Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for John Nobel
John was very young when he was fifer in his father’s company and he saw a lot of interesting service, the battles in the Saratoga area and finally the battle where Col. Brown was killed in Stone Arabia.
State
of Vermont
Rutland County
On this 19th day of July A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the Probate Court of the Rutland District now sitting, John Nobel, a resident of the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 70 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. In 1775 he resided in Pittsfield, Mass, and although not quite 13 years old, he stood as a minute man in a company commanded by his father, James Nobel, and marched immediately after the Battle of Lexington in a company as fifer to Ticonderoga, which was taken by Col. Ethan Allen, a day or two before he arrived. He was under Col. Benedict Arnold, Lt Col. Easton, Maj. Brown, Lt. Dickinson, Ensign Hitchcock, there to Crown Point.
Went with Gen’l Montgomery under Lt. Col. Eason to St. John, Montreal, Chambly, and Sorrel, which places he assisted in taking. Was taken sick at Sorrel and returned to Crown Point and was discharged there in December, having served eight months.
In 1777 when Burgoyne came down, he volunteered and marched in August to Stillwater and until he met the enemy when they fell back with the rest of the army, he served in Capt. William’s company, Col. Brown’s Reg’t, was at Saratoga when Burgoyne was taken and was soon after dismissed having served three months.
In 1778 or 1779, he forgets which he enlisted into Capt. Raymond’s Company, Col. Brown’s Regiment and marched to Hudson thence to Albany where he served three months in guarding stores, when he was discharged.
Does not remember his other officers except Adjt White.
In 1780 in July he enlisted in Captain Ford’s Company, Col. Brown’s Reg’t and was ??? to Maj. Root, marched to Albany, Fort Plain, Fort Stanwix, guarding provisions and protecting the inhabitants, was in the Battle At Stone Robby (Stone Arabia) with the British, Tories and Indians, when his Col. Brown was killed and where he was discharged. After his time was out the day the battle was fought then 21 October, but he remained in service about ten days longer until the army was driven beyond Canada Creek. He was also frequently called out on alarms and served a few days at a time amounting to at least one month. He never received any written discharge.
Maj. Elenore commanded a Reg’t at Crown Point when he was there. Ethan Allen commanded then the troops. He knew Gen’l Montgomery, Schuyler, Arnold, Starks, Lafayette and many others.
He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services, except what accompanies this. He was born in Hebron, Connecticut, on 25 October 1762, his age is recorded in his Bible. Since the Revolutionary War he has lived in Benson, Addison, then lived in Chenango, NY seven years, then moved to Newell where he now lives and where he has lived since 1807.
The clergyman of Newell has recently been dismissed, but he is known to most
of the inhabitants of that place.
Her hereby relinquishes every claim, etc…………………
Letter
in the Pension Application
February 26, 1940
Dr. J.
E. Brunett Buckenham
Chestnut Hill
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to you letter in which you request the War of 1812 record of John Noble, who received a pension claim No. S21900 on his application dated July 19, 1832.
The John Noble cited by you was a Revolutionary War soldier, and his record as shown in pension claim S 21900, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War is as follows:
John Noble was born October 25, 1762, in Hebron Connecticut. He was the son of James Noble who died in 1817.
While residing in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, John Noble enlisted in the spring of 1775, as a Minute Man in the company of his father, Captain James Noble. Immediately after the Battle of Lexington he marched with said company as a fifer in Colonels Benedict Arnold’s and Easton’s regiments, was in the expedition to Canada and at the taking of St. John’s Montreal, Chambly and Sorrel, and was discharged in December 1775 having served at least eight months, enlisted in July or August 1777, served three months as private in Captain Roswell Williams’ company, Colonel Brown’s Massachusetts regiment and was at the surrender of Burgoyne; enlisted in 1778 or 1779, and served three months as a private in Captain Raymond’s Company, Colonel Parsons’ Massachusetts regiment, was in the Battle of Stone Arabia and was discharged about the last of October 1780, having served three months and ten days. He was frequently called out on alarm and served at least one month. (End of copy of letter.)
To
the Honorable Secretary of War
Dear Sir.
Having received information through the politeness of the Hon’r Williams
that members from the district in which I live in Rutland County that the
pension granted to those persons who applied to Mr. Temple for assistance
in obtaining this pension was suspended until such information could be obtained
from said pensioners as should convince the War department that no fraud was
committed in obtaining the certificate for the pension. I would now informe
the War Department that I am one of the numbers who obtained my pension certificate
through the agency of Mr. Temple who then stood high in the estimation of
the people in the Rutland County and even in this state generally.
