Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,032, Robert Travis, New York
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SERVICE New York
Travis, Robert
NUMBER S23032
CONTENTS
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[Left Page]
558 F
New York
Robert Travis
Of Somers in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Benedict of the Rgt. [regiment] commanded by Col. Holme in the New York line for 16 mos [months] & 14 days~
Inserted on the Roll of New York at the rate of 54 Dollars 84 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of Febry [Feburary] 1833-.— and sent to Hon. [honorable] A. Ward ho. of Rep [House of Representatives]
Arrears to 4th of September. 1832                                      $82.26
Semi=annl. [semi-annual] allowance ending 4th M. ’33      $27.42
									    $109.68
died Dec. 30, 1851
See agency [illegible]
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Geo. T. Stiles Clerk
Book D. Vol. 5. Page 144
[Right Page]
Order to pay April 19, 1837.
Sent to J.B. Trosc, April 28, 1837
[crossed out] Sent to Wm A[illegible] Feb 22nd ‘47
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In the matter of 
The application of Robert Travis for a pension under the Act of Congress of June 7th 1832
Hon. A.Ward
HR [House of Representatives]
Dec. 24, 1842
Aomd.
16 mo. 14 days pri-
11
154
20-00
33 3
199.28
333
53.28
5330
5330
154
59.84
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of New York
County of WestChester
On this fifth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty there personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas
 In and for the County of WestChester in the State of New York, now sitting Robert Travis a resident of the town of Somers in the County of West Chester and State of New York aged seventy five 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 Act of Cingress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herin stated that is to say he entered the said service as a volunteer in the volunteer troops of the then Colony of New York. On or about the first of July in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five for the term of six months in the company commanded by Captain Joseph Benedict in the regiment commanded by Colonel Holmes of the fourth Battalion of New York troops.; that immediately after he enlisted as aforesaid, he joined the said company at Peekskill in the said County and proceeded with it to Albany on board of a sloop; then marched from Albany, in the said company to Ticonderoga and there joined the said regiment; that he was there with the Regiment two or three days according to his recollection, and then proceeded in [illegible] down Lakes George and Champlain to fort St. John in Canada and joined the American army under the command of General Montgomery, then before that fort, that he continued in the army before that fort until
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it surrendered; that soon after he was marched to a place called Laplarie opposite Montreal. That he crossed with the army on the ice to said Montreal; that he was left at that place with some American troops, while General Montgomery proceeded with the main army to Quebec; that he the declarant continued at Montreal on duty, until the expiration of said term of six months; that the said Captain Benedict then returned home. And Lieutenant Sackett of said company raised another company of three months men of whose whose terms of service had expired. That the declarant volunteered in said last mentioned company on or about the first of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy six under the command of said Sackett who was promoted to the office of Captain for the term of three months, that he was marched to Quebec and arrived there soon after the attack on that place, and the death of General Montgomery that he continued there encamped on the Plains of Abraham until the expiration of said three months; that the term of service of a considerable number of the troops expiring about the same time, they were paraded before General Woosters quarter and he addressed them and requested them to continue with the army one month longer, which they agreed to, that the declarant was among the number who volunteered; that he continued in the service there until the expiration of said month, and at the expiration thereof was requested by his officers to continue two weeks longer which he did, and then left there under the command of said Sackett and marched to Albany And from thence to [illegible]
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In the State of New York and was discharged. That he received a written discharge signed by said Captain Sackett; but that the same has [crossed out word] long been lost or destroyed; that the names of the officers he now recollects, [crossed out illegible] who were with the troops during said term of service are General Montgomery, Gen Wooster Colonel Arnold Lieutenant Gerald Brown, and those herein before mentioned
And the declarant further states that some time in the Month of July in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six he again entered the service of the United States as a substitute for Joseph Lee of said Gromssond, now [illegible] in a company of levies of the State of New York, in the company commanded by Captain James Cronkite. And was attached to the regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Thomas That he entered the service under said Cronkite as aforesaid for the term of six months. That he entered at that time in the said County of WestChester, and immediately joined the said company at Peekskill in the said County of WestChester, remained at that place a few days and then marched to the city of New York and encamped a short distance above that city at a place called Blue Bells. And there joined the said regiment under the command of the said Colonel Thomas, continued there about one month to the best of his recollection. And then marched from that place, over Kings Bridge, to fort independence in the said County of WestChester, was there a short time, and then retreated with the American Army to the town of White Plains in the said County of WestChester and was [crossed out: “in the battle at that place”] at the time of the battle at said White Plains in the left of the American Army, soon after that battle at that place retreated with the army [crossed out illegible] into the northern part of the said County of WestChester; that he was in
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the army in the retreat, and was after the retreat stationed at Peekskill in the said County until the expiration of his said term of six months which was on or about the first of January in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven when he was verbally discharged; that he served during the whole of said last mentioned term, in the said company and regiment; that he has forgotten the names of most of the officers who were with the troops during said term; he however recollects [crossed out] that General Washington, Putnam and Mac Dougal were with the troops at the time of the battle at White Plains and he thinks General Heath was also there, though he is not positive; that he does not recollect any particular. Continental or militia regiments belonging to the army at that time.
And the declarant further states that from the year 1777 until the close of the revolutionary war he belonged to and was enrolled in the militia of the State of New York in the regiment under the command of Colonel Drake, in the said County of WestChester; that the enemy were frequently making incursions into said County. That at such times the militia of said County were called out to repel the enemy; that the declarant was frequently in the service in the said County on such occasions, from two to twelve days, that he cannot now state the day or month he entered and left the service at such times; but he has no doubt that his services in the militia from 1777 to the end of the war would amount to at least three months.
And the declarant further states that he was born in the said County of WestChester in the
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in the year 1757; that he has no record of his age; that at the times he entered the service as aforesaid he resided in the said County of WestChester [line of illegible crossed out text] and has resided there since the revolution and now resides in the town of Somers in said County of WestChester; that he entered the service as herein before set forth &c [et cetera].
That he has no documentary evidence of his service; that the names of the person to whom he is known in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his service as a soldier of the revolution are Thomas Strang and John Hyatt of Yorktown in said County of WestChester.
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
Sworn to & subscribed this fufth day of December 1832 before me in open Court
Robert Travis
N Bayles Clk [clerk] of said Court
We the undersigned subscribed
Residing in the town of York Town in the County of WestChester and State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Travis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five 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 this 5 day of [crossed out “September”]
Thomas Strang
John Hyatt
[Text along upper left margin]:
A 
with the exception of about twenty five years part of which time he resided in the western and a part of it in the northern part of the State of New York~
[Text along lower left margin]:
Will [illegible] Lee certify for [illegible] Trans as is requested by this certificate
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Dec. 1832 before me
Cornelius Pullson Justice Peace I hereby certify that the within named persons Viz. Thomas Strang & John Wyatt personally appeared before me and were sworn the day and year above written. Cornelius Pullson. Justice of Peace
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 and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the town of ___in the County of WestChester and State of New York and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the court of Common Pleas in and for the County of WestChester in the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Robert Travis for a pension.
In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this
___day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two_
N. Bayles Clk of said Court
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State of New York
County of WestChester
I Obadiah Purdy of the County of WestChester aforesaid being duly sworn on his oath saith that he is well acquainted with Robert Travis in the pension application of which this affidavit is annexed & [illegible]- and that he was well acquainted with him during the revolutionary war. And the deponent further saith that he was the Lieutenant in the company of Service commanded by Captain James Cronkite in the year 1776 and was attached to the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Thomas Thomas; that said Travis served six months in said company and Regiment in the year 1776 commencing some time in the month of July in said year. And that said Travis was discharged at the village of Peekskill about the holly days in said year and at the expiration of said six months; That this deponent served with said Travis during said six months in the army of Gen. Washington, and that the said Travis together with the deponent joined the American army in the first part of said army in Kings Bridge in said County and was with the army of Gen Washington in its retreat from said Kings bridge to White Plains. And the deponent saith that said travis was in the said army at the time of the battle of that place in the left wing of the army; and that the said Travis continued in the army after the said Battle and marched with it to Peekskill in said County. And was with the army at that place at the time it retreated
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from White Plains to said Village of Peckhill in 1775 and that said Travis was discharged at a place at the expiration of said six months, which was about the [ill] days in said year 
Sworn to and subscribed this 23rd day of August 1832 before me
Obediah Purdy

