Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 11183, Michael V D Waters, New York.

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York.
Waters, Michael V. D. Catharine
R 11183
CONTENTS

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4th July 1836 —
State of New York }
County of Herkimer ss. On this twenty sixth day January personally appeared before me Ira Coe one of the Judges of the County of Herkimer and State of said. Catherine Waters a Resident of the Town of Russia County & State of said who being duly sworn according to law, on her oath, make the following declaration - in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836.
That this deponent is the widow of Michael V. D. Waters - that she is at the age of Eighty years - that said Michael Enlisted as a private in a company of Rangers commanded by Capt. Winkrop in the Spring of Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six (1776) & that said Company was under the Command of Colonel Livingston that said Michael served out the term of his enlistment being one year in said company that said Michael resided in Livingston Manor (now County of Albany) & State of New York at the time of his enlistment aforesaid - That deponent has been acquainted with said Michael since the year 1773. or 1774 - that from the Spring of (1777) Seventeen hundred Seventy Seven the said Michael was nearly all the time in the service of the Army until the close of the war - but the particular periods of his service this deponent does not recollect, - that in time of danger the said Michael always volunteered that he usually played the Fife but when it was necessary he shouldered the Musket. that said Michael was under different officers

during said period among which this deponent recalls the names of Captain Cline & Arvin Colonels - Hovey and Livingston - that said Michael was in the Battle of Burgoyne & passed through Ballstown - Saratoga &c. &c. that this deponent has no Documentary Evidence in relation to the facts above stated.
This deponent further says that she was Married to the said Michael on the twenty sixth or the twenty seventh day of October (it being on Sunday) Seventeen hundred and Seventy Nine by the Rev. Mr. Livingston a Presbyterian Clergyman at the House of George Spayde in Albany aforesaid and that her husband the aforesaid Michael V. D. Waters died on the Eighth day of February Eighteen hundred and Seventeen and that this deponent has remained a Widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. Subscribed and sworn before me this 26 th day of January 1841. by McKey, J. P. Clerk of the Court the signature of Ira C. C. Judge of Fleming County Court
his Catharine Waters Mark
I further certify that Catharine Waters the person described in & who executed the above declaration - through bodily infirmity is not able to attend Court and that she is a Woman of truth and veracity & that her Statements may be relied on & that her hand trembles, so that she is unable to write her own name
Ira C. C. Judge of Fleming County Court

Herkimer County ss
I John V.D. Waters of the town of Russia in said County depose & say that I know the said Catharine V.D. Waters mentioned above to be the widow of Michael V.D. Waters deceased & that said Michael V.D. died as above stated & that said Catharine has remained his widow ever since & has lived with me most of the time since his decease & that I am the reputed son of the said Michael & Catharine & I have reason to believe & do believe the statements set forth in her affidavit as above to be true & correct & that further said Michael V.D. died in the town of Florida in the County of Montgomery N.Y. & further saith not
Subscribed & sworn to this 28 th Jan'y 1841 before me J. Post J.P.
John V.D. Waters

The deposition of Henry V. D. Waters of the town of Orwell in the County of Oswego, State of New York, aged seventy eight years who testifies and says that during the War of the Revolution he resided in Livingston's Manor in the then county of Albany in said state - That from his earliest recollection he was well acquainted with Michael V. D. Waters of the same place, who was seven years older than this deponent - That in the Spring of the year 1776 (seventeen hundred seventy six) the said Michael enlisted at said Livingston's Manor in a Company of Rangers commanded by Capt. Wynkoop for the term of one year and served out the full term of said enlistment This deponent was personally acquainted with several other members of said company and saw said Michael often while in said service - he was a Fifer in the company of Militia, but during this years service in Capt. Wynkoop's company he, the said Michael carried a Musket The said Michael was several times called out or volunteered and went on short tours of duty in cases of alarms during the spring and summer of 1777, but this deponent cannot now recollect the particulars or length of such tours of service - he however well recollects that he the said Michael volunteered and went to the north in the latter part of the Summer of 1777 when news came that Burgoyne was coming on from Canada - he recollects well of hearing the said Michael state immediately after his return, that when they got to Stillwater, Gen. Schuyler, who resided there or near there, had a large field of ripe wheat standing and fearing that it would fall into the hands of the enemy ordered it to be set on fire and that it was burned upon the ground, and that he the said Michael saw it burning. Also that he continued with the troops, and in Capt. Cline's company, until after the surrender of Burgoyne after which he returned to Livingston's Manor. The said Michael volunteered with certain others when

