Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22508, for Jacob Shearer, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE                                        NUMBER
Penn.          Shearer, Jacob            S.22508
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Pennsylvania

Jacob Shearer
of Philadelphia Co. in the State of Penna
who was a Sgt in the Company command
by Captain Hector of the [illegible] command by Col Thomas in the Pennsylvania
Militia.
15 M Sgt - $75.00

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 75 Dollars per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of 
[illegible] 1833 and sent to
J.T. Watmough, Philadelphia

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 - 187.50
Semi anl. allowance ending [illegible] '34. 37.50                                                                                 
                                                                  $225.00
{Revolutionary Claim,
{June 7, 1832.
Recorded By J T Sprague Clerk
Book C Vol. 5 Page 53
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State of Pennsylvania)
County of Philadelphia)

On the Nineteenth day of October, A.D. 1833. personally appeared in open court before the Court of Quarter Sessions now sitting, Jacob Shearer a resident of Moreland township, Philadelphia County, and State of Pennsylvania, who, being first duly served according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress dated June 7th, 1833.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated to wit.
That on the 23d day of July 1776, he enlisted as a _____ for the period of one year in the 1st Company of Pennsylvania State militia under the command of Captain Thomas Porter.  That shortly after, said Company was constituted as a Regiment of artillery of which Colonel Thomas Porter was appointed Commander and Col. Thomas Forrest made Lt. Colonel, when said Shearer was appointed first Sergeant in Captain Ames' Company and detached on the recruiting service as a recruiting Sergeant in which duty he was abundantly successful in Phila City and County and the Counties of Berks, Lancaster and York that he served the period of three months over and above the regular term of his enlistment and that time is seven months pay due him
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inclusive of the three months service performed over and above his regular period of inlistment.  That but for the unfortunate loss of his house by fire in the year 1796, he would have been enabled to produce ample documents in proof of his services.  By this calamity, he was not only deprived of them but likewise of nearly all his earthly possessions.  That, notwithstanding all this, he has since been able by industry & economy & the blessing of God, to raise and educate a large family of children - That he returned home from the army in consequence of the death Bed illness of his father, by above death, which recurred a few days after, the charge of his mother & her six children (his brothers & sisters) devolved on him -  That he, the said Jacob Shearer, is now in the Seventy ninth year of his life - 
That he has since served in serious military legislative & civil appointments and that further he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or 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 and year aforesaid
Jacob Shearer

[illegible signature]
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MMHF/eel

October 17, 1928

Grace Sherer
[Crossed out] Secretary to Prosecuting Attorney
[Handwritten] To F. G. Shuey
Eaton, Ohio

Madam:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 22508, it appears that Jacob Shearer enlisted July 23, 1776 as matross in Captain Thomas Proctor’s First Company of Pennsylvania Artillery, shortly after which, he was appointed first sergeant of Captain Ames’ Company, detached in the recruiting service, and after serving fifteen months in the entire tour, returned home because of the illness of his father who died a few days after his arrival.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 19, 1833 while a resident of Moreland Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, aged seventy-eight years.
Soldier stated that at the death of his father, his mother was left with her six children, his brothers and sisters. He also stated that he (the soldier) had raised a large family of children. His place of residence at en-
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Rev. &
MMHF/er

listment is not stated, nor or any of the names of his family given.

He also stated that he had served in various military, legislative and civil appointments, but gave no details.

The above history is that of the only soldier named Jacob Shearer found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau, and the names Jacob Daniel Sherer and John Jacob Sherer do not appear on said records. All spellings of the name searched.

Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner,

Date of death not on AB
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22508
Revolution
INVALID.

File No. 22,508
Jacob Shearer
Pri    Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
[torn]ndex: - Vol. 2, Page 363

[Arrangement of 1870.]

