Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6,301, for Isaac Levan, Pennsylvania
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
Continental
Pennsylvania
Levan, Isaac 
Lafon,
Lafong,
Levand
NUMBER
R. 6301
CONTENTS
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Mary Stearns one of the children of Isaac Lavan or Lafong
To
Edwards & Smith, Power of Attorney
We desire to see the papers on file in the case of Isaac Lavan or Lafong of N. Carolina
24 June 1851
Edward & Smith
Ex by the above July 8, 1851
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Know all men by these presents, That I, Mary Stearns of the County of Catawber and State of North Carolina, one of the surviving children and heirs at Law the late Isaac Lavan or Lafong, deceased, of the County and State aforesaid, an applicant for a Revolutionary Pension, do hereby authorize constitute and point Messrs. Edwards & Smith of the City of Washington, DC, to act as my lawful attorneys in the prosecution of the claim to a pension due to me as one of the surviving children of the aforesaid Lavan or Lafong, deceased.
Mary Sterns [her mark]
Witness my hand and seal this 31st day of May 1851
Sealed in presence of W J Abernathy
State of North Carolina
Catawber County
Be it known that on this 31st day of May 1851 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mary Stearns, above named, and acknowledged the foregoing Power of attorney to be her act and deed. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the day and year first above written.
W J Abernathy, J. Peace
And I, the said Magistrate, do hereby certify that the above-named Mary Stearns has made oath in due form of Law that she is a daughter, and one of surviving children of the aforementioned Isaac Lavan or Lafong, deceased, who was an applicant for a Revolutionary Pension. I do further certify I know of my own personal knowledge that Mrs. Mary Stearns is the reputed daughter of the said Isaac Lavan or Lafong, a Revolutionary soldier that died in the neighborhood some twelve or Eighteen months since.
Given under my hand this 31st May 1851.
W J Abernathy, J. Peace
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State of North Carolina 
Catawba County, SS.
Court of Pleas and Quarter Session
I, Geo. Sizer, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid. Do hereby certify that W J Abernathy (whose signature appears to the foregoing proceedings) is an acting Justice of the Peace for said County and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of my office this 10 day of June AD 1851.
George Setzer, CCC
Mary Stearns one of the children of Isaac Lavan or Lafong
To
Edwards & Smith, Power of Attorney
We desire to see the papers on file in the case of Isaac Lavan or Lafong of N. Carolina
24 June 1851
Edward & Smith
Ex by the above July 8, 1851
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No. 1   33942
Isaac Levan
NC
6301
[illegible]
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 June 1832.
State of North Carolina, Burke County
On this 24th day of January 1837, personally appeared Isaac Levan, aged nearly 79 years, and after being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States on the 3d day of March in the year 1775 under Capt. Sealy and served in what was called the Dutch Battalion commanded by Major Deckert. Afterwards, the name of the Dutch battalion was called the Congress Regiment. Changed its name, I think, in the spring of 1777, and commanded by General Hays. I still served as a private under Capt. Seely and served three years in that capacity.  I think my Lieutenant's name was Docky or Duckey. The name of the ensign I have forgotten; he was a Frenchman. My mess mates was George Brieger, Henry Fleisher and John Mitsinger, Michel Stoner, Jacob Fry, Conrod Sitler. I lived in Philadelphia when I listed and marched from there on the 5th day on our way to Fort Edward in New York and there we joined Col. Proctor's artillery. Stayed there two days and then marched to Lake George to the Fort [illegible] the rock and there on the 8th day of May we had a battle with the British. We had joined General Sullivan and General McGomery's army. We, with a few of the New England volunteers commanded by Col. Arnold, left the main army [illegible] Lake George and the St. Lawrence and marched to a town called the Three Sisters and stayed there about six weeks, and then march down toward Quebec and met the main army on Abraham Plains and had a battle with the enemy on the 31st day of Dec. 1775 in which Genl. McGomery was killed. We then left there and went to guard the little river at Wolf's Cove to keep the British from coming up said River. Six or seven British boats came up; we fired a few rounds at them, they retreated. From thence, we was ordered back to Crones pint, from thence to Chimney pint, to keep the enemy from going over to Vermont. We took our winter quarters there and stayed till in May and then marched to Fort Edward, from thence to Albany.
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from there to work in New York and there joined General Washington's army, and the winter of 1776 was spent without having one settled place for winter quarters as the British was at Brunswick and little Amboy and Elizabethtown point so that we had to shift to guard them as we could. No battle, only one little skirmish in April. We left there and followed after the enemy towards Burlington and General Lee commanded the 2d Division that I was in, and he left his division at a Creek and went to a tavern called Wikes Tavern near Lord Starling's buildings and was there taken prisoner by 5 or 6 British dragoons. From there we followed after the enemy back to Amboy and Woodbridge and stayed about three weeks in Amboy and the enemy on Staten Island. We then left there to Newtons, thence to Colferry in Delaware. From thence to head of Elk. Stayed 2 or 3 weeks. From thence to Brandywine and had a battle on 11th day of September 1777. From thence to Paoli. There the enemy came on the men commanded by General Wayne, in the night, and killed 600 of them by the [illegible]. From thence we went to Germantown and there had a battle on the 4th day of October. We had to retreat from the enemy but continued about Whitemarsh 5 or 6 weeks. The enemy came on us at Whitemarsh and we had another engagement. We drove them back and from there we went to winter quarters with Col. Nogle's regiment to the brick Meetinghouse nine miles from Philadelphia. We had in renewed in Valley Forge by General  Mefling in November or December before we went to winter quarters. In June, we left there relieved by the Pennsylvania Militia, crossed the Delaware River at Eastown and then went to Minisink, then to Combrook, from there to Monmouth and there we had a battle with the enemy on the 24th of June 1776. In this battle, both armies retreated. General Lee commanded the left wing and gave orders to retreat wrongfully as the enemy was retreating at the same time. From there, we marched to the State of Connecticut and stayed in Fredericksburg till in November and then went to MiddleBrook and Burn Brook. Washington had his headquarters on Raritan River; the Pennsylvanians had theirs between [illegible] River and Millstone River. Here I was discharged on the 3rd day of March 1779 by Capt. Sealy by order of Jane Hays.
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I then enlisted again the same day after my discharge as a dragoon for three years more under Captain Bartholomy Vanheart. The Regiment was called Merrychusee. My first Lieutenant was Philip Manky. The 2nd do was Jacob Minenger. The Cornet was Baron Wollfin. We had no colonel over us, only as they was appointed at different times to muster us. The first of them was Col. Stuart of the 2nd Regiment of the Pennsylvania troops in the town of Reddin [Redding?]. While in winter quarters, we marched from Ratian River in the spring of 1779, in April or May to Smiths Clove. Washington had his headquarters there by Smith's Tavern. From here, we was sent down Smiths River 5 miles to General Sinclair as a front guard of the army. Stayed about three weeks, then marched over the mountains to west pint on North River. Here we built two forts. The one next the river was called Putnam; the other was on the hill. Here we put in the River a Chevanx-defries. At this place, we had to patrol from Fort Putnam to Stony Point every day till General Wayne took the fort at Stony Point in July 1779. General Wayne here received a slight wound. I was orderly to him and by him and catched him when like to fall. I was sent the same night to General Washington with a express. He left fort Putnam immediately returned back with me to General Wayne, stayed one day and the next day we destroyed the fort and the British [illegible]. Then we marched to depon. Here we stayed about two months with the whole army and then left there and went to the English neighborhood and Washington to do days Bridge. Here we had to patrol down to the three peacheys. From here we marched to New Winser in New York to winter quarters. General Wayne and small wood took up theirs 7 miles from Morristown at 7 peacheys. The Light Horse there in little Britain. General Knox with the artillery there at Blockormin. In the course of this winter, the Pennsylvania troops rebelled and Washington sent to the Congress and the governor of Pennsylvania and the affair was settled. The regiment was divided and, in the spring, they were sent to General Green in the South. The latter end of the winter, the new Jersey troops rebelled also and by order of General Washington, General Howe took them.
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they were taken in Borntown Plains. Two of the head ones was sentenced to be shot. The rest was put under Col. Barber where they had been in winter quarters. I think in May we left Winser [Windsor?] and marched through Fiskill [Fishkill?] to Blanks point. Here Washington commanded Capt. Colefax and Lt. Cole with his life guard and 25 of the Merrychusee or Vanhearts troops. I was one of them. We was sent to Maryseny in Connecticut or the edge of New York. Here we had a battle with a party of the green rangers and a part of the Hession's Riflemen commanded by Col. Worms. We took 30 or 40 of the Riflemen and killed several. We then returned back to Blanks pint. Then Washington removed his headquarters to Anderson's point. From here, the Light Horse sent to hatansack [Hackensack?] against the Refigues [refugees?] that was taking some of the people while they was mowing their meadows, but they was gone. We took none of them. We returned to Washington again; the next day he marched the army off. Crossed the North River at Kings Ferry. Stayed 2 night at the White house waiting for the Rhode Island Regiment and the balance of the army and the French army. From here, Washington took the company of dragoons I was in, started before day light and went to New Brunswick, to brackfast and on to Trenton the same day by little after dark. Next morning, we crossed the Delaware River before day light and on to Philadelphia to brackfast. Here we stayed several days till the army came up with us, then we marched to Wilmington, stayed one night. Next day we marched to the head of Elk and there stayed over a week till the artillery arrived and embarked from here. Washington took the horsemen and we arrived at Baltimore the same day and met General Lincoln. Here we was informed that Col. Wallace was surrounded by General Green by land and by General Countigrass [Compte de Grasse?] by water, which was the cause of our rapid marching. We was marched from Baltimore to Alexandria, from there to Fredericksburg, Virginia. Here we was mustered the 2nd day by a Virginia Major of the line. From there to Green Courthouse and from thence within 2 miles of Williamsburg. Here we stayed 2 or 3 days till Washington with his a decamp came up with us, he having went by horse. The same evening, we was marched to headquarters and received orders to search
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the Camps for the sick and take them to Williamsburg. The same night we followed the main army 2 or 3 miles and came up with them. We was then placed in front and continued in march all night. At the halfway house, Major Nelson of the Virginia State troops took the right-hand road and we the left as the front guard of the French Army. About day light, we came up to the British picket guard in half a mile of Yorke Town. Here we stayed till in the evening, Washington reviewing the army with the horse with him. He then took up Camp in an old field and set himself under a persimmon tree all night till the Reveille late in the morning. He then with the horsemen with him, went towards the town to spy out the situation of the enemy he viewed with his spy glass and had like to have been killed by a cannon ball passing his head and took of both legs of a Maryland soldier. We then went to the French and was ordered to go 2 miles back towards Williamsburg to take up camp there. Washington took up his headquarters next [to] the French General de Rochambeau, Col. Scammy of the [illegible] took a party of men and went to storm the Redout and got wounded and was taken prisoner and was run so hard he bled to death. After our artillery landed, the Cannading [cannoning?] commenced and continued several days till a cessation of arms was made for 3 days. Col. Wallace there surrendered, and in a few days afterwards, the enemy marched out. We, the horsemen, was put in charge of the Dutch prisoners and marched with them to Fredericktown in Maryland and there left the prisoners in care of the Militia, and from there went to a place called Olick in Pennsylvania. There we stayed in winter quarters. In March, my three years expired and was discharged sometime in March 1782. I then took the bounty again and listed for during the war under Capt. Bartholomy Vanheart, Jacob Mininger was first Lieutenant, Philip Stuban was 2nd do, John Stake was Cornet. One O'Brien was Clerk of the company. One Lieutenant Miningner and 25 Dragoons. I was one of them and one sergeant, one corporal and trumpeter was ordered to march to Philadelphia, and there we
