Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,653, Harmanus Blauvelt, New York
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Service Number
New York Blauvelt, Harmanus S.22,653
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Inscribed on the Roll of New York [illegible] the rate of 70 Dollars ___ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834

Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of August 1834 and put to H[illegible] At Mount Pleasant

Arrears to the 4th of March '34 $210.[illegible]
Semi-anu. allowance ending Sept 35.[illegible] $245. [illegible]
Revolutionary Claim [illegible] June 7, 1832
Recorded by Viral Luce [illegible]
Book [illegible] Vol. 4 Page 117
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State of New York
County of Rockland, Ss.  on this fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before me Comt G. Blauvelt Judge of the County of Common Pleas in and for said County, Harmanus Blauvelt a resident of the town of [Orange, crossed out] Clarkstown, in the County of Rockland, and State of New York, aged ninety one years the sixteenth day of April last past, 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.
That he was enrolled in [entered, crossed out] the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. I was called to the service, in the Militia, in Capt. Henry Tenure [or poss. Leumes or Teunes], Company, and Col. A. Hawks Hays Regiment, some time in the summer of 1776, and Continued in said [service, crossed out] enrollment, until the close of the Revolutionary war, [except short intervals when I was permitted to go to my family for a few days, crossed out]. That he well recollects that he was in the following engagements (but does not recollect the day or month) one was near the Hudson River, in the town of Haverstraw, then the County of Orange, now the County of Rockland, with a Company of the British, who landed from one of their ships laying an [illegible] on the Hudson, their object in landing was to plunder and steal the cattle and whatever they could lay their hands on, belonging to the inhabitants, our Company lay concealed in the woods until they had all landed from the barge we rushed upon them, and took them prisoners, without any blood being shed, they fired at us from the ship, the cannon balls whistling about our ears and cutting the limbs of which a splinter struck violently against my face; another engagement with a small company of the enemy in
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in Clarkstown County and State aforementioned at this time our Company was commanded by Lieut Walter Van Orden who was an officer under Capn Henry Tenure , we took three [illegible] prisoners and sent them to head quarters----one was mortally wounded. That in the year 1777 in the month of November as I believe, I Volunteered in Cap. Robert Johnsons Company, we were marched to Bergin County, State of New Jersey to a place called Wehawken where one of our men, Garret O. Blenis [Oblenis] was wounded he further declares that he was marched in said Bergin County under Lieut Walter Van Orden to a place called Wermis (Wierimus)where we took one Jacob Acker prisoner, who had been engaged for some time in assisting the enemy, giving them all the information he was capable of, to enable them to steel, plunder, and destroy property of those that where true to their Countrys Independence. he further states that he was under the command of Lieut Walter Van Orden in taking three men prisoners, in Clarkstown, now County of Rockland, they where searched we found some papers with them which were read by one Joseph Blauvelt, we judged from the contents of their papers that they where spys, they where sent to a company of Regular Troops, Their lying in the Village of Clarkstown Commanded by Cap. [blank] who on a more vigorous search and examination where found to be spys sent to head quarters where two of them were executed, as I was afterward informed. I was a resident of Clarkstown, then Orange, now Rockland County, and State of New York, when I entered the service in 1776. and continued to reside in said place, ever since to the present time, I was Sergeant in Capt. Henry Tenures Company, from the commencement to the close of the Revolutionary war. Rockland County in the State of New York, and Bergin County in the State of New Jersey, where very much harassed by the
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the enemy, by land and by water from the time the British landed and took possession of New York, to the close of the Land war, part of the British army marched from New York, (I do not now recollect the year) through Bergin County and so into Rockland County, laying waste and destroying everything in their way, after said army left our peace and returned to New York, the enemy continued, frequently to ransack our Country, led on and piloted by the Refugees, and tories, stealing horses, cattle, and everything they could lay their hands on, they carried to New York, rob houses, afterwards set fire to them, killing the inhabitants, and taking some prisoners to New York, also the British shipping laying anchored of Rockland County on the Hudson River, where continually harrassing the inhabitants along said River, committing depredations, plundering Robery and sometimes succeeding to take some, who where called by the enemy Rebbles, prisoners to New York, which made it indespencable necessary to have a great part of the Militia out on actual duty all the time from the year 1776 to the close of said war, to save the said County of Bergin and the County of Rockland from utter destruction and notwithstanding all the guarding and defence that was in the power of our Militia to make, the said Counties where laid waste, and suffered very much, I did not serve in any Continental Company or regiment, but am confident, that I have been in actual service, as a soldier, doing and performing the duties of Sergeant, in Cap Henry Tunnes Company, and Cap Robert Johnsons Company, more than two years during the Revolutionary war; that he has no documentary
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evidence, to prove his claim, and that he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service, except a few of the surviving fellow soldiers of the Revolution; that John Hutton, Garrit Suven, Jacob Tallerman, & Andrew Onderdonk, can testify as to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution.
[signed] Harmonus Blauvelt
Sworn to and subscribed the Day and year aforesaid, before me.
[signed] Cornl I. Blauvelt Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County.

