Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17193, for John Myer, New York
Page 1

Service
New York

Myer, John
Meyer, Catharine [SIC]

Number 
W. 17193
Page 2

New York
Catharine Myer
widow of John Myer
who died on the 24th April 1818
of Rockland Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Sergt / Ensign in the company commanded
by Captain Turner of the regt commanded 
by Col. May in the N.Y. Militia
line for 3 months & 17 days      Sergt.		17.82
	      2     "        "   26    "    Ensign		28.00
					                   ____________
						                     $45.82
N.Y.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 45 Dollars 82 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5. day of Feb. 1860 and sent to David Pye
Clarkstown, N.Y.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '39		       389.67
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '60 	 22.91
					                  ______________
						                     $412.38

{Revolutionary Claim, }
{     Act July 4, 1836   }
{ Section the 3 ---      }

Recorded by D. Brown. Clerk,
Book A. Vol. 2. Page 212
Page 3

V.       4606
Declaration of Catharine Myer

Col. Hawks Huy. }	N.Y.
Capt. Turner	     }  Militia

Admitted
Ensign      2 mo & 24 days
Sergeant  3    "   & 17  "
	  _______________
	          6.         11

David Pye Esq
Clarkstown
N.Y.
Page 4

State of New York }
Rockland County  } ss.
On this twenty fifth day of June 1839, personally appeared before me Abraham B. Stephens, one of the Judges of the said county. Catharine Myer - a resident of the town of Ramapo in said county, aged eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to oath, 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 4. 1836: That she is the widow of John Myer who was a Ensign in a company commanded by Capt. Hendrick Tenure, in Col. A Hawkes Hay's Regiment, and served during the Revolutionary War, as follows. That early in the month of July in the year 1776, the British having taken possession of the Hudson river at Nyack and Harverstraw, when Capt. Tenure and his company was ordered out to guard along the said river at Nyack and her husband went as Ensign aforesaid and served until late in the month of November of said year (either along said river or at the Long Clove, or Clarkstown) the time the British sailed to New York for the winter, with but little intermission of a day or two at a time, as a great part of the company had enlisted into the five month service, those remaining had to serve as might be called one continued tour. to state the time her said husband served from the time he left home to his return, she cannot but believe that he was not at home at any time for one week, and was out two, three and four weeks at a time, and is confident that he served no less than three months in said year in tours as aforesaid not including the time he was absent from the company as his first tour was full half of that time -
That early in the Spring of the year 1777, the different companies was divided into four classes, and the Officers of the companies did also take turns in serving in the field and her said husband did serve and perform his full share of actual duty in the field during the years 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, and 1781 and serving at least one week [underlined] in each month during said years, commencing in the month of April and ending in December, in each year except the year 1781 in which year the regular tours of duty ended at the news of the taking of Lord Cornwallis, serving at stations as aforesaid or at Tappan town and different other station in this county or on scouts in the County of Bergen in the State of New Jersey to Closter Shralenberg, Liberty Pole, and as far down as fourt Lee
Page 5

That owing to the great length of time since the aforesaid services was rendered and the imperfection of her memory of the recitate thereof and the irregularity of the different tours, she found it impossible truly to recite all his services, or more particularly to state the commencement and end of each tour and the number thereof has caused her delaying her application, and the foregoing recital thereof, is as fully as her memory, and the information she has received from men who served with her said husband during said war will enable her to state the same- And the annexed commissions and affidavits is the proof she now offers to prove the same 
She further declares that she was married to the said John Myer by the Revd Samuel Nerbryck on the fifth day of May in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy four that her husband the aforesaid John Myer, died on the twenty fifth day of April eighteen hundred and eighteen - and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed. 
  	     					her
 			Catharine   	X. 	Myer
                				mark

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day }
and year first above written -               }
Before me                                               }
Abm B Stephens } Judge 

 I do certify that I am acquainted with Catharine Myer the above deponent and believe her to be a person of veracity whose testimony is entitled to the fullest Credit and further that by Reason of old age and infirmity she is unable to attend Court or to subscribe her name 
Abm B Stephens  Judge
Page 6

[Family Record- in Dutch]

Anno 1747
Den 5 July is gebooren Jan Myer [Jan Myer was born on July 5 1747]

Anno 1754
Den 16 September is gebooren
Catrina van Houten [Catrina Van Houten was born September 16 1754]

Anno 1774
Den 5 May is Jan Myer and Catrina van Houten in den Houwelicken [?] stant bevestigt  [married May 5 1774]

Anno 1775 den 28 May is ons sen daghter gebooren en genoemd Janneta [daughter born May 28 1775 and named Janet (?)]

