Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,234, John Peter Ahl, Continental-Residence And Agency Md.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE

Continental - 

Ahl, John Peter
or Venall, John P.

Residence and Agency Md.

NUMBER
S. 5,234

carded
Page 2

Maryland 18,14
Pennsylvania

John Peter Ahl,

of Westmoreland in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Surgeon's Mate in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Armand's corps
line, for the term of 4 years.

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania....
at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 20th of November, 1820.
John Peter Ahl Venall Records

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st of May 1824
and delivered to the Pensioner.

Appears to 4th of Mar 1824 - 3 11/30 & 4/31 mo. $89.91
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep. 1821...$120.-
$189.91

{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}

4 Sep 1824
Page 3

Let to Peter Ahl June 12  47
Declaration del
M Frost to last
before the Secy [Secretary] for
and land case  D 
March 29 189
Returned 
same day
delivered to
Hook 29 Mar 
(crossed out)  Papers del
M Frost
Lands
January 29 18
20
19/
11
 1
 1
 1/
  3
   20/
  $60
      7.33
      2.58/
    69.91
   120/
  $189.91
Page 4

To the honourable the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled the Petition of John Peter Ahl of the City of Baltimore respectfully represents that your Petitioner entered into the revolutionary army as surgeon's mate in the Legion commanded by General Armong at the commencement of the war.
That on the 17th of March 1777 he was dangerously wounded at White Plains, by a Saber cut on the head from one of Tarltons  Dragoons, while in the act of assisting the wounded. that your petitioner to the present day has never been able to recover from the effects of said wounds; on the contrary is under the necessity of using opium to the value of one and a half dollar every week to assuage the pain attendant theiron, and to preserve his life. You Petitioner gratefully acknowledges the receipt of a Pension of twenty dollars per month notwithstanding which, having an aged wife, and being himself far advanced in the seventy fourth year of his age, and being necessitated to expend a large portion of his pension upon opium, he has unavoidably contracted debts to the amount of three hundred dollars, which he is wholly unable to pay. Your petitioner represents that after he quit the legion of General Armong he was duly commissioned byleon gress as Surgeon in a regiment under the command of General Muhlenberg with whom he served untill the
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sixth day of November 1783. when he was regularly discharged - From these facts your Petitioner is adowed that Congress has provided a grant of Land to the revolutionary soldier in his disabled & helpless condition, and that his care cannot fail to meet the attention it merits, from your honourable Body - HE therefore prays that the accompanying documents may be taken into consideration, and that such donation of Land may be granted to him as is contemplated by the Laws of Congress and the practise in like cases - & that your honourable body may also further consider the peculiarly distressed circumstances of your petitioner's case, and in your bounty allow him such extra Pension as these circumstances, verified by the annexed certificate (as required by Law) may seem to justify - And your Petiotioner will every pray

Baltimore February 14th 1822.
Page 6

W Edward
J C C
John Finial
Page 7

District of Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County Pa
In the Court of Common Pleas of Louch being a court of records
On the 20th November 1820 Personally appeared in open court Doct [Doctor] John Peter Ahl late a Surgeons Mate in the Army of the United States age Seventy two years & upwards [illegible] in the County of Westmoreland aforesaid who being duly sworn saith that he entered the service of the United States as Surgeons Mate under Doct [Doctor] De la Roche attached to the Regiment of Col Armong on the 5th July 1777 and that he was wounded on the 16th Nov 1787 in a skirmish and was discharged honorably on the 5th July 1781 That his deponent continued in the Army as a Volunteer under General Muhlenberg until the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at York Town at which time the declarant was present
And this declarant doth further swear that he was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that he hath not since that time by gift sale or any other manner deposed of his property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it so as to bring himself within the provisions of the act of Congress entitled  an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the 18th March 1818 and that I have not nor has any one in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income that this deponent has no property but two tin buckets  1 bed & bedding  1 spinning wheel  1 wood stove  1 bureau  1 old French watch  1 copper kettle  7 chairs and some other articles of kitchen furniture not worth mentioning
In all not exceeding in value sixty two dollars & twelve 1/2 cents
This declarant further states that he has an aged wife and that by means of age and bodily infirmity he is unable to procure a living by pursuing any occupation and this declarant further states that he was entered on the Rolls of the Army by the name of John P Venall being advised by the Colonel of the Regiment to make that change as he has before been impressed into the British service and had not been regularly discharged 
Sworn declared & subscribed in open court this 20th day of November 1820
Doctr [Doctor] P Ahl
Test  Jno H Wise  Prothy 
Westmoreland County Jct  I Eli Coulter
Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for said county Do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original remaining of file in my office   and I do further certify that it appears from the proceedings of said court that the same court are of opinion that the total amount in value of the property specified in said schedule is Sixty two dollars & twelve & one half cents
Given under my hand & seal of office at Greensburg this thirteenth day of March [illegible] eighteen hundred & twenty one
Eli Coulter  prothy
Page 8

