Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,785, Marks Casler, New York
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(3-1776) 

SERVICE 
New York 

Casler, Marks 

NUMBER 
R 1.785

CONTENTS
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Marks Casler’s
16117

Write to George H. Feeter
Little Falls Herkimer Cty N.Y.


in the matter of the application of Marks Casler for a pension –
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the said Court & of the county of Herkimer the eleventh - day of October in the year 1832 – 
[signed] Julius C Nelson Clerk
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832 
State of New York 
Herkimer County - ss:
On this eleventh day of October, personally appeared in open Court before Michael Hoffman John Mahon & Augustus Beardslee Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Marks Casler a resident of Little falls in the County of Herkimer & State of New York aged Sixty six years 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 & served as herein stated – 
Deponent has always been informed & believes true, that he was born in the now town of Little falls in said County, on the twenty sixth day of April in the year 1766 & has always resided & does still reside in the said town of Little falls that there is a record of his age in said town, that was made by the minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, who baptised deponent when an infant as he has been informed & believes true. Said Record is now in the keeping of George Rosecrantz a son of said Minister - In the spring of the year 1779 a house, about three miles east of Fort Herkimer in now town of Little falls was ordered by Col. Peter Bellinger as deponent believes to be taken possession of by the militia & converted into a fort & picketed for defence which was done & then garrisoned by fourteen or fifteen men besides several families that moved into it for protection & safety from the Indians & Tories; deponent had been living with the daughter of Col. Bellinger, whose husband was killed in the battle at Oriskany - and was ordered to & did go & help guard said fort - there were twelve men appointed to take turns in Standing Sentary - the Fort was commanded by Lieutenant Jacob Petrie & Ensign Patrick Campbell - the guard each night con-  [consisted]
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cisted [consisted] of six men; this deponent Stood Sentery every other night from the time the fort was garrisoned till the fall of the the following year in November which was about Eighteen months - that deponent during this time had to & did take his turn Standing Sentery & keeping guard in the day time  In November of the year 1780, Deponent was sent with Joseph Bellinger to the Grist Mill for flour about one mile east of the fort & was on their return home - when they were fired upon by a party of Indians & their horse killed - deponent & said Bellinger were taken prisoners - the Indians started immediately for Canada they were eight days in the woods before they came to ogdensburgh - deponent & said Bellinger had but very little to eat & suffered very much from cold & fatigue, they had to lie on hemlock boughs at night & wade through streams of water in many places as to their chins in their march, & the snow most of the way was up to their chins - at Ogdensburgh deponent & said Bellinger were sold to one Capt. Robinson & taken down the river to Montreal - deponent & said Bellinger were kept prisoners at Montreal about two years & were then sent to Quebeck - they stayed about three weeks at Quebeck & then were put on board a transport to be sent to New York - but the weather being very cold they were obliged to go to Boston the vessel arrived there about the first of December & deponent & six others started for home where they arrived a few days before Christmas. Said Bellinger who was taken prisoner with deponent has been dead rising of twenty years & deponent is therefore deprived of his testimony –
That he was born in the town of Little Falls (then town of German flatts) in the county of Herkimer & State of New York in the year 1766 – 
That he has a record of his age in his family Bible made by himself on the information of his parents & which he wishes to be correct - That he resided in the now town of Little Falls when he entered the service, & since the revolutionary war he has continued to reside in the same place & now resides there – 
That he was called into the service, as stated in his previous statement, being commanded by Col. Peter Bellinger to go on duty into a company of which mention has been herein before made. 
That some of the general officers who were with the troops in the section of county where he served are, Colonel Peter Bellinger, General Nicholas Herkimer, Major Clapsaddle, Colonel Frederick Bellinger. 
That he never received any written discharge from the service -
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That he is known to Peter Peter Bellinger & George H. Feeter - residing in his present neighborhood & who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution 
That he cannot produce any witness in court who knows of his service except Peter P. Bellinger and that the affidavit of Catharine Bellinger hereunto attached is presented because she could not be produced in court by reason of her age and ill health and as she resides at the distance of seven miles from the court house, and that there is no clergyman with whom he is acquainted & who resides to his neighborhood, who can testify to his character & services –
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State – 
[signed] Marks Casler X his mark
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid in Open Court Oct. 11th 1832 
[signed] Julius C Nelson Clerk

We Peter Peter Bellinger and George H. Feeter, the first of the town of Danube, & the last of the town of Little Falls in Herkimer County 
do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Marks Caster, who has subscribed & Sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Sixty six years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion – 
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid –
[signed] George W. Feeter 
Peter P Bellinger
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after pulling the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier & served as he states - & the Court further certified that it appears to them that Peter P. Bellinger who has signed the preceeding certificate, resides in the town of Danube in Herkimer County, and that George H. Feeter who has also signed the same certificate is a resident in the town of Little Falls in said County and are credible persons that their statement is entitled to credit 

