Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14859, Peter Williams, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Williams, Peter
S. 14859
carded
CONTENTS

6509 New York
Peter Williams
of Albany in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Ostrout of the Regt. commanded by Col. Nichols in the New York line for 21 months & 3 days
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 70 Dollars 34 Cents per ann to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of Feb. 1833 and Supt. A. J. Pierce No. of Rep.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1832 $105 51 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Mo '33 35 17 $140 68
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Ser. 6. Miles Clerk Book D. Vol. 5, Page 205

21.834.
Peter Williams
rom d
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Pierson

BRIEF in the case of Peter Williams County of Albany in the State of New York 34633 (21 60 38 30 (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years. Months. Days.     Vol. In 1776 Spring — — 21 Private Gen. Col. Nichols St. Col. Philip   — — — 14 do. Schuyler, Major Fonda,   1776 Fall — — 14 do. Capt. Asthout & Landing   1777 Spring — — 21 do.   1777 Summer — — 28 do.   1777 Fall — — 33 do.   1778 May — — 21 do.   1778 Summer — — 21 do.  
5. In what battles was he engaged? none  173 6 23 224 33
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Waterstet, N.Y.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
   Years mentioned. Months. Days. Rank.     1778 Fall — 33 Private.   1779 to 82 "Thirty Two weeks" — do.   — — 21 Waggoner.   1778 Fall — 42 Private.   1779 Fall — 38 do.   1782 — 42 do.   — — 42 3/4 do.  
32 224  Capt. Astroom — J. Waugh Feb. 13. 1832. Examining Clerk.

Peter Williams Application for a pension
21834
From Service Small Unit
1872
21 no 2d. per
L. S. Landing Agent & Atty. Waterbury Albany

State of New York City & County of Albany } ss:
On this seventh day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Justices Court of the City of Albany, now sitting Peter Williams a resident of the Town of Watervliet, in the County of Albany, and State of New York aged seventy five years who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers and served as herein stated -
Field Officers, Colonel Francis Nichols, Lt. Col. Philip Schuyler, a Major Abraham Londa.
That Lt. Col. Philip Schuyler was promoted to the command of the regiment, he believes in the year 1777.
Company Officers, Captain Henry Cothout, First Lieutenant Levis F. Lansing, Second Lieutenant Jacob Lansing, Ensign Timothy Hutton.
That during the war Henry Cothout was removed from the command & Levis F. Lansing appointed captain.
That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the Militia in the Spring of the year 1776 -
That he was immediately marched with the regiment to Fort Edward & Fort Ann, and served on that tour three weeks -
That in the latter part of July the same year he was again marched with his regiment to the same places and
that he served on that tour two weeks -
That in the fall of 1776 he was marched to Saratoga with the regiment & that he served on that tour two weeks -
That in the Spring of the year 1777 they were again marched to Fort Edward & Fort Ann & that he served on that tour three weeks -
That in the summer of the same year about harvest time, they were again marched to the same places and were engaged at that time in breaking up the roads & bridges for the purpose of retarding the progress of the enemy and that he served on that tour four weeks -
That in the fall of the year 1777 they were at

14 wks Stillwater with the American Army at the time Burgoyne 33 rd surrendered, & that he served on that town thirty three days.
2 th That in the Month of May in the year 1778 they 3. were marched to the West to German Flats & Fort Herkimer & that he served on that town three weeks.
3 rd That in the summer time about harvest, they were marched to Schoharie and that he served on that town three weeks.
4 th 5 th That in the fall of the same year they were again marched to Schoharie and that he served on that town four weeks and five days.
32 nd That after the year 1778. and during the years 1779 -80. -81. & -82 his company was divided into four classes and that they served by classes; that the class to which he belonged was marched four times each year to Scho- harie, and that he was marched with them each time and that he served on each of these towns two weeks and sometimes more; making eight weeks each year that he served in this manner, & in the four years Thirty two weeks.
2 nd That immediately after the surrender of Burgoyne he was engaged as a waggoner in transporting the wounded from Saratoga to Albany & that he served in that manner two weeks. That he also went another town to the north, which was after Burgoyne's surrender, and that the regiment was at that time stationed at Beckers on the North river 3 rd just above Saratoga & that he served on town three weeks.
6 th That they were also marched once a short distance beyond Fort Plain, when they returned, and when they came to Schenectady were inspected in the poor pasture by Genl. Gansvoort, that they were marched from thence to Albany, thence to Saratoga, thence to Mil- skayuna where they were discharged, and that he served on that town six weeks.
4 th That in the Month of September in the year 1778 he went with those selected from his own regiment & those selected from Col. Stephen I. Schuyler's regiment & assisted in removing the people from thence to Rensselaer County, that he served on that town one month. That he went this town in Capt. Ostrom's Company; immediately after, he again

