Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5826, for Conrad Kellar, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Koellar, Conrad
R. 5826
or
Tellar,
or
Sellers,
CONTENTS
Catharine

Simon ist gestorben den 5. September 1760
Simon ist gestorben den 23. August 1761
Simon ist gestorben den 5. März 1762
Simon ist gestorben den 11. April 1773
09

Thomas - Born Sept. 17: 176 - Susannah, m rs Born 28: Augt. 1767 Catharine Born 5: May Anno 1769. George Born 16: Apr: An 1773.

Catharine Keller,
Affidavits. —
Jacob Rager Mangt. his Wife,

New Jersey County of Warren 11.
Before me John B. Titus a Justice of the Peace for said County personally came Jacob A. Haggen & Margaret his wife who I certify are persons of truth, & who being first duly sworn depose & say they, — were well acquainted with Conrad Hellas & Catharine his wife — & have known them, the said Jacob about a few years before the death of said Conrad & the said Margaret from her infancy, that said Margaret is the Daughter of said Conrad & Catharine, that said Margaret is aged fifty seven years & upwards. said Jacob is fifty four years of age upwards — That said Margaret has frequently heard her parents say they were married at Millers Town Pennsylvania some few years after the war, that said Margaret has no certain knowledge of the time of said Marriage having no record of it, there was a family record which according to the information, was taken off by her other Brother Jacob, who removed to Virginia more than 30. years ago, she believes him to be dead, as the family have not heard from him in more than twenty years — That she remembers an old Hymn Book of her Mother as long as she can remember, in it was entered the Ages of her Mother & her Sister & two Brothers & some other entries all in German which she cannot read, that her Mother's Age is there given, as Born 5: March 1769 — She also

remembered her Mother & stated that she was married in May when she was then ty four years old. She, this Deponent has no original entry of her own age, but she well remembers that she was married when she was 24 years & about 7 months old which marriage was on the 10 th day of October 1823. She remembers that it was understood at that time, & since that she was 3\frac{1}{2} years older than her Husband, who remembers that he was wanting a few days of being of legal age. She also refers to her family Bible in which are the entries of her marriage & of the birth of her five children & the death of one child, - which entry, or the last one, was made about 13. or 14 years ago - that the entry therein of her marriage is in words purporting as follows, "Jacob A. Ragan married Margaret Fellars. Oct. 10 th 1823." - That Her Father was called Keller & Fellars, & now the Grandchildren write the name Sellers, that Deponent often heard of his services in the Revolutionary war, in Pennsylvania & elsewhere. That her parents moved to New-Jersey when she was a child that her Father died near Trenton on the Thirteenth day of September A.D. 1825. That her Mother is now his widow not having again married.
She further declares that she was the third child of said Catherine

Heurad; Sons above named, being the oldest, (a son who died quite young being next oldest to be named) Then there daughters - Charlotte, Martha, now deceased Hannah, Sarah - Jesse - Elizabeth, & Mary. Phelps -
And the said Jacob, says that he well remembers, that he was several years younger than his wife, that he was not quite 21 years old when married, & that the Parents of his wife objected to their marriage for that reason - That the above extract from his family Bible is the correct time of their marriage -
That said Jacob said Leonard & Catharine were reputed & believed to have lawfully married in Pennsylvania - that he never had any doubt of that fact & fully believes it. That said Leonard died near Newton N.J. on or about the Thirteenth day of September A.D. 1825, and that said Catharine is now his widow -
Given & subscribed before me this Seventh day of May (1857). John B. Litus J.P. Present also W.T. Johnny -
Saw his A. Kaggan mark Maryant his Kaggan mark

Note of New Jersey Warren County ss } I, Ishael P. Kemp clerk of the County of Warren, hereby certify that John B. Titus Esquire before me having the foregoing certificate of acknowledgement was taken and whose name is subscribed thereto was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and authorized to take the same and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said John B. Titus Esquire and really believe that the signature purporting to be his is genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 13 th day of May A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty Seven
Ishael P. Kemp, Clerk

New Jersey Warren County ss.
On this fourth day of May A.D. 1857, before me a judge of the Court of Errors & Appeals of said State , the same court being a court of Record, personally appeared Catharine Keller or Zeller of the Township of Mansfield, in said County, aged Eighty Eight years, & who I certify by reason of bodily infirmities is unable to come before any court of Record, & who being by me duly sworn, Doth upon her oath declare that she is the widow of Conrad Keller or Zeller, which Conrad was a Private in the company of Captain Gort or Nygandt (according to her best recollection) in the Regiment of Colonel Bradhead in the Pennsylvania Continental Line, in the War of the Revolution, that the said Conrad was enlisted on or about the year 1779 - in the County of Northampton, that she was a near neighbour of said Conrad, & knows that he was in the service, from the time he enlisted, till the end of the War, - but she can state nothing of his service, except that said Conrad informed her that he was in the above named company.
She further declares that she was not married to said Conrad during the period of his said service, but that she was married before the year 1794, namely on the ninth day of May A.D. 1793, by one Jacob Van Buskirk, a Lutheran Clergyman at Millers- Town in the County of Northampton Pennsylvania, (now Lehigh), that she has no record of her said marriage, that Deponent & her said Husband removed from Pennsylvania to County of Hunterdon New Jersey.

