Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1900, Christopher Chesebra, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
or Chesebra, Christopher Chesebro.
R. 1900
CONTENTS
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14929
New York
Christopher Chesbrough
Albany in the State of N. York
He was a Private in the Cont commanded by Captain Smith of the Regt commanded by Col. Wolcott in the Cont for 12 mos. & 25 days
scribed on the Roll of N. York the rate of 70 Dollars 08 Cents per annum. commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of July 1833 and Smith E. Williams Knox
arrears to the 4th of Mar '33 $152.16 semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Spt '33 38.04 $190.20
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by C. C. Stiles Clerk, Book E , Vol. 3 , Page 52

Christopher Columbus
By 4.5.14.16
P. 318
+
admiral
1451-1506
E. Williams Knox

BRIEF in the case of Christopher Chase born of Albany 6 th in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Oral  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 77 years  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. As a Gen.     Recd In 1775 - 1 Private Capt Smith   1776 9 " Capt Smith Col Woodworth   Capt Palmer Col Ely   " Capt Palmer Col Ely   Sept 1777 to July 1778 10 " Capt Palmer Col Ely  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Harrison Co.  7. Is the statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Papers not attested or signed 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Cuthbert
Examining Clerk.

Christopher Cheek Declaration 11802
Service as Capt not embraced in captivity disallowed as it does not appear he was under military orders at the time of capture
Amount
22 mo 25 ds pri
278 8 77 27 1/2 60 8

Declaration
In Order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
State of New York } Albany County } ss
On this 18 th day of September 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges & Justices of being a Court of Common Pleas now sitting in and for the County of Albany aforesaid Christopher Chaseborn a resident of the town of Knapp in the County & State aforesaid Aged Seventy Seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the ben- efit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated
That he enlisted in the town of Stonington in the State of Connecticut in December 1775 under Captain Smith of the Connecticut Line for one month to guard the harbour of Stonington that he served the said term of one month in said service and that at the expiration of said month he re-enlisted under the same Captain in Colonel Oliver M'Colts Regiment for nine months to guard the sea coast that sometime during the said nine months Captain Smith was promoted to a Colonel took the Command of a Regiment and marched to White Plains

Nathan Walker was appointed Captain in place of Capt Smith & Col John Ely took the Com- mand of the Regiment that he this deponent served the term of nine months then re-enlisted again for nine months under the same Officers and Contin- ue said service as volunteer after the expiration of said nine months until taken prisoner In the month of September 1777 marched with the Regiment to Rhode Island where we remained til October the following month when the Regiment was ordered to Norfolk on our march and while in New London Nathaniel Shaw who was then Commissary interceded with our Officers for a number of men to go on an expedition up the sound he this deponent enlisted on board a sloop of war and was ordered to sail for Norfolk and there to convoy Genl Parsons Brigadier to Long Island and sailed in the night as a convoy from Norfolk for Long Island the next day while in the sound was captured by a British man of war of fourteen guns commanded by Capt Smith who was from New York and bound to Rhode Island was taken as a prisoner to Rhode Island where Col Webb & Col Ely were paroled thereafter was soon taken
Note that after the capture of the British - and 2 men from the bottom of the ship which upon examination and discovery

from Rhode Island to New York as a prisoner and confined on board of a ship called the Good Intent for about three weeks was then taken from said prison ship and confined in a sugar house on York Island until the 20th day of July 1778 when he this deponent was exchanged and discharged from said prison that he has never received any written discharge that he moved from the town of Stonington about forty years since to the place where he now resides in the town of Knox County of Albany & State of New York that he was born in the town of Stonington and his age recorded in New London where in the town of Stonington when called into service that he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person who can testify to his service other than what is herewith annexed the Rev. Erastus Williams can testify as to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State.
In presence and subscribed Christopher C. Dyer the day and year aforesaid
Moved from the town of Stonington when called into service before the 17th of June from the list of his last military service in the Revolutionary War.
We William Mawn a Clergyman residing in the town of Knox in the County of Albany and Erastus Williams residing in the said town of Knox hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Christopher C. Dyer who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a

Soldier of the Revolution and that he was taken prisoner and confined in New York and that we concur in that Opinion In witness whereof William Brown the clerk and your foreseid Ernestus Mathieson
And the said Court do hereby declare their Opin- ion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Depart- ment that the abovenamed Applicant was a revolu- tionary soldier and served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that William Brown who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Knox in this County and that who has also signed the same is a credible person and that their statements are entitled to credit
I Canvall A. Ten Eyck Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Albany do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Christopher Schuchman for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 18 th day of September 1832
A. Ten Eyck Clerk v.a. m. v. v. v. v.

