Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 6359, Laurence Vanarsdall, Conti. New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conti. New Jersey
Vanarsdall, Laurence Lawrence Tabitha
W 6359
CONTENTS

1755 Kentucky
Lawrence Vanarsdall of Muen in the State of Kentucky who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Pratt of the Reg t commanded by Col. Lee — in the New Jersey line for 15 months from 1776
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 50 — Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of Nov r 1832 — and sent to R.B. McAfee. Harrodsburg, Ky
Arrears to 4th of Sept-1832 75.00 Semi-ann l . allowance ending 4 th March 1833 25 — $100 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk, Book Lo Vol. 9 Page 64,

State of Kentucky } Mercer county } On this 3 rd day of September 1832 Personally appeared in open court before the justices of the county court of Mercer now sitting Laurence Vandall a resident citizen of said county who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the follow- ing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. I Laurence Vandall state that I was born in the State of New Jersey near Somerset court house and at the time I was called into the service of my country I lived near Princeton in said State and in the month of May 1776 I enlisted for six months in Capt William Peatts company in Col Hirams Regiment and from New Brunswick we marched to Elizabeth town, New Ark, & Pauls Hook to New York and from Thence to the Battle of Long Island when we got worsted and finally had to retreat to New York & Thence up to the White Plains and Thence to Fort Montgomery on North River where we were stationed some time and then marched to Englishtown near Monmouth where I was honorably discharged, and I returned home and I then returned in Capt Peatts company and was engaged driving a baggage Wagon from Trenton to Valley Forge part of the time and the spring of the year 1778. I enlisted for six months in Capt Longs company of Col Lees Dragoons at the Valley Forge in Pennsylvania and I marched to Carrolls Ferry on the Delaware above Trenton where we staid two weeks during which time the Battle of Monmouth, and from Thence to Trenton where I was honorably discharged about four or five weeks after the Battle of Mon- mouth. Previous to my enlisting in Lees regiment of dragoons I served three times of one month each in the Militia of New Jersey in December 1776 I was in Capt De Boos company of the minute men and was stationed at a

Plan called Cranberry - , I further state that I have long since lost my discharge, and I do not know of any person in this state except Malachi Randolph with whom I served the first six months, I further hereby relinquish all claim that I have to any pension or annuity except the Present and I am not now a pensioner of the United States or of any state. Witness my hand this 3 d Sept 1832 - Lawrence Mark Vanandale
Mono County N.Y. This day Malachi Randolph a revolutionary soldier came came into open court and being first sworn according to law states on his oath, that, I was a soldier in Captain John Mc- -Intosh company of Col. Hiram regiment and was engaged in the Battle of Long Island, from which place Genl Washington and the American Army had to retreat, and I have this day conversed with Mr Lawrence (or Sam) Vanandall, and he has described to so many of the events and incidents attending said retreat while in the service of 5 d Regiment that I am satisfied beyond a doubt that he was a soldier in Capt Piatt's company, I knew Capt Piatt well and altho I was not personally acquainted with 5 d Vanandall yet I have no hesitation in saying on my oath that I believe he served six months with me in 5 d Regiment. Witness my hand this 3 d day of September 1832.
Malachi Randolph
Also Daniel Covert came into open court and being first sworn states upon his oath states that I saw Lawrence Vanandall in the service of the

Mr. Jury Troop at Elizabeth town in Col. Firman Regt in his march to Long Island. I have known him ever since and have often heard him speak of his services soon after the war which he described as he now has in his dis- claration - he is a man of truth and a good Citizen Witness my hand this 3 d day of Sept 1832 -
Daniel Coonert
Munroe County ss. We J. Isepe Head residing in sd county of Monroe and state aforesaid and Malichi Randolph & David Coonert - residing in the same county do hereby state on oath being first sworn according to law, and we do hereby certify that we are well  well acquainted with Lawrence (Jdow) & are as- sessed of sd county who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, and we believe that he is of the age he has stated, that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood in which he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in this opinion - We further certify that he is a respectable Citizen and a man of veracity in whom we have confidence - Witness our hands this day of 1832
Isepe Head
Malichi Randolph David Coonert