about the year 1810, where they resided till the time of his death in 1825 — That her maiden name was Stahl, that she had by said Conrad the following children, Jonas & John now deceased, Margaret, Charlotte, Martha now deceased, Hannah wife of Mr P. Lanno, Jesse, Elizabeth, & Mary wife of William Phelps — That she has a leaf taken from her Father's Bible which contains all the Record she knows of relative to age — by it, it appears she was born on the 5 th of May 1769, and she well remembers she was married when she was just 24 years of age —
She further declares that she has not married the second time, & is now the widow of said Conrad Keller, that after they removed to New Jersey their name was spelled differently, sometimes Kellar & sometimes Sellers, that she has not received or ever made application for Pension for the services of said Conrad —
She makes this Declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress — for the Pensioning of Revolutionary Widows — passed on 7 th July 1838, & the several Supplements thereto, Also under the Act of 29 th July 1848
She hereby appoints Whitfield S Johnson of Newton Sussex Co. New Jersey, her lawful Attorney with power to substitute, to prosecute her claim for pension, to receive a certificate when issued, & to do any thing needful in the Premises,
Sworn & subscribed before me by making her mark she being infirm & unable to write, this Fourth day of May — A D 1857 —
Before me Caleb H. Valentine One of the judges of said Court —
Catharine her Keller Mark.
Present also. John B. Sites

State of New Jersey.
I, THOMAS S. ALLISON, Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify, that
(Caleb H. Valentine) Esquire, before whom the within affidavit was taken,
was, at the time of the doing thereof, a Judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals in and for the county of  State of New Jersey  in said state , duly commissioned and sworn; that full faith and credit are to be given to his official attestations, and that the signature thereto is in the proper handwriting of the said
Caleb H. Valentine Esquire
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal of office, at Trenton, in said state, this tenth day of December A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven .
T. S. Allison Secretary of State.

No. 1494 Catharine Keller, Mrs. J. Conrad, N.J.
W. L. Johnson, 2/1/58
5826
Oct 29 th 1858.

W. L. Johnson, Def. July, 21 st 1838.
Sir,
I have examined & suspended the claim of Catharine Keller to a pension under the Act of 29 th July, 1828, as the widow of Daniel the Claimant is required to prove her husband's service. It cannot be admitted, that the Daniel Keller, whose service is certified by the Auditor Genl. of Penn: was the husband of the Claimant for the reason, that he was said the soldier was, petitioned as a war, man under the Act of 15 th May, 1828, for the service so certified, whereas, the Claimant's husband died, in 1825, before the passing of that Act of 1828.
If proof of service can be produced then the precise date of Claimant's marriage should be filed & additional evidence of widowhood & identity, produced should be furnished in the case.
W. L. Johnson, Def. Newton, N.J.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
5826
P. O.
Catherine Keller
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
REJECTED
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Morton N.J. July 8; 1838.
Sir,
Enclosed herewith, are the Declaration & proofs in the application of Catharine Killar, Widow of Cornelius Killar, for Pension for the Revolutionary Services of Her Husband.
It is confidently believed that her marriage took place before 1794, namely at the time set forth. And it is therefore claimed that the Pension ought to be allowed under Act of 7: July 1838 & the supplements thereto. The proof of Service & Death is being full sample.
But if from the fact of the removal of Killar & wife from the Place of their marriage at so early a day, and the loss of the Records as set forth, the proof of the time of marriage is not entirely satisfactory, — rather than be put to the delay & inconvenience of finding more proof as to the exact time — It would be satisfactory to have an allowance of Pension under the later Act. As there can be no doubt of the marriage before 1800, leaving her hereafter to produce proof (if able) under Act of 1838 —
It is also suggested that the Rate of Pension under Act July 1838 should be higher than under the former acts, under it this being entitled to an account equal to

What he would have been entitled to, under existing Laws, if living at date of said Act.
The old Lady is old & infirm. and as the case is, under the rigid rule laid down by the Atty. General, in case of her death - An early consideration is requested. Communication may be made to me at Newton Sussex County N.J.
I have the Honor to be Respectfully &c.
M. S. Johnson
Hon. Comr. of Pensions,

Third Regiment 1781
We and each of us whose Names are hereunto subscribed, do acknowledge to have received from Major Thomas B. Bowen, and Captain Ercurius Beatty, Agents for the late Pennsylvania Line, the several Sums opposite to our names respectively, in Certificates, dated July 1. 1784, bearing Interest at six per cent. from January the first 1782, signed by John Pierce, Commissioner, and described as below, being for the Balance of a Settlement between the United States and us for Pay etc. to January the first 1782.
   Date of Issues No. of Certificates Seller Names Dollars Signers   Dollars 90 4     Feby. 26 th 1785 71. 178 Ex Adam Rex 195 114 " William Pennell   Nov. 16 83 Rx Charles Dempsey 57 70 Charles Dempsey   Jany. 18 th 1785 84 Ex Conrad Kellar 57 10 Conrad Kellar  
Auditor General's Office Washington Mar. 10 th 1857.
I certify the above to be a true abstract copy taken from Pay Roll B. page 168 remaining in this department, Witness my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid.
E. Barks Auditor

