Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23292, Reuben Hill, Navy (Mass.)
Page 1

(3-1776)
Service
Navy (Mass.) 
Hill, Reuben  Number W.23292
Catharine
Page 2

State of New York Greene County ss
I certify that on the third day of September 1838 Catherine Hill appeared in open court before the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said county and subscribed & made oath to the annexed declaration.  I further certify that Ira Dubois Esq. before whom the annexed affidavit of Margery Hallenbeck was sworn and John Van Vechten Esq. before whom the annexed affidavit of Brogan Hoff was sworn were at the date of the respective affidavits Justices of the Peace of the said county duly elected and qualified and that their respective signatures are genuine.
Witness my hand & official seal this first day of December 1838.
William V. B. Heermance Clerk of the said County
Page 3

Note:  page is blank
Page 4

[illegible]
Page 5

[illegible]

William V. B. Heermance Clerk
Page 6

Note:  Page is blank
Page 7


her signature [hand drawn X] Margery Hallenbeck 
Subscribed & sworn
September 2, 1838 before me
[signature] Ira Dubois Justice of Peace
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Margery Hallenbeck and believe her entitled to credence.
[signature] Ira Dubois Justice
Page 8

[illegible]

Hannah Hill

Subscribed before me [illegible]

Charles F. Bouton Justice of the Peace

State of New York  }
County of Albany ss
I Henry B. Haswell Clerk of the said county do hereby certify that Charles F. Bouton before whom the above affidavit purported to have been sworn was on the day of the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in court for the County of Albany.  That I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe that his name subscribed to the same is his proper handwriting.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of he said County this 21st day of November 1838.
H. B. Haswell Clerk
Page 9

3758
1732
Catherine Hill

[illegible]

Admitted [illegible] 12 months

Hon. Z Pratt, H. R.
Page 10

State of New York  }
Greene County ss
Broggon Hoff of the Town of Catskill, Catskill County and state aforesaid being [illegible] sworn [illegible] that he is the present clergyman of the Protestant [illegible] Reformed Church in his town and it appears by the records of said church that Maria daughter of Reuben Hill and Catharine Hill was baptized the eighteenth day of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety one which is expressed on said record in [illegible] legible figures & letters as follows viz:
[illegible]
1791 & Reuben Hill
December 18 Catharine Hill
[illegible]
Maria  Johannis Overbagh
Maria Overbagh

I Broggon Hoff above named do depose & say that I [illegible] the office of clergyman in the above mentioned church in said town of Catskill, that the foregoing is a true extract from said record.  And I do further certify that no record of marriages appears to have been kept by the then minister the Reverend John Schuneman from the year 1762 [illegible] the year 1793 and that the marriage of Reuben Hill with Catharine Overbagh does not appear on any record in said church and further saith not.

NB The word the between the sixth & seventh line from bottom was [illegible] before [illegible]
Brogon Hoff
Sworn & subscribed his 27th day of August 1838 before me John Van Vechten Justice of the Peace
Page 11

[illegible] Brogan Hoff who [illegible] the within affidavit is known by me to be the present Clergyman pf the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church in the Town of Catskill in the County of Greene & State of New York.
[illegible] August 27th 1838
John Van Vechten Justice of the Peace
Page 12

12,634
New York
Reuben Hill
of Middlebury in the state of New York
who was a Mariner on board "The     "
commanded by
Capt Manly of the US Navy
line, for the term of one year.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York'
at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on
the 1st of May 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 22 of July 1819
and sent to John Browne, Esq.

Browne N. York

Arrears to 4th of March 1819   10 4/31   81.03
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819  48.00
                                                         $129.03
Page 13

[illegible] 317
New York Albany
Catherine Hill
widow of Reuben who served in the
Revolutionary war as a mariner

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 41 Dollars [illegible] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of March 1849 and sent to L. Jenkins [illegible]
Albany N. Y.