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met with General Washington and marched with him to Newbury in New York State and took up quarters till the French army came to us. We then crossed North River and went to Blanks point. At this place, the main northern army joined us again. We stayed there till in November we went to winter quarters. The Light Horse to Gosion till in February and then went to the Drowned lands. Was mustered by Maj. Barber there. Washington stayed in Newbury and in March near the last, Col. Howe brought the news from Boston that peace was made. I was orderly in headquarters then and was sent with him to Borntown plains to General Hays. I returned and then we went to Old Potz on the River Wallkill and remained there till the 23rd day of June 1783. Then Major Barber, a decamp to the Muster Master General, mustered us and on calling over the List give us our discharges in print and dismissed us June the 23 1783.
Isaac Levan
I, Isaac Levan, 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 or if any only on that of the agency of North Carolina.
Isaac Levan
1. Question by the Court
What became of your discharge?
Answer: They were destroyed by my children
2. Question by the Court
What did you do with your bounty land?
Answer: I never received any military Bounty land.
Isaac Levan
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State of North Carolina
Burke County, SS.
I, Joseph J. Erwin, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions do hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct statement of the proceedings of this Court, and that this Court is of opinion the applicant Isaac Levan is entitled to a pension.
J. J. Erwin, Clerk
By Wm. Erwin, D.C.
State of North Carolina
Burke County, SS.
I, James Avery, presiding Justice of the Court of pleas and quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that Joseph J. Erwin, whose name and certificate is above annexed is and for a long time hath been clerk of the said County Court of Pleas, duly appointed and qualified and that his certificate and attestation is
in due form.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal done at my Chamber this 24th day of January Anno Dom. 1837.
James Avery [seal]
Any communications that may be necessary to make, please to direct to the Catawba View post office, Burke County, N.C.
Directed to
Abner Payne, [illegible] who will act for me Isaac Levan
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REJECTED
6301
P. O.......................
Isaac Levan
Service: .......................
Enlisted: ....................., 18   
Discharged: ................, 18
Application filed: ..........., 18
Alleges: ....................
Re-enlisted: ............................
Attorney: ...........................
P. O. ..................................
................. Recognized.
................... Contrac[torn] 
.................. Cert. of Dis. 
Searched for ............., 18[torn]
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Isaac Levan
March 9, 1840
Revolutionary Pensions
Mr. Graham
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No. 29
26th Congress
1st Session
Congress of the United States
In the House of Representatives
March 9, 1840.
On motion of Mr. Graham,
Resolved That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be instructed to inquire into the propriety of granting to Isaac Levan, of Burke County, North Carolina, a pension for services rendered in the Revolutionary War.
Attest: H. A. Garland, Clerk
Papers
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Washington, Feb 18. 1848
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir:
Enclosed I hand you a package of papers to establish the claim of Isaac Levan to a pension under Act of 1832, of which a part have before been in your office, a part have been in Congress, a part were left in the desk of Hon. Jas. Graham in the House of Representative and never presented to the House, and the remainder have not been examined.
After examining all the papers and facts in the case, I doubt not you will see that his statements are so well corroborated by those of distant and disinterested persons, that you will decide in favor of granting him the relief he asks and forward me his certificate. My first letter to you on the subject is dated May 24, 1847.
I am Sir, Very Respectfully etc.
D. J. Bishop
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D.J.B. 1848
Auditor General's Office
Harrisburg, PA. Feb 8, 1848
Received Feb 10, 1848
Relating to claim of Isaac Levans, Rev. Pensioner.
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Auditor Generals Office,
Harrisburg, Feb. 8, 1848
Dear Sir
In answer to your letter of the 5th instant, I have to say that the name of Isaac Levan does not appear on the Records in this Department as having served in the Revolutionary War.
Very Respectfully,
Yours &c
James Purviance
Auditor General
D. J. Bishop, Esq
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Crawfordville, Ga.
17 May 1851
Dear Sir
Sometime last winter I wrote you a letter inquiring into the condition of the claim of Mr. Isaac Levan for a pension as a Revolutionary Soldier. Mr. Levan is a citizen of this State, and the application was made through Mr. Elisha King of Adamsville, Ga. I [illegible] I have heard nothing from you in reply to my letter and now ask again that the claim may be examined into and that I may be informed of the grounds upon which it
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rejected if any action has as yet been had upon it. The claimant, I understand, is not only old, but exceedingly feeble and of this bounty of the Government is ever to be received by him, it is desirable that it should be received as soon as possible. Please let me have an early reply to this.
Yours very respectfully,
Alexander Stephens
J. E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
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Recd May 22
Fishers 13th May 1847
Mr David J Bishop
Sir yours of the 17th April is at hand in answer to mine of the 7th. Some necessary delay in seeing Mr. Lafon and procuring the correspondence between Mr. Payne & the Commissioner of Pensions, Mr. Lafon has named over the officers and men he served under and with, and a great many other facts connected with the service which I have taken notes of, but I only send you a list of the officers & men as he gave it me, having obtained a more extensive account of his service, with Mr. Payne's papers I send it to you, as it almost exactly corresponded with that he gave me. I drew up an article and Mr. Lafon signed it, and I witnessed it, authorizing you to be his Agent. I have got the correspondence you desired between Mr. Payne and the Commissioners of pensions, with other important testimony & papers which will throw light on the claims of Mr. Lafon to a pension. All of which I herewith transmit to you as I obtained them from the family of the P.M of Catawba view it must be born in mind that the long sickness of 3 or 4 years of Mr. Payne & then his death some 18 months since was the cause of the discontinuance of the prosecution of Mr. Lafon's claim. I frequently heard Mr. Payne say he wanted to proceed with the above claim but was unable to write. (Mr. Lafon stated to Mr. Payne that when stationed with some others at a certain place there was some wolves came and caught a sheep. Mr. Lafon shot the wolf with his pistol and wounded it in pursuing it with a Mr. Adam Koch, a comrade. It bit the latter's arm and held on till he, Lafon, shot it with his Pistol again. Mr. Payne wrote the circumstances out to reading (See the allusion in Mr. Samuel Levans' letter to Mr. Payne. Mr. Levan has related the same to me
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Mr. Lafon is an old German, and I can't find letters to spell the names he gives proper.
Mr. Lafon states he enlisted in Philadelphia the 3rd day of March 1775 under Capt. Cely, Lieutanant's name Duchny or De Rosho Vanthin, French Barron Wolf was some officer, George Breker, Michael Stoner, Abraham Cooper, Conrad Zickler, Jacob Fry, John Misinger, Frethere Cale, Philip Mangel, Philip Streeping, John Miller. This is all he can now name. Thinks he was qualified by Esq. Flesen, Walnut Street, Philadelphia and was discharged 3rd day of March 1778.
He then enlisted for 3 years again in Capt. Bartholomay Van Heer's Company of Dragoons. Thinks he was qualified by Esq. Shank or Esq. (Leon hart Scang), both present 1st Lieutenant. Jacob Mininger, 2nd Philip Strupang, John Stake, Cornet O'Brian, Clerk of the Dragoons, France Seargent Quarter Master William How Forage Master, John Extine, 2nd, Anthony Wekther, Quarter Master Seargent, David Fox, trumpeter, one other trumpeter not recollected, John Bowman, John Garlock, Ditrich Strous, France Hocker, John Coonets, John Stepper, John Shaver, John Adams, Philip Smith, Conrad Crowmer, Mathias Smith, John Webber, John Shuman, George Milhouser, Casper Green, Philip Crilick, Lewis List, Casper Houser, John Tovia, Andrew Kizer, Christian Densler, Job Sillick, Henry Frank, Terthence Miller, Henry Band, Stephen Band, Peter Crawford, Andrew Crawford, William Stelfelt, George Moser, John Renter, George Barnt, Henry Frankfort, John Wilhelm, George Zekler, Andrew Fox, Jacob Fox, William Coons, Jacob Gicllon, Peter George,Peter Shumaker, John Graif, John Mores, Peter Freker, George Freker, Adam Hoock, Peter Brown, John Ox, Christian Isnok, Jacob Barley, John Harman, John Geghther,  Nicholas Fogle, John Blimline, Christian Rusler, John Ulick, Valentine Grubber, George Feebise, William Wilhelm, George Crouk, Lewis Byer, Henry Ledlow, Philip Sauvern, John Effinger, Conrod Crowner, Michael Zekler, George Zink, others not recollected. Forgets whether Barron Wolf, an officer in the foot company or
the Dragoons.
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Enlisted the 3rd time in Reading, Pennsylvania. During the war, qualified by Daniel Lafon, Esq., County Treasurer & Attorney at Law (no relation of Isaac Lafon). The troop got discharged on Monday 23rd day of June 1783 at or near Walkil. The last discharge was printed, the first was wrote.
Hear Mr. Lafon again he says Daniel M. C. Forney would be an important witness in his case. Mr. Forney has represented this Lincoln County in the Legislature of this State & was a Representative in Congress & took the census of this County in 1820. This I know to be so. 
Mr. Lafon says Forney come to his house & in conversation, Lafon showed Forney his discharges. Forney offered him $50; afterwards $100. Forney, if alive, lives in the Alabama. As soon as I can find out where he lives, I will write to him and forward you the evidence. It may be possible he has forgotten the circumstance all together. I see by Mr. Edwards' letter, he wanted Lafon to give an excuse for not applying sooner when he could have got it under the act of 1818. Perhaps Mr. Payne has sent such an excuse. Mr. Lafon is not here, but I know he was a poor man, had no land and moved often and in a part of the Country where there was no office nearer than 10 or 15 miles then, and not one paper was taken anywhere in the settlement. Mr. Lafon never took any and how could he know there was an Act passed for the old soldiers. It was impossible. There was not one 4th of the people knew it as late of as after 1832.
Read all the papers I send you, then ask yourself if a man of Lafon's advanced age could invent such a claim and not pass through it. I must question if the best historian in Washington City could do it in regard of the war and [illegible] pass through the war.
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I must say if Mr. Lafor was arraigned for some capital offence with the pointed evidence & circumstantial evidence against him as plain as it is for him in this case, I believe there is not a Jury of Intelligent men in the United States but what would find a verdict against him, and why not find a verdict favorable to his claims and relieve a poor distressed old soldier who fought and bled for what we in common with others now enjoy.
Yours respectfully,
Henry Fisher P.M.
Fishers NC
May 16th
Paid 10
David J Bishop
Washington City, DC
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Washington, May 24- 1847
J.L. Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions:
Sir:
In the case of Isaac Levan of North Carolina, under Act of 1832, I have been furnished with your letters of April 5. 1837, May 23, 1837, and Aug. 22, 1837, to Mr Allen Payne and that of May 10, 1838, to Hon. James Graham and also with authority from Mr. Levan to act as his agent in continuing the prosecution of his claim.
I have the honor to enclose herewith an
Affidavit, and two letters addressed to Mr. Payne all dated in 1838; and a letter to Mr Fisher to me dated the 13th of the present month, explaining all the circumstances.
As your letter of 10th May 1838 to Mr. Graham
admits that there is "no doubt but that Mr.
Levan was in the army as he alleged"; - as the
enclosed letters show honesty on their face: - as Mr Levan has lived many years in comparative obscurity; - and as it is reasonable to suppose that Mr. Fisher (in his letter enclosed) states the truth when he says that Mr Levan knew nothing of Pension Laws until after 1832: I trust
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trust that you will consider the claim
Clously proven, and remit to me his pension
certificate.
Very Respectfully
Your Obdt. Servant
of
DJ. Bishop
Page 27

