Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28,631, William Ball, New York
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New York     Ball, William     S.28,631
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24316
New York
William Ball
of Albany Co. in the State of New York
who was a Drummer in the Company commanded 
by Captain Dirts of the Regt commanded by Col. Vrooman in the New York line for 13 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 47 Dollars 60 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of Nov, 1833 and sent to L. Jenkins Albany

Arrears to the 4th of Sep '33 $119.
Semi-ant allowance ending '34  $23.80 =$142.80 


Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by G.C. Stiles Clerk;
Book E Vol 4, Page 90
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360
13
-----------
1078
306
-------
4758




9520
23.80
-------
11900
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State of New York
County of Albany ss.

On this sixth day of September 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Justices Court of the City of Albany now sitting William Ball a resident of the Town of Bern in the County of Albany and State of New York aged on the 12th day of December last, sixty nine years of age 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 7, 1832.
 That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated
In the year 1778, as near as I can recollect I was a drummer in the Company of Militia, commanded by Capt. William Dietz of Beaver Dam, in Albany County, where I then resided.  The Regiment to which we belonged was commanded by Col. Peter Vrooman and by Major John Becker - In the spring of that year, in the early part of the month of April, we were  ordered into the service and went into the Town of Bern and there built a Fort, for the protection of the Inhabitants against the British, Tories, and Indians - We were stationed there and engaged in building said Fort and in guarding it from the month of April until the latter part of the month of November following - when we were discharged and went home.  The Fort was called ? Fort  - sometime in the month of September, Capt. Dietz, who resided near the Fort, and had gone home to see his family and attend to some business was surprised and taken by a party of Indians and Tories, and his family consisting of his wife and several children and his father and mother, and a servant girl were all murdered. 
He himself was taken prisoner and carried to Canada and died on his way home, after being exchanged - After his capture we were commanded by Capt. Matthias Shultis, and the 


BALL, WILLIAM  NY
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families in the neighborhood, with the women and children moved into the Fort, the men discharged the latter part of November.
I served on said time of duty as a drummer in said Company commanded by Capt. Deitz and Capt. Shultis, not less than seven months.
In the following year, that is 1779, as near as i can now recollect, I was again ordered into the service as a drummer in said Company of Militia then commanded by Capt. Shultis, and we again occupied Weidman's Fort - 
I believe we went out in the month of April, and continued in the service in said Duty from that time untill the month of November following when we were discharged.
I was engaged as this time of Duty, not less than six months, which we were stationed in the Fort we were several times out on scouting parties to watch the Indians and to protect the inhabitants, and I went out with 10 or 12 others on one occasion to Schoharie, I think in the year 1778 to act as a Guard then in the place of other troops who were gone in pursuit of the Indians - and after being there five days returned back to the Fort.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

William Ball

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court
J.G. Mason Clerk
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August 27, 1921

Mr. William A. Saxton
Bureau of War Records
Office of the Adjutant General
Albany, New York

Dear Sir:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 26631, that William ball was born December 12, 1763, place not stated.
While a resident of Beaver Dam, Albany County, New York, he enlisted and served as drummer with the New York troops as follows:  from sometime early in April 1778, until late in November, 1778, in Captain William Dietz's and Matthais Shultis' Companies in Colonel Peter Vrooman's Regiment and aided in building Weidman's Fort at Berne; from April 1779, until November, 1779 in Captain Shultis' Company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 24, 1833, at which time he was living in Berne, Albany County, New York.

The papers in this pension claim contain no data relative to the soldier's family.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator

Date of death not on Agency books
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28631

Revy. INVALID

File No. 28631

William Ball

Drummer Rev. War

Act:  June 7, 1832

Index:-Vol. 2, Page 24

[Arrangement of 1870]


1931 Aug. 27 Hist. to Mr. William A Saxton 

1931 Sept. 21 Mr. William A Saxton advised as to obtaining date of last payment of pension, etc.
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State of New York
Albany County

Francis Beecraft of the town of Schoharie in the County of Schoharie being duly sworn deposeth and saith  - That I am well acquainted with the above named William Ball the applicant named in the annexed declaration  - I am seventy three years of age and am a Pensioner of the United States  - I have known said Ball for sixty years or upwards - I knew him in the revolutionary war.  He was then a Drummer in the Company commanded by Capt. William Deitz  - I was a private in the same company - I joined the said Company at Weidman's Fort a few days after Capt. Deitz was taken prisoner and his family murdered - This was, as near as I can now recollect, in the first part of the month of September 1778 - When I joined the Company it was commanded by Lieut. afterwards Capt. Matthias Shultis - I knew that the above named William Ball then belonged to said Company and was there in said Fort and was a Drummer in said Company and did duty also as a Sentry - We remained there until the latter part of the month of November following, and were then discharged and went home - I then resided in the town of Berne.
In the following year, I was stationed at another Fort called the Switz Kill Fort - under the command of Capt. Shultis said last mentioned Fort was about two miles from Weidman's Fort and both were under the command of Capt. Shultis.  I was herewith at Weidman's Fort in the center of the spring, summer, and fall, and I well recollect seeing said William Ball there doing duty Our company ? in April and were discharged in November of the year being as I can 




BALL, WILLIAM NY
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recollect the year 1779 - I have heard the annexed declaration of said Ball read, and I believe it to be substantially true, both from my own personal knowledge of the facts and knowing him to be a man of veracity - I well recollect the capture of Capt. Deitz and the murder of his family stated in said declaration  - I never learned to write -

Francis Beecraft (his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court,}
this 24th day of September 1833           }

J.G.Wasson Clerk



State of New York
Albany County ss.

