Pension Application

S.5646
State of New York
Chautauqua County SS.
            On this thirteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chautaugua & State of New York the same being a Court of Record & having a Seal & a Clerk, now sitting John Johnson a resident of the Town of Sheridan in the County of Chautauqua & State of New York aged seventy six years the 18th day of April last, who 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 7, 1832.
            That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served has herein stated, viz:
            That he enlisted into the Continental Line of the Revolutionary Army for six months at Cross River on Courtlandt’s Manor in the County of WestChester & State of New York about five miles from Bedford in the same county in the month of June or July in the year 1775 as near as he can recollect—That he resided at Bedford aforesaid at the time of his said enlistment—That he joined the company commanded by Capt. Jonathan Platt, in Col. James Holmes’ Regiment, and as he believes the Fourth Brigade, commanded by Gen. Montgomery in Major General Schuyler’s Division—that he staid at Bedford Cross River and Poundridge in the same County of Westchester for four or five weeks recruiting & then marched to Sing Sing on the North River where he embarked on board of a vessel for Albany in New York.—That he staid in Albany about six days & then marched with Col. Homes & his baggage to lake George N. York and then encamped six or eight weeks—
            From Lake George he went by water to Ticonderoga N. York, where he remained until New Years day 1776, where he was discharge by Col. Holmes & went home.
            This Declarant further states upon oath, that in the month of May or June in the year 1776 he enlisted again as a Private for six months at Cross River or Bedford aforesaid in Nathaniel Delavan’s Company in Col. Thomas Thomas’ Regiment in Genl George Clinton’s Brigade, in Major general Heath’s Division.—That he marched directly to the North River near Kingsbridge then went to work & assisted in building Fort Independence and got it fit for service when he was ordered to march to White Plains in the fall of 1776 but After marching part way he with forty nine others was ordered back under Capt. Platt to Fort Independence to Garrison it, where he staid three days & then marched to White Plains with twelve or fourteen others under Lieut. Miller and arrived at White Plains on the night before the battle—That he was in the battle of White Plains from its commencement to its close.—That he staid at White Plains six or eight days, and then marched to Peekskill on the North River where he staid till his term of six months expired & then went with Col. Thomas to White Plains & was there discharged by him verbally about the first of January 1771 & went to Greenwich, Fairfield County, Conn. Where heafterwards resided.
            This Declarant further states upon oath that between his First and Second Enlistment it was rumoured at Bedford where he then lived, that the British ships had come up the river to Sing Sing & Peekskill—The whole country was alarumed and he was twice ordered out by militia officers to go & prevent the British from landing & plundering—that he went and was gone one week each time.
            This declarant further states upon oath, that while he resided at Greenwich aforesaid, the British lying constantly in the neighborhood or vicinity of that place, the country about Greenwich was kept in constant commotion & alarum until after the British evacuated New York, and the inhabitants perpetually surprised by alarums of the approaches & incursions of the British frequently made for the purpose of plunder, insomuch that Husbandry was obliged to be neglected by reason of the plunder of cattle, horses & provisions, also that this state of things continued for more than three years while this Declarant resided at Greenwich aforesaid, during which time he was very frequently called into service in the militia by alarum of officers under General John Mead, and employed on duty about Greenwich, Stamford & Horseneck on L. Island Sound to prevent the incursions & ravages of the British, and was out on duty as aforesaid at one time for six weeks.
            This Declarant further states upon oath, that he never had any written discharge from any of his said services, to the best of his recollection—that he knew in the service Gen. Putnam, Col. Dougal, Major Tuttle of Col. Holmes Regt & Capt. Mills in the same Regiment besides many other officers whose names he cannot now recollect.
            This Declarant further states upon oath that he has no documentary evidence in his possession of his said service, nor does he now know of any person living except William Harris & his wife whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his said service.
            This declarant 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 or territory in the U. States.
            This Declarant in answer to interrogatories, propounded to him by the said Court of Common Pleas on the Judges thereof, further states upon oath, that he was born in Huntington, Queens County, New York—that he has no record of his age—that when he enlisted into the Revolutionary service, he resided at Bedford as above stated—that since the Revolutionary War he removed from Greenwich above mentioned to Chatham, Columbia County New York, where he has lived for about six years & where he now resides. That when he entered the Revolutionary service he entered as a volunteer and a private—that he knew the regular officers who were with the troops where he served, whose names he has above specified besides many others not now recollected, and that he was well acquainted with the militia regiment commanded by Colonel, (afterwards General) John Mead of Horseneck, with Capt. George Peck, Lieut. Robert Peck, & Lieut Seth Palmer of the same Regiment, and that he never received a written discharge from any of his said service.
            This Declarant further states upon oath that he is well acquainted with Oliver Lee, James Mullett, Benjamin Walworth, Esra Convis, John Crane residing in his present neighborhood, to whom he refers as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution And that he is not acquainted with any clergy man in the neighborhood of his present residence who can certify that he is reported to having been a soldier of the revolution. (Signed) John Johnson
            Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid before me. T. B. Campbell, Judge Chautauqua County.

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