Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28,626, Abraham Avery, Conn. Continental Mass And Privateer
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SERVICE
Conn
Continental
Mass
and
Privateer.
●

Avery, Abraham
NUMBER
S. 28, 626

CONTENTS
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Document largely destroyed
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Amended Declaration
State of New York
Chenango
County:
Personally appeared before me
the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Abraham Avery of Preston, to me known who being sworn said
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, to wit:
6 Months
For six months I served as a Corporal under
Captain Hale and Colonel Webbs Regiment, as
stated in my declaration in the Continental.
12 Months
For one year I served as an Artificer in Captain
Bacons Company under Capt. Hilliard
under
Col. Brewer as I have stated in my declaration
Six months of this year I served as orderly Sergeant
and the remaining 6 months as Lieutenant
of the Company, acting as Lieutenant but receiving
no Commission.
This was in the Continental service
and it was for this service that my pension
was granted.
8 Months
For 8 months I served as an Armorer in the
Marine naval service as stated in my declaration.
And for the above periods of time I claim
a pension.
He further states that the first 
two terms of service above stated were in embor[illegible)
ed corps
called out by competent authority of
Connecticut and The Continental Congress and
he
understood and believed
that the [illegible] he performed his
[illegible] duty as was commissioned by
the Authorities of the State of Massachusetts.
He further
states
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during the above period of time he was not employed in any civil occupation or pursuit and further saith not--
Abraham Avery
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 29th May 1833 (the word private erased and Corporal written over- and the words "in the Continental service" also erased before signing)
Saml Pike - Justice of the Peace
State of New York
Chenango County ss:
I Jarvis K. Pike Clerk of the said County certify that Samuel Pike before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his genuine handwriting and signature
Witness my hand and seal of office
this 1st June 1833
P. B. Rindle
Dep Clerk

Abraham Avery
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State of New York
County of Chenango ss:

On this ninth day of October AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting. Present
Jno Tracy
Nathan Taylor
Levi Bigalow   }      Esquire Judges
Hesekial Reed
Charles York 

Abraham Avery, a resident of the town of Boston, in the county of Chenango and State of New York, aged seventy eight years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following names officers and served as herein stated:

In the year 1775, about the first of July, as near as he can recollect, he enlisted at Stonington, Connecticut, in the Connecticut Troops, for the term of six months in a company commanded by Captain Hales of New London; Lieutenant John Belcher of Stonington, Joseph Helliack of Stonington[unk]. in a Regiment under the command of Colonel Webb & Major Jonathan Seymour, this regiment rendezvoused  at New London three or four weeks after he enlisted & then marched to Cambridge, Mass. where by [unk] [unk] [unk] attached to full [ unk] [unk] [unk] to New Jersey from New York [unk] [unk] [unk] through Plainfield, Norwich. [unk] [unk] [unk] & Roxbury
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and others, which he does not remember- at Cambridge he remained with his Company and Regiment, until his six months expired which was on or about the last of December. He was encamped upon Winter Hill near Cambridge and they were engaged in keeping garrisons. He was discharged verbally at Cambridge by the Colonel and returned home to Stonington.

While here at Cambridge he saw General Washington, General Putnam, and Colonel Parsons afterwards General Parsons, recollects having Benjamin Franklin making an address or speech at Roxbury, urging the soldiers to enlist again for one month after their time was out, to give time to recruit the army.

Among the men who were in the same Company with him during their tour he remembers Christopher Dean, Joseph Page, John Dean, Henry Hilliard of Stonington who served with him and were discharged at the same time with him.

This deponent was a Corporal in the said Company, during the whole term. He has no documentary evidence of this term of service except the accompanying affidavits of Christopher Dean & Nathaniel Avery and he knows of no other person living whose testimony he can procure, except them.

On or about the first day of January 1776, at Stonington, Connecticut, he enlisted into the Continental Service of the United States for one year, into a company commanded
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by Captain James Eldredge of Stonington, Lieutenants Babcock of Stonington and Daniel Collins of the same place, the regiment was under the command of Samuel Holden Larsons, the Colonel, the other officers he does not recollect. The officer who enlisted him was Lieutenant Collins, who promised him that if he would enlist into the artifices at Cambridge, he would discharge him from the Company.

