Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7530, for John Musser, Pennsylvania
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Penn.   Musser, John
or Messer.
or Mercer.
Barbara
R. 7530
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State of Pennsylvania County of Lancaster. On this 30th day of August 1851 personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for said County and State aforesaid. Adam Musser aged Sixty two years resident of Lancaster County and state of Pennsylvania who being duly sworn According to law declares and saith that he is one of the sons and heirs at Law of John Musser deceased who was a soldier in the Revolution and he makes the declaration for the purpose of received that which he or they are entitled for the services their father rendered in said War -- He further declares and saith that his father died on the 27th of January 1827, and that the wife of John Musser deceased and the mother of the alone named Adam survived him until the year 1840 and further declares and saith that the only heirs surviving are as follows. Adam Musser (also named) Samuel Musser, Barbara Seltzer wife of George Seltzer and Rebecca Musser are the org heirs and legal representatives of John Musser deceased and Barbara his wife. Adam Musser [seal] Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and Year Aforesaid Jacob Redsecker
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State of Pennsylvania County of Lancaster On this 11th day of April A.D. 1851 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State aforesaid Philip Albert who being duly sworn according and saith that he is of the age of Eighty Three - years a resident of Lancaster County and state of Pennsylvania and that he was well acquainted with John Musser who was a soldier in the day of the Revolution and further that the said John Musser deceased was an officer One time as Lieutenant and the other time as an Ensign and [unreadable] that the said Musser served upwards of two years or [unreadable] and that he often seen the said Musser in the service of the United States as an Officer and he further states that Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Lowrey was an officer over the company or regiment of which the said Musser was an officer in and he further states that, he thinks at the time that the said John Musser, was a Lieutenant under Jacob Cook Lieutenant Colonel and Abraham Scott Major in the Fourth Battalion of Lancaster County Militia, and he further states that the said Musser was an old [unreadable] of his and that he knew him from boyhood until the said John Messer and further that the said John Musser died at Elizabethtown Lancaster County Pa. the 1st day of January 1827, and further, His wife Barbara survived him until the year one thousand Eight Hundred & Forty and was buried near Elizabethtown and that Adam Musser, Samuel Musser and Barbara Seltzer wife of George Seltzer and Rebecca
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Musser, are the children and legal heirs of John Musser deceased. Who was as witness stated    Philip Albert [seal]  Affirmed and subscribed before me this 11th day of April 1851. Benjamin H Lehman J. P. 
State of Pennsylvania County of Lancaster I Benjamin A. Lehman a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and state aforesaid hereby certify Philip Albert who has made the foregoing affidavit is a man of credit and high respectability and that I believe him to be of the age as within stated and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his testimony. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my hand and seal this 11th day of April 1851. Benjamin H. Lehman J.P. [Seal]
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State of Pennsylvania County of Lancaster On this 23rd day of April 1851 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said County William Bishop aged Seventy five resident of Lancaster County Pennsylvania who being duly sworn according to Law declares and saith that he was well acquainted with John Musser deceased and Barbara his wife and that they were married near Elizabethtown Lancaster County at a Church called "Bishop Church" by Reverend Enterlein on the 5th day of May 1779 and that they lived and cohabitated together as man and wife and were reputed as such and the said John Musser died January 1st 1827 near Elizabethtown Lancaster County Pennsylvania and as his wife Barbara survived him until the year 1840 the 13th day of November and further that she died on the 13th day of November 13th 1840 and further that he knew that the said and further that I knew that the said John Musser was a soldier and an Officer in the Revolutionary War and that he often seen the said Musser in the service and in the Revolutionary War and that he is confident that the said Musser served in the Revolutionary War two years or upward in the service of the U.S. in the Revolution and that Adam Musser, Samuel Musser, Barbara Seltzer wife of George Seltzer and Rebecca Musser are the only heirs and Children and legal Representatives of John Musser and Barbara deceased. William Bishop [seal] Sworn & Subscribed the 23 day of April 1851 Before me David May
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No 14.495
Barbara Musser widow of John
Pa. 
Sent 7
[unreadable] 7 July 1838
W S Amweg
the seal of the said Court
this day of October 1851
Henry Stock
Prothonotary
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State of Pennsylvania County of Lancaster I Henry Stock Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that Jacob Redsecker Benjamin K Lehman and David May before who the foregoing or within affadavit here taken was at the time of taking the same acting Justice of the Peace in said for said County and Commissioned and qualified and to all their official acts full faith and credit ought to be given in any court of justice in Pennsylvania or else where and the signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine. Given under my hand and the seal of the said Court this day of October 1851 Henry Stock Prothy
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July 11, 1932 Ba-J/MCS
John Musser, R. 7530

