Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5550, for John Kessler, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Navy
Koessler John
S. 5550
Pennsylvania Agency and residence.
carded
CONTENTS

Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 4 th April 1838, from the 1 st Oct 1839 to 1 st March 1840 the day of his death. A. G. Nicholson March 1841.
Pennsylvania 30899
John Kessler 30899
Philad. Co. in the State of Penn.
who was a Midshipman mate in the command.
by Captain D. N of the command.
in the U.S. Navy
time for 20 months Midshipman 120
4 "Mates Mate 30
$150
scribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
the rate of 150 Dollars — Cents per annum.
commence on the 4 th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of Dec.
1836 and sent to Commissioner 1836 Present
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept. '36. $825.00
Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 st Mar '37. 75.00
$900.00
{ Revolutionary Act June 7, "
Recorded by D. Brown
Book E 2. Vol. 5 Page 35

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office, February 3 d , 1841.
Sir :
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Executor of John Reissler, dec d ... a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of One hundred fifty Dollars and Cents per annum, under the law of the 4 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1839, to the 17 th March 1840. the day of his death.
Respectfully yours,
William H. Harrison
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

App 10 P. 1
No 7.5

State of Pennsylvania County of Philadelphia
On this Fifth day of December 1836 personally appeared before the Records Court, for the Incorporate District of the Northern Liberties, and the Districts of Spring Garden, and Kensington, in the County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania: in open Court, John Keyser a resident of the Northern Liberties in the County and State aforesaid aged 75 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 7 th 1832. That on the 28 th day of November in the year 1780 he entered as a Midshipman on board the Continental Frigate Alliance John Barry Esq r Commander then lying at Boston in the State of Massachusetts. That he served as a Midshipman on board said Frigate to the 9 th of December 1782 and from which time he served as a Masters Mate to the conclusion of the Revolutionary War and was discharged from said Frigate then at Providence in the State of Rhode Island in the month of April 1783. That for injury received by him while acting as a Midshipman aforesaid he in the year 1794 applied for a pension and having produced the requisite Vouchers and Proofs of his service as a Midshipman aforesaid and the injury received he was placed on the Pension Roll of the Pennsylvania Agency at twenty dollars per annum and which he received until by Act of Congress passed the 16 th of April 1816 his said Pension was raised to thirty two dollars per annum and which last amount he has received to the 4 th of September last. That the papers upon which he was pensioned as aforesaid (it is said) were destroyed either in the Year 1801 or 1814 when the War Office was burnt and it is now required of him to produce new Vouchers of his service and Station on board the said Frigate before he can receive the benefit of the provision made by Act of Congress passed the 7 th of June 1832. The Declarant says That he has no knowledge of any person living who has personal knowledge of the Declarants service and Station on board the said Frigate. That the best Proofs which the Declarant can produce are contained in the several papers herewith attached three of which are signed by John Barry and the handwriting of said Signatures verified by the deposition of Patrick Hayes herewith annexed and who also deposeth that the name of

the Declarant appears in the Books and Papers of Said Barrys estate as a Midshipman on board the Said Frigate Alliance That the Declarant has seen a Report made by the Honourable John Trumbull late Secretary at War on the 31 st of May 1813 to the House of Representatives relative to the Invalid Pensioners of the United States in which Report the name of the Declarant as a Midshipman doth appear. That during the service of the Declarant as aforesaid the said Frigate was variously employed she sailed from Boston on the 11 th of February 1781 conveying Colonel Lawrence (the Younger) on an Embassy from Congress and also Major Jackson Secretary of Legation Thomas Paine the noted Political writer in the Revolution was also a Passenger on board she arrived at L'Orient on the 10 th of March following. On her return passage she captured two British Privateers two Merchantmen and on the 28 th of May two Sloops of War and with which last two she had an action of more than 2 hours continuance and in which action Captain Barry was severely wounded among the Crew eleven were killed and a number wounded. On the Frigates arrival at Boston Captain Barry despatched the Declarant to Philadelphia for M rs Barry and on which occasion he gave the Declarant the paper herewith attached dated at Boston June 12 th 1781 certifying the Declarant to be a Midshipman on board the Alliance and to have passed unopposed to Philadelphia. The Alliance wanting very considerable repairs remained in Boston harbour until the 25 th day of December 1781 when she sailed having the Marquis de La Fayette on board and who was to be conveyed with all possible despatch to France and arrived at L'Orient on the 18 th of January 1782. After waiting some time for Despatches from D r Franklin to Congress she again sailed and arrived at New London in the State of Connecticut on the 13 th day of May 1782 and on the 4 th of August following she sailed on a cruise during which she captured seven Vessels four of which were heavily laden and bound from Jamaica to Glasgow they were all ordered to proceed to L'Orient in France and arrived there in company with the Frigate on the 18 th of October 1782. The Declarant being Master of one of the Said Prizes received from Captain Barry the Instructions contained in the paper attached hereto dated at sea on board the Alliance 28 th Sept r .

