Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6056, for Jacob Schwenck, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3 - 1776) 
SERVICE Penn. 
Schwenck, Jacob 
NUMBER 16056 Carded
CONTENT
Page 2

Pennsylvania 31.250 
Jacob Schwenk 
of Columbia Co in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Spangler of the Regt commanded by Col Ghen on the Penna [illegible] for eight months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Nov 1857 and sent to Saml Harmon Esq Danville Pa. Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1837 $160.
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch 38. 13.33
$173.33
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} 
Recorded by [illegible] Allison, Clerk, Book E 2 Vol. 5 Page 57
Page 3

Admitt for 8 mo $26.66 
Saml Harmons Danville Pa
Page 4

State of Pennsylvania}
Columbia County} Ss

On the Sixteenth day of October
AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven before
me Samuel Creasey [illegible] one of the Justice of the peace
in and for the County of Columbia Personally appeared
Jacob Schwenck a resident of Mifflin township County
and State aforesaid aged Seventy eight years who being
first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath
take the following declination in order to obtain
the benefit of the provisions made by the act of
Congress passed June 7 1832 - that he entered the
Service of the United States under the following named
officers and Served as herein Stated--

 I was drafted
in a company of Militia with Peter Gearhart Jacob
George Peter Anthony Beauch and Michael Gardner
commanded by Capt Peter Shingler in the begining
of August AD. 1777 in the township of Ma atonin in County
of Berks in the State of Pennsylvania we Marched from
thence to Allentown Bethlehem into New jersey to Amboy
Major Luntemuth and Col Michael Gehr where my
2 officers.  at Amboy I recieved a regular discharge for
my two month Service in November 1779 I was
in no engagement during this tourer

I was drafted again in the company of Militia with
Peter Gearhart Jacob George Petrie and others
Commanded by Capt Peter Shingler in the begining
of September AD 1778 we meet in hamburgh in
county of Berks in the State of Pennsylvania we Marched 
to Reading Philadelphia New jersey and Newark
Thomas Craig at Northampton County and others
not reenlisted this tourer was two month Service 
as began in the month of December 1778 I received 
a regular discharge and went home

I was drafted again in a company of Militia with
Peter Gearhart and others not recolected the company 
was commanded by Capt Jacob Shappel
in the beginning of September 1779 for the term of
two month time meet at Reading we Marched to
Page 5

the trap in the County of Montgomery State of
Pennsylvania from thence to [illegible] at this place
was hard recounting the names of my officers not
[illegible] stated I received a regular discharge at
Newark for two Month Services in December 1779
and went home to my family--

I was again drafted in a company of Militia with
Peter Gearhart and others not recollected in a company 
commanded by Capt Fredrich in 
the beginning of July 1780 the Company meet at
Hamburgh Berks County State of Pennsylvania we Marched
to Sunbury Mitton at Muncy in the State of Pennsylvania 
for the purpose to ^protect the property of the
inhabitants of that place from the Indians Col
Michael Lentenmuth had the command in October
1780 and I received a regular discharge for my time
2 month Service I had the misfortune some time
after peace was declared to have ^my house and all my
papers destroyed by fire

I am Known to Christian Barohat Esqr formerly
a Member of the Penn Legislature  Peter Yahe Esqr
Benjamin Smith Pell of Mifflin Reith  [Mill?] and N Snyder

1 When and in what year were you born
I was born in the township of Albany in the
County of Berks the Sixth day of July AD 1759

2 have you any record of your age and if so
where is it
My age is recorded in my family record
which I have at my home

3 Where were you living when called in to
Service Where have you lived since the 
Revolutionary war and where are you now
Livin--
When I was called into Service I resided in
the township of Albany County of Berks form
the County of Berks.  I removed into the County
Page 6

of Northumberland now Columbia about thirty
years ago where I now reside---

4 How were you called into Service were you
drafted, did you volunteer or were you
a Substitute and if a Substitute for whom
I was drafted into the Militia Services in
my own Name and Served my Country
faithfully for the term of eight month
for which I claim a pension --

the reason why I have not applied
Sooner for a Pension is because I did
not know there was a Pension Law passed
by Congress June 7,1832--
Jacob Schwenck

Sworn and Subscribed}
the day and year}
afore said before me}
Samuel Creary J.P.

