Morrison's Pensions
PENSION APPLICATION OF STEPHEN SHEW NO. W1O9O
State of New York
County of Jefferson SS
On
this fourth day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court, before
the Judges of the court of Common Pleas now sitting Stephen Shew, a resident
of Rutland, in the County of Jefferson, and State of New York, aged 71 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 on the 3rd of June 1778, an alarm was given by Solomon
Woodworth a non commissioned officer in Capt: Saml: Rees' company, in Col:
Visschers Regiment of the militia of the State of New York, to the inhabitants
of the frontier settlements in the (then) County of Tryon about 18 miles
east of the Village of Johnstown, that a party of Indians and tories were
over from Canada to Fort Hunter and that in all probability they would return
by the Great Marsh or Fly, about 15 miles east of the Village of Johnstown,
and either murder or take prisoners all that should come in their way. Accordingly
the said Sol: Woodworth ordered all the men in that part of Capt: Rees' company
to turn out immediately in militia service, or rather at his alarm they volunteered
and the Claimant was among the number, and stood his post on guard the same
night. that on the day following, the party above alluded to, attacked that
part of Capt: Rees' company as above stated and took them prisoners, the
Claimant being among the number. That he was conducted to Canada and while
there a prisoner, proposals were made to them to enlist in the British Army
which the Claimant, and the others rejected with disdain, and in December
following was exchanged at Boston and returned to Johnstown on or about the
first of January 1779. That he was immediately enrolled in Capt: Little's
company of Infantry, in the above mentioned Regiment, and that in the early
part of the summer of 1779 the said company was ordered out for militia service,
or rather volunteered, and the Claimant was among the number, and served
therein by keeping Garrison, and marching through the eastern and northern
the (then) County of Tryon, now the County of Montgomery, a full term of
3 months. That in the early part of the summer of 1780 an alarm was given
that the enemy had again invaded the frontier settlements of the (then) County
of Tryon and the militia were again ordered out, and the Claimant again served
a term of 3 months under Capt: Little. that in 1781 the Claimant was again
ordered out under the command of the above named Capt: Little and served
therein by keeping Garrison, and "going on scouting parties" a
term of 3 months. that in 1782 the Claimant was again ordered out for militia
service under the above named Capt: and served a term of at least 3 months
similar to that of 1779.
In the year
1779 or 80 while keeping Garrison as above stated the Fort at Johnstown was
fired upon by the enemy and was returned from the Fort. that in the year 1781
while in the militia service as above stated the enemy made their appearance
near the Fort in Johnstown, the Claimant being among the number in the Fort
was the first to fire upon the enemy, and in company with several others rushed
from the Fort to pursue them, but were soon ordered back by Capt: Little to
guard the Fort, while at the same time, Col. Willet with his Regiment in pursuit
of the enemy arrived at the Fort immediately followed, overtook and attacked
them in what is commonly called the Hall field, a little below the Village,
where a bloody battle ensued and continued untill evening. that early the next
morning the applicant in company with several others followed the enemy, overtook
two of their rear guard and took them prisoners. conducted them back to the
Fort and gave them up to the regular authority of the American Army as prisoners
of War. that in 1780, or, 81 while in the militia service as above stated,
the applicant with several others being on a scouting party took a prisoner
named John Cook about 6 miles east of the Fort in Johnstown and conducted
him to the Fort and gave him up to the regular authority. That during the time
of the several terms of service as above stated the applicant knew Colonels
Marinus Willet, Dubois, Veeder, Waggoner, Jas: Livingston & Harper -
Majors Van Benscouton, & Rowley & Fink
Capt: Sacket.
He hereby
relinguishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present,
and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid -
P. Burchard Clerk Stephen
Shew
I
would like to note here that Stephen served under Captain Littel but was
never part of the company. Stephen is listed on the payroll of Captain Jellis
Fonda's Company of Exempts in Colonel Visscher's Regiment. Stephen's father,
Godfrey, served as sergeant in the same company.
The following
document was copied from the Special Collections and Manuscripts, New York
State Library, Albany, N.Y.. Document No. 002227, Box 14 - Tryon County Militia
- Exempts. (James F. Morrison)
Cauga
Dist Augt 1785
Sir
Please to
let the Bearer My Father Godfred Shew have all the Pay as is due to me for
Sarvice done in Your Company of Exempts and in so doing you will oblige
Your
Huml Servt
Steven
Shew
To Capt Jelles Fonda
Palle Dist
There
are no known records that would explain why Stephen served in the Exempt
Company instead of Littel's Company with his brothers Henry, John and Jacob
which was the company he should have been serving in as they lived
in Johnstown or in the fort.
I would
also like to add that Jelles Fonda's home and store was burned on May 22, 1780
by the forces under Sir John Johnson and Fonda moved to Schenectady where he
remained until after the war.