Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 1688, Henry Carkhuff, New Jersey
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Service - Number
New Jersey - Carkhuff, Henry - R 1688
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State of New Jersey County of Hunterdon
On this fourth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared before me Benjn Egbert one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county, Henry Carkhuff a resident of the township of Readington in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey aged ninety one years on the ninth day of June [illegible] who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say or make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of this act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. Said he was born in the Township of Amwell in said county where he lived with his father who immigrated from Germany, at a certain age he was put to a man by the name of Vanfleet to learn the Blacksmith trade, where he has resided the greatest part of his time thinks the only exception, he lived about six years in the Township of Bethlehem, in the same county. The rest part of his time he has resided in the Township of Reading town, where he now resides. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officer and lived as herein stated. 
In 1775, he was put in Lieutenant and was commissioned by the Governor in the spring there was a call for two companys out of the regiment that he was attached to, when the regiment was met Captain Thomas Jones was his Captain.  The Captain and he as Lieutenant turned out volunteers, and  beet up for volunteers, soon we made up a company and marched. I think Rinehart was major & Mehelm was Colonel. Through Summerville bound Brook to Amboy and Staten Island, Dickinson was our genl [general] who commanded this tour was one month - in 1776 he moved to Readingtown,  Schamp was made captain. The militia was [illegible] when my turn came I always went and stood my tour, thankfully, was often out, was near the Battle of Princeton saw them bury their dead, next day, was in - several small battles or skirmishes one near bound Brook Mountain was at Elizabethtown was frequently in a great deal of danger frequently shot at by the British.  Was in several battles when small parties met they would crack away [illegible] a little while, sometimes- Several would get killed was at Millstone or near Millstone in a battle, was at Rahway, Morristown, Amboy more than once, and a number of other places not now [illegible] stood - continue
Page 3

a many night, near the British does not recollect how often he was
out as Lieutenant, but as officer and soldier was frequently in Pennsylvania
crossed the river Deleware, several times, was away to the north river and was
taken to different places at different [inserted: tours] as necessity required according to the
Command of the officers, as to the names of his officers, whom he served
David Schomp Jones - - Schamps Company was nearly all the
war under marching order, he this deponent was in his company and
thinks, he was a great part of the time under his command, Major Rinehart Gronendyke & some others, Col. Taylor Mehelm and others. Genl Dickinson and others, has served as above stated as near as he can possible recollect, in tours of one month and calls in times of Gen alarms
from the beginning to the end of the war, eighteen to speak within bounds, but he thinks more-- on account of old age and bodily infirmitys, recollection fails, that he cannot posibly recollect any thing more
he cannot now now tell what has become of his commision has often
Looked for it, but never had any written discharge, thinks he was at
Elizabeth town when they was discharged officers told them they might
go home untill further orders. this he thinks was about the end of the war
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, or if any, only on that of the agency of the State of New Jersey

Sworn to and subscribed, the day
and year aforesaid before me
Ben Egbert Judge

Henry [his x mark] Carkhuff

We John Thompson one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common
Pleas in & for said County residing in the Township of Readingtown
and Col. David Schamp residing in the same place, hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Henry Carkhuff, who has subscribed and
Sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Ninety one years
of age or thereabouts. That he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood
where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur
in that opinion

Sworn to and subscribed this
In Thompson
5th day of June 1834 before me
Ben Egbert Judge-

