War of 1812 Pension of Noah Austin
Contributed by Dottie Piechocki whose ancestor Noah Austin was
wounded at the infamous Battle of Queenston early on in the War of 1812. Other Wayne County area men saw action there and elsewhere
in Western New York State; perhaps your ancestor served with Noah. War of 1812 pension applications are still
uncommon on line and many researchers have never seen one. Noah's documentation shows all the bureaucratic paperwork,
back and forth, and run-around that the men had to go through to get a pension. Thank you, Dottie!
[p 1]
State of New York}ss
Wayne County
Samuel Soverhill being duly
sworn deposeth and saith that he is acquainted
with Noah Austin of Williamson in the County
of Wayne and State of New York, that the said
Austin served in Colonel Allen's Regiment of New
York detached Militia under Captain Brown that
General Van Rensselaer had the Command of the
troops, that he was wounded in the face at the
Battle at Queenston in October 1812 and this depo-
nent further says that he is Knowing to the said
Austins receiving a wound in the face in said
battle while crossing the river from Lewiston to
Queenston said wound had the appearance of
being made by a musket ball, and this deponent
further says that he believes the said Noah Austin
is entitled to receive a pension from the United
States and further this deponent says not
Subscribed and Sworn Samuel Soverhill [signature]
this 16th day of July 1832 Lieutenant in
before me Captain Browns
Theodore Partridge Commissioner Company
of Deeds for Wayne County
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with Samuel Soverhill
and Know him to be reputable person and that his Character
for truth and veracity is good
Theodore Partridge Commissioner [signature]
of Deeds for Wayne County
[p 2]
State of New York
Wayne County ss: Alexander McIntyre of the town of
Palmyra in the County & State aforsaid having been duly
sworn doth depose & say that he is personally acquainted
with Noah Austin, and knows that he now lives
in the town of Williamson in the County & State aforesaid,
and that the said Noah Austin was a private
soldier in a company of New York Militia of
Volunteers commanded by Capt John Brown, Samuel
Soverhill Lieutenant, & Joseph Luce Ensign, in a
Regiment of New York Volunteer Militia commanded
by Colo Peter Allen - and this deponent further saith
that of his own knowledge & recollection, the said
Noah Austin was on the 13th day of October 1812
wounded while so engaged in said service and while
in a boat going across the Niagara River in an
attack under the command of Genl VanRenssalaer
upon Queenston in Upper Canada, commonly
called the "Queenston battle" by a shot from the
Enemy, supposed to be a cannister shot between
his nose and the left cheek of his face or otherwise
designated in the cavity of the cheek - and this deponent
further says that he has good reason to believe
that the said ball now remains in the
cavity of the said Austin's cheek, and causes
an inconvenience from irritation and a general
affection of his health, amounting to a disqualification
for labor at least one quarter of his time -
and this deponent further saith that he was
present at the Queenston Battle above referred
to and saw the said Austin soon after receiving
the wound above described, and now resides
as above stated and is now a practicing physician
and surgeon regularly licensed according to the laws of the State of
New York regulating the practice of physick and
surgery in said State
A. M. McIntyre M.D. [signature]
Sworn to & Subscribed this 14th day
of February 1833 before me
Th. P. Baldwin, [sig] a Judge of
Wayne County Courts _ _
[p3]
Lyons 18th April 1833.
Sir
I am aware that these papers may prove informal, I hope however
that the Application may succeed if it should send the certificate to me
if it should not, and that on account of objection to the manner merely,
be so kind as to send them back for Revision, to me and enclose
forms and directions that will be acceptable. the applicant
is very poor and that on account of his wound, which continues
once in a few months to ulcerate and discharge at his Ear he has
a family of small Children and if the Laws of our Country embrace
his case it would relieve the distressed to attend to immediately.
With Great Respect Your Obet
Hon. Lucius Case Servt
Secty of War David Eddy [signature]
Washington City
direct Your communication to Marion Wayne Co NY.
