Morrison's Pensions
Bounty Land Application for William Smith Scudder
B.L.Wt.1,978-200 Lieut, 2nd Lieut in 1st NY, 2nd Lieut in 1st NY.
Issued July 7, 1790
No Papers
Lieutenant of the New York Line, Revolutionary War.
Widow: Nanna Wood Scudder.
Company Capt. Robert McKeen’s
Regiment 1st NY Col. Goose VanSchaick
Resident of Westhchester County in 1794.
Approximate date of birth 1739, died March 7, 1804. He was pensioned at the New York Agency for disability received March 3, 1778 by a loss of two fingers and loss of use of both hands from being frozen in a snow storm when he went with his men in a boat to Long Island, by order of General Putnam, to take certain pieces or ordnance that had belonged to the enemy’s shipping while serving in the War of the Revolution.
200 acres of bounty land. The files relative to the bounty land claims were destroyed when the War Office was burned in 1800 and 1814.
Scudder, Wm. Smith—His name appears on a list of applicants for invalid pension returned by the District Court for the District of New York, submitted to the House of Representatives by the Secretary of War on May 22, 1794, and printed in the American State Papers, Class 9 page 126.
Rank and Regt.
Disability: Lost two fingers and the use of both his hands by being frozen in a snow storm, when he went with his men to Long Island in a boat to take certain pieces of ordinance that had belonged to the enemy’s shipping ; which duty he was ordered on by General Putnam
When disabled: March 3, 1778
Residence: West Chester County
Remarks: Evidence complete
Old Invalid book, Wm. Smith Scudder Pens. $30 Private, died Mch. 7, 1804.
1835 list of Invalids on New York Agency (residence unknown), Private, Rev’y Army, $30 per annum from Sept 4, 1793. Died march 7, 1804.
This is from a letter written to the Bureau of Pensions from a descendant of William Scudder.
I am writing to ask if Captain William Smith Scudder or his wife who was Nanna Wood drew a pension.
Captain served in the Revolutionary War. Record show that Cap. William Smith Scudder was commissioned captain of the armed vessel “Ranger” October 20, 1778 by the Council of appointment.
American State papers claims Class I page 126 shows that William Smith Scudder who was a resident of Westchester Co., NY in 1794 was disabled March 3, 1778, by loss of two fingers and the loss of the use of both hands from being frozen in a snow storm when he went with his men in a boat to Long Island by order of General Putnam.
This record is taken from NY State Archives published in 1887. Vol. 1 PP 139-180-254.
Captain William Smith Scudder was of Welsh extraction and served in Revolutionary War. While on a scouting excursion was taken prisoner by the British (1). He assisted in burning a British frigate on Long Island Sound and is said to have replied when asked if he was not sorry for having done so much damage that—“No I am sorry I did not do as much more.”
Captain William Smith Scudder settled in Westchester County NY when he came from Wales.
In 1801 he with his family (he had married Nanna Wood) settled in Roxbury, Delaware Col. NY.
He had four sons—Philetus, Jotham, Obidah Smith, David.
Record of William Smith Scudder shows he was pensioned at the New York Agency for disability incurred while serving in the War of Revolution and that he died on March 7, 1804. (Taken from American State Papers.)
End Note