Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,555, Robert Brush, Conn. New York

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(8-1776) [Date in top left, printed]

SERVICE [Heading of left column, printed]

Conn. // New York [On Separate lines, handwritten in middle of page]
Brush, Robert [Handwritten, lined heading in middle of page]

NUMBER [Heading of rightmost column, printed]
S. 23,555 [Handwritten]

[Two lines separate this heading information from the rest of the document.]

CONTENTS [Heading of bottom section of document, printed]

[The rest of the document is blank, with no writing, with the exception of a black dot, possibly an accident of the quill and ink.]

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[Left Column]
Let to N. York City and Hon. A.
Bockee Oct. 29, 1836, Dead.
do to [illegible] persons Feb. 
23, 1837, do to P. Agt. and
Hon. A. Bookee, April 28, 
1837

[Right Column]
N. York City No. 30,865
Robert Brush, dec'd 
of Dutchess in the State of N. York 
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Weeks of the Regt commanded 
by __ in the N. York militia 
line for __

Inscribed on the Roll of New York 
at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Oct 1836 and sent to Hon. A. 
Bookee, Federal Store, NY

Arrears to the 4th of
Semi-annual allowance ending

Revolutionary Claim
Recorded by John D. Wilson Clerk, 
Book E2 Vol. 4 Page 6

Act May 14, 1836

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State of New York
Dutchess County [Heading, Top Left]

Sir, on this thirteenth day of October personally appeared before me Stephen Thorn one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county of Dutchess, Robert Brush now a resident of the Town of Pine Plains, County of Dutchess, and State of New York, aged eighty 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 7th 1832.

That he the said Robert Brush was born in the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County, Long Island and that he is now eighty years of age. That he resided at his father’s home in said town of Huntington in the year seventeen hundred seventy-six in the spring of which year, in March or April, according to the best of his recollection, he entered the service of the United States by enlisting as a private soldier for the term of nine months, in a Regiment raised on Long Island, and commanded by Colonel Josiah Smith then a resident of Suffolk County and now deceased, and in a company commanded by Captain John Weeks and Lieutenant Thomas Brush, both then residing in said county of both now dead. That said company rendezvoused at the Town of Huntington. They were for some time employed in keeping guard at Eaton’s Neck and along the shore on said island and from thence they were marched to Brooklyn and encamped near a stone church at that village where they lay at the commencement of the battle of the 27th of August. That after the battle he retreated with the American Army to New York and continued with it until he was discharged a short time afterwards, and that he has no written down…

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-ment in his possession either of his enlistment or discharge.

And the said Robert Brush further says that after he was thus discharged, not daring to reside at his father’s house on Long Island in consequence of said island then being in the possession of the British, he went to live in Westchester County & from thence to Dutchess County, where he lived during the principal part of the year of 1777. That whilst he thus lived in Dutchess County he went several times to Peekskill when that place was threatened by the British. His recollection does not enable him to state the particular times nor the length of time he was out nor any particular circumstance which occurred, except that he recollects that one time when he was there one Palmer was hung as a spy. He believes that he was commanded by Lieutenant Delavan of the Militia on all his expeditions to Peekskill and according to the best of his recollection the time he thus served was between two and three weeks.

And the said Robert Brush further says that during the time he so lived in Dutchess County he went to Connecticut when the British burnt Danbury. That he was in the battle of Ridgefield at that time and near General Wooster when he fell. He is unable to state the time he served at this time nor the time of the officers under whom he served. He remembers that after the British embarked, he then returned to his home in Dutchess County.

And the said Robert Brush further says that he removed from Dutchess County to Norwalk in Connecticut some time in the latter part of the year 1777, where he resided until the close of the war. He was out as a volunteer at several times for a short period each, once if not more he thinks under the com-

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-mand of one Captain Keeler, their object was to repel the invasion of the British at the time they burnt Norwalk, Fairfield & Green Farms and other times to guard the coast & resist depredations of the British. He was also employed whilst he so lived at Norwalk to carry expresses: but he cannot state the length of the times he thus served from the fact that they were frequent and irregular.

