Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9668, for William Sly, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Sly William
R. 9668
CONTENTS
..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

14870 William Fly
done

State of New York Orange County } ss
On this third day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange aforesaid now sitting at the Academy in the Village of Newburgh (It being a court of Record) William Sly a resident of the Town of New Windsor in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy four  eighty 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 here in states
In April 1777 he entered the Company of Captain William Sellford In which James Faulkner and Alexander Beatz were Lieutenants and Robert Buchanan orderly Serjeant. James McLaughry was Colonel of the Regiment and Jacob Dreeker and Moses Phillips were Majors In April one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven shortly after deponent was engaged in said Company of Militia there was an alarm at Fort Montgomery situated in the highlands on the West side of the Hudson where the whole Company were ordered down They marched from New Windsor by land crossed the mountains to West Point left the Point to the left and proceeded to Fort Montgomery - Deponent cannot recollect of seeing any troops at West Point at that time General George and General James Clinton with whom deponent was well acquainted were at Fort Montgomery where we arrived there a party of Colonel  General Dubois and a part of Colonel McLaughry's Regiment was there Deponent well recollects that there was a Company of Artillery at that Post but who was the com-

marked
thereof deponent cannot now distinctly recollect Captain John Bellknap's Company of Yearmen was also there We were employed there on furlough and staid one week and were then discharged and returned home by water to New Windsor about the 15th of the same month there was another alarm at the same place The whole Company went down as far as New Windsor and were then ordered to join the mountains for a band of Tories under Captain Rose We met with and took most of them Rose himself was taken and afterwards hung at Kingston in Ulster County We were three days out in this service at this time - In the month of June in the same year I was one of a detachment of said Company sent to Fort Clinton Col. McLaughlin Colonel Pundenz and the Clintons were there We marched over the mountains to West Point & from there to the fort aforesaid We staid there one month & were employed on furlough We were then discharged and returned by water about the 28th day of Sep- tember 1777 A detachment under Captain Bail of the same Regiment were ordered down again on an alarm to the place aforesaid We went by water from New Wind- sor aforesaid and remained there until the day of the battle which took place on the 26th day of October in the year aforesaid a little previous to the battle we were ordered to the opposite side of the river & stationed near a place called Kingston's nose as a guard Cap- tain Lee of Colonel Lewis Dubois's Regiment commanded our party The two Clintons commanded the troops at Forts Clinton & Montgomery Colonel McLaughlin's Regi- ment was at Fort Clinton under his immediate com- mand a part of Dubois's Regiment with Mundy's Company of Artillery were defended Fort Mont- gomery - A detachment of British Troops under the command of Sir Henry Clinton in person having passed thro a defile in the Mountains approached

Fort Clinton on the South side of Popelopes Hill directly opposite to Fort Montgomery thro' a settlement on the bank of the River which extended from the River to the Bear Moun- tain on the west at the foot of which a small pond stretches about a quarter of a mile in length This settlement is commonly called Doodle Town another detachment under the Immediate command of Colonel Campbell ap- proached Fort Montgomery by the way of Loom- borough Furnace keeping the road which leads from said Furnace along the bank of Pop- elopes Hill in an Eastern direction to the River The detachment to which deponent then belonged was stationed at Clinton's nose on the East side of the Hudson River on an ele- vation overlooking the Forts Montgomery and Clinton and commanding a full view of the respective movements of the contem- porary parties The detachment of Lieut Henry Clinton arrived at Fort Clinton about one o'clock in the afternoon and having sum- moned it to surrender commanded the at- tack with great firmness which was resisted with great firmness obstinately until near dark when the last Redoubt on that side of the Popelopes Hill having made a most brave and determined Resistance surrendered prisoners Colonel Campbell was killed and Colonel McLaughlin severely wounded and taken prisoners The Menun- der his command were taken prisoners and confined in New York after the bat- tle of Fort Montgomery our detachment re- turned by land now Ditchey's County crossed the River at New Windsor and returned home on the next Thursday thereafter we found that part of our Regiment which had

