In This Article
His Story
In September 1820, Samuel Pike’s circumstances were placed before the Court of Common Pleas in Warren County, New York. More than four decades had passed since he entered the Continental Army, but the effects of age and physical infirmity had left him struggling to provide for a large family.
Pike described himself as a native of Holliston, Massachusetts, then living in Caldwell, New York. He was approximately sixty years old and suffered from rheumatic pain that affected his legs. His ability to perform physical labor had become severely limited.
His household included a wife in her forty-sixth year and six children, ranging in age from nine to nineteen. Although the children were generally healthy, Pike explained that they were not yet able to provide sufficient support for themselves and their parents.
The court valued his property at sixty-two dollars and seventy-six cents.
These details survive in a pension record that offers an unusually personal account of the hardships facing a Revolutionary War veteran in the decades following independence.
Samuel Pike had grown up in Holliston, a Massachusetts farming community west of Boston. Published genealogical records identify his birth as October 27, 1759, and his parents as Samuel Pike and Abigail Morse.
When the Revolutionary War began in 1775, Pike was approximately fifteen years old. Massachusetts had become the center of armed resistance to British authority, and communities throughout the colony supplied men, provisions, and military equipment for the emerging American army.
By 1777, Pike had entered Continental service. Massachusetts military records identify a Samuel Pike of Holliston who enlisted for three years and joined Captain Ward’s company in Colonel James Wesson’s regiment.
The regiment belonged to the Massachusetts Continental Line, one of the state contingents that supplied soldiers to General George Washington’s army. Unlike short-term militia service, a three-year enlistment represented a substantial commitment to military life.
Soldiers in the Continental Army faced demanding marches, inadequate clothing, shortages of food, uncertain pay, and the constant threat of disease. Their responsibilities extended beyond combat to include camp construction, guard duty, transportation, and the maintenance of military discipline.
Massachusetts service records also associate Pike with the rank of corporal. By the time of the federal pension roll published in 1835, he was listed as a sergeant of the Massachusetts Continental establishment.
The surviving evidence therefore suggests a soldier whose military responsibilities extended beyond those of an ordinary private, although the exact date and circumstances of his promotion require verification.
Following the war, Pike eventually settled in the region of northern New York that became Warren County. His family established itself in the communities surrounding Lake George and the upper Hudson River.
His life after the Revolution was marked by marriage, the raising of children, and the labor necessary to support a household in a developing American frontier community.
By 1820, however, his physical condition had deteriorated. The rheumatism affecting his legs limited his capacity to earn a living as a mason or laborer. His wife and children depended upon the resources available to the household.
Pike’s pension record preserves both his service to the revolutionary cause and the personal consequences of aging in a society where financial security was far from guaranteed.
His story is a reminder that the Revolutionary War did not end for its veterans with the British surrender. Many spent their later years seeking recognition and support from the nation they had helped establish.
Early Life
Birth in Holliston, Massachusetts
Samuel Pike identified Holliston, Massachusetts, as his birthplace in the surviving pension transcription.
Published family genealogy records his birth on October 27, 1759. This date is broadly consistent with the age he reported in 1820, when he described himself as between fifty-nine and sixty years old.
The difference between his reported age and the genealogical date is small but should not be overlooked. Original Holliston vital records would provide the strongest means of establishing his precise birth date.
His Parents
Published genealogy identifies Pike’s parents as Samuel Pike, born in 1730, and Abigail Morse, born in 1734.
The elder Samuel Pike was associated with Hopkinton, Massachusetts, while Abigail Morse was connected with Holliston.
The family is reported to have married on April 19, 1750.
These genealogical relationships are not independently stated in the pension transcription and should be confirmed against original family and town records.
Growing Up in Colonial Massachusetts
Holliston was a rural Massachusetts community whose residents depended upon agriculture, small trades, and connections with neighboring towns.
Families often maintained farms while supplementing their income through specialized work, seasonal employment, and local commerce.
Community life was shaped by churches, town meetings, local government, and militia obligations.
During Pike’s childhood, Massachusetts became increasingly involved in disputes over British imperial taxation and colonial self-government.
The Coming of the Revolution
By the early 1770s, resistance to British policies had become widespread in Massachusetts.
The destruction of tea in Boston in December 1773 and the British government’s subsequent punitive legislation intensified the conflict.
On April 19, 1775, fighting at Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of open warfare.
