Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,928, Christian Zimmerman, New York

SERVICE
New York
Zimmerman Christian
NUMBER
S. 11928
carded.
CONTENTS
70

Settle to Pension Co. Jan'y. 1836
14474 14474
1979 m
New York
Christian Zimmerman of Matine Co in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Putnam of the Regt; commanded by Col. Ely in the N.Y. Mtn batt for 18 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of May 1833 and sent to Dan. B. Cady Chittenango
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $120.00 Rem-ant. allowance ending Sept. 30.00
$150.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 4 Page 83

State of New York
Madison County
ss: On this Ninth day of October, 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the court of Common Pleas, now sitting, Christian Schumann, a resident of the town of Sullivan, in the County of Madison, & State of New York, aged Eighty four years on the 16th day of July last, 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 1819 passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, & served as herein stated. 1st. That in the month of March or April, 1778, he was drafted in the militia, & entered the service, for nine months, into the company of Capt. John Bicknell, belonging to the regiment of Colo. Jacob Clock - Peter Waggoner was Lieutenant Colonel of said Regiment. And one Benedict was Lieutenant in the company of Capt. Bicknell. That he then resided in Stone Arabia, now the town of Palatine, in the County of Montgomery, & State of New York. That he marched from Palatine, to Cherry Valley, & thence to Fort Herkimer, in the County of Herkimer Co. Y. That he was the longest part of the time engaged in scouting parties. That he was in an engagement at Cherry Valley with the British Tories & Indians. Colo. Clyde was at the engagement at Cherry Valley. Joseph Brant, an Indian, had command of the Indians & Tories. That he was also in an engagement at the German Flatts, on the Mohawk River. Colo. Bellinghausen was at the engagement on the German Flatts, with his regiment. That he served his full term of nine months, & was discharged at Fort Herkimer - His discharge is lost.

2 o That he enlisted in the month of March or April, 1781, for the term of nine months, into the company of Capt. Gerrit Putnam belonging to the regiment of Col. Putnam . One of the officers was Lieut. Col. of said regiment. Victor Putnam was assigned in said company. That he resided in the town of Palatine aforesaid, at the time of his enlistment. That he was stationed at Johnstown, in the county of Montgomery aforesaid. That he was in the Johnstown Battle. Col. Willett had the command of the American Forces. Col. Butler & Maj. Roff had command of the British & Indians. Col. Butler was killed the day after the battle, at the East Canada Creek. That battle was in the fall of the year 1781. That he served the full term of nine months, & was discharged at Fort Plank, in the county of Montgomery aforesaid. That his discharge is destroyed. That he was a few days within the period of this enlistment at Fort Windacher, on the Mohawk River. That he was called out several times, during the war. That he was in the battle at Stone Arabia, called theaver battle. That Col. Brown was killed in this battle. Lieut. William Johnson had command of the British forces. Capt. Bicknell gave him the first discharge, & Capt. Putnam the second.
That he was born in Frankfort on the Main, in Germany, on the 16 th of July, 1748. That he was naturalized on the 19 th day of January 1811, at Johnstown, in the county of Montgomery, as by the Certificate here attached will appear. That he has now no record of his age. But had one, which was burned together with his dwelling house & discharge. That since the Revolutionary War, he has resided in the town of Johnstown aforesaid; in the county of Greene N.Y.; & in the county of Catskill N.Y. That he now resides in the town of Sullivan, in the county of Madison, & has resided there since 1829. That he resided in the town of Johnstown nearly forty years. That he entered the service under an enlistment, & was also drafted. That the particulars

of his service, & the names of the regular officers, & the continental & militia regiments with which he was acquainted are as above stated. That he has no documentary evidence, & that he knows of no other person whose testimony he can procure, other than the one hereto attached, who can testify to his services.
That he is well known to Timothy Brown, Alexander John Storm, & Adam J. Snell of the town of Sullivan aforesaid, who reside in the neighborhood of the applicant, & can testify as to his character for veracity, & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to, & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. A. S. Sloan Clk
Christian F. Zimmerman Mark
We John Storm & Adam J. Snell - residing in the town of Sullivan, in the County of Madison aforesaid, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Christian Zimmerman who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty four years of age; that he is respected & beloved, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn, & subscribed this 17th day of October 1832 before me
John F. Storm Mark Adam J. Snell
W. K. Fuller - Judge of the County Courts of the County of Madison

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after perusing the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, & served as his status. And the Court further advises, that it appears to them that John Storms & Adam J. Small - who have signed the preceding certificate - are residents in the town of Sullivan aforesaid, & are credible persons, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Andrew G. Sloan, Clerk of the County of Warren Place in & for the County of Madison aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Christian Zimmerman for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this twenty-fourth day of November  XXXX , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty-two. A. G. Sloan Clk.
State of New York } ss. I, Andrew G. Sloan Clerk of the said County County of Madison } do certify that William H. Fuller, before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the County Courts in and for the said County, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature. Witness my hand and Seal of office this 24th day of November, 1832 -
A. G. Sloan Clk.

