Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,916, for John Knight, Vermont
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3-1776
Service Number
Pvt. Knight, John S. 15,916
carded
Contents
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Vermont {illegible]
John Knight 
Grand Isle Co in the State of Vermont 
he was a Private in the Company commanded Captain Goodenow of the Regt. commanded Col Herrick in the Vt. M'a
for 10 mos. 5 ds.

Certificate of the Roll of Vermont the rate of 33 Dollars 88 Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Augt. 1833 and Sent to J. Allen North Hero

Arrears to the date of March 1833 $67.76 
Semi-amt.. allowances ending 4 Sept. 16.94
$84.70 

Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,.
Book E Vol. 3 Page 23 

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

let Augustus Knight
13 March 1835
Let 19 April 1837 - Pen Agent 
Let to A Knight 17 Jany 1838. 
Died 23 April 1833.
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Hon J.L. Edwards 
Com. of Pensions 
Washington D.C.
Page 4

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Sir
I herewith enclose to you the vouchers,  in the  case of John Knight decd with the reasons for the delay as requested in your of the 17th Jan. 1838, 
In the first place as I stated in a former communicaton to you in that subject, the delay was in consequence of the Executor not accepting the [illegible] confered by the will of the decd.
Another reason was that one of the heirs were out of the state and was [illegible] with some considerable loss of time and expense to procure her Power of [illegible]. But the greatest reason was, after having procured the [illegible] counties, that the name of the Pensioner was not to be found on the Pension List but the name of Joseph or Josiah Knight was supposed to have been inserted instead of John Knight. 
I then gave up the issue of getting [illegible] untill the 4th of March last, at which time having a convenient opportunity I forwarded the [illegible] for the agent at Burlington, who caused a further inspection of the Pension Roll and found the name of this John Knight inserted thereon
The papers were then immediately forwarded to the Pension office at Washington for your inspection after which I heard no more from them untill the first of January. last, which called forth my letter of this 5th of Jan.
I am Sir being respectfully Yours 
A Knight 
North Hero Feby. 16th AD 1838
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State of Vermont 
Grand Isle County ss 
North Hero February 16th AD 1838.
 Personally appeared Augustus Knight the signer of the foregoing declaration and made solemn oath that the same contained the truth and nothing, but the truth. 
Before me Frederick Hazen Justice Peace

State of Vermont
Grand Isle County ss
I Joel Allen Clerk of the County Court for the County of Grand Isle and State of Vermont do hereby certify that Frederick Haven Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified that his commission was dated on the 10th day of November 1837 and will expire on the last day of Nov. AD 1838, and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court at North Hero this 17th day of Feby. 1838
Joel Allen Clerk

[seal says GRANDE ISLE COUNTY COURT VERMONT]
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State of Vermont
District of Grand Isle

I, C. H. Burgess Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Grand Isle, do hereby certify that the following contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Knight for a pension. His testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this second day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
C. H. Burgess Register
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Application of John Knight for a pension 

Hon H. Allen
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State of Vermont 
District of Grand Isle ss At a probate court holden at the Probate office in North Hero in said District on the 8th day of October A.D. 1832 Present the Hon. Joel Allen Judge 