1928 - Oct. 17 - Hist to Grace Sherer - MMHF
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In reference to the claim of Jacob Shearer of Moreland Township Philadelphia County Pa
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I Theophilus Harris, a clergyman and Justice of the Peace, residing in the County of Philadelphia hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Jacob Shearer Esqr. for nearly thirty years, who I am informed has applied for a pension under the late act of Congress granting a pension to its soldiers for services rendered in the Revolutionary War, that I believe from repeated conversations with him that he is about seventy eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed to have been in the service of the United States ["during" crossed out and "in" written above] the Revolutionary War, that I am also well acquainted with Simon Krewson and Thomas Chappel whose affidavits have been annexed to Mr. Shearer's Declaration as he informs me and I believe them to be men of veracity and fully entitled to credit
Theos. Harris

sworn and subscribed the 31st Day of Octr. AD. 1833. before me
Leonard Knight
Justice of the Peace
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Be it hereby known that I George Sheets Rector of Trinity Church Oxford & All saints Church Lower Dublin Township, Phila County, State of Penna having been personally acquainted with the within named Jacob Shearer for nearly Eighteen years do believe, from his well known character for probity that the statement made by him respecting his military services in the revolutionary war are perfectly correct, and that he is fully entitled to the testimony borne in his favor by the within named Gentlemen, & to the benefit of the act of Congress in favour of the surviving revolutionary Soldiers.
George Sheets
Novr 1st 1833

Sworn and subscribed 
Novr 1st 1833
before me Theos. Harris
Just. of the Peace
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Philadelphia County ss
I Richard Palmer Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the City & County of Philadelphia Do Hereby Certify that Leonard Knight & Theops. Harris Esquire are two of the Justices of the Peace for County of Philadelphia duly Commissioned and qualified and that full faith & credit is Justly due to all their acts as such 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court this fifth day of November A D 1833 -
R Palmer
Prothonotary
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A. G. [illegible last name]
M. C. 
[illegible initials in a different hand]

Col. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Department of War
Washington City.

[date stamp with "NOV." as the only legible word]

Addl Proof 
Jacob Shearer 
Pa
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Dear Sir

I have the pleasure to forward you additional documents, duly authenticated, confirmatory of Jacob Shearer's claim for revolutionary pension - 

In the hope to hear shortly from you,
I am Dear Sir,
with great respect
yr obt servt
Jn. G. Ha[illegible] 
Philada Aug 5, 1833

Col. James L. Edwards
Comr. of Pensions -
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27 324
Jacob Shearer
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County of Philadelphia ss
Personally appeared before me Benjamin Crispin, Esquire one of the Justices of the peace for the County of Philadelphia state of Pennsylvania, Simon Krewson a citizen of said county who being qualified according to law deposes & says - - That deponent is aged about 78. - years and has served himself in the war of the revolution & that during that period and since deponent was & now is well acquainted with Jacob Shearer, Esquire of Moreland township in the County aforesaid and that in the year 1776 said Shearer enlisted as a soldier in the revolutionary army and served in Captain Proctor's company of artillery - That said Shearer was stationed at the fort at Mud island where deponent went for the purpose of paying a visit to said Shearer but at that time did not find him there the said Shearer being then out on the recruiting service  deponent further recollects said Shearer's return home from the army and further deponent sayeth not 
Simon Krewson

Sworn and subscribed before me justice of the peace for the County aforesaid this tenth day of October 1833.
Benjamin Crispin       seal

Philadelphia County ss
I Richard Palmer Prothonotary of the Court of Common Please for the County of Philadelphia Do hereby testify that Benjamin Crispin Esquire is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Philadelphia duly Commissioned & qualified, and that full faith & Credit is Justly due to all his acts as such

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court the 19th day of October A D 1833
R Palmer
Prothy
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Philadelphia County ss:

I Richard Palmer Prothy of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Philadelphia Do Hereby Certify that Leonard Knight Esqr. is a Justice of the peace for the County of Philadelphia duly commissioned & qualified and that full faith & Credit is Justly due to all his acts as such

In Witness Whereof I have herewith set my name and affixed the Seal of Said Court this 19th day of October AD 1833
R Palmer
Prothy
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Personally appeared before me Leonard Knight, Esquire one of the Justices of the peace for the County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, Thomas Chappell a citizen of said County who being qualified according to law deposes and says. That deponent is aged about 73 years and has served himself in the war of the revolution that during that period and since deponent was well acquainted with Jacob Shearer Esquire of Moreland township in the county aforesaid and that in the year 1776 said Shearer enlisted as a Soldier in the revolutionary army and served in Captain Proctors company of artillery and further deponent sayeth not
Thos Chappell

Affirmed and subscribed before me one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Philadelphia this sixteenth day of October 1833
Leonard Knight,              seal
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and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states; and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Simon Krewson & Thomas Chappell, who have signed the annexed certificates are residents [text crossed out] in the said County of Philada. and credible persons & that their statements are entitled to belief - 
Edward King 

I Richard Palmer ["Clerk" crossed out and "Prothonotary" written above] of the Court of [text crossed out and "Common Pleas" written above] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jacob Shearer for Pension.  In testimony hereof I have hereunto sett [set] my hand & seal of office this seventeenth day of October A. D. 1833
R Palmer
Prothy
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Jn. G. Hatmond
                N.C.

