Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,893, for Gilbert Potter, New York
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(3-1776) 

SERVICE 
Navy 
New York 
Potter Gilbert 
Van Tassell, Rachel (Former Widow) 

NUMBER 
R. 10,893

CONTENTS
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11077 
Rachel Van Tassel 
formerly wid of Gilbert Potter 
N.Y.
Act 7th July ‘38
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State of New York 
City and County of New York } ss
On this Twelfth day June of June Eighteen hundred and forty four, personally appeared before me David Randell a Justice of the Peace, and Judge of the Marine Court of the City and County of New York Rachel Van Tassel a resident of the City, County and State of New York aged Eighty seven years, who being first duly Sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the acts of Congress passed - July 7th 1838, and the 23d of August 1842 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary War.-
That she is the widow of Gilbert Potter who served as follows. He enlisted in the Army of the United States under Col Samuel Drake in the early part of the War, stationed near the Croton River, from thence he went to New London in the State of Connecticut, and shipped on board of the United States Ship Trumbal as a blacksmith, when said Ship proceeded to sea and fought a Brittish vessel, both being disabled, the Ship Trumbal drew off and went into Boston to repair, after which she again proceeded to sea and and took a Brittish Vessel and went into Philadelphia, in which action the said Gilbert Potter was wounded in the right knee joint, and brought home by his father from Philadelphia on furlough. Shortly after his getting better of his wound they were married. His furlough she had in
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her possession for a length of time after his death, after marriage he continued to bear arms in the service of the United States and was still in the service at the day of his death, his wound leading to a lingering consumption whereof he died on the eighth day of May Seventeen hundred and eighty three as hereinafter mentioned. 
She also declares that she was married to the said Gilbert Potter on the nineteenth day of December in the year seventeen hundred and eighty, that her husband the aforesaid Gilbert Potter died on the eighth day of May Seventeen hundred and eighty three, & that the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four viz: at the time above stated.
She further declares, that after the death of the husband aforesaid, she was married to Thomas Van Tassel on the fifth day of December Seventeen hundred and ninety nine, on Sabbath evening in her memory serves her right, that he died in the month of August eighteen hundred and thirty seven, and that she is still a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and 
[NOTE: remainder of affidavit covered by certification. Complete affidavit transcribed on the following page]

STATE OF NEW YORK, 
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, } ss. 
I, James Conner, CLERK of the City and County of New-York, [crossed out: and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County], DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That D. Randell, whose name is subscribed to the certificate and of the proof or acknowledgment of the  annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, Justice of the Peace dwelling in the said City, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice of the Peace and verily believe that the Signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the County, the 12th day of June, 1844.
[signed] James Conner Clerk.
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her possession for a length of time after his death, after marriage he continued to bear arms in the service of the United States and was still in the service at the day of his death, his wound leading to a lingering consumption whereof he died on the eighth day of May Seventeen hundred and eighty three as hereinafter mentioned. 
She also declares that she was married to the said Gilbert Potter on the nineteenth day of December in the year seventeen hundred and eighty, that her husband the aforesaid Gilbert Potter died on the eighth day of May Seventeen hundred and eighty three, & that the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four viz: at the time above stated.
She further declares, that after the death of the husband aforesaid, she was married to Thomas Van Tassel on the fifth day of December Seventeen hundred and ninety nine, on Sabbath evening in her memory serves her right, that he died in the month of August eighteen hundred and thirty seven, and that she is still a widow.
[signed] Rachel VanTassel  + her mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before me 
[signed] D. Randell Justice of the Peace & Judges of the Marine Court of the City & County of New York 
I certify that by reason of age and infirmity the above named Rachel Van Tassel is unable to attend Court, or to write her name, consequently makes her Mark for her signature 
[signed] D. Randell  Justice of the Peace
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State of New York 
City and County of New York } ss.
On this fourth day of June eighteen hundred and forty four before me Joseph Hoxie a Justice of the peace in & for the City of New York personally came Rachel Van Tassel, widow of Thomas Van Tassel, who on her oath solmnly deposes and says, that she was first married to Gilbert Potter, (deceased on the eighth day of May Seventeen hundred and eighty three) for whose service she claims a widows pension, that she was born on the twenty fourth day of August Seventeen hundred and fifty six, this I know from my parents, and have no other proof, because my fathers house was surprised by a bond of Tories and his family bible torn to pieces before our eyes - and is now aged eighty seven years and upwards - that she was married to Gilbert Potter on the nineteenth day of December Seventeen hundred and eighty by Squire Hyatt at the town of Peekskill County of Westchester, State of New York at the house of her father, that her bridesmaid was Anne Drake the daughter of Col Drake of the revolutionary Army - and her husbands groomsman was Joshua Drake the son of William Drake - that they were married at sun down on the day aforesaid - She remembers this distinctly because a hen going to roost, flew against her gown just as she was going to Stand up to be married - that there were present at her wedding Col Drake and his wife, William Drake's daughter, General Aaron Ward's parents Moses Ward and his wife (these latter are my kindred as also is their son Genl. Ward late member of Congress and his wife, my husbands parents, my own parents and my sister - there were many others present whose names I cannot now recollect - the day is fixed on
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my mind, because in the next day after, my Sister Sarah was married to my husbands brother Samuel, because my father would not permit them to be married on the same day with myself, because he said it would be unlucky - further deponent saith not.
[signed] Rachel Van Tassel  X her mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above mentioned before me 
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace 