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848. Page 84 [illegible]
Page 14

Reuben Hill
Mariner on the [illegible] Capt. Man[illegible]

1782 for 1 year
May 1818

[illegible]
Page 15

State of New York
Schoharie  ss
On the first day of May 1818 before me [illegible] one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in said county [illegible] Reuben Hill aged fifty three years resident in said county who being [illegible] first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision [illegible] act [illegible] an Act to [illegible] for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war.  That he enlisted in the year seventeen hundred & eighty two in the month of April at [illegible] in the company of [iillegible] of Captain Palme of the United States [illegible] by Capt. John Manly and that he continued to serve in said service [illegible] United States until sometime in the summer of the succeeding year when he was discharged from service [illegible] Massachusetts State.  That he was in several engagements in which the said [illegible] frigate took [illegible] & that he [illegible] in reduced circumstances and [illegible] the assistance of his country for support and that having lost his discharge he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
Sworn to & declared before me this day & year above written.

I John Reynolds one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County Schoharie aforesaid do certify that the said Reuben Hill did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy.  I [illegible] the proceedings & testimony taken [illegible] before me to the Secretary for the Department of War [illegible]
Broome May 1st, 1818
John Reynolds
Schoharie County
I John Reynolds the Judge before whom the above declaration was made [illegible] that Reuben Hill [illegible] of the serving said in his declaration to [illegible] which [illegible] certify that the said Reuben Hill is in [illegible] circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support.  Broome July 2nd 1814 
John Reynolds Judge [illegible]
Page 16

State of New York Schoharie County ss  I do hereby certify that John Reynolds is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said county and that the within certificate of attestation of the [illegible] of Reuban Hill is the original signature and handwriting of the said John Reynolds.  Given under my hand and attested by the seal of the said Court of Common Pleas the seventh day of May 1818.
W. W. Enders Clk
Page 17

[illegible]

(126[illegible])

(Sept 1819)
[illegible]
Sent to John Swant, Esq. Clerk of 
Schoharie County New York
[illegible]
Page 18

State of New York
Schoharie County ss
On this tenth day of June 1820 personally appeared before the judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the said county in open court being a court of record for the said county Reuben Hill aged fifty six years resident in the Town of Broome in said county of Schoharie who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows from the time of the year 1782 as a mariner on board of the Frigate Hague commanded by Captain John Manly until on or about the first day of June 1783 when he was discharged.  The evidence of which service has heretofore been forwarded to the Honorable the Secretary of War.  That he has received a pension of eight dollars per month from the first day of May 1818 and that the number of the pension certificate is 12.634 And I do   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 to diminish if as to bring myself within the provisions of an
Page 19

act 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 any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed and by me prescribed to wit:
I am in possession of a tenement held to me during the lives of two other persons far  advanced in years for which I pay a rent of twelve bushels of wheat per annum
which may if the [illegible], on which [illegible] be prolonged be worth $200.00
One pair of old horses worth $30.00
One old cart   10.00
One old Waggon [Wagon] 15.00
Plough and Drag 5.00
One old set of Harness 2 or 3 axes, hoes, log chain
Iron-wedges, grind stone 2 old [illegible] and a few other necessary farming utensils 15.00
One cow two calves 8 sheep 2 hogs 25.00
4 Iron Kettles one pair of andirons
Shovel and tongs 2 pails one set of knives
and forks and about $2 worth of crockery 5.00
Other final articles of household furniture worth 3.00
Value $308
Debt 250
Total $58
Page 20

My just debts amount to about two hundred and fifty dollars.
And further that I have no trade or occupation other than that of a farmer which from a feeble constitution lameness in one knee and repeated sickness I am unable to pursue to any advantage
My family consists of a wife about sixty years of age feeble and subject to fits one daughter (Hannah) aged 25 years a cripple one daughter Sally 17 years of age able to labor one son 16 years olf named Joseph
[signature] Reuben Hill
Sworn to and declared on the seventh day of June 1820 before me 
[signature] John Swant, Clerk in open Court
Clerk of the county of Scholarie do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is three hundred & [the word eight is crossed out] five dollars and that deducting the pensioners debt therefrom it appears to amount to fifty five dollars.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal of the Court of Common pleas for said County this 7th day of June 1820
[signature] John Swant, Clerk
Page 21

