This is the second post detailing the evidence I’ve discovered that supports the claim that Elon Carman (ca.1792-1866) and Martha Johnson (ca.1792-1871) are the parents of my third great-grandfather Charles R. Carman. The first post presented the Chester County Poor School Children Records. This post will present the pension files from the War of 1812.

After the death of her husband, Martha Carman applied for pensions from both the federal government and the state of Pennsylvania.

Mark of Martha Carman from pension application, with her address.

The application to the state of Pennsylvania was filed by Martha Carman on 2 Jun 1866. At the time she stated her residence at 2312 N. 5th Street in Philadelphia. This would mean she was living with Charles R. Carman since in the 1865-68 Philadelphia city directories his address is also listed as 2312 N. 5th Street.

In addition to them residing at the same address, Mrs. Caroline Carman, likely the same Caroline Carman who was the wife of Charles, signed as a witness for the application.

The application to the federal government was filed by Martha in 1871. She reported her address as 1334 Potts Street in June 1871. In December 1871, Martha’s funeral was held at the home of her son-in-law William L. Pomeroy at 1334 Potts Street. Martha’s pension application was witnessed by a Mary Pomroy.  I believe Mary Pomroy is the same Mary Ann Carman listed in the school records with Charles. Census records have a Mary Pomroy, wife of William, who was born around the same time as indicated by the school records.

Between the school records and these pension application files, I have confidence that Elon Carman & Martha Johnson are the parents of Charles  R. Carman, who married Caroline A. Brill, and Mary Ann Carman, who married William Pomroy (aka Pomeroy).

Sources

1. “Pennsylvania, War of 1812 Pensions, 1866-1879,” index and images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2394 ), Martha Carman, widow of Elon Carman.  (Transcriptions available here)
2. “War of 1812 Pension Files,” digital images, Fold3 (http://www.fold3.com/browse.php#247|h5iT6dgqR ), Elon Carman, Widow’s Pension no. 88, Pennsylvania. (Transcriptions available here)
3. “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” index & images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
4. “Martha Carman obituary,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 8 December 1871; GenealogyBank (http://genealogybank.com), Newspaper Archives. Obituary text: “CARMAN — On the 6th inst, MARTHA CARMAN, in the 92 year of her age. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend her funeral from the residence of her son-in-law, William L. Pomeroy, 1334 Potts street on Saturday, Dec 9th, at 7 o’clock. To proceed to Mechanics Cemetery.”

I tend to assume that since my ancestors were of humble means that there will be fewer records about them out there to find. There are few wills or land documents, nor major family studies completed for most of my ancestors. Every once in a while I come across a surprising record, and in this case, one that has allowed me to step one more generation back in my Carman line.

I actually came across the Chester County Poor School Children index several years ago and then lost it. I was not so diligent in documenting my finds back then and the record “disappeared” from Google. In truth the index was converted from a text file which was Google searchable to a pdf file that was not. I could not remember what county in Pennsylvania it was or what repository held the records, so it was lost to me for some years.

When I found it again, I sent for photocopies of the records right away and this was the first piece of evidence I’d found that Elon Carman (d1866) was the father of my 3rd great-grandfather Charles R. Carman. The other pieces of evidence will be detailed in later posts.

According to the Chester County Poor School Children Records page, an act passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1809 “required the commissioners of each county to direct the assessors of each township to receive from the parents the names of all children between the ages of 5 and 12, who reside in the township, and whose parents were unable to pay for schooling.” Those children confirmed to be poor were entitled to free schooling at the county’s expense. This was the precursor to free public schooling which came to Pennsylvania in 1834.

These are the pages of those lists that had Elon Carman & his children:

1826 – London Derry Township

Click to see full page

Ealan Carman
Elizth Carman (age not reported)
Charles Carman (age not reported)

1827 – London Derry Township

Click to see full page

Elen Carman
Charles Carman – 9
Mary Ann Carman – 6

1828 – Penn Township

Click to see full page

Elon Carman
Charles Rich Carman – 10
Mary Ann Carman – 7

D.M. MacGregor bill, Cochranville

Click to see full page

Teachers submitted bills to the Commissioner’s Office to seek reimbursement for teaching and supplies provided to poor children. I also received a copy of a bill that lists Chas Carman having attended 109 days and Mry Ann Carman having attended 68 days between 28 July 1827 and 2 Feby 1828. Their teacher was D.M. MacGregor.