Pike was still a teenager when the Revolution began. His later three-year enlistment placed him among the young men whose service helped sustain the Continental Army beyond the opening months of the conflict.
Revolutionary War Service
Enlistment in the Continental Army
Massachusetts Revolutionary War service records identify Samuel Pike of Holliston as a soldier who enlisted for a term of three years.
A certificate dated May 4, 1777, signed by Lieutenant Samuel Claflin, reported Pike’s enlistment into the Continental Army.
Other records associate him with Captain Nahum Ward’s company in Colonel James Wesson’s Massachusetts regiment.
The records also identify Holliston as the town credited with supplying his service.
Colonel James Wesson’s Regiment
Colonel James Wesson commanded a Massachusetts regiment in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
The regiment formed part of the Massachusetts Line, the state’s contribution to the Continental establishment.
Its soldiers were expected to serve for extended periods under military discipline rather than return home after short militia campaigns.
Continental regiments were organized into companies commanded by captains, with lieutenants, sergeants, corporals, and privates carrying out the daily responsibilities of military service.
Service Under Captain Nahum Ward
Massachusetts records associate Pike with Captain Nahum Ward’s company.
A return of men who had reached camp by August 15, 1777, includes Pike among the soldiers serving in the regiment.
These records are particularly useful because they connect his name, hometown, company, and regiment with a specific period of wartime service.
Service as a Corporal
Additional military records identify Pike as a corporal.
Corporals were noncommissioned officers responsible for assisting sergeants and commissioned officers in maintaining order and carrying out daily military duties.
They could supervise small groups of soldiers, assist with guard assignments, and help enforce military discipline.
The precise date of Pike’s appointment as corporal has not been established from the records reviewed.
Recognition as a Sergeant
The federal pension roll of 1835 identifies Samuel Pike as a sergeant in the Massachusetts Continental establishment.
Sergeants occupied an important position within Continental Army companies. They helped supervise enlisted soldiers, maintain formations, transmit orders, and oversee aspects of camp discipline.
The rank recorded in the pension roll provides evidence of Pike’s recognized military status, although the complete original service records are needed to reconstruct his promotions.
Military Life During the Revolution
Continental soldiers endured difficult conditions throughout the war.
Food shortages, inadequate clothing, exposure to severe weather, and interruptions in pay were recurring problems.
Military discipline and organization were essential to transforming a collection of state forces into an effective army capable of resisting British regulars.
Noncommissioned officers were especially important in maintaining that organization.
Pike’s documented service in the Massachusetts Line places him within this broader military system, although his precise movements must be established through additional regimental and company records.
Battles and Campaigns
The Continental Army Campaigns of 1777
1777 — Northern and Middle Colonies
The year 1777 was one of the most important of the American Revolution.
British forces attempted to divide the rebellious colonies through coordinated operations involving New York, Canada, and the Hudson River corridor.
American armies responded with campaigns in northern New York and the region surrounding Philadelphia.
Pike’s documented enlistment and assignment to Colonel Wesson’s regiment place him in the Continental Army during this critical year.
However, the records reviewed do not establish his individual presence at a specific battle during 1777.
Participation classification: Continental service documented; individual battle participation requires further verification.
The Saratoga Campaign
June–October 1777 — Northern New York
During the Saratoga campaign, British General John Burgoyne advanced south from Canada with the intention of securing the Hudson River corridor.
American forces resisted the advance, and Burgoyne’s army ultimately surrendered in October 1777.
The American victory helped persuade France to enter the war as an American ally.
Although the campaign provides important context for Massachusetts Continental service during 1777, the currently examined records do not establish Pike’s personal participation at Saratoga.
Participation classification: Historical context only; not an individually verified battle.
The War’s Continuing Campaigns
1778–1780 — Continental Army
Pike’s reported three-year enlistment would have extended his obligation beyond the campaign season of 1777.
During these years, the Continental Army continued operations against British forces while confronting persistent supply shortages and financial difficulties.
The surviving service references reviewed for this biography do not yet provide a complete account of Pike’s movements throughout the remainder of his enlistment.
Specific battles should not be attributed to him solely because his regiment participated in them.
Participation classification: Extended Continental enlistment reported; exact campaign chronology requires further documentation.
Military Honors and Recognition
Continental Army Service
Samuel Pike was recognized for service in the Massachusetts Continental Line.
Massachusetts records associate him with Colonel James Wesson’s regiment and Captain Nahum Ward’s company.
