Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 26,814, Henry Turner, Continental (Vt)
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Continental (Vt)

Turner, Henry

NUMBER
S 26814

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CONTENTS
Page 2

Transferred to New York
from Vermont 4
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Act 3d. March, 1817.
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Henry Turner,
private,
Of the regt. commanded by
Vt Col Seth Warner, during
the revolutionary war,
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Inscribed on the Vermont
roll at $5:33/100 to
commence on the 7th December
1816. determined by
the act aforesaid.
======
Certificate of pension
ifsued on the 24th of
March. 1817. and sent
to David Robinson, Esqr.
agent for invalid pensioners,
Bennington, Vermont
======
arrears to 4th March 1817
2 months 28 days $15.6[illegible]
Semi annl. allow
to 4th Sept 1817 $31.9[illegible]
======
$47.6[illegible]
======
Transferred on the 3d
April, 1817, from the 7. Decr. 1816.
the [illegible]
2/3, Two thirds, SS
Page 3

I William Patrick Jun. of Stillwater County of Saratoga and State of New York, do testify and say, that I have been in the practice of Physick and Surgery for upwards of twenty five years, and that Henry Turner (late of fort ann) called on me this day, to examine a wound or sore on his left leg, which he said proceeded from a wound or hurt, received by a stick of wood, in the spring of 1778 when he was a private soldier in the actual service of the U.S. at Bennington, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Seth Warner. And further this deponent saith, that after having carefully examined the said wound or sore, on the said Henry Turners left leg, it appears to be an old sore of long standing and in the opinion of this deponent is incurable: and it is further the opinion of this deponent, that the said Henry Turner is thereby intirely disabled from obtaining a living by manual labor. And further this deponent saith not
Wm Patrick Jun.
Stillwater Saratoga County, N York
7th of December 1816.

State of New York Saratoga County fs. On this 10th day of December 1816 came before me George Palmer one of the Justices of the peace of said county, William Patrick Jun. and made Solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit
George Palmer
Page 4

I know Doctor Patrick within named to be a Physician of reputable standing in the County of Saratoga + George Palmer to be a Justice of the Peace + Surrogate of the faid [said] County 
Washington December 28. 1816
John W Taylor
Page 5

Henry Turner

write to
Samuel Morrison PM.
at Bogus Mills - W
is faid that the testimony
taken by Isaac Sergeant
has never been returned to
the Sect of War -
Wait until Doct. Sargeants
certificate is recd

[The following has been crossed off]
Rejected -
He does not state
that he is not on the
[illegible illegible] it
nor is it clear

$8.00 a month
commencing Decbr 7 1816,
Page 6

Samuel Safford of Benning County of Bennington and State of Vermont, being of lawful age doth testify and fay that he served as a Lient Col. in Col. Seth Warners Regiment in the late revolutionary war and that Henry Turner enlisted in said Regiment on the 10th of February 1778 to serve during the war - Col Warners Regiment was disbanded at the close of the year 1780 and the now commissioned officers and soldiers joined the main army under the command of Genl. Washington, among whom was the said Henry Turner, and that sometime afterwards, and before the close of the war the said Henry Turner returned to Bennington with a discharge from Genl. Parsons made in consequence of a certificate signed by two Surgeons of the Army that he had a lame leg and was unfit to do military duty - The said Henry Turner Junior showed his discharge as aforesaid to me, and had [illegible] it with me, and it was in my profession, I should think for two year, and perhaps more [illegible] I then delivered the said discharge to the said Turner, with other papers that belonged to him and I have not seen it since. The Deponent further fays that the said Henry was home and unfit to do the duty of a soldier considerable part of the time that he belonged to Col. Warners Regiment by reason of a fore on his leg
Saml Safford

State of Vermont}
Bennington County fs} Bennington 28th Jun of 1808
Then perfsonally appeared Samuel Safford late a Lient Col in Col Seth Warners Regiment and after being carefully examined, and duly cautioned made Soleman oath that the foregoing depofition by him Fubfcribed contained the truth and nothing but the truth
before me
Andrew Seldon Justice Peace
Page 7

I Isaac Webster of Bennington in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, being lawful age Certifies and Fays that that he served as a fergeant in Capt Wait Stephins Company and Col Seth Warrners Regiment in the late revolutionary war and that he is well acquainted with Henry Turner, a Soldier in said Regiment and he knows that the faid Henry inlisted into said Capt Stephins Company some time in the month of Feby 1778 during the  war and that the said Henry did duty or worked on fatigues in the Bake house in Bennington for said Regiment while it was stationed there, and that he then received a wound in his leg, of which he has been ever since home
atest Isaac Webster

