Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39,791, for William Johnston, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Mass)
Johnston, William
S 39,791
CONTENTS

7089
Vermont
William Johnston Cranes Private Regt.
Staples line 3 yrs
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 13 of Apr. 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th of March 1818 and sent Hon W. A. Palmer Hr. of Reps
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819 — 85.86 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sep. 1819  48.02 133.88
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Suspended under Act May 1, 1820

William Johnston. Declaration.
Adm.
Correct D. War

Adm C
William Johnson, Destination.
Correct W. H. H.
Hon. W. A. Palmer, Senate.
Date cut: 5 March 1849

State of Vermont Colchester County ss
Attest: Curtis Stanley Clerk
I John Rankin one of the Assistant Judges of the County Court within & for the County of Colchester & State of Vermont do hereby certify, that it appears to my entire satisfaction, that the within named William Johnston did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common Enemy. & I do further certify that the same Wm Johnston is now in very poor & indigent circumstances & starving under severe sickness & indisposition & stands in need of assistance from his Country for Support. & I do now trans-
mit the proceedings & testimony taken & had before me together with the enclosed papers & documents delivered to me by said Johnston, to the Secretary for the Department of State, pursuant to the directions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, which said declaration is made in order to obtain the provision made by said act. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature & the seal of said Court this 13 th day of April AD 1818. John Rankin

 I William Johnston of Brattle County of Caledonia & State of Vermont, Testify, That on or about the 10 th of April 1777 I enlisted at Boston, in Col. Cross Brig d of Artillery, & Company commanded by Capt. John Brainerd, & I remained & took an active part in the war until the 20 th Dec r 1780, when I was honorably dis- charged at Windsor, in the State of New York, being then in a declining state of health. — That I was personally present at the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown, & Monmouth, — that about the 1 st of February 1780, I commenced Clerk of the or- dinance Office, at West Point. — That the Monthly returns & other public writings of the like kind, in S d Garrison, usually transmitted to Congress &c. — were mostly of my hand-writing, being signed by Edward Prokingsham A.T.C.M.S. — & I believe also by Sebastian Preuman, Major Commandant of the Artillery — That early in Aug st same year, I was discharged from the line, by order of Major Genl Knox — & the same day promoted to be an Officer in the Staff Department, by the title of Commissary, or Conductor of the Military Stores, in the field. — That in this station I remained under the command of the Honorable M ch l Prokingsham Esq r  A.T.C.M.S. until dismissed from the service, as aforesaid. — & I further testify that at the time of my discharge, my pay, rank & emoluments were the same as a Lieut t of the Artillery, & that I have been for nearly five years, confined to a bed of sickness & am in very indigent circumstances. — } and need support from my Country 

I further testify that I am now and have ever since I was in the service been a resident citizen of the United States William Johnston
State of Vermont } Barnet April 13th 1818 Caledonia County } Then Personally appeared the above named William Johnston and subscribed the foregoing Declaration in my presence and made solemn oaths to the truth of the same being about six sixty years of age before me At John Brankin At Judge of Caledonia County Court
Caledonia ss I hereby certify that I read the enclosed papers of Wm Johnston the within Deposition bury all the papers he said he had in his opinion as evidence of his service and promotion John Brankin At Judge Caledonia County Court

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MD9
October 15, 1925.
Leah A. Watters 301 East Avenue, Lockport, New York.
Madam:
I have to advise you, that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S-39791, it appears that William Johnston enlisted at Boston, Massachusetts April 10, 1777, served as a private in Captain John Bryant's Company, Colonel Crane's Artillery Regiment. He was engaged in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. In February, 1780 he became Clerk of the Ordnance Office at West Point. On August 4, 1780 he was appointed Conductor of military stores and was discharged December 20, 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 13, 1818 while residing at Barnet, Caledonia County, Vermont.
The dates and places of his birth and death are not on record, nor is there any data of file as to family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.

