Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 2490, John P Critchett, New York
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SERVICE
New York

Critchett, John P.
-
NUMBER
R 2490

CONTENTS
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14.460
John P Critchett
St. Lawrence Co N York

not in mos & yrs.

14th
p 403

May 18 33
Moses Holbrook
Ogdensburg
N. Y.
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BRIEF in the case of *John P. Critchett
Co. of St. Lawrence in the State of NY
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 78 years
State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. 
(1) In 1776
Duration of Service: 5 mo.
Rank: as a private
Names of Generals & Field Officers under whom he served.: Capt. Swartwort, Col. Swartwort
(2) 1777
Duration:  2 mo.
Rank: Private
Names of Generals & Field Officers under whom he served.: Capt. Swartwort, Col. Swartwort
(3) 1777 - Artillery
Duration:  10 mo.
Rank: Private
Names of Generals & Field Officers under whom he served.:  Capt. Moody, Col. Webb
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Poughkeepsie N. York
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Papers not attach'd as req'd

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

*Commonly called Peacock to prevent detention for he was a deserter from the British service

Richard Cutts
Examining Clerk.
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Application of
John P. Critchett for
Revolutionary Pension,
under Act of 7th June 1832-

14460
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832
State of New York
County of St Lawrence } ss:
On this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord 1832 appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in the said County, now sitting John P Critchett, a resident of the Town of De Peyster, in the County of Lawrence & state of New York, aged 78 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 on the first day of August 1776 for five months as a volunteer in the Company commanded by Captain Bernardus Swartwout, in Col. Swartwout's regiment in Genl George Clintons brigade
in the town of Poughkeepsie in this state & were raised for the purpose of guarding the shores of Dutchess & WestChester Counties. That his company was immediately marched to Fort Washington where they joined Genl Mifflin's Battalion of Pennsylvanians & marched from there to New York and arrived there shortly after the battle of Flat Bush, & that they made no stop at New York but proceeded to Long Island under the command of Genl Mifflin & marched to the lines. That some days thereafter all the American forces retreated from the Island, & this deponent went with them to Kingsbridge & remained there a few days, & marched again to White Plains, where he remained till about the 1st of November, & then marched to Peekskill & thence to Fort Constitution, in the Highlands, where he this deponent, served out the time of his enlistment for five months & was discharged on New Years day 1777 by Capt Swartwout.  That Captain Swartwout
then stated that he had orders to raise a company for two months service, when this
deponent again enlisted as a volunteer & served the two months at Fort Constitution
where he was regularly discharged by Capt Swartwout, & that just before Capt Swartwort's company left the fort, they were relieved by a company of Artillery raised there & by some New Hampshire troops. That early in the spring of 1777, he this deonent again entered the public service as a private soldier in the Artillery commanded by Captain Moody when Captain Matchin was wounded in the fort,
was employed in sinking chevaux de frise in the river below New Windsor Near Polypus Island. That he this deponent went up the river with his company in connexion with Col. Webb's Regt of the Connecticut line, & marched under Genl George
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Clinton, as far as Esopus, where the British had preceded them & burnt the place. That he had command of a Government sloop a good part of the summer carried Genl Clinton several times. That this deponent with Capt Moody's
company proceeded with all possible dispatch with a 24 pounder to NewBurgh where they
fired on the British shipping as they returned. That this deponent was discharged at New Windsor about the 1st of January 1778 by Genl Clinton, when this deponent proceeded to Boston & entered as Boatswain on a privateer, & had an engagement with a British Letter of Marque, whom they took, but the same was retaken by a British man of war, before arriving at Port. That this deponent while on a voyage on the Exeter Galley from Exeter, England to
Portsmouth in New Hampshire, his native place, when off the latter Harbor he this deponent & four others were impressed on board of the British man of war, the Cancer, on the 3d of June 1774 or 1775 (before the tea was destroyed) & remained there until the beginning of October, when he this deponent deserted at Kennebec & proceeded to Boston. That this deponent in all his enlistments in
our service was known & called John Peacock, to evade being recognized as the deserter from the Cancer man of war should he be retaken by the British.  That he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to testify to his services.  
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed 
the day & year aforesaid }

