Other Court: George Wertz, 1835: Napier Twp, Bedford Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jeff Rinscheid, Mary Crisman, Rhonda Neibauer, Nancy Peche, Margo Knepp, Carson Brown, Eilene Moore, Charlotte Armour, and other Wertz researchers. jrinscheid@lucent.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. _____________________________________________________________________ George Wertz (Sr.) Revolutionary War Pension Affidavit National Archives R 11329 State of Pennsylvania ) ) SS Bedford County ) On this 30th day of January A.D. 1835, personally appeared in open court, before The Hon. Alexander Thomson President and his associates Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting George Wertz a resident of Napier Township in the County of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania, aged eighty-two years, who first being duly sworn doth on his oath, make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States and served as herein stated, to wit: In the year 1778 when the Indians were harassing the frontier settlements and particularly the people of Bedford County, applicant with a number of other men volunteered his services for the defence of his fellow citizens. That his services commenced in the early part of the above mentioned year, and continued until fall including a period of four months. That the duties of the volunteers were guarding the Fort at Bedford to which the families of the settlers came for safety during the summer season, scouting through the County and spying after the Indians, and marching to any place threatened with danger, at any time for all occasions. That during the years seventy nine, eighty, & eighty one, he was engaged in similar duties, and twice he went to guard pack horses (carrying military stores to Pittsburg) as far as Ligonier beyond the Allegheny. That during said services he often assisted to bury those killed by the Indians, on one occasion going upwards of twenty five miles to perform that duty. Applicant states that he was thus engaged for four months in each year during the years mentioned, and that he was during said time under the command of Captain Samuel Davidson. That he was born in Germany on the 4th day of June, 1752 and was about nine years of age when he came to America & That he has in his possession a record of his age. That he was about twenty four or five years of age when he entered the service in Bedford County which was he believes by volunteering he may have been enrolled in the militia but from his [advanced (?)] age cannot plainly remember. He never had a discharge. Applicant further states that he omitted to say in the [cau_e_ _ _ment ?] of his declaration that in the year 1776 he lived in the State of Maryland, and volunteered to go with Captain Cressup of Old Town, who had been selected by the inhabitants of the western part of Pennsylvania to come to their assistance against the Indians. That they marched from Old Town to Brownsville, Penna and from thence up the river to muddy creek where they found the trail of the Indians; That from there they pursued as far as the Ohio River about twenty four miles below Wheeling. They there crossed the river & marched on into the country until they passed the [Moravian?] towns, when they came upon the Indian towns, three of which they burned [in?] Snake tow n, Logans town, & [Wappatomika?] and destroyed about three hundred & fifty acres of corn. The towns were situated on the Muskingum River. After burning the towns etc. they returned home having been engaged in said expedition about six months at least & the time was longer. He does not know of anyone living who can testify as to this portion of his service. That he lived in Bedford County when in engaged in service in 1778, and has lived in said County every since. That there is not any clergyman whose testimony he can procure. That Daniel Lybarger & William Clark can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services and that Thomas Vickroy Esq, Wm Frasier, & George Bowen can testify as to his services. That he hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn & subscribed ) his the day & year aforesaid ) George Wertz Job Mann Prothy mark Pennsylvania ) Bedford County ) SS We David Lybarger and William Clark residing in Bedford County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Wertz who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing declaration. That we believe him to be eighty two years of age; That he is reputed & believe in the [ ? } (THIS APPEARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST PAGE SENT AND APPEARS TO BE INCOMPLETE. WHAT THE REMAINDER OF THE AFFIDAVIT SAYS IS UNKNOWN.)