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Original documents associated with

"Names of the Persons who took the Oath of Allegiance

to the State of Pennsylvania 1777 - 1789,

with a history of the "Test laws" of Pennsylvania"

By: Brian Geverd

The 1865 publication "Names of Persons who took the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania, between the years 1777 and 1789, with a history of the "Test laws" of Pennsylvania" by Thompson Westcott (Philadelphia: John Campbell, 1865) contains the names of a significant number of British and German auxiliary soldiers. The book is a transcription of names, circumstances and occupations of the individuals that swore the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania before Judge Plunkett Fleeson of Philadelphia. Fleeson, also known as "Squire Fleeson", was the "President Judge of the City Court".

The original documents from which the Westcott book was transcribed can be found at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP), 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699. The documents are preserved as a 2 volume "manuscript" that contains actual signatures and marks (if the individual was illiterate). The manuscript (referenced here http://discover.hsp.org/Record/hsp.ead.at01-Am.285/Description#tabnav ) is titled "Oaths of Allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania 1778-1788". The manuscript's HSP Call Number is Am.285. The call number is for both volumes, each volume being individually boxed. All one needs to do isvisit the HSP, fill out a Call Slip with the title and call number and both boxed volumes will be carted to your research table in less than 20 to 30 minutes. Volume 2 contains the majority (if not all) of the British and German auxiliary names. If your ancestor is in the Westcott book (digital version here https://archive.org/details/namesofpersonswh00west), then rest assured the corresponding original exists at the HSP. If, for example, you find your ancestor in the Wetscott chapter marked "SECOND BOOK" then their corresponding original record will be in the HSP box marked Am.285 "Volume 2".

It is important to note that the index of the Westcott book digitized at archive.org is incomplete and stops with "Sparks, Henry". However, you can simply read the entire book as it certainly contains surnames that go beyond Sparks. If your surname comes after Sparks up through Z and you do not want to read the book, you can reference the book's data based surnames at Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3235 ). You may need to account for misspellings or variations by using "sounds like" filters etc.

The manuscript can only be viewed at the HSP. If you live within visiting distance of the HSP then by all means, GO! It will be a profound experience to see, touch and smell (yes, the manuscripts have an amazing sweet musty smell!) a document that your ancestor actually touched. Plan your trip accordingly as the HSP has limited weekday hours and is closed on Mondays and weekends ( http://hsp.org/plan-your-visit/library-hours-and-admission ). If you do not live within visiting distance of the HSP, they do provide research and copying services ( http://hsp.org/collections/library-services/research-by-mail ).

Below are a few examples I photographed of Am.285 "Volume 2" at the HSP. For reference, I have included the corresponding pages of the Westcott book ("SECOND BOOK" chapter, pages 84 and 85). When compared, it is obvious that the Westcott book was transcribed from the HSP's originals. In fact there are penciled notes on the first pages of the manuscript that indicate it was used "in Campbell's printed copy" (Campbell being the publisher). The photographs and the screen shot of the corresponding Westcott book pages relate to my ancestor (Christian Keavort in oath; Christian Giebert in HETRINA) and the records of individuals that surround him. Of course, your ancestor may not necessarily be found on these examples.

Examples

"Names of Persons who took the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania, between the years 1777 and 1789,

with a history of the "Test laws" of Pennsylvania" Page 84;

1782 August 14 Christian Keavort (left side, 3rd record from bottom) followed by

George Anderson, John Miller. Page 85: John Semple, Peter Franses, George Burnhouse, John Spalter etc.

click image to enlarge

Corresponding records in the original manuscript;

1782 August 14 Christian Keavort (Keavert) (first record at top) followed by

George Anderson, John Miller, John Semple, Peter Franses, George Burnhouse, John Spalter etc., all in the same order as the Westcott book.

click image to enlarge

Detail of record above

click image to enlarge

Oath of record, with the name of Plunkett Fleeson below

click image to enlarge

TERM PDF as used by John Merz is not an Adobe electronic file, it is Personal Data File for an individual soldier.

PLEASE READ

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Last updated: March 27, 2006 .

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