Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,151, for Sylvanus Peterson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Peterson, Sylvanus
R 8151
BLM 34583-160-55-
CONTENTS
[Lined area for handwritten entries]
[Lined area for handwritten entries]

Cir A Lancaster Jan 19/56
118.75% A of New 7/35 May 5/35
Gylvanes Peterson put
bapt Miller May Sparrow
ent May 1780 dis July 1780
Private West Mills Revolution War
Penn By June 22
Ad. 16 Dec July 12/56
(Signature)
Vol II p 88
A Lancaster R Ingham Sep 1780

Application for a Pension
Washington City D.C.
Office of Postmaster General
Department of War Respectfully referred
to the Commis n of Pensions
Nov r 14. 1836
R d Nov r 14 1836

Abington Centre Penn a 7 th Nov 1836 To the Hon Louis Bell Secy of War Department U.S.A. Offic r of Revolutionary Claims Sir
An Old Soldier Sylvanus Pitcairn has this day called on me with the enclosed Depositions and asks me to lend him Aid to re- cover his claim to a small pension which he supposes is due him under the act granting pensions to Soldiers of the revolution and in addition to said depositions I have taken his simple statement of his case which is as follows - Sylvanus Pitcairn says he was born in Middleborough Massachusetts and that in 1780 he was in the 17 th Year of his age that in July or for part of August of that Year he entered into the revolution - my service (entered at Middleborough) under the Command of Captain Edward Sparre for the term of three months for the purpose of relieving the frontier east of the then called north river where the Indians were then committing depredations and massacres that he marched to Taunton Massachusetts, The French fleet then lay in the harbor of Newport. That when at Taunton the English Fleet were in sight and the orders to march West were countermanded and he was marched from Taunton down Fall River and crossed over Howlands Ferry onto Newport Island and was stationed at Butz's Hill on the North end

of the Island and that he was there during the remainder of the term for which he enlisted with an exception when an alarm was given that the British were about to land at Middletown on the Island they did not however effect a landing and he returned and at the expiration of his term was discharged but received no written discharge. That after they arrived on the Island Captain Sparrow was promoted to the office of — Major as he believes and the 1st Lieutenant John Miller took the command of the Company during the rest of the term and when he Paterson left the Island his former Captain Sparrow remained — that when at home at Middle borough he belonged to the Sixth Company of foot — cannot remember to what Battalion or Regiment he belonged when in service he saw Genl Gren and Lafayette frequently on the Island. I have been these particulars in detailing his story that in your Examination you can avail yourself of it to find any thing that may be to his advantage and will add that he is a poor honest sober old man and needs all if anything else him agreeably to the law — Please to inform me what if any thing further is necessary to establish his claim and I will do for him what can be done — There is an error in the affidavit as to his place of birth which occurred in this way — He lives in Nicholson

Township Lycoming County but on the line of Susque- hanna County and Agassiz Dundaff he wrote to Sylvanus Paton Jonathan Paton (his brother) of Cobleskill Mass. and his letter was mailed at Dundaff Susquehanna County and thence it was inferred that he lived there - This can be corrected with little trouble. Please let me hear from this as soon as you can respectfully &c.
Very Respectfully Sir
For Sylvanus Paton Thomas Smith
P.S. Direct to Abingdon Centre Lycoming County Pa.
sent

State of Pennsylvania County of Luzerne } ss.
On this _____ day of April A. D. 1955, before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace duly authorized by law to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Sylvanus Peterson aged 90 years, a resident of Bethlehem in the County of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Sylvanus Peterson who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Miller McKittrick in the regiment commanded by Maj. J. S. Carrick in the War with _____
That he enlisted or entered the service at Midville Bureau about the last day of May A. D. 1861  1880 ; for the term of Three months and continued in actual service in said War, for the term of Three months and was honorably discharged at Newport on the last day of August A. D. 1861  1880 ;
For other evidence she refers to an application made about the year 1898 made by Thomas Smith of Springfield, as a witness. Said application was made in order to obtain a pension but there was not time enough to agree with the act under which the application
That he cannot file herewith his Certificate of discharge for the reason that he never had one .....
Sylvanus Peterson
In addition to the above described actual service he claims for.....miles from _____ at which he was enlisted, to _____ where he was mustered into service, and for.....miles, from.....at which he was discharged, to.....the said place of his enrolment.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the ..... Bounty Land, to which he may be entitled on account of said service, and mileage under the Act passed The third day of March 1855
He also declares that he has not received a Warrant for Bounty Land, under this or any other Act of Congress, nor made any other application therefor.
He hereby appoints Alvin L. Lancaster his true and lawful Attorney, with power of substitution, to prosecute this his claim for land, to receive the Certificate or Warrant when issued, and to do all other acts necessary and proper in the premises.
Sylvania Peter's son
Sworn to and Subscribed before me, on the day and year first above mentioned, and I hereby certify that I know the said deponent Sylvanus Peter Burn and believe him to be the identical man who served as is above stated, and that he is of the age above stated; and further, that I am not interested in this his claim as Attorney or otherwise.
Hiram Green P. P.

