D. 1836
Jacob Hawn [seal]
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Virginia 
Shenandoah County SS
I Philip Williams Clerk of the County Court of said County, certify that Absalom Rinker and Jacob Hawn are magistrates as within and that the signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 13 day of September 1836
P Williams CSC
I do hereby certify, on the 7th day of Nov 1836, that I have been well acquainted with George Keller, who Subscribed and made Oath to the declaration hereto annexed, for forty eight years last past, and know him to be a man of the strictest veracity and integrity and I am fully convinced that the said George Keller never would have declared,  as expressed in the declaration aforesaid, that he was in actual service upwards of six months, in the army of the Revolution, if he had not been fully satisfied that he had actually served upwards of six months, as he declares in the aforesaid declaration. And the reasons that, he said George Keller, did not apply for a Pension before, were that he did not know of the passage of the Law under which he claims a pension, for several years after its passage; and after he was informed of it; he made a statement of his service in the army of the Revolution, to Some persons who had not examined the Law under which he claims a Pension, and was informed by them, that he was not entitled to a pension; he was from that time careless about ^ it until the summer of this year, when John Thornberry made an attempt to obtain said Pension for said Keller
A Rinker
Virginia 
Shenandoah county Set. 
This day Absalom Rinker, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, personally came before me, David Crawford a justice of the peace, in and for said county, and made oath that the facts contained in his certificate, hereto annexed, and by him Subscribed are true and I certify that his statement is entitled to full credit. Given under my hand & seal this 7 day of Nov 1836 David Crawford [seal]
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Virginia 
Shenandoah County Set. 
On this 19th day of August A.D. 1836, personally appeared before me Absalom Rinker a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid George Keller, a resident of the County and state aforesaid, in the seventy third year of his 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. That in the spring of the year 1781, there was a draught made upon the Militia of Shenandoah County aforesaid, for men to go across the mountain into Hardy County in pursuit of some Tories, in which service he volunteered upon being promised that he should receive, for said service, a discharge for a tour of Militia duty; that he marched from said county of Shenandoah under Capt Jacob Rinker to Hardy County aforesaid, and joined Col Bird’s Regiment; and the matter being settled with said Tories without any fighting; he got a discharge from Col Bird aforesaid for a tour of militia duty, and returned home about the first of June in said year 1781. That a few day after he returned home, as aforesaid, he volunteered again and marched from said county of Shenandoah, under Capt Jacob Rinker aforesaid, to the City of Richmond, Virginia, and joined Col Harrison's Regiment; and after remaining there one night, he marched with said Regt, to Williamsburg, where he remained until about the first of August in said year 1781, when said Regt was discharged; and he received a discharge from Col Harrison aforesaid; That about the first of September in the same year, 1781, there was a draught made upon the Militia of Shenandoah County aforesaid; and that in said requisition he was draught for three months and marched from said county of Shenandoah, under Capt Knoll, to Little York in Va. where he was attached to Col Darke’s Regt, and remained there during the seige, and after the surrender of Cornwallis, he was detailed as one of the guard, to guard the prisoners taken at that place, and Marched from there as such, to Fredericksburg where he received a furlough, on the 31st day of October in said year 1781 from said Col Dark to go home, on account of being sick, and not fit for duty and remain at home until called for again; and he remained sick until about Christmas 1781; and that he was never called into service again, but remained on furlough until the fall of the year 1782, when he returned his furlough to some of the Militia officers who had commanded while he was in service the last tour mentioned above, and was finally discharged from the Army; The deponent declares that he was engaged in actual service upwards of six months, but the discharges aforesaid have been mislaid or lost. The deponent hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the
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I do hereby certify that I went to see George Keller, who subscribed and made oath to the Declaration hereto annexed, as soon, after receiving the letter of J. L. Edwards (Commissioner of Pensions) of October 8th 1836. Directed to Wilford G. Little Manassas Gap, Warren Cty Va. requesting said Keller, to specify more clearly his services, by giving the exact duration of each tour, also to give the reason why he had not aplied before; by the request of said Little, for the purpose of getting said Keller to state; if he could, what said Edwards requests in the letter aforesaid; and finding said Keller speechless; I transmit the annexed certificate of Absalom Rinker Esq. in Lieu of said Kellers  own statement, as his never can be obtained, because the said Keller, died on the 3rd Inst. and left an afflicted widow, (Christena Keller), Given under my hand this 10th day of November 1836 
John Thornberry 

Virginia 
Shenandoah county Set. 
This day John Thornberry, who subscribed the above certificate, personally came before me David Crawford a justice of the Peace in and for said County, and made oath that the facts therein contained are true, and I certify that his statement is entitled to credit. Given under my hand and seal this 10th day of Nov 1836 
David Crawford [seal]

