Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S.13455, Abijah Holmes, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Holmes, Abijah
S. 13455
cardol
CONTENTS

27.796 New York Abijah Holmes of Bedford in the State of N. York who was a pri in the Compy commanded by Captain Delavan of the Regt commanded by Col. Drake in the N. York Militia for 13 mo-
Westchester
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of Jan. 1835 and sent to Hon. A. Ward.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 34 $157. 66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 21. 66 $173. 32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Geo. H. Brumf Clerk Book Vol. Page
Dead Paid at the Treasury under the Act of April 1838 from 4. Sep to 27. Dec 1841. Agt Notified 21. Oct 1844

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPROLLER'S OFFICE,
June 30 th 1843.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The child ren of Abijah Holmes, dec d a Pensioner on the Roll of the New York Agency, at the rate of forty three Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1841, to the 27 th Dec: 1841.  Bespectfully yours,
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

28.854
Application of Abijah Holmes for a Pension
Dear Sir I beg to submit the following affidavit
Mr Ward

State of New York Westchester County } ss.
On this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Westchester now sitting at Bedford in the said County of Westchester. Abijah Holmes of the Town of Bedford in the said County of Westchester aged seventy five years on the sixteenth day of July last 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 on or about the twentieth day of November That in the year of our Lord 1775 he this Declarant at Cross River in the said County of Westchester enlisted in Cap n Samuel Delavan
vir
XV Doyles att

Company of Militia. Called "Minute Men" as a Private for four months and faithfully served as a Private in said Company for the whole term of his said enlistment of four months, and was honorable discharged at Hornes Hook on York Island the last of March in the year 1776 - That this Declarant afterwards and about the middle of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six he this Declarant enlisted in Cap n John Thomass Company of Militia and served in said Company as a Private for the term of five months and a half - and was hon- -orably discharged about the first of December in the last mentioned year at Harverstraw in the County of Rockland (then Orange) in the State of New York. That this Declarant enlisted in the last mentioned Company at Bedford aforesaid

and said Company was attached to and under the Command of Genl Scott. and said Company was raised for the Brigade of the said Genl Scott. That this Declarant recollects - Col l Samuel Drake as one of the officers of said Brigade and Major Nicholas Fish acted as their Brigade Major. That in or about the month of June in the year of our Lord 1777. this Declarant enlisted at Bedford aforesaid as Serg t a Private Sergeant in a Company of Militia Com- -manded by Cap a Richard Sackett (called the minute service) and served in said last mentioned Com- -pany as a Sergeant - almost constantly till the close of the Revolutionary war That while this Declarant belonged to the said last mentioned Company & served therein as aforesaid said Company was in your valley and east
N. Bayles A.H.

was employed as a Guard on the Lines within the said County of Westchester and on parties against the enemy, below the lines till Peace. And this Declarant further states That he was born in the Town of Bedford aforesaid on the 16 th day of July 1757. as he has been informed by his parents and verily believes to be true. but he never had any Record of his age. That he lived in Bedford at the several times when he entered the service as aforesaid. and ever since he was born to this day (except when absent on duty as a Soldier during the Revolutionary war) That this Declarant was in actual service in the militia of the State of New York (as he has above set forth) in the whole more than three years. but he has not any Documentary

or written evidence of his enlistments services or Discharges aforesaid That he always entered the service as a Volunteer and never served as a substitute. That this Decla- rant cannot now recollect any other regular officers that he was acquainted with than those above stated. And this Declarant further states That in the fall of the last year she procured the affidavits of John Holmes of Patterson in the County of Putnam, and previously obtained the affidavit of Richard Miller late of the said Town of Bedford proving his services in the American Army during the Revolutionary war as he has above stated and set forth in his preceding Declaration. That the said John Holmes & Richard Miller were the only persons then living That could testify
in your valley and credit
N. Bayles A.M.

to his aforesaid services That the said Richard Miller is now deceased and the said John Holmes is very sick and unable to make any affidavit on the subject as this Declarant is informed & verily believes to be true. That last winter this Decla- -rant caused the aforesaid affidavits of said Holmes & Miller, (through Genl A. Ward the Member of Congress from this District) to be laid before the committee of Congress on Revolutionary Pensions. - which Committee on the 3 rd of January last reported favourably on this declarants application by Bill. a copy of which Report is hereto annexed as Received by him from Washington. That no Bill has passed allowing said Pension to him the is.