Col. James L. Edwards
        Commissioner of Pensions
                    War Office
                          Washington, D.C.


Admitted
15 months
(Sergt) of Act
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Dear Sir,

   I enclose you the declaration & duly authenticated papers of a highly respectable fiend (??) constituted who has been dated from applying before because of a mistaken idea that the (illegible) of the previous law (illegible) to the applicant's poverty (illegible) was still in force.  I am happy to have it in my power to add my own testimony to that (illegible) sent of old M. Shearer's high respectability of character is all respects - I beg you will add one more to the many favors I have already acknowledged at your hands and give us your reply to the present application as early as possible  - In addition to the enclosed, I shall have the pleasure to forward you early in the week, the certificate of the Shearer's Clergyman, at the it does not appear to be necessary.

                           I am Dear Sir,
                           with undersigned (illegible)
                           Your Obt Svt.
                                   //s//
                            Jn. G. Hartmongh
                            Philada. Oct. 19th, 1833

Col. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of
               Pension
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F. G. Shuey
Attorney-at-Law
Eaton, Ohio

October 10, 1928

United States Department of Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen,

    I am looking up record of one Jacob Daniel (Scherrer, Scherer) Sherer and also any record on one John Jacob Sherer to find whether or not either of them served in the Revolution.  I found in a library in Toledo, in "Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy", edited by Frederick A Virkus, the following:

"Jacob Daiel (Scherrer, Sherer) Sherer, born 1730, son of Nicholas of the Rhine Palatinat, came to Philadelphia, Pa. in the "Richard and Mry" 1752, changed the original Swiss spelling to Sherer, settled in Berks County, Pa., removed to Guildford County, North Carolina, Minute in the American Revolution Man.  Married Hannah Sophia Dick."

    I wonder if you could find for me in the records in Washington any record of pensions having been paid to either of these men, with the information, if it is available, of the county from which they enlisted, together with the Regiment, Company etc.

    Any expense incurred in the certified copies of same will be gladly forwarded in advance if you desire.

    Trusting that you will give this your attention.  I wrote you under date of Sept. 20 but have received no reply.

                                 Most sincerely yours,
                                           //s//
                                      Grace Sherer

(Date stamp)
PENSION
      A
   OCT
U. 15 S.
   1928
  OFFICE
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PROSECUTING ATTORNEY OF PREBLE COUNTY
F. C. SHUEY, PROSECUTOR
EATON, OHIO

September 20, 1928

United States Dept. of Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:

I am looking for any record of Revolutionary service for one Jacob Daniel Sherer (Scherrer or Scherer) you might have as to pensions being paid to him; also any that might have been paid to John Jacob Sherer, who would have enlisted from Guilford County, N. C. Any other records that you may have of these men as to dates of [text crossed out] birth, marriage, parents etc will be greatly appreciated.

I am looking for this information for
membership to D. A. R. and will be glad to pay
for the certified copies of any records you have.

Trusting that you will give this some
consideration and assuring you that I will compensate you for same in usual fee, I am
Most sincerely yours,
Grace Sherer
Secretary to Prosecuting Attorney,
Preble County, Ohio

P. S. I might add for your assistance that I found in Toledo Public Library in "Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy" edited by Frederick A. Virkus, the following: "Jacob Daniel (Scherrer or Scherer ) Sherer born in 1730, son of Nicholas of the Rhine Palatinate, came to Philadelphia, Pa., in the "Richard and Mary " 1752, changed the original Swiss spelling Scherrer to Sherer, settled in Berks County, Pa., removed to Guilford County, N. C. Minute Man in the Amer. Revolution. M. Hannah Sophia Dick"