Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 44142, John Decker, New York
Page 1

Service: New York
Decker or Docker, John
Number: S. 44142
Page 2

Left:
letter to P. Decker 30 Nov. 1831-
New certificate of pension issued 28 Feby 1832 & sent to Peter Decker Hamilton Village Town of Guilderland Albany County New York
See letter 13 July 1832
to Peter Decker
1858, March 8. Hist [?] C.G. Cochran

Right:
Albany 7846
New York
John Decker or Docker.
of Albany Co in the State of New York
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Hicks, of the regt commanded
by Colonel Van Schaick in the N. York
line, for the term of three years
from February 1777 to -- 1780

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to
commence on the 8 day of May 1818.
and

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 of March
1819 and sent to Richard
Waring Esqr. Albany

Continued [?] the Roll on 13 day of 
September 1831 and notification sent to
Peter Decker at Beaver Dams P.O. Albany 
County, N.Y. Pension commencing on the 10
of September 1831.

Amount due on 4th of March 1832}  $46.63
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Acts March 18, 1818,}
{May 1, 1820.}

[Faintly:] 15 Sep '31 from 4 [?]
Page 3

The official character & signature of the Magistrate must be properly authenticated & the name of the Colonel who commanded the Regiment must be mentioned.

Admd.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
State of New York} 
COUNTY of Albany} TO WIT:

IN conformity with the provisions of the Act of the Congress of the United States of America, passed March 18th, 1818, entitled " An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the REVOLUTIONARY WAR," the following DECLARATION, in writing, is made under oath, by John Decker of the Town of Bern in the County of Albany in the State of New York before the Honorable Estes Howe Esquire, one of the Judges of the Common Pleas Court of the County of Albany, in the said State, which Court is a Court of Record of the County and State, in which the said John Decker doth reside, that is to say: 
DECLARATION. 
I John Decker aged sixty two of the Town of Bern in the County of Albany in the State of New York on this eighth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen -- Do solemnly, sincerely and truly swear and declare, that I served against the common Enemy in the Army, in the War of the Revolution, for the term of three years agreeable to inlistment and that I am a resident Citizen of the United States, to wit, in the said County and State aforesaid; and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I am in need of assistance from my country for support. I do further swear and declare, that I served in the said Revolutionary War, in the capacity of, and being a privet Soldier that I belonged to the Army, to wit, I belonged to Captain Benjamin Hicks Company, first New York Regiment and New York Line -- That I entered the said service the third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and left it the third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, in the manner following, to wit: I left it by reason of my time having expired - having enlisted for the term of three are only & was discharged at Fort Stanwix & was in the Battle of Monmouth, that I received a document concerning the same service and discharge, which I have lost and that there is no other evidence in my power to my knowledge, concerning the matters deposed by me than that annexed of Lieut Wilhelmus Ryckman 
-- And I further declare, that in pursuance of the requisitions of the aforesaid Act of Congress, I do hereby freely and absolutely, and to all intents and purposes, relinquish all claims to any pension, under any of the Laws of the United States, except the Pension contemplated to be allowed me under the Act of Congress aforesaid mentioned, and under which this Declaration is made. 
IN WITNESS of the truth of this Declaration, I have subscribed the same in presence of the said Judge, and have solemnly deposed to the truth thereof, on the day herein before, for that purpose, specified. 
[Signed] John Dacker
Sworn before me, this eighth day of May,1818.}
[Signed] Estes Howe Judge &c
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United States of America. 
By the Honorable Estes Howe Esquire, one of the Judges of a Court of Record in the State of New-York, to wit, of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Albany in the said State. 

To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War of the United States of America.

