Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42862, for William Lighthall, New York
Page 1

SERVICE
Continental
New York

Lighthall, William

NUMBER
S42862

{B. L. Wt. 1223.200. Lieut.
Issued Aug. 8. 1789 to
John Doty assignee
No papers.

CONTENTS
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[folded page]
[written on left side:]

let to Hon H White Jan 27 '46 & Jan 28 1846

1890  E. W. Schermerhorn - relative to person of claim for Services in Revy War prior 
(see copy within)

[extremely faintly written:] died [or possibly deed] Oct 5 - 1822

[faintly written sideways across entire left margin:]  Continued the 5th of Sept. 1820
Reported in Sept [illegible] 18[last two digits of year are illegible because they are overwritten by the "(see copy within)" written above.]

[written on right side of page:]

866
He died Dec. 1821

New York
William Lighthall,
Colo Warner
NY Lieutenant  '4
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
______________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of Twenty Dollars per month, to commence on the 31 of March 1818
_________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 of June 1818 and sent to Hon. John Yates, Schenectady, N.Y.
_________________________________________
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.   $103.30
[Semi-anl. all'cc ending is typed and crossed out] 5 months 1/31 & 4/30}  $ [numbers are illegible due to heavily smudged ink]

Warner's regt.
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818}

1779 to Oct '80 when captured 
war [underlined]
Continued
[check mark drawn] Warner

[very faintly written across bottom of page:]
Schenectady  Schenectady
[illegible - looks like possibly "Died Sep Dec 22 Co"]
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N. 866
Continue
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STATE OF NEW-YORK,
County of Schenectady,}ss.

ON this fifteenth day of May 1820 personally appeared before me Daivd Boyd one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County. William Lighthall - late a Lieutenant in the revolutionary War & Pensioner under the Act of the 18th of March 1818. & the Act of the 1st of May 1820 -
aged sixty four years
years resident in the county of Schenectady, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: [handwritten:] in the year 1777. Capt. Wolcot's Company. Col. Warners Regiment. Continental Troops, and continued until the Regiment was disbanded [illegible - looks like "within"] year 1801: the pensioner [illegible] of March 1818.
No. of Certificate - S. - 866 - [end handwritten]

[typed] And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. [end typed text]

[handwritten]
Schedule [underlined]
Real estate - none
Personal estate & Household
 [illegible- looks like "furniture"] - valued - $30-
Income none -
Occupation none - unable to work

family [underlined]
William Lighthall myself aged 64 years
Sarah Lighthall wife. aged. 59. years
Nicholas Lighthall. son 25 years.  uneducated
Ahaswarus Lighthall. apprentice to [illegible] maker 19.
Ann Lighthall. daughter. 17 years.

Sworn to and declared, on the 15th day of May 1820, before before [illegible] David Boyd one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County & approved in open court. May 18th. 1818
[signed] William Lighthall [end handwritten]

[typed text]  I, JELLES A. FONDA, clerk of the county of Schenectady, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is thirty dollars - dollars and - - cents...In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sent my hand, and affixed the seal of the said county, on this 2d day of June 1820
[signed] Jelles A Fonda
Clerk of the County of Schenectady.
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Lieut William Lighthall
Appln. for Pension

31 March
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(Declaration of William Lighthall)

State of New York
County of Schenactady  SS:

William Lighthall formerly a Lieutenant in the service of the United States now a resident of the City and County of Schenectady in the State of New York, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that on the Twelfth Day of June in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy Six he was enlisted by Lieut Walter Swits and was attached to a Company of New York State Rangers commanded by Captain John A Bradt.  That on the Seventh Day of March 1777 he reenlisted under the said Lieutenant Walter Swits to serve during the war - that he was attached to Captain Giles Woolcotts Company in a Regiment on the Continental establishment commanded by Colonel Seth Warner.  That he remained attached to said Company and Regiment, as a Sergeant until the Fourteenth Day of November 1778 - when he was promoted to the rank of Ensign in said Regiment and received his commission as such - That in the Year 1778 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in said Regiment and was in active service as such, until sometime in the month of October 1780 - where at Fort George in the State of New York he was captured, and
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and taken to the Province of Canada, where he remained a prisoner of war until the month of November 1782, when he was paroled and returned home to remain until he was exchanged or otherwise ordered.  That he was not exchanged, but remained on Parole until the Army of the United States was disbanded in the Year 1783 after the close of the war.  That his amounts were settled and finally paid by a Mr. John Peirce who was the Paymaster of the Untied States Army - sometime in the month of May in the Year 1704.  All of which will probably appear by vouchers and which were at that time logged in the War or other Departments of Government.

