Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 16934, Elisha Crane, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
brane, Elisha Ruth
W 16934
CONTENTS

Albany 32 1/4 1/4
Let R. W. H. Sylvester Oct 17/30
Louisa Meads, Elizabeth Smithwick and Elizabeth Crane, widows of Nathaniel Crane, who was a writer of Elisha Crane's will.
who died on the 16th Feb. 1844 of Albany Co., in the State of N. York Assistant who was a Comy. of Infry. in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the [blank] line for 18 months Vols. Albany
Inscribed on the Roll of [blank] at the rate of 362 Dollars 80 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834, and ending 1 July 1838, when [blank] dead.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Feb. 1840 and [blank] the [blank] Bureau, [blank]
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending
Due 1 July 1838 $ 2 1/2 1/4
{ Revolutionary Claim, due July 4, 1836, Pension No. 3. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book A. Vol. 2. Page 207

Reported
3244. American. Albany.
New York.
Ruth Crane, decd. widow of Elisha Crane, who died on the 16 th February 1811, of Albany in the State of New York who was an ass't Comr in the & Deputy by Captain of the commanded by in the New York line for 18 mos & 2 days N.Y.
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 451 Dollars 66 2/3 Cents per annum, to commence on the 11 th day of March, 1831, & 1 July 1838, when she died.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th day of Dec r 1837 and sent to H. H. Sylvester, Present
Arrears to the 4 th of Semi-annual allowance existing Increased from $362. 66 Payable to only surviving child
Susanna Mead Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the Recorded by Chase, Clerk, Book Vol. 2 Page 356

North Co. ...
Mr. Allen
H. H. Sylvester Present

State of New York City & County of Albany } p.
On this 8 th day of
April 1850 before me Isaac Edwards a Commissioner of Pleas in & for said City & County of Albany personally appeared Louisa Meads aged sixty four years in June last a resident of said City & County who being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain an increase of pension which she is informed & believes was due her mother Ruth Brune deceased under the Act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836. That she is one and the only child now living of Ruth Brune who was a pensioner of the United States having been placed on the pension roll after her decease, and who died in said County of Albany on the first day of July in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. That her mother aforesaid was the widow of Elisha Brune who was, as this declarant is informed & believes a Deputy Commissary in the Revolutionary War & for which service as declarant is informed & believes, her mother aforesaid was entitled to a pension of six hundred dollars per annum for two years service, or the proportion which two years service bears to this amount. And if said claim was not adjusted at this rate, she now asks for the increase. Declarant also saith she is the only child of the said Ruth Brune that is now living and that she is over twenty one years of age to wit: of the age of sixty four years on the 13 th of June last. In support of which claim she refers the pension Department to the evidence on file in that office, also to the laws & decisions thereon now in force, and hereby appoints Wm. Valentine of Albany N.Y. her agent in the prosecution of said claim.
Subscribed & sworn to before me this } 8 th day of April 1850 -
Louisa Meads
Isaac Edwards Com t of Pleas I certify that I am personally acquainted with Louisa Meads, that she is the identical person above named & I verily believe her statement entitled to entire confidence & belief - Isaac Edwards Com t of Pleas

State of New York City & County of Albany
Orlando Meads a resident of said city & county of Albany who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth that Ruth Cram a pensioner of the United States died in said County on the first day of July in the Year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight And that Louisa Meads is the only child of the said Ruth Cram that is now living and that she is over twenty one Years of age —
Subscribed & Sworn to before me this 8 th day of April 1850
Isaac Edwards Comm r of Pleas
Orlando Meads
State of New York City & County of Albany
Charlotte Packard a resident of said City and County of Albany who being duly sworn according to law Deposeth, that Ruth Cram a pensioner of the United States died in said County on the first day of July in the Year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, And that Louisa Meads is the only child of the said Ruth Cram that is now living and that she is over twenty one Years of age —
Subscribed & Sworn to before me this 8 th day of April 1850
Isaac Edwards Comm r of Pleas
Charlotte Packard
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Orlando Meads and Charlotte Packard, that they are persons of highly respectable character & reputation and their statements are entitled to implicit confidence & belief
Isaac Edwards Comm r of Pleas

State of New-York, City and County of Albany, Clerk's Office.
I, Robert V. Lay Clerk of the said City and County, do hereby Certify that Isaac Edwards whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of Proof or Acknowledgment of the annexed in- strument in writing and endorsed thereon, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Commissioner of the in and for the County aforesaid, dwelling in the said County, and duly authorized to take the same: And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Edwards and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate of Proof or Acknowl- edgment is genuine, and that the said instrument is executed and acknowledg- ed according to the laws of the State of New York.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my official Seal, this 11th day of April 185 0 R. V. Lay CLERK.

