Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,022, Nathaniel Towslee, Conn. New York
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn.
New York

Towslee, Nathaniel

NUMBER
S. 22.022

CONTENTS
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Vermont. No 11,783
Nathaniel Towslee of
Bennington Co. in the State of Vermont
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Gale of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Brown in the Conn. & N.Y. troops line for 2 years

2 years Conn. Trps

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 80 Dollars____ Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of Decemr 1833 and sent to Nath'l Harmon Esqr Rutland Vt

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833 - $200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 34 $40.00
$240.00

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by D. Brown, Clerk
Book E. , Vol. 3 , Page 95


[written sideways on opposite page]
Certificate issued in June 1833 erroneously in the name of N. Fowler
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3950
Nathaniel Towslee's
Application for a Pension
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State of Vermont
County of Bennington } ss:
On this 16th day of August - AD. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate of Wills & of granting administrations, in & for the District
of Manchester, in the County of Bennington, now sitting, Nathaniel Towslee of the town of Rupert in the County of Bennington, aforesaid, in said State, residing, aged eighty two 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 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein
stated.
(8 mo.) 1. In the year 1775 or 1776 (according to his best remembrance, being then 25 or 26 years of age, & now more than eighty two, but he is very sure it was in the year 1775) then living, with his wife, at a place called
Nine Partners, in the County of Dutchess, in the State of New York, in the Spring he went to Litchfield, in the State of Connecticut & there inlisted with a Major Welch, in a Regiment raised by the State, commanded by Col. Brown
& not long after, marched, in company with ninety men, including himself, to the Fort of Ticonderoga, then in possession of the Americans, as was, also, Crown Point & served in the Fort of Ticonderoga, & its dependencies, until he was discharged in the fall, as he
remembers, by Gen Schuyler, in writing, which
writing, he lost, many years ago, supposing it of no value or consequence. This tour of service continued more than six months. He has forgotten almost all of the principal officer's names in garrison with him
at the Fort, but well remembers Gen Schuyler, the commander, & was one of the Guard of honor, which escorted that Officer into the Fort of Ticonderoga, when he first crossed the Lake from Mount Independence on the Bridge, which had been erected, between that post & Ticonderoga. He remembers, also Col. Easton,
who belonged to the garrison at the time. Returning home to his family at Nine Partners, after his discharge,
(1 year) 2. He, in the fall of the same year, inlisted in a corps of Rangers, commanded by Capt. Child - the subalterns were
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Lieut Lloyd, Lieut. Blunt, & Ensign Shaw -- soon after enlisting, he marched, along with the company, to the City of New York, assisted to fortify that place-- remembers that the
Americans converted the cellars of houses, situated on high grounds, into Batteries, in which they mounted Cannon. He, also, served on Long-Island, & at the White Plains, during this tour, which continued one year;
at the end of which, he was discharged, without any written instrument. Cannot, by reason of his great age & infirmity, remember many of the officers of the forces at that
time at New York & elsewhere, except those of his own Company, which he has named. Thinks Gen. Lee & Lord Sterling were in command there at the time. Did not see Gen. Washington till afterwards, at Fort Defiance, See No. 2.
(3 mo.) 3. Early in the summer, or latter part of the spring of the year 1777 he inlisted under a Capt. Gale, at Nine Partners, there being a pressing call for men to defend the American
posts on the Hudson River, & he with others was marched to a post, situated on the East Bank of the Hudson, called Fort Defiance, about six miles, as he thinks, above Fort Montgomery, where he lay in garrison three
months; after which, & before the capture of Fort Montgomery, he was discharged, without any writing & returned to his home at Nine Partners.
(6 weeks) 4. Very soon after his return home, as last mentioned, when Commodore Wallace sailed up the Hudson, with a naval force, accompanied by Gen. Vaughan, with
a body of land forces, & not long previous to the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, the militia of Dutchess County were called out, by the Governor, to repel the invasion,
& in obedience to this call the Declarant voluntarily assumed his arms & marched with his country men under the command of Capt. Wheeler, who commanded the company to which he belonged; the whole under
