Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 11456, for Abraham Shoemaker, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Shoemaker, Abraham Margaret
W. 11456
CONTENTS

18.951 Pennsylvania
Michael Shoemaker of Columbia Co in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Storer of the 1st Penna. Light Battery by Col Seitz - in the Pennsylvania line for Malabar -
3 Mo 11 D  Probt - $21.22
Inscribed on the Roll of - Pennsylvania at the rate of 21 - Dollars 22 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of Nov 1833 and Subs to - Capt. Ricketts, P.M. 1st Penna. Light Battery
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 - 53.65 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th  Mar '34 - 10.61
$63.85
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. T. Brown Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 5 Page 53
V
Let to Hm B a Bidlack May 17 1844.
City 6 D. S. West Oct 18. 1844.
Copies of papers sent to Hm O D. Lib H.R. Jan 16. 1846

277.
Pennsylvania. — in Margaret Shoemaker, widow of Ab m Shoemaker, who was a Private Pa in the Revolution — 6 months, 11 days. —
Reputed
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of Twenty-one Dollars twenty-five Cents per annum, to commence on the July  1st day of March, 1844.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th — day of July, 1846, and sent to Hon. O. B. Lein House of Representatives.
[Act of JUNE 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 2 — Page 116. —

277 12686
(807)
Margaret Shoemaker Pa.
Act 47 June '44.
Hon O. D. Leib A R
W. G. Hopkey, Bloomsburg, Penn.

State of Pennsylvania Columbia County ss
on this third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six, personally appeared before the Honorable Stephen Baersy one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County / The said Court being a Court of Record / Margaret Shoemaker a resident of Herkcoke Township in the County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania at aged Eighty one years, who doth on her oath make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows" and the Supplements thereto passed 3 d March 1843 and 17. June 1841, That she is the Widow of Abraham Shoemaker who was a private Soldier in the Pennsylvania Militia and Service in the Army of the Revolution That the said Applicant is unable to state the services performed by her said husband, nor the time he entered in or the officers he served under in the Army, but Respectfully refers the officers of the War and pension department to the declaration of the said Abraham Shoemaker on file in the pension department at Washington City for the time he entered the Service and the period of his services. She further declares that she was married to the said Abraham Shoemaker on the day of _____ in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four the day of the month, nor the month she does not recollect owing to her great age and loss of memory but believes it was in the fall of the year, that she was married in Greenwich in the State of New Jersey, by the Reverend John Frederick Ernst a Minister of the German Lutheran Church, that she never received any Certificate of her marriage nor is it in her power at this late period to obtain one, That the said John Frederick Ernst died upwards of thirty years since, and she has not been able to ascertain so far where his books, papers and registers are, that she has no evidence of

of her marriage other than the testimony of Juliana Philippina Mills whose testimony is herewith sent, all the parties who were present at her marriage being long since deceased. She further states that she was not married to the said Abraham Shoemaker prior to his leaving the Service, but that the marriage took place previous to the first day of January, Nineteen hundred and ninety four viz at or about the time before stated, that the said Abraham Shoemaker died, on the second day of July one thousand eight hundred and forty five - and that she still remains unmarried. and she further states that she has no record of her marriage. and that her said husband Abraham Shoemaker was a pensioner under the provisions of the act of Congress passed 7 June 1832  Sworn & subscribed to before me Stephen Baldy  his Margaret Shoemaker Mark
I do hereby certify that Margaret Shoemaker who makes the foregoing declaration is unable to appear in Court from great age & bodily infirmity
Stephen Baldy
State of Pennsylvania Columbia County
Personally appeared before me one of the Jurors of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County. William Girtler aged fifty two years, /and who I certify to be worthy of belief/ who being sworn declares that Abraham Shoemaker died on the second of July one thousand eight hundred and forty five, and that he was the husband of Margaret Shoemaker the applicant above named  Sworn & subscribed April 3 1846 Corv Stephen Baldy  William Girtler

