Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 11876, Abraham Wright, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Wright, Abraham
R 11876
CONTENTS

Abraham Wright 21415

State of New York County of Erie - ss
Nicholas Cook of Buffalo in the said County of Erie being duly sworn deposes and says: now of the age of seventy four years + upwards and is that he is well acquainted with Abraham Wright now of the Town of Buffalo aforesaid, who has made subscription and sworn to the annexed deposition or declaration in order to obtain a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That this deponent was first acquainted with the said Abraham Wright in the service of the United States at Fort Stanwix in the State of New York in the year 1777. that the said Abraham Wright was a private soldier in the Company commanded by Captain Henry Seaborn in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Peter Gansevoort in the New York State Troops commanded by General Clinton. That afterwards the said Abraham Wright served as a soldier in the Army of the United States commanded by General Sullivan in its Expedition against the Indians, in the Western part of the State of New York in the year 1779. as this deponent was then informed and believes to be true, That in the Autumn of the year 1780. he this deponent was in Winter quarters in a place near Morristown in New Jersey where the said Abraham Wright was also quartered, he still belonging to the Army of the United States. That in the summer of the said year 1782. the said Abraham Wright being out of health and unfit for duty got a furlough or pass to leave the Army and return to his place of residence, that the said Wright did not again return to the Army he not being able to do duty, as this deponent has been informed and verily believes to be true.
Subscribed and sworn before me this 29 th day of December A.D. 1832.
Nicholas Cook
I hereby certify that the above named Nicholas Cook is a respectable person and a credible witness
Ames Stryker
Judge of Erie County Court

State of New York
County of Erie ss: On this 29 th day of Decemr Ad 1832 before the Hon. James  Jamies  Striker  Stricker  one of the Judges one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County at the Town of Buffalo in said County personally ap- peared Abraham Wright a resident of Buffalo in said County of Erie aged seventy five years who be- ing first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to ob- tain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1770 with Capt Henry Seaborn and served in the third Regiment of the New York line under the following named officers
In the company of Capt Henry Seaborn in the Regiment commanded by Col. Peter Gansevoort in the Brigade of General James Clinton.
That he enlisted for the term of three years and about or during the War at Poughkeepsie in Dutchess Co. in the State of New York. That he then resided at Fishkill in Dutchess County in said State, and that he enlisted as aforesaid in the month of November in the Year 1776 as near as he can recollect
That he had the year before served one year in the militia. That after he enlisted at Poughkeepsie aforesaid he entered a Company or was in a Compa- ny commanded by Capt Henry Seaborn until his Term of Service expired. This company belonged to the Regt of Col. Peter Gansevoort and was under General James Clinton. His other Officers were as far as he can recollect Lieut. Col. Willyt Adjutant Christopher Hutton, Ensign Bagley, Lieut. Brown, Sergeant John Smith, Sergt Patterson, Corporal Mark Kern
That after he enlisted he was marched to Fishkill for Winter quarters, and there remained until

the spring of 1777 and was then marched from there To Fort Stanwix and remained there until about the month of August 1779 and then march- ed to the Outlet of Otsego Lake and there dam- med the Lake in order to raise the water in the river so as to carry the boats that contained the baggage to Oswego. That they then joined Sullivan's Army at Wyoming That the Indians collected their strength at Newborn took possession of proper ground & fortified it with palisades and on the 29 th 1779 the troops under Sullivan attacked them & forced them to work. In this attack this deponent was engaged.
That they drove the Indians as far West as Gen- esee River destroying their villages. From Genesee River they marched to Newtown Genesee River in the State of New Jersey for Winter Quarters
That they wintered there in the winter of 1779-80 1779-1780 - and in the spring of 1780 were marched to Albany in the State of New York
That they staid in Albany until the fall of 1781 and in the winter of 1781-1782 they were there at Schenectady in the State of New York
From there were marched To Fort Dayton and on May or June a furlough or pass was given to Hugh Mosier & this deponent to pass into the Country for their health they both being sick. The pass or furlough was given at Fort Dayton without date and Mosier being about two miles only this deponent supposed both were returned as dead. That he remained sick about two years
afterwards so as to be unable to do any labour. That according to his best recollection he served under Capt. Deatons not less than four years months
as a private soldier he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll after the agency of any state
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24 th day of Dec r in A.D. 1832. Ames Myker a Judge of Erie County Courts
W. Wright C. H. ...

in the State of New York
And I the said Judge do hereby certify & declare my opinion that the said Abraham Wright was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as a Patriot And I the said Judge do further certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings had for me in the matter of the application of the said Abraham Wright for a pension.
And I the said Judge do further certify that the said Abraham Wright bodily infirmity is and will be unable to leave his house to attend any Court of Record held in said County of Erie for the purpose of making the declaration aforesaid.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto to set my hand & seal this 29 th Day of December 1832.
James Stryker Judge of Erie County Court State of N. York.
State of New York
Erie County Clerk's office } I Noah P. H. Mayer Clerk of Erie County do hereby certify that James Stryker Esq. whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate of the depositions & affidavits was at the time of taking the same a Judge of our County Court duly appointed & sworn and acting as such & that full faith is to be given to his acts as judge & further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge & readily believe that the signature "James Stryker" subscribed to the foregoing affidavits is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto submitted my name & affixed the seal of Erie County this 29 th day of December A.D. 1832.
Noah P. H. Mayer Clerk of Erie County

21415
Abraham Wright Erie county New York
3 Nov 76. Recd 10 June 80
Adiel Sherwood, Buffalo, New York.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Abraham Wight of Erie co. N.York
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlisted 1776 5 private Capt. Teaboot Colonel Gausevont Gen. Clinton Neustadt Fishkill Fort Stanwix Ostego Lake Genesee river Fort Dayton 75 Wickwaste Co. N.Y. one living witness proves the service of the applicant  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. _____ who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person.

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?  { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 _____; 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 that 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
J. S. Bradford

Abraham Wright
New York
Act 7 th June 1832
Rejected In letter
to A. Sherwood
May 27 th 1833
11874

Acts of July 14, 1962, and March 9, 1973.
11.876
P. O.
Abraham Wright
Service: _____
1 - 0
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18