Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7419, for Hugh Morrison, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Morrison, Hugh or Morison
P. 7419
CONTENTS

Hugh Morrison Application for Pension. —
214 5 2

State of New York County of Saratoga } ss
On this 25 th day of December 1832, Person appeared before Thomas Palmer, Justice of the Peace in & for the said County of Saratoga, John Whitehead of the Town of Milton in said County aged Seventy Years with whom the said Justice has been personally acquainted  known for more than 50 Years & believes him the said John Whitehead to be a person of Character for Veracity & that his statement is entitled to Credit — Who being by me duly sworn & examined says that he now is, and was during the Revolutionary war well acquainted with Hugh Morrison of Milton in the County of Saratoga aforesaid the applicant named in the declaration hereto annexed made in order to obtain a Pension under the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, that in the said de- ponent further says, he served as a private in the Reg- iment commanded by Colonel James Clinton at Fort Mon- gomery in the year 1776 & also under Colonel Lewis Dubois in the year 1777 that Doctor Robert Morrison of Newburgh was Surgeon under the said Colonel James Clinton & Colonel Lewis Dubois, that the said Hugh Morrison served as waiter to the said Robert Morrison Surgeon as aforesaid, that the said deponent did frequently see the said Hugh Morrison (during the Period aforesaid) performing duty as a waiter to the said Surgeon in the Hospital at Fort Montgomery as by him stated in his said Application, that he served as waiter aforesaid from June 1776 until Octob. 1777 Subscribed & sworn to before me the 25 th day of December 1832
John Whitehead
THOMAS PALMER Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Saratoga

State of New York
County of Saratoga } ss.
I William L Goodrich Deputy Clerk of the County of Saratoga, do hereby certify that Thomas Palmer before whom the foregoing deposition purports to be sworn was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Saratoga and that I am well acquainted with his handwriting & verily believe his name subscribed to the said Deposition to be his proper hand writing and Signature
Witness my hand & Seal of Office this 27th day of December 1832
Wm L Goodrich Deputy Clerk
Thos Palmer for a Pension 1 year from day
not paid yet

State of New York County of Saratoga ss.
On this 25 th day of December 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas County of Saratoga in said State — now sitting Hugh Morrison of the Town of Milton in the County of Saratoga State of New York aged sixtyfour 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 stated,
To the question, Where & in what year were you born ? He answers, In Newburgh in the County of Ulster  and and State of New York December 25 th 1768,
2 To the question, have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? He answers that his Father Doctor Robert Morrison in his life time kept a Family record, in which the age of this deponent was recorded, in his Father's hand writing, that at the decease of his Father (about forty years ago) the said record, came into the possession of this deponent and is still in his possession, in Milton, County of Saratoga aforesaid.
3 To the question where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
He answers, in Newburgh in the County of Ulster  and and state of New York, where he lived until the Spring of 1788, when he left his Father's house in Newburgh aforesaid & went to Ballston in the then County of Albany now Saratoga, and State aforesaid, where he lived about one year, when he returned to his Father's in Newburgh aforesaid, where he continued about two years, when he returned to Ballston aforesaid and continued to live in Ballston in the Adjoining Town of Malta in said County of Saratoga, about seventeen years, when he removed to the Town of Milton in the County aforesaid, where he has continued to live ever since, and where he now lives,

4 To the question, How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you Volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom?
The answer, In 1776. he entered into the service of the United States at Fort Montgomery, as a Volunteer in the Regiment of New York Troops commanded by Colonel James Clinton and served as waiter to Doctor Robert Morrison Surgeon of said Regiment who was this deponent's Father, he entered the service at the time & place aforesaid and served as Surgeon's waiter from the 1 st June 1776 until about the 1 st 10 th of October 1777, being about One year & four months & seven days and served as herein after stated.
That in May or 1 st June 1776. he went with his Father Robert Morrison (Surgeon as aforesaid) from Newburgh to Fort Montgomery and there served as waiter to the said Surgeon in the Hospital, he continued doing duty as Surgeon's waiter aforesaid until December following, when Colonel Clinton was advanced to the Rank of Brigadier General and Colonel Louis Dubois took command of the said Regiment at Fort Montgomery and the said Doctor Morrison continued as Surgeon of the said Regiment under the said Colonel Dubois and this deponent continued to serve as waiter to the said Surgeon & do duty as such at the Hospital at Fort Montgomery aforesaid, that In October 1777 the Enemy attacked the Fort, during the Battle this deponent was employed by his Father the said Surgeon in scraping lint & preparing Bandages in order to dress the wounds of those wounded & brought into the Hospital, while in the act of his duty as aforesaid, a ball from the Enemy penetrated through the side of the Hospital & wounded the deponent deponent on his head, the ball made a deep incision, he fell, his Father took him up and dressed his wound, it was a flesh wound & he returned to his duties as aforesaid, until about the time the Fort was surrendered to the Enemy, when those who could made their escape and follow him, but was his Father directed him to escape the way could , separated from his Father at the River

