Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 22006, Albert Vanderveer, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Vanderweer, Albert
R. 22 006
CONTENTS

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832.
State of New York } County of Wayne } ss
On this Twenty Eighth day of January One thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared in open court before the judges of the said County of the court of Common Pleas now sitting , Albert Vanderveer, a resident of the town of Galen in the county of Wayne and State of New York, aged Seventy-one years the third day of November last, 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 was born about eight miles east of Monmouth courthouse in the town of Shrewsbury county of Monmouth and state of New Jersey, on the third day of November One thousand seven hundred and sixtyone, agreeable to family Record - a copy of which, in his own hand, is now in his possession.
That at the time of entering the service of the United States he lived in the town of Middletown in the county of Monmouth & state aforesaid.
That he belonged to Captain John Smocks company of militia of the said town of Middletown, from which he was drafted or called by virtue of a warrant, and entered the service under Captain William Schenck, in the month of the battle of Monmouth, June 1778, (does not remember the day) General Putnam or Foreman being Commander in Chief of the State militia.
That he was between sixteen and seventeen years old when he entered the service. — That he left the service in the year 1782 or 3, dont recollect which. — That he served 5 Years.
That after the revolutionary war he lived in the county of his nativity in said State for about twenty years - since which, he has lived in the town of Scipio, Cayuga County - in the village of Waterloo, Seneca County & is now living in the town of Galen Wayne County, in the State of New York.
That the nature and general circumstances of his service are as follows —
Drafts from each company of militia in every town

The Village of Waterloo, Seneca County & is now living in the town of Galen Wayne County, in the State of New York.
That the nature and general circumstances of his service are as follows —
Drafts from each company of militia in every town were made and ordered out under their respective Captains, Serjeants &c to different posts along the bay shores, rivers, sea coast and in the interior to prevent the excursions of the enemy into the neighboring country, who were at the time pillaging and burning the settlements in that vicinity.
That the detachment to which he belonged was first ordered to a place called Finton-falls in the town of Shrewsbury, a part of which was burnt by the enemy. From thence he was ordered to Middletown on the bay shore (so called) where he was in a skirmish with a party of the British.
That at the expiration of one month he with the detachment returned home, being relieved by a new one — and at the end of the following month was ordered out in like service again — and was with his compatriots called minute-men, & in the monthly-service, bearing arms at home one month, & the next in service, alternately, for five years.
That during much of the period of his service, the enemy lay in shipping principally at Sandy-hook and on the Bay, from whence they made inroads into the surrounding country aided and led by what were called refugees.
That he was commanded by different Captains and officers, none of whom he can now distinctly remember by name, except those already mentioned, and Captain Moses Shephard.
That so frequent were their movements & so various that he cannot particularize them.
That he was in no general engagements with the enemy, and at no time, to his knowledge, with any regular Continental troops. — That there were no Continental troops in that part of the country he thinks, except a company of Morgan's Riflemen, who came to Monmouth Court house to aid the militia in dispersing a company of the British who had taken possession of that place & issued proclamation, offering protection to all the inhabitants who would not take up arms against them — which circumstance, he
believes was before he entered the service. The regular troops he thinks were at Rahway and back of New Brunswick in the said State and on the north river in the state of New York most of the time during the period of his service.

believes was before he entered the service. The regular troops he thinks were at Rahway and back of New Brunswick in the said State and on the north river in the state of New York most of the time during the period of his service.
That he was taken prisoner the first year of his service by a party of British troops from Sandy Hook.
That he never received any written discharge from the service. — That on his last return from service he entered a troop of horse by authority of the state to afford protection to the Collectors of taxes. — That he has no documentary evidence, and no record of any circumstances attending his services.
For his character for veracity and the belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution, and who will testify thereto, he refers to the following gentlemen in his present neighborhood: Mr. Benjamin Ford, Mr. James R. Rees, Mr. Fredas Chapman, Miram T. Jones Esq., Doct. James Dickson and Colonel John Condit and the Reverend Joseph C. Moore.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and solemnly declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Albert Vanderveer
L. Foster acting Clerk

