Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 44200, William Hoff, New York
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(8-1776)

Service
New York 

Hoff, William

Number 
S. 44200

CONTENTS
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20.377

Albany
"William Hoff"
of Renssalaer [sic] Co in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Pearse of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Weisenfels in the New York line, for the term of three years, from May 1777 to November 1780
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 21 day of Dec: 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd of December 1831 - and sent to Hon Job Pierson, House of Reps
Arrears to 4th of March 1832 $19.86
Semi-anl. all'ce [allowance] ending  
$19.86
File Mch '32{ Revolutionary Claim, Acts March 18, 1818 and May 1, 1820}

Rec Book D. Vol: 5, fol:98
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20709
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State of New York
Rensselaer County }ss.

At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Court House in the City of Troy insofar the County of Rensselaer

On this Twenty Seventh day of September A.D. 1820 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of Records in aforesaid County, according to the solemn adjudications of the Supreme Court of this State, and being a Court which, proceeds according to the course of Common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount: keeping a Record of its proceedings: &  possessing the [power?] of fine & imprisonment William Hoff, resident in said County, aged eighty years, who being first duly Sworn according to Law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress, of the 18th March 1818. and the first of May 1820: That the said William Hoff, enlisted for the term of Three years on the ninth day of May in the year Seventeen hundred & Seventy Seven in the State of New York in the Company commanded by Captain Pearce in the 11th Regiment commanded by Colonel Weisenfels in the line of the State of New York on the continental establishment, That he continued to serve in the said Corps until third day of November in the year A.D. 1780. When he was discharged from the service in Schenectady City in the State of New York: That he hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension except the present, that his name is not on the roll of any State, except the State of New York; and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension: He has heretofore made through William McManus late a member of Congress, on the 3rd of October 1823, who took his papers with him, to Congress, And although he has since made repeated applications to Mr. McManus for information, as to the result of his application he has as yet gained no information on the Subject. And, in pursuance of the act of the 1st of May 1820 I do Solemnly Swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not, Since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any parts thereof, with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval Services of the United States in the Revolutionary War, passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me, any property or Securities,contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule, hereto annexed, and by me subscribed; That since the 18th day of March 1818, no other changes have taken place in my property than those noted in the Schedule hereto annexed. That I am poor and stand in need of the assistance of my country for support.     William Hoff   his X mark
 Subscribed and Sworn in open court this 27thSeptember 1830.    before me
  Archibald Bull   Clerk
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A Schedule of the property of the within named William Hoff his occupation and family 

In the year 1818, he had a wife, but never had any Children; his wife died in 1820, he is a shoemaker by trade, has not been able for many years past to maintain himself, by his trade, and has been since the year 1823 in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself without the assistance of his country except by public or private charity. 

Personal property. He has one bedstead, one bed, three coverlids or blankets, very old, two pillows, and three cases, one shoemakers bench & wools.

This is all the property he had in 1818, except a few cooking utensils which have been lost and broken Since the death of his wife. 

I have no other property either, real or personal in possession [illegible] remainder as expectancy, am old and poor, and can neither read nor write, 

Dated September 27, 1830.                                                 William Hoff

State of New York, Rensselaer County. I Archibald Bull Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath & the Schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court, & I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the Total amount in Value, of property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule does not exceed the sum of fifteen dollars. 

In Testimony whereof I Have hereunto set my & the Seal of said County this 25th day of Feb. 

Archibald Bull Clerk
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44. 200
INVALID. 

Revy
File No. 44.200
William Hoff
Priv  Rev War

Act: 18 March 18
ndex [Index]: –– Vol. 3, Page [illegible]

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Peter Plass Came before me Samuel Ogden one of the justices of Peace in and for the County of Columbia and Sworn 
Saith William Hoff was a Soldier in the Revolution war and that the ^said Hoff and Himself Enlisted both in one day and in one Company under Capt. Pearce and Served for three years in the Said War and was discharged and Returned home together

        his
Peter + Plass
       mark
Sworn and Subscribed before me September the first 1823

Samuel Ogden Justice of the Peace
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I hereby certify that the following Appears from the Rolls of Service of the New York Line deposited in this Office

William Hoff private to Regt. Capt. Pearce's Company - enlisted 9 May 1777 for three years - deserted 1 June, joined 25 November 1778 -- discharged 3 November 1780.

