THE REVOLUTIONARY PENSION OF DANIEL CHAPMAN ©Illinois Genealogy Trails History Group I typed this transcript from a NARA copy of Daniel Chapman’s Pension File. There were 14 handwritten pages. ©Vicki Vaughn archerev@accessus.net Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, proposed June 7, 1832. State of Illinois, Johnson County On this third day of June, 1833, personally appeared before the county commissioners court of the county of Johnson aforesaid now sitting Daniel Chapman, a resident of the said county of Johnson, aged 76 years, on the 25th day of July last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That in the Spring of the year 1775 this dictanant volunteered under Captain Richard Sackett, of the county of West Chester, in the state of New York, where this applicant was born, and had lived up to that time. Immediately after thus volunteering, the company to which he belonged joined the regiment commanded by Col. Thomas, on the lines above New York. He had volunteered as a private for nine months, but at the expiration of this time, during which he had thus volunteered, and during which according to his engagements has served as a private their replacement not being supplied, he was kept in service for at least two months longer, when he was discharged by Lieut. Mosier, 1st Lieutenant commanding the company in the absence of the Captain who had been taken prisoner by the British at the town of Bedford, in West Chester county, New York. His employment during the time of his thus serving was as before mentioned that of a private, and the regiment was employed in watching the enemy continually, and was several times engaged in skirmishes with the enemy, keeping him from foraging, rescuing stolen cattle. At one of these skirmishes, at North Castle, it was that the Captain was taken prisoner. After the expiration of this period of service, which this applicant according to the best of his recollection states to have been not less than eleven months, including the period for which he volunteered, and that for which he was afterwards detained in service, he was discharged by the same officer, the captain, being still held as a prisoner at West Chester county, in the now state of New York. In the spring of 1776, he volunteered again under the same captain who had as an exchange of prisoners been restored, and colonel, for another period of nine months, and was again stationed on the same lines as before, in front of the enemy. After the expiration of this second term of duty, and after he was discharged there from in West Chester county as before, by Captain Sackett, this applicant volunteered under Lieutenant Mosier, to go and prevent the burning of the houses of Col. Holmes, who had lived in Bedford, but who had joined the British, and had a command of horse. The rest of the town had been burned by Col. Holmes some time before, and a deserter from the enemy having notified us of the intention of Col. Holmes to come up and burn his own home, a party of 45 or 50, of whom this applicant was one, turned out under the brave Lieutenant Mosier to prevent it, and save the property for the United States. This was completely accomplished, although Lieut. Mosier and his men were surrounded by four times their number of horsemen, with Col. Holmes at their head. We were formed into a hollow square, and received the enemy on every side at the point of the bayonet and made a great slaughter of men and horses, without losing a man on from our side, and finally dispersed them. Col. Holmes was badly wounded, and his horse killed, as he was in the act of drawing his sword upon Lieut. Mosier, whom he had summoned to surrender. The incident will be well remembered in that neighborhood. During these two tours of duty, that of his first and second volunteer engagements, he was often with other regiments of militia or state troops. He was also with the regular army under General Washington several times. Of the militia or state troops, he remembers Col. Webb’s regiment of Connecticut troops. This applicant was in no general battle during these two campaigns of -75 and -76, but in a great many skirmishes with the British and Torries, who held possession of New York, and who send out their scouts, spies and foraging parties, which were constantly watched or kept in check by Col. Thomas’s and Col. Webb’s regiments of volunteers. Sometimes assisted by the regular army, and sometimes by the militia rangers. This applicant during these times was well acquainted with Colonel Wisenfels, who commanded a regiment, he believes, in the continental line also with his son George Wisenfels, who had been a messmate with this applicant in Captain Sackett’s company but for whom his father got a commission as lieutenant in his own regiment. He also knew a Colonel Seampbell or Campbell, a very large man, who was engaged in a battle at King’s mountain, also a Captain Hamtramack, of the Continental army, and Captain Cheny, of the same, who raised, and recruited his company in the county where this applicant lived. He could mention the names of many other officers that he was, more or less, acquainted with, but supposes it to be unnecessary. In the year 1777, and not long after the fight and defeat of Col. Holmes, this applicant turned out again as a volunteer under a captain, whose name he has forgotten, in Colonel Wisenfel’s regiment, to go as a scout, being well acquainted with the country, and served in this capacity at least one year. The regiment was engaged with the regular army, and this applicant very generally with the scouts, frequently fighting with parties of the enemy. He was regularly discharged at the end of his term of service by his captain - at West Chester, New York, or in New Jersey, he does not remember positively which and kept his discharge for several years but what became of it, he does not know. He was a 2nd Sergeant during his third term of service, and was discharged as such. But he remained in the service under Col. Wisenfels, until the main army under General Washington and Lafayette marched southward to meet Cornwallis. He was in the battle at Dobb’s Ferry on the Hudson River, when the British shipping came up the Hudson to attack the French. The French and American troops erected (unreadable word) works, and nearly destroyed the shipping. This applicant was born in West Chester County, New York in the year 1756, and has at his residence a record of his age, kept by himself from the best information he could obtain. He has lost his discharges. From West Chester county, where this applicant resided, when called into service, he moved after the revolutionary war had closed to Plattsburg, in the same state, where he remained until about twenty years ago, when he moved to Niagra, where he lived for two years, thence he moved to the state of Indiana, where he remained two years, and thence to Johnson county in Illinois, where