Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,878, Peter Clayton, Penn.

Page 1

Penn.   Clayton, Peter    W. 20,878
                            Rachel

Page 2

4196 
New York, Albany [above written by hand]

Rachel Clayton
Pa [above written by hand]
widow of ["Peter Clayton" written by hand]
who was a ["Private" written by hand]
in the ["Revolution" written by hand]

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
    ["80" written by hand] Dollars
Cents [crossed out] per annum, to commence on 
the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 
["4" written by hand] day of ["Jan. 1844" written by hand]
and sent to ["Robert Wills" written by hand] [possibly Wells]
["Charleston, Burton'sville P.O." written by hand]
["Mongomery Co.   N.Y." written by hand]

[Act of March 3, 1843] [previous brackets part of printed matter]
Recorded in Book ["A." written by hand]
Vol. ["1." written by hand]      Page ["103" written by hand]

Page 3

14.099
New York
Peter Clayton of Montgomery Co. in the state of New York who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Hubley of the Pennsylvania line, for the term of 3 years.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 10 of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 of Sept 1819 and sent to John Cumming, Esq Schoharie, New York

Arrears to the 4th of alys 1819, 16  25/30
Semi-and. All’ce ending March 1820

134.66
   48~
$182.66

{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818}
R Continued

Page 4

Peter Clayton 
Declaration 

Peter Clayton Private
Colonel Humption’s Reqt.
Pa line 1777 for 3 years or during the war

April 10th 1818

Wanting the judge’s certificate of the reduced circumstances of the applicant. 

Admitted

The evidence of two credible and disinterested  witnesses duly taken and authenticated is required to prove the applicants services 
May 12 1819

Page 5

State of New York
Montgomery County To Wit

Pursuant to an act of the congress of the United States of America whether “or set to provide for certain person engaged in the law and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary War” ratified March 18th, 1818,-
I Peter Clayton of the Town of Charlestown in the country of Montgomery and State of New York aforesaid do make a declaration under oath before the Honorable Alexander Sheldon Esquire fox suerge of the Court of Couron  Pleas in the County of and State aforesaid the said court beings about of Record of the County and and State aforesaid in which I do reside) in the t—- following that to say;-I do solemnly and  ——- and declare that I am a resident Citizen of the United States to wit in the Town County and State aforesaid and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life I am in need of assistance from my country for support; I do further declare that I served in the war of the Revolution against the common Enemy in the captivity of and being a private soldier and that I enlisted in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven on the twenty fifth day of January under

Page 6

Captain John Stoner of Paxton Lancaster County Major William North Lieutenant Colonel John Hoosly and Colonel Richard Humplon's Regiment being the tenth Pensylvania Regiment and first bigaid commanded by General Anthony Wayne Pensylvania Line for three years or during the war and that I left the service soon after the Revolt of the Pensylvania line having served out my time and was in the Battles at Brandywine at [Proba-lined out] with General Wayne Germantown and while North was taken Prisoner at Germantown and detained as a prisoner until after the execution of Mayor Andre and then joined General Wayne again at [Princeton lined through and then inserted again above] Princeton Plats and was afterwards taken at Newark and was again restored to the Army and according to the best of my recollection think I was a prisoner half of the time I was in the army during the other half of the time I was in regular service I received a Regular discharge but have either lost mislaid or worn it out- and I do further declare that pursuant to the act of Congress aforesaid I do freely and voluntarily relinquish all and every claim I have to any and every pension which has or might heretofore have been allowed me by the Laws of the United States of America-In witness whereof I have subscribed this declaration

Page 7

in the presence of the said Judge at the Town County and State aforesaid this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen.-

Witness Alexr. Sheldon
Peter Clayton

State of New York
Montgomery County ss:

     Alexander Sheldon Esquire first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Montgomery and State of New York (the said court being a court of Record of the County and State aforesaid in which Peter Clayton named in the aforegoing Declaration doth reside) do hereby certify to the Honorable the Secretary of the department of War of the United States of America agreeably to the Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary war" passed March 18th 1818- that the said Peter Clayton personally appeared before me the said Judge on the [no date given]day of April in the year, of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen and in my foreseen subscribed the aforegoing declaration and at the same time in due form of Law took and oath before me on the holy evangelist of Almighty God that the

