In 1838 a pension was established by Congress for those who served in the war. Reuben had died in 1830 but his wife Elizabeth as his widow could apply and did on February 5 1841. Up to 1850 she was still petitioning and trying to get the funds. There is a receipt stating she received semi annual payments of 17.33 but I am not sure if she received many before she died in 1853. By 1850 lawyers were still writing the government on her behalf after she broke her leg and was about to be put in a county poor house.
The pension application has a lot of cool detail about what Reuben did during the war as he protected Westchester County NY from the British. He joined at 15 and served with several of his brothers and his uncle, this mother's brother Marcus Moseman was their commander.
Elizabeth's brother Stephen Knowlton wrote a letter that gives detail about their marriage which he attended. There is also a letter from her daughter Mary Barrett Wright which is confusing because she states that she was the oldest daughter and born in 1785 but Mary wasn't born until 1796 so I am thinking she lied about that. because Esther, Charity and Elizabeth were all born before Mary and Charity and Elizabeth were still alive at the time...so I am thinking she fibbed. She talks about the family bible.
Here are the transcribed documents:
State of New York
Putnam county
On this fifth day of February 1841 personally appeared in open court before the judge of the court of Common Pleas of Putnam County, Elizabeth Barrett a resident of the town of Kent in the said County State of New york aged Seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838. That she is the widow of Reuben Barrett, who was a private & performed military service during the Revolutionay was in the company under the command of Captain Marcus Moseman, lieutenant Silas Miller & Ensign Eli Tyoer, that the said service was performed in West Chester County in the state of New York on occasions of alarm & invasions & in various places in said county in paroling & as guard & in frequent alarms by night & day almost incessantly as Westchester County was in part in possession of the British tell the end of the war. That said Rueben Barrett also served under Captain Benjamin Stevens eight months. That the said Reuben Barrett entered into said military service about the year 1777 & continued therein with some slight exceptions up to the year 1783 when the war closed & whether he was drafted or enlisted or volunteered she is unable to say. All which facts as above stated are according to the best knowledge & belief of this deposant. She further declares that she was married to the said Reuben Barrett on the second day of December 1784. That her husband, the aforesaid Reuben Barrett died on or about the 4th day of August 1830 & that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proofs here into annexed.
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day & year first above written before me.
Reuben D Barnum clerk of court
of Putnam County
(Elizabeth signed with a mark of X)
*****
State of New York
Westchester County I Stephen Knowlton of said county being duly sworn, deposes and says that he was well acquainted with Reuben Barrett and Elizabeth his wife. That Elizabeth the wife of Said Barrett was the sister of this deposant and her maiden name was Elizabeth Knowlton. That she was married to the said Reuben Barrett at the town of Bedford in said county on the second day of December in the year one thousand and seven hundred and eighty four. That he was present with attended and saw them married. That the marriage ceremony was performed by our Walter Seaman Esq a Justice of the Peace of the said county of Westchester, who was authorized to perform marriage ceremonies by the law of state state. That they after said marriage lived together as man and wife until the death of the said Reuben Barrett and that the said Elizabeth still remains his widow since never having married since the death of said husband.
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 16th day of September 1847
Stephen Knowlton (signed with an X)
***
State of New York
Dutchess County
I Mary Wright of Fishkill in the county of Dutchess being duly sworn says that 6th day of September 1849 last she is sixty-three years old and that she was born in the year 1785. That she is the eldest child of Reuben Barrett and Elizabeth Barrett his wife who is now an applicant for a pension. That she lived at home until she was married and always in the neighborhood of the said Reuben & Elizabeth. That she had seven sisters and two brothers all the children of Reuben & Elizabeth Barrett. That the said Reuben & Elizabeth lived together as man and wife until the death of the said Reuben. That it was always informed within family that the deposent was born the year after the said Reuben & Elizabeth were married, which marriage the deposent was born the year after the said was always informed took place in the year 1784. That the deposents father Reuben Barrett had a family bible containing the record of his age & the age of the said Elizabeth and the children she supposes the time of their marriage. That she has frequently seen the said record while she was young but that the same has been mutilated and torn up. What parts of the bible are still in existence but the record is lost and further saith not.
Mary Wright signed with a mark.