I certify that the above named Rachel Van Tassel is a credible person and her statement made in the foregoing affi-
[NOTE: remainder of the affidavit covered by certification. Complete text of the affidavit transcribed on the following page]

STATE OF NEW YORK. 
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK,} SS. 
I, James Conner, Clerk of the City and County of New-York, [crossed out: and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County,] DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Joseph Hoxie whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowlegment, Justice of the Peace dwelling in the said City, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice of the Peace and verily believe that the Signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the [crossed out: said Court and] County, the 12th day of June 1844 
[signed] James Conner, Clerk.
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my mind, because in the next day after, my Sister Sarah was married to my husbands brother Samuel, because my father would not permit them to be married on the same day with myself, because he said it would be unlucky - further deponent saith not.
[signed] Rachel Van Tassel  X her mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above mentioned before me 
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace 

I certify that the above named Rachel Van Tassel is a credible person and her statement made in the foregoing affidavit entitled to credit 
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace
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State of New York 
City & County of New York } ss 
On this fourth day of June eighteen hundred and forty four before me Joseph Hoxie a Justice of the peace in & for the City of New York, appeared Elizabeth Jones a widow a resident of New York County of New York aged Seventy eight years who on her oath solemnly deposes and says that she was present at the marriage by Squire Hyatt of Rachel Sherwood to Gilbert Potter on the nineteenth day of December Seventeen hundred and eighty at the house of Job Sherwood in the town of Peekskill County of Westchester State of New York, and that she is enabled to State this fact so distinctly because another sister to wit Sarah Sherwood was married to the brother of Gilbert Potter, to Samuel Potter on the next day to wit on the twentieth day of December Seventeen hundred and eighty, this fact she is enabled to state because the father Job Sherwood would not permit both daughters to be married on the same day and therefore they were married the one on the nineteenth, and the other the twentieth as aforesaid, that deponent recollects distinctly that the aforesaid Rachel Sherwood, now the widow Van Tassel, was married to Gilbert Potter on the day aforesaid, about sundown of that day, which fact she is enabled to state so distinctly because a hen going to roost flew against the said Rachel’s gown as the said Rachel was about to stand up to be married, that Col Drakes daughter Ann Drake, was the brides maid and William Drake’s Son Joshua Drake was groomsman to the aforesaid Rachel Sherwood and Gilbert Potter,  that there were many persons present, among which she recollects the father & mother of Rachel Sherwood and the father & mother of Gilbert Potter, and Col. Drake, owing to the lapse of time she cannot state others present, but she remembers there were thirty or forty present, further deponent says not 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year 

over
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[signed] Elizabeth Jones X her mark

before mentioned before me 
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace 

I certify the above named witness to be a credible person.
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace
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State of New York 
City and County of New York } ss
On this fourth day of June eighteen hundred and forty four before me Joseph Hoxie a Justice of the peace in & for the City of New York appeared Elizabeth Jones of said City, County & State, being duly sworn according to law says that the said Gilbert Potter served in the land service under Col Samuel Drake, and afterwards in the Naval service of the United States, on board the Ship Trumbull and was there employed as a blacksmith - that he was wounded in action on board said ship which brought on the consumption of which he finally died in seventeen hundred and eighty three.
[signed] Elizabeth Jones X her mark
Subscribed & Sworn the day and date abovewritten before me
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace 

