Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11107, John Walton, Conn. Privateer
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(3---1776)

SERVICE
Conn.
Privateer

Walton, John
Mary

NUMBER
R. 11107
__________________________________________________
CONTENTS
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Know all men by then present that I, William Beckman of Schoharie Co., State of New York, who have intermarried with a daughter of Mrs. Mary Walton, who was the widow of John Walton a soldier of the Revolution, hereby constitutes and appoint Jos. C. Kennedy my attorney and agent for me and in my name and in my behalf to demand and receive from the Govt of the United States any and all paper information respecting the services of said John Walton, decd, and to examine into the records & proofs connected with the case that he may be enabled to arrive at a full & perfect understanding thereof with a view to the prosecution of said claim to the heirs & legal representation of said John Walton of whom I by virtue of my intermarriage with his daughter am one. 
As witness my hand & seal this day of March 1854
William Beckman

Witness
Marcus Straberg
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[Illegible] March 29th 1854
Dear Sir
your letter of March 1st was not
received by me until the 15th Inst, I
was from home attending a [illegible]
to apprise compensation to owners of land
[illegible] by the Albany & Susquehanah R.R.
Company I send you the [illegible], & would
say to you if the [illegible], are not on file
in the pension office refered to in my former
communication there would be [crossed out] no
great chance to make out the services
of John Walton, as a Soldier, in the Comnecticut
line & he also served as a privateer
& was taken prisoner I understand
that Congress have made no provisions
for those in that branch of Service, as he
died before my marriage the widow
lived in my family for twenty years &
died at my house, yet it would be
difficult for me, to find proof in
Connecticut as I am unacquainted with
any one, now living, that knowes
that John Walton, was a soldier & did service,
I therefore them to every thing depends
upon finding the he has sent to the
pension the-
William Beckman
John Walton served in the state of 
Connecticut as a privateer, I think he
served in Capt Belchers Company the
papers on file if found will [illegible] all about
it, he left eight children, my wife
is the youngest living & was either
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when her father died, most of the
children died with having any children &
four of them were never married, there
are but two now living. In haste I 
am yours on the [illegible]
J C G Kennedy Esq Wm Beckman

Pl direct to me at Gardnersville
Schohaire Co NY & send you the
power of attor as you desired-
Yours Truly Wm Beckman

