Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40299, for William Preston, New York
Page 1

SERVICE: Continental, New York, War of 1812
Preston, William (widow- Rebecca)
NUMBER: S 40299
Page 2

Left side:
[Order?] to pay given to the New York agt. 
[?] April 1836 no cer[?] in closed letter 
See cir. Tra 25" March 1835 - to J. Lawrence N.Y. 
Transf'd from N. York to Ohio Pittsbg fr 4" Mar 1834 - Mar 31" 1835 
Suspd 

Crosswise, left:
Notif Sent to Stephen Phelps Octr 1821 Canandaigua NY
Notification of transfer sent to Pens'r care of Thos Beal Esq Canandaigua NY Aug. 17 1833
Let to H. Brackenridge  23 April 1833
Let to R.N. Gillet 27 [illegible]
Let to Prentiss & Hough 1 Oct 1833
Let: 4 Apl. 1833 Hon: E. Whittlesey

Right side:
Ohio Pittsbg Trsf. Ohio
New York. to Ohio [stricken]
N. York [stricken] 17,592

William Preston, R
of Niagara Co. in the state of N. York
who was a private in the regiment commanded
by Colonel S. Warner, of the New-Hamps.
line for the term of 2 years, 6 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of New-York
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 20. of April, 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8. of July, 1820
and sent to Stehen Phelps, agent
Canandaigua, New-York

Arrears to 4th of March, 1820. $: 179.96
Semi=anl. all'ce ending 4. Septr 1820 48."
[=] $227:96
22mos. 11/30 & 4/31
{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818.}
Continued
Page 3

William Prestons 
Declaration 

The Credibility of Witnesses must be Certified by & Magistrate 

The credibility of the witnesses has been Certified - See within
Page 4

I Gideon Frisbee one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Niagara aforesaid do Certify that it appears to my Satisfaction that the said William Preston did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceeding declaration against the Common Enemy and that the said William is in such Reduced Circumstances as to need the assistance of his Country for support and that he is a Resident Citizen of the United States and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. 
Dated the 20th day of April 1818 
[Signed] G Frisbee

State of New York 
Niagara County ss.  I John E. Marshall clerk of the county of Niagara, do hereby certify that Gideon Frisbee whose name is subscribed to the above certificate of the within declaration or instrument in writing was on the day and date of the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Niagara, and still is a Judge of said county, commissioned and sworn &c-- and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge, and verily believe that the above signature of "G Frisbee" is the proper hand writing of the said Judge. 
In testimony  whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix the county seal at Buffalo this 6th day of June AD 1820 
[SEAL]
[Signed] Jno E Marshall, Clerk 
by D Remington Dep.
Page 5

State of New York 
Niagara County ss:  On this Twentieth day of April in the Year A.D. 1818 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Niagara aforesaid personally appears William Preston aged Fifty seven Years resident in the Town of Cambria in the County of Niagara aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress Entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war." That the said William Preston enlisted into the service of the United States in the month of March in the year 1778 at Cambridge in the State of New York in the Company Commanded by Capt. John Chipman of Col. Seth Warner's Regiment, that he continued to serve in said Company until the Eighteenth day of October 1780, when he was stationed at Fort George which was taken by the British troops, that he was then & there wounded in the head by a bayonet, and from thence made his escape with Twenty Eight others to Fort Edward. That in the month of June in the year 1780 and while in the service of the United States he received a [illegible] by an accident in rowing a boat on Lake George which has been very troublesome ever since. That this deponent served principally while in said Company within the State of New York and that Col. Warners Regiment as near as this deponent can recollect belonged to the New York line. That this deponent is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support. And that he has no other evidence now in his possession or power of his said service 
William (X his mark) Preston
Sworn and subscribed & declared 
before me the day & year first above written
[Signed] G Frisbee
Page 6

Communication to be forwarded to
Stephen Phelps Canandaigua
William (X his mark) Preston
Page 7

Rec'd 31 Aug 1821. 667.
Case of Wm Preston 
Copy 
17,592

Con'd
J.L. E.