SIR, 
I Do respectfully certify to you, in pursuance of the Act of the Congress of the United States of America, passed March 18th, 1818, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," that John Docker of the Town of Bern in the County of Albany and State of New-York, personally appeared before me, at the City of Albany in the said State, on the eighth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and then and there was carefully and minutely interrogated and examined by me, under oath, touching the facts stated in his foregoing declaration, and thereupon he then and there subscribed the said Declaration in my presence, (after the same was deliberately read and explained to him by me) and at the same time made solemn oath before me, on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that the said Declaration was, in all respects, true -- Whereupon, I required of him to produce such other evidence as was in his power, to support the truth of his said Declaration -- Accordingly, he produced as testimony, Wilhelmas Ryckman a Luitenant [sic] in Company Regiment and line aforesaid who testifyed [sic] as stated in the annexed affidavit of the said Wilhelmas Ryckman (and which accompanies this Certificate) -- And I having duly considered the said Declaration, and the said testimony produced in support thereof, DO CERTIFY to you, Sir, that I am fully satisfied that the said John Docker did serve in the Revolutionary War, against the common Enemy, for the time and in the manner by him stated in his said DECLARATION; and I am likewise satisfied that the other facts in that Declaration stated, are, in like manner, true -- I do therefore, respectfully transmit to you the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, according to the Act of Congress aforesaid. 

GIVEN under my Hand, and the Seal of the said Court, at Albany the eighth day, May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 
[Signed] Estes Howe


State of New York}
City of Albany} 
I John Dacker the same Soldier who took and Subscribed the preceding affidavit do solmnly [sic] Swear and declare that I served as stated in said affidavit and in the Regiment commanded by Cornel [sic] Gosse Van Schaick As stated in my preceding affidavit and further say not.
[Signed] John Dacker
Sworn to this seventeenth day February AD. 1819
before me -
[Signed] Estes Howe Judge &c
Page 6

State of New York }
City of Albany} ss.
Wilhelmus Ryckman of f the City of Albany formerly a Liuntenant [sic] in the New York line of the Revolutionary army of the United States in the first New York Regiment Comanded by Cornel G. Van Schaick being duly Sworn Says he was and is well Known that John Docke within named Served in the Revolutionary Army of the United States as stated in his anexed [sic] affidavid [sic]
[Signed] Wilhel. Ryckman
Sworn before me this 8th May 1819 
[Signed] Estes Howe Judge &c 

State of New York}
City of Albany} ss. 
I George Merchant Clerk of the City and County of Albany Certify that Estes Howe Esqr is now and was on the eighth day of May last a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (the same being a Court of Record) in and for the said City and County of Albany State of New York and that the official Signature of the said Estes Howe to the preceding affidavits &c are in his own proper hand Writing and that full faith and credit is due to the Same.  In witness whereof I have caused the seal of the said Court to be hereto affixed this 18th day of February 1819 
[Signed] George Merchant Clk
[SEAL]
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State of New York Albany County ss.	 on this second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one personally appeared in open court, it being a court of record called the Mayors Court of the City of Albany, John Decker resident in said County aged seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the Acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and the first of May 1820, that he the said John Decker enlisted for the term of three years some time in the month of January or February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven in the Company commanded by Captain Benjamin Hicks in the regiment commanded  by Colonel Gooza [sic] Van Schaick in the line of the State of New York on the continental establishment,  that he continued to serve in the said corps until some time in the month of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty when he was discharged from service at Fort Stanwix in the state of New York.  that he hereby relinquishes every claim
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to a pension except the present, that his name has been placed on the pension list, that the number of pension certificate he does not recollect being lost or mislaid or in the hands of some person to him unknown, that he never before exhibited a Schedule of his property because of the indigent circumstances in which he was placed and also because he was ignorant of the mode of applying.   And in pursuance of the act of the first May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war passed on the 18th day of March 1818,  that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities content or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed,  that since the 18th day of March 1818 no material change has taken place in my property except the loss of two horses.
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Schedule of the Property of John Decker 