That the said Robert Brush further says that during the time he thus lived at Norwalk he was in the habit of going with Lieutenant Caleb Brewster whose certificate is hereunto annexed, to Long Island whenever Brewster called upon him - that he continued to go with him for the space of three or four years - that the number of these expeditions varied from one to three or four times a month - and in duration from two days to a week or more. That the object of said Brewster was to get intelligence from the British, and it was their usual custom to start in the night and land on the Island at some place where they would not be discovered and lay concealed whilst Brewster went to some agent he supposed whom he had on the Island & after obtaining the information he returned & they then embarked as secretly as possible for the main land. From the nature of the services he cannot state the number of times or their amount in duration. He remembers that at one time they were obliged to lay concealed on the Island for two weeks in consequence of a snow storm - at other times he has been one night & back the next - at other times they lay on the Island two or three days or more according as the information was obtained by Brewster more or less expeditiously, or the danger of detection by the British required.

And the said Robert Brush further says that from the length of time which has elapsed the irreg-

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-ular nature of his services and the impaired state of his memory he cannot state more particularly the length of the time he served, but he has no hesitation in believing and saying that they exceed in amount the period of two years.

And the said Robert Brush further says that Caleb Brewster whose certificate is hereunto annexed was a Lieutenant in a company commanded by Captain Selah Strong in the same regiment with himself, and that the above mentioned certificate was given by the said Brewster at a time when he was dangerously sick and that he died before he was able to procure a magistrate to take his affidavit. The said Brewster at the time of his enlistment was a resident of Suffolk County but at the time of giving the certificate he resided at Fairfield, Connecticut where he for several years commanded the revenue cutter.

And the said Robert Brush further says that he knows of no person living by whom he could prove his services which he has mentioned.

And he the said Robert Brush hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

And the said Robert Brush further says that he cannot say whether the regiment raised by Col. Josiah Smith in 1776 was part of the Continental establishment or not. And he further says that the said Sturges Brewster mentioned in the affidavit of Sarah Brewster now lives in Herkimer County and his testimony could not be procured without much expense. And the said Robert Brush further says that he has lived in the town of Pine Plains not quite two years, previous to which he resided in the town of North Salem for about forty years. Sworn and subscribed this thirteenth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

And the said Robert Brush further says that he

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was born in the year seventeen hundred and fifty two as he believes. There was a record in his father’s Bible but where it now is he knows not. And he further says that he has no documentary evidence of his services or discharge. Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.

Robert Brush

Sworn & subscribed this 13th day of October 1832

Stephen Thorn, Judge of said county

State of New York
Dutchess County ss.
I, Stephen Thorn one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant Robert Brush was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And I further certify that it is shown satisfactorily to me that said Robert Brush is unable on account of bodily infirmity to attend the Court of Common Pleas.

Stephen Thorn

State of New York
Dutchess County ss.
I, Henry I. Travers, Clerk of said county do hereby certify that Stephen Thorn Esquire before whom the preceeding declaration was made was at the time of taking the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office the sixteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

Henry I. Travers, Clerk

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Robert Brush

Committee on 
Rev. Pensions

Dec. 23, 1833

Ref'd to Comm on Rev. Pensions

Hon. Abm. Bockee

House of Representatives

U.S.

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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.

December 13, 1833

Sir,

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing those papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist which must be removed before a pension can be allowed. The rules and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Robert Brush

[Table, Column 1]
Period when the service was rendered
1776
1777
1778, 1779}
1780, 1781,}
1782          }

[Table, Column 2]
Duration of the claimant’s service

[Table, Column 2 Subsection 1]
Years

[Table, Column 2 Subsection 2]
Months
5
_
11

[Table, Column 2 Subsection 3]
Days
_
14
_

[Table, Column 3]
Rank of the claimant
Private
do.
do.

[Table, Column 4]
Names and rank of the Field of-
ficers under whom he served
Col. Smith
Lieut. Delavan
Lieut. Brewster

[Table, Column 5]
Age at present, 
and place of abode 
when he entered 
the service

[Table, Column 6]
Testimony and Living

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2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms “Continental Line,” “State troops,” “militia,” and “volunteers,” all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and were bound to military service; and not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of this law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:

	1.	The Regular Troops.
	2.	The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
	3.	Persons employed in the Naval Service.
	4.	Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of ____ }
County of ____ }
SS.

On this ____ day of ____ personally appeared (A) before the ____ Court of the County of ____ and State, Territory or District of ____, A. B. a resident of (B) in the county of ____ and State, Territory or District of ____, aged (C) 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (D) with (E) regiment of (F) commanded by (G).

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company officers, the time he left the service, (and if he served with the militia, volunteer troops, or in the navy, state the particular periods, and the names of his officers, as he can recollect, and the country state in which he resided. (H). This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and privates, who belonged to the militia, volunteers, rangers, &c.)