Anno 1776 den 15 Augustes is ons sen daghter gebooren en genoemd Elisabeth [daughter  born August 15 1776 and named Elisabeth]

Anno 1799 den  28 September is ons sen zoon gebooren en genoemd Jacob
[son born 28 September 1799 and named Jacob]
Page 7

State of New York }
Rockland County  } ss. On this twenty fifth day of April 1839, personally appeared before me Abraham B. Stephens, a judge in and for said county Catharine Myer - widow of John Myer, who being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say, that the annexed paper is the family record of her late husband John Myer and in his hand writing that the same is a leaf taken from the family Bible and remained in the possession of  her late husband until his death since which time it has remained in the possession of this deponent.
Sworn to and subscribed on the		}	                   her
day and year above written Before	}	Catharine   X	  Myer
me						                }		          mark
[Signed] Abm. B. Stephens Judge

I certify that I am acquainted with Catharine Myer the above deponent and believe her to be a person of veracity whose testimony is entitled to the fullest credit & that by reason of old age she is unable to subscribe her name.
[Signed] Abm. B. Stephens  Judge

State of New York	}
Rockland County	} ss  On this twenty fourth day of April 1839 personally appeared before me Abraham B. Stephens, a Judge in and for said county, David Cole and Elizabeth - his wife, residents of the town of Ramapo in said county who, being first duly sworn according to law, do depose and say that they were well acquainted with John Myer, during the latter part of his life, and know that he died on the twenty fourth day of April - eighteen hundred and eighteen - and that Catharine Myer - has remained his widow ever since that period.

Swon to and subscribed the day	}		[Signed] David Cole
and year above written Before me	}		[SIgned] Elizabeth Cole
[Signed] Abm. B Stephens  Judge

I do certify that I am well acquainted with David Cole and Elizabeth his wife the above Deponents and believe them to be persons of veracity whose testimony is entitled to the fullest credit
[Signed]  Abm. B Stephens  Judge
Page 8

State of New York	}
Rockland County	} ss.    I, Abraham Hogenkamp, Clerk of the county of Rockland Do hereby Certify, That Abraham B. Stephens Esq. before whom the foregoing Declaration of Catharine Myer -the affidavit of Catharine Myer, David Cole and Elizabeth his wife were taken, is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county duly commissioned and sworn and that the signatures annexed is his genuine signature

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said county this Twenty fifth day of June, 1839.
[Signed] Abm Hogenkamp, Clerk
Page 9

State of New York	}
Rockland County	} ss.    On this Fourth - day of June - 1839 personally appeared before me Peter T Stephens, a Justice of the Pease, in and for said county, John J. Blauvelt - a resident of the town of Clarkstown, in said county, aged 88 years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, that he was well acquainted with John Myers during the Revolutionary War, and knows that John Myers was Ensign in a Company commanded by Cpt. Hendrick Tenure in Col. Hawkes Hay's Regiment during said war and did serve as follows - That early in the month of July, in the year 1776, The British having sailed up the Hudson River and lay in Tappan and Haverstraw Bays, Capt. Tenure with his whole company was called out to guard at the Long Clove and aloong th river at Nyack, and the said John Myers attended as Ensign and served from the tenth of July until about the first of September and not less than one month and a half when that said ships sailed away and the men discharged for a few days, and soon returning again the men was again called upon to prevent their landing and served with but short intermissions until late in the month of November when they sailed to New York for winter quarters, and the said John Myers being the Junior Officer was out when any was out and served not less than two months during the months of September October and November in said year -
That in the year 1777 the men was put into classes and so had to serve when the said John Myers did command as Ensign, and wether the Officers did regularly change or not this deponent cannot say but knows that John Myers was generally on duty and is confident that he served not less than three months during said year. -
That during the years 1778, 1779, 1780 and 1781, there was considerable duty for for the Militia to perform either guarding along the river from Nyack to Haverstraw landing, or guarding at the Short and long clove at Clarkstown Tappan town, or on scouting parties in the State of New Jersey - that to state the exact time each tour of duty lasted he cannot but knows that they were from one to two and three weeks, from early in the Spring until Winter in each year, and verily believed that the said John Myers did serve not less than two months in each year in actual duty at the different stations or in the field, this deponent being a Soldier and served in the said company
Page 10

That the length of time since the said services was rendered, and the irregularity of the length of the different tours of duty, makes it impossible for this deponant, more definitely to state the time the said John Myers served during the said war, but believes it would far exceed the time stated if all his services could be correctly stated- 

Sworn to and subscribed 
the day and year aforesaid   [Signed] John J Blauvelt
Before me 
[Signed] Peter T Stephens Justice 

