Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10,654, Coenradt Ferris, New York
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
[handwritten] New York. Ferris, Coenradt. S.10.654 [end handwritten]

[handwritten] Born in Germany carded. [end handwritten]
CONTENTS
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress proposed the 7th of June 1832

State of New York )
Ulster County        ) S.S.

On the eleventh date of September in the year of one thousand eight  hundred and thirty two. Personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Ulster County, being a Court of Record for said County, proceeding according to the course of Common Law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount and keeping a record of their proceedings having a Clerk and Seal of their own, Coenradt Ferris, a resident of the town of Saugerties in the County of Ulster aged eighty three 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 prepared the 7th June, 1832

That he entered the Service of the United States under the following valued officers and served as herein stated.  To wit

That on or about the first of April in the year 1781, he volunteered as a private soldier in the Militia Service of the State of New York in the Revolutionary War, in the Company commanded by Capt. Livingston/Swingston in Colonel Albert Pauldings Regiment for nine months as a guard to the frontiers, and they said Company was stationed part of the truce at the house of one Peter Short in the Town of Woodstock and the residence of the above nine months he with the said Company was stationed at the house of Tobias Wynhoop in the town of Saugerties in Ulster County guarding the frontiers at the foot of the blue mountains against the incursions of the Tories area Indians and above the first of January then next following he with the said Company was discharged, but does not recollect of receiving any written discharge
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And this applicant further declares that on or about the first of April in the year 1782 he again volunteered as a private Soldier in the said Service of the State of New York in Capt. Henry Pauldings Company in Colonel Wysenwelts Regiment for nine months as a frontier guard, and was stationed with a part of the Company (the Company being divided into three parts) each under the Command of an officer,} at the home of Benjamin Snyder, Tobias Wynhook and the house of Evert Wynhook, all in the town of Saugerties in Ulster County, and continued as a guard against the Tories and Indians until about the first of January thru next following, when he with the same Company were marched to Kingston and were then discharged, but does not recollect having received a written discharge,

[large portion of documents X'd out]
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And this applicant further declares that in the Spring of the year 1780 he volunteered in the Service of the State of New York as a private Soldier in the Company commanded by Capt. Henry Paulding in Colonel Albert Pauldings Regiment for nine months and was stationed at Shandaken Ulster County as a frontier guard and built a Fort around the house of one Longyear and continued said service until the first of January following (1781) and was then discharged after the full service of nine months (received no written discharge
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court.
Aghardenburgh
John Gangen
Abm A. Deyo

his mark Conradt Ferris.
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14365

Coenradt Ferris

Admitted Private
27 months
14.16.
P. 793
information res corps

J. Bradhead
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BRIEF in the case of Counsel Feriz of Saugerties, County of Ulster, in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by boldily infirmity?

3.  How old is he? 83

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

PERIOD                        DURATION OF SERVICE                RANK         NAMES OF GENERAL AND FIELD
                                                                                                            UNDER WHOM HE SERVICE

Volunteered [illegible]      9 months                             private           Col Albert Paulding Regiment
 In 1781                                                                                               Capt. Livingston
 1782                                 9 months                             private           Col. Wynkoop
                                                                                                            Capt. Henry Paulding
  1786                                9 months                             private           Capt. Albert Paulding  
                                                                                                            Capt. Henry Paulding


5.  In what battles was he engaged?  Revolutionary

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Saugerties, New York

7.  In his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  living witnesses that document evidence

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  not properly attached

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the above case above mentioned.

Chas. S. Stiles, Examining Clerk
6 March 1833
Page 8

September 14, 1933.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/ADY (illegible)
Coenradt Ferris
S.10654

--

Mrs. Richard Penfield
99 North Chatsworth Avenue
Larchmont, New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter relative to one Conrad Ferris, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.10654, based upon his military service in that war.

Coenradt Ferris was born in 1749 in Germany, place, day and month not stated. No reference is made to his parents.

While a resident of Saugerties, New York, he enlisted about April 1, 1780, and served nine months as a private in Captain Henry Pawling's Company, Colonel Albert Pawling's New York Regiment. He enlisted about the first of April 1781 and served nine months as a private in Captain Livingston's Company, Colonel Albert Pawling's New York Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 11, 1832 while a resident of Saugerties, Ulster County, New York.

