Allegany County MD Archives Biographies.....Michael KERSHNER, 1751 - April 1826 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jack M. Reid jamarei@bellsouth.net October 30, 2010, 2:18 pm Source: Records of service in Revolutionary War Author: Unknown History of Michael Kershner S. 34947 From the records of his service in the Revolutionary War: Michael volunteered at Baltimore, Md July 16, 1776. He was listed as a private his entire 3 year enlistement. He was discharged July 16, 1779. His payroll and muster roll isn't continuous between these dates but some of the slips were not dated. He was assigned to the third vacant company in the German Regiment of the Continental Forces in the Service of the United States, Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig Weltner. This regiment was designated at various times as Captain Graybell's 3rd vacant and Captain Christian Myer's Company. This organization was formed in compliance with Resolutions of Congress of May 25, and June 27, 1776 which provided that a battalion of Germans be raised for the service of the United Colonies, and that four companies be raised in Pennsylvania and four companies in Maryland. The organization was disbanded by Resolution of Congress of October 3, 1780, which provided that the non- commisioned officers and the privates be incorporated with the troops of their respective states. Those not belonging to any particular state to be annexed to such Corps as the Commander-in-Chief should direct. By May of 1777 this regiment was commanded by Colonel Baron Arendt and Michael was assigned to the light infantry. In November of 1777 his regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig Weltner. In April 1778 he was in Valley Forge at headquarters. In June 1778 he was in Camp Second River and in July was at Camp White Plains. In October, he was in Camp Fishkill. All of these stated he was on command in the light infantry. After the war (in Allegany County, Md.): On May 31, 1814, Michael purchased lot #269 in Cumberland, Md. The purchase included all existing buildings and cost $600.00. On April 20, 1818, Michael applied before the Fifth Judicial District of Maryland for pension relief as provided by law. He stated that he was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Bandywine, Germantown (Philadelphia) and Monmouth. He stated his age as being 67 and his wife's as 57. He also stated he was a shoemaker by trade but because of Rheumatism he was only able to make 3 pair of shoes a week if he could buy or get the leather. Sometimes, because of this rheumatism, he was unable to work when he wanted to. He also said his widowed daughter lived with him and she had four children. (This would have been Catherine - see below.) He was granted a pension at the rate of eight dollars a month beginning March 4, 1819. On September 29, 1823, he made his will: He made his wife, Mary, a life estate and upon her death the property was to be divided thus: To his daughter, Mary Reid, one half of the lot and buildings and one half of the tract called the "Shades of Death" which contained 71 acres. Should she not survive, her half share was to go to the Reid children naming George, Ann, Peter, Thomas, James and Cecelia. The other half share was to go to his other daughter's children naming George, John, Upton and Alexander Hanson Lowdermilk. (Catherine had either died or remarried.) This will was probated April 15, 1826. The executors were Michael's wife Mary and Martin Rizer. Additional Comments: "Shades of Death" was to the west of Cumberland, Md and is mentioned in the accounts of the French and Indian War. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mdfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/md/allegany/bios/kershner-m.txt