Francis A. Dickins. Clk.
Office of the Secretary 
of the Treasury
April 25 1830.
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21 Dec [December 21] 
J.L.  Edwards Esq
Pension Office
War Department
Washington
Pen: to com: Dec. 21, 1831
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Washington   Dec. 19th 1831

To J L Edwards Esq

Sir, 
Jacob C Lansing Esq. of Lansingburgh Rensselaer Co N.Y. has inclosed me a communication from you dated Sept 17th 1831 relative to a power of Atty from William Hoff – In that communication you state the rule of your department as precluding you from [recognizing?] any one as an  agent who is not known or recommended. Mr. Lansing [?pons] (perhaps erroneously) that my recommendation (being a representative in Congress from that County) would be sufficient. I have not the honor of a general acquaintance with you, but if any thing I can write in Mr. L's behalf can induce you to recqnise [sic] & credit him, I put myself bound to communicate it. I have known Mr. Lansing for the last 19 years during all of which time I have been intimate with him. He has been active within that time, a member of assembly in the N.Y. Legislature, has been a Judge of the Rensselaer Com Pleas & now holds the office of Justice of the peace, Supervisor of the town of Lansingburgh, & Commissioner appointed to perform the duties of a Justice of the Supreme Court. He is [?] a man of perfect integrity, of a family highly respectable & is in every respect worthy of credit. Judge Marcy of the Senate will if necessary concur with me in the foregoing recommendation. Will you have the goodness to inform me whether the above recommendation is sufficient that
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I may inform Judge Lansing of the result of his application.

Your very obt [obedient] Sert [Servant]
J. Pierson
[signature] [illegible]
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[upside down stamp]  FREE
Honb Secretary of War
Washington City
Dist. Columbia

[on side] Dept of War
10 Septr 18..
Pension Office
[oval stamp] SEP 6 LANSINGBURGH NY
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Lansingburgh Sept 5th 1831

Honb [Honorable] Secy [Secretary] of War

The note of the Department of the 18th July last was duly recd [received]. I was not aware of the rule adopted by the Department in November last in regard to agents not Known to this Department or recommended to it. 

I have procured the Power of Attorney of William Hoff and have got it acknowledged by Isaac McConihe Esquire of the Judges of Rensselaer County, who I understand is in correspondence with the Department And which I doubt not will be satisfactory evidence of every agency on behalf of Hoff.

Should this however not be satisfactory - I have appended the certificate of the Clerk of the County Court under the seal of the Court attesting his signature.

Should my authority to apply for Hoffs relief be satisfactory may I be permitted to request the early attention of the Department to his case, and if his case is not sufficiently vouched a suggestion of what further proof (if any) would be necessary to establish his claim to his pension
  over
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I have been delayed in forwarding the additional papers, by the unavoidable pressure of business,
  I am Respectfully
  Jacob C. Lansing
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Free

Honb Secretary of War
Washington City
[oval stamp] LANSINGBURGH NY MAR 10
[on side] 16 March 1821
Pension Office
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Lansingburgh  March 10th 1831
Hon Secretary of War
  Enclosed are certified copies of the application of William Hoff to be placed on the Pension list  It will be perceived that one of them was made in Oct 1823.. and the papers soon after given to Wm McManus Esq late a member of Congress to manage for him. And it will also be perceived by the facts stated in the last application why he has never obtained the result of His first application, And now at his request I take the liberty of enclosing both applications to the War Department and of requesting on his behalf as speedy a determination on his papers as may consistent with the other duties of the Department, And if his application should be rejected it would be very desirable to know the grounds of it. As if every more documents should be required they might be obtained. Wm McManus has stated to the applicant that his first papers were on file in the War office & had not been acted on, how that is he knows not But knowing that he is honestly entitled to a pension he wishes (if his present papers are insufficient) the advice of the War Department as to what evidence will be required of him. He is extremely poor to my knowledge. And without [guild? ognora?]
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of the means to be used) to place on the Pension list.
  An answer addressed to the Subscriber giving the result of this application will very much oblige the old man as well as
  Your Humble Servant
   Jacob C. Lansing

Honb. Secy of war
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Know all men by these presents that I William Hoff of Brunswick in the County of Rensselaer & State of New York, have made, authorized nominated & appointed & by these presents do make authorize nominate & appoint Jacob C. Lansing of Lansingburgh in the County aforesaid my [?nn]  & lawful Attorney & agent for me & in [illegible] named for my own purposes & benefit to ask, Demand, procure, recover, & receive of & from the United States of America or of & from the War Department of the same or of & from the Pension office thereof a certificate entitlling [sic] me to a pension, under the several acts of Congress granting Pensions to Revolutionary soldiers - (if I shall be entitled thereto) and also my pension from the time I may be entitled to draw the same up to fourth day of March last past and have taken & use all lawful ways & means in my name or otherwise for the recovery thereof and to do all other lawful acts & things Whatsoever concerning the premises as fully in every respect as I myself might or could do even I personally present at the doing thereof, ratifying & confirming & by these presents allowing whatsoever my said Attorney has already done or shall lawfully do or cause to be done in & about the premises. In -
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Witness whereof I have hereunto set hand & seal this Twenty sixth day of July in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred & Thirty one

Sealed & Delivered
In presence of 
  William Hoff  his X mark
N.B. part of the word 
“Department” written on an [erazure?] before signing

I McConihe

State of New York 
County of Rensselaer}ss.

