Pension Application

R.9350
State of New York
Orange County SS.
            Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Orange, Samuel Sears who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grade—For one year I served as a private in the Militia of the State of New York and for such service I claim a pension. (Signed with his mark) Samuel Sears
            Sworn & subscribed before me this day of June 1833.
            J.W. Eagen Justice of the Peace.

State of New York
Orange County SS.
            On this 21st day of September 1832 personally appeared before me, Nathaniel P. Hill one of the Judges of the Court of American Pleas in and for said county of orange Samuel Sears a resident of the town of Montgomery in said County aged seventy nine years who being duly sworn according to law on his oath makes 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 has herein stated.
            That as a militiaman he [?] belonged to the company commanded by Capt. Newkirk of said town & state aforesaid, did militia duty in said company till said Newkirk was promoted and that then Cap. Matthew Felter of said town was made Captain in his place and deponent did duty under him.
            That his first service was at Fort Constitution on the North River in the year as he thinks 1775. That from that time until the end of the Revolutionary War he was out occasionally into actual service—some times a few days at a time at others a few weeks and sometimes as long as one month or more.—That the company of Cap. Felter in whole or in part was out very frequently at different places on the North River and on the frontiers during the whole of the war—that the militia companies were classed and when the alarm was great and general the whole companies would go out but when others were a class or some small portions of each company would be ordered out—that on other named occasions when ordered out said applicant always went and staid till discharged—that he remembers during his revolutionary services of being on duty at Fort Constitution at Mamakating at [?] at [?] and at Phelps [?] Mill at Snake Hill near Newburgh.
            That his service was either on the North River guarding against the incursions or attacks by the English or on the frontiers guarding them against the incursions of the Indians.
            That from age and decay of memory he cannot and therefore is un[?] to state the different periods of his service as a militiaman other as to the particular years in which they were performed or the length of his several periods of service but states he belief with [?] that all his periods of service amount to one full year and more, and that Elnatham Sears of Sullivan County can testify to his services as a soldier and Christian Roat & Joshua Cooper of Montogmery or as to his reputation as a soldier—and in answer to the interrogatories put by the war Department he states that he was born at White Plains West Chester in N.York on the 7 of May 1753.
            That he has a record of his age in the possession of his brother Elnathan Sears when called into service he resided in the town of Montgomery Orange County N.York and has resided in said town ever since the Revolution except six years when he resided in Ulster Co. N.York, now lives in said town of Montgomery.
            That his services were on his [?] account as a militia man.
            That at the taking of Fort Montgomery Gen & Governor Clinton was then in service don’t recollect any other gen. officer except Col. McLaughrey, never had a discharge.
            He hereby relinquishes he claim to every pension or annuity whatever except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. (Signed) Samuel Sears.
            Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid. Nath’l P. Hill.

Copyright © 1998, -- 2008. James F. Morrison and Berry Enterprises. All rights reserved. All items on the site are copyrighted. While we welcome you to use the information provided on this web site by copying it, or downloading it; this information is copyrighted and not to be reproduced for distribution, sale, or profit.