Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42402, for Jasiel Stearns, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Stearns, Jasieb
S. 42402
CONTENTS

Certificate sent to Benedict Arnold Esq. July 1822 Amsterdam New York
14. 817 Q  New York 
Jasub Stearns
of Amsterdam in the state of New York who was a fife. . . . in the regiment commanded by Colonel Putnam of the Massachusetts line, for the term of two years
Inscribed on the roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 1 st of June 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th of Sep: 1819 and sent to Benedict Arnold Esq. Amsterdam N.Y.
Arrears to 4th of Sep: 1819 $120 - 0
Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Mar: 1820 48 "
 15 months $168 - 0
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Contra

County } J s Israel Stearns of the Town of Amsterdam in the County of Montgomery and State of New York being Duly Sworn doth depose and say that he served in the Revolutionary war under the Continental establishment as a piper some time and afterwards as a private soldier that he entered the service on the tenth day of January 1781 and under Capt Nathan Goodale in the fifth Poughkeepsie Regiment commanded by Colonel Rufus Putnam and served under the above named officers until some time in the month of April 1783 and was then transferred to the first Poughkeepsie Regiment commanded by Colonel Joseph Vose in Capt Sylvanus Smith Company and served in said company as a private soldier until some time in the month of October this deponent therefor the 27 th Day A.D. 1783 and was then Honorably Dis- charged at West Point in New York State by General Henry Knox this Deponent further saith he was not engaged in any battles of much value During the time of his said service this Deponent further saith he entered the

He lives in the seventeenth year of his and is now in the fifty fifth  seventh year of his age and further saith not as Subscribed and sworn Jazel Stearns this 15th Day of June in the year A.D. 1818
before me
Benedict Arnold Judge of Com. pleas
I Benedict Arnold am of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Montgomery do certify that I am satisfied that the above named Jazel Stearns did live in the Revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration and likewise that I am acquainted with the said Jazel Stearns and know him to be poor and in need of the assistance of his country for support and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had thereon to the Secretary for the department war of pursuance to the above mentioned act of Congress -
Benedict Arnold

State of New York Montgomery County
I John M c Carthy Clerk of the said County do certify that Benedict Arnold whose name appears signed to the above Certificate hereto annexed was one of the Judges of the Court of common pleas for the said County on the 5 th day of June 1818 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hands & affixed my Official Seal the 9 th day of July 1819.
Jn M c Carthy

Col Sylvanus Smith, Company Col Vermont Anchorage 27 Oct 1783 -

I Azariah Eggleston of Lenox in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify & say, that I was acquainted with Israel Sterns during the revolutionary war, & that he was a soldier in the Company commanded by Capt. Sylvanus Smith, & which Company some months previous to the close of the war was transferred to the first Mass. Regt. commanded by Col. Joseph Vose, of which Regt. I was then & for some time previous had been Paymaster. I find the said Sterns name on many books kept by me at that time & now in my possession, & it appears by them, that he continued to serve in said Company until the twenty seventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty three, at which time he was discharged. —
And further the Deponent saith not.
Azariah Eggleston
Berkshire S. Lenox May 31 st 1819. Personally appeared Azariah Eggleston Esq. & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed —
Before me J. S. Vose Just. Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire ss:
I Joseph Woodbridge Clerk of the Judicial courts within for the County of Berkshire do certify & attest, that the above named Joseph Tucker Esq: is a Justice of the peace within for the same County duly commissioned and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth - and that the above is his Signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this thirty first day of May A.D. 1819.
J. Woodbridge Clk

Jas. Stearns 14817
March 1820
Ms. A. 1. 1. 35

At a court of common pleas, held at the courthouse in Johnstown, in and for the county of Montgomery, on Wednesday the fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two.
Present
Alexander Sheldon
Nathan Soule
Samuel A. Gilbert
Esquires Judges.
Jasid Stearns a pensioner of the United States. presents a written declaration, with a schedule there- unto annexed, according to the directions of the depart- ment of War, of the United States, to which he was duly sworn in open. The court after examining the said schedule, and hearing the proofs and allegations of the said Jasid Stearns, relative to the value of the pro- perty therein mentioned; are of opinion and do adjudge, that the property contained in the said schedule is truly valued at thirty nine dollars and four cents. And the following is a true copy of the said written declaration, with the said sche- dule thereto annexed. viz. 7 Montgomery bounty bill. On the 12. th day of June 1822. personally appeared in open court, being a court of record for the said bounty, Jasid Stearns aged fifty eight years, resident in Am- sterdam in the said county, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he ser- ved in the revolutionary war as follows in Colonel

