State of New York

Albany County

        On this 2nd of February, in the year one thousand and eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before the Justice Court of the City of Albany, the same being a Court of Record, now sitting John Oliver, a resident of the Town of Bethlehem in the said County, aged eighty one years, 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 &, 1832.

        That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officer, and served as herein stated.

        In the year 1778 I was a resident of the Town of Bethlehem in said County (where I was born) and was a private in Capt. John Van Wie’s company of Militia – In September of that year, I, with others of Capt. Van Wie’s Company, was drafted to go to Saratoga on a tour of Duty, to guard against the attacks of the British and Indians in that neighborhood – I accordingly went with the other drafted men, under the command of Capt. Teunis Slingerland from Albany to Saratoga – We received our arms and equipment at Albany – We were stationed on the east side of the Hudson River – about eight or ten miles South of Fort Edward – The name of our Ensign was Wendell Hildebrant or Hellenbrandt, we served on the tour of military duty, not less, according to my recollection, then three months – Our Lieutenants name was John Seward – We returned late in the fall or beginning of winter and on our return, we passed through Schenectady – We were frequently out on scouting parties, but did not see the enemy – We were billeted out among the inhabitants in Schenectady apart of the time and were discharged at that place, whence we returned home –

        Adam Long who is now living and resides in New Scotland, and Isaac Van Wie were with me in that expedition – I do not know of any other person now living who were with me at that time – I remember one Gilbert Groesbeck, also Levinus Laraway, where with us, but they are both dead.

        In the year that the Village of Schoharie was burnt by the Indians, I was again ordered into the service – and went with a part of Capt. John Van Wie’s Company, and under his command to Schoharie – Teunis Vandenberg was our Lieutenant -  We went from the Town of Bethlehem – there was about 30 privates – We went by the way of the Beaver Dam and the Foxenkill, to the Stone Church in Schoharie – In the month of July we went, and remained there on duty, till I thin, the later part of October, when we were discharged and returned home – I believe I served on this tour of Duty, upwards of three months, as a private in Capt. Van Wie’s Company.

        I also performed other services for the public in the Revolutionary War, in burning coal for the use of the Army and as a Waggoner in transporting provisions from Albany to Schenectady for the use of the troops –

        I am not a pensioner of the United States, but claim a pension for the service above stated.

        I have never learned to write and therefore make a mark or cross for my signature.

Sworn and Subscribed in open

Court, on the day and year first                          John Oliver (his mark)

Above written

J. G. Wasson – clerk

 

State of New York

Albany County

        Be it remembered that before me the undersigned a commissioner of deeds for the County of Albany came Adam Long of the Town of New Scotland in said county of Albany, who being by me duly sworn did depose and say that he knew of John Oliver of the Town of Bethlehem in said county and that he knew him in the Revolutionary War and that the said John Oliver was in the service of this Country against Great Brittan and was in the service at Saratoga with this deponent and that he the said John Oliver served under Captain John Van Wie in Colonel Garret Vandenberg’s regiment and that they was both in the service three months at Saratoga and Fort Hunter and also that they both was in the serviced in Schoharie three months and all in the service e of this Country against the Kingdom of Great Brittan.

Subscribed and Sworn to                              Adam Long (his mark)

This 14th day of January, 1838

Before me

Samuel Young

 

State of New York

Albany County

        Be it remembered that before me the undersigned a commissioner of deeds for the County of Albany cam Isaac Van Wie of the Town of New Scotland in the said County of Albany, who being by me duly sworn did depose and say – that he knew John Oliver of the Town of Bethlehem in said County of Albany and that he knew him in the Revolutionary War and that he was in the service of this Country against the Kingdom of Great Brittan and that the said John Oliver was in the service at Saratoga with this deponent and that they served under Captain John Van Wie in Colonel Garret Vandenberg’s regiment and that they was in the service in Schoharie in defense of this Country against the Kingdom of Great Brittan.

Subscribed and Sworn to

This 18th day of January                                                Isaac Van Wie

1838 before me

Samuel Young


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