Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 6634, David Carswell, New York.
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Service New York
Carswell, David
Martha
Number W. 6634
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Ohio 20.27
Pittsburgh Agency
David Carswell of Huron Co in the State of Ohio, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Sherwood of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Dubois in the New York line, for the term of two years from 1 October 1780 to 1782

Inscribed on the roll of Ohio Pittsburgh Agency at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the 1st day of January 1828

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th of December 1830 and sent to Hon M. Bartley. House of Reps.

Arrears to 4th of March 1830 $209.03
Semi-anu'l all'ce ending 4 Sept 48.00
$257.03

{Revolutionary Claim, Act May 20, 1830}

Rec: Book D
Vol: 2 folr. 128
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David Carswell
Rejected
Not having served nine months on Continental Establishment

Case reconsidered by the Assembly of Bill passed in his favour 24th March 1820

Capt. Sherwood
Exchange list of persons
2 y 00 mo. 30 90.18.7
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State of New York, Washington County ss
Be it remembered that on this twenty seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen before me Henry C. Martindale Esq. one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Washington in the state of New York personally came David Caswell to me well known who being by me duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration & testify & subscribe to the facts contained in the following deposition 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" and the said David Caswell also produced Colonel Adiel Sherwood & John Guy of said County as witnesses to prove his claim for services under said act who also being by me duly sworn testified to the facts contained in the depositions following subscribed by their names.
Henry C. Martindale
No 21

Washington County, State of New York ss
David Caswell of the town of Fort Edward in the County of Washington and State of New York being duly sworn doth depose declare & say that he is fifty three years of age. That he enlisted the service of the United States at Fort Ann on the sixth day of October in the year 1780, as one of the New York, Levies for three months, as a private in Captain Adiel Sherwood's Company belonging to the Regiment under
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the command of Colonel Lewis Graham Liuenant Colonel Livingston, that the Levies in which this deponent was enrolled were raised (as this deponent understood) under a requisition from the United States Government, upon this state to furnish a certain number of troops for three month to reinforce the army of the United States in the frontier, that Captain Sherwood was at that time stationed at Fort Ann with his Company. That on the tenth day of October in the year 1780 this deponent was taken prisoner at Fort Ann together with Captain Sherwood & his company, by the enemy commanded by Major Carleton with about 150 men. That after the taking of Fort Ann the enemy proceeded to Fort George & took that, carrying with them this deponent and the residue of the prisoners taken at Fort Ann. From Fort George we were taken into Montreall and then put into close confinement. That in June following this deponent effected his escape from the prison at Montreal but that he was retaken & again conveyed back to prison at Montreal in about six days & after his escape, and then loaded with irons, which he was comfitted to wear for six months. That he this deponent was then removed from the prison at Montreal on to prison Island at Court De Lack about fifty five miles up the River St. Lawrence from Montreal, where he continued
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in confinement until the tenth day of June in the year 1782, when he was parroled and returned home to Washington County where he resided (at Salem) that this deponent was held to his parroll until the close of the war when he & the residue of the said company was [illegible]. That this deponent was a prisoner as aforesaid for one year & eight months, during which time he suffered all the hardships & oppression incident to the most vigorous confinement. That in consequence of his long confinement and being exposed to cold and all the unhapy effects of such a situation he contracted a disease called the scurvy to such an astonishing degree, that it has affected his limbs so as is a great nuisance to destroy his usefulness of which he has never yet, & probably never will recover. And this deponent further saith that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he here with offers the evidence of Captain Adiel Sherwood & John Guy to prove his claim for said services being the best evidence now in his power to give.
David Caswell

Sworn to & declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
Henry C. Martindale one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington.
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No 3
State of New York
Washington County ss
Adiel Sherwood of the town of Kingsbury in the county of Washington state of New York being duly sworn doth depos & say that in July in the year 1780 he this deponent receied a captains commission from the State of New York, to take the command of a company of Levies raised in said state to reinforce the army of the United States, that the said corps were raised by virtue of a requisition of the government of the United States requiring this state to furnish a proportionable number of troops to reinforce the army of the United States on the frontiers, that Lewis Graham was Colonel of the regiment to which his company belonged. Lieutenant Colonel Livingston that having stationed at Fort Ann, that David Caswell mentioned in the foregoing deposition come of the Levies enlisted & called into service in the manner for the objects above stated for three months. That this deponent together with said Caswell and the residue of his company were taken prisoners at Fort Ann on the tenth day of October [illegible] as mentioned in the aforesaid deposition and this deponent saith that the facts related & set forth in the said deposition by said Caswell touching his entering the service his [illegible] in [illegible] and the time & manner of his continuing therein and all the facts therein set forth are true to
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the best of this deponents recollection & belief that the said company of this deponent were [illegible] at different times and were all held to this paroll until the close of the war in 1783 when they were exchanged. That this be [illegible] [illegible] lately transmitted his commission to this [illegible] on this July to the war department as evidence of his own claims to the benefit of the aforesaid Act where referance may be made there to for further evidence in his behalf.
Adiel Sherwood

Signed & sworn to before me this 27th day of April 1818
Henry C. Martindale one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington

State of New York, Washington County ss
I Henry C. Martindale Judge in as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said David Caswell did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceeding declaration against the common enemy and I now transmit the [illegible] & testimony taken then before me to the [illegible] for the department of war pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress dated this twenty seventh day of April 1818.
Henry C. Martindale
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State of New York, Washington County ss
I Daniel Shepherd Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Washington do certify under the law of the said Court that Henry C. Martindale Esquire named in the foregoing affidavit & certificate was on the day the same [illegible] date & still is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge and believe the the signature to the said affidavit & certificate are genuine and signed by the said Judge. Witness my hand and the seal of the said Court the first day of May one thousand eight hundred & eighteen.
D. Shepherd
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4512
Ohio Pittsburg
Martha Carswell widow of David Carswell N.Y. who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 dollars -- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Mch 1849 and sent to Wm H Mills
Sandusky City, Ohio

Recorded on Roll of Pensionsers und
uary 2, 1848, Page 336
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State of New York, Cayuga County ss
Personally appeared before me Lyman Paine a Justice of the Peace of the town of Auburn James Simson to me well known who being duly sworn deposeth & saith he is now (79) seventy nine years old. That he is the brother of Martha Carswell the widow of the late David Carswell late a pensioner deceased. That he was present in the town of White Creek (now Salem) in the County of Washington State of New York at the marriage between the said David & Martha Carswell & witnessed the ceremony which was performed some time in the month of March 1789 precise day not recollected by the Rev. James Proudfoot . That they afterwards lived for a long time together as husband & wife. That he does not know that any official record was kept of said marriage and that he does not know of any one now living but himself & one sister the widow Lytle & she is so old and infirm as to be unable to testify.
James Simson

Subscribed and sworn before me this 7th day of January 1846
Lyman Paine Justice of the Peace.
January 24th 1846. James Simson the person who subscribed the foregoing affidavit came before me and on his oath saith that the facts and words (some time in the month of March 1789, presice day not recollected) interlined between the ninth & tenth lines of his affidavit are true and a part his affidavit.
James Simson
Lyman Paine Justice of the Peace
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State of New York, Cayuga County Clerks Office
I Philip Van Arsdale Clerk of Cayuga County do herby certify that Lyman Paine Esq. by and before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken and sworn, was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county duly elected and sworn. And that the foregoing is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said county and subscribed my name this seventh day of January AD 1846.
Philip Van Arsdale Clerk

