WILLIAM SWEET REV WAR, RENSSELAER, NEW YORK SWEET, William: State of New York, County of Rensselaer Copyright (c) 1999 by Beverly Schonewolf (4bevswolf@mail2.lcia.com). ************************************************************************ USGENWEB 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 submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ WILLIAM SWEET Declaration In Order To Obtain The Benefit Of The Act Of Congress Of June 7, 1832 Form for State Troops &c. State of New York County of Rensselaer On this ninth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Judge of the Troy Mayor's Court now sitting, William Sweet, a resident of Berlin, county of Rensselaer and state of New York, aged seventy one 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 _____ a service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.......... That in the year 1776 he resided in the town of South Kingston in the state of Rhode Island in the latter part of November or the first part of December in that year he entered the service as a volunteer under Captain Samuel Potter in a regiment of militia commanded by Colonel Ray Handy that he continued in Said service as a private Soldier under the said Captain Potter until the eighth day of February 1777 on which day he became 16 years old when he was enroled as a Militia man and continued in the same service until the spring of 1777 when the Militia was divided two parts who alternately relieved each other so as to keep one half in constant service that his father was also of the Militia the whole of whose service the deponent did as well as his own except one month in Newport where his said father went for himself. So that he was constantly in the service on his own account and as a substitute for his father (Thomas Sweet) until October 1779 (excepting about two months when this said deponent was absent.) When the British fleat left Rhode Island that the said Militia with whom this deponent served was engaged in guarding the shore against the enemy who lay off in Rhode Island Harbor during the whole of said time except a short time when they were driven off by Count De Eastling that sometime during this service but at which time he does not Recollect Captain Potter resigned and Captain Timothy Lock took the command of said company and continued to command it as long as this deponent served - That he was engaged in a Skirmish at Point Judith when the American _______ was run on shore and burnt at that place - that he was engaged in taking the British vessel _______ of twenty eight guns at Point Judith and that he was also in General Sullivan's expedition in Rhode Island under Ensign William _______ of the aforesaid Captain Lock's company and the regiment was then commanded by Colonel Dyer. That during said service he and one of Captain Lock's company guarded about sixty British prisoners who had been taken by the French and landed at Boston Neck in the town of South Kingston to Providence - That in the month of December 1779 he left the State of Rhode Island and removed to where he now lives in the Town of Berlin in County of Rensselaer of State of New York. That in ______ 1780 he went as a Substitute for William Helm-s Limmens From where he now lives to what was then called the Middle Fort in Schoharry which was then commanded by Colonel Froman (Vroman) That he was engaged in said Last Service in Schoharry one month that he had no documentary evidence of his services and that he knew of no person whose testimony he can procure except what is herewith annexed who can testify to his service. To the prescribed Interagationes first by the Court he answered 1st. He was born in South Kingston in the State of Rhode Island in the year of 1761 2nd. That no record of his age except one made by his son in his Bible. 3rd. He lived in the said town of South Kingston in the State of Rhode Island when he entered the service. Had _____ the Revolutionary War and does now live in the town of Berlin County of Renssealaer & State of New York 4th. He first Classed off in the Militia & Served as a substitute for his father Thomas Sweet. And for his last month's service was a substitute for William Helm-s Limmans. 5th. He did not serve with any regular officer and for his Militia officers and general circumstances of his service he referred to his statement given above. 6th. He never received a written discharge 7th. He is known in his present neighborhood to ____ Lewis & Burton who can certify to his caracter for veracity and their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution. For answer to the fifth interrogatory returned in the negative the applicant makes the following affadavit. Rensselaer County Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of the County of Rensselaer aforesaid William Sweet the above applicant who being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that by reason of old age and consequent lap of memory he cannot swear positively as to the exact length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades. - For two years and nine months I served as a private and for such service I claim a pension. Before me this 25th day of May 1833 Joseph Crandal Justice of the Peace William Sweet (signature) Samuel Sweet of Berlin, County and State aforesaid being duly sworn - deposeth and saith that during the war of the revolution he was well acquainted with the above named William Sweet who is his brother - That he this deponent is sixty-seven years old. That during the said war he knew that the said William was frequently gone said to be engaged in the service and he supposed he was. That he verily believe he was engaged in the said service as he has above alleged and further this deponent says------------- Sworn and Subscribed Samuel T. Sweet (signature) Archibald Bull Clerk