Pension Application

S.10605
Rev. War and 1812
B.L.Wt24610-160-55
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
State of New York
Herkimer County SS.
            On this thirteenth day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Herkimer in the State of New York Henry Eckler a resident of the town of Starks in the County of Herkimer aged sixty seven years on the 24th day of January 183[?], last past, 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 7, 1832.
            That in the year 1780 this deponent who was a little below fifteen years of age was enrolled in Captain Joseph House’s Company Jacob Snyder was the Lieutenant and Abraham Copeman was Major that the company was at Fort Plank now in the County of Montgomery, that this deponent was employed all that season at the Fort and most of the time in standing on guard, but did not go out of the Fort on any excursions, [?] other persons [?] employed in that duty—that deponents whole family except his Father were taken prisoners but one sister who was murdered by the Indians. That this was in harvest time of that year, and from that time until the winter set, he this deponent removed in the Fort and done duty in the company taking his time of doing the ordinary service required of soldiers in a Fort—That from harvest time until fall this deponent thinks he done at least two months service as a soldier in said Fort—
            And this deponent further says that he remained in the same Fort during the winter, but did not do duty as no apprehensions were entertained by the Indians in the winter season—that in the month of May in the year 1781 this deponent again commenced doing duty in said company and did under the same officers, that during this season this deponent was out and in pursuit of the Indians to [?] Creek, and once about a half mile when a man was killed by the Indians but the company did not overtake of rind the Indians in either of these excursions—that most of the time he was employed in and about the fort—that he went to plow some near the Fort and done some other work, but not any distance from the Fort, and that during this summer this deponent done duty as such soldier at least three months.
            And this deponent further says, that he remained in said Fort during all the [?] winter as they did the year before doing no duty in the winter and commenced [?] in the service to defend themselves against the incursions of the same; that in the year 1782 he was again employed as before in doing duty in the fort & in making repairs and working a little around the fort during all the Summer season—and that the whole time he was continually employed in doing duty was at least three months—and night be sure then that length of time—and this deponent continued in said Fort until the news of the peace in the fall of the year 1783, during which time this deponent performed the same kind of duty and was actually employed about two months as a soldier that during all this time this deponent was in the same company and under the same officers—that when the news of peace was received they roasted an ox at Fort Plank and had a general [?]—That this deponent was not engaged in any battle, that this deponent has seen Col. Marinus Willett that there were some regular soldiers at Fort Plain belonging to Gansevorts Regiment but did not know the officers that this deponent had no written discharge that this deponent knows of no clergyman in his neighborhood at present that can certify for him as such soldier.
            And to the several questions put to him by the court, this Deponent answering says, that he was born in the then town of Canajoharie, now Minden in the county of Montgomery on the 24th day of January 1766, that the record of his birth is kept in a large book now belonging to this deponent, formerly belonging to his Father & recorded by him.
            That Deponent when he first done duty was a resident of the Town of Canajoharie aforesaid, that since the war he resided in the present town of Minden until the division of towns and counties he became a resident of the town of Starks in the County of Herkimer where he now lives—That this deponent was never enlisted, but was compelled to do duty by Capt. House and Major Copeman—that he never received any written discharge—that he thinks he will be able to prove the above services by Jacob Knowls and Richard [?[ and can prove [?] to petition as a soldier of the same [?] and by Capt. Jacob A. Young and Thomas Hall Esqr.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. (Signed with his mark) Henry Eckler
            Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid in open court. Julius C. Nelson

State of New York
Montgomery County SS.
            On this twenty second day of April A.D. one thousand Eight hundred and fifty one, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Henry Eckler aged eighty four years, a resident of the town of Cherry Valley in the County of Otsego and state aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that he is the identical Henry Eckler who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Jacob Young in the Regiment of New York Militia commanded by Colonel George H. Nellis in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812, that he was ordered out at the town of Stark in the County of Herkimer and State aforesaid, on or about the seventh day of September A.D. One thousand eight hundred and fourteen for an indefinite time and continued in actual service in said war for the term of two months and was honorably discharged at Sackets Harbor on the eighth day of November A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fourteen as will appear by the Muster Rolls of said company. Declarant further states that he received a regular certificate of discharge at the time but after several years, it was lost, and states further that he has never received and is not entitled to receive Land Bounty, under any act of Congress heretofore passed.
            He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which me may be entitled under the act granting Bounty Land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the Military service of the United States passed September 28th 1850. (Signed with his mark) Henry Eckler
            Witness. J. W. Hamilton
            Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written. And I hereby certify that I believe the said Henry Eckler to be the identical man who served as aforesaid, and that he is of the age above stated. I further certify that his name is sometimes spelled “Ackler” & sometimes “Acler”. James W. Hamilton, Justice of the Peace.

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