PENSION: John Parish; Fort Ann, Washington co., NY

Submitted by Donald E. Lampson (dlampson @ earthlink.net)

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State of New York       }
                                     }Ss.: 
County of Washington}
      On this 25th day of August  A. D. 1832 personally appeared before me
John Moss, a Judge of Washington County Common Pleas, John Parish, a resident
of the Town of Fort Ann, County of Washington and State of New York, aged
Eighty one, 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 7th 1832.

That he enlisted in the service of the United States under the following named
officers and served as herein stated.

That the 1st time I entered the service on Livingston Manor in the County of
Albany, then called, and State of New York, and about the first of August A.
D. 1777. I was drafted for three months in the New York Militia and entered
the service under the command of Captain Peter Best and marched through
Kinderhook to Greenbush and crossed the river into Albany where we dried our
arms and ammunition. From thence we marched up the river to Stillwater where
we joined Col. Henry Livingston's Reg.  Major Livingston was an officer in the
Reg., and we were stationed near to Gen. Gates' headquarters, kept up with
Company duties.

After about three weeks I was detached from this Company to take charge of one
of the teams belonging to the United States. I had care of this team under the
command of  Roderick Burley and was with the army during  the First and Second
battles.  That General Lincoln was wounded and a large number were killed and
I was in engaged in bringing ******** and provisions from Half Moon, now
*********, to the Army and  *******and bringing forage. 

That at the time Burgoyne surrendered I was after a load of Flour at Half Moon
Point. After I delivered the load at Stillwater I returned to Half Moon Point,
and  Capt. Roderwick Burley ordered two teams, myself one, to go to Saratoga
at Fish Creek and bring down this cannon that had been taken from Burgoyne. We
went up accordingly when Gen. Schuyler countermanded the order and commanded 
myself to go to drawing stores and pass them on the other bank of the river,
which we performed. I continued in this assignment until my time expired the
first of Nov, and I was dismissed when I had served these months, and returned
to Livingston Manor where I resided until October A. D. 1778.

I was drafted in the New York Militia and went into the service under the
command of Capt. Joseph Elliot and marched to Stillwater where we remained.
Once was a Guard executing orders from some of our officers commanding, and we
were discharged. I served and performed my duty as Private two weeks, and
returned to Livingston Manor where I resided until in Sept. A. D. 1779 when I
was drafted for three months in the New York Militia and went into the Levies
under the command of Capt. ***** and we were furnished with wagons and the
horses by the government and was commanded to take charge of one. He went to
Fishkill. He was employed to take flour the landing at Fishkill fifteen miles
east and delivered it where our Guard was placed and a part of the time we
were drawing forage from all parts to Fishkill. That the Continental troops
lay and were encamped at Fishkill.

I continued in this service until the term for which I was drafted expired 
which was in December.  

I served and performed my duty three months and was discharged  by Col. Hay
and returned to Livingston Manor aforesaid until the year A. D. 1792 when I
moved to Fort Anne where I now reside and resided ever since. That I was born
in the year 1757 on Philips *******, Dutchess County, State of New York, and
that I have no record of my age.

That I never have received a written discharge. That I was born in the year
1751 (sic.). That I have no documentary evidence knows of no person whose
testimony I can provide who can testify to my service. That Rufus Bates a
Clergyman  **** **** ***** to whom I am known in my present neighborhood and
who can testify as to my character for veracity and the belief of my services
as a soldier of the Revolution.

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except for
the present, and declares that my name is not on the pension roll of the
agency of any State.

That I am not able from bodily infirmity to attend this Court.
/s/ John Parish
Sworn to and subscribed
The day and year aforesaid
Mentioned before me.
/s/ John Moss   

(Certifications omitted.)  
 (Note: The "Captain" Peter Best, under whom he marched to join the Army
facing Burgoyne in the beginning of August 1777, was commissioned as a
Lieutenant in the Company of Capt. Leonard Ten Broeck. Best apparently was in
command of a detachment marching to join the Army. The term "captain" was
frequently used to describe the person in command of a detachment of men or a
company, rather than their commissioned rank at a particular time. 
   -   D. E. Lampson, transcriber.)