Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23752, for James Knight, New York
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(3-1776) 
SERVICE New York Knight, James 
NUMBER S.23752 
CONTENTS [blank]
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4484 
New York
James Knight of Saratoga in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain McKinstry of the Rgt. commanded by Col. McKinstry in the New York line for 9 months - 
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 30 Dollars ["Cents" is crossed out] per annum to commence on the rth day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of Jany. 1833 and sent to Bloove & Kirtland Waterford 
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1832 $45 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Mar '33 15 
$60 
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. } 
Recorded by [signature:] Geo. C Stiles Clerk 
Book D. Vol. 5. Page 105 

Dead 
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of April 1838, from 4 March 1841 to 31. Aug 1841. Agt notified 17. Aug. 1844
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GIDEON PRINTER. 
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, Sept. 15th 1843
Sir: Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, Two of the three childn. of James Knight, decd., a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany N.Y
Agency, at the rate of thirty Dollars ["and Cents" is crossed out] per annum, under the law of the 7 June 1832, have been paid at this Department, from the 4th of arch 1841, to the 31st Aug. 1841.
Respectfully, yours [signature:] Albion K. Parris Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.
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6905 James Knight 
Page 71 
17 [??] 
Testimony taken by Comr of Deeds 
1 Sep 1832 17 Nov 1832 
Bloove & Kirtland Waterford Saratoga Co. N. York 
admitted
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6905 
BRIEF in the case of James Knight, Clifton Park, Co of Saratoga in the State of New York 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? It does 
3. How old is he? 73 years 
Period.
Duration of Service.
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. Spring In 1778 
Duration of Service. [blank] Years, 9 Months, [blank] Days. 
Rank, As a private 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen. [blank] 
Capt McKinstry, Col I, McKinstry 
5. In what battles was he engaged? Fort at Cherry Valley 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., New York 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witness 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?[blank] 
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentions. [signature:] W. Fawcett Examining Clerk.
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6905. Joh___ [blacked out] 
James Knight 
passed 
Admitted 9 mo. 
admitted 9 mo private
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[illegible seal in upper left corner covers some text] 
__ in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress June 7th 1832. 
State of New York. Saratoga County } On this twenty Second day of August 1832 personally appeared before me Gant Van Schoonhoven one of the Judges of Saratoga County Courts James Knight a resident of the Town of Clifton Park in the County of Saratoga and State of New York aged Seventy three 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 of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated- That he Enlisted in a Company of militia commanded by Captain Thomas or David McKinstry in a regiment under the Command of Colonel John McKinstry, Early in the Spring of the year 1778 at the now Town of Clifton Park aforesaid, this being a part of the County of Albany, for the period of nine months- that his marched from Clifton Park aforesaid to Nobletown in the State of New York where the said company met with other companies, and then marched under the Command of Colonel McKinstry to the city of Albany and from thence to Cherry Valley by the way of Schenectdy- that he was in the fort at Cherry Valley aforesaid when the same was attacked by the tories and Indians under Butler of Praust, and when Colonel S McInstry [McKinstry?] was rescued from death through the interference of Brandt, and, as was supposed at the
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time, by some masoni sign which said McKistry communicated to the said Brandt- that this Deponent resided at Cherry Valley aforesaid until the Expiration of the nine months for which he Enlisted, and was then and there discharged from the service- that Deponent had such discharge in his possession for several years thereafter, but that the same is not now in Existence but was lost by this deponent many years since. and that the same was signed as this Deponent thinks by the aforesaid Colonel McKinstry- And this Deponent further saith that he has no documentary Evidence of his service as aforesaid and that he knows of no person now living other than John C Van Sice, whose affidavit is hereunto annexed, whose testimony he can procure to testify to such service. that the