Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8013, for Christopher Paul, Pennsylvania
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State of New York
Montgomery County

On this twenty-fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, personally came before me, Henry S. Dieffendorf, one of the judges of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Montgomery aforesaid, Christopher Paul, a resident of the town of Palatine in the county of Montgomery and state of New York aforesaid, who declares that he is aged seventy-seven years ______months _____days, who being first sworn declares and saith that he was born on the 28th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred fifty-five in Europe, viz. Germany, in the principalities of Mansfield, city of (illegible), 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 passed in Congress June 7th 1832.

That this applicant declares that he hath learned the trade of shoemaking and that after his servitude at (illegible) he was (illegible) and forced to join the British and was put on British ship which sailed on the eleventh day of May 1779 for America.  Landed at New York latter part of September the same year when the British were in possession off the city of New York, there continued until the 7th day of June 1780, then crossed the North River and landed on the New Jersey shore, with part of the British army.  This applicant was there under the (illegible) command of Genl. Knip Housen, a German, to Elizabethtown.  That he this claimant hath been detained at Elizabethtown until 12 June same month and year when himself and some of his associates took an opportunity to desert from the British and went to the state of Pennsylvania State(sic).  

There soon joined a company of artillery under a company commanded by Capt. Dow to a regiment the name of the Col. he doth not recollect.  The regt. of artillery composed of five companies, two stationed at the city of Philadelphia and the other three companies were stationed
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at some considerable distance from Philadelphia to a place called Carlisle(?) where the other three companies were stationed.  And that it was expected daily that the whole regt. would be ordered but to march out either to North or South Carolina, this claimant does not remember which but not found it expedient that this applicant with his capt. should leave the city of Philadelphia that, both companies were employed from the time of their enlistment in making cartridge boxes, basket belts and shoes for the United States Service (illegible) end and full terms of six months, for the time they were enlisted, then obtain his legal discharge from his superior officers.

  That this applicant further declares that after he hath served the full six months, he left the city and went to Boston, State of Massachusetts.  There resided and occasionally working on his trade of shoemaking one year (illegible) to New London, Connecticut State. There continued on year six months then close of Revolutionary War and from thence after the war went to sea on which continued sea faring until the year 1788.  While on the sea they met with ship wreck, losing his chest, his discharge and all contents in the chest.

Thence went to London, England, there continued fifteen years and from thence again return to American to the city of New York.  There resided two years, after which time proceeded on to Albany and thence to Schenectady and so continued until arrived at the town of Palatine, county of Montgomery, state of New York, aforesaid, to the old settlement called (illegible) and that he the said applicant declares that he became a resident in the said town of Palatine and continued residing there until this present moment for about 27 years last and that this applicant did reside at one particular place for more than twenty-three years with M. George Laucks in a small building erected by the said M. Laucks where he supported himself until the present day although his landlord for some years past, his acts of humanity hath afforded him much relief. 

That this claimant after an (illegible) of exceeding fifty years past rendering it impractical to furnish his Hon. the Secretary of the War Department with either positive testimony nor documentary evidence unless such may be obtained as to his enlistment for six months serving in the company and regt. mentioned in the foregoing in the War Department
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nor documentary evidence, unless such may be obtained as to his enlistment for six months in the company and regt. mentioned in the foregoing in the War Department.

That the applicant for some several years past hath not been able to labor or to acquire anything in consequence of his occupation or trade and has long been altogether dependent.  Although, if but little that which he has reason to except he will be entitled to will afford himself some relief, in support of (illegible) in his old days.  Acknowledging with gratitude to the government for and during his natural life in allowing himself that some pittance which he considers both been calculated by his government. 

That this applicant declares, being well satisfied that he could get and might secure fifty or one hundred of the most respectable (illegible) of the inhabitants residing in the town of Palatine, among which should select the two (illegible) the clergy, stationed ordained ministers in said town, to testify as to the opinion and belief, as to the truth and veracity of any statement to be given by him the aforesaid applicant as to the foregoing  select the Rev. Isaac Ketcham and George Laucks whom are personally and well acquainted with him the said claimant.  

And that he the claimant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any state.
Signed:  Christopher Paul

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Signed:  Henry I. Diefendorff, a judge of the court of common pleas in and for Montgomery County

We, Isaac S. Ketchem, a clergyman residing in the town of Palatine and county of Montgomery and George Laucks, residing in the same, hereby  certify that we are well acquainted with Christopher Paul who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-seven 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.
Signed:  Isaac S. Ketcham. George Laucks

Sworn and subscribed before me this 24th day of September 1832.
Signed:  Henry I, Diefendorff, 
court of common pleas in and for said county.
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And I, the aforesaid judge, do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Christopher Paul was a Revolutionary soldier and has served as he states.  And that I, the said judge, hereby further certify that it appears to me that I being satisfied that Isaac S. Ketcham, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman residing the in town of Palatine and that George Laucks, who has also signed the same is a resident of the town of Palatine both in the county of Montgomery, is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to full credit.  And the said judge do further certify that the said applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend open court,

Sworn and subscribed this 24th day of September 1832
Signed:  Henry I. Diefendorff
a judge of Montgomery County 

State of New York
Montgomery County

I, George D. Ferguson, clerk of the county of  Montgomery, do hereby certify that Henry I. Diefendorff, before whom the foregoing declaration Christopher Paul and also the foregoing certificate of Isaac S. Ketcham and George Laucks, purport to have been sworn, was on the day and the date of said declaration and certificate, a judge of Montgomery Common Pleas.  And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said judge and verily believe that the name of the said judge subscribed to the said declaration and certificate, calls to the foregoing certificate of the viability of the applicant is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 3rd October 1832.
Signed:  Geo. D. Ferguson