After he had enlisted, he marched with his Company to Roxbury, passing on the same route that he did before. Here he was struck from the roll of the company, agreeable to his engagement to Cambridge and enlisted into the Artificers, under Captain Bacon, afterwards Major Bacon, who had charge of the artificers employed in the gun & blacksmithing himself. His term of enlistment into the artificers was until the year for which he had enlisted under Captain Edridge had expired. He remained at Cambridge, employed as an armorer, mending guns & until the British evacuated Boston, when they (the artificers) marched to New London and there took shipping to New York. In marching from Cambridge to New London, they passed the Roxbury, Providence and on the direct route to New London. On their arrival at New York he was employed at the Kings Yards at the armor business until after the Battle on Long Island, when they retreated from New York over Kingsbridge where he remained a short time and from there along to White Plains. He was not in the action at White
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and others, which he does not remember, at Plains, but he saw the engagement from here they went to Pecks Kill where they remained until the first of January or about that time, when his time of one year had expired, and he was verbally discharged by his officers, at Peckskill & came home. He further mentions that after their arrival at New York from Cambridge the artificers were formed into a Regiment by themselves, under Col. Brewer, the Captain of the company of artificers to which this deponent belonged was named John Hilliard of Stonington. At New York, the Lieutenant and Ensign of the company were called off to join the Northern Army at Ticonderoga and this deponent, being the orderly sergeant of the company, was required to act as Lieutenant in his place.

At New York he knew General Washington, General Putnam, General Parsons and others.

He knew Joseph Latham of Stonington who was appointed 2nd Sergeant of the Regiment of Artificers on its realization in New York. He also knew Joseph Brewster & Thurston Hilliard of Stonington, and one Mr Ross & Tredwell of Massachusetts, who served with and were discharged with him. Captain Sergeants also had the command of one company of Artificers, one Gale, was captain of another.

He has no documentary evidence of this service, except the accompanying affidavit of his brother Nathaniel Avery, who was in Col Parsons and afterwards Col Tylers Regiment was a Sergeant and was in the Long Island Battle, he knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure to his service.
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except the said Nathaniel Avery.
And this deponent further states that he made
application in 1819 or ^1820 for a Pension under the
Pension Law of March 18, 1818 and was 
placed upon the Pension Roll - His certificate
which is herewith forwarded, is dated March
27, 1828. He drew one payment of about
$35.00 and was struck from the roll on 
account of property and has not since been
restored.
This deponent deems it proper to state that when
he made his application for a pension under the
law of March 18, 1818, Judge Noyes, one of the [illegible] of the Court of Common Pleas of the 
County of [illegible], made out his paper for him
and stated to him that it was unnecessary
for him to state any more than that he enlisted
into Capt. Eldredge's Company and did duty
for one year; and he accordingly made out 
the paper in that way - This will account
for his not giving the account at that time of his being transferred from Captain Eldrege's 
Company into the [illegible] as he has sta-
ted in this declaration.
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and others which he does remember at all.

Luce (of Providence he thins) was the Captain of the Privateer, Coble was a Lieutenant, there was a crew of not far from 40 hands. He sailed in the Eagle from Boston in three or four weeks after he volunteered for Surinam cruising along by the way, Surinam was the first part they entered. They were at Surinam about a week but did not land, from there they sailed to the West Indies and cruising off Anguilla they captured a small British sloop, carrying 8 carriage guns, & 10 swivels, the sloop struck without a fight, and on the same day (being not far from the first of May 1779) they were themselves captured by a British Tender to a 50 gun ship commanded by Admiral Young. The "Eagle" struck after a fight of about an hour and a half, none of the hands were killed but the Captain was wounded. They were taken into the English Harbor at Antigua and put on board the Admiral Ship having been kept in the hold of the tender 3 days ironed.

