Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15748, for John Ostrander, New York
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(3-1776)

SERVICE  New York

Ostrander, John
Catherine

NUMBER
W.15748
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Albany  1,338
Catharine Ostrander
widow of John Ostrander
who died on the Juanuary 1800
of Onondaga Co in the State of N.York
who was a Lieutenant in the Company commanded
by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded
by Col Livingston in the N.York
line for 2 years  N.Y.

Inscribed in the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 320 Dollars [blank] cents, per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23d day of August, 1837
and sent to pensioner
July, Onondaga Co. N.Y.

Arrears to the 4th of March 37  1920.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep  160.00
$2080.00

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

Recorded by D. Brown  Clerk,
Book A. Vol. 2 Page 114
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Declaration of Catherine Ostrander widow of John Ostrander a revolutionary officer in the Army of the United States. In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the Act of Congress of the 4th July 1836.

New York
Onondaga County ss On this twenty seventh day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven personally appeared before me George Pettit one of the Judges of the County courts, in and for said county - Catherine Ostrander a resident of the town of Tully in the county and State aforesaid aged eighty five years and upwards 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 made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 That she is the widow of John Ostrander who was a Lieutenant in the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War. First in the Regiment commanded by Colonel James Livingston in the line of the State of New York as will [illegible] fully appear by the Commission to the said John Ostrander as such Lieutenant hereunto annexed marked A. Second in a regiment raised for the immediate defence of the state of New York whereof Albert Pawling esquire was Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, as will also appear by the commission to the said John Ostrander as such Lieutenant hereunto annexed marked B.  That her late husband the said John Ostrander served int he Army of the United States during the war of the Revolution under the said Commission from the month of February in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven to the close of the war in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. She further declares under oath as aforesaid and says that she wed with her said husband when he received his first commission
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Commission at the East camp Livingstons Manor now as she believes in the County of Columbia in this State according to her best recollection and belief she then had two children. That on receiving his commission her said husband immediately commenced recruiting soldiers for the army, during a short time. That in the night before Easter Sunday of the same year the house in which they then lived at the place last mentioned was accidentally burnt That she her husband and children hardly escaped with their lives, all their furniture clothing and possessions of every kind were destroyed. They had to depend on the humanity of their neighbours for necessary clothing and provisions and her said husband was obligated to set out a very few days to join his regiment. That her said husband served in the Army as such lieutenant at the capture of General Burgoyne and his Army. That shortly after her said husband went to join the Army under general gates at the north she moved with her children to the city of Albany and remained there until after the capture of Burgoynes Army. That during the battles between American & British armies she almost every day went to the river side where the wounded that were brought down the river in boats were laid down on the shore, to ascertain whether her said husband was not among them. That the regiment in which her said husband served or a part of it went into winter quarters at Johnstown in the county of Montgomery in this state but in what year she cannot recollect but believes it must have been either the Winter - immediately after the taking of Burgoyne or the next succeeding winter thereafter from the circumstance that she then had as she believe but two children, her third child being born in June Seventeen hundred and seventy nine. That her said husband procured a room for her at Johnstown and brought
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her and her children to Johnstown where she remained with him during the winter. That he then did duty as a Lieutenant. That shortly after she arrived at Johnstown her said husband was taken sick with the small pox having taken the disease accidentally and had them so bad that that during some time very slight hopes were intertained of his recovery  She had her two children there inoculated   Captain Wright Captain Peter Rutan and Ensign John Gates but whether they belonged to the same regiment with her said husband or not she does not know  That her said husband from the time he entered the service as aforesaid until according to her best recollection and belief about the close of the year seventeen hundred and eighty was constantly with the army excepting that he would occasionally come home on a short visit to his family and she recollects that in some instances he was absent and did not see his family during nearly five months at a time. That in these visits to his family he would state where he had been and the actions which he had been engaged. And she distinctly recollects that on one occasion he told her that he had been on Rhode Island with a part of the American Army and in several engagements with the british there. on another occasion during one of his said visits he informed her that he had been in some engagements between the American and british forces at or near the White Plains, and another time, that he was in a fort at Schoharie at the time the British and Indians burned and many houses large quantities of grain and other property at that place, and that he was doing duty at these several times as a lieutenant but the periods at which these several events happened she cannot recollect  That she has heard all of the above facts of the services of her husband related by him at various times
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during and after the close of the war, and has heard him also state that on some occasions he acted as adjudent or major of the regiment but when or on what occasions she cannot remember. That she has also often the close of the war frequently heard him converse with the officers above named and others in particular John H. Wendell who was a Captain in the Army who knew of his ervices on the subjects above mentioned That she does not recollect who commanded the company in which her husband served during the period mentioned. That she knows that all the officers she has named are now dead. And she further on her oath says that between the two periods above referred to (viz) the spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven and the close of the year seventeen hundred and eighty she resided at different times in the City of Albany in Livingstons Manor before mentioned and at Rhinebeck in the county of Dutchess in this State as was most convenient for her said husband to supply her and her children with the means of support. and to having nothing but his pay and rations. That about the latter end of the year seventeen hundred and eighty but the day and month she cannot recollect by reason of her age her memory has become impairs, her said husband from a feeling sense of the helpless and indigent situation of this delcarant and her children she then having three children and from apprehension that the regiment in which he served might be ordered to some distant place, so as to render it difficult if at all possible for him to furnish them with necessary subsistance, so as induced as he stated to her to resign his commission in the regular line of the Troops of the State and the month of April Seventeen Hundred and Eighty one again entered the service of this state as a lieutenant in a regiment raised for the immediate defence of this state as will appear from the commission hereunto annexed
