Revolutionary War Pension Application of Christian Walter (RWPA #1950)
To the Honorable John E Calhoun, Secretary of the War Department of the United States:
The petition and declaration of Christian Walter of Otsego in the State of New York, aged fifty eight years, and made on oath setteth forth and declares that in the month of February 1777 he enlisted at Stone Arabia in the State of New York, he enlisted as a private soldier in the Revolutionary War in Captain John Castleman's company of Rangers which was attached to Colonel Gansevoort's regiment of the New York Line of continental troops for the term of nine months. That he enlisted to serve in said regiment for the said term of nine months and was at the battle where General Herkimer was killed and was honorably discharged at the expiration of said term of nine months at Stone Arabia in the State of New York, which discharge is now lost. And he further says that he has never received any pension from Government, and that he does not now know that he can procure any other proof of the time he served as aforesaid than his own oath and the affidavit of John Backus hereto annexed, and he further says that he was also at the skirmish near Johnstown in the State of New York, and he further says that he is now in reduced circumstances and absolutely in need of assistance from his country for support, and he asks to be put on the pension list under laws of Congress. Christian Walter X his mark Sworn and subscribed April 22nd 1818 before me James S. Campbell State of New York Otsego County Christian Walter being duly sworn setteth forth and saith that he enlisted as a private soldier in the army of the Revolution some time in the month of February 1777 in a company of Rangers commanded by Captain John Castleman, the Lieutenant of which company was Adam Empy or Ampy, and the Ensign was George Getman. That this deponent supposed the company was attached to Colonel Gansevoort's Regiment of the New York Line, but is not at all certain, he being young and uninformed at the time whether the company was attached to the regiment commanded by Col. Gansevoort, Col. Willet or Col. Brown, as this deponent served on occasions when each of these officers commanded. That this deponent enlisted as aforesaid at Stone-Arabia in the said State of New York where the said Company of Rangers was stationed. The he enlisted for a term of nine months and served during the said term when he was discharged. That this deponent was in the battle of Oswegatchie, near Stone-Arabia, where the said Col. Brown was killed and afterwards again in battle at Johnstown near Stone-Arabia where Col. Willet commanded. That this deponent some time in the year 1818 made application for a pension under the law of Congress of that year and was rejected on the grounds as this deponent understood, that there were no rangers attached to Col. Gansevoort's regiment. That the papers containing the declaration of this deponent upon which said explanation was founded together with the statement under oath of two witnesses of this deponent's services are hereto attached. That one of the said witnesses is now dead and the other has removed to a great distance from the residence of this deponent. That this deponent at the time of the said application resided in the town of Springfield in the County of Otsego and State of New York and that he now resides in the last mentioned town. And further saith not. Christian Walter X his mark Sworn and subscribed this 25th day of July, 1832 before me Selah Havens, Justice of the Peace Springfield, Otsego County State of New York July 28, 1832 To Honorable Lewis Cass Secretary of War Sir: I enclose the papers in two applications for pensions: John H. Genter, has been on the Roll under the law of 1818 and was �� on account of property. I send his certificate and �. Christian Walter made an application in 1818 and was rejected. The proof of his services was then furnished and the same papers are now again forwarded together with his affidavit. This case is supposed also to come under the exceptions made in the instructions from the War Office requiring a declaration in �Court. Please transmit the papers to me. Respectfully yours, William Baker Additional Proof - Witnesses State of New York Otsego County John Backus of Otsego in the county of Otsego and State of New York, a soldier of the Revolutionary War being duly sworn says that he served in said war in the same company and regiment with Christian Walter whose petition and declaration is hereto annexed, and he further says the he knows that all the facts stated in said petition and declaration are true and further saith not. John Backus X his mark Sworn and subscribed the 22nd day of April 1818 before me James S. Campbell I certify that I am satisfied that the above named John Backus is a main of truth and is to be believed under oath. September 14, 1818 James S. Campbell State of New York Otsego County Adolph Pickard being duly sworn says that he was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, that he knows Christian Walter whose papers are hereto annexed while in the service and knows that the said Christian Walter served in Castleman's Company for the term of nine months as mentioned in the said declaration hereto annexed, for this deponent served in the same company and regiment with him for the term of time aforesaid and that he, the deponent, is now a disinterested witness as he has already received his pension from government, and further saith not. Adolph Pickard X his mark Sworn and subscribed this 21st day of September 1818 before me James S. Campbell One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Otsego, New York I, James S. Campbell, the Judge aforesaid, do certify that the above named Adolph Pickard is known to me and that he is a credible witness. 