Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for George Saltsman

W.22152
State of New York
Montgomery County SS
            On the nineteenth day of Sept. in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Court of the Common Pleas now sitting George Saltsman a resident of the town of Palatine in the County aforesaid (formerly Tryon) from his birth up to the date hereof, aged sixty nine years the thirteenth day of December and who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath 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, and served as herein stated (viz) And that he was enrolled and did duty under the command of Captain Henry Miller who belonged to a regiment of Militia commanded by Colonel Jacob Klock in 1779 at George Getmans on an alarm for about two weeks with an expectation of the enemy in the settlement of Getmans and that he remained under Captain Miller until October 1780 when he was one among others who were defeated at the Battle of colonel Brown in Stone Arabia (1) with the loss of Colonel Brown and others and that in July 1781 he went under Captain Miller to Lampmans (2) in Oppenheim (then Palatine) where a party of Indians and Tories were encamped and where they had engagement which terminated with one of our men wounded and that he was kept in a state of readiness until October 1781 when he was ordered to Johnstown to join Colonel Willett under Captain Henry Miller where was fought the Battle of the Hall (3) otherwise called Willetts battle which terminated in the defeat of the enemy & their retreat until the West Canada Creek where he pursued with Colonel Willett and others &b left Captain Butler the Indian leaders killed and a number of the Indians & Tories wounded, taken prisoners and killed.  And that he also was ordered out to Turlock [New Dorlach] in Schoharie County (then Tryon) under Captain Miller to assist Colonel Willett in fighting the enemy but got there immediately after the Battle was fought.  And that he also went with Colonel Willett agreeable to Orders with a team to Oswego what year he does not recollect—And that from the first enrolled which was in 1779 to the Close of the Revolution he in compliance to the Resolution of Congress passed 27th day of May 1775 and the orders of his superior officers he always kept himself armed and equipped with a good Musket Powder and ball.  And also declares that he went with the Militia in Mass to Fort Schular [Old Fort Schuyler], to relieve Capt. Sam’l Gray (4) with his Company of Boatmen & boats, loaded with supplies to support the Garrison at Fort Stanwix there Guarding the same safe to the Fort—1780 Also was stationed at Klocks and Failings latter part of the _____  supposing in the year 1779 for about two weeks.
            Hereby relinguishes every claim whatever 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) George Saltsman
            Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
            Geo. D. Ferguson, Clerk

June 26, 1931
Mr. John C. Ferres, Second
114 South Market Street
Johnstown, New York

Dear Madam:
            You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W 22152, that George Saltsman, the son of Michael Saltsman, was born, December 13, 1763 in Palatine, Tryon County, New York.
            While residing in said Palatine, he enlisted in 1779 and served as private at various times with the New York Troops in Captains Henry Miller’s and John Diffendorff’s Companies under Colonels Jacob Klock, Harper, Brown, Willett and Wagoner, was in the battles of Stone Arabia and Johnstown and several skirmishes with the Indians, and served until in 1783, amounting in all to one year, one month and twenty seven days.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed September 19, 1832, at which time he was living in Palatine, New York.
            He died February 14, 1838 in said Palatine where he had always lived.
            The soldier married, February 20, 1787 in Palatine, New York, Savina Lebern or Lepper, (5) of Palatine New York.
            She was allowed pension on her application executed December 28, 1838, aged seventy three years and a resident of Palatine.
            In 1838, their son-in-law, William Gray, was aged forty-seven years and living in Palatine, New York.
            The names of children are not shown.
Very truly yours,
E. W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner.

End Notes
By James F. Morrison

  1. The Battle of Stone Arabia was fought on the 19th of October 1780..
  2. The skirmish at Lampman’s Farm was fought on the 29th of July 1781.  Colonel Jacob Klock’s son Lieutenant Jacob Klock was in command of the Loyalists and Indians.
  3. The Battle of Johnstown was fought on the 25th of October 1781 in and around in the fields of Johnson Hall.  The skirmish at West Canada Creek where Captain Walter Butler was killed, was fought on the 30th of October 1781.
  4. Captain Joseph Brant in July of 1780 near Old Fort Schuyler in the present day Utica, NY had set and ambush for Captain Samuel Gray and his men with their bateaus laden with supplies for Fort Schuyler.  A friendly Oneida warned Capt. Gray of the ambush.  Gray and his men put to shore and used their bateaus as breast works and sent for assistance. Unfortunately for the area now known as Fort Plain and the Town of Minden, Brigadier General Robert Van Rensselaer marched with the Albany County Militia and as many of the Tryon County militia he could muster.  [The Tryon County Militia was also part of his Brigade] up along both sides of the Mohawk River to the aid of Captain Gray hand his besieged men.  Captain Brant learned of General Van Rensselaer’s approach, circled around his troops and at the 2nd of August 1780 destroyed the area around Fort Plain. Captain Brant after the destruction of that area broke his force into three raiding with himself leading a party to Vroomansland in the present day Schoharie County and on the 9th of August 1780 completed the destruction of that settlement.   Brant also before leaving the Utica area destroyed the Oneida Village there and Fort Van Dyck which was built by the 1st NY Continental Regiment for the Oneidas to use for protection.
  5. There are pages from the family Bible in this pension application.

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