Mr. Henry Fisher
Fishers P.O.
Catawba County, NC
Page 28

Rutherfordton, NC Nov 20th, 1847
Dr Sir
The papers of Mr. Isaac Levan are not in my possession, and I do not know where they are, but I presume they are where all papers of that kind are, which have once been presented to Congress, filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Yours,
James Graham
Page 29

Fishers N.C
Dec 13th
Mr. Fisher, P.M. [Postmaster]
Mr. David J. Bishop
Washington City, DC
Page 30

Rec Dec 19th
Fisher Catawba County N. Carolina
13th December 1847
Mr David J Bishop
Sir on another page of this letter you Will see James grahams letter in answer to mine in Reguard of Isaac Levans papers & he sais
they may be filed with the Clark of the house of Representatives if they should be perhaps you can get them
please let me know whether you get them or not
Refpectfully
Henry Fisher
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North Carolina
Catawba County
May 10th, 1847 
I, Isaac Lafon of the County and State aforesaid, do this day appoint and ordain David J Bishop of Washington City, D.C., my agent to prosecute and obtain a pension for me and that he has full privilege to act and correspond in any way he thinks best to obtain for me my claims to a pension. Given under my hand this 10th day of May 1847.
Isaac Levan
Test
Henry Fisher, P.M
Page 32

Fishers, NC
April 8th
Paid 5
David J Bishop
General Agency Office
Washington City, DC
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Received Apr 17
Fishers, Catawba County
North Carolina April 7th, 1847
Dear Sir 
After my respects, &c, I must inform you that I received an advertisement from your office stating that you had established an Agency at Washington for the procuring of pensions, &c.
I will now inform you that there is an old man living in my neighborhood who said he does know he is entitled to a pension but has never got anything yet. His name is Isaac Levan. By some he is called Lefon and by others Lafon. He said he enlisted for three years and served his time out and got his discharge. He then enlisted in a few hours after for three years more, served his time out, got his discharge and again enlisted during the war and served one year and four months and got his discharge at the close of the war. His first term was in the foot, his 2nd in the horse and I believe his last also. He carries two wounds: one in the eyebrow with a bayonet, the other in the hand a sword wound. He has been in many battles and has got an excellent memory. He can tell the dates when and where he enlisted, who qualified him, the names of the officers he served under, the names of a great number of his old comrades. He says he belonged to Company that was kept for particular duty that he often carried communications to and from General Washington and often acted as a life guard to General Washington while in the horse, but was not Washington's regular life guard. He has lost his discharges long since believing they never would do him any good. He is now enrolled on the Poor list of the County from which he gets a scanty subsistence.
turn over
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I will now inform you that the Postmaster at Catawba View, NC, undertook to write and procure evidence and sent what he could get to Washington City, but they reported unfavorable to his getting the pension for Lafon. He then got more evidence and sent on to have it taken up again, but took sick and died, and there was no more done about it. There was no writings between Lafon and the Postmaster at Catawba View. He depends on me to correspond with you on the subject of his pension. He is not able to pay any fee but wishes to know what part you would charge him if you can get it for him, and if you can't get it, he can't pay anything. I would have sent you the dates, names, &c, but thought they was in some office in Washington with the evidence that was sent on by the Postmaster above mentioned.
It is very difficult to talk with Mr. Lafon. He can talk well and tell particulars about the engagements he was in. His memory would astonish you, but the great difficulty is, he can't hear you. Can hardly make him hear one word you say to him. He was with me a few days since in one engagement an officer was grazed with a ball across the forehead and stand and about to fall and Lafon caught him in his arms and bore him up. I think it was general Wayne. The officer then sent him, Lafon, with a dispatch to headquarters to General Washington etc.
Write to me what [illegible] you would have, etc. There was no person to attend to the business before but some member of Congress when he thought of it.
Respectfully,
Henry Fisher, P.M.
David J Bishop
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War Department
Pension Office
February 7, 1840
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose herewith the original papers of Isaac Levan, numbered from one to six. I will be obliged to you if you will acknowledge the receipt of them and designate in your letter the number of papers.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J L Edwards
Hon. James Graham,
House of Representatives
Page 36

House of [illegible] Feb 24th, 1845
Sir
Can you oblige me by furnishing the information outlined in the enclosed letter?
Respectfully yours,
W. Clipman
Col. J. L. Edwards
Page 37

House of Representatives
Feb 7th, 1840
Mr. J L Edwards
I will petition Congress for a Pension for Isaac Levan of Burke Co., N.C. If you have any papers of that old solder in your office, please send them to me.
Yours,
James Graham
Page 38

Catawba View, NC
November 30th
Free
A. Payne, P.M.
Hon. James Graham, House of Representatives
Washington City, D.C
Page 39

Catawba View, N.C.
Burke County, SS.
November the 28th, 1839
Dear Sir: 
I enclose to you the oath of Isaac Levan with respect to his enlistments and his bounty lands, &c. You will see its contents. I also enclose another paper that he wishes me to forward to you, with several of his oldest acquaintances' signatures to it. They thought it would do no harm if it done no good. I also enclose a letter that I have lately received from Samuel Levan of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Said Levan has wrote to me several times before on the same subject, as I wish you to understand the way we came to write to each other. I will try to inform you. You will probably recollect that according to my request to you while you was at Washington City in the Spring of 1838, you procured from Mr. Edwards the names of three men that was on the pension list of Capt. Vanheir's Company, the same that Isaac Levan was in. You was good enough to send on the 3 names to me and where they lived. The names are as follows: I.J. Effener of Woodstock, Virginia, J.J. Rappert of Berks County, Pennsylvania, Valentine Grubber of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. I immediately wrote to the postmaster at these 3 places and obtained the evidence of Valentine Grubber, which I sent on to Mr. J.L. Edwards. The P.M. at Woodstock informed me that Effener was too old and insane to recollect much about the war, &c. And the postmaster at Reading gave my lines to Samuel
Page 40

Samuel Levan who immediately wrote to me and informed me that he had been acquainted with Capt. Vanheir and several of his troops. That they was all dead, and that he had been concerned in getting the pensions for three of the men, to wit, Adam Cook, Andrew and David Fox. That he had heard these three men talk of Isaac Levan. That they was all discharged at once and that they did not know where said Levan had went to and requested me to ask the old soldier if he recollected the above names, and to inform him of his answer, &c. I wrote to Mr. S. Levan that the old soldier had perfect knowledge of the men and had also a list of the company in German and these three men was on the list and one of the Fox's, or Fux as he spelled it, was trumpeter. I further informed him that the old soldier Levan had frequently told me that himself and A. Cook, a little after peace was made but before they was discharged, had a combat with a wolf in the State of New York near a place called the Drowned Lands. The wolf was after a flock of sheep on a bright moon-lite night. They got shot guns and shot it and wounded it very bad. They thought it to be a dog, and pursued it and overtook it and Cook aimed to thrust his sword in it and that it bit his arm very bad. And wished him as he was acquainted with Cook to inform me if he had heard Cook talk of this circumstance, to which he answered me in the affirmative. I also informed S. Levan that the old soldier Levan said he was qualified in
Page 41

the last time he enlisted by Esq. Daniel Levan in the County of Berks, who was then County trustee and had a son 10 or 12 years old called Isaac, who he thought if he was living would recollect his qualification and if he knew of any of these names, to inform me, &c. He wrote me again in the fore part of the winter of 1838, that Daniel Levan was his father and was once County trustee and Isaac, his brother, but had been dead many years, which he also states in the enclosed letter. If I knew Mr. Levans' evidence was with you, I would not send this letter of his. I expect you have the evidence of Mr. Grubber. If not, please inform me and give me such instructions as you think best, &c. Now Sir, how could old Isaac Levan have had a list of Vanheir's Company if he had not been in it, and how would he have known that Daniel Levan had a son called Isaac if had not been there. Or how would he know about Cook and the wolf. The old is no relation of the other Levans named above. He came from Germany in the year 1773 a boy and lived in the City of Philadelphia till he listed under Capt. Sealy in 1775, then in 16th year, and returned to Philadelphia after was discharged in 1783 and in 1785 came on foot a single man to Lincoln County, married and lived here ever since. He is almost entirely deaf which is one cause he [illegible] begin sooner to get his pension - he made [illegible] trial in Morgantown in 1833 or 4, but on [illegible] of his deafness, did not do it. His petition [illegible] Congress is with you. Do the best you [illegible]. I remain your fiend and servant, Abner [illegible]
Page 42

the last time he enlisted by Esq. Daniel Levan in the County of Berks, who was then County trustee and had a son 10 or 12 years old called Isaac, who he thought if he was living would recollect his qualification and if he knew of any of these names, to inform me, &c. He wrote me again in the fore part of the winter of 1838, that Daniel Levan was his father and was once County trustee and Isaac, his brother, but had been dead many years, which he also states in the enclosed letter. If I knew Mr. Levans' evidence was with you, I would not send this letter of his. I expect you have the evidence of Mr. Grubber. If not, please inform me and give me such instructions as you think best, &c. Now Sir, how could old Isaac Levan have had a list of Vanheir's Company if he had not been in it, and how would he have known that Daniel Levan had a son called Isaac if had not been there. Or how would he know about Cook and the wolf. The old is no relation of the other Levans named above. He came from Germany in the year 1773 a boy and lived in the City of Philadelphia till he listed under Capt. Sealy in 1775, then in 16th year, and returned to Philadelphia after was discharged in 1783 and in 1785 came on foot a single man to Lincoln County, married and lived here ever since. He is almost entirely deaf which is one cause he [illegible] begin sooner to get his pension - he made [illegible] trial in Morgantown in 1833 or 4, but on [illegible] of his deafness, did not do it. His petition [illegible] Congress is with you. Do the best you [illegible]. I remain your fiend and servant, Abner [illegible]
Page 43

Catawba View, NC
November 30th
Free
A Payne, P.M.
Hon James Graham, House of Representatives
Washington City, D.C.
Mr. Graham - J.J. Rappert named in this letter was dead when I first wrote to Reading. If you have not the evidence of Grubber, write to me in time that I may procure it again, if he is living. I then have a copy of it by me &c.
A. Payne
Page 44

War Department
Pension Office
February 27, 1839
Sir,
I return herewith the letter of Mr. Samuel Levan together with his affidavit intended to sustain the claim of Isaac Levan to a pension, in order that you may place it with Mr. Levan's original papers, which, you may remember, were sent to you at your request on the 31st ultimo.
I have the honor to be,
very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J L Edwards
Hon. James Graham,
House of Representatives
Page 45

Berks County
State of Pennsylvania
Reading February 19th, 1839
Hon. James Graham, House of Representations
Dear Sir, I have received a letter from Abner Payne Postmaster at Catawba View, Burke County, State of North Carolina, in which he desired information respecting Isaac Levan. Sir, said Levan, I never knew him as I was only a child in the war of the Revolution. The oldest of my brothers is deceased. He, I have no doubt, could have given perfect satisfaction of the applicant's case. I have therefore enclosed my affidavit which goes only to show so far as the said Foxes and Adam Kock had related to me. My Father was a Justice of the Peace. He has died more than 45 years and many Soldiers in the Revolutionary war he did administer the usual oaths. I have stated such facts in my affidavit as was certainly related to me. Reference the my affidavit and the Certificate of credibility.
Sir, I will here state that I have directly or indirectly not any interest in the matter of the application of the applicant Isaac Levan. Sir, have the kindness and acknowledge the receipt of this and the enclosed.
I remain your obedient servant,
Samuel Levan
Reading, Berks County
State of Pennsylvania
Page 46

Isaac Levan
Feb. 6 [illegible]
Ref to Com - Rev Pensions
Apr 25, 1840 - Report versus -- see report 11.490
May 29, 1842
Report adverse-- No. 784
No proof of service
adverse
W. Graham, Rev. Pensions
Page 47

No. 33.942
Isaac Levan
N.C
Letter to Hon. Jas. Graham Feb. 15, 1837
Letter to A. Payne April 5, 1837
Letter to A. Payne May 23, 1837
Letter to A. Payne Aug 22, 1837
Letter to H. J. Graham April 25, 1838
Letter to H. J. Graham June 14, 1838
Letter to H. J. Graham Feb. 7, 1840
Letter to Hon. T.S. Clingman March 3, 1845
Letter to D. J. Bishop June 4, 1847
Letter to D. J. Bishop Feb. 29, 1848
Hon. A. H. Stephens May 29, 1851
Hon. A. H. Stephens Aug 12, 1857
Act 7 June 1832
Page 48

