Pension Application

S.11287
State of New York
County of Montgomery SS.
            On the 19th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of common Pleas of said County, now sitting, Peter Eigabroat a resident of the town of Minden in the county & State aforesaid, aged seventy four years in December last, when 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 7th 1832—That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein after mentioned.
            That in the month of May 1776 he was called upon & entered the service of his country in a company commanded by Capt. John Hess, Lieut. Peter Waggoner, Ensign not now recollected in Col. Klock’s regiment. That they were stationed at the Stone Church in Palatine, then kept on duty about eight days. That during this Season he with a part of the company was sent to Albany, about sixty miles, to guard up the River, Waggons with powder & lead for the garrison [?[ that during this Season he did various other duties & was frequently out in small parties to guard the inhabitants & check the Indians & Tories, the particular times or places to which he was ordered he cannot now state, but that the greatest part of the time he was so kept on duty & out in parties and that he did during this season as he believes, at least two months actual duty in the service of his country.
            That in the month of May 1777 he was again called & entered the service under his said Captain above named that they were called to work at fortifying at a Fort, Called Fort Hess, where then kept at work on duty & out in parties the most of the time, once to the South of the Mohawk River at a place where Fort Willett was afterwards built were there stationed about a week & were then called back & kept at work & out by his duty as before at Fort Hess until about to the first of August following when the Regiment [torn off] which he belonged under Colo. Klock we marched [torn off] to Oriskany in the County of Oneida, when he was on the Sixth day of August engaged in the Oriskany battle, that about three days after the battle they returned to Fort Hess where they were again kept on duty & put in parties as before the most of the time until the close of Indian hostilities for the season that he cannot tell the precise time he was on duty in this season, that he was the most of the time employed from spring til fall was occasionally allowed to go home but was required to be in constant readiness and that he did as he believes in this season at least five months actual duty in the service of his country.
            That about the first of May 1778 he was again called to Fort Hess by his said Captain was then again kept on duty & out in parties, the most of the time, until sometime in June when they were marched to Johnstown, were there stationed & kept on duty about two weeks, that they were then marched back to Fort Hess—then again kept on duty & out in parties as before until in the fall following when they were marched to the north about twenty miles to a place called the royal grant, were then kept on duty about two weeks, when they again returned—that during the season he cannot state the precise time he served, that it was the most of the time during the season, and that he did, at least during the season, four months actual duty in the service of his country.
            That in the month of May 1779 he was again called into service by his said Captain to Fort Hess, was then again kept on duty & out in parties to guard the inhabitants & check the Indians & Tories almost continually, was occasionally allowed to return home for short periods, but was required to be in constant readiness, that he so continued to service until the month of December when hostilities again ceased for the season that during the season he again did, as he verily believes, at least four month active duty in the service of his country.
            That about the first of May 1780, he was again called into Service by his Captain, then, Capt. Peter Waggoner, who had succeeded Capt. Hess by reason of the disaffection of the latter, was called to Fort Hess then kept on duty a short time, then was ordered to the north of Stone Arabia, in Palatine were there Stationed some time under Capt. John Bigbread, from thence they were marched up the Mohawk River to Fall Hill, were there stationed and about the last of July when the Company & Regiment to which he belonged, under Colo. Klock Joined Gen. VanRensselaer & marched up the Mohawk River about fifty miles to Fort Stanwix, to guard the government boats & property to that place, that about ten days thereafter they returned so Fort Hess, where he was again kept on duty & out in parties the most of the time until in the fall following when he was ordered to Fort Dayton in the County of Herkimer, when he was kept on duty about two weeks, were then marched back to Fort Hess, that soon after they so returned & about the middle of October the Regiment was ordered out against the enemy under Sir John Johnson who were burning and destroying the north side of the River. That they joined the troops under Colo. DuBois Militia under Colo. Clyde & Gen. VanRensellaer then pursued the enemy up the River a few miles, overtook & attacked them about dusk, fought some time where the enemy gave way & that night crossed the River and moved westward, that the next morning they pursued them several mile sup the river but finding them out of reach they returned, that he continued to do duty at Fort Hess & out as before until the latter part of November, when hostilities again ceased, and that during this season the various duties done by him as above mentioned amounted, as he believes, to full five months actual duty in the service of his country.