[p 4]
State of NewYork
Wayne County ss
On this 18th day of April
1833. personally appeared in open Court before
the Judge of the Circuit for the County of Wayne
now sitting Noah Austin a resident of the
Town of Williamson County of Wayne and State
of New=York Aged 39 Years who being duly
sworn according to Law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain a
Pension, for wounds and disabilities received in the
late war between the Unted States and Great Britain
that in the Year 1812, on the 19th of August of Said
Year he volunteered into the Service of the United
States in the Company Commanded by Capt
John Brown, Lieut Samuel Soverhill, Ensign
Joseph Luce, in a Regiment Commanded
by Col. Peter Allen, Militia of the State of
New=York, General Stephen Van Renselaer -
Commanded the Troops - and that this app-
licant was Marched from Canandaigua County
of Ontario and State aforesaid to Lewiston on
the Niagara River, State aforesaid and that on
the 13th day of October Year aforesaid he volunteered
to cross the River into Canada the Troops comm-
anded by Solomon Van Renselaer and that before
they reached the Canada Shore the British opened
a fire upon the Boats with Grape Shot and
Small arms and that Just as they were approa-
ching the shore this claimant received a Rifle
Ball in his face just below his left eye and
lodged somewhere in his head where is has ever since
remained, and that in consequence of said ~
wound he is unable to labor for a great part
of his time, and when he does labor (as he is forced
to from penury and want) it is with pain and~
distress, ~ ~ ~
and that he hereby Relinquishes every claim~
[reverse side]
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 ~ ~
Noah Austin [signature]
Sworn and Subscribed the
Day and Year aforesaid
And the Said Court do hereby certify and declare that it
appears to us after the investigation of the matter, that the
above named Applicant was a Soldier as he States and that he was
wounded and disabled as he States
State of New York}
Wayne County ss.
I Cullen Foster Acting Clerk of said county
do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding
of the Court now in Session, in the matter of the application
of Noah Austin for a pension,
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of office this eighteenth
day of April 1833.
Cullen Foster [signature]
[p 5]
State of New York}
Wayne County Ss I Cullen Foster Acting Clerk
of said county, do certify that Theodore
Partridge whose signature appears to the
within certificate & before whom the within
affidavit purports to have been sworn
was at the day of the date of the same a Commissioner
of Deeds in and for said County & duly authorised to
administer Oath, And I do further certify that I am
well acquainted with the hand writing of the said
Commissioner and verily believe his signature to the
said affidavit & certificate is genuine - In testimony
Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of Office this eighteenth day of April 1833.
Cullen Foster [ signature] acting Clk
[p 6]
State of New York}
Wayne County Ss
I certify that Thomas P Baldwin
whose signature appears to the within
affidavit, and before whom the same
purports to have sworn, was at the date
of the same a Judge of the County
Courts in and for said County, and
that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and
verily believe the signature of the same Judge, under said
affidavit is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this eighteenth day of
April A.D.1833.
Cullen Foster [signature] Acting Clerk
of said County
[p 7]
[certificate]
Invalid Claim
Noah Austin
N. York
$2 per annum, to commence
April 18th 1833
[illegible]
Sept. 19 '33
Act
April 24 -
1816
[written crosswise over the above:]
Hon. Lucius Case
Secretary of War
Washington City
[p 8]
Treasury Department
3d Auditor's Office
September 24th 1833~
It appears from the Rolls of
Capt John Browns Company of New York
Militia to the 30th October 1812, that a Noah
Austin, a private, Entered the Service the
30th August 1812, and is reported "Wounded
at the Battle of Queenstown 13th October
1812 __ See vo 224 Abt A. Paynes Men
a/[?]. P[illeg.] Hagmer [?] Aud
Pension Office
War Department
[p 9]
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Invalid Pension.
