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Revolutionary War Pensioners W. 16675
PEAKE, CHRISTOPHER ELIZABETH
New York (A.) 2273. Elizabeth Peake, widow of Christopher Peake, decd. who died on the 24th day of November, 1794 of Schoharie Co. in the State of N. York who was a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Hudson of the commanded by in N. York line for 6 months Sergeant, N. Y.
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany, N. Y. at the rate of 30 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of August, 1838 and sent to W. George Peake, Esperance, N. York.
Arrears to the 4th of March, 1838 $210.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 1829 – 15.00 $225.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d}
Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk, Book A, Vol. 2, Page 115.
STATE OF NEW YORK, SCHOHARIE COUNTY, ss On this seventh day of September, 1837, personally appeared before the subscriber a Judge of the court of common Please of the county of Schoharie aforesaid, Elizabeth Peake a resident of the town and county of Schoharie and State aforesaid, 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, passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Christopher Peake who was, according the best of her knowledge and belief, an orderly sergeant in Captain Hudson’s company, in Col. Whiting’s regiment of which company, she thinks Jacob Vosburgh was Lieutenant. That her said husband, Christopher Peake, volunteered in said company at Chatham, in what was then called Kings District, and she thinks it was then in the county of Albany in said State, the fore part of June 1775, for she recollects it was about the first of corn (howing?). That she does not know where he marched to, but thinks it was up the Mohawk river; that he continued in the service till about the middle of August when he came home and helped work in harvest a few days and then went into the service again, and she thinks, in the same company and regiment, but whether his first term of service was out and he volunteered a second time, or was drafted, she does not recollect; but she knows he went again into the service, after remaining at home a few days, and continued in the service till the latter part of November, for she recollects that she had gathered the corn and husked it before he came home. Thinks he was in the service that year as much as 4 months. That he went into the service again in May, 1776, she recollects it was the year before her second son was born, and she thinks her said husband was not discharged till towards the last of October or the forepart of November of that year, thinks he served as much as 4 months or more. That in the year 1777, he was in the service again, she thinks, in the same company and regiment, the biger part of the time from in the month of May till after Burgoyne surrendered, and was at the taking of Burgoyne, but cannot state with certainty what company he was in at that time, served as much as 5 months. That he was again in the service in the year 1778, and she thinks, in Capt. Vosburgh’s company, in Col. Whiting’s regiment, of which company Samuel Thompson (who was the husband of the Sister-in-law of this deponent) was Lieutenant, and Nathaniel Miles a brother-in-law of said deponent, was Ensign. That he entered the service sometime in the forepart of June of that year, and he was in the service till late in the fall, served as much as 4 months. that in the year 1779, he was again in the service, and she thinks, in the same company and regiment, from after harvest till the forepart of winter, or late in the fall for she remembers it was cold weather, and she had to draw her own wood before he returned, that he was in the service that year she thinks as much as three months. That in 1780, he was in the service, and she thinks, in the same company, at the time they had a skirmish with Sir John Johnson at the Mohawk River, she thinks Col. Van Rensselaer had command at the time of the skirmish; that her said husband was in the service that time as much as a month. That he was sometimes drafted, but most generally went as a volunteer, that she cannot particularly where each tour of service was performed, but during the war, she understood he had been at a good many different places, to wit, at Fort Edwards Stillwater, Sarratoga, Johnstown, Fort Plain and other places along the Mohawk River. That she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim. She further declares that she was married to the said Christopher Peake on the 31st day of July, 1769, that her husband the aforesaid Christopher Peake died on the 24th day of November 1794, and that she has remained widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Elizabeth Peake (her mark) Sworn to, and subscribed on the day and year above written before me John C. Wright, a Judge of Schoharie County courts, Counsellor of the Sup. Court.
I certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the court. John C. Wright, a Judge of Schoharie County County, Counsellor &c
STATE OF NEW YORK, SCHOHARIE COUNTY, ss
George Peake of the town and county of Schoharie and State aforesaid being duly sworn saith that he was well acquainted with Christopher Peake in his life time and knows that he died more than forty years ago and that Elizabeth Peake has remained the widow of the said Christopher Peake, deceased, eversince.
George Peake
Subscribed and sworn this 7th day of September 1837, before me J. C. Wright a judge of Schoharie County Courts
I certify the above named George Peake is a person of veracity.