I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above named John J Blauvelt and know him to be a man of truth and veracity whose statement is entitled to credit 
[Signed] Peter T Stephens Justice
Page 11

State of New York 	}
Rockland. County	} ss	On this twenty fourth day of June, 1839, personally appeared before me Peter T Stephens a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, John House, a resident of the ton of Clarkstown, in said county, aged [blank] years who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth depose and sat: The he was well acquainted with John Myer, who was an Ensign in a company commanded by Capt. Hendrick Tenure, in Coln. A Hawkes Hay's Regiment - during the whole of the Revolutionary War. That about the tenth or twelfth of July in the year 1776 the British having sailed up the Hudson River and lay at Tappan and Haverstraw Bays, Capt. Tenure with his company was ordered out to guard along said river at Nyack, to prevent their landing, when the said John Myer served as Ensign, going from one station to an other along said River, as the said vessels moved about from place to place until near the last of September, when the said ships sailed away for a few days, when the company was permitted to go home for a few days, but the ships soon returned again and the men that did not enlist in the five month service had all to go and to guard along said river with very short intermissions until late in the month of [December is stricken] November in said year, when the said ships finally sailed to New York for Winter Quarters. to state the exact time the said John Myer did serve during the whole campain [sic] or the length of each tour he cannot but is confident that the first tour was not less than one and a half months, and two weeks in each of the months of September, October, and November. -
That early in the Spring of the year 1777, the men in each company was put into classes [?] to serve in Weekly tours, and wither the Officers also each performed the one third part of the duty (there being three) or how they exchanged he cannot say, but he this deponent serving for himself his farther [sic] and Brother was nearly all the time out on duty, and knows that the said John Myer was a faithful Officer and was a great part of the time from early Spring until in the Winter out on duty commanding the guards stationed either along the said river, or at the Long Clove, at Clarkstown, nanuet, Sickle town, Tappan town, or on scout in the State of New Jersey, and served not less than one week in each month commencing in April and ending in December -
Page 12

That during the year 1770, this deponent served nine months under Capt John Bell, and from his own knowledge cannot say what services was rendered by the said John Myer That during the year 1779, 1780 and 1781 this deponant [sic] served in his former company (to which he belonged) of Capt Tenure and knows that John Myer did serve in said company during said years, and served not less than one week in each month commencing in April and ending in December, in each year except the year 1781, in which year it ended in the month of October when the news of the taking of Lord Cornwallice [sic] and his Army arived [sic]- 

Sworn to and subscribed the day}
and year aforesaid. Before me- 	 }              [Signed] John House
Peter T Stephens Justice

I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above named John House and know him to be a man of truth and veracity whose statement is entitled to credit 
Peter T Stephens Justice
Page 13

State of New York	}
Rockland County	} ss	On this twenty fourth day of June 1839, personally appeared before me Peter T Stephens, a Justice of the Peace - in and for said county, the Rev. Isaac D Cole Pastor of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Tappan, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say,
That he is in Possession of the Book being the Record of Marriages of the formerly United Congregations of Tappan and Clarkstown, and that there is no marriage recorded in said book from the year 1754 to the year 1784 during which time the Revd. Samuel Verbiyck was the Pastor of said United Congregations and that there is no record of the marriage of John Myer with his present widow Catharine Van Houten entered in said Book -
Sworn to and subscribed on the 		[Signed] Isaac D. Cole J.D.M.
day and year above written -
Before me - 
[Signed] Peter T. Stephens Justice

State of New York	}
Rockland County	} ss 	I, Abraham Hogenkamp, Clerk of the county of Rockland, Do hereby certify that Peter T. Stephens Esq. before whom the above affidavit and the annexed affidavits of John House and John I Blauvelt were taken, is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and sworn, and that the signatures annexed is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said county, this twenty fifth day of June 1839.
[Signed] Abm. Hogenkamp Clerk
Page 14

