Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5866, for John Kenneda, New York
Page 1

SERVICE
New York

Kenneda, John

NUMBER
R. 5866

CONTENTS.
Page 2

Jno Kenneda
.Indian
Page 3

State of New York
Oneida County ss
on this eighth day of September 1832 before the Subscriber a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Oneida County came John Kenneda an Indian of the Oneida Tribe, resident in Vernon at Oneida Castle, Oneida County aged Seventy eight years, who being 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 was a member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians in the State of New York, and entered and served in the Revolutionary War with the white men under Col. Willett on the Mohawk River -- was at the battle at Canada Creek when Col. Butler was shot in the breast and killed -- was at Oswego, Sandy Creek, Johnstown, and all along the Mohawk region-- was in battle at Stillwater -- at taking of Burgoyne under Col. Lewey, or Louis and Ryr's Indians or half breed -- He served as much as three years for the Americans -- and served them faithfully as General Washington and many other American officers. There is no Indian now living at Oneida who was with Kenneda except one about 100 years old and has lost his reason. Kenneda acted often with the Indians as their scout and warrior for America. He relinquishes all claims to a pension except present - and hopes his claim as a faithful Indian warrior will be remembered. 
John Luis Kennada (signed name with an X) 

Sworn to by above Indian, the above being} interpreted by Capt Greene who was sworn to} interpret truly}
J. Hathaway
Page 4

Mr Stephen Parkhurst Postmaster and  Eliphaht Hotchkiss residing  in Vernon Oneida Co near Oneida Castle hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Kennedy an Oneida Indian who has sworn to the amended declaration - That we believe him to be as much as Seventy eight years of age -That he has always been reputed since we have known him to have been in the American Service during the Revolutionary War. and that we believe much to the fact, and that Kennedy was a true American Indian-
Stephen Parkhurst 
E. Hotchkiss

Sworn and subscribed this 10th day of Sept} 1832 before me and I know the above men as} men of credibility.}
 Simon Bingham  Justice

We the subscribing Residents in Vernon Certify that we know John Kenneda an Oneida Indian and that we concur in the above certificate
C. B. Hotchkiss
Charles Hart
James French
Isaac Whitney
Page 5

[left vertical:]
NY
[Add]: proof Oct 1
[4 Rd] Kennada
NY

[horizontal:]
Hon J L Edwards
[illegible] [of] Pensions
Page 6

Rome     NY
September 27, 1831

Hon J L Edwards,

Enclosed are additional affidavits in the case of John Kenneda an Oneida Indian for a pension. 

He is very anxious to obtain this pension, and it seems to me as if there has been proof enough to show that he was in the service, and did duty for this country. The same strictures of proof in cases like this: it would scarcely be possible to obtain; as in regular service. I think however difficult it has been shown to satisfy the Department that he is not an impostor, but did really serve. 

Returns are respectfully requested to the subscriber.

Respectfully


xxxx xxxx 
xxxxxxxxx
Page 7

John Kenneda
An Oneida Indian
additional proof

Wm Huron
Rev War
N.Y.
-
Page 8

State of New York
Oneida County/ss
his
Antonie By Knife
Wash.

Antonie Big Knife of
the Oneida Tribe Indians being
duly sworn says he is 67 years of age - Knows
John Kennada an Oneida Indian and
that he knew him well in the war of the
Revolution and that be served under the
American officers for the full time of
three years. This service was at Schenectady
Oswego, and up the Mohawk River
and he knows well that said Kenneda
continued his service as a faithful friend
of the Americans all that time
and was ever time to their interests
in every respect.
Sworn before me
and I  certify he is
to appearance an Indian
of candor, truth & veracity

Antoine his X mark Big Knife
this 13, Sept 1838
R. W. Johnson
[illegible]
Page 9

State of New York
Oneida County.

Peter Forney, an Oneida
Indian one hundred and one 
years of age on being duly sworn, says he
knows John Kennada well and that
said John Kennada served on the
American army during the Revolutionary 
War as much in their pay as a
faithful and good friend of the Americans
as much as the year - at Schenectady
Oriskany-Oswego up and down
the Mohawk - and in station
acted as a good and faithful
friend of the Government.
Sworn before me
13 Sept 1838
AD certify he appeared
like an Indian of truth and
veracity & honesty
RW Johnson
[illegible]
Peter his X mark Forney
Page 10

10682

John Kenneda
Page 11

10,682
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Kenneda & which require further
proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant reside? It does
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
He did
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason as
[illegible]
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? He has
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?
He has
a very full statement of his service will be indispensable to a
favorable decision upon his case.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
He has not- Made now under the interpretation
-of a very intelligent Indian
Done so far as he can recall
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? He Has
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? He has
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?
It is, & is so distinguishable
(doubtful)
New one
Page 12

2

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? 
no clergyman's evidence
Rev Solomon Davis Certificate

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
none.

