Morrison's Pensions
John Myers
W.20271
State of New York
County of Schenectady
On this 18th day of June 1839, personally appeared before the undersigned one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county, Mary Myers of the Town of Duanesburgh in said county, and made oath in due form of law, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act Congress passed 7 July 1838, that she is the widow of John Myers late an officer in the Army of the Revolution.
That her maiden name was Helsel. That she was married at Schenectady by the Rev. David Romeyn, then pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church in Schenectada, on the ninth day of March one thousand seven hundred and ninety one.
That said John Myers her late husband departed this life at or about the tenth day of June 1823.
That since his decease she has remained single and unmarried and is still unmarried and the widow of said John Myers. That she was not married to him previous to the expiration of his term of service in the Revolution but that her marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1784, viz at the time above stated.
This declarant further saith, that she has no personal knowledge of the services of her said husband, yet remembers often to have heard him relate some particulars of his said service.
That he served as commanding officer of the Company of Captain Miller or Muller (can’t read a section here) the Schoharie Regiment commanded by Colonel Vrooman. That said Captain was cashiered for cowardice shown at the battle of Cobleskill in Schoharie and her said husband thereupon took the command of his company.
That she has heard him speak of his services at the Schoharie forts.
That he served at Saratoga and at some fort on the Hudson before he was appointed a Lieutenant and under one Captain Van Santwood or Sanford pursuant to a regular enlistment for at least six months.
That after serving as Lieutenant in said regiment her said husband being an excellent penman and a man of various talents he acted as a commissary with the New York troops in one of the counties and adjoining Schoharie but how long she cannot say. Nor can she give any further particulars of his services in the Revolution. She further saith that she cannot find any documents or papers relating to his services. That he once had a commission in his possession as Lieutenant but the same is now lost.
(Signed with her mark) Mary Myers.
State
of New York
County of Schoharie
The deposition of Peter Ball of the Town of Sharon in the County of Schoharie in said state aged eighty-four years who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he has been a pensioner of the United States under the act of July 7th 1832. That in the beginning of the war he became acquainted with John Myers. That this knowledge of the military services of said John Myers during said war extends to the following particulars that he knows he went up with him to Fort Edwards and that they drew three times provisions at Fort Edward and from there they marched to Johnstown and was there nine days and from Johnstown to Schoharie with a detachment under the command of Col. Vrooman at which last named place he said they continued on duty till they were discharged and that this deponent believes that John Myers served as officer through the whole war and this said deponent further saith that the capacity in which said John Myers served was a first Lieutenant the rank he held as long as he was acquainted with him.
(Signed) Peter Ball
On this 9th day of October 1838 personally appeared before me the undersigned Peter Ball above named to me well known who made oath. That the facts set forth in the foregoing deposition by him signed are true and correct as he believes and I certify that said Peter Ball is a credible witness.
Sworn before me the 9th day of October 1838.
Corn’l Van Atrtim, Justice of the Peace
The deposition of Harmon Peters of the Town of Charlton County of Saratoga and State of New York, aged seventy six years and upwards, who testifies and says, that he was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and is now a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress passed 7 June 1832.
That during said war this deponent was well acquainted with John Myers who hailed from the Schoharie Regiment under Command of Col. Vrooman that he resided in what is now the Town of Duanesburgh in the County of Schenectada, when he this deponent was on duty with the Schenectada Militia at the Schoharie forts in the summer of 1778, he and said John Myers on duty there also as a commanding officers of a detachment for a term of not less than six weeks.
In the fall of the same year, deponent being on duty then and there also, for about three weeks he saw John Myers again on duty with a detachment as aforesaid, he is not certain that on other occasions he was a captain but thought that he was.
Deponent believes that Jacob Dockstader had command of the Lower Schoharie fort at this time. Of the other services of said Myers deponent has no knowledge.
(Signed) Harmon Peters
Bartholomew Schermerhorn of the Town of Rotterdam in the county of Schenectada, in the State of New York being duly sworn saith, that he is a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.
That during the Revolutionary War he well knew John Myers a Lieutenant in the regiment of Colonel Peter Vrooman of Schoharie.
That after the said war he also knew the wife of said Myers whose maiden name was Hatzel or Hidsel but deponent cannot say.
When said Myers was married he thinks it was at least nearly fifty years ago.
That said Myers and his wife then lived in the town of Duanesburgh in said county.
That said wife named Mary after the death of said John Myers, which occurred at about fifteen years ago, has remained single and unmarried, and is still the widow of John Myers aforesaid. This deponent further saith that when Cobleskill was burnt in 1778, he saw said John Myers on duty there with a detachment of men from his said Regiment. This was after the battle and how long he had been there before, this deponent cannot recollect if he ever knew.
This deponent also heard that said John Myers acted as a Quarter Master or Commissary in the last two or three years of the war, but cannot specify his services in that capacity or speak with certainty which of the two offices he held, but knows that he was a lieutenant as aforesaid and often heard of his services in that capacity.
(Signed) Bartholomew Schermerhorn
On this 5th day of October 1838, personally appeared before the undersigned Bartholomew Schermerhorn above named and made oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing deposition by him the signed are true, and I certify that said Bartholomew Schermerhorn is a credible witness.
Jno. Harman, J. Peace
Joseph Peek of the City of Schenectada in said county of Schenectada being duly sworn that he well knew the aforesaid John Myers became acquainted with him after said War of the Revolution, heard of, but has not had any personal knowledge of his services that he passed by the name of Major Myers but supposes he acquired that rank after the war. That he resided in Duanesburgh, when he this deponent, often saw him as well as his wife now widow Mary Myers. That since his death she has remained single and is still unmarried.
