Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14193, for Abel Potter, Rhode Island

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(3-1776)
SERVICE  | NUMBER
R.I. Potter, Abel S14193
carded
CONTENTS
[blank]

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[left side]
Sent to Wm B Pierce & also to Pension Agent at Albany March 11 1846
Let to Hon O Hungerford 
April 13th 1846
Letter to Hon. O Hungerford 11 May 1846
[/ left side]

[right side]
New York N 24711
Abel Potter of Jefferson Co in the state of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Whitman of the Regt. commanded by [illegible] Barton in the R. Island Troops line for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 80 Dollars -- cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of pension issued the 19th day of march 1834 and sent to Hon D. Wardwell H.R.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 240.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 1834 40.00
$280.00
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book E Vol. 4 Page 114

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In the matter of the application of Abel Potter Declaration [illegible]

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[left hand margin: "1 page"]
Declaration of Abel Potter under the Pension Act of 1832
State of New York Jefferson County SS
On this 11th day of September 1832 personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of & for said County Abel Potter a resident of the town of Ellisburgh in said county & state, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7 1832. That he entered the United States service under the following names officers and served as he states. That in the year 1776 he resided in the town of West Greenwich County of Kent & State of Rhode Island - at which place he continued to reside during the 3 periods of service herein after mentioned. 
That he served the 3 following periods in the Militia of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War, to wit. One period of 3 months, one of 9 months, and one of 15 months. 
In 1776 (being 16 years of age) he volunteered and enlisted in the month of August (he thinks) and served 3 months under Capt. Whitman, Lieutenant Joseph Kinyan, Ensign Thomas Sweet. 1st Sergeant Lorey Jenks, as a private & carried a musket

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[left hand margin: "2"]
That he was enlisted by Lt. Kinyan who lived in Coventry a town joining West G. That Capt Whitman was a stranger to the applicant until he enlisted & lived in Warwick. That he does not recollect as he ever knew his (Capt Whitman's) Christian name. That after enlisting as above he marched (under Lt. Kinyan as he belonged to his division) through East Greenwich to the seaside & there took a vessel (the whole company having united there) & went on together to NewPort on the Island of R.I. where the company was stationed 2 months until the British fleet came in & then they crossed to the north end of the island & crossed by Howland's Ferry to the  Continent at Tivertown where he was stationed one month & then discharged. That he recd 40/-- N.E. Currency per month. That the co. to which he belonged was a volunteer co. If he recollects right, that they were attached to no regt. or brigade as he can recollect. That Genl Cornwall and Col Barton were in command at the camp near Tivertown. That during 3 weeks after returning to the main land from the island his company had no rations except 1/2 a seabiscuit and fresh mutton without a particle of salt. [bottom line is cut off and illegible]

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[left hand margin: "3"]
mutton without a particle of salt which occasioned in camp distention in the company & many of them died. One of the Co by the name of Ellis a near neighbor of the applicant died after being carried home.
That in May in the year 1777 he enlisted as a volunteer [illegible] for 9 months under Capt Hoppin, Lieut George Tenant, Ensign, Amos Frink 1st Sargeant. John Waterman - as a private soldier but after 4 months he was chosen Ensign, Capt. Hoppin having died, Tenant was advanced to his post & Frink was chosen Lt. That being only 17 years of age it was a matter of some surprise to him to be elected ensign. that the co. did not know his age. That he was vigorous & athletic in body & weighed 180 lbs. & thinks he understood the military as well as any man on the ground or in the Regt. That he lived when at home with his father during the services herein mentioned. That when 10 years old he was disciplined in the military art. That he was the youngest of the family & had 2 older brothers in the service but not in the same co. or Regt. They were in the Regular service James & Wm Potter, under Capt Oney and Col. Oney

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[left hand margin: "4"]
of the Rhode Island line. James was a Lieut in Capt Oneys Co and Wm was a sargeant. Claimant thinks (but cannot be positive) his brothers were in the Regular service & in the Rhode Island line.
That his first officers in this nine months service were genl Cornwall, Col. Hoppin, Maj Barton & Adjutant Hardy That the co to which he belonged met in Coventry, after his enlistment and marched from there through Providence, then to Tivertown at Howlands Ferry (the place at which he had been a short time the previous year) where he was stationed the whole 9 months. They continuous marched down to Fogland Ferry. That he served as Adjutant while Adjt Hardy was sick a short time. He had an ensign's commission the last 5 months from the Govt of the State and drew an ensign's pay. 
That he was one of the 36 volunteers who took Genl Prescott from his lodgings in the night time from the Island of RI. Col Barton commanded at this adventure. His brother James Potter was 2nd in command & he (this applicant