I certify, That in conformity with the Law of the United
States, passed on the 24th day of April 1816_____________
Noah Austin _______ late a private, in Capt. Browns
Company of the New York Militia (in 1812) is inscribed
on the Pension List, Roll of the New York________
Agency, at the rate of two_________ dollars per month,
to commence on the eighteenth_______ day of April _______
one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.______________
Given at the War Office of the
United States, this Twenty eighth
day of September_____ one
thousand eight hundred and
thirty three._______
[p 10]
[front of folded certificate]
1700 [flip side]
New York [written vertically along left edge:]
Noah Austin Dd. Eddy of Marion Wayne
private [inscribed horizontally:]
Captain Browns __ company of the Order to pay 23 Feby -- 1838
New York Militia (1812)
Ratio of disability, 1/4 Increased to $4 per month -
Date of discharge, 11. April 1850 from 17. Feb. 1840
Time of closing the testimony, certif. sent to Wilder & Bleeker
___________________________ Merchants, Albany, N.Y.
Entered on the Roll of New York Letter to Hon. A. W. Buel
at two__Dollars per month, to commence on the May 28, 1850.
18th April 1833 Evans & Hart 13 Nov 1851
____________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th of September
1833____ and sent to Davd Eddy
Marion, Wayne County N.Y.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1830 $9.06
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 mar: " 12.00
_______
$21.06
_______
Act of the 24 April 1816
Record Book F. vol.5. p. 1.
[p 11]
[folded certificate]
Noah Austin
Payable on the 4th March
and 4th September, at
Albany
by T. W. Scott, Esq.
Pension Agent
Registered in Book F.
Vol. 5. Page 1 by
D. Brown,
Clerk.
[p 12]
Mechs. & Farmer's Bank
Albany Pension Agency
February 17. 1838.
James L. Edward Esquire,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
Marshal Baremore a Pensioner
under the Act of June 7. 1832 and Noah Austin an Invalid Pensioner,
each, claims pay from 4 March 1836 to 4 Sept. 1837, on their
respective Numbers herewith sent ---- Shall we pay them? ~~
I am Sir,
very Respectfully
Your obedt. Servt
Tho MClew[?]t
[unreadable] Pen Ag
[p 13]
Noah Austin New York _ Albany _ Invalid
$ 2 per mo
To what time last paid
Pension Office pF. 1 tn [?] 4 March 1836
23 Feby 1838. JH
[p 14]
State of New York
Wayne County } ss. It is hereby certified that Noah Austin
formerly a private in Captain Browns Company of the New
York Militia (in 1812). Who it appears by the accompanying
Pension Certificate was placed on the pension role at the rate
of two dollars per month on account as he states of having
received a wound in his head from a musket shot - the shot
still remaining in his head and at the present time
causing a constant discharge at his nostril, the said shot
having changed its position since 1833. That said Noah Austin
received said wound as he states while in the time of his
duty and in said service on or about the ~ 13th ~ day of
October in the year 1812 at a place called Lewiston in
the State of New York and is not only still disabled in
consequence of the said injury but in my opinion is
entitled to four [inserted: two] dollars per month more than he already
receives as a pensioner being disable to a degree amounting
to three [inserted: two] fourths of a total disability
Subscribed and Sworn to this 3d J. S. Eggleston [sig]
day of September 1839 before me} A McIntyre [sig] } Surgeons
Fredk Smith, Justice of the Peace~ [sig]
State of New York
Wayne County }ss. I do hereby certify that Doct. Jonathan
S Eggleston and Doct Alexander McIntyre who subscribed
and made oath in due form of law to the above certificate
before me are well known to me and are reputable in their
profession of Surgeons, and possess and enjoy a high
reputation for Skill and Experience as Surgeons in
the vicinity of their residence in Palmyra in the county and
State aforesaid&Nbsp; ~ & that the words two were in =
terlined before signing} Fredk Smith
Justice of the
Peace
~~~~
[p 15]
[tri-folded paper]
[on outside:]
Please Send the answer
to this application, to
Mess. Wilder & Bleeker
Merchants - Albany,
LJenkins [signature]
[middle section:]
I certify that I have satisfactory evidence that the
within named Doctrs Eggleston & McIntyre are re-
putable in their profession _ Dated Albany Pension
Agency Feby. 17. 1840.
