Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10718, Abraham Truax, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Truap, Abraham Elizabeth
P 10718
CONTENTS

J. L. Edwards Esq Commissions & Pensions (War Department Washington D.C.)

In the matter of the application of Elizabeth Traz, widow of Abraham Traz, late an Ensign in the War of the Revolution for a Pension under the Act of 4: July 1836—
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir:
I have noticed your de- cision to allowing a pension in the above mat- ter as stated in your letter of the 18 th Ult.; and now in view of additional explanations and affidavits to give the satisfaction you require.
As to the deposition of the widow that her husband served for four months in 1777 she does not, or did not intend such service to apply to the Campaign against Burgoyne. (or at Saratoga) alone . It was impos- sible for her to specify each hour in the year 1777. But she referred to our previous to my framing her supplemental deposition, that her husband was out on duty in the Spring, summer, and of

fall of that year, at least for the term of four months in the whole. I have left the time in blank to be filled at the time of her taking the oath. She appears in a re-exam- ination, or reconsideration of the matter to have served for four months, as she at first told me she could do, and her affidavit is confirmed by others. Mrs. Christopher Ward testifies to her (her husband's) serving in the campaign to Brandywine Patent, in the Spring of the year 1777. I asked her if she could call to mind this expedition, as distinct from any of her other tours during said year. She answered that she could not. She said that she could only remember during said year her husband was away from home on duty at least four months as near as she could recollect. There were many of the mil- itia who served in the campaign of 1777 in the months of July August September and October for a time in the whole of three months. It is believed Mr. T. may did the same, and in addition there was in the Brandywine Patent expedition under Colonel Warner for

one month making in all four months as the widow testifies.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Att. Servt.
Schenectady Sept 9. 1837
G. H. WARD
P.S. Mr Ward is not able to say that he saw Mr. Truax at Saratoga, but Judge Groot testifies to this fact, and Mr Ward testifies that Truax served as an Officer in the "Jensen's patent" expedition in the Spring of the year 1777, and Judge Groot that he was an officer in the Campaign against Bur- goyne, and Mr Peck that he was an Ensign in the year 1777. With regard to Mr. Truax's not producing a Commission as Ensign previous to 1778, it is to be observed, that the "Council of appointment" of this State, was not organized & did not grant Commissions until 1778. Mr. Truax could not therefore by possibility have received from this State a Commission previous to the end of 1777.
G. H. WARD

W. N. Phelps - March 1 st - J. L. Edwards Esq -
Dr Sir -
By a resolution of the House the Committee on Revolutionary pensions is author- ized to inquire into the expediency of granting a pension to Elizabeth the widow of Abner Ingraham - Her papers are in your office - If consistent with the regulations thereof you will confer a particular favor on me by giving me the papers with the reasons why her application has been rejected to the end that they be laid before the com- mittee -
I am with very sincere respect - Yours &c - Albert Gallatin

Don. N. Gally
March 13, 1828.
Q. 6

War Dept
Pension Office
Mar 13 1838.
Sir,
In compliance with your request I enclose herewith the original papers of Elizabeth Frazar, together with a copy of the letter from the Office to you of the 20 th September last in relation to her claim.
You will please acknowledge the receipt of the papers.
Hon. A. Gallup
1922

19 Oct. 1837
Q. C. [?]
to the [?] [?] the [?] [?] the [?] [?] the [?] [?] the [?] [?]
to the [?] the [?] the [?]

War Department Pension Office
October 19. 1837
Sir
The letter of Giles F. Bates Esq. on the subject contained in yours of the 2 inst. of the claim of Elizabeth Trent widow of Abraham Trent there is a right does not change the views of this  of this on claim heretofore communicated - There is no satisfactory evidence that her husband was in actual service during a sufficient length of time during the revolutionary war to entitle her to a pension under the act
Ent.
For Albert Gallup Albany New York

Copy of the papers
of Mr Eliz d Cook I have - wanted — to be sent to me together with the reasons of rejection
Shallup
Charged to Mr Wilson 8th March

War Department
Pension Office
August 18 1837.
Sir,
The papers of Mrs Elizabeth Truax have been examined and filed. The claimant states in a supplemental affidavit, that her husband served one month at Fort Edward in 1776; four months in 1777, at Saratoga; two weeks at Camp Newburg  at Newburg in 1780, and two weeks in 1781. There is no evidence in the Department of a four months' term in 1777, in the militia. Mr Ward, a witness who had personal knowledge of that part of the service, may be able to give a more definite account of it. Her husband's last governmental  first commission only is produced: - the claimant cannot be allowed any thing more, than the pay of a private for his services previous to 1778.
I am, respectfully, your obedt servt J. L. Edwards
Giles F. Yates, Esq Schenectady New York

Oct 2nd - 1887-
Dr. Liv-
I enclose a note from Mrs. Gates in relation to the Tinsay application. As I stated in my last note, upon this subject I am totally unacquainted with merits of the application; but from the character of gentlemen who interest themselves in her behalf have no doubt of their belief in the justice of her claim -
Yours Respectfully -
A. Hall
J. L. Edwards Esq -

War Department Pension Office
Sept. 19. 1837
Sir The additional evidence in support of the claim of Elizabeth French has been examined - There is no satisfactory evidence that the claimants husband was in actual service in the four months or for any definite term in 1777 - The paper purporting to be a return of Abraham Van Nips company, showing that the claimants husband was there in 1778 has no date that can safely be relied upon - It is alleged by Giles H. Yates Esq. in his letter on that subject that the Council of appointment was not organized and did not grant commissions until 1778 & that therefore Mr. French could not by possibility have received a commission from this State previous to the year 1778 - If Mr. Yates will examine the records of the State of New York he will find, that from May 1775 to April 1777 the State was governed by a provincial congress of which Nathaniel Woodhull was President - It will also be found on examination that a vast number of commissions for the military service were issued by the

and Congress in 1775 1775 & 1776 signed by President Woodhull
20. Sept 1837
O.C.
Ent.
Hon Albert Gallatin
House Reps
MS

