Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for Jacob Snell, Sergeant
Note:
Jacob was awarded $360.00, $300.00 was arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833 and
a semi-annual allowance commencing 4 March 1834 of $60.00 ($120.00 per annum). He
died August 28, 1838.
S.23429
State of New York
Montgomery County
Clerk’s Office
I, George
D. Ferguson, Clerk of the County of Montgomery aforesaid, do hereby certify
that Aaron Horning Esq. whose name is subscribed to one of the certificates
of proof or jurat of one of the annexed affidavits, was on the day of the
date thereof First Judge of the County Courts of the said county commissioned,
and sworn and duly authorized by law to act as such: And that Henry M. Livingston,
Charles Waggoner, Lawrence Marcellus and John C. Searle whose names appear
subscribed to the proof or jurat of annexed affidavits were on the dates
that the same purport to have been subscribed by them, Justices of the Peace
in and for the said county and duly authorized by law to act as such.
And I further
certify that I am acquainted with the signatures of the said Aaron Haring,
Henry J. Livingston, Charles Waggoner, and John C. Searle, and verily believe
that the signatures of the said Aaron Haring, Henry M. Livingston, Charles
Waggoner, and John C. Searls subscribed to the jurat or proofs of the annexed
affidavits are genuine.
In witness
whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common
Pleas of the said county this eighteenth day of February in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
(Signed) Geo. D. Ferguson
Note: Jurat. The official memorandum at the end of an affidavit, showing the time when and the person before whom it was sworn.
State of New York
Montgomery County SS
Personally
came and appeared before me, Aaron Harring, Judge, one of the Justices of the
Peace in and for the Town of Palatine, county and state aforesaid, Jacob Snell,
of the town, county and state aforesaid, who having been duly sworn deposeth
and swears that he was, or he has reasons to belief, born on the 15th day of
December in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixty one,
he believes, then Town of Stonearabia, County of Tryon, and that he has always
resided in the present Town of Palatine, County of Montgomery and state aforesaid,
and that his occupation has been a farmer, until for about twelve years past,
since which time he this deponent and his wife hath in a great measure been
dependant.
And he this
deponent further deposes and saith that in the Revolutionary War between the
United States and Great Britain, soon after he arrived to the age of fourteen
years he hath performed militia duty, in behalf of the United States and his
countries cause, and from that time to the conclusion of the war with the exception
of a period of time after the battle, generally called Col. Brown’s Battle,
in Palatine, county aforesaid, on the 19the day of October 1780.
And this
deponent further deposes and saith, that he had not only mett [met] with the
loss of his father, and only brother in the Battle of Oriskany on the 6th day
of August 1777 in defense of the American Independence but also himself in
the Regt of Militia, as sergeant in Capt. Henry Millers Company commanded by
Col. Jacob Klock, the said Jacob Snell then served emediately [immediately]
under the command of Col. Brown on the aforesaid 19th day of October 1780,
went in battle with and under the command of the aforesaid Col. Brown, the
said Jacob received a serious wound penetrating through his backet belt into
his right shoulder the depth of nearly three inches by a gun ball, remaining
and lodging in his shoulder for about three or four weeks, when the same was
extracted by one Doct’r Faugh, besides causing a general conflagration,
almost to the whole settlement of Stonearabie without leaving us shelter or
any of the earnings reapings or gathering in during the whole summer and fall
season, to the said Jacob or his affected mother and sisters.
And this
deponent further desposeth and saith that Col. Brown was slain and himself
wounded almost at the commencement of battle and others to the number of about
45 killed, murdered and butchered on their retreating the distance of about
two miles.
This deponent
further deposeth and saith, that his the said wound hath given him much pain
in causing distress and debilities for a considerable length of time previous
and often the bullet was extracted, and that he this deponent has ever since
said wound was received felt the injury more of less at all times, but that
the effects of late years, have caused more pain than formerly except when
the wound hath not yet been healed.
This deponent
further depose and saith that soon after the close of the Revolutionary War
that he hath made application of the Legislature of the State of New York,
supplicating to be remunerated merely for the time totally disabled while under
the care of his surgeon, loss of time, pains and when a small fee had been
allowed him previous to the passing of the law. Generally by Congress.
