Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38460, Major Watson, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Watson, Major
S.38460
CONTENTS

ad to Pension Agt 23 Jan'y 1844 To Wisconsin from 4 th March 1843. 2 nd Feb'y 1844. Notification to C. M. Baker. Genl. Wisconsin
Hon. Jno. Wentworth Jny 26/55
Wisconsin No 19704 New York
Major Watson
of St Lawrence Co in the State of New York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain McCracken of the regiment commanded by Colonel Van Schaick in the New York line, for the term of three years from March 1779 to 1780
Inscribed on the Roll of New York , at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 23 rd day of November 1826
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th of Jan'y 1827 and sent to the Hon. M. Woodhull House of Representatives
Arrears to 4th of Semi-ann. all'ce ending 10 Mar. 1827. $ 27-16 $ 27-16
{ Revolutionary claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. }

21 Referred to the Com. of Pensions by Dept Sep. 28 th /43
Mr Ewan, D.D.
Hon. John C. Spencer Secretary at War Pension Office Washington D. C.

Wisconsin Territory } County of Walworth } ss
On this ninth day of September A.D. 1843, before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Walworth, personally appeared Major Watson, who on his oath declares that he is the same person who for- merly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Joseph McCracken, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Gofse Van Schaick, in the Service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York, from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the Territory of Wisconsin and County aforesaid where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable in future. And this deponent on his oath further declares that he has not drawn or received his pension which is due him from the 4 th of March 1843, to the 4 th of September 1843, and which was payable on the day last aforesaid, which half yearly payment of his pension now in arrear he also wishes to be made payable in said Territory, where he is desirous of receiving the same. The following are his reasons for removing from the State of New York to the Territory of Wisconsin; He is a widower of the age of about ninety seven years and has for the last fifteen years lived with his son in law Daniel Downs who married his daugh- ter Clarissa; that the said Daniel Downs and wife recently removed from the State of New York to the Territory of Wis- consin to reside permanently, and this deponent having no other home except in their family removed with and intends to reside with them.
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Major Watson Mark
Robert Holley Justice of the Peace subscribed and sworn to
in presence of C. M. Baker
Wisconsin Territory } Walworth County } ss Daniel Downs of the Town of

Geneva in the County and Territory aforesaid being duly sworn do depose and say that I am well acquainted with Major Watson the person who is described in the foregoing affidavit, and have known him for the last sixteen years, and I do further swear that the said Major Watson who made oath to the foregoing affidavit in my presence is the same person described in said affidavit; and I further swear that the said Major Watson has not as I verily believe drawn the payment of his half yearly pension due on the 4 th of September 1843. and that he is unable to write his name by rea- son of the palsy.
Daniel Downs
I the subscriber do hereby certify that the above named Daniel Downs personally appeared before me this 9 th day of September A.D. 1843. and in my presence subscribed the foregoing affi- davit, and was by me duly sworn to the same, and I further certify that the said Daniel Downs is a person of respectability and veracity.
Robert Holley Justice of the Peace Wisconsin Territory Walworth County
I Le Grand Rockwell Clerk of the District Court of the County of Walworth in said Territory do hereby certify that Robert Holley the person before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken is and was at the time of taking said affidavits a Justice of the Peace in & for said county duly elected and qualified and that the foregoing signatures to said affidavits purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 13 th day of September A.D. 1843
Le Grand Rockwell Clerk D.C.

Geneva Walworth Co. Wisconsin Sept. 16. 1843.
Hon. John C. Spencer, Secretary of War,
Dear Sir,
Inclosed I send you the affidavits of Major Watson & Daniel Downs duly certified in order to procure a change in the place where Mrs. Watson's pension shall in future be payable, he having recently removed from the State of New York to this Territory where he wishes hereafter to draw his pension. Mr. Watson has not drawn his half yearly pension due on the 4 th of Sept. last & this he also wishes to draw in Wisconsin. Should any other or different papers be required to be forwarded in order to enable him to draw his pension in future or his arrears of pay now due will you please have the kindness to cause me to be informed what other papers are necessary in what form they should be drawn & executed & I will cause them to be made out & forwarded to your department.
Your early attention to the above application is respectfully solicited in behalf of a veteran of the Revolution who poor & bowed with the weight of a hundred years humbly asks that that relief which his country grants should come soon, to him it will come too late.
Please have any communications on this subject directed to the said Major Watson or myself at this place.
With sentiments of the highest consideration
I remain Sir, Your obedt. Servt. C. M. Baker