21st September 1818 James S. Campbell State of New York Fulton County On this 20th day of February 1839 personally appeared before the undersigned as Justice of the Peace in and for said county George Walter, who being duly sworn doth depose and swear that he is eighty two years of age and is a pensioner of the United States. That we was well acquainted with Christian Walter during the Revolutionary War (they being brothers). That the said Christian Walter was a private soldier in the militia company of Captain Severinus Cook in Colonel Jacob Klock's regiment and General Herkimer's Brigade after whose death this deponent recollects of no other being appointed. That in the year 1780 this deponent being in the Batteaux Service, was in October in this year at the fort in Stone Arabia on a furlough and saw his brother the said Christian Walter come into the fort having been as he has then and now has every reason to believe in the battle at that place in which Colonel Brown was slain, and that he knows of his own knowledge that the said Christian Walter was in the Battle at Stone Arabia in October 1781, and this deponent further swears that the said Christian Walter was detached from the company of said Captain Cook by Colonel Klock as an indian spy in the year 1778 and that he continued to serve in that capacity for the whole of the years 1778 and 1779, being two years, and he also knows that the said Christian was in other services, especially that he was drafted and marched to Fort Stanwix under Captain Andrew Fink and Colonel Van Dyck, that he was absent from home a period of three months, but the year he cannot now recollect. George Walter X his mark Sworn and subscribed this 20th day of February 1839 before me Henry M. Livingston, J.P. I hereby certify that the above named George Walter is a man of truth and veracity and that his statement is entitled to convict. Henry M. Livingston, J.P. Springfield, Otsego County, New York July 4th 1839 To the Secretary of War, I herewith enclose to you an application of Christian Walter who is already a pensioner who receives thirty Dollars per year, for an increase of this pension. You will please act upon it, and if the papers are not right, you will please mention wherein. Yours respectfully, Wm. L. Bigelow Record transcribed by Claudia P. Bement March 1, 2002 Declaration. In order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by an act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows". State of New York Otsego County On this seventh day of March in the year 1845 personally appeared before me, Jabez D. Hammond, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, Catharine Walter, as resident of the town of Springfield in the County of Otsego and said state of New York, aged 83 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by an act of Congress passed July 7th, 1838 entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows". That she is the widow of Christian Walter late of the town of Springfield in said State of New York who departed this life on the sixth day of May 1844. That her husband, the said Christian Walter, was a soldier of the United States during the War of the Revolution, and at the said time of his death a pensioner under the Act of June 7, 1833. That Declarant has frequently heard her said husband relate particulars of his revolutionary services. She herself remembers that he served under General Herkimer, Colonels Brown, Waggoner and Capt. John Casselman from time to time during the whole war, but owing to old age and loss of memory she cannot state the different expeditions in which he was engaged. And Declarant further saith, that she was married to said Christian Walter on the third day of February, 1787 by Reverend Henry Krutts at Minden, Montgomery County; that the following persons were present at her marriage, to wit: Henry Sitts, Mary Sitts and Nancy Sitts, and that the accompanying is her family record begun 56 years ago. That previous to her marriage she resided in the town of Mohawk and bore the maiden name of Catharine Sitts. That her husband, the said Christian Walter, died as aforesaid on the sixth day of May, 1844, since which time she has remained a widow. Catharine Walter X her mark Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, before me, Jabez D. Hammond, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Otsego and State of New York. I certify that I know the above named Catharine Walter, and that by reason of bodily infirmity she is unable to attend the Court