Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,846, John De Graff, New York

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[handwritten]

New York
DeGraff, John
DeGroff
R. 2.846

b. in Feb. 7. 1756 in Kings Co. Long Island
In 1832. res. of Florida Montgomery Co. NY
d. Mar. 19. 1833

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[handwritten]

State of New York
Montgomery County ss Personally appeared on this 19th day of September 1832 in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Montgomery Hendrick Van Derveen of the town of Florida in said County aged Seventy two years who being first duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with John Degroff who has subscribed & sworn to the declaration hereto annexed in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that he became acquainted with the said John DeGroff during the Revolutionary War. that he saw the said John DeGroff frequently and at different times & places as a private soldier in a company of Militia Commanded by Captain Schenck and attached to the first Regiment of the Monmouth Militia that this deponent belonged to another company in the same Regiment & that they frequently served together during the war at Monmouth & other places. And that from his knowledge of the services of the said John DeGroff during the Revolutionary War he believes that the said DeGroff served as a soldier through the whole period of the said War & that his said declaration by him subscribed is true
Hendrick Vanderveen [signature]
Subscribed & Sworn the day & year aforesaid
Geo: D. Ferguson. Clerk

State of New York
Montgomery County ss Personally appeared on this 19th day of September 1832 in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Montgomery now sitting Tunis Van Derveen of Glen in the County aforesaid who being duly sworn saith that he is acquainted with John Degroff of Florida who has subscribed the declaration hereto annexed. that he saw the said John Degroff during the Revolutionary War & knows that he served as a soldier in Captain John Schencks Company of Militia and from what he saw as well as understood at the time from others, he has no doubt but that the said John Degroff served in the Militia during the whole of the Revolutionary War as he states. that the said John is now much enfeebled by sickness & that his memory is very much impaired
Tunis Vanderveen [signature]
Subscribed & Sworn the day & year aforesaid
Geo: D. Ferguson, clerk

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Germantown [Monmouth crossed out] battle together
Drafted in [1778 crossed out] Oct - 1 mo under _____
lived in Monmouth Co at time of battle of Monmouth -
Went a private 1776
Sergeant 1777 for 2 years
[illegible] till end of war

State of New York.
Montgomery County ss. Jonathan Clayton of Florida in the County of Montgomery being duly sworn in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Montgomery now sitting on this 19th day of September 1832 saith that he is well acquainted with John DeGroff who has made the declaration here to annexed that he became acquainted with him as early as the year 1777 whole the said John Degroff has in the Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War. that he served with the said Degroff on various Expeditions & saw him frequently in the said service until the end of the said War. that they served the greater part of the term of the War in different companies in the same Regiment of Militia & cannot therefore state any particular Battle in which the said Degroff was engaged but known that he did serve from the time he first knew him until the Close of the War & believes the declaration made by the said John to be true
Jonathan Clayton [signature]
Subscribed & sworn the day & year aforesaid
Geo: D. Ferguson, clerk

State of New York
Montgomery County, ss: I, George D. Ferguson, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery do hereby certify that Jonathan Clayton, Tunis VanDeveer & Hendrick VanDeveer, appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court aforesaid after last September term thereof & each did then & there in open Court take & subscribe the foregoing affidavit to which his name is subscribed: & the said Court did then & there declare it as their opinion [that crossed out] & direct me as their Clerk to certify to the War Department that the said Jonathan Clayton, Tunis Van DeVeer & Hendrick Van DeVeer were persons of credibility & that their statements are entitled to full credit, which I according by hereby do.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the 1st February 1833.
Geo: D. Ferguson

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John Degroffs pension papers

11819

[illegible] P Potter
[illegible] 33

[11811?]

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[handwritten]

State of New York}
Montgomery County. ss.}
On this thirtieth day of August in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty two personally appeared before John Hand Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Montgomery. John De Groff a resident of the town of Florida in the County of Montgomery and State of New York aged Seventy six 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.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated,
That he volunteered as a private soldier in a company of Militia which was raised on Long Island, as he believes in the County of Kings and as he also believes in the Year 1776 or 1777 but cannot recollect from his own memory in what month or at what season of the year. that the Captain in said Company was named Rappelyea, that one of the Lieutenants in the said Company was a brother to the Captain, that soon after said Company was raised the said Captain deserted the said Company and as this deponent understood, and as was generally understood & believed went into the British Service. that this deponent thinks he served in said Company about a year, that after the Captain deserted, the Company was commanded by the Lieutenant, that he this deponent cannot recollect the names of any other of his officers except that he

