Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension Application of George Coffman (Kauffman) R2102 Christina Coffman VA
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia } S.S
Shenandoah Cty }
On this 15th day of Nov’ber 1850 personally appeared befor me a Justice of the peace within and for the county of Shenandoah and State aforesaid Christina Coffman a resident of Shenandoah county and state of virginia, aged eighty three years who 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 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows, that she is the widow of George Coffman, who was a private in the company commanded by Capt All in the war with great Britian 1781
She further declares that she was married to the said George Coffman in the year 1782 or eighty three, that her husband the afforesaid George Coffman died in the month of January 1833. that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794, viz. at the time above stated. She further swears that she is now a widow and that she has never before made any application for a pension Christina herXmark Coffman
State of Virginia } SS
Shenandoah county }
On this 15th day of Nov’ber 1850
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace within and for said county and state, Christian Dellinger [pension application R2857] aged Eighty six years, a resident of Shenandoah County va. who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, To wit:
That he was well acquainted with George Coffman, (or Kauffman) the husband of Christina Coffman, whose name appears in the foregoing declaration That he the said George Coffman was drafted in Shenandoah county (then Frederic [sic: Frederick]) for the Term of Three months, that they marched together from Woodstock Shenandoah county va in the company commanded by Capt George Rinker That they passed by way of Front Royal, Fredericksburg thence to Yorktown Va. and were then put under the command of Capt Awl. That he was engaged in the Battle at york town, at which time Lord Cornwallis and his army were taken prisoners [19 Oct 1781], and afterwards he was employed to guard and convey the prisoners to the Town of Winchester and soon after peace being made he married Christina Dellinger (now Coffman) I further declare that I have known said Coffman and wife for more than sixty years, and have lived in the same Neighborhood and that they have always been regarded as man and wife, and that the said Coffman died in the year 1833. Christian hisXmark Dellinger [On 13 March 1851 Christian Dellinger made a similar statement, witnessed by Philip C. Dellinger.]
[On 11 March 1851 Christina Coffman applied again in open court, giving the date of marriage as the 20th of some month in 1784.]
State of Virginia } Ss
County of Shenandoah }
On this 27th day of July 1852 personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in said state & county Christian Dellinger aged 88 years a resident of Shenandoah County in the state of Virginia, who being duly sworn according to law, says that he was a private in Capt Alls Company in the war of the revolution that he was personally well acquainted with George Coffman Dec’d the husband of Christina Coffman who makes application for a pension, and that the said George Coffman was drafted and entered the service as set forth in said Christina Coffmans declaration, and that the requisition was made for Three months only, but he continued in heretofore stated, the service longer and did not receive his discharge untill in the month of May following, being a period of time & service longer than six months he further states that upon mature reflection, he is certain that he did not receive his discharge until the sping ensuing the fall or summer that the draft was made the soldiers being detained to guard the prisoners at Winchester va he further states that the said George Coffman Dec’d is the identical person who was a private in Capt All or Rinkers Company, and that the said Christina Coffman is the widow of said George Coffman. Christian hisXmark Dellinger
[On 15 Dec 1853 Dellinger, then said to be 93, again certified Coffman’s service, witnessed by Philip C. Dellinger.]
NOTE: On 14 March 1851 Catharine McFee stated that George Coffman died in January 1834.
Christina Coffman’s claims for a pension was rejected because of insufficient proof of service. A letter from the Auditor’s Office of Virginia dated 8 Oct 1852 states that if Coffman served in the militia “it is almost impossible that evidence of his service can be obtained in this office; the Books in relation to the malitia on file in this office are voluminous and without any general arrangement or indexes, and the time required to make an examination of them is longer than can be spared from the regular duties of the office. If an examination was made it is probable that nothing definite could be found, as the entries in relation to the malitia are usually made in the name of the Captains of their respective companies.”
On 2 April 1855 Christina Coffman successfully applied for bounty land, but she did not provide any additional detail except that George Coffman died at Columbia Furnace in Shenandoah County. This application was certified by Rebecca Coffman and Benjamin F. Kessler.
