Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys
Trappers
of New York
or a BIOGRAPHY of NICHOLAS STONER & NATHANIEL FOSTER;
TOGETHER WITH ANECDOTES OF OTHER CELEBRATED HUNTERS,
AND SOME ACCOUNT OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON AND HIS STYLE OF LIVING
by Jeptha R. Simms
A
Reprint with New Supplementary Matter
Printed by Enterprise
and News
St. Johnsville, N.Y. 1935
Albany: J. Munsell, 82 State Street. 1850
THE
STONER PENSION PAPERS
Also
the Pension Papers of Hannah Stoner, His Widow. Schedule of His Wealth. Proof
of His Service and Duration of Same.
Something of the service
of the old Scout and Trapper of the North Woods may be gleaned from the pension
papers of Hannah Stoner, widow of Nick Stoner and also, the papers of Nick
Stoner.
The following copies are from the pension papers owned by N. Berton Alter
of Nelliston.
The papers establish the term of service of the applicant as from 1777 to
the close of the war of 1783. His pay was eight dollars a month and his widow
evidently received the same.
The inventory of Stoner's possessions at the time of his application in 1820
shows that he was not endowed with many worldly goods. One notes the 13 traps
and the old gray mare (presumably she was gray) but looks in vain for the
old musket. Possibly the gun was exempt. Who would not give the appraisal
value of $5 for the chest of drawers listed as old?
Major Stoner's Pension Papers
Note: This is a copy of the outside of Nicholas Stoner's pension application.
Nicholas Stoner, Private. New York line-1777. 6 years. In the army of the
United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, commencing
the 8th of April, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 of June, 1818 and sent to Pensioner at
Johnstown, New York.
Arrears to 4th of September, 1818. 4 months 27-30, $39.20.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 8th day of April, 1818, James Hildreth,
One of the Judges for the County of Montgomery.
State of New York) ss.
County
of Montgomery)
I, James Hildreth one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County
of Montgomery State of New York do certify that upon an examination in pursuance
of the Law entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land
and Naval Service of the United States in the revolutionary war, passed the
18th day of March in the year 1818 1 do find that Nicholas Stoner Served as
a Musician in the revolutionary war from the year 1777 until the peace of
1783 when he obtained an honourable discharge at New Burgh in the State of
New York, and that the said Nicholas Stoner agreeable to the provisions of
said Act of Congress is entitled to a Pension of Eight Dollars pr. Month.
Given under my hand at Johnstown this 8th day of April In the year 1818.
JAMES HILDRETH.
James
Hildreth's signature is attested by John McCarthy, clerk of the Court of
Common Pleas for Montgomery County.
Nick
Stoner's Claim, 1820
State of New York)
County of Montgomery) ss.
---On the fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord 1820 personally appeared
in Open Court of common pleas of said County, being a Court of Record for
said County constituted by the statutes of said state according to the principles
of the common law with power of fine and imprisonment, Nicholas Stoner aged
about fifty years resident in said county who first being duly sworn according
to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as
follows to wit in Captain Pell's Company Colonel Cortlandt's Regiment New
York Line that the date of his pension certificate is the 30th day of June,
1818, is numbered 1695 and I do solemnly swear that I was resident citizen
of the United States On the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since
that time by Gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part
thereof with intent thereby to diminish it so as to bring myself within the
provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons
engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary
War: passed on the 18th day of March, 1818 and that I have not nor has any
person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due me
nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto
annexed and by me subscribed to wit Real Estate none, occupies 29 acres of
land as tenant at will Personal estate One mare One cow three hogs two calves
some fowls one chest of Drawers old some 4 pots and kettles half Dozen Knives
and forks half Doz tea cups and saucers, few other pieces crockery thirteen
Hunting Traps One Plough One Iron chain His family consists of four persons
his wife Anna aged about fifty seven years infirm in health his son Obadiah
aged nineteen years his daughter Catherine aged eighteen years That by occupation
he is a Farmer or day Laborer.
N. STONER.
Sworn to and declared on the 15th day of June 1820 in Open Court.
JOHN McCARTHY, Clerk.
Nick
Stoner's Worldly Possessions
Schedule of property real and personal now owned and belonging to Nicholas
Stoner dated this fifteenth day of June 1820 to wit.
Real Estate now occupies a lot of land as tenant at will.
