Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,005, for Abraham Sprague, New York
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(3-1776) 

SERVICE 
New York 

Sprague, Abraham

NUMBER 
R. 10,005 

CONTENTS
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Mary Sprague, widow of Abraham Sprague, herself the applicant from New York for a Revolutionary Pension 
Please furnish a copy of your letter with the directions to allowing a pension - also please furnish a copy of her husband Abraham Spragues alledged Service in the war of the Revolution, & the dejection to granting his pension, upon his application made in 1832 from the State of New York 
Very Respectfully Yours &c
[signed] W T. Jackson 
Havana NY

Hon Comr of Pensions 
Act of 7. 1852
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State of New York 
County of Delaware } ss
On this 8th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the court of Common pleas in and for said County of Delaware, now sitting, Abraham Sprague a resident of the town of Hancock in the County of Delaware and State of New York aforesaid aged sixty seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 
That he was born in the Little Nine partners in the County of Dutchess in the State of New York on the 19th day of October 1764 or he believes from information and a record in his possession, that he removed from that place with his parents to Philipstown thence to [illegible, Jopahunk?] on the head of the Delaware river from whence they were driven by the Indians in the year 1778 that in the same year he enlisted in the army of the United States under Capt Campbell Noah Lee Lieuts at Peekskill in Westchester Co. N.Y. in the month of June then between 13 and fourteen years of age that he enlisted for three years or during the war that the regiment was called the congress or sometime the bloody Congress and was commanded by Col. Moses Hazen the Majors were Torry Taylor & Reed adjutant, Manning, a Lieut by the name of Stewart, acted as adjutant one campaign or season. that he soon marched from Peekskill to White Plains from them to Danbury in Connecticut from them to Hartford from there back to Danbury for winter quarters. about this time Capt Campbell (who had but an arm) was promoted and was succeeded in command of the company by Capt Hughs from the State of Maryland, that on the 20th day of March 1779 he marched with the Regiment then belonging to Gen. Poor’s Brigade from Danbury for old Springfield thence to Northfield thence to Charlestown thence by Hanover to Haverhill when he with the Regiment was employed during the summer in constructing a road from [illegible] toward Canada and in the fall went to winter quarters in Morristown New Jersey and joined Gen. Hon’s Brigade, while there during the winter a detachment of which he was one were ordered to destroy some Huts wood &c which belonged to the enemy on Staten Island which they effected without loss that about this time he was chosen as one of the foot guard to Gen. Washington commanded by Major Livingston, that in the month of June (he thinks) the guard in which he served was in the Battle of Elizabeth Town N.J. that they were engaged with the right
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wing of the enemy army, that there was fighting at intervals and by detached parties for two or three days that a great many of his comrades in the guard were killed he helped carry his Major Livingston, from the field wounded, and as he supposes mortally as he saw him no more, that he this deponent received a slight wound in the engagement that the guard was much reduced in part of numbers but were not disbanded untill the fall of 1780 when he joined his former regiment and went into winter quarters at Fort Snell barracks Dutchess County N.Y. that in the spring of 1781 about the first of April he received a furlough for sixty days to visit his family for the first time since his joining the army he having heard that his father had been killed by the indians which he afterwards found to be true, that he went home and while there and before the expiration of his furlough the regiment marched for the south and was at the taking of Cornwallis as he understood that at the expiration of his furlough he knew nothing of the fate of his regiment nor where to gain it; and that his 3 years was expired before he saw any of his offices or knew when to find them that he had no discharge that when in the guard he frequently saw Gen Green  Lafayette adjt Gen Scammel. that during his service he was in three different Brigades before joining the guard, commanded by Gen Clinton of NY or N.H. & Hons[?] of Pennsylvania - that he knew Capts Saterly, Olivie, Lepain, Lloyd, Junion, Pey, White, Burn and Many other officers of the army  that he received 3 dollars of bounty mony having 17 dollars due as they told him and that there was fifteen months pay due him when his time expired that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person when testimony he can procure who can testify to his services 
He hereby relinquishes every 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 
[signed] Abraham Sprague
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
[signed] C B Sheldon  Clerk
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10361
Abraham Sprague 
Delaware Co  New York 
10005
Entd May 78. 
deserted 5 Feby ‘18
letter on 15 May 1833.

