Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19096, for Nathan Smith, New York
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New York.
Privateer.
CONTENTS
Smith, Nathan

NUMBER   S. 19096
Carded

[illegible] Mar. 27, 1763 in North Salem, Westchester Co, NY & [illegible]
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1697
Vermont
Nathan Smith
of Newhaven in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Stevens of the Regiment commanded Colonel Crane in the N.Y. Militia
for 2 years of & Privateer
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 80 Dollars per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of November 1832 and [debt] to S Haight
Present

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832
120.00
Semi-annual. allowance ending 4th March 1833)
40.00
$160.00
Recorded by
Book D
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by JM Duffield Clerk
Book D  Vol. 4 Page 84
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Nathan Smith
No 1729.
Admitted
Served 2 years & upwards
$80. yr. ann.
Delivered to Judge Haight.
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I James Hodges of Ferrisburgh County of Addison and State of Vermont testify and say that I am will acquainted with Nathan Smith of Newhaven in said County and am well knowing to his having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War the first service he performed within my knowledge was two months in Capt Benjamin Steavens company in the 1777 as well as I can remember in Col Cranes Regmt of New York malitia second term of service under Capt Thomas Hunt in the same Regiment more than two months third term of service as near as I can recollet two months under Capt Delavan in guarding the lines in Westchester County and as near as I can remember the said Smith served
under Capt Abraham Lockwood two months in guarding the lines in the same year and in 1778 as well as I can remember the said Nathan served under Capt Samuel Lawrence three months in guarding the lines at the time Bedford was burnt I have always understood and believe that the
said Smith served three months under Capt Faucher in guarding the lines and I  further testify and say that the said Nathan inlisted and served on bord the privatetaer [Shaldrim?] for more than two months and further say not
James Hodges
Middlebury 25 June 1832

Sworn before me at
Middy June 25. 1832
Rob B Bates Jus Peace
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James Hodges
Afidavit
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We, Saul Fish, a clergyman residing in New Haven in the County of Addison, and Jonathan Hoyt Jun. John Hanchett & Andrew Squire residing in said town of New Haven hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathan Smith, who has made application, before the Probate Court for the District of Addison for
a pension; that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur
in that opinion-
John Hanchet
Jonathan Hoyt Jr
Andrew Squier
Sworn & subscribed this 13th day of August 1832.
Before me
Othneil Jewett Justice of the Peace
Joel Fisk

State of Vermont
Addison County ss
New Haven August 13th 1832

Personally appeared the Rev Joel Fisk and was duly sworn to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed-
Before me on Jon Hoyt Jr. Jus. Peace

