PENSION: James A. Galusha; Providence, Saratoga co., NY surname: Galusha, Bentley, White, Sleezer, Shanley, Van Trump submitted by Janet Wilkinson Schwartz (wilkinschw @ aol.com) ************************************************************************ 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.org *********************************************************************** James A. Galusha / Clarissa A. (Bentley) Galusha Civil War Pension File Abstract, Saratoga Co, NY Copyright © 2002 by Janet Wilkinson Schwartz. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. [wilkinschw@aol.com] JAMES A. GALUSHA, Private, Co C, 7th New York Cavalry Cert. No. 813,361 / Widow's Cert. No. 705,893 Enlisted Sep 16, 1861 at Schenectady, NY Discharged Mar 31, 1862 at Camp Stoneman, Washington, DC Description at enlistment: height 5' 9 1/2", complexion dark, eyes black, hair black, occupation farmer. JAMES A. GALUSHA b. May 15, 1827 or May 15, 1828 (or 1837*) at Vermont d. Mar 9, 1910 at Providence, Saratoga Co, NY [*In early application forms, the claimant gives an age that would put his birth year at about 1837. In a later document, he gives his birthdate at May 15, 1827 and the age given is consistant with that date; in another document he gives the dob as May 15, 1828.] Married (1) date/place not given MARIA VAN TRUMP b. date/place not given d. Feb 24, 1867* at Northampton, Fulton Co, NY or Broadalbin, Fulton Co, NY [*This date is given in questionnaire May 4, 1898, but in later documents affiants guess the date as 1866.] Children of James A. Galusha and Maria Van Trump (doc Dec 27, 1899): CLAUD born Apr 11, 1862 LILLY born Mar 2, 1864 Married (2) Apr 9, 1868 at Hagedorns Mills, Saratoga Co, NY by Abraham Manchester, JP CLARISSA A. BENTLEY b. abt 1838, date/place not given d. Oct 25, 1916 at Broadalbin, Fulton Co, NY Buried: Union Mills, NY Child of James A. Galusha and Clarissa A. Bentley (doc Dec 27, 1899): ISADORE born May 27, 1874 (m. William White) Sister of Clarissa A. Bentley Galusha: Phebe Bentley b. abt 1851 (m. Stephen George Sleezer b. abt 1854) Declarations, affidavits, etc. in support of pension claims: Jul 7, 1888--JAMES A. GALUSHA, aged 51 years, resident of Hagedorns Mills, Saratoga Co, NY; declaration for original invalid pension; stated that while in the line of duty at Camp Stoneman near Washington, DC about Mar 1, 1862 "while taking up wood for fires incurred rupture of the groin"; witnesses Hiram H. Follett and Leut(?) Bentley. Sep 27, 1890--DANIEL A. ODELL, resident of 435 Diamond St., Hudson, NY; stated that he was a member of Co C, 7th NY Cav and was the claimant's mess-mate; witnesses Edward McCormack and John L. Crandell. Aug 22, 1899--JAMES A. GALUSHA, aged 62 years, resident of Hagedorns Mills, Saratoga Co, NY; declaration for pension increase; stated that he suffers from left complete inguinal hernia, rheumatism and heart trouble; witness Hiram H. Follett. Mar 9, 1907--JAMES A. GALUSHA, aged 79 years, resident of Galway, Saratoga Co, NY; stated that he was born May 15, 1828 at Vermont; that since leaving the service he has lived at Providence, Saratoga Co, NY until the present; witnesses George A. Mason and John C. Robinson, both residents of Galway, NY who stated they have known claimant for 3 years. Apr 14, 1908--JAMES A. GALUSHA, Saratoga Co, NY; stated "that he was born on the 15th day of May 1827, that when he enlisted he was thirty four years of age but that Lieut. Potter of Schenectady (the recruiting officer) put his age down as 24, that he called his attention to the error at the time, but the officer said it would make no difference as it made him old enough. He further states that he removed from Warren County to Saratoga County in 1859, and that all records that would prove date of birth have been lost or destroyed."; signed James A. Galusha. Apr 21, 1908--H.R. CROUCH, Pittsfield, MA (formerly of Galway, NY); letter to Commissioner of Pensions: "The enclosed affidavit of James A. Galusha [Apr 14, 1908] seems to be the only evidence he can secure in regard to his age. Personally I have no doubt of the correctness of his statement. I have advised him to try and get addtional evidence if possible but doubt if he makes much effort as he is very feeble. If you are not satisfied with his affidavit the only thing to do will be to make his age as you have it on the muster rolls and grant him his pension accordingly, as he is very much in need of the increase that may be due him." Mar 23, 1910--CLARISSA A. GALUSHA, aged 72 years, resident of Northampton, Fulton Co, NY; declaration for widow's pension; stated that James A. Galusha died Mar 9, 1910 at Providence, NY; that she was married to the soldier under the name Clarissa A. Bentley in the fall of 1866 at Hagedorns Mills, NY by Abraham Manchester, JP; witnesses Bessie M. Loadwick, resident of Amsterdam, NY and Anne Orton, resident of Northampton, NY; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Apr 20, 1910--CLARISSA A. GALUSHA, aged 72 years, resident of Providence, Saratoga Co, NY; stated that she married James A. Galusha sometime in 1867 by Abraham Manchester of the town of Providence who is now dead; that the record burned when their house burned; that her "husband was married before but his wife died the same year we were married"; that