Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,22, John Austin, Conn. New York Vt.
Page 1

3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn
Vt
New York
CONTENTS
Austin, John
NUMBER
R. 322
Page 2

State of Vermont
County of Bennington ⎬ On this 17th day of August, in the year 1832 personally
appeared in open Court, before the Honorble
Myron Clark, Judge of the Probate Court, for the Probate District of Manchester in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, now sitting I John Austin, a Resident
of Dorset in said County of Bennington, aged 78 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 Congress passed June
7. 1832.  That he was born as he has understood, at Stanwick in the County
of Fairfield, in the State of Connecticut, on the 8th day of August AD. 1754 and
lived there until on or about the month of May 1769. when he removed to
the Nine Partners so called, in the Precinct (as then designated, now town)
of Amenia in the County of Duchess, in the State of New York, where he resided until sometime in the winter of 1773. according to his present recollection, when he returned to the said Town of Stanwick, & remained there until sometimes in the fore part of the winter 1779. according to the best of his present recollection--
that he knows of no record of his age except what has been left in the family--
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following
named officers, and served as herein stated.
That in the forepart of March 1776. he enlisted at said Stanwick for the term of three months into the Company commanded
by Capt John Mead & in the Connecticut line--does not recollect the names of the other Company Officers, nor the field officers, but thinks that Genl. Lee then commanded the army--marched to New York, soon
after the British left there, & went into the Barracks which had been
occupied by them, when he was stationed during the whole of his said
Term of service, was taken sick, ? to when had P. terms expired and his said company were dismissed, & sent home.  This was terms of enlistment was out-- then went home to said Stanwick afterwards
therein or about the first day of August in the same year 1776 according to
his best recollection, he turned out in alarm in the militia of said State of Conn.
patient in the Company commanded by Capt David H. Me?? at said Stanwick
The (damage words) Regimental officers he cannot now distinctly remember so as positively to state-- that he marched again to New York where he was stationed-- that Genl Washington was at that time on Long Island-- he was at New York when Genl Washington with his army retreated from
into L.I. into N.Y. situated with them from N.Y. & was stationed at various
places in the vicinity, (crossed out) he was regularly dismissed with his said
Company & returned home to said Stanwick, having been engaged in the
said last mentioned service there months or more according to his best
recollection - that in or about the fore part of June 1777, he was drafted at ┃
said Stanwick in the militia of the said State of Connecticut to serve
Page 3

for the term of nine months- that he hired a man whose name he at present
forgets, to serve through said terms (insert) (said ?) & gave him a considerable sum. and
extra wages-- & who did regularly serve through the whole of the said term
but he is not now able to called to mind the Company or the names of the
Officers who commanded-- that sometime in the month of August of
the same year 1777 according to his last present recollection he turned out at
said Stanwick in the Connecticut militia for the term of three months
as one of a guard, but the name of the Commander he has now forgotten
to watch & apprehend the Cow Boys so called, which service he faithfully
performed-- was regularly dismissed, returned home to said Stanwick -
that some time in the forepart of the summer of the year 1778. according to
the best calculation which he can now make, & whilst Genl Washington
& his army were in the Jusies so called, a call was made for men to go the
Whiteplains in the State of New York, to guard them-- that he termed out as a
volunteer & went, & was stationed & served in & about said White plains for
the term of three months, when he was regularly discharged by paid & returned
home to said Stanwick but the names of his officers at that time, alas he
has forgotten, & cannot distinctly state-- that afterwards in the fall of the same
year 1778. he turned out in an alarm made in consequence of a movement made by some Tories, as a  volunteer in the Connecticut militia to go to Bedford in
the State of New York, in which service he was engaged 5 or 6 days,
as he can now remember that in the fore part of the count of the year 1779.
as he believes, he removed again to the Precincts or town of Amenia, where he
lived about one year & that some time in the winter of the year 1780 he removed
from thence to the Town of Manchester in the State of Vermont --that in the
summer or fall of the same year 1780, as near as his memory will now assist
him he was called upon to go as furnished a man to go in his stead, to Castleton
in said State, to serve as guard (?them) in the Vermont militia, & accordingly he
did (?) a man one Truman Mead of said Manchester to go to said Castleton
in his place--& who was out upon said service about one month or 6 weeks--that
afterwards in the fall of the year 1781. as he believes, he was again called upon at
said Manchester, & did term out as a volunteer in the Vermont militia in the
Company commanded by Capt Jacob Odel, & James Vaughan & James Jameson
one of them were the (?), & the other a Sergeant- that he marched from
said Manchester to said Castleton & was stationed as a guard for about three
months, when said company were regularly dismissed the returned
to said Manchester-- that in the spring of the year 1800. as he can
now recollect, he removed from said Manchester to said Dorset, where he
has ever since resided - that his memory has very considerably failed by
the infirmities incident to old age,-- & he finds great difficulty answering about (?)
the names of persons, & the dates & periods of events which took place
the early part of his life, & he may have been mistaken in some of those particulars
which he has stated, besides those which for the same reason has been
obliged to omit, yet he believes that the statements which he has above made
are in general correct. & that he has served during the revolutionary war in ?
Page 4