This deponent
further deposeth and saith, that after the law hath been passed by Congress
and some several years after the same hath been in force, and when after many
of his invalid acquaintances as well, some of the militia than those having
been enlisted soldiers in the Revolutionary War, hath drawn their pensions
for and during their natural life, among which that some of them in the opinion
of this deponent were only slightly wounded and much less entitled being allowed
than himself.
This deponent
further deposes and saith that he had applied at three different times to the
General Government to be placed on an equal footing with some of his fellow
citizens on the pension list. That he had at first appeared before Gen’l
Peter Gansvoort and Gen’l Abrm Ten Broeck, at what particular year, this
deponent doth not recollect and examined in their presence by their attending
surgeon, when no other obstacle at that time did appear, only, they wishing
to have had recourse to the former documents and proceedings on this deponants
first application, to the state. When at the same time the commissioners,
directing a person vizt, a W. Harrison then residing at Albany to obtain the
necessary information from the City of New York of the respective officer from
the City of New York.
Records
of the treasure and officers, offices to whom such were instructed to their
charge, and this deponent further saith that after and elapse of a year or
more, this deponents does not perfectly recollect, this deponent did call on
the said W. Harrison in order to ascertain by him if all the regulation hath
been acquired and attended to on his part, his answer, that it had escaped
his mind when this deponent felt not only disappointed, but also discouraged.
This deponent
further deposes and says that he does not exactly recollect, but according
to the best of his knowledge and memory, had his application presented to the
House of Representatives in 1812 asking to be remunerated from the time of
his first application, but W. Goud then a member of Congress advised him, this
deponent by letter that it would be (he thought) best not to press the question
on account of the then existing situation of the United States with Great Britain.
And that
on the third application, the papers were instructed to the care of John Fay
Esq’r, the Representative in Congress from Montgomery County, this deponent
does not know whether his papers were presented to the Secretary of War or
to the House of Representatives.
And this
deponent further deposes and saith, that he at no time or in any manner received
a pension of the United States or any of the states excepting as before stated,
he thinks about forth five pounds. And further this deponent saith not.
(Signed) Jacob Snell
Subscribed
and sworn before me this 18th February 1832. Aaron Harring, First Judge
of Montgomery County Courts, New York State.
Surgeon’s Affidavit
It is hereby
certified that Jacob Snell a Sergeant in the Company of Capt. Henry Miller
in the Second [Tryon County] Regiment of the United States, Commanded by Col.
Jacob Klock is rendered incapable of performing the duty of a soldier, by reason
of wounds or injuries inflicted while he was actually in the service aforesaid,
and in the line of his duty, viz, as a militiaman then immediately under the
command of Col. J. Brown.
By satisfactory
evidence and accurate examination, it appears that on the 19th day of Oct.
in the year seventeen hundred eighty, being engaged in the Stonearabia Battle
at or near a place called Palatine in the district, or territory, of Montgomery
he received a wound by a ball in his right shoulder producing a general debility
in the muscular parts, and his is hereby, not only incapacitated for military
duty, but, in the opinion of the undersigned is one half disabled from obtaining
his subsistence from manual labor. Given under our hand and seal this
7th day of Feb. 1832.
Henry Wood, Surgeon
Solomon Cumming, Surgeon
Subscribed
and sworn before me, Henry M. Livingston, Justice, this 7th day of Feb’y
1832.
State of New York
Montgomery County SS
I certify
that I am intimately acquainted with Henry Wood and Solomon Cumming the within
named Surgeons and know them to be men of truth and veracity and reputable
in their profession.
Taken at
Johnarah? Mont. Co.
(Signed) Henry M. Livingston J.P.
Feb’y 7th 1832
State of New York
Montgomery County SS
Personally
came before me, Chas. Waggoner, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for
the Town of Palatine in the county and state aforesaid, Peter C. Fox, of the
town, county and state aforesaid, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith
that he hath been personally acquainted with Jacob Snell during the Revolutionary
War between the United States and the British Government and ever since.
This deponent
further states that he knew this applicant had been zealous in supporting the
American cause in achieving our liberty and independence to the close of the
war.
This deponent
further deposes and saith that he knows that the said Jacob has been in several
engagements and battles among which was the one battle generally called Col.
