Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29797, Seberry Fish, New York

Page 1

[Record is a printed form with handwritten entries.]

(3-1776)

SERVICE
[Handwritten] New York
_________________________

[Handwritten] 
Fish, Seberry
Fisk ^or 

NUMBER
S. 29797
_________________________

[Double line]
CONTENTS

[Two columns of 15 blank lines]

Page 2

[Record is a printed form with handwritten entries.]

1345.
Massachusetts
[Double line]

Seberry Fisk
of Chester in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the company commande_ [last letter was cut off at edge of page] 
by Captain Johnso_ of the regt commanded by Col Dubois, in the [here the word "Mass" was crossed out, and replaced with] N York line for 2 Years [next word is almost illegible, possibly:] from 1778

[Double line] 

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 80 Dollars ~~ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

[Double line] 

Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of Novr in 1832, and Sent George Coltor [or Colter or Colton] Springfield Mass
[Double line]

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $120.~
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 [1833] [$] 40 ~
[Double line]
$160~

[Double line]

(Revolutionary Claim)
(Act June 7, 1832.)

Recorded by [partially faded, hard to read, possibly:] J H McBlair [or McBlais or McBlain] Clerk, 
Book D. Vol 2nd Page 51.

Page 3

[Handwritten record]

2151
Seberry [or Seberay or Leberry or Leberay] Fish, Declaration

John Ogden Deys [or Derf] and Capt. Henry Dodge; 
Certificates
and, his Original discharge
from a Service in the regular Army of 3 Years ~

Page 4

Commonwealth of Massachusetts [following word is hard to read, but could be:] Hamden SS.

On this eighth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court before [here the following first name is hard to read, but it may be:] Absher B Morris Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate now Sitting in Springfield, Seberry [or Seberay or Leberay or Leberry] Fish a resident of Chester in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy 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 act of Congress passed June 7 [or 9, but looks most like 7]. 1832 __

[Occasional spacing has been included to make the long text block easier to read.]

That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the month:  of [here "December" has been crossed out, and above was written: ^] November 1778. at [?] Bedford in West Chester State of N. York  in capt John Johnsons Company in Col. Lewis Dubois Rigiment of the line, Said Regiment [here the next word is nearly illegible, but could be] wass Called the fifth N. York Regiment for the term of three years, and march'd. first to West Point and from West Point to Albany and from Albany back to West Point and on the next ^ day went on board of boats and passd. up to [illegible] from thence to Albany and from Albany to Schoharie whear [or where] we went into Winter quarters, 

in the month of March we went to Fort Stanwix and from there to Onondaga where we destroyed an Indian Settlement, after that return.d to For Stanwix and Schenectady and from thence up to Fort Plains and from there to [illegible] Lake and from thence we marchd. and Joined., General Sullivans [or Sullivan] at Tioga point and from thence we march. [?] Newtown and had a battle with the Indians [here the word "and" was crossed out, and ^ "then" written above] proceeded on to Genesses River which river we ascended "forty or fifty miles and then went to Eastown in the Pensylvania and from thence to Morristown in New Jersey and took up Winter quarters

and in the Spring we went to Orange in the State of N. York and remained there until after Maj. [illegible surname] was executed and then went to West Point and from there to Albany and then to fort Stanwix where we took up Winter quarters

in the month of April following Came down to Albany and proceeded on to Kings Ferry where we Joined the main army under the Command of General Washington and went South with the main army to Yorktown and was there at the time Lord Cornwallis Surrender.d his army 

and that Soon afterward, having Served out my full term of Three Years I was discharged and that discharge is annex.d to this declaration, that in the month of Janry. 1781, he was transferred from the fifth to the second N. York Regiment of the line in a Company Com. by capt. [here the following surname is hard to read, but it may be:] Hamtramick in Col, Coutlands [or Cortlands] Regiment, and Lieut Henry Dodges Certificate of Said transfer is annexed

Page 5

[Handwritten document}

to this declaration and John Ogden Days certificate that [here "he sa" is crossed out] Said Fish enlisted as appears by the Muster roll now in his possession on the 16th day of Nov. 1778, for the term of three years. and was discharged {?] Nov. 16th. 1781. which Certificate is annexed ~~

[In lighter ink] That he was born in Duchess County State of New York in June 1762, and lived in Said County where he enterd the Service and that now he resides in the town of Chester  County of Hampden and State of Massachusetts __

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or. annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State ~ [signature] Seberry Fish [with a flourish underneath the surname.]