as long, if not at the precise times, as there stated that he has no documentary 
evidence to support his said Statement, & knows of no living
witnesses whom he can produce, by whom to prove his said services
that the nearest & only Clergyman residing in that part of said Town of Dorset
in which he lives, is the Revd John Whitehorn, by whom & also by Mr John
Chapman another near neighbour, & who also resides in the same part of
said Town of Dorset, & who has been for several years, one of the Selectmen
of said Town, he expects that he shall be able to show his standing
in Society, & the general understanding & belief amongst his neighbors
of his said services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to
a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not 
on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State John A
John Austin
Sworn the day & year aforesaid
by & before  Myron Clark Judge of Probate Court

We John Whitehorn a Clergyman, residing in the Town of Dorset
in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, & John Chapman residing 
in the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
John Austin who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age that he is reputed
& believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier
of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion 
John Whitehorne
John Chapman
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid, by & before
Myron Clark Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the
investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed 
by the War Department, that the above named Applicant was a 
Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certifies
that it appears to them that John Whitehorn who has signed the preceding 
Certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the Town of Dorset in said
County of Bennington, & that John Chapman, who has also signed the same
is a resident in the same Dorset & is a credible person & that their
statement is entitled to credit. Certified by me
-
Myron Clark Judge of Probate Court
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I, Henry Robinson Register of the Court of Probate
for the District of Manchester, do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of
the said Court in the matter of the application of
John Austen for a Pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & affixed the seal of our
Probate Court, at Manchester, this 17th
day of August A.D. 1832 & of the 
Independence of the United States,
the Fifty Seventh-
Henry Robinson Register

State of Vermont
County of Bennington
On this 11th day of June 1833. personally appeared
before me the undersigned, a Justice of the peace within for the County
Bennington & State of Vermont, the within named John Austin a resident of
the Town of Dorset in said County who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith
that by reason of old age & other disability, & 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, in the following grade to wit,

For one year there months & 6 days I served as a Private &
For ten months I served as a private also by hiring & paying substitutes 
in my stead - & for such service I claim a Pension
John Austin
Sworn & subscribed to the day & year last aforesaid by & before me
Leonard Sargeant  Justice of the peace

State of Vermont
To all to whom these presents shall come-
Greeting
.
Henry Robinson Clerk of the County Court in ┃
for the County of Bennington do hereby certify
that Leonard Sargent Esqr whose signature
appears to the foregoing was at the date thereof
a Justice of the peace for sd County, duly qualified
by Law as such & that his signature I believe is Genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name & affixed the seal of Court at ┃
Manchester this 11th day of June AD. 1833
Henry Robinson
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6021
322
John Austin
S Swift Esq
Manchester
Vt
Page 7

