Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42587, Nicholas Van Rensselaer, New York
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New York
Van Rensselaer, Nicholas
NUMBER
S. 42587
B.L. Wt. 2249_300_Capt.
Issued Aug. 30. 1790
No papers

CONTENTS
Page 2

Capt. Van Renssalaer was pensioned under the
act of May 1828, has rec'd his County land & commutation 
See letter to to Hon. D. L. Seymour
Jan. 15 1845 -

31
1 -30 Dec'r
    4 Mar
___________________
2 - 34
     31
___________________
3 - 3
20
____________
[illegible] - 1
1.93
_____________
$61.93

[Printed form with handwritten answers]
16,638
New York
Nicholas, Van Rensselaer,
of Greenbush in the state of New York,
who was a Captain in the regiment commanded by Colonel Van Schaick of the New York line, for the term of six years.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York.
at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence the 2d of December 1819.

Certificate of Pension issued the 4th of April 1820 and sent to the Hon L. Van Rensselaer
House of Representatives

Arrears to 4th of March 1820 $61.93
Semi-anl, all'ce ending 4th Sep 1820 120.
2 months, 30/31 4/31
181.93

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}
Page 3

Application for pension
by Nicholas Van Rensselaer
to Revolutionary Offices

Admitted.
Page 4

[Printed form with handwritten answers and insertions]

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
TO WIT:
State of New York 
City & 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 Nicholas Van Rensselaer of the town of Greenbush in the County of Rensselaer in the State of New York before the Honorable Ambrose Spencer Esquire, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature in the said State, which Court is a Court of Record of the State, in which the said Nicholas Van Rensselaer doth reside, that is to say:
DECLARATION.
I, Nicholas Van Rensselaer of the town of Greenbush in the County of Rensselaer in the State of New York on this second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, 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 five years and upwards
and that I am a resident Citizen of the United States, to wit, in the 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 an officer, that I belonged to the Army, to wit, I belonged to Captain John Graham's Company, in Colonel Goose Van Schaicks Regiment and New York line -- That I entered the the service the in the month of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five and left it about the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one in the manner following, to wit: I left it by reason of the consolidation of the regiments in the New York Line by which I became a supernumerary officer.
that I received no document concerning the same service and discharge, other than the Commissions which are hereto annexed
and that there is no other evidence in my power to my knowledge, concerning the matters deposed by me than parol testimony
-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.
[signature] Nich's Van Rensselaer

Sworn before me, this second day of December 1819
[signature] Ambrose Spencer
Page 5

[Printed form with handwritten answers]

United States of America.

By the Honorable Ambrose Spencer Esquire, Chief Justiceire of a Court of Record in the State of New-York, to wit, of Supreme Court 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 Nicholas Van Rensselaer of the town of Greenbush in the County of Rensselaer and State of New York, personally appeared before me, at the City of Albany in the said State, on the __ day of November 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, the commissions hereto annexed and
(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 Nicholas Van Rensselaer 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.
[Words in the original form crossed out here and new language handwritten underneath:]
And I do further certify that I am satisfied from the Oath of the said Nicholas Van Rensselaer & the depositions following, that the said Nicholas is in reduced circumstances in life, & stands in need of assistance from his Country for support. Witness my hand this second day of December 1819.
[signature] Ambrose Spencer

State of New York 
City of Albany}
Wilhelmus Ryckman of the City of Albany
and Killian K. Van Rensselaer of the
Page 6

same place Esquire, being duly sworn say that they personally know
Nicholas Van Rensselaer of the town of Greenbush in the County of Rensselaer in the State of New York farmer; and have known him from
his early youth, that they knew him when an office in the Revolutionary war - that he served in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Goose Van Schaick in the line of the State of New York in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six- that he became a Captain in said Regiment- that in January one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, the Regiments of the New York line was consolidated and the within Nicholas Van Rensselaer then a Captain became a supernumerary officer and retired from the service-
And the said Killian K. van Rensselaer for himself doth further depose, that he is acquainted with the circumstances of the said Nicholas Van Rensselaer and that the said Nicholas as this deponent verily believes is in reduced circumstances and needs the assistance of his country for support
[signatures] 
Wilhel's Ryckman
K. K. Van Rensselaer

City of Albany ss- On the 2d day of December AD 1819 Personally appeared before me Wilhelmus Ryckman and Killian K, Van Rensselaer to me known as person of veracity who made oaths to the above [illegible] and I do hereby further certify that from the above testimony I am satisfied that the aforesaid Nicholas Van Rensselaer is in reduced circumstances and needs the assistance of his country for support.
[signature] Ambrose Spencer
Page 7

