Patriot Summary

From the History of Oakland County, Michigan by Thaddeus D. Seeley (1912)

James Graham, the first permanent white settler to plant his home in old Oakland, was a Revolutionary soldier, whose father, a Scotch-Irish gentleman, came to Pennsylvania several years previous to the Revolution. His Dutch neighbors called him “Grimes” and his enlistment is recorded under that name.

James Graham, born in 1749, was one of a large family, and there is a tradition that when he emigrated to America he sold himself, as was quite customary, into service to a physician of New York City, to pay the necessary passage money thither. After the term of his service expired, the war was on and he enlisted April 15, 1777, for one year, in Pennsylvania, as a member of Captain Hewitt’s Company, Colonel Dennison’s Regiment of Connecticut troops, and served in that company till Captain Hewitt’s death at the battle of Wyoming. He was then attached to Captain Spalding’s company in Colonel Butler’s regiment and was discharged at the expiration of his enlistment.

His home in Pennsylvania, at least after the Revolution, until 1810, was at Tioga Point, on the Chemung river. At that time he moved to Canada, on the site of the present city of Ingersoll. Mr. Graham must have been in the enemy’s country all during the War of 1812, but as soon as peace was declared in 1816 he crossed the border and took up his residence first at Mt. Clemens.

His two sons, Benjamin and Alexander, started out during the summer to look up a suitable location for a home. Following up the Clinton river, they passed beyond the site of Rochester for a mile or two and concluded they had found what they were seeking. They cut hay in the open meadows along the stream, built a little hut and returned for their family. The following spring, their father, his sons and son-in-law, Christopher Hartsough and John Hersey, arrived on the 17th of March. They paid their homage to good St. Patrick by rolling up the first log house in Rochester for Alexander Graham.

Page 1

(S-1776)
SERVICE
Penn.
Graham, James
NUMBER
S. 29,192
CONTENTS

Page 2

Michigan 19644
James Graham
of Oakland in the Pay of Michigan
who was a Corporal in the @ commanded
|ly Captain Hewett of the Regt commanded
by Col. Butler in the Penna.
line for one year
$44
______________
Inscribed on the Roll of Michigan
the rate of 44 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
____________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Augt
1833 and sent to O.D.
Richardson Pontiac M.
___________________
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. 88.
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4. Sept 13 22
$110.-
____________
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 8. Page 95.

Date of [ILLEGIBLE] 13

Page 3

Territory of Michigan
Oakland county} SS

On this 3d. day of November AD. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Probate Court of the county aforesaid now sitting, being a court of Redord, James Graham. a resident of said county, aged seventy seven years, 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 he enlisted for the term of one year on or about the 15th of April 1778 in the State of Pennsylvania in the company commanded by Capt. Hewitt, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Butler in the line of the State of Connecticut, on as he believes the

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continental establishment, that he acted as Corporal during the term of his service, but whether he belonged to the "State troops" or "regular troops" he cannot positively say, he however, voluntarily enlisted, and that he continued to serve in said Company until the death of Capt. Hewitt who with all the men belonging to his company but six or seven were killed in the battle of Wyoming, that he was then attached to Captain Spaulding's company of the Regiment commanded by the same Col. Butler, that he continued to serve in the same company for one year in the whole from the time he first enlisted as aforesaid, when he was discharged from the service in Ringston in the State of Pennsylvania, but did not obtain a written discharge being told it was unnecessary as the year was up & none of those then discharged obtained any that he knows of, that he was in the battle of

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Wyoming, that when he enlisted he resided in a place called "Lower Smithfield" in the then County of Northampton, in the State of Pennsylvania, that he went from the place of his residence to Wyoming to work & when there enlisted, that said Smithfield is about forty miles from Wyoming, that at the battle of Wyoming the American forces were beaten, killed or scattered, and he the said Graham Joined the company of Spaulding on the Delaware River & then the company marched through an uninhabited country to Wyoming where the enemy had turned & destroyed the fortifications & were about there plundering and destroying the property of the inhabitants, that the American troops then took possession of the place and the company to which he belonged were then employed in rebuilding the fort and in grading the place,

