MILITARY: Hannah Abrams, widow pension; Newburgh, Orange co., New York Contributed by: Herb Abrams *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Revolutionary War widow pension of Hannah Abrams State of New York Orange County On the third day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before the subscriber and for the county aforesaid Hannah Abrams a resident of the Town of New Burgh aged seventy six years who being first duly sworn allowing to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congresss passed July 7, 1837 entitled “an act granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows” that she is widow of John Abrams who was a Private in the army of the Revolution and served at Fort Independence and New Windsor in the Company commanded by Captain John Nicoll six months in the year 1776 - and as an artificer in a company of artificers commanded by Benjamin Homan who belonged to a Corps of artificers under the command of Captain Thomas Malkin as Chief Engineer. The said John Abrams enlisted in said Company for nine months and served therein from the commencement of the spring of the year 1775 until the sixth day of October next therafter during all which time he worked as an artificer on the Cheval defreise which was afterwards sunk between Nicolls Point and Pollypus Island. After Fort Montgomery surrendered to the enemy he joined the Militia to prevent the enemy from landing on the shore of the river above the Highlands. He was engaged in said service until the enemy had evacuated that Fort and passed down the river which was about six weeks. He afterwards served three months at Monbauckus on the Indian frontier at the time and in the same Company with William Mitchell deceased late a Pensioner of the United States as Department has been informed and believes to be true. The said John Abrams afterward served three months on the Mohawk River against the Indians under the command of Major Benscoter or Benscoten. She furthur declares that she was married to the said John Abrams on the sixth day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty four. That her husband, the said John Abrams, died on the fifteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine. That she was not married to him previous to his having the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January one thousand seven hundred and ninely four. And at the time above states and Deponiset also saith, the Court of Common Pleas is now seting at Goshen in and for the County aforesaid, that deponant lives twenty miles distant from Goshen and is wholly unable by reason of bodily informity to attend said Court. Sworn to and subscribed this third day of December 1838 before me. Walter Case Justice Hannah Abrams ************************************* State of New York Orange County Personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, Elizabeth Johnston a credible witness to me personal by known and having been by me duly sworn been aquainted with John Abrams named in the named affadavit of Hannah Abrams who is his Widow in his lifetime. Deponent is upwards of seventy eight years of age and has lived ever since the Commencement of the Revolutionary War in the immediate neighborhood of the said John & Hannah except a short time. That deponent lived in Ulster during all which time last mentioned, deponent was well acquained with the said John and Hannah. In the spring of the year one thousand seven hendred and seventy seven deponent worked for a man by the name of William Bloomer who lived in the Town of New Burgh and boarded some of the hands who worked on the Chevause de Friese which was then building and was afterwards sunk aways the river from Nicolls Point to Pollypus Island was the said John Abramshe belonged to the Company of artifiers and in the immediate Command of Captain Benjamin Norman, who belonged to belonged to the Corps of arifiers commaned by Captain Martin as Chief Engineer. The said John was enlisted to serve nine months according to the best of deponents recollection and belief and actually served from sometime in the month of April in the year on thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, until the British landed up the river after the surrender of Fort Montgomery to the enemy which took place in the beginning of the month of October of the same year. Deponent saw him frequently at work on the Chevause de Friese as an artificer during the time aforesaid. Deponents first husband Solomon Dean belonged to the Corps of artificers and worked on the said Chevause de Friese under the officers aforesaid. After his death deponent married Samuel Johnson whose widow she now is - the said Solomon Dean her first husband died on the fourth day of May 1788 - according to the best of deponents recollection and belief. Deponent was married to Samuel Johnson on the 20th day of April 1790. Deponent also said that after Fort Montgomery surrended, the said John Abrams turned out with the Corps of Artificers to repel the invasion of the enemy and prevent them from landing above The Highlands. The said John Abrams continued in this service until after the British Fleet had left the Hudson river which was about six weeks. The said John Abrams served on the Indian Frontier three months according to the best of deponents recollection. Deponent will swear that the said Abrams served on the Indian Frontier at the same time as William Mitchell now deceased. They belonged to the same detachment, lived in