Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10318, Lawrence Alsdorph, New York
Page 1

(3-1776)
Service New York 
Alsdorph, Lawrence 
Number S 10318'
carded
Contents
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S. 7. [Unknown 2digits or letters] 1318
Lawrence, Alsdorph
N.Y.
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Kingston            April 18th : 1778
This is to sartefy [certify] that Lawrence Aldorph has been a good soldier in my Componey [company] asks us to remove from this place of Discharge him from my Compony[company]
Silvester Salisbury Capt
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20.996
New = York
Lawrence Alsdorph
Scheuectady [Schenectady] in the State of New York
who was a Dragoon &c. in the Comp commanded by Captain Drake of the Regt. commanded by Col. Palmer in the New York line for10 monthly Dragoon
7 +28 days private
$26.41
41.60
_______
$68.01

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 68 Dollars 01 Cents per  [illiagable]
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Oct; 1833 and [illegible] J F. Gate
Scheuedaty [Schenectady]
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33    $170.02
Semi-anl. allowance ending [illegable} '24  34---
                                  $204.02
                          Revolutionary Claim,
                          Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Go C Steles   clerk,
Book E. vol 4 page 42[illegible]
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State of New York
County of Schenectady 
On this twelfth [twelveth]
day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of common pleas in and for said county now sitting Lawrence Alsdorph a resident of the town of Glenville in the said county & state , aged more than seventy 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 7th 1832.
He was born in the town of Shawangunk in the County of Ulster in the State of New York on the seventeenth day of May 1757. He has no record of his age except that contained in his family Bible
When he was called into the service of the United States in the army of the revolution, he was living in Shawangunk aforesaid and since the revolutionary war he has lived in Shawangunk aforesaid, & at Clifton Park N.Y. & the fourth ward of Schenectady [illegible] & he now lives in the town of Glenville aforesaid.
He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, under several engagements. In the month of March in the year 1776, he enlisted in Captain Mariah Drake's Company of state troops or militia in the Regiment of Colonel Palmer. He served in this company for the full term of four months at Fort Montgomery. The names of his other company & field officers he cannot recollect except Jacob Lawrence & William Irving Lieutenants.
Page 6

In the summer of the year (1776) he was ordered out with a detachment of militia to Fort Montgomery aforesaid, and did military duty at said fort for the term of two weeks in Captain Mathew Johnson's Company in Colonel Hasbrouck's Regiment. the names of his other Company and field officers he cannot recollect. In the beginning of and until some time in the Spring of the year 1777, he was out with the militia as aforesaid in Captain Jacobus Rosa's Company in the Regiment aforesaid for the term of two months and two weeks. His other Company officers there Lieutenants Masten and Van Dermerken [Van Der Mark].
The next engagement in which he served was in Captain Silvester Salisbury's Company of militia; the name of his other company officers he remembers Lieutenant William Monroe. He served in this Company nearly one month and on the 18th April 1778 on moving away to another beat, he received his discharge from said Company signed by the Captain there of at Kingston which discharge is annexed to this declaration.
In the fall of the year 1779 he was pursuant to a draft order to Fishkill where served for the full term of one month in Captain David Ostrander's Company in the Regiment of Colonel Hardenburgh aforesaid of this Company Jacob Terwilliger was Lieutenant, & Hugo Scutt Ensign.
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Previous to his enlistment in Silvester Salisbury's Company as aforesaid, he was enrolled in the Company commanded by Captain Conklin in the regiment of light horse under the command of said  Colonel Hasbrouck and served in said company at least ten months, when he entered the company of said Silvester Salisbury. While in this service, he engaged in guarding our frontiers. In addition to the foregoing, most of the time that intervened between the terms of service aforesaid he spent in various short expeditions as a scout and otherwise of which he cannot specify the particular periods & makes no accounting.
He never received any written discharge from the service except the one above referred to and which is hereunto subjoined.
He remembers no regular officers or companies except those above enumerated.
He has no documentary evidence & knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except those whose  depositions are here subjoined.
The following are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood and who can testify.
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as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolutionary; to with John Van Eps and Andrew [Leama]
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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.
Subscribed & sworn the       
day and year first aforesaid.

