Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16216, for Francis Otto, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Otto, Francis
S 16216
boarded.
CONTENTS

1855 March 21 To J. J. Penfield 1856 Dec. 30 Hon. Jno. Sherman
Ohio ~ 32.240
Francis Otto.
of Ohio in the State of Ohio who was a Pte in the Co. commanded by Captain Ritzinger of the Regt commanded by Trooman in the NYork line for Ohio
Refc
Inscribed on the Roll of Cincinnati at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 d day of Nov 1841 and sent to A. H. Cromwell, Huron, Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-ann. allowance ending
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. J. Penfield Clerk, Book 12 Vol. 8 Page 45

Record of Age in Dutch.
No 1

Johann Gottlieb Otto ist geboren 1758 den 6ten Novembris zwischen 9 u an einem Montagsabend der Mond stand in 1 grad des Steinbocks in der 11ten Stunde des 11 des fühlten Da. s: conjunct: \Delta ♄ ♃ ☉ grad 69. in der 11ten 4. Die Laufzungen sind grosser Johann Adam Sitt Berlet und seine Frau Maria Elisabeth in Neustadt in ihren ab von seit fall die Wolle verarbeitete Frau Rosch Tochter seiner Frau Dorothea.
Franz Otto jun: ist geboren am 1762 7ten Novembris an einem Montagsabend zwischen 11 u 12 in der 11ten Stunde \Delta v d. fühlten \Delta Mond stand an einem Montag zwischen 11ten und 12ten in 27 grad in der 11ten 4. 11. 4. 9 u 12 in der 11ten 4. 11. 4. Domini Sotm et. Die Laufzungen sind gross Mathias Baumann, u. seine Frau Maria Elisabeth.

Johann Gottlieb Otto was born in the year 1758, on the 6 th of February, Monday morning betw. 9 & 10 o'clock.
The sponsors were: Johann Adam Ennert and his wife Maria Elisabeth in New-York in their absence Christoph Rostig and his wife Dorothea represented them.
Transcribed from the German. E. M. M. Nov. 21/99.
Frantz Otto, jun., was born in the year 1762, on the 7 th of November, on a Sunday morning betw. 9 & 10 o'clock was baptized on the 9 th of same month at my house, by Pastor Sommer.
Sponsors were: Matthias Baumann and his wife Anna Elisabeth.

L. P. Walker, Esq. Washington, D. C.
My Dear Sir,
I herewith send you a copy of a certificate for Pension, upon which I am under the necessity of asking your instructions.
Francis Otto, died on the 4 th day of this month a few minutes past one o'clock P. M., leaving his claim for Pension, undrawn for the previous year, and unable to execute a power of attorney to claim it, or leaving any wife.
Will you please state, whether his heirs not minors , can claim the amount now, and what proof will be required of the above facts.
I oblige you very truly
& Respectfully
J. L. Penfield,
Huron Erie Co. O.
March, 15, 1855,

Declarations
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832
State of Ohio - Huron County ss.
On this 27 th day of February 1843 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Huron in said State held & sitting in Norwalk within and forward County; Francis Otto of Huron in said County in said State a Resident therein aged Eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 - That in the Month of April A.D. 1777 he served in the Army of the United States as a Private Soldier in the Militia of the State of New York for the term of six months that for said period he served as a substitute for his Brother Gottlob Otto who was drafted from said Militia - That he served in a Company commanded by Captain Richtmyer & Lieut. Burt the names of the General & Field Officers were Col. Woodman & Major Baker - That he marched to Fort Edward & up the Mohawk river - That his place of abode when he entered the said service was in the County of Albany at a place called Schoharie State of New York - That in said year 1777 he served in said Militia as a Volunteer for three months - That in the year 1778 he served three months he served for three months as a substitute for one John Shaver in the Militia - That in said 1778 he served as a Volunteer in the Militia for three months. That in the year 1779 he served in the Militia as a substitute for one Lombard Lawyer for three months in the Upper Fort at Schoharie.
Among his other Officers with whom he served were Capt John Winder - Major John Bosler - etc.

