The New York herald., 1866-11-30
TINE LAST SURVIVING pENsIOSea or THE AMERICA,
REVOLUTION

II will he by the report OF the COMMITTEES on Pen
sons that Samuel Downing, Of Ednburg, Saratoga
county is tho only revolutionary pensioner living
visit recently paid him by Of correspond.
ents, and many interesting facts CLEANED from
the old that think them worthy Of being given
In the form Of . condensed sketch
Nr. Downing was born At Newburyport, Mass on
the 3oth Of November 1101, while tho sold French
In progress and consequently, Ia nearly ono hund.
rod and I've years old His father served In the French
and wounded, and from him the son inherited
the love Of military life which afterwards led him to
enter into the struggle for American Independence
Whom Samuel little boy playing In the streets Of
Ncwbuupors, he was approached day By stranger
named Thomas Aiken, from Antrim, New Hampshire.
who wanted 10 take tho lad homo with him To
assist In making spinning wheels and splitting
out spokes. Tho lad accompanied Aiken without
his parents knowledge. and when hs was missed
the most vgiiant search made for him, bus
without avail. About year afterward Aiken wrote
them telling them that their alive, bu, they
seemed then to have concluded that he might wei
back.
when the broke out young Downing, then about
sixteen years Old inspired with the idea OF
entering the service Hopkinton. eighteen miles from
his house, he heard shsm tell the place whore they
snIistng; thlthsr nne day he started with
only the clothes he wce and FEW coppcrs in his pocket
The recruiting ofcsr al nrst refused 20 enlist him be-
cause small but gave him letter to Colonel
Fined o. Charlcstown who accepted tho young recruit
Young Downing put into active scrycs. doing
his rst duty Of the escort OF train sent
from Exeter. New Hampshire. to Springfield. Massachu
se,ts Al this latter place young Downing remained with
a number Of comrades 10 barracks for time. and tnsn
proceeded across the country West Point Hud
49, ~
Hampshire. Colonel George Reed commanding From
this time during about thres yesr. or untn the final
disbsndrnsnt Of the army al Newburg Mr. Downing
In active and highly useful service. He continued
private soldier and have been troubled with
no ambition TO rise but faithful, poid prompt in
teiligent anf trus.y good soldier and an agreeable
com rads During thls time he 10 any pitched
battle but stationed or detachrd garrison duty
along the Hndson In the region of the lohawk river
and was very often oai on scouing eSped tons or MINOR
that time 80 troubesoms throughout all That portion OF
Mr. Downing vas discharged a. Yswburg with tho
rest OF the army n the year 1884 with the "nnal ste
ment," the evidences or pay remaining duo we're
he bought si1y acres of land ana shortly ffy acres
more from tory refugee Of the place, who had
away 70 Nova Scotia during tho var. bat back At
the peace. resumed his property and 20 have
ysd foraby among his nsghbors all the rest ~ his
life Having secured some land, Downing secured
himsef wife, rnmryne Miss Eunice George, who At
thai time sixteen years old she died the 9Th OF
April, 1881. hftsen years ago Aner clearing his two
farm, At Antrim and getting pretty well settled The so
New York state prevailed upon Mr. Downing TO dispose
OF his property Tor very small pert of IT, value and
county Ths occurred 10 1924, and. si removing NJ
Downing obtained from the clerk of the Presbytcrlan
church IN krtrm cerncsis showing thai BE- and hls
wife had been good members of sociey--had received
the ordinances Of baptism for their children 10 said
church and recommended 20 any church society
az perpons ~ good moral character
since ae date above mentioned Mr DorpIns has rvsd
upon his farm At Ednburs, hard working and ~
speotsd citizen. On bis hIndrsdth brthday con.
sa,bsred al he residence and o.lsbrsied the
ecea.ios BY hnng centennial sais,s o. one
mony of al performed BY Mr.. Downing himself
Who proved bis extrsordins'v vgor and strength BY
ward wnd chsrry ,res sboet halt a. iarg. There Al
Opoe sprang W keen cornpstiton for tho timber Of
thess trees fof the parpcss of masins them ihio me
meroes One man from ssraiogs Springs sared OF the
bsmiock stamp and carried Il boms, and The very are
with whch The wcrt vas done vas sold 90 The spot for
VIZ M bosninr on y nov nvins upon his Ycnbarr farm
with hs son, Jsms Downing, who're be riusd moro
thar seventy ysap ago. He hAs h.ays enjoyed good
erubsrant in ssnn never so~poss,, nslsnrsoly,
and not chndiM not0nai, ~ most old people ssse
niiy svs he n psr'seuy spand IN both boy ssd mind
and cav cuuvsrzs freely and ntsigently upon nmoss
Aay subject that nay b. irtrcducsd He sepersy helps
bmsf 70 sveytkisf be vsnh and ssidom reauirss The
~ s.ss: q ssn ,s ~s, ss 81 " a s u
sut hn issts There no special pecusriiy slrss
tns food vhch be sss ssesp, lhs hs hsvsr parakss a
butter Hs y 40 invsssrsss smoker, hath vhish BE-
NJ D.vsing h.s ssss n. s.,A. O ,s,r;sn es.isrss
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