Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 15580, for Abraham Keller, Virginia
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SERVICE                                                   NUMBER
Va                Keller, Abraham                R.15580
                                                           Va. Half Pay

                                                   N.A. Acc. No. 874
                                              See 050096 Half Pay
                                              Abraham Keller
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Act July 5, 1832, Abm 
Keller decd.
March 26, 1845.
Recorded Vol 43,
page 162

half pay
Abm Keller
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Pension Office
March 26 1845                                
I certify that I have examined the claim of the administrator of the late Abraham Keller, who was a Captain of Infantry in the State Troops of Virginia during the Revolutionary War, and who left the service when the regiment to which he belonged was disbanded
in December 1781; and I find that the claim
is embraced by the act of July 5, 1832, entitled
"an act to provide for liquidating and paying certain claims of the State of Virginia;" and that he was killed by the Indians in April 1786. I therefore certify that he administrator William H. Todd, of Arkansas, is entitled to half-pay under said act at the rate of Two Hundred and Forty Dollars per annum from the 31st of December 1781 to the 1st of April 1786.
Commissioner of Pensions
Approved
Secretary of War

Enter this at the Regt. Act 5 July 1832
No. 285
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Capt A Keller
case
aft [affidavit] of A Keller
Capt Abm Keller
5 July 32
Wm H. Todd
Sept 9 46
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The Affideit [affidavit] of Abraham Keller taken
in Jefferson County Ky on the 12th day
of May 1846. Deponent states that he
is now in the 65th year of his age and is now living in vicinity of his birth and states that he is one of the sons of Isaac Keller who was killed by the Indians on 8th of April 1786 in company with Col Christian. That Captain Abraham Keller of the Illinois Regt [regiment] was this Deponent's uncle. the brother of Dept [deponent's] father, that deponents mother long survived her husband, and deponent states
that he was not old enough to know any
thing of his uncle Abraham, but was in
the 5th year of age & recollects the morning his father left home to go against the Indians. when he fell, Captain Abraham Keller as this deponent has always understood was wounded by the Indians, and so soon after his particular recovery as he could ride he come to the house of Deponent's father at ^or near^ the present residence of Deponent where he remained, and in the winter & spring of 1784 deponent's father collected a lot of furs & peltsoris [pelts] & furnished a horse and loaded him with beaver & other skins & Capt Keller Set out to Richmond Va with the furs & was killed by the Indians at the Cumberland Gap as in the Spring (the exact time not recollected) of 1784 as Deponent is informed about two years before the fall of Deponents father. Captain Abraham Keller left a widow he thinks Mary. that she Mrs Keller had a daughter, that was born after the death of Capt Keller that
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that the child of Capt Keller Mary died
soon after its birth, that Mary Keller the
Widow intermarried with Wm Lynn who
lived many years at Shipping port, and then removed to Missouri as Deponent is informed where said Lynn & his wife had a large family of children. that Capt A Keller left Jacob Keller his elder brother
whose son Abraham died in Bourbon, Ky a few years ago - that Deponent
States that he is uncertain from information whether Jacob Keller the elder brother of Capt Abraham Keller died before Capt Keller or not. but certain it is that Jacob Keller left an only son Abraham who died leaving a family on Bourbon County Ky a few years since, Deponent states that he has got the information as to the time of
Captain Abraham Keller's death by
conversations that he his had with his mother and other persons who knew the fact. and he has never had different impression, touching the fact, and his now of opinion that Capt Keller fell as before stated in the spring of 1784. at the Cumberland Gap further Deponent saith not
Sworn to and subscribed
Abraham Keller
State of Kentucky
Jefferson County a Justice of the peace
in for said County County hereby certify
that Abraham Keller came before me
& made oath to the truth of the
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foregoing deposition to the best of his knowledge & belief
I further Certify that Capt A Keller is a man of good character and Standing this 12th day of May 1846
JP.
Commonwealth of Kentucky}
Jefferson County} SS.
I, Curran Pope Clerk of the County Court of the County Aforesaid do Certify that George Hikes Esqr whose name is subscribed to the above and foregoing certificate was at the time of signing the same, and is still, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly Commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts.
In Testimony whereof I have thereunto Set my hand & affixed the Seal of Said County this 12th day of May eighteen hundred and forty six.
Curran Pope Clk
by W. J. Johnson D.C.
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August 26, 1938
BA-J/EEL
Abraham Keller-R.15580
Mrs. Emma C. Vetter
#208 E. 41" Street
Norfolk, Virginia
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Captain Abraham Kellar or Keller, of Shenandoah County, Virginia and John Clore, of Madison County, Virginia.
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file in this office based upon the miliary service in the Revolutionary War of a John Clore, Clower or similar spelling. Such claims are the source of the data furnished by this office.
It is suggested that as a possible means of obtaining information in regard is the miliary service of that soldier, you apply to The Adjutant General, War Department, this city, who is custodian of miliary records.
You are furnished herein the record of Abraham Keller, the only soldier of that name or similar spelling that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office, the data for which were obtained from the papers filed in claim under R. 15580, based upon the miliary service of Abraham Keller in that war.
The date and place of birth and names of the parents of Abraham Keller are not shown.
Abraham Keller served as captain in the Illinois Regiment, Virginia troops, Revolutionary War and continued in service until in December, 1781. The place of his residence at the time he entered the service and the date are not stated.
In 1846, Abraham Keller, son of Isaac Keller, the latter a brother of Captain Abraham Keller, stated that he was in the sixty-fourth year of his age and that he was residing in the vicinity of his birth, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, and that his uncle, Captain