Page 8

said declaration was true and I having examined the said Peter Clayton touching the matters in the said declaration contained-And I also having taken the deposition of Henry Hill accompanying these papers and being satisfied that such deposition was the best evidence in the power of the said [illegible, word obliterated] Peter Clayton to produce I do further certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Peter Clayton did serve in the revolutionary war aforesaid against the common Enemy in the manner and for the time stated in his said declaration is in other respects true  All which providings had before me and the testimony produced in this case I do respectively certify and transmit to the Honorable the Secretary of war  According to the act aforesaid given under my hand and seal at Charlestown in said County and State this [no date given] day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen._

Alexr. Sheldon First judge of Montgomery County

State of New York, Montgomery County  ss:

     I herby certify that Alexander Sheldon Esquire whose name is subscribed to the aforegoing certificate was at the time then said certificate purports to have been made and long before and since hath been first judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Montgomery in the State of New York and that the said name is written proper handwriting of the said Alexander Sheldon as appears from the inspection of the Records of the said court-now remaining in the Clerks

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office thereof   The witness whereof the seal of the said court is hereunto affixed this 12th day of June 1818
Jno McCarthy Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas
for the aforesaid County

State of New York
Montgomery County} to wit

[David Parke is lined through and written above is] Henry Hill of the town of Charlestown & County of Montgomery & state aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he has been acquainted with Peter Clayton named in the afore going declaration for term of twenty years and has during that time frequently heard the said Clayton speak of his revolutionary knows and from his knowledge he has of the character of the said Clayton entertains no doubt of the correctness of his afore going declaration and further saith not   Dated Apl 10th 1818

Sworn this 10th day of April 1818 before me}
Henry Hill

Alexr. Sheldon First judge of Montgomery County

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Peter Clayton
Certificate No. 14.099
On 6 Sep '19

Page 11

PRESENT the Honorable [handwritten in black ink: Aaron Harring Esq first Judge]

["State of New York" handwritten in black ink] |
["Montgomery County" handwritten in black ink] |

ss. Be it Remembered, That on the ["eighteenth -" handwritten in black ink]
day of [" October" handwritten in black ink] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty
personally appeared in the ["Court House at the town of [possibly: "Schustown"] in the county aforesaid in the Court of common pleas ---" handwritten in black ink]
in open court, the said court being a court of record for the ["County aforesaid having the power of fines and imprisonment proceeding according to the [possibly: "curfew"] of the common law with a Jurisdiction unlimited in [unintelligible] of amount keeping a record of their proceedings." handwritten in black ink]
["Peter Clayton -" handwritten in black ink] aged ["fifty six -" handwritten in black ink] years, 
resident in [" Charleston in the County aforesaid ---" handwritten in black ink]
who being first duly [" worn -" handwritten in black ink] according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he
served in the revolutionary war as follows: ["that he enlisted at the town of 
Paxton [possibly: "Payton"] in the State of Pennsylvania on the 27th day of Janu
ary 1777 in Captain John [possibly: "Stouers"] company and tenth Pennsyl
vania Regiment commanded by Colonel Adam Hobley for 
[inserted smaller handwritten text in black ink: that he continued in said Regiment of Company for three years]
three years and a half except a few months he was [unintelligible] that 
he was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown [possibly: "+ Pevlic"] 
that he has been placed on the pension list ---" handwritten in black ink]

[rest of this section is blank with a single line struck through]

and that his original declaration is dated the ["tenth" handwritten in black ink] day of ["April" handwritten in black ink] 
one thousand eight hundred and ["eighteen -" handwritten in black ink] and that his pension certificate is No. ["14.099" handwritten in black ink]

Page 12

And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th 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 with intent thereby so to diminish 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, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other that what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed, to wit:

Schedule
Real property.  I have some personal property: 1 tobacco box and jack knife that I am by occupation a laborer, that I am not able to as but little work being _____, that I have no other means of support than what is above stated, except the pension I receive from the United States, which I received up to the fourth day of March last - - - - - -
Peter (X) his mark Clayton

Sworn to and declared this 18th day of October 1820 in _____ court.

