Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for Cornelius Eckerson
Declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
W16971
State of New York
Montgomery County
On
this 7th day of August one thousand eight hundred thirty three personally
appeared before me David Spraker one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County of Montgomery aforesaid being a court of record. Cornelius
Eackerson of Canajoharie & County aforesaid, and State of New York
aged 77 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions
made by the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named
officers and served as herein stated to wit: the applicant was born in
the Town of Schoharie in the County of Schoharie and State of New York & at
the commencement & during the Revolutionary War he was a resident of
Schoharie in the County and State aforesaid. He served as a regularly
enrolled soldier in the militia company commanded by Capt George Mann,
Lieut. Steubrach in Col. Vrooman’s Regt., Major Becker. (1) The place
of his residence was near what was then the frontier settlement near a
stone church which was afterwards called the Lower Fort.
Had
2 brothers in the same company older than himself by the names of Thomas
and John__ [____] vicinity of the inhabitants vicinity favored the cause
of the colonies—But as early as the Spring of 1778--& In [pur?-] &___ann[?]
of the advice of the committee of Safety. The Militia Company was
divided into classes of 12 Soldiers each—Each class in rotation to
stand sentry & on guard night & day at the low[er] church. In
consequence of an occonal [occasional[?] depredations of Indians whose
incursions secured [?] when favored by a small portion of the inhabitants
[_____?] & then were also with the Indians on ____ _____ing? tories
from neighboring towns – great uneasiness & alarm was felt—The
applicant & his two brothers were in separate classes—The applicant
volunteered to supply his own tour in this service--& also that of
each of his brothers—On or about the first of April 1776--And continued
such [___?] from that time until the spring of 1777--under the command
of the said Capt. Mann, Lieut. Steubrah in Col. Vrooman’s Regt. Indians
were confined at the Fort of Stone Church (2) which was not palisaded & picketed
as the thinks until 1777.--They have at said Fort called the Lower
For--Either then Captain, Lieut. or Ensign by the name of Dietz (3) or
a Sergeant at the time but seldom more than one at a time.--The duty of
the applicant was as a private, standing sentry at the fort on guard on
scouts & excursions of observation and on drill all the time--& his
tours by rotation for himself and his brothers, a portion of the time 3
weeks in from 2 a part of the time, 3 weeks in 5--From April 1776 to March
1777 when he came to serve for his brothers as he believes, the time in
all from April 1776 to March 1777 as he believes—[____?] time in
All from April 1776 to 1 March 1777—as deponent believes at least
seven months. In that time he performed no civil business deponent
saith. That the same system of precaution and defense was kept up
during the months of March & April 1777--In which the deponent served
at Low[er] Fort two tours of one week each under the same officers.--When
about the last of May as near as this Deponent can recollect there was
a call for a Militia Service on the Mohawk--The whole company under Capt.
George Mann & Lieut. Steubragh & Col. Vroman with other militiamen
were marched to the Mohawk & spent some time at the little forts on
that river. When then marched through Saratoga to Ford Edward
a distance from home as he believes of abut 80 miles where a portion of
the Northern Army were garrisoned. When this deponent had been then
about eight days in as he believes there was draft made from his company
for three months of 7 privates and this deponent was one of those who was
drafted for that time & staid & served his time at said Fort until
it was evacuated by Gen’l Schuyler (4) as he believe.--The Col. Vroman
and this deponent’s Capt returned after a few days --& of the
officers of his company only Lieut Steubragh remained during the 3 months—The
deponent followed the retreat of the Northern Army until it reached Stillwater—And
the deponent believes about the first of Sept. his time expired and was
discharged at Stillwater & returned home by way of Schenectady & Duanesbush
(5) after an absence in with at so____? & going—returning of
at least four months—This deponent saith he was marched during this
period to the vicinity of Fort Stanwix (6) when Col. Gansevoort (7) commanded
there--but on account of loss of memory he cannot be satisfied whether
it was before or after going to Fort Edward but is confident it was in
the time above specified.--
Deponent
further saith that after his return to Schoharie, there was an alarm that
Burgoyne (8) was coming on to Albany & Col. Vrooman called
out the militia of his Reg't when this deponent volunteered. This
deponent thinks about the last of Sept 1777 under his before mentioned
Capt. and Lieut. & they were marched from Schoharie through Duanesbush—Schenectady
(9) towards Still Water and met other troops stationed along to prevent
the enemy from coming down before they reached Still Water. They
were informed of the defeat & surrender of Burgoyne, (10) were dismissed--returned
to Schoharie again—absent from home 2 weeks it____? deponent thinks.