V.   N. York
Catharine Myer
Let. to David Pye 5 Oct. 1839
       to same   15 Nov. 1839
       to same.  28   "        "


Act July 1836
Page 15

[NYS SEAL}. The People of the State of New York
by the Grace of God, FREE and INDEPENDENT.
To John Meyer Gentlm.   Greetings
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence, as well in your Patriotism, Conduct and Loyalty, as in your Valour and Readiness to do us good and faithful Service Have appointed and constituted and by these Presents DO Appoint and Constitute you the said John Meyer Ensign of Captain Hendrick Tenure's Company of Militiamen County[?] of Orange in the Regiment whereof A. Hawkes Hay Esquire is Colonel -
You are therefore, to take the said Company into your charge and care as Ensign thereof and duly to exercise the Officers and Soldiers of that Company in Arms, who are hereby commanded to obey you as their Ensign and you are also to Observe and follow such Orders and Directions as you shall from time to time recieve from our General and Commander in chief of the Militia of our said State, or any other your Superior Officer According to the Rules and dicipline of War in pursuance of the Trust reposed in you; and for so doing this shall be Your Commission, for and during our good pleasure, to be Signified by our Council of appointments. In Testimony whereof, we have caused our Seal for Military Commissions to be hereunto Affixed. Witness our Trusty and well beloved George Clinton Esquire our Governor of our State of New York, General and Commander in chief of all the Militia and Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the Advice and Consent of our said Council of Appointment, at Poughkeepsie the Twenty Eighth of May in the Second year of our Independence, and in the year of our Lord one Thousand and Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight - 
Passed the Secretary's Office Aug 3rd 1778
By His Excellency’s Command.
[Signed] Abrm. J Boucher			  [Signed] Gov. [or Geo] Clinton
Page 16

[Something is obscuring top left-most corner of this document]

[PROV]INCIAL CONGRESS for the Colony of New-York, the Seventeenth Day of February 1776 .
[John] Myer of Clark's Town in Orange County Gentleman Greeting: [obscured] of the authority reposed in us We do hereby nominate, authorize command and appoint you the said John Myer to be Ensign --- of the Clark's Town Militia  [obscured] Fort of which Company Hendrick Tounour Esquire is [obscured, but should be Commander] hereby requiring you, before you [obscured] exercise of your said office, to make in writing, and subscribe in presence [obscured] man of the Committee of the City, Town, District, or Precinct wherein you [obscured] declaration appointed and directed by the eleventh Section of the seventh Resolve contained in the rules and orders for regulating the Militia of the Colony of New York, recommended by this Congress on the 22d day of August, 1775, and authorizing you fully to execute all the powers belonging to your said office, by virtue of the said rules and orders, and the said declaration: And we do hereby require all persons under your command, to pay due obedience to you, according to the said rules and orders, and such further rules and orders as shall be made and recommended for the Militia of this Colony, by the present, or any future Continental Congress, or Provincial Congress of this Colony. 
By Order, Nathl. Woodhull Presidn.

Attest. Robt. Benson Secty
Page 17

[On left] Hist. to [sons?] N.Y.

Rev. Widow, etc.

File No. 17193
Catharine Myer
wid. of
John Myer
Serg't - Rev. War
Act July 4, 1836
Index: Vol. M, Page 46
[Arrangement of 1870]

[On right]
 Mrch 19, 11903 -
Louis Hays De Pa
New Rochelle
Page 18

17193 Wid.
Jno. Myer

June 25, 1839
Ramapo N.Y.  - [illegible]

76 July [illegible] N.Y.
Capt. Henry Tournour
Col. A. Hawkes Hay
Ensign 8 mos.

77 Capt. Lee [?]
Col. [illegible]
Ensign -  served 1 week 
in each month from Spring of 77 to Oct of 1781

Mar Catharine Van Houten
May 5, 1774
Died April 24th 1818

[illegible]
[bottom 2 lines illegible]
Page 19

3 - 595. 
O. W. AND N. DIVISION. 
Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.

 Searched by [blank]
Claim No. [blank]
Certificate No. [blank]
Claimant [blank]
Soldier [blank]
Service [blank]
Additional service [blank]
Remarks [blank]

                  Chief of Division [blank]

15444b10m8 - 1900
Page 20


Commissioner of Pensions
Department of the Interior
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir
Will you kindly send me whatever records you have of the men below mentioned - as I wish to prove them identical, and oblige
Yours Respectfully
[Signed] Louis Hays Dos Passos

I. 
John Myers private in Col. Jesse Woodhull's reg. Orange Co. Militia - Revolutionary War.

II. 
John D. Myer, private in Col. Brinkerhoff's Reg. Dutchess Co. Militia. Revolution
Born Dec 25 1759 - Died May 15 1802
Lived for a time at Harlem N.Y.
Married Catherine Ackerman.
It is not known if he received a pension

[Stamped Mar 13 1903]
Page 21

Clarkstown Decr. 7, 1839.

