Pension Application

W—[no number] Widow: Bathsheba. January 21, 1795 married Jonathan S. Alexander.
This woman’s children by her first husband were pensioned; see John Hager, Mass. W.16808
Johnathan [sic] S. Alexander, of Oswego Co., was a Corp & Private in the Company commanded by Captains Benedict & Sergeant in the Regt commanded By Col. VanSchaick in the New York line for 11 Months, a Corporal & for 1 month a private.
State of New York
Oswego County SS.
            On this 8th day of August 1832, personally appeared before me, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Oswego, Jonathan S. Alexander a resident of the Town of Mexico in the County of Oswego & State of New York aforesaid, aged eighty three 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States as a Corporal, in the month of June 1775 in the Company of Capt. Elisha Benedict in Col. VanSchaick’s regiment of the New York line—enlisted first for the term of 8 months in the Town of Brattleboro, County of Windham, in the State of Vermont, marched soon after enlisting through Vermont to Ticonderoga – passed through Lake Champlain to St. John’s in Canada, where we had a skirmish with the enemy, went from there on a scouting party with Col. Ethan Allen down the River Sorell – went from thence & took Chamblee fort—from thence again to St. John’s which place we also took from thence proceeded to Montreal under Gen. Montgomery—took that place after which I went with part of my company under Capt. Benedict to Chamblee Fort where we wintered—the remainder of Capt. Benedict’s Company went with Montgomery to Quebec—during the winter after my 8 months term had expired, not being able to get home, I enlisted again under Capt. Benedict for the further term of 3 months, which term I served, rec’d a regular discharge from Gen. Hasen, I think, and returned home to Brattleboro in the month of May 1776 where I remained until the taking of Gen. Burgoyne in 1777 when I was drafted and served about 5 weeks in the company of Capt. John Sergeant in Col. Schuyler’s Regiment (I think), was in the battle [?] Stillwater & served until the surrender of Burgoyne in October, when I returned again to Brattleboro, where I continued to reside until about the year 1808 when I removed to the Town of Henderson in the county of Jeff. NY there I resided for about 16 years and removed to my present residence in the Town of Mexico in 1824—I was born at Fort [Dunmor?] in the Town of Brattleboro Vt. In 1749—have no record of my age—my father was killed by the Indians when I was about 6 years old.
            I rec’d a regular discharge but can not tell what has become of it. I was acquainted with Gen. Montgomery, Col. Warner, Col. VanSchaick, Col. Allen, Adjt Tillman, Capt. Benedict, Capt. Sergeant, Lieut [??] Lieut. Brink, and many other officers whose names I do not now distinctly recollect—I know of no officer or soldier now living by whom I can prove my services, except the 2 soldiers whose affidavits were procured in 1819 & are hereunto annexed viz, Waitsill Orvis, & Reuben Church, and whether they are now living I know not, but believe one or both of them are dead.
            I was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Brattleboro for about 40 years under the ministry of the Rev’d Mr. Recors & the Rev’d Mr. Wells, and can procure hundreds of witnesses in that place and elsewhere to testify as to my standing & character for truth & veracity—I am now very poor, and so old and infirm I am not able to labor or to have my [?] without great inconvenience & trouble—I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. (Signed with his mark) Jonathan S. Alexander
            Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me, Avery Skinner, Judge of Oswego Co. Courts.

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