Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,502, John Yerks, New York

SERVICE
New York.
Yerks, John.
NUMBER
S.23502
CONTENTS

483 New York
John York
of Mr. Plessner in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Lutter of the Regt commanded by Col. Scratch in the Cont. line for 21 months — — — — —
★ N.Y.
Records corrected May 21/65
Inscribed on the Roll of New York — — — at the rate of 70 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of Jan. 1833 — — — and due to the Widow by right
Arrears to 14th of Sep. 1832 $ 106. Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Mo 33 35.
$140
{ Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Geo. H. H. Clerk Book D Vol. 5 Page 157
Rep. Cert. issued Aug 20. 1833 and sent to John N. Taylor N.Y.
39
date of death not in ad. B

John Yerks,
Declaration v s to obtain a pension under the act of June 7 th 1832.

State of New York
of Westchester ss Be it known that on this ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before me Edward Kearns one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of the degree of counsellor in the Supreme Court of the said State John Yerks a resident of the town of Mount Pleasant in the said County aged seventy four years who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath depose and say that he is the identical John Yerks in the annexed declaration for a pension named and who made the same in manner form and effect as is therein mentioned and set forth; And that the same is in all respects just true. And further deponent saith not
Sworn to and subscribed this 9th day of January 1833 before me
Edward Kearns one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas - for Westchester County -
his John X Yerks Mark
And I the said Edward Kearns do hereby testify that declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after put- ting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department: that the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary soldier

And served as his Males. And I further cer- tify that it satisfactorily appears to me that Henry Augerine and Jonathan Hatfield who have signed the certificate in the annexed declaration are residents of the town of Mount Pleasant in said County and were at the time they signed the same: and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
Given this 9 th day of January 1833 Edward Kemery one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for West Chester County
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of Westchester State of New York do hereby cer- tify that Edward Kemery before whom the fore- going declaration of John Yerke was made & sworn to and who has subscribed the same was at the time of making & signing the oath as aforesaid one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Westchester and that I am well acquainted with the hand- writing of the said Judge & believe the signature subscribed as his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office & subscribed my name this 10 th day of January 1833
N Bayles Clk &c

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 State of New York County of Westchester
On this third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Surrogate of the Surrogate Court of the said County and State now sitting John Yerks a resident of the Town of Mount Pleasant in the said County, aged seventy four 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: that is to say: he entered the said service as a volunteer in the militia of the State of New York York on or about the first of March in the year 1776 for the term of nine months in the company of commanded by Cap- tain William Butcher and was attached to the Regiment commanded by Colonel Shaefer. That at the time he enlisted as aforesaid he resided in the said County of West Ches ter; that he enlisted at Ferrytown in said County, and thereupon immediately marched with said company to fort of Independence in the southern part of said County and was employed in constructing said fort which was not at that time com- pleted. That there was a considerable body of Troops at the fort when he arrived there but he cannot now state what Regiment or Regiments were there: that he was stationed

at said fort until about the first of September following, when the Regiment to which he belonged, and he along with it marched to Tarrytown  Dobbs Ferry on the banks of said the Hudson River in said County about twenty miles north of fort independence: that he was stationed at said Tarrytown  Dobbs Ferry from that time until the Battle at White Plains in said County when he marched with his regiment to Peachtree  Peachtree about four  twenty miles north of said Dobbs Ferry and was stationed there until the expiration of said term of nine months and was honorably discharged at said Tarrytown  Peachtree some time in the month of December 1776: but does not now recollect whether he received a written discharge or not.
That he again entered the service of the United States in the militia of the State of New York as a volunteer some time in the month of March in the year 1777 at Philipsburgh now town of Mount Pleasant, for the term of three months in the company commanded by Captain Sybert Acker  who who was then a militia captain and raised a company of volunteers for the purpose of serving on the lines in said County: that he faithfully served out said term of three months in active service and was quartered at Tarrytown  Peter Tappan's  at Sing Sing and at Dobbs Ferry  at Tappan's in said County: that he was discharged at Sing Sing at the expiration of said term of three months which was some time in the month of June 1777. The Captain mustered the company at the town of  discharged them and  did not receive a written discharge
9 m
3 m

