Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for William Zimmerman

R.11990

On the second day of August 1838, William Zimmerman’s widow, Catherine Failing, daughter of Jacob Failing, applied for her husband’s pension for his service in the Revolutionary War.  She states that William died on April 4, 1830.  

The deponent further states that the said William Zimmerman and the said Catherine Failing were legally and lawfully joined in wedlock by the Rev. Daniel Gross for whose church records the search has been made but none to be found by the best information the church records were burnt with the church about the time of the general desolation then all the upper part of Canajoharie now Minden, but deponent says they were married in the latter part in January 1777 and that Gross was present during the marriage witnessed the marriage between William Zimmerman  and Catharine Failing and hearing them answer and so was the wife of Johan Daniel Gross D.D.

And deponent further saith that the said William Zimmerman had been a Revolutionary War soldier that he belonged to the company of Militia commanded by Capt Christian House in the Regiment of Militia Commanded by Col. Jacob Klock and General Nicholas Herkimer Brigade and that the said deceased soldier did enter the service on behalf of the United States early in the spring in the year 1775 and continued in serving in faithful service to the United States to the best of deponents knowledge, memory and belief as follows vizt.

1775 deponent saith that in consequence of the Johnson family whose influence causing frequent alarms and the Whigs often and frequently ordered out and causing watching and guarding the frontiers, using scouts for actible to specify each and very tour, but deponent declares that the deceased soldier at served the term of 2 months and 15 days, U.S. service during the course of said year. Vizt.

1776 deponent saith that the deceased soldier was ordered out with the whole brigade under the command of General Nicholas Herkimer to the village of Johnstown there to get Sir John Johnson and 400 disaffected Tories the causing Colonel Johnson with his men to surrender to the Americans when the deceased soldier being gone under the command of Capt Christian House and company 18 days.

Deponent further declares that the said  William Zimmerman deceased was in a volunteer company as always understood by the said soldier for the months under the command of Capt Jacob ? First Lieutenant and Joseph House 2nd Lieutanant.  That the said Captain with his company were stationed at Canajoharie, organized and marched to Herkimer and there stationed for two or three weeks when they went to Fort Stanwix then under the command of Col. Dayton then continued under his command in rendering service to the United States until the expiration of six months.

1777 Claimant further declares that he is personally known that the said deceased soldier was drafted to Ticonderoga and went under the command of Col. Cox, there stationed in rendering U.S. service the length of three months from the early ? 

Deponent further declares that he is personally known at the time of that memorable battle at Oriskany the deceased soldier with the brigade at Herkimer that the deceased soldier was recruited with others by Genl Herkimer himself and ordered to return to the Genls mansion, watching and guarding until relieved after the battle being gone the length of 21 days.

Deponent further declares that again the deceased soldier was drafted to ? water under the command of Capt Nicholas Righter and Lieut Johannes ? before the taking of Genl Burgoyne with his army in fall and continued rendering United States service the length of four weeks.

Deponent further saith the ? of the foregoing specifications that the deceased husband of the present claimant William Zimmerman did render essential United States service in consequence of frequent alarms, watching and guarding large forts, Fort Zimmerman, ordered out as scouts to watch the enemy.  That September finding it unpracticable to specify each and every town, house that had transpired to deponents personal observation during said year that enclose the foregoing specification the deceased solder at least did under the length of two months and fifteen days U.S. Service.

1778 Deponent further saith that at the time of the General Conflagration at Springfield, ordered out by regiment under the command of Col. Waggoner, sometime in June, length of eight days.

Deponent further saith, again ordered out by regiment under the command of Capt House under the command of Col. Klock at the time of the General Conflagration and desolation at Herkimer on the north side of the Mohawk river down to Fort Dayton and on the south side of saith river, down to Fort Herkimer, chiefly all made desolate, length of service during said tour, three weeks.

