Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for Abraham Fonda
S.10686
State of New York
Montgomery County SS.
On this nineteenth day of September in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, now sitting Abraham Fonda a resident of Broadalbin in the County of Montgomery & State of New York aged Seventy three 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 and served as herein stated. That he resided in the Town of Hoosick in the State of New York during the revolutionary war and where he enlisted in service as herein stated.
That in the year 1777 in the month of June he was ordered into the service of the United States or was told that he must turn out. That he did volunteer or turn out and was in service till the month of July, was out four weeks—went to Fort Edward & Fort George—Elijah Rupill (1) Captain, Jacob Van Ness was ensign, does not recollect any more company officers. Lieut. Col. [Daniel] Bradt commanded regiment. Major[Dirck] Van Vechten belonged to said regiment. In the year 1778 in the month of June was ordered out & volunteered to go into said service, and remained in said service till October being four months when he was dismissed—went to Fort Edward in this term, Thomas Brown was Captain. Jacob Van Ness & Edred Fonda was first & Second Lieutenants & Gamishel Waldo Ensign, Col. Peter Yates Lieutenant Col. [John] Van Rensselaer & Major John W. Groosbeck commanded regiment to which company belonged. In the year 1779 in the month of June volunteered to go into service entered in said service till the month of November in said year went to Fort Edward Palmertown served four months this year. In the year 1780 volunteered to go into said service and was out from the Spring of the year in the month of May this year till some time in November. That during said time he arrived home and staid a part of said term, that he held himself in constant readiness to return to the company and said service where required. Thinks he was in actual service this year four months or more was at Fort Edward & there continued & in itsvicinity [?]. In the year 1781 volunteered and went into service about the month of July or before and was in service with some exception til the month of November he might have been out of service at home this season about a month from then July till November, Fort Edward was there & in its vicinity. In the year 1782 was out in the fore part of season about two months & the best of this deponents belief and recollection in guarding Country at various places. And he further saith that from the year 1778 till 1782 he was in the company commanded by said Thomas Brown, Jacob Van Ness & Eldred Fonda as first & second lieutenants & the said Waldo As ensign. That he has stated his service aforesaid to the best of his recollection and belief. That the said company continued attached to the same regiment as it did in 1778 & that the said regiment was still as he thinks commanded by the same field officers that it continued in 1778 of this he will not be positive but that there might have been some change—That he resided with in a short distance of N. Country where the Indians, Tories and British assembled for the purpose of plundering and murdering the people. That it was necessary for their own self preservation that they should at all times be in constant readiness to go into service when the inhabitant were not in actual service. That when the Northern lakes were free from ice the Canadians & Indians during the war were in the habit of constantly annoying the inhabitants and the only safety was in garrisoning the Forts to North which were within 20 or 30 miles from the places of residence. This required their almost every action I would be constantly in service.
That he has no documentary evidence of his service. That he was born in the town of Watervliet in the County of Albany in the State of New York on the seventh day of September in the year 1759. He has no record of his age than what is contained in a family bible now belonging to John Dallenbake.
That he lived in said Town of Hoosick when he was called into service. That after the revolutionary war he lived in Easton in Washington County New York that afterwards he removed to Broadalbin aforesaid where he now lives and where he has lived more than thirty years. That while in the service aforesaid he recollects seeing Major Bates at Fort George in the year 1777.
General Schuyler commanded at Fort Edward in 1777. Did not serve with any Continental regiments or companies in particular as the object the militia who had volunteered for the country was to guard & protect it from the enemy and they were dispersed by parties and moved from place to place as was required.
Never received any discharge in writing. The he is known to David D. Decker & [?] and the Reverend William Groom persons who reside in his neighborhood and can testify to his character for truth and veracity and to their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. (Signed) Abraham Fonda
Sworn and Subscribed in open court the 20th Sept. 1832. Geo. D. Ferguson, Clerk
End Note—Abraham Fonda
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