Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,230, John Guy, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Guy, John
S 13230
• Carded.
CONTENTS

149 1952 New York.
John Gray of Washington Co in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Sherwood of a _____ commanded by _____ in the N.Y. mtn line for Lymns.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued on _____ day of May 1832 and sent to _____ Henry Hunttelle J. Lesh CC
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $160.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept. _____ 40.00
$200.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book _____ Vol. _____ Page 20

State of New York Washington County ss
On this twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, person- ally appeared in open court before John Willard first judge, Charles Esgale John Moss & Benjamin T. Skinner
Holding the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in the town of Cobleskill in the County of Washington aforesaid; John Gily a resident of the town of Hillsdale in the said County of Washing- ton and State of New York 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 benefit of the act of Compromise passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States and served as herein stated, under the following named Officers.
That in April or May 1779 at the town of Easton in the then County of Northampton (now) Washington in the State of New York he enlisted under Captain Adiel Sherwood in what was denominated the New York Levies raised to reinforce the Armies of the United States, and particularly for the defense of the northern frontier. Ezekiel Roberts and Cornelius Baldwin were Lieutenants in the same company under Captain Sherwood. His term of enlistment was one  six months. Captain Sherwood and his company were ordered to garrison an out post at Fort Ann where the said Adiel Sherwood was the commanding Officer, and he has no fur- ther knowledge of his superior Officers or to what regiment he was attached. That on

his enlistment aforesaid, he forthwith repaired to his post at Fort Ann aforesaid, where he was immediately appointed a sergeant and was employed principally in scouting until October then following, when on the 10 th day of October aforesaid he was taken prisoner with his said Officers and the entire garrison by a detach d unit of British Tories and Indians under the command of Major Carlton. That the then Major Captain Sherman capitulated, and that by the terms of capitulation, they were to be conveyed to Litchfield by British soldiers. That they were conducted through the wilderness to Litchfield, where, contrary to the articles of capitulation they were given up to the Indians and by them conducted to Montreal and sold to Col. Campbell for a half joe a head. That their sufferings at Litchfield and through the whole route, from hunger, thirst and fatigue were intense and all that human nature could endure. At Montreal, he and his companions were forthwith imprisoned in a large stone building with iron gratings, where they were confined for fourteen months. There they endured the extremes of hunger, cold and nakedness, to which was now superadded the disease of the scurvy. That himself and many other fellow prisoners were transferred thence into the hold of a vessel and conveyed sixty miles down the river to the general hospital where in six weeks, with kind treatment and good medical attendance, they were restored to health, and then conducted to their former prison. That shortly after he and many others were transported about fifty miles up the river to an

Island and placed under a strong guard, whose treatment of the prisoners was cruel and barbarous. That he remained on the Island till the close of the war, when he was taken back with the other prisoners to Mount - seal, and put on board a vessel bound to Quebec. That, after a delay of twenty days and late in the season, they were ordered to sail for Boston, where, after encountering a violent storm of sleet and snow in the gulf of St. Lawrence, and narrowly escaping shipwreck, they arrived late in the month of December, in the year 1781. He was then 200 miles from home, ragged and pennyless, but through the charity of his fellow citizens he was enabled to reach it and he returned again to his father's house in Easton after an absence of two years and eight months. He remained with his father at Easton after that about two years more, and then removed to the town of Kingsbury after said, where he has resided ever since, and continues unto this day. That he was born in the town of Smithfield in the State of Rhode Island on the twelfth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five. That for his feet he depends upon the tradition of his parents and subsequent - ly upon his own memory which he believes true and correct, and that he has no record of his age. That for his character for veracity, and his reputation for having rendered services as a soldier of the Revolution, he refers to the Honorable Nathaniel Pitcher Member of Congress from the county of Washington after said, and to Henry L. Martindale Esq. of the village of Shelbyville in said county.

That he has no documentary evidence of his service, and such other testimony as he can procure is annexed to this declaration
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 enemy of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid J. S. Leigh CCR
John Guy
State of New York Washington County ss. We Nathaniel Pitcher and Henry M c Martindale residing in the Village of Sandy Hill in the said County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Guy who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be twenty seven years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we are in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed in our presence the day and year aforesaid Henry M c Martindale J. S. Leigh CCR

State of New York Washington County } ss. Robert Hopkins of The Town of Fort Ann in the County of Wash- -ington, being first duly sworn according to law, on his oath both certify that he is well acquainted with John Guy the applicant for a pension, in the an- -nexed declaration named, and has been so acquainted since the year 1779 That he has heard the annexed declaration of the said John Guy read, and knows the truth of the service and imprisonment as therein stated from about the middle of July 1779, when he entered the same service under the same Officers, was captured with the said John Guy and imprisoned with him in Canada as is therein stated, and until the last of September 1781 when he, the said Robert Hop- -kins was discharged on his parole and permitted to return home to the Town of Salem in the (then) County of Albany (now) Washington where he abided when he enlisted.
Subscribed and sworn This 28 th day of August 1832 in open court J. S. Leigh CCR
J. D. H. & R. O. B. N. L.

