Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 2500, John Cronk, New York
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SERVICE: New York
Cronk, John
NUMBER: R2500
CONTENTS
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John Cronk
New York

M 

July 23 '33

pm

Hon. W. Babcock
hn
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BRIEF in the case of John Cronk, of Westchester County in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court
2. if before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 68
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.: In 1778
Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days.: 7 or 8 Months
Rank As a:
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.: Capt Ansar, Col. Cortland
Period.: 1779
Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days.: all summer
Rank As a:
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.: same officers as above
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? West Chester State of New York
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? And if so, in what respect? The papers are not attached agreeably to the Registration
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payton
Examining Clerk.
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State of New York
Yates County - ss
On the 28th day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Yates and State of New York, now sitting John Cronk, a resident of the Town of Benton in the County of Yates and State aforesaid aged sixty eight 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 paper June 7th 1852.
That he was born the (now) Town of Greenburgh Westchester County New York in the year 1764 as he believes, but this deponent cannot tell the precise time as his father was taken and died a prisoner during the revolutionary war and the family of this deponent thereby became dispersed so that this deponent never after that lived at home. This deponent resided during the revolutionary war in the Town of Sing Sing in the said County of Westchester. In the Spring of 1778 this deponent volunteered as a private in a company commanded by Captain Ansar. John Oakly, Lieutenant in Colonel Cortland regiment and proceeded to a place called Rumson South East of Joshhill with cattle horses and sheep and pastered them during the season on the farms of the Tories. In the beginning of the winter he moved the cattle back to the North part of Westchester County and this deponent was dismissed and returned home was engaged at this time seven or eight months during the season. The deponent suffered severely for want of wholesome
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provisions particularly bread and salt and the meat provided was often tainted and unfit for use. In the spring of 1779 the deponent volunteered again in the company aforesaid and was occupied as aforesaid in the safe keeping of horses and cattle and the property of the inprotected inhabitants to prevent the British in New York from obtaining supplies and the Tories from stealing them and taking them to the British was implied the season all summer. This deponent never had a written discharge knows of no person living by whom he can prove his actual services, no minister of the Gospel resides in the vicinity of this deponent. This deponent has resided since the revolutionary war in Westchester, Dutchess, and Columbia Counties until about two years ago when he removed to Breton, Yates County where he now resides.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to persons or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
John Cronk

Subscribed and sworn the day & year aforesaid
T. J. Nevins Deputy Clerk
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State of New York
Yates County, ss
- - - - Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, John Cronk, to me known as the person making application for a Pension, and whom hoping are hereunto annexed, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and lapse of memory, he cannot recall particularly as to the service length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below, and in the following (?): For seven months he served as a private in 1778, under Capt Ansar, as set forth in my declaration hereunto annexed. And for three months I served as a private in 1779, under the aforesaid Captain, as set forth as aforesaid - making in the aggregate ten months service, and for such services
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claim a pension.

John Cronk

And this deponent further declares, that there is no Minister of the Gospel residing in his vicinity, or with whom he is acquainted.
John Cronk

Sworn and subscribed this 8th day of February, 1833. before me And I further certify that there is no clergyman in the vicinity of Mr. Cronk, but that the character of Mr. Cronk for truth and veracity is good.
Abrm Wardworth, Justice of the Peace
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June 28, 1938
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/EEL
John Cronk - R. 2500

Mrs. Fred H. Beattie
Penn Yan
New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to John Cronk, who served from Westchester County, New York, in the Revolutionary War and received a pension on account of his service.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, R.2500, based upon the military service in that war of John Cronk, the only soldier of that name or similar spelling in whose claim for pension it is shown that he lived in Westchester County, New York.

John Cronk was born in 1764, in what was later the town of Greensburgh, Westchester County, New York. His father was captured and died a prisoner during the Revolutionary War. His name and the name of soldier's mother are not shown. John Cronk stated that after his father's death, his family was dispersed. He did not state whether or not his father was in the service at the time of his capture.