I Samuel Creary Esqr one of the Justices of the [illegible] 
in and for the Said County of Columbia do hereby
declare my opinion after the Investigation of the
matter and after putting the Interogatories
presented by the War department that the
above named was a Revolutionary Soldier and
Served as he stated and that the said Jacob
Schwank from great age and bodily infirmity
is unable to appear in Court and I further
Certify that Isaiah Bahl who has signed or
anexed certificates is a Clergyman residing in
Berwick and that R K McCaney  who
his Signed the same is a resident of Mifflinville 
in the County of Columbia are credible
persons and that there statement is entitled
to credit
Samuel Creary J. P.
[flourish]
Page 7

[on the left: seal stamped over a star-shaped paper]

State of Pennsylvania}
Columbia County} SS.

I James Donaldson prothonotary
of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia 
County do Certify that Samuel Creary
before whom the foregoing proceedings have
had is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for
Said County of Columbia duly Commissioned 
as such and that the Signatures purporting 
to be his are genuine.  In testimony whereof 
I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed the 
Seal of the Said Court at Danville the Seventeenth 
day of October A.D. 1837
James Donaldson Prothy
per A. [illegible initial] Donaldson Just Ck
Page 8

1
October 18, 1939.

Mrs. H. C. McBirney
1720 Washington
Boise, Idaho.

BA-J/ILL.
Jacob Schwenck
S. 6056

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request
information in regard to Jacob Swank, who served from Pennsylvania
in the Revolutionary War.

The record has been found of only one Jacob Schwenk,
under any spelling of that surname or the surname Swank, who received
a pension from the United States based upon service in the
Revolutionary War. The data which follow were obtained from the
papers on file in his claim for pension, S. 6056.

Jacob Schwenck was born July 6, 1759 in Albany Township,
Berks County, Pennsylvania, and resided there at the time of the
Revolutionary War.  The names of his parents were not shown.

He enlisted and served four tours of two months each as 
private in the Pennsylvania troops, shown as follow: from August
1777, in Captain Peter Spengler's company, Colonel Michael Ghaer's 
regiment, during which he marched to Amboy, New Jersey; from early
in September 1778, in that same company; from early in September
1779, two months in Captain Jacob Schraedel's company; and from
July 1780 in Captain F. Unbehacker's company, during which he marched 
to Sunbury against the Indians.

[handwritten note in the right margin:] Names of some of these officers 
may be verified in Vo. 5. Pa Arch. Pages 213-253, 254 etc

He was allowed pension on his application executed
October 16, 1837, at which time he resided in Mifflin Township,
Columbia County, Pennsylvania; Columbia County had previously been 
a part of Northumberland County, that state.  The soldier stated
that he had moved to that county from Berks County, Pennsylvania,
about thirty years previously.  He made no reference to wife or
children.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension,
Page 9

name and address of person paid and, possibly, the date of death
of this pesioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General,
General Accounting Office, this city, and furnish the following
data:

Jacob Schwneck
Certificate #31250
Issued November 3, 1837
Rate $26.66 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of July 7, 1832
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
Page 10

Danville Columbia County Penna
September 15, 1837-

Sir
Peter Gerhart is no more
not quit Equal letters to all when
you said proper in your reason to each 
Lot his claim, untill he is no more.
Consequently his claim is lost, and they
may thank you for you was Collect
when from time to time for his papers 
or a copy, but no [illegible]
have you [illegible] to Peter Gerhart
he [illegible] at his Court, faith full for [illegible] 
8 months & made due proof, but
for the want of a drafting error, you 
with held his papers, and so fore gone
[illegible] could not make out or never
Declaration, = & you was in form to
that confind to his room for two
years with Sickness.  his Memory gone

I am sorry that you acted so change, and
withheld his [illegible] It appears to me that throughout 
of [illegible] ^and order do not go hand in hand
had he not performed this service of 8 month.  
what right had you to doubt his Oath & veracity
you had no right-- from his [illegible] you sent 
me the [illegible] of Jacob Schwenck or a Copy
I [illegible} papers, or [illegible] then untill 
[llegible] no more, we have a right to them
or a copy
Page 11

your letter respecting the Claim of
Jacob Mummy came duly to [illegible] 
and as expected no Pension

I am yours respectfully
Samuel Horman

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

I beg leave to inform you that George
Lanenberger is no more -

Will you Comply with our request &
send me Jacob Schwenks papers or a 
Copy

[word crossed out] remember what good [illegible] 
do unto others as you wish to be done
by
Page 12