He hereby relinquishes every claim (I) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of ____. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (B) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

And the said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of ____. (J).

If, on examination of the proper records, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (K) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(J) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the (same) and C. D., residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with (the same) who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

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, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, ____ Clerk of the Court of ____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ____ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this ____ day of ____. (L).

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to shed light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (L) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

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3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.

	1.	Where and in what year were you born?
	2.	Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
	3.	Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
	4.	How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?
	5.	State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
	6.	{To a Soldier{ Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
		{To an Officer{ Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
	7.	State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see the answers to these questions as embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinion of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe him to be of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper County; and the Judge or Justice will certificate the disability which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State, Governor, or the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is genuine.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any persons, who may have died before taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, his representatives may furnish such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, shewing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

	[a.]	The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the laid down rule for guidance.
          [b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule	
           [c.]	The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.

[Following is standard printed form with no additions, not transcribed]

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October 4, 1907.

Mr. Schuyler B. Knox,
45 Broadway,
New York, N.Y.

Sir:

In reply to your letter dated the 3d ultimo and received on the 4th, you are advised that from the papers in claim, Survivor’s File 33555, it appears that one Robert Brush applied for pension October 13, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Pine Plains, Dutchess County, New York, having formerly lived at North Salem. He stated that he was born in 1752, at Huntington, Suffolk County, Long Island, where he resided when he enlisted in March or April, 1776 and served as a Private in Captain John Week’s company, Colonel Josiah Smith’s regiment, for five months; that he volunteered in 1777 when Danbury was burned; was in the battle of Ridgefield near General Wooster when he fell, served under Lieutenant Delavan in expedition to Peekskill and removed to Norwalk, Connecticut in the latter part of the year; that he served two months each in the years 1778, 1779, 1780 and 1781 and one month in 1782, under Captain Keeler in guarding the coast and carrying expresses, and upon secret expeditions to Long Island to observe movements of the

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-2-
Mr. Schuyler B. Knox.                     

British, under Lieutenant Caleb Brewster.

The claim was allowed.

It is further alleged that the soldier died October 26, 1835, leaving no widow and only two sons and two (married) daughters whose names are not mentioned.

For the name of the person to whom arrears of pension were paid, apply to the Auditor for the Interior Department, Treasury Department, citing the following data: “Certificate 30665, issued October 28, 1836, under Act of May 14, 1836, at the New York City Agency.”

Very respectfully,

Acting Commissioner.

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[Left Side]
23555
Revolution [Written Sideways]

INVALID.

File No. 23555
Robert Brush
[Illegible] Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832

Index: Vol. D, Page 57

[Arrangement of 1870]


[Right Side]
1907 Oct. 4 Hist to Schuyler B. Knox

Page 15

[Standard printed form with no additions, not transcribed]

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State of New York
Dutchess County, ss.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Dutchess, Robert Brush 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, to wit:

	1.	That he served not less than five months in the Revolutionary army on Long Island in the year 1776 as a private soldier in a company commanded by Captain John Weeks in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Josiah Smith.
	2.	That he served in the year 1777 under Lieutenant Delavan of the Militia of New York, for a term not less than three weeks.
	3.	That during the years 1778, 79, 80, & 81, 82 he served as a private under Lieutenant Caleb Brewster for a period not less than two months in each year. And further deposeth that in the year 1782 in which he thinks their expeditions were not so frequent, but that he served for that year for a term not less than one month.

And for such services he claims a pension.

And the said deponent further says that in the explanation of his former deposition that he enlisted in the company of the said Captain Weeks in the latter part of March or fore part of April 1776, and that he continued to do service in said company until a short time after the battle of the 27 of August which resulted in the evacuation of Long Island by the American army; and that within a short time after said battle, two or three days as he should think, permission was given to the soldiers of the company to which he belonged, and the deponent believes, to go home if they chose. holding themselves in readiness to be called out when necessary; this permission was given as he understood on account of the soldiers composing said Regiment being mostly

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from Long Island and that they might secure their property there. This deponent accordingly availed himself this permit to go home, but finding it unsafe to be seen there, he went into Dutchess County as stated in his deposition and that he never was called on again to perform the residue of his term, why he knows not unless it was that the Regiment was either disbanded or incorporated with some other Regiment, in consequence of most of the officers having gone home under the above-mentioned permission and were detained there by the British of which fact he has some faint but indistinct recollection - he thinks he clearly  recollects that Col. Smith was thus detained by the British and obliged to take the oath of allegiance to them.

