Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9554, for Henry Strunk, Pennsylvania
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(8-1776)

SERVICE
PENN

STRUNK, HENRY

NUMBER
R.9554
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State of Pennsylvania }
   Monroe County       }    SS

On this second day oi March one thousand eight hundred and forty three personally appeared before Joseph Keller one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County. Henry Strunk a resident of the Township of Smithfield in the County of Monroe and State of Pennsylvania aged eighty two years, 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 7, 1832.  That he [illegible] the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated -  That he  was born in Springfield Township Bucks County, Pennsylvania on the eighth day of May in the year  seventeen hundred and sixty -- that he has not any record of his age - That he was living in Bethlehem Township Northampton County Pennsylvania when he entered the service, that after the Revolutionary War he continued to reside in Bethlehem Township but for the last thirty years has lived in Smithfield Township in the County of Monroe aforesaid where he now lives. That he entered the service as a private in the militia as a substitute for his brother William in the Month of November in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven -- Adam 
Waggoner was Captain and Abraham Berlin First Lieutenant of the Company he belonged to --The he joined at Easton and there stood guard over the prisoners of Burgoynes army -- that part of the Company was with Gouatch a French Officer and Captain of light horses, who took the prisoners to Fort Pitt -- that he remained with the remainder of the Company at Easton until he was discharged --  He remained in the service at this time for two months and got his discharge, signed by Adam Waggoner and Abraham Berlin, which had been since lost.  That by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot mention particularly the different periods of the war when he served -- That in the months of January or February seventeen hundred
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and seventy eight his  [illegible] team was prepared by Major Boyd and Major Smith, and  he was compelled to go with them as  driver to Valley Forge  where General Washington was encamped -- that when he got there he was not suffered to depart however, but was engaged there in hauling hay oats corn  for the army that above another period of the  War he went from Easton to Boston with a Continental team and got French muskets and bayonets and brought them to Easton and from there took them to Fort Pitt and after he returned was engaged in hauling provisions and  baggage for the army - and at this time got his discharge, which was signed by Colonel Hooper, but which has since been lost -  That at another time he was draughted in the Militia and served as a private for two months Philip Reeson was Captain, Christian Engle Ensign and Andrew Kechline First Lieutenant - that the company at this time met and formed at the Windgap in Northampton County Pennsylvania and marched from there to Stroudsburg and from there to Bushkill in said County - That they were called out at this time to guard the country from the Indians, {illegible }  having left that part of the country during winter season, the Company was discharged - he got no written discharge at this time - He knows of no surviving - [illegible] by whom he can prove that he  was in the service - that he is known to George Bush, Philip Storch and Peter Trible who live in his neighborhood and can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution.  He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except [ink smeared most of line] and declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of the agency of any state.  
Sworn to and subscribed}             His
this   day  and  year        }   Henry  X  Strunk
aforesaid  before  me     }            Mark

Joseph Keller Judge
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State of Pennsylvania }
         Monroe County}   SS

Personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County - Henry Strunk, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequential loss of memory he cannot swear to or witness the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than six months as a private in the Militia and for such service he claims a pension.  

Sworn to and subscribed }              His
before  me  the  second  }   Henry   X   Strunk 
day of March A.D. 1843  }             Mark

Joseph Keller, Judge

We George Bush, Philip Novack and Peter Trible residing in the Township of Smithfield in the County of Monroe and State of Pennsylvania hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Strunk who has subscribed and sworn in the foregoing declaratory ; That we believe him to be Eighty two years of age; That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in your opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed } George Bush
before  me  the  Second  } Philip Novack
day  of  March   1843      }  Peter Trible
 
  Joseph Keller Judge

I, Joseph Keller one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the before named applicant Henry Strunk was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he stated and I do further certify that it appears to me that George Bush, Philip Novack and Peter Trible who have [illegible] the preceding certificate are residents in the Township of Smithfield in the County of Monroe and that their statement is entitled to credit. And I do also certify that Henry Strunk the applicant 
[illegible]  cannot from bodily infirmity,  attend the Court.  In Testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand this Second day  of March A.D. 1843.

Joseph Keller Judge
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[Page 5 is backwards, not able to read]
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____Ex'r.      INVALID

[STAMPED - REJECTED]

[Name is blacked out]

Acts of July 14, 1862 and March 8, 1878 [crossed out]

9,554

Henry Shunk 

Service:  [b lank]

Enlisted: [blank]   , 18  .

Discharged: [blank[  , 18  .

Application filed:  [blank]   , 18  .

Alleges:   [blank]  

Re-enlisted:  [blank]

Attorney:  [blank]

P.O.  [blank]
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[Left side]

Let to Wm. Davis Apl 15th '43

{Right side]

4  No 35-482

Henry Shunk Pa.

[ illegible]w

Let Hon. Miller Dimonick 22 June 185[?]

9552

Act 7th June 1832
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Dingmans Ferry Penna. March 15" 1843

J. L. Edwards Esq./ Dear/ I am informed that George Bush + Henry Strunk have made applications for pensions I am personally acquainted with them as Soldiers  They are men of [illegible] and [illegible] Integrity 
and if the statements made by them should bring them within the law for a pension I trust they will be successful I am sir In haste 
yours truly +

John Rothrock
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 Washington June 9/50

Dear Sir.

