Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23790, for James Mc Masters, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
Mc Masters, James
S. 23790
CONTENTS

30826
3082
Sett. Pens. June 21: 37. (Cut)
Albany Nov 2
James Mc Masters Residing in the State of New York who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Shaw of the reg t commanded by Col Patison in the Massachusetts line for 8 months and 14 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany N.Y. at the rate of 28 Dollars 20 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Sept r 1836 and sent to Thomas E Clark Utica N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1836 $141.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sept r 14.10 $155.10
d. Oct. 4. 1838
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan l Boyd Clerk, Book 62 Vol. 4 Page 15

No 8235
BRIEF in the case of  James M c Master of Rensselaer  County of Rensselaer in the State of New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? It does  3. How old is he? Eighty one years, 81  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.     Enlisted about the middle of April In 1775 — 2 — private Gen. Col. John Patterson's regt. of Massachusetts line, Capt. Hummel   Enlisted about middle of June 1775 — 9 — " Same   on or about 1. Jan y 1776 1 — — " Same officers   on or about 15 Mar y 1777 — — 28 " Col. Benjamin Simonds, Capt. Samuel Clark   on or about 1. Sept r " — 1. — " Same officers  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? 
of Bennington
 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? 
at Williamstown Massachusetts
 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? His tradition is supported by the belief on oath of two respectable citizens of same town, whose credibility and character are verified by the Judge 
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
no return
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. E. Wilcox Examining Clerk.

State of New York Herkimer County
On the 1. day of Sept. 1882. before me Sherman Wooster a judge of Herkimer Com. Pleas. came James M c Master, a resident of the town of Russia in the County of Herkimer, and State of New York aforesaid, aged Eighty one 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 provision of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. That he was Born in the town of Palmer, County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, in the year 1750. Lived in the town of Williams town in the State of Massachusetts, at the commencement of the revolutionary war. And says he enlisted in said Williams about the middle of April 1775 town, under Capt. Samuel Shann, Col. John Paton, (does not recollect the Generals name) was marched to Boston, was stationed two months there, then, once about the middle of June 1775. he enlisted into the United States Service in the Massachusetts line for nine months, was stationed at the town of Cambridge at Fort N o three and served there until the end of the term of nine months, and was then discharged. And on or about the first of January 1776. the said James M c Master declares that he enlisted in the said town of Cambridge under the same Capt. and the same Col. for one year in the Massachusetts line, remained on the same station till the British left Boston in the Spring, and was then marched to New York, remained there a short time and was then marched to St. Johns and from there to the City of Montreal remained there about two months, and then returned to Mount In- dependence and went into winter quarters at Mount Independence and remained there to the end of the enlistment it being one year Service. (Was not in a Battle that time)

and further the said James M c Masters declares that he enlisted for twenty days at the said town of Williamstown on or about the 15. May 1777 under Capt. Samuel Clark, and Col. Benjamin Simonds, was stationed at Castleton in the state of Vermont and was discharged and went home. And then went on an alarm under same officers went to Powney and found it was a false alarm and returned back again. And was was called again under the same officers to Bennington, was in the battle at that place, killed some of the Hethers, but they fired too high to kill the Americans. And then went home again; and again he was marched under the same officers to Ticonderoga, took a small guard of the British and put them off and took them to Bristol, and then went home, and on or about the first day of Sept. 1777 was again called out and went under the same officers to Powney in Vermont State, for the term of thirty days, served out all the time & returned home again. Burgoyne was then so crumpled up that the said James M c Masters was not again called out. And the said James M c Masters further declares, that the whole time he served in the said several terms and enlistments was two years and about one month. Never had any written discharge. does not know of any living witnesses by whom he can prove any of the actual services by him rendered as before set forth. but thinks Asa Stone and Philander M c Masters will be able to vouch for his reputation as a soldier and as a man of veracity in  (and says his name is not on any pension roll in any state) 
James M c Masters
Sworn and subscribed before me a judge of the Superior Court Com. Pleas. Sherman Root Asa Stone and Philander M c Masters residing