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and secondly above mentioned and the endorsement thereon That she then lived in Rhinebeck in the County of Dutchess and he joined and did duty with that regiment some short time before he received this commissin as lieutenant  That the regiment in that commission mentioned in which he then served as she understood from him in one of his visits to his family was then stationed at different places along the foot of the range of mountains on the west side of Hudson River for the protection of the inhabitants against the incursions of the indians and other enemies, and that the company in which he served as lieutenant was stationed near the foot of the mountain west of Saugertus in the County of ulster, That some time in the fall of the year seventeen hundred & eighty two her said husband then being with the said Regiment  provided a room for this deponent & her children in the house of Benjamin Snyder who resided in the same house some miles west of Saugetus landing and in the vicinity of where her husbands company was stationed. That he sent for her & her children and had them removed to that house. That they continued to live together at this place until the close of the Revolutionary War. That during the whole of the time from her husbands entering the serve as last mentioned until the close of the war her husband did duty as a lieutenant in the said regiment commanded by Colonel Pawling. That a captain Pawling commanded the company in which her said husband served as Lieutenant who was frequently at the house where she and her said husband lived as above mentioned. That Captain Pawling was sometimes absent from the company at such times her said husband commanded the company and discharge the duties of a captain.  That she had also seen Colonel Pawling at the said house. That during the period last mentioned
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there were frequent alarms of the approach of the enemy on such occasions her said husband would immediately search with the said company to such place as was designated and ordered by the superior officer.  That she has also during the period last mentioned seen Colonel Weisendeld at the said house as she believes in company with her said husband. That when Peace was proclaimed her said husband marched with the company some where to the south and was absent some days but how long she cannot now remember, on his return he said he was discharged and the company disbanded but she does not recollect of ever having seen the discharge. That she does not know whether Colonel Pawling Captain Pawling or Colonel Wisenfels or either of them are now living or not nor where they can be found if living. That after the conclusion of the war this declarant her husband & family continued to reside at the same place until the spring of the year seventeen hundred and eighty four when they removed to the city of Albany and she does not know whether the said Benjamin Snyder is now living or not. That her said husband this delcarent and family arrived in the City of Albany some time she believes in the month of May in the year last mentioned and continued to reside there together until some time in the forepart of January in the year Eighteen hundred when her said husband died of Consumption as she believes the precise day of his death she cannot recollect - And on her oath as afore said she farther says that she continued to reside in the said City of Albany until the later part of the month of May eighteen hundred and thirty two when her son John J Ostrander removed with his family from the City of Albany to Tully, County of Onandaga in this State, and this declarant moved with him and now resides in her said sons family at the place last mentioned. And she farther says that
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that the annexed commissions are the only documentary evidence she has or can produce to her knowledge to show the services of her said husband as such Lieutenant as aforesaid nor does she know of any witness now living by whom his said services can be proved, and she further says that she was married to this said John Ostrander in the latter part of March or fore part of April in the year seventeen hundred and seventy four She cannot now recollect which of these months nor the day of the month but she does recollect that it was on a Sunday before Easter Sunday in the year last mentioned. That the marriage ceremony was performed by the Reverend Mc Coch Paster of the Presbyterian German Congregation in the East Camp Livingstone Manor herein before refered to.  That her maiden name was Catherine Wetsell and has no parents or relatives on her part now living that she has any knowledge of, except her children by her said husband. That she has no documentary evidence to prove the said marriage nor does she know that any can be obtained. It being unusual at that time to give Certificates of Marriage and none was given to her  It was however then customary to publish the bans of marriage on three successive  Sabbaths in church which was done in her case. And she does not know whether any church record was made or kept of such marriage or not. There were several persons present at her said marriage but whether any of them or the said clergyman are now living she does not know not having heard from any of them during upwards of thirty years  And she further says that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband as above mentioned as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.

[signed] Catherine Ostrander

Sworn to & submitted on this day and year above written before me George Pettit Judge of Onandaga County Courts.
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I George Pettit, the Judge of County Courts before whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed and sworn to, further certify that when a boy under the age of seven years in the city of Albany, & previous to the year 1780 when my father removed from that city, I was acquainted with John Ostrander, named in such declaration, and in the commissions thereto prefixed, in the capacity of a scholar to him, in a common school then & these [illegible] by him- that I have also been [illegible] acquainted with Catherine Ostrander the aforesaid declarant having seen her in the neighboring Village of Delphi, in the Town of Pomsey, where she has a daughter & son in law living, of my more particular acquaintance - that from an examination of herself & her son with whom she resides - from her appearance & from her age, deafness & bodily infirmity, I am satisfied she cannot, attend this court, which is fourteen miles distant a very [illegible] road - and that from her appearance a personal examination by interrogatories, I am also fully satisfied of her competency of mind and memory to make the foregoing declaration, & that her statement is entitled to credit and belief.

