Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,047, Derick Van Vechten, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Van Vechten, Derick " Van Veghten
S 23,047
CONTENTS

305-62
State of New York 30.56
Heinrick Van Veghten of Montgomery in the State of New York who was a 2nd Ensign in the Company commanded by Captain De Graaf of the Regt commanded by Col Fisher in the New York line for 2 mos 4 days service H 11 + 3 days Ensign
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of $47 Dollars 78 Cents per an. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of April 1836 and sent to J. Bore
Arrears to the 4th of March 1836 $205.90 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 23.89
262.79
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Addison Cr. 4.
Page 78
Letter to G. F. Yates P. Aug. 1
" " W B. Pierce 3 Oct 3, 42

Swanson Dirck Van Vranken
Pension papers
$1.00
11826
11876
Admitted
Ensign 4 mo 23 days $47.53
Pension 1 u 27 days
$47.53
Admitted
Ensign 4 mo 3 days - $41.00
Pension 2 " 1 - 6.77
$47.77
Hon M c J. Bovee
Home Papers
N.Y.

State of New York
Montgomery County ss. On this Sixth day of September in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two personally appeared before James Voorhies Esquire a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Montgomery Hugh McMaster a resident of Florida in said County who being first duly sworn saith that he is well & intimately acquainted with Dirck Van Vranken of said Town and that he has so known him since before the Revolutionary War, that he knows in the time of the said War and will recollect his serving in the Militia during the whole time of the said Revolutionary War that he saw him repeatedly & frequently during the said War at different places where the Militia were quartered that this Defendant was a Private in Captain McMaster Company & the said Dirck Van Vranken was an officer in another Company in the same Regiment which was commanded by Col Frederick Fisher he cannot now recollect any particular occasion on which he saw him but will know that the said Dirck Van Vranken served from the beginning to the end of the War in the said Militia.
The word 'him' intended in 7 th line before sworn to Subscribed & sworn the day & Year aforesaid before me, James Voorhies Justice of the Peace. Hugh McMaster
I George D Ferguson Clerk of the County of Montgomery do hereby Certify that James Voorhies before whom the above Affidavit was sworn to was at that time a Justice of the Peace of the said County & that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said James Voorhies & believe his signature to the said Affidavit to be genuine In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this 20 th day of September 1832
Geo: D. Ferguson

State of New York
Montgomery County ss On this Nineteenth day of September in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two person -Ally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Montgomery Now sitting Dirck Van Keigh -ten a resident of the town of Honda in the County of Montgomery and State of New York aged Seventy 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 th 1832
That he the said Dirck Van Keighen was born on the 24 th day of October 1753 at Catskill, Greene County, in the State of New York, that he has a record of his age in a Bible which was kept by his father & Grandfather, That he Entered the Service of the United States at Honda in the County of Montgomery aforesaid, at which place he then resided, as an Ensign & as a volunteer in a Company of Militia sometime in the Year 1776 but cannot recollect the day or Month, that the officers in said Company were Emanuel De Graaf Captain, Josias Stout 1 st Lieutenant, Peter Van Olinda 2 nd Lieutenant, & himself as Ensign, & that he served as an Ensign in this Company from the time he so entered until the Close of the War in the Year 1783. that this Company was Attached to a Regiment, Commanded by Col. Frederick Fisher. Lieut. Col. Volker Vreden, & Major John Kirk. that he was chosen Ensign at the time of raising the Company but did not receive his Commission till some time in the Year 1778. that the names of other Captains in the same Regiment were Captains Mc Master, Yeomans, Pettinagal & Hodges, that he is unable to give the order of their Marches or movements, that sometimes the Regiment was Connected with other Regiments sometimes, Separated in Compa -nies & parts of Companies in such numbers & Stationed at such places to guard the dangerous places as the reports received, seemed to render neces -sary, that they were at different times at Fort Hunter, Caughnawaga, Johnstown, Canajoharie, Fort Plain, Stone Arabia, Fort Stanwix & at other places along the Mohawk River & the County of Tryon which was then considered Frontier & much infested & disturbed by frequent depredations from parties of British, Indians & Tories which required the constant vigilance of Sentinels & levies of Militia, that he was in the Battle of Oriskany

