October 2004 - Jonathan Kidney's Revolutionary War Service
State of New YorkAlbany Justice's Court
Be it known that on the 23rd day of October 1833 personally appeared before the Justices's Court of the City of Albany, JONATHAN KIDNEY of the City of Albany, who being duly sworn in open Court, deposeth answerith that by reason of old age and the consequent laps of memory, he enough swears positively as to the previous 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:
1. In the year 1777, I served as a private in the company of militia commanded by Captain [William] Hunn in Col. [Gerrit] Lansing's Regiment and under the command of General Philip Schuyler on a term of duty at Fort Edward, Fort George, Snookkill, Saratoga and as stated in my original declaration not less than three months and half in that is from about the first of July to about the 22nd of October.
2. In the same year 1777, I also served as a private in the Company of Militia commanded by Capt. Price, on a tour of duty to Hartford in Connecticut as stated in my original declaration, for a period of no less than twelve days.
3. In the year 1778, I served as a private in the Company of Militia commanded by Capt. [William] Hunn on a tour of duty to Lower Fort, Schoharie, and Cobleskill as stated in my original declaration on which tour I served not less than four weeks.
4. In the year 1778, I served as a private in the Company of Militia commanded by Capt. Nicholas Joraleman in a tour of duty to store_______ as stated in my original declaration on which I served not less than four weeks.
5. In the year 1779, I served as a private in the same company of Militia commanded by Capt. Joraleman on a tour of duty to Fort Plains on the Mohawk, as stated in my original declaration on which tour I served not less than one month.
6. In the fall of the year 1782, I went out in the capacity of a mariner or sailor on a cruise in the Privateer Brig Scammel. She was a square-rigged _______ commanded by Capt. Stoddard. She sailed from Providence in the State of Rhode Island - I recollect that the sailing master's name was Pierson - We sailed out on the cruise about a fortnight and were then taken in about a days sail off Sandy Hook, by the British Frigate Jason - the 50 gun ship Renown being in Company with her. Part of the Crew of the Privateer was put on board the Jason and a part of them on board the Renown. I was put on board the Renown and taken into New York. I was then transfered to the old Jersey Prison Ship - I remained a prisoner until May following when Peace was proclaimed. Parts of the time I was confined onboard the Jersey Prison ship and part of the time onboard the Hospital ships. I recollect that the news of Peace was publicly read onboard the Jersey Prison ship to the prisoners and we were immediately discharged. We went out up with a flag to Dobb's Ferry __________. I stopped at _____ Point, where I received two days provisions by the direction of the Commanding officer. Then I went to Newburg where the army there lay. I there got six days of provisions and a half pint of rum and then came home to Albany in a sloupe.
I was taken prisoner as above mentioned sometime in November and remained a prisoner not less than five months. At the time I made my original declaration I was not informed whether I was entitled to my allowance for the time I was a prisoner as above stated, and therefore did not mention or claim it in my first declaration. But I now claim it if the Law entitles me to it - in addition to my other services.
I further state that in regard to my services in the year 1779 under Capt. Jorleman at Fort Plains, I was never satisfied that the statement of the time I was engaged in said term in my original declaration is a mistake - that the time should have been stated as one month or about and not twelve weeks.
Signed Jonathan Kidney
Sworn and proclaimed in open Court this 23rd day of October 1833, John G. Watson, Clerk
The name of a James Kidney appears amoung the list of 8,000 men who were prisoners on board the Old Jersey as compiled by The Society of Brooklynites in 1888 which were copied from the papers of the British War Department. This is probably the entry for Jonathan Kidney.
For information on what life was like for prisoners on the Jersey, consult Recollections of the Jersey Prison Ship by Albert Green based upon a manuscript of Capt. Thomas Dring, one of the prisoners.