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
Octobert 26, 1925
A. S. Woodcock
c/o Grosvenor Library
Buffalo, N. Y.
Sir:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Recolutionary War pension claim, W. 23292, it appears the REUBEN HILL enlisted in Boston, Massachusetts, in April, 1782, in the company of marines commanded by Captain Palms, served on the United States frigate, "Hague", commanded by Captain John Manley, and said Hill was discharged the first of June, 1783; during the period the "Hague" was in several engagements and captured five prizes.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 1, 1818, at which time he was fifty-three years of age.  In 1819 he lived in Middleburg, Schoharie County, New York, and in 1824 he lived in Broome, Schoharie County, New York.  He died June 29, 1836, in said county.
He married July 18, 1790, Catharine Overbagh of Catskill, New York.  She was allowed pension on her application executed September 3, 1838, while a resident of Durham, Greene County, New York, aged seventy-seven years.
Page 22

Reference was made to the following children:  Maria who was baptised December 18, 1791, the record of which was kept in the Protestant Dutch Reform Church in Catskill, New York; Hannah, aged twenty-five in 1820; Sally, aged nineteen in 1820; and Joseph, aged sixteen in 1820.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner
Page 23

State of New York } ss
Schoharie County }
Declaration in order to be restored to the pension list under the act of March 1823
On the third day of February, in the year1824, personally appeared before the Judges of the county court of the county of Schoharie being a court of record for said county, in open court, Reuben Hill, resident in the town of Broom in said county aged about fifty nine years, who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of the 18th of March 1818, the first of May 1820, and first of March 1823, that he the said Reuben Hill, inlisted in the Spring of the year 1782 as a Mariner on board of the Frigate Hague, commanded by Captain John Manley where he served until on or about the first day of June 1783 when he was discharged; the evidence of which service has heretofore been forwarded to the Honorable Secretary of War. It was at Boston in the State of Massachusetts where I enlisted and where I was discharged. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th of March eighteen hundred and eighteen 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 my self 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 had any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed, and by me subscribed.

Real Estate I have none
I live on hire at the end of ten bushels of wheat a year
I have one horse 18 or 19 years old and worth little or nothing
Page 24

15 Sheep $22.50 — four small hays worth about $7.00 — $29.50
four ton of hay or thereabouts worth —                               24.00
1 Plane and one drag $6. one grind stone worth about $1.  7.00
2 chains + one yoke $3. one old fanning mill $4. —              7.00
one ax, one hay fork, one hoe one ox sled —                        2.62½
about 10 bushels of wheat $10. corn about 6 bushels & about 8 of Rye $6.12 — 16.12½
Peas about 3 bushels $1.12 — part of a barrel of pork for my family use $5. — 6.12½
About 60 bushels of potatoes at 1/6 —                                 7.50
                                                                                                ------
                                                                                                  $99.87½

The 10 bushels of wheat above inventoried is }
due my land lord for his rent }

Sworn before me in Open Court
this 3rd day of Feby 1824 — Reuben Hill
John D. Lawyer Clk.

And I now owe about one hundred and fifty dollars and that there is now a judgement against me of fifty dollars and an execution issued thereon and levied upon the above property, excepting such articles as the law exempts which is to be sold on the 7th instant as the Officer informed me. And that I have it not in my power to redeem or save the property from sale that the Judgement was honestly and fairly obtained, on an honest demand in favour of one Matt Adams of New Durham in the county of Green.