Jno Heitman also in Ill. Regt. as receiving 4000 acres of land - Warrant issued after his death
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Abraham Keller came to his father's (Isaac Keller's) home after
being wounded by the Indians and remained until the spring of
1784; that at that time, his father, Isaac, leaded a horse with
the pelts of beaver and other animals and sent his brother, Captain
Abraham Keller, with the furs to Richmond, and on the road
thither, at Cumberland Gap, Abraham Keller, his uncle, was killed.
He stated further that Captain Abraham Heller was survived by a
widow, Mary, date and place of her birth and maiden name not shown,
and that after Captain Keller's death, a daughter was born, who
lived but a short time after birth; that later, Mary Keller married
William Lynn, by whom she had a number of children and lived for
many years at Shippingport, state not given and eventually moved to
Missouri, County not stated. It was not stated by Abraham
Keller whether his uncle, Captain Abraham Keller and his wife Mary,
had other children than the daughter who died in infancy and the
names of the children of Mary Keller Lynn are not stated nor is
the date of death of Mary given.
About 1845, William H. Todd, of Arkansas, administrator of
the estate of Captain Abraham Keller, the Revolutionary War soldier, was granted Virginia half pay on account of the service of
this officer.
Jacob Keller, an older brother of Captain Abraham Keller,
lived in Bourbon County, Kentucky, Jacob Keller had an only son,
Abraham Keller, who died in Bourbon County, sometime prior to 1846,
leaving a family, names not given.
There are no further family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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(Allowed),
Keller
X
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Nov. 7, 1845.
Rec to the case of 
Abraham Keller,
June 5, 1832
Comm.
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Washington City 5th Nov 1845
Dear Sir
I have ascertained from the examination of a certificate Given by Major George Wall found in the Registers office at Richmond Va on which Capt Abr [Abraham] Kellers Va Line warrant was drawn, that Capt Abraham Keller was killed by the Indians prior to the time that the evidence shows him to have fell, and the claim has been allowed by the Hon [Honorable] Coms [Commissioner] of Pensions for half pay under the Act of July 5th 1832 for more money than was actually due to his representatives, which fact I learned when at Richmond last.
So Soon therefore as the precise time of his death Shall be made appear I bind myself to refund to the United States the amount of money overpaid me as the admr [administrator] of A Kelly Decd [deceased] in reasonable Time
Wm H Todd
To The Honl [Honorable] Commissioner of Pensions
Present
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[left side of page]
No. 15580
[crossed out REJECTED]
[crossed out ACT OF FEBRUARY 14, 1871.]
[crossed out WAR OF 1812]
[crossed out 3177]
Abraham Keller
Capt
Va Infy
Revolution
Discharged ____, 18
4079
H'f. Pay ____ Act 32
Received ____, 187
Attorney