We, James D. Demarest, a clergyman, residence in the town of Rammipo [Ramapo], County of Rockland, and State of New York and Peter S. Van Orden of the same place, Hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with Harmanus Blauveld the person sworn to, and who has subscribed the above declaration; that we believe him to be ninety one years of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the Neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
[signed] James D. Demarest  V. Dello
Peter S. Van Orden

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written.
Before me Cornl. I. Blauvelt Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County.

I, Cornl. I. Blauvelt, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Rockland, do hereby declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after meeting the interogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And I Cornl. I Blauvelt Judge, of said Court of Common Pleas, do further Certify that, James D. Demorest is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Ramipo in Said County, that I have been
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acquainted with the said James D. Demorest, for more than twenty years, that he is a Clergyman of good standing, who has signed the preceding certificate, and that Peter S. Van Orden, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same place that he is Maj. Genl. a man of unblemished character, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
And I do hereby further Certify that the said Harmanus Blauvelt, through bodily infirmity, was unable to attend Court.
[signed] Cornl. I. Blauvelt, Judge

I, David Pye, Clerk of the County of Rockland, Do hereby certify, That Cornelius I. Blauvelt, whose name is subscribed to the preceding certificate, was on the day of the date therof, one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas, in and for said county. Commissioned and sworn. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge, and verily believe that the signature of Cornl I. Blauvelt, subscribed to the same, is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this nineteenth day of December, 1832.
[signed] David Pye
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Harmanus Blauvelt
Rockland County
New York

c.f.

[written very lightly}
dead
3 mo agregate
[remainder illegible]



Admitted
Sergeant 14 months
[illegible]
died 28th Feb. 1833

Mr Ward
David Pye Agt.
Clarkstown P.O.
Rockland County
New York
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War Department, Pension Office,
May 28 183_
Feb 24 "

Sir:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 28 183
Oct 24 -
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }).
You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
1976
1777
more than
A Statement, shewing the Service of Harmanus Blauvelt Rockland County N. York

[TABLE]
Period when the service was rendered
Enrolled 1776
Vol 1777
more than

Duration of the
claimant's service.
Years. Months. Days.
untill close of the war

Rank of the claimant.
Serjeant & Private

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served
 Cap Leumes
 Lt.  Van Order
 Cap R. Johnson

Names and of the General and Field officers.
Col A.H. Hay

Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
 Haverstraw
 Clarkstown

Country through which he marched.
 Bergen County N.J. to Wehawken to Mernis

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
┃ 91 years
┃ Orange
┃ Rockland County 
┃ New York

Evidence by which the declaration is supported 
Living Witnesses
& Traditionary

[END OF TABLE]