State of New York City & County of Albany } Justice Court of the City of Albany being a court of record
On this 10 th day of April 1850 it was proved by the adduction of the annexed testimony which is satisfactory to said Court That Ruth Cram a pensioner of the United States died in said County on the first day of July in the Year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. And that Louisa Meads is the only child of the said Ruth Cram that is now living And that she is over twenty one Years of age
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of said Court the day & Year first above written
D. Russell Clerk

✓ In the matter of the application of 4288 Ruth Crane Widow of Elisha Crane de d for a pension under the act of 4 th July 1836.
Husband died 16 Feb. 1811 Widow joined 1 July 1838 Mammal 7 th January 1781
Pair to 1 May 1781 - $722.90 $722.90
Admitted Assistant Comm'g of Agents - 18 months & 2 days $362.66 Giles H. Yates
Schenectady N.Y.
Amasa Brown House Reps US

Albany July 11. 1839
G. F. Yates Esq
Sir
My mother & Aunt have requested me to write to you on the subject of their pension claims of which you have charge. It is now four weeks since you said that you had received the papers from Washington & were prepared without further delay to have the business closed concluded - & they have since heard nothing further in relation to it.
They are very desirous of having the affair brought to a close, and as there can be no good reason for delay, they would thank you to give the matter your attention. - I am going out of town tomorrow to be gone some 10 days & if you should write in reply to this, please address your letter to my father & oblige
Yours respect ly
Orlando Meads

State of New York } City and County of Albany } J
I Thomas E Vermilye certify that the following is a true Copy of the Record of the marriage of Elisha Crane and Ruth Phelps, as contained in the Register of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of Albany: to wit:
"1781
Jan'y. 7th. Elisha Crane & Ruth Phelps.
and that the date of said record is expressed in Roman legible figures; From which record it appears that said Elisha Crane and Ruth Phelps were intermarried on the Seventh day of January in the Year of our Lord One thousand, Seven hundred & Eighty one by the Reverend Eliardus Westerlo D.D. then Minister of said Church.
Thos E Vermilye
I Thomas E Vermilye above named depose and say that I hold the office of Minister of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of Albany, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of the said Church as above certified by me.
Subscribed and affirmed  sworn this 16th. _____ day } of April 1839 before me } (the word "affirmed" interlined)
Thos E Vermilye
William A. Young Commissioner of Deeds.

State of New York Albany County } ss:
I Henry B. Haswell Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that William A. Young before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was on the day of the date of the same a Commissioner of Courts in and for the said County. And that his name subscribed to the same is his proper hands writing & signature.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the said County this 8 th day of June 1837.
H. B. Haswell Clerk

State of New York County of Rensselaer ss.
Samuel Phelps of the City of Troy in said County, aged seventy-one years upwards, being duly sworn deposeth & saith, that during the war of the Revolution, he resided two miles out of the City of Albany in the Town of Watervliet - That sometime in the year 1780, he became acquainted with Elisha Crane a resident of said City of Albany - that said Elisha in the month of January 1781, was married to the sister of this Deponent Ruth - that said Elisha Crane departed this life about twenty years or more ago, and that since the decease of the said Elisha the said Ruth remained single & unmarried & continued the widow of said Elisha till the day of her death which transpired on the first day of July last past.
This Deponent well recollects that said Elisha Crane at the time of his marriage aforesaid and for at least one year thereafter was engaged in the service of the United States as an issuing Commissary of provisions &c at the said City of Albany, but for how long a time previous to said month of January 1781, said Elisha Crane acted in the Capacity of Commissary as aforesaid, this deponent has no personal knowledge of.
Samuel Phelps
On this 6 th day of April 1839, before me the undersigned personally appeared Samuel Phelps above

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal names, who made oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing deposition by her signed are true, and I Certify that said Samuel Phelps is a credible witness. Note that the year of the marriage of said Eliza Crane viz "1781," was written on a razor.
C. D. Sheldon
Justice of the Peace one of the Justices of the Justiciary Court of the city of New
Crane

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal
STATE OF NEW-YORK, Rensselaer County Clerk's Office, } ss.
of Rensselaer, do hereby Certify, that
LELAND CRANDALL, Clerk of the County Esquire,
whose name is subscribed to the annexed Deposition was, at the time, the
Subscribing said Deposition one of the Witnesses of the Peace in and for said County; And
further, that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of said Deposition and verily believe the above signature to be genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said County, this 6 day of April - 18 39
Leland Crandall Clerk.
the said deposition the Leland Crandall Clerk
120 Crane

