Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23610, Wilhelmus Efner, New York
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SERVICE
New York

Efner, Wilhelmus

NUMBER
S.23610

CONTENTS
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New York No. 24.992
Wilhelmus Efner 
Schoharie Co. in the State of N. York was a Private in the --- commanded --- by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Schuyler in the N. York Troops line for 10 months & 9/28 days

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 36 Dollars 41 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of April 1834 and sent to Pensioner Middleburg N. Y. 
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 109.23 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep "  18.20 
[totaling] $127.43 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D. Brown  Clerk,
Book E.   Vol. 4   Page 55
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In the matter of the application
of Wilhelmus Efnor for a Pension


23297
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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 in the State of New York now sitting Wilhelmus Efnor, a resident of the town of Middleburgh in the said County of Schoharie & State of New York aged seventy eight 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. Captain John Fisher, Lieutenant Fitch & Ensign Guy Young. The Company to which he belonged, did not belong to any Regiment to his knowledge - That he entered the Service as a private the fore part of the month of June in the year 1775, the day of the month he does not recollect, and left the Service in the month of February, in the year 1776, just eight months from the time he entered it. That he resided at Vanderheydens Ferry, now the City of Troy in the State of New York at the time he entered the Service, that he enlisted [entered, crossed out] as a Volunteer, when he entered the Service for eight months. That he [entered the service, crossed out] joined his Company immediately on his enlistment, at Albany, and marched with them to Fort George and lay there about two Months, when Major General Schuyler took the Command of the troops at that place; that he was then taken from the ranks by General Schuyler, & ordered into his service - that he continued to serve General Schuyler untill the expiration of his enlistment, when he was dismissed and returned home- That he was engaged in no battle & saw no continental Regiment or Company, to his knowledge, during this period- 
And 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 Darby, that he does not recollect the names of the other officers - That he entered the service as a
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private in the Month of July in the year 1777, the day of the Month he does not recollect, & left the service at least one week from the time he entered it, that he resided at Vanderheydens Ferry, now the City of Troy in the State of New York at the time he entered the service - that he entered the service as a Volunteer. That he joined the Company under Captain Darby who was a Continental Officer, at the time he entered the service of Vanderheydens Ferry, and marched with them as a pilot into the Country east of that place in search of a party of Tories staid there a short time when he returned home with the Company and was dismissed, that he was in no battle 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. Colonel Stephen Schuyler, Major John Fonda, Captain Henry Gardenier, Lieutenant Abraham Teneyck that he does not recollect the names of the other officers - that he entered the Service, as a private in the Month of September in the year 1777, the day of the month he does not recollect - and left the service in the forepart of the Month of October in the year 1777 at least three weeks from the time he entered it- that he resided at Vanderheydens Ferry, now the City of Troy in the State of New York, when he entered the service- That he was not drafted, a volunteer or substitute to his knowledge. That he belonged to a Company of New York Militia, 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 he joined his Company immediately on entering the service at Vanderheydens Ferry, and marched to Bemises Heighths [Bemis Heights] at Stillwater, arrived there a day or two after the first battle at Stillwater-- staid there untill a day or two before the last battle at Stillwater, when he was dismissed & sent back to Vanderheydens Ferry in charge of soldier of his Company who was sick of the Small Pox - that he was in no battle during this period
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 Henry Gordenier; that he does
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recollect the names of the other officers-- That he entered the Service as a private in the fore part of the Month of September in the year 1778, the day of the Month he does not recollect, and left the Service, the fore part of the Month of October in the year 1778, at least one month from the time he entered it. That he resided at Vanderheydens Ferry, now the City of Troy in the State of New York, at the time he entered the service - that he does not recollect whether he was drafted or volunteered. that he joined his Company immediately on entering the service, at Vanderheydens Ferry, and marched with them to the Upper Fort, on the Schoharie Creek in the now County of Schoharie in the State of New York, and lay there about three the weeks, when he marched with his Company back to Vanderheydens Ferry & was dismissed. That Colonel Butler with a Company of Riflemen lay at Schoharie, when he was there. That he was in no battle during this period. 