I Julius C. Nelson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the county of Herkimer do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Marks Casler for a pension –
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the said Court & of the county of Herkimer the eleventh - day of October in the year 1832 – 
[signed] Julius C Nelson Clerk
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State of New York 
Herkimer County ss - Personally appeared before me John Dygert a Justice of the peace in & for said county, Marks Casler who made the declaration to which this is attached & of which this forms a part, & being duly sworn saith that Peter P. Bellinger, a witness whose affidavit is attached to his declaration has since the same was made removed with all his family out of this county to a place called Black Lake, & deponent cannot procure an amendment of his affidavit, for that reason & deponent has no way to communicate with him on that subject & has not heard from him since he left the country that he has stated in his former declaration, the manner & length of his services as far forth & as particularly as he is able to do, that the witness Catharine Bellinger, whose affidavit is also attached cannot state the dates of any of deponents services, nor the time & manner of his service with any more particularity that she has already done is she informs deponent & which he believes true 
that deponents memory has so failed within a few years that he is now unable to state precise dates with any certainty - deponent saith, that he entered the service first as a private soldier, early in the spring of the year 1779, but he verily believes that it was in the month of May 1779 & that he continued to so serve as in his previous declaration mentioned continually untill the month of November in the year 1780 when he was taken prisoner in the manner before stated & he was in service as a soldier when so taken having been off of actual service for the mear purpose of going to mill, that he went off of guard to go to mill when he was taken and deponent claims to be allowed for one year & six months actual service in which he was not engaged in any
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civil employment, before he was taken prison and for two years as for actual service, while he was a prisoner which was from November 1780 untill December 1782 in which time he endured & suffered more hardship & privation, than while in actual service as a soldier - deponent cannot find any witness who can testify more definitely to the length of his imprisonment, than he has already done, as the man, Joseph Bellinger, who was taken with deponent has been long dead –
[signed] Marks Casler X his mark
Sworn to before me this 2d day of July 1833 
[signed] John Dygert Just Peace

State of New York 
Herkimer County ss - Personally appeared before me John Dygert a Justice of the peace in & for said county, on this 2d day of July A.D. 1833, Delilah Rankins who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that she is seventy four years of age & knows Marks Casler & has known him since the commencement of the revolutionary war & since he was a child, & knows that he was taken prisoner by the indians late in the fall of the year 1780 she knows there was snow on the ground but cannot remember the month, that the said the indians take said Casler & lead him away that he at the time was in the fort at the Mill, when he was taken he had started to return from the mill home, & deponent tried to prevail on said Casler to remain at the mill that night & told him there were enemies about, but she could not prevail on him to remain, that Joseph Bellinger was with Casler and was also taken, that she heard the guns which the indians fired at them, that the indians killed the horse on which Casler was riding under him - that
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said Casler after he was taken prisoner was absent she thinks as much as two years but this she cannot state certainly & further deponent saith not 
[signed] Delilah Rankins + her mark
sworn to before me this 2d day of July A.D. 1833 
[signed] John Dygert Just Peace 

State of New York 
Herkimer County ss - Personally appeared before me John Dygert a justice of the Peace in & for said county on this 2d day of July 1833. The above named Marks Casler & Delilah Rankins, whose names are subscribed to their affidavits respectively hereto attached by the making of their marks & made oath to the truth of the matters therein respectively contain & I do certify, that I am acquainted with each of them & that they are each persons of respectability & veracity & that their statement is entitled to full credit and belief – 
[signed] John Dygert Just Peace

State of New York 
Herkimer County ss - I do further certify that I am well acquainted with Peter P. Bellinger & with Catharine Billinger, whose affidavits are attached to the declaration of said Marks Casler thereto, & that they are both persons of respectability & credibility & that their statement is entitled to credit - Dated July 2d 1833 
[signed] John Dygert Just Peace
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State of New York 
Herkimer County } ss  I, Julius C Nelson, Clerk of the county of Herkimer & of the Court of Common Pleas thereof do hereby certify that John Dygert, whose name is subscribed to the affidavits of Marks Casler, & of Delilah Rankins, & to the certificate thereto attached & to the certificate of Peter P. Bellinger & Catharine Bellingers character was at the date thereof a Justice of the peace in & for said county, & that his signature attached to said papers respectively are his proper hand writing & that I am acquainted therewith 
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this [blank] day of August A.D. 1833. 
[signed] Julius C Nelson Clerk
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No 16??7
Marks Casler 
Herkermer Co N.Y. 
Casler
 Suspd 

1785 
George H Feeter 
Little Falls 
Herkermer Co N.Y.
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WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Pension Office, 
183

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A Statement, shewing the service of Marks Caster Herkermer Co N.Y.

