Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5537, for Andrew Kiefer, Pennsylvania
Page 1

SERVICE
Penn


Kiefer, Andrew
Jacoby, Margaret
Farmer
Widow
NUMBER
R. 5537
Page 2

No 8088
Margaret Jacoby
[illegible] widow of Andrew Kieffer

[illegible]

5557
Rejected 
Andrew died in service Margaret died in 183[?]
Act 4th July 1831
Page 3

Andrew Kiefer

Information is requested as to the service of [illegible]

Kiefer
Address
M Goepp
Eastern [illegible]

Cole
Page 4

now All Men by these Presents, that, Andrew Kiefer, of the Township of Williams in the County of Northampton and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have constituted, made and appointed, and by these presents do constitute, make and appoint Maximilian Goepp of the Borough of Easton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name and stead, to ask for receive and obtain all and any information that may be afforded by the Roles, Records on file of the War Department, the Office of the Adjutant General, the Pension Office, or any other office department of the general government of the United States, in relation to the services of my late father Andrew Knifer, who was a Sergeant in the first Battalion of [illegible] in the County of Northampton & Province of Pennsylvania composing part of the Flying Camps of Ten Thousand men, commanded Col. Harley in Captain John Arndts Company, in the Revolutionary war; and also to collect receive obtain all pension money, back pay or bounty land to which I may be entitled by reason of the services of my said father 
Giving and granting unto my said Attorney by these Presents my full and entire power and authority, in and about the premises, for me and in my name all lawful ways and means to have, use and take all proper deeds, acquittances, releases, or other writings whatsoever to make seal and deliver, and generally all and every other act and acts, thing and things, device and devices in the law, whatsoever needful and necessary to be done in and about the premises, to do execute and perform, as fully, largely and amply, to all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, or as if the matter required more special authority than is herein given; and attorneys, one or more under him for the purposes aforesaid, to make and constitute and again at pleasure to revoke. Ratifying, allowing and holding for firm and effectual, all and whatsoever, my said attorney or his substitute shall lawfully do in and about the premises by virtue hereof. 
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four 
Sealed and delivered in the presence of J. Weygand
Andrew X Kiefer
His Mark
S. Barberheman 
Northampton County This second day of September A. D. 1864 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County the above named Andrew Kiefer-- and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be his act and deed, and desired the same might be recorded as such. 
J. Weygand
Page 5

State of Pennsylvania 
County of Northampton 
On the second day of September A.D. 1834 personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, residing at Easton, John Peter Jacoby, a resident of the Township of Williams in the said County, aged 71 years, who being duly sworn according to law, says: I know Andrew Keefer as long as I know anybody; we live close together. I do not remember his father, he was dead before my [illegible] His father's name was Andrew Kiefer; his father was a soldier in Captain Arndts Company, in the Revolutionary War. After he left his son was born, his mothers maiden name was Margar Eckert, after Kiefers death she married my father, Jacob Jacoby. I am a half brother of Andrew Kiefer. All this information I have from my mother and others.  Not a very long while after he left she heard of his death in Long Island in the service, in captivity, as she was informed a sickness got amongst them and carried off a great many of them.  My mother has been dead about 20 years.  Andrew Kiefer is the only [illegible] had by old Kiefers. He inherited all of his father's property, what there was. 
Peter Jacob 
John Peter Jacoby
Sworn to and subscribed before my the day and years above written and I certify that John  Peter Jacob is a credible witness 
J. Weygand, 
Justice of the Peace
Page 6

November 6, 1935 
Andrew Kiefer-R.5537 
BA-J/AWF
Dorothy Bassett 
127 Catlett Street Easton, Pennsylvania 
Dear Madam: 
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Mrs. Barbara Kiefer whose husband, Andrew Kiefer, was killed in the Revolutionary War on Long Island, August 27, 1776. 
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, R. 5537, based upon the service of Andrew Kiefer in the War of the Revolution . This is the record of the only Andrew Kiefer (surname searched under similar spellings) found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office. 
The date and place of birth of Andrew Kiefer are not shown nor are the names of his parents stated. 
He was a sergeant in Captain John Arndt's company, Colonel Hartley's Pennsylvania regiment, and died while in the service on Long Island “in captivity” 
Andrew Kiefer married Margaret Eckert, date and place of marriage not shown, after the death of Andrew Kiefer, she married Jacob Cacoby, and she died about the year 1834.
Andrew Kiefer, son of the soldier, Andrew Kiefer and his wife, Margaret, applied for pension, which might have been due on account of the service of his father.  He made this application September 2, 1854 at which time he was living in Williams Township, Northampton County,
Page 7

Pennsylvania. It is stated that he was their only son, and was born after his father went into the service. 
The application for pension was rejected, as there was no law under which it could be allowed. 
John Peter Jacoby was seventy-one years of age in 1854 and living in Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania; he was the son of Jacob Jacoby and his wife, Margaret Eckert Kiefer Jacoby. 
 The papers in the claim contain no further data pertaining to family. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 8

War & Navy JAN 5 1905 7 FILES. 
Midland Park
 Jan. 2, 1905

Bureau of Pensions:
Dear Sir 
My great grand father Andrew Kiefer, was among the missing and killed in the Battle of Long Island, Aug. 1776. His widow was a pensioner if the traditions of the family are reliable Can you find by those ancient records what her christian name was. Her maiden name was Eckart. She lived near Easton Pa, and in course of time married a man by name Jacoby It will be one of the most important items to establish our relation to the extensive Kiefer family of Mr. Bethel, Northampton Co. Pa. 
While you are making the
Page 9