5700 4
8283
22
10
11
8.9
5
40
Page 49

33.942
Isaac Levan, North Carolina
Hon. Jas. Graham Feb 15 [illegible]
A. Payne April 5, 1837
A. Payne May 23, 1837
A. Payne Aug 22, 1837
Hon. J. Graham April [illegible]
Hon. J. Graham June [illegible]
Hon. J. Graham Feb [illegible]
Hon. I. L. Clingman March [illegible]
D.J. Bishop June 4 [illegible]
D.J. Bishop Feb 29, 1848
Hon. A. H. Stephens May 29, 1851
Hon. A. H. Stephens Aug 12, 1851
June 7, 1832
(over)
Page 50

Isaac Levan
NC
[illegible] Hon. Jas. Graham Feb 13, 1837
same A.L. Payne Apr 5. 1837, same May 23, 1837
same August 22, 1837
Letter Hon Graham Ap 25 1838
Letter Hon Graham June 14, 1838
Letter Hon Graham Feb 7, 1840
to Hon. I. J. Clingman Mar 3, 1845
to D. J. Bishop June 4, 1847
Act 7 June 1832
Page 51

To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled. Gentlemen:
We, a few of the citizens of the Counties of Lincoln, Burke and Iredell, the old acquaintances of Isaac Levan. Having understood that he will make application to your honorable body, to be placed on the pension list, beg leave to state to you that we have been personally acquainted with said Isaac Levan for many years, and found him to be a man of undoubted veracity and has frequently heard him relate his services in the revolutionary war under Capt. Sealy for 3 years, and of his suffering along the coast of Canada with hunger and cold. And the many battles he was in for the first three years. And then enlisting again in the lite dragoons, under Capt. Bartholomay Vanheir for 3 years more, and served time. And enlisted again under said Vanheir, for during the war. And served his country as a private. Was in many battles, was at the taking of Stony Point with General Wayne. Said Levan was the man that held up General Wayne from falling to the ground when he had received a wound in the forehead at Stony Point. And in the same night, went from Stony Point to West Point to carry news how the battle went. And was also in the rapid march with General Washington from the North to the siege at York, at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. And from the sameness of his tale and from scars we have seen on his body of light wounds, we hope you will not think we assume too much to say to you that we have no doubt but that he has served his country faithfully and that he deserves to be placed on the pension list. We think it a hard thing that he should be kept off, for the want of his name being placed on the list in Washington, a thing that he had no control over. We hope such evidence will be laid before you and will convince you he was a soldier. If so, we know you will do him justice, &c. Very respectfully yours, &c. November 1839.
Signer's Names Iredell County
Moses Herandoff
Nicholas Norton
Allen Alexander
David Alexander
George White
Signer's Names Lincoln County, NC
William J Abernathy
Jacob Stratford
E. Connor, JP
Archibald Ray
Isaac Lawrance
Jacob L Lawrance
Page 52

Signer's Names
Iredell County
Jacob Messer
James Alexander
James Morrison
Thomas Morrison, Sr.
Thomas Morrison, Junior
Lorenzo D. Bagwell
Horace M Johnson
William Morrison
Andrew Morrison
Daniel L Frazer
David Alexander
John L. Keandy
[illegible] Miller
John Gryder
Signer's Names for Burke County
Babel Sherrill, Esq.
Harrison Turner, JP
Signer's Names
Lincoln County
James Cowan
Andrew Fullbrite [his mark]
B. Sevrance
Enis Sherill
William Jim Podier
George Huffman, MG
Henry Fisher
Joseph Fisher, Esq
James Moore
Daniel Whittenberge
Joseph Hays
Graham 421
Rev. Pension
Page 53

List from the first three Tour Serves of Cap. Von Heer L. D. Maroshusy 1778
[Left column]
Cap: Bartholoma Von Heer
Cap. L: Philip Manky
Lieu: Jacob Meinninger
Carnet Baron Wolf
Val: Philip Arupeng
Clark Frans Sanerod
Far: William Han tromp: Ludwig wolf
Quat: Ser. John Miller and Johan Martin Georg
first Ser: Johan Baumann
2 Ser Franz Haker
Corp: Georg Hess and Johan Eckstein
Corp: Johan Scheffer
Corp: Philip Shmit
Corp: Conrad Kramer
Corp: Andony Waechter
Preif: Johan Adam
Johan Gerlach
Martin Winkler
Heinrich hunger
Jost Zillig
Caspar Hauser
Casper Green
Christian Denzler
Johan Dorie
Ludwig List
Heinrich Reus
Michael Rickhart
Philip Neumann
John Haselmann
[Right column]
Mor Preif: Johan Gunder
Johan Steppert
Johan Olig
George Zink
Isaac Levan
Christian Slevoyt
George Mosser
Johan Eigholz
Mathes Shmit
Heinrich Shmit
Antreas Kaiser
Philip Zaubern
Georg Ziegler
Heinrich Bard
Stephan Bard
Isaac Wolf
Johan Engelhaupt
August Abt
Johan Kretzer
Johan Webler
Georg Schwarz
Jacob Milhausen
Johan Schumann
Johan Zapf
Frederick Dilius
August Kunitz
Andreas Pfaffenbay
Tittrick Strauss
Ignatius Effinger
Page 54

Heinrich Frank
Heinrich Frankfort
Heinrich Letloh
Georg Eisenbeis
Andreas Gruber
Friedrich Muler
Johan Lang
Philip Greilig
Doctors
Dr. Cocran, head Dr.
Dr. Latimore
Dr. Dealton - Cured me of a sudden deafness that was occasioned by a Cannon firing off near me on a way to me
Page 55

No. 5
Page 56

List from the first three Tour Serves of Cap. Von Heer L. D. Maroshusy 1778
[Left column]
Cap: Bartholoma Von Heer
Cap. L: Philip Manky
Lieu: Jacob Meinninger
Carnet Baron Wolf
Val: Philip Arupeng
Clark Frans Sanerod
Far: William Han tromp: Ludwig wolf
Quat: Ser. John Miller and Johan Martin Georg
first Ser: Johan Baumann
2 Ser Franz Haker
Corp: Georg Hess and Johan Eckstein
Corp: Johan Scheffer
Corp: Philip Shmit
Corp: Conrad Kramer
Corp: Andony Waechter
Preif: Johan Adam
Johan Gerlach
Martin Winkler
Heinrich hunger
Jost Zillig
Caspar Hauser
Casper Green
Christian Denzler
Johan Dorie
Ludwig List
Heinrich Reus
Michael Rickhart
Philip Neumann
John Haselmann
[Right column]
Mor Preif: Johan Gunder
Johan Steppert
Johan Olig
George Zink
Isaac Levan
Christian Slevoyt
George Mosser
Johan Eigholz
Mathes Shmit
Heinrich Shmit
Antreas Kaiser
Philip Zaubern
Georg Ziegler
Heinrich Bard
Stephan Bard
Isaac Wolf
Johan Engelhaupt
August Abt
Johan Kretzer
Johan Webler
Georg Schwarz
Jacob Milhausen
Johan Schumann
Johan Zapf
Frederick Dilius
August Kunitz
Andreas Pfaffenbay
Tittrick Strauss
Ignatius Effinger
Page 57

A list of Capt. Bartholima Vanhart's Company of Lite Dragoon called Masechusey- that listed for during the war
[Left column]
Jacob Mininger, Capt. Lieut.
Philip Struban, 1st Lt.
John Stake, Cornet
M. Obrien, quarter master
Francis Sangrote, Capt. Clk
William How, forage master
John Bowman, Quarter Master
William Koons, trumpeter
John Geroge, 2 trumpeter
David Fox, 3 trumpeter
John Extine, 1st Sergeant
Anthony Wachter, 2 Sergeant
John Statleman, Cor
Robert Boby, Cor
John Englehaupt, Cor
John Ketzer, Cor
George Hertsberg, Cor
Lewis List, private
Henry Reis
John Oby
George Zeigler
Fredrick Miller
Henry Baught
Christian Slavought
Philip Greileigh
Stephen Baught
Isaac Levan
George Zibbel
Andrew Fox
John Grechter
Lewis Bayer
John Coonits
Fredrick Ditius
George Fogle
Joseph Buss
John Blimline
John Tegler
[Right column]
George Krug
Arnest Rossler
Peter Fricker
George Fricker
George Barley
Adam Kook
Fredrick Greff
Jacob Mooth
Peter Smith
Michel Eisenach
Peter Som
Peter Schumaker
John Leareman
John Morris
John Cline
Peter Rappert
Dittrichy Straus
Peter Ochs
John Miller
William Grafferd
Peter Grafferd
Martin Gringfelts
John Dresney
Ignatus Effinger
Henry Ledlow
Robert, a black boy waters
David, a black boy waters
Peter Brown
John Wisner
Mr. Levan insists that I will enclose to you a list of the Dragoons he served with which he had kept a list of in German. Probably they are not all spelt right as he had to English it to me, &c. Do with it as you think proper.
A. Payne
Page 58

This list is written by a citizen from the old German soldier's recital of the names and perhaps mis-named and misspelled.
J. Graham
No. 3
Page 59

A list of the Soldiers of the first three years Servase [sp: service] in the Revolutionary war in the Calvary, &c.
Bartholome Vanharte, Capt.
Philip Manki, 1st Lt.
Jacob Miningner, 2nd Lt.
Baron Wollfen, Cornet
Lewis Woolf, Trumpeter
John George, Trumpeter
Francis Sancrode, Clerk
William Hough, forage master
John Miller, Quarter Master
John Bowman, 1st Sargent
Francis Hacker, 2nd Sergeant
George Hess, Corporal
John Sheffer, Corporal
Philip Smith, Corporal
Conrad Kramer, Corporal
Anthony Wachter, Corporal
John Adam, Private
John Gerlach
Martin Winkler
Henry Unger
Jost Zillig
Jasper Houser
Jasper Green
Christian Denzler
John Dorie
Lewis List
Henry Rans
Michel Pickheart
John Lang
Philip Seamman
John Steatleman
John Ginder
John Stepert
John Olyg
George Zink
George Mosser
John Eighely
Mathies Smith
Henry Smith, Senior
George Zieglare
Fredrick Miller
Isaac Levan
Andrew Gruber
Philip Greilich
Henry Franford
Henry Frank
Andrew Kaiser
Henry Baught
Stephen Baught
Isaac Wolsi [illegible]
Christian Slevogt
John Engelhoupt
August Abt
John Kratzer
John Wepler
George Bearnt
George Schwartz
Philip Zaubern
Jacob Milhousen
John Schuman
George Wilhelm
John Zuph
Fredrick Diting
August Kunitz
Andrew Baffenbaugh
Dittrich Strauss
Ingratus Effinger
Henry Ledlow
John Extine
No. 3
This list is written by a citizen from the old German soldier's recital of the names and perhaps mis-named and misspelled.
J. Graham
Page 60

A list of soldiers
No. 2
Page 61

[illegible] Mar 1778 [illegible] 1781. [illegible]
[German of content in image 59. That transcription follows:]
Bartholome Vanharte, Capt.
Philip Manki, 1st Lt.
Jacob Miningner, 2nd Lt.
Baron Wollfen, Cornet
Lewis Woolf, Trumpeter
John George, Trumpeter
Francis Sancrode, Clerk
William Hough, forage master
John Miller, Quarter Master
John Bowman, 1st Sargent
Francis Hacker, 2nd Sergeant
George Hess, Corporal
John Sheffer, Corporal
Philip Smith, Corporal
Conrad Kramer, Corporal
Anthony Wachter, Corporal
John Adam, Private
John Gerlach
Martin Winkler
Henry Unger
Jost Zillig
Jasper Houser
Jasper Green
Christian Denzler
John Dorie
Lewis List
Henry Rans
Michel Pickheart
John Lang
Philip Seamman
John Steatleman
John Ginder
John Stepert
John Olyg
George Zink
George Mosser
John Eighely
Mathies Smith
Henry Smith, Senior
George Zieglare
Fredrick Miller
Isaac Levan
Andrew Gruber
Philip Greilich
Henry Franford
Henry Frank
Andrew Kaiser
Henry Baught
Stephen Baught
Isaac Wolsi [illegible]
Christian Slevogt
John Engelhoupt
August Abt
John Kratzer
John Wepler
George Bearnt
George Schwartz
Philip Zaubern
Jacob Milhousen
John Schuman
George Wilhelm
John Zuph
Fredrick Diting
August Kunitz
Andrew Baffenbaugh
Dittrich Strauss
Ingratus Effinger
Henry Ledlow
John Extine
Page 62