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[left hand margin: "5"]
was 2nd in command & he (this applicant the 3d in command) don't recollect whether Barton was Col or Maj at that time. His brother James, after the expedition had landed on the Island, took the 2 first sentinels that they passed & this claimant took the 3rd and last one who stood at the door of genl Prescott's quarters. That they went into the house and the Widow Oberin, who kept the house cried "Capt Potter, what's the matter?" his brother Jas had been a sea Capt, the way he got his title & was acquainted with the widow. He said "you need not be scared Mrs Oberin we are not going to hurt you. Where is the Genl".. She said "he was upstairs" he & his brother & Col. Barton went up into the Genl lodging room, he has risen up in his bed. He (Genl Prescott) spoke immediately & said " Gentlemen your business requires haste but do for Gods sake let me get my clothes" Says Col Barton "By God it is no time for clothes" They started him immediately bare legged through a field of barley which pricked him some. They went quick to their boat where a part of their party had reconvened & with them went back to their camp... The enemy fired at them as they were crossing back they saw shot strike the water around them none was hurt. The 3 sentinels they

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took with them, under guard. That the mode in which he took the guard standing at the door was as follows. He answered as a [underlined] friend [/underlined] & then stepped up to him to whisper the countersign in his ear, and stooped forward to him and as the sentinel inclined towards him, he seized the sentinel's piece with his left hand and told him "not to speak or he should die." The only words which this claimant spoke while on the island. The sentinel answered "I won't" tremblingly. This same sentinel afterwards taught school in Pownal VT & claimant sent a member of this family to school to him.  Leaving the island claimant was the last of the party to get into the boat. They were in great haste & he waded to his breast after the boat as it started. After the expiration of the nine months he was discharged and went home.
That in the Spring of 1778 there was sent to him at his residence with his father a Lieutenant's Commission from the Gov. of the State with orders to enlist a certain number of men and with money to pay them their bounty. That he enlisted the number required in two days for a period of 15 months & entered the service himself for that period and served it.

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of 15 months & entered the service himself for that period and served it.

That commissions were sent to Capts, Lieuts, and Ensigns and orders for each of them to enlist a certain number of men which being done they met and formed a company.

That he did not apply for a commission & don't & never has known at whose instance it was sent to him. That he met his Capt at Providence (who had enlisted his share of the men). Capt Traffin & from Providence they marched to Tivertown again (sometimes called Secunnut) at  Howland's Ferry & was stationed there the whole 15 months. That in the last duty following his enlistment he was on the island at Sullivan's expedition. He was in the engagement. They came to bayonet. He was under Genl Cornwall, Col Barton - the same men with whom he had waited upon Genl Prescott the previous year. Col Barton commanded the detachment to which he was attached in the action. That he (the claimant) was wounded in this battle in his right thigh by a bayonet. As the Doct thought from an examination of the wound. The claimant did not discover his wound until his tuckleg-boot was filled with blood. That he was a Lieutenant during the whole of this 15 months service. Genl Sullivan was Commander in Chief at this battle & aforesaid. That after the expiration of the 15 months he was discharged. That his commissions, after the war, were

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[left side margin: "8"]
left with his mother in a trunk together with his fathers commissions & papers and his mother went to live with his brother in Herkimer Co. in NY State & carried the trunk and after his brother had built a new house the trunk with its contents were burnt in the old house as the claimant was informed 13 years ago by his brother. His brothers are now dead. That he moved into the state of VT from RI.
That in the 15 month term, in the fall of 78 he with two others went on to the Island of R.I. to get apples The Island was in the possession of the British. They were overtaken suddenly by a scout & taken to the British camp. A Lieut's commission was offered him (the claimant) by the British officers which he spurned to accept. He told them "he had a commission which suited him & which he intended to use again in a few days against them, as he expected to be exchanged. He however made his escape by getting his guard drunk and pretending to drink himself. He got out doors to attend the call of nature, knocked down his guard & made his excape 50 or 60 rods to flood wood on the shore, where he secreted himself till the first battle was

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[left hand margin: "9"]
he secreted himself till the first battle was over (it was in the night) & then got on to a slab and swam across the channel towards his own camp He almost perished with being chilled. He was cordially recd when he reached his quarters & called on Genl Cornwall & told him "he was at this mercy as he had crossed after apples against orders." Genl Cornwall told him "to go to his quarters he should not break him, but should if he went again" and added "I knew you would be back again. I told 'em 'they might as well undertake to keep the [underline] devil [/underline] as to keep Potter."
That he has had two severe fits of sickness which as impaired his memory some. The reason he cannot be more particular in mentioning his officers. He can recollect things which made a deep impression on his mind at the time. He recollects a personal affray he had with his Capt. Traffin. Says he threatened to give him a whipping after this commission should expire but has never seen him since.
Says he knows of no living witness whose testimony he can obtain, who can testify to his service. he has no documentary evidence. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his

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[left margin: {hard to read most likely} "10"]
name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid  P Burchard Clerk Abel Potter

We Holland Weeks a clergyman residing in the town of Henderson County of Jefferson & State of New York and Calvin Clark residing in the town of Ellisburgh hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abel Potter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be 79 years of age. That he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid P Burchard Clerk H Weeks Calvin Clark

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Holland Weeks who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman and resident [illegible]

