Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24437, Silas Holly, New York
Page 1

(3—1776)

SERVICE
New York

Holly, Silas
Esther

NUMBER
W. 24437

CONTENTS
Page 2

New York 1832

Esther Holly
widow of Silas Holly 
who died on the 20. December 1833 of Orange Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Wood of the Regt commanded by Col. — in the N. York line for 13 months

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents, per annum, to commence on the [crossed out] 20th. day of [crossed out] December 1833

Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of March 1838 and sent to Hon. Nath, Jones, H.R.

Arrears to the 4th of
Semi=annual allowance ending

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act of July 4, 1836,
Sections the 3 —}
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book A. Vol. 2 Page 110

Let. to L.D. Holly 29. May '38.
Page 3

[There's an X across the entire document] 14988
New York
----------
Silas Holly
of Orange
in the State of N. York
who was a Private in the [Com] commanded
by Captain Wood of the Reg. commanded
by Col. -
in the N. York line for 
13 months
-----------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York
at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
-------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 2[] day of July 1833 and [sum]  Hon. S. G. Wilkin
Goshen
--------------
Arrears to the 4th Ma: '33 $86.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep '33 21.66
                                                           $108.32
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by G. [?] Stiles Clerk,
Book C.  Vol. 3 Page 61
Page 4

10.475
Silas Holly
Pension papers
Allowed
N [crossed out] A. L. Benton
atty

Brief'd
Page 5

State of New York
County of Orange} ss
On this fourth day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now siting Silas Holly a resident of the Town of Warwick in the County of Orange and State of new York aged seventy six years last February 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 in the beginning of July in the year 1776 this deponent inlisted under Cap John Wood at [crossed out] in said County for five months— that he was immediately rendezvoed at Goshen and served out the said inlistment was marched first to Fort Montgomery nest to Kings Bridge and was discharged in January 1777 Has a written discharge which is long since lost The spring following was classed in Cap John Jacksons company and served at Ramapo, Closter, Harvestraw and Hakinsack and many other places along the British lines Went to [crossed out] Poughkeepsie on a tour of duty was on duty at New Windsor Was on Duty near Kingston and many times stationed at Deckers Fort and other places along the Delaware river the then Indian frontier under different officers who were frequently relieved Was on duty at least one third of the time for three years — Served two years as sargent in said Jacksons Company and while on duty That he served all the time that fell to his lot as a member of the class and much more voluntarily And this deponent does not hesitate to say under oath that he served in all during said war more than two years he verily believes nearer three years than two
That his name has never been on the pension roll of any agency in any State That he was born in the Town of Goshen in said County and now lives in the Town of Warwick in said County That he has resided in the said County of Orange ever since his birth Does not know a single Commissioned officer under whom he served that is now living — was born in the year 1756 — has a record of his age at home had a written discharge for his five months service but it is lost he has no documentary evidence of his service. 
James Burt, Wm Carr & Wm Knapp reside in deponents neighborhood who can testify to his character for truth & veracity and their belief of his revolutionary services
Silas Holly
Subscribed & Sworn this 4th day of Sept 1832
Clerk

/estimated by consent at 8 mo/
Page 6

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogation prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and Served as he States — and the Court further certifies that it appears to them the James Burt, David G Drake, and Lawrence Kortright who have subscribed and Sworn to the annexed affidavits are credible persons and that their Statement is entitled to credit —
I Asa Dunning Clerk of the County of Orange and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Orange do hereby certify that the foregoing and annexed contains the original proceedings in the matter of Silas Holly for a pension — and I further Certify that Samuel S. Seward before whom the annexed affidavit Of David G. Drake was sworn was at the time First Judge of the said Court of Common Please in & for the said County of Orange — which is a Court of record and that his name subscribed to the said affidavit is his genuine signature —
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of office this fourth day of September 1832
Asa Dunning
Page 7

