Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1962, for Samuel Kearsley, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
1
SERVICE
Penn.
CONTENTS
Kearsley, Samuel
NUMBER
S1962.
Carded
Page 2

Dauphin County
State of Pennsylvania
Be it remembered that on the 23rd day of
March 1818, before me George Whitehill one of the Judges of the Court of
Common Pleas in and for said County of Dauphin in the State of Pennsylvania,
personally appeared Samuel Kearsley of the Borough of Harrisburg in said
County of Dauphin, and being sworn according to law doth and did declare
and say, that he entered the Army of the United States raised for the defence of
American Liberty, and was duly Commissioned a Captain in February 1777 of
an Independent Company, and was annexed first to Col William Malcolm's
Regiment, and in the Year 1779 was, by an Ordinance of the Board of War
annexed to the Pennsylvania Line under the Command of Col Hubley on his
Resignation he was ordered to leave his Commission together with his Papers
and vouchers in the War Office for Settlement which he never obtained on account
of having by Imperious Necessity been obliged to Resign his Command before
the Tenth of April 1880 that he was in the Service of the United States
more than two years, and that he hath no pension heretofore allowed him
by the Laws of the United States to his knowledge and if any such exists
he doth hereby fully and entirely Release the same to the United States-
Sworn and subscribed before me
this 23rd day of March 1818
Geo Whitehill
Sam .. Kearsley
Page 3

Dauphin County
I George Whitehill one of the Judges of the
Court of Common pleas in and for said County of Dauphin do hereby certify
that it satisfactorily appears to me that Samuel Kearsley now residing
17
in Harrisburg in said County of Dauphin served in the Revolutionary War
as it is set forth in his Deposition hereonto annexed, against the
Common Enemy, and that he was duly commissioned Captain, as by him
stated it manifestly appears to me by his vouchers to me and before me
exhibited,
copies whereof are hereunto annexed, all which together with the said
Affidavit I do hereby Respectfully transmit to the Secretary of the department
of War.
And I do hereby further certify that the said Samuel Kearsley by
reason of his reduced circumstances in life is in need of assistance from
his Country for support.
Geo Whitehill
Page 4

We the undersigned do certify that we were personally acquainted with
Captain Samuel Kearsley of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment in the
Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War commanded by
Col Hubley and that he the said Captain Kearsley was considered as
an active and enterprising Officer, and was an officer for more than
Three Years in the War
February 14th 1814
Signed
Jas Clunn
Saml Smith
I do certify that I was well acquainted with Captain Samuel Kearsley before
the Revolutionary War and have been frequently in his Company
in the time of the war when we were Brother officers, and always
heard him spoken of by other Officers as a valuable and Meritorious
Officer, and I also know that it was with great reluctance that he the
said Captain Kearsley Resigned his Commission on the account of
the Distressing circumstances of his Family, I also know that when in
the Service of his Country, his Property was all consumed by Fire
and I understand that on account of an act of the Board of War
Confirmed by Congress he has never Received any Compensation for
his Services and Great losses which he sustained while he
continued to hold his Rank in the Army of the United States
Febry 23rd 1813
Signed
Thomas Campbell
Page 5

This Certifies that I knew Captain Samuel Kearsley, Before the Revolutionary War
and in the year 1778 when I was out in the Service of my Country, I
found him on the Lines in an Honourable and Important Command and
will Respected as an Active and Brave officer. I have heard that he
was unfortunate in his Family circumstances in having his Property
consumed be Villains who went to the Enemy while he was in actual
Service. that I have known him many Years since the Revolution
as a Respectable Citizen
Signed
Certified by me
James Sayers
I do Certify that I was well acquainted with Samuel Kearsley in the
Time of the Revolutionary War that I knew his Character stood High
as a Brave and Meritorious officer, and I have understood that having
all his Property Consumed by Fire whilst he was in Actual Service, he
was with Great Reluctance obliged in the Fall of 1779, to Resign
his Commission in order to prevent his family from suffering
Signed
Certified by me
Michael Simpson
Feby 24th 1813
I do Certify the above are True
coppies of the Original Certificate proclaimed to me
Geo Whitehell
Page 6

