Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22876, John L Geiger, Penn.

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SERVICE
Penn.

Geiger, John L.

NUMBER
S.22876

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11.586
Pennsylvania
John L. Geiger 
of Northampton in the State of Penn'a who was a Pv & Drummer in the Company commanded by Captain Smith of the Regt commanded by Col M. Master in the Penn line for Militia
6 Mo Summer.          22.00
1 " 12 dz Pr.                 4.64
                                 $26.64
----------------------------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 26 dollars 64 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
-----------------------------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 22'd day of May----- and Sept to--- 1833 Rec'd Broadhead D. Easton, Pa.
-----------------------------------------------
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833----53.28
Semi-an'l allowance ending 4 Sept   13.32
                                                              -------
                                                              $66.60
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by J. T. Sprage Clerk
Book E    Vol. 5    page 21

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No. 24911
John L. Geiger Northampton
County Pennsylvania


Com @
6 mos Drummer $22.00
1 " 12 's pv               4.64
                               --------
                                26.64
                               --------




Richard Broadhead Jr. Easton, Penn.

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WAR DEPARTMENT     
Pension Office       
183         
Sir        
The evidence in support of your claim under the act of "June 7, 1832 has been examined and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.      
A Statement, shewing the Service of John S. Geiger Northampton County Pennsylvania      
Period when the service was rendered. Vol. Augt. 1776     Duration of the claimant’s service.  2 months       Rank of the Claimant.   Drummer     Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.   Cap. Smith, Colonel Erwin, Major McHenry      Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.   71 years   Bucks County Pennsylvania    Proof by which the declaration is supported.     Traditionary evidence, witnesses certified credible, no clergyman living near the applicant, one living witness certified credible – paper correct   

Period when the service was rendered.   Called out June 1 1777     Duration of the claimant’s service.    2 months     Rank of the Claimant.    Drummer     Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.        Cap. Yost, Col. McMaster
Period when the service was rendered.  Vol.    Duration of the claimant’s service.  2 months       Rank of the Claimant.   Drummer    Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.   Cap. Richline     
Period when the service was rendered.   Called   Duration of the claimant’s service.   1 month 12 days      Rank of the Claimant.       Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.        Cap Melinger
I am, respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant      
J. L. EDWARDS,      
Commissioner of Pensions

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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of _____ } 88
County of ______
On this ______ day of ______ personally appeared (a) before ______
A. B. a resident (b) of ______ in the county of ______ and State, Territory, or District of ______ aged (c) ______ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ______, with ______ and served in the ______ (e) regiment of the ______ line, under the following named officers: ______

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

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8

alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your https://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngcharacter for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe that he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates. The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, atttend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by the Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can pro-cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

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John L. Geiger

24911

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
County of Northampton Ss
On this Twenty Seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and thirty-three, personally appeared in the open Court of Common Pleas of Said County, Before the Honorable Garrick Mallory President and John Cooper and Daniel Wagener associate Judges of the said Court John L Geiger a resident of the Township of Bethlehem in said County aged near Seventy-one 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 Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.  In the month of August 1776 he voluntarily joined a company of militia commanded by Captain Michael Smith, Lieut Thomas Armstrong in the capacity of a drummer and marched from his place of residence in Rockline Township Bucks County in said Commonwealth (which said company belonged to the Battalion under the Command of Col. Arthur Erwin & Major William McHenry) through Prinstown and New Brunswick to Perth Amboy in the State of New Jersey where we were stationed and remained until the two months for which the militia was called out and were then discharged after a service of two months.  He then came home and remained home until the ensuing summer, when the militia was again called out for the defence of Philadelphia and other places, he at the request of Captain Emanus Yost who was in want of a drummer voluntarily  joined his company and marched from his place of residence aforesaid to the assistance of Washington under the command of Colonel McMartin & Major Correll who commanded the battalion to which he was attached.  Marched to Montgomery Squear  [Square] in the county of Montgomery and from there to a place called North Wealeh and from thence to head quarters at Valley Forge where we arrived on the evening of the third of October in the same year.  We remained in and about Valley Forge until the two months for which the company was called out and was then discharged after a service to two months more, the enemy then had possession of Philadelphia.  He came home and remained home for a short time when the militia was again called and he again voluntarily joined a company under the command of captain Abraham Richline in the capacity of a drummer and marched from his place of residence aforesaid to the lower end of Bucks County aforesaid to a place then and now called New Town where he joined other forces, but under whose command he does not now recollect and remained in & about that place until the two months for which they had been called out had expired and he was then discharged after a service of two months more.

