Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23159, Isaac Christiance, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Christians, Isaac
8 23 159
1912
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for entries]
[Blank lined area for entries]

241848. New York
Isaac Christiane
Saratoga in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Windeill of the Reg t commanded by Col Van Dyke in the New York Mil ia for 6 Months,
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars— Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of March 1834, and sent Mr. Metcalf Northumberland New York
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1834 $ 60:00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1, Sept r 34 10:00
$70:00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. B. Whiting Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 11 Page 130

Matter of Isaac Christance a pensioner
And Verily believe her Name subscribed to the said Affidavit to be her proper hand writing and signature Witness my hand and seal of office the thirty first day of December 1832 - Henry Rich Clerk
100% to apply to Council

State of New York Saratoga County ss:
I Alpheus Goodrich Clerk of the County of Saratoga do certify that Harvey Granger before whom the within foregoing affida- vits of Hannah Waldron, Robert Washburn and John Christiansen purport to have been sworn, was at the date of the said Affidavits 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 Affidavits to be his proper hand writing and signature
Witness my hand and seal of Office this thirty first day of December 1833 - A Goodrich Clerk
Matter of Issue Christiansen a pensioner
1061 by [unclear]

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7 th June 1832
State of New York Saratoga County Jo. On this seventeenth day of October in the Year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before me Harvey Granger Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Saratoga at the dwelling house of John Christance in the town of Northumberland in said County of Saratoga Isaac Christance a resident of the said town of Northumberland aged sixty six  eight 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 7 th June 1832.
That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the fore part of September (cannot state the day of the month) in the year 1779 or 1780 in the Company of Capt. John Wendell for during the war, and served in the First Regiment of the New York State line Regimental Officer Colonel. . . . Van Schaick, Lieut. Col. - Van Dyke. Company officers Capt. John Wendell, Ensign Christopher Miller. The other Regimental and company officers he does not recollect. The said Regiment was a part of Major Genl. Clinton's Brigade. That he served until some time in April following seven months or more, when his Father procured his discharge by paying a sum of money to procure a substitute.
That during his said term of service he was stationed at the City of Albany and its vicinity in the State of New York.
That at the time of his entering the service as aforesaid he resided at (what is now) the City of Schenectady in the State of New York.
That he has a Discharge from the service but it is now lost as he believes it has been burnt by accident.

He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
Sworn to & subscribed that day and year aforesaid before me
his Isaac X Christians mark
Harvey Granger Judge
And I the said Judge Do hereby declare my opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states
And I do further declare my opinion that the said applicant is unable by reason of bodily infirmity to appear in Court.
Harvey Granger Judge
State of New York Saratoga County
ss: I Thomas Palmer Clerk of the County of Saratoga do certify that Harvey Granger before whom the foregoing proceedings were had and before whom the foregoing Affidavit purports to have been sworn, was, at the date of the same, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed thereto to be his proper hand writing and signature.
Witness my hand & Seal of Office the twenty ninth day of October in the year 1832.
Thomas Palmer Clerk

Amendment to Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7 th June 1832
State of New York Saratoga County ss. On the twentieth day of December 1833 personally appeared before me Harvey Sprague Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Saratoga at the dwelling house of John Christensen in the town of Northumberland in said County who being first duly sworn according to doth law made the following answers to the interrogatories put to him by me the said Judge -
1 st That he was born at Schenectady in the State of New York twenty the third day of December 1763 2 nd There was a record of my age on the Church Books at Schenectady as I have been informed and believe, I do not know of any other 3 rd When called into the service I lived at Schenectady at which time there were three or four years after the war, then removed to Northumberland where I have lived ever since & now live 4 th I was called into the service by enlistment as above stated as a private soldier in Capt. Wendell's Company 5 th The names of the Officers who were with the troops when I served which I now recollect are Col. Van Schaick, Lieut. Col. Van Dyke, General Clinton, Capt. John Wendell, Major Christopher Miller 6 th That he had a written discharge from the service it is now lost. believe it is burnt

7 th I am well known in my present neighborhood to Genl. Herman Gausevoort, Col. Jeremiah Terhune, Jonas Amsted Esq: Postmaster, Thomas Herblance Esq: Samuel Lewis Esq: Nathaniel W. Cluett Esq: and the Rev. Robert Washburn who can testify to my character for veracity &c Sworn to & subscribed this 20 th day of December 1833. before me Isaac J. Christiana mark Harvey Grisager Judge of Saratoga County Courts
State of New York Saratoga County ss. Robert Washburn a clergy- man residing in the town of Northumberland in said County and John M'Neal - residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Isaac Christiana who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be (now) seventy years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neigh- borhood where he resided to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn and subscribed this 20 th day of December 1833 before me - Harvey Grisager Judge of Saratoga County Courts Robert Washburn John M'Neal
And I the said Judge Do hereby declare my opin- ion after the investigation of the matter and after put- ting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Depart- ment that the above named applicant was a revolu-
tionary Soldier and served as he states - And I do further certify that it appears to me that Robert Washburn who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman residing in the said town of North- umberland and that John M'Neal who has also signed the same is a resident of the said town of Northumberland and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
And I Do further declare my opinion that the said applicant is unable by reason of bodily infirmity to attend the Court