My occupation is farming which I am not able to pursue to any great advantage in consequence of age, infirmity and one broken knee. The member of my family is as follows. My wife aged about sixty two or three years, subject to fits and unable to do much; one daughter named Hannah about 28 or 29 years old a cripple. That since the exhibition of my first schedule the following changes have been made in my property: So wit the tenement which I inventoried in my first inventory, that is to say, the houses are consumed by fire which took in the dead of night, and consumed every article of my house hold furniture of a perishable nature which was inventoried in my first inventory excepting part of two beds and bedding which was got out
Page 25

which was inventoried in my first inventory excepting part of two beds and bedding wich was got out
The land contained in the annexed copy of the original lease assigned to me by John Reynolds to wit 75 acres for $350.00 after the buildings were burnt I was not able to pay for and assigned over my right to Daniel Levingston the owner of the said for $100.  which money I paid towards the land on the original contract which I own that is to say I paid it to Archabald Craswell it being due him for $100 which I borrowed of him and paid towards the lease.  the lease after the buildings were burnt I sold for one hundred dollars as above stated because I was not able to keep it ^up was only a life lease of two persons the one aged about 63 and the other about 64 years.
The cart inventoried in my first [the word inventory is crossed out] schedule I sold to Samuel Noyes in the winter of 1821 for eight dollars in labour during my sickness $8.00
And the sleigh I sold to one Hoy for two dollars - 2.00 which went for necessaries in the family
That one drag and old plow, one cow, one old horse two calves old waggon [wagon] and 10 sheep were sold at Constables sale in an execution against me in favour of John Travis, of $20.31 besides constables pay that the property was sold to John Travis, the plaintiff and Hannah Hill being the highest bidders
On the 4th day of May 1821 as more fully appears ^by the constables certificate hereunto annexed the property sold for sufficient to satisfy the execution and costs, and about 3 or 4 shillings returned to me by the constable.
Brought forward amount of Inventory $99.87
Due me a note of 31.00
Total amount of inventory--$102.87
Debts owing by me - $150.00
amount of Inventory -- 102.87 subtracted
$47.13
Which leaves me in debt over and above
Page 26


the amount of my property inventoried $47.13
[signature] Reuben Hill
Sworn before me in open Court this third day of February 1824
[signature] John D. Lawyer Clk.
Copy Constables Certificate
Justus Court
John Travis vs Reuben Hill}
Before Daniel Hay Esquire
I certify that by virtue of an execution issued in this cause against the said defendant, I levied upon, advertised and sold, one old drag, one ole plow, one cow one old horse, two calves, old waggon [wagon], and ten sheep & lumber May the 4th 1821  And that the property was sold by me to the highest bidder, according to statute in such case made and provided  I further certify that John Gravis was the purchaser at the sale and Hannah Hill was the purchaser, and the property delivered to the bidders and the plaintiff [illegible] the execution satisfied which was twenty one dollars and fifty eight cents  The above is according to the best of my knowledge
[signature] Henry Hawver Constable
This Indenture made the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six between John Levingston of the manor and town of Livingston, in the county of Columbia, in the State of New York Esquire, of the first part and John Reynolds, of the town of Bristol county of Scholarie and State aforesaid, yeoman of the second part of the rents and covenants hereinafter mentioned on the part of the said party of the second part to be paid and performed, Hath granted, demised and to form
Page 41

Catskill May 19th 1840
Sir
In my letter of the 1st of April asking for information in relation to a increase of pension of Catharine Hill widow of Reuben Hill decd. under the act of 7th July 1838
Instead of the desired information the Department reject the application because not supported by proof  Enclosed is an extract from the State Department at Albany  Will the Department be kind enough to inform me if she is entitled to an increase in consequence of such proof and give me instruction in what manner to proceed in the premises
I am respectfully your most obedient servant
[signature] Henry Wynkoop
Hon. J. L. Edwards 
Com pensions
Washington D. C.
Page 42

The number and amount of certificate paid by the Treasurer of the State of New York for Levi [last name illegible] services &c continued
1781 November 30 illigible] Final £9.10.13
State of New York}
Comptrollers Office}
Albany May 15, 1840
I hereby certify the above to be true extract from Book [illegible] Now remaining in this office and that the service for which the above certificate was issued was performed or with Captain Abraham Livingston
[signature] W W Tredway
Dep Comptroller
Page 43

