Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 841, John Van Kirk, New Jersey
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New Jersey

Van Kirk, John

S841 card ed
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17441
NEW JERSEY 17441

John Va Kirk

of Hunterdon in the State of New Jersey
who was a Private in the --commanded
by Capt. Guild of the Reg't commanded 
by W. Halstead (?) in the N. Jersey
line for two years.

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey 
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Aug
1833 and sent to W. Halstead Trenton NJ

Arrears to the 4th day of March 1833.     160.00
semi-and allowance ending 4 Sep 33.      40.00
                                                                  $200.00

 Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer Clerk
Book E Vol. three Page 134
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State of New jersey
Hunterdon County

   On this fourteenth day. of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the county aforesaid now sitting at Flemington in said county John Van Kirk a resident of Hopewell township in said county aged eighty one years old the twenties day April last who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of theAct of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
    That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated viz:  He entered the company commanded by Captain Ralph Guild William Park's Lieutenant and Timothy Bush Ensign  - as a drafted militia man from after the commencement of the war and was marched first to Woodbridge or Rahway as it is sometimes called in New Jersey and there joined the regiment commanded by Col. Joseph Phillips - Deponent thinks  the 3rd Regiment of Militia, he continued there one month - a a pair of the British Army was there lying upon Staten Island - That after this he was at several different tours called out for the space of one month at each tour at Elizabethtown, under the same officers above named.  The Edward Roberts a person residing in his neighborhood and now living was with deponent in these several tours.  That when a draft of one fifth of the militia of his neighborhood (was this deponent now recollects) he volunteered  to serve for the term of five months (he thinks this was in August 1776) under Captain joan Houghton) Lieutenant Joh Clifford - Colonel Joseph Phillips of Hopewell township in said county taking the command of the corps they marched to Fort Washington on the East side of the north river and remained there nearly one month - when the British Army then lying in New York marched to the White Plains.  Deponent was upon guard between the American....
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(continued from previous page)

....corps and New York - The guard were ordered to march toward the same point (White Plains) and after marching all night to overtake the American Army joined them near the point and the next day the deponent was engaged with the American Army commanded by General Lee in that battle.  This was the 29th October 1776. Deponent was wounded in his right arm in that battle by a four pound cannon shot and the next day was discharged on account of his wound and went home again - his five months engagement he thinks had already expired - as soon as he recovered from his would he joined the militia again and continued to do military service as a militia man whenever called on - was at Elizabeth Town in New Jersey several times in the Militia service under different officers periods of one month at a time - during those latter periods of his service he removed to Pennington in the same township and county and there joined the company  of Captain Samuel Beakes who shortly after being appointed a Major of Militia.  The captaincy was offered to this deponent which he declined -  he says he knew General Philomen Dickinson and New Jersey Militia and Major Ephraim Anderson also of the Continental Army he knew Captains John Polhemus Jonathan Phillips and John Anderson who he believes were captains in command in the regular service - Deponent further states that after the promotion of Captain Beakes one Cornelius Hoff of Hopewell township became the Captain of the company and this deponent further says that he has o documentary evidence and that he does not now recollect or know of any other persons that the said Roberts above named who can testify to his service - and he does hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that this name is to on the pension roll of the agency of any state in the union. 
John Van Kirk
Sworn and subscribed the.....
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...day and year aforesaid.
Rich'd Coxe

   We Benjamin Odgen a clergyman residing in the Township of Hopewell and Peter S. Schenck residing in the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Van Kirk who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty one yers of age.  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.
Benjamin Ogden
Peter S. Schenck

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Rich'd Coxe

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 applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Benjamin Ogden who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman resident of the Township of Hopewell and that Peter S. Schenck who has also signed his name thereto is a resident in the Township aforesaid and is a credible Epson and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Rich'd Coxe
John Barton
Benj'n Egbert
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State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County
     Edmond Roberts of the township of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon and State aforesaid having been duly sworn in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Flemington in and for said county - upon his oath deposeth and saith that he resided in the Township of Hopewell in said county during the war of the revolution that he resided near to and knew John Van Kirk who hath subscribed and sworn the above declaration ...that he knows that the said John Van Kirk served as a militia man at different tours during that war under different Captains viz: Captain Joh Hunt and Joab Houghton particularly and that this deponent served with him under both those captains - and deponent  further states that he has no doubt the said John Van Kirk served nearly two years during the war in the militia - that he has heard the foregoing declaration read and verily believes the same to be true in all respects as therein is set forth.
Edmond Roberts

Sworn and subscribed in open Court the date above
Rich'd Coxe

Hunterdon Co - I Richard Coxe Justice of the Peace of the County of Hunterdon do hereby certify the Edmond Roberts the person who made the foregoing affidavit and whose name is  thereto subscribed is a person of credibility and that full credit (?) ought to be given to his statement under oath.
Rich'd Coxe
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State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County
   I Isaac G. Farley Clerk of theCourt of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in theater of the application of John Tankard for a pension.
   In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Office this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty.
Isaac G. Farley Clk

State of New Jersey Hunterdon County - Personally appeared before me Samuel Evans a Justice of the Peace of the County of Hunterdon John Vankirk the applicant in the foregoing proceedings mentioned who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades viz: Five months as a private volunteer in the five months service and twenty one months as a private militia man in regular (? - smudged) monthly tours of duty and for such service I claim a pension.
John Vankirk

Sworn and subscribed before me this 23d day of January AD 1833
Sam'l Evans Justice of the Peace
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I James D. Westcott Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that Samuel Evans, Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavit was made is a Justice of the Peace and that foregoing signature is the proper hand writing of the said Justice and that full faith and credit are due to his acts as such.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed the seal of office the fifteenth day of June n the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.

James D. Westcott
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Rev. War

INVALID

file No. 841
John Van Kirk
Priv. N.J. Linę

Act: June 7, 1832

Index:-Vol. A, Page 386
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Mch 7, 1896

Soldier pensioned to Mr. C.M. Williams Atty

Mch 26/96 Soldier pensioned C.M, Williams, Atty                        
M.E.L.
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John Van Kirk

17.441

Adm 2 years     $80

W. Halstead
Trenton
New Jersey
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(transcription of hand written parts)

BRIEF......John Van Kirk

I.

II.

III.

IV. NO - See additional affidavit made before  L. Evans Esq.

V.  NO. See explanatory note.  see additions at affidavit taken -?- Evans Esq.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.
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(transcription of hand writing)

XIV.  NO See certi---? of Bu--   ___ (page edge torn off)

XVII.  No. See Jany 16 - new card (?)
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love
QU
QUI
it is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
ERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature
of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
ERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.
and other then
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Vankirk, John
Private
Pennsylvania

10540

January 18, 1797 to Henry Apker Devisee
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VanKleeck, Henry
corporal
New York

7904
July 9, 1790
to Theodosius Fowler, assignee
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VanKleeff, Lawrence
Private
New York

7932
September 25, 1790
to Manuel Waggoner, assignee
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Van Leek, Peter
Private
New York

7940
July 7, 1791
to Robert Wilson, Ads.