Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 20,137, David Freemoyer, New York
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SERVICE: New York
Freemoyer, David
NUMBER: R. 20,137
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31,967
David Freemoyer
1832 Ohio
Declaration for obtaining Pension

NY Service Albany
[illegible] Scout Servant[?]

nothing found

J.W. Allen
Grandview Ohio.
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State of Ohio} 
County of Washington} ss 
On this 13thc. day of August 1834, personally appeared before me the Subscriber a justice of the Peace in & for the County of Washington & State aforesaid, David Freemoyer, a resident of the said County & State aforesaid aged Seventy three years the 28th day of February last, 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 Towit, 
That in May 1778. Affiant was residing in Albany County, then a frontier County of the State of New York on a creek called Cobleskill a branch of the Schoharie River, when a party of Indians consisting of Mohawk's, Seneca's & Anaquaqua's [Onondaga?], besides some Tories, principally from the Unadilla & Anaquaqua settlements of Indians on the North branch of the Susquehanna river, having penetrated into the settlement, where affiant lived.  Capt Christopher Brown of the Militia with his whole Company was ordered out, of which Affiant was one, (he Affiant having been enrolled on this occasion for the first time) A Company of Continental troops, was also detailed & sent from Fort Clinton which was situated on Schoharie River about nine miles from the Settlement in which Affiant lived, to go against the Indians; which Company was Commanded by a Capt Patrick. Capt Patrick's Company joined Affiants Company at the house of George Warner who resided on Cobleskill aforesaid, 31st day of May of said year 1778. just before the junction of the two companies, Indians had been seen running across the fields backwards & forwards, which was done no doubt for the purpose of decoying Affiants Company into the Woods, where the Indians would be lying in ambush for them as it afterwards proved to be the case, for as soon as Capt Patrick's Company arrived, the Officers Sent out three men as Scouts & when but a very little way in the
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woods they were fired on & one ^of them shot through the body, nevertheless being so near to the house, he got in & afterwards recovered. Affiant states that as soon as they heard the guns fired, they all ran in great haste out in pursuit of the Enemy, being entirely ignorant of their number & met the scouts in the edge of the woods returning & a parcel of the Enemy in close pursuit, Affiant states that they immediately encountered the fire of the Enemy who kept firing & retreating for at least a mile, until they fell back upon their main body, who was commanded by Colonel Brandt.  Affiant states that they were in such hot pursuit of the Indians that they were precipitated upon the main body of them, before they were aware of it, who were lying in ambush behind a small knowl [sic], of some 2 or 300 yards in length & about 4 feet in height, a singular freak of nature this, if natural; but being on a level gravelly spot of ground & of such equal height & width & withall, so straight from one end to the other, that Affiant thinks it was the work of some ancient race of people long since extinct & at present unknown to the world (if ever) thrown up for defence in some of their wars with hostile foes. This knowl or ridge was covered with timber, but not so large as the timber on the ground surrounding, owing probably to the fact, that the knowl was not so rich - there was [do?] ditch on either side, but on the side the Indians lay the surface of the earth near the knowl seemed to Affiant, when viewing the ground since the battle, to be somewhat lower than on the opposite side - behind this knowl the Indians had driven stakes into the ground, fastened a stick across the top, on which they had put pieces of blankets & stuck a hat or cap thereon, in order to deceive Affiants party. An excellent device too, as affiant states, that many in their zeal to destroy the enemy, and not being able to distinguish well for the smoke occasioned by the firing, were deceived & fired at the supposed bodies of the Indians, while the real Indians were lying or stooped below their immaginary [sic] men & firing upon Affiants party; as soon as Capt Patrick (who was in advance of his men and a brave officer) discovered the situation of the Enemy he directed his men who had fixed bayonets on their muskets to charge upon the enemy, but before his order could be executed, he was shot dead & one of
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his Lieutenant was killed at the same instant. The death of Capt Patrick & his Lieutenant so damped the Ardor of the Americans & the Enemy was found to be so much superior in numbers being about 300 or 350 while that of the Americans was only about 200. Capt Brown Ordered a retreat and they retreated with great precipitation to Fort Clinton before spoken of - The Enemy only made prisoner the Ensign belonging to Captain Patrick's Company, who they kept about two years before he was exchanged, when he returned home & reported that the Enemy in this engagement was 350 strong & had lost 36 killed. Affiant states that Affiants party lost 21 men killed including officers & had 9 wounded. That the enemy laid waste the whole settlement on Cobleskill, by burning Houses, barns, stables &c & shooting such horses as they could not convenient catch to take away with them. That he remained voluntarily in the service of the United States until in September of October (he thinks) of said year, when he