Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 43,816, for Jason Perkins, Connecticut

SERVICE
Perkins, Jason
NUMBER _____
NUMBER D. 43816
CONTENTS

To New York Connecticut.
Jason Perkins
of Sharon in the state of Connecticut who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Myllis of the Connecticut line, for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 9 of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th of June 1819 and sent to the Pensioner at Sharon Ellsworth Society, Connecticut.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 86.89 Semi-annual all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819 48
10 24/30 4/31 $134.89
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Transferred to N.Y. 27 th Feb. 1827 per 4. March 1827.
Continued
Revolutionary War Pension Jason Perkins Sharon Connecticut

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
State of New York County of Lewis ss.
On this Tenth day of February 1827, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Lewis personally appeared Jason Perkins who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Abel Tullibone in the regiment commanded by Colonel Willis in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Connecticut. — from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State ( District of Columbia ,) of New York where he intends to remain, and wishes his Pension to be there payable, in future; and that his reasons for removing to the State of New York, was, that he had a son Residing there
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Charles Stephens J.P.
NOTES.—The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be proved by the certificate of the proper officer, setting forth that the person taking the testimony is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
The Pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identity. The person must swear that he well knows him to be the same person described in the above affidavit. The Magistrate must certify that the deponent is a person of veracity. This oath must also have the authentication as above required.

State of New York
Levis County ss.
On this 10 th day of February 1827 before me Apostolus Stephens Esquire one of the Justices of the peace for the County aforesaid personally appeared Bradley Perkins, who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he well knows the within named Jason Perkins, to be the same Jason Perkins described in the within Affidavit and further saith not. —
Bradley Perkins
Taken & subscribed before me? this 10 th day of February 1827 Apostolus Stephens - J. Peace
I do Certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Bradley Perkins - and that he is a person of veracity —
Given under my hand this 10 th day of February 1827
Apostolus Stephens J. Peace

Clerks office Lewis County
I certify that Apollo Stephens whose name appeared within as a Justice of the peace, was on all of the respective dates mentioned by him as such a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, dwelling in said County, duly Commissioned & sworn - And further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and verily believe the signature "Apollo Stephens" subscribed within to be his own proper hand writing. Witness my hand & the seal of said County Feby 12 th 1829
Andrew H. Daig Clerk

Jason Perkins, private, Connecticut line, 9 th April, 1818.
Not found on the rolls.
Perkins Perkins Perkins
Adm?
one year's service in 1776.
0.3 Certificate to the Pension at Sharon, Ellsworth Society, Conn.
Augustus Pettibone,
Judge,
Litchfield, Connecticut.
Rec. 30. April, 1818.

Jason Perkins of Sharon in Litchfield County and State of Connecticut deposes and says that in the Month of May 1775. he enlisted as a private soldier in the army of the revolution under the continental establishment under the command of Capt John Watson then of Lorrain in said Litchfield County in the Regiment of Col. Henson of Woodbury in said Litchfield County for the term of six Months. - the whole of which term the Deponent duly served in the Northern Army at the expiration of the said term the Deponent enlisted again under the command of Capt. Abel Pillebone then of Simsbury in Hartford County under command of Col. Willys under the continental establishment, Connecticut Line for the term of one year, which term of service was duly performed by the Deponent at Boston. New York. Long Island & the Deponent was in all the battles on said Island - and was afterwards discharged at Peapack Hill in the State of New Jersey & the Deponent in about one week after he said Deponent again enlisted under Capt Hall of Goshen in said County of Litchfield for the term of three Months which term of service was duly performed by the Deponent at New York North castle & White Plains in the State of New York and the Deponent again enlisted for the term of three Months under the command of Capt Morgan then of Springfield in the State of Massachusetts which term of service was principally performed in the Northern Army at the taking of Burgoyne. - and the Deponent further says that he is sixty one years of age & is in poor & needy circum- stances. & stands in absolute need of a relief to from his country for his daily support Jason Perkins