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certificate is a clergyman and resident [illegible] Henderson aforesaid and that Calvin Clark who has also signed the same is a resident of the town of Ellisburgh and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I [illegible] Burchard Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for Jefferson County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Abel Potter for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 11th day of September 1832. P Burchard Clerk

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In the matter of the application of Abel Potter for the benefit of Pension Act of June 7th 1832.
State of New York Jefferson County SS
Hannah Ellsworth of the town of Ellisburgh in said county being duly sworn maketh oath & saith That she has been personally acquainted with the above named applicant Abel Potter during the period of 40 years last past during which time she has heard much said by him the said applicant of his acts as an officer in the service in the revolutionary war. That she has been present & heard numerous conversations between him the said applicant and Capt Elisha Parker & others relating to their adventures in the state of Rhode Island and that said Parker & others usually accepted him as an officer in said service.
That in such conversations she has heard much said concerning the enterprise of taking General Prescott from his quarters under the command of Col Barton in which from the tenor of such conversation the said applicant was an actor and also an action in Newport in which it was said that the said applicant defended himself with his sword a long time in which action it has all along been stated that he received a wound in his thigh the scar of which she has noticed.
That such conversations occurred from 20 to 40 years ago & the same circumstances frequently spoken of by said applicant down to the present time. That she has never heard of the relations of the said applicant as above stated questioned in regard to the truth of the same.
That according to her best remembrances she understood the said applicants commission to have been left in a chest with his mother & that it was reported not far from 20 years ago that said chest was burnt in the County of Herkimer with its contents. That said applicant is a man of truth & that this deponent has no reason to doubt the truth of the said applicant in his declaration which it is said was made in open

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court and transmitted to the department of war in the above application and further saith she was knowing to the fact that he was uniformly exempt from militia duty in his younger days as she always understood in consequence of services the revolutionary army as an officer. And further saith not.
Hannah Ellsworth
Subscribed & sworn this 11th day of July 1833 before me Jonah Bullard One of the justices of the peace in & for the county of Jefferson.

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In the matter of the application of Abel Potter for the benefit of the Pension Act of June 7th 1832
State of New York Jefferson County SS
William Ellsworth of the town of Ellisburgh in said county being duly sworn maketh oath & saith.
That he has been acquainted with the said applicant so much as to know him by sight for & during the term of 40 years & for the last 25 years the acquaintance has been intimate.
That during the said 25 years he has heard the said applicant talk much about his adventures in & about Newport as an officer in the Revolutionary service. That such statements [illegible] an action on the island in which said applicant has uniformly stated that he stood on a wall & defended himself a long time with his sword & received a wound in the thigh, the scar of which he the said deponent has seen. And also the course of management in the taking of General Prescott from his quarters under the command of Col Barton were previous to the passage of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832 & since without any contradiction to his knowledge. That the said applicant Abel Potter has been publicly received at the anniversary celebrations as an officer of the revolution according to the best knowledge of said deponent & that no doubts have to his knowledge been entertained on the subject among said applicants acquaintance. That said deponent examined said applicant critically after learning the provisions of the said act of congress in order to satisfy himself whither his relation as remembered so long would comport with the history of events which said applicant claimed to be personally acquainted with and said applicants statement agreed so perfectly with the dates & other historical relations that not a reasonable doubt remained in regard to said applicants service as he has set forth. That said applicant has for many years past frequently mentioned his unusual size when at  the age of 17 & 18 years & that he had been trained to military maneuvers & discipline when a boy. The truth of which this deponent has no reason to doubt & from his acquaintance with said applicant he believes him to possess evident traits of uncommon courage & firmness as a patriot. And this deponent further states that said applicant is in his opinion a man of truth & veracity and that public opinion here to the best of his knowledge is uniformly

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favorable to the application of the said applicant and further this deponent saith not. Subscribed & sworn this 11th day of July 1833 before me. Wm Ellsworth Jona Bullard on of the justices of the peace in & for the county of Jefferson.

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In the matter of Abel Potter's application for the benefit of the pension act of June 7th 1832
State of New York Jefferson County SS
Margaret Potter of the town of Ellisburgh in said county being duly sworn deposeth & saith that she has been personally acquainted with the above names applicant Abel Potter for & during the term of 40 years or more. That about forth years ago she was present when in a discourse between the said applicant relating to his revolutionary services & Capt Parker something was said in relation to the commissions of said applicant & the said applicant took from his mothers chest as far as can be now remembered (which was then in the custody of said applicant) the said commissions which this deponent saw in the hand of said Parker to the best knowledge of her her the said deponent but does not remember that she read them herself. That this took place in the town of Pownal in Bennington County VT. That said chest was afterwards in the possession of the said applicant in the county of Herkimer in this state during a time while his mother lived in the said applicants house in which chest it was said that said commissions was deposited in a package of old papers belonging to said applicant & his father who was then deceased. That during said applicants resident in Herkimer county he was once called on to perform military duty & as she was informed & believes he was acquitted by producing said commissions. That to the best of her knowledge & belief said commissions was left in said chest at said applicants brothers where his mother afterwards resided and has since about 20 years ago been reports to have been burnt in an old house with its contents. And this deponent has not known that said applicant has at any other time or place been called on to perform militia duty (though always able bodied) except that he was once hired to serve as an adjutant for one parade day in the County of Albany & she heard much said by way of applause of his uncommon skill as a military officer. and that this deponent always understood that the well known promotion of the said applicant in the revolutionary services was the cause of his exemption from militia duty while he would otherwise have been liable. That she has frequently heard his old associates from Rhode Island salute him by his title as a revolutionary officer & talk over his adventures & exploits in said service. That these