John Thompson [signature]
David Schamp [signature]
Page 4

Benjn Egbert one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common pleas
in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify and declare my opinion
that the Henry Carkhuff, the said Applicant, was a revolutionary soldier,
and served as he states, and do further state that in consequence of old age
and bodily infirmity that he cannot posibly get to where the county Court is held is held, that he is not able even if he was assisted he could not stand it to be taken in any way, that he is now Blind and has been so a number
of years, the whole neighborhood as far as I can find out, all united in the same appinion [opinion] and not even a single decenting voice, I have been acquainted with this old man for more than forty years, I have heard has family talk of his being out in the war of the revolution, of his being often out and
when his term of service was ended he would frequently come home all times
of night, it also appears from what his family says it will be impossible
for them to procure more proof so as to place his services in any plainer
manner, as there is no doubt in the neighborhood, and all the old veterans
is all gone, except, Col. David Schamp and even his recollection as to particulars, seems to be quite imperfect, but as to the services which has been hand down from the old to the younger, is all the same- and that John Tompson who has signed the said Certificate is one of the Judges of the Inferior Court
of Common pleas, of the said County, and that Col. David Schamp is an old revolutionary soldier of Respetable standing, both residents of the same Township
and neighbours to the Applicant,
Benj Egbert Judge
June 5. 1834-
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State of New Jersey
County of Hunterdon Ss
on this fourth day of June 1834
 Personally appeared Before me Benjm
Egbest one of the Judges of the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County, Col. David
Schamp first being duly sworn according to Law on his oath
Saith he will be 79 years of age the 21st of June Instant, saith he
is well. for Seventy years eversince he was a small boy. Carkhuff
was a good deal the oldest, is confident he is 90 years old or more.
Remembers him ever since the commencement of the Revolutionary War
, 1775. Henry Carkhuff was Lietenant, Thomas Jones was Capt.
the Capt and Lutennant both turned out Volunteers, but up for
Volenteers, when they soon made up a Company, and marched out
(I think this was in Spring April or May 1775), threw Somerville,
Bound Brook- and so on to Amboy, to Staten and cannot at this time
who was the Major or Col, but remember Dickson was the Genl -  that
commanded us-- this tour was one month, he [illegible] then moved
in the Township of Readingtown, 1776. the Militia was put in classes, every
shall each [illegible] had to finish a man. this deponent in this year was made
Capt. & was commission by the Governor, Carkhuff was out frequently, under
him, when there was an alarm. was never known to refuse or fail, but how
offen and how long he cannot now recollect. knows he stuck to the cause
threw the whole war. this deponent was out, and was under marching orders
threw all the war.
he was commissioned by the Governor, as Lieutenant, got this time to be Capt
by rotation. as old age is coming on, and memory fails it seems to be 
impossible to remember all the particulars but I have every reason to believe he did
his full share of duty, and his services.
s/ David Schamp

Sworn the date above before me
s/ Benj Egbert Judge-

State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County ⎬ Ss
Personally appeared Before me Benj Egbert one of the
Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, Col. Schamp
who being duly sworn saith that in addition to the above that that Henry Carkhuff
one month a Lieutenant, and he believes no more, that he served under him in what was called militia men under him during the war, and he believes that the 
that the statement that he said Henry Carkhuff has made is true in every
[illegible]  is confident his whole statement is within bounds he verily believes he has
deposed more than he has [illegible]
s/ David Schamp

Sworn before me this 11th day of Dec. 1834
s/ Benj Egbert Judge
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Power of Attorney
of
Rebecca Egbert
daughter of Henry Carkuff.
Page 7

POWER OF ATTORNEY.
STATE OF New Jersey
COUNTY OF Hunterdon } ss:
Be it known that before me, a Justice
of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared
Rebecca Egbert a resident of Bethlehem township in the county 
of Hunterdon in the State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, states that
she is the Daughter of Henry Carkoff in the county of 
Hunterdon and State of New Jersey who was a revolutionary officer as she has heard & believes
and that she believes the United States are still indebted, under existing laws, for the pension that was due
under the application heretofore made, and that she is directly interested as a claimant in the pension for
which application was heretofore made as aforesaid, and constitutes and appoints ISAAC N. COFFIN, of Washington
, D. C., her true and lawful attorney, with irrevocable power to examine into, investigate, and
establish the claim for said pension, and do all acts necessary thereto.
In witness whereof, the said Rebecca Egbert
has on this ninth
day of December 1852, hereunto signed her name, and affixed her seal
s/ Rebecca Egbert (x her mark)

Witness:
s/ Abram S. Vansyekel


Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me on this ninth day of December 
1852.
s/ Wm Egbert J. P.

