Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14744, Silas Underwood, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Underwood Silas
S. 14744.
barded
CONTENTS

No. 569 New York
Silas Underwood
of Delaware Co. in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Noble of the Regt. commanded by Col. Wood in the M'ap'tts line for 11 M. 5 ds.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 7 Dollars 21 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sep. 1830 and Silas L. Lusk Deposit village
Arrears to the 14th of Sep. 33 $93.02 Semianl. allowance ending 1 M. 34 18.60
$111.62
Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. } Co. C. 11th Regt. Clerk, Vol. 1, Page 33
Recorded by Book E.
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 March 1839. Agent notified 6 March 1840

14705-
Silas Underwood Delaware county New York
adm 2
5. 11. 12. 16 06 May. 8 th 1833.
P 385
De, \frac{a^b}{5}  \square
37.2) 42
74.42 8.60 83.02 Simon Lusk Deposit Village New York

BRIEF in the case of Silas Underwood of Delaware county in the State of New York (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? 70  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. As a Gen.     Enlisted In 1778 8 private Capt. Noble, Col. Wood   Volunteer 1780 3 Capt Warner, Col Brown   Volunteer 1781 About 1 Capt Smith  
5. In what battles was he engaged?
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Berkshire co Massachusetts
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses traditional.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not corrected as required
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. P. Bradford. Examining Clerk.

3. Silas Underwood
64705.
adm d
11 mo. 5 ds pri

New York
County of Delaware ss
I Bradford B Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Delaware, do hereby certify that the annexed papers contain the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Silas Under- woods for a pension had in the said Court on the 8 th day
of October 1832 - and further that Simon Lusk before whom the subjoined affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Pleas in and for said County, and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and Signature - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court this 29 th day of May 1833 B Sheldon Clerk
ington, Connecticut; and was engaged in that employment all last

State of New York
Delaware County ss On this eighth day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting Silas Underwood a resident of Tompkins in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy 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 7 th 1832 -
That he was born in the Town of Sandisfield in the County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts on the 2 d day of March 1762 (as appears from a record of his birth made by his father and now in his possession) where he resided till the year 1804 when he came to, and has ever since lived in Tompkins aforesaid.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - That he first enlisted at Sandisfield aforesaid for eight months service in a Company commanded by Capt. Enoch Noble of Sheffield, in the month of May 1778; of which Company one
Burges and one Harris were subaltern officers and Reuben Beman of New Marlborough was orderly sergeant - Said Company being attached to a Regiment of which Ezra Wood was Col o . One Hale of Springfield or Longmeadow Lieut. Col o or Major one Hall of Sutton Adjutant, and Potter of Brookfield Paymaster - Under that enlistment this declarant went to Sheffield on the first of June following and there met several others of his Company, and the orderly sergeant Beman
under whose command they were marched to Peshkill & thence to the same where they were shortly after joined by Capt. Hovey and the rest of his Company, and some other Companies belonging to the same Regiment - That in the latter part of June the troops, (Continental and militia) marched from Peshkill to White Plains, when they met Col o Wood and the rest of his Regiment - That Gen l Gates was then chief in Command of the forces at White Plains, but Gen l Washington arrived soon after & assumed the Command.
This declarant recollects Gen l s Poor, Patterson, Parsons, Nixon, McDougal and Col o Sheldon of the Horse & others as among the officers at White Plains - That said Regiment remained in Camp at White Plains (except that they were occasionally employed in procuring forage for the army) till some time in the month of September, when they broke up and marched to Danbury in Connecticut, where they remained a few weeks, and then marched to Fredericksburgh where they staid a few days, when they were employed in different directions; one part, with whom was this declarant was set to work on the roads thro' Litchfield to Farmington, Connecticut; and was engaged in that employment till late

in the fall (after thanksgiving) when they were ordered back to Peksikill where they arrived early in December, and were put out in the woods, and were employed in getting out timber to build Barracks for the army till the term of their enlistment expired in the month of February 1789 - When the Regiment to which he belonged were discharged to their homes but this declarant received no written discharge, and knows not that any was given - And this declarant further states that he again entered the service in July 1780 for a term of three months in a Company of Militia Commanded by Captain Samuel Warner of New Marlborough of which one 39 months) Norton of London and Chaltuck of Tyringham were Subalterns and David Tracy of New Marlborough was orderly sergeant in a Regiment of which John Brown of Pittsfield Mass. was Col. Major and on Easton or Saron Adjutant. That this declarant and four others were ordered to join said Company in July and went to Albany, where they were directed to wait the arrival of other militia belonging to the same Regiment. They accordingly waited a few days, when they were joined by Capt. Ely of Springfield and a part of his Company and went immediately on with him to Schenectady where they found a number of boats loaded with provisions and stores for the troops at Fort Stanwix, which they guarded up the Mohawk river to Fort Plank, where this declarant joined his Company under Captain Warner - And a few days thereafter went with Col. Brown and a part of his regiment to guard the boats to Fort Stanwix - That after returning from Fort Stanwix the Company to which he belonged was stationed at Fort Plank till their term of service expired and had not much service to perform (except Camp duty) and going on a march to a drove of cattle  at Stanwix for the garrison there  an order was received from Col. Brown till on the evening of the 18th of October for a part of the Company to come to him at Stone Arabia Fort - Lieut. Norton was accordingly sent with 17 or 18 men to join Col. Brown, and the next morning Capt. Warner with the residue of his Company (including this declarant) went down the river to Fort Plain and joined Col. Dubois' Regiment. While on their march down the river saw the smoke of the buildings burning, at Stone Arabia and heard the report of the guns - Immediately after they arrived at Fort Plain they crossed the Mohawk with Col. Dubois' Regiment, and there waited for the arrival of the militia under Genl. Van Rensselaer - As soon as they came

