Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1084, for Gerrit Probasco, New Jersey
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey | Probasco, Gerrit | S. 1084
 |  | carded
CONTENTS
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New Jersey No 28.304
Gerrit Probasco
Somerset Co. in the State of N. Jersey
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Van Ness of the Regh commanded
by Col. Van Dyke in the N. Jersey Troops
line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 80 Dollars _____ Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3d day of May
1834 and sent to J. F. Randolph
New Brunswick, N.J

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 | 240.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " | 40.00
 |  $280.00
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. ⎬

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 3 Page 125
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Application of Ge
Probasco of the Coun
of Somerset, New Jer
for the benefit of the
Pension Law of Ja
1832.
Admitted
Private 2 year.
[crossed out]
J. F. Randolph
Brunswick
[crossed out]
New Jersey
[crossed out]
Page 4

Declaration of Gerrit Probasco, of the County of
Somerset, New Jersey, made to obtain to benefit 
of the act of Congress of June 7, 1832.
State of New Jersey | 
Somerset County | ss  On this Sixteenth day of
April one thousand [crossed out] eight hundred & thirty four
personally appeared in open Court before the Judge
of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said
County, now sitting, Gerrit Probasco, a resident
of the township of Bridgewater, in the County and
State aforesaid, aged Eighty nine years & upwards
who being first duly sworn, on his oath maketh
the following declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
that he was born on the 4th day of September in
the year of our Lord 1744, as appears from a record
of his age now in his possession, in the township of
Franklin, in the County of Somerset, New Jersey he
was in that township at the commencement of the
war & when he entered the service - he remained
there until near the close of the war, when he
removed into an adjoining township in the same
County-- there he resided for a few years, when he
removed to his present place of residence, what he
has ever since lived. In giving an account of his
services, he can only state facts & circumstances according
to the best of his recollection. He finds his
memory a good deal impaired, and cannot trust
it for things of a [crossed out] comparatively recent date, much
less for transactions of nearly sixty years standing
which he never expected to be called upon to relate.
He was enrolled at a very early period of the war
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but he has no recollection of being in actual service until
the year 1777, after the British evacuated New Brunswick. 
that he remembers, was in June, and very soon
after that time he [crossed out] distinctly recollects of being
called out under Capt Van Ness (to whose company
[margin note 1 mo] he belonged) to do duty at Elizabethtown, and that
neighborhood, He did a months duty at that time
and during the remainder of the year 1777, not
[margin note 2 mo] tho other tours of a month each on the same
station, and under Capt Van Ness, and
Col Van Dyke, as he thinks, in guarding the lines
from the enemy then on Staten Island. From this
time onwards he recollects of being frequently called
upon, and always promptly & willingly doing his
full share of the hard service which devolved upon
the militia in the eastern part of New Jersey.  In
1778 he was in the performance of his regular tours,
and out also on many occasions of extra calls. He
[margin note 5 mo] did not less than five hours of duty this year of
a month each, all, as he thinks under his own
Captain Van News and Col. Van Dyke.  On one
those tours he was employed in New Jersey, in
endeavoring to stop the progress of the enemy in crossing
the State from Philadelphia, and at the battle of
Monmouth, which was the last of the series of
efforts for that purpose. The other tours were all
performed on the Elizabethtown station, and in
the service of guarding the lines. In [crossed out] 1779 he performed, 
[margin note 4 mo] he is confident, not less than four tours of
a month each, on the same station, in the same
service, and under Capt Van Ness  & Cols Froom
& Van Dyke in 1780 he likewise did, as he verily believes not less
[margin note 4 mo] that four tours of a month each, on the Elizabethtown 
station in the usual service of guarding the
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lines: For some reason he cannot now clearly explain, 
but probably on account of the change in
the classes, he thinks he did not serve at all under
his own captain this year; but his first & third tour was under
Capt Moore, of Princeton, and his second [illegible]
under Capt Lott. This was the year of the battle of
Springfield, but he was not at the battle &
presumes was not out at the time. In 1781, he
came back under his old captain, in the arrangement
of the company, and performed not less than
[margin note 4 mo] four tours of duty of a month each under Capt
Van Ness & Cols. [illegible] on the Elizabeth town station
in guarding the lines. At the commencement of this year
he thinks, there was a disturbance among the Pennsylvania
troops, and other troops were sent to quell
it but he was not ordered to that service. In 1782,
the same necessity for guarding the lines continuing
and indeed an additional number of troops wanted
[margin note 4 mo] he was out and did not less than four tours of a
month each, under Capt Van Ness, on the Elizabethtown 
station, in Martin the shore thence to Amboy. 
The service continued on the lines in the early part of 1783 but
he cannot certainly say that he was out, though he
thinks he was. He does not remember, in any instance
to have mined a regular tour, and is therefore quite
confident, that he has not exceeded the number of
tours he performed in his statement. All his services
were rendered as a private. He was in no
battle except that of Monmouth, and acting at
no time, as he thinks, in concert with continental troops
except upon that memorable occasion He feet [illegible]
at the time, at being in the presence of the beloved commander 
in chief, and participated in the mortification 
& dissatisfaction expended at the conduct
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of Lee. He has purposely made his narrative a
simple one, deeming it necessary only to date and
facts as might enable the Department to come to a
just decision in his case. He has had it for some
time in contemplation to make the present application, 
but as his circumstances in life did not impetuously 
require the aid which the law award to services
such as his, he put it off, until he is afraid
most of those he [crossed out] might have called upon, are now
beyond the reach of an earthly tribunal. He, however
hopes to produce such testimony as shall be deemed satisfactory. 
In regard to his general character to the
traditionary evidence of his services, he refers to the
Rev. Mr Wilson, the clergy man of his vicinity and
to Peter P. Van Cleef one of his most respectable neighbors; 
and for proof of his revolutionary services, he offers
the testimony of Peter Voorhees David Voorhees Peter Montfort, than
whom he recollects of no other witnesses living. He never
received, as he thinks, any written discharge from
the service, nor was he ever in garrison, but always
in field 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
subscribed & sworn this day & year | Gerrit Probasco
aforesaid | 
Wm. B. Gaston