in August 1779 in which Gen Herkimer was shot & afterwards died of the wounds. Col Coxe was killed in the same battle & Captain Pettineque also, that Col Willett came to their assistance and by his activity much greater slaughter was prevented. that he was also in another battle a battle at a place called Ellis Flatts above Canajoharie against a party of British Indians & Tories under the command of Sir John Johnson. who had come across the Country from Schoharie which place they had burnt. that the Militia at this battle were under the Command of Gen. Van Rensselaer whose conduct on this occasion did not give much satisfaction to the Militia generally. that his Com- pany with others of the Tryon Militia were ordered to Johnstown at the time of the battle at that place. that they arrived there just after the battle was over. that they met Col Willett just leaving the field that the Militia were discharged at the close of the war in the Year 1783. but had no written discharges. that the only documentary evidence he has of his service is his Commission. that he has resided in Florida ever since the war & still resides there. that he can prove his services by Hugh McMaster who served with him through the war in another Company but in the same Regiment. that the said Hugh was with him in the battle at Ellis Flatts & was shot through the body in that battle. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever for 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 & sworn the day & year aforesaid) the word "the" in last line introduced
We a Chrysanum residing in the town of in the County of and of the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Dirk Reyn Bratton who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration and the desire him to be Twenty Nine Years of age. that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of

The said Dick Van Vleet further declares that his services during the period of the war were so spent that he is unable to make any regular computation of time actually on duty or to follow with any order the events or incidents, that this whole period was spent in attending to alarms at the several places above mentioned in periods of time from one day to two weeks. in the winter season they performed but little duty, but the remainder of the time they were as much of the time on duty as at home. he is satisfied that he was during the war actually on duty more than two years
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid
Dick Van Vleet
Six lines of a certificate above
Erased before I wrote also the word Subscribed & sworn the day & year aforesaid with the note of the intimation "the" in brackets as surplusage before I wrote to

We James Stevenson a Clergyman residing in the town of Florida in the County of Montgomery and John French of the same place do hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Dick Van Ryghten who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration and we believe him to be Seventy Nine Years of Age - that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Subscribed & sworn to the day & Year aforesaid
James Stevenson John French
And the Said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogato- ries 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 James Stevenson - who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in Florida in the County of Montgomery and that John French - who has also signed the same is a resident of Florida in the County aforesaid and is a credible person & that their Statement is entitled to 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 Dick Van Ryghten for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Said Court this 20 th day of Septem- ber 1832.
Geo: D. Ferguson

State of New York
Montgomery County. Jan. 4
On this sixth day of September in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & thirty two personally appeared before James Voorhies Esquire a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Montgomery Hugh Mc Master a resident of Florida in said County who being first duly sworn saith that he is well and intimately acquainted with Dick Van Dyke of said town and that he has so known him since before the Revolutionary War, that he knew him in the time of the said War, and well recollects his serving in the Militia during the whole time of the said Revolutionary War, that he saw him repeatedly and frequently during the said War at different places where the Militia were quartered that this deponent was a private in Captain Mc Master's Company and the said Dick Van Dyke was an officer in another company in the same Regiment which was commanded by Col. Frederick Fisher he cannot now recollect any particular occasion on which he saw him but well knows that the said Dick Van Dyke served from the beginning to the end of the War in the said Militia.
Subscribed & Given the day & Year as Hugh Mc Master aforesaid before me James Voorhies Justice of the Peace
(a copy)
State of New York Montgomery County James Voorhies

Derrick Van Vaghten N. Y.
Rev. Eng. f47. 1832.

Glenda Mount. 600 N.W. November 9 th 1850
Re. W. Young. Sir.
My mother being a daughter of Berick Van Veghten and she residing in Wisconsin, I took the liberty of opening your communication, directed to said Van Veghten or his heirs at law or legal representatives and finding therein a statement, that you think his pension might be considerably increased and that you are willing to take up the matter at a certain per centage which no doubt she would be very willing to give you, providing it would not be of very great trouble to her. Now then if you wish to go on in the matter and increase the pension, let me know whether my name as an agent of my mother would do to go to the commissioner of Pensions and also what other business in the matter you would have me do. Whether it will take time to go on or whether you do the whole yourself and all other business for me to do.
Direct your answer to me at Glenda Mount. 600 N.W. as Dept Clerk of said County to ensure its safe delivery.
Geo. R. McIlwaine.