State of New York
St Lawrence County ss
Major Watson a resident of the Town of Owegatchie in the County of St Lawrence and State aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he this deponent made his declaration in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas held in and for the County of St Lawrence being a Court of Record for said County, on the seventh day of June 1825, in order to be placed on the Pension List under the Acts of the 18 th March 1818 and 1 May 1820 - And in order to assign the reasons why this deponent did not make earlier application for a Pension, doth further depose and say that he was a resident of the Town of Owegatchie aforesaid at the commencement of the last war between the United States of America and Great Britain and had been so resident for upwards of twenty years - that on the first day of January 1813 this deponent enlisted for one year, in the volunteer Rifle company commanded by Captain John Lytle under Major Forsyth's command, at Ogdensburg where Major Forsyth was then stationed - That this deponent continued to serve in Captain Lytle's Company until the 22 nd day of February following when Ogdensburg was taken by the British forces, and this deponent made prisoner and carried to Canada - That within a few days after this deponent was taken prisoner, he together with the other Americans captured, were sent to Montreal and imprisoned in the Goal of that City for four months, when he was sent to Quebec, and there imprisoned in a transport ship - That about the middle of September this deponent with twenty other American Prisoners were shipped to Halifax and shortly after to Portsmouth in England, from whence they were sent to Chatham and put on board a prison ship in that Harbour and detained as hostages - That

they were detained on board of said prison ship until the month of October 1815, when this deponent together with the other Prisoners, were sent home to the United States in a Cartel, and landed at Norfolk on the 23 d of February 1816 proceeded to Baltimore and was there paid off - That this deponent shortly after his arrival at Baltimore was taken sick of a fever and was unable to do any thing for eleven months, when having expended all his money, he endeavoured to work his way home on the St Lawrence - that in the Month of March 1817 on his way home, he this deponent found employment in the Town of Hunter in the County of Greene in the State of New York, in getting lumber, and was for three years engaged in that business and the greater part of the time in the woods - that his employer then failing and absconding, and not having received payment of his wages, this deponent engaged to work in a Glass factory, and never received any information and had no knowledge of the Law granting Pensions for Revolutionary services until the month of April 1824, when he was informed of it at Catskill in said County, of Greene - That this deponent then determined to return to the County of St Lawrence soon as he could and make application to be placed on the Pension List - that he arrived at his former residence in the Town of Owegatchie in the month of May 1825 and made his application at the first Court thereafter. That this deponent is poor and has had no property since his return in the cartel. Sworn and subscribed before me, and was poor when he enlisted.
This 25 th day of November 1826 and I do certify that I am acquainted with the said Major Watson - have known him for many years & that he is a man of truth & credibility. — Thos Hill J.P.
Major J. H. Watson

St Lawrence County ss. I James G. Hopkins clerk of the County of St Lawrence in the State of New York do hereby certify that Thomas Hill before whom the preceding Affidavit appears to have been made is a Justice of the Peace acting under the Authority of this State and that the signature of "Thos Hill J.P." subscribed to the same is the proper hand- writing of the said Thomas Hill —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said County of St Lawrence this 23 d day of November 1826 —
J. G. Hopkins Clerk

State of New York } St Lawrence County } ss. On this seventh day of June 1895 personally appeared in open Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of St Lawrence being a Court of Record for said County in the said State of New York Major Watson aged Seventy five years who being first duly sworn accor- -ding to Law doth on his oath make the following decla- -ration in order to obtain the provision made by the act of Congress of the 18 th March 1818 and the 1 st May 1820 that he the said Major Watson enlisted for the term of three years or during the war in the month of March 1777 at Salem in the State of New York in the Company com- -manded by Captain Joseph M c Cracken in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Van Schaick in the line of the State of New York on the Continental establishment that he continued to serve in the said Corps until the 23 rd day of July 1779 when he was taken prisoner by the Indians at Fort Stanwix in the State of New York and carried to Montreal in Canada and detained there as a prisoner until the peace when he returned to the State of New York that he was in the Battle of Mon- -mouth and that he has no other evidence now in his possession of his said services —————
And in pursuance of the act of the 1 st May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress enti- -tled An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary war passed on the 18 th day of March one thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen. And that I

have not nor has any other person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income nor any property other than my clothing. And this declarant doth further say that he has no real or personal estate whatever his clothing excepted. and that he is by occupation a farmer but unable at present to labour hard. That his wife is living with him aged sixty one years and in poor health that none of his children are living with him and are unable to contribute to his support
Sworn to and declared on the 7 th day of June 1825 before me Major Watson M c B. Hitchcock CLK
Myrtle D. Hitchcock Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of St. Lawrence and State of New York do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said Major Watson did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months on the under the common enemy one engagement on the continental establishment. I also certify that the foregoing oath is truly copied from the records of the said Court
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 20 th day of June 1825
Myrtle D. Hitchcock CLK of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of St. Lawrence