State of Connecticut Litchfield County ss April 9 th day A 1818 personally appeared Jason Perkins signers of the foregoing affidavit and made solemn Oath to the truth of the same before me
Augustus Pettibone Chief Judge of Litchfield County Court
State of Connecticut Litchfield County ss I Augustus Pettibone Esq. Chief Judge of the County Court for Litchfield County - do certify the foregoing affidavit - That it appears to my satisfaction that the said Jason Perkins served in the revolutionary war as a private soldier against the common enemy on the continental establishment for more than nine months - That by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of the assistance of his country for support
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the said court which is a Court of record to be affixed this Day of April Anno Domini
1818
Augustus Pettibone Chief Judge I Frederick Wolcott clerk of the County Court in the County of Litchfield in the State of Conn - certify that the seal hereto annexed is the seal of Court that the above signature is the handwriting of the judge of said Court
April 21 st 1818
Frederick Wolcott Clerk

Jason Perkins
11.400
lon Sept. 10/19

County Court District and State of Connecticut County of Litchfield on this 12 th day of July 1820 Personally appeared in open Court being a Court of record for the said County of Litchfield Jason Perkins aged sixty three years a resident of Sharon in said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: on or about the first of may 1775 I then enlisted for the term of six months as a Private soldier under the command of Capt John Watson then of Canaan in the State of Connecticut and Litchfield County and in the Regiment Commanded by Col Heman then of Woodbury in said County and went to Canaan and when the six months was expired General Montgomery being in great want of men he wanted all that was willing to list to engage again and those that would not list again he wished them to stay untill new recruits could come on and I stayed until all the places and forts was taken in Canada except Quebec and was in the battle where my brave Capt John Watson was badly wounded and helped to carry him to a house I then continued at the siege of St Johns fort untill it was taken where the bombs and balls was flying for 46 days — and after some new recruits come on I then returned home being in want of Cloaths the whole of the time that I was gone being about nine months — I then enlisted again about the first of February or last of January 1776 for one year as a Private under the command of Capt Abell Hellebone then of Simsbury State of Connecticut in Hartford County and in the Regiment Commanded by Col Willis then of Hartford and in the Line of the State of Connecticut on the Continental Establishment and went to Boston and continued there untill the enemy left Boston and then went to New York and when the British army landed on Long Island I went there and was in the battles and continued on the island untill the American army left it and then returned to New York and continued to serve in said Company & Regiment where the army went untill the month of January 1777 and then was discharged at Peekskill in the State of New York I then returned home got some Cloaths and in a few days enlisted again as a private under the Capt Hall then of Goshen in Connecticut for three months went to New Rochelle and White Plains and served said term of time and was discharged and returned home and when Burgoyne and his army was a coming down from

