Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,172, John Van Sante, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Van Sant, John Vanzant or
8 17 172
Carded
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

State of Indiana County of Posey 3/3
On this 13th day of September 1872 personally appeared in open court, before John R. Porter Circuit Judge and Eliphalet Allen and Robert Mitchell Associate Judges in and for the county of Posey, now sitting John Ransante a resident of Reserve township county of Posey and state of Indiana aged seventy years and four months, 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 1872.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, to wit, That some time in the summer of 1877, in the township of Hoosick, county of Rensselaer county state of New York he volunteered himself as a Militia man under — Johnston (Captain) and served a tour against Genl. Burgoin, in which he went to Fort George, thence retreated down to Fort Edwards on the Hudson River under Genl. Schuyler, thence retreated down to Fort Miller towards Albany, thence retreated to Saratoga, thence retreated to Still water or Beamish Heights where a battle was fought against Burgoin in which said Ransante was engaged, thence followed Burgoin to Saratoga where he Genl. Burgoin capitulated to Genl. Gates, thence returned home, Genl. Arnold was also at said battle — the other Officers not now recollected by said Ransante, served in said tour three or four months before he
He then  the the month of March or April in the year 1878, in said township, county, and state said Ransante was drafted to serve a nine months tour. When he was drafted Samuel Warner was his

his militia Captain, but when drafted was not placed under him, and was sent down to Albany where—Died a Justice of the Peace swore the drafted men for a nine months term; after which he and the other drafted men were put aboard of a sloop and sent to Newburgh on the North river, where they landed, there went, under some leader his name not recollected, by the way of the Mohawkian town, and Bethlehem, to the Valley Forge where they joined Washington's Army and was attached to the 2 nd New York Regiment commanded by Col. Col. Courtland, Lieut. Col. Misenvelt, and Capt. Wright, (who was his captain in said Regiment) and Genl. Clinton; there marched to Monmouth where he was engaged in a battle some time in June 1778, there marched to the town of Noroton, in New Jersey, there to Brunswick, there to Kings Ferry, there to White Plains where he remained with the Army during the residence of at which place, as he mentions were Col. Bangsick, and Hobbey the Summer; and in the fall Col. Courtland's Regiment, to which Vansant belonged, marched up to Peek's Kill or Continental Village near the Highlands in state of New York; there marched to Beacon in said state for winter quarters and to guard  gave the frontier against the Indians where said Vansant remained until the expiration of his said nine months term when he was discharged, and which discharge was signed by said Courtland and Misenvelt, which was retained some time by said Vansant but has long since been lost. Said Vansant was discharged some time in the Spring of 1779—Said Vansant knows of no person by whom he can prove his said services and that he has no documentary evidence of said services. Said Vansant made in substance the following

Statements to the questions propounded by the court to wit, That he was born at Fishkill, Dutchess county, State of New York in the year 1762; he has no record of his age; he lived when he entered the said service in said township of Hooick, Ren- saler county, State of New York; after the revolution- ary war he remained in New York, thence removed to the State of Indiana where he now resides; he was called into the service as above stated; he cannot, in regard to the officers and troops, with whom he served and the regiments, make other statements than those he has above stated, his memory having much failed him as he states; he states that John Underwood and William A. Chatfield Esqs are persons who are known to him in his present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
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, if any only on that of the agency of as he knows of John Van Sant
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
For Walter Rea clerk M. L. Pierce
Mr. Cyrus Harris, a clergyman , residing in the said county of Dutchess , and John Underwood and William A. Chatfield residing in Reserve township in said county of Dutchess and in the neighbourhood of said John Van Sant, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with said Van Sant who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be of the age of seventy years

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 — therein as  John R. thatfield
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Underwood For Wallace R. Blair M. L. Pierce
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after the 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 that Deacon Harris who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in said county of Park, and that John Underwood and William H. Chalfield Esq., who has also signed the same are residents in said county of Park and are the neighbors of said John Harrant, and that they are credible persons, and that this statement is entitled to credit.
John R. Porter Christopher Allen Robert Mitchell
I Nathan Rea clerk of the said Park Circuit Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of said John Harrant for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the office of said Circuit Court the same being a court of record this 13th day of September 1832
Wallace Rea, Clerk

N o 11.913
John Warranto. Park
N. Y. Rel
on Roll
from 1777 parcels 12 months & 8 days
$40. 50 100
Wright Courtland N. Y.
W. A. Wright Indiana Rockville, 16 th Feb. 1833.

BRIEF in the case of John Vansant  of Park County in the State of Indiana . (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70 Years.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     In 1777 . . . . 3 4 months Private Capt. Johnson.   1778 . . . . 9.5 months do Capt. Wright. Col. Courthaine.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Monmouth.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Ramapo County, New York.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No. 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. F. Pleasants Examining Clerk.

17.172 INVALID.
File No. 17172 Van Sant John Van Sant Pr. Rev. Was
Act: June 7 th 52
Index: — Vol 1 , Page 448
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1910 mch. 26. Hist. to Mary M. V. Cheney. from Catalogue. p. 1912, Sept. 26. Hist. to Kate Van Gandt. Br.

Post.
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by Geo. M. Morris
Claim No. Mar 18, 1910.
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier John Van Gant
Service N.Y.  Rev.
Additional Service. _____ _____
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 190_____
No claim, combination records _____, 190_____
REMARKS:
See W. I. W. or R. as above except S F 17172

aw
MARCH 7th 1910.
per
EAST CHICAGO, IND".
To, the Bureau of Pensions. Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:-
Please send to me a Certified copy of the services of John Van Zant, He was a private soldier , in the Revolutionary War, from the State of N.Y. he drew a pension up to the time of his death, which occured, between the years of 1835 and 1840.
I, am a Granddaughter of , said Soldier. My address is East Chicago, Ind".
Ray M. V. Cheney
MAR 9 - 1910

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Vansant — — — — — which require further proof or 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 amount of pension he is entitled? no. 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.

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. clergyman, but no citizen -
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No.
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?
Yes.
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
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 recollection he served not less than the periods 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 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 objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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.

East St. Louis, Ill., Sept. 19, 1912.
Bureau of Pensions, Department of Interior, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
I desire a statement of the military history of John Van Zandt, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who was my great grandfather. I desire this statement so that I may be entitled to join the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
My Aunt, Mary Marjory Van Zandt Cheney, has a statement from you, and I quote "Sur. File 17172, Rev. War," which may aid you in looking up this record.
Thanking you in advance for the favor,
Yours very truly,
Kate Van Zandt
Care Post Office, East St. Louis, Ill.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Van Sant a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. F. 17,172. Name also appears as John Van Zandt .
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Summer, 1777. 3 or 4 mos. Pri. Johnston - N. Y.   Inch. or Apr. 1778 9 mos. { Fernel Parmer Wright. Van Cortland  
Battles engaged in, Both battles of Saratoga; Monmouth. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Housick Twp., Rensselaer Co., N. Y. Date of application for pension, Sept. 13, 1832. Residence at date of application, Reserve Twp., Parke Co., Ind. Age at date of application, B. 1762, Fishkill, Dutchess Co., N. Y. Remarks: His claim was allowed
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.