Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41,189, for Justus Stericher, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Stericher, Justus or Sterigere
S. 41,189
CONTENTS

19.590
Pennsylvania
Justus Steicher, or Steigere.
of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Farmer - of the regiment commanded by Colonel Miles - in the Pennsylvania line, for the term of one year from March 1776 to 1777
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 26 day of November 1825-
Certificate of Pension issued the 20. of March 26 and delivered to J. B. Steiger.
Arrears to 4th of March 1826 $26-36 Semi-annual all'ce ending 4 Sept 1826 " 48 .
$74-36
{ Revolutionary claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. }

rec d 18 March 1826. 182 60
55 curis Justus  Steniger
Papers relative to an application of Justus Steniger a revolutionary soldier for a pension
This requires immediate attention
J. B. Steniger
rec d 18 March 1826

Montgomery County ss E. Seitz
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Montgomery in the state of Pennsylvania John Steigere formerly of Montgomery County aforesaid now of Luzerne County in the state aforesaid farmer aged sixty three years who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that from his infancy he has been well acquainted with Justus Steigere of the District of Southwark in the county of Philadelphia and state of Pennsylvania who made a declaration in the District court of the United States for the Eastern district of Pennsylvania on the 28 th day of September A.D. 1821. in pursuance of the acts of Congress, for the purpose of obtaining a pension. Deponent saith that said Justus Steigere was a private soldier in Captain Farmers company which belonged to the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Miles of the continental Army in the beginning of the American Revolution, about one year and eight months during the years 1776 and 1777. That the said Justus enlisted as a private in said company in the month of March or April in the year 1776 at a tavern, sign of the Buck in Second Street in the City of Philadelphia then the residence or quarters of Captain Farmer and continued from that time of his enlistment in the military service of the United States as a private in said company until the winter of 1777-8 (a period of more than one year and eight months) when he was regularly and honorably discharged while the American Army lay at Valley Forge near the Schuylkill River, in encampment. That the said Justus is the brother of the deponent. Deponent knew of his own knowledge that said Justus enlisted in the said company and continued in the service of the United States for the space of upwards of one year and eight months at the time before mentioned. Deponent was with said Justus at the Captain's quarters immediately after he enlisted. Deponent also saw him several times in the Arri- =can

ean army during the years 1776 and 1777 when he went to take said horses clothing for which he had sent to his father, the american soldiers being mostly bare of clothing Deponent also well recollects that said horses visited his father's family two or three times, during his service on furlough, particularly while the army under Washington lay at White Marsh when deponent and his father went to see his brother. That when the said horses left the army (being then a single man) he left his discharge in the care of his father, with whom he and deponent resided several years. After his father's death Deponent took charge of his father's papers among which he very well remembers was the discharge of his brother horses . That deponent has frequently seen & read the discharge of his brother horses , both before and since his father's death, particularly as lately as the year 1810. That about seven years ago, (the said horses becoming poor and too old and infirm to support himself without assistance) called on deponent for his discharge, That the discharge has been mis- laid or lost, and after diligent and repeated searches for it deponent has not been able to find it. That this deponent has no interest whatever in the application which his brother the said horses has made for a pension from the Government of the United States. Deponent further saith that the said horses is now upwards of 70 years of age That he is now poor and that all the property he has in the world is not worth twenty dollars and that he is too old and infirm to support himself without assistance from his country, and that he has no children living And further saith not sworn & subscribed before me the 27 th day of October A.D. 1825
John Sterigere
John Giffin

I John Giffin above named one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Montgomery do hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with the private and general character of the above deponent John Sterigee for upwards of thirty years and that he has always maintained the character of a person of truth and veracity, and that he is a person of credibility and a witness in whose testi- mony the fullest confidence may be placed. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 27th day of October A.D. 1825.
John Giffin (Seal)
my County of I Thomas Lacey Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Montgomery do in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania do certify that William Slaughter before whom the annexed deposition of John Porter was made and taken - and who to the attestation and certificate attached to the same hath subscribed his name was at the time of taking and subscribing the same and still is a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county of Montgomery duly appointed and authorized: and that full faith and credit, are due and ought to be given, to all his acts done in that capacity; as well in courts of justice as elsewhere: And I further certify that John Giffin before whom the annexed depositions of M. Lyde and John Sterigee were made and taken, and who to the attestations and certificates which are to them respectively attached hath subscribed his name was at the time of taking and subscribing the same respectively and still is a Justice of the Peace in & for the said county of Montgomery duly appointed and authorized and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all his acts

done in that capacity - as well in courts of Justice as elsewhere -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said court at Norristown the twenty- sixth day of October November A.D. 1825
Henry Root.

