Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,685, Tobias Houk, New Jersey
Page 1

(3 - 1776 )

SERVICE
New Jersey

Houk, Tobias
Rachel

NUMBER
W. 15.685

CONTENTS
-------------------------------
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Page 2

2526
New York
----------------------
Tobias Houk
of Guilford  in the State of New York
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Freeman of the [blank] commanded
by [blank] in the New Jersey-
line for 12 months---------
------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of November 1832- and sent to H.R. Mygatt
Oxford N.Y.
------------------------
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 -               $60.00
Semi-anl.  allowance ending 4 Mar 33  20.00
                                                                 ______
                                                                   80.00
                                                                  ______
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.       }

Recorded by John Cromwell Clerk
Book D Vol. 5 Page 99
Page 3

Albany 3041
-----------------------
Rachel Houk
widow of Tobias Houck

who was a pensioner under the Act of June 1832 and who died on the 18th June 1836
of Chenango Co. State of N. York
who was a Private N.J. in the company commanded by Captain Freeman of the Regt commanded by ------------ in the N. Jersey
line for 1 year
------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 40 Dollars --- Cents per annum
to commence on the 19th June, 1836.
-----------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 31st day of May 1839 and sent to H.R. Mygatt Oxford, N.Y.
-----------------------
Arrears to the 4th of March '39                 107.90
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep "    20. 00
                                                                     ______
                                                                     $127.91
Houk
Act
Feby 15, 1907

{Act July 7,}
{1838.         }

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book A.  Vol. 2. Page 81
Page 4

No. 5540
-----------
Tobias Houk
admitted Nov. 29 1832
12 months
Page 5

State of New York
County of Chenango } SS On this thirteenth day of August, 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Robert Monell Vice Chancellor of the 6th Circuit of the State of New York at a Court of Chancery held at the
residence of the Vice Chancellor in the town of Greene in the County of Chenango and State of New York now sitting. Tobias Houk, a resident of Guilford in the County of Chenango and State of New York aged 71 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 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officer and served as herein stated, that he living at Short Hills in New Jersey, and in the year of 1777, and as this deponent thinks in May, the American Army under the command of General George Washington, passed from Westfield South through New Jersey and passed through Short Hills, where he then lived with one Corbit Scudder, and as the army was passing through Short Hills an officer rode up to the house where this deponent lived, and said he wanted a wagon and horses and driver, to carry the baggage of the army, to Brownbrook, eleven miles distant, upon the express understanding that this deponent go to Brownbrook with a wagon and four horses, and he went with the army and wagon and horses to Brown brook and when he arrived at Brown Brook would not release him, and they forced him to continue with army, and next day they went on towards Philadelphia, and passing through Queenstown
and Trenton they crossed the River to Philadelphia, from thence he went with the army
to the Schuylkill river, and from thence to the Brandywine River, and from the Brandywine
marched until they met the British army and then retreated back to Brandywine, and then
crossed the Brandywine River & took up the bridge when the American Army formed a line on one side of the River and the British army formed a line on the other side of the River, the British army forced their way across the River, when a skirmish ensued and the American Army retreated back to Philadelphia and up the Schuylkill above Germantown, the British following, and after several movements of the Army, he with the army under Washington withdrew to winter quarters in the woods of
Valley Forge where they passed the winter in huts; and there remained with the army until the
summer of 1778 when in the last of June as this deponent thinks Corbit Scudder, above named
the owner of wagon & horses came to Valley Forge, and after selling two of the horses took the other two horses and the wagon and he this deponent went home with him, and arrived home at Short Hills after an absence of from 12 to 18 months, although he frequently applied to be discharged they always refused to discharge him from service, that he was not employed with the army upon a Civil contract and that he never received any pay for his service, that in the winter he was constantly engaged in carrying baggage and provisions with and for the American army.

That he on or about the 1st of September 1780 volunteered and enlisted for one year, he then living in Short hills in New Jersey, in Captain Elijah Freemans Company of New Jersey State Militia, attached to the company were 4 light horsemen for the purpose of carrying expresses and reconnoitering the lines, that the Lieutenant whose name he has forgot was taken sick and never appeared before the Company, that he served under Ensign Asher Randall in consequence of the sickness of the Captain, that immediately after he enlisted at Short Hills, he went to Woodbridge in New Jersey, 6 miles distant, opposite Staten Island where the company rendezvoused, that he remained at Woodbridge, with the Company one year reconnoitering the lines &c and had almost weekly skirmishes with the enemy, that the
Company was connected with no Regiment, but was stationed alone at Woodbridge, that the
nearest company was one at Rahway under the command of Captain Sprague or Craig's
between 3 & 4 miles distant, and that Captain Sprague or Craig's Company and the one with which he served, were both raised for the same service, to keep the tories and refugees from coming over to plunder the country, that he remained with the company until on or about the 1st of September 1782, when he was discharged, and returned home to Short Hills, having been absent and in service for one year.

To the 1st interrogatory prescribed by the War Department, he answers, that he was born
Page 6

in Short hills, in New Jersey on the 4th day of October 1760

To the 2d answers, that he has a record of his age at home on a piece of paper, in his bible.

To the 3d. answers, that he lived at Short hill in New Jersey, when called into service, that after the Revolution he lived at Short hill, about 2 years, and from thence lived in New York City, about one year, and from thence moved to Lansingburgh in the State of New York, where
he lived about one year, and from thence moved to Butternuts in the same state where he lived above seven years, and from thence moved to Guilford where he has since lived and now lives.

To the 4th answers, that he volunteered his services, except when forced into service, as above related. 

To the 5th answer, that Generals Washington, Putnam, Sterling were with the troops where he served (Regular Officers) that he recollects the names of none of the Continental & Militia Regiments who were with the troops where he served, but recollects that there were Regiments in Washingtons Army from Virginia, New York, New Jersey and other states, and the general circumstances of his service are above
related. 

To the 6th answers that he received a written discharge from Ensign Asher Randall, which he lost soon after he received it. 

To the 7th answers that Dauphin Murray, late Justice of the Peace, Samuel A. Smith, late Sheriff of the County of Chenango and Asher Moses, Post Master are known to him in his
present neighborhood, and they can testify to his character for veracity and their believe of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.

That he is acquainted with no Clergyman, who resides in his immediate vicinity, but that Samuel A. Smith late Sheriff of the County of Chenango and Dauphin Murray, late Justice of the Peace, have sworn and subscribed to the
annexed affidavit as to his age, their belief and common report as to his services as a soldier of the Revolution, and that he could not procure in Court, two respectable persons, who would certify as is certified by the said Dauphin Murray and Samuel A. Smith, he living at more than 20 miles distant from Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him.

That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure ,who can testify to his service. 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.

Tobias Houk

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Note {words "Hills" and "at" interlined.
"Short Hills" twice written over an erasure,
word "of" erased i"or annuity" interlined.}
Robt Monell
Vice Chancellor
Page 7

State of New York
County of Chenango } SS
We Dauphin Murray late a Justice of the Peace for the County of Chenango, residing in the town of Guilford in the County of Chenango and State of New York and Saml. A. Smith residing in the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Tobias Houk of the same place, that we believe him to be 71 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 we concur in that opinion, and that we have never heard any
doubts expressed as to his service as a soldier of the Revolution.
Dauphin Murray
Saml. A. Smith

Sworn to and subscribed this 4th day
of August 1832. Before me
Samuel J Trask
a Justice of the Peace
for the town of Guilford
in the County of Chenango
and State of New York

State of New York
County of Chenango } SS
I, Jarvis K. Pike Clerk of the County of Chenango certify that Samuel J. Trask, is a
Justice of the Peace as above, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name this 7th day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
P. B. Rindle
Dep 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 Dauphin Murray who has signed the preceding
certificate, was lately a Justice of the Peace, resident in the town of Guilford, in the County
of Chenango and State of New York, and that Samuel A Smith, who has also signed the same, was lately Sheriff of the County of Chenango, and is a resident of the said town of Guilford, and that they are well known to this Court, and they are credible persons, and their statement is entitled to credit, and that the said Dauphin Murray and Samuel A. Smith could not be produced in Court without too much inconvenience and expense to the applicant.
Robt Monell Vicen Chancellor

I, Jonathan S. Woods. Clerk of the Court of Chancery, do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Tobias Houk for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and seal of office, this 13 day of August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Jonathan L. Woods
Clk
Page 8

Admitted
Private 12 months

December 22d, [illegible]
P. Randall Clk

H R. Mygatt Esq
Oxford
New York
Page 9

State of New York
Chenango County } SS
Josiah Houck of Guilford in Chenango County and State of New York, being duly sworn, says that he is 39 years of age that he is the son of Tobias and Rachel Houck and that said Rachel sdeclaration is annexed, that said Tobias Houck died at deponent home on the 18th June 1836 and that deponent was present at his death. That his said mother Rachel has lived with deponent since his death and has not since married. That said Tobias was a
Revolutionary pensioner of the United States
under the act June 7th 1832. That there is no
family record of their marriage to this deponents
knowledge or belief, and that from deponents earliest recollection to the day of said Tobias death, said Tobias and Rachel lived together as husband and wife
Josiah Houck

Sworn to December 5th 1838
Before me and I certify
that said Josiah Houck
is a credible person.

