Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23751, for John Kiff, New York
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(8-1776)
SERVICE | | NUMBER
New York | Kiff, John | S. 23751
CONTENTS
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[left side]
Lot. to agent for having pension, N York 9 Jun 34
See letter 12 June 1834 to P Agt
do to same Oct 18, 1834

[right side]
24.335
New York
John Kiff
Rensselier in the State of New Y[illegible]
was a private in the Comp
Captain Vrooman of the Regt [ripped off]
Col Yates in the New Y[illegible]
for 2 years
Subscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per an[cut off]
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Nov
1833 and [illegible] N Hawa[cut off] Troy
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 33 $200
Semi-anl allowances ending 4 Mch 34, 40
$240
Revolutionary [illegible]
Act June 7, 183[missing]
Recorded by Geo C Stiles cl[illegible]
Book E, Vol. 4, Page 64
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28208
John Kiff
Declaration for a Pension
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State of New York
County of Rensselaer fs.  On this third day of October 1833 personally appeared in open Court before Daniel Gardner Esquire one of the Judges of the Troy Mayors Court now sitting John Kiff a resident of Pittstown in the County of Rensselaer and State of New York aged between seventy five and eighty 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 spring of 1776 he enlisted for six months in a Company comanded (he thinks) by Capt. Samuel Hodge he resided at Pittstown Rensselaer County & State of New York at the time he enlisted marched northward, cannot recollect any particulars of that service, served his time out and returned home in the fall following, that in the spring of 1777 he enlisted in a Company commanded by Capt Henry Vanderhoof for Six months, marched Northward, was at the surrender of Burgoyne, served his time out, he resided in Pittstown, County of Rensselaer and State of New York, cannot recollect any particulars of that tour except the surrender of Burgoyne. and was under Generals Gates & Arnold. that in the spring of 1778. he enlisted in the same Company, to wit, Capt. Vanderhoof's, Lieut Nathaniel Ford & Ensign Simon Vandercook & Col. Peter Yates Regiment & was the same summer in the service for Six months or over. resided at Pittstown aforesaid at the time of enlisting. does not recollect any particulars of that service only they marched north in the spring of 1779. he was detached and went up the Mohawk River either under the command of Capt. Vrooman or Capt Drake at Fort Plank or fort Plain and was there on guard when Lieut Henry Hare and Sergeant Newkirk were hung as spies, the troops at that place was under the command of General James Clinton, and soon after the execution he was detached with a number of men to march to fort Stanwix or fort Schuyler, and soon after detached with sixty men under the command of Capts Vrooman & Drake for the purpose of destroying the enemies Boats at the three rivers or the Castles, and on the march from
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the upper Castle to the Lower Oneida Castle they were attacked by the British green coats (so called) and Indians to the number of 700 commanded by Sir John Johnson, Brandt and Butler and their Company all made prisoners. they were then marched to Canada and coonfined in Prison there until the summer of 1780. that he then came down with a party of British and Indians, commanded by Major Ross and Walter Butler to take the fort at Johnstown, under the Command of Col. Willett that when they arrived there he made his escape and joined the Americans and was again under the Command of Capt. Vanderhoof after being a prisoner among the British [illegible] Ten months. that he thinks he was called out frequently on alarms after his return from Canada but cannot recollect distinctly about his service after that. that he when he was about two years of age (as he has been informed) his father died and his mother married a man by the name of Nicholas DeLong. after that he was frequently called by the name of John DeLong and recollects being called by the name of DeLong frequently in the service. that he never had any written discharge from service. that he was born at Voluntown in the State of Connecticut. does not recollect what year. that there was a Record of his age in the family bible belonging to his father, and that his step father carried it to Baltimore when he moved away from Pittstown County of Rensselaer to Baltimore Maryland State. when he was called into the service he resided at Pittstown County of Rensselaer & State of New York. that since the Revolutionary War he resided at Pittstown & Schaghticoke in said County of Rensselaer until within fifteen years. that he removed to Oneida County and from thence to Upper Canada & has resided there for the 15 years past and now resides in Pittstown aforesaid. that he entered the service of the United States as above stated. that he cannot recollect any more of the regular officers with the troops where he served than those that he has stated. nor any more particulars of his service. that he never received a discharge from the service. that he knows General Gilbert Eddy. Major Michael S Vandercook. the Rev. Wilber Sherman & Mr. James Wool and a great
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number of other respectable persons residing in his neighborhood [cut off at top of word] who can testify to his Character for truth and veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. that he has no documentary evidence of his services that he knows of no person except James Wool who can testify to his service or any part thereof. 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 the agency of any State.
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Henry R Bristol Clerk  John his X mark Kiff

