Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14666, for James Terwilliger, New York
Page 1

New York

Terwilliger, James

S. 14666
Page 2

Hon H. Wheaton
Dec 24th 1844


Albany 31742
James Terwilliger
of Onondaga Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Westfall of the regt commanded
Col Weisenfels in the N.Y. Levies
10 months & 1 day
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 33 Dollars 44 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of April
1840 and sent to Hon. N.H.
Earl, H. R.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1840 300.96
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep "
16.72
$317.68
Revolutionary 
Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book E.2.
Vol. 4 Page 72
Page 3

31. 603
James Terwilliger
Pension Application
George Pettit of Fabia
Onondaga County
His Agent
Col Weisenfils N.Y. Levies
Capt Westfall
-
Admitted
Private 10 mo & one day
Hon. Earle
H. R.
Page 4

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
on this 27th day of May 1834 personally
appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court
Common Pleas now sitting at the Courthouse in the
Town of Salina in said County James Terwilliger a resident of the town of Shantly in the County of
and State of New York, aged seventy three years 
who being first duly sworn according to law doth
on his oath, make the following the
obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed
June 7th 1832 - That he entered the service in the
following named office and served as herein set
That when he that he
resided in Pier Pack, Precinct of Mamakeeting
of Ulster now Orange County State of New York
on the river [illegible]
the settlements that the Inhabitants in
[illegible] and fible - that Captain Abraham Cuddeback
commanded the same, with his lieutentant [illegible] & Ensign Samuel Dupuis with their scattered
Company of Militia, were mustered together to protect
women & children, & sstock & cattle as well
if they could, has left their house & low and
were secreted in the woods & mounting in which
company the declarant was entitled & mustered as
early to the year 1776 & the following year 1777, they
were so harrassed by tories & Indians, that they
compelled to fortify in three forts on said river
Picket forts around the house of Beckit gadzman, 
Benjamin Depuis & Jacob R. Dewitt,  about
two miles apart, and named after the same
having fort depuis in the centre that declarant
Father took shelter in the lower fort called for
& declarant belonged to a detachment of
ny
and which was assigned to guard that part and
George Pettit Judge of Onondaga County Court
Page 5

 
remained there till the year
of Cornwallis being taken, doing guard duty, [illegible] watching the
enemy in regular turn & rotation with all the
this men in said, detachment and they were reqularly mustered & the roll called daily that the at
two forts were guarded in the same may together
detachments of Caddocks company from the time
they were but all the war and
without any returned from parties of
Nine months men who were sent in from the
north river country in the Sum
That Capt Jacob A Dewitt took command of them
in that frontier till he became captain of the
Rangers, render a large face of
that region & then Captain Newkirk in 1778
in
command of Fort Debt with a part of
the Nine months men & part of Capt Eade Oath
company Capt Wood of the month
or there in the Summer of 1777 that there the
there were united with said each Company and
did duty on guard, calling & watching the Evening
together where entered & allatted, & down their
rations together that declarant was an
ing in performing the duties, without doing
any other business, except at at intermiss
and then with his arms in his hand or by his
side excepting nine months service which he
performed in the Rangers under Captain Harder
burgh, and his sitting English Bull
Company he the declarant enlisted in the year
Esopus was burnt by the Ering, on which
alarm the declarant was in a draft from the
Ranger Company to go to Esopus, where he as
Page 6