George Pettit Judge of Onandaga County Courts

State of New York
Onandaga County ss I Alawon Edwards Clerk of the said Court do certify that George Pettit, before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Common Pleas courts in and for the said County duly appointed and
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qualified and that I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his name subscribed to the [illegible] of said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature

Witness my hand and seal of office this 30th day of June 1837

J.L. Edwards  Clerk
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State of New York
Ulster County ss Hezekiah Wynkoph Junior of the town of Saugerties in the County aforesaid aged seventy one years personally appeared on this eighth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven - before me the undersigned a justice of the peace of the town of Saugerities iin & fore said county and being duly sworn according to lw on his oath doth depose and say that he was personally acquainted with John Ostrander now deceased who was a Lieutenant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Albert Pawling during the Revolutionary War. That the said Captain Pawling had during some time his quarters in the house of this deponents father in the said town of Saugerties who has now been dead several years that the said John Ostrander then lived with his wife & family in the same house with Benjamin Snyder now [illegible] in the said town & knew both him & his wife well during all the time they resided there and until they moved from Saugerties after the close of the war. to the city of Albany as he then understood that the company commanded by the said Captain Pawling was stationed at different points along the foot of the hills [illegible]  of his said fathers house for the protection of the inhabitants from the incursions of the enemy - this being the [illegible] that the said company frequently assembled at the house of his said father for exercise & drill and sometimes is [illegible] of alarm - that on those occasions he has
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State of New York
Ulster County ss  Peter Snyder Junior of the town of Saugerties in the county of Ulster aged about sixty five years personally appeared on this eighty day of July in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty seven before the undersigned Justice of the Peace in and for said county and being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that he was acquainted with John Ostrander a Lieutenant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Albert Pawling the Company being commanded during the Revolutionary War by Captain Pawling that the said John Ostrander his wife Catherine Ostrander and four children occupied a part of the house of the deponents father Benjamin Snyder in the said town of Saugerties. That the said family so occupied a part of said house according to the best recollection and belief of the deponent during about two years or upwards. That the company of captain Pawling in which the said John Ostrander served as Lieutenant was stationed at different places at the foot of the range of mountains west of the said  town for the protection of the inhabitants and that the soldiers used to call on the said John at the house of this deponents father to draw their rations. That he has frequently seen the said John Ostrander drill and manoeuvre the said company and of which he appeared to have the principal management and direction. Captain Pawling being frequently absent from the company as he then understood from conversations which he heard between the said John and this deponents said father. that he has frequently seen the said Captain Pawling at his said fathers house in company with the said John Ostrander he has also at several times seen Colonel Pawling at his said fathers house in company with the said John and he has also seen Colonel Weisenfels there. That there were frequent alarms of the approach of enemies on such occasions he has seen the said Jon march with the said company or a part of it to oppose the enemy, that the said John Ostrander continued so to reside in the house of his said father until after the proclamation of Peace
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that the peace being proclaimed the said company disbanded until which time the said John Ostrander served as Lieutenant of the said company as before mentioned. And he well recollects that after that event while the said John continued to reside in his fathers house a man came with an order for a quantity of hides of cattle which had been slaughtered for the use of the soldiers and which were accordingly delivered that this deponent has heard the said John Ostrander related to this deponents father and others the circumstance of his being in a fort at Scholarie when that place was destroyed by the British and Indians who besieged the fort for several days and that on this occasion he acted as adjutant. That some time after the conclusion of the war the said John Ostrander moved to the City of Albany with his family and this deponent has visited the said John and his family while they resided there. and that this deponents father has been dead upwards of five years That the said John Ostrander he has often heard spoken of by the inhabitants of this neighbourhood as an active meritorious officer and was highly esteemed by them

[signed] Peter Synder Jnr

Subscribed & sworn before me this 8th day of July 1837 and I certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Peter Synder and that he is a credible witness James Woodruff Justice of the Peace

State of New York
County of Ulster ss I Rodney A Chipp Deputy Clerk of said County of Ulster de certify that James Woodruff Esquire before whom the preceding affidavits purports to have been made and taken was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Ulster aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified
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Esquire before whom the preceding affidavits purport to have been made and take was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Ulster aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified and that his term of office as such Justice commenced January 1st 1836 and will expire on the 31st day of December 1840. and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice and verily believe that the signature of James Woodruff attached to said affidavits is the proper handwriting of said James Woodruff

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county of Ulster this 8th day of July A.D. 1837

Ret Chipp Dep. Clk of sd county
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[illegible]

Admitted
Lieutanant Col Livingston
NY 2 years

[illegible]
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Baptized November 13th 1774(?) John son of John Ostrander and Catherine Wetzel. Sponsers John Conrad & his wife Rachel Rohl.

