Pension Application

W.2471 (Widow: Mary) Married Mary White 13 December 1821, Associate Reformed Church of Hamptonburgh. John died 26 March 1843 at Wallkill, Orange County, NY.
B.L.Wt.19730-160-55
Private, NY Line, Captain Faulkner, Col. Laugherty’s Regt, also Capt. Drake, Col. Malcom’s Regt. New State of New York
Orange County SS.
On this 21st day of September 1832, personally appeared before m, Nathaniel P. Hill one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county of Orange John Sears a resident of the town of Wallkill in said county aged seventy three years ho being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

That in the year 1775 to the best of his recollection he served on month as a volunteer in the company under command of Capt Mathias Felter of the [?] of Artillery he resided county of Orange (then County of Ulster) at a place called Pienpeck then on the frontiers in that part of the country guarding it against the Indians—that it was in the mountains and in harvest.
That in the year 1777 he inlisted for three months in Cap William Faulkner’s Company in the Regiment commanded by Col. McLaugherty and served at Fort Montgomery on the North River—that he returned home on Sunday and said fort was taken by the English on the ensuing Monday as he recollects.
That at a subsequent time the year not recollected he served one month in the company commanded by Lieutenant Johnson as was at Pienpack—[?]Kill and Naponock on the frontiers guarding them against the Indians.
That at another time he served for three months as a volunteer in Cap Drake’s Company in the Regiment commanded by Col. Dubois and Malcom and VanBenschouten in an expedition to the North & went past to Newburgh and then to Fishkill in Dutchess Co. N.York and laid there in a church for about two weeks—then marched to West Point, Stony Point, and Haverstraw and staid at this latter place about two weeks—while there was [?] when by the English[?] in the River—the Americans returned the [?] from a small fort having two long 18 pounders and compelled the shipping to hand off—then returned to Newburgh and marched to Albany and laid there two or three weeks—then marched to Canajoharie on the Mohawk and to Fort Ransellear—that in the body of troops with which he served there were about 300there [?] and 100 Oneida Indians that they were joined by 1000 militia from Albany and had a battle with the enemy and [?] of English & Indians on the German Flats near Fort Ransellear that some of the troops of the enemy were driven into the Mohawk River—That Butler Brant and Johnson were there that the Americans too about 47 Tnglish prisoner and that he was detailed to guard them to Albany—that as one of the guard they directed the prisoner to Albany where they were imprisoned [part of page cut off] in service and served one month [?] making at this time four months service before he was discharged. That at another time he was out in service as a militia man at Mamakating in the now county of Sullivan and state of New York guarding [?] the Indians and then after the English too Fort Montgomery and went up the North River to Kingston and at several other times in cases of alarms he was out in actual service in all this kind of service more than three months.

            And in answer to the interrogatories put by the War Department he states that he was born in Wet Chester County NYork on the 2 of May 1759.
            That there is a record of his age in the possession of his brother Elnathan Sears that he has resided in the towns of Montgomery and Wallkill in Orange County NY ever since the Revolution and resides in said town of Wallkill at this time that he resided in said town of Montgomery when called into service that he entered once for three months and at other times his services were voluntary, once for a class and the rendered his service account as a militiaman.
            That Gen & Gov Clinton were in command at Fort Montgomery when he was there the officers in the expedition to the North are mentioned in the Declaration. Never had a discharge—
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state—that Joshua Conger, Christian Roat, Elnathan Sears can testify as to his service and reputation as a soldier. (Signed) John Sears.
            Sworn and Subscribed this 21 day of Sept. 1832 before me. Nath’l P. Hill