Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10,726, Ezra Gates, Conn. New York

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Conn.                                                             
New York

Gates, Ezra
S. 10.726
carded

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Date of death no in dB
956

Typed document completed in handwriting

New York 14682.

Ezra Gates
of Columbia Co in the State of N. Y. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Morgan of the reg’t commanded by Col. Swans in the * line for 7 mo: 21. days
*Conn. and N.Y. Febr. 18/05 Records completed

Inscribed on the Roll of N.Y. at the rate of 25. Dollars 66. Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 8. day of June 1833 and sent to Wm. H. Tobry - New Lebanon, Columbia Co.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 -             51.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833. 12.83
                                                                        _____
                                                                       $64.15

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by F. T. Franciosi Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 4- Page 57
24548

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In the matter of 
the application 
  of 
Ezra Gates for
a Pension
________________________
(24548)

Wm. H. Toby - New Lebanon-Columbia County, New York - Agent

{There is an attached seal and ribbon}

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State of New York
Columbia County } ss

 On this [strikethrough] fourth [strikethrough] fifth day of April - one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before me Tobias L. Hogeboom one of the Judges of the County aforesaid Ezra Gates a resident of the town of New Lebanon in the County of Columbia & the State of New York aged Eighty four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 - 

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and as therein stated viz In the latter part of August 1775 & while he lived at Preston. County of Hartford in the state of Connecticut he was ordered out on duty as a private in the Connecticut Militia under Captain Morgan in Colonel Swans Regiment and marched to & was stationed in Fort Griswold - Connecticut - where he remained and did duty under his aforesaid officers four weeks & until the latter part of September in the year aforesaid when he was dismissed - Asa Patridge was Lieutenant in the company in which he served - The militia was on this occasion ordered out to garrison Fort Griswold which was expected might be attacked by the enemy
   
That in the forepart of the month of September 1776 he was drafted as a militia man under Lieutenant Patridge in Colonel Samuel Coits Regiment of Connecticut militia & marched with his [strikethrough] new [strikethrough] company from Preston aforesaid where he then lived in New Haven - from thence to Rye in New York halting some days at each place

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and from Rye they marched to New Rochelle where they remained until sometime in October and were then dismissed - that he served as a private under the officers & at the period last mentioned four weeks & upwards

That in the month of December 1776 but the day is not remembered - & while he lived in the town of Preston aforesaid he was again drafted as a private to do duty six weeks under Captain Morgan whose Lieutenant was Barton and in Colonel Douglas's Regiment of Connecticut Militia - that he marched with the company to a place called Boston Neck near Providence (Rhode Island) through which they passed that he served in the company & regiment aforesaid until the latter part of January or the forepart of February 1777 and for the term of six or seven weeks but more than six weeks - at the separation of which term he was dismissed at Boston Neck aforesaid - with in with his company

That in the year 1777 and about the last of August - in that year he was a Sargent in Captain Elisha Gilbert's company Colonel Waterman's regiment of New York Militia - that he then resided in the town of Canaan now New Lebanon aforesaid - that his company and regiment were then ordered to, and did march forthwith to Stillwater & join the army of General Gates - that his regiment and company remained with the army under Gen Gates until after the final engagement with the army of General Burgoine - that he was with his company at the battle at Bemis’ Heights

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and remained with it until it was dismissed & about the middle of October as he thinks and one or two days before the surrender of Burgoine. - That he served in said company and Regiment & at the period aforesaid from the last of August until after (or in) the middle of October 1777 as a sergeant and for a time of seven weeks at least when he was dismissed -

That early in the month of June 1778 & while he resided in Canaan now New Lebanon aforesaid Captain Gilberts company (aforementioned) whose Lieutenant was then Walker - were again ordered out on a several tour of duty to the North - Major Douglas was with and [strikethrough] he thinks [strikethrough] commanded the regiment aforesaid to Troy & from thence to Stillwater & Bemis Heights where they remained until the latter part of June and were then dismissed - that he served as a sergeant in said company during the period aforesaid and in the New York militia from the forepart to the latter part of June 1778 and for the full term of three weeks at the least - at the expiration of his time he was dismissed.