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 13 1833
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

Period when the service was rendered

March 1776
Augt 1776.
June 1777
Augt 1777
June1778
Oct. 1778
Septr 1780
Oct. 1781

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years  Months   Days
              3
              3
              9
              3
              3
                            8
              1
              3

Rank of the claimant.
Private
Do
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
[June 1777]  by hiring substitute
[Sept 1780] by hiring substitute

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
78 years
Stanwick
Connecticut

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary
Do
Do
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

Mr John Austin
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2 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 District of County of On this ---day of --- personally appeared (a) before ----- A. B. a resident (b) of ----- in the county of ---- and State, Territory or District of ----- aged (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 pension 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 he 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. [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 application of for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this --- 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
Page 9

3 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? 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 rules laid down for his guidance [b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county were 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 mention 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 of the claim cannot be had. Every clamant must state, 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. 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 worn, deposes 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 persons mentioned below, and in the following grades: For --- years ---- months, and -----days, I served as a . For months and days, I served as a ----- for ----- months ----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 miliia, &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 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 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 in 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 once, 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 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 credibly 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 [a] to [i] are equally applicable to the cases of militia men, volunteers, and state troops The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only. [k] This traditionary evidence is indispensible 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


It does not appear the claimant has
Page 10

made any exertions to prove his service
If his services commenced in the early
part of the Revolution and lasted until
1778 It is to be supposed that there are
Survivors of his service

6021
322
John Austin
S Swift Esq
Manchester
VT
Page 11

[illegible]
June 12 1838
Free

Hon James L Edwards Commr of Pensions
Washington
D Columbia
Page 12

Manchester June 11th AD. 1833
To the Hon. J. L. Edwards Comr &c.
Hon Sir Enclosed I retum to
you the Declaration & other papers in the case of John Austin
for a Pension, with an amendatory Declaration or affidavit
defining the Terms of his service, with more precision, agreeably 
to the regulations of that Department forwarded therewith 
returned Mr Austin is very much broken in his memory
by reason of the infirmities produced by old age & this
therefore unable distinctly to recollect the names of all his
officers &c. but he is genly considered a man of probity truth &
no doubt exists as to his services. As to his procuring the testimony 
of others to prove his services, as suggested, (in his situation) 
it is impossible - he has become almost a solitary, his
children have all removed & settled, from about 200 to 400
Miles & upwards from him, except one daughter &  grand Daughter
married, who lives with him, but neither able to forward
enquiries, & search for evidence for him & he decrepit & almost
disabled & removed as he is at a very great distance from
the places & camps of his said services principally, with no
one at present living in this region from that quarter I trust
that it will not be required in his case If so it would be
almost equivalent to saying to him, that as to him the beneficent
provisions of the Govt of his County in his behalf are made in vain
altho as meritorious & deserving as most others-- hope therefore
that the reasons assigned for his not further complying with
the requisitions in the regulations of that Department, will be
satisfactory. I am Hond
very respectfully &
with due consideration
Yours &c
S. Swift
Page 13

State of Vermont             On this 24th day of June AD. 1835 personally
County of Bennington ⎬appeared in open Court before the Hon the
Probate Court, for the Probate District of Manchester in the County
of Bennington & State of Vermont, now sitting John Austin
Resident of Dorset in said County, & late a resident of Hamburgh
in the County of Erie in the State of New York, aged eighty years
who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath make
the following supplementary declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