unable to state what has become of said affidavits. That he is known in his present neighbourhood to Aaron Redd and Benjamin Innes Esquires both of the Town of Bedford in the said County of Westchester, who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution and of his age. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or an- nuity Except the Present. and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed } his in open Court the } Abijah x Holmes day and year } mark aforesaid —
N o Bayler C lerk
in full view and credit N o Bayles C lerk

ABIJAH HOLMES.
————— JANUARY 3, 1832. —————
Mr. HUBBARD, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions to whom was referred the petition of Abijah Holmes, report:
That it appears from the affidavit and petition of the petitioner, that he served for nine months and a half under two different enlistments, in the service of the United States, in the years 1775 and 1776; that, under the first enlistment, he served in Captain Saml. Delavan's company for four months; and, under the 2d enlistment, he served in Capt. John Thomas's company, in Gen. Scott's brigade, for five and a half months: that after the expiration of said enlistments, he received his honorable discharge; and it also appeared that, in the year 1777, he enlisted in Capt. Richard Sacket's company, in the service called the minute service, and that he continued in said service to the close of the war; which facts are fully proved by the testimony of John Holmes and Richard Miller, soldiers of the revolution.
It also appears that the petitioner is 74 years of age, and that he is in indigent circumstances; and needs the assistance of his country for his support. The committee are of opinion that the petitioner is entitled to a pension, and therefore report a bill.

We Aaron Read and Benjamin Isaacs both Residing in the Town of Bedford in the County of Westchester and State of New York hereby certify That we are well acquainted with Abijah Holmes, who has sub- -scribed and sworn to the above Declaration, That we believe him to be seventy five years of age, That he is Reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and That we concur in that opinion, and we do further Certify That the said Abijah Holmes is a man of truth & veracity and his statements are in our opinion entitled to full
preceding faith and Credit Sworn & subscribed { in open Court { Benjamin Isaacs this 4 th of October 1832 {
Aaron Read,
N o Bayles Atty
to full faith and credit
N o Bayles Atty

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 Abijah Holmes was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states And the Court further Certifies That it appears to them That Benjamin Isaacs and Aaron Read who have signed the preceding Certificate are each of them Residents in the Town of Bedford in the County of Westchester, and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Westchester and 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 Abijah Holmes of the Town of Bedford in the said

County of Westchester for a Pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
N o Bayles
to full value and credit
N o Bayles Atty

State of New York Westchester County } Joseph Warren Tompkins of White Plains in the said County being duly sworn deposeth and on his oath saith, That he this Deponent at the request of the afore- -said Abijah (Holmes) Drico & prepared his preceding application for a Pension. That the same Declaration was made and presented to the said Court on the fourth day of October 1832  1832 & then taken by this Deponent to forward to the Secretary of War. That this Depo- -nent afterwards made application to Genl Aaron Ward the member of Congress from this District for the affidavits of John Holmes & Richard Miller named in the preceding Declaration of the said Abijah Holmes & on the 16 th day of October 1832  1832 he this Deponent received from the said Aaron Ward the annexed Petition & affidavits of the said John Holmes & Richard Miller, which at the time of making the preceding Declaration the said Abijah Holmes had not in his custody or possession, but were then supposed to be lost as stated in his said Declaration. And this Deponent further saith that immediately on receiving the annexed Petition & affidavits as aforesaid he caused them to be attached to the preceding Declaration of the said Abijah Holmes.
Sworn & subscribed this 7 th day of Dec r 1833 before me
J. W. Tompkins
N. Bayles Clk
I certify that J. W. Tompkins who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing affidavit is a credible person entitled to full belief and credit.
N. Bayles Clk

ABIJAH HOLMES.
JANUARY 3, 1832.
Mr. HUBBARD, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions to whom was referred the petition of Abijah Holmes, report:
That it appears from the affidavit and petition of the petitioner, that he served for nine months and a half under two different enlistments, in the service of the United States, in the years 1775 and 1776; that, under the first enlistment, he served in Captain Saml. Delavan's company for four months; and, under the 2d enlistment, he served in Capt. John Thomas's company, in Gen. Scott's brigade, for five and a half months: that after the expiration of said enlistments, he received his honorable discharge; and it also appeared that, in the year 1777, he enlisted in Capt. Richard Sacket's company, in the service called the minute service, and that he continued in said service to the close of the war; which facts are fully proved by the testimony of John Holmes and Richard Miller, soldiers of the revolution.
It also appears that the petitioner is 74 years of age, and that he is in indigent circumstances; and needs the assistance of his country for his support. The committee are of opinion that the petitioner is entitled to a pension, and therefore report a bill.

