Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9991, for William Preston, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Preston, William
S. 9991
CONTENTS
carded

Albany New-York - 31,818 William Preston of Onondaga co. in the State of N. York who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Wm. Brown of the Regt. commanded by Col. Van Woert in the N.Y. Militia time for 7 mos. 8 days private -
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany - at the rate of 23 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of January 1841 and sent to R. Gallet, Esq. - Woodport, N. York. arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1840 = $224.77 Pension allowance ending 2 nd Mar. '41 - 11. 83
$236.60
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk. Book E 2 Vol. 4 Page 53

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 State of New York
County of Onondaga ss: On this Eighth day of July in the year Eighteen hundred and forty, personally appeared before me, Lyman H. Mason a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Onondaga aforesaid, William Preston, a resident of the Town of Elbridge in the said County aged Eighty years on the 16 th day of August last, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, cloth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.:
That he was a resident of the Town of Cambridge in the County of Washington (then Albany) in the State of New York, during all the terms of his Military Service; And that he first entered the Service in the fall of the year 1779, as a Substitute, in a Company commanded by Lieut. William Powell, at White Hall, and served until he was discharged, he does not recollect the day or month when he entered the Service, or when he was discharged.
In the fore part of the next year (1780) in the latter part of Winter or fore part Spring, he again entered the Service, as a Volunteer with five others, to wit, Nathan Hart, James Schoet, David Brown, John Baskett and Roger Starkweather, and joined a Company under Capt. William Brown, commanded by Col. Lewis Van Woert, at Fort Edward, (Fort Stark): and remained in Garrison, (with the exception of being called out on scouting parties) until the latter part of July or the fore part of August, when he, with eighty three others, were ordered by Col. Seth Warner, a Continental officer, to march to Fort George, under Capt. William Brown, Capt. Dudley, and Capt. Morse, from Fort George, they were ordered by Col. Seth Sherwood, to Crown Point, to take a party of British, who were making hay at Crown Point: they halted at Putnam's Creek, about three Miles from Crown Point, and in the night of the same day of their arrival at Putnam's Creek, returned to their boats, and returned to Fort George, (not having succeeded in taking the Enemy) and then to Fort Edward (Fort Stark) where they joined a Company commanded by Capt. John Shipman, and remained in Garrison, until the fore part of

September; When they were ordered under Capt. John Chipman to March to Schenectady, when on their arrival they joined a Regt. commanded by Col. Genl. John Harper; and were joined by about fifteen Men from Johnstown on the fourth day after their arrival.
They remained in Garrison at Schenectady, until about the middle of September, (same month) When they were ordered, to March to Fort Hunter in a Company. Commanded by Lieut. Seth Sherwood; And from there to Fort Plain: When they were joined, by part of a Company Commanded by Capt. Joshua Drake; from thence, in Company of Capt. Drake and Lieut. Seth Sherwood, they proceeded to Fort Herkimer (German Flats) and then to Fort Stanwix. (Now Rome). The same day they left Fort Herkimer, they had a Skirmish with a party of Indians, supposed to be about Eighty in number, several of whom were killed - Major Hughes Commanded - The same day, about sunset, they arrived at the place where Utica now stands, and encamped for the night. On the next morning they proceeded on their March to Fort Stanwix about fifteen Miles from Utica, where they arrived, before night and remained in Garrison until November, (with the exception of being out, in scouting parties) - In November, they returned to Schenectady and were discharged - Whilst in Garrison at Fort Stanwix, Major Hughes ordered fifty two men, under Command of Capt. Joshua Drake, to proceed to Onondaga Creek, and burn and destroy the boats of Sir John Johnson, there lying in the Creek - The Company were all killed and taken prisoners excepting two men, Thomas Archy and James Wilsey, who made their Escape - Capt. Drake was among the killed, and Nathan Hott among the prisoners - Whilst in the Fort, they were attacked by a party of Indians and Tories under Sir John Johnson, Brant and Butler, who were repulsed with considerable loss - He further saith, on his oath, that he was a fifer, in Capt. William Brown's Company under Col. Lewis Van Wart, at Fort Edward; and that Col. Lewis Van Wart was a Resident of the Town of Cambridge, and that he served under Capt. Elisha Gilbert, as a Volunteer in a scouting party from Palatine Town to Saratoga and was gone two weeks as near as he can recollect; That the first term of his Service which commenced at White Hall, as a Substitute, under Lieut. William

