Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for Henry Gramps (Kramps, Krembs, Grimbs, Grembs)
W. 16273 (Widow: Nancy)
State of New York
Montgomery County SS.
On the sixth day of Sept. 1832 personally appeared before me Henry Dieffendorff one of the Judges of the Court of common please [sic] in and for the County of Montgomery and State of New York, Henry Grams a resident of the Town of Palatine in the County of Montgomery & State of New York aged exceeding seventy nine years, vizt 4 month & 11 days that he was Born on the 2d day of May 1753, 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers as far [as] he can recollect, vizt in the Regt of Militia commanded by Col. Jacob Klock, and Peter Waggoner Lieut Col. and Capt. Andrew Dillenbach’s company in the then County of Tryon, now County of Montgomery aforesaid, and that conformable to a certain Resolution, passed by the Old Congress on the 27th day of May 1775. Resolved that the Militia of N York be armed and trained and in constant readiness to act at a moment’s warning, this claimant saith and states, that he hath furnished himself with sufficient arms and accoutrements accoutrements as thereunto required, at least from that time to the close of the war, and always kept himself in readiness at a Moment’s Warning that Emediently after the commencement of the war, sometimes in mass and often and frequently drafted, the Militia of our Brigade, and more particularly the Regt to which this claimant did belong to, had to shoulder their arms, connected with their accoutrements and Provision in Marching at a distance and often at a small distance away from his abode or place of residence, in order to guard against, and sometimes to repel the incursions of the Common
Enemy.
That this claimant regrets that after such a Elapes and length of time he not being enabled to [denourenate?] or describe the number of days, months or years, or any particular duty or service so performed on behalfe of his Countries Cause, or United States, but that he suffice it sufficient, by making it appear by the following declaration to his Hon’r the Secretary of the War department that he has proved a faithful subject to his country from the beginning to the close of the War, will but his application beyond any doubt.
[Written in tiny script on the side of the first page: A Ellis from the little falls then Tryon County now Herkimer, to Stop their progress going to Canada with goods, which was sometime in summer in the year 1776 went about 100 miles [???] and caused them to stop over[?] as to number of days, not in his recollection.]
First he can recollect, he was drafted with others of the militia to go in pursuit of men with boats by the name of A. Hext, all the Militia of col. Klock’s Regt and men then belonging to Capt. Andrew Dillenbaghs company called out to March to Caughnawaga now Montgomery County, there joining Genl Schuyler with his militia from Albany and Schenectady and from thence marched to Johnstown, to cause surrender of Sr. John Johnson and his associates supposing composed of about 400 men all armed, not knowing the particular object of Sr. John, but apparently as he intended or contemplated, either to march off to join the British in Canada, otherwise expecting that they would commit depredations by injuring the friends or Whigs who felt in favour of [atchicoing?] the American Independence. Which the foregoing happened in the winter of 1776. Continued for about two weeks when returned.
This claimant further states and declares that he did perform services on various occasions, and on many and at different times and emergency to guard against the incursions of the common and daily expected enemy until the forepart of summer in the year 1777, when draft of the militia was made, then went with Genl Herkimer vizt the Gen’l of Brigade, to which this Claimant did belong, to Unindala [Unadilla] down the Susquehanna river, there mett Capt. Brandt the Indian Chief, with a large body of Indians supposing at least Five hundred men, or Indian Warriors, but after four days, spent Capt. Brandt with two of his warriors came into camp, treating and concluding not to take battle, about six weeks gone from home.
Same year 1777 in July marching under command of Gen’l Nicholas Herkimer on his way to Fort Stanwix when sent back by Gen’l himself with others to guard to General’s Family and neighborhood around Indian Castle, while others went into battle at Oriskany with Gen’l himself, their remained until after Battle when Gen’l returned after battle wounded and died. When after this claimant returned home to his family.