State of Kentucky Muhlenberg Co. ss.
September Term 1832
This day Laurence Vanarsdale the subscriber to the Within Declaration & Malachi Randolph Daniel Coon & Jesse Head the subscribers to the three Certificates (one Cert. subscribed by all three) Came into Open Court & made oath to the truth of the statements by them respectively subscribed. And the said Court do hereby Certify or declare their opinion after the investigation of the Matter and after putting the interrogatories subscribed 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 Jesse Head who has signed the preceding last Cert. (with the others) is a Anguymann resident in the County of Daviess and that S. Randolph Coon who has also signed Pail Cert. and also separately the two preceding or first Certificates are residents in the County and are Credible persons & that their statements are entitled to Credit.
I Thomas Allin Jr. Clerk of the County Court aforesaid. (By Phil. T. Allin Deputy) do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the Matter of the application of Laurence Vanarsdale for a Pension.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal of Office this 3 rd Day of September 1832 and in the 41 st year of the Commonwealth.
Thos Allin Jr. Clerk By Phil T. Allin Dpty Clk
Laurence Vanarsdale
81111

3312
Indiana, Madison
Tabitha Vanarsdall widow of Lawrence Vanarsdall who served in the Revolutionary war, as a pirate
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 50 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of Dec r 1853 and sent to
R. S. Ragan Green Castle Indiana
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 191 Vol. A
32
End
Date of death not m. 93

State of Kentucky {
Lincoln County } to-wit
This day personally appeared before me the undersigned John W Read a justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid. Lawrence Vanarsdal who being sworn according to law says that he is the son of Lawrence Vanarsdal Sen who was a Revolutionary Soldier, that his Father was entitled to and was receiving a pension at the time of his death. He states that his Father died in the State of Indiana in the Month of March 1836, he states that Tabitha Vanarsdal the petitioner was the wife of the said Lawrence Vanarsdal, he states that at the time his Father and his step-mother were married he was about five years old, that he was not present at their marriage but that they lived together as man and wife until his Father's death, he knows they lived as man and wife for twenty five years, He states that the said Tabitha Vanarsdal's name before her marriage with his Father was Mrs Tabitha Lunny, he further states that the said Lawrence Vanarsdal and the said Tabitha Lunny were married about the year 1809 or 1810 they were married on near at Trenton New Jersey, he states that the said Tabitha Vanarsdal is about seventy nine years old, He further states that although she is the step-mother

of the said Tabitha  Vanarsdall and he has no interest in her getting a pension. That he is a disinter- ested witness. He states that he is a resident of Lincoln County State of Kentucky. April 24 th 1851
Lawrence Vanarsdall
State of Ky Lincoln County } to wit
Subscribed and sworn to before me the day and year above written
John W. Reed J.P. For Lincoln County Kentucky
State of Kentucky Lincoln County } ss
I Thomas Helm Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that John W Reed before whom the annexed affidavit was made and who has therunto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing and is still an acting justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned and sworn, and all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed the seal of the Lincoln County Court this 26 th day of April 1851
Thomas Helm Clerk Lincoln County Court

Declaration of Sabitha Vanarsdall To procure a Pension.

State of Indiana County of Hendricks } B.
On this twentieth day of May one thousand eight hundred and fifty three, personally appeared before me, the undersigned John Cowgill a judge of the Common Pleas Court in and for the aforesaid County, Sabitha Vanarsdall a resident of said County aged eighty one years; who being first duly sworn according to laws, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress, passed February 3 d 1853, entitled an "An act to continue Half-pay Pensions to certain Widows and Orphans!"
That she is the widow of Lawrence Vanarsdall Sen. Deceased; who was a private in the Revolutionary War. She further declares that she does not remember the exact date of her marriage with said Lawrence Vanarsdall, but thinks it was about the year A.D. 1809 or 1810; and that she knows of no record of the same; and that her said husband died on the 10 th day of March A.D. 1836. She further swears that she is now a widow and has been even since her said husband's death; and that she has never before made any application for a Pension.
Sabitha her Vanarsdall mark
This is to certify that the above named petitioner Sabitha Vanarsdall being unable to appear in open court in consequence of

old age and infirmity; appeared in private before me on the day and year above written and was duly sworn, and subscribed the above declaration.
John Cowgill
Judge of the Common Pleas -
State of Indiana } Sct. Hendricks County }
I John Irons clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Hendricks County in said State hereby certify that John Cowgill Esqr, before whom the foregoing declaration appears to have been sworn to was at the date thereof and now is the judge of said Court, duly elected Commissioned and qualified, that the signature purporting to be his is genuine, and that said Court is a court of record.
In Testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Danville this 21st day of May A.D. 1833.
John Irons Clerk
By J. S. Hadley Deputy

8141
Lawrence Vanarsdall
from 1776 private 15 months.
$50.
Lockheed House Roll N.D.
R.B. McAfee

No. 8141
8141
BRIEF in the case of Laurence Vanarsdall County of Mercer in the State of Kentucky (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? not stated  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.     May In 1776 entered for — 8 # — private Capt Pratt Col: Forman   He again serv d 3 terms of one month each — 3. — " " Deboo   Spring 1778 entered for 6 m. was discharged 4 or 5 weeks after the battle of Monmouth time not friendly stated 3 — Stated " Long. Col. Lee  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Long Island  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Near Princeton New Jersey  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one Witness as to his being in service Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
* He does not say when he serv d out his time but says he was honorably discharged
J. Waugh
Examining Clerk.

