State of New York

Onondaga County

        On the 24th day of July AD 1833 appeared before the Honorable John Watson Esquire first Judge of the County of Onondaga John Devoe a resident of the Town of Manlius in the Said County at the dwelling house of the said John Devoe 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 according to the best of his recollection he is Eighty Six or Seven old.  That at the commencement of the Revolution he resided at the Town of Bethlehem in the County of Albany and State of New York – That when he entered the service of the United States he resided in the said Town of Bethlehem and that since the revolution he has resided in Guilderland in said County of Albany and in the Town of Manlius in said County of Onondaga and for the last five years he has resided in said Town of Manlius.  That he thinks he entered said service about the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six buy he has no distinct recollection except that it was soon after the commencement of the war, and served as herein stated, under the following named officers.  He began as a regular soldier and thinks he was then about twenty three years old – He entered at the Town of Bethlehem in said County of Albany for nine months under Col. Peter Gansevoort Capt. Cornelius van Dyke and Lieutenant Cornelius Van Slyck that he served out the full term of his enlistment of nine month.  That under the command of the aforesaid officers he went to the City of Albany and from thence to Lake George and Fort Edward and from thence to Ticonderoga and thence to Crown Point and St. Johns and at the Expiration of said nine months he was stationed at a Storm Fort at Chamberlain in Canada of which the Americans had disposed the Enemy and take possession of – and at Chamberlain he again entered for three months and from Chamberlain he went to Quebec and a short time and was at the taking of St. Johns – That he served out said three month under Capt. Benedict whose Christian name he does not recollect and who is the only officer whose name he now recollects.  That the only names of person who he was with as privates during the first nine months are George Cooper and William James and during the three months Enlistment said William James was with him and was with him and was wounded ant the taking of St. Johns and that after he had served one year as before stated he again entered in the Bateau Service for five or Six months under Captain John Kleun and served as a private for five or six months between Stillwater and Fort Edward – and the only person whom he recollected being with him in such service was Garret Segar Hedrick Segar and Adam Segar and after said last mentioned service he was drafted several times and continued to serve a great portion of the time until the close of the war but he cannot state the time or circumstances and he believes he Served in all during the Revolutionary War four or five years and that all the said Services were performed as a private soldier on his individual account

        That he was born at Rhinebeck in the County of Duchess in said State and he further declares that he does not know of any clergymen in the neighborhood of his residence or else where who can certify as to his belief of his service as a Revolutionary Soldier.  That he does not recollect whether he ever had any discharge or not, and he does not know any living witness by who he can prove any part of said services by that he is old and decrepit and that is with much difficulty that he can hear or see, and that from his age and decrepitude he is unable to attend at the court house of Onondaga County without serious injury to his health – that he has not got any record of his age and was finally dismissed from the said service – and that he has stated in this foregoing declaration all that he recollect or can state in relation to this service as a soldier.  He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present – and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State.

Sworn and subscribed

This 24th day of July 1833                                          John Devoe (his mark)

Before me

John Watson First Judge

Of Onondaga County  

 

Onondaga County

        John Devoe being duly sworn deposes and says that he was in the service of the United States as a Soldier nearly constantly from the commencement to the close of the war.  That he recollects the Americans with whom and under whom he served - after he left Albany took any place in the position of the British from Albany to Quebec (except Quebec) this deponent was employed as the river and in the wood – he was a portion of the time at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, St. John and at Skenesborough – He was in General Schuyler’s Army and engaged in falling trees to prevent the pursuit of Burgoyne’s Army and this deponent further says that he was constantly in the service of the United States as a soldier from the time he started from Albany until St. Johns, Ticonderoga and Crown Point been taken – and deponent further says as a regular soldier under Enlistment and as a militiaman he served in the American Army almost constantly from the beginning of the Revolutionary War to the close of the war – and this deponent further says that he cannot state anything further in addition to his former statements – and further this deponent saith not.

