Morrison's Pensions

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Pension Application for Dowee Fonda

R3631
State of New York
County of Columbia  SS.
            On the Eighth day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson now sitting Dowe Fonda, a Resident of the said City of Hudson, aged 79 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
            That he was born on the 4th day of October 1753 in the Town of Claverack now City of Hudson according to his fathers family Record which said applicant has now in his possession—That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein Stated—That in the month of January 1776 he was called upon and entered the service of the United States as a Militiaman Drafted from the Town of Claverack aforesaid and Marched under the command of Capt. Jeremiah Miller (1) to Johnstown on the Mohawk River and Joined the Army part of which was Commanded by Genl [Philip] Schuyler (2) & partly by Col. Robert VanRensselaer and was absent from home on this Tour at least one month when he returned home.  And then Continued in the Service by watching the Tories partly by day and partly by night during the Winter until Sometime in the Spring when they were again ordered out and Said applicant was taken from the company of said Miller and put to Making Nails for the building of the Barracks at Fort Stanwix and continued in the Shop making nails for Two months—he was then ordered out and marched under the Command of Capt. Abraham Fonda (3) of the Town of Claverack aforesaid and Marched through Albany to half moon point and was there about six weeks, then Returned to Claverack for the purpose of Watching the Robbers & Tories and Stayed Sometime does not recollect at how long but thinks it was the following June1777 when he was again order out and Marched under the Command of Capt. Jeremiah Miller and sent to Fort Edward and Joined the army Commanded by Genl Schuyler and Continued in the Service there and at StillWater and Van Schaicks Island until about the Tenth of October, when he was ordered back to Claverack, and proceeded immediately on to the South under Capt. Miller and Joined that portion of the Army which was under the Command of Genl. Putnam (4) near the Residence of Robert Livingston and soon as the news came of the Surrender of Genl Burgoyne (5), he then Returned home to Claverack and Continued in the United States Service by watching and hunting the Robber and Tories in the Town of Claverack & the adjoining Towns at different places through this Season and the next, following and as long as the Robbers and Tories infested that Section of the Country.  Said applicant has no Documentary evidence of his Services therefore must rely upon the testimony of his neighbors, one only that knows of his personal Services, that is Anthony TenBroeck who was with him during part of the above mentioned services—Also his acquaintance with Jacob Esseltyne who is a neighbor of his and will testify as to his veracity, he is well known to many others who will testify to the Same as to truth and veracity & their belief of his Services as above Stated, viz, Joseph D. Morrell Esq, James Rowley, Stephen Miller &C.  He hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State and that he has ever since resided in said Town of Claverack.  (Signed) Dowe Fonda
            Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid, Hiram Wilbur, Clerk.

            Mr. Jacob Esselstyne & Anthony TenBroeck, both residing in the town of Claverack in the County of Columbia, hereby Certify that we are well Acquainted Dowe Fonda who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 79 years of age: That he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.—
            And that we, the said Anthony TenBroeck do further certify and declare that I am 75 years of age and have always Resided in the Town of Claverack and that I was in the army of the Revolution and saw the said Dowe Fonda there performing Military Duty, and I the said Jacob Esselstyne do further certify that I am 70 years of Age and have always lived in the Town of Claverack aforesaid and performed Military Duty in the army of the Revolution and that I was during the war Several times informed that the said Dowe Fonda was Called out with the Militia and did perform Military duty.  (Signed) Anthony Ten Broeck, Jacob Esselstyne
            Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  Hiram Wilbur, Clerk

End Notes—Dowee Fonda R3631

1. Captain Jeremiah Muller (Miller) of the First Company in Colonel Robert Van Rensselaer’s Regiment of Albany County Militia (Eighth Regiment).

      Captain Jeremiah Muller
      First Lieutenant William Van Ness
      Second Lieutenant Joachim Muller
      Ensign James Hogeboom
      On February 28, 1778 the following were commissioned:
      Jeremiah Muller, Captain
      Joachim Muller, First Lieutenant
      James Hogeboom, Second Lieutenant
      Anthony Ten Broeck, Ensign

2. Philip Schuyler, Major General in the American Army

3. Abraham Fonda, Captain in the 8th Regiment of Albany County Militia

      Isaac P. Vosburgh, First Lieutenant
      Richard Warn, Second Lieutenant

4. Israel Putnam, Major General in the American Army.

5. General John Burgoyne who was leading a British invasion force from Canada.  He surrendered the remnant of his army on October 17, 1777.