Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15082, Peter Demorest, New York
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New York
Demorest Peter
NUMBER
S15082
CONTENTS
Carded
Page 2

27798
New York

Peter Demorest
Danby in the State of N. York
was a pri. in the Comp'y. commanded by
Captain Wisner of the Regt. commanded by
Col. Nichols in the New York militia
for 10 mo. 28 days.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 36 Dollars 44 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Jany. 1835 and sent to Hon. N. Halsey

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 34 127.54
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 35 18.22
---------
$145.76

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7 1832.} 
Recorded by Geo. Wm. Crump Clerk
Book E.2. Vol. 4 Page 17.

[written vertically]
Letter to Hon. A. D. W. Bruyn 23 Dec. '37
" " Saml. Crittenden Augt. 21. 1838
Page 3

In the matter of the application of Peter Demorest for a Pension

original

S. Crittenden Jr. Atty. for applicant

Hon N. Halsey
HR
Page 4

State of New York
Tompkins County ss:
 On this fourth day of February 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County of Tompkins and State of New York (being a Court of Record) now sitting Peter Demorest a resident of the Town of Danby in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy five years on the second day of May last 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated-
That he first enlisted as a private in Capt John Wisners Company in Col. Henry Nicholas or Nichols Regiment of New York State Troops for four months on the first of April 1776 and served during that time under the same officers at Fort Constitution on the Hudson River. That he enlisted as aforesaid at Warwick in the County of Orange & State of New York
where he then residing with his father-- during the aforesaid service they were stationed at Fort Constitution and engaged principally in building Butteries after which the Declarant was honourably discharged.
That he again enlisted as a private in the same company and under the same officers for five months on the first of August 1776 and served as such private during that term. Immediately after his said last mentioned enlistment he marched with said regiment to Kingsbridge on the Hudson where they were stationed for some time & from thence they marched to White Plains where they joined a main branch of the American Army under Genls. Washington, Sterling, Putnam. At White Planes Genl. George Clinton took command of said Col. Nicholas or Nichols Regt - they were engaged in the Battle of White Planes during the last aforesaid service. After the battle at White Planes, Genl. Washington & his forces pursued the British from White Planes to Hackensack N.J. and the Declarant with the aforesaid Regt commanded by said Col. Nicholas or Nichols under Genl. Clanton remained for some time at White Planes & marched from thence to Peekskill where they remained until their term of five months for which he enlisted had expired when this
declarant was again honourably discharged.
That he next volunteered in February 1777 to serve as a substitute for his father Peter Demorest who was drafted to serve
Page 5

as a private for two months in Capt John Wood's company of New York Militia. That the declarant served as such substitute for said term of two months in the aforesaid company during which they were stationed at the Liberty Pole near Burgen New Jersey for the purpose of guarding the Frontier from innovations by the British & Cowboys. The declarant does not
recollect the name of the Col. who had the command of said Capt. Woods company during the said two months service as he was not present with said company but after serving at that place the time of the draft he was again honorably discharged from the service by Col. Hawthorn.
That from Appril 1777 for one year for the declarant and also for one year for his said father Peter Demorest he stood as a classed militiaman and service as such during which he was in actual service alternately for two weeks at a time for the term of two years. That during the last aforesaid service he served under different captains at different times. he cannot recollect the names of all of his captains in that service but he recollects the names of the following Capt. John Minthorn, Capt. Andrew Miller, Capt. Peter Bertolf, Capt. Richard Bailey, Capt. Thomas Blain and Capt Shepard -
all of whom captains in Col. Hathorn's Regiment of New York Militia. That during said service as a classed militia man he worked in the erecting & building Fort Montgomery and Fort Arnold.
The he the Declarant from old age and the consigned loss of memory cannot state precisely the time or times of his service in the Revolution but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods herein after specified & in the following grades-

for 4 months I served as a private in Capt Wisner's Compy. in 1776
" 5 " I served as do.. " " Wisner's " "
" 2 " I served as a substitute " " Woods " "
" 6 " I served as a class militia man (actually in service 1777
" 6 " I served as a class militia man as a substitute (actual service) "
Making 1 Year 11 months actual service at least
Page 6

