PENSION: Michael Plass/Ploss; Woodstock, Ulster co., NY Submitted by Donald E. Lampson (dlampson @ earthlink.net) ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.org/ *********************************************************************** (1832 Application) State of New York} }Ss.: Columbia County } On this 3rd day of Aug. 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson, County aforesaid, sitting, Michael Ploss, aged seventy three years, a resident of Woodstock in Ulster County, State aforesaid, who being 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 at Bustenkill (?) in Rensselaer County in the Year 1775 he enlisted as a volunteer in the Company of Capt. George Sharp, Regiment of Colonel Frowman & Brigade of Genl. Henry Van Rensselaer. He enlisted for three months about the first of Summer; marched first to Albany, thence to Schoharie, at ********** Fort, so called, where he trained till the expiration of the said ****** of three months, when he was discharged. These troops were called rangers. Again in the year 1776 he enlisted in the Company of Capt. Mark Platner (Blatner), Peter Livingston Colonel, Henry Livingston Lieutenant Colonel & Samuel Ten Broeck Major. Marched first to Schenctady, & there received orders from Genl. Schuyler to scour the woods northeast till they reached Saratoga, which they did, marching through Balltown & finally encamped at Saratoga. And we were discharged after a service of six weeks. Again in the year 1777 he enlisted, thinks in March of that year, in the Company of said Capt. Mark Platner (Blatner)& same officers as before. This enlistment was for nine months. Marched by Albany, Fort Edward, where they staid (stayed) some time, to Skenesboro on Lake Champlain. There they staid (stayed) till Burgoyne Came across the Lake. There were only 1500 Americans there at the time. They retreated thence to Fort Edward etc. till they arrived at Half Moon Point where they halted. Subsequently, when Burgoyne fell back they advanced to Stillwater & Saratoga. After Burgoyne's Surrender he marched to Lansingburg where the troops were discharged & he came home at the expiration of the nine months. He afterwards went under the same officers to Albany on an alarm & was gone two weeks when he was duly discharged. And this applicant further declares that he has in all said service served the United States Fourteen months. In answer to the interrogatories he declares & states that he was born in April of the year 1759 in the town of Clermont, County of Columbia aforesaid. That the record of his age is in the family Bible which he has in his possession. That when called into service he lived at Batten Kill aforesaid. Has since the Revolution lived fifteen years at Germantown in said Columbia & since that date has lived at Woodstock aforesaid where he now resides. That the name of the officers under whom he served were Captains Sharp & Platner (Blatner), Colonels Frowman (?) & Livingston, Generals Van Rensselaer & Schuyler. That he always served as a Volunteer. That he had two written discharges & has lost them. That he never had any commission, but always served as a musician, playing on a fife. That the names of those who can certify to his veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution are Mr. Bice a clergyman, William Wrigram, John Wrigram & many others. And this Applicant further declares that he knows of no living witnesses of his said services other than stated whose testimony is herewith forwarded. That he has no documentary testimony. That he hereby relinquishes all claim to any pension or annuity except the present & that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State. That his application is made in this County because his witnesses reside here. His /s/ Michael MP Ploss mark Subscribed & sworn to The day & year aforesaid. /s/ Hiram Wilbur, Clerk _____________________________________________________________ State Of New York} }Ss.: Columbia County } On this third day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court aforesaid Samuel Ten Broeck, aged Eighty Six years, who being duly sworn, says he has been well acquainted with the above named applicant Michael Ploss. That in the year 1776 he marched with a Regiment which he, being a Major, commanded in the absence of Colonel Livingston, to Saratoga by way of Albany, Balltown & Schenectady. That he was out about six weeks & to the best of his recollection the said Michael Ploss was in service in his regiment during that campaign. That again in 1777 he marched with his said Regiment to Fort Edward on the approach of Burgoyne. He started early in the Spring & marched to said Fort via Albany etc., and he recollects said Michael Ploss was then in service in his Regiment, & the troops were out till after the taking of Burgoyne, which he believes to have been nine months or more. & he further says he believes said Michael to be a man of veracity. /s/ Samuel Ten Broeck Subscribed & sworn this Day & year aforesaid. /s/ Hiram Wilbur, Clerk _____________________________________________________________ State of New York} }Ss.: Columbia County } On the day & year aforesaid personally appeared in open Court before the Court aforesaid David Potts, a resident of the City of Hudson aforesaid, aged seventy five years, who being duly sworn, says he is well acquainted with Michael Ploss, the above named applicant, & was so acquainted with him during the War of the Revolution. That said Ploss was in the same Company under Capt. Platner (Blatner) with the deponent on an expedition to Balltown & Saratoga, which lasted six weeks. This he thinks was in