Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23296, for Abraham Lawyer, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Lawyer, Abraham
S. 23296
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing entries.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing entries.

Albany 31,064
Abraham Sawyer
Schoharie Co in the State of N. York he was a Private in the comm Captain of the Regt. comm by Col. Kromer in the N.Y. militia line for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per ann to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of April 1837 and sent B. Spofford Middleburgh, N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March '37 160.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 13.33 $173.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book 8-2 Vol. 4 Page 42
Date of death not on file

Vol 4 p 66-1780-4.48 " " 68 " 2.92 P. " 70-1781-2.18 Corp " " " 2.08
39.58 71.24 11.82 19.30 4.08 51.94 19.30
In the matter of the application of Abraham Lowyer for a Pension 26367
Lt. Field In Vol 3-1780-1.55 " " 1782-1.55 " " 1789-3.10 Admitted " 2.44 Capt. " 1788 9.47 " " 4.97 Admitted " 8.10 Private 18 months " " 8 1779 1.60 Capt. " " 10 1780 3.42 " " " 11 1779 6.84 " " " 12 1781 5.13 " " " 13 1777 2.69 " " " 16 1780 4.86 Corp " " 18 1777 1.40 B. Spafford Esq. Middlebury 0.9 New York 0.6 " " 0.79
Miles 1.55 do 1.55 Lt. Snyder En. J. L. O. Hanger Brown 9.55 do 1.47 J. J. Lowyer Lt. Duth " Woodman En. Byker " Swart Lt. Vroman Hager " " Lt. Terrey " " " " Duke " " Shrubach 70 Hager 11.82

State of New York
Schoharie County ss On this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie and State of New York now sitting Abraham Lawyer a resident of the town of Middleburgh in the said County of Schoharie & State of
74
New York aged Seventyfour 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 7 th 1832. That he was born & has always resided in that part of the State of New York now the town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie. That he was enrolled as a private in the Militia of the State of New York as early as the first day of August in the year 1775. That the Regiment & Company in which he was enrolled at the time of his enlistment was commanded by the following named officers, Colonel Peter Vroman, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Helmer, Majors Thomas Eckerson and Joseph Becker, Captain Jacob Hager & Lieutenant Cornelius Heak. That he does not recollect the name of the ensign. That he belonged to the same Militia Regiment & company until the first day of April in the year 1783. That the said Regiment and company were commanded by the above named officers during that time as near as he can recollect. That from the said first day of August in the year 1775 until the first day of April in the year 1783 he was very frequently on duty in the service of the United States for short periods of from one day to

one month at a time. That he does not recollect the number of different times he was on duty. That he was during most of those periods under the immediate command of some officer of the Regiment or Company to which he belonged but which officer had the command each period he cannot tell. That he does not recollect the exact time he entered the service each or any of those periods nor the time when he left the service, nor how long he was engaged on duty each time. That he was not drafted, a volunteer, or substitute any of the above periods to his knowledge. That he was ordered into the service by some officer of his Regiment or company and entered the service in obedience to such order.
That he was in no Battle during the war. That he marched from the middle Fort in Schoharie in the year 1780 under Colonel Brown in pursuit of the Indians & Tories under McDonald who had been massacring the inhabitants of Schoharie. Colonel Herkner with a party of Light-Horse from Albany was with the American party. That he was in the upper Fort in Schoharie when Schoharie was burnt in the year 1780. That he went several times into those parts of the State of New York now the counties of Delaware, Greene & Albany. That he was very frequently in the Forts in the now County of Schoharie on garrison duty. That he does not recollect when he was engaged on duty each period. And the said Lawyer saith he is positive he was engaged on duty in the service of the United States as a private Soldier from the said first day of August in the year 1775 until the first day of April in the year 1783 at different periods in the whole amounting to at least three years

That he has no documentary evidence of his services above set forth. That he never received a written discharge from service. That he has a record of his age in his family Bible.
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 to & Subscribed Abraham Lawton the day & year aforesaid in open court John Debnam Jr. Clerk
We John Garritson a Clergyman residing in the town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie in the State of New York James Buchanan  James Buchanan residing in the said town of Middleburgh hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Lawton who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy four 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.
Sworn to & Subscribed John Garritson the day & year aforesaid Harmans Becker Jr. in open court John Debnam Jr. Clk.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Garritson who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Middleburgh in the said County of Schoharie and that

