Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15091, Peter Decker, New York
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3-1776

SERVICE
New York
Decker, Peter
NUMBER
S.15091
uhvi 1840    Carded
CONTENTS
[blank]
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[left side of page]
New York 14805

Peter Decker
of Shawangunk in the State of N.Y. who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Gilispy of the Regt commanded
by Col Harden in the Militia line for NY
14 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of N.Y at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of June '33 and
G.N. Mitchell,  Shawangunk, N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.  93.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. "[1833] 23.33
$11665.
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by T.T. Franciosi Cl
Book E. Vol. 4 Page 34
Death not on A. B.

[Top of Right side of page]
1890
Nov11 Mr Beckwith history in [illegible] Prior
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Peter Decker Jun
3 mo. service in the militia on alarms disallowed because not specially detailed
Admd
14 mo  pri
$46.66
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State of New York
Ulster County
[Note written on Left side of page} 6 months [illegible]
On this 24th day of July 1832 personally appeared before the John Jansen one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid, Peter Decker Junior a resident Citizen of the Town of Shawangunk Aged 73 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officer and served as herein stated - viz that
in the month of June - 1776 this deponent was a volunteer in the company of (John Gilespy Capt) in the Regiment commanded by Col Hardenburgh that he volunteered in Shawangunk and was marched to New York that I layed in Fort [illegible] in the City of New York that I layed in New York at the time of the Battle of Brooklin Heights that for some time after the said Battle & before the evacuation of the City the cannonading was kept up between the City & Brooklin that Major Fish was one of the officers in the Regular service that General Washington was there that we left the City of New York about the first part of October & then lay at Kingsbridge about 1 month and from thence we crossed the river and marched to Haverstraw and was there dismissed after the Said Service of 5 Month as aforesaid - Next in the year 1777 in April I was a Volunteer for the term of 4 months in the Company of Captain John Gilespy & was Marched from Shawangunk to Fort Montgomery & was placed under the charge of Colonel Dubois who was a Colonel in the regular service- & was stationed at Fort Montgomery for the said term of four months & was there Discharged-Next in the year 1778 in the Spring I was a ordered out from the Regiment of Col Hardenburgh for a term of 1 month and was marched from Shawangunk to West point & was there stationed for the said term & was discharged (during the said month service there was two deserters arrested that had deserted that they were sentenced to be shot that about the time of the Expected execution Mrs Washington was the Bearer of a reprieve) that Washington was then at NewBurgh and can't remember who my Captain was-
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Next in the year 1779 I was ordered that from the Regiment of Colonel Jansen in Shawangunk & was marched to Fort Constitution and there served 1 month in was there discharged after the expiration of said term of time- that (I was there stationed under Captain Matthew Hunter-) That there was some Artillery Troops there at that time besides the militia - next in the year 1780 I was Classed out of the said Regiment & was placed in the Company of Captain Dewitt & was ordered from Shawangunk to the Town of Shandaken & there lay for the Term of 9 months on the Frontiers- (1 mo) Next in the year 1780 I was ordered out of the said Regiment - and Marched under Capt M Janson from Shawangunk to Napanoch on the Frontier for the Term of two month & was there on the Frontier & there discharged after having served the said term of 2 months-

Next & in addition to the above terms of service hereunto fore stated I was ordered out upon a great number of Alarms under Captain Matthew Jansen from the Regiment of Col Johnson & was at Fort Constitution & at New Burgh & at the Frontier & was one of the persons of the celebrated Indian Shanks Ben & his company that attacked the house of Col Jansen that I was once at [illegible] that I was most generally called across the Shawangunk mountain along the Frontier that the number of the said Alarms could not possibly be less than 15 times that the same would average at least 6 days each that the above term & time are less than the fact but so placed to be sure not to over rate the same in whole 15 times of 6 Days each.
3 months service-
17 months in the whole
That to the Interrogatories as [illegible] the Secretary of War this Deponent answer
To the 1st That he was born in Shawangunk Ulster County aforesaid in the year 1759 on the 3d Day of February -
2nd That his age is recorded in the Family Bible & in the Shawangunk Church
3rd That he has always lived in Shawangunk aforesaid except only when in Service
4th That I was some times ordered out some times volunteered as above set forth
5th That I have set forth as far I can now remember the enquiries to this
6th That I never received a written discharge-
7th That I am acquainted with many Inhabitants of the said Town of Shawangunk that I can prove the said service in part by Benjamin Terwilliger & my general reputation by David Winfield & Father Decker
that I am a number of Shawangunk Church & have been for 49 years that I have frequently been an officer in said Church -
(See over)
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[illegible, the first four lines are crossed out]