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occurrences took place in the state of Vermont & in the county of Otsego in this state from 25 to 40 years ago. and that such associates are as far as her knowledge of them extends all dead. Margaret Potter
Subscribed & sworn this 11th day of July 1833 before me. Jona Bullard one of the justices of the peace in & for the county of Jefferson.

State of New York County of Jefferson SS Clerks Office SS I Peleg Burchard Clerk of the said county of Jefferson, hereby certify that Thomas J Angel and Jonathan Bullard were at the time the above affidavits appear to have been taken before them justices of the peace in said county, and that the above several signatures of Thos J Angel and of Jona Bullard are the genuine signatures & proper hand writing of said Thomas J Angel and of the said Johnathan Bullard respectively. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of my said office at the office aforesaid the 15 day of July 1833. P Burchard Clerk

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No 11889 Abel Potter proof acquired DN Burnham Adams wp p 185
26 Sep 1832 
27 Dec 1832

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No 11889
BRIEF in the case of Abel Potter of Ellisburgh County of Jefferson in the state of New York (Act 7th June, 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [blank]
3. How old is he? Seventy two years 1832 - 72 1760
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[Table with 4 columns: Period | Duration of Service (Years, Months, Days) | Rank | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served ]
Enlisted and volunteered august In 1776 | 5 years 3 months, - days | As a private | Capt Whitmans compy, Lieut Joseph Kinyan, Ensign Thos Sweet |
Enlisted May 1777 | 9 months | Ensign | Genl Cornwell, Cols Barton, Tappin, Capt Hoppin, Lieut George Tennant, Ensign Amos Frink |
Served in Spring 1778 | 1 year 3 months | Lieut | Capt Trappin, Genl Cornwell, Col Barton, Genl Sullivan |
[/table]

5. In what battles was he engaged? at Sullivan's expedition in which he was wounded.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? West Greenwich. Kent Cty R. Island
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By traditionary evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. [signed "Chas S Wilcox"] Examining Clerk.

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Capt Ephraim Whitaker is now a pensioner. Barton was a Lieut in the state service. Whitaker was then a sergeant. I commanded one boat & Barton another did not fire. No woman except [illegible] his wife

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To Hon Danl Wardell House of Rep Washington DC admd 24 mapri 80 Abel Potter

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Rhode Island District SS
Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States in Providence March 4th 1834.
I hereby certify that it appears from the Roll of Regiment now in this office raised by the State of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War first commanded by Col Joseph Staunton in 1777 & subsequently in 1778 & 1779 by Col John Topham that the name of Abel Potter is borne on said Roll as a Private but it does not appear how long said Potter served. It appears said Roll was made up in 1785 to ascertain the amount of depreciation of wages due to each one who served in said Regiment £12-8-2 found due said Abel. In testimony whereof I hare hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court on the day & year first above written. Benja Cowell Clk

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Providence March 4 1834
Sir Agreeable to your request I send you a certificate of what is found relative to the service of Abel Potter. My fees are $2 - which please sent me by mail. respectfully yours Benja Cowell

Hon. D Wardell
NB If the said Abel is poor & in indigent circumstances I charge nothing. BC

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House of Rep March 12 1834
Dear Sir
I return the case of Abel Potter with a certificate from Rho Island  in relation to his service. Allow him all you can as a private. Yours D Wardell
JL Edwards Esq

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Abel Potter of New York
Decem 18th 1833
Refer to Committee on Revoln Pensions
Mr Wardell

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23d Congress 1st Session
Congress of the United States
In the House of Representatives
December 18th 1833
On motion of Mr Wardell Resolved. That the Committee on Revolutionary pensions enquire into the expediency of granting a pension to Abel Potter of the state of New York for his services in the Revolutionary War. Attest WT Franklin Clk HR

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abel Potter which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [blank]
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes Proof required of the service & some reason assigned for not producing his commissions.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1831? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

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2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? [blank]
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? [Blank]
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have personal knowledge of the applicant's service? [blank]
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ____ year ____ months and _____ day, I served as a ______. For _____ months and ______ days, I served as a ______; and for such service I claim a pension.

