Pension Application

R.3182 (Widow: Anna Elizabeth Ekker)
Declaration. In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4th July 1836.
State of New York
Montgomery County SS.
            On the 5th day of February 1838, personally appeared before me David G. Sacia a Judge of Montgomery County Courts being a court of record Anna Elisabeth Ekker, Widow of Johannes Ekker deceased, of the Town of Stark, County of Herkimer and State aforesaid, aged ninety three years past, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Johannes Ekker deceased, who was a Private in the company of Militia commanded by Capt. John Breadbad, John Zielly 1st Lieut. Jacob Eaker 2d Lieut, and in the Regiment of Militia Commanded by Col. Jacob Klock, Genl Nicholas Herkimer’s Brigade in the then County of Tryon.
            That claimant further declares, that her husband entered the Service of the United Colonies of America, in the year 1775, and taken up arms against the British Government, and although apparently at the commencement of the Revolution, in consequence of the consternation caused by the Johnson Family in the then County of Tryon, at the time where they had all the laws and P[?] by themselves, and the Executioners of the same, Chiefly all prejudiced and attached in adhering to the British Goverm’t, and in Consequence the friends of liberty and Independence, often and frequently, Constraint and ordered out, to guard against their domestic enemy that her husband has been ordered out often and frequently during the course of this year, impossible to specify the particulars, tours, and service rendered but declares, that her husband has been ordered out, so often and frequent so that he at least did render the length of two months service in the cause of liberty and Independence, during said year. Vizt 2 months.
            Claimant further declares that she recollects that her husband was ordered out with the whole Brigade of Militia under the Gen’l Command of Gen’l Herkimer she understood by her husband, marched to Cagherasaga there joined Gen’l Schuyler with his Brigade from Albany and Schenectada when both Brigades proceeding on to Johnstown vizt to the Village of Johnstown under the command of Gen’l Schuyler and Gen’l Herkimer causing the surrender of Col. John Johnson with about 300 or four hundred associate disaffected tories, whose assembedge under the command of Col. Johnson at his Hall or mansion, previous to that time for some length of time before, the Militia often and frequently drafted, Guarding the frontiers, her husband frequently ordered out during the course of this year, but impracticable to renumerate the different tours, nor the particular length of service rendered each tour, excepting forepart in summer, he was gone at least four weeks, on a draft as he saith to Fort Stanwix.
            Claimant further saith that her dead husband, during the year 1776 at least did render the length of four months United States Service, vizt 4 months.
            1777—Claimant further declares that she can only attempt to satisfy his hon’r the commissioner of Pensions, that her husband has commenced in rendering faithful service to the United States as a brave and faithful American Militia Soldier, and that he did reside and belonged to the same company and col. Klock’s Regt, from the Commencement of the aforesaid year 1775, and continued in rendering his full share of United States service from year to year and in each and every year, during the whole war, until the final termination of the most hazardous Revolutionary struggles ever, Refusing nor quitting any one tour according to claimant’s knowledge or recollection whenever hereto ordered and required.
            Claimant further saith that in the fore part of Summer her husband had been drafted and as always understood by her said husband, gone under the command of Gen’l Herkimer and Col. Cox to Unadilla there mett Capt. Brandt, the Principle Indian Chief with a number of his Indian Warriors, Capt. Brandt, the British Emissary, service 3 weeks.
            6th Aug’t Claimant further declares that her husband was ordered out with his County under the command of Capt. John Breadbeg and under the Gen’l Command of Gen’l Nicholas Herkimer with his Brigade, that claimant always was told by her husband that he actually was engaged in that ever memorable Battle at Oriskana, when both Gen’l Herkimer and Capt. Breadbeg were searously wounded in battle, Gen’l Herkimer soon after died, and Capt. Breadbeg, recovered. When after said Engagement Leiut Zielly, proceeded to take command and continued in command until the 25th October at the time of Johnstown Battle under Col. Willett against Maj’r Ross, when Lieut. Zielly was made a Prisoner & taken to Canada by the enemy, when Lieut. Eakler proceeded to take command of said company and continued in commanding said company during the remainder part of the War, until the final termination thereof.