That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State. - That this deponent has no documentary Evidence of his said services -
Peter Decker Jun
Sworn to and subscribed this 26th Day of July 1832 before me John Jansen one of the judges & as aforesaid.
I Benjamin Terwilliger a resident in the same neighborhood with the above named Peter Decker who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration Do certify that I believe him 73 1/2 years of age that I am personally knowing to the said 5 month service therein set forth to the alarms therein [illegible] set forth & verily believe the foregoing declaration true that the above named declarant is a highly respectable citizen -
Benjamin T. Terwilleger
Sworn to and subscribed the 24th Day of July 1832 Before me John Jansen one of the Judges &c as above - 
I John H Bevier a clergyman residing in the Town of Shawangunk & in the same neighborhood with the above named Peter Decker Jun who has subscribed the foregoing Declaration [do certify, crossed out] & In the same neighborhood with David Winfield & Petrie Decker witnesses Do certify that as far as I have ever known they are respectable & reputable citizens that have lately come in this Town That I can know nothing of their Revolutionary service -
John H Bevier
Sworn & Subscribed before me John Jansen one of the Judges & as above
Page 7

We David Winfield & Peter Decker residing in the same Town do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Decker Jun who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be 73 ½ years of age that we have generally heard it reported & generally believed that he has been in the Militia in service in the revolution that we have always heard him reputed as a reputable
respectable man & that we believe the foregoing declaration made by him to be true-
David Winfield
Peter Decker

Sworn & Subscribed the said 26 July 1832
Before me John Jansen one of the
Judge &c as aforesaid
I John Jansen the said Judge &c do hereby declare that it is my opinion After the investigation of the matter (and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department that the above named applicant was a soldier in the revolutionary war and served therein as he stated- And I further certify that the said David Winfield & Peter Decker & Benjamin T. Terwilliger( & John H. Bevier) the clergyman, the witnesses who have testified as above to the service of the said applicant as men of respectability & reputability & entitled to full credit & I further certify that it my full opinion that it is utterly impossible for the said Peter Decker Jun to attend Court in consequence of Bodily infirmity & that the said Peter Decker is a neighbour of mine & a respectable citizen
John Jansen
one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for Ulster County
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State of New York)
Ulster County Clerk's Office) ss:

I, Jacob Snyder, Clerk of the County of Ulster and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county of Ulster, do hereby certify that John Jansen, Esquire, was on the day of the date of the annexed application of Peter Decker, Jurist, for a pension and the affidavit of Benjamin I. Terwilliger the affidavit of John H. Bevier, and the affidavits of David Winfield and Peter Decker and the Judges Certificate, as Judge of the Court of Commons filed in and for said County of Ulster duly commissioned and sworn and such Judge and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge and verily believe the signatory "John Jansen" subscribe to the aforesaid annexed application.  Affidavits and Certificate to be genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.

Jacob Snyder, Clerk

State of New York}
County of Ulster}  ss:

On this 17th day of December 1832 personally appeared before me, the undersigned, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ulster aforesaid, John Decker, Jurist, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he is 73 years of age, that for the purpose of amending a previous original declaration made (the same being the preceding one) for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the Act prepared March 7, 1832, that he served for not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: via:

for 5 months, I served as a private in the militia in the year 1776;

For 5 months, I served as a private in the militia in the year 1777;

For 1 month, I served as a private in the militia in the year 1778;

For 1 month, I served as a private in the militia in the year 1779;

For 1 month, I served as a private in the militia in the year 1780;

For 2 months, I served as a private in the militia in the year 1780;

For 3 months, I served as a private in the militia 
on alarms, making in the whole
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a service of not less than one year and 5 months actual service for which service I claim a pension; that it is utterly out of my power to procure more testimony to the proof of my services that so long a time has elapsed since the period of the Revolution that all the men with whom I served that were residing in the neighborhood are dead that I am entirely confined to my house and consequently cannot do much to procure testimony; that there are several men that can prove that it is refuted and believed I have done the said service, that I have never thought of getting a pension until the last season and therefore in consequence of my feeble health and [illegible] could do no more to [illegible] the same than is herein contained that should it be requisite, my good character could abundantly supported and further this deponent saith not.

