Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for Jacobus Personius

S.43831
State of New York
Tioga County SS.
            Be it remembered that 29 day of March eighteen hundred and nineteen Jacobus [James] Personius now of the town of Caroline in the County Tioga and State of New York a resident citizen of the United States aged Sixty nine years on the eleventh day of July last personally appeared before Stephen Buro Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Tioga—and being duly sworn deposeth and saith—that in the month of February (1) seventeen hundred and seventy seven he enlisted in the Continental Service of the United states in the War of the Revolution as a corporal in Captain Phillip DBevier’s Company  Col. Lewis Dubois Regiment in Genl. James Clintons Brigade of the New York line to serve for the term of three years—And that he served in the said company regiment and Brigate [Brigade] as a corporal as aforesaid until the eighth day of January seventeen hundred and eighty—being one month and a few days short of the time for which he was enlisted—when he was discharged by general orders together with all other three years men who did not engage again for during the war—That he enlisted as aforesaid in the town of Marbletown in the County of Ulster and State aforesaid—That his regiment was stationed at fort Montgomery in Seventy Seven and was in the Battle of Fort Montgomery when the fort was taken—that after the fort was taken they were not stationed at any particular place—but were moving about from place to place and were not engaged (2) in any other action until he was discharged as aforesaid At Baskin Bridge in the State of New Jersey—That his discharge was signed by Col. Philip VanCourtland—that he kept his discharge until within a few years when it was entirely worn out and destroyed—That he the said Jacobus Personiusis is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support.  That he the said Jacobus Personius [blot] no other pension has ever been allowed him by the United States to his knowledge and prays that a pension may be granted and allowed to him in pursuance of the late act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war.  (Signed) Jacobus Personius
            Subscribed and Sworn this 29 day of March 1819 before me Stephen Buro, Judge as aforesaid.
            On the additional declaration dated 6 September 1820, he repeats all the above but this new piece.  “That his is a laborer—that he has no family living with him—that he is entirely unable to support himself by labor.  That he has a numbness in his hands, and has a bunch on his back occasioned by having the Pleurisy.” (Signed with his mark) Jacobus Personius
            Reply to a letter of inquiry dated September 12, 1924
            I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S.43831 it appears that Jacobus Personius (the same as James) was born July 11, 1748.
            He enlisted February 26, 1777 at Marbletown, Ulster County, New York, as a Corporal in Captain Philip D. Bevier’s Company, Colonel Lewis DuBoys’ New York Regiment, was at the surrender of Fort Montgomery and was discharged January 8, 1780. (3)
            He was allowed pension on his application executed March 29, 1819 while living in Caroline, Tioga County, New York with his daughter the widow of Benjamin Vandemark; her given name and the name of soldier’s wife are not stated.  There is not further family data on file.
            Soldier died May 14, 1836.

End notes for Jacobus Personius

1. He is listed as enlisting on the 27 February 1777 as a Corporal in Captain Philip D. Bevier’s (Philip Dubois Bevier) Company in Colonel Lewis DuBois’ Fifth New York Continental Regiment.
Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783, Series M-246, Roll 71, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
2. During the winter men were employed in building a blockhouse in Cobleskill and when it was completed it was named Fort Dubois in honor of their colonel.
            In April men were drafted from the regiment and went to Sacondaga to help build the blockhouse there.  In the regimental returns they called it Castle Fisher as Colonel Frederick Visscher (Fisher, etc.) was there with part of the Third Regiment of Tryon County Militia also employed in building the blockhouse.
            Corporal Personuis is listed on the Jan & Feb 1779 Muster Roll as “on command New Paltz”.
            The Fifth New York went under General James Clinton and joined General John Sullivan.
            They were also engaged in the Battle of NewTown (Elmira, NY) on the 29th of August 1779.

3. They may have discharged men early from the Morristown, New Jersey encamptment as it was worse than the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, PA.          

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