Revolutionary War Veterans with Connections to Fulton, Part I

By Karen Cuccinello Town of Summit and Village of Stamford Historian

Men enlisted for years, months, weeks or days at a time then often reenlisted again after a few months, and they were often hired to substitute for other servicemen. The Continental paper money they occasionally received as pay for service was often next to worthless. Pension Acts- in 1818 for Continental Line soldiers, commanded by George Washington, could apply for a pension, in 1820 they could apply but had to prove financial need, in 1832 state militiamen could apply if they had served at least six months and in 1836 widows of veterans were eligible. A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services was taken in 1840. Soldiers who fought with a state militia did not receive official discharge papers, so in order to receive a pension they gave declarations of their service at a Court of Record and got testimonial letters from friends or relatives. The federal government decided how much time served they would approve or not.

Bartholomew, Philip was born about 1757 to Peter Adam Bartholomew. He served assorted amounts of time from 1779-1781 and at some point, he served in Col. John Knickerbacker's Albany Co. Militia. He used the name Philip Patalmi when he married Elizabeth Vrooman (1775-1844) in the High Dutch Reformed Church in Schoharie September 13, 1791 and had about 11 children He died August 16, 1824. His wife Elizabeth, of Fulton age 64, petitioned for his pension in 1839 and received $39 per year. According to Schoharie County Veterans of Four Wars (pg. 87) he came to America, age 16, as a soldier under Lafayette (but Lafayette came in 1777, so?), settled in Schoharie County after the Revolution and was a Captain commanding a company in the War of 1812 in Plattsburg for nine months. In 1933 an application was made for a headstone for Philip by Mrs. Perry E. Taylor for burial at Hartman's Dorf Cemetery near Middleburgh. It was shipped to Mrs. Taylor. Burial site unknown.

Brown, Joseph was born September 21, 1763 in Schoharie Co. He resided in Vromans Land that was Albany Co. (later became Fulton in Schoharie Co.) when he enlisted June 1780 in Capt. Jacob Hager Co. - Col. Peter Vroman's Regiment NYS Militia. He was stationed at the upper fort (near Barber's Farm 3617 NY Rte. 30, Middleburgh) when he was taken prisoner in 1782 and sent to Fort Niagara, Canada until his release in 1784. He gave his deposition in 1833, age 70, to receive a pension which he received but was later rescinded as they said he only served four months and 16 day, below the minimum six months. He married widow Katherine (Whitney) Lawyer and had a child Hannah Eve Brown born 1810.  Joseph died 1846 in Cobleskill.

Haines, Jacob Mathias enlisted in Tryon Co. and served assorted amounts of time from 1776-1781. He married Anna Rettig October 13, 1775 in Lutheran Church Schoharie. They lived in Durlock/Sharon about 1779 and Schoharie in 1780 and may have lived in Columbia Co. briefly. Jacob, who sometimes went by Mathias, died March 4, 1832. In 1837 Anna, age 82 resident of Fulton, applied for his pension and her sister Catherine Lawyer made a declaration on her behalf.

Lamont (originally spelled Leamon/Leman), Archibald was born August 18, 1764 and enlisted 1780, age 16, in Nobletown/Spencertown, Columbia Co., NY. He served assorted months until 1781 in Col. Morris Graham's Regiment. On October 27, 1780 he was paid 5 pounds, 1 shilling, 5 pence. He married Talitha/Tabitha about 1788 and had children Phebe, Robert A., Simon and six more. He moved to Fulton, NY about 1800 (where he changed his name to Lamont) and remained there. Archibald applied for a pension in 1832, age 68, and again in 1841. Death and burial unknown.