Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13545, for Rufus Johnson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Johnson, Rufus
S 13545
CONTENTS

4247 New York
Rufus Johnson of Avon — in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Brown of the Reg't commanded by Col. Bigelow in the Massachusetts line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 30 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of May 1833 — and sent to Col. Holmes Avon N.Y.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 — $ 45 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33  15.00 $ 60.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by John Cromwell Clerk Book D Vol. 5 Page 102

Declaration of Nufus Johnson on application for Pension
1745
admitted
9 mo private
30 $

State of New York Livingston County
On this twenty Seventh day of August 1832 personally appeared before Mathew Warner one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Livingston. Rufus Johnson a resident of the town of Avon in said County of Livingston aged sixty eight years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following de- claration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of leniency passed June 7 th 1832 — That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated, to wit, he enlisted in the month of April 1780 in the following manner, he engaged with one Thomas Hadley a Sergeant in the Company commanded by the Captain Brown, of Bigelows Regiment and Glens Brigade of the Massachusetts line of troops on the Continental Estab- lishment, to join the said Company to serve as a waiter to the Captain, the proposal made was that deponent might serve for three, six, or nine months or longer, and should and would be at liberty to leave the service whenever deponent or his guardian should desire it (the deponent then being four- teen years and upwards) the deponent engaged as aforesaid at the town of Bedford in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, he was inspected in a few days before Major Barrett as Colonel in said State of Massachusetts, and was then ordered to report himself to Lieutenant Livingston at the town of Worcester in Massachusetts aforesaid, which he did forthwith when he was marched to the town of Springfield in said State, where he was regularly mustered and enrolled by an officer, whose name he thinks was Dwight, but is not certain, he was then marched to Pittsfield in the State of Connecticut, where they staid a few days and drew provis- ions, then marched to Fishkill barracks where they again drew provisions, from thence they marched to Fishkill han- ding, where they remained several days being unable to cross the North River owing to the roughness of the weather — they crossed over to West Point, they remained there a few days when the said Sergeant Hadley came and conducted deponent

across to the East Side of said River to a place called Robinson farms, where he joined his Company and Regiment, he did not enter upon Service as a waiter to said Captain Brown, by reason that said Brown was at that time under arrest but entered upon duty as a private soldier, and received arms and equipments accordingly, they remained some days and were then conducted across the North River and marched to Stony Point, from thence they marched to Tappan, and Hackensack in New Jersey, from thence to Orange Town thence to a place called English neighborhood, thence back to Orange Town where and where Major there was executed - from thence they marched to Sing-Sing, and thence to Kavestrand, from thence to a place called Stiri Rapp, and from thence to West Point where they arrived in the month of December, where he remained a few weeks, he thinks three or four weeks when he was discharged having served full nine months, and he thinks rising of nine months, he received a written discharge signed by Colo Byers, which discharge deponent delivered to his guardian one Jonas Gleason, who says the same as this deponent was informed and verily believes to be true to Boston when he drew the pay of this deponent for ten months Service, and deponent saith that he has never seen said discharge since
And this deponent further saith, that he engaged sometime in the Summer of 1782, and in the season of hiring but in what month he cannot say, but he thinks in the month of July, at the town of Bedford in said State of Massachusetts, for a cruise on board of a vessel called the Flyer Ally, commanded by Captain Baldwin carrying twenty guns or more, which vessel he understood belonged to the State of Massachusetts. They sailed from the Port of Salem in said State and they were captured in about two months after sailing, and sometime in the month of October by a British line of Battle Ships called the Chatham and taken Prisoners to Halifax, where he was detained in Prison, as a Prisoner of war something over five months

when he was discharged upon signing a Parol, agreeing not to bear arms against his Majesty the King of Great Britain until duly exchanged - He further declares that he is weak and infirm of body, and his health is so impaired by disease that he is unable to bear the fatigue of attending in Open Court to make this declaration - He hereby relinquishes every claim 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
And the said Rufus Johnson further declares, that he does not know of any surviving witness by whom he can prove the fact of the aforesaid services, nor doth he know that it is in his power to produce any better proof than is herewith exhibited - he expects he could prove the fact of being in service, but supposes such fact will appear on the Army Rolls on file in the war office, though a term less than he actually served from & subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Matthew Warner one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Livingston
We Jacob Hart a Clergyman residing in the town of Horn, County of Livingston and State of New York and Isa Merrill residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rufus Johnson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be as many as sixty eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed in this 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 before me Matthew Warner one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Livingston Jacob Hart Isa Merrill
The said & enlarged Stanley Chase and Contracted Defendant

And I the said Judge do hereby declare it to be my opinion that the above named applicant, was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And I further certify that it appears to me that Jacob Hart who has signed the preceding certificate is a Christian resident in the said town of Hoon; and that Ira Merrill who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Hoon and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit - And further that it appears to me that the said applicant is not able, from bodily infirmity to attend in Court to make his application. Matthew Turner a Judge of Common Pleas for Ulster County
State of New York Livingston County
I Chauncy H. Bond Clerk of the County of Livingston do certify that Matthew Turner before whom the above proceedings were had, and affidavits purport to have been taken was at the time of the state of said certificates and affidavits one of the Judges of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Livingston, and that I am well acquainted with the signature of the said Judge subscribed to the said affidavits and certificate and verily believe them to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said County this 31st day of August A.D. 1838.
C. R. Bond Clerk By S. G. Haven Dep Clerk

