Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,201, for Elisha Potter, Rhode Island
Page 1

SERVICE
Continental R.I.

Potter, Elisha

NUMBER
S.14,201

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

4,855
84,58
New York
Elisha Potter
of Rensselaer in the State of N. York
who was a Lt; Serg; Pri. in the Compny commanded
by Captain Locke of the Regt. commanded 
 by Col. Potter in the *R. Island
line for 10 mos; 10 dys Lieut:
9 mos Sergt
21 dys. Priv.
Continental and R.I. Records completed. Nov. 16/06.SS

Inscribed on the Roll of N. York
at the rate of 184 Dollars 95 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of April 1831 and _______ G. Gould 
Troy

Arrears to the 4th of Ma '##               $369.90
Semi=amt. allowance ending 4  ## '##  92.47
                                                           $ 462.37

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by G. L. Stiles Clerk
Book E.  Vol. 4.  Page 28.
Page 3

State of New YOurk
Rensselaer County Sc.
I Henry R. Bristol Clerk of said County Do hereby certify that George R. Davis Esqr. before whom the following affidavits purports to have been sworn was on the day of the date of the same one of the Judges of Rensselaer County Courts. And that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signatures subscribed to the following affidavits are genuine. In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 12th day of January 1833.

Henry R. Bristol Clerk
Page 4

State of New York
Rensselaer County. John Baker of Hoosick in the county of Rensselaer being duly sworn says he has been acquainted with Elisha Potter the applicant for a Pension for the last fifty or sixty years that this deponent during the war resided in the adjoining Town with the said Elisha Potter that he at (illegible) understood & (illegible) believes true the Elisha was engaged in the service of the United. and was taken a prisoner by the British & by them detained as prisoner for the (illegible) of six or seven months.  And that the said Elisha Potter is a man of trust.

John Baker

State of New York
Rensselaer County
On this twenty seventh day of December 1832 personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judgery the court of common plea, in and for the said county of Rensselaer John Baker who being by me daily sworn according to law made oath that the facts contained in the above affidavit by him subscribed were true as the same were therein stated, and I do further certify that I am acquainted with the said John Baker and that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to full credit.
Ga R Davis One of the 
Judges of Rensselaer County 
Court & Counsellor of Sap (?)
Court
Page 5

Rensselaer County
State of New York SS
Jirah baker of Hoosick in said County bring duly sworn deposeth & says, that he is sixty eight years of age, that during the Revolutionary war he resided in the town adjoining the one in which Elisha Potter resided and that he knew him by sight and this deponent further says that during the Revolutionary War he understood and it was commonly reported and believed in the neighborhood that the said Elisha Potter was in the service of the United States for some length of time but how long he was in this service this deponent does not know and cannot state and this deponent further says that towards the close of the war but in what particular year he cannot state with certainty but thinks in the year 1777 or 1778 he this deponent understood and believes that the said Elisha Potter was taken prisoner by the british and remained for some months as such prisoner but how many this deponent cannot state, that this was understood and believed in the neighborhood generally that the said Elisha was a Prisoner as he states to the enemy and this deponent has no doubt (illegible) that he was in the service of the United States and was taken & imprisoned by the enemy as by him state and this deponent further understood at the time that the said Elisha was an officer while in the service but what commission he held or what officer he was this deponent does not now recollect of hearing.
Jirah Baker
Page 6

State of New York
Rensselaer County
On this twenty seventh day of December 1832 personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judges of the court of common Pleas in & for the said County of Rensselaer Jirah Baker who being by me duly sworn according to law made oath that the facts contained in the within affidavit by him subscribed were true as the same were therein stated. And I do further certify that I am acquainted with the said Jirah Baker and that he is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to full credit.