Lawrence [his X mark] Alsdorph 

John L V[illegible]
clerk
County of Schenectady    On the day and year first aforesaid personally appeared in open court before the Judges aforesaid William Willson of the town of Glenville in the said County, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that he is well acquainted with Lawrence Alsdorph who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that he this deponent was a member of the company of Captain Conklin referred to in the said declaration, & knows that said Silverster Alsdorph was also a member of said Company from the months of April 1777 for the term of ten months and upwards this deponent remembers well to have seen said Lawrence Alsdorph perform military duty in said company at Luren Kill and other places on our frontier.

Wm [his  X mark] Willson 

Subscribed & sworn in open court this day of October 1832
John S Vrooman clerk
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John McCords
Affidavit
for Lawrence Alsdorf's 
4 Months Service at
Fort Montgomery
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Ulster County State of New York
Fs John McCord of the town of Shawangunk in the county of Ulster aforesaid a soldier of the Revolution being duly sworn says that he is eighty four years of age that he enlisted and served in the militia of the State of New York at Fort Montgomery for the space of four months in the year 1776 that he enlisted in the month of March in said year and was discharged in June following that he lived where he entered this service in the town of Shawangunk county & state aforesaid and that he is personally acquainted with Lawrence Alsdorf now an applicant for a pension under late act of congress and residing in the town of Glenville in the county of Schenectady that he this deponent served with said Lawrence Alsdorf for the said term of four months in Regiment of Colonel Palmer in the company commanded by Captain Uriah Drake at Fort Montgomery aforesaid and that he this deponent well knows that the said Lawrence Alsdorf served at Fort Montgomery aforesaid in the year aforesaid in the Regiment & company aforesaid for the full term of four months and further this deponent saith not

John [his X mark] McCord

Sworn & subscribed before me this 17th day of Sept 1832 Geo W. Lynch
Justice of the peace 
I certify that John McCord who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing deposition before me sustains the reputation of being, and I believe him to be a man of credibility, and that his statements are entitled to credit writings my hand this 30th day of July 1833
Geo W. Lynch J.P.
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State of New York
County of Ulster
clerk's office  ss
I Jacob Snyder clerk of said county of Ulster of the date thereof a justice of the peace in & for said county that I am well acquainted  hereby certify that George W Lynch who has signed the above certificate of credibility was on the day the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in & forsaid county that I am well acquainted to with the handwriting of said Justice & verify believe the signature " Geo. W. Lynch subscribed to said certificate to the genuine writings my hand & seal of office this seventh day of August 1833.

We Andrew Seaman residing in the town of Glenville in the county of Schenectady aforesaid and John Van Eps residing in the town of Glenville in said county do certify that we are well acquinted with Lawrence Alsdorph 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. 

John Van Eps [signature]

Andrew Seaman [signature]

Subcribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid
John S. Vrooman Clerk

AND THE SAID COURT do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the ware 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 John Van Eps who signed the foregoing certificate is a resident of the town of Glenville and that Andrew Seaman who also signed the same, is a resident in the same place  - that they are both credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit, and further that John McCort whose deposition is herewith annexed cannot be produced in court without much expense and inconvenience.  John S. Vrooman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of ____ do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of teh said Court in the matter of the application of Lawrence Alsdorph for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this nineteenth day of October In the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and thirty-two.

John S. Vrooman  Clerk
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State of New York County of Schenectady Court of fam: Pleas
In the matter of the application of Lawrence Alsdorf for a pension
Proceedings
 16144
No 25
[illegible]
To the care of 
Giler H Gates
Schenectady NY
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State of New York
County of Schenectady  Zss
Lawrence Alsdorph the applicant referred to and names in the annexed papers being duly sworn deposeth and faith, that by reason of and age and the consequent laps of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, nor can he more fully than he has done in his declaration states the names of all the officers under whom he served.
As a private soldier, he served for the following terms. In Captain Uriah Drake's Company of State troops for the full term of four months at Fort Montgomery from the month of March to the month of July 1776, in Colonel Palmer's Regiment.
As a private soldier for the term of two weeks, he performed garrison duty at said fort in Captain Mathew Johnson's Company of Militia in Colonel Stasbrunck's Regiment in the summer of the year last named.
As a private soldier in said regiment in Captain James or Jacobubs Rosa's company he performed garrison duty at Fort Montgomery aforesaid in the spring of the year 1777 for the term of two months and two weeks.
As a private soldier in Captain Sylvester Salisbury's company of militia for a term exceeding three weeks to wit in the months of March & April 1778.
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As a private soldier in Captain David Ostrander's Company in Colonel Hardenburgh's Regiment of State Troops or Militia, he performed garrison duty at Fishkill for the full term of one month.
After his service in Captain Jacobus Rosa's company as aforesaid he enlisted in a company of mounted troops or light horse Commanded by Captain Conklin attached to Colonel Stasbronak's Regiment aforesaid & served as a private in said Company at Lurenkill & other [frontier?] posts in that vicinity for the full term of ten months- and for the aforesaid service of more than eighteen months this deportment claims a pension.
Subscribed & sworn this 6th day of June 1833 before me.
Lawrence Alsdorph X mark
J.D. Harman  Justice of the Peace
State of New York
County of Schenectady
I John S Vrooman clerk of said county do hereby certify that Joshua I Harman before whom the preceding deposition of Lawrence Alsdorph purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and from said county, that I am well acquainted with his handwriting and verify
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believe the signature to the
to be his is given and I further certify
that William Wilson who has sworn and sub
scribed to the foregoing deposition before me
in open Court, appeared at the time thereof
to the satisfaction of said Court &
hereby certify him to be a man of
credibility whose statements are entitled
to credit. 

