Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,447, for Christopher Midlar, New York
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(8-1776)

SERVICE                                        NUMBER
New York    Midlar, Christopher      W.16,447
                   Townsend, Mary
                   (Former widow)
CONTENTS
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Albany    1893

Mary Townsend
widow of Christopher Midlar

who died on the year 1796 or 1797
of Onondaga Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Pv. of Artillery in the company command by Captain Moody of the Regt. command by Col.  Lamb  in the N. York line for 2 years  N.Y.

Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 100 Dollars __ Cents, per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of March 1838 and sent to Hon. Wm. Taylor, H. R. 

Arrears to the 4th of March '38          700.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4. Sept.  50.00
$750.00

{Revolutionary Claim,
{Act July 4, 1836,
{Section the 3

Recorded by D. Brown         Clerk
Book  A   Vol.  2     Page  119
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Declaration

State of New York}
County of Onondaga} SS

In order to obtain the benefit of the third Section of the Act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836  & of the first section of the Act. of 3rd March 1837. 
 On this 31st day of August 1837 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of common pleas in & for said County, in open court at the courthouse in the town of Salina in said county, the same being a court of records, Mary Townsend, a resident of the town of Pompey in the county of Orondaga, aged seventy three years who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision named (?) by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836, and the act explanatory of said Act passed March 3rx 1837.  That she was married to Christopher Midlar on the 12th day of June in the year 1781 according to the best of her recollection, & as she verily believes, who was a soldier in the revolutionary War & according to the best of her knowledge and belief, he entered the service in the year 1775, or 1776, that he was then a resident of Clermont in Columbia County, state aforesaid, and left the service in the year 1783, that he served first, as a writer for Captain or Colonel Keerman (?) for the term of nine months - that afterwards he enlisted for serving the War as a private & sergeant or corporal in Col. Lamb's Regiment of Artillery in Capt. A (?)  Moody's Company that he served during the aforesaid/ served at West ? &  was at Fort Montgomery when it was stormed by General Vaughan & was severely wounded there in his side which left a scar nine inches in length- that during the period of his said service, he was in the war the northern excursions at the time & place when Col. Butler was killed at the west Canada Creek in Herkimer County in the State aforesaid - that he was continued in the service till after the peace (?) in 1783 & was regularly discharged at Westpoint,   but the discharge he  was  issued then & there has long since been lost.
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and that the declarant now resides with her son James Midlar, on a Lot of Land in said town of Pompey, which was awarded to her said husband for his services in the revolutionary war as aforesaid.

She further declares that she was married to the said Christopher Midlar at, or about the time aforesaid according to the best of her knowledge and belief, and that her marriage was  solemnized by Damini (?) Daniel Cuck (internet shows Cock) at Clermont aforesaid, that said Christopher Midlar died in the same town in the year 1796 or 1797 on or about the 10th of June - that she was afterwards married to Richard Townsend, who died in Allegany County State aforesaid, in December 1833, and that she was a widow on the 4th July 1836, & still remains a widow as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hunts (s)? annexed - That she has no documentary evidence to support her claim, the discharge from service which the said Christopher Midlar received at Westpoint having been lost as before stated - That the said Christopher in his lifetime kept a family record of his said marriage to the declarant & of the births of  his children in a Bible, which was worn out & destroyed by the said children at school.  She further declares that her maiden name was was Mary Miller & that after her marriage to the said Christopher Midlar at Clermont as aforesaid, she went to Westpoint to visit him her said husband & he found means to provide a dwelling house there & she remained there with him and kept house till he was discharged from the service as aforesaid being a private (?) of about two years, during which period or a part of the same, he served as Sergeant or Corporal (D) in Capt. Moody's Company as she was then there informed & now verily believes. 

Sworn to and subscribed in the }
day & year above written & Testify}
that the information at (a) (B) (C) and (D) were made before singing
Mary   X  her mark  Townsend