[German of content in image 57. That transcription follows:]
Jacob Mininger, Capt. Lieut.
Philip Struban, 1st Lt.
John Stake, Cornet
M. Obrien, quarter master
Francis Sangrote, Capt. Clk
William How, forage master
John Bowman, Quarter Master
William Koons, trumpeter
John Geroge, 2 trumpeter
David Fox, 3 trumpeter
John Extine, 1st Sergeant
Anthony Wachter, 2 Sergeant
John Statleman, Cor
Robert Boby, Cor
John Englehaupt, Cor
John Ketzer, Cor
George Hertsberg, Cor
Lewis List, private
Henry Reis
John Oby
George Zeigler
Fredrick Miller
Henry Baught
Christian Slavought
Philip Greileigh
Stephen Baught
Isaac Levan
George Zibbel
Andrew Fox
John Grechter
Lewis Bayer
John Coonits
Fredrick Ditius
George Fogle
Joseph Buss
John Blimline
John Tegler
[Right column]
George Krug
Arnest Rossler
Peter Fricker
George Fricker
George Barley
Adam Kook
Fredrick Greff
Jacob Mooth
Peter Smith
Michel Eisenach
Peter Som
Peter Schumaker
John Leareman
John Morris
John Cline
Peter Rappert
Dittrichy Straus
Peter Ochs
John Miller
William Grafferd
Peter Grafferd
Martin Gringfelts
John Dresney
Ignatus Effinger
Henry Ledlow
Robert, a black boy waters
David, a black boy waters
Peter Brown
John Wisner
Page 63

War Department
Pension Office
June 15, 1838
Sir
I return herewith the letter of Mr. Payne upon the subject of the claim of Isaac Levan, and have to state that the Department cannot be warranted in allowing his claim without further and more satisfactory proof. He alleges that he served to the close of the war, and that the three last years of his service was rendered under Capt. Bartholomew Von Heer. His name should be found upon the list of those who received final settlement certificates, but such is not the case.
In reply to the inquiry of Mr. Payne, I have to state, that Valentine Gruber in Dublin township, Bedford County, and J. J. Rappert of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and J.J. Effinger of Woodstock, Virginia, served under Capt. Bartholomew Von Heer, and were not discharged until 1783, and are still supposed to be living.
I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards
Hon James Graham
House of Representatives
Page 64

Catawba View N.C
Burke County
January the 26th 1837
My Dear Sir
I have had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 24th Ult and Mr. Shepheard's speech since.
I hope the blessing of health is still continued to you. Myself and family and neighbors are all well. I left Morganton yesterday.  The people of the village and vicinity are health. Our County Members had not returned. A seventh Judicial Circuit is established, composing only of your Cong. District. The courts will commence in Macon and end in Burke. Our court will not be till 15th of May and hold 2 weeks and 2 in Rutherford before ours. I will do all I can with respect to the sale of your land, &c. I enclose to you the Declaration of Isaac Levan. It is the wish of the old man that it be sent to you and for you to lay it before the proper authority and to do him all the service you can, and if he should be successful, he will renumerate you for trouble or expense, &c.
The Court was so busy that they did not ask him as many questions as I wanted them to do. They had no doubt of the justness of his claim. He wished to have it inserted that he received two slight wounds. He has a considerable scar on his forehead done with a bayonet and another on his hand done with a sword, all while in battle with the enemy, none of them was had. After the war was over, he lived in Philadelphia City till in the spring of 1785 and then came to NC, Lincoln County and lived in said County till the last six years he has lived neighbor to me and has done many days work for me and I have known him a long time before, and everybody of his old acquaintances thinks he surly was in the army as he can tell so much about it. He has had considerable of property but by an unfortunate lawsuit, his broke up. He is nearly deaf and his wife is also deaf, which is one reason he delayed making his claim, and another is he had lost his discharge, and no one here knew of his services
Page 65

and he thought he had no chance to get anything. He once went to Morganton on the business, but got nothing done, and he got out of heart and came home. He has no land and wishes you if there is any chance for him to get his bounty land to do all you can for him. He says he was to get 160 acres bounty land on every enlistment. You will see by his Declaration he listed for 3 years the first time and was discharged in 1779, which makes 4 years to a count for this. He says he was a young man and had no relations in America, no home to go to and stayed in the army and received his pay as before for the last year and then asked for his discharge and received it. His wish was to be in the Calvary and listed in that service &c.
If he could yet get his bounty land, he would rather have it allotted to him in Alabama, in some of the Counties in the N.E. Corner of the State, &c. He came from Germany a lad, a little before he listed, worked at the baker's business till he listed. 
Very respectfully,
your Friend and servant,
Abner Payne
Any communications that may be sent on please direct to the Catawba view.
A.P.
Hon. James Graham
Page 66

April 27th, 1837
Catawba View N.C.
Burke County
Dear Sir
I received your lines of the 5th Instant on the 20th in which you say that Isaac Levan's name is not to be found on Capt. Vanhart's list and requires proof of his enlistment, of the time and manner of his leaving the army, &c. I immediately sent to Mr. Levan and he came and requests me to write to you again. He thinks his name must have been on the muster lists of Capt. Sealy in the first enlistment in the Infantry, and also on that of Capt. Vanhart in the Calvary, but may have been spelt wrong as it is frequently done by those in his neighborhood. To my own knowledge, it is often spelt Lafon. That is the most common here and by many it is spelt Lalong and by some of the Dutch Lavand. He wishes me to make this known that if it should be spelt in any of the above ways, it might be rectified. He says he did not leave the army until the close of the war as stated in his Declaration. He thinks there is a mistake in the date of his first discharge in his declaration. He listed under Capt. Sealy in the Dutch Battalion for 3 years and was discharged 1778, instead of 1779 as stated before. He then listed the same day under Capt. Van heart for three years more in the Calvary and served in that company till his time was nearly out and then himself and a few of the others of the company with some of their militia men was sent to a certain place against some Tories that was plundering in a settlement. That before he returned, his time was out and that he did not return to the army for 5 or 6 weeks but did return then and stay with them then till he was discharged in 1789.
Page 67

Copy of Declaration
Page 68

Discharged 1778 in March by order of General Hays between Raritan and Mill Stone River called to Dutch Valley. 2nd in March 1782 at a place called Olick, a township 9 miles below Reading. 3rd on the River Walkil 4 miles from old Potz by order of the muster master Gene Stuban by his Adi camp Maj. Barber.
3 patches
Modatary or honor
Copy of Declaration
Page 69

May 6
M. Act 1832
Catawba View, N.C.
April 27th
free
A. Payne, PM
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City, DC
Page 70

Catawba View, NC
Burke County
April 27th, 1837
Dear Sir
I received your lines of the 5th instant on the 20th and immediately sent for Mr. Isaac Levan. You say that his name does not appear on the records at the war department, &c. The old man says there must be some error some way that he did list as he has stated in his Declarations, first under Capt. Sely of the Dutch battalion for 3 years, served his time out, was regular discharged as before stated, only he thinks his declaration says in 1779 where as it should say 1778 in March, and listed the same day under Capt. Vanhart in the Calvary for 3 years more and then served 4 years. A few weeks of the summer of 1781, he was absent from the army after his 3 years was out, the latter part of the summer, he returned to the army and stayed on his monthly wages till in March 1782 and was then regular discharged as stated in his declaration and then listed for during the war and stayed in the army till he was regular discharged on the 23rd day of June 1783 as before stated in Declaration. He thinks it very probable his name may be spelt wrong as it is often done here. To my own knowledge, it is very common to spell it Lafon and sometimes Lafong and some of the Germans spell it Levand. We make this statement to you in order to enable you to ascertain whether there is an error committed in his name as we do not know of anyone in this state that is knowing to his services in the army that he can prove by &c. He came from Philadelphia to this State N.C. in the summer of 1785 and lived in Lincoln County in the same settlement ever since till lately he came in to Burke not more than 9 miles from his first settlement, and from the sameness of the old man's tales about battles and places and officers, together with his standing amongst them for 50 years, they are willing to certify that they believe he was a soldier as he has declared, &c. But if you require positive proof of or personal knowledge further than is stated,
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Mr. Levan asks the department to be so good as to write an answer to this letter and inform him if there is a list of Capt. Sealy's Company in the Department and also if any of those on that list are pensioners. If so, to inform him where they live, &c. He has no list of the above Company, only his officers and mess mates that is stated in his declaration, which you have. He also asks the like favor concerning Capt. Vanhart's Company of Calvary. If any of them are pensioners and he can be informed where they live, he will apply to them for positive proof of his servitude and length of time in the Army, &c. As the old man is now in his 80th year and has visible scars of wounds in his face and hand and not able to work and by a recent misfortune, is become very needy, it is hoped the department of war will give the information above asked for in order to enable him to procure the necessary proof, &c. Very
Respectfully, your humble servant,
Abner Payne
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 72

Mr. Sylvester
Catawba View, N.C
March 16th, 1837
Free
A. Payne, PM
Hon J. L. Edwards
War department
Washington City, D.C.
Page 73

March 16th, 1837
Catawba View, N.C.
Burke County
Honorable and Dear Sir:
I received a few lines by the last mail from the Hon. James Graham from Washington City dated 21st February, informing me that you wished Isaac Levan to send on to you the original list of the Company he was in, let it be Dutch or English. I have been to see Isaac Levan, and he gave me the list which he had in Dutch, which we had copied off in English as good as we could and sent on with his declaration, &c. This Dutch list I enclose to you, but the old man says it is not the first list. That he had copied it off several times, as they became wore out, &c. He says this is a true copy of the original one taken by him while in the army as the muster roles was called. His object, he says, was only to be enabled to remember the names of his fellows after the war was over, as he had no relations in America at that time. And being so long a soldier, he became attached to his company. And has so often looked over it they became wore out and new one [illegible] have been copied off. He says there was three lists copied of the Company by different officers, and as he took down the names as or when called, that it is very probable the names may not be regular on his list as they are on the one returned to the War Department, but thinks he has all the names of his company. He also wishes me to set down the names of the men that mustered them in each year by order of the Muster Master General. The first was in May 1778 by Col. Stewart of the Pennsylvania Line; the 2nd in August 1779 by B. Steuban, Muster Master General in Pits Kill, New York. The 3rd was in 1780, in Sept., by Major Sips, Commander of General Washington's life guard. The 4th was 1781, month not recollected, by a Major of the Virginia State Line in Fredericksburg, Va. In 1782 in May by Major Barber ad. to Muster Master General. In Feby, 1783, again by Maj. Barber on a place called Dry Land, New York. In June again by Major Barber and discharged.
Very Respectfully, your humble servant, Abner Payne
Page 74

[Stamp: Reading, Pa. Aug 13]
A. Payne, Esquire
Post Master, Catawba View
Burke County
North Carolina
Page 75

