Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23757, for Oliver Lawrence, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Lawrence, Oliver
S. 23757
CONTENTS

11.467
Pennsylvania
Oliver Laurence
of Crawford Co in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Pr - in the Company commanded by Captain Dan Wick - of the Regt commanded by Col - in the New York for Troops -
18 mo Private - 60 $
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania - at a rate of 60 Dollars & 25 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of and sent to 1833 Pensioner - Meadville Pa
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 120.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " 30  150.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk Book 8 Vol. 5 Page 25
D. Mch 25, 1848 Agency book

Miss Lawrence
Admitted
18 mo's
$60.—
Pensioner
Meadville
Pa

Pennsylvania Crawford County ss-
Statement of Oliver Lawrence - on his application for a pension, under the act of congress of 7 th June 1832 - made in open Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County Penn y the 6 th October 1832 -
I was born on Long Island in the state of New York in October 1759. I am now in my 73 rd year - My age was recorded at home in Long Island & I have no record of it here - My father's name was William Lawrence - He died when I was about 11 years old and I lived from the time of his death till I was about 30 years old near Fishkill on the north River, in what was called the Glove - in Dutchess county - At an early period of the war, & I think in 1775 or 1776, I was listed as a minute man and and served as such in the Militia for three months under Capt n Cornelius Van Wyck in the city of New York - Our Colonel's name was Benjamin Bircham - I forget the name of the lieutenant or ensign - After the service was over, I was discharged, but received no written discharge - During this time there was no battle or fight or remarkable event - we were principally engaged in drawing fashines & cannon to the battery - & what was called fatigue service -
The following spring as near as I can remember I enlisted a second time under Capt n Cornelius Van Wyck - for five months - We marched for the White Plains & Kings bridge - Our Col. was as before viz Ben y Bircham - Our lieutenants were Harry Bailey & one Smith whose christian name I forget - I was not in the battle of White Plains as our regiment lay on the left wing, & our company & some others were not called into the action - I saw the first fire - after which the smoke prevented our seeing any thing distinctly - Just A short time before the battle we had a skirmish with the enemy - we were out on a scouting party & came across a picket guard - and in the skirmish our captain was killed dead - After his death, the command of our company was given to Henry Mott who was a lieutenant in one of the other companies

I served out the five months, but and was discharged but received no written discharge - and never received any pay for this service -
The following spring as I think it was - but of this I am not sure - it was after the military stores had been removed from Boston to Dutchess county - I enlisted under Captain Joshua Champlaine for nine months - 6 Lieutenants Nicholas Koontz and T. Bentley - We were stationed at Col. Vanderbury's - and were employed in guarding the military stores in Dutchess county - I served out my time - but received no written discharge. Discharge For this service I received no pay from that time to this -
After that I served in the militia one month under Capt. Jeremiah Rundle at Poughkeepsie - & for this need received pay -
For my first tour of three months I received pay - but for neither of the others -
After these tours I was never enlisted for any definite period - but was frequently called out on guard after the cowboys - and in patrolling the roads - & other such service - There was considerable of a regular guard kept to preserve the country against the depredations of the Tories - & I was very often called out - sometimes But I cannot estimate with safety how much the whole amounted to -
After the close of the war I continued at the Cove till I was about 30 years old - & then moved to Poughkeepsie in the state of New York - about 18 miles from Albany - I remained there till about 15 years ago this October when I removed to where I now live in now Summerville township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania.
I do not know of any person now alive who can testify as to my services as aforesaid - Some of my fellow-