159 1/2 acres of land one half only of which is improved which he holds by lease for which he has to pay the yearly rent of nineteen bushels and a half of Merchantable winter wheat four fat fowls and one days service with carriage and horses besides the taxes and assessments thereon 
said land is worth the sum of 	$800"00
two old horses 	40"00 
six head of horned cattle	50"00
one fanning mill 	6"00 
one fowling piece 	3"50 
4 pots or kettles 	4"00 
one Tea Kettle 	"25 
4 Tin basins		1"25 
6 pewter plates 	"37 1/2
2 pewter Dishes 	"75
2 earthen dishes 	"12 1/2
Shovel and tongs 	"50
3 Chairs 		"37 1/2
one table 	"50
3 Spoons 	"24
7 Tea spoons 	"18
3 Spinning Wheels	4"00
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2 pitch forks 	$ "50
one half bushel measure	"25 
one peck measure 	"12 1/2
three chests 	3"00
one Sythe	"62 1/2  
one ax 	"75 
one Brush hook 	"50 
9 harrow teeth	1"12 1/2
6 bolts and devices	"75
one Iron bar	1"75 
one grind stone 	"37½ 
that the farm in the preceeding schedule mentioned will yield an income of about 50 dollars exclusive of rent and taxes yearly -- That he is a farmer by occupation and by reason of age and other infirmities entirely unable to pursue it -- That his wife is seventy five years old and for the last ten years has been lame and unable to walk without the aid of Crutches so that he has been put to the necessity of hiring a girl to do the necessary work of the family -- That the number of his family is four- himself and wife and a hired girl by the name of Lany Laraway and John Decker Junior who is entirely unable to contribute
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anything towards his support.  That he owes to Stephen Van Rensselaer for rent in arrear for the farm in the preceeding schedule mentioned 924 dollars and 83 cents, That he owes to Hiram Walden and Esther Walden for carding wool and dressing cloth 19 dollars and 62 cents. That he owes to Peter Little for goods wares and merchandise 79 dollars and 64 cents. That he owes to Zadock Benedict for Blacksmithing  3 dollars and 59 cents.
[Signed] John Decker
Sworn this 2d day of August}
1831 before me in open court}
[Signed] James McKown Recorder of Albany

Albany Mayors Court 	I James McKown Recorder of the City of Albany and Judge of the said Court do certify that from the foregoing affidavit and the other proofs taken before me I am of opinion that the value of the property contained in the foregoing Schedule is correctly and truly stated therein and is nine hundred and twenty one dollars & fifty nine cents
$921.59 
[Signed] James McKown Recorder of Albany
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I Conrad A. Ten Eyck Clerk of the City and County of Albany do Certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said John Decker did serve in the Revolutionary war as stated in the preceeding declaration against the common enemy for the term of three years under one engagement in the continental establishment  I also certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court  I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is nine hundred and twenty one dollars and fifty nine cents. 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this sixth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty one 
[SEAL]
[Signed] C A Ten Eyck clerk
 N.B. the word "schedule" the fourth line from top of this page erased by me 
[Signed] C.A. Ten Eyck clerk
also in the sixteenth line first page the words "Captain Benjamin Hicks in the regiment commanded by " - written therein by me
[Signed] C.A. Ten Eyck Clerk
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POWER OF ATTORNEY AND CERTIFICATE. 
Know all men by these presents, That I, Mary Decker of the County of Onondaga and State of New York do hereby constitute and appoint H. H. BOSTWICK, of Auburn, N. Y., my true and lawful attorney, irrevocable, for me and in my behalf, to prosecute my claim for unpaid pension, Back pension, commutation, or other benefit to which I may be entitled on account of the military services of John or Johannes Decker deceased in the service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war 
and to receive such certificate for the same as may be issued, and to appoint one or more attorneys under him for the purposes aforesaid, hereby revoking any power of attorney which may have been heretofore given, and confirming all things that my attorney, the said H. H. BOSTWICK, may lawfully do in the premises. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25 day of August A.D. 1853 
Mary (X her mark) Decker  [seal]
Acknowledged before me the day and year last above written. 
[Signed] Ichabod Benson Justice of the Peace
in & for the County of Onondaga

