Pension Application

W.20,085 (Widow: Ann)
Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled “An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.”
State of New York SS.
            On this second day of August 1838, personally appeared before the undersigned First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Schenectada in said State, Anna Thornton a resident of the City of Schenectada in the county of Schenectady, aged seventy-one years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain he benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838 entitled, “An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.”
            That she is the widow of John Thornton who was a Lieutenant in the Regiment under command of Col. Marinus Willett in the War of the Revolution during (as this declarant believes) the years 1780, 1781, 1782, & 1783. That said John Thornton during his lifetime received an annuity of $240 per annum under the act of 18th March 1818, and served as will appear by reference to the documentary evidence (as this declarant has been informed and believes to be true) now on file in the Department of the Secretary of War of the United States.
            She further declares, that she was married to the said John Thornton on the ninth day of march in the year seventeen hundred and eighty nine; that her husband the aforesaid John Thornton died on the twenty second day of March 1819; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz; at the time above stated, as will appear from the certificate hereto annexed. (Signed) Ann Thornton
            Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written before me—and I the said Judge do hereby certify that said Declarant Anna Thornton cannot from bodily infirmity attend court. S. W. Jones—First Judge of Schenectady County.

Declaration of John Thornton
State of New York
County of Schenectady SS.
            John Thornton, formerly a Lieutenant in the service of the United States, now a resident of the City and County of Schenectady in the State of New York, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one during the war of the revolution, he was appointed a Lieutenant of levies for nine months service, raised from the New York, Militia to complete a Regiment commanded by Colonel Marinus Willett—That he was attached to a company commanded by Captain Stephen White in said Regiment, and that he served as Lieutenant for the full term for which those levies were raised.
            That in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two he again served as Lieutenant in Captain Guy Youngs Company of levies as aforesaid in the Regiment aforesaid, until sometime in the summer of that year, when by order of Colonel Willett he was attached to a company commanded by Captain Peter B. Teirce, of said Regiment, whose company was in service by enlistment for the term of three years. That in the month of October one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, he was detached from the said Regiment and took command of Fort Stanwix in the State of New York, and continued in command of said Fort until the Tenth day of May one thousand seven hundred and eighty four when he was relieved—That after the peace in one thousand seven hundred & eighty three, the said regiment was reduced to a Battlaion and was commanded by Major Elias VanBunscoten, and were all discharged except this deponent and his command at Fort Stanwix, he thinks on the fifth day of January one thousand seven hundred and eighty four, at Schenectady aforesaid—That after this deponent was relieved in his command of Fort Stanwix, he went to Philadelphia and was discharged from service and paid off by John Peirce Pay Master Genl of the US Army on the First or Second day of July One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Four, except some small arrearages, which were paid him by Capt. Howell about the twentieth of December of that year 1788 or 1789.
            This deponent further says that he served in the war of the revolution the full term of nine months in the year one thousand seven hundred & eighty one, and from the time he entered the service again in one thousand seven hundred and eighty two until the close of the war, and until the time of his discharge in July one thousand seven hundred and eighty four—and that he is by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, in need of assistance from his country for support—And further this deponent says, that he has never received any pension or had any allowed him for his services aforesaid by the Laws of the United States. And that he is now about sixty five years of age. And further he saith not. (Signed) John Thornton
            Sworn before me this 16th day of March 1818. John Yates one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Schenectady.

State of New York
County of Schenectady SS.
Jellis A. Fonda, of the City and County of Schenectady being duly sworn deposeth & saith, that he was during the war of the revolution adjutant of the Regiment of New York State Troops on the continental Establishment under the command of Colonel Marinus Willett—That said Regiment was raised by enlistment for the term of Three Years—That he served as adjutant as aforesaid until the second day of November 1782, when he was promoted to a Captaincy—That he has for many years been personally acquainted with John Thornton, who has made oath to the foregoing affidavit & subscribed the same. That the said Thornton was a Lieutenant in the said Regiment & that this deponent has a personal knowledge of the facts in relation to the service of the said Thornton as set forth in his affidavit above, and knows them to be true—and further says not. (Signed) Jellis A. Fonda.
Sworn before me this 11th day of April 1818. John Yates. One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Schenectady.

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