Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 1,978-200, for William Scudder, New York
Page 1

(3-1776) [printed on page]

SERVICE
New York

William Scudder

NUMBER
B.L.Wt. 1,978-200-Lieut.
Issued July 7, 1790.

No papers

CONTENTS [printed on page]
Page 2

Rev Ser [in different handwriting than body of letter]

500 East Court St.
Doylestown, Penn July 24 '17

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen

Will you please furnish me with what information you may have at your command regarding William Scudder (Dis. no paper on file.) [in different handwriting than body of letter] who held either a captain's or lieutenant's commission in the army of the Revolution
Page 3

Possibly a copy of his application for pension will give the desired information.  I am par-ticularly interested in learning the name of his father etc.

(Wt. 19,78 Rir) [in different handwriting than body of letter]

Wm. Scudder was taken prisoner, while on a scouting party by the British.  He assisted in burning a British frigate on Long Island Sound.

Will you also send me the record of John Lord of Ulster County, New York.  He was
Page 4

in Sullivan's army at Newtown.

This information will be very greatly appreciated by

Very truly yours,
S.L. Scudder
Page 5

[circular stamp on page]

U.S. PENSION OFFICE
JUL 24 1917
Page 6

3-049.

Ex. [illegible]
Div. Rev War Section

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C., Jan 15, 1921

The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is not sufficient to enable this bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained.

Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau.

Name of widow Nanna Wood Scudder
No. of claims [crossed out]

Name of solder, William Scudder

P.O. [crossed out] address of claimant, at enlistment and after service probably Westchester Co. N.Y.

Company Cap't Robert McKeen's

Regiment 1st N.Y. Col. Goose Van Schaick Cm.

State where enlisted N.Y. State

Approximate dates of birth & death 1739-not known

If unable to furnish company and regiment give names of commanding officers.

Return attached letter with reply.

F.D. Byington
Commissioner.

6-2469

Stamp on page
[U.S. PENSION OFFICE JAN 20 1921]
Page 7

Walton, N.Y.
Dec. 8, 1920

U.S. War Dept.
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:-

Can you give me any information as to whether one William Scudder, a Captain in the Revolutionary War, served under Washington in and around New York City, ever made application or received a pension from the United States.

Respectfully,
Mrs. Anna Scudder White [signature]
133 Townsend Street
Walton, Delaware Co.
New York.

Stamp on page
[U.S. PENSION OFFICE DEC 9 1920]

Stamp on page
[U.S. PENSION OFFICE JAN 20 1921]
Page 8

Stamp on page
[U.S. PENSION OFFICE JAN 20 1921]

Stamp on page
[RECORD DIVISION DEC 10 1920]
Page 9

Handwritten initials [V.L.M.]
Rev. War. Section.

February 18, 1921.

Mrs. Anna S. White,
133 Townsend Street,
Walton, New York.

Madam:

In response to your letter dated the 8th of December you are advised that on July 7, 1790, a Warrant NO. 1,978, for 300 acres of bounty land on account of the services of William Scudder as a Lieutenant of the New York Line Revolutionary War.

There is no further data on file to said soldier as the papers in such bounty land claims were destroyed when the War Office was burned in 1800.

Very respectfully,
H.A. Royse,
Acting Commissioner.
Page 10

July 28, 1917.

S.L. Scudder,
500 East Court St.,
Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Sir:

In response to your letter dated twenty-third instant, you are furnished the following data relative to the only two persons named William Scudder, found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.

On July 7, 1790, a Warrant numbered 1,978, for two hundred acres of bounty land, issued on account of the services of William Scudder as a Lieutenant of the New York troops [crossed out] Line, in the Revolution.

[next 3 paragraphs crossed out]
Said records also show that William Smith Scudder was pensioned at the New York Agency, for disability incurred while serving in the War of the Revolution, and that he died March 7, 1804.

There is no further information relative to the above persons [s is crossed out] in this Bureau as there are no papers on file, the same having been destroyed when the War vOffice was burned, either in 1800 or 1814. [sic]

It is proper to add, that the publication entitled "American State Papers, Claims, Class 9," page 126, shows
Page 11

Handwritten note at top [dont send with this form again]

that William Smith Scudder, who was a resident of Westchester County, New York in 1794, was disabled March 3, 1778, by loss of two fingers and the loss of use of both hands, from being frozen in a snow storm when he went with his men in a boat to Long Island, by order of General Putnam, to take certain pieces of ordinance that had belonged to the enemy's shipping.

His rank and service are not shown.

For further information relative to the above persons, you are referred to the "New York State Archives," published in 1887" Volume I, pp.139, 180, 354. [footnote]

Very respectfully,
GM Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

[handwritten footnote]
Wm Scudder
pp. 139-2" Lt. 1 NY.
      180-1" Lt. 1 NY.
Captured by Indians at Fort Stanwix

Wm Smith Scudder
p. 254. Captain of armed vessel "Ranger" landed on Long Island etc etc

Scudder-2.
Page 12

(3-1776)

SERVICE

Scudder, William Smith
New York residence

NUMBER
Dis.
No papers

CONTENTS
Page 13

Oct 2"1906

AW
Page 14

Scudder, Wm Smith

His name appears on a list of applicants for invalid pension returned by the District Court for the District of New York, submitted to the House of Representatives by the Secretary of War on May 22, 1794 and printed in the American State Papers, class 9 page 126.