State of Vermont
Addison County ss,
I, Samuel Swift Clerk of the County Court for the
said County of Addison do hereby certify, that the above named Othneil Jewett, before the foregoing certificate of John Hanchet, Jonathan Hoyt Jr. and Andrew Squier was sworn, and Jonathan Hoyt Jun. before whom the above named Joel Fisk was sworn- and Robert B. Bates before whom the annexed affidavit of James Hodges was made [illegible] severally at the dates mentioned were Justices of the peace for said County, and their respective names thereto subscribed are their own signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 13th
day of August 1832.
Saml. Swift Clerk
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State of Vermont
District of Addison ss
On this 11th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Probate Court for the said District of Addison, being a Court of record now sitting, Nathan Smith, a resident in New Haven in the County of Addison, aged sixty nine 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 the United States under the following named officer, and served or herein stated:-- In the year 1777, at North Salem, WestChester County State of New York, where I then resided, I enlisted into a company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Stevens, of New York, in a regiment commanded by Colonel Crane of New York Militia, and served for two months, in guarding the lines, from the north River to the line of Connecticut, in the County of Westchester: After that I enlisted into a company commanded by Captain Thomas Kent of New York, in the same regiment, still under the command of Colonel Thaddeus Crane, and served in the same neighborhood, performing the same service, for more than two months- Soon after, I volunteered, on the day Crump Pond was burned, and served for two months in a company commanded by Capt. Delavan, in the same regiment-- And soon after, I took the place of Abraham Van Schaik, as his substitute, in a company commanded by Capt. Abraham Lockwood, in the same regiment, for two months in the same neighbourhood & in the same service:- Soon after this, I again enlisted into a company raised & commanded by Captain Samuel Lawrence of Salem, in the same County, in the same regiment under Colonel Crane, and served in the same neighbourhood, & erforming the same kind of Service for the term of three months. This company was raised and the service performed soon after Bedford
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was burned by the toris:- and soon after I enlisted into a company raised & commanded by Captain Fancher in the same regiment, and served for three months, performing the same service. The terms of service above mentioned, I am confident, were not less than I have stated above,- In nearly every case we were detained and served longer than the term of our enlistment,- our places not being supplied in season - and the officers not being willing to
discharge us.- During the above mentioned terms of service I was the fife major of Colonel Crane's regiment until the last, under Capt. Fancher;- but always, during the above terms of service carried a musket, and served as a private, except occasionally I was called upon & acted as a corporal or Sergeant.- I am not quite certain as to the time when the above mentioned services were performed, but if I am not mistaken in my recollection, they were all performed in 1777 & 1778, except the last, which I think was in 1779. I know that there were but short intervals between the several terms of service; that region was constantly exposed to the incursions & depredations of the enemy, and especially the tories, who were embodied in considerable force in that neighbourhood- And most of the time the Continental troops were withdrawn, and the guard & defence of the lines in that neighbourhood depended chiefly upon the militia, and especially upon Crane's regiment, to which I belonged.-- During the above mentioned intervals of and for some time after that last mentioned service, a number of the young men of the neighborhood - from twenty five to thirty,- of which I was one, formed ourselves into a company, without any particular organization, except when in actual service, and agreed to hold ourselves in readiness for immediate service on any sudden emergency:- And on every sudden alarm, and in every case of necessity for a sudden expedition, we
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were called upon, and frequently went into service for a few days at a time. At one time notice was sent to us from Colonel Crane, that information had been received that a number of tories under Capt. Theil of Dutchess County were about to start with a [illegible] of horses to go to the enemy,- and that they were expected to cross Golding's bridge over Croton River. We accordingly started for that place, and had just arrived, & taken our stations at the bridge in the night, when the said company of tories arrived, but one of our company by coughing gave notice to them, in season to turn and flee out of our reach, so that we were not able to come across them,- they being on horseback & we on foot. At this time we were out eight or ten days. At another time, notice was given, that the tories had made arrangement to come up and seize Benjamin Haight & Halsey Esquires, who, as whigs, had rendered themselves obnoxious to the enemy. A small number of us, in the night when they were expected, had stationed ourselves near Haights house;- and while there, we saw the flashes of two or three guns near by,- and we fired in the direction of the flashes- when we heard men running off in haste- and having searched the ground, where they had been, we found the knapsack of one, the strings of which we had shot off; and ascertained that it belonged to a tory by the name of Lyon, of North Castle.- I am confident, that, in expeditions of this character & others, besides the regular enlistments above mentioned, I served at least ten months.-- During the term of my first service under Capt. Stephens, Morrisania, then in the possession of the enemy, was made, a rendevous, where the horses & cattle stolen from the Americans for the use of the British were collected;- and our company under the command of Capt. Stephens, turned out and joined Gen. Parson's brigade of Continental troops, for the purpose of attacking & taking that place:- When we arrived
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it was assigned to our company to attack the enemy, which we did and soon routed them, and took possession & burned their huts.- Several of the enemy, we learned were killed, two of our company were wounded,- one man by the name of Armstrong in the shoulder & another in the thigh, by the name of Arnold Dickins- but none were killed.- The property & prisoners were taken possession of by the regular troops.-
On the day of my enlistment under Capt. Delavan, and on the day Crumf Pond was burned,- we went in pursuit of the enemy, to harass the flanks of their troops, and endeavor to rescue some of the property they were carrying off. They were too strong for us, but by posting ourselves behind a stone wall we were able to harass and drive in one of their flanks.- and picked up, & made prisoners of two stragglers:- Afterwards we waylaid the rear guard of the enemy, at a narrow passage through the rocks, who had charge of the horses & cattle, and in a situation, where they could not be assisted by the main army, and attacked them,- when they precipitately fled & left the cattle & horses, which we took possession of- there being from twenty to thirty horses & cattle, besides calves, sheep & hogs.- The whole force of the British on this occasion was so great,- that it was not thought advisable for the two regiments of militia, which lay near by, one under Colonel Crane, & the other under Colonel Drake from Dutchess County,- to pursue them. But the above mentioned service was performed by Capt. Delavan, with only fifty of his company of volunteers, selected for the purpose. The British army was said to consist of about seven hundred. A considerable part of the service, which I performed, when not under regular enlistments, was in guarding & conveying prisoners from below towards the Headquarters of the American Army,- And during the year 1777-'78, '79 & '80 I was almost constantly employed in some kind of service, and seldom ever
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allowed to remain at home any considerable time, and sometimes not one night, before I was called out again.
In the year 1799, if I am not mistaken in my recollection, Capt. Titus Conkling, being about to fit out an expedition from Norwalk, Connecticut, in the Privateer Shouldsom, being at my fathers in North Salem, and within one hour after his arrival, I enlisted under him, and was on my way with my knapsack, on my back.- The last of November or first of December, we sailed out of Norwalk, and cruised in Long Island Sound;-- We did not come in contact with any considerable vessel, but we took considerable property from boats belonging to the enemy. While we were out the weather become very cold, and our vessel was frozen in, at a small harbor, about six miles from Norwalk.- Here a party of the enemy, upon the ice, attacked us, and took possession of the vessel & property, & took us prisoners. As soon as it was dark however, I & some others of the crew fled upon the ice & made our escape.- This service continued over two months, but I am not able to ascertain exactly how long.- I was
born at North Salem, West Chester County New York, March 27. 1763.- My parents kept a record of the births & ages of their children, in their family bible,- from this I took the record of birth of myself & rest of the family & transformed it to my own family bible, where it now remains in my possession. I continued to reside in that place
during the war & until 1788, when I removed to Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont, & resided there until February 1822- when I moved to New Haven, Addison County, where I now reside. I never had any written discharge- and have no documentary evidence, & know of no person, except James Hodges, whose affidavit is annexed, who can testify to my service.
I refer to Rev. Joel Fisk, Jonathan Hoyt Jun. John Hanchet, & Phile Dorwin Esquires residing in New Haven aforesaid- Rev Thomas A. Merrill, Lavine  Fillmore & Asa Chapman, residing in Middlebury who can testify to my character for veracity, and their belief of my
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services as a soldier of the revolution.
And the said Nathan Smith hereby relinquished 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.
Nathan Smith
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid,
Saml Swift, Judge.