the year 1776. Again this deponent enlisted in the same company in the Spring of 1777 for nine months & went to Skenesboro, now he thinks called Plattsburg. And he knows that the said Michael Ploss was there with him & served with him. his /s/ David X Potts mark Subscribed & sworn to The day & year aforesaid /s/ Hiram Wilbur, Clerk (Certifications omitted.) _____________________________________________________________ Ulster County}Ss.: Michael Ploss, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, being duly sworn says that he made his said application before the Justices of the Justices Court in Columbia County for the reasons - First - That the Witnesses of his service reside in Columbia - & he supposed that if he made his application in Ulster County he should be obliged to take said Witnesses to Ulster County & before the same Court where he made his application - And he further says that he was born in said Columbia County - that his friends & relations reside there & this was another reason for his going to said County. And he further says that in addition to said reasons he did not know that if it made any difference where he made his application until his application was ready to execute, & then he stated his reasons as above to said Court. His only intention was that the witnesses must go before the same Court where the applicant did. I further state that my witnesses were unable to come to this County on account of their infirmity & age. His /s/ Michael X Ploss mark Sworn before me this 11th day of June 1833 /s/ Alexander Hunt Justice _____________________________________________________________ (1822 Application) State of New York} }Ss.: Ulster County } On this second day of July 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County at a Court of Common Pleas held at the Court House in Kingston in said County being a Court of record within the said State with a jurisdiction unlimited in ******* of account, keeping a record of their proceedings with powers of Fine & Infini *******, having a seal & Clerk of its own, Michael Plass, of Woodstock in the County of Ulster and State of New York, aged 64 years & upwards, and who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18 March 1818 and the 1st May 1820. That the said Michael Plass, for the term of nine months, in the month of March, according to his best remembrance, 1777 at Lansinburg in the State of New York, in the Company commanded by Captain Marcus Blatner, Colonel Van Rensselaer's Regiment, General Schuyler's brigade in the line of the State of New York on the continental establishment. That he continued to serve in the said corps until the end of nine months when he was discharged from the said Service in Columbia County in the State of New York. That he was in two Battles at the Taking of Burgoyne. And that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said Services. And in furtherance of the act of 18 May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March one thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. And that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it 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 on the 18th day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me , nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed, to wit (Schedule omitted.), by occupation a shoemaker, but am not capable of performing that occupation on account of having lost in some measure my eyesight. My family consists of myself & wife, who is now aged 62 years upwards. That he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of assistance from his county for support. His /s/ Michael X Plass mark Sworn to & subscribed in Open Court before the Judges Thereof this 2nd day of July 1822. /s/ Jonathan Dubois, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County (Emphasis supplied.) _____________________________________________________________ State of New York} }Ss.: Ulster County } Abraham Van Steenbergh , being duly sworn on his oath, say: That he, this Deponent, is well acquainted with Michael Plass a Soldier in the War of the Revolution and now an applicant for a pension under the act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval Service of the United States during the Revolutionary War" *** *** 1st May 1820. That this deponent was in the Service of the United States during the War of the Revolution, for during the War, in the Company commanded by Captain Watkins, Colonel Henry B. Livingston's Regiment and well knew Michael Plass. That the said Michael Plass belonged to the Company Commanded by Captain Markus Platner (Blatner) in Colonel Henry Van Rensselaer's Regiment, and this Deponent frequently saw the said Michael Plass in said service and knows that he was in said Corps for nine months. That the said Michael was enlisted in the month of January or February 1777 according to his best remembrance for nine months in Captain Platner's (Blatner's) Company. That the said Michael was in the service of the United States in Arms against the Common Enemy until the end of the said nine months when he was discharged from service as this Deponent understood at Clermont in the State of New York. His /s/ Abraham X Van Steenberg mark Sworn this 13th day of August 1822 before me, and I do certify that the said Abraham Van Steenberg is a credible witness - who is personally known to me. /s/ Lucas ********* One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County in the State of New York. (Note: See the pension file of David Potts who served in the same Company in 1777 with Michael Plass. They were in a detachment from the 10th