Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for John Diefendorff (Dufendorf)
W.24061
State of New York
Montgomery County
I, Catharine
Diefendorff of the Town of Minden in said County on the 14th day of October
1837, personally appeared before the Hon. David Savia, a judge of the Court
of Common Pleas of said County of ??? in said court of said state, being a
court of record, and being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is a resident
of said Court of Minden and aged ninety one years the 27 July 1837, and the
widow of John Dievendorff late of said Town who was a soldier in the War of
the Revolution and served repeatedly, but cannot state the particulars thereof.
She further
states that she was married by the Rev. Mr. Rosencrantz, a clergyman to the
said John Diefendorff on the 19th day of April 1768, as will appear by the
paper hereto annexed marked (A.) giving to her late husband aforesaid by the
Rev. Mr. Pick as she understood and believes from the record.
That her
said husband the foresaid John Diefendorff died about three years ago in the
summer the particular day she cannot state and that she has remained a widow
ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof
hereto annexed.
That her
said husband was a pensioner at the time of his death, the reason of her bodily
infirmity cannot attend court to make this declaration and does not write her
name.
(her mark) Catharine Diefendorff
Sworn and subscribed on the day given above, written before me, D.G. Savia,
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Montgomery and ??? in
Supreme Court of Said State.
John Diefendorf was born 10 day of May A.D. 1742. Catharine Hess was born 27 day of July A.D. 1746. John Diefendorff and Catharine Hess ??? consecrated and entered into the solemn obligation of matrimony on the 19th day of April A. D. 1768.
State of New York
County of Montgomery
On the 27th
day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two,
personally appeared before Henry I. Diefendorff Esquire, one of the Judges
of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, John Diefendorff, a resident
of the Town of Minden in the County and State foresaid, aged ninety years in
May last, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers and served as herein after mentioned.
That in
the month of February 1776, he was called upon and entered the service of his
country in a company commanded by Capt. Henry Diefendorff, Sergeant Jacob Diefendorff
and Ensign, George Countryman in Col. Ebenezer Cox’s Regiment. That the
company to which he so belonged was then marched to Johnstown a distance of
about eighteen miles, where the militia from different directions was collected. That
they were then stationed several days under Command of General Schuyler when
they were discharged and he returned home.
That in
the month of the following he was again called out in the company to which
he so belonged, with the regiment under Col. Cox and marched under Command
of General Herkimer to Cherry Valley, Otsego County, thence south to Unadilla
when they were stationed about three weeks, until a compromise was made between
General Herkimer and Col. Brandt who then commanded a part of Indians, troops
and Tories, when they were discharged and they returned home. The precise
time of service in going to staying at and returning from Johnstown aforesaid,
and in going to staying at and returning from Unadilla aforesaid, he cannot
state but that he did do he believes at least two month actual duty in the
services of his country.
That in
the month of June 1777 he was again called into the service of his country
by his said officers above named and stationed with the company to which he
belonged near the place when Fort Plank was afterwards built, was then kept
on duty about eight days when they were relieved to return home for a short
time, that he was called out at different times, put on duty and did one in
scouting parties in different directions, until about the first of August following
when he with the regiment to which he belonged marched to Oriskany in the County
of Oneida, when he was on the sixth day of August engaged in the Oriskany Battle
in which his said Capt. Diefendorff and Col. Cox were killed.
That about
three days after the battle, they returned home when he was again kept on duty
and out in scouting parties the most of the time until about the first of October
following when they were marched to the town in Stillwater on their way to
join in the battle against Burgoyne, that when they arrived near the place
of battle they were informed that the battle was over or that they were not
wanted and they returned home where he continued on duty and out in scouting
parties as circumstances required until some time in the month of November
following when his duties of the season ended, that he was the more of the
time during that season in the service of his country and was required to be
in constant readiness and that he did as he believed at least three months
actual duty in that year in the service of his country.