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. Colonel Stephen Schuyler Major Leonard Van Buren, Captain Henry Gordinier - that he does not recollect the names of the other officers. That he entered the Service as a private in the forepart of the month of November, in the year 1778, the day of the Month he does not recollect, and left the Service in the fore part of the Month of December in the year 1778, at least one month from the time he entered it - That he resided at Vanderheydens Ferry, now the City of Troy, in the State of New York when he entered the Service. That he belonged to a Regiment of New York Miltia - that the whole militia Regiment to which he belonged were ordered into the service by their Officers - that he entered the service in obedience to such order - that he was neither drafted, a volunteer or substitute, to his knowledge. That he joined his Regiment, immediately on entering the Service, at Vanderheydens Ferry and marched with them to fort Edward staid there a short time then marched to Jones Saw Mill about six miles from Fort Ann. staid there about three weeks engaged in making a logway across
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a swamp between the Mills & Fort Ann, when he marched back to Vanderheydens Ferry & was dismissed - That he was in no battle & saw no Continental Regiment, Company or officer during this period to his knowledge – 
And the said Efnor for further saith that in the latter part of the Month of December in the year 1778, he removed from Vanderheydens Ferry to that part of the State of New York now the town Half Moon in the County of Saratoga that he resided at Half Moon from that time untill the close of the Revolutionary War. That he was enrolled in the Militia of the State of New York, at this place as early as the first day of April in the year 1779, that the Regiment & Company in which he was enrolled at the time of his enrolled was commanded by the following named officers Colonel Jacobus Van Schoonhoven, Lieutenant Gordon, Major Ezekiel Taylor & Captain Joshua Taylor & Lieutenant Joseph Cook - that he does not recollect the names of the Ensign - that he belonged to the same Regiment & Company untill the first day of April in the year 1783. That Colonel Vanschoonhoven and Major Taylor commanded the Regiment during the time he belonged to it - that Colonel Gordon commanded the Regiment untill the year 1779, when he was taken prisoner by the British. That he does not know that any person was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in his place during the War - That Captain Taylor & Lieutenant Cook, commanded the Company during the time he belonged to it - That from the first day of April in the year 1779 untill the first day of April in the year 1783 he was verry frequently on duty in the Service of the United States or short period of some two or three days to two or three weeks each. that he does not recollect the number of different periods he was on duty-- that he was during most of those periods under the immediate command of some Officer of the Regiment or Company to which he belonged, but which officer had the Command at each time he does not recollect, that he does not recollect the time when he entered the service each or any of those periods, nor the time he left the same - nor how long he was engaged on duty each time - That he some of those periods entered the service as a Volunteer & at the others, that he was ordered out on duty by his
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Commanding officers, & entered the service in obedience to such order that he marched to Palmertown about twenty five miles North of Half Moon six or seven times & lay there at least a week each time. that he once marched to Salem in Washington County & was absent from home, in the Service two or three weeks - that he marched to Saratoga, eighteen miles from Half- Moon, at least twenty times - that he was generally from home about a week when he went to that place - the he went several times to Niskauna [Niskayuna] on the Mohawk River & frequently to other places- that he cannot now tell, where he went each time, he was on duty - That Colonel Peter Gansevoort with a Regiment of Continental troops lay at Saratoga some part of this time, & Colonel Oney with another Regiment of Continental troops lay at Saratoga some part of this time - That he was in no battle during this time. That he is positive that he was engaged on duty in the service of the United States, as a private soldier, from the first day of April in the year 1779 untill the first day of April in the year 1783 at different periods, amounting in the whole to at least two years. 
And the said Efnor further saith, that he has no documentary evidence of his services above set forth - that he never received a written discharge from the Service - that he was born in the City of Hamburgh, in Germany - that he has no Record of his age That he resided in that part of the State of New York now the town of Half Moon in the County of Saratoga, from the Close of the Revolutionary War, untill the year 1795, when he removed to the County of Schoharie in the State of New York where he has since resided - that he knows of no person who can testify to his services except Margaret Efron - and Joseph Efnor.
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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] Wilhelmus Efnor  X  his mark
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court
[signed] John Gebhard Jr. Clk.
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We John Garretson a Clergyman residing in the town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie, in the State of New York, and freeman Stanton residing in the said town of Middleburgh, Hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with Wilhelmus Efnor, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy eight 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] John Garretson  Freeman Stanton
Sworn & subscribed, the day and year aforesaid in open Court 
[signed] John Gebhard Jr. Clk.
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 John Garretson who has signed the preceeding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Middleburgh in the said County of Schoharie, and that Freeman Stanton who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said town of Middleburgh, and that they credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit - and that Joseph Efnor who has subscribed & sworn to the annexed affidavit, is a resident in the said town of Middleburgh & that he is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit 
[signed] William Beekman   Wm. Mann   Tho P Danforth

