Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,897, Benjamin Van Vleck, New York
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SERVICE: New York
Van Vleck (or Van Vleek) Benjamin
NUMBER: R. 10,897
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832 
State of New York} 
County of St Lawrence} ss. 
On this Eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty three, personally appeared in open Court , before the Honorable the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of St Lawrence aforesaid, now sitting, Benjamin Van Vleck, a resident of the town of Fowler in the County of St Lawrence and State of New York, aged Seventy Seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. 
That he enlisted into the service of the United State March 1st 1776, for the period of nine months - was enlisted at Schenectady by Col. Christopher Yates, as an Artificer - served under Jacob Vrooman as Captain or Master Workman-  commenced work at Fort George - was ordered from thence to the outlet of Lake George on the "French Landing" and from thence back to Fort George, where the company remained until December following- Col Van Shaicks Regiment lay at Fort George in 1776 - Lieut. Col. Cornelius Van Dyke
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was acting commandant.
That he enlisted into the service again as an Artificer March 1st 1777 under Jacob Van Dusen of Albany as Master Workman, for the period of nine months - was marched to Fort Miller, where the company was for some time engaged in building Scows - from thence to Fort Edward and there built Scows - from thence to Fort George and there were engaged in boat building &c. - and were marched from thence to Ticonderoga, which place they left when the Fort was evacuated by the United States troops and taken possession of by Genl Burgoyne - retreated from thence with the troops to a small Island a few miles above Albany, called Pine (or Green) Island and returned upon the retreat of Burgoyne to Saratoga and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne and returned home in November following - there was (according to his recollection) but one company of troops Stationed at Fort Edward, while he remained there in 1777, commanded by Capt McCrackan - Genl St. Clair was in command at Ticonderoga.
That he was again enlisted March 1, 1778, at Schenectady by Col Christopher Yates for the period of nine months, in a company
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of Artificers, commanded by Jacob Vrooman as Master Workman - was marched to Saratoga and remained there through the season, engaged in building barracks and batteaux and in rebuilding the Mills and dwelling house of Genl Schuyler which had been burnt by the British Troops - returned home the last of November or first of December in the same year - there was one company of troops stationed at Saratoga in 1778 - but he does not recollect the name of the officer in command. 
That he was born at Schenectady in the State of New York, on the 10th day of January in the year 1756 - has no record of his age - he had one which was destroyed by fire when his buildings in Denmark Lewis County, N.Y. were burnt.
That he resided at Schenectady when he entered the Service - removed from thence to Ballston in Saratoga County with his Father and returned again to Schenectady during the revolutionary war - afterwards removed to the town of Mohawk (now Florida) in the County of Montgomery & State of New York - removed to Johnstown in said County of Montgomery
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in 1799 and after having served for nearly three years as High Sheriff of Montgomery County, again removed to Harrisburgh (now Denmark) in the County of Lewis and State of New York, and in 1824 removed to Fowler in the County of St. Lawrence and State of New York, where he now resides. 
That he was called into Service by Enlistment and never received a written discharge, but was allowed to return home at the expiration of the several times for which he enlisted. That he is acquainted with the Rev. Abel L. Crandal, Adam Vedder and Joseph Martin, all living within a few miles of his residence, and who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his Services as an Artificer in the revolutionary 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. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[Signed] Benjamin VanVleck
[Signed] A.C. Low  Clk
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And the said Declarant makes the following Statement, as supplementary to the foregoing Declaration - Viz. - That he has no documentary evidence of the several enlistments and services mentioned in his said Declaration and that he knows of no living witnesses to any portion of his said services except Harmanus Van Vleck of Madison County, New York, and Richard Freeman of Ogdensburgh, in the County of St. Lawrence and State of New York 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
[Signed] Benjamin Van Vleck
[Signed] A.C. Low  clk
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We, Abel L. Crandall, a clergyman residing in the town of Antwerp, in the County of Jefferson and State of New York, Adam Vedder of Fowler, in the County of St. Lawrence and State aforesaid and Joseph Martin of Rossie in said County of St. Lawrence, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Van Vleck who has Subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy Seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have served as an Artificer in the revolutionary war, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[Signed] Abel L Crandall
[Signed] Adam Vedder 
[Signed] Joseph Martin
[Signed] AC Low. clk
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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 an Artificer in the revolution and Served as he States. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Abel L. Crandall, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the town of Antwerp in the County of Jefferson and State of New York, and that Adam Vedder, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Fowler in the County of St. Lawrence and State aforesaid, and that the said Joseph Martin, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Rossie in said County of St. Lawrence, and are credible persons and that their Statement is entitled to credit. 

I Alvin C Low Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of St Lawrence do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Vam Vleek for a Pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Canton this 11th day of January 1834 
[SEAL]
[Signed] A C Low clk

Crosswise:
29,368
In the Matter of
Benjamin Van Vleck
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State of New York
Madison County ss.  Harmanus Van Vleck of the town of Fenner in said County being duly sworn deposes & says that he was Seventy three years of age on the fifteenth day of March last past & that during part of the Revolutionary War he resided in the town of Balston [sic] in the County of Saratoga in said State & that he is a Brother of Benjamin Van Vleck of Fowler in the County of St Lawrence in said State. And this deponent further says that the said Benjamin Van Vleck was in the service of the United States as a carpenter or artificer during the years 1776, 1777 & 1778. That in the year 1776 the said Benjamin left Saratoga County in the Spring of the year & was gone in the Service as an Artificer during the season, but when he went this deponent cannot State, but understood from said Benjamen that he worked at Fort George & in that vicinity. In the Spring of the year 1777, the said Benjamin left home & was gone during the Season & the not return until in the fall. During this season, the deponent recollects that the family received letters from the said Benjamin from Ticonderoga & it was generally understood that during the season of 1777 he was employed as an artificer at Ticonderoga. In the winter of the year 1778 the said Benjamin enlisted at Schenectady in the State of New York as an artificer in Capt Jacob Vroomans Company of artificers & worked during this season at Saratoga at building barracks & batteaux & rebuilding the mills & house of General Schuyler what were burnt by the British. During eleven weeks of this year, this deponent belonged to the Same Company & worked at Bottom Kelt [?] four miles from Saratoga cutting Knees for boat & saw his brother frequently at Saratoga at work as an Artificer in said Capt Vroomans Company & the said Benjamin did not return home until the fall of this year. And this deponent further says that the said Benjamin was a Carpenter & Waggon maker by trade, & from the best recollection of this deponent, the said Benjamin was in the service nine months
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during each of the years aforesaid & that he was enlisted by Col Yates a 1776. What this deponent means by the said Benjamin being enlisted by Col Yates is that the said Col Yates who was very active during the revolutionary war procured men to enlist in Capt Vrooman company. This deponent recollects that the said Benjamin served in Capt Vroomans Company in 1776 & in Capt Jacob Van Duzen Company in 1777 from the fact that he was so told by the said Benjamin at the several times when he returned from the Service.
[Signed] Harmanus Van Vleck
Sworn & subscribed before me the 23d of January 1834.
[Signed] John M Messinger Justice
 
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Harmanus Van Vleck who has subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit; that he is a man of truth & veracity & that his statement above is entitled to full credit.  Dated January 23 1834 
[Signed] John M Messinger Justice

State of New York }
Madison County Clerk's office} ss. 	
I,  Andrew S Sloan, Clerk of the said County, do certify that John M. Messinger, before whom the preceding Affidavit purports to have been sworn, and also whose name appears to the above certificate, was at the date of the same, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name Subscribed to the said Affidavit and Certificate to be his proper hand writing and signature. 
Witness my hand and seal of Office this 25th day of January 1834
[SEAL]
[Signed] A.S. Sloan  Clk
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Rev. and 1812 Wars Section 
MEE/HMM [illegible]
February 13, 1930.

Mrs. F. F. Martin 
914 Fairmount Road 
Burbank California. 

Dear Madam: 
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 10897, it appears that Benjamin Van Vleck was born January 10, 1756 in Schenectady, New York. 
He applied for pension December 18, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Fowler, St. Lawrence County, New York where he had lived since 1824, and stated that he enlisted March 1, 1776 at Schenectady, as an artificer and served nine months under Jacob Vrooman, Captain or Master Workman, a part of the time at Fort George. He enlisted March 1, 1777 as an artificer under Jacob VanDuzer [sic] Master Workman of Albany served nine months and was engaged in building scows and boat building, a part of the time at Fort Edwards. He was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He again enlisted March 1, 1778 at Schenectady for nine months in a company of artificers commanded by Jacob Vrooman, Master Workman, and was engaged in building barracks and batteaux at Saratoga. 
During the Revolution he lived some time at Ballston, Saratoga County, New York, and returned to Schenectady. After the Revolution he lived in Mohawk and Johnston, Montgomery County, New York and "in 1799, after having served for nearly three years as High Sheriff of Montgomery County, again removed to Harrisburg (later Denmark) Lewis County, New York." 
His claim for pension was not allowed as the service rendered by him was not in an embodied military corps. 
There are no data relative to wife and children. 
No charge is made for this service and one dollar, the amount of your check, will be returned in due time. 
Very truly yours, 
EARL D. CHURCH 
Commissioner.