The Declarant in recapitulating his services says he 1 st He served in the upper Fort in Schoharie in 1777 as a Substitute.
2 d As Volunteer at Fort Hardix in 1777
3 d In 1778. at Schoharie and at the same place as the last as a Volunteer.
4 th In 1779. a Substitute at Schoharie
That he also in addition to the foregoing has served as Volunteer & Substitute in the years 1780 & 1781.
He cannot now owing to his old age & consequent loss of memory, remember the precise time but it could not be less than six months possibly a year the whole of his services amounting at least to two years or half - That during said last six months his Officers were Captain Richlanya Adj t Schoeleraft. & the named rank of the General and Field Officer was Major Sew- -art - whom he was employed in defending the Forts in Schoharie.
That in each of his aforesaid services he was with embodied troops which were called into service by the competent Authority of the State of New York - That he was for the whole time in the Field or Garrison - and that he was not for any part of the time employed in any civil service or office. The Declarant in answer to the questions propounded by the Court as directed by the War Department says he was born in Scho- harie in New York State the year of A D 1762 in the month of Decem- -ber the 11 th day. That he has a record of his age in the Dutch Lan- -guage made by his father, now enclosed marked No 1. That he was living at Schoharie when he was called into service. That since the Revolutionary War in Schoharie in Canada in Genesee as a State of New York in Tazewell County State of Ohio. That he now lives in Huron, Erie County in said Ohio. That he always served as a Volunteer or a Substitute for others, he was a substitute for the persons mentioned in the foregoing part of this declaration. That he remembers the names of John Deed Lieut Col Brown as Capt. Richlanya Adjutant Schoeleraft as Officers with whom he served. That he received discharges for every period of his services. He cannot remember by whom they were given. That he never received a Commission.

That he is acquainted in his neighborhood with Francis Lafaver and John G Hunter who can testify as to his character as for veracity and the extent of his services as a Soldier in the Revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity as of the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State. Francis Otto
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid A. G. Sutton Judge of Huron Com Pleas
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states in the Revolutionary War. Francis Otto
I Roswell Gibbs Deputy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Francis Otto for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 27 th day of February A D 1843. The above interlineations are admissible signing.
We Francis Lafaver and John G Hunter both of Huron County of Ohio in said State of Ohio, residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Francis Otto who has subscribed and sworn to above & within declaration that we believe him to be eighty four 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 and that it is our further veracity. Sworn and subscribed Francis L. Lafaver
the day and year aforesaid with us A. G. Sutton Judge of Huron Com Pleas John G Hunter And the 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 and that it appears to them; that Francis Lafaver and John G Hunter, who have signed & sworn to the preceding Certificate are Residents of Huron, Erie County in said State and are credible persons - and that their Statement

is entitled to credit.
+
O. Bowen Dist. Judge
And the Declarant further states; That the reason why he did not apply to the Court of Common Pleas in Erie County where he resided to make and transact this business - is that he had known of Mr. Person in said County - who has had experience in such cases - and he was advised by several respectable persons to apply to his present agent in Huron County for the purpose who has been in the habit of transacting such business.
Enclosed is a Tabular Statement which was sent to the Declarant more than nine years since from the Commissioners of Pensions, detailing his services in said War. So far as then appears from the Records & Files of the War Department, which is now returned according to request of the Commissioner of Pensions. - He says that the witnesses who personally knew of his services are generally now dead, and probably in the care with them all. The reason why he has not procured a Chirograph to certify in his favor as required by the War Department is that he is
not acquainted with any Gentleman of that profession. Given as a subscribed this
Frances Otto
27 February A.D. 1843 before
me J. William Sutton Judge of Huron Common Pleas
State of Ohio. Huron County ss
I Russell Gibbs Deputy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Huron, do hereby certify that the foregoing are the proceedings of said Court in the case & matter of Frances Otto in his application for a Pension and also certify that the Honorable O. Bowen is a President Judge of said Court whose Commission is dated February 7 1838 & will expire on 7 February 1845, and also that Albert G. Sutton Esq is an associate Judge of said Court whose Commission is dated 24 January 1842 & will expire 24 January 1849 & that their signatures in the foregoing papers are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal the 27 th day of February A.D. 1843
R. Gibbs Dept Clerk