I certify that the above is a true copy of the record made in the church book of the reformed church of Germantown Columbia County N.Y.  July 10th 1837

Jacob Wm Hangen
Pastor of said Church

Record of Marriages and Baptisms in the said church as kept therein. That he has fully examined with care the record of said marriage and does not find any record of the marriage of John Ostrander and Catherine Wetzel and does not believe that any such record now exists. That there appears in the said record of marriages an omission on the same leaf of any entry of marriage from the twenty second of February one thousand seven hundred and seventy three to the thirteenth day of May one thousand seven hundred and ninety two. That this deponent does however find in the same book and in the handwriting of the Reverend Mr Coch former pastor of the said Church and congregation the record of the baptism of John a son of John Ostrander and Catherine Wetzel a true copy whereof is hereunto annexed

[signed] Jacob Wm Hangen
Subscribed and sworn before me this 10th day of July 1837. and I certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Jacob Wm Hangen and that he is a credible witness, Andrew [illegile] Justice of the Peace
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State of New York
Columbia County ss The Reverend Jacob Wm Hangen of Germantown in the said County aged thirty two - personally appeared on this ninth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven before me Andrew Howes -- A Justice of the peace of the town of Germantown in and for said County and being duly sworn according to law on his oath doth depose and say that he is the Pastor of the Church and congregation of which the Revenerand Gerret Dan 'l Coch was formerly the Pastor in that place. That he has in his possession the book containing the record of marriages and baptisms in the said church and kept therein. That he has fully examined with care the record of said marriage and does not find any record of the marriage of John Ostrander and Catherine Wetzel and does not believe that any such record now exists. That there appears in the said record of marriages an omission on the same leaf of any entry of marriage from the twenty second of February one thousand seven hundred and seventy three to the thirteenth day of May one thousand seven hundred and ninety two. That this deponent does however find in the same book and in the handwriting of the Reverend Mr Coch former pastor of the said Church and congregation the record of the baptism of John a son of John Ostrander and Catherine Wetzel a true copy whereof is hereunto annexed

[signed] Jacob Wm Hangen
Subscribed and sworn before me this 10th day of July 1837. and I certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Jacob Wm Hangen and that he is a credible witness, Andrew [illegile] Justice of the Peace
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State of New York
Columbia County   ss George Deniger of [illegible] in the county of Columbia aged seventy nine years and upwards personally appeared on this tenth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven before me Andrew Haver a Justice of the Peace of the town of Germantown in and for the county aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law on his oath doth depose and say That he personally knew and was well acquainted with Catherine Wetsel before her marriage with John Ostrander and also her parents who then and this deponent also resided near together in the East Camp Livingstons Mannor in the county aforesaid now the Town of Germantown in said county, That the said Catherine Wetsel was married to John Ostrander some time in the early part of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy four according to the best of his recollection and belief, That this deponent was not present at the marriage, but knew her immediately before and saw her immediately after the marriage when they went housekeeping and lived together as man and wife, and were generally received by all the neighbours and acquaintances as such. That afterwards and after the said John Ostrander and the said Catherine had so lived together and had one or two Children he received a commission in the army of the United States as this deponent believes in the early part of the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, This deponent knows that in the month of May of that year this deponent left the said East Camp to go South into the army and he said John had previously gone to the north. That on receiving his commission the said John Ostrander commenced enlisting soldiers for the army & continued to do so until he marched to the north this deponent knows several persons inlisted into the service by him - That this deponent as afterwards seen the said John Ostrander in his uniform at several times when he came home to visit his family and it was always generally known understood & spoken of that he served as a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary Army for almost the whole war. That this deponent is a revolutions pensioner.  

[signed] George Deniger

Sworn and subscribed
before me the 10th day
July 1837. and I certify that
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I am personally acquainted with the above named George Denizer and he is a credible witness
[signed] Andrew Hoveers Justice of the Peace

I further certify that the words towit Germantown" "of May" "deponent" were severally interlined before the above deposition was subscribed and sworn to

Andrew Horeer Justice of the Peace
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State of New York
Columbia County ss Philip D. Rockefeller of the town of Redhook in the county of Dutchess & state aforesaid aged seventy two years and upwards personally appeared on this tenth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven before me Andrew Haver a Justice of the Peace of the town of Germantown in the County of Columbia aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law on his oath doth depose and say That the knew and was intimately acquainted with Catherine Wetsel and her parents before her intermarriage with John Ostrander whom he also was well acquainted with before and after his marriage this deponent and the said Catherine Wetsel and her parents and the said John Ostrander all then residing in the same neighbourhood in part of the town of Germantown, usually known as the East Camp. That the said Catherine was married to the said John sometime in the early part of the year seventeen hundred and seventy four according to his best recollection and belief. That shortly after the said marriage they went to housekeeping and lived several years about as this deponent believes two years in a house belonging to this deponents father in Germantown aforesaid and near to the residence of this deponents said father. That while the said John and his wife lived in the said house he received a commission in the revolutionary army. That the said John Ostrander then commenced enlisting solders for the army and enlisted a number of men whom this deponent well knew. That the said John received his commission and commenced recruiting sometime in the early part of the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven according to the best recollection and belief of this deponent. That about Easter of the same year the said house in which the said John Ostrander and his wife resided was accidentally burnt down and all their property destroyed as was several horses & grain the property of this deponents father in a barn which was adjacent to the said house. That the said John Ostrander his said wife and two children then went to live with this deponents father, in his house this deponent then being about eleven or twelve years of age
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and living in his fathers family. That the said John Ostrander and his said family continued to live in the house with this deponents father until the said John marched with his company to join the army at the north. That this deponent has been told by his said father who is now deceased that the said John Ostrander was with this deponents father at the taking of Burgoyne. That the said John Ostrander and the said Catherine Wetsel lived together and were always received and considered and treated by this deponents father & mother and neighbours and acquaintances as man and wife 
That this deponent has afterward at different times during the revolutionary war seen the said John Ostrander when he came home to visit his family in his uniform as an officer and it was generally understood and spoken of during that time and since the close of the war that he had served as Lieutenant during the war.