was sent sent from Fort Clinton in a company of Rangers, about 32 in number & placed under Command of a Captain John Ditz, & attached to a Regiment commanded by Col Butler, sent on an expedition against the Towns of the Unadilla and Anaquaqua Indians. That the Indians had left their Towns when Col Butler arrived, leaving only 2 very old squaws, who affiants party left in a hut together with some provision to sustain them, until they might be taken away  ^or provided for by the tribe to which they belonged. Col Butler, burnt all their buildings, save the one just spoken of & destroyed their Orchard & a large quantity of corn, after which they returned to Fort Clinton again, where Affiant remained in the service stationed in Fort Clinton until the latter end of June 1779, under Capt Brown aforesaid Lieut Borst & Ensign Nicholas Warner. That the Fort was Commanded by Col Peter Vrooman. Affiant was employed in guarding the Fort aforesaid, which contained as well women & children, who had taken refuge there from the savage ferocity of the Enemy, as soldiers for the protection of the Fort & the Inhabitants generally - Affiant being at that time amazingly fleet & a good marksman, as well as woodsman
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for one of his years, was frequently while in this service sent out as a Spy or Scout to range the Country round about, which he performed faithfully, sometimes skirmishing with small parties of Indians, the relation of which would swell this narrative to too great a length to admit of insertion. That Affiant was discharged about the last of June 1779, after having served One year and about One month, but whether he received a discharge or not he does not now recollect. Affiant in this thirteen months service, knew, in addition to the Officers already named, Col. Seeley, Capt Hagar & Lieutenants John Lawyer, John Baker & Ditts or Ditz, the 5 last named were Militia Officers, as Affiant believes. The names or number of any Continental or Militia Regiment with which he served he does not now recollect, but believes the Regiment commanded by Col Butler was called the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment. 

That an Expedition being meditated against the Six Nations of Indians, Affiant volunteered for that Campaign immediately after his discharge in the latter part of June 1779 aforesaid, & was sent under a Capt or Major Parr of the Continental troops, who commanded a Company of Rangers, & was marched from Fort Clinton aforesaid & joined Col Butler's Regiment at what was ^then called the Middle Fort on Schoharie river, & marched by way of Cobleskill creek, thence through Cherry Valley to Otsego Lake, at which place they were joined by General Clinton, with a large body of the American Army, finding the water too low to float their boats down to Tioga Point. Genl Clinton Ordered a dam erected across the mouth of the Lake, which caused the water soon to raise to the height of the dam, & having everything in readiness they opened a passage through the dam for the water to flow, which raised the river so as to enable them to embark & float down to Tioga Point, at which place in a few days they were joined by General Sullivan the Commander in chief of the expedition, the two Divisions then united & marched up what was called the Cayuga or Western branch of the Susquehanna river, which led them immediately into the Indian Country. That after having routed a few small bodies of the Enemy, while on their march, they
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found the main body of the enemy collected near New Town well fortified, composed of Indians & Tories, who they defeated & routed after a somewhat obstinate resistance on the part of the enemy, who escaped across the Cayuga river, and made for the Lake of that name. That General Sullivan, with his army pursued the enemy to the Cayuga lake, where Genl Sullivan detached a Lieutenant Boyd with this Affiant & some 18 or 20 men including two friendly Indians, who went as Pilots, & sent them in the night across the river at its outlet from the lake to ascertain, if the enemy were not lying in ambush in a large Cedar Swamp on the opposite side for the purpose of attacking Genl Sullivan's Army as they crossed the river, Their orders were to cross over (which they did, on rafts made of Cedar poles, tied together with leatherwood bark ) & examine the banks along, if the enemy were not discovered, they were then to penetrate the Swamp & go through, which was not more than from one quarter to a half mile wide, & to go to a certain high knob, which was a quarter of a mile or more beyond the Swamp, upon which knob the detachment was to lie concealed on the next day, & watch the movements of the enemy, in case any were there & the succeeding night they were to return to Genl Sullivans camp. Affiant states, that they crossed as aforesaid, in the night, examined the banks, made no discoveries of the enemy - passed through the swamp also without making any, & passed on to the high knob before spoken of, where they remained until the next morning, all the next day, & the next night, (as Lieut Boyd refused to return the second night as he was Ordered to do) until the second morning after they had crossed the river, when the unfortunate Boyd determined to return to Sullivan, declaring that there were no Indians there, as they had had Scouts out all the day before, who had not been able to make any discoveries of them. The scouts had been out, but the enemy had not left the Swamp, into which the scouts did not penetrate, & of course, they had made no discoveries - against this rash proposition of the Lieutenant, Affiant declares every man ^he believes remonstrated urging upon him the danger of returning by day in case any of the enemy should be lying in wait
