Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39,952, James Basford, Continental (N.Y.)
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Continental (N.Y.)
Basford, James
S. 39.952
Page 2

Pennsylvania
3763

James Basford, private
Capt. Craig

Pennsylvania line, 76   6 years
in the army of the United States during the
Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of N. York
at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to
commence on of 21 of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 of Oct 1818 and sent to Abraham Hoffman Eqr.
 Kingston, N. York

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818  $35.73
Semi-annual all'ce ending 4 March 1819  $48.00

4 mo.  14/30

Totaling:  $83.73

Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818

Moylan
Neversink - N.Y.  Sullivan

Order to pay 25th March 1839
C[illegible] to his Agt 28 March 1840
& letter to [illegible] J. Allen
Notlification sent to Chas
Tappen [illegible]

Transferred to New York, 17
March 1829, to take effect
from & after 4th March, 1829
Notification sent to Pensioner,
Poughkeepsie, N. York
#ld[?] to James Mow, Oct. 23, '48

To Albany, New York Agt, from 4 Sept. 1839
13 April 1840. Notifications to Hon. J. Allen,
H.R.  Letter to Hon. A.H. Read 18 May 1842
Cos.[?] to Pension Agt. 15 July 1842To Pennsylvania from 4th Sep 1842 - 23 July 1843.
Notification to James Bassford, Esq., 
Little [?]ead[illegible P.A.  [?[urque [illegible] Penn  oo #
Page 3

Admitted
Jas. Basford
To Abraham Hoffman
Albany, New York
Page 4

State of New York
Ulster County :  ss:

On this twenty-first day of April 1818 before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Ulster County, personally appeared James Basford of Neversink in the County of Sullivan, aged 55 years, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Navel services of the United States in the Revolutionary War."  That the said James Basford enlisted in NewBurgh in the State of New York in the years 1777 for during the war in the Company commanded by Captain John Craig fourth Pennsylvania Regiment of Dragoons that he continued to serve in the said Corps or in the service of the United States until the close of the war when he was discharged from service in Lancaster in the State of Pennsylvania; that he was in the Battles at the taking of Cornwallis Battle of Charlestown, South Carolina and in several skirmishes with the Indians, Tories, and British in the State of Georgia and that he is reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support, and that he has no other evidence now in his home of his said services.
James Basford

Sworn to and declared before
me the day and year aforesaid.
Abraham Hoffman
Page 5

I, Abraham Hoffman, Judge as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that eh said James Basford did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned Act of Congress.

Kingston, 21st April 1818

Abraham Hoffman

Ulster County Clerk's Office}  ss:

The above named Abraham Hoffman is duly commissioned and qualified as a Judge as above described and the above is his signature of his own handwriting with which I am well acquainted, I affix the Seal of the court within mentioned for which I am Clerk.

Dated 24th April, 1818
Charles Tappan
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[illegible]
Page 7

State of New York
Ulster County :  ss:

At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Courthouse in Kingston in and for the County of Ulster in the State of New York being a Court of Record proceeding according to the course of the Common Laws with a jurisdiction unlimited in point-of-[illegible] keeping a record of its proceedings in July Term 1820.

Lucas Elmendorf, first Judge

Present:
Jonathan Dubois
Jacob Trimpborn Junr
John Crispell

Judges:  being a quorum for the transaction of business - 
On this fifth day of July 1820 personally appeared in open Court - James Basford of the Town of Warwarsink 
 in the said County of Ulster aged sixty-four years who being first duly sworn to Law doth deposes as follows; that I served in the Army of the revolution as follows; that in the year 1778, I enlisted in the company of 
Captain John Craig in the fourth Regiment of Light Dragoons Commanded by Coll. Morland and afterwards by Coll. White in the Pennsylvania line for and during the war and faithfully to the end of the war and was discharged on the 30th of June 1783 And then I the said James Basford do further depose and declare that I was a Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sales or in any other manner, disposed of any
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property or any part thereof with the intent thereby
so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled an Act to
provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and
naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary
war passed 18th March 1818 and have not nor
has any person in trust for any properties or
securities Contracts or Debts due to me nor have
I any income other than what is contained in the
schedule hereto annexed and subscribed by me
A shedule containing the whole real estate and
Income of James Basford a Pensioner under the Act entitled an Act to provide for certain persons
engaged in the Land and naval service of the
United States in the revolutionary war
of real estate I have none -  of Income I have
none except my pension - I rent a Tenement and
garden of the Widow Boggs in the Town of Warwarsink
for one year for twelve dollars I have no trade
and support myself by day labour - of personal Estate I have one cow Two shoats of about 3
months old two spinning wheels one chest Two axes, one hoe, two pails, 1 Tea pot - ,  5 Cups 9 saucers - 2 wooden plates, 4 knives and forks, 1 Iron Trammel 3
Barrels and one plain pine table besides my necessary
wearing apparel and Bedding
James Basford
Page 9

am a common day labourer  I am a cripple
in one hand and one foot and am unable to do
a full days work
and could not subsist myself
without the aid of my pension my family
Consists
of a wife named Tamer[?] aged forty years
is weakly in constitution and one son named James
five years old who is dependent on me for support
James Basford

