Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19,008, for Nathan Niles, New York
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(8-1776)

SERVICE: New York
Niles, Nathan
NUMBER: S.19008
carded
CONTENTS: [blank]
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5630
Vermont
Nathan Niles of the State of Vermont who was a Private in the Com'p. commanded by Captain Denison of the Reg commanded by Col Van Alstine in the New York line for 13 mos Private -- $43.33

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of Feb.y 1833 and sent to Hon H. Allen Home R[illegible]

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 - $64.9[illegible]
Semi-anl. allowance ending 11 Mar 1833 - 2.6[illegible]
[Total] $86.65

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk, Book D, Vol. 4, Page 75

Date of death cert in [illegible]
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Nathan Niles
Declaration for Pension
No 6649.
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State of Vermont, Grand Isle District} ss
On this 13th day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Court of Probate for the District of Grand Isle a Court of Record now sitting, Nathan Niles a resident of the Town of Alburgh in the county of Grand Isle and State of Vermont, aged seventy years 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, I entered the service of the United States in June 1777 at Stephentown in the State of New York as a substitute for my brother by the name of Robert Niles and as a private soldier. I do not recollect the day of the month, my company mustered at Stephentown aforesaid under Captain James Denison and my Father Stephen Niles and one Oliver Bently were Lieutenants in the same Company to which I belonged, I was a servant for my Father. NY company belonged to the Regiment commanded by Colonel Van Alstine, we marched from Stephentown to Fort Edward and there kept Garrison under General Schuyler for some time untill the arrival of the English Army at that place, when the
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Army under Schuyler retreated across Hudson river towards Saratoga and there ___ and commenced creating bust works on the banks of Hudson river, and the enemy arrived on the oposite[sic] shore and opened a fire on our batteries which continued our night, and General Schuyler retreated from this place to Saratoga and from Saratoga to Stillwater when my time expired and I returned home, and when my Company lay on the South side of Hoosack river on our return home we heard the musick[sic] of Colonel Baums division on the way to Bennington. Baums division was on the north side of Hoosack river we returned to Stephentown and we were there discharged, this term of service was two months.

I again entered the service of the United States a volunteer at said Stephentown in July 1778 or 1779, I do not recollect which year and mustered at Stephentown in the company under my Father who had now become Captain and from thence marched to Schohomie the Captains name was Stephen Niles, we joined another company at Schoharie and kept garrison there two months, the garrison was under the command of a Captain whose name I do not recollect. The term of service for our company expired and returned home, this term of service
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was two months and I was discharged at Stephentown by Capt. Stephen Niles.

I again entered the service of the United States about the first of March 1780 at Stephentown aforesaid, a volunteer my company mustered at Albany from there we marched to Fort Edward under Captain John Chipman, Ezra Buck & one Bradshaw were Lieutenants my Company belonged to Colonel Harpers Regiment. Colonel Harper was not at Fort Edward as he recollects and the and the Fort was commanded by Captain John Chipman and there was but two companies there who kept garrison. While we lay at Fort Edward the Americans took batteaus and crossed Lake George to intercept Sir John Johnson on his way from Johnstown to Lake Champlain but he escaped us. An officer by the name of Clinton went with us on this expedition but I do not know what command he had but he had some. I understand that he has been Governor of the State of New York since. I stayed at Fort Edward into Summer when I marched to Palmertown was transfered[sic] to Captain Harrison's Company, I remained there about one a half months, the Americans had built a block house, from here we marched to Schenectady and stayed a few days there and
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and from there marched to Fort Plains and there I was transfered[sic] to Captain Drakes Company I stayed a short time their and from thence I marched to Fort Stanwick and I stayed there untill my time expired, and I received my discharge and returned home, during my stay here the Fort was Commanded by Major Hughes, the last mentioned term of service was nine months my time expired and I received my discharge in the fair pact of December 1780, and I have lost all my discharges and I know of no person by whom I can prove my service, and I was a private soldier during the three terms of service above mentioned. I have no documentary evidence of my service. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declared that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
[signed] Nathan Niles
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] Jael Allen Judge
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We Jesse Smith a Clergyman residing in Alburgh and Stephen Sweet residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathan Niles who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy 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.
[signed] Jesse Smith, Stephen Sweet
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court.
[signed]Jael Allen Judge

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogations[sic] prescribed by the War Department that the above applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Jesse Smith who signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Alburgh aforesaid and that Stephen Sweet who
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has also signed the same is a resident of the Town of Alburgh is a creditable person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
[signed] Jael Allen Judge

I C. H. Burgess Register of a Court of Probate for the District of Grand Isle, do hereby certify that the foregoing Contained original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathan Niles for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 13th day of August 1832.
[signed] C. H. Burgess Register
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Ichabod Niles' Deposition.
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I Ichabod Niles of Alburgh in the County of Grand Isle and State of Vermont of lawful age testify and say that I am brother to Nathan Niles of said Alburgh who has applied for a pension and I further say that during the revolutionary war my father's family resided in Stephentown in the State of New York. I distinctly recollect that my brother Nathan Niles served in the American Army during the revolutionary war at three different times the two first terms of service was in the company in which my father Stephen Niles served as an officer the first term of service my father was a Lieutenant. The second term of service he was a Captain. I do not recollect how long. My brother served the two times above mentioned but it was I should think nearly or quite two months each time. I further say that my brother in turn the service again towards the close of the revolutionary war and served as I think nine months and during the term of service he returned home to Stephentown aforesaid after deserters and again joined the army as I always supposed.
All that I know about my brother's service in the revolutionary army is
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is that he left home for the purpose of joining the army and was gone from home during the terms above mentioned and it was then and ever since has been understood and believed by the family that he served in the American army as above stated and I have frequently heard my father say that he served with him in the army during the two first mentioned terms of service. My father has been dead nearly thirty years. And further this deponent saith not.
[signed] John Niles
I am acquainted with John Niles Junior him to know the [illegible] of a [illegible] a [illegible] & veracity.
[initialed] HAU