State of New York, Wayne County ss: } Jemima Woolly , of the town of Galen, in said County of Wayne, being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that she is of the age of 63 or 64 years, according to the best of her recollection, not having any record of her age to refer to: that she was born about the year A.D. 1770, in the town of Middlesex, in the county of Hudson  Hudson , State of New Jersey: that she is the Sister of Albert Vanderveer who now resides in said town of Galen; that from her birth until she was of the age of 17 or 18 she resided with her parents and the said Albert in the county of Mon- mouth aforesaid: that she well recollects the time when the Battle of Monmouth was fought, which according to her best recollection was in the year A.D. 1778 in the summer season: that she well remembers, that a short time before the Battle of Monmouth was fought, her brother Albert Van- derveer who now resides in Galen as above stated, was called out by the authority of the state of New Jersey to go and fight the British, in defence of his country as she then understood it: that she well remembers of his going from home with his arms and that she understood from him & from the rest of her father's family that he was going to war to maintain the liberty of his country. After which time & in a few weeks, she well remembers of his returning home - From that time & for the space of four or five years next thereafter, she well remembers that the said Albert Vanderveer, was absent from home and as she

none thinks, about half of the time - That she well remembers of his coming home every few weeks & staying at home a short time and then going again, that according to her best recollection he was out on monthly service, and at home one month in service the next month, and so on, alternating for the whole of the said space of four or five years, and was called a minute-man , as she understood. That some time after the battle of Monmouth, the precise time she cannot recollect, it may be a year or more, she well remembers that her said brother Albert and also her brother Cornelius Vandermeer, who is now dead, and also her uncle Cornelius Vandermeer, who is also dead, were taken prisoners, that her said uncle was, as she understood, taken by the British to a place called Sandy Hook. But her two brothers were left at home on account of their being young and upon condition as they said that they should not afterwards take up arms against the British. But her said Brothers did not mind the orders of the British, but in a few weeks afterwards went into the service to fight the British and defend their country as before and were engaged in protecting the inhabitants against the enemy and were frequently engaged in contests & skirmishes with the invading armies -
Witness my Sir + Woolley Clerk
Subscribed and sworn this 11th day of July 1833 before me H. H. Smith one of the Justices of the Peace of the town of Salem in the County of Essex
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above named Jennie Woolley and believe her to be of good character for truth & veracity and that from ladyly interview she is not able to continue Court and that I took her deposition in her house Salem Nov 14th 1832
H. H. Smith

We Joseph C. Moore, a clergyman, residing in the town of Galen, Wayne County, and State of New York, and James R. Rees, residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Albert Vanderveer of the said town of Galen whose name is inserted in the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy one 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.
Joseph C. Moore James R. Rees
Severally Subscribed and Sworn before me this 21 st day of January, 1833. H. Stevens and of the Justices of the Peace of Galen Wayne County
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 Joseph C. Moore, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Galen, Wayne County; and that James R. Rees, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said town of Galen, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
State of New York Wayne County Clerk's office, ss:
I, William Foster, Acting Clerk of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contain the original proceedings of the of the Court of said County in the matter of the application of Albert Vanderveer for a pension - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 28 th day of January 1833
William Foster Acting Clerk

State of New York Wayne County Clerk's office ss. I, Cullen Foster Acting Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Hiram P. Jones, Esquire, before whom the within affidavits of Lemima Woolley and of Joseph C. Moore & James R. Rees purport to have been sworn was on the day of the respective dates of the same a Justice of the peace in & for said County duly elected and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe his name so signed to be his proper hand and signature - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County, at Lyons, this 28th. day of January 1833
Cullen Foster, Acting Clerk

Amendment to the within declaration in answer to the Property of War Department in Anderson's account settled.
W. A. J. S.
May 6th 1862 to date with name Claimant be only sum deposit I think —