            1778 Claimant further declare that she will only develop some few of the most cruel incursions and occurrences which have been perpetrated on the Inhabitants by the Incendiaries from Canada, in the then County of Tryon vizt, she believing some time in June, at the time of the Gen’l desolation, at Springfield, by the Incendiaries from Canada murdering burning and prisoners taken to Canada, that her husband then ordered out and gone with Col. Klock’s Reg’t (Rendered the length of 8 days.)
            Claimant further declares that her husband again was ordered out and went with all col. Klock’s Regt at the time of the Gen’l conflagration at Herkimer, on both sides of the Mohawk river, vizt from New Germantown to Fort Dayton on the north side of the Mohawk River and the same on the south side, of said river, down to Fort Herkimer, and all around the two forts respectively, burning, rendered the length of 21 days, during the seam season ordered out by regt in November at the time of the [?] Massacre at Cherry Vallee length of 8 days.
            Claimant further declares that her husband has not only been ordered out [?] by Regt, exclusive of the before mentioned occasions and occurrences and depredations during the same year this was as understood by her husband to Bowman’s Creek the length of 8 days, and the others stationed at Fort Countryman at the time when Mathew Wormwood vizt Lieut Wormwood and Ensign Sitz who both were sent expresses to Cherry Vallee, when the former [?] was killed & the latter taken prisoner to Canada, being gone the latter tour 14 days.
            Claimant further declares that her husband from the early part in Spring until forepart in Winter, Exclusive of the foregoing mentioned occurrences often and frequently was ordered out in consequence of serious alarms, also drafted, in watching and rendering garrison duty at several and different times and were especially at Fort Keysor at this current asylum mostly stationed there from spring until late in fall watching and rendering his full share of garrison duty, generally under the command of Lieut Zielly when stationed at Fort Keysor, that in being drafted and stationed at distant forts, frequently in consequence of Alarms, and in being Stationed at Fort Keysor, the said Claimant so declare, that her husband at least did render the length of three months and fifteen days United States Service vizt 3 months & 15 days.
            1779 Claimant further declares that her husband again has and did continue in rendering faithful service as a Militia Soldier from the early part of Spring until late in fall, occasionally and frequently did required in support of his Countries Cause that is to say a leading for the American liberties and Independence.
            Claimant further says that at the time of the Gen’l Conflagration, at the German Flats, vizt, from Fort Herkimer along down the Mohawk River to fall hill and chiefly all fall hill made desolate when her husband was ordered out by order of Col. Klock and Col. Waggoner, Under Lieut. John Zielly, with the whole Regt, as understood by her husband, stationed at Fort Herkimer the length of 21 days.
            Claimant further saith that her dec’d husband was ordered out with his company under the command of Capt. Zielly, and the whole Regt, at the time of the Gen’l conflagration at the Royal Grant on the North side of the Mohawk River, distinguished by the names of Shells Bush, Remensnyders Bush, Klocks Bush, Snells Bush, chiefly all made desolate, at one and the same time Claimant declare that her husband was absent at the time nothing short of 14 days.
            Claimant further declares that exclusive of the foregoing described incursions, her husband often and frequently was ordered out in consequence of sereas [serious] alarms drafted and sometimes stationed at Fort Keysor in rendering garrison duty, that he at least did render such service to the United States, the length of three months. Vizt 3 months.
            Claimant further declares, that this was a melancholy and distressed year to the Inhabitants formerly in Tryon County, that she is personally known that her husband had been ordered out in the early part of Spring, in consequence of Sereous alarms at different time, previous to 22d May at thee time of the Cruel desolation by Sr. John Johnson with his associate Incendiaries from Canada, from tripes Hill up along the Mohawk to Caughnawaga and from Cagherasaga to Anthonys Nose and some considerable distance north from the river all made desolate, murdering, burning and many Prisoners taken to Canada.
            Claimant further declare, that some time in summer, at the time when Capt. Gray was way laid, by Capt. Brandt, as saith with 400 Warriors between the Fort Schuyler, and Fort Stanwix, that her husband was ordered out under Lieut Zielly and absent from home at least fifteen days vizt 15 days.
