Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28805, for Phinehas Maxson, Rhode Island
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(8-1776)

SERVICE
Continental
R.I.

Maxson, Phinehas

NUMBER
S.28805

CONTENTS
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3485
New York
Phinehas Maxson of Morristown in the State of New York who was a Pr. Sergt. En & Cap in the Company commanded by Captain Randall of the Regt. commanded by Col. Dornan in the Rhode Island line for 12 mo. a Private * mo. a Sergt. 3 mo. an Ensign, and 1 month a Captain (in Regt. commanded by Col Miller)
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 130 Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of Dec 1832 and Jno L Russell Agt. Canton New Y. 
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 - $195.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 65.00
$260.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by John Cromwell Clerk,
Book D Vol. 5 Page 126.
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Stephen Maxson of DeRuyter Madison Co. NY personly appeared before me a justice of the peace and being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that he was acquainted with one Phinehas Maxson in the first year of the revolutionary war stationed at prospect hill Cambridge, Ms. for eight months at one time and served as a Sergent in John Randol Company and after that time he knew the same Phinehas Maxson at East Greenwich for one month serving as a commissioned officer in the same war
Sworn before me this 8th day of July 1832
[signed] Stephen G Sears J.P

I do Certify that the above Deponent is a Person of a Good Moral Character and whose veracity for truth stands unimpeached
[signed] Stephen G. Sears J.P
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State of New York Clerks Office
Madison County Ss 
I Andrew S Sloan Clerk of the said County do certify that Stephen G. Sears before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County and that I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper handwriting and signature Witness my hand and seal of office this 13th day of July 1832
[signed] Andrew S. Sloan. Clk.
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In the matter of Phineas Maxson
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832
11843
comitted
1 mo capt.
3 mo. Ensign
8 mo. Sergt.
12 mo private
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State of New York
County of St Laurence Ss}
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 -
On this twenty fifth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the aforesaid County of St Laurence being a court of Record, now sitting Phineas Maxson a resident of the town of Morristown in the County of St. Laurence and State of New York aged seventy seven 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 7. 1832. That he entered the service of United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He was born in the Town of Hopkinton, Kings County in the State of Rhode Island, on the 1st day of February 1755. Has a record of his age in his family Bible. At Hopkinton aforesaid in the month of May 1775 he enlisted as a sergeant in the Rhode Island Troops raised to march against the enemy at Boston, in a company under Capt. John Randall; Lieut. Oliver Clark; Ensign Arnold Clark, and in a Regiment commanded by Colonel James Mitchell Varnum; Major Sherman. His company mustered in Hopkinton in the month of June 1775 he cannot state the day, and marched to Winter Hill in Cambridge Massachusetts, where he joined his regiment on the 20 or 21 June 1775 (3 or 4 days after the battle of Bunker Hill He served in the vicinity of Boston in this company and regiment, as second sergeant eight months, the term of his inlistment and at the end of his service he was discharged on Prospect Hill, near Boston, by his Colonel Varnum, he received no written discharge. He cannot state of the precise time of his discharge, but he was discharged with the rest of the regiment after serving his full service of eight months. His Regiment on their first service built fortifications on Winter Hill where they were stationed a short time, and then took up their quarters on Prospect Hill and there built a fort, and were quartered there the remainder of the service. He recollects Col. Hitchcock's Regiment of Rhode Island Troops. Gen Greene and General Washington he recollects seeing there. Also Col. Greene a cousin of Gen Greene, who commanded a Regiment.
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In the fore part of the summer 1776. he cannot state the month or day - Col. Jesse Maxson's Regiment of Rhode Island militia was ordered out in the service for one month to guard the sea coast at East Greenwich on New Port Bay. He was then living at Hopkinton aforesaid and received an Ensign's commission in Capt. Jesse Burdick's company in the same Regiment and marched with his company to East Greenwich where they served one month for which they were called out. The applicant serving as ensign, and were then discharged at East Greenwich and return3d home. His said commission was signed by the Governor of Rhode Island. The applicant has not seen it for twenty years and supposes it to be lost - soon after this service in the latter part of the summer of 1776 his company and Regiment was again called out for one month to serve at South Kingston, at Narrow River Bridge near Franklin's Ferry at which place he served one month as Ensign under the same commission he having the command during this time of his company his Captain and Lieutenant both being absent. At the end of the month the Regiment was discharged at South Kingston and returned home. In the summer of 1777 at Hopkinton his company of militia was again ordered out for one months service at Point Judah in South Kingston about seven miles from NewPort, where he marched with his company under the same commission having the command of his company and served as Ensign at the last place one month, and was discharged with his company at the same place. The rest of the Regiment was quartered about a mile back on the point. During this time the enemy occupied NewPort. On one ocasion his company rescued from the beach an American vessel bound into the harbour of NewPort & ignorant of the enemy holding the harbour. He ordered his men to parade on the Bank & make signals to the vessell, which was done. But before the vessel could tack and escape the enemys cutters had discovered her and made sail after her, which forced the mater of the vessel to run her a shore near where his company was stationed. The enemys cutters anchored and sent their boats plunder and burn the vessel but his
