Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 43,720, for James Johnson, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Comer
Johnson, James
$43,720
CONTENTS

20. 343
Lt to Hon Z. Pratt Mar 14 '44
Albany
James Johnson
of Albany Co. in the State of New York who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Dana of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Ward in the Connecticut line, for the term of one year from Mar 1776 to June 1777
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 8 day of July 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 of July 1831 and sent to Supt. Wakeley Greenville, N.Y.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1830 $ 15. 25 Semi-ann. all'ce ending
$ 15. 25
{ Revolutionary Claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. }
Recs Book D. Vol 5. fol 101

No. 944 James Johnson At March 18, 1818
N. J.

State of New York } Albany County ss }
On this twentieth day of March 1829 personally appeared, in open Court to wit the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Albany being a Court of Record of the Common Law and proceedings according to the course of the Common Law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount & keeping a record of their proceedings. James Johnson resident in the town of Berne in the County of Albany & State of New York aged seventy two Years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18 th March 1818 and the first of May 1820 and the subsequent acts in relation thereto That he the said James Johnson enlisted as a private in the Army of the Revolution for the term of one year in the month of May in the year 1776 in the State of Connecticut in the Company Commanded by Captain James Dana in the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Ward in the line of the State of Connecticut on the Continental establishment; that he continued to serve in the said Corps until the month of June 1777 when he was discharged from the said service in Morristown in the State of New Jersey. And in pursuance of the act of the 10 th May 1820 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 dispose of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish as to bring myself within the provisions of any 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 and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life I am in need of assistance from my Country, for support. That I left the said Company and Regiment in the Continental line of the Revolutionary Army by reason of the expiration of my term of service that I received no document concerning the same service or discharge. That I was in the battle of Trenton Princeton and White Plains. And I further declare that in pursuance of the requisitions of the aforesaid act of Congress I do hereby freely and absolutely and to all intents and purposes relinquish all claims to any pension under any of the laws of the United States except the pension contemplated to be allowed under the acts of Congress aforesaid mentioned and under which this declaration is made. And I do further swear that I am by occupation a farmer but am unable to support myself by labour in consequence of old age and disease. That my family consists besides myself of my wife Mary aged Seventy four Years who is also entirely unable to support herself by labour
James Johnson
I Conrad A Ten Eyck Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Albany do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said James Johnson did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of one Year under an engagement on the Continental establishment I also certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the Records of the said Court and I do further certify that it is in the opinion of the said

count that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Four hundred and seventy one Dollars.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court on this twentieth day of March 1829
C. A. S. E. E. G. H. Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Albany County
Schedule
  Personal property 1 Old mare $20.00   2 Cows 24. -   Equal half of 1 Old Waggan 7. -   Do - - 1 Sleigh 0. -   1 Sheep 0. -   2 Chests (old) 1.50   6 Chairs (old) 1.50   1 Old Table 1.00   1 Shovel & Forks .75   1 p Old Anderson 1.00   Some Crockery & Knives & Forks 2.25   $71. - 
Real Estate.
I own about sixty acres of land which was valued by the assessors the last Year (who are bound by oath according to the laws of this State to appraise real estate according to its real Cash value) at four hundred dollars. The said land is subject to an annual rent of Ten Bushels of Wheat and is also subject to a quarter Sale. The said land is mortgaged for the sum of four hundred and five dollars - and I do further

1.36
the interest of which at seven per cent I am bound to pay I also owe at least sixty five Dollars besides the said sum of four hundred and five Dollars - and I do further state on my oath aforesaid that the yearly proceeds of all my property does not amount to five per cent on the whole amount of its value and further that in consequence of being unable to labour I am compelled to let out the premises aforesaid to be brought upon shares and that the share coming to me is not sufficient to support myself and wife
  Real estate 400.00   Personal property 71.00   Total Amount 471.00 
James Johnson
2 15/8

