Sheweth

That from the first appearance of a Rebellion in America he did every thing in his Power for the Support of the Kings Government, that he was in Consequence frequently exposed to the Insults of the disaffected, being in a Remote part of the Province Beyond the Reach of Assistance.

That he has been repeatedly injured in his Property, his Papers examined & Carried away, and himself twice carried Prisoner to Albany and tried by the Authority of the usurped Government.

That your Memorialist in Conjunction with his Son-in-law Lieutenant Francis PFISTER, since killed at Bennington, raised at their own Expence, a Body of upwards of Five Hundred Men, Three Hundred and eighteen of which did actually join the army under the Command of General BURGOYNE, at the Head of which Body of men his son-in-law was killed.

That the House of your Memorialist being within four miles of the Place of action, he and his Family were exposed to every Risque and Danger — himself proscribed & obliged to fly into the Woods — an Officer with a large Party in quest of them — having Orders to hang him as soon as apprehended.

That of the Number of Men they brought to the Action at Bennington, one hundred & Six were killed or taken, the Remainder were put under the Command of Captn. Samuel MACKAY, afterwards that of Major LEAKE, by order of Sir Guy CARLETON, and in the Year 1781 they were incorporated with Sir John JOHNSON’s second Battallion by General HALDIMAND.

That neither your Memorialist or his Daughter the Widow of Lieut. PFISTER, left with the weighty Charge of four Children, have ever received any Grauity or Compensation for the Expences incurred by the Raising so many Men; nor have they ever received any Subsistence as others have, although none from the Province of New York, that have joined the Kings Troops under the Command of General BURGOYNE, have done more for the Interest of Government, or suffered more for their attachment thereto than your memorialists Family, Sir John JOHNSON’s only excepted.

That on the 19th of November 1783 Your Memorialist first knowledge of the Act for the Relief of the Loyalists arrived at Detroit the Place of his Residence, and on the 20th he took the Liberty to inclose a State of his Daughters & his own losses to Colonel KINGSTON, which was the only Step he at that late Season could take.

Your Memorialist begs leave to inform your Honours that his Delay in making his personal appearance was owing to Brigadier General HOPES requesting he would remain in Canada, and take Charge of his Dispatches for Lord SYDNEY his Majestys Secretary of State, which he did & brought safe by the April Packet.

Your Memorialist therefore humbly prays, that his case may be taken into your Consideration, in order that he may be included in your Report, to receive such aid or Relief as his Losses, Sufferings, and Services may be found to deserve.

John MACOMB

Great Britain, Public Record Office, Audit Office, Class 13, Volume 56, folios 113-114.

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