Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 16721, for William Shelly, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Shelly, William Shelley Molly
N 16721
CONTENTS

823 New York (Albany)
Molly Shelly widow of William Shelly
who died on the 5 th March 1806 at Albany Co. in the State of N. York who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Osborn of the reg t commanded by Col. Schuyler in the N. Y. mil- itia for the war.
Inscribed on the Roll of a New York (Albany) at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of May 1837 and sent to H. L. G. G. Lansing Albany
Arrears to the 14th of March 1837 $200. Pension allowance ending 4 Sep 1837 16.66
$216.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the }
Recorded by D. Wilson Clerk, Book Vol. 1 Page 138
To H. Lansing Esq. Aug. 25. 1837

Declaration of Molly Shelley, widow of William Shelley, for Pension under Act July 4 1836.
admitted 10 mo. 32 33 / 100
recorded 1767
filed 5 mo. 1837
No 8. 3. Lavinia Shelley N. Y.

State of New York Albany County ss.
On this 28 th day of April 1837 personally appeared before Gerrit L. Dorr one of the Justices of the Justice Court of the city of Albany in and for said County being a court of Record
Molly Shelley a resident of the Town of Watervliet in the County of Albany and State of New York, aged ninety years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following deposition in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4, 1836
That she is the widow of William Shelley, who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war. That she was married to the said William Shelley in the year 1769, but she is now unable to state the month or the day of the month on which she was married.
That her aforesaid husband William Shelley died on the fifth day of March 1806, and that she has remained a widow ever since the period of his death. That she does not know of any Record of her marriage now existing, — that all the persons who were present at her marriage are dead. That she was married in Albany where she went for such purpose. From the Town of Watervliet, where she then

and has ever since resided. — One of the females who was present at the marriage was Sophia Reese. That the maiden name of the Declarant was Bowman.
That the Declarant's said husband William Shelly was in active Service during the Revolutionary war. That he was on one period or tour of Service of Six months, and was absent on duty during said time. That he was then at the "Highlands," as it was then and is now called, — that said Service was in the militia as she believes, and he was called out or drafted for such period of Service — That she is now unable to state the year in which said Service was rendered, but thinks that it was in the Early part of the war —
That the said husband was on several other occasions or times in active Service, in the militia, in the Revolutionary war, — and as she Declarant believes during every year of the Continnuance of the war. — That the militia on several occasions assembled at her father's house, when about departing on tours of active duty, on which occasions her husband was among them. That the Declarant recollects that he served some of the time or times under a Captain Strong, — but that she does not now recollect the names of other Officers. —
That the Declarant cannot from old age & bodily infirmity attend Court for the purpose of making this her

Duration, without great danger to her health or life, - and this declaration is made to wit- her name,
Sworn before me this 28 th April 1837
Molly X Shelley mark
Gerrit L Doo Justice of Peace
Albany Justice Court ss. I certify that the above affidavit of Molly Shelley was taken before me at the residence of said Molly Shelley, she being in com- pany of the the undersigned attending the usual acts of office before any court of record held therein
Given under my hand at the city of Albany this 28 th day of April 1837
Gerrit L Doo Justice
Albany Justice Court ss.
This is to certify that Gerrit L Doo is a Justice of the Justice Court of the city of Albany and that the above signature of said Gerrit L Doo is the genuine signature of said Justice
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court this 29 th day of April 1837
J. G. Wapson clk

State of New York Albany County
I, Isaac Great of the Town of Waterford in the County and State aforesaid being duly sworn do hereby say that I am about 79 years of age and have resided since my boyhood in the said town. I have known Betty Shelly who is the widow of William Shelly deceased for a great number of years. They were married previously to the Revolutionary war. The said William Shelly was a tanner by trade. During the Revolutionary war said Shelly & his Regiment landed in the same State, and the said Shelly was frequently out in active Service as a Soldier in the Revolutionary war.
The first time of military duty of said Shelly was up to the North which was at the September battles in 1775. This Regiment was in the same line of Service. They went up to Lake George. Col. Nichols was the Colonel of the Regiment, but this deponent does not recollect whether the said Colonel was one. Philip Schuyler was Major or Lieutenant Colonel. Capt. Estlin Capt. Jacob Munn, Lieutenant. Philip Schuyler Ensign. The Expedition was in the fall of the year they were there weeks on the ground & including the time going & returning, more out a month.
That this deponent recollects very well that the said William Shelly was about on a line of duty in the year 1776 down to the Highlands and that the said Shelly was defeated, understood retreated at the time to have been on such line of military duty. One fact is particularly recollects by this deponent that the family of said Shelly (the said Shelly being poor) were taken off & understood to have been in suspicious circumstances by reason of the said Shelly's absence on such Service.
Another report further says that in 1777 the militia comprising the line to which the deponent said Shelly belonged were called out into Service, at the North & some of the militia returned. The part of the militia with which the deponent turned out were marched up under command of Major Jacob Schermerhorn.