Page 13

I, [John McCarthy -" handwritten in black ink] Clerk of the ["Court of common pleas 
for Montgomery County in the State of New York-" handwritten in black ink]

Do hereby certify, That the foregoing ["declaration" handwritten in black ink] and the schedule thereto annexed, 
are truly copied from the records of the said Court: and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the
aforesaid schedule is ["Twelve + half cents ---" handwritten in black ink]

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said 
Court, this ["Eighteenth" handwritten in black ink] day of ["October" handwritten in black ink] 182 ["0-" handwritten in black ink]

[signature] Jno Mc Carthy

Page 14

State of New York
Schoharie County
Polly Doty being by me duly sworn says that she resides in the town of Duanesburgh in the County of Schenectady and State aforesaid says that she is a Daughter of Peter Clayton by his first wife says that her father was married to & [illegible] with two wives and that he married for his second wife Rachel Abby says that her mother died in the month of June 1791 & says that her father Peter Clayton was married to Rachel Abby in the fall of the same year (1791) Says that she was at the wedding and saw them the said Peter & Rachel married which took place at the house of Samuel Abby in the Town of Duanesburgh now the County of Schenectady per married by the Rev. John Mudge a baptist priest says that the said Rachel Clayton remains the widow of the said Peter Clayton the circumstances why she knows that said marriage took place in the fall of 1791 are as follows says that her father moved from New London in the month of February 1791 and that her mother was sick at that time with a disease of the lungs and that she died in the month of June following and within a few days after the death of her mother the said Rachel Abby came to keep house for her father Peter Clayton and remained there until some 4 or 5 [crossed out writing] days before she was married to my father when she left & went home to her father's to prepare for the wedding and during that time Hannah Abby now Hannah Rockwell kept house for my father -- Peter Clayton
[illegible] our

Page 15

also further says that she knows that her father moved from New London in the year 1791 -- and that her mother died the same year and she were recollects that people used to make the observation of her father's loosing his wife and being married the same year and so soon within five or six months --
Polley Doty [signed]

Subscribed & Sworn before me this 11th day of July 1843
Asahel Billings Clustin

I certify that the above named Polly Doty is a person of veracity
A. Billings J.P. [signed]

State of New York
Schoharie County, } SS.
I Thomas McArthur, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify that Asahel Billings, before whom the above affidavit of Polly Doty, and the annexed affidavit of Hanna Rockwell purport to have him taken, was at the time the affidavits leave date a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, and that the signatures to the taking [crossed out text] of said affidavits and certificates under written are genuine, given under my hand and seal of office this 21 day of July 1843 Thos. McArthur, Clerk

Page 16

State of New York
Schoharie County}

     Hannah Rockwell being by me duly sworn says that she resides in the Town & County of Schoharie says that she is sixty three years old in February last past says that she was present and sane  Rachel Abby married to Peter Clayton in the fall of the year 1791 at the house of Samuel Abby in the town of Duanesburgh now the County of Schenectady in the State aforesaid by the Rev. John Mudge a baptist priest and that the said Rachel Clayton now remains the widow of the said Peter Clayton further says that the circumstances why she recollects that the said Rachel was married to the said Peter Clayton in the fall of 1791 are as follows  That the said Rachel was a second wife of the said Peter Clayton and that after the death of of the said Peter Clayton and that after the death  of of the said Peter's first wife knows that the said Rachel Abby went to keep house for the said Peter Clayton thinks that  it was in the herewith of June 1791 also says that she knows that it was in the same year that the said Clayton's first wife died which was in the year 1791 & she also says that she this deponant went to keep house for the said Clayton  while the said Rachel went home to get ready to be married knows that it was in the fall as it was cold weather and also from the fact that she was eleven years old in the month of February previous to the marriage
Subscribed & sworn before me this 11th day of July 1843} Hannah Rockwell

Asahel  Billings Justice
I certify that the above married Hannah Rockwell is a person of veracity
A. Billings J. P.

