Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,254, for Noah Racket, New York
Page 1

New York
Racket, Noah
S. 14,254

carded
Page 2

8860
New York

Noah Racket of Southold in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Young of the Regt commanded by Col Terry in the N York line for 7 months

Inscribed in the Roll of New York at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of Apr 1833 and Sent C B Moore N. York

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33 - $46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 $11.66
$58.32

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Jno. Cromwell Clerk,
Book E
Vol. 4
Page 30
Page 3

13.720
Noah Racket

Chas. Bellone
N York

[illegible]
7 mo. pri
$23.33
Page 4

BRIEF in  the case of Noah Racket of Southold County of Suffolk in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or Judge? Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 75

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[column headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.}

Enlisted in 1775.  --Years, 2 Months, --Days. As a private. Col. Thomas Terry, New York troop
Serg't Jeremiah King

ditto In 1776.  --Years, 5 Months, -- Days.  "  Capt Joshua Terry 
Serg't Jeremiah King 
Col Josiah Smith
Col Livingston
Eastern Long Island Regts

5. In what battled was he engaged?
Not any

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Southold, New York

7. Is his statement supported by living witness, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
A living witness & by traditionary evidence

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Not properly attached

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Chas G Wilcox Examining Clerk.
9 March 1833
Page 5

13,720
Declaration of Noah Racket to obtain a pension
Page 6

State of New York
County of Suffolk } ss: 
On this second day of October 1832, personally appeared in open Court
before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Suffolk now sitting, Noah Racket a resident of the town of Southold in the said County aged seventy five years and upwards, 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 he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as therein stated, viz-
In the fall of the year 1775 (the particular day
or month he cannot state) he voluntarily enlisted for two months in a company of soldiers under the command of Col Thomas Terry, then acting as Captain, and of Sergeant Jeremiah King which were stationed, at a small fort or entrenchment at Oyster pond point in the said town of Southold -- He believes
there were no other officers attached to this company. He is ignorant of the names of the Superior officers, if any, to Col Terry, and does not know that this Company had any connection with others. The company was raised to supply the place of one under the command of Capt. Griffin -- which had been ordered to the northward. It was their duty to watch and stop British vessels sailing
through Plumb Gut, or up Gardiners Bay.  A rule was established by which friendly vessels were required to lower the peak of their mainsails and were then permitted to pass unmolested. Others were required to stop & be examined-- Several vessels were so stopped while deponent was there
Page 7

but none proved to be hostile.-- Deponent regularly served as a soldier in this company for the period of two months and was then discharged, but did not, as he recollects, receive on this occasion a written discharge. The only soldier of the company now alive
that he knows of, is Jonathan Vail of the said
town.-
The next season (1776, the particular day or
month he does not recollect and cannot state)
he voluntarily enlisted for five months in a
company then raising under Captain (then Lieutenant) Joshua Young, in which the said Jeremiah King was Sergeant.  A short period after his enlistment the Company was called and deponent went with it to Brooklyn L. I.- They went by water in a sloop. The company was in what was called the Eastern Long Island Regiment commanded by Col. Josiah Smith.-
Two lieutenants were here added to the Company of the names of-- Robart and Hicks.
Deponent does not recollect the names and rank of other officers connected with it, nor of other regiments. He was present at Brooklyn while Gen'l. Washington was there and was actively engaged in fortifying and defending the American position. He was a part of the time quartered at Flatbush, (his regiment being  the first that went there) but was
in the lines when they were attacked by the British.  A Major Box (so the name was pronounced ) belonging to the regular army, was present at the time of the attack, and directed them to reserve their fire. The firing on the part of the British made it extremely dangerous for any one to be seen above the breast works-- a man belonging to his regiment whose name he thinks was "Rogers" from Easthampton or Southampton, exposing
Page 8

himself, was killed. The same night the whole
army retreated and deponent went with it
over to New York.  Here the company was broken up -- the said Jonathan Vail was with deponent until this time; but after this period deponent knows of no person living who can testify to his service and he has no documentary evidence thereof.  Deponent was permitted to depart and went to Stratford in Connecticut; from thence he crossed over the sound to Long Island in order to take care of his family, and, finding that they had gone, returned immediately to Connecticut where
he found and joined Capt. Young.  Deponent
thereupon went with him to New Haven and
there served out his full time of five months
with Capt. Young, under Colonel  ___Livingston.
There was no other regiment then there, a Rhode Island regiment having lately left.  Capt. Roe was there with his company & he believes Capt. Griffin also, but he does not recollect the names of any other commissioned officers-
To the interrogatories prescribed, by the war
Department he answers as follows, viz:
To the first interrogatory he Saith he was born
in the said town of Southold in the year 1757.
To the second interrogatory he saith his father
kept a record which he hath often seen and
which is now at his home in his possession.
To the third interrogatory he saith that he
resided in the said town of Southold at the time of his said enlistments, & has resided there ever since the revolutionary war.
To the fourth interrogatory he saith he voluntarily enlisted on both occasions, & was not drafted, nor a substitute
Page 9

