GEORGE KENTNER
In colonial times George Kentner a native of Germany, lived on the Susquehannah River in Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he served in Butlers Rangers at Fort Niagara. Following the war, George Kentner settled in New Johnstown, Hastings County. The following is his Claim for Revolutionary War Losses heard by the Commissioners of Claims at Niagara on 17 Sep 1787. (AO 12 Vol. 40 P. 429-430)
An Estimate of Losses sustained by George Kentner late of Susquhannah River in the late Province of Pennsylvania during the late unhappy Dissentions in America in consequence of his Loyalty to His Majesty and attachment to the British Government
A Plantation consisting of 300 Acres of Land}
of which 30 Acres were under Improvement} £180
270 Acres of Wood Land part of the above}
Plantation} 270
Sundry Household Furniture— 9.12
3 Cows £12 – 4 Horses £6.8— 60
30 Head of Hogs large & Small at 10/ t— 15
1 Yoke of Oxen— 15
2 Spinning wheels— 2
40 Bushels of Indian Corn—at 4/ 8
50 Bushels of Rye—at 3/ 7.10
80 Bushels of wheat—at 6/ 24
New York Currency 628.17
Claimant Sworn,
He was at Mashich in 1783, and all the ensuing Winter.
Is a German, came to America 22 years ago. –
Resided on the Susquhannah when the Rebellion broke out. –
Joined Colonel Butler in 1777, was at Fort Stanwix. – Was taken Prisoner on the Retreat from Fort Stawix, was released and afterwards Served in Sir John Johnson’s Regiment, 2d Battalion. Served till his Discharge. –
Produces his Discharge. – Resides in the 5th Township. –
Had 300 acres on Susquhannah, bought of Jesse Lukin, Surveyor of Land at Philadelphia in 1776. – he never had a Deed, was to pay £18 for it. – had not paid. – He cleared 20 Acres, some fenced Built a House and Stable. –
Lost 4 Horses, 2 Heifers, 2 Cows, 1 yoke of Oxen, Household Furniture, Farming utensils, Grain in the House. –
Left at home when he went away. Says they were taken by the Rebels. –
Philip Buck Sworn,
Remembers that Claimant went to join the British very early – He served during the War. –
Knew his Place, he had a good Clearance and good Improvements. –
He had a good Stock. –
Knew the Place where Claimant lived, he had three Horses, one yoke Oxen, 2 Cows, Farming utensils – He left all these Things on his Place when he went first to Niagara.
Colonel Butler says that in the Expedition in 1778 under his Command at Wyoming a great many Cattle &c were taken for the use of the Troops, Some of them from Persons known at the time to be Loyalists and from others whom he afterwards knew to he Loyalists – he never charged Government on this account.
Mentions particularly having some Cattle of Wintermute’s. – Say his Party killed or carried away all the Cattle they met with in the Settlement. –
George Kentner late of Pennsylvania
Claim
Amount of Property £352.4.7
Determination 8th December 1787
Loyalty. Bore Arms – The Claimant is a Loyalist & Bore Arms in Support of the British Government
Losses.
Persl Estate. Various Articles of Persl Property £55
1788 Decr 18th Alld in Decision for Improvems on a farm of which Claimant had the Promise of a Deed 20
£75
Loss Proved
Resides at New Johnstown
Name of claimant Kentner George; Province Pennsy; Claim for Loss of Property £352.4; Sum Originally Allowed £75; Total Sum payable under Act of Parliament £75; Balance After Such Receipt £75; Final Balance £75
Proceedings of Loyalist Commissioners
Montreal 1787
Before Commissioner Pemberton
September 17.
Claim of Geo. Kentner, late of Pensilv.
Repeats the evidences in AO 12
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In colonial times Matthew Lymburner, a native of Scotland, lived in Penobscot, Maine. During the American Revolution he served as a guide to the British forces. Following the war he settled in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. His sons John, Alexander, Matthew and James Lymburner settled in Caistor Township, Lincoln County. Mathew Lymburner’s Claim for Revolutionary War Losses was heard by the Commissioners of Claims at St. John on 22 Mar 1787. (AO 12 Vol. 11 P. 105-111)
To the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for enquiring into the Losses and Services of the American Loyalists. —
The Memorial of Matthew Lymburner
Humbly Sheweth.
That your Memorialist settled in Majabigwaduce in the year 1770, and the beginning of the Rebellion wishing to preserve his Loyalty to the King and at the same time stay by his Property affected in public to be Neuter, altho’ in private he gave his Assistance to every Loyalist that he could. – But refusing to carry arms at Matchias for which he was fined £3 Sterling – and also to join in the Mobs his principles became known, and having no dependence but on the Lumber Trade for Subsistence not a Son of Liberty durst openly trade with him which reduced your Memorialist to such misery that his numerous Family must have starved had not Nathan Philips relieved them to the utmost of his Power.
