Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for William Porter

S.44249
Continental (NY)
State & District of New York SS
            On this Eleventh day of May 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Greene, personally appeared William Porter aged sixty years, resident in the Town of New Baltimore, in the said county, state and district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by 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.”  That he, the said William Porter enlisted in Fort Stanwix herein during the said war, in the State of New York in the month of February 1777 in the company commanded by Captain Derick Hanson of the Regiment Commanded by col. James Livingston, (1) of the New York Line of the Army of the United States on the Continental Establishment; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the termination of said war and he was discharged from service in June 1783 at West Point, in the state of New York which discharge is lost, that he was in the battles of York Town (2) and at the taking of Burgoine (3), and in various other places, and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.  (Signed) William Porter
            Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.  Peter C. Adams one of the Judges of Green Common Pleas.

State of New York
Greene County SS.
            On this thirtieth day of May 1820 personally appeared in the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Greene in the State of New York at an open Court then held at the Courthouse in the said County the same being a Court of Record which proceeds according to the Court of the common Law with Jurisdiction unlimited in point of Account keeping a Record of their proceedings; William Porter aged 61 years resident in the Town of New Baltimore County and State aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows that he Enlisted at Fort Stanwix in the State of New York in the latter part of the Winter of 1777 for during the war in the company commanded by Capt. Derick Hansen of Foot in the Regiment commanded by Col. James Livingston of the New York line and that he continued to serve in the said Corps or in the Service of the United States until the month of June 1783 when he was discharged from service at West Point in the State of New York; that the original declaration made by him was dated on or about the 11th day of may 1818 and that his pension certificate is numbered 5910, and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gifts, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or in any part thereof with 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 engaged 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 herewith annexed, and by me subscribed.  My necessary bedding and clothing excepted—
            Real estate.  Eight acres and one quarter of land on which are 2 small houses, one blacksmith shop and a small barn valued at $400.
            On the above property is a mortgage given by me to Charles Peters of the town of New Baltimore in said County on which there was due principal and Interest on the 5th day of May 1820  $239.93. [Leaving] $160.07.
            Personal Estate.
            A part of two sett of Blacksmith’s tools. . .$40.00
            Two Cows $25.  Three Ewes and four lambs $4   . . . 29.00
            One Hog $2, five dunghill fowls $0.50 . . . 2.50
            1 Mahogany Bureau $8., 1 Cherry dining Table $2  . . .10.00
            2 Kitchen Maple Tables $1.50, 4 Windsor Chairs $2  . . . $3.50
            5 Common Do [as above—chairs] $1.25—1 large Do. 75 Cts. –1 pr of And Irons, Shovel & Tongs . . . $4.00
            3 long low chests $2.50, one common cupboard $6 . . . 8.50
            One small looking glass $1.00.  Necessary dishes $3.50. . .4.50
            Necessary pots and kettles and one skillet pan 2.50
            One old weavers boom and Tackle . . . 2.00
            Necessary pails and pans & small churn . . . 2.00
            One Candle Stand . . . 0.50
            One Cider Soap, Meat & pickle, 2 flour do . . .1.50
            2 axes $1.50, one small spinning wheel $1.50 . . .3.00
            One old large wheel . . . 0.25
            Stool, chair whitening pot, steel yards, hand bellows, keg and spade Reel Runtel  . . . 4.00
$118.75
$160.07 Amount from preceding page
$278.82
            And the said William Porter further states that he is by occupation a blacksmith, but by reason of a disorder called St. Vitus’s dance, with which he has been afflicted for a number of years, it for the most part of the time incapacitates him from pursuing his aforesaid occupation or any kind of labor and renders him unable to support himself and family—that his family consists of a wife aged 54 years who resides with him and that she is incapable of supporting them and that he has no children.  (Signed) William Porter. 
            Sworn to and declares before me on the 30th day of May 1820 in open court.  Wm. Van Bergen clk.


End Notes—William Porter—S.44249

    1. William enlisted as a Corporal on January 1, 1777 for “during war” in Captain Derick Hanson’s Company (Second Company) in Colonel James Livingston’s First Canadian Continental Regiment.  William served in this company and regiment until it was consolidated with other Continental Regiments on January 1, 1781.  The men were put in regiments that were raised from the state of their residence.  William for some reason did not mention his previous service in Colonel Samuel Elmore’s Connecticut Regiment.  William had enlisted as a private on April 16, 1776 in Captain Robert Walker’s Company.  In October of 1776 Colonel Elmore’s Regiment was sent to Fort Schuyler (Fort Stanwix) to relieve Colonel Elias Dayton’s Third New Jersey Continental Regiment.  The first Canadian was eventually sent to the Mohawk Valley and has the enlistments for Elmore’s men which were to run out in May.  Many of those soldiers were encouraged to re-enlist in the First Canadian and many like Porter did.
    2. Ms. Livingston’s Regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1781.  Porter was put in the First Connecticut Continental Regiment under Colonel John Durkee.  The Yorktown Campaign was from September 28-October 19, 1781.
    3. The First Canadian was part of General Benedict Arnold’s relief Column to the besieged Fort Stanwix or Fort Schuyler in August of 1777.  After raising the siege, General Arnold returned to Stillwater.  The First Canadian was in the Second Battle of Saratoga on 7 October 1777.

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