Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for Joseph Cramer
S.43416
State of New York
Otsego County SS.
Be it remembered
that on the third day of April 1818 the above named Joseph Cramer came before
me James S. Campbell, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the
County of Otsego & State of New York--made oath that the facts stated in
the foregoing petition & declaration are true & The said pursuant to
the directions of the Act of Congress called “An Act to Provide for Certain
Persons Engaged in The Land and Naval Service of The United States Engaged
in The Revolutionary War” do certify to the secretary at war that it
has appeared to my satisfaction the said Cramer served in the Revolutionary
War against the common enemy for the term mentioned in the said petition & declaration
herewith annexed & in pursuance of the directions of said act. I
do hereby certify to the Hon. The Secretary at War that the testimony of Joseph
Cramer detailed in his affidavit hereunto annexed was taken before me and that
I am satisfied that the application of said Cramer is fair & honorable
in all respects & that he by reason of his reduced circumstances is in
need of assistance from his country for support.
(signed) James Campbell
To the Hon.
John C. Calhoun, Secretary of the War Department of the United States.
The Petition & declaration of Joseph Cramer of the Town of Danube in
the State of New York, a resident citizen of the United States, aged sixty
four years & upwards on oath setteth forth & declares that he enlisted
in the month of April or March 1778 in Captain Lefers (1) Company in Colonel
[Christopher] Yates Regiment of New York Levies & was attached to Col.
Gansevort (2) line & served the same for nine months & received
an honourably discharge (being the term for which he enlisted) and he further
says that he immediately again enlisted in Captain Ehle’s (3) company
in but he cannot tell to what regiment he belonged as he was immediately
sent into the quarter master’s department & served as a bateaux
man. He enlisted for nine months &served out his time and was honourably
discharged. He was with the army and went to Stony Point & continued
to serve in the said quarter masters department on the Hudson at different
enlistments of nine months each--for two years That he was enlisted & considered
as a soldier on the continental establishment after which in March 1781 he
enlisted for nine months in Capt. Lefers (4) Company in Col. Willett’s
Regiment of the New York Line & served for the term of nine months & was
honourably discharged.
And he further
says that he served in the Revolutionary War often in the New York Levies or
as a Continental Soldier in quarter master’s department or Col. Willett’s
Regiment for the term of nearly seven years.
That he
had never received any pension from government that he is now extremely poor & no
kind of property & by reason of his very reduced circumstances is absolutely
in need of assistance from his country for support.
(his mark) Joseph Cramer
Sworn and
subscribed the 3d day of April before me James S. Campbell one of the Judges
of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Otsego in & for
the State of New York.
Schedule
State of New York
Herkimer County SS.
On this
4th day of October 1820 personally appeared in open court to wit the Court
of Common Pleas for said county said court being by the laws of the State of
New York constituted a court of record, Joseph Cramer aged 65 years past residence
in the Town of Danube in the county of Herkimer who being first duly sworn
according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary
War as follows.
I enlisted
at Fort Plain then in the County of Tryon in the year of the first beginning
of the war in Capt. John Lefers company of infantry under command of Colonel
Hale, no. of the regiment, I don’t recollect in the New York Line where
I served four years when I received an honorable discharge at Fishkill in the
State of New York by Col. Hale the commander of my Regiment and that the date
of my original declaration is on the 3d day of April 1818 and the number of
my pension certificate is 3174 And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident
citizen of the United Sates on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have
not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property
or any part thereof with intent hereby so to diminish it as to bring myself
within the provisions of “An Act of Congress Entitled: An Act to Provide
for Certain Persons Engaged in The Land and Naval Service of The United States
Engaged in The Revolutionary War” passed on the 18th day of March 1818
and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities,
contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained
in the schedule hereunto annexed and by me subscribed.
Real estate,
I have none. I own one cow and four sheep, three knives & three forks,
four white places, 2[?] pewter spoons 2 small iron kettles, 1 old bed & bedding
and Bedstead, 1 old pork barrel empty, (shovel, tongs & andirons I have
not got). I have 4 cups and saucers and 4 little pigs.
I have to
provide for family of my wife about 60 years of age & very infirm & two
boys one aged 17 & the other aged 18 years and they are going to leave
me next month & they work out for themselves my occupation as a common
laborer & that I am very infirm & cannot labor at all & if I do
not draw my pension. I must be supported by the Town or private charity.
(Signed with his mark) Joseph Cramer
Subscribed & sworn
to October 4th 1820 before me David. [Hobb?]
End Notes