While residing in Sing Sing, Westchester County, New York, John Cronk volunteered sometime in 1778, and served seven months in Captain Ansar's (possibly meant for Acrser) Company, Colonel Van Cortlandt's New York Regiment, "proceeded to a place called Crumpon, southeast of Fishkill," in charge of cattle, horse, and sheep" which they pastured during the season on the farms of the Tories: he volunteered again in the spring of 1779, and served three months in the same company, engaged as above.

After the Revolution, he lived in Westchester, Dutchess and Columbia Counties, New York.

He applied for pension September 28, 1832, while residing in Benton, Yates County, New York, where he had lived for two years. His claim was not allowed as the kind of service which he rendered was not provided for by the pension act under which he applied.

The date of soldier's death is not stated and there are no data as to wife or children.

Very truly yours

A.D. MILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administration.
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1935 - Aug 12 - Writ to Donald F. Clerk 
EL

1938 - June 28 - Writ to Fred H. Beattie
EEL

2300

P.O.: John Cronk
Service: Never Served
REJECTED
Certified list on 1852 shows cause of suspection as follows: "Boys of the age of fourteen & sixteen were not admissible into the war according to the recalculations of the service."
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John Cronk
New York

Hon W Babcock
H.B.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Cronk which require further proof or explanation.

1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. Has he mentioned 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? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of ever claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of July 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No certificate of clergyman but sufficient as to others
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? Yes none in the place
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Yes
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper office under his seal or office?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
___________________________
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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 m e, 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 recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _______ year _______________ months and _________ days, I served as a ______________. For ______________ months and _________________ days, I served as a _______________; and for such service I claim a pension."
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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
QUERE XIV. 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 required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as to 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, and his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ed of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached tot he certificate.
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Lt. to Hon. W. S. Hastings, Feb 9 1839 same March 18 1842 same April 19th 1842 same reject April 30, 42
Hon W. S. Hastings
same May 24 1842 May 13, 42
Act June 1838

John Cronk
New York
Act of June 1832

Suspended

See letter to Hon. W. Babcock 15 Apr 1833

2500
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July 7th 1832 any

C. W. Bennet
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State of New York
County of Yates ss

BE IT KNOWN, That before me Robert Buel, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, personally appeared John Cronk, who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, that he was a soldier in the war of the Revolution,) that he now makes this declaration to recover any pension moneys that may be due on account of the services of said John Cronk as aforesaid, for the benefit of himself under any acts or regulations of Congress applicable to the case; and that he is directly interested in the same, and makes this affidavit to be filed by his attorney.
Sworn and subscribed this 22 day of September 1832, before me, Robert Buel, Justice of the Peace.
John Cronk
_____________________________
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I John Cronk town of Benton in the county of Yates, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution,) for value received do hereby continue and appoint C. W. Bennett, Esq., Washington D.C., my true and lawful attorney irrevocably for me, and in my name to prosecute my claim to any pension moneys that may be found due on account of the services of said John Cronk aforesaid: and I hereby authorize my said attorneys to examine all papers and documents touching my claim, on file in the departments at Washington or elsewhere, and file any additional evidence or arguments he may think proper, to ensure the recovery of the same. 
Witness my hand and seal this 22 day of September A.D. 1832.
Signed and sealed in the presence of 
WITNESS. Robert Buel
WITNESS. John Merrifield
John Cronk
__________________
State of New York
County of Yates
On this 22 day of September A.D. 1832, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, personally appeared John Cronk and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to his act and deed. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above mentioned
Robert Buel Justice of the Peace.
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State of New York
Yates County Clerk's Office ss.
I hereby certify that Robert Buel Esquire, before whom the foregoing declaration and proceedings were had and sworn to, and who has subscribed his name thereto, was at the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn and authorized to administer oaths, and that his signature thereto is genuine. 
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said County of Yates and of the several Courts of record thereof, (being my official seal), this Fifth day of October 1832.
T. A. Pennoyer Dep Clerk.
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Hon w. Babcock
15 April 1832

F. C.

Recorded Vol. 8
Page 466.
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War department
Pension Off
Apl 15 1833