1782 and also another paper purporting to be the private signals between the said Barry and the Declarant in the case of their separating and meeting again. On the 9 th of December 1782 the Alliance Sailed from St Orient again on a cruise during which she went into the harbour of St. Pierre in the Island of Martinico where Captain Barry found orders for proceeding to the Havana to take in Specie for the United States and accordingly she sailed to the Havana and after taking a large quantity of Specie on board she in company with the Continental Ship the Suzanne of about twenty guns sailed for Philadelphia. On the passage three British Frigates gave chase one of which Capt d Barry permitted to come up and engage for about 45 minutes when the enemys Ship being very much shattered declined any further contest and joining her consorts made sail From the Alliance in consequence of a French 50 gun Ship being in sight. On arriving at the Cape of Delaware a British Ship of Sixty-four guns gave chase and compelled the Alliance to leave the Cape and on the 25 th of March 1783 she arrived at Providence in the State of Rhode Island and where the Declarant and all the crew were discharged from the Frigate (Peace being proclaimed.) — The foregoing facts are all fresh in the memory of the Declarant but for most of the dates of their occurarance he is indebted to the remains of his Journals and Notes kept by him while on board said Frigate. The Declarant is 75 years of age and a native of the City of Philadelphia and that in the years 1779 and 1780 he went several voyages from Philadelphia to the West Indies on the last of which he was captured by the British and carried to Jamaica from whence he made his escape and got to Boston where he entered the Frigate Alliance he now resides in the Northern Liberties in the County of Philadelphia and has resided there for more than forty four years last past and he hereby relinquishes every claim 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 except only on that of the Agency in the State of Pennsylvania
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
W. S. Anna Remover
J. H. S. Lee

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named ap- -plicant - was a Midshipman on board the Frigate Alliance in the Revolutionary War and served as he states.
R.W. L. Cunnane Recorder.
I Thomas Coates Clerk of the Recorders Court for the Incorporated District of the Northern Liberties and the Districts of Spring Garden and Kensington do hereby Certify that the foregoing con- -tains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the applica- -tion of John Kessler a Midshipman on Board the Frigate Alliance in the Revolutionary War for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this fifth day of December Anno Domini One Thousand Eight hundred and Thirty Six.
W. L. Cunnane
Clerk

State of Pennsylvania City of Philadelphia } ss
On this twenty sixth day of November 1836 personally appeared before William Melvroy Esq m , one of the Aldermen of the city of Philadelphia. Captain Patrick Hays, surviving Executor of the Last Will and Testament of Commodore John Barry Esq m deceased; And on his solemn oath administered according to law, doth depose and say, that he is well acquainted with the hand writing of the said John Barry, and that the signatures to three several papers, hereto annexed are the proper hand writing of said John Barry; that the said papers being 1 st a one dated Boston 12 th June 1781 purporting to be a pass for John Kessler, Midshipman on board of the Alliance, from thence to Philadelphia. 2 ly a paper dated at sea on board the Alliance, 28 th Sept r 1782, purporting to be Instructions to said John Kessler, how to proceed with the Vessel and Cargo of, which he was Prize Master; and 3 ly a paper purporting to be the signals established by said Barry, in case of said Kessler separating and meeting again, of said Barry. And the deponent doth further say, that among the Books and Papers belonging to the said estate of John Barry deceased the name of John Kessler doth appear as a Midshipman on board the frigate Alliance, under the command of said John Barry, in the Revolutionary War.
Sworn & subscribed before me this 26 th day of Nov r 1836 William Melvroy
Ald m
Patrick Hays

Johannes (John) Kephler, a lawfull son of Leon Kephler and his wife Anna Maria, was born on the ten first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one, and baptized on the fourth October in the same year. Sponsors were Johannes Weitich and his wife Elisabeth.
That the above is a true copy from the Records German Lutheran Congregation of St. Michaels & in and near the City of Philadelphia, I certify with hand and seal.
Philadelphia Nov: 28 th 1836.
Chs. R. Lemme Pastor of the said Cong.