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and Year aforesaid ~ 

And the Said Court do further declare Their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldeir [or Soldier] and Served as he States  [Here there is a hand-drawn filled-in triangle pointing back to the last word in this statement segment.]

[In different handwriting:]  I [?] Justin Willard  Register of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Seberry Fish for a Pension. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty two 
Justin Willard [signed with a flourish]

Page 6

[In dark ink]
2151
Seberry Fisk
[Nearly illegible, but possibly:] Priv [private]
2 years

[In lighter ink:]
Alwd [or Admd, probably meaning the claim was allowed, or admitted]
JLE

$80

[In dark ink] 
George Colton [squiggle]
Springfield
Mass

Page 7

[Printed form with handwritten entries]

BRIEF in the case of Seberry Fisk of Chester in the State of Massa [Massachusetts] (Act 7 June, 1832.) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Probate Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [blank]

3.  How old is he? 70

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Double line]

[Chart with the following category headings:]
Period.  l   Duration of Service.  l   Rank.  l   Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In 1778 (Novr

3 [Years]

private

Capt. John Johnson, Col Lewis Dubois (5th N.Y. regt)  Capt. Hamtranick [or Hanetramick or Honetranick]; Col Ortland [or Briland or Artland]. 2d N.Y. reg. 

5. In what battles was he engaged?  [blank]

6..  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Duchess Co [Dutchess Co, NY]

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  by documents __

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?  [blank]

I CERTIFY that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.   

Wm Ward Examining Clerk.

Page 8

[Printed form with chart and handwritten entries]

..............
In reply to your request of ......... [illegible squiggle], received ............ for a statement of the military history of [here the following name is underlined] [handwritten name] Seberry Fish 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. [handwritten]  S. F. 29,797.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Chart with the following category headings:]  
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT  l  LENGTH OF SERVICE. l  RANK.  l  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. l   CAPTAIN.  l  COLONEL.  l  STATE.

Nov. 16, 1778.
3 yrs.
Pri. [Private]
[Captain] (John Johnson
[Colonel] Lewis Dubois
N.Y.

[Captain]  Hamtramick 
[Colonel] Van Cortland

[4 blank lines]

Battles engaged in, Newtown

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Dutchess Co, N.Y.

Date of application for pension, Aug. 8, 1832.  His cl was al. [His claim was allowed.]

Residence at date of application, Chester, Hampden Co., Mass. {Massachusetts]

Age at date of application, B. [Born] June, 1762, Dutchess Co. N.Y.

Remarks:  There is no data relative to family.
[Blank line]

The above noted is the only soldier by the name of Seberry (or any similar name) Fish, of N.Y., found on the Rev. War records of this Bureau.
Very respectfully,

6-2856  
[Blank]  Commissioner.

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[Printed form with handwritten entries. 
Left side of record begins:]

29797
Revy INVALID.
________________

File No. 29,797
Seberry Fisk
Pri [Private} Rev War [Revolutionary War]
___________________________________________
Act:  June 7th 32 [June 7th 1832]
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 138
(Arrangement of 1870.)

[Here the right column on this page begins a handwritten list re correspondents who had written to the Pension Bureau seeking information re claim.]

1913, Apr. 17.  History to Mrs. P. E. Stuart.  [The following initials may have been of the pension bureau clerk who logged this notation:]  F.W. [or F.rr.]
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1926  May 22  Mrs P. E. Stuart.  advised as to names of soldier's parents. [Following initials are hard to read, but may have been:] MES [or MEA or WES or WEA]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1928, Apr. 11, Mrs. P. E. Stuart  adv. as to obtaining. date last paym't of pen. etc. [Here there is either a check mark, or the word "of"] Seberry Fish.  MES [or WES]
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1929. Jan. 28. Henry Sage Dermott adv as to obtaining date of death.  W.E.S.

Page 10


[Handwritten near the top of this document, which had been folded into quarters:] 

Colo. Cortlandt's 
Discharge 1781.  

[Near the bottom right corner of the page, written perpendicularly, there appears a lighter inscription:]
Seberry Fish.
S.F. 29,797.
N.Y.

