Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1006, Henry Bonesteel, New York.
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Service
New York

Bonesteel, Henry

Number R. 1006

Contents
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Somerset Ohio Oct. 19th, 1857

Com. Pensions

Yours of Sept. 9th 1857 stating that there is no evidence in your office of the Revolutionary Services of Henry Bonasteel together with your suggestion denoting him to apply to the Comptroller of New York for evidence "and to satisfactorily explain why he has not heretofore made application for a pension" has been received and I have applied accordingly and the reply is herewith inclosed and coy retained.
He did apply some years since through John B. Orton Esq. of this place, but believing that no proper attention had been given either by Mr. Orton or the department and being also at that time requested to swear that he was in needy circumstances which he could not do at that time he being in easy circumstances, but afterwards losing his wife and being childless, and
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therefore necessitated  to live with strangers ? property, soon became exhausted as also his physical ability to labor, so that he now lives more upon the charity of a kind hearted woman who supports him by washing and gardening.  
His necessities, have therefore driven him to ask at the hands of a generous government that relief when it has prospered to its founders and defenders.
If upon further investigation you are satisfied that no relief can be legally extended under the act under which his application is filed, you will confer a great favor upon an old soldier and a sympathizing community by stating whether there is any act of Congress now in force which would reach his care.
You could not sit and talk with Henry Bonasteel one half hour without being fully impressed
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with the conviction that he served his country in the Revolution as he did in the last war with Britain. 
If no other remedy presents itself an attempt will be made to procure a special act for him and any others similarly situated.
He can convince any honorable member of Congress by a half hours chat that he is what he represents himself to be a Revolutionary soldier.

Yours respectfully,

M. Kagay
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1857 - 8.10 - 
1761 - 5.10
----------------
96 - 3

The State of Ohio Perry County ss.

On this tenth day of August AD 1857, personally appeared in open Court before me R.F. Hickman Judge of the Probate Court within and for said County  (the Court being a Court of Records according to the laws of said state) Henry Bonasteel born on the 10th day of May Seventeen hundred and sixty one (1761) a resident of Reading Township in said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth under oath declare that he gave his name and age as above to Capt. P.P. Tierce a recruiting officer in the war of the American Revolution, after he had served three months as a substitute for which he received 20 bushels of corn per month, and enlisted for three years or during the war, that he rendezvoused at Albany in the State of New York before being marched upon the line of service.  That during his term of service he was under various officers at different points, along the chain of ports from Albany to Fort Stanwix,  - that he was marched into service under Lieut. Col. Marinus Willett of New York - that during his term of service he remembers having been under the command of Lieut. Fisk, Capt. Newell of Conn., Capt. Vanhorn of NY, Maj. Ben  Scotell, N.Y., Capt. Pliny Moore, N.Y., Lieut. Hastotter, and Ensign Trotter, and Lieut. Thorrington - that his certificate of having been duly mustered into service was sent home
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to his father shortly before the close of the war by one James Shaw a fellow soldier and close neighbor of his father, who resided near Albany  that said Shaw obtained the proper leave of his superior officer to stay away from camp some three weeks, on furlough - that staying beyond the proper time he and ensign were sent to bring him into service - the distance they had to go was about 120 miles - that when they reached Shaw's home no information could be obtained of his whereabouts - that on abandoning the search, and while on his return to camp, when he reached Albany, he met many soldiers on their return home who confirmed what he had learned before that peace had been declared and that his  regiment had been disbanded. that he made diligent inquiry for the Captain in order to obtain a proper discharge but was unable to find him - that at this time his term of three years had not expired by several months that the only pay he ever got for nearly three years of service was twenty dollars in money before the peace and some broad cloth and other goods of a Dutch paymaster in Albany after the peace (amounting to a mere trifle) that he shortly after married and moved into the woods, and was visited by a Connecticut gentleman on horseback who had found out that
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he had been in the service and who made a business of purchasing soldiers' rights for $5 each - that he sold his to this gentleman for that sum thinking he could get no more judging from the manner he had theretofore received his pay from the government  - that no other remuneration or pay was ever received by him than that before alluded to - that he is poor and needs what he believes to be his by the statutes of a greatful country, whose liberties he assisted to achieve.

Henry Bonesteel 

Witness present

R.F. Hickman
M. Kagay

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this tenth day of August 1857.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto attached my official seal and signature on the day above written.

R.F. Hickman
Probate Judge


I further certify that the above named Henry Bonesteel is to me well known to be the identical person he represents himself to be in the foregoing declaration  and that he is a credible person of unimpeachable veracity.

R. F. Hickman

Aug. 10, 1857
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I am well acquainted with Judge Hickman, Probate Judge of Perry County Ohio, before whom the within declaration was taken, and who certifies to the ? of the applicant, and him to a Judge as reputed.  Judge ? Kagay the other witness, who is Editor of the leading papers of the County, and both of which persons, as were of standing.
Will the point have the goodness to acknowledge the ? of this paper, and advises us in due time of the request of information

W. Medill
Comptroller's Office
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Somerset Oct. 19 1857


Col. Medill

Dear Sir:

Enclosed please find answer to the communication of George C. Whiting Pensioner commissioned together with the reply of the Comptrollers of New York.  If any reference is necessary or will aid Henry Bonasteel's claims, Nicolas Dominic Young of Washington knows him well and will testify to his character and standing.

You will please hand the above to the Commissioner's Office.

M. Kagay
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No.


Henry Bonesteel


Ohio


Set William Medill Sept. 9/1857
M. Kagay Oct. 29/1857


1006


Act 7th June 1832
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Comptroller's Office

State of New York

Albany Oct. 12, 1857


Sir:

There is no evidence in this office that Henry Bonasteel served in the War of the Revolution.  I have also taken the trouble to look through the list of names in the office of our Secretary of State, but I find nothing to aid you there. 
His name not appearing, on the rolls in this office is accounted for from the fact which you state, that he ? his pay.  The only names we have here are those who did not receive pay when the
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service was recorded.
The evidence of his service must be in Washington if anywhere. 
Fees for this search $1.00 which please remit to Comptrollers.

Respectfully,

C.L. Skeels
Exg. Desk


Martin Kagay, Esq.
Somerset Ohio
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1006


Henry Bonesteel


Enlisted:  NY April 1776
Discharged:  Col. Quick

Rejected