Mr. J M Root Esq 
Dear Sir
Agreeable to the request of your friend Elutherous Cook of Ohio I have you an affidavit enclosed of James Simpson the brother of Mr. Cooks wives mother.
Yours
W.G. Simpson
Auburn Jany 7th 1846
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State of Ohio, Erie County ss.
On this the eleventh day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Martha Carswell a resident of Sandusky City in the county aforesaid aged seventy six years in the month of September AD 1845, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary. That she is the widow of David Carswell deceased who served as a private in Captain Sherwoods company of Colonel Dubois Regiment in the army of the revolution and who previous to his decease was in the receipt of a revolutionary pension for his said services (to the papers in reference to which now on file in the war office she refers). That she is now nearly seventy six years of age. That she was married to the said David Carswell on the twelfth day of March in the year 1789 at the town of Salem in the state of New York. That she has resided at Sandusky City aforesaid since the year 1823. She having resided there previous
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to the time of the permanent residence of her husband at the same place. That previous to her residence at Sandusky City, she resided in the state of New York. She further declares that her said husband the said David died on the 26th day of February AD 1844 and that she is still a widow.
Martha Carswell

Sworn to and subscribed before me this eleventh day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five.
David Powers
Justice of the Peace Erie County Ohio

I hereby certify that the above declarant Martha Carswell is personally known to me and that she is the same individual she represents herself to be in the above affidavit.
David Powers J.P.

State of Ohio, Erie County ss
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid Wm H. Mills of Sandusky City in the county aforesaid who being first duly sworn deposes and says that he was well acquainted with David Carswell decd. during
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his lifetime, that for some time previous to his death he was in the [illegible] of a Revolutionary pension. That he is also acquainted with the above applicant Martha Carswell, who is known to him to be the widow of the said David. That he has frequently seen the family record in the possession of the said Martha, wherein is recorded the marriage of the said David and Martha in the handwriting of the said David, as having occurred at the time and place specified in the above declaration and further saith not.
Wm. H. Mills

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th August 1845.
David Powers Justice of the Peace

State of Ohio, Erie County ss
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, William H. Carswell who being first duly sworn deposes and says that he is the son of David and Martha Carswell. That the above applicant is the widow of David Carswell a revolutionary soldier and during his life time a pensioner. That his mother yet has in her possession the family record where is the marriage of the said David and Martha further saith not.
W. H. Carswell

Sworn to and subscribed this 11th Aug 1845 before me.
David Powers Justice of the Peace
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The State of Ohio, Erie County ss.
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in & for the county aforesaid, Eleultheros Cooke of Sandusky City in said Erie County who being first duly sworn deposes and says - That for the last thirty four years he has been well acquainted with the within named David Carswell and Martha Carswell late his wife, now his widow. That the said David Carswell was for more than twelve years prior to his death a Revolutionary pensioner. That he died on the 26th day of February AD 1844 in the presence of this deponant. And that the said Martha Carswell now nearly 76 years of age is his widow & further deponent saith not.
E. Cooke

Sworn & subscribed before me this 11th day of August 1845.
David Powers Justice of the Peace

State of Ohio, Erie County ss 
Clerks Office, Sandusky, August 11th A.D. 1845
I Rice Harper Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said county do certify that David Powers Esquire is a qualified magistrate as designated in the foregoing affidavits & papers, and that the signature thereto above purporting to be his, is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal the day and year above written.
Rice Harper Clerk
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Family Record. Births.
David Carswell born Colrain Massachussetts March 6th 1764
Martha Simpson born Salem New York Sept. 6th 1769
Martha Carswell born 6th May 1792
Esther Carswell born 16th April 1796
William Henry Caswell born 8th January 1800
James C. Hurd born Middle Haddam, Connecticut March 6th 1795
Caroline Maria Hurd born Salem 20th Dec. 1818
William Henry Hurd born Glostenbury Conn. 12th January 1823
[illegible] Cooke Mills born Sandusky City, Ohio, 13th December 1840
Henry David Carswell Mills born Sandusky, Ohio, 28th December A.D. 1843
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Family Record. Mariages.
David Carswell married to Martha Simpson at Salem N.Y. 12th March 1789

James C. Hurd married to Esther Carswell at Salem N.Y. 12th Jany. 1818

H.YH. Mills married to Caroline M. Hurd Sandusky City Jany. 3rd 1838
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I hereby certify that I have this day examined the family record of the family of David and Martha Carswell, now in the possession of the said Martha Carswell, and find the following entry which I certify to be a correct copy.
"David Carswell married to Martha Simpson at Salem, N.Y., 12th March 1789."

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed my notarial seal of office this 11th day of August A.D. 1845.
David Powers Notary Public
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State of New York, Washington County SS.
Be it remembered that on the 27 day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two David Carswell of the town of Port Edward in the county of Washington appeared in the court of common Pleas of the county of Washington in open court the same being a court of record proceeding according to the course of the common law. Established as such by the constitution & Laws of this State keeping a Record its proceedings & having a seal and took and subscribed and produced to the said court the following oath.
I David Carswell do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the united states on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner whatever disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of 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 on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. And that I have not nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities coontracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
David Carswell

Sworn in open court this 28th Augsut 1822
M.D. Danvers Clk
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Schedule of the whole estate and income of David Carswell of the town of Fort Edward in the county of Washington (his necessary clothing & bedding excepted), one hundred acres of land being part of lot number seventy one of the township of Sterling in the military tract in the county of Seneca at $2 per acre. $200.00

There is a mortgage on the said one hundred acres given by me to secure the payment of two hundred and thirty dollars given on the 7th August 1820 & payable in four years from date with interest & on which there is due 28 Augt. 1822. $263.09

I have no income other than my daily labour. I have no children able to support me nor any other person to support me. I am fifty eight years old & am infirm & not able to labor.
David Carswell

I Matthew D. Danvers Clerk of the court of common Pleas of the county of Washington do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copies from the records of the said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exibited in the aforesaid schedule is two hundred dollars. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this eighth day of November 1822.
M. D. Danvers
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O. W. & N. Division.
F.S.
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C., February 12, 1895.
Sir:
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of David Carswell a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment.
Length of Service.
Rank.
Officers under whom service was rendered. Captain. Colonel.
State
October 8, 1780, enlisted for three months as a private in Captain Sherwood's Co., Col. Lewis Granse's New York Regt.; Oct. 10, 1780, taken prisoner at Fort Ann by the British and Indians and held as a prisoner until June 10, 1782, when he was allowed to return home.

Battles engaged in. None.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Salem, N.Y.
Date of application for pension. Apr 27, 1818
Residence at date of application, Fort Edward, N.Y.
Age at date of application, Fifty-three years.
Remarks: He married Martha Simpson, March 12, 1789, and died February 26, 1844.
Very respectfully,
Jay Cooke, Jr.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Commiissioner
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1895
Jay Co
Widow, &c.
File No. 6634
Martha Carswell Wid. David Carswell
Pt, Rev. War
Act: Feby 2d/48
Index: Vol. A, Page 114
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Feby. 12 Hist to [illegible], Jr. Phila., Pa.
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V No 12.175
Martha Carswell
Let to John V. Ingersoll
Sept. 16. 45
to J.B. Fryer, oll. Sept. 18.1845
Rejected husb died 1844

Act 7 July 1838
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David Carswell was taken prisoner during the Revolutionary War & taken to Quebec, and on his release, was granted a pension by the government.
W.E.C. Moorehead

O.W. & D.Div
Mar 14, 1851
Chief's Desk
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NY Clear Files
This is the best data NY friend [illegible] give. The wishes to join the Society of the Sons of the Rev. Will you be kind enough to look into the matter for this service, a oblige me.
[illegible]
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Ohio,
Matha widow of David Carswell who was a private in the Revolution

Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 80 Dollars -- cents per annum, to commence on 26th February 1844, when the husband died.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of January and sent to Hon E. Cooke of Ohio, now present.