Sworn and Subscribed in open Court this 5th July
1820 before me Lucas Elmendorf first Judge,

I Christopher Tapper Junr Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County
in the State of New York do certify that the
foregoing oath and the Schedule thereunto
convened are truly copied from the originals on
file in the office of said Clerk and that it is
the opinion of said Court that James Basford
is dependent on the aid of his Country for
support And that the total amount in value
of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule
is Twenty Eight Dollars, Witness my
hand and the seal of said Court July 5th 1820
Ch. Tappen Junr
Page 10

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.

County of Dutchess  SS.
State of New York
On this Eleventh day of March 1829,
before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of
Dutchess personally appeared James Bassford
who, on his oath, declares that he is the same
person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain
John Craig
in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Milard in the service of the United States; that
his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of N. York after transferred to the State of Vermont - 
from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State,
(District, or Territory,) of New York
where he intends
to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The
following are his reasons for removing from the State of Vermont
to the town of Poughkeepsie Dutches County State of New York
because his children were living in the last mentioned place
he wished to be near them and they had written to him for to come.

Sworn and subscribed to before me, the, day and year aforesaid. 
S. Lewis Justice of Peace

The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature
must be properly authenticated. The county Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must
certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace,
Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to
be his is genuine.
The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the Pensioner's
identity. He must swear, that the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the
affidavit. The Magistrate must certify, that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must
also be authenticated in the manner above directed.
Page 11

Dutchess County ss, State of N. York
On this 11th day of March 1829. personally appeared before
me Sabin Lewis one of the Justices of the peace in and for said
County Solomon Wheeler -  and under oath affirms, that the person
who has taken and subscribed the above oath is the identical
James Baresford there described and set forth.

Sworn before me the day
and year above written ⎬  S. Lewis Justice of the Peace

Dutchess County ss.} March 11th 1829
I hereby certify that Solomon T. Wheeler, the above
deponent is a man of good character, and of truth
and veracity.-
S. Lewis Justice of the Peace

State of New York
Dutchess County ss.  
 I Henry J Traver Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas of the County of
Dutchess & the said Court being a Court of
Record and having a Clerk & [illegible] certifiy that Sabin Lewis
whose signature appears to the
foregoing affidavit and certificates is a Justice of the Peace
of said County duly elected and sworn according to the Constition
& laws of said State and that I am acquainted with
the handwriting of the said Justice and verily believe the
foregoing signatures S LEWIS to be the hand writing of
the said Justice  In testimony whereof I have hereto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court this eleventh day of
March AD 1829
Henry Traver Clerk
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Duplicate

State of New York}
New York City & County, } ss.

BE IT KNOWN,That before me, Sylvester Spencer a Notary Public
in and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared James Basford
and made oath, in due form of law, that he is the identical James Basford
named in an original Pension
Certificate, now illegally withheld by* Smith Ransom of New Paltz
Ulster County, that said Pension Certificate was placed
in the hands of Joseph Ransom late of New Paltz - 
now deceased, for the security of a Debt due the said
Joseph Ransom, which his Son the above named Smith
Ransom now claims, and an amount more than
he honestly and justly owes to the late Joseph Ranson
and more than this Deponent is willing to pay,
consequently the said Smith Ransom refuses to give
up this Deponents Pension Certificate though often
requested so to do, that he may be able to draw
his pension now due 
that he is entitled to a pension of Eight dollars
per month, on account of
wounds and disabilities received, or of services rendered to the United States, during the
Revolutionary War; that he served in Captain John Craigs
company of Light Dragoon Fourth regiment; that he now resides in Olive Ulster County, and has resided there for the
space of+ Eight years past; and that previous thereto he resided in
Poughkeepsie
James Basford

Sworn and subscribed, this
11th
day of March
1839
before me,
Sylvester Spence
Notary Public

