Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42297, for Henry Sitts, New York
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(illegible-1776)
Service
New York

Sitts, Henry or Sits

Number
S.42297
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A Rasback E
[torn] 19. 1844

Set to D. Van Horne Oct 15
" " Pen. Jan 28. 1845.
" " Honor W. Buell 25 Jan 53

N° 20412
New York

Henry Sitts
of Montgomery in the State of New York
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Getman of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Gansevoort in the New York line, for the term of one year from April 1776 to

Inscribed on the Roll of the Albany Agency at the rate of Eight- Dollars per month, to commence on the 14 day of February 1832.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 of February 1832 and sent to the Hon. W.G. Angel. H. Reps

[smudged]-rears to 4th of March 1832
Semi-anl. all'ce ending

$5.31
$5.31

Revolutionary Claim,
Acts March 18, 1818,
and May 1, 1820.

Recorded Book D
Vol 5 page 139

[illegible] B
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Henry Deifendorff
[illegible]
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State of New York
Montgomery County ss.} On the fourteenth day of December 1830. appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Montgomery in said State. (being a Court of Record for said County being made so in Express terms by the Statute creating it.) Henry Sitts resident in said County aged Seventy Six years & upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law does on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 and of the first of May 1820. That in the month of March or April 1776 he enlisted in the State of New York
in the Company commanded by Captain Petman in the Regiment commanded by Col. Gansevoort
in the New York line of Continental troops on the Continental Establishment - that he continued to
serve in said Corps until the month of August, 1777. when he was honorably discharged at what is now Palatine in the County of Montgomery in the
State of New York. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension except the
present. that his name has not been placed on the pension list. That in the month of September 1818. this deponent made a declaration in order
to obtain the benefits of the Law of the 18th of
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March 1818. which is hereto annexed. marked (A). and at that time procured the affidavit of John Bockus which is hereto annexed marked (B) but at that time this deponent had a little personal property, and was able to labour and this deponent supposed that the amount of the property he then had and his ability to Labour might prevent his obtaining a pension under Said act.- and he did not then go on with it. The Expending and loss of the property which he then had and his increasing years and infirmities and inability to Labour now [illegible] a pension absolutely necessary. for the support of this deponent. And in pursuance of the act of the first of May 1820. I do Solemnly swear that I was a resident
Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my
property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress Entitled "an act to provide for certain persons Engaged in the Land and naval Service of the United States in the revolutionary War passed on the 18th day of March
1818 and that I have not nor has any person in
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trust for me any property. or Securities contracts or debts. due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed. and by me Subscribed. That Since the Eighteenth day of March 1818. the following changes have been made in my property. viz - Eighteenth of March 1818.
[column titles:] Description of property owned on this eighteenth of March 1818 | Names of persons to whom disposed of | Time of Sale | Amt of Money or description of property Recd. in Return-
one Cow | Adam Kesler. | 1822 March | $13.00 on a debt I owed him-
One other Cow | George Sitts | 1822 March | Paid in board I am not agreed on-
A quantity of houshold furniture consisting of Kettles & dishes bedding clothing which I then owned.   I have since given and distributed
among my nine girls upon my
Wifes death, in June 1823.-
The whole not worth more than
$60. or$70.

I had no other property on the 18th of March 1818. nor have I owned or had any since-
Henry Sitts
Sworn to and declared the 14th day of December 1830. in open Court. 
A J. Comrie Clerk
Schedule of the property of Henry Sitts - Real Estate none. Personal Estate, none whatever Except my clothing - I owe John Warner of
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Minden Montgomery County. Merchant for goods about fourteen dollars.-
I owe also Moris Graves of Springfield Otsego County, N.Y. Physician for a Doctors bill about $5.50-
The occupation of the declarant Henry Sitts is that of a farmer but owing to his old age, he is unable to
pursue it & never expects to be. He has no family - has fourteen children alive on whom he is Entirely
dependant for support.
Henry Sitts
Sworn in Open Court the 14th December 1830.
A J Comrice Clerk
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I Alexander J. Comrie Clerk of the County of Montgomery in the State of New York do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said Henry Sitts did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration a
against the Common Enemy for the term of nine months, under one engagement on the Continental
Establishment. I also certify that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereto annexed are truly copied
from the records of the said Court. And I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the
total amount in value of the property Exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is nothing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court on this fourteenth day of December A D 1830
A J Comrie Clerk
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State of New York
Montgomery County Ss