Ga R Davis Aiu of the
Judges of Rensselaer County
Court L.C.
Page 7

State of New York
Rensselaer County  SS
Job Greene of the town of Brunswick in the county of Rensselaer being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he was in service of the United States during the Revolutionary War and that he served in colonel Joseph Stantons Regiment as second Lieutenant in a company commanded by Captain Malica Hammet for fifteen months that he entered this service in Dec 1776 or January 1777 and that towards the last of this fifteen months service Colonel Barton took command of the Regiment. That this Regiment was State Troops and was stationed at Tivertown at or near Howlands Ferry in Rhode Island, that Captain Christopher Dyer also commanded a company in said Regiment during said fifteen months service that Captain Dyers company did not join the company to which he belonged but was stationed about twenty rods off, that this fifteen months service expired in March 1778.  That this deponent did not personally know Elisha Potter during this service but he well remembers Dyers Company and from circumstances & facts which Elisha Potter has this day related to him for the first time and which are of a personal character which he could not have known unless he had been personally engaged in service at that time, this deponent has no doubt he was in the said fifteen months service as he states, that he also recollects of the expedition mentioned by Elisha Potter in which Colonel Barton went in the night & took the british General Prescott from his quarters that Barton applied to this deponent to accompany him in the expedition but this deponent not being a good oarsman it was thought best for him not to go
Job Greene
Page 8

State of New York
Rensselaer County SS
On this twenty seventh day of December 1832 personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judges of the court of common Pleas, in & for the said County of Rensselaer Job Greene; who being by me duly sworn according to law made oath that the facts contained in the written affidavit by him subscribed were true as the same were therein stated.  And I do further certify that I am acquainted with the said Job Greene and that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to full credit.

Ga. R. Davis One of the
Judges of Rensselaer County
Court (illegible)
Page 9

State of New York
Rensselaer County  SS
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county of Rensselaer Elisha Potter, 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 that the Period, mentioned below and in the following grades:  For three weeks I served as a private soldier.  For three months after the three above mentioned I served as a second sarjeant in Captain James Parkers Company. For six months I served as a second sarjeant and part of that time as an orderly sarjeant in Captain Christopher Dyers company.  For nine months I served as second Lieutenant in said Captain Dyers Company.  For one year I served as a Second Lieutenant in the same company commanded by Captain Christopher Dyer after the said fifteen months service.  For ten days I served as a First Lieutenant in enlisting men to join the regular army and I belonged at this time to Colonel Shelburn or Shermans Regiment although I had not joined the Regiment at the time I was taken prisoner as stated in my declaration hereby amended, that while enlisting men as above stated I was taken prisoner as stated in my declaration and that For six months and twenty days while holding a First Lieutenants commission I was a prisoner to the british as stated in my declaration hereby amended. That none of my services above mentioned were performed in the continental army except the last ten days services above mentioned which were spent in enlisting men as above stated not having joined any regiment, but that my services were all performed in the militia and State service and that George Melliman whose affidavit is here to annexed is dead.
Date December 24 1832
Elisha Potter

subscribed and sworn before
me this twenty fourth day of December 1832
Harry Patterson Justice Peace
Page 10

State of New York
Rensselaer County SS
I Henry R. Bristol clerk of the said county of Rensselaer do hereby certify that Harry Patterson Esquire before whom the within affidavit purports to have been taken was at the time of taking the same one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the said county of Rensselaer and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe the signature "Harry Patterson" subscribed to the said affidavit to be genuine and his proper hand writing & signature
In Testimony where of I have hereunto
set my name & affixed my seal of office
this 12th day of January 1833.
Henry R. Bristol Clerk

(imprint of seal illegible)
Page 11

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of New York
County of Rensselaer SS
On this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before Daniel Gardner Esquire Recorder of the City of Troy in the county of Rensselaer  aforesaid and presiding Judge of the court of common Pleas called the Mayor court in and for the city of Troy aforesaid uone (?) sitting Elisha Potter a resident of the town of Hoosick in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York aged seventy four years and will be seventy five years the last of August in the year eighteen hundred and thirty two 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 and the act extending the benefits thereof to persons imprisoned.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in stated.  That he was born on an Island called Jamestown in the State of Rhode Island in the year seventeen hundred and fifty eight.  That his age is recorded in the office of the Town Clerk in Jamestown aforesaid and that he has a record of it in his family Bible at Home put down by his father.  That when he entered the service of the United States he was living at South Kingston in the State of Rhode Island.  That he entered the service as a volunteer.  That he cannot recollect the month or day of the month on which he so entered.  That it was according to the best of his recollection in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five and in the latter part of the summer as mowing was over.  That he volunteered and went with a company of militia or State Troops commanded by Captain Lock the first Lieutenants name was Carpenter and
Page 12