No. 11876
Dirck Van Beekum
See p 10 Vol 7-
Eurygi. — v 3. 19. 1
Aug 9 — v 2. 11. 9
10 — v 1. 10. 5
" — v 0. 12. 2
11 — v 3. 19. 1
5/11/81 12. 15. 6 — 1800 & 18 days from comm.
1. 16 6 from 1779 to 1781
114. 12. 0 — 18 mo & 25 days from comm.
Platt Potter
4. 05 — Sub Sup affidavit
Mina-ville
6 — 00 — Look at Me
Masles roll
28 Sep 1832 27 Dec " Mary Ann Mary Ann Gay N.Y.
$36.50/84.

No. 11876
BRIEF in the case of  Dicks Van Beighten of Florida County of Montgomery in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy nine years. 79  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.     Advertised sometime in the year 1776 until the close of the war in 1783. During the war actually on duty more than two years Ensign Gen.  Capt Emanuel De Graaf  Lieut Genl. Israel Putnam & Col. Van Ostrand, Col. Frederick Fisher, regt. Lieut Col. Volkest Breeder, Major John Newkirk   
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Oriskany in Augt 1777  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Florida, Montgomery Co. New York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By documentary evidence, his commission as Ensign, by living witnesses, & by traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The Seal of the Clerk of the Court is absent 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. G. Wilson Examining Clerk.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
Acc 7
March 14, 1929.
Mrs. C. P. Groesbeck 91 W. Price Street Cloversville, N. Y.
Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 23047, it appears that Derick VanVechten or VanVeghten was born October 24, 1753 in Catskill, Greene County, New York.
While residing in Florida, New York in 1776 he was elected ensign in Captain Emanuel DeGraef's Company, Colonel Frederick Fisher's New York Regiment, his commission as ensign was dated August 22, 1778, he served at various times in said company and regiment, was in the battles of Oriskany and Klock's Field, was out when Cherry Valley was burned, and out on many other alarms and scouting parties, also did garrison duty, and served until in 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 19, 1832, at which time he was living at Florida,

New York.
In 1850 George R. Milmine a resident of Fonda, Wisconsin, stated that his mother (her name not given) was a daughter of Derick VanVeghten.
There are no further data as to family.
The above noted Derick Van Vechten (all spellings of that name searched) is the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

Resolution
23047 INVALID.
1929. mch. 14 - High Br Mrs. C. P. Groesbeck aug.
File No. 23047
Derick Van Bechten
Ensign Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index: — Vol. 9 , Page 4.72
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Born in Schenck Co. Pa. Flon d. a. Meitz Co
only Van Bechten - Bechten
a daughter in "Wm" 1850

McGloversville N.Y.
July 10-1928
The Commissioner of Pensions:-
Dear Sir: Can you give me any information about the wife or children of Isaac all Underkirk (Underkirk) I would like the dates of marriage & births of children and their names; also all the information you can give me about Derrick (Dirk) only Van Vechten who was shot in battle at Briskay and I think he was scalped

Can you tell me the wife's name & date of marriage also the names of his children, was there a John, among them children. I have written to the War Department for war records and they referred me to the pension department as he received pay for services from New York State according to their records; he came from Albany Co. or Rensselaer Co. I don't know which Sincerely Mrs. C.P. Groebuck 91 St. Peter St. Glensville N.Y.