J. C. Wright, a Judge of Schoharie county courts
STATE OF NEW YORK, COLUMBIA COUNTY COUNTY ss On this 29th day of August 1837 before me personally appeared, Anna Beebe widow, of Roderick Beebe late of the town of Chatham, deceased who first being duly sworn according to law doth depose and sat that she is now a resident of the town of Chatham and county of Columbia (formerly Kings district and County of Albany) and has resided in the said town and county for sixty-one years next October, that she will be 80 years old the 18th day of September next, and further that she was well acquainted with Christopher Peake formerly of the town of Chatham, deceased, and that she was well acquainted with his wife Elizabeth Peake who as she is now informed resides in the County of Schoharie and State of new York, and further that this Deponent knows that the said Christopher Peake and the said Elizabeth lived in Kings district (now Chatham) as husband and wife for a number of years before the close of the Revolutionary war, she frequently saw them, and it was never disputed, but always considered and believed that the said Christopher Peake and Elizabeth Peake were lawfully husband and wife, and further that she this Deponent has often heard her husband Roderick Beebe (deceased) say that he was at the marriage of the said Christopher Peake to Elizabeth Balis, (now the widow of the said Christopher Peake) and further that he named John Doty also as one of the number was present, this Deponent further saith that the marriage must have taken place according to the time in the days of Mr. John Richards, first Pastor of the Congregational Church in the Society of New Concord (in Chatham) by whom also she has been informed and understood the marriage ceremony was performed, and further that Mr. Richards long since removed from New Concord society, and as she has been informed and verily believes is now dead and further that this Deponent verily believes that no record of marriages have ever been kept in the Church or Society where the marriage is said to have taken place, but believes that the clergymen in said society have been in the practice of keeping their own records and further saith not.
Anna Beebe
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me J. C. Ford, Commissioner of Deeds & c.
I certify that I am well acquainted with Anne Beebe who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Affidavit and further that her character for truth and veracity is good and her testimony as a witness entitled to full credit and belief.
J. C. Ford, commissioner of Deeds & C.
Columbia County Clerk’s Office} I James Storm Clerk of the courts of Columbia aforesaid and of the court of Common Pleas of said county do hereby certify that J. C. Ford Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been sworn, was on the day of the date of the same a commissioner of deeds in and for said county and I further certify that said Ford was a commissioner of Deeds in & for said County on the day of the date of the foregoing certificate and also that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said commissioner, and verily believe the name of the said commissioner subscribed to the said affidavit and certificate to be his proper hand writing & signature. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my name & affixed the seal of the said county this 30th day of August A. D. 1837. JAMES STORM, Clk.
STATE OF NEW YORK COLUMBIA COUNTY} ss I James Storm clerk of said county, do hereby certify that Joseph G. Ford before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a commissioner of Deeds in & for said County, and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said commissioner and verily believe his signature to said affidavit and also to the said certificate of credibility of said deponent is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto in the absence of James Storm set my hand and affixed the seal of said county this 21st day of November 1837. RICHARD CARRIGEN, Deputy Clerk.