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.
[very faded] Peter Demorest ["his" and "mark" written above and below the "X" mark designating his signature]

Sworn to & subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid
[signature] S. Love Clerk

We Moses King a Clergyman residing in the town of Danby and County & State aforesaid and [very faded but mentioned below] Grandis Van Inwagen residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Demorest who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy five 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-
[faded signatures] Moses King
[second signature faded illegible, presumably "Grandis Van Inwagen"] 

Sworn & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid}
[signature] S. Love Clk

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 had served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Moses King who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Danby in said County of Tompkins and that Grandis Vaninwagen who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and to a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Samuel Love Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County of Tompkins and of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the application of Peter Demorest for a Pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office at that this fourth day of February A.D. 1834.
[signature] Saml. Love Clerk
Page 7

The following questions were propounded by the Court to the applicant to which he made answer as follows Viz-
Question Where & in what year were you born?
Answer. At Hackensack New Jersey, on the 2d of Feby. 1759.
Question Have you any record of your age & if so where is it?
Answer. I have at home in the family Bible.
Question Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Answer. When called to service I lived at Longridge in Orange Co. New York. Afterwards moved to Shawangunk Ulster County- from thence I moved to Danby in the County of Tompkins & State aforesaid where I now live and when I have lived for more than 30 years
Question. How were you called into service? Were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute: and if a substitute for whom?
Answer. I volunteered a part of the time and a part of the time I served as a substitute for my father Peter Demorist [Demorest]
Question State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstance of your service-
Answer I served under Col. Henry Nichols or Nicholas in Genl. Clintons Brigade-- I recollect Genl. Washington, Genl. Sterling, and Genl. Putnam, I saw them at the Battle of White Plains and at Kingsbridge. I also remember
Col. McCougherty also in Genl. George Clintons Brigade- Genl. James Clinton was an officer in the landing Troop
Question, Did you ever receive a discharge form the service & if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it?
Answer I never had any written discharge but was always discharged by verbal order.
Question State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your Character for veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Answer Rev. Moses King, Henry Yaples, Seleck Bates, Benjamin Jennings Esqr., Grandis Van Inwagen
Attest.
[signature] Saml. Love Clerk
Page 8

State of New York
Monroe County } ss.
Cornelius Dumarest of Ithaca being duly sworn deposes and says that he is a brother of Peter Dumorest [Demorest] a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States. That his brother Peter was a private in the any of the revolution and served as such at the times and places following point-
At Fort Constitution, in the State of New York for the space of four months.
At Whiteplains, for the space of five months.
In the Spring of the year 1777 in the State of N. Jersey for the period according to this Deponents best recollection of three months-
In the year 1778. at West Point Fort for the period of about three weeks- 
In the year 1778. at Minisink for the period of Three months-
And this Deponent further says that Peter, his brother served at Fort Constitution under Capt. John Wisners- at Whiteplains under the said Wisners. in Jersey under Capt John Wood- at West Point Fort, under a Continental Waggon master whose name this Deponent does not recollect;
at Minisink under Lieut Joseph Jewell. 

And this Deponent further says that the said Peter Dumarest was absent from his home & family in the service of the United States, for about the period of fifteen months and three weeks & That said Peter draws a pension for such services of Thirty Six Dollars per annum, being for four months services, and being all he could obtain, when his Pension Certificate was granted, on the ground a deficiency of Testimony as to the amount of service
Page 9

rendered by him, other than the said four months. That said Peter depends entirely upon his pension for his support and maintenance, that he is a man of reduced circumstances, and is greatly in need of the full amount of pension
money to which he may be entitled by reason of such Services
[signature] Cornelius Demorest

Sworn & Subscribed before me Oct. 14. 1837 }
[signature] Isaac Hills
Recorder of Rochester -

[written vertically]
Hon A D W Bruyn
HR
Page 10

30.120
Peter Demorist [Demorest]
76

Hon N. Halsey
House Reps 
U.S. 
S. Crittenden Jr.