she was married only once; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Apr 20, 1910--STEPHEN GEORGE SLEEZER, aged 56 years, resident of Providence, Saratoga Co, NY; stated that he has known James and Clarissa Galusha for over 40 years; stated "I am a brother-in-law to them and know all about them I married her sister."; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Apr 20, 1910--ANDREW J. COOK, aged 68 years, resident of Broadalbin, Fulton Co, NY; stated that he has known James and Clarissa Galusha for over 40 years; witnesses Anne Orton and Anna M. Orton, Northampton, NY; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Apr 21, 1910--HIRAM COOK, aged 70 years, resident of Providence, Saratoga Co, NY; stated that he has known James and Clarissa Galusha for over 40 years; that they "had several children at least one boy and one girl. They were never divorced."; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Apr 22, 1910--CHARLES E. SHANLEY, aged 48 years, resident of Providence, Saratoga Co, NY; stated that he has known "the whole family for the last forty years-and I am the husband of their only daughter"; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public, Fulton Co, NY. Apr 23, 1910--JOSEPH SEELEY, aged 45 years, resident of Providence, Saratoga Co, NY; stated that he has known James and Clarissa Galusha since he was a boy; that they were never divorced; that all his children are over 16 years of age; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Northampton, Fulton Co, NY. Apr 27, 1910--GEORGE H.STEVER, aged 45 years, resident of Broadalbin, Fulton Co, NY; stated he has known James and Clarissa Galusha for 25 years; that James died Mar 9, 1910 and that as undertaker he buried him Mar 11, 1910; signed Frank G. Fuller, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Jun 30, 1910--STEPHEN G. SLEEZER, aged 56 years, resident of Providence, NY; stated "I knew James Galusha shortly after he married my wifes sister. She had never had any other husband but James A. Galusha to my personal knowledge. I was a brother in law to James A. Galusha and know all about his habits and marriage relations and I do not believe he ever had but two wives and lived with them until they & he died and never was divorced"; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Jun 30, 1910--JOHN VAN PELT, aged 68 years, resident of Providence, NY; stated "I have known the said James A. Galusha since 1860 or thereabouts knew his first wife Maria. He had never been married before he married Maria Van Trump. He worked around the tannery with me- he lived with her until her death sometime I think in 1866. That same fall he married Clarissa A. Bentley"; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Jun 30, 1910--JEFFERSON SLEEZER, aged 84 years, resident of Providence, Saratoga Co, NY; stated that he knew soldier before the war, since 1860; that James A. Galusha lived with his first wife Maria Van Trump in the town of Broadalbin, NY until she died; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Jun 30, 1910--PHEBE SLEEZER, aged 59 years, resident of Providence, Saratoga Co, NY; stated she is the sister of Clarissa A. Galusha; that she knew James A. Galusha for 45 years; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Jul 1, 1910--JOSEPH C. CORNELL / JOSEPH C. BUELL [notary wrote Cornell but affiant's signature looks like Buell], aged 51 years, resident of Broadalbin, Fulton Co, NY; stated "I knew James A. Galusha and his wife Maria. They lived in my fathers tenant house and she died there. I cannot tell the year but they claim it was in 1866"; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Jul 1, 1910--JOHN BRUNDIGS(?)[BRUNDAGE?], aged 69 years, resident of Benedict, Fulton Co, NY; stated "I first became acquainted with James A. Galusha shortly after the close of the civil war in 1865. I knew him and his first wife Maria. They lived near me until she died in the spring of 1866 I think. The children came to my house and he and they boarded some little time with my family"; signed Darius S. Orton, notary public Fulton Co, NY. Feb 20, 1917--Mrs. ISADORE WHITE, Benedict, NY; letter to Bureau of Pensions in response to Feb 16, 1917 request for exact date of death of pensioner: "Dear Sir in reply to your letter my mother Clarissa A. Galusha died 25 day of October 1916 at 6 oclock. Yours Truly Mrs. Isadore White Benedict, NY." Mar 25, 1917--ISADORE WHITE, aged 43 years, resident of Broadalbin, Fulton Co, NY; application for reimbursement; relation to the deceased pensioner-daughter; cause of pensioner's death-chronic interstitial nephritis; where did pensioner die-at my home Broadalbin, NY; when did the pensioner die-Oct 25, 1916; expenses--Ralph M. Hall, MD $12.00, G.A. Stever undertaker $40.00, Alex Tygart digging grave $2.50. Oct 10, 1917--GEORGE B. FARLEY, Justice of the Peace, Broadalbin, NY; letter, no addressee: "It is impossible for Isadore White to have this signed as her husband left her a number of years ago his whereabouts at the present time being unknown her husband name is William she spells her name Isadore which I suppose should really be Isadora but she sticks to it she spells it right. I have known her for a number of years in our town in regard to family matters as above stated." --End--