Sworn and Subscribed                                                     John Devoe (his mark)

This 21st day of February 1835

Before me

A.C. Griswold

 

 

State of New York

Albany County

       John Pool of the Town of Guilderland and County of Albany being duly sworn deposes and says that he is acquainted with John Devoe who was a soldier in the American Revolutionary Army that the said John Devoe now resides in the Town of Manlius and County of Onondaga that he knew the said John Devoe while in the service of the United States as a soldier, that this deponent went with the army under General Montgomery as a soldier to Quebec in the year on thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Five while this deponent was at Quebec – the said John Devoe was also sent as a soldier in the army of the Revolution to assist at the siege of Quebec – And this Deponent cannot tell how long the said John Devoe was there, this deponent cannot tell in what Company or Regiment the said Devoe belonged.  This deponent knows that said Devoe was at Chamblee 1776 in the Service of the United States, but is not able to state how long and further this deponent saith not

Subscribed and Sworn

To before me this 20th                                                        John Pool (his mark)

Day of June 1834

John D. Ogsbury – Justice of the Peace

 

 

Schenectady County

        John Bonny of the City of Schenectady in said County being duly sworn deposes and says that he is seventy two years of age and upwards, that during the Revolution he was and is now well acquainted with John Devoe an applicant for a pension under the Act of the Congress of June 1832.  That during said War and in the year of 1782 in the spring of said year, he this deponent and the said Devoe at the same time enlisted in a company commanded by Captain (Blank) and Ensign Campbell, the name of the Lieutenant this deponent does not now recollect, for the term of nine months each.  That he this deponent and the said Devoe immediately after their enlistment were engaged in performing garrison duty in the City of Albany, the place at which they enlisted for about the space of three weeks, that then they were ordered to march and did march to Johnstown in Montgomery County, where they remained for the space of two months, performing the like garrison duty as above.  After which time, on account of the said Devoe with a part of the Company, being transferred to situations different from and other than those, at which he this deponent performed military service, he this deponent is unable to state how much longer and at what other places the said Devoe performed military service.  That the following are the name of some of the officers with whom this deponent was acquainted, who knew officers belonging to the Regiment to which he this deponent and said Devoe belonged to wit: Colonel Willett, Major Thorton and Captain Young, and further this deponent says not.

Sworn this 23rd day                                                John Bonny

Of June 1834, before me

Albert Veeder

 

Rensselaer County

        John Hogeboom of Lansingburg  in said County being duly sworn says that he enlisted as a private soldier in the Revolutionary Army un Captain John Visher in the month of May 1775 – That he this deponent proceeded with his company to Lake George when they remained there some length of time – from thence he proceeded with his company to the taking of St. Johns – from thence to Montreal and from thence to Quebec – And this deponent further says that he is acquainted with John Devoe and knew him when in the army – That the said John Devoe was under the command of Captain Van Dyck at Lake George – That the said John Devoe enlisted and proceeded to Lake George at or about the time this deponent did according to the best of his recollection – this deponent further says that the said John Devoe was at Lake George during the whole time that he was there and proceeded from thence to the taking of St, Johns at the same time with this deponent, from thence to Montreal and according to best of this deponents recollection the said John Devoe proceed with him and was at the siege of Quebec.

Subscribed and Sworn before

Me this 13th day of January

1837 the Deponent being                                       John Hogeboom

well known to me as a

credible person

Jacob C. Lansing

 

Albany County

        John Pool (Vanderpool) of the Town of Guilderland County of Albany and state of New York, farmer of about the age of Seventy Eight years, being duly sworn doth depose and say – that he this deponent now is and for several years past, been personally acquainted with John Devoe, now of Manlius in the County of Onondaga – that he this deponent, was duly enlisted as a soldier, during the Revolutionary War – that whilst, this deponent was in the performance of his duty, under such enlistment he knows from his own personal knowledge and observation – that the said John Devoe, regularly served as a soldier in the American Army for one year or more, and this deponent further says that he saw the said John Devoe in actual service under American Officers at Quaheck and other places in or about, the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five and six.  And further this deponent says not.

Sworn before me

This sixth day of

January in the year of                                          John Pool (his mark)

Our Lord 1834

John R. Williams – Justice

 

State of New York

Albany County

        John Brown of the City of Albany being duly sworn doth depose as follows – I am seventy eight years of age, and am a pensioner of the United States.