A. Edwards  Clerk
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State of Newyork (sic)}
Onondaga County}  SS
On the 31st day of August 1837, personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of common pleas sitting as such court in the courthouse in the town of Salina in said county, James Midlar of the town of Pompey in said county who, being duly sworn according to Law, did testify, depose, & say that he is fifty four years old, & resides in the town of Pompey in the county of Onondaga & has resided there since the year 1804, on Lot Number thirty two in said town, which was accorded to Christopher Midlar for his services in the revolutionary War, as appeared on the book of accords in the Clerk's office of said county, which deponent knows from personal examination himself - that he is the oldest child of said Christopher Midlar and Mary Midlar, his widow the above  applicant, that said Christopher & Mary lived together as Man and Wife & brought up a family of children, that deponent lived with his said parents in Clermont, Columbia County till his said Father died at that place about the year 1797, that Mary Midlar his mother married Michael Townsend some three or four years after the death of her first husband, who died about four years ago, and that she was taken blind about fifteen years ago since which time she has chiefly resided with this deponent especially for the last eight or ten years, that deponent has often heard his said Father detail & recite (?) his services as a revolutionary soldier as the same is set forth in the foregoing declaration of his said Mother but much more particular & full -- that deponent has heard said declaration read & knows the facts stated therein in relation to the discharge of his said father being lost - and to the loss of the Bible which contained the records of the marriage of his parents as aforesaid - to her marriage to Richard Townsend & his death, to be true, and that his said Mother, Mary Townsend, the aforesaid
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applicant has remained a Widow since the death of the said Richard Townsend till the present time.

Sworn to and subscribed before me the}
day and year first above mentioned & I do}
certify that I am acquainted with James}
Midlar, the above deponent & know him}
to be a credible Witness & that his statement}
is entitled to credit. }      James Midlar

A. Edwards Clerk

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting to the foregoing Applicant such interrogations as the case suggests touching (?) her said application, that her first husband, Christopher Midlar was a revolutionary soldier and served as she states & that the following facts, (to wit) that the maiden name of said applicant was Mary Miller - that she was lawfully married to the said Christopher Midlar while he was in the service of the United States as a soldier in the revolutionary Army - that he died about the years 1797 - that he died about four years ago - that she was afterwards married to Richard Townsend, that he died about four years ago -- that she was a Widow on the 4th day of July 1836, has remained such Widow ever since the death of said Richard Townsend as aforesaid & is now a Widow, have all been proved to the satisfaction of this court. 

George Pettit}
David Munro}                Judges
J.M. Allen}

I Alanson Edwards, Clerk of the County Courts in & for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court of Common please in the matter of the application of Mary Townsend for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal of  office this 31st day of August 1837.
A. Edwards  Clerk
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W. 16447

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions.

Washington, D.C.    July 31, 1893

Madam:

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Christopher Midlar, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are informed that "he entered the service in 1775 or 1776, x x x x that he served first as a waiter for Captain or Colonel Hermans, for the term of nine months - that afterwards he enlisted for the war and served as a private, and corporal or sergeant in Col. Lamb's Regiment of artillery, in Capt. Andrew Moody's Company."  He was stationed awhile at West Point, and while at Fort Montgomery was severely wounded during an attack by General Vaughn.
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He enlisted at Clermont, Columbia County, N. Y. and died there on or about June 10, 1796 or 97.  He married Mary Miller on June 12, 1781.  She afterwards married Richard Townsend in December 1833, and he died July 4, 1836.
She was blind during the latter part of her lifetime; and was living at Pompey, Onondaga Co., N. Y. when she applied for a pension - Aug. 31, 1837.
On July 22, 1793, a military bounty land warrant for 100 acres of land was issued to Christopher Midlar. 

Very respectfully, 

Commissioner


Miss  Nettie L. White,
2d Deputy's Room
B. of I.
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V  3050

Mary Townsend of 
Pompey, Onondaga
County N.Y. Applicant

George Pettit of 
Fabius Onondaga Co, as her Agent

to enter

Admitted 
Private of Artillery
Lambs rgt.  2 years

Hon. W. Taylor  HR
Dec. 29
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State of New York}  SS
Ulster County}

On the 2nd day of December 1837 personally appeared before Conrad Dumond and one of the Justices of the Peace of the Town of Hurley in and for said County, Catherine Delamater residing in the town of Hurley in said County who being duly sworn according to law, by and before the said Conrad Dumond, did on her oath depose and, that she is about seventy years old, that is sister of Mary Townsend a resident of the Town of Pompey in the County Onondaga & who is an applicant for a pension  under the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 and the act explanatory of said  act passed March 3rd 1837 and is well acquainted with her that deponent was well acquainted with Christopher Midler (sic) deceased, when he was a resident of the Town of Clermont in the County of Columbia in the state of New York aforesaid who was the first  husband of the said Mary Townsend whose maiden name was Mary Miller.  That the deponent was an eye witness to the marriage of said Christopher Midler (sic) to the said Mary Miller.  That said marriage was a solemnized in the presence of the deponent, at Clermont aforesaid by the Reverend Domini Daniel Cuck on or about the last of May or the beginning of June, the year she cannot recollect.  She recollects it was before the close of the Revolutionary War and recollects that her sister went to West Point to her husband in the army and resided with him in the army at West Point for one or two of the last years of the Revolutionary War.  That the said Christopher died at Clermont aforesaid about the year 1797 and in a few years after his death the said Mary Midler (sic) his widow was married to Richard Townsend lived with him till he died, which was about four years ago as the deponent is informed & further this deponent says not .
Subscribed & sworn the day and year first above written before me, and I do further certify that I am well  acquainted with the above deponent know her to be a credible witness and her statement is entitled to credit.
Sworn and subscribed this 2nd day of December 1837 before me.
Conrad Dumond Justice of the Peace
Catherine Delamater   X  her mark
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STATE OF NEW YORK} ss
COUNTY OF ULSTER}