the command of Col. Hopkins. This tour of service occupied six weeks. First marched to Fishkill, then, up the river as far as Rhinebeck, to defend the shores of the river.
(6 weeks) 5. During the latter part of the summer of the year 1779, a detachment of Militia from Albany County, --- was ordered out, for the defence of Fort Edward, on the East bank of the Hudson, about two miles below the great Bend of that river, & the country in its vicinity. On this occasion, the declarant volunteered his services, & joined a company
commanded by Capt. Brevoort of Saratoga & Lieut. Wheeler, the whole detachment being commanded by Col.
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McCrea, & Major Van Schaick.  With that detachment he marched to Fort Edward, where he remained in service, about six weeks; & then, being dismissed, as usual without writing,
returned home. At this time, he resided in Easton, in the County of Albany, now in Rensselaer County, State of New York to which
place he had removed.
(2 mo.)  6. In the summer of the year 1780, still residing in Easton, the militia being called for, the declarant volunteered under Capt. Gale, already named, other companies joined &
the whole rendesvoused at Nine Partners, & marched from that place under the command of Col. Hopkins, to the vicinity of Kingsbridge, near Valentine Hill so called. There they were
joined by a Regiment of dragoons under Col. Sheldon, & a detachment of militia took possession of a large stone house, within
half a mile of a British fort:  at which, & in its vicinity he with the others, remained between two & three months, & with the rest, was dismissed, without writing. He understood at this time, that the main force of the Americans, was at no great distance in the rear of the body to which he belonged.
Being interrogated according to the instructions of the Hon. Secretary, the declarant saith, that he was born in Salisbury, in the State of Connecticut, on the 10th day of October 1749 as informed by his parents; but has no record of his age & knows of none: He will, hence, be eighty three years old on the 10th day of October next. That he removed from Salisbury, when very young with his father & family to the Nine Partners, Dutchess
County, State of New York- there married & resided till about 30 years old- thence removed to Jericho, in Massachusetts, &
resided there one year; thence removed to Easton in the State of New York, where he lived about four years, & from that place, came to Rupert, in Bennington County, State of
Vermont, where, except a short time that he resided in Pawlet, the adjoining town, in Rutland County, he has lived ever since, & still resides there. That he resided at the
Nine Partners, during the times of his four first engagements in the service; & at Easton, the two last. That he was never drafted for military service, nor hired as a substitute, but
volunteered at each time of service:
That he has stated the names of such officers & corps as he was acquainted with, in the service, as for as he can, at this great distance of time, & at his advanced age particularly recollect. Never received but one discharge in
writing, which, as before stated, was given by Gen Schuyler if his memory serves him, & which was, long since, lost.
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That he has been long known to several respectable gentlemen in the vicinity of his residence, who can testify concerning his character, & as to their belief of his military service- among whom are Grove Moore Esquire, Isaac Reed, Col. John Sargent & Amos Curtis & many others, but he is not aware that any Clergyman is sufficiently acquainted with his character, or reputed services, to form a
judgment respecting them, he living very remote from any such gentleman, as he has done many years.  Nor is he able to procure the testimony of any of his former comrades in arms, or of any other person who personally knew of his military service to his country. Having removed, nearly 50 years ago, from the place (Nine Partners) where he resided, when he engaged for much the greatest part of his services, to the distance of about 140 miles, & during that long period, had no intercourse either with his old comrades, or with the people of that place-- some of his comrades
being raised & embodied in Connecticut, & some in the State of New York, he knows not any to whom he might resort for such testimony. And if any such do remain, residing
as they probably do in distant & remote parts of the country, in the extreme of old age & infirmity, poor & dependent for subsistence, upon the charity of his friends, he has neither
pecuniary means, nor bodily strength to travel to distant places, he knows not where, to find any of his old associates in arms.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
[signed] Nathaniel Towslee
Sworn to subscribed,
the day & year last aforesaid
Attest. Henry Robinson, Register

We John Sargent- & Grove Moore residing
in the town of Rupert, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Towslee, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration-- that we believe him to be eighty two years of age - that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a solder of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.