I testify that I am personally acquainted with Robert Hopkins whose name is subscri- bed to the within Affidavit, and know that he is held and reputed in the community where he lives, to be a man of truth and honesty, and unblemished reputation.
Dec 17 th 1833 Henry B. Martinvale
Minister of Gospel from the State of New York

And the said Court do hereby certify & 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 Court further certifies that it appears to them that Nathaniel Pitcher and Henry L. Martindale who have signed the preceding certificate reside in the village of Sandy Hill in this county, and are credible persons and that this statement is entitled to credit.
I, Jesse S. Leigh, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Guy for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28 th day of August A.D. 1832.
J. S. Leigh C.P.
I have been well acquainted with John Guy, the above applicant for a pension, from early childhood. He is an honest and respectable citizen, and I have the most perfect confidence in the truth of his statements as now detailed. I have often heard the story of his services

sufferings and imprisonment, not only as related by him, but by the officers of the Company who were taken prisoners with him - Capt. Abel Sherwood, who commanded at Fort Ann, when that Fortress was surrendered to Col. Carlton, was my relative, and for forty years was my intimate acquaintance, from him I have often had the acct of that surrender and the imprisonment and suffering which followed - and have heard him speak of Mr. Gay as one of the brave men who suffered with him - Capt. Sherwood was a Division at the time of his decease - I am sending my card at Sandy Hill N.Y. Sept. 12. 1832
Nathl. Pitches M.C.

12. 949
John Gay Washington C. N. York
admitted.
2 1/2 mos Private.
Admitted
Sergeant 2 years
Trifurcation, if any any , to be deducted
Henry Martindale

BRIEF in the case of John Guy  of Washington  in the State of New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court  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.     may In 1779 Enlisted for 6 — Sergeant Col. Schuyler  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Washington New York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Papers not attested as reg d 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
X taken prisoner detained for one year & eight months
Nicholas Court Examining Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., Nov. 5, 1920
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Suy a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 813230.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr or May 1779 Sgt. Adiel Sherwood ✓ NY   * He was taken prisoner until Dec. 1781, when Ft. Anne surrendered + held in captivity  
Battles engaged in, None stated - Residence of soldier at enlistment, Easton, Albany (Later Washington Co. NY) Date of application for pension, May 28, 1832. Cl. age - Residence at date of application, Kingsbury, Washington Co. NY Age at date of application, b. Smithfield R.I. May 12, 1755
Remarks: There is no fam. data
* date of imprisonment omitted, as case of Adiel Sherwood gives Oct. 1780.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Guy
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible but appears to be a formal letter.]

Recd. #
14 Mechanic St.
Hudson Falls, N. Y.
Sept. 27, 1920.
U. S. Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Will you kindly find out for me if John Guy, of the Town of Kingsbury, County of Washington State of New York was a pensioner of the Continental Army?
Very Truly yours, (Miss) Mary C. Guy.

1920, Nov. 5 Hist. Soc. Miss May C. Guy. Ev.
Rev. Rev.
✓ 13.230 INVALID.
File No. 13.230
John G. Sergt. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1, Page 157
[Arrangement of 1870.]

14502
24729
New York
John Guy
of Washington in the State of New York who was a Sergeant in the Comp y commanded by Captain Harwood of the Reg t . commanded by Col. — in the New York line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 120 Dollars (11) Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Feb 1833 and to H. C. Martin Esq. M c . House of Rep s !
Arrears to the 4th of Sep r 33 $ 300 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 M c 34 60 $360
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Geo. C. Stiles
Clerk
Recorded by Book E. Vol. 4. Page 102
Lot. 9 Fleming 7 April
1834; do. to same 30 May, 1834 — do. same Sept. 27, 1834 — do. to same Sept. 30. 1834 — do. to same 9 Oct. 1834 — do. to H. Northrup March 28 1835 — do. Alb. C t — same — do. to Hon. H. C. Marlin Sept. 11. 1835
240 60 300

