Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11623, Richard Van Vrankan, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Van Vranken, Richard Van Vranken
S. 11623
CONTENTS
card

20.938 New York
Richard Van Frank Mort gement to the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Banker of the Regt. commanded by Col. Temple in the New York line for 9 months and 9 days -
Richard Van Frankan Record corrected May 1/56
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 31 Dollars — Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Oct. 1833 — and due to J. H. Berry Johnston
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 33 $77.50 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 m. 34 15.50 $93.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk Book E. Vol. 1. Page 84

State of New York } Montgomery County } ss:
On this 20 th day of September in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and thirty-two personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Mon- gomery and State of New York, Richard Van Vranken a resident of the Town of Broadalbin in the County & State aforesaid aged Sixty nine 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, 1832: That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & Served as herein stated: Your applicant says that in the year 1779 he volunteered in the militia service, in a company commanded by Captain Brouer Banker Lieutenant John Vrooman, Ensign Schumacher, belonging to Colonel Wemple's Regiment. He resided at Schenectady, and went from there under said officers to Herkimer that he went out sometime in the month of August of that year the day he cannot state that he was out at this time, at least three weeks: Your applicant says that in the fall of that year he again went from Schenectady, under the same officers as above mentioned to Fort Plank two miles beyond Fort Plain, Montgomery County that he was out two weeks: Your applicant says that in the years 1780 and 1781, that sometimes he was commanded by one captain, and then again by an other belonging to the same Regiment above mentioned, that he was out during those years at divers times and places, which this applicant cannot recollect so as to state the particulars: that he was out in the service of the Revolution- ary war more than one year in the whole, that the services he chiefly rendered were performed and done in the County of Tryon now called Montgomery, on the Frontiers of this County & by lying at the different Forts, situate in said County of Tryon for the purpose of watching the Tories and British, from destroying the lives and property of the Whigs: Your applicant says that he was born at Schenectady, in the year 1763: That the only record he has of his age is an old Bible of his father's family, which is in

possession his brother-in-law living at Schenectady. Your applicant says that at the time he entered the service he lived at Schenectady And that all the services he done was done by him as a volunteer Your applicant says that he has resided since the Revolution, in the town of Broadalbin & County & State aforesaid. He knows of no person by whom he can prove these services and has no documentary evidence He was acquainted with no officers of the regular & does not recollect any other circumstances than have been stated by him. He is acquainted with the following persons residing in his neigh- =borhood who can testify as to his character for truth and veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution to wit-
William Groom William Dickinson
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State. He claims a pension for one year as a private & no more Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Richard J. Van Kamp
Richard Van Kampen Appl.

We, William Groom a Chappman residing in the Town of Broadalbin and William Tomlinson residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Richard Van Tranken, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be, sixty nine 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 Wm Groom William Tomlinson
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 ap- plicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that William Groom who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman and that William Tomlinson who has also signed is a resident in the same Town and is a creditable person , and that their statement is entitled the Credit;
I George D. Ferguson clerk of the court of Common Pleas of the County of Montgomery do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Richard Van Tranken for a pension; And I do further certify that John B. Bedder who has signed the the affidavit hereto annexed, was by the said court pronounced and in their opinion declared to be a person of respectability and entitled to credit and the said court did order their clerk to certify to the same In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of September 1832 Geo: D. Ferguson

Deborah Van Vranken Application

State of New York } Montgomery County } ss
On this twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Montgomery, now sitting, John B. Veeder, a resident of the Town of Providence in the County of Saratoga, aged seventy one years, who being first duly sworn according to law clothed on his oath say that he was well acquainted with Richard Van Vranken of Broadalbin in Montgomery County, during the war of the Revolution; He says that in the year 1781 he went out as a volunteer with the said Richard, under Captain Brewer, Barker 1 st Lieutenant John Vrooman 2 nd Lieutenant Aaron Veeder & Freeman Schermehorn, Ensign belonging to Colonel Wemple's Regiment, that they went from Schenectady to Fort Hunter, Stone Arabia, Fort Plain all situated in Tryon County, at that time, now Montgomery County. He says that he was out twice to Ballston with the said Richard. He says he has been out with the said Richard on scouts at different and divers times and places, the length of time he was out at each time he is unable to state. He says that the said
John B. Veeder

Richard Van Vranken is a man of truth and veracity and further this deponent saith. Not Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court
John B. Bell
Geo: D. Ferguson Clerk of said County
23248
Richard Van Vranken
Have said office attested to Jos V Berry John M. C. N. Y.
Board.
Sworn

23248.
Rich d Van Vranken Montgomery Co. New York.
e. j. Schmidt Private 9 mo 29 day
John V. Berry Esq. Johnstown Montgomery Co. N. York.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 4 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Richard Van Franker Montgomery  born New York
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1779 " " 21 Priv Col. Wemple Capt B. Barker Lt. J. Woosman 69 years Schenebady One Witness.   Oct 1779 " " 14 " Ditto N. York   1780 to 81 Not stated " Some times one Capt. & then another   The whole term more than 1 " "  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
9 Months stated particularly for which he claims a pension Geo O'Berry

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
 6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?  { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of 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 that 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 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Answered
NO Such Objection
Joseph Rowen Esq.