[signed] John Sargent
[signed] Grove Moore

Sworn & subscribed, the day year afore
Attest, Henry Robinson, Register -
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And the said Court does hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, & served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to it, that John Sargent &
Grove Moore, who have signed the preceding certificate, are residents in the town of Rupert in Bennington County & are credible persons, & that their statement is entitled to credit.

Myron Clark, Judge of Probate

I, Henry Robinson, Register of the Court of Probate for the district of Manchester, in the County of Bennington, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Towslee for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, & the seal of my office, this 16th day of August AD. 1832. & of the United States'
Independence, the Fifty Seventh.
Henry Robinson, Register
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3950
Nathaniel Fowler (Towslee)
admitted
24 mo Private $80
Indep
Sent to Pensioner
Rupert
Bennington Co., Vt

Rutland Co., NY
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
25 April 1833

Sir,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of Nathaniel Towslee

Period when service was rendered -in the whole, from 1775 to 1780

1.  1775 - 6 mo., Private
Names of Officers under whom he served: Col. Brown, Major Welch
Age at present & place of abode when he entered service:  Aged 83 years.  Place of abode: Nine Partners, N.Y.
Proof by which the declaration is supported:  His own declaration on oath, duly exemplified

2. 1775 & 1776 - 1 year - Private
Officers Col. Brown, Maj. Welch
Same place of abode
Same proof

3.  1777 - 3 mo., Private
A major name not recollected
Same place of abode, same proof

4. 1777 - 1-1/2 mo. - Private
Col. Hopkins
Same place of abode, same proof

5.  1779 - 1-1/2 mo. - Private
Col. McCrea, Major Van Schaick
Place of abode:  Easton, NY
Same proof

6.  1780 - 2 mo. - Private
Col. Hopkins
Place of abode:  Easton, NY
Same proof

[Total time] 2 yrs., 2 mo. in whole

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions

Mr. Nath'l Fowler
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops, "militia" and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law: 
1. The Regular Troops. 
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service. 
4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 
DECLARATION. 
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. State, Territory, or District of County of } ss. On this ___day of ____personally appeared (a) before __________A B. a resident (b) of____in the county of____and State, Territory or District of aged (c)____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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)_____served in the_____(e) regiment of the_____line, under the following named officers:

[The following paragraph contained in brackets [ ] is highlighted]

[ Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B. [And then will follow the certificate of the Court] And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. I, _______of the Court of______ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of______for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this_____day of____ & c. If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: 
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the____and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with_____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be______years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid. [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] And the said Court do hereby declare 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 it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the_____and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the_____and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I, Clerk of the Court of_____do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of_______for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this___day of____& c. Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person  

[handwritten at bottom of page "As the claimant produces no evidence, he must be able to give a very detailed statement of his various terms of service in order that the truth of his declaration may be tested."]
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 
1. Where and in what year were you born? 
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live? 
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. To a Soldier: Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? 
To an Officer: Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates. The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 
(a)The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. (b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. 
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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 amount of pension he is entitled. 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." It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; places where the service was performed, that the applicant served with all embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required. 
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
(i) The Clerk must fix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 
Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
 Proof of Service. 
(j) 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 claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he 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.
 [picture of a pointing finger] The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only. 
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
(m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

[Footnote (e) is highlighted; sentences 1 and 2 of the footnote, as well as the last sentence, and the words "It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served;" are underlined.]
Page 13