rendered as before set forth - Unto Whittaker Updegraff = Stone and Philander M c Masters will be able to Vouch for his reputation as a soldier and as a man of veracity in  (and says his name is not on any Pension roll in any state) Sworn and Subscribed before me a judge of the court of common pleas. Sherman Wooster
James M c Masters
We the undersigned Philander M c Masters, residing in the town of Russia, in the county of Herkshire and state of New York do here by certify that we are well acquainted with James M c Masters, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty one years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the revolution army, and that we concur in that opinion and we further certify that we consider him the said James M c Masters to be a man of truth and his statements may be relied on as correct.
Isa Stone
Philander M c Masters
Sworn and Subscribed before me a judge of the court of common pleas. Sherman Wooster
And I Sherman Wooster judge of the court of common pleas in and for the said county of Herkshire do here by certify and declare, my opinion is that after the investigation of the matter and after putting the questions and interrogatories presented by the said department, that the above named applicant James M c Masters was a revolutionary soldier in service of the states, and I do further certify that I am well acquainted with Isa Stone and Philander M c Masters who have signed the preceding certificate, and know them both to be respectable inhabitants in the town of Russia in the said county of Herkshire, and that their statements may be relied on as true, and are entitled to full credit. And I do further certify that the said James M c Masters the applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend the court, he being more than twenty miles from the sitting place of the court and is blind with one eye and nearly so with the other and otherwise very feeble and infirm.
Sherman Wooster
and cannot go before me

James M. May Application Test. for a Pension
8235
State of New York Herkimer County Clerk's Office
I Francis E. Spina Do Certify that Sherman Wooster was before whom the within affidavits pursuant to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid and duly qualified authorized to act as such and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge and believe the signature of "Sherman Wooster" subscribed to the said affidavits & also to the within Certificate to be genuine and to be his own proper hand writing and signature In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the County aforesaid this 11 th day of September 1832
F. E. Spina Depty Clerk
The reason why he did not know a Chryseum M. M. M. M. M.

State of New York } On the 10. day of December 1832, before me County of Herkaine } Sherman Wooster a judge of Herkaine County Courts.
James M c Master, a resident of the town of Russia in the county of Herkaine and state of New York, who being duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in addition to the declaration made by him on the 1. day of Sept. 1832. which is hereunto annexed. That the matter set forth in that declaration is in all respect true.
And to the several interrogations put to him by the deponent the said deponent answers to wit, To the 1 st Says he was born in the town of Palmer, county of Hampshire in the state of Massachusetts Oct. 8. 1750.
" " 2. Has no record of his age except of his own at home which is entered in his Bible not at Russia.
" " 3. Was living at Williamstown county of Berkshire in the state of Massachusetts and remained in said town of Williamstown five or six years after the war, and then moved to Ballston Saratoga county, thence to Amsterdam in the county of Montgomery in the state of New York and from thence to the town of Russia where he now resides.
" " 4. Says he volunteered in all his services.
" " 5. Says he served under Capt. Sloan, and Col. Pattison.
" " 6. Never received any written discharge from the army.
And further, in addition to the matter contained in the declaration made by him on the first of Sept. last the deponent says, that during the time he served as there set forth, he served as Second Corporal under said Capt Sloan the first campaign of Nine months - and for one year the second campaign under the said Capt. he served as first Sargent.
And the said deponent here by relinquishes all claim to any pension or annuity except the present, and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the army of any state. And as a reason why he does not produce the certificate of a clergyman, is he lives four miles distant from the nearest clergyman, and he the clergyman is now sick and cannot go before the Judge to certify. And
James M c Master

The reason Why he did not procure a clergyman to certify when he first made the declaration in Sept. last, was the great inconvenience of getting in consequence of the distance to Truro; and says that he was informed that it might not be necessary, and supposed the certificate of two respectable neighbors would be sufficient.
Sworn and subscribed before me a judge of Berkshire County Court Dec. 10. 1832
James W. Masters
Sherman Wooster
Berkshire County ss. I Sherman Wooster a judge of Berkshire County Court do certify and declare that after putting the interrogatories proposed by the War department and investigating the matter my opinion is that the above named applicant James W. Masters was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - and I do certify that the said James W. Masters cannot by reason of bodily infirmity attend the court.
Given under my hand at Newport Dec. 10. 1832
Sherman Wooster
Ms 8235 Sherman Wooster
Christie
Private & confidential
26.56 154 28.20
Thomson E. Clark Esq
Attica
New York