Mr. M. M. Lewis
80-90 Eighth Avenue
New York City

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request for the record of John Musser, a soldier of the Revolution.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, R. 7530, based upon the Revolutionary War service of John Musser, the only soldier by that name who served with Pennsylvania troops that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office. 
On August 30, 1851, Adam Musser resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, aged sixty-two years, applied for pension that may have been due on account of the Revolutionary War service of his father, John Musser.
It was alleged that John Musser served during the Revolution two years or longer as ensign and lieutenant in Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Lowry's and Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Cook's Regiments of Lancaster County Militia. 
It was stated that the soldier married May 5, 1779, near Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Barbara, her maiden name not given, and that he died January 1, or 27, 1827, in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, and that she died November 13, 1840.
Barbara Musser was survived by the following children: Adam Musser; Samuel Musser; Barbara, wife of George Seltzer; Rebecca Musser.
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The claim for pension was not allowed as proof of the alleged service of the soldier and the date of his marriage were not furnished in accordance with the requirement of the pension laws.
Very truly yours,
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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[letterhead] The American Historical Society, Inc. Publishers 80-90 Eighth Avenue New York, N. Y.

M. M. Lewis
Research and Statistics
Genealogical Service With Cited Authority
Telephones Watkins 9-7751
Cable Address 9-7752
Lewhobo - New York 9-7753

C&R. FAMS. OF PA. - THB - 163   JULY 5, 1932
Bureau of Pensions
War Department
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:
We wrote June 6, 1932, requesting information about a John Musser and received June 10, an acknowledgement of this letter. Since then, however, we have had not further word and are wondering if by some chance our request has been mislaid.
We are interested in knowing whether there are any pension records for John Musser who served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Class 8 of "Capt. Corr's Company 4th Battn of Lancaster County Melitia Commanded by Col. Ziegler," in 1781.
We are especially interested in the names of any of his relations who may be mentioned in such as record. We should very much appreciate a copy fo these records if they are to be found.
Very truly yours,
The American Historical Society, Inc.
M.M. Lewis
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[scroll drawing] THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. [pen and ink pot drawing]
Publishers 80-92 Eighth Avenue New York City
DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICS M. M. LEWIS
Telephone WAtkins 9-7751
Cable Address 9-7752
Lewhoso-New York 9-7753