9 m That some time in the Month of February 1778 he again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer for the term of nine months in a company of Rangers commanded by Captain Gilbert Dean: that said Company was raised for the purpose of guarding the lines in said County, that it was stationed during said term, at Youngs house and at Dutches house and at Ackers house all in said County, and on, or near the American lines in said County: that some time in the month of July in said term he was in an expedition sent into the southern part of said County, against the British and had a skirmish with them at Peekyho in said County, in which skirmish he was wounded in the thigh: that at the expiration of said term he was honorably discharged from said service at Ferry town in said County -
That the Regiment of Militia of the County of Westchester and State of New York under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James Hammond was called into the service of the United States for the term of one year commencing some time in the month of May 1779 and ending some time in the month of May 1780: that said Regiment served the said term of one year in the County of Westchester guarding the lines: that he belonged to the during the said year to the company of Militia in the said County, commanded by Captain Joseph Baker and Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Hammond

that he faithfully served the said year commencing some time in the month of May 1779 and ending some time in the month of May 1780; in the said company of Militia commanded by said captain Jesse Bakes  in the in the regiment commanded by said Lieutenant Colonel James Harmon and was at the expiration thereof honorably discharged at Philipsburgh now town of Mount Pleasant in the said County of Westchester: that he was stationed a part of said year at Bedford in the said County and part of it at Philipsburgh in said County: that the said Regiment was called into the service for the said year, for the purpose of guarding the lines and protecting the inhabitants as the British troops were almost constantly making inroads into the said County, from the City of New York and from their lines in the southern part of said County. And the declarant further states that he assisted in the detention of Major Andre the British spy, immediately after his capture as is set forth in the Annexed petition to Congress.
That he was born in the year 1758 in the County of Westchester and has always lived in said County: that his age is recorded in the Church book of the Dutch Reformed Church in Fairylawn in said County: that he entered the service as hereinbefore set forth that he always served as a private and does not recollect that he

Ever received a written discharge from the service: that he does not now recollect the names of any of the Continental officers with whom he served: that he knew several in the time of the revolution; but their names he does not now recollect: that there were but few Continental troops in the service at the places he served as the troops on the lines in said county of Westchester at such times were principally militia.
That he has no documentary evidence, and knows of no persons whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service, other than those whose affidavits are hereto annexed
That the names of the persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity are Henry Angerine and Jonathan Hatfield
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
Sworn to and subscribed this 3 rd day of September 1832 before me Jonathan Ward Surrogate.
John his G. Yeks mark
We Henry Angerine & Jonathan Hatfield residing in the town of Mount Pleasant in the county of West- chester aforesaid hereby certify that we

are well acquainted with John Yerks who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four 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 to & subscribed this third day of September 1832 before me Jonathan Ward Surrogate.
Jonathan Hatfield his Henry L. Angerine mark
And the said court does hereby declare his 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 him that Henry Angerine and Jonathan Hatfield who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the town of Mount Pleasant in the said County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Jonathan Ward Surrogate of the Surrogate court of the County of Westchester aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the said John Yerks

John Yerks,
Declaration v s to obtain a pension under the act of June 7 th 1832.

for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Jonathan Ward Surrogate
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the said County of Westchester Do hereby certify that Jonathan Ward whose name is subscribed to the preceding declaration and certificate is and was at the date thereof Surrogate of the Surrogate Court of the County of Westchester aforesaid; and that the said Court is a court of record having a seal but no Clerk. And I do hereby further certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Surrogate and that the preceding sig- natures "Jonathan Ward" are his genuine signatures
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
N. Bayles Clerk

