Morrison's Pensions

Pension Application of Jacob Aldrich

R.80
March 16th 1833
            Dear and Respected friend.  Not hearing from you since my Grandsons were there I take this opportunity to ask your assistance in a Recommendation for my services in the Revolution War performed in Orange County from the time that Independence was declared, I took an active part under the command of Captain David Sweezy although I did services under many different officers.  I was att the building of Fort Montgomery after the Evacuation of that I went on frequent tours and fatigues in building Fort West Point.  But to return to the western frontiers against the Indians & have performed many hard marches and dangerous fatigues.  I was att the building the fort att Pean Peck & was there at the time the Indians invaded the Fort and killed Col. Newark’s horse hanging att the gate killed William Steward, I was out when so many brave men were lost att  Lackaway I there saw James Reeve with his Arm broke with a ball and many others that might be mentioned in a deplorable situation.  These duties were performed from the time above mentioned until it was considered unnessary to guard the Frontiers which must have been a number of years.  Capt. David Sweezy, Elisha Reeve, Daniel Baily, James Reeve was my mess mates on many of these tours, to this I am ready to give my affidavit which I think will entitle me to the whole pension.  Having a recommendation from that county will enable me to appear bold in my petition to our Court.  Remember my love to your wife and Father and not forget yourself Harriet has  produced a little boy and wish you and your wife would come and see us I would wish you to write to me An answer as soon as possible I remain your friend and uncle &c.  Jacob Aldrich.

State of New York
Suffolk County
            On this 28th day of May 1833 personally appeared in open court in the court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Suffolk and State of New York Jacob Aldrich aged seventy eight years a resident of the Town of Southold in the said County of Suffolk who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, that he was drafted in the Militia in the State of New York in the month of July in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six under the following named officers: Captain David Sweezy, Major Moses Hatfield and Colonel Benjamin Justine, the Lieutenants name was Eliod Tryon; in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, that at the time of his entering the said service he was a resident of the Town of Goshen in Orange County in the State of New York, that after being drafted as aforesaid, he continued in the said service in the said Militia over five years but by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot state positively the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served five years and three months he having been discharged from the said service in the fall of the years one thousand seven hundred and eighty one as he thinks and believes, that he helped build the Fort at West Point that he went on many tours on the Western Frontiers against the Indians, that he helped build the fort at Pean Pack that he was there when colonel Newkirk’s horse was killed, and William Stewart a private was also killed, that he was out at the time Captain Little and many men were killed near Lackawana on the Delaware River, that he was not present at the Battle because he was sent back with a file of men to get provisions, that he was an orderly sergeant during the whole time of his said service—that he was born at the Town of Southold in the County of Suffolk in the year 1755 as he has always understood and believes but he has no record of his age.  That when he was called into the service he lived At Goshen in Orange County having removed there from Long Island a little before it was surrendered to the British that soon after the Revolutionary war he removed back to Town of Southold in Suffolk County where he has lived ever since and where he still lives, that he is known to Rev. Abraham[?] Jr. & Justice David Warner, who lives in his neighborhood and who will testify to his veracity and their belief of his services.  That he never received any written discharge from his said service.  That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.  (Signed) Jacob Aldrich
            Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  Attest, Joseph R. Huntting, Clk.

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