Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11052, for Alexander Mc Leod, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental New York
McLeod, Alexander
S. 11052
carded
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

2378 New York
Alexander M. Lord of Washington in the State of New York who was a Pay & Pri. in the Camp - commanded by Captain Bryant of the Regt. commanded by Col. Kirby - in the New York line for 9 months service 4 Years 2 months service
N.Y. and Continental Records completed Mar 23/65
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 98 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of Nov 1832 - and sent to M. Fairchild Saloon.
Arrears to 4th of Sep. 1832 $147.49 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar '33 49.16 $196.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. L. Stiles Clerk, Book D. Vol. 5. Page 115

No. 8252
Alexander M c Leod
admitted
9 mo Sergeant
15 mo. private
waity Role
Seamus Fairchild
Salem
New York

No 5253
BRIEF in the case of Alexander McLeod of Hoyle County of Washington in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? It does  3. How old is he? Seventy Seven years 577  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.     Entered the service on 24 July 1774 until some time in November following — 4 — Minuteman Col. John Field, regt Capt Asa Barrows, Comp.   Enlisted on or about 2 nd July 1776 until 1 st April 1777 — 9 — Sergeant Col. Knox's regt of Artys, Capt Bryant, Comp. = Ray, Patterson, Major Prescott   Enlisted on or about 1 st May 1777 — 6 — Private Col. Henry Ledingham, regt Capt. Calkins, Comp. New York State Troops.   Enlisted 3 rd May 1779 — 6 — do Col. Albert Paudling, regt New York Troops   " 6 th May 1780 — 6 — do Capt Robert Wood, do   " 1 st " 1781 — 5 — do Col. Albert Paudling, Capt Lackett, do   Discharged in Nov 1781 2 1 — do Col. Hamilton, regt Capt Hunt, Comp. in the Continental Dist. Dep Com V. Clinton  
5. In what battles was he engaged?  of Flatbush, near Harlem Heights, White Plains, Ridgefield Connecticut
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  In the lower part of Dutchess County, State of New York
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By documentary proof viz the papers of an act by the New York Legislature of 9 th April 1871 for his services as Sergeant during the Revolution was his traditional supported by the belief or out of ten respectable citizens of some town, whose credibility is verified by the Judges
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  No answer
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. G. Wilson Examining Clerk.

In the Matter of { Declaration Alexander M c Leod { for Pension
Argyle, Washington County New York
8252

State of New York County of Washington ss.
On this twenty fifth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before me John Willard first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington, Alexander McLeod of the town of Argyle in said County aged seventy seven 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 7-1832
That he was born on the twelfth day of January 1755, but has no record of his age in North Britain, and when the Revolutionary war commenced he lived in the lower part of Dutchess County in the State of New York, which place continued to be his place of residence during the war, at the close of which he went to Santee in the State of South Carolina, where he resided until 1793 when he went to the town of Argyle aforesaid, and has since then resided alternately at Argyle & Santee aforesaid & for the last five years in Argyle. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated
I
That he entered the service of the United States on the twenty sixth day of July 1775, in the Militia in the company of Minute Men commanded by Captain Asa Barnam, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Fields of the town of South east in the county of Dutchess and State of New York: that about the sixteenth day of September he marched in said company down to New York to fortify the city: that he continued to serve in said company until some time in November following & was then dismissed
II
That on or about the second day of July 1776 he enlisted for twelve months in Captain Bryant's company of the Bay State troops, in the Regiment of Artillery commanded by Colonel Knox: that he marched in said company to Fort Independence, about a mile East of Kingsbridge & continued there until some time in August: -- some time in August (in the latter part he thinks) went to Long Island, and was engaged there in the battle at Flatbush & its vicinity, which lasted some days - it rained

