DECLARATION
State of
On this thirteenth day
of September 1832, personally appeared before William Osborn a Justice of the
Peace Solomon Luke a resident of the Town of Bethlehem in the county of Albany
and state of New York aged Seventy Six years, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth on hi oath, make the following declaration, in order to
obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832 that he entered the service of the
Under Capt. Derrick
Becker in 76 at Saratoga and under Capt. John A Van Wie during the remainder
of the Revolution, under Col.
Sworn and subscribe
The day and year aforesaid Solomon
Luke (his mark)
State of
City and
On the 27th
day of May 1833 personally appeared before the Justice Cout
of the City of Albany John D. Winne, of the Town of Bethlehem, well known to
the said Court as a [person of truth and veracity, who being duly sworn saith, that
he knows Solomon Luke, the applicant named in the annexed declaration and affidavits
and knew him during the Revolutionary War I know that said Solomon Luke was
in the service of his County as a Militiaman in the years 1776, 1777 and 1778
that he served as a private in Capt. Derrick Beckers Company in the year 1776
I also know that he was in the service under Capt. John A. Van Wie in the
year 1777, but I do not recollect in what grade he served whether as a
private or a non-commissioned officer I believe he was at the taking of
Burgoyne I also recollect that said Luke was in the service at Schoharie in
the year 1778 and 1779 as I believe but I do not recollect how long he was in
the service in these years according to the best of my recollection he
remained in the service under Capt. Van Wie until the close of the
Revolutionary War and that afterwards he served a Campaign from Poughkeepsie,
as a Lieutenant under General Stephen Van Rensselaer and this is all I can
now recollect about said Solomon Lukes service during the Revolutionary War
said Luke is about Seventy Seven years of age, as I believe
Sworn in open Court this
21st day of May 1833 John D. Winne
John G. Wasson Clerk
Of the
State of
Personally appeared
before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace Solomon Luke, who being
duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent
loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service,
but according, to the best of his recollection he served not less than the
periods mentioned below and in the following grades; for four months I served
as a private in the year 1776 under Capt. Derrick Becker at Saratoga and
Schoharie for five months in the year 1777 and during the remainder of the Revolution
I served as a Sergeant under Capt. John A. van Wie during which time I was stationed
at Fort George at Fort Edward, and was at Saratoga at the taking of Burgoyne
for two month in the year 1778 I was at Fort Plain and other forts for two
months - I was at Schoharie and other forts in the year 1779 and that I was
stationed at the above named places from two to three different times and
that the times specified are much less than the real time of one thing I am
very positive that is during the four year above named that so much of my
time was employed in the Revolution that I was entirely prevented from doing
any work on my farm in the years 80 and 81 I always held myself in readiness
to be called out and was at several times called out for a few days at a time-
and although I cannot particularize more clearly as I dept no journal I am
most certain that I was engaged altogether in the Revolutionary Service as a
private and Sergeant for at least Eighteen month and for which service I claim
a pension
Sworn and subscribed this
20th day of May 1833 before me Solomon Luke (his
mark)
William L. Osborn
Transcribed by Charles F. Luke