Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45343, John Dunston, Mass.

Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Mass.

Dunston, John
or Dunstan

NUMBER
S.45343

Page 2

15.881
New York   R.

John Dunston,
Dunstan
of Montg'y. Co:  in the state of New York, who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Nelson of the Massach'tts. line, for the term of three years.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York, at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 14 of April, 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25 of Novr. 1819. and sent to John McCarthy, agent, Johnstown, Montg'y Co:  N. York

Arrears to 4th of Septr. 1819.  $133.60
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 march 1820.}  48.00
16 mos. 21/30}  Total $181.60

{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818.}

Continues of the Roll under the law of the 1 May 182?.

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Notification sent to Jhn L. Loldell Esqr 6 July 1820.  Johnstown, New York

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State of New York
Montgomery County ss

On the fourteenth Day of April 1818 Before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of the County aforesaid personally appeared John Dunston aged Sixty Six years Resident in the Town of Amsterdam in Said County who being duly Sworn by me 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 the Said John Dunson enlisted in the Town of Sheffield in the State of Massachusetts in the Company Commanded Capt Peter Ingersel of the ninth Regiment of the Massachusetts Line and that he Continued under Said Commander for the term of Eight Months then this deponent enlisted under Capt John Shepherd in the Same town as above Stated for the term of One year and was then put in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Porter at the expiration of Said year this deponant enlisted for three years under Capt Samuel Bartlett in Colonel James Westons Regiment James Miller Lieut Colonel in Gen Learneds Briggade and Continued in the Service of the united services for the three years as above Stated and was then honorably discharged in the year Seventeen Hundred Eighty
[end of page]

[Copyists note:  Spelling and punctuation errors are original to the text]

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At West Point in the State of New York and that he was in the Battle of Bunkers Hill at Bemins hights Saratoga at Monmoth and that he is in Reduced Circumstances and Stands in need of the assistance of his Country for Support and that he has no other evidence in hand in his power of his Said Service
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid
John Dunston
Benedict Arnold Judge

I Benedict Arnold one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Montgomery do Certify that it appears to my Satisfaction that the Said John Duson did Serve in the Revolutionary war as Stated in the preceding declaration against the Common enemy and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony had and taken before me to the Secretary for the Department of war pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress—
Amsterdam 14th Day of april 1818
Benedict Arnold Judge

I do further Certify that the I am personally acquainted with the above named John Dunston and that he is poor and much in need of the assistance of his Country for Support
Given under my hand this 14 Day of April 1818
Benedict Arnold
Judge of C Pleas

[Copyists note:  Copied as original]

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John Dunstan

continued

15881
25 Nov. 1819.

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State of New York}
County of Montgomery} ss
On this day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court being a court of records for the said County of Montgomery called the court of Common pleas proceeding according to the principals of common law having the power of fine and imprisonment.  John Dunstan aged Sixty Nine years resident in Amsterdam in said state aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows in Captain John Sheppard William Bartlett & Lieut Com Joseph Eads Companies in Colonels Porter and James Nutons Regiment Massachusetts line.  Nutons regiment was the ninth Massachusetts on the continental establishment as in more particularly mentioned in my original declaration that the date of his original declaration was the fourteenth day of April 1818 and the number of his pension certificate is 15.881— And I solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 19th day of March 1818. and that I have not since that time by Gift Sale or in any manner 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 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 18th day of march 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities Contracts of Debts due to me nor have I any income other that what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
John Dunstan
Sworn to and declared in open court on the fifteenth day of June 1825
Jno McCarthy Clerk

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Real Estate -  I have now either in possession reversion remainder or expectancy.—
Personal Estate - 1 Cow $16.00  1 Pig $3.00 1 Jack Knife $0.12  = $10.12.  I owe debts to the amount set of Ten Dollars.
That I am a Carpenter by trade but have not worked at my trade in two years that I am afflicted with the Palsy and other diseases so that I am not able to do any Labour.  I have no family with me and have no other means of living except the pension I receive from the United States and assistance from my neighbours  And further saith not.
John Dunstan

 State of New York}
Montgomery County}
Clerks Office}
I John McCarthy Clerk of the court of common pleas in and for the said county do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereunto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court  And I further certify that is is proved to the satisfaction of the said court, by the oaths of credible witnesses and that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Nineteen Dollars and twelve cents.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said court on the 15th day of June 1820—
Jno McCarthy

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45343
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 45343
John Dunston
Priv Rev War

Act:  18 March 1818
Index:—Vol. 3, Page 143

[Arrangement of 1870.]

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State of New York}
Montgomery County} ss

I John McCarthy Clerk of the Court of common pleas for the said county do Certify that Benedict Arnold whose name appears signed to the annexed Certificates and before whom the annexed declaration appears to have been made & Sworn to was one of the Judges of the court of common pleas in & for the said County on the 14th day of April 1818,
In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the said court the 3d day of August 1818
Jno McCarthy

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John Dunston
[illegible]
With respect to his last enlistments, the line should be mentioned, & the precise dates of entering and leaving the service stated—
26' Apl. 1819



John Dunston Priv:
Colonel Nelson's Massachusetts Regt.
1777 - 3 years -
14 April 1818

John McCarthy Esqr
Johnstown
Montgomery Co 
N.Y.

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[This page is a replica of page 11 except for the word Admitted being added.]