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 in the State of New York, now sitting Joseph Efnor, a resident of the town of Middleburgh in the said County of Schoharie, who being first duly
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affirmed according to Law doth make the following declaration - That he is the brother of Wilhelmus Efnor - that he the said Joseph resided in the City of Albany from the commencement of the Revolutionary War untill its Close, except when on duty in the service of the United States, and a short time that he resided at Half-Moon, now Saratoga County - That the said Wilhelmus Resided at Vanderheydens Ferry, now City of Troy in the State of New York, for two or three years, in the commencement of the Revolutionary War, and that he resided for several years at Half-Moon, now Saratoga County in the State of New York, towards the Close of the War - That he saw the said Wilhelmus in the service of the United States, as a soldier in the City of Albany in the early part of the Summer of the year 1775, as near as he can recollect, in the month of June. That he understood that he had enlisted for some length of time, how long he does not recollect - That the said Wilhelmus marched with the party to the North - that he did not see the said Wilhelmus for ten or twelve months after that time. That he did not know any of the Officers that commanded the party, except Gui [Guy] Young - that the said Gui Young was an Ensign in the Company to which the said Wilhelmus belonged - that he does not recollect that he saw the said Wilhelmus at any other time in the Service- that he frequently heard of his being in the service during the War, but cannot tell where he went nor now long he was absent in the Service –
[signed] Joseph Efner
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court
[signed] John Gebhard Jr. Clk 

[I] John Gebhard, Junior Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Schoharie, in the State of New York, do hereby Certify, that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Wilhelmus Efnor for a Pension- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred thirty three. 
[signed] John Gebhard Jr. Clerk of the Court of Com. pleas of Schoharie County -
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23297
Wilhelmus Efnor
Schoharie County
New York
c. j.

Admitted

Private 10 mo & 28 days

Applicant
Middleburg
New York
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WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Pension Office, 
May 23d- 1833 
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, showing the service of Wilhelmus Efnor, Schoharie County, New York 
[TABLE, BY COLUMN]
Period when the service was rendered. 
Volunteer 
1775 1777 1778 1779 to 1783
Duration of the claimant's service 
8 [Months]  At least 7 [Days.]  At least 21 [days]  21 [Days.] 2 years at least
Rank of the claimant. 
private 
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. 
Capt. Fisher
Capt Darby
Capt Gardner 
same 
same 
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. 
Col Schuyler 
Maj Fonda 
Col. Schuyler 
Maj. Van Buren 
Battles in which the applicant was engaged. 
Country through which he marched.
Fort George
Bemis heights
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
78
Troy N.Y.
Evidence by which the declaration is supported. 
tradition 
1 witness proves he saw applicant in service in 1775 - another service in 1776, 1777, 1778 until the close of the war
[END OF TABLE]

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant, 
J. L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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.
of
On this
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
Territor of
County of
day of
A. B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
line, under the following named officers:
with
and
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 he 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.
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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same)
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
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.
1
Clerk of the Court of
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
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.
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given
and what has become of it?
Town of Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
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.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will for
low the rule laid down for his guidance.
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.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every contental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length 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 old 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
months, and --
not less than the petitioned below, and in the following grades:--For---yearand
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
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a 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 aupursuit
.
thority; 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
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must fix 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.
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 come 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.
note applies to continental troops only.
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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State of New York 
Schoharie County ss. On this Eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred & thirty three, personally appeared before me Marvin Judd one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York, Margaret Efnor, a resident of the Town of Jefferson in the said County of Schoharie, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration. That she is aged seventy eight years - that he became acquainted with Wilhelmus Efnor in the year 1776. that she has been well acquainted with the said Wilhelmus since that time. That she married the brother of the said Wilhelmus the year 1777 - that the said Wilhelmus resided in the town of Half Moon in the now County of Saratoga, in the same family with her, from the Month of December in the year 1778 untill the close of the Revolutionary War - that Half-Moon was a frontier settlement during the War. That the said Wilhelmus belonged to the Militia in that place from the fall of the year 1778 untill the close of the War. That during that time, he was called into the Service of the United States verry often on some alarm - that he was sometimes gone from home a day or two at a time, and often three or four weeks at a time. That she cannot tell the number of times he was out in the Service nor where he went each time he was out from home on duty, she thinks, from what she saw of the services of the said Wilhelmus he was engaged on duty in the Service of the United States, from the Month of April in the year 1778 untill the close of the Revolutionary War, at different periods in the whole amounting to two years. That the said Wilhelmus resided from the time she became acquainted with him untill the Month of December in the year 1778 at Vanderheydens Ferry in the now County of Renssellaer - that she frequently heard during this time of his being in the Service - That to the best of her knowledge the said Wilhelmus is aged seventy eight years- 
[signed] Margaret Efner  X her mark
Sworn to subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me, 
[signed] Marvin Todd one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Schoharie
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I hereby certify that Margaret Efnor who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing affidavit is a credible person & that her statement is entitled to credit. 
Jefferson February 11th 1833 
[signed] Marvin Judd, a Judge of Schoharie County 

