Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9468, for George Shellehamer, Pennsylvania
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[document is a form]
(B-1776)
SERVICE						NUMBER
Penn.     Shellehamer, George	        R.9468
			Mary

CONTENTS

[nothing else written on page]
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6068
Pennsylvania
George Shellehamer of _____ the state of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Stahler of the Reg commanded by Col Heubner in the Penna. line for 10 mo Private - $33.33

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of Feb. 1833 and sent to then J. C. Bucker House Reps
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 $49.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 11 Mar 1833 – 16.66
$66.65
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk, Book D Vol. 6 Page 94
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State of Pennsylvania
Dauphin County} SS

on this 4th day of January AD 1855 Personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for the county above named Frederick Shellehamer aged fifty four years a resident of East Hanover Township in the County of Dauphin and state of Pennsylvania and makes oaths in due form of Law that he is the son of George Shellehamer and Mary Shellehamer his wife that the said George Shellehamer and Mary Fry were married as he believes and has always understood in the year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty nine and that deponent was born on the 16th day of March Eighteen Hundred. That his father George Shellehamer was Pensioner under the act of Congress passed on the 7th day of June Eighteen Hundred and thirty two at the rate of $33.33 per annum and was paid at the Philadelphia agency for paying pensions and that the said Pensioner died on the 20th day of October 1831 and that the aforesaid Mary Shellehamer died on the 3d of January 1843 Leaving the following named children George age 67 years John aged 65 Christin[sic] aged 58 Abram aged 62 Frederick 54 Elizabeth age 60 all of whom reside in the county of Dauphin except George That his mother Mary Shellehamer continued a widow up to the time of her death that she never received a Pension nor is it believed that she ever made application for a Pension he therefore makes this deposition for the purpose of obtaining the Pension to which his mother
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was entitled to under the act of congress approved on the 7th day of July, 1838 providing Pensions to widows for 5 years whose marriage took place prior to the first day of January 1794
Abraham Black          Frederick his X mark Shellenhamer[sic]

Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 4th day of january 1855 & I further certify that the deponent is a man of good and reputable character
Abraham Black

Know all men by these presents that I Frederick Shellehamer do hereby constitute and appoint RW Bates of Washington & District of Columbia my true and Lawful attorney for me and in my name and stead to prosecute my foregoing claim hereby ratifying & confirming whatsoever my said attorney may do in the premises In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th day of January AD 1855

Frederick his X mark Shellehamer

Signed sealed & delivered
in presence of
Attest
Ab. Black
?David Koontz
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?has signed the foregoing deposition is a man of good and reputable character in his neighborhood ?and in every way entitled to credit for truth and ?varity
David his X mark Koontz 

Sworn to and Subscribed before me on the day and year above written and I further Certify that David Koontz in whose ?signature above appears is a credible witness
Abraham Black
Justice of the Peace


State of Pennsylvania 
Dauphin County S.S.

I Stephen Miller Prothonotary of the 
Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County
do hereby certify that Abraham Black Esq
whose name appears subscribed to the
above Certificate was at the time of
signing there of and now is a magistrate 
as above, and that the foregoing signa
ture purporting to be his is genuine,

Witness my hand and the Seal of said Court at Harrisburg this sixth day of January AD 1835
Stephen Miller
Prothy
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State of Pennsylvania 
Dauphin County } 

On this 4th day of January in the year One thousand eight hundred and fifty five personaly[sic] appeared David Koontz ? the County of Dauphin State of Pa. and made oath in due form of Law that he is well acquainted with George Shellenhamer[sic] late of East Hanover township Dauphin County Pa who was a pensioner of the United States that he was also well acquainted with his wife, Mary Shellenhamer[sic] that he knows that they lived and cohabited as man and wife for thirty years or more before his death  that he died in the year of Eighteen hundred and Thirty Seven & that the said Mary lived and continued as widow until the Year Eighteen hundred and forty three the exact date ? he is not prepared to state but has [no] doubt it was at the time as stated by Frederick Shellenhamer[sic] who signed the foregoing Deposition that he has no record of the marriage of George and Mary Shellenhame[sic] but is of opinion that it was at the time Stated by George Shellenhamer[sic] in the foregoing deposition from the fact that George Shellenhamer[sic] is the child of the said Mary Shellenhamer[sic]  cannot be less than Sixty seven years old That the said George & Mary left six children whose names are George John Christian Abraham Frederick  & Elizabeth all of whom except George reside in East Hanover in the said County that Frederick Shellenhamer[sic]
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State of Pennsylvania 
Dauphin County } ss