[Acts of March 3, 1843 & June 17, 1844]
Recorded in Book A, Vol. 2, Page 202.

Repd.
Let to J.V. Ingersoll Feb 3 '41
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Martha Carswell of Ohio Cleveland Agency
Act of Feby. 2d 1848

B.B. Chapman
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Martha Carswell of Ohio, Cleveland Agency
Act of Feby 2d. 1848
B.B. Chapman
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8405 - 433
Martha Carswell widow of David Carswell
$80 per ann. commencing Feb. 26. 1844
under act 17 June 1844
[Enter this on Index under act March 3, 1843 & June 17, 1844.]

Ohio Roll
Married 12 March 1789
Husband died 26 Feb. 1844

Cert: to the Honble. E. Cooke, of Ohio
Now present
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In the Spring of the year 1780 congress required of the State of New York to raise a number of Levies to reinforce the Army of the United States. The Council of appointment met at Kingston in June following and appointed the officers in different parts of the State to command said Levies. Adiel Sherwood was appointed Capt. Ezekiel Roberts Lieut. and Cornelius Baldwin Ensign of the company to which I belonged. The inhabitants subject to bear arms were [illegible] each class to furnish one man. It fell to my brother [illegible] to go for our class. The company was filled and stationed at Ft. Ann and made a part of Col. Dubois Regt. as will appear by a certificate given by the secretary of this state and lodged with my papers at Washington.
Some time after this my father was taken sick and it became necessary that my brother should return home. I went to Ft. Ann had him discharged and enlisted myself in his place. On the morning of the 10th October our fort was surrounded by a party of the enemy under the command of Major Carleton. The party consisted of about 1100.  Six hundred regular troops the remainder made up of Savages and Tories more than Savage our fort was in a poor state of defence and we were compel to surrender. Seventy one of us in number. We were pinioned carried through the country. They burning and destroying everything in the way to  Fort George. There they had a severe battle but succeeded in taking the Fort. This added to our number of suffering. For want of boats the prisoners with the main part of the enemy were sent by land round Lake George. This proved a tedious march over those rough mountains with our arms pinioned and without provision. The enemy depended on finding provision in the Forts they were sure of taking but happened at that time there was no provision in either Ft. George which was all we had for our support untill we arrived at Ticonderoga a Sunday evening after dark being four days getting round the lake.
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On our arriving at Ticonderoga we were delivered over to new guard commanded by a Scotchman by the name of Fraizer who treated us with much severity. We were crowded into one of the  old redoubts overgrown with burdocks and thistles nearly as high as our heads. There ordered to sit down telling us at the same time that we were too well used for rebels giving strict orders at the same time if any one rose up without liberty from the ground to shoot him dead. Here in this situation we received half a pound of pork and two biscuits each. The first we had any thing to eat after leaving Ft. George four days before. Some was so [illegible] as to devour the great  part of their allowance immediately which nearly cost their lives. We were much fatigued with our march which occasioned great thirst and eating the salt provision on empty stomachs made it insupportable and a scene of agony not to be described. We had not a drop of water during the night although we lay within 100 feet of the lake. The orders given to the guard was so strict that not a man darst leave his post to give us water if we perished. About day break we got relief a humane officer came to inspect the guard and inquiring into the cause of our distress ordered the guard immediately to furnish us with water and do all in their power to make us comfortable expressing great indignation against the officer of the guard and the treatment we had received. In the morning we were taken out and the Indians suffered to come forward and select out 46 as their share of the prisoners there being 146 in the whole. It fell to my lot to be one chosen by the Indians and by them carried to Montreal. I was with the Indians about two weeks. They used me better than I had faired before but before we entered the town of Montreal they striped us of the most of our clothing giving us in exchange old blanket coats old hats or caps and other clothing of little value. We were then carried to the comissary of prisoners and delivered over to the British who confined us in an old church under a strong guard of Hessians.
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It was an friday in the afternoon we were givin up and the Indians the night before had got plenty of rum and become careless about provisions either for themselves or the prisoners. Few of us had eat anything that day and owing to the neglect of the commissary we received nothing except water untill Monday after noon. We then received some fresh beef and bread informing us at the same time it was allowance for five days. We thought it a scanty morsel to allay the hunger of forty six half starved men yet we determined to make the best of it for it did no good to complain. We were forced to make our first meal of the meat raw. We had but one old knife and no cooking utensil of any kind. The next day we obtained from one of the clergy that resided in another part of this same building a frying pan. This with our old knife served for dressing our morsel for about three weeks. When the rest of the prisoners arived that was left with the British at Ticanderoga we were taken out and put with them into a stone building called the Long House. Two or three miles below the town. The enemy had invaded our frontiers that fall in many places and taken a considerable number of prisoners. There was rising three hundred put into this building. It being 120 feet long and 20 wide a story and half high without any partitions. The whole one entire room from end to end a chamber floor was laid and it fell to my lot to be placed at one end of this loft which was as below open the whole length of the building. There was a miserable stove placed at each end of this long open room and forty six prisoners placed at each stove. In this place we suffered much. Our stoves were poor our wood poor and but little of it. My clothing had been taken from me by the Indians as I before described. We received nothing during the winter except a blanket for each man which served for our covering by day and our bed at night. Although we suffered much from cold we suffered still more  from hunger. Provisions were said to be scarse in Canada that year this victualling fleet having been nearly all taken by the American privateers.
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Our scanty allowance of provisions was not more than one third of a common soldiers ration. We had no one to complain to for redress. We were continually under a stong guard of Hessions whose ignorance and prejudice included them to believe we deserved no mercy. The deputy commissary was a refugee by the name of Benniger from Washington County in this state who had joined the Army of Gen. Burgoyne and sent to Canada when that army surrendered his [illegible] to his country men was so great that he would show us no mercy. This we supposed to be in part the reason of our hard treatment. Our sufferings through the winter reduced us so weak we were hardly able to walk in this situation. Many became disheartened and to get from sheer perishing situation enlisted into the Kings service under refugee officers. This proved a severe mortification to those who with firmness determined not to abandon their countries cause whilst life remained. Early in May following their [illegible] arrived at Quebec with provisions after this the prisoners fared something better. About the 10th June two others with myself effected our escape in the dusk of the evening. We got past the guards concealed ourselves untill it was quite dark. Then passed our way along the bank of the river till we found a canoe. We broke the lock and ferried ourselves across the St. Lawrence. We traveled some distance before daylight appeared. We then went into a swamp and staid through the day. The next night we traveled on untill we reached the river Sorrel we found a canoe crossed the river and reached the woods east of the river before the inhabitants were out in the morning. We now began to feel ourselves safe and had strong hopes of seeing home. But we afterwards found ourselves much disappointed so after being out five days and having good success in traveling in the woods we fell in with a party of Tories in a place where we could not escape.
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They took us prisoners bound us securely and carried us back to one of their out posts. From there we were sent under a guard down the Moscow River and [illegible] on to the Fort at Sorrell. This was a painful march, our arms being closely tied behind our backs caused us to travel in much pain. When we got to Sorrell we were put in irons and placed in a dark loathsome prison crawling with vermin. In this situation we remained some days when we were taken out put on board a boat and carried up the St. Lawrence to Montreal and delivered to the provo Guard and lodged in the same jail where their criminals were confined. Here we found a number of fellow suffers who like ourselves had attempted to make their escape and were retaken. When we were put into this solitary place our handcuffs were taken off and strong irons put upon our legs. There were fourteen of us all well ironed confined in one small room. In this situation we remained through the summer and untill late in the fall when our irons were taken off and we were put with the rest of the prisoners that had been confined in and about the town. We were all carried up the St. Lawrence about fifty five miles above Montreal and put upon an island where they had prepared during the past summer a place for our being kept safe. This small island stood about the midle of the river at the head of a rapid where the water broke past on both sides very rough and swift and as cold a place in winter as could be found in that cold country. We were kept in this place under a guard of Tories that had fled their country. They treated us with much inhumanity by their insults and also depriving us of the necessaries allowed us by the government. I had by this time become almost naked and was forced to pass the winter with little other clothing than a blanket and pair of trousers made from an old blanket. I had neither shoes nor stockings of any kind. In this situation I did every thing in my power to keep up my spirits but my long confinement the cold I suffered and living on salted provisions brought on the scurvy. My feet and legs and up to my body became much swelled. The flesh became black and and seemed nearly putrified. My spirits became low and a numbness in my flesh over my whole body prevailed.
Page 36

