Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7790, for John Oliver, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Oliver, John
R 7790
CONTENTS

V 34. 411
In the matter of the application of John Oliver for a pension under the Act of June 7. 1832
Declaration &c N. Y.
Hon. A. Gallup N.Y.

State of New York
Albany County ss. On this 2 nd day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before the Justices, Court of the City of Albany, (the same being a Court of Record) now sitting, John Oliver, a resident of the Town of Bethlehem in the said County, aged eighty one — 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. 1832 —
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein after stated —
In the year 1778, I was a private in the Company of Militia then commanded by Capt. John Van Vliet of the County of Albany, and went with his company, under the command of Capt. Francis Klingender to Saratoga, where we were drafted — We went from Albany to Schenectady, and from
In the year 1778 I was a resident of the Town of Bethlehem in said County, (where I was born) and was a private in Capt. John Van Vliet's Company of Militia — In September of that year, I, with others of Capt. Van Vliet's Company, was drafted to go to Saratoga on a tour of duty, to guard against the attacks of the British & Indians in that neighborhood — I accordingly went with the other drafted men, under the command of Capt. Francis Klingender, from Albany to Saratoga — We received our arms & equipments at Albany —
We were stationed on the east side of the Hudson River — about eight or ten miles south of Fort Edward — The name of our Ensign was Wendell Hildebrandt or Hellbrandt — We served on this tour of military duty, not less, according to my recollection, than three months — Our Lieutenants name was John Leonard —
We returned late in the fall or beginning of winter, & on our return, we passed through Schenectady — We were frequently out on scouting parties, but did not see the enemy — We were billeted out among the inhabitants in Schenectady, a part of the time, & were discharged at that place, where we returned home —
Adam Long who is now living and resides in New Scotland, was with us in that expedition — I do not know of any other persons now living who were with me at that time — I remember one Gilbert Groesbeck, also Leinus Laramay, were with us, but they are both dead —

In the year that the Village of Schoharie was burnt by the Indians, I was again ordered into the service - and went with a party of Capt: John Vrie's Company, and under his command to Schoharie - Tenas Wanduberg was our Lieutenant,
We went from the Town of Bethlehem - there was about 30 privates, We went by the way of the Beaver Dam & the Gosen Hill, to the Fork at the Stone Church in Schoharie - In the month of July we went, and remained there on duty, till, I think, the latter part of October, when we were discharged & returned home - I believe I served on this term of duty, upwards of three months , as a private in Capt: Van Vrie's Company,
I also performed other services for the public in the Revolutionary War, in burning coal for the use of the Army, and as a Waggoneer in transporting provisions from Albany to Schenectady for the use of the troops - etc
I am not a pensioner of the United States, but claim a pension for the services above stated -
I have never learned to write and therefore make a mark or cross for my signature -
Sworn and subscribed in open Court, on the day & year first above written -
John his X Oliver mark
Four lines erased on the 1 st page
J. G. Wagon Coll
And the said Court hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter and reading the affidavits of Adam Long and Isaac Van Vrie hereto annexed, that the said John Oliver was a soldier of the Revolution, and served as he states.
I, John G. Wagon Clerk of the Justice's Court of the City of Albany, do hereby certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings had before the said Court in the matter of the application of John Oliver for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the said County and subscribed my name this second day of February A.D. 1838.
J. G. Wapshall

Official signature of the Magistrate. Samuel Young Commissioner of Deeds
STATE OF NEW-YORK,
County of Albany
} ss.
I Henry B. Haswell — Clerk of the County — Court, of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Samuel Young is a Commissioner of Deeds in and for the County of Albany duly commissioned and qualified; that his Commission is dated on the first day of January 1836. and will expire on the thirty first day of December 1839. and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County, the Second day of February 1838.
H. B. Haswell Clerk.

State of New York Albany County ss.
Be it remembered that before Me the undersigned a Commissioner of Pleadings for the County of Albany. came Adam Leong of the Town of New Scotland in said County of Albany. who being by me duly sworn did depose and say. that he knew John Oliver of the Town of Bethlehem in said County and that he knew him in the revolu- tionary war and that the said John Oliver was in the service of this country against Great Britain and was in the service at Saratoga with this deponent and that he the said Oliver served under Captain John Van Wie in Colonel Gerrit Vanderburgh's Regiment and that they was both in the service three Months at Saratoga and Fort Ticonderoga and also that they both was in the service in Schoharie three Months and all in the service of this country against the Kingdom of Great Britain Subscribed and sworn to this 18 th day of January 1838 before me
his Adam + Leong mark
Samuel Young Commissioner of Pleadings.
I certify that the above named Adam Leong cannot write his name for want of education, and is a credible witness.
Samuel Young. Commissioner of Pleadings.

