Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4,861, Nathaniel Hempsted, New York
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(3-1776)
SERVICE 
New York    
Hempsted, Nathaniel  
NUMBER 
R. 4861
CONTENTS
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21.338
Mayville NY   Free
June 4
Secretary of War
Washington City
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State of New York
Chautauqua County

Nathanial Hempstead of the town of Pomfret in the county of Chautauqua and state of New York, aged about eight-two years and seven months, doth on his oath, declare and depose (in order to obtain a pension pursuant to the laws of the United States), that in the spring of 1781, at Southeast precinct, Dutchess County, New York,  he enlisted in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War as lieutenant in Capt. Shepard's company in the regiment commanded by Col. Swarthout of the New York line of the Army of the United States,

That soon after he marched as lieutenant with said company for Albany where he was left about four months in command of a guard of twelve men, having the Continental stores under his care, and sending provisions to the Army at Saratoga, once in three days, at the expiration of the said four months, he and the said guard went home on furlough, and stayed about 4 or 5 months, when they were again called out and he this deponent and commanded as lieutenant, in guarding up and down the Hudson River, at Peekskill, White Plains, in Connecticut and on the sea shore.

He was in several skirmishes with the cow boys.  He remained in service as Lieut in the same Company and Regiment from the time of his enlistment in 1781, until the Army was disbanded in 1783, when he was honorably discharged from the service in Dutchess, County aforesaid and he further saith that his Commission as Lieutenant and all his other papers were destroyed by fire, when his house at Williamson, N.Y. was burned a number of years ago. 

This deponent has a wife Esther aged about 76 and he and his wife are unable to support themselves --  and he also saith that he is poor, and has no means of supporting himself and his said wife, and that the stands in need of assistance of his country for support.

Signed: Nathanial Hempstead

Subscribed and sworn before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace of the County of Chautaugua this 27th day of May, 1830.

Signed: Benj. Douglass J P
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State of New York
Chautauqua County
Clerks Office} Ss  I James B. Lowry Clerk of the County of Chautauqua do hereby Certify that Benjamin Douglass Esquire whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the within declaration for affidavits, was on the day of ^the date thereof, to wit on the 27th day of May 1830 a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly elected and sworn & acting under the authority of said State And the     well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and verily believe the signature of "Benj Douglass" subscribed to the within Certificate of affidavit, is genuine
 In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 3rd day of June A.D. 1830 -
 James B Lowry Clerk of said County
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Fredonia, N.Y. 1. June 1830

The Secretary of War,

Sir
I herewith send the Declaration of Nathaniel
Hempsted a Lieutenant in the Army of the Revolution-
If these papers are sufficient, please to enclose a
certificate- If not, I wish you to give me the necessary instructions -
Your Obt Servnt
Jacob Houghton.
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12996
Nathaniel Hempsted
a Leiutenant in the Revolutionary war -- &c --

Jacob Houghton of Fredonia, Chautauqua County, N. Y. Agent for applicant --
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Nathaniel Hempsted a Lieutenant in the War of the Revolution -
Application for a Pension
12.996

Jacob Houghton of Fredonia, Chautauqua County, N. Y. Agent for Applicant.
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State of New York
Chautauqua County

On the 15th day of September, 1832, personally appeared before me the Hon. Benjamin Walworth one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Chautauqua in the state of New York, Nathaniel Hempstead, aged about 84 years and 10-1/2 months, a native of New London, in Connecticut, and now resident in the town of Pomfret in the county of Chautauqua aforesaid, 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 7, 1832.

That in the month of July,1776, he went into service at Kingsbridge, N.Y for five months and acted part of the time as adjutant in Col. Swartwout's regiment of the New York militia in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, and part of the time he acted as lieutenant in Capt. Pierce's company of the same regiment,

That during this service he volunteered as Lieutenant under Major Logan and went on to Long Island and was there when Washington retreated and was the last man (except for the guard) that left the Island.

He again returned to the Island, to assist in bringing off the guards.  He was three days on the Island and was frequently in parties that were fighting with the enemy.  He served the five months and was discharged at New Windsor, N.Y. the last day of December, 1776.

That in the spring of 1781, at South East Precinct, in the county of Dutchess, N.Y. that he enlisted and served as lieutenant in the same regiment of Col. Swartwout, in the company thereof, commanded by Capt. Shepard.

That soon after he marched as lieutenant with said company to Albany, where he was left about four months in command of a guard of twelve men, having the Continental stores under his care, and sending provisions to the Army at Saratoga, once in three days. 

