Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9,275, for Hercules Schureman, New York
Page 1

New York
Schureman Hercules
R. 9.275
Page 2

Marine Court of the City of New York
In the matter of Hercules Schureman who applies for a pension under the Act of Congress of 7th June 1832 for revolutionary Services as a Soldier of the Revolution

State of New York City and County of New York ss: On this Eleventh day of August in the year of afor said on thousand eight hundred and thirty five personally appeared in  open Court before the Justice of the Marine Court now Setting Hercules Schureman as resident of the city of New York in the County of New York and State aforesaid aged Seventy [illegible] years who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following [illegible] in order to obtrain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. that is to say, that he entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War under the following named officers and served as [illegible] stated that is to say, this deponenth [illegible] saith he was born at Yonkers in the County of Westchester and State of New York and
Page 3

and he saith that at the Commencement of the war he was a Slave to Jonathan Archer who was a Tory and disaffected to the government and welfare of the United States of America and attached to the Government of Great Britain and it was on this account and in this way that deponent came to be a soldier in the service of the United States - Deponent saith he well   remembers the time the Asia fired on the city of New York.  he said he thinks of this tho he is not certain that it was about two years after this that he entered the service, and at the time he entered the service some American troops lay round his masters house at Sugarloaf - at the time his master had gone away, he presumes on account of his character and for fear of being dealt with as a Tory.  That at this time he was applied by about ten men of the American troops to [illegible] they had a furlough to pilot them from his masters house at Sugar loaf valley to the house of our Roblin about twelve or thirteen miles below his masters house in Sterling Mountains, which he did innocently + for a reward given, deponent saith that the next day it was discovered that they were deserters, deponent was apprehended and there manifested his innocence + truth by showing Captain Crane the American officer the place he guided the men in question to, when Captain Crane and the men under his command to the this above mentioned previous who proved to the deserters, [prisoners with] about a dozen Tories besides, which was accomplished by the management of deponent, + thereafter deponent was then questioned in relation to the principles of his [master] deponent informed Captain Crane of the facts and deponent was taken with the Service from his said quarter, and General Smallwood declared him free, that he entered the Service in Captain Cranes Company, the Colonels name he doth not recollect but thinks it was "Brown," the General of Brigade was General Smallwood and he continued in the Service between two and three
Page 4

years and was finally [crossed out] discharged from this service at Chester and the Army went on to Middlebrook - then he thinks he entered the Service as much as two years before the battle of Fort Montgomery - The first affair this deponent was engaged in was a skirmish with the enemy between Sterling and Ringwood in Sterling Mountains in the night and deponent further saith that he continued in the army from the time he entered the same until discharged when there was all but to a close, and was with General Smallwood at the time he was discharged - the place called Sugarloaf is four miles nearer to New York, than Chester and Chester is west^ about eight or nine miles from Goshen, - in the State of New York - Deponent after his enlistment continued scouting backwards and forwards in Sterling Mountains, and to Smiths Clove and near to Fort Montgomery for some time, he can't say justly how long and was then ordered to English neighborhood
Page 5

neighbourhood, passing through Ram[illegible]uabrough, ^Paramus and Hackinsack and lay for some time at English [crossed out] English Neighbourhood, was wounded by a Bayonet in a skirmish at Paramus, passing down, and from thence marched back towards Goshen, and was discharged as aforesaid at Chester - While in the service he went with two Regiments under General Smallwood to Brandywine, but was too late for the battle, that was over before they got there - from that they marched to Springfield and there they had an engagement with the British, from Springfield, they marched toward [crossed out] back to Chester - when discharged he got his freedom pass - That after the war was over he went back to the place where he used to live to Sugar-loaf and there a person of the name of William Ellison asked him for his [crossed out] a sight of his discharge and freedom papers and he gave them to his master Jonathan Archer and his master ^then took him and sold him to one John Hinchman, ^he sold him to Zacharias Price and he swapped him away for a younger man with his brother ^Francis Price and there deponent purchased his freedom from Francis Price the aforesaid brother of Zacharias Price and he
Page 6