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thinks the name of the Brigadier General was Furman, that during this year and as he thinks in the fall, he was in the Battle of Brooklyn that General Washington and the Main body of the American Army were there. From Brooklyn the American army moved over to New York. from New York the Company to which he belonged removed with a part of the army to Kingsbridge. he was also (in the same fall ^[insert] as he thinks, but cannot be positive) in the Battle of White Plains. that the American Army then crossed the Hudson river, that he cannot particularly recollect any farther movements or service that Year., The suceeding [sic] year he volunteered in a company at Monmouth New Jersey commanded by Captain John Schenck, that this was also a company of Militia and that he served in this company from that time till the end of the Revolutionary War as a private soldier. That he cannot recollect the names of his officers in Captain Schenks Company that he was engaged on various expeditions during this latter engagement, to Brunswick Philadelphia & was in the Battle of Monmouth Court House, that in consequence of the very feeble state of bodily health his memory has failed him to such a degree that he is unable to recollect with any more certainty or particularly the order of events which occurred during his service, or the particular times of their occurrence or even many of the events [underlined] as he has reason to believe, that the whole period of his service was abut Seven Years. that he was dismissed at the Close of the War and has no documentary evidence of his service. that he was born in the month of February 1756 in the County of Kings Long Island New York and that he resided in that place until he entered the Army. that he has a record of his age which he has kept in a Bible about forty years, which he took from a

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woman who was a neighbor to his mother when he was born and [illegible crossed out] ^[insert] which he believes correct. that the only persons by whom he can prove any part of his services, who are living are John Van Der Veer, Henry Van Derveer, and Isaac Degroff of Florida and Linus Van Der Veer of Glen all in this county - that after the war he resided seven or Eight years near Monmouth New Jersey & from thence he removed to Florida aforesaid where he has resided ever since. that he is unable to attend any court of record in this County in person by reason of bodily infirmity and that he never received any written discharge from his officers when he was dismissed from the service at the close of the War. 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.
John Degroff [signature]
Sworn and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid}
In 7th line from top 2nd page the words interlined before signing are "as he thinks but cannot be positive" [underlined] the word "which" [underlined] 2nd line 3rd page blotted & interlined before signing
before me John Hand one of the Judges of the Montgomery County Courts

And I the said John Hand do certify and return to the said Court that the above named John De Groff is unable to appear in any Court of record by reason of great bodily infirmity. And I do further certify and declare my opinion that after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named John De Groff was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states
John Hand one of the Judges of the Montgomery County Courts

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We James Stephenson a clergyman residing in the town of Florida in the County of Montgomery and John French of the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John De Groff who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be of the age of Seventy six years. that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
James Stevenson [signature]
John French [signature]
Subscribed & Sworn in open court the 19th day of September 1832
Geo: D. Ferguson. Clerk.

And the said Court of Common Pleas of the County of Montgomery being [?] of the said matter do certify that James Stevenson who has signed the preceding [?] is a clergyman residing in Florida in the County of Montgomery and that John French who has signed the same is a resident of

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I, George D. Ferguson, Clerk of Montgomery County Common pleas do hereby certify that John Hand Esq. before whom the annexed declaration of John DeGroff purports to have been sworn was on the day of the date thereof a Judge of Montgomery County Courts, and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge [?] believes that the name of the said Judge subscribed to the said declaration is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 27th day of September 1832.
Geo: D. Ferguson

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Know all men by their presents that I, Peter De Groff of the town of Lysander in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, do hereby ordain, constitute and appoint Margantt Mason of Florida in the county of Montgomery and State aforesaid my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, as one of the heirs of John De Groff deceased late of Florida aforesaid to demand due for, recover and receive from the Government of the United States and from the Commissioner of Pensions of said Government, all sums of money, and all claims and demands which may be due to me as one of the heirs of said John DeGroff - for his services rendered the United States in the War of the Revolution so called and in all and any wars between the United States of America and Great Britian [sic], and for any pension which may be due to said John De Groff from the said government of the United States, and for all claims whatsoever against the United States aforesaid, and to give acquaintances therefor and to adjust, settle, or compound all debts or demands arising from the services of said John DeGroff as aforesaid - and in her disention [sic] to appoint - one or more attorneys - to assist her in enforcing any and al such claims and demands