Noncommissioned Officer Rank
His service records include a reference to the rank of corporal, while the 1835 federal pension roll identifies him as a sergeant.
These ranks indicate responsibilities beyond those of a private soldier, although the complete sequence of promotions has not been established.
Federal Pension Recognition
Pike appeared on the federal pension roll of 1835 as a Revolutionary War veteran residing in Warren County, New York.
The roll recorded an annual allowance of $120 and identified his military service as Massachusetts Continental.
Bounty-Land Records
His pension file cover also references bounty-land warrants, including numbers transcribed as 4829-100-1798 and 79-60-55.
The precise nature, issuance, and disposition of these warrants require examination of the original documents.
Military Decorations
No individual battlefield decoration or special military commendation has been established from the records examined.
Original Military Records
Samuel Pike’s Revolutionary War service and later circumstances are documented through federal pension records, Massachusetts military compilations, and pension rolls.
May 4, 1777 — Enlistment Certificate
A certificate signed by Lieutenant Samuel Claflin at Hopkinton stated that Samuel Pike had enlisted into the Continental Army for a term of three years.
The record associates Pike with Holliston, Massachusetts.
Source: Massachusetts Revolutionary War service compilation.
1777 — Company and Regiment Records
Massachusetts records identify Pike with Captain Ward’s company of Colonel Wesson’s regiment.
A return of soldiers in camp by August 15, 1777, includes Pike.
Source: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War.
Pension File Cover — W.19988
The federal pension file identifies Samuel Pike and Sarah Pike and associates the claim with Massachusetts Revolutionary War service.
The cover includes references to two bounty-land warrants.
Record: 4161855_01066.jpg.
September 13, 1820 — Warren County Court Certification
Seth C. Baldwin Jr., Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Warren County, certified the copy of Pike’s oath and accompanying property schedule.
The court valued Pike’s property at $62.76.
The document also preserves Pike’s description of his health, occupation, wife, and six dependent children.
Record: 4161855_01071.jpg.
1835 — Federal Pension Roll
The federal pension roll listed Samuel Pike of Warren County, New York, as a sergeant of the Massachusetts Continental establishment.
His annual pension was recorded as $120.
The roll also associated his pension with an effective date of April 1, 1818.
Source: Pension Roll of 1835, Warren County, New York.
View Samuel Pike’s pension file in the National Archives Catalog.
Revolutionary War Pension
Federal Recognition of His Service
Samuel Pike’s pension file bears the number W.19988.
The file cover identifies Massachusetts Revolutionary War service and includes the name Sarah, reflecting the presence of widow-related records in the file.
The complete original file should be examined to establish the dates and disposition of all pension applications associated with Pike and his wife.
The Pension Act of 1818
Congress enacted legislation in March 1818 providing pensions for qualifying Continental Army veterans in reduced circumstances.
The legislation reflected growing concern that many surviving veterans had reached old age without adequate financial support.
In 1820, Congress required certain pensioners to provide detailed declarations of their property and income.
The 1820 Property Examination
Pike’s September 1820 court record provides a valuable account of his financial circumstances.
The Warren County Court of Common Pleas valued his property at $62.76.
The available transcription does not preserve a complete itemized inventory, so the individual possessions cannot presently be reconstructed.
Rheumatism and Physical Disability
Pike described severe rheumatic pain affecting his legs.
His physical condition limited his ability to work and provide for his family.
The transcription identifies him as a mason, although the exact reading of the occupation should be checked against the original manuscript.
Six Dependent Children
Pike reported six children living with him in 1820.
Their ages were nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen, twelve, and nine.
Five were boys and one was a girl.
He explained that the children were generally healthy but could not adequately support the family.
The Pension Roll of 1835
The federal pension roll published in 1835 listed Pike as a sergeant receiving an annual pension of $120.
The entry identifies his service as Massachusetts Continental and his residence as Warren County, New York.
This later record demonstrates continued federal recognition of his Revolutionary War service.
From His Account
The surviving 1820 transcription preserves Pike’s own description of his circumstances. The following short excerpts retain the substance of the original wording.
His Birthplace
“I was born in the town of Holliston”
Source: 1820 pension-related declaration.
His Health
“little able to labour owing to my legs being affected severely with Rheumatism”
Source: 1820 pension-related declaration.
His Children
Pike reported six children living at home, ranging from nine to nineteen years old. He stated that they were healthy but unable to provide sufficient support for the household.
Source: 1820 pension-related declaration, paraphrased.