So, now I have records connecting Charles R. Carman to Elon Carman (d1866), and the names of two probable sisters, Elizabeth and Mary Ann. I lost track of Elizabeth, but Mary Ann shows up in the next records I have as evidence of this connection: the 1812 Widows Pension Files of Elon Carman and his wife Martha Johnson. There are two pension files, one for the federal government and one for the state. One shows a connection of Elon & Martha to Mary Ann and the other to Charles. I will explore these files in my next post.

War of 1812, Martha Carman, widow of Elon Carman

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Certificate Received under Act of March 30, 1866

Application of Martha Carman widow of  Elon Carman a soldier of the war of 1812, for the Gratuity and Annuity authorized by the Act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, of March 30, 1866, entitled “An Act to provide for the payment of Gratuities and Annuities to the Soldiers of the war of 1812′ and to their widows,” and supplementary Act of March 24, 1868.

State of Pennsylvania

County of Philadelphia

On this 2nd day of June A.D. 1868, personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas aldermen, in and for the said county, Martha Carman, aged 76 years who being duly sworn according to law, declares and says that she is the widow of Elon Carman who was a soldier of the war of 1812′ that he, her said husband was duly enlisted at Montgomery Co Pa on or about the 15th day of September 1814, and served as a Private in _____ company, commanded by Capt Wentz and attached to Pa Militia regiment, commanded by Col Krickbaum that he served at least two months in said war, that he was honorably discharged the service as a soldier in said war of 1812, on or about the 20th day of December 1814; that he was at the time of his enlistment and at the time of his death a citizen of Pennsylvania; and that she is now a widow and in necessitous circumstances, and that she is not possessed of real or personal estate of the value of $500; that she has not received a gratuity of Forty Dollars, under the Act of March 30, 1866, and that she is not in receipt of a pension or gratuity in pursuance of any special Act of Assembly, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and she hereby constitutes and appoints Geo. W. Ford, of Philadelphia, her true and lawful attorney to prosecute said claim, and receive her certificate of first payment of annuity, hereby ratifying all that my said attorney may do in the premises and that she is too feeble to attend the Court of Common Pleas.

Martha (her X mark) Carman
Residence, 2312 North 5th St Philada

Witnesses
[signed] William D Moore
[signed] Mrs Caroline Carman

State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On the 2nd day of June A.D. 1868, personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas aldermen in and for said County and State Caroline Carman a resident of Philadelphia whom I certify to be entitled to credit, and who after being duly sworn according to law, declares and says that she is well acquainted with Martha Carman of Philadelphia Pa who is the widow of Elon Carman who was to her personal knowledge a soldier of the war of 1812, and who was at the time of his enlistment a resident of Montgomery Co and State of Pennsylvania, and was at the time of his enlistment and at the times of his death a citizen of Pennsylvania; that he was duly enlisted at Montgomery Co Pa on or about the 15th day of September 1814, and he served as a Private in —– company, commanded by Captain Wentz and attached to Pa Militia Regiment, commanded by Col. Krickbaum that he served at least two months in said war: that he was honorably discharged the service as a soldier of said war of 1812, on or about the 20th day of December 1814; and that he was the time of his death a citizen of Pennsylvania; that she is now a widow and in necessitous circumstances. Deponent further saith that she, the deponent, has no pecuniary interest whatever in the prosecution of the claim of the said Martha Carman for the Gratuity and Annuity authorized by the act, entitled “An Act to provide for the payment of Gratuities and Annuities to the Soldiers of the war of 1812, and their widows,” approved March 30th, 1866, and Supplementary Act of March 24th, 1868.