	And this deponent further says that after he came to reside at Norwalk in 1777 he recollects that Brewster called on him and told him that he was engaged in secret service along the sound and on the Island and wanted him to be ready to go with him whenever he should call upon him and that he should be paid for it and this deponent did go with him for the period above mentioned; but few incidents occurred during these expeditions by which
he might be enabled to state the precise number or length of them as their object was to avoid as much as possible the observation of the British. He recollects however that at one time they had a skirmish with a boats crew of a Privateer on the Island after they had landed.
At another with a boats crew which they captured. At another time they were chased by a Privateer and escaped in consequence of being to the windward, the crew of their boat rowing faster against the wind than the Privateer could beat. At another time they were chased by a Privateer when going into 
Stratford harbour, the Privateer at that time being  to the windward of them but they succeeded in getting over the bar before the Privateer could do them any damage although within reach of her guns. At another time he recollects that when lying on the Island concealed a party of horse commanded by one Israel Youngs, a Tory, came in search of them and passed within fifty rods of their concealment but not discovering them

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and as soon as they were out of sight, they launched their boat and started for the mainland, having got information that they were suspected of being on the Island and it would be unsafe to remain any longer. At another time, he recollects being concealed on the Island during a snowstorm. They usually started and landed on the island during the night and taking their boat up in the woods, they lay under it if the weather was inclement and it was safe to do so or concealed themselves somewhere in the neighborhood. Their usual places of landing were Setauquit [Setauket], Stony Brook, a place called the Old Mans, and Crab Meadow. Seldom however at the latter place being too near the British. At the place called “Old Mans,” Capt Selah Strong lived and from him they received such assistance and information as they needed when it was safe for him to do so, but if it was unsafe to do so or for them to remain there, Strong by some sign communicated the fact to Brewster. He remembers many times to have seen Strong pass the place of their concealment, as it were to fodder his cattle or [to] see to some work on his farm and by a shake of his head as he passed intimate to them that it was unsafe to hold any conversation or for them to stay there. Their crew commonly consisted of ten or twelve. He recollects but few of those who went with them, but he recollects that one James Phillip, one Kinner, Dickerson, Veal, Van Horne, Fry, Soper, and one Captain Conklin most generally went with them.

This deponent further says that at the time he lived at Norwalk, his property was entirely destroyed by the British and that neither for that or for any of his services has he ever received any compensation.

And this deponent further says that at the time of making his former declaration the following papers were presented, to wit: The certificate of Caleb Brewster dated 15 January 1827. Affidavit of Sarah Brewster July 23 1832 and certificate of Clerk of Fairfield County. Affidavits of John Brush May 12 1827 & Sept 28, 1832 and certificate of

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Ebenezer Foster & Johnathan Morehouse – Affidavit of Ezra Gregory, July 25, 1832 – Affidavit of Thomas Bartram July 25, 1832 – Affidavit of Marvin Sept. 29, 1832 & certificate of Clerk – Affidavit of John Hanford & Samuel Field Oct. 2, 1832 – Affidavit of Elizur Soliff Oct. 1, 1832 – and those dated in the year 1833, have been subsequently obtained and now annexed to wit the Affidavit of Isaac Hyatt July 5 1833 and Certificate of the Judge and the certificates of Walter Woods as to the credibility of the witnesses sworn by him.

Robert Brush [signature]

Sworn & subscribed
this 9th day of November 1833 before me
Stephen Thorn one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Dutchess County

Robert Brush

I certify, that the affidavits & papers as stated above in the disposition of the above deponent were presented before me at the time of making his deposition & that I have put my signature to the several papers here to annexed.

Stephen Thorn, Judge [signature]

State of New York
Dutchess County ss:

I Henry I. Traver Clerk of the County Court of Dutchess County do hereby certify that Stephen Thorn Esquire before whom the preceding declaration and amendment thereto were made, was at the time of taking the same, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, being a Court of Record and having a Clerk and Seal. And that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge and verily believe that the signatures annexed to the said declaration and amendment, in the certificate original to each, are his genuine signatures.

[seal] 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 23rd day of November A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.