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.
[illegible]

XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?

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?
not [connected] as prescribed. Now they are

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the Ware Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6are not
Nonanswered

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."
Page 13

8

It the is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 [italicized] about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

† QUERE XIV. [italicized] Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he the 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 be belonged. The magistrate who may same, administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate mist be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

† QUERE XVI. [italicized] Mode of authenticating papers.
[illegible] the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end of which must properly attached to the certificate.
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Page 14

John Kannada

Hon. W. K. Fuller


John Kannada
Page 15

State of New York
Oneida County/ss
Antonie Big Knife of
Onondaga, Onondaga Co, belonging to the Oneida
tribe of Indians, aged 68 years and upwards
being duly sworn says he is well acquainted with
John Kanneda an Indian of said tribe
and knew him during the Revolutionary 
War. That said John Kanneda to the
knowledge of this deponent was out in the
service of the Americans and served with
Col Willett up the Mohawk River, that
his services were very extensive and he went
as far as Oswego as this deponent understood
and was also at Johnstown and also the battle
Stillwater. Taking of Burgoyne and in
various other place-- This deponent was
young but well recollects that the said
John Kanneda was out in service as above
noted and this deponent further says,
that the whole time the said John
Kanneda was in the service of the United 
States was three years and upwards,
and was faithful to the Americans cause. 
Antoine his X mark Big Knife

Personally appeared the above named Antoine
Big Knife to me known as a man of truth veracity
and made oath to the foregoing affidavit
the same having been carefuly [carefully] read to him
his age 68 written on oration by me.  Oct 16 1834
B T Johnson Sup Court New Yk
Page 16

I certify that Benjamin P. Johnson
is a Sup. Court Comr for the state
of New York District. I am with acquaintance
with his hand writing & hereby believe the
 signature to this written certificate to be his
own proper hand.
W. K. Fuller
Rep in Congress
Dated Decr 11th 1834
Page 17

REJECTED
5-866
P.O.  John Kenneda
Service:
Enlisted:  , 18
Discharged:   , 18
Application filed:  ,18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
__Recognized  __Contract
__Cert. of Dis.  Searched for__,18
Page 18

Revo:
New York
Rejected act of S '32
Letter 16 Oct 1833
to
Atty Dec '34   B. P. Johnson
to Hon W K Fuller
Rome
Page 19

John Kenneda
10-682

Rejected

B. P. Johnson
Rome
Page 20


Rome, Oneida Co. N.Y.
July 3d 1833
Hon J. L. Edwards

Sir.
Enclosed are the papers
John Kennada an Indian with the
explanations required by the Department.
Kennada not understanding English we obtained
an interpeter and I think his statements
will be found Satisfactory. It is one that is
fully credited, by all who know him here,
The Certificate of Rev Mr Davis an
Episcopal Clergyman is annexed.
Returns are most
respectfully requested to the subscribed
I have the honor to be
most respectfully
Your obt Sevt.
B. P. Johnson
Page 21

N. York
John Kenneda
Letter to B. P. Johnson , pension
5866

Act of January 1822
Page 22

State of New York
Oneida County/ss

I Joshua Hathaway pray of
Oneida County do hereby declare my opinion, after
the investigation of the matter and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the War Department
through Captain Greene who was sworn as an
interpreter, that the above named John Kenneda
served in the Revolutionary War as one of the
Indians of the Oneida Tribe, as an ally and spy
and under the direction of American officers, for
more than two years as he states. And
I the said Judge do further certify that I
am well acquainted with Stephen Parkhurst
Post Master and Eliphalet Hotchkiss who
have signed the preceding certificate. They reside
near Oneida Castle and have done so for many
years, and are men of credibility, and are
acquainted with the history of Kenneda
and I consider their certificate entitled to
great weight. The other four persons who
have signed an additional Certificate are
to me known by reputation as respectable
citizens of this county.
I further certify that from the
a/c and infirmity of Kenneda and his situation
that it would have been utterly impractical
to have obtained his attendance
before the Court September 12th 1832.
J. Hathaway  Judge of
Oneida Com plea
Counsellor

George Brown Clerk of the County of Oneida 
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said
Judge in the matter of the application
Page 23

John Kenneda an  Oneida Indian
for a pension_ and that the signatures of
the page I believe are in his hand writing and
I also certify that Simon Bingham within
named is a Justice of the Peace for this County
and his signature I believe to be in his own
hand writing.

