Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39,811, for John Kerr, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Herr, John
S. 39,811
CONTENTS

17 079 R.  Pennsylvania.
John Werr. of Allegheny Coy. in the state of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel M c Coy of the Pennsylvania line, for the term of three years.
inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 18 th of August 1819 —
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd of May 1820 and sent to Duncan Walker Esqr Clerk of the County of Allegheny.
  Arrears to 4th of Mar: 1820 —  $ 52-64    Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 Sep 1820  48-    6 mos 8/18/31  $ 100-64  
{ Revolutionary claim, { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued under the law 1 st May 1820: Modification thereof sent to R. Walker Pittsburgh Jan 23 August 1820 Recd June 14-1826 (from a.13.)

May 22 d 1820 B. S. Beall

Amongst the pleas enrolled in the District court of the United States in & for the western District of Pennsylvania at an adjourned session held on the 26 th day of June 1820. It is contained as follows
United States of America Western District of Pennsylvania
On this 26 th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open court being a court of record for said District John Rea aged 80 years resident in St. Clair Township, Allegheny county in District aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows. That he enlisted on the 12 th day of August 1776 for the term of three years near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under Capt Eli Myers in the 8 th Regiment of Pennsylvania commanded by Col.  M c Corf (afterwards commanded by Col Broadhead) & that after having served three years & four months he was discharged at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Lieut Col Bayard, & that his discharge is lost. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th  day of March 1818. & that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an 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 18 th March 1818 & that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed
Schedule
Deponent swears that he has no property real or personal whatever. That his last occupation was a cooper but that he is now totally unable to pursue it. That he has no family residing with him & that he is in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself without the assistance of his country. & that he receives a pension from the United States by virtue of a certificate No. 17.079 sworn to & declared on the 26 th day of June 1820. before the judge of the said court
John H. Walker
John Kerr his clerk
I Robert Walker clerk of the court in & for the Western District of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing oath & the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of said court. & I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is no dollars & no cents. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said court this 26 th day of June 1820 R d Walker C lerk

Western District of Pennsylvania ss.
Be it remembered that on the eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen before the Honorable Jonathan Walker Esquire District Judge of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania John Kett of the County of Allegheny in said District appeared in his proper person and being duly sworn according to law did depose declare and say that he the said John Kett did on the twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy six enlist himself and engage to serve for Three years as a private soldier in Captain Eli Moyer's Company of foot in the eighth Regiment of the Pennsylvania line in the service of the United States then commanded by Colonel Oneas M'Goy and that he continued to serve as a private soldier in said Regiment from the day of his enlistment aforesaid until the twentieth day of December in the year One thousand seven hundred and seventy nine on which last mentioned day he obtained his discharge from Colonel Stephen Bayard then commanding the said Regiment at Pittsburgh. That his discharge was some years afterwards lost while he was on a militia tour on the Western frontier against the hostile Indians. That from the time of his discharge he has continued to be and now is a resident citizen of Pennsylvania, and that by reason of his age, infirmity and reduced circumstances he is in need of assistance from his Country being unable to work and having no property real personal or mixed. W. L. N. subscribed this 18 th Aug. 1819. } John Kett Jonathan H. Walker }

United States Western District of Pennsylvania
Came before me the subscriber Judge of the United States in & for the said District Jacob Springer who being duly sworn deposes & saith that he has known the applicant within named John Kerr since the year 1778. That this deponent well knew the said John Kerr during the period of ten years & upwards in which this deponent & said Kerr did duty together in the service of the United States on the Continental establishment in the Revolutionary War against the com- mon enemy and that the said Kerr is now in indigent circumstances & is in need of the assistance of his country for support to the best of this deponent's knowledge & belief sworn & subscribed this 18 th Aug t 1899
Jacob Springer
John H. Walker