[right side of page]
1909 Feby 6 Hist to John W. Keller V.L.M.
1938 - Aug. 26. Hist to Mrs Emma C. Vetter - ES
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Feb 22d 45
Capt Abm Keller
Hon. [Honorable] G Davis
H or R [House of Representatives]
Col. J. L. Edwards
Pension Bureau
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Mr Davis of Ky presents his respects to Col. Edwards, & requests him to attend to this case of the heirs of Capt Abram Keller a soldier of the Revolution. These people and residents of Mr Davis's county, & he would be glad to be able to inform [caret] them of the fate of their application on his return Home. M Todd is ^ administrator &c
21st Feby 1845
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CONTRACT 
OFFICIAL
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS OVER $1,000,000
FIDELITY
JUDICIAL
Rec Enc
The Title Guaranty & Surety Company
JOSEPH A. SINN, MANAGER SURETY DEPARTMENT
LOUIS A. WATRES
PRESIDENT
FRED C. WILLIAMS, RESIDENT MANAGER,
84 WILLIAM STREET,
TELEPHONE 385 JOHN
JOHN W. KELLER
RESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT
GRANT L. BELL
TREASURER
GEORGE W. YUENGLING
RESIDENT SECRETARY
NEW YORK, Jan 21 1909
The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
At the suggestion of the Adjutant General, U.S.A., I write to ascertain if you have any record of Capt. Abraham Keller, who served for more than three years in Gen. Geo. Rogers Clark's Illinois Regiment, Virginia State Line, and who was killed in service prior to April 26 1784. I have copies of two instruments that refer to land grants to Abraham Keller as the Heir-at-law to Capt Abraham Keller (dec'd) and as the Heir-at-law to Jacob Keller (dec'd). The latter is signed by Edmund Randolph, Gov. or Va. June 20, 1788, and relates to 500 acres of land surveyed Feb. 26, 1784, in Fayette Co. Ky., which was granted on "Preemption Treasury Warrant, No. 48" issued Feb. 21 1780.
The other document refers to 3030 acres of Ky. land surveyed for Mary Keller on a military land warrant of 4000 acres issued to her as representation of Capt. Abraham Keller (dc'd). This land was in a district set aside for the officers and soldiers of the Virginia State Line and was claimed by Abraham Keller as heir-at-law to Capt. Abraham Keller (dec'd). These lands were also held first by Patrick Simpson under patent July 25 [caret] 1798 and then by William Croghan Dec. 5 1798. The instrument in my possession is dated May 4 1812 and is a settlement of the claims of Abraham Keller and Wm Croghan.
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Record Division.
February 6, 1909.
Mr. John W. Keller,
#84 William Street,
New York City, N. Y.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 21" and received the 22" ultimo, you are advised that in the claim for half pay under the Act of July 5, 1832, (R. File No. 15,580,) it appears that Captain Abraham Keller of the Illinois regiment, War of the Revolution, was killed by Indians at Cumberland Gap in the Spring of 1784. He left a widow, Mary, whose maiden mane and date of marriage are not stated. A daughter born after her husband's death died soon after its birth.
She remarried William Lynn, date not stated and had a large family of children.
Application for half pay was made by soldier's nephew Abraham Keller in Jefferson County, Kentucky, Mary 12, 1846 at which time he was sixty-four years old.
This Bureau had no information in regard to the documents referred to in your letter.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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3-871.
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by L. D. L
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant Capt.
Soldier Abraham Keller
Service Va
Additional Service Rev. War
No ____ claim, State records ____, 190____
No claim, combination records ____, 190____
REMARKS:
No claim, except
Ref: #15580
No admitted B. L.
Jan 26, 1909  [illegible]
0-8 Chief Division
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Veterans Administration
Washington D.C.
Dear Sirs:
Please tell me if you have a Revolutionary War record of pension for
(1) Capt. Abraham Kellar (Kellor)
Shenandoah County Virginia
and
(2) John Clore Clore Close
of 
Madison County Virginia
Thanking you, I am 
Very truly,
(Mrs) Emma C. Vetter
208-E-41 St
Norfolk Virginia
Page 20

CONTRACT
OFFICIAL
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS OVER $1,000,000
FIDELITY
JUDICIAL
The Title Guaranty & Surety Company
JOSEPH A. SINN, MANAGER SURETY DEPARTMENT
LOUIS A. WATRES
PRESIDENT
FRED C. WILLIAMS, RESIDENT MANAGER, 
84 WILLIAM STREET,
TELEPHONE 385 JOHN
JOHN W. KELLER
RESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT
GRANT L. BELL
TREASURER
GEORGE W. YUENGLING
RESIDENT SECRETARY
NEW YORK,
I am trying to fix the origin of Captain Abraham Keller and the date of his marriage and the maiden name of his wife. Have you any record of Captain Abraham Keller or his "representative, Mary Keller," or of his heir-at-law, Abraham Keller? What is "Presumption Treasury Warrant, No 48 [crossed out and] which was issued Feb. 21, 1780? Is it a U.S. document or a Virginia State document? Where did Patrick Simpson live when he obtained the patent dated July 25 1798?
I shall esteem it a favor if you will answer these questions or advise me when I may obtain answers to them.
Respectfully Yours
John W Keller
P.S. The purpose of this letter is to establish a clear line of descent from Capt. Abraham Keller
JWK
{PENSION A JAN 22 1909 U.S. OFFICE}