Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 32530, for Samuel Smith, New York
Page 1

SERVICE: New York
Smith, Samuel
NUMBER: S. 32530

CONTENTS:
[illegible] at Fishkill, N.Y.
res at enl. Albany, N.Y.
res. in 1832 Jennings Co. Ind.
Page 2

25296
Indiana 
Samuel Smith 
of Jennings Co in the State of Indiana 
who was a private in the com commanded 
by Captain Hicks of the regt commanded 
by Col Gordon in the N York 
line, for 1 year and 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana 
at the rate of 60 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Decr 1833 
and [sent to] Stephen S Harding Versailles 

Arrears to the 4th of Sept  130.00 
Semi=anl allowance ending 4 March 30.00 
[=] $180.00 

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 7 Page 129 
27227
Page 3

27,227
Samuel Smith
Indiana
j
from 1776 private
18 months
$60.

Stephen S. Harding
Versailles Ind
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office, 

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling [sic] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 

A Statement, shewing the Service of Samuel Smith
Period when the service was rendered | Duration of the claimant's service (Y-M-D) | Rank of the claimant | Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served | Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service | Proof by which the declaration is supported
1776 | 0-6-0 | Pr. | Cap Hicks, Col Gansvoort | 73 N.Y. | Traditionary
1777 | 0-8?-0 | Sergt. | Col Gordon | blank | blank
1779 | 0-3-0 | Pr. | Cap Ellsworth | blank | blank
1780 | 0-1-0 | Col Taylor Cap Ellsworth | blank | blank

The applicant should prove his service as Sargent. As he has recently removed from the place where he resided when he performed the service he should write to said place for proof. 

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant, 
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions

Versailles Ripley Co Ind'a Nov. 25 1833-
J.L. Edwards Esqr.
Dr Sir I have had an interview with Samuel Smith the above named applicant since the receipt of this letter, and he informs me that it is impossible at this remote period to prove either by documentary Evidence, or by living witness his appointment and services as a Sergeant.  I am therefore requesting by him as his Agent to say to the department the necessity of the case compells [sic] him to waive his claims as a Sergeant for Eight months and ask of the department the pay of a Private only for the Eighteen months which he served. He hopes  that this suggestion to the department will be sufficient without the expense and trouble of a Judicial authentication of such waiver on his part. I will also remark myself to the
Page 5

2. 
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

[In left margin:]
Department that the within named applicant is, and has been for many years, deprived of his Sight; consequently he must of course labour under many disadvantages. If the Department requires that a formal relinquishment of the application & claim as a sergeant should be made before some Judicial officer please let me know [illegible -ably], but as that is a matter which solely interests him I hope it will be deemed unnecessary. I am yr [Signed] Thos. Harding, Agent for S. Smith
Page 6

3. 
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

[The following is bracketed:]
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses , and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

[In right margin:]
See waiver of applicants claim as Sergeant
Page 7

27,227
Samuel Smith

Thos. Harding, Agent
Versailles Ind'a.
Page 8

Declaration of 
Samuel Smith for a Pension
State of Indiana} 
Jennings County} ss. 
On this 29th day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable the Judges of the Jennings County Circuit Court now sitting Samuel Smith a resident of the said County of Jennings and State of Indiana aged Seventy three years the 24th day of October next who being first duly according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to attain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. 
He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. In the month of September in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy six as a volunteer, and served for the full term of six months, under General Styler (or Skyler) Col Gousefort (or Gouseford) Maj Timothy Brook Capt Thomas Hicks Lieut Henry Bouter Ensign Christian Bouter, and 1st Sergent [sic] Henry Brown.  He left the service in the month of February 1777 after faithfully for six months. In the month of May 1778 he a second time entered the service for a term of Nine Months and served as an Ordaly Serjent [sic] under General Gousefort (his former Colonel) one Colonel Gordon and the other officers the same as in his former tour (only his Serjent) when he had served out part of his tour he was transferd [sic] to the command of Captain Suitz (Lieuts name forgotten) and Ensign Vanshaack; after serving for the full term of Eight Months he became unwell and was permitted to go home on furlough, and he employed one John Barns and paid him out of his own funds to serve as a substitute for the remaining Month. He came out of the service in the Month of January 1779 after serving in the capacity of an orderly serjent as aforesaid for Eight Months which added to his former tour of six month makes the term Fourteen months. 
He then in the month of May 1779, entered the service for the term of Three Months and served for the full term of Three months under Major [illegible] of Albany N.Y. Capt Benjamin Ellsworth and Lieut John Brown, the other officers he has forgotten. He left the service the last of September 1779. This tour added his former terms of service makes the term of Seventeen Months. He then in the month of October 1780, entered the service a fourth time, and served for the term of One Month under Col. Taylor Majr. Vanderhause Capt Ellsworth, Lieut. Bouter, and Ensign Brown. He left the service the first of November 1780, after serving for one month which added to his former tours makes the term of Eighteen Months for which he claims a pension.
Page 9