I send you enclosed the declaration of Henry Strunk of Penna.

And I herby certify that I am personally + well acquainted with the character and Handwriting of Auther Vauwhy and John Yettu, the witnesses to said declaration and the witnesses are persons of good moral character and thus are entitled to belief and credit.  

Frank Yarns
M. M. Dimminck

Col. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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Hon. M M Dimmicke

Washington City

{Postal stamp illegible}
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Hon. M. M. Dimmish

Dear Sir,  

I received your letter stating that the Henry Strunks Pension had been  rejected  by the Commission on the account of Part of his service having been that of a Teamster  I wish you would call an the commissioner and have an interview with him and urge the case through if [illegible].  

I wish you would let me no how the case of Willilam Adams is coming on and also if there has been any new pension law passed this session that will bring in the cases of Peter [illegible] and William Pierce. 

It's in the papers Congress was about passing a general bounty land Bill to all soldiers I should like to no if that had past.  

[elligible] you will oblige me  very much

yours truly
Robert Brown

August 17-52


[Round postal stamp,
too blurry to read]
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State of Pennsylvania}
  County of Monroe  }   SS

On this 22nd day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty personally appeared before me Moses W. Coolbough  one of the associate Judges of the several Courts of Monroe County, Henry Strunk  of Smithfield Township in said County aged about ninety two years (who I do hereby certify is unable from bodily infirmity to appear in open Court and therefore this declaration is taken at his residence) who being first duly sworn according to law, doth in his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.  

That he was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the year 1758 and when a boy 
removed with his father to Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, State aforesaid and entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.  

I entered the service of the United States I think in the latter part of 1776 a beginning of 1777, my  father (then residing in Bethlehem Township)  sent me in the place of my brother William Strunk who was enlisted and came home sick. I entered the service at Easton Pennsylvania and was put to [illegible] teams. I with others, was sent to Boston to bring muskets and bayonets, and we took them to [illegible] was wagon master.  I was in service at this time full three months I am confident.  In October or November 1777I was drafted as a maletia [militia] man in the Pennsylvania Maletia [Militia], for two months --  I was taken to Easton
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Pennsylvania when I was stationed as guard over the malitia stores and some prisoners.  I remained at that place (Easton) until my two months had expired and then received a discharge.  My discharge is lost and I cannot tell what has become of it.

In the winter of 1778 I was pressed  and taken to Valley Forge where the army lay under General Washington. I drove a Continental Teanm a man by the name of Smith was wagon master.  I was out in the service at this time something over three months but to be certain he only  swears to three months.  

In 1779 I was again drafted as a Maletiaman [Militiaman] for two months, and marched to Minisink above the Blue Mountains, now Pike County Pennsylvania under Captain Engle and Colonel Andrew Kichline, we first went to a place called Fort Penn near Stroudsburg Monroe County Pa; from there we went to Gunsales at a creed called Bushkill;  from Gunsales we went to Brinks Block House on the Delaware near Pike County, Pa.  At this latter place we were stationed to repel the Indians from the neighbourhood; while there we had several scouting parties in search of the Indians; we remained there until my time was out. I got a discharge, but it is lost, and I cannot tell where it is. I returned to Bethlehem 
Township Northampton County, Pennsylvania, I    remained there a few years, and then came above the blue mountain in the same (Northampton) near Monroe County, where I have resided ever since, I have no record of my age, but to the best of my knowledge and recollection and information I believe I am about ninety
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two years old. I cannot now recollect the names of any more of the officers than those I have already stated, that he knows of no person who can testify to his service, that he has no documentary evidence, and there is no clergyman in his neighborhood where  attendance can be proven. 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 Pennsylvania; and further that he has never received any pay for the aforesaid services. 

When I say I was pressed in 1778 and taken to Valley Forge, I mean my father's team was pressed and I went and drove it as previously stated.  I nor my father never received any  pay for it.
Sworn and Subscribed}            His
before me this 22nd   }  Henry   X   Strunk
day, March  AD 1850  }           Mark
M. W. Coolbaugh
Associate Judge
Signed in the presence of Henry Strunk

And I the said Moses W. Coolbaugh do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  

M. W. Coolbaugh Associate Judge
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State of Pennsylvania }
     Monroe County     }   SS

The Arthur Bannly and John Yollie residing in the Township of Middle + Lower Smithfield hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with  Henry Strunk who has subscribed and sworn to the forgoing declaration, that we believe him to be about ninety two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion without hesitation.                      His
Sworn and subscribed}   Arthur   X   Bramby
2uth day of May 1850}             Mark
 M. H. Dreher, Prothy       Johanne [illegible]

And the said Court de hereby declare their opinion 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 Arthur Bannby and John Yetter who have signed the preceding certificate are crediible persons and  their statement is entitled to credit.

N. B. Edwards, President
M. W. Coolbaugh, Associate
[illegible] Stokes  Associate

State of Pennsylvania }
     Monroe County     }  SS
I Michael D. Dreher Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said county do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Henry Strunk for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and the seal of said Court at Stroudsburg this first day of June Eighteen hundred and fifty.  

M. H. Dreher, Prothy