Thomas Bunker & who has signed the same is a resident in the said town of Middleburgh and that they are credible persons and that their statements is entitled to credit. And that Henry Yanson & John Yanson who have subscribed & sworn to the annexed affidavits are residents in the said town of Middleburgh and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Thos. Bunker
M. Thann
Henry Thaper
State of New York
Schoharie County S.S. On this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Honorable the Court of common pleas of the County of Schoharie and State of New York, now sitting Henry Yanson a resident of the town of Middleburgh in the said County of Schoharie who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration. That he is aged Seventy four years, that he has resided always resided in the now town of Middleburgh in the said County of Schoharie, That he has been well acquainted with Abraham Sawyer the person named in the annexed affidavits as long as he can recollect. That he has resided in the said now town of Middleburgh during this time. That he the said Abraham belonged from the commencement to the close of the Revolutionary War to a Militia company under the command of Captain Jacob Hagar and to a Regiment of Militia under the command of Colonel Peter Vroman, that the said Abraham commenced doing duty in the service of the

United States in the year 1775. That from that time until the close of the war he frequently saw & was with the said Abraham on duty, but that he can not tell how many times he has been on duty, nor who had the command of the party to which he belonged each time. That he has, no doubt from what he saw of his services - That the said Abraham was engaged in the service of the United States as a private soldier from the first day of August in the year 1775 until the first day of April in the year 1783 at different periods in the whole amounting to at least three years
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court John Gebhard pr. Clk.
Henry his  X Yanson
State of New York
County of Schoharie ss On this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Honorable the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie and State of New York now sitting John Yanson a resident of the town of Middleburgh in the said county of Schoharie aged Eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration. That he has always resided in the now town of Middleburgh in the said county of Schoharie. That he has been acquainted with Abraham Sawyer the person named in the annexed affidavit as long as he can recollect. That he has resided during this time in the said now town of Middleburgh

That the said Abraham belonged during the Revolutionary War to a Regiment of Militia under the command of Colonel Peter Vroman & to a company under the command of Captain Jacob Hagen. That the said Abraham commenced doing duty in the service of the United States in the year 1775. That from that time untill the close of the war in the year 1783 he very frequently saw him on duty in the service of the United States. That he has no doubt from what he saw of his services, that the said Abraham was engaged on duty in the service of the United States as a private soldier from the first day of August in the year 1775 untill first day of April in the year 1783 at different periods in the whole amounting to at least three years .
Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid in open Court John Gebhard Jr. Clerk
John his X mark Yansen
I John Gebhard Junior Clerk of the Court of common pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Abraham Lawyer for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three -
John Gebhard Jr. Clk. of the court of common pleas of the county of Schoharie

November 9, 1937
Abraham Lawyer S. 23296 BA-J/AWF
Mrs. T. L. Adams 226 Bell Court, East Lexington, Kentucky
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John Bray who died in 1823 in North Carolina, and Abraham Lawyer who was born 1767 and died in 1824 in New Jersey.
The data furnished relative to John Bray are not sufficient to enable this office to identify the record of the John Bray in whom you are particularly interested; as much as possible of the following data in regard to him are essential- approximate date of his birth and places of residence at enlistment and after service.
The record of Abraham Lawyer which follows was obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 23296, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. This is the record of the only Abraham Lawyer found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Abraham Lawyer was born and reared in Schoharie County, New York, near what was later the town of Middleburgh. The date of his birth and names of his parents were not given.
While residing in said Schoharie County, Abraham Lawyer enlisted August 1, 1775, served as private and corporal at various times under Captains Becker, Jacob

Heager, Miller, Brown, Stubraeh, in Colonel Peter Vrooman's New York regiment, during the service he was out in pursuit of Tories and Indians, and did garrison duty in forts in Schoharie County, and continued in the service until April 1, 1783.
The soldier, Abraham Lawyer, was allowed pension on his application executed June 4, 1833, at which time he was seventy-four years of age and living in Middleburgh, Schoharie County, New York.
It was not stated whether soldier was ever married. One John J. Lawyer was referred to, but it was not shown that he was related to the soldier.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data-
Abraham Lawyer Certificate # 31064 Issued April 20, 1837 Rate $38.66 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Albany, New York Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible but appears to be a formal letter.]

226 Bell Ct. East. Lexington, Ky. Oct. 26-1937.
Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir—
In trying to establish the identity of an ancestor I am writing to you for information.
Would you please tell me if a pension was ever granted to one John Bray more as an ex-soldier of the American Revolution? He died in North Carolina in 1823.
Could you also tell me if a Revolutionary soldiers pension was ever granted

an Abraham Lawyer who was born in 1767 and died 1824. He died at the home of his son Asa Lawyer in New Jersey. May
Thanking you in Advance
Sincerely,
26 th
(Mrs.) T. L. Adams.

