New York State Assembly Reports on Petitions for Bounty Lands for Revolutionary War Service

This series is arranged roughly in reverse chronological order by date of report.

Revolutionary War soldiers and individuals who provided material support during the war were eligible to receive bounty lands from the state. Ad hoc committees considered the petitions until 1800, when the assembly passed a resolution appointing the first standing Committee of Claims. The committee determined whether petitioners were legally entitled to bounty land, some other form of compensation, or nothing at all. The committees generally decided each case on the basis of evidence submitted by the petitioner, although in some cases the committee investigated additional sources such as muster rolls. The committee then reported its opinion on the validity of each claim and recommended actions to the State Assembly, which indicated its agreement through a resolution.

The reports in this series contain some or all of the following information: name of committee member making report; petitioner's name; basis of claim; evidence supporting claim; committee's recommendation; reasons for recommendation; Assembly resolution approving recommendation (there appear to be no disapprovals); and recommendations of monetary compensation when individual was ineligible for bounty lands but provided an important war service. There are also a few reports on petitions for land claims concerning forfeited estates, estates of deceased persons, and previous land purchases.

Microform is available at the New York State Archives through interlibrary loan.

The microfilm copy of this series contains a rough alphabetical index to petitioners. The original copy of this index is filed with the beginning portion of "Assembly Papers" Volume 40 in record series A1823, Petitions, Correspondence and Reports Relating to Indians, 1783-1831. A photocopy of the index is filed with the original copies of record series A1822.

On April 20, 1830, the Legislative Assembly resolved that Azariah C. Flagg and others be employed to examine the assembly archives, to select from such original papers and documents as judged to be proper, and to deposit the papers in the office of the Secretary of State. In June and July, 1831, the papers selected were deposited and bound in 45 volumes designated as "Assembly Papers." This series was originally bound in Volume 40 of the "Assembly Papers" along with records now designated as record series A1823, Petitions, Correspondence and Reports Relating to Indians, 1783-1831. The records suffered minor burn damage in the State Capitol fire of 1911 and were disbound.

This series suffered minor burn damage in the 1911 New York State Capitol fire. Microfilm copy of series should be consulted initially and original records used under supervision if necessary.