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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[COPIED EXTRACTED TEXT WITHOUT FURTHER EDITING]
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The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," militia and volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in
stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
of
On this
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
with
and
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
the Agency in the State of
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
orn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court,
A. B.
tionary soldier, and served as he states.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revoluof
the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
and C. D. residing in (the same)
who has
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that and subscribed at any and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 Revofutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Clerk of the Court of
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of
for a pension.
do hereby certify that the foregoing
DECLARATION.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
sion; but if neither of these can be obtained the
& c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commis-
---
-
at least one credible
also state under oath, and will then procure, if
uch citaupon
the transaction therewith, as may have a tendency of these
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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[COPIED FROM EXTRACTED TEXT WITH NO FURTHER EDITING]
3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there
subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account
of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
{To a Soldier.
Town Ofcer
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given
and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represented and that he
the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character
and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary 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
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration be
fore required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the
proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to
perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the man
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, station as such
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow
the rule laid down for his guidance.
The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case
where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, 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
them in the following grades:--For---yeardays
, I served as a . Formonths
, and ---
months and - days, I served as and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 shown 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 civil
pursuit.
┃ The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no pubseal
of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
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 papers 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.
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 rendered to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well
us the 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.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
wrote 11 applies to continental troops only.
⌨ This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Daniel D. Davidson Exam Clerk
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

June 12, 1925
Mrs. Paul Clerke
27 Union Ave.
Spring Valley, N.Y.

Madam;
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 22653, it appears that HARMANUS BLAUVELT
was born April 16, 1741, in Ramapo, Orange (later Rockland) County, New York.

While a resident of Clarkstown, Rockland County, New York, he enlisted in July, 1776, and served at various times until the
close of the Revolution, amounting to about two years in all, as Sergeant with the New York Troops under Captains Hendrick Tenure and
Robert Johnson and Colonel A. Hawkes Hay; he was in engagements at Haverstraw and Clarkstown.

Pension was allowed on his application executed December 14, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Clarkstown, New York. He
died February 28, 1833, leaving a son, Daniel H. a grandson, Peter Demarest, Jr., child of the soldier's daughter, Lany; and the following
heirs their relationship to soldier not stated): Margaret, widow
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of Cornelius A. Blauvelt; Annie, wife of Cornelius Onderdonk; Sarah, widow of David B. Demarest; Bridget, wife of Abraham Sarvent.

The above noted is the only HARMANUS BLAUVELT found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau and there is no record of
Naramania Blauvelt.

Respectfully,

WILDER S. METCALF
Commissioner
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1925 June 12 Hish to Mrs. Paul Clerke M.C.S.

