Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5798, for John Kaufmann, Maryland
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MD Kaufmann, John, R. 5798
VA
Contents
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State of Virginia 
County of Augusta ⎬ SS. 
On this 23rd day of January in 
the year of our Lord 1845. Personally appeared before me 
a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Augusta and 
State of Virginia, John Kaufmann a resident of the County & 
State aforesaid, aged Eighty Seven 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United 
States under the following named officers and served as herein 
Stated. First, that he served under the command of Captain 
Riock (in the summer of 1777.) who was ordered to Seize the persons 
of Some tories in the neighborhood of Hagerstown in the State of Maryland, 
and this service being completed, in the course of one month 
declarant was permitted to return home being then a resident 
of Hagerstown, Shortly after attaining his majority declarant 
removed to Alexandria in the State of Virginia, where he 
was enrolled as a volunteer private, under the command of 
Col Ramsay, his company officer being Captn Brooks 
that he entered the service (Shortly after the surrender of 
Lord Cornwallis) late in November or early in December 
1781, and that he continued in Service as a member of a corps 
of Cavalry until the close of the War. declarant was not 
engaged in any battle, but was stationed about eleven miles 
below Alexandria at Point no Point, and was never removed 
but a Short distance from that point during his term of Service 
and as he did not serve in company with any regular troops
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he became acquainted with me no regular officers. But retains a perfect recollection of Col. Ramsay a citizen of Alexandria and of Capt. Brooks who resided in that vicinity. 

Declarant has no documentary evidence of service and is of opinion that no discharges were granted to any of his company, as it was disbanded when peace was declared and not till then. And he farther states that he has no knowledge of any person by whom testimony he can make direct proof of service, those who were his companions in armes being either dead or removed he knows not when. Declarant further states that he was born in Pennsylvania  in the year 1757 on the 25th December the record of his age was left at Fredericktown in Maryland whither his parents removed about the year 1765. that he was living tho places mentioned above.  (Illegible) at Hagerstown and lastly at Alexandria where he entered the service. that in the first instance he was drafted, and in the second outend (illegible) a cavalry corps as a volunteer as above stated, that he did not receive any discharge leaving the service at the time his company was disbanded as mentioned above.  and that he is known to James Miller, Thomas Ralston, Wright Burgess, Wm. Ralston, Sam Lewis (illegible), the certificate of some of whom are annexed. and that he has lived in the county of Augusta Va about forty two years. And he herby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name now on the pension role of the agency of any state.  Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid before me amendment. Personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace. Illegible signature.
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for the county of Augusta and State of Virginia John Kaufmann who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than one year and two months as a volunteer private in a cavalry corps at the point mentioned in his declaration and for such services he claims a pension with arrearages.

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid.

Wm Guy - JP

I Thomas Ralston a citizen of Bath County in the state of Va hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with John Kaufmann who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration for about forty years, that I believe him to be eighty-seven years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the revolution and that I have no doubt of the fact and I further certify that he is not able to appear in court on account of the distance and his bodily infirmity.  Thomas Ralston

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Wm Guy - JP

I do hereby certify that I believe Thomas Ralston to be a man of truth and with that evidence together with my appearance of the said John Kaufman, I would suppose him to be unable to attend court.

Given under my hand this 23rd day of Jany

Wm. Guy - JP
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I Wright Burgess a minister of the Gospel living in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia do hereby certify that I have known John Kaufmann who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration for twenty years, that I have always believed him to be a man of strict veracity and do not hesitate to say from the evidences before me that I believe him to have been a revolutionary soldier and have never heard the fact questioned.

Wright Burgess

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date above written.

Saml. Harrisberger - JP

State of Virginia Augusta County to wit

I Jefferson Kinney Clerk of the county court of August in the state of Virginia do certify that Wm Guy and Saml Harrisberger Esquires and Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid and members of the county court of said county and that I believe the said signatures purporting to be theirs to be genuine - I further certify that I am acquainted personally with Thomas Burgess and I believe him to be a minister of the gospel and that full faith and credit may be given to this statements.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 10th day of February AD 1845.

Jefferson Kinney - Clerk

SEAL
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35983
John Kaufman

Set to Alfred Hoss Esq
April 5, 1845
Let to same - same day

5798

Act June 7, 1832
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REJECTED

5798

John Kaufman
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Washington City, April 5th 1845

Sir

I have just received your letter and can probably throw some light upon the subject therein mentioned, I made some of the inquiries suggested in your letter and will give you the answers as I received them.

Mr. Kaufmann was in good circumstances until within a few years and his pride would not brook the idea of receiving anything which he regarded in the light of alms. On the death of Mr. Saml Miller of Augusta Co, Virginia, in whose employ Mr. Kaufmann had been for near thirty years, and on whose books Mr. K had credits to a very considerable amount over and above his debit, he was deprived of almost the whole amount due him in consequence of Miller's heirs pleading the statute of limitation in bar of the amount due K from the estate, they also deprived him of a comfortable dwelling and out houses which he had built on Miller's premises, taking Miller's word for a deed which was never executed. Miller having died suddenly in a drunken fit. He 9Kaufmann) sometime afterwards was called upon by a gentleman whose name he did not remember who proposed to look into his claim and
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and gibe him such instructions as would enable him successfully to prosecute this claim. But he never heard anything farther on the subject. As to the other inquiry respecting the number, pay, subsistence, belonged, I could not learn anything very satisfactory. The old man's mind had become so much shattered and in addition to this, his knowledge of the English language was so imperfect that I found it extremely difficult to understand a great deal of what he said and I think he may have been mistaken as to the date at which he entered the service but have not the least doubt of his having been a revolutionary soldier and such was his character as a man of veracity in the neighborhood where he was known that every person who had ever heard the old man relate his story placed implicit confidence in it. I conversed with some of the oldest most respectable citizens of August Co such as know the declarant forty years ago and all concurred in the belief that he was engaged as his declaration represents. It was of course impossible to obtain any direct testimony after the lapse of so many years.

With Respect
Your humble & obedient Servant

Alfred Hoss

Honorable
J.L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions, Present
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Free

Comm of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

Feb 5, 1845
Jno Kaufman
June 7 1832
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Comm of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
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Cloverdale Hotel Va Jan 31st 1845

Comm of Pensions

I enclose the declaration John Kaufmann and will just say that no direct evidence could be produced. He was a native of Pa but as he lived in Alexandria, I suppose that he would be enrolled among the Virginias Volunteers.

I have adhered to the German spelling of the name which the old man cold only sign in the German language. On that note it might be split Coffman as is the case with some families of German descent who formerly spelled their names Kaufmann.

Please let me know as soon as convenient what is the result. Direct to Cloverdale Hotel Bath Co Va.

I am with respect
Your humble servant
Alfred Hoss
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35.983
John Kaufman
Va
Act 7 June 32