Brown’s Battle in Stonearabia, then County of Tryon, now Town of Palatine,
County of Montgomery and state aforesaid where the said Col. Brown was slain
at the commencement of the battle of the said Jacob seriously wounded as this
deponent always understood and verily believes.
This deponent
further saith that he being satisfied that at the time when the said Jacob
received the said wound, although belonging to Capt. Henry Miller’s Company
in Col. Jacob Klock’s Reg’t was on that day under the emmedient
[immediate] command of Col. Brown when the battle was bad. That he frequently
did see the said Jacob previous and after the bullet had been extracted out
of his shoulder also did see his wound in his right shoulder.
Lastly this
deponent further saith that it has come to his own observation and to his knowledge
that his father who was the Major of Militia in Col. Jacob Klock’s Reg’t
did actually go with the said Jacob the present applicant to Albany, as he
understood by his father, before Gen’l Gansevoort and Gen’l Ten
Broeck applying for a pension and again twice after the passing of the Act
of Congress was passed 10th April 1806 and the said Jacob the present applicant
has and did obtain affidavits in order to substantiate his cliam and further
this deponent saith that the occupation of the said Jacob has been that of
a farmer until near about twelve years past since which time himself and his
wife having chiefly been dependent on some of his sons, further this deponent
saith not.
(Signed) Peter C. Fox.
Subscribed
and sworn before me this 13th day of Feb’y 1832. Chas. Waggoner, Justice
State of New York
Montgomery County
I, Chas.
Waggoner, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Montgomery and State
of New York aforesaid do certify that I am acquainted with the within named
Peter C. Fox and know him to be a man of credibility and of good reputation. Chas.
Waggoner, Justice
State of New York, Montgomery County SS
I, Lawrence
Marcellus, a Justice of the Peace in and for the Town of Palatine, for the
county and state aforesaid do certify that I am personally acquainted with
the within named Samuel Gray Jr., know him to be a man of good reputation and
to be believed in every respect. Given under my hand this 6th day of February
1832.
Montgomery County
Personally
came before me, Samuel Gray of the Town of Palatine in said county and state
of New York who deposeth and saith that he was personally acquainted with Jacob
Snell of said town, county and state aforesaid before the Revolutionary War
until the morning of Brown’s Battle when this deponent and the said Jacob
were ordered out under Col. Brown and went to battle in different divisions
and that the battle took place on the 19th day of October in the year 1780
and that Brown himself fell dead in the field of battle and that our men being
small in number retreated in different directions and that the first this deponent
saw of the said Jacob was during the night following the battle when he found
the said Jacob to have been wounded in his right shoulder which wound has caused
material injury to said Jacob ever since it was given him and that this deponent
has ever since to the date hereof been living a neighbor to said Jacob and
further this deponent saith not.
(Signed) Samuel Gray
Subscribed
and sworn before me this 5th day of January 1832. Lawrence Marcellus,
Justice
(Top
part cut off) Personally came before me Lawrence Marcellus, one of
the Justices of the Peace, in and for the Town of Palatine in the county
and state aforesaid, William W. Fox of the town and county and state aforesaid
who deposeth and saith that he was a private in Capt. Henry Millers Company
in the revolution of the United States and that he was acquainted with said
Jacob Snell the present applicant for relief before the Revolutionary War
during said was and ever since and that he knows that the said Jacob before
he was sixteen years old and did military duty in behalf of the United States
and that when about nineteen years old he the said Jacob had a ball extracted
from his right shoulder said to be shot in during the battle commonly called
Brown’s Battle which took place on or about the nineteenth of October
in the year 1780 and that he this deponent believes (if he recollects right)
that the said Jacob was a sergeant in said company at the time of said battle
as well as before and after. And that he has reason to believe that
he the said Jacob was a true Whig during said war and that since the said
was the said Jacob has always been a citizen of the Town of Palatine aforesaid
and that he was in the military and civil stations which he occupied always
acted for the best interest of the State of New York and the United States
and the occupation of the said Jacob from the time that his father and only
brother were slain when engaged in behalf of the United States at the Battle
Oriskany has been that of a farmer until about twelve years past since which
time he this deponent believes the said Jacob and his wife are in a great
measure dependant on his sons for their support and further this deponent
saith now.
(Signed) Wim. W. Fox
Subscribed
and sworn to this 7th day of February 1832 before me Lawrence Macillus, Justice.
