Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,597, William Van Valkenburgh, New York
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3-1776)
SERVICE New York
Van Valkenburgh, William
NUMBER
8.11597
carded
CONTENTS
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2376
New York
William Van Valkenburgh
of Stuyvesan in the State of New York who was a private in the compy commanded by Captain Van Alstine of the Reg L commanded by Colonel Livingston in the New York Mil due for 8 mo & 1 week

Inscribed in the Roll of New York
the rate of 26 dollars 75 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 24th day of Nov 1832  and few & to J McCagg Hudson

Arrears to 4th of Sep 1832  $40.12
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '33   13.37
$53.49

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Geo C. Stiles Clerk,
Book D. Vol. 5. Page 148
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State of New York
Columbia County 
On this third day of September in the year of our Lord 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Justices court of the city of Hudson now siting William Van Valkenburgh a resident of the town of Stuyvesant in the county aforesaid 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 That he was born in the town of Kinderhook now Stuyvesant in the County & state aforesaid in the year 1760.
That he was first called in to the New York state militia in the revolutionary war about the first of October 1776 - his officers were Captain Phillip Van Alstine First lieutenant Peter Hugenan second lieut Gocia Van Buren march from the town of Kinderhook aforesaid to Green Bush opposite Albany and was there drilled for the term of three weeks and was discharged about the last of October term of service Three weeks.
Enlisted again under Captain Phillip VanAlstine Lieut Peter Hugenan under the command of Colonel Andries Witbeck started in the month of May 1777 it was in the time of planting corn Marched to Albany remained there three weeks then to Half Moon Point then to Schenectady and then to Johnstown, north of Albany and was dismissed in the month of July after a service of two months this time of service is proven by the annexed affidavit
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Abraham Clark sworn before John L Van Allen Jr. Esq 
Two months
Was again called and under Captain Abraham James Van Allen Peter Hugenan Ensign James Wengard Ensign in the month of August on a scouting party against the Torys & robbers in this your Abraham Van Ness was killed by the Robbers was about on this Service one week.  
Again this applicant enlisted about the last of February 1778 at the town of Kinderhook in the county aforesaid under Captain Abraham Fonda Lieutenant Petrus John Decker Robinson second lieutenant Thomas Beacraft Sgt under the command of John Beckman Colonel encamped at Albany and remained there until he was discharge in the month of May being daily drilled by my officers this term of service was two and 1/2 months. 
Again enlisted in the month of May 1778 in the town of Kinderhook in the county aforesaid under Captain James Van Allen Lieut Peter Hugenan Ensign James Wyngard as a company of Viligance to Guard that [unreadable] of the County from the Torys & robbers he enlisted for - Three months stood guard two nights in each week & frequently oftener.  Was discharged in the month of August 1778 served in this year if only allowed two nights in
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each week one month - Thinks he should be allowed the whole 3 months as the duty was arduous - leaves it to the decision of the department has no living witness to prove this service.
Again enlisted in the month of September about the 15th under Capt James Van Allen first Lieutenant John Van Alstine Second Lieutenant Gocia Van Buren & Ensign Peter James Wingard in a regiment commanded by Colonel Waterman marched from the town of Kinderhook to Fishkill on the north river and remained then until the time of his enlistment expired when he was discharged being the middle of December 1778 Time of service three months.  The above term of service is also proven by the annexed affidavit of Abraham Clark.
Was again in the month of October about the first again enlisted under Captain Isaac Van Valkenburg Lieutenant Gocia Van Buren & Ensign James Wingard and marched from the town of Kinderhook to Bemis Heights and remained there nearly three weeks and was discharged about 25th Oct 1779
And to the interrogatories prosecuted by the war department the answers 
He was born in the town of Kinderhook
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in the county of columbia & state of New York on the 7th of Sept 1760
Has no record of his age it has been lost for many years
Lived in the town of Kinderhook where called into the services and his lived there ever since and still lives there altho that part of it where he resides has been changed to Stuyvesant
always Enlisted Voluntarily in the service
Then was some continental soldiers at Albany while this applicant was station there does not recollect the names of any except a Capt David Van Ness who is since dead has had many a glass of grog of said Van Ness.
The general circumstances of his service are fully embodied in his application
Never recd a written Discharge he would refer the department for for character to Lucas Hoes Esqr Janus Van Dupoel Esq district Judge Hoss
And this applicant hereby relinquishes further states that John J Sharp and Abraham Clark whose affidavits an hereunto annexed are the only living witness that he can find and that altho he made repeated efforts to bring them into court it was with out effect and was there for under the necessity of having their affidavits taken out of court that he has
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no documentary evidence
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state or the agency thereof
William his x mark Van Valkenburgh
Sworn & subscribed the day & year first above mentioned
Hiram Wilbur Clerk
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating hte matter and after putting the interrogatories provided by the war department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that they are personally acquainted Medad Butler & John L Sharp who have subscribed & sworn to the annexed affidavits No. 1 - that the first is one of our county judges & for many years past postmaster at Stuyverant and also that John J Sharp is a man of truth & character & their statements entitled to the fullest credit and also that Abraham Clark whos affidavit is hereunto annexed is a resident as he states and that from all the information they have been able to obtain he is a credible man and his statement entitled to credit and also that the allocutions of the date to this [illegible] was made by this court before execution of the same
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I Hiram Wilbur Clerk of the Justices Court of the city of Hudson do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Van Valkenburgh for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office this third day of September, 1832.
Hiram Wilbur Clerk
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No. 1
Columbia County}
City of Hudson} 
We Midad Butler & John J Sharp residents of the town of Stuyvesant (formerly Kinderhook) in the county of Columbia do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Van Valkenburgh who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed application for a pension that we believe him to be seventy years of age that he is reputed and believed in his neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Medad Butler 
John J Sharp 
Sworn & subscribed this 3d of Sept 1832 before me I.McCagg one of the Justices}

And I John J. Sharp to further certify that I was with the aforesaid William Van Valkenburgh at Bemiss Heights at the time certified by him that I was in the same company with Van Valkenburgh and served with him as he states and I do verily believe his statements are true and honest.  John J. Sharp
Sworn and subscribed before me Isaac McCagg, one of the Justices of the Justices Court}
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7747
Application of William Van Valkenburgh

J McCagg agent Hudson
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State of New York Columbia County ss I Abraham Clark of the town of Chatham in the county of Columbia & state of New York do hereby certify that I am Eighty two years of age that I am well acquainted with William Van Valkenburgh that I believe him to be seventy years of age, that in the year 1778, I was with a part of the Revolutionary army at the town of Fishkill now Dutchess County that the aforesaid William Van Valkenburgh was also there that he was at that time a soldier of the Revolution. that I was well acquainted with the said Van Valkenburgh at that time that we went from this same town together.  I went as teamster & Van Valkenburgh is a common soldier that to the best of my knowledge and belief the said VanValkenburgh served at that time three months that after the troops were discharged the said William Van Valkenburgh rode with me a part of the way on his return home – 
Abraham Clark, his mark
Sworn & subscribed before me this 5th day of Sept 1832} John I Van Alen 2nd Justice Peace The above deponent further says that the said William Van Valkenburgh served about two months in the year 1779 in the service of the United States in the Northern part of the state of New York Abraham Clark, his mark
The State of New York sworn & subscribed before me this 5th day of Sept 1832 John I. Van Alen 2nd Judge peace
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State of New York
Columbia County I Joseph D Monell clerk of
said County do certify that John I Van Alen juret before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was, at the date of the same on of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County, and that I am acquainted with
his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature
 
Witness my hand and Seal of offer this
South day of September 1832.
Joseph D Monell
Clerk
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State of New York}
Columbia County}
On this 15th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Justices Court in the City of Hudson as siting William Van Valenburgh who being first duly swoarn according to Law doth make the following amendment to his application for a pension under the Act of June 7th 1832.
To the Sixth objection he answers that if the department refers to the Last year of Service which says about three weeks does [unreadable] say that it was not less than three weeks from the time he enlisted and commenced his service until he was discharged and he claims for that time of service pay for three weeks.  
If the department refers to the grade he served all that time as a private and claims a pension as such.
To the Twelfth objection he says that there is no or has been no settled preacher in the Town of Stuyvesant for the last four years until within the last four months and I am not acquainted with him.  Mr. Hermance who was our former preacher left us about four Years since and the pulpit has since been supplyed
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Occasionally by strangers until some time in the last summer when the present preacher was settled.  
And this applicant further says that in addition to his former time stated he was in the Summer of 1777 taken prisoner when not engaged in the Tours before mentioned he was taken in the Town of Kinderhook and barged to State Water and Lodged I the Company of Burgoyne and put under guard in the Prion Guard that he made there fair promises and enlisted under one Captain Van Alstinn in Burgoyne’s Company and immediately after made his escape and stood at his father’s door at Kinderhook on the Twelfth day after he was taken.
William Van Valkenburgh, his mark 
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first above mentioned  John D. Parker, Clerk}
I John D. Parker, Clerk of the Justices Court in the City of Hudson do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the Matter of the Amendment of William Van Valkenburgh to his application for a pension. In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 15 October 1832
[seal]  John D. Parker, Clerk
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Rev War

11594

INVALID.

File No. 11,597
William Van Valkenburgh
Priv Rev War

Act:  June 7 1832

Index: - Vol. A, Page 388

[arrangement of 1870]
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[column 1]
2nd Brief  No 7747.

Wm. Van Valkenburgh

admitted

J McCabb  Hudson

[column 2]

7/26.75
13.37
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No7747.
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
William Van Valkenburgh 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 his 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 ?
yes ( the last excepted)
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations ?
yes
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 opinion ?
yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate ?
yes
x. Is the Clerk's seal affixed P And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal ?
yes
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2
XI. Has the 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 revolu-
tionary service ?
no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain-
ing 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?
XIV. TIf 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?
yes-
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 ?
yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ?
yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily And,
if not, which of them is not so answered P
yes
-
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE v. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
" Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn. deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recol-
lection he served not less than the periods mentioned below. and in the following grades : For
year
months and
days. I served as a
. For
months
and
days, I served as a
; and for such service I claim a pension."
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8
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. 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 claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as
well as the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may adminis-
ter the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly au-
thenticated, as above directed.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being im-
properly attached to the certificate.