Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11630, Henry Van Etten, New York
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New York    Van Etten, Henry  S11630
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14859 New York
Henry Van Etten
Semprovision in the state of New York
who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Cartright of the regiment commanded by Col. Preston in the New York line for 2 years
Inscribed on the roll of New York at the rate of 80 dollars    cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
_____________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of July 1833 and sent A Gould Auburn N.Y.
_____________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833        $160
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sep 1833  40
                                                             $200.00
Revolutionary claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
recorded by Jno Cromwell clerk
Book E vol 4 page 84
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State of New York
Cayuga County} ss Personally appeared before me the undersigned first judge of the court of common pleas in and for the said county Henry Van Etten 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 his best recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grade. For three years and one half month I served as a private soldier and for such service I claim a pension. That from the spring of the year 1779 until the fall of the year 1782. the militia regiment to which he belonged commanded first by Col. Thurston and Major Ducker and afterwards by Col Moses Hatfield lived immediately upon the frontiers of Orange County, and was left on said frontiers to guard them against the Indians who were accustomed to come down from the north and alarm and destroy the inhabitants and their property. that he was soldier in the militia company commanded by Captain Moses Cortright in said regiment and served under said captain until Captain Wilhelmus Westfall took the command of said company under whom he continued  to serve until he resigned the command of said company at the close of the war. that he served under Lieut. Martin Decker and John Van Tuyl. that his ensigns name was Solomon Cuykendall. that said regiment was constantly in said service on said frontiers during a term of eight months in each year from the spring of the year 1779 until the fall of the year 1782. that he served as a member of said company and regiment during the whole of said term. that parties from said regiment were kept constantly out scouting and ranging the woods to give warning of the approach of the enemy. and as Indian spyes that he was frequently sent our in said parties and served when so out under other officers of said regiment than those of his own company and that when he was not so in
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service scouting and as an indian spy he was stationed on the frontier and served as a guard. that he was born in the town of Goshen in the county of Orange and state of New York AD 1760. and has a record of his age now in his possession. that during said four years when he served on the frontiers he was required to serve by competent authority as he understood that he never served in any continental regiment or under any continental office. and served but little with any other militial regiment than the one to which he belonged. 
Henry Van Etten
sworn and subscribed the 13th day of April 1833 before me
J.L Richardson 
first Judge of Cayuga
I certify my opinion that the said Henry Van Etten is a man of truth and veracity and that his statement is entitled to full credit
J.L. Richardson 
first judge of Cayuga

State of New York
Cayuga county}ss 
I Michael S. Myers clerk of said county do certify that Joseph L. Richardson before whom the foregoing affidavit was made was on the day of the court of common pleas and for date of the same first judge of said county that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said judge and believe his signature to the said affidavit and the above certificate to be genuine witness my hand and seal of office the 13th day of April 1833
M. L. Myers clerk
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Henry Van Etten
11740
Adm'd 24 mo pri
80$
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Before me Obadiah Beaty a Justice of the peace of Mamakating county of Sullivan and State of New York personally appeared this day Wilhelmus Kuykendall of Mamakating aforesaid who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was well acquainted with Henry Van Etten in the year of 1777 at Fort Montgomery then doing duty as a soldier in a company commanded by Captain Wood, Col. McClaughry's regiment  and afterwards at two different times under Lieutenant Decker at the time the British burnt Kingston and on the Delaware river where we captures the two torie spies. one named Robert Land the other Hixson at a place called the pond house on the ten mile river. afterwards at Murderers creek on the North river (Hudson) in Orange county under Captain Little. and again at West Point under Captain Kothright (Kortright) then up the Delaware river at Decker port under Captain Westfall making in the whole about fifteen or sixteen weeks service and further this deponent saith not.