State of New York
Montgomery County SS
I Lawrence
Marcellus, a Justice of the Peace in and for the Town of Palatine, county and
state aforesaid, do certify that I am personally acquainted with the within
named William W. Fox Esqr and know him to be a man of credibility and good
reputation.
Given under
my hand this 7th day of February 1832.
Lawrence Marcellus, Justice
State of New York
Montgomery County SS
Personally
came before me, Christopher W. Fox of the Town of Palatine, county and state
aforesaid, who deposeth and saith that he was well acquainted with Jacob Snell
before and after the Revolutionary War between the people of the United States
and Great Britain, that he knows that the said Jacob did perform militia duty
before he arrived at the age of sixteen and during the said Revolutionary War
to the conclusion of the war and always proved a good and faithful soldier.
This deponent
further said, that the said Jacob hath been in several engagements against
the common enemy of our country, among which was that of what is called Brown’s
Battle at which time he the said Jacob received a serous [serious] wound with
a gun ball in his right shoulder that the effects of which hath never been
exacerbated in his opinion. That the said Jacob Snell was an acting sergeant
in Capt. Henry Millers Company in the Reg’t of Militia Commanded by Col.
Jacob Klock. When receiving the said wound the said applicant, in the
morning and on the 19th day of October 1780, was ordered out under the emmedient
[immediate] Command of Col. Brown, when the said Jacob received said wounds
during the same day in battle. When at the same time Col. Brown was slain
at the commencement of the engagement.
This deponent
further states, that the said Jacob has twice previous to the present, procured
his affidavit in order ot apply for his pension.
This deponent
further saith that some time after the said Jacob hand been wounded, he was
informed as to the time when the said Jacob was to have the bullet or ball
taken and extracted out of his wound, that he was present seeing the operation
performed with considerable difficulty seeing the bullet falling out on the
floor, which operations had been performed by Doct’r Vaugh deceased.
This deponent
further said that the occupation of the said Jacob always was that of a farmer,
excepting for about twelve years, past, chiefly dependant on some of his sons. And
further this deponent saith not.
(Signed) Christopher W. Fox
Subscribed
and duly sworn before me this 15th day of Feb’r 1832. Chas. Waggoner,
Justice
State of New York
Montgomery County
Personally
appeared and came before me, Charles Waggoner, one of the Justices of the Peace
in and for the Town of Palatine, county and state aforesaid, Peter Fox of the
said town, county and state aforesaid, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith
that he was personally acquainted with Jacob Snell who resides in the same
town, county and state aforesaid, that he knew him before and during the Revolutionary
War and ever since, that the said Jacob was one of the Sergeant’s in
Capt. Henry Millers Company in the Reg’t of Militia under the Command
of Col. Jacob Klock.
This deponent
further saith that the said Jacob has always proved a good and faithful friend
and soldier to the American cause, against the British as well those disaffected
Tories in our own country, and that the said Jacob hath performed military
duty before he arrived to the age of sixteen, and so continued to the conclusion
of the war, that he has not only been engaged in several battles and engagements
against our common enemy in defending and supporting the cause of liberty in
achieving the American Independence, but also in the battle generally called
Col. Brown’s Battle in Stonearabia aforesaid Town of Palatine, when under
the Emedient [immediate] Command of Col. Brown the said Jacob received a sereous
[serious] wound in his right shoulder, and the said Col. Brown slain and became
a victim to the enemy almost at the commencement of the engagement or battle,
and that he saw the said, Jacob frequently after the battle, more particulary
some weeks after he received said wound, he had been present at the same time
when the ball was extracted.
This deponent
further saith that the said applicant hath procured affidavits, twice previous
to this time. Sworn to by this deponent, calculated to enumerate him
ion being allowed a pension and further this deponent said not.
(Signed) Peter Fox
Subscribed
and sworn to before me this 15th day of Feb. 1832. Chas. Waggoner, Justice
State of New York
Montgomery County
Came before
me Charles Waggoner, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the Town of
Palatine, County of Montgomery, and State of New York aforesaid, Joseph Waggoner
a person to me well known, residing in the Town of Minden, County and State
aforesaid, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he has been personally
acquainted with Jacob Snell from the time of youth and that he had known him
when he the said Jacob has performed militia duty at various times previous
to his the said Jacob arriving to the age of sixteen, and that said Jacob has
proved a good and faithful soldier during the whole of the Revolutionary War
to the conclusion of the same.
