Pension Application

S.12702
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832.
State of New York
Saratoga County SS.
            On this fifth day of September in the year on thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga in the said State of New York, John Christiance a resident of the tow of Northumberland in the County of Saratoga and State of New York aged seventy years and eight months, 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 and was sworn in the army of the United States in January in the year 1777 with Captain John Clute of Schenectady in the State of New York and went immediately into the service, and served in his company in the Batteau Service for the term of one year and was discharged in January following. Col. Christopher Yates, Col. Hay and Col. Morgan Lewis had command of the company of Capt. Clute at different times during that year. At the time he enlisted as above he was a resident of Schenectady in the State of New York—
            That in the month of January 1778 he enlisted again in the army of the United States with Capt. Jacobus Peake of Schenectady aforesaid for one year and served in his company in the Batteau service for the term of one other year until January then next, when he was again discharge. The same colonels, Yates, Hay, & Lewis had command of the company of Capt. Peake in which he served this year also.
            In the fore part of the year 1777 he served on the North River attached to the army under the Command of General Schuyler the latter part of the year under the command of General Gates. That he was engaged with the company of Capt. Clute in 1777 in taking and removing the stories of General Burgoyne’s Army.
            In the year 1778 he served in the company of Capt. Peake on and in the neighborhood of the North River aforesaid principally south of the City of Albany in the latter part of that year up the Mohawk River near Fort Stanwix, has no written discharge, if he ever had any it is lost.
            He further states that the pay for which he enlisted and served for the year 1777 was half a dollar per day and for the year 1778 one Dollar per day.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he Declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any State. (Signed with his mark) John Christiance
            Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court. Thomas Palmer, Clerk.

Amendment to Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832.
State of New York
Saratoga County SS.
            On the twentieth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before me Harvey Granger Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Saratoga at the dwelling home of John Christiance in the town of Northumberland in said County the said John Christiance a resident f the said town of Northumberland aged seventy one 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 7th June 1832.
            That in the month of April in the year 1779, the company of militia to which I belonged commanded by Capt. VanEpps of Col. Abraham Wemps Regiment was ordered into the service of the United States, we were placed under the command of Col. Peter Gansevoort belonging to Genl Clinton’s Brigade (of the regular troops), the said company of which I was one joined said Regiment at Schenectady we went to Sackendago we built a Block house and I was discharged with said company at Sackendagao I was in the service at this time as a private four weeks.
            In October 1779 one half the company of the said Capt. VanEpps of which I was one was ordered into the service by the said Col. Abraham Wemp, and joined Gen. Ten Broeck’s corps we were stationed at Fort Paris at Stone Arabia Montgomery County I was in the service at this time as a private four weeks and was discharged at Stone Arabia.
            In September 1781 Capt. VanEpps Company of which I was one was again ordered out into the service and went and joined Col. Marinus Willet’s corps. At Johnstown we were in the battle between Sir John John’s party and Col. Willet’s Corps. The action in which Battle was killed after the Battle the Regiment to which I belonged attended the prisoners to Albany, I served on this occasion two weeks as a private and was discharged at Schenectady.
            In March or April 1782 I enlisted in a Company of levies belonging to the New York State troops commanded by Capt. Guy Young as a private for the term of nine months and joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Marinus Willet and went to Fort Plain where I was stationed for three or four weeks that during said term Capt. Guy Young resigned & the Company to which I belonged was commanded by Jellis A. Fonda, after having been at Fort Plain 3 or 4 weeks I was sent with a small company commanded by Lieut. Christopher Peek to Fort Clyde, from thence we went to Fort Herkimer where the Regiment again joined and remained at Fort Herkimer until the end of his term of enlistment and was then discharged in the month of January 1783 by his commandant Jellis A. Fonda, served at this time 9 months.
            In answer to interrogatories put to him by the Judge he says. 1st That he was born at Schenectady in the State of New York the 24th of December 1761.
            2d There was a record on the Church Book in Schenectady where I believe it now is I know of no others.
            3rd When called into the service I lived at Schenectady aforesaid and lived there about three years after the Revolutionary war then removed to what is now the town of Northumberland in the County of Saratoga where I have lived ever since and now live.
            4th Was called into the service the three first mentioned short terms by orders from the Captain of the Militia Company and the last stated term of 9 months by enlistment.
            5th The names of some of the officers which I recollect who were with the troops where I served are Gen. Clinton, Col. Peter Gansevoort, Col. Marinus Willet, Capt. Young, Lieut Yates, Lieut VanVorrst, Lieut VanDornburgh.
            6th I never received any written discharge from the three short terms of Militia service but was discharged verbally by the commandant, from the 9 months term I received a written discharge from Jellis A. Fonda, it is lost I know not what has become of it.
            7th I am well known in my present neighborhood to Genl. Herman Gansevoort, Col. Jeremiah Terhune, Jonas Olmsted Esqr Postmaster, Samuel Lewis Esqr., Nathaniel McClellan Esqr., Conrad Cramer Esqr., who can testify to my character for veracity &c. (Signed with his mark) John Christiance
            Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me. Harvey Granger, Judge of Saratoga County Courts.

Copyright © 1998, -- 2008. James F. Morrison and Berry Enterprises. All rights reserved. All items on the site are copyrighted. While we welcome you to use the information provided on this web site by copying it, or downloading it; this information is copyrighted and not to be reproduced for distribution, sale, or profit.