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of James McHart a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 1775 2 mos. Corpl. Samuel Sloan John Paterson Mass.   June 1775 July 1, 1776 " Samuel Sloan John Paterson   July 1, 1776 12 mos. 1 st Sgt. Samuel Sloan John Paterson   May 10, 1777 " Pvt. Samuel Clark Benjamin Simonds   Sept. 1, 1777 1 mo. Clark Benjamin Simonds   Discharged on Sept. 1, 1778  
Battles engaged in, Runnington
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Williamstown, Berkshire Co. Mass.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 1, 1838. His widow.
Residence at date of application, Rhinebeck, Dutchess Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, Oct. 8, 1750 at Palmer, Hampshire Co. Mass.
Remarks: d. Oct. 4, 1838*
There is no data on file as to his family.
* from A.R.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Revocation
23 790 INVALID.
File No. 23,790
James McMaster
Pris Rev Mar
Act: June 7 th 1894
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 258
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1894 DEC 21 Hist. to Mrs. Emeline S. Curtis,
Geneseo N.Y. 1916 Oct. 16 Hist. to Mrs. E. S. Curtis 1918 Jan 26 Hist. to Miss J. Phippang

8235
James M c Master
New York
Act 7 th June 1832
Suspended See letter to Sherman Wooster
Dec. 22 1832 do. to Hon
M. Hoffman Aug. 5. 1833
Applicant 6 Nov r 1835
S t McMaster 7 Jan y 1836
to Thos. E. Clark 27. April 1836

  275. Sloan. Patterson  Boston  2 mo    me " " "  "  9.    Aug 76 " "  N.Y. & Canada  12    May 77. Clark Simonds  Vt  20    Sept. " "  "  1 —  

N.Y.
James McMaster
Dec 22 Int. Comt. on War
Finasnet Sett 15 N o 13 (disards etc of us) Washington City War Dept D 3

Prospect Village December 12 1835
Dear Sir I have recd Your Letter And brief And have sent the same to Mr Bangs And recd an answer requesting me to send him 2$ And then he will send a certificate of what may be found - Last season I had returns from him of four Months and ten days which he charged 5$ Now dear sir I have written to know whether the brief you sent is sufficient to draw the Money The Old Gentleman is very low in circumstances and wants all his loose cents to subsist on for he is very poor indeed And is now helpless and is off  helpless as an infant Child I wish not to vex you in the least but wish you to be the Old Gentleman's Friend as he has none in this part of the Land Even in pointing out to him what course to pursue hereafter And say to me whether it is possible to obtaine the pension Money The answer to this I hope will end any farther struggle for the poor Man's due
I remain Your Ol Servant
E B Edwarde P McMastur
Sec of W S War department

Prospect Village NY { 227 } Oct 23 Washington City War Department
U.S. B.U.T.
Janesville Master.
2 Nov. 1835.
Pension Office
3 3/4 3/4

to the War department or office I have considered it to be my duty to make one more effort as I am a poor man to obtain my pension Money which does honestly belong to me My first statement is this I served under Capt Sloan whose Cold name was Patterson as a militia man in the year 1775 from the 1st of Apr until the next January and secondly in the year of 1776 I enlisted for one year under the same Col and Capt and spent my time in Canada and suffered every thing but cloth And still am deprived of my money whereas a number of my acquaintances have obtained theirs and did not serve county there only six Months and was not called into action once
I shall look for justice some day J. M. Patterson
Witness J. Darby, Endorsed as per 1803 that Mr Mcmester says so Henry P. Sherry J. W. Master

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Nov th 27 1835.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of James McMaster, as a corporal, is borne on a return of Capt. Sam l Sloan's Company, where he is allowed from April 22 nd to May 5 th 1775, fourteen days. ————— m. do 0-14 James McMaster's name, as a private, is borne on a muster roll of Capt. Sam l Sloan's Company, in Col. Paterson's Regt. where he is allowed from May 5 th to August 1 st 1775, for services and travel, three Months and four days, ————— 3-4
James McMaster's name is borne on a pay roll of Capt. Thomas Clarke's Company, in Col. Benj r Simonds' Regt. where he is allowed from August 14 th 1777, eight days. ————— = 8 3-26

Amount brought Over — m. d. 3 = 26
James McMaster's name, as a Serjeant M ty , is borne on a pay roll of Capt. Sam l Clark's Company, in Col. Benjn Simonds' Regt. where he is allowed from Sept r 7 th to the 30 th 1777, twenty four days. ————— 24 24 = 20
James McMaster claims for further services under Capt. Sloan, in Col. Paterson's Regt. in 1775, & 1776, but the roll is not found in this Office, for services after the 1 st of August, 1776. —
Edward D Bamp Secy

