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Israel H. Buker Continental Army Officer who Presented a Sword by General LaFayette Signed Massachusetts Treasury "Commodity Bond" Certificate Anderson MA-21 1780

ISRAEL HILTON BUKER (1756-1848). Revolutionary War Sergeant; Crossed the Delaware with Washington, present at Valley Forge, served with General LaFayette and Presented a Sword by General LaFayette; wounded at least twice, Honorable Discharged by General George Washington with the Army on June 9, 1783 at New Windsor, New York.

January 1, 1780-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Partially-Printed Document Signed, "Israel H. Buker", Massachusetts Treasury Financing Certificate, in the amount of 228.12s.8d, Anderson MA-21, Very Fine. Buker served under General's LaFayette, Lee, and Gates. He was in the Battles of Saratoga, Monmouth, Trenton, and Princeton, and Crossed the Delaware with General George Washington through the ice. He was with the Continental Army during the disastrous and awful Winter encampment at Valley Forge, and was a member of the famous regiment which the celebrated French General LaFayette armed, equipped, and clothed. As an Orderly Sergeant (Sergeant Major), Buker was Presented a Sword by General LaFayette. Israel was wounded at least twice. This important "Commodity" Bond is the first Bond in American History to be priced against other current "commodities" due to the rampant inflation of Colonial and Continental Congress issued paper money in the America. This bond is made out to Israel H. Buker and is massively endorsed by him, "Israel H. Buker" in vivd brown ink on the blank reverse side. As to provenance, the face has a violet rubber stamping stating, "Missouri Historical Society Saint Louis - Bixby Collection" (being well away from any print), and the back has two rubber stampings that read, "Presented to / Missouri Historical Society. / By W.K. Bixby", with "Norton County" contemporarily penned in the upper face side margin selvage. Folded, a trivial wear pinhole at bottom and a short 1.25" bottom edge fold split, yet overall well centered with full margins, well printed, clear and fully readable.

Israel H. Buker was an American Patriot of the Revolutionary War, joining at the age of 19, achieving the rank of Sergeant Major, and serving under the Generals Lafayette, Lee and Gates.

After the battles at Lexington and Concord he enlisted in the 3rd Massachusetts as a private, drilling in the neighborhood in secret because his employer was a British Loyalist Tory. When his company was ready to go into action, Israel Buker was with them. His employer told the captain of the company that Israel should not go. The captain ordered his company to halt and destroy the house of the Tory, but the wife spoke up and told her husband that the soldiers would surely destroy their house. So he came out and said, "let him go... and give him some food for the journey".

Additional Information:

Israel first enlisted on April 1, 1775 at Bridgewater, MA; his second enlistment was January 1, 1776, and third on March 22, 1777. He was a private in Capt. Allen's 23rd Regiment of Col. Bixby's Army of Continental Troops. Later he became Sergeant under Capt. Abraham Watson. His 1777 enlistment was in John Porter's Company of Col. Michael Jackson's Regiment.

Buker served under General's LaFayette, Lee, and Gates. He was in the Battles of Saratoga, Monmouth, Trenton, and Princeton, and Crossed the Delaware with General George Washington through the ice. He was with the Continental Army during the disastrous and awful Winter encampment at Valley Forge, and was a member of the famous regiment which the celebrated French General LaFayette armed, equipped, and clothed. As an Orderly Sergeant (Sergeant Major), Buker was Presented a Sword by General LaFayette. Israel was wounded at least twice. After eight years he was given an Honorable Discharge by General George Washington on June 9, 1783 at New Windsor. In 1808 he emigrated to Coshocton County OHIO to claim his 'Bounty Lands' and was a farmer, who taught school for 40 years. Israel Buker died at age 92, a marker placed by the Muskingum County DAR chapter graces his grave.

Listed by Anderson in THE PRICE OF LIBERTY as MA-22. Rarity-4. This 6% Interest Bearing "Commodity" Bond was payable in current money according as, "five bushels of corn, sixty-eight pounds and four-sevenths parts of a pound of beef, ten pounds of sheepswool, and sixteen pounds of sole leather." Signed by Dawes and Cranch for committee and H. Gardner as Treasurer.