Plead and that the term of his Service, from the time he entered the Service, at Fort Edward, under Capt. William Brown, until he joined Col. John Hosper's Regiment, under Capt. John Chapman, at Schenectada, in Sept th , was Six Months, and the term of Service, from that time, until he returned, from Fort Stanwix, to Schenectada and was discharged was three Months, as near as he can recollect.
He does not recollect the terms of his other Services; the dates when he entered the Service, when he received his discharges, or the names of the officers under whom he served. Except as above stated; but says on his oath, that he was thirteen Months (in all) in the Service all the time a private, except once as a fifer as above stated, under Competent Authority, authorized by the laws of the Country. He further says, that, on his march from Schenectada, to Fort Stanwix, and between Fort Hunter and Fort Plain, he was wounded, by a rifle shot from an Indian, near the left groin, in the lower part of the abdomen, which wound after healing, remained, weak and tender, and after a lapse of seven or eight years, was, by lifting at a sleigh, broken loose on the inside of the skin, which caused a permanent Abdominal Hernia and consequently, a protrusion of the intestines into the Scrotum thereby causing, almost a total disability for manual labor and, at times, the most acute pain and debility. He further says, that he has no discharge or documentary Evidence of his Services and that, he does not know of any living Witness, by whom to prove Service, or of any other Evidence, of Services, Except the Muster Rolls at Albany, an Extract, of which, with the Comptroller Certificate is herunto annexed. And, that, during his several terms of Service he was not employed in any Civil pursuits. He further saith on his oath, in answer to the interrogatories, required to be put by the War department, and which have been put by me, according to law, "I was born in the Town of Killings, County of Windham, and State of Connecticut on the 16 th day of August 1750 -
2 I have no Records of my age -
3 I lived in the Town of Cambridge, County of Washington and State of New York since the War, of which place I was a resident when I first entered the Service I have also lived in the Town of Morellus, Onondaga County and State of New York, also in

Rushfield Steyer County New York, also in the Town of Avon Livingston County, State of New York, also in Pennfield Monroe County, New York. And now live in the Town of Elbridge Onondaga County, New York, -
6. I was first called into service as a substitute for Ephraim Parsons & I was in Capt. Wm Brown Company in a Regt. Commanded by Col. Lewis Van Wart - I served in a Company under Capt. John M c Killup, in a Regt. Commanded by Col. Reuben Ferris, I served under Col. John Harper - I served under Col. Seth Warner, also in Major Hughes Regiment. I can give no better account of general circumstances of my service than is contained in the foregoing Declaration
7. I never received any written discharge
8. I am acquainted with Charles V. Clark, Philip P. Crane Benjamin B. Crane,
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 and subscribed the day and year above written before me Lyman W. Mason Judge of the Court
W. B. W. P. P. P.

We Charles V Clark Philip P Braine Benjamin B Braine David Ward residing in the Town of Burts and County of Cayuga and living in the neighborhood of William Preston, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, do hereby certify, that we are personally well acquainted with him; that we believe him to be eighty years of age as he states; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he lives, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion, having no doubt on the subject
Sworn and subscribed the day and year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six before me Lyman H Mason Judge of the Court of Onondaga County Chas. V. Clark P. P. Braine B. B. Braine David Ward
And I the said Judge, 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 William Preston, was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, and that I am acquainted with him and believe him to be a person of truth and veracity - And I further certify that Charles V Clark, Philip P Braine Benjamin B Braine & David Ward who signed the foregoing Certificate, live in the neighborhood of the said William Preston; that I am personally acquainted with them; that they are persons of credibility, and that their statement is to be relied on - I further certify; that there is no clergyman living in the vicinity of the said William Preston, with whom he is acquainted; and that from bodily infirmity he is unable to attend the Court, to make his declaration; the Court House being over twenty miles from his residence
Dated July 8. 1846
Lyman H Mason } Judge of the Court of Onondaga County

State of New York Onondaga County Clerk's Office
ss I William M. Clarke Deputy Clerk of the said county do certify that Sylvanus H. Mason before whom the within affi- davits purport to have been sworn, was, on the eighth day of July 1840 a Judge in and for the said county, that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signature to the within two affidavits, and the within certificate to be his genuine hand writing and signature In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 25 th day July 1840
W. M. Clarke Dep. Clerk

The number and amount of certificates issued by the Treasurer of the State of New York for Services & Utilities &c continued from Book Nos 1. 3. 4. 5. 8. 8
   To whom given     1781 Nov 7 66.55 William Preston private 1 1 4   1780 July 31 18.243 William Preston do ✓ 6. 16. 10   1779 Sept 13 25.158 M rs Preston do 1. 8. 8   1780 March 22 25.173 M rs Preston do 1. 12. 5   1779 Sept 21 25.254 M rs Preston do 2. 14. 9   1780 April 4 25.387 M rs Preston private 1. 7 9   1779 Oct 23 43.014 M rs Preston do 1. 5. 1   1780 Nov 30 18.295 A M rs Preston do ✓ 10 13 4  
State of New York Comptrollers Office Albany June 9. 1840
I hereby certify that the above to be true extracts from Books Nos 2. 4. 5. 6 & 9 now remaining in this office and that the Service for which the first certificate above named was issued was performed under Capt. Elisha Gilbert in a regiment commanded by Lt Col Asa Waterman, the second under Lieut. Col. Seth Sherwood in a regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. Comm d John Warner, the third and fourth under Lieut. W m Powell the fifth and sixth under Capt. W m Brown in a regiment commanded by Col. Davis Van Voorst, and the seventh under Capt. John McMillip in a regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. Reuben Ferris, and the eighth under Capt. Joshua Drake in a regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. Comm d John Warner
A. A. Dredway Dep. Comptroller
47. 22 40 — 6.00 7. 22 6. 00 1 — . 50 — 3 7. 3  10. 12. 4 1. 7. 9 6. 16. 10 18. 17. 11  45 2. 22 47. 22

