Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,234, for Richard Sutphen, New Jersey
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE
New Jersey  

Sutphen Richard 

NUMBER
S. 15234 

carded

CONTENTS
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20,205

New York 
Rich'd Sutphen
of Schoharie in the State of New York
who was a Private in the comp commanded
by Captain Legts-- of the Regt commanded 
by Col Hendrickson of the N.J.
line for 2 years

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

Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of Aug 1833 and sent to T. Sawyer Sawyersville

Arrears to the 4th of Ma '33                 $160
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep'33     40
                                                                  _______
                                                                  $200

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Geo. A. Stiles Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 79
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No. 14537

Richard Sutphen
Schoharie Co. N. York

Admd.

5 . 14
P.380
May 8 ' 37

Thomas Sawyer
Sawyersville N.Y.
Page 4

Brief in the case of Rich'd Sutphen
of Schoharie Co in the State of N. York
Act 7th June, 1832.

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 75
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.:

Period.
 Militia in 1776 Aug to June 1778
                 July '78 to 1783

Duration of Service.
11 months about

Rank.
As a Private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  
Gen. David Farnam
Capt. Garret Longstreet
Col. Dan'l Hendrickson
Capt. John Davis Tho's Shaddick         
                         Smoch
Capt. Benj'n Van Cliefs. 1st Regt
                 Monmouth Militia N. Jersey
Col. Asher Holmes

5. In what battles was he engaged? Middletown N. Jersey

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Monmouth Co N. Jersey

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary and living witnesses

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct

Geo. B. Whiting Examining Clerk
Page 5

14537

Pension papers of
Richard Sutphen


Admd.
24 mo. Pri.
_______
80$
Page 6

State of New York
Montgomery County.  Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Johnathon Clayton to me known and Hendrick Vanderbeer also to me known, who being duly sworn do severally does and say that they and each of then did know Richard Sutphen of Sharon in the County of Scoharie in the Revolutionary War from the year 1778 until the close of the war in 1783.  That during that time the said Richard Sutphen served in a company of Militia commanded by Captain VanCleef in Col. Holmes Regiment. That  the manner of Erving during that period was that one half of each company was mustered alternatively in monthly tours of duty keeping guard or garrison along the New Jersey frontier.  That in this manner the whole company were in actual service and on duty as much  at least as four month in each year besides muster on alarms.  That neither of these deponents are able to recollect with certainty any particular month of any year not any particular place where the said Richard Sutphen was on duty but well remember his belonging to said company and believe he performed his regular tours on monthly duty which would not be less than four months of actual duty in each year.
Jonathon Clayton
Henrick Vanderbeer

Subscribed and sworn this 28th day of May 1833 before me James Voorhees Justice of the Peace

I James Voorhees before whom the above named Jonathon Clayton and Hendrick Vanderbeer were duly sworn do certify that they and each of them are persons of credibility and entitled belief.
James Voorhees
Page 7

State of New York
Montgomery County
Clerks Office
I George D. Ferguson, Clerk of the County of Montgomery do hereby certify that James Voorhees before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was on the date thereof a Justice of the Peace of said County.
And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and verily believe that the name of said Justice subscribed  toto the within affidavit and also to the within certificate of good character of Jonathon Clayton and Hendrick Vanderbeer is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29th day of May 1833.

Geo. D. Ferguson
Page 8

State of New York
County of Schoharie
   On this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid not sitting Richard Sutphen (underlined) a resident of the town of Sharon in the County of Schoharie aforesaid 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 benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
   That he entered the service of the United States as a Militia soldier and served as herein after stated.
   That at the commencement of the revolutionary war he was a militia soldier of a company commanded by Capt. Garret Longstreet - the county Monmouth in the state of New Jersey, which company was in the Regiment commanded by Colonel David Hendrickson and in the Brigade of General David Farnam as he believes.  That about half the company and regiment to which he was attached were in the service alternatively every other month to guard the the cause and -?- in and about the State of New Jersey from the time the British forces took the Lighthouse and converted it into a fort to the time of the Monmouth Battle a period of time of nearly two tours according to his best recollection from the Month of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy six to the latter part of June one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight - That he was stationed on the frontiers with his company one month at S--?- River in the State of New Jersey, one month at the Ozark Pond to guard the salt works at that place in the state of New Jersey, three months at Sorsburg (?) Falls in the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, one month at Middletown in the State of New Jersey.....
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(continued from previous page)