16029
Francis Otto
Livingston co. N.Y.
adm 2
Smopri
$20.
Post against Sept. 30 33.
A. H. Cromwell
Huron Ohio.
Direct to Claimant Robert Morris Livingston County N.Y. Claimant Robert Morris New 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 subjjoined 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. Those 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 Francis Otto County of Saratoga New York
   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.     April 1777 Substitute 6 Pioneer Capt Reichmeyer Lieut Jacob Burt Capt Brooman Major Baker To fort Edward Up the Mohawk River Schoharie county of Albany New York living witness & Testimony   Volunteer 3 "   1778 Substitute 3 "   Volunteer 3 "   1779 Substitute 3 "   in 1780 & 81 Served as a Volunteer and Substitute but knows not for whom nor for what time Capt Reichmeyer Lieut Schroeder Major Swart defended the fort in Schoharie Seventy years  
6-11-22
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. That is the final discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state, 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 will have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all 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 he 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 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 [i] 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.
Same proof of the services of the applicant should be produced There are many applicants for pensions who allege having served in the same corps and at the same periods

16216 INVALID.
File No. 16 216
Francis Otto
Pin Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 252
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Let to Lewis B. Sturges, Esq. April 30 1843.
Let to L B Sturges June 15 1843

Dr. Francis M. ... Oct 1 - at 11:30
J. P. Waldo, Con of Pensions Washington D.C.

Commission of Pensions

I sent yesterday Papers - an application in favour of Merion Betsy Brown for 5 years Pension which I trust you have rec d
Lun, B Sturges
2 a March

M c Call
Ohio
Francis Otto
Ad
322.40
Mr. Sherman me
Hon. Geo. C. Whiting
Com. of Pensions
Washington
D.C.

Francis Otto Pens o Act 32 - Ohio.
Ex by Mr Wade Nov 29-1857

Huron township Ohio, Oct r 27 th 1834.
Sir,
This is to request that M c G. Moore of Rose New York, may be allowed to examine the papers filed by me in your Office, in application for a pension, under act of 7 th June 1832. I resided in Huron township Erie county Ohio when my pension was first allowed, as he is my attorney, duly authorized such.
Very Respectfully Your obed Servt, Francis Otto
J. B. Heath Esq Comm r of Pensions,

May 4 '43
f
James L. Edwards Esq
Ohio.
Frances
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

State of Ohio Huron County ss
Personally appeared before me James A Jones a justice of the peace in and for said County
Francis Otto of Huron - County of Erie in said State now aged eighty four years - and having been duly sworn, on his Oath, Declares & says that having seen & read a lot. Letter written & directed to Lewis B Sturges my agent who has applied to the Commissioner of Pensions in my behalf for a Pension in the & for my services in the Revolutionary War - dated April 5 th 1843 which came before action on the subject - a former & the original Declaration forwarded some time or ten years ago which said Commissioner says, was returned to said Otto when a Tabular Statement of said Otto's services as then appeared from the Files & Records of the War Department was sent to said Otto & which was re- cently sent to said Commissioner accompanying a Supplementary Declaration.
The Deponent says & declares, that with respect to said original Declaration; He has no recollection of said original declaration ever being returned to him - if it was, as stated by said Commissioner; - owing to his extreme old age and consequent loss of memory - it must have been lost & destroyed with