[showing vertically from underlying page]
The term of Militia Service were not so long
+ Dr Crump says this was 3 months
Page 11

[Printed form/letter with handwritten answers]    

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A statement, showing the service of Peter Demorist
Period when the service was rendered. 
Duration of the claimant's service. Years. | Months | Days. 
Rank of the claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
1776- | +4 [months] | Private | Col Nicholas & Capt. Wisner
" Aug 1st ┃ 5 | " | same
1777 Feb- | 2 | Subs. | Cap John Wood
1 as a Classed militia man
1 as a substitute
----
7 | 28
3
----
10 | 28

I am respectfully, 
Your obedient servant
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

+ Militia
The term of Militia Service were not so long
+ Dr Crump says this was 3 months
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record,

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of 
County of } ss.
On this [blank space] day of [blank space] personally appeared (a) before [blank space] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank space] in the county of [blank space] and State, Territory, or District of [blank space] aged (c) [blank space] 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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank space], with [blank space] and served in the [blank space] (e) regiment of the [blank space] line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [Hand arrow symbol pointing right] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank space]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I [blank space] of the Court of [blank space] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank space] for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank space] day of [blank space] &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank space] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank space], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank space] 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank space] Clerk of the Court of [blank space] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of [blank space] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank space] day of [blank space] &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. { To a Soldier { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
    { To an Officer { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides, he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the person or persons of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 me, 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."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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 the or four months, too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well 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, under his seal of office.
[Hand arrow pointing right] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

[handwritten]
There are Rolls of Capt Blains & Capt Woods Companies in the Department, this period in which he then served in their companies was performed should be granted
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15082
INVALID.
File No. 15.082
Peter Demorest
Priv. Rev. War
Act: Jun 7 1832
Index: -- Vol 1, Page 94
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

New York
Peter Demorest
Suspended
Lett to Hon N. Halsey
4 Dec'r 1834
Let to Same Jun 7, 1835
" " " 12 "  [Jun 12, 1835]
Page 16

Peter Demorest
New York

adm'd
[illegible due to dark contrast]
Sent to Hon. N. Halsey
15 Jany. '35
Page 17

I hereby relinquish in behalf of Peter Demorest all claim under the act of 7 June '32 besides 10 mo 28 days as a private
Washington D.C.
Jany. 15. 1835
[signature] Nicoll Halsey
Page 18

Pension Office

Hon N. Halsey
House of Representatives

[written vertically]
Peter Demorest
Page 19

War Department
Pension Office
12th January 1835
Sir
In reply to yours of 8th inst I have to state that by the rules of this office no certificate can be issued except in full satisfaction of a claim, and until a claimant shall assign limits to his claim satisfactory to the Department it cannot be admitted. Mr. Demorest must perfect or relinquish the objectionable part of his claim.
I am Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
[signature] J L Edwards

Hon N Halsey
House of Representation
Page 20

Peter Demorest 
ad'l. decl'n.