[signed] Philip D Rockefeller

Subscribed and sworn before me the 10th day of July 1837. and I certify that I ham personally acquainted with the above named Philip D. Rockefeller and that he is a credible witness Andrew Horler Justice of the Peace

I further certify that the words toward "that part of"  "terms" "about eleven or twelves years of age" were severally interlined before the above deposition was subscribed and sworn.  Andrew Horler Justice of the Peace
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State of New York
Columbia County - I James Storm Clerk of the said county do hereby certify that Andrew Hover Esq before whom the foregoing affidavits purport to have been sworn was at the dates of the same a Justice of the Peace in & for the said county and further I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe the certificates of the credibility of the several deponents the proper handwriting & signatures also of the several erasures.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto, in the above of James Storm set my hand & affixed the seal of said county, this Eleventh day of July 1837

[illegible] Deputy Clerk
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State of New York
Albany County  ss I Derrich Hilton of the town of Bethlehem in the county aforesaid aged eighty one years and upwards personally appeared on this 14th day of July one eight hundred and thirty seven before of the Justices Court of the city of Albany- Who being duly sworn according to law on his oath doth depose and say that he was personally acquainted with John Ostrander formerly of the City of Albany deceased. That the deponent knew the said John Ostrander as an officer in the revolutionary army of the United States particularly in the various engagements which resulted in the Capture of Burgoyne  That this deponent then served as an officer in the militia of this state and then personally knew that said John Ostrander who then acted as adjudent of Livingstons Regiment. That after the taking of Burgoyne he saw the said John Ostrander march with the said regiment to the south, to the White Plains as this deponent then understood.  That after said capture the militia were discharged and this deponent did not see the said John Ostrander until after the conclusion of the war of the Revolution when the said John came to reside in the City of Albany where he continued to reside until his death. And this deponent further says that he always understood that the said John Ostrander served as an officer in the army of the United States during the greater part of the Revolutionary War, and he believes that this is the fact. And this deponent further says that he is a revolutionary pensioner.

[signed] Derich Hilton

Subscribed and sworn in open court this 14th July 1837  J. Wasson Clk
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the within named Derick Hilton is well known to the court and is a credible witness
by the court
John G Wasson Clk

In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed the seal of the said court this 13th day of July 1837

John G Wasson Clk
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State of New York
Albany County ss  I John J Ostrand of Tully in the county of Onondaga and state aforesaid aged sixty two years and upwards personally appeared on this seventeenth day of July in the year one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven before me Samuel Jenkins commissioner of deeds in and for the county of Albany who being duly sworn according to law on his oath doth depose and say that he is the son of John Ostrander and Catherine Wetsel his wife, she having made the declaration to which this is annexed. That the earliest recollection this deponent has of his said father the said John Ostrander his being then an officer in the army and this deponent seeing him on visits to his family in uniform and hearing him called lieutenant. That the deponent also recollects the frequent and long absence of his said father from his mother and family & of his occasional return for short periods. That this deponent distinctly recollects the removal of his mother and family from Rhinebeck in the county of Dutchess to Saugerties in the county of Ulster. That his father in uniform as an officer received them on the west side of the river and conducted them to the house of Benjamin Snyder a few miles west of the landing that the deponents said father mother and family resided in the said house, a part of which was occupied by the said Benjamin Snyder and his family until the close of the war and sometime thereafter. That during the time his father and family resided in the said house this deponent always heard his father called lieutenant Ostrander That he then understood the Regiment to be commanded by Colonel Pawling and the company by a Captain Pawling. That this deponent has seen the soldiers of the said company from time to time call on his said father at the said house and receive provisions. That he has seen the said company very frequently paraded and exercised by his father, and remembers several alarms of the approach of the enemy on these occasions he has seen his father march with the company or apart of it under his command. That the deponent well recollects the circumstance of the celebration by the said company of the proclamation of peacetime and until the said company was disbanded his father acted as Lieutenant of the said company. That after the
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close of the revolutionary war in the spring of the year Seventeen hundred and eighty four this deponents father mother and family removed from Saugertus to the City of Albany where this deponents father shortly after arrival in that city during some time taught a common school. That afterward his said father served as deputy sheriff during several years a part of the time under John Tin Broeck and a part of the time under General Peter Gansevoort Sheriff of the said city and county. That about the year seventeen hundred and ninety two this deponent further was appointed sheriff of the City & County of Albany which office he held during four successive years being annually reappointed. That in the forepart of the month of January eighteen hundred this deponents father died in the City of Albany in the presence of this deponent. That this deponent from his childhood until the latter part of the year seventeen hundred and ninety nie continued to live in the family of his said father and mother and at the time of the decease of his said father believed in the said City in the vicinity of his said father's residence. That from the earliest recollection of this deponent up to the time of the decease of this said father the said father and mother of this deponent lived together (except during his absence with the army in the war of revolution.) as man and wife and were always received and treated as such by all his fathers relatives friends and acquaintances. That this deponents said mother after the decease of his said father during several years lived in the said city in the neighbourhood of this deponent and a principal part of the time up to the year eighteen hundred and thirty two in the family of this deponent excepting when she went occasionally to visit her other children, in the spring of the year eighteen hundred and thirty two this deponent removed from the city of Albany to Tully in the County of Onondaga and his said mother accompanied him and now resides with him at the place last mentioned. That this deponents said mother has not re married since the death of this deponents said father and still remains the widow of his said deceased father - And this deponent farther says that after the close of the Revolutionary War this deponent has frequently and at various times heard his father in conversation with different persons and at several circumstances
Page 28