State of Pennsylvania
Columbia County ss
On the third day of April one Thousand eight hundred and forty six personally appeared before the Honorable Stephen Baldy one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County Juliana Philippina Wells aged Seventy Six years and Upwards, who being first duly sworn according to Law declares, that she is the daughter of John Frederick Ernst who was a Minister of the German Lutheran Church, that he resided in Greenwich State of New Jersey in the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty four. That this deponent was well acquainted with Abraham Shaeffer and Margaret his wife / the same Margaret who makes the foregoing affidavit / that she well and distinctly remembers the marriage of the said parties by her late father the Reverend John Frederick Ernst, and believes it was in the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty four, that this deponent was not present at the marriage, but that she lived in Greenwich at the time, and very distinctly remembers of her late father telling her that he had married the said Abraham & Margaret. That the said Abraham Shaeffer and Margaret immediately after (she was so informed by her father) lived together and have continued so to live until the time of the death of the said Abraham. That this deponent has known them during all the time, that they lived and cohabitated together until the time of his death, raised a family of children and were esteemed & beloved in the neighborhood where they resided to have been husband & wife. And of which fact this deponent has no doubt and is so informed. } This deponent further states that the said before me } Margaret Shaeffer still remains as Juliana D. Wells widow & unmarried
Stephen Baldy
I do hereby certify that Juliana Philippina Wells who makes the foregoing affidavit is a credible person and worthy of belief.
Stephen Baldy

State of Pennsylvania Columbia County
I Jacob Eyerly Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Stephen Baldy Esquire is an acting Judge of the courts in and for said County, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genu- ine In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Danville the fourth day of April A.D. Eighteen hundred & forty six Jacob Eyerly Protho ry

I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Juliana Philipina Wells (who makes the within affidavit) for a number of years - and she is a credible person + worthy of belief
M c Neil Leib
July 24 th 1846

27 72 2
Abraham Shein a.k.a.

State of Pennsylvania Columbia County } etc
On the Seventeenth day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the Hon. Leonard Rupert one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County. Abraham Shoemaker aged Seventy five years and upwards a resident of Greenwood Township Columbia County Pennsylvania, 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 7. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
About the first of November in the year 1777 at Williams Township Northampton County I was drafted in a Company of Militia commanded by Captain Stokes we were marched to Allentown in said County where we were organized and placed under the Command of Colonel Sigfritz from thence we marched to near Germantown and joined the Main Army under General Washington, the British at this time were in possession of Philadelphia I continued with the Army until early in the Month of January when I was discharged. During this foregoing time we had a skirmish with the Enemy near the Schuylkill. I was at this time Two Months and four days.
In the Month of September 1778 I was again drafted at Williams Township Northampton County Pa in a Company of Militia commanded by Captain Frederick Clayhauser was marched to Easton and here placed under the Command of Colonel Herkimer from thence we were marched to a place called Minisink and were engaged in scouting for Indians and

Protecting the Citizens on the frontier I continued in this Service until some time in November when I was discharged I was in the Service this time two months & seven days
In the month of November of the year 1780 I was again drafted at Williams Township in a Company commanded by Captain William Peter Hay the Company was marched to Easton Penn a I continued with the Company until January of the following year when I was discharged I was out this time two months
My recollection is considerably impaired and I cannot state the dates of my entry and discharge from the Army but I have no hesitation in declaring that I served in and
Captain Stone Two months & four days Captain J. Clayharty Two months & seven days Captain P. Hay - Two months making in all six months and eleven days - I was born in Williams Township Northampton County Pennsylvania in the year 1758 - I have a record of my age at my coming in Greenwood Township - When called into Service I was living in Williams Township Northampton County Penn a - from there I removed to Oxford Sussex County N. Jersey & from there to Greenwood Township Columbia County where I now reside. When called into Service I was drafted into the Militia. I never received a written discharge Colonel Hennen Captain J. A. Clayharty & Captain Peter Hay where with the Militia when I was in the Service
I never received a written discharge - I am known to John Shively Esquire, Samuel Mather Esqr. Joseph Loman of Greenwood County.
I have no documentary evidence nor do I know of any persons whose testimony I can procure other than the testimony of John Hunsdon whose deposition is herewith sent I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not