sisted in taking Rose & Middock, a couple of tories who were taken & being a few miles
[illegible] of Esopus. When this nine months service was out, the declarant continued to perform duty as aforesaid at
the fort Guman & Dewitt, & scouring the wood
and patrolling till the War ended in 1783. That the
declarants Father Matthew Terwilliger & Timothy Baolion his brother in law were
both killed at the Beaver Brook battle
in 1779 - that he was in no battle except a skirmish at Fort Guman, at the time the tories & Indian
but part Depey and attacked Fort Dewitt, from ┃
which they passed near fort Gunter, the
little and then went and in pursuit of the ┃
longing to the inhabitants which they killed
destroyed all they could find. Declarant has no
documentary Evidence. He was born in Peen Pack
aforesaid, but can not till the years having
of
being & not recollecting of being to the year
of his birth by any person that knew his parents
being both dead he was young-- He calls him
seventy two years old, but is not now capable
of calculating back to the year he was
Nor has he any record of his age. That he lived in
Pien Pack when he entered the service, & removed
from there to Oswago in Cuyuga County for
there to Lancaties where he now resides
That he volunteered when he entered the service
as aforesaid that he called the names of Col Weshink
Lieutenant Steward & Sofiants Ingalls & Cassidy, affixed
on that frontier besides these declarant
rant never received a written discharge
Hardenburgh when the one months expired under his last
that there is no clergyman acquanted with declarant
who knows the revolutionary character of declarant
he not being in the habit of going to Church or had
ing ministers call upon him but he gives the name
-
Pettit Judge of Onondaga County Court
Page 7

of John Briggs Valuntine Smith William Price E
Benjamin Docker, Benjamin Smith, & Francis
Dewitt as persons in his present neighborhood to
whom he is known & who can testify as to
character for veracity, & their belief of his services
as a Soldier of the revolution. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or
annuity, except the present, & declared that his
name is not on the pension roll of the age
of any State- Interlineations & Erasures were made before signing
C. D. E. & G.H. Hand of 
 
James his x mark Terwilliger

Sworn to and subscribed ⎬
the day year aforesaid
S. Hess Clerk
of
.
We Solomon Terwilliger and John Briggs
residing in the Town of [illegible]
and near to James Terwilliger who has subscribed and
sworn to the above declaration, do certify that we
are acquainted with him, that we believe him
to be about seventy two years old, that he is
reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to
him been a soldier of the revolution and that
concur in that opinion John Briggs
Sworn to and subscribed this
4th day of June 1834 before
R. L. Hess Clerk
of Onondaga County
on Terwilliger
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion of
to the instigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the
above applicant was a revolutionary soldier served
he states. And the Court further certifies that it ap
Page 8

pears to them, that John Briggs
who has signed the
preceding certificate is a resident in the Town of Chare
able and that Solomon Terwilliger who has also signed
the same is a resident in the Town of Thomas
in the same neighberhood are credible person, & that
their statement is entitled to credit. & they do further in
tify that in their opinion, the said applicant is poor
and cannot procure, without too much expense
and inconvenience to him, if at all, any Clergyman
to certify us prescribed by the War Department &
1
John Watson
David Munro
Judges
George Pettit
Reuben L. Hess Clerk of the County Courts in and
for the County of Onondaga do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of
the said Court in the matter of the application
of James
Terwilliger for a pension
?
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this
4th day of June in the year 1834
R. L. Hess Clerk
Page 9

 
State of New York
Onandaga County ⎬ On this 29th day of May 1834 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas now sitting at Salina in said County,
George Pettit who being duly sworn in open
Court depose and says that he drew the foregoing
declaration, and examined the declarant, James
Terwilliger for that purpose, who appeared to be
conscientious in stating the facts therein set forth,
but at the same time without any learning or intellectual cultivation and so ignorant of Calculation
as not to be able to count back & tell the year
he was born, from any given age & seems to have 
been born & brought up amidst the ignorance of
the early frontier [illegible] settlements, & unusually
dull of apprehension, & further says not
Sworn & subscribed the
day & year aforesaid
R. L. Hess Clerk
of Onondaga County
Page 10