In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of
said County this
day of August 1833
John S. Vrooman Clerk
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No 16144
Lawrence Alsdorph
Schenectady Co
NY

C.J.
Admitted
Private Dragoons 10 months
do Infantry - 7 " 28 days

41.60

2371
  308
2641

Giles F. Yates
Schenectady Co.
NY
Page 17

** Table is not complete ** see below


War Department,
Pension Office
May 17, 1833

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 regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margins with a brace (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched.

A Statement, showing the Service of Lawrence Alsdorph Schenectady Co.  NY

Headings: Period when the service was
rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Years, Months, Days. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank
of the General and Field officers. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported
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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, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court 
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.
Sate, Territy, or District of
County of

On this _____ day of ____  personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of ____ in the county of ____ and State, Territory or District
of ______ aged (c) _____ 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) _____, with ____ and served in the ___(e) regiment of the ___ 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.  [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, etc.]

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 of the State of ____

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 _______ of the Court of ______ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ____ for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
_____ day of _____ &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 _____ and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ____ 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 interrogitories 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, ____ Clerk of the Court of ____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ____ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this ____ day of ___ & 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
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 19

[EXTRACTED TEXT ONLY - NO FURTHER EDITING DONE]

3
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.
{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?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
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 he 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.
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
enquiry 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.
low the rule laid down for his guidance.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will
for must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must ment
tion the period or periods of the war when he served.
5
claim cannot be had. Every claim
sense of the one under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
definite as to enable the Depart
woman -- -- -- --
of En-
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. R. wh
not hear
IN THE
by reason of the
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
ing words:
swear positively
days, I served as a
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grade
as to the precise length of his death, that, by reason
months, and --
mouth and the period days, and for such service I claim a pension."
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 reasoner, and the length of his services of the above or
is 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 restoration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of ouragement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied
that he was either in the hand or in garrison; and for the time during which
┃ The law makes the
relinquishment indispensable.
by competent au-
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
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.
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 as
the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the
The notes from (a) to (l) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
note applies to continental troops only.
with cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
John N Ashton
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[written sideways, upper left]
Rev War

10318
[check mark] INVALID.
-
File No. 10.518
Lawrence Alsdorph
Dragoon Rev War
---
---
Act: June 7th 32
Index:--Vol. A, Page 6
{Arrangement of 1870.}

Mar 2 98
Mrs F R Simmons
Erie Pa
Page 21

STATE OF NEW-YORK,
Ulster County Clerk's Office,

I, Jacob Snyder, Clerk of the County of Ulster, and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County, do hereby certify
That George W. Lynch----Esquire, was on the day of the date of the Certificate to the annexed affidavit, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Ulster, duly authorized to take affidavits, and further that I am
well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe the signature
"Geo. W. Lynch" subscribed to the
Certificate of the said annexed Affidavit to be genuine

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, this eighteenth
day of September   1832
Jacob Snyder
Page 22

[upper left]
OAFVN

[middle left - square stamp]
[W]AR & Navy
FEB 16 1898
[illegible]

[lower left - round stamp]
PENSION
D
FEB
14 
1898
OFFICE
U.S.

122 West 20th St
Erie Penn. Feb 11/98

Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir

In accordance
with the advice of the
Record and Pension
office I inclose the
within for such
further particulars
regarding the two
pensioners mentioned,
as you may kindly
give me.
Respectfully yours
Mrs F. R. Simmons