he further saith that he never could get his freedom papers from his old master Jonathan Archer, nor his discharge papers. and  he further saith that he hath had a stroke of the palsey and hath in a great measure took his memory is very decrepid and unable to earn a living by his labor, and has not done a days work in three years - 
Deponent saith that at the time he purchased his own freedom from Francis Price, he also purchased his then wifes freedom and his sons freedom his first wifes name was Rose and his second wifes name is Phoebe and is aged sixty eight years or thereabouts - that while he was in the service under General Smallwood while at Sugarloaf, he was rewarded for his bravery and attachment to the cause of his country and was made free while in the service and [crossed out] that he might be used as a witness against deserters and Tories and was respected and credited while in the army and considered a good soldier - that by his bravery he understood he was on the war list - deponent saith the annexed exhibit marked A is the bill of sale executed by Francis Price at the time
Page 7

time he purchased his freedom from him and that of his wife and child and the exhibits B & C the certificates of the proof made of his freedom recorded in the office of the Clerk & Register of the city and County of New York, which he has no documentary evidence of his services, the same having been lost or [illegible] kept from him as aforementioned and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can prof [crossed out] procure, who can testify to his service other than that of Thomas Coleman, who was in the service with him a part of the time that he is very poor and that all his household goods could not bring him fifteen dollars if sold today. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is such on the pension roll of the agency of this state, that [illegible crossed out] in addition to the testimony of Thomas Coleman he hath obtained to be annexed hereto in addition as testimony the certificate of the said Thomas Coleman and of Samuel Todd a clergyman residing number 13 Anthony Street in the city of Ney York, that he hopes and expects to obtain the additional testimony in his favor of Abraham Mark of the city of New York and of George Degrasse in his favor of these witnesses should [illegible] as they have [illegible] 

Hercules Schureman X his mark

Service to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.

John Barberie, clerk [handwritten]
Page 8

[handwritten] Hercules Schureman
Page 9

[typed with limited handwriting]

Recorded for and at the request of Hercules Schureman the thirtieth day of April 1811.

CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, ss. I Richard Cunningham, one of the Aldermen of the City of New York, and a Judge of the Court of Common pleas, called the Mayor's Court, in and for the said city- DO CERTIFY, That on this day Hercules Schureman, residing in the said city, a black man exhibited proof before me, reduced to writing, of the freedom of him the said Hercules, and being satisfied with such proof, I am of opinion, and do adjudge that the said Hercules is free according to the laws of this state, and I DO FURTHER CERTIFY, that the said Hercules is a person about five feet nine inches high, has dark eyes black Hair, that he is about the age of fifty nine years, that he was born at Yonkers in the State of New York and that he became free in or before the year one thousand eight hundred, as nearly as the same can be ascertained. 

GIVEN under my hand, this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven. 
[sig] R. Cunningham

I Certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the RECORD in the office of the Clerk of the City and County of New York, from Lib No. two of Certificates of Freedom, page 209 Given under my hand and seal, the first day of April [crossed out] May, 1811.
[sig] L. Lawrence Clerk
Page 10

5. 1832
Hercules Schureman
16 Lisponard.

In the matter of the application of Hercules Schureman, a revolutionary soldier who applied for a pension from the Government of the United States of America under the act of 7th June 1832 for Revolutionary services 

Sat. May 10  G. Wilson
Page 11

City and County of New York, }SS

I Garrit Gilbert - Register of the City of New York, Do Certify, 
THAT ON THE DAY OF THE DATE HEREOF, Personally appeared before me Hercules Schureman a person of Colour, residing in said City, and exhibited due proof of his Freedom; and that he was born at East-Chester State of New York that he is the age of [?]0 years, that he became free in or about the year one thousand eight hundred (as near as the same can now be ascertained,) that he has resided in said City 16 years, that he now resides in a House N. 16 in Lispenard Street, in the fifth Ward of said City, that he was assissed in the 5th ward of said City

that he rents a tenement in said City or County, of the yearly value of forty shillings, and has been rated and actually paid Taxes to this State on 1820 in 5th Ward

AND I, the said Register being of opinion that the facts set forth are true, DO CERTIFY THE SAME, and also that the said Hercules is about five feet ten inches high.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND, this 13th day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty

Garrit Gilbert  Register

Entered on Record, in the Office of the Register in and for the City of New-York, in the Lib. 5 of Certificates of Freedom.