John Tracy Judge of the Court
for the Correction of Errors State of
New York--
Page 10

State of New York
Chenango County SS  On this fourth day of December 1838 personally appeared before me Samuel McKoon a Judge of the Court of Common pleas of said County of Chenango, Rachel Houck a resident of Guilford in said
County of Chenango aged Seventy years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows". That she is the widow of Tobias Houk who was a Revolutionary pensioner under the act June 7, 1832 and for evidence of his service she would refer to the papers on which he was pensioned.

She further declares that she was married to the said Tobias Houk on the twelfth day of September in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty five, that her husband the aforesaid Tobias Houk died on the eighteenth day of June
in the year eighteen hundred and thirty six, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz: at the time above stated.
             her
Rachel   X  Houk
           mark

Sworn to and Subscribed,
on the day and year
above written, before me,
and I certify that from
bodily infirmity said Rachel Houck is 
unable to attend Court }
Samuel McKoon Judge of
Chenango County Courts
Page 11

4198

State of New York
Chenango County } SS  I, Percy Randall Clerk of said County of Chenango, hereby certify that John Tracy is a Judge of the Court for the correction of Errors and Samuel McKoon a Judge of the Chenango County Courts, as
within written, and that the signatures within purporting to be theirs, are genuine.

In testimony whereof, 
I have hereunto affixed
my hand and the seal
of said County this
December 22d 1838.
P. Randall Clk
[seal affixed at left]

Admitted
Private 12 months

H.R. Mygatt Esq.
Oxford
New York
.
Page 12

Extract from the Record of marriages of the Minister Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York Liber F
"One thousand seven hundred and eighty five September twelfth Tobias Houk and Rachel Griffin"
I certify that the foregoing extract is a true copy
of the record it purports to copy, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible words and figures, as follows "1785 Sept 12"
Cornelis Bogert
Clerk [seal affixed at right]

State of new York }
City & County of New York }
I Cornelius Bogert, whose name is signed to the above certificate, depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the corporation styled The Minister Elders and [text covered] -med Protestant Dutch [text covered] of New York that the [text covered] from the records of sa[text covered] exception above na[text covered] that the seal affixed by the[text covered] is the common sea[text covered] 
was so affixed by the[text covered]

Sworn this fifth day of
November 1838 before me
Thos Lawrance
Judge of [text covered]
Pleas of the C[text covered]

Sworn to to by said
Cornelius Bogert
this 8th day of November
Wm H. Elt[text covered]
Commissioner of [text covered]

[following is text of a paper covering part of the above transcribed document]
STATE OF NEW YORK,
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, } ss.

I, Joseph Hoxie, Clerk of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That William H. Elting before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the time of taking the same, Commissioner of Deeds in and for said City and County, duly commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same, and that I believe the signature of said Commissioner thereto subscribed is genuine.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, the 19 day of Nov 1838.
Joseph Hoxie Clerk
Page 13

Extract from the Record of marriages of the Minister Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York Liber F
"One thousand seven hundred and eighty five
September twelfth Tobias Houk and Rachel
Griffin"
I certify that the foregoing extract is a true copy
of the record it purports to copy, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible words and figures, as follows "1785 Sept 12"
J.
Cornelius Bogert
Clerk
[seal affixed at right]

State of New York }
City & County of New York } SS.
I Cornelius Bogert, whose name is signed to the above certificate, depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the corporation styled The Minister Elders and Deacons of the Reformed
Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York that the above is a true extract from the records of said corporation with the exception above named, as certified by me, that the seal affixed to the said certificate is the common seal of said corporation and was so affixed by their authority
Cornelius Bogert
Clerk of the above
named Corporation.

Sworn this fifth day of    }
November 1838 before me }
Thos Lawrance
Judge of the Court of common Pleas of the City of New York
Sworn to by said
Cornelius Bogert this
8th day of November 1838
Wm H. Elting
Commissioner of Deeds
Page 14

STATE OF NEW YORK.
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, } ss.

I, Joseph Hoxie, Clerk of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That William H Elting before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the time of taking the same, a Commissioner
of Deeds in and for said City and County, duly
commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same, and that I believe the
signature of said Commissioner thereto subscribed is genuine.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said
Court and County, the 19 day of Nov 1838.
Joseph Hoxie Clerk.
Page 15

[left side]
Oct .1/95 Hist. to Fred.
Houk Law, Oxford, N.Y.
MEC

[right side]
N. J.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
------------
File No. 15684
Rachel Houk
Wid. of
Tobias Houk
Priv Rev War
---
Act July 7th/38
Index: Vol. A Page 347

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 16

Act 7 June 1834
Tobias Houk
['Suspended' crossed out]
App. for Increase
See letter to
Henry R. Mygatt
6 March 1834
Page 17

Oxford Chenango Co. NY. June 2, 1834.