[signed] Mrs. Caroline Carman

State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On the 2nd day of June A.D. 1868, personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas aldermen in and for said County and State Caroline Carman and Susan Campbell both reputable citizens, entitled to full faith and credit, who, being duly sworn according to law, do respectively depose and say they are personally acquainted with Martha Carman widow of Elon Carman a soldier of the war of 1812, applicant for the Gratuity and Annuity authorized by act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, of March 30, 1866, entitled “An Act to Provide for the Payment of Gratuities and Annuities to the Soldiers of 1812; and to their widows;” and supplementary Act of March 24, 1868; that she is in destitute circumstances and pressed with poverty; and from our personal knowledge of the said applicant, she is not possessed of real or personal estate of the value of $500; and they have every reason to believe she is not in the receipt of a pension or gratuity in pursuance of any special Act of Assembly; and that they, the said deponents, have no pecuniary interest in the claim of said applicant and that she is too feeble to attend the Court of Common Pleas.

[signed] William D Moore
[signed] Chas. M. Hallowell

[signed] Mrs Caroline Carman
[signed Susan [her X mark] Campbell

[signed] W.W. Dougherty, Alderman

Application of Martha Carman widow Elon Carman a soldier of the war of 1812, for the gratuity and annuity authorized by the act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, of March 30, 1866, entitled “An Act to provide for the payment of Gratuities and Annuities to the soldiers of the war of 1812, and to their widows.”

State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On this Sixteenth day of May A.D. 1867, personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public in and for said County Martha Carman who being duly sworn according to law, declares and says that she is the widow of Elon Carman who was a soldier of the war of 1812; that he, her said husband, was duly enlisted at Montgomery Co Pa on, or about the 15 day of Sept 1814, and served as a Private in ___ company, commanded by Captain Jacob Wentz and attached to Pa Militia regiment, commanded by Col Krickbaum that he served at least two months that he was honorably discharged the service as a soldier in said war of 1812, on, or about the 20th day of December 1814; that he was at the time of his enlistment and at the time of his death a citizen of Pennsylvania and that she is now a widow and in necessitous circumstances.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 16th day of May 1867
[signed] Chas. M. Hallowell, Notary Public

Martha [her X mark] Carman
Witness William D Moore
Chas. M. Hallowell

State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On this Sixteenth day of May A.D. 1867, personally appeared before me, the subscriber A Notary Public in and for said State + County Caroline Carman a resident of Philadelphia whom I certify to be entitled to credit, and who after being duly sworn according to law, declares and says that she is personally acquainted with Martha Carman of 2312 North 5th St Philadelphia who is the widow of Elon Carman who was to his personal knowledge a soldier of the was of 1812; and who was at the time of his enlistment a resident of the county of Montgomery Penna and State of Pennsylvania, and was at the time of his enlistment and at the time of his death a citizen of Pennsylvania; that he was duly enlisted at Montgomery Co on or about the 15th day of September 1814, and served as a Private in ___ company, commanded by Captain Jacob Wentz and attached to Pa Militia regiment, commanded by Col Krickbaum that he served at least two months in said war that he was honorably discharged the service as a soldier of said war of 1812, on or about the 20th day of December 1814; and that he was at the time of his death a citizen of Pennsylvania; that she is now a widow and in necessitous circumstances, Deponent further saith that she, the said deponent, has no pecuniary interest whatever in the prosecution of the claim of the said Martha Carman for the Gratuity and Annuity to authorized by the act, entitled “An Act to provide for the payment of Gratuities and Annuities to the soldiers of the war of 1812, and their widows,” approved March 30th, 1866.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 16th day of May 1867
[signed] Chas. M. Hallowell, Notary Public

[signed] Caroline Carman

State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On this 16th day of May A.D. 1867, personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public in and for said County and State Caroline Carman and Eliza Walker both reputable citizens, entitled to full faith and credit, who, being duly sworn according to law, do respectively depose and say they are personally acquainted with Martha Carman widow of Elon Carman a soldier of the war of 1812, applicant for the Gratuity and Annuity authorized by the act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, of March 30, 1866, entitled “An Act to provide for the payment of Gratuities and Annuities to the soldiers of 1812, and to their widows;” that she is in destitute circumstances and pressed with poverty; and that they have no pecuniary interest in the claim of said applicant.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 16th day of May 1867
[signed] Chas. M. Hallowell, Notary Public

