Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31752, David Holmes, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Holmes, David
S. 31752
CONTENTS

6193 New York
David Holmes of Bedford in the State of New York who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Hobbey of the Regt. commanded by Col. Richmond in the New York line for Nears.
added on the Roll of New York the rate of 120 Dollars — Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Feb'y 1833 — and sent to Hon. Ward No Rep't.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832 $180.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Mar '33 60.00 $ 240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Ino Brownwell Clerk Book D Vol. 5 Page 145

State of New York -- Westchester County } ss.
on this Seventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five personally appeared in Open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Westchester now in Session.
David Holmes a resident of the Town of Bedford in the County of Westchester and State of New York aged seventy five years, who first being duly Sworn according to Law, doth on his Oath make the following declarations, 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. -----
----- On or about the last of March 1776. he Enlisted into Capt. David Hoobly's Company of Militia as Serjeant for the term of Six Months and had enlisting orders, and enlisted several Soldiers into said Company in the Town of Bedford in the County of Westchester, James Miller was Lieut. in said Company;
and about the first of May we marched to New York and joined Col. Richmores Regiment and encamped a little above the Town, and after the Battle on Long Island, we retreated to Har- lem Heights, and was in the Battle on Harlem Heights in September, and having served out said term of enlistment, was verbally disch- arged at Harlem Heights. That this Declarant again enlisted That is to say
on or about the first of January 1777 he enlisted into Capt. Herekiah Grays Company of Militia in the Town of Bedford as Serjeant for the term of four Months, Isaac Titus Lieutenant.

in said company, and served out said term of time on the lines in Westchester County under the command of Col. Thomas Thomas and was discharged at North Castle near the Mills by then First Lieutenant The Captain Major Dill. That
on or about the first of August 1777, he enlisted a Serjeant in Capt Richard Sacketts and Lieut. Vanwarts company of Militia in the Town of Bedford in Col. Ledingtons Regiment and served three months on the lines in Westchester County being near the White Plains, at the time the British went up the North River to relieve Burgoine — They landed at Sarry Town and came out to take our Regiment, they sent an Officer with a flag, and offered us pardon if we would lay down our arms, and having the front guards, heard the reply from the Col. who said; not as long as a man had an arm to fight, or a leg to run. &c.
We followed the enemy up the North River, at the time Fort Montgomery was taken and having served the term of time as aforesaid was verbally discharged at Crompond. by Colonel Ledington This Serjeant further saith
That on or about the first of April 1778. he enlisted as Serjeant in Capt. John Thomas and Lieut. William Woodward company of Militia in the Town of Bedford, for the term of Three Months and in the Regiment under the command of Col. Thomas Thomas, and served out said term of time as aforesaid on the lines in Westchester County near the White Plains and was there verbally discharged by Captain John Thomas. That
on or about the first of February 1779 he enlisted as Serjeant in the Town of Bedford in Capt.

John Thomas company of Militia for the term of Three months, and in the Regiment under the command of Col. Thomas Thomas, and was called out under said officers and served out said time as herein stated, ordered to North Castle at Wrights Mills to guard the stores of Wheat and Forage, from thence marched to the White Plains and there stationed awhile as guards, from thence to East Chester and there had a skirmish with the Enemy, they retreated and left one killed, from thence marched to Wrights Mills in North Castle and at the expiration of the time aforesaid was there verbally discharged by Captain John Thomas Aforesaid That this David Holman on or about the month of May 1779 entered the service as a Serjeant in the Town of Bedford in the Compa- -ny of Militia under the command of Captain Marcus Mosman, Lieut Gabriel Higgins and Eli Tyler Ensign, and in the Regiment under the command of Col. Thomas Thomas, and was ordered into service in Westchester County, and was called out to meet the Enemy on their return from Crompond and did meet them, at Pines Bridge on the Croton River, a skir- -mish ensued four of the Enemies Horseman were taken prisoners, made a second attack on their out guards, when the said David Holman was taken prisoner, and put into a barn with other prisoners; on that night made his escape; The Enemy supposing him secreted in the straw in the Barn, set fire to the Barn to destroy him — and was called out by the aforesaid officers and ordered into service on the lines in Westchester

County aforesaid in the Vicinity of the Enemy's lines, and Alternately kept guard and patrols to repel the Enemy in their excursions as the Inhabitants on the lines in Westchester County and those who guarded the same were more exposed than the Regular Troops generally were, except in actions. and he thus served from the Month of May 1779. till the Month of November 1780.

