Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 21,885, James Graton, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Graton, James
N. 21. 885
CONTENTS

District of New York State of New York Washington County ss
On this Fourth Day of March 1824 before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington personally appears Russell Smith who being by me duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain a Pension for James Graton according to the provision made for Soldiers &c who had served in the Revolution by an Act of Congress passed March the 18 th 1818 entitled "an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval service of the United States in the revolutionary War" and of the Act amending the same passed May 1 st 1820. That he the said Russell Smith is one of the Overseers of the poor of the Town of Hartford in the County of Washington & State of New York and that as such he has the care direction protection & support of James Graton above-mentioned who is a Pauper and has no means of supporting himself and whom the said Town of Hartford is obliged by law to support and further that he the said Russell is well acquainted with the said James Graton & has been for fifteen Years or more & that he verily believes said James to be insane or incapable of taking an Oath or of transacting ordinary business and that he has been so for about five Years last past & that he has known said James Graton for about fifteen Years as aforesaid and has often heard within that time that said Graton had served in the revolution as a Soldier & that he verily

believes said Graton did serve as aforesaid in the service of the United States as a well from general report as from a discharge purporting to have been given to said Graton and one John Hill and which he has been informed was found among the papers of said Graton & has been in the possession of him the said Russell Smith and which Discharge is in the words and figures following to wit,
"Fishkill Feby. the 27 th 1779."
"This Certifies that James Graton & John Hill "has cut and split Nine hundred & half of Rails "and two hundred & half of Posts which was a "Steam Mr Young gave them to compleat "their nine Months service
"To Col n Hay of sd Rails Reuben Lamb Inspector
"The above two men in consequence of the "above worke are by General M c Dougals "order discharged and that liberty to go to "their respective homes.
Adney Hay D. L. M. C.
And that said discharge was given at Fishkill as he verily believes from that being the place at which it purports to be made & further that he the said Russell does not know how old said James Graton is nor in whose Company or Regiment he served but should think him to be between Seventy & Seventy five years of age and further that

said James Graton is in reduced circumstances and needs the assistance of his Country for support. and that he does not know of any other Evidence being in his power to obtain of the services of said James Graton except by general reports. & further that said James Graton has a wife living who is also obliged to be supported by the Town of Hartford aforesaid. Rufus Smith
Sworn & declared before me the Day and Year above mentioned John P. Baker
Brought up in the same town with James and lived in the same town that the father of said James & also the said James himself when at home lived in during the Revolution. That said James went from home in 1775 and was said to be gone on an Eight Months tour, and in the course of the Revolution has often been told both by said James and others that he was in the Battle of Bunker-Hill in which battle he the said Caleb had a Brother who was wounded & further that he believes said James was gone about Eight Months & was informed he was in Captain Seth Washburn's Company & in Col. Larned's Regiment. and that he afterwards went again & was gone about five Months & was then also said to be in the Army under

Captain Loring Lincoln and was also said to have been in the Battle of White Plains in which he the said Caleb had a brother killed. and that afterwards said Gratton was gone again for about Nine Months & was said to be in the Continental Army service at the time but he does not know who Commanded the Company or Regiment in which said Gratton served on that day but verily believes he did serve in the said service at said time & further that said Gratton as well as others informed him after their return from the army that the soldiers burnt the fences of the inhabitants at the place near where they were encamped & when their business the Campaign was over they were set to splitting Rails & Posts when they had no other employment. & further that he the said Caleb has seen the Discharge which is set forth in the declaration under oath made by Russell Smith — and verily believing that the said work was done as stated in said discharge in performance of the duty of the said James as a Soldier & on account of the fences being destroyed as aforesaid. And further that said James Gratton is about Seventy Two Years old as he verily believes

said James K further that and that said James Graton is income and incapable of taking an Oath or of transac- ting ordinary business and has been so for about five years & further that said James is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the Assistance of his Country for support. And that he does not know of any other evidence to be obtained of the services of said James Graton (except by general # common enemy

report & further that said James Gratton resides in the County of Washington & State of New York and did reside in said County on the 18 th Day of March 1818.
Caleb Brown
Sworn to & declared before me the Day & Year aforesaid.
John Walker

I John Baker. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington in the State of New York as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satis- faction that the said James Graton did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declarations against the Common Enemy for the term of nine months at one time on the Continental establishment and that he is in reduced circumstances & needs the assistance of his Country for support. & I now do certify the proceedings & testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary of the Department of War pursuant to the aforementioned Acts of Congress.
John Baker
State of New York Washington County ss I certify that John Baker Esquire whose signature is subscribed & affixed to the foregoing certificate declarations under oath was

on the Fourth Day of March 1834 One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington in the State of New York.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the said Court this Fourth Day of March 1834.
M. D. DAWSON Clerk

A Schedule of the whole estate and income of James Graton an Applicant for a Pension pursuant to the Acts of Congress passed March 18 th 1818 and May 1 st 1820. who is a resident of the County of Washington made by me the subscriber one of the overseers of the poor of the Town of Hartford in the County of Washington authorized by law to take the care of support & protect James Graton who is a pauper and has no means of supporting himself and whom the said Town of Hartford is by law obliged to support.
The said James Graton has not nor has any other person in trust for him to the knowledge of the subscriber any property or securities contracts or debts due to him nor has he any income other than what is contained in the following Schedule and by me Subscribed Viz:
Real Estate none either in Law or Equity in possession reversion remainder or expectancy.
Personal Estate none excepting his necessary wearing apparel & bedding and Two Trunks worth $1.50 One Bellows worth 0.25 One Teakettle worth 0.50

One Acre worth _____ 0 00 50 If one Wood-Plat worth _____ 1 00 00 being Three Dollars & Seventy five Cents in all. Given under my hand this Fourth Day of March 1824.
Rupel Smith.
I Matthew D. Dawsons Clerk of the Court of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington in the State of New York having the power of office & disbursement being a Court of Records, do certify that a Schedule of which the preceding is a true copy has been duly admitted to the record of said Court. And I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is Three Dollars and Seventy five Cents.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court this Fourth Day of March 1824.
M. D. Dawsons

In the Matter of James Graton an Applicant for a Pension Discharge from the service in 1779.
Graton, James Mass R2/1885

Grafton, June 2 1844 No. 21885
Highhill Feb 27 1879
This Certifies that James Graham & John Bell has cut and split Nine hundred & half of rails and Two hundred & half of posts which was a part of young gave them to complete their nine months Service To Col. May
The above two men in the course of the Rails in consequence of the above Ruben Lunt Inspector was the cause of several accidents and danger and at liberty to go to their respective homes Along with D. A. M. S.

Rev
No. 21.885
Ex'r.
RECORDED
OLD WAR INVALID.
James Graton of NY P.O. Pri Col Larned Mass
Service :
Enlisted : _____ , 18
Discharged : _____ , 18
Application filed : _____ , 18
Alleges : _____
Re-enlisted : _____
Attorney : _____
P. O. _____