June 5  41
Rel to claim of
John Peter Ahl  decd [deceased]
PAID   5 (in circle) 
James L Edward
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D C
Page 9

York  June 5th  47
Sir
In reply to yours of 31st [illegible]
I reply that my Father John Peter Ahl was of the rank of Surgeons Mate annual allowance $240.00
Sum received $1596.00
Description of service  Maryland Line  placed on the Pension roll May 15 1821
Commencement of pension Nov 20th 1820 
Aged 79
Transferred from Penn [Pennsylvania] August 11th 1821 from November 1820
Died at Baltimore July 13th 1827
Be kind enough to inform me what the heirs are entitled to in Land or money and how they must proceed to get it
Yours respectfully
Peter Ahl
To J L Edward Esq
Page 10

March 26, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
John Peter Ahl-S.5234
BA-J/AWF

Mr. Jesse G. Beck
414 DeQuincy Street
Indianapolis, Indiana
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you
request the Revolutionary War record of John Peter Ahl.
The data contained herein were obtained from
the papers on file in pension claim, S. 5234, based upon the Revolutionary War service of John Peter Ahl.
The date and place of birth of this soldier are
not shown in the claim, nor are the names of his parents given.
He entered the service as surgeon's mate, July
5, 1777, served in Colonel Armand's Legion, was wounded in a skirmish at White Plains, by a saber cut on his head and was discharged July 5, 1781; after which he was surgeon under General Peter Muhlenberg, was at the
surrender of Cornwallis and was discharged, November 6, 1783.
He stated that he was entered on the rolls of the army under the name of John P. Venall, being advised by the Colonel of the regiment, to make that change as he had been before "impressed into the British service and had not been regularly discharged".
John Peter All lived after the Revolution in
Augusta County, Virginia. He was allowed pension on his application executed, November 20, 1820, the seventy-two years old and living in Westmoreland County, Penn-
Page 11

sylvania. In 1822 he was living in Baltimore, Maryland and referred to an "aged wife", but did not give her name.
John Peter Ahl died in Baltimore, Maryland, July 13, 1827. His son John Ahl [hand written insertion illegible be Peter] in1847 gave his address as York, Pennsylvania [illegible] heirs were referred to at that time, no names given.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 12

Revluary [Revolutionary]
5234
INVALID
File No 5234
John Peter Ahl
Surgeons Mate  Penn  Nold
At  May 1  1826  March 18 1828
Index   Vol  M   Page 4
Arrangement of 1870
John Peter Ahl  alias  Venall  Armands Corps
Records corrected  Apr 26  04  a

1893  Feb  16
Hist [History] to W F McCook
Pittsburg  Pa  F S
1894  Oct 3  letter to G Wahl  Boston Ma
Mch [March] 1 1900
Dr Eugene F Cordell
Balto [Baltimore] Md
1934  Mch [March] 26  hist [history] to Jesse G Beck atty
Page 13

On the 29 of January 1822
This declaration with a small note from the President U S in relation to the case of Mr Ahl and it is believed one or two other papers were delivered to Mr J T Frost of the sections of Bounty Lands for the purpose of having the claim of the party for bounty land be examined and on the 5th February 1822 this declaration alone was returned by Mr Stewart of the Section of Bounty Lands who stated that the note of the President had been delivered to the Pensioner and that he saw no other papers than the [illegible] to the note of the Prest [President] 
5 Feby [February] 1822
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3-872
Old No 3-545
RECORDS
CHANGE TO BE MADE
CORRECT
State  Maryland
S F No 5234
Class  Inv
Name  John Peter Ahl   Alice
John P Venall
Service  Armands Corps
INCORRECT
John Peter Ahl
[illegible]
Apr [April] 26 1904
Company Regiment & C should be invariably specified
Page 15

REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE
o w & n Div
MEMORANDA
Please supply as much as possible of the data called for below
Full name of soldier
Dr. John Peter Ahl
Place of residence before service
Town county and State if possible
Bucks Co Penna [Pennsylvania]
Place of residence after service
Town county and State if possible
Rockingham Co Va [Virginia]
Date of death as near as possible
Died in Baltimore Md aged 92 but dont [don't] know date
Christian name of widow
Dont [don't] know
Did either he or his widow receive a pension
I think his name is on the Pension list
Remarks
Entered Washingtons Army as Surgeon and remained as such until cease of war
Your name and address
G W Ahl
21 Heigh St
Boston Mass [Massachusetts]
6-870 
Please send through Mr G A Lyon [illegible] Div
Page 16

I recollect [illegible] as an inhabitant of Augusta county in Virg [Virginia] soon after the revolution and am under the impression that he then stated to me what he now does
that he had servd [served] in the corps of Col Armand several years in the revolutionary war
But of that fact I have no personal knowledge 
I think that I have seen him since 
his countenance being familiar to me & that he enjoys a good character
J M
Page 17

State of Maryland

Baltimore County  Sat
Be it remembered that on this twenty sixth day of January in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty two personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid John M Haupt and made oath that Doctor John P Ahl enlisted in the Revolutionary Army early in the year 1777 and acted as Surgeons Mate under Doctors De Laroche and Remmicle that [illegible] [illegible] knew the said Doctor John P Ahl [illegible] wounded at the battle of White Plains by Tarltons dragoons about the time the British burned Danbury and Richfield in Connecticut and the time that General Woorster was killed that said John P Ahl was along time confined by his wound before he was able again to attend his duty and often complained that he had to take a quantity of opium per day to relieve the pain in his head [illegible] by his wound [illegible] further states that Doctor Ahl was very zealous for the Cause and often volunteered his services to a post in arms and have seen him act under General Mulenburg [Muhlenberg] at the Surrender of Cornwallis
Sworn & Subscribed before me
Francis C cummins
Page 18

State of Maryland
Baltimore County Sat
I hereby certify that Francis D Cummins Gentleman before whom the within deposition was made and who hat thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn
In Testimony whereof I have hreto aforesaid subscribed my name and affixed the seal fo my office this twenty [illegible] day of January Eighteen hundred and twenty two
William Gibson  Clk [clerk] Balto [Baltimore] City Cot
Page 19

State of Maryland
Baltimore County   Sat
Be it remembered that on this fifteenth day of February in the year eighteen hundred and twenty two personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace fore [for] the county aforesaid John F Whittimore and made oath that Doctor John P Ahl inlisted [enlisted] in and during the revolutionary war [illegible] 1784 the month he does not recolect [recollect] and was duly commissioned by Congress as a surgend [surgeon] in the Rechment [Regiment] under Genl [General]  Ahl then comanding [commanding] General and had said J P Ahl his papers in posession [possession]  as a safe keeping untill [until] the next day of November 1783 when said J P Ahl was again regularly discharged and went with Genl [General] Washington & Mulenberg [Muhlenberg] to New York with an intention to return to his native country but to his great disapointment [disappointment] was informed that he culd [could] not go safe
he returned again after three months with an intention to stay longer and has been a resident a long time in Virginia and of the United states ever since 
John Frederick Whittimore
Sworn and subscribed to before me a Justice of the Peace for Baltimore County in the State of Maryland on the day and year first above written
Fielder Israel
Page 20

Maryland District SS
To Doctor John Owen
of the City of Baltimore and
Doctor John Cromwell of
the same city in the
said district
Pursuant to an act of Congress of the United States passed the 25th of April 1812 entitled 
An act to revive and continue in force
An act to provide for persons who were disabled by know wounds received in the Revolutionary War and for other purposes 
you are hereby appointed and authorized to examine
who is inscribed on the Pension List of the United States and is claimant for an increase of pension conformably to the 5th section of the act of the 10th April 1806 revived as aforesaid and you are to report in writing and on oath or affirmation your opinion of the nature of his disability and in what degree it prevents him from obtaining a subsistence by manual labor and in your proceedings in the premises you are to be regulated and govern by said act
Given under my hand and seal at the city of Baltimore this fourteenth day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty two
Theodonik Bland
Judge of the Maryland District
We hereby certify that we have examined the bodily health and condition of Doctor John P Ahl and his certificates correspon [d] being therewith and which in connection I have him to be entirely disabled and totally unfit to gain a living by Bodily Labour [labor] and that from his Certificates his Disability appears to have proceeded
Page 21