...and another month at Middletown Point in the State of New Jersey, one month at a place called Black Point from whence the company marched to Souishany Falls from thence to Monmouth and from thence to the Sourland Mountains to  join Gen: Washingtons Army from that place he with his company and the army of Gen. Washington marched to New Brunswick at which place the company was discharged.  That  the services aforesaid were performed under the following named officers Captain Garret Longstreet, Captain John Davis, Captain Thomas Shaddick and Captain  Boris (?) Smoock.
   That after the Battle of Monmouth this deponent father moved from Soisburg to Monmouth and that he moved with the family and that he in July one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight became a Militia soldier of Captain's  Benjamin Van Cleef's company attached to the first Regiment of Monmouth Militia in the State of New Jersey commanded by Colonel Asher Habeas (smudged) - that the said company to which he was attached from the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight to the termination of the War is 1783 was almost continuous in the service by being as Scouting parties and guarding the (words crossed out?) seashore did that he this deponent served during the whole time with the said company - That he the deponent had been in a skirmish with the British at a place called Hog -?- and retook their horses which the British had stolen. He also was in an irregular Militia engagement with the British at Middletown in the State of New Jersey where it was said the British landed fifteen hundred men - That he this deponent has no documentary evidence of his services; not does he at this day know any persons by whom he could prove his services but by Jonathon Clayton and Hendrick Vanderbeer his ensign and first.....
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(continued from previous page)

....August in the company commanded by Capt. Van Cleef - that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Richard Sutphen

Sworn and subscribed this fourth day of October 1832 in Open Court
John Gebhard  Jr. Clk.

   We George Rice residing in the town of Sharon in the County of Schoharie and Jedidiah Miller residing in the town of Cobleskill in the county aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Sutphen who has subscribed and sworn on the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years old, 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.

Geo. Rice
Jedidiah Miller
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid in Open Court
John Gebhard  Jr Clerk

      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 George Rice a resident of the town of Sharon in the County of Schoharie.....
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(continued from previous page)

....and Jedediah Miller of the town of Cobleskill and county aforesaid are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
     And the said Court further certifies that in the immediate residence of the said Richard Sutphen there resides no clergyman.
William Bulbman (?) first Judge Schoharie County Court

     I John Gebhard Junior Clerk of theCourt of Common Pleas of the county of Schoharie do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in there matter of the application of Richard Surphen for a pension.
    In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty two.
John Gebhard Jr. Clk of Schoharie Com. Pleas
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State of New York
   Montgomery County.  Personally appeared in Open Court before the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Montgomery now sitting on the 20th day of September 1832 Jonathon Clayton of Florida in said County aged seventy three years and Hendrick Vanderbeer of the same place aged seventy  two years who being duly sworn say each for himself that they are well acquainted with Richard Sutphen of the town of Sharon in the County of Schoharie that they knew the said Richard Sutphen in the Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War from the year 1778 till the close of the War in 1783 of the War in 1783.  That during that time the said Richard Sutphen was a private Soldier in a company of Militia commanded by Captain Van Clef and attached to the first Regiment of Monmouth Militia in the State of New Jersey commanded by Col. Asher Holmes.  The this deponent the said Jonathon Clayton was an Ensign in said company and the said Hendricks was first Sergeant  in said company and that the said Richard served from the time they so knew him in said company to the close of the War.  And that the said Richard during that time performed his regular tours of duty in said company.
Henrick Vandeveer
Subscribed and sworn the day endear aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I George D. Ferguson Clerk of the said court have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Geo. D. Ferguson
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(continued from previous page)

...And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the examination of the matter that the within named Jonathon Clayton and Hendrick Van Derbeer both of the County of Montgomery are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 23rd day of May 1833
R.H. Cushing Dep. Clerk
Page 14

January 10, 1939.

BA-J/CC
Richard Sutphen
S.15234

Mrs. Harold Lee Warner,
43 Ramsey Place,
Albany, New York.

Dear Madam:

The data which follow were obtained from the papers in the claim for pension on file under S.15234, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Richard Sutphen.

The date and place of birth of this soldier and names of parents are not shown.

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War he belonged to Captain Garrett Longstreet's company, of Monmouth County, New Jersey militia. He served from August 1776 at various times until June 1778, eight months in all, under Captains Garrett Longstreet, John Dennis, Thomas Shaddick (evidently meant for Thomas Chadwick) and Barnes Smock, and under Colonel Daniel Hendrickson. After the battle of Monmouth this soldier's father moved from "Loisburg" to Monmouth and he, the soldier, moved with the family. He enlisted in July 1778 and served in Captain Benjamin Van Cleve's company and Colonel Asher Holmes' New Jersey regiment almost continuously until the termination of the war in 1783, in scouting parties and guarding the sea shore, he was in a skirmish at "Hog Swamp: where they retook thirteen horses which the enemy had stolen and in an engagement at Middletown, New Jersey.

Richard Sutphen was allowed a pension on his application executed October 4, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-five years, and a resident of Sharon, Schoharie County, New York.