There was there a 50 gun ship called the "Renown" Captain Bottom, whose hands had deserted to the number of 35, and this deponent with 10 others were put on board to assist in working the vessel, they sailed from there to the British Channel to convey a [unk] fleet of three hundred & odd sail, from the Channel they sailed back to America and took on the voyage an American Brig loaded with live stock &c. They cam into New York Hook where they petitioned Admiral Hone to be placed on board a prison ship agreeable to the orders of Admiral Young and they (the American prisoners on board the "Renown") were put on board a prison ship which lay up the North River. They were in the prison ship about
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ten days when they were put on shore, on land on the New Jersey shore. This was about the last of August, and he had been four months on board a british vessel & in a prison ship. From the place he was landed on put a shore at, he went home to Stonington, entirely destitute of money, without hat or clothing to cover his nakedness.

Among the men on the "Renown" who were put on board with this deponent at Antigua were Elijah Plummer of Preston Connecticut, one Green of Providence, Isaac Olney of do, James Coddington of do & Thomas Bellows of Groton, Conn.

He has no documentary evidence of his services in this cruise, except what is contained in his brothers affidavit, accompanying this declaration and he knows of no person living who can testify to his services.


In answer to the interrogatories required by the War Department to be put to applicants for pensions, he stats thus:

1st He was born in Stonington, New London Co, Connecticut on the 20th day of May in the year 1754. 

2nd He has no record of his age except what is contained on the Town Clerks Records of
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Stonington where his age is recorded.

3d He lived at Stonington Connecticut, each time he enlisted, except when he went Privateering when he volunteered at Boston. Since the Revolutionary War, he has resided in Guilford, Vermont; in Colraine Massachusetts: in Rome, Oneida Co, NY from there he removed about 32 years since to Preston Chenango County, NY where he has ever since resided and where he now resides.

4th He volunteered each time that he entered the service, military or marine.

5th This question is answered as fully in his declaration, in all respects as he is able to do it.

6th Never received a written discharge from the service, was always verbally discharged by his officers.

7th He gives the names of the Rev Jedadiah Randell, Col John Randall, Jervis K Pike, Clerk of Chenango, James Birdsall cashier of the Bank of Chenango, of Norwich, Smith Johnson, Dr William Mason of Preston as men living in his present neighborhood to whom he is known & who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.


He hereby relinquishes every claim, whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares
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that his name is not the pension roll of the agency of any State, except that of the agency of the State of New York, from which he does not desire any benefit, being deprived of the pension on account of property.

Abraham Avery

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

J K Pikes Clk

We Jedadiah Randall, a clergyman residing in the town of Norwich, Chenango Co, MY and John Randall residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Avery who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be seventy eight years and upwards 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 and have never heard any doubts expressed by any person as by his having been such soldier.

Jedadiah Randall
John Randall

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.

J K Pikes Clk

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. The Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jedadiah Randall who has signed the preceding
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certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Norwich, Chenango Co, NY and that John Randall who has signed the same is a resident in the same town and is a credible person, and their statement is entitled to credit.

Levi Bigelow 
Hex Read 
Charles York
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Chenango County New York

I James K Pike Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas if said County of Chenango, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Avery for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and and seal of office this ninth day of October 1832.

P B Prindle Dep Clerk
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War Department
Pension Office
183

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 mist be removed, before a pension can be allowed, The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention i smore particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, sent 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 Abraham Avery Chenango County New York

Period when the service was rendered: Entered July 1775
Duration of the claimant's service: 6 months
                                               4 months 29 days
Rank of the claimant: Corpl
Names and Rank of the Company officer under whom he served: Cap Hale
Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers: Gen Washington, Gen Sullivan, Col Webb & Major Latimer
Battles in which the applicant was engaged:
Country through which he marched: march to Cambridge, passed through Plainfield, Norwich, Dunham, [unk] & Roxbury
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period: 78 years, Stonington, Connecticut
Evidence by which the declaration is supported: with the continental troops, traditionary evidence, clergymans certificate, & 2 living witnesses, witnesses confirm credible-papers note property [unk]