Albany Militia Regiment. Apparently they may have been among the 400 militiamen under Colonel Henry Van Rensselaer who came from Fort George and joined the Americans at the Battle of Fort Anne on July 7, 1777, covering the retreat of the American Army from Ticonderoga. Subsequently, over time they were joined in increasing numbers by men in detachments from the 10th Albany Militia Regiment until virtually the whole Regiment was present by October 1777. Although Michael Plass & David Potts were among those who served during the entire campaign, some others served two or even three tours in this campaign. Apparently they were under the command of Col. Van Rensselaer at some time before Lt. Col. Henry Livingston arrived and assumed command in August 1777. For information as to other pension files of those of the 10th Albany serving in the Spring & Summer on this tour, see the transcriber's Note in the David Potts pension file.) ____________________________________________________________ State of New York} }Ss.: Ulster County } Zacharias Short, being duly sworn on his oath, says that he, this Deponent, is well acquainted with Michael Plass a soldier in the war of the Revolution and now an applicant for a pension under the act entitled " An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval service of the United States during the revolutionary war" and the 1st May 1820. That this Deponent was in the Service of the United States in the war of the revolution in the company commanded by Captain Philip Swart & the regiment not at present recollected, and well knew the said Michael Plass. That the said Michael Plass belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Marcus Platner (Blatner) , Colonel Harry Van Rensselaer's Regiment and well knew the said Michael Plass. That the said Michael Plass belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Marcus Platner (Blatner) in Colonel Van Rensselaer's Regiment and this Deponent frequently saw said Michael Plass in said service and knows that he was in said Corps for nine months. That said Michael Plass was enlisted in the months of January or February 1777 according to this Deponents remembrance for nine months in Captain Platner's (Blatner's) Company. That the said Michael Plass was in the service of the United States in Arms against the Common Enemy until the end of his said nine months when he was discharged from Service at Clermont, as this Deponent then & has always understood, in the State of New York. /s/ Zacharias Short Sworn to this 13th day of August 1832 before me and I do certify that the said Zacharias Short is a credible witness is personally known to me. /s/ Lucas ********** One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of The County of Ulster in the State of New York (Note: Short apparently served in the combined Regiment formed from the Dutchess and Ulster Militia in August 1777 under Col. Morris Graham for service with the Army facing Burgoyne. Capt. Philip Swart was the Captain of the 3rd Company of that Regiment according to the letter from Col. Graham to Governor Clinton written from Van Shaick's Island on Aug. 21, 1777.) ____________________________________________________________ (1842 Affidavits submitted on Widow's Application) State of New York} }Ss.: Columbia County } I, Henry Dick of Germantown in said County being sworn say: I am Eighty one years old. I have lived in Germantown during my whole life time. I was acquainted with Michael Plass in the time of the War of the Revolution, & since, & when he was a pensioner. I knew his widow Elizabeth Plass, who lives in Saugeraties in Ulster County, as I am informed. I have known Elizabeth Plass since she was a girl. We went to school together. I was out in Service in the same Company with Michael Plass in the war of the Revolution several times. Once I remember after the year Burgoyne was taken, it was in the fall of the year, I was in Diel Rockefeller's Company and went under Genl. Robert Van Rensselaer. He commanded the Militia of Claverack & other Regiments. We went **** the Mohawk river above Schenectady after the Indians. The Indians had come down the Mohawk & burned Houses, Barns Etc. I saw things burnt. The year I can't tell, but it was after gave up. Said Michael Plass or Blass was along the last time I was along, & the time above mentioned. Said Plass was along every time I went, as Fifer. /s/ Henry Dick Sworn & Subscribed before Me this 11th day of May 1842 by said henry Dick who is a credible person & worthy. /s/ Michael De La Mater, Justice Peace. _____________________________________________________________ State of New York} }Ss.: Colubbia County } I, Barent Shipperly of Germantown in said County, being duly sworn deposes & say I am Eighty two years old. I have always lived in this Town. I have always known Henry Dick, named in the foregoing deposition, since we were boys. I also knew Michael Plass & wife for many years before said Michael's death. Said Elisabeth is still alive as I hear. The said Henry Dick above named served under Capt. Diel Rockefeller when Brant & Butler came down & destroyed things on the Mohawk in (1780) Seventeen Hundred & eighty. I was up at the same time. It was in the fall of the year. This was the last time I went. Michael Ploss or Plass above named was along at this time. Said Plass was in service with me in said Rockefeller's company every tour I went. And I remember distinctly he was our Fifer. His /s/ Barent X Shipperly mark Sworn & subscribed before Me this 11th May 1842 By said Barent Shillerly Who is a credible person & worthy. /s/Michael De LaMater, Justice of the Peace