Family legend says he was born at sea during his parents' voyage from Europe to Pennsylvania. His father is said to have died during that same voyage. If the legend is true, based on his birthyear, his family migrated on the only ship to cross the Atlantic in 1756, the dauntingly named "Chance", a small type of ship known as a snow. Henry's mother's name was not recorded as only male heads of household were registered on that ship's list of passengers for the loyalty oath. Again, family stories hold that her name was Marie or Mary, but no documented proof exists naming either parent. What is widely believed is that Henry and his older brother Samuel arrived in Philadelphia in the care of their widowed mother. DNA testing has linked the descendants of these two Pletcher brothers. The Pletchers settled in Lancaster county, possibly in or near relatives and friends who had previously come to Lancaster county and were living in Martic and Conestoga townships.In Conestoga township, Henry served in the local militia during the Revolutionary war. He is first found on tax records in Conestoga township in 1780 as a freeman and then in 1782 as an inmate (a renter taxed on his trade) shoemaker. Husband of first, Catherine Sternaman who likely died in Lancaster county, and married second to Anna "Nancy" Schenck, sister of his brother-in-law, Michael Schenck Jr. In late fall/early winter of 1795-1796, along with his Conestoga township neighbor and future father-in-law Michael Schenck, his sister-in-law Maria and her husband Michael Schenck Jr., and his mother-in-law Mariah Stehman, Henry and his small sons migrated to the Bald Eagle Valley. Here he initially rented land from Philip DeHaas as denoted in the 1798 tax list for Bald Eagle and Patton townships. In 1800 John Philip DeHaas, executor of the last will and testament of John Phillip DeHaas late of the city and county of Philadelphia deeded to Henry Pletcher, land "lying and being on the Bald Eagle Creek then in the county of Northumberland in the state of PA and more especially a tract of 300 acres and allowance called Union Green surveyed on a warrant to William Austin dated the 1 day of March 1774 and of another tract of 290 acres and allowance called Belvedere for the sum of 817 pounds, 6 shillings and 3 pence lawful money to John Philip DeHaas. All that tract of land situated lying and being on the southerly side of the Bald Eagle Creek and in the Twp of Centre late in the county of Northumberland, now said to be the new county called Centre in the state of PA. June 3, 1800" (Deed A-283 Centre County, PA) In 1803, Henry was kicked in the stomach by a colt, lingered a few days and finally died of his injuries on the 14th of November.

Per list compiled by Conestoga Historical Society, Henry "Bletcher" served in the 1776 Flying Camp as a private -- see also PA Archives, 7th series, p. 634. He was also listed as serving in Capt. Jacob Metzger's Company of the Lancaster County Militia, 4th battalion, 3rd Company, 3rd class. As all 8 classes were called up in 1777, we can assume that he served in this capacity as well. -- Records of the Comptroller General list his name as Henry Pletsher, Lancaster County, 4th Battalion, 3rd Company, 3rd Class. Authority: C/R Date Aug. 10, 1782 Published: A(5) VII 436-438.
The individuals who volunteered in 1776 were formed into battalions by county and were known as "Flying Camps" that served on active duty until November 30, 1776. In 1777 Pennsylvania adopted a new more radical constitution that wrested control from the older conservative Quaker-dominated Assembly and in early 1777 the new Assembly passed Pennsylvania's first militia law requiring compulsory military service. Since Henry served in the Flying Camp prior to his militia service, it seems he was an ardent volunteer unlike his Non-Associator future father-in-law Michael Schenck. Henry's service is documented with DAR (Ancestor #: A089716).