Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11622, Richard Van Arnam, New York Privateer
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(3-1776)
Van Arnam, Richard
SERVICE New York
Privateer
NUMBER S. 11622
carded
CONTENTS _
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New York [Vermont crossed out]
[Top of paper ripped]
No. 16978[?]
Richard Van Arnam of Chim. Co. in the State of Vermont who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Veeder of the Regt. commanded by Col. Van Dyke in the [Star] N. York Troops time for 15 months
[Star] Privateer N.Y.
Records corrected May 20/05.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 
50 Dollars -- Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of Nov. 1833 and Sent to D. French, Williston, Vt.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833 125.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 March 1834 25.00
$150.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 3 Page 96
[Right side of paper]
April 22nd 1834 See let to Hon. R. H. Gillett [illegible] apt to know when last pd -
transferred to N. York at $50. pd from Sept 1833 See page 88. Book E. and notice given Hon. H. Gillett H.P. May 8th [illegible]
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1st page
State of Vermont } On the 7th day of October 
District of Chittenden } 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable  Probate Court for the district of Chittenden now sitting Richard Van Arnam of (illegible) in the County of Chittenden and State of Vermont aged 74 years that May 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 7th 1832.
In March 1776 I enlisted as a private in Captain North and of Albany called Colonie B. Ten Eych was our Major. Marched to Fort Edward, from there to Fort George, General Ganesvoort Commander. We were then ordered to Ticonderoga, from there ordered to Sheemborough where we did duty about one month. General Waterbury Commander from there ordered to Fort Ann Colonel Christopher Yates Commandant. Returned to Albany and was discharged in November same year marching nine months in this service I had a discharge which is (illegible).
In April 1777 volunteered in Captain Winnes Company Lieutenant Lansing there at Albany, New York.
Marched to Stillwater and ordered to Fort Skiller, Van Wert was commissary stopped some time. Retreated to Saratoga stayed a few days then returned to Stillwater. General Schuyler commanded begun to fortify by making breastworks we were reinforced and marched back to Bemes heights began to fortify and became stationary. General Gates commanded after the 2nd battle with Burgoyne he retreated and we pursued him to Saratoga under the command of Major Funda on the 17th of October Burgoyne surrendered, returned to Albany and were dismissed at the end of six months.
In October 1780 I entered on board of the Ulysses Letter of Marque of 20 Carriage Gun as Gunner
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2nd page    
under Captain McNeil in Boston first mate was Collin’s went to sea ten or twelve days out were captured by the Centaur 74. Just on board of a Man of War sent to Barbados, no room for prisoners on shore stayed on board, went to Saint Lucia joined the fleet of Admiral Rodney, Commodore Wood and Drake cruised for the French fleet returned to Saint Lucia where Wood and Drake were made Admirals. Rodney left the fleet and went to Saint Eustatius with in their of go Gem and on  of 64, Wood and Drake went to take Saint Vincent and was defeated and returned to Saint Lucia and anchored in Graplett (Grace) Bay. A prison ship was there prepared and all the prisoners from the Centaur were put on board except 150 sent to Carnak near 3 (illegible) from Graplett (Grace) Harbor. 6 of us ran away and were taken the 2nd day and put in (illegible) lot loose again and Mertinized? ever over come, and very confined for three days, then put on deck 100 of us put on board of a Frigate, went to sea the 3rd day fell in with the Respell 74 Lord Stanhope Commander who took us all on board and gave us good wage 3 days after arrived at Antigua English Harbor next day marched under Guard to Saint John’s Prison good attention paid to prisoners of all Nations taken out of prison to interpret for the death (of) Isaac Greenwood a prisoner and John Jacob frequent interpreter got liberty to live with me, we agreed to (illegible) away engaged a man to take us to find (illegible) Harbor started at noon, event by Goodwill fort to 5 (illegible) Harbor made him prisoner and his man stared for Montserrat arrived next morning examined before the Governor, (no Court of Admiralty short of Guadeloupe) waited 12 days a GuardaCoasta  arrived with 20 Carriage Guard, Captain Raviera commanded the Governor agreed with him to take the schooner and prisoners to Baptere in
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to Guadeloupe where Greenwood and Jacob’s were committed to prison my then 2 companions next morning were examined one at a time and acquitted, and liberty granted us to sell the schooner and African servant who first started with us at private sale or vendor, sold at private sale Greenwood parted for Captain Francois. Jacob’s remained with me got a passage with Captain Jinks sloop. For belonging to John Brown Providence, went to Saint Christopher then to Saint Martin there quit him for I did not like the sloop, took passage in vessel bound to Baltimore called the Clio, Captain D. Shields arrived safe in Baltimore. December 25, 1782
Making 2 years 3 months
December 25, 1782 after stopping a few days  in Baltimore at fells point (illegible) the 15th of January 1783 I entered with Captain G. Barney as Captain of Marines in the ship Fine and (illegible) a Letter of Mark mounting 20 Carriage guns. In the beginning of January went to sea 3 days after we charted Cape Charles, fell in with the Centreonon of 50 Guns, were captured and carried to New York, then part on board of the (illegible) Prison ship where we remained till the latter point of March when peace was declared about 100 of us was sent to Stonington, Connecticut.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. 
Signed Richard Van Arnam

