Note: Connected to the Becraft family of the town of Morehouse, Hamilton county, NY.
File #12192
Francis Becraft
|
Original Declaration for pension 12 November 1832 State of New York Schoharie County On the twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court, before the judges of the court of Oyer and Terminer, held in and for the county of Schoharie and state afore said, now setting Francis Becraft, a resident of the town and county of Schoharie and State of New York, age seventy three years and five months, 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 he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. He entered the service as a volunteer in the month of August, he thinks it was, in the year 1778, in captain William Dietz's company in colonel Peter Vrooman's regiment, the company was then commanded by Lieutenant Mattice Shultes, Captain Dietz having been a few days before taken prisoner by the Indians, and his father, mother, wife and all his children murdered and scalped by the Indians, and he taken to Canada where he died as was reported. The company was stationed at [Westmaris]? Fort at a place called Bever Dam in Albany County in the State of New York about ten or twelve miles from the lower fort in Schoharie, that he joined the company there, and continued to serve in it for the space of three months and was discharged at the Fort in the month of November; that his discharge was not in writing. That when he entered the service he lived at a place now called Rensselaerville in the county of Albany and State of New York. That in the spring of the year 1779 in the month of April, he thinks it was, he again entered the service as a volunteer in the same company and regiment and was stationed at the same fort above mentioned. That he continued to serve in the company till sometime in the month of November when he was discharged at the place aforesaid. That again in the spring of the year 1780, he entered the service in the same company and regiment and was stationed at the same place as before, and continued in the service till sometime in November when he was discharged. That during this term of service they were a good part of the time employed in building another fort at Bever Dam aforesaid about two miles from the one where they were stationed. In the spring of the year 1781, sometime in the month of April, he thinks it was, he entered the service again as a volunteer in the same company and regiment as before stated, that they were stationed at the new Fort in Bever Dam aforesaid in the county of Albany aforesaid. That he continued to serve in said company till late in the fall when he was discharged at the Fort aforesaid. That he was not in any battle but his chief employ was in standing guard and scouting. That again in the spring of the year 1783 he volunteered in the same company and regiment aforesaid, at the place aforesaid, and continued to serve in said company for about a month when they were all discharged. That he was in the service of Captain Dietz's company then commanded by Lieutenant Shultes, at Bever dam aforesaid, in all, about two years and six or eight months according to the best of his recollection. He was born in Hudson in the county of Columbia and State of New York the 12th day of June 1760 ~ That his age is recorded in He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any other state. NB. In the first page in the 14th line from the top the word "been" is intended and in the 18th line the word "in the State of New York" intended. In the 22 line the word "now" intended. In the 34th line the word "were" intended. In the 16th line of 2nd page the words "the high" erased. In the 17th the words "Dutch reformed Schoharie now county of Schoharie" erased and the words "the city of Hudson in Columbia county" intended. [Whiwise]? the letter "a" 18th line the word "Schoharie" was before ex [untron]?.
