Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 425, Justus Baker, New York
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New York
Baker, Justus or Jesse 
NUMBER
R. 425
CONTENTS [blank]
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Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Comgress passed June seventeenth A. D. 1832 
State of New York County of Tioga SS} On this nineteen day of January 1839 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting Justus Baker of the town of Newark in the County of Tioga and State of New York aged seventy four years who being [repeated "being" crossed out] 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 seventeenth A. D. 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - That he this deponent entered the army when he was seventeen or eighteen years of age- he was at the time he enlisted, an apprentice to the taylor's [tailor's] trade 
The officers under which he served were Captain Dodge, Major Logan and Colonel Wison Phelps 
That at the time he was enrolled he lived in the town of Paulding in the County of Dutchess in the state of New York- That he passed muster at Fishkill in the State of New York sometime in the month of July can not tell the day, from thence he was soon marched under the above officers to Westpoint [West Point], from thence to Albany in the state of New York, where he staid eight or ten days. from thence to Schenectady. from thence to Johnstown where he was stationed sometime, from thence he was marched to Saratoga, thence back to Albany where he received his discharge from some of the officers cannot recollect whom- This was sometime in the fall having served that season about four months- He then went home and went to work with his former master at his trade with whom he staid until the next Spring- He was then called into the service again about the first of May and passed muster at Fishkill
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in the State of New yOrk under the same officers as the year before and was then marched to West Point where he did duty nine ["six" is crossed out] months and was then discharged from service He received his discharge from some of the officers- cannot recollect who signed it- 
This deponent further saith that he was hired and entered the service as a substitute for six or seven men who were required by draft to furnish one man for that company or squad - He was in an engagement near Lake George in the state of New York while out on a Scouting expedition- 
This deponent also states that he resided in the County of Dutchess, town of Paulding about three years after receiving his discharge thence he went to the State of Vermont and lived there about nine months from thence he went to Lenox in the County of Berkshire in the State of Massachusetts where he was married and lived about twenty years- That on the third day of September 1803 his house and all its contents together with two of his children (one two and the other six years old- were consumed by fire that the family bible containing the records of his and his family's ages was also burnt- also all his papers amongst which were  his discharges from the army and the dates and times of enlistment and dates of his discharge with all that he possessed- From thence he removed to the town of Canaan in the State of New York and from thence to the town of Newark, County of Tioga and State of New York where he now resides- 
This deponent further saith that Frances Snowden and Ezekiel Jenkins of the towns of Paulding and John Bay and Andard Canan of Poughkeepsie and Simeon Runne of Dover belonged to the same Company with this deponent This deponent further states that he was acquainted with Col. Brown who was stationed at Johnstown and was killed at Stone Robbie by the Indians and Tories- That he was acquainted with General Washington who was at West Point while this deponent
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was stationed there, and joined in a great celebration of the Birth of the sone of the King of France in hour of General La Fayette- that he was also acquainted with Dr. Buck who was Surgeon of the regiment to which this deponent belonged- That he has made diligent search and inquiries and cannot ascertain that any of the above named persons are living- that he knows of no one who can testify to his services and that he has no documentary evidence- 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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 or Territory 
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
The erasure of the word "six" and word "nine" inserted before signing- [signature:] Justus Baker 
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 
I David Wallis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Tioga and State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Justus [last name obscured by the seal] for a pension 
[illegible seal] 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this nineteenth day of January A D Eighteen hundred and thirty nine [signature:] David Wallis Clk
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STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF TIOGA, SS, }
I, DAVID WALLIS, Clerk of the County of TIOGA, do hereby certify that E P Higbe. Esq. whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument and thereon written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment a Judge of Tioga Com Pleas in and for the County aforesaid, dwelling in said County and duly authorized to take the same. I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Elisha P Higbe and 
verily believe the signature to the said certificate is genuine. 
IN TESTMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County the Twenty Eight day of February 1839 [signature:] David Wallis Clerk.