the ensigns name was Sands, that he cannot recollect their Christian names, that they went on to Block Island another company commanded by Captain Garves also volunteers went with them that they remained there about a fortnight until drove off by the British, that after he left Block Island he was attached to a Regiment of Militia commanded by Colonel Thomas Potter and was stationed along the shore as a guard to keep the enemy from the shore that he was there employed for some time in the service of the United States but how long he cannot with certainty state.
That he next enlisted as South Kingston aforesaid for three months in a company of State Troops commanded by Captain James Parker first Lieutenant Barber Peckham second Lieutenant Whitman his Christian name not recollected Ensign Jonathan Maxon, Colonel Cook commanded the Regiment to which said company belonged.  That he enlisted as above in the month of October as he thinks in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six, but the precise day of the month he cannot recollect or state, that he was stationed at a fort on the west side of Rhode Island until the British fleet came in and drove them off, that he was then marched to a place called Howlands Ferry where he remained until his time for which he had enlisted had expired while there he was employed in standing guard.   That he cannot recollect what General commanded them.  That he was discharged at Howlands Ferry having served out his full time of three months in the service of the United States as a Soldier of the Revolution and that he received no written discharge.  That he does not recollect the month or day of the month on which he was discharged
Page 13

That immediately after the expiration of three months last above mentioned he again enlisted at South Kingston aforesaid for fifteen months that it was the last of December in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six or early in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven but that he cannot recollect with certainty the day or month on which he enlisted.  That he enlisted in a company of State troops commanded by Captain Christopher Dyer, the first Lieutenants name was Barber Peckham the second Lieutenants name was Carpenter and the ensigns name was Rice who together with Lieutenant Carpenter some time after left the service & went home.  That he was at first for sometime after his enlistment second & then orderly Sargeant to said Company and six months after he was enlisted he received a second Lieutenants commission and served the remaining nine months as second Lieutenant to said company.  That Potter, his Christian name he cannot recollect took the ensigns place which Rice left vacant.  That Colonel Joseph Stanton was at first their Colonel and the Lieutenant Colonels name was John Hawkins.  That Stanton resigned or left the service and Hawkins also left the service and never returned and as he understood died and that Colonel Barton then took command the remainder of the time and filled both offices of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel.  That the majors name was John Handy, that he was stationed during all the time for which he last enlisted as above at Howlands Ferry.  That there were no continental officers or Troops at Howlands Ferry to stay any length of time while he was stationed there.  That he was in a skirmish with the enemy while stationed there and was wounded in the leg. That Captain Dyer was also wounded and was for some months unable to take command of said company and did not as he thinks ever take command of
Page 14

the company again that Lieutenant Peckham acted as Captain.  that no other Regiment was stationed at Howlands Ferry while he was there another Regiment was stationed near Mount Hope.  That he was in the latter part of the summer or fall the month he cannot recollect engaged with a number of others commanded by Colonel Barton to go and take General Prescott from his quarters on Rhode Island in the night that they started from Howlands Ferry & went to Bristol & Qerrescok Point & from there to the Island & took him and brought him off by boats in the night and took him to Providence and then returned to the Regiment at Howlands Ferry.  That he served out the full term of fifteen months at Howland Ferry aforesaid and nine months of the time he served as a second Lieutenant being regularly commissioned by the Governor of Rhode Island that his commission is lost or destroyed long since that it was signed by the then governor of Rhode Island whose name he believes was William Green and was also signed by the secretary of state Henry Wardell - had no written discharge.
That at the expiration of the said fifteen months he was again commissioned by the then Governor of Rhode Island as a second Lieutenant for the term of one year, and that he continued to serve in same company with same officers for the term of one year and was stationed during the year at Howlands Ferry, that there were no continental troops or officers stationed at Howlands Ferry the year last above mentioned.  That during this year and in the month of August or he thinks he was in an engagement with the enemy on Rhode Island and took a Fort about
Page 15