State of Vermont}
Bennington County fs} Bennington 23d Jany 1803
Then personally appeared Isaac Webster signer of the foregoing disposition, and late an elderly Sergeant in Col Seth Warners Regiment, and after being carefully [illegible] and duly cautioned under solemon oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the truth & nothing but the truth before me
Andrew Seldon Justice Peace
Page 8

I Saml Beach of Whiting in the County of Addison and State of Vermont, late a Lieutennant in a Regiment of Continental troops commanded by Col Seth Warner in the Revolutionary War -
Depofe and say that sometime near the clofe of the year AD 1777 a forrigner by his dialect & calling his name Henery Turner (and said he originated from germany and was by birth a Hefsian and that he with two others had departed from a party of Britifh troops at Mount Independance) came to one of the American pofts at Rutland Vermont where this deponant firft saw him - 
And further this Deponant says that sometime in the months of January or February following the same Henery Turner inlifted as a Soldier in the said Regiment and this deponant verrily believes that at the time of his inliftment he the said Henery Turner was a well helthy sound man and that his infirmaty came by his being employed in the bake houfe and actually in the service of the United States at which time he received a wound in his left leg and by takeing cold (as this deponant allways underftood) the said Henery Turner became lame and was under the doctors care for a long time - 
and further this deponant says that he verrily believes that the said Henery Turner did inlift for and during the War and that the wound that he now is inflited with was occationed with by a hurt he received whilft  in actual service in the American Army as above related -
and further this Deponant says that the said Henery Turner continued in the said Col Warners Regiment until the officers of said Regiment were difbanded and the Soldiers fent to join the main army at Weft point and shortly after that time this Deponent recollects to have seen the said Turner with a difcharge signed by a general officer and likewife by one or two Surgeons of the Army - And farther this deponent says that he has ben acquainted with the said Henry Turner from the year AD 1777 untill the prefent time of signing this depofition and has known him at different times to be under the care of a doctor on account of his lamenefs in his legg as above said - and further
Page 9

this Deponant says that he has every confidence the said Henery Turner to be an honeft upright man in his dealings and a trune friend to the United States and further this Deponent says not
Dated this 27th day of January A 1807 
Saml Beach late Lieutint Col Warners Regt

Sworn and Subscribed this 28th day of January 1807
before me
Isaac Sargent
Page 10

Samuel Beach
Affidavit
In the Case of
Henry Turner
Page 11

I Henry Turner of Fort Ann County of Washington + State of New York do testify and say that my discharge signed by Genl. Parsons toward the close of the revolutionary war referred to in Colol. Safford's and Lieut Beach's affidavits was taken out of my chest in my own house in the Town of Castleton in the State of Vermont (at which place I then resided) about three years after the close of the revolutionary war (according to the best of my knowledge and belief) by some person or persons unknown during my own and my family's absence from home. The said Discharge together with a Deed and some other writings were all taken at the same time. Since which time I have neither seen them nor had any certain knowledge of them but suspect they were taken by a man with whom I at that time had a controversy + a suit at Law respecting the Land that the said Deed covered
And further this Deponant saith not
Henry Turner

The above affidavit was taken & subscribed before me the 28th Day of October 1816
Levi Hastings Jus Peace
Page 12

Leonard Gibbs being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he this Deponent is a Physician and Surgeon and hath been in the regular Practice of Physic and Surgery for about ten years. That he is acquainted with Henry Turner now living in the Town of Westfield County of Washington and State of New York that the said Henry hath heretofore supported himself and Family by daily labour + that not to this deponents knowledge any other Means of Subsistance - That the said Henry about eight Days ago made application to this Deponent to examine a Sore on the said Henry's Left Leg That he this deponent did carefully examine the said Sore and that in the opinion of this Deponent the said Sore was occasioned by a wound on the said Leg inflicted several years ago. That at present it unfits the said Henry for Daily Labour and is in the opinion of this Deponent incurable - And further this Deponent Saith not - Leonard Gibbs

Sworn + Subscribed this 9th day of February 1807
Before me Isaac Sargent
Page 13

Afidavit In the Case of
Henry Turner

[Sideways right side]
20 Sept 1808
Ifaac Sargeants [illegible]
a Pension Enclos Document

