Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,848, James Vandeventer, New Jersey
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New Jersey   Vanderventer, James.   R10,848
                              or
                        Vandventer
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State of New York
County of Livingston
     On this twenty eighth day of October AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty two, personally appeared before the undersigned Special Commissioner James Vandeventer a president of the town of Nunda in the County and State aforesaid, aged 88 years, the 12th day of April last, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
     That he belonged to the company commanded by Captain Simon Addis, in the Regiment of  New Jersey militia commanded by Col. James Nelson, that his service commenced as he believes in the Summer of 1779, in the sixteenth year of his age, and continued more than 18 months, but from age and bodily infirmity he cannot remember times and dates as he could in former years - He served as a private all the time of his service;  though he frequently had to guide and direct  scouting parties -  He lived during the whole time of his service about six miles from New Brunswick, where the British lay a considerable time, and kept the neighborhood in constant alarm.  He remembers once marching to Woodbridge to prevent the British from crossing over - afterwards went on a scouting party to Spottswood, the residence of James Ogden, the Tory spy; went to catch him, but did not get him that time; caught.....
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... him afterwards however, and hung him at Trenton New Jersey - time not remembered - Was often engaged guarding the island at the confluence of the Raritan and South Rivers, then called  ---fields, since Wikoffs Island - once during his service the British had possession of the Island, and Col. Nelson andCaptain gulch took one hundred of them prisoners there - once when he was at Woodbridge, and there was a company of listed men there, there was an alarm one dark night "that the British were come", from constant exposure he had become habitually watchful, and that time was lying on his arms, he turned out immediately, and none of his company being ready he went a few steps to the house. where the enlisted men were quartered, and found them -?-, he raised them, thinking if any fighting was to be done that he would have a hand in it - directly two men came on horseback and quieted the alarms - when the Capt of the enlisted men ordered them back to their quarters but that they should sleep on there arms - He went back to the house where the company was quartered, to which he belonged, and found them groping about in the dark hunting for their shoes and arms.  he was often on scouting parties watching the Tories, and foraging parties of the British;  there was one of those scouting parties of the New Jersey Militia, staying one night at the house of old Captain Provost, when some British horsemen rode u, and looking in......
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... at the windows one of them asked in a loud tone "are there any damn rebels here?" - It was the last question he ever asked, for Polly Provost (?), the old Captain's daughter commanded a boy who was leaning on his musket to shoot the red coat; he immediately fired through the window and tumbled the dragoon off his horse - there was a negro stripped him of his uniform, and afterwards deserted to the Tories and joined the British; as soon as they found that he had robbed their comrade, the -?-  they whipped him in military style, which so enraged the negro that he deserted again, came back to the -?-, and was true afterwards.  the bullet hole through the window at old Capt. Provost's was to be seen for many years afterwards. - Once in the immediate neighborhood where he was in service, a scouting party of the British alerted by an old Troy killed Capt. Voorhus after they had taken him prisoner; the declarant has often seen the head of Capt. Voorhus on the fence where they murdered him; and it was to prevent as far as possible such scenes as this, and to prevent the Tories from furnishing supplies to the British, that he and the company to which he belonged were almost constantly engaged day and night for some eighteen months as he believes - he thinks he was in service longer than his brother....
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....John Vandreventer, who has he has heard received a pension many years - Besides the Captain of the company to which he belonged, he remembers of said company Lieutenant John Messerall and privates Peter Garnell, William Dewart,  Jeremiah Voorhus - Roeleff Voorhus, John Dewart, was the quarter master, Winant Dewart, Abram Vandesenter, John Cornelius, John Provost, Jonathon Provost, and David Provost, Jasper Farmer, George Farmer, and Peter Cornelius, John Voorhus, Samuel Jaques , Nicholas Messerall, John Vanzant, Peter Bucclen, John Bucclen, Abram Bucclen, and Frederick Bucclen. but he does not know that there is one of them now living of whom he can avail himself as a witness.  He further declares on his oath as  aforesaid that he has no written discharge or other written evidence of his services - He was not, during his service in any of the great battles of the country but in many skirmishes with marauding parties of the British and Tories; that part of New Jersey in which he lived being an almost constant scene of conflict.
    He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present one he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency in any State - nor is any payroll never having received any pay for his services aforesaid.
    James Vandeventer

