Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File [Blank], for John L Lawyer, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
SERVICE New York.
Lawyer John L. or Johannes L.
CONTENTS

In the Matter of the exd Application of John L Lawyer for a Pension
No. 21366.
B. Buffum

State of New York Schoharie County S.S.
On this 23 rd day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared before me Tho s Danforth One of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York John L Lawver a resident of the Town of Fulton in the County of Schoharie in the State of New York aged Eighty four 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 resided in that part of the State of New York now the town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie from the commencement to the close of the Revolutionary war, That he was enrolled as a private in the Militia of the State of New York as early as the first day of March in the year 1776, that the Regiment & Company in which he was enrolled, was commanded at the time of his enrollment by the following named officers, Colonel Peter Vroman, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Zelic, Majors Thomas Eckerson and Joseph Becker Captain Jacob Hagen Lieutenant Cornelius Peak & Ensign Peter Swart that he belonged to the same Regiment & Company from the said first day of March in the year 1776 until the first day of March in the year 1783, that the said Regiment & Company were commanded by the above named

Officers during that time, That from the said first day of March in the year 1776 until the first day of March 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 entered the service each or any of those periods, nor the time when he left the same, nor how long he was engaged on each period, That he was not drafted, or volunteer, or a substitute any of the above mentioned periods to his knowledge - That he was ordered into the service by some officer of the Regiment or company & entered the service in obedience to such order, That in the year 1778 he marched under Colonel Vroman in pursuit of the Tories & Indians under McDonald who had been murder- ing the inhabitants of Schoharie, Colonel Harper with a party of light horse from Albany was with the Americans. That he was in the upper fort in Schoharie when Schoharie was burnt in the year 1780. That he went frequently into those parts of the State of New York now the Counties of Green & Albany, that he does not recollect where he went each period, that he was

frequently engaged in the Forts in Schoharie on garrison duty that a party of riflemen under the command of Colonel Butler came to the middle fort in Schoharie in the year 1778 and lay there and at the upper Fort untill some time in the year 1779. When they left Schoharie, that small parties of Continental troops were at the different Forts in Schoharie occasionally during the Revolutionary war that he was in no battle during this time. And the said John L Lawyer saith that he is positive that he was engaged on duty in the ser- vice of the United States as a private soldier from the said first day of March in the year 1776 untill the first day of March in the year 1783 at different periods am- ounting in the whole 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 the service That he was born in that part of the State of New York Now the town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie and resided there untill the close of the Revolutionary war when he moved to the now town of Scho- harie in the said county of Schoharie where he resided about ten years when he moved to the now town of Fulton in the said County of Schoharie where he has since resided that he has no record of his age That there is no clergyman residing within his vic- inity 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
John L. Sawyer
Sworn to & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Thos. O'Donoghue one of the Judges of the Court of common pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York
We Jacob Fick, Henry G. Foster residing in the town of Fulton in the county of Schoharie & State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John L. Sawyer who has sworn to & Subscribed the above declaration. That we believe him to be Eighty four years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhoods where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Jacob Fick
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me Thos. O'Donoghue one of the Judges of the court of common pleas of the County of Schoharie & State of New York
Henry G. Foster
And I the said Thos. O'Donoghue Judge as aforesaid 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 the said Thos Sanford Judge as aforesaid do further cert- ify that it appears to me that Isaac Isaac & Isaac  Isaac  Isaac who have signed the pre- ceding certificate are residents in the town of Middleburgh in the County of Schoharie in the state of New York and that they are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Also that Abraham Lawyerson who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed affi- davit is a credible person and that his state- ment is also entitled to credit. And I do also further certify that the said John L. Lawyerson whose name is subscribed to the above affidavit cannot attend court in consequence of bodily infirmity arising from a severe fit of sickness. Middleburgh April 24 th 1833.
Thos Sanford
State of New York Schoharie County ss on this fourth day of April June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared before me Thos Sanford one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York Abraham Lawyerson a resident of the town of Middleburgh in the county of Schoharie in the State of New York who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following decl- aration: That he is aged Seventy four years, that he was born and has always resided in the county of Schoharie, that he has been acquainted

