Pension Application

S.18196 (Captain Pierson, Col. Drake in the N. York Militia.
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
State of New York
County of Suffolk SS.
            On this third day of October 1832, personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of the said County, Lewis Sanford aged seventy four years and upwards, a resident of the town of Southampton in the said County of Suffolk and State of New York, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
            That he enlisted, in the army of the United States in the year 1776, at the same time with Isaac Payne and Jonathan Tuthill, and others for six months, and served in a regiment (the number of which he cannot state) in the New York line, under the following named officers—viz—Brigadier General Scott, Brigade Major Nicholas Fish, Colonel Drake, Lieut. Col. Hallibut, Major Moses Hatfield, Captain David Pierson, First Lieutenant Stephen Howell and Second Lieutenant Thomas Baker. At the time he entered the service as aforesaid, he resided in the said town of Southampton. The company marched thence to New York, were in the barracks at Greenwich village near the City. Deponent having greatly exerted himself, in marching and entrenching was take sick & prevented from being present at the battle on Long Island. After the retreat back to New York, deponent joined the Regiment at Kingsbridge from whence, he with the regiment marched to White Plains; and thence to Peekskill where Col. Drake resided. Deponent was detached with a small company to keep guard in New Jersey in which he served for some time and finally again joined his regiment and was soon afterwards discharged his time having expired. The time of his leaving the service must have been in or about the month of November 1776, but he cannot state it with greater certainty.
            And this deponent in order further to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the said act states that previously to his serving in the regular army as aforesaid he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated viz.
            Sometime in the year 1775, he enlisted in a company of minute men then residing in the said town of South Hampton, under the command as he believes, of Captain David Parson. He cannot recollect the name of any other officer connected with this company – neither can he state the time with greater certainty—but it was about the same time that Isaac Payne and Jonathan Tuthill enlisted in another company which was raised, in the adjoining town of East Hampton under Capt. Mulford. He enlisted for no particular time—He remained at his home at Southampton aforesaid, but was constantly drilled by his officers and held himself ready for service—The object of this enlistment was to repel the incursions of the British, and to prevent them from landing and carrying off cattle &c, which they were before in the habit of doing. The soldiers, including deponent, were duly equipped and manouvred. Deponent continued in this service until he enlisted as herein before stated, in the regular service, in the spring or early part of the summer of 1776—He thinks he so served at least for the period of six months.—Deponent does not know of any person now living who belonged to the said company.
            He did not receive a written discharge and has no documentary evidence of his service—He was born in the said town of Southampton in the year 1757 and has a record of his age in his possession. He lived in said town at the time of his enlistment, and has resided there ever since the Revolutionary War. He voluntarily enlisted and was not drafted nor a substitute. There were no officers of the regular army with his company of minute men and no other regiments.   No circumstances of importance occurred while he so served as a minute man. Gabriel Halsey, Silvanus Halsey, Silas Corwithie, David Hand & Josiah Hand reside in his neighbourhood, and can testify to his character for veracity and to their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution as hereinbefore stated.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or any annuity, except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. (Signed) Lewis Sanford.
            Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Joseph L. Hunting, Clk.

Copyright © 1998, -- 2008. James F. Morrison and Berry Enterprises. All rights reserved. All items on the site are copyrighted. While we welcome you to use the information provided on this web site by copying it, or downloading it; this information is copyrighted and not to be reproduced for distribution, sale, or profit.