State of New York } Albany County } ss
Personally appeared William Brown of the town of Knapp in the County of Albany aforesaid who being duly sworn saith upon oath that he has been personally acquain- ted with Christopher Chesebro of Knapp aforesaid (and who is now making application for a pension) from the commencement of the American Revolu- tion that he this deponent was personally knowing to the enlistment of the said Christopher Chesebro in the Connecticut line in the year 1776 for nine months under Capt Smith Col. Molcolts Regiment that he served the said nine months in said Company and that he was honorably discharged he this deponent was a Soldier in the same Company at the same time and further says not
Sworn and subscribed this 25 th day of September 1832
William Brown
before me Daniel Gallup Justice
State of New York } Albany County }
I Conrad A Van Eick clerk of the said County do hereby certify that Daniel Gallup before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been sworn was on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid and that I verily believe his signature subscribed to the said affidavit to be his genuine signature
Witness my hand and the seal of the said County this 26 th day of September 1832
L. A. Van Dusen

State of Kentucky S.S. On this 17 th day of August A.D. 1854 personally appeared before me, County of Albany } a justice of the peace duly authorized and commissioned to administer oaths, within and for the County of Albany and State of New York, Eliakim M. Chesebro aged 59 years, and Mary Chesebro wife of Daniel Gallup aged 57 years both Residents of the Town of Knox in the County of Albany, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on their oaths depose and say that they are the children of Christopher Chesebro, and Abigail Chesebro his Wife, The said Christopher Chesebro was a pensioner of the United States for services rendered in the War of the Revolution, in the Connecticut State Troops, These deponents saith that their Father Christopher Chesebro, died in the Town of Knox, County and State aforesaid on the 3 rd day of March A.D. 1835, and that our mother Abigail Chesebro, died in the Town, County & State aforesaid on the 20 th day of July A.D. 1837 the Widow of Christopher Chesebro - and further these deponents say - that a thorough search has been made for the records of Father and Mothers marriage, but no such record can be found, but from the best information we can obtain our father was married to his Wife Abigail Williams, our (mother) in Stonington Connecticut in 1780. and further saith that our family consisted of the following children, Christopher Chesebro Jr. born 1782 Ebenezer Chesebro born 1785, Peleg Chesebro born 1787, Nicholas Chesebro born 1788, Amos Chesebro born 1790, Sally Chesebro born 1793, Eliakim M. Chesebro born 1795, Mary Chesebro, Wife of Daniel Gallup born 1797, Nabby Chesebro born 1798, Elias Chesebro born 1801, and these deponents say that they are the only living children residing in the County of Albany and State of New York, that Christopher Chesebro Jr. and Nabby Chesebro are dead, that Ebenezer, Nicholas, Elias, & Amos Chesebro are if living residents of parts unknown, that Peleg Chesebro, and Sally, Wife of W m Brown are residents of Schoharie County N.Y. and that these deponents verily believe that their Father was married before the expiration of his term of service in the war of the revolution, This application is made for the purpose of obtaining the pension that would have accrued to our mother from the day of Father's death to the death of our mother, Eliakim M. Chesebro Subscribed & sworn to the day and year above Mary Chesebro Wife of Daniel Gallup Written, by the said Eliakim M. Chesebro, and Mary Chesebro Wife of Daniel Gallup, G. Gallup and do certify that they are respectable and credible persons having known them for the past 56 years - and do believe their statements to be true. Amos Chesebro justice of the peace