[Vertical on left side]
Wm Beckman
Heirs of John Walton [illegible]
[llegible] in [illegible]
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State of New York
Schoharie County ss
On this twenty
fourth day of January in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and forty personally appeared before
me the undersigned one of the Judges
of the Court of Common Pleas in and for
the aforesaid County of Schohanie Mary
Walton a resident of the town of [illegible]
in the county of Schoharie and State of New York aged Seventy three years on the thirty first
day of May last who being first duly
Sworn according to Law, doth on her
Oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the
provisions made by the act of Congress
passed July 7 1838 Entitled, an Act
granting half pay and pension to certain
widows, that she is the widow
of John Walton who died at Cherry Valley
Otego County in said State of New York
on the twenty third day of April 1812
and that her said husband was forty
nine years six months and three dayes
old at the time of his death as appears
in the family record now in her possession
and that she has remained a widow
ever since the death of her said husband
She further declares that she was married
to her said husband John Walton January
29th 1784 in the town of Preston now
called Grised New London County
in the State of Connecticut, that both before
and after her marriage the was
called Polly by his parents and neighhours,
but her parents always wrote her name
Mary & that she has since her marriage always wrote her name Mary Walton to
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all deeds and leases executed by her
both before and since the death of her
said husband John Walton, that she was
acquainted with Nathan Belcher of the
town of Preston New London County State of
Conecticut (now called the town of
Grisel) both before and after her marriage
and that the said Nathan Becker always
called her Polly, and that his fathers 
name was Amos Clift, that she
was informed by his uncle, Joseph Clift
before his marriage, that John Walton
(her husband) had been in the service, during the Revolutionary war as a [illegible] that her
said husband John Walton, besides serving
in the Army, was engaged in the privateering
service, and, was a prisoner at New-
York, Six months, weather this was before
or after his service in the Army she does
not recollect, that she left Connecticut the same year she was married & moved to
Vermont, & from Vermont to the State of
New York, that her husband John Walton
during his residence in Cherry Valley Otego County State of New York, held several 
offices civil and Millitary, and that
he was Post Master at Cherry Valley at
the time of his death that she now resides
with her daughter, the only daughter living
who, married, William Beckman June in
the year 1816, and in the year 1817 she
went to live in said, Beekmans family &
has lived in his family ever since, that
her daughter and husband are both living
and reside in Thorn Schoharie County in a
small village called [illegible], further
declares, that from old age and bodily
infirmity, and extreme debility this
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State of New York
Schoharie County ss
[crossed out]/Mary L. Beckman/[crossed out]
On this 24th day of January one thousand eight hundred and forty personally
appeared, before me the undersigned
one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County of Schoharie
and State of New York Mary L Beckman in [crossed out]/aged/[crossed out] forty four
years of [illegible] who being duly sworn, deposeth and
saith that Mary Walton her mother has
lived with her ever since 1817, that, she
was married to William Beckman Junior
in the spring of 1816 & that she resides
with her husband at Leesville, in the town of
Sharon County of Schoharie & State of
New York, that her father was, Post Master at Cherry Valley Otsego County at the
time of his death, that her fathers name
was John Walton & her mothers name Mary
Walton, but that his relatives generally
when they came to visit her called her Polly
and that her mother has remained a widow
ever since the death of her husband John
Watten the father of this deponent, and
this deponent, always understood, both before
& since the death of her father, that
he did service in the Revolutionary war
& further saith not-
Sworn & Subscribed before Mary L Beckman
me this 24th day of
January 1840-
Robert Eldridge Judge
of Schoharie Common Pleas
I certify that I am acquainted with Mary
L. Beckman wife of William Beckman Junior
and that she is a creditable witness 
January 24th 1840- Robert Eldridge
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not able to attend Court, personally that the
Court house is twenty two miles from
her residence, & that for the last three
years, she has not been from home the 
distance of one fourth of a mile, and that
she believes that her said husband did serve
in the war of the Revolution-
Sworn and Subscribed on the day and
year above written before me
Mary Walton
Sworn & Subscribed before
me this 24th Day of 
January AD 1840 before
me Robert Eldridge
Judge of Schoharie Common Pleas

State of New York
Schoharie County ⎬ Robert Eldridge
one of the Judges of the Court of 
Common Pleas in and for the County of
Schoharie do certify that the above
named Mary Walton by reason of 
bodily infirmity is unable to attend any
Court of Record in the County of Schoharie,
for the purpose of making the
above declaration, and deposition
Dated this 24th day of January 1840
Robert Eldredge Judge
of Schohaire Com. Pleas

State of New York
County of Schoharie I, William M Holton Clerk of the said County do Certify that Robert Eldridge Esq before whom the preceeding
affidavits purports to have been been sworn, was at the date of the same one of the Judges 
in and for the said County. And that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said
affidavits to be his proper hand writing and signature Witness my hand and seal
of office this 7th day of February the
William H. Holton Clerk
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I William R. Jewett pastor of the Church
of Christ in the first Congregational
Society in Griswold formerly Preston
in New London County State of Connecticut
and [illegible] in the pastoral 
office to the Revd. Lee Hart, now deceased
who in the year 1784 as appears by the
records of said society was pastor of said
church do certify that in the Record
Book of the marriages in said society
I find the following entry viz,
"Seventeen hundred eighty four, January"
twenty ninth John Walton and Mary
Clift both of Benton,
and that it is a true copy of the record with
the exception of the date which is expressed
on the record in fair legible figures as follows
Viz "1784. Jany 29. John Walton & Mary,
Clift both of Preston "
I William R Jewell above named depose
and say that I hold the office of Pastor
of the first Congregational Church and
Society in Griswold formerly Preston in
the County aforesaid and that the above
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is a true extract from the records of said
church with the exception above named
as certified by me.
Griswold July 1 1839
State of Ancient
William R. Jewett
Pastor of the Cong. Church
of Grisnold Conn.

