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Archiver > APG > 2005-09 > 1125689637


From: Katherine Flynn <>
Subject: NARA Investigation of Revolutionary War Pension Document on EBay
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 12:33:57 -0700 (PDT)


Dear All,

Quick action by the NARA!!!!

Result: the document is NOT stolen - the original
document Mr. Steele saw is still in the NARA holdings.
Please see the results of the NARA investigation
below. I leave it to the NARA experts on the list to
explain this further. The good news is that Mr.
Steele may want to bid on this to get this unique
documents that includes the inventory. And I
certainly learned alot from this exercise. I also am
glad that the NARA was most appreciative that people
are watching.

Most sincerely,
Kathy Flynn, CGRS

--- Richard Peuser <> wrote:

> Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 15:18:22 -0400
> From: "Richard Peuser" <>
> To: <>
> Subject: Stolen document-result
>
> Thank you so much for your concern and civic action,
> Ms. Flynn. It is civic-minded people like you that
> assist our work immensely. Keep up the good work!
> Please also pass this along to Mr. Steele as well.
>
> I am going to cut and paste my response to our
> Inspector General for your information:
>
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Results:
>
> the PDF file sent by Cindi is in fact the record
> copy. It is both in the hard copy file I examined
> and on the microfilm that I also examined. The
> portion which lists his assets is not in the file
> nor on microfilm and hence it was never in the
> Gov't's custody. It is quite possibly a duplicate
> copy which may have been used by Spikes to get money
> or land from the state government. We don't know.
> Therefore, I do not recommend action on this
> document.
>
> I provided by Jim Hastings and Cindi fox with these
> results already.
>
> Rick
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> The Revolutionary Pension files are only available
> on microfilm, as well.
>
> Again, Ms. Flynn, Thank you for your concern and if
> anything else like this ever arises, do not hesitate
> to contact me.
>
> All the best,
>
> Rick Peuser
> Assistant Chief
> Old Military and Civil Records
> National Archives
> Washington, DC 20408
>
>
>
>
>
> >>> Katherine Flynn <> 09/02/05
> 02:07PM >>>
> This is to report a suspected stolen item from the
> NARA for sale on EBay. The sale is due to close in
> 5
> days on 4 September!
>
> My name is Katherine Flynn and I am a Certified
> Genealogical Records Specialist. My contact number
> is
> XXXXXXXXXXXX day and XXXXXXXXXXX evening.
>
> The following item is currently for sale on EBay for
> $75: An original revolutionary war pension
> application. A full digital picture is provided and
> it does appear to be the original. The link to the
> item is:
>
>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ORIG-Rev-War-Pension-Application-Patriot-SPIKE-signs_W0QQitemZ6556970709QQcategoryZ29466QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
>
>
> The reason why I am reporting it as suspected to be
> stolen from the NARA is the following posting by a
> fellow genealogist on the APG (Assoc. of
> Professional
> Genealogists) mail list:
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ted Steele [mailto:]
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 12:45 PM
> > To:
> > Subject: [SPAM-low] [APG] Ethics question re NARA
> document
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I received an upsetting email the other day,
> alerting me to the fact
> > that someone has posted an "ORIGINAL SIGNED
> PENSION
> APPLICATION FOR
> > DANIEL SPIKE IN NEW YORK" for sale on ebay.
> >
> > Now Daniel Spike happens to be a direct ancestor
> of
> mine, and a few
> > years ago I visited NARA in DC and physically went
> through his
> pension
> > file. The document advertised on ebay was in his
> file at that time.
> So
> > it has apparently been "lifted" in the interim and
> now placed for
> sale.
> > (Minimum bid is $75.00.)
> >
> > If this is a crime (as it certainly should be),
> how
> do I report it?
> And
> > will anyone follow up?
> >
> > Thanks, Ted
> >
> > --
> > Ted Steele
> > St. Louis, Mo.
>
> _____________________
>
> I hope you can recover this item.
>
> Sincerely,
> Katherine Flynn
>
>

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