in sight Col o Dubois gave orders to march, and after going a short distance up the river wheeled to the right and marched on to the high ground out of sight of the river and gained a position on the flank and rear of the British Tories and Indians under Sir John Johnston who was thereby surrounded on all sides except the river. This declarant and five or six others under a sergeant by the name of Griffin or Grifpin acted as a flank guard on the right flank of said Regiment, and when the regiment gained their position were stationed at a little distance from it, near the road and a dense swamp extending to the river - As soon as the British under Sir John perceived the militia under Gen l Van Rensselaer on the flats they commenced firing upon them, and detached a strong party to cut flank and surround them. This detachment was met by Col o Dubois' Regiment, and driven back to their main body on the flats - The firing continued a short time when (it growing dark) orders were received to cease firing - The British however kept up a firing till after dark when they forded the river and most of them escaped. This declarant has since been informed by one Seth Jagunway (who had belonged to the same company with this declarant but who was then a prisoner with the British) that when the British officers found they were out flanked and surrounded, they stated "They were all gone". But as soon as they ascertained that the American show them took courage, and ordered their rear guard to keep up a brisk firing while the main body forded the river which was there quite difficult by reason of the depth of the water - That after it was ascertained that the British had escaped by crossing the river, all the American militia were marched down the river two or three miles to pass the night! - This declarant was on guard that night, and while on guard heard that his Col o (Brown) and most of his men were killed in the battle of Stone Arabia the day before - The next morning the militia were marched back to the ground where the British had occupied the evening before, and there found many waggons loaded with baggage & plunder which they had been obliged to leave behind when they forded the river -

They then crossed the river at a ford a little above, and took several of the enemy, who had got lost in the woods, prisoners - Genl. Van Rensselaer with most of the militia went in pursuit of the British, but the Company to which this declarant belonged were sent to guard the prisoners to Fort Plain, where they found some other prisoners, and a very curious brass field piece mounted on an iron carriage which Sir John Had been obliged to leave when he crossed the river - The com- pany then returned to their Quarters at Fort Plank, and the next day (their term of service having expired) they were dismissed from service and returned home. This declarant further states that in the fall of the year following (1781) there was a call for the militia in consequence of a rumor that the Tories and Indians were on an invasion, and this declarant again entered the ser- vice in a Volunteer Company, formed in Sandisfield of which Heman Smith was Captain and Abel Wilcox was Lieutenant, and went with said Company just to Albany and thence to Stillwater in the County of Saratoga where they remained a few days, and there finding to be no further need of their services, he with others of the Company who chose to go were dis- missed and returned home after having served in said last Company about one month - And this declarant further states that he has no documentary evidence of his services, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services,
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any State -
Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court
C. B. Sheldon Clerk.
Silas Underwood

Delaware County Jo Isfer Steward of Kortright being duly sworn says that he is seventy three years old, that he served in the Revolutionary war on the Mohawk River in Capt. Ely's Company in Col. John Brown's Regiment that he was not then personally acquainted with Silas Underwood who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, but has had conversation with him in relation to the events of that war, and from the many minute circumstances related by him as to what took place then he is convinced that no person who was not present could have become acquainted with them in their extent and variety, and is therefore confident that said Underwood must have served in said Regiment as he states -
Sworn & Subscribed this day and year J. J. S. Stewart aforesaid C. B. Shidder Clerk.

State of New York
Delaware County ss. We Darius Maples of Tompkins in said County Merchant, and Benjamin Cannon. Town Clerk of Tompkins aforesaid hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Silas Underwood, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; That we believe him to be seventy years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion - And we further state that we have lived for more than twenty years last past in the immediate neighborhood of said Underwood, and do believe him to be a man of truth and veracity - Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid L. B. Sheldon Clerk (Darius Maples Benj. Cannon)
Delaware County ss. Silas Knapp of Delhi in said County being duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with Silas Underwood of Tompkins, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration and has known him for forty four years last past. That he first became acquainted with said Underwood at Sandisfield in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1788. when this deponent then came to reside - and continued to reside two or three years - That he well recollects that said Underwood was a constable and Collector in said town - That said Underwood was reputed and believed at Sandisfield to have been a soldier and to have served in the militia in the Revolutionary War. That he recollects, (while living at Sandisfield) in particular, that one Simon Deming in talking to this deponent and others about the events of the war, related among other things that said Underwood had served a campaign in the militia in the same company with him (Deming) He also recollects that one Jonathan Kilborn also related to this deponent that said Underwood had been a soldier of the Revolution. And this deponent further saith that he believes that the knowledge and belief that said Underwood served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war was general at that time in the town of Sandisfield, and this deponent concurs in that opinion - Sworn & Subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid L. B. Sheldon Clerk. Silas Knapp.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the several interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And the said Court further certify that Benjamin Cannon, Darius Maples are residents of Tompkins & Silas Knapp of Delhi, that they are all persons of respectability and credibility and that their statements are entitled to credit.
I Crawford B Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware. do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Silas Underwood for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of office October 8 th 1832. C. B. Sheldon Clerk.
State of New York } Delaware County } ss.
Personally appeared before me Simon Lusk a justice of the peace in & for the County aforesaid Silas Underwood in the foregoing declaration named who being by me duly sworn deposes and saith that he served the United States as a private soldier in Captain Noble's Company in Col. Wood's Regiment as above mentioned for the full period of eight