22653
INVALID.
No. 22653
Harmanus Blauvelt
Sergt  Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: __ Vol. 2, Page 41
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of New York Rockland County Ss
On this 23d day of April 1834 personally appeared Garret Oblenis age now 76 years of age before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace who being first duly sworn doth depose and say that he belonged to a Company where Hendrick Tenure was Capt in Col A. Hawkes Hays Regiment that in the month of July 1776 when the British war vessels first sailed up the Hudson River the said Company was all by the order of Col Hays called out to guard along the north River (except such as inlisted in the five months service) and guarded nearly all the time out in actual [duty, crossed out] service untill the fall Late of the year of 1776. That early in the [fall, crossed out] spring of the year 1777 the said Company was by the order of Col Hay ordered to class themselves that one fourth part of the said Company [might, crossed out] was to serve and be ordered out in actual duty that agreeable to the said orders the said Company was put into classes of four men in a class [to their, crossed out] And was obliged to to have a man to serve or divide the duty among themselves that in that capacity the said Company did serve from early in the Spring until late in fall or winter of the year of ['78, crossed out] each years untill 1782 Doing one full weeks duty at a time being mustered every day and guarding day and night during each weekly tours and that they drew rations and obliged to serve by the said orders to perform duty as regular Soldiers that the said men out on duty was commanded by the said Capt or by Walter Vanorder the first Lieutenant in said Company and that in the above manner the said John Eckerson Harmannus Blauvelt deceased [some crossed out words] did serve and perform the services by them set forth as all had to serve in in that manner
[signed] Garret Oblenis
Subscribed & sworn before me this day and year above mentioned [signed] John T Blanche Justice
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I do hereby certify that Garret Oblenis who has sworn and Subscribed to the written affidavit I a man who I am personally acquainted with and he is a man of veracity his statements are [illegible] to credit
[signed] John T Blanch Justice
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State of new York Rockland County Ss On this twenty second day of April 1834 personally appeared before the subscriber , a Justice of the peace in and for said county [Personally appeared, crossed out] Claus Vanhouten aged 82 years
who being duly sworn did for himself depose and say that he belonged to a Company whereof Hendrick Tenure was Capt. in Coln. A Hawkes Hay Regiment That in the month of July 1776 when the British vessels of war first sailed up the Hudson River, the said Company was all by the orders of Coln. Hay called out in the service to guard along the hudson river (except such of the said Company as enlisted in the five months service) and guarded nearly the whole of the time (out in actual service) untill late in the fall of the said year. that early in the Spring of the year 1777. the said company was, by order of the said [company was, crossed out] Coln. ordered to class themselves that one fourth part of the said Company might be ordered out in actual duty. that agreeable to the said orders the said company was put into classes of four men in a class and was obliged to hire a man to serve or divide the duty and serve themselves. that in that capacity the said company did serve from early in the spring until late in the fall or winter in each and every year until the fall of the year 1782 doing one full week duty at a time being mustered every day and guarding day and night during each weekly tour and that they drew rations and obliged by the said orders to perform the same duty as regular soldiers, that the said men out on duty was commanded by the said Capt or by Walter Van Orden the first Lieutenant in said company. and that in the above manner John Eckerson and Harmanus Blauvelt, now deceased, and Jacob Tinkey, who is aged and debilitated did perform these services by them set forth as all had to serve in that manner. [signed] Claus Vanhouten
Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid before one John T. Blanch Justice
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I do hereby Certify that Claus Vanhouten who has subscribed and sworn to the written affidavit is a person whom I am personally acquainted with, and is a man of Viracity and Statements are intitled to Credit
[signed] John T Blanch Justice
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State of New York Rockland County Ss On this twenty third day of April, 1834 before me the undersigned, a Justice of the peace, in and for said county personally appeared John House, a resident of the town of Clarkstown, in said County, aged 74 years, who being duly sworn saith that he belonged to a Company Commanded by Capt Hendrick Tenure, in a regiment commanded by Coln. A Hawkes Hay, during the Revolutionary War. That in the month of July 1776 when the British vessels of war first sailed up the Hudson river, the said company (except such as enlisted in the five month service) was by orders of the said Coln. ordered out to guard along the said river, and did serve nearly all the time in actual duty in the field until late in the fall of the year aforesaid. That early in the spring of the year 1777 by order of the said Company, the said company was divided into classes, so that the one fourth part thereof might be out on duty at one time to make a continual guard along said river and at other places where a guard was deemed necessary, and did serve from early in the spring of the year until late in the fall of each and every year until the fall, of each and every of the years from 1777 to 1782 in sept of the last year, in weekly tours. That during said time they had to serve one full week at a time being obliged to guard day and night. was daily mustered, and they was obliged to get their lodging in barns or in the open field or in woods that the men out on duty was commanded by the said Capt. or Walter Van Orden, the first Lieutenant, that their services during each tour was such as the Continental line, being subject to the same [illegible, poss. discipline], that they generally drew ration of Wm Theirs the Commissary. but often when remote from the commissary store they had to receive some supply from the inhabitants or furnish it themselves That John Eckerson (sergeant) and Jacob Tinkey a private did serve in the said Company, and subject to the same duty as the others being obliged to perform their regular tours of duty under command of the aforesaid officers. [signed] John House
Sworn to the day and year aforesaid before one John T. Blanch Justice
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I do hereby Certify that John house I am personally acquainted with who has subscribed and sworn to the within affidavit and is a man of verity whose statements are entitled to credit
[signed] John T Blanch Justice