Wilhelmus Kuykendall
subscribed and sworn this 8th day of September 1832
Before me Obadiah Beaty Justice of the peace
State of New York
Sullivan county} ss I Jesse M Foster clerk of the said county do certify that Obadiah Beaty Esq. before whom the above affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said county of Sullivan and duly authorized to ask as such. And further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe that his signature to the above affidavit is genuine. In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said county this 10th September A.D. 1832
Jesse M. Foster clerk
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State of New York
Cayuga county}ss
On this 3rd day of September 1832 personally appeared before me Charles Stuart who after being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say that in the year 1782 he served as a sergeant in Capt. Westfall's company in the lines at Peenpack and Minisink in Orange county State of New York, that during his service there he was acquainted with Henry Van Etten, and that he with others frequently passed the garrison armed with rifles on their way to scour the woods as rangers, and that he frequently as this deponent understood and believes acted as a guide for the American army in their pursuit of the Indians 
Charles Stuart
sworn and subscribed this 3rd Sept. 1832
before me Garshom Moore a judge of Cayuga common pleas
State of New York
Cayuga County} ss I Michael S Myers clerk of the said county do certify that Garshom Mose before whom the foregoing affidavit was made was on the day of the date there of one of the judges of the court of common pleas in aforesaid county duly commissioned sworn and that full faith and credit are to be given to his acts in that capacity, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said judge and believe his signature to the said affidavit to be genuine witness my hand and the seal of said county the 24th day of September AD 1832
M.S. Myers
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State of New York
Cayuga county}ss 
On this 24th day of September AD 1832 personally appeared in open court before the court of common pleas in and for the county of Cayuga now sitting Martin Cuykendall of Owasco in said county who being duly sworn says that he is aged sixty nine years that he is well acquainted with Henry Van Etten of  in Sempronius said county who now makes an application for a pension, and was well acquainted with him in the time of the Revolutionary War. that during the war they both resided on the frontiers in the town of Goshen, in the county of Orange and state of New York. that the said Henry Van Etten during said war was engaged in service as a guard, in scouting parties and as an Indian spy for a great part of the time, that he lived immediately upon the frontiers of Orange county which was the whole time exposed to the incursions of the Indians and Tories and the guarding of which was mostly entrusted to the militia but were sometimes relieved by regular troops. that he saw the said Henry Van Etten frequently whilst engaged in said service that he has heard the declaration of the said Henry read, and from his knowledge of the situation of the said Henry during said war, his knowledge of the times, and his knowledge of the actual service of the said Henry Van Etten he should think the said declaration to be substantially correct, as to his service that he was acquainted with Captain Moses Cortright and Capt. Abraham Westfall and knew them to be officers and in service most part of the time.
Martin Cuykendall
sworn and subscribed before me Asahel Fitch judge
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We Daniel Van Fleet and James Van Fleet do certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Van Etten mentioned in the foregoing affidavit and were well acquainted with him in the time of the Revolutionary War. that we have heard the said affidavit read and fully agree with the said Martin Cuykendall in the statement therein made
sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid
Asahel Fitch judge
Daniel Van Fleet
James Van Fleet
And the said court declare their opinion that the aforementioned witness are men of good moral character and men of truth and veracity
Asahel Fitch judge
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We Daniel Van Fleet and James Van Fleet do certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Van Etten mentioned in the foregoing affidavit and were well acquainted with him in the time of the Revolutionary war. that we have heard the said affidavit read and fully agree with the said Martin Cuykendall in the statement therein made
sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid
Asahel Fitch judge
Daniel Van Fleet
James Van Fleet
And the said court declare their opinion that the aforementioned winess are men of good moral character and men of truth and veracity
Asahel Fitch judge
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State of New York, Cayuga county,}ss
On this 24th day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Cayuga and state of New York, now setting, Henry Van Etten a resident  of Sempronius in the county of Cayuga and state of New York, aged seventy two 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 under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: That on the first day of May AD 1777 then being a resident of the town of Goshen in the county of Orange and state of New York, he was drafted and entered service of the United States in the company of militia commanded by Captain Jones in the regiment and marched with said company to a place called Ramapo in the state of New Jersey near the Hudson River where he was stationed as a guard a term of twenty two days when he was discharged. that said company was composed of a number of men taken from each company in the militia regiment drafted for the purpose of keeping guard. He further declares that in August following he was again drafted and entered said service in the company commanded by Captain Moses Cortright in the regiment of militia commanded by Col. Tusten and Major Decker and marched with said company to  Fort Montgomery where he was stationed until about eight days before said fort was taken by the British in October following when he was discharged having served a term of one month and ten days and returned home. He further declares that very soon after his return home he was again called into said service in the company of militia commanded by Lieutenants Van Tuyl and Decker in the regiment commanded by Major Decker, that he marched with said company towards New Windsor on the Hudson River from wherein he was ordered to march to Kingston but before arriving the news came that Kingston had been burned by the enemy when said company marched back to Minisink where he continued to serve about one month from the time of entering said service. He further declares that in fall or first of winter the same year he again entered said service in the company commanded by Captain Moses Cortright and marched to West Point for the purpose of working upon the fortifications at that place. that he continued in said service under the command of Col. Wisner
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for a term of twenty two days when he was discharged and returned home. He further declares that within a day or two of his return home he was again drafted into said service in the company of Captain Little. that he marched with said company to a place called Mud creek where he continued to labour upon the fort at that place under the direction of Col. Wisner for a time of three weeks when he was discharged. that said fort was at the place where the Chevaux defrise (refers to a historical defensive structure used primarily to impede cavalry or shipping.