State of New York Madison County
ss: Coerra et Kitter of the town of Lenox, in the County of Madison being duly sworn says, that he is well acquainted with Chris- tian Zimmerman of the town of Sullivan, in said County of Madison, & has known him for a great number of years past. That the said Christian Zimmerman was drafted, & entered into the service as a militia man, in the Revolutionary War, in the Company com- manded by Captain John Brichhead, in the Regiment under Col. Jacob Block admt. Col. Peter Wazzoner some time in the Spring of the year after the Oriskany Battle. That the said Christian Zimmerman, served in the aforesaid Company commanded by Capt. Brichhead for the full term of nine months, & was discharged at Fort Herkimer, in the (now) County of Montgomery in said State, in the fall of the year in which the said Christian Zimmerman was drafted - That the said Chris- tian Zimmerman was drafted & entered the service at Patsburg in the County of Montgomery aforesaid. That this deponent was drafted at the same time & place, & entered into the same Company with the said Christian Zimmerman, & continued to serve with him until they were discharged at Fort Herkimer aforesaid. This deponent believes that the Oriskany Battle took place in the year 1777, & that this deponent & the said Christian were drafted in the Spring of the

1778. That the said Christian Zimmerman was a private in said company.
Sworn & Subscribed this 18th day of June 1832, before me
Capt. J. H. H. H.
W. K. Fuller Judge of the County Courts of the County of Madison -
State of New York } Madison County } ss: I, William R. Fuller, Judge of the County Courts of the County of Madison, do hereby certify that I am as acquainted with the above named Contract Pitts, & that he sustains a good character for truth & veracity. W. K. Fuller - Judge County of Madison
State of New York } Madison County } ss: I, Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the said Courts do hereby certify that William R. Fuller, before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been sworn, was, on the date of the same one of the Judges of the said County of Madison, duly authorized to act as such. And that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge & verify believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit is his own proper hand writing & signature.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my official seal this ninth day of October 1832.
A. S. Sloan Clk

N o 19793
Christian Zimm man Madison C o N. York
admitted.
18 mo. Private.
Dean B. Brady A.Y.C. Chittenango N. York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim; under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Christian Zimmerman Madison Co. Ky.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Aug 1778 9 Private Capt Beck 1st Lt Col. Clock Lt Col. Peter Cherry Valley Oriskany Palatine Cherry Valley Age 18 3/4 New Palatine Revolutionary   Exhited 1781 9 Capt Put Ham. Col. O'Callaghan Col. Bellinger Col. Miller Lt Col. New tan Forbes & Indians German Flats Johnstown Stony Arabia Herkimer Fort Plank Johnstown Conrad Kett 21 yrs 9 months in 1778  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his 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."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and time 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Rev. Ivan
11.928 INVALID.
File No. 11.928 Christian Zimmerman Briv. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

11/2/93 Christian Zimmerman Pursin Paper. D. Wladatty. Glattunango N. Y.

Christian Jernerman
April 1892
N. J.

The People of the State of
NEW-YORK, by the GRACE of GOD Free and Independent: To all to whom these PRESENTS shall come, or may concern:
GREETING.
WE do CERTIFY and make known, That, Christian Zimmerman late of Hoengollen in the Empire of Germany — " — — — — — but at present of Johnstown — " — — — — — in the county of Montgomery in our Court of Common-Pleas, held at the Court-House in Johnstown, on the Nineteenth day of January in the year of our LORD One thousand eight hundred and eleven in our county of MONTGOMERY, was, in pursuance of an act of Congress entitled "An Act to establish an uniform rule of NATURALIZATION, and to repeal the the Acts heretofore passed on that subject: Passed April 14th 1802." in due form of law admitted a CITIZEN of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. IN TES- TIMONY Whereof, we have caused the Seal of our said Court to be hereunto affix- ed. WITNESS, John Mc. Gathy Esquire, first Judge, at Johnstown the Nineteenth day of January — in the thirty fifth year of our Independence.
Henry A. Yates Clerk.