Some of his papers were not knowing them to be of much importance, and having been discouraged in his prospect of success being poor and unable to defray the expense of any further pursuit of his original object, but being now extremely poor & believing in the justice of his claim for some assistance from the Government he has been induced to make his present application and he would respectfully say, that from said Tabular Statement , that there can be no doubt, but that he served in the Revolutionary War at least Eighteen months - at different periods - according to the then Laws of the United States, and the Pension Law of the same, of the year A.D. 1832.
The Deposition further declares that the facts stated in his late supplementary declaration are according to his recollection are true
Sworn and subscribed this 28 th day of April 1843 and certify that said Otto is a man of truth against perjury before me James A Jones J. Penn
Francis Otto

The State of Ohio Huron County } ss.
I Russell Gibbs Deputy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County hereby certify that James K. Jones was Justice of the Peace in said County duly Commissioned and qualified. And that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is his genuine signature.
In witness of which I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at Norwalk this 28th day of April A.D. 1843.
R. Gibbs Rep. Clerk
Norwalk Ohio 28 April 1843
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir In answer to your Letter to me of the 3 rd instant I was sent to you Francis Otto's Deposition relative to his original declaration which you state he sent to you & was returned to him with the tabular statement of his Service extracted from the files & records of your Office. I can only say that I have every reason to believe he is perfectly honest in his recollection or rather want of recollection of that fact.
Yours very respectfully Levi D. Sturges

A. H. Brownell Esq.
Huron
Can be Ohio.

In pursuance of a law passed the 27th of April, 1784, entitled "An act for the settlement of the pay of the Levies and Militia, for their services in the late War, and for other purposes therein mentioned," the following certificates have been issued, bearing interest at five per cent per annum, viz :
  June 7 1780 14950. Francis Otto Swartz 19 6 3/4 N.C. Hagg Compt. 
STATE OF NEW-YORK, COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, Albany, 1844. }
I hereby certify the above to be true extracts from Book No. 3. now remaining in this office, and that the service for which the certificates above named were issued, were performed under the following officers, viz :
  First—under Capt. George Richtmyer in Col. Peter Peckham Regt.   Second " " " " N.C. Hagg Compt.   Third " " " " "   Fourth " " " " "   Fifth " " " " "   Sixth " " " " "   Seventh " " " " "   Eighth " " " " "   Ninth " " " " "   Tenth " " " " " 

Sept 16 '44
Miss Abigail Francis, Otto.
C.
25
Albany N.Y.
Commissaire of Pensions City Washington D.C.

Albany Sept 16 th 1849
Sir
I enclose to you a certificate of the Comptroller of the State of New York showing payment of the service rendered by Francis Otto in 1780, but there is nothing in the Comptroller's office in very important the soldiers were sometimes paid by the paymaster and no entry can be found of the soldier's name. Mr. Otto says he served two seasons as a substitute and it is possible the payment was entered in the name of the principal and in 1782 at the time Fort Stanwix in the State of New York was besieged by Col. St. Leger Mr. Otto claims to have been in the garrison at that time and no records is known to exist of that service and that post was continued by our troops up to 1782 and at this late day it is impossible to find two of the old soldiers living that were in the service together, and under these circumstances it is no more than fair that every reasonable allowance should be made in favor of the old soldiers and when their statement under oath is corroborated by the events that took place in the time of the war supported by slight proof should have all the weight possible and the service admitted, on the examination of his first proof papers will entitle him to a small pension. Should you find him entitled to a pension it would be an accommodation to have it payable at Albany.
Respectfully Yours & c.
A. N. Crenshaw

Mar 7 1843
Plus
Francis Otis
1 1/4 oz
$1.25
me
James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
ought this to be paid. I am in doubt O.R.

Newark Feb 7 Ohio March 2 nd 1843
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
I enclose now to you an application of Francis Otto a Revolution Soldier for a Pension under the Law of 7 th June 1832 and also enclose to you a Tabular statement which you sent to him containing a List of his services in that War as appeared to you from the records of the War Department and which you requested to be returned when he should make his application. I also enclose a short record of his the time when he was born made by his Father in the Dutch Language.
I am respectfully your servant
Lucas B Sturges