That since making his former Declaration, he has been enabled
to call to his recollection the names of most of his officers under
whom he served, & any other important particulars, connected with
his services during the revolutionary War, which we omitted
in his former Declaration heretofore transmitted to the War
Department of the United States that in the statement of those
services made in that declaration, there was a mistake (as he
understands) in the dates of those services made, as he now think
by the person, whom he employed to draw said Declaration, as
supposed, in consequence of the difficulty of intercommunication
& understanding each other, by reason of his the said John Austin
deafness he is therefore induced to state are some of those
services, in the statement of which these omission & mistakes
owned with some additional services not included in that
declaration - That in the month of January 1776, as he now believes
he enlisted at Stanwick in the State of Connecticut where he
then resided, into a Company of Connecticut State Troops
commanded by Capt John Mead, Lieut Ezra Mead & Ensign
Abraham Mead & in the Regiment commanded by Col
Waterbury for the Term of three months that he forthwith
marched with said Company from said Stanwick to the
City of New York, when he with about 500 men took possession 
of the Barracks previously occupied by about the number of the British
immediately after they had evacuated them & gone aboard of their
Shipping in the harbour where he was stationed & faithfully
served this his said term of three months- that just previous
to the expiration of his said Term, he was taken sick, & was
in consequence detained there at least & about one month 
longer, when he was enabled to return to his home at said Stanwick
not having [illegible] agreeably to his past recollection any written
Page 14

Discharge that Genl Lee at that time commanded at New York
that afterwards in the same year 1776. & agreeably to his
present recollection in the latter part of the month of July or
fore part of the month of August, he was called out in
in the Company of Connecticut Militia to which he belonged &
served as a minute man so called, commanded by Capt David
Helby & in the Regiment commanded by Col. James Brush to
go again to New York &  accordingly he marched in said
Company from said Stanwich to New York aforesaid when they
were stationed on the docks fronting Long Island where
the British then were, during the Battle on said Island& when they remained until the British entered and took possession of New York at which time
his Brother who belonged to the same Company with him, being
sick he was permitted to attend upon take care of him, & was
sent with the other sick in a [illegible] up the North River about forty
miles as he should think to a place, the name of which is not now
recollected by him within a short distance, & as he now supposes
about eight miles from his said place of residence in Stanwich
from whence he went home, & proceeded & conveyed said Brother
home & immediately thereafter repaired to White Plains where
the American Army were then stationed, & rejoined his said 
Company & was then at the time of the Battle at that place, the his
Company were not actually engaged, & where he continued
until the severe cold weather commenced, when it was [illegible]
to dismiss & sent home the married belonging to the
militia, but being single staid & continued to serve, & actually
served at least six months from the time I was so called out as
aforesaid, when he was regularly dismissed without any written
discharge returned to his home once more in said Stanwick that
whilst he was stationed at New York as above in August
September, information was communicated by a  deserter
from the British on Staten Island in consequence of which information, he with 
five other soldiers of the militia, two of the name of [illegible] & one of the name of Sexton, the names of the other being strangers are now by him remembered
Volunteered & turned out, I went  across on to said Island in the night,
under the guidance of the said Deserter as a Pilot, & captained the said 
[illegible] with him & deliver him afterwards to the guard of the guard
house in New York as a Prisoner - that afterwards, some time in the
Page 15

[illegible]of 1777 he turned out as a volunteer with others as a guard to watch
the coast opposite Long Island from the sound ,
& protest against the incursions & depredations of the CowBoys, 
so called he does not now recollect who if any had the [illegible]
command or charge of the said guard or expedition that he still belonged
& was attached to the Militia Company commanded by the said Capt
David Holby & same Regiment as above that they generally served
or guarded separately or in small squads so that he continued to
serve faithfully on said duty at least three months, arguably
the first present recollection but by reason 
of age Bodily infirmities & the great lapse of time which has since
intervened he is not not able to state the precise length of time,
that he was occupied in said service during the greater part of said
season until he was relieved by those who took his place, when he
returned to his said home without any other regular discharge
that in addition to the services detailed in his former declaration
above referred to, some time afterwards as he now believes in the
1778 or possibly in 1779, he having in the meantime
moved to the Town or Precincts of Ansonia in the County
of Dutchess & State of New York, he was called out in an alarm
said Ansonia in the Company of New York militia commanded 
by Capt Kinney, & in the Regiment as he believes commanded 
by Col. Herrick, in consequence of information that the British
we sailing up the North River, to march to protect piers on said
river that accordingly they marched within a short distance of
said River that in the meantime the British had burned said
Village of [illegible] that they remained stationed at that place for a
few days, when they were regularly dismissed or discharged by
[illegible] and returned to their homes in said Ansonia having been
absent on said expedition, agreeably to his best present recollection
at least one fortnight, during which time he served did
duty as a Sergeant that as he now fully believes, the statement
of his the service made in his original Declaration is correct
in every particular except it may be as to the dates of the same as
he fully served the term & times therein stated.
John Austin
Sworn to & subscribed the day year aforesaid by & before me
Myron Clark Judge of Probate Court
Page 16