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3.
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank her held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase [italics] about three or four months [/italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. [italics] Proof of Service [/italics]
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belongs. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. [italics] Mode of authenticating papers. [/italics]
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate much be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

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Jan 3 1846 Abel Potter [illegible]
Hon J.L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

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Albany NY dec 30 1845
Sir.
Abel Potter, whose supplemental declaration is enclosed has applied to me to assist him in obtaining increase of pension. He draws but $80, as a private only. Whereas he states that he served but 3 months as a private. His other service was 9 months as an Ensign and 15 months as a Lieutenant of Levies or State Troops under Colonel Barton & afterwards as a Captain of Militia. He appears to be a candid & intelligent man and I have no reason to doubt his statement, but I cannot account for his receiving pensions as a private only. In order to avoid the  trouble & expense of seeking proof in this case, if there are no grounds upon which to found the claim, I herewith submit his declaration & would desire to be informed what proofs are required to establish his service as an officer as above stated. I am sir very respectfully Your Obd Servant Wm B Pierce
Hon JL Edwards Commissioner of Pensions

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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION 3-525 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, Washington, D.C. ____, 19___
[handwritten: "our S.F. 14193"]

In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of Abel Potter 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.
[table with 5 columns: DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT | LENGTH OF SERVICE | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED CAPTAIN. COLONEL | STATE.]
Aug 1776 | 3 mos | Pvt | [Captain] Whitman [Colonel] [blank] | R.I
*May 1777 | 9 mos | Ensign | [Captain] Hoppin [Colonel] Topham | [blank]
Spring 1778 | 15 mos | Lieut | [Captain} Traffam [Colonel] Barton | [blank]
In Fall of 1778 was taken prisoner on Island of RI by scouts, taken to British Camp from which he escaped. He afterwards served as Capt. of Militia upon numerous occasions to end of war.
* He was with Col. Barton when he captured Genl Prescott
[/table]
Battles engaged in, Rhode Island where he was wounded in the right thigh.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI
Date of application for pension, Sept 1832 His  [illegible]
Residence at date of application, Ellisburght, Jefferson Co, NY
Age at date of application, born May 1760
Remarks, [blank]
Respectfully, Commissioner.
[handwritten at bottom: "2 older brothers in service James & William I have taken dates as first alleged by Soldier as they agree with dates of events described by him"]

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Adams Jeff Co NY Dec 8 /14
Com of Pensions
Dear Sir:
Abel Potter, 1760-1846
wife Margaret Green placed on Pension Roll 1835 Jeff Co. N.Y. Soldier in R.I. Militia buried in Woodville Cem Ellisburgh Jeff Co NY. Please send service. Most respectfully Anna C Boomer Mrs E.H.
Vice Regent D.A.R. (Thanks for your kind attention)
Anna Grenell Huggins
Regent of Deborah Champion Chapter D.AR.

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[stamp: "U.S. PENSION OFFICE DEC 9 1914"]

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VICTOR H LANE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
LAW DEPARTMENT

U.S. Pension Bureau
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly inform me as to the service and pension record of one ancestor who was a soldier in the revolutionary war. His name was Abel Potter born (probably in Vermont) Mar 13 1760, died Mar 13 1846 in Jefferson or Oswego County New York.

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VICTOR H LANE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
LAW DEPARTMENT
He married Margaret Green. A certificate from the Adjutant General of Vermont stated that he was a private in Capt Isaac [illegible] company in Col Ebenezer Halbridge's Regiment of militia in the service of the state of Vermont. I hope to find through your records that this is [illegible] the same Abel Potter who lived at Stony Creek Jefferson Co NY where he was known by those [illegible]

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VICTOR H LANE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
LAW DEPARTMENT
to have drawn pensions for service in the Revolutionary war.
Another [illegible] Benjamin Knowlton (son of [illegible] Knowlton) was born at [illegible] (state not known) Dec 10 1729 and died Jan 1st 1809 probably at [illegible] New York. He is mentioned as being a member in the inspections committee service of the Revolutionary War. I shall be grateful if you can inform me any concurring this ancestor. Very sicnerely, (Mr. V.H.) Ida Knowlton Lane
715 Forest Avenue Ann Arbor Michigan

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[Stamp on top of page: "U.S. P.S. OLD WAR & NAVY FILES NOV 12, 1902"]

[Stamp on bottom of page: "U.S. PENSION OFFICE D NOV 10 1902"]

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[left hand side]
Nov 26, 1902
Mrs. V.H. Lane Ann Arbor Mich
1914 Dec 11 Hist to Mrs [illegible] Boomer VL [illegible]
[/left hand side]

[right hand side]
14.193
INVALID
File No 14.193
Abel Potter
Ensign & Lieut. & Priv Rev War
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 300
[Arrangement of 1870.]
[/right hand side]

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Free
JL Edwards
Pension Officer
War department
Washington City

Addl Proof
Abel Potter
N. York
 
[stamp: "JUL 16 NY"