State of New York } }
Albany County } S.S. On this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Four, personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace, duly authorized and commissioned to administer oaths within and for the County of Albany and State of New York.
Thankful Chesebro aged 85 years a resident of the Town of Knox, in the County of Albany and State aforesaid, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath depose and say that she is a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $37.50 per annum for services rendered by her my Husband Elijah Chesebro or Chesebrough.
This deponent saith that she was well and personally acquainted with Christopher Chesebro. The said Christopher Chesebro and this deponents husband were brothers and this deponent saith that the wife of Christopher Chesebro was Abigail Williams. This deponent saith that the said Christopher Chesebro and Abigail Williams were married in Stonington New London County Ct. in the year 1780 by the Rev. Christopher Avery, a congregational Preacher. This deponent saith that she has no record of the marriage but recollects with great distinctness the time and occasion, this deponent was at that time about the age of eleven years. This deponent saith further that Christopher Chesebro and his Wife Abigail lived within two miles of each other and in Stonington, from our family, we were quite intimate, and this deponent saith further that the said Christopher Chesebro was a pensioner of the United States for services rendered in the Connecticut State Troops in the War of the Revolution, and that the said Christopher Chesebro died in the year 1835, and that his Wife Abigail Chesebro died in 1837. that she was the Widow of the said Christopher Chesebro at the time of her death. This deponent saith that the said Christopher Chesebro and his Wife Abigail had the following named children as follows. Christopher Chesebro, Ebenezer Chesebro, Phebe Chesebro, Nicholas Chesebro, Amos Chesebro, Sally Chesebro, Wife of Mr. Brown, Eliakim W. Chesebro, Mary Chesebro, Wife of David Gallup, Nabby Chesebro, and Elias Chesebro. and that the said family of Christopher Chesebro, moved from Stonington Ct. soon after this deponents and her husband died, to Albany County in the State of New York, and have ever since resided there, and that she

had always been intimately acquainted with each other; and this deponent saith that the oldest child of Christopher Chesbro, and Abigail Williams his wife, was named Christopher Chesbro Jr. who was born at Stonington in 1782. and that the said child was born - to the best of this deponent's recollection whilst the said Christopher was the father was a prisoner - and is quite certain that the said Christopher Chesbro and Abigail his wife were married while or before, he was in the United States Service,
This deponent saith further that she is a wholly disinterested person in this application for balance of pension having no interest whatever in the same,
Amos Bracy
her Thankful Chesbro mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 17 th day of August 1854.
Amos Bracy justice of the peace
And I do hereby certify that Thankful Chesbro, who subscribed and was sworn to the above affidavit is a highly respectable lady - and do believe her statements to be true, the undersigned hath been acquainted with the family of Christopher Chesbro for 50 years, past,
Amos Bracy justice of the peace
Houl. Loren A. Waldo. Comr of Pensions,
Will please communicate with Jacob D. Settle, Borne Albany Co. N.Y.
on the subject of the within application. Dickinson H. Chesbro Mary Chesbro Wife of David
G. G. G.

State of New-York, City and County of Albany, Clerk's Office.
} ss Robert Harper
I, Robert S. Lay, Clerk of the said City and County, and of the Courts of Record therein, do hereby CERTIFY, that Angus Creary whose name is subscribed to the affidavit of the annexed affidavit was, on the day of the date thereof, a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Albany, duly authorized to administer oaths for general purposes; and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Angus Creary and verily believe that the signature to the said affidavit is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my official seal, this 15 th of Sept 18 54
R Harper Clerk.

State of New York
Albany County } S.S. On this Seventeenth day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty four, personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace duly authorized and commissioned to administer oaths, within and for the County of Albany & State of New York.
Anna Chesebro, Wife of Daniel Chesebro, aged Seventy Eight years past a resident of the Town of Herk, County of Albany and State of New York who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath depose and say that she was born at Stonington, New London Co. C.T. in 1775, and was before her marriage the daughter of Robert Denison de c.
This deponent saith that she was personally acquainted with Christopher Chesebro who was a pensioner of the United States for services rendered by said Chesebro in the Connecticut State Troops.
Said Chesebro was married as this deponent is informed and verily believes to Abigail Williams in Stonington C.T. and knows that the said Christopher Chesebro and Abigail Williams, lived together as man and wife, and brought up a numerous family. This deponent saith that she lived about 4 miles from said Chesebro in Connecticut and was intimately acquainted with the family, and have been intimately acquainted with the said Christopher Chesebro, his Wife, and family since they have lived in Albany County. The said Christopher Chesebro died in 1835, and Abigail his Widow died 1837. The said Abigail and Christopher Chesebro had the following named children, Christopher Chesebro Jr. Ebenezer Chesebro. Pelag Chesebro. Nicholas Chesebro. Amos Chesebro. Sally Chesebro. Eliakim H. Chesebro. Mary Chesebro. Nabby Chesebro, and Elias Chesebro. This deponent verily believes that Christopher Chesebro was born in Stonington, before his father left the U. States Service. This deponent has yet a distinct recollection of the fight at Fort Griswold in the war of the Revolution. This deponent saith that she is a disinterested person in this application for arrears of Pension.
Amos Lowery
Anna her Chesebro mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written, and as belief her statements to be true in all respects, she is a respectable lady.
Amos Lowery justice of the peace