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 Joel Fisk, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of New Haven in the County of Addison and that Jonathan Hoyt Jun. John Hanchet & Andrews Squiers, who have also signed the same are residents in said town of New Haven, and are credible persons, and that their Statement is entitled to credit.- And the said Court further Certifies that it appears to them that James Hodges whose affidavit is annexed is a credible witness.
Saml. Swift Judge.
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State Vermont
County of Addison ss
I Harvey Bell, Register of the Probate Court
for the said District of Addison, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of
Nathan Smith for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and the seal of said Court this 13th day of
August 1832,
Harvey Bell Register
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RECORD DIVISION.
3 -- 525.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C. 19__
In reply to your request of ____, received ____
for a statement of the military history of Nathan Smith a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau. S.F. 19.096

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
1777, 1778 & 1779

Nov or Dec 1779

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
Served at various times in
all 2 years

2 mos

RANK.
Pvt & Fife Major

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Benjamin Stevens
Thomas Hunt, Delevan
Abraham* Lockwood
Samuel Lawrence
Fausher

Titus Conkling

COLONEL.
Thaddeus Crane

on Shouldsom, Privateer

STATE.
NY

Battles engaged in, at Morrisania, attached near Norwalk and taken prisoner, escaped same day

Residence of soldier at enlistment, North Salem Westchester Co. N.Y.

Date of application for pension, Aug. 11 1832. His claim was allowed

Residence at date of application, New Haven, Addeson Co. Vt.

Age at date of application, born Mch 27. 1763 at North Salem, NY.

Remarks: There is no family data on file

Very respectfully,

*soldier says Abraham, it's Ephraim

Commissioner.

6 -- 2856
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19096
INVALID.
---
File No. 19096
Nathan Smith
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7 32
Index:-- Vol. 1 Page 383
(Arrangement of 1870.)

1913. Nov. 20 - Hist to Miss
Pauline E. Smith
M.13.H
---
1915, Nov. 30. History to Mr.
W. F. Oatman.
M.13.H
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R. 1664 - 175 N. Jackson Bd.
Chicago, Ill.
Nov. 15, 1913
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir
Please furnish me with the pension record of Nathan Smith Addison Co. Vermont, pensioner of the Revolution. Placed on the pension roll Nov. 9, 1832. - Pension commencing Mar 4, 1831
Yours Very Truly
(Miss) Pauline E. Smith
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PENSION
D
NOV 17 1913
US
OFFICE
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W. F. OATMAN, PRES.    F.A. OATMAN, TREAS
H.E OATMAN Secretary

Mercantile WAREHOUSE Co
WAREHOUSEMEN
ADVANCES PROCURED ON WAREHOUSE RECEIPTS.
MAIN OFFICE
LAIGHT & GREENWICH STREETS.
                    5340
TELEPHONE 5341 FRANKLIN
                     5342
FIRE PROOF
FREE AND BONDED
STORES
New York Nov, 23 1915

United States Pension Office,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:

Will you kindly furnish me with a copy of any records you may have in your Revolutionary archives pertaining to the service in the Revolutionary War of Nathan Smith, of Bridport, Addison County, Vermont, and oblige,
Yours very truly,
W. F. Oatman
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PENSION
O
NOV 24 1915
U.S.
OFFICE