said John C. Van Sice at the time this Deponent enlisted as aforesaid resided in the neighborhood of this Deponent and that they were well acquainted with Each other and that the said Van Sice knew the fact of this Deponents Enlistment as aforesaid and of his return home after he was discharged from the service as aforesaid- in answer to the interrogatories proposed under instructions from the War Department And this Deponent further saith that he was born in Braeford in the County of Wiltshire in England in the year 1759 & that he came to this Country when he was Seventeen years old- that he has no record of his age, the same having been destroyed by his wife in a fit of audacity- that he lived at the now town of Clifton Park in the County of Saratoga when he Entered into the service, and had resided there since the revolutionary war down to the present time- that he Entered into the service as a volunteer militiaman as aforesaid- that owing to the infirmities of age
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and the decay of memory he is unable to give the names of the officers who were with the troops at Cherry Valley aforesaid otherwise than as above stated- that he did receive an honorable discharge from the service as above stated and that the same is lost- And that William Shepherd Esquire, Eldert Vischer, Teunis Crugier & William Peters to whom this deponent is known and who reside in Deponents neighbourhood can as this Deponent has no doubt testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution- 
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- [signature:] James Knight 
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me [signature:] G. S. Schoonhoven Judge of Saratoga County Courts &c } 
I do hereby declare my 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 stated and further I do hereby Certify that the said applicant cannot attend Court by reason of bodily infirmity - that I have been personally acquainted with the said applicant for many years and that in my opinion his oath is Entitled to full credit- Dated August 22d. 1832. [signature:] G. S. Schoonhoven Judge of Saratoga County Courts
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John Cornelius Van Sice of Middletown in the county of Delaware and state of New York being duly sworn says that he was in the war of the Revolution & was acquainted with James Knight of the town of Clifton Park in the county of Saratoga & that said Knight enlisted as a private in Albany county in the American Service in the New York line in the year 1778 according to this deponent's best recollection knowledge and belief- that said Knight enlisted for the term of nine months & remained in the service during that period, but this deponent is unable to state the company or regiment to which he belonged. And this deponent further says that he was in the regular service at this time & recollects when said Knight came to the town of Clifton Park then the town of Halfmoon Saratoga County after he was discharged from the service at the expiration of the nine months. And this deponent further says that he this deponent now draws a pension from the government & that he has no interest whatever in the application of said Knight for a pension. [signature:] John C Van Sice 
Sworn & Subscribed this 25 June 1832 Before me [signature:] William H. Satterlee Justice of the Peace [several words crossed out]
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State of New York Saratoga County } SS - I Alpheus Goodrich Clerk of the County of Saratoga do Certify that William H. Satterlee, before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date thereof one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said Cunty and that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature- Witness my hand and Seal of office the fourth day of January 1833- [signature:] A Goodrich Clerk
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State of New York Saratoga County SS } Abijah Peck a clergyman residing in the town of Clifton Park in the County of Saratoga being duly Sworn deposeth and saith that he is acquainted with James Knight of the town & County aforesaid that he believes the said James to be Seventy three years of age and that he is a man of undoubted truth and veracity [signature:] Alijah Peck 
Subscribed and Sworn before me this 27th of August 1832 [signature:] Saml. B. Edwards Justice  
On this 4th day of September 1832 Alijah Peck was sworn to this affidavit in open Court- [signature:] Thomas Palmer Clerk
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State of New York Saratoga County } SS William Shepherd residing in the town of Clifton Park in the County of Saratoga being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is well acquainted with James Knight of the town and County aforesaid- that he believes the said James to be Seventy three years of ["of" is crossed out] age and that the said James has frequently made the statement which statement he believes that he was a soldier of the Revolution in the nine months service in the year 1778 belonging to Regiment commanded by Col. John McKinster [McKinstry?] [signature:] William Shepherd 