Personal Estate
One mare-----------------------------$40.00
One Cow------------------------------$12.00
3 Hogs--------------------------------$1 1/2 $4.50
1 Calf---------------------------------$5.00
Some fowls---------------------------$1.00
Some Old Knifs & forks abt
1/2
Doz-$1.00
1 chest of drawers-old---------------$5.00
Some pots and Kettles Value--------$7.00
Some tea cups and Crockery --------$0.50
13 Traps for Hunting-----------------$9.75
I plough------------------------------$3.25
1 chain iron---------------------------$2.00
$91.00
and that he the said Nicholas Stoner is Indebted for the above and Other articles
to an amount exceeding the above sum of 91 dollars. Deduct 5 Dollars in the
price of the mare leaves the whole amt. of personal property at the sum of
86 dollars.
N. STONER.
State of New York)
SS.
Mont. Co. Clerk's Office)
I, John McCarthy, Clerk of the County of Com. pleas in and for the said County
do hereby Certify that the foregoing Oath and schedule thereto annexed are
truly copied from the Record of the said Court and I further Certify that
is proved to the satisfaction of the Court by the Oaths of creditable witnesses
and that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in Value
of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is $86 in testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court On the
15th day of June, 1820.
JOHN McCARTHY, Clerk.
THE WIDOW'S PENSION CLAIM
Nick Stoner received a pension in the amount of $96 per year and after his
death which according to the widow's claim below, occurred November 24, 1853,
his widow Hannah made application for a widow's pension, which was granted
in the sum of $96 per year and went into effect November 24, 1853, the date
of Stoner's death as shown by the following:
Note, The outside of the widow's claim is copied below:
3958
New York
-
Albany
HANNAH STONER
Widow of Nicholas Stoner, N. Y. who served in the Revolutionary war as a private.
Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 96 dollars, 0. Cents per annum, to commence
on the 24 November, 1853.
Certificate of Pension Issued 31st day of March, 1854 and sent to Claimant,
Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 86, Vol.
A.
The Widow's Application
State of New York)
Fulton County*) ss.
On this 13th day of March, 1853 personally appeared before the County Court
of the County of Fulton and State of New York Hannah Stoner a resident of
the Town of Johnstown in the County of Fulton, and state of New York aged
Sixty two years who being first duly Sworn according to law, doth on her
oath make the Following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the
provisions made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3rd February, 1853
Granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary
war; that she is the widow of Nicholas Stoner deceased who was a private
& Fifer in the army of the Revolution; That the said Nicholas Stoner
on account of his said service was awarded a pension under the act of Congress
passed 18th March, 1818 at the rate of Ninety Six dollars per annum; That
his services were rendered in the New York State Line in said army; which
fact and other particulars regarding said services are set me 13th day of
March, 1854.
* Fulton county was erected in 1838 from the northern part of Montgomery
county. Stoner's application is described as Montgomery county, it being
dated prior to 1838, while the widow residing in the same place appears
in Fulton county. No change of residence, but rather a geographical change
of name.
Forth
in his papers on file as declarent has been informed and believing in the
matter of his application for a pension under said Act of 18th March, 1818
She further declares that she was married to Said Nicholas Stoner on the
twenty Second day of April one thousand Eight hundred and forty At Johnstown
by Jas. T. Hildreth Esqr. a Justice of the Peace of the town of Johnstown,
Fulton County & State of New York and he has moved off to the State
of Wisconsin, That her said Husband died on the twenty-fourth day of November
one thousand Eight Hundred & fifty three, that she was the widow of
Henry Frank deceased before she was married To the aforesaid Nicholas Stoner.
That she was not married to him prior to the Second day of January Eighteen
Hundred but at the time Stated above: She further declares she Hannah Stoner
is now his widow and still unmarried
Her
HANNAH(X)
STONER
Mark
Sworn
to and subscribed before me 13 days of March, 1854.
N.
J. JOHNSON,
County Judge of Fulton County.
Supporting
Affidavits, Proof of Marriage
I John Plye of the Town of Johnstown in the County aforesaid being first duly
sworn according to Law do on my oath depose and Say that I am Thirty five
years of age. That I have known the within declarant some time before she
was married to Nicholas Stoner, That I knew the aforesaid Nicholas but a Short
time before he was married to the Widow Hannah Frank, that I this deponent
was Present at the Time Nicholas Stoner was married to the Widow Hannah Frank
which took place at the village of Johnstown at the House of Tunis Van Vleet
on the twenty Second day of April one thousand eight Hundred & Forty,
that my wife Hannah M. Pye was also Present with me, that They were Married
by James T. Hildreth, Esqr. a Justice of the Peace of that Town of Johnstown
& County aforesaid, that the aforesaid Justice has Moved off to the State
of Wisconsin. The Reason I do well know of the Marriage of Nicholas Stoner
with the Widow Hannah Frank Viz. I was married to Harriet M. Frank two months
before Nicholas Stoner was married to Hannah Frank, to day I have the Certificate
of my marriage which dates Feby. 22nd, 1840 that makes the marriage 22d April,
1840.
