Pension Application

W.16715 (Widow: Rachel) Francis married Rachel Smith 1782. Francis died 29 June 1837. In a deposition dated 18 April 1843 by Thomas Sears, he states that he, Leah Hickerson wife of Saml Hickerson, Henry, Abraham, and Catharine wife of Abraham Blauvelt, and Moses are the only surviving children of Francis T. Sears and Rachel his wife. Thomas also states that their mother Rachel was Insane for a long time previous to the death of their father and so continued until the time of her death which was on the 18th of January 1840, and she was totally incapable of making a declaration.
Rockland County SS.
On this seventh day of November in the year 1820, personally appeared in open court, being a Court of Common Pleas, and Court of Record for the said County, Francis Sears aged sixty eight years or thereabouts, resident of the Town of Haverstraw in the County aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare. That he served in the Revolutionary War, in the Army of the United States as follows, to wit, that he inlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1777 to serve during the war in the company of Captain Amos Hutchins, in the 5 Regiment of the New York line under Col. DuBois and from thence was transferred to Col. Philip VanCortlandt’s Regiment and continued to serve therein, until the end of the war in 1783. That his original declaration and application for pension was dated (as is believed not having retained a Copy) in the month of April in the year 1818, that his pension certificate a copy where of is hereunto annexed is numbered 3293. And I solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by Gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or 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, nor have I income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. And this declarant further saith, that his employment hath been and is at the plainest common laboring, and that he now supports himself, and his wife, which is the whole of his family by daily labour and has no other income. (Signed with his mark) Francis Sears.
Sworn to and declared on the 7th day of November 1820, before me in open court. Thomas Howard, Clerk

Schedule or Inventory of the estate, Rent and person of Francis Sears, late a private in the Army of the Revolution on the Pension list Roll of the New York Agency, Take this seventh day of November in the year 1820, and presented to the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Rockland, in the State of New York pursuant to the Act of Congress of the United States of the 18th of March 1818 to entitle the said Francis Sears to be continued on the pension list as follows, viz.
            Real Estate—four acres of rough mountain land situate in the County of Rockland and State of New York upon which is erected a small Log House in which he and his wife reside.
            Personal estate. None except a few articles of Household furniture and Cloathing and bedding, barely sufficient for himself and family. (Signed with his mark) Francis Sears.
            Witness. Samuel Smith, Peter DeNoyelles.

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