pared from Fort Montgomery and returned to New Windsor under the command of Major David Root upon whom the command devolved in consequence of the absence of Colonel McLaughry in New York as aforesaid The Remains of Dubois's Regiment and Mooty's Company of Artillery were at New Windsor at this time Webb's Regiment of Continental Troops was at the square about four miles West from the River We remained at New Windsor six weeks whilst there Major the British Army was taken at the square and hung at Hurley near Kingston In the month of November in the year 1777 a detachment of our company under the command of Captain Fellows and Lieutenant Beatty were ordered to assist in fortifying Snells Point. I was there with said detachment We worked six weeks on the fortification under Captain Machin & were then discharged having performed our tour of duty In the month of March 1778 I was one of a detachment under the command of Captain Fetter of our Regiment which was ordered to West Point to fortify We went by water and were employed in erecting Fort Clinton We were at this place one fortnight and returned home by land Colonel Warner commanded the Militia at this Post Colonel Humphreys was there at the time In the month of October 1778 a detachment of our company under the command of Captain McBride of our Regiment were ordered to think on the Indian frontier our Captain was Colonel of the Regiment stationed there at that time We remained at think

one fortnight and then returned Captain Paul Thode at the same time with a company of Militia. In the same month and year last aforesaid there was an alarm at Pumpsuck on the Indian fron- tier near the confluence of the Neversink and Delaware Rivers our Regiment was ordered out under the command of Major Phillips before named George Deniston was adjutant Captain Telford commanded our company we remained there three days until the alarm subsided In the month of June in the year 1779 The whole of our Regiment was ordered to the forest of Dean two or three miles West of Fort Montgom- ery on an alarm The British threatened an attack we went down by water (Colonel Newkirk com- manded the Regiment) and landed at West Point from whence we marched by night leaving Fort Montgomery on the left The object of this movement was to prevent the Enemy from fall- ing on West Point in the rear & taking it by surprise we had orders not to speak on the march in order that if we should meet the En- emy we might fall on them by surprise We remained here ten days until the threaten- ed danger was over and were discharged We returned by land thro' the cove where we fell in with General Hand's Division of Continental troops encamped who had lately arrived from the South  the North in the State of New Jersey In the month of April 1780 In there was a guard of Continental troops at the forest of Dean whilst we were encamped there In the month of April 1780 we went to Marmahat- ing on the Indian Frontier under the command of Lieutenant Alexander Beatty to guard the frontier settlements and also some other detachment we remained there two weeks and returned In the month of June 1780 The whole of our Regiment un- der the command of the said Colonels Newkirk and Phillips were ordered to West Point on a gene

and alarm our Company was commanded by Captain Telford and the other officers before named belonging to said Company we went by water & were employed on furlough whilst there in fortifying to repel an attack. We remained there ten days & returned to New Windsor by water. Rose who was Chief engineer at that place General James Clinton was there and General Patterson with his Brigade of Continental troops. In July first 1780 I went to help us in the State of New Jersey with Struglers from Burgoyne's army which had before been sent Southward - Lieutenant Beatty was the officer of the Guard. We were gone one week. In the month of October 1780 our Regiment was ordered to the Indian frontier under the command of Major and Colonel Phillips who had been promoted from the rank of Major to that office as Rank had to that of Colonel of the Regiment after Colonel McLaughlin had been taken prisoner as aforesaid. We were stationed at Pemsback upon said one week expecting an attack from the British and Indians some of the main body of men were there at this time. And Iaponit al so saith that in addition to his personal service before related that before the battle of fort Montgomery before mentioned he was one of a class of four men whose names were John Sly, William Sly, Robert Crops & Robert Burnett all of the Town of New Windsor County & State aforesaid that said class hired a man as a substitute for them by the name of James Terry who was to serve for them three months. He entered the service according to his agreement & was killed at the battle of fort Montgomery and Iaponit also saith that from the year 1778 to the year 1781 he was one of a class of eight persons consisting of his father James

