Josiah Norton in the Revolutionary War

Josiah Norton was the father of William Norton of Granville NY and the grandfather of Louisa Norton, wife of Adoniram Davis.  At the age of 80 he applied for a pension based on his service in the Revolutionary War, which his pension application details.

"State of New York.  
Washington County. I Solomon Norton of Shoreham in the County of Addison and State of Vermont but now on a visit to Granville in the County of Washington, aged eighty-three years being duly sworn ? and saith that Josiah Norton the Declarant in the annexed Declaration named is the Brother of this Deponent and he well remembers that this Deponent and the Declarant went with the militia up the Mohawk River in the Campaign in which (Col?) Brown was killed at Stone Arabia mentioned in the annexed Declaration, that the Declarant and this Deponent went in the same Company but his Brother went the day before this Deponent and that his Brother aforesaid went on the march in the woods before this Deponent and that in this Campaign they had some fighting with the enemy who were present to the lake beyond Fort Herkimer when they escaped that his said Brother the Declarant returned to New Canaan together with the Company and that in this Campaign they served a period he thinks of six weeks--
And he further saith he well remembers that his said Brother Josiah Norton went on another occasion with another Brother west of Lake George with the militia as a patriot in the Revolutionary War and that they were about on this occasion as much or more than two months and that the time of five weeks stated by his Brother in his Declaration he is confident is too short a period and he verily believes it is not less than eight weeks serving on this occasion ??? after planting Corn in May and did not return until some time after the second hoeing which must be in July and he further with that he believes the said Josiah Norton went on another occasion to Stil (sic) Water but his recollection is not so distinct as in the cases above mentioned and the militia being frequently called upon to go against the enemy he has no Doubt but that his said Brother served as stated in his Declaration which has been read to him but he cannot now remember the particulars so as to be positive as he can in the first two campaigns above stated          

and he further saith he cannot remember the years when either of the services were performed but thinks it was before the taking of Burgoyne further saith that he writes his name "Naughten" but his children and Brother write their names Norton further saith not. (signed) Solomon Naughton
Sworn & transcribed this 12th day of September 1834 before me

John le Parker J. Peace and I certify that I was acquainted with the reputation of the above yeoman twelve or fifteen years ago when he lived in Poultney about eight miles from me and I have not heard or known any thing since ? alter his reputation and believe him to be a credible witness as he has always before been referred to be---and that he is a man of more than common intelligence for one his age. (signed) Johnle Parker J. Peace"
......

"State of New York
Washington County. 
On this ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four personally appeared before David Woods one of the Judges of ? court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington being a court officer Josiah Norton a resident of the Town of Granville in the County of Washington aforesaid & State of New York aged Eighty years on the eighteenth day of November last past and being so infirm that he is unable to go from home 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 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

That according to his best recollection and belief about the middle of the month of October 1775 the Militia at New Canaan in the County of Columbia and State of New York where this Declarant resided were ordered out to go to Johnston in said State and that he this Declarant as a private soldier and militia man was called upon and marched in a Company under Capt. Hezekiah Baldwin & Lieut. Rowly to Johnstown where they were stationed for about five weeks & where there was three Companies under the following Captains to wit Capt. Baldwin Capt. Bostwick and Capt. Gilbert  which were all the Troops there at the time that he staid there until the latter part of November of the year 1775 but this declarant from age and the consequent loss of memory does not remember the day of the month when his tour of service commenced or ended but thinks he can safely say that he served on this occasion a term of not less than five weeks

That in the month of May 1775 according to his best recollection before the service above mentioned the militia of New Canaan aforesaid were called out to go to Stillwater in the State of New York and this Declarant as a militia man marched in a Company under Capt. Hezekiah Baldwin  ? St. Rexford to Stilwater where they remained for a period of four weeks that this was the only Company stationed there at that time that the Company was marched back to New Canaan and dismissed ? June but from age and consequent loss of memory he cannot state the day of the month when he entered upon this service or when dismissed but can safely say that this tour of service was not less than four weeks

That about the tenth of June 1776 it was reported the enemy were 

on the rout (sic) towards Cherry valley in the State of New York and the militia of New Canan (sic) was called out and this Declarant as a private in the militia marched in a Company under Captain Bastian & Lieut. Hallenback to Cherry valley where they were stationed for the span of four weeks, there was no other Company stationed there at that time, as the enemy did not make his appearance they were marched back to New Canaan and dismissed there that he served on this occasion a period of not less than four weeks