That late in August or early in September 1780 while he resided in Canaan now New Lebanon aforesaid & while he was a sergeant in Captain Gilberts company as aforesaid - but said company & Colonel Watermans Regiment of New York militia were ordered out on a tour of duty up the Mohawk river - that this deponent  marched at the time aforesaid with his said company & Regiment

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from Canaan to Albany Schenectady & Cherry valley They also marched into the woods Southerly from the said river & south westerly from Schenectady in pursuit of Tories and indians - That he was engaged and did duty as a sergeant in the company & Regiment aforesaid at the period & matter service aforesaid Six weeks - he thinks the troops were dismissed at Schenectady - though his company kept together until they arrived home - he was dismissed with the rest of the Regiment in the month of October & in the latter part of the month as he thinks -

That he does not recollect the names of any other officers who were with the troops where he served (except General Arnold at Stillwater) nor of any continental regiments - not any regular officers other than those before mentioned - that he has no documentary evidence whatever and knows of no persons whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services except Benjamin Abbett - John Farington & Nathan Geer each of whose depositions have been obtained & are hereunto annexed-

And he further says that while he lived in Canaan aforesaid and in the latter part of November in the year 1778 a certain number of men were drafted from the several companies of militia in the neighbourhood of aforementioned and ordered to march to Albany - This deponent was drafted as one of the number placed under the command of Captain Gideon King now marched to Albany where his company was attached to a Regiment from that place of vicinity and marched to Schenectady where they remained until the latter part of December when he was with his company

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dismissed - That he served in the company at the period and was engaged in the service aforesaid as aforementioned four weeks - that the militia were at the time aforesaid ordered out on occasion of an alarm from Indians and Tories by whom the country was then kept in continued incitement - that he recollects the names of no officers than those he has named nor any further particulars connected with his service not mentioned - that he has no documentary evidence thereof and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to the service

That he the said Ezra Gates further says that he was born in the town of Preston in the county of Hartford in the State of Connecticut in the year one thousand seven hundred and forty nine. That he had lived in New Lebanon aforesaid - (formerly Canaan) since the revolutionary war -  where he now resides - that he has stated the names of all the regular officers who were with the troops where he served that he recollects and also of all the regiments he can recollect together with all the general circumstances of his service in his remembrance - That he never record a discharge from the service in writing - That he is known to Elam Tilden Postmaster and the Reverend Silas Churchill in his personal neighbourhood and who can testify to his character for truth and veracity

He 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 -
Ezra Gates

Sworn to & subscribed this day & year aforesaid and before me Tobias L. Hogeboom one of the Judges of the aforesaid county

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We Silas Churchill a clergyman residing in the town of New Lebanon  county of Columbia & state of New York and Elam Tilden residing in New London aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ezra Gates who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be Eighty four years of age: that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Silas Churchill
Elam Tilden

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me 
Ira Hand Justice of the Peace 
the word “Ezra” written partly on an erasure & “residing” mentioned in the court proceedings affidavit

And I the said Tobias L. Hogeboom Judge as aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories provided by the War Department: that the above named affidavant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and I the said Judge do further certify that it appears to me that Silas Churchill who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of New London in the county of Columbia & state of New York and that Elam Tilden Postmaster has also signed the same is a resident of the same town of New London and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit - and I do further certify that in my opinion the “two irrefutable persons” witnesses whose testimony is required in pursuance of the intentions from the War department cannot be proved in court without to much expense and inconvenience to the said applicant (in my opinion) from bodily infirmity attend the court in person to make his declaration above written-
Tobias L. Hogeboom one of the Judges of the afore said County

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State of New York
Columbia County} ss

I Joseph D Morrell Clerk of the said County do certify that Stephen Norton and Ira Hand Esquires before whom the preceding and annexed affidavits, bearing their signatures purport to have been sworn [strikethrough] And also Tobias [strikethrough] were at the date of the same Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Columbia. Also that Tobias L Hogeboom Esq. before whom another affidavit, herewith annexed, also purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County. And that I am acquainted with the respective hand writing and verily believe their names subscribed to the said affidavits to be their proper hand writing and signatures
Witness my hand and seal of office this Tenth day of April 1833
Jos D Morell

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24548.

Ezra Gates
Columbia Co
New York

Admitted 
7 mo. 21 days Private

Wm H. Tobry. Agent
New Lebanon
Columbia Co
New York

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Typed document completed in handwriting

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183

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 these 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 notes 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, showing the Service of Ezra Gates. Columbia Co New York

8 column table
|Period when the service was rendered.| Duration of the claimant’s service. Years| Duration of the claimant’s service. Months.| Duration of the claimant’s service. Days.| Rank of the claimant.| Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.| Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.|Proof by which the declaration is supported.|

|Ag. 1775| …| …| 28| Priv| Col. Swans, Cap. Morgan|84 years, Hartford Co. Conn. | Witness Nathan Geer|
|Sep 1776|…|…| 28| Priv| Col. Coits, Lieut Patridge|…| …|
|Dec 1776|…|1|12| Priv| Col. Douglas, Cap. Morgan|…|…|
|Ag. 1777| …|1|12| Serg.| Col. Waterman, Cap. Gilbert, Gen. Gates|…| John Farmington|
|Jue 1778|…|…|21| Serg. | Maj. Douglas, Cap. Gilbert |…| …|
|Sep 1780|…|1|12|Serg.| Col. Waterman, Cap. Gilbert|…| Benj. Abbot|
|Nov. 1778|…|…|28|Priv|Cap King||…|…|
                 ________
                  |...|7|21|

