Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28901, for John Steele, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
New York
Steele, John
S. 2890,
CONTENTS

4480
New York
John Steele
of Salem in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hutchinson of the Reg t New York by Col Williams in the New Jersey line for 20 months and 24 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 69 Dollars 27 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of January 1833 and sent to M c Fairchild Salem N.Y.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 — $103.90, Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 33 34.63,
$138.54
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Ino Cromwell Clerk Book D Vol. 5 Page 207

No 5253
John Steele
admitted
14. 16 4 Sept. 1832 21. 10. 32
Marina Fairchild Palem New York
Page 86.

No 8253
BRIEF in the case of  John Steele of Salem  County of Washington  in the State of  New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
Before a Court
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy three years 73  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.     Was enrolled sometime in April In 1775 6 21 Private Col John Williams, Capt J. Hatch   was called out in Sept 1777 11 " Col Williams, Capt Armstrong   Sometime in Nov 1778 1 28 1st Sergt Col Alex. M c Leod, Capt John Armstrong   March 1779 7 1st Sergt Capt Levi Hubbell   In the year 1779 - Clinton's Exp. Rebel Creek 1 5 Subaltern Capt John Armstrong   was called out in Oct 1780 1 Private Col Williams, Capt John Armstrong   Some time in Oct 1780 1 Private Col Williams, Capt John Armstrong   Fall 1782 called out 15 Private   " Nov "   20 26  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? not very  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? at Salem Washington Co New York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By a living witness as to his service, his tradition is supported by the belief in each of a colony man of another in particular... of the same town, whose credibility is verified by the Judge.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? no defect 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. Williams Examining Clerk.

In the Matter of } Declaration John Steele } for pension.
Salem Washington County New York
8253
admitted
20 mo. 24 days private
Don

State of New York County of Washington } ss.
On this twenty eighth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington now sitting John Steele President of the town of Salem in said County of Washington & State of New York aged seventy three 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 in the year 1759 in the County of Derry in the town of Dungibbon in Ireland but has no record of his age - came to the New town of Salem in the County of Washington and State of New York in the Month of May 1772 and has ever since continued to, & now does reside in said town
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That some time in the month of April 1775 he was enrolled in the Company of Militia commanded by Captain Hutchinson in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Williams, and some time about the month of July 1777, (while Captain Joseph McCracken, (who with his company had been sent from the army at Stillwater to protect & defend the inhabitants of the North) and Colonel Van Dooert with a part of his Regiment were employed in building a picket fort in Salem) he was called out in said company (which was then commanded by Captain Thomas Armstrong, Captain Hutchinson having resigned) to assist in building the said Fort at which he was employed three weeks and was there admitted — Colonel Williams was out in person at the building of the Fort —
In the Month of September 1777 he was called out in the said Company by Captain Armstrong

and Colonel Williams & marched to Argyle & reconnoitred the flank of General Burgoyne's Camp by the way of Fort Miller near the mouth of Batten Kill & from thence returned to Salem, (then Newpeth) & from there was sent to Williamstown where he became the body servant of Colonel Williams who was con- ductor of Burgoyne hospital & went with him to Boston & continued with him as such servant until the month of March 1778 when he was dismissed
Some time in the month of November 1778 he was again called out in said company under Captain Armstrong & Colonel Williams aforesaid on an alarm & went to Skeneborough & was employed in scouting on Lake Champlain & South Bay - that he served in said company two weeks & was then dismissed -
In March 1779 (said company being then commanded by Captain John Armstrong and the Regiment by Colonel Alexander Webster,) he was called out to Skeneborough by, and served under those officers one month (by classing); two weeks of which time he was a substitute for his father
In the year 1779 he enlisted for the term of nine months as a substitute for one from, or Abram Van Dorder in the company commanded by Captain Levy Stockwell who was stationed at Skeneborough: that he continued to serve in said company until the expiration of said nine months - Cannot state what month of the year he enlisted, but knows he served until the term expired, and thinks that the expi- ration of the said nine months was the 1 st day of January 1780.
Some time about the month of October in the year 1780 he was called out in the said company in which he was enrolled under the said Captain John Armstrong & Colonel Alexander Webster on an alarm created by the irruption of Major Carlton into the Northern part of