No 15215
Abigail Chase dec'd wife of Christopher N.Y.
Jacob D. Settle Sep 7 1859
1900
Husband line to '55 wid d? '37 Rejected
July 7 1835

REJECTED
1.900
P. O. _____
Abigail Chesebira
Service: widow of Christopher
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Christopher Cisterna

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Christopher Chidester 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? see the declarants explanation 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 see his deposition 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 can be 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? Yes
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?
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? NO — Under Williams' deposition
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? Yes
XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? NO — Will Quere 16 per Williams' deposition
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."
* Williams who certifies as to tradition in this case is not competent to be credible by the Court

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 shewn 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.

Bern, Sept. 2 d 1854.
Hon. Soren P. Walde. for. of Pensions.
Sir: The enclosed application for Bk. of Pension, from death of pensioner to the death of his Widow, by several of the heirs is respectfully asked to be examined,
The Applicants had no records of their parents marriage and those who were sworn on the subject could not be positive.
The Widow of Christopher Deseka , drew the Bk. of Pension due her deceased Husband  pensioner . The Heirs think that she proved her marriage at that time, some 19 yrs ago (persons were then living who knew more about their marriage than those now in existence) which evidence is on file, a reference to that will perhaps more clearly show when she was married, and whether there is any thing due the heirs or applicants. nothing is desired unless it is justly due, Respectfully Sir yr.
Obt. Servant Jacob D. Settle

Christopher Chesbrough Nov 2 nd - 1832
Friend Loren P. Noble
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C.

Application of Heirs of Widow Abigail Cheadle for Pensions of Ruler Revolution War

Christopher Columbus

State of New York Albany County
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Christopher Chase of the town of Knox in said County who being duly sworn deponeth 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 ser- vice but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades for one year ten months and twenty five days I served as a Common Soldier for one month and ten days I served on board a sloop of war as ship Carpenter and from the 10 th December 1777 to the 20 th of July 1778 I was a prisoner to the British and for such service I claim a pension
Mark five interlaced before signing
Sworn and subscribed Christopher Chase this 15 th day of April 1833 before me Daniel Gallup Justice

State of New York Albany County
Personally before me the undersigned Jus tice of the peace in and for said County Erastus Willseus of the town of Knox in the County aforesaid who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that the declaration of Christopher Chase made in order to obtain the benefit of the act of bankruptcy passed June 7 th 1832 and dated the 18 th September 1832 and which said declaration contains four half sheets of paper attached together at the top by wafers and to which the Affidavit of William Brown is attached to the corner is in this deponent's own hand writing and is the same that passed the seal of the Clerk of the City & County of Albany that nothing has since been added to or taken from said declaration since the affixing of said seal except the affidavit of William Brown aforesaid which was afterwards attached to said corner by a wafer.
And this deponent further says upon oath that the blank in the Certificate of the Court to the fore- said declaration stating the credibility of the persons therein above named was intended & likewise supposed to have been filled up by inserting this deponent's name that the omission was entirely accidental And further that this deponent is the person who with William Brown a preacher of the Gospel attested to a number of Certificates as to tradition in declarations which passed said Court on the

Same day and at the same time and which said declarations have been forwarded to the War Department and American Certificates granted thereon and further this Defendant says not
Sworn and subscribed Erastus Wells this 15 th April 1833 before me Daniel Gallup Justice
State of New York Albany County
I, barrack A. Van Eyck clerk of said County do hereby certify that Daniel Gallup before whom the two foregoing affidavits purports to have been sworn was on the dates thereof a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and that I duly believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits to be his genuine signature
Witness my hand and the seal of said County this 22 nd day of April 1833. C. A. Van Eyck clerk