Stephen Phelps, Esqr. 
Canandaigua, N.Y.
Page 8

STATE OF NEW-YORK,}
Ontario County, ss.	}  On this twenty second day of August 1821 personally appeared in open Court, (being a Court of Commons Pleas in and for said county, and constituted a Court of Record by proceeding according to the course of the Common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, and keeping a record its proceedings, and recognized as such Court by the laws and judicial decisions of said State,) William Preston aged sixty years, resident in the town of Richmond in said county, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: -- 

That he enlisted as a private on the sixteenth day of March 1778, at Bennington, Vermont under Capt. John Chipman in the Regiment commanded by Col Seth Warner, of the New York Line, (as he believes) and that he received an honorable discharge from Lieut. Col. Stafford ^or Safford of said Regiment, at Bennington on the fifteenth day of November 1780. 
and that he made application for a Pension on the twentieth day of April 1818 and that he received a Pension Certificate, No. 17592. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not since that time. by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed, viz 

one cow 15.00 - 1 fall leaf Table 4.00 - one pair and Irons  2.00 - 1 frying pan, .50 = $21.50 
1 Tram[m]el tongs & Shovel 2.00 - 1 Meat Barrel 1.00. - 1 cask .25 - 1 Hoe .20 = 3.45
1 xe .50 - 4 chairs 1.50, 1 Hoe, .31 - 1 Churn & 2 pails 1.40 - 1 Basket .50 = 3.71
5 teacups & saucers .25 - 4 crocks .60 - two broken platters .08 = .93 
6 plates .25 - 1 Jug, Tunnel & Ladle .40 - 4 quart bowls .28 = .93
4 knives & forks, 1 Butcher knife .60 - 1 Tea cannister .20 - 1 wooden bowl ^broken .10 = .90
1 Flat Iron .20 - 1 old flour cask .12 1/2 - 1 chest .50 - 1 Looking Glass .20 = 1.02 1/2
1 pair Shears .06 - 1 Broken Tea Kettle & Broken Bake Kettle .50 = .56
1 candlestick .04 - 1 cow Bell 1.00 - 5 old spoons .31 = 1.35
[Total =] 34.35 1/2

And I do further swear and declare that I am by occupation a Farmer and that by age and Infirmities particularly a bad breech, unable to perform but little or no labor, and that my Family consists of my wife aged fifty six years, out of health, my daughter Betsey aged Seventeen Years, tolerably healthy, and am now obliged to depend on the Charity of my friends for Support
[Signed] Wm. Preston
Sworn and declared this 22nd day of August 1821 before me 
a Judge of the Court of Common pleas - in Open Court.
[Signed] Moses Atwater 
(filed 22d August 1825) [?]

I, Gavin L. Nicholas Clerk of the county of Ontario do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath (or affirmation) and the schedule annexed, are truly copied from the record of her said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is thirty four dollars and thirty five and one half cents. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, this twenty second day of August 1821. 
[Signed] Gavin L. Nicholas 
Clerk of the Court for the County of Ontario
Page 9

Mesopotamia}
March 12th}
Free [postage]
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Pension Agent
Washington City

Crosswise: March 19

Upside down:
William Preston
transfer
(Ohio Pittsbg)
Page 10

Application for a Transfer 
State of Ohio }
Trumbull County} ss.  On this 4th day of March 1835 Before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace for the said County of Trumbull personally appeared William Preston who on his ^oath declares that he is the same person Who formerly belonged to the company Commanded by Captain John Chipman in the Regement Commanded by Colonel Seth Warner in the service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from Whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the State of Ohio where he intends to remain and wishes his Pension to be payable in future at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania the following are his reasons for removing from New York having Children in Ohio emigrated to live with them 
Sworn and subscribed to }
Before me the day & year aforesaid} [Signed] Linus Tracey Just Peace
[Signed] Wm Preston

Also Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the peace Aaron Bates Jr Who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is personally acquainted with William Preston and Know him to be the person described in the above affidavit 
[Signed] Linus Tracey Justice Peace 
I hereby certify that Aaron Bates Jr the witness in the above affidavit is a man of Truth and Veracity 
[Signed] Linus Tracey Justice Peace
Page 11

The State of Ohio}
Trumbull County ss}  I George Parsons Clerk of the Court of Common pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that Linus Tracey Esquire whose signature in his own proper hand writing is affixed to the within certificate of acknowledgement is and was at the time of subscribing the same an acting Justice of the peace within and for said county duly commissioned and sworn agreeably to the Laws of said State, and to whose official acts full faith and credit are and ought to be given 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Warren this 6 day of March Anno Domini 1835 
[Signed] George Parsons Clk 
By Lyman Potter dep
Page 12

Mesopotamia Trumbull Co Ohio 
Hon J L Edwards 

Dear 
Sir
Should the Transfer of William Preston be Granted please direct your Communication to Me as I have the line of his buisness 
Very Respectfully your 
Obet Servant 
[Signed] L Franz
Page 13

40299 
Revy INVALID. 
File No. 40, 299 
William Preston 
Pri Rev War
Act: 18th March 18" 
Index: -- Vol. G Page 402 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

