Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,901, Gershom Van Voast, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Van Voast, Gershon or Van Vorst, Joachim
R. 10,901
CONTENTS

GERSHOM VAN VOAST.
[To accompany bill H. R. 595.]
DECEMBER 12, 1856.
Mr. BROOM, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT.
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Gershom Van Voast, submit the following report:
The claimant, in his statement under oath, makes the following declaration: "That he entered the service of the United States in the summer of the year 1779, in the company of Captain Gray, regiment of Colonel Wemple; that he was not enlisted, but continued as aforesaid for more than three years in the service of the war of the Revolution; that he had the care of the horses at the Congress stable, situated on the land of his father, in Schenectady; was once despatched to carry the mail or express to Schoharie, also to drive cattle to Fort Plain and Fort Herkimer; and that his brother, James J. Van Voast, for having performed the same kind of duties, is now pensioned, and that said service was not performed under any civil contract, &c., &c."
James J. Van Voast, a revolutionary pensioner , states, under oath, that he is brother to the present applicant, and that to his knowledge his brother Gershom entered the service at the age of 14 years, and that he belonged to the same company to which his said brother did; that said Gershom joined the company at Schenectady, under Captain Gray and Colonel Wemple in the year 1779, and was employed most of the time in taking care of the horses at the continental stable, in the city of Schenectady, and that he remained there employed, as above mentioned, more than two years; that he (said Gershom) was once despatched to carry the mail or express to Schoharie, and was once ordered to go with this deponent to drive cattle for the army to Forts Plain and Herkimer, and was attached to the army in the same capacity as he was, and was as much under the command of Captain Gray and Henry Glen, commanding general, as he was, from the years 1779 to 1783, and continued to perform all such duties as were imposed on him by the officers of the army, and did not devote any time to anything else than the military operations against the enemy of the country," &c., &c.
Jerome Barkydt, also a revolutionary pensioner , says, under oath,

that he well knew the said Gershom Van Voast was engaged in the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution for more than two years from 1779; that most of his services consisted in taking care of the horses belonging to the army; that he was compelled to do duty as express, and to drive cattle for the army to Forts Plain and Herkimer in 1780, and performed the same kind of duty that his brother, James J. Van Voast, did during the war, &c., &c.
John J. Schermerhorn, a revolutionary pensioner , states, under oath , that he has always known Gershom Van Voast, and he believes, from the best of his recollection, that Gershom V. Voast served more than two years in the army of the United States, and at the time stated in the affidavit of James J. V. Voast, hereunto annexed, &c., &c.
In presenting the case to the Pension Office, the objection to the allowance of the claim appears that, being "but 14 years of age, he could not have been under enlistment as a soldier, which is indispensably necessary to entitle him to a pension." This objection, upon an examination of the act of June 7, 1832, under which claimant is entitled, does not justify the conclusion of the Pension Office. The first section of the said act is in the following words: "That each of the surviving officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, soldiers, and Indian spies, who shall have served in the continental line, State troops, volunteers , or militia, at one or more terms, a period of two years during the war of the Revolution, &c., &c., shall be entitled to receive," &c.
It is obvious from the act itself that service only was contemplated as the prerequisite to entitle a soldier to the pension, and not whether he was regularly enlisted, or whether it was performed without enlistment; or why would the word " volunteers " have been introduced? The act is, in its language, intended to embrace every species of service performed during the memorable struggle for independence; the term of service, provided it was of six months' duration, being the only thing necessary to insure to the aged soldier his country's bounty.
The committee deem the evidence fully satisfactory to establish two years' service, and the rules of the office themselves fully complied with; they therefore report a bill for his relief.

NY 35.552 York The Pension Papers of Gershom Van Vorst NY.
Act 7. July 32
1854 Dec 12, Bill 595
January 5 1858. Referred to the Committee on Rev Pensions
March 12. 1860 Referred to the Committee on Rev Pensions.
1860 May 25 Adv Up
Sarah Clough
M c R. Hall Stephen L. Dagg Rev Pensions M c Pottier  Schenck

This Certifies, That as appears from the Register of Baptism belonging to the PROTESTANT REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH in the city of Schenectady, Joachim, Son of Johannes Van Vorst and Sarah Mittel, his wife, was baptized on the 28 th day of July in the year 1765
CERTIFIED,
Jacob Van Kchten V. D. M.
Schenectady, June 30, 1843.

State of New York County of Schenectady ss:
Stephen A. Daggett of the City of Schenectady being duly sworn doth depose & say that the annexed certificate is true and correct that deponent was present on the 30 th day of June 1843 and saw the Reverend Jacob Van Vechten examine the Book of Records of Baptisms of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church in the City of Schenectady That in such Book this deponent saw the Record of the Baptism of Joachim Son of Johannes Van Voast and Sarah Kittle by which record it appeared said Joachim Van Voast was Baptised July 28. 1765. This deponent was also shown the Record of the Baptism of the said Johannes Van Voast and it appeared by such record that said Johannes Van Voast was Baptised in the year 1741. And this deponent was informed by the said Reverend Jacob Van Vechten that the said Johannes Van Voast is the Father of said Gershom Van Voast and that the said Joachim Van Voast is the same name as Gershom Van Voast that Joachim is the same as Gershom And this deponent also believes that it is so & that Joachim means Gershom And this deponent further says that the annexed is a genuine certificate signed in the presence of this deponent by the said Jacob Van Vechten and further this deponent says not
Stephen A. Daggett
Sworn before me This 1 st day of July 1843.
J. L. Benedict Dep. Clk Sch. Co.

State of New York County of Schenectady
On this 26 th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three personally appeared in open Court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Schenectady now sitting Gershon Van Vost a resident of the City of Schenectady in the State and County aforesaid aged seventy eight years nearly - 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 th 1832. -
He was born at the City of Schenectady, in said County and State on the ninth day of August A.D. 1765. - A.D. 1765.
He has always resided in the City of Schenectady. He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated in the summer of the year 1779 he entered the Company of Captain Gray in the Regiment of Col. Wemple that this deponent was not enlisted but he joined the Company of said Captain Gray as aforesaid and continued for more than three years in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution that the services rendered by this deponent were the taking care of horses at the Congress Stable on the land of the Father of this deponent at Schenectady and this deponent was also once dispatched to carry the mail on express from Schenectady to Schoharie and was once employed to drive cattle from Schenectady to Fort Plain and Fort Hoekimer both of which employments were very hazardous and were performed by this deponent as he recollects in the summer of the year 1780 with great

danger that deponent was alone when he went to Schoharie to carry the Mail and the only person with him when he went to drive the cattle to Fort Plain and Fort Herkimer was James I. Van Voast the Brother of this deponent who is a Revolutionary Pensioner. And this deponent further says that he performed the same kind of duties as a general thing that his Brother James I. Van Voast performed that James I. Van Voast was enlisted and deponent served without enlistment and never received any pay for the services unless it were in rations for his board.
And this deponent further says that the services above mentioned were not performed under any civil contract or engagement whatever.

THE FOLLOWING are the names of some of the regular officers whom he knew, or who were with the troops where he served, and such continental and militia regiments or companies with which he served, or as he can recollect, viz :
General George Washington Henry Glen Quartermaster General Gellis Fonda Col Christopher Col Van Dyck Col Wemple Capt John Nynders Capt Gray Col Schuyler Maj. General
He never received any written discharge from the service.
He has no _____ documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services except James J. Van Voast Jerome Bashyott John Schermerhorn deponents father is old to testify
The following are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution, to wit James J. Van Voast Jerome Bashyott
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.
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first aforesaid
J. L. Bencdick Dep Clerk.
J. Van Voast

WE James D. Van Voast Jerome Banhyth & John J. Schermerhorn residing in the City of Schenectady in the county of Schenectady - aforesaid, and State of New York residing in the
do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Gershon Van Voast who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven 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.
Subscribed and sworn the { Jerome Banhyth day and year aforesaid } John J. Schermerhorn  J. L. Benedict Dep Clerk. James D. Van Voast
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 Jerome Banhyth John J. Schermerhorn and James D. Van Voast
credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Archibald Campbell Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Schenectady do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gershon Van Voast for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 26 th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty  forty three  Arch. Campbell Clerk.

In the matter of the application of Gershom Van Voast for a pension }
County of Schenectady I James Van Voast of the City of Schenectady being duly sworn doth depose and say that he this depo- nent is now eighty years old and upward and has always resided in the City of Schenectady And is a Revolutionary pensioner and has been such pensioner for about fifteen years last past and that he is a son of John Van Voast who is a Revolutionary pensioner and a Brother to Gershom Van Voast the present applicant for a pension and this deponent further says that the said Gershom Van Voast to the knowledge of this deponent was engaged in the service of the United States from the year A D. 1779 until the close of the War of the Revolution that he entered the service at the early age of fourteen years that he the said Gershom Van Voast is now seventy eight years of age that said Gershom Van Voast belonged to the same company to which deponent belonged And although deponent does not know that said Gershom Van Voast was enlisted yet said Gershom Van Voast joined the Company of Captain Gray at Schenectady in the Regiment of Col. Abraham Wemple in the year 1779. And that said Gershom Van Voast was employed most of the time in the taking care of the horses belonging to the Continent- al Army at the Congress Stable in the City of Schenectady on the lot of the above named John Van Voast And this deponent further says that said Gershom Van Voast remained there employed as above mentioned for more than two years that in the time of his service above mentioned the said Gershom was once dispatched to carry the mail express from Schenectady to Schoharie And once was

ordered to go with this deponent to drive a number of cattle for provision for the army from Schenectady to Fort Plain and Fort Herkimer. And this deponent well knows that said Gershon Van Voast discharged the last mentioned services well and faithfully, and this deponent further says that said Gershon Van Voast was attached to the army in the same capacity that deponent was and was as much under the command of Captain Gray and Henry Glen Commissioned General as was this deponent and that said Gershon Van Voast for two years and more from the year 1779. until the year 1783. continued to perform such duties as were imposed upon him by the Officers of the Army and did not devote any time to any thing else than the military operations against the enemy of the Country and that said Gershon Van Voast was then and always has been a true and genuine Whig and friend to the cause of Independence and American freedom — And further this deponent says not —
Subscribed and sworn to in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Schenectady County this 26 th June 1843
James I his + Van Voast mark
J. L. Benedict Dep. Clk

State of New York County of Schenectady ss.
Jerome Barhydt of the city of Schenectady being duly sworn doth depose and say that he deponent is now seventy nine years of age nearly that he has always resided in the city of Schenectady and is now a Revolutionary pensioner that he has always been acquainted with Gershom Van Voast the applicant for a pension And this deponent further says that he well knows that said Gershom Van Voast was engaged in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution for more than two years from the year 1779. that as deponent believes from the best of his recollection said Gershom Van Voast entered the service of the United States in 1779 in the summer of the year under Captain Gray that most of the services consisted in taking care of the horses belonging to the Army but deponent well knows said Gershom was also compelled to do duty in carrying the mail express from Schenectady to Schoharie and also to drive cattle for the Army from Schenectady to Fort Plain and Fort Rensselaer in the year 1780 as deponent believes. And deponent well knows that said Gershom Van Voast performed in the Army in the service of the United States for more than two years the same duties which his Brother James J. Van Voast performed And that he was a good Whig and a genuine friend to the American cause
Subscribed and sworn to in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Schenectady Co. this 26 th day of June 1843
J. C. Benedict Dep. Clerk

State of New York County of Schenectady } 1
John J. Schermerhorn of the City of Schenectady being duly sworn doth depose and say that he has always known Gershom Van Voast the present applicant for a pension. And that deponent is now nearly eighty years of age and is a Revolutionary pensioner. And he believes from the best of his recollection that said Gershom Van Voast served in the War of the Revolution in the Army of the United States for two years or more in the manner and at the time as stated in the affidavit of James D. Van Voast hereto annexed. That said Gershom was a good Whig and has ever been a genuine friend of his Country. And further this deponent says not sworn to in open Court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Schenectady County.
John J. Schermerhorn.
This 26 th day of June 1843.
J. L. Benedict Deputy Clerk

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
10,901  am
P. O.
Gershon Van Voast
Service: Gershon Van Voast
A.O.T.
Enlisted: Aug. 28, 1906 , 18
Discharged: REJECTED , 18
Application filed: _____ , 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____ , 18

35,552 Gershon Van Vorst NY
S. A. Daggett Aug 29/1843 Hon Jacob Brown July 9/1856.
10901
June 7/1832

35,552
Gersham Van Vorst N.Y.
Granted with Pensions. Col. 27/5
Set to S. A. Daggitt Aug 29. 43
Disallowed
Service not military
Oct 29. 1851.
H. H. D.
Act 7 June 1832 Ex.

Emerson Office July 9. 1856.
Sir:
Herewith Enclose the papers in the case of Gershom Van Vorst , of N. York, and have the honor to send a copy of a letter of the 29 th August 1843. to Wm. Stephen A. Daggett, which will explain why the case was refused by this Office.
I am Very Respectfully Yours Obedient
D. G. D. Smith Commissioner
Hon. Jacob Brown Ch m Com. Rev. Pens.
A. Rep.

J. G. Van Voorst 28 th March 1855 on 31 st V. First Creek

Schenectady March 28 th 55
De Sir
I Re d yours of Jan'y Last in Reply to my last to you in Regard to my Forthue Pension. It did not seem it necessary to Reply. as your Reasons for Delay where Reasonable. But now Sir since this new Law for Bounty Lands has passed. I think you have all the Documents necessary to Obtain a Land warrant for 160 acres of land if not I do not know where to procure it as the necessary witnesses are all Dead
pleas to answer This & Oblide
Yours & c
Jno. S. Van Voast

Copy Gen Off Aug 29 '43
Sir
The claim of Gershon Van Vorst has been examined and disallowed. His employment in the Dr Masters Dept to Genl at the Stables when he was but 14 years old could not have been under an enlistment as a soldier which is indispensably necessary to entitle him to a pension. Col Temple was a Military Officer whose service in '79, '80 & '81 during which claimant alleges that he served continuously under him at Schenectady, consists of short & occasional tours of which there is full evidence in the Genl's Office at Albany — Unless there records verify the service of claimant, it is unavailing to press his claim.
Signed J L Edmonds Comm r
Stephen A Dagg Writ
Schenectady NY

Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City. D. C.

Schenectady August 24. 1843.
Hon. Sir.
Some time in the month of June 1843. I transmitted by Mail to your Department the application of Asahel Van Voast for a pension. He is very anxious to receive intelligence concerning the application. Will you please inform me of the result of your decision upon his claim. And whether there is any objections to the merit of his claim. I have been impressed with the fullest belief of the right of his claim from the information lately obtained here from the few remaining Revolutionary Patriots and I shall be happy and ever grateful to learn that the claim meets with the approval of your Honor.
Hon J. S. Edwards
I am Sir with due respect your Oblt Servt Stephen A. Daggett

In Committee on Revolutionary Pensions 8 July 1856
Hon. J. Minto Commission of Pensions
Sir,
Please find the papers in the case of Gershom Van Vorst a suspended Claim in your office from the State of New York under the act of 7 June 1832 to the Committee of Revolutionary Pensions -
Very Respectfully
Your Obedt. Servt.
Jacob Broom
Ch m Com. Rev. Pen.

Application of Gushorn Van Vorst for Pension (act, '32) "Suspended case," N.Y.
Mr Cole
Aug 30 1837

Washington City D.C. 28 th Jan y 1851.
James W. Heath Esq. Comm ee on Pensions Sir
I am authoris'd by Mr Van Vorst of New York son of Gresham Van Vorst to ask that the application for pension under act of June 1832, be reexamined for the purpose of allow- ing him a pension. The evidence on file is deemed sufficient to support his claim for pension both as "private" & "Exp'd Rider", for at least three years .
The persons who testified to his service are those of his fellow soldiers, and pensioners for this service also men of the most respectable standing in the City of Schenectady.
I am very respectfully Yours Obediently S. A. Pease

Washington City D.C. 13 March 1864
Hon J. H. Basset Comm. of Pensions Sir
I am the duly authorized attorney in the case of Gershon Van Voast of New York an applicant for Revolutionary Pension under act 1852.
The case has been favorably acted on by the Comm. on Pensions of the House Dept. and is precisely like the cases referred to in the Report of the Comm. on the subject.
I respectfully request that the case be acted upon by the Pension Office with a view to its allowance.
I am my Resp't Servt Yours A. V. Peugh
PS I herewith enclose Copy of Report & Bill

Sir.
Washington October 9 th 1857.
I will thank you, at your earliest convenience, to call up the case of Gershom Van Vorst, an applicant for a pension under the Act of the 7 th June 1832, whose papers are on file among the suspended cases of New York.
He served more than two years, in the Continental Stables, which service is provided for, as you see by reference to the journals of the Continental Congress.
The service is sustained by the evidence of James Van Vorst and Jerome Barbeyt, both Revolutionary Pensioners.
You will please communicate the result of your examination to S. A. Pugh, Esq. of this City who has the control of the case.
Very Respectfully H. I. Evans Atty for Pugh
J. E. Heath Esq Chair of Pension

GERSHOM VAN VOAST.
[To accompany bill H. R. 595.]
DECEMBER 12, 1856.
Mr. BROOM, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT.
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Gershom Van Voast, submit the following report:
The claimant, in his statement under oath, makes the following declaration: "That he entered the service of the United States in the summer of the year 1779, in the company of Captain Gray, regiment of Colonel Wemple; that he was not enlisted, but continued as aforesaid for more than three years in the service of the war of the Revolution; that he had the care of the horses at the Congress stable, situated on the land of his father, in Schenectady; was once despatched to carry the mail or express to Schoharie, also to drive cattle to Fort Plain and Fort Herkimer; and that his brother, James J. Van Voast, for having performed the same kind of duties, is now pensioned, and that said service was not performed under any civil contract, &c., &c."
James J. Van Voast, a revolutionary pensioner , states, under oath, that he is brother to the present applicant, and that to his knowledge his brother Gershom entered the service at the age of 14 years, and that he belonged to the same company to which his said brother did; that said Gershom joined the company at Schenectady, under Captain Gray and Colonel Wemple in the year 1779, and was employed most of the time in taking care of the horses at the continental stable, in the city of Schenectady, and that he remained there employed, as above mentioned, more than two years; that he (said Gershom) was once despatched to carry the mail or express to Schoharie, and was once ordered to go with this deponent to drive cattle for the army to Forts Plain and Herkimer, and was attached to the army in the same capacity as he was, and was as much under the command of Captain Gray and Henry Glen, commanding general, as he was, from the years 1779 to 1783, and continued to perform all such duties as were imposed on him by the officers of the army, and did not devote any time to anything else than the military operations against the enemy of the country," &c., &c.
Jerome Barkydt, also a revolutionary pensioner , says, under oath,