Period when the service was rendered: Entered Jany 1776 afterwards transferred to artificers & [unk]
Duration of the claimant's service: 1 year
Rank of the claimant: Artificer
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served: Cap Eldridge
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers: Col Parsons

Period when the service was rendered: Marine Service, enlisted Dec 1778
Duration of the claimant's service: time not stated
Rank of the claimant: armorer or gun smith
Names and Rank of the Company officer under whom he served: Brig Eagle a Privateer
Country through which he marched: sailed from Boston to Surinam to West Indies; 1779 they were captured by a British vessel carried to Antigua

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions

Privateer service not embraced.
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Abraham Avery
Oct 1832 of Preston Chenango Co NY aged 78 year & over Born in Stoninton May 20 1754 Since War lived in Gaurbon Vt Colorain Mass, Rome Oneida Co NY & about 1800 settled in Chenango Co NY
Applied on Oct 1819 Norwich Chenango Age 65 years

Nathaniel Avery Chanango Co 1819, his brother of Laydon Mass in Sept 1832 aged 80 years

Enlisted as Corporal early July 1775 at Stonington Con' with Capt Hale in reg. Colo Charly Webb going to Siege of Boston, Stationed at Winter Hill [illegible] in Dec 1775 (late). He heard the [illegible] the  Soldier by Ben Franklin shortly before his discharge.
At Stonington he enlisted early in Jany 1776 for one year with Cap' James Eldridge & Col Sam Holden Parsons & was soon after transferred to [illegible] under Capt Macon at Cambridge & was employed an armorer rental Boston was invaded (March 17 1776) after which he was ordered & comm to Capt. John Hilliard & [illegible] January 20 employed as armory in  [illegible] Kings Yard until the  battle of Long Island (Augt 27, 1776 followed by the evacuation of NY City (Sept 15, 1776) & retreat of the army over Kings bridge to White Plains (West Chester NY) where he [illegible] the engagement (Oct 28, 1776) & [illegible] at Peeks Kill NY. - The Lt + Ensign of the [illegible] being ordered to Lake Champlain & he being orderly [illegible] was required [illegible] in their place.

In 1778 Dec he Enlisted at Boston as Armorer on board Brig Eagle a privateer for a cruze under Capt  Elijah Luce to Surinam but did not remain there; from there to W Indies & off Aquilla captured. a stack of 8 guns & 10 [illegible] which struck without a fight about
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May 2, 1779 &Same day his Vessel was captured by a Boston {illegible] tender  [illegible] 50 guns ship com' by Admiral Young after 1 1/2  hours fight carried to Antigue part on board a 50 gun ship Ronownh Caf Boltom which sailed for British Channel as convoy to the Sugar Fleet of over 300 ships, after which the ship Ren onn returned to [illegible] in Orny Bay. He was put on board [illegible] on ship [illegible]  & North river & in ten days paroled in Augt 1779

Jas. L. Edwards Engre.
Comde. of Pensions
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Prior 1893. Ohio,

Revy 28626
INVALID.
FILE NO. 28,626
Abraham Avery
Sergt Rev War
ACT: June 7th 32
INDEX:-VOL. 2, PAGE ___
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1891
April 20 Mrs E M Avery his [illegible]
Mrs. Elroy M. Avery.
Feb. 27 - Cleveland
Page 19

1b.604R
Abraham Avery
of Norwich in the state of New York
who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Parsons of the Connecticut
line, for the term of one year.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 16th of October, 1819

Certificate of Pension issued the 27th of Mar. 1820
and sent to John Noyes, Esq
Norwich, New York

Arrears to 4th March 1820                 $: 39.16
Semi-anl. all'ce ending  4 Sept. 1820: $: 48.00
                                                            $: 87.16

{Revolutionary claim
Act 18th March, 1818}
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New York.
Revol -
Abraham Avery
Suspended
See letter to P. B. Prindle 24 Sept. 33.
See letter to Hon. Henry Mitchell 21. July. 1834
Adm?
Act 7 June 1832
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Abraham Avery's
Pension Application

