Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45386, Joseph Holley, Conn.
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Service Conn. Holley, Joseph Number S.45386
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20,015
New York
Joseph Holley of Cortland in the State of New York who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Holley of the regiment commanded by Colonel Burrill in the Connecticut line, for the term of one year from January 1, 1776 to December 31st 1777.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 15 day of December, 1828.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2d of Jan 1829 and sent to Barak Niles Esq Cincinnatus, N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1829, $21.41 
Semi-anl. all'ce ending $21.41
Revolutionary Claim Act March 18, 1818 and May 1, 1820.
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State of New York County of Courtland ss
On this ninth day of December 1828, personally appeared in open court, being a court of record, because it is expressly made a court of reason by the Statute laws of the State of New York; it also proceeds according to the course of the common law, has unlimited jurisdiction in [illegible] of amount, and keeps a record of the proceedings; and it has the power of fine and imprisonment; for the county of Cortland, Joseph Holley, resident in said county, aged seventy three years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March, 1818, and the 1st of May, 1820; that he the said Joseph Holley enlisted for the term of one year, on or near the first day of January in the year, 1776, in the State of Connecticut, in the company commanded by Captain Luther Stoddard, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Charles Burrill, in the line the State of Connecticut, on the continental establishment that he continued to serve in the said corps until the last of December, 1776, of forepart of January, 1777, being in the said service one year, when he was discharged from the service in, or at, Mount Independence in the State of Vermont; that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension. except the present, that his name is not on the roll of any State, except Connecticut; and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension - to wit, that said Joseph Hollley has until within a few days past been the legal owner of fifty acres of land, worth about the sum of two hundred dollars, and also of a small personal property besides; and that his two sons. Stephen and Isaac, have for several years past been in the occupancy of said land, and have supported this declarant and his wife; and that this declarant has been unwilling to make application for a pension until he can fairly and conscientiously say, that, in his judgement and belief, his property was honestly exhausted; that declarant, thinking and believing such to be his condition in respect to property, at this time, he therefore now applies.
And, in [illegible] of the act of the 1st May, 1820, does
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solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 10th day of March, 1818, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, dispose of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," [illegible] on the 18th day of March, I did; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed: -