State of New York } County of Albany }
I James Johnson, of the county, and state aforesaid, being duly sworn according to law. Do upon oath testify, and declare, that the following are all the changes which have taken place in my property since the 18 th day of March 1818; That on the day, and year aforesaid, I was possessed of a farm of about sixty acres, subject to an annual Tax of Ten Bushels of Wheat, and also subject to a Quarter sale; That by reason of the infirm state of my health I have since the year 1815 let the above place to be wrought on shares to Iabez Jackson, the son of my present Wife, who since his Childhood has resided with me; That about the years 1825, 1826 & 1827, the said Iabez Jackson unknown to me had contracted certain debts with Rufus Watson, and Joseph B Moore of the county aforesaid to the amount of about four hundred dollars, for which judgment had been obtained against him and Execution issued against his person and property on the place; That at this time at the request and solicitation of the said Iabez Jackson, and with the expectation that by the aid, and assistance of the said Jackson which he promised faithfully to give, I should be able to pay up the interest of the said debts annually, if not the principal thereof, I consented to assume the payment of the said debts and accordingly gave to Rufus Watson aforesaid a mortgage of the place above mentioned (a certified copy of which accompany these papers). That afterwards the said Iabez Iabez Jackson utterly refused to aid me in the payment of the aforesaid debts but removed into the township of Schoharie where he now resides. I do further declare that the habits of the said Iabez Jackson for several years past have been intemperate, that on my assuming the payment of the said debts, the said Jackson promised reformation which unfortunately for himself as well as for me has never been realized.
I do further declare that at the time of assuming the payment of the said debts, and of giving the said mortgage I had no intention of applying for a pension nor had I any intention of so doing until I was abandoned by the said Jackson and no method remained of obtaining subsistence in any other way.
Sworn and subscribed this
13 th day of September 1835
James Johnson
before me A. B. Moore Judge of Albany County Court

43720
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 43720
James Johnson Rev - Rev
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8, Page 261
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Insur. Office July 8. 1831
pen: to com: July 8. 1831
[Handwritten flourish or signature]

Greenville Greene Co. N.Y. July 2 d 1831
Sir
I enclose to you again the Papers. forming the application of James Johnson for a Pension. The Papers are accompanied by an other affidavit of Amos Badcock, in which he particularly states his own service, — his acquaintance with Mr Johnson in the Army. Mr Johnsons service and discharge. Since making the former application I have seen and conversed with Mr Badcock; he is a man of the most unexceptionable character, and in his affidavit appeared particularly careful to state no circumstance, of which he was not personally knowing. He informed me that a short time previous to the application for his own Pension he dislocated his wrist by a fall from his horse which for a long time rendered him unable to sign his name otherwise than by making his mark: That he has since recovered the use of his hand sufficiently to write his name, and does so altogether in executing papers for drawing his Service Annual Pension. I trust that the claim of Mr Johnson will be deemed admissible. He has now no home but is supported by Private & Public Charity
I am very Respectfully Your Obedt Servt
Lewis Wakeley
J. L. Edwards Esq. Pension Office Washington

Nov 12 th 1854
Sir
Will you please furnish me with the desired answer of Mr Baerd's reply to so much of his letter as relates to the opinion of the Honorable the Attorney General as to your trust G. Smith
J. L. Stevens Esq. Passenger Agent

State of New York
Albany County
3 Rufus Watson of the Town of Rensselaerville in the County aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he well knows James Johnson the soldier in the annexed declaration mentioned. Also Jabez Jackson his wife's son, mentioned in the affidavits hereto annexed. That on the Eleventh day of March 1829. the said James Johnson executed to this deponent a Bond and Mortgage amounting to $405. payable by installments, that the origin of this debt is as follows. The said James Johnson & Jabez Jackson have for a number of years past lived together on the farm of the said Johnson. the said Jabez Jackson worked the said farm on shares and contributed to the support of the said James Johnson. this wife both being very aged people. That in the years 1827 & 1828 the said Jabez Jackson purchased goods and necessaries for the families of the said Jackson & Johnson at the store of this deponent to the amount of upwards of one hundred Dollars. that in the month of February or about the 1 st of March 1829 he this deponent obtained a judgment against the said Jackson for the amount of his debt and levied an execution on his property debt costs amounting to $111. 03. And this deponent further says that at this time he ascertained that Joseph B. Moore of Rensselaerville had obtained a judgment against the said Jackson for between $200 & $300 and had levied upon his property an execution issued some time previous to the rendition of the judgment in favor of this deponent. That the property of the said Jackson was entirely insufficient to pay both demands. And this deponent further says that he then went to the said Johnson to induce him to become responsible for the debts aforesaid and give security on his land for the payment of the demands. that the said Johnson with much reluctance finally agreed to the proposition and executed his Bond & Mortgage as aforesaid, the this deponent becoming security to the said Joseph B. Moore for the amount of his debt, being at that time $293. 37. And this