        I am well acquainted with John Devoe, who resides as I am informed in the Town of Dewitt, Onondaga County – I knew him in the Revolutionary War – In the year 1777, I think in the month of February, the said John Devoe enlisted in the Bateau service under Capt. John Hunn – for the period of nine months – I was also a private in the same company at the same time and know that said John Devoe served as stated for the period of nine months.  I speak from personal knowledge having been associated with him, in said Company, during that time –

        I am informed that said John Devoe is now a Pensioner of the United States, and wishes to obtain an increase of his pension.

Sworn and Subscribed this 23rd

Day of February 1838 before me                          John Brown

S. Jenkins – Court of Deeds

 

State of New York

Albany County

        Garrett Seger of New Scotland in said County being duly sworn deposeth as follows – I am eighty four years of age and am a Pensioner of the United States.

        I am well acquainted with the above named John Devoe in the Revolutionary War, and know that he served as a private in the Company of Bateauman, under Capt. John Hunn, in the year 1777 – in which Company I also served as a private, at the same time – The said John Devoe served nine months in said Company to my personal knowledge.

Sworn and Subscribed this 23rd

Day of February 1838 before me                  Gerret Seger

S. Jenkins – Court of Deeds

 

State of New York

Albany County

        John Seger of Guilderland in said County being duly sworn deposeth as follows – I am eighty three years old and am a Pensioner of the United States – I am well acquainted with the within named John Devoe, in the Revolutionary War, and known that he served as a private in a company of Bateauman, under the command of Capt. John Hunn in the year 1777 – I was also a private in the said Company at the same time – I know that said Devoe served as a private in said Company at least nine months, having served with him – I am unable from infirmity to writ my name.

Sworn and subscribed this 23rd

Day of February 1838 before me                          John Seger (his mark)

S. Jenkins – Court of Deeds

 

Hon. Secretary of War

        Sir,

        Enclosed is an affidavit of John Pool testifying to the services of John Devoe as a Revolutionary War Soldier whose application is now on file in your office.

        The Evidence herewith furnished with that heretofore furnished, I trust will be satisfactory to the department for at least for a portion of time.  And if I may be allowed to suggest that the applicant Devoe is old feeble and the last spark of life but faintly gleams in its socket, is poor.  Speaks Dutch and scarcely intelligible English, live a distance of one hundred and fifty miles from the place of his enlistment -  and the expense and difficulty of procuring further proof oh his services if required will amount to a denial of that bounty which his Country intended he should reap.

        And on a reference to your pension list you will find John Pool the witness to be at this time a pensioner, so his testimony will not be doubted.

                                        Respectfully Yours,

                                        A. G. Griswold

                                Salina, Onondaga Co. N. Y.

                                        Jan. 14th 1834

 

State of New York

Onondaga County

        Addison Griswold of the Town of Salina in the said County being duly sworn deposes and says that he drew the original declaration and the annexed affidavit of John Devoe for a pension.  And deponent further says that he is well acquainted with the said John Devoe and with William Devoe who made the annexed affidavit and that they the said John Devoe and William Devoe are men whose character for truth and veracity and in general stand as high as any men in community.

        And this deponent further says that the said John Devoe from the time he made the original declaration for a pension to the present time from the imbecility of age has in the opinion of the deponent been incapable of recollecting or communicating any facts in detail which occurred any considerable time anterior to the time of making said declaration.

        And this deponent further says that the said John Devoe is so feeble from his great age that he can scarcely walk across his room and cannot without assistance hold a pen in his hand for the purpose of making hi cross or mark.

        And this deponent further says that he has no doubt but what the said John Devoe’s faculties and memory is so much impaired by old age that he cannot recount in detail the services and the places where and the time and where he performed the same during the Revolutionary War.

        And this deponent further says that from the Statement made to this deponent at the times of making the original declaration and the annexed affidavit by the said John Devoe and from the amount give to this deponent by the said John Devoe of the different periods when and places when he was engaged in the services as a soldier he has no doubt but what the said John Devoe did serve faithfully as a soldier of the Revolutionary War as he stated in his original declaration and the annexed affidavit for more than two years.  And further this deponent saith not.

Sworn and Subscribed                                           A. G. Griswold

This 21st day of February 1835

 


Transcribed by Charles F. Luke
Go to: Revoutionary War Pensionstm