            That about the first of January 1781 he again entered the service as a volunteer, at the solicitation of Colo. Klock, with about twelve other volunteers to go out in the wilderness to the North of the Mohawk, to keep up a continual Scout, to prevent the Indians from mischief & plunder in that region, which they with Tories were in the habit of coming in from Canada & doing. That they entered upon this duty & continued so to Scout upon Snow Shoes during the winter & until about the first of April following. That some after he returned from said winter Scout, he was again called to fort Hess where he was kept on duty & out in Scouting parties as he was required until about the twenty fourth of October following when he was marched to Johnstown, was there engaged in the Johnstown battle under Colo. Willett against a party of British troops, Indians & Tories commanded by Colo. Butler & Major Ross, that after the battle he with men commanded by Colo. Willet, then marched up the Mohawk River then to the north to the West Canada Creek where Butler was killed, he then returned home, that during this season the precise length of duty done by him during this season he cannot state, but declares that with the winter service in Scouting & down to the time Butler was killed, his service amounted to at least five months actual duty in the service of his country.
            That the forepart of the Season of 1782, was again called upon by his said officers, was stationed near the Caroga Creek under Colo. Klock where they remained several days & scouting parties were sent out to find out a party of Indians & Tories supposed to be in the vicinity. That he was so called out in calls of alarm at different times during the season, cannot tell the precise time he so served, but believes that he did during this season at least two months service.
            That he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services.
            That he was born in the town of Palatine, County and State aforesaid, in December 1758.
            That he has no record of his age.
            That he was living in the Town of Palatine aforesaid when called into service, where he continued to live until after the war, then moved to Minden aforesaid where he has ever since continued to live.
            That he was called into service at the times & in the manner above mentioned.
            That he cannot state the names of officers of the regular troops, Continental or other regiments or the general circumstances of his service, other than as the same is by him above stated.
            That he never received any written discharge from the service.
            That Joseph Waggoner & Christopher W. Fox are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution and that there is no clergyman residing in his vicinity.
            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. (Signed with his mark) Peter Eigabroat
            Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Geo. D. Ferguson, Clerk.

State of New York
Montgomery County SS.
            Daniel Hess of the County of Herkimer in the State aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is as he believes upwards of Seventy four years of age, that during the Revolutionary War he was well acquainted with Peter Eigabroat, now of the town of Minden county of Montgomery & State aforesaid, with whom he has ever since been well acquainted.
            That in the early part of the Season of 1776 thinks in the month of May he knew the said Peter Eigabroat to be in the Service of his County in the War of the Revolution in a Company Commanded by Capt. John Hess in Colo. Klock’s Regt, in which Company & Regt. the deponent also served—That he knew the said Peter Eigabroat to be on duty in the Service of his county during that Season at various times & in different directions once marched with a party to Albany, as did also the deponent, about Sixty miles, to guard the government waggons up the Mohawk River with powder & lead for the government—That the said Peter was frequently called out in small parties to guard the inhabitants & Country from Indians and Tory—hostilities, and was almost continually on duty during that Season until fall, as was also the deponent.
            The deponent further saith that early—in the season of 1777, thinks as early as May the said Peter was again called into Service by his said Captain as also this deponent, that they were called to work at fortifying Fort Hess, were then kept at work and out in parties to guard the inhabitants & Country from injury by the Indians and Tories at different times until about the first of August following when the said Peter, in the Company & Regt to which he belonged, marched up the Mohawk River at the time of the Oriskany battle, that deponent marched with the said Peter in the said Company to German Flatts where he [this] deponent was sent back by Colo. Klock with a letter to his son on some business unknown to deponent, that the said Peter marched on with the said Regt. was gone several days & then returned to Fort Hess with the said Company—that the said Peter remained on duty at said Fort & was out in parties as required almost continually until in the fall of that Season, as was also the deponent.
            The deponent further saith that as early as the first of May in the year 1778 as deponent believes, the said Peter was again called into the service by his said Captain was stationed at Fort Hess, then kept on duty & out in Scouting parties, as circumstances required, as was also the deponent, that during that season the said company was once marched in which the said Peter was, as was also deponent, to the North to a place called the Royal Grant, were then kept on duty about ten days or more. That they were then marched back to Fort Hess and were about that time relieved from service of that year.
