David Perry Revolutionary War Pension Application
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Location: Lincklaen, Chenango, New York, United States
Surname/tag: Perry
Transcriptions of PORTIONS of David Perry's pension file:
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Application 9 October 1832
State of New York County of Chenango
On this 9th day of October AD 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas of said county now sitting Present John Tracy, Nathan Taylor, Levi Bigelow, Hezekiah Reed, Charles York Judges
David Perry a resident of the town of Lincklaen in the county of Chenango and the state of New York age seventy three years and upwards 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, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
About the first of April 1780 at New Concord Columbia County New York enlisted into what was called nine months men (thinks they were hired by the state0 for nine [eight - written above] months into a company commanded by Lothrop Allen Captain of New Briton as then called but now called Chatham Columbia County – does not recollect the name of the Lieutenant – knows not who was Colonel but supposes that one Harper was Colonel as it was said he was Colonel of the Northern department at that time – Supposes Ten Broeck was commandant of the Brigade as his company received marching orders from him at Albany – received by his father at the time of enlistment thirty two pounds – he was hired by a class – so the towns were divided into classes and every class had to hire a man and this pay was received from the class for which he was hired – passed muster in about a week at Albany remained at Albany a day or two and then marched with is company up the Mohawk River to Fort Herkimer – remained there about a week and then went to Fort [end of first page]
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Dayton and were there stationed remained at Fort Dayton three or four weeks and was then sent with Sergeant Camp and sixteen men to a place called Little Germantown about six miles up the river from Fort Dayton where there was a small blockhouse – about a week or ten days after we were stationed at Germantown had a slight skirmish with the Indians between Fort Dayton and Germantown he had went with some of the men to guard the wagons to mill at Little Falls and on the return had this skirmish which lasted between a half hour and a hour a few days after this had another skirmish with the Indians and Tories at Germantown – they attacked the village of little Germantown and cut off most of the inhabitants this skirmish commenced about nine o'clock in the morning and after they cut off the inhabitants the Indians remained about the blockhouse until about twelve o'clock after this skirmish remained at little Germantown four or five days and then went back to Fort Dayton and remained there until about the first of July – when this deponent enlisted into Captain Norton who was recruiting until the fifteenth day of December as the time at which he enlisted into the former company would expire on the first of December – this deponent had liberty as he understood to enlist into any other company if he would enlist for a longer time than he would be obliged to serve under his former enlistment – received a certificate for ten bushels of wheat [received after he was discharged – written above] which he was to be paid after he was discharged – next day after he enlisted to Captain Norton went to Albany and remained there one day and then went down the river in a sloop to West Point and stayed there one night and then went down to a place called Kings Ferry he thinks and then went to a place about ten miles west of this to a place called Stein [Raffle/Rassle/Rapple ?] and there joined his regiment and was put into a company commanded by one Titus Captain one Dodge Lieutenant. The regiment [End of 2nd page]
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was under the command of Frederick Wisenfelt Colonel thinks one Davis was Major one Talmadge Adjutant. The Commandant of the Brigade was General Clinton – remained at Stein [R?] four or five weeks and then marched down with the regiment to a place called Van Horn's Mills which he thinks was in the state of New Jersey and remained there about a week and then went to Fort Washington or Fort Lee but does not know which as he remained but two nights but it was the upper fort – then went back to Van Horn's Mills and there remained from one to two weeks and then went back to Stein [R?] and was there at the time of the execution of Major Andre who was hung at a place called Orangetown a place about two miles from Stein [R?] after his execution in about a week marched up with his regiment to West Point and remained building redouts and performing fatigue duty and on guard to until about the first of November and then went up with the regiment in sloops to Albany and remained there three or four days and then marched with the regiment to Schenectady and there remained about one day and then marched up the Mohawk River to Fort Stanwix (now Rome) remained there about three days – then all those who enlisted on the Mohawk River were taken by Captain Norton to Albany and were discharged by General Ten Broeck who gave a written discharge – was in no skirmish or battle during this service except those mentioned. Sergeant Camp Lyman Jackson and private Ichabod Smith and Stpehen Burgess Ezek Aylesworth one Hubbard were in the same company commanded by Captain Allen and served with him one Williams Sergeant and one Glover Sergeant and one Cook Barber one Penney one Trap one Shaw privates were in the company commanded by Captain Titus and served with him.[End of 3rd page]