State of New York } St Lawrence County } ss-
Isaac Tredinborough now a resident of the Town of Argenta in the District of Johnstown and Province of Upper Canada, being duly sworn doth depose and say that he this Deponent resided in the Town of Hoosack in the State of New York until he joined the Army in the year seven hundred and seventy six, which was then stationed at old Fort Edward. That the year after this Deponent enlisted, to wit, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven he became acquainted with Major Watson, who was then a soldier in Captain Joseph Mc Cracken's company in Colonel Van Schaick's Regiment, when said company were stationed in old Fort Edward and that this Deponent knows that said Major Watson served in said Mc Cracken's company as a soldier until the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine. And this Deponent further saith that he saw the said Major Watson at the time he was made a prisoner by the British and Indians in front of Fort Edward in the year of old Fort Stanwix in the year seven hundred and seventy nine aforesaid. And that this Deponent never saw the said Major Watson after he was made prisoner as aforesaid until after the Revolutionary War. But this Deponent has no doubt from what he heard, but that the said Major Watson was detained as a prisoner of war in Montreal from the time he was taken at Fort Stanwix in the year 1779 aforesaid until the close of the Revolutionary war, and further saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 20 th day of October 1826. And I do certify that I am acquainted with the said Isaac Tredinborough and that he is a man of truth & credibility.
Thos. Hill P.S.P.
Isaac Tredinborough his mark

I do certify that the within deponent Isaac Dardenborough being duly sworn before me one (Thomas Hill Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the County of St Lawrence) says that he has no education and never knew how to write his is the reason of his signing the within with his mark — sworn before me this 26 th day of October 1826 Thos Hill J.P.
State of New York 3 St Lawrence County 3 ss. I James G. Hopkins clerk of the County of St Lawrence in the State of New York do hereby certify that Thomas Hill before whom the preceding Affidavit appears to have been made and whose name appears subscribed to the above certificate is a Justice of the Peace acting under the authority of this State, and that the signatures of "Thos Hill J.P." subscribed to the said Affidavit and certificate are his proper handwriting In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County of St Lawrence this 26 th day of October 1826 — J.G. Hopkins clerk P.W.

State of New York } St Lawrence County } ss
Thomas Smith now a resident of Elizabeth Town in the District of Johnstown and Province of Upper Canada, being duly sworn doth depose and say that this deponent resided at Fort Edward in the State of New York from the year 1771 to 1777 when he removed to Albany - that he this deponent knew Major Watson to be a soldier in Captain Joseph McGrath's Company in Colonel Van Schaick's Regiment in the year 1777, when said Company were stationed in the old Fort Edward, but does not know how long the said Major Watson served in the Continental Army - that near the close of the war this deponent well recollects that he heard, that Major Watson was then a prisoner of war at Montreal and thinks he continued there till peace was concluded. That this deponent has no positive knowledge that the said Major Watson did serve for nine months in succession, but from what he knew and heard at the time, has no doubt that he did serve in said Company for a greater length of time - this deponent recollects the Company of Capt. McGrath remaining at Fort Edward for four or five months, during which time he knew Watson, and afterwards heard of his being taken prisoner as aforesaid - & further saith not -
Sworn and subscribed before me this 11 th day of October 1826.
and I do certify that I am acquainted with the said Thomas Smith, and that he is a man of truth & credibility -
Thos Hill J.P.
W. L. Smith

State of New York St Lawrence County ss. I James G. Hopkins Clerk of the County of St Lawrence in the State of New York do hereby certify that Thomas Hill before whom the preceding Affidavit appears to have been made is a Justice of the Peace acting under the Authority of this State and that the sig- nature of "Thos Hill J. P." subscribed to the same is the proper handwriting of the said Thomas Hill In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County of St Lawrence this Eleventh day of October 1826 - J. G. Hopkins Clerk

19.687
Major Watson, St Lawrence Co N.Y.
Hon. M. Hopkins H.R.
No. 23 Dec. 1825.
Edward Clegg
Boston Office

A. L. Edwards, Esq.

House of Dept. 22 nd Dec. 1876
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir
I enclose you an application of Major Watson to be placed on the Pension List - with the necessary vouchers. Should there be any defect in the papers by pointing it out specifically you will much oblige me. for the applicant is a deserving man! has suffered much in his country's service, both during the Revolutionary & the late wars - is now very poor and old & infirm - Should the bounty of Government be extended to him, it would in all probability not long be required. I therefore feel anxious that he should be provided for during the remainder of his days, and have thus asked you to inform me should the papers be found imperfect, in what particular they are so - I hope however they will be found sufficient to procure him a place on the Pension List -
Respectfully Yours & Servt. N. P. S. Smith

38460
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 38460
(Major Watson) Rev Rev Rev
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index: — Vol 2 , Page 534
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Feb 1. 1844
Mr Evans
James L. Edwards, Esquire Com d of Pensions War Dept. Washington City -

MECHANICS' & FARMERS' BANK,
Albany Pension Agency,
January 29. th 1844
JAMES L. EDWARDS, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 25. th instant I have to state, that Majr Watson a Pensioner under the Act of 18 March 1818 eight Dollars per month was last paid to the 4 day of March 1843.
I am, Sir,
Very Respectfully,
Your ob't serv't,
Thos. W. O'Leary
PRES'T AND PENSION AGENT. per
Jenkins,

89.1001
Major Watson
New York
The boundary line which divides the two provinces of the United States
M. B. Hitchcock organizing New York