Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,370, for Alexander Mc Gregor, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
McCregor Alexander
S 21,370
CONTENTS

New York 28.669
Alexander McGregor of Monroe in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Mascelles of the Reg't commanded by Col Van Dyke in the New York Militia line for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars ————— Cents per annum, & commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th day of May 1834 and sent to Hon. F. Whittelsey H Reps
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 $ 60.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 4 '34 10.00
$70.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Sam H. Page Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 4 Page 168

14-480 Alexander M c Gregor
16 Gen l M c Levies off l 1868 P-277
Ab. 263 7
Hen F. Whilley H Reps U.S.

BRIEF in the case of Alexander M c Gregor  Town of Gates in the State of N. York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 years  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.     May In 1777 6 Private  Gen. Capt. M c Askillies N. Y.  Colo. Vandyke     States that in May 1778. he engaged as a servant to Quarter Master Gen t Morgan Lewis, and was to receive the pay of a Battalia Man which pay he received, that he was in constant attendance upon the 2 d W. Gen t in his Various Movements with the army for 3 Years and Some Months within the years 1778:79:80 & 81
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None Stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? County of Schoharie - N. York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence alone  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? they are not attached according to the Regulations 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. Gordon Examining Clerk.

14480 Mon: Com: Pleas
In the matter of reapplication of Alexander McGregor for a pension
Proceedings
A. Gay Rockhurst Morrison Cook & Co.
Atty
Service as servant to Ex Master Genl. A. A. A.
Amount 6 mapi
20 3/4

State of New York Monroe county ss } On this fourth day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before Peter Price James Smith, Samuel Cusle & Joseph Sibley Esquires Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the county of Monroe & State of New York being a Court of Common Law jurisdiction & having a Clerk and Seal Alexander M c Gregor of the town of Gates in said county aged seventy eight years who first being 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 in the parish of Kincardine in the county of Inverness Scotland. That he left Scotland on or about the 11 th of May 1774 in a vessel which sailed from the port of Greenock and arrived in the city of New York sometime in the month of July following He continued at New York for some time and afterwards went up the country to the neighbourhood of Schenectady, for the purpose of working with a countryman of his who was a farmer there - & with whom he engaged as a farm servant. That he was residing at a place called Starin within four miles of Schenectady in the county of Schenectady & State of New York at the time of his first enlistment which to the best of the applicant's recollection was in the beginning or middle of the month of May in the year 1777, when he enlisted for a period of six months in what this applicant understood to be a Regiment of the militia of the State of New York. That the Regiment was commanded by Colonel

Vandyck - whose Christian name he thinks was Henry. The Lieutenant Colonel's name was Donyck or Ten Eyck. To the best of his recollection the Regiment had no Major - The adjutant's name was Tap. The officers of applicant's company were Captain Henry Maselles (or a name of that sound) capt Lieutenant Van Antwerp - orderly Sergeant John McKee - There were two other sergeants in the company one by the name of Robert Morton and another of the name of Gates - After applicant enlisted he went immediately to Albany to join the company where they collected together & commenced their march - He thinks they commenced their march in the beginning of June. From Albany they marched on foot to Fort George on Lake George - Applicant's company marched alone. When they arrived there were a good many troops in the fort & when they were all collected applicant thinks there might have been about 700 of them - That during all the time they remained at Fort George they were not called out but once, when they were suddenly marched down as far as Troy, where they staid over night and the next day were again marched back to Fort George. They were employed all the time in garrison duty mounting guard &c. During the time applicant's company remained in the fort there was a great sickness & mortality amongst the troops - and applicant himself very sick, while in the fort for nearly two months - That applicant's company lay in Fort George till sometime in

the month of November following, when they were marched down to Albany & there discharged by their Captain their term of service having expired. They received no written discharge. The applicant after his service went back to reside at Starin aforesaid, but in the spring of the following year he went to Albany and worked as a servant in the family of a Mr. Williamson in Albany. While there he became acquainted with Morgan Lewis Esquire then Quarter Master General of the United States' Forces and after- wards Governor of the said State of New York, who used to board at the House of the said Mr. Williamson. That in the month of May in the same year which he thinks was the year 1778 Governor Lewis proposed to the applicant that he the applicant should become his servant & attend on him while in per- formance of his military duties, and that he Governor Lewis should during the time of applicant's service place him upon the list of Batavia men in the service of the United States on the Hudson River, and that applicant for his service to the Quarter Master General should draw the pay of a Batavia- man. That applicant accordingly acceded to this proposal, and to the best of his recollection it was in the month 1778 of May 1778 that he was placed on the list of Batavia-men in a company on the Hudson River consisting of from twenty to twenty five men commanded by a Captain Fisher & while he continued in the service of the Quarter Master General he drew his pay