Henry I. Traver, Clerk [signature]

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I Ezra Gregory of the town of New Fairfield County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut of age 77 years do depose and say that I was acquainted with Mr. Robert Brush and at the time Fairfield was burned by the British I was with him at that place under arms assisting when needed do not recollect what officers commanded at the time – Fairfield July 25, 1832

Ezra Gregory

Witness present
Thos Bartram
Walter Thorp  Sworn to before me date as above Walter Thorp Jus. [Justice] of Peace

This may certify that I am well acquainted with the above Ezra Gregory and know him to be a man of truth and veracity – Walter Thorp Justice of Peace Fairfield July 29, 1833

Personally appeared Thomas Bartram of Fairfield County State of Connecticut and made oath that according to the best of his knowledge and belief, the signature of Caleb Brewster to the Certificate given to Robert Brush is genuine and true.

Sworn to before me Walter Thorp Justice of Peace Fairfield July 25, 1832

This may certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Thomas Bartram and know him to be a man of truth and veracity.  Fairfield July 29, 1833. Walter Thorp Justice of Peace

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Stephen Thorn Judge

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14428
Robert Brush

Walter Reynolds
Pine Plains
N.Y.

Agent

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State of New York
Putnam County ss:

On this 29th day of September in the year 1832 personally came Nathaniel W. Marvin of the town of Southeast in County & State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, that I am and for many years have been acquainted with Robert Brush the above named applicant and believe him to be 79 years of age, and he is reputed and believed to be a man of truth and veracity.

Sworn and subscribed to the date above written before me
Ebenezer Foster Judge of County Courts in and for said County

Nathaniel W. Marvin

State of New York
Putnam County ss:

I Jonathan Morehouse Clerk of the county of Putnam aforesaid Clerk of the county courts do hereby certify that Ebenezer Foster whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit is a Judge of the court of common pleas of the County and duly authorized to administer oaths, that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge, the signature of whose name is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said courts  October 14, 1832

J. Morehouse

Page 24

State of New York
Westchester County ss:

John Hansford and Samuel Field of the town of North Salem in said County of Westchester and State of New York, being duly sworn on their oath saith they are well acquainted with Robert Brush in the town of Pine Plains in the County of Dutchess and State aforesaid and formerly of the said town of North Salem and they have been intimately acquainted with the said Robert Brush for the space of thirty-five years last afterwards and they believe him to be a man of truth and veracity and that full credit ought to be given to his testimony and further the deponents saith not.

Sworn this 2nd day of October A.D. 1832 before me
James Mills, Justice of Peace

John Hansford
Samuel Field

I certify that I am acquainted with said John Hansford & Samuel Field and know them to be men of truth & veracity – James Mills, Justice of Peace

State of New York
Westchester County ss:

The Rector Hiram Jelliff of North Salem in said County of Westchester and State of New York being duly sworn on his oath saith that he is intimately acquainted with Robert Brush of Pine Plains of Dutchess County and State aforesaid and formerly of said North Salem and have known the said Brush between four and five years and believe him to be a man of truth and veracity and that full credit ought to be given to his testimony and further the deponent saith not.

Sworn this 2nd day of October A.D. 1832 before me
James Mills, Justice of Peace

Hiram Jelliff, Rector of St. James Church, North Salem

Page 25

I, Nathaniel Bayles, Clerk of the County of Westchester, State of New York, do certify that James Mills, Esq. whose name is subscribed to the within affidavits is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that I believe the signature subscribed to be his.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office this 3rd day of October 1832.

N. Bayles, Clerk

Page 26

I Caleb Brewster of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut do certify and say, that in the year 1776 I was then a resident of the County of Suffolk on Long Island in the State of New York; that there was during the said year 1776 a Regiment of Infantry raised on said Island which was commanded by Colonel Josiah Smith and that one of the companies of said Regiment was commanded by Selah Strong of which said company I was the first Lieutenant. Said Regiment was raised for nine months service and did duty accordingly, and that the said Regiment afterwards in the said year 1776 on or about September of said year was ordered to New York where it joined the line of the Continental Army, that one of the companies of said Regiment was commanded by Capt John Wicks and that Robert Brush was a private soldier in said Wicks company and is believed to have served the term of nine months for which he enlisted.
And I further certify that the said Robert Brush was a good and brave soldier. During the time he was known to me as being in said Regiment and afterwards frequently volunteered his services for different occasions under me during the war on different and dangerous services whilst I was engaged in secret service on Long Island Sound by order of General Washington; Fairfield 15th January 1827

Caleb Brewster [signature]

Caleb Brewster was 1st Lieutenant during the Revolutionary war in the 4th Regiment Col Lambs. 
Witness Sturges Brewster