Canada though I had before this gone through many dangers and hardships and had not received but a small compensation for it as I always had found my own Cloaths and arms and some times much Discouraged for fear that America would be Conquered. but I then thought that this was a trying time that after so much blood had bin spilt and Property destroyed then to give up would not be wise. I therefore went went to Granville in the Bay State as that town joyned Hartford in Connecticut the town in which I lived and enlisted under the Command of Capt Morgan then of Springfield for three months to go and fight Burgoyne and his army. accordingly went to Bennington and after that part of the army which came their was killed and taken I then went to Saratoga where Burgoyne and the remainder of his army was and when Burgoyne with all his army had surrendered and there was no want of men at the northward I went from Saratoga to the White Plains and continued there until the time was expired that I had engaged for and then returned home. and afterwards when men was wanted I went into the army a number of times while the war lasted. the whole of the time that I was in the army while the war lasted was about four years — the original Declaration was dated April 9 — 1818 and the number of Pension Certificate is 11,400 given at the war office of the united states the Seventh day of June 1819 and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the united states on the 18 day of march 1818 — and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner 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 day of march 1818 and that I have not nor has any Person in trust for me any Property or securities Contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule here to annexed and by me subscribed
  Schedule one Cow and Calf 20   one mare supposed to be more than 20 years old 25   two old saddles one pair of saddle-bags 25   one farm & five sheep one hand saw 9   two Low Chests & one with 2 drawers 4   one great wheel & one foot wheel 3   two old chairs some of them have bin in house 40 years — one auger 2   one pot one kettle one tea kettle 3   one gridiron one spider one warming Pan 3   one wash tub twelve old Barrels 3   six milk Pans — six Plates Pater 3   two stone Pots — one table — one stand 4   one pair of andirons — one fire & tongs 4   three Pater basons — two bowls & one glass 2   two axes one Chain one hoe one shovel 4   one grindstone one wood sled for a horse 3   two Pitchforks two rakes one dungfork 2 
  six knives & forks six spoons one bread-pan 1 50   four old bags two Pails two jugs 3 glasses 3 
there may be some small articles that I have not thought of that are not in this schedule 98 50
In former years I have bin a mail carrier and carried news Papers so that I have a number of small debts due to me and some of them I am in hopes to collect and if I should collect all that I expect to it would not be half as much as their debts lying against me which ought to be paid
Jason Perkins

My occupation at Present is farming what I do which is but a very little that I am able to do and this is the case with my family they are not able to do but a little towards their support so that it is impossible for me and my family to be supported without help from my country or from the town in which I live — I have four in my family with regard to myself since the close of the revolutionary war I have had four fits of sickness and the last was six years ago last winter which broke my constitution and seated on my nerves so that if I labour it will bring on what the doctors call the shasoms and I have lost the sight one of my eyes and the other has got what the doctors call a thistlelany in it which is a great trouble to me and I am in great danger of being entirely blind. To add to my other troubles I am troubled with the tisick and the piles — my wife is older than she is she is eighty eight years old and has not never bin a healthy woman and now in her old age is very infirm not able to do but a little now with the rumities and swelled feet — My daughters name is Sally and was 35 years old last november she is all the daughter I have living and has bin in a weekly state for 14 years and for nine months past has bin sick and has had four doctors to visit her and it is very uncertain whether she will ever be any better though she may live a number of years. I have one grand child that lives with me his name George Washington Perkins he is twelve years old. his father died when he was five years old and he has lived with me ever since and is a well boy and can do errands and some work
I sworn to and declared on the 4 th day of July 1820 before said Court — Certified by Frederick Wolcott, Clerk that
And! Do hereby Certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record 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 Ninety eight Dollars, fifty Cents In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 17 day of July 1820
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk
no, home. Down from

43816
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 43816
Jason Perkins Pr. Rev. Inv
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 3 , Page 390
[Arrangement of 1870.]

333 Honorable James Barbour P. Office Secretary of War City Washington
Jason Perkins for transfer
Pensioner, Copenhagen, N.Y.
Recd. 24 Feb. 1827

Copenhagen February 15 - 1821
New York
Honorable Sir I Received your Letter on the 10 th of this month and have got it completed according to orders this is therefore to desire you to complete the transfer from Connecticut to New York as Quick as Possible that I may have an opportunity to draw my money on the 4 th of March next for one year as I have not drawn any money for one year which will end on the 4 th of March and I am in great want of it for I am old and many infirmities I am Labouring under - Sir Please to direct your Letter to Copenhagen Post office Lewis County NY and oblige your obt Servant Jason Perkins Honourable James Barbour

Sharon July 3 d 1820
This may certify that having attended in the capacity of Physicians in the family of Sason Perkins and being perfectly acquainted with their inability to derive a competent support from manual labor on account of bodily infirmities, which in our opinions would render it very sufficient indeed and therefore stands in need of assistance from his Country
Elmer Evritt Clark Chapman John Evritt
Copy F. M. Co