11876
New York
Rev:
Derick Van Vechten
Suspended
let. to Platt Potter, Mina- -ville 29 June 33 do to Hon C M'Vean 3 d Mar. 1834
Let to Platt Potter Esq.
Scheneectady. N.Y. Nov 20
let to Hon Mr. J. B. Bruce 1834
March 3 d 1836
let. to same 19. March 36.
Act 7 June 32

War Department Pension Office March 19. 1836
Sir,
The papers of Derick Van Vichten have, agreeably to your request been again examined. B y Capt. Emanuel De Graff's company after the commencement of the year 1779 there are rolls in this Office. It appears thereby that all the service after that time is comprised in six tours, amounting in all to one month and twenty five days . In a supplemental affidavit sworn to on the 3 d September 1833, the claimant has specified as having been rendered previous to 1780 ten tours, amounting to four months and nine days. If these ten tours were rendered previous to 1779, he will so state under oath, and fix the dates as nearly as his memory will enable him to do. In a supplemental statement made in December 1835 he has specified a tour of seven days at the Clay Barracks in 1778, a tour of ten days as a guard of Boats, a tour of ten days at Palatine, and a tour of fourteen days to Amsterdam and Sacandaga. M c Van Vichten's commission as an Ensign bears date the 22 d August 1778. To determine what portion of the service in that year is to be allowed him as an Ensign, it is necessary that he should specify dates as nearly as possible.
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your Ob dt . Serv t .
J L Edwards
Hon. Mr. J. Bovee House of Representatives
1.25 4-9- 27 7-01
7- 10 10

Schenectada Apr 24-1839
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions.
Derick Van Vech- ten, whose pension warrant is returned herewith, desires a reexamination of his claim for a pension. He alleges that he served as an Ensign in the Reg- iment of Col. Frederick Fisher, Tryon Co: Militia during the whole war, and has not been allowed enough for the capacity in which he served.
I am very truly Your obed Servt
G. H. Van Vechten

H. C. Van Vetchen 9  1890
Rev. May 16 1890
Derrick Van Vetchen SP4
(Killed)
Involved } 84 witnesses }

Constant Reader—A record of the revolutionary soldiers is kept in the pension office in Washington. Address the commissioner of pensions. H. B.—It is entirely proper for a soldier to...
1110 Central St Racine Wis May 16-1890
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir, I cannot share that yours, is the paper department to write for the information I wish, if not please give this to whoever would be likely to know. Have you official Copies of Rosters of Regiments who served in the war of the Revolution. As I have papers left me by my deceased Father Derrick which state that my Great Grand Father Derrick Van Vechten was a Major in the 14 N.Y. State Militia with John Van Rensselaer as Col and the copy I have of Roster of Officers is dated Oct 20 1775. He was killed in a skirmish with the British & Indians shot through his Tobacco Box which I have with the bullet-hole through it. If there is a fee for searching the Records please inform me how much it is.
Respectfully Yours
H C Van Vechten

Old war Div. D. & P. Ex'r. No. Co. _____ Reg't _____
Department of the Interior. BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Address your reply to the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS with return of this letter.
Washington, D.C. August 20, 1890
Sir,
In answer to your enquiry, relative to Derrick Van Vechten who was a Major in the war of the Revolution; served under Col. Van Ranselaer in the New York Militia, and "was killed in a skirmish with the British and Indians, shot through his tobacco-box" you are advised that no application for pension is on record on account of his services, that can, with the data furnished, be identified with the one of your enquiry. There are no roster of officers, or rolls of soldiers, who served in the militia of that state, on file with the General Government.
A pension was allowed in 1836 to Derrick Van Vechten, who was born in Catskill Greene County N.Y., moved to Tryon, now Montgomery County, in Central N.Y. when he served as Ensign in said war and at one time under Col. Van Ranselaer in the militia, and was in several engagements and skirmishes; but he did not state that he was wounded. A letter stated that his daughter was living in Wisconsin.
Very respectfully
Mr H. C. Van Vechten 1110 Centre St. Racine Wisconsin
Commissioner

J. L. Edwards Letter of adjournment

War Department Pension Office, Nov r 20 th 1834.
Sir
The supplemental statement of Derrick Van- -brechten has been examined. That statement is materially defective, as to the dates of the various short tours of service, on which he alleges to have been engaged, and also in not stating the grade in which he served. His commission as Ensign is dated the 25 th of June, 1778, and establishes the grade of his service, after that period, but by his original declaration, his services commenced in 1776.
It is impracticable to ascertain how much of the alleged service was rendered prior or subsequent to the date of his commission.
It is indispensable that he should set forth each term of service, in his embodied company, by order of the competent authority, as to period, length and grade, with the names of officers, places, &c.
Very Respectfully
Your Obed t Serv t
J. L. Edwards
Platt Potter Esq r Schenectady New York

add. proof Driek Van Vechten
Mr. Anthony Adams
(Rev)
General J. P. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.
PAID