On this 8th day of October A.D. 1832 Personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. the Probate Court for the District of Grand Isle now sitting John Knight a resident of North Hero in the County of Grand Isle and State of Vermont aged seventy eight years the 10th day of February 1832, 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 7th 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he entered the service of the United States at Bennington in Vermont in the winter of 1776 at the request of General Philip Schuyler of Albany the purpose of which expedition was to disarm Sir John Johnson We went in sleighs about six in a sleigh. We went from Bennington to Albany at which place General Schuyler joined us and we proceeded to Schenectady from thence up the Mohawk River about twenty miles to a place I do not recollect and stayed all night in a dutch barn from thence to Johnstown a capitulation was made and Sir John Johnson paraded his men and grounded their army and we took them up and brought them to Albany and turned them into the public Store -- soon after returned home to Bennington
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the whole length of this service service was three or four weeks, had no written discharge have no documentary evidence and know of no person living whose testimony he can procure who can testify to this term of service. His next service was in the summer of 1776 after Arnolds defeat on Lake Champlain; there was an alarm at Bennington in which I turned out under command of Capt. Robinson we started for Ticonderoga but did not proceed farther than mount Independence before we heard that the British Fleet had returned to Canada and our service was not wanted. We then returned home; the term of this service was about 10 days have no documents discharge or documents to prove this service and know of no person living whose testimony can be procured who can testify to this service His next service was in the spring of 1777 he volunteered under the command of Lieutenant Gideon Spencer of Bennington went to Saratoga barracks where Col. Van Scoik commanded from thence to Jessops Patent thence back to Saratoga barracks and returned home. The object of this expedition was to hunt up and rout the refugees and Tories who were secreted in that section of the Country awaiting the arrival of Burgoyne. This term of service was about three or four weeks have no written discharge no documentary evidence and know of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to this service. 
His next service was in the same part of the summer of 1777 he volunteered under the command of Capt. Robinson and went to Manchester in Vermont in the Militia services Our service at this place was scouting for Tories who were supplying the British army then at Ticonderoga under General Burgoyne with cattle.
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This service was about two or three weeks that he then enlisted in the ranging service in Capt. Ebenezer Allens Company of State Troops of the Vermont of (New hampshire Grants) line 1st Lieutenant Isaac Clark and 2nd Lieutenant one Pier in Col. Samuel Herricks regiment of rangers about the first of July 1777 our service was principally scouting in small parties and ranging the woods for Indians and Tories I was in the battle of Bennington through the whole of the action, that he was one of the party under Capt. Allen who attacked a British breastwork with two pieces of Cannon that they killed three gunners at one fire that they their retreated and we mounted the breastwork and turned their own piece upon them and killed Col. Baum and [illegible] heading the Tories that after this battle our service was as before scouting and ranging the woods until about the first of February following at which time there was no service of that kind wanted and we returned home to Bennington having served constantly from the first of July 1777 to the first of February 1778 he understood that the enlistment who not for one year but did not serve the term out there being no service for him. That he had no written discharge no doumentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to this term of service except that of Enos Wood herewith transmitted. That after he left the ranging service he went to building store houses at Bennington under Commissary Joseph Farnsworth that he continued in that service two or three months and was paid by said Farnsworth in
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Continental money. That from that time until the year 1781 he was always ready and held himself as a minute man for any call of his country as he was a carpenter and cooper had no other business but the employment of the army either buildings store houses and making barracks for the Commissary except that he was occasionally employed in keeping garrison the term of which service he does not recollect. That he was in numerous [illegible] not before mentioned which it is impossible for him to tell the term he served. was born in the town of Norwich now Lisbon in the State of Connecticut on the 16th day of February 1754 that I suppose my age is recorded in the Town Clerks office in Lisbon Con. that I have none in my possession in the year 1783 I lived in the town of Middletown in Vermont and in 1784 I removed to North Hero in Vermont where I have lived ever since. I lived in the Town of Bennington in the State of Vermont when first called into the service of the United States. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State. 
John Knight 
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year afsd.
Joel Allen Judge
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We Asa Lyman a Clergyman residing in Grand
Isle, a town adjoining North Hero and Jed P. Ladd
residing in North Hero hereby certify that we are
well acquainted with John Knight who has subscribed
 and sworn to the above declaration, that
we believe him to be seventy eight years of age that
he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood when
he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution
and that we concur in that opinion
Asa Lyon
Jed P Ladd
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid,
Joel Allen Judge

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 state, and the Court further
certifies that it appears to them that Asa Lyon who
has signed the preceeding certificate is a Clergyman
residing in Grand Isle. and that Jed P. Ladd
who has also signed the same is a resident in the
town of North Hero and is a credible person, and
that their statement is entitled to credit
Joel Allen Judge

I C. H. Burgess Register of the Court of Probate for the
District & County of Grand Isle do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said
Court in the matter of the application of John Knight
aforesaid for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this 29th
day of November in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
C. H. Burgess Register
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State of Vermont
Grand Isle County ss

I Enos Wood of Malone in the County of Franklin
 and State New York
testify and say. That I was acquainted with
John Knight of North Hero in the County of
Grand Isle and State of Vermont at Bennington
 in the year 1777 and that he [does] the
duty of a Soldier in Capt. Ebenezer Allen’s
Company and Col. Samuel Herrick’s Regt.
and that he was in the Battle of Bennington.
said enlistment was for the term of
six months. and that I this deponent am of
the age of seventy [f]our. and further this
 deponent saith not. Dated at North Hero
this 27th day of June A.D. 1832.
Enos Wood
Sworn to before me this 27th
day of June AD 1832
Jed T Ladd Just. Peace