his brother John Sly Edward Miller John Fin- ley John Buchanan Thomas McKee Robert Cross Daniel Greenwall. Joseph McLaughlin & Thomas Elliot were hired by them for nine months each. That said substitutes entered the service and served out their times respectively and are all (as well as the individuals whose names to said blasted ) since dead as deponent has been informed and believes with the exception of the deponent.
And In answer to the interrogatories specially put to this deponent by the said court he on his oath saith that he was born in the Town of New Windsor aforesaid In the year 1760 That he has no recollection of his age That lived in the Town of New Windsor aforesaid when he entered the service and has lived there ever since Depo- nent belonged to the Company of Captain Eze- kial Telford of Colonel James McLaughlin's Regiment in which Moses Phillips & Jacob Newark were Majors - James Faulkner Alexander Beatty were Lieutenants Robert Buchanan was orderly Sergeant and was ordered into service with the rest of the company That the names of the Regular officers who were with the troops where he served have been before par- ticularly mentioned in this affidavit and also the continental and Militia Regiments he recollects and the general cir- cumstances of his service That he never re- ceived a written discharge from the service it not having been the practice in the Militia to give written discharges That he is known to William Beatty Joseph Beatty James Boyd and John McMichael all of the Town of New Windsor aforesaid who served in the same company with deponent at the same time in the Revolutionary War

and he is also known to Robert H Burnett Esquire and Joseph Morrel Esquire of said Town who were officers of the Revolution on the Continental establishment and who can testify to deponants character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution
We hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
Sworn to and subscribed the 2 day and year aforesaid
Abah D Manning Clerk
William Sly
We John ...
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page, mostly illegible]
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page, mostly illegible]

State of New York } Orange County } p
Personally appeared before Gilbert Ogden Fowler one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County upon said William Beatty and John Mc Michael of the Town of New Windsor & County aforesaid who being each duly sworn ac- cording to Law doth for himself respec- tively depose and say that he is person- ally acquainted with Major named Forthamilly in the annexed affidavit and served in the same Company with him in the Revolutionary War that they have heard the annexed affidavit of the said William read and that the same is true according to the best of their know- ledge and belief.
John McMichael
Sworn to & subscribed this twenty first day of August 1832 before me
Wm L. Hardy
Gilbert Ogden Fowler one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Orange County.

And the 2nd Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as stated
I Asa Dunning Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of William Sly for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office This Third day of September 1832 Asa Dunning
William Sly

We John Johnson a Clergyman residing in the Town of New Burgh and Isaac Bellknap residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Sly who has subscribed and sworn to the a- bove declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is respected and beloved in the Neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolu- tion and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed - { John Johnston the day and year aforesaid { Isaac Bellknap the eighth day of September 1838 } before me { Gilbert A. Allen Treasurer } One of the Judges of the County Common- } Pleas in and for Orange County. }

X 14,876
William Sly
Claimant
Newburgh New York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of William Shy of Orange County Vermont
   Period when the service was rendered Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Apr 1777 7 Private Capt D. Safford Col M c Laughlin thru the New Wind   " " 3 " " " State of Ver. Orange Living   June " 1 " " " State of Orange County   Nov. " 1 14 " " " New York New York Witnesses   Mar 1778 14 " " "   Oct 1778 14 " " "   " " 3 " " "   June 1779 10 " " " aged 72 years   Apr 1780 14 " " "   June 1780 10 " " "   July 1780 7 " " "   Oct " 7 " " "   2. 93  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood 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.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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, deposeth 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
9668 William Sly
P. O.
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

New York Rare
9668 William Sly
Rejected Matter Com. Ed. let to Chambers 15 Oct. May '33
Act 7 June '32

William Sly
Walter Case
Head Burgh asset

State of New York Orange County } ss
Personally appeared before me Gilbert Ogden Fowler first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange on this fourteenth day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred thirty three William S. to me personally known to be a credible witness President in the Town of New Windsor and County aforesaid aged seventy three 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 of June 7th 1832 —
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
That in the year 1777 in the month of April deponent belonged to the Company of Captain William Telford of the Regiment of Colonel Samuel M'Laughlin of the Town of New Windsor in the County of Orange said Regiment belonged to the Division commanded by General George Clinton James Faulkner was first Lieutenant of said Company Alexander Beatty the second Lieutenant Robert Dickmann was orderly Sergeant William Beatty John McAlister Joseph Beatty & James Boyd — belonged to the same Company at the same time and are all the persons who served with said deponent in said Company who are now living according to the knowledge and belief of this deponent John McAlister