I hereby certify that On the 26th day of July A.D. 1831 before me personally appeared the above named William Hoff to me known to be the same person described me who executed the foregoing instrument and he acknowledged that he executed the same for the uses & purposes therein mentioned and further certify that the reason why he the said William made his mark to the said Instrument is that he never learned to write even his name & cannot now write. 

I. McConihe Judge of the County Court of said County & exofficio Supreme Court Commissioner

State of New York 
County of Rensselaer}ss.

I Archibald Bull Clerk of the said County Do certify that Isaac McConihe before whom the preceding power of Attorney purports to have been acknowledged was at the date of the same one of the Judges in and for said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe that his name subscribed to the said acknowledgment of the execution of the said Power to be his proper hand writing & signature.

Witness my hand and seal of office this 5th day of September A.D. 1831

Archibald Bull Clerk
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Free
[oval stamp]  LANSINGBURGH NY  JULY 13
Honb Hugh L. White
Secy of War
Washington City D.C.

[upside down]
21709 Pension Office 
July 16 1831
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Lansingburgh July 12th 1831

Honb Secy of War

In February or March last I forwarded to the late Secy of War some papers in relation to the claim of our William Hoff of Brunswick in this county (Rensselaer NY) to his pension as a revolutionary soldier requesting an answer when the Department should have decided on his case; and requesting (in case the document in his case were not sufficient to entitle him to his pension) the grounds upon which that decision might be founded with a view to supply any deficiency that might exist. being fully satisfied that he is clearly entitled to a pension & a worthy object of it.

Not having recd [sic, -received] any answer from the late Secy of War, I beg leave to renew my request of an answer, and to invite the attention of the present Secy of War to the subject & to refer him to my letter & the accompanying documents which are probably on the files of the officer, and to conclude by observing that the claims of a war worn veteran, of the Revolution are in my opinion entitled to a speedy consideration as may be  consistent with the duties of the Department to bestow

I have the Honor to be yours &c
Jacob C Lansing

Honble Secy of War
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21709
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State of New York
Rensselaer County ss.

At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Court House in the City of Troy in & for the County of Rensselaer

On this Third day of October 1823 personally appeared in open Court (being a Court of accord in & for the said County, according to the Solemn adjudications of the Supreme Court of this State, and being a Court which proceeds according to the course of Common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount; keeping a record of its proceedings; & possessing the power of fine and imprisonment) William Hoff aged Seventy Two years, resident in the Town of Brunswick in said County, who being first duly Sworn, according to Law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows. That he enlisted at Redhook, in said State in the Spring of 1774 or 1775 a private in the Company of Captain Pearce for Three years which Company belonged to fourth New York Regiment, that he served in said Company in the revolutionary war for three years, and was there discharged and he returned home, at the time deponent was discharged said Regiment was commanded by Colonel Weisenfels a German, and that this deponent fought in the battle of Burgoyne at Saratoga.

And I do solemnly Swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war,” passed on the 18th of March 1818 and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or security, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto announced, & by me subscribed. 

Sworn to & declared on the third day or October 1823. Ben Smith Clerk.

William Hoff  his X mark

A Schedule of the property of the within named William Hoff. 
Real Estate none either in Law or Equity. Personal, one bedsted [sic], one bed, three coverlids or blankets, 2 pillars & 3 Cases 1 Shoe makers bench and tools. I have no other property either
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real or personal, neither in Law or Equity, in possession, reversion, remainder or expectancy whatsoever. 

Dated 3 Oct: 1823.			William Hoff
                                              his X mark

State of New York
Rensselaer County}Ss: 

I Archibald Bull Clerk of the Court of Common pleas in & for the County of Rensselaer, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath, declaration & the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly Copied from the records of the said Court. And I do further Certify, that it is the opinion of the Said Court, that the total amount in value, of property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is Thirty dollars. 

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the said Court this fifteenth day of September 1830. 

Archibald Bull Clerk