WILLIAM & ABIGAIL HILL REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION,SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY Contributed by: Stephen Emery (scemer01@athena.louisville.edu) ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** William & Abigail Hill According to records of the pension files from the SAR headquarters in Louisville, KY, William G. Hill received Revolutionary War pension #W-13447, upon his application dated 12 Oct. 1832, at age 68. His wife, Abigail, was allowed a widow's pension in March 1845, about five months after William's death. A letter dated August 1, 1927 from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington Gardner, Commissioner, addressed to Captain Charles A. Hill, a descendant of San Diego, California, it states that William was Born April 20, 1764, in Westchester County, N. Y. Further, "while residing in Dutchess County, New York, he served in the New York Troops as follows: In 1777, William Hill served twelve months as Private under Captain William Swartout. The militia was divided into classes of twelve men each "to guard the passes of the highlands which were then subject to depredations of the Refugees." This service took the classes out about once a week. From April 26, 1780, two months as Private under Captain Isaac Van Wyck. This was his when he "was first legally enrolled in the Militia." This is when William "went out as a Private upon a general call of the Militia and marched to West Point to garrison the fort there." He indicated that he "was not drafted, but volunteered under the command of Captain Isaac VanWyck, marched to the garrision, did garrison duty and assisted in building a fort on Constitution Island in which services my impression is we were employed at least two months." Three months in Captain Henry Humfrey's Company and was discharged in December 1780. From July or August 1781, about five months as Corporal in Captain Whit's Company, Colonel Weissenfels Regt. According to his application for pension, "In 1781, I again volunteered as a Private out of my class of the Militia under the command of Captain Henry Humphrey. We marched to Albany, thence up the Mohawk river, across again to the North river and befor the service concluded went to Canada. This service was against the Indians under Brandt who attacked the frontiers of New York. We marched out in warm weather and did not return until the fall. We waded thru the snow two feet deep, but can't tell what month we went out or returned. I have no hesitation in saying we ****** out three months in this service during this time. I started with a flag to Canada to take three hundred and fifty women and children, families of Scotch soldiers, who were in the British army. We were out nine days and nine nights without any shelter and met the British on Lake Champlain who were coming to rescue them. I was discharged in December at Albany and got home about the hollow days in 1782. I again went out as a Corporal under Captain White in Colonel Wisenfelt regiment (who was a *****) officer in Service of the United States. In this I was out about five months. We went out in July or August. The first part of the time I was sick and joined the Regiment at Saratoga, but having marched too far was compelled to go to the Hospital at Albany. This was about the time of the capture of Cornwallis. The next day I started and joined by Regiment again at Saratoga. There we were engaged in building a block (or black) house, which we did and were finally discharged at Poughkepsie. We were called nine months more. It was five or six weeks before we were organized but served actually about five months. We were commanded by General Stark of Vermont. I have no documentary evidence of my service, never had any discharge in writing, nor is there any person living in this county by whom I can prove my service." This letter was witnessed by John Moore, Justice of the Peace and attested by Wm. P. Robeson, Abraham Vancampen, and Robert M. Teel. (The above referenced information is taken from the pension application letter of William Hill). The pension file also included a copy of a "family record" of the births of this Hill family. It is written in a very legible ink record, perhaps by quill pen and ink. Abigail's application letter was written by Daniel D. Decker (justice of the peace). Abigail signed with an "X" as "her mark". (She was probably not able to write due to her age or due to inability to write.) John W. Martin witnessed the letter by his signature. A second letter from Abigail's file indicates that she was married to William Hill at the home of her father in Shenandoah, Dutchess County, New York; and that they married on the fourth day of November 1786, by a W. Vanwyck through an acting justice of the peace and that her name before the marriage was Abigail Knapp. She also stated that she had no record of the marriage nor did she know of any. This letter is witnessed by Azariah Davis and Uriah Hill There is also a copy of a receipt from the Loan Office of Trenton Bank dated March 18, 1846 that indicates "Received of Philemon Dickinson, Agent for paying Pensions in New Jersey, Twelve and 71/100 Dollars, being for Six Months' Pension, due to Abigail Hill widow of William Hill from the fourth day of Sep. 1845 to the fourth day of March 1846 for which I have signed Duplicate Receipts. (This is signed by D.W. Rice)." Abigail's annual rate of pension is indicated on a Certificate of Pension at $25.43 per annum. This certificate was sent to John W. Martin in Newton, NJ, which was then forwarded to Uriah Hill in Flatbrookville, Sussex County, NJ on July 5, 1845. (According to the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 36 at p. 68, "in 1777, age 13, he enrolled in Mil. Co. divided into classes of 12 each, to guard the Highlands against Tories, British, and Indians. He 'served under Capt. William Swartout and acted in this capacity during the Rev.' In 1780 he was legally enrolled as a militiaman; in 1781 he served again as a Pvt. out of his class, under Capt. Henry Humphrey; went to Albany; up the Mohawk; and later to Canada against the Indians under Brandt; was discharged in December and in 1782 went out as Cpl. under Capt. White in Col. Wisenfelt's Regt. (Prussian officer); last service was under Gen. Starke, of Vt. 'about 7 yr. ago Joshua Lane of Ulster Co.; James Schut, of same and Daniel Reeves of Delaware Co., N. Y., were living and served with me.' Joseph Fish, of Ulster Co., dep. that he served with William Hill under Capt. Henry Humphrey; Joshua Lane, that he served with sd. Hill in the Rev. War; Uriah Hill also dep. that he knew Wm. Hill served as stated. Abigail Hill appld. in Mar. 1845, age 76, from Walpack, N. J. as the wid. of William Hill, Rev. War pensioner who d. there 16 Oct. 1844. They were m. 4 Nov. 1786 by ----- Van Wyck, J. P., at her father's house in Shenandoah, Dutchess Co., N. Y.; her maiden name was Abigail Knapp. She filed the Bible record: (copy on file)" William was allowed pension on his application executed October 12, 1832, while a resident of Pahaquarry Township, Warren County, New Jersey. A copy of his Certificate of Pension is also included in the SAR information. His certificate was sent to J.W. Martin in Mount Hope, Orange Co. N. Y. This was recorded by H.S. Evans in Book E2, Vol. 3, page 135. Soldier married November 4, 1786, at her fathers house in Dutchess County, Shenandoah, N. Y., Abigail Knapp who was born August 9, 1769, she was allowed pension on her application executed in March 1845 while a resident of Wallpack, New Jersey." It is worth noting that William was only 13 years old when he served in Captain Swartout's Company in the Revolution. Family tradition is that he was a large lad for his age.