39 791
• Reog  INVALID.
File No. 39 791
William Johnston Dr. Geo. V. Spencer
Act: 18 th March 18
Index: — Vol. 8 , Page 265
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Jan'y - 11 - 1904 H. 15 Mrs. Geo. V. Spencer Chicago Ill 1925 Oct 15: Hist to Leah A. Waller. mdy

Johnston, Wm. Cont (Mass) S39791

The Bearer Mr. William Johnston 1 Mr. Stone has liberty to pass the Guards in camp on public Business —
Whom it concerns
Artillery Park Nov. 26 th 1730
Morris Lane
D. G. G.

Johnston, Wm. Cont (Mass) 539791

M c William Johnston is hereby Appoi- nted a conductor of Military Stores in the field, and as such is to receive pay & Subsistence accordingly
Given at West Point this 15 th August 1780
Rich d Sutherland A. D. 16, 1780

W m William Johnston Esq r , is hereby authorized by order of Rich d Frothing Military Stores.
2 d 6 th 1780
Whom Yours "F r M c Clure"
Johnston, Wm. Cont - Mass S 39791

W m William Johnston has, is hereby discharged by order of Lieut. Frothing Military Stores.
Nov 6 th 1780
Thomas Jones J. H. [unclear]
Johnston, Wm. Cont - Mass S 39791

Mr. [unclear] is hereby [unclear] of Military respect is from the rate hereof to to receive the pay and emolu- ments annexed, or which shall be annexed, to said Office.
Given at the Park of Artillery this 4 day of August 1881
By order of Gen. Knox J. [unclear] J. [unclear] in deft [unclear]

aw
301 East Avenue Rockport, N.Y.
October twelfth Bureau of Pensions Dept of the Interior
My dear Sirs,
Having received no reply to a letter written many weeks ago, to you, I now ask if you will kindly forward this to the proper department for

answer Can you give me the Revolutionary war record also the name of his wife of William Johnston born in Scotland 1756. died in Barnet, Vermont July 1, 1819 ? He served America through the Revolutionary war. Hoping this will receive your immediate attention. I am Sincerely, Deah A. Watters

301 East Avenue Lockport, N.Y.
September sixth
Bureau of Pensions Dept. of Interior
My dear Sirs,
May I kindly ask you the record of wife's maiden name and the war record of a revolu- tionary soldier, William Johnston born in Ayr, Scotland 1756 and died July 1, 1819 in Barnet, Vermont, who served America through the revolutionary war.
Sincerely
Reah A. Watters

18871
Chicago Ill.
Dec 11 1903.
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir: 7089
"Corresponding Sec. D.A.R." Washington D.C. Ingraham Mann has suggested my writing you for information concerning a relative whose history I am anxious to secure, as I am desirous of becoming a member of the "Daughters of the American Revolution." The relative whose history I seek was William Johnston who lived and is buried in Barnet Vermont. I obtained what little information I have from a cousin living in Barnet and who writes me that "I am eligible to the D.A.R. according to the Historical Gazetteer

of Vermont," and further states: William Johnston was a staff-officer and a pensioner, was in the battles of Brandywine, Monmouth and Germantown. He saw Gen. Putnam plunge down the frightful precipice and escape and witnessed Major Andre's execution when he said the American officers wept." My relative being a pensioner, Mrs. Mann advised me to write you and whatever information you can secure and furnish me I will greatly appreciate and will glad remit funds sufficient to defray any expense to which you may be put. Could you tell me in what City are the books of the "Historical Gazetteer of Vermont" so that I could write for further

information. 2
Mrs. Mann suggested my writing you for a "copy of the previous record" and to state to you the County from which my ancestor served. I am not sure of the latter but so far as I know William Johnston always lived in Barnet Vermont. My mother Mary Lang was a daughter of Dr. Andrew Lang also of Barnet. William Johnston's wife's name was Mary. Will you kindly reply at your convenience as I am desirous of becoming a member of the "D. A. R." as soon as possible. 2
Respectfully, Mrs. Geo V. (Margaret L. Spencer) 6907 Yale Av. Chicago Ill.