Soldiers may be alive; but if they be, I know not who or where they are. I have been long acquainted with Stephen Fish who is now here & can testify to my character, & the tradition of my revolutionary services - My son Joseph Laurence about 40 years old, who is here can also testify - any of the persons in my present neighbourhood, can do the same - but none are in the village that I know of but the above - There is no regular or settled minister in our settlement.
Sworn & subscribed in Oliver Lawrence open court 6 Oct 1832 Ecc. A. Reynolds " " Brother
Cranford county v. Stephen Fish of Connecticut township Cranford County, (being one of the people called Quakers) being duly affirmed saith he has known Oliver Laurence about 30 years, having lived about a mile distant from him in the state of New York, & now lives within half a mile of him & has so done nearly 15 years. The affiant believes the said Oliver to be upwards of 70 years old & as old as he states - believes him to be a man of veracity & entitled fully to be believed - When he resided in New York it was understood in the neighbourhood & believed, that he had been a soldier of the revolution - & is so understood & believed in his present neighbourhood - and the affiant fully believes that he was - & has never heard the matter suggested to doubt - affirmed in open court Stephen Fish
This 6 th October 1832 - Ecc. A. Reynolds " " Brother
Joseph Laurence being sworn in open court saith that from his childhood upwards he has often & repeatedly heard his father Oliver Laurence give an account of his revolutionary services, that he has always been taken & reputed as far as the deponent knows to have been in service in the Revolutionary wars - Joseph Laurence

Braford county Pa Joseph Lawrence aged between 40 & 50 years, says that he has from his childhood heard his father speak of his having been a soldier in the revolutionary war - & told of his services & doings in such - & the place he was at - That it was always understood & believed in his family, & in all the neighbourhoods in which he resided since the deponent can recollect, that he had been a soldier in the revolution - & the deponent now believes he was -
Sworn in open court this } Joseph Lawrence 6 th October 1832
Ebenezer A. Reynolds } Prothonotary
Elisha Bowman aged seventy five, being sworn according to Law Smith that he has been acquainted with Oliver Lawrence the applicant for upwards of thirteen years, that he is a man of good character & veracity, and from his good character the deponent believes what he states to be correct -
Sworn in open court this } Elisha Bowman 6 th October A.D. 1832
Ebenezer A. Reynolds } Prothonotary
I relinquish all claim to any pension or annuity except the present, & do declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state -
Sworn & subscribed in } Oliver Lawrence open court Oct. 6. 1832
Ebenezer A. Reynolds } Prothonotary
And the said Court Do declare their opinion that after investigation & putting the interrogatories prescribed by the Dept. that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states - And they further certify that Stephen Fish and Elisha Bowman his witnesses above named are respectable & credible witnesses, and that their testimony is entitled to credit -
Witness my hand this 6 Oct 1832
Henry Shippen Pres't of the Dist. Ct.

State of Pennsylvania } Bradeford County } D
Edward A. Rynearson to all of the several boards of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court or Court of Common Pleas in the matter of the Application of Oliver Lawrence for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court the 18 th day of March A. D. Eighteen hundred and thirty three
Edward A. Rynearson Clerk of The Court of Common Pleas of said County

October 8, 1931
BA-J/MLB
Mrs. William Campbell 8220 Blackstone Avenue Chicago, Illinois.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to Oliver Lawrence, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 23757, based upon his military service in that war.
Oliver Lawrence was born in October, 1759, on Long Island, New York. He was the son of William Lawrence who died when soldier was eleven years old.
He enlisted in 1775 or 1776, served three months as a private in Captain Cornelius Van Wyck's company, Colonel Benjamin Birdsall's New York regiment. The following spring he enlisted, served five months as private in the same company and regiment, and just before the battle of White Plains they were in a skirmish in which Captain Van Wyck was killed; the company was then commanded by Henry Mott. The following spring he enlisted and served nine months as private in Captain Joshua Champlin's company, also one month in Captain Jeremiah Rundle's company of New York militia. After this service he never reenlisted but was frequently called out on guard duty against the depredations of the enemy.
After the death of soldier's father, he lived at the Clove, near Fishkill on the North River, Dutchess County, New York, until about thirty years of age when he moved to Rensselaerville (about eighteen miles from Albany), New York, where he remained until about 1817, at which time he moved to Summerhill Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 6, 1832, while living in Summerhill Township, Pennsylvania.
He died March 25, 1848.
In 1832, soldier's son Joseph, was residing in Summerhill Township, Pennsylvania, aged between forty-eight and fifty years.
There are no further family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