[Printed form with handwritten answers]

42587
INVALID
Revy

File No. 42,587
Nicholas Van Rensselaer
Capt Rev War

18" March 18

Index-: Vol 8, Page 524

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[Some text is obscured by the shadow of a hand holding it down]
Page 8

[This page is a clearer duplicate of page 7]
[Printed form with handwritten answers]

42587
INVALID
Revy

File No. 42,587
Nicholas Van Rensselaer
Capt Rev War

18" March 18

Index-: Vol 8, Page 524

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 9

[Printed form with handwritten answers]

IN CONGRESS.
The DELEGATES OF THE UNITED COLONIES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, to Nicholas Van Rensselaer

Gentleman,
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be Second Lieutenant of the ninth Company of the second Regiment of the New York forces.

in the Army of the United Colonies, raised for the Defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Lieutenant by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as a Lieutenant. And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other our superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. Philadelphia July 19th 1776
By Order of the Congress,
[stamped signature] John Hancock PRESIDENT.

Attest. [stamped signature] Cha's Thomson Sec'y
Page 10

[Printed form with handwritten answers]

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED
To Nicholas Van Rensselaer Greeting. We Reposing especial trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valor, Conduct, and Fidelity, DO by these presents constitute and appoint you to be Captain in the first New York Regiment in the Army of the United States, [illegible] from the 1st day of September 177[illegible]. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Captain by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And to Strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers, under your command, to be obedient to your orders, as Captain. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you Shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States, or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress beforementioned, or a Committee of the States.

Entered in the War Office [illegible] Witness his Excellency John Jay Esq, President of and examined by the Board [illegible] the Congress of the United States of America at Philadelphia the 28th day of [illegible] 1779 and in the third year of our [illegible, but other sources state "War of Independence."]
[signature] John Jay

Attest 
[signature] P. Scull Secretary of the Board of War
Page 11

Act 1828
Settled ab
Treasury
Cons'd with 
Invalid file
#42.587
Page 12

Respectfully submitted to the [illegible] consideration of the Secretary of the Treasury 
P.B. Porter
[signature] July 22. 1828.

[written vertically]
Rec's July 23.1828

[Postmark stamped seal]
ALBANY JUL 18
[Stamp]
FREE

[Written vertically]
Gen'l. Peter B. Porter
Sec'y. at War
Washington
Page 13

[Handwritten]
201
36
No of orig Pay 201

[Printed form with handwritten answers and insertions]
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
19 July 1828
Nicholas Van Rensselaer of Greenbush in the County of Rensselaer in the State of New York, has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled ""An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution,” approved on the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he was as an officer on the Continental line, and served as such until reduced the arrangement 3d and 21st of October 1780,
at which period he was a Captain in the first regiment of the New York line; and that he received commutation certificates for the five years full pay granted by the resolve of 22 March, 1783; and, further, that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, nothing.
["dollars, paid to him by the agent in the State of" crossed out in ink]
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far these several statements are corroborated by the records in his office.
By order the Secretary,
[signature] A. Dickins.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
22nd July 1828
It appears by the records in this office, that final settlement certificates have been issued for the commutation of five years full pay to Nicholas Van Rensselaer Cap't in the New York line, amounting to Twenty four Hundred dollars.
It further appears that Nicholas Van Rensselaer is not now on the pension list of any- agency, and has not been since the 3 March 1826.
[signature] Peter Hagner Aud

/correct/
Page 14

For the purpose of obtaining the benefit of an act entitled "an act for the relief of certain surviving Revolutionary Officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution approved on the 15th May 1828"
I Nicholas Van Rensselaer of the Town of Greenbush in the County of Rensselaer in the State of New York do hereby declare that I was an officer in the Continental line of the Army of the Revolution and served as such to the time of the arrangement of the Army provided by Resolve of Congress on the 3rd and 21st of October 1780 was carried into effect when I was reduced under that arrangement at which [illegible carat notation, perhaps "(spring)"] I was a captain in the first Regiment commanded by Col. Goosen Van Schaick of the Line-
And I also declare that I afterwards received certificates (commonly called Commutation certificates for a sum equal to the amount of five years full pay which sum was offered by the Resolve of Congress of the 22nd March 1783 instead of the half pay for life to which I was entitled under the Resolve of the 21st October 1780.
Witness my hand this seventeenth day of June 1828-
[signature] Nichs. Van Rensselaer

