Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5659, for Christian Knieshern, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York.
Knieshern, Christian
S 5659
Carded.
CONTENTS

12824 N.Y. 569  New York  Christian Knieshern of Greene Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Strong of the Regt. commanded by Col. Brown in the N. York line for 10 Mts 3 days — "
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 50 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 st day of May 1830 — and No. R.V. 2410 Bair
Arrears to the 4th of Mch: '31 $100.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4th '31 25.16  $125.82
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. } Recorded by G. C. Pills Clerk Book E , Vol. 4 , Page 23 .

ex 22832
Christian Kingdom
Greensboro -
ex 22832 -
admitted.
15 mo 3 Private.
R. V. Dyke
Cairo -
Greensboro -
ex 22832 -

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjóined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. 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 Reinhorn Greenleaf
   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.     Oct 1480 to March 81 3 2 3 Private Captm St Col from beneath an affair Lieut Col Bell Lieut Col Bell Lieut Col Bell Lieut Col Bell Whitcomb Fort De Verdon Tawanda Langton County Albany N.Y. 68 years Whitcomb Albany N.Y. Living & tradi tional evidence   May Spring - 81 - 6   April 82 - 7   Oct 82 - 15 3  
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 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 line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[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.
John C. H. Hinton

Christian Kniskern affet d Persian papers
Christian Kniskern Declaration etc.
22832

State of New York
Schen County ss on the Tenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Schen now sitting Christian Kriske a Resident of the town of Coeymans in the County of Schen of the State of New York aged Sixty eight years & eleven months, 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 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated.
That he entered the service of the United States in the month of October in the year Seventeen hundred eighty in the town of Schoharie is then in the County of Albany, now in the County of Schoharie State of New York very soon after Schoharie was burned, at the Middlefort in the town of Schoharie & Remained there so in the service nine weeks & then was discharged, but had no written discharge - and the Field officers as far as recollected were Peter Vroman, Colonel, & Joseph Baskin Major, and the company officers as far as recollected are Christian Stueberrough Captain, Jacob Snyder Lieutenant Ensign; That at the time he entered the service as above he Resided in the town of Schoharie then in the County of Albany, State of New York, and that he entered the service as a Substitute for his Father Henry Kriske of the same place; That at the time he entered the service he was about fifteen years of age.
That he again entered the service of the United States in the next Spring, about the first of May 1781 at the Lower fort in the town of Schoharie then in the County of Albany, now in the County of Schoharie, was drafted. Remained in the service at his place Six months & then was discharged but not in writing, was discharged about the first of November in the same year. He Resided in the town of Schoharie County & State aforesaid; and his Field & Company

officers as far as Recollected were as follows. Peter Vroman Colonel. Joseph Becker Major; Christian Stuberburgh Captain; & Jacob Snyder Lieutenant. —
and again he entered the Service of the United States about the latter part of April in the year 1782 & was stationed at Whitmans Fort at a place called Barn in the Town of Barn in the County of Albany & State of New York & continued in the Service there until the 1st of November in the same year & was then discharged but not in writing, & was drafted again at this time as near as he can state seven months; & that at the time he entered the Service the last time, he Resided at the place called Barn in the Town of Barn in the County of Albany & State of New York, & his officers as far as Recollected are Peter Vroman Colonel; Christian Stuberburgh Major; Adams Dyer Captain, & Mathias Shantles Lieutenant That the principal business was to guard against the Indians under Brant & the Tories. & take care of the different places, property & ammunition which was in store in the different Forts where he lay; and there was only one Regiment during the whole Service of this declarant to his Recollection & the different Forts where he lay were within the distance of about twelve miles of each other; and this declarant states that he has no documentary evidence, but proof of his service as is herunto annexed; and 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.
Subscribed and sworn before Christian Kniesher me in open court
Feby. 4 th 1833
William W.D. Hermance Clerk

We Eli Dennis a Clergyman Residing in the Town of Cairn in the County of Green & near the said Christian Krisken, and Job Sutton Residing in the same town & also near the said Christian Krisken hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Christian Krisken who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration: That we believe him to be sixty eight years & eleven months of age: & that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolu- -tion, & that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day & year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one of said in open Court
William T. D. Hermance Clerk Eli Dennis Job Sutton