about one half of the time: retreated over to York island continued there a few days & the Americans being likely to be surrounded, (the British vessels having sailed up the North & East rivers) retreated on Sunday. On Monday morning was in a severe engagement with the enemy near Harlem Heights which re- sulted in the retreat of the enemy with considerable loss. On account of his activity in this engagement this applicant was promoted to sergeant, birth, in which capacity he acted during the four succeeding campaigns, that he served in the New York State troops — that he was on sentry opposite to where the Rose & Phoenix men of War lay at anchor, in the North river about forty miles above New York, when the Continental Fire ships came up to burn them, in a very dark & rainy night: that a few days after this he turned out as a volunteer to take a small island that lay in Harlem river, where the British kept a guard: that he was in the boat with the gallant American commander, (Major Prescott) when he was killed — the British were relieved with fresh troops & this applicant & those in company with him, after fighting about half an hour were obliged to retreat — the British got between the party & their boats — they retreated to Fort Independence — about a week or two after this the British landed on Frog's neck — General Washington was at White Plains, where on or about the 28 October 1776, a severe battle was fought in which this applicant was engaged, & so badly bruised that he never got over it; it still continuing to give him inconvenience & distress to this day: a few weeks after this, this appli- -cant with the rest of the army marched to Peekskill & stayed there some days, & about the last of December had a long and sharp cannonading with the Hessians over a small river called the Assunpink: — that he was at Princeton & Trenton, in both the engagements had at those places: that about the middle of March 1777, he went as a volunteer

down to the lines in Westchester County and (as Delancey's Refugees were robbing the poor inhabitants on the lines) this applicant and the whole scouting party he was in, was surrounded in Stephen Ward's large house by Captain A. Campbell of the British, who was killed in the contest & the house was defended until the ammunition was all expended, & then some surrendered prisoners of War, & this applicant with nine others made his escape through the back door of a cellar kitchen, & went to Morris-town where on the sixth of April 1777, he received his discharge, which was signed by Major Edward Craft, & is now lost.
II
That he enlisted for six months on or about the first of May in the year 1777, in the at Frederickburgh in Dutchess County, in the Company commanded by Captain Calkins in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Ludington in the line of the State of New York, in the State Service - was in the engagement at Ridgefield in the State of Connecticut when the enemy came to burn Danbury, some time in the month of May 1777 when General Wooster was killed - was in sight of Fort Montgomery when it was taken, but could not get over the river for want of boats - that he continued to serve in said Company until the beginning of November following, when he received his discharge which was signed by Colonel Ludington, & is now lost -
III
That on the third of May 1779 he enlisted for six months in the Company commanded by Captain Robert Woods, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Albert Gansing in the line of the State of New York in the State Service: That he went in said Company on General Sullivan's Expedition against the Indians over the Susquehannah - after this expedition was successfully terminated he went to Stony Point, where at the
IV

111th Reg't. returned over to York Island expiration of the said six months he Received his discharge which was signed by Colonel Paulding, & is now lost -
V That on the first of May 1780 he enlisted in the County of Dutchess, he enlisted for six months in the company commanded by Captain Richard Sackett in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Albert Paulding, in the line of the State of New York in the State service
Captain Sackett's company was under the command of Colonel Sheldon who commanded the light horse & a company of infantry in Westchester County on the lines
This applicant was in several skirmishes & ambuscades with Colonel Delancey's Refugees, & recollects in particular one successful ambuscade with Major Halfield of the said Delancey's Refugees, on or about the eighteenth of June at the town of Stanchich in Westchester County, in which some of them were killed on the spot - the cattle they had taken, taken back & three hundred of them chased by the Americans about six miles: - That he continued to serve in said Sackett company until the first of November in the year aforesaid when he Received his discharge in the County of Westchester which was signed by Captain R. Sackett, & is now lost -
VI
That he enlisted during the war on the first of May 1781 at Parkkill in the company commanded by Captain Hamtramck in the Regiment of light infantry commanded by Colonel Hamilton, in the line of the State of New York: that he continued to serve in said company until November following when he was drafted into the commissary department, in which he continued to serve until on or about the 18th of December in the year 1783, when he Received his discharge at Fort Constitution, which was signed by John Elderkin deputy commissary of issues, & is now lost