            The deponent further saith that in the Spring of 1779, the said Peter was again called into service Stationed at Fort Hess, was then kept on duty & out in parties to guard the Inhabitants almost constantly during this Season until in the fall when hostilities for that Season ceased, as was also this deponent.
            The deponent further saith that in the Spring of 1780 the said Peter was again called into service in the said Company then commanded by Capt. Peter Waggoner, who had Succeeded Capt. Hess & the said Capt. Hess moved to Schenectady, that the said Peter was called to Fort Hess was there kept on duty & out in parties in different directions, as was also the deponent, that in July of that year the said Peter, with the Company & Regt. to which he belonged Joined Gen. VanRenselaer & marched up the Mohawk River, about fifty miles to Fort Stanwix to guard the government boats & property to that place, as did also the deponent, that after that Service, the said Peter returned with the said Company in which he belonged to Fort Hess where he remained on duty & out in parties until in the fall following in the month of October when the said Peter marched with the company in which he belonged against the enemy commanded by Sir John Johnson who were marching up & destroying on the North Side of the Mohawk River—That after the fight with the said Sir John Johnson & he with his party were driven away the said Peter Returned to the said Fort, where he was again kept on duty & out in parties as before until some time in the month of November following—
            The deponent further saith that in the winter of 1781 he knew the said Peter to be in a Scouting party of about ten or twelve men said to have volunteered to keep up a continual Scout during the winter to the North to guard the Inhabitants against Indian & Tory hostilities—that he knew the said Peter to be in the discharge of such duty during said winter at different times—that in the following Spring the said peter was again called to Fort Hess, then kept on duty & out in Scouting parties as circumstances required as was also the deponent, most of the time until the fall following, that sometime before the Johnstown battle with Butler & Ross the deponent left the service for a short time on business either for the government or of a private nature which he does not now recollect that when he returned he was informed of the battle & that the said Peter was in the said battle which he believes to be true.
            The deponent further saith that during the Summer of 1782 the said Peter was frequently called out in calls of alarm, as was also the deponent, the particulars of which the deponant cannot state and the deponent further saith that during the said Revolutionary War the said Peter was at all times ready to discharge such duty as devolved upon him and was regarded as a trusty, faithful soldier, all which is true according to deponants best recollection and belief. And further the deponent saith not. (Signed ) Daniel Hess.
            Subscribed & Sworn to this 3rd day of June 1833 before me. H. Cook, Justice.

Letter replying to a letter of inquiry, dated May 24, 1940.
            The data which follow were taken from papers on file in the pension claim, S.11287, based on the military service of the only Peter Eigabroat that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office, searched under all spellings of the surname.
            Peter Eigabroat was born in December, 1757 or 1758, at Palatine, New York. The names of his parents are not shown.
            While a resident of Palatine, Montgomery County, New York, Peter Eigabroat enlisted and served as private with the New York troops as follows: from May 1776, two months in Captain John Hess’ company in Colonel Klock’s regiment; from May 1777 served at various times until the fall of that year, amounting to five months in all in Captain John Hess’ Company in Colonel Klock’s regiment, and was in the battle of Oriskany; from about the first of May 1778, served at various times until the following fall, amounting to four months in all, in Captain Hess’ company in Colonel Klock’s regiment from May 1779, served at various times until December, 1779, amounting to four months in all, in Captain John Hess’ company in Colonel Klock’s regiment ; from about the first of May, 1780, served at various times until late in November, 1780, amounting to five months in all, in Captain Peter Waggoner’s company in Colonel Klock’s regiment; from about the first of January 1781, served at various times amounting to five months in all, and was under Colonel Klock and was in the battle of Johnstown; from the forepart of the summer of 1782, served at least two months under Colonel Klock.
            Peter Eigabroat was allowed pension on his application executed September 19, 1832, at which time he was living in Minden, Montgomery County, New York, having moved there from Palatine after the Revolution.
            The papers in this claim contain no data relative to this soldier’s family.
            Peter Eigabroat, Certificate #24037, issued October 25, 1833, rate $80 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New York Agency.

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