Nathaniel Towslee's
Application for a Pension


Nath'l Harman, Esq'r
Pawlet
Vt.
Page 14

State of Vermont
County of Bennington } ss:
On this 31st day of May AD. 1833, personally appeared before the Court for the Probate of Wills, & of Granting administrations, within & for the district of Manchester, in the County of Bennington, in open Court, Nathaniel Towslee,
a resident of the town of Rupert, in the County of Bennington, in the State of Vermont, aged
eighty three years, in October last, who
being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service
of the United States, under the following named officers, & served as herein stated.
1. - 6 mo. - In the early part of summer of 1775, according to his best remembrance, being then 25 or 26 years of age, married, & residing with his wife, at a place called Nine Partners, in the County of Dutchess in the State of New York, he went to Litchfield, in the State of Connecticut, & there inlisted with a Major Welsh, in a Regiment raised by the State, commanded by Col. Brown; the company
to which he belonged, was commanded by Major Welch & he cannot recollect the names of the subalterns, on account of the long period which has since elapsed, & his
own great age. Soon after his enlistment, he marched with a company, or corps of ninety men, including himself, through Salisbury, Canaan & other towns, to the vicinity of the Hudson river, above Albany, thence through
the country, then almost wholly in forest, to a place a little below Fort Miller, where the corps crossed the Hudson, & marching up its western bank, crossed it again near Fort Edward; & thence went to Fort George, at the
head of the lake of that name, where the corps remained two nights & one day, a then they all went in boats, down the lake to the landing, at its northern extremity, & from that place to Ticonderoga, at which place, & its dependencies, he continued in the service, until he was discharged, in the fall, as he well remembers, by Gen. Schuyler, the commander - in writing, which writing, he lost, many years ago; supposing it of no value.  He enlisted for six months on this tour; served out
the whole term, excepting about two weeks previous to its expiration, he was discharged & sent home, on account of sickness, which continued, severely, long after his arrival at home.
Page 15

The American forces were, at that time, in possession of both Crown Point & Ticonderoga & its dependencies; but this declarant was at Crown Point, only occasionally & during short periods. He served in the ranks, after his
arrival at Ticonderoga, until late in June or July when he was appointed by Col. Brown, to be a kind of steward, to draw from the commissary, & with the assistance of two others, to cause to be prepared for the table, provisions for forty two Carpenters, employed by the commander in building Gondolas & other boats, on Lake Champlain for an expedition to St. John's, in which capacity he served, according to his remembrance, more than two months; after which returning to the ranks, he was in September, attacked with the disease, then known by the name of the Camp
Distempers, or dysentery; from which, after several weeks he partially recovered, but was discharged, about two weeks before the expiration of the term of his enlistment, on account of illness, & weakness of body. The
Declarant saith that he has forgotten almost all the names of the officers, belonging to the garrison, at the time he was at Ticonderoga, but well remembers Gen Schuyler, the Commander, & was one of the guards
of honor, which escorted that officer into the Fort of Ticonderoga, when he first crossed the Lake from Mount- Independence, on the Bridge, which had been erected between the two posts. He remembers, also, Col. Easton, who belonged to the garrison, at the time. He does not know the amount of the American
force, at the time, in garrison at the 
several posts, in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, but believes it to have been several thousand men:  There was no attack on the posts, & no fighting between the Americans & the enemy, while he was there, within his knowledge.  After his discharge, he returned to his family, at Nine Partners.
2. - 1 year. - The declarant still residing at Nine Partners, in the fall of the year 1776, after the term of his former service expired, inlisted in a corps of Rangers, at that place, the company commanded by a Capt. Child, the subalterns
were Lieuts. Lloyd & Blunt, & Ensign Shaw. This company he understood, was raised by direction of the County Committees, or Committee of safety, acting under the Provincial Congress, then sitting in New York, as he understood.
Page 16