August 11
Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania 1838
Mr. A. Payne
Sir, I have taken the liberty of writing to you, giving you such information as in my power as regards the old soldier you mention in your letter to Mr. Rutter the Postmaster of this place. My brother is in the habit of getting pensions for old solders. This he has been doing since 1818. Mr. Reppert, the person you allude to in your letter, died about 14 months ago. There was another that was killed by the falling of a tree in the woods. About the same time, Smith by name, I wish you to inform me if this Isaac Levan was a Pennsylvanian by birth or German-born. Both the captains I knew went [illegible]. Captain Sealy was very often at my father's when I was a boy. I [illegible] knew Capt. Van Hair. Both captains were Germans. Captain Van Hair died in Philadelphia very poor. Both captains died a good many years ago, however, I shall not leave a stone unturned but make every inquiry. I am on here on a visit doing nothing but [illegible] the summer. I live in the City of Charleston, South Carolina since the year 1819. We are a very old family in the County of Berks. There were four of my grandfathers' brothers settled in this neighborhood. Now, sir, we are of the same name as the old soldier you speak of in your letter. My Grandfather's name was Isaac Levan, who died in this borough nearly 60 years ago, my father 48 years ago. My father had a brother Isaac who died in this borough. I do not think I cannot say what family he is this old soldier you mention. He must be a foreigner. I hope you will question him if he knew any of the Levans in this County that he listed in. He certainly knew my father, for at that time, my father was Prothonotary and Treasurer of the County of Berks. There are a number of the Levans. You will ask him what part of Germany he is from. I have merely sent you his letter in answer to yours, not having much time yet from the short time yours has been received, but I shall be very industrious. It is quite necessary to do a kindness for an old soldier. Now it is a pity this man did not make application two years ago while two of the men were living. Adam Koch died six years ago. David Fox died 1830 in April. J. Reppert died about 14 months ago. Frederick Groff 4 years ago. Smith years ago. Ask the old solder if he recollects any of those names and Fox was
Page 76

the trumpeter of Captain Van Hair's troop. It is possible that I may get better information than I have had. It is but three days since your letter was handed to me. I am going tomorrow into the country. I may get information that there is yet one living to get this man a pension. My brother got a heavy pension for an old soldier in Virginia. Not long since, got for a doctor [illegible] seventeen hundred dollars for services rendered in the Revolutionary War. This man ought to have been ashamed. He was a rich man lived in this borough, had a great deal of practice.
Since the pensioner has died. [illegible] four months' pay the family after his death. There is from the last account living in some part of Virginia, a man who was with Van Hair. I may possibly find out. I shall ride our tomorrow. About fifteen miles, there is a younger Graff living, a brother to the one who was in the army. He may probably give me some information. Now, sir, that you may rely on me in what I have wrote, there is a gentleman living in or near Salsberry, North Carolina, who is native of this place and a school mate of mine by the name of Alexander Caldicleu, a planter, whose grandmother was one of the Levans. What you have stated, that the Germans call him Lefon, they call us that here. Our fore parents were of the persecuted [illegible] by the Catholics. If all the Levans ware put together, they would make a small regiment in this County. There were four brothers of my father's, the oldest, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Daniel, the latter my father, who commanded a great deal of respect in this county. My father studied law as far back as 1762, then a young man. My brother being absent, I have answered your letter in order to give you such information as is in power. Affidavits taken in support of Revolutionary Claims must be very correctly done. In some cases, they have been returned or rejected. I wish you to answer this letter as soon as possible as my brother will return from the country on the eighteenth. My Brother is executing at present five or six claims for the widows of old soldiers. I thought it my duty to answer your letter as my brother was in the Country. You will inquire of the soldier or Mr. Levan where and in what County or Town he enlisted with Captain Van Hair, and if he enlisted the second time and where. If Mr. Levan has enlisted twice, it is necessary to have that information, particularly of the second enlistment. I wish you to answer this as the distance is far.
I am Respectfully yours, Jacob Levan
To Mr. A. Payne, P.M.
Page 77

To A. Payne
Valentine Grubers
Evidence
Page 78

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Bedford County, SS.
Personally appeared before me, one of the Commonwealth's Justice of the peace, Valentine Gruber, a Revolutionary Soldier and being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that that he served in the Revolutionary War as a private and Dragoon under Capt. Bartholmy VanHeir, belonging to the Pennsylvania line and sayeth to the best of his knowledge, was discharged sometime in March 1782 or 3, and sayeth that he was acquainted with a man by the name of Isaac Levan who was enlisted and served as a private and Dragoon under Capt. Bartholomy VanHeir and sayeth he does not know whether he ever was in a battle or not, as General  Washington took Capt. Bartholomy VanHeir and his company for his life guard and then we had no chance to get into a battle. Sometimes we would get into little skirmishes, but saith he recollects very well the said Isaac Levan and knows he was a private and dragoon under and done served under Capt. Bartholomy VanHeer in the Revolutionary War. Further saith not. 
Valentine Gruber
Sworn and subscribed before me the 23rd day of August A.D. 1838.
Mathias Cline
Page 79

State of Pennsylvania
Bedford County, SS.
I, John G. Martin, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Bedford County aforesaid, certify that Matthias Cline, Esq., before whom the within affidavit appears to have been made, was at that time and still is an acting Justice of the peace in and for Bedford County aforesaid, is duly commissioned and qualified as such by legal authority and that full faith and credit are due all his official acts as such and further that the signature Matthias Cline purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Bedford the 7th day of September A.D. 1838.
John G. Martin
Prothonotary
Page 80

Burnt Cabins, Bedford County, Pa. 17th Sept 1838
Dear Sir: I received yours of the 25th July, in due time and went in a day or two to see Mr. Grove and found he knew something about the man you wished to prove something for. Mr. Gruber says he well recollects the officers' names all and more than you have mentioned, though he pronounces the soldier Lafon in place of Isaac Levan. He says he saw him fight with the sword a man the name of Dubz and cut off his thumb one day at tavern. I here enclose to you Valentine Gruber's deposition hoping it will answer. If any alteration is wanting and can be done, I will tend to it. I first went to the old man Gruber, then got another to go and write his disposition and brought him several miles before a Justice of the peace, then I took the paper to the County Clerk a distance of 38 miles and have his Certificate and County Seal affixed to it. If Mr. Laffon gits his pension, you may send us a reasonable 
recompence for our time we spent, &c. Yours respectfully,
N. Kelly
Page 81

fees 25 cents to Clerk
paid
Page 82

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Bedford County, SS.
Personally appeared before me, one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the Peace, Valentine Gruber a Revolutionary Soldier, and being sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that he served in the Revolutionary war as a private and dragoon under Capt. Barthelemy VanHeir, belonging to the Pennsylvania Line and saith to the best of his knowledge he was discharged sometime in March 1782 or 3, and saith that he was acquainted with a man by the name of Isaac Levan who was enlisted and served as a privet and dragoon under Capt. Barthelemy VanHeir and Saith he does not know whether he ever was in a battle or not as General Washington took Barthelemy VanHeir and his Company for his Life Guard and then we had no chance to get into a Battle. Sometimes we would get into little skirmishes, but saith he recollects very well the said Isaac Levan and knows he was a private and dragoon under and done served under Capt. Barthelemy VanHeir in the Revolutionary War. Further saith not.
Valentine Gruber
Sworn and subscribed before me the 23rd day of August A.D. 1838.
Matthias Cline
Page 83

State of Pennsylvania
Bedford County, SS.
I, John G. Martin, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Bedford County aforesaid, certify that Matthias Cline, Esq., before whom the within affidavit appears to have been made, was at that time and still is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for Bedford County aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified as such by legal authorities and that full faith and credit are due all his official acts as such, and further that the signature "Matthias Cline" purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Bedford the 7th day of September A.D. 1838.
John G. Martin, Prothonotary
fees 25 cents to Clerk
Paid
Page 84

Burnt Cabins, Bedford County, Pa. 17th Sept 1838
Dear Sir: I received yours of the 25th July, in due time and went in a day or two to see Mr. Grove and found he knew something about the man you wished to prove something for. Mr. Gruber says he well recollects the officers' names all and more than you have mentioned, though he pronounces the soldier Lafon in place of Isaac Levan. He says he saw him fight with the sword a man the name of Dubz and cut off his thumb one day at tavern. I here enclose to you Valentine Gruber's deposition hoping it will answer. If any alteration is wanting and can be done, I will tend to it. I first went to the old man Gruber, then got another to go and write his disposition and brought him several miles before a Justice of the peace, then I took the paper to the County Clerk a distance of 38 miles and have his Certificate and County Seal affixed to it. If Mr. Laffon gits his pension, you may send us a reasonable
recompence for our time we spent, &c. Yours respectfully,
N. Kelly
Page 85

Abner Payne, Esq.
Postmaster
Burke County
Catawba View, North Carolina
Page 86

October 16th, 1838
Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Abner Payne, Esq., P.M.
Dear Sir-- I received yours the date above at the Reading Post Office respecting Isaac Levan. I feel much interested in his behalf and indeed more particularly as he is one of those who has no doubt served as he has stated in pursuance of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That Law does require proof of Revolutionary services, that is, applicants who apply for Pensions. In case the name of an applicant is not found on Record of the Revolutionary Rolls, then and in that case, proof of services is required. I have executed claims of all descriptions to the Government of the United States viz, Pension Office and General Land Office of the same Branch from the 18th day of March AD 1818. This day I sent three claims for widows to the Pension Office for Pensions. I will state that I am one of Daniel Levan's sons. My father, before whom Isaac Levan, the Soldier, was sworn, was a Justice of the Peace for Berks County. He was also Treasurer for the County aforesaid and was an Atty at Law and my father, Daniel Levan, was also the Prothonotary and held all the offices in the Gift of the Governor of Pennsylvania. Again, I feel fully convinced that Isaac Levan, the Soldier, has served honestly. Adam Koch, who you have mentioned in yours to me, was a member of Captain Van Heer's Dragoons. I did execute his claim and obtained a pension for him from the United States. He certainly related the same circumstances respecting the bears and wolves. Adam Koch was bitten by one and he presented his arm to me in which I see his wounds. The incision of the bites was very plain
Page 87

so that it appears that Isaac Levan's, the old Soldier, statements appear strictly true and I also believe all his statements by him made. Again, many men in the Revolutionary war were sworn before my father, Daniel Levan. I will endeavor all in my power for Isaac Levan, the Old Soldier. I shall, as soon as time may permit, get information from the western country. I do intend sending a letter there respecting him and will do all honorable means in his case. I feel for him on account of his advanced age and more particularly as I have no doubt that he is poor. As for as I can obtain information, I will write to you again. I obtained 2 pensions viz, one for David Fox, one for Andrew Fox, both of VanHeer's Dragoons They often mentioned to me that Isaac Levan was a member in VanHeer's Dragoons, and Adam Koch aforesaid said the same to me. I cannot read the German letter enclosed in yours. I will get some person who is a competent person to read it. I have, therefore, first answered your letter. I have much business on hand. Sir, my brother, Isaac Levan, has deceased 38 years ago and my father, Daniel, many years more than forty years. If I can have the good fortune to find the books of my fathers in which he made the Entry of Enlistments, that would be a good proof of Isaac Levan's case. John Spyker was one of our Executors of my father. I, at present, do not know where to make search for the books. Said John Spyker is dead and a certain Epler administered on Spyker's personal estate or personal property. Koch, both the Foxes
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of VanHeer's Dragoons all are deceased. I shall, however, do my endeavors to obtain evidence of I. Levan's services, if possible. I have no doubt I. Levan would allow me some recompence if I can obtain a pension for him. Should he be so fortunate as to obtain a pension through me, it would be no more than just because reward sweetens labor. Give my best respects to the Old Gentleman and mention that I will do all in my power. Perhaps in case I could not obtain the desired testimony, I will then bring his case before the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress. Sir, when you write any time, address your letter to me.
Samuel Levan, Jr., Reading Post Office, Berks County, Penna. Your letter was addressed to Isaac Levan, Wheeling. Isaac Levan, deceased, was my brother as aforesaid. He has died in the City of Baltimore 36 years ago.
I am, sir, very respectfully yours,
Samuel Levan, Junior
Abner Payne, Esq., P.M.
NB I shall address you often until something can be done. I have several cases which I was obliged to lay before the Congress of the United States.
Page 89

Catawba view, N.C.
January 14th
Free
A. Payne P.M.
Hon. James Graham
House Representative
Washington City, D.C.
Page 90