State of Connecticut
New London County Ss. Griswold July 1789
Then personally appeared before me Samuel C. Morgan a
Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid the Revd
William R. Jewett, [crossed out]/who signed the foregoing affidavit [illegible]/[crossed out] 
a person to me well known as a credible
witness and whose statement is entitled to credit, and
made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate
and affidavit by him signed in my presence 
Samuel C. Morgan Justice of the Peace
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I Nathan Belcher of Griswold in New 
London County State of Connecticut now
in my eightyeth year of age do depose
and say that I was well acquainted
with John Walton formerly of Preston
in sd County while a boy and during the
Revolutionary war. I will recollect that he
was a fifer in the Company of State troops
of the State of Connecticut Commanded by my
father Capt William Belcher then of said
Preston in the year 1776. That in the
spring of the year 1776 I went as a waiter
to my father in the Campaign to New York
and was in the [orchard?] fight so called in
which I was wounded, the said John Walton
was a member of said company during
this campaign and was with us during the
the whole time, according to my recollection
at this time, we left home some
time in May 1776 and was discharged
about the time of the battle at Trenton
the last of December-- we were in the service
in this campaign about seven months
our company was attached to the Regiment
commanded by Col. Selden of Lyme in
state of Connecticut. I know the said
John Walton after the aforesaid service
and while he lived in Preston, and was 
acquainted with his wife, who was Polly Clift
before and after their marriage. Mr
Amos Clift the father of the said Polly
resided within a mile of my father's
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and I well recollect the time of the
marriage of the said John & Polly though
I was not present at the wedding-
Griswold June 15. 1839-
Nathan Belcher
Nathan Belcher
[written vertically on right margin]/Hon. J.H. Prentiss H.R./[written vertically on right margin]

New London County ss Griswold June 15th 1839
Then personally appeared before me Samuel C. Morgan a Justice of the peace for said County Nathan Belcher a person to me well known as a credible witness and made solemn
oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition
by him signed in my presence-
Samuel C. Morgan Justice of the Peace
State of Connecticut
County of New London I John DeWitt Clerk of the County Court in and for said New London
County do hereby certify that Samuel C. Morgan Esq before whom the foregoing and annexed depositions of Revd Wm R. Jewett and Nathan Belcher Esq were taken, was at the several dates thereof and still is a Justice of the peace for said New London County and that his signatures thereto affixed are genuine - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said County this 7th day of October A D 1839
John De Witt Clerk
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REJECTED
11.107
Mary Walton

Service:  Conn.   John

Enlisted: ________________________________, 18  .
Discharged: ____________________________,  18  .

Application Filed: _______________________,  18  .

Alleges: ________________________________________
_________________________________________________

Re-enlisted: ____________________________________
_________________________________________________

Attorney: _______________________________________
P.O. _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________
________Recognized.  ___________________Contract.
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V
N. York
Mary Walton
Let to Hon. J.J. Prentiss 18 Feb 1840
to W. Beckman [illegible] Aug. 1840
Let J. C. G. Kennedy
Aug 25/54
1858. [illegible] 3. Let to Hon CB Cochrane
11107
Act July 1838
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June 24 18[?]
N.York
Add proof
Elliz Henry

