Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for Murdock Cameron or Burdie Campbell
S.46426
State of New York
Secretary’s Office
I certify that Henry Lovett before whom the within statement was sworn to by Henry G. Ohlon is a Justice of the Peace in and for the Town of Glenville in the County of Schenectady in this State duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to his official acts.
And do further certify that after taking eh affidavit of Murdock Cameron on the 27th April last hereunto annexed marked No. 1 the said Cameron was informed by David Shields of this City, that Henry G. Ohlen Orderly Sergeant of Captain Gregg’s Company in the first New York Regiment commanded by Col. Goose Van Schaick, resided in the town of Glenville in the County of Schenectady—that in consequence of the said information Cameron went to the resident of the residence of the said Ohlen and obtained from him the certificate hereunto annexed, No. 3—That I advised Cameron to return to Mr. Ohlen and get from him a more particular statement under oath and at the same time I addressed a letter to Mr. Ohlen on the subject, and that in answer he wrote the within statement and made oath to the same.
And I do further certify that in the military register in this office lately purchased pursuits to an act of the Legislature (which register was at the Treasury Department of the United States) is the following entry under the head of 1st Regiment at the letter C-viz “Campbell Burdie—Mus’t Cols. Serv’d Jan’r ’79 Must’d to end of War.” That in the printed Balloting book (a copy of which is also in the Treasury Department of the United States) page 82. “Burdie Campbell” is returned as a private in Captain Gregg’s Company being the fourth company of the first Regiment according to Connolly’s original return—That at page 27 of the said Battoting book it appears that a lot of 500 acres of land was balloted to Burdie Campbell a private in the first New York Regiment which lot was granted accordingly as appears by the record of the patent in this office.—
From the facts stated by the said Murdock Cameron at the time I took his affidavit I was satisfied that he served in the army of the Revolution and in the first New York Regiment and that he was then known by the name of Murdie or Burdie Campbell but the affidavit of Henry H. Ohlen leaves no doubt on the subject because he recognized Cameron the moment he saw him. It will be seen by reference to the manuscript register at Washington that Ohlen was a Sergeant in Capt. Gregg’s Company.
Given under my hand and the seal of this office at the city of Albany the first day of May one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine. Arch’d Campbell, Dep. Secretary.
Montgomery County SS.
State of New York
Personally came before me Asa Fitch, Kenneth Campbell being duly sworn saith that Murdock Cameron was in the same regiment with him the said Campbell under Capt. Craig in the revolution and knows that the said Murdock Cameron is the same man that is mentioned here further knows him to be his sisters son and saith that he is the identical man here aluded to be. (Signed with his mark) Kenneth Campbell in presence of Juneitt Fuskin. Sworn and Subscribed this 25th day of April 1829 before me Asa Fitch Justice.
I certify that Murdock Campbell as so called in the Army of the United States has been at my house in the Town of GlenVille I know him to be the same person which served in Capt. James Gregg’s Company of which I was sergeant at the same time. (Signed) Henry G. Ohlen. April 28, 1829
State of New York
Secretary’s Office.
I certify that Asa Fitch before whom the annexed affidavit of Kenneth Campbell was taken was on the 25the day of April 1829 a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Montgomery in this state duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit may and out to be given to his official act.
(4) State of New York
City of Albany SS.
Personally appeared before me Archibald Campbell a commissioner to take affidavits, &c Murdock Cameron, who being by me duly sworn deposes and says that his is the person named in the annexed affidavit of Kenneth Campbell (1) and that the said Campbell is his uncle as stated in the said affidavit—The deponent further says that he is now about sixty three or sixty four years of age, that he enlisted in the Army of the United States as a soldier during the Revolutionary War and served therein until the close thereof—that the period he served was about four years—that he does not remember the month or the year in which he enlisted but he verily believes it was in the latter end of the year 1778 or the beginning of 1779. (2) That he enlisted in the City of Albany and was then very young, perhaps – about fourteen years of age—That after his enlistment he was sent to Fort Stanwix where the regiment or part of it was then stationed, and was first under Keyser (3) the Drum Major to learn to be a drummer. That he continued at Fort Stanwix for nearly two years or until the regiment was ordered to the south—That before leaving Fort Stanwix the deponent says that the said –Keyser the drum major deserted, and went towards Canada that a party was sent after the said Keyser and overtook him at Lake Champlain where he was shot while crossing the said lake on a raft—That the deponent was one of the said party—That after the desertion of said Keyser the deponent well remembers that the name of the drum major who taught him was Loudon. (4) And the deponent further says he served for two years as near as he can remember as a drummer and was then reduced to the ranks—That after leaving Fort Stanwix he marched with the Army to Virginia and was at the siege of Yorktown & the capture of the British army under Lord Cornwallis (5) – that at the close of the war he was honorably discharged—that his discharge was signed by General Washington as he believes, but that he lost the same or delivered it to some person shortly after leaving the army whose service he has now forgotten—and the said deponent further says he well remembers that Goose VanSchaick was his Colonel and Cornelius VanDyck the Lieutenant Colonel—That he thinks Greig was the name of his captain though he might have been under more than one captain during his services—The deponent further says that he was born in the highlands of Scotland—that he came to New York with his parents in the year 1775—That at the time he enlisted in the army he could speak but few words of English (the Gaelic being his native language). That owing to his broken English he is not sure but he might have been mustered by the name of Campbell—He is led to believe that this is the fact from the circumstance that his real name Murdock Cameron is not found among the revolutionary soldiers of the New York Line, but the name of “Brudie Campbell” is found in Captain Gregg’s Company first New York Regiment who enlisted on the first of January 1779 and served to the end of the war. it appears also that he was entered as a musician—Whether there was a person of the name of Burdie Campbell or whether he the deponent was mustered by that name he is unable to say positively—But he thinks from the fact of his being unable to read or write and his ignorance of the English language that the name of him the deponent might have been so entered on the muster rolls—at all events the deponent solemnly swears and declares that he enlisted as before stated and served to the close of the war and was then honorably discharged. (Signed with his mark) Murcock Cameron
Sworn before me this 27th day of April 1829. Arch’d Campbell, Commissioners &c.
End Notes—Murdock Cameron
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