And to the Interrogatories propounded to him by the Court agreeably to the Instructions of the War department, he on his oath maketh answer and saith, that he was born in the year 1757 at Bedford Town in the County of Westchester.
That he has a record of his age; which record is in his Family Bible at his own house in the Town of Bedford
That he resided in the Town of Bedford in said County of Westchester, at the times he entered the service as aforesaid.
And since the Revolutionary War has lived and now lives in the said Town of Bedford in the County of Westchester aforesaid.
That at some of the periods for which he entered the service, he entered as a Volunteer, and at the other times, when called out as here in before stated, was called out by his officers.
That the names of the Regular Officers he now recollects who were with the troops where he served his Campaign on York Island, in 1776, are Col. Richmond, Col. Mc Dougall, General - Sterling

and the officers belonging to his company and Regiment herein before stated; That the remainder of his services was on the lines in the said County of Westchester as herein before stated, That there were sometimes a few regular Troops with the Militia on the lines - That he now recollects was Colo d Sheldon sum of his officers lieutenants were Col d King and Col d Richard Kent Holden in his command. That he did not at any time receive a written discharge: That he never received a Commission:
That he has no documentary evidence of his Service.
That the names of the persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution are John Hanson & Abraham Garrett the said John Hanson and Abraham Garrett living within his neighborhood
And 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.
affirmed & subscribed this 11 th of December 1832 in open Court before me
David Holmes
A. Bayles Clk of said Court

31752 Rev INVALID.
File No. 31752
David Holmes
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 19 th
[Arrangement of 1870.]

David Belmore
acm
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of David Holmes 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 can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes
10 - 1 - 11 - 10 - 10

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? no 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? no Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? no 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? no XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 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.

We Abraham Barrett & John Slawson residing in the Town of Bedford & Poundridge in the County of Westchester in the State of New York hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with David Holmes who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations; That we believe him to be seventy five 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 we concur in that opinion Abraham Barrett Sworn and subscribed John Slawson before me in open Court the 11 th day of December 1832 A. Dayles Clk of s d Court
And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinions 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 Court further Certifies that it appears to them that Abraham Barrett and John Slawson who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents of the said Town of Bedford, Poundridge and are creditable persons and that their Statements are entitled to credit.

I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Westchester State of New York do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Holmes for a pension In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 11 th day of December 1832
N Bayles Clk of said Court

State of New York County of Westchester on the 17 th Day Sept. 1882 before me one of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Westchester Personally appeared Moses Higgins aged 86 years of the Town of Bedford Being Duly Sworn Deposeth and Saith That he served in Capt John Thomsens Company William Woodard Lieutenant David Holmes Sergeant in said Company in the County and State aforesaid served as Corporal for three months together on the Lines in a bout the White Plains and cannot remember the time so as to identify but we served our time out to Gettysburg and was Discharged near the White Plains in said County in the year 1778 I believe in the fall part or near April
Subscribed & sworn this 17 day of Sept 1882. before me.
Moses Higgins
Isaac Robertson Justice of the Peace

State of New York Westchester County } ss. Town of Bedford }
Stephen Lounsbury a resident of the Town of Bedford, Westchester County and State of New York aged Seventy four Years being duly Sworn and on his oath says that he was well acquainted with David Holmes a resident of the Town of Bedford Westchester County during the Revolutionary War. That the said David Holmes on or about the first of February in the year 1779. then residing in the Town of Bedford, Volunteered into the company under the command of of Capt John Thomas in the Town of Bedford for the period of two Months and in the Regiment under the command of Col. Thomas Thomas and was called out under said Officers and served out said term of service. as herein stated; called out and ordered to North Castle at Wrights Mills, to guard the Continental Stores of Wheat and Forage, from thence marched to the White Plains and there Stationed a while as guards, from thence to East-Chester and there had a Skirmish with the Enemy, they retreated and left one killed. from thence marched to Wrights Mills in North Castle and at the expiration of the term of the said two months was there discharged, verbally and further this deponent saith not.
Subscribed and sworn the 20 th day of December before me.
Stephen Lounsbury
Isaac Robertson Justice of the peace.

