Pension Application

S.29777
State of New York
Schoharie County SS.
            On this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in Open Court before the Honorable William Beekman, William Mann & Thomas P. Danforth; the Court of common Pleas of the County of Schoharie & State of New York, now setting, Joseph Efnor a resident of the town of Middleburgh, in the said County of Schoharie & State of New York, aged seventy three years, who being first duly affirmed according to Law doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
            That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated. Captain Jacob Lansing, Lieutenant Sevinus Winnee, that he does not know whether he was under the command of any Field Officers. That he entered the service of the United States as a private the fore part of the month of September in the year 1776, the day of the month he does not recollect, and left the service in the month of October in the year 1776, at least one month & a half from the day he entered it. That he resided at the time he entered the service in that part of the City of Albany called Colonee in the State of New York. That he together with the whole Militia Company to which he belonged were ordered into the service by their commanding officers—that he was not drafted and did not volunteer or go as a substitute to his knowledge. That he entered the service in obedience to his commanding officers, in the Militia. That his company rendezvoused at Albany at the time he entered the service. That he immediately marched with them to Fort Edward. General Abraham TenBrook had the command of the Militia at Fort Edward. Lieutenant Winne was wounded on his way to Fort Edward by the kick of a horse & returned to Albany. That he remained at Fort Edward, with his company about a fortnight & then marked with them to Fort George on Lake George. Colonel Peter Yates had the command of the fort—staid there about three weeks & returned to Albany & was dismissed. That he was engaged on duty in the service of the United States as a private during this period at least one month & a half. That he was in no battle & does not know that he saw any Continental Regiment during this period.
            And the said Efnor further saith that he again entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers and served as herein stated. Abraham Wemple & Philip Schuyler, the one as Colonel & the other as Lieutenant Colonel, that he does not know which was the Colonel. Major Abraham Fonda, & Captain Jacob Lansing, that he does not recollect the names of the other officers. That he entered the service as a private in the month of August in the year 1777, the day of the month he does not recollect, and left the service in the month of November in the year 1777 just three months from the time he entered it. That he resided at the time he entered the service in that part of the City of Albany called the Colonee in the State of New York. That he entered the services as a volunteer & enlisted for three months—He joined his Regiment immediately on his enlistment at Albany and marched with them to VanSchaick’s Island opposite to Lansingburgh, his Regiment was placed under the command of General Glover at this place. That the Riflemen under the command of Colonel Morgan lay there at that time. That he lay at VanSchaick’s Island, with his Regiment about ten days, then marched with them to Bemises Heights in Stillwater—lay there with them about three weeks, until the retreat of the British Army to Saratoga. That during the time he lay at Beemises Heights, two battles were fought between the American Army under General Gates and the British Army under General Burgoyne—That the first battle took place a short time after he arrived at & the last about the time he left Beemises Heights. That he was engaged in the first battle, but not in the second—That the British Army was defeated in the second battle & retreated to Saratoga. That he then marched with the American army to Saratoga & staid there until the surrender of the British Army under General Burgoyne. That he then marched with his Regiment through Albany to Esopus in the County of Ulster in the State of New York, arrived there a day or two after it was burnt by the British, staid there a day or two, then marched with his Regiment, down the Hudson River to NewBurgh in the State of New York, & lay there with them until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he was dismissed & returned home.
            And the said Efner further saith, that he again entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers & served as herein stated. Major Ezekiel Taylor, commandant, Captain Joseph Cook, that he does not recollect the names of the other company officers. That he entered the service of the United States as a private the forepart of the month of May in the year 1778 the day of the month he does not recollect—and left the service in the month of June in the year 1778 at least one month from the time he entered it—That he resided at a place called Half-Moon, now the town of Half-Moon in the County of Saratoga in the State of New York at the time he entered the service—That he entered the service as a volunteer. That his company rendezvoused at Halfmoon—that he immediately joined his company & marched with them by the way of Albany to near the Middle Fort in that part of the State of New York, now the town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie & lay there with them about a month when he was dismissed and returned home. That he was in no battle & saw no Continental Regiment of company or Regular officer during this period to his knowledge. That he was engaged in the service of the United States, as a private, during this period, at least one month.
