Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,089, for Samuel Shoemaker, Pennsylvania
Page 1

[Title File Card]
[Card number] (3 - 1776)

SERVICE    |                                     |  NUMBER
Penn.         |   Shoemaker, Samuel  |  S. 17.089


============== carded
CONTENTS    
[Blank]
Page 2

[Card divided into 5 sections: S1 thru S5 divided by =====]

[S1] New York No. 24.939
=====

[S2] Samuel Shoemaker
of Tioga Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Lieut. in the ------- commanded
by Captain ------ of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Stroud in the Penn. Troops
line for 2 years
========

[S3] Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 320 Dollars -- Cents per annum
[to] commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
=========

[S4] Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of March
1834 and sent to James Robinson
Elmina N. Y.
=========

[S5] Arrears to the 4th of March 1834            960.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending Septr.   " [ditto]  160.00
                                                                    ======
                                                                  $1120.00
                                                                    ======
                                               {Revolutionary Claim,}
                                               {Act June 7, 1832.      }
Recorded by D. Brown   Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 4 Page 123

J.
Page 3

[Reference:] No 12,762
----
Saml. Shoemaker
Admitted
2 years Lieutenant

5. 14. 16 Sl[$?] 371
service inconsistent with military[illegible]
specific reqd & proof
from Eve Records of the char[-]
acter of the corpse[.]

[date inserted vertical to main text] 4 May 33

[Signed] James Robinson
                     Agt
Elmira
         Tioga Co.
      N. York
Page 4

[Reference:] No 12,762-
BRIEF in the case of Samuel Shoemaker of Elmira, County
   of Tioga in the State of New York
      (Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
     Before a Court -
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
    -----   -----   ----- [Response area lined out]
3. How old is he?
     70 years-
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Table header divided into 4 columns
===============
Period.  | Duration of Service |  Rank | Names of General and Field Officers
             |                                 |           |  under whom he served.
_________________________
             | Years, Months, Days| As a   |  Gen.
____________________
In 1777 on or about July 1st. | 3[Yrs] and some months over | Lieutenant | Capt. Henry Shoemaker Col. Jacob Stroud
[End Table]

5. In what battles was he engaged?
    with Indians at N Minisink Penn.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
     in Lower Smithfield Penn.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
     incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
    By 4 living Witnesses-- & traditionary Evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
    ------------- [Response area lined out]
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.
[Signed by:]
  James Ord  Examining Clerk

[scan cut a signature? off the page]
Page 5

[Page shows 2 columns. Left Hand column is totally illegible. Right hand column contains two handwritten notes:]

[1] Samuel Shoemaker
Declaration
12.762

[2] Delict [?] to the Cou [?] of
James Robinson
aseut[?] Elmira
Tioga Co
N. York
Page 6

[Deposition]
State of New York  }
Tioga County ss     }
Personally appeared before me
the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said
County James Shoemaker of Elmira in said County
who being duly sworn deposeth and saith
that he has received from the Pension Office
a brief of objections to his pension claim
No 12,762 by which it appears that "the man[illegible]
of three years continuously in a Militia Corps
is inconsistent with the terms required of in
or rendered by that discription[sic] of the Public
form "-"that if the corps by its position receiv[illegible]
a peculiar organization and by virtue of it
was subjected to duties not in accordance
with those of the militia in general the Executive 
Records [both words underlined] would furnish some evidence of 
it."  Whether by that description of "records" [underlined] is
meant those of the National or State government
he is somewhat at a loss to determine, but
rather concludes those of the State Government
are intended. He does know that regular
muster rolls were kept and returns of the Company
in which he served as Lieutenant were
made by the Captain to the General Commanding
Officer, Col. Shoudz but whether the Colonel
ever returned them to the Executive authorities
of the State he is not able to say, but supposes
not for the reason that he has understood the
Pension office has been furnished with copies
of all such military State Records as are
now in existence and those it seems are not
among them.
   The company of Capt. Henry Shoemaker
was raised explicitly for home defence. He
had been a captain for upwards of a year 
[continued on next page]
Page 7