State of New York } be it remembered that before Albany County ss } Me the undersigned a commissi- -oner of Deeds for the County of Albany came Isaac Van Riper of the Town of New Scotland in the said County of Albany, who being by me duly sworn did depose and say, that he knew John Oliver of the Town of Bethlehem in said County of Albany, and that he knew him in the revolution and wore and that he was in the service of this country against the Kingdom of Great Britain and that the said John Oliver was in the service at Saratoga with this deponent and that they served under Captain John Van Riper in Colonel Gerrit Vanderkooi- gh's regiment, and that they was in the service in Schobackie in defence of this country against the Kingdom of Great Britain
Subscribed and sworn to this 18 th day of January 1858 before Me
Isaac Van Riper
Samuel Young Commissioner of Deeds
I certify that the above Deposition is a credible Witness
Samuel Young Commissioner of Deeds

December 23, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. Eugene Keeler Stevensville Pennsylvania
EPHRAIM FAIRCHILD, W. 2929 JOHN OLIVER, R. 7796 BA-J/MLB R7796
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Paul De Witt and his wife, Elizabeth Sly, of Burlington Township; Ephraim Fairchild and his wife, Mary Platt, of Pike Township; Abigail Bradshaw, widow of John Bradshaw of Pike Township, all in Bradford County, Pennsylvania; John Oliver, of Albany County, New York; Joseph Cleveland, of Union, Broome County, New York, and Lucina Keeler, widow of Elisha Keeler, of Pike Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
Because of the large number of requests for records of Revolutionary War soldiers, and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it has been impossible to make a series of investigations and reports pertaining to soldiers of that war for one person. Records have been found for Ephraim Fairchild and John Oliver as described by you and they are furnished you, as follows:
EPHRAIM FAIRCHILD W. 2929
The data herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W. 2929, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Ephraim Fairchild.
Ephraim Fairchild was born March 16, 1760, in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; the names of his parents are not given.
While residing in Stratford, Connecticut, he enlisted early in October, 1775, for three years, served as private in Captain Joseph Tomlinson's company of rangers, Colonel David Wooster's Connecticut regiment, engaged in guarding the seacoast at different stations along the sound from Stratford to Horseneck, and was discharged sometime in 1778. He enlisted in July, 1779, served as private in Captain Benajah Bennett's company, Colonel Stephen Gould's Connecticut regiment and
after being discharged 3 yrs

was in the battle of Fairfield and present when that town was burned, and was discharged after having served a tour of nine months.
The soldier continued to reside in Fairfield County, Connecticut, four or five years after the war, then moved to Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut, where he resided about four years, thence to East Chester in Westchester County, New York, remained there about two years, then moved to Wyalusing Creek in Pike Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, sometime between 1790 and 1793.
Ephraim Fairchild was allowed pension on his application executed February 12, 1834, at which time he was living in Pike Township, Pennsylvania, was still living there in March, 1836, and died there May 26, 1838.
Ephraim Fairchild married September 30, 1779, in Weston, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Mary Platt; the date and place of her birth and names of parents are not given. They were married at the home of the father of Eunice Sanford, his name not stated and where Mary Platt had made her home when young, no relationship shown. At the time of their marriage, the soldier and his wife were both living in Weston, Connecticut, and continued to reside there for a number of years after marriage and had several children born in Weston.
Soldier's widow, Mary Fairchild, was allowed pension on her application executed January 29, 1844, at which time she was aged eighty-five years and a resident of Herrick, which was formerly Pike Township, in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
In 1834, the soldier referred to a son then dead but did not state his name nor were the names of any children given.
In 1828, Ephraim Fairchild's sister, Ruth Frink, made affidavit in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, in behalf of the soldier. She died sometime prior to 1832, the given name of her husband not stated.
*****
JOHN OLIVER R. 7790
The record of John Oliver follows as found in pension claim, R. 7790, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
John Oliver was born in Bethlehem, Albany County, New York; the date of birth and names of his parents are not shown.

John Oliver applied for pension February 2, 1838, at which time he was aged eighty-one years and a resident of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York. He stated that while residing in Bethlehem, New York, he enlisted in 1778 and served as private in Captains John Van Wie's and Teunis Slingerland's companies, in Colonel Gerritt Vandenberg's New York Regiment on an expedition against the British and Indians at Saratoga and that he served on this tour three months; also, that in July of the year that the Village of Schoharie, New York, was burned by the Indians, he enlisted and served "upwards of three months" as private in Captain John Van Wie's New York company; that he served also as wagoner in transporting provisions from Albany to Schenectady for the troops.
The soldier's claim for pension was not allowed as he did not furnish proof of six months' service in accordance with the requirements of the pension law.
It is not stated whether or not the soldier ever married.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

