Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1949, John Church, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Church John
NUMBER
R. 1949
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents entry
Blank lined area for contents entry

Declarations In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress Passed June 7 th 1832.
State of New York, Orleans County S.D. Personally appeared in open Court before the Honourable the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting John Church aged Seventy five years, a resident of the Town of Home in the County and State aforesaid, 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.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That he entered the service in the town of Greenwich in the County of Hampshire County in the State of Massachusetts on the first of May in the year 1777. under the Command of Capt. Thomson as a volunteer for a tour of three months. The first Lieut. of the company was a man by the name of Noah Dickerson . Second Lieut.'s name was Josiah Wilson , The Col. of the Regiment to which this applicant belonged was Col. Leonard . The Lieut. Col. of said Regiment was Lieut. Col. Hall . Col. Leonard was sick at the time this applicant was called out to go on this tour of duty. That this applicant served during the months of May, June & July. from the 1 st of May 1777 to the 1 st of August or to the 2 d of August following 1777. making out a

3- a period of three months services in the militia of the County of Hampshire in said State of Massachusetts. That this applicant was ordered on an expedition out to to  Ticonderoga in the state of New York. That he volunteered to serve against the enemy, the British - Indians and Tories who were collecting their forces on the frontiers and who were committing murders and taking off the property of the Americans. That he was marched on to Albany and from there on up the North river to Fort George on the head of Lake George, where this applicant was stationed for some time doing Garrison duty. Thence he was ordered across said Lake to Ticonderoga , which was then the Head Quarters of Genl. St Clair , where this applicant served as a Guard for two months. That this applicant while out on Picket Guard , was nearly surprised with his comrades & taken prisoners. That while out on this Picket Guard the enemy came on & compelled the Americans to evacuate & leave Ticonderoga and he was left with his companions to find their way as well as he could to the American army on their retreat. That he was in the night about sixty rods from the road and the enemy marched along so silently that they passed without being noticed by said Picket. That after he got safely among the American troops, he continued with his Company on to Rutland in the state of Vermont. During the retreat he suffered much for food - and other privations -

and performed duty on what was called Albany Hill , in the old Barracks or when the troops were quartered - Genl. Schuyler - this applicant thinks had the principal command of the Army in that quarters - and this applicant was at the end of said two month's duty verbally ordered to go home to Hampshire Co. Massachusetts - by the Commanding officer at Albany N. York -
And the said applicant was again called into the service - that he entered the service as a volunteer in the County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts and was was attached to a company of the Hampshire Co. militia under the orders and command of "Capt. Williams", Lieut. Stockwell", Ensign Clark - and the Col. who had the principal command was Col. Putnam - That this applicant commenced said tour of duty on the 16 th day of November 1778. and served during the remainder of said Nov r during December, January. and until the 16 th of February 1779. making a tour of "three months" duty. That during this tour which was served along the Hudson River . That he was marched from said Hampshire Co down to to Roxbury in Connecticut when he joined the American forces and from thence he & they were marched on to Peekskill , in New York State, on the Hudson River. thence they were marched on to the High Lands , between Peekskill ,

From Rutland he was marched on to Bennington. At - upon he was stationed and performed military duty for some time - and at which Post he delivered up what ammunition and accoutrements belonged to the United States and was marched back to Hampshire County in Massachusetts where he was verbally discharged at the expiration of his said term of three months' service .
2 And said applicant was again in the service of the United States as a volunteer. That he joined a company of Hampshire County Militia in said State of Massachusetts under the command of Captain Moodie , Adjutant Smith who acted as Lieut and the Ensign was Ensign Smith , order sergeant's name was one Ellicolton , a man or rather quite a young man who marched with this applicant was one Powers ( Elijah Powers ), another by the name of Charles Powers . That this second tour of duty began in the fall of the year 1778 on the 6 th of September 1778. and continued for two months, from the said 6 th day of September to the 7 th of November 1778 making a tour of two months' service as a volunteer in said militia. That he was marched from Hampshire Co. in Massachusetts on to Albany N.Y. and there stationed as a Guard and daily drilled

and Fish Kill on the Hudson River aforesaid, where said applicant & the other troops were ordered to build Huts for winter quarters ; after the said Huts were nearly finished - he was ordered on with a Regiment of Militia to Groton River , or to the mouth of said river , where the troops were quartered among the inhabitants in their houses. That this applicant with all the disposable forces were ordered on towards White Plains , where it was said some British forces , were collecting that before he got to said Plains , the British had gone back to New York , that he was then marched back to the mouth of Groton River - where he & the other Americans went to their respective quarters. That on the same night this applicant got back - a party of British Soldiers , not thinking that the Americans had returned for to their stations and believing the people were defenceless - came in the said night to the house in which this applicant was stationed with two companies of militia - (the house being spacious) that the sentry gave the alarm and the American troops in the house aforesaid turned in immediately out - pursued, fired on them & overtook them and took them three & four of them at a time till the whole party of the British except three of them left to guard their boat was made prisoners. That an American of this applicant's company took a British soldier in his night clothes without arms - The number of the British taken in this