State of Pennsylvania}
Columbia County} ss

Personally appeared before
me a Justice of the Peace in and for the said
County, Peter Gerhart aged 82 years a Creditable
person of Mifflin township County and state aforesaid
who was duly sworn accord to law who
says, I have know Jacob Schwenk from the
time that the said Jacob Schwenk was thirteen 
years A, the said Jacob Schwenk.  My 
fiftieth. John Parke, John Lundenmuth & Michaell
Lindenmuth, where drafted as Militia Men 
in the Company of Captain Peter Spengler in
the township of Albany township County of
Berks in the fall of 1777, for a term of two
months.  the company Must at [illegible]
town in the said County of Berks.  our
company Marched to Allentown, Bethlehem 
Easton, New Jersey, Amboy headquarters were 
at Amboy.  at the end of two months we
received a regular discharge our Col was B. Gehr
and Major Lendemuth.  I was drafted again
with the said Jacob Schwenk in compay with
Peter [illegible] the tour was the fall of 1778.

we meet at Homburg, in the County of Berks - 
we where marched to Philadelphia thence to
New Jersey, Newark.  our Col was Lundenmuth
we received a regular discharge for two months
Service.  I was together again with Jacob Schwenk
and often for [illegible] Service in the Militia under
Captain Jacob Shopple we meet at Readeg
in the fall of 1779. from Readeg we marched to
the South to New Jersey Newark and a number
of other places not recalled.   we received a regular 
discharge for the said two month serv [illegible]
Page 13

I was drafted again with the said Jacob
Schwenk for the term of two months in the Company 
of L. Unbehacker.  we meet at Hambug in
the County of Berks in July, August or September 
1780. we marched to Sunbury Northumberland
County to Milton Muncy, Lycoming County for 
the purpose to protect the property of the
inhabitants, from the Indians. Col Lundemuth was
our Col. "

and further said not
Peter Gerhart his mark [+]

Sworn and
Subscribed this
Second day of
September, 1836
before me
Samuel Horman J. P
Page 14

State of Pennsylvania}
Columbia County} ss.

I James Donaldson
Prothonotory of the Court of
Common Pleas of Columbia
County aforesaid do certify
that Samuel Herman esqr
before whom the foregoing
affadavit when taken was
and still is an acting Justice
of the Peace for the County
aforesaid duly commissioned as such and to
such due faith and credit is and ought to
be given as well in Court of Justice & elsewhere 
and that the Signature of Samuel Horman
as within the proper hand writing of the
said Samuel Horman Esqr

In Witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
fixed the seal of the said
Court of Danville, this
Seventh day of September
A. 1836.

[illegible] James Donaldson Prothy
James Donaldson p Clk
Page 15

[stamp] FREE
[round date stamp] DANVILLE Pa. OCT 31

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City 

[written sideways, over the above text] Nov 5 
N Allyn

[written sideways, on the left] Mail
Page 16

Danville October 30th 1837

Sir
Tomorrow two weeks
ago I sent you the second
Declaration of Jacob Schwenk
agreeable to your letter of the
17th day of April last past
hoping to come safe to hand, but
not [illegible] as yet, 
hoping ther may be no further proof
required in [illegible] you sent me a 
Pension Certificate for the said Jacob
Schwenk

I am yours respectfully,
Samuel Horman

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of
Pensions
Page 17

Danville Columbia County Penna
October 17, 1837

Sir [illegible] agreeable to your letter
of April 1837.  I in Close you the
Declaration Made before Samuel Creary Esq
in behalf of Jacob Shenk, now an
applicant to the United States for a
Pension = and also the deposition
of the late Peter Gerhart now no more

I beg leave to say that Jacob Schwenk 
and Peter Gerhart where near neighbours 
and both of the 6th Class of the militia
and both out of the same time & place
Hoping that both will be excepted.
and no further difficulties.

I am your respectfully
Samuel Horman

Hon J. L. Edwards
Page 18

War Department Pen Office
Oct 10, 1837

Sir
I herewith enclose to you the
papers in the case of Jacob [word crossed out] 
Sechwenck and also Mr Hormans letter to 
you and have to request that you 
will acknowledge the receipt of said
papers.

Hon. D. Petrikin
H. R.
Page 19

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Pension Office

[written sideways, on the left[ [illegible] Oct 9 pa.

[written sideways, on the right] Hon D. Petrikin
Page 20

House of Rep. 7. Augt 1837

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Dr Sir 
I have been requested
to ask you for the declaration of Jacob 
Schwank of Columbia County pa an 
old soldier of the Revolution as you will 
see by the enclosed letter- [illegible] you
can consistent with your duty let 
me have it please enclose it to me
before Friday next as it is out of
my power to call personally agreeable 
to the request of the writer

Yours respectfully
D Petrikin
Page 21

State of Pennsylvania}
Columbia County} ss.