Direct pension Certificate if allowed to
RB. Prindle
Norwich
18274 Cheuaufolo
L        NY

privateer service
& grade of Lt. without 
[cocesonipsn dis aler]
aomd
12 mo Lengt.Artitices
4 mo. 29 - compl of [illegible]
Page 22

I Christopher Deam of Colraim in the County of Franklin and Common Wealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy seven years do testify and say that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five I lives in the Town of Stonington in the State of Connecticut. When I enlisted into the State Troops under Lieut. John Belcher for five or six months, I am not certain which and from said Stonington we marched to New London where we remained some time under the command of Col Webb and Maj Latimore where I was acquainted with Abraham Avery he belonged to the same company with myself & served under the same officers, from New London we marched to Cambridge Massachusetts when I staged til my time was out and the said Abraham Avery remained in the same company with myself, he was discharged serving five or six months

Christopher Deam

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin County ss. Deptember 15th 1832}

There personally appeared Christopher Deam and made oath that the foregoing declaration by him subscribed had [unk].

Before me Charles Thompson Justice of the Peace

I do [unk] certify that the above named Christopher Deam is a credible witness.

Charles Thompson Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. I Elijah Alvord, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that Charles Thompson Esq. before the within affidavit was verified is (sic) a Justice of the Peace for the said county and legally qualified to administer oaths and take affidavits. And believe his  name subscribed to the within certificates to be his true and proper signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at Green field on the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty two.

E. Alvord Clerk
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I Nathaniel Avery of Lyden in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of eighty years do testify and say that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five I lived in the town of Stonington in the County of New London & State of Connecticut when I enlisted into the State Troops about the fourth of May for eight months under Maj Samuel Prentiss in Col Samuel H Parsons Regiment, we marched to New London and then remained til after the Battle on Benjeron hill then we marched to Roxbury near Boston Mass and soon after I became acquainted with Abraham Avery who belonged to Colo Webb Regiment and often so was [unk] the Regiment which he belonged to was stationed at Cambridge and our Regiment in Roxbury & [unk] therein that his term of service was six months but am not certain as to the time.

On the fifth day of January 1776 at said Stonington I enlisted in the Continental Service for one year under Capt James Eldridge in Col Samuel H Parsons Regiment and Abraham Avery enlisted in the same company with myself for one year. We marched from Stonington to Roxbury & Abraham Avery was stationed at Cambridge a short time. When the said Abraham Avery joined the artificers as an armorer under Maj Bacon. Soon after the British left Boston we was ordered to march to New York when we arrived soon after where we remained in the City and the vicinity til our times was out and we was discharged and returned home.
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together and in the year 1778 in December I believe Abraham Avery left Stonington for the purpose of going privateering, when he was at Boston he wrote me that he expected to sale in a few days and I heard no more from him til he returned in September 1777 from a prison ship as poor as a rat.

Nathl Avery

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. September 15th 1832}

Then Nathaniel Avery personally appeared and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true.

Before me Charles Thompson Justice of the Peace

I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with the above Nathaniel Avery about twenty years and that he is reputed to be a credible witness.

Charles Thompson Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Franklin ss. I Elijah Alvord, Cerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the County of Franklin, do hereby certify that Charles Thompson Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was verified is a Justice of the Peace for the said county and legally qualified to administer oaths and take affidavits. And I believe his name subscribed to the foregoing certificates to be his true and proper signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at Greenfield, on the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two

E. Alvord Clerk
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payable semi-annually.  The first payment on this Certifiate will be made on the 4th of Sept.-- next, in the City of New York, at the Branch Bank U.S.


Recorded
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War Department.

REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I CERTIFY that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March 1818,

Abraham Avery late a private on the Pension List, Roll of the New York Agency, at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence on the sixteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.

GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this twenty seventh day of March, one thousand eight hundred and twenty.

J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
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Abraham Avery
Prestin, Chenango Co, NY
in 1819-19
Hamilton, Madison Co, NY
1832-3Served from Conn,
Grotin, Stonington or
New London
Enlisted in Col Chas,
Webb's Regiment 7th
July 1775

Gad Hitchcock
Hanson, Plymouth Co,
Mass
Enlisted in Col Bailey 
2d Mass Reg June
1775
Served at Hanson,
Plymouth Co Mass
Received pension
May 23, 1818
Page 30

District of New York}
Chenango County ss}
On this sixteenth day of October 1819 before me the subscribed one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Chenango County for the said District Personally appeared Abraham Avery aged sixty five years resident in Norwich in said County in the said District who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled An Act to Provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War that he the said Abraham Avery enlisted for the term of one year on the first day of January in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six in Stonington in the State of Connecticut in the Company commanded by Captain James  Eldridge of the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Samuel H. Parsons in the line of the State of Connecticut on the Continental Establishment that he continued to serve in the said Corps in the service of the United States until the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven when he was discharged from service at Peekskill in the State of New York that he joined the company at Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts and marched to New York and retreated to the White Plains (that he served a part of the time in the Artifices line- and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support and that he has no other evidence but that annexed now in his power of his said services.
Abraham Avery
Sworn & subscribed the day and year above written before me
John Noyes Judge
Page 31

I John Noyes Judge to as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Abraham Avery did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months at one time on the Continental establishment and I now transmit the [hrowdings] and testimony and had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. I am also satisfied that he needs the assistance of his Country for support.
Norwich October 16th 1819 John Noyes Judge

State of New York, Chinauga
County Clerks Office

I hereby certify that John Noyes [Squire]. before whom the within affidavit was taken, was at the time of taking the John N. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn as [illegible].

In witness whereof I have herewith put my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this 18th Day of Oct. [1819 - missing]
Peros V. Randall Clerk
Page 32

State of New York
Chenango County ss.}

Nathaniel Avery sworn deposeth and saith that he is personally acquainted with Abraham Avery named in the annexed declaration, and saw him join the Company commanded by Captain James Eldridge in the Town of Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts in the beginning of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six and saw him at New York a number of times and saw him discharged at Peckskill on the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and was knowing to his serving on the Continental Establishment in the Connecticut line (a part of the time as an artificer) and was knowing to his serving more than nine months at one time and further saith not.

Nathl Avery

Sworn the 16th day of October 1819 before me

John Noyes Judge of Chenango Common Pleas

I certify that I am acquainted with Nathaniel Avery the above signer and have been for more than thirty years & that he is a credible witness.

John Noyes Judge
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State of New York
Chenango County ss.

Joseph Latham being sworn deposeth and saith that he is personally acquainted with Abraham Avery named in the annexed declaration and say him enlist on the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six in the Town of Stonington in the State of Connecticut and saw him join the company commanded by Captain James Eldridge at Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts and was with him to New York and retreated with him to the White Plains and served with him a part of the year as an Artificer and was knowing to said Avery serving one year in the Connecticut line on the Continental Establishment and saw him discharged at Peckskill in the State of New York on the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and further saith not.

Joseph Latham

Sworn and subscribed the 16th day of October 1819 before me

John Noyes Judge of Chenango Common Pleas

I certify that I am acquainted with joseph Latham and have been for more than four years the above signer and that he is a credible witness.

John Noyes Judge
Page 34

Letter to J. L. Edwards
from
P. B. Prindle
9 Dec 1833
Page 35

Norwich N.Y. Dec 9, 1833

J. L. Edwards Esq

Sir-

I send a supplemental declaration of Mr Abraham Avery explaining the points mentioned in your letter. And also the certificates of the Judges of the County as to his character for truth and Revolutionary service. Also similar certificates from the Lieutenant Governor of this State, the Village Postmaster and D Mitchell the member of Congress now at Washington. I trust they will sufficiently establish the case at the Department. If in addition to the affidavits of service on file, more proof of character &c is required, it can be furnished.

Respectfully,
Your obt servt

PB Prindle

P.S. If you will communicate with Dr Mitchell M.C. he remove doubts if any exist.
Page 36

Abraham Avery, N.Y.
supplemental declaration
Page 37

State of New York
Chenango Count, ss.

Abraham Avery of Preston, in the said County, being sworn, says that he applied for a pension under the act of June 7th, 1832 at te Chenango Common Please, in October, 1832: that his papers were sent back for some correction, in May 1833- that they were corrected and sent on to the Commissioner of Pensions at Washington, that the commissioner of Pensions has written a letter to P. B. Prindle, his agent, respecting his application, which is in the following words, viz:

"Abraham Avery alledged 12 mo: for enlistment & service (part of the time as an artificer) in Parsons Regiment, in his declaration of 1819. He now alledges, that he enlisted as an artificer in that Regiment, for that term, and served 6 months as sergeant and 6 months as Lieut, without commission. The rolls of Artificers furnish no evidence that he ever formed a component part of that corps. These discrepancies, in connection with the silence of the rolls, are calculated to discredit his claim, under the act of 7 June 1832, private service is not provided for by the act. His claim is suspended, also, and his papers placed on file.

I am, respectfully yr obt servt

J L Edwards"

This deponent says, in explanation of the above, that there must be some misapprehension as to the correct understanding of his declaration. He there stated or meant to state, and does not state, that he enlisted at Stonington, Connecticut, in Captain Eldridges Company under Col Parsons, in the Connecticut Line of the Continental troops, for one year, as a private, that he marched from Stonington to Roxbury, near Boston, and there joined Col Parsons Regiment. The day after they reached Roxbury, this deponent left the company of Capt Eldredge & Parsons Regiment, with the consent of the Captain, and
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enlisted into the company of Artificers, commanded by Maj Bacon at Cambridge. This deponent was an armorer by trade and was dismissed from Captain Eldredges company on purpose to have him join the artificers, who were in want of help, as they had not got a full number of men. This deponent enlisted among the artificers for the year, that is, to serve the year out for which he had enlisted into Parsons Regiment.

The above is the method in which this deponent came to enter the artificers and also the method of his leaving  Col. Parsons Regiment.

As to the alleged discrepancy between his declaration in 1819 and the one now on file in his present claim, he would mention, that he expressly stated in his late declaration, that there was an error in his declaration of 1819 in making him say he served 12 months in Parsons Regiment. He there stated how the error was caused by Judge John Noyes who made out his papers. This deponent refers the Department to that part of his declaration for proof on this point. Judge Noyes told this deponent that it was necessary to make out 9 months service in the Continental service: this deponent related the circumstances as he has here related them and Judge did not, in putting them upon paper, distinguish between service in Col Parsons Regiment & service in the company of artificers.

As to the circumstances of deponents service among the artificers, they are related in his declaration and supplemental declaration, exactly as they occurred, to the best of his recollection. The reason of there not being distinction between service as private in Capt Eldredges Company and Col Parson Regiments, and service as armorer among the artificers is as above stated, owing to Judge Noyes imperfect reason of stating it.
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This deponent had no commission as a Lieutenant while in the artificers at New York. He acted as such after the Lieutenant left the City for Ticonderoga, for the term stated in his declaration.

This deponent states, that the declaration of this deponent, the amended declaration and their affidavit, contain the truth as to his services. And further says not.

Abraham Avery

Subscribed & sworn to before me this 23d October 1833

Smith M Purdy Judge if Chenango County Courts

Judges oath of character, &c

We the subscribers, Judges of the County Courts of Chenango County N.Y. certify that we have been long acquainted with the above named, Abraham Avery; that he was one of the early settlers of this country and has always been an industrious and labouring farmer. We also certify that he has always from our earliest acquaintance with him till to day maintained and preserved an excellent character for honesty and integrity and that his character for truth and veracity is irreproachable.  We have read the above affidavit explanatory of the statements in his declaration and are satisfied of its truth, and we have never heard any doubts of his service in the revolutionary war, but have understood and believe that he served as he has stated.

Smith W Purdy
Charles York    } Judges
Hezl Read
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Certificate of Member of Congress

I, Henry Mitchell, member of Congress from the County of Chenango, certify that I have been for a great many years, acquainted with the written named Abraham Avery: that he is a citizen of good character & standing in the community and his word entitled to credit. He has always sustained the reputation of a soldier in the Revolutionary Army and I have never heard any doubts expressed in regard to the fact. His memory appears to be strong and good: Dated Norwich Oct 3d 1833.

Henry Mitchell R.C.

Certificate of Post Master, Norwich

I John Clapp Post Master at Norwich in Chenango County, do certify that the reputation of the written named Abraham Avery for truth and veracity is unquestionable, and that his general signature is that of a worthy and respectable citizen, And I also certify that I have always understood from common report, that the said Abraham Avery was a soldier in the army of the Revolution. Oct 31, 1833

John Clapp
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Certificate of Lieut Gov of New York

I have been acquainted with the above named Abraham Avery more than twenty five years. His character during that time has been, & still is, good. I never heard his veracity or integrity impeached or questioned, and I have the fullest confidence in him as a man of truth. I have understood from report that he was a soldier in the army of the Revolution. Dated Nov 7, 1833

John Tracy

Clerk's Certificate

State of New York
Chenango County ss.

I, James K. Pike, Clerk of the said County do certify that Smith M Purdy, Esq. before whom the within affidavit of Abraham Avery purported to have been proven and whose names is signed to the within certificate of character was at the date of the same the First Judge of Chenango County Courts.

Also that, Charles York and Hezekiah Read whose names are signed to the within certificate are also Judges of said County Courts, that Henry Mitchell whose name is signed to the preceding certificate is the member of Congress from Chenango County, that John Clapp whose names is signed to the preceding certificate is the Postmaster of the Village of Norwich in said County. And also that John Tracy whose signature is but to the last certificate of character &c in the Lieutenant Governor of this state.

I further certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of each of the above persons, and that the signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
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my hand and affixed the deal of said County this 9th day of November AD 1833.

P. B. Prindle
Dep Clerk
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Comptrollers Office
March 17th 1834

I Elisha Phelps, Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Connecticut, do certify that it appears by an authenticated copy of a page roll of the 3rd Co. 7th Regt. of Troops raised by order of the Colony of Connecticut July, 1775, that Abraham Avery served therein as a Corporal, from the 19th of July to the 18th day of December 1775 being four months & twenty nine days. This company was commanded by Major Jonathan Latham & Nathan Hale 1 Lieut. until Sept 1st & afterwards Capt.; the regiment was commanded by Col Charles Webb.

E Phelps
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P. B. Prindle Esq
Norwich
Chenango County
New York

Abraham Avery
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Sir

I transmit the evidence requested by you of the 10th inst.

I am very respectfully yours

E Phelps

Fees $2
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Washington, DC
17 March 1891

To the Hon. Green B. Ramn
U.S. Commissioner of Pensions:

I would respectfully ask to be furnished with the militia history of Abraham Avery, a Revolutionary soldier in Col. Webb's Connecticut Regiment. His pension under Act of March 1818, shown that he lived at Norwich, N.Y. His application made in Oct. 1833, shows that he then lived at Preston, Chenango Co., N.Y.

My address is at #657 Woodland Hill\ Ave, Cleveland, Ohio

Yours very truly,

Elroy M. Avery
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Mrs Kate H T Avery DC
Al Feby 3 1891
Abraham Avery VT
Gad Hitchcock Surgeon
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ADDRESS
ELROY M. AVERY,
657 Woodland Hills Avenue
Cleveland, O.

In reply to your of the
Feb 3, 1891
Washington, DC 1121 Let. N.W.

To the Commissioner of Pensions:

I am anxious, for family and genealogical reasons, to learn for what service in the Rev. War, the following received pensions.

Abram (or Abraham) Avery, I think he was living in 1840 at Hamilton, Madison CO, N.Y. I have nothing more.

Gad Hitchcock, In. D., was a surgeon's mate, in a N.E. Reg. (Mass. I think) lived and died at Hanson, (formerly a parish of Pembroke) Plymouth Co. Mass.

Any information will be thankfully received.

Yours truly,

(Mrs.) Kate H. T. Avery