State of Vermont
Grand Isle County ss
North Hero June 27th 1832
Personally appeared Enos Wood who subscribed
the foregoing deposition and made oath that the same
contained the whole with and nothing but the truth.
and I do further certify that the said Enos Wood,
is well known to me to be a man of truth
and veracity
Jed Ladd Justice Peace
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Enos Woods Deposition

State of Vermont
Grand Isle County Clerks office
I hereby certify that Jed P. Ladd
before whom the foregoing Deposition
was taken was at that time a
Justice of the Peace within and for
the County of Grand Isle and that I know
his signature to be genuine.
In testimony whereof
I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed
the seal of our said Court at North Hero in
said County this 27th day of June A.D. 1832
Joel Allen Clerk of County & Supreme Court

State of Vermont
Grand Isle County Clerks Office March 2. 1833
I Joel Allen Clerk of Grand Isle County
Court do hereby certify that Jed P.
Ladd before whom the within
deposition purports to have been sworn
was at that time a Justice of the
Peace within and for the County of Grand
Isle and duly qualified to administer oathes.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my
name and affixed the seal of said Court
the day and year aforesaid at North Hero.
Joel Allen Clerk
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State of Vermont
Grand Isle County
North Hero March 12th 1833.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned
a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Grand
Isle John Knight of North Hero in said County
who being duly sworn deposeth 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 periods mentioned below
and in the following grades:
for the first term of service mentioned in his 
declaration he served not less than the week as a
private Soldier, for the second term of service not
less than ten days as a private soldier, for the
third term of service not less than three weeks as a
private soldier. for the fourth term of not less
than two weeks as a private soldier. for the fifth
term of not less than seven months as a private
soldier and for the sixth term for [keeping garrison]  and
scouting at numerous times not distinctly
recollected, he thinks is not less than one month.
And for such service he claims a pension.
As to the interrogatories propounded by the War
department which was not satisfactorily answered
he would state the names of Capt Ebenezer Allen. Capt
Parmale Allen & Capt Goodnough, Sawyer
Burness & Starks & Leut Isaac Clark all belonging to
Col Henricks Regiment of Rangers. Col. Seth Warner
commanded a Regiment of regular troops which were
[caused] in Vermont. That his regiment was attacked [by]
by the British at Hubberton in Vermont and mostly
cut off. That Col. Warner with the remainder of his
Regiment came to Manchester immediately after the
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action when I was stationed, in the fore part of the summer
of 1777. The applicant further states that during his
service as a ranger he was not acquainted with any
continental troop that he can now recollect the name of
officers or any particular circumstance of the war,
as they were always in small parties and left to their
own [discretion or devices] and never embodied with other troops.
He states that at the battle of Bennington the principal
officers in command at the commencement was Col.
Herrick of the rangers and Col Bush of the militia,
after which came General Stark with his Brigade.
that he was not acquainted with the officers of General
Starks Brigade.
to the 7th interrogatory not satisfactorily answered
he states the name of Asa Lyon Clergyman Jed.
P. Ladd, Nathan Hutchins, Charles Russell, Archabald
W. Hyde, Dave Hazen & Reuben Clap.
John Knight his mark

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Jed P. Ladd Just Peace

State of Vermont
Grand Isle County
Clerks office March 13th 1833
I Joel Allen Clerk of Grand Isle
County Court do hereby certify that
Jed. P. Ladd before whom the foregoing
affidavit purport to have been sworn
was at that time a Justice of the peace
in and for said Grand Isle County and duly qualified
to administer oaths. In testimony whereof I have
hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of
said Court the day and year aforesaid
Joel Allen Clerk
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Mr J L Edwards
Com of Pension
Washington
D.C.