At the expiration of the said four months, he and the said guard went home on furlough and stayed about four or five months, when they were again called out, and the deponent commanded as lieutenant, in guarding up and down the Hudson River at Peekskill, White Plains in Connecticut and on the sea shore, having a lieutenant's guard under his command of twelve men.  He was in a number of skirmishes with the Cow Boys, and he remained in service as Lieutenant as aforesaid from the
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time of his enlistment, in 1781, until the army was disbanded in 1783, being a continued service as Lieutenant of two years & several months- and that he was honorably
discharged from the service in Dutchess County, N.Y.
And he says that his commission as Lieutenant & all his other papers, were destroyed by fire, when his house at Williamstown N.Y. was burnt  a number of years ago -
That he has no Documentary evidence of his services &
that he knows of no person, except his wife, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services-
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

 Sworn & subscribed before me
day & year first aforesaid
B Walworth
Judge Chan Com Pleas
Nathaniel Hempsted

We George S. Porter a Clergyman, residing in the town of Pomfret, Chautauqua County, N.Y. & Jacob Houghton of the same place, do hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with the above named Nathaniel Hempsted, whose Declaration is annexed; that we believe him to be of the age mentioned in his
said Declaration, viz. 84 years & 10 1/2 months; and that he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood, in which he resides, to have been a Lieutenant, and to have served as such in the War of the Revolution, & in the service of the United States, & that we concur in that  Opinion

Dated Sept 15th 1832-
Sworn & subscribed before me, September 17th 1832

George J. Porter
B Walworth
Judge Char Com Pleas
Jacob Houghton
State of
New York Chautauqua County ss

Esther Hempsted, wife of the above named Nathaniel Hempsted, aged 79 years, and
Jonathan Hempsted aged forty years, being severally sworn depose & say, And first, this Deponent Esther, for herself says
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that she knows that her husband served in the Revolutionary war as a Lieutenant more than two years, & that he served a short time as adjutant - The sent articles to him several times, & once sent a [crossed out] horse to him --- and this deponent, Jonathan Hempsted, for himself says that he [crossed out] has lived with his father ever since his first recollections, and that he and his father have always lived in the same house - And he says that the annexed Declaration has been read to him, & he believes the same true, & he says that his father related the same facts to him (which I will remembers) more than thirty years ago - and has continued frequently to relate the same or parts thereof occasionally
to the present time- and one of this Deponents [illegible] now deceased, has related the same facts in the hearing of this Deponent -

[signature] Jonathan Hempsted
[signature] Esther Hempsted X Mark

Sworn before me,}
Sept 13th 1832
B Wolworth
Judge Chan Com Pleas

State of New York,}
Chautauqua County ss.

I, Benjamin Walworth, one of the Judges
of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Chautauqua in the State of New York, do hereby certify and declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the war Department, that Nathaniel Hempsted, the above named applicant, was a a Lieutenant and that he acted as adjutant in the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution and served as he states - And I do further certify that the Rev. George S. Porter who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman, resident, in the town of Pomfret in said County & that Jacob Houghton who has also signed the same, is a resident of the same town & is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit - And I do further certify that Esther Hempsted wife of the above named Nathaniel Hempsted & Jonathan Hempsted his son, are persons well known to me are credible persons; and their affidavit, annexed, ought to have due weight - And I further certify that the said applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity attend the said Court Dated Sept. 15th 1832

[signature] B Walworth
[signature] Judge Chan Com Pleas
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State of New York
Chautauqua County Ss  I James B Lowry Clerk of the said County Do Certify that Benjamin Walworth Esqr. before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn and whose name appears to the within certificate or declaration, was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the County Courts in & for said County and that I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits and to the said Certificate, to be his proper hand and signature
 Witness my hand and seal of office this 17th day of September A.D. 1832 -
  James B. Lowry  Clerk
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Jacob Houghton of Fredonia Chautauqua County, N. Y. agent for applicant -
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State of New York -}
Chautauqua County Js
12996

Nathaniel Hempsted, the Lieutenant named as an applicant for a pension in the annexed Declaration and papers being duly sworn does further testify and say that he served five months as an Adjuntant & Leiutenant, in the years 1776, as mentioned in his Declaration -
That his services as Lieutenant commencing in the spring of 1781, and ending with close of the war, were as to time and times as much as he can recollect, as follows viz. - That it was in April or May of that year that he went into the service as mentioned in said Declaration, and did serve four months as therein mentioned - That he did go home on furlough as therein stated, and he believes, on reflection that he remained longer at home than is stated in his Declaration, for he knows that it was on or about the first of April 1782, that he was again called into service, and that he continued in the service as mentioned in his Declaration annexed until the close of the war in 1783. and he says that his Commission and all his papers in relation to his services were burnt as stated in his Declaration -
And he further says, that he is so blind that he
cannot read, and that by reason of old age infirmities and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more positively and particularly than is above & in & by the annexed papers stated & set -
[signature] Nathaniel Hempsted

Sworn before me, ⎬
May 24th 1833 -
Jacob Houghton, a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Chautauqua, N. Y. -
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State of New York
Chautauqua Co. N.Y. Js.