First Regiment Gratuity
We and each of us whose names are hereunto subscribed, do acknowledge to have received from Major Thomas B. Brown, and Captain Eremias Beatty, Agents for the late Pennsylvania Line, the several sums opposite to our names respectively, in Certificates, dated July 1. 1784, bearing interest at six per cent, from November the fourth 1783, signed by John Pierce, Commissioner, and described as below, being for the Balance of a Settlement between the United States and us for Gratuity allowed the non-commissioned officers & privates who served to the end of the war.
   Date of Issue no. of Certificates Settler Names Dues Signers   Dolls 90's     Oct. 9 th 1784 75.171 Lt David Campbell 80 " David Campbell   Aug. 23 rd 190 Hx John Reiley 302 80 " James Moore   Nov. 18 th 1785 44 Bx Conrad Keller 80 " Conrad Keller  
Auditior General's Office Harrisburg Mar. 10. 1857.
I certify the above to be a true abstract copy taken from Pay Roll A. page 104 remaining in this Department, Witness my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid.
E. Banno Aud Genl.

New-Jersey Sussex county ss.
Whitfield S. Johnson of said county being duly sworn doth depose and say he is the Attorney & Agent, for Mrs. Catharine Keller, the widow of Conrad Keller now deceased, to prosecute an application for a Pension, for the Revolutionary Services of her said Husband, that Deponent was informed some months before he saw her, that she was desirous to have an application made, but was ignorant of the proper mode of making the same, Deponent then called on her, and found she had some years before executed a power to an Agent for that object, but that after retaining it a year or more, he had returned it to her, Without having taken any steps therein - that some delay has also taken place since Deponent undertook the case, That Deponent made enquiry as to the services of her Husband, when she informed him that the said services were before their marriage, but that she lived near to him, and had a clear recollections of his having gone in the Army, & doing duty there for several years, until the close of the war, that from the descriptions she gave of her said Husband and his services, Deponent wrote to Pennsylvania for information, and becoming satisfied that the said Keller had been in the Pennsylvania Line  Line in the Revolutionary War, for more than two years - He. Deponent drew up the Declarations she subsequently made, from information derived from her, being entirely satisfied - she could not (considering her Age and the limited amount of intelligence possessed by her) have simulated or inverted one prominent fact in her narrative - her memory was not clear on general events, and being a German, and

not well acquainted with English, it was not easy to comprehend all she said, or rather she might have communicated much more had Deponent understood the German language, she was positive & clear relative to his having been in service to her own knowledge - and also of her marriage which she named day & month with certainty and positiveness - she named as confirmatory of the year, that she was just Twenty four years of Age when married, and referred to a record of herself, Brother and Sister contained in her German Psalter or Manuals of Devotions , now in possession of Deponent, bearing marks of great age, printed in 1747 - from which Deponent extracted the whole leaf having such record, and which he herewith encloses, and a translation which he supposes to be correct - that the leaf is friable & has been broken a little since he took it out some months since, although he has endeavoured to handle in carefully - that her Age, and the time of her marriage were given before any reference was made to the record of Age, which was only found after much search made at the instance of Deponent, and after a third interview with her.
Deponent also had a knowledge that the said Catherine after the death of her said Husband brought suit for, & recovered her Dower, in a lot of Land once owned by him, in the County of Hunterdon New-Jersey. Deponent has made enquiries and believes that there is no record of her marriage now to be found.
And that it is the opinion and settled belief of the Community where said Catherine & her Daughter (unmarried) reside, that her said Husband had been in service as by her declared and set forth - that she and her children,

are respectable and truthful persons, and entitled to credit for truth and veracity. Said Jacob A. Haggens & wife whose affidavits were subsequently taken, live some distance from said Catharine, though in the same county, and are persons of truth & honor.
That Deponent has made enquiry for public or private record of her marriage, but has not been able to find any, and believes that no such record exists.
Sworn subscribed before me W. S. Johnson this Eight day of July 1838. and I certify W. S. Johnson to be a man of truth By J. Stewart Justice of the Peace
New-Jersey Sussex County ss.
I Lyman Edwards Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Benjamin Stewart Esquire whose genuine signature is affixed to the foregoing affidavit, was at the time of making the same a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned & sworn
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County this (Eighth) day of July A.D. 1838
Lyman Edwards Clerk

State of New Jersey.
I Thomas S. Allison Register of the Prerogative Court of the State of New Jersey, now holden at the City of Trenton in and for said State, do hereby Certify, that satisfactory evidence has this day been exhibited to said Court that Conrad Keller and sometimes called Geller, was a native of the State of Pennsylvania and resided in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey and died near the City of Trenton in the State of New Jersey in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty five, on the thirteenth day of September; that he left a widow whose name is Catherine Keller or Geller.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this twenty fifth day of November A. D. 1857.
Thos. S. Allison Register

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Kellar, George GRADE ? Artillery LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9769 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 16, 1795 To — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.