[Illegible] N York
June 22d
Honl J.L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
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Leesville June 20th 1840
Hon J L Edwards
Sir I enclose you A M
[illegible] Supplementary affidavit of the
services of Wells Henry in the Revolutionary war and also affidavits, of the time of
his death I hope they will be sufficient
to entitle Mrs Henry to a pension, I have
not devoted any time to the pension law
and have been induced, by the extreme
poverty of Mrs Henry, to assist her and
two others, in getting on the pension list
the great difficulty in procuring proof
for, widows, after a lapse of so many years
and they not knowing, who, were [illegible]
of their husbands in arms, and
the number now living (comparatively
Small) renders the difficulty in many
cases insurmountable,
In the case of Nancy Garey Widow of
Gilbert Garey deceased, you say in
your communication of the 18th of
April, that you want the best attainable evidence of the death of Gilbert Gary
her husband, I thought & am still strongly
impressed, with the belief that affidavits
of the death of her husband was
forwarded, with her declaration, the
affidavits intended to be furnished was
the affidavits of Salmon Drake & wife
at whose house Gilbert Gorey died, Mr
Drake has left this place, & gone into
Ontego County NY to reside, I would
inquire weather those affidavits have
been received & if they have and are not
sufficient, what evidence will be required
Mr Garey died at this place, and it is
a fact well known to all the inhabitants
of Leesville, I, frequently visited him
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in his last sickness and saw him after
his death he died at Mr Drakes about
forty rods, from my house, if the affidavit
of Mr & Mrs Drake, have not been received
at your office, I can procure the affidavits
of a dozen persons in the neighbourhood
or I can send to Otsego Co and procure
the affidavits of Mr Drakes family in
which Gilbert Gary died, --
In relation to Mary Walton Widow of John
Walton deceased (you informed Col Prentiss
Representative in Congress who transmitted the same
to me;) That Nathan Belcher affidavit
states that the claimants husband inlisted the
the service in the month of May 1776 in Capt
Belchers company Col Seldens Regiment, and
continued therein until the last of December
following, that the law on [illegible], that
Regiment to be raised, was not passed until
the 9th of June 17[?] and was to continue in
the Service until the 25th of December 
following unless sooner discharged you further
state that immediately after the battle of
White Plains, that a large portion of the
Connecticut militia raised under the law
refered to was discharged, which was on
the 28th of October & that in view of further
investigation the witness Nathan Belcher
should state deffinitely, when the service in question commenced, and when it terminated, weather this can be complyed, with is a matter
of doubt I have understood that Nathan Belcher
was dead & I do not know of any other living
witness at present I have been informed, that
Col Seldens Regiment, was organized before the passage of the law, and ordered their service
& that the law was passed, immediately after
the service of the Regiment was rendered, but
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I do not know weather this can be relyed
on, I would take the liberty with defference
to enquire, weather the enlistment
Roll is not in the Secretarys office and
weather (if so) it does not appear from
the Roll what time John, Walton, did
enter the service, & I also suppose that the
time, the several Individuals, were discharged
would be returned to the war office
I could procure considerable [illegible]
evidence if it would help the
case of Mrs. Mary Walton, The Honl
J.D. Hammond & many others, in Otsego
County, know, some thing about the matter
Mr Walton in his life time, stated what
service he had been in & he was a man
of considerable character & standing after
the war filling several offices, both civil
& Millitary, after his discharge from
Col Seldens Regiment, he entered into
the service as a privateer, & was taken 
prisoner twice, and was a prisoner on board
the prison ship at New York a long time
but I am aware that those engaged in
that service are not entitled to pension
& therefore is a matter of no consequence,
only to show, that he was
zealous, in the cause of his country
the Honl John H Prentiss Representative
in Congress I believe knew him at all
even to know what his character was
and if his John Waltons declarations
made thirty five years age could be
used there would be no difficulty in
the case of his widow, Respectfully
your Obedient Servant
William Beckman [illegible]
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Hou of Reps'
Feby 15, 1840-
J. L. [Illegible], Esq.
Sir.
The enclosed papers [illegible]
me by last nights mail, and I send
them to you for [consideration?], with a
request that you will give them
your [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]
Very respectfully
Your obt svt
M. H. Prentiss