[signed] Caroline Carman
Eliza [her X mark] Walker
Witness William D Moore
Chas. M. Hallowell

Original Source Citation:
“Pennsylvania, War of 1812 Pensions, 1866-1879,” index and images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2394 : accessed 27 August 2015), Martha Carman, widow of Elon Carman. (Original data: War of 1812 Pension File, 1866–1879. 2.64. Department of the Auditor General, Record Group 2. Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.)

Elon Carman War of 1812 Pension File abstracts 1871

Soldier: Elon Carman
Widow: Martha Carman
Service: Capt. Jacob Wentz’s Co. Pa Mil
Numbers: Wid Orig 88

Act of February 14, 1871, War of 1812
Martha Carman, Philadelphia, Pa, Widow of Elon Carman, Capt. Wentz Co. Vol
Died July 15 1866 at Philadelphia
Received February 27 1871
E.B. Jackson, 241 Dock St, Philadelphia Pa
…
June 28. 71 Rejected. Insufficient service

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Widow’s Claim for Pension (Army or Navy) War of 1812

State of Pennsylvania
City of Philadelphia

On this twenty-fifth day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy one personally appeared before me, the Clerk of the Orphans Court in and for the City and State aforesaid, Martha Carman a resident of 1326 Potts st. Phila State of Pennsylvania aged 89 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration and acknowledgment, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress approved July 14th, A.D. 1862; that she is the widow of Elon Carman who was a Private of Capt Wentz Comp Col Krickbaum in the war of 1812; that her husband, the said Elon Carman enlisted at Philadelphia Pa on or about the __ day of September 1814 and that he died at Philadelphia Pa on the 15 day of July 1866 that her said husband was discharged about December 24th 1814.

She further declares that she was married to said Elon Carman on the __ day of March 1814 at Philadelphia Pa by ___________ that her name before her marriage was Martha Johnson that her husband, the said Elon Carman died on the day above mentioned and that she has remained a widow since that period….

…

Also appeared Eliza Potts a resident of Philadelphia and Mary Pomroy a resident of Philadelphia persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Martha Carman maker her mark to the foregoing declaration and power of Attorney, and they have every reason to believe, from their acquaintance with the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and were well acquainted with her husband, the said Elon Carman deceased, during his lifetime, and from our intimate acquaintance with the applicant and her husband, we knew them to have lived together as husband and wife, and were so regarded and respected; and have every reason to believe that they were married on or about the time mentioned above, and that he died on or about the 15th day of July 1866.
[signed]
Eliza Potts
Mary Pomory

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State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On this 22nd day of June A.D. 1871 personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, Mary Horn and Mary Pomroy who, being first duly sworn according to law, declares and says that they well know Martha Carman and well knew her husband Elon Carman dec a soldier of the war of 1812 and have known them for more than twenty eight years and know they lived together as husband and wife for more than twenty eight years and as sutch [sic] were esteemed and respected and so regarded and reputed by their neighbors and friends and that the same has never been doubted or caled [sic] in questions to our knowledge and that we have no interest in her claim for Pension.
[signed]
Mary Horn
Mary Pomroy

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State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On the 22nd day of June A.D. 1871 personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, Martha Carman who, being duly sworn according to law, declares and says she has made application for Pension No 88 under Act of February 14 1871 as the widow of Elon Carman which has been suspended she further declares that she was married at Flowertown Montgomery Co Pa in March 1814 and that she is unable to obtain any public or private record of her said marriage nor any eye witnesses and she relies upon the testimony of credable [sic] persons hereto annexed.
[signed by her X mark]
Martha Carman

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War of 1812
Declaration of a Widow For Pension

