Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for John Brown
N.Y. S17301
State of Connecticut SS Stamford Probate District
Fairfield County
On this
28th day of July 1832 Personally appeared in open Court before the Court of
Probate for said District now in Session, John Brown a resident of Darian in
said State, County & district aged seventy years & upwards, 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 7th1832,
viz, that he was born at Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut on the
24th of Augt 1761 - That when he was about twelve years of age his Father removed,
with his family, from said Stamford to Salem, Westchester County & State
of New York & from there shortly afterwards to New Stamford in the last
mentioned State in 1777 The Indians drove the Settlers of New Stamford into
the neighborhood of the forts at Schoharie in this,year the deponant enlisted
the service of the United States at Schoharie & enlisted into a Company
commanded by Capfc John Harper, Lieutenants Alexr Harper & Joseph
Bartholomew (who as believes are all dead) for five, six or seven months, the
precise term of his enlistment he does not remember - he served out the time
of his enlistment & was discharged - On the 1st of April 1778 he enlisted
for nine months under Lieutenant John Teats, who had Command of thirty men,
during this campaign the Declarant with the command to which he was attached
drew thirty days provisions & went under the Command of Col Butler of the
4th Pensylvania Regt to the Susquehannah & burnt three Indian villages
viz Unadilla, Anaguagua & Tuskorora as he believes the village was then
called, - he served out the term of his enlistment & was discharged & on
the 1st of April following, viz, 1779 he again enlisted under Lieut Jacob Hager
for the term of nine months & went into the Fort at Cobus Kill during this
enlistment our thirty men had a new Officer to command us every month I remember
some of the names, viz, Lieut John Teats (who drew our pay) Lieut Snider, Lieut
Borst - during this enlistment I went under the offer of Genl Clinton, to join
the army of Gen1 Sullivan - we went down the Susquehannah to Tioga Point from
thence to Chemung Branch & attacked & took a fort we had thirty six
men wounded & four killed there was but three or four of our Company went
on this expedition - I returned & joined my Company at Cobus Kill served
out the term of my enlistment & was discharged by Lieut Froman on the 1st
of Jany 1780 I Lay in the Middle Fort through the winter & on the 7th April
of the same year, my Father (David Brown), my two Brothers, viz Soloman & Doctor & myself
with seven others of our neighbors were taken by the Indians & others
under Col Brant & were carried Prisoners into Canada, first to Niagara
from thence to Montreal, from which place we were sent onto an Island in the
St. Lawrance for safe keeping as Prisoners of War where I remained until the
9th day of June 1782 when I swam from the Island made my escape in company
with Lieut Butterfield of Col. Willetts Regt & made the best of our way
to Albany & arrived there after being fifteen days in the woods - We made
an immediate complaint to Col Willett (who was then at Albany) of the Treatment
of the American Prisoners then in Canada to which we made oath in ________of
Col Willett & I believe he administered the oath on account of which I
shortly fterward saw published in News Papers I immediately
returned to Stamford my native Place where my Mother & the remainder
of the Family had previously gone In March 1783 I again went to Schoharie & remained
there two years then returned to Stamford where I have ever since resided
except only about three years when I resided in New York two days after we
were taken by the Indians as stated above we were sold from my Father who
I afterward learnt was killed by the Indians five or six days after we were
taken- He knows of no person within two Hundred Miles of this who has any
Knowledge of his Service _____ it from Reputation he refers to Revd Daniel
Smith a Clergyman living about two miles from him & Ezra H Bishop who
lives about twenty rods from him who will testify to his_______for bounty
For the Campaign of 1779 when they took the Fort the Declarant marched in
the van guard in company with the Riflemen who were commanded by Major Parr
________ He hereby relinguishes 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
Sworn & subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
(Signed with his mark) John Brown
Ch Hawler Judge
We Daniel
Smith a Clergyman residing in said Stamford & Ezra H Bishop residing in
said Darian hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Brown who
has subsribed & sworn to the aboe Declaration That we believe him to be
seventy years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood
where he resides & have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we
concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
Daniel Smith, Ezra H Bishop
Ch Hawler Judge
________
Court do hereby declare their opinion after the ________ the matter & after
consulting his interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the above
named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states and
the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Daniel Smith who has
signed the proceeding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Hampton
in the State of Connecticut & that Ezra H Bishop who has also signed the
same is a resident in the Town of Darian in said State & is a credible
person & that his Statement is entitled to credit.
Ch Hawler Judge
I
Samuel Lockwood Clerk of this Court of Probate in the District of Hampton
in the State of Connecticut Do hereby certify this ________ contains
the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application
of John Brown for a pension Testimony whereof I have hand & seal of
office this 31st Day of July 1832
Sam1 Lockwood Clk
State of
Connecticut SS Stamford Probate District June 13th 1833 Personally appeared
John Brown the forgoing Declarant before the Court of Probate for said District
in applicant who being first duly sworn according to Law says in explanation
of his original Declaration wherein he has stated that he enlisted on the 1st
of April 1778 for nine months, under Lieut John Teats he supposed to be the
true spelling of the name as that is the pronounciation of the name to
this day, but he has since learned by going into that country for further proof
that the name is spelt "Dietz" He further states that he has ever
understood that they who were taken Prisoners with him by the Indians have
received their pay for the time they were detained as Prisoners in Canady
but he has received nothing now having applied for it - John Brown
Sworn & subscribed
the Day & year aforesaid
Ch Hawler Judge
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