Revolution
23296.
INVALID.
1937 Nov. 9. list to Mrs. G. J. Adams aunts
File No. 23 296
Abraham Lawyer
Rev. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 284
[Arrangement of 1870.]

New York Revo.
Abraham Sawyer Suspended
let to A. B. Cook 5 Dec 32
to Blissford 13 June 33
to same 2 Sep 33
to same 9. Dec. '36.
summit S. 1847
Act. 7 June 32.

   p  Capt Miller  23 Corps 11 tons,     C.  p  " Brown  Private 12 do      p  " Langner      C  "  " Hager       p  " Stedruck      C  p  Liut Vorman      C  "  " Fuck       p  " Snyder      C  "  " Dutz      C  "  " Luby      C   Ensign Billings      C  "  " Saark    
57.94  40 1

Free
ends imprimis of Pension Washington

W. H. Stafford
Apr. 3 1837
66
Record Vol 45, P 288,

War Department
Pension Office
ApO 3 1897
Sir The affidavit of Abraham Lawrence in relation to the names of Harry & John Yansen contained in your letter of the 21 st December last has been examined and placed on file - All the service that John Yansen appears to have rendered in Col Vermont reg t  for from 1779 to the close of the war is five months - The service previous to that time must be distinctly specified - The claimant states that he was at Fort Edward & at Johnstown in 1776 - He should say how long - From his own recollection all the time he may be able to specify satisfactorily, previous to the year 1779 will be allowed
B. Spafford Esq. Middleburgh New York

Washington D.C. Dec. 29. 1871
Free
Dec 29 N.Y. Post
Hon. J. S. Edwards Commissaire of Russia Washington City

In Sir
Enclosed is the supplemental affidavit of Abraham Sparboe also his affidavit in the cases of the Rufus Gausden. We cannot prove that the Gausden names were ever split Gausden in any other instance than on the Rolls. But I have no doubt that we can prove by every member of the Regiment now living that there was no person belonging to the Regiment by the name of Gausden. That they have no doubt that the said Gausden were the persons to whom the names of Gausden is applied on the pay Rolls. I have only obtained the affidavit entitled supposing that sufficient.
Yours Respectfully A. Stafford
The Hon.
J. S. Edwards Middleborough Dec 28 th 1836

State of New York
Schoharie County ss On this fourteenth  twelfth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty six personally appeared before the Honorable Thomas P. Dunsforth one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie State of New York Abraham Sawyer a resident of the town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie & State of New York who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following supplemented declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of compensation passed June 7 th 1832 That some part of the time during the Revolutionary War he served under the following named Officers Captains J. L. Sawyer, Hays, Lieutenants Shydy, Nick Dietz & Gilly & Ensigns Bellingr & Stout. He thinks it probable that he served under Captains Middle Brown & Stubinack though he does not now recollect having so served that he served both as a private Soldier & as a corporal during the war that he cannot state what part of the time he served in each grade
Sworn to & subscribed the days & year aforesaid before me Thos P Dunsforth one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York
Abraham Sawyer
I Abraham a Judge Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York do hereby certify that the Hon Thomas P Dunsforth is a Judge of said Court of Common Pleas that the signature "Thos P Dunsforth" subscribed to the above sworn

as her genuine signature for testimony where I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 20th day of December in the year of our Lord 1836. A. A. Keyser.
In the Matter of the loss of a Seal application for a new one

Middlebury. June 13th 1880
Dr Sir / I transmit to you a number of Applications Who have Employed and Empowered me to make Application to the government for compensation and a dept which they claim the government owes them for Services rendered in the War of the revolution and the War of 1812 — Will you have the goodness to present them to the department and have their claims investigated without delay so that you will be enabled to inform me what proof will be required applicable to their several cases — I enclose to you a Affidavit of Margaret Borth the widow of William Borth who enlisted for during the War in the War of 1812 Sometime in the fall of 1814 and served during the War when he was honorably discharged the widow claims his land for 16 bounty and three months Extra pay and her pension as his widow from the time of his discharge, and as long as she remains his widow thinking it unnecessary to offer any further proof for the reason that his Name no doubt is on record in the department which will prove his Enlistment and Service an abundance of proof can be offered as it respects his enlistment and serving if required
John Coons. Who claimed his land who is now a pensioner for serving during the War of 1812 and was wounded he says the government gave him a deed for 160 acres of land he says he has never had his land nor has ever deeded it to any one else the land proves to be unfit for cultivation consequently he claims from the government other land fit for cultivation he will re deed back to the government
The Heirs of John Hawley a revolutionary Soldier whose name will be found on record in the department he served during the war and drew a pension until his death but never drew his land the Heirs now claim his land and his pension from the time of his death