Schneebady 9 th Sept 1833
Dr Sir
Enclosed you will find some additional pro of submitted to you in the Case of Derick Van Vechten whose papers are on file and whose claim is at present suspended. If I might be pardoned for trespassing upon your time & attention, no doubt sufficiently occupied & often severely taxed in like manner, I would remark, that though it may be necessary for the dispatch of business at the Department, to establish a certain invariable rules. Yet in relation to the Service of the Militia of Troyon County , that rule perhaps operates more severely than on any other portion of revolutionary soldiers. Thus in the present Case, George Stone the witness who served in the same rank, in the same Regiment, in the same manner, & probably not for a greater portion of time, was, in consequence of possessing a strong mind, general intelligence, & full possession of his memory, & other mental faculties, allowed full two years pay, while those on whom the infirmities of age bear more heavily, and have been so far deprived of recollection, are by Providential infirmity, either denied the little, short enduring boon, richly earned, or confined to the few events only existing, in a memory almost extinguished.
I Beg Sir, you will not think I have a disposition, either to instruct you in way of duty, or to attempt to change salutary rules but, if permitted I would remark that I have doubts whether the general services of the Militia on this frontier are fully represented or understood by some of the examining Clerks at the Department,
I am Dear Sir Most Respectfully Your Obedt Servt
Platt Potter
James L Edwards Esq Commission of Pensions

Supplemental affidavit of Dick van Vliet

State of New York Montgomery County ss.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of the County of Montgomery. Dirck Van Vranken who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more truly to the precise length of his service. Nor can he set forth distinctly each term of service distinctly by itself for the following reasons. That Tryon County then frontier was kept in a constant state of alarm by depredations committed by Indians & Loyal parties of British Tories and that the Militia of Tryon County were considered as being on guard & duty from the beginning to the end of the war. That the alarms which called them on actual duty were so frequent and repeated in periods of time from one day to three weeks and at such a great variety of places from two miles to eighty miles for a successive period of seven years, that it is now beyond the power of his impaired recollections to be more precise, that the data or rule by which he is certain that his computation of time is below the true amount is taken from his recollections of the proportion of time he was called away from home. And this service was as an Ensign in an embodied Corps of Militia and for the time set forth in his declaration which time at least he served on actual duty he claims a pension.
Subscribed & sworn to in 18 th day of February 1833 before me
Dirck Van Vranken
"distinctly" erased in 6 th line before seventh
James Voorhies Justice of the Peace.

State of New York Schenectady County ss
I, Affiant before the undersigned a justice of the Peace in & for the County of Schenectady Derick Van Vranken of Florida in the County of Montgomery who being duly sworn deposeth and saith. That by reason of old age and the consequent loss of Memory he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his Service, but that the times and periods set forth and mentioned below are a part of the time spent by this deponent in actual service called out by regular officers in the Company & Regiment set forth in his Declaration, and that during the time he was so employed he was not engaged in any civil pursuit or employment. And the reason why the said periods, were not set forth in his Supple- mental affidavit heretofore made is, that the said Service herein specified constitute but a small portion of the time actually spent by this deponent in the service of the United States, and that his memory is better now than at the time of making such former affidavit on account of his then very feeble state of bodily health. And this deponent further saith that he cannot now ascertain the particular year or time of the Year when the following services were performed, or any further particulars than are given, as follows. In the first Year he with about 60 of the same Regiment were ordered to Johnstown to release two Soldiers named Anthony Van Vranken & John Fonda who had been imprisoned in the gaol at that place by Sir John Johnson 5- 5 This was about Sixteen Miles from home & they were gone 5 days After this time, Sir John Johnson burnt a part of Canajoharie and upon an alarm given, the whole Regiment under Col Fisher were ordered to defend that place & to attack & disarm Sir John. -16 16 This deponent was at that time on garrison duty for 16 days he was with a part of his Company at the Bloch house while 4 building the same three or four days at Sacandaga about twenty Miles from home, he was keeping garrison at the said Fort or -152 .. " Block house during the war twice at least a week at each -152. " time, twice, a week each time, he was on guard at a place called