with John L Lawyer the person named in the annexed affidavit as long as he can recollect, that the said John Lawler is his brother, That he and said John resided in the same family in the now town of Middleburgh from the commencement until the close of the Revolutionary war, That they belonged to the same Militia Company under the command of Captain Jacob Hager during the war, That the said John commenced doing duty in the service of the United States as early as the first of March in the year 1776, and continued to serve until the spring of the year 1783, That he saw the said John with a Regiment under Colonel Vroman in pursuit of that party under McDonald as near as he can recollect in the year 1778. That he was several times on duty a month at a time, That he has frequently been on duty with the said John, That the said John was engaged in the service of the United States as a private soldier from the first day of March in the year 1776 until the first day of March in the year 1783 at different periods in the whole amounting to at least three years That he cannot state the different times he the said John has been on duty, That he was usually under the command of some one of the officers of the Regiment to which he belonged when on duty, That he the said John has always resided in the now county of Schoharie and state of New York
Sworn to & subscribed the day Abraham Lawler A year aforesaid before me

Thos P Danforth One of the Judges of the Court of common pleas of the county of Schoharie & State of New York
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 Honorable Thomas P. Danforth is a judge of the court of common pleas of the said county of Schoharie. that the signatures "Thos. P. Danforth" subscribed to the said cert- ificate & jurats are his genuine signatures In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fourth day of June last in the year of our Lord One thou- sand eight hundred & thirty three
John Gebhard Jr. Clerk of the Court of common pleas of Schoharie County

Schoharie Co. N.Y. Fultonham Oct 18 th 1834
Sir. My Lawyer Mr Spofford wrote you in relation to my Father's Pension some time since, and I have had no re- turn, his Name is John D. Lawton you have the papers serving in your possession if the papers are not right I wish to have them returned with your objection if they are satisfactory I wish to have them cancelled as the Old Gentleman is 86 years old.
Am Yours &c
Samuel Lawton
Mr J. L. Edm. Esq.

no. 26366. New York Rec d Book no. 3 -
John L. Sawyer Suspended
Let to Am. Bank & Rec 32 to B Spafford 13 Jan 33
Let to Sam Sawyer 14 Nov 34
Let to B Spafford May 6. 36
" " Hon W. Cline " 6. 36
" " B. Spafford & J. L. Sawyer 7 Dec 36
" " Hon R. B. Milner - Mar 2 37
" " John L. Sawyer 10 Aug 37 Hon Jacob Houck Aug 7 1841 Act of Sum 3 1/2 Mr. C. Goodwin July 13. 1846.

These papers were taken from the case of Johannes J. Lawyer. R. 6.208.

State of New York Secretary's Office
I certify that it appears by the records of the Provincial Congress of New York in this office that on the 20 th day of October 1775 the following persons were appointed and commissioned officers of a Company in the Regiment of Militia in the districts of Schoharie and Esopusburgh in the County of Albany whereof Peter Vrooman was Colonel viz;
Jacob Heger Captain Martynus Van Slyck 1 st Lieutenant Johannis W. Bauch 2 d Lieutenant Johannis L. Lawyer Ensign
Arch d Campbell Albany July 21. 1846 Dep. Sec. of State

In pursuance of a law passed the 27th of April, 1784, entitled "An act for the settlement of the pay of the Levies and Militia, for their services in the late War, and for other purposes therein mentioned," the following certificates have been issued, bearing interest at five per cent. per annum, viz:
  24 th Nov. 1779. John V Sanger priv L m 12 5 5/8 
STATE OF NEW-YORK,
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, Albany, 21 st July — 1846.
I hereby certify the above to be true extracts from Book No. 4, — now remaining in this office, and that the service for which the certificates above named were issued, were performed under the following officers, viz:
  First—under Capt. Peter Schuyler in Col. Peter Wooman Regt.   Second " " " " "   Third " " " " "   Fourth " " " " "   Fifth " " " " "   Sixth " " " " "   Seventh " " " " "   Eighth " " " " "   Ninth " " " " "   Tenth " " " " "   Eleventh " " " " "   Twelfth " " " " " 
Philip Schuyler Dep. Compt.