and William Beatty's affidavits are hereto annexed -
and deponent also saith that on the first of April aforesaid there was a gen- eral alarm at Fort Montgomery in the Highlands on the North River the whole Regiment of McLanahan was ordered down - our company was ordered down - I went as a private. our company marched thro' the mountains to West Point & from there to Fort Montgomery - we served at Fort Montgomery eight days & it took us one day to go and one to return which made ten days - on the fifteenth day of April according to the best of Depo- nent's recollection and belief the whole of our Regiment was again ordered out on a general alarm I went with our company to New Windsor aforesaid - Here we were informed that a body of Tories were marching from Ulster County under the command of one Captain Rose for New York - our company with others was ordered to pursue them in the moun- tains - We pursued them in the  the mountain and there overtook a party of them - our Party  company took Rose & Ma- clow & some other prisoners who were taken at Kingston Ulster County as deponent was informed and verily believes to be true We were engaged in this expedition three days - In the month of May the twenty

we were engaged in this expedition three days - In the month of May the twenty eighth according to the best of my Recollection
2 - on and belied a detachment of our company was ordered to Fort Montgomery on a tour of duty - I was one of the detachment We marched down by land thro' the mountains Captain Sillford commanded us at Fort Montgomery his lieutenants were John Barker & Alexander Beatz - James Dunscomb was orderly sergeant We served at Fort Clinton one month & were engaged as a guard in Forts and there We served there at this time one month and then returned - On the twenty eighth day of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven a detachment of our company of which I was one was ordered down to Fort Montgomery on a tour of duty for one month and an half We went from New Windsor on board of Sloop we served at Fort Montgomery one week and an half under the command of Capt Sillford until after the said Fort was taken We then served under Captain Sillford We were present at the battle of Fort Montgomery - Having been detached to entrenchments nose directly opposite to the fort where we remained under the command of Captain Lee until after the fort surrendered We then retreated to Fishkill crossed to New Windsor and returned home on Tuesday Evening on the ensuing Thursday We again joined the Regiment at New Windsor We remained at New Windsor six weeks and until after the Enemy returned down the river

and had encamped fort Montgomery the whole time we were in service at this time was exceeded six weeks In the month of November 1777 - a detachment from our company was ordered to a place called Nichols Point in the Town of New Windsor for the purpose of fortifying the same - We were under the command of Captain Gifford in this tour of duty Alexander Beatty was our lieutenant Na- than Sergeant was orderly. Captain Mach- in was Chief Engineer and was then  had been en- gaged in erecting Chevaux de frise from said Point - to Polypus Island - General George Clinton was occasionally at the Point - We served at this place one month and one half and were then discharg- ed at the place aforesaid - In the month of March in the year 1778 a detach- ment of our company was ordered to West Point for the purpose of erecting fortifications - We marched down. When we arrived there we were placed under the command of Captain Foster Colonel Wissm - was Engineer - We served at this place at this time one half month in building fortifications - In the month October in the year 1778 a detachment of our company was sent to a place called Shank on the Indian frontier under the command of Captain Mc Bride of McLaughrys Regiment When at Shank Moses Gantline was the Colonel of the Regi- ment to which said company belong- ed - We served at Shank one half month

3 Moses Gantline was the Colonel of the Regi- ment to which said Company belong- ed - We served at New York one half month and then returned - In the month of October last aforesaid there was a general alarm on the Indian frontier our Company was ordered to New York the Indians retreated and after three days absence we returned - We were under the command of Captain Telford now Phillips was Major - In the month of June 1779 there was a general alarm at West Point - our whole Regiment turn- ed out under the command of Colonel David Kirk (McLaughlin being a prison- er) our Company was commanded by Captain Telford - We went down by water from New Windsor - We were ordered from West Point to the for- est of Dean - We served at West Point and the forest of Dean ten days ex- clusive of two days occupied in going and returning making in all twelve days - In the month of April in the year 1780 a detachment of our Company under the command of Lieutenant Alexander Beatty was ordered to Mamanaticus on the Indian fron- tier - We remained at Mamanaticus under the command of said Lieutenant Beatty one half month and then returned our term of service having expired - In the month of June in the year last aforesaid there was an alarm at West Point our Regiment turn- ed out under the command of Colonel David Kirk I went with our Company under the command of Captain Telford - We remained