To the Congress of the United States in Senate and House of Representatives assembled.
The Petition of Abijah Holmes of the Town of Bedford in the County of Westchester and State of New York
Respectfully Represents
That your Petitioner is now seventy four years of age, that he enlisted in Captain Samuel Belaven's company in December 1775 for the period of four months. That during that period the petitioner was employed at at Fort M'Nashkook in erecting said fort. That he served out said term and received his honorable discharge, and your petitioner further sheatheth that in June 1776 he enlisted in Captain John Thomas company in Genl. Scott's Brigade for five and a half months & served out said enlistment and rec d his honorable discharge. And your Petitioner further sheatheth that he enlisted in June 1777 into the company commanded by Captain Richard Sackett in the service called the minute service and your petitioner continued in said service to the close of the war and that your petitioner in last mentioned service was then obliged to hold himself at all times ready for actual service and that the greater part of his time was spent in actual service.
Your petitioner further sheatheth that he is poor and in indigent circumstances & needs the assistance of his Country for his support and therefore prays that in consideration of his services in the war of the revolution his name may be inscribed upon the pension roll and your petitioner will ever pray &c
Abijah. his H. Holmes mark

Westchester County ss. Abijah Holmes being duly sworn on his oath saith that the facts set forth in the above Petition are true to the best of his knowledge, information and belief
Sworn to this 11 th day of Nov 1891
his Abijah J. Holmes mark
Charles G. Justice of the Peace

Putnam County, Pa. personally before me very learned John Holmes
B. Benedict a Commissioner came John Holmes of the town of Pawlings in the County of Dutchess and State of New York - who being sworn Saith that he has known Abijah Holmes of the town of Bedford from his early youth to the said Abijah to this day - That according to his best recollection said Abijah enlisted in the cause of the Independence of the United States of America in the company commanded by Captm. John Thomas in General Scotts Brigade for five and a half months and that the said Abijah perform- =ed the service of this his enlistment and that in June 1777 the said Abijah enlisted into the company commanded by Captm. Richard Sackett in the service called the minute service and that the said Abijah continued to perform the service of enlistment in said company during the remain- =ders of the revolutionary war - Also that the said Abijah hired Sergeant Baley and paid him the bounty to enlist in the regular service during the war also the sd John was informed of the sd Abijahs enlisting in the company commanded by Captm. Sam l . Delavan for four months 1775 and served at Horns Hook
The said John Further saith that at the times of the enlistments and services as aforesaid he was informed thereof and verily believes the aforesaid statement to be true - also that the abigah was in Capt n Flemings company at Wards house six weeks
John Hahn
Subscribed and sworn this 16 th day of August 1831 -
B. B. B. Benevolent. Commissioner to take proofs & acknowledgments, affidavits. &c.
was 1 - of December 1848. W. Bayley

State of New York } ss } I, Jonathan Morehouse Putnam County } ss } clerk of the said County of Putnam do hereby certify that B B Benedict whose name is subscribed to the Jurat of the within affidavit was on the day of the date of the said Jurat a Commissioner duly commissioned and sworn residing within the said County of Putnam, and fully authorized to take such affidavit, and that I am well acquainted with the hand- writing of the said Commissioner and do certify that the signature annexed to the Jurat of the within affidavit is his genuine signature In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal at Carmel in the said County of Putnam this 27 th day of April in the year 1833. In absence of J. Morehouse
Asaph Gilbert Deputy Clerk