Hon J. L. Edwards
Sir
I herewith transmit to you, on behalf of one of my constituents, the enclosed paper & ask your attention to the annexed enquiries -
Please forward me your answer thereto at your earliest leisure -
Dated July 3 rd 1846 Yours &
Chas Goodyear

Suttonham Aug 30 1807
Sir
Since I have last written to You concerning the Pension of John L Sawyer I have found out by him that he served as an Ensign for about Three Years & I asked him the question why he did not state that he had served as an Ensign that length of time he told me his attorney had not asked him the question
After I had found out by him those circumstances I wrote to the Secretary of the State at Albany to write to me if John L Sawyer was enrolled as Ensign in the Company of Capt Jacob Hager Lieutenant Martines Van Slyck & Second Lieutenant John M Bouch & he sent me a certified copy that Johannes L Sawyer was enrolled as an Ensign in said Company & Col Mromans Regiment
It appears that Johannes L Sawyer was enrolled as an Ensign on the 20 th day of Oct 1775 & it also appears by the the Commission of Ensign Peter Swart who had taken his place that he served until the 20 th of Feb y 1778 therefore You will perceive that there was a mistake made in drawing the affidavits he can now prove by the same witnesses that have sworn for him the same facts & I know of two or three other credible witnesses that will state that he served as such officer for about Three Years
If You think it necessary to show You those facts or what other facts you think would be necessary to give him a Pension I wish You to write to me which may be proceeded
I have the Honor to be Sir Your Obed Servt
John L Sawyer
Hon J. G. Edwards War Department Pension Office Washington

Washington H. B.
16 Feby 1837
My dear Sir
I have rec d the within letter from one of my constituents. Will you be so kind as to read it, and favor me with the answer or information which Mr Watson desires. I would thank you, with your answer, to return to me the within letter of Mr Watson. I would like to have a personal interview with you, in relation to this and other pension cases, but my public duties are too pressing to admit of it.
Yours truly
A. Vandervae
J. L. Edwards Esq.

Fultonham Nov r 24 th 1836
Hon. S. L. Edwards Sir
I understand that You have obtained the Roll of Col s Woman from Albany, I wish You to write me And Likewise that You are examining the List of Pensioners anew that have been condemned. Now I wish You to examine the Roll of Col s Woman & see how much duty has been done by John J Lawyer of Fulton Schoharie Co te N. York formerly Albany Co te . He says that Col s Woman had the command of the 3 rd Forts in Schoharie and the Greater part of his time he was in the Middle or Center Fort which was the Strongest & where the Col s had the command of. Likewise that he was sent by the Col s to the Upper Fort the remainder part of the time & under the command of Capt s Hager
I suppose that John J Lawyer could not tell in his examination how much duty he had precisely done because he is getting pretty old his age is 88 past if You look at the Roll I should think You would know how much duty he had done & send me an answer for him
Respectfully Yours J. L. Lawyer
Hon. S. L. Edwards

The objection to the granting a pension, a copy of the services alleged to have been done, the registration of the Department etc. are respectfully asked for, particularly & minutely
Hon. S. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions Sir
I have appointed Nath Day of Coit New York agent to act in all things for John D. Sawyer in procuring or investigating his Revolutionary — claim to a pension Dated Fultonham N.Y. June 25 th 1846.
John D. Sawyer

Thos L. Lawyer. 84 in 1877. 93
County Schoharie N.Y.
Mar 7th
Col Vrooman, left Patten. He belonged to C. H. Muhl 83 was often in the room from 1 day to two or a time in the week at least 30
Abraham Lawryn int.
ca. 11° 31 064

House of Representatives, August 5 th .
Sir.
About five or six years ago, an application was made for a Pension by John L. Lawyer one of my constituents residing in the Town of Fulton, County of Schenectady State of New York, but failed to obtain it. About the same time similar applications were made by Abraham Lawyer & Francis Beckerson of the same County & were successful. I am informed that the proofs in all the cases were very similar.
You will confer on me a favor by informing me on what grounds the application of Mr. John L. Lawyer was rejected. My object is to renew the application in case the defect in the proof can be supplied - if that may be the cause of the failure. No doubt, one entertained in the County of the entire justice of the claim. He is reported to have been one of the most devoted friends to the cause of American Independence, then residing in the County & to have labored zealously for its attainment. An early answer is solicited.
Yours & Jacob H. Houck Junior.