King Moore, aged 71 years a Revolutionary
Soldier & Pensioner now resident in Pomfret,
being duly sworn, deposes and says that he has been acquainted with Nathaniel Hempsted whose declaration is annexed, about ten years. That he has had frequent conversation with said Hempsted in relation to his services in the Revolutionary war and the Declaration of said Hempsted has been read to him, and he believes the facts therein stated to be true.
This Deponent further says that he knows that certain detachment of Militia were posted up & down the North River & in other places as stated by said Hempsted - and said Hempsted has frequently related to this Deponent
certain transactions, which this Deponent knows and did occur & which as he believes said Hempsted could not relate to with such minuteness, in every particular if he had not been present, & acting as stated in his said Declaration - And this Deponent says, that he has not the least doubt, that said Hempsted served as Lieutenant as he states, although he did not know him personally during the war-

[handwritten signature] King Moore

Sworn to & subscribed before me
May 28th 1833
Jacob Houghton, a Justice of the Peace of the
County of Chautauqua, N.Y.

State of New York
Chautauqua County ss.

Simon Crosby aged seventy three
years, a Revolutionary soldier and Pensioner, now resident in the town of Pomfret, Chautauqua County N.Y. being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he has been acquainted with Nathaniel Hempsted, whose declaration & papers are annexed for several years last past. That he has had a number of conversation with said Hempsted in relation to his services in the war of the Revolution and he says that the Declaration of said Hempsted has been read to him. And this Deponent further says that said Hempsted has related certain facts to him in relation to his services, and especially as respects his services on Long Island, that induces him to believe that
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said Hempsted did serve as he states in his Declaration. And this Deponent says, that he does verily believe that said Hempsted did serve as Lieutenant ,as set forth in his said Declaration -

Subscribed & sworn to}
before me, May 31st 1833
[signature] Simon Crosby 
Jacob Houghton, the Justice of the Peace above named

State of New York
Chautauqua County ⎬ Ss

Benjamin Douglass Sheriff of the County of
Chautauqua, N.Y. being sworn says that he has
been acquainted with Nathaniel Hempsted about ten years That he has read his Declaration in relation to his services as a Lieutenant in the militia of New York in the war of the Revolution has had a number of conversation with said Hempsted on the same subject - And this deponent believes that said Hempsted served as he states in the said Declaration-
[signature] Benjamin Douglass

Sworn before me ⎬
May 31st 1833
Jacob Houghton, the Justice of the Peace above named
 
State of New York. -}
Chautauqua County ss.

Jonathan Hempsted son of Nathaniel Hempsted, named in the annexed papers being sworn, says, in addition to the affidavit by him made before Benjamin Walworth a Judge of Chautauqua County, on the 15th day of September, 1832, & hereto annexed-
That he remembers to have seen his father's commission as Lieutenant, when this Deponent was young - That he remembers when his fathers house was burnt at Williamstown, N.Y. and that all his father's Books & papers
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were then destroyed by fire - And he further says that in the life time of his Eldest Brother Isaac Hempsted, formerly Sheriff of Albany County in the State, he heard said Isaac say, that his father was [ineligible] to a pension as a Lieutenant, for services rendered in the Revolution War if the law of Congress had then included the State troops, as well as those who served on Continental establishment 

[signature] Jonathan Hempsted 
Sworn before me
June 1st 1833
Jacob Houghton, Justice of the Peace
before named

State of New York
Chautauqua County ss.