that he well knew the said Gershom Van Voast was engaged in the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution for more than two years from 1779; that most of his services consisted in taking care of the horses belonging to the army; that he was compelled to do duty as express, and to drive cattle for the army to Forts Plain and Herkimer in 1780, and performed the same kind of duty that his brother, James J. Van Voast, did during the war, &c., &c.
John J. Schermerhorn, a revolutionary pensioner , states, under oath , that he has always known Gershom Van Voast, and he believes, from the best of his recollection, that Gershom V. Voast served more than two years in the army of the United States, and at the time stated in the affidavit of James J. V. Voast, hereunto annexed, &c., &c.
In presenting the case to the Pension Office, the objection to the allowance of the claim appears that, being "but 14 years of age, he could not have been under enlistment as a soldier, which is indispensably necessary to entitle him to a pension." This objection, upon an examination of the act of June 7, 1832, under which claimant is entitled, does not justify the conclusion of the Pension Office. The first section of the said act is in the following words: "That each of the surviving officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, soldiers, and Indian spies, who shall have served in the continental line, State troops, volunteers , or militia, at one or more terms, a period of two years during the war of the Revolution, &c., &c., shall be entitled to receive," &c.
It is obvious from the act itself that service only was contemplated as the prerequisite to entitle a soldier to the pension, and not whether he was regularly enlisted, or whether it was performed without enlistment; or why would the word " volunteers " have been introduced? The act is, in its language, intended to embrace every species of service performed during the memorable struggle for independence; the term of service, provided it was of six months' duration, being the only thing necessary to insure to the aged soldier his country's bounty.
The committee deem the evidence fully satisfactory to establish two years' service, and the rules of the office themselves fully complied with; they therefore report a bill for his relief.

Schenectady NY 1843
Inclosed I transmit to your department the claim of Gershon Van Vorst, for a pension from the fact of his being able to prove the full amount of services performed to entitle him to a pension. I hope the present papers will be deemed sufficient although I am aware the inclosed have been drawn up very hastily and as to his age he was under a slight mistake but as that makes him younger than the record it shows he meant to tell the truth about his age and I hope that this will not prejudice his claim, I have no doubt that the present is a claim of undoubted merit knowing all the witnesses and party as I do and knowing that said Gershon has a hundred times to my knowledge declared he ought to have a pension is a fact that does away of the delay in making application to the War Department and another reason for not asserting the claim sooner is that he has been rich but owing to adverse circumstances he now wants his pension and I believe he comes within the law and whether enlisted or not he served and served faithfully for more than two years and ought to be rewarded for his services, and I sincerely wish that his claim may be duly honored since it is the reward of merit and no man ever served as I have every reason to believe more faithfully than the applicant in this case. He doubtless

entered the Army as a volunteer, That he belonged to the Regular Army and was so considered for more than two years is proved and can be proved by every old Revolutionary Patriot now living in this City. However I have the belief so strong in my own mind that he is most justly entitled to a pension that I can not entertain the slightest doubts that the present case will be considered by Your Honor as one entitled to due consideration and just reward.
I am Sir with the greatest degree of Respect
Your Ob d Serv t Stephen A. Daggett

H. R. 595.
A BILL
For the relief of Gershom Van Voast.
DECEMBER 12, 1856.—Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

36 10 34TH CONGRESS, 1 st Session.
H. R. 595.
[Report No. 13.]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
December 12, 1856.
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.
Mr. Broom, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, reported the following bill:
A BILL
For the relief of Gershom Van Voast.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3       That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, au- 4       thorized and required to place the name of Gershom Van Voast 5       on the pension roll of the State of New York, at the rate of 6       pension due for a private of cavalry, under act of June seven, 7       eighteen hundred and thirty-two, and to continue during his 8       natural life; and said pension to be paid, in case of his decease, 9       to his children.

[Report No. 13.]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DECEMBER 12, 1856.
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.
MR. BROOM, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, re- ported the following bill:
A BILL
For the relief of Gershom Van Voast.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3       That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, au- 4       thorized and required to place the name of Gershom Van Voast 5       on the pension roll of the State of New York, at the rate of 6       pension due for a private of cavalry, under act of June seven, 7       eighteen hundred and thirty-two, and to continue during his 8       natural life; and said pension to be paid, in case of his decease, 9       to his children.