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I Isaac Vosbrough of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do testify & say that I was a Soldier of the Revolutionary army in the 1777.  that I well recollect John Dunston named in the preceeding deposition signed by John Saxton, that he inlisted into the Company commanded by Capt Bartlett in Jany. 1777 to Serve three years.  that he march'd from this town for Boston - a few days previous to the Battle of Monmouth the deponent joined sd Bartletts Company, was in that battle with sd John & continued to serve in sd Company & knows that sd John served for near sixteen months [illegible] in the same company as a faithful Soldier - during the latter part of the term I was in the Service, Capt. Bartlett having resigned Captain Eeds or Edes as near as this deponent can spell the name took the command of the same -

June 10 1819
Isaac Vosbrough

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Berkshire ss.
June 10th 1819—
Then personally appeared the above named Isaac Vosbrough & made oath to the truth of the above ^deposition by him signed - I further certify that credit may be given to his declaration under oath
Before me Robert F Barnard Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire ss.
I Joseph Woodbridge Clerk of the Judicial Courts within & for the County of Berkshire do certify and attest that Robert F. Barnard is a Justice of the Peace, within & for the same County duly commissioned & acting under the Authority of this Commonwealth and that the above is his Signature -
In testimony whereof I have herunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this fifteenth day of June A.D. 1819 -
Jos. Woodbridge Clk

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John Dunston now a resident of Johnstown in the State of New York who at that time was a resident in this town.  I recollect that ^he enlisted to Serve in a Company Commanded by Captain Bartlett of the Infantry of the Massachusetts line, in the spring of 1777 - for three years - that he left this town with C. Company soon after his enlistment & march'd to some place unknown to the deponent - this deponent, in the month of July or August ^A.D. 1778 was at White Plains in the State of New York on duty - & he well recollects seeing sd. Dunston at that place in the uniform of a soldier & attached to the same company aperforming [sic] duty as such - The deponent believes sd. Dunston to be poor & dependent on his daily labor for support - He verily believes that sd. Dunston served for at least the whole term between the spring of 1777 & July or August 1778 - & further says not -
Sheffield June 9th 1819 -
John Saxton

Berkshire ss June 9th 1819 -
Then personally appeared John Saxton above named & made oath to the truth of the deposition by him subscribed - I further certify that full credit may be given to these declarations -
Robert F. Barnard Jus. of the Peace

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State of New York}
Montgomery County} ss.

John Dunston the applicant in the annexed declaration and depositions named personally appeared before Aaron Haring First Judge of the Court of common Pleas of said County in said State this 22nd day of June 1819. and being duly sworn deposes as follows in addition to his former declaration hereto annexed that he enlisted in Captain John Sheperds Company in the month of February 1776 but the exact day of the month he cannot state for one year & in Colonel John Porters Regiment & served until the month of December then next at Independent Hill on the Margin of Lake Champlain in New York State where he was discharged by General Horatio Gates:  and in the month of January but the day cannot now be stated by this deponent in the year of our lord 1777.  This deponent enlisted ^ at Sheffield aforesaid in Captain Samuel Bartletts company in Colonels James Westons Regiment in General Larneds Brigade for three years as a private and was honorably discharged in the month of January 1780 at West Point in the State of New York by General McDougal that this deponent served faithfully the respective periods for which he had enlisted & that he has lost all his papers of enlistments & discharges.  and that the respective Companies & Regiments in which he enlisted were in the army of the revolutionary war in the line of the Common Wealth of Massachusetts and on the Continental establishment of the United States in that contest.
John Dunston

Subscribed & sworn to this 22nd day of June 1819
Before me
Aaron Haring First Judge aforesaid

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I Aaron Haring the Judge last aforesaid Certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said John Dunston did serve in the revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declarations.  And I farther certify that Benedict Arnold Esquire before whom the applicants declaration was originally made is now removed from office & has been so removed for about one year and that the said John is unquestionably in very reduced pecuniary circumstance & stands in need of the assistance of his Country for his support.  and I now transmit all the proceedings & testimony taken & had before myself ^and others which are here to annexed to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforesaid mentioned Act of Congress.
Given under my hand this 22nd day of June 1819
Aaron Haring

State of New York}
Montgomery County} ss.

I John McCarthy Clerk of the said County do Certify that Aaron Haring whose name appears subscribed to the above Certificate was on the 22d Instant first Judge of the Court of common pleas in and for the said County.  In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my Official Seal the 29th day of June 1819
Jno. McCarthy

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I Azariah Eggleston Esq. of Lenox, in the County of Berkshire, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and late a Lieutenant and paymaster in the 1st Mass'ts Regt., do testify and declare, that I knew John Dunston, formerly of Sheffield in said County, now of Johnstown in the County of Montgomery, in the state of New York, to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary war.  That he was in Canada from some time in March A. D. 1776, until the last of December in the same year.  The reason I recollect the said Dunston is, that he, and myself had the small pox in Montreal, in the summer of 1776 - after the death of Montgomery.  I was acquainted with him, in Sheffield before and after the said Revolutionary war.  I never heard any thing against the said Dunston, as a faithful soldier.  He is now poor and aged and deserves, if anyone, the benefaction of his government.  The said Dunston is now before me, and I perfectly recognize his countenance, tho many years have elapsed, since I have seen him.
& further the Deponent saith not
Azariah Eggleston

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Azariah Eggleston

Berkshire ss.  June 15th 1819.
Personally appeared Azariah Eggleston Esq. & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me
Jos. Tucker Just. Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire ss.
I Joseph Woodbridge Clerk of the Judicial Courts within & for the County of Berkshire do Certify & attest that Joseph Tucker Esqr. is a Justice of the peace within & for the same County duly commissioned & active under the Authority of this Commonwealth and that the above is his Signature—
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said County this fifteenth day of June A.D. 1819.
Jos. Woodbridge Clk