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He then Came home and remained home Some time and was then called out to assist in taking prisoners from the Delaware River near Ernins Ferry to the Meriland [Maryland] Line, they were Prisoners taken from Genl Borgoyn [Burgoyne} He was in a Company Commanded by Captain David Melinger and was in the front guard. It took them Something like Seven or Eight weeks, But to be certain he only Swears to Six weeks. He has no documentary evidence and knows of no persons whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his Service except the testimony of John Stinger Esq. whose affidavit is here with exhibited. He hereby relinquishes his every claim to a Pension Roll 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 the State of Pennsylvania and that there is no clergyman in his neighborhood who can testify to reputation.
Sworn & Subscribed this 27th day of April AD 1833 in Open Court
Jn. L. Geiger
Wm. L. Sebring Pronb.

John Zeigenfuss Esquire & Joseph Snyder being duly Sworn according to Law Say, that they are well acquainted with John L. Geiger who has Sworn and Subscribed the above Declaration: that they have Known him for a number of years, and that he is a man of respectability, that they believe him to be near the age of Seventy one years, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution that they never heard it Doubted, and that they concur without limitation in that opinion.
John Ziegenfuss
Jos. Snyder
Sworn & Subscribed this 27th Day of April AD 1833 in Open Court.
Wm. L. Sebring, Pronby

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And the Said Court do hereby declare their opinion, After the Investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and Served as he States-And the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that there is no Clergyman in his neighborhood who can testify to his reputation, and that John Zeigenfuss Esquire & Joseph Snyder who have Signed & Sworn to the proceeding Affidavid are men of high Standing & respectability and were acquainted with the said applicant and Speak without limitations in all they Say, and that their Statements are entitled to Credit. 
Sworn & Subscribed on this 27th Day of April AD 1833
Garrick Malley
Pres Judge
Jon Cooper a Judge of the Court of Northampton County
Daniel Wagener a Judge Co. Northampton County

I William L. Sebring Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John L. Geiger for a Pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & affixed the Seal of the said Court at Easton in the County of Northampton & Commth of Penna this twenty Seventh Day of April AD 1833 
Wm L. Sebring
Prothy

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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525     A W    
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS. Washington, D. C.    
S. F. 22876 In reply to your request of -, received - for a statement of the military history of John L. Geiger a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.       
DATES OF ENLISMENT OR APPOINTMENT.    Aug. 1776   LENGTH OF SERVICE.  2 mos.  RANK.   Drummer    OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Michael Smith  Colonel Arthur Erwin    STATE.  Penn.    
DATES OF ENLISMENT OR APPOINTMENT.   Summer 1777    LENGTH OF SERVICE.  2 mos.     RANK.   Drummer    OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.     Captain Emanus Yost   Colonel McMaster 
DATES OF ENLISMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  Soon After     LENGTH OF SERVICE.  2 mos.     RANK.   Drummer  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.   Captain Abraham Richline   Colonel McMaster       
DATES OF ENLISMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  Soon After  LENGTH OF SERVICE.  6 weeks    RANK.   OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.   Captain David Mellinger   Colonel McMaster
Battles engaged in.   not stated        
Residence of soldier at enlistment.   Rockhill Twp. Bucks Co.  Penn     
Date of Application for Pension.  Apr. 27 1833    His cl. [claim] was not allowed
Residence at date of application, Bethlehem Twp. Northampton Co. Penn
Age at date of application, nearly 71 yrs old.      
Remarks:  There is no data on file as to his family.     
Respectfully, 
Commissioner  
S-2856

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In the matter of the application of John L. Geiger for a Pension

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
County of Northampton so

Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for the Said County, this Day personally appeared John Stringer Esquire (who I hereby Certify to be a man of Credibility and good moral character and that this Statements are entitled to Credit who being duly Sworn according to Law doth depose and say, that he is well acquainted with John L. Geiger, that in the year 1776 in the month of August he belonged to the same Company that he did Commanded by Captain Michael Smith & Lieut Thomas Armstrong that they marched from Bucks County Penna through Princetown & New Brunswick to Perth Amboy in the State of New Jersey where WE were Stationed under the Command of Col. Arthur Erwin Major William McHenry until the Two months for which WE were both Called out had expired and were then discharged, the said John L. Geiger Served in the Capacity of a Drummer and Served forth fully for the Term of Two months to my Certain Knowledge. That Deponent further Saith, that he believes the Said John L. Geiger afterwards Served his country having frequently understood that he did. 
John Stinger
Sworn and Subscribed this Day of April AD 1833 Before me J. Ralston