I David Knicksen of the Town of Berne in the County of Albany being duly sworn do deposeth and say I know William Ball, the above named applicant, and have known him ever since I was a boy - I am now sixty five years old and upwards - In the year 1778 and 1779 I lived in my Father's family near Weidman's Fort.
I recollect being in said Fort before Capt. Dietz's family were murdered, and afterwards till late in the fall, and I recollect seeing the said William Ball there, doing duty as a Drummer, in the Company then commanded by Capt. Dietz, and afterwards by Capt. Shultis, I do not know how long he served - I was then a boy about fourteen years old, I did duty in said Company myself, a short time in the place of my father,  - I was not at the said Fort the following year and don't know whether said ball was there as such. 
I know that said Ball is a man of good character for truth and veracity - I have heard his declaration hereto
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annexed, and I believe it to be true - I have never learned to write 

David Knieksen (his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 24th day of September 1833

J.A. Wasson Clerk


State of New York
Albany County

Johan Jost Deitz of the Town of Bern in the County of Albany, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith - I am seventy three years of age.  I am well acquainted with William Ball, the applicant named in the annexed declaration and have known him for sixty years past and upwards - He is a man of good character for truth and veracity 
He has always been reputed in the Town of Berne where he resides to have been in the service of his country in the Militia, during the Revolutionary War, and that he served as a Drummer in Capt. Matthias Dietz's Company - Capt. Dietz was a cousin of mine, I recollect him well and I recollect the circumstances of his capture and the murder of his family by the Indians - I knew Capt. and Lieut. Shultis who commanded Weidman's Fort after Capt. Dietz was taken prisoner - I have heard read the annexed declaration of said William Ball  and believe the statement of facts therein contained to be true - I know the above named David Kniesken and Francis Beecraft, and have known them both for many years - I have know Beecraft sixty years and and upwards and Kniesken at least thirty years - They are both men of good character for truth  and veracity - and I have no doubt that they are credible 


BALL, WILLIAM N.Y.
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Johan Jost Dietz

witnesses

Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 25th day of September
1833 - J.G. Wasson Clerk

And the court do hereby certify 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 states.  And the court further certifies that Francis Beecraft, David Kniesken, Johan Jost Dietz, above named, are credible witnesses, and it is further certified that the said Johan Jost Dietz is well known to this court as a highly respectable citizen, and was for many years a member of the assembly of this state for the County of Albany.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Court this 25th day of September 1833.

By the Court

John G. Wasson Clerk


28136

In the matter of the application of William Ball of Albany Co., N.Y.
for a Pension, under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832

Declaration and affidavits etc.

Admitted 

13 months Drummer

This applicant claims for 13 months service as a Drummer in a Company of NY Militia under Capts. Dietz and Shultis
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To 

J.L. Edwards Esq.

Commissioner of Pensions
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Albany Sept. 25 1833


James L. Edwards Esq.

Commissioner of Pensions

Sir,

I enclose the declaration and affidavits of the application of William Ball for a Pension under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832.  It is a new case - I hope it will receive immediate attention  - I think it will be found to be a meritorious case and that the applicant is entitled to a Pension for 13 months services.

Very Respectfully,
Your obedient Servant,

Lemuel Jenkins

P.S. - I have not yet received the new Pension Certificate of Joseph Mitchell, an Invaldi Pensioner whose case was examined and whilst I was at Washington - nor a new Certificate for Peter Rosencrantz, whose original Certificate was lost - See the affidavit of G.L. Dose Esq sent some weeks ago
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STATE OF NEW YORK

DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS

of the EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

ALBANY  
September  1, 1931

Office of the Adjutant General

Subject :  Date of Death

To:  A.D. Hiller, Assistant to Adminstrator
Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.


1.  It is respectfully requested that this office be furnished date of death or approximate date of death in the case of William Ball a Revolutionary soldier whose record was received from you this day in communication initialed "BA-J/MOS".


For the Adjutant General,

By:  Wiliam A. Saxton

William A. Saxton

Chief, Bureau of War Records.

WAS/ACK
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STATE OF NEW YORK

DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS
of the 
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
ALBANY

August 24, 1931

Office of the Adjutant General


Subject:  Record of William Ball

To:  Bureau of Veteran Administration, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.


1.  It is respectfully requested that this office be furnished any record you may have of William Ball a Revolutionary soldier, who received a pension for service.  This soldier is buried in the vicinity of Berne and Knox Albany County, N.Y.

For the Adjutant General,

By:  William A. Saxton

William A. Saxton
Chief, Bureau of War Records.

WAS/ACK
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WASHINGTON                       September 21, 1931


Mr. William A. Saxton                      BA-J/MCS
Bureau of War Records
Office of the Adjutant General
Albany, New York


Dear Sir:

You are advised that the date of death of William Ball, S.28631, a soldier of the Revolution, is not on record in this office.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension of this soldier, the name and address of the person to whom it was paid, and possibly the date of death of soldier, it is suggested that you address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., citing the following data:

William Ball, Certificate 24316, issued November 22, 1933 rate $47.60 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831 Act. of June 7, 1832, New York Agency.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiler
Assistant to Administrator