Sworn to me subscriber the day and year aforesaid.  And the said.....
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....Special Commissioner as aforesaid hereby declares that he was been personally acquainted with the above named applicant for twenty five years, and believes that he was a Revolutionary soldier  and served as he states -  And in conformity to the rules of the Pension Office, the said Commissioner propounds the following interrogatories to the above subscriber applicant which he answers under oath as aforesaid - the answers to which the official Commissioner  has caused to be written and herewith transmitted to the department:

1st. Where and in what year were you born?
A. In Middlesex County, New Jersey, on the 12th day of April AD 1744

2nd. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
A. there was a family record of my age but I have not known anything about it for many years.

3rd. Where were you living when called into service Where have you lived since the revolutionary war; and where do you now live?
A. six miles south of New Brunswick New Jersey - Several years after the war on the old homestead near New Brunswick whence removed to Cayuga County New York, and from there to my present residence in Livingston County New York AD 1824 or 5.

4th How were you called into service; were you fraughted; did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
A. I volunteered in the fifteenth or sixteenth year of my age; five months.....
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.... of my services was a substitute for my brother Abram, and the balance of my time was for myself and on my own account.

5th.  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such continental or militia regiments as you can recollect; and the general circumstances of your service.
A.  I do not remember any other officers or men other than those mentioned in the body of my declaration, nor any other circumstances of my service than those already mentioned; but my memory has failed very much in the last few years.

6th.  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given and what has become to it?
A.  I never received any written discharge from the service, that I now remember.

7th.  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
A. Garret V.W Cook of this County and Elisha Whipple Esq.  There is no minister who has been acquainted with me many years.
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...And the undersigned Special Commissioner further certifies the James Vandeventer, the above subscribed applicant, is, from age and bodily infirmity unable to appear in open Court to make his declaration.
     Elisha Whipple
     Special Commissioner

State of New York
County of Livingston
       On this twenty eighth day of October AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty two, personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace, within and for the County andState aforesaid, Garret V.W. Cock aged seventy four years,  resident of the  town of West Sparta County of Livingston and State of New York and of the neighborhood of James Vandeventer the above declarant; to me well known, who being first duly sworn according to law, on his oath declares that he is well acquainted with James Vandeventer who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that he has even acquitted with him 60 years, that he believes him to be eighty eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution,  and that they concur in the opinion.
Garret V.W. Cock
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Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, and the undersigned fully concurs in opinion with the above subscriber Garret V.W. Cock.
        Elisha Whipple      
        Justice of the peace within and
         for the County of Livingston and State of 
                                                      New York 

State of New York
Livingston County Clerk's Office
       I Israel D. Root Clerk of the Courts of Livingston County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Special Commissioner in the matter of the application of James Vendeventer for a pension.  That I am well acquainted with the handwriting of Elisha Whipple the Special Commissioner and Justice of the Peace above subscriber and that the signatures above are his genuine signatures, and that he is entitled to full. credit and confidence in his official acts as above by him subscribed.
       I testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand ad seal of office this first of November AD 1852.
        Israel D. Root, Clerk
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Appointment of
Special Commissioner
Elisha Whipple
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State of New York
County of Livingston
    Know all men that whereas it hath been represented to the undersigned County Judge of the County of Livingston and State of New York, that James Vandeventer a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and Silas Barker, an invalid of the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June AD 1812, are entitled to pension from the United States, and that from age, bodily infirmity, they are unable to appear before the undersigned in open Court to make their required declarations: Now therefore in conformity with the laws of Congress, and the rules of the Pension Office, I hereby consititute and appoint Elisha Whipple Esq. of Nunda, in said County of Livingston, and State of new York, Special Commissioner (underlined) to take the declarations of Msrs. James Vandeventer and Silas Barker as aforesaid.
    Given under my hand officially this 13th day of September A.D. 1852.
      Scott Lord
             Livingston County Judge

