Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14498, for Asa Smith, Massachusetts

Mass.
Smith, Asa
S. 14498
recorded
CONTENTS
b. Nov 23, 1753, at Montague Hampshire Co. Mass. & there at eul. res in 1813 Athol, Warren Co. N.Y.

Letter to Hon. C. Ellis 11. June 1844
8955
New York
Alma Smith
Warrant in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Oliver of the Reg't commanded by Col. Doolittle in the War of the Rebellion for 7 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 day of May 1833 and, sent to Mrs. Archibald C. C.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $46.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept. 2 11.66
$58.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book C Vol. 4 Page 75

No 12.870
Asa Smith Warren County New York
admitted 7 mo Private
✓
Thomas Archibald Warren County New York

BRIEF in the case of Asa Smith County of Warren in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 years  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 In 1775- 4 As a Private Gen. Capt Oliver   do " 1776 60 " Col Doolittle   do 1777 30 " Capt Montague   The Applicant Enlisted for 8 months but only served 4 having obtained two substitutes. Capt Gurian  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Bunker's Hill  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Montague State of Massachusetts  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  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.
Daniel D. Davidson Examining Clerk.

12.870 The sum of dollars to be paid for Pensions
admitted 7 mo. Private.

State of New York Warren County
On this thirty first day of August in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before me Thomas Pattison one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Warren in the State of New York, Asa Smith, a resident of the town of Gore in the County of Warren and State of New York aged Seventy eight 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 Jan y 7 th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States in the month of May in the year 1775 that he enlisted as a volunteer for Eight months in Captain Oliver's Company of Infantry in Colonel Doolittle's Regiment of Militia in the town of Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts, that he was in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and worked all night previous to the battle in erecting breast works, remember that Colonel Doolittle's Regiment lay next to his Regiment during the greater part of the time, served in Captain Oliver's Company about four months and then employed Zebediah Smith his brother and David Smith as substitutes to serve out the remainder of the term received no written discharge as David Smith was his substitute when the Company was discharged
That in the fall of the year 1776 he enlisted in the town of Montague in the State of Massachusetts for Sixty days in Captain Montague's Company of Infantry Militia don't recollect the name of the Colonel of the Regiment went from Montague to New Haven in the State of Connecticut and from thence into the town of Westchester in the State of New York, was not engaged during this service in either a battle or skirmish, served personally in this Company Sixty days and was dismissed without a written discharge
That a short time previous to the Battle at Saratoga in which General Burgoyne's army was taken, he enlisted as a volunteer in the town of Montague in the State of Massachusetts in Captain Gunn's Company of Infantry Militia from thence he marched to Bennington, and from Bennington to Stillwater in Saratoga State of New York, lay previous to the battle Schuyler Creek, and from thence marched to Fort Miller in the State of New York, that he was there taken sick and discharged, that he served in Captain Gunn's Company Thirty days.
That he stood as a minute man in the town of Montague in Massachusetts during the revolutionary war, was frequently ordered out for a day or two, and was once ordered to Bennington in Vermont, that before they reached the place counter orders were received that our services were unnecessary as the enemy were defeated
That he has no documentary evidence of his services during the revolutionary war, nor does he know of any person

Whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services, and that in all his enlistments he was a private. That he was born in the town of Montague, in the County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts on the twentythird day of November in the year 1753, Has no record of his age as it was burnt with his house about 33 years ago. - That he lived in the town of Montague aforesaid when he was called into the service, and resided in said town for ten years after the Revolutionary war, That from thence he removed to the present town of Athol in the County of Warren and State aforesaid of New York. That he has lived in the last mentioned place nearly 33 years and that he now lives in said last mentioned place. 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Thomas Patterson a Judge of the County Courts of the County of Warren Asa Smith
We Guy Brooks a clergyman residing in the town of Athol in the County of Warren and State of New York and Duncan McEwan and John W Cameron of the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Asa Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Thomas Patterson a Judge of the Warren County Courts of Common pleas
Asa Smith Guy Brooks Duncan McEwan John W Cameron

