Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5815, for Joseph Keeffer, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Koetter, Joseph
R. 5815-
CONTENTS
[Faint, illegible handwriting on lined paper]
[Faint, illegible handwriting on lined paper]

30.216
Joseph Koffa Miponi
Surf
Million 25 Bismarck 1890

State of Missouri } County of Pettis } ss
On this tenth day of November eighteen hundred and thirty four personally appeared in Open Court before the Judge of the Circuit Court held within and for the County of Pettis aforesaid, Now sitting, Joseph Keffer of the County and State aforesaid aged eighty two years on the 15 th day of September last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Amended Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832,
That he enlisted some time in the year 1776, the precise time not now recollected for the term of six months in the company of a regular soldier from the County of Northumberland in the State of Pennsylvania, under Capt Joseph Alexander, by whom he was marched to the main Army on the banks of the Susquehanna under the command of Genl Sullivan consisting of ten thousand men with whom was Genl M c Call Genl Clinton and Genl H c Keyne prepared for Genl Sullivan's expedition - that he was there put under the command of Col d Lander (in Wyoming County) who had charge of the provision boats, upon which this declarant was put - and from there was marched up to Susquehanna River to

Lehigh River to a place called Shemong town where they had a skirmish with Indians, and burnt and destroyed their town - that they then returned to Wyoming County (Penn.) from thence to Harrisburgh where this declarant was discharged by his friend Capt Alexander which discharge he has since lost, after a six months term of service - That some time in the Spring of 1777 he again enlisted in the service as a regular soldier during the war from the same place under Capt John Robertson and Major Greenup's Lieut for the purpose of ranging upon the frontier, under state authority, there was three other companies besides the one to which he belonged, and one of the other companies was under a Capt Shrawent - & the others not now recollected - that he was under no higher officers, the business of his company with the 3 other companies being to range & guard the frontiers as they thought the most practicable That he was thus as a ranger engaged in the service U.S. until the close of the war, and was in two engagements with Indians during the time on the north branch of the Susquehanna, in one of which he received a wound on the leg (the shin), by a tomahawk thrown by an Indian (the scar is still visible) that in this town he served five years ranging as aforesaid, except for a short time when he was sent to Reading town to guard 800 prisoners (the 86 Indians), where he served as a guard at least three months, and that some time in the Spring of 1782

he was discharged by his said Capt. Robertson, which discharge he has since lost - & his declarant states with confident certainty that he served six months in his first said term of service and five years in his second said term of service, making in all five years & six months for which service he claims a Pension - & that he has no documentary evidence and persons of any person whom testimony he can prove and who can testify to his services -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of any Agency in any state -
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
his Joseph H. Keffer Mark
In the said Court does hereby declare its opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
John F. Ryland Vice Pres. of Pitts Circuit Court
I Amos Fristoe Clerk of the circuit court within and for the county of Pitts aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter

of the application of Joseph Hopper for a Pension, in testimony whereof I have unto set my hand and private Seal - there being no seal of office - this tenth day of November in the year of our Lord 1834
A. Foster clk

30. 216
Joseph Keffer Missouri 5815-
Push, Missouri i
J. Wilson Esq Boonville Missouri J. Wilson Esq Boonville Missouri-

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
8 th April 1834
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 Joseph Keffer
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1776 6 priv Capt. Alexander Gen Sullivan 81 years. Northumberland County Penn a   1777 5 Ranger Capt. Robertson Traditionary  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
This claim cannot be admitted without a strict compliance with the regulations as pointed out in Note 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, musicians 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 } ss. 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 county 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.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories 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 A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

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 expected. 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 character 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 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 to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional 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 inquiry 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, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a 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 procure, 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.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Suspended
See letter to John Wilson.
Boonville Mo.
18. March 1835 do 12 Aug t 1836.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
5-816-
P. O.
Joseph Keffner
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
REJECTED
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

St Helena Mo 3 Free July 187
Aug 11
No.
The Secretary of War
War Department Pension Bureau Washington City (D 6)

St. Helena Pottis County Mo July 18 th 1836
Dr Sir,
In consequence of the remote situation of Joseph Kiffer, it has been until now out of my power to attend to his application for a Pension, which has been filed in your Office with the Superannuated Pensions. He informs me, that there must be no error in his declaration, which he wishes may stand corrected. He says he served but two towns in the Revolution, to wit, the six months town & the five years town & pay - ing as set forth in his declaration - the third month town spoken of in your letter (here with enclosed) he has no recollection of, & if contained in his declaration must be an error . He has no further proof than that contained in his declaration, more than a reference to his application made for a Pension some time in the month of June 1818, now on file in your office, under a former law, which he informs me was rejected in consequence of his being unable to make oath that he was not worth $100 - as required by that law - his application made in June 1818, was sworn to before Gabriel Long in Cooper County, and his actual services in the revolution proven by three living witnesses, to wit, Nicholas Raunt

George Wheling, and Joseph Sipps, all of whom are now dead; a reference by you to his application in June 1818, and an examination of his proof therein, which now cannot be traced, may be sufficiently satisfactory to you, to grant him the benefit of the act of June 1832. — If he could obtain a pension now by virtue his application in June 1818, he is now able to make the required Oath — You will please give his application that consideration which is due to him, & inform him of the result. Through me at this place, & much oblige me, who, I can testify, has the appearance of a war-worn & weary march'd veteran of '76;
who bears to his grand, The mark of the broad.
I am respectfully
Yours &c
J. Nelson