Schedule - Of real estate, I have none - 
Of personal property, I have one mare, worth - $25.00 
1 Cow - $14 - 1 heifer, two years old $8 - 4 sheep $3.50 - 2. hogs $4 - 1 saddle $3 - 32.50
2 Chests $1.75 - 1 table $1 -  5 chairs - $2 - 2 wheels $1.50 - 1 meat tub 75 cts - 7.00
2 Wash-tubs 75 cts - 1 pail 30 cts 1 churn 50 its 1 half bushel 25 cts andirons 63 its - 2.51
fire shovel + tongs 63 cts 1 pot $1 - 1 dish kettle 31 cts 1 spider 75 cts 10 plates 50 cts - 3.19
3 earthen bowls 18 cts Hen pot 13 cts 6 tea cups + saucers 25 cts 2 drinking glasses 12 cts .68 $72.43
2 beds + bedding, wearing apparel. except - the furniture + saddle, are quite old, + much worn out - I have no recollection of any other property of mine 
Joseph Holley
That, since the 10th of March, 1818, the following changes have been made in my property - 
Property 50 acres of land on lot No. 15, in Freetown in Corttown County aforesaid
To who deed Stephen Holly Isaac Holley of Fair [illegible] 
Time when
3/4 of an acre in 1828, and the [illegible] due, Nov 11th 1828
Consideration
Fifty dollars paid for said Joseph Holley - and, chiefly, maintaining him + his wife Sarah, for above eight years past
That is to say, this declarant owned the above mentioned fifty acres of land on the 10th of March, 1818, and in consideration of his two sons, Stephen and Isaac, aforesaid, paying together. fifty dollars, towards the original purchase price, agreed to be paid by declarant for said land; ands said sons, having the use thereof, with such small personal property as declaring possessed, maintaining, [illegible] posting, and taking care of, declarant + his wife, Sarah Holley,
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for upwards of eight years past - which this declarant, believes to have been a full, fair and valuable consideration paid for the same.
There have been no other changes in the property of this declarant, since the 18th of March, 1818, which have been material - as declarant has never since, nor at that time, been the owner of but a very small personal property - it, then + ever [illegible] having been of about the same value as that contained in the forgoing schedule, signed by the declarant. He has never had more than two cows at a time - no more horses than at present, nor, indeed, any other thing more than at present, with the exception of those small and trifling changes, which occasionally take place from year to year, in a persons estate of small value. This declarant has ever since the 10th of March, 1818 been, and, indeed, he was before, a poor man - and, since that time, he has been gradually, owing to the natural increase his years, and his consequent greater infirmities, as well as those of his wife, been constantly consuming his means and his property, until, he verily believes, if he should do justice to his sons, aforesaid, he should be entirely destitute of property of every description-
I am by occupation a farmer - but, I am not able to do but very little labor - I work not on the farm, through inability- I do a very little in the garden and do some errands - My infirmities are such that I am not able to labor much, nor have I been for upwards of eight years past. My wife Sarah Holley, is, 76, years of age - her health and ability toward are very similar to my own - We both live in the same house with our son Stephen, aforesaid, and have for eight years past. I can therefore declare that I am in such indigent circumstances that I am unable to support myself without the [illegible] of either public or private chart. 
Sworn to, and declared, on the ninth day of December, 1828 before - Joseph Reynolds Andrew Dickson Oliver Kingman - Joseph Holley We the judges before whom the within affidavit was taken do [illegible] and [illegible] the [illegible] contained in the within schedule at seventy two dollars and forty three cents - given under our hand at Homer Dec 9 1828 Joseph Reynolds Andrew Dickson Oliver Kingman Judges of Courthouse
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State of New York Cortland County I, Samuel Hotchkiss J. Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said county, and also Clerk of said County of Cortland, do hereby certify, that it appears, to the satisfaction of the court, that the said Joseph Holley, did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of twelve months, under one engagement, on the continental establishment- I also certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Seventy two In testimony dollars and forty three cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 10th December, 1828- Saml Hotchkiss  Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and also of the said County of Cortland - 
Joseph Holley 20.807 Declaration for Pension
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State of New York Cortland County Ss. Stephen Holley of Freetown in said County, aged forty four years, son of Joseph Holley of the same place, being duly sworn, deposeth & saith, that the said Joseph Holley in the year 1828, conveyed by warrantee deed to this deponent three quarters of an acre of land as a building lot; and also the said Joseph Holley conveyed by warrantee deed twenty four and one quarter acres of land, both parcels, being the south half of certain fifty acres, situate in said Freetown, and being in the southwest corner of lot No. 15 the last parcel of 244 acres, was conveyed as aforesaid to this deponent on the 11th of November, 1828. The consideration paid by this deponent to said Joseph Holley for said premises was, twenty five dollars, which was paid by deponent from his own means to the person from whom the said Joseph Holly originally purchased the said premises-- being paid at the request of said Joseph Holly & never repaid back to this deponent. And also, this deponent, together with another brother, to wit, Isaac Holley, has supported the said Joseph Holley & his wife Sarah Holley, for above eight years past, except the said deponent & the said Isaac Hawley, have had together, the use of the fifty acres of land aforesaid which land has, until the 11th day of November 1828, been said which land has, its that held in facsimile by said Joseph Holley and also the use of the [illegible] personal property of son Joseph - the said deponent the said Joseph Hawley; & the said Isaac Holley,- occupying the same in common, and at the same time, taking care of, providing for, and maintaining their said parents. The said premises, and said personal property, for the care & support, rendered as aforesaid by deponent are not worth to exceed four dollars per acre, therefore this deponent has not received more than the sum of seventy five dollars, besides the use of one half of said premises and said personal property, for this care & support, rendered as aforesaid by deponent. 
The said  Joseph Holley is 73 years of age, his wife Sarah is 76 years of age - both of whom are almost entirely unable to labor, & have been for above eight years past, both having been feeble & infirm persons, & are daily growing more so.  The personal property belonging to said Joseph Holley, and so used as aforesaid by this deponent & his said brother, Isaac Holley, consisted of one mare of small value, and a part of the time of of the time of one cow,  & a part of the time of two cows, together with a little household furniture
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This deponent is therefore of opinion that he has fully and also for sometime past, paid said Joseph Holley, for said twenty five acres of land Sworn to and subscribed this Sixth day of December 1821 before me - and I further certify that said Stephen Holley is a person of truth and veracity from my own personal acquaintance John Lock Justice of the Peace Stephen Holley

