Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,542, Nathaniel Finch, New York
Page 1

3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New York
CONTENTS
Finch, Nathaniel
Keziah
NUMBER
R. 3542
Page 2

the age of the
Children 0f Nathaniel Finch
Nathaniel Finch 1779
John Allison Finch
Nathaniel Finch
Page 3

Anact of the age of the Children of
Nathaniel Finch and his Wife Kezia 
1 John Allison Was Born May 12 an 1765
2 Solomon Was Born September   an 1766
3 Mary Was Born January 3 an 1769
4 Elizabeth Was Born Nov  an 1770
5  Kezia was Born april  20 an 1772
6 Mathew was Born Febury 25 an 1775.
7  Hanah was Born January 21 an 1777
8  Daniel Was Born January 26 an 1779
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Hannah Currin
Page 5

State of Pennsylvania
Bru County }

On this 28
day of July
AD 1856 personally
appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the
Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid
Hannah Corwin aged Seventy nine years a resident of the County of [illegible] and State of Pennsylvania, who [illegible]
according to law declares that Kaziah Finch, late of the
County of Orange in said State, died, was at the time of her
death the widow of Nathaniel Finch who held the com
mission, and served as Adjutant in the Regiment of New York Militia, commanded Colonel John
Hathorn, as will appear by his assigned commissioner leader attached, and the muster and pay [illegible]  at the office of the war department at Washington, and who also
served as a captain in said Regiment as will appear by
reference to his original muster roll hereto attached,
and the records above refered to, in cause to  the American Revolution, and was killed at the battle of Minisink.
 said 
That she is unable to state the time or place
when the said of Nathaniel Finch enlisted or for exact 
length of time the said Nathan Finch served in said
War, that the said Keziah Finch was married to
said Nathaniel Finch in Orange County in said
States that the date of said marriage, by whom the
ceremony record professes are unknown to the declarant, 
that the maiden name of the said Keziah Finch may Keziah Allison
and that no record either public or private of the service can be found, that the said Keziah Finch died at
the said County of Orange in said State of New York in
the year 1813, and the no public or private record of
her death can be found by declarant, and that the said
Keziah Finch at the time of her death was the  of
the said Nathaniel Finch and
Page 6

as will appear by proof hereto attached, She further States
that the declarant; Solomon Finch a resident of the town of
Castile, Wyoming County in said State of New York, and
Kesiah Raplee of the town of Mile in Yates County in
said State are the only surviving children and
immediate heirs of said Keziah Finch as will
appeared before me to proofs hereto attached
She makes this
declaration for the purpose of Obtaining whole in pension
or County and she may be entitled to as the child and
heir of the said Keziah Finch under acts of Congress
granting pensions and bounty land to the widows
and (Said) children of revolutionary soldiers.

and I said Hannah Corwin do hereby
constitute and appoint Solomon Finch of the
County of Fayette in the state of Jane my lawfull
attorney to prosecute this claim hereby authorised and
empowering my said attorney to obtain from
proper authorities at Washington or elsewhere certified
Copies of any Army Records documents in which
said service of the said Nathaniel Finch may be
recorded, and to prove any and all other evidences to
establish my claim, as full as I might or could do
if I were personally present, and to receive from the
pension office at Washington, and certificates
drafts, warrant or documents in behalf of and
relating to said claim, hereby making countermanding
all or any other authority which may have been
given for the above specified or
Sworn & Subscribed Before next
Hannah Corwin
July 28. 1856. H.C. Black J. Peace
Mark
Sworn to and subscribed, and the foregoing
power of Attorny acknowledged before me the day and
year first above named and on same day
Page 7

personally came before me Cornelius 
Hernisker and
Miles G. Rapalee
County of
residents of said County of Bradford
and said State of Pennsylvania 
Known as credible witnesses
who being first duly sworn according to law declare
that they are personally acquainted with Hannah Corwin
who has made and recited the foregoing declaration
that they were present and saw her sign her name
to the same, and that from the appearance of the
applicant, and our acquaintance with her
believe that she is the identical person she presents
herself to be, that they are disinterested in the claim
and reside at the above named place,
Cornelius Hernisker
Miles G Rapalee

Sworn to and subscribed before me and
certify that I am not interested in the claim or
concerned in its prosecution, and that I believe the
claimant to be a person she represents herself to
to be
Henry C. Bairde
P.
State of
Pennsylvania
County
County of Brelford

I Allen M Kean
Clerk of the Court of Sessions
Prothonotary of the Com Pleas
within and for said County and
State do hereby certify that H C. Baird
whose name is subscribed to the certifficate of the proper
the foregoing declaration, and before whom the foregoing
affidavits, and acknowledgments appear to have been
made and taken was at the time of making
the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County
duly commissioned and sworn, and at all his
official and as such are entitled to full faith and credit
Page 8