Page 27

I Sarah Brewster of Fairfield County and State of Connecticut of lawful age do certify that Mr. Robert Brush called on my father for some writing of certificate concerning his being in the Revolutionary service a soldier my brother Sturges Brewster made out the certificate and read it to my father who then being sick, I have a recollection of seeing my father sign his name to the certificate of the within. Fairfield July 23, 1832

Sarah Brewster [signature]

Witness present
Catharine Thorp
Walter Thorp

Sworn to before me date as above

Catharine Read
Justice Peace

These may certify that I am (Walter Thorp Jus. of the Peace) well acquainted to [illegible] the above named Sally Brewster and know her to be a woman of truth and veracity. Fairfield July 29th 1833. Walter Thorp Jus. of the Peace

State of Connecticut ss. Fairfield County 
I Thomas B Osborne Clerk of the County Court of and for said Fairfield County do hereby certify that Walter Thorp Esquire is and was at the date of his certificate above written a Justice of the Peace for said Fairfield County duly commissioned and duly authorized by law to take affidavits & I further certify that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County Court in Fairfield this 23 day of July AD 1832.

Thomas B Osborne Clerk of said County Court for Fairfield County

Page 28

State of New York
Westchester County ss:

John Brush of the County and State aforesaid being duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with Robert Brush, that they were both born and brought up in the Township of Huntington on Long Island, that in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-six there was a company of Infantry raised on said Island in the month of April in said year, which said company was commanded by Capt. John Weeks, of which Thomas Brush was the first Lieutenant, but to what Regiment the said company belonged to, and who was the Colonel of said Regiment, this deponent does not know – that Robert Brush enlisted in said Weeks’ Company under Capt. Weeks, and continued as a soldier in said company from the time he enlisted which was sometime in April in said year seventeen hundred and seventy-six until the month of August then next ensuing at which time the said Island was given up to the British; that when the order was given every one of the soldiers of said company removed over on the main that others went to their homes on said Island, that this deponent believes that the said Robert Brush continued with the said company on the main for the term of nine months for which he enlisted; and this deponent understood the said company was raised, but whether the said company…

Stephen Thorn [written vertically in margin]

Page 29

line of the continental army or not this deponent does not know. That afterwards during the war the said Robert Brush was back and forth on the said Island from the main and believes he was under the command of Capt. Caleb Brewster who was in the continental service.

John Brush

Sworn & subscribed the 12th day of May 1827 before me Epenetus Wallace Commissioner under the act of the 24th of March 1818.

State of New York
Putnam County ss:

On the 25th day of September in the year 1832 personally came John Brush who in his oath states that he subscribes the within and above statement and states that the foregoing declaration to which he subscribed is just and true according to his best knowledge & belief.

Sworn and subscribed to the 29th day of September 1832
before me Eleazer Lathrop Judge of County Courts

John Brush

State of New York
Putnam County ss:

I Ebenezer Foster one of the Judges of Putnam Common Pleas in and for said County do certify that John Brush who signed the within certificate is a credible person and a man of truth, I am well acquainted with him.

Ebenezer Foster

State of New York County of Putnam ss. I Jonathan Morehouse clerk of the county of Putnam aforesaid Clerk of the county of Putnam courts do hereby certify that Ebenezer Foster before whom the last affidavits appears to have been taken was at the date thereof a Judge of the Court for Putnam County duly commissioned and sworn and duly authorized to administer oaths & further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge and verily believe his signature to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said county this 4th day of October 1832

J. Morehouse

Page 30

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield ss: Probate Court District of Norwalk

July 5, 1833 Personally appeared Isaac Hyatt of said Norwalk aged seventy-five years who being duly sworn in open court depose and says that he is well acquainted with Robert Brush formerly of said Norwalk now of Pine Plains County of Dutchess State of New York and knows that said Brush was in the service of the United States under Capt. Caleb Brewster for some considerable length of time in the latter part of the Revolutionary War. The deponent saw said Brush while in said service and to long a term has elapsed since said service was performed and can not state the precise time 
and also saw said Brush out in the service in said Norwalk in alarms. 

Isaac Hyatt

Sworn and subscribed in open court this day and year aforesaid and that I am acquainted with said Isaac Hyatt and believe him to be a credible person and witness.

In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal of said court.

