Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 251, James Armstrong, Ney York Penn.
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State of New York
Ontario County

On this twenty-seventh day of August 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the judges of the county court now sitting, James Armstrong, a resident of the town of Canadice in the county of Ontario and state aforesaid, aged seventy-four 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 provisions of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832.

He was born in Ireland in the county of Derry on the 13th August 1758, and when he was sixteen years of age, came to America and landed in the city of Philadelphia and his father went with his family into the country back of Philadelphia, about six miles and there labored with his father as a farmer for a season, when with his father and family, he took passage at Philadelphia for Providence, and after this went to Grafton in Worcester County in Massachusetts, where his father bought fifty acres of land and there settled and lived until his decease.

But this deponent returned to Pennsylvania by land and went to Lancaster.  This was at the commencement of the Revolutionary War, when he enlisted in Captain Massey's company of riflemen, but does not remember who the colonel was.  Was soon after marched about halfway to Philadelphia, the name of the place not remembered, and after about a week or a fortnight. was marched to Philadelphia and was quartered in a church, and soon after was ordered to New York with other troops and was joined by other companies, and when the troops arrived in New York, all their arms were put in repair; was quartered in barracks in the city and there done guard duty and ordered to Long Island with the army
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He saw General Putnam and Lord Sterling there and was in the battle at Flat Bush, and after the battle retreated to a hill, and after retreated with the whole army to New York.  And afterward to Kingsbridge, from thence to Throggs Neck and was in several skirmishes with the enemy.  And after this to White Plains, General Putnam was in command there.  He was in the battle at White Plains.  The next movement was to Stoney Point and was after this at Amboy, Brunswick, Trenton and Morristown.  Was in several skirmishes in Jersey.  Was at the battle of Brandywine, was at the battle of Meade Fort near Philadelphia.   When these battles were fought was not in Captain Massey's company, and does not remember in whose command he served, but was still in the rifle corps.

His enlistment was for three years, and he served out the whole time.  And he received a written discharge from his colonel but does not remember his name; it was near the Hudson River and at a place called the Nine Partners.  He did not keep the discharge but a short time and lost it when Major Andre was executed, he was on guard that day, does not remember what year this was.  He was at West Point at the time of General Arnold's defection and was at that time in Captain Massey's company, do not remember when this was.  

He was in the battle at Monmouth, don't remember who his captain was.  General Washington was there, don't remember what year this was.  Well remembers it was a hot day and many of the men melted and became sick.  Some died.  After this at New Milford in Connecticut he enlisted.
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for nine months in Colonel Wisenfelt's regiment and went to Saratoga and was under General Schuyler.  He does not remember his captain's name.  He was not there at the surrender of Burgoyne.  He was engaged in guarding the frontier against the Indians, was out on several expeditions, but was in no engagement with the enemy.  He served out the full term of nine months and was discharged at Saratoga.  

He believes his last service was near the close of the war and he then went to Grafton in Massachusetts and found his father and mother had died, and his two brothers, the only survivors of his family, had removed to Weatherfield in Vermont.  And this declarant followed them there and lived there about seven years and then removed to Scipio in the county of Cayuga and state of New York, and lived there twenty years, and then removed to Richmond in the county of Ontario and state aforesaid where he now lives.  The said town of Richmond having been divided and the new town of Canadice, a part of said Richmond, erected into a separate town in which he now lives.

He does not know any person now living who was in the service with him and has no documentary evidence.  He can neither read nor write, nor never cou  He has no relatives living except his wife, with whom he has lived yearly forty years.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency in any state.  He made application for a pension by Peter A. Mower, his agent, who is since deceased, and has never heard whether he was allowed a pension or not.  Nor has he been able to learn from any source whether his application was acted upon or not.
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He knows Orra Spencer and Frederick Westbrook of the town of Canadice in the county and state aforesaid.
Signed:  James (his X mark) Armstrong

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.

We, Orra Spencer and Frederick Westbrook, of the town of Canadice in the county and state aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Armstrong, who has subscribed his name and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-four 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 concur in that opinion. 
Signed:  Orra Spencer, Frederick Westbrook

Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid in open court

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 Orra Spencer and Frederick Westbrook, who have signed the preceding certificate, are both residents of the town of Canadice, are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.  

I, Charles Ciane, clerk of the said court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Armstrong for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this first day of September A.D. 1832.
Signed: Charles Ciane

9225
James Armstrong

Thomas Beals
Agent
Canandaigua