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State of New York Broome County Ss } On the 8th day of August before me George Wheeler one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County the undersigned Justus Baker and he being duly sworn Deposeth and saith that he was born in the town of Pawling in the county of Dutches [Dutchess] in the state of New York and that he is about twenty five years of age that he has been Residing in the town of Newark in the County of Tioga and State aforesaid and that he now resides in the town of Lisle and County of Broome And this deponent further saith that he made application  for a pension under the Act of June 7th 1832 Before the Court of Common pleas of Tioga County at the Jany or Feby term of 1839 and which is now on file in the Pension office at Washington as he has understood and this deponent further saith that he was named by his Parents Jesse Baker and that he went by that name until he was about twenty years of age that during the time he was in the service his name was Jesse Baker and that he served under that name and that after his discharge from the army he went to the State of Vermont to visit an uncle of his by the name of Justice Whipple who Died and at the request of his aunt Mrs Whipple his name was changed from Jesse to Justice Baker and that he had always been known and called by Justice ever since that time - and his deponent further states that he is the same identical person who lived with David Hurd and worked at the taylors [tailor's] trade as mentioned in the affidavit of Charles Hurd and Also by Isach Birch and and this deponent further saith that the reason of so long delaying to apply for a pension is from the three following Reasons - first that within a few years he was able to support
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himself by his Labor and from the assistance of his connexions [connections] 2d that he had not the means to pay the necessary Expense of making the application and 3d that he knew of no one Living in this part of the Country that he could prove his service in the army [signature:] Justus Baker 
Sworn and subscribed this 8th day of August 1829 before me George Wheeler } Judge of Broome Co Comm Pleas - 
State of New York Broome Cunty SS } I, B. Marvin Clerk of Said County do certify that George Wheeler Esqr before whom the foregoing Affidavit was taken was on the date thereof a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and this county, And I am well acquainted with his hand writing and believe the signature is genuine Witness my hand and Seal of office this 25th day of Dec. 1839. [signature:] B. Marvin Clerk
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[note: the left edge of the upper part of this  page is missing, here indicated by "_"] 
Ex'r. INVALID. 
No. 423 
REJECTED 
["Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1872." is crossed out] 
Justus Baker 
_. O. [blank] 
_ervice: [blank] 
_nlisted: [blank] , 18 [blank] 
_ischarged: [blank] , 18 [blank]  
Alleges: [blank] 
Re-enlisted: [blank] 
Attorney: [blank] 
P. O. [blank]
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N. York Justus Baker 
Let to E. P. Higbee 3. April 1839 
to Hon. S. B. Leonard. 16. Jan. 1840 
To Hon S. B. Leonard, April 15, 1840. } 
In Claim of Gideon Cortwright adm - S.16086 
423 
Act June 1832
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Hon. S. B. Leonard H. R
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The Number and Amount of Certificates issued by the Treasurer of the State of New York for Levy's and Militia service H? Continued from Book IV. V. 
1785 May 25 
To whom given 
25.667 Jesse Baker Lt The Number and Amount of Certificates paid by the Treasurer of the State of New York for Levi's and Militia service continued from Book VI. 
142 4 1 
1779 May 11. 
34.574 Jesse Baker Lt 
21 18 11 
State of New York Comptrollers Office Albany Feby 14th 1843 } 
I hereby Certify the above to be true extracts from Books 6. & 7 now residing in this office, and also that it appears from the same Books  that the said Baker served the time first above named under Capt. Gabriel Regna [Ryan?], & the second the Officer is not stated and that on the 28 July 1780 a P Thomas was a Col. [signature:] Bates Cooke Comptroller 
fee, 34 ¢
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Mar 7 
[mostly illegible circular stamp:] E__ Feb 28 
REE 
Hon Cyrus Beers Member of Congress Washington City 
Or in the absence of Beers- To J L. Edwards }
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Newark Feby 21 1839 
Dr Sir - Permit Me through the advise of the Honorable Stephen B Leonard of this County to address you on the subject of an application for to obtain a Pension under the act of 1832- The applicant for the Benefit under that act is a Very Respectable old man worn out by the fatigu of 70 years or more- as you will see by the Dockuments accompaning [sic] this Letter It is for the Benefit of the applicant That I have been induced for him to ask you to Receive the Dockuments in to your care & to present them to the Commissioner of Pensions or to the proper officers for their Consideration- I would wish that you would take the earliest opportunity in getting the Dockument Before the proper officers & to get their Decision on the application Before the Close of the Session- or Before You leave Washington- If the decision on the application should be Unfavourable to the applicant  will you be so good as to ascertain the grounds on which it is rejected so that the applicant may have an opportunity to amend the same if it is his power - I think however that the facts set forth in the Dockuments will be satisfactory - and I am also persuaded that from your general Character & from the High and Responsible Station you hold. is a sufficient guarantee that you will do all in your power to Relieve the wants of an old Revolutionary Patriot - You will also confer a favour on me by obtaining from the Pension office the forms in use in all cases where Pensions are granted - & more in particular to the Law & forms granting pensions to those that were wounded in the Last war on A D 1812
