1845 Stampless Letter Revolutionary War Pension Emmitsburg MD Wax Seal For Sale

Original 1845 stampless folded letter concerning Revolutionary War military service, a widow’s pension and possible entitlement to additional compensation or bounty land.

The letter was written at Taneytown, Maryland, on May 25, 1845, and signed by Andrew Sholl. It was folded to form its own mailing cover and bears a faint red circular Emmitsburgh, Maryland postmark, apparently dated May 26, together with a manuscript postal-rate marking and a substantial remnant of the original red wax seal.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION CONTENT

The writer asks the recipient to obtain official certificates documenting the military service of Daniel Childs. According to the letter, Childs served as both a private and sergeant under several officers, including his father, Joseph Childs, Captain Lyon and Captain Manning.

The letter then discusses the widow of Thomas Keck, stating:

“Thomas Keck’s widow has obtained her Pension for his Service…”

The writer reports that Keck served as a private and sergeant and may also have served approximately one year as a commissary. He asks whether that additional service entitled the family to more compensation.

Another important passage asks:

“Please to Examine the Records of the War Office—and give me Information how to proceed to obtain same.”

The writer also asks whether Thomas Keck was entitled to land, apparently referring to a military bounty-land entitlement.

Taneytown, 25th May 1845

Sir,

I wish you to procure me Certificates of the Service
of Daniel Childs who served as a Private & Sergeant
under his Father Joseph Childs, who [is supposed] to be in Capt.
Lyon’s & Wm. H. [Chester’s] Regt. for one year. Likewise
under Capt. Manning 2 years—that is in this last Case
sent higher—

Yours Respectfully,
Andrew Sholl

N.B.

Thomas Keck’s widow has obtained her Pension
for his Service under Capt. Durkee & Capt. [Shentbury?], as a
Private & Sergeant. She says that he served about one year as
Commissary. If so he would be entitled to More Pay. Please to Exam-
ine hither, so Let Me no—

[Find whether] Thomas Keck is entitled to land—Please to Examine the
Records of the War Office—and give me Information how to
proceed to obtain same.

And I shall forth Coming.

1846

Day Book, p. 455, Capt. Lyon
Day Book, p. 459, Capt. Manning
Book of Drafts, p. 47, Capt. Manning’s Bill

Mr. Cumberland
P.O. Emmitsburgh
Maryland

Red circular Emmitsburgh postmark, apparently May 26.

Andrew Sholl
Pension Childs
May 1845

Words enclosed in brackets are interpretive readings where the handwriting is unclear. The readings of Daniel Childs, Joseph Childs, Thomas Keck, Captain Lyon, Captain Manning, Andrew Sholl, Taneytown and the May 25, 1845 date appear reasonably class=\"isSelectedEnd\">HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The date and language strongly indicate that the correspondence concerns Revolutionary War pension claims. Federal laws enacted in 1836, 1838, 1843 and 1844 expanded or extended pensions for widows of Revolutionary War veterans. This letter was written less than a year after the pension legislation of June 17, 1844.

A searchable pension or military record conclusively identifying Thomas Keck under that exact spelling has not yet been located. His surname could appear in surviving records under a spelling variation such as Heck, Koch or Kock. Nevertheless, the letter itself is direct contemporary evidence that his widow had obtained a military pension and that additional Revolutionary War service and land entitlement were being investigated.

ARCHIVAL RESEARCH NOTATIONS

Later handwritten research notes at the bottom appear to reference government military accounting records:

• Day Book, page 455, Captain Lyon
• Day Book, page 459, Captain Manning
• Book of Drafts, page 47, Captain Manning’s bill

These notations may have been added by a former owner or researcher attempting to locate the service and payment records discussed in the letter.

POSTAL FEATURES

• Original stampless folded letter
• Written at Taneytown, Maryland
• Dated May 25, 1845
• Red Emmitsburgh, Maryland circular postmark
• Apparent May 26 postmark date
• Manuscript postal-rate marking
• Original red wax-seal remnant
• Integral address panel
• Signed by Andrew Sholl

An appealing historical research piece for collectors of Revolutionary War pensions, military bounty-land claims, early federal military records, Maryland postal history, stampless covers, genealogy and nineteenth-century correspondence.

The precise reading of some names and words remains uncertain because of the period handwriting. Please examine all photographs carefully. A transcription will be included with the item.