Benj. Isaacs Judge

Stephen Thorn Judge

Page 31

Pens
Robert Brush

[illegible] Office

No. 30,865

War Department

Case
[illegible] of War

Washington City

ansd. [answered] Sept. 24, 1832

23,555

Page 32

Pine Plains, Dutchess, New York
August 8, 1832

Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War
Washington City

Sir,

Robert Brush, a soldier of the Revolution has applied to me to render him some assistance in making his application for a pension, and as there appears to be some doubt whether he would not be entitled to the benefits of the act of March 1818, I have taken the liberty of addressing you to see if some information could not be obtained from your department on the subject. Mr. Brush states that he was born on Long Island & is about 80 years old. That he enlisted in the year 1776 into a regiment raised on the island, commanded by Col. Josiah Smith, in a company commanded by Capt. Weeks and that one Caleb Brewster was a Lieut. in company in the same regiment under Capt. Strong. This Brewster was for a number of years in the command of the revenue cutter of Norwalk & and obtained a pension. Brush states that he enlisted for 9 months and that sometime in the fall they were marched to Brooklyn & joined the Continental army and that soon after this Genl. Washington told such of the soldiers of this regiment who lived on the Island that they might go home if they chose, as the Island was then in the possession of the British and their farther

Page 33

stay in the army would only endanger their property upon this many went home. And those who remained during the residue of said enlistment were he believes put into other regiments. Brush states that about four years ago he got Mr. Ingersoll a member from CT to examine the papers at the War Department to procure the proper testimony in order to make his application but that upon examination Ingersoll told him no such Regiment was to be found upon the records. Now, what I would wish to be informed of is whether there is any return of such a Regiment in the War office – and if there is not whether that would be conclusive against his obtaining the benefits of the act of 1818 – and one thing more whether if the regiment to which he belonged were state troops under the circumstances of the case, his enlistment for 9 months & joining the continental army and would bring him within the benefit of said act. Brush himself cannot state whether they were state or continental troops, the probability is that they were state. Brush also served during the course of the war at various times and in carrying expresses, but his memory is too much impaired to enable him to state the different times, occasions, lengths or the other circumstances with much precision. This would enable him to obtain a pension under the act of 1832, but it is uncertain, from his imperfect recollection what period of service he might make out, it would be preferable for him, if entitled, to make his application under the act of 1818. I hope sir that the circumstances of this

Page 34

case will in some measure apologize for the liberty I have taken in addressing you on the subject and also in requesting as speedy an attention to it as your convenience will admit.

Yours Respectfully
Walter Reynolds

Page 35

H.R. 475.

Robert Brush.

Act: May 14, 1836.
$40 per Ann. from 4 Mar ’31, 
N. York City Roll.

Hon. A. Bockee,
Federal Store,
Pine Plains P.O.
N.Y.

Com. on Pensions

Page 36

23d Congress,
1st Session.

[Rep. No. 178.]

Ho. of Reps.

ROBERT BRUSH.
(To accompany bill H. R. No. 196.)

January 15, 1834.

Mr. Wardwell, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following

REPORT:

The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, which was instructed, by a resolution of this honorable House, adopted December 23, 1833, “to inquire into the expediency of granting a pension to Robert Brush, a soldier of the revolution,” report:

That it appears from the declaration of the said Robert Brush, made in pursuance of the act of June 7, 1832, that, in the month of March or April, 1776, he enlisted for nine months’ service in Captain John Weeks’s company, belonging to a regiment raised on Long Island, and commanded by Colonel Josiah Smith; that he served during that campaign until the American army evacuated Long Island, when the company to which he belonged had permission to return home. Long Island being in the possession of the enemy, he went to Dutchess county, having served five months under this enlistment. During the year 1777, he volunteered under Lieutenant Delavan, of the militia, and served in an expedition to Peekskill, for the term of two or three weeks. He also volunteered when the British burned Danbury, and was in the battle of Ridgefield, near General Wooster when he fell, but cannot state the length of his service. After this battle he moved to Norwalk, and during several years was in occasional and very hazardous service, in guarding the coast, repelling invasion, carrying expresses, and making many expeditions, under Lieutenant Caleb Brewster, to Long Island, for the purpose of gaining intelligence of the movements of the British forces. The deponent states his service to be not less than two months in each of the years 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, and one month in the year 1782, making an aggregate of service not less than one year and two months. The proof of the above service, in addition to the declaration of the party under oath, consists of a certificate signed by Lieutenant Caleb Brewster on the 15th January, 1827; the said Brewster being dangerously sick at the time, and dying before a magistrate could be procured to take his affidavit.

The affidavits of Ezra Gregory, Isaac Hyatt, and John Brush, show the fact of the applicant’s having been in the military service of his country in the revolutionary war, both in Connecticut and Long Island, but the precise period of his service does not appear from any other testimony than his own oath, proof of good character, and traditionary evidence.