And to the Interrogatories propounded by the
Court this deponent answereth and saith-
That he was born in Portsmouth New Hampshire in the year 1753. on the 18th of September -
Has a Record of his age in his Bible, and thinks
his Baptism was recorded in the Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, and his age recorded by the Town Clerk.
That when he first entered the service he was living at Poughkeepsie and working in the Ship yard, and entered as a volunteer - that he enlisted afterwards at each term as stated in his declaration-
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That for 10 or 12 years after the war of the Revolution he lived in New London Connecticut and followed the sea.   When he quit the sea, he removed to Argyle in the
County of Washington New York State and lived there near 20 years - he then moved to Pawlet, Rutland County Vermont and lived there about 6 years, then removed to the Town of Junius, Seneca Co. NY and lived there about 6 years - then moved to the Town of
De  Peyster St. Lawrence County where he has lived about 7 years & where his son in Law was living -
That at each term of service he enlisted voluntarily.
That the names of the officers are stated in his
declaration as far as recollected -
That he never received any other discharge that he recollects, other than a pass from General George Clinton who observed that he was sorry to part with him - that the paper was worn out & lost-
That he is well known in his present neighborhood and refers to the Rev'd Luther Lee and to the persons who have subscribed the annexed certificate, who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his
services as a soldier of the Revolution. - 
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid }
[signed] John P. Critchett (X) his mark

A.C. Low, Clk
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I, Smith Stilwell at present a resident of the
Town of Oswegatchie in the County of St. Lawrence, but for several years past a resident of the Town of De Peyster do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John P. Critchett who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I have known him for about ten
years, and believe him to be 78 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 I concur in that opinion -- 
[signed] Smith Stilwell
Sworn and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
A C Low Clk
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Luther Lee a resident clergyman in the Town of De Peyster County of St. Lawrence and State of New York, he being personally acquainted with John P. Critchet of the same place certify that
he is commonly reported and believed
in the neighborhood where he resides
to have been a soldier in the American
Revolution and that I concur in the
opinion and that I believe him to be seventy nine years old.
[signed] Luther Lee
Sworn & Subscribed
Sept 24th 1832 before me Geo W Barber J.P
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State of New York
St. Lawrence County } ss:
I Alvin C Low Clerk of said County do hereby
certify that George W Barber before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been made was at the date of the same a Justice
of the Peace in and for said County duly Elected and sworn and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice of the Peace and verily believe that his signature to the
said affidavit is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this
27th day of September 1832
A C Low Clk
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We, Joel J Emmer, a Clergyman, residing in the
Town of Hammond near De Peyster and Joseph
Shaw residing in the Town of De Peyster, St. Lawrence Co., hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John P. Critchett who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration;
that we believe him to be about 78 - years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion-
Sworn to & subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
[signed] J J Emmer
[signed] Joseph Shaw

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed
by the War Department, that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states, & the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Joel J Emmer who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in
the Town of Hammond near De Peyster and that Joseph Shaw who has also signed the same is a resident in the said Town of
De Peyster and is a credible person, & that
their statement is entitled to credit
John Fine
Fose George, witnesses

I Alvin C Low Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of St Lawrence Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John P. Critchett for a Pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of office this 25th day of September in the year of our Lord 1832
A C Low Clk
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I Alvin C Low Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County of S Lawrence Do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John P. Critchett for a Pension - And that the signature of "John
Fine First Judge of  S Law Ct" subscribed to the
said declaration and proceedings, is well
known to me, and that the same is his proper
hand writing, and that he was, and is duly
commissioned and sworn and acting as such
Judge.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this
8th day of June in the year of our Lord
1833
AC Low Clk
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section.

August 23, 1927

Clara V. Critchett
113 Haskell Ave
Battle Creek, Mich.

