Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7022, for James Matthews, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Matthews, James or John.
R. 7022
CONTENTS

38,722 John Matthews N. York June 7. 1832
David Garrison New Rochelle N. York

State of New York } County of West Chester }
On this fifteenth day of March in the year one thousand Eight Hundred & fifty four personally appeared in open court before the Supreme Court of the State of New York now sitting at the Court House in White Plains in the State and County aforesaid John W Brown one of the Justices of said Court presiding John Matthews a resident of Yonkers  Yonkers in the County of West Chester, and State of New York aged Twenty six 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 Enlisted as a Soldier in the Service of the United States at the Old Fly Market in the City of New York that he is unable to recollect the name or names of any of the officers under whom he Enlisted that he was sent over to the Barracks in Bronx his about two Miles from the Ferry that he was there about two or three weeks — When the British came and drove them back across the River that it was night when they crossed & left fire burning to deceive the Enemy that they did not all get over until daylight that they went to Fort Washington that he was Eighteen years of age when he Enlisted that he

received a wounds in that Engagement that one wound was given because he refused to carry his Musket Butt upwards that after the Fort was surrendered he & four others one named Jack Pitch & one Nathan Youngman Youngman were placed in charge of a man named Thomas Andrews who proposed to them to run away and that the same night they went to the River & stole a Boat tied their pocket Handkerchiefs round the oars to prevent any noise and started that they were discovered when about halfway across the River & fired upon with a cannon that they succeeded in getting across the River & reported themselves to the Commanding American Officer on the West side of the Hudson. that in consequence of his wounds, the Officer directed him to go back in the country & stay until he get well or go where he had a Friend to that about a year after he formed a company of Minute Men & performed duty with them under Capt. Egan. and was doing duty along the Shore of the Hudson as far up a Grassy Point, that he was doing duty at Hawthorn when Stony point was taken & that Minute Men re- ceived no pay that he received no pay for such Service & remained doing such duty for three years. that he has never made any previous application for relief of any kind from the United States Government That he has never received any schooling &

cannot read or write that he does not - know the name of any person living who knows of his being in the Army he thinks General Green was sick at the time they left Long Island He merely relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency in any State or Territory of the United States
Sworn & subscribed this 15 th day of March 1854 before me
James his Matthews Mark
In Open Court Robt R. Oakley Clerk
State of New York } West Chester County ss }
Moses Sutton Farmer aged fifty six residing in New Castle County of West Chester John Frain aged Eighty years Farmer residing in Tompkins County & State aforesaid & Joshua Carpenter aged sixty seven Farmer & Shoe Maker residing in Yorktown County & State aforesaid & Richard M Underhill aged sixty six re- siding in Yorktown County & State aforesaid & Peter Miller Farming & residing in New Castle since Farmer, John D Nairs Farmer of Bedford aged about fifty & Abraham Munks of New Castle aged 85 Farmer County & State aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Matthews who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration & that we be- lieve him to be about sixty six

years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion  Given & subscribed this 15th day of March 1854 In Open Court  Robt R. Oakley  Moses Sutton John his X mark Tams Joshua Carpenter Ezekiel Mear A. McCandless A. John (L. Hairs) Abraham Weeks
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 Pensioner & Soldier and hence as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that that the parties signing the preceding certificate are residents as therein stated that they are creditable persons and that their statements are entitled to credit  Dated March 15th 1854  John M Brown Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
I Robert R. Oakley clerk of the County of Westchester and also clerk of the Supreme

Court of the State of New York in and for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Supreme Court in the matter of the application of James Matthews for a pension
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court and County this 15 th day of March A.D. 1854
Robt R. Oakley
Clk

D. Herndon Mar 31 1854
REJECTED
7022
P. O.
John Matthews
Service:
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
Recognized. _____
Contract
Cert. of Dis. _____
Searched for _____
, 18

David Harrison
Mar 31/54

Pension Office
March 31. 1857
Sir
The application of John Matthews, of New York, for a pension under the act of June 7. 1832, has been examined.
This claimant asserts no such service in the Revolutionary war as would entitle him to a pension. Casual service, as a minute man, which the state did not recognize and pay for has never been regarded as of a character to be embraced as military service within the meaning of the pension laws.
I observe that the court certifies that the applicant is a pensioner , although he declares that he never asked for or received any compensation for his services. Certificates so carelessly made are entitle the proceedings to but slight consideration. The application is rejected.
David Harrison Esq New Rochelle N. Y.

John Matthews
To
David Harrison
Power of Atty.
Orig
Col
David Harrison New Rochelle N. York

State of New York Westchester County ss. }
Know all men by these presents that I James Matthews of the Town of Yorktown in the County of Westchester and State of New York a pensioner of the United States do hereby constitute and appoint David Harrison my true and lawfull attorney for me and in my name to receive from the agent of the United States for paying pensions in the State of New York my pension from the 4th day of March 1831 to the first day of May 1854 or until the day of my death
Witness my hand and Seal this sixteenth day of March One thousand Eight Hundred & fifty four.
Sealed and delivered in presence of William Lorrevore Edward Wells State of New York } Westchester County ss. }
James his X Matthews mark
Be it known that on the sixteenth day of March One thousand Eight Hundred & fifty four. before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Westchester duly authorized by law to administer Oaths personally appeared James Matthews above named and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be his act and deed In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year last mentioned
William Lorrevore
Justice of the Peace

STATE OF NEW YORK,
County of Westchester, ss.
I, ROBERT R. OAKLEY, Clerk of the County aforesaid, and also Clerk of the Courts in and for said County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That William Lockwood Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed Instrument, and endorsed thereon, was, on the day of the date of the said Certificate, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, residing in said County, elected and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same, according to the laws of the said State. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Justice, and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof , I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Courts and County, this 16 th day of March 185 4
Robt R. Oakley
CLERK.

State of New York } City & County of New York } Be it Known that on the twenty fourth day of March in the year one thousand Eight Hundred & fifty four before me a Commissioner of Deeds in and for said County duly authorized by Law to ad- minister oaths personally appeared David Hanson the Attorney named in the foregoing power of Attorney and made oath that he has no- interest whatever in the money he is authorized to receive by virtue of the foregoing power of Attorney Either by Pledge Mortgage Sale assignment or transfer and that he does, Not Know or believe that the same has been or disposed of to any person whatever
Sworn & subscribed the 24 th day } of March 1854 before me } Geo. L. Osborn Commissioner of Deeds.
David Hanson

State of New York, City and County of New York, } 88.
I, RICHARD B. CONNOLLY , Clerk of the City and County of New York, and also Clerk of the Supreme Court for the said City and County, being a Court of Record, DO HERE-BY CERTIFY, That Geo. L. Osborn before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was at the time of taking the same, a Commissioner of Deeds, for said City and County, duly appointed and sworn, and authorized to administer oaths to be used in any Court in said State, and for general purposes; and that his signature thereto is genuine, as I verily believe.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, the 24 day of March 185 4
Richd B Connolly Clerk.