Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for James McMasters (McMaster)

S.23315
Pension Office
January 5th 1854
Hon. L. P. Waldo
Commission of Pension
            Sir, Allow me to present in behalf of the children of the late deceased James McMasters—further evidence of service from the military register of New York.
            It appears on examination of the papers that James McMasters entered the service in July 1777—was wounded at Fort Montgomery on the 6th of October-- in same year & was discharged that in seven months after he entered the service again 5th of May 1778 and was discharged 3rd February 1779—that in August 1779 he entered the service as Lieutenant under Capt. David McMasters (1)—I here with enclose a copy of that service and will produce a certifyed copy in a few days.—
            James McMasters applied for an invalid pension only during his life time—Hid children have applied under act seventh June 1832.
            Very Respectfully
            Your Obedt Servt, Ephraim Shute, Washington D.C.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of Congress for the 7th of June 1832.
State of New York
County of Tompkins SS
            On this 17th day of March 1854 personally appeared in Court holden at Ithaca in the County of Tompkins and State of New York John McMasters, aged 52 years a resident of Dryden in said County and State, the only son and surviving heir of the late deceased James McMasters, an invalid pensioner of the United States, who being 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 on the 7th of June 1832.
            That declarant has made one declaration before, but that his brother and sisters, David McMasters, Eliza McMasters, and Sarah DeWitt, have since died, and he makes this declaration in order to be better understood by the Department.
            That declarant’s father, the same James McMasters was wounded with a Bayonet in the thigh at Fort Montgomery and that his wound did not affect him much until in old age, and that at the time declarant’s father made application for a pension as an invalid there was then no pension act to allow him to make an application on account of his services, and that it was not therefore necessary for him to state the full amount of his services performed during and in the Revolutionary war, now was necessary to incumber the claim nor Department with a full statement, but merely to state the term in which he was wounded, his Captain then being alive to testify to the fact.  That declarents further the said James McMaster did not know at the time of his death that he was entitled to a pension for his services—nor did declarant know that his father or heirs was entitled to a pension under the act of June 1832 until a short time before making an application for the same.
            That declarant has always understood that his father James McMasters had served at different periods and under different officers in the war of the Revolution.  That declarant has often heard his father talk of his officers Capt. Falkner, Capt. Graham (2), and Capt. David McMasters, that he remembers his father to say that he saw a soldier badly flogged for insulting Captain David McMasters (3)—that his father resided during the revolution in Orange County New York.
            That declarant is fully of the belief that his father did much more service than can be found on record.  Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year above written. (Signed) John McMaster.
D. Boardman, Tompkins County Judge.
:
            Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to James McMaster and Robert Troup, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.  Their histories are given below:
            The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War claim for pension S.23315, based upon the military service of James McMaster or McMasters in that war.  [In margin, hand written note “He signed McMaster”]
            James McMaster resided in Orange County, New York, during the Revolutionary War.  He enlisted in July, 1777, and served as a private in Captain William Faulkner’s Company, Colonel James McClaghry’s [In margin, hand written note “Mrs. F. said use service this way, as the Jas McMaster listed is sgt & pvt in state report of Mch 1854 may have been some  other soldier.  Not the dates of service.”] New York Regiment; was at Fort Montgomery on October 6, 1777, when that fort was attacked and captured by the British in which action he was severely wounded by a bayonet thrust in the right thigh about four inches above the knee, passing through the limb and materially injuring the muscles and joint.  After the battle his company was dispersed.  He enlisted May 5, 1778, and served until January 27, 1779, as a private in Captain Graham’s Company, Second New York Regiment.
            After the battle of Fort Montgomery, he resided in Wallkill, New York, in 1786, he was living in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York, to which place he had moved about the close of the Revolution.
            He was allowed pension from May 6, 1828, on account of disability resulting from the above named injury, at which time he resided in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, where he had then resided for about fifteen years.
            He died July 22, 1837, aged eighty years.
            The soldier’s wife was named Mary.  Her maiden name, date of their marriage and date of her death are not shown, but it was stated that her death occurred prior to that of the soldier.
            Four children are referred to:
            Sarah DeWitte, in 1846, a resident of Marbletown, New York, died about November 1847.
           David McMasters, died November 14, 1847.
           Eliza McMasters, died January 20, 1848.
           The last three children above named were all residing in Caroline, Tompkins County, New York, in 1846.  [In hand writing in the margin, “Son John signed McMasters & some other children’s names as McMasters.”]
The pension which was due James McMaster at his death was paid in 1854 to his son, John McMasters, then aged fifty-two years and the only surviving child of the soldier.  John McMasters then resided in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York.

The following is a reply to a letter of inquiry.
           The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War claim for pension, W. 16450, based upon the military service of Robert Troup in that war.
           Robert Troup entered the service on or before January 1, 1775, as lieutenant and subsequently, while holding that rank, was appointed aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Woodhull and acted as such until after the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, where he was taken prisoner; was confined on board the prison ship, “Jersey”, until the spring of 1777, when he was exchanged and shortly afterward was appointed aide-de-camp to Major General Gates, with the rank of Major; he was present at the battle of Saratoga and afterward carried to Congress the General’s report of the action of September 19, and received the thanks of that body.  By resolve of Congress, of date October 4, 1777, he was appointed lieutenant colonel ; in May 1778, he was appointed Deputy Adjutant General of the Army for the Northern Department; May 29, 1779, he was appointed secretary to the Board of Treasury which appointment he resigned February 8, 1780.  It was stated that he was also secretary to the Board of War.
           He died January 14, 1832.  His age is not stated.
            The soldier married February 18, 1787, in New York City, Jannet Goolet.
            Pension was allowed soldier’s widow, Jannet, on her application executed October 7, 1839, at which time she was aged seventy-eight years and resided in New York City.
            She died January 31, 1840, leaving as her only surviving children, two daughters, Charlotte Brinkerhoff, of New York City, and Louisa Troup, whose residence was not stated   Their ages are not given.
            There are no further data as to family. 

End Notes for James McMasters

  1. They have the service of two different James McMaster or McMasters or more listed.  James McMaster who was wounded at Fort Montgomery on the 6th of October 1777 was enlisted in Captain William Faulkner’s Westside of Walkill Company in Colonel James McClaughey’s Regiment of Ulster County Militia.  Addition by Ken Lifshit: That McMaster is listed under Capt. William Tilford (Telford) also of McClaughey’s Regiment on page 857, Vol. I, Public Papers of George Clinton.  He may have been drafted from his usual company and Tilford was put in command of the detachment.  According to the testimony he had always lived at Walkill during the war.
  2. According to the muster rolls of Captain Charles Graham of the Second Continental New York Regiment McMaster had obtained Jonathan Mullen to serve in his place on January 27, 1779.
  3. James McMaster had been appointed Second Lieutenant on June 25, 1778 in Captain David McMaster’s Company of Tryon, County Militia under Colonel Frederick Visscher (Third Regiment.).  He probably was appointed in 1667 as Abner French who had been captain of the Sixth Company joined the second New York as a lieutenant in the sixth company was appointed captain by 1777.  Also a James McMaster served on the Tryon County Committee of Safety representing the Mohawk District.  Even though he speaks of Captain David McMaster, this declarant John McMaster is incorrect this James McMaster could not have been serving in both counties at the same time in two different regiments.  There is a reference of a James McMaster as early as 1766 living in the Mohawk District, Albany County later Tryon County in 1772.

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