Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,073, Christian Acker, Penn.
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[A form or index card]

(3-1776)

SERVICE                                         NUMBER
Penn.       Acker, Christian             S. 22,073

CONTENTS
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18,910
Pennsylvania

Christian Acker of Lehigh Co. in the State of Penn a/" [the letter a atop a horizontal line, a quotation mark below said line]  who was a Pr in the Company commanded by Captain _______ of the Regt commanded by Colonel Straus in the Penn a/" [as above] [crossed out word] Militia. 

6 months [illegible] $20

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 20 Dollars ------Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of October 1833 --- sent to --- Pensionier, North Whiteside -- Lehigh Co.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 ----50
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34   10
                                                            $60.00

Revolutionar Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by J. T. Sprague, Clerk, 
Book 6       Vol. 5       Page 1-----
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[an entry on the back of one of the handwritten pages]

256.795
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State of Pennsylvania ┃
Lehigh County to wit  |

Before John Fogel [illegible] Judges of the several Courts of the said County of Lehigh. 

On the 5 day of July 1833 at the Township of North witehall in the said County of Lehigh, at the dwelling house of the following applicant, personally appeared before the above named John Fogel Christian Acker who being duly
Sworn deposeth and saith, that by reason of old
age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his Service, but according to the best of his recolections he served not less then the periods mentioned below, and in the following Grades. 

That he now makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7 day of June 1832 - 

that he entered the service of the united States under the following officers and Service as
herein stated that is to say, in the year 1777 in the month of September in said year that he resided in Macungie Township in the County of (at that time Northampton) now Lehigh & at that time belonged to the 7th Class of Militia of Pennsylvania as the militia was Classed at that time that he was drafted & placed under the command of Capt Presler and attached to the regiment Come
---
●
manded by Col. Geiger, and marched from said
Northampton County State of Pennsylvania to the
State of New Jersey to Elizabeth Town point, and
remained there for some time and from there they where
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marched to Germantown near Philadelphia the Brittish Being at that time in Philadelphia. General Washington was there & General Bull Commanded the army.  that he remained in service for a Time of two month duty as a private
Militiaman & at the Excperation of said Service he was dismissed and returned home; 

and that in the month of October in the year 1778. he was again Drafted and mustered in the Company commanded by Capt. Knappenberger. and attached to the regiment Commanded by Col Straut and where marched from said Northhampton County to what was called the Wyoming Country in the County of Luzerne State of Pennsylvania, aginst the Indians who were at
that time murdering the Inhabitence of that Country and that he remained in Service for Two months as a private militiaman, and after the said the Said time of Two months had expired he was dismissed & he whent home.

and that in the month of May 1779. Lenord Stininger of witehall Township in the said County of Lehigh, was drafted (the Class to which he belonged is not recollected by Your applicant) for actual service, and that he this applicant went as a substitute for said Lenord Stininger, under the command of Capt. Grenemayer and attached to the regiment commanded by Col Kern. that they were marched from said Township of witehall on the north-west side of the Blue Mountain and where stationed from the river Lehigh along the mahoning Creek for the protection of the Inhabitens against the Indians who were at
that time murdering the Inhabadens in that County.
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[This is s a truncated copy of the prior page]

and that he served as a private militiaman as a substitute a Ture of Two month duty and at the Experations of said Tures he was dismissed & whent home.

In reply to the questions put by the said Judge according to the instructions of the war department -- the said Christian Acker makes the following reply-

1.- I was born in Macungie Township, then in the
County of Northampton now Lehigh County Pa in the year 1755 the 25th day of December  

2.  and that he lived in said Macungie Township when he was called into Service each Time, and has lived in the Townships of Lowhill, weisenberg  & north witehall since his return & that he now lives in the said Township of north witehall

3.  a Certificate of my birth & baptism that was Taken from the record of the Church,

I served as a private militia
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[This is a truncated copy of the prior page]

and that he served as a private militiaman as a substitute a Line of Two month duty and at the Experations of said Tours he was dismissed & whent home.

In reply to the questions put by the said Judge according to the instructions of the war department -- the said Christian Acker makes the following reply-

1.- I was born in Macungie Township, then in the
County of Northampton now Lehigh County Pa in the year 1755 the 25th day of December.