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Pen Department
Washington 
May 25
Noy
C. Hill
Page 44

J. L. Edwards Esq
Comr. of Pensions
Washington City
Page 45

Dear Sir:
Enclosed I send you Declaration of Catharine Hill to obtain the benefits of the pension act of March 3d 1843-
Also a declaration to obtain arrears of pension due her under the act of July 7th 1838  Not knowing as it would be satisfactory to include then in on declaration I send separate declarations
Respectfully Yours &c
[signature] A. Marks
Durham April 11th 1843
Green Co. N. York
Page 46

Note:  Handwritten letter is mostly illegible
Page 47

Catskill April 11th 1840
Sir 
Catharine Hill widow of Reuben Hill deceased is in the receipt of $48 per annum under the act of 7th July 1838
By a report of the department made to the 
Hon L. Hall M. C. the 11th of March 1839 it appears that her husband drew a pension for twelve months as a mariner which was sufficient to entitle him to full pension under the act of 1818
The widow says that her husband served considerable time in the Military and as she appears dissatisfyed [dissatisfied] with the amount of her present pension, I am desirous of knowing whether if he had served in the Military she would not be entitled to an increase of her present pension in proportion to the amount of service performed provided it can be satisfactorily shown
If so you will please direct me in what manner to proceed in making an additional application
I am Respectfully your most obedient Servant
[signature] Henry Wynkoop
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Washington
Page 48

Albany October 19, 1848
James L. Edwards Esquire,
Commiss. of Pensions,
Sir
I enclose the declaration of Mrs Catharine Hill for the purposer of obtaining the pension certificate, under the act of 2nd Feby. 1848
Very respectfully
Your Obt Sert
[signature] Lemuel Jenkins
Page 49

FREE
[Ca]lhoun, Secretary of War
[W]ashington
Page 50

Scholarie Feby 12 1824
Dr. Sir
Enclosed I send you the pension papers of James Brown and William Hill, in order that they may be restored to the pension list.
Yours respectfully
[signature] Elias Halliday
Hon. J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
Page 51

Note:  Document is faded and mostly illegible
Page 52

Albany 1,732
Catharine Hill widow of Reuben Hill who was a pensioner under the Act of 18 March 1818 and who died on the 29 June 1836 of Greene Co. in the State of N. York who was a mariner in the [the word company crossed out] Frigate Hague commanded by Captain Manley of the ___________
commanded by ______________ in the _____________ line for 12 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 48 Dollars -- Cents per annum to commence on the [the words 4th day of March, 1831 crossed out] 30 June 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of January 1839 and sent to Hon Z. Pratt
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '38
Semi-annual allowance ending Mar '39
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2 Page 81
Letter to Hon. Z. Pratt 11. March 1839
to H. Wynkoop 4. April 1860
to same 29. May 1840
Page 53

New-York- 1732
Catharine Hill widow of Reuben Hill- who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and who died on the 29th June 1836- of green coy in the State of N. Yk who was a Mariner in the Frigate Hague commanded by Captain Manley of the ___________ commanded by __________________ in the _____________ line for 12 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 8 Dollars -- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836 & ending 30th June 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of June 1843 and sent to A. Marks Durham, Green Co. 
N. Yk
Whole amount due $15.33
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by W. Stewart Clerk.
Book A Vol. 2 Page 81
Repd 28 June
Page 54

843
New York, Albany
Catharine Hill widow of reuben Hill who was a Mariner in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 48 Dollars 
-- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of July 1863 and sent to A. Marks
Durham Green Co. N. York
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1  Page 118.
Reported
Page 55

Navy on board Frigate Hague
WIDOW, &c.
No. 23292
Catharine Hill widow of Reuben Hill
Mariner, Rev War
Feb 29, 48
Vol. A, Page 337
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 56

Note:  Document is not legible
Page 57

Note:  Document is a form issued by the Department of the Interior.  The only thing legible is the form itself.  All other entries are not legible.