At a "Justices' Court of the City of Albany," held in & for said City, on the fifteenth day of June 1839, the most satisfactory evidence was adduced to prove that Elisha Crane reputed to have been an assistant Commissary of Issues in the war of the revolution, departed this life on the sixteenth day of February, 1811, leaving a widow him surviving named Ruth ; that said Ruth Crane also departed this life on the first day of July last (1838); and that the following named persons, are the only surviving children of said Ruth Crane deceased, to wit - Louisa Meads wife of John Meads, Charlotte Packard widows of Benjamin D. Packard, and Elisha Crane , who all reside in said City of Albany, and are of full age. all of which is hereby accordingly Certified.
Witness the Seal of said Court, and the sign manual of the Clerk thereof, at said City, the day & year first aforesaid.
John G. Watson Clerk

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16934
Ruth Crane
Wid. of
Elisha Crane
Commissary Rev. B. C.
Act July 4, 1836
Index: Vol. A , Page 155
[Arrangement of 1870.]

March 1781 Elisha Crane - Young Com. sl aft " " " Albany In Province Returns Vol 3

V. N. York Ruth Crane let to G. F. Yates D. Oct. 1859
At July 1856

Dr J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir.
In the matter of the application made in behalf of Ruth Crane widow of Elisha Crane , I now send an additional affidavit, to wit, one of Denick Hilton , who was himself an officer.
I beg leave to call your attention to a review of this case
It is in proof that said Elisha Crane served as an Issuing Commissary one year after his marriage. That he served several months after his marriage as such Commissary appears further & incontestibly from the documentary proof I have furnished in this case from the office of the Secretary of State of the United States, & also if I recollect right from the office of the Register of the (U. S.) treasury. That this case therefore comes within the provisions of the act of 4 th July 1836, cannot be, & I think has not, been questioned. If there has been any ground for doubt, it must have been as to the length of time Mr Crane served. I now produce an unexceptionable witness to show that he served as a Commissary in the year 1778, or in some similar capacity, and also that he thus served in the year 1780. After more than a year's search, I have found it impossible to get any more parole testimony in this case. There are several old inhabitants of Albany, who will swear generally that Mr Crane was reputed to have been a Commissary of Issues in the war of the revolution, but they can give no specification whatever of his services. I trust and believe that the circumstantial evidence in

This case is sufficiently strong to induce a favorable decision and to show that Elisha Crane served as an Issuing Commissary for at least two years. Witnesses cannot be presumed to remember, if they ever knew, military titles & appellations in the Civil Department of the Army. They may know an officer dealt out provisions or Forage or had charge of continental teams, but they cannot with technical precision say. Perhaps they never heard, whether such an officer was a Quarter Master or Commissary, Forage Master or Commissary of Forage, Conductor of teams, or Brigade or Regimental Wagon Master. In the present case the documentary evidence referred to settles the grade of Mr. Crane.
The relations are blaming me for the delay in this case, or I would not urge you to a speedy decision.
I am very respectfully,
Your obt Servt
G. F. Yates
Schenectada July 14: 1840.

State of New York County of Albany ss
Deick Hilton of the Town of Bethlehem in said County, aged Eighty four years & upwards, & a pensioner of the U. States, being duly sworn saith, that while he was on duty at the Schoharie lower fort in the Summer of the year 1778 as an Ensign in the Company of Militia then commanded by Captain Nicholas Jeroloman, he saw Elisha Crane there at that time, but cannot speak positively as to the rank he held among the troops nor what particular duties he then perform- ed but knows he was not a private soldier - And this Deponent further saith, that he was during said war & since well acquainted with said Elisha Crane and that he was reputed to be a Commis- sary of Issues, and that he is the same person in behalf of whose widow, whose maiden name was ——— Phelps appli- cation is now made for a pension - And this Deponent further saith, that in the month of October 1780, when he this Deponent was discharging garrison & other military duty at Fort Herkimer, as Ensign as aforesaid, he there also saw said Elisha Crane then also

in the Commissary or Quartermaster Department, or in some such capacity at said fort, and that said Elisha Crane remained there on duty as aforesaid for the whole period of one month & more while this Deponent remained there, & how much longer the said Elisha Crane continued on duty on that occasion at said fort or elsewhere, and on what posts he served at or other occasions during said war, except generally that he served as a Commissary at Albany, this Deponent cannot say from his own personal knowledge —
Derick Hilton
Subscribed & sworn this 3 rd day of Feby 1840 before me and I certify that said Derick Hilton is a credible witness
John C. Allegan (M r of Recd)

STATE OF NEW-YORK, CITY AND COUNTY OF ALBANY, CLERK'S OFFICE, } ss:
I, HENRY B. HASWELL, Clerk of the said city and county, do hereby Certify, that William Galligan whose name is subscribed to the certificate of proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument in writing and endorsed thereon, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment , a Commissioner in and for the city aforesaid, dwelling in the said city, and duly authorized to take the same: And that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Commissioner, and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate or proof of acknowledgment is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my official seal, the twelfth day of February 18 40
H. B. Haswell Clerk.