STATE of New Jersey
COUNTY of Hunterdon
to wit:
I, William Emery Clerk of the Common Pleas court of the county and State
aforesaid, do hereby certify, That William Egbert Esq. before whom the foregoing
power of attorney was acknowledged and affidavit made, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace
in and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is
genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said fifteenth
day of December 1852.
s/ Wm Emery Clerk

*Here, if the soldier or officer is living, insert his name; if he is dead, and the widow is living, insert her name; if both
dead, insert one of the living children's names; if the children are all dead, and either of them survived the former unsuccessful
applicant, insert the name of the administrator of that former applicant.
Here, if the soldier or officer is living, insert his name again; if the widow is living, insert the words, "widow of," and the name of
her husband; if both dead, insert the words, “son or daughter of," and name of the former unsuccessful applicant.
Here insert the word "soldier," or "officer," whichever he was.
NOTE. -- When a female is the person who executes this paper, please put the letter s before the word he in every place where it
occurs.
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1688
REJECTED
P.O. Henry Carkoff
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank], 18 [blank].
Discharged: [blank], 18 [blank].
Application filed: [blank], 18 [blank].
All Files: List of suspended claims 
printed in 1852 show cause
Re-Enlisted: of suspension as follows: 
"no proof of his commission
as lieutenant and services under
it"
Attorney: [blank]
P.O.: [blank]
Recognized. [blank] Contract.
Cert. of Dis. [blank]
Searched for [blank], 18 [blank].
Page 9

31100
Henry Carkoff
New Jersey
Hon J Pasken 26 Jany 1835
Same 12 March 1835
J S Coffin June 16 1835
1688

June 7 1832
Page 10

Henry Cankoff
31.100
N. J.
of
with an [illegible] affiant
24 Dev
W J Yarleay
11 June 1834
Suspended

Hon. J Parker
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State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County Ss
I Isaac G. Farler Clerk of the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County
of Hunterdon Do hereby certify that Benjamin Egbert
Esquire, before whom the foregoing declaration
and affidavits were sworn, also John Thompson
Esquire who has signed the foregoing certificate them
were and now are Judges of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas in and for said County duly com
missioned and sworn, and that full faith and credit
are due to all the official acts as such, and
that their signature are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court at
Flemington, this fifth day of June A.D.
Eighteen hundred and thirty four
s/ Isaac G Farlee Clk

State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County ⎬Ss
I Isaac G Farlee Clerk of the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Hunterdon
do hereby certify that Benjamin Egbert Esquire
before whom the additional affidavit of Col David
Schamp was sworn, then was and now is one of the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and for said
County duly commissioned and sworn, and that full
faith & credit are to all his official acts as
such and that his signature is genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of said
Court at Flemington this thirteenth day
of December A.D Eighteen hundred and
thirty four
s/ Isaac G Farlee Clk
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Washington June 9th 1855.
Sir:
In the Revolutionary pension claim
of Henry Carkoff under the Act of June 7.
1832, I would represent to you that I believe
there has been a mistake or that evidence in his case
has been accidentally overlooked--and I therefore
respectfully request that the case may be examine
in relation to his service [illegible] private only, the claim as officer be hereby [illegible]
It is my province to show that his
case comes within the Regulations, adopted on June
27. 1832 by the Secretary of War for carrying into
effect the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
The Henry Carkoff solemnly
Swears before the Court as follows [illegible inserted sentence]
In 1775 he was put in Lieutenant and was Commissioned by the Governor.
in the Spring there was a call for two Companies out of the
Regiment that he was attached to, when the Regiment was met.
Capt Thomas Jones was his Captain. The Captain and he as
Lieutenant turned out volunteers, and beat up for volunteers
Soon we made up a company and marched, (I think Reinhart
was Major & Mehelm was Colonel), through Somerville, 
Boundbrook to Amboy and Staten Island. Dickerson was our
General who commanded; this tour was one month; in 1776 he
moved to Reading town, Schamp made Captain, the 
militia was classed: whenever my turn came always went
and stood my tour cheerfully; was often out, was near the 
battle of Princeton Saw them bury their dead next day
Page 13