A Graham Commissioner of Deeds
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Obediah Purdy who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit, and that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit
Dated [ill] August 23d 1832
A. Graham

I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of Westchester State of New York of certify that Andrew Graham before whom the foregoing affidavit of Obediah Purdy was taken is now and was at the time of the Execution thereof a Commissioner of Deeds in and for said County. and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Commissioner and believe the signatures subscribed to said affidavit and foregoing certificate are genuine 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 5th day of December 1832 
N Bayles Clk
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I Joseph Travis, of the town [missing] town Putnam County State of New York do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Robert Travis known to me to be the same who is now making application to be placed on the Pension Roll of the United States as a Revolutionary Pensioner. 
I further testify that I know him to have been in the service of the United States at the north. I believe in the company of Captain Benedict in the 4 [illegible] Battalion. I know that he enlisted sometime in the summer or fall of 1775 and I saw him while in the service at Montreal before the fall of General Montgomery, after his first term of service expired he enlisted at Montreal under Captain Samuel Sacket in his company. I saw him Every Day after this until he was ordered to Quebec. I did not see him again till about four months after which was in the spring or summer of 1776 when he came to me at Chambly having as I believed served out the time of his enlistment and was returning home. I verily believe that he served six months in Capt Benedicts company and know he served at least 3 months in Capt Sackets company as aforesaid.  
I served in Captain Thomas Hobbys company in Col Waterburys Regiment in the Connecticut line.
Joseph Travis

State of New York 
Putnam County
Personally appeared Joseph Travis know to me to be the signer of the foregoing affidavit and made solemn oath to the Truth of the facts Therein contained
Philipstown NY
Aug 31 1832 before me
David Knapp [illegible]
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State of New York
Putnam County Clerks Office
I Jonathan Morehouse Clerk of the aforesaid County do hereby verify that David Knapp before whom the written affidavit appears to have been taken was at the date of the affidavit a Justice of the Peace of the said County duly commissioned and sworn and duly authorized to administer oaths
And also that I am acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice of the Peace and believe the signature of David Knapp is genuine
In testimony whereof I have unto set my hand and affix the seal of said County this fifth day of September 1832.
J. Morehouse
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November 22, 1937.

Mrs. Philip D. Rollhaus 
4 Birchfield Road 
Larchmont, New York. 

BA-J/ILL Robert Travis S. 23032

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of your ancestor, Robert Travis, who served probably, from Yorktown, Westchester County, New York, and whose birth is recorded on your Bible as April 16, 1757, his death April 16, 1839.

The claim for pension has been found of only one Robert Travis who served from New York in the Revolutionary War. The data given herein are shown in the papers on file in that claim, S. 23032. 

Robert Travis was born in the year 1757, in Westchester County, New York; the day of his birth, the exact town, and the names of his parents are not shown. 

While a resident of Westchester County, New York, he enlisted July 1, 1775 and served six months as a private in Captain Joseph Benedict's company, Colonel Holmes' 4" New York regiment, during which period he was on the expedition to Ticonderoga, crossed to Canada, was at Chambly, was with the army under General Montgomery, and afterwards at Montreal. He re-enlisted there January 1, 1776, and served three months as a private in Captain Samuel Sackett's New York company, then volunteered and remained six weeks longer in that company. He returned to Westchester County, New York, enlisted there July 1, 1776 and served six months as a private in Captain James Cronkhite's company, Colonel Thomas Thomas' New York regiment, during which he was in the battle of White Plains. From 1777 until the close of the war, he was called out at various times under Colonel Drake in Westchester County, in all about three months. 

After the Revolutionary War, the soldier resided in Westchester County, New York, with the exception of about twenty-five years, a part
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of which time he resided in the western part of New York State, and a part in the northern part of that state. 

Robert Travis was allowed pension on his application executed December 5, 1832, at which time he resided in Somers, Westchester County, New York. 

The name of the soldiers wife and date of his marriage are not given. In April 1837, Robert Travis was living in Sand Lake, Rensselare County, New York, with one of his children, name not given, and had been there about seven months; previous to that time, he had lived with one of his sons in Summerstown, Westchester County, New York, possibly meant for Somerstown). The soldier decided that to return to live with that son, his name not given. 

August 31, 1832, Joseph Travis, of Philipstown, Putnam County, New York, stated that he was in service at Chambly and Quebec during the Revolutionary War and saw Robert Travis while he was in service there, but he did not state any relationship to him.

In 1832, Thomas Strang and John Hyatt, residents of Yorktown, Westchester County, New York, made affidavits in behalf of the soldier. 

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following: 

Robert Travis Certificate #5581 
Issued February 12, 1833 
Rate $54.84 per annum 
Commenced March 4, 1831. 
Act of June 7, 1832. 
New York Agency. 

Very truly yours, 
A. D. HILLER, 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator.