Catawba View
Burke County
January 14th, 1839
My Dear Sir
When I saw you last in Morganton at our Superior Court, I informed you that I had obtained and went on to the War Department the evidence of Valentine Grubber, an old soldier, proving the services of old Mr. Isaac Levan in the revolutionary war. I enclosed the evidence to the Hon. J. L. Edwards on the 18th Oct last, and have not yet received any answer from Mr. Edwards. I am apprehensive it is by some means lost, and being fully convinced of the justness of Mr. Levan's claims, I have wrote as well as I knew how, a petition to Congress for him which he has signed, and I also enclose a copy of Grubber's evidence, and a list of the company of dragoons that Levan served in and some other papers and a letter Mr. Edwards addressed to you at the last session of Congress in which he was good enough to give me the names of J.J. Ruppert, J.G. Effner and Valentine Grubber. I wrote to the postmasters where they lived and obtained from S. Kelly, P.M. at Burnt Cabins, Bedford County, Pa., the evidence of Mr. Grubber and from Reading, Berks County, Pa. information that J.J. Rappert had been dead 14 months, and from the postmaster at Woodstock, Va., that J.J. Effner was yet alive, but so old and his mind so much injured that he could not recollect Mr. Levan sufficiently to give evidence
Page 91

I think it very likely my giving a copy of Mr. Grubber's evidence, which I retained when I sent it on, will hardly do to give satisfaction. I therefore have this day wrote on to N. Kelly, P.M., Burnt Cabins, Bedford County, Pa., to take the evidence of said Grubber again and to send it on to you to Washington City. I have also wrote to a Mr. Samuel Levan at Reading, Berks County, Pa., to send on his evidence to you also believing it will strengthen Grubber's. I have received a letter from said Samuel Levan stating that he had been agent for some 5 or 6 of the old soldiers of Capt. VanHeer's Company and that he had heard them say that Isaac Levan was a soldier with them under VanHeer. The names he gave to me that he claimed for are all on the list. Mr. Isaac Levan has - these men are all dead now - 2 of them was Andrew and Jacob Fox, Adam Koch, and some others.
I am sorry to trouble you or the Congress with this business. If it could be avoided, if the evidence you may receive will do to satisfy Mr. Edwards of the justness of the claims of the old soldier, it need not go before Congress. If otherwise, you are respectfully requested to lay the business before that respectful and honorable body, and also to ask Mr. Edward to let you have the Declaration of Isaac Levan that he has on file and have it before Congress for their assistance to come at the justness of the claims, and return it to Mr. Edward afterwards, &c. You will please take care of all the papers sent to you and return them by mail if necessary to me. Mr. Levan wishes me to inform you that he left Pennsylvania shortly after the close of the war, come to Lincoln County, married there and never has seen one of his old fellow soldiers since. Very respectfully your humble servant,
Abner Payne
Hon. James Graham
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P.S. I will here observe that if an inquiry should arise why Mr. Levan did not avail himself of the act of Congress of March 1818, the answer is he knew nothing of that act, till it was too late. He lived in a private part of Lincoln and stayed mostly at home, no post office near him, and him so deaf that he could not hear when he was in company, not one word of common conversation and still is almost entirely deaf. Several attempts have been made to make out his declaration before mine. It was with much difficultly I done it, mostly by writing, and he answer in writing, &c.
A. Payne
Page 93

War Department
Pension Office
January 31, 1839
Sir,
I return you the letter of Mr. Payne, together with all the papers in the case of the application of Isaac Levan for a pension. The proof offered does not come within our rules of [illegible]. Therefore, the claim cannot be allowed by this Department.
Please to acknowledge the receipt of the papers.
I have the honor to be,
very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J L Edwards
Hon. James Graham
House of Representations
Page 94

State of North Carolina
Burke County, SS.
This day personally appeared before me, the undersigned, one of the Justices of the peace for said County, Isaac Levan, and made oath in due form of law and saith that he enlisted in the services of United States in the Revolutionary war as a private under Captain Sealy in the City of Philadelphia in the month of March 1775 and was in what was called the Dutch Battalion commanded by Major Deckart, afterwards was called the Congress Regiment, commanded by General Hays. That he listed for three years and served his time out, and then enlisted again for three years more under Capt. Barthelemy Vanheir as a private in his company of lite dragoons and served his time out and then listed again in the same company for during the war, and served till after peace was made and saith that he was promised one hundred and sixty acres of land in every enlistment. That he was discharged on every enlistment and the last time it was on the 23rd of June 1783, and that he had never received any of his bounty land, neither had he disposed of his claims in any way whatever. Sworn to and subscribed before me the 21st day of November 1839.
Isaac Levan
H. Turner, J.P. [seal]
Page 95

State of North Carolina
Burke County
I, J.J. Erwin, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that H. Turner, before whom the forgoing affidavit was sworn to and subscribed, is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Burke and his signature purporting to be his is genuine and that his official acts an entitled to credit.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal at office in Morganton this 27 day of November 1839.
J.J. Erwin, Clerk
Page 96

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832
State of North Carolina
County of Burke, SS.
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared Isaac Levan of the State and County aforesaid, aged nearly 79 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 the 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1775 with Capt. Sely in the City of Philadelphia on the 3rd day of March 1775 and served in what was called the Dutch Battalion commanded by Major Deckert. Afterwards, the name of Dutch Battalion was called the Congress Regiment, changed I think in the fall of 1777 and commanded by General Hayse. I still served as a private under Capt. Sely and served three years in that capacity. I think my Lieutenant's name was Docky or Duchy. The ensign, I have forgotten his name, he was a French man and a queer name. My mess mates was George Brieger, Michael Stoner, Jacob Grey, Conrod Sitler, Henry Fleischer and John Misinger. I lived in Philadelphia when I listed and marched from thence on the 5th day and March to Fort Edward in the State of New York and there joined Col. Proctor's artillery. Stayed 9 days and marched to Lake George to the Fort Lion the rock, and there on the 8th day of May, we had a battle with the British. We had joined General Sullivan and General Montgomery's army. We, with a few of the new England volunteers commanded by Col. Arnold, we left the main army, crossed Lake George and the river St. Lorance and marched to a town called The Three Sisters and stayed there about six weeks and then marched down towards Quebec and met the main army
4-56
Page 97