This claimant further declares that as he believes on the 22d day of May 1780 that he was ordered out under Capt. Selvenus Cook. Same beat and company to which belonging previous thereto, to Caughnawaga, Town of Johnstown where Sr. John Johnson with a large part of his incendiary crew from Canada hath taken the most respectable part of its Inhabitants on surprise in the night or day break, murdering & scalping, making prisoners of men, women & children, taking them along into the woods, after being pursued by the militia then under the command of Col. John Harper, to the Village of Johnstown, and after arriving at Johnstown Village, the last this claimant saw of the enemy their leaving the family residence vizt, the Hall, marching across the farm once owned by the said Sr. John the last few of them at that time.
This Claimant also declares, that in October 18th same year 1780 Emediently after the Battle in Palatine, generally called Brown’s battle in which Col. Brown fell victim to the enemy, Sr John Johnson at the head of the Incendiary crew from Canada, at which engagement forty five of our men slain, butchered & killed, retreating both militia and Brown’s men he declares that in pursuit of Sr John with his incendiary crew for about eight miles there in battle on Failing’s & Klock’s field or flats, that he this claimant continued in Battle until the Enemy was put to flight—O let shame and disgrace for ever accompany the character of Genl VanRenssealer who fist misled the Brave Col. Brown who was slain in the first Engagement in Stonearabia when chiefly all the building, & Grain was burnt, and again when in pursuit of the Incendiary Crew, on the same day in the afternoon, when in the power of the Gen’l with sufficient force to have caused a total surrender of the enemy, making a halt a distance some short of one mile, leaving it to the courageous, Vizt Col. Dubois with some of his nine month’s men, and the Militia, who fought the battle on Failing’s & Klock’s field connected with some of our own Indians, whereas if Gen’l Van Rensselair had been marching on with the force under his then command the common Enemy could have Entertained no possible hopes to have escaped, but constraint to [Goald?] and surrender.
That this claimant further declares, that in July 29th 1781 engaged in battle also then in the said Town of Palatine against a large party of Indians and Tories in the woods, than as he beliefs under the command of Lieut Jacob Sammons who he beliefs had the Command of our Militia, when the enemy were attacted and taken on surprize, Generally called Landman’s Battle being near Landman’s farm in the woods, on a Holy Sabath day, the chief of the enemies Indians, killed and several wounded and put to flight.
And again in Oct. 25th same year engaged in Battle, Johnstown, then under the Emedient Command of Col. Marinus Willett against Maj’r Ross and a large party from Canada the no. of which not ascertained, but supposed at leave five hundred, which happened to have proved a seareous conflict. A number of lifes lost on both sides, and prisoners taken from both sides, first our field piece taken by the enemy and again retaken when he this applicant was present in retaking their cannon, with the loss of several lifes, by the enemy around about the field piece, as well than some of their own men.
This applicant further declares, and states that he went with the Militia to Cherryvally when ordered out, when the Cruel Murder and Butchering and depredations were Committed, and perpetrated on the inhabitants of the Town by the Indians and Tories, vizt on Men, Women and Children that our men came there only & emediantly after the cruel act hath been done aiding and assisting in carrying away the horrid mangled dead bodies on Waggons, vizt Men, Women & Children in some Instances nearly whole families, were connectively carried to such places as directed. This Claiment further declares that he thinks in the latter part of summer 1783 in the then Town of Palatine aforesaid same county, now Town of Oppenheim, again a large party of Indians and Tories from Canady estimated about 300, on purpose and unexpectedly laying waste by burning killing and destroying men & beast at a distance around and about Fort Timmerman, altough [all through?] Town of Oppenheim, but places now called St. Johns Ville—When this Claimant went in pursuit of the common enemy he thinks then under the Emedient command of Col. Willett at a distance of about thirty miles, but no overtaking the Incendiaries &c the number of days he does not recollect while from home.
