Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,877, Peter Van Houten, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Van Houten Peter
R 10,877
CONTENTS

Peter Van Housen N. Jersey.
Return to L. Condide Morris town, N.J.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed, June 7 th 1832.
State of New Jersey, } ss. Morris Com. Pleas September term, 1833. County of Morris }
On this 27 th day of September 1833 personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County, now sitting, Peter Van Horsten a resident of Morris township, in the county of Morris, & state of New Jersey, aged eighty seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832.
That he enlisted in the army of the United States, in the year and served as follows. to wit:
He lived in Bergen County, New Jersey, at a place called Totoway, on the Paspae river, near where Paterson now stands, when the war of the Revolution began. Captain John Jordman then commanded the Militia Company in Totoway, & was called on for the defence, & protection of the frontier against the depredations of the Tories & Refugees. This deponent engaged with Capt. Jordman, & a number of other neighbours as a company of volunteers, & were enrolled as such under the said Jordman at Newark, to serve for nine months, from whence he was marched with the company to Amboy where the company was stationed to guard the country, & protect the inhabitants from marauding parties of the enemy, Tories & Refugees It was early in the war, in the spring season, & he believes in the month of March, - but the year, he cannot tell with certainty, thinks it was '76. There was present one company from Morris County, & among them, several of the name of Douglas. The name of the Colonel he thinks was Taylor, & sometimes Col. Jaques had command. He did not know the character, or the precise name of the corps, however known as they were called "Volunteers", from the fact that whether they were properly called, State troops, or State Volunteers, or Militia

he is unable to say, & probably did not then know any other name than "Volunteers" by which they were called. He remained at & near Amboy till his nine months expired, when he was verbally discharged, it being cold weather, & near Christmas when he reached home. He has been to Paterson & Bergen County in search of testimony, but found that his Capt. Snelman was dead, & all his comrades either dead or removed to distant states, & he does not know a single living witness of his nine months service, or of any other of his Revolutionary services. He remained at home during that winter, & in March of the following Spring (1777) he again entered as a Volunteer, in Capt Burdow's or Berdan's company, with John Isaac Vanderbeck, as Lieutenant, for the term of three months, & was marched immediately to Elizabeth town, where they were stationed to guard the several points of landing, & to protect the inhabitants from depredations of the enemy, who were then in possession of New York, & of Staten Island, opposite the Jersey shore, & often annoyed the inhabitants by plundering, & foraging parties. Col. Thomas, Col. Bott, & Genl. Hooeg  Heard commanded. Whilst laying along the shore, a party of the enemy drew up an 18 pound cannon, & some field pieces, on the opposite shore, & commenced firing upon the Militia assembled there, who returned their fire with two field pieces they had. After exchanging a few shot, the enemy retired to their main body, then being in  at New York, & Long Island. One of the Militia had his leg broken in the skirmish. This took place near Elizabeth town point. He remained on this station performing guard duty, till his three months engagement expired, when he was verbally discharged, & reached home some time in June, or early in July.
In the following year '78, the enemy frequently sent considerable parties for plundering, & foraging into the lower part of Bergen County along the Pajapic river, greatly annoying the inhabitants. There was a considerable force of regulars, stationed near the depots of father's in Totoway, near Paterson, & he again volunteered his services, & was ordered for duty in the company commanded by Capt Eder Marsellis, or Marsellees, as he was called, for the term of six months. This was in the summer season, just before harvest time. He was very soon marched with the rest of the Army stationed near his father's house, which army he thinks was commanded by Gen. Wayne, but he is not confident as to his name.