Madam:

I have to advise you from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 2490,
it appears that John P. Critchett, applied for
pension September 25, 1832, while a resident of DePeyster St. Lawrence County, New York, and alleged, that while residing at Poughkeepsie, New York, he entered the service in August 1776, and served in Captain Bernardus Swartwout's Company, Colonel Swartwout's Regiment, also served in Captain Moody's Company of Artillery, after which
he went to Boston and entered as Boatswain on a privateer, and had an engagement with a British Letter of Marque.
The claim was not allowed as there was no
proof of service, as required by the pension laws.
It also appears in said claim, that John P.
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Critchett was born September 18, 1753 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and that "before the tea was destroyed" he was pressed on the British Man of War "Cancer" and deserted from it, and that in all of his enlistments he was called John Peacock, for fear the British would
recognize him as a deserter, and would be retaken by them.
He stated that after the Revolution, he lived for
some years in Washington County, New York.
He had a son-in-law (his name not given) living in De Peyster, New York in 1832; and in 1853, his son Jedediah is referred to. No further family data.
The above noted John Pritchett or John
Critchett is the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.
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1927 Aug 23, Hist to Clara V. Critchett - aws

2490
REJECTED
P. O.  John P. Critchett
Service: _____
Enlisted:_________, 18
Discharged:_________, 18
Application filed:_______, 18
18

The printed list of 1852
shows reasons for suspension
Alleges:
not on the rolls --no proof
Re-enlisted: "of service"
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
Contract
Cert of Dis. 
Searched for_____, 18   .
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John P. Critchett

not on Rolls of Moody's compy in Lamb's Regt.
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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
John P Critchett St. Lawrence Co., N. York which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
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? yes
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? yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
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? yes
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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? yes
XII. 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? No
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
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?
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? yes


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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the
officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the
applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
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 he 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 authenticates 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 ends 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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New York
Revo:
John P. Critchett
Suspended
[this is crossed out: let Hasbrouck 24 Sep 35
Lucas Wilson Oct 15/53]
2496
Act 7 June 32
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S Hasbrouck
24 Sep 1833


OC


Re.  Vol. 10.
Pa 249
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War Dept.
Pension Ofc.
Sept 24 1833

Sir.
The claims of Noah Palmer & Solomon
Cross have been examined & suspended for
further proof -  they each allege a service
which must be susceptible of proof and
the regulations require the best evidence
in the power of claimants to produce.
They should at least shew that they have
fruitlessly exerted themselves to obtain it where it is most likely to be found.
John P. Critchett's alleged service in Capt Moody's Company of Artillery is not supported by the rolls of Moody's company of Lamb's Regt of artillery which are believed to be full & accurate -
He should therefore sustain that part of his
claim by two credible witnesses -- The papers
in the above cases are placed on file
Act 7 June

S. Hasbrook, Esq.
Ogdensburg, NY
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DePuyster, St. Lawrence Co., NY  
September 28/33

Dear Sir,
I take the liberty to inform you that I employed Mark J. Works to obtain a pension for my Uncle Jedediah Critchet on the account of his Father, John P. Critchet's revolutionary service and I have written Mr. Works in relation to his prospects for success and have only received one letter since that time and immediately or  upon receipt of the Power or Attorney executed to him by the heirs of the said John P. Critchet to receive the pension for them.
Now Sir as I am unsuccessful in obtaining any information in relation to the prospect of obtaining said pension, or any information in relation to Mr. Works or where he is or what he may be doing or what he may have done in relation to the pension he was legally empowered to obtain, will you have the goodness to answer this letter and very much oblige your humble obedient Servant,
Loren Wilson
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Loren Wilson
Oct 15/33
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Pension Office
Oct 15 1853

Sir -
The case of John P. Critchett of N.Y. had
not been allowed because he failed to
show that he rendered any service.
Perhaps the Comptroller of NY may be
in possession of some information in his
favor.

Loren Wilson Esq.
DePeyster
Lawrence Co., NY
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Levi Fay
Smith Stilwell
Postmaster
Joseph Shaw
Nathan Dean
Jesse Mc Curdy
Eben'r Pauna
John Wilson
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113 Haskell Ave.
Battle Creek, Mich.
Aug. 16, 1927.

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:-
In reply to your questions concerning
Revolutionary soldier, John Critchett I will say
that I think he was born about 1756 and
enlisted from Dover N.H. I am sure that
he went to Washington Co. N.Y. after the war and that his wife's name was Grace Otis. Where
he was born or where he died I do not know.
I would appreciate any information you can give me concerning this man - both military
and personal. Did he have brothers or cousins in the war and what were their names?

Yours respectfully
Clara V. Critchett

[circular stamp:  U.S. PENSION OFFICE AUG 17 K]