Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 45168, John Belknap, New York.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New York    

Belknap, John

NUMBER
S 45168

CONTENTS
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Original Claim

First District of New York - On this nineteenth day of May in the year of one hundred one thousand eight hundred and twenty three personally appeared in the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange in open Court it being a Court of Record John Belknap aged eighty nine years who been first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the eighteenth of March 1818 and the first of May 1820 that he the said John Belknap served as Captain in the regiment commanded by Col James Clinton in the line of the State of New York on the Continental establishment by virtue of and under the authority of the annexed Commission from the twenty sixth day of February one thousand seven hundred and seventy six untill some time in the month of February in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven that he was in the battle which took place at Fort Montgomery on the sixth day of October in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy seven that sometime in the month of October last aforesaid he was
BELKNAP, JOHN (S. 45168)
Page 3

detached by General Clinton to guard the stores at Shawangunk that he continued in that service untill after the British fleet which had burned Kingston had returned to New York which according to his recollection was in the later part of the month of October aforesaid that during the revolutionary war he was frequently ordered out by General Clinton to take the command of different companies which had been detached as guards and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services-
And in pursuance of the act of May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons in
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[carried over from previous page] gaged in the land and Naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war passed on the 18 day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed
[Signed] John Belknap

Sworn to & declared on the 29th day of May 1823 before me in open Court
[Signed] Asa Dunning Clerk of the Common Pleas, in & for Orange County -
BELKNAP, JOHN (S. 45168 )

[Stamped] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
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4
I Solomon Wright Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange & State of New York hereby certify that John Belknap & Thurston Wood within named say that they reside in the town of New Windsor County of Orange and State of New York and are both respectable citizens and credible witnesses & also certify that I have examined (Jurat 1a) & were under oath as to the character Joshua Sayre & I am satisfied that he the said Joshua is a man entitled to be believed under oath that he is a respectable Citizen of said State & that he is an Inhabitant of the said Town of New Windsor. Dated at Newburgh in said County of Orange the 26th day of June1823.
[Signed] S. Sleight
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[Page #] 5
A schedule of the real & personal property of John Belknap
Real property -- none
Personal property
1 bed & bedding -- $10
1 old desk -- 2
6 Windsor chairs old & broke -- 0075
1 pr andirons of Iron -- 1.00
Shovel & tongs - - 50
2 pails -- 50
1 Peck 1 half peck of 2 quart measure - - 25
====
15,00
Property valued by the Court at fifteen Dollars
[Signed] Saml. S. Seward
[Signed] D.M. Westcott
[Signed] James Finch Junr.
BELKNAP, JOHN (S.45168)
Page 7

[Left side of page]
19086
New York
John Belknap of Orange Co in the state of New York who was a Captain in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jas. Clinton in the New York line, for the term of 1 year & 9 months
---
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 19th of May 1823.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd of Oct. [illegible] and sent to Walter Case Esq. Newburgh N.Y.

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1823  $71 "
Semi anl. all'ce ending 4 Nov 1824  120 "
====
191 "
d. Oct 23 1825
Revolutionary claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820.

[Right side of page]
Let. to Hon. J.C. Brodhead Feb 3. 1835
H H Bostwick June 20 1854
1888 April 4. R E Alexander Per that his descendants, in their own right was heirs are not entitled to pension  Prior
1888 Apr 17 R E Alexander relate to a claim for money the pensioner paid for cattle to supply his soldiers with food - no decision made in his application to any thing of the kind & that this Bureau has no knowledge of it    Prior

[Arrow pointing to Let. to Hon. J.C. Broadhead listed above] This letter in David Dickerson, S. 44145
F
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POWER OF ATTORNEY AND CERTIFICATE.
Know all men by these presents, That I, Rhoda Kernaghan of the County of Wayne and State of Pennsylvania do hereby constitute and appoint H. H. Bostwick, of Auburn, N. Y., my true and lawful attorney, irrevocable, for me and in my behalf, to prosecute my claim for increase of pension, Back-pension, or other benefit to which I may be entitled as one of the children and heirs-at-law of Capt John Belknap, deceased, on account of his military services in the Revolutionary war and to receive such certificate as may be issued, and to appoint one or more attorneys under him for the purposes aforesaid, hereby revoking any power of attorney which may have been heretofore given, and confirming all things that my attorney, the said H. H. BOSTWICK, may lawfully do in the premises.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of June A. D. 1854
[Signed] Rhoda Kernaghan
 SEAL. 