the news came to Livingstons Manor that the Tories & Indians were burning in Ballston and that he went in Capt. Arvins company and was absent two or three weeks, on his return heard him relate the particulars of the dwelling houses that had been burned & the owners or occupants, men, carried off. but that the enemy had retreated before the troops got there
And further that the said Michael V. D. Waters was married in October seventeen hundred seventy nine (1779) to Catharine Pulver at Livingstons Manor by the Rev. Mr. Livingston a Presbyterian Clergyman does not recollect the day of the month but remembers well that the ceremony was performed on Sunday between the religious exercises for the day. This deponent being present and witnessing the marriage that said Michael & Catharine continued to live together as husband and wife until the winter of 1817 or 1818. when the said Michael died in the County of Montgomery in said state, this deponent attended his funeral The said Catharine has ever since remained the widow of said Michael and two years ago last fall was living in the town of Russia in the county of Herkimer in the same state and where he is credibly informed and verily believes she is still living a widow.
And further this deponent testifies that said Michael was called out or volunteered and went with other militia on short tours of duty during the summer of 1779, and that in the fall of 1780 or 1781 he the said Michael volunteered with several others in the neighborhood (recollects particularly one George Snyder) and went to Fishkill & Beekskill, Troops had been called for at those places but does not recollect for what purpose - remembers well however that the said Michael returned from said tour of duty one cold rainy night in the fall as this deponent was at the time living in the house with the said Catharine

wife of the said Michael, where he had been during all the time said Michael was absent on said tour. and further saith not. Henry V.D. Water
State of New York } Oswego County } ss.
I certify that on this 19 th . day of January 1841 before me personally appeared the above named Henry V.D. Waters above named and subscribed the above & made oath that the facts and statements therein the above deposition by him subscribed are true.
And I further certify that said Henry V.D. Waters is a credible person
Hiram Hubbell Justice of The Peace
Oswego County ss.
Ezekiel Denison of the town of Russia in the County of Herkimer being duly sworn says that he is sixty six years old, that he was acquainted with Michael V.D. Waters and Catharine his wife named in the above deposition, more than fifty years ago that said Michael died about the year 1818, that he has been ever since acquainted with said Catharine that she has remained the widow of said Michael, and is now living unmarried in said town of Russia - And further that he recollects well of hearing it talked more than thirty years since that said Michael performed one tour of duty as a soldier in the Revolutionary war after his marriage with said Catharine and that after the term for which he volunteered had expired he was by his officers compelled to serve some days longer and thus prevented returning to his family, which circumstance made it in after years a subject of conversation,
Subscribed & sworn This 19 th day of January 1841, And I certify that said Ezekiel is a credible person. Hiram Hubbell Justice of The Peace
Ezekiel Denison

State of New York Oscega County ss. I Andrew J. McCarty Clerks of said County of Oscega and Clerks of the Court of Common Pleas of said County Do hereby certify that Miriam Nuttell before whom the foregoing depositions were taken was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly authorized by the laws of said State to administer oaths &c and that full faith and credit should be given to his acts as such Justice of the Peace And I do further certify that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and that the signatures to the foregoing depositions purporting to be his are genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said County; this nineteenth day of January A.D. 1841 A. J. McCarty Clerk
No 5320
Catharine Waters,
N.Y.
Act 4 July, 1836.