It consists of a portable frame covered with projecting spikes or iron-tipped spikes.)were placed across the Hudson River. He further declares that in the spring of the year 1779 after the Indians commenced their depridation upon the frontiers in Orange and Ulster counties a distance of about sixty miles. which kept the country in a constant state of alarm. that he lived immediately upon said frontiers. and for about eight months in each year from that time until the close of the war he was in said service as a guard. in scouting parties and as an Indian spy that said services would commence as soon as the spring opened and continue until the beginning of winter following. that during the winters he was not so much in service because the Indians were not so much accustomed to come down upon the inhabitants in the winter as in the summer and fall. but that he was frequently out in said service during the winter. that there were a number of Piquet forts built along said frontier to which the inhabitants were accustomed to collect for safety, and from which partys were constantly sent out to scout and as Indian spies. that he was very frequently in said service in scouting parties and as an Indian spy. and when not our in this manner was stationed in
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Some one of said forts or as guard. that he attended to no kind of business except so for as to procure the necessaries of life during said time , but kept himself in constant readiness to go out in scouting parties and as an Indian spy when called upon. That he served under different officers, but principally under the command of Captain Moses Cortright that he swerved a number of times under Captain Abraham Westfall. that at one time he was sent out and pursued four spies who were going from the British camp to carry information to the Indians that his party "way layed"  said spies and took two of them prisoners and carried and delivered them up to Gen. Pulaski for examination. that said Pulaski at that time was stationed at Sanderstown in Sussex county and state of New Jersey. He further says that he is unable to be more particular in his statement of said services. but thinks that said services in all amount to four years that he never received a written discharge from said serviced, and has no documentary proof of said service. that he saw Gen. Pulaski Col. Wisner and others whilst in said service.
He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state or territory
Henry Van Etten
sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Asahel Fitch Judge
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We, Archibald McNiel a clergyman residing in Owesco in Cayuga county and Simion Swartout residing in Owasco hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Henry Van Etten who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration, that we believe him to be 72 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. Archibald McNeil
sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Asahel Fitch judge, Simion Swartout

And the 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 then, that Archibald McNeil who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in Owasco and Simion Swartout who has also signed the same, is a resident in Owasco and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Asahel Fitch judge

I, Michael S. Myers clerk of the court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Cayuga and state of New York, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Martin Cuykendall for a pension.
In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said court and subscribed my name the 24th day of September AD 1832
M.S. Myers
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Henry Van Etten 
11740
Obj 5.6.4 17
adm'd 
P318
Apr 2 33'
A Gould
Auburn N York
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BRIEF in the case of Henry Van Etten
of Cayuga Co. in the state of N York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1.- Was the declaration made before a court or a Judge? open court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 72 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
1 May 1777 for 20 days as a Private under Capt. Jones
Aug 1777 1 month 10 days as Private under Capt Cortright, Col Tusten
about 1 month as Private L Decker and Col Decker
three weeks 22 days as Private under Capt Cortright and Col Wisner
1779 21 days as a Private under Capt Little
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Goshen N York
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  correct
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. Richard Cutts
examining clerk.
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Rev War    11630
INVALID
No. 11630
Henry Van Etten
Pri. Rev. War
Act: June 7th 32'
Vol. A, page 389