Dear Sirs,

Mr Tobias Houk, who sometime since
applied for a Pension under Act June 7, 1832,
whose claim was in part allowed, herewith sends proof of his impressment. and the letter of the War Department on the subject.  A pension of $40 was allowed him & he trusts that the evidence herewith sent will be satisfactory. So that a full pension may be granted to him. He has been to considerable expense in procuring the asst of his witnesses, who reside in N.J. and it is the fullest and best evidence in his power
to produce.

You will please address me on the subject at the place above stated.

I am Sir
Your obt. Sevt.
Henry R. Mygatt

J. L. Edwards
Page 18

Oxford, Chenango Co. N.Y. Dec 24. 1838.

Sir

Within I send declaration and proof of Rachel widow of Tobias Houk for a pension.

Tobias Houk was a pensioner under the act June 7th 1832.

You will please address me at the place above stated.

I am very Respt.
Your obt Sert.
Henry R. Mygatt

J.L. Edward E
Comr. of Pensions
War Dept.
Washington City
D. C.
Page 19

J.L. Edwards
7th Nov 1832

Tobias Houk
Page 20

War Department
Pension Office
7 Nov. 1832

Sir,

I return you the papers in the case of Tobias Houk.  The account which he gives of being impressed into service and detained eighteen months against his consent and remonstrance is so unlike the usages of military operations in
this Country and so clearly without authority on the part of the officer, that he should bring very credible witnesses to support it.  The employment of a waggoner was generally under Civil Contract which is not provided for by the Act of 7 June 1832.

I am, Respectfully
Your Mo. Obt. Sevt.
J.L. Edwards


H.R. Mygatt Esq.
Oxford
N.Y.
Page 21

War Department
Pension Office
Nov 28th 1832

Sir,

I forward you the certificate of Tobias Houk
computed for 12 months agreeably to your letter of 20th inst.  His acceptance of it, is no bar to any further claim, he may be able to establish satisfactorily.

I am Respectfully
Yr. Obt. Servt.
J. L. Edwards

H.R. Mygatt
Oxford
N.Y.
Page 22

Tobias Houk
No. 29,894
Page 23

State of New Jany
Middlesex County } ss
Personally appeared before me Richard Marsh, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey. Sarah Scudder aged Seventy two years and Betsey Bloomfield aged seventy years of the town of Woodbridge, in the said County of Middesex, who being duly sworn say that they are of the age aforesaid, that in the time of the Revolutionary War they knew Tobias Houk, now of Guilford, in Chenango County and State of
New York, who then lived with their father Corbit Scudder, who during the said war lived at Short Hills in said State of New Jersey, and as they believe in the year 1777, whilst the said Tobias Houk was carrying baggage for the Army,  he was pressed with the same to go with the standing army and that he was absent from their fathers house under said impressment from 12 to 18 months, that he was for said time
detained against his consent and remonstrance,
that he was employed as a waggoner under
no civil contract, nor did he receive pay for the time he was so impressed and that when he
was discharged under and from said impressment he returned home to their fathers
house at Short Hills.  That they always understood from their fathers family and from others, and that it was during the said war believed that the said Tobias Houk was impressed as aforesaid.
Sarah Scudder
Betsy Bloomfield

Sworn and subscribed Before me
this 23 day of December 1833. } 

Richard Marsh
Justice of the peace
Page 24

I do hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with Sarah Scudder and Betsey Bloomfield wife of Thomas Bloomfield of Woodbridge in the State of New Jersey and know them to be in good standing in society and to be credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit and I know them to be the same persons who subscribed and swore to the above affidavit.  As witness my hand the day and
year aforesaid.
Richard Marsh
Justice of the peace

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ⎬ I, the subscriber Clerk of the said County, hereby certify, that Richard Marsh is a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid and that the signatures above purporting to be his are genuiine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this twenty fourth day of December AD 1833
N Booraem Clerk
[seal affixed at left]
Page 25

N Y Dec 31
1838

3041
7 July 1838
[stamp:]  OXFORD N.Y. DEC 25

4198
Rachel Houck

Free

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
Washington City
D. C.
Page 26

H

PRS

Oxford, N. Y., September 20, 1895.

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir,

Can you give me any information, or inform me how I may obtain it from some other source, concerning the services of TOBIAS HOUK in the War of the Revolution? A pension was granted his widow the 31 of May, 1839, and is recorded in Book A, Vol. 2, Page 81, by D. Brown, Clerk.  I wish to learn to what company and regiment he belonged, and from what state he enlisted. I only know that he was a private. Hoping you may be able to inform me, I am

Very respectfully,
Frederick Houk Law,
Oxford, Chenango County,
New York.
Page 27

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Hoult, Lewis
GRACE Private
LINE Pennsylvania

WARRANT NUMBER 9609
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED  July 16, 1789
to --- not shown-
-------------
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.