Revolutionary War Veterans With Connections to Summit

By Karen Cuccinello Summit Historian 12-2024

With the 250th anniversary of America taking place in 2026 I decided to look into Summit veterans.

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.

Brown, James was born April 1755. His second enlistment was for one year in Capt. Curtis's Co./Col. Shepard's Regiment in MA in 1776; discharged in NYS and in the Summit 1820 and 1830 census. His leased land of 97 ½ acres, was sold 1823 due to non-payment. He was living with a wife who was partly lame, age about 56, and her daughter Ginnet Garnsey, age 14, and had little use of one arm when he applied for a pension February 5, 1824. James was a resident of Summit when he died October 10, 1829 while visiting in Bethlehem, NY. His son Lucas E. and widow Rachel petitioned Schoharie Court to settle Jame's estate, not exceeding $200, in 1831. Burial unknown.

Ives, Levi (1761-1850) was born in Goshen, CT to Benjamin & Rachel (Baldwin) Ives. He enlisted March 1777, as a teamster in Capt. Tibbles Company in Col. Hayes Regiment of CT, served in a different regiment in 1779 and was discharged April 1780. Levi married Caroline Pratt 1784 in CT, had nine children, moved to Summit with three sons about 1806 and in 1821 NYS gave him the authority to build a dam across the outlet of Summit Lake. Levi is listed in the book “A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services” published in 1841 as a pensioner (person who receives a monetary pension because of their service in the Revolution) of Summit, age 79, living with Isaac Ives. Levi received a pension of $80 per annum/year, for two years service, starting in 1832. He is buried in the Ives Cemetery near 121 Sawyer Hollow Rd., Summit, but stones are gone.

Johnson, James was born 1750 in NJ. He lived in Shrewsbury, NJ through the end of the war then to Albany County, then Summit 1820's where he probably lived with his son John and often lived with his daughter in Jefferson. Received a pension of $23.33 for seven months service in the NJ Militia 1832. James had no living relatives when he died February 25, 1846 in Summit. Harriet Jackson petitioned the Court in April 1846 and was appointed the executor of his estate. She and her mother Anne and sister Polly Ann, of Summit, had been his caretaker for three years and used his pension of $8 per month to provide him care. Burial unknown.

Jump, William was born in North Salem, NY April 20, 1762. His father Joseph died in a battle at Danbury, CT 1777. He served in assorted NY Militia's different amounts of time from 1777-1782. During his service he was in the Sugar House prison in NYC for six months and received a saber wound in 1779. William received a pension of $2 per month due to his injury in 1787 and a regular pension of $30 per year, for nine months service in, 1832. He married Bethiah Paddock (1770-1851) April 1786 and had a few children. They lived in Greenville, NY 1791, Fulton, NY 1831, Summit 1835 and Greenville 1837. William died November 12, 1838 and his wife received his pension. Burial in Proper Cemetery, Jefferson, behind 226 Eminence Rd.

Kelly, Stephen (1755-1846) was born in Gloucester, RI. He served in 10 different regiments in RI usually for a few months at a time from December 1775 to 1780 that totaling 21 months and 22 days. Married Hannah Wells and had at least four children. About 1790 he went to Albany, then Worcester, NY and finally Virgil, Cortland County, NY about 1815 where he applied for and received his pension in 1832 for $72.42 per year. Burial in Dugway Cemetery, Summit.