During
the summer or fall of 1777, the 3 forts called the upper, middle and lower
forts were put in repair & picketing around--and a company
of Continental Troops were stationed at them together with a portion of
the militia.--
In
the spring of 1778 as early as the middle of March deponent thinks--He
took his tours before according to the old classification of Capt. Mann’s
Company--doing duty in the Lower Fort every fourth week--in standing sentry--on
guard & was occasionally sent out on scouts by the commander of the
fort--He was then under Capt. Mann--Lieut. Steubragh & Ensign Diets
one of whom were at the fort as deponent thinks all the time-- There was
also a few regular troops at said fort--The Capt. of the Continental troops
was at this time either at the upper or middle fort. This deponent
continued serving in this way as near as he can recollect until the middle
of July when it was required to man the upper fort more [thorough?]--& this
deponent volunteered, entered the militia service at the upper fort about
the middle of August continued then serving under Capt. Hagar (11) of the
militia In Col. Vrooman’s Regt., Major Thomas Eckerson in standing
sentry,--keeping guard & in scouts until about the middle of October
of 1778 when he was discharged at the upper fort & returned home--having
served at the two forts at least fromthe middle of March, Three months & one
week.
The
deponent saith that during this season the inhabitants were greatly alarmed
and distressed--Property was destroyed,--buildings burnt, & lives
taken by the Tories and Indians in every direction.--In the day time--the
families could only work in constant fear & at night would resort to
the forts for protection.--Settlements were destroyed all around us--The
whites were hunted like game in the forest & in like manner we hunted
the enemy in turn. During this year a Capt. McDonald (12) a notorious
Tory has collected 300 or more Indians & Tories—They were too
weak to afford relief far abroad--When Col. Harper (13) came to Schoharie
on his way to Albany for a company of horse (14) This deponent conducted
the Col. through enemies,-- guards & patrolling grounds & in a
short time he returned with some light horse from Col. Gansevoort (15) & dispersed
the enemy for a time from the Schoharie Valley.--At this time it was that
Capt Mann (16) was disaffected to afford aid & succor to the enemy--broke
off his commission & he put in jail-- Lieut. Steubragh was made Capt.
of this deponent’s company.--Ensign Dietz was made Lieut.--Col. Harper
took Capt. Mann new coat from him--& offered it to this deponent & he
refused to wear it or accept it. All the militia service rendered
by the deponent after that period was under the last officers above named
until the close of the war.
Then
forts were more or less garrisoned during the subsequent years of 79-80-81,--both
summer and winter as deponent believes & the above
militia company being formed soldiers nearest the vicinity of the Lower
Fort.--This deponent believes there was no time but there were some of
Capt. Steubragh’s Company either as drafts or as volunteers in the
Lower Fort.--This deponent served no more for his said brothers after the
year 78, who are now both dead.--Deponent’s fathers grain & barns
were all destroyed & burned by the Indians.--He had a sister & brother-in-law
inhumanely butchered by them & he was left with little or no inducements
or desires but to follow the fate of the war.--This deponent saith also
that he continued serving his periodical times of every fourth week from
the middle of Oct 1778 until the beginning of the winter of 1781 at the
Lower Fort--under Capt. Steubach and Lieut. Diets--doing duty as before
stated-- With regular sotime[?] of duty was only interrupted by the
incursions of the Onondaga Indians into Schoharie in 1779 by devastation
of Sir John Johnson with 800 Indians & Tories in 1780 who besieged
the fort & laid waste the whole settlement--although the forts were
maintained against fearful odds --for we had Col. Harper (17) and Tim Murphy
(18) on the ground--and in 1781 when the “notorious” Tory Dockstader
(19) came into the county with his Indians & Tories under him and on
these occasions. The garrisons being more closely pressed parties
being required for scouts & for offensive operations.--This deponent’s
term was extended from 1 week to 3 weeks on these occasions as near as
this deponent can by any means ascertain or remember.--And this deponent
cannot estimate his services as above described for the last 3 years to
wit in the years of 1779-80 & 81 at said fort under command of
the officers last above mentioned including the excursions & scouts
made under their orders, & command not less than ten months and a half.--
This
deponent had many services in battles with Tories and Indians to wit: at
Durlock,(20) at Cobleskill--at Schoharie, at Johnstown and at the places
in the border war.--The deponent saith further that in 1778-79-80 & 81
the deponent was as he believes at least 2/3 of the time on scouts and
excursions after Tories and Indians--in the spring, summer and fall months
besides the ten and a half months above specified he cannot say that except
the time above specified he was or could be considered as acting in “an
organized corps” except as to the above specified he is described—He
is confident that from 1776 to the spring of 1782 he was not able
to attend to his own private and civil pursuit equal to one fourth of the
time--He was often on scouts after Tories and Indians--on the Mohawk down
the Delewear and Susquehannah to the beaver dam & other places a way
more than thirty scouts with the famous Indian hunter Murphy--with his
double barreled rifle.--Was once at West Canada Creek after Sir John Johnson’s
army when Gen’l Van Rensselaer (21) pursued him—Knew the Harpers--Gen’l
Van Rensselaer, has seen Gen’l Gates, & Col. Willett, (22) Capt.
