Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13888, for Alexander Mc Creery, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
McCleery, Alexander
S 13888
carded
CONTENTS

14059 New York
Alexander M c Greery of Tompkins in the State of N Y ork who was a private - in the Comp y . commanded by Captain Humphrey of the Brig e commanded by Col Poulting in the New York line for 1 Year. 11 Months,
Inscribed on the Roll of N Y ork at the rate of 76 - Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of May, 1833, and sent to H. D. Barto Greencastle N Y ork
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $153.32 Femi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sep r 1833 . . . 38.31
$191.63
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, book E. Vol. 14 Page 67

14710
Alexander Murray Tompkins co N.Y.
W. D. Barto Trumansburg N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of  Alexander Murray  of  Tompkins co  in the State of  N. York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 72  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.     Volunteer In 1777 4 Private Gen. James Clinton   do 1778 3 Capt. Humphrey, Col. Pauding   do 1779 & 1780 1 2 same   2 Capt. Telford, Col. M c Laugherty   Capt. Cuddback, Col. Cantine   Capt. Humphreys & Capt. Cuddback,  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Ulster county New York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses and tradition "L. Smith."  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Bradford Examining Clerk.

In the estate of Alexander M c Crery Revolutionary Soldier
Declaration R.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832
State of New York § p: On this twenty-fifth day of September A.D. 1832 Tompkins County § hundred and thirty-two, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Tompkins in the State of New York now sitting Alexander McCrery a resident of Hector in the County of Tompkins aforesaid, aged twenty-two 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 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated.
That on or about the first of May 1777 there being a call for a draft from the Militia in the town of Newburgh, Ulster County & State of New York, it is now Orange County, in the said McCrery volunteered for four months, and entered a Company commanded by Captain James Humphrey, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Paulding and Lt. Clancey - That the above draft was for the purpose of raising troops to guard Fort Montgomery - That immediately after he volunteered as aforesaid he March to Fort Montgomery, there under the command of General James Clinton, and remained there four months, was discharged and returned home. Within a few days after he returned home, Orders came for another draft of every third Man for three months service - He again volunteered and returned to Fort Montgomery under the same officers, under whom he had before served - That he served the said three months and was again discharged and returned home - That during this last service Fort Montgomery was taken by the British - It was taken according to his information on the 6th of Oct. 1777 - After the fort was taken he not being taken with it, March, with a part of his Company, not taken, over to Fish-Kill and remained there until he was

discharged - In the month of January 1778 the Militia was again called out to guard the inhabitants against the plunder of the British and Tories, who had committed considerable depredations, in Ramapo, Pochus and Hackensack - He again volunteered for two months and entered a company commanded by Captain Telford in Col. McClaugherty's Regiment - that he served in said Company and Regiment two months  years and was discharged, the term for which he volunteered having expired - In May or June in the same year he again volunteered for two months service - served said two months, was discharged returned home - At this time he served in Captain Cuddeback's Company in Col. Clinton's Regiment - In this last service he was employed in guarding the frontier at Minisink in the County of Ulster Orange, State of New York And in the years 1779 and 1780 he was out in actual service at least half the time - In these years he was a part of the time in Captain Cuddeback's Company & a part of the time in Capt. Murphy's in Col. Clinton's Regiment - He did not in this last service volunteer but the Militia was called and he belonged to one Class that was in service at least one year in the years 1779 & 1780 - After the year 1780 he was not in service -
He was born in Mindon  Newburgh , then Ulster, now Orange County in the State of New York in the year 1760 - Has a record of his age in his bible at his present dwelling in Hector County of Tompkins New York - lived in Newburgh  Newburgh  before when called into service and there was his residence during all his Military services - Since the Revolution he has lived in the towns of Montgomery & Warwick Orange County New York and in Ulster & Hector in the County of Tompkins, New York, for twenty-two years last past he has resided and still resides in the said town of Hector - He entered the Militia service as a volunteer - knew Gen. Clinton who commanded at Fort. Montgomery - knew also Gov.

George Clinton, who was at Fort Montgomery a considerable part of his services at that place but not all the time - A part or all of Col. Dubois, Col. Tusten, & Col. Johnson's Regiments were at Fort Montgomery during his services at that Fort - His services were principally confined to Orange Ulster & Dutchess Counties in the State of New York - Was engaged in no General Battles - Was not in Fort-Montgomery when it was taken - Never received any written discharge - Never held a Commission - Is known to Peter Hager, Saber Smith, Caleb Smith, Hon. Richard Smith in his present neighbourhood, who can testify to his character for truth and their belief as to his services, and many others -
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 Army of any State
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Sam. Love Clk.
Mess rs M c Creery
We Peter Hager, Ed. & Caleb Smith, residing in the town of Ruxton in the County of Tompkins and State of New York hereby certify that we have been for more than twenty years, well acquainted with Almon McCreery who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-two years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion. Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid } Sam. Love Clk. } Peter Hager Caleb Smith

Revised
13.888
INVALID.
am
File No. 13. 888
Alexander McCreery Pri Rev Ward
Act: June 7 th 1932
Index: —Vol. 1 , Page 248
[Arrangement of 1870.]

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 Murray of Tompkins co. N.Y. 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? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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?
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? yes
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? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
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? yes
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 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, deposeeth 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 shewn 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.

In the Matter of Alexander McCoy  Revolutionary  Soldier Duration R.
23 Months

I Joseph Jewell residing in Hutton in the County of Tompkins, here by State of my oath hereby certify on oath that I have been acquainted with Alexander McClure in the (unrecorded) Delaware Mennonite more than twenty  Eighteen years - That the said McClure has been Pastor  of a Presbyterian Church in Hutton aforesaid to which I belonged Eighteen years - That the said McClure is a man of the first respectability in every regard - That many years ago the said McClure informed me about his revolutionary services & it has been generally understood in the neighbourhood when we have resided that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and I never heard it doubted - In my opinion full faith ought to be given to his statements Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid Joseph Jewell S. Sorce clerk

In the matter of Alexander McCrey  Revolutionary Soldier Disbursement No.
11/7/10 ✓
23. months.

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 Peter Hager 2d, Caleb Smith and Joseph Luvell who have signed the foregoing certificates respectively are residents of the town of Hector and are credible persons and their statements entitled to credit.
I Samuel Love Clerk of the County of Tompkins, and also of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Tompkins in the State of New York, do hereby certify, that Nicolo Hulsy before whom the Certificate or Affidavit of Sabry Harnmond was taken, is one of the Judges of said Court duly commissioned and qualified. And I do hereby further certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of Alexander McCreery for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this Third day of October in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight hundred and thirty-two. Samuel Love Clerk

State of New York Tompkins County ss, I, Jabez Hanner of Ulster in the County of Tompkins and State of New York being duly sworn saith - That he knows Alexander McCreery and has known him for fifty five years last past that he this deponent lived in the year 1777 in the Town of Newburgh then Ulster County lived within one quarter of a mile of the said Alexander McCreery and in the said year 1777 he the said McCreery was gone out of the neighborhood and it was said at the time that he was out as a Volunteer in the four Months service in Militia - and that he had gone to Fort Montgomery which this deponent believes to be true -
Subscribed & sworn this Jabez his Hanner 25th day of September X Mark 1832
Before me Miss Halsey A Judge of Tompkins Common Pleas
I, Simon Halsey one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Tompkins, certify that in consequence of the ill health of Jabez Hanner the above Witness, I went out of my way this morning to take his affidavit - That in my opinion the said Jabez Hanner is entirely unable to appear in Court - The said Jabez Hanner is a man of truth Simon Halsey