United States Western District of Pennsylvania
Came before me the undersigned Judge of the United States in & for the said District Richard Sparrow who being duly sworn deponeth & saith that this deponent was himself a soldier in the United States service and that he knew John Kerr the applicant within named from the commencement of the Revolutionary war in the year 1776, till the close of the war and that said Kerr was during all that period a soldier in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war on the continental establishment against the common enemy.
Given under my hand this 18 th Aug t 1879
Richard his Sparrow mark
Wm. H. Walker

United States Western District of Pennsylvania
I J. H. Walker certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the within named John Kerr did serve a continued term of nine months and upward as an enlisted soldier in the service of the United States on the continental establishment in the Revolutionary against the common enemy - and that the said John Kerr is in reduced circumstances in age & hands in need of the assistance of his country for support.
Jonathan H. Walker
To the honorable Secretary of War
I certify that Jacob Spingarn and Richd. Spangard are credible witnesses
Jonathan H. Walker

June 14, 1938.
Matie Wetherill 1422 West 9th Avenue Spokane, Washington.
Mr. Wetherill BA-J/III John Kerr S. 39811
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John Kerr, private in the Pennsylvania Line who died June 14, 1826, William Kerr, who served also from Pennsylvania, and David Kerr, of Ross County, Ohio in 1833, all three pensioners.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request regarding soldiers of that war. The record of John Kerr, the first pensioner listed by you, is furnished herein as found in his claim for pension, S. 39811.
John Kerr enlisted August 12, 1776, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, served as private in Captain Eli Myer's company, Colonels Eneas McCoy, Brodhead and Stephen Bayard's Pennsylvania regiment and was discharged December 20, 1779. He enlisted again, the date and names of officers not given, and served to the close of the war.
He served also in the militia on the Western frontier against the Indians, further details not stated.
John Kerr was allowed pension on his application executed August 18, 1819, at which time he resided in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In 1820, the soldier was aged eighty years, his residence Saint Clair Township in said Allegheny County; the date and place of his birth and the names of his parents are not shown. He stated then

that he had no family residing with him.
John Kerr died June 14, 1826.
In order to obtain the name of the person to whom the last payment of pension was made, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:
John Kerr Certificate #17079 Issued May 23, 1820 Rate $8 per month Commenced August 18, 1819 Act of March 18, 1818 Pennsylvania Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

39 811
INVALID.
Redy
File No. 39 811
John H. H. H. Dr. Rev. Mr.
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8, Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1928-Sept-20-Filed in Meadame R. Ruffey-1928-1929 1930-June 12-History to Mrs. Geo. R. Miller 1928 1938-June 10-List to Mrs. Frederick-1938 S.R.R.

8 1812 s Section Ill.
June 13, 1930.
Mrs. George R. Miles 1026 Wade Street Highland Park, Illinois.
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 39811, it appears that John Kerr enlisted August 12, 1778, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, served as a private in Captain Eli Myer's Company, Colonels Eneas McCoy, Brodhead and Stephen Bayard's Pennsylvania Regiment and was discharged December 20, 1779.
He again enlisted, date of enlistment and names of officers not stated, and served to the close of the war.
He also served in the militia on the Western frontier against the Indians, no details of service given.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 18, 1819 while a resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
In 1820, he was a resident of Saint Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, aged eighty years and stated that he had no family residing with him.
He died June 14, 1826.
The above noted is the only soldier named John Kerr of Pennsylvania found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Because of the very large number of requests for information in regard to Revolutionary War soldiers and the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, only records of two soldiers of that war are furnished each person.
Very truly yours,
E.W.MORGAN, Acting Commissioner.

ms 145
Rev. War
April 20, 1925
Anna R. Rupley Mercersburg, Penn.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 39811 it appears that John Kerr enlisted date near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1776, served as a private in Captain Eli Myer's Company, Colonels Eneas McCoy, Brodhead and Stephen Bayard's Pennsylvania Regiment and was discharged December 20, 1779.
He again enlisted, the date of enlistment and names of officers not stated, and served to the close of the war.
He also served in the militia on the Western frontiers against the Indians, no details of service given.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 18, 1819 while living in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
In 1820 he was aged eighty years, was living in

Saint Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and stated that he had no family residing with him. He died June 14, 1826.
from AB
The above noted is the only soldier named John Kerr of Pennsylvania found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
WILDER S. METCALF. Commissioner.
✓ Colonel's name spelled as in claim in Pa. Archives also many other ways, so I used as in cl.