State of New York County of Westchester ss p Samuel Youngs of said County being duly sworn on his oath saith that he is well acquainted with John Yerks in the declaration for a pension to which this affida- vit is annexed, namely and that he was well acquainted with him during the Revolutionary war that he frequently saw him in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war in the the year 1776 in the County of West Chester in the company commanded by Captain William Dutcher and that said company was in the service nine months during the the year 1776. and he then understood that said Yerks faithfully served said term of nine months in said Company and was honorably discharged at the expiration thereof: that said company was an uniform company of militia and served at Fort Inde- pendence in said County some time in 1776 and from that place they marched to Ferry Dobb's Ferry and were stationed there some time, when they marched to Peekskill in said County and were discharged at that place And the deponent further saith that he frequently saw said Yerks in the said service in the militia of the State of New York in the spring of the year 1777 in the said County in the Company under the command of Captain Sylvester Acker and has no doubt but that he served three months in said company in the spring of the year 1777: that said company was

stationed a part of said three months at the house of the father of this Deponent, and said Yerks was then in the service in said company and he then understood for the term of three months, and afterwards understood that said Yerks faithfully served out said term. And the Deponent further saith that he frequently saw said Yerks in the service of the United States in the militia of the State of New York in the company of Rangers commanded by Captain Gilbert Dean; that said company served on the American lines in the said County and was quartered a part of said spring and summer at the house of the father of this Deponent. that he then understood that said Yerks volunteered in said company for the term of nine months and he believes that said Yerks faithfully served out said term of nine months and was honorably discharged in said County.
And the Deponent further saith that he resided in the said County of Westchester during the Revolutionary war, and served one year on the lines in said County in the company of Militia commanded by Captain Jesse Baker in the Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Hammond and was well acquainted with the said Yerks at that time which was in the year 1779 & 1780, and that said Yerks was a private at that time in the said company and served in the same the

whole of said year in the said County: that said Regiment drew pay and rations for said one year's service and was employed to guard the lines in said County, the greater part of the regular troops being at that time absent from said County. And further Deponent saith not
Sworn to and subscribed this 3 rd day of September 1832 before me Jonathan Ward Surrogate.
Sam Young
I Jonathan Ward the above named Surrogate do hereby certify that I am personally and well acquainted with Samuel Young who has subscribed and sworn to the above affidavit affidavit and that he is a credible person and that his statement is in my opinion entitled to full credit and belief.
Jonathan Ward

State of New York County of Westchester ss Peter Paulding of said County being duly sworn on his oath saith that he is well acquainted with John Gerks in the pension declaration to which this affidavit is annexed named and was well acquainted with him during the revolutionary, war and frequently saw him in the service of the United States in the militia of the State of New York in the county of Westchester aforesaid in the Captain William Dutcher's company of volunteers and in Captain Sylvan Ashers company of volunteers. And also in Captain Gilbert Dean's company of rangers but he does not know the precise time he served in each of those companies. And the deponent further saith that said Gerks served one year in Captain Jesse Baker's company of Militia in the Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Hammond in the year 1779 and 1780 on the lines in said County, and that the deponent was then the ensign in said com- pany. And further deponent saith not
Sworn to and subscribed this 3 rd day of September 1832 before me Jonathan Ward Surrogate.
Peter Paulding
Jany 26. 1833 I hereby certify that the above Peter Paulding is a credible witness A. Ward M c

7498.
John Yerks,
Declaration V o
to obtain a pension under the act of June 7 th 1832.
43
admitted
21 mo. private
708
12 mo dis allowed as patrol duty not provided for,

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled
The Petition of John Yerkes of the town of Mount Pleasant in the County of Westchester and State of New York
Respectfully Represents
That your Petitioner is now seventy three years of age, That during the Revolutionary war he belonged to the militia of the county of Westchester and State of New York and was frequently employed as a Soldier during said war, in defence of his country and his country's liberties That in consequence of said County of Westchester having been partly occupied by the British troops during the war of the rebel Revolution, and its having been frequently the scene of pillage and bloodshed: your Petitioner was obliged to hold himself at all times in readiness, to repel hostile parties of the enemy and that he was almost constantly exposed to alarms and perils
Your Petitioner further represents that in the fall of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty your Petitioner and Isaac Van Wart John Paulding William Williams James Romer, Isaac See, and David Williams, were out together for the purpose of watching the enemy who were frequently out in small parties, plundering the inhabitants and driving away their cattle; your Petitioner further represents that at the time time your Petitioner and the above named persons were out together as aforesaid, they were near the Village of Tarry Town in the said County of Westchester and it was then agreed that they should divide into two parties, which was accordingly done: the the said Isaac Van Wart, John