two miles from Howlands Ferry on the Island built by the British.  That Colonel Green afterwards General Green commanded the Brigade to which he belonged. General Sullivan was the commander in chief, that this engagement took place at the time the French Fleet was damaged by the storm and was forced to run into Boston and was then obliged to retreat back to Howlands Ferry, where he remained until the year above mentioned had expired in all which time he faithfully served his country as a second Lieutenant in the above company. That this second commission is also lost or destroyed long since, that it was signed by the then Governor of Rhode Island whose name he thinks was Collins, his Christian name he cannot recollect, that is was also signed by the Secretary of State Henry Wardel.  That he then received a Lieutenants commission for three years under Colonel Shelburn or Sherman, his Christian name he cannot recollect neither can he recollect the names of the other officers.  That he then has listing orders and was employed in enlisting men until he was taken by the British about three weeks after he commenced, that while engaged in enlisting men at Point Judith on the main opposite Rhode Island he with seven others were taken prisoners by the British and carried on bard a British Ship of War.  That while on board this ship his pockets were rifled by the enemy and his pocket Book containing his Lieutenants commission and his two second Lieutenants commissions as he believes and a quantity of continental money which he had received to pay out as bounty on enlisting men was thrown by them into the ocean.  That his Lieutenants commission was signed by the then Governor of Rhode Island
Page 16

whose name was Arthur Venner as he believes and by the secretary Henry Wardell, that he remained a prisoner on board of said Ship six months & twenty days and that he then escaped through the agency of an American citisen named Elijah Case employed by the british in transporting wood with a Sloop from Long Island to New York that he was carried by this American citisen in his Sloop covered up and secreted with some clothing for the British Army and landed on Long Island and from there went on foot to East Hampton most of the way by night and there crossed over to the main land near New London which was two or three days before Christmas in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight.  That he cannot recollect the date of any of the commissions above named and that he has no documentary evidence whatever of his enlistment or services above specified.  That he has lived since the Revolutionary War in South Kingston aforesaid until he removed to Hoosick where he now resides and where he has resided about forty two years last past.  That the names of the persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution are Israel Keech, John B. Ryan and John Fitch & the person whose affidavit here to annexed is sick & unable to attend court & is confined to his bed.  He hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State

sworn to and subscribed    Elisha Potter
the day and year aforesaid
Archibald Bull Clerk
Page 17

Mr Israel Keach a clergyman residing in the town of Hoosick in county of Rensselaer and State of New York and John Fitch residing in the same place hereby certify that we are acquainted with Elisha Potter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy four years of age and in his seventy fifth year, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood were he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
sworn & subscribed the 
day and year aforesaid
Israel Keach
John Fitch
Archibald Bull Clerk

And the said court hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And that Israel Keach who has signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in aforesaid Hoosick. The court further certifies that it appears to them & that John Fitch who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Archibald Bull clerk of the court of common Pleas called the Mayors court in & for the city of Troy in county of Rensselaer aforesaid do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Elisha Potter for the Pension.
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
seal of office this eighth day
of August 1832
Archibald Bull
Clerk

(imprint of seal illegible)
Page 18

4855.
In the matter of Elisha Potter application for a Pension

captivity disallowed not in actual service at the time

aomd
10mo 10ds Lieut.
9 mo  Sergt.
21  pri
10  1

3) 1333
    ------
    444

13.33
    10
 ------
133.30
    4.44
  45
    2.21
_________
84.95


21
11
____
2.21
Page 19

State of New York
Rensselaer County
George Milliman of the town of Hoosick in the county and state aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth and says that he is personally acquainted with Elisha Potter the Petitioner within named and that he has known him for many years, that he was a Soldier in the army of the Revoulion in the years one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight that he was in actual service during that time and that this deponent has seen him during that time acting as a Lieutenant in the said army in the service of the United States of America and this deponent further says that the said Elisha Potter was a prisoner in the hands of the Enemy six months besides the years above mentioned & taken as such prisoner by Captain Hatch and further this deponent saith not