State of New York
County of Orange} ss
Personally appeared before me Samuel S. Seward first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Said County of Orange David G. Drake a resident of said County to me personally known who being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and says That he has been well acquainted with Silas Holly before the revolutionary war That they were raised in the same neighborhood near the village of Chester in the Town of Goshen in said County That this deponent well recollects the said Silas Holly inlisted as a volunteer in the five months service under Cp. John Wood about the beginning of the month of July in the year 1776 — that he left the neighborhood with said company and did not return untill the Winter following and this deponent understood at the time that he was on duty during his inlistment That he recollects that the next year he the said Holly was classed and did take his tours of duty in the militia service, that this deponent saw him at Ramapo and in the neighborhood of Judge Suffers at different times and knows said Holly continued to discharge his class duties during the term of three years and was much of the time in summer on duty knows he served part of the time as Sergent of Cap. John Jacksons company to which we both belonged but were not in the same class And further saith not
David G. Drake
Sworn to and Subscribed before me the 20th day of August 1832
Samuel S. Seward first Judge of the Court of Orange County
Page 8

State of New York
Orange County ss James Burt of the town of Warwick county & state aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he [illegible] very well acquainted with Silas Holly in the revolutionary war. that he knows that the said Holly was in the service in the revolutionary war on various occasions from the commencement to the end of of the war — he saw him at Ramapo, Payramus, Hackensack and other places. but deponent cannot with any certainty state the number of times nor his length of service — the said Holly maintains a good character for truth and veracity [illegible] the neighborhood in which he resides, and all his statements are worthy of full credit —
James Burt
Subscribed and Sworn in open Court the 4th day of Sept 1832
Asa Dunning Clerk

Silas Holly
Pension papers
Page 9

In the matter of the application of Silas Holly for a Pension under the act of congress passed June 9th 1832
State of New York
Orange County ss: Lawrence Kortright of the town of Walkill, county & state aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he was acquainted with the said Silas Holly [illegible] with him in the revolutionary war — that in the month of July 1776 as deponent thinks, he & said Holly enlisted for five months in a company commanded by cap. John Wood at Goshen in said county — we marched to New Windsor on the north [illegible] went then to fort Montgomery, then down the [illegible] a [illegible] and landed on the East side of the river & marched to Kingsbridge where we staid about three months — then went to White Plains remained there a few weeks & went to Peekskill where our term expired & we were dismissed — said Holly served out the whole period of five months —Deponent further saith that the said Holly was out several times in the militia in the said war but deponent can not state how often nor for what length of time — 
Lawrence Kortright
Subscribed & Sworn the 4th day of Sept 1832 in open court Asa Dunning Clerk
Page 10

Admitted
Private 13 months
Pension to commence 20th Dec 1833

Hon. Nathl. Jones H.R.
Page 11

State of New York
Orange County Js Samuel D Holly of the town of Warwick in said county being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with Esther Holly the person named in the annexed declaration, and was well acquainted with Silas Holly deceased who is named therein. That the said Silas Holly died on the twentieth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, and that the said Esther Holly is yet unmarried and remains the widow of the said Silas Holly - and further this de[unknown] says not
Sworn in open court
the 6th say of December 1837 Samuel D Holly
Lebbens L Fail, Clerk
of Orange Con. Pleas
Page 12

State of New York [unknown]: On this sixth day of December 1837, personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange, Esther Holly, a resident of the town of Warwick in the County of Orange aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to the law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4th 1836: That she is the widow of Silas Holly who was a private and sergeant in the Revolutionary war, and obtained a pension for his Revolutionary services, as will appear by the records of the War Department of the United States -- She further declares that she was married to the said Silas Holly on the thirteenth day of October, in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy eight; that her husband, the aforesaid Silas Holly died on the twentieth day of December on thousand eight hundred and thirty three, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. 
She further declares that her said husband performed service as a Revolutionary soldier as above mentioned, subsequent to his marriage with this declarant, which as she believes will appear by reference to the records above mentioned. 
Sworn to and subscribed 
in open court, on the day and ear first above written
Lebbens L Fail Clerk
of Orange Con Pls 

Esther Holly
Page 13

State of New York
Orange County 
I Lebbens L Fail Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange aforesaid, which is a Court of Record and also being clerk of the said County, Do certify that the within declaration of Esther Holly and the annexed affidavit of Samuel D Holly, contain the original proceedings in the matter of the application of the said Esther Holly for a pension for the Revolutionary services of Silas Holly her deceased husband - her testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my seal of Office this second day of February 1838 
Lebbens L Fail Clerk
Page 14