20633
Rufus Johnson
Aspensions

State of New York
Ontario County 3/15
on this nineteenth day of February 1828. Personally appeared in open Court in the Court of Common Pleas being a Court of record in and for the County aforesaid Rufus Johnson resident in Gorham in said County aged Sixty three years. who being first first duly sworn according to Law. doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the act of Congress of the 18 th March 1818. and of the 1 st May 1820. that he the said Rufus Johnson Enlisted for the term of one year in the Month of April 1780. at Bedford in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts in the Company Commanded by Captain Brown in the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Byelow in the Massachusetts line on the Continental Establishment. that he continued to serve in the said Corps until the Month of February 1781. when he was discharged from the said service at West Point in the State of New York. and in pursuance of the act of the 1 st May 1820. I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818. and that I have not by gift sale or otherwise in any other manner since that time disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress Entitled "An act to provide for Certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war. passed

on the 18 th March 1818- and that I have not nor at has any person in trust for me any property or Security Contracts or debts due to me nor have I any in any other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed
  One spoke of oxen $37, 50   One Cow 10. 00   two beds and necessary bedding 30 00   one Iron Kettle 00 50   one pot 50 one Dish Kettle 50 Teakettle 25 1 25   one small Iron Kettle 25 Iron basin 25 50   one leak Kettle 75 Set of Crackers 3. 00 3, 75   one Desk 2 00   Half Chest of Drawers 2 00   Knives and forks 1, 00   two spinning Wheels 3 00   one pail 12 1/2   Seven Swine 10 00   one plough 4, 00   one Apary necessary apparels for myself and wife 3 25 00   $121. 12 1/2 
Rufus Johnson
And this declarant on his oath aforesaid further says that he is by occupation a farmer but that his age and infirmities prevent him from hard labor - That besides himself his family consists of his wife aged 58 years who is now and for a long time has been infirm and sickly

Sworn to and declared this 19 th day of February 1828 before me
Rufus Johnson
Chester Loomis
One of the Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas of Ontario County
I Ralph Sester Clerk of the County of Ontario do hereby hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said Rufus Johnson did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the Common Enemy for the term of nine Months under one engagement on the Continental Establishment. I also Certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly Copied from the records of the said Court. and I do further Certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is one hundred and twenty one dollars twelve & a half Cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this second day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight
Ralph Sester Clerk

Rev. John
13545 INVALID.
Febry - 20 - 1900 L. E. Fuller, N.Y.C.
File No. 13 545
Rev. John Johnson Pioneer Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: — Vol. 1 , Page 192
[Arrangement of 1870.]

11058.
P. O.
Reuben Johnson
Service: Consolidated Aug 18 1882 with widow Mary rej file 5647
Enlisted: _____ (M. Brier) 18
Discharged: _____ 18
RECORDED
Application filed: _____ 18
Alleges: _____

Recd 29 May 1828 20653
Rufus Johnson New York
Recd 18 March 1828
Office - 8595
Peter A. Mowen Esq. Cananargia New York
Washington City D.C.
The Memorial of the Secretary of War
True

20.633
Rufus Johnson
Ontario County
New York
Claim
Rejected 9 May
1828. See letter to Peter
A Mower Esqr of
Canandaigua N York
let. to Hon. N. H. Earle 2. June 1840

Hon. W. Birdseye says that he drew up the papers of Rufus Johnson, in support of his claim under act 1818.

To J. S. Edwards Esq—
Pension Office
Washington

Canandaigua 2 nd May 1828 Ontario County N.Y.
Dear Sir I Enclose the declaration of Rufus Johnson in order to procure a pension for him -
Have the goodness to address your answer to me at this place - Your ob st serv or Peter A. Mower
H. S. Edwards Esq.

State of New York Livingston County } p
Rufus Johnson named in the declaration and proceedings hereunto annexed, being duly sworn saith, that he is positin that he did serve in the war of the revolution in the manner stated in the declaration hereunto annexed, [and Exclusion of his service on board of the Hydra Ally], for a period of nine months, and he waives all claims to any further term of service on land, or water - he further saith that he does not know that the Hydra Ally was a public armed vessel, and in the public service; and he therefore waives any claim for such service, -
Subscribed and sworn this 22 d day of November 1832 before me
Rufus Johnson
L. W. Beecher Justice of the Peace
State of New York Livingston County } p
J. Chauncy R. Bond Clerk of said County of Livingston do hereby certify that Lewis W Beecher before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in said County duly empowered and authorized to administer oaths and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe that the official signature to the above affidavit is Genuine - Witness my hand & Seal of Office at Geneseo this 11 th day of December A.D. 1832
Chauncy R. Bond Clerk

Plaza Hotel. New York Feb 10/1900. not enclosed Order sent to Mr. [illegible] Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington. D.C. Feb 13 1900 U.S. OFFICE
Dear Sir:
I enclose herewith * one dollar. For which please send me a Certified Copy of the Military History or Service of Rufus Johnson , a soldier of the Revolutionary War , who enlisted in 1775 from Coventry, R.I., and who applied for a pension in 1832. (which was granted) residing at that time in Hoosica, New York.
If the enclosure is not sufficient to cover the expense kindly inform me and I will forward the amount & oblige
Yours truly L. E. Fuller
Feb 13 1900 * money returned to L. E. Fuller Plaza Hotel New York N.Y.