This Deponent further says that he served in the War of the Revolution on the Continental establishment, as before stated, that he is by reason of his reduced circumstances in life in need of assistance from his country for support, and he further says that he has never had any Pension allowed him for his services aforesaid by the Laws of the United States.  He further says that he is now about sixty two years of age.

Sworn before me this 31st Day of March 1818
[signed]
Wm. Lighthall
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John Yates one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas for the County of Schenectady

State of New York
County of Schenectady  SS:

Walter Swits formerly a Lieutenant in the service of the United States now a resident of the City & County of Schenectady in the State of New York, being duly sworn deposeth and saith that in June  in the Year 1776 during the war of the revolution he was a Lieutenant in Captain John A Bradts company of New York State Rangers, that afterwards in March in the Year 1777 he was a Lieutenant in Captain Giles Wolcotts in a Regiment of New State Troops under the command of Colonel Seth Warner on the Continental establishment.  That he has for many years been personally acquainted with William Lighthall who has made oath to the foregoing affidavit, and subscribed the same.  That the said Lighthall did enlist under him in the Year 1776 and was attached to Captain John A. Bradts Company of Rangers.  That in the year 1777 the said Lighthall did again enlist under
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this Deponent, and was attached to the said Captain Wolcotts company in the Regiment aforesaid as a Sergeant, that afterwards while so attached to the said Company, in November 1778 the said Lighthall was promoted to the rank of Ensign.  This Deponent having seen the commission of the said Lighthall and remained attached to the Company and Regiment aforesaid as Ensign.  That as near as this Deponent can recollect in the Year following, the said Lighthall was again promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, - that the said Lighthall was while Lieutenant made a prisoner of war - and afterwards returned home on his parole of honour and so remained until after the Peace of 1783.  This Deponent further says that he has a personal knowledge of most of the facts in relation to the service of the said Lighthall as set forth in his affidavit above, and knows them to be true.  And further saith not.

[signed]
Walter Swits

Sworn before me this 31st Day of March 1818
[signed]
John Yates on of the Judges of the Court of  Common pleas for the County of Schenectady.
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I John Yates one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Schenectady, do hereby certify that William Lighthall and Walter Swits to me personally known, appeared before me on the day above written and made oath to the several facts set forth in their respective affidavits, and respectively subscribed the same in my presence.  That they are Credible witnesses - and that the said William Lighthall in addition, produced his original Commission as Ensign in Colonel Seth Warners Regiment on the Continental establishment, which is hereunto annexed.  And states that although promoted to a Lieutenancy, and serving a long time as such, he never received his Commission of Lieutenant.  That from the proofs & facts stated, it appears satisfactorily to me, that the said William Lighthall served as a Commissioned Officer in a regiment of New York State Troops, on the Continental establishment, during the revolutionary War against the common enemy for a much longer time than nine months,
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And that he is entitled to the provisions of the Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the revolutionary war", passed March 10th 1818.  All of which proofs and proceedings are hereby Certified.

March 31st 1818

[signed]
John Yates

State of New York
County of Schenectady  SS:

In testimony that the above named John Yates, before whom the above affidavits of William Lighthall, and Walter Swits were taken & who subscribed the aforegoing certificate was on the 31st day of March 1818 One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Schenectady.

I subscribe my name & affix the seal of the County of Schenectady this 10th day of April One thousand eight hundred & eighteen.

[signed]
Jelles A Fonda
Clerk
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42862
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 42.862
William Lighthall
Lieut Rev War

Act:  18th March 18
index: - Vol. 3, Page 295

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED

To William Lighthall [illegible - possibly "Pvt"] :  Greeting.  We, Reposing especial trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct, and Fidelity DO by these presents constitute and appoint you to be an Ensign in the Regiment Commanded by Col. Seth Warner in the Army of the United States to the rank as such from the 14th day of November 1778 - You are therefore as fully and diligently to discharge the duty of an Ensign - - - by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging.  And we do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under your command to be obedient to your orders, as Ensign - - - And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you.  This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress before mentioned, or a Committee of the States.