That the
said applicant has not only lost his father and only brother at Oriskany, but
also on the 19th day of October in the year 1780 the said Jacob Snell although
belonging to the Company of Capt. Henry Miller in the Reg’t Commanded
by Col. Jacob Klock, then emediately [immediately] Commanded by Col. Brown
received a sereous [serious] wound in the battle called Brown’s Battle
in his right shoulder, the effects of which in my opinion has been exacerbated. Besides,
the enemy have caused a general conflagration almost to the whole settlement
of Stonearabia without leaving a straw to the said Jacob, or his afflicted
mother and sisters.
This deponent
further said that the occupation of the said Jacob always has been and so continued
until near about twelve years past, that of a farmer, since which time the
said Jacob and his wife having been chiefly dependent on some of his sons. That
the said Jacob has held several respectable offices in vizt, both civil and
military. That this deponent says that he now aged 73 years and further
this deponent saith not.
(Signed) Joseph Waggoner
Subscribed
and sworn before me this 13 day of Feb’r 1832. Chas. Waggoner,
Justice
(Can’t read the first part of this) ……Nellis who deposeth
and saith that he was acquainted with the above named Jacob Snell from the
time of his infancy to the present day, both having resided in the Town of
Palatine and in the County of Montgomery and State of New York. And
further that on the 19th day of October in the year 1780, in the morning
of said day, this deponent and the said Jacob started together from Stonearabia
Fort under the Command of Col. Brown and on that day the battle took place
commonly called Brown’s Battle (other wise called Sheavers? Battle).
The said
Jacob ??? found him seriously wounded in his right shoulder and further this
deponent saith not.
(Signed) John L. Nellis
Sworn and
subscribed to before me this 5th day of January 1832. Henry M. Livingston,
J. Peace
Catharine Gray, George Loucks, Abm, Steenberg also gave depositions.
December 26, 1934
Mr. Leslie. A. Frye
37 West Fulton Street
Gloversville, New York
Dear Sir:
Reference
is made to your letter for which you request the Revolutionary War record of
Jacob Snell, of Tryon County, New York.
The record
of one Jacob Snell, only has been found on the Revolutionary War records of
this office. The papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim S.23429,
based upon his service in that war, have been examined very carefully in your
behalf and the following data found therein.
Jacob Snell
was born December 15, 1761, at Stone Arabia, Tryon County, New York. The
date of his birth was recorded on the records of the Reformed Church of said
Stone Arabia. The names of his parents are not shown but he stated that
his grandfather, name not given, built the fort at Stone Arabia “in the
French War” and that his father and only brother, John G. Snell, were
both killed in the Battle of Oriskany, August 6, 1777. The soldier’s
sisters are referred to also, but their names are not given.
While residing
at Stone Arabia, New York, Jacob Snell enlisted sometime in 1776, and served
at various times on short tours on alarms until 1782, at least two years, four
months and twenty-one days in all as private, drummer and sergeant under Captains
Christopher W. Fox, Henry Miller, Christian Getman, Jacob Seeber and Christian
Nelles, Colonels Jacob Klock, Waggoner, Harper, Brown and Marinus Willett in
the New York Troops. His service was rendered as a spy and ranger, serving
at the forts, protecting the inhabitants on the frontiers, in frequent skirmishes
with the Tories and Indians. He was in the Battle of Stone Arabia, where
he was wounded by a ball which penetrated through his back into his right shoulder,
and during the conflagration following the battle, his home and all its contents
was destroyed and his mother and sisters rendered homeless. He also participated
in “Landman’s” Battle and at the Battle of Johnstown.
Jacob Snell
was allowed pension from February 18, 1832, on account of disability resulting
from the above noted wound, at which time he was residing at Palatine, Montgomery
County, New York. He was also allowed pension under the Act of June
7, 1832, on account of his military service.
He died
August 28, 1838, place not shown. It was stated that he held a number
of civil and military positions following the war.
His wife
and sons are referred to but no names are given and there are no further family
data.
Very truly
yours,
A.D. Hiller
Executive
Assistant to the Administrator.