The answers of the declarant to the questions pro- pounded by the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Greene aforesaid pursuant to the directions of the Secretary of War
I was born in the town of Schoharie in the County of Albany now Schoharie & State of New York in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & sixty four
I have a Record of my age in the family Bi- ble, and also a Family Record & it is also in the Fox- -worth the Bible that belonged to my Father. My Bible & other Record is at Youngs house
I lived in the town of Schoharie at that time in the then County of Albany now Schoharie at the time I first entered the Service the two first times above mentioned (To wit at the Middle & Lower Forts) & in the town of Berne in the County of Albany when I entered the Service the last time to wit at Whitmans Fort; and since that time I Resided about 11 years in the town of Berne & then Removed to the town of Green- ville in the County of Greene aforesaid & lived there until about four years since when I Moved into the town of Cairo in said County of Greene & State of New York where I now Reside.
I entered the Service in the first place as a Sub- stitute for my Father for the nine weeks Service & for the six & seven months Service I was drafted
The names of the Regular officers as known to me at different forts were Peter Vroman Colonel; Joseph Baker

Major: Christian Stubberough, Captain, Jacob Snyder, Lieutenant at the Miace & Lavin posts in Schoharie, and Peter Kraman Colonel. Christian Stubberough Major Adam Dits Captain & Mathias Shanetas Lieutenant at Whitemans Fort in Barn
I never Received a written discharge at any time
I am known by Colonel Ezra T. Day, Colonel Frederick P. Osborn, John R. Osborn Amos Cannwall, The Reverend Eli Derrison
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department. That the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states
And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Eli Derrison who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman Resident in the town of Cairo and near the said Christian Kniskern, and that Job Lutton who has also signed the preceding certificate
The same is a Resident in the town of Cairo & near the said Christian Kniskern and is a credible person and that this statement is entitled to credit
E. Daly Perkins King Wm. Jolley Judges of the Court

I William V. B. Hermance Clerk of the County of Common Pleas in & for the County of Green Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- ceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Christian Knishern for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this Tenth day of February in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred & thirty three
William V. B. Hermance Clerk

Schoharie County } P
David Knieskern of the town of Bern in the county of Albany being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, that he is sixty five years and six months old, and that he is well acquainted with Christian Knieskern of the town of Cairo in the county of Green and State aforesaid, and was acquainted with him during the revolutionary war, and he knows that the said Christian Knieskern served in the revolutionary war. That he the said Christian was called into the service in the town of Schoharie then in the county of Albany, where he then resided, in the month of October 1780, it was about the time Schoharie was burnt. That he served at that time about nine weeks. That the next Spring about the first of May 1781, the said Christian Knieskern again entered the service in Schoharie aforesaid and continued in it about six months. That in the Spring of 1782 he again entered the service and was afterwards stationed at a place called Bowerdam where stood a fort called Whitemans Fort. That he continued in the service there till in the fall of the year. That in the whole he served rising of a year. That he this deponent is a brother of the said Christian Knieskern and that they lived near the place where the service was performed to wit, in the town of Schoharie between the foots. He further saith the said Christian Knieskern is a man of veracity.
Sworn the 2 day of October 1832 before me Henry Shaper or Judge of Schoharie common Pleas
his David X Knieskern mark
State of New York Schoharie County } P
William Ball of the town of Bern in the county of Albany, being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, that he is sixty nine years and about nine months old, and that he is well acquainted with Christian Knieskern of the town of Cairo in the county of Green, and was acquainted with him during the revolutionary war, and knows that he the said Christian Knieskern served in the revolutionary war, that he entered the service in the year 1782 sometime in the month of April or May in captain Ditz's company, in Col. Peter Brancans regiment, that this deponent was in the same company, that they were stationed at Bowerdam about 12 miles from the lower fort in Schoharie.

At the Bennerdam Road the fort or fortification called Fort Whilman that the said Christian Knieskern served at that time and place about five or six months. And further that the said Christian Knieskern is a man of untruth.
Sworn the 2 day of October 1832 before me Henry Shaper a judge of Schoharie Common Pleas
William Ball
I certify that I am acquainted with David Knieskern and William Ball, who have signed and sworn to the foregoing affidavits respectively, and that they are men of truth untruth and that the affidavits by them made are deserving of full credit.
Henry Shaper a judge of Schoharie Common Pleas
State of New York } A' sharie county p. } I John Gebhard Jr. Clerk of the said county Do certify that Henry Shaper before whom the two preceding affidavits purport to have been sworn, was at the date of the one of the judges of the court of common pleas in and for the said county; and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits and the preceding certificate to be his proper hand writing and signature - Witness my hand and seal of office this 2 d October 1832 -
John Gebhard Jr. Clerk of Scho. Com. Pleas -

Rev. way
5659
INVALID.
File No. 5659
Christian Knudsen
Dr. New Year
Act: June 14. 82
Index: Vol. M , Page 210
[Arrangement of 1870.]