deponent on his oath aforesaid further says that the said Jacob Jackson was bro't up in the family of the said Johnson and that he was a great favorite of the said Johnson his wife, that the said Jackson has a wife and a number of small children to whom the said Johnson and his wife are very strongly attached, and that the two families lived together comfortably and harmoniously for a number of years. And this deponent further says that within the last 3 or 4 years the said Jacob Jackson has become very unsteady and intemperate and has expended in drinking and gambling the whole of his property, and that had it not been for the little property possessed by the said Johnson, and the said Johnson having relieved him from his embarrassments, he the said Jackson and his family would before this time have been in extreme want. And this deponent on his oath aforesaid further says that the said Jackson had great influence over the said Johnson and could almost at any time when in pecuniary trouble induce the said Johnson to relieve him, and further that the execution of the said bond & mortgage to this deponent by the said Johnson for the debt of the said Jackson was a bona fide transaction, and was not done for the purpose of enabling the said Johnson to procure a pension or to contribute by any means to that purpose, as the subject was not thought or talked of by any of the parties at the time according to this deponent's knowledge & belief, and further that the said James Johnson is a man of good habits and an honest respectable citizen.
Chosen & subscribed this 20 th day of September 1830 before me C. B. Moore Judge of Albany Common Pleas

State of New York
Albany County ss Joseph B. Moore of the Town of Rensselaerville in the County aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that in the years 1825 & 1826 Jabez Jackson mentioned in the affidavit hereto annexed became indebted to him to the amount of between $200 & $300 for money lent and advanced to the said Jackson, that the monies lent by this deponent were as this deponent believes expended in paying debts due to Merchants and Mechanics in this neighborhood, and this deponent further says that he took a judgment against the said Jackson on which was issued an Execution which was levied on the property of the said Jackson sometime in the month of February 1829 as he this deponent believes, that shortly after Rufus Watson obtained a judgment also against the said Jackson Johnson and levied an execution upon his property, and this deponent on his oath aforesaid further says that on the 10 th 17 th day of March 1829 the said Johnson executed to Rufus Watson a bond & mortgage on his land to secure the demand of the said Watson and this deponent against the said Jackson; and further that the said Rufus Watson being a Merchant & man of property, became responsible to this deponent for his demand amounting at that time for debt costs & interest to $293.37. And this deponent on his oath aforesaid further says that he well knows the said Jabez Jackson and James Johnson also the said Rufus Watson, that the said Bond & Mortgage was given for a bona fide debt, and was not given for the purpose of enabling the said Johnson to procure a pension, nor had the transaction any connection whatever with that subject, and this deponent further says that he has read the affidavit of Rufus Watson hereto annexed and verily believes the facts there stated to be substantially true.
Sworn & subscribed this 24 September 1830 before me J. Burhans a Judge of Albany County
J. B. Moore

State of New York City and of County of Albany Clerks Office I Conrad A. Van Eyck clerk of the City and County aforesaid do hereby certify that Joseph B Moore Esquire whose name is subscribed to the first foregoing affidavit and David Bur- hans Esqr whose name is subscribed to the second foregoing affidavit were at the time of taking the said affidavits Judges of the County Courts of the County of Albany aforesaid duly qualified according to law, and that I am well acquainted with their hand writings and verily believe that the respective signatures of the said Judges to the said affidavits are genuine, and that the said Judges were duly authorised by law to take the said affidavits. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my official seal this sixth day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty. C. A. Van Eyck clerk.