The committee report a bill for his relief.

Page 37

Benedict Alford
and
Robert Brush

March 18, 1836
Committee to Committee 
on Revolutionary Pensions
with instructions as 
within

March 24, 1836
Bill reported no. 475

Page 38

[Typewritten Portion]

24th CONGRESS, 1st Session.

H. R. 2.

JANUARY 13, 1836.

Read the first time.

Mr. Lay, moved the following joint resolution:

JOINT RESOLUTION

To place the name of Benedict Alford on the pension list.

1 Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of
2 the United States of America in Congress assembled, That
3 the Secretary of War be, and is hereby, required to place the
4 name of Benedict Alford on the list of revolutionary pensioners,
5 at the rate of sixty dollars per annum, agreeable to the provisions
6 of the act approved by the President, on the thirtieth day of
7 June, eighteen hundred and thirty-four.

[Handwritten Portion]

This resolution was amended by the House of Rep. by inserting therein after the words "per annum" in the 5th line these words: “And also to place the name of Robert Brush on the list of Revolutionary Pensioners at the rate of forty dollars per annum.”

March 18, 1836 - It was ordered that this resolution be committed to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions with instructions to report a bill for the relief of Benedict Alford and Robert Brush.

Attest,
W.F. Franklin (Clerk H.R.U.S.)

Page 39

Federal [illegible], New York April 24, 1837

Dear Sir,

I again send you the papers of the heirs of Robert Brush. They were returned to me last winter under two objections.

1st. That the Clerk’s certificate of evidence taken before the Putnam County Court was [illegible] and [illegible] not noted. Which was evidently a mistake of your clerk in not reading the certificate, this is exactly the same as before presented papers and the reading shows for itself.

2d. The other objection was that the power of attorney were witnessed only by the parties before whom they were acknowledged. This is corrected in the papers herewith sent and I hope you will return them to me with an order or direction to the pension agency in NY to pay to Alfred Brush the amount due on the pension certificate up to 29 Oct 1835, which was the time of the death of the pensioner.

I am yours &c
Abm Bockee

Page 40

Robert Brush

Decem 23rd, 1833
Ref’d to Comm. on Revol. Pensions.

Jan. 15th, 1834
Bill reported No. 196

Mr. Bockee

Page 41

23rd Congress
1st Session

Congress of the United States

In the House of Representatives
December 23, 1833

On motion of Mr. Bockee,
Resolved, That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting a pension to Robert Brush, a soldier of the revolution.

Attest,
W. S. Franklin
Clerk H.R.

Page 42

Pine Plains
Oct. 24

[illegible]
 Abm. Bockee

James L. Edwards
Pension Office
Washington City

Page 43

Federal [illegible] 24 Oct. 1836

Dear Sir,

Robert Brush who was provided for by a special act of last session died before the first paper written out according to the terms of your letter to Gov. Tomlinson, the representative in such case would be entitled to the arrears from March 31 to the time of his death. He left no widow; he left two sons and two married daughters. Could you please to send me directions as to evidence and the forms of application to entitle these heirs at law to receive the arrears of the pension?

Yours &c
Abm. Bockee

To
J.L. Edwards

Page 44

New York, September 3rd, 1907.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Sir:–

Will you kindly advise me to the address below if there is on the pension rolls one ROBERT BRUSH, a soldier of the American Revolution. It is alleged that he served all through that war, rank unknown, and was of the troops in command of Gen. Phillip Schuyler, and probably enlisted from Danbury, Conn. After the war he lived at North Salem, N.Y. where he died at the age of 88 years. I do not know whether he was of the Militia or of the Continental Army, nor the year of his death. It is said that he drew a pension after the war due to that service and it is to verify that statement that I apply for information, and for a brief statement of his service.

Respectfully,

[Signed] Schuyler B. Knox.

(address) 45 Broadway,
New York, N.Y.

Page 45

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51 
12-5-41

Division of Veteran's Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Name: Brush, Selah
Grade: Private
Line: New York

Warrant Number: 6797
Acreage: 100
Issued: Sept. 24, 1791
to Platt Rogers, assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of “Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800” which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.

Page 46

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51 
12-5-41

Division of Veteran's Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Name: Bruster, Elisha
Grade: -
Line: Sheldon's Regiment of Dragoons (Connecticut)

Warrant Number: 5521
Acreage: 100
Issued: May 17, 1792
to Moses Bissell

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of “Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800” which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.