The Court’s Assessment
The Warren County court certified that Pike’s property had a total value of sixty-two dollars and seventy-six cents.
Source: Certification of Seth C. Baldwin Jr., September 13, 1820, paraphrased.
Military Service Record
| Date or Period | Service or Event | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| May 4, 1777 | Three-year Continental enlistment certified | Lieutenant Samuel Claflin certificate |
| 1777 | Service in Captain Ward’s company, Colonel Wesson’s regiment | Massachusetts service records |
| By August 15, 1777 | Listed among men who had reached camp | Regimental return |
| Revolutionary War | Service recorded at corporal rank | Massachusetts service compilation |
| 1820 | Submitted pension-related property and household declaration | Pension W.19988 |
| September 13, 1820 | Warren County court certified property valuation | Court certification |
| 1835 | Listed as sergeant receiving $120 annually | Federal pension roll |
Later Life and Burial
Settlement in New York
Following the Revolution, Samuel Pike became associated with the region surrounding Lake George in northern New York.
Published genealogy reports that he married Sarah Mattoon in Ballston Spa on November 7, 1793.
The couple’s children were reportedly born in the Ballston area during the following years.
Life in Caldwell
By 1820, Pike resided in Caldwell, Warren County, New York.
Caldwell was situated near the southern end of Lake George and later became part of the village known as Lake George.
The surrounding region developed through agriculture, timber-related activities, transportation, and small trades.
Work and Declining Health
Pike’s pension transcription identifies him as a mason, a trade involving demanding physical labor.
By 1820, rheumatic pain affecting his legs made such work increasingly difficult.
His physical limitations created serious problems for a household with several dependent children.
His Household
Pike reported living with his wife and six children in 1820.
The oldest child was nineteen and the youngest was nine.
Although the children were healthy, Pike explained that they were unable to support themselves and their parents adequately.
Death
Published family genealogy reports that Samuel Pike died February 15, 1838, in Glens Falls, Warren County, New York.
The precise date should be verified through contemporary death, probate, cemetery, or pension payment records.
Burial
The same genealogical source places Pike’s burial in Lake George, New York.
A specific cemetery, burial plot, or authenticated gravestone has not been established from the pension transcription.
Family History
Samuel Pike’s family history can be reconstructed in part through his 1820 pension declaration and published genealogical records. His declaration establishes the presence of his wife and six dependent children, while published genealogy identifies his parents, siblings, and nine children. Relationships derived solely from the published family tree are identified accordingly.
Family Name & Heritage Pike Explore surname origins & meaning
Meaning and Etymology
The English surname Pike has several possible origins, including associations with the medieval pike, a pointed weapon or implement.
In some cases the name may have developed as a nickname or occupational designation.
The Pike Family in Colonial New England
Pike families were established in Massachusetts during the colonial period.
Published genealogical records connect Samuel Pike’s reported family with Reading, Hopkinton, and Holliston.
Samuel Pike’s Ancestry
Published genealogy identifies his parents as Samuel Pike and Abigail Morse and traces earlier generations through Nathaniel Pike and Mary Buck.
These relationships should be checked against original Massachusetts vital and probate records.
Surname history provides linguistic and historical context but does not independently establish an individual’s ancestry.
His Parents
Born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, according to published genealogy. Reported father of Revolutionary War soldier Samuel Pike.
View Additional Research
Birth and Marriage
Published genealogy records his birth as March 1, 1730, and his marriage to Abigail Morse on April 19, 1750.
Death
The same source reports his death on November 6, 1818, in Stratton, Vermont.
Research Status
The parental relationship should be verified through Holliston vital records.
Reported mother of Samuel Pike, born in Holliston, Massachusetts, according to published genealogy.
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Family Background
Published genealogy identifies her parents as Aaron Morse and Abigail Dunton.
Marriage
She reportedly married Samuel Pike in Hopkinton in 1750.
Research Status
Her death date and the original documentation for the family relationships require further verification.
His Grandparents
Reported father of the elder Samuel Pike, associated with Reading and Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
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Published genealogy records Nathaniel Pike’s birth on May 4, 1685, and death in 1735. The original records should be examined to verify the lineage.
Reported wife of Nathaniel Pike and mother of the elder Samuel Pike.
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Published genealogy identifies her parents as Ephraim Buck and Sarah Brooks. Her marriage to Nathaniel Pike is reported as January 18, 1711.
Reported father of Abigail Morse Pike.