Suspd.
Not on any of the company rolls of Warners Battalion for 78 & 79
Page 15

Jan 28/52 
E M Webber in behalf of Mr Preston 
NY

Crosswise:
[illegible]
H. Hillbrant
Hon J. E. Heath 
Comr Pensions 
Washington
Page 16

Let to Lewis Elliott Esq May 17th '47
L.. Elliott May 2d 49,
Hon H. Hillard May 4/52
L. Elliott July 20 1832
John Harmon Jany 12/59
"   "   Febr. 8/59
Page 17

Apl 17, 52
Rel: to Case of
Wm Preston's
widow

Lewis Elliott 
Hampden 
Geauga Co, Ohio

Crosswise:
Hon. James E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City, D.C.
Hampshire Company [?]
Page 18

Wm Preston
Revolutionary
Pensioner of N.H.
Law of 1818

from Arad Joy
Ovid
He wishes to See the papers

Feb 1852
Page 19

Rumney N.H. Jan 28 1852, 

Mr Joy

Dear Sir 
I have just rec'd the Papers from Mrs Preston which she has Signed and upon examining them I feel that they were Signed and acknowledged before D. M. Chapin Justice of the Peace and are neither of them dated. I therefore return them for correction. Please direct me where to serve them, as I shall not probably get them for a week or more.
Very Respectfully 
Your Sr
[Signed] E. M. Webber
Page 20

I Thomas Ainslie of Lawful age depose and Say that about four years ago I heard William Tuffs Say - who was a Revolutionary Soldier that he Tuffs was acquainted with William Preston in the years 76 and 1777 and that Said Preston was a soldier in said servis and Said William Tuffs said the last time he seen Said Preston in said servis was at the taking of Berguine at Saratoga and further this deponant saith not 
[Signed] Thomas Ainslie
The State of Ohio Geauga County ss. 
Sworn to and Subscribed before me 
this 23rd of Feb A.D. 1838
[Signed] Nath'l Moore J.P.
Page 21

Ogdensburgh May 7. 1835 
Sir
When I advised you of my [illegible] that Wm Preston had no claim to a pension, I did not furnish you any of the evidence upon which I grounded my suggestion. The enclosed letter was handed to me by a Revolutionary soldier to be used as I saw fit. He also gave me the inclosed leaf which shows where Preston probaby went to & the service he ingaged in. This leaf is as I am informed & believe from [the Roll of- stricken] a Canadion Captain's books during the war. One Ilssup[?] ^subsequently a major &c, I believe, once commanded this company & the books & papers are with his widow in Prescott [illegible], just across the river from my residence. I am verbally informed that these papers on likely to throw light upon other cases, & that the writer of the letter can disclose the names of numerous persons whom she saw ^while in Albany County besides Preston, some of whom are drawing pensions, it is said. 
I am not at liberty to let these papers remain with you & therefore you will please return them. A knowledge of the contents may lead you to detect frauds. Should any
Page 22

information calculating to aid in the detection of fraud come in my way, I will forward it to you firstly[?] & cheerfully, but I cannot go in search of evidence at my own expense
Your obt servt
[Signed] R.H. Gillet

J.L. Edwards
Page 23

Claim of
Rebecca Preston
for Pension
as widow of Wm. Preston
a Revolutionary Pensioner

John Harmon agent
Ravenna Ohio
Page 24

Ravenna Ohio Decr 26th 1858 
Commissioner of Pensions -- Dear sir - As agent for one of the heirs of Wm Preston deceased a revolutionary pensioner and whose pension was stopped ^some little before his death I wish to enquire whether his arrears of Pension ^or his widows pension, was ever allowed or drawn by his widow or any one purporting to be an agent for his widow Rebecca Preston. A Mr Lewis Elliott (or Ellet) was employed by the widow to obtain the pension after the death of My Preston and it is presumed he may have drawn it and withheld it from her ^about 14 or 15 years ago as very near we can ascertain as no reason can be assigned why he could not draw it as she is known to have furnished him all the necessary evidence on which to draw it and there could not be a doubt of her being entitled to it. But Ellet reported he could not get it and is now - Since the death of the widow - offering to buy pension claims but says that this cannot be obtained. 
We cannot give the exact date, nor the number of the claim but hope you will be able to aid us to find out ^or to confirm our suspicions or dispell them. 
Very Respectfully 
Yours &c 
[Signed] John Harmon
Page 25

Washington April 18th 1838

Sir
I send to you the papers of William Preston. I conclude from the letter of Mr White, that Mr Preston has been on the pension roll, and that he has been Stricken from it, and from a remark in his own affidavit, I conclude, You were informed he was fighting with, and not against the enemy. 
I wish You would examine the papers, and inform me, or Mr White, whether the objection is removed. Mr White is a verry respectable man. I am not acquainted with all the persons whose affidavits and sent to You. 
Verry Respectfully 
Yours 
[Signed] E Whittlesley

J L Edwards Esqr}
Com of Pensions}
Page 26

Hampden Geauga County Ohio 
August 21st 1848?

