Pension Application

Morrison's Pensions

Pension Application for Henry Shafer

W19355
            His name appears on a list of applicants for invalid pension returns by the District Court for the District of New York submitted to the House of Representatives by the Secretary War on April 25, 1794, and printed in the American State Papers, class 9, page 94.
Rank: Sergeant
Regt: Colonel Kooman’s
Disability: Wounded in the thigh by a musket ball at an engagement with the British Tories and Indians.
When and Where Disabled: May 30, 1778, Cobuskill.
Residence: Cobuskill
Remarks: No injury. There are no militia rolls in the office.
            Evidence transmitted by the District Court incomplete. Disability from known wounds not sufficiently proved. The wound declared to be trifling by the surgeons. No evidence of his leaving the service. There are not depositions of freeholders to prove his continued disability.
            A good part of the copied papers in the folder are too light to be read. A letter is included in the folder and you will find a copy of it following.

Letter in the pension folder
February 26, 1938
Leora Hildebrand
111 Priscilla Avenue
Johnstown, New York
Dear Madam:
            Reference is made to your letter in which you furnish additional information in regard to Henry Schaffer of the Revolutionary War, and state that he served in the Albany County, New York militia, under Colonel Peter Vrooman, and was stationed in a fort to defend the inhabitants from the Indians; also information relative to John Schaefer, who had similar service.
            The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and no claim for pension found based upon the service of a John Schafer, in the Albany County, New York militia. The surname was searched under similar spellings.
            The record of Henry Shafer is furnished herein as found in pension claim, W. 19355, based upon his military service in the War of the Revolution.
            Henry Shafer (as his signature is shown in the claim) was born in Schoharie, Albany County, New York. He was the son of “Henrich Schaefer”, name of his mother not stated.
            While residing in Cobleskill, New York, Henry Shafer served as an orderly sergeant under Colonel Peter Vrooman, as follows-
            In the fall of 1775, under Captains John Bank and George Mann, out against the Indians around Stone Arabia, about eight days; in the spring of 1776, three months in Captain John Banks’ company; in the fall of 1776 on month in Captain John Banks’ company; in the spring of 1777 two weeks in Captain George Mann’s company; again in 1777, six months in Captain Brown’s company captured about forty Tories in ’78-9, nine months in Captain Brown’s company and was wounded in the Battle of Cobleskill; in the winter of 1778 and 1779 length of service not stated, in Captain Brown’s company and assisted in building Fort Dubois at Cobleskill; in 1779, six months in Captain Brown’s Company, stationed at Fort Dubois to protect the inhabitants; in 1780,six months in Captain Brown’s company, stationed at Fort Dubois, the ??? burnt Fort Dubois in the spring of 1781, and in the summer of 1781, three months in Captain Brown’s company, stationed in “the lower fort” in Schoharie to protect the inhabitants; in 1782, three months in Captain Brown’s company stationed in “the lower fort.”
            The vicinity around Cobleskill was infested with Indians and Tories and the service of the soldier, Henry Shafer, was in defense of the inhabitants and to protect the country from invasions of the enemy.
Henry Shafer was allowed pension on his application executed February ?, 1834, at which time he was aged seventy-five years, and living in Cobleskill, New York.
            He died in Cobleskill, April 15, 1839.
            Henry Shafer married November 23, 1777, Elizabeth Werner or Warner; their marriage was recorded on the books of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Schoharie, New York.
            His widow, Elizabeth Shafer, was allowed pension on executed June 4, 1839, at which time she was in the eightieth year of her age, and living in Cobleskill, New York. The date and place of birth of the widow, Elizabeth were not given, nor were the names of her parents stated.
            Peter Schafer (as he signed) was living in 1834 in Schoharie, New York, stated that he was, also, wounded in the Battle of Cobleskill, and was well acquainted with the soldier, Henry Shafer. Peter R. Shafer (as he signed) was of Schoharie, New York in 1838. Their relationship to Henry Shafer was not stated, nor was it shown that they were related to each other.
            In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of the death of the widow, Elizabeth Shafer, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C. and furnish the following data-
Elizabeth Shafer, Widow of Henry Shafer
Certificate #3367
Issued June 20, 1840
Rate $120.00 per annum
Commenced April 15, 1839
Act of July 4, 1836
New York Agency.
            Very truly yours, A.D. Hiller, Executive Assistant to the Administrator