State of New York
Rockland County Ss I, David Pye, Clerk of the County of Rockland do hereby certify that John T Blanch, before [the within, crossed out] whom the within affidavit of John House was sworn, and whose name is subscribed to the above certificate, and before whom the annexed affidavits of Claus Vanhouten and Garret Oblenis was sworn, and whose name is subscribed to the different certificates thereof, is a Justice of the peace, in and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his name subscribed to the [illegible] of the different affidavits, and the different certificates, is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twenty fourth day of April, 1834. [signed] David Pye
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State of New York
Rockland County Ss 
On this fourteenth day of December 1832 personally appeared before me Cornelius T Blauvelt one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Rockland Peter S Van Orden of the town of Ramapo county and state aforesaid aged sixty nine years in August last Past according to his family record who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that he has been acquainted with Harmanus Blauvelt of the town of Clarkstown in the county of Rockland and state of New York ever since the commencement of the Revolutionary war although this deponent then resided in the town of Hackensack county of Bergin and State of New Jersey at a place called Scrawtenburgh between the Hackensack and Hudson Rivers on account of the depredations committed by the enemy in the Neighbourhood in the later part of the year 1770 moved with the family consisting of his mother a widow and four children besides himself into the State of New York now county of Rockland in a house owned by the said Harmanus Blauvelt in the town of now Clarkstown near the house he then lived and still lives and in the year 1777 that deponent then understood that the said Harmanus Blauvelt was a Sergeant in Capt Henry Tenures Company Col A Hawkes hays Regiment of Militia and was called in actual service a considerable part of the summer and fall of said year as this deponent then understood and verily believe, but is unable to state the precise time of his service and always understood and believed that he the said Harmanus Blauvelt was faithfull to his countrys cause and further saith not 
[signed] Peter S. Van Orden
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written, before me. Cornl I Blauvelt Judge of the court of Common Pleas in and for said County.
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Declaration of Harmanus Blauvelt
21414
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I Cornelius Blauvelt, residing in the town of Orange County of Rockland, and State of New York being eighty two years of age, hereby Certify, that I am well acquainted with Harmanus Blauvelt, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we have lived neighbours ever since before the Revolutionary war to the present time, that I believe him to be ninety one years of age as he states, that I was with him, under Command of Lieut Walter Van Orden, when three men were taken prisoner, where searched and their papers, found with them were read by Joseph Blauvelt, believing them to be spys, they where sent to a Company of Regular troops, then laying in Clarkstown Commanded as I now recollect by Cap. [blank] who as I was afterwards informed where proved to by spys sent to Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County when Col Macdugles army lay and two of the three were executed.
I also recollect that I was present in taking Jacob Arkin one of the enemy at Wermis, Bergin County New Jersey he had been engaged some time to assist the enemy informing them where they might have an opertunit with safety to plunder and steal, that I believe that what he has stated in the above declaration is true, I also believe that he has served his Country faithfully as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, for more that two years, that he was a good and true soldier, that he is a man of unquestionable, veracity, and unblemished character, and reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that I concur in that [damaged]; Sworn to, and subscribed, this fourteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two,
[signed] Cornelius Blauvelt
Before me, Cornl' I. Blauvelt Judge of the Court  of Common Pleas in and for said County.
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I, Garrit Oblenis, residing in Clarkstown, County of Rockland, and State of New York, being seventy two years of age, hereby Certify that I am well acquainted with Harmanus Blauvelt, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we have lived neighbours from my youth to the present time; that I believe him to by ninety one years of age as he states that I was in Company with him at Wehawken [damaged] Capt. Robert Johnson, at which place I was wounded by a shot of the enemy through the left arm, and broke two of my ribs; that he has served during the Revolutionary war along the Hudson River from Haverstraw, in the County of Rockland, to Wehawken in the County of Bergin, State of New Jersey, for the space of two Years at least, that he has been a good and true, and faithful, soldier in said war, that I believe, that what he has stated in the above declaration, is in all respects substantially correct, and that he is a man of unquestionable veracity, and unblemished Character, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that I concur in that opinion.
[signed] Garret Oblenis
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Cornl' I' Blauvelt, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County.
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And I, Cornl I. Blauvelt, Judge, of said Court, do certify, that I have been acquainted with Cornelius Blauvelt, resident in the town of Orange, County of Rockland, and State of New York, and Garret Oblenis of Clarkstown, of the same County and State, for upwards of thirty years who have signed the two preceding certificates, that they are persons of good character, and unquestionable veracity, and their statement is entitled to Credit.
[Signed] Cornl. I. Blauvelt, Judge.