engagement was Eighteen - all which were placed under guard and the ensuing morning were delivered up to the Col. Commanding the Americans - about a mile from this applicant's quarters.
That while this applicant was stationed at the mouth of Syston River , there were two British vessels, laying in sight - in the Hudson River - That this appli- =cant continued duty as a sentry and was daily drilled there till he was discharged on the 16 th or 17 th of Feb. 1779 - when he was verbally discharged by his Commanding Officer the Col. of the Regiment by the Capt. - Which of the two officers this applicant cannot now remember.
and this applicant further says that no living witness can be had or procured by whom he can prove the above services of Eight months or of any part of them and further he states that he was not at any time engaged in any civil pursuit but was wholly devoted to the army of the United States and the service of his Country -
John Church
Sworn in open Court before me A. S. Miller Clerk of Orleans Co. Court -
State of New York § Orleans County } ss. and the said applicant hereby relinquish- es 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

sworn and subscribed before me in open Court this 16 th day of June A. D. 1835 Before me J. B. Mills Clerk of Orleans County Court Signed John Church
We the subscribers being Citizens of the County of Orleans in the state of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Church a resident of the town of Barre in said County of Orleans who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age - a man of unimpeachable character - that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a revolutionary soldier and that we concur in that opinion sworn in open Court the day and year aforesaid - Before me - J. B. Mills Clerk Orleans County Court Signed
George Lippard Jonathan Parker

Interrogatories
1 When and in what year were you born - Ans. I was born in the town of Hardwick in the County of Worcester in the state of Massachusetts in the year of our Lord 1760 - on the 2 nd of Feb. in said year -
2 Have you any record of your age - and if so when is it? Ans. I have no record of my age - my Parents had any age recorded in their Bible from which I know my age to be 75 years -
3 When were you living when called into the service. Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Ans. When I was called into the service I lived in the town of Greenwich in the County of Hampshire and state of Massachusetts - and since the revolutionary war I have lived in the County of Hampshire in said state of Massachusetts and in the County of Orleans in the state of New York where I now live and have lived for the space of seven years past.
4 How were you called into the service were you drafted, did you volunteer? or were you a substitute - and if a substitute and if a substitute, for whom? Ans. I volunteered for the terms of duty above specified of eight months as a volunteer soldier.

5 th State the names of some of the regular or officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service:
Ans. I will mention the following officers who served with me - viz "Genl Schuyler," Genl St. Clair Col, Leonard. Lieut Col, Hail - Capt - Thompson - capt. Moody - adj Smith 1 st Lieut Dickerson. Josiah Wilson 2 d Lieut - Capt Williams, Lieut. Stockwell, Ensign Clark
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service? if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Ans. I never rec d any written discharge but was at the expiration of my different terms of duty of eight months verbally discharged.
7 th Did you ever receive a commission Ans. I never did receive a commission but served as a private soldier for the term of eight months as above mentioned.

Ques. 8. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for truth and veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution -
Ans - I will state - Dr. Swan, Dr. White, Doct. Patten, George Sipes, Honorable Abm. Cantine, Judge of said Court - Nathan Perry, Sidney Strong and Rodney Torrey.
and said applicant says that no minister of the Gospel or other Clergyman can conveniently be procured to attend said Court to testify in his behalf in the matter of his application for a pension. Sworn in open Court before me this 16 th June A.D. 1835 -
Before Me
W. Miles Clerk Signed John Strong of Orleans County Court

A 11.1835.
Memphis
10 Sept. 1835.
Bounty fund office and Pension office
James Cagle Secy. of War Washington
FREE
Rec. Sep. 10. 1835

Medina Orleans Co. N. York, 4 Sept r 1835
Sir,
A few days since Mr Sawyer deputy postmaster at this village, handed me the enclosed letter, supposing me to be one of the individuals to whom the letter was addressed. I suppose myself, there being no other Sawyer at Medina, or as I can learn, in this State, of my name , I was one of the individuals intended to be addressed by said letter.
The letter to which the enclosed purports to be an answer, so far as my name has been used, is a sheer imposition and fabrication. Bedford was an entire stranger to me at the time he came to this village, and I never before the receipt of the enclosed, heard, or had any knowledge of the matter therein referred to, & the writer thereof has used my name without my knowledge or consent.
About the middle of June last a creature who called himself Bedford , and said he was from Ohio, came to this village, and as I have since been informed, represented himself to several old revolutionary soldiers in the vicinity of this village, as being a pension agent , and thereby induced several to employ him to procure pensions for them. On the night of the fourth of July last he clandestinely left our village indebted to his landlord for his board &c. After his elopement, I learned by the New York advertiser of July 22 d that a gentleman of the same name, description and appearance of said Bedford , had been waited upon by Const t Huntington to the City-prison on a charge of stealing a trunk. A few days previous to his disappearance from

