Pension Application

Morrison's Pensions

Pension Application for Adolphus Pickard

S18162 and S43861
State of New York
Jefferson County SS
            On this Fifth day of September 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of the Common Pleas, in and for said County, now sitting, Adolph Pickard a resident of LeRoy in said County, aged seventy two years, 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, and served as herein stated. That he served as a substitute for his brother John as a private in Capt. John Winn’s Company of Rangers at Cooperstown, N.Y. in June 1776 (1) not less than two weeks—that about the first of June 1777 he was called out in the Militia as a Corporal at Springfield under Captain Nicholas Weaser [Weeser, Weiser etc.] Colonel Ebenezer Cock’s [Cox] and served not less than two weeks at Unadilla.—again at the same place and in the same company & Regt in August 177[7] Called out as a Corporal was marched to Fort Stanwix was in the Battle near Oriskany Creek under Gen’l Herkimer (2) when he Gen’l Herkimer received his death wound.—his Col. Cocks [Cox] was also killed, and he (this deponent) received a wound for which he now has an Invalid Pension. He served in this tour not less than two weeks and was discharged at Herkimer. In May 1778 he served not less than two weeks in Garrson at Springfield under Captain Weaser. Col. Sam’l Clyde, as a Corporal. In June 1778 he served as a private not less than three weeks in Garrison at Cherry Valley under Captain Adam Life [Leipe] Col. Clyde—same fall was out as a private under same officers in frequent Scouts in all not less than one month – was called out again in 1779 as a private under Capt. Safrenas Cook (3), Colo. Jacob Clock at Springfield and served not less than four months from May to Nov. in Garrison building fort and fighting Indians & Tories on the Mohawk river.—that about the first of June 1780 he enlisted at Palatine under Capt. John Casselman (4) Colo Brown for seven months and served as a sergeant in that neighborhood was in the Battle when Col. Brown (5) was killed—same day joined Gen’l [Robert]Van Rensselaer and was in another engagement in the afternoon, discharged about the first of Jany 1781 after having the full time for which he enlisted—
            In 1782 (6) enlisted in April or May for nine months at Albany under Capt Peter Terse, Col. Weisenfelt Lieut Col. Willett Maj Van Benschoten (7) & Maj Fink served as a private on the Mohawk river and discharged at Fort Plain after having served the full term for which he enlisted. Maj Gen’l Lord Sterling commanded—
            That he was born in 1761 in Springfield Otsego County New York, knows of no record of his age never received a written discharge & has no documentary evidence & knows of no other evidence he can procure except the testimony of Henry Ganter, Christian Walen & John Kinuts—Since the Revolutionary War he has resided in Springfield, Sandy Creek and LeRoy where he now resides. The following persons reside in his neighborhood and can testify to his character for truth and their belief, and that of the neighborhood that he served the United States in the Revolutionaryb War as above stated viz—Benj. Dighton, David B. Stiles, Nehemiah Gale, Solomon C. Norton, Abraham Kenyon, Ebenezer Leach, Andrew Robinson, Jeremiah Buncon, Jonas Snow, James Hoop, and John Stweart.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except Invalid 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) Adolph Pickard
R. Burchard Clerk
            We, Benj Dighton, a clergyman, residing in the Town of Pamela in said County, and David B. Stiles residing in LeRoy hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Adolph Pickard who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
            Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Benjamin Dighton, Daniel B. Stiles
P. Burchard Clerk
State of New York
County of Jefferson
            On this 10th day of August 1855 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths David Pickard aged forty years a resident of Orleans in the County of Jefferson, State of New York who being duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath declare that he is administrator of the Estate of Adolph Pickard; that the said Adolph Pickard was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States under the provisions of the Act of June 7, 1832 at the rate of Thirty dollars per annum, which pension he continued to receive semi annually during his life at the Agency for paying pensions in Albany and after his death this deponent as Administrator received the balance unpaid at his decease. This deponent further says that his father the said Adolph Pickard died in the Town of Orleans in the State of New York on the 23d day of July 1846 and left no widow and the following named children who are now living and over the age of twenty one years viz: Susannah Hardy; Catherine Turner, Clarissa Pickard, Charles Pickard, Sally Frost, David Pickard all residents of Orleans New York and Nancy Pickard, Mary Tanner & Adolphus Pickard all residents of LeRoy New York Jonas Pickard resident of Bristol New York & Jonathan Pickard a resident of Lock in Michigan and that the aforesaid are all children of the said Adolphus Pickard deceased & that they are the only children of the said Pickard.
            This deponent further declares that his fathers name was Adolphus Pickard; that he was a Dutchman and was generally called Adolph Pickard. He further says that his father was wounded in the Oriskany ballet and was a pensioner of the United States as an invalid. He further says that his father resided with his daughter Mrs. Turner &b Mrs. [Turner?] alleges that he claimed he was not allowed for the extent of his services & that his pension was not as much as he was Entitled to. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining for the above named Children of the said Adolphus Pickard or Adolph Pickard, it being one and the same name the amount of pension to which he was entitled under the Act of June 7, 1832 deducting what has been paid under said act at the rate of thirty Dollars per annum. He further says that he makes this declaration as Administrator & asks that whatever amount which may be found due the aforesaid children may be made payable to him as Administrator, saving considerable expence these being so [?] in [?] the amount—for further proof he refers to the evidence on file by which as Administrator he on the balance due at the decease of his father. He also refers to the certificate of the Comptroller of New York showing [?] amounting to about £27 which he supposes to be exclusive of the Continental service 9 months for which he was pensioned.
            He further says that he was appointed Adenel [?] Ely Esq. of Watertown New York his attorney to prosecute this claim with full power of substitution.
            Sworn & subscribed before me on the day & year first aforesaid & I certify that I know the affiant is a credible person & that I have no interest in this claim.
(Signed) David Pickard
Geo. Farnham JP
State of New York
County of Jefferson SS
            On this 10th day of August 1855 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid John Turner who being duly sworn deposes and says that his wife is the daughter of Adolph or Adolphus Pickard: that he has he [?] read the declaration of David Pickard above named and personally knows all the facts therein set forth to be true: that he is knowing to the fact that the said Adolph Pickard died at the time by him stated; that is wife had died previously and that the children named in the declaration of the said David Pickard are all his lawful children so acknowledged and so reputed and that they are the only children living of the said Adolph Pickard & are all of lawful age. He further says that his wife desires that the amount found due me be made payable to her brother the s’d David Pickard as Administrator. The said Adolph Pickard resided with this deponent & died at his home:   That he frequently claimed that he was not allowed the pension he was entitled to. John Turner
            Sworn & subscribed this day & year aforesaid & I certify that I know said affiant is a man of truth.
Geo. Farnham. JP