Rev. May
11623 INVALID.
File No. 11.623 ★
Richard Van Vrankan
Dir. BW
Act: June 14. 1832
Index: —Vol. 2 , Page 389
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Richard Van Vrankan ★ Records corrected May 1905.

State of New York Montgomery County ss:
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for the County of Montgomery. Richard Van Vranken, who, being duly sworn, says 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 recollections he served not up than the periods mention- ed below & in the following manner: For 21 days I served under Capt. Bancker, as a private in the year 1779, and went from Schenectady to the German Flats then Tryon County now in the County of Herkimer: For 14 days in the fall of 1779 I served as a private under Capt. Bancker; he can not state the month or day of the month when he went out and when discharged: For 1 month, I served as a private, under Capt. Bancker, those two last terms to wit the 14 days & one month were performed in going from Schenectady to Fort Plank in the then County of Tryon now Montgomery, and lay in and about Fort Plank on duty under Bancker & Col. Wemple Regiment: For one month & 12 days, I served as a private under Capt. Giles, Fonda, in the year 1780, I went out late in the fall of that year, he went from Schenectady afore- said to Stone Arabia then Tryon County now Montgomery and served in the field: In the year 1780 in the summer of that year, the month nor day of the month when he went out & when discharged he cannot state, under Capt. Bancker, I served as a private for 21 days and went from Schenectady to Fort Plank afore said and lay in the said Fort: For 21 weeks days I served under Capt. Bancker the year he cannot state, but says it was the same year that Ballston was burnt by the Tories under Col. Moore, he went from Schenectady to Ballston: For 14 days I served as a private, under Lieutenant Newman, belonging to Col. Wemple's Regiment, he went from Schenectady to

5, 13 7
to Coughnawaga Tryon County aforesaid: For 7 days I served as a private, under Serjeant John Duackenbush this was a part of Bancker's company, which went from Schenectady to John Town, in bringing up from the former place to the latter an ammunition waggou.  For 7 days I served as a private volunteer, and had no officers; he went from Schenectady to Ballston & in the wilderness beyond the latter place, he went out with forty or fifty Oneida Indians who lay at Schenectady they went out for the purpose of discovering the Enemy, whom, it was reported, lay skulking in the back part of the Country; with the intent of coming down upon Schenectady: For 14 days I served as a private volunteer, he went from Schenectady to the German Flatts; he had no commanding officers at this time: It was reported that at Schenectady that the notorious Walter Butler Munderer & Sony was coming down the valley of the Mohawk, the Capt of his company requested all that would volunteer to go and assist; accordingly four appeared and twenty or thirty more did volunteer and go to the German Flatts; when they arrived there at the Fort at that place our men had left the Fort in pursuit of Butler: For one Month I served as a private at Fort Hunter Tryon County under Capt Bancker, and went from Schenectady aforesaid: For 7 days I served as a serjeant & commanded six or seven men & went from Schenectady to Schoharie, he belonged to Capt. Bancker's company by whom he was ordered out: For 3 days I served as a private, under Capt Bancker, he went from Schenectady to Helderberg in the same County: He says he was born on the fifteenth day of August 1763, when he went out the first time in 1779. he was not quite 16 years of age; but before he returned from that tour he was for he went out in the beginning of August
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I went to to Albany three times to Albany under Serjeant John Fort belonging to Bancker's Company in conveying down some Tories that the Whigs had caught. I served, as a private, and was out two days each time: For 1 month & twelve days I served as a private under Capt Bancker, and served at Schenectady, he served in garrison and that during the time which the service was performed he was not engaged in any civil pursuit. Bancker's Company belonged to Wemple's Regiment. He says he knows of no person by whom he can prove those services in detail and the only proof he has is Nader and knows of no other. He has answered the first interrogatory & the second & the third. He drafted & volunteered; the fifth is also answered in his declaration. He never received a discharge: He says he cannot state the months nor days of the month nor the year when he went out, but says all his service was performed during that period of the war comprising the years 1779, 1780, 1781 and the the greater part of his service was performed during the two latter years. Sworn & Subscribed the first day of July 1838
Before me Richard V. Bruckham Aaron Haring Just Paris

State of New York, Montgomery County
Clerk's office, p: I, George D. Ferguson, clerk of Mont- gomery County, do hereby certify that Aaron Haring Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Richard Van Franken purporting to have been sworn, was on the date thereof a Justice of the peace of said County -
And that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice & verily believe that his name subscribed to the said affidavit is genuine. And I further certify that John B. Veder whose name is subscribed to the annexed affidavit appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas at the last September term thereof & then subscribed & swore to the annexed affidavit by him subscribed. And the said Court have directed me as their Clerk to certify, & I do hereby certify to the War Department, that in the opinion of said Court the said John B. Veder is a credible person & that his statements is entitled to credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 2 d July 1833.
Geo: D. Ferguson.