was in several small battles or skirmishes, one near Bound-brook
Mountain - was at Elizabethtown - was frequently in a great deal
of danger and frequently shot at by the British - was in several battles
- when small parties met they would crack away pretty sharp
a little while. Sometimes several would get killed - was at
Milstone or near Milstone in a Battle - was at Rahway, 
Morristown Amboy more than once, and a number of other
places not now recollected. Has stood sentinel a many night
near the British-- does not recollect how often he was out as 
Lieutenant, but was Officer and soldier was frequently in Pennsylvania. 
Crossed the river Delaware several times - was away
to the North River and was taken to different places at different tours,
as necessity required, according to the command of the Officers. As to the names
of the Officers whom he served, David Schamp, Jones, David Schamps
Company was nearly all the war under marching orders, he this deponent
was in his company and thinks he was a great part of the time under
his command,
Majors Rinehart, Gronendyke and some others. Col
Taylor, Ashelm and others, Genl Dickerson and others. Has served 
as above stated as near as he can possibly recollect in tours of one
month and calls in time of general alarm from the beginning to the
end of the war eighteen [months] to speak within bounds, but 
he thinks more.
[illegible]. From all this long detail of service and of the facts
of service, the Country through which he marched - names of
Officers &c. &c. &c. extending through a period of from 1775 to
1783 - Eight years, and from the particulars stated, it is in the
highest degree probable that he served at least two years, but only
claims to have served eighteen months.
2nd He is entitled by the Traditional evidence. The Regulations state "The traditionary
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Evidence of service is deemed very important in the absence of any direct
proof except the declaration of the party; and the Courts are requested
to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general,
and whether any doubts have ever existed on the subject. To
require from the applicants positive proof of service from a
contemporary survivor, would after the lapse of so many years,
be to deprive many of them of the benefit of the law; and as no presumption
is raised against the militia by the existence of rolls in the
Department, there is no good reason why this requisition should be 
extended to them. On the other hand to receive the declaration of the
parties as a sufficient ground for placing them upon the pension roll, 
without corroborating circumstances, would be to open the treasury
to great frauds. A just medium seems to present the best rule
for carrying into effect the objects of Congress. The Commissioner
of Pensions States in letter of April 4th 1839 to Hon Levi Woodbury
Secretary of the Treasury vide Pension Pamphlet page 114, in regard
to and that principle but which applies with equal force to this the
principle appears to have been sanctioned by Congress
as it was promulgated in the Regulations under the Act of June
1832, and ten thousand of those Regulations were printed by order
of Congress. As this Regulation has thus been sanctioned by Congress
and was made by the Secretary of War by Authority of Law of June
7th 1832 & Resolution June 28. 1832 granting to the Secretary of War
Authority to establish what the Satisfactory Evidence mentioned
in said Law is, the Regulation above quoted establishes that Satisfactory
Evidence" is Traditionary Evidence and is Law, and has never been 
altered or repeated by the Secretary of the Interior. And it having been
made under Authority of Law and to carry into effect the Law, the 
Secretary of the Interior has no right or authority to alter or repeal it
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In compliance with this Regulation he has strictly complied
with the requirements and has furnished the Certificate of the Court
as follows. The Court certifies "do hereby Certify and declare
my opinion that the Henry Carkhoff the said Applicant was a
Revolutionary soldier and served as he states"  "the whole
neighborhood as far as I can find out, all united in the same
opinion and not even a single dissenting voice. I have been
acquainted with this old man for more than forty years I
have heard his family talk of his being out in war of the Revolution
, of his being often out and when his term of service was ended
he would frequently come home all times of night, it will also
be impossible for them to procure more proof so as to place his services
in any plainer manner as there is no doubt in the neighborhood
and all the old veterans are all gone except Col. David Schamp,
and even his recollection as to particulars seems to be quite imperfect,
but as to the services which has been handed down from the
old to the young, is all the same- and that John Thompson
Esqr who has signed the Certificate is one of the Judges of the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said County, and
that Col. David Schamp is an old Revolutionary soldier
of respectable standing, both resident of the same township and 
neighbors to the applicant." They according to the regulation
adopted by the Secretary of War stating that Traditionary Evidence
is sufficient - here it is supplied, and the Court does Certify
that its "opinion" is "that he served as he states" and that "the
whole neighborhood" "all united in the same opinion and not even
a dissenting voice" that the Court has been "acquainted with him
forty years, have heard of his family talk of his being often out" and 
repeats "there is no doubt in the neighborhood." Therefore according
Page 16

