Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for Christian Osterman

W.21876 (Widow: Elizabeth)
State of New York
County of Schenectady
            On this second day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred & eighteen—before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Scnenectady, personally appeared Christian Osterman aged nearly sixty three years, resident in Duanesburgh who being by me first duly sworn, according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress—entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services, of the United States, in the revolutionary war—that he the said –Christian Osterman enlisted in Col. Wyncoop’s Regiment State of New York, Capt. Robert McKean’s Company—continental troops in the year 1776 in the month of March and served nine months and was discharged which destroyed  or lost & [?] by the enemy—I that he was in no battles at that time but since at Johnstown &c That he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for his support & that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services, but is annexed.  (Signed) Christian Osterman
            Sworn to & declared before me the day & year aforesaid.  Simon A. Groot one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Schenectady.

State of New York
Albany County SS.
            On this 18th day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared before the Justices Court of the City of Albany (the same being a court of record)  Elizabeth Osterman a resident of the Town of Guilderland, in the said County of Albany aged eighty two years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836 and the joint resolution of July 7, 1838:--
            That she is the widow of Christian Osterman who was a soldier in the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War and at the time of his death, Pensioner under the Act of Congress of 18th March 1818.
            She further declares that she was married to the said Christian Osterman, on the eighth day of July in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven; that her husband the aforesaid Christian Osterman died on the fifth day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, and she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.—
            She further declares that she was married at Caughnawaga, in the County of Montgomery and the ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Romeyn who was then the Pastor of the reformed Protestant Dutch Church in that place.—Also that her name previous to her marriage was Elizabeth Nukirk—Also that she has never learned to write & therefore makes a single cross for her signature.  (Signed with her mark)  Elizabeth Osterman
            Sworn to & Subscribed on the day & year first above written in open court.  Witness the seal of said County & the signature of the Clerk thereof.  J.G. Wasson Clk

Letter replying to an inquiry dated January 4, 1921.
            In response to your letter dated the 31 ultime? I have the honor to advise you that it appears in the appears in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. File No. 21876 that Christian Osterman enlisted in Tryon County New York in March 1776 as a private in Captain Robert McKean’s Company, Colonel Wynkoop’s Regiment and served until December 22, 1776.  He was in no battles during the above noted period but was afterwards engaged in the battle of Johnstown.
            He was allowed pension on an application executed November 2, 1818, while a resident of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County, New York, aged Nearly sixty-three years.
            He married July 8, 1777 at Caughnawaga, NY, Elizabeth Nukirk, and died March 5, 1839, while a resident of Guilderland, Albany County, New York, aged eighty-two years.  Elias Gray was a son-in-law, the name of his wife not stated, and there is no other data on file as to his family. 

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