August 29, 1932
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Oliver Lawrence-S.23757
BA-J/MMHF/eel
Mrs. William Campbell 8220 Blackstone Avenue Chicago, Illinois
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter of July 10, 1932, in which you request that you be furnished the volume, page, etc., from which the record of Oliver Lawrence, Revolutionary War soldier, S.23757, was obtained.
Kindly refer to second paragraph of letter to you from this office on October 8, 1931, and you will note that the source of the data was the papers on file in his claim for pension, S.23757, as shown in that paragraph, therefore the data were not taken from any volume.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Oliver Lawrence a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. File 23,757
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1775 or 76 3 mos. Pri. Cornelius Van Wyck Benj. Birdsell N.Y.   Following Spring 5 mos. *Cornelius Van Wyck Henry Mott Benj. Birdsell   Following Spring 9 mos. Joshua Champlain   ✓ 1 mo. Jeremiah Rundle  
P 281 old pay book
* Killed in a skirmish upon the battle of White Plains
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, the Clove, Dutchess Co., N.Y.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 6, 1832 -  Hermon-
Residence at date of application, Summerhill Fork, Crawford Co., Pa.
Age at date of application, born Oct. 1759 on Long Island, N.Y.  died Mch. 25, 1848. Hermonbrook
Remarks: His father William Lawrence died when he was about 11 yrs. old. In 1832 sol. son Joseph re- at 48 & 50 yrs. testified in the case.

July 10, 1932.
Veterans Administration Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs-
Replying to letter BA-J/M.18 dated Oct. 8, 1931- giving the account of military service of Oliver Lawrence- pension claim S 23757-, will you please give vol. and page & name of authority where the military record you quote can be found- This is necessary for D.A.R. records-
Very truly
Lydia W. Campbell (Mrs. William)
8220 Blackstone Ave. Chicago.

IN REPLY REFER TO
3-2027
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
(April, 1930)
MLB
VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION BUREAU OF PENSIONS WASHINGTON
June 26, 1931
Mrs. William Campbell 8220 Blackstone Avenue Chicago, Illinois
Dear Madam:
I advise you that this bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolutionary War unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made to the United States on account of his services.
A careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of any Benjamin Wheelock.
In order to identify the record of a soldier named Oliver Lawrence, you should furnish as much as possible of the following data in regard to him:- approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service and given name of widow.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.
Oliver Lawrence was born 1757 or 58; enlisted as private at Fishkill, N.Y. in Capt. Cornelius Van Wyck's company. Served 3 mo. in 1775, 5 mo. in 1776, and 9 mo. in 1777. Married to Patsy Wait about 1778. moved to Westerlo, Albany Co. Later to Sumney Hill Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Pension was probably granted about 1832 or 1833. Sincerely, Lydia W. Campbell. (Mrs. W.)

OWT Streator Feb 28 1899
Hon. H. Clay Evans, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D. C.
Dear Sir:
Sometime ago I wrote you in regard to one Oliver Lawrence , who served in the Revolutionary war , and you were kind enough to look up the record and send to me. and I now regret the necessity of taking more of your valuable time but I am in a dilemma.

and also that he served under Capt Van Wyck and Col. Bircham. Yesterday I received a letter from New York stating that no Colonel of the name of Bircham served in the New York regiments during the Revolutionary war. But a Benjamin Birdsall was Major of Col. Vanderburgh regiment. I have applied for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and made out my papers from the authority received from you, but presume
so it was sometime before I received a reply from you I had given up hopes of hearing so wrote to Librarian at New York. He sent me a certificate stating that Oliver Lawrence was a private in the 4 th Duchess Co. regiment of the New York militia and said regiment was under command of Col. James Vanderburgh. I immediately wrote them that there must be a mistake as you had said that Oliver Lawrence had applied for a pension on Oct 6 th 1832 and at that time resided at Crawford Co. Penn.