State of New York Westchester County } ss. J. Iabaz Robertson
a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Westchester, residing in the Town of Bedford in the said County do hereby certify That James Raymond, Henry Charlick, Moses Higgins, Samuel Barrett and Stephen Lounsbury the deponents named in the affidavits herunto Annexed is of fair and reputable Characters and that full faith and credit are due to their Testimony Given under my hand this 24 th day of December 1832 Iabaz Robertson

Westchester County Town of Bedford
Samuel Barrett aged Seventy seven years and Moses Higginson aged Eighty six years both residents of the Town of Bedford in the County of Westchester being duly sworn and on their oath say that they were well acquainted with David Holmes a resident of the Town of Bedford in said County during the Revolutionary War. He enlisted in the Company of Militia in the Town of Bedford under Capt Heremiah Gray and Lieut Isaac Fitch as Sergeant for the term of four months and served said term of enlistment in Westchester County in the year 1777. and in the year 1779 he entered in the service under Capt Marcus Moseman as a Sergeant in the Company of Militia in Col. Thomas Thomas Regiment and served in Westchester County on the lines to guard the same till 1780. until he was taken prisoner and further than deponents saith not.
Samuel Barrett
Subscribed & sworn
Sept 24. 1832
before me.
This Moses X Higginson Mark
Isaac Robertson Justice of the peace

Westchester County Town of Bedford
James Raymond aged Seventy seven years & Henry Charlich aged seventy Eighty years
both residents of the Town of Bedford in the County of Westchester who being duly sworn and on their oath say that they were well acquainted with David Holmes a resident of the Town of Bedford in Westchester County, during the revolutionary war.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers.
On or about the month of May 1779 he entered into Capt Marcus Moseman's Company of Militia in the Town of Bedford, as a Serjeant. Lieut Gabriel Higgins and in the Regiment under Col. Thomas Thorne and was ordered into service in Westchester County in the vicinity of the Enemies lines and alternately kept guard and patrol to repel the Enemies — Excursion, untill November 1780, we being in the same Company and under the same comm- anders with the said David Holmes.
And on or about the Month of July 1779 the said David Holmes was at Croton River bridge when the four Horseman were taken from the Enemy and the said David Holmes was taken prisoner by the Enemy, and put into a barn and at Night made his escape and returned to Bedford and joined Capt Marcus Mosemans Company and served in the said Company untill November 1780 when he was taken prisoner under the Command of Lieut. Jane from Col. Sheldon's Regiment of

of horse, and carried to New York, and for these these deponents saith not —
Subscribed & sworn this 3 rd day of October 1832 before me
James Raymond his Henry X Charlick mark
Jabez Robertson Justice of the Peace
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of West- Chester, State of New York do certify that Jabez Robert- son Esquire before whom the foregoing depositions of Moses Higgins Samuel Barrett James Raymond and Henry Charlick were made was on the day when the same was so made a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Westchester duly elected and sworn & authorized by law to administer oaths &c and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice and believe the signature subscribed to be his
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 11 th day of December 1832
N Bayles Clerk of said Court

State of Connecticut County of Fairfield ss Probate Court District of Norwalk on the 30 day of July 1832 before said Court Personally appeared Elijah Dinger aged Seventy four years of said Norwalk being duly sworn in open Court doth depose and say that on the first day of April 1776 I was enlisted by Sergeant David Holmes of Bedford in the County of Westchester State of New York into Capt. David Hobby's Company Col. Rensselaer Regiment to which Company said Holmes then belonged for six months that we marched to the City of New York and was verbally discharged at Harlem Heights after serving said term of time.
That on the first day of January 1777 I enlisted as a Soldier and the said David Holmes as a Sergeant in the Town of Bedford aforesaid in Capt. Hicokick Gray Company Serf. Isaac Titus for four months and the said Holmes served his term of time out on the lines and was discharged at North Castle near the Mills.
That on the first of August 1777 I enlisted as a Soldier and the said David Holmes as a Sergeant into Capt. Richard Sackett Company Serf. Isaac Bennett in said Bedford Col. Ledington Regiment and served three months on the line and was discharged at Crompond in said Westchester County.
In the Spring of the year 1779. I believe in the month of April we entered into Capt. Marcus Morssman Company Serf. Gabriel Huggins said Holmes as a Sergeant and myself as a Soldier and served together in quarding and protecting the Inhabitants on the lines until the Middle of May next following over one year - and further saith not
Elijah his Dinger mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date Sworn to and subscribed to in open said Benj. Isaac Judge open Court Attest John Isaac Clerk

I certify that in my opinion Elisha Dyer is entitled to relief. July 30 th 1833
Albion Me
Asa Dyer
In the Matter of the ap- plication of David Holmes for a pension
Record of my