April 10, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Laurence Vanarsdall-W6359 BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Dayton Fertig 901 East King Street Franklin, Indiana
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Laurence Vanarsdall of Mercer County, Kentucky.
The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W.6359, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Laurence (Lawrence) Vanarsdall.
He was born near Somerset Court House, New Jersey. The date of his birth is not given, nor are the names of his parents stated.
Laurence Vanarsdall enlisted, while residing near Princeton, New Jersey, in May, 1776 and served six months in Captain William Piatt's company, Colonel Forman's New Jersey regiment, and was in the battle of Long Island, and retreat from there. He was in December, 1776 a minute man in Captain DeBoo's (?) company. He drove a baggage wagon under Captain Beatty, from Trenton to Valley Forge, length of this service not given. He enlisted at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1778 and served six months in Captain Lory's (?) company in Colonel Lee's Dragoons. He stated that he also served three tours of three months in the New Jersey militia.
1 month each
Laurence Vanarsdall was allowed pension on his application executed September 3, 1832, then a resi-

dent of Mercer County, Kentucky.
The soldier, Laurence Vanarsdall, married in 1809 or 1810 "at or near" Princeton, New Jersey, Mrs. Tabitha Curry. He died March 10 or 22, 1836 in the state of Indiana. 12
His widow, Tabitha Vanarsdall, was allowed pension on her application executed May 20, 1853, then aged eighty-one years and living in Hendricks County, Indiana.
Laurence Vanarsdall, son of the soldier, Laurence Vanarsdall, in 1851 was living in Lincoln County, Kentucky, and stated that the widow, Tabitha, was his stepmother, and that he was about five years old, when his father married the said Tabitha. There is no reference to his mother, and it is not stated that the soldier and his wife, Tabitha, had children.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

Greencastle Ind. May 26 th 1853.
Hon. Robert McClelland.
Respected Sir, you will please find a declaration accompanied with an affidavit for the purpose of procuring a Half-Pay Pension for Mrs. Tabitha Vanarsdall the widow of Lawrence Vanarsdall Sen. deceased, who was a Revolutionary Pensioner, receiving $48. per annum if my memory serves me faithfully. She is an illiterate woman and has not preserved her husband's papers; or we could make out a fuller case of proof than the accompanying affidavit makes out. Said affidavit was procured about two years ago as you will perceive, believing her to be then entitled to a Pension, but as it disclosed the fact that the petitioner was not married to said Vanarsdall prior to the year A.D. 1800, which

fact satisfied us that she was barred under the Act of Feb. 22 nd 1849, and we rested there until the act of last Winter which brought her fairly under the purview of the law.
Sir, this is a very worthy subject to my own personal knowledge, and one who greatly needs assistance; therefore I hope you will give as liberal a construction of the Act as you can consistently with your duty.
You will please answer this at an early opportunity, and You will also greatly oblige me by sending me a copy of the Pension Laws up to this date.
Your Ob t Servt.
R. S. Pagan Atty.
Hon. R. M c Cllelland Washington D.C.
P.S. Please direct to R. S. Pagan at Greencastle Indiana.
R.S.P.

No 1953
Tabitha Vanarsdall Widow of Laurence Set to Agt.
Aug 20/53
Gray

Pension Office August 17/53
Sir please report time of last payment to or death of Within named Pensioner
Respectfully
F Burt Esqr S. Coke 3 Aud. for Count- Present
Lawrence Vanarsdale, Act 1832, $50.00. p. an. Died 12 th March 1836, Paid to his death.
F. Burt Auditor.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 6359
Sulitha Vanarsdall
Widow
Laurence Vanarsdall
Print Rev War
Act: Feb 3 d  1853
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 295
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1933 April 18 - list Mrs. Daphne Fertig