STATE OF NEW YORK COLUMBIA COUNTY, ss On this 20th day of November 1837 before me personally appeared JOSEPH WILBORS a resident of the town of Canaan, county and state aforesaid aged eighty (85) five years, who after being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and say that he was well acquainted with Christopher Peake late of the county of Schoharie, deceased, that he was well acquainted with his wife, Elizabeth, also, that such acquaintance included a period before and after the Revolutionary War, that this Deponent lived for many years in the same town with the aforesaid Christopher Peake and Elizabeth his wife, and further that the aforesaid Christopher and Elizabeth were before the Revolutionary War and up to his decease reputed to be husband and wife, and further this Deponent has been informed and has good reason to believe that the said Elizabeth is now living as the widow of the aforesaid Christopher Peake, and further that the evidence of this Deponent and the aforesaid Christopher Peake during the period above referred to was in Kings district Albany County, (now Chatham Columbia County) In the Month of September 1776, this Deponent and the aforesaid Christopher Peake then living in Kings district Albany County and Colony of New York were called into the service of the United States, in the Militia in Captain Elijah Hudson’s company in Colo. William B. Whiting’s regiment of infantry. Christopher Peake aforesaid was orderly Sergeant in said company and this Deponent was 2 Sergeant in the same. They with the company marched from Kings district by way of Albany to Fort Edward, here they assisted in making Breast work and after some time in service at that place marched to Schenectady after some days they at that place marched to Johnstown, in that place this Deponent and the said Christopher Peake were stationed performing all the duties of soldiers to which they were ordered until honorably discharged having served as he verily belies not less than two (2) months. On the last days of June or first of July 1777, this Deponent and the aforesaid Christopher Peake were residing in Kings district were called into the service in Lieut. or Captain Jacob Vosburgh’s company of Militia in Colo. William B. Whiting’s Regiment. Christopher Peake was orderly sergeant and this Deponent 2 Sergeant. They marched from Kings district to Albany, thence to Van Schaick’s Point thence to Fort George and were in the retreat before Burgoyne’s army. They were then discharged and returned home serving not less than one (1) month. Soon after, this Deponent joined the company commanded by Captain Elisha Gilbert and the said Christopher Peake again joined the company commanded by Capt. Jacob Vosburgh and in Colo. William B. Whiting’s Regiment. Christopher Peake was orderly sergeant in Captain Vosburgh’s company and this Deponent was 2 Sergeant in Captain Gilbert’s company in the same Regiment, they march from Kings district to Albany and to Sarratoga and continued in the army till the capitulation of Burgoyne’s Army to the Continental army, they were then honorably discharged serving in this tour not less than one (1) month. On the first of October 1780 this Deponent and the aforesaid Christopher Peake were called into the service in Captain Jacob Vosburgh’s company and Colo. William B. Whiting’s Regiment. Christopher Peake was orderly Sergeant and this Deponent 2 Sergeant. They marched from Kings district to Albany, thence to Schenectady, thence to Canajoharie and Johnstown, there engaged the Indians and refugees and pursued them to Oneida Lake. In this tour of service they served not less than two (2) months. This deponent believes that the said Christopher Peake was in the service at other times when this deponent was not with him, but he has no distinct recollection fo the times and place of service.
JOSEPH WILBOR
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me J. C. Ford, Commissioner of Deeds & C.
I certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph Wilbor who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit, and further that he is a man of strict truth and veracity. J. C. FORD, Commissioner of Deeds, & c.
Schoharie, May 25, 1838. Sir: I beg to inform you a little more about this affair mother has been very impacient since she reed your letter and said if she could send one herself and this surtifficut she knew the pention would come so she got a young scool madum to write one and now I will tell you how it happened that I tried for the widow Peake to have a pention. She lived with some of my brothers and sisters as long as she could work but when she become blind and helpless they talked of putting her on the town but when I heard of it I said my mother she’ll never go to the poor house as long as I have nails on my fingers for she has allwais had to poor a house for one that strove so hard for Liberty and to Bring us up in the adminitions of the Lord to be treeted in such a manner. So she was brought to my house and they have all moved to the west out of my Reach for I am very por and writing dose no good so heaing she was intitled to a penion she told me if I could git it I should have it for I would have to take care of her while she lived but said she was afraid the witness ware all dead now. Said she if you had your father’s writings that was burnt when your Brother Johns house was burnt you would do wll enough for he did all the writings and served as commesary several times and had all the proceeding thru the war Surtifficuts and discharges but John is dead so I cant prove any thing by him but I remember of seeing the writings they ware made into a Book it was larger than a spellingbook but all in vain so she gave me the names of the officers. I went to the Secretarys office and found them to agree which gave me Curag to go on they gave me this writing which I send you now but Holeday said you had a plenty such. Then I went to Chatham, Canaan, and Concord and found some Relation and a good maney that was well aquainted with father and mother and then got Squire Edwards to take Mr. Wilbers affidavit but did not write half as much as Uncle Joseph would send and git a Pention for her without any more witness which got me up tiptoes a way. I went to Hudson and got it recorded then to Holaday in Schoharie for I had imploied him but nowe I mean to try myself for it has cost to much all ready for I had two cows and was forget to sell one and aint out of debt yet and he told me I must have more witness abot the marriage and another afedavit of Wilber so I started the third time but mother told me where they was married and the names of all that was at the wedding and I found two widows by the name of Beebe one had the numb polsey twelve years and the others afadavit you have which is a very smart woman. The other was at the wedding and is the only one alive and I don’t know that she is now for they told me I could not understand her then and Squire Ford said he should not like to take such a witness but if nothing else will do you shall have it if she is alive. But I find a grait plenty of witness that new them to live as man and wife till father died which was about thirty years if such witness would be of aney youse. I wish I new it nowe for I am in grate want I must beg your assistance for I need immediate help for there is Back rent on my place and the Landlord says he will Reenter in June if I don’t pay up and I have no means but this at present so if he should take away my place I don’t know what will be become of mother for she cant be moved and I have almost lost the youse of my right arm so for god sake help us if you could be in Concord and hear what the people says thare you would not hisetate a single moment for I cannot inform you with ink and pen. Please to Direct your papers to George Peake, Esperance (Schoharie Co), NY.
