Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 21851, Tall William, Oneida Indian New York Residence
Page 1

Oneida Indian 
William Tall 
R 21851
Tall, William
Betsey
New-York residence
Page 2

Application of the
widow of Tall William
an Oneida Indian
for a Pension NY
26.228
J.W. Jenkins [illegible]
N. [illegible], agent

Let the payment be made so at the United -
States Br. Bank Utica
New York - J.W. Jenkins
Page 3

State of New York
Oneida County Ss.
Town of [illegible- possibly Union] on the fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the subscriber a Judge of the court of Common Pleas of the said county Betsey William, the widow of Tall William, a member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians & a resident of the town of Lenox County of Madison aged 80 ^years^ who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth depose and say that Tall William, the late husband of this deponent, did at his residence in Lenox aforesaid on the fifteenth day of October last, that in the year 1775 or 6 the said Tall William with the other members of the said tribe and male and female, went from Oriskany now Whitestown in said County of Oneida at the solicitation of General George Washington to Schenectady; where the said Tall William, with the other members of the said tribe joined the American army; and were used mostly as Indian spies to watch the movements of the enemy. That they were generally engaged in the vicinity of the Mowhawk River, between Alba[n]y and Utica; and frequently sent to other parts of the state; that the said Tall William served the Americans faithfully from the time they went to Schenectady until the close of the American war when they all returned back to Oriskany. That the remainder of the said tribe now living in the State of New York, reside principally in the towns of Lenox & [illegible] aforesaid separated only
Page 4

by the Oneida Creek.  That the said Tall
William died at his residence in Lennox a-
foresaid on the fifteenth day of October last: that
he was 80 years of age at the time of his
death: That she was married to the said Tall
William in the year 1781 when she was 27 years
of age & while at Schedectady [illegible] lived with him up to the time of
his death.  That the said Tall William has
never applied for or received any pen
=sion or annuity for the services he so render
=ed in the American War _ That she is poor
and infirm and unable to attend a court
Record to make the necessary proof to entitle
her to a pension for the services of her said
husband.                         Betsey (her x mark) William
Subscribed & sworn before me by the 
said Betsey having been interpreted
to her by Adam Jordan who was 
sworn to interpret truly.  Aug. 15. 1833.
[illegible] "2_2 [illegible] before signing John P Sherwood
State of New York                                                                         Judge Oneida County Courts
Oneida County  Ss. John Cornelius aged 70 years, 
[being duly] a member of the Oneida Tribe of 
Indians residing in the town of [illegible]
in said county being duly sworn deposeth and
saith that he is well acquainted with Betsey
Williams who has subscribed & sworn to the above
affidavit that he was a member of the said
Tribe and went from Oriskany to Schenectady and
staid then till the close of the war in com
pany with the said Betsey and other members of
the tribe. that she well recollects Tall William who
was then with them, and that he has heard
the said affidavit made of the services of the said
Tall William.  That he was twelve years of age
when he so left Oriskany, & further saith [illegible]
Subscribed & sworn before me by the said                      John (his X mark) Cornelius
John having been interpretted to him by
Adam Jordon who was sworn to in
=terpret truly. Aug.15.1835
                                                        John P Sherwood [illegible] Oneida County Courts
Page 5

State of New York
Oneida County 
Town of [illegible]  Ss.   John Canada a member
of the Oneida Tribe of Indians aged 71 years
a resident of the town of Lenox in the county
of Madison being duly sworn deposeth and
saith that in the year 1779 according to 
his best recollection, he with four other
Indians came from Canada via Albny
and joind the Oneida Indians at Sche=
nectady then in the American Service;
that from that time, he served with
the Oneida Indians in the American 
War until its close, and for upwards
of three years; that he well recollects Tall
William mentioned in the proceeding affi
-davit of Betsey William, his wife, with
whom he was also well acquainted as
a true American Indian; and that 
he was engaged during the whole of
the time Deponent was as above mentioned, in
the American War.  That they were
generally under the command and direc
=tion of General Schuyler, and was used
Generally as spies to the watch the movements
of the enemy:  That they were generally 
engaged on and about the Mow Hawk
River, between Albany and Utica but
were frequently sent to other places in the
state and once went under direction of Gen:
Schuyler to Philadelphia when the main
army under General George Washington
were then stationed.  That he was together 
with the said Tall William engaged in a battle
Page 6

at West Canada [illegible] in which Col. Butler
was shot through the head and killed, and 
in which the enemy were defeated, and
after the battle was over I took from the
pocket of Col. Butler a half guinea and
Black William another member of our Tribe
took the shoe Buckles from his feet and
Saucy Nick another member of our Tribe
& the one who shot Col. Butler took his
clothing and occasionally after that
wore the same.  That of the American
officers (white) he recollects General George 
Washington, General La Fayette, General
Schuyler, Col. Willet & Gen. Herkimer, and
of the Indians who had commissions
Col. White Anneary & Captain John.
That when we were sent out upon
skouting parties we were generally
under the direction of one, two or more
white men.  That he has no doubt
but what the said Tall William was
Eighty years old and upwards
at the time of his death.
And further saith not.
John (his X mark) Canada
Subscribed and sworn to by the said
John, before me, having been inter
=preted to him by Adam Jordon
who was sworn to interpret  [illegible]
Aug. 15. 1833  "l - l" interlined before sign by
John P. Sherwood
Judge Oneida County Courts
Page 7

I Dan Barnes a clergyman residing
in the town of [illegible] Oneida County New
York and for the last three years a mis=
=sionary among the Oneida Tribe of In=
=dians hereby certify that I have been well
acquainted with Tall William, late a mem
ber of the Oneida Tribe of Indians for 
three years last part, up to the time of 
his death in October last past, that he
was reputed in the neighbourhood
where he resided and believed to have
been in the American Service during
the quarter past of the American Rev=
=olution, and to have been a true Ameri=
can Indian and soldier; and that I con-
=cur in that opinion.  That the said Tall
William was in my belief at the time of his 
death upwards of Eighty years of age; that
he was a member of the church under
my charge and that I attended the fu=
=neral of the said Tall William in October
last.  and I further certify that I am
well acquainted with John Canada 
and John Cornelius, members of the said
Tribe of Indians and Betsey William the
widow of the said Tall William; that their
statements are entitled to credit. -
Dan Barnes

Subscribed & sworn before me
this 15. Aug. 1883 by the said Dan Barnes
who is known to me to be a man
of undoubted veracity & credibility
John P. Sherwood
Judge Oneida County Court
Page 8

I Abraham Van Eps of the Town of [illegible]
Oneida County New York hereby certify that I
have been well acquainted with Tall William
a member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians from
the time the said Indians went from Oriskany
to Schedectady in the year 1775 or [ ] according to my
best recollection and belief, and during the Amer
ican Revolution, as stated in the preceding
affidavits; That I resided at Schenectady at the
time the said Indians so came there until the
close of the war, with the exception of about one
year.  That the Oneida Indians were located
during this time aforesaid a short distance
out of the city of Schenectady, near the road leading
from Schenectady to Albany, and that I was 
in the habit of seeing them often during this time.
I so lived in Schenectady during the revolution
and well recollect the said Tall William
& believe that he was an active & true American Indian
and served the Americans faithfully during the
time aforesaid and until the close of the war:
That I well recollect that John Cornelius who 
has subscribed & sworn to the preceding affi=
=davit was with the said Indians at Schenec=
=tady aforesaid.  That after the close of the war
and in the year 1782 I moved into the county
of Oneida and was for many years thereafter
engaged in the mercantile business in said Coun
=ty; and that my trade was principally with
the Oneida Indians during that time: That I
have been well acquainted with the said
Tall William Betsy his wife John Cornelius
Adam Jordon and John Canada since I
came into this county as aforesaid:  That they
are Indians of good character and that the 
statement of the said Betsey, John Cornelius and
Page 9

John Canady [illegible]  [illegible] affidavits is
Entitled to credit.  That the said Indians were
generally under the direction of American (white)
officers, but that some of the said Indians held
commissions among whom was Colonel Lewey
Cook, Col. George Doxtader, Captain John and
Captain David.  That the said Tall William & other
Indians were used principally as Indian
spies to watch the movements of the Enemy.  That
I believe the said Betsey to be as old as she states
and the said Tall William to have been 80 years
of age at the time of his Death.                                                Abrm Van Eps
Subscribed & [illegible] before me Aug. 19.
A.D. 1833 by [illegible] Van Eps who is to me
known to be a man of unquestionable
veracity & whose statement is [illegible]
to implicit confidence.
                                          John P. Sherwood
                                                       Judge Oneida County Courts

State of New York
Oneida County Ss I John P. Sherwood  a Judge
        of the court of Common Pleas in and for the
        said County do hereby certify and declare my
        opinion after an investigation of the matter
        and after having put the necessary interrogations
        to the said Betsey, John Cornelius, & John Ca
       =ada, through Adam Jordon who was duly
        sworn as an interpreter, and who is to me
        known as an Indian of strict integrity and 
        who has for many years officiated as an
        interpreter for the Orchard Party of Oneida
        Indians as he states; that the said Tall
        William served in the Revolutionary War as one
        of the Indians of the Oneida Tribe as an 
        ally and spy and generally under the di
        =rection of American officers for the greater
Page 10

part of the American Revolution.
That it is a notorious fact in this neigh
=bourhood that the Oneida Indians went to 
Schenectady and served the Americans
through the greater part of the Revolut=
=tion, and I have no doubt but the said
Tall William was at that time one of their num
=ber and served the Americans faithfully
as stated in the preceeding affidavitts etc
and I the said Judge further certify that I
am well acquainted with Dan Barnes and 
Abraham Van Eps who have signed the
preceeding certificates.  That the said Dan
Barnes resides in the town of Verona and
has for the last three years officiated as a mis=
=sionary among the Oneida Indians and is a
minister of the gospel of high standing
and his certificate is entitled to [illegible]
wrights; That the said Abraham Van Eps
resides in the town of Vernon Oneida County
and is one of the oldest settlers in this county
and has always been intimately acquainted
with the history of the said Indians and
I consider his statement intitled to great
[illegible].  And I further certify that it satisfact
=torily appears to me that the said Tall
William died on the fifteenth day of the
October last; and that the said Tall William
& Betsey were of the age stated in the affi
=davitt of the said Betsey; and I further 
certify that from the age infirmity and
circumstances of the said Betsey that It
would have been impracticable to have
obtained his attendance &that of her wit=
Page 11

=nesses before a court of record.
Dated August 19 1833
                                                       John P. Sherwood
                                                       Judge Oneida County Court
ss. I signed the [illegible] firstly
      as Justice of the Peace &
      afterwards [illegible] & signed
      as a judge
                                J.P. Sherwood
                                    Judge

State of New York
Oneida County        Ss.  I George Brown Clerk of the Court
of common Pleas of the said county, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the origi
=nal proceedings in the matter of the appli
=cation of the widow of Tall William for a pension
and that John P. Sherwood Esquire before 
whome the said preceedings were lead, and
before whom the preceeding affidavits and
certificates support to have been made and
sworn to was at the date of the same one
of the Judges of the court of common
Pleas of the said county and that I am
acquainted with his hand writing and 
verily believe his name subscribed to the
preceeding affidavits of Betsey William
John Cornelius & John Canada and also to the
said certificates of Dan Barnes & Abraham
Van Eps and also his signature to the next
above certificate to be his proper hand
writing and signature.
                      In witness whereof I have hereunto set
                      my hand and affixed my seal of office
                      this 19th day of August A.D. 1833.
                                            Geo Brown clerk
                                             Jos B. Read DeClerk
Page 12

I certify that I am well acquaint
-ed with the within named Abm Van Eps
and that he is one of the oldest settlers
of Oneida County & about 70 years of
age, and [illegible] he is of the most unexcep
tionable character.  Dated [illgible] Aug.
19th A.D. 1833.
                                                  S: Beardsley
                                                   H of Rep.
Page 13

Petition of the widow
& children of Tall William
a deceased Indian
Feby 17 1834
Page 14

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in congress assembled. 

The Petition of the undersigned the widow and children of Tall William deceased, who are members of the Oneida Tribe of Indians residing in the counties of Madison & Oneida in the state of New York Respectfully showing --
 
That said Tall William was a member of the said Tribe of Indians and did at Lennox in the said county of Madison on the twelfth day of October last.

The said Tall William during the Revolutionary war was a true American Indian and served the Americans faithfully during the greater parts of the said Revolution as a soldier and spy:
That for such service the said Tall William in his life time, nor the undersigned since his death have not received any pension or annuity from the United States --

That in the summer of Eighteen hundred and thirty three the undersigned carried passes to be made out on an application to the war department for a pension or annuity for the services of the said Tall William to served in the American Revolution, which said papers were forwarded to the war department, (and by a reference to which said papers ^now on file in the office of the secretary of war^ the facts and circumstances to substantiate the claim of the undersigned to a pension will more fully appear) In answer to which said application the promised communication has been received from the war department by I. Whipple Jenkins Esq. the agent
Page 15

Employed by the undersigned to transmit the
said business.
That the said Tall William died poor, having
the undersigned no property or means of support.
Your petitioners therefore pray that an act may
be passed by the Senate and House of Representa=
=tives in Congress axsembled granting to your
petitioners an annuity or pension for the ser-
=vices of the said Tall William in the American
Revolution, or for such other or further relief as
your Honorable body shall deem [illegible] to grant
and your petitioners as in duly bound will Ever pray etc
Dated & signed at [illegible] [illegible] 29th A.D. 1834
Witness present                       Betsey [her X mark] William (widow)
John Seys                                   Betsey [her X mark] Cooper }          Children
                                                        Catherine [her X mark] Doxtader}
State of New York
Oneida County Ss  Adam Jordon an interpret
or for the Oneida Indians being duly
sworn says that he say the above [illegible]
Betsey the widow of Tall William deceased
and the above named Betsy & Catherine
children of the said Tall William sign
the foregoing petition that before it was 
signed by them it was interpretted and
it was understood by Each of them before 
they signed it -     Adam [his X mark] Jordon

Subscribe & sworn to by A. Jordon who is to me
known to be an indian of credibility and
inteligence Feby 8. 1884 before me -
                                     I. Whipple Suskind, Commissioner
Page 16

War Department
                                                                                                           Pension Office
                                                                                                            January 14th 1834
Sir, 
I have the honor to inform you that the claims
of Tall William decsd and Cornelius Lanquayunk
have been examined.
It appears that they belonged to the Oneida
Tribe, and espoused the American cause during the
revolutionary war.  You will readily perceive by reference
to the law of 7 June 1832, and to the regulations
adopted for its execution that no service, however valuable
to the common cause, is provided for but that which 
is rendered in some military corps, organized by law
and duly embodied, and commanded by competent 
authority.  The services of the above claimants do not
appear to have been rendered in such a corps, but
in the contrary it is believed, were confined to those
friendly acts which the protection afforded them in 
the American lines invited than to perform, when 
called upon by an officer to act as spies or quides.
                Their claims are disallowed, and papers
filed in this office.
                                          I have the honor to be
                                              most respectfully,
                                                        J.L. Edwards
                                                            Commr of Pensions
Hon. L. Beardsley                 
                                 House of Representatives
Page 17

[typewritten note, poss transcription?]

War Dept.  Pension Office.
Feby. 15, 1834

Hon. S. Beardsley,
House of Reps.
[handwritten] Sir:
In compliance with your request I enclose herewith the papers in the case of the widow of Tall William.  Be please to acknowledge the receipt of same.
Page 18

[sm handwritten paper note, torn across the top]

New York Revo.
Tall William
Rejected

See letter of 14 Jy '34
to Hon. S. Beardsley.
Papers sent to Hon. S. Beardsley by HJ.R. Geb. 18, 1834.
Page 19

[vertical fold in doc, no entries after handwritten name]

Acts of July 14, 1832 and March 8, 1870. [lined out]
[official stamp] REJECTED
10,380
P.O.___[no entry]
William Tall
Service: 
Enlisted: _____ , 18   Discharged: ______, 18  Application filed: _____, 18    Alleges: _____  Re-enlisted: _____  Attorney: _____  P.O. ______
_____ Recognized.   _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis.  Searched for _____,18
Page 20

[far left of form margin appears missing due to damage?]
(3-224.)  Rej [?]
No. 21[comma?] 851
..... Ex'r.
|OLD WAR WIDOW.

[handwritten] Betsey Williams of JY
widow of Tall Williams
Warrior Oneida Indian
|ed at..... [official stamp] REJECTED
|.....other claim.
|....., 18  .  ...... Clerk.
[Ap]plication filed: ......, 18
[At]torney: ..... 
|O. .....