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because if they had left a force Sufficient to annoy Genl Sullivan in crossing the river, it must be a large party, & of course much Superior to the Lieutenants detachment, & in that event being between them & our crossing we must certainly be destroyed; but - all in vain, the ill fated Lieutenant declared that there were no Indians there, & having determined to return that morning, no entreaty availed to shake him from his purpose, so about 8 Oclock the Lieutenant started with the detachment to the Swamp, where they commenced marching by single file, this Affiant & one Timothy Murphy in front - Lieut Boyd in the rear, when they had passed greater part of the Swamp along a path leading through, the enemy lying in ambush for Affiants party (having discovered their trail no doubt the day before & expecting their return) commenced firing upon their rear & instantaneously thereafter fired all along the two lines they had formed on each side of the path extending beyond Affiant and Murphy, at the same time closing the extremes of the two lines, whereby the whole detachment were entirely Surrounded & hemmed in by the enemy. Affiant & Murphy upon the first fire of the enemy in front, dropped & lay flat on the ground, to avoid the effects of their fire, & so continued to lay until the firing had nearly ceased, when they sprang to their feet & fortunately for Affiant & Murphy the morning was foggy, & amidst the fog & smoke occasioned by the firing of the enemy in front, Affiant & Murphy were enabled to escape through the line of the enemy unhurt, running against & knocking over Several Indians, as they broke through their lines - Affiant & Murphy kept together & holding a consultation as they can agreed to run around the ^Cayuga lake, although a distance of about Ninety two Miles, to reach Genl Sullivan again, as Murphy declared (which Affiant knew well to be true) that it was out of the question to attempt an escape by recrossing the river again, as the enemy would certainly ^be upon them before they could leave the shore. Affiant & Murphy ran about four or five miles, when they were overtaken by five large dogs, the Indians had set after them. Three of these dogs were very severe and would take hold in an instant, the other two
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would not bite, but would follow after & bay them. Two of these dogs ran up to Murphy & seized & lacerated him much, before he could kill them, which he succeeded in doing with his tomahock [sic]. While Murphy was engaged with the two dogs, Affiant was engaged with the 3d dog, who had seized Affiant just at the time the others had seized Murphy, but Affiant was not so well prepared by far, for the fight as his Companion was, although Affiant had but one to contend with, while his companion had two, for Affiant had lost his tomahock at the time he fell down to avoid the fire of the Indians in the Swamp & he & Murphy thought it most prudent & had agreed, when they discovered the dogs coming after them, not to shoot the dogs for fear some of the Indians, who they were certain were near them, might come upon them while their guns were empty & excepting his rifle Affiant had no weapon to defend himself with, other than a very thin case knife ground sharp at the point, Affiant having sometime before lost his butcher knife. The dog first seized Affiant by the fleshy part of the thigh, in front, & near his crotch - Affiant struck at him with his knife & occasionally with his fist but did not hurt the dog materially, he eventually succeeded in disengaging the dogs hold of his thigh, however, not until he had torn it considerably. The dog next seized Affiant by the side of the leg & sunk one of his tuskes deep into his leg just by the side of the bone, after loosing the dogs hold of the leg, he seized Affiant by the throat & held on until from loss of wind occasioned by Affiants choakeing [sic] him Severely, he was compelled to let go, when he dropped to the ground on his fore feet & stood close by affiant an instant, gaping for breath, in this situation, Affiant made an underhanded thrust at the dogs flank, which struck low and penetrated into the intestines, when affiant making a considerable effort (considering his exhausted State) & ripped the dg open across to the back bone & let out his entails - notwithstanding this, the dog made another spring at Affiants neck, but from exhaustion & the wound just given him, only sprang high enough to reach Affiants breast, upon which he inflicted a wound of some three or four inches in length, when he fell down & died - just at this instant Murphy ^having finished the two that had attacked him, came to Affiants assistance - glad
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would Affiant have been, after he was in contact with the dog, to have been able to is shoot him, the Consequence of the Enemy coming upon him & he with an empty gun, he would willingly have risqued [sic]; but then it was too late, he could not disengage himself from the dog, and his knife was so weak in the blade, that he was afraid to make a heavy plunge, for fear it would break - & sorely indeed did he repent not shooting the dog while it had been in his power.  