I found myself in the same way that many of my fellow sufferers had been before me and the disease had proved fatal to them. Several died that spring. I did not give up all hope of myself although I was able to walk but very little yet I exercised all the strengh I was master of and on the 10th of June following kind providence opened a way for my deliverence from those wretched sufferings I had endured one whole year and eight months. At this time a partial exchange of prisoners took place. This exchange was negotiated by the state of Vermont then called Green Mountain Boys. by this arrangement the Vermonters were to send in the names of all the prisoners belonging to them with as many British prisoners from the state as would redeem them, a part of their prisoners was confined on the same island where I was and when the officer came to select them out the name of Caldwell was mistaken for Carswell and I was fortunately exchanged in place of my fellow sufferer althoug I belonged to the state of New York. However a general exchange of prisoners took place in October following when all were released. We were brought from this island down the river to Saprarie opposite Montreal [illegible] [illegible] to St. Johns there put on board a vessel and sent on [illegible] a guard with a flag to Skeensborough and from thence to Castleton in Vermont where the exchange was ratified by Major Bronson the commanding officer at that post. The names were all called over, The returns were all right except the msitake I have before stated. I was exchanged in place of Caldwell. In this place a friend lent me a shirt and another gave me a pair of old shoes these together with my old blanket frousers made the clothing I returned home in. After being at home my health became better. The swelling in a great measure left my limbs the skin however did not resume it natural colour in many years. I was much troubled with a numbness in the flesh and stiffness in my joints and when I happened to set my feet or otherwise to take cold these complaint troubled me much and generally attended with great pain like severe rheumatism that rendered me unable to labour but a small portion of my time.
Page 37

Althoug I was unable to perform much labour I tried by every mean in my power to obtain an honest living. My Father had done as much as his abillities would allow in support of his countries cause he had suffered much by the depreciation of continental money and being placed on the frontier with a large family of twelve children to support being several times obliged to remove his family back into the country when the enemy invaded the frontier and being himself and his sons called out on every alarm beside furnishing by their money a portion of the attending troops he had become in low circumstances and it was out of his power to give me much assistance but by attending closely to such busines as I was able to perform when my health would any way allow I gained a tollerable support for myself and small family I had become the parent of. Untill the year 1803 when I was taken with a fever and brought so low that my life was dispaired of by my physicians and and all who attended upon me. However providence saw fit to spare me a little longer. The fever abated I began to gain in health but my limbs that had been so much infused by the scurvey became numb and without feeling. The physicians did all in their power but without effect. At last they recommended me to be carried out put into a carriage and moved moderately in the air. It was done accordingly. They had moved me but a short distance when the horse started and throwing himself about overturned the carriag and my hip was broken by the fall. I was conveyed back to the same bed I had left in a much worse situation than when I was carried out. The doctors informed me at the same time that I was so weak and so much injured by the fall that it would be important to attempt puting the bones to their place. In this situation I passed several months in undiscribable misery at length my pain abated the circulation of blood in my limbs become better and after being confined about two years I became able to walk short distances with a staff. My little profit was all spent and I found myself much in degt. My credit has been favourable. Those with whome I have lived has treat me with great hospitality and by their goodness I have kept out of jail and from being lodged in a poor house.
Page 38

I had not though of calling on govirment for assistance while I was in any way passibly able to support myself. I rejoiced at the growing prosperity of my country and felt myself happy that I had done every thing in my power in the noble cause of gaining our Independence. I was young when the war closed I was unacquainted with doing business my Capt. informed me his papers were all lost and he could make no returns and I made no further inquiry. Afterwards when I became reduced to extreem poverty and reflecting on the hardships and sufferings I had undergon in defence of my country.  Seeing the flourishing situation my country had arrived to with full treasuries and those in its service bountifuly rewarded I could not but have cheering hopes that I should yet have opportunity ot making my case known and receiving a share of that bounty so liberaly bestowed on others. When the law passed for granting pensions to the officers and soldiers of the Revolution I supposed my happy time had arrived. I procured the the affidavits of Capt. Sherwood and others had them made out in regular form and sent on to the secretary of war. Capt Sherwoods memory had betrayed him into a fatal mistake he represented that we belonged to Col. Grahams Regt. instead of Col. Dubois. My papers were rejected and sent back as not belonging to the continental line. Lieutenant Roberts made application in the same way and was rejected for the same reason. in the winter of 1823 Lieut. Roberts or some one for him in searching in the Secretaries office found a small book that had lain unnoticed. In this book he found the law for raising the Levies the meeting of the council at Kingston and appointing the officers as I have before related. He procured a certificate from the Secretary and made a new application and his pension was granted him from the time of his first application. He wrote to me informing me of his success.
Page 39

On receiving this information from Lieut. Roberts I wrote to Mr. Savage in Albany and he procured me a like certificate. I got a new set of papers made out and in these papers Capt. Sherwood corrected the mistake he had been under and fully explained his error. Judge Pitcher took charge of my papers and in the fall 1823 when he went to Washignton delivered them at the war office. The secretary examined them some doubts arose in his mind of the time of service I had not served nine months before I was taken prisoner. He took some time to consider the case then wrote to Mr. PItcher that Carswells case was a case of merit but the rigid construction given to the law by Congress in 1818 was such that he had doubts of entering me on the pension list and recommended that I should make application to Congress. This paper is in the care of Mr. Martindale. When Mr. Martindale took his sent in 1824 I wished him to give any assistance in his power. He afterwards wrote to me that I had better get a petition prepared as the secretary had recommended. Forward it to him and he would attend to it and thought I would be likely to succeed. The pettian was delayed some time untill the session was far advanced by reason of his not being able to find my papers at the War office. The petition went to the committee of claim who reported unfavourably. I called on Mr. Martindale befor he went to Congress last fall. He informed me that it was so late when the commite reported that he had not opportunity of doing any thing more about it that session. But he expected to take it up again and he would try to do something for me during the winter. Since that time I have had no account.
David Carswell
Page 40

The papers were deposited in Mr. Calhouns office & not in the public office but he is supposed Mr. Martindale has since had them or can given information when they may be found.
Page 41