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that he had been there at Wyoming sometime after the re-occupation of the place as above named before General Sullivan came & took command, & was then employed after his years was expired to carry dispatches for the General, his year however, expired, something like two months before he came and assumed the command, that he knew Captain Ransom who was killed at said battle, Major Robert Durkee who was ?? killed at the same time, & Lieut. Jenkins of Spaulding's Company, that he has no documentary evidence of his said service, & there is no person that he knows of whose evidence is within his power to obtain that will prove his service except Wm. N. Terry.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension

Page 7

and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State or Territory.
James Graham

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
Stephen Mewes Judge of Probate of Oakland County
We Elkanah Comstock a clergyman residing in the Town of Pontiac in the county of Oakland aforesaid & Elisha Beach residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Graham who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age: that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier on the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Elkanah Comstock
E. Beach
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me Stephen Mewes Judge of Probate of Dauphin County

Page 8

I William N. Terry residing in the Township of Pontiac in the County of Oakland aforesaid of the age of seven two years being duly sworn according to law, do depose and say that I know James Graham (who makes the foregoing application for a pension) when he was young and before he entered the service of the United States as stated in the foregoing declaration, & that I have been well acquainted with him ever since, that I know he was in the service of the United States & acted as a corporal in the army of the revolution as much as a year at one time-I knew he was in the battle of Wyoming, for I saw him there, I knew he belonged then to the company commanded by Capt. Hewett of the Regiment Commanded by Col. Butler, & there after that battle as most of his company were

Page 9

cut off, he and the survivors Joined the Company of Capt. Sapulding to which Company I belonged, & that said Graham was discharged about the end of the year for which I understood he enlisted at Ringtown in Pennsylvania, & I remained in the service until the close of the was. And further I depose not.

William N. his X mark Terry

Sworn and subscribed before me the ?? aforesaid
Stephen Mewes Judge of Probate of Oakland County

And the said Court does hereby declare its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, & served as he states. And the Court further certify

Page 10

where it appears to the Court the Elkanah Comstock who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in Pontiac aforesaid, & the Elisha Beach who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place, and that Wm N. Terry who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing deposition is a resident of the same place, & that they all three are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Walter Sprague Register of the Court of
Probate for the County of Oakland in the
Territory of Michigan, do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter the application of James Graham for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto

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set my hand and seal of the Probate of
Court of said County of Oakland, this 3d
day of November AD. 1832
Walter Sprague
fr J.P. LeRoy Daps

Page 12

Territory of Michigan
County of Oakland } Ss - On this fourth day of May 1833 personally appeared before the Probate Court for the said County of Oakland now in session, James Graham, the person who made and signed the within declaration in order to obtain a pension, who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than one year as a corporal in the army of the revolution, that is to say from the 15th day of April 1778 to the 15th day of April 1779, without interruption; and for such service I claim a pension.

James Graham

Sworn in open court before me
Stephen Mewes
Judge of Probate

I Walter Sprague, Register of the court of Probate for the County of Oakland aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original affidavit of James Graham taken to amend his declaration for a pension in open court this fourth day of May 1833 -

In testimony of which I hereto set my hand & seal of the Probate Court of said County of Oakland this fourth day of May 1833 -
Walter Sprague, Register of Probate
Oakland County, M.I. By John Goodrich, Deputy Regs

Page 13

October 15, 1938

Mrs. E. V. Howlett
53 1/2 Huron Street, West
Pontiac, Michigan

BA-J/AWF
James Graham
S. 29192
William Nathan Terry
R. 10461

Dear Madam:

The data which follow concerning James Graham were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 29192, based upon his service in the War of the Revolution.

The date and place of birth of James Graham were not given, nor were the names of his parents stated.