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Published genealogy associates Aaron Morse with Sherborn, Massachusetts, and reports his marriage to Abigail Dunton.
Reported mother of Abigail Morse Pike.
View Additional Research
Published genealogy identifies her marriage to Aaron Morse on January 15, 1729/30. The relationship requires verification through original records.
Earlier Generations
Published genealogical records extend the reported Pike ancestry through James Pike and Hannah Cutler, identified as parents of Nathaniel Pike.
These earlier generations are presented as research leads rather than independently verified ancestral connections.
His Marriage
Identified as Sarah in Samuel Pike’s pension file and as Sarah Mattoon in published genealogy.
View Additional Research
Marriage
Published genealogy reports that Samuel Pike and Sarah Mattoon married November 7, 1793, in Ballston Spa, New York.
1820 Household
Pike described his wife as being in her forty-sixth year in 1820.
Widow’s Pension
The federal pension file is numbered W.19988 and includes Sarah’s name. The original widow-related papers should be examined to establish her application and later circumstances.
His Children
Published genealogy identifies nine children of Samuel Pike and Sarah Mattoon. Pike’s 1820 declaration, however, reports six children living at home. The names below come from the published family tree; the 1820 transcription does not identify the six resident children by name.
Reported first child of Samuel and Sarah Pike, born in Ballston, New York.
View Additional Research
Her birth date and parentage are reported in published genealogy. Her later life requires original-record verification.
Reported son named for his father and paternal grandfather.
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Published genealogy places his birth in Ballston, New York. Further research is needed to establish his later residence and family.
Reported son of Samuel and Sarah Pike, born in Ballston, New York.
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The birth and parental identification come from published genealogy. Later-life details remain to be verified.
Reported son of Samuel and Sarah Pike, born in Ballston, New York.
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Henry’s birth and family relationship are reported in the published Pike family tree. Original birth and marriage records should be consulted.
Reported son of Samuel and Sarah Pike, born in Ballston, New York.
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James is identified in published genealogy. His exact relationship to the children listed in the 1820 household requires examination of census and family records.
Reported son of Samuel and Sarah Pike, born in Ballston, New York.
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His birth date comes from published genealogy. No individual identification is made from the unnamed children in the 1820 declaration.
Reported son of Samuel and Sarah Pike, born in Ballston, New York.
View Additional Research
Published genealogy provides Aaron’s birth date and family relationship. Original records are needed to trace his adult life.
Reported daughter of Samuel and Sarah Pike, born in Ballston, New York.
View Additional Research
Electa is named in published genealogy. Her reported birth year may correspond broadly with the younger daughter described in the 1820 household, but that identification is not established.
Reported youngest child of Samuel and Sarah Pike, born in Ballston, New York.
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Published genealogy identifies David’s birth in 1811. This broadly agrees with the youngest son’s reported age of nine in 1820, but original records are needed to confirm the identification.
His Siblings
Published genealogy identifies seven siblings of Samuel Pike: Abigail, Sarah, Mary, Rachel, Reuben, Aaron, and Moses Pike. Their relationships are not independently established by Samuel’s pension declaration.
Reported daughter of Samuel Pike Sr. and Abigail Morse.
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Published genealogy places her birth in Holliston, Massachusetts.
Reported daughter of Samuel Pike Sr. and Abigail Morse.
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Her birth and relationship are reported in the published Pike genealogy.
Reported daughter of Samuel Pike Sr. and Abigail Morse.
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Published genealogy places her birth in Holliston, Massachusetts.
Reported sister of Samuel Pike, associated with Holliston and Medway, Massachusetts.
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Published genealogy records her birth October 7, 1757, and death January 31, 1825.
Reported younger brother of Samuel Pike.
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Published genealogy records his birth February 9, 1762, and death December 22, 1781.
Reported younger brother of Samuel Pike.
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Published genealogy records his birth May 20, 1764, and death May 13, 1845.
Reported younger brother of Samuel Pike.
View Additional Research
Published genealogy identifies his birth in Holliston, Massachusetts.
His Descendants
Published genealogy provides a starting point for tracing descendants through the nine children attributed to Samuel and Sarah Pike.
Each later generation should be verified through original birth, marriage, death, census, and probate records before being incorporated into a documented family lineage.
Family Research Update
The 1820 pension declaration directly establishes Samuel Pike’s birthplace, approximate age, wife, and six dependent children.