Page 17

State of New York
Schoharie County

On this 14th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine personally appeared before the Judges of the court of oyer and terminer field in and for the county aforesaid, Rachel Clayton, a resident of the town of Charlestown in the county of Montgomery and state aforesaid, in the sixty-fourth year of her age, who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on her oath, make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."  That she is the widow of Peter Clayton, who was a revolutionary pensioner of the United States, at the time of his death, of eight dollars per month.

She further declares that she was married to the said Peter Clayton on the 24th day of November seventeen hundred and ninety-one at the house of her father Samuel Abby, in the town of Duanesburg, now couth of Schenectady and the state aforesaid, by the Rev. John Mudge, a Baptist priest who is now dead, as she is informed and believes.  That her husband the aforesaid Peter Clayton died on the eleventh day of October 1838.  That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz; at the time above sealed and the reason of her applying in Schoharie is because it is more convenient for her and her witnesses.

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me.  Rachel Clayton

Wm M. Holton, Clerk of Schoharie County

Page 18

State of New York
Schoharie? County

Hannah Rockwell of the town and county of Schoharie and state aforesaid being duly sworn, saith that she is the sister of the within named, Rachel Clayton, and knows that said Rachel was married to the within named, Peter Clayton, in the month of November, seventeen hundred and ninety-one, at the house of Samual Abby, the father of this deponent at _____, now county of Schenectady? and state aforesaid, by the Rev. John Mudge, a Baptist priest, who is now dead as she is informed and believes.  And further that said Rachel Clayton has not been married to any one since the death of said Peter Clayton, but has remained and still is the widow of said Peter Clayton, deceased. 

Subscribed and sworn this 14 day of May, 1839, before me 
W. M Holton , Clerk of 
Schoharie? County

Signature: Hanna Rockwell

I certify that the above named Hanna Rockwell is a person of warranty
William M. Holton, Clerk

Page 19

Washington, D. C.

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Peter Clayton 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.
Only Peter Clayton     W. 20878
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment
Jany 25, 77
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
3 yrs
RANK,
Pvt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
John Stoner
COLONEL.
Adam Hubley
Richard Humpton
State 
10 Pa.
Cap. at Germ, & held a prisoner until after execution of Maj. Andre
Battles engaged in, Bandy Germ, Paoli & White Marsh
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl at Paxton Pa.
Date of application for pension, Apl 10. 1818
Residence at date of application Charlestown, Montgomery Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, 56 in 1820 date & place of birth not stated (Feb 12, 1907)
Remarks: He mar 2nd Nov. 24, 1791 Rachel dau Samuel Abby at Duanesburgh, N.Y.
Sold - Oct 11 1838   Mr. Appe - May 14, 1839. at 63 res Charlestown NY Polly Doty dau by 1st Mar. testifie in 1843

Page 20

Rev. War.


March 22, 1912.


Mrs. John J. Kinney,
301 Pipestone Street,
Benton Harbor, Mich.

Madam: 

In reply to your letter dated the 15" and received the 18" instant, relative to Peter Clayton, Wid. File No. 20,878, Rev. War, you are advised that the papers in the claim do not show the date and place of his birth, nor did he state his age in his original application, but in an affidavit duly s
sworn to in a Court of Record on October 18, 1820, he stated that he was fifty-six years of age, which would have made him fifty-four years of age in 1818. 

The Revolutionary War pension records fail to show that claims were ever filed on account of the services of Samuel Abby the father of Rachel Abby Clayton, Captain Johnathen Wells
or Welles of Connecticut, or any other Josiah Wells than Sur. File No. 28,938, whose history was furnished you January 30, 1912.