End Notes
By James F. Morrison

Captain John Winn’s Company was not formed until August of 1776. John Pickard enlisted as a private on the 16th of August 1776 and he was discharged on the 27th of March 1777. Adolph substituted sometime after the 16th of August. Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783, Series M246, Roll 78, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Adolphus was wounded in the shoulder at the Battle of Oriskany on the 6th of August 1777. He did receive an Invalid Pension from the State of New York. Unfortunately many records were destroyed or damaged in the capitol fire in Albany in 1911. Many of these are damaged but they are on microfilm at the New York State Library, Albany.
Captains Adam Leipe and Severinus Klock were officers from the Tryon County Militia that Pickard served under. Men would be drafted from various companies and regiments to form detachments for selected duties. Adolphus did belong to Captain Nicholas Weeser’s Company whose area would have been in the Town of Springfield.
Pickard enlisted on the 17th of May 1780. Captain Casselman’s Company served under Colonel Jacob Klock’s Authority but the company would serve as guides and scouts for the other officers and regiments.
Colonel John Brown was killed in the Battle of Stone Arabia on the 19th of October 1780. Captain Cassleman’s Company was part of Colonel Brown’s detachment at this battle. In the afternoon of the same day another battle took place near present day St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, N.Y. The Battle was called Klocksfield.
Adolphus enlisted as a private in Captain Peter B. Tearce’s company in Colonel Marinus Willett’s Regiment. Colonel Frederick Wiesenfell’s Regiment of Levies was a separate levy regiment that served in Westchester County, New York.
Majors Elias Van Benschoten and Andrew Fink.