State of Vermont, illegible I Reuben H. Blackmer Register of the 
Manchester Probate District Probate Court within & for the Probate
District of Manchester in the County of Bennington & State of 
Vermont, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the supple:
monetary Declaration of providings of the said Court in the
matter of the Application of the said John Austin for a Pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
subscribed my name, & affixed the Seal
of said Probate Court, at Manchester, this 
24th day of June in the year of our Lord 1835
& of the Independence of the United State, the 
fifty ninth
Reuben H. Blackman Register
Page 17

See over ("arrow upwards")
Ex'r. INVALID
No. 322
REJECTED
[(Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873) are lined out]
John Austin
P.O. _________________
Service: __________________
Enlisted: _______________________, 18
Discharged: ________________, 18
Application filed: _______, 18
[(Alleges) lined out]: The printed list of 1852
gives cause of suspension as:
[(Re enlisted) lined out] " For a more correct
narrative of service"
Attorney: __________
P.O. ______________
Page 18

1929. Oct. 1: hist. to Frank C. Cross. we
1930. Aug. 14 "   " Adaline Austin
Page 19

Adaline Austin Pugh
P.O. Box 274
De Land, Florida
August 14, 1930
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MCS:MLB Our
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the 
Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 322, that John Austin was
born August 8, 1754, at Stanwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
He stated that about May, 1769, he moved to Amenia, Dutchess
County, New York, lived there until the winter of 1773, when he
returned to Stanwich, Connecticut. He remained there until early
in the winter of 1779, when he moved to Manchester, Vermont.
In the spring of 1800, he moved to Dorset, Bennington County, Vermont.
While living in Dorset, Vermont, he applied for pension 
August 17, 1832, and alleged the following service:
From January, 1776, three months as a private in Captain
John Mead's Company, in Colonel Waterbury's Connecticut Regiment;
from July or August, 1776, six months as a private in Captain
David Hobby's Company, in Colonel James Brush's Connecticut Regiment;
in the summer of 1777, three months as a private in Captain David
Hobby's Company, in Colonel James Brush's Connecticut Regiment;
in the fall of 1778, five, six or seven days as a private in the
Connecticut Militia; early in the summer of 1779, two weeks as
a sergeant in Captain Kinney's Company, in Colonel Herrick's
New York Regiment; in the fall of 1781; about three months as a 
private with the Vermont troops, under Captain Jacob Odell; was
a guard at Castleton.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of
service, as required by the pension law.
in 1835, it was stated that all of his children lived from
Page 20

about two hundred to four hundred miles from him except one
daughter and a grandchild, who lived with him. No names are
given, nor is the name of his wife shown.
In 1835, he was living in Dorset, Vermont, but had lately
lived in Hamburgh, Erie County, New York.
This is the history of the only soldier who served with the Vermont troops, by the name of John Austin, that is found
on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
Page 21