Amendments to the annexed declaration, in answer to the objections proposed, by the department, in the printed letter herewith returned.
State of New York
Wayne County ss: Personally appeared the undersigned before me, Thiram P. Jones, a justice of the peace in & for said County, Albert Vandermeer, mentioned in the annexed declaration & letter, who being duly sworn, deposed and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to all the particulars of his revolutionary services, but in answer to the first objection in the said printed letter marked (A) he says:
The period of the war in which I served was from the month of June 1778, (at which time I first entered the service) up to the summer of the year 1783, inclusive. I distinctly recollect that the last of my service was in the summer of year in which peace was declared.
In answer to the second objection marked (B) he says, All my service was in the militia of the State of New Jersey, and I served, as a minute-man, not less than five years; I was a private soldier during all my service.
In addition to the names of the officers mentioned in my former declaration, I now remember that a man named Holmes, I think his christian name was Elisha, but am not certain, was the Colonel under whom I served a part of the time, but I cannot remember how long; according to my best recollection, Colonel Holmes resigned, and Capt. John Smock came in Colonel & served as such over the companies in which I served, to the end of the war: but these things occurred so long ago that their memory is almost gone from me. I cannot distinctly state the particular months in which I was on actual duty.

or at home, all I can remember is that I was called into service by a warrant issued, as I then understood it, by the colonel or General, to the under officers who marched out the soldiers and they ordered me out, among the rest. I cannot set forth, by reason of loss of memory, under what particular officers I served, any more particularly than is mentioned in my former declaration, nor the precise duration of each term of my actual engagement, other than that, I was at all times, under obligation to turn out at a minute's warning, and was generally out under arms, either in garrison or in skirmishing parties, one month & then at home one month and, out on the like duly the next month & so on alternately: sometimes, before I had been at home over a day or two I would be called out again, to oppose some new approach of the Enemy.
To the Interrogatories propound by the department he answers as follows.
1. To the first Interrogatory he answers. I was born in the town of Shrewsbury, county of Monmouth, New Jersey, in the year A.D. 1761. 2. To the second, he answers: I have a record of my age, in a family record at my house. 3. To the third he answers: When I was called in service I was living in the town of Shrewsbury, Monmouth, Co. N. Jersey. Since the Revolutionary I have lived in Shrewsbury above mentioned - in Scipio, Cayuga County New York State, a few years & I now live in Galen Wayne County, New York. 4. To the fourth he answers: I was called into service by a warrant, issued, as I then understood it, by the colonel or General, to the under officers, commanding them to warn

out the soldiers or people, In case any one disobeyed the order he was compelled by an armed force to go.
To the fifth he answers:
5. There were no Regular officers of Continental troops or any continental troops in the vicinity of my service. I cannot now remember the number or names of any Militia Regiments in which I served, other than this, that the the first part or period of my service I served in Colonel's Holmes' Regiment & the later part under Colonel Smack's
I was a minute man, on monthly service, and was employed in guarding the frontiers of the state & along the Sea-shore, and was some times in garrison, sometimes marching from place to place & frequently engaged in contests and skirmishes with the enemy, this is the general character and brief some of the circumstances of my service.
To the sixth he answers:
6. I never received a discharge from the service.
To the seventh he answers; that the names of
7. persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood who can testify to & who believe he are fully set forth in his former declaration to which he begs leave to refer. Albert Vandermeer
Subscribed and sworn before me this 23rd day of October 1883 Miriam P. Jones Justice of the Peace in and for Wayne County N.Y.

State of New York Wayne County
Say I Cullen Foster Acting Clerk of said county do certify that Hiram P Jones before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn, was, at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly elected & sworn, And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signature within written is genuine - Witness my hand and seal of office this twenty first day of October A.D. 1833
Cullen Foster Acting Clerk
To the Senate and House of Reps. in Congress assembled from Pittsburgh, about 6 miles west of Wayne County NY a tract of land on which to be placed upon the present State

A. Vande Velde 41
Albert Vanderveer N
No 23211 The Petition of Albert Vanderveer a Revolutionary Soldier praying to be placed on the Pension list
March 1 1836 Ref to the Com on on Revolutionary Pensions June 17 1836 - Com te disch d to lie
Jan y 3 rd 1837 Ref d to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Jan y 17 1837 Report ag t - to lie + p er Report
June 11 - Rev. Pens. James Chapman 11. Rev. Pens.

