Oneida County
On this 11th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court ******** now sitting ******** , James Keech a resident of said county and state, aged sixty nine 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 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: that he was born at New Fairfield, Con. January 1763. No record of *****. Lived at Warrensbush, Montgomery Co., New York, where he ****** ******* lived since war back at same place and since at Western, Oneida Co., N.Y. that he entered the army as a substitute for his brother John Keech at Fort Stanwix, N.Y. State as he thinks in the *** 1777 & 78 in Capt. Scudder's Co., Col. Van Schaack Regt. And served about two months and a half and went to Onondaga *ut lff Onondaga Castle and then returned home. That he enlisted for 9 mos. In April 1778 **** in Capt. Garrit Putnam's Co., Col Willets Regt. and served said com at Johnstown, Fort Plain, **one*abia, Fort Herkimer most if the ****** year at Fort Herkimer. Had some skirmishes with Tories and Indians – Served out said nine months. In Spring of the next year was drafted in Capt. Vrooman company Col. Jno. Harpers Regt. and served nine months at the Block House at Sacandago about 10 miles back of Johnstown and served out said nine months. In the year 1781 as he thinks he enlisted in Capt. Garret Putnams Company in Col. Willets Regt and served at Johnstown and in the region about *** in Scouts and **irmishes – this was the year all events Ross, Brandt & Butler with British Tories & Indians came down – had an engagement at Johnstown, said also after this deponent was in front guard pursuing them and overtook their rear guard at West Canada Creek – and forded creek and Butler was killed there – and followed them about ten miles and we then returned to Fort Plain and was discharged at Fort Windocker having served nine months. In the year 1782 enlisted under Capt. Lamont in Col Bellingers Regt. Served three months at German flats at Fort Dayton – This deponent never recd any discharges in writing – he was out very often in addition to the above service being almost constantly called out in alarm for several days at a time – he does not know of any witnesses ***** than annex and ***** to the same ******** Col. Van Schaak Continental officer *******.
He herby 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 state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Geo. Brown, clerk James (X mark) Keech
We, George Brayton , Postmaster, and Clift French, farmer, residing in Western, Oneida County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with james Keech who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be about sixty nine years of age: that he is reputed and believed in the neigborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion; and that we believe him to be a man of truth and veracity.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, 21 day of august 1832, before me ***** **** *** and credibility.
Joseph Halleck Geo. Brayton
Justice Peace Clift French
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary War Soldier and served as he states: And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that George Brayton who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in Western and is Post Master and that Clift French who has also signed the same, is a resident in Western and is a farmer, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. And from distance of witnesses from courts it was to occasion too much expenses ******** a personal attendance.
By the Court * Henry **** **** ***
I, George Brown, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Oneida Co., do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceddings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Keech for a pension.
In Testimony thereof. I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 11th day of Sept. 1832, and I further certify that Joseph Halleck above name is a person of the Peace of said county abd tge above signature I believe who in his proper handwriting.
Geo. Brown, Clerk
State of New York
Oneida County
On this 19th day of January 1833, before me personally appeared James Keech of Western in said county who being duly sworn deposes and says – that he entered the army as a substitute for his brother John Keech in 1777 & 1778 as stated in his application on file at the War Office in Capt. Scudders company, Col. Van Schaack Regiment and served therein as before stated 2 ½ months – at Fort Stanwix. This deponent was then between 14 & 15 years of age only.
In April 1778 as this Deponent believing he enlisted inder Capt. Garrit PutnamCo and Col. Bellinger had command of the party of the militia to which Putnam company was attached, and not Col Willet as formerly stated – This deponent served at this time the full term of nine months according to his best recollection as stated in his papers as filed.
In Spring of 1780 this deponent served in drafted militia in capt. Vroomans company for the time of nine months in Col. John Harpers Regt as stated in his affidavit –
In 1781 this deponent again enlisted in Capt. Garrit Putnams company inder command Col. Willet, and the deponent served thereas before stated for the time of nine months – and was in the engagement therein mentioned – and this deponent also in 1783 also served under Captain Lamont in Col. Bellingers Regiment for three months as before stated.
And this deponent further says that since the receipt of a letter from War Department he has ascertained that the following named individuals were acquainted with the fact of this deponents going into service and their ****** in hereto annexed showing that the statement of this deponent is entitled to ***** -- Francis Rogers & Thomas Thornton & Jeremiah Burch – the reason why this deponents name is not found on Willets Regiment he supposes is because this deponent belonged to companies nine months **** or ****, and he supposes that the names of the men belonging to the nine month service were not incluede in Capt. Willets Returns of men under his command.
This deponent is a man without and education and has never therefor had the means of keeping any written account of his services, but has to trust to his memory alone—
James (X mark) Keech
Personally appeared before the Subscriber the above named James Keech known as a man of truth and veracity and made out to the truth of the forgoing affadavit this 19th day of January 1833—J. Hathaway, Judge of Oneida Common Pleas, Counsellor
Clerks Office
Oneida County
George Brown Clerk of said county do hereby certify that Hoshua Hathaway before whom the forgoing affidavit was taken is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said county. That I am acquainted with his handwriting and the above signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have heretofor set my hand a& affixed the Seal of said county this 25th day of Janaury 1833.
George Brown, Clerk
Jos. B. Read, Dep. Clerk
Oneida County
We the subscribing habitants of Western in the County of Oneida do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Keech of said Western and have known him for many years. That he is a man of truth and veracity and full credit is to be given to his statements, and he has long been reputed to have been a Revolutionary Soldier and we have no doubt of the facts – and further that the do not believe, that Said James Keech would under any circumstances be guilty of and intentional misstatement as to his services.—No. 4
John O. Oates Geo. Brayton, Post Master
George L. Clark David Utly
Theodore S. Mills, M.D. An**in Wiggins
William Rogers
Gus S. French, Town Clerk Geo. B*******
Arnon Comstock, Supervisor David G. F****
Henry French
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace the above named persons to me known as men of respectability and integrity as men who do as any in this town of Western, and made oath to the truth of the forgoing, Janaury 11, 1833.
Sy**** Utly Justice
State of New York
Oneida County
Francis Rogers of the Town of Western of Said County being duly sworn says he is well acquainted with james Keechof Western in Said County and was ***** with him during the Revolution was well acquaintedwith Capt. Putnam and was knowing to James Keech going to join the company and Putnams **** the company and says he was out in the service the most part of **** Lamont under Capt. Putnam that this deponent is sixty five years old.
******* and sworn Francis (x mark) Rogers
this 15th day of January 1833.
******* ******** ********** *********
State of New York
Oneida County
Thomas Thornton of Western in Said county being duly sworn says that he is sixty nine years old and in the year 1778 this Deponent was at the house of James Keechs father and James Keech wa there fixing to join the army and he understood by the family that he James Keech had been in the Service and been home to get some clothing and other ****** **** Deponent about two years afterwards understands that the said Keech was then in the service.
Thomas (x mark) Thornton
***** and sworn this 18th day of January 1833 before Sy*** Utly Justice
that I am acquainted with the above deponent and that he is a man of truth and veracity.