Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for William Hill

W.13447 (Widow: Abigal)
State of New Jersey
Sussex County SS
            Be it known that before me Daniel D. Decker, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Abigal Hill and made oath in due form of law.  That she is the identical person named in an original certificate in her possession of which (I certify) the following is a true copy.
            War Department—Widows Pension
            I certify that in conformity with the act of June 17th 1844, Abigal Hill of New Jersey widow of William Hill who was a Private and died on the 10th day of October 1844 is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of twenty-five dollars and forty three cents per annum commencing on the 10th October 1844 and terminating on the 4th of March 1848 unless the Pensioner shall marry or die before the last mentioned date; in which case the pension is not payable after the time of such marriage or death.
            Given at the War Office of the United States this 2d day of May One thousand eight hundred and forty five.  W. L. Marcy.  Secretary of War.
            Examined and Countersigned.
            J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions.
            That she has not intermarried Since the death of her said husband but continues the widow of William Hill and that she now resides in the township of Wallpack in the County Sussex and State of New Jersey and has resided there for the space of eight years past and that previous thereto she resided in the township of Paraquarra in the County of Warren and state aforesaid of the truth of which statements I am fully satisfied.  (Signed with her mark)  Abigal Hill
            Sworn to and subscribed this 11th day of March 1846 before me.  Daniel D. Decker, Witness John W. Martin.
State of New Jersey
Warren County SS.
            On this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said county of Warren now sitting, personally appeared in open court William Hill of the township of Pahaquarry in the County of Warren and State of New Jersey, aged sixty eight 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.
            I was born in the county of Westchester in the State of New York on the 20th April 1764, and was brought up in the County of Dutchess in said State, and lived there until I removed to the County of Ulster & there lived until I removed to the County of Sussex, now Warren, where I now live—I have a copy of my father’s record by which I know my age.-
            I Lived in the County of Dutchess in State of New York when I was first called into the service of my country—I was about thirteen years of age, when I first enrolled myself as a volunteer in the year, 1777 in the militia, and we were divided into classes of twelve men each to guard the passes of the highlands which were then subject to the depredations of the refugees.  I can’t recollect the first month I was out, but in this service I was under Captain William Swartwout (1) and the other commanders of the classes, and was out about once a week as a private soldier on that service during the whole time of the Revolutionary War, except while out in actual service.  In April or May 1780, I was first legally enrolled in the militia and went out as a private upon a general call of the militia & marched to West Point to garrison the fort there.  I was not drafted, but volunteered under the command of Captain Isaac VanWyck, (2) marched to the garrison, did garrison duty and assisted in building a fort on Constitution Island—in which services my impression is we were engaged at least two months.
            In 1781 I again volunteered as a private out of my class of the militia under command of Captain Henry Humphrey (3) we marched to Albany, thence up the Mohawk River; across again to the North river and before that service concluded, went to Canada; this service was against the Indians under Brandt, who attacked the frontiers of New York.  We marched out in warm weather and did not return until the fall, we waded thro the snow two feet deep, but can’t tell what month we went out or returned—I have no hesitation in saying we were out, three months in this service—during the time I started with a slay [sleigh], to Canada to take three hundred and fifty women & children, families of scotch soldiers who were in the British army—we were out nine days & nine nights without any shelter and met the British on Lake Champlain who was coming to receive them—I was discharged in December of Albany and got home about the hollowdays. [holidays]
            In 1782 I again went out as a Corporal under Captain White (4) in Colonel Wisenfelt regiment (who was a Prussian) officer in service of the United States—In this I was out about five months—we went out in July or August; the first part of the time I was sick and joined the Regiment at Saratoga, but having marched too soon was compelled to go to the Hospital at Albany – this was about the time of the capture of Cornwallis—the next day I started & joined my Regiment again at Saratoga—There we were engaged building a block house, which we did and were finally discharged at Poughkeepsie, & we were called nine months men—It was five or six weeks before we were organized but served actually about five months—We were commanded by General Stark of Vermont.
            I have no documentary evidence of my service, never had any discharge in writing – nor is there any person living in this county by whom I can prove my service—about four years since. Joshua Lane of Ulster Co.  James Shutt of same co. and Daniel Reeves of Delaware Co., New York [blot] living by whom I could prove if now living the foregoing services as they were out with me.
            Abraham Van Campen and Robert M. Teel two of my neighbors can prove the reputation of the neighborhood as to my Revolutionary Services, there is no clergyman living in my neighborhood.  I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.  I am still in hopes of procuring the affidavit of some of my old comrades which if done will be annexed to this application.  (Signed) William Hill
            Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court.  Wm. P. Robeson.
Letter of reply to an inquiry, dated Nov. 20, 1925.
            I have to advise you that from the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim, W.13447, it appears that William Hill was born April 20, 1764, in Westchester County, New York.
            While residing in Dutchess County, New York, he served in the New York Troops as follows:
            From 1777 at various times whenever called upon, amounting in all to twelve months, as private under Captain William Swartwout.
            From April 26, 1780, two months as private under Captain Isaac VanWyck.
            Three months as private in Captain Henry Humfrey’s Company and was discharged in December 1780.
            From July or August 1781 about five months as Corporal in Captain White’s Company, Colonel Weissenfels’ Regiment.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed October 12, 1832, while a resident of Pahaquarry Township, Warren County, New Jersey.  He died October 10, 1844, at Wallpack, Sussex County, New Jersey.
            Soldier married November 4, 1786, at her father’s (name not stated) house in Shenandoah, Dutchess County, New York, Abigal Knapp who was born August 9, 1769.  She was allowed pension on her application executed in March 1845 while a resident of Wallpack, New Jersey.
            They had the following children:
            David H. born May 19, 1787.
            Andrew born October 15, 1788.
            Mary born March 12, 1791
            Nehemiah born November 28, 1792.
            Uriah born December 7, 1794.
            Adam born February 18, 1797.
            Judith born September 3, 1799.
            Elizabeth born February 7, 1803.
            William born September 14, 1805.
            Enos born September 8, 1807.
            Sarah born January 16, 1810.
            Cornelius born July 11, 1812.

End Notes.  William Hill—W.13447

    1. William Swarthout was actually a Second Lieutenant in Captain Johannes Shults’ Company in Colonel Abraham Brinckerhoff’s Second Regiment of Dutchess County Militia.
    2. Captain Isaac VanWyck of Colonel Brinckerhoff’s Regiment.
    3. Captain Henry Humphrey was in the Sixth Regiment of Dutchess County Militia.  There appears to have been a detachment formed from the various Dutchess County Militia Regiments.  This may have been in 1782 or 1783.
    4. Captain Andrew White in Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Weisenfels Regiment of New York State Levies.  This service may have been in 1781 as Lord Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781 at Yorktown, Virginia.  Also Major General John Stark was at Stillwater and vicinity in August and September 1781.  Captain White served in Weisenfels Regiment in 1781 and 1782.

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