on this 4 day of January in the year one thousand Eight Hundred and fifty five personally appeared John Shell and made oath in due form of Law that he was well acquainted with George Shellehamer late of the County of Dauphin State of Pa. who was a a Pensioner of the United States that he was also well acquainted with his wife Mary Shellehamer that he knows that they Lived and cohabited as man and wife for sixteen years or more before his death that died in the year 1834 that the said Mary lived and continued a widow until the year 1843 the day he is not able to tell but has no Doubt it was at the time Stated by Frederick Shellehamer who signed the foregoing Deposition & he has no record of the marriage of George and Mary Shellehamer but is of opinoin[sic] that it was at the time Stated by Frederick Shellehamer in the foregoing Deposition from the fact that thier[sic] son George Shellehamer cannot be less than 67 years that the said Georg[sic] and Mary left six children Georg[sic] John Christion[sic] Frederick Abram & Elizabeth all of whom reside in East Hanover Dauphin County Except George that Frederick Shellehamer who Signed the foregoing deposition is a man of good and reputable character in his neighborhood and in every way entitled to credit
John Shell
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Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first within written and I further certify that John Shell whose signature above appears is a credable[sic] witness
Abm Black J.P.
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State of Pennsylvania 
County of Dauphinois Ss.

On the fourth day of october AD one thousand eight hundred thirty two personally appeared in open Court George Shellehamer before Calvin Blythe Esqr. President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in And for Dauphine County aforesaid now in Session, George Shellehamer a resident of Hanover Township, Dauphin County and State of Pennsylvania aged seven two or seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth in his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the acto of Congress passed 7. June 1832.
That he entered into the Service of the United States under the following named officers, and Served as herein Stated—When he was going on his Seventeenth year of age he thinks in the year 1776 or 1777, he was drafted as a malitia[sic] [inserted]man in the Company of Captain Stohler attached to Colonel Huebners Regiment, at Easton, Northampton County Pennsylvania Where he was then living, they rendevouzed[sic] at Bethlehem, and marched from there to Norteheader where the american troops were assembled and remained there until the two months for which he had been drafted had been fully expired, when he returned home, where he remained until the year 1777, and 1778 when he again joined the Company of Captain Craighlow as a substitute for Samuel Kishler, which was then in Lintor Township Montgomery County, he was then marshall with Captain Craighlows company to Nortonheader where they were to draw their provisions, where the Company was attached to Colonel Geigers Regiment, where they remained until two months had fully
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expired and ended, when he [inserted] returned to his place of residence in Lyrmyr [written above] Lin Township, that afterwards he thinks in the same [inserted] year he joined the Company of Captain Raider as a substitute for Michael Fenstermacher, and marched to Nortonheader where the company was attached to Colonel Geigers Regiment, and remained with the army two months at Nortonheader engaged in defending the Country from the Indians, and at the end of two months returned home —that in 17779 or 1780 he was again drafted as a malitiaman[sic] in Captain Stahlers company,m and marched from Linton township to Nortonheader Where they joined Colonel Geigers Regiment, and had a slight skirmish with the Indians he remained for two months & then returned home, that afterwards he thinks in the same year he joined Captain Sechlers company as a substitute for Daniel Stambaugh, and marched to Nortonheader where the company was attached to Colonel Geigers Regiment and remained at Nortonheader — for two months, and then returned home, that afterwards he thinks in the same year he joined a scouting party, William Moyer acted a sergeant, and marched to Nortonheader in Montgomery County, and marched from there to Buckwhile Luzerne County, where they had an engagement with the Indians & lost twenty one men out of forty one Batlger Snyder, William Supple, and two brothers by the hand of Rough were killed—he then returned home (or to his residence in Linton Township, Montgomery County; he further states that he had a discharge
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which was destroyed by the rats, that he knows of no living person who can certify to his claim for services - he further states that he was born in Linton Township, Northampton County, and lived there until sometime after the Revolutionary War when he moved to Dauphin County where he has resided ever since, he further states that he receives no pension from the State of Pennsylvania or the United States & he 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.

//s//
George Shellehamer

Sworn & subscribed in open s Prothy.court October 4th 1832.

//s//
Tho. Roberts Prothy

Dauphin County ss

    Personally appeared in open Court William Bomberger who being duly sworn according to law doth depose & say that he is upwards of  forty eight years of age and resides in Hanover Township, Dauphin County in the neighborhood of George Shellehamer the above applicant for a pension and is well acquainted with said George Shellenhamer, who is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and he William Bomberger believes his to have been such, that he had known George Shellehamer above mentioned since he (this deponent) was a child and believe him to be seventy two, or seventy three years of age, he further states
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that his (deponents father) served as he always understood three campaigns in the Revolutionary War, and while living he frequently heard his father speak of his own services in the Revolutionary War, and also state that he knew the said George Shellehamer to have been a soldier during the Revolutionary war.  And that he upwards of thirty years this deponent from what his father said (who is now dead) and also from what he heard Shellehamer say believed and still believes the said George Shellehamer to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. And that he never had any doubts on the subject that he George Shellehamer is entitled to credit and is a [illegible] and industrious man.
Sworn and Subscribed in open Court October 4, 1832 William Cerm Canegan