Page 11

[Handwritten record:]

This is to Certify that Seberrey Fish of the Second New York Regiment has served the full term for which he enlisted being three Years and is Discharged the service and hereby permitted to return to the place of his abode
Given under my hand this 15th. Day of Novr. 1781 __ 

[Here, before the signature surname, there is a large squiggle which may have been the initial:]   C. Cortlandt, Colo [Colonel] __  [followed by a flourish]

Page 12


[Handwritten document]

I hereby certify that it appears from the Rolls of Service of the New York. Line [squiggle, possibly the number:] 5 Regt Capt Johnsons Company that Zebra Fisk enlisted 6 Nov 1778 _ for 3 years discharged 16 Nov 1781.  

Francis A Dickins
Clk. [?} Tres. Dept.
1 Nov. 1832

Page 13

[Handwritten record]

I Certify that on examination of the Copy of the muster Rolls of the New York Line of the Revolutionary Army, in my possession and lately belonging to Benjamin Wallace Esqr. now deceased:  I find that Zebra (Seberry?) Fish enlisted on the 16th day of november 1778. for the term of three years in Captain Johnsons Company of the [?] Fifth Regiment. Commanded by Colonel Lewis Dubois and that he is [here the following word is almost illegible, but it could have been:] Returnd [or ?Releeased or ?Recoernd] of having been discharged on the 16th day of november 1781.

John Ogden Dey
dated April 6th 1832.

Page 14

[Handwritten record] 

This may Certify that I was Acquainted in the Revolutionary War, with Seberry Fish, then a Soldier in the fifth [?}N York Regt; Commanded by Colo. Lewis Dubois, and verily __ believe the Bearer, to be the Same Man, and that in 1781 he was transfered from the fifth to the Second New York Regimt; Commanded by [illegible 2 possible initials] Cortland Colo. and that he faithfully Served the Term for which he was engaged

Po,keepsie) 
Decbr. 5th 1817

[On the right side of the page, about mid-way:]  Henry Dodge, late
Capt. Lieut. in 5 N Y Regt. 

[There appears to be a roughly round impression showing from behind the page, near the bottom edge of the document, perhaps from a possible wax seal from the other side of the page.]

Page 15

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Seberry Fish [handwritten] which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes [handwritten]

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Yes [handwritten]

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?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes [handwritten]

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 to what amount of pension he is entitled?  Yes [handwritten]

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Yes [handwritten]

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes [handwritten]

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes [handwritten]

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes [handwritten]

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 [handwritten]

Page 16

[Printed form with handwritten entries.]

2
X1.  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?  [Handwritten] Not necessary

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?  [Handwritten] documents annexed

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? [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 a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? [Blank]

XVI.  [Here there is a printed symbol of a vertical double cross.]  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  [Blank]

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  [Blank]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

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 ______ days, I served as a ______    For ______ months and ______ days, I served as a __________; and for such service I claim a pension."

Page 17

3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he 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 "about three or four months" [italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

+ QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.

++QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.

Page 18

Nashua, Ia.
Apr. 7 - 1913

Pension Dept.
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir:
Can you tell me whether a Sebra Fish ever received pension as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was Captain of the guards in Dutchess Co. N.Y.
Also whether who Elizabeth Allen is recorded ^ who was the wife of - Fish, whose first name I do not know, also from N.Y.

Page 19

Any information regarding the Allen's or Fish's of the Rev. period from N.Y. will be most gratefully received.

Respectfully
Mrs. P.E. Stuart
Nashua
Iowa

[Stamp in black in bottom left corner of page reading "PENSION" across the top, "OFFICE" on bottom, "U." and "S." on left and right and "D APR 10 1913" in the middle]

Page 20

[Handwritten letter]

Nashua [or Noshua], Iowa
March 25th, 1926

Dep't of Interior
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:

I wish to make inquiry in regard to the history of one Sebra Fish, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, who inlisted Nov. 16th 1778 from Duchess [Dutchess] Co. New York, and later drew pension.  [Here most of the next 15 words have been underlined with what looks to have been a grease pencil:]  What- I wish to ascertain is the name of his parents as given in his [here the underlining ended] inlistment papers or record:

Will you kindly send me this information?

