Morrison's Pensions

Pension Application for John L. Schermerhorn

W.17785 (Widow: Anna. Married 23rd August 1781 by theReverend Waters in the Town of New Concord, Dutchess County.) John was born in 1762 in Schodack, Rensselaer County.  He died 23rd day of August 1836.
Declaration: In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
State of New York
Albany County SS.
            On this 18 day of September personally appeared in open court before the Judge of a Court of Common Pleas in and for the county aforesaid, John L. Schermerhorn of the town of Berne in the County of Albany and state aforesaid aged seventy 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 7th, 1832.
            That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
            That he enlisted in the town of Philipstown (as then called) in the County of Rensselaer state of New York on the 21st day of August in the year 1782 under Capt. Houghstrasser for four months was mustered in Albany soon thereafter & joined Capt. Woodworth’s Company of Col. Willett’s Regiment and marched to Fort Plain.  Capt. Woodworth’s company was ordered out on a scouting tour marched up the Mohawk river to Fort Herkimer in the month of October crossed the river at the Fort and marched up East Canada Creek early in the morning had not proceeded far when we [not legible] were furiously attacked by a body of Indians counting of about 400 (as afterwards informed) fought them until the whole company were killed except this deponent and six others who were taken prisoners and conveyed by the Indians to Buffalo this deponent was then taken by a squaw and adopted as her son who had lost one in the aforesaid battle the Indians stated that they had [?] of one hundred of their men killed.  Resided with my adopted mother till May following in 1783 when he went with her to Niagara while there became acquainted with one Philip Stedman who by my entreaties interceded with the woman and purchased me for one hundred dollars and paid her the money and for which he this deponent engaged to labor faithfully for him for one year labored for his one year was then discharged from his service and returned home in 1784.
            Has no documentary evidence nor knows of any person now living who can testify to his service or captivity.  Was born in the town of Schodack Rensselaer County State of New York in the year 1762 age recorded on Church records in the town of Schodack aforesaid.  Lived in the town of Philipstown when called into the service.  Lived in the town of Schodack after returning from Canada til about the year 1792 then moved to the town of Bern County of Albany & state of New York where he now resides.  Knows of no person now living who can testify to his services and captivity and has no documentary evidence of the same knows of no minister of the gospel now living who can testify but that Nathaniel Gallup Esquire and Albert Gallup now high sheriff of the said County of Albany and who has resided in his neighborhood for more than twenty years can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a Revolutionary Soldier and his imprisonment among the Indians as set forth in his declaration.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state.  (Signed with his mark)  John L. Schermerhorn
            Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.  C. A. TenEyck, [?]
Subscriber’s note: no year on this deposition.

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