Immediately after the conclusion of the fight, Murphy discovered standing at a small distance & pointed out to Affiant Capt Yoke, a friendly Indian of the Stockbridge tribe, who had went out as ^one of the Pilots on this excursion - simultaneously with discovering Capt Yoke, Affiant & Murphy discovered about Forty naked Indians, within 50 yards of them, all with tomahocks in their hands, Affiant thinks, not a rifle amongst them, having left them to make the better speed, no doubt, expecting to find Affiant & those they pursued, with no guns or empty if any, when they would be able, with the assistance of their dogs to deprive us of, or take our scalps - Here had Affiant & Murphy not been wounded & fresh as when the race commenced, the Indians would have paid dearly for their temerity in leaving their guns behind, but situated as Affiant & Murphy were, wounded much by the dogs they had killed, already much ^fatigued by running & their fight with the dogs, & having a great way to travel before they could reach camp & withal two dogs & about 40 Indians close at their heels, prudence forbid any other course for them to pursue, but, to ^seek safety in flight & reach the Army they had left with all possible speed. Affiant & Murphy therefore instantly on discovering the Indians so close, put off at the top of their speed & ran on, followed by the dogs & Indians about 15 miles, as Affiant supposes, from where they had had the encounter with the dogs, when Affiant & Murphy believing the Indians to be some distance behind, had leisure & shot the remaining two dogs - To this place Affiant thinks the Enemy pursued him & his Companion & gave up further pursuit. Affiant & Murphy went on until in the night sometime, when being much fatigued, they stept out of the path to one side to rest, & to observe if any of the enemy passed - after sitting & resting sometime, they discovered Capt Yoke passing along, who they had not ^seen before, since the time they started when the Indians were so close
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upon them - they knowing it to be Yoke, hailed him & from that time went on in company all three together to where they had left Genl Sullivan encamped, which they reached the next morning about 8 Oclock. When they arrived Genl Sullivan had with his whole Army crossed the river. Whereupon Affiant, Murphy & their Indian ally constructed a log raft immediately, crossed the river & overtook the Army, just as they were engaged in collecting ^for burial the bodies of the scouts killed the previous morning & putting together the body of Lieut Boyd, which the enemy had severed in five peices [sic] - the Head cut off, the body then split in twain & then each half cut into again - Here Affiant & Murphy had their wounds dressed, for the first time after their infliction, except the wound on the side of Affiants leg, which gave Affiant so much pain in travelling the day before that he was compelled to do something if possible to relieve it - which he done by killing a striped squirrel & putting the brains of the squirrel on the wound & fastening them on with the skin thereof - Affiants wounds were so bad & disabled him so much that he was placed on a packhorse & rode for six days - In due time Genl Sullivan reached the Indian Settlements on the Genesee river, but finding no enemy to contend with, he destroyed all their buildings, Orchards, gardens & their immense Crops of Corn. After which Genl Sullivan returned by the same route again to the Susquehanna river, thence down the same to Harrisburg Pa. thence to Easton Pa. where Affiant & such of the rangers as were yet living were discharged & ordered to return to fort Clinton again - where they arrived about the last of October ^1779 making in all which he served this Tour Four Months - Affiant did not receive any written discharge for this Tour, that he remembers of - A letter was sent by them to Col Vrooman who was in Command at Fort Clinton, stating the particulars of the expedition, & that the rangers (of which Affiant was one ) had acquitted themselves Well &c. In this Campaign Affiant knew Genls Sullivan, Clinton & Maxwell, Col Butler, Major Parr, Lieut. Boyd & many other Officers whose
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names he has now forgotten. 
That about the first of May 1780, Affiant still residing in Albany County New York enlisted under Capt Cannon of Kennon for the term of One Year & was attached to a Regiment commanded by the said Col Peter Vrooman & stationed at the Middle fort on the Schoharie river, that Affiant was appointed & served as Orderly Sergeant of the Company to which he was attached during the whole term of his Enlistment. That he served during the season of 1780 & until the expiration of his Tour in May 1781, mostly as a ranger, generally having command of Scouting Parties ^sent out to scour the country, for the protection of the fort & safety of the Settlement.  That sometime in the Fall of the year 1780 a large body of British, Indians & Tories, from Niagara, under command of Sir John Johnson, penetrated the Country, meditating an attack on the Middle Fort, it being the strongest & of most consequence to the enemy to possess, the enemy marched by the upper fort, without molesting it, which they could easily have taken, as that Fort was weak, being only a Picket fort, with two small pieces of artillery. As soon as the enemy passed the fort, the garrison perceiving ^it to be the object of the enemy to take either the middle of lower fort by surprize [sic], they fired off one of their pieces of Artillery to alarm the Middle Fort, which was only about four miles off. This gun they heard very plainly ^at the Middle fort & immediately Col. Vrooman sent out a detachment of about 100 rifle men of whom Affiant was one, under Command of Capt Woolsey of the Continental ^or state troops, but who just happened, there by accident (as Affiant believes) he not belonging to the fort. This detachment were to go, with all possible speed to the upper fort, to ascertain the cause of the alarm, & then act as circumstances might require - as they were proceeding along in haste by a route not usually travelled - Affiant voluntarily took the place of one Jacob Franks who was placed as a flank guard on the left of the Company. Franks was a [illegible-mate] & particular friend of Affiants & Affiant knowing him to be unwell took his place on the left as aforesaid. While they were passing through a large pasture, in which the cattle & Horses belonging to the Fort were usually pastured (this pasture was very large & considerably grown up with willows & other bushes growing about in bunches)