I, Charles W. Chipp, Clerk of the County of Ulster, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, 
That Conrad Dumond whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed deposition of 
Catherine Delamater and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, dwelling in the said County, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same:  And further,, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice, and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said County, the 2nd day of December A. D. 1837

Charles W. Chipp  Clerk,
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Columbia County, }
Clerk's Office, }   ss.

I, James Storm, Clerk of the county of Columbia, Do hereby Certify that Andrew Hoover Esq. (next document shows name as Horeer) before whom the affidavits purports to have been sworn, was on the day of the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county.  And further, that I am acquainted with hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe the name of the said Justice subscribed to the said affidavits to be his proper hand writing and signature.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal of the said county, this Fifth day of December 1837.

James Storm 
Clk.
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I the Subscriber do hereby certify that I have examined the Church Record of the Dutch Reformit (sic) Church in Germantown in the County of Columbia and that this is no record of any marriages of said Church between the years 1773 and 1792 but cannot find any entry, or record of the Marriage of Christopher Midlar to Mary Miller & further that deponent has no knowledge, nor does he believe these were in this state, previous to the present Revised Statutes,  any laws requiring marriage (?) to be registered or recorded nor does he know or believe any such record was ever kept in said town of Germantown and further says not.
Subscribed and affirmed this\4th day of December 1837 before me
Andrew Horeer Justice Peace

Jacob W.  Hangen
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State of New York
Columbia County, SS
Adam Clum, being duly sworn says that he this deponent was acquainted with (a) Christopher Midler (sic) during the Revolutionary War and also with his wife was not present at the marriage but knows that they did live together as man and wife at or before the close of the war and also understand that the said Christopher Midler (sic) was in the army, but how long this deponent (b) thus not recollect - thinks they were married in the year 1779 say he heard of the wedding when they were married, and recollects that they lived together and raised a family until the death of said Midler (sic).  Says the maiden name of the said Christopher Midler's (sic) wife was Mary Miller, and that after the death of the said Christopher Midler (sic), the said Mary was married to (c) Richard Townsend this deponent says he is now Eight two years of age, and this deponent further says not.  
Adam Clum

Subscribed and Sworn the 4th day of December 1837 before me,

Andrew Horeer, Justice Peace

Explanation of the Dutch - (a) Christopher - (B) Docs - (C) Richard Townsend
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State of New York, Columbia County, SS

George Denegar being duly Sworn doth depose and say that he this deponent was acquainted with Christopher Midler (sic), during the Revolutionary War, and he and said Christopher Midler (sic) were in the ingagement (sic) at Fort Montgomary (sic)  and that Midler (sic) was wounded in his hip or side, under the command of General Clinton's progate (a)  in Colonel Dubois (B) Nichrenent  (?) says said Midler (sic) belong to the artillery and this deponent in the in Seventy and further recollects that said Midler(sic) performed services in the army at other (D)  difrent (sic) times and places during the Revolutionary War, and this deponent further days that he recollects that the said Christopher Midler (sic) was married to Mary Miller, in the town of Clermont in the County aforesaid by the Rev Garret (?)Daniel Cock, during the Revolutionary War, and that the said Midler (sic) and his said wife did live together and (E) presught (?) up a family of children until said Midler (sic) died and then his widow was married to a man by the name of (F) Richard Downson (sic), and the deponent further says that he is now Eighty years and two months old, and this deponent further says that he has been evatuleliaf (?) (G)informed that the above Richard Downson (sic) is also dead, and this deponent further says not,.

George Denegar

Subscribed and Sworn this 4th of December 1837 before me, 
Andrew Horeer  Just Peace

Explanations of the Dutch - (a) Brigade - 
(b) Regiment - (C) Infantry - (D) Different - 
(E) brought (?)
(F) Richard Townsend - (G) credibly
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Christopher S (or C) Midler served in the Rev. War, was wounded in the thigh,  His descendants now live on land granted him by the Govt. - in Oran, New York.