I, John Goodman, a Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by lawful authority duly commissioned & affirmed, residing in the Northern Liberties County of Philadelphia, Do hereby certify, to all whom it doth, & may concern, that the Revd. Charles A. Demme, whose name is subscribed, to the foregoing Certificate, relative to the Baptism of John Heiler - resident in the Northern Liberties, County aforesaid, was at the time of subscribing the same, now is a Pastor of the German Lutheran Congregation, of St. Michael's Church, near the City of Philadelphia, and that full faith & credit is, and ought to be given to his official acts as such. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed my official Seal to these presents. Done at Philadelphia the third day of November A. D. 1836.
J. Goodman N.P.
3

State of Pa. P Commonwealth of Pennsylvania County of Philadelphia S.S.
Be it known, that on the day, of the date hereof, - Before the "Recorders Court, for the District of the Northern Liberties & the District of Spring Garden, and Kensington", personally came John Goodman Esq. one of the Aldermen for the District of the Northern Liberties, - County aforesaid, and a member of the Court aforesaid, and who being duly affirmed according to law, did declare & say, that he has been well acquainted with John Kessler Esq. resident in the said Northern Liberties, upwards of forty years last past, that he always understood, that the said John Kessler was pensioned by the United States, for injuries received, while acting as a Midshipman, in the revolutionary War, on board of the Frigate "Alliance", under the command of John Barry Esq. - and that the declarations made by said Kessler for the purpose of receiving his said pension, were for a considerable time past sworn to, and subscribed by said Kess- ler, before this affiant: and that the said declarations were uniformly in the proper hand writing of the said John Kessler, with the exception of several, of recent dates.
Affirmed & subscribed before me this 5 th day of December A.D. 1830
J. Goodman
Rev. J. Thomas Reuder

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.     Nov. 26, 1780 Dec. 9, 1782 Midshipman John Barry on Continental frigate Alliance Albany   Jan. 7, 1782 Apr. 1783 Midshipman   Having several engagements with British ships and vessels, I British vessels, I was taken prisoner and was also taken prisoner from America.   Widow was discharged from ship H. 1793 for injury of middle finger of left hand.  
Battles engaged in, see above
Residence of soldier at enlistment, see above
Date of application for pension, Dec. 5, 1836
Residence at date of application, Philadelphia, Penn.
Age at date of application, born Sept. 1752 at Philadelphia, Penn.
Remarks:
Soldier was the son of Richard and Mary (nee Candler) and was taken prisoner by the British on the last day of the war, escaped and went to Boston and entered as above.

John Brown To: New York
C. File 5550 John Kessler. Navy

Boston 12 June 1781
To all whom it may Concern
Permit the bearer Mr John Kessler who is a Midshipman on board the Alliance and a friend to his Country to pass from hence to Philadelphia un- molested
John Barry Cpt (of the Alliance)

85-550

604 N. McKinley Ave Canton, Ohio Feb 26/1911
Pension Dept - Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs, -
Will you please let me know what the war records show in reference to the service of John Kessler who was I believe granted a pension in 1794 I want to know for genealogy purposes
Yours truly Mrs R. B. Davis

1897 - History to Richard Rush Naval War Rec's. Navy Dept. City.
"99. M. Kessler, Phila, Pa. pieces of three orders by Comm. Barry in response to request. WTC Two orders signed dated Sept 28, 1782, one signed by Nichol Oct. 30, 1782 have been from this case and to the Navy Dept. (A)
INVALID.
File No. 5550  Navy John Kessler Midshipman Act: June 7 - 1832. Index: - Vol. 5 , Page 35
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Apr. 15- Mr. Ric Supt.
Jany. 27 Mr. J.
Nov 5/01 ordered to library as per his 1909 Mar. 19. By John Barry and one of E. Gardner removed forwarded. 1911 March 6 Hist. Soc. Mrs. K. B. Davis. V.L.M.