State of New York Cortland County Isaac Holley of Freetown in said County --- aged thirty one years, being duly sworn, deposeth I saith, that Joseph Holly, his father, of the same place, conveyed to this deponent, on the 11th day of November, 1828, the north half of certain fifty acres of land situate in said Freetown & being part of lot No 15; that the consideration paid by this deponent for the same, was as follows, to wit, this deponent paid of the original purchase five given for said land by said Joseph Holley, the sum of twenty five dollars-- And this deponent, in addition thereto, has, in connexion with his brother Stephen Haley improved the said fifty acres of land, & also had the use of one mare, and one cow, a part of the time, & the other part two cows, belonging to said Joseph Hobby & maintained and supported the said Joseph Holley & Sarah his wife for above eight years past that is to say, the land & those creatures, have all along been called, their said parents property, and the said deponent to said Stephen Haley, have occupied the same in common, & in common, taken of, and provided for their said parents, during said eight years & upwards. Their parents, being old infirm have done but very little, nor have they or either of them been able to do much any of the time This deponent verily believes, that he has thus rendered more for said land, than its full value
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This deponent thinks said land worth, at most, not more than four dollars per acre. Lands adjacent to the same, equally as valuable, have recently been sold for three dollars fifty cents per acre, to the amount of any forms- Sworn to & subscribed this 6th day of December, 28, before me eand I further certify said Isaac Holly  to be a person of truth & veracity from my own personal knowledge, Sam Holley-- John Lock Justice of the Rev State of New York Cortland County ⎬ ss.  

William Smith of Freetown in said - County, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he is a neighbor of Stephen Hally Isaac Holly mentioned in the foregoing affidavits, and also that he has been for many years - that he is well acquainted with the fifty acres of land mentioned therein and that he believes the same to be worth in value, not to exceed four dollars per acre. That lands in the same neighborhood, under about the same circumstances of improvement, have been selling at three dollars & fifty cents per acre, at fair sales, and are considered to have been sold, at the fair value- That deponent , is well acquainted with Joseph Holley & Sarah his wife, the parents of said Stephen & Isaac, and knows them both to be very feeble & infirm people, even for persons of their ages-- that they have been unable to labor for eight or ten years past, except but very little, and that the said Stephen & Isaac, have occupied the said fifty acres of land in common, and have, for said eight or ten years, supported, taken care of, and maintained their said parents. Deponent is also of opinion that said Stephen & Isaac, have by the assistance they have thus rendered the said parents, fully paid the said Joseph Holley for the said
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fifty acres of land- And further deponent saith not - Sworn to and subscribed this William Smith Sixth day of December, 1828 before me, William Smith and I further certify said William Smith to be a person of truth and veracity from my own personal acquaintance with him - John Locke Justice of the Peace
Stephen Holley
Isaac Holley 
William Smith
Applied [illegible] to

State of New York 
Cortland County Clerk's Office
I hereby certify that John Locke before the [illegible] affidavits were taken [illegible] on the date by [illegible] Justice of the Peace in the County of Cortland duly commissioned and sworn to act as such. And further that I am [illegible] with the hand writing of the said Justices and verily believe the signatures of John Locke subscribed to the said affivdavits to be the handwriting of said Justice. Witness my hand and the seal of said county [illegible] affixed this fifteenth day of December 1828
Sam'l Hotchkiss Clerk
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Revy 45386 INVALID. File No. 45-386 Joseph Holley Priv. Rev. War. Act: 18 March 1818 & 1st May 1820 Index: - Vol. 3 Page 234 [Arrangement of 1870.}
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Recd 2 Jany 1829 R ┃ Joseph Holley New York 1818 N Barak Niles Esq Cincinnatus N.Y. pen: to com: 15 Dec  1828 Cincinnatus N. Y. Dec 22nd Pension Office War Department Washington  City Dec. 1828.
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Cincinnatus, Cort. Co N. York
Dec 22nd 1828
The Hon. P. B. Porter Sec't of War War- 

Sir, herein enclose the evidence of Joseph Hollay of his claim for a pension - Permit me to remark in the most respectful manner that I find the evidence is sufficient to establish his claim and also, if it is so, that the public bounty cannot often be more worthily bestowed. Mr. Holley's character for temperance, sobriety, honesty & fair conduct in life, cannot be surpassed- His family, altho in the humble and low walks of life, is reputable - 

