1790 Vellum Deed - Revolutionary War Soldiers Signatures
This vellum land deed for Abraham Metzler includes the signatures of James Jacks and Casper Shaffner, both of which were important in the Revolutionary War effort by not only serving the rebellion but as government officials after their service. It is difficult to find information on PA patriots as the Commonwealth had local militias that were different from most other colonies at the time. For more information on PA militias please click on this link: https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Revolutionary-War-Militia-Overview.aspx
It is a beautiful deed with all of its seals intact.
More information on Captain Jacks and Lieutenant Casper Shaffner:
Captain James Jacks - 1777 Antrium Township 2nd Company of the Cumberland County, PA Militia. He was also Register and Recorder of Deeds for years at Lancaster City, PA. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature from 1780 to 1782, and appointed Recorder of Deeds in 1783.
From a contemporaneous document: "James Jacks, Esquire, Register of the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration, and Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Lancaster".
In 1784, it was ordered that James Jacks, Esquire, be appointed a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Lancaster, and he was commissioned accordingly.
Lieutenant Caspar Shaffner PA Militia Roll # 0840:
CASPER SHAFFNER, a son of John Casper Shafifner, was born in February, 1737, in Lancaster, and died in 1826. He was a member of the "Committees of Correspondance" and of "Inspection and Observation," of Lancaster County, during the Revolutionary war period. He also served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary service. He had one son, Casper, who married a daughter of Charles Hall, of Lancaster, a noted silversmith of the early part of the last century.
He was also one of the founders of a select academy for boys, which ultimately resulted in the formation of Franklin College.