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Adams N. York July 15, 1833

Dear Sir
Enclosed I send you several affts in the case of the claim of Abel Potter for a pension. This applicant I know to be an honest man. And I certainly think his claim is just. & do think the enclosed affts. together with his previous declaration which is on file with you will satisfy the department on the instances of his claim. each case turns upon circumstances of its own. In this case the applicant knows not where to fo in search of a living witness with even a probable hope of  success. He is 3 or 4 hundred miles distant from the scene of his service & has not been there in the past generation. I think the enclosed affts as they go to support his declaration, and as they shew abundance of hearsay evidence, not only that he served in the Revolutionary War but that he held commissions also. Together with the postive testimony of one witness - that she had seen the commission - is proof of the loss of commissions. Together with proof that the applicant knows of no living witness I then think all this entitles the applicant to a favorable consideration. More proof of the applicants having held commissions in the Rev. service can be made if [illegible] 
[text continues in margin of letter] as this case has been once examined. Then supplementary affts might be examined & the result communicated without delay. I have aimed to satisfy the department of the justice of this particular claim, rather than to bring it as [illegible] any general rule. I hope the proof is satisfactory. D.N B--
Your Obt Servant D.N. Burnham 
JL Edwards Esq

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Petition of Abel Potter for a Pension
Abel Potter
January 13th 1834
Ref to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Wardwell 39 Rev. 
Wardwall

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To the Honorable Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America:
The petition of Abel Potter of the town of Ellisburgh County of Jefferson & State of New York. Respectfully Sheweth: 
That your petitioner in his youth was a soldier and officer in the Revolutionary War. And with a Godly disdaining fatigue, and a heart that faultered  not, he cheerfully & faithfully bore his part in the dangers, suffering, and privation of that eventful period.
That your petitioner has applied to the War Department for the benefit of the pension act of June 7th 1832, and has set forth as well as he is able, the particulars of his service in a deposition formally & properly made in open court which together with the certificates and affidavits of several other persons confirmatory thereof, are now on file in the War department, and to which {to save recapitulations here} your petitioner begs leave to refer your honorable body for a full and particular account of the several periods of service performed by your petitioner in the Revolutionary Army. And also that your honorable body may judge whether your petitioner has diligently complied with the published requisitions of the War department in relation to the kind and

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degree of proof required of those applicants who know of no living witnesses to their services and have no documentary evidence of their claim. 
Your petitioner further represents that he is informed that the War department is unwilling to grant a claim of such magnitude as that of your petitioner without further proof of his services or without further reasons assigned for the non production of his commissions. 
Your petitioner further represents that is unable to make further proof of his service, that he knows of no living witness thereto, and that he is too old and infirm to go into other counties or other parts of the United States in pursuit of further testimony and that his pecuniary circumstances are such that he can not employ & pay any other person for the performance of such service. And above all that he knows not where to go, nor whom to enquire for as he has already heard of the death of all of those of his associates whose names he can remember.
And your petitioner respectfully solicits the consideration of your Honorable Body whether in his papers, above referred to, he has not assigned a satisfactory reason for not producing his commissions.

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And your petitioner begs leave humbly to represent to your Honorable body that, in his opinion, the kind and degree of proof required should not depend at all on the magnitude of the claim, lest that the length of service rendered by your petitioner, and the fact of his having held commissions should operate to debar your petitioner of his just claim, which others upon proof similar to that made by your petitioner, are able to obtain their dues because having rendered less service they claim less.
And your petitioner further represents that he is poor and dependent entirely on his friends & what his aged hands can earn for his support. And that having made all the proof & best proof in his power he feels aggrieved that the War Department by refusing to grant his just claim have turned him around to your Honorable Body as a last resort to obtain his due.
Your petitioner therefore prays of your Honorable body a tender consideration of his claim. And that your Honorable Body will be pleased to grant to your honorable petitioner such renumeration for his youthful toil & service in behalf of the early liberties of our happy & beloved country as your Honorable Body's own [underline] sense of justice [/underline] will dictate and a people

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impatient to revere their revolutionary servants will approve. And your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray &c. [signed: "Abel Potter" "his mark"]

Adams Dec 26th 1833
To the same Honorable body:
The petitioner of the subscribers citizens of the said town of Ellisburgh [underline] respectfully sheweth: [/underline]
That your petitioners have been for the last fifteen years or more personally and intimately acquainted with [underline] Abel Potter [/underline], the above named petitioner & applicant for a pension. And that he is a man of candor and integrity. That since their acquaintance with him they have always understood and believed that he was a  soldier and officer of the Revolution. And your petitioners believe that the said claimant has made a just and correct representation of his services according to the best of his recollection, [underline] and that his claim is just and ought to be granted [/underline]. They therefore beg leave to join in the above petition of the said applicant and respectfully but earnestly pray your Honorable Body as the representatives of a people grateful and just to grant the prayer of the said petitioner. And to pass our act allowing him such a pension