November, deponent further saith that again ordered out by regiment under the command of Col. Jacob Klock and Capt House, at the time of the General Conflagration at Cherry Valley with murdering, burning and taking of Prisoners that in which tour the deceased soldier was gone away from his place of residence, 12 days.

Including at the same time first being ordered to Indians chase with a draft and from there to Cherry Valley all in one tour the time of the service.

Deponent further saith that this was a year that the Militia continually had to be on the alert, often and frequently ordered out in consequence of alarms calling the incursions of the enemy, often and worthy during said service from spring until late in the fall.  Stationed at Fort Zimmerman, watching, guarding, in rendering garrison duty as also the deceased soldier was drafted to Fort Plank and there rendered garrison duty three weeks.

Impracticable to say pertaining to what time that by including said tour that the husband of the said widow, aforesaid according to the best of deponents knowledge and belief.  The deponent saith she thought that at least three months and fifteen days United States service during said period.

1779 deponent further saith, that at the expedition to the west under General James Clinton deponent says that the deceased soldier was prepared in service with his team vizt,  wagon and horses drawing boats by bateau to Lake Otsego only on trip taken a boat to the lake and the full length of time carrying baggage and provisions to Lake Otsego at the time of Genl Sullivan’s and Genl Clinton’s expedition to the west in destroying the Indian Castles and being engaged in behalf of the United States rendering such service, the length of time three weeks and three days.

1779 Deponent further saith that the said solder was ordered out with the whole regiment under Col. Waggoner, Capt Christian House’s company to which saith deponent belonged to during the Revolution.  At the time of the General Conflagration on the south side of the Mohawk river from Fort Herkimer down the Mohawk to fall hill and chiefly all fall hill and Andrustown, chiefly all was made desolate in rendering the length of 22 days  United States service during said tour of 28 days.

Deponent further saith that during said year the deceased soldier with the others went often and frequently alarmed and ordered out and meeting the incursions of the incendiaries.  Generally stations at their forts, sometimes sent out as scouts, spying the enemy that the deceased husband of the said widow Catharine Zimmerman on the foregoing specifications, did render at least the length of three months United States service during the period aforementioned.

1780 deponent further saith, that at the time of the General Confligration, Johnstown in the month of May from Tripes Hill up along the Mohawk river distance of at least ten miles, width of three miles north from the said river chiefly desolate, murdering, scalping, burning and a number of prisoners taken to Canada.  When Col. Klock Reg’t ordered out in pursuit after the enemy to the village of Johnstown there joined under Col. Harper, fearing the combatants to be desecrated, as were women and children if the pursuit was continued any further than to Johnstown village, the length of eight days during said tour.

Ordered out by Gen’l VanRensalear, Col. Klock’s Reg’t on the north side, Col Clydes Reg’t on the south side of the Mohawk river at the time when Capt Samuel Gray with his company of boat men were waylaid by Capt. Brandt along with his warriors between Fort Stanwix and Fort Schuyler (now Utica) when guarding and conducting all safe to Fort Stanwix, the length of fifteen days by the time returned which transpired late part of July.

1781 Sometime in March ordered out Col. Klock’s Reg’t at the time of the General Conflagration in the Royal Grand, Reimensnyders Bush, Shells Bush, Snells Bush, Youkers Bush and Krings Bush, chiefly all made desolate during the incursions, 14 prisoner taken to Canada.  In rendering service to the United States service the length of fifteen days.

Deponent further saith that Col. Klock’s Regiment was ordered out with an alarm to Bowman’s Creek, there stationed the length of eight days.

Deponent further saith that the 19th day of October at the time of Col. Klock’s Battle and Stone Arabia on Klocks and Failings Field under the command of Col. DuBois engaged in battle although Genl VanRenselaer had command of all but continuously ? himself being engaged, in neither battle during the course of that day, Minden took 1700 militia from above and east deponent doth not recollect or know other than the deceased soldier was engaged in Battle on Klock and Failings field.  He undoubtedly was stationed at Fort Zimmerman, watching and guarding in rendering garrison duty, protecting the inhabitants, women and children’s lives and there served at the fort the length of eight days.