|
|
12 November 1832 Affidavit of William Ball Residence: Berlin, Albany Co., NY Age: 69 State of New York Schoharie County William Ball of the town of Berlin in the county of Albany and state of New York, aged sixty nine years who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Francis Becraft who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration and was well acquainted with him during the Revolutionary War and he knows he was in the Revolutionary service at Beverdam in the county of Albany in Captain Dietz's company under the command of Lieutenant Shultes in the year 1779 and in the year 1780, and he thinks, in the year 1881. That he served in the year 1779 about six or seven months according to the best of his recollection; and the next season the said Francis Becraft served at the new fort; and he, this deponent thinks, the said Francis Becraft, served there the season following but can't say how long he served but thinks it was from Spring till in the fall of each year. That this deponent believes he served as he stated in his declaration. That he is reputed to be a man of truth and he knows him to be of the age he has stated. William Ball Sworn and subscribed This 12th day of November 1832 in open court John Gebhard Jr., Clerk |
|
12 November 1832 Affidavit of Jacob Shultes Residence: Knox, Albany Co., NY Age: 72 State of New York Schoharie County Jacob Shultes of the town of Knox in the county of Albany and state of aforesaid, aged seventy two years who being duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with Francis Becraft, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing and was well acquainted with him during the Revolutionary War and he knows that the said Francis Becraft was in the Revolutionary service in Captain Dietz's company then commanded by Lieutenant Shultes in the years 1778 and 1779 at Bever dam in the county of Albany and state aforesaid. That this deponent was orderly sergeant of said company during that time and he believes that the said Francis Becraft served in said company as he has stated in his declaration. And further that the said Francis Becraft is reputed to be a man of truth and this deponent believes him to be of the age he states. His Jacob X Shultes Mark Sworn and subscribed The 12th day of November 1832 in open court John Gebhard Jr., Clerk |
|
12 November 1832 Affidavit of Matthias Reinehardt Residence: Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY Age: 69 State of New York Schoharie County Matthias Reinehardt of the town and county of Schoharie being duly sworn according to the Law, doth depose and say that he is in the sixty ninth year of his age and that he is well acquainted with Francis Becraft of the town and county of Schoharie and was well acquainted with him in the Revolutionary War; and he knows that the said Francis Becraft was in the Revolutionary service in the year 1781 and 1782. That it was about the first of May 1781 that he firstly saw him in the service in Bever dam in the county of Albany and state aforesaid. That he was in Captain Dietz's company in Colonel Vrooman's regiment. That this deponent belonged to the same company and regiment. That this deponent volunteered in the same company about the first of May and he knows that the said Francis Becraft was in the service at that time and continued in it till late in the month of November, according to the best of his recollection. That this deponent was in the same company and regiment in the year 1782 and he knows that the said Francis Becraft was in the same company and regiment from about the first of May 1782 till sometime in November, should say it was part the middle. That the said Francis Becraft was in the service when this deponent entered it in each of the above years, but can't say how long he had been in when this deponent entered. Matthias Rheinhardt Sworn to and subscribed This day and year aforesaid In open court John Gebhardt Jr., Clerk We [???] Matthias Reinhardt who has subscribed [???] the above affidavit is a reliable witness. Wm. Shann, Judge John Gebhardt Jr., Clerk |
|
12 November 1832 And the said court do hereby declare this opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. Judges of Oyer & Terminer V. W. [???], Circuit Judge William Bakman Henry Shafer Wm. Shann We certify that Francis Becraft, the applicant, and William Ball and Jacob Shultes, the persons who have sworn to the annexed affidavits are reputed to be men of truth~ Judges of Oyer & Terminer Wm Shann William Bakman Henry Shafer I John Gebhardt, Junior, Clerk of the court of Oyer & Terminer do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Francis Becraft for a pension. In testimony where of, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this office this 12th day of November 1832. John Gebhardt Jr., Clerk of Schoharie County Court of Oyer and Terminer |
|
Annexed Declaration Francis Becraft 6 June 1833 State of New York Schoharie County On this sixth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court, before the judges of the court of common pleas of the county of Schoharie and state of New York now setting, Francis Becraft, named in the annexed declaration, who being duly sworn according to the Law, doth in addition to what he has stated and sworn to in his declaration, doth further say, that in the year 1780, he entered the service in the month of April but cannot state the day of the month but is confident it was as soon as the tenth of the month, and that he was not discharged till as late as the 20th of November according to the best of his recollection. And that in the year 1781 he entered the service in April thinks it was the fore part of the month but does not know but that it was as late as the middle of the month, that he continued in the service till in the month of November as late as the 20th he thinks, if not later, but can't swear positively as to the day of the month. And this deponent further saith that on the fourth or fifth of April 1872, at Bever dam in the county of Albany and state of New York, he entered the service as a volunteer in the same company and regiment he before served in, but the company at this time was commanded by one Adam Dietz. That they were stationed as what was called Switz Kill Fort, at Beverdam aforesaid. That his chief employ was standing guard and scouting. That he continued in the service till late in November, he thinks it was as late as the 20th at least, when he was discharged at the Fort aforesaid. That this term of service should have been stated in his original declaration and that he was not apprized of its omission till his papers were returned. His Francis X Becraft Mark |
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14-May-2008 13:36:48 PDT
Copyright © 2004 Joanne Murray / Lisa Slaski