7. 25
1-7
-20 20
4-28
-10 10
-49 + 4. 67 1. 73 6. 4
Davis Groot on the North side of the Mohawk River, to guard the pass of Indians & Tories toward Schenectady. And one week was on guard for the same purpose at a place then called Dequay, now Amsterdam, At one time he was chaste to keep guard at Picquet fort Johnstown where he remained 20 days. he recollects that at four other and different times during said war he was on guard at said Picquet fort. Not less than one week each time. at the Oriskany Battle he was ten days on duty, which was about 70 miles from home, after that battle the Disposed found seven guns lying upon the ground among the wounded which he brought off. During said war he was at one time 9 days at Fort Stanwix guarding Batteries which carried provisions from Schenectady to that place. At one time this was in the year 1780 he with his own & several other companies were ordered out upon an alarm created by a party of Indians to Johnstown from Johnstown they proceeded to Canajoharie where some depredations were committed & from thence to a place further west called Claysburgh, or Clay hill, where they remained a short time & then returned home they were gone 12 days. He was at one time called out upon an alarm at a place near Canajo- harie called Dan & Hillynes, where he lay on guard about one week, at another time the company to which he belonged and part of some other companies were sent off to assist the Militia of Saratoga near Ballston. they pursued a party of Tories a few miles, the com- pany of Militia of Ballston had taken about 30 prisoners & were returning when the Militia of Col Fisher Regiment met them we were 6 days absent at this time. he was once at the German Halls 5 days. guarding some cattle taken from a party of the enemy, and when Sir John Johnson burnt Schoharie he was called off upon that alarm & guarding this pass near Canajo- harie one week, twice he was at Caughnawaga on guard

one week each time, and several times upon alarms two or three days at a time. Amounting at least to another week, at a place called Stone Arabia, he was called out upon an alarm was gone from home about 8 days. was once at Bowmans Creek upon an alarm 3 days at Fort Dayton on garrison one week. at several other times of one or two days absence upon alarms is all the periods or distinct tours of duty which he can now describe, as a greater portion of his service was in periods of three days or less in short distances. very frequently remaining at home but a few hours. Sometimes called off by night sometimes by day. he now recollects another alarm when all the Regiment were called to Cherry Valley when that place was burnt they were gone 5 days
Derick Van Vechten
Subscribed & sworn this 3 rd day of September 1833 before me
Eliza Davis Mother of the Deponent
Personally appeared before me on this 6 th day of September 1833 George Stone of Helder in the County of Montgomery who being duly sworn saith that during the Revolutionary War he was well acquainted with Derick Van Vechten of said Town of Helder, that the said Derick was an Ensign, and belonged as this Deponent believes in Captain Degrass's Company, and in Col Fishes Regiment of the Tryon Militia, that the said Derick served in Company with this Deponent from the beginning to the close of the war in various expeditions, on alarms, in scouting, and keeping garrison, regularly called out by their Commanding officers, this Deponent well recollects of being stationed with the said Derick in the Year 1776 at a place called Lewis Groot, on the north side of