Boston Feby 11 th 1836
Sir,
Yours of — Feby to E. D. Bangs Esq r , in which you state you had received a letter from him, dated Nov r 27 th requesting you to send him, two dollars, has been handed me. I think if you look to that letter of the 27 th of November, you will find that it is signed, and the request to send the fee of two dollars made by me. Yours to Mr n Bangs in Nov r with the other papers, were handed me, to examine the rolls and documents relating to services in the Revolutionary War. — I did examine them, and the Certificate now sent will show the result as regards your services. As to the fee, it is the only compensation I have for devoting my time, in this Office, of course you will perceive that unless each one whom I search for pay a fee, it cannot be expected I should give the result of my labours. — I trust you will send me the fee, free from postage, on your receiving this. The Certificate only shows proof of three Months and a few days in 1775, but it is as much as ever is found in this

Office of the eight months service in that year. and no doubt will be received as proof of what you claim for services in 1775. — You will please direct your letter to me (to the care of the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts. —
Mr. James Mc Masters Care of Mr. Sylvester Mc Masters Protestant Post Office Trenton Middlesex County N.J.
enclosed is the brief of your declaration, which you requested to have returned. Yours Respectfully Henry White

James M. Chester
N Y R
for
Cal.
Prospectus 163
Paid 25
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions War Office City of Washington District of Columbia
Prospectus

J L Edwards
Trenton Conn. June 1. 1837
Commissioner of Pension War Department
Dr Sir you will see by the inclosed Affidavit made by me that my original Certificate is lost in some way, that diligence has been made by my agent & Attorney both at Utica & Albany. I saw my back Pension & there is now Six Months due me up to March last the 4 th - and this is the way M rs L Jenkins Pension Agt of Albany rected me through my agent to apply to your Honour to oblige me other before I could be able to draw my back half year - your honour will confer a great favour by sending an order to pay me your P. am one of those who stand in need
your Hble Servant
James W Master
By Thomas L Hoops

Dear Sir
I enclose you the Certificate of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts in Relation to Mr Masters Sermons
It is supposed that this Evidence will authorize the issuing a Summons for the whole time stated in Mr Masters Original papers
Yours Thos Clark
Utica 18 th March 1836-
8 11 8 24 9 16

Sept 5
E. Edwards Cummunity Pinnons Washington
Dear Mr. Brewster

Dear Sir
James Mc Masters is the name of the Person concerning whom I received from the Department Information that a pension to a certain amount would be allowed him if he did not procure further evidence - The amount I do not now recollect nor have the paper of the Department to refer to but it will doubtless be obtained by reference to the papers on file -
Mr Mc Masters cannot at present procure any further Evidence and therefore desires that the pension Certificate be issued as suggested in that communication -
Yours Thos E Clark March 30 th August 1836 -
N.B. The amount promised to be allowed even nine months & eighteen days according to the Act of my resolution -

Wickham N.Y. Aug 2. 1833
Dear
Jonathan H. Edwards Esq. War Dept. Division of Washington City

Albany Hickimer August 1. 1833
Sir,
James Mc Masters now of Russia Steubner County N. York aged eighty two and very infirm became an applicant before Sherman Wooster a judge & now deceased, for a pension under the act of 1832.
He made his declaration before Judge Wooster at Chambers about a year ago. These papers were sent on to the Department and returned to annual certain defects. Additional papers were made & forwarded and the whole filed and a decision suspended because of a variance in the two statements & the last increasing the pension.
At this stage of the business Judge Wooster died and after a careful examination of the correspondence I find no means to ascertain what the defects in the papers were. He said there were defects but they are not stated. I suppose they were noted on the papers now in Washington. The facts wherein the two statements differ can not be ascertained by the correspondence.
The Applicant is old infirm and forgetful and I am unwilling to rely on his statements. He supposes that in the first statement his services were stated as those of a private and in the second as those of a Corporal and Sergeant. In this case I am satisfied that his first campaign was as a corporal & his second as a Sergeant. After 1775 & 1776, he served in the Militia as a private as a Minute man and on calls for short periods of 10 or 20 days and the like. He, I believe can find no witness to prove any of his services.
I would ask that his case be again taken up and considered as favorably as under his age infirmities and the death of Judge Wooster may be consistent with the Law. May not his pension be allowed as for a private until he can make proof that he served as a Corporal and Sergeant? Can it not be allowed as for his services as a Corporal in 1775 & Sergeant in 1776 suspending the time he served afterwards as a private or