[Sideways left side]
Reced 19 Novr 08
Page 14

I Isaac Sargent having been appointed a Commifsioner to take affidavits in the cafe of Henry Turner Claiming a Pension from the United States do hereby certify that I have this day Closed the Testimony In behalf of the said Henry -
And I do further testify that Samuel Beach + Amos Kellogg who have Made afidavit In the Cafe as above are gentlemen of Integrity + Credibility in Sanity + well known as Such by their acquaintane + that Leonard Gibbs the testifying Physician + Surgeon who has Made afidavit in the said Case is from My personal knowledge a Gentleman Reputable In the Profefsion and of known Integrity + Veracity and I do further Certify that I have my Self been a Practitioner In the Arts of Physic + Surgery for these fifteen years Past + that I have this day at the Request of the said Henry  [illegible] Examined his said wound and am of opinion that at Present he is in a [illegible illegible] Prevented from obtaining a Living by his ordinare Occupation by Reason of said wound.  Which appears agreeable to the afidavits of the Several Persons Sworn before Me on the [illegible] + I do further testify that from all this observations I have been able to [illegible illegible] Attending to the Case of the said Henry I am Of Opinion that he is a very Honest Man + that it is owing to his want at Education which has in a [illegible illegible] Prevented his Bringing his lease before Congrefs Previous to this In a Maner More Intelegable than Even he Now is able to do - Given Under My hand this 9th of February 1807
Isaac Sargent
Page 15

Turner's papers
Page 16

NEW-YORK DISTRICT, ff. I, MATTHIAS B. TALLMADGE, Judge of the DISTRICT COURT of the United States of America, for the NEW-YORK DISTRICT, DO hereby especially commission and authorise Ifaac Sargents of the county of Washington and District aforesaid; to take, pursuant to the act of Congress, entitled "An "Act to provide for persons who were disabled by known wounds "received in the revolutionary war," approved, 10th April, 1803; all evidence in the case of Henry Turner of the town of Westfield in the county of Washington and District aforesaid, an invalid soldier, claiming to be placed upon the pension list of the United States, having been disabled in the actual service of the United States, while in the line of his duty, by known wounds, received during the said revolutionary war: And when the same shall be completed, to return the evidence, affidavits, certificates and proceedings, had hereupon, pursuant to the said act; together with this commission, to the Secretary for the department of War.
WITNESS my hand and seal, at the city of New York, the twentieth day of September MDCCCVI
Matthias B Tallmadge
Page 17

To the Honorable. the Congrefs of United States -

The petition of Henry Turner of Westfield in the County of Washington and State of New York
Humbly Sheweth-
That your petitioner was a Soldier in the Continental Army in the service of the United States during the late revolutionary War - That While in such Service your petitioner was wounded in the Left Leg. That for several years after your petitioner, tho he experienced great inconvenience from the Said Wound was notwithstanding able by his industry to Support himself and Family - But that of late the ill affects of Said wound has so increased with the increase of old Age upon your petitioner, that he is thereby rendered unable as formerly to prosecute his businefs + is Compelled (tho reluctantly) to  ask in the decline of life, that aid in support of himself + a numerous family, which is rendered necefsary, only in consequence of a wound received in his Service -
Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays that your honorable will be pleased to grant him such relief as his case may entitle or as to your honorable Body may seem expedient
And your petitioner as in duty bound fhall ever pray
Henry Turner
Page 18

26814
Revy INVALID.
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File No. 26814
Henry Turner
Pri Rev War
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Act:
Index: Vol. 9, Page 424
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 19

Nath Cutting
30t Decr. 1816
relative to Henry Turner
Page 20

War Department Section of Bounty Lands.
30th Decr. 1816.

The Honble
John M Taylor (M.C.)

Sir,
conformably to promise, I took the documents of Henry Turner home with me, that I might inspect them yesterday when I should be more at leisure than I can ever be at the Office.
I find he is not entitled to Military Bounty Land: - nor is the Testimony adduced in his behalf, cast in that legitimate favor which would authorise the Secretary of War to order his name to be inscribed on the Pension List of the United States: - but I do not hesitate to give it as my opinion that the Evidence is amply sufficient to subftantiate his claim in Equity.
Had his procedure been completed according to Law at the epocha when it appears to have commenced, there can be little doubt that he would have been gratified by a stipend proportioned to his partial disability: - it would be a bad precedent to antedate the commencement of a Pension beyond the print judiciously determined by several Laws of the U. S. relative, to this Subject; - so that Turner ought not to expect what he may estimate as arrearage of Pension: but  if I was now charged with the Branch of Pensions in this Department, as heretofore, I would recommend his being inscribed on the Pension List at full Pension, to commence from the date of Doctor Patrick's Certificate: considering his advanced age, the probability is that, eventually, he will not receive more of the Public Bounty than if he had been inscribed at half-Pension  when his application was first contemplated.
His
Page 21

His Documents are returned you herewith.
I have the honor to be, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient Servant,
Nat Cutting
Page 22

Henry Turner a 
Private in Col. Seth Warner's
Reg. of Continental Infy in the
revolutionary war
application [The following appears to have been crossed off - "for Land Bounty +"]
Pension -
J. W. Taylor
-------
Jany 2d 1817
Refd. to the Committee on Pensions and
Revolutionary Claims. -
-------

Taylor N. Y. E. 2. [illegible]
Page 23

Recd Dec. 27t

FREE

Honr John W Tayler Esquire M. H. Re.
City of Washing
District Col.
Page 24

Roger's Mills Dec 14th 1816.