Witness His Excellency Sam. Huntington Esq President of the Congress of the United States of America at Philadelphia the 12th day of November, 1779, and in the fourth year of our Independence. -
[signed] Saml. Huntington President

Entered in the War Office and examined by the Board
Attest
[signed] Ben Stoddert.  Secretary of the Board of War
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Washington 27 Jany 46

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

Dr Sir
Will you have the kindness to such run by the [illegible] (if your [illegible- possibly "business"] will permit.) a statement of the time when Lieutenant William Lighthall, [illegible] his first pension, the amount per annum, & the duration of year of expiration:  also the evidence upon which said pension was granted.
and oblige [illegible] [illegible]
[signed] H. White
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Washn. Jany 26/46.

Hon. H. White

A Copy of discharge of Wm Lighthall of Revn.

N [or possibly "W"] 27  Rec Jany 27. '46
Pension Office.

Wm Lighthall


Hon. H White
H.R.
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Washington 26 Jany 1846

Hon Wm. L. Maney
Secretary of War

Dr Sir
Will you have the kindness to furnish me with a copy of the discharge of William Lighthall an officer of the Revolution, I think a Lieutenant at the time of his discharge in the Regiment of Col. Seth Wannen.

and oblige [illegible]
[signed] H. White
Page 17

Royal Insurance Company
of Liverpool, England
SCHERMERHORN & CO.
Agents

New York State Agency
Royal Insurance Building 
No. 50 Wall Street,
New York

E. Beddal Manager
Wm W. Henshaw Asst Manager

[There is a stamp in upper center of page:
It is an irregular octagon shape with [illegible]  W. & [illegible] at top, "JUN 16 1890" in center, and "RECEIVED" at bottom.]

Schenactady, N. Y., June 2nd 1890

Commissioner of Pensions
Dr Sir:

Lieut Wm Lighthall of Schenectady N. Y. was a Lieutenant in Col Seth Warner's New Hampshire Regt in the Revolutionary War - He had a claim against the government for back pay and money advanced in raising the Schenectady Co for that Regt and had a package of papers from the War office in regard to this claim.  On the death of Wm. Lighthall the papers cannot be found.  Will you kindly inform me if you have any knowledge of such a claim or if the records of your office show that Lieut Wm Lighthall has any claim against the govt for back pay or money advanced.
Respectfully
[signed] W. Wm. Schermerhorn

[in a different handwriting in bottom left corner of page:]
Petition to Congress by heir
for commutation 1-29 [illegible - looks like "Earg"]
1789
    58
_____
1847
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Old War Div.https://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.png
I.N.S. Ex'R.

Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C. June 18th 1890

Sir,
   In answer to yours of the 2nd inst relative to William Lighthall, a Revolutionary officer in the Service of New Hampshire (in fact it was New York)) in the regiment commanded by Col Seth Warner, who it is alleged, had a claim against the government for back-pay and moneys advanced in raising a company in Shenectady N.Y., and requesting information concerning the claim, and papers, which latter have not been found since his decease, I have to state that n March 1818, he filed a statement with his application for pension of which the following is a copy: "That his accounts "were settled and finally paid by Mr John Pierce who was the "Paymaster of the U.S. Army sometime in the month of May "1784, all of which will, probably, appear by voucher, lodged at "the time in the War, or other Department" He did not allege that he had any unsettled claim against the government in March 1818 or any subsequent period so far as is known.
   On referring to Paymaster General: John Pierce reports of the
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payments made by him in May 1784, were certificates No. 58.510 to 58.516 inclusive for the payment to William Lighthall of $2,580.10 which, no doubt, covered all the claims that had originated by his service in the army.
   The heirs of William Lighthall presented a claim to the 29th Congress (1847) and the only action taken upon the report to the committee was to discharge them from the further consideration of the same. What ever papers were filed by the heir in support of their claim would remain in the Congressional files at the capitol.