allowing only for so much as is definitely stated. If in this view of the subject he can be allowed such a pension as will sustain his old age, it will be very gratifying. If nothing can be allowed, then I desire that the particulars of each of the grounds of refusal be stated with so much certainty that inquiry may elicit the truth on each point. For, in the decrepitude decay and mutilated state in mind and body of these good old men, I for one can not in conscience rely much on them & am forced to inquire & ascertain the truth before I can consent that these men should swear. I knew Judge Wooster well: he was eminently an honest man; he saw the condition of these old men and labored industriously to ascertain and state the truth in their respective cases - and in this case if in the second statement, it is alleged that services were as a Corporal & Sergeant, I am strong in the belief that it is so stated because he ascertained such to be the fact.
Soliciting a full answer I am
Yours & Michael Hoffman
J. S. Edwards Pension office -

SWB O. W. & N. Div.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C. Aug 5 189 6
Respectfully returned to the writer, who is requested to furnish, for purposes of identification, as much as possible of the information called for below.
J. M. [unclear] Commissioner.
Full name of soldier:
James Mac Master
Place of residence before service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Williamstown Berkshire Co. Mass
Place of residence after service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Russia Herkimer Co., N.Y.
Date of death (as near as possible):
Oct. 1838
Christian name of widow:
Katherine
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
He did, widow
Remarks: Was in Battle of Brumington
This paper was sent me for when preparing to become a D. A. R. found today.
Your name and address
Mrs. E. S. [unclear] 34 Oak St. Geneseo, N.Y.
2338b2m
His granddaughter.

25

Rev. Sec.
ON 1
34 Oak St.
Geneseo, N.Y. Sept 22/16
Dept. of the Interior.
Bureau of Pensions.
The enclosed paper was sent me in 1896, quite a while ago.
At that time I contemplated becoming a D. A. R. Those papers were laid away and I found this today.
I am quite sure that the information is correct.
Yours —
Mrs. E. S. Curtiss.
Granddaughter of James MacMaster.

WAR & NAVY DEC 6 1894 FILES

M
21898
Dec. 3. 187-
Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
I wish to make inquiries about James McMaster a Revolutionary soldier. He lived in 1790 in Berkshire Co. Mass. I do not know whether he enlisted from there or not.
His last pensions were sent to Prospect, Oneida Co. N. Y. possibly his daughter with whom he lived, may have transacted business for him; her name was Margaret McMaster.
These are all the facts I can give about him, but I wish to establish the fact of his native town, or where he lived when he enlisted; whether he was an officer or not; what pension he received and where the

last one was paid. My name has been traced as a Daughter of the Moulton. and as I am a granddaughter of James M c Master, the one I have tried to locate, any in- formation you can give in regard to him will be thank- fully received.
Yours respectfully, Mrs. Emeline S. Curtiss Seneca, Liv. Co., N.Y.

Rochester N.Y. 1/17/18.
Pension Bureau, Washington. D. C.
Sir:- I am looking for the record of one, James Mc Master, who is listed in the first census of N. Y. State as to a soldier of the Revolution, living in what was then Montgomery Co., Chenango township. He was one of the first settlers of what is Otego. Tioga Co., N. Y. at the present time. He came from New England and I think enlisted from Mass. He settled in Otego in 1788. and I judge died in that vicinity.
Have you any record of a James Mc Master, answering this description? Did he receive a pension and can you give me any data as regards his death, birth or his family?
Thanking you in advance for attention to this matter. I am
Yours truly, Nelle T. Phipps.
(over)

Address of sister.
Mrs. Horace Phipany.
146 Lincoln Ave.
Rochester N.Y.

O. W. & N. Division.
P.S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C., December 21, 1894.
Madam:-
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of ± JAMES McMASTERS ± a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 22, 1775 9 mo. Pri., Samuel Sloan Paterson Mass.   Jan., 1776 12 mo. Corpl. & " " " "   ----- 1777 4 mo. Sergt. Samuel Clark Benjamin Simonds "  
Battles engaged in, Bennington. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Williamstown, Mass. Date of application for pension, Sept. 1, 1882. Residence at date of application, Russia, N.Y. Age at date of application, Eighty-one years.
Remarks:
Mrs. Euline S. Curtis, Geneseo, N.Y.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.