State of New York}
County of Onondaga} ss. I E.P. Hopkins Dept Clerk of the County of Onondaga & of the courts of Record within and for the county and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Ichabod Benson before whom the foregoing acknowledgment was taken, was at the date thereof an acting justice of the peace, duly elected and authorized to take the same. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this 25th day of August A. D. 1853.
[Signed] E P Hopkins Dept Clerk. 
Clk Abst
[SEAL]
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State of New York}
County of Albany ss. } 
Peter Decker being duly sworn says that John Decker who has made the declaration for a renewal of his pension before the Mayors Court of the city of Albany on the second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one a copy of which said declaration is herewith sent is the Identical person by the name of John Decker who was placed on the pension list under the acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and that the several affidavits accompanying the copy of the said declaration have reference to the said John Decker in the copy of the said declaration mentioned and further this deponent saith not 
[Signed] Peter Decker
Sworn before me this day of August 1831 
[Signed] Henry Lewis Justice of the Peace in and for Said County of Albany

I hereby certify that Peter Decker who has taken and subscribed the above affidavit is of a good moral character and his character for truth and veracity stands unimpeached [Signed] Henry Lewis Justice of the peace of Albany County
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City and County of Albany 
Clerks Office	ss.	I hereby certify that Henry Lewis Esqr whose name is subscribed to the within affidavit and certificate was on the date thereof one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly qualified according to law and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all his official acts and that his signatures to the said affidavit and certificate are genuine. Witness my hand and official seal this sixth day of September 1831
[Signed] C. A Ten Eyck clerk
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Left side:
Appr. for Continuance see
letter to Peter Decker
4 June 1830. do. to Same, Aug 10, 1831

Right side:
7846
New York
John Docker
of Bern in the state of N. York
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Livingston of the N. York
line, for 3 years

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 8 of May 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 March 1819
and sent to Richard Waring Esqr
Albany N York

Arrears to 4th of March 1819 9 mo 28/31   79.22
Semi=anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep 1819.	48 --
[=] $127.22

{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818.}

Died Feb. 26, 1839
See A.B.
Page 17

44142
INVALID. [initials:  aw]
Revy

File No. 44,142
John Decker
Pri Rev War

Act: 18" March 18"
Index:-Vol. 3, Page 126
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

Auburn N. Y. 
Aug. 25th /53. 
H. H. Bostwick
 Recd Aug. 30th /33 
Answd 22 Sept " 
John Decker 
Revy War 

Respectfully referred to the Commissioner of Pensions 
and the writer so informed 
3d Auditors Office 
Sept. 22, 1853. 
F. Burt 
3d auditor

Revolutionary

Mr. Rind
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Auburn, NY. Augt 20th 1853. 
Honl F Burt
Third Auditor 
Sir
Please inform me as to whatever appears on the Records in your office relative to the service of John Decker of Johanes Decker.
He enlisted on the 4th day of January 1777 as a soldier in the First New York Regiment commanded by Col Goose Van Schaick, Capt Hicks Company to serve three years- and was discharged on the 4th January 1780. 
He is supposed to have served thereafter to the close of the war, as an officer, in the Militia or Levies.
Herewith I send Power of Attorney in the case. Please give me the desired information at your earliest convenience.
Yours truly
HH Bostwick
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Dept of War
Sept 10, 1831.
Pension Office

Con.
pen: to com: 10 Sept. 1831
Page 21

To the honourable Secretary of war of the United States 
Sir 
I received a reply from this department in the case of John Decker a pensioner which reply also contained a circular informing me what rules and regulations the war department have established in relation to agents not acquainted with the department - I think the rule is well calculated to prevent the practice of fraud upon the goverment [sic] as well as upon individuals and I will most cheerfully so far as in my power conform to the provisions of the rule not having the honor of an acquaintance with any one employed in that department - I herewith send you the reccomendations [sic] of some respectable men directed to Mr VanKleek who is a clerk in the war department and well acquainted with the persons who have given the recommendations 
I applied to several former members of congress who informed me that they had no acquaintance with the Honourable Secretary of war nor with any one in that department at least not such an acquaintance as would be recognized 
In relation to their being evidence of John Decker the applicant being the same person that was placed on the pension list under the act of Congress of the 18th March 1818 I am the only one that I can find to swear to that effect -  the magistrate before whome [sic] the business was
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transacted being dead, and there is no person that I can find who knows the fact except from hearsay besides myself 