N. York
William Preston let. to R. Gales 21. August 1840
Act June 1832

Rev wan
9991
INVALID.
File No. 9991
William Preston
Rev Wan
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 303
[Arrangement of 1870.]

35089
William Preston
Act. June 7. 1832
Col. Van Woert } New York Capt. Wm Brown } Medicine
Col. Harpe } New York Capt. Drake } Lewis " Chipman }
Admitted Private no 743 days $23.66
R Galt Esq 21 2:44 PM 11-85 Wadsworth 224 77 New York

Wadsworth Cayuga Co New York July 31, 1840
Dear Sir
I send you the papers of William Preston praying a decision. If they are insufficient in any particular will you please inform me and in what particular
Resp y Yours
Robert Green
J. L. Edwards. Your opinions

Wadsworth, Cayuga Co. N.Y. Dec 16. 1840
Dear Sir,
In the case of W m Preston, I send you two affidavits, in addition to the first, in relation to his claim as a pensioner, being probably all the evidence that he can obtain on the subject. If anything can be legally done for him he is in want of it, he being supported, at the expense of the County. Respectfully Yours
W. Galt
J. L. Edwards Esq r . of pension
P.S. Please inform me if anything occurs in New York.
W. Galt

State of New York Onondaga County, ss: On this fifth day of December in the Year Eighteen hundred and forty, personally came, before me, Lyman H. Mason, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Onondaga, William Preston, a resident of the Town of Elbridge, in said County; aged an Applicant for a Pension, Under the Act of June 7, 1832, who Made and Swore to his Declaration before me, the said Judge; which Declaration is now on file in the Pension Office, Who being, by me, now duly Sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath, depose and say, that he was a resident of the Town of Cambridge, in the County of Washington then Albany and State of New York, during all his Revolutionary Services, and, that he never entered the Service of the Revolutionary War, at, or from, any other place in the State of New York, or else where; and that the reason, why he did not, sooner, apply for a Pension, or present his claim, was ignorance of the Pension Laws; that he did not know that he had a claim for a Pension, until he was, during the past Summer, advised of the same by Robert Galt and further saith not Sworn and subscribed before me this day and year above written, Lyman H. Mason Judge of Onondaga Court
Monecleya County p; I certify that I am acquainted with the above named William Preston, and believe his statements to be entitled to full credit. He now lives in poverty & distression.

State of New York
Onondaga County ss, On this ninth day of December in the year Eighteen hundred and forty, personally appeared before me, Lyman W. Mason a Judge of the court of common Pleas of the County of Onondaga, aforesaid, Britton Tallman, a resident of the Town of Skeneateles County of Onondaga and State of New York aged forty four years, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, depose and say; that he was acquainted, personally, with William Preston, the person named in the foregoing affidavit, in the year 1780 in the Town of Cambridge and County of Washington now and is now personally acquainted with him; that he the said William Preston, Allen Kennells, David Brown, John Babcock, James Sweet and Roger Starkweather, left Cambridge aforesaid, in company together, in the fore part of March in the year 1780 and Entered the Revolutionary Service, under Capt. William Brown, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Lewis Van Woot, at Fort Edward (then Fort Stork) and was transferred to a Company commanded by Capt. John Chipman, in a Regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. Comd. John Harper, at Schenectady; that some time in the month of November following (1780) he returned home to Cambridge aforesaid, and that there, was no other person, at that time, by the name of William Preston, in Cambridge, aforesaid, who was a Resident of said Town
Sworn and subscribed the day Britton Tallman And year above written before
Mr. Lyman W. Mason Judge of Onondaga Common Pleas
Onondaga County ss: I certify that the above named Britton Tallman is a person of Credibility and that his Statements are Entitled to full Credit
Lyman W. Mason Judge of Onondaga Common Pleas

State of New York Onondaga County } Bleek's office }
I, Elijah Rhoades clerk of said County do certify that Symeon Hillerson before whom the preceding affidavits were taken and who signed the foregoing certificates was at the date thereof a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge and verily believe his signature thereto to be genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this 15 th day of December 1820 E. Rhoades CCR