Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,509, Abraham Witbeck, New York
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(8-1776)

SERVICE      NUMBER

New York Witbeck R11509
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11.0119

P.O. Abraham Witbeck
Service:  [stamp]  REJECTED

Enlisted:
Discharged: 

Application filed:

Alleges:

Re-enlisted:

Attorney:

P.O.
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New York
Rev

Abraham Witbeck
Suspended
in J Van Inger 12
June 1833

11509

Act 7 June 1832
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7250

Abraham Witbeck

Suspended
S1112.14.15.17.

7 Sept 1832
7 No 1832

P110

Y.N.Inger
Albany
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7251

BRIEF in the case of Abraham Witbeck
of Greenbush Rensselaer NY in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?


3. How old is he?  85 years 222 Dec next

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[chart]

Period / Duration of Service / Rank / Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

in 1776
was enrolled-did duty  / 14 or 16 days / private / Cap James Cols Copy Col William Van Rensselaer

117 Was enrolled and did duty more time

1778 was ordered out and did duty
1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 was out in each of these years
He is [illegible] he performed services in the cause of was of not less than 24 months 

5. In what battles was he engaged  none stated

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  County of Van Rensselaer - then Albany

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Jacob VanAlstyne day, that, from his own knowledge the substantial facts in the declaration are true

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

A R
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abraham Witbeck of Greenbush NY which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes

V.  "Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?  No  Not a detailed statement of history

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their option?  No [crossed out]

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  Yes
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XI. Has this applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?   No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  No

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  [blank] 

XIV.  If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?  No

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  No

XVI.  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  1st. 2a 6/c 7
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Abraham Witbeck
Declaration

died Nov 1832
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DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.

STATE OF NEW-YORK,
COUNTY of Rensselaer ss

On the fifth day of September 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Troy Mayor Court now sitting Abraham Witbeck a resident of the Town of Greenbush, in the county of Rensselaer and state of New York aged 22 Dec next Eighty five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.

That in the year 1776 he was enrolled as a militia private in Captain James Cole's company and in Col. Killian Van Rensselaer Regt in the County of Rensselaer (then Albany County) and that he was ordered to march with the Reg. to Lake George, and remained on duty there from 14 to 16 days, when he was discharged and returned home.  In the year 1777 he was again ordered out with the regt and marched to the northern and on the approach of Burgoyne and his army from Canada, and after being out on duly for sometime but having long he cannot now recollect, be with a portion of the militia, not deemed to be longer than he [illegible] were permitted to return home - Some time after which he was again ordered out, and having mounted as for as Mc Nicols ferry, he received an injury occasioned by a fall which disabled him in a considerable degree to do duty, and he was permitted to return home - in 1778 he was again ordered out and performed militia duty - in 1779-1780-1781 & 1782 he was out in each of them years, and performed military duty, and marched to various places of whom he remembers Scholraid, Fort Hunter and Caughnawaga, but for what length of time on each occasions the declarer cannot after the great lapse of intervening time, now recollect; but he is Confident, and doth declare that he has performed services as a soldier in the course of the revolutionary war, for a period of not less than twenty four months - [illegible] having been one of a class of six, who at their joint expense kind an able [illegible] its served for nine months 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] Archibald Bull Clerk.

[signed]  Abraham his x mark Witbeck

We [blank] a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank] who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration ; that we believe him to be [blank] 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.  [blank]

I Archibald Bull Clerk of the Troy Mayors Court DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Witbeck for a pension.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fifth day of September A.D. 1832

Archibald Bull Clerk
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State of New York
County of Rensselaer 
City of Troy ss

On this 5th Sept 1832 before the Magis Court of the City of Troy, in said court, personally came and affirmed Jacob Van Alstine, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he is well and intimately acquainted with Abraham Witbeck and he is well and intimately acquainted with Abraham Witbeck who hath [illegible] and sworn to the within declaration; that he is, this deponent doth verily believe, of the age of eighty five years during sixty years of which time he this Deponent hath known him, and that he sustains an irreproachable Character, and is highly esteemed for [illegible] and that from his own knowledge, he knows the substantial facts stated in the said declaration to be true.

Jacob Van Alstyne


Subscribed & sworn to
on the day and year aforesaid  Archibald Bull Clk
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Albany Feb 5th 1833

Sir 

Since the [illegible] of the within brief of Abm Witbeck's case, that respectable old gentlemen has departed this life, of course no further proof can be given in regard to his Service than what is contained in the affidavit made and endorsed on the enclosed declaration, which I have now the honor to enclose herewith - I am requested by his grandson and surviving heir at law to ask the favor of you to advise me or early or your convenience will admit, whether my, and what amount is allowed for the Revolutionary services of the deceased grandfather,  from the 4 March 1831 to the day of his death, and in what way he is to apply for it, and what proof will be required?   I enclose you the declaration

And Brief Objections -- 

Very Respectfully Your Obdt Serv  Jas Van Ingen

J L Edwards Esq

If Myndert Vandebogarts case has been decided, permit me the favor of you to let me know what it is?  JVI