Schoharie, November 23, 1837 Sir: Enclosed are the papers in the matter of the application of Widow Elizabeth Peake for a pension. The certificate of the clerk of Columbia County to the last affidavit was upside down on the same sheet which I without reflection, tore apart in order to place it as it ought to have been, but in a moment discovered my error in separating it from the affidavit, therefore I let it remain bottom upwards as it was to show by the impression of the seal on the affidavit that it is the identical affidavit referred to. I am respectfully your obed’t Serv’t ELIAS HOLLIDAY
James L. Edwards Esq. Com. of Pensions
Schoharrie, May 20, 1837 Sir: I received your letter by the hands of Judge Holliday and to my great surprise and disappointment when being compeled by poverty to petishion for help whare help was due so made a search for a witness and finding one alive in this late hour that lived a near neighbor all through the war and after the war until Peake died and was well acquainted with Peake and myself and our family whose evidence Squire Edwards thought sufficient without any more for Mr. Wilber said that Christopher Peake was Orderly Sergeant and He Second Sergeant in the same Company and he was a pnetioner and had not bin in the war near as long as my husband which, which makes it look very plain but I will try to inform you something more about it for when the war first began my husband warned the men to meet to his house for we lived on the Corners of the rods in the most centural place and thare they came all their Oficers and Elijah Hudson was chose Capt and started west but when they got the commissioners I could not tell but I know that Peake always used to warn them to meet at our house so I was well acquainted with the Officers and most of them were Conexettion for Lieu Thomson married Peake sister and Miles married my sister and we lived near neighbors and my sister overdone herself a trying to hold plow so that she died and I had both families to take care of all through the war. O that I could talk to you my self and tell you what I underwent I would convince you that I ought to have a pention from the time my husband would if he had lived for in the war (tare?) was nothing said nor done but but fight for Liberty and Independence so he serve through the war and broke his constitution and lost all his property and died and left me with a house full of orphan children and nothing for them to eat and no whare to live so I fled to Schoharie Hills whare I am now blind and (helpless?) beggin your assistance that I may have a decent buriel in this land of Liberty so no more at present least I weary your patience but I was lawfully married and (certified?) by Elder Richards but he gave no sertificut in them days and there is no (others?) to be found so God guide you in those truths to help the poor and needy. ELIZABETH PEAKE
REV. WIDOW, &c. File No. 16675, Elizabeth Peake, widow of Christopher Peake, Sergt Rev. War – Act July 4th 36. Index: Vol. M, Page 122
STATE OF NEW YORK SECRETARY’S OFFICE} I certify that on the 20th of October 1775 the following persons were duly appointed and commissioned officers of a company in the Regiment of Militia in King’s District and County of Albany whereof William B. whiting was Colonel viz: Elijah Hudson, Captain Jacob Vosburgh 1. Lieut Ezra Allen 2. Lieut Samuel Bailey Ensign, as appears by the minutes & papers of the provincial Congress of New York in this office. And I further certify that on the 16th day of June 1778 the following persons were duly appointed and commissioned as officers of a company in the Regiment of Militia in the county of Albany where of William B. Whiting was Colonel to wit: Jacob Vosburgh Capt. Vice Elijah Hudson (diss’d?) Samuel Thompson 1. Lieut Lemuel Tubbs 2. Lieut Nathaniel Miles Ensign vice others resigned as appears by the minutes of the council of appointment of this State in this office.
Given under my hand and the Seal of this office at the city of Albany the ninetheenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty seven. ARCH’D CAMPBELL, Dep. Secretary.
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