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About the first of April 1781 enlisted again at New Concord for nine months into a company commanded by Captain Fundy – thinks the Lieutenant name was Grant the regiment was under the command of Charles Mc [?] Colonel the names of the other regimental officers does not recollect - Supposed as it has so said that General Ten Broeck was commandant of the brigade – was hired by a class met at Albany the company or rather at a place called the Oak tree about fives miles from Albany then marched into Albany and received there orders and there remained overnight and then marched with his company to Saratoga and then remained there until the 10th of June and then enlisted for three years [crossed out words] new regiment was then raising and each man remained in his former company enlisted to a Lieutenant Richardson who was a recruiting officer remained at Saratoga in his former company until sometime in the fall and then the recruits of which he was one were taken by Lieutenant Richardson to Ballston and there remained through the winter sometime in April he thinks he was marched with the rest of recruits by Richards up the Mohawk River to Canajoharie and there remained joined the regiment and this deponent was put into a company commanded by Pierce Captain First Lieutenant one Richardson second Lieutenant one Trimper The regiment was under the command of Marcus Willet Colonel Pliny More Adjutant the names of other regimental officers does not recollect knows not who was general but was reviewed once [End of 4th page]
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by Lord Stirling and was never reviewed by any other general – remained at Canajoharie through summer building a block house and barracks remained there until some time in February as he thinks but does not recollect the precise time went down the river to Duanesbourgh Currys bush and the adjacent parts and raised between twenty and thirty teams and then marched with the teams up the river to Fort Herkimer and were there joined by a Rhode Island regiment mostly formed of blacks remained at Fort Herkimer two or three days and then marched to Fort Stanwix accompanied by the Rhode Island Regiment and there remained only one night then marched for Fort Oswego a British Fort under the personal command of Colonel Willet for the purpose of taking the Fort but the expedition failed went within about three miles of the fort as it was said but does not know as he did not see the fort but they were led wrong by the guide and at day break they retreated back to Fort Herkimer – on this expedition froze both his feet which he has not yet recovered wholly from remained at Fort Herkimer two or three weeks and then went to Fort Plain and there remained in the hospital on account of his feet and there remained in the hospital until some time in June 1783 and then being so recovered as able to duty and then remained there until fall and then marched down to Schenectady and there remained about two weeks and then marched to Albany and remained until the 5th day of January 1784 and on the next day went to Schenectady and there on that day was discharged by the captain who gave a written discharge which he has lost and then also received a certificate for 500 acres of land on the Chazie River [End of 5th page]
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gave 100 acres to Pliny more to locate it and sold the other 400 to James Rice of Albany – was engaged in no battle or skirmish during this time. One Hamilton, one Lewis, one Hollister, one Deforrest Sergeants, One Hopkins, One De Goley One De[?]ent, Corporals. Rufus Shepherd, David Campbell, James Campbell, Archibald Campbell, As Corkings, John Lansing, Evert Lansing, Elijah Griswold and Isiah Burnham Privates served in the same company with him and were discharged with him at [Large blank space]
And he further states that he has no documentary evidence of his services and knows of no persons whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except Rufus Shepherd of Sherburne County of Chenango and Asa Corkings of New Berlin County Chenango whose affidavits are hereunto affixed.
In answer to the interrogations required to be put by the war department of applicants for pensions as follows viz.
1st Was born in New Concord, Columbia County in the year 1759 the 8th day of August.
2nd Has no record of his age. [End of 6th page]
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3rd He resided at New Concord, Columbia County New York each time he entered the service and remained there after the war until 179[4?]. And then moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co. and remained about nine or ten years and then went to Georgetown, Madison County, New York and there remained about eighteen or nineteen years and then removed back to Sherburne and remained there about eighteen months and then moved to Vernon, Oneida County New York and there remained about eighteen months and then went to Truxton, Cortland County and there remained about three years and then went to Lincklaen Chenango County where he now resides.