Deponent saith the deceased soldier as well as all the soldiers in Col. Klock’s Reg’t during the course of the year, continually alarmed, generally stationed at Fort Zimmerman, guarding, watching and rendering garrison duty often and frequently, rendering it impractical to describe each and every tour, that the deceased soldiers exclusive of the foregoing specifications did render at least the length of three months and fifteen days United States service as as aforesaid.

1781 Deponent further saith that this was a serious year for the inhabitants to generally and more especially that the regiments of Col. Jacob Klock regiment on the north side with Col. Samuel Clyde reg’t opposite on the south side of the Mohawk Rivers the militia from the early part of the spring, the whole season until frost, continually on the alert, ordered out forepart in July, Col. Klocks reg’e under Capt House to reinforce Col. Willett at the time of the Turlough Battle when fighting Col. Willett immediately after battle in taking two different roads. Length of six days.

1781 Deponent further saith that at the time of the second General Conflagration, burning, murdering and taking some prisoners at Fort Zimmerman, in pursuing the enemy under the command of Col. Willett during the same afternoon, during the same night and greater part of next day, but disappointed Col. Willett (can’t read the rest of sentence.)

Deponent further states that at the time what is called Landman’s Battle in the latter part of July, the inhabitants alarmed went to their respective houses, forts, watching, guarding and rendering garrison duty.

Deponent further states that at the time of the Johnstown Battle under Col. Willett, latter part of October against Maj’r Ross and Capt Butler with the incendiaries from Canada, the whole regiment was ordered out to Johnstown.  Deponent doth not remember if the said soldier was engaged in the Battle or the Battle in pursuit of Ross and Butler but deponent has no doubt in her mind that the said soldier was otherwise engaged in rendering United States during the time, but believing that the said husband did join Col. Willett after Johnstown in pursing the enemy.  To the West Canada Creek where Col. Butler and others were slain, and some other soldiers are then marched, slain, and taken prisoner. 

Deponent further states that during the said year the militia were continually on the alert, from the early part in the spring until forepart of the winter.  People generally removed into safe places or forts, watching, guarding and rendering garrison duty by the militia, often and frequently ordered out in consequence of alarms, sometimes sent on scouts spying the enemy, that exclusive of the foregoing specifications the husband of the claimant at least did render the length of three months and fifteen days United States service.

1782 Deponent further saith that from the early part in Spring until forepart of winter, the inhabitants of their county of Tryon and particularly in the Town of Canajoharie on the south side of the Mohawk Rivers and Palatine on the north side of the said Mohawk Rivers, Col. Jacob Klock and Col. Samuel Clyde’s regiments have been continually annoyed and alarmed by the Indians who have almost continually kept lurking and sculking around and frequent incursions have transpired and perpetrated nothing short of seven occurrences have happened in Col. Klock’s Reg’t during the aforesaid and murder, burning and the taking of prisoners has been continually through the Town of Palatine and nothing short of the same number of occurrences vizt burning, murdering and the taking of prisoners has been perpetrated in Canajoharie in Col. Clyde’s Regiment on the south side of the Mohawk River.

The deponent further saith that in consequence of the many and frequent occurrences the Inhabitants continually alarmed and constantly seeking their safety in their forts respectively and the militia constantly on the alert frequently alarmed, out pursuing the enemy and scouts spying the enemy generally watching guarding and rendering garrison duty in Fort Zimmerman at least did service the length of three months United States service during the period aforesaid.

To verily the many and frequent Tories and occurrences that claimant ??? at want is being allowed for the length of services rendered by said husband for and during said year as stated in the immediate foregoing the deponent further states that the said widow Catharine Zimmerman at least is entitled to a lawful pension in consequence of the services rendered by deceased husband during the said Revolutionary War. 

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