 2.
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Isaac B. Fox
Apl [April] 28. 1837
GC

Record742 [illegible] 178
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War Dept [Department]
Pension Office
April 28. 1837
Sir, In reply to your letter of the 24th. Instead [instant] I have to inform you that the vouchers in the case of Robert Travis were enclosed to the Pension Agent at the City of New York in the 19th inst [instant] with instruction to pay the pension.
Isaac B. Fox, Esq.
Sand Lake
Rensselaer Co.
NYork [New York]
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Pension Office
Feb 22 1847
hi,
I herewith return the letter of Mr. Lynde, and have the honor to inform you that Robert Travis acquired no right to bounty land from the U. States, as he did not enlist in a Continental regiment for the war, and serve till the close thereof in the year 1783. It appears from his declaration on file, that he served several tours in the State line and militia of New York, amounting in the aggregate to 16 months and 14 days.
[illegible] A Smith
NR
[illegible on right lower]
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Sand Lake NY
24th April
Free
Hon. J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
[Left margin] Apr 28
Robt. Travis
NY
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Sand Lake
24 April 1837
Rensselaer County NY
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Sir, Mr. Robert Travis who is a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States has been living in this town for the last six months previous to the 4th of March last with one of his children. On that day (4th March last) he drew on the Pension Office in New York and his pension had always been paid there, having resided with on of his sons in Summerstown Westchester County NY of late years till, he came here to live. He empowered Mr. John H. Nichols a merchant in the City of Troy to receive his pension and bring it to him. Mr. Nichols on his return from New York says they declined paying the draft at the Pension Office in New York, but told him to leave it with them to be forwarded to Washington City at the Pension Office there. The Books would be altered so he would receive his pension in the City of Albany, and when returned to the office in New York The office there agreed to forward it by mail either to Mr. Nichols at Troy, or to AR and SA Fox of this place. After waiting for more than three weeks and not receiving any intelligence of the papers, Mr. Robert Travis the said pensioner has concluded to return to Summerstown Westchester County N.Y. to reside with his son again where he will probably continue to reside the remainder of his days. Will you please to correct the Pension Office Books accordingly and write to the New York and Albany Offices to that effect, that he might draw a new draft on the New York Office for his pension due on the 4th day of March last past as the other has never been paid and is now probably lost, as neither Mr. Nichols or the Messrs [messieurs] Fox have heard anything from it to this day.
Respectfully Yours, etc.
 Isaac B. Fox
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4 Birchfield Rd.
Larchmont, N.Y.
Nove. 11-
U.S. Vet. Records of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am desirous of establishing the record of our ancestor in the Revolutionary War. The name is Robert Travis and he probably lived in Yorktown, Westchester Co. NY as he was married and his children born there and his descendants lived there for many years. My grandfather who was the grandson of Robert Travis, said always-that he, Robert, fought throughout the Revolutionary War-had a pension and also a grant of land. I think at Waterford near Trop N.Y. though I do not be-
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-lieve that this land bounty was claimed. However, I do know that he had a daughter Mary or Polly living at Sand Lake, also near Troy N.Y. She married an Upham. Robert’s wife’s name was Susanna Burkdoff daughter of Conradt and Christine Burkdoff. Hollanders who also lived in Westchester County.
From the War Dept. in Washington I have the records of two Robert Travis from Yorktown N.Y/-“one Robert Francis rank not shown appears on a muster roll of Cap. Benedict’s Co. 4th N.Y. Regiment commanded by Col. James Holmes-Rev. War which muster roll covers the period from June 28 to October 9, 1775- is dated "In this camp at Ticonderoga Aug
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and shows that he enlisted July 28, 1775.

From our Bible records, our Robert was born Apr. 16, 1757 and died Apr. 16, 1839, and though the above Robert mentioned by the Dept was born in 1757, he did not die until Dec. 30 1851.

Honor the Dept sent me the name of another Robert Trans rank of private on a muster roll of of Cap. Sackets Co. 4th Regiment N.Y. the Live - Rev. Mr. which muster roll cover the period from Nov. 15, 1775 to Feb 13 1776 is dated Before Suibec Feb. 13, 1776 and shows that he enlisted Jan 1776.

May I ask if you have any records of this Robert Trans date of his birth & death and whether he received a pension of or land bounty grant.
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My young granddaughters are very anxious to join the children of the American Revolution and it seems a pity to deny them when the family traditions are so convincing-but or course one must have recorded facts. I would esteem it a great favor if I might have your assistance. Very Sincerely Yours-
Elizabeth Rollhaus
(Mrs. Philip D.)
[stamp] Received nov 11 1937 [illegible]
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[left side]
Revolution 23032
INVALID
File No. 23,032
Robert Travis
Pri Rev War
[right side]
1937-Nov. 22-Hist. To Mrs. Philip Rollhaus-JL.L