DAR #A032698

Christopher Heavenor was the son of Johan Nicholar Heavener, mother unknown. He was born in 1749, in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Although a marriage place and date are not known we do know his wife was Mary and they were the parents of Elizabeth, Catherine, Mary, John, Sarah, Jacob and Samuel.

Christopher Heavenor enlisted as a private in the Bucks County 5th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Troops in 1776, under Captain John Spohn and Colonel Magaw. He engaged in the battles of Long Island 27 August 27 1776, Staten Island 22 August 1777, and Fort Washington 16 November 16 of 1776. Taken prisoner by the British at Fort Washington he was paroled at New York after seven or eight weeks. The British guided the prisoners to where George Washington was located and upon arriving at that location the other prisoners were ordered to Philadelphia. Later in the war he would Christopher would drive a wagon for the army.

Pension records about Christopher Heavner/Heavener obtained from Ancestry.com. State of Kentucky, Warren County, Sat. on this 29th day of August 1832, Personally appeared before this Circuit Court for County, Christopher Heavener resident in County, aged 81 years who being first duly sworn according the law, doth on his oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by this Act of Congress dated June 7th June 1832, that he enlisted in this Army of the United States in the year 1776 or about that time as well as he now recollects - for five years. He served in the Company first commanded by Capt. John Spoon [Spohn] in the Regiment commanded by Col. McGair [Magaw] - it being this 5th Regiment of Pennsylvania troops on the Continental line. He resided in Berks County Penn when he enlisted. After he enlisted he marched first to Philadelphia Barracks. Hence to Staten Island and Long Island, hence to New York Island and stayed there till Fort Washington. On New York Island 12 miles abouts the City at which place he was taken prisoner by the British, who kept him for 8 weeks and then gave him a parole at New York and ordered him to where Genl. Washington then was at Trenton. At the Battle of Fort Washington, Capt. Spoon [Spohn] made his escape and disgraced himself. After he reached Washington, he and the other prisoners were ordered to Philadelphia by Genl. Washington, and after staying a short time at the Barracks in Philadelphia, he was put to driving a wagon and continued to do so till the end of the war for the Army. He never obtained any discharge, his Capt having abandoned the service, he could obtain none. He was in the Battles of Fort Washington, Long Island, and Staten Island, having marched to those different places. Col. Batric [Bicker] was the commander of the 6th Penn. Regiment, who served in the same army to which he belonged. He lastly relinquishes any claim to a pension or annuity, except in percent, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Book of any agency in any State. Sworn to and subscribed this day first written. Signed (with his X mark) Christopher Heavener.

State of Kentucky, Warren County, set on this 29th day of May 1833,
Personally appeared in open court before the judge of the said court. Now sitting Christopher Heavener who being first and duly sworn according the law, doth on his oath make the following amendments to his declaration. Question by the Court – where and in what year were you born
Answer by Applicant – I was born in the year 1749 in the county of Berks Pennsylvania Question – Have you any record of age and if so where is it
Answer – I never had any, but have every reason to believe that my age is set out correctly. My parents died when I was a small infant as I am informed and consequently I have never seen any record of my age. John Watt, Jonathan Hack, Phillip Hack, Jacob Miller, Christian Runner, Anthony Miller, David Miller, John Miller, Thomas Spink and Col. Sterrett are the persons who would testify to my character for veracity and their belief as to my serving in the revolution.

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Signed (with his X mark) Christopher Heavener.
Summary of other records in Pension file:
The files also contain many sworn statements from Warren county residents.Christopher. Heavener was eventually awarded a $20 per annum pension in the year 1834, for which he argued in court for several years. His main argument stated he was never properly exchanged, and that his enlistment was for 5 years. He was denied an increase in benefits on the basis of “... being on parole, he could not serve in a military capacity against the enemy, and consequently is not entitled to a higher rate of pension that he now receives”.
Mary Heavenor’s Widows Pension Paperwork February 3, 1845: Mrs Mary Heavner files to receive her widow’s pension. On 24 Septermeber 1833, John Rayland of Warren County, Kentucky, appeared before the Justice of the Peace W. Payne and stated that had served with Cristopher Heavenor at Valley Forge during the war.

*As a highlight of the preparations for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, the NSDAR is creating the DAR PATHWAY OF THE PATRIOTS. The Independence Historical Park planted 76 trees. The plantings will be increased by 250 additional trees along the trail and adopting them I memory of Revolutionary War Patriots. Christopher Heavenor is one of the patriots that will be honored. More information can be found at https://honoringourpatriots.dar.org/about‐pathway/

Available resources:
-"United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Q-L6H6 : Archives and Records Administration, 1962), roll 7; FHL microfilm 1,319,387. -United States War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29K-2Q74 : 11 March 2016), Ezra Parker, 1812-1815; citing NARA microfilm publication M602 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); roll 159; FHL microfilm 882,677.
-"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYX-3Y8 : 24 August 2015), Ezra Parker, Royal Oak Township, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing p. 90, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 209; FHL microfilm 14,797.
-"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVD-R67N : 13 December 2015), Ezra Parker, 1842; Burial, Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan, United States of America, Royal Oak Cemetery; citing record ID 15167043, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. -Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.