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
Signed my name and affixed the Seal
of said Court this 31st
day of July
AD 1856
Allen M Kean
Prothontary
Page 9

Solomon Fink
declaration
Page 10

State of New York
Wyoming County ⎬ On this 28th
day of
June
A D 1856
personally appeared before me a Justice
of the Peace within and for the County and
State aforesaid Solomon Finch aged
Eighty nine 89 years a resident of
the town of Castile in said County who
being duly sworn according to law declares
that Kesiah Finch deceased late of the County of Orange in said State, 
was at the time of
her death the Widow of Nathaniel Finch
who held the commission of Adjutant in
the Regiment of New York Militia Commit
by Col. John Hathorn; as will appear
by his original Commission hereto attached
and marted; and who also served
as a captain in said regiment of Militia
as will appear by reference to the trust
calls at the office of the war department
at Washington, in the revolutionary war
declared by the United States against Great
Britain, and was killed at the Battle of
Minisink during said war. 
That he is unable to state the time when the said
Nathaniel Finch enlisted or for what
length of time he served in said War,
That the said Kesiah Finch was married
to the said Nathaniel Finch in Orange
County New York, that the date of said
Mariage, by whom the ceremony was performed
that the maiden name of the said Kesiah Finch Allison 
are unknown to declarant and
that no record either public or private of
Page 11

the same can be found,
that the said
Kesiah Finch died at the said County of
Orange in the year
1813
and
that no public or private record 
of the same is in existance to a knowledge of
declarant, and that the said Kesiah Finch
was at the time of her death the widow of
the said Nathaniel Finch, and remarried,
as will appear by reference to affidavits
hereto attached marked B.

He further states that the
said declarant, Kesiah Raplee of the
town of Milo in the County of Yates in Said
State, and Hannah Curwan of the County of Brailford and
State of Pennsylvania, are the only surviving
children of the said Nathaniel and Kesiah
Finch, dead, as will appear as 
to proofs hereto attached marked C.

He makes this declaration
for the purpose of obtaining whatever pensions 
and bounty land  said Children
of the said Kesiah Finch, may be entitled to
under act of Congress granting pensions
and bounty land to Widows and children of
deceased revolutionary soldiers.
Solomon Finch

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day
and year first above named, and on
same day personally came before me
Lewis Frick
and Alonge P Davison
residents of said County of Wyoming, to me
known as credible witnesses, who being
Sworn to law declare that they are personally
Page 12

acquainted with Solomon Finch who
has made and subscribed the forgoing
declaration, that they were present and
saw him sign his name to said
declaration, and that from the appearance
of the applicant, and their acquaintance
with him they believe that he is the
identical person he represents himself
to be. That they are disinterested in the
a
claim, and reside at the above place
2. Lewis Finch
3 Alonzo P Davison

Sworn to and subscribed before me, and
I certify that I am not interested in the
claim or concerned in its prosecution
and I believe that the claimant is the
person he represents himself to be
State of New York ⎬
Anton Howard Last
Wyoming County
I
of the peace
Clerk of
the County Court of in and
for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby
certify that Ranson Harrick whose name
is subscribed to the certifficate of the proof
of the annexed declaration, and before whom
the foregoing affictants appears to have
been made, was at a time of making
the same a Justice of the Peace in and for
the County and State above named duly
Commissioned and sworn, and that all his
official acts as such are entitled to full
faith and credit. In testimony whereof
I have hereunto signed my name and
affixed the seal of said Court this day of
AD 1856
of
Clerk
Page 13

Kesiah Raplee
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State of New York ⎬ On this 23d day of
Yates County
July
AD 1886
personally appeared before
me a Justice of Peace within and for the County
and State aforesaid Kesiah Raplee aged Eighty three
years a resident of the town of Milo in the County
and State above named, who being duly sworn and
to your declares that Kesiah Finch, late of the County of
Grange in said state, deceased, was at the time of her death the widow of Nathaniel Finch who held a
Commission, and served as adjutant in the Regiment of New York
militia commanded by Col. John
Hathorn,as will appear by his original Commission
 attached, and who also served as Captain
in said Regiment, as will appear by reference to his
Original Muster Roll, hereto attached, and the
number, and pay Rolls at the office of the war department
at Washington, in the war of the American Revolution and was killed at battle of Minisink
during said war,
That she is unable to state the time when
the said Nathaniel Finch enlisted or for what length
of time he served in said War, that the said Keziah Finch was married to the said Nathaniel Finch
in Orange County in said State, that the date of said
marriage, by whom the ceremony was performed
That the maiden name of the said Kesiah Finch was Kesiah Allison
are unknown to declarant and that no record
either public prints of the same can be found
that the said Kesiah Finch died at the said County of
Orange in said State of New York in the year 1813
and that no public or private record of her death
can be found by declarant, and that the said Kesiah Finch was at the time of her death the widow of the
said Nathaniel Finch and remarried
Page 15