Objection No. 5
Objections Nos. 11. 12.
Deem 7.
Months - That he served in Captain Warner's Company as a private on the Mohawk river a period of not less than three months and twenty days, and was told at the time he enlisted that if he would go at the time he did, he should be allowed for three months service. That he served cannot recollect the precise period he served in Captain Smith's Company above mentioned but according to the best of his recollection he served in said Company a period of not less than fifteen days (and he thinks longer) - And for these services , he claims a pension. And this deponent further saith that the reason why he produced no certificate or affidavit of a clergyman was simply because there was no clergyman then (or now) living in the town, with whom he was acquainted. Nor was he acquainted with any clergyman living elsewhere whose testimony he could procure - That Mr. Wier who had officiated as a clergyman for many years in Tompkins had lately deceased, since which time there has been no settled clergyman in said town, or any one who could have been acquainted with this deponent's character or services.
And this deponent refers to Caleb Smith Esquire, John Magee Esquire James Dufie, Erastus Boott, Amaziah Sanderson, Calvin Chamberlin, James Kelsey, Udney Leonard John Owen, and Joseph Webb as some of his neighbors who can testify to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution -
Subscribed and sworn this 21 st day of May 1833 before me
Silas Underwood
Simon Lusk Justice of the peace

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services. Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV. REVOLUTIONARY.
July 26, 1899.
Sir:-
In response to your recent communication you are advised that Silas Underwood made an application for pension on October 8, 1832, at which time he was 70 years of age and residing at Tompkins, N. Y., and his pension was allowed for eleven months and five days' actual service as a private in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war. He enlisted at Landisfield, Mass., and served under Capt. Noble and Col. Wood.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mr. W. Park Warner, 150-152 State Street, Binghampton, N. Y.

Per has
14 744. INVALID.
July 26 99 H.P. Hamer. Binghampton N.Y.
File No. 14. 744 Silas Underwood Pur Beer War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 384
[Arrangement of 1870.]

own w
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150-152 STATE ST. AND 43-45 COMMERCIAL AVE.
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BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 9/27/99
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SUPPLY HOUSE.
To The Commissioner Pensions Washington D.C.
Mr Commissioner,
Dear Sir, I desire information relating
to Silas Underwood a veteran of the Revolutionary war. He was a pensioner for a good many years.
Can you advise me where the proof of this being a pensioner can be found. any information you can give will be thankfully received. Yours truly H. Park Warner

14705 Silas Underwood N.Y.
5-11-12-16
Simon Lusk Deposit Village N.Y.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Silas Underwood of Delaware county N.Y. 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? no 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? Yes
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? 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? 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?
XVI. †Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 7
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 shown 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.

24.
J. Underwood
paper
Hon. J. L. Edwards

Deposit (Del. C o N.Y.) June 6. 1833 -
Sir,
N o 5
I again send you the papers in the matter of the application of Silas Underwood for a pension - They are the same papers (as you will perceive) heretofore forwarded to the War Department, to which is subjoined the declarant's affidavit in the form prescribed in the note to Query 5. whereby it appears that the applicant served not less than  Eleven months and five days (he thinks longer) The service sworn to absolutely will enable the department to determine that the applicant is entitled to a pension that length of service , if they should not upon a view of the whole ground think him entitled to a pension for one year's service which he thinks he is equitably entitled to.
11.9
12.
His affidavit also explains the reason why he did not obtain & produce the affidavit of a Clergyman as to his character and belief of service to wit, that the only clergyman who had lived long enough in the place to become acquainted with his character & reputation of service was dead, and at the time of making his declaration there was no Clergyman whose affidavit he could procure
7 th
He also refers to two acting Justices of the peace & Intm g every aged person in his section of the town as to his character for Veracity and reputation of services - I am not aware that the applicant has not done every thing that it was in his power to do to satisfy the department of the justice of his claim to a pension, and trust the evidence of his claim will be satisfactory to the department.
Yours Respectfully
Hon. J. H. Edwards
Simon Dusk

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
January 13, 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Silas Underwood, ————— a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany N.Y. Agency, at the rate of Thirty Seven Dollars and Twenty one Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March, 1838, to the 4 th March, 1839.
Respectfully, yours,
William H. Patten Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.