18, 20 Gustus Stericher
D. Caldwell, Philadelphia, Pa
Recd. 6 May 1822.
Further evidence required. see below.
26 June 1822.
The credibility & disinter- estedness of the witnesses should be duly certified. And the official character of the magistrates before whom the depositions were taken, should also be duly certified.
Only one witness testifies to any term of service by the applicant. (10 mos?) He should also state at what period of time the service was rendered.
The other witness states that he knew applicant to have been the ap

District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Penns a
On the twenty eighth day of September One thousand eight hundred & twenty one, personally appeared in the District Court aforesaid (the said Court being a Court of Record having a Clerk a Seal and keeping a Record of its proceedings) Justice Stericker aged Sixty nine years residing in Philadelphia, who being first duly sworn, in open Court according to Law, doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the Acts of Congress of the 18 th March 1818 and the first of May 1820; that he the said Justice Stericker enlisted in Philadelphia in the year 1776 in the Company commanded by Capt. Farmer of the Rifle Regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Miles in the line of the Continental Establishment, and continued in the Service until regularly discharged by Colonel Walter Stewart at Valley Forge while the Army lay in Quarters there in 1777-8. — And in pursuance of the act of the first of May 1820 the said Justice Stericker do further solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March, 1818; and 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 and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed the 18 th of March, 1818; and 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 and by me subscribed.
Sworn to and declared on the 28 th day of September 1821- in open Court
D. Caldwell Clk: 9 ist: 6 h
Justice his Stericker mark
Schedule

Schedule of the Property of Justice Stericher.
I have no Property of any other description than the following, which are; two pine tables, six chairs, and a few small articles sufficient to furnish a room, which I now occupy, with my wife, an old woman, unable to support herself; I have no children and am by occupation an Oak cooper but unable to labor a great part of the time in consequence of Rheumatism & other infirmities incident to old age and am in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support myself without the assistance of my country.
Sworn at Supra — } D. Caldwell. Clk: Dist. Ct.
Justice Stericher his marks
An Appraisement of the Goods & effects of Justice Stericher taken 24 th Sept r 1821 by Wm Hart, Geo. Thomson and Thos G. Connor.
   Dolls.     One Bureau 5.00   6 6 chairs chairs 2.00   2 Pine tables 1.25   2 Small Looking glasses 1.0 right;">1.00   1 Small Lot of small prints .50   1 Ten plate Stove 10.00   1 Pair of Andirons Shovel & tongs 1.00   1 Lot of brockery 1.50   2 Iron Pots 1 Iron Tea Kettle and 2 flat Irons 2.00   3 Tubs & 1 Bucket 1.00   1 Lot Lumber 4.00   $29.25  
We the undersigned certify that the above is a true valuation according to the best of our Judgment.
Philad. a 24 th Sept r 1821.
Geo. Thomson
Thos G. Connor.

I, D. Caldwell Clerk of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and 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 twenty nine Dollars and twenty five Cents. — In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my Name and affixed the Seal of the said District Court at Philadelphia this twenty ninth day of September A. D. 1821 and in the forty sixth year of the Independence of the said United States.
D. Caldwell - Clk. Dist. Ct.
We the subscribers have known the above named soldier many years. He is an industrious, honest, worthy, but very poor man. If any are able and willing, in any way to assist towards procuring him a pension from government, or otherwise, it will be doing an act of substantial and beneficial charity.
John Glading
Geo. Thomson
William Heart
Thos. G. Connor
Thos. Mowen
Samuel Barclay

Montgomery County State of Pennsylvania ss.
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Montgomery aforesaid. Mark Lyell formerly of the city of Philadelphia aged seventy one years who being duly sworn according to law do hereby depose and say that said deponent is well acquainted with Justus Sterrigere of the District of Southwark in the County of Philadelphia in the state of Penn a who has made application for a pension from the U. States. That said Justus Sterrigere in the time of the revolutionary war was a private soldier in Captain Farmer's company of the Penn a rifle Regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Miles. Deponent personally knew that said Justus enlisted as a private in said company in the beginning of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six and continued in the service of his country as a private soldier in said company until the end of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, when he was regularly and honorably discharged while the American Army lay at Valley Forge. That said Justus was in the service of the States above eighteen months. Deponent has a personal knowledge and a distinct recollection of the enlistment and the service of the said Justus as above mentioned and saw him frequently during the said time of his service. Deponent hath known said Justus above fifty years, they have resided near together ever since the year 1770. Deponent has interest whatever in the said Justus obtaining the a pension from the United States Government. Deponent is well acquainted with the circumstances of said Justus, & knows that he has no property to maintain him and is very poor, and too old and infirm to support himself without assistance from his country —