Sworn and subscribed before me the 27th day of August 1832 [signature:] Saml. B Edwards Justice
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State of New York Saratoga County } SS On this 4th day of September 1832 in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga now sitting the foregoing declaration and other documents being submitted to the consideration of the said Court, they do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter that the abovenamed James Knight was a revolutionary soldier and served as he stated- And the Court further certifies that it appeared to them that Abijah Peck who had signed & made one of the preceding Affidavits is a Clergyman resident in the town of Clifton Park in the said County and that William Shepherd who had also signed one of the preceding affidavits is a resident of the same place is a credible person and that their statements are entitled to credit. And the said Court do further Certify that the preceding affidavit of John C. Van Sice is in their opinion entitled to full belief- and that the said Shepherd & Van Sice cannot be produced in Court without too much inconvenience & Expense to the applicant- I Thomas Palmer Clerk of the Curt of Common Pleas of the Cunty of Saratoga do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Knight for a pension that Gant Van Schoonhoven Esquire before whom the foregoing Declaration was made is one of the Judges of the said Court and that the signatures annexed to the said declaration and to the Certificate accompanying the same are the genuine signatures of the said Judge- And I do further Certify that William H. Satterlee Esquire before whom the preceding affidavit of John C Van Sice was made, is a Commissioner of Deeds for the County of Saratoga duly authorized by law to take affidavits to be used in any Court of record and is also a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Saratoga and that Samuel B. Edwards before whom the foregoing affidavits of Abijah Peck & William Shepherd were made is also a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County- and that the Signatures of the said William H. Satterlee & Samuel B. Edwards are severally their genuine signatures- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of office this fourth day of September 1832. 
[signature:] Thomas Palmer Clerk
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Rev. 1812 Wars Section MMHF 
March 18, 1927 
Mary Knight Crane 
935 West Ninth St., 
Erie, Penn. Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 23752 it appears that James Knight was born in 1759 in Bradford, County of Wiltshire, England and emigrated to America at the age of seventeen
years. 
While a resident of Clifton Park, Albany County (the part which was later Saratoga County), New York he enlisted in the spring of 1778, served nine months as private in Captain Thomas, or David McKinstry's Company, Colonel John
McKinstry's New York Regiment and was in the battle of Cherry Valley. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed 
August 22, 1832 while a resident of Clifton Park, Saratoga County, New York.
He died August 31, 1841 leaving three children, their names and the name of his wife not given.
Respectfully, WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.
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In reply to your request of [blank] , received [blank] for a statement of the military history of James Knight a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ["(or his widow's)" is crossed out] application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. 23,752 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. Spring 1778 
LENGTH OF SERVICE. 9 mos. 
RANK. Private 
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. 
CAPTAIN. Thomas or David McKinstry 
COLONEL. John McKinstry 
STATE. N. Y. 
Battles engaged in, Cherry Valley 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, " the now town of Clifton Park, Saratoga Co. then Albany Co., N. Y. 
Date of application for pension, Aug 22, 1832 His claim was allowed 
Residence at date of application, Clifton Park, Saratoga Co N.Y.
Age at date of application, n in 1759 at Bradford, County Wiltshire, Eng. 
Remarks: Emigrate to America when he was seventeen years old; (his wife and 3 ch. referred to names not stated. Eu.) He died August 31. 1841. 
Respectfully, 
Commissioner. 
8 -- 285
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R5. BURTON ASHLEY CRANE  
935 WEST NINTH ST. 
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA 
January 27th, 1927. 
Bureau of Pensions, Dept. of the Interior, 
Washington, D.C. 
Commissioner of Pensions: - 
whether it was 1840 or not.
January 27th, 1927.
Will you please send me copy of the Pension Record, or application of Jo Knight [inserted note:] full names, etc. 
listed in Pension list as living with Elijah Knight, in Ellenburg, New York, in one of the pension lists. I  I [sic] am not sure whether it was 1840 or not. 
Also of James Knight, aged 83, listed in living in Clifton Park, Saratoga, N. Y. in this same list? 