attending the taking of Burgoyne in which he was engaged. Also of his having been in some engagements with the enemy at or near the White Plains. Also of his having been with or part of the American Army in an attempt to dislodhttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngge the British from Rhode Island. This deponent believes under General Sullivan. And also of his having been in a fort at Schoharie Commanded on Mayor Woolsey when the British and Indians destroyed the place. And this deponent further says that he has frequently heard his said father say that the did not receive any lands for his services as a revolutionary officer nor depreciation money nor half pay or [illegible] by reason of his having resigned his commission in the regiment of Colonel Livingstone before the close of the war. As the time of his resignation will probably appear by some rolls or documents in the possession of the war department. This deponent hopes that any error which is mother may have committed in the statement of the time may be hereby corrected if any [crossed out] as such error if any exists, was wholly unintentional on her part, and was owing wholly to a failure of memory. And this deponent further says that some time after this deponent's father came to reside in the City of Albany to the best recollection and belief of this deponent some years previous to the year seventeen hundred and ninety six but when particularly he cannot recollect a petition to Congress fo relief was delivered by this deponent's father to Elisha Gilbert Esquire as this deponent then understood a representative in Congress, the said petition being accompanied with various vouchers and documents showing his claim. But whether the petition was presented or acted on this deponent does not know, this deponent has however frequently heard his father complain that nothing had been done for him and that he never could find or regain the possession of the vouchers and documents.
J.J. Ostrander
Sworn to this 17th day of July 1837 before me 
S. Jenkins Court of Deeds
I am well acquainted with John J Ostrander Esq the above deponent & he is a credible citizen of highly respectable character.
S. Jenkins Court of Deeds
Page 29

State of New York
Albany County ss I Conrad A Ten Eyck clerk of the said county do hereby certify that [illegible] esq before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn and whose name is subscribed to the certificate of credibility was on the date of the same one of the Commissioner of Deeds in && for the said county and that his signature to the same are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said county this 17th day of July 1837.

[illegible]

I have personally known John Ostrander deceased former sheriff of the city & county of Albany and having living his lifetime understood that he had been a Revolution Officer  I have also during thirty years past and upwards known John J Ostrander the deponent to the within affidavit not only by reputation but personally having been [illegible] with him. He has successively been elected by the Citizens of this City to several offices of honor and trust and twice as a member of this city in the legislature. His character and standing in the [illegible] old and respectable inhabitants of this city in that of a man of honor truth and integrity
His deposition therefore would be received by all that know him with full faith and credit in his veracity. And as he and his aged mother now reside at some distance from the city if would be highly gratifying to me if attend could be paid to the application of his mother for a pension as early as is consistent with the duties and engagements of the department.
Albany July 18th 1837. 

Sol Van Rennselaer
Page 30

M.E.E.

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section

D.E. Harrison, M.D.
New York Mills
New York

Sir:

I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 15748, it appears that John Ostrander, while residing at East Camp Livingston's Manor New York was commissioned February 1, 1777, Second Lieutenant, served in that capacity in Colonel James Livingston's New York Regiment, was in the battles of Saratoga, Rhode Island, an encounter at or near White Plains, and Schohaire, and resigned near the end of 1780.
He was commissioned on April 27, 1781, a Lieutenant in Captain Henry Pawling's Company, Colonel Albert Pawling's New York Regiment, and served until the end of the war.
On the Sunday prior to Easter Sunday, 1774, at East Camp Livingston's Manor, soldier and Catherine Wetsell of the place were married by Reverend Coch of the Presbyterian German Congregation.
Page 31

Soldier died in January, 1800, at Albany, New York.
His widow, Catherine Ostrander, was allowed pension on her application which was executed June 27, 1837, at Tully, Onondaga, County, New York, where she lived with her son John T. Ostrander and his family. On that date she was eighty-five years of age. One married daughter was living in Pompey, New York.