returned to his own.
That in the fall of the year 1779 he went with his reg- iment to Schoharie and that he served on that tour six weeks.
That in the year 1782 he went with the whole company to Schoharie and that he served on that tour six weeks.
That at the time Cherry Valley was burned he was marched with the whole regiment to that place and that he served on that tour four weeks.
That besides the services above stated he was frequently out on scouting expeditions.
That he does not know any clergyman in his neighborhood who is sufficiently acquainted with him to testify in his behalf.
That the whole length of time for which he claims a pension is ninety two weeks and three days.
Answers to the Interrogatories prescribed by the War department.
1. That he was born in the town of Watervliet aforesaid in or about the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven.
2. That he has no record of his age.
3. That at the time he entered the service of the United States he resided in said town of Watervliet, That he has resided most of his time since the revo- lution & does now reside in said town.
4. That he volunteered; was a private, & in the militia
5. That he does not recollect the names of any of the regular officers except Genl. Peter Gansevoort. That he recollects Col. Stephen D. Schuyler's regiment of Militia, and the circumstances of his service as as before stated.
6. That he never received a written discharge.
7. That he is acquainted with Peter Shaw and Israel Anthony who can testify to his actual service.
That Stephen Mitchell and Philip Schuyler & others are known to him in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their

belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State, and that he has never been I thought to  to write sworn to and subscribed in his open Court the day & year } Peter R Williams aforesaid } Mark John T. Watson Clerk
State of New York } City & County of Albany } ss: Personally appeared in open Court before the Justices Court of the City of Albany on this Seventh day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty three Israel Anthony, of the City of Troy in the County of Rensselaer & State of New York and Peter Shaver of the town of Watervliet aforesaid, who being first duly sworn do depose and say - And the said Israel Anthony for himself says, that he is seventy two years old, that he served in the revolu- tionary war, that he is well acquainted with Peter Wil- liams who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that the said declaration has been carefully and attentively read to this deponent; that he served in the same regiment; and that he has a personal knowledge that the said Peter Williams served on each tour as by him stated in the said declaration except the time he served as waggoner, but he knows the said Williams was engaged as a waggoner, at the time he states, but the length of time he served in that capacity, he cannot state. Also that he served in his class as by him stated.
And the said Peter Shaver for himself says, that he is seventy nine years of age, that he was a sergeant in the same company in which the said Peter Williams served, that he is well acquainted with him, that foregoing declaration has been carefully read to him, that the said Peter Williams

served in the revolutionary war as therein stated by him - And the said Peter Shaver and Israel Anthony each say that they believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is a credible person, and that his character for truth and veracity is good.
Subscribed & sworn in open Court this day & year aforesaid John G. Watson Clerk Peter X Shaver Mark Israel Anthony
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, & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Israel Anthony resident in the City of Troy aforesaid, and Peter Shaver resident in the town of Watervliet aforesaid are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I John G. Watson Clerk of the Justice Court of the City of Albany do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Williams for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court this seventh day of January one thousand eight hundred & thirty three.
John G. Watson Clerk

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Peter Williams which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? _____
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? _____
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
† QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

Per Mar
14859 INVALID.
File No. 14 859
Peter Williams Priv Beer War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 413
[Arrangement of 1870.]