This historic original Revolutionary War Massachusetts Bond, being issued to, "cover the depreciation of pay soldiers received while serving in the Continental Army" according to Anderson. This Commodity certificate was given to Massachusetts Continental soldiers towards payment in Continental Currency, with the assurance that they would receive the proper value of their pay based upon the going rates of various commodities used, as a fix of value.

ISRAEL HILTON BUKER (1756-1848): Little is known of his father, Israel Decatur Buker, who came from England with his father, Decatur, but died when Israel was 18 months old, at which time he was bound out to a Massachusetts farmer and tavern keeper, for whom he worked until 19 years old. This innkeeper was an avid British Loyalist Tory, whose political views differed sharply from those of Israel Buker.

After the battles at Lexington and Concord he enlisted in the 3rd Massachusetts as a private, drilling in the neighborhood in secret because his employer was a Tory. When his company was ready to go, Israel was with them. His employer told the captain of the company that he should not go. The captain ordered his company to halt and destroy the house of the Tory, but the wife spoke up and told her husband that the soldiers would surely destroy the house. So he came out and said, "let him go, and give him some food for the journey".

Israel enlisted first in April 1775 at Bridgewater, MA; his second enlistment was 1 January 1776, and third 22 Mar 1777, all in Bridgewater, MA. He was a private in Capt. Allen's 23rd Regiment of Col. Bixby's Army of Continental Troops. Later he became Sergeant under Capt. Abraham Watson. His 1777 enlistment was in John Porter's Company of Col. Michael Jackson's Regiment. He served under General's LaFayette, Lee and Gates. He was in the battles of Saratoga, Monmouth, Trenton and Princeton, and crossed the Delaware with Washington through the ice. He was with the Army during the disastrous and awful encampment during the winter at Valley Forge and was a member of the famous regiment which celebrated French General LaFayette armed, equipped, and clothed. As an orderly sergeant [sergeant major] he was presented a sword by Gen. LaFayette. Israel was wounded at least twice. After eight years he was given an honorable discharge by Gen. George Washington on 9 June 1783.

A year after his discharge from the Army he married Bathsheba Carver in 1784. They were the parents of ten children. He was a farmer and a college teacher. At the age of 52 Israel moved to Ohio in 1808 and cleared a 200 acre farm from the wilderness, but his wife chose not to make the arduous trip. On 25 August 1816 in Coshocton Co., OH, he married his second wife, Sarah Black of Washington Co., PA, and with her had eight more children.

Mr. Buker taught school for forty years, was well-educated, and a fine mathematician. Politically he was an old time Whig. He reached the advanced age of 92 years, and was active to the last, walking from Coshocton to Otsego, a distance of twelve miles, after he was 90 years old. He was remembered as a man of character, honest, faithful and punctual, and held the respect of the people. He was a fine example of an old colonial patriot and in his old age delighted to relate his life as a soldier in the cause of freedom in Washington's army.

On his war records Israel's description was as follows- stature 5 ft. 9 in., dark complexion, dark hair, blues eyes. His discharge, signed by George Washington, is said to be displayed in the National Archives.

From the DAR Records: Emeline Palmer

"Real Daughter" - From her obituary in the Daily Telegram, 1921

"Mrs. Emeline Palmer, the last real daughter of the American Revolution in Michigan, and a former resident of Adrian, died Saturday evening [2 April 1921] at her home in Highland Park [Michigan]. Mrs. Palmer, who was aged 86, was the life chaplain of Lucy Wolcott Barnum chapter, D. A. R., of Adrian and was an active member until she left the city about five years ago with her daughters, Misses Cora and Sadie Palmer, who were offered teaching positions in Highland Park. She had been in her usual health until Friday evening, when she was stricken with heart trouble, death coming at about 5 o'clock Saturday afternoon.