To the fifth interrogatory he Saith, that at Brooklyn General Washington, Gates, Putnam, Sullivan, and Sterling were pointed out to him. He was not far from the two latter when they surrendered. He marched past Lord Sterling, a short time before the surrender, and he thinks it was Lord Sterling who asked one of the
officers where they going to which the reply was made "into the lines."
To the sixth interrogatory he Saith: At the expiration of his service at New Haven
he received from Capt. Young a written discharge which he believes was signed by Capt. Young after he came over to Long Island, having fallen into the hands of the enemy.  He destroyed his discharge, thinking he might better avoid being detained if he should be taken, than if this should be found in his possession. To the remainder of this interrogatory he has already answered.
To the seventh interrogatory he saith that
James Griffin, Ezekiel Glover & Joseph Troy of the said Town of Southold have long known him, and can testify as to his character and as to their belief or knowledge of his services in the war of the war of the revolution. There is no clergyman residing near him, who is well acquainted with deponent.
And the said deponent further declared
that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state to his knowledge and if any only on that of the agency of the State of New York.

Noah Racket
Sworn to & subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
Joseph L. Huntting
Page 10

We, Thomas Hempstead and Thomas Conkling
residing in the said town of Southold hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with
Noah Racket, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that his character for veracity is good: that we believe him to be 75 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the
revolution; that we concur in that opinion and believe that his statements set forth in the said declaration may be depended upon as true.
Thomas Hempsted
Tomas Conkling

Sworn to & subscribed
this 3rd day of October 1832
before me

George Miller
Commissioner of Deeds
Page 11

I, Jonathan Vail of the said town of Southold
aged 74 years do declare upon oath that I am
well acquainted with Noah Racket who has
subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that I served with him at Oyster ponds for the period of two months in the year 1775 under Capt Henry  and at Brooklyn for about six weeks in the year 1776, under Capt Young as stated in the said declaration
and that, (having heard the said declaration
read) I concur in its statements and believe
them to be strictly true. Being in the same
Company with him at Oyster ponds and at Brooklyn his services as above stated at those places were within my personal knowledge.
Sworn & subscribed,
the day and year aforesaid 
Jonathan Vail
Before me, Joseph R Huntting, Clk

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 Thomas Hempstead, Thomas Conkling
and Jonathan Vail who have signed the preceding certificates are residents of the said town of Southold, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Page 12

I, Joseph R Huntting, Clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas in and for the said County of
Suffolk, do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said
Court in the matter of the application of Noah
Racket for a pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office, this
Second day of October 1832.
Joseph R Huntting Clk

State of New York
Suffolk County } ss:
I, Joseph R Huntting Clerk of the said County, do hereby certify that George Miller whose name is subscribed to the Jurat of one of the within affidavits or certificates, was at the date of such jurat, a Commissioner of Deeds duly commissioned and sworn and residing in
the town of Riverhead in the said County, and as such duly authorized to take the same.  And
further that I am well acquainted with the
hand writing of the said Commissioner and verily believe that the signature to the said jurat is genuine-
In testimony whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and the 
Seal of the said County this third
day of October 1832-
Joseph R Huntting, Clk
Page 13

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
AWF/HMM

January 13, 1930.

Dr. F. S. Welden
5453 Russell Avenue
Hollywood, California.

Dear Sir:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 14254, it appears that Noah Racket was born in 1757
in Southold, Suffolk County, New York.
While residing at said Southold, he enlisted and served as a private in the New York Troops as follows:
In the fall of 1775 two months in Captain Thomas Terry's Company.
In 1776, five months in Captain Joshua Young's Company under Colonels Josiah Smith and Livingston and was in the battle of Flatbush.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 2, 1832, while a resident of Southold, New York.
He refers to "his family" as living during the Revolution, but the records fail to show that the soldier left a widow or children. No names are given.
The above noted Noah Racket is the only soldier of that name appearing on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
Page 14

14,254
INVALID

Rev. War

File No. 14,254
Noah Racket
Priv.: Rev War
-
---
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: --Vol. 1, Page 309
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1919 May 6 Hist. Carrie R. Woodell
1919 Oct. 21 Hist. to Mrs. F.E. Welden.
1925 Mar 20 Hist to Wm. A. Robbins awg
1927 Mar 21 Hist to Avelyn W. Rowe awg
1930 Jan. 13 Hist to F.S. Welden awg
Page 15

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Noah Racket which require further proof or explanation.

Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length 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? Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  Yes
Page 16

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? Yes
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Yes
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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 old 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.
Page 17

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 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 a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
Page 18

[circular postmark]
U.S. Pension Office
Oct 9, 1919
Page 19

To Pension Dept., Washington
Sept 19th,  1919

[pencil notation: Rev. Sec. e.d.]

Wish to ascertain information in regard to Noah Rackett of E. Marion L. I. who was in war  of Revolution.  Also of Jonothan Whelden
or Welden.  Am descendent & interested for
Daughters of Revolution.  With thanks for any
information.  Yours - Mrs. F.E. Welden
615  Main St., Greenport, L.I.
Page 20

Nov 25th 1929
To Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Please send me the military history of Noah Rackett, a soldier in the Revolutionary War - and
oblige.
-
Dr F.S. Welden
5453 Russell ave
Hollywood - Calif

[written sideways] only one

[circular postmark] U.S. Pension Office
Nov. 26, 1929
Page 21

[circular postmark] U.S. Pension Office K
Apr. 21, 1919 
[notation:  Rev. Sec.  E.B.]

War Department
Pension Division
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:
My great grandparents, Noah Rackett of Rocky Point now East Marion and Nathaniel Tuthill
of Oyster Pond now Orient, Long Island
were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Will you kindly send me such credentials as will be
necessary for me to become a member of the
Page 22

Daughters of the American Revolution?
Thanking you, I am Respectfully
Carrie Rackett, Wordell
(Mrs. G.B.)
209 Underhill A.
Brooklyn, N. Y


Apr. 20, '19
Page 23

178 Garfield Place,
Brooklyn, N. Y.,
Feb. 9, 1925.

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

Dear Sir:--
A letter from your office that I have seen shows that Noah Rackett, of Southold, Suffolk county, N. Y., was allowed a pension for
Revolutionary services under his claim therefor filed Oct. 2, 1832.
Do your records in this case show when and where he died, and when this pension was discontinued? Do the papers show that he left a widow, or any children?
Thanking you in advance for your reply, I am
Yours very truly,
William A. Robbins

[circular postmark] U.S. Pension Office L
Feb. 10, 1925
Page 24

Solomon Kansas.
January 21 1927.

Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:-

Will you please give me the war record of Noah Rackett, veteran of the Revolutionary War, also of Thomas Coon, veteran of the War of 1812.
These men, my forefathers, lived in Southold Toun, Long Island, New York where Rocky Point now known as East Marion is located.
Noah Rackett died in 1849 age 92 years, Thomas Coon, I believe, died aboard a British prison ship off the Brooklyn Navy Yard and was burried by the British at Fort Green Brooklyn.
I would like very much to have the complete war record of these men and wish to thank you for any information that you can give
me about them.
Yours Respectfully,
Avelyn W. Rowe
Solomon Kansas
Avelyn W. Rowe

[circular postmark] U.S. Pension Office F
Jan. 06, 1927
Page 25

Rev. and 1812 War Section.    awg
March 20, 1925.

William A. Robbins,
178 Garfield Place,
Brooklyn, N. Y.

Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 14254, it appears that Noah Racket was born in 1757 in Southold, Suffolk County, New York.
While residing at said Southold, he enlisted
and served as a private in the New York Troops as follows --
In the fall of 1775, two months in Captain
Thomas Terry's Company.
In 1776, five months in Captain Joshua Young's
Company, under Colonels Josiah Smith and Livingstone and was in the battle of Flatbush.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 2, 1832, while a resident of Southold,
Page 26

New York. He refers to "his family" as living 
during the Revolution.  No names are given.
In said claim it does not show that soldier left
a widow or children.
[handwritten notation: ] Say only soldier.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of
pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Noah Racket (S. 14254), you should apply to the Pension Section, Civil Division, General Accounting Division, 1800 E. St. N. W. Washington, D. C., citing all of the following data-Noah Racket, certificate Number
8860, issued April 30, 1833, rate $23.33 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New York Agency.
[handwritten notation:  This par. only for this person.]
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner
Page 27

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3 -- 525
S.F.14.254

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.,
In reply to your request of   ____received____
for a statement of the military history of Noah Racket a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  - Fall of 1775 - 2 months
1776 - 5 months   
RANK. - Private (in both cases)

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. Thomas Terry, Joshua Young
COLONEL. Josiah Smith; Livingston
STATE. N. Y.
Battles engaged in, Flatbush.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Southold,
 N. Y.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 2, 1832, His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application, Southold, Suffolk Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, born in 1757 at Southold N.Y.
There is no data on file as to his family
Refers to family in Revolution
Respectfully,

Commissioner.