As soon as the company was raised & equipped he marched with it to Poughkeepsie & thru White Plains, to New York, by Kingsbridge; when they arrived, as he remembers, about a month after the City was cannonaded by the ship Asia, Capt. Van De Put at Kingsbridge, they were joined by another company from Massachusetts.  A part
of this term of service was spent by him & others in the City of New York, where he assisted to fortify - & remembers that the Americans converted the cellars of houses situated on high grounds, into Batteries, in which they mounted cannon. He was sent with a detachment, also, to Long Island, where they remained about three months, digging turf, to build a fort at Horn's Hook, on the East River in New York, also in cutting pickets and keeping guard there. At one time, the whole company
was sent to White Plains, where they kept guard about a month. The declarant enlisted, at this time for one year, & served out the whole term; at the end of which, he was discharged, but without any writing.  As the
declarant acted only with small detachments, he did not learn the names of many of the officers, except those of his own company & cannot, by reason of his great age & infirmity, remember but few of those he then heard named, or knew: but thinks Gen. Lee & Lord
Sterling were in command there, at the time.
3. - 3 mo. - Early in the summer or late in the spring of the year 1777, Capt. Gale of Nine Partners, was ordered by the County Committee, to assemble one half of the militia
of the place for the service of the United States, & raised a company, partly by draught & partly by voluntary engagement, & the declarant, still residing in Nine Partners
volunteered in said company; one of the Lieutenants of which, was named Holmes-- the names of the other subalterns, he has forgotten. There was a pressing call for
men to defend the American ports on the Hudson, & he, with the rest of Capt. Gale's company was marched to a post situated on the east bank of the river, called Fort- Defiance, about six miles, as he believes, above Fort. Montgomery: where they lay in garrison three months, which was the period, for which they were called out:  after which, & before the capture of Fort Montgomery, he was discharged, but without writing, & returned to his home at Nine Partners. There were two other companies
Page 17

of New York militia at Fort- Defiance, when Capt. Gale's company arrived then, & the whole were commanded by a Major; whose name & those of the other officers, the declarant has forgotten.
4. -  6 weeks. - Very soon after the declarant returned home to Nine Partners, as last mentioned, when Commodore Wallace sailed up the Hudson, with a naval force, accompanied by Gen. Vaughan, with a body of land forces, & not long previous to the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, the militia
of Dutchess County were called out by the Governor to repel the invasion; & in obedience to this call the declarant voluntarily assumed his arms, & joined a company of militia, under the command of a Capt. Wheeler; the
whole body of militia with whom he acted at this time, was commanded by Major Hopkins, but he has forgotten the names of the subalterns of his own company, & those of other officers of the detachment. He can only
remember that the two subalterns of his company were Dutchmen. This tour of service occupied six weeks, at the end of which the militia were dismissed, & the declarant
with the rest. When this detachment of militia
first marched, it was intended to join the American force on the west side of the river, to defend the Forts, & thereby protect the country; but they were prevented from this by the celerity & force of the enemy. The
militia were, therefore stationed at different points, on the east side of the river; & the body to which the declarant belonged, first marched to Fishkill, then up the river to Rhinebeck, & not remaining long stationary at any place.
5. - 6 weeks. - Previous to the year 1779, the declarant, with his family, removed from Nine-Partners, first to the town of Jericho, in Massachusetts, & thence to Easton in the (now County of Rensselaer) State of New York.
During the latter part of the summer of 1779, a detachment of the militia of Albany County, which then comprised, also, what is now Rensselaer County, was ordered out, by Col. McCrea, to take post at Fort Edward, on the east bank of the Hudson, about two miles
below the Great Bend of that river, to defend & protect the country in its vicinity. On this occasion, the declarant volunteered his services, & joined a company commanded
Page 18