With regard to his giving a more particular description how he lost his pension certificate I called on him and informed him of the request of the department - he informed me that it was not in his power to give any further description of it - that he knew he once had it but what become of it he knew not - that he had searched to find it but could not - that he was positive it was not now in his possession - that he had enquired of others respecting it - that he could discover no trace of it - he accordingly has made an affidavit to that effect which is herewith sent - his statement respecting it is he informs me as particular as is in his power to give - his statement in the declaration and this not varying in substance I have thought proper to procure from the records of the court before whom the declaration was made another copy put together in the manner directed - he is in indigent circumstances and unable to [illegible] to any expense - what business is done for him is done Gratuitously
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Pleas [sic] to direct the answer to these papers as before to me at Beaverdam post office Albany county State of Newyork
[Signed] Peter Decker
agent for John Decker
a revolutionary pensioner
Page 24

Sir,
I have the Honor again of inclosing you John Dackers his Papers for his Military service Claim. 
You will please to direct the answer to me at the City of Albany NY. he is poor  your early attention will confer an obligation on your 
Humble Servant 
[Signed] Richd Waring
Albany Feby 18th 1819
Page 25

f
Honl John C Calhoun Secretary of War
War department
City of Washington
[postmark] Albany FEB [rest is illegible]

Crosswise: Admd.

Old case
Feby 24 1819.
Page 26

State of New York
Albany County ss. 	Stephen Van Rensselaer being duly sworn deposes and says that to the best of his knowledge and belief John Decker is indebted to him in the Sum of nine hundred and twenty four dollars and eighty three Cents - which Sum is due this day for Rent reserved on a certain Lease made by this deponent to John R. Schermerhorn for one hundred and fifty nine & an half acres of Land, and this deponent further Saith that the Rent reserved by said Lease Commenced on the second day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two -- and further this deponent Saith not Albany August 1st 1831
[Signed] VRensselaer
Sworn before me this}
1st day of August 1831.}
[Signed] Cuyler Staats 
Comr of Deeds &c. for the City of Albany
Page 27

State of New York City and County of Albany Clerks office ss. 
I Conrad A Ten Eyck Clerk of said City & County do hereby Certify that Cuyler Staats whose name is subscribed to the within affidavit was at time of taking the same a commissioner of Deeds in and for the City aforesaid duly authorized to take affidavits to be read in all courts of Record in this State and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signature subscribed to the said affidavit to be genuine 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and the seal of the said County this 2d day of August 1831 
[SEAL]
[Signed] C. A. Ten Eyck clerk
Page 28

State of New York} 
Albany County ss.} 
Peter Settle being duly sworn says that John Decker is indebted to him in the sum of Seventy nine dollars & Sixty four Cents -- for goods wares and merchandize that the said debt was contracted at different times within at the last eight years and further saith not. ,
[Signed] Peter Settle
Sworn before me this first dy of August 1831
[Signed] Jacob Settle Jr.  Commissioner of Deeds &c

[The underlying document does not belong to this affidavit, but with that of Hiram Walden -transcribed on p.30]
Page 29

State of New York City and County of Albany Clerks office Ss.
I Conrad A Ten Eyck Clerk of said City & County do hereby Certify that Jacob Settle Junr whose name is subscribed to the within affidavit was at the time of taking the same a Commissioner of Deeds in and for the County aforesaid duly authorised to take affidavits to be read in all Courts of record in this state and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe that his signature inscribed to the said affidavit to be genuine 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this 2nd day of August 1831 
[SEAL]
[SIgned] C. A Ten Eyck Clerk
Page 30

State of New York
Albany County ss. 	Hiram Walden being duly sworn says that John Decker is indebted to him in the sum of twelve dollars for carding wool and dressing cloth and to Esther Walden in the sum of seven dollars & sixty two cents for carding wool and dressing cloth and further the Saith not 
[Signed] Hiram Walden
Sworn before me this 27th day of July 1831 
[Signed]  Peter Settle} commissioner for taking acknowledgments of deeds & affidavits in the county of Albany

