Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for James Sweet

S.21517—NY & RI
State of Vermont
County of Bennington SS.
            On this 5th day of September A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. the Court of Probate for the District of Bennington, now sitting, in open court, before the Hon. The Court of Probate for the District of Bennington, now sitting, James Sweet a resident of Shaftsbury in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont aged 72 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 was subject to drafts each year from the years 1776 to 1778, both years inclusive, in the Rhode Island militia, that I was, as it were on post and in readiness at all times, and repeatedly out on special services—In the year 1776 I was out in Capt. Peter Wright’s company, in the Reg’t commanded by Col. Dyer (1)—principal duty was guarding the Narraganset Shore or Newport Harbor.—In the year 1777, I was again out in service, and did duty this year at sundry points of Newport harbor—and was attached to the same company and Regt.
            In the year 1777 or 1778 I was in the expedition of Gen. Spencer (2) and was principally stationed near Howland’s ferry so called.—I was also out in Gen. Sullivan’s (3) expedition 1778 on the Island of New port.—I cannot recollect all the tours of duty I performed the three preceding years mentioned above, but I know I was at all times subject to orders and in readiness every moment, and that I must have been in the active duties of special commands and detachments as much, and probably more, than two months in each year.
            In the year 1779, I removed from Rhode Island to Shaftsbury Vermont.  In the year 1780, in the spring of the year, I engaged in the revolutionary service in the New York Line of Classed militia—and served for one class 7 months—I was in the first place ordered to Fort Edward and placed under command of Maj. Chipman (4) ommander of the Fort—here I remained five months, while I was at Fort Edward, I remember that Col. Warner, (5) Lieut. Coon, and adjutant Hopkins on their way to Fort George, Called at Fort Edward and tarried for one night—I remember this, because within 24 hours they were ambushed and Hopkins and Coon killed; Col. Warner made his escape and came wounded back again to Fort Edward, the 2d night after his first visit, and next day four balls were extracted from his horse.—Sometime in September, I think, I was marched with others under the command of Sergeant Heath to Schenectady, where I was placed under the command of Capt.Drake (6)  Marched by his orders with others to Fort Stanwix where the company staid about two months when the company was relieved by new levies (7), marched back to Schenectady—and then I was verbally discharged or dismissed to return home.  Maj. Hewes (8) commanded at Fort Stanwix while I was there.  I understood that myself and others were considered in the Regt commanded by Col. Harper.
            He hereby relinquishes 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.
            In answer to the interrogatories propounded by the Court the Applicant declares,
            1st. That he was born at North Kingston, Rhode Island April 11, 1760.
            2d. That he has a copy of the record of his age taken from the town records of North Kingston, Rhode Island.
            3d. That he lived in North Kingston when called into service, in the State of Rhode Island and resided in Shaftsbury when he entered into the New York Line of new levies.
            4th. That he was drafted.
            5th. That among the regular officers who were with the troops where he served, he recollects Gen. Sullivan, Col. Warner.
            6th. That he did not receive a written discharge.
            7th. That he is known to Jonathan Draper & Daniel Harding residing in Shaftsbury and Orsamus C. Merrill residing in Bennington who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.  (Signed) James Sweet.
            Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  Wm. Haswell Registrar

End Notes—James Sweet S.21517

      1. Possibly Colonel Charles Dyer of the Rhode Island Militia.
      2. A Major General Joseph Spencer resigned on 13th January 1778.  Possibly this is the one he mentioned.
      3. Major General John Sullivan.
      4. Captain John Chipman of Lieutenant-Colonel John Harper’s Regiment of New York State Levies.  Captain John Chipman was promoted to Major on June 16, 1780 in Colonel Harper’s Regiment.  In August of 1780 he was a Captain in Colonel Seth Warner’s Regiment of Additional Continentals but the men from his levie company remained in Harper’s Regiment.
      5. Colonel Seth Warner was wounded on September 6, 1780, Adjutant Benjamin Hopkins and Second Lieutenant James Coons of Warner’s Regiment were killed on that day.
      6. Captain Joshua Drake was transferred to Colonel Harper’s Regiment from Colonel William Malcom’s Regiment of New York State Levies in September of 1780.  Drakr took command of the former Captain Chipman’s Company.  James Sweet had two certificates. 18252 £6.. 6.. 2.  & 1830 £3.. 18.. 2  The certificates were transferred to Wm Blak.  Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783, Series M-246, Roll 74, folder 112, National Archives, Washington DC.
      7. They were relieved in November of 1780 by the Fourth New York Continental Regiment.
      8. Major James M. Hughes also had transferred from Malcom’s Regiment to Harper’s Regiment also in September of 1780.
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