Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for Nathaniel Henry

W.19761 (Widow: Mary)
Of Shenandoah Co. of Virginia.  Lieutenant in VanSchaick’s Reg.  New York Line.
District of Virginia
            On this 9th day of April 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the General Court of Virginia, personally appeared Captain Nathaniel Henry aged 62 years, resident in Shenandoah County in the said district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of Congress, entitled “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war:”  That he, the said Capt’n Henry entered 1st New York Regt in the State of New York1775 Col. McDugal commandant as 2 Lieut in the company commanded by Captain willet of the said Regt afterwards in 1776 commanded by Coll Van Schaick; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the year 1782, when he resigned from service in Albany state of New York owing to his wound, that he was in the battles of St. Johns, Quebec, Sandy Point (where he was shot through the body) Fort George, Mohawk River, Onondaga, Fort Stanwix, Stillwater, Capture of Burgoyne, Monmouth [?] and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services, except at the war office. 
            Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year first aforesaid.  (Signed) Hn. Holmes, Judge
            Hugh Holmes, Judge Winchester Virg’a

Virginia
            On the 22nd day of May 1820 personally appeared in open court being a Court of record held for the County of Shenandoah by the Hon Hugh Holmes Judge of the Superior Courts for the ninth Circuit of Virginia Nathaniel Henry aged 65 the 25th day of September next a resident of the then County of Shenandoah in the said circuit, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declares that he served in the revolutionary war as follows.  I went into service as Lieutenant in July 1775 in the first New York Regiment commanded by Coll. McDugal, and then in 1776 in the 1st New York Regiment commanded by Col. Vanscaick as a Lieutenant.  The date of the original declaration was on the ninth day of April 1818, and the number of the certificate 6208.  And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled “an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War”, passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.  I am a boat builder by trade, but my wounds and sickness I am unable to follow it or any other occupation whatever.  That names of my family Polly Henry my wife, aged 63 years and over, daughter Cornelia Henry aged [?]9 years a sickly person.  The different actions is was in are as follows, St. Johns, Quebeck, at Sandy Point on Lake Champlaine, I was wounded in the boy at Fort Edward Mohawk River, Fort Schuyler at Stillwater, at Monmouth and with the Onondago Indians in April 1779.  Sworn to and declared the 22 day of May 1820 before the said Superior Court now in session.  I Nathaniel Henry have no property either real personal or [?] except my wearing apparel.  May 22 1820.  (Signed) N. Henry.
            I Philip Williams Clerk of the Superior Court of Law for the County of Shenandoah do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court.  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court on this 5th day of June 1820.  P.William [?]

            I do hereby certify that I have examined the Book of Record of Marriages of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of this City, & at the date of July 25, 1779, in the handwriting of the Rev’d Dr. Westerlo, I find the following entry, “Nathaniel Henry & Mary Williams”.  Albany , Augt 1, 1837.  Thos [?] Pastor of the Ref’d Prot. Dutch Church. Albany.

            The deposition of William Henry, who being first duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is a son of Mary Henry, who was the widow of Nathaniel Henry who was a Lieutenant in the army of the revolution.  That the said N. Henry [?]affiant that he first marched into the service from the City of New York, and affiant always understood from him that he served during the war.  He said he was in several battles and skirmishes.  That he was at the taking of St. Johns, was at Quebeck when Montgomery fell, was at Montreal, was at the Battle of Monmouth, was sent after the Indians, affiant thinks, the Six Nations, under the command of Genl. Sullivan, that he was wounded in the side, and in the hand on the left.  That affiant’s mother, Mary Henry after also told him much the same, and that his father Nathaniel Henry was in service in the latter part of the war on the river, above Albany, and that he was in service long after their marriage.  This she after told affiant, that [Fancke?] was a Doctor or an officer in the same service, and he new him she also said John Taylor.  Affiant further states that after the revolution his father, the said N. Henry resided in Frederickstown, Maryland or in the neighborhood, then at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, which affiant barely recollects, then at Shepperdstown, Va., which affiant well recollects, that he was a Captain in the Army under the older Adams, and his commission is now in affiants possession, that he was one of the [?] then for clearing out the Shenandoah River and removed to this place, Strasburg, Shenandoah County, Va.  about the year 1810 or 11.  That he was placed on the pension list about the 4th day of March 1813, at the rate of $15 per month, which was afterwards increased to $20.  The he lived here until June 14, 1824 at which time he died, leaving Mary Henry, his widow and his children Cornelia Henry, William Henry (Affiant) and Joseph Henry, his only heirs at law, at the time of his death.  That the said Joseph Henry was a hatter and travelled about that he left Strasbury 12th of September 1824 and has not been heard from by any of the family since, except that affiant was told 7b or 8 years ago that he was seen in Richmond, Va.  Affiant further states that his mother, the said Mary Henry, remained a widow from the death of her husband, the said Nathaniel Henry, on the said 14th day of June 1824, until she died.  That she died on the 15th day of November 1836, leaving the said Cornelia Henry, and William Henry; and Joseph Henry (if alive) her only heirs at law.  That the said Joseph Henry was never married to the best of affiants knowledge and belief and that the said Cornelia Henry and William Henry, and Joseph (if alive) are now all and the only heirs at law of the said Nathaniel Henry, and also of the said Mary Henry, his widow as aforesaid Affiant further states that he was 53 years of age on the 7th day of February 1837, and the said said [sic] Cornelis is 57 or 58 years of age.  That affiant further told him he had received his pension as the letter or evide3nce of Col. Freeman, of the U.S. Artillery then stationed at Norfolk Va., who also knew of the marriage of affiant’s father & mother to wit. Nathaniel Henry to Mary Williams.  Affiant further states that he often heard he mother speak of her father, John Williams of Albany, New York. Affiant further states that from what his father & mother told him, his father was in his 70th year when he died, and his mother in her 79th or 80th when she died, and that when they were alive his father was about 3 years older than her.  (Signed) William Henry.
State of Virginia, Shenandoah County to wit.
            The above named William Henry this day personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition—and I certify that the said William Henry is a man or truth and entitled to full confidence.  Given under my hand and seal this 16th day of September 1837.  W. Gatewood.

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