War Department Pension Office Aug 1837
Sir
The papers of Mrs Elizabeth Torrey have been examined and filed - The claimant states in a supplemental affidavit that her husband served on board the Fort Edm and in 1776 - four months in 1777 at Saratoga. two weeks at Coughnawaga in 1780 and two weeks at in 1781 in the Department
There is no evidence of a four months service in the Militia in 1777. That time is less definitely fixed by the witnesses, so much so that it seems to be determined what ought to be deemed thereof. An unsatisfactory one Mr Ward - witness also having personal knowledge of her life. No man can be allowed the claimant's previous service, the date of her husband's commission in their claimant's service for the previous period only unless the commission or some documentary evidence of it can be produced.
There is no evidence in the Department of a four months service in 1777 in the Militia - Mr Ward or Miss F. Yates Esq. witness who had personal knowledge of that part of the service may be able to give a more definite account of it - and further claimants
Sincerely New York

last mentioned Herhus bands first commission to procure the claimant cannot be allowed any thing more than the pay of a private for his service previous to 1778
18 Dec 1837 20

REJECTED
10/2/18
P. O. _____
Elizabeth Truax
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

J. B. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pensions War Department Washington D.C.

In the matter of the application of Elizabeth Inman widow of Abraham Inman late an Ensign in the army of the revolution for a pension under the Act of 4: July 1836—
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
As from your letter of the 20 th inst. in reference to the above matter you do not seem altogether to reject this applica- tion, I take it for granted you will not object to my expressing my views further on the sub- ject. In that letter you state that "there is no satisfactory evidence that the claimant's hus- band was in actual service for any definite time in 1777." The evidence produced on this point was as follows. The widow in her dep- osition says he was on duty in the year 1777 for four months in the whole. John Bracken bears witness to two months in the campaign against Burgoyne. & Christopher Ward to one month in the expedition to French's patent in the same

year. & Simon A. Root says he saw him on duty in the campaign just named but cannot specify any length of time.
Our second objection is that "the paper purporting to be a return of Abraham Van Eps Company showing that the claimants husband was then an Ensign has no date that can be fully relied on." I was well aware of this fact, but thought the affidavit of Joseph Park there an orderly sergeant in said company would satisfy you as to the correctness of the return the year to which it applied & that he was Ensign as alledged. Besides Chris. Ward knows that the claimants husband was either an Ensign or 2 d Lieutenant in the spring of 1777 and on duty as such. Simon A. Root that he was an officer in the fall of that year but cannot state his grade.
In regard to Mr. Lemaire's Com- mission I have to observe that he is not claimed to have been an officer until 1777. If he received a commission from the Provincial Congress in 1775 or 1776 it cannot now be found. As no proof

Could be adduced on this point nothing of the kind I believe was alluded to in the proceedings in this matter. My statement of the fact that the Council of Appointment of this State issued no commissions until 1778  was made as an apology for the peculiar kind of evidence produced to prove that Lemaire was an ensign in 1777. If he had been such in 1775 or 1776 we might have shown it perhaps by the records in the Secretary's Office of this State.
I am yours respectfully
Giles H. YATES
Schenectady Sep r 26-1837.

Elizabeth Truax
wid N. G. Abraham
act 4 July '36-
To J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
War Department Washington D.C.
107.18

In the matter of the application of Elizabeth  Brux , widow of Abraham  Brux , for a pension under the act of 4 th July 1836.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions. Sir.
The original papers in the above matter, were handed to me a few days since by my friend John C. Schuyler Esq of Watervliet, who desired me to procure, if possible, more specific statements from the witnesses, which, as appears from your letter of the 26 th Dec r ult o was necessary before you could proceed to the examination of the claim in question. I have done so, as far as practicable, & have obtained also a more specific declaration from the widow herself, and a new witness, Mr C. Ward of this City. Mr John Quackenbush, is able to specify, only as to 2 months' services in the campaign of 1777 against Burgoyne. Corn t L. Van Santvoord, as to 2 mo s services at Fort Edward &c in 1776. Chris t Ward. One month in the expedition under Capt. Jesse Van Slyck & Col. Warner, to Gjesup's patent in the spring of the year 1777. In the spring of the year 1780 to Fort Hunter ten days. Three days to Ballston. The widow in her supplemental deposition specifies a service of at least 4 mo s in 1777, including the tour to Gjesup's patent which makes one month more than Quackenbush & Ward can specify. In the year 1781, when the battle of Johnstown took place & Walter Butler was killed, two weeks. Besides many expeditions the particular occasions she cannot possibly remember, but the time of service in which varied from three days to three weeks, and for which in equity, she thinks she ought to claim at least two months in the whole. 2 mo s 2 " 1 " 13 days 1 mo " " 14 days
I am very respectfully
Your Aff t Serv t Giles H. Young
Schenectada Aug t 12 th 1837

P. S. In the last years of the war commencing in 1780, the militia was divided into classes, and such as were sent out on distant expeditions, took turns in guarding Schoharie. This the widow alludes to in her original declaration, and from the nature of this service, it must be difficult if not impossible for her to recollect, how many days her husband thus mounted guard. —