"Octr thirteen, one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight. Married Silas Holly & Hester Holly"
I Hannibal M Hopkins of the town of Goshen, County of Orange and State of New York, being Clerk of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church in said town, and as such having the Custody of the Records of Marriages in said Church by the ministers of the same, do Certify that the above is a true Copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair, legible figures, as follows: "Octr. 13 - 1778"
I Hannibal M Hopkins above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Clerk of Sessions of the First Presbyterian Church in Goshen aforesaid , and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Church now in my possession, with the exception above named as Certified by me
H.M. Hopkins
Sworn this 2d day of February 1838 before me}
& I certify that I am acquainted with the deponent & that he is of undoubted veracity
HW Elliot FirstJudge of Orange Com Pleas it being a court of Record
Page 15

State of New York
Orange County ss:} I Lebbens L Fail Clerk of the said County do certify that Horace W Elliot Esq before whom the within affidavit of Hannibal M Hopkins was sworn, was at the date of the same first Judge of Orange Common Pleas and that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe the name H. W. Elliot subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature —
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the said COunty the 2d. day of February 1838 —
Lebbins L. Fail Clerk
Page 16

In reply to your request of ____ , received _____ for a statement of the military history of Silas Holly a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([or is crossed out] and his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. W.F. 24, 437.
[Chart below with 5 columns]
[Headings] DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. |  LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN./COLONEL. | STATE.
July, 1776 | 5 mos. | Pri | John Wood /Checkmark | N.Y.
1777 | 5 mos. | Sgt. | John Jackson/Checkmark | 
1778 | 5 mos. | Sgt. | John Jackson/Checkmark |
1779, 1780 and 1781. | Various times amounting to over 3 mos. | Pri. | John Jackson/ Checkmark |

Battles engaged in, Checkmark
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Orange Co. N.Y
Date of application for pension, Sept 4, 1832. His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Warwick, Orange Co, N. Y.
Age at date of application, B. Feb 1756, Goshen, Orange Co. N.Y.
Remarks: He mar. at Goshen, N.Y. Oct. 13, 1778, Hester or Esther Holly; he died Dec. 20, 1833 and she was allowed pension on her application executed Dec. 6. 1837, while 76 yrs old and a resident of Warwick, N.Y.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
6-2856
Page 17

{Top left side of page]
1912, Nov 23. History to James B. Laux [initials] F.N.
Revy
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 24,437
Esther Holly Wid of Silas Holly Priv. Rev. War

Act July 4th 1836
Index: Vol. A, Page 354
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 18

New York — Albany Agency

Silas Holly on roll under act of June 7, 1832 at the rate of $43.33 per ann. to what time period?
Yours &c
V Luce
John Harry Esqr
3d Auditors office
Died 20th Dec. 1833 paid to that period
JH
Page 19

New York
Orange County }ss
Amity Dec 5. 1832
This is to certify that I have know Silas Holly of this place; [crossed out] many years, and have not heard his verasity disputed; and have no reason to doubt, but that he was in the Revolutionary War, and is of the age he states. — WIlliam Timlan
Pastor of the Presbyterian church in this place
Subscribed & Sworn before me this 11th January 1833
H. W. Houston Justice of the peace
Page 20

State of New York
Orange County}ss This is to Certify that I [illegible] of Warwick in the said County have been well acquainted with Silas Holly for several years and believe him to be Seventy Six years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he Ressides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in the opinion sworn to & subscribed this 5th day of December 1832} John Barnes
H.W. Houston Justice of the peace
I certify that John barnes who has signed the above Certificate is a resident of the Town of Warwick and is a credible person & his statement is entitled to credit —
H.W. Houston Justice of the peace
Page 21

Washington
Feb. 10th. 1838
Sir,
I enclose the papers of widow Esther Holley, [illegible] of late Silas Holley who was a pensioner under Act of June 7. 1832. I was personally acquainted with the old soldier Holley who lived in my Neighborhood, whose widow and the residue of the family still resides there, all being reputable and credible citizens. 
The widow I perceive, refers to proofs now on file in the Pension Office touching her late husbands revolutionary services generally and especially to service performed subsequent to October thirteenth 1778 at which period she was married to said Holley. I beg that you will give the papers an early attention and oblige
Yours, very Respectfully
Nathl. Jones
Page 22