Peter Sitts of Minden in said County a pensioner of the U.S. being duly Sworn says that in the year 1776 in the month of March on April this deponent knows that Henry Sitts enlisted in Captain Getmans Company
in Col. Gansevoorts regiment in the New York line of continental troops in the continental establishment, that he
continued to serve in said corps until the month of August 1777 when he was honourably discharged at what is now Palatine in the State of New York- This deponent well recollects the facts above Stated for the reason that he this deponent was all the while in said Regiment with said Henry Sitts 
Peter his X mark Sitts
Sworn and Subscribed before me this first day of October 1830[?] Henry J Dievendorff One of the Judges of Montgomery Common Pleas
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I certify that said Peter Sitts is well
known to me that he is a man
of good character & of truth.
Henry J. Deifendorff a Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County

State of New York
Montgomery County J. I Alexander Comrie Clerk of said County of Montgomery do hereby certify that
Henry J Deifendorff whose name appears Signed to the within affidavit was on the day of the takingmthe same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleasmof said County of Montgomery and duly qualified to act as such according to law and that the
Signature of the said Henry J Deifendorff is Genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the said office this 14th day of December 1830.
A J Comrie
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(A)
To the Hon [illegible] of the Department of War of the United ┃
States
State of New York
Otsego County ss
On this fourteenth day of September 1818 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Otsego in the State of New York, personally appears 
Henry Sitts--aged sixty three years, resident in the Town of [illegible]-- in the said State who being by me first duly sworn, according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the
provision made by the late act of
Congress entitled "An act to provide
for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war." That he enlisted the said Henry Sitts -- enlisted in the Month of March or  April in 1776 in the State of New York
in the company commanded by Captain Christan Gettmans of the
Col. Gansevoort regiment-- New York line & that he continued to serve in the service of the United States until August 1777 which was seventeen months when he was honourbly discharged from service in August 1777 in the -- State of New York - that he was in the battles of Johnstown [illegible] Battle and Stone [illegible] a Battle
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and that he served against the Common enemy and that he is absolutly destitute of property and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his services then the affidavit hereunto annexed. at that his discharge is lost.
Henry Sitts
Sworn subscribed this 14th day of September 1818 before me
James S. Campbell one of the Judges aforesaid

State of New York
Otsego County Clerks Office ss; I certify that James Campbell whose signature appears to the foreging
certificate and before whom the annexed affidavit appearx to have been made is a Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas in & for said County Duly Qualified as such & that the signatures are his
Given under my hand and the seal
of the Court of Common pleas for
said County this Twenty Eighth day
of September 1818
W. W. Webb Dept Clk
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State of New York
Otsego County ⎬ ss John Backus being duly sworn says that he enlisted in Captain Getmans company in Col
Gansevoort Regiment in the month of
March 1776 and continued to serve in
said Company for the space of nine
months when he was discharged from
said company & he further says that
Henry Sitts enlisted the same time
with him in said company and served
with him faithfully during the said
term of nine months, This deponent
says he then enlisted in Capt. Castemens Companyvin the same Regiment and further saith not.
John his X mark Backus
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 14th day of September 1818
James S. Campbell
one of the Judges of Otsego
Common pleas

Hereby certify that I believe the
above named John Backus is a man
truth and that he is to be belived
under oath
James S. Campbell
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State of New York Otsego County ss:. I certify that James Campbell
whose signature appears to the
foregoing certificate and before whom
the within affidavit of John Backus
appears to have been made, was, at
the time the said affidavit purports
to have been taken a Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas in and for
the said County, duly qualified as such. And further that I am well acquainted with his hand writing
and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate, and affidavit are both in the proper hands writing of the said James S. Campbell, Given
under my hand and the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said County the fourteenth day of February A.D. 1832
Horace Lathrop, Clerk.
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21.931
Henry Sitts
Pension papers
J.O. Morse
Cherry Valley
N. Y.
Agent
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State of New York
Herkimer County Ss: On this fourth day of August one thousand Eight hundred & forty three personally came before the undernamed Justice
of the said County, Henry Sits aged Eighty nine years the 29th day of the present month, a resident of Minden in the County of Montgomery but at this time and for a time past staying with his son in law in the town of Stark Herkimer County who been first duly sum according to law does on his oath say that in the Revolutionary war
he was in the service of the United States and served in different companies under enlistments and also in the militia as set forth in his claim and the proof accompanying the same made & procured by him in the year 1818 and subsequent--
That in the year 1818 he made his claim for a pension under the act
of Congress passed March 18, 1818. that although his claim was then commenced & made, he was not
allowed a pension until in 1832 when he received his pay certificate under the said act, the pay to commence the 14th day of February, 1832, and
he believes that he in justice should be allowed the back pay from the passage of the said act up to the said 14th day of February 1832 or at least from September 1818 the time of making his application up to the said day, and he now makes his Claim for the said back pay & refers to his
declaration & proof accompanying the same for evidence of his Enlistment & service

Henry his X mark Sits

Sworn to before me
August 4 1843
A. Rasbach Justice
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In reply to your request for a statement of the military history
of Henry Sitts S F. 42297,
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR,you will find below the desired information as contained in his [or his
widow's, crossed out] application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Mch or Apr 1776
LENGTH OF SERVICE
17 mos
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Christian Getman
COLONEL.
Gansevoort
STATE.
N. Y.
May  22 1780- - [illegible] Aug. 6. 1777 Oct 19 1780 
Battles engaged in, Johnstown; Oriskany; Stone  Arabia.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, [blank]
Date of application for pension, Sept 4, 1818, his claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Frankfort N.Y.  N.Y.  Minden Montgomery Co. N.Y [illegible] 1843.
Age at date of application, Born Aug 29 1854. Alive in Dec 1844, date of death not given
Remarks: Son of Peter Sitts. Wife, [name not given crossed out]  died in June 1823, 14 Children, 9 daughters,
No names Given
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G F Yates
Mem for papers
All Ex by the above
Oct 14 -52
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Allowed Elizabeth Wilson widow of Wm Wilson - Act 4th July 1836 - 5066
Suspended. Thomas Hewitt - act of 7th June 1832 ┃
Suspended Henry Sitts - Act 7 June 1832 18 March 18
Allowed Elizabeth Graves widow of Lewis Graves - Act  of 36-
Suspended John Holmes act of 7th  June 1832
[illegible] 36-
G. F. Yates
Oct. 12 1852
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42297
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 42297
Henry Sitts
Pvt Rev War
-
Act: 18 March 18th
Index: -- Vol. [illegible] Page. 4[illegible]
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[on facing page, different handwriting] 1906 Dec 11. Hist to Adam C. Cliffe (Mrs.)
M.B.H.
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James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[written in different hand at right angle to and on top of the above:]
Oct 30 43
R
Henry Sits
NY [illegible] 32
for back pay from 1818
[illegible large mark or initial]
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Herkimer Oct 25, 1843
Sir
Enclosed I forward on the affidavit and claim of Henry Sits by which he claims that he is justly entitled
to and should be allowed the back pay from the passage of the act of March 3. 1818 or at least from
September of that year up to the 14th day of February 1832 the time when his name was placed upon
the roll, he insists that his claim was made in 1818 and that he then did all to sustain his claim that he
was advised was necessary for him to do. that his claim then was as just and he was as much entitled to on
allowance of it as when it was allowed and that in Justice it should have been allowed from the commencement.- the claim not having been allowed in 1818 - he claims that he is justly entitled to & should be allowed the back pay from 1818 to Feby 14. 1832 which he insists upon as his just due under the law
Your Obt Servt
J. A. Rasbach
Jas. L. Edwards Esq.
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[illegible]
J. L. Edwards War [illegible and crossed out]
Washington D.C.
[written sideways over the above:] Jan 28 45
Hy Sitts NY [illegible]
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[illegible] Dec 30th 1844
Sir JL Edwards,
I will devote a few moments concerning my Pension you have stopt payment to me in September last, but assign no reason why, now if you will be so kind as to let me know what it is for I would think it a favour. you have stated in year letter to my agent Parham that my pension was suspended but how you did not say.
There is one thing which I have thought might be the case & that is that said enemy of mine might have written to you same false report & that you have don it on that account. But sir if you want any more proof on the subject, let me know & you shall have it. view the matter lost take the case home to yourself & think how would you feel if you were in my present state cut off from that which is due to every true & faithful Soldier
Gentlemen I leave it for you to decide
Please to write to me as soon as you receive this letter
N.B. Direct your letter to James Snyder [illegible] Herkimer C.C. N.Y. 
Mr J.L. Edwards Albany } Henry Sitts
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Ho. of Reps
Washington Jany 21. 1883
Hon J. Heath
Com of Pensions
Sir
Enclosed I send you a certificate for Pension to Henry Sitts and an affidavit
with a letter from Richard Wilson stating that Henry Sitts did not draw the pension to which his certificate
entitled him for the last two years before his death-- What are the facts? If Sitts pension was suspended upon what grounds was payment refused?-
Respectfully
P. King for Alexander H. Buell

[written sideways in same hand:] Mr. Buell is sick but is [illegible] you will please reply to him
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Ho. of Reps
Feb 9. 1853
Hon J. E. Heath
Com of Pensions
Sir
My collegue Mr. Buell before his death left the enclosed paper with me to see to for him. Please allow Simeon Smith Esq [illegible] Beall in to examine the papers on file in the case for me
Respectfully
Reston King
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THOMAS M. CLIFFE  JAMES W. CLIFFE ADAM C. CLIFFE NOTARY PUBLIC
LAW OFFICES OF
CLIFFE & CLIFFE
OVER THE POST OFFICE
SYCAMORE, IL.
LOCAL 'PHONE 93
LONG DISTANCE 6

Nov. 27, 1906.
729 W. State St.,
Sycamore, Ill.
To the Honorable Commissioner
of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
My Dear Sir
I write you for information as to whether or not Henry Sitts was a soldier  in the Revolutionary War, as shown by your records. I understand that he enlisted as a Revolutionary Soldier from New York State and died on or about the year 1844 at the age of ninety years. The said Henry Sitts, was my great grand father, and I and seeking this information in order to qualify as a  member of the Daughters of the Revolution. Any information that you may give me will be gratefully appreciated
Yours Truly,
Edna Sitts Cliffe
Mrs. Adam C. Cliffe
(Mrs. Adam C. Cliffe)

[Stamp at top: O. W. & N [illegible] Files Dec 4 1906]
[Stamp at bottom: Pension Office U.S. Dec 3 1906]
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Van Hornes Ville N.Y.
Oct 11th 
[illegible]-
D. Van Horne. P.M.-
Hon. James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
[Written sideways over the above] Oct 14 1844 Mr Ames
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Van Horners.Ville. N.Y. October 11th 1844-
[illegible] by Request of Henry Sitts I write this to ask the favour of a few lines from you stating the Reason of his pension being suspended, the agent for paying pensions at Albany--says the cause is not known at that office--and thinks it Can be ascertain. by Writeing to the War Department, at Washington-- it will be much gratify the Old Soldier if you could inform him by Return of Mail to this post office, how it is-- it will be hand and Mortifying to the old Mans feelings to be Deprived of his Pension. now in his old age. helpless and Destitute Situation, to have to live on the Charity of his neighbours
Respectfully your
Humble Servent
Daniel Van Horne
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State of New York
Otsego County ss. ⎬ Henry Sitts being duly sworn says that when he enlisted in the year 1776 as stated in his declaration hereto annexed made before James S. Campbell a judge of Otsego Common Pleas on the 14th day of September 1818. he was enlisted by one Christian Getman
who was called Capt Getman & this
deponent supposed till lately that he
was a captain in Col. Gansevoorts
Regiment. This deponent further says
that he is sure he served & was an enlisted in Col. Gansevoorts
Regiment, for he was marched to
Fort Stanwix (now Rome) & served
in Col Gansevoorts Regiment under the immediate command of Col. Ganservant & did duty in a company belonging to that Regiment
Henry Sitts 
Sworn & Subscribed this  7th day of December 1831 before me
James O. Morse
one of the Judges of Otsego County Courts 
I certify that I have long known the above named Henry Sitts and that he has always sustained an excellent character for integrity & veracity and I have no hesitation in saying that I would believe him when under oath or not. I also certify that I have always understood & believe that he is the son of
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of Peter Setts who was taken prisoner
at the time the gallant Lieutenant
Wormwood was killed as mentioned
in the annals of Tryon County on
border warfare of New York, a work
recently published. - I have also
been informed by Capt Cannon & other officers of the revolution now dead that they know that Henry Sitts had served in Gansevoorts regiment & that he was a brave man & a good soldier. - I have also understood that the Sitts family were all soldiers & noted for their bravery 
J. O. Morse one of the Judges of Otsego County Courts

P.S. Mr Angel of the House of
representatives knows the fact of my being a judge & Will authenticate 
my signature
J. O. M.
Washington City ss. I certify that James O More Esquire whose signature appears to the above certificate is and was at the date of said certificate a Judge of the County Court in & for the County of Otsego in the State of New York and duly authorized to administer oaths,
Jun 17. 1831.
W. G. Angel
Member of the House of
Representatives