Johann Heppener, Pension File, Non-Selected Documents

Source: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files: Hepburn, Peter – Herington, Benjamin. National Archives Microfilm Publications (Washington: 1969). Microcopy No. 804, Roll 1258.

John Heppener, New Jersey, S43656

Nonselected Records

FRAME 1:

[written on left side] 1922, Sept 14 Letter to Mrs. Elias Davis

date of death, last payment etc - -

43656

INVALID

Revy

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File No. 43656

John Heppener

Prv Rev War

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Act: 18" March 18"

Index:--Vol. 5, Page 221

[Arrangement of 1870.]

FRAME 2:

This pensioner's property was valued at $150,25 -- (no real estate)

Age 63 -- in health --

wife 50 -- infirm --

John -- 14

Densey -- 12 } in health.

Served three years.

Report to County Clerk

FRAME 3:

[stamped received] AUG 22 1922, U. S. PENSION OFFICE

367 King's Highway W.

Haddonfield, N.J.

Aug. 19, 1922

Mr. Washington Gardner

Washington, D.C.

My dear Mr. Gardner,

Your reply to my letter of June 18th received August 11th and contents noted[.]

I have a letter from the Adjutant General of N.J. Mr. Frederick Gilkyson, also a letter from Mr. Robert C. Davis of the Adjutant General's Office Washington D.C. telling me that John Hepner or John Heppener one spelling

FRAME 4:

John Hepner filed claim for pension under the name John Heppener (Invalid No. 43656) the original of which is filed at the Bureau of Pensions in Washington.

The name being German I can easily understand why it may have been spelled different at different times. I am very desirious to know the date the pension stopped for this man. I know he rode [carat insert] on horse back [end carat insert] from Bridgeton[,] Cumberland Co. N.J. to Philadelphia to bank about the year 1804 an was never heard from. The family supposed he was killed. The society

FRAME 5:

of the Daughters of the American Revolution do not take tradition so I will greatly appreciate it if you will send me date the pension stopped and I will gladly pay you for your trouble if you will send me bill.

In General Stryker's book Men of the Revolution this man's name is given as John Hepner on page 211 and no name as John Heppener is given in the list. He enlisted as Private, Captain Anthony Sharp's Eighth Company, Colonel Elias Dayton's Third Regiment, First Establishment

FRAME 6:

New Jersey Continental Line, February 23, 1776, for one year; mustered at Toconderoga, New York November 23, 1776, reenlisted as Private, Captain Samuel Flaningam's Company, Colonel Dayton's Third Regiment, New Jersey Continental Line Jan. 20, 1777; was at battle of Short Hills, N.J. June 26, 1777 and in engagement in Staten Island, N.Y. where he was wounded in the shoulder; (Captain Flaningam resigned and was succeeded by Captain Joseph Inslu Anderson Oct. 26, 1777) on rolls Aug. 1, 1780 and Jan 1[,] 1781[;] discharged May 1783 - close of the Revolutionary War.

Thanking you for an early reply.

Very truly yours ..

(Mrs. Elias) Margaret S. Davis

FRAME 7:

To the Hon. J. C. Calhoun Secretary at War ___

The undersigned would Respectfully point the Attention of the Secretary to the Case of John Heppener late a Revolutionary Pensioner.

Mr. H. is an aged, poor man & so crippled That he is unable to Labor. His Inventory of Property We understand was about $125, While at the same time he owed about $150. In the Paying of which he has been necessarily stripped of nearly all the little Property he had, leaving a Balance still due to his Creditor. He stated That he was wounded by a Musket Ball from the Enemy while fighting for his Country in the year 1777. From our Personal knowledge of Mr. Heppener & his Circumstances We have no hesitation in Recommending him as a Proper Subject for the Bounty of his Country & his Case as worthy of Revisal by the Hon. Secretary at War.

If consistent We should be happy to see Mr. Heppener reinstated upon the Pension list Roll.

Dated at Sackets Harbor August 1, 1821.

Elisha Camp

[witten small at bottom of page] In Capt. Woolseys Certificate try the other side

FRAME 8:

I have known the within named John Heppener above the span of ten years and that he is an honest and industrious but poor man[,] that he bears the character of a man of strict veracity and I have no doubt of the correctness of the within statement.

[signature] M[???]

FRAME 9:

Jefferson County ss. John Heppener being duly Sworn doth depose and say That in the Payment of Part of the Debts he owed as by his Inventory transmitted to the Hon. Secretary at War, he has delivered to the Creditor 1 yoke of Cattle, 9 Sheep, One Cow, One 2 year old Bull, 1 Two Year old Heifer which were included in his Inventory, So that all the Stock he now owns is merely, One Cow, One Calf & Nine Sheeps. That this Deposa[?] has not added to his Personal Property or otherwise since in any Particulars, But has been obliged to part with many articles for his Support. That he is a Cripple & unable to Labor. That he was wounded in the Right Shoulder which has ever since been disabled, by Skirmishing with the Enemy in the Revolutionary War.

[signature] Johann Heppener

Sworn this 1" day of August 1821 Before me}

[???] Allen Justice of the Peace

FRAME 10:

[mail address for following letter]

Sackets Harbor Free

Oct 27

Honorable John C. Calhoun

Sec of War Department

City of Washington

[noted on side] Recd 4 Nov

FRAME 11:

Sacketts Harbor

October 26th 1820

Honorable John C. Calhoun

Dear Sir

I must rely on your goodness to excuse me for intruding upon your notice the closing of an old Revolutionary Soldier who informs me that you have decided to strike his name from the Pension list in consequence of his having more property than the law contemplates should be preferred by Pensioning. allow me to aprise your hon. that I should not in any case attempt to alter your judgement but in the hope that a mistake is some department has been the cause of your decision in this case, as to any knowledge very few worthy cases exist than the one now under consideration. John Heppener aged sixty four years who served six years in the 3d Regt New Jersey lines and untill the close of the war was in several Battles, was wounded in the Expedition on Staten Island under General Sullivan in the shoulder; and is now a Cripple and unable to labor by reason of the same wound was returned by our Common Pleas Court as having in his possesion property to the amount of $125.50 but who owes at least double that amount and is liable to have even that little taken from him for the Payment of his debts, is an honest worthy citizen and every way in need of assistance from his government is the

FRAME 12:

Person to which I allude, and I sincerely hope in that you will take them duly out a second time into consideration and that it will enable you to relieve the necessities of a worthy old Patriot. The notice he received was dated July 19th 1820 No 17370 and signed J. L. Edward.

I have the honor

to remain with more

Sincere Respect your

most Obedient Servant

Wm[???]

FRAME 13:

Rev. War Section.

September 14, 1922.

Mrs. Elias Davis,

367 King's Highway, W.

Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Madam:-

In response to your letter dated August 19, 1922, you are advised that for the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and date of soldier's death, you should apply to the Pension Section, Interior Department Division, General Accounting Office, 1800 E. Street, N. W., Washington, D. C., citing all of the following data:-

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Very respectfully,

Commissioner.