Anthony Devoe |
This article about Anthony Devoe's Revolutionary War pension records was sent to us by his ggg-grandson Chris DeVoe. If you have information to share about Anthony or his service in Albany, please send it directly to Chris.
Anthony avers that he:
"was born in the Town of Newtown in the present County of Saratoga in the year 1763.. (In 1779, while living at Half-moon Point near Albany) he was enlisted by his father, and with his consent, in the Company of Captain Isaac Bogert, whose Colonel this deponent believes was Colonel Van Schaick, and that he cannot state the names of any other of the company or Field officers: that he entered the service about the month of July 1779 and left it late in the month of January of the cold winter of 1780 but on what day he cannot recollect. That he was in no Engagement - That during all the time he was in service he was stationed at a Fort in the City of Albany - That at the
time of his Enlistment he resided in the Town of Half-moon, now in the County of Saratoga & State of New York -That while he was stationed at the Fort, some regular Troops were some times in the same; but this deponent did not know the names of any of their officers - That he has no documentary evidence of his services, and received no written discharge that he does not know of any person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. And this deponent further saith that while he was stationed at the Fort in Albany, where he served from the time of his enlistment until he was discharged, he [was?] to hear that the British were making attempts to come up to Albany but that they were prevented by a large chain stretched across the Hudson River. That he served two years after the Battle of Bemis Heights and the Surrender of Burgoyne - and also two years after the Battle of Bennington in which General Stark was victorious - "
He also stated he volunteered, and:
"was not in service with any of the regular troops, except a few who were sometimes at the Fort." He was always a volunteer and never received any written dischage. Also, "(t)hat since the Revolutionary War, he has lived at Schaghticoke in Rensselaer County State of New York about ten years, when he removed to the Town of Warren, Herkimer County, where he has resided ever since, and now resides."
It was signed:
10 October 1832
Anthony his X mark Devoe
of the Town of Warren
aged 69 years and upwards applied for a pension as a Revolutionary soldier.
Supporting his pension were:
Daniel Talcott of Warren
John Overacker of German Flatts
Refus Crow, Esq.
James Cleland, Esq.
Nicholas Shoemaker
George Yule [Ehle?]
Henry Crim
and Revd. Mr. Ballay
as character witnesses.
Part of Daniel Talcott and John Overacker's attestations are attached; they state that they were "well acquainted" with Anthony Davoe, that they believe him to be 69 years of age and "that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution...".
Anthony was awarded a pension of $20 per year.
Our thanks go to Chris DeVoe for contributing his abstract of Anthony Devoe's pension record. Chris looks forward to hearing any further details of the service of his ggg-grandfather while stationed at the Fort in Albany, and corresponding with other Devoe/Davoe/DeVoe researchers.
Chris says that he knows that Anthony was illiterate, but his son (at least once) signed his name Davoe. Census records also record the name as Davoe, as well as numerous other variations. Chris believes Anthony himself used Davoe. Use of Devoe by his family dates from the mid-1800s.