Acknowledged before me the day and year last above written. And I certify that I am not interested or concerned in the prosecution or result of this case and that I believe the said Rhoda Kernaghan to be a child and heir-at-law of said John Belknap.
[Signed] E. Patmor Justice of the Peace.

STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA,
Wayne County, ss.
I, John McIntosh Prothonotary and Clerk of the several Courts in and for Wayne County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Elkanah Patmor Esq, is and was at the time of taking the foregoing acknowledgment an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly qualified and commissioned as such, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County, this third day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.
[Signed] John McIntosh
Prothonotary, Clerk, &c.
[Illegible seal]
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Auburn, N.Y. June 15th 1854
Hon L P Waldo
Com of Pensions.
Sir
Herewith I send a power of Attorney in the case Capt. John Belknap. It is claimed that he held a Capt. Com. for about one year, and was then appointed Commissary, in the State of New York, under Genl James Clinton & Col Mc Lowry. He drew a pension until he died in 1825, but it is believed that he did not receive as as much as he was entitled to and that there is something due on account of his service as a Commissary.
Please inform me whether it appears that there is any thing due.
Yours truly
[Signed] H.H. Bostwick
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State of New York
Orange County SS- John Belknap of the Town of New Windsor in the County of Orange in addition to the affidavit by him heretofore made and now on file at the war office in Washington City doth depose and say that he is upwards of eighty nine years old and that by reason of his extreme old age many facts have escaped his recollection relative to his service in the continental army which were once perfectly within his recollection and that owing to the burning of his house and Papers about twenty years ago he has it not in his power at this time to refresh his memory by having recourse to his payroll and other papers relating to his service as a Captain in the Continental army as set forth in his said affidavit now on file as aforesaid but this deponent perfectly recollects that he did serve as a captain under
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the command of General James Clinton as stated in his aforesaid affidavit and this deponent further saith that in the month of April in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy six the troops stationed at Fort Montgomery were commanded by the said Col James Clinton who continued to command the same untill after the said fort was surrendered in the month of October in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven that Henry Livingston commanded the said Troops as Lieutenant Colonel under said Clinton, for about one month at the commencement of said period, after which the said Livingston marched with one half the Regiment to the East end of Long Island -sometime after Livingston had left the said Fort with the detachment aforesaid five or six companies of General Scotts Brigade under the command of Col Humphrey were stationed in the said fort and continued untill there times expired sometime in the month of January in the year one thou [carried over to next page]
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[carried over from previous page] sand seven hundred and seventy seven (they having enlisted for no longer than five months) that shortly after the troops under the command of the said Humphrey had left the fort, the detachment which had left it under the command of the said Livingston returned but without their Colonel who it was said had gone into the eastern states. That sometime in the month of April in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven Colonel Lewis Dubois of the Continental army took the Command under Clinton and continued in the Command untill after the fort was taken by the British and this deponent further saith that after the said Clinton was appointed a Brigadier General he still continued to command the troops in the said fort as he hitherto had done and this Deponent also saith that he never knew Captain White nor can he explain further why his company which was the same to the command of which he was appointed by
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his Commission now on file at the War office was commanded by Col Clinton who it is stated commanded the 3d Regiment of New York troops
[Signed] John Belknap
Sworn this 23 day of August 1823 before me
[Signed] S Sleight
one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Orange
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{Round Stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE A APR 13 1888

Forest City Pa.
April 11th 1888

Mr. Jas Black
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

My Dear Sir. You will please accept my thanks for replying to my letter by consulting with my Father who is 85 years old he says that he remembers about the pension having been paid but that there was a large amount of money due him for cattle that he bought with his own money & furnished his soldiers with meat. When he first enlisted he owned large tracts of land in Orange Co he sold the land & used the money as above stated. Will you please let me know whether there is anything touching the matter on record, about 55 years ago an Agent told my Grand Mother (Capt. J. Belknaps Daughter) that there was money due her & offered to get it for 1/4 the amt. some of the Heirs objected to paying so much & the matter was droped
Hoping to hear from you I remain
Yours Very Respectfully
R. E. Alexander
Forest City
Susquehanna Co. P.a.
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{Letterhead] Department of the Interior.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington D.C. April 7,1888

Old War Div.
J.N.B. Ex'r.
____ No. ___
Co. _____ Regt. ____

Return this letter with your reply.

