Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for Joseph Woolcott

S.32,610
            In the matter of Joseph Wolcott, an applicant for a pension, under the act of Congress of June 7, A.D. 1832, Recorded in Book A page 381, E. Patton Clerk.
            The state of Indiana, Switzerland  county, SS.
            On this 17th day of May A.D. 1833, personally appeared, in open court, before the honorable, the Probate court of the county aforesaid, being a court of record, Joseph Wollcott, a resident of Switzerland county Indiana aged sixty eight years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his said oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress, passed the 7th of June, A.D. 1832—that he, the said Joseph Woolcott entered the service of the United States, during the American Revolutionary War, under the following named officers, and served, as herein stated—That he, the said Joseph Woolcott, served, as a private soldier, for three weeks in A.D. 1776, under Capt. Turner for six months as a substitute for my father in A.D. 1777, under Captain Downs for three months, as a private soldier in A.D. 1776 or 1779 under Captain Breadbake for three months as a private soldier in A.D. 1779 or 1780 under Captain Young for seven months as a private soldier in 1780 and 1781 under Captain Tierce or Tess for twenty six months a s a private, seven as a militia man and eighteen as an enlisted soldier as is more fully explained below.
            And that he hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
            The Court, then propounded the following interrogatories to the said Joseph Wollcott.

1. Where, and in what year were you born?  I was born in Newington Connecticut, on the 27th of July AD 1764.

2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  I nave none.  It was recorded in the town records of Newington Connecticut.

3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war; and where to you now live?  I lived in Stephentown Albany County, New York, when first called into service—continued for about 20 years in New York after the war—removed thence to Kentucky and from thence to Indiana.

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted—did you volunteer, or where you a substitute?  And if a substitute, for whom?  Volunteered, was drafted and finally enlisted and served as a substitute for my father.

5. State the names of some of the Regular officers, who were with the troops where you served; such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect; and the general circumstances of your service.  Lieutenants Thornton S. Cole—Adjutant Moore—Captains James Cannon and Wright.  Sergeant Major Cone who was appointed in place of ____who deserted.

            He the said Joseph Woolcot, was drafted in the fall of A.D. 1776, in Albany County, N.Y. in a company of New York Militia commanded by Captain Ichabod Turner, (Joel Peas, lieutenant) of the regiment commanded by Col. Rensselaer and served for three weeks.  He was stationed, with his company at Fort Edward, and continued then the whole time except for a few days, that he was detailed on a fatigue party to construct a causeway on the road leading from Fort Edward to Fort Ann.
            In 1777, I marched as a private and a substitute for my fathers, Augustus Woolcott, from Stephentown, N.Y. and served for six months, in a company of New York Militia commanded by Capt. Downs from Stephentown, we were marched to Lake George fort, and were stationed there between three and four months—from thence we were marched to Stilwater, where we remained until I was replaced by my father.  My father had been called out for nine months, I served for six months and he served the balance of the time.
            In 1778 or 1779, I volunteered and served as a private soldier for three months in a company of New York militia, commanded by Captain Breadbake.  We were marched from Stephentown to a place called Stone Robbin and after a short time we were marched from Stone Robbin on to the Mohawk rivers to a small fort called Oneida (Indian) Castle (not the main Castle, but a small fort, that was known by the same name.
            In 1779 or 1780, I volunteered and served as a private soldier for three months, in a company of New York Militia commanded by Captain Young.  We were marched from Stephentown to the Mohawk river and kept moving along said river from one little fort to another all the time; spending a few days at each of the following forts viz Fort Plain, Fort Plank, Fort Wolrat, Fort Herkiman, &c alternately.
            In 1780 or 1781, I volunteered and served as a private soldier for four months in a company of New York Militia ,commanded by Capt. Newell or Wright.  We were marched from Stephentown to the Mohawk river, and continued in same chain of forts, as last year.
            In 1781, I volunteered, at Schenectady as a private soldier for nine months, in a company of rangers, commanded by Capt. Tierce or Tess—and I served seven months when I enlisted for two years at [fold in paper] in a company commanded by Capt. Peat or Peak, Lieutenant Campbell in the regiment commanded by Col. Willett, and was dismissed after serving Eighteen months.  I served as a waiter to Lieutenant Campbell for seven or eight months of the time and for four of five months as a waiter to Doctor Spangler.  I served, altogether, faithfully during the revolutionary war for the full space thirty seven months and three weeks.

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it signed and what has become of it?  I never received any, but a verbal discharge.

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.  Thomas Davis, John Clark, Dudley Linwell, and Peter Bean and David Brown. 8

8. Have you any documentary evidence of your services, and do you know of any person now living whose testimony you can procure to testify to your services?  I have no documentary evidence and know of no person living by whom I can prove the same.  (Signed)  Joseph Woolcott

             Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  Edward Patton, Clerk.

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