I, David Pye, Clerk of the County of Rockland, Do hereby certify, that Cornelius I Blauvelt Esq, was on the day of the date thereof, one of the Judges of the court of Common Please, in and for the county aforesaid, Commissioned and sworn, And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge, and verily believe that the signature of Cornl. I Blauvelt, subscribed to the said certificates is Genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have herewith set my hand and seal of Office, this nineteenth day of December 1832
[signed] David Pye
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State of New York
Rockland County
On this twentieth day of July, 1833, personally appeared before me Cornelius I. Blauvelt one of the Judges of the Court of Common Please in and for said County. Peter P Demarest, of the town of Clarkstown and John Hudson of the town of orange, who being first duly sworn doth depose and say- That they was well acquainted with Harmanius Blauvelt, now deceased, who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration knows that he departed this life on the twenty eighth day of February now last past and that he left no widow, and that Daniel H Blauvelt, Margaret widow of Cornelius I Blauvelt, Anny wife of Cornelius Onderdonk, Sarah widow of David B Demarest, Bridget wife of Abraham Sarvent, Peter Demarest Junr. son of Lany daughter of the said Harmanus Blauvelt deceased are the only heirs at law of the said Blauvelt.
[signed] Peter R Demarest
John Hudson  X his mark

Cornl. I. Blauvelt, Judge.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me  personally appeared before me Cornelius I Blauvelt Judge as aforesaid, Daniel H Blauvelt, son and one of the heirs at law of the said Harmanis Blauvelt deceased who being first duly sworn doth depose and say that agreeable to the best information he has received from his father, that the said Harmanis Blauvelt was born in the now town of Ramapo, in said County on the sixteenth day of April 1741 as appears from the record of his age in his family Bible now in his possession, that he having departed this life is not
Page 27

here to make a relinquishment of all other claims of a pension. But that he Doth hereby for himself and in behalf of all the other heirs doth hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, in behalf of the services of the said Harmanius Blauvelt dec'd. except the present, and verily believe that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state - and the time of the services of the said Harmanus Blauvelt being stated to exceed two years, he for himself and in behalf of the other years Claim a pension for two years service of the said Harmanius Blauvelt [signed] Daniel H Blauvelt
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before me
[signed] Cornl I Blauvelt, Judge.

I Corn'. I. Blauvelt Judge as aforesaid hereby Certify that I am well acquainted with Peter P. Demarest who reside in the town of Clarkstown and John Hudson who resides in the town of Orange who have signed the within Certificate, they are credible persons and their Statement is entitled to credit, and that their oath may be relied on, And further that Daniel H Blauvelt who has sworn to and signed the preceding certificate, I am well acquainted with, he is a credible person and his statement is intitled to credit. and I Cornl I. Blauvelt Judge do further Certify that the interrogatories (required by the war Department) were put by me to the above named Harmanus Blauvelt an applicant for a pension, and they were all satisfactorily answered on the fourteenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
[signed] Cornl. I. Blauvelt, Judge.
Page 28