The A.D. Wilson clergyman residing in Bridgewater
township, Somerset County, New Jersey, and Peter P Van
Cleef, residing in the same place, hereby certify, that
we are well acquainted with Garret Probate, who has
subscribed & Sworn to the above declaration; that [illegible]
believe him to be in the eighty ninth year of his age;
that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where
he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution
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and that we fully concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day |  Abraham D. Wilson
& year aforesaid | Peter B Van Cleef
Wm. B. Gaston

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter, and after putting
the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department
that the above named Gerrit Probasco was a revolutionary soldier
and served as he states. And the Court further certify
that it appears to them that A.D. Wilson who has
signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident 
in Bridgewater, Somerset County, and that Peter P.
Van Cleef who has signed the same, is a resident in the 
same place, and is a credible person, and that their
statement is entitled to credit.
Wm B. Gaston
Peter Voorhees
John Perham

State of New Jersey ⎬ I John M Mann Clerk of the Inferior Court of
Somerset County ss | Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify
[ribbon attached] that the foregoing is the original proceedings of said court
in the matter of the application of Garrit Probasco 
for a pension - In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal of office this
Seventeenth day of April Eighteen hundred and thirty four
J. M. Mann
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State of New Jersey | 
Middlesex County  | SS. On this twenty fourth day of
April 1834, before me a Justice of the Peace in
for the County of personally appeared Peter
P. Montfort Known to me to be a credable person &
whose statement is entitled to full belief, who being
duly sworn, on his oath saith, that he is in the
75th year of his age, a soldier of the Revolution &
[illegible] as such: that he well knows
Geritt Probasco, the applicant for a Pension
named in the foregoing papers, has know him
from the [crossed out] commencement of the Revolution knew him
well [illegible] the war of the Revolution lived a
neighbor to him, belonged to the same company
with him, and did duty with him. Recollects
that said Probasco was in active service in said
company in 1777, that he served several tours
in that year, and that he was outt afterwards
in each and every year of the war, serving
faithfully, and not less than [illegible]
of a month each in each year from 1777 to 1782
both inclusive Knows said Probasco to be a
man of veracity, that no doubt of the truth
of the statement he has made in relation to his
revolutionary services.
Subscribed & sworn the day | Montfort
year aforesaid, before me | 
Henry Sincocks Justice of the Peace

