A list member wanted me to tell you that the following is available on ebay, if there are any descendents of Isaac King 'out there"........ .the military service certificate (local militia) receipt for an Isaac King, a member of the "Lafayette Rangers" Sept. 29, 1836. Sandra "As an aside to this, I'm curious as to what these Rangers were doing? In 1836, the need for protection from local Indians was non-existent...the Rev war and the War of 1812 were long over, the War between the States wasn't around yet, so what were these Rangers up to? Rangers, by definition, were sort of a commando type unit, trained for reconnaissance and special combat missions. " -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.9/382 - Release Date: 7/4/2006

"As an aside to this, I'm curious as to what these Rangers were doing?..." I suspect the Rangers were in part a Revolutionary War Veterans celebration group of sorts, probably formed around the time of Lafayette's death in 1834. The first reference I find in Google is to a celebration march in honor of the Revolution the year Lafayette died. Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (or Lafayette) (September 6, 1757 - May 20, 1834) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_du_Motier%2C_marquis_de_La_Fayette> Based on what I've read Lafayette was much loved and respected for his role in the Revolution and he had returned to the America from July 1824-September 1825 for a tour that included stops in Chester County and Lancaster County where he met with local veterans and Free Masons (he was a Grand Master). I was going to post something about this in reply to the LOC posts that includes a Chester County address in 1825 during his visit. I'll send that in a minute. His meetings with ancestors of mine in Lancaster and Paxton are part of why I suspect there are a at least a few Masons in my tree. Lafayette supposedly stayed at Edward Crouch's (and son in law Benjamin Jordan's) farm Walnut Hill in Highspire near Paxton (Harrisburg) and at the Slaymaker's White Chimneys tavern in Lancaster when visiting. Jordan had employed Simon Cameron and supposedly had more or less adopted him, and named a son, Simon Cameron Jordan, after him. Cameron later became Lincoln's Secretary of War. He's listed in the list below, as is a Cowden who is likely related to Jordan and Crouch. Per one book in Penn State's Digital library there was a huge celebration in Lancaster in Layfayette's honor at the time of his death in 1834. My ancestor Benjamin Jordan named a son after him that year, Benjamin Lafayette Jordan. Here's a Ranger reference that cites the founding of the Rangers in 1834: http://www.rootsweb.com/~pasulliv/reviews/lycomingchronicle.html 9 July 1834 Cavalry Celebration - The 58th Anniversary of our National Independence was celebrated in this Borough by the troops of "Lycoming Cavalry" under Capt. COWDEN. They met in the morning, and after performing various evolutions, were joined on the banks of the river by the new rifle corps of "Lafayette Rangers," under Capt. ALDEN, and by them accompanied thro' the principal streets of the town, forming a handsome military display. The Cavalry then adjourned to the hotel of Mr. Thos. HAYS, where a bountiful repast was prepared. After the cloth was removed, Capt. J. H. COWDEN, was called to the chair, Geo. ARMSTRONG and E. G. HEYLMUN appointed Vice Presidents and Abraham GRAFIUS and A. B. CUMMINGS, Secretaries. The Declaration of Independence having been read by Secretary GRAFIUS, the following regular toasts were drank, accompanied by repeated and hearty cheers; after which the Troop were again mounted to unite with the procession for receiving the Packet-boat to Loyalsock. Volunteer Toasts by: Gen. Simon CAMERON, Vice president HEYLMUN, A. B. CUMMINGS, Robert B. TANEY, Ab'm GRAFIUS, B. LEONARD, Henry BASTIAN and others. Young Men's Celebration - The Lafayette Rangers, under command of Capt. M. ALDEN, assembled in market square, in Williamsport, to celebrate the Birth-day of Freedom, in a manner suited to the occasion. After a thorough drill, the company was marched to the courthouse, at which place the Declaration of Independence was read by George ROBINSON and immediately after an oration delivered by Dr. B. F. SHELDON, followed by music. The company then, together with a large number of young men, marched to the public house of Jacob HEIVLEY, where they partook of a sumptuous repast. The cloth being removed, W. G. CARPENTER was called to the chair and E. H. DONNEL, G. ROBINSON, B. STRAWBRIDGE and J. C. HEYLMUN, Vice Presidents and James D. BROWN, Secretary. After the following toasts were drunk amid the deafening cheers of the numerous assemblages. Volunteer Toasts by: W. G. CARPENTER, G. ROBINSON, E. H. DONNEL, J. C. HEYLMUN, J. D. BROWN, B. F. SHELDON, W. MOORE, H. D. HEYLMUN, L. ULMER, Capt. J. H. MATCHIN, Thomas UPDEGRAFF, Robert HULING, J. S. MAUS, Thomas HARKINS, George TAYLOR, J. S. HYMAN, B. F. SHELDON, Peter HOUGHSOUT and Jacob HYMAN.

The certificate was for 10 + years after Lafayette's return to Chester, so I wonder if it had anything to do with the festivities, 10 years after the fact....the wording is....."I do hereby certify that Isaac King has served seven years properly equiped as a volunteer under my command in the "Lafayette Rangers" a volunteer corps attached to the Independent Volunteer Battalion of Chester County Sept. 29, 1836...signed- Alexander Marshall, Capt." It just seem more military than celebratory. There is a huge amount of data on Lafayette's return to Chester, in THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, by Futhey and Cope....many, many pages worth. If there is anything or anyone specific you'd like me to look for, just let me know. Sandra -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.9/382 - Release Date: 7/4/2006