I Jacob Houghton the Justice of the Peace above named do certify that I have been acquainted above named with King Moore and Simon Crosby, Benjamin Douglass & Jonathan Hempsted a number of years - That they are men of truth & veracity as I believe - and in my opinion, their several affidavits taken before me, & hereto annexed are entitled to full credit- And I further certify that Benjamin Douglass above named is Sheriff the of County of Chautauqua - And I do concur in the opinion by me before stated, that the above named Nathaniel Hempsted did serve as set forth in his Declaration & the affidavit by him taken before me & thereto annexed-
[signature] Jacob Houghton J.P.
Dated June 1st 1833-
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State of New York}
Chautauque County
Clerks Office SS

I James B Lowry Clerk of said
of County Do hereby Certify that Jacob
Houghton before whom the foregoing five  affidavits purports to have been sworn & also who purports to him made the foregoing Certificate was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County. And further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice and verily believe his name subscribed to said affidavits & the said Certificate is his proper handwriting and signature & that the documents to annexed [illegible] original pro [document torn] [crossed out] had before Judge Walworth 
We [ineligible] my hand & Seal of Office this first day of June
A.D. 1833.

[signature] James B. Lowry Clerk
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information as contained in this (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Nathaniel Hufsted Ref. 4861

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE | OFFICERS UNDER WHO SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE
Aug. 1775 | Mch 1. 1776 | Orderly Sgt. | Joshua Barnham | John Field | N.Y.
July 1776 | Dec. 1776 | Lieut & Adjt. | Pierce | Swartwout
Apr. or May 1781 | 1783 | Lieut. | Shepard | Swartwout

Claim was not allowed. Sufficient proof of service not furnished.

Battles engaged in, Wks. on Long Island and with Cow Boys
Residence of soldier at enlistment, South East, Dutchess Co. N.Y.
Date of application for pension, May 27, 1830
Residence at date of application, Pomfret, Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, 82 yrs.7 mos. a native of New London Conn
Remarks: Soldiers wife Esther was 76 years old in 1830. Son Jonathan was 38 yrs and Son Isaac had died prior to 1833.
Very respectfully,

317935510 - 07
Commissioner.
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31,205
New York
Revol -
Nathaniel Hempsted
Suspended
See letter to Jacob Houghton
20 Sept 1833-
Papers sent on the 12th April 1834 to the
Hon A Hazeltine
H. R.
Act 7. lune 32 -
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21338
Nathaniel Hempsted
New York
Act 18 March 1818

Rejected 15th June 1830
See letter to Jacob Houghton  [illegible]
4861
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No. 31.205
New York
Nathaniel Hempsted
suspended
Let to P. Hamilton 7 June 1834
Let to . Hamilton 12 May 1835
Let to P. Hamilton 23 May 1835
 "  Let. L.L. Van Kleech Sept. 18/52

[illegible] [crossed out]

Col. Niles will take up this case & report.
JEH
Sept. 18/52
Act 7th June 183[?]
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1911 May 13
Hist. to Harriet A. Angell. Letter in W. F. 19607 Aaron West. A.L.M.

[crossed out] Act of July 14, 18[6?]2 and March 8, 18[70?] 
REJECTED

4861
P.O.
Nathaniel Hempsted
[crossed out] Service:
Enlisted: __, 18 .
Discharged: __, 18 .
1830 of Pomfret Chautauqua, Co NY
84 years
Spring 1781 Enlist at Southeast Dutchess Co NY. Capt Shepard Col. Swartout

Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
Contract.
Cert. of Dis.
Search for __, 18 .
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[begin underline] 27871 [end underline]
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[begin underline] Call no. 2 [end underline]
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 House of Reps
April 10, 1834

J. L. Edwards, Esqr.

Dear Sir

My friend Houghton has sent me the petition of Nathaniel Hempsted ^ of Chautauqua Co. N.Y. for a pension to be presented to Congress. He requests me to procure from your office the papers which Hempsted presented there in
order that they may accompany his petition.
Be so good as to send them to me as soon as convenient.

I have the honor to be &c.
Abner Hazeltine
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Nathaniel Hempsted's [Con - crossed out]
of NY 
Petition.
April 14. 1834
Ref - to Comr Rev. Pensions

April 30th 1834
Com dischd to [illegible]
Lt. Col Swartout NY

Mr. Hazeltine
26, Rev. Pens
Page 27

To the Senate & House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled- 

The Petition of Nathaniel Hempsted a native
of New London in Connecticut, now resident of the town of Pomfret in the County of Chautauqua & State of New York, aged 86 years, respectfully showeth-

That in the month of July 1776, he entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War at Kingsbridge, N.Y. for five months, and acted part of the time as adjutant in Col. Swartwout's Regiment of the New York Militia, and part of the time, he acted as Lieutenant in Capt Pierce's company of
the same Regiment- That during this service he volunteered as Lieutenant, under Major Logan & went on to Long Island, & was there when Gen. Washington retreated and was the last man (except the guard) that left the Island. He again went on to the Island to assist in bringing off the Guards. He was three days on the Island, and was frequently in parties, that were fighting with the enemy. He served the said five months, and was discharged at New Windsor N.Y. the last day of December 1776-