W. Martindale
L. Edwards Esq.
Land of Russian
Russian Office
Washington D.C.
Mr. Hockmuth
any

A of N - Dec 17 th 1873
Dear Sir I have it in my power to obviate the objection to the claim of John Guy for an increase of Pension (viz) the credibility of Robert Hop-kins - I herewith return the Papers with my Certificate accompanied at new and enlarged Certificate I hope will be returned to your Hon ble Court
A. L. Murchison
J. L. Edmonds Esq
House of Pensions

Apr. 11
Mr. G. G. Church
FCDB
J. Edwards Esq. Comm r of Pensions Washington D.C.
See No.
74

Sandy Hill April 6 th 1835
W m L is ,
Henry B Northrup Esq r , who is my neighbor and friend has requested me to answer your letter of the 28 th ult. explaining the reason for the detention of John Gage's pension, and to enclose you the within Rec d of the Pension Agent, as evidence that the $20, was voluntarily paid to his brother (his agent in the business) by the said Pension Agent, and as he assures me by the express permission and direction of the Pension board or some clerk in the Department. The Money was voluntarily paid to Mr Northrup as no more than an adequate and reasonable compensation for his trouble and expenses in restoring the $200, overpaid, and in correcting a mistake of the Agent or the Department. It is now therefore submitted to you, on a review of the case, and a recapitulation of the above facts, whether Mr Gage's Pension ought to be detained for this cause - or whether Mr Northrup should refund the money. Yours

voluntarily paid him. He is fully impressed that the recollection of these facts has escaped the Department, and that it is only neces- sary to remind it of them to produce a countermand of the order of detention. He will, of course, comply with your ultimate decision, but will be obliged to request the disgorgement of the money for redeeming the compensation voluntarily paid him.
With your decision be good enough to return the enclosed Rec't to
Yours Resp't & very Affly Servt
Henry C. Martindale
J. P. Edwards Esq.
James Carrico

Mechanics Bank
New York Sept 25 1834
Sir
I enclose for your examination the Papers in the case of Adam Jenks, who has recently removed to the State of Ohio.
The Voucher for the payment made to John Guy of $360. belongs to the returns & Accounts for the 2 o q r of this year, and as your directions, with regard to the $180 refunded may require that the Voucher should not be charged for the whole amount paid, the transmission of the returns may be delayed, until after the 1 st pro o . but will be held in readiness to forward so soon as your decision is received.
I am Very respectfully, Sir Your asst.
M c William Read-opsn ag t
James L Edwards Esq r Commiss r of Pensions.

Mechanics Bank
New York Sept 20 1834
Sir
I enclose for your examination the Papers in the cases of Moses Dimick and Moses Parr, both residing out of the State of New York.
Referring to my Letter of the 28 th of May last advising you of an overpayment made to John Guy and to your Letter of the 30 th of the same month in reply agreeing to allow Twenty Dollars to Mr Northrup for procuring the return of the money, I have now to state that the business has been arranged and I will thank you to instruct me as to the disposition to be made of the One Hundred & Eighty Dollars remaining in my hands.
I am Very respectfully, Sir
Your obedt Servt J. Fleming President
Anna L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions.

Copy
War Department
Pension Office
April 7. 1834
Sir
The papers in the cases of Elijah Dean and William Barrett are herewith returned. The authentication of power of attorney by a Prorogate, is contrary to the regulations respecting vouchers for the payment of pensions.
Norman Clarkes papers are also returned herewith. You can pay the amount due on filing the proper vouchers.
You can likewise pay Peter Emerys pension. The papers in this case are enclosed.
Be pleased to inscribe on your roll the name of John Guy. a Sergeant, at the rate of $120. pr Annun.
I am Respectfully Yr Obt Servt
John Fleming Esq Presd Mechanics Bank Pension Agent New York
J. L. Edwards

John Quincy
(Prison Department)
John L. Edwards Commissioner of Prisons J C
NY Mar 23

Sandy Hill Washington Co. New York March 16 1835
Dear Sir
Application was last week made at the Pension Office in Albany for the pension money due John Guy a pensioner residing in Kingsbury & County aforesaid.
The agent informed Mr Guy's Attorney that Guy's pension had been suspended by the Department for reasons unknown to him.
Mr Guy has drawn the pay of a Sergeant up to the 4 th day of September last & why his pension had been suspended I am unable to conjecture - I am requested to write you & ascertain from the department the reason why Mr Guy's pension has been suspended - An immediate answer is earnestly solicited by Yours Respectfully Henry B. Northrup P.S. Edwards Com. of Pensions

James L Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Customs Washington.