The son, John I. Ostrander, was baptised November 13, 1774, at Germantown, Columbia County, New York.
Neither the names nor ages of other children are stated.
Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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[column 1]
1909 Mch 18 History to Mrs
Harriet C. W. Root C
1922 June 26 - Hist to Jennie
F. Soop MMH
1928 - May 14, Histo to Dr.
D.S. Harrison. M.E.E.

[column 2]

Rev Widow, & c.
File No. 15748
Catherine Ostrander
wid of
John Ostrander
Lieut Rev War

Act July 4, /36
Index:  Vol. M, May 104

{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 33

New York
Catherine Ostrander
Suspended letter
to Samuel Jenkins Aug
5. 1837
Page 34

IN CONGRESS.

The Delegates of the United States of New-Hampshire, Massachusets Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Suffex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, to John Ostrander Gentleman

We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be second Lioutenant of the Regiment of Foot, where of James Livingston Reg't in Colonel [blank]

in the Army of the United States raised for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of second Lieutenant by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging., [illegible] charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as Second Lieutenant And you are to observe and follow such Order and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a futher congress of the United States or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United States or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you.  This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. Dated the first day of February 1777.
By order of the Congress President.

Attest.  ChaThomson [illegible]

[side note] By Command of the Honble Major General Schuyler
John Lansing [illegible]
Page 35

The People of the STATE of NEW-YORK, By the Grace of GOD, FREE and INDEPENDENT; 
To John Ostrander Gentleman ---- GREETING.

We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Conduct and Loyalty as in your Valour and Readiness to do us good and faithful Service HAVE appointed you the said John Ostrander a Lieutenant of the company in the Regiment raised for the immediate Defence of the State, whereof Albert Pawling Esquire is Lieutenant Colonel Commandant.

are therefore, to take the said Company into your Charge and Care, as Lieutenant thereof, and duly to exercise the Officers and Soldiers of that Company --- in Arms, who are hereby commanded to obey you as their Lieutenant --- and you are also to observe and follow such orders and Directions, as you shall from Time to Time receive from our General and Commander in Chief of the Militia of our said State, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you; and for so doing, This shall be YOUR COMMISSION, for and during our good Pleasure, to be dignified by our Council of Appointment. WITNESS our trusty and well beloved George Clinton Esquire ---- our Governor of our State of New-York, General and Commander in Chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the fame, by and with the Advice and Consent of our said Council of Appointment, at Poughkeepsie the Twenty Seventh day of April in the fifth Year of our INDEPENDENCE, and in the Year of our LORD, One thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty One.
Passed the Secretary's Office 30th April 1781.
By His EXCELLENCY'S Command,
[ILLEGIBLE], Secry

[signed] Gen Clinton

[note]
I do hereby certify that Lieut Ostrander was actually engaged & employed int he service on the days of April [torn]
Page 36

I Teunis Van Vechten mayor of the City of Albany do certify - 
That from a long and intimate acquaintance with John J Ostrander Esquire Counsellor at Law, late of the City of Albany but now of Tully in the County of Onondaga in the State of New York, I deem him entitled to full credit for any representation he may make; that his veracity I never heard to be impeached & that I should place implicit confidence in any affidavit or attestation as to any fact within his own knowledge - Albany July 18, 1837 -

Teunis VanVechen Mayor of the City of Albany

J L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington
Page 37

Aug 18th
N.Y.
W Luce free

Aug 18

JL Edwards Esq

Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
Washington City

Tully NY
August 14th
Page 38

Tully Aug 14h 1837

J L Edwards Esq Commr of Pensions

Sir

Samule Jenkins Esq has enclosed to me a letter to him from [illegible] Luce Esq in relation to the application of my mother Catherine Ostrander for a pension. Mr. Luce says "That it appears from the vols in the office that Mrs Ostranders husband served nearly two years in Col Livingston's Reg and about one year in Col Pawlings, as a Lieutenant." As to the time of service in Col Pawlings REgt the leave to refer is a memorandum signed by Robert Benson aid to Gen Clinton made in the margin of the Comsn from Geo Clinton annexed to the declaration, showing the commencement of the service, and to the depositions of Peter Snyder [illegible] Herzckiah Myrkoolinn and of myself as to the continuance of the service, that it was until the close of the revolutionary war. It may be trice, as I have been informed that Col Pawling resigned his comm'n before the close of the war, but the regmt was not disbanded, some other officer was assigned to the command, and I believe that col Weisenfels had the command during some time.
With respect to proof of the marriage to which Mr. Luce in his letter alludes I refer to the declaration of my mother of her marriage by the Rev Mr Coch pastor of the Presbyterian German Congregation in the east Camp Livingstons Manor now of the town of Germantown county of Columbia, in the early part of the year 1774 - also to the deposition of the Revd Jacob Wm Hangen now Pastor of the same church and congregation, that no record of the marriage is found and giving the reason of this for and also giving a true copy of the record of baptism of a child on the 13th Novr 1774 and that the original record is in the handwriting of the Revd Mr Coch former pastor of the church and congregation. Also to the depositions of Philip D Rockefeller and George Deneger who depose that they knew both my father and mother previous to their marriage and during many years thereafter
Page 39

under [illegible] and also to the deposition of Peter Snyder Junior and to my own deposition; the whole of them going to show not only their living together as man and wife but a constant recognition of them as such by all their relatives friends and acquaintances from the year 1774 to the time of his decease in January 1800.

