Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23933, for Peter Sorter, Pennsylvania
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Pennsylvania
Sorter, Peter
NUMBER
S. 23933
CONTENTS
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Date of death not on A.B.
11.0366
Pennsylvania
Peter Sorter of the County of Columbia in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Baird of the Regiment commanded by Col. Frelingheysen in the Pennsylvania line for 11 Months 28 days private $39.73
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 39 Dollars 73 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of March 1833 and sent to C. N. Frick, Esq., Dansville, Pa.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  79.46
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep 1833 19.86
$99.32
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by John T. Sprague, Clerk
Book E, Vol. 5 Page 52
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Peter Sorter
Pennsylvania
[illegible] Private
11 months 28 days
$39.73
17503
G N Frick, Esq.
Dansville, Pennsylvania
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BRIEF in the case of Peter Sorter, County of Columbia in the State of Pennsylvania
(Act 7 June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
Open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
[blank]
3. How old is he?
81
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period | Duration of Service (Years, Months, Days) | Rank | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served
In 7 June 1776 Drafted | (0,1,14) | As a Private | Capt. Baird, Col. Quirk
In 10 Sept 1776 Substitute | (0,8,14) | As a Private | Capt. Parks
In July 1777 | (0,1,0) | As a Private | Capt. Baird
In Sept 1777 | (0,1,0) | As a Private | Capt. Baird, Col. Frelingheysen
In Nov 1777 | (0,1,0) | As a Private | Capt. Baird
In Dec 1777 | (0,1,0) | As a Private | Capt. Baird
In June 1778 | (0,1,0) | As a Private | Capt. Park, Col. Paxton
[illegible] 1778 | (0,2,0) | As a Private | Capt. Park, Col. Paxton
5. In what battles was he engaged?
Battle of Monmouth
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Somerset, New Jersey
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Traditionary, one living witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
[blank]
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.
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State of Pennsylvania
Columbia County, SS.
On this 8th November AD 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Seth Chapman, Esquire, President, and his associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County aforesaid, now sitting, Peter Sorter, a resident of Madison Township in Columbia County aforesaid, aged eighty one 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 officers and served as herein stated about the 7th June 1776. Deponent was drafted into a militia company at Somerset County, said company commanded by Captain William Baird, was marched to New York when Staten Island was taken by the British and their fleet came into the bay - they nearly covered the whole bay - we were marched from New York to Bayin and from there to Newark, from there to Elizabethtown. Lay there when the news of the Declaration of Independence arrived there. There were a number of 9 months and 5 months troops there from Maryland and Virginia. General Heard was our General and Colonel Quirk our Colonel. Deponent was discharged at Elizabethtown shortly after the news of the Declaration of Independence arrived. Was in the service this tour one month and two weeks. On the tenth September 1776, deponent entered a company commanded by Capt. Parks as a substitute for his brother, Henry Sorter, who had volunteered for nine months but served only two weeks. Deponent entered the service at Fort Lee, was marched to the White Plains, from there was sent to Aquagueny bridge to assist in building a fort under the direction of a French engineer. Was there about ten days, from there was marched to Newark. While there, General Washington's army came there, went with said army to Elizabethtown, from the deponent's company went to Rocky Hill at Milston river to destroy a bridge there and prevent the British from crossing. While destroying the bridge and when about half the flank of the British began to fire their artillery upon us, we had to leave it. We were then marched towards Somerset, got notice the British were ahead of us, then marched down the river some distance there to Somerset, then to Howells ferry on the Delaware, crossed there into Pennsylvania. Deponent, with five others, were ordered up the river to bring down all the crafts we could find. We got a number and took them down to Howells ferry. Then deponent and six others were ordered to Somerset to defend the country against scouting parties of the British. Deponent served this tour eight months and two weeks. The first of July 1777, deponent was drafted into a militia company at Somerset commanded by Capt.
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Baird was marched to Elizabethtown and there to Newark, was at those two places till deponent served his tour of one month. The first of September 1777, deponent was again called into service in the same company commanded by Capt. Baird. Was marched to Bergen - served deponent's tour of our month there. There were about 1000 troops there then, some from Pennsylvania. Colonel Frelingheysen was deponent's Colonel. Does not recollect who had the command of the whole troops. The first of November 1777, deponent was again called into the public service as a militia man in the same Company Capt. Baird still commanded, were marched to Pumpton in New Jersey, was stationed there for one month - this tour was for one month. The first of December 1777, deponent was again called in the same company and marched to Paramus, was stationed there - Paramus is in New Jersey - deponent served one month this tour. In June 1778, deponent was again called into the service in the company commanded by Capt. Park of [illegible] County, was first marched to Trenton, then to Crosswicks Creek, took two field pieces with us from Trenton to said place to endeavor to stop the British from coming to Trenton, who were then on their march from Philadelphia. We destroyed the bridge at the creek and stopped the British and they changed their route and marched for Monmouth. Colonel Houston was our Colonel and Capt. Park our Captain. Were about 300 troops with us at this time, when the British took the route to Monmouth. We followed after them. They filled all the wells on the route with nails, and we had great difficulty in getting water. Was in the Battle of Monmouth. Colonel Frelingheysen and Colonel Frome were there. General Washington and General Lee were there. Saw General Lee retreating. Was one month in the service this tour. In the summer of this same year, deponent was again called into public service in Somerset County in the company commanded by Capt. Baird, was marched to Amboy, served one tour of one month there but deponent does not recollect the exact date of this service. At the time of the revolt of the Pennsylvania line, deponent was again called into the public service in the company commanded by Capt. Park of Hunterton County, was marched first to Somerset Court house, then to Princeton, there to Trenton, was discharged there. Was one month in the service this tour, but deponent does not recollect the date of this service but believes it was before deponent's service at Amboy.