He does not suppose that conveying his property as set forth in his declaration, can materially advance his claim but feeling it right & proper so to do, and feeling the transaction to be due his sons, he did it. He felt his claim to be right on the score of poverty sometime ago, but felt unwilling to prefer it, until he believed all must see its Justice. I will simply add, that I believe every neighbor he has will concur in the opinion expressed by Mr. William Smith-- Mr. Holley & Sons are also, both poor men, having but a small personal property, and no real estate, except the 50 mentioned in the affidavits to my knowledge-- altho poor, they are industrious, temperate and honest, in their reputations. when the claim is passed upon, please make return to me with the highest respect I am Your Obt Sev't  Barak Niles
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State of Vermont Addison County Stephen Holley of Cornwall in said county, being duly  sworn, deposeth and saith, that this deponent enlisted in the month of January, 1776, at Canaan in the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, in the company commanded by Captain Luther Stoddard, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Charles Burrill, in the Revolutionary War, the term of one year; and deponent continued to serve in said Regiment for said term, that is from January, 1776, to the end of the year or until January 1777- This deponent further says that he is knowing that Joseph Holley, now of the town of Freetown in the County of Cortland and State of New York, enlisted at or near the same time of deponent in the same company and regiment, and that the said Joseph Holley served for one year, being the said year 1776, in the said company and regiment with this deponent and were discharged at the same time, as they both served together during said year said service was done by going to Canada in order to reinforce the Army of General Montgomery, join said Army, doing duty with it, retreating with it, and being discharged at Mount Independence, the State of Vermont Sworn to subscribed & declared this day of October 1820- Stephen Holley before me - I also certify that said Stephen Holley is Ed Woodbridge [illegible]
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a person of credibility and truth, from my own personal acquaintance with him 
Ed Woodbridge [illegible]
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State of Vermont Addison County 

I Jesse Bishop of Panton in the County of Addison aforesaid being duly sworn depose and say that I enlisted the last of January or the fore part of February 1776 at Canaan in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, in the company commanded by Captain Luther Stoddard and in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Charles Burrill in the Revolutionary war for the the term of one year; and I further say that I continued to serve in said Regiment for the said term of one year. And I further say that I know that Joseph Holley then of said Canaan, now as I am informed and verily believe residing in the town of Freetown, County of Cortland and State of New York. Enlisted at or near the same time with me in the same Company and Regiment, and that the said Joseph Holley served for the space of one year in the same company and Regiment with the Deponant. We both served together during said year and were discharged at the same time. And I further depose that said service was by going  to Canada in order to reinforce the Army of General Montgomery, joing said army, doing duty with it, retreating with it, and being discharged at Mount Independance in the side of Vermont.  Jesse Bishop Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of October AD 1828, and further certify that said Bishop is a person of credibility and with from the personal acquaintance with him.- Ed Goodbridge [illegible]
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Joseph Holley 

State of Vermont. I, Samuel Swift, Clerk of the County Addison County Court for the said County of Addison do hereby certify that Enoch D. Woodbridge Esquire before the foregoing affidavits of Stephen Holley, and Jesse Bishop were sworn was at the time a Justice of the peace for said County of Addison, fully authorized to administer oaths, that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that his name there written is his own signature. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Middlebury this 24th day of October A.D. 1828. Saml Swift Clerk-
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State of Connecticut Litchfield County 

Russel Hunt, being duly sworn, deposeth & saith, that he was a soldier in the company commanded by Captain Luther Stoddard, in Colonel Charles Burrills regiment, during the revolution any War, in the year, 1776, and served for and during said year in the same and in this deponent was well acquainted with Joseph Holley, who also was a soldier in said company and regiment; and deponent knows and declares upon his said oath, that said Joseph Holley served as a soldier in the same, with deponent for and during the whole of said year, 1776, beginning in the forepart of January and serving continually until the next January following - And deponent is informed and believes that said Joseph Holley now resides in the town of Freetown in the County of Cortland and State of New York - And further saith not- Sworn to declared and subscribed this eighteenth day of October, 1828 before me - I also certify that I am well acquainted personally with said Russel Hunt, and that he is a man of credibility and truth ⎬ Wm M. Burrall Justice of the Peace within & for Litchfield County Connecticut Russel Hunt
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State of Connecitcut Litchfield County I Origen S. Seymour assistant Clerk of the Court for the County of Litchfield hereby certify that William M. Burrall Esquire before whom the foregoing affidant appears to have been taken is & was at the time when the same appears to have been made a Justice of the Peace for Litchfield County duly commissioned & to administer qualified by the laws of this State oaths & that full faith & credit are due to his acts as such Justice of the Peace & that his name appearing to sd affidavit is his hand writing. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name & affixed the seal of said Court this 28th day of October Origen S. Seymour Assistant Clerk