John Barton, Revolutionary War Pension Application Papers, Fayette Co., KY -------------------------------------------------- Contributed To the USGW Kentucky Archives by: Lena, "cpeters@colby.ixks.com" January 18, 1999 -------------------------------------------------- Transcription of Revolutionary War Papers Service--New Jersey Barton, John s1164 22-246 Kentucky John Barton, Fayette Co. in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the Command cammanded by Captain Vancleave of the Regt commanded by Col Tolruen [?] in the ----- time of 10 months. ========================================================= Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 33 dollars and 33 cents per annum to commense on the 4th day of March 1834. ========================================================= Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Oct 1833 and Charlton Hunts Lexington. ========================================================= Arrears to the 4th of Sept 83.32 _______allowance ending March 16.66 $99.98 Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832 Reccorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk Book E. vol 7 Page 4 Page 1 Fayette County ___ Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for Fayette County John Barton who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by means of old age and the consquent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as the the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the friends mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ten months /served as a Private Soldier in the War of the Revolution; and for such service I claim a pension given under my hand. Aug 7th, 1833 Sam Shivel J. P. Commonwealth of Kentucky, Fayette County Court I James C. Rodes, clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid, do certify that I am _____ Esquire who has signed the foregoing certificate and was at its date, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified as the law directs, fully authorized to administer oats, and that his Signature is genuine, and to all his acts as such full faith and credit are ___ rights to be given. In testimony whereof I have herinto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County at Lexington, Kentucky this 7th day of August 1833 and in the 42 years of the Commonwealth. H. Rodes Page 2 Declaration in Oder to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, papered June 7, 1832. State of Kentucky Fayette county On the 11th day of April 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Fayette Circuit Court, now sitting, John Barton, a resident of the County of Fayette and State of Kentucky, aged 77 years who being first-duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath mAke the following declaration in oder to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, papered June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the folloing named officers and served as herein stated. Vancleave, Capt, Clifford Lieut, Johnson (I think) was Col. He entered the service about the 20th of August 1776. When he extened this service he resided near Princeton, New Jersey, in Huntenton County in Hopewell Township, he entered as a volunteer he went alone from his residence to Long Island where he joined his Company and the army then under the command of Genl Washington who was in the City of New York. Lord Sterling and ______ Sullivan commanded in ____ upon the Island-after being upon the Island a few days the American Army was attacked by the British commanded by Horne or Clinton after ________ the attack a few hours, our troops were driven back behind _____ _______ ________ Lord Sterling, Gent Sullivan and many of the Americans were taken prisoner and many wounded and killed upon both sides. Affiant--during the action discharged his musket at the enemy about 18 times, his company was attached to the ______ commanded by Genl Sullivan. A Creek lay between the battle ground and our troops, which we swam in attempting which may were drowned after reaching the troops we maintained our position until the next day when Genl Washington comes over and ordered across the River during the night. We marched from New York to the White Plains the enemy in prusuit, we took our position behind the troops at the White Plains, until the British drew near when a portion of the Army was sent out to meet them and check their approach whilst the remainder was engaged in digging trenches and throwing up breast works, _ssisants Regiment was engaged at the latter employmnet. After sustaining the fight for several hours the Americans were driven behind the units where we continued undisturbed until night when the whole Army crossed the North River at top bond on Kings Ferry, and marched to Fort there on the Jersey side, and just as we reached it, fort Washington on the opposite side of the River surrendered. The Enemy then went above and corsset the River, and we upon hearing of it vacated Fort Lee and retreated through ___ ____ Elizabethtown, Bruxswich, Princeton, the enemy pursuing , at the distance of 15 to 20 miles. We reached Princeton early in December 1776., the army continued its retreat to Trenton across the Delwaware, but I was permitted to go home from Princeton upon a furlough, to place my stock and property in a place of safety out of the reach of the British. After remaining at home a few days, I discovered that Cornwalis who was encamped at Pewiny Town sent out small bodies of men to plunder the Country. Six of us united to attack one of those companies that might not be too strong for us, we approached as near the camp as we deemed safe, and shortly perceived a waggon leaving the Camp guarded by six men, which drove up to the town of David Hunt, after they had thrown into the waggon, one, or two tuns of plunder, & returned into the town, we pushed upon them and took them prisoners, we drove the waggon with our Prisoners, nearly all night and reached the Delaware at Robison Ferry the next morning and proceeded on to the head quarters of the Army to give up our prisoners and enter the Army