That in the spring of 1781, at South East Precinct Dutchess County, N. Y. he enlisted and served as Lieutenant in the same Regiment of Col. Swartwout, in the Company thereof commanded by Capt. Shepard - That soon after he marched as Lieutenant with said company to Albany where he was left about four months in command of a Guard of twelve men, having the continental stores under his command, and sending provisions to the Army at Saratoga once in three days - He then then went home on furlough to South East in Dutchess County, N.Y. and remained at home, according to his best recollection & belief, until about the first of April 1782, when he was again
Page 28

called into service and commanded as Lieutenant guarding up and down the Hudson River, at Peekskill, White Plains, in Connecticut & on the sea shore having under his command a Lieutenants Guard of twelve men - He was in a number of skirmishes with the Cow Boys- and he remained in service as Lieutenant as aforesaid, from the time of his Enlistment
aforesaid in 1781, until the Army was disbanded in 1783, being a continued service as Lieutenant of two years and several months - and was honorably discharged from the service in Dutchess County N. Y. and he states that his commission as Lieutenant, & all his other papers were destroyed by fire, when his house at Williamstown N. Y. was burnt a number of years ago -

And your Petitioner begs leave to represent
that the foregoing statement in substance will appear by his Declaration & papers on file in the War Department, and to which, with the proofs thereto annexed, he prays leave to refer your Honorable Body- 

And your Petitioner further shows that in August 1775 (before the services aforesaid were rendered) at South East in Dutchess County N. Y. he was a volunteer as orderly Sergeant, in Capt. Joshua Barnham's Company of Minute men, in Col. John Field's Regiment of the New York Militia- That he went through the County to guard against Tories-- went to and wintered in the City of New York, where he was discharged on the first day of March 1776 - having then served as orderly Sergeant between six and seven months at least.

And he further shows that search has been made in the Secretary's Office of the State of New York for the Record of his Commission and none can be found, as he is informed & believes- 

And your Petitioner further shows, that he has
made application to the Department of war,
to be placed on the Pension list, with the Pension allowed to a Lieutenant, under the Act of Congress
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of June 7, 1832. and that his claim has been
suspended, as appears by the annexed letter from the Commissioner of Pensions.
Your Petitioner therefore, confident in the
Equity of his claims, and relying on the Justice of his Country Humbly prays your Honorable Body to pass a law, granting him such a pension, and such relief in the premises, as to your Honorable Body shall appear Just. and your Petitioner will ever pray-
Dated March 6th, 1834-
[signature] Nathaniel Hempsted

State of New York
[begin underline] Chautauqua County [end underline] Ss.

Nathaniel Hempsted the above named Petitioner being sworn says, that the facts set forth in the foregoing Petition are true, according to his best recollection & belief and
he further says that he never received any pay
whatever for his services in the war of the Revolution after the year, 1776-

Sworn before me, the subscriber
a Justice of the Peace of Chautauqua
County N.Y. March 6th 1834-
[signature] Jacob Houghton, J.P.

[signature]  Nathl Hempsted
Page 30

We, the Subscribers, Inhabitants of Chautauqua county, N.Y. do hereby certify that we are acquainted with Nathaniel Hempsted, whose petition is annexed -
 That we believe him to be a man of truth and veracity - and that he served as stated in his Petition Dated March 6th 1834
Orris Crosby
B Walworth
Judge Shaw Co [Conitr?]
Benj Douglass
 Sheriff of Chautauqua County
Philip Orton a Judge of Chautauqua County
Jacob Houghton, J.P.
C.J. Orton P.M.
Leverett Barker
D.W. Douglass
Barna Robbins
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War Department
Pension Office
20 Sept. 1833

Sir,

The claim of Nathaniel Hempsted has been examined and suspended. His service is believed to have been in the militia and consequently composed of short and occasional tours. It cannot be admitted that he was in continuous [underlined] service from 1781 to the close of the war. He should, therefore, detail each item of service as to time, length, grade and places, with names of officers, etc. More satisfactory evidence should be furnished, that he held the grade of Lieutenant by Commission, either from the Records of the State, or the testimony of one, or more
Page 32

more who served with him.
His papers are placed on file.

I am, respectfully
your ob. serv.
J L Edwards

Jacob Houghton, Esq.
Fredonia
N.Y.