Sir -
I have the honor to inform you that the claim of John Cronk has been examined and it appears that he was in the fourteenth year when he rendered the principal part of the alleged service & in his fifteenth when he rendered the balance it should be supported by some proof. Boys of that age were not admissible in the rank, agreeably to the regulations of the service.
IN the case of George Green there are two terms of service amounting to 8 mo aperted agreeably to the regulations, to which he added 12 mo & which is in no respect, set forth on the regulations required to service can be taken into the computation of a person which is not alleged & established in conformity to the regulations. 
These claims are (?) & their papers placed in a file.
Hon. W. Babcock
act 7 June
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In The Matter of
John Cronk
A. Revolutionary Soldier

Claiming a pension under the Act of Congress of the Act of June 1832

The (?) served upwards of nine moths as a private in the New York Militia -

If allowed he desires his Pension certificate sent to Penn Yan, Yates County, N.Y. to the care of E. J. Fowle & he would prefer arranging the money from the U. S. Branch Bank in the City of New York. If his claim be not allowed any information from the Secy. at War touching his case will be thankfully received directed as above
The Secy's obt. Servt.
John Cronk
Penn You Sept. 1832
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In The Matter of
John Cronk
A Revolutionary soldier
claiming a pension - in Act the Cong, by June 1832
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Mr. William S. Hudson, and Jeremiah Felker, residing in the town of Benton Yates County aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Cronk who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be sixty seven 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.
Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid -
Thomas J. Nevins
Deputy Clerk
Wm S. Hudson
Jeremiah Felker
And the said Court do hereby declare the 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 William S. Hudson and Jeremiah Felker, who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the Town of Benton in the County of Yates aforesaid and are credible persons and their statement is entitled to credit.
I George Sherman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Yates County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court the matter after application of John Cronk for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28th day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
George Sherman clk
T. S. (?) Dep Clk
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State of New York
County of Yates ss
I Richard M. Smith Deputy Clerk of said County of Yates and of the Court of Common Pleas thereof do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Cronk for a Pension. And I further certify that Abner Woodworth Esquire before whom the following Affidavit of John Cronk purports to have been sworn was a the time an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Yates and duly empowered by law to administer oaths could Law well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Abner and verily believe his signature to the said Affidavit subscribed to be genuine and I further certify that the certificate of the Credibility of the said John Cronk subscribed by the said Abner Woodworth appears hereunto and believe it to be in his own proper handwriting and signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County and of the Court of Common Pleas thereof at Penn Yan this ninth day of February eighteen hundred and thirty three,
R. M. Smith Deputy Clerk,
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Fort Montgomery, N.Y.
June 24, 1935.

Veterans Administration,
Washington,
D.C.
Re: BA-J/MMHF/ILL

Gentlemen:
I have your letter of June 20th stating that the surname Cronk, Kronk or Kronkhite has been found in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 files of the Veterans Administration, and stating that it is not possible for your office to make a series of investigations and reports pertaining to soldiers of those wars for one person or organization. I regret my inability to make a really specific request, but perhaps it may help to state the case as well as I can.

Stephen, born circa 1784, and Elizabeth Waters his wife, were my great-great-grandparents. Tradition says that a pension was granted. If it was for service in the Revolutionary War, it must have been granted to Stephen's father, whose name I have not definitely established. Therefore, I am looking for the record of a Revolutionary War pension granted to a Cronk, Kronk or Kronkhite who had a son Stephen. Among those who were in this vicinity (Orange County) and of proper age to have been the father of Stephen were: Turner (or Teunis) 1812, John, James, William, Andrew & Isaac.

On the other hand, if this pension were granted for War of 1812 service, it would be in the name of Stephen himself, or possibly of Joshua.

In case this attempted explanation is of no use in solving the problem, it would be helpful if you could list for me simply the given names of persons of this surname occurring in the files of the two wars.