on the pension roll of age that the agency of any State. Except a pension I receive from the State of Pennsylvania
Given & Subscribed this day of year aforesaid Cor
Leonard Rupert
Abraham Shoemaker
We Daniel Shultz of Greenwood Township & Jacob Shoemaker of Bloom township Columbia County Pennsylvania
do hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Shoemaker who has Subscribed and Sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and are concur in that opinion and we further Certify that there is no Clergyman residing in the Neighborhood of the said Applicant -
Daniel Shultz Jacob Shoemaker
Given & Subscribed this day of year aforesaid Cor
Leonard Rupert
I Leonard Rupert one of the Jurors of this Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after perusing the Interrogatories presented by the said applicant, that the said applicant was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he states and I further Certify that from bodily infirmity and great age he is unable to appear in open Court - and it appears to me that there is no Clergyman residing in the vicinity of the said Applicant. And I further Certify that Daniel Shultz is a resident of Greenwood Township & Jacob Shoemaker

is a Resident of Bloom Township both of whom have signed the preceding Certificate, that they are Credit persons, and that their statement is correct to Credit Leonard Rupert
State of Pennsylvania Columbia County ss
I Jacob Eyerly Notary Public of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Columbia aforesaid do certify that Leonard Rupert Esq. before whom the foregoing proceedings and affidavits were taken was and still is an acting Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Columbia aforesaid duly Commissioned as such and to all whose Official acts as such are faith & credit is and ought to be given & that the signature of Leonard Rupert as within written is the proper hand writing of the said Leonard Rupert Esquire In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court at Danville the twenty third day of October A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty three.
Jacob Eyerly Not.
Notary Public

Columbia County Pa.
Personally came before the subscriber a portion of the Peace in and for said County. John Fuston aged 80 years of the Township of Madison in the County of Columbia & State of Pennsylvania, and being duly sworn according to Laws did depose and say that he has been is now well acquainted with Abraham Shoemaker now residing in the Township of Greenwood in the County aforesaid, and that this deponent knows the said Abraham Shoemaker to be in the Continental War for serving in the Militia at the Minisinks (Pennsylvania on the Delaware River) under Colonel Heaverer on a Campaign in pursuit of the Indians or defending against them the other officers not recollecting, the year or time not recollecting.
Sworn and subscribed before me the 7. day of Oct r 1833.
John Fuston
Caleb Thomas J.P.
I do hereby Certify that John Fuston who has been sworn and signed the above deposition is now a resident of the Township of Madison Columbia County and is a man of good repute for veracity and is worthy of credit and belief. Witness my hand at Madison Township the 7. day of Oct r AD. 1833.
Caleb Thomas J.P.

State of Pennsylvania, } I Jacob Eyerly Prothonotary of the Court of Common Columbia County } Pleas in and for the County of Columbia, aforesaid do certify that Caleb Thomas Esq. before whom the within Affidavit was taken was & still is an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County of Columbia, aforesaid duly Commissioned as such & to all whose Official acts as such due faith & credit is and ought to be given as well in Court of Justice as elsewhere & that the signature of Caleb Thomas as within written is the proper hand writing of the said Caleb Thomas Esquire In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court at Dan- ville the twenty third day of October A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty three Jacob Eyerly Proth

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
H.F. 11.456
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Abraham Shemaker a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Oct. 1. 1777 2 mos. 4 days Pvt. Stokes & Hovey Lightfoot Penn.   Sept. 1778 2 mos. 7 days Frederick Kleinhanz Hubner   Nov. 1780 2 mos. Peter Hays   ✓ 2 mos. Shumer   ✓ Some month + 2 or 3 days Peter Hays ✓   (not Revolutionary military service)  
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Williams Gap, Northampton Co. Penn.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 17. 1833. His d. was allowed
Residence at date of application, Greenwood Township, Columbia Co. Penn.
Age at date of application, born in 1758 in Williams Gap Penn.
Remarks:
He married in 1784 at Greenwich F.D. Margaret — She was al. pension on an application executed Apr. 3, 1846 while a resident of Hemlock Twp. Columbia Co. Penn. aged 81 years. There is no other data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Pa
1919 Jan 3 Recd to H. T. Blair Letter in S. 41881 Christian Miller. 1919 Jan 21 Recd to Mary C. Abbott.
rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 11456
Margaret Shoemaker Widow of Abm Shoemaker Rev War
Act: June 17 th / 44
Index:—Vol. M , Page 206
[Arrangement of 1870.]