State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia

On this 23 day of June A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one personally appeared before me Dept Clerk of the Orphans Court a court of record in and for the County and State aforesaid, Martha Carman aged 89 years, a resident of Philadelphia county of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Elon Carman who served the full period of sixty days in the Military service of the United States in the war of 1812; and who was the identical Elon Carman who enlisted in Captain Wentz company, Col K—— brigade, ____ division at Montg Co Pa on the __ day of September 1814 and was honorably discharged at Philadelphia on the __ day of December 1814 that she was married under the name of Martha Johnson to said Elon Carman on the __ day of March A.D. 1814 by Rev. George Walk at Montgomery Co Pa there being no legal barrier to such marriage; that her said husband died at Philadelphia on the 15 day of July 1866 and that she has not remarried since his death; that at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States, did she or her said husband adhere to the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or comfort; or exercised the functions of any office whatever under any authority, or pretended authority, in hostility to the United States; that she will support the Constitution of the United States; that she is not in receipt of a pension under any previous act; that she makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States, under the provisions of the act approved February 14m 1871, and hereby constitutes and appoints, with fill power of substitution and revocation, E.B. Jackson, her true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim and obtain the pension certificate that may be issued; that her post office is at 1334 Potts st. county of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania that her domicile or place of abode is ___________.
[signed by her X mark]
Martha Carman

Also appeared Mary Horn and Mary Pomroy residing at No. 18 in Philadelphia Street, in Philadelphia and at No. 1334 in Potts Street in Philadelphia persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit,  and who, being by me duly sworn, say: They were present and saw Martha Carman the claimant, mark her mark to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of the said claimant, and their acquaintance with her , that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; that at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States did she or her said husband, adhere to the cause of the enemies of the Government, or give them aid or comfort; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
[signed]
Mary Horn
Mary Pomroy

———————–

Treasury Department
Third Auditor’s Office
June 17th, 1871

Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions with the information that the rolls of Capt. Jacob Wentz’s Company of Pennsylvania Militia show that Elon Carman served from Sept 18th, 1814, to Oct 20th, 1814, when he is noted as “deserted“

[signed] Allan Rutherford, Auditor

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War of 1812, Act February 14, 1871

Brief of Claim for a Widow’s Pension
in the case of Martha Carman, widow of Elon Carman, a Private of Captain Jacob Wentz Company, Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia Co Post Office Address Pennsylvania 1334 Potts St. Philadelphia Penna. Soldier enlisted September 18th, 1814, Discharged October 20th, 1814.
Declaration and identification in due form, filed February 27, 1871
Service for Sixty Days Shown as Follows:
Report of 3rd Auditor shows that Elon Carman served in Capt. Jacob Wentz’s Co Penna Mil from Sept 18, 1814 to October 20, 1814 = 33 days.
Rejected on the ground of insufficient service.

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Original Source Citation
“War of 1812 Pension Files,” digital images, Fold3 (http://www.fold3.com/browse.php#247|h5iT6dgqR : accessed 6 December 2015), Elon Carman, Widow’s Pension no. 88, Pennsylvania.

Division of Vital Statistics
Record of a Birth in Philadelphia
Bureau of Health

Full Name of Child: Robert Carman
Color: W
Sex: M
Date of Birth: 1909 Aug 24
Hour of Birth: 7.30 P.M.
Place of Birth, Street and No. 3035 Gransback St
Father’s Name: Joseph
Father’s Age: 37
Mother’s Name: Anna
Mother’s Age: 33
Father’s Occupation: Bricklayer
Father’s Birthplace: Phila.
Mother’s Birthplace: Do (Ditto)
Mather’s Name Before Marriage: Anna Funston
Residence of Parents: 3035 Gransback St.
Number of Child of this Mother: 8
Number of Children, of this mother, now living: 6
Legitimate? Yes
Name and Address of Person Making Report:
Signature, [signed] A.E. Smethurst
Address, 2249 N 13 St
Date Rec’d [stamped] AUG 26 1909

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Original Source Citation:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, birth certificate (1909), Robert Carman; Bureau of Health – Division of Vital Statistics, Philadelphia.