PENSION: Abraham Statts; Vienna, Oneida Co., NY

submitted by Donald E. Lampson (dlampson@earthlink.net)

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State of New York}
                               }Ss.:
Oneida County      }
      On this Fourth day of September 1832 personally appeared before open 
court before ************ a judge of the court of Common Pleas of said 
county now sitting, Abraham Statts, a resident of said County and State aged
Eighty Seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his 
oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act 
of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.

      That he entered the service of the United States under the following 
named officers, and served as herein stated:

      That he was born  in Kinderhook, Col. Co., N.Y., in 1746. No record of 
age except in the family bible at Kinderhook. Lived there when called into 
Service, lived then. Since war and See N.Y. and now Vienna, Oneida Co., 
N.Y. That he was called out in the year 1775, in the Summer, in the Militia in 
Capt. Lambert Burghart's Co., Col. Henry Van Rensselear's Regiment, and 
marched to Saratoga and laid there a spell and then returned down the river 
and was stationed about 2 months near Saratoga to defend against the 
Indians. After which service we were dismissed. In the fore part of warm
weather in 1776 was again called out in Capt. Isaac Van Valkenburg's Co.,
Captain Burghart who commanded the year before having turned in favor of the
British, Col. Van Rensselear's Regt. marched to Albany, then to Saratoga, then
**** to Waterford and up the Mohawk river as far up as Fort Dayton, and then
we returned to Caghnawaga, and remained there until cold weather and were
discharged, having served between four and five months.

      In the month of June 1777 he was again called out in Capt. Van
Valkenburg's Co., Van Rensselear's Regt., and marched up the Mohawk river to
Stone Arabia above Johnstown, and then served against the British Indians and
Tories about one month. Shortly after returning from Stone Arabia Militia were
again called out and I went in the same Company and Regiment up the North
river and above Fort Miller, Sandy(?) Hill, Saratoga and served there during
the Campaign against Burgoyne, and was constantly in service until after the
Capture of Burgoyne, which took place in October, as he thinks, having served
this tour about three months from the time he left home until he was
dismissed.  Gen. Schuyler had command of the American Forces at first, and
afterwards Gen. Gates took the Command.

         Frequently after this, deponant was called out in alarms, and served
a considerable time, but cannot state with particularity the times.

      He knows of no persons to prove his service other than annexed 
affidavit, to which he refers as to his reputation.

      He 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 
the Agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed
/s/Abraham J(?) Statts 
the day and year aforesaid.      
/s/ (signature illegible.)

(Certifications and affidavit of reputation for credibility omitted.)

Note: Clearly the Militia Regiment ha belonged to was the 7th Albany Militia
Rigiment of Kinderhook. In Rosters published by the State of NY Abraham
Staats' name appears under Capt. Van Valkenburg and Colonel Van Alstyne of the
7th Albany Militia Regiment of Kinderhook.  Apparently that is the service
later on in the War. (Roberts, New yorh in the Revolution As Colony and
State.)

      Various records indicate that there were problems with pro Tory officers
in this regiment in the early years of the War.  A very large part of the
original officers were replaced. Among those were Capt. Lambert Burghart & the
original Col., Andries Whitbeck.  Issac Van Valkenburg replaced Lambert
Burghart as the Cap. Of the 1st Company of the 7th Albany Militia Regiment.

      Whether or not that had anything to do with his serving in the early 
years of the War under Col. Henry Van Rensselear is not clear.  I believe the
Col. Henry Van Rensselear referred to probably is Col. Henry K. Van Rensselear
of the 6th Albany Militia Regiment of Rensselearwyck, not Lt. Col. Henry J.
Van Rensselear of the 8th Albany Militia Regiment of Claverack. It was not
unusual for men to be called out in drafts to serve with another regiment
under the other regiments Colonel.  In this case however the number of pro
Tory officers may have been a factor.  Since a large number of those
originally elected to the Kinderhook local Committee of Safety were Tories
that Committee was disolved and new elections were ordered.  
      - Transcribed by D. E. Lampson