✓ 12680 277
Margaret Schoenaker Penn a .
Let. to W. G. Hurley, June 24, '46 " " Hon. O. D. Leib, July 13, '46. " " same July 24. 1846
Act 17 June 44.

July 25 46
May to Shoemaker
J. L. Edwards Esq
Friendship Me
Commissioner of Pensions
Hon O. D. Leib Me

Margaret Shoemaker widow of Abraham Shoemaker, Private 6 mo. 11 days. $21:22 per ann. to commence 2 July 1845 v 3 Act 17 June 1844
Philadelphia Roll married in 1784 husband died 2 July 1845
bequeath: to the Hon. O. D. Leib House of Reps.

July 16 44
per Abn. Steyermark for Francis
free
L. Edwards Esq. Pension Office Washington City D.C.

In addition to the 7 months & 11 days for which I have recd a pension num 158. I hereby declare that I served as follows: - Two months on a tour against the Indians, on the occasion of their attack & slaughter of the inhab- itants on the Schuylkill river, at, and above where Millford now stands. I was one of a battalion of soldiers called out for that service. We were com- manded by Col. Hevener. And also four weeks and two or three days, while a treaty was being held at Easton Northampton Co. Pa. with three tribes or nations of Indians. I was one of one hundred men called out on that occasion. We were commanded by one Peter Hays. These two items of service were rendered after the war.
I beg leave still further to state. That my father died the year before I was twenty one . I am the youngest son. My

brothers divided the real estate between themselves. and on my arriving at twenty one years of age. paid me my share. viz. $1000.00. in "Continental money" which, before I had an opportunity to turn it in any way. died on my hands - This last fact. I attach no particular importance to. but presume that its bearing upon my case, will be duly appreciated -
Columbia County Pa
Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County Personally appeared Abraham Shoemaker of the Township of Nantick in said County who on his solemn Oath doth depose and say that the above as stated is True and further saith not
Sworn and subscribed the 8 th day of July 1844 before me Jaddings Markley J.P.
Abraham Shoemaker
The only living witness in all this region to whom Mr Shoemaker would appeal, is so ill as to be unable to say any thing about it. at this time. is probably not living. D. N. Scott July 12. 1844 }

We the undersigned, citizens of Columbia County Pa. and near neighbors to, and well acquainted with Abraham Shoemaker, do most cheerfully concur in stating that, the said Abraham Shoemaker wears in relation to the time which he actually served as a soldier in the cause of our common country, is fully worthy of the entire belief of all whom it may concern.
E. A. Dugg Philip Reiley David R. Scott Fanny Hendengall Henry Webb Marshall Silverthorne E. Amos Wray Lewis H. Mays Mr. Keal Jacobs Barkley C. H. Hefley John M. Mayer W. G. Hinkle

Bloombury July 4-1844
Sir
Mr Shoemaker is under the impression that there are old soldiers who, when their pension proved insufficient have sought, and obtained "relief" from government. Now whether this is ever done in any case, or not, is more than I can tell him. But Sir, permit to remark here, that there cannot well be found a case, more worthy of such consideration, or much more in need of it. Both he & his wife are becoming so infirm as to render it very unfeigned that they should have some one to assist them, which their limited means render impossible. I sincerely hope that the appropriate department will favorably regard his claim to pay  to pay for extra time.
It will be perceived, that had the war lasted a few weeks longer, or had he been born a few weeks sooner, he would have

come in under the Act of 18 March 1818. He is a sober honest, and not worthy man -
I am Sir
Most respectfully
Yours,
D. N. Poth
trent 7
Hon J. L. Edwards }
2 22 4 2 t by