Patrick, Major McKean & Gen’l Herkimer --but does not recollect
the name of the Captain who commanded the Continentals at the fort unless
it was Capt. Patrick. (23)
The
deponent saith that by reason of age & the consequent loss of memory
he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service--but
according to the best of his recollection he served in the periods above
specifically detailed--in an organized corps commanded by competent authority
as a private not less than two years and one month & two weeks for
which he claims a pension.--Does not recollect being stationed with regular
troops except those mentioned above nor does he recollect the names of
any other officers in the Continental service with whom he was acquainted
except those named above.--That he served in the above specified time either
in the garrison in the field or marching under orders in organized corps
commanded by competent authority--and that during all said times he was
employed in civil pursuits.
Deponent
had no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can
procure who can testify to the services except those whose affidavit will
be hereto attached. He hereby relinquishes every claim for a
pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not
on the pension roll of any agency of any state.
(Signed) Cornelius Eckerson
Sworn & subscribed
third day & year ___? Above written. Before me, David Spraker
a Judge of Montgomery County.
State of New York
Schoharie County SS
On this
twentieth day of March 1838 personally appeared before me William Beekman Serior
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie aforesaid, Catherine
Eckerson, a resident of the Town of Sharon County of Schoharie and State aforesaid
in the Eightieth year of her age, who being first duly sworn according to law,
doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit
of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July fourth 1836. That
she is the widow of Cornelius Eckerson, deceased who was a revolutionary pensioner
of the United States at the time of his death, of about $55.55 per annum. That
he was in the revolutionary service after their marriage and she thinks, in
Capt. Stubrach’s Company in Col. Vrooman’s regiment.
She further
declares that she was married to the said Cornelius Eckerson on the sixteenth
day of January 1781. That her husband, the aforesaid Cornelius Eckerson
died on the 30th day of August, 1837 and she has remained a widow ever since
that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. That
she drew the balance of his pension up to the time of his death, and the pension
certificate was sent with the power of attorney the time she drew the balance
of the pension.
N.B. the
word “marriage” interlined in 10th line above before executed.
(Signed with her mark) Catherine Eckerson
Witness to Catherine Eckerson make at the time she maid it. Christian
Otman
Sworn to
and Subscribed on the day and year above written before me. William Beekman,
first Judge of Schoharie County.
I certify
that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the court.
William Beekman, First Judge of Schoharie Co.
State of New York
Schoharie County SS
George A.
Lintner, Pastor of St. Pauls Lutheran Church of the town and county of Schoharie
and State aforesaid being duly sworn, saith that he has examined the ancient
records of said church, kept in the German Language, and which have been in
his possession for more than eighteen years past, and that he finds therein
records, under the head of marriages, the marriage of Cornelius Ecker to Catherine
Hillsinger, in these words, “Den Sixteenth January. Anno, seventeen
hundred and eighty one, Cornelius Ecker Johannes sohn und Chatrina Helzinger”. And
further that the above extract is a true copy of the Record with the exception
of the date which is expressed On the Record in fair legible figures as follows “Den
16th January Anno 1781” N.B. in the 3rd line above part of the
word “Chatrina” was written over a blue.
G. A. Lintner
Subscribed
and sworn this 29th day of September 1838 before me. Oliver Miles, Justice
of the Peace.
End Notes