            And the said Efnor further saith, that he again entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, & served as herein stated. Captain Jacob Lansing, that he does not recollect the names of the other officers.   That he entered the service as a private in the month of May 1779, the day of the month he does not recollect and left the service in the month of June in the year 1779—at least one month from the time he entered it. That he resided at the City of Albany in the State of New York at the time he entered the service—That he entered the service as a volunteer. That his company rendezvoused at Albany at the time he entered the service. That he joined them immediately & marched with them to Fort Hunter at the junction of the Schoharie Creek with the Mohawk River—That he staid with them about three weeks, when he returned home with them, and was dismissed. That he saw no Continental Regiment, or Company or Regular officer & that he was in no battle during this period. That he was engaged on duty in the Service of the United States as a private during this period at least one month.
            And the said Efnor further saith, that he again entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated. Major Abraham Fonda, Commandant & Captain Jacob Lansing. That he does not recollect the names of the other officers. That he entered the service in the forepart of the month of August in the year 1779—the day of the month he does not recollect and left the service in the month of September, at least one month & a half from the time he entered it. That he resided in the City of Albany in the State of New York when he entered the service. That he was neither drafted, a volunteer or substitute to his knowledge. That he belonged to a company of the New York Militia—That the whole Militia Company to which he belonged were ordered into the service by their Commanding Officers—that he entered the service in obedience to such order—That his Company rendezvoused at Albany at the time he entered the service. That he joined them immediately at that place, and marched with them to Fort Plain on the Mohawk River in the now town of Canajoharie in the County of Montgomery—that they arrived there the same day the Tories & Indians left the place, after having failed in an attack upon the Fort & staid there about a fortnight—that he then marched with his company to Bowman’s Kill seven or eight miles south of Fort Plain, and staid there about a fortnight as a guard to the farmer while securing their crops of wheat—that they then returned to Fort Plain and staid there about a week, when he marched with his company back to Albany and was dismissed. That he was in no battle and saw no Continental Regiment of company, or Regular Officer during this period to his knowledge.
            And the said Efner further saith that he again entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. Colonel Philip Schuyler, Captain Jacob Lansing, and Lieutenant Servinus Winne, that he does not recollect the names of the other officers. That he entered the service as a private in the month of October in the year 1780 the day of the month he does not recollect and left the service in the month of November in the year 1780, at least one month & a half from the time he entered it—That he resided at the City of Albany in the State of New York, when he entered the service. That he was neither drafted or a volunteer, or a substitute to his knowledge—That he belonged to a company of New York militia. That the whole Militia Company to which he belonged were ordered into the service by their commanding officers.—That he entered the service in obedience to such order—That his Regiment rendezvoused at Albany at the time he entered the service. That General Robert VanRensselaer then took the Command. That he then marched with the troops under General VanRensselaer by the way of Fort Plain to Palatine in the now County of Montgomery, that they overtook a part of British, Tories, & Indians under the command of Sir John Johnson. That he was in a skirmish, at place between the two armies—that he then marched with the arms in pursuit of the enemy into the woods a little north of West of German Flatts in the now County of Herkimer, about twenty miles.   That Governor George Clinton joined them at that place—That they then gave up the pursuit & he returned to Albany, with the troops & was dismissed.
            And he the said Efnor further saith, that he again entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers & served as herein stated. Captain Jacob Lansing & Lieutenant Servinus Winnee, that he does not recollect the names of the other officers. That he entered the service as a private in the latter part of the month of November in the year 1780, the day and the month he does not recollect & left the service in the month of December in the year 1780, at least one month from the time he entered it. That he resided at the City of Albany in the State of New York when he entered the service—That he was not drafted, a volunteer a substitute to his knowledge—That he belonged to a company of New Your Militia, the Militia Company to which he belonged were ordered into the service by their commanding officer—That he entered the service in obedience to such order. That his company rendezvoused at Albany at the time he entered the service. That he Immediately marched with them to the Lower Fort in the now town of Schoharie in the County of Schoharie in the State of New York. That he lay there a little more than three weeks, when he marched with his company back to Albany & was dismissed. That he was in no battle & saw no Continental Regiment or Company, or any Regular officer during the period.