said Justice is above 70 years old. He has no children living to support him and is by trade a cooper, and that he has always been a moral order and industri- ous man, and a person of the strictest veracity & integrity and well esteemed by his neighbours and fellow-craft men.
Sworn & subscribed before me the 24 th of October 1825
M. Lyell's Mark X
John Giffin
I John Giffin above named one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said county of Montgomery do hereby certify that I have long been well acquain- ted with the private and general character of the above deponent, and that said deponent is a person of creditability, and who has always sustained the reputation of truth and veracity, and is a person in whom testimony the utmost confidence may be placed. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 24 th day of October AD 1825
John Giffin

Montgomery County State of Pennsylvania ss
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the justices of the peace in and for the County of Montgomery aforesaid Mr. John Porter of said County, Gentleman aged Ninety three years who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that he has known Justus Sterigere of the District of Southwark in the County of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania aforesaid (who the 28 th of September 1821 made a declaration in the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania according to the Act of Congress in order to obtain a pension) for more than sixty years. That said Justus Sterigere was a private soldier in Captain Farnes company of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Miles of the Continental Army near nearly two years. Deponent knew of his own knowledge that said Justus enlisted as a private in said company in the early part of the year 1776 and continued in the service as a private soldier assisting to fight the battles of America until the end of the year 1777 a period of nearly of two years when he was honorably discharged at Valley Forge. Deponent was a Captain in the Revolutionary war and further saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me the seventeenth day of September A.D. 1822 —
John Porter
Dillman Stauffer J.P.

I Dillman Stauffer one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Montgomery within mentioned. Do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the private and general character of the within named Deponent and that he is a person of unquestionable veracity and credibility and a gentleman in whose testimony the most unlimited confidence may be placed. And further that upon a proper examination I am perfectly satisfied that he has no interest whatever in giving the within testimony. His circumstances are independent and his connections wealthy and respectable. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 17 th day of September A.D. 1822 -
Dillman Stauffer J.P. Seal

This is to certify that upon Examination of Justice Hericker of Southwark an aged infirm Man, I am of opinion that he was a Soldier under my Command in 1776 and part of 1777 — I was appointed in 1776 a Major in the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, under the Command of Colonel Samuel Miles, and was with the Regiment at Marcus Hook Philadelphia Amboy & York Long Island and on the March through New Jersey to our Encampment on the West Side of the Delaware and on the Return to Trenton Princeton and Morristown in N. Jersey —
This Man recollects and detailed to me, our first Place of Rendezvous at Marcus Hook and several Circumstances that occurred there, also at the Barracks in Philad a at the embarking at Philad a in Shallops for Trenton; also at Amboy at which place he stated several Facts, which took Place, that some cannon Balls by the British at Staten Island discharged, and passed thro' the Roof of a certain publick Edifice there — He described our Encampment near N. York, also the Loss of particular officers and other Circumstances that took Place on Long Island in August 1776 — He mentioned our Return to the same Encampment above N. York — our next Encampment near Kings Bridge and some particular regimental occurrences there — our returning thro' Jersey with some particular circumstances that occurred at Brunswic k , upon the Plain between the Publick Buildings on the Hill and the Town; the uneasy Feelings of a certain officer, the appearance of the British on the heights on the opposite Side of the River, and the discharges of their Artillery at us, and the effect of a Ball which passed thro' one of our Companions in Arms — As far as a correct Statement of so many Circumstances can convince my mind, I am convinced that he was actually a Soldier in the said Regiment in April 1776 and continued until February or March 1777 —
The said Regiment under Command of Col. Miles was enlisted for the Term of two Years for the State of Pennsylvania; and at the particular Request of General Washington, the Regiment left their own State and marched to Amboy, and from thence to New York; and joined the Army there — and enjoyed the Confidence of the General, so much so as generally to be posted in the Front on advancing, and on the Rear in Retreating; and by the Capture of the Hessians at Trenton and the British at Princeton crowned their military Character with military Glory — If therefore the Board can be satisfied, as I am with the circumstantial Detail of so many Occurrences, which I presume could not be known by any person in his Path

of Life, who had not been a Soldier in that Regiment at those times respectively when they happened; I hope to have the Pleasure of hearing of his obtaining the Pension for which he petitions on the
Emmon Williams
2nd mo. 26 th 1822.
Philadelphia