City & County of Albany Clerks office ss 
I Conrad A Ten Eyck Clerk of the said City & County do hereby certify that Peter Settle Esqr whose name is subscribed to the above affidavit of Hiram Walden and the two annexed affidavits of Ladock Benedict and Benjamin C West was at the time of taking said affidavits a Commissioner of Deeds in and for the County aforesaid duly authorised to take affidavits to be read in all courts of records in this state and that I am well acquainted with
Page 31

his hand writing and verily believe his signatures to the said three affidavits as before mentioned are genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the set of the saw County this 2d day of August 1831.
[Signed] C. A Ten Eyck clerk
Page 32

State of New York}
Albany County ss. }	Zadok Benedict being duly sworn says that John Decker is indebted to him in the sum of three dollars and fifty nine cents for blacksmithing done at different times within the last three years & further the saith not 
[Signed] Zadok Benedict
Sworn before me this 30th day of July 1831 
[Signed]  Peter Settle} commissioner for taking acknowledgments of deeds and affidavits in the county of Albany
Page 33

State of New York}
Albany County ss. }	Benjamin C West being duly Sworn says that he is well acquainted with the farm on which John Decker resides and owns that he has worked the farm on Shares for four years commencing in the Spring of eighteen hundred and thirty five and that the Share of the said John Decker would not average more than fifty dollars a year that the said farm is worth about eight hundred dollars and further this deponent Saith not
[Signed] Benjamin C West
Sworn before me this 27th day of July 1831 
[Signed] Peter Settle} commissioner for taking acknowledgments of deeds and affidavits in the county of Albany
Page 34

State of New York}
Albany County ss. }	
John Decker being duly Sworn Says that his name has been placed on the pension list under the acts of congress of the 18th March 1818 that he had a pension certificate but what has become of the same he does not recollect that he is positive it is not now in his possession that he has sought but is unable to discover any trace of it and further Saith not 
[Signed] John Decker
Sworn before me this 29 day of August 1831 
[Signed] Peter Settle Commissioner for acknowledgment of deeds & taken affidavits 
In and for the County of Albany
Page 35

City and County of Albany}
Clerks Office} ss.	I hereby certify that Peter Settle Esqr whose name is subscribed to the within affidavit was on the date thereof a Commissioner for taking affidavits &c in and for the County aforesaid duly qualified according to law, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signature to the said affidavit to be genuine. Witness my hand and official seal this sixth day of September 1831
[Signed] C. A Ten Eyck clerk
N.B. the erasure of the words "Justice of the Peace" and the interlineation of the words "commissioner for taking affidavits &c" done by me
[Signed] C. A Ten Eyck clerk
Page 36

State of New York} 
County of Albany  ss.}  	On this twenty Eight day of December 1831 before me the subscriber a justice of the peace for the said county of Albany personally appeared John Decker who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Benjamin Hicks in the regiment commanded by Colonel Gooza [sic] VanSchaick in the service of the United States, that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York, that he received a certificate of that fact under the signature and Seal of the Secretary of war which certificate he lost or mislaid sometime in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and twenty or twenty one at the city of Albany or at the town of Bern in the County of Albany and State of New York, that he has made diligent search to find the said certificate but has been unable to discover any trace of it 
[Signed] John Decker
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid} 
[Signed] Jn Wolford Jr a Justice of the Peace of the County of Albany 
State of New York} 
Albany County ss} Peter Decker of the town of guilderland in the County of Albany and State of New York being duly sworn says that John Decker described in the above affidavit is the identical person by the name of John Decker who was placed on the pension roll under the act of congress
Page 37

of the18th March 1818 and the identical person who on the 2nd day of August 1831 made a declaration before the mayor's court of the city of Albany for a continuance on the pension roll under the acts of congress of the 18th March 1818 and the 1st of May 1820 and further this deponent saith not
Sworn and subscribed before me this 28th day of December 1831
[Signed] Peter Decker
Jno Wolford Jr. a Justice of the Peace of the County of Albany
I certify that I an well acquainted with Peter Decker who has taken and subscribed the preceding affidavit and that he has a good, moral, character and that his character for truth and veracity stands unimpeached.
[Signed] Jno Wolford Jr. a Justice of the Peace of the County of Albany
Page 38

