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.
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
- “Pennsylvania, War of 1812 Pensions, 1866-1879,” index and images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2394Â ), Martha Carman, widow of Elon Carman. Â (Transcriptions available here)
- “War of 1812 Pension Files,” digital images, Fold3 (http://www.fold3.com/browse.php#247|h5iT6dgqRÂ ), Elon Carman, Widow’s Pension no. 88, Pennsylvania. (Transcriptions available here)
- “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” index & images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- “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.”