MENTZER C&R FAM OF PA THB 163
June 6, 1932.
Bureau of Pensions
War Department
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:
We are interested in knowing whether there are any pension records for John Musser who served int he Revolutionary wat as a private in Class 8 of "Capt. Corr's Company 4th Battn of Lancaster County Melitia [sic] Commanded by Coll. Zeigler", in 1781.
We are especially interested in the names of any of his relations who may be mentioned in such a record. We should very much appreciate a copy of these records if they are to be found.
Very truly yours,
AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc,
]signature] M.M. Lewsi
M.M. Lewis
MM:CH
Publishers
History Genealogy Biography Heraldry
GENEALOGICAL SERVICE WITH CITED AUTHORITY
[stamp] RECEIVED JUN 8 1932 [illegible] PENSION FILES COMMISSION
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A Return of "Officers elected in the Fourth Battalion of Lancaster County Militia agreeable to orders published for that purpose on the 15th day of April 1783."   Field Officer Jacob Cook. Lieut Col. Abraham Scott, Major     Staff  Michael Peters Adjutant   Timothy Conner Quarter Master    Captains 1. James Anderson Jr.  2. John Bishop  3. George Gantz  4. David McQueen  5. Robert McKace  6. James Cook  7. Patrick Kay  8. Thomas Robeson   Lieutenants  1. John Emmit  2. William Stott  3. Philip Arnold  4. Mathew Kay  5. James Laird  {6. John Mercer}  7. Benjamin Mills  8. Andrew Shell  Ensigns 1. Jacob Shire  2. Conrad Shire 3. John Gerhart  4. Thomas Logan  5. Josiah Caudour  6. Joseph Galbreath  7. James Sterrett  8. James Miller
I do hereby certify that the above gentlemen were chosen officers in the 4th Battalion Lancaster County Militia as per Returns made to one Adam Hubley 1783 June 26 { Lancaster County Returns of Militia Officers. Commissions dated May 14 1783.
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Secretary's Office
Pennsylvania
I do hereby certify that the foregoing are true and correct copies and extracts taken from the original return entitled "Return of Officers elected in the Fourth Battalion of Lancaster County Militia - agreeable to orders published for that purpose on the 15th day of April 1783," as the same remains on file in this office.
Witness my hand and the state of the Said Office at harrisburg, this Seventh day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty
A. L. Russell
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
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Lancaster Pennsylvania October 20, 1851.
Sir,
Enclosed I send you the Application of Adam Musser or Mercer One of the Heirs of John Musser or Mercer who was a soldier in the Revolution - Yours very Respectfully Wm. S. Amweg
Hon. James E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions Washington DC
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Pension Application Jany 7 1831 Sir; I herewith transmit a form of declaration to be used in the case of Barbara Musser deceased. Nothing could have been done her husband, as he died in 1827. Her claim has been registered under the Act of 7 July 1838, as it is presumed there is some mistake in the figures representing her marriage to have occurred in 1729. W.S. Amweg Esq Lancaster Pa
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Lancaster Pennsylvania February 10. 1852. Sir. Your letter of the 7 of January last came to have informing me that Barbara Musser was married in 1729 - she was married on the 5th day of May 1779 - I have retained a copy from the papers and forwarded to your office in support of her claim and find that she was married in 1779 as above stated. Must I get separate affidavits for these that I have already forwarded to you?  as to the marriage while this is [unreadable]. Yours very Respectfully, Wm. S. Amweg
Hon. J. E. Heath
Commissioner
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Adam Musser
Aug 28/66
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Pension Office August 28 1855 Sir Your claim for arrearages of pension supposed to be one your mother Barbara Musser deceased widow of John of Pa. has not been allowed, because the service for which a pension is claimed has not been established; nor has the date of the marriage of your mother been fixed, - A John Messer and a John Mercer did render some service in the War of the Revolution, but how much, has not been shown by any kind of testimony; Nor has it been shown that John Musser and John Mercer are identical or that either of them was your father, - the service must be proven by witnesses who knew of its rendition, and the date of the marriage must be shown by public or private record or its [unreadable] accounted for, when it must be proven by witnesses who can show how they are able to fix the time, Adam Musser, Esq Lancaster Care of J. B. Kaufman, Pa.
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W. S. Amweg, Esq
May 28th, 1852
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334   Pension office May 28, 1852 Sir In reply to your inquiry you are informed that of Barbara Musser was married on 1779, as alleged, a certified copy of the Record from the Books of "Bishop's Church", on where it is stated the rites were performed [unreadable] I sent to this office with the new declaration your [unreadable] of the error could not be received as testimony. And May I [unreadable] pray to remind you that the regulations [unreadable] must be [unreadable] adhered to to hath this office to make a satisfactory examination of the claim. W. S. Amweg Esq Lancaster Pa
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Lancaster Pennsylvania August 21st 1855, Sir: About three years ago I made application to the Com. of Pensions for arrears of pension in right of my deceased mother Barbara Musser of this county, widow of John Musser deceased (my father) who was an officer in the Revolutionary War from Lancaster County Pa- My Agent who forwarded the claim gives me no satisfaction in regard to it and I do not know what has become of my claim - Please let me know if the claim has been allowed or rejected or suspended, and if with of the last two then the cause why it was suspended or rejected. Please direct your letter to me care of J. B. Kaufman, Lancaster City Penn.   Respectfully Yours Adam Musser Attest Thomas Lloyd
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1932 July 11 first to Mr [or Mrs. M M} Lewis
MCS
7530
P.O Barbara Musser
[the remainder is a blank form]
Service [blank]
Enlisted [stamped word] REJECTED
Discharged
Application Filed
Alleges
Re-enlisted
Attorney
P.O'
Recognized  Contract
Cert of Dis
Searched for 18
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Aug 22, Lancaster, PA
Barbara Musser
John PA sent 1838

Hon J. Minot
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
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No 14.495
Barbara Musser
Deceased widow of John, PA
Act 7th July 1838

Wm. S Amweg, Jan 7th, 1852
Sent Sum May 28/52
Adam Musser Aug 28 1855
7530
Act, 1838
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General Return of the Officers of the Militia of the County of Lancaster in the State of Pennsylvania. August 26th 1780. Seventh Battalion Field Officers and Captains:  Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Lowrey  Major Jacob Cook   Captains:  1. Andrew Boggs  2. Abraham Scott  3. Thomas Robinson  4. David McQueen  5. Noah Kasey  6. William Wilson  7. Robert McKace  8. Hugh Pearlen
Lieutenants   James Cook  Robert Cunningham  Andrew Shell  Mathew Hay  Christ Hackelwood   James Cook   Patrick Hays   
Ensigns   { John Messer }  Abraham Scott  James Miller  Thomas Lowgan   Christen Detter  James Willson  Benjamin Wills    Samuel J. Attlee D. Lt. Co.
Coms made out agreeable to the foregoing return and dated the 10th May 1780.
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Secretary's Office
Pennsylvania
I do certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy and extract taken from the original return entitled "General Return of the Officers of the Militia of the County of Lancaster in the State of Pennsylvania Augt 26th 1780" as the same remained on file in this Office. Witness my hand and the Seal of the Secretary's Office at Harrisburg this seventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty
A.L. Russell
Secretary of the Commonwealth