On the arrival of the Troops at Penobscot the Commander in Chief knew your Memorialist to be one of the Loyalists having a List, which had been carried to Halifax by Colonel Goldthwait of the well affected upon the River. That he took the Oath of Allegiance and when the Fort was invested all the new sworn Subjects were called in to assist in defending it, but that he was privately advised from the Garrison to go home and take care of his numerous Family which he was not able to effect, for on the fourth day of the Siege he was taken and confined on board one of the Rebel vessels in Irons and in that Situation he remained 15 days. —
That upon raising the Siege the Rebel Plunderers deprived your Memorialist of the use of his Farm and Crop, and drove him with his Family to the Garrison where they remained till the next April, and then returned to the Improvement of the Mill and Farm, on which he continued until the Evacuation when he removed to St Andrews. —
That he was always ready and often employed a Guide up the River to the Troops sent out in search of Deserters and lent every assistance in his power to harass the Rebels. —
Wherefore your Memorialist has subjoined his claim which if your Honors upon Examination should think fit to approve he humbly requests you will recommend him as a proper Person for Compensation. —
(Signed) Matthew Lymburner
St Andrews
26 March 1786
Account of Losses sustained by Matthew Lymburner during the late unhappy Dissentions in America in consequence of his Loyalty to His Majesty and attachment to the British Government for which he now solicits Compensation. —
1779
1 yoke of Oxen………………………………… £22.10
2 Sheep……………………… at 18/ …………… 1.16
3 Cows……………………… at £6.15 ………… 20.5
Grain and Vegetables ………………………… 12.10
One third of a Saw Mill in the Southern Bay of}
Majabigwaduce and the want thereof}
1 year …………………………………... 100
150 Acres of Land adjoining said Mill}
25 of which cleared – 10 Acres Pasture} 100
1 Dwelling House, Barn & Blacksmith’s}
Shop…………………………………….} 80
19 Tons of Hay………………………………….. 38
50 Acres of Land situate on the same Bay 20
Sterling £395.6
St John 22d March 1787
Evidence on the Claim of Matthew Lymburner late of Penobscott Massts Bay.
Claimant Sworn,
Says he left Penobscott and came to St Andrews in October 1783. – Says he had no possible opportunity of sending a Claim to England under the former Act of Parliament. — His Brother John had an opportunity of sending from Penobscott as he remained there. —
He is a native of Scotland he came to Penobscott in 1767, upon the breaking out of the War he was settled at Penobscott upon his Property as a Farmer and Miller—
Says he never took any part with the Rebels in any way whatever. —
He joined the British Troops when they took Possession of Penobscott, and ever since has been under the Protection of the British army. He often acted as Guide and he then carried arms. —
He now resides ten Miles up the River from St Andrews. —
Property No 1 …. 150 Acres, seven Miles from Fort George Penobscott, he purchased about 1771 of two Men who held by possession, there was a Saw Mill on it, and he purchased one third Share of it, he paid £55 Sterling for it. —
When the purchase was made it was nearly wild Land, he cleared about 30 Acres and built a House and Barn. – Says that in 1778 he was offered £800 Sterling for this in Congress Money.
This is valued at £280 Sterling. – The share of the Mill is stated at £100 Sterling twice what it cost him. —
No 2 …. 50 Acres of Land in the same Bay the Title was possession. – He had cleared 4 Acres of Meadow on it. —
He could have sold the Land for £10 Sterling on account of the Timber. —
Says that both these Tracts are now uncultivated, his Brother has possession of the Mill, the House is empty. – Thinks he might sell his Lands for a little money, but thinks he dare not return as he would be prosecuted for the Cattle drove off by the Troops when he was Guide. —
Says that the Americans have not yet taken possession of any Property of Loyalists at Penoscott. —
He does not know that Colo Goldthwaite’s Property is Seized or Sold. —
The Rebels carried off a yoke of Oxen two Cows and two Sheep and about twelve Tons of Hay. — Hay before the War sold for 15/ Str p Ton. —
23 March 1787.
Doctor John Califf Sworn.
Says he quitted Penobscott in Septemr 1783, then there was no account of an Act of Parliament being passed in favour of the Loyalists, and he believes the Loyalists who came to St Andrews from Penobscott had no opportunity of sending their Claims to England under the former Act. —
He knew Claimant during his residence at Penobscott, he was as active and as zealous a friend to Government as could be. —
Witness has been on a Property which belonged to Claimant and his Brother, there was a Mill on it, but a third Person had a share of the Mill. —
Witness believes that John Lymburner Brother to Claimant may be in possession of the Lands and Mill. —
He recollects hearing that the Rebels drove off his Cattle as reprisal for Cattle which he had assisted to drive into the British Post. —
Doctor Califf thinks that Matthew Lymburner cannot return to Penobscott.
He was taken Prisoner by the Rebels during the Siege of Penobscott and cruelly treated but was liberated when the Rebel Fleet was drove ashore. —
Mathew Lymburner late of Massts
Claim
Amount of Property £395.11
Determination 11th March 1787
Loyalty. Bore Arms. The Claimant is a Loyalist and Bore Arms in Support of the British Government.
Losses
Real Estate. Improvements on 200 Acres}
of Land near Fort George..} £40
Persl Estate Various Articles of Persl Property 20
£60
Loss proved
Resides at St Andrews
Name of claimant Matthew Lymburner; Province Massts; Claim for Loss of Property £395.11; Sum Originally Allowed £60; Total Sum payable under Act of Parliament £60; Sum Already Paid £24; Balance After Such Receipt £36; Final Balance £36
Proceedings of Loyalist Commissioners
St. John, 1786-7
Before Commissioner Dundas
New Claim, St. John 24 February 1787
Evidence on the Claim of Matthew Lymburner, late of Penobscott.
Repeats the evidences in AO 12
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