            The applicant further declares that her husband was ordered out at the time of the Gen’l Conflagration, caused by Sr John Johnson, from and through Old Schoharie, and along down to Fort Hunter, thence up along the Mohawk River on the south side about 5 miles, and on the north side of said river from tripes hill up along said river nothing short of 25 miles, in burning and making all desolate after those not killed in way, each family who, had temporary buildings erected, which again was all burned & all destroyed for the second time during the course of the same season from May until 19th Oct. and by no means omitting those too old followed west of Oswagage and Stone Arabia all laid desolate, and that Claimant says that her husband often saith that he hath been engaged in Battle in Stonearabia under command of Col. John Brown who hath been slain in Battle.
            Claimant further declares, that it is impracticable to specify all the respective Tours and occurrancies which have occurred, during said season from the early part in Spring until late in fall, and that exclusive of the foregoing mentioned occurrancies, in being drafted, ordered out in searous alarms and in rendering garrison duty, at Fort Keysor, the asylum or fort Keysor, generally the fort where they would have recourse to in consequence of an alarm, that her husband at least did render the length of three months, United States service not otherwise specified as aforesaid, Vizt 3 months.
            1781 The applicant further declares, that this was a searous year, that her husband from the early part in spring until late in fall, often and frequently was ordered out in guarding and repelling the incursions of the common enemy, impracticable to recollect the numerous tours, and occurencies transpired during said year, but the applicant doth declare that she has reason to belief, recollecting that her husband was ordered out under the command of Lieut. Zielly, and with the Regt under the command of Col. Jacob Klock at the time of Battle at Turlough generally called Turlough Battle under Col. Willett, that her husband being gone 4 days.
            Claimant further saith that at the time of Battle at Landmans latter part of July and forepart in Oct. at the time of the General desolation at and all around Fort Timmerman, but do not recollect her husband hath been ordered out at either occurrence, but the militia as well as the inhabitants generally, alarmed, at each occurrence, and incursion, watching and guarding their forts their asylum constraint to have recourse to for their protection.
            1781 Claimant further declare, that latter part of October her husband was ordered out under Lieut Zielly with his company and with the Regt then commanded by Lieut Col. Peter Waggoner, and joined under the command of Col. Willett, and as always told by her husband that he was engaged in what was called Johnstown Battle under the chief command of Col. Willett against Maj’r Ross & Capt. Butler with their Incendiaries from Canada, and on the next day again under the command of Col. Willett, in pursuit of the enemy to the West Canada Creek, where Capt. Butler & others were killed and a number of Prisoner taken in pursuing the enemy, length of service 10 days.
            The applicant further declares that her husband during said year was drafted as he saith, and often and frequently called out in consequence of Alarms, and in rendering garrison duty at Fort Keysor, is impossible to specify the number of tours but the applicant declares that her husband exclusive of the foregoing occurrencies, specifications at least did render the length of three months, an fifteen days United States such service to the United States vizt 3 months & 15 days.
            1782 Claimant further saith, that although the enemy during the course of this year did not appear with large and great forces at no time during the whole year but to the Contrary from March during spring, summer & late in fall the Indians continually annoying and lurking around the Old Settlements, often and frequently murdering, burning, and taking prisoners to Canada, on both sides of the Mohawk river, were particularly in the Towns of Canajoharie on the south side, and Palatine on the north side of the Mohawk river, and that the inhabitants in consequence thereof constraint to keep and survive in their forts respectively and the militia continually kept on the alert watching and guarding in rendering garrison duty, on each and every occurrence pursuing the the enemy impossible to specify but the applicant declare that her husband at least did render the length of two months and fifteen days United States service, during the said period aforesaid vizt. 2 months & 15 days.
            And the said widow Elizabeth Ekker further declares that she was married to the said Johannes Ekker on the 24th day of May seventeen hundred and sixty three—that her husband the aforesaid Johannes Ekker died on the 1st day of October 1807, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. (Signed with her mark) Elizabeth Ekker.
            Sworn to and subscribed this 5th day of February 1838. D.F. Sacia. Judge of Montgomery County Courts.

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