Yours very truly,
Donald F. Clark.
Donald F. Clark.
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August 12, 1935
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
John Cronk - R. 2500
Tunis Cronkhite - W.O.21442
BA-J/EEL

Mr. Donald F. Clark
Fort Montgomery
New York

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you furnish the names and further information in regard to certain soldiers of the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 with surnames Cronk, Kronk, Kronkhite.

A further search of the Revolutionary War records has been made and no claims for pension found based upon service in that war of Turner, Teunis, James, William, Andrew, Isaac or Stephen Cronk, under my spelling of the surname, nor do the War of 1812 records show a claim for pension on file based upon the service in that war of a Stephen Cronk or a John Cronk, or similar spelling.

The Revolutionary War record of a John Cronk, of Westchester County, New York, has ben found and the War of 1812 record of a Tunis Cronkhite, of New York, has been found. Those records are furnished herein as found in the claims for pension based upon their service in those wars.

Jon Cronk
R.2500

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claims, R.2500, based upon the military service in that war of John Cronk.

John Cronk was born in 1764, in what was later the town of Greensburgh, Westchester County, New York. His father was captured and died a prisoner during the Revolutionary War. His name and the name of soldier's mother are not shown. John Cronk stated that after his father's death, the family was dispersed. He did not state whether or not his father was in the service at the time of his capture.
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While residing in Sing Sing, Westchester County, New York, John Cronk volunteered sometime in 1778, and served seven months in Captain Ansar's (possibly meant for Orsor) Company, Colonel Van Cortlandt's New York Regiment, "proceeded to a place called Crumpon, southeast of Fishkill," in charge of cattle, horse, and sheep which they pastured during the season on the farms of the Tories: he volunteered again in the spring of 1779, and served three months in the same company engaged as above.

After the Revolution, he lived in Westchester, Dutchess and Columbia Counties, New York.

He applied for pension on September 28, 1833, while residing in Benton, Yates County, New York, where he had lived for two years. His claim was not allowed as the kind of service which he rendered was not provided for by the pension act under which he applied.

There are no further family data.

******

Tunis Cronkhite
F.O.21442

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in War of 1812 claim for pension, W.O.21442, based upon the military service of Tunis Cronkhite or Kronkright in that war.

Tunis Cronkhite was born in Dutchess County, New York. The date of his birth and the name of his parents are not shown.

After the War of 1812, Tunis Cronkhite lived in Tiaga, and Steuben Counties, New York, and in 1836, moved to Reed Township, Seneca County, Ohio, where he remained until his death which occurred on December 13(?), 1841 (the day of the month was not clearly written).

The soldier married September 25, 1815, at Bath, Steuben County, New York, Lany Annos. The date of her birth and name of her parents are not shown.

On May 6, 1878, at which time, she was aged eighty-two years and was a resident of Clinton County, Michigan, with postoffice at

-3-
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at Bath, Michigan, Lany Cronkhite applied for the pension that might have been due on account of the service of her husband, Tunis Cronkhite in the War of 1812 and alleged that he enlisted at Cayuga Bridge, state not given, April 1, 1810, at which time he was aged twenty-two years, served as a private in Captain Russell's Company, United States Army, and was discharged at Natches, Mississippi, April 1, 1815.

Her claim was not allowed as proof of service was not furnished in accordance with the requirements of the pension law.

In 1878, son Seth Cronkhite was aged fifty-three years and resided in Windsor, Eaton County, Michigan, with postoffice at Diamondale; and daughter, Martha E. Covert was aged thirty-eight years, and resided in Bath, Michigan. The name of the husband of Martha E. Covert was not given. In same year, Sarah E. Cronkhite was living in Clinton County, Michigan; her age and degree of relationship to the family was not shown.
******
Very truly yours
A.D. MILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
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Penn You, N.Y.
June 8, 1938

A.D. Heller,
Executive Assistant, Veteran's Administration,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,
I am desuous of obtaining Revolutionary War data for membership in the D.O.R. and I need the (?) record of John Cronk. He served from Westchester Co., N.Y. and received a pension.
Any record of him which you may be able to furnish me will be greatly appreciaed.

Very truly yours,
Mrs. Fred H. Beattie