I Conrad A Teneyck Clerk of the city and county of Albany do certify that Jn Wolford jr whose signature appears to the two annexed affidavits and certificate was at the time the said affidavits were made a justice of the peace of the county of Albany duly qualified to administer oaths in the said county and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his official acts and that that the signature Jn Wilford jr is the signature of the said Justice  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this thirtyeth day of December in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one
[Signed]  C.A. Ten Eyck Clerk

[Ribboned seal]
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To the honourable secretary of war 
I have to inform you that John Decker who has made the enclosed affidavit can not in every respect followed [sic] the form sent me from the war department inasmuch as he does not recollect at the precise year or place as to the day and month   he can arrive at no date it being more than ten years ago and his memory naturally in a measure impaired   he informs me that he can detail no more upon the Subject than what he has stated in the enclosed affidavit which I trust will be satisfactory to the department as it is not from his statement in his power to give a more particular history of the loss of his certificate with regard to my being known to the department or vouched for in the manner Stated in the last communication received by me from the department I trust has been fully complied with heretofore in the manner described in a circular to me directed by the department 
I am sir
your obt
[Signed] Peter Decker
Hamilton village town of guilderland 
Albany Cty St of N York Dec 31st 1831

Hon. Lewis Cass secretary of war of the united states

N.B. pleas [sic] to direct the answer to me at Hamilton Village town of Guilderland Albany County State of New York 
[Signed] Peter Decker
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Free
Honourable Lewis Cass secretary of state 
war of the United States
Washington city D C

Guilderland}
Jany 1st}

Crosswise:
[illegible] a new cert.
[illegible - Say 418[?]2 ?]
P.O.
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Free
To the Hon John H. Eaton secretary of war of the united states
Washington city district of columbia

Born NY}
May 31}

Crosswise:
Pension Office
4th June 1830
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To the Hon. John H Eaton
I implore forgiveness for [illegible]bling [illegible] State of Newyork and [illegible] poverty [illegible] said before in another day [more illegible] By the voluntary assistance of a friend I have thus been enabled to address you. my case in short is this - I have spent my best days in around [?] the revolution. I served under Capt Benj. Hicks in the first newyork regiment Commanded by Col. Van Schaik [illegible] in the Battle of White Plains and Monmouth [illegible] witnessed my Services. I have never received any thing for my services untill the Pension Law in 1818 and by pressing necessity was compelled to [Submit?] application for a Pension which I then received a short time after the alteration of that Law. untill now I have procured my subsistence by the most severe toil and drudgery and would still willingly without calling on the goverment for aid endeavor to maintain myself and wife but old age has so enfeebled our Limbs that Labor is past. I concluded that I would give you a true history of my case and if I come within the provisions of the [illegible] pension Laws most gratefully would I receive an answer for then I could afford to apply in a proper way for aid to comfort me in the evening of a hard spent life.  I am in possession of 159 acres of Land leased to me by Stephen Van Rensselaer Esqr in fee on which there is a heavy rent reserved and I am now in arrear for rent about $700 [?] and without any means to discharge it. The Land I am in possession of I cannot Let for a sum sufficient to maintain myself & wife and defray my expenses the Land being of very inferior quality and about one half of it not capable of cultivation on account of hills. I have two horses which are old and of not much vallue and two cows as yet necessary wearing apparel for myself and wife nearly all necessary
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household furniture. my wife has been lame for about eight years occurring by a fall on the ice for some part of the time she has been lame I request help in the care of her which has put me to great expense
I have [now?] seven years a short but [illegible] history of [illegible] and if our Goverment has anything in [illegible] I should with gratitude receive it as it would [illegible -keep?] the years of [illegible] poverty from my door. Should the Hon secretary of war [illegible] to answer my letter so I come within the provision of the pension Law. Should it not subject him to much inconvenience I would solicit a little information as to the manner in which I must apply for a pension. I would add that the number of years I served in the regiment was three [illegible- response?] to this letter may be directed to Peter Decker Beaverdam Albany County State of Newyork
May [?]th 188[0?]
I am your most
Obedient & Humble Servant
[Signed] John Decker

To the Hon John H Eaton
Secretary of war of the US [?]