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men by their fire from the beach drove them back twice and saved the vessel. - The last three months served he performed as Ensign of Militia. His memory is so poor that he cannot fix the precise dates, but of the length of the service he is positive.
In the month of May 1778 he inlisted as a private in a corps of Arti[illegible] raised by orders of Gen Mifflin from several different states. He believes Gen Mifflin was chief Engineer for all the Continental forces. The applicant inlisted in this corps at Wilbraham in the State of Massachusetts for one year and nine months in Capt. Wood's company - Lieut Bolton; Ensign William Spring, Major Painter, commanded the corps. Col. Kosciusko was afterwards chief Engineer. He served his full term of one year and nine months except a few days and was discharged at West Point in the month of February 1780 at West Point by a written furlough signed by Col. Kosciusko, instead of a discharge. The reason of his receiving a furlough instead of a discharge was that a few days before his service expired he received intelligence of sickness in his family and Col. Kosciusko gave him a furlough instead of a discharge with the understanding that it should answer for a discharge, as he would not be able to return again before his time would expire. The paper has been destroyed many years since. In this service he first joined the army at New Windsor on the Hudson River, eight miles from West Point where he was stationed about two months, and then marched to West Point - where he was stationed all the rest of his term. at West Point there were several different corps of of Continental Troops during his service. Gen Washington's headquarters were there a part of the time. Gen. Patterson was there with Massachusetts Troops and Gen. Irvin of the Pennsylvania Line. The applicant was all this service under the immediate command of Major Painter.  In July 1780 he received the commission of Captain from the Governor of Rhode Island which commission is now produced. Soon after he received his Captain's commission, he thinks in August 1780 his company of militia was ordered out on alarm to march to New Port when the French and Americans expected an attack from the enemy.  He immediately marched with his company from Hopkinton to New Port crossing at Franklin's ferry
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At NewPort his company was attached to a Regiment under Col. Miller - His company was there stationed one month and then discharged with the rest of the militia and he returned home to Hopkinton. The foregoing [illegible] the services of the applicant during the Revolutionary War. The claims first for 1 months service as Captain of Militia at Newport - 2nd 3 months services as Ensign at East Greenwich and South Kingston - 3rd for 8 months service as second sergeant at Boston - 4th for one year and 9 months service as actipice in the corps of Engineers. 
In 1818 he made an application for a pension for his services in the corps of Engineers as aforesaid under the Law of that year, which was rejected on the ground that this corps did not come within the Terms of that act. He has no documentary proof of his services except the said Captain's commission. There is no living witness whose testimony he can produce, except Stephen Maxson of DeRuyter, in the County of Madison whose affidavit he now produces. The said Stephen Maxson is a cousin of the applicant, and served in the same company with him at Boston - and also under the applicant at East Greenwich.
Since the close of the revolutionary war, he resided first for three or four years at Hopkinton aforesaid when he removed to Norklick in the State of New York. He has since resided in the State of New York - in the Town of Schadack New Baltimore Coeymens, Scherhasin, Kortnight, Middletown, and Morristown aforesaid, at which last place he has resided about twelve years and now resides there. There is no clergymen in his immediate vicinity with whom he is acquainted. He is acquainted Ephraim Hyde and Uriah Mead both residents of the Town of Morristown aforesaid who can testify to his character and a belief of his services. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state. 
[signed] Phinehas Maxson

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] AC Sow Clk
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We Ephraim Hyde and Uriah Meed residing in the aforesaid Town of Morristown hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Phineas Maxson, who has has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood & where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion - also the said Uriah Meed further certifies and deposes that for upwards of thirty years he has well known the said Maxson that during that time he has sustained an undoubted character of integrity and veracity; and during all this time he has been reputed and believed in his family and among his neighbors to have served a long time in the revolutionary war, and that in the opinion of the said Mead his foregoing statement is in every respect intitled to full credit.
[signed] Ephraim Hyde
[signed] Uriah Meed
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] AD Sow Clk