Paulding and David Williams took their station on the main road near said Village of Tarrytown, and your Petitioner and the remaining three persons above named placed themselves in ambush some distance to the east of said highway. Your Petitioner and the persons with him, had not lain long in ambush when the said Van Wart, Paulding, and Williams who, had remained upon the highway, joined your petitioner and his company, and brought Major Andre a prisoner with them. When they came up Paulding, said, we have taken a prisoner and have searched him and found papers in his boots, and we do not know what to do with him, Whereupon your Petitioner observed, "let us take him a prisoner to Genl Washington, Major Andre then said he would give us any sum of money if we would release him, but his offers were rejected by us, and we proceeded with him to the quarters of Col Garrison an officer of the American Army
Your Petitioner further represents that he is poor and in indigent circumstances and needs the assistance of his country for his support
Therefore your Petitioner prays that in consideration of his said services his name may be inscribed on the pension roll of the United States and your Petitioner as in duty bound &c
his John X Yerks mark

Westchester County ss John Yerks in the preceding petition named being duly sworn on his oath, saith that the facts set forth in the preceding Petition are true and further saith not Sworn this 14 day of January 1832 before me John Yerks his mark John Pauding Jr Justice of the Peace
Westchester County ss Charles Yoe of the Town of Mount Pleasant in the said County of Westchester being duly sworn on his oath saith that he is personally acquainted with John Yerks in the annexed Petition named and has been so acquainted with him for many years and that he sustains a good character for truth and veracity. And the Deponent further saith that he believes the said Yerks to be a person man of truth and veracity, and further saith that in his opinion the statement made by him in his said Petition is entitled to belief and further Deponent saith not Sworn this 16 day of Charles Yoe January 1832 before me A. Graham Commissioner of Deeds
Westchester County ss A. Graham of the said County of Westchester being duly sworn on his oath saith that he is personally acquainted with John Yerks in the annexed Petition named and has been so acquainted with him for several years past, and that he doth believe him to be a man of truth and veracity and further saith that in his opinion the statement made by him in the annexed Petition is entitled to belief

and further saith not Sworn this 16 th day of January 1832 before me A. Graham Charles Yoe Justice of the Peace
I John Paulding the above named Justice of Peace do certify that I am personally acquainted with John Yerks in the preceding Petition named, and have been so acquainted with him for many years and that he sustains a good character for truth and veracity and that he is in my opinion a man of truth and veracity. And I do further certify that in in my opinion the Statement made by him the said Yerks in his said Petition is entitled to belief Dated January 14 th 1832. John Paulding
John Yerks The Petition of John Yerks Jan 23 1832 Ref d to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions Mar. 12 1832 Com d "died"
Own oath only
Church for Truth James
Mr Ward

February 13, 1932
BA--J/AWF
Helen L. Strang Wantagh Long Island, New York.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to John Yerks, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 23503, based upon the Revolutionary War service of John Yerks.
He was born in 1758 in Westchester County, New York. His age was recorded on the books of the Dutch Reformed Church in Tarrytown, Westchester County, New York.
While residing in said Westchester County, New York, he enlisted and served as a private with the New York troops, as follows- from March 1, 1776, nine months in Captain William Dutcher's company in Colonel Drake's regiment, and helped to build Fort Independence; from sometime in March 1777, three months in Captain Sybert Acker's company; from sometime in February 1778, nine months in Captain Gilbert Dean's Company of Rangers, in an expedition against the British, and in a skirmish at "Tuckyhe", where he was wounded in the thigh; from sometime in May 1779, one year in Captain Jesse Baker's company in Colonel James Hamman's regiment, guarding the lines; in the fall of 1780 he assisted in the capture of Major Andre.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 3, 1832, then a resident of Mount Pleasant, Westchester County, New York.
There is no reference to wife or children.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

Rejection
23 502 INVALID.
File No. 23,502
John Jenkins His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 496
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Exp by McDermott Langton, May 20 1914
Lang - 9-19.01 - A. P. Frost. Navy Dept.
1932 Feb 13 list to less 8.5 bang areas