by Capt Brevoort of Saratoga, & Lieut. Wheeler; the whole detachment being commanded by Col McCrea, & Major Van Schaick.  With that detachment, he marched to Fort Edward where he remained in service, about six weeks, & then, being dismissed, but without any writing, returned home.
6.- 2 mo. - In the summer of 1780, the declarant still residing in Easton, in Albany County, the militia were called for, or ordered out by Col. Hopkins, as he understood, for three months service; & the declarant
volunteered in a company commanded by Capt. Gale of Nine Partners, already named; other companies joined, & the whole rendesvoused at Nine Partners
& marched from that place, under the command of Col. Hopkins, to the vicinity of Kingsbridge, near Valentine's Hill, so called. There they were joined by a regiment,
or part of a regiment of dragoons, under Col. Sheldon, & a detachment of militia took possession of a large stone house, within half a mile of a British Fort, at & near which, the declarant, with others of the detachment, remained between two & three months, two months, at the least, & with the rest, was dismissed without any writing. He remembers
that one of the subalterns of Capt Gale, was a Lieut. Holmes, but the others he cannot recollect.  The declarant understood, at the time, that the main force of the Americans
was at no great distance, in the rear of the body to which he belonged & that the
design was to take the British forts at Kingsbridge.
Skirmishing between the British garrison & the
militia took place, in one instance of which
the declarant shared; in which the American losses in killed, was an ensign & two privates.
Being interrogated, according to the instructions of the Hon. Secretary, the declarant saith that he was born in Salisbury, in the State of Connecticut, on the10th day of October, 1749 as informed by his parents;
but has no record of his age, & knows of none. He was, hence, eighty three years old, on the 10th day of October last. That he removed with his father & family when very young, from Salisbury to Nine Partners
Page 19

Dutchess County, State of New York - there married & resided till about thirty years of age - thence removed to Jericho, in Massachusetts, & resided there one year; thence removed to Easton, in the State of New York, where he lived about four years. & from that place, came to Rupert in Bennington County, in the State of Vermont, where, except a short time that he resided in Pawlet, the adjoining town
in Rutland County, he has resided ever since, &
still resides there. That he resided at the Nine Partners during the times of his four first engagements in the service of his country, & at Easton the two last.
That he was never drafted for military service,
not hired as a substitute, but volunteered at each time of service.
That he has stated the names of such officers & corps, as he was acquainted with in service, as far as he can, at this great distance of time, & at his advanced age, particularly recollect. That he never received but one discharge in writing, which if his memory serves him, was given by Gen Schuyler. which was, long since, lost.
That he has been long known to several respectable gentlemen in the vicinity of his residence who can testify concerning his character, as to their belief of his military service among whom are Grove Moore, Esq. Isaac Reed, Col. John Sargent, Amos Curtis, & many others; but he is not aware that any clergyman is sufficiently acquainted with
his character, or reputed services, to form a judgment respecting them: he living very remote from the residence of any such gentlemen, as he has done, many years. Nor is he able to procure the testimony of any of his former comrades in arms, or of any other
person who, personally knew of his military
service to his country. Having removed, nearly
50 years ago, from the place (Nine Partners) where he resided, when he engaged for much the greater part of his services, to the distance of about 140 miles, & during that long period, had no intercourse, either with his old comrades, or with the other people of that place.
Page 20

 - some of his comrades being raised & embodied in Connecticut, & some in the State of New York, he knows not any to whom he might resort for such testimony if any be living; and if any such do remain, residing, as they probably do, in distant & remote parts of
the country, in the extreme of old age & infirmity - poor & dependent for subsistence upon the charity of his friends, he has neither pecuniary means, nor bodily strength to travel to distant places, he knows not where, to find any of his quondam associates in arms.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension, or annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
[signed] Nathaniel Towslee
Sworn to & subscribed
the day & year last aforesaid
Attest Henry Robinson
Register

We, John Sargent & Grove Moore, residing in
in the town of Rupert in Bennington County,
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Nathaniel Towslee, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration-- that we believe him to be eighty three years of age, that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood, where he resides,
to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
[signed] John Sargent
[signed] Grove Moore
Sworn & subscribed the day &
year aforesaid.-
Henry Robinson, Register

And the said Court do hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, & served as he states.
And the court further certifies, that it appears to it, that John Sargent & Grove Moore who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the
Page 21

town of Rupert, in Bennington county & are credible persons, & that their statements are entitled to credit.
Myron Clark, Judge of Probate Court