I Patience Gorman of Hartland in Hartford County and State of Connecticut Depose and say that in the month of February of 1776 I Being well acquainted with Jason Perkins and Living some times in the same family he then Living in the town of Hartland with his father Where he had just Returned from the army in Canada where he had Been gone for about the space of nine months - he then enlisted as a Private soldier for the term of one year under Capt Abel Rootebone then of Simsbury and in Col Willis Regiment then at Hartford - and at the Expiration of the year he then Returned home to his father from the Continental army so Called - and in a few days he enlisted again for three months and went to the White Plains and when that time was expired - and general Burgoyne with his army was coming down from Canada he then volunteered under Capt Morgan and went to Bennington where that part of his army was Defeated under Col Stark and then Capt Morgan's Company went from their to Saratoga to the taking of General Burgoyne's army - and I further say that the said Jason went a number of times afterwards into the army and I believe according to my best recollection that he served as a soldier in the the Revolutionary army in the whole time about four years - and I further say that the said Jason is now poor and stands in need of help from his Country for a subsistence
Patience Gorman
State of Connecticut Litchfield County March 10 A.D. 1819 Personally appeared Patience Gorman signer of the fore- going affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same
Before me
Amos Beecher, Justice of the Peace
I the said Justice of the Peace Certify that the said Patience Gorman signer of the above affidavit is called a person of truth and may be depended on

I Gideon Perkins of Barkhensled in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut Depose and say that in the month of may 1775 Jason Perkins then of Hartland enlisted as a Private soldier under Capt John Watson of Canaan and in Col Heman's Regiment for six months and went to Canada but continued longer than the six months I believe about nine on account of their General being in great want of men but he returned the next winter and soon after in the month of February enlisted again for the term of one year under Capt Abab Pettibone then of Simsbury in the County of Hartford and in Col Willis Regiment which term of time he served and then returned home to his father's I being at his father's when he returned home from the Continental army so called and I further say that the said Jason soon after enlisted again for three months which time he served to the end and I also say that he afterwards went into the army and served as a Private soldier a number of times in the Revolutionary army while the war lasted I living all the time in the said town of Hartland while the war lasted and was well knowing to all these things Gideon Perkins and I also say that the said Jason is a Poor man.
State of Connecticut Hartford County ss Hartland March 12 th 1819 Personally appeared Gideon Perkins signer of the foregoing affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same Before me Dishawder Humpshamp Justice of the Peace
I the said Justice of the Peace certify that the said Gideon Perkins signer of the above affidavit is called a Person of truth and his testimony may be depended on
Dishawder Humpshamp

I Nathaniel Humphrey of Simsbury in Hartford County State of Connecticut being in the eighty fourth year of my age testify & say That Jason Perkins then of Hartford in sa County a private soldier enlisted into Capt Abel Pettibone company then of Simsbury some time in the Month of January or February in the year 1776, for the term of one year, said Company belon- ged to Col. Samuel Wyllys Regiment. said Jason Perkins faithfully served according to my best remembrance, the said term of one year being legally discharged at Peekskill in the State of New York in the Month of January in the year 1777. I the deponent was first Lieutenant in the said Capt Abel Pettibone Company & I have now in my possession the ancient Muster roll of said Company, on which roll is the name of the said Jason Perkins
Nathaniel Humphrey
State of Connecticut
Hartford County } ss Simsbury March 11 th 1819
Personally appeared Nathaniel Humphrey deponent of the foregoing deposition & made solemn oath that the matters & things contained in sa deposition are the truth - the said Nathaniel Humphrey is a credible credible man -
before me William Mather Justice of Peace