This applicant says that he was in both the 'mighty scouts' when the combined armies of Continental & French troops were in motion with a design to New York from Sir Henry Clinton - He recollects that the grand army was on its march towards Morris point when the commanders of the allied armies, (Washington & Rochambeau) met: the continentals halted & opened to the right & left & the two Generals met opposite to where this applicant stood & so near to him that he could have touched them with his bayonet: he rec- ollects that a detachment of troops had a hot engagement with the British between Valentine's hill & old Fort Independence & drove them over Kings bridge -
This applicant says that he recollects several of the continental officers of the Regiments to which he was attached or those which lay near the troops with which he served - recollects Colonel Knox before he became Major General, Edward Craft before he became col- onel, Colonel Lamb of New York & other artillery offi- cers, - Of the light horse he recollects Colonel Sheldon, Colonel Hamson & Major Talmadge - Of the light infantry, Colonel Hamilton before he was made General, Major Fish & others -
That he has no documentary evidence of his services except "An act of the Legislature of the State of New York for the relief of Alexander McLeod & other purposes passed, April 9 - 1811," on the petition of this applicant after he returned from the State of South Carolina, whith- er he went at the termination of the Revolutionary war & from whence he returned in the year 1793, to the State of New York & there applied for his arrears of pay (in the four campaigns he served in the line of that State) and was directed to the Treasurers office where he found his name forged & his money drawn out, & obtained from the

Treasurer a certificate proving the same, which certificate he kept 18 years as he did not know how to apply for his arrears, when in 1811, he was advised to petition the Legislature by which he succeeded in obtaining the passage of that part of the act above referred to, which relates to this applicant; the whole of of which said part a printed copy is herunto immediately following annexed:
That he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services
That he is known to Alexander Livingston of the town of Greenwich in the said County of Washington & Alexander Robertson of the town of Salem in the same County, who can testify to his character for truth & veracity & their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution
He hereby relinquishes every whatever claim to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to, & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Sworn this 25 th August 1832 before me
Alexander M c Leod
John Willard print his
mark. Ann. The

We Alexander Livingston residing in the town of Greenwich in the county of Washington & State of New York and Alexander Robertson residing in the town of Salem in the same county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alexander McLeod who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn this 25 th day of August 1832 before me
John Willard first
Judge Wash. County Courts
Alexander Livingston A. Robertson
And the said John Willard as such first Judge does hereby declare his 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 & served as he states. And he further certifies that it appears to him that the said applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend the court and that it appears to him, that Alexander Livingston & Alexander Robertson who have signed the preceding certificate reside, the one in Greenwich & the other in Salem as stated in said certificate, and are each of them credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit. Dated Salem 25 th August 1832
John Willard, first Judge
Wash. Co. Pa.
State of New York
Washington County } ss.
I Jesse S. Leigh Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington do hereby certify that John Willard Esquire before whom the above declaration of Alexander McLeod for a pension was made and before whom the foregoing proceedings in the matter of the said application were had, was at the time thereof & now is first Judge of the Court of Common

Plead of the County of Washington and that the several signatures in the same proceedings, purporting to be the signatures of the said John Willard are genuine and in his own proper hand writing
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Washington on this 30 th day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty two J. S. Leavitt C. B.

Rev. 1870
11.052 ✓ INVALID.
File No. 11,152
Alexander McLeod Serg Boer War
Act: June 7 th 1832
In: Vol. A , Page 247
[Arrangement of 1870.]

CHAP. CCXXXIII.
An ACT for the relief of Alexander M c Leod, and for other purposes.
Passed April 9, 1811.
I. BE it enacted by the people of the state of New-York, represented in Senate and assembly, That it shall be lawful for the treasurer, on the warrant of the comptroller, to pay to Alexander M c Leod the sum of one hundred and ninety-four dollars and ninety-three cents, in full for his services as a serjeant in the late revolutionary war.
Treasurer to pay A. M c Leod $194 93 cts.

Kinderhook, in the county of Columbia, and praying to be enabled to sell the same. And whereas it appears from the facts set forth in said petition, that the sale thereof will be beneficial to those who are interested therein, etc.
Be it known that the people of the state of New York do hereby certify that Joshua Manton, he and they are hereby ap- pointed with full power to them to grant, bargain and sell the said real estate, and that they may
appointed to sell the real estate of E. Manton and others.

55.72 16  199.98 55.328  161.28
45 55.33  7198.35 49.16  $147.49

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Alexander McLean 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? Yes 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?
Of two respectable citizens
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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
No record of his age
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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.