JAMES BASFORD REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION, ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK Contributed by: Kevin Spaulding (spaulding@kodak.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. *********************************************************************** Revolutionary War Pension Records for James Basford, S39952 Deposition by James Basford, 21 Apr 1818 State of New York, Ulster County} On this twenty first day of April 1818 before me the subscriber one of the judges of the court of common pleas for Ulster County personally appeared James Basford of Neversink in the county of Sullivan, aged 55 years who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of Congress entitled "An Act to Provide for Certain Persons Engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," that he, the said James Basford, enlisted in Newburgh(?) in the state of New York in the year 1777 for during the war in the company commanded by Captain John Craig, Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment of Dragoons, that he continued to serve in the said corpse or in the service of the United States until the close of the war when he was discharged from service in Lancaster in the state of Pennsylvania, that he was in the battle at the taking of Cornwallis, Battle of Charlestown, South Carolina, and in several skirmishes with the Indians, Tories & British in the state of Georgia, and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. Sworn to and declared before me the day and year of aforesaid. I Abraham Hoffman Judge as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said James Basford did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy and I now _____ the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress Kingston, 21 April 1818, Abraham Hoffman Ulster County Clerks Office, The above named Abraham Hoffman is duly commissioned & qualified as a judge as above described & the above is his signature of his own handwriting with which I am well acquainted. __ _____ the seal of the Court within mentioned for which court I am clerk, Dated 21 April 1818. ____ ______ Deposition by James Basford, 5 July 1820 State of New York, Ulster County} At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Court House in Kingston in and for the County of Ulster in the State of New York being a Court of Record proceeding according to the cause of the common law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point-of-___ ___ keeping a record of the proceedings in July Term 1820 [several judges named here] On this fifth day of July 1820 personally appeared in the Court James Basford of the Town of Wawarsing in the said County of Ulster aged fifty four(?) years who being first duly sworn according to law doth depose as follows that I served in the army of the Revolution as follows that in the year 1778 I enlisted in the Company of Captain John Craig in the fourth Regiment of Light Dragoons commanded by Coll. Marland and afterwards by Coll. _____ in the Pennsylvania line for and during the ____ and faithfully served to the end of the war and was discharged on the 30th of June 1783. And I the said James Basford do further depose and declare that I was a citizen of the United States on the 18th day if March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any other manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with the intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed 18th March 1818 and have not nor has any person in trust-for any properties or securities contracts or debts ___ ___ nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and subscribed by me A schedule containing the whole real estate and Income of James Basford a Pensioner(?) and the act entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War. Of real estate I have none. Of income I have none except my pension. I rent a tenement and garden of the Widow Boggs in the Town of Wawarsing for one year for twelve dollars. I have no trade and support myself by day labour. Of personal estate I have one cow, two ___ of ___ 3 months old, two spinning wheels, one ___, two axes, one hoe, two pails, 1 teapot, 3(?) cups & saucers, 2 wooden plates, 4 knives and forks, 1 iron _____, 3 barrels and one plain pine table besides my ____ any wearing apparel and bedding James Basford I am a common day labourer. I am a cripple in one hand and one foot and am unable to do a full days work and could not subsist(?) myself without the aid of my pension. My family consists of a wife named Tamar aged forty years is weakly in constitution and one son named James five(?) years old who is dependent on me for support James Basford Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 5th July 1820 before me Lucas U____dorf Judge I Christopher Tappen(?) Jun'r Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County in the State of New York do certify that the foregoing oath ___ and the schedule thereunto ____ are truly copied from the originals on file in the office of said clerk and that it is the opinion of said Court that James Basford is dependent on the aid of his Country for support and that the total amount in value of the property ___ted in the aforesaid schedule is twenty eight dollars. Witness my hand and the seal of said Court July 5th 1820 Ch. Tappen Jun'r Deposition by James Basford, 9(?) Apr 1826 State of Vermont, Franklin County} On this 9th(?) day of April AD 1826 before me the subscribed, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Franklin, personally appeared James Basford who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain John Craig(?) in the regiment commanded by Colonel Milen(?) in the service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the State of Vermont where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be there payable in future. Personally subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid James Basford Israel P. Richardson, Justice of the Peace State of Vermont, Franklin County} Franklin County Clerks off ice April 9th(?) 