I, Henry Robinson, Register of the Court of Probate for the district of Manchester, in the County of Bennington, do certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Towslee for a pension.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of my office this 31st day of May, A.D. 1833
Henry Robinson, Register - 

Personally appeared before me the aforesaid Judge of Probate, in open court, the above-named Nathaniel Towslee, who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith, that by reason of old age, & the consequent loss of memory, he cannot positively swear as to the precise length of his service, in every case; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, as a private soldier.
In the Spring, summer and fall of 1775 - I served as a private soldier 6 months, excepting that I was discharged two weeks before my time was out, on account of sickness - 
-- 6 months --
From the fall of 1775 to that of 1776 as a private soldier, I served one year  
-- 12 months --
During the summer & fall of 1777, I served as a private soldier, two several tours, amounting to 4 months and a half
-- 4-1/2 months --
In the summer of 1779, I served as a private soldier one & a half months
-- 1-1/2 months --
And in the summer of 1780, I served as a private soldier, two months
-- 2 months --
In all the terms I served  --2 years, 2 months --
and for such service I claim a pension.

Sworn & subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid
Myron Clark, Judge of Probate Court
Page 22

July 30, 1934.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/ady
Nathaniel Towslee
S. 22022

Mr. Horace W. Tousley
110 Loretta Avenue, R. F. D. 1
Joliet, Illinois

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to one
Nathaniel Towsley, a soldier of the evolutionary War.
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.22022, based upon the military service of Nathaniel Towslee in that war.
Nathaniel Towslee was born October 10, 1749 in Salisbury, Connecticut, and when very young moved with his parents, their names not stated, to Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York.
While a resident of Nine Partners, New York, he went to Litchfield, Connecticut, and enlisted for six months in 1775 in a company commanded by Major Welch in Colonel Brown's Connecticut Regiment, served at Fort Ticonderoga and surrounding forts and was discharged about two weeks previous to the expiration of his service on account of
sickness and returned home. He enlisted in the fall of 1775 and served one year as private in Captain Child's Corps of Rangers. He enlisted in the spring or summer of 1777 and
served three months as private in Captain Gale's New York Company. He then enlisted and served six weeks as private in Captain Wheeler's Company, Colonel Hopkins' New York Regiment. Previous to 1779 he moved from Nine Partners, New York, to Jericho, Massachusetts, and one year later he moved to
Easton, New York, and while living there he enlisted in the summer of 1779 and served about six weeks as private in Captain Breevort's Company, Colonel McCrea's New York Regiment. He enlisted in the summer of 1780 and served more than two months as private in Captain Gale's Company, Colonel Hopkins'
New York Regiment. He was in a skirmish at King's Bridge.
He lived in Easton, New York, about four years, then moved to Rupert, Vermont, where he lived, except for a short time when he resided in Pawlet, Rutland County, an adjoining town.
Page 23

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 16, 1832 while a resident of Rupert, Bennington County, Vermont.
Soldier married in Nine Partners, New York, previous to his enlistment, date and name of his wife not stated. There are no further family data.
Soldier died January 18, 1834, place not stated. [handwritten "On A.B."]
This is the history of the only Nathaniel Towslee, all spellings of the surname searched, that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 24


22022
Revolution
---
INVALID.
File No. 22022
Nathaniel Towslee
Priv. Rev War
---
Act: June 7th 32
Index: --Vol. 2, Page 420
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1934 July 30. Hist to Horace W.
Tousley, A. D. Y.
Page 25

THE TOUSLEY FAMILY ASSOCIATION
An Unincorporated Organization Sponsoring the Compilation of Touslee. Tousley. Towslee. Towsley History

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
REV. IRVING TOWSLEY, PRES.
FARMINGTON, ME.
BENNETT E. TOUSLEY, VICE PRES.
C/O ESSIX COUNTY COUNTRY CLUB
WEST ORANGE. N. J.
MRS. HORACE R. MAXWELL
SONDHEIMER, LA.
FRED G. BEACH
46 NUNDA BLVD.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
WM. B. TOWSLEY
C/O MARSHALL FIELD & CO.
CHICAGO, ILL.
TWINING TOUSLEY, TREAS.
90 BROAD ST. NEW YORK, N. Y.
HORACE W. TOUSLEY, SECRETARY
110 LORETTA AVE., JOLIET, ILL.