Sir,
In answer to your enquiry of the 22d ult, whether there is any pension due him, or his heirs, on account of the services of John Belknap, of Orange County N. Y., as Captain in the war of the Revolution, I have to state that he was allowed a pension for his rank under the first act - March 18, 1818 - that was passed by Congress for service in said war, and is reported to have died Oct. 25, 1825.
His descendants, in their own right, or as heirs, are not entitled to any pension on account of his said services under any existing law.
Very respectfully
[Signed] John C Black
Commissioner

Mr Robert E. Alexander
Forest City
Susquehana Co
Penn
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March 24, 1931.
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
ILL
Mrs. Arthur E. Young
62 Silver Street
Norwich, New York.
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 45168, that John Belknap was commissioned February 26, 1776, Captain of the 5th Company, 2nd New York Regiment, then commanded by Colonel James Clinton, and served until late in October, 1777; he was in the battle of Fort Montgomery. He stated also that "during the Revolutionary War he was frequently ordered out by General Clinton to take command of different companies which had been detached as guards", no dates of this service given. He was allowed pension on his application executed May 19, 1823, while a resident of New Windsor, Orange County, New York, aged eighty-nine years. At that time, soldier's wife was referred to as
about the same age of soldier, but her name was not stated.
He died October 25, 1825. - A.B.
In 1854, Rhoda Kernaghan of Wayne County, Pennsylvania, stated that she was one of soldier's children but did not give the name of other children.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.
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18,843

John Belknap
New York

Walter Case Esq
New Burgh NY

BELKNAP, JOHN S.45168
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STATE OF NEW YORK, 
ORANGE COUNTY, SS.
I, ASA DUNNING, Clerk of the County of Orange, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Ward M Gazlay whose name is subscribed to the CERTIFICATE of the Proof or Acknowledgment of the annexed Instrument and indorsed thereon, was on the day of the date of said Certificate, a Commissioner in and for the said County of Orange, dwelling in the said County, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized by law, to take the Proof and Acknowledgement of Deeds and Discharges of Mortgages, &c. And further, that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Commissioner and verily believe, that the signature of Ward M. Gazlay subscribed to the said Certificate, is the proper handwriting of the said Commissioner
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my HAND, and affixed the SEAL of the said County, this Twenty Seventh day of May 1823
[Signed] Asa Dunning
[Round stamp] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
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State of New York
Orange County ss Thurston Wood of the town of New Windsor County of Orange and State of New York being duly sworn doth depose and say that on the second day of March in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six he this deponent did enlist as a private in the Company commanded by Captain John Belknap and served in said Company untill the second day of March in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven during all which time the said John Belknap commanded said Company That John Belknap the person whose name is subscribed to the annexed affidavit is the same person who was the annexed Commission and who commanded the said Company during the period this deponent served in the said Company as aforesaid and this deponent further saith the said company belonged to a regiment commanded by Col James Clinton in the Continental service which Regiment was afterwards commanded by Col Livingston and that during the period in which he belonged to said Company it lay at fort montgomery
BELKNAP, JOHN (S.45168)
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10th
and was employed in creating fortifications and this deponent further saith that he lives near the said Belknap that he believes him to be upwards of eighty years of age that he is poor and in the opinion of this deponent unable to support himself-- & further saith that the said John resides in the Town of New Windsor in the County of Orange & state aforesaid. 
[Signed] Thurston Woodroff
Sworn this 24th day of June1823 before me S Sleight one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in & for the County of Orange, of the degree of a Counsellor affairs of the Supreme Court of federation of the State of New York