I, John Gebhard, Junior, Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York do hereby certify, that Marvin Judd is one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of the said County of Schoharie, and that the signatures "Marvin Judd" subscribed to the foregoing Certificate & to the jurat of the foregoing affidavit, are his genuine signatures. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three 
[signed] John Gebhard Jr Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of Schoharie County -
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New York
Revo
---
Wilhelmus Efnor
Suspended
let. Hon J Bouck 5 Dec '32 to B Spafford
13 June '33 to same 2d Sep '33


Act 7 June '32
Page 18

Revolution

23610
INVALID.

File No. 23,610
---
Wilhelmus Efner
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7th 32

Index: - Vol. 2,  Page 121


[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 19

[left page]
Middleburgh N.Y. 
March 19th 
New York, [illegible]
24. March 1884 

[right page]
Wilhelmus Effnor [Efnor]
Free 

J L Edwards Esquire 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City
Page 20

Dr Sir 
Your Letter to the Hon Mr Vanderpool of the 4th Just was yesterday told by me in a Letter from him, I take the Liberty of addressing You directly in relation to this business  You state in your Letter to Mr Vanderpool that “If the department possessed any information which were to correct the admission that such are account of testitory service in all embodies & duly [illegible] Militia Company (distinguishable from that armed police which frontier settlers in time of peace & were maintained for their local security, the specifications required might not be inserted &c”  I presume you have now in your department the affidavit of every man in this section of the Country who is of sufficient age to have any personal knowledge of the service in this Country, all who were old enough to bear arms were obliged to perform service & all consequently applicants for pensions  Their affidavits unto give you no further information than you already possess I am [illegible] the affidavits of a number of females setting forth that Garrisons were maintained in three forts in Schoharie County the most of the time during the war that those forts were under the command of Colonels Vroman & Zelic that the Garrisons were secured by the Soldiers of the Regiment under their Command, that the Middle fort was Garrisoned by men principally from a Company under the Command of Captain George Rythlemire that they always understood that the above named officers were rightly commissioned as Militia officers by the State authorities, that whenever the Soldiers of this Regiment performed service they understood it was by the direction of these officers & in obedience to their Commands that served
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times the whole Regiment was engaged in the service & always a part of it, that in their opinion the Soldiers of said Regiment were engaged in actual service of the United States one half of the time from the Commencement to the close of the war, that before the War no forts were erected in Garrisons maintained in Schoharie County to their knowledge, I can also procure the affidavits of Mr Sweet who was a Lad in the time of the War & who is a Grand son of Colonel Zelic the affidavits of Mr Vrooman who are the sons in Law of Conl Vroman & the affidavit of the Mr George Rythlmire in the son of Captain Rythlmire indicating the above from information & belief. I can procure the affidavits of any number of the most respectable inhabitants of this County stating that as they are informed & believe the soldiers of this Regiment were engaged in the service of the United States a large portion of the time and then this information was obtained before the passage of the pension act of 1832, every [illegible, born?] officer of Captain Rythlmires Company & every field officer of the Regiment & I believe every Commissioned officer of the Regiment is dead so that it is impossible to procure any other information than the above for the satisfaction of the department, if such affidavits were to be satisfactory they shall be provided immediately Please inform me as soon as convenient as I am my anxious to get this business disposed of, 
You will perceive by an examination of the papers of Wilhelmus Efner that he sets forth particularly and in a manner I presume satisfactory Eleven months service, that his services were not performed in this County but in Rensselaer & Saratoga. His specification concludes with a general declaration of service performed while he was a resident of Saratoga County, he
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swears positively that while a resident of that County he performed at least two years Service Mr Efner is a man whose character is above reproach & he [illegible] who knows him doubts the the truth of his statements. He has been in good circumstances but from misfortune has become reduced, so that his pension is necessary to his Comfort, If you allow but thirteen months of his period of two years he will be entitled to a full pension, If you do not feel authorized to allow him so much time as that of his periods of two years as set forth by him and will comprise that part of his claim he authorises me to say that (although he is satisfied that he is entitled to a full pension) he will accept of such allowance as you think yourself authorised to make him  hoping you will be as liberal as your duty to the Government will permit of this he has no doubt & can ask no more
Yours Respectfully 
[signed] R Stafford

To J L Edwards Esquire
 Middleburgh March 19th 1834