While a resident of Lower Smithfield, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, James Graham enlisted April 15, 1778, served as corporal in Captain Hewett's company, Colonel Butler's Pennsylvania regiment, he was in the battle of Wyoming, where his captain was killed; he then served in Captain Spaulding's company in same regiment until discharged April 15, 1779. After which he served two months and carried dispatches for General Sullivan.

James Graham was allowed pension on his application executed November 3, 1832, at which time he was seventy-seven years of age, and a resident of Oakland County, Michigan.

The papers on file in this claim contain no discernible data in regard to the family of the soldier, James Graham.

William N. Terry, November 3, 1832, seventy-two

Page 14

years old, and living in the Township of Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan, stated he knew James Graham before he entered that service, saw him at the battle of Wyoming, and was in Captain Spaulding's company when he, James Graham, joined that company.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of the pensioner, James Graham, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data-

James Graham
Certificate #19644
Issued August 9, 1833
Rate $44.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Michigan Agency.

************

William Nathan Terry-R.10461

The data furnished herein relative to William Nathan Terry were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, R. 10461, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

The date and place of birth of William Nathan Terry were not given, nor were the names of his parents stated.

William Nathan Terry enlisted in Kingston, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1775, served as private in Captain Ransom's company, Colonel Butler's Pennsylvania regiment; he was in the battles of Bunker Hill and

Page 15

Princeton; while at home on furlough, he volunteered and was in the battle of Wyoming in Captain Spaulding's company, and continued to service until discharged sometime in 1782 or 1783.

William Nathan Terry stated that his discharge was signed by General Washington, and while a resident of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, his home was destroyed by fire, and his discharge was burned up in this fire, sometime in the year, 1794.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 3, 1832, at which time he was seventy-two years of age, and living in Pontiac Township, Oakland County, Michigan.

James Graham, November 3, 1832, seventy-seven years old, and living in Oakland County, Michigan, stated that he was well acquainted with William N. Terry when he was young and ever since, saw and knew him well at the battle of Wyoming in Captain Spaulding's company.

The soldier, William Nathan Terry, died in Township of Pontiac, Michigan, January 30, 1840.

William Nathan Terry married in "Shufelt Flats" Town of Wyalusing, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, April 7 or 17, 1793, Eleanor Lewis. She was born in the month of October, 1776, place not shown, nor were the names of her parents stated.

The widow, Eleanor Terry, applied for pension, June 24, 1845, then living in Pontiac Township, Michigan.

Her claim for pension was not allowed, as proof of marriage as required by the pension law was not established. She stated that she had no record proof of her marriage, as the certificate of marriage and Family Bible were burned when their house was destroyed by fire, a few weeks before he son, William, was born.

The widow died August 25, 1849 at Pontiac, Mich-

Page 16

igan.

William Nathan Terry and his wife, Eleanor, reared a large family of children.

Their son, William, was born March 10, 1794 died February 10, 1845, at which time he was keeper of the Lighthouse at "Thunderbay Island".

The following children survived their mother, Eleanor Terry, and in 1857 were all living in Oakland County, Michigan-
Caleb Terry, aged about forty years; Barney Terry; Joshua Terry; Merrett or Merritt Terry; John Terry; Sally or Sarah, wife of Isaac Voorhies; Ellen, widow of Matthew Stanley.

Michael Lewis, brother of the widow, Eleanor Terry, was born in the month of December, 1778, and was living in 1845 in West Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan.

Submit Gardner or Gardiner, youngest sister of the soldier, William Nathan Terry, was eighty years old in 1857, then living in Oakland County, Michigan; she stated that she was married about two weeks later than William Nathan Terry, and Eleanor Lewis. The name of the husband of Submit Gardner (Gardiner) was not shown.

Jonathan Terry, seventy-eight years old in 1857, and living in Oakland County, Michigan, was living at the time of the marriage of the soldier and Eleanor, in the town of Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, with his father, who was the brother of the soldier, William Nathan Terry, but did not give the name of father.