[Deposition Page 2]
previous to the Organization of his company
he commanded a corps in 1776 on Long
Island and was attached to what was called
Gen. Washington's flying camp and was in
the engagement near Brooklyn the latter
part of August in that year. His company
in which this deponent commenced his service
the next year and as nigh as he can remember
the first of July was composed mainly of young
and single men and intended for a permanent
standing force. The heads of families who
joined the company were on that enlistment
or turned out as the emergency of the case might
require. He cannot say how many but
it is strongly his impression that most of the
company turned out for three years; and
he is further confirmed in this opinion from
the fact of which he has a distinct recollection
that at the expiration of that term in 1780
the ranks of the company become so thin'd
that resort was had to the Commander in
Chief [title underlined] through the agency of Capt. Alexander
Patterson for aid in troops and military
munitions and which were accordingly furnished
with his express orders and advice that as
many as possible should be enlisted for
during the war as would fill up this com[-]
pany at least and many were to enlisted.
This is a general outline of the company, but
to return[?] to the summer of 1777.
  A standing organized military force
was considered indispensably necessary for the safety
of the Inhabitants and their property. From 
the experience of the past and the encroachment
they had already suffered, without having the
Forts and bock[sic] Houses fully garrisoned, guards
[continued on next page]
Page 8

[Deposition Page 3]
and scouts lift up they could not have
subverted such in all reason would
have been the ravages of the Tories and
Indians. Whether there is now any record
of all or any part of these military operations
this deponent cannot say, all he can say
on that point is they were more intent
on doing their duty than in keeping a record
of what they did. And this deponent further
says that during his service aforesaid from
July '77 to September 1780, he was continuously
under pay and pursued no other earthly
business but the said herein; which was
the case of all those on ^the there[sic] years establishment
who belonged to this company. Whether the
wages were derived from the then General
Government or from the State government
he cannot now remember; but there is one
fact on that subject which is clearly within
his recollection. Col. Chambers in our vicinity
was a reputed agent for the Continental government
for that purpose and occasionally furnished
us military munitions and pay.
Sworn and subscribed
this 27th day of September 1833 [signature:] Saml. Shoemaker
before me - Wm Dunn

Hereby certify that I have been long acquainted
with Capt. Samuel Shoemaker who has subscribed
and sworn to the foregoing affidavit and
that he is a credible and reputable witness
[signature] Wm Dunn
Page 9

tate of New York
Tioga County ss ⎬ Personally appeared before
me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for
said County John Hendy a resident of Elmina
in said County aged 76 years and upwards who
being duly sworn deposeth and saith that having
read the foregoing affidavit of Samuel Shoemaker
he, this deponent perfectly recollects the circumstances
and facts therein stated and affirms them to
be correct and true. And he this deponent
further says that previous to the organization
of the Company of Capt Henry Shoemaker in
which the said Samuel served as a Lieutenant
the inhabitants had endeavored to defend
themselves against the Tories[?] and Indians by
sudden alarms and turning out on short
tours; but they found from experience that
nothing short of a permanent military force
would render them any security. This company
was such a force and continued so until
the expiration of their three years enlistment
in 1780 during all which term the said
Samuel Served regularly as the Lieutenant
of said company at the time last mentioned the
Hands[?] of this company were again filled
by enlistments for during the year which this
deponent well recollects from the circumstance
of Capt. Patterson being sent as an agent
to Gen. Washington to solicit the act of more
Troops and military [jcoies-illegible] which were furnished
and of Capt. Patterson's bringing back orders
that enlistments should then be made for
during the war. This deponent served in Capt.
Patterson's company at the same time as Ensign
Sworn and subscribed this }
23d. day of October 1833  } [signed:] John Hendy
before me                           }
Wm Dunn. J. P.
Page 10

State of New York
Tioga County Ss    ⎬ I hereby certify that I am
well acquainted with John Hendy who
has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing
affidavit and that he is a credible witness
[Signed:]      Wm Dunn J.P.

State of New York  } 
Tioga County    Ss  }   I Green M Tuttill Clerk of
the said County do hereby certify that
William Dunn Esquire before whom the
foregoing affidavits purport to have been
sworn and who has also signed the foregoing
Certificate of Credibility was at the date
of the same one of the Justices of the Peace
in and for said County, that I am well
acquainted with his hand writing and
know his signature affixed thereto to be
genuine - In testimony whereof I have
                 hereunto set my hand and affixed
                 my seal of office and also affixed
                 the tape under the said seal this
                 24th day of October 1833.