Pennsylvania, SS.
In the Name and by the Authority of the Commonwealth of
PENNSYLVANIA,
[illegible handwriting in black ink]
WILLIAM FINDLAY, GOVERNOR
OF THE SAID COMMONWEALTH
To all to whom these presents shall come, Sends Greeting:
Know ye, That George Whitehill Esquire
[stamp with two horses and a bird and the words "VIRTUE LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE"]
whose name is subscribed to the instrument of writing hereunto annexed was
at the time of subscribing the same and now is, one of the Associate
Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Dauphine
in the said Commonwealth, duly appointed and commissioned. And full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his - official acts accordingly
day of March
Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the State, at Harrisburg, this twenty fourth
day of March
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and
of the Commonwealth the forty -second
By the Governor
James Trimble
Deputy Sectry
Page 7

Pennsylvania
Samuel Kearsley, 4
Captain
In the Army of the U. States.
At $20. pr mo. to  com @ 23. March 1818.
Cert: issued
31st. March, 1818. and
sent to the care of Major John
Kearsley, Harrisburgh, Pennsyl.
Arr. to 4th. Sept. 1818. 5 10/28 mos. $107.14
Revy Claim
Act 18th. March, 1818
Pennsylvania line. 3 yrs
Continued
[illegible]
Dauphin
Notification sent October 14. 1820 to the
Pensioner. Harrisburg Pennsylvania
Page 8

[stamp in black ink that reads "HARRISBURG PENN SEP 18"]
[illegible]
The Honorable J. C. Calhoun
Secretary at War
Washington City D,C, -
Samuel Kearsley
Pa 110
Recd. 20 Sep. 1820
30 March
1818
[illegible writing in background behind the main text]
Page 9

State of Pennsylvania
Dauphin County
On this 11th day of September 1820 personally appeared
in open Court. being a Court of record for said State Samuel Kearsley
aged 70 years on the 15th [illegible] and resident in the County aforesaid who being
duly sworn according to law doth depose and Say that he was a soldier in the
revolutionary War. that he first marched as a volunteer in the Company of
Captain John Steel in december 1776. That he was afterwards commissioned
a Captain at the instance of General Washington. and raised a Company of
Regulars to serve three years or during the War. - that he was also a Volunteer
at the time of taking the Hessians at Trenton -and in the fall of 1779 was
obliged to retire from the service in consequence of the peculiarly distressed
State of his family - And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen
of the United States, on the 18th Day of March 1818. and that I have
not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property
or any part thereof with intent thereby So to diminish it. at the bring my
self within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide
for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States
in the Revolutionary War." passed on the 18th day of March 1818
and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or
securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than
the pension heretofore allowed me, but what is contained in the schedule
of property hereto annexed and by me subscribed-
Sworn & declared in open Court
this 10th day of September 1820
John Machesney Pootky
No. 20
Sam Kearsley
Schedule of property owned by me being all the property I. possess
1 House aged about 14 years worth about $30, an old cow - 2 pigs one month
old. some poultry. an old Bureau. 10 or 11 old chairs. a Rifle Gun. a few
good Books. including a family Bible. and some military authors. an
old looking Glass. a few prints of the pilgrims progress in frame - an
old silver Watch - one or two old waitersr, an old braekfast table. a
pair of old brass candlesticks. some cups & saucers- tea pot & some other
culinary articles of Kitchen furniture of small value. some emty flour
casks one containing a little flour recently purchased. an old umbrella
covered the second time - a case of Razors. an axe. a Dining fork. an old
Shovel. two old hoes. a mattock and spade. a crook shovel & tongs. some
vessels to salt my provisions in. a soap barrel. an old fishing Rod and hooks
an old Cowskin. a cane, a ten plate stove. an old pair Iron and [illegible]
a mans and womans saddle and bridles,. an old [illegible], an old powder horn and shot pouch. -
I have a wife and 5 children all of whom are
married and I reside on a small farm on lot of 5 acres of land which I.
cultivate. the rent whereof cost me $40. per annum. - my youngest daughter whose husband has left her. and gone to the army. live with me and I
support her and her three children. my
certificate of pension is dated 31st March 1818. -
Sworn to and declared in open
Court on the 11th day of September 1820. -
John Machesney Prothy
Sam.. Kearsley
Page 10