44
David Carswell's Petition for a Pension on account of sufferings during the Rev. War in the Army of the U.S.

Dec 16 1825
Rep to Comm on Military Pensions

Filed Dec 16 1835

April 1 1826
Report to be - see report Alex McNish & at

Provided for by Bill reported

Jan 21 1828
Rep. to 6 m - Mid Pensions

Dec 16 1829
Rep to Comt. Mil Pensions

See letter Sept 30, 1830 to E. Cooke

42
Milty. Pension
Page 42

State of New York, Washington County ss
I Ezekiel Roberts of the town of Hampton in the county of Washington & state of New York being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was a Lieutenant in Captain Adiel Sherwood's company in the Revolutionay War on the Continental Establishment in the regiment commanded by Colonel Lewis Dubois of the state of New York. And that David Carswell of the town of Salem in said county was a soldier in the aforesaid company and taken a prisioner with this deponant on the 10th day of October in the year 1780 at Fort Ann and carried with me to Montreal in the province of Canada and it was then & there detained a close presence for more than twelve months by the enemy and further this deponant saith not.
Dated the 31t May 1822
Ezekiel Roberts

Sworn beforeme the 31st May 1822
Nathl. Hall Just. Peace

State of New-York, County of Washington ss.
I, Nathaniel Hall, the above-named Justice of the Peace, do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Ezekiel Roberts the deponent whose name is subscribed to the above affidavit, and I am fully satisfied that he is a man of truth and veracity.
Dated 2 Oct 1822
Nathaniel Hall Just. Pea.
Page 43

State of New York, Washington County ss.
Adiel Sherwood of the town of Kingsbury in the county of Washington and state aforesaid being duly sworn saith that on or about the first of July 1780 he was commissioned a captain in a regiment of the New York Levies raised to reinforce the Armies of the United States, commanded by Colonel Lewis Dubois; as he has lately learned and been informed and he believes truly. But he did suppose until lately and had so uninformly stated in his affidavits and other declarations that he belonged to the regiment commanded by Colonel Morris Graham. But it appears by the Records and Rolls of this state that the regiment to which he was attached was commanded by Colonel Louis Dubois; and this deponent believes that the fact is as above last stated. And this deponent further saith that immediately after being commissioned as aforesaid he was stationed at an out post at Fort Ann; and shortly after Davis Carswell was brought in as a Levy and joined his said company at the station aforesaid and remained there with this deponent until the tenth of October 1780 aforesaid, when this deponent and the said David Carswell with the whole garrison were taken prisoners by the British and Indians, and carried to Montreal in the Province of Lower Canada, and then this deponent and the said David Carswell were detained prisoner more than one year and further this deponent waith not.
Adiel Sherwood, Late Capt.

Sworn this 24th day of Augut 1822 before me.
Reuben Mussey, Commissioner
To perform the duties of a Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Page 44

State of New York, Washington County ss
On this twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two before me Anthony J. Blanchard Esquire first judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Washington and state of New York personally appeared David Carswell, resident in the town of Fort Edward in the County & State aforesaid & 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 on or about the first of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, this deponent inlisted into Capt. Adriel Sherwoods company in Colonel Lewis Dubois Regiment of New York levies, that the said service as this deponent is informed and believes was on the continental establishment & in the New York line. That on the tenth day of October in the same year, this deponant and the whole garrison at Fort Ann to which this deponent was attached were taken prisoners by the British and carried to Montreal, that this deponent was detained as a prisoner as aforesaid till the tenth day of June one thousand seven hundred & eighty two, that the [illegible] part of the said time this deponent was confined in [illegible] jail, and from then to December 1781 this deponent was confined in irons in the provost, and this deponent saith that he has not recovered from the effect of the said confinement, 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 now in his power of his said service except the depositions hereto annexed.
David Carswell

Sworn this 28th day of August 1822 before me Anthony Blanchard
Firt Judge of Washington Comm. Pleas, State of New York
Page 45

20
Matter of David Carswell, pension applicant

[illegible]  Pitcher

Repd to [illegible]
J.C.C.

Rejected

Hon. Mr. Pitcher, H.R.
Page 46

No 1
State of New York, Washington County ss
John Guy of the town of Kingsbury in the county of Washington being duly sworn doth depose & say that he is sixty one years old. That he enlisted in the service of the United States at Casten in the said county in the spring of the year 1780 as one of the the New York troops as a private in the company of Captain Adiel Sherwoods belonging to the regiment under the command of Colonel Lewis Graham Lieutenant Colonel Livingston. That he this deponent has read the facts stated & set forth in the annexed affidavits of David Caswell & Col Adial Sherwood. And that the facts therein stated & set forth are within the recollection of this deponent and on to the best of his recollection, true that he knows the said David Caswell mentioned [illegible] that he was taken prisoner as herein mentioned together with this deponent and that he knew him well during the time of their imprisonment as aforesaid. That he belonged to the same company with this deponent that this deponent was a shorer with the said
Page 47

David in all the hardships & suffering endured by him & set forth in the said depositions. And further saith not.
John Guy

Sworn before me the day & year aforesaid - in the certificate  hereto annexed mentioned.
Henry C. Martindale
One of the Judges of the Washington Com. Pleas
Page 48

I Anthony J. Blanchard First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Washington in the state of New York do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that David Carswell named in the declaration hereto annexed did serve in the Revolutionary war as stated in the said declaration against the common enemy and I know transmit the proceeding in the said case to the Secretary for the department of war pursuant to the act in that can provided. Dated 28th Aug. 1822.
Anthony Blanchard
First Judge of Washington Com. Pleas

State of New York, Washington County SS:
I Matthew D. Danvers Clerk of the court of common pleas of the county of Washington do certify that Anthony Blanchard Esquire before whom the first preceding affidavit was sworn & by whom the above certificate was made was on the 28th day of August 1822 First Judge of the court of common pleas of said county acting under the authority of said State and duly commissioned and sworn. And I do further certify that Nathaniel Hall Esquire before whom the second preceding affidavit was sworn and by whom the certificate thereunder written was made was on the 31st day of May 1822 and likewise on the 8th day of October 1822 a Justice of the Peace for said county duly qualified and acting under the authority of said state and I do further certify that
Page 49

Reuben Mussey Esquire before whom the third preceding affidavit was sworn was on the 24th day of August 1822 a commissioner appointed to perform the duties of a Judge of the Supreme court of the state of New York duly commissioned & sworn and acting under the authority of said state  and I do further certify that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Anthony, Nathaniel & Reuben respectively and do verily believe that thte signatures of the said Anthony, Nathaniel & Reuben signed to the respective affidavits & certificates mentioned in this certificate are the respective hand writings of the said Anthony, Nathaniel & Reuben. In testimony thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court this 8th day of November 1822.
M.D. Danvers
Page 50

State of New York, Secretary's Office,
Albany May 9th 1822
I John V. N. Yates Secretary of State for the said State do certify that by the books of this office it appears that Adiel Sherwood was a Captain and Ezekiel Roberts a Lieutenant during the revolutionary war on the Continental Establishment in the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Lewis Dubois. No muster roll or other return of said Regiment is to be found in this office, in consequence, as I am informed and believe of part of said Regiment having been taken prisoners and detained in Canada beyond the period of their enlistment.
Given under my hand and the seal of this office this 9th day of May 1822.
J.V.N. Yates
Secretary of State
Page 51

5
David Carswells Petition to Congress
Mar 29 1824
Repd. to Comer. Revy Pensions
May 17 1824
Report [illegible] to [illegible]
Dec 20 1824 - C.W.Ton
Apl 29 1828
Bill reported N 283
Granted
Decem. 5, 1828
Ref to comm. on Mily. Pension
Dec. 16 1829
Refd. to Com Mil. Pensions
Cap. Sherwood Company
2 sq 10 mo 3d
Preserve [illegible] 90.18.7
Martindale
Page 52

