Philip was born 1750 in Germany.  His father, Johann Kraft Goss, brought him to Colonial America in 1753.  The ship Edinburg captained by James Russell, arrived at Philadelphia harbor, September 14, 1753.  Starting out from Portsmouth, England, it had sailed to Rotterdam, where it picked up a passenger named Johann Kraffgoss and his young family.  He is listed as Johann Kraft Goss on Page 522 of Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Ralph Beaver Strassburger.

Approximately seventy percent of German-speaking immigrants to Great Britain's American colonies came to Pennsylvania. The large influx of German speaking colonists alarmed provincial officials.  In 1727, Governor Patrick Gordon warned the legislature that the "…large numbers of Strangers…" entering "…daily…" could endanger Pennsylvania's "…peace and security."  As a result of their concerns, the Governor and council required all foreign males aged sixteen years and above to take an oath of allegiance to the King of Great Britain, a requirement that remained in force until the end of the colonial period in 1776.  Unfortunately, many of the Germans could not speak English, and the English recorders, who did not speak German and were not completely literate in some cases.  These enumerators recorded the passengers’ names as they thought they sounded. Surnames morphed into improperly spelled, new versions that sounded English.  There are numerous books written about how many German immigrant surnames where written down by census enumerators and other officials according to what they heard.  Johann Kraffgoss became John Kraft Ghost.  Philip Ghost’s name has been found in documents spelled Ghost, Koust, Cost, Coos, and Coasts, and has been spelled differently in the same publication.  This was a common issue for people with German accents.

Philip served as Private in the Fifth Class of the Sixth Company of the Seventh Battalion of the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Militia, during the Revolutionary War.  The Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Pages 707, 765, and 781 spell his name as Phillip Koutz. 

Included for the purpose of illustration of the metamorphosis of the spelling of German surnames are the following:  Henry Maycrantz is listed with Philip Ghost in this and other military service entries. Henry’s name is properly given as Heinrich Maikrantz.

Philip was buried at the Calvin Riddle Cemetery at Venango County, Pennsylvania.  His tombstone says “Philip Ghost Captain 7 Co 4 Bn PA Infantry.”  There are Venango County History books that state Philip Ghost was given the titles of Captain and Major in the Westmoreland County Militia.  The following service references are from the Published Pennsylvania Archives, and are dated after the Revolutionary War:

In Series Six, Vol. 4: Military Abstracts from Executive Minutes Vol. 1-9 inclusive. 1790-1817. "Return of militia officers elected in and for the County of Westmoreland. Wednesday, December 12th, 1792," at page 174, there is a record of Philip Ghost having served as Captain of the seventh company with Lieutenant Ockerman.

In Series Six, Vol. 5: Muster and Pay Rolls of the Pennsylvania Militia 1790-1800, at page 634, dated 1792:  "We the subscribers do acknowledge to have received from Charles Campbell Lieutenant of Westmoreland County the sums annexed to our names respectively in full of pay allowed by the State of PA for a tour of militia duty under the command of Capt'n Phillip Coasts.”

*September 22, 1792:

The first name on the list is Phil'p Coasts. 88 Dolls and no cents. Discharged: November 27, 1792.
 

Also found on this list is the following:

Mich'l Huffman – Six Dollars and 60 cents. Discharged: November 27, 1792.
Dan'l Huffman – Six Dollary and 50 cents. Discharged: November 26, 1792.
Henr. Mykranty – 44 Dollars and no cents.
 

Discharges from the Westmoreland County Militia, dated 1792:
Regarding Philip Ghost:  "I do Hereby Certify that Henry MyKrantz first Sergent has served his Tower [sic] of Duty as Militia Man two months and seven days under my command at Green's Station and now discharged by me." Phillip Coost, Capt, November the Twenty Sixth Day, 1792."

In the Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series Six, Vol. 4, Page 208:  “A Return of Officers of Six Regiments of the Militia of the County of Westmoreland made by Charles Campbell, Esquire, Brigade Inspector of the Militia of the said county. – Tuesday, July 2nd 1793.

Page 210 - Second Regiment. – 1st Major John Eager, 2nd Major. Philip Coats,Captain Phillip Aukerman.

The Records of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) state Barbara Keltz, the wife of Philip Ghost, was born at Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  At the time of her birth, the land that would become Westmoreland County was part of Cumberland County and the "Pittsburgh" area was controlled by the French.  After the French and Indian War (1754–1763), the land was opened up to British settlement.  Westmoreland County was created out of Bedford County, 26 February 1773.  Bedford County was created 9 March 1771 from Cumberland County.  Cumberland County was created 27 January 1750 from Lancaster County.  Reference:  The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogists.  The essential Guide to American County and town Sources.  Sharon DeBartolo Carmack and Erin Nevius, ed.  2004.

Philip and Barbara's children were born at Westmoreland County.

Philip Ghost is listed with 400 acres at Westmoreland County, September 12, 1785, as given by the Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 26, page 435.

Extended Family:

Barbara Keltz is a daughter of George Keltz and Anna Marie Eager.  Her brother is George Adam Keltz, Jr.  Anna Marie Eager's brother is George Eager.  Anna Marie Eager’s half-brother is Adam Nicely.

George Keltz, George Adam Keltz, Adam Nicely and George Eager, served together in the Four-Mile Run Company of Rangers under Captain Richard Williams.

George Keltz, George Eager and Philip Ghost lived near each other at Westmoreland County.

George Keltz and Philip Ghost are names in George Eager's will.

Philip Ghost moved to Canal Township, Venango County from Westmoreland County in 1796, and later moved to Clinton Township, Venango County.

The Last Will and Testament of Philip Ghost, of record at the Venango County Courthouse at Franklin, Pennsylvania, was proved 3 May 1815.   The Letters of Administration were filed at Register’s Docket No. 1, Page 32, Item Number 3, and were issued to Craft Ghost and Thomas McKee, May 3, 1815.  These records are presently in the custody of the Venango County Historical Society.

The known children of Philip Ghost and Barbara Keltz, as given by the records of the DAR are:

Craft Ghost (1774 - 1826) married Elizabeth Fritz;

Mary Ann Ghost (1780 - 1857) married James Huffman;
Christina Ghost (1784 - 1872) married Phillip Huffman;
Elizabeth Keltz Ghost (1784 - 1867) married Richard Monjar;
Catharine Elizabeth Ghost (1787 - 1874) married John Walter Huffman; and
John Philip Ghost (1793 - 1879) married Christina Jane Walter Porter.

ENDNOTES:

1 - The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.  Oaths of Fidelity and Abjuration, about 1760, and List of Oath-takers - November 1, 1763.
2 – A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776… by Prof. I. Daniel Rupp.
3 – History of Venango County, Pennsylvania – Brown, Runk and Company, 1890,
4 - Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People, Embracing a General History of the County – Beers.  1919.
5 - Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Ralph Beaver Strassburger.
6 – DAR application for Grace Richards Couch, National Number 528350.
7 - The Indian Capture of Jacob (Kneisle) Nicely - By Ronald Earl Nicely.
8 - The "Old Fort's Commission Report," by G. D. Albert and L. W. Fogg.  This resource provides the location of Green's Station near Crooked Creek below Kittanning, Pennsylvania.  Captain Ghost was a defender in "The Indian Wars" after the Revolution.