(edits to extraction underway)

and unmarried, as will appeare of proofs hereto attached
The further says that she declarant; Solomon Finch
a resident of the town of Castile in Wyoming County and
State of New York and Hannah Cusin a resident of
Bradford, County State of Pennsylvania
then or are the only surviving
Children, and immediate heirs of the said present
Finch, as will appear refered to proofs hereto attached
She makes this declaration for the
purpose of beings whose pension or County
land she may be entitled to as a child and heir
of the said Josiah Finch, decreed to all of Congress
granting pensions and have laid to the intent
and children of deceased Revolutionary Soldiers
And I do hereby constitute and appoint
Solomon Finch of Fayette County in the State of Iowa
my lawfull attorneys to prevent this claim, hereby
anchorizing and empounding my said Attorney
to obtain from the proper authorities at Washington
or elsewhere certified copies of any as my records or documents
in which the said service of the said Nathaniel Finch may
be recorded, and to procure any and all other evidence
establish my claim as full as I might or count
do if personally present, and to receive from the
department at Washington, any Certifficates, drafts
warrants, or documents in behalf of and eating
to said claim, hereby revoking and countermanding
other authority which may have been given for
the above specified purpose
State New York
James E
Resech Rexler
Sworn to and subscribed, and
the foregoing power of Attorney
acknowledged before me the day and year first above
named, and one to same day personally came before
Page 16

me Amos Ellis and William Van Orsdol residents of said county of Yates to me known as credible witnesses who being sworn according to law declare that they are personally acquainted with  Kesiah Raplee who has made and subscribed the foregoing declaration that they were present and saw her sign her name to said declaration and that from the appearance of the applicant and their acquaintance with her, they believe that she is the identical person she represents herself to be that they are disinterested in the claim and reside at the above named places
Amos Ellis (signature)
William Van Orsdol (signature)

Sworn to and subscribed before me and I certify that I am not interested in the claim or concerned in its prosecution and I believe the claimant to be the person she represents herself to be.
Gorge Van Orsdol (signature)
A Justice of the Peace in and for Yates County

State of New York}
Yates County ss}
I Lewis B Graham
Clerk-
within and for said county and State do hereby certify that George Van Orsdol whose name is subscribed to the certificates of the proofs of the annexed declaration, and before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgements appear to have been made and taken, was at the time of making the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State above named, duly commissioned and sworn and that all his official acts as such Justice are entitled to
Page 17

full faith and credit
In testimony whereof I have herewith signed my name and affixed the seal of said court this twelfth day of September 1886
Lewis B. Graham Clerk (signature)
Page 18

Samuel Finch
Affidavit

Exhibit B
Page 19

The State of Ohio
Seneca County SS  
Before me the undersigned a Justice of Peace within and for said County personally appeared Samuel Finch, of lawfull age, a resident of said County who being first sworn make oath and says that he is a grand son of Nathaniel Finch & Kesiah Finch refered to in the application of Solomon Finch and others to which this is attached as Exhibit B. That he was acquainted with the said Kesiah Finch, widower of the said Solomon Finch, who performed the military service set forth in said application, that she was the identical widow of the said Nathaniel Finch, that he died at Warwick, in Orange County, State New York some time in the year one thousand Eight hundred & thirteen. And that Solomon Finch, Kesiah Rapplee, and Hannah Currin are Children, and heirs at law of the said Kesiah Finch widow &c, deceased, named in said application, and that she has no other immediate heirs now living. I the above erased Soloman was written where it should have been Nathaniel 
Samuel Finch
Sworn to and subscribed before me this third day of June AD 1856
Jacob Rossler
Justice of the Peace
Page 20

Nathaniel Finch
R.3.542 New York

A list of men in the militia at R- [illegible] belonging to Capts. Blain, Bartolph, Holly and Miller) under command of Capt. Nathl. Finch, Ramapough. 6 May 177(illegible)- returned from service May 20

has been removed from said claim to be sent to the War Dept.