State of New York
Onandaga County. ss
  on this 16th day of April 1834 personally appeared before
George Pettit Judge of County Courts in and for said
County Cornelius Wall of the town of Pompey in said County who
being duly sworn by and before the said Judge did depose and say
that he is in the sixty ninth year of his age since the 20th of last
April, that he is well acquainted with James Terwilliger of the
Town of Shanentiles in said County, & has been from Childhood
when deponent & said James hath lived in their father's families
on the Nursink River, in a place then called Pin Pack, Pre
act of Mamakating County of Ulster State of Newyork in the
time, and before the revolutionary War- That to them their line and
even at the loss of their property, the inhabitants of that frontier
collected on said river, & erected three forts within a distance
of about two miles, the one lowest down the river was built
in 1777 and was called fort german, into which the Father of the said James
and deponent and their families repaired &  lived there till the war land in 1783 that said Forts were regularly guarded day and  night during that period by the said people
who belonged to Captain Abraham Cuddlebacks Company
of Militia, and were constant, especially in Spring Summer & fall in
performing guard duty, were mustered daily & answered to all
that in summer time they were ended by Nine months men under
Major or Captain Newkirk, Lieutenant Steward and sergeants cassedy and Ingalls from the North river  country [illegible] or that deponent waren
called in said Company duty as aforesaid, but especially and
constantly after the year 1779 & from and after that time the
deponent and said James Terwiller, who was also enrolled, did
no other business except in winter time, but stand guard at the
said Fort German, patrol, and such other military services
as said Officers required, till the war closed as aforesaid, excepting a short period of absence by said Terwilliger and
that their services as aforesaid were constant & unremitting
deponent states or other fact which he well remembers
that his Father family, who
had settled five miles off in the woods, ware hurried away at
two oClock at night, went to help in building a fort where
they remained five years, before they could return to their habit
property
tion, & this was done with the loss of all the
Son
to and subscribed the day and year
Interlinations & Erasures were made
above written before me, & I certify that I am
at A.B.C.D. E and F before signing
acquainted with Cornelius Wallis, the above
deponent-- that he is a man of good reputation
for truth and veracity, and that his statement
above is entitled to credit and belief
George Pettit Judge of Onondaga County County
Page 11

State of New York
Onondaga County, ss. On this 19th day of April
in the year 1834 before me the
James M. Allen
a Justice of the Peace in and for said County
came Francis DeWitt of the town of Shanedity
in the County of Onondaga aforesaid who
being duly sworn according to Law by & before
me the said Justice depose and say that he
is in the Eighty Eighth year of his age. that he knew James Terwilliger of the town of Skaneateles
in the County aforesaid, who is an applicant
for a pension, that this deponent & said
Terwilliger lived in
the
time of the Revolutionary war, at a place then called Pin Poch
in the Precinct of Mamakating County of
Ulster & State of New York. That the inhabitants
of that place together with all others on that
Frontier resided in Forts on the River neversink erected by themselves, for their own protection and safety. That said Inhabitants were
few and much harrassed by the Tories and
Indians & that they were forced to defend almost solely upon themselves-- that their only
relief was the
through what was at that time called
the nine months men, who came to the
assistance by the way of North River in time
of share & some
times remained through the season commanded by Capt. or Major
Newkirk, Lieutenant Steward & Serjant
Cassidy whom this deponent now recollects that
these forts were manned & guarded
by the said inhabitants and nine months men
 as aforesaid from the time they were
built in 1777 & 1798 to the end of the we
that said James Terwilliger, being at that time
a young man, was among those the most to
be depended upon in Capt Abraham Cuddeba
Company of Militia, of that place, & was reputed
to be of the number whose duties on guard
were so constant as to permit him to do few
other regular business of any great consequence
that this deponent has no doubt but that the
said Terwilliger served on duty as guard
the principal part of the time after 1778
the close of the war and he is confident that
Page 12


said Terwilliger was in Fort German from
the year 1777 till the close of the said war &
that the Father of the said James Terwilliger was
killed in a battle by the Indians and
Tories in 1779
that this deponent recollects that said Terwilliger  was absent at one time and it was said
he had gone to join the Rangers
And further this deponent says not

Frances his X mark DeWitt

Subscribed
and sworn to the day
& year first above written before me and I do further certify that I am aquainted with Francis DeWitt the above deponent & know him to be of good reputation
for truth & veracity & that
statement above is entitled to credit