Published genealogy provides additional names and dates, but discrepancies between the ages of the six children in the pension record and the nine children in the family tree require investigation.
The complete widow’s pension file may contain additional family evidence, including marriage documentation and statements from descendants.
Original Sources
- Samuel Pike, Revolutionary War Pension File W.19988. National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. NARA Identifier 196401570.
- Samuel Pike, Pension File Cover. Identifies Massachusetts service, Sarah Pike, and bounty-land warrant references. Image 4161855_01066.jpg.
- Samuel Pike, 1820 Pension-Related Declaration. Warren County, New York. Records his birthplace, age, occupation, rheumatism, wife, and six dependent children. Image 4161855_01071.jpg.
- Seth C. Baldwin Jr., Court Certification, September 13, 1820. Warren County Court of Common Pleas. Certifies Pike’s property valuation at $62.76. Image 4161855_01071.jpg.
- Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War. Published Massachusetts military service compilation. Includes Samuel Pike of Holliston, his three-year enlistment, and service in Captain Ward’s company of Colonel Wesson’s regiment. State Library of Massachusetts research resources.
- Pension Roll of 1835, Warren County, New York. Lists Samuel Pike as a sergeant in the Massachusetts Continental establishment with an annual pension of $120. Warren County pension roll transcription.
- Published Pike Family Genealogy. My Family Histories, Pike family. Identifies the reported ancestry of Samuel Pike and includes a family entry for Samuel Pike born in 1759, his wife Sarah Mattoon, and nine children. Secondary genealogical source requiring original-record verification.
- The Yost Post Revolutionary War Transcription Collection. RevWar-Transcriptions-Final. Working transcriptions of documents associated with National Archives Identifier 196401570.
Historical Research Note
Primary source: Samuel Pike’s Revolutionary War pension file W.19988 is the principal source for his later circumstances and the associated pension claim.
Identity: The 1820 declaration identifies Samuel Pike as a native of Holliston, Massachusetts, living in Caldwell, Warren County, New York.
Birth: Published genealogy reports October 27, 1759. Pike’s 1820 statement places him between fifty-nine and sixty years old. The precise birth date should be verified through Holliston vital records.
Parents: Samuel Pike and Abigail Morse are identified in published genealogy, not in the pension transcription.
Enlistment: Massachusetts service records identify a Samuel Pike of Holliston who enlisted for three years, with a certificate dated May 4, 1777.
Regiment: Massachusetts records associate him with Captain Nahum Ward’s company of Colonel James Wesson’s regiment.
Rank: The Massachusetts service compilation includes a corporal reference, while the 1835 federal pension roll lists Samuel Pike as a sergeant. The promotion chronology requires further verification.
Campaigns: No individual battle has been conclusively assigned to Pike from the pension transcription examined. Campaign context should not be mistaken for documented battlefield participation.
Pension: The federal pension roll of 1835 records an annual allowance of $120 for Samuel Pike of Warren County, New York.
Property: His 1820 property was valued by the Warren County court at $62.76.
Occupation: The available transcription appears to identify him as a mason. The original manuscript should be checked.
Health: Pike described severe rheumatic pain affecting his legs and limiting his ability to labor.
Wife: Sarah Pike is identified in the pension file. Published genealogy identifies her as Sarah Mattoon.
Children: Pike reported six dependent children in 1820. Published genealogy identifies nine children in total. Their individual identities and the differences between these records require verification.
Death: Published genealogy reports February 15, 1838, in Glens Falls, New York. This has not been independently confirmed from the two pension images available in the transcription collection.
Burial: Published genealogy places his burial in Lake George, New York, without an independently verified cemetery identification.
Portrait: The accompanying portrait is an artistic reconstruction, not an authenticated likeness. Its military clothing should not be treated as evidence of Pike’s precise uniform or rank.
Research priority: The complete pension file, Massachusetts muster rolls, and original Holliston and Warren County family records should be examined to verify his service chronology and family relationships.
Genealogical Research Note
Samuel Pike’s surviving records offer a valuable connection between the Revolutionary War generation and the families who settled in northern New York after independence.
His pension declaration provides firsthand evidence of his household and financial circumstances, while Massachusetts military records document service associated with the Continental establishment.
Published genealogy supplies a more extensive family reconstruction, but those relationships must be distinguished from facts directly established by the pension documents.
The Yost Post preserves these distinctions so that readers can understand which conclusions are supported by original records and which remain subjects for further historical investigation.