PENSION: Wynsen Bruisee; Gallatin, Columbia co., NY Submitted by Donald E. Lampson ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** State of New York} }Ss.: Columbia County } On this twenty sixth day of July in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson in the county aforesaid Wynsen Bruizee (sic.), a resident of the Town of Gallatin in the County of Columbia and State of New York, aged upwards of Seventy three Years, who, being duly swornaccording to Lay doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. This Declarent, Wynsen Bruisee (sic.) says that he was born in the town of Gallatin in Columbia County and will be Seventy four Years of age in August next. This Deponent says that during the Revolutionary War this Deponent resided in that part of Columbia County now called Hillsdale with his Uncle Tuenis Bruisee when this Deponent entered into the United States Service. And since said War this Deponent has resided in the County of Columbia in the Town of Germantown and Gallatin. This Deponent enlisted for nine months and was taken by one Peter Loop who was a Lieutenant from Hillsdale to Albany. The troops assembled at the public house of one Vosburg in Hillsdale in said County of Columbia and from there marched to Albany. At Albany he remained a short time and marched from thence to Schenectady. Remained there a short time. Marched from thence to Fort Plains. Remained there the greater part of the nine months. And while there an Express came that the Enemy under Butler, Brandt & others were at Johnstown destroying ********* and murdering the Inhabitants. The troops at Fort Plains marched to Johnstown and there had a Battle with the Enemy. There were about 300 of Indians and Tories of British, and the Americans were about 300 strong as this Deponent verily believes. During the Engagement there were twelve of the Americans killed and the loss of the Enemy was much larger, as this deponent understood & verily believes, but the Indians removed most of their dead & wounded. So that it was impossible to ascertain the exact number of the Enemy killed. - The battle was fought north of the village of Johnstown - The Americans made **** Charge. One William Jones(?) was shot down by the side ********. Jones was shot through the body with a rifle ball - The American troops remained in Johnstown the night after the Engagement, and the next morning the American Troops followed the Enemy north **** from Johnstown until they came to East Canada Creek. There the Americans halted and gave up the pursuit. From Canada Creek where the pursuit ended the Americans marched to Fort Plains again - Were gone on this Expedition from the fort 5 Days, as this Deponent believes. - This Deponent was one who stood guard during the night after the Engagement. This Deponent remained at the fort until he was regularly discharged at the Expiration of his 9 months service. Performed this Service under Captain Harris and under Colonel Marius Willet from the first part of March 1781 until the first of December 1781 - This Deponent recollects that while the American troops lay in the fort where this Deponent lay the Roll was regularly called and a gun was fired every morning generally about sun rising. This Deponent thinks & believes that there were about 400 Soldiers in the fort at this time that this Deponent lay there in Garrison - This Deponent recollects one John Hermance who enlisted in the same Company with Deponent and at Albany this Deponent was placed under the command of Captain Harris - - This Deponent also says that he did duty in 1779 under Captain Lodowick Snyder, under a Captain Irvin and also under a Captain Shaver in 1780 - as a minute man, but the exact time he cannot state, but believes that the time exceeds three months in all, and from his age and consequent loss of memory he cannot state more fully the period of his services -- This Deponent also says that he was taken to Albany and there this Deponent was sworn to be true and faithful and his size was taken age and complexion, and at Albany this Deponent was transferred to the Company commanded by Captain Harris in the Regiment of Colonel Marius Willet. This Deponent further says that he has no Documentary Evidence as his ********** of his Services performed in the United States Serviceduring the Revolutionary War. This Deponent knows of no one living who can testify to his Services except Major Jacob Esselstyne of Claverack, whom this Deponent understands is still living, can recollect the facts in regard to the Campaign mentioned by this Deponent as set forth in his Declaration - This Deponent further says that he is informed and verity believes that his Officers under whom he served are all dead. And this Deponent 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 any State The following Interrogatories were then put and answers thereto are all hereunder written. To the 1st Question: Where and what year were you born? Ans: I was born in Gallitin, Columbia County then called Livingston's Manor in August 1759. 2nd Question: Have you any record of your age & if so where is it? Ans: I have none other than my recollection. 3rd Question: Where you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer: I resided in the County of Columbia County, that part called ***** flatts now Hillsdale with my Uncle Teunis Bruizee and since the Revolutionary War I resided in said County of Columbia in the town of Germantown and I now reside in the town of Gallatin. 