[BEGIN TABLE]
Period when the service was rendered  |  Duration of the service Years. Months. Days.  |   Rank of the claimant.  |  Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.  |  Rank of the General and Field officers.  |  Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  |  Country through which he marched.  |  Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.  |  Evidence by which the declaration is supported.  |
Sprg 1779 until No 80 taken prison & kept as such for 2 years by the Indians -  |  1 Year 6 Months.  |  private  |  Lieut Petrea Ensign Campbell Capt [illegible]barron  |  Col Bellinger  |    |  Canada Ogdensburg  Montreal  Quebeck  N. York  Boston  |  66 years Little falls Herkermer Co N.Y.  |  Traditional evidence  living witnesses  |
[END TABLE]

I am, respectfully 
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2 
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. 
The following regulations have been adopted: 
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law: 
1. The Regular Troops. 
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3. Persons employed in the Naval service. 
4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 
DECLARATION. 
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. 
State, Territory or District of County } ss.
On this ___ day of ___ personally appeared (a) before __ A.B. a resident (b) of ___ in the county of ___  and State, territory or District of ___  ages (c) ___ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ___  , with ___ and served in the ___ (e) regiment of the ___ line, under the following named officers: 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers, the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which marched. [ ]This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of ___
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. ____ A. B. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I _____ of the Court of ____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ___for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ___ day of ___&c. 
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
 (k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the ___ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ___ , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ___ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. ___ who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ___ and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ___ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I ___Clerk of the Court of ___ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of ___ for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this ___ day of ___&c. 
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. 
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3 
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 
1. Where and in what year were you born? 
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6.  {To a Soldier} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?}
6. {To an Officer.} Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?}
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. 
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. 
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. 
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 
[d] The declarant must in the period or periods of the war when he served. 
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: 
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For __ year ___ months , and ___ days I served as a ___. For ___ months and ___days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension." 
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.   Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority;  that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required. 
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 
Proof of Service. 
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant’s entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[ ] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note [j] applies in continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
[name on bottom crossed out]
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1785

[stamp] REJECTED

P.O. Marks Casler
Service: 
Enlisted:  , 18  .
Discharged:  , 18  .
Application filed:  , 18  .
List of suspended claims printed in 1852 shows cause of suspension as follows: “Not in military service – not in any regularly organized corps.”  over 
Attorney: 
P. O. 
Recognized.   Contract.
Cert. of Dis.   Searched for  , 18  .
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State of New York 
Herkimer County } ss  Peter Peter Bellinger of the town of Danube in said county & state being duly sworn before the Court of Common Pleas of Herkimer County saith that he has known & been well acquainted with Marks Casler now residing at Little Falls, ever since his birth, knows that he is sixty six years of age or about that age, and that said Marks helped to gard a small fort in the Revolutionary war as said Marks has stated that he heard his statement hereunto attached read and believes the same to be correct & true and that he has also heard the affidavit of his sister Catharine Bellinger read which is hereunto attached, and knows the same to be correct and true, and he now is acquainted with said Casler & in the neighbourhood where he resides, and that said Casler sustains a good character for truth and veracity & further deponent saith not – 
[signed] Peter P. Bellinger
Sworn and subscribed Oct 11th 1832 before me 
[signed] Julius C Nelson Clerk
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In the matter of Marks Caster an applicant for a pension under the act of 7th June 1832 
State of New York 
Herkimer County ss: Catharine Bellinger of the town of Danube in said county of Herkimer being duly sworn deposeth & saith, that she is rising of Eighty one years of age, that she has always been informed that she was born in the now town of Little falls, in said county, & has always resided in said town of Little falls & the said town of Danube in said county of Herkimer, that she has known Marks Casler since he was a boy - that deponent has heard the statement of said Marks Services in the Revolutionary war read, & knows the same to be true that relates to his services before he was taken prisoner - that this deponent was the daughter of Col. Peter Bellinger and that her husband was killed in the Oriskany battle as stated by said Marks Casler - that said marks resided with said deponent as is stated by said Marks Casler at the time the house mentioned by said Marks was converted into a fort & picketed, that at the time said Marks was ordered to go to defend the said fort, deponent also moved there for safety and protection, & knows said Marks stood gard in the night & day time as is mentioned in said Marks affidavit of services, that said Marks was taken prisoner as he has also stated, & was gone a little more than two years, & deponent has frequently heard his statement of his hardships & also those of said Bellinger who was taken prisoner with him which has always agreed with said Marks affidavit & which this deponent believes true that said Bellinger who was taken prisoner with said Marks was a brother of this deponent, & has been dead as stated by said Marks above twenty years - deponent further saith that she knows said Marks to be rising of Sixty Six years of age, & that he has always resided be the said town of
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Little Falls, & that he has always sustained a good moral character and further this deponent saith not 
[signed] Catharine Bellinger  X her mark
Sworn & Subscribed this 23d day of September 1832 before me 
[signed] John Dygert Just Peace 
Herkimer County ss: I the above named Justice of the Peace hereby certify that I have known the said Catharine Bellinger for more than forty years & that she has always sustained a fair character for truth & veracity & that in my opinion she is not able to attend at Herkimer to make this affidavit she being old & infirm & her health very much impaired 
[signed] John Dygert 

Herkimer County 
Clerks Office } ss 
I Julius C Nelson Clerk of the said County do certify that John Dygert Esqr before whom the preceeding affidavit purports to have been sworn, was on the day of its date one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County, and duly authorized to act as such, and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of October 1832 
[signed] Julius C Nelson Clerk