Hon J L Edwards Sir -
within Some five years past I have had the honor of transmmiting you Some twenty applications for pensions for widows and heirs  And at the present time I have a case of one widow Preston widow of a Revolutionary Soldier and pensioner and want to know whither she will Be Entitled to a pension under the resolve of Congress of last month. Her claim is as follows her Husband Wm Preston was pensioned under the pension act of 1818 while a resident of the State of New York. But Some years^after came to this county and after a few years he lost his pension on account of his name not being found on Col Warners Rolls as he set forth in his declaration - the widow is still living and wants to obtain a pension Can She under those Circumstances or not   Also a widow Norris has a claim her Husband was a pensioner But the Commissioner has desided against her Claim Stating that her Husband was a teamster and not a soldier And will the above Resolution affect her claim or not By answering this letter you can Save much trouble and expence Respectfully yours [Signed] Lewis Elliott
Hon James L Edwards Com of Pensions
Page 27

May 1, 1847
Rec'd of
Rebecca Preston

Crosswise:
Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC
Hampden O
April 23
Page 28

Hambden Geauga County Ohio 
April 22nd 1847 

Sir 
I am Employed By widow Rebecca Preston to obtain a Pension which she thinks is her due as the widow of William Preston and if you will inform me whith[er] She would Be Entitled under the following Circumstances or not it will save much trouble and Expence- her Husband William Preston was pensioned while liveing in the State of New York under the act of March 18th 1818 that Some twenty years ago he Came to the State of Ohio and drew his Pension a number of years and then was Stricken from the pension Roll on account of a statement ^that he was a tory and I wish to Be informed whither he Ever Received his Pension afterwards and when the last payment was made for some ten years ago he went to the State of New York and left his family and never Returned and is reported to Be dead and the widow is Blind and very poor and much in need of her Pension 
Respectfully yours 
[Signed] Lewis Elliott

 J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Page 29

FREE [postage]
RAVENNA O SEP 21 [postmark]
J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City DC

Crosswise: Sept 26 [receipt date]
Page 30

Ravenna Sept 21 1835

Sir 
I here with return Nathaniel Coutters application for a Transfer with the Clerks certificate attached. We some time Since forwarded an application for a Transfer for John Ferris which we have not heard from - we learnt when we was in Pittsburgh to draw the money for some of the old Soldirs that Mr William Preston a Pensioner under the act of 18th has been suspended, haveing not heard any thing about it previously to presenting his Voucher he wishes to know for what reason he has been suspended and wishes to know what course to pursue if any to get his small pitance as he is in a needy situation - having to depend entirely upon his pension for subsistence, by giving us some information respecting it you will much oblige the old Soldier 
Respectfuly Sir
Yours &c
[Signed] Prentiss Hough

J.L. Edwards Esq }
Commis'r of Pensions}
Page 31

Ogdinsburgh NY 
April 10th 1835. 

Sir,
I send you an aff't of Susanna Burt in and of David Brown's Claim for a pension. It is but within a short time, I understand that Brown his found out the residence of his sister. He himself has not seen her, & if her story is at all in confirmation of his, it ought to have much weight. The aff't has been drawn up by the local magistrate, & neither Brown, nor his attorney was present, & on this account I attach more weight to it. From my recollection of his former proof, & the objections raised, it seems to me that this proof must remove all doubt & induce you to give him his pension.
Page 32

You have heretofore spoken of the propriety of procuring William Preston's aff't in this case. I have, since my return home, been advised, that his man[?] could not with truth make any aff't of his own knowledge in this matter - That the Rolls of British Capt, in this vicinity, & the recollection of British soldiers, prove that he was a portion of the war at least, on the wrong side. I do not have this from Brown, but from third persons. If you will commission me to enquire into this, I will do so, & report to you as soon as completed. Should I stumble upon any other suspicious cases in this vicinity, I shall, as a citizen, call your attention to them.
Page 33

I know nothing of Brown's case further than the evidence proves & what I have heretofore written you.
Your obt servt 
[Signed] R.H. Gillet 

J. L. Edwards Esq
Com Pens
Page 34

Crosswise: C. Brownel's aff't

Sworn & Subscribed To Before Me
this 3d day of November A.D. 1837
[Signed] A Cable J.P.