I, David Pye, Clerk of the County of Rockand, hereby certify that Cornelius I Blauvelt, who has taken the preceeding depositions of Peter Demarest, John Hudson, and Daniel H. Blauvelt, is one of the judges of the Court of Common Please, in and for the County of Rockland, commissioned and sworn, and duty authorised to take depositions and acknowledgements, and that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and verily believe that the signatures of Cornelius I Blauvelt subscribed thereto is genuine - and that the papers of Harmanus Blauvelt are in the same condition they were on the ninteenth day of December 1832 and that the additional depositions are not added (struck out) annexed to them.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this thirty first day of July 1833
David Pye
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State of New York
Rockland County Ss
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, Cornelius Blauvelt, a resident of the town of Orange, in said County, aged 83 years, who being duly sworn saith. that he was well acquainted with Hermanis Blauvelt, late of the town of Clarkstown deceased who has sworn to and subscribed the annexed declaration, on the 14th day of December 1832, and was well acquainted with him during the revolutionary war as they resided near neighbours, that the said Harmanus Blauvelt belonged to Capt. Henry Tenure an this deponent belonged in Smiths Sickles and Hogenkamp's Companys all in Coln A Hawkes Hays Regiment, that in the month of July, 1776, the British War Vessels having sailed up the Hudson river and lay in Tappan and Haverstraw Bays, all the Militia that did not enlist in the five months service, was called out to guard along the river, and the company in which he belonged and Capt Tenures Company was stationed along the river at Nyack that the said Harmanus was out on duty and served nearly all the time until late in the fall when the British sailed for New York. and he confidently believes that the said Harmanis served not less than three months in that year doing guard duty. That the next spring the militia companys general was divided into classes of four men in a class and an arrangement was made that one man in a class should guard one week and then be relieved by an other, and so continue until each had served his week, that a continued guard might be kept and their necessary labour at home might be done in which manner the Militia served until the end of the war from early in the spring until winter and often in the winter, and that the said Harmanus Blauvelt did perform his regular tours of duty guarding along the Hudson river from Haverstraw to Sneden's landing, at the long Clove, at Clarkstown, at Nanuwit Meadow, at Sickle town, and Tappan town wherever his services was most wanting, and that the said Harmanis served not less than two months in each of the years of 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781 and not less than one month in the year 1782, doing guard duty as
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aforesaid. That the said Harmanus Blauvelt, exclusive of the above-recited services was very often during the revolutionary out on alarm and scouting parties through the County of Bergen in the state of New Jersey in company with this deponent but how much time was spent in performing the different tours he is unable correctly to say. That this deponent while he served as a private served much of the time with the said Harmanus, and while an officer commanding men that served at the same station, and knows that the said Harmanis Blauvelt served as a Sergeant during the whole was and was a faithful soldier [as stated in the affidavit, crossed out] has no doubt on his mind but is as stated than to the best of the deponents Belief
[signed] Cornelius Blauvelt
Sworn to and subscribed this 18th day of February, 1834 before me [signed] John T Blanch Justice

I do hereby certify that Cornelius Blauvelt is a man who I am personally acquainted with who Subscribed and Sworn to the above and is a man of Veracity his Statements are entitled to Credit [signed] John T Blanch  Justice
Page 31