110 Loretta Ave., RFD1, Joliet, Ill.
July 18, 1934

Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:

The writer has the following on one Nathaniel Towsley, "private, recruited May 1775 in New Haven, Co. Gen. Wooster's Regiment 4th co. Marched to Harlem and New York for summer guard. On Sept. 28th marched to Gen. Schyler on Lake George and Champlain. There on account of sickness of regiment, it was
mustered out. He was discharged Nov. 21, 1775. Took part in Battle of St. Johns in October and was stationed at Montreal for a time.
Do you have anything in your Revolutionary Pension records on this Nathaniel, or any other Nathaniel, have been paid a pension, or his family having been so cared for? Have anything of his date of marriage, or death or
that of his wife or any of the family?
His wife was supposed to have been one Olive Warters, supposedly there were 13 children all told. I have names as follows -- Olive, David,
Samuel, Abijah, Rufus, Elihu, Nathaniel Jr., Warters and Hiram.
Thanking you for your cooperation in this matter, I am
Very truly yours,
Horace W. Tousley
Horace W. Tousley, Secy.
File 4.49
Page 26

Pawlet Vt
18 Dec

Free

James L. Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 27

Pawlet, Rutland Co. Vt. Dec. 18, 1833.

J. L. Edwards Esq Comr of Pensions,

Sir, 
The inclosed Pension Certificate, with its envelope, came to the Post Office in Rupert, in
due season, after it was mailed; but the Postmaster having ascertained that there was no such person as Nathaniel Fowler, living in Rupert, was led to believe the certificate was intended for another person, under a mistaken name:  & as he knew that Mr. Nathaniel Towslee of Rupert, had sent on his declaration to the War Department, for the purpose of obtaining a pension, he presumed this certificate was, really, intended for him. As the
Post-master, also, knew that I was the agent or assistant of Mr. Towslee, he, yesterday, sent the pacquet to me, by the hand of my son, G. W. Harmon, Esq. - that, if I should think it expedient I might return it to you, to have the mistake corrected, if there be any.
If this certificate was intended for Nathaniel
Towslee, instead of Nathaniel Fowler, you will
find Mr. Towslee's Declaration, both original & amended, in the handwriting of this letter; & the papers were forwarded to the War Department, by me.
It seems that the name has been mistaken
from the first -- probably owing to some obscurity in the writing of it-- he being a very old man. My son, above named, states to me, that when the declaration of Towslee came back, last May, for amendment, the envelope was directed, on the back to Nathaniel
Towsler,-- but as the envelope contained the original declaration, there was, then, no doubt who was intended. As I am Mr. Towslee's agent, & he lives seven or eight miles from Rupert Post Office, will you be so good as to have the Certificate, when corrected, sent to me at this place, as above.
I am respectfully
Your Obd't Servt   Nath'l Harmon
Page 28

Revolutionary Claims }

Derley, M.
24. Sept.
Free

Sept. 30

Sent to Rupert, Bennington Co., Vt

Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City.
Page 29

Derby,  Sept. 23 1833

Sir I herein forward the application of Ephraim
Abbot for a pension, and request that the papers may be examined and if he succeeds he wishes his name placed on the roll of the Vermont Agency
Respectfully yours

Tim'o Himmon

I have in my hands a certificate for Nathaniel
Fowler that is placed on the pension roll of the
[cut off] agency.  - Whether the certificate was sent directly to [cut of] from the war department or to John Kimball of
Barton Vt. and by him to me I cannot tell-- but
have made diligent enquiry and cannot find any person in this vicinity to whom it belongs. It remains subject to your order to be returned to your department or to the persons to whom it belongs by your direction
Yours
Ti'om Himman
-