State of New York
Livingston County Clerks Office} I hereby certify that Scott Lord is County Judge of said County and that the signature above is his genuine signature.
      In witness whereof I have hereunto set my and and official seal at Geneseo i9n said County this 13th day of Sept. 1852.
     Isaac D. Root Clk of Livingston Co.
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10848          REJECTED

James Vanderventer
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(Note page torn at top, date not clear)

Nov. 16, 18?5

Vertically at left: Official Business 

Register re-
examination
in case of
Jas. Vandeventer
 and continuous
appear to the
Secy. of the
Interior

(blurred ink stamp)

Jas. L. Street
W. Brunswick
 -?-  Dec. 2
1853 -?- 
Mount Morris
Livingston
N.Y.

(blurred ink stamp "1853" over above words)

Over-written vertically on right:

L.P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
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No. 38,627

James Vanderventer
New York

James L. Street Oct 10 1853
-?- Nov. 25 1853
Secretary of the Interior
Dec. 12, 1853

108H8. (or 108018?)

Act June 7 1832
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New Brunswick New Jersey
December 1st 1853

Hon. RM Clelland
Secretary of the Interior

Sir,
    Enclosed please find letter from the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions; in this case the undersigned is compelled by a sense of Justice to his client to appeal from the decision of Commissioner Waldo which he therefore does on the ground that the Hon. Commissioner has erred in the construction of the evidence in the case, proving service and length of service, and the undersigned would refer your Hon. specially to Vandeventer's Declaration, to the affidavits of Jonathon Provost and his wife, to the certificate of Secretary Allison, and to the letter of the 4th of November ultimo, from the undersigned to the Commissioner.
     The undersigned has never before so far differed in opinion with the Hon. commissioner as to contain him in the appeal, but in this case he cannot but believe that his Hon. has taken a wrong view of the evidence contained in the papers, a careful consideration of which, by your Hon. is asked, by most Respectfully Yours
                    James L. Street
                          Attorney

Hon. RM Clelland
Sect. of the Interior
Washington D.C.
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Department of the Interior
Washington  Dec 15th 1853

Sir,
     Your decision upon the claim of James Vandeventer for a pension for Revolutionary services under the act of June 7, 1832, has been affirmed, and the papers accompanying your report are herewith returned to your office.
                
                            I am respectfully
                               Your Obedient Servant
                                      RM Clelland
                                       Secretary

Hon.
     LP Waldo
           Commissioner
                 of pensions
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Pension Office
Nov. 25th 1853

Sir,   I have re-examined the claim of James Vandeventer of N.Y. and ma contained to adhere to my decision as expressed in my letter on the 10th -?-.
     If you desire to take an appeal you must do so by a letter to theSecretary of the Interior.

                               Very Respectfully
                                           LP Waldo
                                       Commissioner
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Mr. Boke says
P.O. is New Bruns-
wick NJ
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P.O. Mt. Morris N.Yl
Oct 29th / 53

Hon L.P. Waldo
     Dear Sir:
        The enclosed letter addressed to James L. Street who has moved away and has not resided here for some time,  I return to you according to the instructions of the P.O. Department.
                             Respectfully,
                                M. Clark P.M.
                                by G.(C.?) W Thomas Deputy
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New Brunswick, New Jersey, Sept. 17th 1863