Very respectfully,

[signature] J. L. Davenport

Commissioner

Page 21

Penn.
Clayton, Peter
Rachel
N. 20,878

Page 22

State of New York
Schoharie County,

Rachel Clayton widow of Peter Clayton, who died on the truth or eleventh day of October, 1838, being duly sworn says that he the said Peter Clayton was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the time of his death of eight dollars per month. That this deponent applied for a pension in 1839, thinks it was in May, under the act of July 7 1838, and that her claim was rejected, as she was informed on the ground that she was not a widow at the time the act was passed. And she further saith that the she has not intermarried but continues the widow of the above named Peter Clayton, deceased.
Subscribed and sworn
this 14th day of April, 1843.
before me
Rachel Clayton
Chas Goodger
State of New York
Schohariwe County}ss
Foot nege Scho. Co. Court
Ira Avery, being duly sworn, says that the above affidavit is true in all respects
worn and subscribed}
this 14th day of April}
1843 before me}
Ira Avery
Chas Goodyer
just Judge Scho to Court
I certify that the above named Inn Avery
a preson of reventy
Chas. Goodger
Judge &

Page 23

State of New York
Schoharie County,}ss
I Thomas McArthur Clerk of said County do certify that Charles Goodyear, before whom the within affidavits purports to have been taken was on the day the taking bears date first Judge of said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe the signature to the taking said affidavits and to the certificate under
written to be genuine
Given under my hand and seal of office this 14th day of April 1843
Thomas McArthur Clerk

Page 24

New York - 7655

Rachel Clayton, widow of Peter Clayton, who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and who died on the 11th: October, 1838, of _____ in the State of New York who was a private in the (blank) commanded by Captain (blank) of the (blank) commanded by Col. Hubley in the Pennsylvania line for 2 years.

Inscribed on the Roll of Pension at the rate of 80 dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Sept. 1843 and sent to E. Holliday, Schoharie, New York.

Whole amount due $400.00
{Act July 7, 1838}
Recorded by Well Stuart, clerk
Book ____ vol. 2 page 93

Page 25

Schoharie May 17, 1839
Sir,
I herewith enclose to you the papers of Rachel Clayton, who has made a new declaration in a Court of Record as requested, etc.
Yours respectfully
Elias Holliday
James L Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions

Page 26

July 26, 1840
Addltes care of 
Rachel Clayton,
Ny

J. L. Edwards Esq
(Illegible) of (illegible)
Washington

Page 27

Schoharie Juy 27 '43
Encolsed are 2 affidavits in the case of Ms R. Clayton
Your obedi Serv
C Holliday
JS Edwards Com of Pensions

Page 28

Penn
Clayton, Peter
W 20,878
Rachel

Page 29

Schoharie April 14, 184Sir:

James L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions
Inclosed is the affidavit of Ira Avery and Rachel
Clayton an applicant for a pension
I am respectfully
your obt Servt
Elias Holliday
James L Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions
P.S. Your answer to my letter of the 15th Marcwas rec'd )illegible) after I mailed my last letter
EH

Page 30

To Hon J L Edwards
Commissioner of
Pensions
Pleas Direct the certifficate
To Major Robert Wells
Charlestown
Burtons Will Post office
Montgrey Pa
Abm A Van Horne Agent
Fonda
Montgomery
County

Page 31

State of New York
County of Montgomery

On this eight day of July 1844 personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county, Rachel Clayton, a resident of the Town of Charlestown in said county, aged sixty-nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress approved 17th June 1844 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War and served in ____ and for the terms set forth in her _____ in the matter of her application for a pension under the acts of Congress dated 7th July 1838 and act of the 3rd of March 1843, that she received a pension under said acts just named of $80 per annum and she further declares that she is still a widow.

Witness: Robert Wells
Signature: Rachel Clayton

Subscribed and sworn this eight day of July. 1844, before me and I certify that said Rachel Clayton is to me well known to be the person she describes herself to be in the above declaration.
J. Graff, Justice of the Peace

Montgomery County Clerk's Office
I, Chester S. Brumley, ___ of said county, do hereby certify that Jacob Graff, Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the annexed ___ affidavit was at the time of the date thereof a ___of said county; and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice and verily believe that the signature to the said ____ is genuine. 
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said county the 9th day of July 1844.
Chester S. Brumley

Page 32

["Rev" handwritten in black ink]

WIDOW, &c.