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as others receive from their country for similar services and upon similar proof. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray &c.
[signed: "Ebenezer Wood Wm Deacon N Burnam Oliver Batcheller George Jinkens Elijah Blount Jonathan Scott Mosley Wood Edwin Burnham Ambrose Blunt Amaziah Fillmark Nathl W Hibbard AT Wood Cyrel Clark"]
Ellisburgh Dec. 27th 1833

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In the matter of the application of Abel Potter for the benefit of the Pension Act of July 7th 1833
State of New:
Jefferson County SS. Dyer N Burnham of Adams in the said county, being duly sworn says that he has been acquainted with the above named applicant for 16 years last past. That for the major part of that time he has resided in the same town & neighborhood with the said applicant. That he has always understood that the said applicant had been an officer in the Revolutionary War. That he never heard it disputed by any neighbors of the said applicant or other persons. That he remembers an old pensioner (under the former laws of Congress) by the name of Bezely Harrington (since deceased) who according to the best recollection of this deponent was personally cogniscent & knowing to the fact of the above applicant having been an officer of the Revolution. That this deponent thinks the Christian name of the said pensioner was Barzele or Bezely but does not know its proper orthography. That this deponent did, two years ago, as one of the committee of arrangements for the celebration of the fourth of July

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invite the said applicant to participate gratuitously in the festivities of the day. Not doubting the undisputed & uninterrupted impressioned & belief that had & still does prevail in the neighborhood of said applicant that he was a Revolutionary officer. And this deponent further says that he has frequently seen the said applicant adressed & entertained on the 4th of July as a veteran of the Revolution. That this deponent drafted the Declaration made in open court, by the said applicant pursuant to the Act of June 7th 1832. And by him forwarded to the war department. That he this deponent (from the manner of the said applicants relating the facts & circumstances in the declaration contained, as well as from other circumstances & things) firmly believes that the said applicant was a soldier and officer of the Revolutionary Militia and served as he states. And I believe the things contained in the said declaration are true in substance & in fact. Except that the memory of the applicant may have been a little inaccurate respecting dates & names. And this deponent further says that the said applicant sustains

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says that the said applicant sustains a fair character for truth and veracity among those to whom he is known. That the said applicant has been for many years an exemplary member of the Baptist Church in the town where he resides. And further saith not. Dyer N Burnham
Sworn this 12th day of July 1833 before me Thos A Angel
Justice of the peace in the said county of Jefferson
He has lived the whole of that time either in the family of the said applicant or in the neighborhood with him. That he has always understood from the said applicant & from others that the said applicant had held the several commissions of Ensign & Lieut in the militia service in the Revolutionary War. That he has frequently heard said applicant speak of his services in said War & of his having held commissions in said war. That he has repeatedly heard the said applicant relate his adventures at the time he claims to.
[paper underneath: "  for veracity and their belief of his services as he hath set forth in his former declaration"]

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In the matter of the application of Abel Potter for the benefit of the Pension Act of June 7th 1832.
State of New York Jefferson County SS
James Potter of the town of Ellisburgh in said county, being duly sworn maketh oath and saith that he has been personally & intimately acquainted with the above named applicant Abel Potter for & during the period of 25 years last past. That he has lived the whole of that time either in the family of the said applicant or in the neighborhood with him. That he has always understood from the said applicant & from others that the said applicant had held the several commissions of Ensign & Lieut in the militia service in the Revolutionary War. That he has frequently heard said applicant speak of his services in said War & of his having held commissions in said War. That he has repeatedly heard the said applicant relate his adventures at the time he claims to

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[paper underneath: "invite the said applicant to participate"]
have been engaged in taking Prescott from the Island in the night. That he recollects to have heard sd applicant also speak often of his adventures in the service of the Revolutionary War. That is was 20 & 25 years ago that he heard these things and that he has frequently heard them since that time. That he heard read the declaration of this sd applicant which he made in open court and which this deponent is informed has been sent to the War department. And that he saw the said applicant sign the said declaration that he heard the said applicant relate the circumstances of his service at that time to the person who drafted the said declaration. And that according to the best recollection & belief of this deponent respecting the contents of the said declaration. The said declaration does not contain any one account or history of any engagement and adventure or circumstance of service which this deponent has not heard the said applicant relate more than 20 years ago: Beyond this de-

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ponent further saith that the said applicant (from the time of his first acquaintance with him until his advanced age might clear him from military duty) has been exempt from military duty on the ground of his having held commissions in the service & not being obliged to do duty beneath the rank he held in the service. That he recollects that one Capt. Parker, who was said to have been a Capt in the same regt in which the said applicant had served and held a commission used to salute the said applicant & said applicant used to salute the said Parker & they used to treat each other as officers of the Revolution. And talk together of being in the service, all in the presence of this deponent. That the said Parker is now deceased. That he has seen the scar on the thigh of the said applicant, mentioned in the said declaration to have been from a wound he has recd in the services. That said applicant is a man of truth and veracity & this deponent verily believes the contents of the said declaration of the said applicant

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& which said declaration this deponent has heard read as above mentioned are true in substance & in fact. And further saith not. Sworn & subscribed this 5th day of July 1833 before me. Thos J Angel
One of the justices of the peace in and for the county of Jefferson in the state of New York.
James Potter