The whole force was marched to dislodge the enemy from a Log-Fort built by them be- yond Hackensack, & upon the bank of the Schenck river North river. A severe engagement was had with the enemy, & the American force was driven back, the enemy having received a reinforcement from New York. A Captain from Newark who had command of a company on this expedition was severely wounded, & died soon after. His name is not recollected. The remainder of the six months was spent principally upon guard duty, upon the Hudson river, at dif- ferent points, in the neighborhood of Hackensack, & of Totoway, till the time of his engagement expired, when he was verbally discharged, & went home some time in January. The Militia of Essex & Morris Counties were out under Gen. Lord during this summer. During the remainder of the war, the enemy often overrun the country where his father lived, the neighboring villages and towns of Aquackanonk, Wardour, Hackensack, Newark, Elizabet. town, Springfield, Amboy & New Brunswick, & held possession of some of the towns for several months. The Mili- tia were often called out upon alarms to repel them & this Deponent served many months in each year till the war closed, but cannot enumerate all of them. In '79, he performed 4 months duty, viz. One month in April, under Capt. Seelman stationed near Hackensack. One month near Hoboken, & Bergen heights under the same Captain, in the season of planting corn. One month, about harvest at Aquackanonk landing, under Capt. Marcellus. & one month in the fall season, under Lieut. Vanderbeck, between Hackensack & Newark. - Col. Heard. Gen. Lord. Col. Hays had command. - In '80, he was out upon monthly tours & alarms almost the whole season between April & December: he cannot specify half of his duty this year. Early in the spring, when the frost was first out of the ground, he was ordered out on a monthly tour of duty, performing guard duty & was stationed at Aquackanonk, under Capt. Marcellus as he thinks. In the season of sowing flax, he was again ordered out with his company officers, Capt. Seelman, and was stationed along the Passaic river between Belleville and Newark on guard duty, protecting the inhabitants from plunder. He performed one month's duty at Aquackanonk under Capt. John Mead, early in the fall. & another month when the ground was frozen, in November, at Newark Hackensack, under Capt. Marcellus. Besides these monthly tours in '80, he was called out on alarm when Connecticut farms were burnt, & again when Springfield was burnt. This was in the summer, & on each

of these occasions he was out at least three weeks. under Capt Massellus. making together six weeks, one month & a half.
In '81. he was ordered out on monthly tours, twice - once, about the time of planting potatoes. stationed near Hackensack on guard duty under Capt Massellus. & again, after harvest near Sewah under the same officers. Col Hays & Gen. Wines commanded. He conscientiously believes that his services as a volunteer. upon monthly tours & alarms for short periods as before specified, will amount to the full period of twenty nine months service. for which he claims a as a private pension, having never received a commission, nor a discharge. His memory is frail as to dates, & he may have mistaken years & months. when particular events are spoken of & he hopes that a reasonable allowance may be made for the frailty of a man's memory who is 84 years old, when speaking of occurrences of half a century past. He was born in the county of Bergen, in the State of New Jersey, where he lived between 50 & 60 years. & was a member of the Dutch church in Haveroy, near where Paterson now is, more than 20 years. & in good standing in said church. He once possessed a valuable farm in Bergen Co. but misfortune overtook him in his old age. Whistler's confidence in a son stripped him of all his property. He removed from Bergen to Sussex, some 20 years ago, or more past. & from thence to Morris Co. where he & his aged wife, both of them four score years & upwards, are among the tenants of the Poor House, sharing the fate of common paupers. He has for 2 years, spent much time in fruitless enquiry for witnesses of his Revolutionary services, in Bergen Co. & elsewhere, but has not found a single surviving comrade. He looks to his government to decide his case, as he has been able to present his simple story, & grant him such relief as his faithful services may deserve. The Ruyymen of the Dutch Church in Haveroy, where he lived, & who knew him well, has been dead many years, & the Present Pastor of said Church has no knowledge of him, or of his Revolutionary services, & he has few acquaintances in Morris Co. He had a record of his age in a family bible, but it is not now in his possession. - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of New Jersey.
Sworn to, & subscribed this day & year of aforesaid, in open court. - He further declares, - that during the whole of his tours of duty before stated, he was engaged in constant & active service, & that no part of the time stated, was spent in civil pursuits. -
Silas Linsley Judge of the Forest
Peter his Van Houten marks.