C. B. Sheldon Clerk Delaware Co New York
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WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Pension Office, 183 
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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A statement, showing the Service of Abraham Sague, Delaware Co New York 

[TABLE]
Period when the service was rendered.  |  Duration of the claimant's service. ┃ Rank of claimant.  |   Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. ┃  Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. ┃ Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  |  Country through which he marched.  |  Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present  ┃ Evidence by which the declaration is supported.  |
1778 He did not serve out his 3 years  |  not stated  |  Private  |  Cap Campbell Lt. Lee  Cap Hughs  |  Gen. Poor  Col Hazen Maj Torry Taylor & Read  |  Elizabeth Town  |  N. York Cont. [Connecticut] N. Jersey  |  77 years Dutchess Co N. York  |  Traditionary  |
[END OF TABLE]

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant 
J. L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. 
The following regulations have been adopted: 
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law: 
1. The Regular Troops. 
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3. Persons employed in the Naval service. 
4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 
DECLARATION. 
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. 
State, Territory or District of County } ss.
On this ___ day of ___ personally appeared (a) before __ A.B. a resident (b) of ___ in the county of ___  and State, territory or District of ___  ages (c) ___ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ___  , with ___ and served in the ___ (e) regiment of the ___ line, under the following named officers: 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers, the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which marched. [ ]This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of ___
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. ____ A. B. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I _____ of the Court of ____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ___for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ___ day of ___&c. 
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
 (k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the ___ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ___ , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ___ 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. ___ who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ___ and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ___ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I ___Clerk of the Court of ___ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of ___ for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this ___ day of ___&c. 
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. 
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 
1. Where and in what year were you born? 
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6.  {To a Soldier} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?}
6. {To an Officer.} Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?}
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. 
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. 
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. 
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 
[d] The declarant must in the period or periods of the war when he served. 
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: 
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For __ year ___ months , and ___ days I served as a ___. For ___ months and ___days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension." 
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.   Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority;  that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required. 
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 
Proof of Service. 
[j] 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.
[ ] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note [j] applies in continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
[signed] Joseph Rowen Ex Ck
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Rev. and 1812 Wars Section 
AWF/eel
November 1, 1929 
Mrs. George E. Hewitt 
932 Ackerman Avenue 
Syracuse, New York 
Dear Madam: 
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R.10005, it appears that Abraham Sprague was born October 12, 1764, in Little Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York. 
He stated that he enlisted in June, 1778, and served in Captains Campbell's and Hughs' Company, Colonel Moses Hazen's New York Regiment, was one of General Washington's Foot Guards, was wounded at the battle of Elizabethtown and served until the spring of 1781, when he heard that his father (whose name is not given) had been killed by the Indians, he obtained a furlough, went home and never returned to his regiment. 
He applied for pension October 8, 1832, while living in Hancock, Delevan [Delaware] County, New York, but the claim was not allowed, as it appeared from the rolls that he deserted and never after joined his regiment.
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In 1852, his widow Mary is referred to. Date of marriage is not stated, nor is the date of soldier's death shown. 
Very truly yours, 
EARL D. CHURCH 
Commissioner.
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May 8, 1925 
Mrs. S. A. Francisco, 
The Sherman House, 
Cook's Falls, N. Y. 
Madam:
I [crossed out, have to] advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 10005, it appears that Abraham Sprague was born October 19, 1764 in Little Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York. 
He [crossed out, alleged] stated that he enlisted in June 1778 and served in Captains Campbell’s and Hughs' Company, Colonel Moses Hazen's New York Regiment, was one of General Washington's Foot Guards, was wounded at the battle of Elizabethtown and served until the spring of 1781, when he heard that his father (whose name is not stated) had been killed by the Indians, he obtained a furlough, went home and never returned to his regiment. 
He applied for pension October 8, 1832, while living in Hancock, Delavan [Delaware] County, New York, but the
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claim was not allowed, as it appeared from rolls that he deserted and never after joined his regiment. 
In 1852, his widow Mary is referred to. Date of marriage is not stated, nor is the date of soldier's death known.
Respectfully, 
WILDER S. METCALF 
Commissioner.
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[top of page is cut off]
Abraham Sprague
Service: 
Enlisted:  18
Discharged: 18 
[stamped  REJECTED]
Application filed:  18
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted: 
Attorney: 
P. O. 
Recognized.   Contract 18
Cert. of Dis.   Searched for 18