M
File No. 22.006
Revoy
, Ex'r.
OLD WAR INVALID.
Albert Van der veer of NY Capt Schenck in N.J. troops
Service: act June 7 1832
Enlisted : _____ , 18
REJECTED
Discharged : _____ , 18
Application filed : _____ , 18
Alleges : _____
Re-enlisted : _____
Attorney : _____
P. O. _____

Black Rock Harbor
Clyde
2nd Sept 46

Herbert Hoover
Write B B French
Oct 14 inquiry of emb new original paper etc a copy by forwarded a with the request

Clyde, Septm 12 th 1846.
W. G. Wade Esq.
Sir,
I have your favor by yesterday's mail, under date of the 9 th inst 2 and herein do your requests with regard to signature of letter, date of fathers death, name of children &c.
Father died at my residence in this village, (Clyde) on Friday September 17 th 1841, at 7 O'clock A.M. - aged 79 Years 11 Months and 14 days. He left no widow - mother having died some 12 years previous. His surviving children are myself and sister, Sarah V.M. Vanderbeer, residing with me at this place.
Since writing you, I have made search for any correspondence between myself and the functionaries of the Pension office, but find nothing. I was Book keeper in the Seneca Co Bank at the time, and must have inadvertently laid it, if any, aside - not seeming it of any importance for future reference. Indeed, if my memory serves me, I think there was none, more than some marginal pencil notes pointing out on the returned papers a defect or two in the filling up of the blanks (which were remedied at once) and requesting a single affidavit to a particular fact - what, I do not now recollect; but remember of writing to a Mr. Shultz or Hulitz of Monmouth Co N.J. upon the subject, and found him to be non com. by reason of old age - blind, deaf & loss of memory. Immediately after, (in February 1836, I think) I forwarded the papers to Col. Lane, who was then a member of Congress from Indiana, requesting him to take such steps with regard to them as he might think proper. Some 2 or 3 weeks after, he sent me the Washington Globe containing the proceedings of Congress under date of the 1 st day of March 1836 - where I read the presentations by "Mr Lane of Indiana, The petition of Albert Vanderbeer of Wayne County, N.Y. a revolutionary soldier, praying for a pension." - What Col. Lane's Christian name is, whether he is now living, if so, at what place in his state, or whether he has the original papers or deposited them in the Pension office - I am unable to say. I am not clearly positive I sent them to him.
Your Agent, Mr. Leake, however, will soon ascertain the fact whether I did or not. And it will be easy to learn Col. Lane's residence, & whether he is living & has them in possession. Any assistance that I can afford you Sir,

in This matter will, of course, be cheerfully given.
That my father was, and that his children now are, honestly and honorably entitled to the provisions of the act, there is not a shadow of doubt.
I am, very respectfully,
Your friend,
J. M c Lean Derker

Clyde, Sept 7 th 1846.
W. G. Wade, Esq. Sir,
During the Spring and Summer of 1836. I submitted the claims of my father, Albert Vanderker, to a pension under an act of Congress passed one year previous, I think, to his application, providing for the militia service in the Revolution. This claim passed through all the forms of examination, and rested upon some unimportant testimony, which I believe I could not secure at the time. The identity of his person & services were fully & satisfactorily established - but some technically preventa for the action in the Department. Tired and provoked by the delay, I wrote to an old friend & acquaintance of his, Col. Lane of Indiana, who was then a member of Congress, and who, immediately on its session in Dec following, presented this claim in the form of a Petition to that body. This was referred, with other matters, to the proper committee. Whether it was ever reported or any further action had upon it, I do not now recollect. - Col. Lane's term of service expired with that session, and business leading me from home for 2 or 3 years after, I made no enquiry until my return - a short time after which, father sickened & died. So the matter stands.
He was a native of New Jersey, Monmouth County, - and called into service at the age of 16 or 17, I think, and served until the close of the war, as a minute man , so termed. The papers, with the proofs &c, must be, I suppose, in the Pension Office now. Such is a hasty history of the matter, and If you think it an object to look after it, upon the terms of your advertisement, I should be pleased to have you do so.
Respectfully, &c B. M. Vanderker.
Clyde Dec 6 th

33 Cong. 3 1 Sept. 3
48!
Documents in relation to the claim of B. M. Van Derveer to a pension for the services of his father Albert Van Derveer during the war of the revolution.
1854 Jan. 10, Referred to the Com. on Pensions. Jan. 30, Report adverse
Mr. Seward