New York at which time Fort George & Anne fell into the hands of the enemy: that he continued to serve in said Company on said alarm five weeks & was then dismissed:
Some time in the fall of the year 1781 he was again called out in said Company under the last aforesaid officer & was posted at Alexander Simpson's & other places: that he continued to serve in said one month and was then dismissed
In the fall of the year 1782 he was called out in the said Company under the aforesaid officer, & posted at Colonel Williams, & other places & was employed principally in scouting: that he continued to serve in said Company one month & was then dismissed
He was also out in the fall of the year 1782 (in the month of November he thinks) in the Company of Militia commanded by Captain John Mendum in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Brown: that he was posted in said Company at Whitehall (then Munday's origin) and continued to serve therein two weeks & was then dismissed — That from his situation he had little opportunity of knowing officers or Regiments other than his own: That he never received any discharge has no documentary evidence of his services & knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to the same except Mendum whom is hereafter affirmed he knows to be known to Doctor Alexander Proudfoot Doctor of Divinity and pastor of the church to which this applicant belongs and to John Gray Esquire both of whom reside in the said town of Salem in the County of Washington & State of New York, and

can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution
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
Sworn to & subscribed the any & year aforesaid J. S. Leigh CLK
John Steele
We Alexander Proudfoot a Clergyman residing in the town of Salem in the County of Washington & State of New York and John Coary residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Steele who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution; & that we concur in that opinion
Sworn in open court the 28 th day of August 1832 J. S. Leigh CLK
Rev. A. Proudfoot
John Coary
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the Matter, and after putting the interroga-

torics prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Alexander Proudfoot who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said town of Salem, and that John Brary who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
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 deposition of Allen Hunsdon which is annexed to these proceedings was made, was at the time thereof and now is first Judge of the said Court of Common Pleas and that the signature on said deposition purporting to be the signature of the said John Willard is genuine and in his own proper hand writing, and I further certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Steele for a pension.
In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court of Common Pleas, this 28 th day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty two J. S. Leigh, Clerk.

State of New York Washington County
ss. Allen Hanscom of the Town of Housham in the County of Addison in the State of Vermont being duly sworn deponeth and saith, that he became acquainted with John Steel in the year 1774, who then resided in a place called New Perth, and still resides in the same place, which is now called Salem, in the County of Washington and State of New York aforesaid, where this deponent continued to reside until the year 1800; when he went to reside where he now does in Housham aforesaid, and during all that time, that is to say, from 1774 until 1800, was intimately acquainted with the said John Steel.
And this deponent further saith, that he knew the said John Steel as a Militia man, in Captain Thomas Armstrong's Company in a Regiment Commanded by Colonel John Williams of Salem aforesaid and in actual service among the State Troops of New York in the year 1777 and also that the said John Steel continued in said service more or less every year, until the close of the War in 1783 and particularly since November Captain Lewis Stalkness's company in the year 1779
And this deponent further saith, that the said John Steel was engaged in the War of the Revolution & faithfully served his country during the continuance thereof; and that all the officers under whom he served are dead as this deponent is informed and duly believes.
And this deponent further saith not. Allen Hanscom Sworn this 13 July 1832 before John Willard Clerk of the County Court

State of New York Washington County } ss. Surrogates office
I John Willard know- gate of the said county do certify that the an- nexed papers were bound together with tape by me - and I further certify that on enquiry I believe the reputation for truth of Allen Sheldon sworn before me as first judge of the county courts of said county is good - and I further cer- tify that the said papers are now in the same condition they were when they passed through the said county courts - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office at Salina in said county this 13 th December 1832 - I have also at the same time affix- ing seal of office at the knot of the tape by which the papers are bound together - John Willard, Surrogate

28 901 Ray  INVALID.
File No. 28 901
John Steele His Rev. Wm
Act: 7 th June 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 395
[Arrangement of 1870.]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
Dec. 31, 1853.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1833, entitled, "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States;" and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the Pension agents,
The executor of John Steele, dec.
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany Agency, at the rate of Sixty Nine Dollars and 27 Cents per annum under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 11 th of March 1838 to the 25 May 1838.
Respectfully, yours,
J. M. Woodhead Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.