[illegible] to gain a [illegible] by Bodily Labour [labor] in that from his Certificates his Disability appears to have proceeded from his wounds & injuries obtained in the Revolutionary War added to his advanced age
February 15th 1822
John Owen MD [illegible]
Chathen St Baltimore
Sworn and subscribed to by Dr John Owen and Dr John Cromwell on the 15th day of February 1822
Fielder Israel
Just [Justice] Peace for Balto [Baltimore] Coty [County] in the State of Maryland
State of Maryland Baltimore County Get
I hereby certify that Fielder Israel gentleman before whom the above and annexed depositions were made and by whom the above certificate was given and who hath thereto[illegible] his name
was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned sworn 
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this fifteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and twenty two
Wm Gibson Md [MD]  Balt [Baltimore] Coty [County]
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DISTRICT, SS.

I,    Judge of
the District Court of the United States of America for the         District; by AUTHORITY of an act of Congress, passed the 25th
day of April, 1812, entitled ""An act to revive and continue in force an 'Act to provide for persons who were disabled by known wounds received in the Revolutionary War, and for other purposes;" DO HEREBY ESPECIALLY AUTHORIZE AND COMMISSION    of the county of    and district of   pursuant to the rules and regulations of the said act, for substantiating the claim of   of the town of
   in the county of      and district of      to be placed on the Pension List of the United States,
by reason of known wounds received in said war, or since, (as prescribed in the fourth
section of "An act concerning invalid pensioners," passed the 25th of April, 1808,)
while in the actual service of the United States, and in the line of his duty. And
when the same shall be completed, to return the evidence, affidavits, certificates, and
proceedings had hereupon, together with this commission, to the Secretary for the Department of War.

Given under my hand and seal, at
the
day of
in the year one thousand eight hundred and
Page 23

whose name was placed on the roll of your agency since the 4th Mar [March] last
Page 24

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER
State of Maryland
County of Baltimore     SS
On this Seventh day of August 1821 before me the subscriber
a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Baltimore
personally appeared Doct [Doctor] John Peter Ahl who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Sharp in the [regiment] legion commanded by Colonel Armong in the service of the United States
that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of Pennsylvania from whence he has lately removed 
that he now resides in the (district or territory) of Maryland City of Baltimore where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be there payable in future
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid John P Ahl
David Morrison
Note  The oath to be taken before a duly qualified magistrate whose official character and signature must be properly authenticated
Page 25

State of Maryland
Baltimore County Jct
I hereby certify that David Morrison Gentleman before whom the within deposition was made and who hath thereto subscribed his name     was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid
duly commissioned and sworn 
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of my Office this Eighth day of August Eighteen Hundred Twenty One
Wm Gibson [illegible] Balto [Baltimore] [illegible]
Page 26

John Peter Ahl
transf [transfer] from Penna [Pennsylvania]
11 August 1821 from
20 November 1820
to Maryland
FREE
Sep [September]
The honbl [Honorable] J C Calhoon [Calhoun]
Secretary at War U S
Washington City
(Date Stamp)  BALT MD  Aug 9
Transfer
Page 27

Baltimore August 8th 1821
The Honb [Honorable] J C Calhoon [Calhoun]
Secretary of War M S
Sir
At the request of Doct [Doctor] John Peter Ahl a Surgeons Mate in the Army of the Revolution
I inclose [enclose] his Application for a transfer of his Pension to this City
The Doct [doctor] has requested me to state that in consequence of the wound upon which his Pension is founded that he will have to undergo the painful operation of being Trepanned
He hopes to receive an order as early as possible for the Pension to become due up to the 4th [March last] September next
The Certificate of his Revolutionary Claim is Registered in Book B Vol 7 Page 63
Please to address him North Eutaw Street
With Great Respect 
Your ob [obedient] serv [servant]
David Morrison
Page 28

Congress[illegible] Hall  Feb[February] 19th 1822
Sir
I enclose to you the Memorial and papers of Doctor Ahl
He wishes an increase of Pension and his Bounty Land money
I ask your early attention to his [illegible]
I [illegible] it may not be necessary to bring his Memorial before this Congress
I am with greatest regard
Your Obt [obedient] Sert [servent]
Peter Little
Hon John C Calhoun
Sec [Secretary] of War
Page 29

