Pension Application

R.26157
            State of New York
Chenango County SS.
            On this thirteenth day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Robert Morell Vice Chancellor of the Sixth Circuit of the State of New York, at a Court of Chancery, held at the residence of the Vice Chancellor in the town of Greene, in the County of Chenango and state of New York, now sitting James Terwilliger a resident of the town of Greens in the County of Chenango and State of New York, aged seventy three years, who 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 June 7th 1832.
            That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated—that he lived in the County of Tyron, now Montgomery, in the State of New York at the breaking out of the War of the Revolution and in the town of Johnstown in said County—That in the year 1775 he was called out as a militia man under Captain John Davis in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Frederick Fisher and Lieut. Colonel Volkert Vedder, and remained under said Captain until he was killed at Oriskany near Fort Stanwick at the time General Herkimer was wounded—That he was present at the time General Herkimer was wounded and helped carry him off the field, and was engaged in that battle—that after the death of Captain Davis, he served under Captain Nicholas Doxtater in the same regiment commanded by the same officers, and remained under the command of said Captain, until after the surrender of Burgoyne—That after that period he was under the Command of Captain Van Pattan, at the time Captain Butler was killed, and was present and saw Butler and saw the Indian who killed him after he, Butler was wounded at West Canada Creek—At that time this deponent was still under Colonel Vedder and Colonel Marinus Willet who was the superior officer.
            That this deponent from the commencement to the end of the war, residing as he then did upon the northern lines, was constantly either out with the army or enrolled and subject to be called out at a moment’s warning, that he was out from time to time as the times required and as Exchanges of tours of Militia took place during the whole war.
            That he was engaged in the battle at Oriskany and at the time Butler was killed, and in small skirmishes, and was taken prisoner at the time Sir John Johnson came down and burned Coghnawaga [Caughnawaga] and other places on the Mohawk—That his father was taken prisoner at the same time and carried to Canada and kept by the Indians eighteen months—That he never received a written discharge—That he has no documentary proof of any part of his services, and knows of no person who can testify to any part of the same—
            He hereby relinquishes, every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present an declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. (Signed) James Terwilliger.
            Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Robert Morell, Vice Chancellor.
The following questions, were propounded by the Court to the applicant.
            First. Where and in what year were you born?
            Ans. He was born at Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York the 21 of September 1759.
            2nd. Have you any record of your age and if so, where is it?
            Ans. He has no record of his age and only known his age from information.
            3rd. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War; and where doyou now live?
            Ans. He lived when called into service in the Town of Johnstown, County of Tryon (now Montgomery) in the State of New York. Since the Revolutionary War he has lived in Shawangunk, Ulster County, NY and also in Morristown, in the State of New York, also in Chocannt in the State of New York and the residue in the Town of Greene in the County of Chenengo and State of New York, where he now resides.
            4th. How were you called into service; where you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom?
            Ans. The principal part of his service was an Enlistment. He once went as a drafted man.
            5th. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the Troops, when you served; such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
            Ans. His Colonel was Frederick Fisher he recollects General Herkimer, Colonel Volker Vedder, Colonel Marinus Willett—He was at the Battle of Oriskany—stood next to Captain John Davis, when he was shot—was present at the time Captain Butler was wounded & afterwards killed by an Indian—He saw General Herkimer at the Battle of Oriskany, when he was wounded and assisted in carrying him off the field.’
            6th. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
            Ans. He has never received a written discharge—He was verbally discharged after serving his time out.
            7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a solider of the Revolution.
            Answer. Barent Terwilliger, Alva Hunt, Levi Farr, Warren Gran Esqr, Genl Charles Squires

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