            And the said Efnor further saith, That he again entered the service of the United States under the following named officer, served as herein stated—Casparus Housten Commandant, who had acted as Adjutant in the American Army previous to that time—the he does not know the names of the other officers—That he entered the services as a private in the month of August in the year 1781. The day of the month he does not recollect, and left the service at least ten days from the time he entered it. That he resided at the City of Albany in the State of New York at the time he entered the service. That he entered the service as a volunteer. That he joined his company immediately on entering the service and marched with them to Fort Hunter and staid there about a week, when he marched with the company back to Albany as a guard to prisoners, that had just been taken by Colonel Willet.   That he was in no battle & saw no Continental Regiment, Company or Regular Officer during this period.
            And the said Efner further saith, that he again entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated. Captain Jacob Lansing and Lieutenant Sevinus Winnee. That he does not recollect the names of the other officers. That he entered the service as a private in the fore part of month of November in the year 1781—the day of the month he does not recollect, and left the service in the month of December in the year 1781, at least one month from the time he entered it—That he resided at the City of Albany in the State of New York, at the time he entered the service. That he entered the service as a volunteer—That his company Rendezvoused at Albany that he immediately marc with them to Saratoga, near the residence of General Schuyler, General Clinton, & General Schuyler were at the residence of General Schuyler at this time. That he lay there with his company about three weeks & then marched with them back to Albany & was dismissed. That he was in no battle & saw no Continental Regiment or Company during this period to his knowledge.
            And the said Efnor further saith, that he again entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated—Captain Martines Zielie, that he does not recollect the names of the other officers. That he entered the service as a private the forepart of the month of November in the year 1782—the day of the month he does not recollect—and left the service in the month of December, at least one month from the time he entered it. That he resided at the City of Albany in the State of New York at the time he entered the service—That he entered the service as a volunteer, & immediately on entering the service he proceeded with a party, without any commanding officer, to the Middle Fort, in that part of the State of New York, now the Town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie, where he joined his company, under the command of Captain Martines Zielie. That he lay at the Fort a month when he was discharge & returned home. That he was in no battle & saw no Continental Regiment or Regular officers during this period to his knowledge.
            And the said Efnor further saith, that there is a record of his age in the Records of one of the Lutheran Churches in the City of New York, which one he does not know, as he has been informed & believes. That he has a record of his age in this family Bible in his possession. That he has no documentary evidence of his services. That he never received a written discharge from the service.
            That he knows of no person who can testify to his services, except Wilhelmus Efnor. That he was born in the City of New York. That he removed from the City of Albany on the close of the Revolutionary War to the now town of Half-Moon in the County of Saratoga where he resided until the year 1791, when he removed to the now County of Schoharie, where he has resided ever since.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. (Signed) Joseph Efner.
            Subscribed & affirmed to the day and year aforesaid in open court. John Gebhard, Jr. Clk

January 3, 1929, letter written in response for a request for information.
            I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War Pension Claim S.29777, it appears that Joseph Efner or Efnor, was born in New York City, date not stated.
            He served as a private with the New York Troops as follows:
            From September, 1776, one and one-half months in Captain Jacob Lansing’s Company; from August 1777, three month in Captain Jacob Lansing’s Company, Colonels Abraham Wemple’s and Philip Schuyler’s Regiment and was in the battle of Bemus Heights; from May 1778, one month in Captain Joseph Cook’s Company under Major Ezekiel Taylor; from May 1779, one month in Captain Jacob Lansing’s company; from August 1779, one and one-half months in Captain Jacob Lansing’s Company under Major Abraham Fonda; from October 1780, one and one-half months in Captain Jacob Lansing’s Company, Colonel Philip Schuyler’s Regiment, was in a skirmish with the Indians and Tories under Sir John Johnson; from November 1780 one month in Captain Jacob Lansing’s Company, In August 1781, ten days under Commandant Casparus Housten; from November 1781 one month in Captain Jacob Lansing’s Company and from November 1781, one month in Captain Martines Ziele’s company.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed February 5, 1833, at which time he was living in Middleburgh, Schoharie County, New York, aged seventy-three years.
            On October 25, 1842, he stated that he moved to Leoni, Jackson County, Michigan, to live with this children, names of children not given.

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