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
County of Northampton ss
I William L. Sebring Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid, do Certify that James Ralston before whom the foregoing affidavit was made was at the time thereof, and Still is an acting Justice of the Peace duly Commissioned & qualified So to act and that full faith and Credit are due & of right out to be given to all his official acts and that the Signature above written "J. Ralston" above written is in the proper Hand writing of the Said James Ralston.
In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & affixed the Seal of the Said Court at Easton in said County this 27th Day of April A. D. 1833
Wm. Sebring
Prothy.

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U. S. PENSION OFFICE   H.  JUL 3 1896

U. S. P. B. 
OLD WAR & NAVY FILES
JUL 7 1896

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             Pennsylvania Society
                            of
            Sons of the Revolution
               Office of Secretary

Address
    Lock Box 713 Philadelphia, July 2,, 1896,

          Bureau of Pensions ,
               Dept. of the Interior,
                      U.S.A

   May I ask of you the kindness to send me a statement of Service of John L. Geiger, a soldier of the Revolutionary War who received a pension whilst a resident of Northampton Co. Penna.
              Thanking you in advance,
Very Sincerely
Ethan A. Weaver
Secy
GWM
NOM

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U. S. PENSION OFFICE   H.  JUN 3 1897

U. S. P. B. 
OLD WAR & NAVY FILES
JUN 5 1897

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                      Pennsylvania Society
                                    of
                     Sons of the Revolution
                         Office of Secretary

Address,
    Lock Box 713     Philadelphia May 31, 1897 189


Commissioner of Pensions,
                     Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: -

                      May I ask of you the kindness to send me a certificate showing the Revolutionary service of John L. Geiger a pensioner of the Revolution who received his pension in Northampton County, Pa. 1833 or thereabouts
         Thanking you in advance for your kind-ness

                                   Respectfully,
                                           EA Weaver
                                           Secretary

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Record

Mar 3 1921

Division

Page 18

North Branch Mich
Feb 23 1921

Dept of Interior
Washington : -
Kindly

send me copy of pension papers of John L. Geiger of Burks Co. Pa. Militia my ancester. He was a drummer in col Erwins' Batt. in 1776. He was private in Col. Mc Masters Batt in 1778.

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This pension granted May 22 - 1833.  He was born 1763 - died - 1838.  Did his wife receive a pension?

                        Respectfully,


                Mrs. S.B. Farnsworth

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 L.W.B.
                                                         I. 22876.
This Bureau can furnish the military
record of only such Revolutionary soldiers
as were pensioned or whose widows were
pensioned for their services.     Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department.  Original rolls and other records
pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D.C.,

Sir: -

Replying to your request for information concerning John L. Geiger, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on April 27, 1833, at which time he was 71 years of age and residing at Bethlehem, Penna., and his pension was allowed for eighteen months and twelve days' actual service as a private and drummer in the Penna. troops, Revolutionary war;  a part of the time he served under Capt. Smith and Col. McMaster.  He enlisted in Bucks County, Penna.

It appears that the above information was also furnished you under date of July 10, 1896.

          Very respectfully,

                Acting Commissioner.

Mr. E. A. Weaver

      Lock Box 713, Phila., Pa.

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O. W. & N. Div.
I.
L. W. B.
                 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
                
                        BUREAU OF PENSIONS,

                          WASHINGTON, D.C.,  July 10, 1896.
                             
Sir:

     Replying to your request for a pension concerning the military record of John L. Geiger, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that  he made application for pension on April 27, 1833, at which time he was residing at Bethlehem, Pa., and 71 years of age, and his pension was allowed for one year and twelve days' actual service as a private, and six months' service as a drummer in the Pennsylvania troops, Revolutionary War.  A part of the time he served under Capt. Michael Smith and Col. Mc Master.  He enlisted from Bucks' County, Pa.                                             

           Very respectfully,


                         Acting Commissioner,
Mr. Ethan A. Weaver,
                 Lock Box 713
                        Philadelphia, Pa.