2. and that he lived in said Macungie Township when he was called into Service each Time, and has lived in the Townships of Lowhill, weisenberg & north witehall since his return & that he now lives in the said Township of north witehall

3. a Certificate of my birth & baptism that was Taken from the record of the Church,

4. the first & second Tures of duty I served as a private I served as a private militia man & the third Ture I served as a Substitute for Leonerd Steninger, as stated in the forgoing declaration 

5. I cannot recolect the names of any other officers those mentioned in my declaration

6. When the Tures of Services of the miltia expired they were dismi[illegible] forth our discharge so far as I know  I do not recolect of having received a written discharge
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7. I have no other evidence to [crossed out] or witnesses as those officers & Soldiers who had been out with me are Either dead or have removed into the western Counties, Except the
Testimony of Henry Koch who had been my nearesd Neabour when I entered the army and returned home. - Jacob Mayer & Benjamin Fogel Can testify as to my character for veracity & their belief of my serving as a soldier of the Revolution

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or anuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to and Subscribed   }
this 5- day of July 1833     }
Christian Acker

Before me
John Fogel the judge aforesaid
State of Pennsylvania    }
Lehigh County to wit    }


On the 5 day of July 1833 personally appeared before John Fogel the judge aforesaid Henry Koch aged Eighty seven years & upwards and after being duly sworn according to law deposeth and said that he now knows & has known Christian Acker the foregoing applicant from the time of his birth.- that he well knows that the said applicant had served as a private militiaman in the Revolutionary War for himself and as a substitute for Leonard Stininger - as I and the said applicant have lived adjoining farms all the time of the revlutionary war, and I [illegible] that
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I saw the said applcant marching to the army and
returning home from the army.- 

Sworn to & subscribed
this 5th day of July 1833-
Before me
John Fogel the judge aforesaid
State of Pennsylvania}
Lehigh County to wit}

his X mark [written vertically)
Henry Jack

Jacob Mayer & Benjamin Fogel
Citizens of said County of Lehigh

Being duly sworn according to law do depose & say that they are now well acquaited with, and have Long known Christian Acker. the Applicant in the forgoing declaration and belive that he is of the age he declares himself to be in said declaration we also believe that he is a man of truth & veracity.  we also know that it is generally belived in this Neighborhood where he resides that he served in the militia in the revolutionary war and we Concur in that belief -

Jacob Mayer
Benjamin Fogel
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I saw the said applcant marching to the army and
returning home from the army.- 

Sworn to & subscribed
this 5th day of July 1833-
Before me
John Fogel the judge aforesaid
State of Pennsylvania}
Lehigh County to wit}

his X mark [written vertically)
Henry Jack

Jacob Mayer & Benjamin Fogel
Citizens of said County of Lehigh

Being duly sworn according to law do depose & say that they are now well acquaited with, and have Long known Christian Acker. the Applicant in the forgoing declaration and belive that he is of the age he declares himself to be in said declaration we also believe that he is a man of truth & veracity.  we also know that it is generally belived in this Neighborhood where he resides that he served in the militia in the revolutionary war and we Concur in that belief -

Sworn to & Subscribed
the 5th day of July 1833
Before me
John Fogel the judge aforesaid

Jacob Mayer
Benjamin Fogel
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and the said judge 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 Served in the Revolutionary war, as he has stated, and the said judge further certify it appears to him, and what he knows of his own knowledge that [illegible name] Mayer & Benjamin Fogel, who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents in the County of Lehigh, and are creditable persons and that there statement is entitled to the utmost Credit. And the said Judge further certify that he is well acquainted with the said Henry Koch who signise the forgoing deposition, that the said Henry Koch is a person of Great truth and veracity and that I the said Judge have the utmost confidence in his statement to the revolutionary services of the applicant named in the forgoing declaration, and I the said Judge do further certify that I have know the aforesaid applicant this forty years & had often conversations with him concerning his services in the Revolutionary war and always believed that his statement was true and I the said judge do also certify that there is no Clergyman residing nearer then seven or eight Miles to the residence of the said applicant
Except parson dubbs, who only about a year ago 
came in that neighborhood & he cannot have any knowledge of the said applicant, and it would be too [illegible] and I also certify that the
applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend in cout. 

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand this  day of July 1833

John Fogal the judge aforesaid
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[Note: This appears to be a close-up, cropped copy of the prior page]

State of Pennsylvania   }
Lehigh County to wit    }

personally appeared before John Page the above name judge Andrew Rupp aged Seventy three Years & upwards, who being duly sworn according to law, thus depose & say that he is now well acquainted & has long known Christian Acker the app licant named in the for forgoing declaration and this deponent further saith that he & the said applicant served together a Ture of Two month duty a private militia men in the year 1777 under the command of Capt Descles.

