The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: Clark Roy Brocht
Jacob Burkhart was born 08 May 1758 in Reading, Berks County, PA. He died 19 November 1840 in Fairhope Township, Somerset County, PA. Jacob Burkhart's pension application indicates that he enlisted three times during the war. His first enlistment was in Reading, Berks County, PA., during June 1776 in the company commanded by Capt. Jacob Krowl or Croul and served until August 27, 1776 when taken prisoner during the Battle of Long Island. While the Battle of Long Island occurred early in the war, it was the largest battle of the war having the largest number of combined troops. Jacob married Elizabeth (possibly Schwartz) in 1785. Elizabeth was born 1759 in Berks County, PA. She died in 1848 in Fairhope Township, Somerset County, PA. Per Jacob’s pension application, file # S-22150, he claims they were the parents of 27 children. To date, 13 of those children have been identified. We do not know how many of the children survived to be adults. The pension application notes various spellings of his name; but, he stated BURKHART was correct. Jacob’s brother, John, also served in a unit assigned the responsibility of guarding General Washington. Jacob and Elizabeth settled on land in Fairhope Township, Somerset County, PA that is now part of the 724 acres owned by the International Conservation Center, an extension of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Jacob’s original headstone is not identified in the Burkhart graveyard. Elephants now guard the graveyard.
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