[Signed:]    Green M Tuttill
Page 11

At a Court of Common Pleas holden of the
Court house in the Village of Elmira in and
for the County of Tioga in the State of New York
commencing on the fourth day of September
1832 - Present Hon. Grant B. Baldwin first
Judge Joseph Darling John R. Grace Davis
Bentley and Elijah Shoemaker Esquire Judges

State of New York
Tioga County    Ss ⎬ On this 4th day of September
1832 personally appeared in open Court before
the Judges aforesaid, being a Court of record
because made so by the constitution and
Laws of the State, having by Law a Clerk
and seal, now sitting Samuel Shoemaker
a resident of Elmira in the County and State
aforesaid aged seventy years the twenty
second day of July last 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 1832 - that he entered the
service of the United States under the follow[-]
ing named officers and served as herein stated[.]
   He entered the service on or about the first
of July 1777 as a Lieutenant in a Company
of Militia in North Hampton County in the
State of Pennsylvania for Garrison duty and
defence of the frontier against the Indians and
tories - that he turned out for three years which
was the term for which the company generally
enlisted - that he served out the term and
some months over-- that his brother Henry
Shoemaker was the captain of the said Company
which was under the command and general orders ...
[continued on next page]
Page 12

[continued from page above]

of Col. Jacob Stroud - that during the
said term of service he was stationed at
different times and at various places along
the Delaware River on each side thereof
but genually on the Pennsylvania side
from Easton as far up as that is call'd
the Minisint country where at one time
he had a smart engagement with the
Indians in which the enemy were routed
with a considerable loss. On another occasion
while up in this Country he was detached with
four others to persue the tail of seven Indians
who had come in the night and taken two
men one woman and three children prisoners
and two or three horses which they had
loaded with pillage; after pursuing them
the next day through the woods for about
twenty five miles, came up with them just
before sun down near a small brook where
they had encamped for the night - 
coming upon them unperceived be suceeded[sic]
in killng six of the Indians and wounding
the other so that we tracked him by the
blood for some distance but did not
find him - the next day we returned
with the persons and property--
     In the spring of the year '79 he with a
part of said company were ordered across
the wilderness to the Susquehannah River
when at Northumberland we joined
the hughboring force suddenly collected
to annoy and keep in check the Indians
in this quarter -- here we had our head[.....]
Page 13

[continued from page above]

quarters for some months till Gen Sullivan
came up the River on his Indian expedition
to the North which that struck such a dread
upon the foe that they abandoned their
depredations for a short time, and we returned
to the Delaware - sometime in the fall
of 1780 he received a Captains commission
but the Indian hostility having in some
measure abated he performed but very
little service after that time except being
in [illegible] - That he has no documentary 
evidence of his services - but can prove them
by David McCormick George Norton & John Hendy
        And in evidence{?] to the several interogato[-]
ries put to him by the Court he says that he
was born in the town of Lower Smithfield County
of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania
on the twenty second day of July in the
year 1762. that he has no record of his age
that it has been handed him by the tradition
of the family and has been retained in his tenure.
became so that he has doubt on the subject
that when he first entered the service he lived in
the place of his nativity and after the
close of the Revolutionary war continued to live
there till about the year 1805 when he came
and settled in the town of Chemung County of
Tioga and State of New York at which place
he lived about seven years - he then came to
his present residence in Elmira where he has
and to the present time - that in all his said
services he was a volunteer -  That he personally
knew Gen. Sullivan Col. Potter and Col Strand
that he received a Lieutenants Commision[....]
Page 14

[Continued from previous page]

in the summer of '77 and from the best of
his knowledge and belief on the subject he
thinks it was signed by Thomas Wharton
President of the Council of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania acting in the capacity of
Governor by which title he was sometimes
called and that he thinks his Captain's com-
mission above alluded to was signed by
President Reed - he brought both said Com - 
missions with him when he came into this County
and they both got destroyed while he was
living in the town of Chemung as much
by carelessness as by any accident. That
he would refer to Gen Matthew Carpenter
Col. John Hendy, John Miller Esqr late first
Judge of this County and Thomas Maxwell
Esquire a member of Congress all of Elmira
aforesaid as persons who are well acquainted
with his reputation for truth and honesty
and who can testify to their belief in the truth
of the foregoing declaration. That he hereby
relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or an annuity except the present and
declares that his name is not on the pension
roll of the agency of any State ---
Sworn to & subscribed   }
the day & year aforesaid }     [Signed:] Saml. Shoemaker
[Signed:] Green M. Tuthill Clk.
Page 15

We Simeon R. Jones a Clergyman of Southport
Tioga County New York and Caleb Baker
of the same place --------------

hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with Samuel Shoemaker who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration; that
we believe him to be seventy years of age
that he is reputed and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides to have been
an officer of the Revolution and that we
concur in that opinion - Simeon R. Josses-
Sworn & subscribed-------   [Signed:] Sissseon R. Josses - [sic]
the day & year aforesaid ⎬                  Caleb Baker
Green M. Tuthill Clk