he has continued to live ever since. This applicant is acquainted with James Jones, a clergyman, and Hezekiah West, also a clergyman and both resident in this county, who, he believes, will both testify to his character for veracity, and their opinion of his services as a soldier of the revolution. This applicant has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person except John G. Simpkins, by whom he can prove any part of his services. This applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension role of any state. (Signature) Daniel Chapman Sworn to and inscribed, this day and year aforesaid - (signature) John McIntire We, James Jones, a clergyman residing in the county of Johnson, in the state of Illinois, and Hezekiah West, also a clergyman residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Daniel Chapman, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 76 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. (signatures) Hezekiah West James Jones Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid (signature) John McIntire And the following interrogations were put by the Court to the same Daniel Chapman, and by him answered (3 unreadable words) to said interrogations respectively. 1st -- Where, and in what year were you born? Answer - I was born in Bedford Township, West Chester County, New York, in the year 1756. 2 - Have you any record of your age, & if so, where is it? Answer - I have a record at my house kept by myself from the best information I could obtain. 3. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer - I lived in West Chester county, New York when called into service, and have lived in Plattsburg & Niagara, New York, Indiana and Johnson county, Illinois, successively since the War - in the last I now live. 4 How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom? Answer - I volunteered. 5 State the names of some of the regular offcers who were with the troops when you served, such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Answer - General Washington & LaFayette were the regular general officers and Colonel Wisenfels, who I believe was a colonel in the regular service; Col. Webb in the militia from Connecticut were some of the regular and militia officers whom I recollect, I volunteered under Captain Sacket for nine months, served at least two months over engagement, again volunteered under the same officers for the same term, and lastly under a Captain whose name I do not remember. These are general circumstances connected with my services - for others more minute I must refer to my declaration. 6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? Answer: I received my first discharge from Captain Sackett, my second from Lieutenant Mosier 1st Lieutenant commanding the company and my last from my Captain whose name I do not remember. I have lost them all long since. 7 State the names of persons for whom you are known in your neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character, your veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer - James Jones and Hezekiah West, both residents of this county and preachers of the gospel. (signature) Daniel Chapman Subscribed and sworn on the day and year aforementioned (signature) John McIntire And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after printing the interrogations prescribed the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them, that James Jones and Hezekiah West, both of whom have signed the certificate preceding the above statement of interrogations and answers, are both clergymen, resident in the county of Johnson aforesaid, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I, John McIntire, clerk of the County commissioners court, of Johnson county aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Daniel Chapman for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereinto set my hand and seal of office, this 3rd day of June, 1833. (Signature) John McIntire Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 July 1838 granting half pay in pensions to certain Widows -- State of Illinois - Johnson County - On this 22nd day of May 1843 personally appears before the Probate Justice of the peace in same for the County aforesaid being a Court of Record Lucrecia Chapman a resident of the same County of Johnson, aged 74 years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress proposed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay on pensions to certain widows. That she is the Widow of Daniel Chapman, who was a private soldier in the Revolutionary War in the state of New York as much as three years or more - the particular periods of his service and the officers under whom he served she is not able to state, but she presumes they are sufficiently set forth in a declaration made by himself - upon which he was allowed a pension of Eighty dollars a year under the act of the 7 June 1832 - and was placed on the Pension Roll List of the Illinois Agency. She further declares that she was married to this said Daniel Chapman in the month of October 1788. She thinks on the 25th day - in Duchess County State of New York - that there is she thinks a family record of the births of her children of not of her marriage in the possession of her son Samuel J. Chapman of Vienna, which will show that her first daughter Betsey was born on the 2nd of February 1790 that her husband the aforesaid Daniel Chapman died on the Eighth day of February 1841 and she has remained a widow ever since that time. She was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four [viz] at the time above listed. Sworn and subscribed the day and year first above written Before me. her Samuel Chapman (PP) Lucrecia Chapman mark State of Illinois Johnson County - Be it known that on this 22nd day of May 1843 personally appeared before the undersigned Probate Justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid - Samuel J. Chapman who I certify to be a credible witness and made oath in courtroom of law - that he is the eldest living son of Daniel and Lucrecia Chapman that Daniel Chapman his Father was a pensioner of the United States at Eighty dollars a year and departed this life on the eighth day of February 1841 and that his mother has remained a Widow ever since that time. That the family record which is here exhibited is the genuine record of his parents - made in his own handwriting about twenty six years ago and was taken from an older record not now to be found in existence. Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written Before me (signature) S.J. Chapman James Copland General Veatch a credible witness being duly sworn upon his oath doth say that he has been well acquainted with Lucrecia Chapman who has signed and qualified to this (Rest is cut off or missing. No seal is seen on this document) Return To The Main Index   ©Copyright Illinois Genealogy Trails 1999-2006