And I the said Thomas Pattison one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Warren, do hereby declare my 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 I further Certify that it appears to me that Guy Brooks who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Athol in the County of Warren and that John W Cameron and Duncan McEwen who have also signed the same, are residents in the town of Athol aforesaid, and are creditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. I further Certify, that the above named applicant Asa Smith, by reason of bodily infirmity cannot attend Court Thomas Pattison
State of New York Warren County
I Thomas Archibald Clerk of the said County do Certify that Thomas Patterson before whom the preceding Declaration of Asa Smith and the Affidavits of Guy Brooks Duncan McEwen & John W Cameron purport to have been sworn was at the dates of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County And that I am acquainted with his hand Writing, and hereby believe his name subscribed to the above Declaration & Affidavits, and Certificate to be his proper hand Writing, and signature Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 19th day of September AD 1832 Thomas Archibald Clerk

Asa Smith app. under act of 7 th June 1832.

Schenectady, April 22 d 1844.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
Sir.
In the
summer of 1843, I made application for documentary evidence of the revolutionary services of Asa Smith , whose supplemental statement is hereto annexed. The "powers that then were" treated me cavalierly & refused to examine for the proof required, without an exorbitant fee. ($5) & without sundry other requisitions which could not be complied with, without great expense & inconvenience. Now under different auspices I have obtained the requisite proof.
Down it goes to Mr. Smith, as well as myself, to make this representation. The like causes have induced delay in other cases I have the agency of.
It will be seen that Mr. Smith's statement, (as I am sure it will compare favorably with his declaration originally made) is unusually well confirmed by the record proofs. In 1775 he enlisted for 8 months, but he is returned as having served for six months only & so settled with. In 1776 his service for 2 months cannot be fortified by the records in the Secretary's office, as Montague's Rolls are wanting. In 1776, he served according to the records 3 days longer than alleged. The arrear of pay due him are, it is true, small, but nevertheless would be very acceptable to the poor & worthy pensioner in his extreme old age. (Note in 1777 he served as a Sergeant .) —
I am your obedt Servt
G. H. W. Ad.
A copy is not wanted to place on file.

14498 INVALID.
File No. 14.498
Asa Smith
Dis. New York
Act: June 1 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 248
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of New York County of Warren } ss.
Asa Smith of the town of that in said County, aged ninety years and upwards, being duly sworn saith, that he is a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress passed 7 June 1832. That his annual stipend is $23 33 100 . And with a view to obtain an increase of his pension to which he conceives he has ever believed himself to be entitled, he declares and says -
That he enlisted in the month of April 1775 for the term of eight months in the town of Montague in the County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts under Captain Robert Oliver, Lieut Thomas Grover in Colonel Doolittle's Regiment & served during said term of eight months at Cambridge, Bunker Hill & other places.
In the month of September or October in the year 1776, Deponent was drafted to serve for two months at Westchester & other places near New York under Captain Montague if he remembers right, from the militia of the Regiment in which he was enrolled, and he deponent served for the full term on this occasion of two months.
In the fall of the year 1777, Deponent served for thirty days with a detachment of the militia from his beat in the Campaign which eventuated in the capture of Burgoyne. Deponent cannot distinctly recollect the names of the officers under whom he served on this occasion except Lieutenant Asel Gurne. After this Deponent did no further militia or other military duty of any account.

and he claims an increase of pension to be graduated according to the length of his service in said War actually rendered, to wit for eleven months .
Alma Smith
Subscribed & sworn this 22 nd day of May 1843, before me Daniel Aldrich justice peace
State of New York County of Nassau } ss Clerk's office
I Thomas Archibald Clerk of said County do hereby certify that David Aldrich before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn, was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, duly elected & qualified; and that the signature to the jurat of said affidavit, purporting to be his, is genuine
Witness my hand & official seal this 22 nd day 1843
Thomas Archibald Clerk
att. B. B. Miller Columbia Co. N.Y.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
No 93
Secretary's Office, April 17 1844
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 Asa Smith of Montague is borne upon the rolls of Capt Robert Oliver, Col Doolittle from April 19 1775 to Oct, and upon the Cont rolls, as a private
The name of Asa Smith is also borne upon a pay roll of Capt Geo Oliver, from Sept 28 to Oct 31, at the reduction of Burgoyne as a Sergeant.
There are no rolls of Capt Montague in 1776 in this Office
8. 10.

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone: and that said application and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances which tend to satisfy me of the identity of the party described in the application with the individual who rendered the service.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Wm. S. Smith Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth.