Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12,254, Philip Bonestale, New York

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New-York          Bonestale Philip             S.12254
                           Bonesteel      or
                                                                     carded

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20304
New York
20304
Philip Bonestale
of Woodstock in the State of New York
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Hoffman of the Reg. commanded
by Col. Graham in the New York,
line for 18 months

Philip Bonesteel
Records corrected May [???]9

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 60 Dollars per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Aug. 1833 and Sen H. Wynkoop.
Kingston N.Y.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33 - $120.00
Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sep '33 30.00
                                                      $150.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Jno Cromwell
Clerk,
Book  E Vol. 4 Page 47

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Comd
14~16

18 Oct 1832
11 Mar 1833

P289
J. C. Brodhead

H Mynthook 
Kingston, NY

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Brief in the case of Philip Bonesteel of Woodstock
County of Ulster in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 73

4. State is service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Name of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Years, Months, Days. | As a | Gen.
Volunteered Fall 1775 | 6 | Minute Man | Capt Harman Hoffman
ditto 1 March In 1776 | 4 | Substitute for Henry Allendorff | Capt John De Witt
called out about middle of July 1776 | about [illegible] | private | Capt David Van Ness
volunteered 1 March 1776 | 5 | " | Col Morris Graham Capt Andrew Heermans
ditto 10 May 1777 | 1 22 | guard | Cornelius Elmendorff
drafted June 1778 | 1 | Clapman | Capt Andrew Heermans

 5. In what battles was he engaged?
White Plains

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Rhinebeck, New York

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Living witnesses, except in June 1778 & by traditionary evidence

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Not properly attached

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Chas. G Wilcox Examining Clerk
7th March 1833

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State of New York
Dutchess County SS. ⎬ Nicholas Bonesteel of Redstook
in the County of Dutchess aforesaid being duly
sworn says that he is a brother of Philip Bonesteel
of Woodstock in the County of Ulster. That this
deponent was 78 years old in November last and the
said Philip was 73 years old in April last, and
this deponent says that he knows the said Philip to have
been in the service of the United States in the
Revolutionary war as follows. This deponent and
the said Philip while living at their father's house
in Rhinebeck in said County of Dutchess in the
latter part of summer or forepart of Autumn in the
year 1775 enlisted as minute men at Rhinebeck
aforesaid in a company commanded by Captain
Herman Hoffman, First Lieutenant Andrew Heermance
Second Lieutenant George Sharp, Ensign James Adams
in the Regiment of Colonel John Farness for the
term of six months. During this term they were part
of the time at home & part of the time out in
service, were frequently called out to parade and
were at all times held in readiness to turn out at a
minutes warning, and during this term, in the winter
they were called out & engaged at one time in
disarming the disaffected inhabitants in that part of
the town of Rhinebeck called Wirtenburgh. Deponent
& said Philip went at this time together & were out
several other times in service during this enlistment, but
how often, how long, or at what particular times
deponent does not recollect. After this & in the
spring following the said Philip again entered the
service & went as a substitute for Henry Allendorf
and was absent as deponent thinks as long as four
months, but deponent does not recollect the exact
length of time. In the month of July in the year

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1776 the militia were called out to defend Fort
Constitution opposite West Point, against an expected
attack, from two British vessels. Deponent and the said Philip then went upon this service together in
a company commanded by Captain David Van Ness
in the Regiment of Colonel Morris Graham. Deponent
does not recollect how long they remained in service
at this time, but thinks as long as half a month.
Very soon after this the said Philip enlisted for the
term of five months in a company commanded by
Captain Andrew Heermance in the Regiment of Colonel
Morris Graham & went, as was understood, to Westchester
County. Sometime in October 1776 deponent went to
see said Philip & found him in service in the said
company at Fort Independence in Westchester County.
Deponent remained with him there, a few days and
then the army left that place & went to White Plains
& deponent returned home. Deponent recollects that
the said Philip was absent, as he believes, the whole
term of five months & that he returned from this
term of service on or about the first of January in the year 1777
Nicholas Bonesteel
Sworn & subscribed before me September 6th 1832
John Rowley Justice of the Peace
And I do further certify that I am
acquainted with the above named Nicholas
Bonesteel & that he is a person of truth & veracity & this statement entitled to credit
John Rowley Justice of the Peace
State of New York
Dutchess County 
I Henry Traver Clerk of the County of Dutchess do hereby certify
that John Rowley Esquire before whom the preceding examination was made
was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that
I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe that
the signature annexed to the said Examination is his genuine signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand under my seal of office
the Twenty Second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty two & of our Independence the Fifty Seventh
Henry Traver Clerk

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Philip Bonesteel

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 Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832  
State of New York
Ulster Ulster
On the thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Ulster County, being a Court of Record for said County, proceeding according to the course of common Law, with a Jurisdiction in point of amount unlimited, and having a record of then proceedings, and having a clerk & seal of their own, Philip Bonesteel as resident of the town of Woodstock in the County of Ulster, aged Seventy three 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 the 7th June 1837 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated To Wit, That in the fall of the year 1775 he Volunteered as a private Soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was in Captain Harmon Hoffman's Company of Minute men for Six Months and was stationed in the Town of- Red Hook (then Reinbeck) in Dutchess County and Continued in said service as minute man untill about the middle of following (1776) and was then after a Service of Six Months discharged, the first Leut
was Andrew Herman 2d Leutt was George Sharp and the Ensign to said Company was James Adams (Recorded in Written discharge), And this applicant further declares that about the first of March 1776 he again volunteered in said service as a private soldier, in the Company of Capt John Dewitt for four months rendezvoued at at Rhinebeck Dutchess County, went from there by water to New York City and marched from there to Horns Hook on the East River

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and assisted in building a fort at Horn Hook, Continued there untill about the first of August following and was then there
 discharged, and that he volunteered as a substitute for 
Henry Allendorf, first Luntenant was John Steenburgh 
and the Ensign was Solomon Powell, (Received no written discharge 
 And this applicant further declares that on or about the first August and immediately after the above named service in the year (1776) he again volunteered in said service
as a private soldier, in the Company of Capt Andrew Heermans Leut George Sharp & H Knickerbocker in Colonel Morris Graham's Regiment. Genl James Clinton Brigade to Kings Bridge built the Fort Independance, untill the British reached New York, and then retreated to White plains 
was in the battle of White Plains and continued therein till the British left White Plains, and went to Peekskill 
and was there discharged about the first of January following, and after the full term of Five months, (received no written discharge), he further declares that he knew General Washington Colonels Hopkins Swarthout Stoeenburgh 
And this applicant further declares that in the month of June 1778 he was drafted as one of a class in the same Service in Capt Andrew Herman Company for one month to go to West Point to guard the Fort at West Point and Continued there the full term of the month and was there discharged 
And this deponent further declares that about the middle of July in the year 1776 he was called out to defend the fort Constitution opposite West Point against an Expected attack from two British vessels in the Company of Captain David Varless in Colonel Morris Graham Regiment and continued in said service about one half a month and was then discharged (no Written discharge)
1/2 Month, Witness
Nicholas Bonesteel
Afft No 1

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and this applicant further declares that on or about the tenth day of May 1777 he volunteered in the same service in the company command by Lieutenant Cornelius Elmendorf as a guard
to the Powder Mill or works in the Town of Rhinebeck Dutchess County and continued  
in said service until the last of June or first of July and was then discharged, making a service of one month & twenty two days
 1st That he was born at Rhinebeck Dutchess the 5 April 1759 to the
 2. That he has. In his Fathers Bible " 
3. That he lived at Rhinebeck aforesaid, has since and still does live in Woodstock Ulster County, 
4.That he was drafted, Volunteered and was substitute as before stated " 
5. That he knew those mentioned in the foregoing declaration " 
6th That he does not recollect of having a written discharge
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 Agency in any State 
Sworn to and subscribed 
 the day and year aforesaid 
Philip  his mark Bonistale
 A. G. Hardenbergh 
Judges  John Janson 
 Abm A Deyo

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In reply to your request of received for a statement of the military history of Philip Bonestale --- 
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his  application for pension in this Bureau
 DATES OF ENLISTMENT  OR APPOINTMENT.|
LENGTH OF SERVICE. |RANK.| OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | State
  Fall 75| 6 month| Pri | Captain Herman Hoffman |Colonel John Van Ness
March 76 | 4 months| Pri | Captain John De Witt| Colonel John Van Ness | NY
July 76 | 2 wks | Pri | Captain David  Van Ness | Colonel Morris Graham |NY
Aug 76 | 5 months | Captain Andrew Herman | Colonel Morris Graham | NY
May 77 | 1 month 22 days | Pri | Captain Andrew Hermans | Colonel Morris Graham | NY
 Jun 78 | 1 month | Pri | Captain Andrew Herman | Colonel Morris Graham | NY
 Battles engaged in,
 Residence of soldier at enlistment, Reinbeck Dutchess Co. NY
 Date of application for pension, Sept 13th 1832 Allemand
Residence at date of application Woodstock Ulster NY
Age at date of application  Born Apl 5, 1759 at Reinbeck
Remarks: In 1832 soldier Nicholas is 78 yrs signed his name Bonesteel. Solddier died May 30, 1834 (Agency book) 
office note 
NY Col Records P 284
*279