Hist to Mrs, S. A. Francisco acc L 
Hist to Mrs. George E. Hewitt  [initials illegible]
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932 Ackerman Ave, Syracuse, N.Y.
Sept. 3, 1929 
Com of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C 
Dear Sir. – 
Will you kindly send me the military service and any accompanying information regarding Abraham Sprague of Delaware County, New York (Revolutionary War). 
Thanking you, I am 
Very truly yours, 
Vera M. Hewitt 
(Mrs. Geo. E.)

[stamped U.S. Pension Office Sep 5 1929]
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THE SHERMAN HOUSE 
SHERMAN A. FRANCISCO 
PROPRIETOR 
COOK'S FALLS, NEW YORK 
March 1921 [last digit unclear]
Pension Department 
Sir
have you any War records of Abraham Sprague form October 19 - 1760 New York State 
was in the War of 1776 please give me the information you have if any 
Yours
Mrs S G Francisco
Cooks Falls NY
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Pension Office
Nov 19th 1850 
Sir:
I have the honor to state that no application of Mary Sprague, widow of Abraham, is on file in this Office.
Her husband alleged a 3 years’ service in Col. Hazen's Regiment, and it was found that he enlisted in May, 1778, and deserted on the 5th Feb’y 1781, and his claim was therefore rejected.
Hon W.T. Jackson 
Havana N. Y.
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We John H. Gregory residing in the town of Colchester and Titus Williams residing in the town of Hancock Delaware County N. York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Sprague who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 67 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood when he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution - and that we concur in that opinion.
[signed] Titus Williams  Jno H. Gregory
Sworn & Subscribed the year and day aforesaid
signed] C B Sheldon Clerk 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as the States, and the Court further certify that it appears to them Titus Williams and John H Gregory who have signed the above Certificate are 2 residents of the towns of Hancock and Colchester in the County of Delaware and that Titus Williams is a minister of the Gospel and that their statements are intitled to credit
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I Crawford B Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County as Delaware do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Sprague for a Pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this Eighth day of October in the year 1832 
[signed] C. B. Sheldon Clerk
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Washington 27 Dec. 1837 
Dear Sir,
I am informed the application of Abraham Sprague of Hancock, Delaware County N.Y. for a pension has not been granted on the ground that he left the regiment & never returned to it as it is said, appears from the muster roll. 
Let me ask whether this objection may not be obviated by explanatory affidavits?  I am informed Mr Sprague has an excuse which may be satisfactory, that he left on a furlough &c &c
Mr S. is a worthy citizen & I have no doubt served faithfully. 
An answer will oblige 
Yours very Respy 
[signed] Abram J Parker 

J L Edwards Esq
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C. B. Sheldon Esq 
Delhi N.Y.
18 May 33 

Re. Vol. 97 Pa 86.
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War Department 
Pension Office 
18 May 1833 
Sir
The claim of Abraham Sprague for a pension has been examined. It appears from the rolls, that he deserted and never after joined his regiment. By this act he forfeited all claim to a pension or any gratuity  this claim has been rejected. 
The papers are placed on the files of this office. 
I am Sir,
Respectfully yr. obt servt
Commiss of Pensions


C. B. Sheldon Esq 
Delhi 
N. Y.