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions

{There is an attached seal}

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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 as 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 who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the 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, mucicians 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 by law 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… A.B. a resident of (b) of … 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 … and served in the … (e)regiment of the … line, under the following named officers:…

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers: the time he left the service: (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or country and State in which he resided when he entered the service: the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c]

He herby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of 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 (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
     I … of the Court of … do hereby certify (h) 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 (i) this … day of … &c.

If on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) 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:
     (k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the … and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with …, 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 and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[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 … &c.

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 on 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 throw 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

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3
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 Records 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 a 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 you services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions 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, (to 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 he is 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 the enquiry 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 required, 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 execute the duties, 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 or Territory, or of 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 Peach, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of tneighborhood 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 follow the rule laid down for his 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.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
     “Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and is the following grades: - For … year … months, and …days, I served as a … . For … months and … days, I served as a …; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. Th use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served: the duration of each term of engagement, the particular place or place where the service was performed: that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent of authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison: and for the time during which the service was pursued, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths mut certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper office,.
     The noted from [a] to […] are equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State troops. The proof required by the rule a note
[j] applies to continental troops only
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Joseph Rowen

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Type written form completed in handwriting

In reply to your request of …, received… for a statement of the military history of Ezra Gates soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his [strikethrough] (or his widow’s) [strikethrough] application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S.File 10,726

6 column table
|DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. |OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. COLONEL. | STATE.|

|Aug. 1775| 1 mo. | Private | Morgan | Swan | Conn.|
|Sept. 1776 | 1 mo. | --- | Lieut Asa Partridge | Samuel Coit | Conn.|
|Dec. 1776 | 6 or 7 weeks | ---| Capt. James Morgan | John Douglass |Conn. |
|Aug. 1777 |7 weeks | Sergeant | Elisha Gilbert | Whiting & Waterman | New York. |
|June 1778 | 3 weeks | Sergeant | Elisha Gilbert | Whiting & Waterman | New York. |
|Nov. 1778 | 1 mo. | Sergeant | Gideon King | Whiting & Waterman | New York. |
|Aug. or Sept 1780 | 6 weeks | Sergeant | Gilbert | Waterman | New York. |

Battles engaged in, Bemis Heights
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Preston, Conn. Aug. 1777 Canaan, N.Y.
Date of application for pension, Apl. 5, 1833. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, born in 1749 at Preston, Hartford Co. Conn.
Remarks: no family data on file.

Respectfully, 

Commissioner.

3-2856

Page 16

JOHN G. SNYDER
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW
ROOMS 1306-7
256 BROADWAY
NEW YORK
TELEPHONE 5990 BARCLAY

August 17, 1922.
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:
Will you please give me the military history of Ezra Gates, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Your file No. is #10,726, Revolutionary War.

Very truly yours,
John G. Snyder

JGS/G

Incomplete postal stamp
U
Aug 18 1922
OFFICE

Page 17

2 stamps each reading

PENSION
U.S.
FEB 6 1917
OFFICE

Gillett

Page 18

Rev Sec War

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen: 
Will you kindly send me a statement of the military history of Ezra Gates a soldier of the Revolutionary War who enlisted at Preston Conn. and resided at New Lebanon N.Y. at time of application for pension.

Respectfully yours
Lillie E. Gillette
211 Quail St.
Albany, N.Y.

Page 19

{Stamp}
ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE
MAR 14 1908
1353592
WAR DEPARTMENT

{Second stamp}
RECORD
MAR 18 1908
DIVISION

Middletown, N. Y.
March 13, 1908

Ezra Gates,
N.Y.  Rev. War.

Jennie A. Lent, (Mrs. I. H.)

Iafm concg.

Page 20

DR. I. H. LENT
28 ROBERTS ST 

HOURS
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
1 TO 4 P. M.
TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY
9 TO 10 A. M.

MIDDLETOWN, N. Y., March 17 1908

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,
At the suggestion form the Adjutant General’s Office War Department I forward the enclosed letter to you seeking if possible to gain from you department the information desired in regard to the military record of my great grandfather Ezra Gates.