1910 Apr. 9 Ask. to Mrs. Louis H. Payne V.P.M. 1936 Dec. 23 - Ask. to Mr. Eugene Feeley
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1879.
1990 P. O. _____
Oliver
John Oliver
Service: _____
1-0
REJECTED
Enlisted: Nov. 7 , 18_____
Discharged: Aug 23, 1906 , 18_____
Printed list of 1852 Rejected & subsequent claims papers following cause of rejection: Application filed: _____, 18_____
"He did not serve six months."
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____
Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18_____

MAR 22 1910 Mrs L. R. Payne 3-871. 730 Warren St Hudson
RECORD DIVISION.
for data to identify NY Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by W.T. L
Claim No. 3/18/10.
Certificate No.
Claimant Whelimior Oliver (Wid.)
Soldier John Oliver
Service Rev. War.
Additional Service
No claim, State records, 190
No claim, combination records, 190
REMARKS:
No OW Wid or SW Reg as above (Can not identify dw.)

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by Adj. Apr. 6, 1910
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier John Oliver
Service N.Y.
Additional Service Res.
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 190____
No claim, combination records _____, 190____
REMARKS:
No P.W. Wid. Pen. or Reg. other than Reg. 7790

Samuel Jenkins Augt. 14, 1838
A.C.
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

War Dept Pen: off Aug 14, 38
Sir
In reply to your enquiring, I respectfully refer you to my letter to Hon. A. Gallup of y d Teby last for the reasons for rejecting the claims of Adam Long & John Oliver —
Samuel Jenkins Esq. Albany N.Y.

War Dep
Pen. Off
9 Feby 38
(Sir)
I have the honor to inform you that the claims of John Oliver & Adam Long have been examined & disallowed
The documentary evidence of the N.Y. militia services show that neither of the officers named served as much as six months after 76 - In one of the terms which Adam Long estimates at 3 mos under Capt. Hengerland, it is shown by the pay roll that he was paid 1. 5/7 day - and in like manner John Oliver's allegation of 3 mos service on the same occasion (burning of Schoharie) under Capt. Van Klief is discredited - Neither served as much as 3 mos.
These claims are exceptionable in other respects - There is no relinquishment - no traditional certificate and the answers to the interrogatories are not embodied - The certificate of the court is defective and the authentication

imperfect
Then papers are placed on our files
Hon. A. Gallup, Mar 9 th 1838 OK
Hon. A. Gallup H. Rep

Stevensville, Pa.
Bradford Co.,
Dec. 3, 1936.
Dept. of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions, Rev. War Section. Gentlemen,
I am completing records for one two sons to join the C.A.R. and would like the copies of claims for Revolutionary War service pensions for the following, if they received such pensions:
Paul DeWitt and his wife Elizabeth Sly, Burlington Twp. Bradford Co. Pa. ✓ Ephraim Fairchild and his wife Mary Platt, Pike Twp. Bradford Co. Pa. Abigail Bradshaw, widow of John Bradshaw, Pike Twp. Bradford Co. Pa. John Oliver of Albany Co. N.Y. Joseph Cleveland and his of Union, Broome Co., N.Y. Lucina Keeler, widow of Elisha Keeler, Pike Twp. Bradford Co. Pa.
Kindly give cost of making copies.
Very respectfully yours,
Mrs. Eugene Keeler.

Hudson, N. Y. March 25 - 10
H. Davenport, Commissioner,
MAR 29 1910
Dear Sir:-
Yours of the 22 received and in reply will say that John Oliver was private in the Revolutionary War under Capt. John Van Eps in Col. Philip P. Schuyler's regiment of militia of the manor of Rensselaerswyck in county of Albany, also the said John Oliver was private under Capt. Dennis Slingerlandt

in the said regiment of Albany county militia; also the said John Oliver was private under Capt. John Groot in the said regiment of Albany County militia. And the place of residence at enlistment time was in Albany county, N. Y.
Very respectfully,
Mrs. Louis H. Paynr, # 730 Warren St., Hudson, N. Y.

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. John Oliver Ref. 7790
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1778 1 mo. Pvt. John Van Wie Gerrit Vanderburgh N.Y.   Jennies Stingerland   3 mo. Pvt. Van Wie   also served as a wagoner & transported provisions from Albany to Schenectady  
Battles engaged in, _____ Residence of soldier at enlistment, Ottawa, Albany Co. N.Y. Date of application for pension, Feb 2 1882 Residence at date of application, Ottawa N.Y. Age at date of application, 80 years
Remarks: _____  Pension was not allowed as there was not sufficient proof of 6 mo. service as required by the act of June 7, 1882 under which he applied.