It is not shown whether this soldier was ever married.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of this...
Page 15

soldier you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and cite the following:

Richard Sutphen
Certificate #20235
Issued August 12, 1833
Rate $80.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
New York Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
Page 16

(Left side pf page)

P.         15234

INVALID

File NO. 15,234
Richard Sutphen
Pri.  Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832

Index:- Vol. 1 (or capital I), page 364

(right side of page)

1907 Feby. 13. History to Mrs. Wm.Birdsall
1913 Nov 10. t o Mr.s C. Estella Retton
1939 Jan (or Jun) 10 Hist  to Mrs. Howard -?- Warner - see her letter in file JacobBockoven W4139
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Richard Sutphen
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BRIEF..... Richard Sutphen

I. yes
II. yes
III. --
IV. yes
V.  NO, Applicant required to furnish the date and length of each tour of actual service, and the names of officers under whom rendered.  Done by there two witnesses who are credible.
VI. yes
VII. yes
VIII. yes
IX. yes
X.  yes
      The two witnesses fully establish two tours service from 1778 to 1783 -?- -?- four months (underlined) in each year.
     Again the Applicant established his  -?-
-?- to the year 1778 as said  (? number) months particularly.....
Page 19

  Page 2

XI. 2 witnesses
XII.  No
XIII. --
XIV. yes
        no ( left side): done by the magistrate and               Court of Record
XV. yes
XVI. yes
XVII. yes
Page 20

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and teh 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. Some persons who apply for pension merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civili pursuit. QUERE 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, asa well as regiment, company, and line to which he 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.
QUERE XVI Mode of authenticating papers. In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates 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 ends 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. In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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In reply to your request of ——, received for a statement of the military history of Richard Sutphen a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. S 15234
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment. Length of Service. Rank. Officers under whom service was rendered. Captain. Colonel. State.
Dates: Between August 1776 and June 1778. Length of Service 8 mos. Captain Longstreet, John Dennis, Thomas Chadwick, Barnes Smock. Colonel Daniel Hendrickson Monmouth Co. Mil. State NJ

Dates of Enlistment or appointment; Between July 1778 and end of 1783. Length: 4 mos. every year. Captain Benjamin Van Cleef. Colonel; Asher Holmes. State: NJ.
Battles engaged  [check mark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment [check mark]
Date of application for pension. October 4, 1832. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application: Sharon, Schohane Co. NY.
Age at date of application, 75 years, date and place of birth not stated. 
Remarks: There is no family data. The date of last payment of pension and to whom [illegible] the Interior, etc. Respectfully, Commissioner.
Page 22

Worcester N.Y.
Nov 3 1913

Bureau pf Pensions
Washington D.C.

Gentlemen - Can you give any information concerning the facts following or throw any new light on the Subject Survivors file 15234
My National No. 604488
Richard Sutphen a soldier  of the Revolutionary War enlisted in the year 1776 under Colonel Daniel Hendrickson (Monmouth Co. Militia) New Jersey.  He served fromAug 1776 until June 1778 from July 1778 under Colonel Asher.....
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(continued from previous page)

...Holmes. to the End of the War 1783 Under Captain's Gerrit Longstreet, John Dennis, Thomas Shaddick, Barnes Smoch (Smock?), Benjamin Van Clef.
He applied for a pension Oct. 24, 1832. His residence at the date of application was Sharon Schoharie Co. N.Y.  Age at date of application seventy five (75) years.  Date and place of birth not stated.  His claim was allowed.
No record of death, and who when or where he was married
He was my great Grandfather on my father's mothers side.  
I am anxious to find out further data but I....
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(continued from previous page)

...am at sea to know where or how start in.
Respectfully,
C. Estella Ritton
Worcester, Otsego Co. N.Y.
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Post Marked:  Pension Office U.S.
                         Nov 5 1913
Page 26

Hamilton N.Y.
Feb. 2nd 1907

To The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir:  I am looking up the rerecord of one Richard Sutphen who spent six years in the American Revolutionary War. He was a boy sixteen when he enlisted from Long Island or New Jersey.  Late in life he received a pension not so very long before he died 1836.  When he received his pension he lived at Sward in town of Sharon, Montgomery Co., N.Y.  A lawyer by name Hylton procured this pension for him (over).....
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(continued from previous page)

...Kindly address
    Mrs Wm. Birdsall
    Hamilton, N.Y.
Page 28

January 10, 1939
BA-J/CC
Mrs. Harold Lee Werner
43 Ramsey Place, 
Albany, New York. 
Dear Madam: 
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Jonathan Horton, George Bockover, Jacob Bockover, Benjamin Werner, and Richard Sutphen, and the War of 1812 record of Caleb Horton, all of New Jersey. There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Benjamin Warner as described by you, nor any claim for pension of Jonathan Horton and George Bockover; nor of Caleb Horton in the War of 1812. 
You are furnished herewith the Revolutionary War records of Jacob Bockover and Richard Sutphen. Very truly yours, A.D. Hiller, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.