Hon. L.P. Waldo
Commissioner
     Sir,
         Please find enclosed the declaration of James Vandeventer for pension under the Act of June 7th 1832.  This declaration was made before a Special Commissioner because the applicant was unable to go to the Judge or the Judge to him, they were both sick - and twenty miles apart and in no other way could he at the time have made his Declaration; this practice has been Sanctioned by the department in some cases for many years, and has this advantage, that a Justice of the Peace, who is a neighbor is much more capable of determining, as to the credibility of an applicant and his witnesses, than the Judge or Court, that perhaps never heard of the parties until they appear before them - this is substantially your own view, as presented to me, before I left Washington in the suspended case of Bethiah Lewison heir of Edward Cain when I also mentioned this case. I can imagine but one cause of objection to the allowing of this case, vis: want of sufficent age at the time of his service; I would respectfully refer for an answer......
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...to any such objection to Vol. 1st, page 60, of the Journals of the Legislative Council of New Jersey, under the date of March 7th 1777 where there is a espress provision for the employment or minors etc. in a military capacity, the work referred to is published and is I suppose in several libraries in Washington.
     It will be found on examination that everything necessary is proved except the length of his service for which I respectfully refer to the papers in the case of Captain Simon Addis (see pension rolls of Middlesex County New Jersey) in the case of John Vandeventer, the brother of James (see do.) and please notice he says, that he served longer than his brother John, in the case of David Provost (See do.) and in the case of Peter Bucclow (see pension rolls of Northumberland County Pennsylvania) I would suggest that he must have served at last eighteen months to impress so strongly on his mind, the names of so many of the company, with none of whom he has associated for more than half a century.  I have had the certificate of the Clerk of Middlesex County as to the time when James Vandeventer sold his land attached, for the purpose of showing the correctness of the recollection of.....
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.....Jonathon and Catharine Provost.
      I hope there will be neither difficulty nor delay in admitting this case, for the old gentleman can never receive much more than the amount first paid to him - I have learned all about the case of Sarah Britton of Trenton, New Jersey, and have to request that it remain in Status Quo until I return to Washington -  
"A friend to Justice" told just a little truth, in his letter in that case.    Most respectfully yours -

                           James L Street

Hon. L.P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
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Letter from Attorney 
Street in the Pension
Claim of James Vandeventer
under the act of June 7th
1832
_____________

Address New Brunswick
New Jersey until Decem-
ber 1852.  Then Mount
Morris Livingston County
New York
_______________
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 New Brunswick New Jersey
November 14th 1853