(Signed) Joseph Peek
On this 5th day of October 1838, personally appeared before me the subscribed Joseph Peek to me well known and made oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing affidavit by him signed are true, and I certify that he is a credible witness.
J. D. Harmon, Justice of the Peace
Schenectada County for John DeGraff of the Town of Mohawk in the County of Montgomery in the State of New York being duly sworn saith, that during the Revolutionary War he was well acquainted with John Myers whose widow Mary is now an applicant for a pension.
That said John Myers resided in what is now called Duanesburgh in said County of Schenectada and within the bounds of the regiment commanded by Col. Peter Vrooman of the Schoharie District.
In the fall of the year 1779, when the deponent was on duty in the Company of Captain John Van Patten and Regiment of Colonel Wemple he saw said John Myers then and there, also having commanded of a detachment of men from said regiment of Colonel Vrooman.
But how long said Myers served at this time and place. Deponent cannot specify and that he said Myers proceeded from thence to other places and forts as deponent and understood at the time and believes to be true.
That in the fall of the year 1777, when he this deponent was on duty at Saratoga in the Company of Capt. John Van Patten and regiment of Colonel Wemple aforesaid, he saw said John Myers on duty at Fort Edward and other posts in that vicinity and knows that he served at least twenty days but cannot remember his officers and further saith not.
(Signed with his mark) John De Graff
Subscribed and sworn this 15th Sept. 1838, before me and I certify deponent to be a credible witness.
John H. Van Eps, Justice of the Peace
State
of New York
County of Schenectada
Alexander Murray aged eighty years and a pensioner of the United States, residing in the Town of Leicester in the County of Livingston in said state, being duly sworn saith, that during the War of the Revolution, he resided in that part of the County of Tryon (now Montgomery) now called Florida, and this deponent then became acquainted with John Myers, who resides in the neighborhood of this deponent in what is now called Duanesburgh.
This deponent did not commence military service until the year 1778, being then sixteen years of age; yet deponent well recollects that said John Myers in the year previous if not before was engaged in the discharge of military duties as an officer of the militia in the company of Captain Miller (or Muller) in the regiment of Colonel Vrooman of the Schoharie. Deponent cannot give any particular specification of his services previous to 1778, aforesaid yet knows that previous to that year he was engaged in military services away from home for several months and on several occasions.
This deponent performed military duty as a soldier in the company of militia
commanded by Captain David McMasters in the Regiment of Colonel Fisher at
the Schoharie forts in the year 1778, and this deponent well recollects that
said John Myers performs military duty there also for at least two months.
And this deponent well knows that said John Myers served during subsequent
years of said war on sundry occasions as such lieutenant, but deponent is
unable to particularize, principally for the reason that after the year 1778,
deponent was engaged in active duty at distant and different places from those
in which the said Myers served.
This deponent also recollects hearing at the time thereof that said John Myers served for a year or more as a Commissary of Issues, but when or where deponent is unable to say.
Deponent continued to cultivate the acquaintance of said Myers and also of his wife Mary (Hedsel) until the day of his death and this deponent has several times seen said Mary after her husband’s decease and has been informed and believes that she is still unmarried and living.
(Signed) Alexander Murray
State
of New York
Otsego County
Nicholas Righter of the Town of Middlefield in the county and state aforesaid aged eighty-five years who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a pensioner of the United States under the act of July 7th 1832.
That he was acquainted with John Myers 8 or 10 years before the year of the revolution commenced that said John Myers enlisted as a sergeant under Lieutenant Abram Becker of Schoharie and Capt. Sanford.
That this deponent and said John Myers marched together from Duanesburgh to Stillwater in the month of May and there remained on duty for six months that being the time for which said ??? was enlisted but deponent cannot say what year it was in.
Deponent and said John Myers with a detachment of infantry men marched from Duanesburgh to Cobleskill under the command of Capt. Derrick Miller and that Col. Yates commanded at Cobleskill and that they staid (stayed) and continued on duty for at least eight days. This was in the fore part of July but deponent can’t recollect the year; it was at the time Cobleskill was burnt this deponent also marched with said Myers on an alarm to Johnstown that they continued on duty there for two weeks at least it was in the fall of the year, can’t tell the year.
That this deponent and said Myers marched to Johnstown under Capt. Reychmine of Schoharie in the winter. General Schuyler was in command then it was at the time Sir John Johnson capitulated and gave up his arms they were on duty at least seven days.
This deponent and said Myers marched to Schoharie continued there on duty till at the time it was burnt they then followed the enemy to Stone Arabia which they burnt the detachment which deponent and Myers was in joined General Clinton’s forces at Fort Plain which proceeded up the river to German Flats in this expedition deponent and Myers were on duty at least three weeks.
This deponent also saith that said John Myers resided within one and a half miles of deponent during the war and that he Myers is Lieutenant in all the aforesaid expeditions after he returned from Stillwater and this deponent served as a private soldier under said John Myers.
On this 15th day of October 1838 personally appeared before me the undersigned Nicholas Righter above named to me well known who made oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing deposition by him signed are true and correct and I certify that said Nicholas Rightor is a credible witness
(Signed with his mark) Nicholas Rightor
Subscribed and sworn before me and sworn before me Oct 15th 1838
Gustavus White, Justice of the Peace