To the Honorable John C. Calhoun Secretary of war Sir as my claim has bin sent to you for a Pension and was not receiv'd on the account of my name not being found on the muster role of willis ridgment. I thought it strange that it was not found but I suppose it must be a mistake in the one that look'd it from the muster role of the company where my name is not found their for I knew that I served one year faithfully in that ridgment and in another of other ridgments in the revolutionary war — and I now living about 50 miles from the place where my officers then lived and knowing that a number of them were dead and not knowing that I could find any person living in these parts where I now live and not enjoying health I thought it would be almost impossible for me to go to the place where I then lived and where my officers then lived. but my necessities being great for some support from my Country which I thought I had justly earned by my hard fates and dangers which I had gone through in his defence which I have no doubt laid a foundation in my constitution for four fever fits of sickness which I have had since that time in three of them my life was despaired of and now I am in a debilitated state of health so that I am not able to get a living — But in the month of last march I was carried to Hartland and to Simsbury where to my joy I found my first Lieutenant Nathaniel Humphrey yet living though in the 84 year of his age and several others yet living that was knowing to my service and Lieut. Humphrey had got the muster role that he had kept ever since I was in the army and on it my name is found — the old man appeared to be as glad to see me as if I had bin his son for I had gone through dangers with him in the war yet live I have got his testimony and two more and shall send them to you with my own testimony which has bin sent to you before with the doings of the Chief Judge and the Seal of the Court expecting that now my claim will be admitted. and if it is I want that it should be sent to me and directed to Connecticut Litchfield County to be left at Ellsworth Postoffice — My journey which I had to take in order to procure my depositions proved to hard for my feeble constitution and after I had done my business and was about to return home I was taken sick and could not get home for some time this has occasioned the delay in sending them to you — Honoured Sir as the great Preserver has suffered me to live through the revolutionary war when my beloved Country was in great trouble and has carried me through dangers seen and unseen. and I now live to see my Country which was then poor and now rich and my self poor — if you would not take it as an imposition upon so great a character as your Honour sustain I would give you a short sketch of the hardships and dangers that I went through to obtain our independance in the revolutionary war. I shall be short for if I should write the whole it would fill a volume I shall give a sketch of them in the fear of god before whom I shall shortly stand according to my best remembrance. My father and his sons for he had a number of them were all what was called whegs or in other words friends to their Country and no less than six of them took an active part in the Revolutionary army and one of them lost his life in it. and now my self and one more of the number remain among the living — In the year 1775 about the 1 st of May I enlisted into the Company of Capt John Watson then of Canaan and Col Hermans Ridgment then of Woodbury for the term of five months and went first to Crownpoint. and continued there until boats could be built to carry us to Canada through Lake Champlain 120 miles to St Johns fort where the British had a strong garrison. we landed on the west side of the lake. and then traveled through a tedious swamp in order to get round the fort and to cut off all commu- nications from the fort to mountreal. but just as we was a coming out of the swamp the British had placed themselves on a clear land with their field pieces and fired on us. my brave Capt John Watson was shot through his body and fell but not dead for after the battle was over I helped carry him to a house though I was but eighteen years of age this was the first battle I was ever in yet through the undaunted courage of my brave General Montgomery who led us on to battle my courage did not quite forsake me for the General who led us went before and said Come on brave men. Come on brave men. we followed him and soon the enemy