Hon. L.P. Waldo
Com. of Pensions
      Dear Sir,
           In the person case of James Vendeventer, under act of June 7th 1832 the report of examination and suspension is received.
     It appears to the undersigned that the case is suspended not for the want of merit or proof, but because of the awkward manner the declaration is draw, if this be so, I am truly sorry the old soldier's case did not fall into more skillful hands.
     It is first issued by the examiner in the case, that Vandeventer could not have performed the revolutionary service because "he failed to assert a claim until all the witnesses dead, by whom his service could be proved; On this please indulge me in the following suggestions; first, the assumption noticed above is not fair,  because it involves the following propositions, viz: that all (underlined) who were entitled under the act of June 7th 1832, had previous to the 1st of November 18452 made application, that James Vandeventer had knowledge of the existence of the law, and, that he was in a situation to avail himself of the evidence of living witnesses.  Now, what are the facts?  Hundreds who were entitled under the actor June 7th 1832 never made application, even where proof of service was already on file in the Pension Office, for example, many of those who were pensioners under the act of March 18th 1818, and were suspended under the act of May 1st 1820, became again entitled, under the act of June 7th 1832 and yet.....
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...never applied, there were several cases of the kind in this county, the facts of which are in my possession.  Asa Thomas and John Hougland are two of them; Thomas lived until 1844 and Hougland died in this city last May yet neither of them ever asserted a claim under said act, although they were repeatedly urged to do so, by pension agents here; another example is that of Levi Wenday, the only male Revolutionary Pensioner now living in the County he did not make application for many years, after he knew he was entitled although within the time he was frequently a witness for others, at least, so he tells me.
    But again, the assumption that Vandeventer had knowledge of the is not fair (underlined) because if so, then secluded illiterate farmers would be more apt to know of the existence of the law of Congress than the Common County lawyers, and it is notorious that not one in twenty  of this latter class knows anything definitely of National legislation.  But suppose he knew of the law, and that he was entitled to pension under it, was he in a situation to avail himself of the testimony of living witnesses by whom to prove his service?  What are the facts?  About the year 1796 he removed from the State of New Jersey to Cayuga County New York and thence some seven years before the passage of the act to Livingston County  in the same State and has never been in the State of New Jersey since.  I have no copy of the pension rolls but venture the guess from my acquaintance with the inhabitants of Livingston County N.Y that there have never been three (underlined) pensioner of the County were of the New Jersey...
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....Militia, or living in the Revolutionary war; much less of Middlesex County and of the same service in which he was engaged;  If I am mistaken in this you have in the Pension Rolls the means of correcting the errors and ascertaining the facts.
     But I wish to place the case on stronger grounds;- It is positively proved that he served in the Revolution (for I find no objection as to identity) first by his own declaration which is certified by his neighbors to be worthy of belief, and is therefore prima facie (underlined) in his favor; Secondly the certificate of the Secretary of State of New Jersey, and third, by the testimony of the living (underlined) witnesses Johnathon  and Catharine Provost - but there is yet stronger testimony not only that he served but that he served as long as he declares; Look at it; He mentions the names of some twenty men of the same company, and who are certified by the Secretary of State to have been of the Middlesex Militia; - and now, there are but two ways in which such knowledge would be obtained, and fixed in the mind, one by long service with the men remembered and named, as in his case, for here observe that fifty five years have passed since he associated with these men, and the other by an acquaintance with the men at the time of their service, and a long association with them afterwards was in the case of the witnesses Jonathon and Catharine Provost, and this is not the only time as to a knowledge of men but of facts also, as presented in the declaration of Vandeventer, and reasserted in the testimony of Jonathon and Catharine Provost.
     But again; it is assumed in the re........
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....-turn (return), that he could to have served as he states  because Captain Addis served only one year; if this be so how did he obtain a pension of $369.97 per annum by serving in some other capacity as a matter of course; and Vandeventer nowhere says that he served only as long as Addis was Captain; they may both have been in the company commanded by Capt. Gulick, or Voorhees, or Van Winkle, or any others - Again it is assumed in the return, that he could to have served as he declares, because he served with his brother John, and only so long as John served in Addis's company which was three months - I cannot conceive where the examiner found such an idea, certainly not among the evidence in the case; for John Vandeventer served not only three (underlined) but over sixteen (underlined) months; and James declares expressly that he believes he saved longer than his brother John; and be it observed that where his declaration was written, his attorney had never seen the pension rolls, nor did he or James Vendeventer know (underlined) that his brother John had ever received a pension, much less the amount, all the information I have on the subject was obtained from the public copies of the rolls in your office in the month of July last; while examining there I found of the names mentioned by Vandeventer (of their identity I know nothing) Captain Simon Addis, at $369.97 - of John Vandeventer at $66.00 - of Abram Vandeventer, for whom James declares he served sometime as a substitute (in what company was that?).  See Abram Vandeventer's declaration - of David Provost at $80.00 of John Buckle at $30.00 - of Frederick Bucclew at $28.33 per annum, all of Middlesex County,
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.....and also, John Vansant of Somerset County, new Jersey, at $80.00, and at $33.00, and also Peter Buckle of Northumberland County Pennsylvania, at $96.00 per annum with all of whom (if they are the same men) James Vandeventer must have been in service many months, or he could not after the lapse of more than a half century remember them as he does.  His testimony would certainly be good, if they were now applying for pension instead of him, why not then take the fact of their being pensioners (if they were justly entitled) as evidence in his favor?  
       For they being dead yet testify through their declarations (which you will know neither James Vandeventer or his attorney ever saw) as strongly in his favor, as anything he says could be construed to favor them; and it should indeed have more weight in the decision of the case because all possibility of collusion is avoided.            In view then of all the ascertained facts of the case, the conclusion forces itself upon the mind, either that James Vandeventer's service as he declares, or that he possesses such a miracle of knowledge, as has not existed elsewhere since the days of the profits.        I therefore respectfully ask a careful reexamination of the case and if on such reexamination, your Honor cannot grant said Vandeventer a pension I then respectfully request that the case be sent (with this communication to the Hon. Secretary of the Interior, as on appeal on the grounds of error in the consideration of the evidence.        I remain most respectfully yours, with much esteem
                    James A. Street Attny.
                         for James Vandeventer
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Know all men by these present, that I, James Venderventer, of Nunda in the County of Livingston and State of New York , a Revolutionary soldier of the State of New Jersey, do hereby constitute and appoint James A. Street my true and lawful attorney for me, and in my name, to procure and receive from the United States; the pension to which I am entitled for my revolutionary services as aforesaid.
         Witness my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of October A.D. 1852
                           Jammes Vandeventer