-----------

File No. ["20,878" handwritten in black ink]
["Rachel Clayton" handwritten in black ink]
["Wid. of" handwritten in black ink]
["Peter Clayton" handwritten in black ink]
["Priv. Rev. War" handwritten in black ink]

-----------

Act: ["March 3rd, 1843." handwritten in black ink]

Index: -Vol. ["A" handwritten in pencil], Page ["138" handwritten in pencil]

[Arrangement of 1870] [brackets around previous statement are included in the original text] 

["1907 January, 19. History to
F. C. Grant. c
-------------
1907 Feby, 12. Mrs. Harriet M. 
Grant, date + pl. of birth not stated
-------------
1912 Jan. 30. to Mrs. John J. 
Kinney letter in S. File 28,938
Josiah Wells. c
1912 Mch, 22. soldiers age
sworn to by himself etc. [letter "c" with a slash through]" handwritten in black ink]

Page 33

[stamp] Pension 
U. D Mar 18 1912 S.
Office [/stamp]

Page 34

Benton Harbor, Mich.
301 Pipestone St.
March 13, 1912

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
In a letter received from you Jan. 31st this year regarding the military service and family records of Peter Clayton in the Revolutionary War, you state that the said Peter Clayton was fifty-four years old at the date of application for a pension April 10, 1818.  This would make him but 13 yrs. old when the war broke out and only 13 yrs. when he enlisted and continued to serve, according to your records, for three years being in several battles.  Can it be possible that you have made a little mistake in copying these records?  Records have been found in the Penn. Archives that show he was about 27 years old when he enlisted in 1777.  I would be glad to make reference to your records if this one apparent error might be corrected.

Do the records of your office contain the military record or any information concerning Samuel Abby, father of Rachel, who married Peter Clayton?

Page 35

(2)
Do they also contain military or family records of one Capt. Jonathon Welles (or Wells) of Conn.?

I am sorry to cause you any extra trouble, but I have been puzzled concerning the records of Josiah Wells of Conn. in the Rev. War.  I have received conflicting statements which make it seem as if there might have been two Josiah Wells almost the same age, enlisting about the same time, and residing near each other in Conn.

Have you any mention of a Josiah Wells who enlisted from Wethersfield, Conn. and who was probably born 1736.  This was my ancestor and he was confined in the Old Sugar House in New York which was used as a prison.  In your letter to me Jan. 30, 1912, you gave the military record of a Josiah Wells who was born 1734 and enlisted from Stratford, Fairfield Co., Conn.  

If you can give me any help toward deciding whether this military service was all rendered by one man, or if there were two men of the same name.  I will be especially grateful to you.  (My ancestor, Josiah Wells, married Mary Lucker May 11, 1786.

Thanking you for your trouble.
Very respectfully,
Myna Merry Kinney
(Mrs. J. J. Kinney
301 Pipestone St.
Benton Harbor, Mich.

Page 36

Janesville, ___
Jan. 3, 1907

Commissioner of Pensions, Washington

Dear Sir:
Please send me, if it is on file, the place and date of birth of Peter Clayton, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and a pensioner.  He enlisted at Paxton, Penna. and his application for pension was filed April 10, 1818, while living at Charleston, New York.

Very respectfully
(Mrs. Harriet M. Grant
Janesville, Wisconsin

(over)

Page 37

a previous communication from 
department gives the
reference to "Widows File 20078,
Rev. War."

O.W. & N. DIV. FILES
FEB 2 1907
{Above is a Round Stamp]

U.S. PENSION OFFICE 
A
FEB 2 1907
[Above is a Round Stamp]

Page 38

3-595.
---------
O. W. AND N. DIVISION

Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,

["Jan. 12" handwritten in black ink], 190 ["7" handwritten in black ink]

Searched by ["Gill" handwritten in black ink]

Original No. [line left blank]
Certificate No. [line left blank]
Claimant, [line left blank]
Soldier, ["Peter Clayton" handwritten in black ink]
Service, [line left blank]
["Rev War" handwritten in black ink]
[line left blank]
Remarks: [line left blank]
["No claim except" handwritten in black ink]
["Wid 20,878 handwritten in black ink] 
[line left blank]




---------
Chief of Division.