Witnesses present at signing the above}
[signatures] 
Leonard Gansevoort Jr.
John J. Van Rensselaer
Page 15

Rensselaer County ss: 
be it remembered that on this 17th day of June 1828 personally appeared before me Merrick Ross Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Rensselaer in the State of New York Leonard Gansevoort Jun'r. and John J Van Rensselaer both of whom are residents in the town Greenbush in the County of Rensselaer that the said Leonard Gansevoort Jr. and the said John J. Van Rensselaer are to me personally known, that the said Leonard Gansevoort Jr. was late a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of this County and the said John  J. Van Rensselaer lately commanded a Brigade of Cavelry in this County as Brigadier General, and the said Leonard Gansevoort Jr. and John J. Van Rensselaer being severally sworn made oath that they are personally acquainted with Nicholas Van Rensselaer the Person who has signed the within declaration or Statement that they were acquainted with him during the revolutionary War that he was then reputed and believed a Revolutionary officer and is so reputed and believed to be at the present day
[signatures] 
Leonard Gansevoort Jr.
John J. Van Rensselaer

Sworn before me this 17 day of June 1828 before me }
[signature] Merrick Ross Justice
Page 16

State of New York
Rensselaer County } ss. 
I, Archibald Bull Clerk of the County of Rensselaer Do hereby Certify that Merrick Ross Esquire before whom the annexed affidavit was sworn and subscribed was on the day when the same was so sworn & subscribed a Justice of the peace in and for the said County & duly authorised & empowered to administer oaths
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said County this Eighteenth day of June 1828.
[signature] Archibald Bull Clerk
Page 17

War department
Revolutionary Claim
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 18th March 1818 Nicholas Van Rensselaer late a Captain in the Army of the Revolution is inscribed on the Pension list Roll of the New York Agency at the Rate of Twenty Dollars per month to commence on the second day of December One thousand eight hundred and Nineteen.
Given at the War Office of the United States this fourth day of April one thousand eight hundred and Twenty
[signature] John C. Calhoun
Secretary of War-
(Copy)
endorsed (16.638)

Payable on the 4th March and 4th September of each year by the Pres't. of the B.- B'k. U. S. in the City of New York
No Pension is payable until the arrival of one or other of the above dates after the issue of a certificate
Registered by Wm. Gordon Clerk.
in Book B. Volume 5. page 195-
Page 18


To the Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America
I inclose a declaration in conformity with the printed directions published in the News Papers, I hope this will answer the Purpose for which it is intended.
I have also enclosed a copy of the certificate of a Pension I obtained under the first law passed by Congress did not under the second law solicit a renewal of my pension not being able conscientiously to comply with its requisites-
I would be glad to be advised when I can draw my pension under the law lately passed-
I am sir very respectfully yours
[signature] Nich's. Van Rensselaer

Greenbush19 June 1828 }
Page 19

My Dear Gen'l.
I Nicholas Van Rensselaer was a Captain in the 1st Reg't. N.Y. line during the Revo'y. War, and was placed on the pension list a few months when Congress passed a law calling on him &
others to take an oath of mendicity which he indignantly declined to take
Under the Statute of the 15 of May last, he has sent his documents authenticated to Mr Rush &c. to get on the list anew. The papers have been seen, the object of this application to you is to ask the great favor of you to obtain the Secretary's decision, which I presume will take but a few minutes to settle
I am satisfied there will be no unnecessary delay at the Treasury in
Page 20

determining the application; but I know the great press of business there subjects the case to unavoidable delay. and if you can consistently interpose you may be the means of facilitating the old soldiers claim, if you do not obtain it forthwith.
I am well aware that the office you so deservedly hold imposes sufficient duties on you to perform without attending to the private affairs of individuals, unconnected with your own concern, and that you ought not to be importuned
by individuals &c. to attend to any thing unconnected with your office yet, I flatter myself you will have the goodness to allow this request to be an exception when you are informed it is to aid an old Soldier
Page 21

to get Bread.
He was formerly in very easy circumstances. An unfortunate son in trade involved the father to his almost total Ruin. I am in hopes his half pay will afford him much comfort, during his short pilgramage here
The captain is the last surviving officer out of 4 Reg't. N.Y. line who was with Montgomery when he was slain in the Assault on Quebeck the night of the 31st Decem'r 1775.
Pardon my depression, if you please. I am sincerely yours to serve
[signature] K K Van Rensselaer

Albany July 18 1825 }