State of New York
Westchester County ss. Personally before me Thomas Smith a Commissioner came Richard Miller of the Town of Bedford County and State aforesaid, who being duly sworn, saith that he has known Abijah Holmes of Bedford aforesaid from the early youth of said Abijah to this day. That according to his best recollection said Holmes enlisted in the cause of the independence of the United States of America in the company commanded by Capt Samuel De LaFay for four months, in the year 1775 and that said Holmes performed the service of said enlistment in aiding against the fortification at Hornsbrook, and other military service connected therewith. That said Holmes in June 1776 enlisted in the service of the country in the company commanded by Capt John Thomas, in Genl Scott's Brigade, for five and a half months. That said Holmes performed the service of his enlistment, and that in June 1777 the said Holmes enlisted into the company commanded by Capt Richard Sackett in the service called the minute service. That said Holmes continued to perform one year of enlistment as a sergeant in said company during the remainder of the revolutionary war.
The said Richard further saith, that he at the time of the enlistment and services as aforesaid he was informed thereof and verily believes the aforesaid statement to be true.
Richard Miller
Subscribed and sworn this twenty fourth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty before me Thomas Smith Commissioner
I Nathaniel Bayley Clerk of the County of Westchester do hereby certify that Thomas Smith before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn to and has subscribed the usual attests on the day of its date the day of a Commissioner of Deeds in and for the said County of Westchester duly commissioned and sworn in due form to take said affidavit, and that I am acquainted with the handwriting of said Commissioner and believe his signature to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand to official seal this 7th of December A D 1833
N. Bayley

I certify from information which I have derived from Worth's Laclewood inasmuch that John Walmsley & Richard Muller are credible witnesses. Dec 14 1833 A Ward M.C.
In Petition of Asaich Holmes of the town of Bedford in the county of Mt. Clarke N.Y.
Dec. 12 th 1831 Ref. to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions Jan. 3 rd 1832 Bill reported N o 193
Wards

Perkins
✓ 13.4.55 INVALID.
File No. 13.4.55
Abijah Holmes Briv. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 180
[Arrangement of 1870.]

43.33 3 130.00 21.66 151.66
New York
Rev. J.
Abijah Holmes
Suspended
Let to Hon A. Ward House Reps June 12. 1834. — admitted for 13 mo. but suspend d by order of 26 Nov. 34 & circu- lar sent to Hon. A. Ward 30 Nov. '34
Act 7 June '32

Dear Sir, I have the honor
Genl A. Ward Member of Congress. Washington City D.C.
Yours truly Abijah Holman

White Plains Dec 7 th 1834
Genl A. Ward
Sir,
On the 10 th of June last you wrote me the Enclosed Letter - by which it appears that Abijah Holmes an applicant for a pension under act of June 1832, was to be allowed by Mr Edwards for 13 months service. I have had several interviews with Abijah Holmes on the subject, but never could till lately get his authority to accept of 13 months pay allowed by Mr Edwards. Mr Holmes has at length authorised me to accept of this 13 months allowance in full of his claim for services during the Revolutionary (War) and I do hereby

-as attorney of the said Elijah Holmes accept of the same and authorize you to accept of the same for him.
I wish you would get the allowance as large as you can as Holmes. served most of the time as a sergeant is therefore entitled to something more than a private. Please get the Certificate & send me as soon as you can
Your Friend J. M. Campbell

Supplemental affidavit of Abijah Holmes explanatory of his Pension Declaration hereto annexed. Which declaration was made before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Westchester on the 4 th day of October A D 1832
State of New York } ss: Westchester County
Abijah Holmes of the Town of Bedford in the said County of Westchester being duly sworn doth on his oath depose and say that he is the identical person named in the annexed Pension Declaration under the act of 7 th June 1832 That in pursuance of direc- tions accompanying his annexed Pension Declaration and papers when returned from the Pension Office of the United States This Deponent makes the following affidavit explanatory of his said dec- laration. And first this Deponent saith That his Four months services as a Private in Captain Samuel DeSavan's Company of Militia into which this Deponent enlisted as such private on or about the 20 th day of November 1775 as set forth in his annexed Declaration were done and rendered by this Deponent regularly and constantly for his said enlistment of four months as a Private in said Company in actual military service under arms that according to this Deponent's recollection the aforesaid Company of Militia belonged within the beat of Colonel Samuel Drake's Regiment of Militia in the said County of Westchester but with three other Com- panies (while this Deponent served in said DeSavan's Company) appeared to receive their orders from Major Ebenezer Hanson That this Deponent's Five and an half months service as a private in Captain John Thomas's Company of Militia into which this Deponent