Deponent knows of no person that can prove his service except Philip Young whose deposition is hereto annexed, and deponent has no
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documentary evidence of his service. 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.
Deponent was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, in the year 1751. the 15th April.
Deponent has no record of his age; he had lost it some time since.
Deponent resided in Somerset County part of the time when called into the service and the residue of the time in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. After the war, deponent resided in Somerset County until 33 years ago when deponent removed to what now is Columbia County, Pennsylvania, where he has resided ever since.
Deponent was called into service as stated in the preceding part of this deposition and statement.
Deponent has stated the names of his officers and the general circumstances of his service.
Deponent received a number of discharges, some signed by Colonel Frome, some by Capt. Baird and sometimes his Lieutenant signed the discharge - they were the same as passes for us to get home and not be taken up as runaways. Deponent took no care of them and they are all lost.
Deponent is known to John F. Derr, Esq., James C. Sproul, Esq., Caleb Thomas, Esquire, James Laird, Esq. and Jacob Swisher, Esq., who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. They all reside in Derry and Madison Townships in Columbia County.
Peter Sorter
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Jacob Eyerly, Prothonotary
Philip Young of Derry Township in Columbia County, on his solemn oath says he was well acquainted with Peter Sorter during the Revolutionary War - saw him frequently in the Militia service during the war and he served in the same regiment with deponent at Germantown, Monmouth, Springfield and Somerset and further saith not.
Philip Young [his mark]
Sworn and subscribed in open Court of Common Pleas this 8th Nov 1832.
Jacob Eyerly, Prothonotary
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We, Philip Young of Derry Township, Colombia County, and John Fursit, Esquire, of Madison Township, in the same County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Sorter who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be of the age of eighty one years, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion and we further certify that there is no clergyman residing in the neighborhood of the said Peter Sorter.
Philip Young [his mark]
John Fursit
Sworn and subscribed in open Court November 8th 1832.
Jacob Eyerly, Prothonotary
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that the said Philip Young and John Fursit, Esquire, who have signed the preceding certificate, are residents of Columbia County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit, and on the certificate aforesaid certify our opinion that there is no clergyman resident in the neighborhood of the said Peter Sorter, and we further certify that the said Philip Young who has made the preceding affidavit or deposition is a credible person resident in Columbia County.
William Montgomery
Leonard Rupert
I, Jacob Eyerly, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Colombia County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Sorter for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court at Danville this 8th day of November 1832.
Jacob Eyerly, Prothonotary
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April 28, 1933
Mr. Fred J. Sortore
355 Main Street
Metuchin, New Jersey
Peter Sorter, S. 23933
Henry Sortore, W. 22281
BA-J/MLB
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter of April 23, in which you request the records of Peter, Henry, Thomas and Jacob Sortore (Sortor, Sorter, Solter, Salter), soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims for pension and bounty land made to the United States, based upon military service of soldiers in that war.
A careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the service of a Jacob Sortore as described; or of any Thomas Sortore (all spellings of the surname searched).
You are furnished herewith the records of Peter Sorter, S. 23933, and Henry Sortore, W. 22281, the data of which were obtained from the papers on file in their claims for pension,
based upon service in the Revolutionary War.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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April 28, 1933
Mr. Fred J. Sortore
355 Main Street
Metuchin, New Jersey
Peter Sorter, S. 23933
Henry Sortore, W. 22281
BA-J/MB
Dear Sir:
You are furnished herein the records of Peter Sorter and Henry Sortore, soldiers of the Revolutionary War, as requested by you on April 23, 1933.
PETER SORTER. S. 23933
He was born April 15, 1751, in Somerset County, New Jersey; the names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of said Somerset County, New Jersey, he enlisted about June 7, 1776, served one month two weeks as a private in Captain William Baird's company, Colonel Quick's New Jersey regiment. He enlisted September 10, 1776, at Fort Lee as a substitute for his brother, Henry Sorter, and served eight months two weeks remaining of a nine-month enlistment for which Henry had volunteered in Captain Parks' New Jersey company, and was in an engagement at Rocky Hill on Millstone River. He enlisted July 1, 1777, and served until sometime in 1778, on short tours of one month each, amounting in all to seven months, as a private in the New Jersey troops, under Captains Baird and Parks and Colonels Frelinghuysen, Houghton and Frome (probably meant for Forman). He was in the battle of Monmouth.
Peter Sorter was allowed pension on his application executed November 8, 1832, while a resident of Madison, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.
There are no family data in the claim.
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Henry Sortore, W. 22281