Rank and Regt. -----

Disability: Lost two fingers and the use of both hid hands by being frozen in a snow storm, when he went with his men to Long Island in a boat to take certain pieces of ordinance that had belonged to the enemy's shipping; which duty he was ordered on by General Putnam

When disabled: March 3, 1778
Residence: Westchester County
Remarks: Evidence complete

Old Invalid book, Wm Smith Scudder pens. $30 Private, died Mch. 7, 1804.

1835 list of Invalids on New York Agency (residence unknown), Private, Rev'y. Army, $30 per annum from Sept. 4, 1793.  Died March 7, 1804.
Page 15

Stamp 
[RECEIVED MAY 2 1939
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS ADM READER 17]

1416 Main Street
Honesdale, Pa.

April 29, 1939

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

Dear Secretary-

I am writing to ask if Captain William Smith Scudder or his wife who was Nanna Wood drew a pension.

Captain served in the Revolutionary War.  Records show that Cap. William Smith Scudder was commissioned captain of the armed vessel "Ranger" October 30, 1778 by the Concil of appointment.

American State Papers claims class 9 page 126 shows that William Smith Scudder who was a resident of Westchester N.Y. in 1794 was disabled March 3, 1778 by loss of two fingers
Page 16

and the loss of the use of both hands from being frozen in a snow storm when he went with his men in a boat to Long Island by order of General Putnam.

This record is taken from N.Y. State Archives published in 1887.  Vol. 1.  P.P. 139-180-254.

Captain William Smith Scudder was of Welsh extraction and served in the Revolutionary War.  While on a scouting excursion was taken prisoner by the British.  He assisted in burning a British frigate on Long Island Sound and is said to have replied when asked if he was not sorry for having done so much damage that "No: I am sorry I did not do as much more."

Captain William Smith Scudder settled in Westchester County N.Y. when he came from Wales.  In 1801 he with his family (he had married Nanna Woods) settled in Roxbury Delaware Co. N.Y.  He had four sons - 

Philetus
Jotham
Obidah Smith
David

Record of William Smith Scudder shows he was pensioned at the New York Agency for disability incurred while serving in the War of Revolution and that he died March 7 1804. (Taken from American State Papers.)
Page 17

Please tell me if this Captain Scudder who had a disability during the war had a pension.  Also if you can give me any dates in regard to his wife formerly Nanna Wood.

I shall greatly appreciate any information.

Respectfully yours,
Mrs. Harriet R. Roberts
1416 Main Street
Honesdale, PA.
Page 18

September 2, 1939.

BA-J/MMHF/ady William Smith Scudder,Rev.War. [crossed out]

Handwritten
[should have been arranged William Smith Scudder
Rev. War
illegible initials]

Mrs. Harriet R. Roberts
1416 Main Street
Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of William Smith Scudder of New York State and in which you cite various sources from which you have have obtained information in regard to him, that is, American State Papers, New York Archives, etc., and state that he received a pension for loss of his fingers and died in 1804.

This office is unable to furnish you any further information in regard to William Smith Scudder than you have already secured from the sources named in your letter.  There are no papers om file which were submitted by him in his application for pension because of the destruction of papers in such early application when the War Office was burned in 1800.  He was pensioned under the Act of April 20, 1796, on account of disability.

It is suggested that the Librarian, Congressional Library, this city, might be able to furnish you some information if you will apply to him and cite: "Alphabetical List of Private Claims Presented to the House of Representatives from the First to the Thirty-first Congress," said William Smith Scudder's claim having been presented during the Third Congress, First Session, Third Congress, Second Session, Fourth Congress, First Session, during which session his claim was approved.  The pages of the journals of those sessions of Congress may contain information of interest to you.

No reference has been found, whatever, to his wife of children.

Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 19

Rev. War Section.

July 28, 1917.

S.L. Scudder,
500 East Court St.,
Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Sir:

In response to your letter [handwritten in claim of William Scudder] dated twenty-third instant, you are furnished the following data relative to the only two persons named William Scudder, found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.

On July 7, 1790, a Warrant numbered 1,978, for two hundred acres of bounty land, issued on account of the services of William Scudder as a Lieutenant of the New York troops , in the Revolution.

Said records also show that William Smith Scudder was pensioned at the New York Agency, for disability incurred while serving in the War of the Revolution, and that he died March 7, 1804.

There is no further information relative to the above personsin this Bureau as there are no papers on file, the same having been destroyed when the War Office was burned, either in 1800 or 1814. [sic]

It is proper to add, that the publication entitled "American State Papers, Claims, Class 9," page 126, shows
Page 20

Handwritten note at left side [dont send with this form again]

that William Smith Scudder, who was a resident of Westchester County, New York in 1794, was disabled March 3, 1778, by loss of two fingers and the loss of use of both hands, from being frozen in a snow storm when he went with his men in a boat to Long Island, by order of General Putnam, to take certain pieces of ordinance that had belonged to the enemy's shipping.

His rank and service are not shown.

For further information relative to the above persons, you are referred to the "New York State Archives," published in 1887" Volume I, pp.139, 180, 354. [footnote]

Very respectfully,
GM Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

[handwritten footnote]
Wm Scudder
pp. 139-2'' Lt. 1st NY.
180-1" Lt. 1 NY.
Captured by Indians at Ft. Stanwix

Wm Smith Scudder
p. 254. Captain of armed vessel "Ranger" landed on Long Is. etc. etc.

Scudder-2.