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Affiant proceeding expeditiously & cautiously along, discovered in front of him five or six Indians running very closely together in the same direction Affiant was moving. Affiant took deliberate aim & fired at the bunch, for they were running as before stated in very close order & Affiant noticed immediately after, that his shot produced considerable confusion among the squad, Affiant does not ^therefore doubt, that he killed one of them, as it was the only gun fired at the enemy there, & an Indian was found ^a few days afterward lying dead with a rifle & Knapsack at a Spring near where Affiant fired. As soon as Affiant fired (as was his duty) he ran in & joined his Company, by this time the enemy made their appearance in sight & so numerous were they, that Capt Woolsey Ordered a retreat to the fort, which was effected without any loss, although the enemy closely pursued firing many shots at them, but fortunately none took effect. The enemy then invested the Fort & threw three bombs at it, one of them only falling into it, which however done no particular injury - Sir John Johnson then sent two men with a flag of Truce, it was supposed to summon the fort to surrender & contrary to the order of Col Vrooman (whose valor the men in the fort placed but little reliance upon) the man bearing the flag was shot when about 140 yards of the fort by Timothy Murphy the same person, with whom Affiant had suffered so much, in the unfortunate expedition under Lieutenant Boyd. The other person ran back, without attempting to proceed further with the flag. The enemy succeeded only in killing one man in the fort, this was a Samuel Runnels or Reynolds, who went on top of one of the buildings in the fort, & there foolishly & indecently exposed his hind parts to the enemy in contempt of them, & there remained contrary to the admonition of those in the fort, until one of the enemy under cover of some sprouts, put up from bushes & saplings, that had been previously cut off, crept near enough to shoot & fired at him, the ball just breaking the skin across above one of his eyebrows-this stunned Reynolds & he fell off the house, on the pavement or some stone below on his head & broke his neck 
It was afterwards said that Sir John Johnson
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having discovered Reynold's ^contempt of them with a Spy glass, gave a Guinea half Johannes or some gold coin to and expert marksman to shoot Reynolds, which was accomplished in the manner before related. ^But for the truth of this story Affiant cannot vouch.  Col. Vrooman, then commenced firing at the enemy, who were some 400- 500 yards off, with some small brass cannon, when the enemy marched off, not however without getting a good warming before they left the neighborhood - Seeing the route they took & knowing that the enemy had to head a long & deep ravine after leaving the fort, the road passing very near the same place back again after heading the ravine - Captain Woolsey aforesaid with about 100 rifle men including Affiant was dispatched to a certain place, from which the enemy could be much annoyed without endangering Capt Woolsey's men - This was an elevated spot of ground on which had been erected a blockhouse (but at this time not ^in use) which commanded the road on the opposite side of the deep ravine, by which road the enemy must of necessity pass, & where it would be impossible for them to cross the ravine to drive Capt Woolsey from his position & impracticable to return by the road, being one & a ¼ miles. This place Capt Woolsey & his men reached in time, from which they fired three rounds at the enemy, when they retreated to the fort again, as the enemy instantly started a large detachment, back by the way of the road to dislodge them, which detachment Capt Woolsey did not think it prudent to wait for - they followed Capt Woolsey to the fort but on firing a Cannon shot at ^them they again retired. In this engagement a cross [sic] the ravine Affiant believes they Killed many of the enemy, as on viewing the ground soon afterwards he seen much blood in & about the road & a very large ^fresh dug grave near by, where they had buried their dead, but what number they killed Affiant did not know, as they did not open the grave - previous to the Enemys attack on the Middle fort, they set fire to & burned a Mill on the Schoharie river, which ran 6 pair of stone, owned by John Baker - this mill the enemy had made frequent attempts to burn before, but did not succeed until the present time.  After this the enemy passed down the Schoharie & then up the Mohawk river, laying waste & destroying every thing before them & returned to Niagara again - when
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Affiant completed his One Yeare's service, as Orderly Sergeant, he was regularly discharged, but who signed it, Affiant does not recollect - but remembers that about 1790 he had some pieces of it, the same having worn out where folded, but what became of them he does not now recollect. In the course of this last years service, Affiant Knew in addition to the Officers already named Col. Seely, Captains Hagar, John Seely & David Baker & Lieut Ditts or Ditz, besides others at present not recollected. 