Sealed and delivered
 in presence of
 Lauren R.Beach
Elisha Whipple

State of New York
County of Livingston
     Be it known that on the 28 day of October A.D 1852 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared James Vandeventer above named, and acknowledge the foregoing power of attorney to be his act and deed - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the day and year last above mentioned.
                                 Elisha Whipple
        Justice of the Peace within and for
        the County of Livingston and State
         of New York
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(hand writing transcribed)

Elisha Whipple
Justice of the Peace

....the first da f Nov.
A.D. 1852

James (?) D. Root clerk
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State of New Jersey

I Thomas S. Allison Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that it appears from the records of this office that Cap't. Simon Addis commanded a company of New Jersey Militia in the Revolutionary War that said company belonged to the County of Middlesex and consisted of seventy three men, that the records of this office do not show to what company a soldier belonged, nor the length of his service,  And I do further certify that the names of the following persons appear upon our records as belonging to the Middlesex Militia viz: Simon Addis, John Messeroll, William D. Hart, Roeloff Von-?-, John D. Hart, James Vandeventer (underlined), John Cornelius, John Provost, Jasper Farmer, Peter Cornelius, John Voorhees, Samuel Jaquies, Nicholas Messeroll, John Buckalew, Abram Buckalew, Frederick Buckalew,  and John Vandeventer,   and that it does not appear that there was any other James Vandeventer who served in the Militia of this State in the Revolutionary war, than the one who belonged to Middlesex County.
      In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of y Office at Trenton this twentieth day August eight Hundred and Fifty three.
                                    Thos. S. Allison
                                      Sec. of State
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State of New Jersey
County of Middlesex
       Be it known that before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, personally appeared Jonathon Provost to me well known, who being sworn according to law, on his oath declares that he is in the eighty sixth year of his age, that he is the son of Jonathon Provost who was member of the Capt. Simon Addis's company of Revolutionary, New Jersey - that he  was born in the Township of North Brunswick, about six miles South of the City of New Brunswick, and has lived in the immediate neighborhood ever since,   that he was personally well acquainted with James and Abram and John Vandeventer, that they were brothers, the sons of Jacobus and Elisabeth Vandeventer, who lived on a farm adjoining his father's farm; that from his own recollection of many incidents of the Revolution as well as from conversations of his father and others, he knows that James Vandeventer the brother of John Vandeventer, and the only man of that name (underlined), who lived in Middlesex County until many years after the close of the Revolutionary War, was a member of Captain Addis's company.  Among the incidents that he remembers was the loss of a blanket in an old Dutch barn by his father; the shooting of the British dragon at his grandfather's whose name was also Jonathon Provost  and who had been a Captain in the old French War;  that he knows well where the dragoon was buried, and now owns the land or rather the swamp in which they put him' he also knew the man....
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......well, who wore out the Dargoons' jacket;  He knew the whole family of Voorhees'es and remembers well the massacre of Capt. Peter Voorhees by the British - He remembers to have heard at the time it occurred, of the Capture and execution of James Ogden, though it was kept as secret as possible, on account of the effect it might have on his family and his brothers who were officers in the Continental Army; his family however soon found it out and hired one William Caywood whose brother John was a member of Capt. Addis' company - to dig him up at Trenton and take him home to Spottswood - Caywood sickened and died very soon afterwards from infection taken (or was supposed at the time) from Ogden body.
     He further declares on his oath as aforesaid that James Vandeventer sold the land on which he lived, in the town of North Brunswick, adjoining the land on which he  (the deponent) then lived and now lives, about the year 1796 and removed as he has always understood to the state of New York and has never so far as he knows or believes been in the State of New Jersey since -   He further declares on his oath as aforesaid that from his own recollection of the men and times (underlined), as well as from his acquaintance with the men after the war, he knew that all the men whose names are mentioned in the declaration of James Vandeventer which has been read to him, and many others, were members of Captain Addis' company; they lived all around him, and many of them have been living within a few years past but there is not now, so far as he knows or be-
.......
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.... - lives, one of them left.  He remembers about the time that James Vandeventer left the County, by the time of his (the deponent's) marriage and events that followed - He further declares on his oath as aforesaid, that he has no interest in any claim against the United States in which this deposition can be used, and further this deponent sixth not.
                   Jonathon Provost his X mark