State of New York
Rockland County Ss
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace, in and for said county, Garret Oblenis, a resident of the town of Clarkstown, in said County, aged {blank] year, who being duly sworn, did depose and say, that he was well acquainted with Harmanus Blauvelt deceased, who on the fourteenth day of December 1832, made a Declaration before Cornl. I Blauvelt, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Please, in and for said county, in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress of June 7, 1832, that he was well acquainted with him during the revolutionary war, knows that the said Blauvelt was called out in the service in the month of July 1776, in a company commanded by Capt Hendrick Tenure, in a Regiment commanded by Coln A Hawkes Hay, and that he served as a sergent a guarding along the north river, to prevent the British from landing from the Vessels of War then laying in the North river opposit Nyack and Haverstraw, nearly all the time until late in the fall of the year, and verily believe that he served not less than three months. That early in the spring of the year 1777, Capt Tenures Company was classed, four men in a class, to enable some to be at home to attend to their domestick concerns while others were attending to Guard along the North river and at other places where it was deemed necessary that a guard should be kept, and that the said Harmanis Blauvelt did serve, during his regular tours of duty in the said company, that is one week in each and every four weeks from early in the spring until some time in the winter of the years 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780 & 1781, and from Spring until September of 1782, and that he served in weekly tours not less than two months in each and every year except the year 1782 and that he served one month in that year, that the guard was kept at Clarkstown, Nanuwit Meadow, Sickle town the long and short Cloves at Tappan town, and along the Hudson river
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river from Snedens Landing to Stony point and that the men out of Capt Tenures Company was stationed to guard either along the river or at some of the other places, above mentioned, where their service was most wanted during the revolutionary war that the said Harmanus Blauvelt was always a faithful soldier, and that exclusive of his doing his full proportion of duty agreeable to the arrangement of the Company, he was often out on alarms and scouting parties during the said war, and a great portion of his time spent in such service, but how much this deponent is unable to say. That this deponent was a fellow soldier in the said Company and served a great part of the time with the said Blauvelt. [signed] Garret Oblenis
Sworn to and subscribed this 18th day of February 1834 Before me [signed] John T Blanch Justice

I do Certify that I am personally acquainted with Garret Oblenis who subscribed & sworn to the above is a man of Veracity his Statements are intitled to Credit. [signed] John T Blanch Justice

State of New York
Rockland County Ss 
I, David Pye, Clerk of the County of Rockland do hereby certify, That John T Blanch, before whom the foregoing affidavits of Garret Oblemis and Cornelius Blauvelt was sworn, and whose name is subscribed to the Certificates thereon written is a Justice of the Peace  in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature subscribed to the said affidavit and certificates, is his Genuine Signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this twentieth day of February 1834
[signed] David Pye
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April 3, 1925
U.S. Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
My dear Commissioner,
Believing my ancestor James G. Demarest, of Bergen County, New Jersey, born April 28, 1760, died June 6, 1842 at Hillsdale, N.J., to have been Colonel in the War of 1812 (the word "Col" being on his headstone) I and writing to you for a copy of his Pension Certificate, or at least to have you verify it. I do not know who his father and mother were, but he married Sarah Smith, Jul 15, 1798, daughter of Captain Arie Smith, of Revolutionary service.
Also was his father in the Revolution, and did his father have a Pension? If so, please send me a copy of that also, or at least verify it for me.
The D.A.R. Society of which I have just become a member, advised me to consult you concerning this.
The Dermarests were mostly in Bergen County, during the Revolution.
Also did Peter Van Houten, Senior, born Mar. 19, 1715, who maried Marretje Nagel, born Oct 5 1723, have a pension from the Revolution War? Also did his son, Peter Van Houten Junior have one? If so please send me copies of both, or verify them. Peter Van Houten, Junior was born Aug. 19, 1752, died 1816, and mrried Marretje Onderdonk, born Dec. 29, 1765. The Van Houtens were from Rockland County, New York State.
Also did Haramanis Blauvelt, born Mar. 12, 1740 who married Rachel Van Orden have a pension from Revolution?
Also did Johannes Blauvelt, his father, born Jun.16, 1719, who married Jannetye Talama have a pension from the Revolution? The Blauvelts were also from Rockland County, New York State, in the Town of Orangetown.
Also did Abram A.Johnson, 3rd Sergeant, attached to 83rd Regiment N.Y.S. Militia, who was born Jul. 18, 1781, died Oct. 28, 1815, married to Maria Van Houten, daughter of Peter Van Houten, Junior, have a Pension from the War of 1812? and did his father have one from the Revolution? If so, please send copies of all that I have mentioned, or verify them.
I am trying to get these different ancestors placed, and as some of the old family Bibles have been lost, the Pension Bureau or rather the Commissioner of Pension is my last hope. I thank you in advance.
Sincerely, Anna L. Johnson Clerke
Address: Mrs. Paul Clerke
27 Union Avenue
Spring Valley, New York.
ALJC: KL