General Returns of Provisions & Stores Issued & Remaining on Hand at the different Posts of the Northern Department for the month of March 1781.
   Posts and Magazines Names of The Commissaries Rations lbs.   Number     Issuing Store Albany x x x Elisha Crane x x 12.441. x do   Remaining on Hand. Issuing Store Albany x x x Elisha Crane x x x do   Ditto for the month of April 1781   Issuing Store Albany x x x Elisha Crane x x 6.833 x do   Remaining on Hand Issuing Store Albany x x x Elisha Crane x x x do  
Sam t Gamble D.C.G. North r Dept.
To His Excellency George Washington Commander in Chief etc. etc. "
(Faint handwritten note at the bottom left corner) taken from papers collected by the Dept. of State in the course of the Revolution

Register of Certificates. Issued by Jonathan Burrall Commissioner for settling the accounts of the Commissary & Quarter Master Departments from the 22 August 1782 to 7 May 1789
   Names Letter No Date amount when due     Elisha Crane A 122 October 16. 1784 538. 75 May 16. 1780 £0 153.629   Ditto B 123 " " " 184. 15 " 1. 1781 £0 53.629   Payment to Grace Delivered July 1780 £600   " " same " 722.90  
Payment to James Gamble 1 Dec 1780 £2000. — " " 1 May 1782 208.29 do to Jacob Wimer
Treasury Department Register Office Sep 16 1839.
I hereby certify that the above is a true Extract from the Book of certificates of Jonathan Burrall Commissioner &c &c of record in the Treasury Department, J. Burrall Register

Register's office 16 Sep. 1839
J. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
M c Yah, of New York desires that the enclosed document be sent to you which I accordingly do
Respectfully at 66 law Mount

Application in behalf of Ruth Crane widow of Elisha Crane deceased
Sir,
This is an application under the act of 4 th July 1836. The documentary evidence in support of the claim can be found among the Washington papers on file in the Office of the Keeper of the Archives &c in the State Department Washington. I have shown the identity of the parties by the affidavits of Samuel Phelps the brother of the widow. The marriage is proved by a certificate from the Records of the Church the pastor of which married the applicant. The claim is for more than two years services as an issuing Commissary, payable from the 4 th March 1836, to the first day of July 1838, the day of the widow's death.
I am very respectfully
Your obedt servt
G. F. H. S. - Mtr
Schenectady August 31 st 1839.
To J. S. Clarks Esq Commissioner of Pensions

J. L. Edwards Litho Nov 6 th 1850
copy the Crane
W. Mead
H. H. Sargent
Mr. Cal
50 3/4

Valparaiso
Pension Office December 17, 1850.
Sir, The application of Louisa Stewart for an Increase of Pension claimed to be due her Mother, Ruth (Cane) Stewart, has been as described and filed. She is reported to be now the sole surviving child of said Ruth Stewart. But when the pension was allowed there were two other children living. The death of each of them must be specifically proved, with its date and it must be shown whether they left any descendants, since, if they did so those representing their ancestors would be entitled to an equal share of such areas as ought to have been due
Yours respectfully Your Obedient Servt J L Edwards
N W Sylvester Esq Charles town New Hampshire

Ho of Rm Feby 18. 1860
J. L. Edwards Esq. Sir
I have received the enclosed in the amount that I should turn over to the sum. to you and ask your immediate attention to the papers.
Respectfully yours Anson Brown

In the matter of Ruth Crane widow of Elisha Crane under the act of 4 th July 1836.
Make a Certificate for him Elisha - insurance from 4 March 1831 to 1 July 1838 -
Agent Giles F. Bates
Schenectady James Gamble - Vol 3 p 107 N.Y. Returns Dep C. G. Northern Department Elisha Crane (Albany) Company - See Transcript of act settled by for Bannell - paid $722.90
Hon. Anson Brown H.R. Submitted Committed 18 Nov 1838 to 1838 $240 per share

A. Mener Purch Crane lot N. Y. Acc 4 th July 1836 Ad 7 18 mo. after Comg of Interest $451.66 per ann.
Payable to Bank Laura Mead, her only surviving child.
Let's sent to A. A. Lyttleton Purch