That in the year 1781, Affiant still residing in Albany County in the State of New York, in the month of May, Volunteered under Col Vrooman for a Term of Eight Months & served as Orderly Sergeant in a Company commanded by Capt Christopher Brown & was stationed at the Middle fort on the Schoharie river, that he served principally as a ranger, having generally when out (as in the last year) command of a parcel of Scouts. That sometime in the year 1781 (Affiant thinks it was), the time Affiant cannot now recollect, Affiant was in an engagement under Col Willet, with the enemy under command of Col. Brandt who had taken a number of whites prisoner, on Tripes [s/b Tribes] Hill, a place not far from the Mohawk river, & Col Willet with about 400 men had been sent in pursuit of Brandt, who he surprized & defeated at a place, called Turloch or Turlach, on a water emptying into the Mohawk river, Killing many of the enemy, number not now known, but before Col. Willet succeeded in recapturing the prisoners, the enemy had put them to death. In this engagement Affiant received a slight wound on the left side, just above the hip by a rifle ball. That sometime in October of said year 1781 the country was penetrated by a large body of British, Indians & Tories, commanded (Affiant thinks) by a Major Ross; that they commenced hostilities on the Mohawk river, whence an express was immediately sent from Col. Willet, the commander of Fort Plain, on the Mohawk river, to Col Vrooman who had in command the three forts on the Schoharie river, for assistance. That detachments were detailed & sent from each of the forts on the Schoharie
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and rendezvoused at the Middle fort & were marched (Affiant being one of the number) under Capt John Titts, Ditts or Ditz to fort Plain; where they joined Colonel Willet, who marched on in quest of the enemy & came in contact with them at a place Known by the name of Johnstown - Affiant states that when they discovered the enemy, they were engaged in killing & destroying cattle, that a sharp skirmish ensued, which continued a considerable time - Col Willet gained a partial victory over the enemy & night coming on they retreated & marched up to the top of a very high ridge & encamped. That Col Willet encamped at Johnstown & early on the following morning marched in pursuit of the enemy, when after pursuing them Affiant thinks about 12 miles they overtook them, with whom they had a considerable skirmish, in which several of the enemy were Killed & wounded, some of Col Willet's men were also wounded, but none killed. The enemy retreated & Col Willet ordered Capt Titts or Ditts, with his Company of riflemen, to which Affiant was attached on this excursion, together with 50 of 60 friendly Indians, of the Oneida Tribe, commanded by Col Looey an Indian officer of the same tribe, to pursue the enemy at least to Canada Creek, with the expectation of being able to annoy them in crossing said Creek, which they did & overtook part of the enemy while they were making their way over the creek, the crossing of which was attended with some difficulty as the water was at that time rather deep to ford. That Affiants party fired on the enemy several times & killed a number of them, the amount Affiant cannot now recollect, if he ever knew, but amongst the slain Affiant thinks there was a Major Butler, who had taken an active part in the British service against the frontiers of New York, & who had signalized himself for his savage barbarity. That Affiant was then marched back to fort Plain & thence to the Middle fort again. That after having been at the Middle fort Affiant thinks but a few days, a party of the enemy near 200 strong, were discovered near the upper fort, who had killed several families, that Affiant with about 30 Rangers & 10 or 12 militia were sent from the Middle fort, to the upper fort, at which
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place Affiant with the rangers aforesaid, were attached to Capt Woolsey's Company of riflemen, & with a Company of Militia commanded by Capt Jacob Hager, marched under command of Major Woolsey in pursuit of the enemy & over took them at a place known at that time by the name of Harpersfield, at the the head of the Delaware river, where they had an engagement with the enemy of whom they killed & wounded several, the number not now recollected, that of Affiants party only two were killed & seven wounded, as well as Affiant recollects. That Affiant was marched to the Middle fort again, where he was discharged ^sometime in January 1782 after having served his Term of Eight Months as Orderly Sergeant the time for which he volunteered - whether Affiant received any written discharge from the service for this last Tour he does not now recollect. 
That Affiant knew in this last campaign, Majors Woolsey, ^Vanalstine & Tygart & Captains Woolsey, Cox & Lieut Loop - Col Willet, Col Peterey (or Peteree), Major Fader [?], Captain Peteree & a Lieutenant of the same name besides others whose names affiant has now forgotten. 
That sometime in May 1782 Affiant still continuing to reside in Albany County, New York, enlisted under Capt Steubrough or a Capt of some such name, for a term of Nine Months - that Affiant with 27 others Constituting a part of a rifle Company was attached to a part of a Company of State or Continental troops, commanded by Capt Harrison, & was again stationed at the Middle fort on the Schoharie river under command of Col Peter Vrooman, at which fort were also stationed 2 Companies of Militia Commanded by Capts David Baker & John Ceiley.
