Morrison's Pensions

Pension Application for John A. Coons (Koon)

R2292
State of New York
Columbia County
City of Hudson
            On this fifth day of September one thousand eight hundred & thirty-two personally appeared in open Court before the Justice of the Justice Court in & for the said City of Hudson in said County which Court is now sitting it being a Court of Record having a clerk and a seal John A. Coons a resident of the town of [Tanyhanck?] in said County of Columbia and State aforesaid aged seventy two years the Eighth of Last March who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June seventh 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated, at the time deponent Entered the service he resided in the Town of Canajoharie Montgomery County in the State of New York; In the Spring about the middle of March Seventeen hundred Seventy five (1), a few days after deponent was fifteen years of age he volunteered in the company Commanded by Captain Van Alstyne (2) of the Militia, Lieutenant Kritsner in the Regiment Commanded by Col. Klyde [Clyde], General Herkimer’s Brigade and deponent with said company was stationed in Fort Plank in the said Town of Canajoharie in Montgomery County & State aforesaid and remained in that Station until the first of May seventeen hundred and seventy nine under the same Captain Van Alstyne & Lieutenant Kritsner, and Col. Klyde, and under Genl Herkimer until he was wounded in the battle near fort Stanwicks and died—deponant was not in any important engagement generally remained at the fort was out on several scouting parties after the Indians.
            The first of May 1779 deponent was discharged and that summer moved to Dover in Dutchess County in State of New York and remained there about eleven years and then moved into the Town of Claverack in Columbia County where he resided there until he moved into the Town of Tanyhanack thirty years ago & more where he has ever since resided & still resides.  (Signed with his mark)  John A. coons
            Sworn & Subscribed the day and year first above mentioned.  Hiram Wilbur, Clerk
            This deponent hereby relinquishes every claim what ever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.  (Signed John A. Coons.
            Questions propounded by the Court
.

1. When and in what year were you born.

Answer:  I was born in the Town of Canajoharie in the County of Montgomery and State of New York the 8th of March 1760.

2. Have you any record of your age & if so where is it.

Answer: The record of my age was burnt up with the church at or near Fort Plain, I have no other.

3. Where were you living when called into service where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live.

Answer:  I was living in the Town of Canajoharie In the County of Montgomery State of New York and in the Summer of 1779 moved to Dover in Dutchess County in said State of New York and from there moved to Claverack and from there about thirty years ago to the Town of Tanyhanak in the County of Columbia and State of New York and have lived there ever since and still reside there.

4. How were you called into service, were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute.

Answer:  I was a volunteer.

5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served and Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect the general circumstances of your service.

Answer:  I do not recollect the names of any of the Regular officers at Fort Plank remember the names of my Capt.Van Alstyne & Lieutenant Kretsner, Col. Klyde & Genl Herkimer.  I was constantly stationed at Fort Plank to keep the fort.

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service.

Answer:  I never received a written discharge.

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.—

Answer:   I am and have been well acquainted for twenty years past with Adam J. Shaver, Christopher Yorker and John J. Johnson who are my neighbors and who will testify as to my character for veracity and their belief of my services.  (Signed with his mark)  John A. Coons.

End Notes, John A. Coons R.2292

  1. John is mistaken about the month. The companies and regiments were not formed until August 26, 1775.
  2. The Seventh Company officers were Captain Rynier Van Evera, First Lieutenant Martin C. Van Alstine (Van Alstyne, etc.), and Second Lieutenant James Guenall (Grinell).  Second Lieutenant James Guenall was killed at the Battle of Oriskany on August 6, 1777.  When John enlisted in 1775 Nicholas Herkimer, Colonel, was in command of the First Regiment of Tryon County Militia upon Herkimer being promoted to Brigadier General of the Tryon County Militia, Lieutenant-Colonel Ebenezer Cox was promoted to Colonel.

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