this village he informed me, he had enclosed some of his pension papers to the war department , and that he had taken the liberty of requesting the department to direct their answer to him in my care , so that if he should be absent (which he said he thought was probable for a week or two) and your answer should arrive before his return, I might take the letter out of the office. Two or three days after his departure from this village I received a package containing the letters purporting to be answers to applications for pensions made by "John Church, David Demaray and Benjamin Bibby". The package, as also all the letters therein contained were directed to "H. Augeron Esq. Medina, Orleans Co. N. Y." and signed "Geo. Wm Crump". Before I examined the letters particularly, I supposed the Department had made a mistake in directing the package to me, instead of Bedford , in my care . And even after discovering my name and not Bedfords at the bottom of all the letters, I still supposed the department had made a mistake. But afterwards becoming satisfied by the means above named, of the infamous conduct of Bedford, & receiving an other answer from the same department, purporting to be an answer to a supplemental declaration of one "Asa Ripley" for his pension, I made up my mind conclusively that there was no mistake on the part of the War department or of Bedford , But that it was a gross imposition, wilfully practiced by said Bedford, upon the War department, as well as upon myself. I am a stranger to the contents of all of those applications, & know not whether the matter they contain is pertinent or impertinent. As to the enclosed, I believe it my duty to return it to the war department. And that it is but

Justice to the Department, as well as to myself, that I should inform them of the imposition of the Scoundrel,
As to the four pension applicants. I am personally acquainted with but two of them, one of whom Mr. Birby has lately employed me to prosecute his application to a final determination, and I have no doubt that his application is a meritorious one. He is very poor, but sustains the character of an honest, upright, deserving old man.
Mr. Christopher Lewis has also lately employed me to make inquiry of the War department in relation to an application heretofore made by him for a pension. He says Mr. Strong late of Middleport in Niagara county, since dec d applied for him. That the papers were returned to him to supply some deficiency, & that he prepared them to send to the department, but died without doing so . He informed me that Bedford while at this village wrote him to call & let him complete his application. That he did so, & that Bedford found the papers among Mr. Strong's papers, & informed him that he would enclose them to the War department, which he supposes has been done, since which he has heard nothing from them. Be pleased to inform me whether Mr. Lewis's papers have been received, & the result of his application, and any other information in relation to the above matter, & Oblige,
Respectfully,
Your Ob t Serv t
Henry Angeline
Lewis Capt Esq r Secy of War

RECEIVED
1949
P. O. _____
John Church
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Ms. A. 9. 2. 31 New York
John Church
Suspected
let. to Th. Angeline 30 June 1835 " " " same 15 Sept " "
1949
See Angeline's letter within

In the matter of the application of John Church of Barre, Orleans Co. N. York. 8 months service. Aged 75 years.
H. Fingerine Esq. Agent. Wadsworth Orleans County New York.
119 45 225

We the subscribers residents in Orleans County in New York State do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Church a resident of the Town of Barry in said County & State an applicant for a pension. That we believe him to be a man of good moral character, truth and veracity. That he is seventy five years of age and that he is respected and verily believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution. Sworn and subscribed before me the subscriber a Judge of Orleans an acting Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Orleans - this 16 th June A. D. 1835 -
Testified before me Hon. Jonathan Ledge of Orleans County Courts
Signed -
Sidney Strong
I the subscriber concur in the above opinion set forth in the above Certificate and also certify to its correctness - Sworn before me this subscriber - this 16 th June 1835 -
Subscribed & Sworn Before me Hon. Jonathan Ledge of Orleans County Courts
Signed - Radcliffe Govey

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the said Court further Certifies that John Potter and George Lipes - and Nathan Parker,
who have signed the first preceding Certificate are residents of Orleans County in the State of New York, are Credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and the said Court further Certifies that the annexed Certificate of Sidney Strong and Rodney A. Torrey -
who are citizens of said Orleans County and State aforesaid are also Credible persons and that their statement in regard to the above applicant's services may be truly depended on -
Alvin Ward S. Lupton and William James members of same Session of said Court

I Abraham B. Mills, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Orleans County in the State of New York do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- -ceedings of the said Court in the matter of the applic- -ation of John Church for a pension - also that the Honorable Abm Cantine, a Judge of Orleans County Court, before whom the annexed Cer- -tificate of Messrs Sidney Strong and Rodney Forrey was sworn and subscribed is a Judge of said Courts and duly Commissioned and sworn qualified and that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and Credit as well in Courts of Record and Justice as elsewhere and that his signature to the above Certificate as aforesaid is his true and genuine signa- -ture - In testimony whereof I have - hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court of Common Pleas this 16 th day of June 1835 -
Abraham B. Mills Clerk