Garrit Gilbert  Register
Page 12

Marine Court of the City of New York
In the matter of Hercules Schureman who applied for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 for Revolutionary Services

State of New York City & county of New York [illegible] Samuel Todd a Clergyman of the Methodist persuasion or Church and residing No. 13 Anthony Street in the City of New York in the State of New York aforesaid and Pastor of the "Bethel Church" in Elizabeth Street in the same city situated between Houston and Bleeker Street in the same city and Thomas Coleman residing No. 206 Elizabeth Street in the same city Do hereby severally certify that we are well acquainted with Hercules Schureman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration , that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he(and among his acquaintances) to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion and I the said Samuel Todd do further for myself certify that the said Hercules
Page 13

Hercules is a member of the Church aforesaid of which I am pastor and that I believe I am the nearest clergyman to the evidence of the said Hercules Schureman with whom he is acquainted & Declarant further saith that the said Hercules is a respectable and decent tho poor man and fully entitled to credit __ He himself has been a [illegible] preacher of the Methodist persuasion tho the said Hercules is now depreciated and unable to officiate on that account as a Clergyman, has failed very much had a stroke of the palsey as deponent understands and believes and has very much failed in his memory - Deponent hath been acquainted with him nearly seven years and very soon after he became acquainted with him, he heard it reported and this deponent saith it was understood and believed and deponent believed and still believes and the said Hercules was so respected generally among his neighbors and acquaintances and is still reputed to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War 

Samuel Todd
Thomas Coleman X his mark

Sworn to and subscribed 
the day and year aforesaid in
open court this [illegible] 
John Barberie Clerk
Page 14

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinions, 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 certify that it appears to them Samuel Todd who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the City of New York and that Thomas Colman who has also signed the same is a resident of the same City, and is a creditable person and that their statement is entitled to Credit

By the Court 
John Barberie  Clerk 

I, John Barberie Clerk of the Court of the City of New York do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Hercules Schureman for a pension

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the said Marine Court of the City of New York this fifteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four 

John Barberie
Page 15

Marine Court of the City of New York 
The Reverend Samuel Todd being duly sworn saith that he knows  & is well acquainted with Abraham Marks and George Degrass whose respective Depositions are hereunto annexed and he thinks and verily believes that their said Depositions are entitled to full credit and that they are believed ben of good character and respected within their neighborhoods - 

Samuel Todd
sworn in open Court
the 11th day of August 1832

John Barberie  Clerk
Page 16

Marine Court of the City of New York

In the matter of Hercules Schureman who applies for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th jJune 1832 for Revolutionary sServices

State of [illegible] or the City and County of New Yor: Thomas Coleman a resident of No 200 Eizabeth Street in the city of New York being duly sworn doth before and duly struck he is well acquainted with Hercules Schureman above and in the annexed declaration and deposition named and who he believes to be aged as much as seventy nine years of age deponent himself having seventy eight years of ages and deponent saith that he first became acquainted with the said Hercules during the war and while he was in Captain Graves Company the Colonels name he doth not recollect & General Smallwood he thinks commanded the Brigade  - General GEo[illegible] he thinks and General Washington were the head Generals and at that [illegible]
Page 17

thinks he was at Sterling - Deponents Captain was Captain Sinclo or Sinclair - Colonel Mayhaw, deponent know him off and on for three years, that is to say he was in the service and lay close to the Company commanded by Captain Crane in which the said Hercules was t Chester and then they ds[illegible] and deponent did not see him in two or three years, deponents company went to Springfield and when deponent went him again the said Hercules was still in the service  and then each him at New Brunswick - Deponent saith that he was at the battle of Brandywine and was there wounded in the belly with a bayonet  and at the Battle of Gilfect Courthorn he was wounded with a musket ball in the knee, deponent was five years in the services altogether and was discharged at [illegible] York Town in the State of Virginia after the capture of Bonneville -  Deponent saith that Captain Graves Company did set course upon time for the Battle of Brandywine, they were about five miles in the rear when
Page 18

when the battle took place Deponent saith he has no doubt of the truth of the Statements of said Hercules in the annexed deposition made but he is an old man as well [illegible] very decrepid and worn out and very forgetful. and further this deponent saith that he has known the said Hercules ever since the war and has often talked over these matters, but they are now both sinking in the grave and this deponents memory as well as that of said Hercules about gone and [illegible] saith [illegible]. 

Thomas Coleman X his moniker

Sworn & subscribed 
this 10th day of August in 
open court.

