Submitted by: Diana.
If someone took the Oath of Fidelity to the Patriot Cause, it was recorded in many ways to document their service to the American effort.
Here is the Military Oath for Enlisted and Officers:
During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress established different oaths for the enlisted men and officers of the Continental Army:
Enlisted: The first oath, voted on 14 June 1775 as part of the act creating the Continental Army, read: "I _____ have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said Army." The original wording was effectively replaced by Section 3, Article 1, of the Articles of War approved by Congress on 20 September 1776, which specified that the oath of enlistment read: "I _____ swear (or affirm as the case may be) to be trued to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies opposers whatsoever; and to observe and obey the orders of the Continental Congress, and the orders of the Generals and officers set over me by them."
Officers: Continental Congress passed two versions of this oath of office, applied to military and civilian national officers. The first, on 21 October 1776, read: "I _____, do acknowledge the Thirteen United States of America, namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, independent, and sovereign states, and declare, that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the third, king of Great Britain; and I renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do swear that I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain, and defend the said United States against the said king, George the third, and his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants and adherents; and will serve the said United States in the office of _____, which I now hold, and in any other office which I may hereafter hold by their appointment, or under their authority, with fidelity and honour, and according to the best of my skill and understanding. So help me God." The revised version, voted 3 February 1778, read "I, _____ do acknowledge the United States of America to be free, independent and sovereign states, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience, to George the third, king of Great Britain; and I renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him: and I do swear (or affirm) that I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain and defend the said United States, against the said king George the third and his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants and adherents, and will serve the said United States in the office of _____ which I now hold, with fidelity, according to the best of my skill and understanding. So help me God."
The first oath under the Constitution was approved by Act of Congress 29 September 1789 (Sec. 3, Ch. 25, 1st Congress). It applied to all commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers and privates in the service of the United States. It came in two parts, the first of which read: "I, A.B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the constitution of the United States." The second part read: "I, A.B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) to bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully, against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and to observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me." The next section of that chapter specified that "the said troops shall be governed by the rules and articles of war, which have been established by the United States in Congress assembled, or by such rules and articles of war as may hereafter by law be established."
See: Army Oaths.
At the time of the Rev War:
In some states, such as Maryland, these oaths were to be taken before a magistrate of the court. They included every free male, eighteen years and over, every civil officer, senator, delegate to Congress or Assembly, members of council, electors of the Senate, attorneys at law, every voter for delegates, sheriffs, electors of the Senate, and all persons holding any office of trust or profit in the State."
In PA, all males over 18 yrs were required to take the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania, prior to entering upon their duties. I have seen where a Justice of the Peace certified that the person took the oath.
The Commonwealth of PA required an Oath of Allegiance to be administered to the 'non-British' immigrants beginning in 1727. The Oaths of Fidelity and Abjuration were begun in 1729; the first specifically required the oath-taker to disavow any ties to other monarchs and embrace the British ruler; and the second to abjure, or renounce, any previous connection to the Pope. The November 1, 1763 list of ninety-seven oath-takers from the Ship Chance is a typical example. The ship, captained by Charles Smith from Rotterdam, landed at Philadelphia, and the oaths were administered at the State House, now known as Independence Hall. Males were required to take the oath, usually as the heads of families.
After the Rev War and our Independence, The Oath may have been similar to this in 1777:
The state of PA passed an Act in 6/13/1777:
Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity as directed by an act of General Assembly of Pennsylvania passed 13 June 1777:
"I do Swear or affirm that I renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the third King of Great Britain his heirs and successors And that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, As a free and in Dependent State. And that I will not at any time do or cauyse to be done any matter or thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and Independence thereof as Declared by Congress and also that I will discover and make known to some Justice of the Peace of the said State all treasons or traitorous conspiracies which I now know or hereafter shall know to be formed against this or any of the United States of America with all my full will."
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