Wantagh, N.Y. Jan. 20, 1932.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Revolutionary War Section.
Gentlemen:
Will you kindly send me copies of any records you have available on the services of the following men during the Revolutionary War?
Solomon Strong (or Strang) Capt. 5th Connecticut - 1st January, 1777; resigned 25th August 1778.
more Jacob Acker, Sr. , Capt. Sybert Acker's Co., Mt. Pleasant Township, Ossining or Tarrytown, Westchester Co., N.Y.
also John Yerks, Sr., Mt. Pleasant, Westchester Co., N.Y.
Any information regarding these men or their families will be very much appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Helen L Strang
Helen L. Strang, Wantagh, L.I., N.Y.

ADDRESS BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR, NAVY DEPARTMENT, AND REFER TO NO.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
January 2. 1901.
Glew
Enclosures:
Sir:
Will you kindly send me a certified copy of the petition of John Yerke , of Westchester County, New York, for a pension? I think it was rejected, and do not know the date of the petition,
Yerke was one of the party who went out to catch cowboys in 1780, but succeeded in bagging Major Andre.
The date of application may have considerably after the war; but whatever the date, it is among the Revolutionary petitions .
There was also an application to Congress for a pension, which is undoubtedly among your files.
Will you kindly have a certified copy sent me as soon as possible, as much depends upon getting them immediately.
Thanking you in advance, I have the honor to be Sir, Very respectfully,
J. F. Frost, Bureau C & R., Navy Dept.
The Hon. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

John Yerks, application for new certificate, of pension.

APPLICATION FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE.
City of New-York, ss.
On this Fifth — day of June — 1833, before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public for the State of New-York, personally appeared John Yerks — who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain William Dutcher in the Regiment commanded by Colonel William Hammond in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of New York  Subsequent to the under the that he received a certificate of that fact, under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which certificate, on or about the Third — day of April 1833, at or near the foot of Murray Street in the City of New York while he was asleep on board the Sloop Genl. Washington from Larry Town , was stolen or perhaps taken by mistake from him, together with his hat in which the said certificate then was — and that he has never been able to find either his hat or certificate since. That he deponent had been in New York City for the purpose of drawing his two years pay then due him — being one hundred and forty dollars had received his money and was returning where the loss of his certificate occurred and further that he never learned to write — Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid.
John Yerks. X mark
E. D. O'Neil Notary Public.

City and County of New York ss: On this fifth day of June 1833 personally appeared before me John Murray of Mount Pleasant in the State of New York who being by me sworn did depose and say - That he is well acquainted with John Yerkes who has sworn and subscribed to the within affidavit - That he was on board of the Sloop Gail: Washington at the time within specified that Deponent knows the truth of the facts within deposed to. That he has also seen the pension certificate within referred to - that it was for the payment of Seventy dollars per annum issued under the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he knows also that said John Yerkes received pay from the pension officer under said certificate.
Sworn and Subscribed this 5 th June 1833 before me and I certify that the said John Murray is known to me to be a credible person.
John Murray
John T. Taylor
Commissioner to take affidavits in the City of New York

Issue a new Certificate
Mr. [unclear] [unclear] [unclear] [unclear]
Mr. [unclear] [unclear] [unclear] [unclear]
Mr. [unclear] [unclear] [unclear] [unclear]

New York July 29 th 1833
Sir.
I return the application of John Fiske, amended I believe according to the within instructions
Very Respectfully
Yours Affectionately
John N Taylor
4833
L. Edwards Esq.
Col. Taylor Esq. City of New York

War Department Pension Office July 26. 1833
Sir,
Herewith you will receive John York's application for a new certifi- cate. You are requested to state on it, what you are commissioned of. Very respectfully Yr obt servt J L Edward
John N. Taylor Esq City of New York

Instructions from Rev. Mr. Allen. In the case of Peter Paulding John Paulding & John York

When a declaration has been made before a Surrogates Court, it is necessary that the applicant should make his declaration before a Judge of a Court of Record, affirming that he is the same person who had made such declaration & that the same is true in all respects - The official character & signature of the Judge to the usual certificate shall be certified by the Clerk under his seal of office.