In the matter of the application of Silas Holl [crossed out]y a Revolutionary Pension}
Whereas I the above named Silas Holly, heretofore to wit on the fourth day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange & made declaration under the act of Congress pf the 7th of June 1832 for the purpose of obtaining my pension as Revolutionary Soldier  and whereas the said declaration & the proofs of my services &c. thereto attached, have been returned from the Pension Office with an intimation that pay for only thirteen months of service could be allowed upon my said papers — and whereas I am unable to produce any additional proof of my service, and am old and extremely poor; I hereby consent to accept and receive from the Pension department my pay as aforesaid for the period of thirteen months, in case the officers of the said Department shall not, on a re-examination of my said papers find that I am entitled to receive pay for a longer term of service —
Silas Holly
Witness
A.S. Benton
Page 23

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Orange, Silas Holly 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 below mentioned and in the following grades —
In the year 1776 he served Five months as a private as particularly mentioned and set forth in his affixed original declaration — In the year 1777 he served as a Serjeant for the period of Five months — That in the year 1778 he served as a serjeant for the period of Five months That in the years 1779, 1780 and 1781 he served as a private in each year exceeding the period of three months —That all of his service as before mentioned excepting his service in the year 1776 was performed by him as one of a class in a Company commanded by John Jackson and from the nature of this manner of service it is impossible for him to specify the particular times and length of service in any one year — That on some occasions he would be out on service not more than three or four days, and at other times he would be engaged in duty two or
Page 24

three months at one time — he herby relinquishes avery claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present —
Silas Holly
Sworn & subscribed the month of January 1833 before me
HW Elliot Judge of Orange Com. Pleas

State of New York
Orange County } ss I Asa Dunning Clerk of the County of Orange and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County of Orange Do Certify that Henry W Houston Esq before the foregoing & annexed affidavits of William Timlon and John Barnes were sworn was at the time a Justice of the peace in & for the said County and that his name subscribed [illegible] to the said affidavits is his genuine Signature — and I Certify that William Timlon who has signed the foregoing Certificate is a Clergyman [illegible] in the Town of Warwick in said County — and I further Certify that Horace W Elliot before whom the foregoing affidavit of Silas Holly was Sworn was at the time a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County and also a Justice of the peace in and for said County that his name subscribed to the said affidavit is his genuine signature —
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 16th day of January 1833 —
Asa Dunning

Silas Holley
Pension papers
A L Benton
[illegible]

admd 
13 mo. pri
$43.33

Hon. W Wilkin
Goshen
Page 25

Hon. J. L. Edwards Esq.
Com. of Pensions
War Department
Pension Office
Washington City.

Ansd. 27. May 1838
From Saml. D. Holly
Page 26

Edenville N.Y. May 21st, 1838
Dear Sir,
The Pension Certificate of Mrs Ester Holly, Widow of Silas Holly a Revolutionary Pensioner decd. was  presented by her Attorney to the Agent for paying Pensions in the City of New York on Thursday last, and refused payment, on the grounds of discrepancy with the Certificate as it appeared on file in the Book of Records in possession of the Agent for paying Pensions. The Error is (I presume, wholly confined to the date of Commencement of the Pension.
Her Certificate You will perceive commences the 20th of December 1833. As it appeared on record in possession of the agent the 30th December 1833. The agent further stated that the Error was Easily rectified by returning the Certificate to the War Office.
Will you have the goodness to Correct the Error and return the Certificate with as much expedition as your business will admit, and by so doing confer a special favour on the aged Pensioner.
N.B. Please have the Error corrected on the Book of Records in the city of New York.
I have the honor to be
very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servt.
Saml. D. Holly.
Hon. J.L. Edwards Esq.
Com. of Pensions
Page 27

152 West 131st St.
New York

Nov 17/12
J.L. Davenport Esq
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir:
Pursuant to contact of June of the 11th wit Kindly favor me with the records of the following "four" Revolutionary pensioners - residents of Orange Co. N.Y. in 1835. & 1840.
John Allison - N.Y. Line
Silas Holly - N.Y. Militia
Captain William Faulkner - Col McClaghry Regt.
Israel Knapp - (1840)
[illegible]
Yours very truly
James B. Laux