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Baton, John S1164 New Jersey
Declaration of pension, state of Kentucky, Fayette County, April 11th 1833, age 77, enlisted under VanCleave, Capt Clifford, Lieut (Johnson) I think was the col, entered the service about the 20th August 1776. When he entered the service, he resided near Princeton, N J in Hunterton Co, Hopewell township. He entered as a volunteer. He went alone from his residence to Long Island where he joined his father and the army then under the command of General Washington who was in the city of New York. Lord Sterling and General Sullivan commanded in person upon the island. After being upon the island a few days, the American army was attacked by the British commanded by Howe or Clinton, after sustaining the attack a few hours our troops were driven back behind ? A creek laid between the battle ground and our works which we swam in attempt which many were drown. After searching the works we maintained our position until the next say when General Washington came over and ordered us across the river during the night. We marched from New York to the White plains, the enemy in pursuit, we took our position behind the works at the White plains until the British drew near.
I left Stants about day light to visit my mother who lived two miles off and with the intention of running to Bradfort, an infantry regiment of 500 British had come into the neighborhood the night previous to departure and plunder us I was riding through a field and saw me to the most of them stationed themselves at the entrance of a lane, towards which I was riding and some 20 or 30 near of bars that led from the field into the lane. As soon as my horse jumped the bars, the party stationed there rose and presented their muskets and ordered me to surrender. I turned my horse up the lane to make my escape and they all scrapped their guns at me which refused fire because the powder was out of a violent hail storm which had trot? against me and I approached the lane and my hat being drawn down, to protect my seeing the enemy until I was upon them, I then galloped up the lane in the hope of making my escape, but discovered their troops framed across it and them who were at the bars advancing upon me, I dismounted, jumped over into a field and endeavored to escape to a wood that circled it, but was much impeded by the weight of my clothing and was finally over taken and knocked down with the butts of the muskets and while down was stabbed seven times with their bayonets and still bears upon my person the scars from the wounds. An Irish sergeant or corporal come up and made them desist and I was taken to Col Abercrombie? who swore they would hang me so as soon as they reached a large tree in the road. When we got there the cannon were heard that were firing at Trenton upon Dec 26 1777, and they upon hearing them proceeded rapidly to Princeton and could not take the time to hang me. They determined to hang me upon information given them by some of the Tories, that I had killed a Tory which was untrue. Dr. DeCamp an American in the neighborhood who was not interrupted because he attended a Tory family by the name of Stockton, told Col Abracromb to leave me or I would die from my wounds, he swore that he would not, that he had seen more wounded now than the doctor and if he should leave me I would be in Washington's camp in 24 hours. I was then taken in company with some other Americans as a prisoner to New York and confined with 300 others in a sugar house until overtaken by a sickness when I was placed in a hospital and kept there about a month when I was recovered and returned to the sugar house after imprisonment of six months in the night of June 26, 1777, six of us made our escape from a guard who had been sent to the country with us to make us mow? for the commissary department, we escaped to the advance of the American army commanded Col Courtland, who gave us permission to go home. I had then been in service about ten months. He did not join the army again but was taken to a troop of horse and was called out for short periods during the continuance of the war.
Whenever the enemy were in the neighborhood, the only regular officers he knew while in the service were General Washington, Sullivan, Sterling and Putnam.
He was born in Huntertown Co, N Jersey, Dec 21 -1755 and was living in this county when called into service and continued to live there until 1788 when he moved to Fayette Co, Ky where he has lived ever since. The following persons are acquainted with him; Abraham Furgerson, Geo. Ware, Wm. Scott, Andrew Scott, Fred Shyrock.
Source: Records of Revolutionary War Pensions of Soldiers who Settled in Fayette County Kentucky Annie Walker Burns, compiler, Washington DC, 1936 Copy held by the Kentucky Room, Lexington Public Library Call number: R976.947 B4128r KY1936 |