at the time he entered the service and during all of his tours he resided in the County of Albany State of New York and continued to reside there untill he had performed all of his several tours of service. The 1st and 4th tours he volunteered, the 2d and 3d tours he was drafted. He was in no Battles except a severe skirmish with the British and Indians, a short distance above Alansons Ferry where Maj [illlegible] and a Mr Skyler were killed in the rencounter a ball passed by this applicant and cut the skin on his temple. During his first tour he marched from Schenectady N.Y. to Amsterdam, from thence to Sparks Ferry, from thence to Fort Plain, where he remained stationed for the balance of the six months, except he went one trip in pursuit of the Prussians and Brititsh to West Canada Creek where Captain Butler and two Regular soldiers of the Brittish army were killed as it was supposed by Silverheel, an Oneida Indian. During his 2d tour when he served 8 months as an Ordaly Sirjent [sic] he marched from Schenectady to Fort Plain, from thence to fort Plank, from thence by Stanwicks [Stanwix] Fort where he was stationed for the ballance of his tour. During his 3d tour he Marched from Niskeuna to Half Moon Point, in the forks of the Mohawk River from thence to Still water from thence to the sandy-hills on the North River, from thence back to The half Moon point when he was discharged. During his 4th and last tour for one month he marched from half moon point to Ballstown from thence to New Galloway from thence to the West of Lake George to the big Woods when he returned to his residence in Albany County N. York. He knew Genl Gousefort (or Gouseford) and Genl Styler of the Regular Army (as he believes) also Genl Montgomery and Some others whose names he indistinctly recollects. He cannot recollect any continental, or Malitia [sic] Regiments or companies by name but there were some of both he believes with the Troops where he served.  
He has no dockumentary [sic] or written evidence and he Knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel (X his mark) Smith

We John Vawter a clergyman residing in the County of Jennings and State of Indiana, and Maurice Baker residing in the same County and State do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[Signed] John Vawter
[Signed] Maurice Baker
Page 10

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the Matter and after putting the interrogators prescribed by the War Department, That the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Vawter who has has subscribed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Jennings and State of Indiana, and that Maurice Baker who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same County and State and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
# (Prest. Judge seal)
[Signed] Ezra F Pabody (A.J.J.C.C. seal)
[Signed] Samuel Hanical [?] (A.J.J.C.C. seal)
 # the two associates form a quorum for [illegible] 

Answers to the Questions prescribed by the War Department which answers are made in open Court --
- Ans to 1st Quest I was born at Fishkill on the North River the 24th October 1760. Ans to 2d Question, I have no Record of my age except what is contained in an old Bible, which is with my son in the State of N. York ; but I am convinced that I am not mistaken in the date of my birth; Answer to 3d Quest. At the time I entered the service I resided in the County of Albany State of New York ad continued to reside there until about six years since, when I removed to the County of Jennings State of Indiana where I now reside.  Answer to 4th Question. The 1st and 4th tours he was a volunteer, the 2d and 3d, he was drafted. Answer to 5th Quest. He cannot now Recollect the names of any Regular officers except General Montgomery, unless Genl Gousefort and Gen. Skyler were Regular officers, he thinks they were; he does not remember the names of any Malitia or Continental Regiments or companies by name, but he thinks that there was some with the troops where he served, the general circumstances of his service are stated within. Answer to 6th Quest. He never received any other discharge than verbal ones.  He rec'd a Sergents warrant for the Eight months tour, signed by Capt. Hicks. He kept the same until a few years since when some children who had access to his papers destroyed the same Ans. to 7th Quest. Enquire of Maj Sanford, Manson Anders, Robert Elliott [illegible - &c?] and all who know me.
I John Walker Clerk of the Jennings County Circuit Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Smith for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29th day of August Anno Domini 1833 
[Signed] John Walker  Clerk
Page 11

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.  S. 32530 [initialed} aw 
Nov. 9, 1923. 

C. F. Posson, 
817 Traction Terminal Bldg. 
Indianapolis, Ind. 

Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the pension claim, S. 32530, it appears that Samuel Smith was born October 24, 1760, in Fishkill, N. Y. and while living in Albany County, N. Y. volunteered in September 1776 and served six months as a private in Capt. Thomas Hicks' Company, Col. Gansevoort's Regiment. 
He was drafted in May 1778 and served eight months as an orderly sergeant in Captains Thomas Hicks and Switz' Company, Colonel Gordon's Regiment. 
He was drafted in May 1779 and served three months as private in Capt. Benjamin Ellsworth's Company. 
He volunteered in Ocotber [sic] 1780 and served one month as private in Capt. Ellsworth's Company, Col. Taylor's Regiment. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 29, 1833, while living in Jennings County, Indiana. 
There is no data on file as to family, except that a son is mentioned, name not stated. 
Respectfully, 
Washington Gardner 
Commissioner.
Page 12

Left side:
[Receipt mark]
RECORD & PENSION OFFICE
WAR DEPARTMENT
JUNE 8 1896
Cincinnati, Ohio
June 6 1896

Samuel Smith
Rev. War.

Jerusha Smith Stevens requests 
information as to identity.

Center:
Record and Pension Office, 
WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Washington, June 9, 1896. 
Respectfully returned to 
Mrs. Jerusha Smith Stevens, 
c/o Mr. Thos. G. Smith, Jr., 
No. 11 Hammond Bldg., Cincinnati, Ohio. 