State of New York } ss. William Ranney of Herkimer County } the County of Herkimer
being duly Sworn doth depose and say that he was well acquainted with James Johnson in the American Revolution, and that the said James Johnson Enlisted on or about the first of May Seventeen hundred & Seventy Six in Captain Dana's Company, in Colonel Andrew Ward's Regiment Connecticut Line, On the "Continental Establishment" for one year, and that he was in the Battle at White Plains in State of New York, and served out his term faithfully and was discharged in the following May in the Year Seventeen hundred & Seven- ty Seven; and further Saith not — W. Wilson Harvey
Sworn before me this 7 th day of August 1850 —
Thomas Hall con ser
I certify that William Harney who took the foregoing oath is a credible witness
Thomas Hall long Bk
A handwritten signature in black ink, consisting of a large, stylized 'P' or 'G' shape, written over two horizontal lines.

State of New York Clerks office Herkimer County
I Abijah Beckwith Clerk of of the Court of Common pleas for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Thomas Hall whose signature appears to the within Affidavit of William Ranney and also to the Certificate within ment- ioned was at the time of taking the same a Commissioner for the County of Herkimer duly qualified to take affidavits & Acknowledgements for the County aforesaid, And that his signature appearing to the same I believe to be in his own proper hand writing. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Official Seal of my said Office at Herkimer this 10th day of August 1830
Abijah Beckwith Clerk P. Canard & Dinneg Dep. Clerk

State of New York County of Otsego ss
Amos Badcock of the County and State aforesaid being duly sworn according to law, doth say, That he was a Soldier in the army of the American Revolution; That he enlisted in the month of May of the Year one Thousand seven hundred and seventy six, at Coventry in the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut into the Company, commanded by Captain Dana, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Ward of the Line of the State of Connecticut, on the Continental Establishment for the Term of one Year; That in the service aforesaid he was well acquainted with James Johnson who enlisted at or about the same time with this Deponent in the Company and Regiment aforesaid for the like period of one Year, That the said James Johnson continued to serve in the same Company and Regiment with this Deponent until in the month of May of the Year one Thousand seven hundred and seventy seven when the said James Johnson and this Deponent were both honorably discharged from the service. That about or nearly one year ago the said James Johnson called on this Deponent and then obtained the affidavit of this Deponent, of his services in the Company and Regiment aforesaid. That the said James Johnson is now the only Person with whom this deponent is acquainted, That is still living out of Capt. Dana's Company, To the best of this Deponent's recollection which was originally composed of ninety five men and further this Deponent saith not
Amos Badcock
State of New York County of Otsego ss
Amos Badcock subscriber to the deposition personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace of the town of Exeter and County aforesaid this thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty one, and made solemn oath to the truth of the deposition which he has subscribed. I further certify that the above Amos Badcock is well known to me to be a Revolution Pensioner that he is a person of respectability and truth and maintains a character beyond reproach Gilbert Palmer justice of the Peace

State of Kentucky Atty County clerk's office ss J. A. Hume Esq. junior clerk of the said county do hereby certify that Gilbert Palmer Esq. before whom the within affidavit was sworn. was on the day of taking the same a justice of the peace in & for said county duly qualified & sworn as such and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said justice and surely believe the signature officially set to the within affidavit to be the proper hand writing of the said justice Given under my hand & seal of office this 30 th day of June 1831 - J. A. Hume Jr. Esq.

State of New York Otsego County ss
Be Amos Badcock of the County aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he was well acquainted with James Johnson in the American Revolution that he the said James Johnson Enlisted the first of May in the year Seventeen hundred & Seventy Six in a Company commanded by Captain Dana in Colonel Andrew Ward's Regiment Connecticut Cut Line, On the Continental Establishment for One year, And that he served out his time faith- fully and was discharged the May following in the year Seventeen hundred & Seventy Seven, & further saith not.
Sworn before me this 24 th 26 th day of July 1830 -
Gilbert Palmer } Justice of the peace
I certify that Amos Badcock who took the above oath is a Credible Witness and reliance may be placed on his testimony
Gilbert Palmer } Justice of the peace

State of New York Albany County Clerk's Office } I certify that Gilbert Palmer
before whom the within affidavit was taken was at the time of taking the same a justice of the peace in & for the County of Albany dwelling in said County. duly commissioned and sworn as such - And further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said justice & verify before the signature officially set to the within affidavit to be his proper hand writing & signa- ture - Given under my hand & the seal of the court of Common Pleas of said county this 26 th July 1830. A. D. D. Jr. C.M.