September 18th 1820 the said Court of Common pleas of Dauphin County
hereby State and certify that the said Court is a Court of record 1st It is
expressly made so by the laws of Pennsylvania creating the same.-
2 It has been so solemnly adjudged by the Supreme Court and other Courts
of Pennsylvania 3 It proceeds according to the course of the Common Law
with a Jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount. keeping a record of its
proceedings. and the said Court further certify that it is the opinion of the
said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the
foregoing Schedule is Eighty dollars
Dauphin County John Machesney Prothonotary of the Court
of Common pleas of the County of Dauphin do hereby certify that the
foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from
the Records of the said court And I do further certify that it is the
opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property
exhibited in the schedule thereto annexed is Eighty dollars
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed
my name and affixed the seal of said Court at
Harrisburg the 16th day of September AD 1820
John MatChesney
Prothonotary of the Court
of Common Pleas of D. County
Page 11

Harrisburg September 16th 1820
Sir
I transmit you the application of Capt. Samuel Kearsley for a
continuance of the pension heretofore allowed him by the limited States - It may
not be improper to state that it is his main support, and if deprived of it, the
consequence would be to him, a life of poverty in the decline of his days -
have the goodness to forward the Certificate on the acknowledgements usual
in similar cases to Theophilus T. Wane Esqr Designated Collector
of Pennsylvania at this place -
I am Sir very Respectfully
your obt Sevt
Michael Lalligher
The Honorable J.C. Calhoun
Secretary at War
Washington City -
Page 12

Philadelphia Pa.
April 6th. 1895.
Bureau of Pensions
Will you be kind enough
to inform me, if you have a record,
of the date of birth and death of
Samuel Kearsley. ["Kearsley" underlined] He served in
the Revolutionary War, being appointed Captain February 18. 1778
in the new 11th Penna. Reg. If
possible,
I would also like to
learn the names of his parents
Yours Truly
A. E. Helffenstein
1008 Shackamaxon St
[partial stamp in black ink reading "PEN" at the top, "OFFICE" at the bottom, "U." on the left, and "APR 10 1895" in the middle]
Page 13

Apr. 30/95 [illegible] A.E.
Helffenstein, 1008 Shackamaxon St.
Philadelphia, Pa. M.E.l.
Rev War.
1962
INVALID.
File No. 1962
Samuel Kearsley
Capt U.S. Army ["Pa. line" crossed out]
Act: Mch. 18. 1818
Index: - Vol. A, Page 201
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

We practising physicians and Surgeons of
the borough of Harrisburg, do certify that Capt. Saml.
Kearsley is severely afflicted with a Hernia or Rupture which in our opinion completely incapacitates
him from all enterprize or bodily
exertion whereby
a subsistence for himself or family
could
be obtained
Whiteside
& Espy
Sept. 11. 1920
Page 15

Major M. Kearsley.
Harrisburg - Pa
and under the law.
1878.9.4
1818.3.22
5.10/28
$100
7.14
$107.14
20
10
18 200 714
196
40
28
120
112
. 8
774

[written upside down on the page: "To the Hon.", illegible signature, and "Washington."]
Page 16

Harrisburg March 23d 1818.
Sir,
Permit me to ask your friendly attention to
the letter & documents of my father which are here with transmitted. It has been a fact known to
almost every man within our community that my
father was in the U.S. Service during the greater
part of the Revolutionary war & that the imperious
circumstances of his family above obliged him to resign
before the close thereof. It is extremely gratifying
to me to have had a father who trose the paths
of a Military life before me, & that it has
been my lot not to have disgraced his name.
In addressing Mr. Graham, I believe it unnecessary /
as I think he will recollect my name / to inform him
that I lost a leg at Fort Erie, during the campaign
of 1814. But should the Secretary of War be present
at the Department, be pleased to refer him to the
records of his office or to the Adj. & Indp. Gen.  l for
my character & rank during the late War. Proud of the
privilege & grateful that I have it in my power, my
parents reside with me, their support in their decline
of life. I trust no difficulty will oppose the placing
my father upon that list whereon my name is already enrolled.
I am Sir very respectfully You obdt. Serv.
Jon. a Kearsley
Geo. Graham Esq.
Page 17