18624b5m6-05

Page 39

[stamp] PENSION
U. A JAN 11 1907 S.
OFFICE. [/stamp]

Page 40

January 9th 1907

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir,
Do your records show the payment of a pension to Peter Clayton as a Revolutionary soldier? He may have enlisted from Massachusetts or New York. He lived in his later years at Duanesburg New York.

I inquired about the pensions once before, but did not then know his first name, and thought he enlisted from Connecticut. You answered that no one of that name was on the record from Connecticut.

Truly yours
F.C. Grant

Page 41

1
Present See No 3706
Rachel Clayton
3706
Married 24 Nov 1791
Husband died 11 Oct 1838

Admitted
around
2 yrs pri
809??
E. Holliday
Schoharie
N.Y.

Page 42

State of New York
Schoharie County,}SS.
Rufus Rockwell, and Ira Avery, being duly
Sworn, say, that they were at the funeral of Peter Clayton named in the annexed declaration on the 12th day of October 1838, and they understood and believe that
he died the day before. And these deponents further say that they have made diligent enquiry in the town of Duanesburgh, where the [Illegible] Peter Clayton named in said declaration is said to have been married and
that they have not been able to find any record of marriage (of the Baptist Church of said town and they further say that the marriage of Peter 
Clayton to Rachel Abby is not recorded according to the best of their knowledge
and belief.
Rufus Rockwell
Ira Avery
Sworn to and subscribed in}
open court this 4th day of May 1839}
Wm H. Holton Clerk of Schoharie County}

I certify that the above named Rufus Rockwell and Ira Avery are persons of veracity
William M. Holton Clerk

Page 43

State of New York}
Schoharie County} SS.

Polly Doty being duly sworn saith that
she was present and saw Rachel Abbey
married to Peter Clayton in the fall of the year of Seventeen hundred and ninety one at 
Duanesburgh, by a Baptist priest by the name of John Mudg And further that the said Rachel
Clayton has not been married to any one since the death of the said Peter Clayton but has remained and she is his widow
hm
Polly x Doty
mark
Sworn & subscribed in
open Court this fourteenth of May 1839.
before me Wm H. Holton
Clerk of Schoharie County
I certify that the above named Polly Doty is
person of verant
William M. Holton Clerk.

Page 44

State of New York
Schoharie County ⎬ ss
I William M Holton, Clerk of the
County of Schoharie do certify that the annexed papers contain the proceedings in this the matter of the application of Rachel Clayton for a pension, and further that she made and sworn to her declaration in open
court, being a court of Record, and I further certify that the witnesses, viz: Hannah Rockwell,  
Rufus Rockwell, Ira Avery and Polly Doty were severally sworn to the affidavits by them subscribed in open Court.
Given under my hand and
Seal of said County this 16th
day of May 1839
William M. Holton Clerk

Page 45

The Honbl. John C. Calhoun Sect. of War
Sir,
Peter Clayton, stating himself to
have been a soldier in the Revolutionary Army in Capt. M Stoners Company of the 10th Pennsys. Regiment, in which I held the commission of Capt. of Infantry, called at my
house with the view of obtaining some evidence in aid of an application made by him to the Government of the United States
for assistance as a necessitous soldier of
the Revolution.
On seeing Clayton I recognized a face, that I had once known, but without any recollection of his name. This circumstance could not have afforded satisfactory evidence that he had served with me in the army; But from the minute relation he gave me of incidents
respecting some of the officers, with which I think it no how probable he could have become acquainted, otherwise than by serving in the Regiment; as also different military operations within the periods mentioned in his declaration, of which I had a personal knowledge and perfect recollection, I have not

Page 46

a doubt remaining on my mind of the correctness of the statement he has made
Considering the almost impossibility, at this day, of this poor Soldier obtaining the ample evidence, which the law may require (as I do not recollect any officer of the Right now living beside myself, but Capt. Robert Sample, who resides in the State of Tennessee) I regret
that my recollection will not enable me to state
more positively in aid of his claim, which, so far
as regards military services rendered by him, I have no doubt is well founded
M. Steele
Coll. Office Philad. June 19. 1819