Mechanics Bank New York May 28 1834
Yo
An Err has occurred in the case of John Guy who was placed on the Roll of the former agent & paid by him up to the 4 th of Septem r 1833 at 80 Doll s pr ann u ; In your Letter to me dated April 7 th 1834 I am directed to inscribe on the Roll of this agency, the name of John Guy at the rate of $120 pr ann u which was done & the payment made to the 4 th of March last being $360.
A Mr Northrup of Sandy Hill has just called to give information that Guy had been overpaid $200 being the amount received by him at the former rate of $80 which you omitted in your Letter of the 7 th of April to direct me to deduct. Mr Northrup states that he has been at great pains to prevent the money from going into the hands of the Pensioner's son, where it would be unsafe & lost to the Govt, he undertakes to secure the return of the money for a reasonable compensation for his services, he says 20 Dollars, please state whether on his returning the money this remuneration may be allowed him.
I am respectfully
J. N. H. S r Fleming Presd s
James L Edw ds Esq r Comm r of Pensions

Mechanic's Bank
New York Oct. 6 1834.
Sir
Your Letter of the 30 th Ult o relating to the case of John Gury, is received and I have to inform you, that your directions to deduct 20 Dollars from the next payment to the Pensioner, cannot now be complied with, as he has been paid up to the 4 th of Sept r last, and his pension will hereafter be payable in Albany — It is to be regretted that in your Letter of the 30 th of May last, in which you assented to the payment of Mr. Northrup's charge, you omitted to state that the amount must be deducted from the next payment falling due to the Pensioner on the 4 th of Sept r then approaching; such direction given before the payment became due, would have been available, but being delayed for a month afterwards , could not reasonably be expected to be so — at all events this Agency is certainly not to suffer by omissions which take place in Dept s beyond my control.
In discharging thus far the intricate duties of the Agency I have been guided by a desire to observe the most rigid compliance with all your directions and I had hoped by pursuing this course to give satisfaction to the supervising Dept s , If I have succeeded it will be a source of gratification, if not, I shall at least have the satisfaction of reflecting that no exertion on my part has been spared, and if omissions or errors have occurred which of right are chargeable on this Bank as an agent, I shall certainly make no effort to shift the loss elsewhere, but at the same time I object to assume

losses arising from Errors committed in other quarters.
The whole tenor of your Letter to which I now reply is creative of surprise, and particularly the assertion that the error in this case arose from the phraseology of my Letter of the 5 th of April — I must be permitted to say that this argument is in my opinion wholly erroneous and cannot be sustained — The payment of the money to Guy was not the error but the consequence of it, and it is manifest that the error itself took place on the 13 th of February last when the second Certificate was issued to the Pensioner without notice to this Agency — It is therefore altogether impossible that an error taking place in February could have been caused by the phraseology of a Letter written nearly two months afterwards.
I beg leave further to say with regard to the phraseology of my Letter to which you have adverted, that it was precisely such as the occasion required and was in every respect strictly correct — what were the circumstances?
John Guy presents himself at the Bank and claims payment in virtue of a pension Certificate issued from the War Dept on the 13 of February 1834. setting forth that as a Sergeant of the Pervy Army he is entitled to receive $120 per annum — On turning to the Roll of Pensions granted since the establishment of this Agency, where the name, according to the date of the Certificate should appear, it is found that John Guy's name is not there and that no report for such Certificate has been made to the agency — It therefore becomes necessary that you should be informed of the fact, and a Letter is accordingly written for the purpose — What is there in this let me ask to justify the charge that I have led the Dept into an error? — Would not the natural & obvious

effect of my Letter at the Dept, be an examination to ascertain whether or not the Certificate described had been issued? and surely it will not be denied that an examination is always more likely to lead to the discovery of an existing Error (whether it be of omission or otherwise) than to cause one.
As no opportunity can occur, to deduct the amount in question, from the Pension at this Agency, the proper course appears to be to charge the Voucher for the whole amount paid, with a statement of the case as suggested in your Letter, and the Pension account will stand credited for $180 deposited by Mr. Northrup; The entries will thus exhibit the transaction precisely as it occurred, and under all the circumstances I feel assured that you will approve of this course.
I am Very respectfully
Yours Your Servt.
J. Fleming Presd t of Pensions
James L Edwards Esq d Correspondence of Pensions.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, John Gray of the State of New York who was a Private in the war of the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty dollars and 00 cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 6 day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty- Three
John B. Babb Secretary of War.
Examined and } Countersigned. }
In P. 1. 2