to this Regulation he is entitled on the Traditionary Evidence
alone to a pension for eighteen months, and why have they not reason to
complain [illegible remaining sentence].
He is entitled by the Parol Evidence alone
but most particularly by the Parol Evidence & Traditionary
Evidence being, as in the words of the Regulation adopted by the 
Secretary of War "corroborating circumstances." To the
Traditionary Evidence itself alone sufficient if there is truth in
the Regulation above quoted is added the Testimony of
Colonel David Champ, who is certified by the Court to be
"a Revolutionary soldier of Respectable standing," the very
Captain who commanded him who solemnly Swears he
Remembers him ever since the commencement of the Revolutionary
War, 1775. Henry Carkhoff was Lieutenant, Thomas
Jones was Captain: the Captain and Lieutenant both turned out
volunteers, beat up for volunteers, when they soon made up a
Company and marched out (I think this was in the Spring
April or May 1775) through Somerville Bound Brook and
so on to Amboy to Staten Island. Cannot at this time (say )
who was the Major or Colonel, but remember Dickerson was
the General that commanded us, this tour was one month.
He Carkhoff soon then moved in the town of Readingtown
1776, the Militia was put in classes, every call each class had to 
furnish a man. This deponent this year was made Captain and
was commissioned by the Governor Burkhoff was out frequently
under him when there was an alarm was never known to refuse or fail
- but how often or how long he cannot now recollect: knows he
stuck to the cause through the whole war. Deponent was out
Page 17

and was under marching orders through all the war" In a
second Affidavit Colonel David Schamp Solemnly Swears
in addition to the above that Henry Carkhoff served one
month as a Lieutenant, and he believes no more, that he served
under him in what was called minute men under him during the
war, and he believes that the statement that the said
Henry Carkhoff has made is true in every respect, but is
confident his whole statement is within bounds, he verily believes
he has served more than he has stated.
I respectfully represent that under the above quoted
Regulation and detail of Evidence that there is good ground
for allowing a pension in his right on the Traditionary
Evidence alone but when is added the Evidence of the
very Officer who commanded him being [illegible]
Higher Evidence than an ordinary Eye Witness of his
service, there is the amplest ground for allowing him the
pension of at least eighteen months service as a private,
as his Commanding Officer States Carkhoff was out frequently
under him "was never known to refuse or fail" "knows he
stuck to the cause" that is of personally defending the Country
through the whole war. Deponent was out and was under
marching orders through all the war "is confident his whole
statement is within bounds, he verily believes he has served
more than he has stated." There is ample ground to believe
that he served at the very least two years, but if you are not
willing to allow very little that he claims [illegible insert] eighteen months
I request you to allow whatever you are willing.
I am 
Very Respectfully
Page 18

Your Obedt Servt
s/ J N Coffin

Loren P Waldo Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 19

Washington March 2. 1835
Sir,
I enclose a supplemented deposition of John Cole in
[illegible by smudge] of New Jersey in support of his claim for Pension and
shall be very glad to hear that it is sufficent to overcome the
objection to his claim.
Henry Carkhuff and this  claimant addressed the precise situation of 
when claim I do not remember (having sent you letter to Mr.
Egbert) is dead. Can any thing be granted in his case 
Your answer as soon as convenient will oblige
Yr. Obed Serv
s/ James Parker

James L. Edward ED
Page 20

Pension Office
June 16 1833
Sir
The case of Henry Carkoff of New Jersey has
been re-examined and I can see no earthly
ground upon which I could reverse the action
of this office. I doubt whether he ever
rendered a days service in any
regularly organized company.
[illegible] is certain he
has not proved that he did.
J N Coffin Esq
Present