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and I hereby ratify and confirm what my said attorney shall lawfully do in the premises
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 5th day of February 1851
Peter Degroff [signature]

State of New York}
Onondaga County} ss
On this 5th day of February A.D. 1851, before me came Peter DeGroff to me well known to be the same person mentioned in and who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that he executed the same for the purposes therein expressed
Syman Norton
Justice of the Peace

State of New-York,}
Onondaga County Clerk's Office,} ss.
I CERTIFY, That Lyman Norton whose name is subscribed tot he certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed of the Peace in and for said County, and duly authorized to take the same, and that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing and verily believe that the signature to said certificate is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County, at Syracuse, this 4th day of October 1851
Rufus Cossit Clerk.

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And I hereby ratify and confirm what my said Attorney shall lawfully do in the premises
witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 5th day of February1851
Peter Degroff

State of New York}
Onondaga County} ss
On this 5th day of February A.D. 1851, before me came Peter DeGroff to me well known to be the same person mentioned in and who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that he executed the same for the purposes therein expressed -
Lyman Norton
Justice of the Peace

[cutoff] day of October 1851
Rufus Cossit Clerk

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State of New York}
Montgomery Co} ss
On this 22nd day of September 1851 before Mr Elias A Brown a Justice of the Peace for Montgomery County State of New York appeared Margarett Mason - who makes oath that she was formerly Margarett De Groff and is the only legal representative and daughter of John De Groff, deceased for whose pay for revolutionary services under the act of June 7, 1832 this applicant and the papers setting forth the claims for said services are on file in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions & have been since March 13, 1851 and here lain for want of further & more substantial evidence and she further solemnly swears that she has used an endeavors to ascertain if any further witnesses are living and finds there are none and that all the witnesses to the said papers are dead 
And she still further solemnly swears that she has often heard her father speak of his services in the revolutionary war and say that he first enlisted under one Captain Rapeyle or some name similar: that his first went to Kingsbridge under Captain Rapeyle and that while there said Captain Rapeyle deserted his country & went on to the British and that the brother of said Captain Rapeyle then took the command of said Captain Rapeyles company - that they were then driven by the British on the Hudson to the Jersey Shore and that one Capt John Schenck succeeded to his company

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and had command of his company to which he was attached and that her said father John DeBroff deceased fought under Captain Schenck at the Battle of Monmouth New Jersey and always remained under the command of Capt John Schenck untill [sic] the war ended & that the said John DeGroff lived at Monmouth untill [sic] he moved into this County of Montgomery State of New York where he ended his days
And still further deposes & says that Jonathon Clayton who is a witness to the services of said DeGroffs services was an ensign under the command of said John Schenck and of [?] ensign of the company said DeGroff deceased served in and that said Clayton holds a certificate from the War Department under the date of 26 March 1834 given by Linus Cass Secretary of War
And further this deponent saith not
Margaret Mason [signature]
Sworn & subscribed before Mr Elias A Brown one of the Justices of the Peace for Montgomery Co State of New York this 22nd day of Sept 1837. 
Elias A Brown Justice &c

STATE OF NEW YORK,}
Montgomery County Clerk's Office.} ss.
I, J. W. Van Derveer, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify that Elias A. Brown Jurat ~ Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the certificate of proof or [illegible crossed out] to which this is annexed, was on the date of the same a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, in and for said County, duly qualified, and authorised by law to take the same, [and that the said certificate of proof &c is taken according to the law of this State crossed out]. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said JUSTICE, and verily believe his signature to the said Certificate is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed my official seal, at FONDA, this 24th day of Sept 1851
J. W. Van Derveer Clerk.