Allen Justice of the Peace 

State of New York
County of Onondaga I Alanson Edwards Jr. Dep. Clerk
of the said County and clerk of
the County Courts in and for the County
and State aforesaid do certify that George
Pettit Esquire was on the 16th day of April
last one of the Judges of Onondaga County
Courts duly appointed and qualified
and that James M. Allen Esquire was on
the 19th day of April 1834 one of the Justices of the
Peace in and for said County duly elected and qualified and that I am acquainted with their hand
writing and verily believe their signatures subscribed
to the Jurats of the above respective affidavits to
be genuine
Witness, my hand and seal
of Office this 16th day of June
1834
A. Edwards Jr Dep Clk
County of
Page 13

 State of New York
County of Cayuga
Thomas Nanette of Montague
the County of Sussex in the State of New Jersey
being duly sworn says, that he is aged 65 years on
19th day of November 1832. That he resided during the
Revolutionary War in the County of Orange in the State
New york, that he was well acquainted with James Terwilliger
now of Sneateles in the County of Onondaga State New York
during the Revolutionary War, That Deponent
boarded with Capt. Abraham Westfall and went to school at the time of the Capture of the British
oops under Cornwallis. That said James Terwilliger
was then in the Service of the United States under the
command of Capt. Abraham Westfall on the
frontiers in Orange County aforesaid Guarding the frontiers
against the hostile Indians. Deponent does not know
how long said James Terwilliger served as aforesaid
out and well recollect that he saw said James
on parade frequently during that Summer season
Deponent then understood that said Capt. Abraham
Westfall, Company was in the nine months service
Deponent further saith that he (deponent) is brother
to said Capt. Westfall, deponent also saith that he
understood at the time and has always since so
understood that Matthew Tenwilligar the Father of
said James Terwilliger was taken
prisoner by the Indians at a place called Beaver
Brook and was afterwards killed by them, and further
this deponent saith not
Thomas
Dauther
Subscribed & Sworn Nov. 1. 1833 before
me Cornelius Cuykendall Justice of the peace
I certify that I am acquainted with Thomas Van Etten
the above deponent that he is of good reputation
for truth & veracity & in my opinion is entitled to credit
C. Cuykendall Justin
Page 14

31,603
James Terwilliger
Pension Application

George Pettit of Fabice
Onondaga County N Y
His Agent

Col Wesfalls N.Y. Lines
Capt Westfall

Admitted
Private 10 Mo & one day

Hon N.H. Earll
H.R.
Page 15

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, March 18th 1907

The Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir: In reply to your letter of 14th it,
in case of
James Terwillager Rev War, Act 1832 Certificate 31742
Agency,
Roll,
you are informed that according to the latest account rendered
by the U. S. Pension Agent, the records of this office show
payment to have been made at $33.44 per 12 months to
30 March 1845, date of death payment was made for the
Treasury 16 September 1854, to the surviving children, Solomon
Terwilliger, Gideon Terwilliger and Anna Elliott
The pensioner resided in Skaneateles, Onondaga Co N.Y.
for thirty two years, and previously in Cayuga Co. N.Y
Letter herewith returned.
Respectfully,
F
Son
V.
Price
W.
MAR 19 1907
Robert Person.
Auditor.
the
C
Page 16

THIS HISTORY HAS NEVER BEEN SENT, BUT WAS COPIED
AND PLACED IN THE CLAIM FOR FUTURE USE AND REFERENCE.
February 5, 1929
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension
claim, S. 14666, it appears that James Terwilliger, the son of
Mathew Terwilliger, was born in Pien Peck, Mamakating Precinct,
Ulster, later Orange County, New York.
While residing in that place he enlisted in 1776, served
as a private under Captains Abraham Cuddeback, Abraham Westfell,
Jacob R. DeWitt, Wood, Newkirk, and Hardenburgh on the New York
frontier, was in a skirmish at Fort Guman, and was discharged
at the close of the War in 1783.
The soldier's father and his brother-in-law, Timothy, 3 --
( illegible), were both killed at the Beaver Brook battle in 1779.
After the Revolution the soldier moved to Owasco, Cayuga
County, New York, and from there to Skaneateles, Onondaga County,
New York, where he resided when he was allowed pension on his
application executed May 27, 1834, then aged seventy-two years
He died March 30, 1845, in Skaneateles, New York, and was
survived by the following children: Solomon and Gideon Terwilliger
and Anna Elliott. The name of soldier's wife is not stated.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
M. E. E.
Page 17

Hon J.L. Edwards

War Department
Pension Office
Page 18


House Representations
28th June 1844 [?]