Thanking you, I am very truly, [signature:] Mary Knight Crane 
I think it was 1840 from other records
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173 [last two characters illegible] 
CENTRAL TRUST BUILDING 
ROOMS 202-229 
NORTH IOWA CLINIC 
STATE OF ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL 
MASON CITY, IOWA 
April 3, 1923 
Commissioner of Pensions, 
Department of Interior, 
Washington, D. C. 
Sirs: 
Will you kindly send me a statement of the military history of James Knight, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, according to a record I have it will be found in I. (of F) S. C.-SFile 23,752 Rev. War. 
The data is requested for the purpose of establishing my eligibility in the Daughters of the American Revolution. 
Kindly inform me of any expense which may be incurred and I will remit at once. 
Respectfully yours, 
[signature:] Mrs. Nina M. Chenoweth 
Mrs. Nina M. Chenoweth 
913 - 4th St. SW. Mason City, Ia. 

[circular stamp:] 
U S. PENSION OFFICE APR 5 1923
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James Knight S. 23,752 ￠
[circular stamp:]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE O OCT 4 1916
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'60 Ay [??] Rev Decl 
THE HONMIS [??] PETRAS [??] CO. WASHINGTON, d. c. 
[illegible phrase in the letterhead] 
United Spanish War Veterans 
SOUTHERN BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
October 3, 1916. 
Commissioner of Pensions, 
Bureau of Pensions, 
Interior Department, 
Dear Sir: 
I desire to secure the military record and any other data you may have on file concerning Mr. James Knight, who came from England, fought for the Colonies in the Revolutionary War, and lived in Saratoga County, New York.
The Adjutant General, War Department, informs me that "the name of James Knight appears as that of a private on a company pay roll of Capt. Clugage's Company, 1st Continental Troops, raised in Penna., for January, 1776. Nothing has been found of record to show the date of his entry into service, nor the date or manner of his separation therefrom. 
General McCain suggests that the Commissioner of Pensions might be able to give me additional information in the matter, and I am writing for that purpose. 
The data is requested for the purpose of establishing the eligibility of great grand - children and great great-grandchildren in the Daughters of the American Revolution. 
Any information you may furnish will be appreciated. 
Respectfully yours, [SIGNATURE:] James E. Maynard ADJUTANT GENERAL. 
JEM/Mf
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S-41-2/16 Rev Sec Day At 
BLANCHARDVILLE, WIS. 
I wish the record of a soldier in the Revolutionary War. One named James Knight. He was an Englishman fought with the New York troups [sic] near or around Saratoga, settled at Rexford Flatts near Schenectady.- If there is any charge for this I will gladly remit I am his great-granddaughter & wish to join the D. A. R. Address me. (over)
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Mrs Annie Knight Blanchard Blanchardville Wisconsin. 
If Jamsie [James E.] Maynard who was in the Office a few years since is still there kindly refer this to him.
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geneology of the family, & all particulars in regard to him and family would be greatly appreciated, If there is any expense attending the procuring of the information, please let me know. Kindly Address Mrs. Wm. E. Slykes Calabasas Arizona Santa Cruz Co. 
I enclose stamp for a reply.
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O W & N 1902 
Calabasas Feb. 22nd 
Commissioner Pension Office 
Would you kindly give me any information concerning Mr. James Knight, who enlisted in the Revolutionary War in the Spring of 1778 from Clifton Park, Saratoga County, New York & whose name was on the Pension Roll of that period. His name is needed for the
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Revolution 23752 INVALID 
File No. 23,752 James Knight Pri Rev War 
Act: June 7 32 
Index:-Vol. 3, Page 225 
[ Arrangement of 1870. ] 
Feby 15 1900 Mrs. Chas B Tozier Cleveland Ohio 
Apl. 4 1902 Mrs. M. E. Sykes Calabasas Ariz 
1916 Sept 25. History to Mrs. Annie K. Blanchard ￠1916 Oct. 31 To James E. Maynard ￠ 
1923, May 12 hist. to Mrs. Nina M. Chenoweth - Ew- 
1927- Mch. 18- Hist. To Mrs. Burton A. Crane MMH-