To the Honorable the Secretary at War of the United States.
The petition of Justus Sturgeon of the District of Southwark in the County of Phil- adelphia, and State of Pennsylvania a Soldier of the Revolutionary War
Respectfully Shewing
That your petitioner (by the name of Justus Sturickel as written by the Officer of the Court) on the 28 th day of September 1821 made a declaration in open Court in the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania agreeably to the Acts of Congress in order to obtain a pension, for his declaration with such testimony of his revolu- tionary services as he could then procure were forwarded on to the Secretary at War of the U. States. That the same were shortly afterwards returned, and further evidence required. The said declaration to gether with such further evidence of his revolutionary services as your petitioner has been able to procure is now again transmitted to your department. Your petitioner further begs leave to submit to your Honor an account a more particular state- ment of his services than is contained in the said declaration as required by the act of Congress. - Which is as follows. - Your petitioner enlisted in the company commanded by Col. Sturickel Captain Farmer of the 11 th Regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Miles in the Month of March 1776 and continued in the service until the winter of 1777-8 when he was regularly & honorably discharged at Valley Forge. Shortly after the enlistment of your petitioner as of your the said

Regiment was marched from Philadelphia (the place of his enlistment) down the Delaware to meet fortifications, and were the first to break ground at Red Bank. They afterwards marched to Amboy and Paulushook, & to Long Island. Your petitioner was engaged in the Battle of Long Island in August 1776 when the Americans lost the day and Col. Miles was taken prisoner. The Americans then retreated to Kings Bridge and White Plains in N. York and afterwards across the Jerseys to the west side of the Delaware. During the retreat your petitioner was frequently engaged in skirmishes with the British. He was with the division of the American Army under General Washington which crossed the Delaware and captured the Hessians at Trenton in the latter end of December 1776 and also in the Battle of Princeton a few days after. He was also engaged in the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777 and in the Battle of Germantown in October following and in several other engagements of a minor character. Shortly after the Battle of Germantown the Army went int. winter quarters at Valley Forge when your petitioner was honorably discharged by Col. Walter Stewart after having continued in the service of his country nearly two years. Your petitioner left his discharge with the care of his father with whom he resided, after he left the Army, and after his father's death it was a long time in the possession of his brother John Hargrave. That the said discharge has become mislaid or lost, and after the most diligent search it cannot now be

found. Your petitioner is now about seventy = three years of age, and very poor. All the prop- erty he has in the world now is not worth twenty dollars. He is now in a very weakly state of health, and subject to rheumatism and other infirmities incident to old age so much so that he could not walk without assistance the most part of his time for upward of a month past. Your petitioner has no children. He has had much sickness in his family and which has in succession in a few years taken away all his children three in number, and lately his aged wife, and he has now no child left to comfort and assist him in his old age and is unable to support himself without assistance from his country. He is therefore compelled in his poverty to call on his coun- try now for help and for, to afford him a small pittance for his support for the few remaining years which it may please divine Providence to allot for his earthly abode. The correct orthography of your petitioner's name is as first spelled in this petition. Your petitioner has been a resident citizen of the State of Penn a  for for more than fifty years. Your petitioner therefore respectfully prays you have to place him on the pension roll of the United States and as in duty bound he will ever gratefully pray to
his Gracious Mark Sterigore

Philadelphia County ss.
The eleventh day of November A.D. 1825. The with named Justus Stenger being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that the facts and statements set forth in the within petition are just & true to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Sworn & subscribed before me
Richd. Renshaw Justice of Peace County of Philad a
Justus Stenger Mark
Philadelphia ss.
I George W. Riter Recorder of Deeds for the city and county of Philadelphia do certify that Richard Renshaw Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit was made and who hath to the foregoing attestation subscribed his name was at the time of so doing and still is a Justice of the peace in and for the county of Philadelphia duly commissioned and qualified to all whose acts as such full faith and credit is and ought to be given, as well in courts of judicature as elsewhere
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the fourteenth day of November A.D. 1825
Geo W Riter Rec d

41 189 INVALID.
Rev. J
File No. 41. 189 * Dr Sterigere Justus Menches Ph. M. Dr
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index: —Vol. 8 , Page 88
[Arrangement of 1870.]
* W.W.H. Aug. 2. 07.