Rev. Nat.
1975
INVALID.
See Ser. F. 5550
File No. 1975
John Kepler Midshipman Navy Rec. H.
Act: Apl. 3d. 1822
Index:—Vol. a , Page 201
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Certify that I have this day examined John Kepler who is now on the pension roll of the State of Pennsylvania in consequence of an injury of the middle finger of his left hand; and that the disability is such that it cannot either in part or in whole be removed.
Joshua Moylan
Washington Sept 19 th 1829.

War Dep t
Pension Office,
Dec. 12. 1822.
Sir,
J. Webster an invalid of Pennsylvania, having never had a correct and formal Pension Certificate, Mr. Hickey is directed to issue one, and transfer the same to the Hon. Thomas Forrest, a member of the House of Representatives. am to be this as a voucher
J. L. Edwards

Permanently disabled. See Surgeon's certificate within and letter to N. Priddle, Pen n . Hert. Sept. 19. 1829.
See letter 31 Oct. 36 to B. J. G. Watmough.
Pennsylvania.
John Kiepler, Midshipman,
In the Navy of the Revolution
Inscribed on roll of Pa. at $1. 66 2 / 3 increased to $2. 66 2 / 3 per month by Law of 24 th April, 1822.
Formal certificate issued by or under authority within thir th 12. December, 1822 and sent to Hon: Thomas Forrest, House of Representatives.

Certificates issued between the 4th March and the 4th September are not payable until the 4th September. Those issued between the 4th September and 4th March are not payable before the 4th March. The stipend due to the within named Pensioner will be paid at Philadelphia by the President of the Bank of Philadelphia.
Drop his name from the Invalid Roll, and issue a certificate for him under the act of June 7. 1832
19 th & 8 mo. Midshipman 6 per 4 mo. Master's Mate 7.50 per mo.
Registered in Book B: Pensioners Vol. 7 page 27 by Present William Wickham Clerk.
Approved & countersigned by J. L. Edwards

WAR DEPARTMENT.
INVALID PENSION.
I CERTIFY That, in conformity with the Law of the United States,
John Kepler late a Midshipman in the Navy of the Revolution is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Pennsylvania Agency, at the rate of two & \frac{66\frac{2}{3}}{100} dollars per month, to commence on the day of one
thousand eight hundred and
to which his allowance was raised by the Law of the 24th of April 1816. To commence from the time to which he was last paid by the Agent.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this twelfth day of December one thousand eight hundred and twenty two .
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War.

In the year 1794 I was placed on the Pension list of the United States for personal injury received while serving on board the Continental Frigate Alliance John Barry Esq r Commander in the Revolutionary War - at 1\frac{2}{3} Dollars p r Month, and which I received at the Loan Office in Philada n every year untill 24 th April 1816 when by act of Congress of that date, it was raised to 2\frac{2}{3} Dollars p r Month, by new regulations at the Loan Office requiring a Copy of a Certificate from the War Office, and I never having had one, I wrote to the Secretary at War, who thereon transmitted me one, but in which it was erroneously stated, that I served in the Army of the United States, I therefore returned it and thereon the annexed Certificate was issued to me
J H Esler.

Phila a October 29 th 1859
266 3/4
Sir,
In the year 1794 I obtained a pension of $20 p n Annun from the United States, under the Act of Congress passed 28 th Feb y 1793 intitled "an Act to regulate the claims to Invalid Pensions", and which Pension became increased to $32 p n Annun by Act of Congress in the year 1816 or 1817, I have heretofore received my pension at the Loan Office in Phila a upon delivering an Affidavit as p t the one enclosed, there is however now a Certificate required of me from the War Office, and for the obtaining of which I am necessitated to give you the trouble of this communication, and to respectfully solicit you to cause the requist Certificate to be issued for me —
Am
Sir
Your Humble Servant
John R. Helsler
No 166 State Street
North Liberties
The Honorable John E. Calhoun Esq r
Secretary of War,