That in the fore part of July 1778 according to his best recollection the Militia were called out to go to Josephs Patent so called west of Lake George in the State of New York that this Declarant as a private marched in a Company under Captain Gilbert and Lieutenant Samuel Rexford to Josephs Patent and continued there and on scouts about that region for a term of not less than five weeks when the Company were marched back to New Canaan and dismissed and thus he served the said term in said Company

That about the Last of October, in the year 1779 according to his best recollection the militia were called out to go to Fort Stanwix in the State of New York that this Declarant as a private in the militia marched in a Company under Captain Bostwick & Lieut. Hallenback and in a Regiment under Col. (Renpalen?) there was another regiment he recollects in the Campaign under Col. Waterman & also one under Col. Brown & also Col. Willet he believes who had the Command of the whole as he believes it was said there were five thousand troops that he was March (sic) Fort Stanwix and three days march beyond in the woods in pursuit of the enemy that during this Campaign Col. Brown was killed by the enemy at Stone Arabia while he was on his this Declarants march up the Mohawk River that on the day Col. Brown was killed the Declarants party had a fight with the British and Indians and drove them and did not again overtake them that in this Campaign the British Col. Butler was killed as he believes that this Declarant served as a private in this Campaign a period of not less than six weeks being dismissed as he believes some time quite well in the month of December of that year he well remembers the weather was cold and thinks he might have served a considerable longer period than he has named but cannot be certain is sure it was not less than six weeks ....    

That about January 1780 as he believes the militia of New Canaan were called out to go to Johnstown in the State of New York that he this Declarant went as a private in the Militia under Captain Bostwick & Lieut. Hallenback in Col. Whiting's Regiment which went on this occasion there was also another Regiment also went but he does not remember the Col's name they went in Sleighs to Johnstown upon which occasion Sir John Johnston surrendered up unto them Five Hundred stand of arms and two persons as hostages for the good and peacible (sic) behavior of himself and party towards the Inhabitants that the arms and hostages were carried to Albany that on this occasion he was in service a period of not less than five weeks but from age and loss of memory cannot state the days of his entering the service and dismissal. 

That during the several periods of service aforesaid this Declarant resided at New Canaan aforesaid and went from thence at each time in the Militia.

And he further saith that he has no documentary wideme and that he knows of no person who can ? who can testify to his services.

He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency of any State or territory whatever 

And he further saith that he is unable to go to court to swear to his Declaration or even from home to attend to any business--

That he was born on the 18th November 1753 at Farmington in the state of Connecticut as he verily believes 

That he has no record of his age at present tho' he had one in his bible which is now in the possession of some of his children 

That when he was called into the service he lived at New Canaan in the County of Columbia State of New York and lived there during the period of Revolution and until about the year 1794 when he removed to Hebron Washington County New York lived there about 4 years until about 1798 when he removed to Granville his present residence where he has lived for thirty five years

When he entered the service on the several times above mentioned he went with the militia on a call for their services was never drafted and never served as a Substitute

That he cannot state the names of  his officers more particularly than he has done in the body of this Declaration 
   

....And this Declarant on his oath aforesaid saith that....the reason he has not applied for a pension sooner is that he has been afflicted with a disorder which so affected his head and memory that he could not remember his officers and his disorder was such that he has not since the passing the act expected to survive but a short time But have obtained considerable relief from his disorder and his memory having been restored and feeling the want of the assistance which the act provides has now seen fit to make his application  (signed) Joseph Norton.....

The following several pages contain attestations to Josiah Norton's declaration and standing in the community.  One of the witnesses is Henry Morris, a clergyman in Granville, presumably from Josiah Norton's church.

In the following document, William Norton of Middle Granville, Louisa's father, states that he is the son and one of the legal heirs of Josiah Norton.  He makes this claim on January 31, 1853, after the death of his father.

Josiah Norton's claim was rejected.  Here is some additional correspondence after the rejection.  On July 12, 1835  John leParker states that "he is poor and needs the aid of this Country for support if it can be allowed him."

And on August 20, 1838 J. W. Thompson asks that muster rolls be searched for the name "Josiah Naughton" as this would indicate Josiah Norton. 

Josiah's signature on this last document is very shaky.