52 enlisted as such Private about the middle of June 1776 as set forth in his declaration here to annexed were done and rendered by this depo- nent constantly and regularly for his said enlist- ment of Five and an half months as a private in said last mentioned Company in actual Military service under arms. And this Depo- nent in explanation and further specification of that part of his Declaration hereto annexed which states "That on or about the month of June in the year of our Lord 1777 this Declarant enlisted at Bedford aforesaid as a Sergeant in a Company of Militia commanded by Captain Richard Sackett called the minute service and served in said last mentioned Company as a Ser- geant almost constantly till the close of the Revolutionary War that while this Declarant belonged to the said last mentioned Company and served therein as aforesaid said Company was employed as a Guard on the lines within the said County of Westchester and on parties against the enemy below the lines till peace" This Deponent on his oath states that the said last mentioned Company of Militia during all the time last aforesaid belonged to Colonel Thomas Thomas's Regiment of Militia in the said County of Westchester. And this Deponent's enlist- ments in said last mentioned Company were according to his present recollection indefinite as to length of time but this Deponent was bound to turn out and did turn out and do duty as a Sergeant in said Company under arms whenever required so to do by his Commanding Officers - That all of this Deponent's aforesaid services in said last mentioned Company were performed within the said County of Westchester and in every instance

the said County of Westchester and in every instance
by command of the officers of said Company That in consequence of the great length of time since said services were rendered in said last mentioned Company this Deponent cannot now particularize every time and occasion in which he served as aforesaid but recollects and states the following instances in which he this Deponent was in actual military service under arms as a Sergeant in said last mentioned Company viz: In June 1777 This Deponent with part of his Company by command of their Captain went down to the house of one Dayton in North Castle and took five Tories prisoners with a quantity of provisions which they were conveying to the enemy and delivered these Tories with the Provisions to their said Captain and the Tories were lodged in the Guardhouse then kept at Bedford in said County by said Sackett's Company who were the regular guard at that place. In July 1777 this Deponent with part of his Company by command of their Captain went down to North Castle to capture Captain Henry Ogden a British Officer But missed him because he had slept in the Woods that night. And this Deponent continued to perform like services as a Sergeant in said last mentioned Company till the month of November of said last mentioned year That this Deponent served as a Sergeant in said Sackett's Company from about the middle of June 1777 till the month of November in that year in actual military service under arms for the space of Four months That this Deponent continued to serve as a Sergeant in said last mentioned Company in actual military service under arms from the Month of April 1778 till sometime in July 1779 when the Village of Bedford aforesaid was attacked and burnt by the British

That during said last mentioned period of time he was in actual Military Service under arms on different occasions as a Sergeant in said last mentioned Company for the Space of nine months in the whole That the principal duty rendered by this Deponent from his entering the said Sackett's Company was as a Guard at Bedford in said County where their guard house was kept and in that vicinity and on parties against the enemy and taking and apprehending British refugees and Tories in their attempts to Rob and plunder the Whig inhabitants above and along the lines That this Declarant cannot specify all the occasions or times or the extent thereof when he was out in actual service but recollects That he was out under arms before and at the time Pound ridge in the said County was attacked and burnt by the British and for sometime afterwards And also when Bedford was burnt by the British a short time afterwards for the Space of Three months as a Sergeant in said Sackett's Company That the burning of Pound ridge and Bedford aforesaid took place as near as this Deponent can recollect in July 1779 That during the year 1778 This Deponent with his said Company were out under arms and marched to Crumpond in said County and from thence to Harrison's Purchase in said County where this Deponent was out under arms as a Sergeant in said Company for about three weeks That when Bedford was burnt as aforesaid the Guard house at that place was also burnt and not rebuilt And after that time this Deponent's services in his said Company were not as frequent as before and their situation less exposed to the attacks of the enemy And this Deponent is unable now to recollect or state any precise period of time that he served

in said last mentioned Company after the same suing of Bedford aforesaid Sworn and subscribed } Mrs this 27 th day of May } Abijah H Holmes AD 1834 (before me) } mark Ezra Lockwood One of the Judges of the Court of Com. Pleas in & for Westchester County
I, Ezra Lockwood one of the Judges of the Court of Com n Pleas of the said County of West- chester Do hereby Certify That Abijah Holmes who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding affi- davit before me is well known to me and is a credible person May 27 th 1834. Ezra Lockwood Judge
I, Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of West- chester State of New York. do hereby certify that Ezra Lockwood before whom the foregoing affidavit or declaration of Abijah Holmes was sworn to and whose name is subscribed to the Jurat thereto (or the above certificate) is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly com- missioned and sworn. and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Judge and believe the signatures subscribed aforesaid as his are genu- ine
In testimony whereof. I have hereunto af- fixed the Seal of said County and subscribed my name this 27 th day of May 1834. N. Bayles CLK