in the Company & under the Command of Capt Ostrom - they marched up to Fort Edward & then to Fort Ann and when at the latter place some of the first of the Regiment came up among which was the First William Shilly - Burgoyne was then advancing & understood to be at Skene'sborough, when the militia to which the Regiment & First Shilly belonged returned to Fort Edward, & then to Saratoga & soon afterwards came home They went out in June & returned during harvest. They were out about a month, - and the part of the militia with which Shilly was out about a week less. - after remaining a short time at home Engaged in harvest - they were ordered up to Saratoga again & remained until Burgoyne was taken, this last hour in which said Shilly also was, was about 34 days - Col Francis Nichols was then Colonel, Philip Schuyler Lieut Colonel, and they were in Capt Ostrom's Company
21 days
30 days
That next year thereafter, or the year 1778 - the militia to which the Regiment & First Shilly belonged, were again called out - said Shilly did not turn out with this Regiment, but was with a portion of the Company in which a brother of his, Sergeant, was also The Sergeant does not know of his own knowledge how long said Shilly was out on duty on said occasion but the call or draft was for for a half month Service.
15 days
That in the year 1779, (as the Sergeant believes) the Regiment & said Shilly, with other militia were ordered out, and went to Fort Ticonderoga on the Mohawk River, & they were all remained at said place three weeks. - The Service was also in Captain Ostrom's Company.
21 days
Sworn before me this 28 th Day of April 1837 L J Calfee Commissioner
Isaac Groat

State of New York.
County of Albany ss. I Frederick Dampfh of the Town of Watervliet & County aforesaid being sworn, says, that he is eighty nine years of age upwards, knows Molly Shetley, widow of William Shetley deceased, who died about thirty years ago. That the Deponent served in the Revolutionary war, and is now a Pensioner - this Deponent knew the said Molly Shetley & William Shetley before the said Revolutionary war - I lived a near neighbor to them. They were married (lived together) before the said war. That this Deponent and said William Shetley, served together in active Service in said Revolutionary war. That in the Early part of the said war and the year before Burgoyne was taken there was a Draft among the Militia for active Service - the Militia were divided into Claps & each Clap to furnish a man - this Deponent was furnished or selected by a Clap and the said William Shetley, by a Clap of the Militia for the town of Watervliet - They were called or ordered out for a six months term of Service, and rendezvoused at Albany, and from there went down the River to the Highlands, and were Stationed at Fort Constitution. The name of the Captain under whom they served was Bentley, - the Lieutenant was M c Asp of Albany, Second Lieutenant was M c Fee of Greenbush opposite Albany. - The name of the Major was Henry K Van Rensselaer, - & Colonel Humphrey, and General Clinton. The said William Shetley and this Deponent served the said term of six months, & were regularly discharged.
And this deponent further says that the said William Shetley also was out in active Service in the Militia, at the North and also at the West along the Mohawk River on several occasions or times.
Sworn before me the 28 th day of April 1837. the within is a true copy of the original L. J. Baker. Commissioner of Deeds