That Affiant was appointed & served as Orderly Sergeant of the Company to which he was attached during this Nine Months Tour, that Affiant served principally as a ranger having frequently command (as theretofore) of scouting parties - that sometime (Affiant thinks) in July of the same year, Indians were frequently discovered by the scouting parties, which induced Affiant & others to believe that a body of Indians were encamped in some place not far distant, that some of the scouts from Fort Clinton, ascertained that
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this party of Indians were in camp on the top of a ridge, near Cobleskill creek & immediately informed Col. Vrooman of the fact, whereupon Col Vrooman Ordered Affiant to select a few of the best men in the fort & go by night & ascertain if possible the strength of the enemy - that in obedience to this command Affiant chose Abraham Baker, Henry Hager, William Mackindice and Adam Folk, men in whose bravery & skill in Indian Warfare, Affiant thought he could confide. 
That Affiant with his party set out on this expedition directly after dark, having about 10 miles to travel in order to reach the Camp of the enemy, being directed by Col. Vrooman to return the same night if possible - after having travelled some 2 or 3 miles Affiant & his party missed their way by reason of the darkness of the night & were obliged to lay by till the next morning, when they resumed their March & reached the place at which the enemy were encamped about 9 Oclock. Affiant & his party came within a few steps of ^the camp of the Indians before they discovered any sign, in consequence of a rise of ground, that before their camp fires, their was a great parcel of meat, stuck round about on spears or sticks roasting, & not an Indian there - they had gone down the hill some distance to an old waste field to gather (as Affiant supposes) rasp & black berries - on discovering the enemys camp Affiants chosen few immediately deserted him & fled to a man. Affiant feeling himself bound to comply with the orders received from his Col., or at all events not to return until he had made some further effort to discover the strength of the enemy, went off some small distance from the encampment, & lay concealed in some bush near a place, where he supposed the Indians would pass in returning to their Camp, by the way of an old trail - after being there a little while, Affiant heard some noise in the leaves & looked behind or rather to one side & discovered an Indian alone, approaching very near affiant, & making towards the Camp - but coming from a different quarter from which Affiant expected & entirely to one side of the trail, he came very near before Affiant discovered him. Affiant being but poorly concealed & knowing from the direction of the Camp,
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(17)
for which the Indian was evidently making, that he would certainly pass within a few feet of affiant & that it would be impossible for him to remain undiscovered to the Indian. Affiant therefore instantly determined to shoot him, as the best & perhaps only means of escape, although danger & great hazard to his life attended him either way, as the main body of the Indians, must in all probability be very near, as (before stated) they had left their meat roasting before their fires, to which they would of course soon return. Affiant rose from his squatting position to his feet unperceived by the Indian, as the Indian was coming up a little rise within 18 or 20 feet of Affiant, about half the length of his body being exposed to Affiant. Affiant shot him through the breast, the Indian fell & was dead in an instant. Affiant seeing that the Indian had a beautiful English Fusee [i.e. musket], such as (from information Affiant received) the English were in the habit of presenting to the Chief Warriors & Captains of their savage Allies, to stimulate them to greater action, in their ^murderous & predatory, incursions, upon the whites, determined to make himself master of that - From the circumstance of his having this gun & of his having so many silver ornaments, about him, Affiant is confident he was an Indian chief & probably the commander of the party. One of the principal Silver ornaments, Affiant also took a fancy to, being a large one that bound his his hair growing immediately on the crown of his head, being cilindricial [sic] & so fastened that it was not easily disengaged from the hair, Affiant with his knife severed it from the Indians head hair & all together with a little of the skin, which was accidental Affiant being in great haste. Affiant put off at full speed in the direction to the fort & when he had run about 300 yards or more, he heard the Indians setting their dogs on his trail - that he ran on until the first crossing of a small stream on his route, that empties into Cobleskill, after crossing which he heard the dogs at some distance back coming on his trail - when he came to the 2nd crossing of said stream, he ran up some distance in the stream to prevent them following him further - after he left the stream, he ran up a
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bottom about two miles, when he took to a ridge, at this time he heard the dogs again, & supposing them to be on his tail, (It somewhat alarmed him recollecting well his former scrape with dogs) but which Affiant afterwards learned was the trail of his deserting Companions the dogs at the 2nd crossing ^aforesaid taking theirs & at this place. Affiant passing near thereto & hearing the dogs was deceived & the better to enable Affiant to escape the Indians & dogs, Affiant pulled of his clothes, except pantaloons & mockasins & threw them behind a log & then ran on until he reached the fort, where he arrived safely & some time before his comrades arrived, who reported Affiant dead, as they were within hearing of Affiants fire at the Indian aforesaid & supposed that it was Affiant that was shot at - It was purposely kept secret from them, that Affiant had reached the fort, for the purpose of seeing what tale they would tell - and on being asked what had become of their leader, replied that "the damned fool was dead- that they had discovered the enemys Camp &c and that Freemoyer would not leave there with them & before they were out of hearing, they heard the report of a rifle & they were certain he was dead" - After they had finished their tale & at the expense of Affiant as they supposed, Affiant left his concealment, much to their astonishment & chagrin. 