1826 I Horace James Clerk of the County Court in said County do hereby certify to all whom it may concern that Israel P. Richardson Esq. of St. Albans is a Justice of the Peace in said County duly appointed by the Legislature of this State and that the foregoing certificate is signed by him in his own proper handwriting. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the public seal of the County. Horace James Clerk Application for a transfer, 11 Mar 1829 County of Dutchess, State of New York} On this eleventh day of March 1829, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Dutchess personally appeared James Basford who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain John Craig in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Miland(?) in the service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York, after transferred to the State of Vermont, from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State of New York where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The following are his reasons for removing from the State of Vermont to the town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, State of New York because his children(?) were living in the last mentioned place he wished to be near them and they had written to him for to come. Sworn to and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid, ___ ____ Justice of Peace Duchess County, State of New York} On the 11th day of March 1829, personally appeared before me Saban(?) Lewis one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County Solomon Wheeler and under oath affirms that the person who has taken and subscribed to above oath is the identical James Basford there described and set forth. Sworn before me the day and year above written. ____ Justice of the Peace Dutchess County} March 11th 1829, I hereby certify that Solomon V. Wheeler the above deponent is a man of good character and of truth and veracity _____ Justice of the Peace State of New York, Dutchess County} I ____ ____ Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Dutchess, the said court being a court of records and having a clerk(?) ____ witness(?) that Saben Lewis whose signature appears to the foregoing(?) affidavit and certificates is a Justice of the Peace of said County duly elected and sworn according to the ____ & laws of said State and that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice and verily believe the foregoing signatures to be the handwriting of the said Justice. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this eleventh day of March A.D. 1829 Henry ____ Clerk Deposition by James Basford, 11 Mar 1839 State of New York, New York City & County} Be it known, that before me, Sylvester Spencer a Notary Public in and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared James Basford and made oath , in due form of law, that he is the identical James Basford named in an original Pension Certificate, now illegally withheld by Smith Random of New Paltz Ulster County, that said Pension Certificate was placed in the hands of Joseph Random late of New Paltz, now deceased, for the security of a debt due the said Joseph Random, which his son the above named Smith Random now claims, and an amount more than he honestly and justly owes to the late Joseph Random, and more than this Deponent is willing to pay. Consequently the said Smith Ransom refuses to give up this Deponents Pension Certificate though often requested so to do, that he may be able to draw his pension now due, that he is entitled to a pension of eight dollars per month, on account of wounds and disabilities received, or of services rendered to the United States, during the Revolutionary War; that he served in Captain John Craig's company of Light Dragoons fourth regiment; that he now resides in Olive, Ulster County and has resided there for the space of eight years past; and that previous thereto he resided in Poughkeepsie. James Basford Sworn to and subscribed this 11th day of March 1839 before me Sylvester Spencer, Notary Public State of New York, New York City & County} 11th March 1839, Conformably to the Regulations of the War Department, of the 27th of October, 1832, I Sylvester Spencer a Notary Public in the county above named, do hereby certify that I have the most satisfactory evidence, viz, the affidavit of James Basford, Junior, who is acquainted with the pensioner, together with the facts relative to the withheld certificate. That James Basford, who this day appeared before me to take the oath of identity, is the identical Pensioner he declares himself to be in the annexed affidavit; and I am also satisfied that the statement made by him in relation to the Pension Certificate is true. Given under my hand at New York the day and year above written. Sylvester Spencer, Notary Public Letter from G. Knapp, 12 Mar 1839 Mechanics' Bank New York 12 March 1839 Sir, I enclose for your examination the papers in the case of James Basford a Pensioner under the Act of 18 Mar 1818 at eight Dollars per month whose pension certificate is illegally withheld by Smith Ransom of New Paltz Ulster County. Very respectfully, Your ob't serv't, G. Knapp Pres't James L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington Deposition by Moses Burgess, 16 Mar 1840 Chenango County, Moses Burgess being duly sworn deposes that he knows James Basford, the person described in and who made the above affidavit, and knows him to be a Pensioner, that this deponent as the attorney of the said James Basford drew his pension from the 4th March 1839 to 4th September 1839 from the agent of the United States for paying Pensions in