He died May 7, 1834 place not stated. On A.B.

There are no family data.

This is the history of the only Coenradt Ferris, all spellings of the names searched, that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office.

Very truly yours,
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator.
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10654

INVALID

File No. 10,654
Coenradt Ferris
Priv. Rev. War
Act. June 7 1832
Index: Vol. A, Page 123

Arrangement of 1870
Page 10

STATE OF NEW YORK }
Ulster County Clerk's office,}  ss.

I Jacob Snyder, Clerk of the County of Ulster, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County, do hereby certify, that Tobias Wynkoop, Esquire, was on the day of the date of the Certificate to the annexed affidavit, a Justice of the Peace on or for the said County of Ulster, duly authorised to take affidavits, etc..; and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe the signature "Tobias Wynkoop" as subscribed to the Certificate of the said annexed Affidavit to be genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, this twenty nine day of April 1833.

Jacob Snyder

STATE OF NEW YORK}
Ulster County Clerk's Office, }  ss

I Jacob Snyder, Clerk of the County of Ulster, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County, do hereby certify, that Peter Van Gaasbeck Junior, Esq. was in the day of the date of the Certificate to the annexed affidavit, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Ulster, duly authorized to take affidavits,, etc.; and further that I was well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe the signature "P V. Gaasbeck Junior" subscribed to the Certificate of the said annexed Affidavit to be genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, this twentieth day of September, 1832.

Jacob Snyder
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STATE OF NEW YORK}
Ulster County Clerk"s Office, } ss.

I Jacob Snyder, Clerk of the County of Ulster, and Clerk of Common Pleas of Ulster County, to hereby certify, that Peter Van Gaasbeck Junior, Esquire, was on the day of the Certificate to the annexed affidavit, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Ulster, duly authorized to take affidavits, etc.; and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe the signature "P.V. Gaasbeck, Junior" subscribed to the Certificate of the said annexed Affidavit to be genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and annexed the Seal of the said Court and County, this twentieth day of September, 1832.

Jacob Snyder

STATE OF NEW YORK}
Ulster County Clerk's Office}  ss.

I, Jacob Snyder, Clerk of the County of Ulster, and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County, do hereby certify, that Peter Van Gaasbeck, Junior, Esquire, was on the day of the date of the Certificate to the annexed affidavit, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Ulster, duly authorized to take affidavits, etc. and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe that the signature "P.V. Gaasbeck, Junior" subscribed to the Certificate of the said annexed Affidavit to be genuine.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County this twentieth day of September, 1832

Jacob Snyder
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20,421

NEW YORK
COENRADT FERRIS

of Ulster, in the State of New York who was a private in the Company, commanded by Captain Livingston of the Regiment commanded by Col Paulding in the New York line for [illegible]

Subscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 80 Dollars and no Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of September 1832 and Jno C Broadhead

Arrears to the 4th Sept                             $200
Semi-anl. allowance ending March '34       $40
                                                                  $240

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by W.L. Williams, Clerk,
Book E, Vol. 4, Page 56
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Dead. See letter to P. Agt. Jno Fleming Nov. 28 1834 - 29 to H. Wynkoop. 10 Jan. 1835.
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We, Hezekiah Wynkoop, residing in the town of Saugerties in the County of Ulster and State of New York and Johannis Schoonmaker of the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Conradt Ferris who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty three 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.

 Hezekiah Wynkoop
Johannis Schoonmaker

Sworn and Subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
in open Court
A.G. Hardenbergh}
John Jansen}                Judges
Abm A Deyo)

CERTIFICATE OF THE COURT

The Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ulster in the State of New York, sitting this thirteenth day of September in the year 1832 at the court-house in Kingston in said County, do hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Hezekiah Wynkoop who signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the town of Saugerties in the County aforesaid, and that Johanies Schonmaker, who has signed the same, is a resident in the same town and a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

A.G. Hardenbergh}
John Jansen}
Abm A Deyo}  Judges

I, Jacob Snyder, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, is and for the County of Ulster, 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 Conradt Ferris for a Pension.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this thirteenth day of September, 1832

Jacob Snyder
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State of New York}
Ulster County)  ss