One Elias Terry was of Oakland County, Michigan in 1857; it was not shown that he was a relative.

The papers on file in these claims contai

Page 17

no further discernible data relative to family.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

Page 18

October 15, 1938

Mrs. E. V. Howlett
53 1/2 Huron Street, West
Pontiac, Michigan

BA-J/AWF
James Graham
S. 29192
William Nathan Terry
R. 10461

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you state that there is record in the Court Minutes of Oakland County, Michigan, that James Graham applied for pension in 1828, in that county, then aged seventy-three years, that Joshua Terry and Nathan Terry made depositions in support of his Revolutionary War claim for pension, also, that Nathan W. Terry (Identical with the above) made application for Revolutionary War pension, November 10, 1828 in the same county and stated that he was generally known as William Terry. You state that you are interested in the statements made by those persons.

The Revolutionary War records of this office do not show that a claim for pension was made in 1828, by James Graham and Nathan Terry (or William N. Terry) named above. Their claims have been both dated in 1832, and under the Act of June 7, 1832, and both in Michigan. All papers in those two claims have been examined very carefully, that of James Graham, S.29192, and that of William Nathan Terry, R. 10461, also that of his widow, Eleanor, and all data found in regard to families, residences, ages, service, etc., have been incorporated in a report for you herewith.

There is no claim for pension based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Joshua Terry.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

[handwritten note]
See leu(?) letter
in James Graham S. 29192

Page 19

GENERAL RICHARDSON CHAPTER
PONTIAC, MICHIGAN

[Stamp]
RECEIVED
AUG 23 1939
MAIL SUB-DIV
[illegible]
26

U.S. Bureau of Pensions.
Rev. War Section
Washington. D. C.

Sirs:
On p. 35. vol. 2. Court minutes of Oakland Co., Mich., in the application for pension of James Graham as 73 years in 1828 of Oakland Co., Mich., for Revolutionary War service in Capt Hewes Co., col. Butler's Conn. Cont. Line. in Pennsylvania the names of Nathan Terry and Joshua Terry are given as making depositions in the case.
Also in the application of Nathan W. Terry (same man as above) for pension, dated 11-10-1828. also for service in Col. Butler's Reg't., he stats that he believes "he enlisted under the name of William Terry by which name he was then generally known".
I am trying to connect the Terrys of Oakland Co., Mich., with the Terry ancestors from whom they came, in Palmyra. N.Y., and Terrytown, Pa., and would very much appreciate a copy of the depositions made by William N. and Joshua Terry in the above files
Thanking you I am
Very sincerely
May R. Howlett (Mrs E.V.)
53 1/2 Huron St. West
Pontiac, Mich.

Page 20

Washington September 9, 1931
Mr. James P. Smith, Jr. BA-J/AWF
Almont, Box 58
Michigan
Dear Sir:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.29192, that James Graham, while a resident of Lower Smithfield, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, enlisted, April 15, 177
1778 and was a corporal in Captain Hewett's company, Colonel Butler's Pennsylvania regiment, he was in the battle of Wyoming, where his captain was killed, he then served in Captain Spaulding's company in the same regiment and was discharged April 15, 1779.
He was allowed pension on his application executed, November 3, 1832, then a resident of Oakland County, Michigan and was aged seventy-seven years.
There are no data as to his family.
Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator

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Honorable Robert H Clancy,
House of Representatives.
My dear Mr. Clancy:
In response to your letter of the fifteenth instant,
With enclosure from Mr. E J. Bullard, 405 Gladwin Building, Detroit, Michigan, I have the honor to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.39192, it appears that James Graham, while a resident of Lower Smithfield, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, enlisted April 15, 1778 and was a Corporal in Captain Hewett's Company, Colonel Butler's Pennsylvania Regiment, was in the battle of Wyoming, where his captain was killed, he then served in Captain Spaulding's Company in same regiment and was discharged April 15, 1779.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 3, 1833, while a resident of Oakland County,

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Michigan, aged seventy-seven years.
There is no data on file relative to his family.
Herewith is returned the letter from Mr. E. J. Bullard.
Sincerely, Acting Commissioner.

