Morrison's Pensions

Pension Application for Joseph Johnson

W.16313  (Widow: Grace)
Died 4 June 1832. Capt Rosecrantz of the Regt commanded by Dubois, N. York Line.
State of New York
County of Dutchess SS.
            Be it known that before me Benoni Pearce a Justice of the peace in and for said County (on the twentieth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight) personally appeared Elder Nehemiah Johnson (a preacher of the Gospel of the Baptist faith and order for the last forty eight years) of the town of Pawlings in the said County aged seventy six years last march, and made solumn affirmation in due form of Law, that fifty seven years ago this fall, at the then Town of Fredericksburgh in the County of Dutchess aforesaid, but now Town of Patterson in the County of Putnam in said State, he this deponent, was present at the solemnization of Marriage between Joseph Johnson late of the Town of Jefferson in the County of Schoharie and state aforesaid Deceased and Brace Brown, and saw them lawfully married according to the laws and custom of the Country by a Priest or Minister of the Gospel by the name of Close (Christian name not recollected) that the said Joseph Johnson was a brother of this deponent and that the said Grace continued the wife of the said Joseph Johnson until his decease and now remains his widow.  (Signed with his mark)  Elder Nehemiah Johnson
            Affirmed & Subscribed this 20th day of November 1838 before me, Benoni Pearce justice of the Peace.

State of New York
Schoharie County SS.
            On the 30th day of June 1830, personally appeared in open court, being a court of record called the court of Oyer and Terminer holden in and for the County of Schoharie, Joseph Johnson, a resident in said county, aged about seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March 2828, and the first of ay 1820, that he the said Joseph Johnson inlisted for the term of one year in the month of February 1775 or 1776, in a company commanded by Captain James Rosencratz in a regiment commanded  by Colonel DuBois in the line of the State of New York, on the continental Establishment, that he continued to serve in the said corps until March in the year 1776 or 1777,when he was discharged from said service at Fort Montgomery in the State of New York.  That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension except the present.  That his name is not on the roll of any other state that he knows of.  And in pursuance of the Act of the first of May 1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of march 1818, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof iwht intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled “An act to provide for certain persons in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary War”, passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and 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 what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.  Real Estate I have none, my personal property is as follows.  One cow worth about $13.00, Some ordinary household furniture in all worth about 20.00 (Signed with his mark)  Joseph Johnson
            I am a farmer by occupation and can labour but little in consequence of old Age and rheumatism.  My family consist of myself, and wife aged about sixty four years and out of health, and who has not been able to work of any consequence for these then or twelve years past.  That since the 18th day of march 1818 the following changes have been made in my property.  To wit, in the year 1818, I purchased seventy five acres of said one Jabeq Gross Fnr, and Elizabeth his wife and I gave a mortgage on said land, to the said Jabez Groff Junr. to  [?] to him five hundred and seventy five dollars the balance of the purchase money then remaining unpaid some having been by me paid down by turning out a cow and a horse and some money at the time of the purchase that in 1826, the land was sold on the mortgage and did not fetch sufficient to pay and satisfy the bond and mortgage as I have been informed.  After I made the purchase, the land fell in value and my crops were cut off for two years in succession so that I had to buy my grain for my bread.  That I made several payment on the bond and mortgage afterwards, but do not think they much more than paid the interest; that I found it impossible for me to pay up the bond and mortgage and keep the land.  That the mortgage after it became due was foreclosed and the land sold, and by the foregoing and other means I was reduced to poverty and have remained so ever since.  That on the 18th day of March 1818, I owned tow ordinary horses, they both went to pay doctor’s bills and for the support of my self and wife.  I had also two cows the one died and the other I sold and part of the consideration money went to pay my hired girl and the residue for the use of my family as near as I can remember.  That I applied for a pension about four years ago and failed on account of some deficits in the affidavits or want or certificates, and on account of not having stated the changes in my property &c.  And the reason I did not apply sooner was because I could not find proof of my services which I understood had to be necessary.  (Signed with his mark)  Joseph Johnson
            Subscribed and sworn in open court this 30th day of June 1830 before me.  John Gebhard Jr. Clerk

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