Page 47

State of New York SS 
Montgomery County
I Alexr- Sheldon latte First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the county aforesaid but now a judge of said court do certify that Peter Clayton the person named in the accompanying application, has resided several years in the town of Charleston and County and State aforesaid, and that he is in very reduced circumstances, and really is in want of assistance from his county for support. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Charleston this ninth day of July 1819
Alexr- Sheldon a judge of Montgomery Com- Pleas

Page 48

State of Pennsylvania
Dauphin County ss -
On the 24th day of June 1819 person
-ally came before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Dauphin John Stoner a respectable citizen of the Borough of Harrisburg in the said County of Dauphin and on his solmn affirma-tion duly administered declared and said that he was a captain of a company in the tenth Pennsylvania REgiment of Infantry commanded by Colonel Adam Hubley, in the Revolutionary War, and that he enlisted (amongst others) Peter Clayton the person named in the preceding declara-tion as a private soldier in his compay, for three years and that the said Peter Clayton served out the term of his enlistment faithfully and was honorably discharged in service of the United States to the best of his knowledge
Affirmed and subscribed on the date abovesaid before me Jacob Bucher [signed]
John Stoner [signed]
Peter Clayton also appeared before me at the time when the declaration was made by John Stoner late his captain and admitted that the name John Hubley mentioned in his declaration is a mistake and that it ought to stand as above stated "Adam Hubley," to which he has affixed his name
June 24th, 1819 before me Jacob Bucher [signed}
Peter Clayton [signed]

Page 49

Dauphin County & State of Pennsylvania
I, John Machesney Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Dauphin aforesaid do certify that Jacob Bucher before whom the within affirmations he was made and whose name is there unto subscribed was at the time of so doing and yet is, an associate Judge in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn to all where and as such due faith and credit are and ought to be given as well in Courts of Justice as elswhere,
In testimony whereof I have hereunto - subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Harrisburg the 24th day of June A.D. 1819
John Machesney Prot.

Page 50

[all text handwritten in black ink]

V

N. York
Rachel Clayton
Paper Returned
Let. to E. Holliday 18. March 1839
to same 15 Sep. 1839
to same April 8. 1843 [check mark]
" same May 24 "


Act 7. July 1838

Page 51

V 3706
N.Y. Dec 8
7 July 1838
Rachel Clayton

James L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions
Washington

Page 52

[stamp] WASHINGTON 
NOV 29 [unintelligible]
[/stamp]

[all text handwritten in black ink]

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

E. Holliday, Esq
Schoharrie
New York

Page 53

[illegible]
No 3706 NY. May 20.

[stamp] SCHOARRIE, NY

Rachel Clayton
[illegible] of Peter

[illegible]
James L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions
Washington

Page 54

[stamp] WASHINGTON
MAR. 19 [/stamp]

J L Edwards
Com. of Pensions

Elias Holliday, Esq.
Schoharie
N. York

Page 55

1843
3979

To J L Edwards Esqr
Commisioner of Pensions

$80 per an

Please direct the certificate
to Robert Wells
Charlestown
Burtons Ville
Post Office
Montgomery County
N.Y.

Robert Wells
Attorney for the
applicant

Page 56

State of New York
County of Montgomery
On this fourteenth day of October 1843 personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County Rachael Clayton a resident of the town of Charlestown in said County aged 67 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on this day 3rd day of March 1843 granting pensions, to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war that she is wed and of Peter Clayton who was a private in the revolutionary war & service in a manner and for the terms set forth in her application for a pension under the act of Congress passed 7th July 1838 that she receive a pension under the last act named of $80 per annum And she further declares that she is still a widow. 
[signature] Rachel Clayton
Obadiah Davis Justice of the Peace

Subsccribed and sworn this 14th day of October 1843 before me and I certify that said Rachael Clayton is to be personally known to be the person she describes herself to be in the above Declaration.

Obadiah Davis Justice of the Peace

Page 57

Montgomery County
Clerk's office

I do hereby certify that Obadiah Davis Esqr. whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Jurist of an affidavit, was at the time of taking said affidavit a Justice of the peace in and for said county, duly elected and qualified to act as such Justice, and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe that his Signature subscriged to the said affidavit is his genuine hand writing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto let my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 24th day of October 1843.
H. Cook Clark