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Wm P Briggs
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1 Question by the Court
When and in what year were you born?
Answer: I was born in Albany in the State of New York in the year 1759

2 By the Court 
Have you any record of your age?
Answer: My age is recorded in the records of the Dutch Church in Albany

3 By the Court 
When were you living when called into service where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Answer: I stayed a short time in Albany then went to Troy, stayed about one year went to Guilford Street stayed about six months went to Shelborne stayed about 10 years went to Canada Town of Augusta about 1797 and stayed till the year 1815 went to Morristown Saint Lawerence County New York stayed in various places in said County till some time in July last, when I went to Shelborne where now live and expect to remain hereafter
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4 By the Court 
How were you called into service  were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer: For my first campaign I (enlisted is crossed out) and in all the others I volunteered

5 By the Court
State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served with Continental and Militia Regiments  as you can recollect and the General circumstances of your serving.
Answer: In my first service in 1776 Van Dyke was my Colonel, Veeder was my Captain, Welch was Orderly Sergeant. 
1777 - S. Winnee was my Captain in Ten Brook Brigade, Major Funda commanded and was wounded, I helped carry him on the day General Frazer was killed, Gates was our General. In 1790 McNeil was my Captain, Collin’s was on board ship Ulysses. 1783 - G. Barney was my Captain I think Chandler was my Lieutenant on board ship Finn and Sier the remaining circumstances of my service on contained in my declaration
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6th page
6 By the Court 
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present Neighborhood who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer: General Jacob Arnold, Timothy Pope Esquire, Thomas Will Esquire, Major David Griffin, Ensign Judge Thomas J. Davis, Major Th. J. (Illegible) all of the County of St. Lawerence and state of New York whom recommend. Levi Comstock, Lennon Judson, and Abijah Allan of Shelbourne, Vermont. I never had but one discharge and that is. I have no documentary evidence nor living testimony within my knowledge. 

We Levi Comstock and Lennon Judson 60th of Shelbourne in the County of Chittenden and state of Vermont residing in the same Shelbourne hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Van Arnam who has subscribed to the above declaration that we believe him to be 74 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbor -
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hood when he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Levi Comstock 
Lennon Judson

Sworn and subscribed this 20th day of September 1833. And I do hereby certify that the above deponent are credible witnesses before me 
Lyman Thayer Justice of the Peace 

My reason for not procuring the signature of a clergyman is as follows in the year 1815 I lost my wife which in Canada, it so deranged my business and calculations that I returned to St. Lawrence County and have been wandering from house to (words illegible) some not living under a settled Minister at anytime nor indeed have I known of settled minister in the county of St. Lawrence during my stay there and I have not lived in the town of Shelbourne long enough to be sufficiently acquainted with the minister to ask him to sign a certificate of recommendation.
Signed Richard Van Arnam

And the 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 applicant was a revol -
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olutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Levi Comstock and Lennon Judson who has signed the preceding certificate are residents of the same Shelbourne and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
Wm. P Briggs Judge

I David French Register of the Probate Court for the district of Chittenden do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Van Arnam for a pension and that Lyman Thayer who has signed the foregoing certificate is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Chittenden and that the above is his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court at Welliston in the District aforesaid this 7th day October 1833.
David French Register
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State of New York }
St. Lawerence County }
April 11, 1834 }
I certify I am a pensioner of the United States under the act of the 7th of June 1832 and that previous to and up to the 4th day of September 1833. Was a resident of the State of Vermont and on that day drew my pension from the a (illegible) for Paying Pensions in that state, but since that time have become a resident of the State of New York. I would therefore request that my name be transformed from the Vermont to the New York agency and that my pension be paid me at the latter place from and after the fourth day of September 1833. 
Richard Van Arnam 

Sworn before me this 11th day of April 1834
A. C. Brown Justice of the Peace 

State of New York }
St. Lawerence County }
April 11, 1834 } 
Conformibly to the regulations of the War Department of the 19th of June 1824. I Anthony C Brown a Justice of the Peace in the county above named do hereby certify that I have the most satisfactory evidence from Personal Knowledge that Richard Van Arnam who has this day appeared before me to take the oath of identity, is the identical person named in the Pension certificate which he has exhibited before me numbered 18.978 and bearing date at the War Office the 22nd day of November 1833. That the said certificate was originally issued for him that he now holds the same in his
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possession and claims all the benefits arising therefrom. That up to the 4th day of September that he was a resident of of this state. That he now wishes to be transferred from the Pension list Roll of the State of Vermont to the Pension list roll of the State of New York. Given under my hand at Ogdensburgh on the day and year above written.
A. C. Brown Justice Register

