Morrison's Pensions

Pension Application for Joseph Andrews

W.16173  (Widow: Betty.  Joseph died the 28th of May 1833, aged 80.)
Courtland County SS.
            On this 10th day of September 1828, personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Cortland, Joseph Andrews, resident in said County, aged seventy five the February past, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and the 1st May 1820, that he the said Joseph Andrews enlisted for the term of nine months on or near the fifth day of May in the year 1778 in the state of New York in the company commanded by Capt. John Davis in the regiment commanded by Col. Henry B. Livingston in the line of the State of New York; on the Continental establishment.  That he continued to serve in the said corps until the fifth day of February next thereafter when he was discharged from the service in said company.  Regiment & line in the town of Canajoharie in the State of New York, that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension whatever to a pension, except the present, that his name is not on the roll of any state except the state of New York aforesaid—
            And that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension.  That at the time the Law of 1818 came out I was worth near the sum of five hundred dollars in notes against my son, Asa W. Andres, besides an old horse & old one horse wagon & one cow & four sheep & some household furniture that not knowing but I was within the said law of 1818.  I made an application for a pension some time in the said year of 1818, but owing to the fact of possessing said property before mentioned I failed obtaining my pension under said act—that said amount of five hundred dollars has supported me & my wife, with what assistance I have received from my children when visiting them who have partially adied me in support—That said property is now spent in maintenance of myself & wife, neither of whom have been able to labour for seven years past & myself have not been able to labour for twelve years past.
            And in pursuance of the act of the 1st May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not since that time by gift, sales or in any manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled and act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War”, passed on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Schedule of the property of the applicant Joseph Andrews.
            I have on hand a mare about 20 years old.  $10.00
            An old one horse wagon 10.00
            Six old chairs .75
            One Table .25
            One candle stand .50
            One old chest of drawers 1.00
            Old clock without case 1.00
One old chest .50
One teakettle  .50
One frying pan .50
One spider .50
Two Iron pots 1.00
Two dish kettles 1.00
One skillet .18
Six tea cups & saucers .25
Two tea spoons .37
Six plates .25
Two platters .25
One milk cup .06
3 bowls .13
1 pitcher .06
1 pewter basin .13
3 tin pans .75
1pail .25
3 barrels 2.00
A cupboard 1.00
One old looking glass .50
One set of spoons .50
½ set of knives & forks .39
One stone pot .25
3 earthen pitchers .37
1 wash tub .50
$35.67
            The court apprise the above property to thirty five dollars sixty seven cents 10th Sept. 1828. Joseph Reynolds, Andrew Dickson, Oliver Kingman, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas.
            That since March 18, 1818 the following changes have been made in my property.
            In 1818, I held a note against my son Asa W. Andrews on which was due the sum of five hundred dollars—I have lived with my said son Asa W. with the exception of about a year & a half which I spent in visiting my other relations, ever since that time for the for the same period my wife also lived with me at my said sons Asa W. with the exception as aforesaid—I have not been able to labour myself for twelve years, but have been supported by my said son Asa W. my said wife & myself have a number of times looked over the amount of his charges against me for my own & my  wife’s maintenance and his charges for said support have been endorsed on said note so holden by me as aforesaid, against  s’d Asa W. said Asa W. and myself have made it a rule as between ourselves to settle once every years & his charges so made for the purposes aforesaid have been as such settlements endorsed as aforesaid—two years ago last fall there was a settlement & endorsement as aforesaid made—a year ago last fall a similar settlement & endorsement as aforesaid, -- & the last summer was another & the last settlement between us—when it was found that his charges against me for the said maintenance of myself & my wife cancelled my said not held against him & left me in arrear to my said son Asa. W.—As no written documents of his said charges, as to articles amounts, times when procured for me & wife & c. now exist or have ever been preserved, it is now impossible for me to state them specially & by items—but they have consisted in  food, clothing, money paid laid out expended for my use & money had & received by me &c &c all which have been for my sole benefit & that of my wife—all the property I now have is specified in the schedule hereto annexed.
            As to my occupation I am a farmer but not able to pursue that profession at all—my wife is the only person living with me, & as has been stated is wholly unable to labour.  Her age is sixty nine next January.
            Sworn to and declared on the 10th day of September 1828 before Joseph Reynolds, Andrew Dickson, & Oliver Kingman Esqrs, Judges of the said Court of Common Pleas, in & for the said County of Cortland, in open Court.  (Signed) Joseph Andres
            Sworn to the 10th day of Sept. 1828 in open court before Joseph Reynolds, Andrew Dickson, Oliver Kingman.

State of New York
Cortland County SS.
            Betty Andrews of the Town of Truxton in the said State and County being duly sworn according to Law, deposeth and saith, that she was married to Joseph Andrews of the Town of Hillsdale in the County of Columbia & said State, on the Eleventh day of October Seventeen Hundred and eighty, by the Reverend Mr. Martin, and that her name before she was married was Betty Wise—she further says that her said husband Joseph Andrews, went [on] a tour of Military duty as a Private, in the year 1780 or 1781 after they were married, from said Hillsdale under Capt. Barrett or Lieutenant  [?] and which she does not recollect—thinks Gen’l VanRensselaer commanded the Regiment as Brigade, thinks Col. VanAlstyne Commanded the Regiment, she thinks he went from said Hillsdale to Albany, then up the Mohawk Valley, as to the northward and which she does not know—and that her age is such, that her memory is very poor but this much she is certain of, that he went off as a soldier, and returned as such after they were married, she says John Wise her brother was present when she was married, and Anna Lee & others when she was married, she says she is nearly seventy eight years old and she further says she has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband she thinks Jacob [Fasel?] was a Lt. Col. as Major in said Regiment at the time—and she further says she knows that her brother Samuel Wise went & Selden Curtis & Wm Chamberlin at the same time & that they all came home together and further saith not.  (Signed with her Mark) Betty Andrews.  He mark made in presence of Asa W. Andrews, Mary G. Andrews.
            Sworn and subscribed before me at Truxton this 9th day of June 1838.  John Miller, Justice of the Peace in the Town of Truxton, County of Cortland * State of New York and I further certify that the said Betty Andrews has been personally known to me for more than fourteen years and that she is a person of truth and veracity.  John Miller, Justice

Letter dated August 5, 1925, written in response to a request for information.
            I have to advise you that from the appears in the Revolutionary War pension claim W.16173 it appears that Joseph Andrews was born February 16, 1753, the place not stated.
            While a resident of Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York he enlisted May 5, 1778, served as a private in Captain John Davis’ Company, Colonel Henry B. Livingston’s New York Regiment and was discharged February 5, 1779.
            He enlisted late in the fall of 1780 or 1781 and served a tour, the length not stated, as a private in Captain Barrett’s Company, Colonel VanAlstine’s New York Regiment.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed September 10, 1828 while a resident of Cortland County, New York.  He died May 28, 1833.
            Soldier married October 11, 1780 in Hillsdale or Spencertown, Columbia County, New York, Betty Wise, born January 28, 1760. She was allowed pension on her application executed March 6, 1837 while a resident of Truxton, Courtland County, New York.
            Their children were: 
            Betty born September 11, 1781
            Joseph born March 3, 1783
            Sarah born September 12, 1785
            Hannah Chittenden born October 26, 1789, died September 16, 1824
            Asa W. born Ocotber 28, 1791
            Levina born September 25, 1796
            Isaac born October 29, 1798
            [Noted in handwriting on the letter, “Widow had bro. Samuel & John Wise.  Date of her death no on AB & Miss Wilson said not qute safe to use ‘Mch. 4, 1840’ as date of death.]

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