State of Pennsylvania County of Luzerne ss. Town of _____
On this _____ day of April A. D. 18 55 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly authorized to administer oaths, personally came Stephen Carpenter age 60 years, and Asa Carpenter age 22 years, whom I know to be
residents of the County and State aforesaid, and persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Sylvanus Peterson execute the foregoing Affidavit by signing his name to the foregoing declaration, and making oath thereto in due form of law, and they further swear that they are acquainted with the said Sylvanus Peterson now present, and have every reason to believe from the appearance of the applicant, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and further, that they, deponents, do reside in the County aforesaid.
Witness Julius B Carpenter
Stephen Carpenter Asa Carpenter
Sworn to and Subscribed before me, this _____ day of _____ A. D. 18 _____
Hezekiah Green P.P.
State of Pennsylvania County of Luzerne ss.
I Hereby Certify, that Hezekiah Green Esq., before whom the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, and who has theretofore subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature thereto is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, for the County aforesaid, this Second day of May 18 55 .
A. Curtis , notary  Prothonotary
AT Luray W Samuel H. ... Deputy
10/18/55

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Sylvania Patterson 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. Ref. 8151
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July-Aug 80 3 mos. { Edward Sparrow ✓ Mass.   John Miller                                     
Battles engaged in, ✓ Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓ Enl. Middleboro, Mass. Date of application for pension, Nov. 1. 1836. Residence at date of application, Nicholson Twp., Luzerne Co., Pa. Age at date of application, { born 1763 at Middleboro, Mass. { 1763-1780
Remarks:
1836 - bro. Jonathan Peterson at 82 res Colbraine, Mass. Never allowed - did not allege 6 mos' actual service, as required etc.

1908 Dec 29. Hist to Wm B. Browne &
8151.
REJECTED
P. O.
Sylvanus Peterson
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

~
34.583
J
Nov ans

Sylvania Peterson Pennsylvania
Act 7 June 1832,
Rejected
See letter 22 Nov 36 Dr. Smith.
Served only three months,
8157
no declination

Rec B.
THE SPACE BELOW IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY
POSTAL CARD
THE SPACE BELOW IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY
Pension Bureau Washington D.C. Revolutionary Pensions

Blackinton Mass
Dec 14 - 08
Gentlemen
Please send me the Rev. Record of Sylvanus Peterson of Middleboro Mass. Of these are two of the name should like both - and especially the last record of payment of pension and the place where it was paid. and to whom.
Yours Truly
Wm B. Browne

33.900 Sylvanus Peterson Pennsylvania

I Synthia Black of Shilbun in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Mass acknowledges of the age Sixty nine years old Testify and Say
That I was born in the Town of Middle borough in said Commonwealth and there I lived for several years and in said Middleborough I was well acquainted with Sylvanus Pitson and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty I was knowing that said Sylvanus Pitson Entered into the service of the Massachusetts Service for three months under Capt Edward Sparrow and marched to Rutherford the latter part of July on the first of August 1880 and he served the full term of three months and that he the said Sylvanus Pitson now resides in Dundaff in the County of Lebanon in the State of Pennsylvania as I am informed and believe and further This deponent saith not
Synthia Black
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. Boston September 28 th 1881
Then personally appeared Synthia Black and made oath that the foregoing deposition by her subscribed is true
Before me Charles Thompson Justice of the peace
I the Subscriber do hereby certify that I have for almost twenty years been well acquainted with Mrs Synthia Black and that she sustains a good moral character for truth & veracity
Charles Thompson Justice of the peace
* Nicholas S. Gurney County Pa

I Jonathan Peterson of Cohasset in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of Eighty two years do testify and say
That I was born in the Town of Middleborough in said Commonwealth and resided there for several years and then I was intimately acquainted with Sylvanus Peterson of said Middleborough that in the latter part of July on the fore part of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty said Sylvanus Peterson entered into the service of the Revolution for three months under Capt Edward Sparrow and marched to Rhode Island and was there stationed and while at said Rhode Island I was there and saw him and slept with him in his tent and he served his full term of three months and returned to said Middleborough and in December of the same year 1780 I moved from my place of residence to the Town of Cohasset and he the said Sylvanus Peterson now resides in the the Town of Durdaluff in the County of Susquehanna & State of Pennsylvania as I am informed and believe and further the Deponent saith not  Jonathan Peterson
Franklin Co Commonwealth of Massachusetts September 28 th 1836 Then personally appeared Jonathan Peterson and made oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed is true  Before me Charles Thompson Justice of the Peace
I the undersigned do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Mr Jonathan Peterson for about thirty years past and he has sustained an unimpeachable character for truth and veracity  Charles Thompson Justice of the Peace