I Joel J Emms a clergyman residing in the Town of Hammond in the aforesaid County of St Laurence, the town adjoining Morristown aforesaid hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the said Phineas Maxson who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration that he is a man of strict integrity and veracity and his statement is believed by all who know him and is intitled to full credit.
[signed] JJ Emms
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
[signed] AD Sow Clk

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 officer and soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Joel J. Emms who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in
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the Town of Hammond in the aforesaid County of St Laurence, whose statement is intitled to credit also that Ephraim Hyde and Uriah Meed who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents of the aforesaid Town of Morristown are redible persons and that their statement is intitled to credit.
I Alvin D Sow Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the aforesaid County of St Lawrence do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of Phineas Maxson for a Pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty sixth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
[signed] AD Sow Clk
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the Town of Hammond in the aforesaid County of St Laurence, whose statement is intitled to credit also that Ephraim Hyde and Uriah Meed who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents of the aforesaid Town of Morristown are redible persons and that their statement is intitled to credit.
I Alvin D Sow Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the aforesaid County of St Lawrence do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of Phineas Maxson for a Pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty sixth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
[signed] AD Sow Clk
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11.843
Phineas Maxson
admitted
John Leslie Russell
Canton
NY
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November 9, 1939.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mr. Albert T. Maxon
165 Lafayette Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York.

BA-J/CC
Phinehas Maxson
S.28805

Dear Sir:
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S.28805, based upon service of Phinehas Maxson in the Revolutionary War.
Phinehas Maxson was born February 1, 1755, at Hopkinton, Rhode Island, Names of his parents are not shown.
While residing at Hopkinton, Rhode Island, he enlisted in May 1775, served eight months as second sergeant in Captain John Randall's company, Colonel James Mitchell Varnum's Rhode Island regiment; in 1776, and 1777, he served three months as ensign in Captain Jesse Burdick's company, Colonel Jesse Maxson's Rhode Island regiment; enlisted at Wilbraham, Massachusetts in May, 1778, served one year and nine months as private in Captain Wood's company, Colonel Kosclusko's Regiment of Engineers. He was commissioned July 9, 1780, Captain of the Third Company or Trained Band of Hopkinton, Rhode Island; in August 1780, he  marched to Newport, and served one month under Colonel Miller.
After the Revolution he lived three or four years in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, then moved to the State of New York, resided in Hoosick, Schodack, New Baltimore, Coeymans, Schoharie, Kortright, Middletown, and Morristown, all in the State of New York. 
Phinehas Maxson was allowed pension on his application executed September 25, 1832, while a resident of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.
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No reference was made to wife or children.
Phinehas Maxson's cousin, Stephen Maxson, was residing in DeRuyter, Madison County, New York, in 1832 and stated that he served during the Revolutionary War with Phinehas.
It is not shown that the Colonel Jesse Maxson under whom he served was a relative.
No further family data are shown.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of Phinehas Maxson, you should address the Comptroller General, Generel Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Phinehas Maxson
Certificate #3485
Issued December 22, 1832
Rate $130.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
New York Agency.
Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
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Phinehas Maxson
Captain 3d. Compa
Hopkington

Maxson, Phinehas
Cont - R.I. S28805
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By his Excellency William Greene Esquire, Governor, Captain-General, and Commander in Chief, of and over the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
To Phinehas Maxson Gentleman, GREETING.
YOU Phinehas Maxson being by the General Assembly elected and chosen to the Place and Office of Captain of the third Company of Trained Band of the Town of Hopkington in the County of Kings County in the State aforesaid are hereby, in the Name of the Governor and Company of the said State, authorized, enpowered, and commissioned, to exercise the Office of Captain of and over the Company aforesaid: And recommand, guide and conduct the same, or any Part thereof: And in Case of an Invasion or Assault of common Enemy to infest or disturb this Plantation, you are to alarm and gather together the Company under your Command, or such Part thereof as you shall deem sufficient, and therewith, to the utmost of your Skill and Ability, you are to resist, expel, kill and destroy the same, in order to preserve the Interest of the good People in these Parts. You are also to follow such Instructions, Directions and Orders, as shall from Time to Time, be further given forth, either by the General Assembly the Governor and General Council, or other your Superior Officers. And for your so doing, this Commission shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge. 
GIVEN under my Hand and Seal of the said State, the Ninth Day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty and in Ffth Year of Independence
By his Excellency's Command,
[signed] Henry Ward Serg
[signed] W. Greene
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Commission as Capt.