of Common Pleas of Otsego County or any other County of New York to make the above declaration dated March 7, 1845. Jabez D. Hammond State of New York Otsego County Franklin Coleman of the town of Springfield in the said County, age 48 years, being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was well acquainted with Christian Walter late of Springfield in said County who was a pensioner of the United States, and who died on or about the sixth day of May 1844. That said Christian Walter left a widow him surviving whose name is Catharina and who still lives in said town of Springfield and is an applicant for a pension. And deponent further saith that the family record book attached was the family record of said Christian and Catharina Walter. That the same is in the hand writing of Jacob Walter, son of said Christian and Catharina, and had been torn from the said widow's family bible for the purpose of accompanying this affidavit in the matter of her application for pension. Signed Franklin Coleman Submitted and sworn this 22nd day of December 1845 before me and I certify that said Franklin Coleman is a credible witness and that the above affidavit was read by him and declared to be true and correct before execution. Signed William Powell, Justice of the Peace Christian Walter was born July 15, 1758 Catharina Walter was born October 10, 1761 And they were married February 3, 1787 Oldest son Jacob Walter born February 14, 1788 Peter Walter born March 30, 1790 John Walter born August 6, 1792 George Walter born September 8, 1794 Benjamin Walter born August 6, 1796 Abraham Walter born April 20 (big ink blot) Conroth Walter born May 5, 1801 I certify that this is the true family record as kept by Jacob Walter and the same as sworn to by Franklin Coleman. Signed William Powell, Justice State of New York Otsego County Nancy Sitts, now Nancy Kesler of the town of Springfield in said County, aged 79, as being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that she is a sister of widow Catharina Walter who now lives in the town of Springfield in said County and is an applicant for a pension. Said Catharina is the widow of Christian Walter who was a pensioner and who died in Springfield aforesaid on or about the sixth day of May 1844. Deponent was present at the marriage of her said sister Catharina to said Christian Walter and witnessed the marriage ceremony which was duly performed by the Rev. Henry Krutts at Minden, Montgomery County, NY in the winter of the year 1787. Deponent remembers the year from the following circumstances, viz that she was then living with her brother Henry Sitts, where they were married. That her brother then had two children, little girls; and that her sister Mary with her husband Adam Kesler were present at the marriage and that her sister Catharina was married six years before she was and that she was married November 12, 1793. The said Christian and Catharina Walter continued to live together as husband and wife until the death of said Christian as aforesaid, since which time said Catharina has remained a widow. Nancy Kesler X her mark Subscribed and sworn this 20th day of December, 1845 before me and I certify that said Nancy Sitts, now Kesler is a credible witness, that the above affidavit was read to her and by her declared to be true and correct before execution. Nancy Kesler made her mark hereon as she cannot write. William Powell, Justice of the Peace State of New York Otsego County Mary Kesler of the town of Minden, Montgomery County, aged 80 years, being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she is a sister of widow Catharina Walter who now lives in the town of Springfield in said County and is an applicant for a pension. Said Catharina is the widow of Christian Walter who as a pensioner and who died at Springfield aforesaid on the sixth day of May, 1844. Deponent was present at the marriage of her sister Catharina to said Christian Walter to witness the marriage ceremony which was duly performed by the Rev. Henry Krutts at Minden, Montgomery County, New York in the winter of the year 1787. Deponent remembers the year from the following circumstances, viz, that they were married at her brother Henry Sitts who then had two little girls and that said Catharina was married about four months after she was. That she was married October 2nd, 1786. That said Christian and Catharina Walter continued to live together as husband and wife until the death of said Christian as aforesaid and that since that time she has remained his widow. Mary Kesler X her mark Subscribed and sworn this 17th day of December 1845 before me and I certify that said Mary Kesler is a credible witness and that the above affidavit was read to her and by her declared to be true and correct before execution. I certify that Mary Kesler made her mark hereon as she cannot write. William Powell, Justice of the Peace Remarks: I believe that Rev. Henry Krutts is Rev. Philip Krotz, a Lutheran pastor serving the Mohawk Valley. I suppose that his full name may have been Henry Philip or Philip Henry, in most records he is referred to as Philip Krotz. Record transcribed by: Claudia P. Bement March 1, 2002 |