Dauphin County, SS. Personally affirmed in open court at the same time  I [illegible] Philip Witmyer ____ who being qualified as the law directs deposes and says that he lives in Hanover Township, Dauphin County, that he lives in the neighborhood of George Shellehamer the above applicant that he (this deponent) is about seventy five or six years of age, and for the last twenty years he has known and believed George Shellehamer to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that he (George Shellehamer) is refuted and considered as such in the neighborhood in which [illegible] further states that he believes the said George Shellehamer to be seventy two or three years of age, and this deponent states that he never had any doubt about said George Shellehamers being a soldier of the Revolution and he Geo Shellehamer is entitled to credit.
Sworn and Subcribed in open Court October 4, 1832
Jno Roberts Proxy
Philip Witmyer
his X Mark
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Dauphin County [ ]

Personally appeared in Open Court at the same time & place Samuel Sieg, who being duly sworn according to law doth [...] & say that he lives in Lower Paxton Township Dauphin County, and in the neighborhood of George Shellehamer the present applicant for a [pension] that he has always understood & believed George Shellehamer to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that he is considered and [reputed] as such in the neighborhood in which he lives - & that he George Shellehamer is entitled to credit and is a sober and industrious [but ... man] - and that he believes George Shellehamer take between the age of seventy-two & three. Sam Sieg. 
[..........] in open Court October 4th, 1832
Mr. Robert Proty 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the intense stories, described 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 Millain Bomberger & Philip Mitsmeyer are residents of Hanover Township Dauphin County and that Samuel Sieg who has signed has also signed the preceding affidavit is a resident of Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, and that they are credible here[...], & that their statement is entitled to credit. - 
[Signatures]
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I John Roberts Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of George Shellehamer for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 4th day of October 1832.
Jno. Robert's Proty
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[A printed form, with handwritten entries. NOTE: the handwritten entries are extremely faint and largely illegible.]

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 

3 -- 525  [The apparent Form #]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C. , [long space], 19 [space]

[Written to the left of the above]
R 9468

In reply to your request of [space], received [space] for a statement of the military history of [space] a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

[A table with columns labeled as follows; the information handwritten below each column]

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
1776 [the remainder of this entry and five subsequent entries illegible]

LENGTH OF SERVICE.  [six illegible entries] 

RANK.  [six illegible entries] 

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. [divided into two sub-columns labelled]

CAPTAIN.      COLONEL. 
[six illegible entries under each]

STATE.   Penna. [the next four entries appear to be blank; the last is illegible]

[End of Table; the remaining handwritten entries following the following typed information is too faint to cypher out.] 

Battles engaged in, 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, 
Date of application for pension,
Residence at date of application, 
Age at date of application, 
Remarks: 

Respectfully, 
--- Commissioner.
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1914 May 18 Hist. to Nancy C. Morrow. 
Letter in S.34374. Joseph Gorman V.L.M.

REJECTED
9468.
P.O._____________
Mary Shellehamer
Services:_____________
Enlisted:_________,18   ,
Discharged:______,18   ,
Application filed:______,18   '
Alleges:____________
Re-enlisted:______________
Attorney:______________
P. O._________________
____________Recognized,  _________Contract
__________Cert. of Dis. Searched for_____,18   ,
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No 15,249
Mary Shellehamer Dec?
Widow of George
Pa
R. W. Bates January 12 1800 [year illegible]
9468
July 7, 1838
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Adm
$33.33 per
an

Hon. J.C. Bucher
H R
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of George Shellehamer which require further proof or explanation.

l. Does the declaration show where the applicant reside?
II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
lll.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
lV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
V.  *Has he mentioned 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? 10 months are definitely accepted-and deem it [next two  words illegible] to accept
[signature illegible] John C. Bucher
Vl. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Vll.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension that the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
Vlll.  Has the Court given their opinion?
lX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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[A printed page from a regulation or form, with answers hand-written in; breaks added for clarity of the transcription]

2 [the page #, centered]

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutotionary service?          No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

in relation to the proof of Clergyman - it seem to [illegible] Mr Shellenhummer not much history with Clergymen - none living to near to where he resides ----- John C Bucher [a word, possibly "No" has been written in a different hand in the midst of this sentence]

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 

XIV. [A symbol resembling a stylized cross] If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
   If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? 
  Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? 

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?         

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And if not, which of them is not answered?
[written above this question]    No. see Qusn 16 

[ a line and the following caption centered]
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 

QUERE V. 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 [space] year [space] months, and [space] days, I served as a [space] For [space] months and [space] days, I served as a  [space]; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs 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 they served two years in the militia, etc 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 applicaicant serviced 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 no employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
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 claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well ass the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who amy 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 office, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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 officers, so as to prevent any paper from improperly attached to the certificate.

In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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Pension Office
January 12 1855
Sir
The informal application of the children of Mary Shellehamer Deceased Widow of George of Pa has been filed under the Act of July 7 1838.  A declaration must be made before a court of record.  A certificate of Court must be furnished showing the exact date of her death and her husband's, and giving the number and names of her children now living.  The court must show upon what testimony it has such certificate.  The date of her marriage must be established by record, public or private, or its absence account for when it can be proved by witness who can show how they are enabled to fix the time, 
RM Bates Esq
Present