State of New Jersey | on the 26th day of April 1834
Middlesex County | ss before me a Justice of the Peace in
and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared
[crossed out] Peter Voorhees, known to me to be credible
person, whose statement is entitled to credit, who being
duly sworn, on his oath saith that he is in the 79th
year of his age, [crossed out] a soldier of the Revolution
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[illegible] an applicant for a Pension for his services
as such; that he well knew Gerrit Probasco, the
applicant for a pension named in the foregoing
papers, has known him for seventy years, recollects
him well in the war of the Revolution [illegible]
for to him throughout the war, did not [illegible] 
same company with him, but was attached to the same
regiment Col. Quick, afterwards Col Van Dyke's) and
was frequently act at the same time with him
recollects him distinctly so early after spring
of 1776 on an expedition to Staten Island after
the tories, who was getting to be very troublesome
Capt Conrad Ten Eyck on that occasion commanded
a company of [illegible]of whom said
Probasco was one recollects Probasco afterwards
in 1777, 78 79 80 81 & 82 and up to the
conclusion of the war in active service upon all
ordinary and extraordinary occasions reported
him as a good soldier and a true [illegible] has
no doubt that he served from four to six [illegible]
of a month each and every year of the war above
enumerated, such he verily believes, were his [illegible]
services; such was the services of the militia
generally in the neighborhood and [illegible]
the known character activity & zeal of said
Probasco, must have been his service, He has
no doubt that said Probasco served more than
the years in the field [illegible] 
saith Probasco to be of fair character, and does
not question one word of his statement in
relation to his revolutionary services
[illegible] on the |
day year aforesaid |
Peter P. Runyon |  Peter Voorhees
Justice of the Peace |
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State of New Jersey | 
[illegible] County ss | On this 28th day of April 1834
before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the
County of Midr [illegible] personally appeared
[crossed out] David Voorhees son Known to the to
be a credible person, whose statement is to be [illegible]
upon implicitly who being duly sworn on her
oath saith, that he is well acquainted with Gerrit
Probasco, the applicant for a Pension named
in the foregoing papers, has known him for seventy
years recollects him during the war of the
Revolution knows that he served in said war,
that he belonged to Capt Van Nests company, and
did his duty when called upon cannot specify
the number of his tours, nor the aggregate of
his series because was not with him, but
from the services performed by himself & others
similarly situated said Probasco could not have
done less than three or four tours, a year in
each of the year 1777 78 79 80 81 & 82, as
they were the ordinary regulators that
very faithful man every [illegible] (and Pobasco
was a true [illegible] was obliged to perform. Believes
Probasco to be a conscientious man, and was
no reason to doubt the truth of any part of
his [crossed out] statement of his revolution services
subscribed & sworn to the | 
day & year and before me | David Voohrees
Peter P. Runyon | 
Justice of the Peace |
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State of New Jersey | 
County of [illegible] ⎬ I Nicholas Booraem Clerk of
the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County
aforesaid, do hereby certify that Henry Sillcocks 
and Peter P. Runyon, before whom the fore
going affidavits of Peter Montfort, Peter Voorhees
& David Vorhees son were taken, and and was
at the time Justices of the Peace in said County in
full commission, and duly sworn, & that the signatures
of said Justices attached to said affidavits
are in their own proper handwriting.
[ribbon attached] In testimony whereof, I have here
unto set my hand and seal of office
this twenty Eighth day of April One
thousand Eight hundred & thirty four
N Booraem Clk
[flap]
application of Gerrit
Probasco of the County
of Somerset, New Jersey
for the benefit of the
Pension law of June
1832

Admitted
Private 2 years

[crossed out]
J.F. Randolph
Brunswick
[crossed out]
New Jersey
[crossed out]
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This Bureau can furnish the military | L. W. B.
record of only such Revolutionary soldiers | I. 1084.
as were pensioned or whose widows were
pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay
rolls of the Revolutionary War and the
War of 1812 as are now in the possession
of the Government are on file in the
Record and Pension Office, War Department.
Original rolls and other records
pertaining to service in the Revolutionary | DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
War may also be found on file in the | BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
archives of many of the original States. | WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
April 25, 1898.
Madam: --
Replying to your recent communication you are advised that a
very careful search has been made and from the data given the names of
Henry, John or Jacob Probasco have not been found upon the Revolutionary
War pension records on file in this Bureau. One Gerrit Probasco
made an application for pension on April 18, 1834, at which time he
was 89 years of age and residing in Somerset County, N. J., and his
pension was allowed for two years' actual service as a private in the
New Jersey troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under
Capt. VanNess and Col. VanDyke. He enlisted in Somerset County, N. J.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Mrs. C. W. Payne,
Kewanee, Ills.
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G 1084
Page 15

[date stamp APR 11 1898] | Kenanu Ill.
Apr. 5th 1898
Col. Henry D. C. Evans
Commissioner
Bureau of Pensions
Dear Sir
Will you please
send me the full military record of
Henry, John & Jacob Probasco who
were pensioners of the Revolutionary War. 
Please give Page & Vol in
which this is contained and
[illegible] oblige
his
[date stamp US PENSION OFFICE E APR 8 1898] | Mrs. C. W. Payne
Kenanu
Ill
If you find any other Probasco
send his record
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[left panel]
Apr 25 '98
Mrs CW Payne
Kewauce Jlls
[right panel]
INVALID
Rev War
File No. 1084
Gerrit Probasco
Pri N.J. Mil
Act June 7 1832
Index:- Vol. a, Page 302
[arrangement of 1870]