Hon. N. Halsey, H.R.
Page 21

State of New York
Tompkins County SS: 
Peter Demorist [Demorest] of Danby in the said County being duly sworn doth on his oath depose and say that he is the same Peter Demorist named in an original Declaration &c. forwarded by S. Crittenden Jr. Esq. through the Hon Nicoll Halsey to the Pension office, as an applicant for a pension for services in the Revolutionary war. That he served as detailed in his said declaration in the Revolution faithfully at Fort Constitution at Kings Bridge and at the Liberty Pole N.J. and for the terms therein stated and set forth & under the officers therein named-
And further this Deponant says on his oath aforesaid that the details of his service as a classed militia man or a minute man as stated in his said declaration are as fully as he can recollect as follows. That
after his said 2 months service in said Capt Woods Company as stated in his said declaration are as fully as he can recollect as follows- that after his said 2 months service in said Capt. Wood's Company as stated in his said declaration and in the month of April 1777 he this Deponant was Classed as a Militia man in Col. Hathorns Regt. as a Private and commenced his actual service as such as early as and as near as he can recollect the middle of April '77. That his first service as such classed militia man was for two weeks in said Regt. under Andrew Miller at Fort Montgomery on the Hudson River where he was engaged in the service in building
the batteries to guard the fort at that place - That after the said last term of two weeks service he with his class was relieved by another class & returned home where he remained for two weeks and then returned to said service at the same place and under Capt. John Minthorn where he again served for the further term of 2 weeks - That he this Deponant continued in such service two weeks in service & two weeks out of service alternately or two weeks about with his class at Fort Montgomery aforesaid till the fall of 1777 & he believes about the first of October '77 when said Fort Montgomery was taken by the British after which this Deponent served as aforesaid with his Class near Judge Suffern's at a place called Smith's Clove in the town of Ramapo & near the Jersey line till as late at least as the 1st of Nov. '77 when he with his said class were discharged for the winter & returned home to Warwick where he then resided. That he again commenced his said service as such classed militia man in the same Regt. on, or as early as the first day of April 1778 for 2 weeks at a time or two weeks about as aforesaid at the Town of Ramapo aforesaid & near Judge Suffern's where he with his said Class continued to serve 2 weeks in service & 2 weeks out of service alternately as aforesaid until the first of Nov. 1778. That during the last aforesaid service he was engaged at Ramapo aforesaid as a guard to prevent the British from passing Smith's Cove. And that during the same service in '78 Col. Malcolm & his Regiment, who was in the Continental line was at that place the greater part of the summer where he enlisted several men from said Col. Hathorn's Regt, of Militia- That during the winter seasons during the service of this Deponant as such classed Militia man their said Regt. was relieved by several companies of Ranger's some of which commanded by Capts. Johnson. Sabrisky, and Blanch - That as early as the 1st day of April 1779 he again commenced his services in said Col Hathorns Regt. as such classed militia man as aforesaid & continued to serve as such from that time 2 weeks in service & 2 weeks out of service alternately as aforesaid till as late as and as near as he can recollect
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the middle of November 1779. & during the last aforesaid service he was engaged with his Class as aforesaid at West Point in building fort Arnold - That he this Deponant in April 1780 and as near as he can now remember the first of April '80 again commenced his service as such classed militia man as aforesaid in the aforesaid Regiment at Minisink on the Delaware River and were there engaged as aforesaid in standing as a guard at that place against the Indians till winter set in & as late at least as the 1st of Nov. 1780 but the precise time he cannot now recollect where he with his Class return home & there remained during the Winter season-  that early in the season of 1781 and as early as the middle of March but the exact time he cannot now recollect this Deponant recommenced his said service as such classed militia man in the aforesaid Regt. at Minisink aforesaid where he continued to serve two weeks in actual service & two weeks out of service alternately till the news arrived there of the surrender of Lord Comwallis at York Town when they were finally discharged and after partaking of an ox which was roasted whole at that place returned home. That during the two last years service as aforesaid this Deponent in addition to serving faithfully his own tours with his Class as aforesaid he also several times & for several tours of 2 weeks each served as a substitute for his father Peter Demorest who was also a classed militia man in the same Regt.- That during the whole of his said service as such classed militia man as aforesaid he served in said Col. Hathorns Regt. as a private but under different Captains as the officers took their turn with the different classes in said Regiment, and he can recollect the names of Capt. Miller, Capt. Minthorn, Capt. Wisner &c as named in his said original declaration under whom he served at different periods during his service as such classed militiaman but the precise time or length of time under each he cannot now recollect & therefore cannot state - And further he saith not-
Peter Demorest ["his" and "mark" written above and below the "X" mark designating his signature]

Subscribed & Sworn before me this 17th day of December 1834 }
[signature] Arthur S. Johnson J.P. 
Tompkins County.