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State of New York
Montgomery County s.s. Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Montgomery Isaac Degroff aged Sixty Six has who being duly sworn doth depose and say that he this deponent was a brother of John Degroff now deceased of Florida in said County, an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7th 1832. that in the revolutionary war he this deponent recollects that his said brother John Degroff drafted in teh Amercian Service for a period of five months and left his fathers family then residing on Long Island Kings County in the State of New York, to perform that service. that this deponent did not see his brother in the service. but it was believed by himself and all his fathers family at that time and this deponent now believes and he never heard it doubted that the said John Degroff did actually serve the period of time for which he was so drafted. that this deponent does not know the names of the officers under which this duty was performed. that after this as this deponent also understood & believes the said John Degroff still continued in the service of the United States during the whole revolutionary war. that the said John was gone from home during all that time. that he returned home after the close of the war and it was always understood & believed in the neighborhood where when the said John then lived & where he has since lived that the said John served as a private soldier in the Jersey Militia during the whole of the Revolutionary War. but this deponent cannot say how much actual duty the said John performed nor under what officers. that he said John Degroff is now dead leaving no wife and only two children to wit Peter Degroff and Margaret Servoss wife of Philip Servoss of said County of Montgomery and further that for a [?] time previous to his death the memory of the said John was very much impaired
Isaac Degroff [signature]
Subscribed & sworn this 17th day of June 1833 before me James Voorhees, Justice of the Peace.
I James Voorhees before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken certify that Isaac Degroff is a credible person & entitled to belief.
James Voorhees Justice

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State of New York,
Montgomery County,
Clerks office, ss: I, George D. Ferguson, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, do hereby certify, that James Voorhees, before whom the withing affidavit purports to have been sworn, was on the date thereof a Justice of the peace of the said County: And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe that his name subscribed to the said affidavit, and also to the Certificate of character of Isaac DeGroff within mentioned,  is genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 13th July 1833.
Geo: D. Ferguson

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Aomd

5660
259 [underlined]
5919

118 38
29.59 [underlined]
147 97

A. Haring Agt
Johnstown Montgomery Co N.Y.

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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 27 1883

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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A  Statement, showing the Service of John DeGroff Montgomery Co. N.Y.
|Period when the service was rendered|
Enrolled 1775
drafted 1776
Oct "
draft 1777
draft 1779
drafted 1777
draft 1779
May "
May 1780
Enlisted
Called out 1781
1777

|Duration of the claimant's service. 
|Years.|Months.|Days.|
1 [mo]
1 [mo]
1 [mo]
1 [mo] 15 [days]
3 [mo]
1 [mo] 15 [days]
8 [days]
7 [mo]
14 [days]
10 [days]
21 [days]
17. [mos] 23 [days]

|Rank of the claimant.|
Private

|Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.|
Cap Van Patten
& Swart
Cap Fonda 
& Hermance
Swartout

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2 
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 li Le, as to every branch of the Staff of the At my, 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 tie army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to' Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who F m vest 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 kw: 1. The Regulate Troops. 2. The State Troops. Militia, and Volunteers. • 3. Persons employed in the Nave service. 4. Indian Spies. As voila 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 in-stance, 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 88. 
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 wide 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 lie left the sere ice; (and if he serv-al 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 per-sons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and lie 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. 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. of the Court of dohereby 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 (1) 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 E ubscribed 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 the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as lie states. And the Court further certifies, that it appeal t. to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 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 of office, this have hereunto set my hand and seal day of &c. 

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but it 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 (1) 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person •

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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 giv- en 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 he [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, 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 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, 1852; 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 tho 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 recollection, he served not less than the period 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 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 in highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly showy 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 served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during 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 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 constrains 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 the time said 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 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 [illegible]
[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.

Page 21

[handwritten]

Hon Commiss of Pensions
Washington DC

Page 22

[handwritten]

Mina Ville
Montgomery Co N.Y.
Oct 7 1851

Hon Sir
On the 13 Nov 1850 I have the honor to transmit to the [?] of war the papers of John DeGroff deceased applying for the benefit of the act of June 7 1832 which the Hon J E Heath Com of Pensions informs me were referred to his Dept, by letter of 13th March 1851
On the 19th June 1851 I have a letter from Hon F. S. Evans stating that no papers have been received from me in regard to such a name & requiring some testimony & have the honor now to transmit all the testimony additional that can be procured and forward with this to you have the kindness if the other papers have been found to place these affidavits &c with them and give the subject that attention that its [?] & [?] other duties will allow
And you will much [?]
Your Obt Servt
Elias A Brown

Page 23

[handwritten]

.Co Nov 21 1850
Mina Ville N.Y.
Nov 15/50
Elias A Brown

Enclosing papers rel to the claim of the heirs of John DeGroff dec'd
a revolutionary Pensioner 
Nov 21/50

File with papers
Ref'd to Comm of Pensions
Dep [?]}
Nov. 21. 1850

Page 24

[handwritten]

