Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17301, John Brown, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Brown, John
S. 17301
carded
CONTENTS
b. Aug. 24, 1761 at Stamford, Fairfield Co. Conn. res. at ut. New Stamford N.Y. In 1832 res. Darien, Fairfield Co., Conn.

17.543
Connecticut
John Brown
of Darien in the State of Conn who was a Pri - in the Conn command by Captain _____ of the Reg commanded by Col Butler in the _____ militia time for 23 mo _____ May
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 76 Dollars 66 Cents per ann. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Aug 1833 and Rent. S. 46 Minor Stamford Ct
Arrears to the 4th of March 32 $153. 32 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept., 388 $191.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by E. D. Doolittle Clerk Book 6 Vol. 3 Page 6

State of Connecticut Fairfield County } Is Stamford Probate District
On this 28 th day of July 1832 Personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate for said District, now in session, John Brown a resident of Darien in said State, County & district aged seventy years & upwards, 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 th 1832, viz, That he was born at Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut on the 24 th of Augt. 1761 - That when he was about twelve years of age his Father removed with his Family, from said Stamford to Salem, Westchester County & State of New York & from thence shortly afterwards to New Stamford, in the last mentioned State - in 1777 the Indians drove the settlers of New Stamford into the neighborhood of the forts at Schokarie - in this year entered the service of the United States at Scholairie & D by Capt. John the declarant, enlisted into a Company commanded by Capt. John Harper Lieutenants, M c Arthur, Warper & Joseph Bartholomew (who as he believes are all dead) for five, six or seven Months, the period of his enlistment he does not remember - he served out the term of his enlistment & was discharged - On the 1 st of April 1778 he enlisted for nine months under Lieutenant John Scott, who had a command of thirty men, during this campaign the declarant with the command to which he was attached did thirty days service & went, under the command of Col. Butler of the 4 th Pennsylvania Regt. to the Susquehanna & burnt three Indian villages viz Unandilla, Anagqueque & Tuskawanna.

as he believes the village was then called), - he served out the term of his enlistment & was discharged & on the 1 st of April following, viz, 1779 he again enlisted under Lieut. Jacob Wager for the term of nine months & went into the Fort at Cobles Kill during this enlistment over thirty men had a new Officer to command as many months I remember some of their names, viz, Lieut. John Yates (who drew our pay) Lieut. Snider Lieut. Burt - during this enlistment I went, under the offer of Genl. Clinton, to join the army of Genl. Sullivan - we went down the Susquehanna to Tioga Point from there went up the Chemung Branch & attacked & took a Fort we had thirty six men wounded & four killed there was but three or four of our Company went on this expedition - I returned & joined my Company at Cobles Kill served out the term of my enlistment & was discharged by Lieut. Frown on the 1 st of Jany 1780 - I lay in the middle Fort through the winter & on the 7 th of April of the same year, My Father (David Brown), my two Brothers, viz, Solomon & Doctor & myself with seven others of our neighbors were taken by the Indians & others under the command of Col. Brant & were called Prisoners into Canada, first to Niagara from there to Montreal, from which place we were sent on to an Island in the St. Lawrence for safe keeping as Prisoners of War where I remained until the 9 th day of June 1782 when I swam from the Island & made my escape in company with Lieut. Bullock  Bullock of Col. Willets Regt. we made the best of our way to Albany & arrived there after being fifteen days in the woods - We made immediate complaint to Col. Willett (who was then at Albany) of the treatment of the American Prisoners there in Canada to which we made oath in presence of Col. Willett & I believe he administered the oath on account of which I shortly afterwards was published in New Papers.

I immediately returned to Stamford my native Place where my Mother & the remainder of the Family had previously gone In March 1783 I again went to Litchfield & remained there two years then returned to Stamford where I have ever since resided except only about three years when I resided in New York two days after we were taken by the Indians as stated above are also told from my Father who I afterwards learnt was killed by the Indians five or six days after we were taken - He knows of no person within two hundred Miles of this who has any knowledge of his Service except from Repetition he refers to Rev. Daniel Smith a Congregational living about two Miles from him & Ezra H. Bishop who lives about twenty rods from him who will testify as to his character for veracity In the Campaign of 1779 when they took the Fort the Detachment marched in the Vanguard in company with the Riflemen who were commanded by Major Parr and as far as his recollection of his age - never received a written discharge He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State his John Brown I have & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Ch. Hawley Judge
We Daniel Smith a Congregational minister residing in said Stamford &  Ezra H. Bishop  Ezra H. Bishop residing in said Danbury hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Brown who has subscribed & sworn to the above Declaration. That we believe him to be seventy years of age that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
I have & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Ch. Hawley Judge
Daniel Smith Ezra H. Bishop
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter of after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier as he states

And the Court further certifies that it ap- pears to them that Daniel Smith who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergy- man resident in the Town of Hampton in the State of Connecticut of that County of Litchfield who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Danbury in said State for a considerable time and that their statement is entitled to credit
H. Brewster Judge.
I Samuel Lockwood Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Hampton in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the appli- cation of John Brown for a pension - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 30th day of July AD 1832.
Samuel Lockwood Clerk
Ms. A. 9. 2. 3043
Ms. A. 9. 2. 3043

State of Connecticut ss Stamford Probate District June 13 th 1833 Personally appeared John Brown the foregoing Declarant before the Court. Mr. Probate for said District in open Court who being first duly sworn according to law, deposes in explanation of his original declaration wherein he has stated that he enlisted on the 1 st of April 1778 for nine months, under "Lieut. John Teats " he supposed that it be the true spelling of the name, as that is the the pronunciation of the name to this day; but he has since learned by going into that country for further proof that the name is spelt " Diitz " He further states that he has now understood that those who were taken Prisoners with him by the Indians, have received their pay for the time they were detained as Prisoners in captivity but has received nothing more having applied for it -
J. S. H. B. Brown
Sworn to & before me this 13 th day of June 1833
Ch. H. H. Judge

17-301 INVALID.
File No. 17-301
John Brown Pre Civil War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 438
[Arrangement of 1870.]