Sent to War Dept.
Jany. 16, 1913

A.C.M
Aug. 10, 1911
Page 21

REJECTED
P. O.
Keziah Finch
Service: wid of Nathaniel
Enlisted: ,18 ,
Discharged: ,18 ,
Application filed: ,18 ,
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Page 22

The People of the State of New York by the Grace of God Free and Independant. [sic]

To Nathaniel Finch Gentleman.... Greeting. 

We reposing special trust and Confidence [illegible] well in your Patriotism, Conduct and Loyalty, as in your Valour and Readiness to do the good and faithfull [sic] Service Have appointed and constituted and by those Presents [sic] Do Appoint and Constitute you the said Nathaniel Finch Adjutant of that Regiment of Militia in our County of Orange whereof John Hathorn Esquire is Colonel.......... You are therefore to take the said Regiment into your charge and care as Adjutant....thereof and duly to exercise the Officers and Soldiers of that Regiment in Arms, who are hereby commanded to obey you as their Adjutant.... and you are also to Observe and follow such Orders and Directions, as you shall from time to time, receive from our General and Commander in chief of the Militia of our said State, or any other your Superior Officer, According to the Rules and discipline of War in pursuance of the Trust reposed in you: and for so doing this shall be your commission for and during our good pleasure to be Signified by our Council of appointment. In Testimony whereof we have caused our Seal for Military Commissions to be hereunto Affixed. Witness our Trusty and well beloved George Clinton Esquire... Governor of our State of New York. General and Commander in chief of all the Militia and Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the Advice and Consent of our said Council of Appointment, at Poughkeepsie the Nineteenth day of February in the Second.. year of our Independance [sic], and in the year of our Lord. one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight

By His Excellency's Command.
Richard [illegible] Secretary [illegible]
Page 23

No. 
Keziah Finch decd
Widow of Nathaniel
New York
Rejected
Let S. I. Finch Jan 3 /57
She died in 1813
July 4 1836

No. 8.178
Keziah Finch decd
Widow of Nathaniel
New York
Rejected, She Died in 1813.
Solomon FInch  Jany 3, 1857
same February 9 1857
Same Sept. 9. 1857.
3542

July 4, 1836
Page 24

To the Com of Pensions
Sir,
Enclosed please find the up of Solomon Finch Kesiah Raplee & Hanah Curen for
pension and County land under acts
of Congress granting pensions and County
land to the widows and children of deeds
Revolutionary soldiers, they have constituted
me their attorney & I wish you to direct any
Communications on the subject to me at
Tiffin Seneca County Ohio as the applicants
are living a great distance apart it is desirable
that any certificates or papers which may be
issued from the department be so drawn
that they can be executed by their attorney
without sending them to the applicants
These applications although executed in
June and July have only just reached here
Respectfully
Solomon, Finch
Page 25

Tiffin C. Jan. 15th 1857
received for Communication claim of Salaman Finch and others for Revolutionary pension
I lied upon the law of 1848 giving to widows of Soldiers killed in battle 7 years half pay. I supposed his was due Kesiah Finch at the time of his death.
If you still consider that they are not under any circumstances entitled to relief, please return me the original papers, or if this cannot be done Certified Copies of the same as
I wish to retain them
Respectfully Your Obt. Servt.
Solomon Finch
Page 26

Com. of Pensions

Dear Sir

Will you be so kind as to inform me whether the applications of Solomon Finch, Hanah Currin and Rediah Raplee for pension [illegible] have been red. and whether any action has yet been had on them. Any communication would be thankfully red.

Solomon Finch
Tiffin
Dec. 19th 1850 Sen. Co. Ohio

The [illegible] need for pension [illegible] for Revolutionary Services I have red. no acknowledgement of the receipt of the papers, consequently cannot send the number. They were sent between the 10th and 15th of November last. I am anxiously awaiting information. My home is in [illegible] + if you could let me know nearly when the [illegible] would be reached you would much oblige me. Respectfully, Solomon Finch, Tiffin Ohio
Dec 31st 1856
Page 27

To the Comm of Pensions
Dear Sir
Will you please send
me the papers relating to the application
of
Solomon Finch, Hannah Curwin
and Kesiah Raplee, for Revolutionary
pension, filed in
your office in
the month of Oct last I think,
I have not
their number.
Respectfully
Solomon Finch
Tiffin Office
P.S. Send to me at Tiffin, The
Claim was rejected
Sept. 2. 1857
Page 28

State of Ohio
Seneca County SS

Office of Probate Court

Be it Remembered that heretofore to not on the 2nd day of June AD 1856 an Entry was made on the Journal of Said Court which reads as follows to wit