Thanking you for any information you may be able to give me

Very Respectfully Yours
Mrs. I. H. Lent
28 Roberts Street.
Middletown, N. Y.

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DR. I. H. LENT
28 ROBERTS ST 

HOURS
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
1 TO 4 P. M.
TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY
9 TO 10 A. M.

MIDDLETOWN, N. Y., March 13 1908

The Adjutant General
War Department
Washington N.Y.

Dear Sir,
I desire if possible to become a member of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and am writing to see if you can give me any information regarding my ancestor’s military record that would enable me to become a member of that Society.

Ezra Gates my great grandfather was a soldier and pensioner of the Revolutionary War. He was orn in Preston, Connecticut and died in New Lebanon, N. Y. Oct. 6, 1841, aged ninety three years.

He enlisted from New Lebanon N. Y. and was in the battle at

Page 22

HOURS
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
1 TO 4 P. M.
TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY
9 TO 10 A. M.

MIDDLETOWN, N. Y.,  190

Behmus Heights: I have not the date of his birth  - could you supply it.

Thanking you in advance for any information you may be able to give I am
Respectfully yours

(Mrs I. H.) Jennie A. Lent
28 Roberts Street
Middletown N. Y.

There is a stamp

PENSION
A
U. S.
MAR 18 1908
OFFICE

Page 23

Rev War
10,726
INVALID.

File No. 10, 726
Ezra Gates
Pri Rev War

Act June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. A, Page 138
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1908 Mar. 5. Hist to Mrs I. H. Lent
1917 Feby. 13. Hist to Lillie E. Gillette
1922 Sept. 20 Hist to Jno G Snyder Esq

Page 24

State of New York
Columbia County} ss

John Farrington of the town of New Lebanon in the county of Columbia & State of New York being duly sworn says that he is seventy two years old- that in the year 1777 he resided in the town of Canaan now New Lebanon aforesaid that in the latter part of August in the year aforesaid and within a week after the first guard engagement between the British and American armies at Saratoga the militia in his neighbourhood was ordered to reorganize and march for there to the headquarters of the American army - this deponent [ in ?] of said order attached himself to Captain Elisha Gilberts company - whose Lieutenants were Gile and Ruseford - Colonel Whiting he thinks commanded the Regiment (which was of the New York Militia) this deponent marched with his regiment and company to Albany and from there on to the Hudson River and joined the army under General Gates at [strikethrough] Sarat [strikethrough] Stillwater - that he was with his regiment in the battle at Bemis Heights and remained with the army until the 14th of October and about three days before the surrender of Burgoine when he was dismissed & went home leaving his company and regiment there stationed on the East side of the river Hudson - and the deponent further says that he served in the company and Regiment aforesaid as a private

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soldier at the time aforesaid and in manner above mentioned between six and seven weeks - And the deponent further says that he knows Ezra Gates of New Lebanon aforesaid  - who is now about eighty years of age or upwards - that the said Ezra Gates was a sergeant in the aforesaid company during the period abovementioned - that the said Ezra Gates marched with said company from New London and did duty there as sergeant during the whole time deponent remained in it as aforesaid - viz between six and seven weeks - and deponent left said Gates in the company when deponent returned home as aforesaid - Ant this deponent further says that late in the spring or very early in the summer of the year 1778 the militia of his neighbourhood in Canaan aforesaid - was again ordered out upon a tour of duty to the north and this deponent again went as a private in Captain Gilberts company whose Lieutenant was Walker - through Troy to a place near the battleground at Stillwater where they remained encamped inanticipation of a descent from the army from the north that he was about and did duty with his company aforesaid at this time - three weeks but not less than that time as he thinks - And this deponent further says that the said Ezra Gates an applicant for a pension and the act of June 1832 was a sergeant in said company and did duty & service then - at

Page 26

the time last mentioned and with that deponent for the like time of three weeks and was dismissed at the same time with deponent  - and further this deponent ways not
John Farrington

State of New York
County of Columbia}ss
On this twenty fifth day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty [strikethrough] thirty [strikethrough] three personally appeared James Farrington the signer of the foregoing deposition to me known to be a credible person & made oath and subscribed to the foregoing deposition & the truth of the facts therein stated before me
Stephen Norton Justice Peace

State of New York
Columbia County SS:
Benjamin Abbett of New Lebanon in the county & State aforesaid aged seventy years having first duly sworn deposeth and says that in the latter part of August or in the fore part of September 1780 he was a private in the company commanded by Captain Gideon King in Colonel Watermans regiment of the New York militia and was ordered out on a tour of duty at the Mohawk river in pursuit of Tories and indians and to repel ana an attack them anticipated from that direction.