Fultonville August 2. 1846
Mr Asa D. Jay
Dear Sir — Your favor of the 30th ult is received. You enquire whether my historical work contains the names of officers & soldiers of the Revolution, from Schoharie & adjoining counties.
It contains the names of many officers and soldiers, but as the military papers of Col. Vrooman, the principal military officer of Schoharie in the war, were nearly all destroyed several years previous to my researches, which were mostly made in 1837, a full list of those serving in that valley can't now be given. I have seen some names in a few instances, which do not appear in the book, of persons who served their country as soldiers.
You ask the price of my book, &c. It is an octavo vol. of nearly 700 pages, printed on fine paper with over 30 engravings, several in steel, & is sold in cloth & sheep covers at 14/ a copy, in calf covers at 16/ — It is for sale at Bennett Buckner & Hawley's bookstore at Utica, which is the farthest West it has been left.
You ask what I said in reply to John S. Sawyer, who propounded certain questions

respecting his grandfather's services. I have mentioned in two places in my book that he was an Ensign in the war. In a hasty search over a large bundle of notes I did not satisfy myself as to the source from whence I derived the fact that he was Ensign of the Associate Exempt, whether from documentary evidence, or the verbal confab of an old hero.
I observe with regret, that very few military papers bearing upon the history of Schobelin have fallen under my observation. That a few yet remain undestroyed in isolated places I have no doubt - and I really hope some one will get sick to gather them -
With sentiments of regard I remain Yours Respectfully
J. P. Linnus
Historian Col. W. Westman

Aug 31. 1896
Adelphi Terrace
John L. Sawyer
Hon. J. L. Sawyer Compt. of Pensions Washington D.C.
23
11.0

Ovid N.Y. Augt 25. 46
Dear Sir
I enclose Certificate of Service & of a commission of John L Lanyer, you will judge of the merits of the papers, & whether they refer to the case of John L Lanyer referred to in your letter of Augt 7. 1841 - Mr L died Jan'y. 25. 1842 Therefore no further, or better history of the case can be had, I submit it as it is - It does not appear from enclosed papers that John L Lanyer was exempted, I should judge he may & probably must have been in Service
Yours Respectfully Your Ob d Serv t Abad Joy
Hon J L Edwards Comm r of Pensions
I enclose a letter rec d from the Historian J. K. Simms in which you will see that he mentions the name of Ensign John L Lanyer &c - and of the rolls of Col Vroomans being destroyed &c - you may consent to allow a pension, if only for the shortest Service, or for one year's &

At a Council of Appointment held at Poughkeepsie the 4 th day of November 1778.
Present
His Excellency Governor Clinton President
The Honble { Jonathan Lawrence Ebenezer Russell Dirck W. Tenbrock Jephaniah Platt } Esq rs Members
Resolved that Dennis Vroman be and he is hereby appointed Captain of a Company of Associated Exempts in the District of Schoharie County of Albany; That Peter Schneider be First Lieutenant, Martinus Vroman Second Lieutenant and Jacob Sawyer jun r Ensign of the said Company.
State of New York Secretary's office
I certify the preceding to be a true Extract from the Minutes of the Council of Appointment of this State in this office
Arch d Campbell Dep. Sec of State
Albany July 21. 1846.
I find no appointment of Johannes L. Sawyer as an officer in the Associated Exempts.
Arch d Campbell Dep. Sec of State

Sir Sir
I have just been informed by Mr. Elisha Dunning of this place that the Rolls of the Regiment of Colonel Brown in the Regular Army have been lately reviewed at Washington as he was informed by a letter from Gov.
If that is, the base Gov. wills much oblige me, by again examining the bases, of John Schoenly Abraham Schoenly Henry Ganson John Ganson & Andrew Smith whose papers are on file & who have not recd. in getting pensions. The papers now in possession of the department may afford sufficient evidence to authorize Gov. to grant these pensions for a part if not the whole of the time for which they claim.
If you can give the subject an immediate examination you will much oblige me as I expect to leave here soon to be absent for some length of time.
Yours Respectfully B. Staff
To the Gov.
J. S. Edgards Middlebury Sept. 14 th 1836

Dr Sir
Please return me the papers on file in your office in return to the application of John B Scawyn for a Pension & Allowance Yours
B. Scawyn
To J. S. Edwards Esq. Middelburgh April 18 th 1836

See
as Esopus or of Pausanias Washington