John Barberie  Clerk
Page 19

Marine Court of the City of New York

In the matter of Hercules Schureman who applied for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832 for Revolutionary services as a soldier of the Revolution

 State of New York City & County of New York SS:
Abraham Mark of the City of New York being duly sworn doth depose and say that [illegible] hath known and been well acquainted with the above named Herules Schureman who lives  [illegible]cribed and know to the above declaration for at least the period or time of fifteen years – and deponent [illegible] his oath aforesaid saith, and certifies and saith that he believes from his knowledge often said Hercules and his appearances that he is seventy nine years of age that he the said Hercules is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and deponent concurs in that opinion and hath always so understood that fact since his acquaintance with him the said Hercules & further saith [not?].
Abraham Mark [Handwritten signature]
Sworn and subscribed this 11th day [illegible] in open Court
John Barberie, Clerk [Handwritten signature]
Page 20

Marine Court of the City of New York

In the matter of Hercules Schureman who applied for a pension under the at of Congress of the 7 June 1832 for Revolutionary services as a Soldier of the Revolution.

State of New York, City and County of New York,  Sherman [or Thomas] Harris of the city of New York [illegible] and [illegible] doth declare and say that he hath been well acquainted with the above named Hercules Schureman for about eight years [illegible] and he saith that he hath always understood and believed in his [illegible] the said Hercules is to [illegible] to have been a soldier in the Revolution and deponent can 
and say that he [illegible] have [illegible] acquainted with the above named Hercule Schuerman for about Eight years [illegible] and he saithe that he [illegible] always understood and believes his the said Hercules is so reputed in his neighborhood to have been a Soldier in the Revolution and deponent concurs in that opinion & further [illegible] not

Thomas Harris
Sworn & subscribed in open court this 11 August 1832
John Barbarce
Clerk
Page 21

Marine Court of the City of New York

In the matter of Hercules Schureman who applies for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 for Revolutionary services as a soldier of the Revolution

State of New York City & County of New York :: george Degrasse of the city of New York [illegible], Boarding house and Tavern keeper being duly sworn doth depose and say that he hath known and been well acquainted with the above named Hercules Schureman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations for at least the period of twenty years and deponent states under his oath aforesaid and certifies and believes that the above named Hercules is seventy nine years of age; that he the said Hercules is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides ,to have been  a soldier of the Revolution and deponent concurs in that opinion, and hath always so understood since  a short time after his first acquaintance with him the said Hercules and further saith not
Sworn and subscribed the day and year in the said above written declaration [illegible sanction] in open court the 10 August 1832 

George Degrasse

John Barberie  Clerk
Page 22

Marine Court of the city of New York

In the matter of Hercules Schureman who applied for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 for Revolutionary services

State of New York   City & County of New York for - Hercules Schureman above named being for the duly sworn doth depose and say that he hath heard and the annexed deposition of John Paterson and as for as regards this deponent on every statements therein alleged to have been made by deponents or unto which it is therein stated that deponent was acquainted the said deposition is true and he hereunto saith  [illegible] been acquainted with the said John Paterson for twenty three years [illegible] during all which times deponant was in free man and also proven [illegible in his declaration [illegible and he he further saith that he was [illegible] Colonel John Hyatt was his Colonel during all the time he was in the service as he now recollects altho an account of
Page 23

of his age and imbecility he could not recollect before the statements of this aforenamed John Peterson  altho it now comes very fresh to his mind and further saith not.
             his
Hercules  x Schutrmann
               mark

Sworn before me  in open Court
this 24th day August 1833
John  Barberie
Clerk
Page 24

Marine Court of the city of New York.

In the matter of Hercules Schureman who applies for a pension under the Act of Congress of 7th June 1832 for Revolutionary Services as a soldier of the Revolution.
State of New York City and county of New York }SS

John Peterson of the city of New York late inspector of [illegible] in the said city now waged sixty seven years of age and ofwards being duly sworn saith that he hath been acquainted with the above named Hercules Schuremann now here in illegible and now by deponent identified for about twenty three years last part and who during all that time hath been freeman and notwithstanding his color and situation in life hath always sustained a fair and irreproachable character for truth and veracity for sobriety and integrity and deponent hath the full confidence in the statements and declaration hereunto annexed of  the said Hercules
Page 25