That in
the month of May 1778 he was again called into service by Capt. Jacob Diefendorff
who succeeded Capt. Henry Diefendorff killed in the Oriskany Battle as above
stated. That he was stationed at Fort Plain then kept on duty and out
in scouting parties in different locations as circumstances required to check
the Indians and Tories that he was so kept on duty the most of the time until
the month of November following when they were marched to Cherry Valley about
twelve miles south of Fort Plain to protect the inhabitants from Tires and
Savage cruelties, that they did not reach that place in time to save it from
savage destruction but remained then a short time, buried the dead and then
returned, that soon after he so entered hostilities of that season ended and
he was dismissed and that during the season he did, as he believes at least
four month actual duty in the service of his country.
That in
the month of May 1779 he was again called into service by his said captain,
was stationed at Fort Plank there kept on duty and out in scouting parties
to protect the inhabitants and check the Indians and Tories, that he was so
kept in service almost constantly, was occasionally allowed to go home for
short periods but was required to be in constant readiness, that he so continued
to serve until about the month of December following when hostilities of that
season ended and that during that season he did, as he believes at least four
months actual duty in the service of his country.
That about
the first of May 1780 he was again called into service by the said Captain,
was stationed at Fort Plain where kept on duty and out in scouting parties
as circumstances required until about the last of July when he was in the company
to which he belonged with other companies under the Command of Colonel Klock
and General Van Rensselaer.
Marched
to Fort Stanwix in the County of Oneida about fifty miles up the Mohawk River
to guard the government boats and property to that place. That they were
in ??? about eight days in that service.
That after
they returned he was again stationed at Fort Plain there kept on duty and out
in parties as circumstances required until about the twelfth day of October
following when they were marched against the enemy commanded by Sir John Johnston
who was burning and destroying up the north side of the Mohawk River, that
they marched across the river under command of Col. Clyde the successor of
Col. Cox. That on the north side of the river they joined a body of troops
under command of Col. DuBois and a body of men under Gen. VanRensselaer. They
pursued the enemy up the river towards the East Canada Creek, overtook them,
commended an engagement near dusk, fought some time when the enemy retreated. That
night crossed the river and marched westward. That the next morning they
pursued them several miles but finding that they were out of reach, they returned. That
after they so returned he was again stationed at Fort Plain. They kept
on duty and out in parties as circumstances required, and some time in December
following when he was again allowed to go home, and that in the various duties
done by him during that season he did as he believes at least three months
actual duty in the service of his country.
That about
the first of May 1787 he was again called into service by his said captain,
was stationed at Fort Plain, there kept on duty and out in parties as circumstances
required, the greatest part of the time until in October following was left
to guard the fort when Col. Willett marched to Johnstown with other and fought
the battle with Butler and Ross and that when Col. Willett with his men were
marching up the Mohawk River he joined them and pursued Butler and his party
to the West Canada Creek were they were overtaken when Butler and several of
his part were killed and then they returned home. And that he did during
that season as he believes at least three months actual duty in the service
of his country.
That he
has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person, whose testimony
he can procure who can testify to all of his services.
That he
was born in the town, county and state aforesaid in the year 1742, May 10.
That he
has a record of his age in his Bible which he here exhibits.
That he
was living in the town, county and state aforesaid when called into service
as foresaid where he has since continued to live and now lives.
That he
was called into service at the different times and in the manner above mentioned.
That he
cannot now state the names of regular officers who were with troops; Continental
or Militia Regiment or the general circumstances of his service other than
as the same is by him above states.
That he
never received a written discharge from the service.
That Solomon
H. Moyer and Andrew Moyer are the names of persons to whom he is known in his
present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity and their
belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. And that there
is not clergyman residing in his immediate vicinity.
He hereby
relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present
and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
state.
(His Mark) John Diefendorff
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me, Henry I. Diefendorff
a Judge of Montgomery County Court of Pleas
Letter
included in the file.