the same neighbourhood and were absent at the same time in service against the Indians at Mombauckus and Lackawack and elsewhere on the western frontier of Ulster County, as was commonly reported at the time and deponent believes it was true. Deponent also said that the said John Abrams served against the Indians on the Mohawk River under the command of Major Benscoter or Benscoten as was reported at that time and deponent believes it was true. Deponent also saith that Hannah Abrams, the applicant for a pension whose affidavit is hereunto assessed is the identical Hannah Abrams who was the wife, and is now the widow of the said John Abrams, and the identical John Abrams named in the record of Marriages kept by the Reverand John Blose deceased formerly officiating Clergyman in the Parish of New Windsor. Elizabeth Johnston X her mark Sworn to and subscribed this day of December 1838 before me. Walter Case Justice I certify that I have been acquainted with the above named Elizabeth Johnston several years and have acted bussiness for her several times and has uniformly signed her name with a cross as above saying that she cannot write her name. I believe it true. Walter Case Justice ************************************ State of New York Orange County Personally appeared before the subscriber Daniel Bellknap a Credible witness and having been by me sworn allowing to law doth depose and say that he was well acquainted with John Abrams in the Revolutionary War and with Hannah Abrams the applicant for a pension whose affidavit is unserved since that war. The the said John Abrams served six months at Fort Independence near Pecks Kill in the year 1776 as a Private in the company of Captain John Nicoll and baked? for said company during said term as deponent was informed by the said John Abrams at the time or shortly afterwards and deponent believes it to be true at the time of building the Chevaux de freise from Nicolls Point to Polupus Island. Deponent was frequently emplyed with his fathers team assisting to drive timber for the Chevause de friese, deponent frequently saw the said John Abrams at work on the same with other hands and was informed at the time and verily believes it to be true that the said John worked at building the said Chvause de Friese about nine months and he believes it to be true. The said John worked under the immediate direction of Benjamin Norman who was under Capt. Martin as Chief Engineer. Deponent asso saith that the said John Abrams served also three months on the Mohawk River against the Indians under the immediate command of Major Bunscoter or Van Bunscoten. The said Van Bunscoten was under the command of General Schuyler & was by him ordered to attack the Indians. The Indians were broke & fled & a large reinforcement was ready to assist Van Benscoten. General Schuyler ordered a halt and next day ordered him with his detachment to pursure the Indians. The circumstance above related creates just dissatisfaction on the part of Van Benscoten and his party as deponent was informed shortly afterward byh the said John Abrams and others from this part of the County who were engaged with the said John in that expedition. Daniel Belknap Sworn to and subscibed this 30 day fo December 1838 before me. Walter Case Justice of the Peace *************************************** State of New York Orange County Personally appeared before the subsciber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, James Edmonston a credible witness to me personally known and having been by me duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that he is upwards of seventy year of age and is a pensioner of the United States under the law of June 7th 1832. That he was well acquainted with John Abrams named in the assessed affidavits in his life time & in the Revolutionary War served with him the said John six months in the same Company and Regiment at Fort Independence near Pecks Kill in West Chester County and at New Windsor in the County of Orange. said Company was commanded by Captain John Nicolls of Pauldings Regiment. Silas Wood of New Windsor was first Lieutenant of said Company, John Wilkin of Wallkill, second Lieutenant, Asa Bysam orderly sergeant & afterwards quartermaster. said company belonged to Pauldings Regiment, the Lieutenant Colonel of which Regiment was Thomas Johnson of Shawanjusak, Ulster County & Samuel Logan of New Windsor. Deponent was one of the serseants of said Company and served as such throughout the whole tour of six months. One winter & John Abrams fefore named enlested as Private in said Company but were afterward selected as Bakers for the Company but continued to perform their duty as private as aforesaid motwithstanding. General James Wilkin of Goshen in the County aforesaid late a member of conscipts from said County also served as a private.in the said Company throughout the whole tour. The said Company served five months at the said Fort, and were then ordered to New Winsor aforesaid and were ordered to work on the Chavause defraise then building at that place and we worked on the same until the time of our discharge which took place on the first day of January on thousand seven hendred and seventy seven. Deponent also saith that the said John Abrams served with one Company throughout the whole tour of six months according to the best of deponents recollection & belief. James Edmonston Sworn to and subscribed this 11th day of September 1838 before me. Walter Case Justice of the Peace