The foregoing signature is known to me to be in the handwriting of Anthony C. Brown Esquire who is a Justice of the peace duly commissioned and authorized to administer oaths. Dated April 19, 1834
R. H. Gillet
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Rev. War Section.
October 13, 1921.
Caroline Van Arnam Quain,
Lorsin, Ohio.
Madam: - In response to your letter dated September 23, 1921, you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. F. 11622, it appears that Richard Van Arnam was born in May 1759 in Albany, New York, and lived there when in March 1776, he enlisted as Private in Captain Veeder's Company, Colonel VanDyke's Regiment, and served 9 months; in April 1777 he served 6 months under Captain Winne; in October 1780 he entered at Boston as a Gunner, on the Letter of Marque, "Ulysses", Captain McNeil; after 10 or 12 days out they were captured by the Man of War "Centaur" and he was placed on a prison ship, whence he made his escape, but was recaptured and put in irons.
He was later placed on a Frigate, and falling under the command of Lord Stanhope reached the English harbor Antigua, where he was imprisoned; he again escaped, was recaptured and arriving in Monserat was sent by the Governor to Guadeloupe, where he was given his liberty. He obtained passage on Captain D. Shield's Ship "Clio" and arrived at Baltimore December 25, 1782, having been a prisoner 3 years and 3 months. About January 15, 1783 he entered at Baltimore on the Letter of Marque "Financier" Captain C. Barney, and after 3 days was captured by Ship "Centu- [Centurion]
[end of letter page]
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[Letter continued from previous page]
#2 S. F. 11622.
rion" [Centurion], taken to New York and placed aboard a prison ship where he was held until March of the same year when he was released.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 7, 1833, while living in Shelburne, Chittenden County, Vermont.
His wife, name not stated, died in Canada, where he then lived until in 1815, and he then returned to St. Lawrence Co., New York where he had previously lived. There is no data on file as to his family.
Very Respectfully,
Commissioner.
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Rev. War
11622
INVALID.
File No. 11.622
Richard Van Arnam* [Van Armon crossed out]
Prv. Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: - Vol. A, Page 389
[Arrangement of 1870.]
*W.D.G. Jun. 8, 1908.
1921, Oct. 13 hist. to Caroline
Van Arnam Quain En
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We the (illegible) do hereby certify that we are personally acquainted with Richard Van Arnam and know him to be of good moral character and believe that he is in all respects what he represents himself to be and that through the long period of more than twenty years we have been acquainted with the said Van Arnam and confirmed in the above representation of his character.

St Lawerence County, December 26th, 1852
J. Arnold
Timothy Pope
Tho Hill
David Giffin 
Thomas J Davis
(Illegible)
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House of Representatives
April 19, 1834

Sir,
I send you the (illegible) of Richard Van Arnam desiring to have the payment of his pension made to be made to him or the city of New York.
Be so good as to furnish me with the evidence of the change as only as you can as his agent will be in the city of New York on the 28th inst where he wishes to receive his amount. 
J. L. Edwards
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Loraine, Ohio
September 23, 1921

To
Washington Gardner
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir, 
Will it be asking you to much to do me a favor? 
I wish to get any information you could give me concerning one - Richard Van Arnam - who I understand was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, I think he was given a land grant in New York State, St Lawerence County.
As I am anxious to join the D.A.R. I must first prove my relation to said Richard Van Arnam. (Illegible) was my Great Grandfather.

Thanking you Sir
Adorance and (illegible) 
Caroline Van Arnam
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J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Hon. R.H. Gillet
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A statement showing the service of Richard Van Arnam 

1776
9 months 
Private 
Colonel Van Dyke
Captain Veder
74 years present
Shelbourne, Vermont
Deposition of Levi Comstock and Lennon Judson

1777
6 months 
Private
General Ten Brook
Major Fenda

1780
2 years 3 months 
Gunner
Captain McNeil

1783
2 months
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A
15 mo $50.00

D. French Esq

Richard Van A
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State of Vermont 

I George B Manser Secretary to the Governor and Council of said state, do hereby certify that Lyman Thayer was duly appointed a Justice of the Peace within and for the Court of Chittenden and that full faith and confidence and to be given to see his acts and doings as seal.
In testimony whereof I have here affixed the seal of said state and subscribed the name of William (illegible) this seventh day of October 1838
Geo B Manser
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State of Vermont } Register of Probate
District of Chittenden } Office 8th October 1833
I David French Register of the Court of Probate within and for the District of Chittenden do hereby certify that William P. Briggs the person who signed the annexed certificate is Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Chittenden (illegible) under the law of the State of Vermont and that he is duly (illegible) to administer oaths and that he annexed signatures on his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the Court of Probate for said District and subscribed my name of Williston this 8th day of October 1833
David French Register