State of New York
Rensselaer County fs  James Wool of Pittstown [crossed off, replaced with:] Lansingburgh in said County aged seventy years being duly sworn doth depose and say that he has been acquainted with John Kiff the applicant above named for more than fifty years. that in the year 1780 or 1781 this deponent together with John Kiff the applicant in the month of April was ordered out under the Command of Capt. Vanderhoof to go to Skanesborough that they resided when[?] they were ordered out on Schaghticoke District (being the place where they now reside.) that they were ordered out for one month and this deponent did not stay but a few days being sent back with the Captains horse. does not recollect certain whether the others staid the month out or not. that in the latter part of May of the same year there was a general alarm and he & the applicant Kiff were ordered out to go to Lake George under Capt. Vanderhoof, Col. Peter Yates Regt. they were gone on that tour twelve days recollects coming home with Kiff the applicant very well. that he recollects the applicant Kiff returning from his imprisonment in Canada & remembers the six months tour he went out upon at the time he was taken and further believes the applicant has served as set forth in the declaration above
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid   James his X mark Wool
Henry R Bristol Clerk

We Wilber Sherman a Clergyman residing in the town of
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Pittstown and Michael S Vandercook residing in the same place hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with John Kiff who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be between seventy five and Eighty 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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Wilber Sherman
Micl S VDCook
Henry R Bristol Clerk

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he stated. And the Court further Certifies that it appears to them the Wilber Sherman who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Pittstown and that Michael S Vandercook who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town. and that James Wool who has sworn to the foregoing affidavit is a resident of the town of Lansingburgh. and that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Henry R Bristol Clerk of the Troy Mayors Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of John Kiff on application for a Pension.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this third day of October 1833.
Henry R Bristol Clerk
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28.208
John Kiff
New York
Adm 2 years $80 [60?]

Nathan Haward Jr
Troy
Ransalear Co N.Y.
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War Department, Pension Office, 18th Nov. 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 the 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 margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of John Kiff
[Printed column headings:]
Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service [3 cols below it:] Years | Months | Days
 | Rank of the claimant | Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. | Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported.
[handwritten:]
1776 | 6 [months] | priv | Cap. Hodge | Between 75 and 80 years Ransalear County N.Y. | Traditionary, and a Living Witness.
1777 | 6 [months] | " [priv] | Cap. Vanderhoof
1778 | 6 [months] | " [priv] | " " [Cap. Vanderhoof]
- | - | - | Col. Yates
1779 | 10 [months] | " [priv] | Cap. Vrooman

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, James L Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1838.

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, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
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.
State, Territory, or District of County of

On this     day of    personally appeared (a) before  A. B. a resident (b) 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 provision 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, &c.)

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 in the State of         

Sworn to 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 (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 proceeding of the said Court in the matter 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 days 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 interrogatories 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
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3
alleged ser
vice, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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.
6. 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?
To an Officer: Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
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 the 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. If 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 inquiry 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 mart of Record of the 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.

(a). The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) The declarant 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 conforming to the rule.
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the memory, state precisely have 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 recollection, 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."

It 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 pensioner and the 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. 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 service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the fall or in garrison; and for the time terms which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i) The Clerk must affix his seil, and if t 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.
(j) 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 manner of his leaving the same, as well as 
the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oath must certify to the credibility of the witnesses and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
(m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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[blank page]
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NY Oct 7

[illegible]

[circular stamp:]
Troy, Oct 4, N.Y.

Hon. Lewis Cap
Secretary of War
Washington D.C.
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Nathan Howard Junr. Troy Rensselaer County N.Y.
agent for applicant