Hercules made to obtain a pension for 
Revolutionary services under the act of 
Congress in such case made and provided 
(and which deponent hath heard read), and deponent saith then to he was 
well acquainted with Captain Joseph Crane 
who commanded a company of Militia 
in the time of the Revolutionary war and 
who resided at Carmel - Town Putnam 
County about a mile and a half from 
Putnam Court house about sixteen miles 
back from Peekskill on the [?to? or north] river 
and about three miles from Reddville  in
said County and deponent after hearing 
the story related by the said Hercules in 
relation to the capture of the deserters in 
his said declaration mentioned and which 
the said Hercules related to deponent about 
twenty two years since with the history 
of the agency of him the said Hercules in 
the said transaction in [?tance?] assets 
forth as the declaration of him the said 
Hercules aforementioned deponent had 
occasion to go to Carmel Town ^aforesaid and there
Page 26

then met with Captain Joseph Crane 
aforenamed who substantially confirmed  
the statement of the said Hercules 
to this deponent made and when deponent 
returned he then afterwards advised 
the said Hercules to make an 
application for a pension for Revolutionary 
services which the said Hercules then 
declined doing as he was then able to maintain 
himself and deponent further 
saith that he understood from Captain 
Crane aforenamed and believes that 
his Company belonged to a regiment under 
the command of Colonel John Hyatt 
during the Revolutionary war aforesaid 
or a part thereof and he further saith that 
the said Hercules Schureman hath always 
insisted upon and detailed his services 
as a soldier during the revolutionary 
war as set forth in his declaration aforesaid 
ever since deponent first acquaintance 
with him the said Hercules and 
deponent believes such his statement and
Page 27

and declaration aforesaid is correct [strike]and true[/strike] 
and deponent saith that the said Hercules 
is poor and in consequence of age and 
infirmities unable to support himself 
and has no other sources of support save 
public charity and no further or other expectations 
than the bounty of his country 
and further saith that he hath heard 
the said Hercules many years since 
speak of Thomas Coleman lately since deceased 
as deponent understands and believes whose 
deposition is hereunto also annexed and which deponent hath heard read and 
he always understood from said Hercules [?luliness] that the said Thomas 
was also in the service of his country as a soldier 
during the Revolutionary war in 
the militia and further saith that he considers 
the said Hercules as deserving the aid 
of the general government of this country 
for his services aforesaid and further saith 
not.
John Peterson

Sworn in open court
this 9th day of August 1833
John [Barberie?], Clerk

[side note:] [JBS?]
Page 28

N.Y. [5.183D?]
Pension Office

New York
Ret'd.

Honorable The Secretary of War
Washington City
Dist. Columbia
Page 29


for The enclosed is the application 
of Hercules Schureman presented 
for a pension. It is to be hoped that 
they are now in a state in which 
the departments will be [enabled?] 
to act upon them favorably for 
the applicant. The undersigned will 
attest to the [?] [?] [?] [?] 
Pension as [refered?] to this address of 

[Geo. Wilson?]
No. 77 Murray Street
April 30, [1804?]
Page 30

NY
Hercules Schureman
[Or?] Request 130

Pension Office
Page 31

[Appears to be an envelope addressed to...]
To the Honorable Lewis Cass. 
Secretary of War Department
Washington City, 
D.C.
Page 32

To the Honorable Lewis Cap.
Secretary of the War Department.

D. Sir.

Mr Geo. Wilson of this city presented the pension papers of a colored man by the name of Hercules Schureman to your Excellency as I am informed. If so be pleased to inform me by  return of mail, in a [illegible] a, convenient whether any and what stipend was allowed. And more particularly if allowed. How his pension can be drawn and from whence. By giving an early answer to this (as the poor man is in grave distress) you will oblige.

Yours Respectfully
Henry V. Vulrees

New York Aug't 22 1835
Page 33

[blank page]
Page 34

[blank page]
Page 35

Town of Rifi
June 10, 1746
Sir
I have Received a communication for
a friend, in New York, in Relation to the claim
for a pension of Hercules Schureman. He
was a Colored Man, Near 90 years of age,
was a Soldier in Capt Cranes Company in
the Pennsylvania line, Received his freedom -
& Rendered Many Revolutionary Services to his
Country- Several years since, he made
an application for a Pension, and Many
friends of his believe, that the Pension
May have been granted, and the [illegible]
said to [illegible] one for him, & not fair
[illegible] to him.
He is very Poor & destitute, and any
Reformations from you, with your cordial
convenience will confer a favor on,
very truly,
yours &c
Moris L
Sy Hoffman

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commis of Pensions
Ki ke c
Page 36

New York

Revoy

Suspended

Hercules Schureman

See let [?] to Geo. Wilson Esqr 10 May '33

See let [?] to Geo. Wilson May 14 1834

Let to N. K. Valtee 26 Aug 1835

" " F. A. Lukins 16 May '36

" " B. De La Pierre June 26 '37

to Hon. O. Hoffman 16 Jan :40.