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled.
The Petition of David Carswell of the town of Fort Edward in the county of Washington and State of New York.
Respectfully showeth; That your Petitioner entered into the service of the United States on the Continental establishment on the sixth day of October one thousand seven hundred and eighty under a requisition of the United States upon the State of New York to furnish a certain number of troops to re-inforce the army of the United States on the northern frontier. And on the same day joined the company commanded by Capt. Adiel Sherwood in Colonel Lewis Dubois' regiment, which company was at that time stationed at Fort Ann in the State of New York.
That on the tenth day of October one thousand seven hundred and eighty the said Captain Sherwood and the whole of his company (of whom your Petitioner was one) were taken prisoners by a body of the enemy consisting of about eleven hundred, commanded by Major Carlton. That your Petitioner was delivered to the savages of the party and by them conveyed to Montreal in the province of Lower Canada and there put in close confinement.
That in June following your Petitioner effected his escape from the prison at Montreal and after enduring for six days the extremes of fatigue suffering and privation in the wilderness was retaken by a scouting party of the enemy and again taken to Montreal where he was loaded with irons and again cast into prison in which situaiton he remained feor six months during which time he was severly attacked with the scurvy, from which disease, unwholesome provismions, bad air, the confinement of his libs with irons & other cruelties he suffered all that human nature is capable of enduring. That at the expiration of six months from his re-imprisonment
Page 53

at Montreal he was removed to prison Island fifty miles above Montreal where he continued in close confinement until the tenth of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty two when he was released on parole. That during this removal to Prison Island and his confinement at the place he had neither shoes nor stockings & was almost wholly distitute of other clothing enduring the severity of a canadian winter almost in a state of nakedness.
That your Petitioner was imprisoned as aforesaid for one year and eight months, and in consequnce of the severity of his treatment the scurvy and other diseases which he contracted from want of fresh air, exercise and wholesome food his constitution became broken down and so materially impaired and affected as [illegible] to impair the use of his limbs which infirmities he finds increasing with his age and that for many years past he has been incapable of bodily labor. That your Petitioner is in reduced & indigent circumstances and stands in great need of the assistance of his country for support.
And Your Petitioner further showeth that fondly hoping that his case came within the provisions of the act of Congress of the 18th March 1818 he procured evidence of his enlistment & services herein before stated & transmitted the same to the war department in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of said act, but had the mortification to receive for answer to his application that his case did not come within the provisions of the said act. That being taken prisoner and suffering in captivity for eighteen months did not entitle him to the bounty of his country granted to the soldiers of the revolution by the said act. That a litteral construction had been and wont be given to the said act and that nine months actual service was required to entitle to a pension. Your Petitioner is therefore compelled either to spend the residue of his life in wretchedness and want or to apply to your Honorable body and humbly request that you will take
Page 54

his hard case into consideration and extend to him a share of the bounty which has been so liberally bestowed on the soldiers of the Revolution.
Wherefore your Petitioner most respectfully solicits that your Honorable body will on an examination of his case be pleased to grant him some assistance to allevaite his sufferings that he may be enabled to spend the short evening of his days in the grateful recollection of his country's liberality munificence and justice.
And your Pettioner will even pray &c.
David Carswell
Page 55

pen: to com: 1 Jan. 1828 at $8 per month
Act 20 May 1830
Rev. Ohio
Pittsburg Agency

Hon. M. Bartley H.R.
Dec. 13, 1830
Page 56

A.
State of Ohio, Huron county, ss.
Be it known, that before me, Schuyler Van Reussalaer a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared David Carswell and made oath, in due form of law, that he is the identical David Carswell named in an act of Congress passed on the twentieth day of May A.D. 1830.
That he is entitled to a pension of (*) eight dollars per month, on account of wonds and disabilities received, or of services rendered to the United States, during the Revolutionary War; that he served in Captain Adial Sherwood's company of Levies in Peter Dubois' regiment; that he now resides in Huron County, Ohio and has resided there for the space of three years past; and that, previous thereto, he resided in Salem, Washington County in the State of New York.
David Carswell

Sworn and subscribed this 19 day of Novem. 1830 before me.
Schuyler Van Rensselaer, J.P.
Ridgefield Township, Ohio
Page 57

State of Ohio, Huron County ss
Clerk's Office Norwalk Nov 23d AD 1830
I David Gibbs Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said county do certify that Schuyler Van Rensselaer was on the 22d Inst. & still is a lawful Justice of the Peace in said county duly commissioned & sworn & that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County at Norwalk the day & year above written.
D. Gibbs Clerk
Page 58

Memorial of David Caswell to Congress
Page 59

To the Honorable the Congress of the United Sttes in Senate & House of Representatives, Convened.
The undersigned, being one of the surviving soldiers of the revolution and having failed in his application to obtain the relief intended to be granted, by the Pension act to the unfortunate and indigent of that class, asks leave most respectfully to repreeent, that in the year 1780 Congress passed an act requiring the State of New York to raise a certain number of troops to re-inforce the army of the United States and guard the northern frontier against the incursion of the enemy; that under that law, the inhabitants, liable to bear arms (of which your memorialest was one) were classed in such manner that each class furnished one man; the officers were appointed by the Council of appointment of said state to take command of said levies; that your memorialest turned out and enlisted from the class to which he belonged and was thereupon placed in Capt Adiel Sherwoods Company, then stationed at Fort Anne in said state, and made a part of Col Dubois' Regiment in the Continental LIne; That in the month of October following, the enemy sent down from Canada, a large party of troops to ravage and destress the frontier; that in the prosecution of that object, they surrounded the fort, and compelled us to surrender to there superior force. Your memorialest with the rest of the troops, was thereupon taken prisoner to Montreal, and there thrown into a cold dismal prison, where we remained in close confinement, almost perishing with cold & hunger during the ensuing winter.
Through the following summer the sufferings of your memorialist, from the filty damp of the prison, from sickness, & from the want of necessary food & medicine, were scarcely less intolerable, than those of the winter. In that wretched situation your memorialist, was kept in close confinement, for nearly two years, & until the 10th of June 1782. Six months of the above time your memorialist lay in irons, for attempting to make his escape. During the  whole of this period, confined in a loathsome crowded cell, loaded down with irons, distant from his friends, deprived of wholesome food, oppressed by cruel enemies, and almost dispairing of the hope of deliverance; the bodily & mental sufferings of your memorialist, may very truly & correctly be conceived to be beyond the power of human language to described; many of his wretched companions died in prison, being unable to sustain life in such a state of misery & privation. At length, after suffering all the hardships & miseries, that an unfeeling and merciless enemy could inflict, your memorialist, was fortunately exchanged on the 10th of June, 1782 and restored once more to his family & friends, but he returned with his health & constitution so completely broken up & impaired, that he could never regain his former strength; his limbs had become so deeply effected and injured by the scurvy, that he has never since been able to perform but very little labour, and for more than twenty years past he has been a cripple and almost helpless.
From these causes, and other misfortunes resulting from them, that have attended him, your memorialist has been defeated in every attempt to acquire a competence with which to rescue his declining years from misery, & compelled through life, to remain in a perpetual state of dependance and want. The above statement of facts is not in the least exaggerated. The papers now on file in the office of the Secretary of War, among which are the affidavits of the officers, under whom your memorialist served & others with whom he was taken prisoner (to which he begs leave to refer your honorable body) will fully & amply show, that the above statement of his captivity & sufferings of his ruined constitution & consequent inability, (with the utmost economy) to lay up the means necessary to support him in his old age, is strictly truly.
Unwilling, however,
Page 60