on Abraham Plains and had a battle with the enemy on the 31 day of December 1775 in which General Montgomery was killed. We then left there and went to guard the Little River at Wolf's Cove to keep the British from coming up river. Six or seven British boats came up; we fired a few rounds on them and they retreated. From thence we was ordered back to Cron Point, from then to Chimney Point to keep the enemy from going over to Vermont. We took our winter quarters there and stayed there till in May and then marched to Fort Edward. From thence to Albany from thence to work in New York and there joined General Washington's army. And the winter of 1776 was spent without having one settled place for winter quarters, as the British at Brunswick and Little Amboy and Elizabethtown Point, so that we had to shift to guard them as we could. No battle, only one little skirmish in April. We left there and followed after the enemy towards Burlington and General Lee commanded the 2nd Division that I was in. And he left his division at a Creek and went himself to a tavern called Wikes Tavern near Lord Starting's buildings and was there taken prisoner by 5 or 6 British Dragoons. From there, we followed the enemy back to Amboy and Woodbridge and stayed about three weeks in Amboy and the enemy on Staten Island. We then left there and Newtown, thence to Cores ferry in Delaware. From thence to head of Elk. Stayed 2 or 3 weeks. From thence to Brandywine and had a battle on the 11th day of Sept 1777. From thence to Paoli. There the enemy came on, the men commanded by General Wayne, in the night and killed 600 of Wayne's men by the bayonet. From thence we went to Germantown, and there had a battle on the 4th day of October. We had to retreat from the enemy but continued about White Marsh 5 or 6 weeks. The enemy came on us at White Marsh and had another engagement. We drove them back, and from there went to winter quarters with Col. Nagle's regiment to the brick meeting house 9 miles from Philadelphia. In June we left there, relieved by the Pennsylvania militia, crossed the Delaware river at East Town and then went to Minisink, then to Bombrock and from there to Molmouth and there we had a battle on the 24th of June 1778. In this battle, both armies retreated. General Lee commanded the left wing and gave orders to retreat, wrongfully as the enemy was retreating at the same time. From there, we marched to the State of Connecticut and stayed in Fredericksburg till in November and then went to Middle Brook and Burn Brook
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Washington had his headquarters on Ration River. The Pennsylvanians had their headquarters between said river and Milestone River. Here I was discharged on the 3d day of March 1778 by Capt. Sely by order of General Hays, &c. I then enlisted again the same day as a Dragoon under Capt. Bartholomew von Heer for the term of three years. The regiment was called Marechaussee. My first Lieutenant was Philip Manky, the 2nd Lieutenant was Jacob Meininger. The Cornet was Baron Wollfin. We had no Colonel over us, only as they was appointed at different times to muster us. The first of them was Col. Stuert of the 2nd Regiment of the Pennsylvania troops, in the town of Reading. While in winter quarters, we marched from Ration River in the spring of 1779, about the middle of April or May, to Smith's Clove. Washington had his headquarters there by Smith's Tavern. From there, we was sent down Smith's River 5 miles to General Sinclair as a front guard of the army. Stayed about 3 weeks, then marched over the mountains to West Point on North River. Here we built 2 forts. The one next the river was called Putnam, the other was on the hills. Here we put in the river what was called a ship [illegible]. At this place, we had to patrol from Fort Putnam to Stony Point every day till General Wayne took the fort at Stony Point in July 1779. General Wayne here received a slight wound. I was orderly to him and by him and catched him when like to fall. Then I was sent the same night the fort was taken with an express to General Washington at Fort Putnam. General W. went with me the same night to General Wayne, stayed one day and the next day we destroyed the fort, and the British Rogueably. Then we marched to [illegible]. Here the whole army stayed about 2 months, then we went to the English neighborhood and Washington to [illegible] Bridge. Here we had to patrol every day down to the Three Peaches. From here we marched to New Windsor in New York and winter quarters. General Wayne and Smallwood took up their winter quarters 7 miles from Morristown at 7 Peaches. The lite has theirs in little Britain. General Knox with the artillery there at Blockomin. In comes of this winter the Pennsylvania troops rebelled, and Washington sent to the Congress and the governor of Pennsylvania and the affair was settled. The regiment was divided and in the spring they were sent on to General Green in the South.
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In the latter end of the winter, the New Jersey troops rebelled also. By order of General Washington, General Howe to take them and they were taken in Borntown Plain. Two of the head ones was sentenced to be shot. The rest put under Col. Barber where they had him in winter quarters. I think in May, we left Windsor, marched through Fiskill to Blanks Point. Here Washington commanded Capt. Cole [illegible] and Lt. Cole with his life guard and 25 of the Marechaussee or von Herr's troops - I was one of them. We was sent to Moryseney in Connecticut or the edge of New York. Here we had a battle with a party of the green rangers and a part of the Hessian Riflemen commanded by Col. Worms. We took 30 or 40 of the riflemen and killed several. We then returned back to Blanks Point. Then Washington removed his headquarters to Anderson Point. From here, the lite horse was sent to Hackensack against the refugees that was taking some of the people while they was mowing their meadows, but they was gone. We took none of them. We returned to Washington again and the next day he marched the army off crossed the North River at Kings ferry and stayed 2 nights and 1 day at the white house waiting for the Rhode Island Regiment and the balance of the army and the French army. From here, Washington took the company of dragoons. We started before day, went to New Brunswick for breakfast and on to Trenton the same day, little after dark. Next morning, we was ferried over the Delaware River before day light and rode to Philadelphia before we took breakfast. Here we stayed several days till the army came up with us, then we marched to Wilmington, stayed one night. Next day, we marched to the head of Elk and there we stayed over a week till the artillery arrived and embarked. From there, Washington took the horsemen and we arrived at Baltimore the same day and met General Lincoln. Here we was informed that Col. Waller was surrounded by Gen. Green by land and by General Countigrass by water, which was the cause of our [illegible] march. We was march from Baltimore to Alexandria, from there, Fredericksburg, Va. Here we was mustered the 2nd day by a Virginia major of the line. From thence to Green courthouse. From thence within 2 miles of Williamsburg. Here we stayed 2 or 3 days till Washington came to us, he having went by horse the same evening we was marched to headquarters and received orders to search the camp for the sick and take them to Williamsburg. The same night, we followed the main army 2 or 3 miles and came up with them. We was then placed in front and continued the march all night. At the halfway house, Major Nelson of the Virginia State troops took the right-hand road and we the left, as the front guard of the French army. About day light, we came up to the British picket guards in half a mile of York town. Here we stayed till in the event, Washington reviewing the [illegible] with the horse with him.
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Washington then took up camp in an old field and he sat under a persimmon tree all night, till the revilee beat in the morning. He then with the horsemen went toward the town to spy out the situation of the enemy. He viewed with his spy glass and has like to be killed by a cannon ball passing his head and took off both legs of a Maryland soldier. We then went in to the French army and ordered the horsemen to go 2 miles back toward Williamsburg to take up camp there. Washington took up his headquarters next the French General de Rochambeau, Col. Sammy of the graniders took a party of men and went to storm the redout and got wounded and was taken prisoner and was run so hard, he bled to death. After our artillery landed, the cannoning commenced and continued several days till a declaration was made for 3 days. Then Col. Wallace surrendered. In a few days after, the enemy marched out. We, the horsemen, was put in charge of the Dutch prisoners and marched with them to Fredrickstown in Maryland, and there left the prisoners in care of the militia, and from there went to a place called Olick in Pennsylvania. There we stayed in winter quarters. In March, my three years expired. I was discharged sometime in March 1782 and then took bounty and listed again for during the ware under Capt. Bartholomew von Heer, Jacob Meininger, 1st Lt., Philip Stauban was our 2nd Lt., John Stake, the Cornet. O'Brian was Clark of the company. Our Lt. Meininger and 25 dragoons - I was one of them - one sergeant and one corporal and trumpeter was ordered to march to Philadelphia, and there we met with General Washington and marched with him to Newbury in New York state and took up quarters there till the French army came to us. Then we crossed North River and went to Blanks Point. At this place, the main northern army joined us again. We stayed all summer. In November, we went to winter quarters. The lite horse to [illegible] till in February and then went to the Drowned Land, was mustered by Major [illegible] there. Washington stayed in Newbury. And in March, near the last, Col. Hays brought the news from Boston that peace was made. I was orderly in headquarters then and was sent with him to Borntown Plains to General Hayse. I returned and then we went to Old Poltz on the River Walkil and remained than till the 23d day of June 1783. Then Major Barber, ad decamp to the
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Muster master General. Then mustered us and on calling over the list, give us our discharges in print and dismissed us the same day, June 23, 1783.
It was observed in my discharge that I was honored with three patches of honor and modatary.
Qualified by Esquire Shank
The next time by D. Levan
Col. Umphry, Col. Gilman
& Cone Smith
1837
1785
52
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No 4
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To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled
Gentlemen
The undersigned, your petitioner, begs leave to inform your honorable body that he was a soldier throughout the Revolutionary war and labors under a disadvantage that most of my fellow soldiers did [illegible], which I could not help, nor was it my fault. I mean that of my name it seems from different letters I have received from the Hon. J. L. Edwards, is not to be found on none of the muster rolls in the War Department. I therefore beg leave to lay before you my unfortunate situation in regard to my name not being found on no record, and my losing my different discharges, not taking that care of them that I might have done, had I have known they would have been of service to me in future. I will, therefore, lay before you such evidence and letters before you as I can and have no doubt that if I can convince you of my services in the war, you will do me the justice to place me on the pension list and grant to me the bounty lands that was promised me when I listed, &c. 
1st: I listed under Capt. Sealy in the United States service on the 3rd day of March in 1775 in the City of Philadelphia for three years.
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and was marched off on the 5th of said month and was in many battles during the 3 years in different places, which I will beg leave to refer you to my declaration which remains on file at the war department. I was discharged by Capt. Sealy by orders of General Hays on the 3rd day of March 1778, and as I had no relations, nor home to go to and attached to the army. I listed again the same day as a private and a dragoon in the Pennsylvania line under Capt. Bartholomew von Heer and served out my time and was again discharged and then listed the 3rd time as a private and dragoon under Capt. von Heer for during the war, and served till peace was made and was mustered by order of the Muster Master General Baron Stuban by Major Barber, his a decamp, on the River Walkil 4 miles from Old Poltz, on the 23rd day of June 1783. I will enclose to you and to the care of the Hon. James Graham, our representative in Congress, a list or copy of it, of the company dragoons I was in and other papers which I hope will be sufficient to convince you of the justness of my claim and should you be so good as to place me on the pension list and give me the bounty land that was promised to me the 3 different times I enlisted - 160 each time - you will greatly relieve the wants and needs of an old and afflicted soldier. I remain, gentlemen, your most obedient and humble servant.
Isaac Levan
Catawba View, N.C.
January the 14th 1839
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The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Bedford County, SS.
Personally appeared before me, one of the Justices of the Commonwealth of said County, Valentine Grubber, a revolutionary soldier, and being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that he served in the revolutionary war as a private and dragoon under Capt. Bartholomew von Heer, belonging to the Pennsylvania line,  and saith to best of his recollection, was discharged sometime in March 1782 or 3, and saith he was acquainted with a man by the name of Isaac Levan who was enlisted and served as a private and dragoon under Capt. Bartholomew von Heer and saith that he does not know whether he ever was in a battle or not as General Washington took Capt. von Heer and his company for his life guard and then we had no chance to get in a battle. Sometimes we would get into little skirmishes, but saith he recollects very well the said Isaac Levan and knows he was a private and dragoon under and done service under Capt. von Heer in the Revolutionary war. Further saith not.
Valentine Grubber
Sworn to and subscribed before me the 23d day of August A.D. 1838
Matthias Cline, J.P.
State of Pennsylvania
Bedford County, ss.
I, John G. Martin, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Bedford County aforesaid, certify that Matthias Cline, Esq., before whom the within affidavit appears to have been taken, was at that time and still is an acting Justice of the peace in and for Bedford County aforesaid, is duly commissioned and qualified as such by legal authority and that full faith and credit are due all his official acts as such and further, that the signature Mathias Cline, purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Bedford, the 7th day of September A.D. 1838
John G. Martin, Prothonotary
The above is a true copy, which I would be willing to swear to, if necessary, if would do, &c. A. Payne
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State of Pennsylvania
Berks County, ss.
Be it Known that on this 18th day of February, One Thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, before me Jacob Sallade, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Berks in the State of Pennsylvania,  personally appeared Samuel Levan, a resident of the Borough of Reading in the County and State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and says that he, this Deponent, formerly transacted Pension Claims and Power of Attorneys for the following deceased Revolutionary soldiers of said Borough, viz David Fox, Trumpeter, Andrew Fox and Adam Koch, formerly privates in the Company of Light Dragoons commanded by Captain Bartholomew von Heer and that on a certain day in a conversation had by this deponent, I was asked the following Samuel Levan there was a certain man that was enlisted in Captain Von Heer's company and served with us whose name is Isaac Levan and a German of foreign birth - is he a relative of yours? This Deponent then said that he had never seen him and knew nothing of this person, being only a child in the Revolutionary War and that the said above-named David Fox, Andrew Fox, Adam Koch had all severally asked of this deponent if he, this deponent, was a relative and they all severally declared that said Isaac Leven was a member as aforesaid and that said Isaac Levan had sworn to the oath made by soldiers at their enlistment before my father, Daniel Levan, who was then a Justice of the Peace. This deponent further declares that he is not directly or indirectly interested in behalf of said Isaac Levan and that he therefore humbly states such the above as was to him related as above stated and that the said Foxes and Adam Koch are all deceased.
Samuel Levan
Sworn and subscribed February 1839 before me
Jac. Sallade, Justice of the Peace
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I, Jacob Sallade, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Berks in the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the foregoing named Samuel Levan who has sworn and subscribed his name in the foregoing affidavit before me. That on his oath and statements by him made, credit is, are and ought to him be given and that his testimony will be received as such in any Court of Justice and is testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and subscribed the same at Reading in the County of Berks in the State of Pennsylvania on this 18th day of February, one Thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
Jac. Sallade, J.P.
I further certify that I have the highest satisfaction that Daniel Levan, Esq., was a Justice of the Peace as stated.
Jac. Sallade, J.P.
State of Pennsylvania
Berks County, SS.
Benjamin Tyson, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Berks in the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby certify that Jacob Sallade, Esq., before whom the forgoing affidavit was made and thereunto subscribed, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Berks, he being duly commissioned and authorized to administer oaths and that to all acts by him done in that capacity, credit is, are and ought to him be given. I further certify that the signatures of the foregoing purporting to be his, are his genuine signatures and in testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court and subscribed my name and quality at Reading, Berks County, on this 18th day of February A.D. 1839.
Benjamin Tyson
Prothonotary
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J L Edwards, Esquire
Sir
The within papers are directed to me to hand you from Pa. as confirmatory evidence of Mr. I. Levan's claim to a Pension. The circumstances related is from a distant state when a poor old soldier has not been in forty years and yet it corroborates his own statement.
Is this not sufficient?
Yours,
James Graham
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FREE

Abner Payne Esqr
Post Master
Burke County
Catawba View
North Carolina

READING Pa.
SEP 20
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Reading, Penna. Sept. 20th, 1839
Mr. Abner Payne
Dear Sir: I read yours dated August 30th last past respecting the Old Gentleman, Isaac Levan, and in compliance with your request, I state that I did send my affidavit in the case of Isaac Levan to the Hon. James Graham, a Representative in Congress of your State N.C.
Sir, in yours you had mentioned that Mr. Graham would present my affidavit to the Congress of the United States. Sir, in my affidavit I have sworn positive viz, That I was fully acquainted with Adam Koch, Andrew Fox and David Fox, a Trumpeter in the service of the United States and members in Captain Bartholomew Von Heer's Light Dragoons of the Revolutionary War and for them, sir, I have been concerned for in executing their claims for Pensions and every of them was placed on the Pension List of the United States and payable at Philadelphia, Pennsylvanian. In a conversation with Adam Koch, a resident of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, the place in which I am a resident, said Koch asked me the following. He asked, Isaac Levan served with me in Captain Von Heer's Dragoons in the Revolutionary War. Was he a relative to you. To which I answered that I had not any knowledge of him that I was a child in the Revolutionary War, he said. Koch then said that on a certain time I had an encounter with a wolf. The wolf attacked me and gave me several bite wounds on my arm. The said Koch then in my presence rolled up his shirt sleeve of one of his arms and showed me the scars of said bite and said that the encounter
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aforesaid had occurred in the North part of the State of New York, and that said Isaac Levan, Member of Von Heer's Dragoons, was an eyewitness to the same encounter. Sir, both David Fox and Andrew Fox, members of aforesaid Company, said to me that a certain Isaac Levan served with them in Captain Bartholomew Von Heer's Dragoons in the Revolutionary War and that said Levan was honorably discharged at the same time with them at a certain place as the said Wall Kiln in the State of New York in the year 1783, according to the best of my knowledge the said it was June or July of said year. Now, sir, this foregoing statement is a correct one as stated verbally from said Koch and David and Andrew Fox. You will have the goodness to present this, my letter, to the Hon. James Graham of the U.S. Congress and he will no doubt act by all hence means. Sir, I have never seen Mr. Isaac Levan, nor do I know of any relationship. He must have been from a foreign County. Should the Hon. J. Graham think proper, he may address a letter to me, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, and what I have now related in this letter, I am ready to make affidavit thereto. Sir, my brother, Isaac Levan, is no more. He died in AD 1808 and the only brother I now have is Jacob Levan, who at this present
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time is in a delicate state of health, consumption of the liver.
Sir, if Mr. Isaac Levan's case is to be acted upon early, you ought to transfer this letter to the Hon. J. Graham as early as possible prior of his going to Washington. I do know not any further testimony in behalf of Mr. I. Levan. If I can hereafter procure honorable and just testimony, it will give me pleasure in said behalf. I will now close.
I remain, Sir, respectfully your obedient servant,
Samuel Levan, Junior
Abner Payne, Esq.
P.M.