State of New York
Orange County
I Asa Dunning Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County of Orange and Clerk of the said County Do hereby Certify that Solomon Sleight Esquire whose name is Subscribed to the certificate of Proof or Acknowledgment of the written Instrument and indeed thereon was on the day of the date of the said Certificate a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange Commissioned & sworn And further that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge and verily believe that the signature of S. Sleigh, subscribed to the said Certificate is the proper hand writing of the said Judge on Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the said County, the Twenty Fourth day of May 1823
[Signed] Asa Dunning
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State of New York
Orange County ss Joshua Sayre of the Town of New Windsor & County of Orange being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is intimately acquainted with Captain John Bellknap the person mentioned in the within Commission hereunto annexed that he has been acquainted with the said Captain John Bellknap ever since the revolutionary war that on the eighth day of April in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six & from that day untill the twenty fourth day of December of the same year this deponent was stationed at Fort Montgomery as a private in Captain Machins Company of artificers that during the whole of that time Captain John Bellknap was stationed at said Fort & in the actual command of a Company belonging
BELKNAP, JOHN (S.45168)
28
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[Page #] 8
to the regiment of Col James Clinton that the said Bellknap was as this deponent has been informed and believes in the engagement at
Fort Montgomery which took place on the sixth day of October in year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven & this deponent farther saith that the said John Bellknap is in the opinion of this deponent ninety years of age that he has a wife who is about the same age as himself that he is poor & in the opinion of this deponent wholly unable to support himself-
[Signed] Joshua Sayre
Sworn this 9th day of May 1823 before me {illegible] a commissioner appointed under the act of March 24 1818
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[Left side of page]
45168
INVALID.
Revy
File No. 45.168
John Belknap
Capt Rev War
Act: 18 March 1818
Index: - Vol. 3, Page 34
(Arrangement of 1870.)

[Right side of page]
1913 Jan. 28. Hist to James B. Laux Esq
letter in W. 3576 
Frederick Miller &
1915 May 5. Hist to
Mrs. Emma Walts &
1920 Mch 25 Hist John Muller.
1931. Mar. 24 - Hist. to Mrs. Arthur E. Young
Page 24

John Belknap's claim admitted. Send the certificate to Walter Case, Esqr
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IN CONGRESS.
The DELEGATES of the UNITED COLONES of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, -
Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, to
John Belknap Esquire
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be Captain of the fifth Company in the second Regiment of New York Forces, in the Army of the United Colonies raised for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are therefore  carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Captain by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your orders as Captain And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the  United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other Superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. Dated the Twenty sixth day of February 1776 -
By Order of the Congress
John Hancock PRESIDENT.

Attest. Chas Thomson Secy.
Page 26

Camden, N. York      H
April 30 1915
45.168
Commissioner of Pensions
Rev. Department, Washington, D.C.

My dear Sir
Can you give any information of one John Belnap who served in the War of the Revolution. Supposed to have been a New York State man. He is named in an old cemetery in Newburg N. York. It said he had a pension. I am asking this to assist me in joining the organization of the DAR. Thanking you in advance.
Sincerely [Signed] Mrs Emma Walts
Camden, N. York

62 Silver St
Norwich, NY
February 26, 1931
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly look up the war record
of Captain John Belknap 5th Company under Col. Clinton NY 1776 to 1777.
Thanking you very kindly for same.
Sincerely
[Signed] Mrs Arthur E Young
[Round stamp] 
U.S. PENSION OFFICE FEB 28 1931
Page 27

(found)
Forest City Pa.
March 22nd 1888
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
My Dear Sir.
Will you be so kind as to let me know if the name of John Belknap is on Record there, and whether there is any thing due him or His Heirs. He served as Capt all through the Revolutionary war he was from Orange Co. N.Y. He was one of the few that took his cattle off his farm, butchered them & fed the soldiers
By letting me hear from you as soon as possible you will confer a great favor on yours Truly
[Signed] Robt E. Alexander
Forest City P.A.
Susquehanna Co.
Page 28

Revo. 
Will you kindly give me all information you can, his marriage & children- of-
Capt. John Belnap (1734-1825) a member of the Com. of Safety Capt of Militia under Col. James
Clinton, 2nd Reg. Ulster Co. N.Y. 1775.
also of Thomas Leach (if Revol. Pensioner)
" [also of] Elisha Greene (1726-1800
[Signed] Mrs. John Muller
4225 S. Salina St
Syracuse N.Y.
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[Letterhead] Department of the Interior.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C. April 16th, 1888

Old war Div.
J.N.P. Ex'r.
____ No. ____
Co. ____ Reg't ____
Return this letter with your reply.

Sir,
In answer to your additional enquiry of the 11th inst, relative to a claim, supposed to be due to your grandfather, John Belknap, a Captain in the war of the Revolution, on account of the sale, when he first entered the service, of a large tract of land in Orange County, N.Y., and with the proceeds of this sale, he purchased cattle to provide "meat for his soldiers", you are advised that there is no allusion in his application for a pension, to his having sold such tract of land, or that he purchased Cattle, or that his command was at any time, suffering for the want of food 
(over)
Page 30

No record has been found of a claim of this characted, & it is believed that no papapers were ever filed, for the reason that after the close of said war arrangements were made for the Settlement of all my Army claims by the Pa M [Illegible] and since that period [there has been: is crossed out] no law has existed authorizing any one of the Executive Dept to receive & adjudicate said claims
Page 31

Pension Office
June 20 1854
Sir
Captain John Belknap of NY was pensioner under the act of 1818 at $20 per month, which was the highest rate of pension allowed under that act for any character of service. He did not live until June 7 1832, when a higher rate of pension was granted for services as a Captain, no increase can be made.
[Signed] H.H. Bostwick Esq
Auburn NY
Page 32

in reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Belknap a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his [ (or his widow's) is crossed out] application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S. 45, 168
[ 5 Column headings]
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. / COLONEL. | STATE.
Feb 26, 1776 to Oct 1777 | Captain | ____/ James Clinton Lewis Dubois | New York

Battles engaged in, Fort Montgomery
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Checkmark
Date of application for pension, May 27, 1823
Residence at date of application, New Windsor, Orange Co, New York
Age at date of application, 89 years
Remarks: He had a wife [illegible] He died in 1825 and in 1854 Rhoda Kernaghan Daughter of [Illegible] Stated that she was one of his
children, but did not give names of others.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
6 -- 2856
Page 33

Free

Hon-
John C. Calhoun
Secretary at War
Washington City

Newburgh July 8

[Written sideways on left side of page]
J.L. Edwards
Page 34

July 1823
Hon J. C. Calhoun
Sir
I enclose the Commission of Capt John Belknap alluded to in Mr Edwards letter of the 2d Inst (which having been misplaced was overlooked) not with an expectation that it will after the decision in this case but to prevent the inference that it was with held by design-
There appears to be some unaccountable error relative to the services of the applicant in this case. I am personally acquainted with him he is a very respectable man and has discharged several officers of trust in this County to the genial satisfaction of the Community. He is at present very poor in consequence of his house and all his personal property having been
consumed by fire. The two witnesses are casually respectable one of whom Thurs [carried over to next page]
Page 35

(Thurston Wood) is a rich man a Justice of the Peace and for several years was Alderman in the City of New York-- I have been induced by Mr Edwards last letter to enquire particularly & find the service of Bellknap under the command of General Clinton as a Captain in the [regular: is crossed out] continental army, is a fact of public notoriety in this place & I am personally acquainted with several credible men who served under him upwards of ten months whose affidavits if necessary could be procured. I am well aware that your decisions are governed by the law, but hope you will excuse me for attempting to avert suspicion from men who I am confident would not willfully misrepresent under oath, to save their lives
I remain very Respectfully yours
[Signed] Walter Case
Page 36

18.843
John Belknap
Walter Case Esq
Newburgh
N York
Rec'd July 1, 1823

[Written sideways on the paper]
Hon. John 
Newburgh N.Y. 
June 26
Page 37

Hon J.C. Calhoun
N Burgh June 26 1823.
Sir
Enclosed are the papers lrelating to the service of John Bellknap in the revolutionary war &c your attention is particularly invited to the certificate of Judge Sleight on the back of John Bellknaps affidavit page 4th and the amendment to Thurston Woods affidavit page 10th at the foot of the affidavit From the certificate & amended affidavit above alluded to I think it will satisfactorily appear "That the witnesses are credible and that the applicant resides in the County of Orange Town of
New Windsor & State of New York"
With Respect Yours
[Signed] Walter Case