On this eighteenth day of April in this year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before me Tobias Wynkoop one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County of Ulster, Coenradt Ferris a resident of the Town of Saugerties of said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following additional Declaration to his form Declaration which is hereunto annexed in answer to the objections contained in the accompanying brief form the pension of five marked in the negative as follows:

1st.  In answer to Obj No. XI to XII that he resides in a remote part of the town and relying on the attendance in Conty of the Reverend Henry Ostrander of his neighborhood but being informed after arriving at Court that the said Ostrander was unable to attend, not being acquainted with any other Clergyman, he the said applicant called on Hezekiah Wynkoop and Johannis Schoonmaker, respectable citizens of his neighborhood to testify to their belief of his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary services, but in addition he would refer (if necessary) besides those named in his original Declaration, here unto annexed, to Joshua Freive, Jeremiah Russell, Erzr Port Master, who are all well acquainted with the said applicant of the same town and who can testify to the general belief of his neighborhood relative to this revolutionary Services.

2nd.  In answer to Obj. No. XIV marked in red ink.  See the addition certificates appended to the Affidavits.

3rd.  To Obj. No. XVI, see also former Declaration
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4th:  To the 5th Interrogatory, he says that in consequence to old age and loss of memory, he does not any save those stated in his original Declaration.

5th:  To the 7th Interrogatory, see the body of the additional Declaration.

Coenradt Ferris

Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written before me

Tobias Wynkoop, Justice of the Peace

I do certify that I have been acquainted with Coenradt Ferris for a number of years and have frequently heard him state that he rendered services in the revolutionary war as a private solder and I have examined his declaration and find that it agrees with his former statements also have heard other soldiers speak of his services.  I have examined him and he appears to have a good and distinct recollection of what he had stated in his Declaration, his character stands fair as to truth and verity and in my opinion, he is entitled to be believed and his pensioners will find him belief him as a pauper.

Tobias Wynkoop, J.P.

N.B.  The pensioner Coenradt Ferris is unable to give any information as to the nature of his revolutionary services of 1780, 81 and 82 as stated in his declaration after taken some pains to inquire relative the same most reasonable information I have been able to obtain is that the Officers under which he served were regular Officers but that they were supernumeraries in consequence of the regular regiment being consolidated and consequently had no command in the line, but were ordered on the frontiers of Ulster County to supply the place of Militia Officers, the Militia were relieved from Military duty by forming classes and hiring a substitute for nine months during each Summer of the three last years of the revolution and have organized so many volunteer services.  These services were generally continued until late in the Fall or until the committee of safety were satisfied that the Indians and Tories were removed to Canada.

Henry Wynkoop, Agent
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No. 1

Coenradt Ferris
by
John Schoonmak ) after month 9
Page 18

State of New York}
Ulster County}  ss

Johannis Schoonmaker of the Town of Saugerties, Ulster County, aged 70 years, a Soldier of the Revolutionary War being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is well acquainted with Coenradt Ferris, a Soldier of the Revolutionary War and now an application for a Pension that this deponent was in the Militia Service of the State of New York and was in the Company of Capt. Paulding Col. Albert Pauldings Regiment and well known that the said Coenradt Ferris belonged to and served in the same Company with this deponent that this deponent saw the said Coenradt Ferris in said Service for nine months or more in the 1780 and knows that the said Coenradt Ferris continued to serve in aid Corps as a private soldier until discharge, that the said term of Service commenced about the first of January following, that the said Company was stationed in the Town of Shandaken at the house of one Longyear, Ulster County, that this deponent and the said corps continued in said Service as a frontier guard until duly discharged at the end of the said term of 9 months.