Page 21

[Continuation of handwritten letter]

Or tell me where I may obtain it.

Very Respectfully
Grace Barber Stuart.

(Mrs. P. E. Stuart)
Noshua [or Nashua], Iowa

Page 22

[Handwritten letter in dark ink]

554 Hudson Ave
Albany N.Y.
18 April 1928.

Hon.
Comr of Pensions
Washington D.C.

My dear Sir:
One [here the next two words, the given name and surname, were underlined] Seabury [or Seaberry] Fish or [here the following surname is underlined] Fisk of Massachusetts obtained about 1832 a Federal pension, [here, underlining begins] S 29.797 [underlining stopped] for Services in The Rev. War.

Would you be So good as to give me instructions how To obtain, if possible, date of death and where it occurred of The Said pensioner Fish or Fisk?

Thanking you
Respectfully
Henry Sage Dermott
[A diagonal underline appears mostly under the middle name "Sage" and the "D" of Dermott.] 

[Near the lower right hand bottom corner of the page, there is a round printed stamp which reads:] PENSION
U.S. 
APR 20 1928
[With "____CE" underneath, and with other letters before the "_CE" being illegible because they're very faint.]

Page 23

[Document with printed letterhead, typed letter, a printed date stamp impression, and a handwritten preliminary inquiry letter at the bottom of the page.]

[Handwritten initials in the top right hand corner of the page, appear to read:]  WCS [or MCS]

[Printed letterhead]

IN REPLY REFER TO 
[Typed:]  Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

[Printed letterhead:]
3-1865
______________________________
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON

[Typed letter begins:]
May 22, 1926

Mrs. P. E. Stuart
Nashua
Iowa

[To the right, in upper middle portion of the page, there is a round date stamp impression:  
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
F [or "E"] APR 9 
[Here the last digit in the following year was smudged, but it appears to have been an "8":] 1928 

[Typed letter resumes:]
Madam:
I have to advise you that in the papers of the Revolutionary War pension claim of SEBERRY FISH, S. 29797, the names of his parents do not appear.

Respectfully, 
[Signature] Winfield Scott
[Typed:]  WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner

[Handwritten letter begins below:]
Nashua, Iowa
Apr. 6th 1928.

Mr. Winfield Scott,
Dear Sir:  Will you kindly send me the [here the next word is underlined:] date ^ and place of the [here the following word is partially underlined] expiration of the above Seabury Fish's pension following the war of the Revolution?  By that I wish to ascertain the date and place of his death.  He enlisted from Rhinebeck Dutchess Co N.Y. and applied for pension from Chester Mass.
Very Truly,
Mrs. P. E. Stuart

Page 24

[Typed letter]

[The following handwritten initials appear in the top right hand corner of the page:] W.C.S.  [or M.C.S.]

[Typed:] Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

May 22, 1926

Mrs. P. E. Stuart
Nashua
Iowa

Madam:
I have to advise you that in the papers of the Revolutionary War pension claim of SEBERRY FISH, S. 29797, the names of his parents do not appear.

Respectfully,
[No signature]

[Typed:] WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner

Page 25

[Typed letter]

Rev. and 1812 
Wars Section
[Blurry possible initials which appear to read:] KCS [or ACS]/eel

January 28, 1929

Henry Sage Dermott
554 Hudson Avenue
Albany, New York

Sir:  

I advise you that in order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person to whom paid and possibly the date of death of Revolutionary War pensioner Seberry Fish or Fisk, S. 29797, you should apply to Records Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C., citing all of following data:

Seberry Fish or Fisk, Certificate 1345, issued November 2, 1832, rate $80 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Massachusetts Agency.

Respectfully,
[No signature]

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.

Page 26

[Typed letter]
Rev.&1812 Wars Section.  

[At the top right hand corner of this document, there are handwritten initials which appear to be:]  WCS [or MCS]

April 11, 1928.

Mrs. P. E. Stuart,
Nashua,
Iowa,

Madam:  
I advise you that in order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person to whom paid and possibly the date of death of Revolutionary War pensioner, Seberry Fish or Fisk, S. 29797, you should apply to Records Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D. C., citing all of following data:

Seberry Fish or Fisk, Certificate 1345, issued November 2, 1832, rate $80 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Massachusetts Agency.

Respectfully,
[No signature]

WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.