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You will Please Excuse my abrupt appeal to you for the service Required - when I say that I was about to Write to Mr Gray the Member from Chemung - But Mr Leonard a personal friend of mine - & I believe yours - asshured me that you would not hesitate to attend to the Business with Pleasure- all Expense will be punctually Paid By Receiving Your Bill - By your most Obedient & humble Servant - [signature:] E. P. Higbe 
Hon Cyrus Beers 
N3 Please to inform me as to the Results as soon as convenient -
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Isaiah Birch affidavit 
N Y Jurat 
Jesse Baker of Justus Baker 
Addl. Proof Hon S. B. Leonard H. R
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Duches [Dutchess] County - SS. On the 22d day of July 1839 Personally came before me Daniel D Akin one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County Isaih [Isaiah] Birch and he being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was born in the Town of Paulding in the County of Duches [Dutchess] & State of New York and that I was Eighty Years old last June - and have always resided in said town and Cunty - and that I was well acquainted with one Jesse Baker who was then Living with Mr Hurd to Learn the Twylors [tailor's] trade - the said Jesse Baker was one of my companions & was a little younger than myself That some time during the Revolutionary war - (cannot say at what time) the said Jesse Baker left his Master Mr Hurd and went into the army & saw him on duty in the army at Fishkill very frequently - he was then under Dodge in C -- [ink-blotted] Wison Phelps Regiment - I called on him several times as an old friend - I was well acquainted with Capt Dodge & also Col Phelps - I have ["thought" is crossed out] no means of knowing his age - except from my own & think he must have been sixteen or Eighteen years old at the time he listed [enlisted] - Nor can I say in what year - But from my best knowledge I have it must been betwn [between ? ] 1781 on - I further Rember [remember] that Jesse Baker served one tour & Returned home and went to work at his trade for Mr Hurd Untill the next Spring - I saw him during the winter frequently - The next Spring or summer he was called on to join the army - I [illegible] him at fishkill a Doing Duty in Captain Dodge Company & in Wison Phelps Regiment
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This deponent further saith that he had no Records of the exact time that the said Jesse Baker was in the army But is certain that he was out on two tours- & from the best of my knowledge must have been Twelve or fifteen months - That at the close of the war the said Jesse Baker left the Town & County - and then I have not seen him since - his X mark Isaiah Birch 
Sworn and subscribed the 22 day of July 1839 before me [signature:] Daniel D Akin Judge of Dutchess County Courts 
State of New York Dutchess County SS On this 22 day of July 1839 Personally appeared before me the undersigned Judge Charles Hurd of the Town of Paulding of said County who upon oath deposeth and saith that from the information of his father David Hurd one Jesse Baker lived with him during or about the time of the revolutionary war and worked at the Tayloring [tailoring] business and that it was so understood and believed in the neighborhood where deponent resided [signature:] Charles Hurd 
Sworn and subscribed this 22d of July 1839 before me [signature:] Daniel D Akin Judge of Dutchess County Courts
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I certify that I am well acquainted with Isaiah Birch who made the beforementioned affidavit and upon examining him in relation to the matter therein contained I cannot see any reason why his testimony is not entitled to full credit And Also that I know Charles Hurd Esqr and believe that his testimony is entitled to full credit [signature:] Daniel D Akin Judge &c 
State of New York Dutchess County } I Daniel W. Beadle Clerk of the County of Dutchess do certify that Daniel D. Aikin Esq whose name is on this sheet under written was on the day of the date of such signatures a Judge of the County Courts in and for the County of Dutchess, Commissioned and sworn and dwelling in said County. And that the signature of "Daniel D Akin" above and within written are genuine and in the proper hand writing of the said Judge. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this twenty third day of July one thousand Eight hundred and thirty nine - Danl W. Beadle Clerk. By Jno. J. Pells Dept. Clerk
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I Morgan Ruger a Clergyman residing in the town of Newark County of Tioga & state of New York do hereby certify that I am acquainted with Justus Baker who had subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that I believe him to be seventy four years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood in which he resided to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary war & that I concur in that Opinion [signature:] Morgan Ruger Station minister of the Methodist Ep. Church in the town of Newark 
Subscribed and sworn Before me the 1st day of Feby 1839 [signature:] E. P. Higbe Judge of Common Pleas Tioga County 