4th Enlisted each time into the service it was so called although twice was hired by a class as noted in his declaration.
5th Saw General Washington at Fort Herkimer General Clinton Stein R[?] - the general circumstances of his service are as stated in his declaration as near as he recollects.
6th He always received written discharges which are all lost or destroyed.
7th He gives the names of Josiah Lothrop, Farmer Joshua Pratt, Merchant Lyman Rexford, Merchant Newcomb Raymond, Farmer Timothy Hatch, Farmer Amos Cole, Farmer all of the town of Sherburne Enos Holliby, Merchant Isac Clark, Farmer Samuel Plumb, Post Master all of the town of Linchlaen George Cooly of the town of Otselic Chenago County as men to whom he is known and [End of 7th page]
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who reside in the neighborhood where he now resides or where he has resided and who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
He further states that he has not lived in Lincklaen but a short time there is no clergyman in the neighborhood who is sufficiently acquainted with him to testify to his character or give an opnion of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
David Perry
J.M. Pike Clk
Benjamin F Rexford William Cooley residing in the town of Sherburne county of Chenago and James Elmore residing in the town of Sherburne county of Chenango hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Perry who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years and upwards of age that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he [End of 8th page]
Matthew Caulkins Letter 5 September 1832
State of New York Chenago County
Matthew Calkins of New Berlin in the County of Chenango and State aforesaid being first duly sworn according to Law deponth and saith that in April in the year 1782 he enlisted for nine months and joined the regiment of Colo Marcenus Willet at Albany soon after under Cap Henry and marched to Johnstown where in June following he enlisted into the three years service and was put under the command of Peter [?] in the same Regiment and served therein until the war was over about the first of January 1784 that when he was at Fort Plain on the Mohawk river he was acquited with David Perry he belonged to Capt. Pierce Company in the same regiment and that a man has just [?] to see him that says he is the same person by the name of David Perry and from circumstances which took place in the regiment and particularly in the expedition to Oswego in the winter of 1783 which this man has related to him he thinks he could not have known and related so canst [?] he had been there at the time which makes him believe him to be the very same person but not having seen said Perry since the close of the war till now he cannot say certain concerning the mater and further this deponent saith not.
Matthew Calkin
Sworn and Subscribed September 5 1832 before me Charles Rich Justice of the Peace of New Berlin
I Charles Rich Justice of the Peace of the town of New Berlin have been personally acquited with the above named Matthew Calkins for a number of years and have also considered him a respectable inhabitant and a man of truth and [?]
Charles Rich
Amendment 13 June 1833
Amended Declaration
State of New York Chenango County: Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Judge of Chenango County Court David Perry of Lincklaen of Lincklaen in said County to me known who being sworn says that by reason of old age and the consequent lass of memory he cannot state positively 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 fololwing grades towit
9 Months. For nine months I served as a private in Capt. Allens Company of nine months men under Col. Harper and Capt. [?] in Col. Weisenfelt in the New York State Troops or Milita in the nine months men.
2 Mos & 10 days: For two months and ten days I served as a private in Capt. Fondas company under Col. McKristy, in the New York State Troops or Milita.
2 Yrs 6mos & 25 days : For two years, six months and twenty five days I served as a private under Capt. Pierce and Col. Willet in the New York State Troops or Militia - all the above three terms of service were at the times and in the places stated in my declaration. As for the above terms of service combined making in all three years , six months and five days and for that time I claim a pension.
The corps in which I served as a private above stated were embodied corps called into service by competent authority of the state of New York and during all or any of the above time I was not employed in any civil pursuit.
David Perry
Subscribed sworn to before me this 13 June 1833. (the interlination first noted). Zenith [?] M. Purdy [?] Judge of Chenago County Court.
Prindle Letter 13 October 1834
Norwich Chenango Co. NY Oct 13 1834
Sir:
In answer to yours of the 8th July 1834, in relation to David Perry's claim for a pension I sen you herewith a certified statement of facts in his case which I have obtained from the Secretary of State of our state which will, I hope abriate the objections raised.