Retreated and fled to the fort - and then our army went to building batteries in three places while the Enemy was knight and day firing Cannon and throwing bombs at us for I cannot describe the hardships and dangers I went through while we lay siege to this which was 48 days before we took it. for it was a very rainy time and I had nothing but a brush hut to cover me when I was not on duty and some times shorts for food to eat and sometimes (it was) poor. Some times for a number of nights and days my clothes would never be dry on my back - The six months that I enlisted for being expired our brave General Montgomery being in great want of men desired all that was willing to enlist again and if there was any that was willing to stay without enlist- ting till other troops should come on and they should be dismissed I according to his wish stayed in Canaday untill all the Places was taken except Dubeck which was not taken in that war - I being young and in some measure worn down with hardships Return home being gone about nine months - and then Capt Abel Pettebone of Simsbury was enlisting men to go to Boston I immediately enlisted as a Private soldier in his Company for the term of one year - it being then said that the ice was so frozen and it was expected that the american army would take it by force from Cambridge to Boston that an army might cross on it and I felt anxious to be one of the number that should go and drive those blood thirsty tyrants from my beloved Country. accordingly I went immediately to Boston and instead of crossing the ice to Boston it was agreed by the Generals to go on to Dorchester and Preparations was made to go there. and after we had fired into Boston for two nights the King and the army were on was one that went on to the hill and built a fort but when the Enemy found that we was there they then fired a multitude of Cannon from their ships and forts but like good soldiers we stood our ground until they were glad to leave Boston - Soon the regiment that I belonged to went to New York and stayed the regiment that I belonged to went to New York and stayed there until the Enemy landed on Long Island and then I went there and there I had the greatest Combat with the Enemy that I had ever had for they were vastly superior in Number and had all the advantages of our army the Conflict was dreadful some times the Americans and the British were mixed together cutting and stabbing each other some times running before the Enemy at Last after a great number of that part of the army that I was in was killed and taken Prisoners. Major Wells who was the major of the regiment to which I belonged was taken near me he being a fleshy man and we was pursued by the Enemy till he could go no further he then got down on a stone drew out his sword and took hold of the point and turned the handle to the Enemy and surrendered. I then with others strove to make our escape being hotly pursued by the Enemy some made their escape others were killed others taken Prisoners till at Last we were driven through a creek and salt marsh with the Enemy on the banks firing on us many of my fellow soldiers was lost in this place some were drowned others shot. but hear a good Providence would have it I escaped with my Life and got into the intrenchments and after guarding the intrenchments for three nights and days the army by the order of General Washington left the island and came to New York. but hear new troubles come on for the Enemy landed on York Island from Long Island and it was my lot that day to be on guard in the City and the officers did not receive any orders to come off while our army and the British were a fighting above the City until the Enemy had spread themselves across the island. and the hero General Putnam at the risk of his Life came and called of the guards had it not been for him we should all have been killed or taken Prisoners. but that brave General lead us out and I believe it was the determination of the General and all the men to fight our way through or die in battle. but we got to the army in safety. the next place the Enemy took fort Washington with all the men that was in it a little before it was taken our regiment was called away from it so that I escaped being taken there. the next place the Enemy went to White Plains where some battles were fought and then they crossed the river into the Jerseys and our regiment went into the Jerseys where General Washington with a small army was driven before the Enemy and afterwards our regiment returned to Picketskill and our time being out I was discharged in the month of January 1777 in this year some times I was almost discouraged and was ready to think