In this disponent Steam the River above about the Chain the Enemys shipping lay below, several often Escaped in the same way, & arrived safe on the East side of the River & Marched up to Fort Constitution, his Father Escaped also. That in this disponent arrived home at Newburgh upon a road on the 7 th October 1777 at night. He has no documentary evidence of his said services. He does not recollect the name or names of any of any Continental or Militia Regiments or the names or names of any officers except those names of no living Witness to his said services. Except John Whitehead of Milton of Oswayo.
In answer to the question, State the names of some of the regular Officers who were with the Troops where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. He says says, He can answer no further than he has already answered herein.
To the question, Did you receive a discharge from the services; and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? He says he received no discharge in writing.
To the 7 th question, State the names of persons in your  near to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution. He states the names of Thomas Palmer a Justice of the Peace of the Town of Milton, John Whitehead, of Saia Town. Aaron Nash. Hugh Hawkins.

He relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension rolls of the Agency of any state subscribed & sworn to { Hugh Morison the day & year aforesaid } in open Court Wm. Goodrich Dep. Clerk
We Aaron Nash Ballston  Stitten residing in the Town of Stitten in the County of Saratoga state of New York. & John Whitehead of the Town of Milton in said County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Hugh Morison who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty four years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in Open Court Aaron Nash John Whitehead Wm. Goodrich Dep. Clerk
And the said Court, do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the inter- rogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Aaron Nash is a resident in the Town of Ballston and that John Whitehead is a resident in the Town of Milton both in the County of Saratoga & state of New York & who signed the foregoing certificate are credible and their statement is entitled to credit

I, William L. Goodrich Deputy Clerk of the Court of Common pleas in & for the County of Sedgwick do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Hugh Maitison for a Pension In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 27 th day of December 1832.
Wm L. Goodrich Dep y Clerk

State of New York Saratoga County } ss
On this 22 nd day of October 1857, before me a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County, and State aforesaid, duly authorized by Law to administer oaths personally appeared Ira B. Morrison of the town of Ballston, County, and State aforesaid. Who being duly sworn according to law, declares and says that he is the son of Hugh Morrison, the identical person who served in the Revolutionary war, with Great Britain, that the said Hugh Morrison, died on the 15 th day of June 1842 leaving the following surviving children only, viz: Ira B. Morrison, & Elmira Clark, and no widow. That sometime during the life time of the said Hugh Morrison, it is believed that he applied for a pension to the pension office at Washington, under Act 7 th June 1832, and that he filed the proper proofs therein to entitle him to the same; and that his claim was suspended or rejected - And that this declarant asks that the proofs in said office may be examined, and that the said pension may be allowed to the surviving children of the said Hugh Morrison,
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 22 nd day of October 1857
Ira B. Morrison J. McLean Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF NEW YORK, } ss. Saratoga County Clerk's Office.
I, JAMES W. HORTON, CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF SARATOGA
Do hereby Certify, That A. Meeker whose name is subscribed to the annexed Affidavit, was at the date of said Affidavit, a Justice of the Peace of the County of Saratoga, dwelling in said county; duly qualified. And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said A. Meeker and verify believe that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my name, and affixed the Seal of said County, this 28 day of Oct in the year 1857 James W. Horton CLERK

21467 Hugh Morrison Saratoga co N.Y.
Richard
A Nash Ballston Spa Saratoga co N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of  Hugh Morrison  of Saratoga county in the State of New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 64  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Volunteer In 1776 About 1 4 7 As a waiter Gen. H. Morrison, Col. J. Clinton  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Ulster county, New York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by other means  living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? court 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. E. Bradford. Examining Clerk.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Hugh Morrison of Saratoga county N.Y. which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it is distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? The court has Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? all answered
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
7419 P. O. Hugh Morrison
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

Conesville, Chemung Co. N.Y. November 8, 1851.
Hon J E Heath Sir -
I send you with this the claim of Hugh Morrison for a pension. The case was formerly rejected, but upon what ground precisely his children have not been able intelligibly to inform me; although their impression is, that the reason given was on account of the service not being in a military capacity, and also on account of his youth. — I think that on proper examination the case will be found admissible. Should a certificate be issued, please forward it to me.
Yours Respectfully, H Brubaker

Hugh Morrison
New York
Oct 7 June 1832
Rejected See letter
To Hon. S. W. Layton
Mar. 14 '33
L. H. W. Kullback Belick 57
7419

State of New York Chautauqua County, ss.
I, Nelson Pellet, one of the Clerks of the Supreme Court of the State of New York do hereby certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited that Hugh Morrison who is reputed to have died in the Revolutionary War, that he was a resident of the County of Saratoga, in the State of New York, and died on the 15 th day of June 1842, in the town of Milton, in Saratoga County, State aforesaid, leaving no widow, and the following minor children only, viz: Isaac B. Morrison and Almina Clark.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal of office at Albany, this 29 th day of October in the year of our Lord 1854.
Nelson Pellet, Clerk.