The place where Affiant killed the Indian was afterwards, always called & known, while Affiant lived in that county, by the name of Freemoyers battle ground. Affiant served Nine Months as Orderly Sergeant, the time for which he enlisted & received a discharge from Col Peter Vrooman, which he has long since lost - he neglecting to take care of it as well as other discharges he received in the service as he considered them of no value to him whatever. 
That this last Tour, completed Affiants service in the Revolutionary struggle & made in all which he served the United States (viz) 
1st Tour as a private One Year & one month 
2nd Do. as a private four Months 
3rd Do. as Orderly Sergeant One Year 
4th Do. as Orderly Sergeant Eight Months 
5th Do. as Orderly Sergeant Nine Months 
And in all as a Private One Year & five Months and
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Two Years & Five Months as Orderly Sergeant 
That from the great lapse of time & consequent loss of memory, Affiant does not recollect the number or names of any Continental or Militia Regiments with which he served - thinks the Regiment in which he was placed under Col Willet was called the 9th York Regiment, but of this is not certain. 
Affiant states that he was born in the State of New York in the County of Albany the 28th day of February 1761 & has a record of his age, that after the Revolutionary War he resided in the County of Albany in the State of New York until the year 1810, when Affiant removed to Washington County, State of Ohio, & when on a division of the same he fell in Monroe, near the County line, & that in the fall of 1833 he moved over the line into Washington County aforesaid where he now resides. That he has no documentary evidence by which he can prove his service & knows of no person whose Testimony he can procure (unless at an expense that he is illy able to encounter) who can testify to his service.  That he is acquainted with the Reverend Charles W Talbott, Bement Hubbard, Aaron Price, William Hall, Anthony Sheets, Daniel Price, Samuel S Dorff Esq & others of his neighborhood, who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services in the revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity but the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of any State. Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
[Signed] David Freemoyer

We Charles W. Talbott a clergyman residing in Washington County State of Ohio and William Clutter in the same County & State aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Freymoyer who has Subscribed & Sworn to the proceeding Declaration, that we believe him to be [blank] years old in [blank] last past, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that Opinion.
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Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
[Signed] Charles Talbott Clergyman 
[Signed] William Clutter 

And I the said justice do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the several interrogatories prescribed by the war Department; That the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier & Served as he States; and I the said justice further Certify that it appears to me that Charles W. Talbott, who has Signed the preceeding [sic] Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the County of Washington & State aforesaid & that William Clutter who has also signed the same is a resident in the said County & State aforesaid & is a creditable person & that their Statement is entitled to credit, & I the said justice do further certify that after having personally examined the body of the above named applicant That he bares [sic] scars corresponding with those stated in his Declaration to have been received in the revolutionary war, Strongly evidencing the truth of Those Statements & I the said justice do further certify that the above named applicant resides some 32 or 33 miles from the courthouse of his said County & from old age & bodily infirmity he the said applicant is unable to travel to the C H of his County aforesaid given under my hand & seal in & for said County of Washington & State of Ohio the day & year first above Written 
[Signed] Thos Ferguson J. Peace [Seal]
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The State of Ohio,}
Washington County ss}  I, George Dunlevy, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings before Thomas Ferguson, a Justice of the Peace in and for Newport Township in said County, in the matter of the application of David Freemoyer for a pension, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be the signature of said Justice of the Peace, is genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Marietta in said County, this sixteenth day of August Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
[Ribboned Seal]
[Signed] Geo. Dunlevy, Clerk
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REJECTED
No. 20,137 
[initialed] aw

David Freemeyer

Rev. War.
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F. 33,11?
Dav. Freemeyer 
Ohio 
11 Mar.1835 
Pension Office 

ans'd Nov. 14, 1835
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Genl Andrew Jackson
President of the United States
Free [postage]
Washington City

Upside down:
Sistersville Va.}
5th Nov}

Crosswise [stricken?]
Referred to the Department of War, 
that if the soldier is entitled to any
Money that it may be awarded to him.  A.J.
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I want your honor to ^be informed that I have spent my Blood for my Country there is a declaration laying in the war department which will show your honor to your satisfaction what I have performed in the service of the Revolutionary war     those that under took for me to get my money Charge me two thirds of Money that I shall be able to recover   I Pray your honour to put a stop to it    I Pray your honour befriend me an old infirm wornout Solder   the Almighty God will be a Friend to you to Crown with a Crown of Glory both in this world and the world to com. 
[illegible] if I cannot get Assistance from the War Department immediately I shall be under the necessity of throwing myself on the Township for support As I have not not been able to do any labour for Eighteen Months past 
a favour from you in this case will be always be gratefully Remembered by an old Soldier 
Yours Respectfully  [Signed] David Freemoyer 

Direct to Grand View Washington 
Co State of Ohio 
October 26th 1835