Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for George Zimmer
S. 23507
State of New York
County of Schoharie
SS (Subscribed
and Sworn) On this thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand
Eight Hundred and Fifty-One, personally appeared before me, a justice of the
peace, duly authorized to administer oaths, in and for the county and state
aforesaid, George Zimmer, in the Eighty Sixth year of his age, a resident of
the Town of Wright, county and state aforesaid, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth on his oath depose and say, that he was a soldier in
the war of the revolution and served in Col. Peter Vrooman’s Regiment
of which said regiment Peter Guilley (Ziele?) was Lieut, Col, Jost Becker was
a Major or Lawrence Schoolcraft, sen. Was the Adjutant.
This deponent
says to the best of his knowledge and present recollection he served in the
year seventeen hundred and seventy-nine as a private soldier in a company then
commanded by John Enders, ensign, John Schuyler and William Enders, Sergeants
in this company. This deponent served two months in the year 1779. Also
this deponent served one month in the Middle Fort in 1779. This deponent
thinks that Bartholomew Becker was either Ensign or Lieut. in Capt Richtmeyers
Company in which said company his month’s duty was performed.
This deponent
saith further that in the year 1780, this deponent was a private in Capt. Christian
Stuback’s Company in the Lower Fort at Schoharie, where he this deponent
did duty as a private soldier and was employed in carrying dispatches from
Col. Vrooman in the Lower Fort to the commanding officer in the Middle Fort.
This deponent
saith that he performed duty in Capt. Sruback’s Co. aforesaid during
the year 1780 for a period not less than four months and as a substitute for
his brothers, Jacob and Peter Zimmer for a time exceeding four months in the
year 1780. His brothers Jacob and Peter Zimmer were privates in said
Stuback’s Company. This deponent saith that Capt. Stuback’s
Company in 1780, were not all constantly on duty. The company were put
into classes to serve each class, so many weeks each excepting when he was
on alarm in such case the whole company were called out in this manner.
This deponent
saith he served four months for himself and four months as a substitute for
his brothers, Jacob and Peter Zimmer aforesaid in the year 1781. This
deponent saith that in the year 1781 aforesaid, he was constantly in the Lower
Fort from early in the spring of the year to late in the fall of the same year – a
member of Capt. Stuback’s Co.
This deponent
saith further that in the year 1782 this deponent was from April to late in
the fall of that year, in the stone house on stockade at Major Becker’s
on duty as a private soldier in standing guard, and watching the enemy excepting
from the above time about three weeks that this deponent was absent to Boston
by leave of Major Becker. This deponent saith further that all of his old comrades
in arms who knew of his service, such as Johannes Pickart, Ingold, Kniskern,
Hilsinger, Geroge Belker, John Merkle, Lambert Sternbergh and many others are
all dead. This deponent saith further that he was often solicited by
his comrades after the passage of the act granting pensions for militia service
to apply for pension and that he this deponent did apply to Judge Elias Holliday
who was then engaged in obtaining pensions for many who served in Col. Vrooman’s
Regiment, Judge Holiday was then of opinion that to enable me, this deponent
to obtain pension must have served at least six months in one continual tour
of duty. The matter thus dropped and this deponent has not until this
time thought proper to make application.
This deponent
saith further that he never received any pay but once and that was for a small
sum. He this deponent was offered his regular pay by Col. Vrooman, and
other officers, but refused to take it. The money at that time had depreciated
so much that this deponent refused to take it.
This deponent
saith further that he served in all for himself some eighteen months and as
substitute for his brother Jacob Zimmer and Peter Zimmer and others about six
months, and therefore makes application for pension under the act passed March
4th 1831 granting pensions to persons who served in the militia during the
war of revolution.
(Signed) George Zimmer.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written (Signed)
Lyman Baker Justice of the Peach. And I do hereby certify that George
Zimmer who subscribed and was sworn to the above declaration is a highly
respectable citizen and do verily believe his statement to be true in all
respects. (Signed) Lyman Baker
Included
in the pension papers is an application by his wife Margaret Zimmer for her
husband’s pension, but it is not legible.