Johannis Schoonmaker

Subscribed and sworn this 12th day
of September 1832 before me

P.V. Gausbeck Jr.
Page 19

Solomon Schutt
for 
Coenradt Ferris

No. 2

9 mo. affid.
Page 20

State of New York }
Ulster County }  ss:

Salomon Schutt of the town of Saugerties in the County of Ulster, aged 75 years, a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is well acquainted with Coenradt Ferris, a Solder in the Revolutionary War and now an Applicant for a pension, that this deponent was in the Militia Services of the State of New York, in the Revolutionary War, and was in the Company commanded by Captain Livingston, in Colonel Albert Paulings Regiment, and well knew the said Coenradt Ferris, that the said Coenradt Ferris belonged to the Company and Regiment with this deponent; that this deponent saw the said Coenradt Ferris, in the said service for nine months in the year 1781, and knows that the said Coenradt Ferris continued to Serve in the said Corps, in the capacity of a Private Soldier until he was discharged; and this deponent says that he always understood that the said Coenradt Ferris entered the said nine month service as a volunteer, and that the said service commenced in the beginning of April of the said year and ended in the beginning of January next insuing, that the said Company was stationed part of the aforesaid term at the house of one Peter Short in the Town of Woodstock and part of said term at the house of Tobias Wynkoop in the Town of Saugerties in Ulster County, guarding the frontier at the foot of the blue mountains against the incursions of the Tories and Indians.

Solomon Schutt

Sworn and subscribed before me
this 12th day of September 1832

P.V. Gaasbeck, Jr.
Justice of the Peace

State of New York)
Ulster County} ss:

I so hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Solomon Schutt, that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.

P.V. Gaasbeck, Justice of the Peace
Page 21

Tjerck Burhans
for 
Coenradt Ferris

9 mo. Affidavit

Coenradt Ferris's
Pension Papers

14365
Page 22

State of New York)
Ulster County}  ss:

I, Tjerck Burhans of the Town of Kingston, in the County of Ulster, aged 73 years, a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is well acquainted with Coenradt Ferris, a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, and now an applicant for a pension, that this deponent was in the Militia Service of the State of New York, in the Revolutionary War, and was in the Company commanded by Captain Henry Paulding in Colonel Wyscaveldt's Regiment, and well knows the said Coenradt Ferris,  the said Coenradt Ferris belonged to the same Company with this deponent; that this deponent saw the said Coenradt Ferris in the said Service for nine months  in the year 1782, and knows that the said Coenradt Ferris continued to serve in the said Corps in the capacity of a private Soldier, until he was discharged; and this deponent says that he always understood that the said Coenradt Ferris voluntarily enlisted for the term of nine months, that the said Company was divided into three party each under the Command of an Officer stationed at the home of Benjamin Snyder, Tobias Wynkoop and Evert Wynkoop, all in the Town of Saugerties, in Ulster County, as a guard against the incursions of the Indians and Tories.  That the said term of service commenced in the beginning of April of the year 1782 and ended in the beginning of January then next ensuing, and that the said Coenradt Ferris was discharged in the Village of Kingston in said County, of Ulster, where the Company were all discharged.

Tjerck Burhans

Sworn and subscribed before me
the 12th day of September 1832

P.V. Gaasbeck, Jr.
Justice of the Peace

State of New York }
Ulster County}  ss:

I do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Tjerck Burhans, that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.

P.V. Gaasbeck, Jr.
Justice of the Peace
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[blank sheet]
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?

V. Has he mentioned 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?

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII. Has the court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
 seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

--

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V. 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, deopseth and saith, 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 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.
Page 26

3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant serviced, 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 they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tors; the names of the officers, and other particulars 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 services were 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.

QUERE XIV.  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 claimants 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.

QUERE XVI.  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 paper 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.

In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

Some information should be given of the description of the corps which under the Command of a regular Col. was quartered at houses of individuals for 9 months continuously for several years successfully.  It should appear that the corps in as embodied defensibly to military law and in actual service as such.
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99 NORTH CHATSWORTH AVENUE
LARCHMONT, NEW YORK

[handwritten] Sept. 5 - 1933.

Mr. A. D. Hiller
Washington D.C.

My dear Mr. Hiller,
I am searching for the Revolution any record of a Conrad Ferris or Faris, but have very little data to work upon. He was probably the brother of Gilbert Ferris (see R.3515) and is refuted to have had a government land grant in Missouri which after his death became quite valuable.  Have you any record?
stamped env enc.
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99 NORTH CHATSWORTH AVENUE 
LARCHMONT, NEW YORK 

[handwritten] of said Conrad Ferris of any suggestion as to where I might find such a record. 
Sincerely, 
(Mrs. Richard Penfield) Ione Penfield [end handwritten]