ThoMCleutt [?] [signature]
[??] Agent
[inside section:]
State of New York
County of Wayne &Nbsp;} ss I certify that Frederick Smith was
a Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly elected
and qualified at the date of the within affidavit, and that
his signatures to Jurat of said affidavit and to the
within certificate are genuine. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal of said county this Fourth day
of October 1839. Cullen Foster [sig] Clerk Wayne County
[p 16]
[certificate]
Payable semi=annually on the
4th of March and 4th of
September, at the City of
New York ~~~~~
by Prest: U. S. Br: Bank
No payment can be made on
an original certificate, until
the arrival of one of the
other of the above dates
after issuing the certificate.
Increase to $4 per month
to commence 17 Feb. 1840.
~~~~~~
Fowd cert : to Messrs.
Wilder & Bleeker,
Merchants
Albany
N.Y.
Registered in Book D
Vol. _5_ Page 1 __ by
Wm M Struart [sig] Clerk
You May report to the
Agent
[p 17]
WAR DEPARTMENT.
INVALID PENSION.
I certify, That, in conformity with the Law of the United
States, of the 24th April 1816 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Noah Austin, late a Private _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ of the N. York Militia _ _ _ _ _ _ was, on the
_ _ _ _ _ 28th day of September 1833 inscribed on the
Pension List, Roll of the New York _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Agency, at the rate of Two Dollars _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ per month; and that his
name is now on the roll of the Albany, N. York _ _ _ _ _
Agency, at the rate of Four Dollars _ _ _ _ _ per month,
commencing on the seventeenth _ _ _ _ _ day of February
one thousand eight hundred and [crossed out:] thirty [inserted:] forty.
This certificate is issued in lieu of one dated on the 28th_ _ _ _
September 1833, cancelled.
Given at the War Office of the Unted
States, this eleventh day of
of April one thousand
eight hundred and [crossed out:] thirty forty.
Examined and countersigned,
J. R. Poinsett [signature]
Secretary of War.
J L Edwards [signature]
Commissioner of Pensions
[p 18]
This certifies that we have examined Noah
Austin late a private of the New York militia who
was wounded by a canister shot in the left cheek, which
still remains lodged in the Superior Maxilary bones
from which constantly issues a fetid discharge, ~~~
which does in our opinion entirely disqualify
him from hard labor
Lima Lagrange Co Ia [IN] Mch 26, 1850
W. A. Sanger&Nbsp;&Nbsp; M.D.[sig]
Dr. Chas A Thompson [sig]
State of Indiana
Lagrange County } Before me John Moore a Justice
of the peace in and for Said County
Personally Came William A Sanger and Charles A Thompson
To Me Known as Regular Practicing Physicians in good
Standing and being duly Sworn according to Law
Deposeth and Sayeth that the Matters & things
Set forth in the above Certificate are True as they duly decree
W. A. Sanger M.D. [sig]
Dr. Chas A Thompson [sig]
Subscribed & Sworn
before Me this 25th day
of March A D 1850
John Moore J.P. [signature] (seal)
[reverse]
State of Indiana
LaGrange County }ss I, James B. Howe Clerk
of the LaGrange Circuit Court certify
that John Moore before whom the foregoing affidavit
was made was at that date a Justice of
the Peace for said County & duly authorised
by law to take the same & that the foregoing
Signature purporting to be his is genuine
Witness my hand & the
seal of said Court this
25th day of March 1850.
James B.Howe [sig] Clerk
[p 19]
Brief in the case of Noah Austin now of
Allen County and State of Indiana
Invalid act
_____________________________________________
Claim, ("original" [crossed out] or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Surgeons certify to 7/8 disability.