Mina Ville
Montgomery Co N.Y_
Nov 15. 1850_

To the Hon Secretary of War
Hon Sir
The accompanying papers were handed me this day by (Now) Margaret Mason formerly Margaret wife of Phillip Serviss and before that Margaret DeGroff and sister of Peter DeGroff who with herself are the only heirs of John DeGroff deceased who is a revolutionary pensioner and which said papers I have the honor herewith to hand to you making claim for his pay bounty land &c & according to act of congress passed June 7. 1832 and any subsequent acts that have a bearing on the case 
By the affidavits of Hendrick Van der Veer, James Van der Veer & Jonathon Clayton we [?] as [?] as we can the fact of said John DeGroffs service - before the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas under their hand & seal
By his own affidavit before his honor Judge Hand with the Court of Common Pleas seal
By a Clergyman & fellow [?] men also a certificate of his identity

Page 25

[handwritten]

Affidavits of his death and who his heirs are both of whom are yet living - by Isaac DeGroff his brother who yet survives said John 
Affidavit of Hendrick Van der Veer of said Johns service in the years from 1777 or 1778 to 1783 at the close of the war
The said John DeGroff commenced having his papers prepared in the year 1832 as will appear by the duty he died March 19 1833 aged 77 years 1 month & 12 days as appears from his family record he having been born 7 Sep 1756 his papers were supposed lost (these papers spoken of) for about 5 years but were finally just in possession of your   joint claimant who by luck of every [?] those [?] untill [sic] his attention was called to them by seeing [?] of [?] for granting bounty lands to certain claimants passed at the last session of Congress 
Will you be kind enough to inform me at your earliest convenience or due [?] time what steps are necessary to [?] to receive said pay if said heirs are entitled to their fathers pay and what amount &c&c and if said papers are [?] or according to him said Private [?] had any written discharge
With Sentiments of Urgence
Truly your Obt Servant
Elias A. Brown

Page 26

[handwritten]

No. 38.270 [underlined]
John DeGroff dec'd
N.Y
Act 7 June 1832
Elias A. Brown
Minaville
Montgomery Co
N.Y.

A Soldier named John DeGroff has been placed on the N. York roll under '32 at $59.19 per an.
See his papers

Page 27

[handwritten]

State of New York
Schenectady County ss Personally appeared before the under signed a Justice of the Peace of the County of Schenectady Hendrick Van Der Veer of Florida in the County of Montgomery who being duly sworn doth depose and say that he this deponent was well acquainted with John DeGroff late of Florida in the County of Montgomery now deceased [now deceased crossed out] that during the Revolutionary War the said John served as a private soldier in a company commanded by Captain Schenck in the first Regiment of Monmouth Militia commanded by Col  Asher Holmes. That this deponent served as a Sergeant in Captain Van Cleefs Company in the same Regiment that this deponent knew the said John Degroff in the said service as early as the year 1777. or 1778 and that the said John Degroff continued in the said service from that time until the end of the War in the year 1783, that this deponent saw the said John Degroff frequently and in various places on duty. that the manner of doing duty in this Regiment was, that about nine months in each year, one half of each company took their monthly tours of duty alternately. making four or five months of actual duty to each member of the Company in every year on guard besides musters or alarms. And this deponent believes and has no doubt from having seen the said John Degroff so frequently on duty that he did serve at least four months [underlined] in each year from the time of joining Captain Schencks Company until the end of the war in actual service
Hendrick Vanderveer [signature]
Subscribed & Sworn this 6th day of July 1833 before me
J. D. Harman
Justice of the peace

I do Certify, that the above named Hendrick Van Derveer is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit
J. D. Harman
Justice of the peace

Page 28

[handwritten]

I John S Vrooman Clerk of Schenectady County Common Pleas do herby certify that Joshua D Harman Esquire before whom the within affidavit purports to have been made and the within Certificate of Credibility given was on the day of the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace of the County of Schenectady and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said J. D. Harman and verily believe that the name of the said Justice subscribed to said affidavit of Certificate is genuine. And do also certify that I am acquainted with the said Hendrick VanDerveer and that he is a credible person & entitled to belief
In Testimony Whereof I have hereto set my hand and Seal of Office this 5th day of November1833
John S Vrooman
Clerk

Page 29

[handwritten]

2846
John DeGrass
REJECTED [ink stamped]

Page 30

[handwritten]

No 38.276
John DeGrass Decd
N.Y. [underlined]
Act 7th June 1832
Elias A Brown Jan 5/52
2846