Conjecture that Michael Stroup was in PA and could have seen the Federal goverrment put down the Whiskey Insurrection (1794, western PA):  This is false.  Militia forces were drawn from Eastern counties of PA, NJ, MD and VA; the former two states sent forces from the south into Bedford, PA while the former sent forces along a route through Carlisle to Bedford, PA.  The route of march of neither set of forces went through Huntingdon County, PA.  On the return, none of the forces returned and mustered out of service in along or in Huntingdon, PA.  It is possible that Michael Stroup (and presumably his family) is in Bedford County in 1794 (as Huntingdon County is made from a portion of Bedford County in 1796); though there is no proof found of this yet (census, tax records, land records or historical accounts of Bedford County).  Because of this last point, even though the initial conjecture is false, it still retains a little validity--albeit small.

 

Conjecture that Andrew Shafer came across the Stroup farm in PA, and thereby met his wife Martha, while with the MD militia performing duty during the Revolutionary war:  This is false.  The conjecture is based upon a posting at Ancestry.com that recounts the story that originally appeared in a letter given to a descendant. After finding Shafer's military records, he was indeed in the MD militia (joining one of the companies directed to be formed from Washington County, MD) from 1777-1780; the actual dates support him having married Martha in 1780 in MD.  However, his unit was involved in only 3 battles (2 in Eastern PA, 1 in NJ)--note:  various postings online say that Andrew fought at Bunker Hill and in a subsequent battle was wounded and mustered out with a disability (based on military records found, both are false).  Land and census records do not support a Stroup family in PA at this place and time for the letter.  There is a remote possibility that the Stroup family rented the farm (therefore no land record), that they were missed in the census counts, or are actually living in MD (of which there are two Stroups living in Washington County in the same area that Shafer would have).

 

 

 

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18MAR1794:  Land warrant given to Anthony Stroup in Huntingdon County, PA.  Note:  This shows that possibly Michael's brother or father was huntingdon when they should be.

Magdalena Stroup.  Note:  Only slightly useful since i am not sure if this is Michael's mother:

1779:  Taxed for ownership of cattle in Berks County.  PA Archives, Register of property of inhabitants of Berks County for Raising Supplies for year 1779.

1783-1784:  Taxed for cattle and land.  Northumberland County Tax list 1778-1788.

Adam Stroup.  Note:  Only slightly useful since I have not established if Adam is Michael's father.

2ND Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, Continental Line

Commander:  Colonel Samuel Miles (organized the regiment on 6MAR1776)

Original Muster Roll:  CPT Lewis Farmer

Mustered into CPT Farmer's unit:  enl. 1MAR1776.