[?] observe that Perry calls his Captain in Willet service “John Pierce” while the Secretarys letter goes to show that “Jonathan Percy” must have been the name [?] doubtless the same person tho Perry insists that he was called Capt. “John Pierce.”
As you state in your letter that Mr. Perry's having rec'd bounty land would be conclusive evidence of the condition of the service in Willets regiment 2 ½ years, Mr. Perry has concluded not to put himself to trouble and expense in attempting to hung up any proof of the 9 months services in Harpers regiment = he is old and extremely poor and the only person whom he supposes can know any thing about it resides 130 miles distant.
As early an attention to this case as may be will confer a favor upon
Your Humble & Obet Sevt P.B. Prindle
J.L. Edwards Esq
C[?] of Pensions
Washington City
A. Campbell, NY Secretary of State letter 6 October 1834
State of New York Secretary's Office
Albany Oct. 6 1834
Sir,
Yor letter of the 3d inst. To the Secretary of State relative to David Perry was received this morning. You state that Mr. Perry is an applicant for a Pension – That he claims to have served in Col. Willetts regiment of State troops & alleges that his Captain was John Pierce and the Lieutenants of the Company were Richardson & Trumper – He also expresses his surprise that information should be sent from this office to Mr. Edwards comm.r of Pensions that no such captain as “Pierce” served in Willets regiment [?]
In answer I have to state that as far as I remember no certificate was sent to the pension office that no captain of the name of John Pierce was in Col. Willets Regiment – Willet was appointed to command level three times – in 1781 1782 & 1783 – and some time ago a list of all the officers appointed to Serve under Willet in the levies, was at his request sent to Mr. Edwards and it now appears on a Careful Examination of the Minutes of the Council of appointment that there was no captain of the name of John Piece in either of the Regiments of Levies commanded by Col. Willet – But there was a captain of the name of “Jonathan Piercy” in the said regiments appointed April 10, 1782 and again appointed June 27, 1783 – on the 24th of July 1782 there was a Lieutenant appointed in said Reg't of the name of Josiah Richardson & an Ensign of the name of Lawrence Trumper - all which may be found on the list sent to Mr. Edwards – It seems that Pliny Moor was a Lieut. And probably acted as adjutant.
A patent was issued on the 5th day of November 1785 to Mark Graves, David Perry and 23 other persons for a tract of 11,600 acres of land situated in the county of Clinton pursuant to the act entitled “ An Act for granting certain lands promised to be given as bounty lands by laws of this State and for other purposes therein mentioned” passed the 11th day of May 1784 – The following are the names of all the persons named in the said patent viz. “Mark Graves, Levi Smith, Ichabod Tubby, Horace Shepherd, George Houseman, David Doolittle, George Ingles, Peter Welsh, David Perry, Eliphalet Kellogg, Jesse Purdy, James Degolier, Gottes Peter, Christian Fulmer, Eluathan Rogers, Oliver Deake, Mason Deake, Samuel Ashman, Robert Ayer, Asa Hamlin, Abraham Knap, Daniel Bodwell, Levi Stoughton, Plint Moor and James Dean.” and they located the said tract of land pursuant to the act entled “An Act for raising two regiments for the defense of this state on bounties of unappropriated lands” passed March 20 1781 and the act entitled “An Act for raising troops to complete the line of this State in the Service of the United States and the two regiments to be raised on bounties of unappropriated lands and for the further defence of the frontiers of this State” passed March 23 1782.
Yours very respectfully Arch. Campbell Dep Secretary
P.B. Prindle Esq.
[Additional certification]
Notes
Comments regarding transcriptions
Pension Application
I was given a copy of a transcription of just the original application that I believe was made by Opal Perry of Simi Valley, California back when the microfilm version was the only one available. I was able to make my own photocopy of the microfilm probably in the early 1990's and began trying to fill in missing words, etc. from her version on a word processing program. The digitization of the records has made them more legible I have been able to make additional revisions. Unfortunately I seem to have lost her original copy over the years so could not compare it to this current version.
I have used [ ] to note places there was a difficulty with identifying a word or make my own comments.
Jill Perry
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