There were several persons named Samuel Smith who served in New York military organizations during the war of the Revolution, but this office is unable to identify any one of them with the subject of your inquiry. 
It is suggested as a possibility that the desired information as to the date to which the soldier drew a pension or as to the service for which a pension was granted to him may be obtained from the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C., who is the custodian of the pension records of all wars, and whose office is separate and distinct from the Record and Pension Office of the War Department. 
The postage stamps received with your communication are herewith returned.
[Receipt mark] U.S. Pension Office JUL 2 1896
[Receipt mark] OLD WAR & NAVY FILES JUL 6 1896

By authority of the Secretary of War:
[Signed] F C Ainsworth
Colonel, U.S. Army, Chief of Office.

Right side:
[Receipt mark] U.S. Pension Office JUL 2 1896
Page 13

THOMAS G. SMITH, JR. 
MECHANICAL ENGINEER. 
ROOM 11, HAMMOND BUILDING, 
N.E. COS,  FOURTH & VINE, 
CINCINNATI.   
TELEPHONE 1358. 
STEAM PLANTS. 

Cincinnati O. June 30th/96 

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington D.C. 

Dear Sir: I inclose herewith letter addressed to Chief of Record and Pension Office, with indorsements and reference to your office attached. 
Can you give us the information asked for in the letter, or any suggestions as to proper source of information? 
Your kindly attention to this inquiry will be appreciated. 
Yours very truly, 
[Signed] Thos. G. Smith Jr.
Page 14

2¢ stamps attached 
Thomas G. Smith, Jr., M.E.
Mechanical Engineer, 
Room 11, Hammond Building, 
N.E. Cos, Fourth & Vine, 
Cincinnati. 
Telephone 1358. 
Electric Light and Power Plants. 
Equipment of Buildings. 

Cincinnati O. June 6th/96 
The Chief of Record & Pension Office 
War Department 
Washington D.C. 
Dear Sir: In order to identify more fully the following revolutionary soldier, I desire to ask for information probably obtainable from the records of your office. 
We have the following from the Bureau of Pensions: "Samuel Smith made application for pension on Aug. 29th, 1833, at which time he was residing in Jennings County Ind., and seventy three years of age; and his pension was allowed for one year and six months actual service, as a private, in the New York troops, Revolutionary War." He drew his pension at Vernon, Jennings Co. Ind.; was buried in the Keller graveyard at Brewersville, Ind. 
We desire to ascertain the date up to which he drew his pension, in order to fix the date of his death; the loss of the family records by fire making this necessary. 
It is also desirable to ascertain, if possible, his regiment, date and place of inlistment, names of Colonel of regiment and Captain of company. 
We find, from "Heitman's Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army" 1775 - 1783, page 373; Samuel Smith (N. Y.) 1st Lieut 3rd New York, July 14/1775 to Jan. 1776. 
Also, from "Complete Army & Navy Register of the United States" 1776 to 1887 page 770: Samuel Smith 1st Lieut. Mounted Rangers June 29th
Page 15

Chief of R.& P. Office  #2.

1832. Born in _____,  Appointed from _____, Resigned Mar. 5th/1833. 
Can these men be identified as the same, or the first as either of the above? 
Any definite information you can give us will be appreciated. 
Very Respectfully, 
[Signed] Jerusha Smith Stevens 
(Granddaughter of Sam'l Smith) 
per T.G.S. Jr.

c/o Thos. G. Smith Jr.
#11 Hammond Bldg. 
Cincinnati O.
Page 16

The Indiana Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Indianapolis, Indiana - Nov. 5, 1923.
[receipt mark] OLD WAR &. NAVY SECTION NOV 8 1923

Commissioner of Pensions,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir :-
Thank you very much for your prompt response to my recent letter requesting the Military Service Record of William Meserve, your reply being at hand.
Since writing you, we have added to our Patriotic Pilgrimage of Armistice Day, November 11th, the grave of another Revolutionary Soldier, in the same neighborhood, and if it is at all possible for your Department to give us the Military Service Record in the Revolutionary War, of SAMUEL SMITH, by return of mail, it will be greatly appreciated.
We would have made both requests at the same time had I then known of the Grave of this Patriot Smith, and if you can now comply promptly, you can make this the two requests, to which, under the ruling of your Department, I am entitled.
The name of Samuel Smith is shown in the Pension List of the United States Senate of 1835, as a pensioner residing in Jennings County, Indiana, and he is buried in Brewersville, in said County.
Our information is that he was from New York State and lived in Albany County until 1825, when he removed to Indiana.
Yours truly,
[Signed] Cornelius F. Posson
President.
Page 17

32,530
Revy INVALID.
File No. 32, 530
Samuel Smith
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 382
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

Mch [?]/96 [?] Soldier Pens. of [?] 
Mrs. Claribel S. Stevens 
Glendale, Ohio.  M.E.U.[?]

July 17 '96 
Sold pens'd 
to Thos G. Smith Jr. 
Cincinnati Ohio 
S.W.B. [?]

1923 Nov 9. Hist. to C.F. Posson