2
search will you also try to find soldier by the name Kiefer, especially as having enlisted, or been drafted from Bucks County, Pa. 
I hope you can find the desired data and you will greatly oblige
Yours
Rev W. R. Kiefer
Page 10

5537
P.O. Margaret Jacoby
Service:  [illegible]  widow of A Kiefer
Rejected
Enlisted, 18
Discharged: , 18
Application field, 18
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted
Jany 10, 1905 hist to Rev W.R. Kiefer Midland Park N.J 
1928 May 4 – Hist to Godfrey Von Hofe 
1935 Nov. 6 hist to Dorothy Bassett
Page 11

Easton Pa
Oct 25, 1935
[Stamp]  Received Oct 29 1935 Mail Sub-Div Vets Adm Reader 29

Gentlemen
Will you be able to secure for are the date of birth and marriage of a Mrs Barbara Kiefer whose husband Andrew Kiefer was killed in the Revolutionary War on Long Island August 27, 1776
It is said Mrs Barbara Kiefers name is on file as having drawn a pension after the death of her husband Andrew Kiefer and
Page 12

I will great appreciate your sending this information if at all possible as I need the data to complete a form for the Daughter of the American Revolution kindly let me know the charge,
It is Nat no. 38662 Penna Archives 2nd service Pension Office 
Sincerely yours 
Dorothy Barret
127 Cattell St 
Easton, Pa
Page 13

GODFREY VON HOFE 
COUNSELLOR AT LAW 
24 COLONIAL AVE. 
FOREST HILLS, N. Y. 

April 24, 1928
Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C. 
Dear Sir: 
I would appreciate your giving me any information your department may have concerning the military services of my ancestor Andrew Keifer or Kiefer of Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. 
The Pennsylvania Archives Volume 8, Series 5, Page 21, states that he enlisted as a seargent July 9, 1776 in John Arndt's company, 1st Battalion of Northampton County of the Flying Camp of 10,000 commanded by Col. Hart. 
He is also referred to on pages 24 and 540 where he is listed among the wounded, killed and missing at the Battle of Long Island on Aug. 27, 1776. 
I am curious to know if he served at Valley Forge as tradition states. 
Yours truly, 
Godfey Von Hofe 

[Stamp]  Pension Apr 26 1928 U.S  Office
Page 14

JRW 
Jan. 10, 1905

Rej.5537: Rev. War. 
Sir: --- In reply to your inquiry you are advised that Andrew Kiefer, of Williams Township, Northampton Co., Pa., applied for pension September 2, 1854, as the only surviving child of Margaret Jacoby, former widow of Andrew Kiefer, who was a sergeant in Capt. Arndt's Company, in the First Battalion of Northampton Co., Pa., troops, commanded by Col. Hartly. 
It also appears in said claim that said soldier died in service on Long Island; that he had married Margaret Eckert (date and place not stated), who, after the soldier's death, married Jacob Jacoby. She never applied for pension, and died in 1834. The application of her son was rejected, there being no law under which it could be allowed. 
Very respectfully, 
Acting Commissioner.
Rev. W. R. Kiefer, 
Midland Park, N. J.
Page 15

Rev.&1812 Wars Section. 
May 4, 1928
Godfrey Von Hofe, 
24 Colonial Avenue, 
Forest Hills, New York. 
Sir: 
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 5537, it appears that Andrew Kiefer, of Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, applied for pension September 2, 1854, as the only surviving child of Margaret Jacoby, former widow of Andrew Kiefer, who was a sergeant in Captain Arndt's Company, in the First Battalion of Northampton County, Pennsylvania Troops, commanded by Colonel Hartly. It is not stated that he served at Valley Forge. 
It also appears in said claim that soldier died in service on Long Island; that he had married Margaret Eckert (date and place not stated), who, after the soldier's death, married Jacob Jacoby. She never applied for pension, and died in 1834. 
The application of her son was rejected, there being no law under which it could be allowed. 
Respectfully, WINFIELD SCOTT 
Commissioner.
Page 16

State of Pennsylvania County of Northampton ss. 
I John A. Innes Prothe Notary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County, do hereby certify that Jacob Weygant Esquire, before whom the annexed acknowledgment and affidavit were taking, and whose genuine signature appears thereto, is and was at the time of taking the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County July commissioned and qualified; that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts whereof the above mentioned are since; and that the said Court of Common Pleas is a Court of Record having general jurisdiction. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court at Easton this ninth day of September in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Four 
James A Innes
Page 17

M. Goeff
Sep 14/54.
Page 18

Pension Office
14th Sept. 1854.

Sir,
     The Power of Attorney and affidavit in the case of Margaret Jacoby formerly widow of Andrew Kiefer of Pennsylvania, has been received and filed under Act  4th July 1836, and rejected.
    Andrew died in the service and was (??) a "War;s Man", there is therefore no claims under any Act of Congress, for pension on bounty land on his account. His widow Margaret died before the passage of the Act 4th July 1836, which was the earliest act under which she might have asserted a claim, consequently, there is nothing due in her behalf.

                                        //s//
                       Maximilian Goeff Esq/
                                      Easton, Pa.