If a certificate is granted it may be enclosed and directed to Mrs Catherine Ostrander Tully Ononanda County where she now resides

I am very respectfully your ob

J Z [?] Ostrander
Page 40

L G W

[stamp] [illegible] DIVISION Feb 24 1909
Page 41

OWWF
15748

To the Pension Department U.S.

Sirs:  Will you kindly give me information regarding a pension [illegible} have been paid to Mrs. Catherine Ostrander and formerly of Albany N.Y.  The supposed pensioner died at Tully N.Y. late in 1844 at an advanced age. I would also like to know if John Ostrander at any time enjoyed a pension and if so for what amount & when it began & ceased & for what service. I have been told he was in the Commission Dept.
Page 42

Mr & Mrs John Ostrander were my great-grand parents.

Very Respectfully
Harriet C W Rool
1740 Park Ave

Racine Wisconsin

Feb 18th 1909

[stamp] US PENSION OFFICE   A FEB 23 1909
Page 43

Rev.
Page 44

D.S. Harrison M.D.
New York Mills, N.Y.

Dear Sirs:

Will you please give me the revolutionary record of Lieutenant John (or Johanes) Ostrander? His home was Albany N.Y. the family history says he killed at Saratoga.
His widow Catherine was granted a pension in 1837

Respectfully 
DS Harrison

8/7/27

[STAMP] US PENSION OFFICE  A AUG 9 1927
Page 45

Waverly Md
May 10th 1922

Comm of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Sir:
The enclosed letter has been replied to by the party to whom addressed and information requested supplied. Acting up this party's advice I am addressing you Requesting that you send me whatever data you may find on records concerning from department relative to the soldiers listed. All data concg their particular records you may
Page 46

Awaiting an early reply
& fig to remain
Respectfully.
Jennie F Soop
1144 Gorsuch Ave
Waverly Md
Baltimore

[stamp]  US Pension Office  MAY 11 1922
Page 47

reply to your request of______, received_______
a statement of the military history of John Ostrander [handwritten] soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in (his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Mis File 15,748

DATES OFENLISTMENT OR  
APPOINTMENT  | LENGTH OF SERVICE | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED 
77 | 2ND lLieut } James Livingston | NY
cotter an. 1780

Apr 12, 1781 to end of March 1783 | Lieut | Henry Rawling | Lt Col Albert Rawling

Battles engaged in, Capture of Burgnoyne, R.I, White Pl. Schohorie
Residence of soldier at enlistment, East Camp Livingston Manor N.Y.
Date of application for pension, June 27,1837
Residence at date of application, Tully Onondaga Co, New York
Age at date of application, 85
Remarks: Sol mar East Camp Livingston Manor NY present Easter Sunday 1774 Catharine Notrelle, Jany 1801 at Albany NY In Spring 1837 [illegible] Albanty to Tully NY with her son John J. Ostrander who was baptized Nov 13 1774 at Germantown, Columbia Co, NY Other children's marriage not stated. One married daughter living in [illegible] in 1837.
Page 48

Waverly Md
April 23rd 1922

[stamp] ASSISTANT AND CHIEF CLERK
APR 24 1922
WAR DEPT.

Sec War
War Dept.
Washington D.C.

Sir 
The Dept has a revolutionary record.
I would like to obtain the complete records of my three of my ancestors in that war and would thank the dept for the same.
The Revolutionar Record of Arendt Ostrander New York. Lieunt and Captain N.J. Militia 1775 to 1776.
John Ostrander New York Ensign 4th New York June 1776
Page 49

2nd Lieunt 1st New York 21st Nov 1776.
1st Lieunt 1st Canadian (Livingstons)
Regiment 1st Feb 1777 Resigned
16th of June 1779 served subsequently Lieunt and adjutant of New
York Levies in 1780 and 1781

Thomas Ostrander New York 2nd
Lieunt in Swartwouts New York
Militia Regiment July 1776, 2nd
Lieunt 3rd New York 21st Nov 1776
omitted May 1778 served as 
Lieunt in New York Levies.

I would like to obtain ages at time of enlistment etc Whatever is recorded on government records concerning these ancestors A grandparent and grand uncles. 
Also the records concerning (over)
Page 50

Philip Ostrander New York Army Sergt / inf Ensign / [illegible] 14 Nov 1806
2nd Lieut / May 1808 1st Lieunt
30th Oct 1812.

Volney Ostrander Captain Texas Rifles War 1846 to 1848

James Sargent Ostrander New York
Army private & Sergt C. 3 Batin
18 [illegible] 15 Nov 1861 to 27 March 1863
1st Lieut 1 Dec 1863 res'd 30th Sept 1864

Kindly give me as much data additional as you can
Awaiting a quick reply [illegible] to remain with thanks in advance

Respectfully
Jennie F Soop
1144 Gorsuch Ave
Waverly, Maryland

[stamp] US PENSION OFFICE MAY 11 1922
[stamp] REC'D ARCHIVES DR.  4 APR 25 1922
[stamp] Received A.G.O. APR 24 1922