4th Question: How were you called into Service? Ans: I enlisted for 9 months - & volunteered for three months. 5- Question: State the name of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental & Militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service? Ans: I cannot recollect the names of any other officers than Colonel Willet and Captain Harris under I served ********* other Captains, but there names I do not recollect, and for the circumstances attending my service I cannot state the same more fully than I have in this my declaration to which * ** **** ***** _ I would however mention one fact that is not fully stated in my declaration, that I enlisted under Lieutenant Peter Loop and was transferred into the Company of Captain Harris. So I was not under the command of Lieutenant Loop, which fact I wish to be considered as a part of my declaration. 6- Question: Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service? Ans: I did receive a regular discharge after the expiration of my Service but not in writing that I recollect, but if I did get any writing the same is lost and destroyed. 7- Question: 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. Ans: I would refer to William Bartrick and Johannis Righter of Gallatin, also to John DikmanJr. Of Gallatin and to *** Bartrick also of Gallitin who are neighbors of this Deponent and who will testify in regard to the Character of this Deponent and their belief as to the Services performed by this Deponent. Also Jacob Esseltyne of Claverack for suck information as he may recollect in regard to the active duty performed by this Deponent. His Wynsen X Bruizee mark Subscribed & sworn to The day & year aforesaid. /s/ * * Parker, Clerk (Certifications to veracity and belief as to service omitted. Both Johanis Righter & William Batrick were 83 years in when they made their sworn certifications in 1833 and probably served themselves at least in the massive call up for the Battles of Saratoga. John Dickman Jr. recalls Applicant speaking in detail of the Battle of Johnstown and saying that the soldier standing next to him was shot. All four witnesses state that everyone in the neighborhood knew him to be a Soldier of the Revolution.) _____________________________________________________________ State of New York} }Ss.: Columbia County } Jacob Esselstyne, being duly sworn, says that he recollects of in 1781. That Peter Loop ***** was a Lieutenant in the Company in which this Deponent served in the nine months service as stated as stated by said Wynsen Bruisee. That said Loop was from Hillsdale and this Deponent further says that a John Hermance named by said Bruisee was in the nine months Service and served in the same Company with this Deponent. This Deponent further says that he recollects of ******* (leaving?) after the Encampment at Johnstown as stated by said Bruisee in his Declaration hereto annexed and recollects of the troops laying at fort Plains in 1781 -- This Deponent is confident that said Bruisee was enlisted with ******** John Hermance as stated by him he must have been in the Nine Months Service, but this Deponent never knew said Bruisee during the Revolutionary war nor since said War, but recollects Teunis Breisee whom said Wynsen represents as his uncle living in Columbia County in Hillsdale and this Deponent recollects of Captain Harris being in the War at the Northward and in the Engagement at Johnstown. That Capt. Harris this Deponent believes was from Hillsdale but this Deponent *******************************************************. /s/ Jacob Esselstyn Sworn before me this 26 Day of August 183* (1833?) /s/ Stephen *****, Justice. ____________________________________________________________ (Note as to officers named in Declaration: Peter Loop - Records show that he was a Lieutenant in Col. Willet's Regiment of Levies. Captain Harris - This May have been Capt. Ruben Harrison. Fernow, at p. 258, shows him as a Captain in Col. Willet's Regiment of Levies. Col. Marius Willet - He held numerous commands in the Revolution. In 1781 he did command a Regiment of Levies. Captain Irvin - He was a Captain in the 10th Albany Militia Regiment. The list in the National Archives of 1783 Certificates for back pay for the 10th Albany Militia Regiment indicates that Irvin also served as a Lieutenant with Col. Graham in one of the Regiments of Levies. Captain Shaver - There were two Captains Shaver in the 10th Albany Militia Regiment, John Shaver & Jacob F. Shaver. "Captain Lodowick Snyder - There is more than one of this name in the records. One was a Lieutenant in the 6th Albany Militia Regiment. However he was replaced in May 1778 on becoming over the age for service. More likely is Sgt. Lodowick Snyder of the 10th Albany Militia Regiment. On occasion a small Minute Man or Ranger Companies were commanded by Sergeants or Lieutenants. Pension files indicate that they were referred to as Captain by the men. Bruisee's residence with his Uncle Teunis Brisee in 1781 since he was born in Gallatin and returned there after the War. That would explain his service in a Minute Man Company from Livingston Manor in 1779 and 1780. Major Jacob Esselstyne - He served as a Sergeant in Col. Willet's Regiment of Levies. Apparently his rank as Major was of a later date. - - The Records for the above information (except the Back Pay Certifications) is from Fernow's New York in the Revolution. - Note is by transcriber D. E. Lampson.)