To the Honorable the Secretary of War
Page 18

Harrisburgh March 23d 1818
to the honorable the Secretary of War
Sir
By an act of Congress passed
During thier present Session I perceive that the U.S. government
have passed a Law by which I believe myself entitled to its
provisions. I have the Honor herewith to transmit the requisite
affidavit & Certificate of a Judge of the County Court. Certified
Copies of my having served in the War of the Revolution
are also transmitted -
the documents before you are
the best I can now offer. as I have been Inform'd that
my Commission and other Vouchers which by order of
his Excellency General Washinton were lodged in the War
Office General Knox being then Secretary has been destroyed
by fire in said office otherwise lost. You will find
in the public letters of General Washington now published
his order to General Armstrong to appoint me a Captain in the
service of the U.S. to raise a Company to serve during the War
this letter is dated in January 1777 - in Pursuance thereof
I was Comissioned -
I trust Sir it will not be thought
necessary to produce other or more satisfactory evidence than
that before you to my obtaining a place on the list - worn down with the burden of years and many bodily
Infirmities I trust to Receive
Page 19

That Beneficence which Congress have at the sun set of life
bestow'd - tho late it will serve to expell the Cloud which now
lowes over my Close of Life - this may en able me to spend the
remnant of my days in peace with Man & in making sure
an entrance into a world where peace reign triumphant & where
the Rumour of Wars are heard no More
I am Sir with due Respect
Your Obdt
Servt
Sam. Kearsley
Page 20

[illegible writing above "Honourable J. C Calhoun Secy]
Honorable J. C Calhoun Secy
at
War
Washington City
United States
["Samuel Kearsley 116" in black ink written over and perpendicular to "Washington City"]
[stamp in black ink reads "HARRISBURG PENN" and "OCT 11"]
Page 21

Dauphin County Pennsylvania 9th Oct 1820
Honbl Sir. In addition to the Vouchers made necessary
to be transmitted to the War Department by the last
act of Congress on Revolutionary Pensions I would by
the Priviledge of further stating, that by [illegible]
ness & some other unavoidable circumstances which
coud not be foreseen or prevented - I did not get
my application for the Continuation of [illegible]
sent on from the Court of Harrisburg in the time
other Pensioner did - but still hope this will not
be a bar against me to my inevitable [illegible] in
being 70 Years of age & reduced meerly to a wreck
a wreck by wounds sickness & infirmity of Body brot
on by sufferings in the Revolutionary War - having
had both my legs broke & my left arm & right shoulder
blade also broke being also afflicted with [illegible] to [illegible]
a degree that I must ly down frequently to have my
Bowels put up or suffer immediate death - 
My
Dear Aged wife 68 years old nearly a [illegible] & under the
immediate care of Physicians for more than 15 Years
past - added to this, 3 small Grand Children to maintain -
the children of a Sargent in the Late war & now with the
Army in the Missery Country - my only son the last
of four - an invalid. Majr. Jonathan Kearley lost
his leg at the siege of Fort Erie now 600 Miles from us
in the service of Government at [illegible]
Page 22

Receiver of the Revenue - I have thus stated my very
helpless & poverty struck circumstances to your Honor-
& do hope that your honor will immediately give such
order as will immediately place me in the situation
I stood on the Roll of the Pennsylvania Agency be for the
Passage of the late act of Congress - there is nothing else
can possibly save us in our old age from starvation
as we have neither means or ability to procure a living - Your
Honors immediate attention to my Distress
will stimulate my prayers. & best wishes for your
Happiness living & Dying
Sam. Kearsley -
N.B. you will see the amount of my poor and homely little property
is not valued by the Court to more than 60 dollars as they told
me & the small house & 8 acres of Land I have on rent is $40
to be paid out of this Pension - - -  had not all my papers Re the
Honorable Certificate of my Services been Burned in the War office
which was given [illegible] by my Coll. & his Excellency Genl Washington
on the Destruction of my property by fire by Villains who want to
the British while I was out in the Service of my Country I wou [would]
not now have to plead for a pension from my country
Honorable J. C Calhoun Secretary at War