NOTE.--The above deposition must be signed by the deponent.
*Here state the facts respecting the detention of the Certificate.
+This blank must be filed with the amount to which the Pensioner is now entitled, which, in some cases, varies from
that in the original Certificate.
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State of New York
New York City & County ⎬ ss.
11th March 1839
CONFORMARLY to the Regulations of the War Department of the 27th of October, 1832,
I, Sylvester Spencer a Notary Public
in the county
above named, do hereby certify, that I have the most satisfactory evidence, viz. The affidavit
of James Basford Junior, who is acquainted with
the pensioner, together with the facts relative to the
with held certificate
that James Basford who this day appeared before me to
take the oath of identity, is the identical pensioner he declares himself to be in the annexed
affidavit; and I am also satisfied that the statement made by him in relation to the Pension
Certificate, is true.
GIVEN under my hand, at New York
the day and year
above written.
Sylvester Spencer
Notary Public

I,  ___________ Clerk of the Court of___________
county, certify, that______________
is a Magistrate as above,
and that the foregoing Certificate, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name,
this
day of
in the year
Clerk of the Court of
County.
*Here state what the evidence is whether personal knowledge, or the affidavits of respectable persons, giving their names.
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July 20 1842

2 letters

James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
War Dept
Washington City
Page 15

MECHANICS' & FARMERS' BANK,
Albany Pension Agency,
July 18th 1842

JAMES L EDWARDS, Esquire,
Commissioner of Pensions.

Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 15th inst
I have to state, that James Bassford
a Pensioner under the Act of 18 March 1818
at 8 Dollars per month was last paid to
the 4 day of March 1842.
I am, Sir,
Very respectfully
Your ob't serv't
Thomas W [illegible]
PRES'T AND PENSION AGENT.
Page 16

Mechanics Bank
New York 30th March 1840
Sir
James Bassford a pensioner under the act of
18th March 1818 at Eight Dollars per month mentioned
in your Letter of the 28th Inst was paid at this
Agency, to the 4th September 1837, on the 9th of October
1839,
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt

J Knapp Pres


James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 17

Sir
Mechanics Bank
New York 12th March 1839

Sir
I enclose for your examination the papers
in the case of James Basford a pensioner under the
act of 18 March 1818 at Eight Dollars per month, whose
pension certificate is illegally withheld by Smith
Ransom of Newpaltz Ulster County
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sert
 J Knapp   Prest


James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 18

May 18. 1842
No Evans

J L Edwards
Pension Office
Washington DC

Hon AH Read 
HR
Page 19

Washington 17th May
Dr Sir
I am requested by James Bassford
a pensioner residing at Binghamton
N. Y. and drawing his money from the
Albany age to enquire of you
which if he removes to to Susq Co Pa
he can still draw his money
at the same agency?
At what agency
the pensioners in Susq Co, draw their
money? and the mode of conveyance?
By answering the above questions you
will oblige your
Hum[?] Serv
A. H. Read

Jame L Edwards Esqr  N.R.
Page 20

39952
Revy INVALID.

File No. 39.952
James Basford
Pri Rev War

Act: 18 March 18
Index: -- Vol.8
Page 22
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 21

Mr Evans
File one copy with Basford's
papers
& return the other to the
Agent with an order to pay

J. L E
.
Page 22

F[?]air[?]bridge NY
Apl 29

paid 10

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

May 5 [illegible]
Widow of James Basford
Page 23

Bainbridge, Chenango County
New York, April 29, 1848

J. L. Edward Esq.
Dear Sir

My wife's father,
 My wife's father, James Basford, was a revolutionary pensioner,
and drew a pension of $96. per year. He died
in Sept. 1845, and left a widow. Tamor Basford
who was married to him about the year 1812.
I am told by some that his widow can draw
a pension, and by others that she cannot.
For the purpose of ascertaining whether she
can or not I address you. Will you be
good Enough to inform me as soon as
convenient, whether, under these Circumstances, his widow can draw a pension or not, if satisfactory
proof should be made of the facts,
and oblige
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
James Mow.
Page 24

James Basford
for transfer
Rcd. April 17. 1826
Horace Janes
St. Albam
Vt
Honl. Secretary of War Department
City of Washington
Luis Ofer
Page 25

J. A Mans[?] April 6th. 1826

Dear Sir

I send enclosed the application of
James Bassford to be transferd from the New York
to the Vermont agency, and wish you to inform
my return of mail whether he must (or can) send
to New York & draw his money from Sept 1825 to
March as he resides in this State or whether
if he is transferd. he can next Sept draw, his
years pay at Burlington, it is important to
him to have an early answer to this question
Yours very respectfully
Horace Janes
Page 26

State of Pennsylvania}
County of Susquehanna} ss.
On the 30th day of
June 1842, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the Said County of Susquehanna, personally
appeared James Basford who on his affirmation
declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged
to the company commanded by Captain John Craig
in the Regiment commanded by Colonel
Milan
in the services of the United States; that his name was
placed on the pension roll of the State of New York
from whence he has lately removed. that he now resides
in the State of Pennsylvania in the County of Susquehanna
where he intends to remain and wishes his pension
to be there payable in future - the following are
his reasons for removing from the State of New York
to the State of Pennsylvania Viz - A son of
his with whom he has resided & with whom he
still resides, has removed into Susquehanna
County have purchased land & expects to remain -
James Basford

Affirmed & Subscribed to before
me the day and year aforesaid
Charles Avery ss.

I James Basford Jr. do Certify that
James Basford who has subscribed the above affidavit
or oath is the identical person there set forth to be
James Basford Junr

Susquehanna County ss. Bet known that on the 30th June A.D. 1842
before the Subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County
personally appeared James Basford Jr. who subscribed the
above certificate, who is a man of truth and veracity
who on his oath States his certificate above is correct.
and true -
Charles Avery J.P.
Page 27

State of Pennsylvania}
Susquehanna County} ss.
 I George Fuller Prothonotary of the Court
of Common Pleas of Susquehanna County Certify
that Charles Avery is a magistrate as
within and that the foregoing Signatures
purporting to be his are genuine. I testimony
whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal
of office and subscribed my name this
fifth day of July AD 1842
Geo. Fuller Porthy

Return an answer,
James Basford
Little Meadows P.O.
Susqa. Co
Penna
Page 28

No Evans

Hon
J. Allen  Hs Reps
Page 29

State of New York}
Chenango County} Ss. On the 16th day of March 1840 before
me the subscriber first Judge of the County aforesaid personally
appeared James Bosford, [Basford] who on his oath declares that
he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company
commanded by Captain John Craig in the Regiment commanded
by Colonel Mellen[or Milan] fourth Regiment  of light
Dragoons raised in Pensylvania in the Service of the United States.
That his name was placed on the pension Roll of New York
payable in the City of New York, and this deponant
at that time resided in Ulster County New York, from
whence he has lately removed. that he now resides in Bainbridge
Chenango County New York, where he intends to remain
and wishes his Pension to be made payable at the City of
Albany State of New York in Future, the following are
the reasons for removing from Ulster County to Chenango
County, his connections reside in Chenango County, and this
deponant is poor and he supposes that he could live eesier
and Cheaper in the vicinity of his connections.
James Basford

Sworn and subscribed
the 16th day of March 1840
Before me
Levi Bigelow
first Judge of Chenango County

Chenango County Ss

Moses Burgess being duly sworn deposes
that he knows James Basford, the person described
in and who made the above affidavit, and knows him
to be a Pensioner, that this deponant as the Attorney of
the said James Basford draws his
pension from the
4th March 1839 to 4th September 1839 from the agent of
the United States for paying Pensions in the City of New York
Moses Burgess

Sworn and subscribed the 16th day of March 
1840 before me and I
certify that I am well acquainted with
the said deponent and that he is a
man of veracity

Levi Bigelow first Judge of Chenango County
Page 30

State of New York}
Chenango County} ss

I Alfred Purdy Clerk of said
County do hereby Certify that Levi Bigelow
whose Name is Subscribed to the within Affidavit and thereon
written was at the time of taking Such 
Affidavit or proof 
a Judge in and for the Said County duly authorised
to take the same and that I am will
acquainted with
his hand writing and verily believe his Signature to the Said Affidavit to be genuine

In Witness whereof I have hereunto
Set my hand and affixed the Seal
of Said County this Eighteenth
day of March 1840
Alfred Purdy Clerk
Page 31

James Bassfords Application to be Transferd to the Vermont Agency -
Page 32

Application for a Transfer
State of Vermont
Franklin County} ss 
On this 8th day of April
A.D. 1826 before me the Subscriber
a Justice of the peace for the said County of Franklin
Personally appeared James Bassford who on his Oath declares that he is the same person who formerly
belonged to the company commanded by Captain
John Craig in the regiment commanded
by Colonel Milen in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension
roll of the State of New York from whence he has
lately removed that he now resides in the State of
Vermont where he intends to remain and wishes
his pension to be there payable in future
James BasFord

Sworn and Subscribed to
before me the day and
year aforesaid
Israel P Richardson Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont}
Franklin County ss}
Franklin County Clerks Office
April 18th 1826. I Horace Janes
Clerk of the County Court in said County
do hereby Certify to all whom it may concern
that Israel P Richardson Esqr of St
Alban's a Justice of the peace in said
County duly appointed by the Legislature
of this State and that the foregoing Certificate is
signed by him in his own proper hand writing
In Testimony whereof I have here
unto signed my name and affixed the Public Seal of theCourt
Horace Janes  Clerk
Page 33

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

NAME  Basford, James   GRADE  Private
LINE  Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9033
ACREAGE  100
ISSUE  March 19, 1792
to George Moore, assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.