to seek relief under the pension act, until compelled by increased infirmities, and the exhaustion of every other means of support, he delayed a regular application for a pension until 1823 when his application was answered in writing by the then Secretary of War which answer contained a statement that by a rigid construction of the law he did not feel authorised in as much as it did not appear that your memorialist had served 9 months in the continental line, to grant him a pension, adding his conviction of the peculiar hardship & merits of his case & recommending a special application to Congress for relief. Your memorialist, therefore, impelled by absolute want, destitute of the means of releiving it & relying upon the Justice & peculiar merits of his case, confidently makes this last resort to his country and most earnestly & respectfully prays her to relieve him not from penury brought upon him by his own misconduct, but from miseries that have resulted from hardships and sufferings in her service. The officers under which your memorialist served have each applied & received their pensions. Your memorialist therefore, confiding in the Justice & murnificance of his government, humbly prays your honorable body to grant him an annuity commencing at the date of his [illegible] application to the Secretary of War & to continue during the few remaining years of this life - equal to the amt of the pension allowed by law to the indigent surviving soldiers of the Revolution & as in duty bound your memorialist will ever pray.
David Carswell
December 13th 1827
Page 61

Mr. David Carswell forwarded to me at the last session of Congress two declarations or sets of papers for obtaining a pension, one set, had been presented immediately after the passage of the pension law, but had been returned with objections &c. The other set was made out last year when his application stated that he "enlisted in the continental services was taken prisoner &c. , remained a year or [illegible] in prison, the fact of state also certified that his corps in which Mr. C served was in the line of continental &c. on presenting this application Mr. J.L. Edwards sent me a pension certificate for Mr. C. by direction of Mr. Carswell if I succeeded with the new papers in getting the certificate, then I was also to present the old papers for the purpose of getting the retrospective allowance of pension. I did so, went to the office of Mr. Edwards, stated to him the facts who told me to return the pension certificate and he would procur a new one embracing the allowance desired, but the next day he wrote me that Mr. C. Was struck from the pension roll. That on examining the old papers Mr. C. had testified that he had enlisted for three months only was taken prisoner &c. which fact was omitted on the new papers & had been overlooked by Mr. Edwards. I then took back the declaration and carried them to the Secy. of War, stated to him the
Page 62

hardship in Mr. Cs. case and requested the Secy. to re-examine and if possible to give Mr. C. a certificate. The Secy. took them & marked them "a case of great merit" and said if possible he should reissue a certificate. In a day or two Mr. Calhoun wrote me he had examined the papers, "that according to the letter & part of the pension law and the rules of evidence established on that respect, Mr. Carswell could not be placed on the pension roll. The papers were never returned to me, but most probably are now in the office of the Secy. of War.
N. Pitcher
July 13, 1824

Not in the office of Mr. Edwards - but in the office of the Secy of War

I have always thot that if the Secy. of War would examine Mr. Cs case considerately and separately from those bearing some formal analogy, he would not refuse a certificate. His heart I know is right, but the great multiplicity of cases in other public concers give him but little time to deliberate upon [illegible] cases.
Page 63

State of Ohio, County of Erie ss.
Personally appeared before the undersigned Mooers Formle, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas sitting in and for the County of Erie and in the State of Ohio on this the twenty sixth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five, Martha Carswell, who on first being duly sworn according to Law testifieth and saith that she is the widow of David Carswell deceased. That she ws born on the 6th day of September 1769. That she was married to the said David Carswell on the 12th day of March 1789. That to her knowledge her husband was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. That during his life time he drew a pension for his revolutionary services that he was a private in the company of Capt Sherwood in the regiment commanded by Col. Dubois. The said David Carswell died on the 26 Feby. 1844.
And this petitioner further says that she begs leave to refer in the prosecution of this petition to the papers already filed by
Page 64

Sir, and your petitioner will even [illegible].
Martha Carswell

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26 day of December AD 1845.
Moors Farwell
Judge Erie Com. Pleas

This certifies that I Moors Farwell one of the Judges of the Court of Com. Pleas of Erie County Ohio, am well acquainted with the above signed Martha Carswell. She has from age and infirmity been confined to her home. Is so at the present and at the last session of Court was so infirm that she could not have appeared in open court to take the above oath required for obtaining pensions.
Moors Farwell
Associate Judge
Sandusky City
Dec. 26, 1845
Page 65

The State of Ohio, Erie County ss
I Rice Harper Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said county do hereby certify that the Hon. Moors Farwell is at this time and for more than five years last past has been one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County of Erie and State of Ohio, duly commissioned and qualified as such and that the official signatures of the same Moors Farwell on the other part of this sheet is true and genuine. And that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to his official acts.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at Sandusky City this 27th day of December A.D. 1845
Rice Harper Clerk

I Moors Farwell by these present, testify that the enjoined in the family record establishing the fact that David Carswell and Martha Simpson were married on the 12th day of March A.D. 1789 and I further testify that these papers are the original as far as I believe and that they are the family records.
Moors Farwell

Sworn to and subscribed this 27th  Dec. 1845 before me.
David Powers Notary Public
Page 66

State of Ohio, Erie County ss.
On this twelveth day of February AD 1849 personally appeared before me John M. Brown a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, Martha Carswell a resident of Sandusky City in the County of Erie & State of Ohio, aged seventy nine (79) years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed on the 2d February 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of David Carswell, who was a private in Captain Sherwood's Company, of Colonel Dubois's Regiment, in the Army of the Revolution. And that she received a pension of eighty dollars a year, under the Act of 17th Jun 1849.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Martha Carswell

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written. Before me
John M. Brown J.P.
Page 67

State of Ohio, Erie County ss
I Rice Harper Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County, do hereby certify that John M. Brown Esquire is at this time, a qualified magistrate, within and for said County of Erie and State of Ohio, duly commissioned and qualified as such and that the official signature of the said John M. Brown on the other side of this sheet is true and genuine and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to his official acts. In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribed my name and affix the seal of said Court at Sandusky City, this thirteenth (13th) day of February AD 1847.
Rice Harper Clerk

J.L. Edwards Esq. will please forward my papers to Wm. H. Mills Sandusky City, Erie County, Ohio and much oblige. Yours
Martha Carswell
Sandusky City 13 Feby. 1849
Page 68

Mr. J. M. Root
Auburn Jany 24th 1846
Dear Sir
Yours of 15th came to hand in dry season. You will find enclosed the affidavit of James Simpson with the alteration (by Enterlination of the year in which Uncle & Aunt were married. Father can not remember the precise day of the month it took place but knew it took place in the month of March 1789. Uncle & Aunt was married in March & Father was married on the 21st of May 1789.
Yours &c.
Walter G. Simpson
Page 69

War Department
December 18 1822
Sir,
I have, agreeably to your request, examined the claim of David Carswell to a pension, on account of revolutionary services. According to the rigid mode of construction which the act of the 18h of March, 1818, has received, a service of nine months under and [illegible] of [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] by [illegible] required to entitle a man to a pension under that act. As he did not serve the time required, I cannot, consistently with the regulations adopted, allow the claim. I regreat that I cannot relax the rule, as I think that Mr. Carswell's is a very hard case. The ony relief which it would appear to me can be afforded, must be by an act of Congress.
I am, respectfully, your obed. Sert.
J. C. Calhoun
Page 70

War Department, Pension Office,
19th March 1824.
Sir,
Since the receipt of Mr. Pitcher's note a farther search has been made for the papers in the case of David Carswell, and they have been found. They are herewith enclosed. I will thank you to sign the enclosed receipt, and return it to me.
I am, respectfully, Yr. Obt. Sert.
J.L. Edwards