33648
Geo Keller 
decd Va
now dec. 
Shenandoah Co. 

Virginia Shenandoah County I Philip Williams Clerk of the County Court of said in Magistrate as above and
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Virginia 
Deposition of Philip Wilkin, who testified that Christena Keller, (the wife of George Keller decd, who subscribed and made oath to the declaration hereto annexed, and dated August the 19th 1836, died on the 20th day of December A.D. 1836, without issue. Shenandoah County, Set. 
This day Philip Wilkin, who subscribed the above Deposition, personally appeared before me, W. W. Magruder, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and made oath that the facts therein contained are true, Given under my hand and seal this 31 day of May A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty seven. (1837) 
W. W. Magruder [seal]
 Virginia 
Shenandoah County to wit 
I Philip Williams Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that William W Magruder is a magistrate as above and that the signature purporting to be his I believe to be genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 31st day of May 1837. 
P Williams C.S.C.
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In the name of God Amen, I, George Keller of the County of Shenandoah, and state of Virginia, being weak ^ sick in body, but of a sound, disposing mind and memory, do constitute make and ordain this to be my last will and testament, in manner and form following; that is to say, first I will and desire that all my just debts (if any) and funeral charges be paid out of my personal estate, second, I give and bequeath unto my two friends Philip Ruby and Philip Wilkins to them and their heirs and assigns for ever, all my land and Plantation whereon I now reside, Containing one hundred and forty six acres, more or less, provided they the said Ruby and Wilkin comply with and perform all and every of the stipulations contained in an agreement entered into between myself and them on the fourth day of this Instant and lodged in the hands of Absalom Rinker, and in the event of the, said Ruby and Wilkins, non compliance with the agreement aforesaid, then and in that case this bequest shall be pronounced null and void, and the same shall be inherited by those entitled to the same had I died intestate, further I will and direct that in either case whatsoever, there shall be reserved of my land, about half an acre, adjoining Folly's land to include the grave yard, for the sole use and benefit of a burying ground for my neighbours and relations forever. Third; I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid friend Philip Ruby the choice one of my horses or mares, which I give to him, his heirs and assigns forever. Fourth I give and devise unto my friend Absalom Rinker the sum of Fifty dollars, current money, to be taken out of my personal estate, placing every reliance and confidence in him for which reason I do hereby appoint him my agent to see and superintend that the above named Philip Ruby and Philip Wilkin do in all and every instance perform and comply with the above mentioned agreement. Fifth, I give and bequeath all the remainder part of my estate not herein
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disposed of unto my three friends Polly Shaver, widow of Philip Shaver deceased, John Stout and Anna Bettz, to them their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided between them share and share alike. Further I do order and direct that no distribution shall be made to my last named devisees until after the decease of my wife Christena, the said last mentioned bequest to be retained in the hands of my executor, until that time, stated, shall arrive. Sixth and lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my aforesaid friend Absalom Rinker, executor of this my last will and testament, revoking and annulling all former wills by me made, Ratifying and confirming this, and none other, as my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said George Keller have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six 
George Keller [seal]
{signed, sealed, published and Declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named George Keller in presence of us.}
Joshua Foltz 
Thomas Corbin 
Israel P. Rinker 
Lewis Fadely 
I, George Keller, of [crossed out] Shenandoah ^ county having ^ made and duly executed my last will and testament, in writing, bearing date, on the Sixth day of June 1836, now I do declare that this present writing to be as a codicil to my said will, and direct the same to be annexed thereto and taken as a part thereof. And I do give and bequeath unto Reuben Pence, son of Isaac Pence, and to his heirs forever, an equal part or share with Polly Shaver, John Stout, and Anna Bettz of the
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residue of my estate as mentioned in the fifth item in my aforesaid will, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1836. George Keller [seal] 
signed sealed and acknowledged, by the said George Keller in presence of 
Joshua Foltz 
Thomas Corbin 

At a Court held for the County of Shenandoah on Monday the 7 day of November 1836. This the last will and testament of George Keller decd with a codicil thereto annexed was produced into Court and the said Will and Codicil proven by the oaths of Joshua Foltz & Thomas Corbin witnesses thereto and the said Will & Codicil is ordered to be recorded as the last Will and Testament of said George Keller decd, And on motion of Absalom Rinker, the Executor therein named who was sworn and entered into Bond with Joshua Foltz & David Fadely as his securities in the penalty of one thousand dollars conditioned according to law a certificate for obtaining a Probate of said Will in due form is granted him Teste 
P Williams Cl.S.C.
I Philip Williams Clerk of the County Court of Shenandoah do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the will & codicil of George Keller decd and of its probate in said Court 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 31” day of May 1837 and 61” year of the Commonwealth 
P. Williams Cl.S.C.
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George Keller Staunton Va
George Keller
2 cases
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City D. C.
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George Keller Va

Susp Act June 7 1832
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George Keller
Virginia
Susp cl Jno. Thornberry
June 8.1837
Hon J S Pennyback Jany 16 ‘38
Hon Jno. T Harris Jun 1/60
   “       “    “       “        “    “ 7 “
5827
Act 7 June 1832
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Washington 
June 6.1860 
Hon G C Whitney 
Will you be so kind as to have the reasons given me, why the claim mentioned in your letter of the 1st Inst. was not allowed 
Please return your letter with  answer, 

Yours Truly
John T. Harris 
Browns