The Heirs of Jacob Coons claims from the government 600 Acres of land and a pension for his Services as a regular Enlisted Soldier for during the revolutionary War they his name no doubt is on record in the department which will explain
Frederick Winwright enlisted for 18 Months in the war of 1812 and served his time of enlistment and now claims to be placed on the pension roll he says his name will be found on record in the department if that should not be proof enough he offers further proof of his enlistment and Services
The Heirs of John Jeremiah Dutcher commonly called John Dutcher say and believe he was a regular enlisted Soldier for during the war of 1812 at all events they offer proof that he served during the war as fife Major under Capt Allen 60 th Regiment if they should be correct they claim his land, and his pension $16 bounty and three months extra pay
The Widow of Peter A Green claims arrears of pay at the time of his death and a pension as his Widow his name no doubt will be found on record in the department
The Heirs of Timothy Murphy claim from the government 600 Acres of land $16 bounty three Months extra pay and a pension from the close of war — They say there may have been a mistake made in his name his name may have been recorded Thomas Murphy it appears that during the war he sometimes was called Tom. and sometimes Tim. Sometimes by one and sometimes by the other this information is derived from his own sayings this is an extraordinary case it appears he was a native of Virginia he enlisted in Capt. Parris or Papps company there may be a mistake in the name of the Capt. of

the company he enlisted in a company of Riflemen in the State of Pennsylvania under Col. Wm. Morgan of Virginia who commanded the Regiment at the time of their arrival at Schoharie if it should appear that no record can be found of his enlistment in the regular service he undoubtedly would volunteered his services in defence of his country I think there ought to be no difference whether a volunteer or a regular enlisted soldier, the question is and ought to be which rendered his country the most good his general reputation and History of the country ought to dictate as it respects his valuable services during the war and his many daring exploits with his two barrel rifle he some times shot two at a time and then take the indian's rifle and shot the third he no doubt killed more indian's and Tories and rendered the country more services than any one man in the war, the indian's were so violently wrought in feeling against him they were determined to kill him but he was always too cunning for them some considerable time after the war there came an Indian from Canada with a view to Murphy lay him but as usual he was too cunning for him and the other indian's life was the forfeiture — one other thing I will mention that if it had not been for Murphy the Middle fort in the county of Schoharie would have been surrendered to the enemy and every person in the fort and the whole country from one end to the other would have been Massacred and laid into ashes an abundance of proof can be procured of his valuable services he rendered his country the government ought not to hesitate a moment to compensate and reward him what is honestly due to him — I wish you would carefully examine the records personally so as to be satisfied whether his name can be found he may be recorded by the name of Thomas you will make a list of all by that name of Murphy where they enlisted the N o of Regiments names of officers &c so it may enable us to find out the truth of the matter you will find me a list of all by the name of Murphy or any other information you receive from records

The Heirs of Joseph Efnor — Jacob Vandylke — John Herron — Henry or Henrichus Ganson — Abraham Lawyer — John S Lawyer — Martinus Borst — who was pensioners untill their deaths the Heirs claim that the amount of their pensions may be allowed to them from the time of their deaths — if the department should require proof of my being legally empowered in all these cases I will furnish them without delay —
I hope you will try to procure a speedy action on the applications as no one is more anxious to do them the justice and gratitude to which they are so eminently entitled I am friendly to the old worthies who fought so nobly in the achievement of our liberties and will undertake to say that no one entertains a higher respect for or a more lively sense of the gratitude due to them than myself because aside from the personal respect I have for them I believe with Gen. Washington that the national debt will never be morally paid untill the worthy and good old soldiers are paid for their important and memorable services thro' whose instrumentality we enjoy our present happiness and prosperity and to whom we all owe so great a debt of gratitude
Any favors you can bestow upon me in sending my papers and documents will be gratefully received —
The department no doubt have their established regulations as it respects what proof is required in granting pensions to applicants in different cases if so will have the goodness to send me the  rules  to  you
I wish you would send me the pension law and I will satisfy you for it on your return
Yours very respectfully
Joseph Bauck
Hon. Hyram Walden

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Lawyer, Christopher GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 7382 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Dec. 9, 1791
To Philip Rockefeller, assignee ? It - crossed in book
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.