State of Vermont, Grand Isle District} ss
On this 13th day of August A.D. 1832 be for the Honorable Court of Probate for the District of Grand Isle a Court of word now sitting. Personally approved Ichabod Niles and made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Done in open court
[signed] Jael Allen Judge
[illegible] above named Jael Allen in Probate [illegible] is his signature
[illegible signature]
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6649
Nathan Niles
Alburgh
Grand Isle Dist.
Vermont

7 Feb'y '33
Obj - 14.16
Hon. H. Allen
No. Refs
Page 237.

Admitted Private
13 mos
43.33
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BRIEF in the case of Nathan Niles of Alburgh Grand Isle Dist. of [blank] in the State of Vermont.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a court or a Judge?
In open Court.
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
[blank]
3. How old is he?
73
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Entered the service in June In 1777 | 2 Months | Substitute for Robert Niles | Col. Van Allstine, Capt James Denison - New York State troops
volunteered July 1778 | 2 Months | private | Capt Stephen Niles - New York State troops
volunteered 1. March 1780 | 9 Months | private | Col. Harper, Capt John Chipman - N York troops
[Total of] 13 Months [served]

5. In what battles was he engaged?
[blank]
6. where did he reside when he entered the service?
Stephentown, New York
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
By a witness & by traditionary evidence.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
not properly attached

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
[signed] Chas. S. Wilcox Examining Clerk.
22. Jany 1833
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[illegible]
May 2, 1933

Daniel Dunbar-W.24088 [handwritten "letter of inquiry in Daniel Dunbar"]
Nathan Niles-S.19008
BA-J / AWF

Mrs. F. V. Keller
305 Coleman Street
Olean, New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information relative to Daniel Dunbar and Nathan Niles, soldiers of the War of the Revolution.

You will find enclosed the records of the only soldiers named Daniel Dunbar and Nathan Niles found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office.

Daniel Dunbar-W.24088

From the papers on file in the above noted pension claim, it is shown that Daniel Dunbar, while residing in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, served in 1776, six months in Captain Winslow's company. He served in 1777, two months and two days as private in Captain French's company, Colonel Jonathan Titcomb's regiment; in 1777, fifteen days as private under Lieutenant Burrill; again in 1[illegible] [handwritten "See Hectman Page 243"], seven months in Captain Garzia's company of artillery, Colonel Elliott's regiment. He enlisted in July, 1778 and served four months in Captain Benjamin Beal's company of guards stationed around Boston.

Daniel Dunbar married April 26, 1781, Miss Phillipa Danron(?). She was then of Scituate, Massachusetts and he was of Hingham, Massachusetts. Their marriage was recorded on the books of the town of Scituate.

The soldier, Daniel Dunbar, died September 15, 1825 in Hingham, Massachusetts, then aged seventy-three
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years. The date and place of his birth are not given, nor are the names of his parents stated.

The widow, Phillipa Dunbar, was allowed pension on her application executed, August 29, 1838, then aged eighty years and living in Hingham, Massachusetts.

There is no reference to children. In 1838 one, Enoch Dunbar was eighty-one years of age and living in Hingham, no relationship to family shown.

_________________________________________
Nathan Niles-S. 19008

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.19008, based upon the service of Nathan Niles during the Revolutionary War.

The date and place of his birth are not shown. He was the son of Stephen Niles, the name of his mother is not given. It is stated that his father's family resided at Stephentown, New York during the Revolutionary War.

Nathan Niles enlisted at Stephentown, New York, sometime in June, 1777, as substitute for his brother, Robert Niles, served as a private two months in Captain James Dennison's company, Colonel VanAlstyne's New York regiment; his father, Stephen Niles was lieutenant in the company. He enlisted in July 1778 or 1779 and served two months in Captain Stephen Niles' company (his father). He enlisted March 1, 1780 and served in Captain John Chipman's company, Colonel Harper's New York regiment, was on the expedition to intercept Sir John Johnson on his march from Johnstown to Lake Champlain; served until in the summer and was transferred to Captain Harrison's company, and again transferred to captain drake's company and was discharged in December, 1780.

Nathan Niles was allowed pension on his application executed August 13, 1832, then aged seventy years and living in Alburg, Grand Isle County, Vermont.

There is no reference to wife or children. It is
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3-

stated in 1832 that his father had been dead about thirty years.

the soldier's brother, Ichabod Niles, was a resident of Alburg, Vermont in 1832.

Very truly yours
[unsigned]
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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19008

Nathan Niles
found in care of Stephen Sweet Vt No. (file) 15,997
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathan Niles 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? [blank]
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? 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 amout[sic] of pension he is entitled? Yes
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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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? [blank]
XIV. 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
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? no, see [illegible] 14
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. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? [blank}

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 --- --- days. I served as a ----------. For ----------- months and -------- days, I served as a -----------; and for such service I claim a pension."
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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.
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 be 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.
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.
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P 19008
INVALID.
File No. 19,008.
Nathan Niles
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th '32
Index:-Vol. 1, Page 275
{Arrangement of 1870.}

1935 May 2 [illegible] F. W. Keller see letter of inquiry in Daniel Dunbar W 24088 [illegible]