John Brown
5.6.13
23rd March
#76-66
SA Minor
Stanford Co
136.
John Brown
ORDER XVII. Proof of Service.
of the... must be certified by the proper officer... the time of the claimant entering the service... must prove his service by two credible witnesses... In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he... indefinite, and all such duplicating expressions are objectionable. The pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase upon three or four months is too and the particular rank be held, as the law directs the pension to be according to the rank of It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Brown which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? No
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

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?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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?
The distance stated is not a sufficient reason for not procuring proof under the facility of transmitting papers by mail. The best evidence of which the case is susceptible must be produced.
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so 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 and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ 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 the 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.
†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 authenticated 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 end 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.
John Brown
John Brown
John Brown

State of New York Schomberg County ss
Christopher Koenig of the town of Cobleskill in said county of Schoharie being duly sworn according to Law Deposed and saith this deponent believes that John Brown which called on him is the same John Brown which was enlisted in the Year 1778, in a company of Hengus commanded by captain John Dietz in the reg- -ment commanded by col. Peter Kneeman of the militia in Schoharie; this deponent saith that he and the said John Brown served nine months together in Schoharie and in Middle fort, and in that vicinity and was honorably discharged in Schoharie. This deponent further testifies, that he believes that he has frequently seen the said John Brown in the service in the Year 1779, and served in fort Dubois at Cobleskill and in that vicinity but he does not recollect the name of his officer. Sworn and Subscribed
the 2nd day of May 1833 before me Henry Shaper a judge of Schoharie common Pleas
his Christopher Koenig mark
I Henry Shaper a judge of the court of common Pleas in and for the county of Schoharie Do certify that I am well acquainted with Christopher Koenig who takes the foregoing oath is a man of credibility and to be believed under oath
Henry Shaper
State of New York, county of Schoharie ss. John Goldhard Jr. Clerk of the said county Do certify that Henry Shaper before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn, and whose name also appears to the certificate of credibility was at the date of the same one of the judges of the court of common pleas in and for the said

county - And that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit and certificate to be his proper hand writing and signature - Witness my hand and seal of Office this 28 th day of May 1833 - John Seehard Jr. Clerk - Clerk -

State of New York Schomberg Co. ss.
Peter Shaper of the town of Schomberg in said county being duly sworn according to law, deposed and saith this deponent believes that John Brown which called on him this deponent said this same man which was enlisted in the year 1778, in a company of rangers commanded by captain John Dietz in the regiment commanded by col. Peter Knausman in Schomberg of the militia; this deponent saith that he and the said John Brown served together nine months in the company of captain Dietz in Schomberg and in Middle fort and in that vicinity and was honorably discharged in Schomberg this deponent further testifies that he believes that the said John Brown served in 1779 in fort Dubois at Cobleskill and has frequently seen said John Brown in the service in fort Dubois at Cobleskill and in that vicinity but this deponent does not recollect the captain's name where the said John Brown served under sworn and subscribed and sworn the 2 nd day of May 1833 before Me Henry Shaper a judge of Schomberg common Pleas
2 nd day of May 1833
I Henry Shaper a judge of the court of common Pleas in and for the county of Schomberg; do certify that I am well acquainted with Peter Shaper who took the foregoing oath that he is a man of credibility and to be believed under oath
Henry Shaper
State of New York, County of Schomberg ss. I John Schomberg Jr. Clerk of the said county do certify that Henry Shaper before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn, and whose name also appears to the certificate of credibility, was at the date of the same one of the judges of the court of common Pleas

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss Stamford Probate District
The Court of Probate for said district now sitting hereby declare their opinions after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier as he has stated
I Samuel Lockwood Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Stamford in Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Brown for a Pension In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office the 17th day of June 1833.
Sam Lockwood Clerk
In behalf of the claimant I agree to take a pension for three months service and relinquish the remainder of his claim. August 24th 1833 H B Minor for Claimant
and for the said county - And that I am acquainted with his handwriting and really believe his name subscribed to the said application and certificate to be his proper hand writing and signature - Attest my hand and seal of office the 30th day of May 1833 John D. Lockwood Clerk

State of New York } Be it known that on the Schokohari County } 30th day of April 1883 Personally appeared before the undernamed Justice of the peace Isaac Bratchin a person to me well known, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with John Brown, and that said Brown enlisted with him under Capt. Alexander Harper in the month of April 1777 and the said Brown served nine months and and was discharged, and then he enlisted again under Colonel John Harper, for three months which said time he served out. In the Spring of the year 1780 the said Brown was sent out with this deponent under the command of Capt. Alexander Harper from the Middle fort to Housatonic when said Brown was taken prisoner by the Indians and carried to Niagara with this deponent and that said Brown was a prisoner until about June 1782 when the said Brown sneaked off from Prison Island and escaped and further this deponent saith not
Sworn to and subscribed Isaac Bratchin before me this 30th day of April 1883
Aaron Tyler Justice of the peace
State of New York } County of Schokohari } I John Gebhard Jr. Clerk of the said county do hereby certify that Aaron Tyler before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and for the said county - and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature. Witness my hand and seal of office this 3 rd day of May 1883 - John Gebhard Jr. Clerk