Henry Sortore of Sorter was born July 5, 1758; the place of soldier's birth and names of his parents are not shown in the claim.

While residing at Blawenburg in Somerset County, New Jersey, about five or six miles from Princeton, he enlisted and served six months each year from 1776 to 1781 or 1783, inclusive, amounting to more than three years, as a private under Captains Simon Duryea, Polhemus, Bayard, Wheeler and other no designated, and Colonels Van Dyke and Frelinghuysen. 

The soldier dies December 18, 1823, at his residence in Friendship, Allegany County, New York.

Henry Sortore married October 25, 1780, in Hopewell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Charity Stout, who was born May 20, 1762.

Soldier's widow, Charity, was allowed pension on her application executed September 26, 1842, while resident of Friendship, New York.

In 1852 she was residing in Edginton, Rock Island County, Illinois, and in 1855 as living in Holly, in the same county.

The following children appear in the family record of the soldier, Henry Sorotre:

Elijah        Sortore born    September 5, 1781
Johnathan      "        "        January 8, 1784
Rebeca            "         "       February 15, 1786
Zebulon           "        "       August 1, 1788
Anna                "        "       June 1, 1790
Loranah            "       "       June 27, 1792
Charity              "       "       September 7, 1794
Sally                  "       "        June 15, 1796
Polly                  "       "        January 2, 1799
Henry                "        "       January 24, 1801
Nathaniel S.       "        "       May 23, 1806: married Dec. 25, 1827, Irene Wardell and in 1842 living in Friendship, N.Y.

Henry Sortore's sister, Amey, who was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, date not stated, and married Isaac Blue in 1779, was seventy-nine years of age in 1843 and residing in Ovid, Seneca County, New York. 

                               -2-
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In 1845, soldier's brother, George Sortore, aged eighty year, was residing in Raisinville, Monroe County, Michigan. 

In 1842, John Sortore, aged seventy-seven years, a cousin of the soldier, Henry Sortore, was living in Somerset County, New Jersey, where he was born.

In 1843, Anny Sortore, aged about eighty years, was referred to, but relationship to soldier was not stated.

In 1842, Rebecca Blue, aged seventy-two years, born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, was living in Ovid, Seneca County, New York, and Samuel Blue, aged sixty-seven years, born in Somerset County, New Jersey, was living in Seneca County, New York; their relationship to Isaac Blue, husband of soldier's sister, Amey, not stated.

James Vorhees or Voorheas who married Isaac Blue's sister (her name not given) served in the revolutionary War in the same company with the soldier, Henry Sortore.  The name Charity Vorhees also appears in the claim but her relationship to James Vorhees is not shown. 

                           Very truly yours

                            A.D. Hiller
                            Assistant to Administrator
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23933
INVALID
Revolution

File No. 23.933
Peter Sorter
Priv.  Rev  War

Act: June 7th, 39
Index:-Vol. 9, Page 387

{Arrangement of 1870.}

1933 Apr 28. Hist to Fred. J. Sorter (Letter in claim of Henry Sortore W.22280) MLB