N 5320
Catharine V. D. Walry NY Michael
Set to E. Vaney March 23, '41 " " Hon. A. M. Dorig July 23, '41 " " M. Van Dr Walry Oct 17, '45 " " Hon. C. S. Brutton Jan'y 7, '46 " " J. S. Huijsen Esq. Sept 2, '46
111 83 Act 4 July 1836

111853
P. O. Catharine Waters
Service: Michael V.P.
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

5320
Let. to E. Barney, } ✓ March 23, 1841.
" How A.W. Doig July 23. 1841
" M. Van De Klief
Oct. 17. '45. let to Hon C.
S. Boston. Jan 7. 1846.
Act 4 July '36

Dear Sir: Cobleskill N.Y. July 24/46
I am requested to write you respecting the claim of Catharine V. D. Waters Widow of Michael V. D. Waters who served in the War of the Revolution as a Ranger in the Militia of N.Y. The widow applied to Mr. Barney, a Member of Congress but has not received the Pension. Information respecting the testimony now required in order that the claim may be allowed is respectfully solicited by the friends of the widow at whose request I pen this letter.
I am Sir Very Respectfully Your Obedt. Servt. Lemnis V. Hlingerland Cobleskill Schoharie Co. N.Y.
Hon. J. D. Edwards Comm. Pensions Wash

Russia N 4 February 2. 1841 Dr Sir
I send you here enclosed as you will see the declaration & other Evidence to Entitle Catherine Waters to be placed on the pension list. When you have examined the same if you find the proof sufficient to entitle her to a pension you will please to forward to me a Certificate for that purpose and if any further proof should be wanting you will please the goodness to give me notice. The Michael V. de Waters and Catherine his wife were Great sufferers in the Revolution being Located in the Valley of the Mohawk River which place was harassed continually by the Tories and Indians & she is now old and miserably poor & is deserving of her Country's Gratitude
Very Respectfully
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr of pensions &c
Yours E. Varnum

Shuben Oct. 18 th 1845
Sir:
I take the liberty of addressing you as the head of the Pension Department hoping thereby to obtain information relative to certain papers, affidavits, &c. deposited & said to be filed in your office by Judge Varney of Harkimer Co. giving an account of the services of Michael W.D. Waters in the revolutionary army, his marriage, & subsequent death thus establishing the claim of his widow to the "Pension" allotted by law to the widows of revolutionary soldiers. — Widow Waters & most of the remaining affidavits were taken before Judge Herringdon & Co of New-Post, Harkimer, in this State —
Widow Waters, as you will find by examining the affidavits &c. which were taken in the year 1841 or 2, was alive at that time & had remained unmarried since the demise of her husband M. W.D. Waters named above.
The business of getting the pension was given into the hands of Judge Varney & although he has been repeatedly importuned in relation to it he has always put us off by saying that the pension would be along by "4 th " or

"That it is all safe" &c. but "safe" where we know not. It is as you perceive now nearly four years since the business was first instituted and yet we have not received one cent of the pension; neither do we know that any action has been had upon the subject except that the Judge says it is all right -
Now, sir, I ask of you not only as a favor but in justice that you will transmit to me all the affidavits & papers pertaining to the business of Michael V.D. Waters.
I would like to obtain possession of the old family records sent to you as well as the affidavits, for my own personal gratification if nothing more.
Please to give me as speedy an answer as possible of all you can ascertain in relation to it & whether the money has been paid over to Judge Varney.
I would remark in conclusion that every question proposed has been answered with singular accuracy. And that the Judges above named & others who have been consulted say there seldom has been a plainer case or plainer proofs been given.
Yours truly Michael Van D. Wal.
Staten Island Amida Co. New York
To the Chief Officer of the Pension Department.

State of New York Rensselaer County ss:
I hereby certify that Ira Dyer Esq before whom the annexed affidavit of Catherine Waters was sworn was on the day of the date thereof a Judge of the Rensselaer County Courts in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing
and do hereby believe his signature thereto genuine. I also certify that John Post Esq before whom the annexed affidavit of John T D Waters purports to have been sworn
was on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the peace in Rensselaer County duly elected & qualified & further that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and do hereby believe his signature thereto genuine.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this day of Rensselaer County this first day of February 1841.
Erwin A. Sherman Clerk