and also that he served under Capt. Van Wyck and Col. Bircham. Yesterday I received a letter from New York stating that no Colonel of the name of Bircham served in the New York regiments during the Revolutionary war. But a Benjamin Birdsall was Major of Col. Vanderburgh regiment. I have applied for membership in the "Daughters of the American Revolution" and made out my papers from the authority received from you, but presume
do it was sometime before I received a reply from you. I had given up hopes of hearing as I wrote to Librarian at New York. He sent me a certificate stating that Oliver Lawrence was a private in the 4 th Duchess Co. regiment of the New York militia and said regiment was under command of Col. James Vanderburgh. I immediately wrote them that there must be a mistake as you had said that Oliver Lawrence had applied for a pension on Oct 6 th 1832 and at that time resided at Cranford Co. Penn.

now I will have some trouble about it so if you can possibly explain about these two colonels or in any way help to unravel the difficulty I will take it as a very great favor.
Respectfully
Mrs Stella Lawrence Crabbe
207 Bridge St Streator Illinois

Streator Jan. 13 th 1899.
Hon. H. Clay Evans:
Com. of Pensions.
Washington:
Dear Sir:
Pardon me for troubling you, but I am anxious to find, if possible the war record of Oliver Lawrence, who at the time of the Revolutionary war lived in Duchess Co. New York. I do not know whether he enlisted in that county, but think he did. Near the close of the last century he moved to Westerlo, Albany Co. New York, but about 1820

he moved to Erie Co. Pennsylvania where he lived until his death in 1851 at the age of 93 yrs. If you can tell me where he enlisted and in which regiment I will be very grate ful also if there is a charge for the information I will gladly send it if you will kindly let me know what it is.
Respectfully.
Stellie Lawrence Crabbe.
207 Bridge St.
Streator
Illinois.

Guthrie, Oklahoma, June 15. 1899
Hon H. Clay Evans Com. of Pensions Washington D.C. Dear Sir,
Last year I wrote a brief history of my ancestors, a couple of sheets from the same I inclose herein. My niece Mrs. Willie Crabbe (formerly Miss Willie Lawrence) of Streator Ill has been having some correspondence with you in relation to Oliver Lawrence, (my great grandfather) She sent the substance of a couple of letters she received from you.

Guthrie, Oklahoma, ..... 189..
Your letter informed her that Oliver Lawrence enlisted at Fishkill Duchess Co. N.Y. and served 18 months in the Revolutionary war under Capt. Van Wyck, and Col. Bircham.
That he resided in Crawford Co. Pa. at time he made application for pension in 1832
Now what I want to learn from you is the date of his death , and his age at the time of his death , if you can ascertain

Guthrie, Oklahoma, ..... 189...
these facts from the records in your office, my information based on tradition is that he lived to be 93 years old,
Would like to get date of his birth, date of his enlistment as soldier, and date of his death, and such other information as you may be able and willing to give me as shown by your records in regard to this ancestor of mine, Oliver Lawrence.
Very Respectfully J. S. Lawrence

Conneautville Pa Oct. 14. 1909.
Pension Department Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen!
I would like to have you send me what information you may possess in relation to Oliver Lawrence, a revolutionary soldier, from New York state. He was born Nov. 4. 1857, at Flushing, Queens Co. Long Island. He afterward went to Duchess Co. N.Y., but whether before or after serving in the army I do not know. About 1869 he moved to Crawford Co. Pa. where he died some time in the 40's - possibly 1846.
I believe for some years he drew a pension from the U.S. Government. Thinking on this account, you would have some record of him.
I would like to know especially when and where he enlisted, his company and regiment, when he was discharged and where he died - or at least when his pension ceased to be paid, in fact whatever you have of record.
If I have written to the wrong place for such

information, will you pass this to the proper department, or let me know where I can get such information as the government possesses.
Yours respectfully E. T. Mason
2375-4

Revolution
23757
INVALID.
File No. 23,757
Oliver Lawrence
19th Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index: Vol. 9 , Page 287
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Feby. 2 '99.
Miss Nellie L Crabbe, Streator, Ills.
Apr 13 '99
To above
Oct 12 '99
S. S. Lawrence
Missie Oklebon
1909 Oct. 25. Hist. to E. T. Mason &
1931 Oct. 8. Sket. to Mrs. William Clegg
1932 Aug 22. Advised by Mrs. Campbell that data for her Oct 8, 1931. was from papers in claim that from any printed volume M. M. Hall