Mrs. Palmer was formerly Miss Emeline Buker, the youngest child of Israel and Sarah [Black] Buker, and was born in Coshocton County, O., Mar, 26, 1835. Her father, Israel H. Buker, was born in Bridgewater, Mass., April 17, 1756, and she was born when her father was 79 years of age, the youngest child of a second marriage. After the immigration to Ohio, after the War of 1812, Mr. Buker was one of the pioneers of Coshocton County, where he owned a beautiful farm and where Mrs. Palmer spent her girlhood.

Mrs. Palmer's father died when she was 14 years of age but she was able to remember him as wearing the ruffled shirt and wig of those days and had many vivid memories of his war reminiscences. She often told of his story of the execution of Major Andre at which he was present; how the distinguished captive on the way to the final scene took off his cap to wipe his brow, exclaiming "It is a warm day, gentlemen," when as a matter of fact it was a very cold day.

She remembered her parent's warm admiration for General LaFayette, his stories of the hard days at Valley Forge where he was connected with the body guard of Washington, and the presentation to him of a sword for faithful service. Mr. Buker was an ardent Whig and only a few days before his death at 92 years of age he voted for Zachary Taylor. The war records show that he served in the Massachusetts regiments for the entire period of the Revolution from 1776 to 1783."

From Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War; 1896, Wright & Potter Printing Co., State Printers. Pages 771-772.

BUKER, Israel H., Bridgewater. Return of men enlisted into Continental Army from Capt. Abram Washburn's co. dated Feb. 21, 1778; residence, Bridgewater; enlisted for town of Bridgewater; age 21 yrs.; joined Capt. John Porter's co., Col. Michael Jackson's (also given Col. Wigglesworth's) regt.; enlistment, 3 years; mustered by James Hatch, Muster Master, between March 22 and March 27, 1777; also, Corporal, Capt. Woodbridge's Co., Col. Calvin Smith's (late Wigglesworth's) regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from March 1, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779; reported as serving 25 mos. as Private, 9 mos. as Corporal; also, Private, Capt. Noah Allen's co., Col. Edward Wigglesworth's (4th) regt.; muster rolls for March and May 1778, dated Valley Forge; also, muster roll for June 1778; dated Camp Greenwich; also, pay roll for Oct., 1778; also, Capt. Allen's co., (late) Col. Wigglesworth's regt., commanded by Major Porter; muster roll for March and April, 1779, dated Providence; enlisted March 28, 1777; promoted to Corporal March 1, 1779, and transferred to Colonel's co.; also, Corporal, Colonel's co., commanded by Capt. Lieut. Colonel's co., Col. Smith's regt.; Continental Army pay account for service from Jan. 1, 1780, to Dec. 31, 1780.

Also, descriptive list of enlisted men dated West Point, Jan. 25, 1781; age, 24 (also given 27) yrs.; stature, 5 ft. 9 in.; complexion, dark; hair, dark; eyes, blue; occupation, farmer (also given laborer); residence, Bridgewater; enlisted for town of Bridgewater; enlisted Dec. 15 (also given Dec. 16), 1779, by Capt. Fowles; joined Capt. Watson's co., Col. John Greaton's (3d) regt.; enlistment, during war; also, Sergeant, Capt. Abraham Watson's co., Col. Greaton's (3d) regt.; muster rolls for Jan.-May, 1781, dated West Point; also, muster roll for July 1781, dated Camp near Dobb's Ferry; also, muster roll for Aug., 1781, dated Peekskill; also, muster roll for Sept., 1781, dated Continental Village; also, muster roll for Oct. and Nov. 1781, dated Highlands; also, muster rolls for Dec., 1781, and Jan., 1782, dated Hutts, New Boston; also, muster roll for March, 1782; also, 8th co., Col. Greaton's regt.; muster roll for May, 1782; also, Capt. Simon Jackson's (8th) co., Col. Greaton's regt.; muster rolls for July and Nov., 1782; also, Capt. William Watson's (6th) co., Col. Greaton's (3d) regt., under the command of Lieut. Col. Millen; muster rolls for Dec., 1782, Jan. and Feb., 1783; reported furloughed Jan. 30, 1783, at New Windsor to go to Bridgewater for 2 mos. 14 days; also, list of men furloughed in 1783; Capt. Watson's co.; furlough granted June 8, 1783, at New Windsor.

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