Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for James Allen

W.23423 (Widow: Susannah)  Susannah states she was married to James Allen on the last day of the General Election which was held in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and thirty seven and that he died at Greenfield on the twenty sixth day of November eighteen hundred and thirty seven.
State of New York
Saratoga SS.
            On the 11th day of April 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas in said County now sitting James Allen a resident in Greenfield in said county aged seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated.
            That he was born in 1758 in Dartmouth State of Massachusetts.  That he has no record of his age.  When he was called into service he was living Easton County of Washington in the State of New York when he was called into service, he has lived since the revolutionary war at Easton aforesaid about 12 years then he lived at Saratoga about six years & since then he has lived at Greenfield aforesaid where he now lives.
            When he was first called into service he enlisted for ten months, under Capt. John Varnar, in Col. Harmanus Schuyler’s Regiment.  This was in Early in the Spring of 1777.  We were first marched to the Barracks at Saratoga.  I was there employed in cutting timber near the Narrows at Saratoga Lake, after that I and another man were engaged in sawing the timber to build barracks, after this I was with the army along the Hudson river aiding & assisting in their retreat before Burgoyne.  And at the surrender I was at Waterford having the care with [?] of baggage & wounded & sick—The surrender was in Oct. 1777 as I think.  Our army retreated before the British down to VanSchaick’s Island near Waterford where they remained nearly two weeks, they then marched back & met Burgoyne at Stillwater or Saratoga & caused him to surrender. The principal officer was General Gates, who had command of the army—I served this 10 months & was discharged At Albany & Capt. Varnar discharged us, but I took no written discharge.
            About the last of May 1778 I enlisted again at Albany where I went to enlist and a Capt. Varnar.  I enlisted to serve until the next New Years—which was about 8 months—we then went to Fishkill  & was employed principally the whole time in conveying & supplying the army of Gen’l Washington with provisions & necessaries Washington’s army was advancing from the south & we were engaged between Fishkill & TarryTown—When Winter set in we came back to Saratoga where I was discharged by Capt. Vernan—
            In the month of July 1780 I enlisted again at Easton aforesaid for three months under Capt. Adial Sherwood, we then went to Fort Ann where we were engaged in scouting & reconnoitering against the enemy to see if there were any coming down from Canada.  Our watch was kept between Fort Ann & Whitehall & Lake George—In October of the same year myself & about 60n men were taken prisoners at Fort Ann by the British & Indians & Tories & we were taken to Montreal we were conveyed to Ticonderoga by the Whites & there given up to the Indians who took us to Montreal where we were detained in Prison about 11 months when I broke out  & came home—We were detained in Irons a part of this time.  Lieut. Robberts & Lieut Baldwin & Capt. Sherwoods were also taken prisoners with us.  A man they called Lieut. Johnson had command of the Indians, after I escaped I came home to Easton.
            The deponent served in the whole as a private soldier in the manner above mentioned a period not less than twenty one months, and for such service he claims a pension deponent also was a prisoner as above stated eleven months.  For which he submits to the Hon’l Secretary at War whether he is not entitled to a pension.          On being asked to state the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where he served & such continental & militia regiments as he can recollect & the general circumstances of his service he answers & says that he has already answered as fully as he can now remember.
            He further says that he never received a written discharge, but was discharged in the manner above stated.
            He further says that he is known by the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as s soldier of the revolution viz.  Edwin C. Weed, Potter Johnson, Timothy Hodges.
            He further says that he is not acquainted with any clergyman in his neighborhood, nor elsewhere who could certify as to his veracity or to their belief of his services in the revolution—nor does he know that any clergyman is acquainted with him, or knows anything about him.
            He further says that he has no documentary evidence of his services & knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his revolutionary services.
            And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.  (Signed) James  Allen
            Sworn to & Subscribed in open court on the 11th day of April 1833.  A. Goodrich, Clerk.

Letter in folder written in response to a request for information, dated August 10, 1932.
            The date furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.2489, based upon the revolutionary War service of James Allen.
            James Allen was born in the year 1758 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts; the day of his birth and names of his parents are not shown.  At the time of the Revolutionary War, he resided in Easton, Washington County, New York.
            He enlisted in the spring of 1777 and served about nine months in Captain John Varnar’s company under Colonel Harmanus Schuyler, engaged in erecting barracks and fortifications near Saratoga, and in the bateau service after the surrender of Burgoyne.  He enlisted about June 1778, and served nine months in Captain John Varnar’s New York Company, engaged in the batteau service.  He enlisted in July 1780, served as private in Captain Adiel Sherwood’s New York company, went to Fort Anne, where in October 1780, he was taken prisoner and carried to Montreal, where he was held eleven months, after which he escaped and returned home.
            James Allen continued to reside in Easton, New York until 1803, moved then to Saratoga, New York, where he resided six years, after which he moved to Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed April 11, 1833, at which time he resided in Greenfield, New York.  He died there November 26, 1837.
            James Allen married on the last day of April or May 1, 1786, Susannah Wilcox; they were married at the home of Dr. Philip Mowrey in Easton, New York, but the  Pastor of the Baptist Church of Stillweater, New York.  Lydia Mowrey, daughter of the said Dr. Mowrey was married at the same time to Humphrey Dennis, Lydia’s first husband.  No relationship between Susannah and the family of Dr. Mowrey was stated.  Susannah Wilcox lived at Easton during the Revolutionary War.
            Susannah Allen, the widow of James Allen, was allowed pension on her application executed September 6, 1839, at which time she was aged seventy years.  The date and place of her birth and the names of her parents are not shown. She was living there in July 1848.
            In 1839, Norris Allen, son of James and Susannah Allen, was a resident of Greenfield, New York.  He was there in 1848 also.  No names of other children were stated.
            In 1842, Lydia, who was married the same day on which James Allen and Susannah were married, was a resident of Summer Hill, Cayuga County, New York; she was then Mrs. Lydia Ferrington, the given name of her second husband not shown.

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