Mercersburg Feb. 25/25
My dear Sir;
The Penn a . Archives - Series 3 - Vol. 23 - page 498 gives one, John Kerr, a private in the Penn a . Line, as a pensioner (Revolutionary War) from May 1820 to June 14, 1826. He was then living in Allegheny Co. Pa. Will you kindly tell me if he is the same John Kerr who served on Long Island & who then or later was in Capt. Hamilton's Com. 1 st Penn a . Reg. Continental Line commanded then or later by Col. Edw. Hand?
Thanking you for any attention you may give my inquiry,
I am Yours sincerely (Miss) Anna R. Rupley Mercersburg Pa.

13

Double Rebs
1025 Wade Street, Highland Park, Ill. April 5, 1930.
Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you kindly send me the pension records of the following:
only full etc rest not rest rest
 John Kerr, private, Pa. Cont. Line, died June 14, 1826.  William Kerr, " " " Dropped from rolls, 1820, Restored 1821.  Peter Allenbaugh, private, Virginia Line, commencement of pension September 12, 1823. Lived in Kentucky. 
The above information desired for purposes of family history and should be as complete as possible.
Thanking you, I am
Yours very truly,
Winifred Miles (Mrs George R. Miles)

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
Rev. of 1812
May 25-1938
Revolutionary Pension Bureau Navy Bldg Washington D.C.
Dear Sir or Madam.
By an act of congress passed Mch 18- 1818 John Kerr - private in Pennsylvania Line applied or received a pension dated May 28 th 1820 - age 84 yrs. d June 14-1826 Alleghany Co.
William Kerr - Private Pa. line July 26- 1819- 79 yrs of age Alleghany Co.
David Kerr - Ross Co - Ohio private Pa. Militia Oct 8- 1833 age 71.
Mrs W. G. Wilt gave me the above data and suggested I write you regarding these pensions as you had given her such valuable assistance in looking up her records. Will you kindly supply me with all the data you have concerning these three names? Mrs. Wilt spoke so highly of you that I am asking you to help me with these problems.
Recd Rec

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
Enclosed find a stamped self addressed Envelope for your reply.
Ret. James
Yours sincerely
Mattie Wetherill
1422 W 9 th Ave
Spokane Washington

See letter with No
R
FREE
To the Honble J C Calhoun Secretary of War Washington City District of Columbia

Clerks Office Pittsburg June 26. 1820
Sir
I have the honour to enclose the within proceedings to the war department
Respectfully Your Obed. Servt. R d Walker
To the Honble J C Calhoun Secretary of War

United States Western District of Pennsylvania
I Duncan Walker Clerk of the said District certify that the honorable Jonathan H. Walker who has taken & signed the above depositions & certificate was at the time of taking the same and still is Judge of the United States in & for the said District and that to all his acts as such full faith and credit are and of right ought to be given.
Witness my hand and seal of office this 18 th day of August A.D. 1879 and in the forty fourth year of the Independence of the United States
D Walker CLK

United States of America ~ 3 Western district of Pennsylvania
I Jonathan H. Walker, Judge of the United States for the western district of Pennsylvania, do further certify that the within named Richard Sparrow & Jacob Springer are men of good character & credible witnesses; & that I never have certified that any fact appears to be true out to "my satisfaction" until I have first ascertained the entire credibility of the witnesses to such facts.
Pittsburgh ~ 2 11. December 1843
Jonathan H. Walker
The regulations require the Judge to Certify to the credibility of the witnesses
Admitted
John Keer. Pennsylvania Col. M. G. G. 12 August 1843
39
Conrad