Olydo, Mayne Co NY. January 1 st 1854.
Hon. Wm. H. Seward,
Dear Sir,
I have taken the liberty to enclose to you, herewith, for examination - the Declaration, Petition, &c, of my father, a Revolutionary Soldier, for a pension under the Act of Congress June 7. 1832; and to ask of your Hon. to adopt such a course in regard to them, as their merits will warrant, and your judgment shall direct.
A brief, of the past history of the proceedings in regard to these papers, will facilitate the examination, and enable you to determine upon the propriety of reviving the claim set forth therein - which is my object in addressing them to you.
In 1836, I forwarded the Declaration to the Pension Office. It was examined and returned  on account of some informality. I had it amended and sent back. It was reexamined and rejected on the ground, I think, that my father could not recollect the name of the Captain of the Company in which he last (or first) served. The papers were withdrawn; and sometime afterwards sent to Colonel Lane of Indiana, an old acquaintance of my father, and then a M. C.; who presented them (it seems) to that Body, in the form of a Petition - the result of which, will be seen by the Clerks filing. My correspondence (herewith) with W. G. Wade, a Pension agent, and the letter of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, will show what was subsequently done. Mr Wade held them until Feb. last - when I recalled them, for the purpose of making one more appeal to Congress, in behalf of as honest a service as was ever "done the State"; - not being able to forego my convictions that it will not deny to the

surviving children of a Revolutionary soldier, the only legacy he was able to bequeath to them — his right to a pension! He died in the faith that Congress would recognize his claim. He enjoined it upon me to secure the avails of it "for his little grandchildren". His oath, and the internal evidence of his Declaration, establish the equity of it. His moral character, and unwavering regard for truth and justice, through a long life, will not allow his Country the right to suppose an intended fraud upon her bounties. Inheriting his principles and his mind, I would, poor though I am, scorn to receive at the hands of Congress the avails of a perjured pension!
No, of there be a shadow of doubt as to the truthfulness of these claims — if they cannot be admitted to be just, though defective in proof — and awarded to merit, and not granted as a boon — I desire that they may never be urged. But I am penetrated with the idea, that if I could inspire your Hon. with my sentiments, and secure the talent and influence of yourself and Col. Benton, in laying the subject before Congress — it must succeed : — For I cannot believe that it will stand upon "the pound of flesh", and rob the parent soldier of the only provision his Country made for his services — and his children, of that reversionary Souvenir of its gratitude, through a morbid fear of im- position; — when, to the highly respectable witnesses (still living) who have subscribed to his character, and belief of service, I could add, were it necessary, a cloud , whose testimonials would not be questioned.
For myself — I refer to H. Dwight, Secy. C. A. Cook & Joseph Walling, Geneva. — David S. Skates, Rich d P. Hunt & Sam d Birdsall, Waterloo. — Wm A. Sackett, Seneca Falls. — Geo. Rathbun, Auburn — Gen. Wm H. Adams, Lyons, &c.
I offer no apology for sending you these papers, Sir — entertaining, as I do, a high opinion of your goodness.
Very Respectfully,

Your Obedt Servt, (B M Van Der Veer.)

Rose Feb 10 1853
Dear Sir,
In compliance with your request contained in your letter of this date, I enclose the papers relating to your father's claim for a pension.
I am Respectfully Wm Lloyd Smith, H. G. Wade
B. M. Van Buren Esq Albany N.Y.

Capitol U.S.
Clerk's office A: Reps. Nov. 10. 46-
W G Wade Esq.
Sir,
Agreeably to the request of Mr. Benj. M. Vanderveer I herewith enclose to you the papers in the case of Albert Van Servier a revolutionary soldier, for a pension.
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
Dan. Gold
Chief Clk of the office A: Reps.

War Department Pension Office, January 12. 1837.
Sir, The papers which you left here in the care of Albert Vanderveer, of New- York, are herewith returned. The claim was not admitted, because the applicant has failed to specify his service, in conformity with the regulation under the act of June 7. 1832.
I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, Your Ob t Serv t J. L. Edwards
Wm. J. Fry, Jr., House of Representatives.