State of New York Tioga County } SS. Ephraim Peas being duly sworn saith that he is seventy years of age and had been acquainted with Justus Baker named in the previous affidavit - had known him about thirty five years - was well acquainted with him at the time he resided in Lenox Berkshire County Massachusetts - & this deponent saith he knows from records in his possession that the said Justus Bakers house was burnt on the 3 day of September 1803 & that two of his children were consumed in the same - The said Justus Baker then lived in Lenox Berkshire County & state of Massachusetts & this deponent then lived in the town of Canaan County of Columbia & state of New York & this deponent further saith that the said Justus Baker did soon after his house was burned remove his family from Lenox Massachusetts to the town of Canaan County of Columbia & state of New York & lived in that neighborhood for more than thirty years & this deponent further saith that Justus Baker was absent from home at the time his house was burned & was at the house of this deponent when it was burned at work & that the said Justus Baker was in bed when he was notified of his house being burned & that he went home in the night Eight or ten miles - & this deponent further states that more than thirty years since he heard Justus Baker repeat the circumstances of his having been in the Revolutionary War & that since that period the said Justus Baker
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had been in the habit of repeating the circumstances & events that took place while he was in the army & this deponent further saith that it was generally known & believed in the neighborhood where he resided for a great length of time that the said Justus Baker was a private in Army in the revolutionary war - as stated in his declaration  and this deponent further saith that during the time & ever since he became acquainted with Justus Baker he has always sustained an unblemished character and is believed to be a man of strict integrity and in the opinion of this deponent the said Justus Baker is Entitled to full credit in all his statements - [signature:] Ephem [Ephraim?] Pease 
Subscribed and sworn Before Me the first day of February 1836 [signature:] E. P. Higbe Judge of Tioga County
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State of New York Tioga County SS } William R Pease being duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with Justus Baker named in the foregoing declaration has been intimately acquainted with him for thirty years past - knew him when he resided in Lenox Berkshire County Massachusetts that on or about the 3 day of September 1803 his house was burned with all its contents & two of his children that soon after the said Justus Baker removed to the town of Canaan in the county of Columbia & state of New York - and lived in the same neighborhood with this deponent - he further saith that soon after he became acquainted with Justus Baker he learned from him that he had been a soldier in the revolutionary war - That the said Baker has been in the habit of relating to him & others the circumstances & events that took place during the time he was a soldier ever since he was acquainted with him & that it has always been the opinion in the neighborhood where he resided that he was a soldier in the revolution - & This deponent further states that Justus Baker has always been reputed to be a man of unblemished character & strict integrity & a man of truth & veracity - [signature:] William R Peas 
Subscribed & Sworn before me the first day of February 1839 [signature:] E. P. Higbe Judge of Tioga County 
State of New York Tioga County SS } Nichodemus [or Nickodemus] Orton being duly sworn saith that he has been acquainted with Ephraim Peas & William R Pease about twenty years. That as far as his knowledge extends the character of the said Ephraim Peas and William R Peas is good in all respects and this deponent further saith that the said Ephraim & William R Peas are entitled to full credit for truth & veracity [signature:] Demus Orton
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Subscribed and sworn ["and" is crossed out] Before Me Demus Orton Before mentioned on the first day of Feby 1839 [signature:] E. P. Higbe Judge of Tioga County 
E. P. Higbe Owego N. York 
34.740 
State of New York Tioga County SS } I E. P. Higbe one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of of [sic] said County Do Certify that I am well acquainted with Ephraim Pease & William R. Peas and Demus Orton Mentioned in the foregoing affidavits and believe them all to be men of good moral character & entitled to full credit in all of their statements - Feby 1st. 1839 [signature:] E. P. Higbe Judge of Tioga Cot 
Tioga County SS - I E. P. Higbe one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County - Do certify that Ephraim Pease William R Pease & Resides about Twenty Miles from the Court house in said County which Renders it inconvenient to them in open Court - & the said Morgan Ruger was at the sitting of said Court - unable to attend in open Court at the time the within Declaration was sworn to in this Court - [signature:] E. P. Higbe Judge of Tioga County
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34740 Justus Baker N. Y. Act 7. June '32
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Justice Bakers affidavit
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Jurat Mar 
Hon Cyrus Benz M. C Washington City or J. L. Edwards Com. of Pensions 
E. P. Higbee Esqr Owebo N. YOrk 
[partially legible circular stamp:] 
W  E  C  W     Y FEB 28
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State of New York Comptrollers Office Albany April 8. 1840 
I hereby certify that on examining the records of this office for evidence of the revolutionary services of Justus Baker I find none and that the name of said Justus Baker does not appear on any such record in this office [signature:] Bates Luke Comptroller