Miss Nettie L White
Room 2 d Depy. Court
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1893, July 31, Hist. to Miss Netti L. White,
B. of P.
JOB

Rev WIDOW,  & c. 

File No.    16,447
Mary Townsend wid. of Christopher Midlar
Priv. Rev. War

Act July 4,  1/36

Index: Vol.  M,  Page 279

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Addesimed (?)

Mary Townsend


Hon. W. Taylor

H. R.
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State of New York} SS.
County of Ulster}

On this 5th day of March 1838 before me Martin Gulnek one of the Justis (sic) of the  Peace in and for said County, comes Catharine Delematter of Hurley in said County, aged seventy (number 5 written above this)  years, who being duly sworn by & before the said Justices according to law, doth on her oath, depose & say, that she is well acquainted with Mary Townsend of Pompey in the County of Onondaga, that deponent is Sister to said Mary whose first husband was Christopher Midlar, known to his deponent in his life time, to have been a soldier of the revolution, that deponent was present & an eyewitness to the marriage of the said Christopher Midlar to the said Mary, whose maiden name was Mary Miller, that said marriage was solemnized in Clermont, Columbia County, State of Newyork (sic) by Domine Richard Daniel Cuck, in the summer of the year 1781, & that since deponent made her former affidavit, more reflection & recollection of other facts & circumstances of those times, have confirmed her mind that said marriage was celebrated in the month of June 1781, & that she verily believes without and reasonable doubt, that it took place on the 12th day of June in the year 1781 as stated by said Mary in her declaration - that deponent is confident that said Christopher Midlar served as a soldier in the revolution, more than a year after he was ,,,,,
 (a document has been placed over the balance of the deposition) 

Document
State of New York}
Ulster County, }  SS.

I John Ferguson, Clerk of the County of Ulster, do hereby certify, that Martin Gulneck
whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment a Justice of the peace in and for County aforesaid, dwelling in said County, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same.  And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine. 

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said County, the Sixth day of March 1838.

John Ferguson  Clerk.
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State of Newyork (sic){
County of Ulster}  SS.

On this 5th day of March 1838 before me Martin Gulnek one of the Justis (sic) of the Peace in and for said County, comes Catharine Delematter of Hurley in said County, aged seventy (number 5 written above this) years, who being duly sworn by & before the said Justices according to law, doth on her oath, depose & say, that she is well acquainted with Mary Townsend of Pompey in the County of Onondaga, that deponent is Sister to said Mary whose first husband was Christopher Midlar, known to his deponent in his life time, to have been a soldier of the revolution, that deponent was present & an eyewitness to the marriage of the said Christopher Midlar to the said Mary, whose maiden name was Mary Miller, that said marriage was solemnized in Clermont, Columbia County, State of Newyork (sic) by Domine Richard Daniel Cuck, in the summer of the year 1781, & that since deponent made her former affidavit, more reflection & recollection of other facts & circumstances of those times, have confirmed her mind that said marriage was celebrated in the month of June 1781, & that she verily believes without and reasonable doubt, that it took place on the 12th day of June in the year 1781 as stated by said Mary in her declaration - that deponent is confident that said Christopher Midlar served as a soldier in the revolution, more than a year after he was married as aforesaid, & some part of that service, if  not all of it, was performed at Westpoint (sic) - & this confidence arises from the well recollected facts, that said Christopher was absent from his usual place of residence & that it was common talk among the neighbors that he was at Westpoint (sic) a soldiering, and further deponent says not. 

Sworn to & subscribed by Catharine Delematter the day & year first above written, before me & I do further certify that I am well acquainted with said Catherine & know her to be a credible witness & her statement is entitled to full belief .

Caty  Delematter    X  her mark

Certified before me Martin Gulneck  Justice of the peace

(Gulneck or Gulnek - spelled both ways in the document.
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N. York
Mary Townsend

Letter to Hon. W. Taylor  3.  Jan '38.
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New Haven   Aug.  21.  1818

Sir

I received yesterday 28 certificates for Pensions & several cases returned for further proof, & five for further certificates which I have made & now envelope & with them 20 other cases, part of 33 heretofore returned for further proof or certificates of  indigence - as the applicants are scattered over the whole county, it has been attended with some difficulty to obtain the necessary informations - I now return as many of them certified as my information or knowledge  of their circumstances enable me at present to do. 

I am very respectfully 
you Humble serv.
J. Baldwin

G. W. Boyd Esq.
Pension Office

P.S. I have heretofore recd. a certificate in favor of Benjn Chittenden as a private which ought to have been as a commissioned officer as will appear by his Fassen (?) - I know enclose that for corrections.  

Yours, 
J. Baldwin