the Mohawk River below Amsterdam at four different times one week each time, which was the usual term of time, or turn of duty at that place, to guard that pass from the interruption or passage down the river, by parties of Tories & British Scouts to Schenectady, he also recollects of being in Company with the said Derick on like duty in both the Years of 1777 & 1778 but cannot recollect more than one tour of one week each in the two last mentioned Years, though he believes they served more, recollects of being with the said Derick at the building of the Block house in Sacandaga, and also of being stationed at the Block house on garrison in Company with the said Derick several times, but he cannot say in what Years, but at least four or five times during the war, and about one week at a time, this deponent was once on guard with the said Derick three weeks at Pigeon Fort Johnstown at one time thinks this was in the Year 1778, was with him one other time at the same place two weeks, and at other times, which he cannot now give the length of the other terms, but believes none were less than one week, and also believes they were there together, two or three other tours, this deponent was with the said Derick in the Battle of Oriskany and at Klocks when Sir John Johnson passed from Schoharie & crossed the Mohawk river at that place, this deponent was once on guard about two weeks at Tribes Hill with said Van Becklen, at Fort Windich one week, and this deponent further deposes that he cannot further specify any particular place where they served together but that the said Derick was as much on duty during the said war as any other of the Militia as he believes & was always reported to be a good & faithful Soldier, and this deponent judging from the amount of duty within his own recollection believes that during said war the said Derick was more than two Years in Actual duty during said term.
his George L. Stone

The above affidavit was Subscribed & sworn before me on the 6 th day of September 1833 and I do Certify that the said George Stine is a credible person & entitled to belief
Eliza L. Davis, Justice of the Peace
I John S. Vrooman Clerk of the County of Schen- ectady do Certify that Eliza L. Davis by whom the foregoing affidavit of Jericho Van Cleftun, and the affidavit of George Stine and the Certificate thereto annexed were taken, was at the time the said Affidavit and Certificate bears date, a justice of the Peace of the County of Schenectady
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this ninth day of September in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Thirty three
John S. Vrooman Clerk

State of New York
Montgomery County, I, Dennis Van Tassel of Florida in said County being duly sworn say that that he was an officer in the Revolution & that he is an applicant for a pension for his service as such.
But that it is impossible for him at this late period to state all the service performed by him as a soldier in the Revolution either prior or subsequent to the date of his commission in June 1778 & at what place or under what command his services were rendered. Though his whole service was rendered in the capacity or grade of Ensign from the commencement of the war to the date of his commission under an appointment or election by the privates of Capt. DeGraff's Co. & sanctioned by the Committee of Safety, and after that period to the close of the war under his commission, it said DeGraff can state from present recollection that in the fall of 1778 he was at the Clay barracks near Fort Plain under Capt. DeGraff on duty at least - - 7 days  In 1778 or 79 in the fall was drafted to unit to Ft. Stanwix to guard the Portage 10 -  " 1778 or 79 was at a skirmish at Palatine usually called Blacks fight and 10 "  " 1778 " was on guard at Amsterdam 2 -  & on a scout to Saratoga and 2 weeks or more 14 "  " 1779 was Ft. Johnson guarding the passage up the valley of the Mohawk 8 or 9 "  " 1779 was at Johnstown & Canajoharie on an alarm about 8 or 10 days 8
over

In 1780 at the time Schaharris was burnt was out on duty at least — — — 10 days " 1780 was at Coughnawaga on } a day's work — — — — — 7 " 1780 was at Johnstown on a day's duty } drafted & out — — — — — 20 Commanded the class himself — — — — — " 1781 was at Johnstown at the } time of the engagement between Col. } Little, Rapp, Butler & at which } Butler was killed in flight — out 3 or 4 That all of the above service was under under the command of Capt. DeGraff except as above stated & the two days at the time Schaharris was burnt when he was under the command of Capt. Mc Master (David) —
And this Deponent says that during the years of 78, 79 & 1780 the County of Montgomery & its vicinity were almost constantly in a state of alarm and many Villages and Taverns were destroyed by fire & the inhabitants massacred indiscriminately & without mercy as will appear by a reference to the Annals of Lycoming County (now Montgomery Co) during that & the previous years. That Deponent was engaged frequently & at various and often times than those above stated but as he cannot state them from memory with all the circumstances required he has not made the attempt —
Subscribed & sworn to Decr 28-1835 before me
Derick Van Vechten
D. P. Hovey
Commissioner of areas of said Co.

State of New-York } Montgomery County ss } Derrick Van Katten of Flor- ida in Said County being duly sworn says that the tour of seven days at the Clay-barracks as specified by him in his statement of Dec., 1835 was made in Sept. or Oct. 1778; & the days guarding boats etc. was in the month of Nov. or Dec. 1778, as he believes from the fact that there was snow & cold weather. The ten days at Cal- atine was in corn harvest of the same year; & the ten fourteen days at Amsterdam & Sacandaga was in the same fall (1778), but in what month cannot say definitely - That he assisted in build- ing the Block-house eight or ten days & thinks it was in the fore part of fall or last of August 1778, was after wheat harvest - That in the fall after the destruction of the settlements on the German Flats & before corn harvest he made a tour up the valley of the Mohawk & was out a for a fortnight - That in Oct. 1780 after the burning of Schoharie, & at the time of the burning of Canajawaga was and when Col. Fisher was tomahawked & scalped, he was out on a tour of about three weeks, was on duty & was in the engagement near Stone Abia between Sir John Johnson & Gen. Van Rensselaer at the time Col. Brown was killed in battle - Was on a tour to Ballston after the Tories, out about eight or ten days was in May 1779 or 80 but does not recollect which - And this deponent further says that as to the ten tours of service stated in his affidavit of Sept 1833 amounting to four months and nine days they were all per- formed by him as ensign in fact, & that he believes most if not all & many more tours not specified, were rendered after

The 22 nd . of August 1778 though he cannot now recapitulate them with day & date, he never having made any distinction in his own mind between the services rendered anterior & subsequent to the date of his commission, but considered them all rendered by him as ensign in law as well as in fact. And further that in '76 went to Johnstown to release John Fonda & Anthony Van Riper, who were im- prisoned by order of Sir John Johnson out three days - in the winter after went to Johnstown to disarm Sir John out seven or eight days - in the spring after went to prevent the burning of Canajoharie by Sir John on his return from Canada was out three or four days - And in the year 1777 was out twelve or fourteen days at the time of the Oriskany Battle & was enga- ged in said battle. He was also frequent- ly called out on alarms during the whole of the Revolution up & down the valley of the Mohawk & through the adjoining country but to attempt to state at this time from memory or recollection the number & or the length of the times would be a useless task. - Many of the alarms proved to be false others real some con- tinued one day & others for weeks. He was engaged in traversing the country from one point of alarm to another. Since sta- ting the above Deponent remembers go- ing to Johnstown on an alarm in '79 or '80 out seven or eight days in the fall. That in 1779 the year before

Col. Fisher was scalped in harvest out then seven or eight days - Also a week on duty stationed at Van Alstyne's in the fall of 1779. Recollects of picking grain corn to eat all of which is true as the Deponent be- lieves.
Derrick Van Vachten
Subscribed & sworn this 12 th day of April 1856 before me
D. H. Jones Cattaraugus

Dick Van Vughten Commission

23 047
he People of the State of New York
by the Grace of God, FREE and INDEPENDENT.
To Dirck Van Vechten Esq m Greeting.
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence, as well in your Patriotism, Con-
dict and Loyalty, as in your Valour and Readiness to do us good and faithful Service. Have Appointed and constituted, and by these Presents Do Appoint and Institute
you the said Dirck Van Vechten Ensign of Captain Emanuel Delgraaf's Company
of Militia, in the County of Dutchess, in the Regiment whereof Frederick Fisher Esq m is Colonel.
You are therefore, to take the said Company into your charge and care as Ensign thereof, and duly to exercise the Officers and Soldiers of that Company in Arms, who are hereby commanded to obey you as their Ensign and you are also to Observe and follow such Orders and Directions, as you shall from time to time, receive from our General and Commander in chief of the Militia of our said State, or any their Superior Officer, Ac- cording to the Rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust reposed in you; and for doing this shall be Your Commission, for and during our good pleasure, to be Signified by our Council's Appointment. In Testimony whereof, we have caused our Seal for Military Commissions to be hereunto Affixed. Witness our Trusty and well beloved George Clinton Esq m our Governor of our State of New York, General and Commander in chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the Advice and Consent of our said Council of Appointment, at Poughkeepsie the Twenty fifth day of June in the Second year of our Independence, and in the year of our L ord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight.
Passed the Secretarys Office Aug: 22: 1778
By His Excellencys Command.
Ar m K anch Secretary
G. Clinton