In the matter of the Heirs of Josiah Finch
June 2 1856

on Motion to the Probate Court within and for Said County by the Heirs of Kesiah Finch deceased through Soloman Finch there attorney for the proof of heirship and upon producing in open Court Peter Eastman and Sarah Eastman two credible witnesses who being duly sworn questioned and examined the Court find from such testimony that Kesiah Since deceased departed this life at the County of Orange in the State of New York some time during the year 1813 and at the time of her death was the widow of Nathaniel Finch who served and was killed in Battle during the Revolutionary War and that Soloman Finch a resident of Castile in Wyoming County State of New York when last known to witness Kesiah Kaples a resident of the Town of Milo in Yates County and  State of New York when last known to witnesses and Hannah Carrin a Resident of the City and State of New York when last known to witnesses are the only surviving
Page 29

Children and immediate Heirs of the said Kesiah Finch and the Court further that the said Josiah Finch remained unmarried from the time of her Husbands [illegible] up to the time of her death and that the above Named Heirs are the children and Heirs of the said Nathaniel Finch by his said wife Kesiah Finch

State & County aforesaid

J J M Hord Deputy Clerk of the said Court do hereby certify the foregoing to be a correct copy of the Journal Entry made in the above case and entered upon the Journal of the said Court

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of Said Court and subscribed my Name officially at Tiffin this 19 day of November AD 1856
JM Hord Dept Clk
Page 30

Keziah Finch
widow of Nathaniel
New York
---
July 4, 1836,
Registed deceased in 1813
Page 31

Know all men by these presents that I Solomon Finch, a resident of the town of Castile in Wyoming County, State of New York, do hereby constitute and appoint Solomon Finch of the County of Fayett and State of Iowa my certified attorney to prosecute my claim for whatever pension or bounty land I may be entitled to as the son and heir of Kesiah Finch, late widow of Nathaniel Finch who served and was killed in the revolutionary war, as set forth in the application hereto annexed. Hereby authorizing and any my said Attorney to obtain from the proper authorities at Washington City or elsewhere Certified copies of any Army Records or documents, in which the said service of the said Nathaniel Finch may be recorded and to procure any and all other evidence to establish this claim, as freely as he might or could do if personally present, and to receive from the department at Washington any certifficates drafts, order, warrants or other document in behalf of any relating to said claim, herby revoking and countermanding all other authorities that my have here given for the above specified purposes.
Solomon Finch

State of New York
Wyoming County SS
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for said County and State this day personally appeared the above named Solomon Finch
Page 32

and acknowledged the forgoing power of attorney to be his Voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein specified.
Taken and acknowledged before me this 28 day of June AD 1856
Anson Howard J. P.

State of New
Wyoming County SS
I John H. Bailey Clerk of the County Court in
and for said County and State, do hereby certify that Anson Howard Esqr. before whom the foregoing acknowledgment was taken and who has thereto signed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State about named duly commissioned and sworn, that all his official acts as such Justice are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his Signature thereto is genuine
In testing whereof I have hereto signed my name and affixed my official seal this 4th day of July AD 1856
John H. Bailey, Clerk
Page 33

State of Ohio
Seneca County SS
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace resident in and for said County and State this day came Solomon Finch a resident of Fayett County in the State of Iowa and aged forty seven years, who being first duly sworn makes oath and says that he is the youngest son of John Finch deceased, who was a son of Nathaniel Finch named in the declaration to which this is attached, that the muster roll and commission hereto attached and made part of said declaration, and also what appears to be a family record of the family of the said Nathaniel Finch, came to the possession of affiant at the death of his said father, and have remained in his possession or ever since that from conversations had with his said father, and with his mother, and from the general appearance of said papers or documents, he believes them to be genuine, and what they purport to be and that the [illegible] named and ages of children of the said Nathaniel Finch deceased are correctly stated in said records  Solomon Finch
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 5th day of June A D 1886
J. W. Wilson
J.P.  seal
Page 34

Solomon Finch Affidavit

State of Ohio
Seneca County SS
I Phillip Spielman, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County and State hereby certify that Jacob Hasler before whom the affidavit of Samuel Finch appeared to have been taken and sworn to N. P. Caldwell before whom the affidavits of Peter and Sarah Eastman appear to have been taken and sworn to, and both of which are hereto attached, and Joel W. Wilson before whom the within affidavit was made and sworn to, and at the time of so doing each acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County and State duly commissioned and sworn, that all their acts as such Justices are entitled to full faith and credit, and that their signatures thereto are genuine,
In testing whereof I have hereto signed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Tiffin this 5th day of June 19 1886
Philip Spielman Clk
by M Noble Dept Clk
P. B. The affidavit of Peter & Sarah Eastman refered to have been omitted and their testimony taken in open Court and an entry of the same herein filed