Tompkins County ss: I hereby certify that I am acquainted with Peter Demorest and know, from infirmity, that he is unable to write his name
Ithaca Dec 17. 1834.
[signature] Arthur S. Johnson J.P.
Tompkins County.
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Tompkins County
Clerks Office } ss: 
I Samuel Love Clerk of the County of Tompkins and of the County Courts in & for said County do certify that Arthur S Johnson Esquire before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn and who has signed the certificate thereto annexed was on the day of the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly authorized by law to administer oaths - and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe his signature to the same to be his genuine hand writing. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 20th day of December 1834-
[signature] Saml. Love Clerk
Page 24

State of New York
Tompkins County SS }
Nathan Sayre of Hector in said County being by me duly sworn, doth on his oath depose and say that he is Eighty six years of age, that he is well acquainted with Peter Demorest named in the annexed Declaration &c as an applicant for a Pension for services in the Revolutionary war:- That he first became acquainted with the said Peter Demorest in the year 1776 during the Revolution in the County of Orange in the  said State of New York; that according to the best of this deponants recollection the said Peter Demorest during the year 1776 enlisted in the service of the United States in the revolutionary war, for a term of four months, in Capt. John Wisner's Company and in Col. Isaac Nichol's Regiment of Militia of the State of New York, and that he the said Peter Demorest served during the said term faithfully as a Private in the aforesaid Capt Wisner's company; that during the said term he this deponent was a Lieutenant in the same company with the said Peter Demorest  and served with him under the aforesaid officers during that term, at fort Constitution on the Hudson River & in that vicinity -
And further this Deponant saith very soon after the said four months service had expired, he this deponent understood and truly believes the said Peter Demorest with others of said Capt Wisners Company again enlisted into the same service & under the same officer for a further term of five months; and he has no doubt but that he the said Peter Demorest  did so enlist and serve during the said term of five months as he has always so understood & which he has never heard contradicted or in any way doubted -
And further this Deponent saith not-
[signature] Nathan Sayre

Subscribed & sworn before me this 10th day of July A.D. 1834 }
[signature] Hiram G Gulick J.P.

I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above named Nathan Sayre & believe him to be a person of undoubted veracity & his statement entitled to full credit
Hiram G Gulick J.P.
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State of New York
Tompkins County ss
Jesse Bailey being duly sworn says that he now resides in Dryden in the County of Tompkins and is of the age of Seventy three years. That he knows and is well acquainted with Peter Demorist [Demorest] of the town of Danby in the County of Tompkins and has known him for the period of fifty eight years. That he this deponent was in the Revolutionary war in the New York State Troops - that while in such service in the year 1776, he saw the said Peter Demorist in Captain John Millers Company in Colonel Nichols Regiment of the New York State Troops, at fort Constitution on the North River above New York - That said Demorist was engaged with others in erecting and building the said Fort - That said Wisners men were in the five
months service. That he again saw the said Demorist in Captain Wsners  Company at Haverstraw in the latter part of the year 1776, the beginning
of 1777, when the State Troops there relieved by General Wayne with the Continental Troops - That this deponent was in the service in the State Troops from 1776 to the year 1779, and during that time he
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frequently saw the said Peter Demorist [Demorest] in the service in the State Troops and verily believes that the said Peter Demorist was in the service in the State Troops in the New York line for the period of two years from the year 1776 to the year 1779. and further this deponent saith not
[signature] Jesse Bailey

Subscribed & Sworn before me April 25 1834
[signature] Frederick G Stanley a Commissioner of deeds &c

I certify that I am well acquainted with Jesse Baily who has Subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit and that he is a person of undoubted veracity & his statement entitled to full credit.
[signature] Federick G. Stanley
a Com. &c

State of New York
Tompkins County Clerks office: I Samuel Love Clerk of the County of Tompkins & of the County Courts in & for said County Do certify that Frederick G. Stanley Esq before whom the preceding affidavit of Jesse Bailey purports to have been taken was on the day of the date of said affidavit a Commissioner of Deeds &c in & for said County duly authorized by law to administer oaths. And further that Hiram G. Gulick Esq before whom the annexed affidavit of Nathan Sayre purports to have been taken & sworn was on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the peace in & for said County duly authorized by law to administer oaths and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Commissioner & Justice of the Peace respectively and verily believe that their several signatures to the said affidavits
and certificates thereunder written respectively are genuine & in their own proper hand writing
In testimony whereof I have
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hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal
this [left blank] day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty four.
[signature] Saml. Love clk