Sir
In my letter of the 22d of Novr I stated as the Commissions accompanying the papers of Catharine Myer widow of John Myer that John Myer was first appointed Ensign in Feby 1776 and afterwards in May 1778. and altho it appears by the certificate of the Comptroler that he is returned as serving as a Sergeant in 1778, that there was some reason to believe that the entry as Sergeant was incorrect, and only intended to suggest such consideration to you and leaving the final disposial [sic] thereof to you expecting that you would allow as was just and right in her case -
In your letter of the 20th ultion [?] you say "No further allowance can be made except upon additional proofs- 
I have to state that all the proof that could be procured has been forwarded. that is, nothing that could be more satisfactory, there is yet one or two other persons living who served under [illegible - Ens?] Myers, but they cannot swere [sic] to anything more particularly than has been sent. all state he acted as Ensign 
Her claim is therefore left with you to allow such pension as is judged right, and as soon as can be convenient to forward such Pension Certificate to me -
 I remain Respectable Sir
 Your Obt Servt 
David Pye


Goerge Wm. Crump Esq.
Page 22

[Envelope]
Crosswise: Nov. 27, 1839

Nyack Turnpike			 FREE
Novr. 23rd


Honl.
James L. Edwards
Commisr of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 23


Clarkstown Nov. 22, 1839

Honl. Sir
In your letter of the 15th received the 20th in the case of Catharine Myer widow of John Myer you say that a pension will be allowed for six month and eleven days part of the time as a Sergeant and part as ensign.
It appears by a Certificate issued May 4 1778 that John Myer had served as a Sergeant, but agreeable to the commissions accompanying her papers, that her late husband was appointed Ensign by the Provisional Congress in Feb 7 1776, and again by the Governor and council of appointment in May 1778, and having his commission as Ensign when Volume 4 folio 23 says he served as a sergeant. that in that particular the said entry is rong [sic] as from the books there does not appear to be a surplus of Officers only a Capt. Lieut. and ensign, and there can be no error in believing so as the commission informs you, and is positive testimony that he was at that time Ensign -
 There is no better testimony that can be offered but she asks to be allowed a pension for the 6 months and 11 days as Ensign which he actually was, if nothing can be added for his services in 1779 and 1780 after the month of August and also for 1781 - as the Militia had to serve until Cornwallice [sic] was taken in October 1781.
Her claim is now left for your final decision.
I remain Honl. Sir
Your obt. Servt
[Signed] David Pye

Honl. James L Edwards
Page 24

[Envelope]

Crosswise:
Nyack Turnpike
4606 June 27th
N.Y. July 1
July 4 1836

                            Free
James L Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 25

Clarkstown June 26th 1839

 Honl Sir

Inclosed I send you the Declaration of Catharine Myers with the accompanying papers

 I remain Honl Sir
 your obt Sert 
[SIgned] David Pye


Honl. James L Edwards
Page 26

John Myer
1. 15 
2   2 
________
3  17
2   24
_________
      11 mo


Ensign 2 + 24 days
Srgt     3  "  17    "
___________________
             6    11
Page 27

Clarkstown Oct. 15th 1839.

Honl Sir
Enclosed I send you the Certificate of the Honorable Bates Cooke, Comptroler of the State of New York as to the Service on record of John Myer, late the husband of Catharine Myer.
In 1778 it appears he acted as Sergeant altho by his commission sent it appears that he was Ensign and by the book there is no account of any service rendered in 1776, 1777, 1779 & 1781 and that in 1778 (the year when Cornwallis came out of New York with his army) not near the amount of the services rendered.
In your letter of the 5th last, you state, "The Statement of the witnesses with respect to his services previous to that time are indefinite. The duration of each tour should be definitely specified"  In that case I can only say, the witnesses (the few that yet remain) are old, the services rendered sixty years ago, their memory frail - they cannot recollect the commencement or end of each campain [sic], but know that they generally served in tours of a week in duration, often for a longer time, but do not recollect how often, or how much the tour lasted each time, and in order to satisfy themselves that they do not exceed the truth, they will only swear positively that the service was not less than one week in every four week, or in each month, from spring to fall, being positive it was not less, but not willing to say it was no more
I remain Honl Sir
your obt servt
[Signed] David Pye

Honl. James L Edwards
Page 28

Document appears blank, although the name John Myers appears extremely faint at the top.
Page 29

State of New York
Comptrollers Office
From Book 4.

"The months and amount of Certificates issued by the Treasurer of the State of New York for Service and militia service, etc continued from Book 3.
To whom given

1778
May 4.  16306	  John Myer.  Sergt	2  3  2 
1780
Augt. 9. 16390.        John Myer.    Ens.      22  4  "

I hereby certify that the above are true extracts from book No. 4 remaining in this office - that the first service appears to have been under Captain Henry Tournour and the second under Capt Henry Turner and that A. Hawkes Hay was Coln [?] as appears by the tour book on 9 August 1780
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this tenth day of October 1839.
[Signed] Bates Cooke
Comptroller

$1.30 fee