Peter Ahl
June 12  47
Page 30

160
Sir
Pen[Pension] Off[Office]
June 12th 47
In reply to your inquiry I would inform you that [illegible] John Peter Ahl died in 1827 and has been paid all the pension to which he was entitled under the laws in force at that time and that children have no [right] claim of pension in their own right
Surgeons Mates were not entitled to Bounty Land
Peter Ahl Esqr
York Pa
Page 31

414 De Quincy St.
Indianapolis, Ind.,
Feby 22nd, 1934

[Timestamp: Received Mar 18 1934]

Office of
Adjutant-General,
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen: --

I am engaged in building the family-tree,
and wish to know the Revolutionary War record of
JOHN PETER ALL
His daughter Magdalene was my great-grandmother.
I submit the following, which is all the data I have
on hand, for your guidance in replying:
"John Peter All emigrated from Prussia to Bucks
Co. Pa. during early years of the Revolutionary War.
Having studied medicine, he became a surgeon, or
an assistant surgeon, in the Continental Army, under
Colonel Armand; was wounded in service, but
remained with his regiment until surrender of
the British at Yorktown."

Can you substantiate the above, or furnish me with an
accurate and authoritative copy of his record, complete?

Thanking you, I am
Very Truly Yours
[Signature by hand "Jesse G. Beck"]

1 Received A. G. O. FEB 27 1934

[Timestamp: Received Feb 27 1934]
Page 32

2https://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.png7
WAR DEPARTMENT
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
WASHINGTON
IN REPLY REFER TO ORD-fjm
February 28, 1934

Respectfully returned to
Mr. Jesse G. Beck,
414 Dequincy Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana.

[Time Stamp: Received Mar 19 1934]

The name John Peter Ahl has not been found on the records on file
in this office of soldiers in the Revolutionary War.
The collection of Revolutionary War records in this office is far
from complete, and it is suggested as a possibility that the desired
information may be obtained from the Veterans Administration.

James F. McKinley
Major General,
The Adjutant General.
By [Added by hand "JFM"]
Page 33

414 DeQuincy St.
Indianapolis, Ind.
March 11, 1934
Veterans' Administration,
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:--
I enclose my file relative to service record of
Dr. John Peter Ahl, a relation of mine who served in the Rev. War.
You will note I am referred to your dept. by the
Adj. General's office. 
Can you furnish the information desired, or any
portion of it? I will deeply appreciate it if you can do so.
I am
Respectfully Yours
[signature added by hand "Jesse G. Beck"]
Page 34

POSTAL CARDS ONE CENT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THIS SIDE IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY
[stamp] BALTIMORE FEB 17
stamp] [flag] 1
[postage stamp] 

The Pension Office
Washington D.C.
[stamp]O.W. & N. DIVISION
FEB 23 1900
RECEIVED
[STAMP] PENSION OFFICE K U S FEB 23 1900
Page 35

O W + N E C L
Will you kindly let me have what records you have of John Peter Ahl Surgeons Mate
Maryland Line in Rev [Revolutionary] army
wounded at White Plains 1776
Pensioned 1821 (possibly as from Penn [Pennsylvania]
deceased Balt [Baltimore] July 13 1827 in 85 yr
Respy [Respectfully]
Eugene F [illegible] Cordell MD
231 Dolphin St [Street]
Baltimore Md
Page 36

W F McCook
Attorney at Law
Pittsburgh PA
January 13 1893
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D C
Dear Sir
Some time since I wrote you inquiring whether the name of John Ahl appeared in your Department on the roll of Revolutionary pensioners and have had no reply
If he does kindly let me have the name of the State and regiment to which he belonged
Yours truly
W F McCook
Page 37

WILLIS F McCOOK
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
PITTSBURGH,PA.
ST. NICHOLAS BUILDING.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir,
Pittsburgh, Dec. 6th. 1892.
Will you kindly examine your pension records to
see whether Doctor John Ahl of New Jersey was ever granted a
pension as a Revolutionary soldier. He held the rank of
Major and volunteered at Jersey City. If you find it, please
inform me of the designation of his regiment and such other
information you may have identifying him.
Yours Truly,
W. F. McCook