Pension application for Jesse Hoshal (September 25, 1818)

Transcribers note: Jesse is thought by many to be an ancestor to the Oshel family. The copy I transcribed has passages that were unreadable and were noted as such. By reviewing the battles he was in that were noted here, Valley Forge was also included by another article I had read but have not yet come across again. I believe we could have seen Jesse crossing the Delaware with General Washing during that terrible winter of December 1776. It is of interest to note that Jesse was in a German speaking regiment that was formed by the Continental Congress in a resolution sponsored by Ben Franklin to fight the Hessian troops, as the Hessian had a terrible reputation and many soldiers feared fighting them. In reality, the Hessian were like our soldiers in Vietnam, far away from home and fighting in a war that they did not belong in. Most Hessian though were mercenaries.

Rodney Oshel

STATE OF MARYLAND – CITY OF BALTIMORE (UNREADABLE)

On this 25^th day of September in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally appeared before me the undersigned Jesse Hoshal, a resident of Baltimore County, aged sixty (unreadable) years and upwards, an applicant for a pension under the late act of Congress, entitled “An Act to Provide for Certain Persons Engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War,” and then and there made the following declaration on oath, by me administering that he enlisted in Frederickstown in said state, about the month of July 1776 under Captain Fister, there mustering under Major (unreadable) in the German battalion then commanded by Colonel Stricker marched from Vence under said officer, to the barracks in Philadelphia, when Colonel Housacker took the command. After various movements, was present and took part in the Battle of Trenton and assisted in capturing the Hessian in the month of December same year, about which time Captain Fister resigned and Lieutenant (unreadable) was promoted to the command of the company under (unreadable) continues to serve until discharged at (unreadable) in the state of Pennsylvania, in July 1779, by Captain Bernard, who at that time had the command of the remaining troops of the German regiment or battalion which discharged he left at Annapolis some time afterwards, that in addition to the battle mentioned he was (unreadable) and engaged in Monmouth Courthouse, and many others of inferior note, during the period of three years service. That there are the City or County of Baltimore within his knowledge, but know of several belonging to same regiment particularly present, where (unreadable) take leave to offer as evidence of the truth of the aforegoing declaration. That he hath not heretofore ever received a pension of any kind and in consequence of his reduced circumstance he needs the assistance of his country for support.