North Hero Vt
Febury 13 1835

Feb 20
Page 18

Dear Sir, I have a pension certificate
drawn to John Knight of North Hero
in the County of Grand Isle State of
Vermont for the sum of $33.88 cents
per annum. I have applied to the
agent in Burlington for payment
and do not find his name on their
pension roll.
Having expended considerable time
and money in procuring the necessary
power of Att. I wish the necessary
directions might be given that I may
receive the same.
Har,
The pensioner being dead. I have
had to manage the powers of Atty. from
the several heirs and the space of
more than ninety days elapsed before I
could procure them all and present
them. Therefore I wish that objection
might be waived as it would be attended
with considerable expence to get them
again.
Your very humble servant

Augustus Knight
administrator on
the Estate of J Knight

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com. of Pensions

P. S. The certificate is recorded in
Book E Vol 3d Page 23d
under the act of June 7th AD 1832
North Hero Feb 9th AD 1835
Page 19

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Washington
D.C.

No. Hero Vt (North Hero Vermont)
Jannuy 7 1838

(written on side)
Jan 15
Mr. Evans
Mr. Evans
Page 20

Dear Sir

I have learned from the Pension agent at Burlington that in the case of John Knight a Pensioner under the Act of June 7th 1832, that reason for the delay must be given before an order to pay can be granted.

I herewith assign the reasons; The Pensioner died leaving a will, the Executor of which neglected to accept the trust and nearly a year lapsed before an administrator was appointed; soon after the appointment the said adr. (administrator) made an attemt to obtain the said pension; and on presenting the vouchers was told that the name of John Knight was not entered on the list, but the name of Joseph Knight was entered, as I supposed, instead thereof through mistake. From that time until the 4th of March last I had given up meaning, any further trial at which time I sent the papers to the agent's office and the only objection to pay was that the vouchers had been executed to long. The vouchers were forwarded to the War Department and [illegible] with a time which henceforth this communication; which of it should prove satisfactory to your honor; you will please to answer when an order to pay is granted. 
Very respectfully
You Obedt Servant (Your Obedient Servant)
A Knight 

North Hero
Jan 5th A.D. 1838
J L Edwards Coun. of Pensions
Page 21

Mr
Augustus Knight
March 13, 1835.


G C

Record Vol 23 1/2 
Page 320
Page 22

War Dep
P. O.
Mar 13th 1835
Sir
Your letter requesting an order upon the agent
at Burlington in the payment of the allowance
of John Knight deceased has been received and
the paper [carried? Waived?]. Mr Knight claimed to have
enlisted under Capt Eben’r Allen in Col  Herrick’s
Regiment in 1777 for a year and to have actually
 served seven months. As no such corps
was raised for that period, but if the claimant
served at all, it must have been in the militia, 
called out be very temporary periods, it is clear
that mere readiness to serve was stated and
 Allowed as actual service and that the certificate
was inadvertently [granted is crossed out]
 [confirmed or edified].
Unless proof of actual service sufficient to bring the
 claim within the law is furnished, no order to pay can
 be given.


Mr. Augustus Knight
North Hero Vt.
Page 23

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
Oct. 6, 1853

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April 1838 entitled, "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the Pension agents,
the admr of John Knight, dec.
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Connecticut Agency, at the rate of Thirty three Dollars and 88 cents per year, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1831 to the 23 April 1833.
Respectfully, your,
J. M. Brodhead 
Comptroller

17256 vt 32

To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.
Page 24

p
15916
INVALID

File No. 15916
John Knight
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7 1832

Index: Vol. 1, Page 210

(Arrangement of 1870)
Page 25

[illegible] to Augustus Knight 13, Mar
do to [illegible] [illegible] 19, April 183
do to A Knight 17. Jany 1838
do to [illegible] 26. Feb 1838

Dead 23 April 1833.

[illegible]

Vermont 17.256
John Knight of Grand Isle Co in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Goodeman of the Ret commanded by Col Herrick in the Vermont militia for 10 months & 5 days
Page 26

Admit
10 mo's 5 d's (10 months 5 days)

33.33
.55

J. Allen Esq.
North Hero V (North Hero Vermont)
Page 27

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Knight which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he serviced? yes

V. * Has he mentioned 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? no - see Quere 5

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. (t) If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? no - see Quere 14
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes

XVI. (tt) Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no - see Quere 16

XVII Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? except the 5th & 7th they are satisfactorily answered

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

* QUERE V. 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 sworn, deposeth 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 periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ____ year ____ months and ____ day, I served as a ____. For ____months and ____ days, I served as a ____; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 29

3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.

(t) QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
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 credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

(tt) QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.