Act 7. June 32
Page 37

 9275
P.O. ____
Hercules Schureman
Service: ____

Enlisted: ____  REJECTED [faded ink stamp], 18
Discharged: ____, 18
Application filed: ____, 18
Alleges: ____
Re-enlisted: ____
Attorney: ____
P.O. ____

____ Recognized.  ____ Contract.
____Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ____, 18
Page 38

Hercules Schureman
a colored man 83 years old
255 Mott St. New York
Rec'd from M. T. C. Clarke
F. A. Dickins
Rec'd from [illegible]

NY
Page 39

An account of the [illegible] that Hercules Schureman became a soldier in the Revolutionary War under Captain Connor and was made Free by the following Circumstances.

First a number of men came to him in the night at his Dwelling in Chester. At a place called Sugar Loaf. And one of them named Marsh [illegible] spoke for the rest saying that they had a Furlow for one week and wanted to be conducted to Ned Rodman the Uncle of one of them that lived about Fifteen miles over the mountains from where Schureman then lives with Jonathan Archer to whom he then belonged. So he accordingly went with them. All but one who returned to the Army [illegible]
Page 40

[handwritten]

Smallwood and afterward he served as a soldier in the Army under Capt Crane Samuel Drake was the Colonel in the Pennsylvania Regiment in which he served for a year more or less and was afterwards Discharged by General Smallwood who at the same time gave him his Freedom papers with his Discharge - so Schureman returned to Mr Archer from whence he was first taken, and there a man named William Edison and acquaintance of Mr Archer asked Schureman how he got his discharge and Schureman answered I have got my Freedom Papers Edison there asked to look at them, and Schureman Innocently gave them to him. And he gave them to Mr Archer. And they were kept from him as that Schureman never got them again. All these Facts Schureman gave proof of to the attorney Mr Willson who also took the Testimony of [?] Cole upon his oath that he was a comrade with Schureman in the Army and was present with him when General Smallwood gave him his Discharge & Freedom Papers Another Testimony Mr Willson took Mr. John Peterson upon oath that he was a particular acquaintance of Captn Crane and knew of the [?] facts relative to Schureman from information given him by Captn Crane Other witnesses allso [sic] were examined by Mr Willson at the Marine Court in presence of the Judge that [?] & there give such statements to the above facts as a mere satisfactory. And was signed by the Judge K[?] Judge Schuffilin And the Clerk of the Court John Raberis
Page 41

Marine court
Judge Schiffeler
Geo. Barberic Clerk
Page 42

Francis Pierce
To 
Hercules Schureman, 
Rose his wife & Peter their child

Deed of mannumission 

Schureman, Hercules
NY  R9275
Page 43

[handwritten]

State of New Jersey So all men unto whom these presents shall come I Francis Rice of Newtown in the County of Sussex in the said State [?] said [?] known that the aforesaid Francis Rice [illegible] of One hundred and Thirty pounds [illegible] Eight Shillings Each; Some in hand paid, and to the extent that Negroman slave Named Hercules Schureman together with his wife Named Rose and their child Peter aged about 17 years [?] shall and may become as Free having [illegible] & set free, and by there pay [illegible] said Negroman Named Hercules Schureman together with his wife, Rose, and their child Peter forever hereby giving [?] and [?] him and them, the aforesaid Hercules Schureman, Rose and child Peter their [illegible] dominion services [?] and property which [?] and [illegible] Hercules Schureman said Rose his wife and Peter their child, I had, and now have only my [illegible] said Negroes forever - [illegible] I the above said Francis Rice have unto these [illegible] set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Ninety five 1795 -
Signed, Sealed and Sworn in presents [sic] of us} Francis Rice
Harlin Re[?]
James Hamilton
Page 44

[Blank page]