I certify that the above named deponent is a credible witness 
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut 
Fairfield County } ss
Probate Court within and for the District of Norwalk in said County and State being a Court of Record. Personally appeared William Gailor of said Norwalk who being duly sworn according to Law depose and says that he is Eighty four years of age and was well acquainted with Gilbert Potter formerly of Yorktown County of Westchester State of New York and well remembers that in the year 1775 can not remember the day entered the service of the United States in Capt. A. S. Heddins Company in which the deponent acted as Sergeant Major and was afterwards appointed Lieut. in Col Samuel Drake Regt at Yorktown County of Westchester Stale of New York and said Potter continued in said Company and was stationed on the lines at Croton River in Westchester County and continued in guarding the lines until the Winter 1779. 80. when we was ordered to New London in the State of Connecticut and went on board of the Trumbull Frigate commanded by Comd James Nicheson [Nickerson?], said Potter entered on board of said ship as a Blacksmith and went to sea and had a Battle with a Brittish [illegible] of Mark from Liverpool and she made her escape from us after a hard fought Battle and we returned into Boston under Jerry mast [?] and in said Battle said Potter was wounded in his leg.
[signed] Wm Gailer
Sworn to and Subscribed this 13 day of August 1838, and that I am acquainted with said William Gailer and that he is a reputable Witness, before me 
[signed] Benj: Isaacs Judge of said Court of Probate
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I Richard B Isaacs Clerk of the aforesaid Court of Probate do hereby that Benjn. Isaac is the Judge of said Court of Probate Commissioned and Sworn and that his signature hereto annexed is his genuine signature and duly qualified to take Depositions and administer Oaths 
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Probate Court the 13 day of August 1838 –
[signed] Richard B Isaacs Clerk 

[NOTE: the following affidavits are crossed out]
City of New York ss  Rachel Potter of No 139 Clinton Street being duly sworn says she will be eighty two years old on the 24th day of this present month, and that she was married to Gilbert Potter named in the foregoing affidavit that she married him during the American Revolution, that he was taken sick & returned home on account of his sickness, and further says he continued sick more than a year when he died which was near the close of the War
[signed] Rachel Potter
Sworn this 15th day August 1838 
Before James Hopson Justice of the Peace 

City of New York ss Elizabeth Jones of No 184 Elizabeth Street being duly sworn says she will be seventy four years old the 27th day of next December, and further says she was present when Gilbert Potter married the above named Rachel and that marriage took place at Peeks Kill in the County of West Chester December 19 1780 & the ceremony was performed
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State New York 
City and County of New York } ss
On this Twelfth day of June eighteen hundred and forty four before me Joseph Hoxie a Justice of the Peace in & for the City of New York personally came Elizabeth Van Benhusyn of said City, County and State, widow, aged fifty six years, on her oath solmnly depose and says that she has from childhood been well acquainted with Rachel Van Tassel, formerly widow of Gilbert Potter, that she was present at the Marriage of Thomas Van Tassel and Rachel Potter, which took place on Sunday Evening in December Seventeen hundred and ninety nine at her own House, then called the halfway house between Tarrytown and Sing Sing West Chester County State of New York, and that the marriage ceremony was per formed by Soloman Sherwood Esq - that she now is the widow of Thomas Van Tassell who died in the month of August eighteen hundred and thirty seven, and further this deponent saith not 
[signed] Elizabeth Van Benhusyn 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above mentioned before me
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace 

I certify that the above named deponent is a credible Witness 
The words “from childhood" being first interlined, also the words "named” and “her own house then called the halfway house below Tarrytown and Sing Sing”, and the words "fifth day of” erased The name Benthysen altered to Benhusyn. 
[signed] Joseph Hoxie Justice of the Peace
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11.077 
Rachel Van Tassel 
formerly wid of Gilbert Potter N.Y.
Rejected
To N. Carroll Oct 5th 1844

10893
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[crossed out: Act of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.]
[stamped] REJECTED
10.893. 
P.O. Rachel Van Tassel 
Service: 
Enlisted:  , 18  .
Discharged:   , 18  .
Application filed:  , 18  .
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted: 
Attorney: 
P.O.
Recognized. Contract.
Cert. of Dis.   Searched for  , 18  .
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Washington June 18th 1844 
Sir
I enclose you the claim of Mrs Rachel Van Tassel for a Pension as the widow of Gilbert Potter who served during the War of the Revolution as a private in the Regt. commanded by Col. Drake & subsequently as an artificer on board the Ship Trumbull in the naval service of the United States during said War.
Mrs Van Tassel is an applicant for the benefits of the Law of 1838, which in this case will entitle her also to the benefits of the Law of 1843 as well as the Law passed yesterday 
I am Sir
Very Respy Yr. Obt. Sert. 
[signed] Nich. Carroll

 J.L. Edwards 
Comr of Pensions 
Washington D.C.