I would further state that as near as I can now know that I went to Rutland in the month of July 1832 and made out my Declaration, as I now believe before the Hon’r Charles Williams Chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont.
Mr. Temple did the writing or wrote the Declaration but had nothing to do about obtaining my testimony. One of my witnesses was James Nobel of Benson in said Rutland County, he was sworn to the truth of his testimony and I now believe before Isaac Ginswold of said Benson, my other testimony was taken in Owell the town in which I live and the witness was Mr. Assonoor Austin of Said Owell and sworn before Thosmasto Hermnand Esq, or the ??. My other testimony was Luther Brown Esq. And Ivan Smith? Esq. Who were both sworn before Norwell Bottom Esq. Or said Owell. Also I believe that Aaron Angier and George Hibbard both of said Owell testified.
Something about my age and character and the opinion of people in my vicinity regarding my revolutionary services, the said Aaron Angier and George Hibbard was sworn as I now believe in Rutland but before whom I now do not recollect.
The necessary certificates accompanying my pension papers I believe was made by the Hon’r Robert Pierpoint then and now Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont.
The amount per annum of my pension as certified by the Secretary of War is fifty-nine dollars and thirty cents, the last payment which I have received was the 4th of September 1834. I missed money at bank in Owell the town where I now live and have lived something over twenty-seven years. Unknowing to this state I gave a power of Attorney to Miny McCarbin Cashier of Owell Bank to draw my half years pension at the Burlington Bank where I had a right to apply for my pension as it ??? my services.
I commenced my first tour of service immediately after commencement of hostilities at Lexington I believe the latter part of April or first of May 1775. I served under my father Captain James Noble and a part of the time in Col. Arnold’s and a part of the time under Col. Eason who was the Lieut Col. Until Col. Arnold left to repair to Boston to commence his month through the woods to Quebec.
When I entered the service I belonged to Pittsfield in the State of Massachusetts. I began my service in marching by Whitehall then Skeneborough for the purpose of joining Col. Arnold and Col. Allen in taking Ticonderoga. The fort was taken a day or two before we arrived. Was then ordered to Crown Point there remained until General Montgomery marched for Canada I believe in September 1775. I then went on with the regiment of Col. Eason to St. Johns and from there we was ordered to Chamblee and was then taken sick as I now believe the latter part of November and I was soon after sent back to Crown Point and there remained until I was discharged and which as I believe was the first of January making the term I served for my first tour eight months or over. I was enlisted as a soldier or fifer and belonged to the Bay State Troops.
I again enlisted in said Pittsfield under Capt. Roswell Williams as I now believe in the month of July 1777 and was assigned to Col. John Brown’s regiment and immediately ordered to Stillwater to join the army under General Gates. I there remained until General Burgoyne retreated to Saratoga. We pursued on to Saratoga and there remained until General Burgoyne surrendered the 17th of Oct, 1777 and as soon after dismissed and returned home.
I again enlisted as near as I now believe in the summer of 1778 for the term of three months under Capt. Raymond of Richmont in said Bay State and Col. Parson’s company. We was enlisted for the purpose of marching to the southward, we marched to Hudson on the North River (Hudson River) and was then ordered to Albany to Guard the Continental Stores as for their safety.
I remained at Albany until my time expired and was then dismissed and returned to Pittsfield, again in the month of July 1780 I enlisted for the term of three months under Capt. William Ford of said Pittsfield, Col. John Brown’s Regiment. I enlisted as a waiter to Maj. Oliver Root of said Pittsfield. We was immediately marched through Albany to a place called Fort Plain and from there we were marched twice to forts to which took general provision to the places. In the Battle at Stone Arabia, the place where Col. John Brown was killed, I believe the 21st October in which Battle I was personally engaged. The enemy retreated and was followed to Canada Creek.
I served ten days over my term of three months and was then dismissed and returned home after that tour. I was called out a number of times in the militia and served in all to the amount of one month or more. All my services was performed from Pittsfield in the State of Massachusetts where I was then a resident. I was 72 years the 25th day of October 1836.
??? February 7th 1835
To the Hon’r the Secretary of War.
Signed, John Nobel