Pension Application

S.9284
State of New York
Columbia County SS.
            On this twenty sixth day of July in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson in the county aforesaid Wynsen Bruizee (1) a Resident of the Town of Gallatin in the County of Columbia and State of New York, aged upwards of Seventy three Years, who, being duly sworn according to Lay doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. This Declarant, Wynsen Bruizee says that he was born in the town of Gallatin in Columbia County and will be Seventy four Years of age in August next. This Deponent says that during the Revolutionary War this Deponent resided in that part of Columbia County now called Hillsdale with his Uncle Teunis Bruisee when this Deponent entered into the United States Service. And since said War this Deponent has resided in the County of Columbia in the Town of Germantown and Gallatin. This Deponent enlisted for nine months and was taken by one Peter Loop (2) who was a Lieutenant from Hillsdale to Albany. The troops assembled at the public house of one Vosburg in Hillsdale in said County of Columbia and from there marched to Albany. At Albany he remained a short time and marched from thence to Schenectady. Remained there a short time. Marched from thence to Fort Plain. Remained there the greater part of the nine months. And while there an Express came that the Enemy under Butler, Brandt (3) & others were at Johnstown (4) destroying property and murdering the Inhabitants. The troops at Fort Plain marched to Johnstown and there had a Battle with the Enemy. There were about 300 Indians and Tories & British, and the Americans were about 300 strong as this Deponent verily believes during the Engagement there were twelve of the Americans killed and the loss of the Enemy was much larger, as this deponent understood & verily believes, but the Indians removed most of their dead & wounded. So that it was impossible to ascertain the exact number of the Enemy killed. - The battle was fought north of the village of Johnstown - The Americans made the Charge. One William Jones (5) was shot down by the side of witness. Jones was shot through the body with a rifle ball - The American troops remained in Johnstown the night after the Engagement, and the next morning the American Troops followed the Enemy North West from Johnstown until they came to East Canada Creek. There the Americans halted and gave up the pursuit. From Canada Creek where the pursuit ended the Americans marched to Fort Plain again - Were gone on this Expedition from the fort 5 Days, as this Deponent believes. - This Deponent was one who stood guard during the night after the Engagement.
            This Deponent remained at the fort until he was regularly discharged at the Expiration of his 9 months service. Performed this Service under Captain Harris (6) and under Colonel Marinus Willet from the first part of March 1781 until the first of December 1781 -
            This Deponent recollects that while the American troops lay in the fort where this deponent lay the Roll was regularly called and a gun was fired every morning generally about sun rising. This Deponent thinks & believes that there were about 400 Soldiers in the fort at this time that this Deponent lay there in Garrison -
            This Deponent recollects one John Hermance (7) who enlisted in the same Company with Deponent and at Albany this Deponent was placed under the command of Captain Harris - -
            This Deponent also says that he did duty in 1779 under Captain Lodowick Snyder, under a Captain Irvin and also under a Captain Shaver (8) in 1780 - as a minute man, but the Exact time he cannot state, but believes that the same exceeds three months in all, and from his age and consequent loss of memory he cannot state more fully the period of his services -- This Deponent also says that he was taken to Albany and there this Deponent was sworn to be true and faithful and his size was taken age and complexion, and at Albany this Deponent was transferred to the Company commanded by Captain Harris in the Regiment of Colonel Marius Willet.
            This Deponent further says that he has no Documentary Evidence in his possession of his Services performed in the United States Service during the revolutionary war. This Deponent knows of no one living who can testify to his Services except Major Jacob Esselstyne (9) of Claverack, whom this Deponent understands is still living, can recollect the facts in regard to the Campaign mentioned by this Deponent as set forth in his Declaration - This Deponent further says that he is informed and verily believes that his Officers under whom he served are all dead. And this Deponent 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 any State/
            The following Interrogatories were then put and answers thereto are all hereunder written.
To the 1st Question: Where and what year were you born?
Ans: I was born in Gallatin, Columbia County then called Livingston's Manor in August 1759.
2d Question: Have you any record of your age & if so where is it?
Ans: I have none other than my recollection.
3- Question: Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer: I resided in the County of Columbia County, that part called Macyon flatts now Hillsdale with my Uncle Teunis Bruizee and since the Revolutionary
War I resided in said County of Columbia in the town of Gallatin and about two years in the town of Germantown and I now reside in the town of Gallatin.
4- Question: How were you called into Service?
Ans: I enlisted for 9 months - & volunteered for three months.
5- Question: State the name of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental & Militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Ans: I cannot recollect the names of any other officers than Colonel Willet and Captain Harris under whom I served there were other Captains but their names I do not recollect, and for the circumstances attending my service I cannot state the same more fully than I have in this my declaration to which I beg leave to refer I would however mention one fact that is not fully stated in my declaration, that I entered under Lieutenant Peter Loop and was transferred into the Company of Captain Harris. So I was not under the command of Lieutenant Loop, which fact I wish to be considered as a part of my declaration.
6- Question: Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service?
Ans: I did receive a regular discharge after the expiration of my Service but not in writing that I recollect, but if I did get any writing the same is lost and destroyed.
7- Question: 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.
Ans: I would refer to William Bartrick and Johannis Righter of Gallatin, also to John Dikeman Jr. Of Gallatin and to Yon Bartrick also of Galatin who are neighbours of this Deponent and who will testify in regard to the Character of this Deponent and their belief as to the Services performed by this Deponent. Also Jacob Esseltyne of Claverack for such information as he may recollect in regard to the active duty performed by this Deponent.
(Signed with his mark) Wynsen Bruizee
            Subscribed & sworn to The day & year aforesaid. JD Parker, Clk

State of New York
County of Dutchess SS
On this twelfth day of September 1845, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Wynsen Bruizee, who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Harris, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Willard in the revolutionary service—that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York and his pension made payable at the City of New York—that he then resided in the County of Columbia—that the place of payment of his pension was subsequently changed to the City of Albany—that he has lately removed to the Town of Milan in the County of Dutchess and State aforesaid, where he now resides and where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension payable there in future—and that his principal reason for removing to said County of Dutchess is that he might reside with relatives—(Signed with his mark) Wynsen Bruizee
Sworn & Subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid, and I certify that said Wynsen Bruisee from want of education is unable to write his name. Jno. Rowley Justice & c.

Bruizee also spelled Brisee, Brazee, Bersaey, etc.
Peter Loop was a Lieutenant in Captain Elihu Marshall’s company in Colonel Marinus Willett’s Regiment of New York State Levies in 1781.
The British forces were under Major John Ross, Captain Walter Butler and the Indians were under Captain Gilbert Tice. Captain Joseph Brant was not part of this raid.
The Battle of Johnstown was fought on October 25, 1781.
William Jones was a private in Captain Abraham Livingston’s Company in Colonel Willett’s Regiment. In October 1785, William Wilson collected Jones’ pay of £5..12..0. Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783, Series M-246, Roll 78, National Archives, Washington D.C.
Winnings Bersey is listed as a private in Captain Joseph Harrison’s company in Colonel Willett’s Regiment in 1781. £8..12..5 was owed to him in October 1785 and appeared not to have been collected. Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783, Series M-246 Roll 78, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
John Hermance served as a private in Captain Marshell’s Company in 1781.
Captain John Shaver and Captain Henry Ervin (Irwin) in Colonel Peter R. Livingston’s Regiment of Albany County Militia (10th Regiment).
Jacob Esseltyne served as a sergeant in Captain Marshall’s Company in 1781.

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