Peter Decker

Sworn and subscribed this
17th day of December, 1832

Before Hon. John Jansen, Judge

Mr. Peter Decker, Benjamin T. Terwilliger, David Winfield, and John McCord, do upon oath depose and say that we are acquainted with Peter Decker, the above named, who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration; that we believe him to be 73 years of age that he is refuted and believed in the neighborhood to been a soldier in the militia of the Revolution; that we are each of us over 70 years of age; that we reside in the same town with the said Peter Decker and that we have [illegible] with him upon the subject of his services as aforesaid; that we have no doubt upon our minds he performed them as he has set forth, that he is a man much [illegible], that he is entitled to full credit; that he is confined to his home.

John McCord
Peter Decker
Benjamin T. Terwilliger
David Winfield

Sworn and subscribed to this 17th day of
December, 1832
Before M. John Jansen
one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for said County 

I, John Jansen, the said Judge, do certify that I am well acquainted with Peter Decker, the above named applicant who has subscribed and sworn to aforesaid declaration and amendment and that I am a neighbor of his; that he is a respectable man that it is respected in the neighborhood; that he was a revolutionary soldier that I have no doubt but that he has honestly set forth his services and that he has performed them as set forth; that he is entitled to full credit that the aforesaid Peter Decker, Benjamin T. Terwilliger, David Winfield and John McCord are men severally entitled to credit and that all men I doubt not over 70 years of age. 

John Jansen, Judge
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Ulster County 
Clerks Office } ss  I Jacob Snider [sic] Clerk of the County of Ulster and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County do hereby certify that John Jansen was on the day of the dates of the three foregoing affidavits a Judge of the Court of Common pleas in and for said County and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge and verily believe his name Subscribed to the said Certificates to be his proper hand writing and Signature Witness my hand and Seal of Office this twenty second day of January 1833.- 
[signed]  Jacob Snyder
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Record: Rev. &1812 Wars Section.   A.D.Y

November 27, 1928.

Mrs. Eva Decker Lathrop,
2557 Marlborough Avenue,
Detroit, Michigan.
Madam;
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 15091, it appears that Peter Decker was born February 3, 1759 in Shawangunk, New York.
While a resident of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York he enlisted and served as a private in the New York troops as follows:
In June 1776, five months in Captain John Gillespy's Company, Colonel Hardenbergh's Regiment.
In April 1777, four months in Captain John Gillespy's, Company, Colonel Dubois' Regiment.
In the spring of 1778, one month under Colonel Hardenbergh.
In 1779, one month in Captain Matthew Hunter's company, Colonel Janson's Regiment.
In 1780, one month in Captain De Witt's Company and two months in Captain M. Jansen's Company.
Three months in Captain Matthew Jansen's Company,

[handwritten at bottom of page] See 3 Aud report at back
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Colonel Janson's Regiment, date not given.
Soldier was allowed pension on his application executed July 24, 1832, while residing in Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York.
A son was referred to in 1833, no name given.
There are no further family data.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 13

[Left side of page]
1913 Mch. 7 Hist to Mrs. Ward J. Craus V.L.M.
Letter in S. F. 15077 Petrus Decker
1916. Dec. 13. Aud. Int. for death and
1928 Nov. 27 Hist. to Mrs. Eva Decker Lathrop A.D.Y.

[Right side of page]
15091
INVALID.
File
No. 15,091
Peter Decker
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -Vol. 1, Page 94 
Arrangement of 1870.
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S. F. 15-091
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 
Washington, D. C. 19__
In reply to your request of --- received --- a statement of the military history of Peter Decker Jr. a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

[TABLE]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.   |   LENGTH OF SERVICE.  |   RANK.  |  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL.   |   STATE.   |
June 1776  |  5 mos  |  Pvt.  |  John Gillespy  |  Hardenbergh  |  N.Y.  |
Apr. 1777  |  4 mos.  |    |  John Gillespy  |  Dubois  |    |
Spring 1778  |  1 mo.  |    |  Matthew Hunter  |  Hardenbergh  |    |
1779  |  1 mo.  |     |   Matthew Hunter  |  Janson  |    |
1780  |  1 mo.  |    |  DeWitt  |  Janson  |    |
1780  |  1 mo.  |    |  M Jansen  |    Janson  |    |
[checkmark]   |  3 mos.  |    |  Matthew Jansen  |  Janson  |    |
[END OF TABLE]