Name and residence of Agent. S. Cole
Evans & Fant Examing Clerk.
Present
[page 2 of "Brief"]
State of Indiana
Allen County ss }&Nbsp; Be it Remembered that on the
9th day of October A.D. 1851 - Personally appeared
before me the undersigned and acting Justice of the
County aforesaid Henry P. Ayers and Benjamin C
Rowan, Practising Physicians in the City of Fort
Wayne and the County of Allen in the State of
Indiana, who being duly sworn according to law
depose and say that they are personally acquainted
with Noah Austin an invalid Pensioner - who was
a Private in Capt. John Browns Company in ____
Regiment New York Volunteers - under the command
of Col Allen in the war - of 1812 - and who was
wounded at the battle of Queenstown on the 13th
day of October A.D. 1812 _ which upon a personal
examination of said Noah Austin further depose and
say, that the wound is situated on the left side of
the face. The external wound is a little above the left
atlas of the nose in a line falling from the inner canthus
of the left eye. The ball entered or was driven by
the bones of the face in an oblique direction and
probably has a bony lodgement under the left
mater bone - There is a fistulous opening connecting
the nose with the ball from which matter is con-
tinually discharged __ The presence of the ball or -
wound produces a constant pain while stooping
and at times intense headache unfitting him
for manual labor -. and further the deponents
saith not ~ In witness whereof we have here-
unto set our hands and Seals the day and year-
above written -
In presence of (LS) Henry P. Ayres M.D.[sig]
CR.Walker [sig] (LS) Benjn C. Rowan M D [sig]
x "inner" interlined before signing over-
[written perpendicular to above across left edge of page:]
Said wound so far disabling him as to make it impossible to do more
than 1/8 one eighth of a days work at one time - or Seven eighths disabled
[page 3 of "Brief"]
Sworn and Subscribed before me this the 9th day of
October A D. 1851 John B. Dubois [sig] &Nbsp; Seal
J P.
[certificate glued to page:]
State of Indiana, ...... Allen ........ Conty, ss.
I .....Robert E. Fleming.............. Clerk of the .... Allen ...........
Circuit Court .... in and for said County - ....... of the State of Indiana;
do certify that ...... John B. Dubois ....................................was at the
date aforesaid .... and still is .....an acting ..... Justice of the Peace .....
within and for said County of ..... Allen ......... duly commissioned and
qualified as such; that he is duly authorized by the law of said State
to take the acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments of writing, etc.,
etc., that his acts as shown in the annexed instrument are within the
scope of his legal authority; that his signature thereto is genuine, and that
to all his ............................ it are due and of right ought to be given.
In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix
the seal of said Court, at ........ Fort Wayne ...... in said County,
this ...... 9.............. day of ... October ............... 1851
........... R.E. Fleming......[sig]..................... Clerk
[end of certificate]
We the undersigned do hereby certify that Henry P.
Ayers and Benjamin C. Rowan whose names are attached
to the within affidavit are practising Physicians in
the City of Fort Wayne Allen County and State of
Indiana and persons whose testimony is worthy of all
credence and belief - In witness whereof we have
hereunto Set our hands and Seals this 9th day of October -
A.D. 1851 John.B. Dubois [sig] Seal
In presence of Justice of the peace in Said
C. R. Walker }[sig] County of Allen Indiana
O. I. Morgan [signature]
I concur in the above certificate Notary Public
as to the credibility and professional of State of Indiana
worth of Drs Ayers & Rowan
City of Washington Samuel Bunton [signature]
Dec 30. 1851 M.C.
[page 4 of "Brief"]
The State of Indiana
Allen County ss I George W Wood
Register of the Land Office
for the United States at Fort Wayne
Indiana do hereby certify that I
am well acquanted with Henry P
Ayres and Benjamin C Rowan whose
certificate of examinations as Physicians
of Noah Austin, a Pensioner, is here an-
nexed; that said Ayers & Rowan
are respectable practicing Physicians
at Fort Wayne, in good standing and
that they are entitled to credit -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand this 27th day of October
AD 1851 -
George W Wood [signature]
Register of the Land Office
Fort Wayne
Ind.