21 Sept 33
S Swift and John Austin
Manchester VT

Re Vol 10 Pa 227
Page 22

War Department
Pension Office
Sept 24, 1833
Sir
The papers in support
of the claim of John Austin have
been again examined, and placed
on our files-
He [(seems) lined through] does not 
give the names of his officer,
superior or subaltern. he does not
state his services with any
perspicuity, or apparent confidence
in the correctness of his narrative, and
if as seems to be the case, hi
memory be too feeble to afford
him certainty in these important
points. the office is utterly unable
to supply [(him with) lined through] such and account
of his terms of duty, and then attending
in circumstances, as will secure him
a pension. The declaration of an
applicant must confirm to the regula=
lations, or the office would not be justified in
allowing his claim. Until [(further &) lined through] or more
satisfactory statement or made his claim will receive
no further investigation.
S. Swift-Esq
Manchester
Vt
Page 23

War Dept
P.O.

June 4th 1835
Sir,
The new statement of John Austin has been 
examined. He states that he enlisted in January1776
into Gen Waterbury regiment and [illegible]
had gone and served three months and that in July or
august following he marched to New York in Col. Brush Reg
of militia and served  6 months These statements are
evidently mistaken.
It is quite certain from the course of actual [illegible]
that this narrative in
from the claimants is not correct

Gen Waterbury was in service a shortt time at
the commencement of 1777 but under circumstances
entirely different from there stated by Mr. Austin the militia
mind was called out by order of the council of
[illegible] on the 11th Aug 1776 & marched to new York
Page 24

did not generally serve more than from one to two month
There are many [illegible] of that service here.  No such 
officers can be found & to have served and
the [illegible] could not have been such duration. Since the army left the
north river long before the expiration of that term
Almost all the particulars stated by him are as improbable

This is all the actual service claimed. That performed 
at home in 1777 while, his substitute was in
service and  in 1778 incl. men readiness to
Term while, at home not provided for by law

Nothing of the narrative of the claimant
will Justify this department in making
any allowance whatever under the
act of 1832.  The paper remains on file

30 Jun 1835
Page 25

Manchester June 24th AD. 1885,
The Hon. J. L. Edwards, Com.
Hon Sir Enclosed I forward to
you the supplementary declaration of John Austin for a Pension
The difficulty in the allowance of his claim under his original
Declaration was, as I understood, the omission of the names
the Colos & other Officers in the different Corps, in which he stated
to have served. I immediately communicated to him what I 
understood to be the difficulty or state to his obtaining his Pension
which induced him he reflect more particularly to the subject, in
consequence was able to call to mind the names of some of his officers
particulars, in relation to his service which were not specified
in his declaration these (principally) I stated in a letter which I soon
after wrote to your department in which also, I believe, I made enquiry
whether those corrections & additional statements made under Oath
& duly authenticated, would be satisfactory to the Department. I 
do not recollect that I ever received any direct reply to this letter. About
this time or soon after I think marly two years since Austin, removed to a very remote place,
in the western part of the State of New York, to reside with some of his
Children, living there &  has never returned within this State, until
within a few (I believe not more than two or three) weeks past that
some time after his removal, I received some communication from
your Department unfavorable to his claim, & I afterwards wrote to him
on the subject, I gave him some advice in relation to his course of procedure
but he has been wholly incapacitated by reason of his age infirmities
& his poverty & dependent situation & the great distance he was
Page 26

from the sums of his revolutionary services, to adopt any measures,
to pursue his claim for a Pension but by frequently returning to the
subject in his mind, he has been enabled to recollect more particularly
about his services, as well as the names of the officers under whom he ┃
served-- The minutes which I made at the time of his former Declaration
I have in some way lost or mislaid, & the time which has since elapsed
has been so long that I am unable to recollect with precision the stated
contained in it, but I trust from the correctness of Mr A. memory (where he 
pretends to remember), there will be found but very little discrepancy in
the different statements, except as to the date of the services, which I 
heretofore have attempted to explain, are in some measure explained in the
enclosed supplementary Dep the error in the dates originally I have no doubt
happened in consequence of my not having fully understood Mr. A at the time
Mr Austin is reputed & that the appearance of being a very honest man & I
have no doubt of his having performed the service as detailed by him, but
he labours under the same embarrassment & difficulty, to which alleged
People are liable, in returning to past events, long gone by of not being able to 
fix with certainty & precision, upon their particular as & dates, unless sustained 
by frequent repetition, or some extraneous established & known criteria
or landmarks . and I sincerely hopethat his present explanatory & supplementary 
statement, may prove abundantly satisfactory, as I fully believe, that he not
only deserves, but in his present circumstances, greatly needs, the favor &
the assistance of the Govt With due respect & in much haste
I am Hon Sir, your obedt servt
S. Swift.
Page 27