Oct 28. Orangeville Va Oct 25
Free
Dr
Heard J. L. Edwards Commission of Pension City Washington D.C.
6 mos. $118.50 Amount

Orangeville Oct. 24 th 1833
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions City Washington D.C.
Sir
In closed is the application of Abraham Thannaker for a Pension. You will please to enclose his certificate or any other papers relative to the same to me and much oblige an old revolutionary Soldier —
Very Respectfully Your ob td Serv t &c
C. G. Ricketts P.M. at Orangeville Col. Co. Pa.

free
Hon. O. D. Leib m. 6 Washington D.C.
Hon. O. D. Leib HR

Barnesburg July 17. 1846
Dear Sir
Yours of the 14 with the letter from the Pension Department is received. It seems to me that the Pension is sufficient or should be - it is almost out of the question to obtain proof at the late day, at all events the Pension of Mrs. Wells wife of Israel Wells proves the my matter required. You can reach for the respectability of Mrs. Wells you know her, and if you will call and examine her testimony and inform the Commissioners that you can reach for her respectability and standing, you will obtain a pension for a my assuring old lady - & one who needs it much
I have not received a Copy of the Report of the Commissioners of patents supposed you had forgotten to send me
Write me soon after you can answer the Pension department
Yours &c
M. G. Harvey
Dear Mr. Leile,

July 7 46
Pa.
5
H.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Pension office Washington D.C.

Bloomsbury Aug. 3. 1816
Sir
Your letter of the 24 th ult. respecting the application of the Median Shumacher I believe. It is impossible at this late day to obtain evidence from persons who were present at the marriage of the parties. If however one of the parties having lived and cohabitated for a great number of years and been known to live as man & wife will be rec d by the department as evidence it can be obtained without any difficulty from people of respectability in the neighbourhood where the parties have resided for upwards of forty years. In your letter you say "the testimony of persons whose positions in society will render them known to the department can especially be obtained & whose parole testimony is received upon a point so material it is, especially important that the evidence shall be of this character"
I do not understand what is required by the foregoing paragraph, if you will be more explicit and say what parole testimony, other than from those who were actually present or a clergyman will be required by the department it may possibly be obtained. The old lady is very poor and if any thing is to be obtained it should be had soon, or it may come too late
Yours Respectfully
W. G. Harley
J. J. Bouverie Esq

Washington D.C. June 29 th 1846
Sir,
I enclose a letter and certificate in relation to a pension for Widow Shoemaker. You will be good enough to write me on the subject at your earliest convenience.
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions
} Respectfully Yours M c D. Leib

12686. 5 at pax 18/46
-6
Mayant Shoemaker
July 2 1835
Memorandum of trans Master D.C.

Blomberg April 12. 1846
I Enclose you the application of Margaret Shumaker for a pension - you will cause me of its fate
Yours respectfully
W. L. Hurley
Can the daughter of a Soldier of the Revolutionary Army (who has never drawn a pension) receive one
Commrs of Pensions Washington

A General Muster Roll of the First Battalion of Northampton County Militia. 1778 rec d May 14 th
Return of the first Battalion of Northampton County Militia. Field Officers. . . Colonel George Heuber Lt Colonel Peter Sayler Major Philip Zieissel Adjutant John Luederick
Clap 2 nd
9 Conrad Miller 10 John Heub 11 Melchor Kray 12 Henry Gref 13 Elias Haerter 14 Abraham Shoemaker
Pennsylvania D:
I do Certify that the above is a true copy of an extract of the original Paper remaining on file in this Office
In Testimony Whereof I have here- unto set my hand and the Seal of the Secretarys Office at Harrisburg this 20 th day of April A D 1846
J. M. Miller Secretary of the Commonwealth

Free Public Library
BEATRICE, NEBRASKA
Rev Acc 1.2B
January, 11
191 9
The Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Sirs:
Have you the Revolutionary records of Abraham Shoemaker of Northampton County, Penn. or of Andrew neg. Melick of Sussex Co., New Jersey?
I would be very pleased if you could help me with this data.
Hoping that I may hear from you soon, I am
Very truly yours,
Merlyn C. Abbott Librarian.