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Rev. War No. 12254 INVALID. 
File No. 12, 254 
Philip Bonistale 
Pri Rev War - 
Act: June 7th 32 
dex:--Vol. A, Page 39
( Arrangement of 1870.] 
Philip Bonesteel 
Records corrected May 1,1906
1906 May 7 History to
CZ Lincoln Esq.

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[blank page]

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Philip Bonesteel which require further proof of 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 amout of pension he is entitled? Yes, except 15 days
 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? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

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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 revolutionary service? Yes
 XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain ing it? 
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. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
 If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? No 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 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 recolelection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; Foryear months, and days, I served as a . For_months and days, I served as a _ and for such service I claim a pension.
Download

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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 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 objection able. 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 field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
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 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. 
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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. 
The pensioner Philip Bonestale by reason of old age, infirmity and loss of memory is unable to state any more particulars relative to the except of Service mentioned in the accompanying brief.
 Henry Wynkoop Agent

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Phillip Bonestate Pension Paper 14968 
Official for  Philip Bonesteel  by Corns Edmondorf
2 mos
22 days
Service 2.22 DS
Roma
18 mo. pro
60$

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State of New York
Dutchess County

Cornelius I. Clemendorph of Red Hook in the County of Dutchess aforesaid being duly sworn says that he is acquainted with Philip Bonesteel an applicant for a pension as a Revolutionary solder and now a resident in the County of Ulster and has been acquainted with him for more than fifty years past. And this defouent says that he, this defouent, was Lieutenant in the United States Service in the year 1777 and commanded a company which was stationed in Rhinebeck for the purpose of guarding the Powder Works there. That the company remained there from the 5th day of May to the 30th day of June 1777 — That this defouent has in his possession the Pay Roll of the said company, by which it appears that the aforesaid Philip Bonesteel served in the said company as a private, one month and twenty two days, commencing on the 10th day of May and ending on the 30th day of June 1777 — and depenannt further says that the said company was a Volunteer Company — and dapouent says that at that time he wrote his name Cornelius Clemendorph and not Cornelius I Clemendorph as he now does.

Sworn and subscribed before me September 8th 1832
Cornelius I Clemendorph

Tho. Rowey Justice of the Pease
And I do further certify that I was acquainted with the above named Cornelius I Elmendorph in his lifetime and that he was a person of turth and veracity and his statement entitled to credit. 

Tho. Rowley Justice of the Pease

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State of New York 
Dutchess County ⎬ S. S I Henry I Traver Clerk of said County do hereby certify  that John Rowley Esquire before whom the within examination was made was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe that the signature. affixed to the said Examination is his genuine signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand under my Seal of Office the Twenty Second day of September in the year of our Lord on thousand eight hundred & thirty two Henry I Turner Esquirie

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We, William Boyce, a Clergyman, residing in the town of Woodstock in the County of Ulster and State of New York and Andrew P. Newkirk of the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Philip Bonisteel who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy three 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.
In open cort.
AYHandanbergh
John Jansen
Ab et Deyo Judges

William Boyce
Andrew P. Newkirk

Certificate of the Court.
The Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ulster in the State of New York, sitting this thirteenth day of September in the year 1832 at the court-house in Kingston in said County, do hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Solider, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Willam Boyse who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Woodstock in the County aforesaid, and that Andrew P Newkirk who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town and able person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
A G Hardenbergh
John Jansen
Abe A Deyo
Judges

I, Jacob Snyder, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Ulster in the State of New  York, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Philip Bonisteel for a Pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this thirteenth day of October 1832. Jacob Snyder

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103 South Swan St.,
Albany, N.Y., April 25, 1906.

To the Commisioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

Sir: 

I am trying to ascertain whether Philip Bonsteel, perhaps spelled Bonesteel, was a revolutionary pensioner from New York. I think that during the Revolutionary War he lived either in what is now Columbia or Rensselaer county, New York, but I think that after the war he went to Herkimer county.

I wish to obtain all the information your office has on this subject.

Very truly yours,

Charles Z. Lincoln

Sur file
12,254
Bonistale
N.Y.