Page 23

In reply to your request of -----, received ----- for a statement of the military history of James Graham a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. F. 29,192.
-
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Apr 15, 1778 to

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
Apr 15, '79

RANK
Corpl

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Hewett
Spaulding
COLONEL.
Butler

STATE.
Pa.
-
Battle engaged in, Wyoming.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Lower Smithfield, Northampton Co. Pa
Date of application for pension, Nov. 3, 1832. His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Oakland Co, Michigan.
Age at date of application, 77 yrs.
Remarks: There is no data relative to family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Page 24

Almont, Michigan
August 24, 1931

[Stamp]
RECEIVED
AUG 26 1931
RECEIPT SECTION
PENSION FILES SUB-DIVISION

Pension Bureau,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am gathering data in the Graham Family.
I would like to obtain the record of James Graham, who fought in the Revolutionary War and of Alexander Graham who served in the War of 1812. The Grahams were first settlers of Oakland County, Michigan.
James Graham resided at Lower Smithfield, Penn. at the time of his enlistment.
Thanking you I remain,
Yours sincerely
James P. Smith Jr.
Almont, Michigan

Page 25

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.

ROBERT H. CLANCY
1ST DIST. MICHIGAN

COMMITTEE:
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

[Stamp]
OFFICE OF
THE COMMISSIONER
DEC 16 1924
U.S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS

December 15, 1924.

Honorable Washington Gardner,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. Commissioner:

I am enclosing herewith a letter which I have received from a constituent of mine relative to the record of James Graham, who served in the Revolutionary War.

I hope you will look into this matter and advise me at your earliest convenience.

Most respectfully yours.
R. H. Clancy

Enc.

Page 26

MICHIGAN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
LANSING

FREDERICK WIELAND
REPRESENTATIVE
OAKLAND COUNTY
SECOND DISTRICT

MEMBER OF COMMITTEES ON
MICHIGAN SCHOOL FOR THE
BLIND, CHAIRMAN
REVISION AND AMENDMENT
CONSTITUTION
EDUCATION
ELECTIONS

[handwritten note]
(no street & number on env. F.W.)

Orion, Michigan, November 19, 1917.

Pension Department,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:-
I would like the pension record of James Graham who was a revolutionary soldier enlisting from Pennsylvania, and afterwards living in Oakland County, Michigan.

Thanking you for you [your] trouble in this matter, I remain

Truly yours,
Mrs. Pearl A. Wieland

Page 27

29192.
Revy INVALID.
-
File No. 29,192
James Graham
Corp Rev War
-
Act: June 7 32
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 165

[Arrangement of 1870.]

1917, Nov. 27. History to Mrs. Pearl A. Wieland F.W.
-
1924 Dec. 16 - Hist to Hon. Robert H Clancy for Mr E.G. Ballard AWF
1930 Sept. 8 - Hist to Jas. P. Smith Jr. AWF
1938-Cot 15 - Hist to Mrs E. W. Howlett AWF

Page 28

19644
Please Return this

James Graham
Michigan T.

Adm 1 year Corporal

O. D. Richardson
Pantiae(?)
M. T.

Page 29

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Graham which require further proof or explanation,

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
[blank]

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
[blank]

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
[blank]

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
no

V. Has he mention with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amout [amount] of pension he is entitled?
[blank]

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
[blank]

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
[blank]

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
[blank]

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
[blank]

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
[blank]

Page 30

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
[blank]

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
[blank]

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
[blank]

XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
[blank]

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
[blank]

XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
No. Vice Quin(?) 16

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
no

-

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For ----- year ----- months, and ----- days, I served as a ----- For ----- months and ------ days, I served as a -----; and for such service I claim a pension.

Page 31

No transcription available