Dear,
Sir,
I herewith enclose to you, two affidavits relating to Henry Turners businefs, the affidavit of Isaac Webster gos to show with what the hurt or wound was inflicted. And the affidavit of Doc. Patrick shows the present State of the wound, and the amount of disability produced by it.
I stated to you, that I expected Mr. Turner to come to to live with me; but that I would write to him before he left Fort ann, to procure Doc Sargents certificate, of the particular state of his wound, but when I returned home that evening I last saw you, Mr. Turner had arrived at my house; I imediately wrote to Doc. Sargent on the Subject, but from some cause or other I have not received an answer; it was very difficult for me to hire a carriage and take the old gentleman to fort-ann, I therefore called on Doc. Patrick as being among our first Physicians, and I expected you knew his standing in the profefsion, and could state the same with the affidavit if necefsary, when handed into the war office. I had the affidavit attested before G. Palmer Esqr. as you knew him to be justice of peace. Orsamus C Merrill who attested Isaac Websters affidavit, stated that he was Clerk of the supreme Court, and that he was personally acquainted with you, he is a member of congrefs elect.
Page 25

O. C. Merrill Esqr. promised at the time he attested I. Websters affidavit to forward me a certificate, (as soon as he had an opportunity of seeing the Clerk of Bennington County) that Andrew Sheldon was a justice of peace in 1806 and 7, in the mean time I expect that his excellency J. Teshonor could give Satisfaction on that Subject. I expect that Mr. Savage can say (if you should think it necefsary) that Lemuel Hastings is now a justice of peace in Washington County.
Believing it just, that Mr. Turner should receive aid from the U. S. with full confidence, in your integrity and Abilities, I shall. rest afsured that you will use every fair and honorable means to obtain that aid which he greatly needs. he is in very indigent circumstances, and has no means of Supporting himself, he lives with me, and I expect to support him as long as he lives (if he don't get afsistence from the U. S.) I have no method of supporting myself and family, but by daily labor.
As far as has come to my knowledge our County politics, stand much the same as when you let home. I am Dear Sir, with Sentiments of high
Esteen yours &c, &c,
John W. Tayler Esqr. S Morrison
Page 26

I Amos Kellogg being of Pittsford in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont being of Lawful age testify and say that I was a Sargt in the Regt Commanded by Colo Seth Warner in the late war with Great Briton and in the winter after Bourgoine surrendered being the year 1778
henery Turner a garman who had deserted from the British army at mount independence and came and [illegible] a soldier during the war in sd Regt - at whitch time I became acquainted with him and in the spring of the same year the sd henery at Bennington Recd a hurt in the left leg whitch was done at work in the bake houfs - as I underftood at that time tho I was not with him when it was hurt yet I have no doubt of it being hurt there in the bake houfe as he worked in the bake houfe at that time and it was always confidered by the Regt - and by me that that was the way he became lame and I further say that the sd henery was ever after that time while in service varry lame in that leg whitch was ocationed by his receiving a cold in the wound and the wound geting in to the same and he has ever ben lame in sd leg from that time till this whitch has caufed him a great [illegible] and trouble - and I further say that the sd henery served as a faithful solidier to this Country until the year 1781 and than he Recd his discharge as I underftnd in confequence of his lamenefs and further the deponent saith not -
Fortan 28th Jany AD 1807 Amos Kellogg

Sworn + Subscribed before me this 28th day of January 1807
Isaac Sargent
Page 27

I Isaac Webster, of Bennington, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, of lawful age testify + say that I am personally acquainted with Henry Turner; + know he was a private in Col Seth Warner's Regt. of Continental Infantry, in the Revolutionary war - that he enlisted into Col. Warner's Regt. about the month of January, A.D. 1778, and that awhile after his enlistment, I should say the spring following, he was detailed + ordered to do duty in the service of the baker of the Regt. - and while on this service, he received an injury or contusion on his left leg, while employed in getting wood for the Regimental baking by a splinter or stick of wood, which rendered him unfit for duty; and as orderly sergeant of the company, commanded by Capt. Wait Hopkins, + to which said Henry Turner belonged, I clearly remember that I always returned him unfit for duty, after his hurt, until the period I left the Regt. in March 1780. - I have known the said Henry Turner, ever since his enlistment until this day; + ever since his hurt, I have considered him badly injured + wounded + unable to do businefs, and so much disabled, that he is incapacitated to earn a livelihood by labor. - As to the time, the remnant of Col. Warner's Regt. joined, or was attached to the Regt. commanded by Col. Durgee, in Gen. Parsons brigade, I cannot with certainty ascertain, as I was discharged + left the Regt. a few months previous. -
Bennington, Nov. 30, 1816. - Isaac Webster