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 15th day of September, in the year 1853
                                        Richard Mc Dowell
                                       Justice of the Peace

Also at the same time and place personally appeared before me Catharine Provost, wife of the above named Subscribed Jonathon Provost, to me well known, who being duly sworn according to law on her oath declares that she is in the eighty first year of her age - that she is the daughter of David Provost who was a member of Captain Simon Addis' Company of New Jersey Militia in the war of the Revolution;  That her father lived and she was born and has always lived within one and a half miles of the farm on which old Jacobus Vanderventer lived during the Revolutionary war; that she was personally well acquainted with the brothers John, Abram, and James Vandeventer, and always understood and believed that they were all members of Captain Addis' company - She well remembers many incidents of the Revolution - there was a song made on the death of Capt. Peter Voorhees - which she knew and two lines of which were "Hoping and praying, and asking for grace,......
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.....The very first stroke took his nose from his face".  She knew very well where the British soldier was buried who was shot at her grandfather Jonathon Provost and was always  when a child afraid to go to the place.  She always believed the report of James Ogden's capture and execution, though at the time there was but little said about it - remembers William Caywood who took Ogden up and remembers his death - She further declares, on her oath as aforesaid, that she knew no other James Vendeventer who was a man when she was a child but the brother of John and Abram and that he left the State of New Jersey, as she very well knows, about the year 1796 and that she has never seen him since but has always understood and believed that he was living in the State of New York. she  further declares on he oath as aforesaid, that she has no interest in any claim against the United States in which this affidavit can be used.
     Catharine Provost

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this day of September AD 1853.  And I hereby certify that Jonathon Provost and Catharine Provost the above subscribed affiants, are entitled to full credit in their statements above made; and that I have no interest legal or equitable in the claim in which this instrument is to be used.
           Richard McDowell
               Justice of the Peace
               within and for the County
                of Middlesex and State
                 of New Jersey
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State of New Jersey
County of Middlesex
      Be it known that on this fifteenth day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty three personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Elizabeth Vandeventer, to me well known who being duly sworn according to law on her oath declares that she is the daughter of Abram Vandeventer, formerly of Middlesex County in the State of New Jersey;  that her father had two brothers John Vandeventer who died in New Brunswick New Jersey, and James Vandeventer who moved from Middlesex County New Jersey to Cayuga County New York;  That she visited her uncle James Vandeventer in Cayuga County New York in the year 1817 - where he was then living - that she has not seen him since but haas frequently heard from him, from Livingston County New York, where he was living and well, when she last heard from him, which has been during this summer and further this deponent saith not.
             Elisabeth Vandeventer

Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that the above subscribed deponent is worthy of full credit and confidence in her deposition above subscribed; and that I have no interest legal or equitable in any claim against the United States in which.....
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...the within affidavit can be used.

                      Peter P. Runyon
                      Justice of the Peace

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County
      I certify that Richard McDowel and Peter P. Runyon whose genuine signatures appear above are Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Middlesex duly commissioned and sworn and to further certify that I have no interest of any description in any claim against the United States in which the within affidavits can be used.
     Witness my hand and seal of office at New Brunswick this sixteenth (16) day of September at eighteen hundred and forty three.
                  N. Booream  clk. of Mid. Co.

I certify that there is recorded in my office a deed of conveyance  made by one James Vandeventer and his wife Mary to one Barnet Mersherall dated April 6th AD 1796 conveying to said Mersherall a tract of land  situated in North Brunswick Middlesex County New Jersey containing as appears from the record and said deed Eighty five acres and  seventy eight hundredths pf an acre and this -?-  said deed is recorded in Book of Deeds No. 5 of said County page 550 and I further certify that there is no other conveyance upon record previous to 1805 made by James Vandeventer.
                 N. Booream.  clk of Mid Co in N.J.

and -?- at New Brunswick in N.J.
this 17th day of September AD 1853