State of New York
Albany County ss. Henry Knuckle of the Town of Watervliet in the County & State aforesaid being sworn says that he is Eighty four years old - has resided since his boyhood in the said Town of Watervliet - knows M rs Molly Shelly the widow of William Shelly & has known both the said Molly Shelly and the said William since the boyhood of the deponent, both of whom also resided in the said Town of Watervliet. The said William Shelly was intimate in his acquaintance, with this deponent's father's family. The said Molly & William Shelly, were married before the Revolutionary war.
And this deponent further says that the said William Shelly was in active service as a Soldier in the Revolutionary war on several occasions or tours of service.
That the said William Shelly was respected, understood & beloved by this deponent at the time, & now believes, to have been regarded as a son of duty at the 'Highlands' for six months. - this deponent knows of his leaving home for the purpose of going on said service, and was absent about said length of time. The service was in Seventeen hundred Seventy Six. as this deponent believes.
That the said William Shelly was also out in active service at the north, the year Burgoyne was taken, and at the same time with this deponent who was also in said service. The said Shelly was out on said tour of service four or six weeks. That the Captain of the company, to which

the Sergeant belonged was Dothout & the Lieutenant was Jacob Lansing, as Sergeant belongs - The Company to which said Shelley belonged, was that of Captain Ostrom, of the same Regiment.
As the Sergeant of which says that he said William Shelley was out in active service, on military duty, every year of the Revolutionary war, as the Sergeant belongs, from his own recollection of the times. - He was an active soldier, who turned out with alacrity & readiness on all occasions, when requisitions were made, which were frequent in the Company to which he belonged.
Sworn before me this Donah  his Runkle 28 th Day of April 1837 L J Callee Commissioner

State of New York
Albany County ss. Hannah Orlos of the Town of Watervliet in said County being sworn say, That she knows Molly Shetty the widow of William Shetty and knew her before the Revolutionary war, as also the said William Shetty. — That the Respondent was not present at the marriage of said Molly & William Shetty but the Respondent had a Sister, whose name was Sophia Rose, who left here for the purpose of attending the wedding of said Molly & William Shetty, & after her return she spoke of having been to said wedding. This Respondent was about thirteen years old at that time. — She has lived a neighbor to said Molly Shetty ever since. — The said William Shetty died about thirty years since — and the said Molly Shetty has remained a widow ever since.
That the said William Shetty was a Soldier in active service during the revolutionary war. The Respondent has the fact of the said William Shetty going down to the "Highlands" on a tour of military duty, and being absent from his family. Some considerable time the marriage of said Molly & William Shetty was before the Revolutionary war.
Given before me this 22 nd day of April 1837. the word "who" interlined. L. J. Caboor Comr Deeds
Hannah Orlos
I certify that I am acquainted personally with Isaac Greathead President & Joseph Henry Runkle (Hannah Orlos) the preceding officials & that they are credible persons & their statements entitled to credit.
L. J. Caboor
Commissioner of Deeds to take affidavits &c.

State of New York Albany County § 88
I Bernard A. Tru Cyck Clerk of, the said County do hereby certify that Laurence J. Coker before whom the four preceding affidavits purport to have been subscribed & sworn to on the day of the date of the same a Commissioner of duly authorized to take affidavits Deeds in and for the said County, And that the names subscribed to each of the said affidavits is his proper hand writing and signature.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of, the said County this 29. th day of, April 1837.
C. A. Tru Cyck Clerk

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16721
Abby Shell widow of William Shell Dr. New York
Act July 4 th 86
Index: Vol. m , Page 207
[Arrangement of 1870.]

May 4. Hon N.Y. O.M. Lab
James H. Edwards
Commr of Pensions War Department Washington D.C.

Hon James L Edwards
Sir
At the request of Mr Frothingham I do myself the pleasure to enclose the declaration of Molly Shelly widow of William Shelly - its merits will be apparent from the innumeration and I am requested to refer you to the pay rolls for 1779. 80 & 81. now in your office to substantiate if necessary the service of the husband of the Declarant - . Do me the favor at your convenient leisure to advise me of your action in the premises. and believe me
Respectfully & truly Your obedt Servt
W. L. Cummings Albany 1 May 1837.

6. p 63 - $2.31 64 - 87
$3.20

Albany August 13 th 1837
Sir
An application was recently made by Molly Shelly for a Pension on account of the military Services of her husband William Shelly
Evidence of his Services up to the year 1789 was forwarded to the further testimony Collated, on the Inspection that there was in the War Office at Washington documentary Evidence of his Services after that period, in the New York Militia.
Will you have the goodness to inform us whether there are any returns of his Services, after the above period, & of what time of Service. The widow is not only old & infirm, but very poor which renders any information desirable, at as early a period as is convenient
Very respectfully
Your Ob d Servt
Brotherhame R. Manning