In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal
of said County the 20th day of September 1832
Geo. Brown Clerk
Page 24

10-682
John Kenneda
Indian name
Oneida Co NY
Service
3 years
of War.
B. P. Johnson
Agent. Rome N.Y.
Pension payable
at W. G. Branch
Bank
Utica, N. Y.
Page 25

the said Martin Denny
was seen to interpret
the service truly to the
said John Kenneda

T. Jenkins
Comm of Deeds
Page 26


State of New York
County of Oneida, to wit Solomon Davis of the town of Vernon in the County of Oneida and State of
New York being duly sworn saith that this deponent
is a clergyman of the Episcopal denomination
that he has officiated as a missionary among
the Oneida Indians for the last eight years past and
upwards, that during that time he has been
acquainted with John Kenneda above
named from which acquaintance this deponent
believes the said John Kenneda to be
men of truth and veracity-- that during the
aforesaid period the said Kennedy has generally
been reported to have served in the American
Revolution as a soldier or warrior on behalf of
the United States from which information and
from the statements of the said Kenneda 
this deponent believes that the said Kenneda 
so serve in the American cause-- And
further this deponent saith not
Solomon Davis

Sworn to this 28th
day of June AD
1833 before me
T. Jenkins
Com of Deeds
Page 27

Clerk of
Oneida County

I George Brown Clerk of said County do hereby
certify that Timothy Jenkins before whom
the annexed affidavits were taken was on the
day of the date of the same a Commissioner
duly authorized to take affidavits that I
am well acquainted with his hand
writing, and the signatures within are in his
proper hand writing

In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said
County this 2d day of July
1833
Geo Brown Clerk
Page 28

State of New York
County of Oneida a to wit

John Kenneda above being duly sworn saith in addition to the facts set forth in his declaration that this deponent as this deponent is informed and believes, was born in the Province of Upper Canada at the place called Caughnawaga on the river St. Lawrence near the City of Montreal and on the east side of the river St. Lawrence at which place then resided Indians then called the Caughnawaga tribe. That-this deponent has no record of his age, that when the Revolutionary war with Great Britain commenced this deponent resided and continued to reside until about three years before the close of the war at Caughnawaga aforesaid-At which time this deponent and three others to wit John Saquatrent which signifieth that if you get on his back, he will throw you off- and one saqua Big Bread and one Wistowqua which being interpreted signifies frozen; departed from Caughnawaga aforesaid for Oneida Castle in the State of New York, that they were pursued by the Canadian Indians and four days after their departure from Caughnawaga aforesaid, the two Indians last above named were caught by the Canadian Indians and taken back, that this deponent and the said John escaped the pursuers and reached Schenectady in twelve days after their departure from Caughnawaga, that after remaining at Schenectady about twenty days this deponent joined a party of Oneida Indians [illegible] of about two hundred [illegible] friendly to the
Page 29

American  Cmdr who at that time had begun to commit depredations upon the white inhabitants along the bank of the Mohawk River, that Col. Lewey commanded the party of Indians, that ever since the American Revolution this deponent has resided with the Oneida Indians in the vicinity of Oneida Castle and State of New York-that this deponent continued in the service from that period until the close of the war, that this deponent was in an engagement under Col. Willet on the west Canada Creek against the British Indians; after they had pursued them up that creek two days; that one American Indian was killed in the said engagement and six of the British Indians; that  Major Chewy was frequently with the Indians and directed their movements, that he was present at the last aforesaid engagement and had four holes shot through his clothes, that this deponent being principally with the Indians and not acquainted with the English language does not recollect the name of any other officer; that this deponent was in Schenectady when  peace was proclaimed; that this deponent knows of no person now living by whom this deponent can prove his said services although this deponent has made diligent search for such   witnesses that [illegible] an Oneida Indian was in the service with this deponent but that he died last summer. 


John his X mark Kenneda

Sworn to this 28th day of June AD 1833
[illegible]