Hon. H. C. Martindale
House of Reps.
Page 71

Dav Carswell
Ohio [illegible]
1818 [illegible]
13 Dec 30
A Hunter HR
Page 72

Jany 17th 1838
Sir,
I wish such information as you can furnish concerning the claim of David Caswell a revolutionary pensioner. He is an applicant for an  [illegible] of his pension. Wish to ascertain the cause why it had not been granted before the date or time he was placed on the roll.
Wm H Hunter

Mr. J.L. Edwards
Com. Pensions
Page 73

Feb. 7th 1838
Dear Sir,
I wrote some weeks since asking such information as you possessed relative to the claim of Mr. David Carswell of Herman county Ohio for revolutionary services. Mr. Carswell is now a pensioner but from some cause not now remembered his name was not placed on the pension roll until a few years since. I wish to make an applicaiton for his arrearages and roll. Therefore require the evidence on which his claim is predicated and the cause or reason why his original application to be placed on the Pension roll was rejected so as to place this case in a proper point of view before the committee of Revolutionary pensions to which it has been referred.
Respectfully
Wm H Hunter

Mr. J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 74

David Carswell
This is a peculiar case. In the spring of the year 1780 certain levies were raised by N. York to re-inforce the U.S. Army. The inhabitants subject to bear arms were classed & each class to furnish a man. It fell to the lot of Carswell's brother to go in a company commanded by Capt. Adiel Sherwood in the Reg. of Col. Dubois.
Sometime after this petitioner's father was taken sick. The presence of the brother was necessary. Petitioners went for him, procured his discharge & enlisted in his place. He was there at Fort Anne on the 10th of October following. The fort was attacked by British tories and Indians and was surrendered and petitioner was taken a prisoner & remained one year & 8 months in Canada. His sufferings have been such as would also not exceed belief were they not substantially sworn by others. Fatigue cruelty hunger cold sickness imprisonment & chains enter into the list of his misfortunes. To answer all
Page 75

came age & decrepitude and poverty.
He has been refused a [illegible] to the pension roll at the War Dep. because his term of service was not nine months. The committee however thinks that where the service was not nine months yet if capture and sufferings for 18 months followed as a consequence. Thereof the case is one well [illegible] the interposition of Congress.
His services and sufferings are substantially [illegible] by Adiel Sherwood the Capt. before mentioned. Ezekiel Roberts Lieutenant in Sherwood company to which Carswell belonged and John Guy a private of the same company.
Page 76

Sandusky City
Dec 30th 1843
Sir
I herewith enclose the renewed application of Martha Carswell for a revolutionary pension as the widow of David Carswell decd. I believe it to be made out according to the law and instructions and at the same time wish to refer to the evidence already on file in the case.
Early attention and reply will much oblige.
Your obedient servant
John V. Ingerwoll

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Washington D.C.

P.S. If the enclosed family record can hereafter be withdrawn the files, the family of Mrs. Carswell would be happy to receive and preserve it.
Page 77

Sandusky City Ohio
July 21, 1845
Sir
I wish to enquire of you for how long a time David Carswell is credited upon the rolls for revolutionary services. Mr. Carswell is now deceased, he was formerly the post master at this place and drew a revolutionary pension during his lifetime. HIs widow has I believe heretofore applied for a pension.
I would also be very much obliged to you if you would forward me, if in your power, a copy of the act of April 30th 1844.
Martha Carswell is the widow of the deceased David Carswell, all of which she has in proof. The said David was a private in Capt. Sherwoods company of Col Dubois regiment in the army of the revolution. He died on the 26th of February 1844.
Please give me any information that you can consistently. Also forward a copy of the act above mentioned to this place, as I have removed my residence from Warner to Sandusky.
Very Respectully Your obdient servant
John V. Ingersoll

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Comm. of Pensions
Page 78

No. 12,175
Martha Carswell widow of David
Ohio
Act 7 July 1838
Rejected - husband died 24 Feby 1844
Page 79

Sandusky City Ohio
11 Aug. 1845
Sir
I herewith send you the papers in relation to the proof of Martha Carswell's claim for pension as the widow of David Carswell decd. The proof of the marriage is the authenticated copy from the family records as well as other testimony of the said Martha being the widow of the said David deceased, which I hope will be satisfactory.
Yours Respectfully
John V. Ingersoll

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Page 80

10
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

J.V. Ingersoll
Sept. 18 1840
Page 81

Sandusky City Ohio
September 13, 1845
Sir
I sent you some five weeks since the application and papers to sustain the same, of Martha Carswell widow of David Carswell decd., a revolutionary soldier and during the latter part of his life time a revolutionary pensioner. As I have heard nothing from you respecting them and as irregularities and miscarriage by mail are not of unfrequent occurance, I beg leave to enquire of you if the same have been received and what, if any, action has been had upon them?
Very Respectfully Your obt sert
John V. Ingersoll

J.O. Edwards Esq.
Comm. of Pensions
Washington

Rv chg 18,984
Page 82

Sandusky City Ohio
January 26, 1846
Sir
I am informed through Mr. Eleutheros Cooke of this place, now in Washington City, that the records of the pension office do not show any further testimony in relation to the claim of Martha Carswell widow of David Carswell decd. for a Revolutionary pension. Since the testimony and application forwarded by me last August, I think I have to state that according to your instructions I forwarded to you the additional application of sd Martha taken before a judge of the Court of the Court of Com. Pleas for this county, together with the original family record of the marriage of the said Martha & David & with other testimony relative thereto. Sometime towards the close of last month, my memorandum not being now at hand, I can not say the precise day, but I am certain of putting them all in the P. office at Sandusky City. The family records which were the most material of course, if lost or miscarried, can not be again obtained here.
I should be happy to hear, if the papers referred to, can not be found, any information which according to the regulations of the pension office may with propriety be imparted. An early reply will much oblige.
Yours Respectfully
John V. Ingersoll

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Washington City
Page 83

April 10/49
W. Cole
file this receipt with her pension papers

Refd to Comm of Pensions
Dept. of the Interior
April 9/49
Page 84

April 10/49
Sandusky City
March 31/49
W.H. Mills

In reference to Mrs. Carswell's application for a pension.
W. Cole
4512 048
Act Feb 48

Referred to Comm. of Pensions
Dept of the Interior
April 7, 1849
Page 85

Hon Thos Ewing
D Sir
Some six or eight weeks ago I wrote to the Department at Washington, enclosing Mrs. Carswell's application for her Pension papers, so that, she could draw her pension for the year 1848. Mrs. Carsell is the widow Carswell deceased, a revolutionary pensioner is a very old lady, & very much in want of her pension money. She received 80$ a year, from her husband's death, up to the 4th March 1848. Since then she has recd. nothing.
Will you be so kind as to look a little into this matter, & have the necessary papers made out for her & forwarded, at your earliest leisure.
By so doing, you will much oblige the widow, and your obet. servt.
Wm. H. Mills

Sandusky City, O.
31st March 1849
Page 86

O. W. & N. Division,
F.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.,
February 12, 1895
Sir:
Replying to your communication of February 5th, addressed to Hon. R.B. Bingham and received in this Bureau by his reference, in which you request the military history of David Carswell, a Revolutionary soldier, you will please find enclosed an official statement containing the desired information.
A careful search has been made and from the data given the name of Asaph Cooke has not been found upon the Revolutionary pension records. This Bureau is, therefore, unable to furnish a statement of his services.
Very respectfully,
Jay Cooke, Jr., Commissioner
2204 St. James Place,
Philadelphia, Pa.