DeLand, Fla
July 13 -30

Pension Dept.
Washington City D.C.
Dear Sir:
can you give me some
information regarding one
John Austin of Vermont who was
a soldier of the Green Mt. Boys
in the Revolutionary War.
I understand such named
person received a pension
for services in Revolutionary War

Do you have any data
regarding this John Austin
as to where he was born,,
his wife's name, his children?
any family data?  I know
at the present day a great
deal of family information
is required from a pension
Page 28

applicant and there fore I
thought these might have
been the same required
even at that early date
Thanking for any such
information you can give
me from your office
I am respectfully
Adaline Austin Pugh
DeLand Fla
P.O. Box 274
Page 29

FRANK C. CROSS
40 MT VERNON STREET
BOSTON, MASS.
July 3, 1929

United States Pension Bureau
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:

I should like very much to know if John Austin of
Manchester, Vermont (perhaps latterly of Dorset, Vt)., was a
petitioner for a pension.

In 1780, John Austin went out on an alarm to the
Northward which commenced the 11th day of October. He served
in the company of Capt. Thomas Barney, in the militia regiment
of Col. Ira Allen. This was a Vermont regiment.

If the information is available, I should like to
know the place and date of John Austin's birth as given in his
petition for a pension. Also any other information that might
help to identify his ancestry.

I shall be very appreciative if you will give me this
Sincerely yours.
Frank C. Cross
[stamp]
US PENSION OFFICE
JUL 5 1929
Page 30

and 1812
Section
MCS/cal

October 1, 1929

Mr. Frank C. Cross
40 Mt. Vernon Street
Boston, Massachusetts

Dear Sir:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary
pension claim, R. 322, it appears that John Austin was
born August 8, 1754, at Stanwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut
.
He stated that about May, 1769, he moved to Amenia, Dutchess County, New York, lived there until the winter of 1773, when he returned to Stanwich, Connecticut. He remained there until early in the winter of 1779 when he moved to Amenia, New York. He lived there until the winter of 1780, when he moved to Manchester, Vermont.
In the spring of 1800, he moved to Dorset, Bennington County, Vermont.

While living in Dorset, Vermont, he applied for
pension August 17, 1832, and alleged the following services

From January, 1776, three months as a private in
Page 31

Rev
Captain John Vead's Company in Colonel Waterbury's Connecticut
Regiment; from July or August, 1776, six months
as a private in Captain David Hobby's Company in Colonel
James Brush's Connecticut Regiment; in the summer of 1777,
three months as a private in Captain David Hobby's Company
in Colonel James Brush's Connecticut Regiment; in
the fall of 1778, five, six or seven days as a private
in the Connecticut militia; early in the summer of 1779,
two weeks as a sergeant in Captain Kinney's Company in
Colonel Herrick's New York Regiment; in the fall of 1781,
about three months as a private with the Vermont Troops
under Captain Jacob Odell, was a guard at Castleton.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish
proof of service as required by the pension law.
In 1833, it was stated that all of his children lived
from about two hundred to four hundred miles from him except
one daughter and a grandchild, who lived with him,
his
no names are given.
[unclear] his wife [unclear]
In 1835, he was living in Dorset, Vermont, but had
lately lived in Hamburgh, Erie County, New York.
The above is the history of the only soldier from
Manchester, Vermont, by the name of John Austin that is
found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner