Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4650, David Harris, New York
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[handwritten]

New York
Harris, David
R. 4650
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In the Matter of the Application of David Harriss [sic] for a Pension
22882
Please direct the Return of the within to Me at Guilford Chenango County N.Y.
A. C. Moses

War Department
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[handwritten]

In the State of the Application of David Harriss [sic] for a Pension
22882
Please direct the Return of the withing to Me at Guilford Chenango County N.Y.
A.C. Moses

War Department
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[handwritten]

State of New York}
County of Chenango} Ss.
On this 12th day of February 1833 personally appeared in open court before the court of common pleas now sitting David Harris a resident of the town of Guilford County of Chenango and State of New York aged 69 years who being first duly affirmed according to law doth on his affirmation make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress papers June 7. 1832 -
That he was taken prisoner and that he was in the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was born in the town of Cornwall in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut in 1766 
When he was nine years old he moved with his fathers family to Nobbtown near Hudson in the State of New York. when he was thirteen years old his father found him an apprentis [sic] to a Lent Lewis to learn the joiners trade and moved with him to [?] about 10 miles from Johnstown in or near Schoharie county N. York and on the 3rd day of June 1778 he was taken prisoner from that place by a company of War Scouts & Caughnawag [Caughnawaga] Indians and carried to lake George, crossed the lake in bark canoes and landed at Ticonderoga then crossed Lake Champlain and landed at St. Johns, was taken from there to Caughnawaga, was kept there a few days and was then carried to Montreal Upper Canada and was given over to the British. he understood that he was sold to them. was kept then by the British a few days and was taken down the river St. Lawrence to Quebec in Lower Canada. he was then put on board of a guard vessel and kept there a few weeks, was then put on board another
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Vessel and carried to Halifax (Novascotia) [Nova Scotia] and was then put in prison and kept then till the last of October. he was then taken out of prison and carried by the British in a Vessel to Boston (illegible), he was taken sick on the way and when he got to Boston was put into a hospital was kept in the hospital till in the month of January or first of February when he was taken out and staged there a few weeks as he was unable to go home when he was taken with the small pox and was then put in the small pox hospital and staged there till the last of February 1779. understood that he was swaped [sic] with the Americans for British Soldiers when he got to Boston. He was a prisoner among the Indians and British about five months and a half - 
He further states on affirmation that in the month of April 1780 he was living at Nobbtown in Columbia County New York and was hired by a company of men (thinks four) or five of Spencertown in Columbia County to go into the service of the State of New York he joined the company at the same time about 30 miles north from Spencertown under the command of Capt. Froman, has forgotten the other officers names if he ever knew them - He marched directly to Albany (New York) stayed there one night and then march [marched] with the company to Johnstown about 27 miles North West from Albany and joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Harper but dont [sic] now recollect the names of the other officers of the Regiment. He lay at Johnstown with the Regiment till in the month of September
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He was then ordered off to guard boats of provisions up the Mohawk River to Fort Stanwicks [Stanwix] (now called Roma) and staged at Fort Stanwicks [Stanwix] two or three days and then returned to Johnstown. on the way back the company that he belonged to had a battle with the indians near Fort Dayton. they had one man killed. remained at Johnstown with the Regiment till in the month of October He was then ordered to Fort Hunter in about 9 miles of Schenectady and by at Fort Hunter till the last of December. 1780 when he received a verbal discharge. He was in the service this time nine months. He also states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the aging of any State. He further answered to the following interrogatories as follows -
1st q- Where and in what year were you born: 
Ans In the town of Cornwall County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut in 1761.
2nd Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Ans I have a record of my age at home in my family Bible -
3rd q Where were you living when called into the Service. where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Ans. When I was called into the service I was living at Nobbtown (then so called) near Hudson in the State of New York
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When I was taken prisoner by the Indians I was living at Socnedoger (then so called) in about ten miles of Johnstown in Montgomery County New York. I have lived since the revolutionary war in the town of Sharon & Cornwall in Connecticut and in the towns of Rensselaer Ville & Unadilla and now live in Guilford in the State of New York 
4th q - How were you called into the service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Ans - I was hired by a company of men who lived in Spencertown in Columbia County in the State of New York some six or seven men but they were strangers to me and I have now forgotten their names if I ever knew them -
5th q State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served. Such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans - I knew some of the Officers excepting those mentioned in my declaration written [?] any Regiments excepting the one to which I belonged & the general circumstances of my services are contained in the body of my declaration -
6th q Did you ever receive a discharge from the service & if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? -
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Ans - I received a verbal discharge from the Capt. of the company to which I belonged & consequently have none to show -
7th q State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood [sic] and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution - 
Ans - Dauphin Murray. Lyman Ives. Rufus Baldwin I[?] Hendrick. & Phinehas Atwater 
There is no clergyman in my neighhbourhood [sic] whom I can get to testify as to my veracity & belief of my service as now resides there -
[?] & Subscribed the day & year afforesaid [sic] David Harris [signature]
P. B. Prindle
State of New York}
County of Chenango} Ss
We Dauphin Murray & Rufus Baldwin residing in the town of Guilford County of Chenango & State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Harriss [sic] who is discribed [sic] in the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be Sixty nine years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [sic] where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that he was a prisoner of war among the Indians in the Revolutionary War and that we concur in that opinion 
Dauphin Murray [signature]
Rufus Baldwin [signature]
Sworn & Subscribed this 9th day of February 1833 Before Me
Samuel J Trask Justice
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State of New York}
County of Chenango} Ss
I Samuel I. Trask a Justice of the peace in the town of Guilford County of Chenango & State of New York do certify that Dauphin Murray & Rufus Baldwin who have signed the preceding certificate reside in the town of Guilford and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit 
Samuel I Trask Justice of the Peace

State of New York}
County of Chenango} Ss
I Jarvis K. Pike Clerk of the said County do certify that Samuel I Trask before [illegible] foregoing certificate is made and [illegible] the preceding certificate was at the [illegible] same and is now one of the justices [illegible] in and for said county and that [illegible] acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his claim subscribed to the said certifcates to be his proper hand writing & signatures. Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 12th day of February 1833
P. B. Prindle Dep Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogetories [sic] prescribed of the war department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he state [sic] and that he was a prisoner of War among the indians as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Dauphin Murray & Rufus Baldwin who
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have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the town of Guilford and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit

I Jarvis K Pike Clerk of the court of common pleas of the County of Chenango do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in matter of the application of David Harriss [sic] for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12th day of February 1833.
P. B. Prindle Dep Clerk
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State of New York}
County of Chenango}
Be it known, that on this ninth day of November A.D. 1852 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared 1 [subscript] Solomon Harris resident of 2 [subscript] Guilford in said County, and made oath according to law that 3 [subscript] he is the legal heir of David Harris who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of 4 [subscript] [blank] That 5 [subscript] he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in presenting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint C. W. BENNETT, of Washington City, my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of 6 [subscript] David Harris for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Department at Washington City or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises. 7 [subscript] Solomon Harris [signature]
Sworn to, Subscribed, and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said 8 [subscript] Solomon Harris to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
9 [subscript] Laman Ingersoll Justice of the Peace

State of New York}
County of Chenango}
It is hereby certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Chenango County that 8 [subscript] Solomon Harris the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney, is the 10 [subscript] child of the reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify, that 11 [subscript] Laman Ingersoll Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was [illegible due to seal] doing, a Justice of the Peace, is and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this 13th day of December 1852 
12 [subscript] Horace S. Read Clerk of Chenango County
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 25 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 show what is necessary to be done. These prints 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 David Harris Chenango Co. N_York
| Period when the service was rendered. |
June 1778
April 1780
| Duration of the claimant's service |
5 months
9 months [underlined]
1 year 2 months [total]
| Rank of the claimant. |
Prisoner
Priv.
| Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. |
Capt Froman
| Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. |
Col Harper
| Battles in which the applicant was engaged. |
[blank]
| Country through which he marched. |
N. York
| Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. |
69
Nobbtown 
Columbia Co
N.Y_
| Evidence by which the declaration is supported. |
Traditionary

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

Proof of service required -
age of the claimant at the time of alleged service too young.
By the law of the Realm were they not subject to military duty at 16? in 1780 & also by colonial law soon after & he passed muster &c. A. C. Moses
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Washington City
June 7th 1853

Hon L. P. Waldo
Com. of Pensions
Sir
I have the honor to enclose herewith the power of attorney of the heirs of David Harris deed of the State of New York whose claim under Act of July 7th 1832 has been suspended.
I hope to be enabled to file additional evidence in the case sufficient to establish the claim before it comes up for examination
Very Respectfully Your Obedt. Svt.
C. W. Bennett
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Hon L. P. Waldo
Com. of Pensions
Pension Office
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June 11, 1853
Pow atty: case
David Harris
Decd. [deceased]
N.Y.

Act  7th June 1832

[printed on envelope]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
PENSION OFFICE. OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Commissioner
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New York
Revol -
David Harris
Suspended
See letter to A. C. Moses
8 October 1833
C W Bennett aug 23/53
4650
Act 7. June 1832
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4650
David Harris
REJECTED [stamped]
Alleges Printed list of 1852 gives as cause of suspension "He was required to produce proof of his service, but has failed to do so."