Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,229, for Robert Pratt, New York
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New York

Pratt, Robert
NUMBER
S. 14229
carded

CONTENTS
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14839 New York
Robert Pratt
of Hague in the State of New York
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hing of the Regt
commanded by Col Waterman in the New York
line for 8 months

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of July
1833 and sent J Burnet, Ticonderoga N.Y.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33 - $53.32
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 - $13.33
[Total] $66.65 

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Jno Cromwell, Clerk
Book E, Vol. 4, Page 71
Death not on A. B.
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State of New York
County of Warren ⎬ss:
On this 17th day of April A.D. 1832 personally
appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County Robert Pratt a resident of the town of Hague in the County of Warren and State of New York aged sixty Eight 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 in the month of May 1778 I joined the
company of Captain Elisha Gilbert of the New York Militia at New Lebanon then in the County
of Albany now in the County of Columbia in
the State of New York, where I then resided, as a private, and as a substitute of Caleb Pratt, my
Father, who had been drafted in to the said
company, and served therein something more than one month. We marched from New
Lebanon thru Albany & Schenectady to Johnstown where we stayed about fifteen days in the fort.  There were several other companies stationed there at the time, by whom commanded I do not recollect.  I then marched with Capt Gilbert's Company and one other company to Cherry Valley and was then stationed in the fort until my term of service expired.  There were several companies
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of New York Militia Stationed at Cherry Valley
but I have no recollection of the names of their officers.  The companies were commanded either by a major or a colonel but which I do not recollect - I do however recollect that Major Frisbee of New Concord, or New Lebanon in Albany County had a command then.  There was also an Adjutant by the name of Josiah Warner of New Canaan in Albany County aforesaid. We were chiefly employed in guarding the fort but went out occasionally on scouts. We made our excursion with a party of twenty eight to Andrewstown (now Springfield I think) a distance of eight or ten miles from Cherry Valley - and then fell in with a large party of Indians, who fired upon us, and pursued us about three miles on our
retreat to the fort. On the following night
we constructed a line of watch fires at the
distance of about sixty rods around the Fort
in anticipation of an attack, but none was
made.  When our term of service expired we
were marched from Cherry Valley to Albany
where the company was drawn up & dismissed
by the Captain.  None of us received a written
discharge - I was then but fourteen years of
age and acted as waiter to Capt Gilbert.
I have no documentary evidence nor do I know
of any person living by whom I can prove
the above service or any part of it. -
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Six days after the expiration of my first term
of service as above stated, I joined Capt Phelps'
company of New York Militia as a private or
as a substitute of Nathaniel Gilbert.   Capt
Phelps belonged to New Canaan or Spencertown.  I joined the company at New Lebanon and marched thru Albany to Cherry Valley, and quartered a part of the time in the Fort and a part of the time in Capt Wills' barn. Wills and his wife had been a few days before killed by the Indians, which was our reason as I then understood for calling out the militia- There were three four companies of New York Militia then at Cherry Valley-- but I have no recollection of the names of the officers except Capt Phelps and Joseph Lord the Ensign of Capt Phelps' Company. - Our company of United Regulars was then commanded by Captain Ballard.
I was one of a party of one hundred and thirty regulars and militia under Captain Ballard who
marched by night from Cherry Valley to Cooperstown, and crossing the Susquehanna River at the outlet of Otsego Lake.  Attacked and captured the Block houses garrisoned there by the Tories and Indians. The attack was made with the dawn & the enemy fled without making any resistance. We took several prisoners, and a quantity of property. The prisoners were conveyed to Albany Jail.  I formed one of their guard or escort
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I served more than a month this time and was
then marched with the company to Greenbush
when we were told by our Captain that each
of us must take care of ourselves & get home as soon as we pleased-- I have no  documentary evidence & know of no person, whose testimony I can procure who can testify to this term of service.
In the month of September of the same year I enlisted as a volunteer in Captain Gideon King's Company of New York Militia and served in the capacity of waiter of Lieut Edward Rexford  - Capt King belonged to New Lebanon, where I enlisted.
The Regiment to which Captain King's Company belonged was mustered at New Lebanon under Colonel Waterman of New Canaan or New Concord, and marched thru Kinderhook, Hudson & Poughkeepsie to
Fishkill, where we continued about a month and an half and quartered in tents.  Our
major's name was McInstry;  our Company 
of Col. Waterman's Regiment was commanded
by Capt Cady. There were several Regiments of
continental Troops stationed at Fishkill at this
time, one of which was commanded by Col Van
Rensselaer.
Then was a mutiny of a part of our Regiment on account of want of provisions headed by Sergeant Samuel Spencer, but which was quelled without bloodshed or assurances
being given of a better supply of food-
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It was then apprehended that the enemy contemplated an attack on West Point, and we were kept in constant readiness to march there, provided an attack should be made.  A  barrel of Tar was hoisted on a tree or pole to be fired in case of the enemy's approach. This was located on the top of a Hill between Fishkill and West Point.
Owing to the lateness of the season, sometime in the month of November all apprehension of an attack having ceased, our Regiment was disbanded at Fishkill.  I received no written discharge.
In the latter part of the month of May or the
former part of June 1779, I enlisted as a volunteer at New Lebanon aforesaid and served as a waiter to Lieut. Samuel Rexford in Captain Thaddeus Noble's Company of New York Militia and was marched thru Albany directly to Schoharie, where I served four months in a garrison, a part of the time in the middle and a part of the time in the upper Fort. There were two companies at the
upper & Middle Forts, who relieved each other alternately. There were several companies of Militia stationed at Schoharie Lower Fort, but I do not remember the names any of their officers. These Forts were occupied to protect Schenectady & Albany.  Our company was dismissed at Schoharie by the Captain, but no written discharge was received.
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I have no documentary evidence nor do I know of any person by whom I can prove the fact of this service.
In June 1780 I was hired by a class belonging to Capt Elisha Gilbert's company of New Lebanon to serve in what was called the three months levies, but served four months. We were mustered at New Canaan & marched from thence to Livingston Manor, then to Fishkill, then to West Point, then to Kings Ferry then to Haverstraw Bay, then to Dobbs Ferry, then to Albany then to Fort Edward then to Palmertown in the present County of Saratoga & was then discharged, but not in writing. Our Regiment was commanded by Col Graham, the Major's name was Wilson & the adjutant was John Fonda of Schenectady.  My captain's name was Elijah Bostwick. We did very little but
march this term, except that while at West Point, we were employed in drawing cannon from Fort Putnam to the River and we went on a few scouting parties while at Palmertown, one to where the Fish House now stands but met no enemy.
While we were stationed at Palmertown the Indians attacked Col Warner's Regiment at Fort Edward and burnt Schuyler's Mill-- I have no documentary
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evidence of this service but expect that I
can procure the testimony of Nehemiah Brown of Bolton, County of Warren, and Amos Chapman of Caldwell in said County of Warren to prove my service during this term.
In the month of June 1782 I enlisted as a
volunteer & private in the Company of Capt
Joel Gillett of Farmington Connecticut in
the Regiment I think of Colonel Willett of the
New York State line. Ezekiel Scott of Farmingtown Connecticut was our Major. The place of my enlistment & mustering was at Albany in the State of New York and I served about four months. I was stationed during the whole time of my service at Albany. We had little to do except to keep guard & to go thru with regular exercise & drill. I was however engaged a short time in removing the Laboratory standing a a little way below the house now occupied by the Hon Stephen Van Rensselaer to the River to be transported to West Point. This term of enlistment was for three years or during the war, but which 
I do not distinctly recollect-
I received no written discharge & never received one cent of pay but received an honorable verbal discharge from the captain when the company was dismissed.
I have no documentary evidence & know of no
person living whose testimony I can procure to
testify to this service.
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I was born as I believe in the town of Old Haddam in the State of Connecticut in the year 1764. I have no record of my age & derive my information from my parents as to the time of my birth, they are now dead. I lived in New Lebanon during the whole Revolutionary war, except when in the service.  I settled in the town of Poultney in the County of Rutland in the State of in Vermont in the year 1788 & resided there upwards of thirty years and I am now a resident of the town of Hague County of Warren and State of New York.
I was first a substitute for my father - afterwards was a substitute for Nathaniel Gilbert & refer to Elder William Grant & Nath'l Garfield for my character for truth & veracity &c.
[signed] Robert Pratt
Subscribed & Sworn before me
in open Court this 18th day
of September 1832
Thomas Archibald Clerk

And I hereby relinquish every claim
Whatever to a pension or annuity
Except the present and I declare that
my name is not on the pension roll
of the agency of any State-
[signed] Robert Pratt
Subscribed & sworn this 17th
day of April 1833 Before me in open Court
Thomas Archibald Clerk
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State of New York
Warren County } ss:
Amos Chapman of the town of Caldwell in the County of Warren & State of New York aged seventy four years being duly sworn saith that he has heard read the annexed declaration of Robert Pratt, that he has been acquainted with the said Pratt fifty two years last past - that he served during the Revolutionary war with said Pratt in the year 1780 in Captain Elijah Bostwick's company, Colonel Graham's Regiment; John Fonda was adjutant- that he served under said officers with said Pratt four
months and that the account of said Pratt contained in his declaration of said service is
true and this deponent further saith that the said Pratt is a man of truth & veracity
and that this deponent believes that
his account of services in said declaration contained is in all respects true.
[signed]  Amos Chapman (X) his mark

Subscribed & Sworn this
18th day of September
1832 in open Court
Thomas Archibald Clerk

and I also certify that I am well acquainted with
the said Amos Chapman who has made
the above affidavit and that he is a
man of truth and veracity and entitled
to credit
Thomas Archibald Clerk
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State of New York
County of Warren } ss:
To wit-- Nehemiah Brown of Bolton in the
County of Warren being duly sworn doth depose and say that he knows Robert Pratt of Hague in said County has been acquainted with him, for about fifty four years, believes
that he is about Sixty Eight years old. Pratt and this deponent enlisted in the year 1780 under Capt Elijah Bostwick, in the New York troops, for three months. Pratt served the three months & over - that this deponent does not know actually, of any other service of Mr Pratt in the Revolutionary war, but heard about the times of his serving in the war at other times, but cannot be certain as to the dates or terms of his service.
That this deponent believes the said Robert Pratt to be a man of truth and veracity and
that Mr. Pratt has resided in Poultney in Vermont until within a few years, and this deponent cannot therefore attest as to his reputation there for services in the Revolutionary War.
[signed]  N Brown
Subscribed & Sworn in open Court
this 18th day of September 1832
Thomas Archibald Clerk

and I also certify that I am well acquainted with
the said N. Brown who has made the
above affidavit and that he is a man
of truth and veracity and entitled to
Credit-
Thomas Archibald Clerk
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We, William Grant a Clergyman residing
in the town of Bolton in the County of
Warren and State of New York and
Nathaniel Garfield of the town of
Hague and County & State aforesaid
hereby certify that we are acquainted with
Robert Pratt who has subscribed and
Sworn to the above declaration, that we
believe him to be of Sixty Eight years
of age, that he is reputed and believed
in the Neighborhood where he resides
to have been a soldier of the revolution
and that we concur in that opinion.
[signed] Wm Grant
[signed] Nathaniel Garfield, Jr
Subscribed & Sworn before me
in open Court this 18th day
of September 1832
Thomas Archibald Clerk
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State of New York
Warren County } ss:
On the 17 day of April 1833. personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Warren aforesaid, Robert Pratt who being
duly sworn deposeth and saith that by
reason of old age & the consequent loss of
memory he cannot swear positively as
to the precise length of his service but
according to the best of his recollection be
served not less than the periods mentioned
below and in the following grades -
For six weeks I served as a waiter & private
as set forth in the annexed declaration as
being my first term of service & I then
was fifteen years of age. For two months
I served as a waiter to Lieut Edward Rexford
in the rank of a private soldier.  For four
months I served as a waiter to Lieut. Samuel Rexford & ranked as a private-
For four months I served as a private in
Captain Elisha Gilbert's company - For four
months I served as a private in the
company of Captain Joel Gillett, making
in the whole one year, three months and a
half that I served as a private soldier in
the Army of the United States during the
Revolutionary War in the regular
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Embodied Troops of the United States
called out and commanded by
competent authority as mentioned in
my declaration to which this is annexed, and
for such service I claim a pension-
[signed] Robert Pratt
Subscribed & sworn this 17
day of April 1833 before
Thomas Archibald Clerk
in Open Court
Page 16

And the said Court do hereby declare
their opinion, after the investigation
of the matter, and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the war
Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that William Grant who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Bolton in the County of Warren and State of New York and that Nathaniel Garfield, Junior, who has also signed the same is a resident of the Town of Hague in the County and State aforesaid and is a
credible person, and that their statement 
is entitled to credit-

I Thomas Archibald Clerk of the Court
of Common pleas of the County of
Warren do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the
matter of the application of Robert
Pratt for a pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of my office
this seventeenth day of April in the
year of our Lord one thousand
Eight hundred and thirty three -
Thomas Archibald Clerk
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11,242
Robert Pratt

Adm'd

59.14.16

Specific req'd
Too young for a Soldier

24 Sep 1832
27 Dec 1832

P 185

Jon a Burnet
Ticonderoga
Essex Co.
N York
Page 18

11,242
BRIEF in the case of Robert Pratt, Hague,
Co of Warren in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 68 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
(1) May 1778
Duration of Service. - 1 month
Rank:  As a substitute
Names of General & Field Officers under whom he served:  Capt. E. Gilbert
(2) "Six days after" [first period of service]
Duration:  1 mo.
Rank:  Substitute
Officers:  Capt. Phelps
(3) Sept. 1778
Duration:  Till in Nov.
Rank:  Pvt.
Officers:  Capt. G. King; Col. Waterman
(4) May or June '79
Duration:  4 mos.
Rank: Pvt.
Officers:  Capt. Teroble
(5) June '80
Duration:  4 mos.
Rank:  Pvt.
Officers:  Capt. T. Gilbert; Col. Graham
Capt. E. Bostwick
(6) June '82
Duration:  abt. 4 mos.
Rank:  Pvt.
Officers:  Capt. J. Gilbert; Col. Willett

5. In what battles was he engaged?
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? New Lebanon Columbia Co., New York
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Trad'l
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. Fawcett
Examining Clerk.
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14229
INVALID.
Rev. War
File No. 14.229

Robert Pratt
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 303
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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11,242
Robert Pratt
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Robert Pratt & which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? It does
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? He did
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? He has
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No
Affidavit should state separately & distinctly the period term & grade of each tour of actual service in some embodied corps regularly
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Called out & commanded by competent authority-- no allowance will be made for a service in the ranks which the papers show was alleged to be rendered before the applicant was 15 years old - under that age it cannot be admitted that he was a soldier in the ranks.
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Has
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? No not signed
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  He has
XIII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? Court
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? It does
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? They are
and
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For___year
__ months and__days, I served as a____/
For ____months and ___days, I served as a___and for such service I claim a pension."
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase "about three or four months" is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. [This paragraph is highlighted with a picture of a hand pointing to it.]