-timony taken and served as he states - And I do further certify that it appears to me that Robert Washburn who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman residing in the said town of North- umberland and that John Westall who has also signed the same is a resident of the said town of Northumberland and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
And I do further declare my opinion that the said applicant is unable by reason of bodily infirmity to attend the Court
Harvey Ganger of Saratoga County Clerk
State of New York
Saratoga County } S:
I, Alfred Goodrich Clerk of the County of Saratoga do certify that Harvey Ganger before whom the foregoing proceedings, in the application of Isaac Chris- tians for a pension purport to have been had, was at the date of the said proceedings a Judge of the County Courts in and for said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name sub- scribed to the said proceedings to be his proper hand writing and signature -
Witness my hand and seal at Office the thirty first day of December 1883 - A Goodrich Clerk

State of New York Saratoga County ss.
John Christian of the town of Northumberland in the County of Saratoga being duly sworn saith that the within mentioned Isaac Christian of the said town of Northumberland his brother is well known to this Deponent as having been a soldier of the Revolutionary war that in the year 1779 or 1780 in the fore part of Sep- tember the said Isaac Christian entered the service of the United States by enlistment as a private in the Company of Capt. John Wendell in Colonel Van- Schaick's Regiment for during the war. That the said Isaac immediately went into the service and served some time in April thereafter at least seven months when his discharge was procured by his father on his paying a sum of money to procure a substitute that the said Isaac was stationed at an in the vicinity of Albany during his service as aforesaid as this Deponent understood at the time from his father and mother, and his said Isaac and which he verily believes to be true
Sworn subscribed this 20 th day of December 1833. believe me I also certify that the said John Christian is known to me that he is a credible person and his statement is worthy of belief.
his John X Christian marks
Harvey Gossenger Judge of Saratoga County Court

State of New York Saratoga County ss. Hannah Waldo Deceased being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she resides in the town of Northumberland in said County that she is a sis- ter of the within mentioned Isaac Christian aged 65 - years that in the time of the Revolu- tionary war she lived with her father in Schenectady that in the Fall of the year during the war she cannot tell what year her said brother Isaac Christian enlisted as a private soldier into the army of the United States in Capt John Man- dell's company for during the war that he immediately entered into the service and remained in the army until the Spring follow- ing when his father paid a sum of money to procure his discharge
Sworn to and subscribed this 20th day of December 1833
before me Hartley G. Geyser J. of Saratoga County, N.Y.
Hannah T Waldo mark
Saratoga County ss. Robert Washburn a clergyman residing in the town of Northumberland in said County being duly sworn saith that he is & has been acquainted with the above named Hannah Waldo for several years, that she is a person of good reputation and that her statement is entitled to credit
Robert Washburn
Sworn this 20th day of December 1833 before me, I also certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Robert Washburn that he is a man of good reputation & his statement is worthy of credit
Hartley G. Geyser J. of Saratoga County, N.Y.
which is now lost as he believes it has been burnt by accident

State of New York Saratoga County ss:
I Alpheus Goodrich Clerk of the County of Saratoga do certify that Harvey Granger before whom the within foregoing affida- vits of Hannah Waldron, Robert Washburn and John Christance purport to have been sworn, was at the date of the said Affidavits 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 Affidavits to be his proper hand writing and signature
Witness my hand and seal of Office this thirty first day of December 1833 - A Goodrich Clerk
Matter of Issue Christance a prisoner
ED 12 1833 I COL FOR OFFICE BY CONNOR

18134
Isaac Christiane Saratoga county New York
K L m
Admitted Private 6 months
John Metcalfe Northumberland New York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
J. M. [Signature] 183 3
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 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 Isaac Christiane, Saratoga co N.Y.
   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.     Continued 1779 or 1780 7 1 6 Private Capt. Windall Col. Van Shaick Lieut. Col. Van Dyke 69 Schenectady N.Y. No widow  
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 (1) 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 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.

Revolution
23159 INVALID.
File No. 23,159
Isaac Christian
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 62
[Arrangement of 1870.]

J. L. Edwards Aguirre Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Northumberland Saratoga Co. N York July 2 o 1834
Sir
I again inclose the papers of Isaac Chris- tians an applicant for a pension with amendments
When the papers were forwarded before it was supposed that his case was one of service in the continental troops and his name would probably be found in the War Depart- ment. I now forward the evidence supporting his Declaration
I am with great respect Your Ob. Servant John Metcalf