and allowances as a Bateman man, & which were paid to him by the said Captain Fisher That he continued with the said Quarter Master General in this manner to the best of his recollection for the period of three years and some months - during 1778, 1779 1780 & 1781 - That his duties while thus in the service of the Quarter Master General consisted in a constant attendance on him wherever he went, taking charge of his horses, accoutrements &c. That Governor Lewis headquarters were at Albany but he was constantly travelling about in attendance on the army - The applicant went with him once to Boston, travelled with him through New Jersey & Maryland and was present with him at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga - and when the army were stationed with at Saratoga the ap- plicant used to ride with him from the army to Albany two or three times a week - That he received no pay or compensation from the Quarter Master General further than the pay which he received as a Bateman man in the United States service & that during the whole period that the he remained with him as aforesaid.
That the applicant has no documentary evidence of his said services, and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure & who can testify to his said services except it be the said Governor Lewis, but whether he is now alive the applicant is uncertain - and if alive he does not know where he resides or how he

could procure his testimony
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State And the Court hereupon propounded & put to said applicant the respective interrogatories prescribed by the War Department under the act of the 7 th June 1837 who upon oath doth make answer thereto as follows viz
To the first interrogatory
He says he was born in the parish of Kincardine in the county of Inverness in Scotland on the seventeenth day of March Seventeen hundred and fifty four
To the Second interrogatory
He says that he has no record or certificate of his age in his possession but he has been informed & believes that his age is recorded in the records of the Kirk Session of the said Parish of Kincardine
To the third interrogatory
He says that he lived in the at a place called Starin, about four miles from the city Schenectady in the county of that name & State of New York when he enlisted first. & when he was placed on the List of Pensioners he resided in the city of Albany aforesaid That after his said services he resided some time in Albany aforesaid - afterwards he resided twelve years in the said county of Schenectady - afterwards resided about seven years in the town of Ballon in the county of Saratoga & State of New York - afterwards resided about eight years in

the town of Mayfield in the county of Montgomery in said State of New York - From Mayfield he moved into the town of Gates, in the county of Monroe in said State where he has resided for the last twenty two years & where he now resides
To the fourth interrogatory
He says that both his services were commenced by Enlistment as set forth in his foregoing declaration
To the fifth interrogatory
He says that the officers of the company in which he enlisted were Captain Henry Mawille, Lieutenant Van Antwerp - Orderly Sergeant Wm M'Ghee - Officers of the Regiment so far as applicant recollects were Colonel Henry Vandyck - Lieutenant Colonel Donyck or Ten Eyck - adjutants name was he thinks Tap. The General in command at Fort George was General Philip Schuler. The general circumstances of applicant's service, are as narrated in his foregoing declaration - The captain of the company of Batallion in which he enlisted or on the list of whom he was placed was Captain Fisher
To the sixth interrogatory
He says he never received any written discharge
To the seventh interrogatory
He says that the names of some persons to whom he is known in the neighbourhood in which he presently resides and who can (as he believes) testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution are the following viz

Luther Skill, Calvin Skill, Samuel Hart Daniel Loomis Sworn to & Subscribed } the day & year aforesaid } Alexander M c Gregor J. Cutter Dep. clerk
WE Samuel Hart & Daniel Loomis do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alexander M c Gregor who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration and we believe him to be seventy eight years of age. that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & we concur in that opinion Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid - } Samuel Hart } Daniel Loomis J. Cutter Dep. clerk
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. and the court further certify it appears to them that Samuel Hart & Daniel Loomis who have signed the preceding declaration certificate are resident in the said town of Talcott in the family of Monroe Talcott aforesaid & are credible persons. It also appears there is no clergyman in the neighbourhood of said applicant with whom he is acquainted & who could certify as to his belief of the age of said applicant & the reputation in the neighbourhood of his services
James Smith Samuel G. Grafton Joseph T. Sibley
James G. Monroe Common Pleas

Leonard Adams clerk of the court of common pleas in & for the county of Monroe & State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Alexander M c Gregor for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the said county of Monroe being my seal of office this fourth day of October 1832
L. Adams Clerk
I have read the preceding affidavit and think that M c Gregor must be mistaken as to the year he entered the service, and that it was in 1776, as Colo: VanDuyck's Reg t engaged for nine months' pay at that time at fort George. All that part of his affidavit which relates to his connection with me is perfectly correct; and I may add that a more faithful or worthy man I never have met with.
Utica 21. April 1832.
Morgan Lewis.
21
14.4.80 From: Com: Pleas
In the matter of the application of Alexander M c Gregor for a pension
Proceedings
A. Gray Rochester Monroe Co. N.Y.
Atty Service as servant to Dr. Martin Leno: deceased
Acord 6 mths 20 $

Prohibition
21 370 INVALID.
File No. 21,370
Alexander P. Dreyer
St. Paul, Minn.
Act: June 7 th 1890
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 257
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Alex M c Gregor
2. particulars
1 Level
2 Chngan Lewis off u
3 Precision
72 Leonard St

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 McGregor 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? Mostly
Soul Morgan Levis's affidavit required in proof of service & of the character of the enlistment
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? Yes. 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? They are all answered
 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.