This deponent further Saith that Nicholas Stoner died on the twenty fourth
day of November, Buried on the Twenty Sixth of November one thousand eight
Hundred and fifty Three. That this deponent & His wife attended the
funeral on the 26th November 1853 went up to Caroga with a waggon to attend
the funeral the reason I do well recall I got the waggon & horse from
W. Oatter to attend the Burial for which I gave him Credit; the Credit dates
the 26th Novemr. 1853. I the Deponent further say that Hannah Stoner Still
continues the widow and is unmarried. JOHN PYE.
Sworn to before me this 13th day of March, 1853.
N.J. JOHNSON, County Judge of Fulton
Town Clerk Sworn, Records Missing
I Philip P. Argersinger of the Town of Johnstown County of Fulton &
State of New York being first Duly Sworn according to law Do depose &
say that I am the Town Clerk of the Town of Johnstown county aforesaid &
that I have Charge of the Records of Said town of Johnstown That I have
the book Containing the Dockets & Records -of James T. Hildreth Late
a Justice of the Peace of said Town, That I have Duly examined the Said
Book & Records, That I cannot find The Marriage of Nicholas Stoner with
Hannah Frank on the Records aforesaid.
PHILIP P. ARGERSINGER.
Sworn to before me this 18th day of March, 1854.
N. J. JOHNSON, County Judge.
I
Harriet M. Pye of the Town of Johnstown in the County aforesaid being first
duly sworn according to Law, do on my oath depose and Say I am thirty six
of age, that she knew the widow, the Hannah Frank the Declarent in the above
case from her earliest recollection, she Is the deponents mother, she knew
Nicholas Stoner but a short time before he was married with the mother Hannah
Frank, Nicholas Stoner was married with the Widow Hannah Frank on the twenty
Second day of April one thousand Eight Hundred & forty by James T. Hildreth
a Justice of the Peace at the House of Tunis Van Vleet at the Village of
Johnstown, that Nicholas Stoner two months after the time she was married
to John Pye which makes It the 22d day of April, 1820 the Date of Deponents
Certificate of marriage to John Pye is the 22d of Feby., 1840, which makes
this deponent so well recollect.
her
HARRIET (X) PYE,
mark
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 13th day, 1854.
A. J. FULTON, County Judge of Fulton County.
Charles R. Bellows was the Undertaker
I Charles R. Bellows of the Town of Johnstown & Village of Gloversville
Undertaker aged thirty eight years, who being duly sworn according to Law
do on my Oath say that this deponent as undertaker furnished the Coffin
for Nicholas Stoner also the Hearse to convey the Coffin from the House
to the Grave Which was done on the twenty Sixth day of November one thousand
Eight Hundred & fifty three I this (cannot read) have the Record which
is the 26th day of November 1853.
CHARLES R. BELLOWS.
Sworn to before me this 22nd day of March, 1854.
N. J. JOHNSON, County Judge of Fulton County.
I hereby certify that the above named witnesses John Pye and Harriet Pye
and Charles R. Bellows are respectable and creditable witnesses.
Dated, Johnstown, March 22d, 1854.
N. J. JOHNSON, County Judge of Fulton County.
State of New York) ss.
Fulton County)
I Margaret Perry of the Town of Johnstown & the County aforesaid aged
forty three years being first duly Sworn -according to Law do on my oath
depose & Say I well knew Nicholas Stoner and the Widow Hannah Frank
Before they were married and often up to the death of Nicholas Stoner I
still know the Widow Stoner. I was Present at the time Nicholas Stoner was
married With the Widow Hannah Frank at the village of Johnstown at the House
of Tunis Van Vleet who was then my first Husband and is now dead they were
married by James T. Hildreth a Justice of the Peace In the latter part of
the month of April one thousand Eight hundred and forty; This deponent and
my husband Tunis Van Vleet Removed from the I-louse where they were married
& took another house and moved the first of May; the Same Spring which
makes me know; It was but a few Days before we moved which I well Recollect
That She Hannah Stoner is still unmarried & remains his widow.