Rufus Putmans regiment, and Captain Goodales com- -pany about two years, that he was then transferred to the First Massachusetts regiment, commanded by Colonel Forse, in which he served about nine months, and was discharged at Westpoint in October 1783. That the date of his original declaration is the 5. th June 1818. and that the number of his certificate is 16. 817. - And 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 to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and Naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war, passed on the 18. th day of March 1818." And that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. That I am by occupation a farmer, but am unable to pursue it, in consequence of Rheumatism, with which I am much troubled, my wife is quite weakly and unable to contribute to the support of my family. I have nine children living with me, including a grand child, the oldest named Sabrina a widow aged twenty eight years, enjoys good health; Hulda aged

Twenty four, quite sickly, Thomas aged twenty years is able to support himself, Ezekiel aged Seventeen years, unable to labour, Bathia aged fourteen years quit healthy, Hazen aged twelve years, Jasiel aged ten years, Julia aged seven years, Tarina aged three years, making in all a family. I am totally unable to support. Schedule of my property made June 10 th 1822. 1. bed, 2 tables, 10 chairs, 3 old chests, 1 old chest-drawers. 3 bed stools, 2 hogs, 1 spinning wheel, 1 large spinning wheel, 1. Loom, 2. reeds, 1. looking glass, 1 pr. And Irons, 1. shovel and tongs, 1 dish kettle, 1 small do. 1. pot, 1 bake pan, 1 frying pan, 6. wooden bowls, 3 tin basins, 3 earthen bowls, 1. Horn pot, 8. cups and saucers, 1. doz. plates, 2. platters, 6. knives and forks, 6. spoons, 1. wash-tub, 4 pails. 3 old casks, 2. small casks, 5 old barrels, 1 butter tub, 3 jugs, 2 bottles, 6 baskets, 1 old saddle, 1 saw, 1 axe 1. tea pot, 1. tea kettle. Jasiel Stearns. Sworn to and declared on the 12 th of June 1822. Before me in open court. Henry D. Yates Clk. —
State of New York ss. I Henry D. Yates Clerk, of the county of Montgomery in the said State, and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said county, do hereby certify that the foregoing Statement and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court: And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is, Thirty nine dollars, and four cents. In testimony whereof

Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, this fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two.
Henry B. Yates Clerk.
A large, stylized signature in cursive ink, likely that of Henry B. Yates, featuring prominent loops and flourishes.

Mr. Edwards
David Adams
Amsterdam March 20.
March 1820.
Honorable John C. Calhoun
Secretary of the Navy Washington
Respectfully Amsterdam
Recd 26 Nov 1820 New York
Free
20 3/4
22

Honorable John C. Calhoun
Sir inluced I send you the papers of Janie Stearns praying to be continued as a pensioner of the United States you will perceive from the Inclosed his absolute need of the favour asked for he has been using all the means in his power for the three years past to support himself without the aid of Government while others around him in circumstances more favourable have received the assistance he now asks for if his papers are properly made out and his pension should be con- =tinued please make your returns to me as his agent in the Town of Amsterdam County of Montgomery State of New York
Yours Respectfully
June 19th 1822
Benedict Arnold
N. B. please advise me of the amount here as possible
JB

4450 ✓
Care of Jaruel Stearns.
Benedict Arnold
Judge
Amsterdam, N. Y.
Rec d July 28. 1879.
Admitted to Evidence
Since

FREE
Honorable John C Calhoun
Secretary for the department of war
Amsterdam NY July 23 rd
Washington City

Honorable John C. Calhoun Secy for the department of war
Sir in closed I send you the Affidavit and Application of James Stearns for a pension under the late act of Congress as the apparent delay has been Occasioned by the want of the annexed Affidavit of Mr Eggleston. Having now obtained it the applicant entertains little doubt of Succeeding as please to inform me with as little delay as possible of the result as the applicant is very poor and has by the charitable assistance of his neighbors been furnished with money to bear his expenses to the State of Massachusetts to obtain the annexed Testimonies
I am with profound esteem your Hble Servant
Benedict Smith
Amsterdam - Montgomery County July 22 nd 1819

H2 402
Rev INVALID.
File No. H2 402
Jas. Stearns By Rev Rev
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 489
[Arrangement of 1870.]