State of New York  }
Tioga County Ss     } David McConnel of
Elvira, County and State aforesaid aged
nearly seventy years being duly sworn
according to Law doth depose and say
that Samuel Shoemaker who has subscribe
and sworn to the foregoing declaration
was a Lieutenant in the company of
Captain Henry Shoemaker in Northampton
County upon the Delaware River and
was in the active service of the United States
as such officer from the first of July in
the year 1777 to the fall of the year 1780
when he received, as this deponent understood
a Captains commission - That he this deponent
was a private in the same company
from sometime in the month of June
1777 till the fall of the year 1779
Page 16

[Continued from previous page]

and was in the neighborhood of his services
during the year following and well
knowing to the same -
Sworn & Subscribed  }
this 4th day of Sept-  }  [Signed:] David McCormick
1832 before me-        }
[Signed:] Green M Tuthill Clk

State of New York }
Tioga County Ss    }   Benjamin Brink of Elmira
County and State aforesaid aged sixty nine
years and upwards being duly sworn according
to law doth depose and say that Samuel
Shoemaker, who has subscribed and sworn
to the foregoing declaration was a Lieutenant
in the company of Capt. Henry Shoemaker in
Northhampton County, Pa. and served as such
in active command in the service of the
United States from the spring of 1780 to
the fall of that year; that this deponent was
a private in the same company during that
time and onward to the close of the war.
That he this deponent understood at the time that
the said Shoemaker had been a Lieutenant
in the said company for nearly three
years previous to the spring of 1780 and
is personally knowing to his being in active
service as such officer for a part of that time
and from circumstances within his recollection
he has no doubt of his having served as a
Lieutenant from the first of July 1777 to the
fall of 1780 when, as this deponent understood he
received a Captain's Commission. --
Sworn to & subscribed this day } [Signed:] Benjamin Brink
of Sept. 1832 before me             }
Green M Tuthill Clk
Page 17

State of New York  }
Tioga County Ss     } George Norton of the
Town of Tioga in the County and State
aforesaid - aged Seventy one years and
upwards being duly sworn according to
Law doth depose and say that having
read the foregoing affidavit of Benjamin
Brine and having been a private in the
same company with him doth fully concur
in the facts stated in the said affidavit[.]
Sworn and subscribed     }
this 4th day of Sept. 1832} [Signed:] George Horton
before me --
Green M Tuthill Clk

State of New York }
Tioga County Ss    } John Hendy of Elmira in
the County and State aforesaid aged Seventy
five years being duly sworn according to
Law doth depose and say that he was
acquainted with Samuel Shoemaker who
has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing
declaration, during the Revolutionary War
and has been acquainted with him to the
present time - that the said Samuel Shoe[-]
maker was a Lieutenant in Capt. Henry
Shoemaker's Company and served as he has
stated in his said declaration; and he this
deponent was also acquainted with
Capt Henry Shoemaker --
Sworn & Subscribed this }
6th day of Sept 1832       } [Signed:] John Hendy
before me -                     }
Green M Tuthill Clk

[visible from page underneath current page - not relevant to this deposition]
men a Captain for upwards of a year
---
Page 18

====
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 Rev -
olutionary officer and served as he states[.]
     And the Court further certifies that
it appears to them that Simion R Jones
who has signed the preceeding[sic] certificate
is a Clergyman resident in Elmira Dcca -
sionally [occasionally?] but more permanently in South-
port and that Caleb Baker who has also
signed the same is a resident in the said
town of Southport and is a credible person
and that their statement is entitled to credit[.]
      And the Court further certifies that
David McCormick ^Benjamin Spink, George Norton and
John Hendy who have sworn to the foregoing
affidavits are credible persons and that
their statements are entitled to full credit[.]
  L B Baldwin First Judge

[Indented] I Green M Tuthill Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas aforesaid
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of
the said Court in the matter of
the application of Samuel Shoema-
ker for a Pension.

[Double Indented] In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
Seal of Office this 10th day
of Sept 1832 - 
[Signed:] Green M Tuthill
Page 19

17.089
INVALID.
---------
File No.___ 17089
Samuel Shoemaker
Lieut Rev War
_______
Act: June 7th 39
Index:-- Vol. 1, Page 340
( Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 20

Samuel Shoemaker
a pensioner of Pa
law 1832, I have a
letter from your office
dated 28 April '56, I
wish to see the papers
from
[signed:] Arad Joy