Personally appeared before me John Du bois, H.P. Ayers
and B.C. Rowan the within named surgeons who
were resworn as to the facts set forth in the margin
on the within application of Noah Austin
Sworn and Subscribed H.P. Ayers M. D [sig]
Before me John B. Dubois BC Rowan MD [sig]
a Justice of the peace in Allen
County Indiana this 6
day of December AD 1851
John B Dubois J.P. [signature] (seal)
[p 20]
Detroit Nov 1st 1851
Messr Evans & Fant
Washington DC
Gents'
In May 1850 I made appli
cation to the Pen - office for an increase of Pension for Noah
Austin An Invalid Pensioner at the rate of $4 per month
of the B.[?] Agency. I sent his Pension certificate to the
Dept. together with Surgeon's certificate of total Disability
On the 4 of June 50 I Recd a letter from the Dept saying that the proof
must be submitted to the Pen - Agent for him to certify that the
Physicians were credible &O [etc.]. As the Phys lived in Ind. & the
Agent in N.Y. this requisition could not be complied with Mr
Austin has got a new certificate from the Surgeons who
are certified to be credible by a J.P, a N.P, & the Register
of the U.S. Land office which I presume will be satisfactory on
that score. The Physicians have certified (in the proof which
I here with enclose), that Austin is "unfit for Manual Labor"
I think these are the same Phy whose certificate is now on file &
that in their former certificate they were more Definite as to the Degree
of Dis. Please take this proof to the Pen office & have it Examined with that previous
ly filed & see if it is not sufficient for a full Pension. If not write what
more must be done I enclose $3. for your service. Be as Liberal with me as
you can in such a case as this & where I can get a good fee I will Divide the Spoil
Yours truly
G F Lewis
J D Preston [signature]
[p 21]
[certificate]
1700
New York
_______________________
Noah Austin
private
Captain Brown's company of the
New York Millitia [sic] 1812
_______________________
Ratio of disability, 7/8th
Date of discharge,
Time of closing the testimony,
Increased from $4
_______________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at 7 Dollars per month, to
on the 30 December 1851
________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the ten
January 1852 and sent to
Evans & Fant
Present
________________________
Arrears to 4th of
Semi-anl. all'ce ending
Record Book F Vol 5. page 39
Act of the 24 April 1816
[p 22]
Brief in the Case of Noah Austin Private of Brown's Compy
New York Militia
Lagrange County and State of Ind
[unreadable] Act 24 April 1816
________________________________________________
CLAIM FOR [crossed out:] NEW PENSION CERTIFICATE, [inserted:] Increase
PROOF EXHIBITED,
[unreadable] in Sept 1833 at $2 per month for wound in the
face near the eye, [unreadable] the War of 1812 - increased to
$4:00 per month in Apl 1840, and again increased in
January 1852 to $7 per Month
He now applies for increase at the rate of whole
disability making a Disclaimer proving Disability, and renouncing
previous Certificate. D White, examiner, certifies that the [unreadable]
truly is a gunshot wound of the face from a canister shot, a
[unreadable] near to the left of the nose. Shot still remains in the
face. There is an opening in the palate as large as a dime -
[unreadable] discharging through both openings and principally through the
[unreadable] affects his speech and causes disturbance of general healthy
activity or ability for performing manual labor.
Name and residence of Agent. [?] D Wilson
Alexr D Kennedy Examining Clerk.
LaGrange County
July 13 1869 - [unreadable]
July 5, 1869
The pension documentation of Noah Austin was kindly contributed by Dottie Piechocki.
List of all persons mentioned in Noah Austin's pension records
Ursula Austin's widow's pension record
List of all persons mentioned in Ursula Austin's widow's pension records
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