Currently, the following is posted on the website regarding Oliver Bates' Revolutionary War service:
In a letter written to Mrs. Wirt G. Faust on April 12, 1932:
"Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to Oliver Bates, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.44.598, based upon the military service of Oliver Bates in that war.
Oliver Bates enlisted in the state of Massachusetts, July 1, 1778 [may have lied about his age - he was born August 7, 1763], served as a private in Captain Pritchard's Company, Colonel John Grayton's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged April 7, 1779. He enlisted July 1, 1780, served as a private in Captain William Taylor's Company, in the Second Massachusetts Regiment, then commanded by Colonel Bedlaw's [?], and was discharged January 1, 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 25, 1818, at which time he was aged fifty-five years and resided in Jefferson County, New York.
In 1820, he was residing in Henderson, Jefferson County, New York, and at that time referred to his wife, Rebecca, as aged fifty-eight years but did not give her maiden name or the date of their marriage, and to the daughters residing with him, but did not give their names or ages, and there are no further data as to his family.
He died June 8, 1828.
The above is the history of the only soldier named Oliver Bates found on the Revolutionary War records of this office."
However, I wonder about the following from the
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, 17 Vols.:
Volume 1, page 798
Bates, Oliver, Shelburne.Descriptive list of men enlisted from Hampshire Co. for the term of 9 months from the time of their arrival at Fishkill July 7, 1778; Capt. Wells's (also given Capt. Camp's) co., Col. Wells's regt.; age, 17 yrs.; stature, 5 ft. 2 in.; complexion, light; residence, Shelburne; also, list of men returned as [p.798] received of Jonathan Warner, Commissioner, dated Fort Arnold, July 10, 1778; also, descriptive list of men raised to reinforce Continental Army for the term of 6 months, agreeable to resolve of June 5, 1780; age, 17 yrs.; stature, 5 ft. 5 in.; complexion, light; residence, Shelburne; arrived at Springfield June 29, 1780; marched to camp July 1, 1780, under command of Ensign Joseph Miller; also, list of men raised for the 6 months service and returned by Brig. Gen. Paterson as having passed muster, in a return dated Camp Totoway, Oct. 25, 1780; also, pay roll for 6 months men raised by the town of Shelburne for service in the Continental Army during 1780; marched June 29, 1780; discharged Dec. 30, 1780; service, 6 mos. 11 days.
Couldn't this latter information be for our Oliver Bates? I have not yet found the actual information cited in the former information that I have had posted on the website except that there is a pension recorded as indicated. Does anyone have additional information?