the city of New York. Moses Burgess Sworn to and subscribed the 16th day of March 1840 before me and I certify that I am well acquainted with the said deponent and that he is a man of veracity. Livi Bigelow first Judge of Chemango County Deposition by James Basford, 16 Mar 1840 State of New York, Chenango County} On the 16th day of March 1840 before me the subscriber first Judge of the County aforesaid personally appeared James Basford who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain John Craig in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Mellin fourth Regiment of light dragoons raised in Pennsylvania in the service of the United States. That his name was placed on the pension rolls of New York, payable in the city of New York, and this deponent at that time resided in Ulster County New York, from whence he has lately removed that he now resided in Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York, where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be made payable at the City of Albany State of New York in future, the following are his reasons for removing from Ulster County to Chenango County, his connections(?) resided in Chenango County, and this deponent is poor, and he supposes that he could live well(?) and cheaper in the vicinity of his connections. Sworn to and subscribed the 16th day of March 1840. James Basford Before me, Levi Bigelow first judge of Chenango County State of New York, Chenango County} I, Alfred Purdy Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Levi Bigelow whose name is subscribed to the within affidavit and thereon written was at the time of taking such affidavit or ____ a judge in and for the said County duly authorized to take the same and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signature to the said affidavit to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county this eighteenth day of March 1840 Alfred Purdy Clerk Letter from G. Knapp, 30 Mar 1840 Mechanics' Bank New York 30 March 1840 Sir, James Basford a Pensioner under the Act of 18 Mar 1818 at eight Dollars per month mentioned in your letter of the 28th ____ was paid at this agency to the 4th September 1839 on the 9th of October 1839. I am, Very respectfully, Your ob't serv't, G. Knapp Pres't James L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington Revolutionary War Pension Records for James Basford, S39952 Letter from _____, 17 May [1842?] Washington, 17th May Dr Sir, I am requested by James Basford a pensioner residing at Binghamton N. Y. and drawing his money from the Albany agency to inquire of you [to learn](?) if he moved(?) to Susq. Co. Pa. he can still draw his money at the same agency? At what agency the pensioners in Susq. Co., PA draw their money? And the mode of conveyance? By answering the above question you will oblige you(?) _____ _____ James L. Edwards, Esq., N. R. Deposition by James Basford, 30 Jun 1842 State of Pennsylvania, County of Susquehanna} On the 30th day of June 1842 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Susquehanna personally appeared James Basford who on his affirmation declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain John Craig in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Milan in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from whence he has lately removed, that he now resides in the State of Pennsylvania in the County of Susquehanna where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be there payable in future; the following are his reasons for removing from the State of New York to the State of Pennsylvania viz-a son of his with whom he has resided & with whom he still resides has removed into Susquehanna County here purchased land & expects to remain. James Basford Affirmed and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid Charles Avery, J. P. I James Basford, Jr. certify that James Basford who has subscribed the above affidavit or oath is the identical person there set forth to be. James Basford, Jr. Susquehanna County} Be known that on this 30th June AD 1842 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared James Basford Jr. who subscribed the above certificate, who is a man of truth and veracity who on his oath states his certificate above is correct and true Charles Avery, J. P. State of Pennsylvania, County of Susquehanna}I George Fuller ____ clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Susquehanna County certify that Charles Avery is a magistrate as written and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this fifth day of July AD 1842 Geo. Fuller _____ Return an answer: James Basford, Little Meadows P.O., Susq'a Co., Penn'a Letter from Thomas W. Eliott, 18 Jul 1842 Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank Albany Pension Agency July 18th 1842 James L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions Sir, In reply to your letter of the 15th Mch(?) I have to state, that James Basford a Pensioner under the Act of 18 Mar 1818 at 8 Dollars per month was last paid to the 4 day of March 1842. I am, Sir, Very respectfully, Your ob't serv't, Thomas W. Elliott, Pres't and Pension Agent Letter from James Mow, 29 Apr 1848 Bainbridge, Chemango County, New York, April 29, 1848 J. L. Edward Esq. Dear Sir, My wife's father James Basford was a revolutionary pensioner, and drew a pension of $96 per year. He died in Sept 1845(?) and left a widow, Tamar Basford, who was married to him about the year 1812. I am told by some that his widow can draw a pension, and by others that she cannot. For the purpose of ascertaining whether she can or not I address you. Will you be good enough to inform me as soon as convenient, whether, under these circumstances, his widow can draw a pension or not, if satisfactory proof should be made of the facts and ____ Very respectfully your ob't servant, James Mow(?)