Charles Freeman & Lewis We, the undersigned  the undersigned Condick residing in the county of Morris, hereby certify, that we are acquainted with Peter Van Houten, who has sworn to & subscribed, the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be 87 years of age; that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion. Sworn & Subscribed this day & year aforesaid.
As to the foregoing one of the Judges of the Court Lewis Condick Charles Freeman
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, & served as he states. And that Lewis Condick & Charles Freeman Esq. who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of Morris town - an credible persons, & their statement is entitled to credit.
I, David Day, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify, that the foregoing, contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Peter Van Houten for a pension. -
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this twenty seventh day of September, A. D. one thousand, eight hundred & thirty three (1833). By the Court David Day Clerk
I the subscriber, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Paterson N. Jersey, hereby certify that the foregoing Declaration of Peter Van Houten, now said to be a pauper of Morris town, very old & incapable of looking for testimony himself, was sent to me, with a request that I would enquire among the aged people here in Paterson, where Van Houten formerly lived, for proof of his Military service in the revolution. I have made diligent enquiry, but cannot find a single person living who served at the period & under the officers named by him. I am abundantly satisfied, by various proofs, that the officers & families spoken of by him have lived here, & that their Military officers alluded to by him, acted as such officers, & were publicly known & recognised here as officers. No proof of his actual service can be found as I believe, but in regard to circumstances & persons spoken of by him, in connection with this place, every thing which I can collect, seems to corroborate his statement. I have ascertained that he was whilst living here, (which was for many years) that he was a member & communicant in the Dutch Church, & for aught I can learn, was in good standing & respect. The Dutch Clergyman of his day, has been dead some years.
The Rev. Saml. Fish, D. D. is well known to me as Pastor of the Presbyt. Church at Paterson, N. J. & the signature of his name to the above certificate is genuine. Morris town, N. J. Oct. 15 th , 33. - Lewis Condick
Saml. Fish

I have known Peter Van Houten the within Declarant, then 10 years, or about that time. He has been a man owning a valuable farm in Bergen Co. but a spendthrift son has ruined him, & he has been a pauper of this town for several years, where he now is. — It is within my own personal knowledge, that he went to Paterson last fall (24 miles, on foot) for the purpose of finding some proof of his military services among the old men who lived there & served with him in his younger days. He returned some time after, having sought in vain. Persons there, to whom I wrote to aid him, have since assured me, that all those whom he named as comrades, were dead — altho' known to have been residents of the place within 8 or 10 years. — I am well satisfied, that there are no survivors to be found, who served with him, & that there is no proof to be had of his services. I have the fullest confidence in his veracity, & no doubt that his services were actually & faithfully performed, as stated in his Declaration. Morris town, N. Jersey, Oct. 18 th 1833. — Lewis Benedict.

Newark N.J. Nov. 3, 1858 Mr Geo. C. Whiting
Dear sir through Mr. A. M. Reynolds of this place, I addressed you in relation to pension money, for one Peter, Vanhouter, I have him three different ways in which members of the family have spelled their names, viz Van Howton, and Vanhaughten, he seems to have written only one, and that is as it appears in your reply, Sept 12/58 his heirs now living, never heard of his applying for a pension, it will be a satisfaction to us, if you, will say in your reply, who did apply, & if consistent with your regulations, state why the claim was suspended, his heirs are, poor, & orphans, all of them - they know he was, in the revolutionary war but cannot tell, now, what state he went from, neither, from, New York, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, he lived in all three states during his early life, if you will inform me if the name appears on either the NY, or PA roll it will, be considered a favor, & should it not appear on either of the rolls, please, say, (if it can be proved that he was in actual service) whether, any thing can yet be obtained, this may be a source of trouble to you, but it will be a great relief to his descendants, if any help can be obtained, this is written at the suggestion, of Mr. Reynolds, who said that it would be replied to as, well as if he wrote himself Your reply, as far as is consistent with the regulations of your department will oblige Your Obedt Servt
Henry H. Miller
over
address: H. H. Miller 201 & 203. Broad St Newark, N.J.

If you have, printed directions how he must proceed, & what is required, in order to Establish or collect a claim, please enclose me one.
D. Hill

New Jersey —
Rural
Peter van Houten
Suspended —
See let. to
Wm L Bondiet —
October 20. 1833
(A. M. Reynolds. Oct. 12/58)
H. H. Miller, Nov. 12/58.
10877
Act June 7 th 1832

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
10.877
P. O. Peter Van Houten
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Banking & Exchange Office of Reynolds & Shreve, No. 262 Broad Street.
Newark, N. J. Oct 17 th 1858 Hon Geo C. Whiting Comm of Pensions Dear Sir
Please inform me whether there was ever a Pension granted to Peter Van Houten for services during the Revolutionary War, he belonged to the New Jersey Militia
Yours Respectfully F. Reynolds