State of Kentucky Lincoln County Set I Hereby Certify That Lawrence Vanarsdale whose affidavit was taken by John W Reed and now on file in the Pension Office is a man whose oath can be relied upon and have no doubt of the Correctness of the Statements made in said affidavit I also Certify That John W Reed was an acting Justice of the Peace at the time said affidavit was Given but is not an acting Justice at this time Given under my hand as a Justice of the Peace for said County this 29 th Novem- ber 1853
Robt H. Givens J.P.L.C
Commonwealth of Kentucky Lincoln County, Set:
I, Nathaniel Carter Clerk of the County Court for the County & State aforesaid do certify, that Robt H. Givens Esq r whose genuine signature is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is now, and was at the time of his signature, an acting Justice of the Peace within & for the County & State aforesaid, duly elected, commis- sioned & sworn, & that full faith & credit are due & ought to be given to all such his Official acts, as well out of as in this State. In testimony whereof

I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of our said Court, at Office in Stanford, Ky. This 1 st day of Dec r 1853.
Champer Cartee Clerk Lincoln County Court.

Vanarsdall

Brief in the case of Tabitha Vanarsdall widow of Sammie Hendricks County and State of Indiana act of February 3-1853.
Claim, ("original," or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband a private in N.Y. line 15 Mds. of pensioner under act of June 7. 1832 at $50 per annum & paid to his death March 12 1836
Allowed $50 per annum Com. Feb. 3 1853
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Marriage proved by Sammie Vanarsdale resident of Lincoln Co., Kentucky of certified to be credible Death proved by Auditor's report. Identity & Widowhood by cr. witnesses
Name and residence of Agent
R. S. Ragan Green Castle Indiana
Examining Clerk.
J. L. Gray

Greencastle Ind. Dec. 14 th 1853.
Hon. L. P. Waldo.
Dr. Sir.
After so long a time the required certificate has been obtained. The delay however was in consequence of the negligence of my agent in Kentucky.
I hope the evidence now before you will be adequate to insure success for Mr. Vanarsdall (the applicant), but if not you will please inform me at an early occasion, what facts are yet unsatisfactory.
I am respectfully Your obedient servant
R. S. Ragan Atty. for Tabitha Vanarsdall.
Hon. L. P. Waldo. Washington D. C.

Greencastle Ind. Aug. 23 d 1853.
Hon. S. P. Waldo, Commissioner of Pensions &c.
Sir,
Your attention is called to a matter whether you have received a letter from me dated the 26 th of May last, enclosing a declaration & affidavit for the purpose of procuring a half-pay Pension for Mrs. Tabitha Vanarsdall or not.
It was sent by mistake to the Secretary of the Interior who stated that it had been referred to you. If so please let me know in reference to it as early as convenient
I am Respectfully Your Obl. Servant,
R. S. Ragan Agent.
Hon. S. P. Waldo, Commissioner of Pensions

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Laurence Vanarsdall which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides ? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides ? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so ?  IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served ? yes V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled ? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations ? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832 ? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion ? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate ? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed ? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal ? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? —
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? This is a witness as to service
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 2. 5. 8. 12
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
† QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

4 Greencastle Ind May 26. 1853, R. S. Ragan.
Encls, declaration & affi- -davit for the purpose of procuring half pay Pen- -sion for Mrs. Tabitha Vandercall
Respectfully referred to The Commissioner of Pensions. Dept. Int. 11. May 31/53 E. H. Whiting Col. Clk.
Mayo 1853

Alexander Hamilton Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Franklin, Indiana
February 22, 1933.
Commissioner Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please send me a copy of the claim of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Lawrence Vanarsdall, who is listed in the Pen- sion Roll from Mercer County, Kentucky, he serv- ed in the New Jersey Line.
Yours very truly,
Mrs Dayton Fertig
901 East King Street, Franklin, Indiana.

Sept 25. 8136 to 8142.
Horace
John
Abel
Free
Quincy claim
acting Secretary of War
Washington City

Harrodsburg - Sept 10. 1832
Dear Sir I again send you the case of the New Jersey Militia - which I have drawn over again your attention to these cases are respectfully requested - I have known them myself more than thirty years - Mr Demaree besides a Clugymann has the evidence of Mark McGahan a friend in his favor I hope the secretary of war will see the difficulties we have in the west - for my own part the statements of these men are alone sufficient if you knew them - I also send the case of Thomas Moore - you will find his name and John Moore here for suit - on the roll of the Illinois Regt - they both get their land - Yours with Respect -
PS. I also send on Mr Ivys case, his evidence is his neighbor and a Clugymann I have known him several years and his character for honesty is as good as any man's - His Trinity Witness is believed to be dead
Yours & R. B. McIver
R. B. McIver