[Handwritten note:]
Sol's. brother Harmanus Van Vleck was a res of Fenner, N.Y. in 1834
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Revo:
New York
Benjamin Van Vleek
Rejected  [overwritten] act 7Jun '32

letter to 
Hn. R.H. Gillett 27 Jy '34 [stricken]
letter 8 Feby '34 to ditto. do. [stricken]
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War Dept 
Pension off
Jany 27 '34

Sir 
I have the honor to inform you that the claim of Benjamin Van Vleck has been examined & disallowed. It does not appear that he rendered any military [underlined] service, but asserts a claim upon the alleged service of an Artificer under Capt Yates & Van Deusen in building boats, working on Forts &c.  The act of 7 June '32 is not construed to extend to any Artisans employed by military authority except those who were enlisted into the Corps of Continental Artificers, who were placed upon the footing of soldiers - The officers designated did not belong to that Corps - If it were otherwise, his claim could not be admitted without proof, as he is required to produce the best evidence in his power & it could not be admitted that so much service is insusceptible of proof -
In the case of John Lyon his first term of alleged service in summoning witnesses guarding the tories in Confinement &c & generally aiding in executing the laws, is the ordinary patriot duty of the Citizen & not provided for. The service specified does not exceed 4 mo which is less than the minimum provision of the Act. The other services
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War Dept 
[illegible]
Jany 27 '34

Sir 
I have the honor to inform you that the claim of Benjamin Van Vleck has been examined & disallowed. It does not appear that he rendered any military [underlined] service, but asserts a claim upon the alleged service of an Artificer under Capt Yates & Van Deusen in building boats, working on Forts &c.  The act of 7 June '32 is not construed to extend to any Artisans employed by military authority except those who were enlisted into the Corps of Continental Artificers, who were placed upon the footing of soldiers - The officers designated did not belong to that Corps - If it were otherwise, his claim could not be admitted without proof, as he is required to produce the best evidence in his power & it could not be admitted that so much service is insusceptible of proof -
In the case of John Lyon his first term of alleged service in summoning witnesses guarding the tories in Confinement &c & generally aiding in executing the laws, is the ordinary patriot duty of the Citizen & not provided for. The service specified does not exceed 4 mo which is less than the minimum provision of the Act. The other services

"in short tours" is not set forth as the regulations require with respect to the time-place- period- names of Officers in each. His case is suspended & his papers with those of Benjn. Van Vleek are placed on our files.
act 7. June
Hon R. G. Gillet

Crosswise:
[?] 27 Jany '34
Hon R.H. Gillett
[Very faintly below:] Recd. Vol. 30, Pa. 247.
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House of Representatives 
Jany 11 1834 

Sir,
I received the enclosed papers from constituent of mine this morning. Please examine them, & if you have any communications to make on them hereafter, be so good as make them to me . 
Your obt sert 
[Signed] R.H. Gillet

J.L. Edwards Esq
Com. Pensions
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[Top line is missing]
Hon R.H. Gillet
NY

Recd. Vol. 30, Pa. 273.
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War Dept
Pension off 
Feby 8 '34 
Sir,
The claim of Benjn. Van Vleek has been again examined with the benefit of the affidavit enclosed in yours of 6 inst. That evidence confirms the ground upon which the claim was rejected in my letter of 27 ult.
His employment was that of a laborer & Carpenter - there was a Corps of enlisted Continental Artificers who were by special law placed on the footing of soldiers & therefore embraced by the act of 7 June 32 - no other mechanical service is provided for unless rendered by being detailed from the ranks therefor

act 7 June  

Hon R H Gillet
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Left side:
1930, Feb. 13. Hist to Mrs. F.F. Martin & Finance 
Div. ntfd. refund of $1.00 to be made.   M.E.E.

Center:
REJECTED
10,897
Benjamin Van Vleck
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Burbank, California.
January 28, 1930. 

Check $1.00
[STAMP] FINANCE DIVISION Book Keepers Desk FEB 3 1930 BUREAU OF PENSIONS

Bureau of Pensions,
Dept. Interior,
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please send me a copy of the application for pension made by Benjamin Van Vleck who served in the Revolution from near Albany or Schenectady, N. Y. State? He was born 1756 and was living in 1837. He applied for a pension but it was not granted. He was my ancestor. Enclosed please find my check for one dollar ( 1. 00 ) for copy of same. Thanking you in advance, I am
Sincerely Yours,
[Signed] Gertrude Van Vleck Martin

[STAMP] U.S. Pension Office FEB 3 1930
Mrs. F. F. Martin, 
914 Fairmount Rd.
Burbank Cal.