That he marched with his aforesaid company at the time above mentioned to Schenectady and from there to Cherry Valley - that he was about on duty at that time six weeks and was dismissed some time in October of the year aforesaid.

And this deponent further says that he is well acquainted with Ezra Gates of New Lebanon aforesaid, and applicant for a pension under the Act of June 1832 That he knew the said Gates in the year 1780 and he then resided in the neighbourhood of this deponent that the said Gates was at the time last mentioned a Sergeant in the company of New York militia commanded by Captain Elisha Gilbert and attached to the same regiment with this deponent and which was ordered out and marched and served during the whole of the aforesaid campaign under the command of the aforesaid Waterman - Said Gilberts company was also organized and on duty for the same term and dismissed at the same time - with the company to which deponent was attached - this deponent knows that said Ezra Gates was attached to & did duty in said Gilberts company in the same regiment with deponent during the aforesaid campaign and deponent recollects distinctly of seeing him frequently

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during the March westward and at Schenectady while on their miles home - this deponent verily believes that the said Ezra Gates actually served for the same length of time with deponent as the pensioner above mentioned in as much as he marched at the same time from Canaan when they both lived and returned home in company with the deponent after having been engaged in the same service
Benjn Abbet

State of New York
Columbia County}ss
On this twenty fifth day of March one thousand and eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared Benjamin Abbett the signer of the foregoing deposition to me known to be a credible person & made oath & subscribed to the foregoing deposition & the truth of the facts therein & obtained before me - 
Stephen Norton Justice Peace

Page 28

Jewett City C’c [strikethrough] Oct’19 [strikethrough]
Dec 26

Mr. Ezra Gates,
New Lebanon,
New York.

Page 29

I Nathan Geer of the town of Griswold, formorly residing in New London County, State of Connecticut now in my seventy sixth year, depose and say that during the war of the Revolution I was well acquainted with Mr. Ezra Gates then of siad Preston, now of the town of New Lebanon state of New York that the said Gates is now about Eighty years of age. I well recollect that in the year 1776 in the month of Sept’r the company to which the said Gates and myself belonged was drafted into the service of the United States. Our company was commanded by Lieut’t Asa Partridge and we were attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Coit. I well recollect that the company marched from Preston on the 11 of Sept’t 1776. That we marched to N. Havin in Connecticut where we staid one month from there we marched to the town of Rye in the state of New York where we staid about one week from thence we marched to New Rochelle, in said state where we remained awhile & then returned to Rye, and then returned home in Oct’r. We were about on this tour of duty about four weeks. I will recollect that the said Gates was a soldier in said Company and was

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with us all of the Line. In the month of Dec’r 1776 about the middle of the month this deponent together with the said Gates was again detached to go to Rhode Island in the company commanded by Cap’t James Morgan on that of which company Barton Cook was Lieutent’ and James Aveill was Ensign attached to the Regiment, commanded by Co. John Douglass. That we marched to Providence from thence to a place called Barton Creek in the said state from thence returned to the town of North Herington. We were drafted on this tour for six weeks weeks and were in this service the whole of the time for which we were drafted. This deponent would just then depose and say that he is well acquainted with the said Gates and know him to be a man of strict integrite, and that his statement is entitled to under the - and further this deponent says not

Given in Ca. Oct 15th 1832 - I will recollect that the said Gates was with me during the tour of Rhode Island for we were in the same mess -
Nathan Greer

State of Connecticut
New London County}ss 
Griswold Oct 18th, 1832 
Then personally appeared Cap’t.

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Nathan Geer the above named deponent, a person well known to me and is a credible person, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit - with by him subscribed in my presence -
Before me Samuel C. Morgan Justice of the Peace for New London County

State of Connecticut
County of New London}ss
I John DeWitt clerk of the County Court in and for said New London County do hereby certify that Samuel C Morgan esq before whom the written deposition of Nathan Geer was taken is a Justice of the peace in and for said New London County and that his signature above affixed is in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County, the 20th day of December AD 1832
John DeWitt

[There is an impressed seal] 

Griswold Oct 18th 1832
Mr. Ezra Gates

Sir ,
Your letter to Cap’t Geer was directed to Preston instead of Griswold which is a reason for this delay in not returning you an answer before. He recollects that you were with him a number of times, but cannot state the time that you served there at any one time. It can [strikethrough] be [strikethrough] hardly be necessary to be at the expence of a certificate that I am a Justice of the Peace as I have taken a number of affidavits to which a certificate has been attached which certificates are at the War Department there if it be necessary a certificate can be forwarded to you.
Respectfully Yours.
Sam’l C. Morgan