A Petition for His Service

 

Source: Indiana State Archives. Petition of John Felmey, 1823.

A few weeks ago I received a copy of a document involving my 5th-great-grandfather, John Felmey. He was born in Switzerland about 1795, and immigrated with his parents and siblings from Switzerland to America sometime before 1813 (more on John's daughter, my 4th-great-grandmother Ursula, can be found on my post from November 2018). The document involving John Felmey was a petition for a pardon and remission of fines imposed on him due to alleged non-service in his company muster in 1823. John wrote to Governor William Hendricks, stating that the claims were false and he was standing in his proper company.

1823 petition of John Felmey.

The petition sought remittance of the fine of $2.25, for non-attendance of two company musters in 1820. John went before the Justice of the Peace in Harrison County, Indiana, at the time home to the State Capitol in Corydon. John said he belonged to the rifle company commanded by Captain Gillespie. John can be seen in the 1820 US Census in Harrison County, near his father, Martin Felmey. There is an entry for a Thomas Gillespie in Harrison County in the same census.

Ancestry. 1820 US Census. Harrison County, Indiana.

The file only consists of these two pages, so it isn't clear if the petition was successful. This does provide some pointers for future research on John Felmey and his military service.