There eight days exclusive of two days going and returning in all ten days In the month of July in the year last aforesaid I went as one of a detachment of said Company to guard Prisoners on their way to Supere in the State of New Jersey I was engaged one week in this service and then re- turned home In the month of October of the same year our whole Compa- ny was ordered to Poughkeepsie on an alarm of the Indians I went as one our Company was commanded by Capt in Telford - We remained at this place one week & then were discharged - and de- ponent also saith that he is very infirm having having had a stroke of the Palsy and that by reason of bodily infirmitie he will not be able to attend the next Court of Common Pleas to be held in and for the Coun- ty of Orange or any other Court of Record to be held in said County -
And in answer to the Inter- rogatories required to be put to the affi- cant he on his oath saith that he was born in the Town of New Windsor afor- said and has lived there ever since That he has a record of his age from which it appears that he was born on the 13th day of February 1760 - That he lived in said Town of New Windsor when called

13 th day of February 1760 - That he lived in said Town of New Windsor when called
4 into service and lives there now - That he was enrolled by the Captain of the Com- pany as a White man. That General James Clinton Colonel Lewis Dubois & General George Clinton were at Fort Mont- gomery when deponent served there. The Continental Regiment was the Regiment of Dubois - That he has already stated the circumstances of his service. That he never received a written discharge
That deponent is well acquainted with Robert Burnett Esquire late an officer of Artillery in the Continental service also Joseph Morrell Esquire late an offi- cer of the Revolutionary army.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension except the present under- clares that his name is not on the pen- sion roll of the agency of any State Sworn to and subscribed & the day and year aforesaid before me. Gilkiss Ogden Fowler 3 William Sly First Judge of Orange County 3
I, Gilkiss Ogden Fowler First Judge of Orange County do hereby certify that Major William Sly the above named deponent is a highly respectable man and a credible witness. June 14 th 1803. Gilkiss Ogden Fowler First Judge of Orange County.

State of New York Orange County - } p
Personally appeared before me Gilbert Ogden Fowler first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Orange County aforesaid John M c Michael & William Beatty well known to me to be credible witnesses and having been due- ly sworn depose and say that they served in the company of Captain William Telford in the Regiment commanded by Colonel James McLaughry at the same time with William Sly whose affidavit is pre- fixed Deponents have always lived in the same neighbourhood with the said Sly were familiarly acquainted with his fame by & were often at his house during the Revolutionary war and state with confidence from their own knowledge that the statement of his services con- tained in the preceding affidavit is true.
John M c Michael
Sworn to and Subscribed & this 16 th day of June 1833
W m Beatty
Before me
Gilbert Ogden Fowler First Judge of Orange County

State of New York & Orange County } ss
We John Johnson a Clergyman residing in the Town of Newburgh and Isaac Schultz of the Town of New burgh Burgh hereby cer- tify that we are well acquainted with William St who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years of age that he respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opin- ion
Sworn and subscribed the 2 nd day of January A.D. 1844 - John Johnston Isaac Schultz before me Gilbert Ogden (Fowler) (First Judge of Orange County)
I, Gilbert Ogden (Fowler First Judge) of Orange County do hereby certify that the above named John Johnston is a respectable Clergyman residing in the Village of Newburgh in Orange County, and that the above named Isaac Schultz is a credible person residing in the same place, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Gilbert Ogden (Fowler First Judge of Orange County)

I Ala Dunning Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Franklin do hereby certify that Gilbert Oden Fowler be fore whom the affidavit of William Sly the affidavit of John Mc Michael and William Beatty and the affidavit of John Johnston and Isaac Struble were respectively sworn was at the time when said affidavits were respectively subscribed by him first Judge of said Court & that his proper handwriting is subscribed to the same respectively & also to the preceding certificate -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 26 th day of June 1833 -
Ala Dunning Clerk
William Sly - Appellant vs John Johnston
William Sly
Quinter Case Wm Burgh assmt