Sir
I should be gratified if
the three
was of papers of Terwilliger and
others in the hands of [illegible]
and be decided to day-- As
[illegible]
and supported by equal testimony
as those of John Dupuis and others
I suppose there can may have
a like favorable decision, as
I know nothing of the individuals personally I do not know
that it is necsesary for me to
and any thing further I should
be pleased to transmit the certificates before I leave on munday
morning
Very Respectfully
Yours &c W Rayer
Hon J.L. Edwards
Page 19

Rev. War Section.
Chaplain R. R. Hoes, U. S. N.
Cosmos Club,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
August 3, 1916.
In reply to your telephonic inquiry of this date, relative
to not having received the photostat copies of the seven pages
of the Revolutionary War pension claim of James Terwilliger, New York
Troops, S. File 14,860, for which you paid on July 11, 1916;
you are advised that they were mailed to you at the above address
on July 13, 1916.
Very respectfully,
Graber [illegible]
Commissioner.
Page 20

July 13, 1916.

Chaplain R. R. Hoes, U. S. N.
Cosmos Club,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:

In response to your personal request of the 11"" instant,
herewith are enclosed uncertified photostat copies of seven pages
from the Revolutionary War claim of James Terwilliger, New York
Troops, S. File 14, 686, furnished in accordance with the provision
of the Act of August 24, 1912.
Very respectfully,
E. C. Tieman
Acting Commissioner.
Al
-
-
Date July 1916
┃ James Terwilliger S. Sur. File Cole
N.Y. Troops. War of Rev.
That copies wanted of
pieces, consisting of
4
pages
pages 1, 2, 3, 4.7.9. 10, only.
document to be copied
Exr A Wilson
Chief R War Section
Serial 2892
Chief, Law Division.
Page 21


BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Finance Division.
July 11, 1916
Chief of [illegible]
Sir:
I have this day received from
R. R. Hoes draft
Cash $1.05
requesting
as per letter herewith.
July 20, 1916 Finance
lives in advised as to
disposition of
of money  
Very respectfully,
day
. Campbell
Chief of Division.

Received of
R.R. Hoes,
Cosmos Club
Washington, D.C.
$1.05 for copies
of paper in
case of
James Terwilliger
N.Y. Troops
Rev War
R
July 11, 1916
Will
S
Tic
1
Page 22

Chaplain
R. A. Hoes, U.S.N.
Cosmos Club
pp 1.2.3.4.7.
9 & 10.
1.05
Rev War pensioner
James Terwilliger
N Y Troops
 
[stamp] LAW D
July 12 1916
RECEIVED

[stamp] Finance Division
July 11 1916
Bureau of Pensions
Page 23

New York
Revo-
-
James Terwilliger
Suspended
Let to Hon W. Taylor
July 30. 1834
see detached rolls
capt Cuddeback
Page 24

New York
James Terwilliger
Revol

Suspended
See let Mon[illegible] by
Patterson Apr 11'33
---
to Hon H. Mitchell
Apl 1834
Let to Hon N Halsey
June 1834
act of June
32
S. 14666
Page 25

Copy

War Dept 
Pension Off
July 34
Sir
I have the honor to inform
you that the claims of James
Terwilliger, James Dupey and
Francis DeWitt have been laid
before the Hon Secry of War & I am
instructed to inform you that 
he feels constrained to refuse
them admission upon the
Pension roll.
the act of 7 June 1832 is construed to
provide for the military service of
Revy Ward no service is deemed
military which was not a
corps duly organized by law and
required by competent authority.
agreeably to the statement of James
Dupey it is very evident that the
forts he describes were the temporary work of the settlers in the
Indian frontier thrown up around
the houses of the settlers whose names
they respectively bear and constituted
places of refuge and safety for the
whole settlement during the
summer months. He described
them as being built by the inhabitants of that frontier who repaired
to them for safety and lived there
thru the war. that these forts
 were guarded by the people them
selves including old men & boys
white & Black and were organized
into a militia company commanded by Capt. Cuddeback
no service within these forts by militia men
over
Page 26

can be deemed a military
service unless rendered
under a draft agreeably to
law for a specified time
or under the orders of the
Col. of the Regt upon ever
the three claims above named
were founded upon the same
service altho the
description of it by Terwilliger
and DeWitt is not as clear
as that of Dupny's above quoted

xxxxx

Terwilliger claims for 9 mo
Service under
Capt. Hardenburgh. If Capt Hardenburgh
commanded to me at
that time, proof of it may
be obtained by applying to
Secy of State N. York
Hon. W. Taylor.
Page 27

James Terwilliger
Act 1832.
N. York
Report the situation of the above
case to the Hon. N. H. Earl
H. R.
Apl 3. 1840
2268
538
Page 28

to
.
7
Port William Taylor
Hon W Taylor
M. C. Washington
Page 29

Copy

War Department
Pension Office
Mar.
16, 1836

Sir
The additional Evidence
in support of the claim of James
Terwilliger has been received.
The object of the claimant seems
to be to show that in 1779 he
belonged to a company of
nine months men [under the
command of Captain Wood]
But the rolls of the company
referred to by the witnesses
do not support the statements
the claimants name is not borne on the
roll of Company. It
may be added to that his
having served in Capt Woods
company is wholly at variance
with his [declar] original
declaration. In a supplemental
affidavit it is said by the
applicant that the nine
months tour was in-
Capt. Abraham Westfalls
company but  
his name is not found
there
Hon W. Taylor NY.
Page 30

Copy
Pension Office
3 Apr. 1840
Sir In reply to the inquiry respecting
the claim of James Terwilliger
under the act of ┃
June 7, 1832. I have the
honor to state that the application was for service alleged to have been rendered
in Capt. Abraham Cuddeback
's company from 1777 till
1779 & for a tour of nine
months in Capt. Westfalls
company during the year
1779.80 year. The service
in Capt. Cuddebacks company
did not amount it
appeared exceed twenty days.
That in Capt. Westfall, at ┃
the period referred to
was not supported by the
rolls of that company
Capt. Westfall
viz in 1782 had command of
company in Col. Weisenfels regt. by the rolls of which
it appears that James
Terwilliger served in 1782
eight months and 11 days
to which may be added
month and twenty days
as a ranger & over
Page 31

under Capt. Cuddeback
If it is decided to accept
pension for that term a
certificate will be issued
accordingly
Hon N. H. Earl
House Rep
US

Department of the Interior
5
Washington, D. C.,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
ER MUST NOT BE DETACHED FROM THE ACCOMPANYING CERTIFICATE.
John Sheepayer your
Page 32

 
No other claims for any Jas. Terwilliger other than the 3 below mentioned

Act June 7, 1832
S. File 1466. Jas. Terwilliger
This claim not identical with
claim of James Terwilliger
S. File 42466, Act Mar.18,1818
died in 1821.
nor is it identical with
claim of James Terwilliger
by viles. 26157 the papers
in last mentioned cases
had been merged with this
File 14666 and some of the
endorsement of office letters
refer to my case, copies of
all such letters are in the
rejected claim
A. Mar 15, 1907
Page 33

[column one]
1907 Mar. 14. And. Int. for State of
death and
1916 July 13 photostat copies 
mailed to Chaplain R.R. Hoes

[column two]
Rev War
14666
INVALID.
No. 14,666
James Terwilliger
Pri. Rev. War
---
: June 7 1832
Index: --Vol. 1  
, Page 371
Arrangement of 1870.]