= that notwithstanding our independence had bin declared we should never obtain it but in the darkest hour there was a gleam of hope — and therefore in about one week I listed again for the term of three months and as the greatest part of the army was gone to the southward and the Tories from New York and Long Island from time to time came out and plundered the inhabitants I was sent to rye New Rochelle and White Plains to keep out scouting parties to catch these refugees so called and to keep them from plundering the inhabitants and we was of great service to our country in that way and we took numbers of these worst of people to our country which had the good effect to deter them from coming out to plunder — and when my time was expired I then returned home considerable worn down with hardships and with poverty for I had always found myself with arms and accoutrements and had lost one gun in the service which I brought from home and what little wages I got for my services the Continental money so called was depreciated so that it was not worth but a little and I had always found my own cloaths for I never had a single garment from the united states and by this time I was very ragged and under necessity of giving some cloaths from home — but soon after I had returned home news came from the north that general Burgoyne with his army was a coming down and there was not any troops called for from the state of Connecticut to go to the north for it was expected that the British from New York would strive to force a passage up the north river to meet him and they was a raising troops in the state of Massachusetts to go and meet Burgoyne and I lived in the town that lay on the line of the two states and I thought that this must be a trying time to the united states and as I had gone through many hardships and dangers already to obtain our liberty and independence for which I had received but a little compensation and I should then give up and go no more all might be lost. I was at this time in my 22 year and acting for my self and liberty was the watchword in the army and I still felt it in my bones — and therefore volunteered under Capt Morgan then of Springfield for three months to go and meet Burgoyne and his army accordingly we marched first for Bennington as a part of his army was a coming to that place to take or destroy the large stores that the Americans had there but thanks to God our great Preserver disappointed them in this plan for our troops rushed in from every quarter and met that part of his army before they got to Bennington together with that brave Col Starks who fought like a hero no doubt in my mind he was one that fought the battle in the name of the Lord for I was told that he was a deacon of the church at home and that he had his beloved minister with him in the battle be that as it may that part of Burgoyne's army was the greatest part of them killed and taken prisoners after this part of the army was destroyed I went on to Saratoga where the main army of Burgoyne was and after a number of hard fought battles General Burgoyne with his army surrendered themselves as prisoners of war — in one of the battles General Arnold who went to Canada that year that I was there he now fought like a brave man and afterwards turned a traitor — and after this army was all taken and there was nothing to fear from that quarter I then went to the White Plains. O how different was my feelings now from what they was the last year when I was chased by the enemy — I was now ready to say had not the Lord bin on our side when men rose up against us they would have swallowed us up alive. I now concluded that the Lord being our helper we should hold our independence — the time being expired that I had engaged for and their not being that necessity for men that their had bin I then returned home to my friends — But I went a number of times afterwards into the army when men was wanted but I see that my details are a going to swell beyond my expectations so I shall not mention any more particular battles that I was in but shall only say that =

= the whole time that I served my country was about four years and when the peace was settled I had this for my consolation that we had obtained that Liberty and Independence which we had so long struggled for. but when I come to look around among my neighbours and saw young men like myself that had stayed at home and taken their advantage the advantage of the war to speculate and make property even some of them had gained large sums of money and other property while I found myself without money or cloaths. ye I found myself in a worse condition than those soldiers were that had listed for during the war for they drew cloaths from the united states and military land and I had neither of them. and not withstanding their was but a very few of them that had served their country as long as I had — I then thought now all these people have as great advantages by our obtaining our Liberty and Independence as I do. but this one thing they cannot enjoy. those that were able to go into the army and did not. they cannot say to their children and the rising generation 40 or 50 years ago great Britain with her fleet and army came over to America with a determination to deprive me your father and you my children after me of our Liberty and Independence. but I went forth in my country's defence and suffered hardships and faced the roaring cannon. and now I am old and grayheaded and soon a going to leave this stage of action. but I leave it to you to enjoy your Liberty in and take your comfort in though it cost me many hard toils and dangers. — Sir when I read in the newspapers the President's message to Congress I thought it to be a very extraordinary one exceeding any that I had read before. but when I came to the recommendation to Congress to do something for the poor old worn out revolutionary soldiers I thought it the best recommendation that I had ever heard. and I have no doubt but there will be thousands of them that with their dying breath will praise their beloved President for this recommendation and Congress for passing that act which intitles them to receive a pension and also you which are furnishing them with certificates to get their pensions for I have seen numbers that have already received their pension that was in a poor distressed situation Boorn down with old age so decriped unable to work and no way for a support suffering many times with cold and hunger ye many that have bin carried to the poor houses to have a living on the towns where they belong. and Sir this last case that I have mentioned must be my fate unless your Honour sees fit to grant my claim — I now conclude by subscribing myself a seventy five man in principles as to political matters and true Republican and friend to our beloved Country Jason Perkins  The Honorable John C. Calhoun secretary of war
Sir yours at Liberty to show this to any person you. Please though it is poorly writ with a trembling hand J. P.
N.B. Sir if my claim should not be granted I wish all my papers to be returned to me by mail to Ellsworth and if it should I suppose that then only my certificate will be wanted by me J. P. Sharon Ellsworth Society May 19 — 1819