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In the matter of the application of Abel Potter for the benefit of the pension act of June 7th 1832.
State of New York Jefferson County SS
Abel Potter the above named applicant being duly sworn doth on his oath further state as supplement to his declaration heretofore made on oath by him in this behalf. That about ten years after he left the state of Rhode Island he returned there on a visit & found that his associates in the revolutionary service & other acquaintance had emigrated to other countries & died to such a degree that very few of either could be found. That he resided in Bennington County in Vermont & in Albany county in this state till about 34 years ago & found several of his old associates of the revolution in those places & was not called on to perform military but was [illegible] once to serve as an adjutant on a muster day in the county of Albany. That he removed thence to the county of Herkimer in this state among strangers & was under the necessity of showing his commissions to a man by the name of Ephraim Knowlton in order to get examined. That this took place about 33 years ago & that said Knowlton was then an old grey headed man who has in all probabilty been dead a long time. That he remembers showing his commissions to Captain Parker some 40 years ago he the said Parker wishing to see whether the form agreed with the commissions in the US. Army and that he does not remember showing them anymore but left them in his mothers chest in Herkimer where she afterwards lived with another of her sons both of which have been dead a number of years. That the said chest & contents are said to be burnt as before stated. 
That he is known to Eld M.E. Cook, Ebenezer Wood Esq, Daniel Wardwell Esq, Azariah Doane, Nathan Burnham, Jonathan Bullard Esq, Ambrose Blunt Esq and many others in this vicinity who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as he hath set forth in his former declaration.

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And that he the said applicant is so far advanced in age, so low in health & circumstances that he has no courage to attempt a search for further testimony in other & distant countries as he can get no information from any of his former associates in arms of the days of the revolution who are now living. And further saith not.
Abel Potter
Subscribed & sworn this 11th day of July 1833 before me. Jonah Bullard
One of the justices of the peace in & for the county of Jefferson

Page 60

Abel Potter
Applicant for Increase
Act June 7 1832
Ad 24911 Act 32
Supplemental
found in a Desk
Agent Wm B Pierce Albany NY

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Supplemental Declaration
In order to obtain increase of pension under the Act of June 7 1832
State of New York Oswego County SS
Abel Potter of Ellisburgh Jefferson County NY aged 85 years in the month of May first being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is a pensioner of the United States under the Act of June 7 1832 at the rate of $80, but that as he served 3 months as a private, nine months as an Ensign fifteen months as a Lieutenant of regularly enlisted troops, besides numerous expeditions as a Captain of Militia, he thinks himself entitled to a much larger pension & therefore applies for increase. That during the war of the revolution he lived in West Greenwich in the State of Rhode Island from whence he entered the service. His first service of 3 months was performed as Declarant believes in the fall of 1776. This he calculates from the fact that he was 16 years of age when he entered the service. He is now 84 as aforesaid. He served this turn of 3 months under Capt Whitman or Whitmore, guarding the shore. Two years afterwards, or in the spring of 1778 (as he now calculates) he received an Ensigns commission & served as an Ensign for the full period of nine months. In the fall of the next year 1779 being promoted to Lieutenant he served for a period of fifteen months as Lieut. After receiving this appointment to wit, in the month of October in said year 1779, he was engaged for four or five weeks in enlisting soldiers to serve in his company. He enlisted them from the towns of Greenwich, West Greenwich, Coventry & adjoining towns. After his complement of men were enlisted he was ordered to Howlands Ferry in Massachusetts where they went into winter quarters. He continued to serve until the fall of the next year 1780 a further full period of 15 months. In the summer of said year 1780 his company served under Sullivan in the battle of Rhode Island & declarant then & there received a bayonet wound in his thigh. All of the above service he performed in the

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Regiment of Colonel Barton of which Handy was Adjutant. Said Handy was sick & absent for a short time during which time Declarant served as his substitute. General Cornell had the general command of these forces. This was the end of Declarant's enlisted service. Afterwards he was promoted to the office of Captain of Militia & served upon numerous occasions until the close of the war, from West Greenwich aforesaid. Indeed he was obliged to be on duty for a greater part of time with the militia separate tours of duty were short and cannot now be particularly specified by Declarant. Abel Potter [signed:his mark: "x"]
Subscribed & sworn this 18th day of September 1845 before me. Note "months" erased and "weeks" interlined before execution. S.B. Ludlow First Judge Osw Co Courts
State of New York Oswego County Clerks Office SS I John Carpenter Clerk of the County Oswego & Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of said county hereby certify that Hon Samuel B Ludlow before whom the above affidavit was taken & whose name is subscribed to the above jurat of affidavit here written was at the date of said jurat First judge of the County Courts of said county dwelling in said county & duly commissioned & qualified to act as such Jury. And further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such judge & verily believe that his signature to said jurat is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said county this 17th day of December 1845. John Carpenter Clerk