We Isaiah Bahl, a Clergyman 
residing in Berwick and R. K McCurdy 
residing in Mifflin ville in the County of
Columbia, do hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with Jacob Schwank of Mifflin County
who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed
declaration.  that we believe him to be
seventy seven years of age, that he is reputed
and believe in the neighborhood when he
resides to have been a soldier of the
revolution and that we concur in that
opinion

Isaiah Bahl
R.K. McCurdy

Sworn and
Subscribed this
31 day of August
1836.  before me
Samuel Horman J. P.
Page 22

[written sideways, on the left] 33.889 
Jacob Schwenck
Pennsya

State of Pennsylvania
Columbia County ss

I James Donaldson
Prothonatory of the Court of
Common Pleas of Columbia 
County aforesaid do certify
Samuel Horman esqr
before whom the foregoing
affadavit was taken was
and still is an acting -- 
Justice of the Peace for the
County aforesaid, duly
Commissioned as such and to such due faith
and credit is and ought to be given as well in
Courts of Justice as elsewhere and that the
Signature of Samuel Horman as well as the
proper hand writing of the said Samuel Horman

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of the said
Court at Danville, this Seventh day
of September AD 1836.

for James Donaldson Prothy
James Donaldson p Clk
Page 23

[two-column page]

[left side]
1939 - Jan. 18 - Geo. L Swank gave 
name of soldier & number
of claim, also, [illegible] of John Swank.
W 2022 [illegible]

1939 - Oct. 18 - Hist. to F. C. McBurney
JLL

[right side]
[written sideways, on the right side] Rev War

6056
INVALID.
File No. 6056
Jacob Schwenks *
Pri Rev War

Act:  June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. M, Page 331

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Jacob Schwenck *
Records corrected
May 16, 1904
Page 24

Elysburg, Pa., Oct. 6, 1938

Sirs,
To whom should I write
to find out the names of members of
the Swank (Schwenck) family
who are credited with service in
the Revolutionary War?
Respectfully,
George L. Swank

[Round time and date stamp, with numbers all around the edge to mark the time - [about] 12:00 marked with an arrow] RECEIVED 8 [illegible] MAIL SUB-DIV. [illegible] 35
Page 25

[Round time and date stamp near the top of the page, with numbers all around the edge to mark the time - 11:00 marked with an arrow:] RECEIVED SEP 30,1939 MAIL SUB-DIV. VETS. ADM. READER No. 66 

Boise Idaho
Sept. 26 - 1939.

Veterans Admistration
Wash. D.C.

Sirs:-
I am seeking information
or war records in connection
at the name of Jacob Swank [Swank written above the name]
who served in the Revolutionary 
War.  His name appears in
the Pennsylvania Archives, 6th Series
V. III page 39- If you have more
information in this connection I 
greatly appreciate it- or any
other suggestion-

Very respectfully -
Mrs. S. C. McBirney - 

1720 Wash.
Boise, Idaho
Page 26

January 18, 1939
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mr. George L. Swank
Elysburg
Pennsylvania
Jacob Schwenck, S. 6056
John Swink, W. 2022
BA-J/RAHF: MLB


Dear Sir:


Reference is made to your letter in which you request some source
from which to secure the given names of the Swank (Schwenck, etc.) family who served in the Revolutionary War.
The Veterans Administration is the custodian of Revolutionary War
pension records, and the Adjutant General, War Department, this
city, is the custodian of such military records of that war as have
been preserved by the United States. It is suggested, further, that
information in regard to that matter might be obtained from the records
in the capitals of the original states.
Your surname is borne twice, only, on the Revolutionary War pension
records of this office, under any spelling. Those names are Jacob
Schwenk (File S. 6056 ) who served in the Pennsylvania troops and John
Swink (File N. 2022) who serve in the North Carolina troops.
It is regretted that your letter could not have been answered at an earlier date.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 27

[stamp] FREE
[stamped on the left, over other writing] DANVILLE Pa [illegible]

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City --

[written sideways, on the left] Commr
Sept 19
Jacob Schwenck
Peter Gerhart

Mail
Page 28

Jacob Schwenck
Pennsylvania

Suspended

let: 28 Sep '36 Saml
Horman do. 12 Oct '36
do. 9th Jany 1837
do 17 Apl '37
do 24 " "
Do. Sept. 6. 1837 to Same
let: 10 Oct. 1837 Hon
D. Petrikin