This claimant further says that in the summer 1780 to the best of his knowledge the militia ordered out to guard the boats & boat men, attending the same. The company of boat men commanded by Capt. Samuel Gray—From Fort Schuyler to Fort Stanwix, conveying provisions for the supplies of the garrison, Capt. Gray was appointed to enlist a company of boatmen at two different seasons, or 9 months this claimant always [?] for each season [?] provisions from Schenectady to Fort Stanwix and else where whenever thereunto required. At this particular period well ascertained that a large party or number from Canada, vizt of the Common Enemy were watching and determined to make an attack on Capt. Gray’s Company & boats depriving and disappointed Col. Gansevoort & Col. Willett & soldiers in not receiving their expected supply at the fort. When Genl Van Rensselaer & Col. John Harper with the Militia mett the boats at Fort Schuyler, the enemy passing down along the Mohawk river laying waste & burning and destroying all on the south side of the river now town of Minden about 35 miles below Fort Schuyler when the boats & company all guarded safe to Fort Stanwix, But emediently day after [?] on their return, down along the Mohawk River, but number of days gone this claimant does not remember.
That this applicant further declares that he has been drafted several times to March with other of the Militia to Royal Grant watching and guarding frontiers, also at different times to Herkimer one time when; murder and destruction committed at other times Guarding and watching against the Incursions and depredations of the enemy—and at varies and different other places impossible to recollect, after an elapse of fifty years and more.
And this applicant further says and declares that he hath resided at a little better than half a mile from Fort Paris, where the Inhabitants general round about the Fort and a number at a distance from one to ten miles would and some did move and other times all around the fort into the ford and so continued he may safely say, the Fort being erected and build in the year 1776, that from the commencement of the year 1777, the services performed in watching and guarding the fort would at a moderate calculation average twelve months to the conclusion of the war.
That this claimant further saith and declares that he hath been born in the Town of Palatine, then County of Tryon now County of Montgomery, where he hath resided previous for and during the war, and ever since—and that 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 whatsoever to his knowledge. And further this claimant saith not. (Signed with his mark) Henry Gramps.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before Henry I. Dievendorff a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county of Montgomery County.
Letter in the file dated April 29, 1938, giving reply to a request for information.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, W.16273, based upon the military service in that war of Henry Gramps, which spelling also occurs as Kramps, Krembs, Grumbs or Grembs, the only other soldier of that name or similar spelling, that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office, than Heinrich Grem, S.23244.
Henry Gramps was born May 2, 1753, in Palatine, Tryon (later Montgomery) County, New York. The names of his parents are not shown.
While residing in Tryon County, New York, Henry Gramps enlisted and served at various times at the forts and on short tours from sometime in 1775 until 1782, about three years and eight months in all, as a private in the New York troops under Captains Andrew Dillenbach, Christopher Fox, Kayser, House, Severinus Cook, Christian Nellis and Miller, Major House and Colonels Klock, Dayton, Waggoner, Harper and Willett. He was in the battles of Oriskany, both battles of Stillwater, at Cherry Valley, Klock’s Field and Johnstown. He was also in engagements at Caughnawaga, Fort Timmerman and in Landman’s Battle.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 6, 1832, while residing in Palatine, New York.
The soldier married early in the summer of 1775, Nancy, daughter of Deebolt Nellis, date and place of her birth and name of her mother are not shown. They were married in the Reformed Dutch Church at Fort Plain, by the Reverend Doctor Daniel Gross.
Nancy, widow of Henry Gramps, was allowed pension on her application executed September 29, 1837, while residing in Palatine, New York, and aged seventy-eight years.
She died at said Palatine, December 16, 1843.
She was survived by two children, John H. Gramps and Mary, wife of Christopher Nestall or Nestle. In 1849, both resided in Palatine, New York. The dates of their birth are not shown and no names of any other children are given.
In 1837, John D. Nellis a brother of the widow, Nancy, was aged eighty-one years and resided in Whitestown, Oneida County, New York.