Sworn to & subscribed  }    Andrew Rupp
July 11th 1833               }
before me
John Gage the judge aforesaid

State of Pennsylvania }
Lehigh County to wit  }

I John Fogel the judge above named Do Certify that from the representation of the [illegible] from my own knowledge of the said Andrew Rupp his Statement in [illegible] to the revolutionary Services of Christian Acker is entitled to credit. In Testimony whereof I have
[cut off] this 11th day of July AD 1833
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State of Pennsylvania   }
Lehigh County to wit    }

personally appeared before John Page the above name judge Andrew Rupp aged Seventy three Years & upwards, who being duly sworn according to law, thus depose & say that he is now well acquainted & has long known Christian Acker the app licant named in the for forgoing declaration and this deponent further saith that he & the said applicant served together a Ture of Two month duty a private militia men in the year 1777 under the command of Capt Descles.

Sworn to & subscribed  }    Andrew Rupp
July 11th 1833               }
before me
John Gage the judge aforesaid

State of Pennsylvania }
Lehigh County to wit  }

I John Fogel the judge above named Do Certify that from the representation of the [illegible] from my own knowledge of the said Andrew Rupp his Statement in [illegible] to the revolutionary Services of Christian Acker is entitled to credit. In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto Set my hand this 11th day of July AD 1833
John Fogel
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Pennsylvania    }
Lehigh County  }

[NOTE: the left-hand side of the first paragraph is obscured by a seal]

I Daniel Kramer Prothonotary of the Court
Common pleas of Lehigh County. Do hereby certify that John Fogel Esquire before whom the foregoing Instrument of writing purports to have been acknowledged was at the time & still is a legally commissioned and acting associate Judge of the Courts of said County, and that full faith and credit are and should of right be given to all his acts as such

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at the Borough of Northampton this Eighteenth day
of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Thirty three-

DKramer Prothy
by Sam A. Bridges
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[handwritten note on the back of a page from a book or manual]

26,795
Christian Acker
Admit 6 months

Claimant North Whitehall Lehigh Co. Penn.
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,

Sir: 

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed.  The notes ahttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngnd the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: ⎬).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the service of Christian Acker, Lehigh Co Pa

[A Table with columns labelled as follows]

Period when the service was rendered.
Duration of the claimant's service.
[Sub-columns] Years. Months. Days.
Rank of the claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.

Sept. 1777   2 [months]   Pr  Col. Geiger  77 years   Living witness & Traditionary evidence  

Octr. 1778    2 [months]   "     "  Strant  Lehigh Co.

May 1779     2 [months]   "     " Kern 

I am respectfully,

Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:

1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.

DECLARATION.

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of } ss.
County of                              }

On this [space] day of [space] personally appeared (a) before [space] A B. a resident (b) of [space] in the county of [space] and State, Territory or District of [space] aged (c) [space] 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [space], with [space] and served in the [space] (e) regiment of the [space] line under the following named officers: 

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.       A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I [space] of the Court of [space] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [space] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [space] day of [space] &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [space] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [space], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [space] 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. 

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

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 Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [space] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [space] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [space] Clerk of the Court of [space] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [space] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [space] day of [space] & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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[A page from a book or manual]
3 [centered]

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.

1. Where and in what year were you born?

2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?

3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 

5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  

6.{  To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it  given, and what has become of it?

 {To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

-------------------------------
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.

[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.

[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.

[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.

[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: “Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year----months, and days, I served as a -. For - months and - days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law is the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.

[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.

[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.

[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.

[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witness, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

[A stylized hand pointing to the following text] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.

[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.

[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.

[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration
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[Apparently a tri-fold file cover, as for court documents]

22073
INVALID
Revolution

File No. 22073
Christian Acker
The Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"

Index:---Vol.2, Page 2
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 20

[An envelope]

Fayetteville Pa     }
July 22                }                   Free

J.L. Edwards Esq. 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

[written vertically on left edge]
Pa    July   
vb. 795------
Page 21

[An envelope]

Fayetteville Pa     }
July 22                }                   Free

J.L. Edwards Esq. 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

[written vertically on left edge]
Pa    July   
vb. 795------
Page 22

[A printed form with handwritten details]

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Form VAM-51 12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD
Division of Veterans' Administration Archive

Name Acker Conradt
Grade  Private
Line New York
Warrant Number 6743
Acreage 100
Issued June 30, 1790
To ----not shown----