George Milliman

Sworn and subcribed
before me this 7th day of
September 1831
Samuel Sherwood Justice of the Peace

State of New York
County of Rensselaer
on the seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one personally appeared before me Samuel Sherwood Just Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the county of Rensselaer the above named George Milliman to me know & being by me duly sworn according to law made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true and I hereby certify that the said George Milliman is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Sherwood Justice Peace
Page 20

I Archibald Bull Clerk of the County of Rensselaer, do hereby certify that Samuel Sherwood whose genuine signature is affixed to the within affidavit & Certificate was at the time of taking the same one of the Justices of the peace in & for the County of Rensselaer.  
In Testimony where of I have hereunto sat my name & affixed my Seal of office this Eighth day of August, 1832.

Archibald Bull Clerk

(seal imprint illegible)
Page 21

O.W. and N. Division.
3--525.
ISte.  our
Sur. File 14,201
Rev. War.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., 

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Elisha Potter, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information a contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. Late 2 mn of 75
LENGTH OF SERVICE.  3 wks
RANK. Pri,.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.  Lock
COLONEL. Thos. Potter
STATE.  R.I.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. 76 
LENGTH OF SERVICE. 3 mos.
RANK. 2nd Sergt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. 
CAPTAIN. James Parker
COLONEL. Cook
STATE.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. Dec 76 or Jan 77
LENGTH OF SERVICE. 6 mos
RANK. ordly Sergt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. Christopher Dyer
COLONEL. Joseph Stanton
STATE.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT Dec 76 or Jan 77
LENGTH OF SERVICE. 9 mos.
RANK. 2 Lieut
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. Christopher Dyer
COLONEL. Barton
STATE.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. Dec 76 or Jan 77
LENGTH OF SERVICE. 1 yr.
RANK. 2 Lieut
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. Christopher DYer
COLONEL.
STATE.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. 1778
LENGTH OF SERVICE. 10 days
RANK. 1 Lieut
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. Recruiting officer was captured by British, held 6 mos & 20 days on prison ship before making his escape.
COLONEL. Sherbierne
STATE.

Battles engaged in, ck. Howland's Ferry - Sullivan's exped.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, So. Kingston, R.I.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 8, 1832 - allowed
Residence at date of application, Hoosick, Rensselaer Co. NY
Age at date of application, B. Jamestown, R.I. Last of Aug. 1758
Remarks:

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 22

O.W. & N.
May 21. 1906.
702 Division Street
Stevens Point, Wis.
Commissioners of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sirs: - Will you kindly inform me if one Gilbert Ferriss of the Revolutionary War received a pension? He lived at New Milford Conn., but might have enlisted from some other New England State.  
Also did Elisha Potter (who was in the Revolutionary War) receive a pension? I don't know just which State he enlisted from perhaps R.I., Vermont or Mass or New Jersey.  I want to have my eligibility to the D.A.R. Any information you can give me will be most grate
Page 23

fully received.

Yours very respectfully.
Anna E. Ferriss

[postmark:
May 24, 1906
O. W. & N. DIV.
FYLER]

[postmark:
MAY 23, 1906
U. S. 
PENSION OFFICE ]
Page 24

1906 May 29 - History to Mrs. Anna E. Ferriss c
1925 Dec 14. Data to H.S. Hull, 320 Bway. N.Y. City (ew letter in Abraham I. Vosburgh S28469) AW.

Rev War
14.201
INVALID
File No. 14,201
Elisha Potter
Lt. & C Rev War

Act:  June 7  1832
Index:  Vol. 1, Page 300

[Arrangement of 1870.]