again, but Gel Washington with shom we had an interview suggested us to actions to the neighborhood of Cornwallis suggesting that as we were ___acquainted with the Country we could be of more service in capturing small factions than in any other way. Six returned to our neighborhood where some twenty of us formed a party os capture such of the enemy as might be caught out foraging; we met at the home of James Stout distant about five miles from Cornwallis camp for the purpose of commencing operations upon the morning that we were to start out I left Stouts about daylight to visit my Mother, who lived two miles off and with the intention of returning to Breakfast. An _______ Regiment consisting of 500 British had come out into the neighborhood, the night previous to capture and plunder, as I was riding through a field they perceived me, and thus most of them stationed themselves at the entrance of a lane towards which I was riding and some twenty or thirty near a _____ ____ _______ that led from the field into the lane; as soon as my horse jumped the bars the party stationed there, rose and presented their muskets and ordered me to surrender. I turned my horse up the lane to make my escape, and they all ______ their guns at me, which refused fire, because the powder was wet by a violent hail storm which had beat against me as I approached the lane, and my hat being drawn down to protect my face prevented my seeing the enemy until I was upon them. I then galloped up this lane in the hope of making my escape, but discovered thus troops formed across it, and these who were at the bars advancing upon me. I dismounted, jumped over into a field and endeavored to escape to a wood that skirted it, but was much impeded by the weight of my clothes and was finally overtaken and knocked down, with the buttts of the muskets and while down was stabbed seven times with their bayonetts and still bear upon my person the scars from these wounds. An ______ Sergeant-corporal came ____ and made them _____ and I was taken to Col Hosvomber who swore then would hang me , so soon as we reached a large Tree in the ______ when we got there, the cannon were heard that were firing at Trenton up the 26th December 1777, and they upon hearing thus preceeded rapidly to Princeton and could not take time to hang me. They determined to hang me upon information given them by some of the Tories that I had killed a Tory which was untrue. Dr. DeCamp, an American in the neighborhood who was not _________ because he attended a Tory famiy by the name of Stockton, told Col. Abercrombie to leave me or that I would die from my wounds. He swore that he would not, that he had seen more wounded men, than the Doctor and if he should leave me I would be in Washington camp in twenty four huors. I was then taken in company with some other Americans as a _________ to New York, and confined with 300 others in a sugar house, until ________ by _________ when I was placed in hospital and kept there about a month, when I recovered and was returned to the Sugar house after the confinement of a month; upon thenight of the 26th June 1777 six of us made our escape from a guard who had been sent to the country with us to make us mow for the Company department we escaped to the advance of the American Army commanded by Col Courtland, who gave us permits to go home. I had then been in the service about ten months. he did not join the Army again, but was attached to a Troop of home and was called out for short periods during the continuance of the war whenever the enemy were in the neighborhood. The only regular officers he knew whilst in the service were Genl. Washington, Sullivan, Sterling, & Putman, others he has forgotten. He has no documentary evidence of his service and he knows of no one, whose testimony he can percure, who can testify as to his service. Affiant was born in Hunturton county, New Jersey on the 21st December 1755 He has a record of his age set down by his father in his family ______ which is now in his possession. When called into the service, he lived in Hunterton County, New Jersey, he continued his residence there until 1788 when he removed to Fayette County Kentucky where he has lived ever since he received a written permit to return home from Col courtland which he did not keeper longer than he returned home thinking it of no further consequence. He refers to the following persons, to whom he is know in his present neighborhood, who can testify as to his character for ______, and thus belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. Abram Tranfsson, George Kame, Wm Scott, Andrew Scott and Frederich ________. He hereby relinguishes every claim whatever to an annunity or pensionr except the present and declares that his name is not in the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year afd. [signed John Barton] Abe Caleb M. Cloud, a clergyman, residing in the County of Fayette and Thomas Bodley residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Barton who has subscribed and sworn in the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that his is respected and believed in the neighborhood, whose he ____to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed G. W. Cloud Tho Bodley} And the said court do hereby declare this opinion, after the matter and after putting the interrogations provided by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it apears to them that Caleb W. Cloud who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergymna, resident in the County of Fayette, and that Thomas Rodley who has also signed the same is a resident of the County of Fayette and is a credible persons, and that this statement is entitled to credit. [signed Thomas M. Hick__n. I, Thomas Bodley, Clerk of the Fayette Circuit Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original preceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Barton for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th day of April 1833. [Signed Tho Bodley CFCC] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. 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