Battles engaged in, 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Shawangunk, Ulster Co. N.Y. 
Date of application for pension, July 24. 1832. His cl. Was al.
Residence at date of application, Shawangunk Ulster Co. N.Y. 
Age at date of application, b. at Shawangunk N.Y. Feby 3. 1759 
Remarks: A son was referred to in 1833 no name is stated nor other family data 
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.

6-2856
Page 15

Detroit, Mich.
March, 17, 1928.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington D. C.

Dear Sir.-
Will you kindly give me the Revolutionary War record of Peter Decker, of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York State.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Eva Decker Lathrop
2557, Marlborough Ave.
Detroit Mich.

[Round stamp at bottom of page]
U.S. Pension Office 
F Mar 19 1928
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Detroit, Mich.
Feb. 22, 1928.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir-
Will you kindly give me the Revolutionary War records of Peter Decker of Shawangunk Ulster Co. New York State
Respectfully
Mrs. Eva Decker Lathrop
2557. Marlborough Ave.
Detroit, Mich.
Page 17

OFFICE OF AUDITOR FOR INTERIOR DEPARTMENT IN REPLYING QUOTE INITIALS 
TREASURY DEPARTMENT 
WASHINGTON 
January 9, 1917. 
The Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir: 
In reply to your letter of December 13, 1916, you are informed that, according to the latest account rendered by the U. S. Pension Agent, at New York City the records of this office show last payment to have been made to Peter Decker, Priv. Army Rev., certificate No. 14805, at $46.66 per annum to March 4, 1840, to Charles Johnston, Attorney. Said pensioner resided in Shawangunk, Ulster County, N. Y., for eighty-one years, but the date of his death is not shown. 
Letter herewith returned. 
Respectfully, 
[signed] Oscar A Price Auditor 
By --- Deputy Auditor.

[stamped U.S. Pension Office Jan 10 1917]

Form 3577 Ed. Jan. 24-11-2,000.
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3-397. ( Old No. 3-399. )   [stamped Date Received Dec 18 1916]
Rev. War Section 
S. File No. 15091 
Peter Decker 
Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS, 
Washington, D. C. Dec. 13 
[stamped Received Dec 18 1916 Pension Section]
SIR. 
For use in the above-entitled claim for pension, you are requested to furnish this Bureau with a report in the case of Peter Decker pensioned under the Act June 7, 1832 from Mar 1831 by certificate No. 14805, issued June 27, 1833, rate $46.66. New York Agency, showing date of last payment of pension, name of person paid and date of soldier's death 
Very respectfully, 
G M Saltzgaber Commissioner.
THE AUDITOR FOR THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Treasury Department.
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Hon. J. L. Edwards
Respected Sir I Enclose you the Applications of Petrus Decker & Benj. T. Terwilliger together with your Instructions and [unclear] in Accordance to the Same.
to which is added additional evidence - I hope satisfactory. I Also forward you the returned Application of Peter Decker Amended According to the Instructions - And I would by leave to mention that it is out of his power to produce evidence more precise than is attached he is Altogether confined to his home & depending on his Son he is a worthy man and good & worthy member of the Church
I also forward you the application of Jacob Clearwater for a pension. I trust duly prepared and authenticated
I also forward you the returned Application for Evert Hoffman together with your Instructions in relation thereto
I also forward you the returned Application of John McCord I trust duly amended and properly authenticated
I Also forward You the Application of William Dewitt for a pension
I hereby trust that the Answers to the Above will be of such a Nature as will [unclear] the few remaining days of the Worthy Old Soldiers for from their appearance a short time will place them beyond the reach of their Countrys gratitude - I would refer your honour to the Hon. John C Brookhead for reference to the respectability of Some of the Applicants & [unclear] if any reference be necessary further than the same contains you will please direct your answer to me & oblige your obt Servt.
James N. Mitchell P.M.
Shawanganke N.
25th Jany 1833