Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10962, John J Voorhees, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
New Jersey
Voorhees, John J. Lucy
R. 10962
CONTENTS

red case
11,148 D. Rolls
John Voorhees Oswego. New York.
July 4.80 - Nov. 31.80
5 1/2
specifically
25 Sept 1832 27 Dec 1832
P 184
(agents letter not signed)
2 Reg. of J. Lee Ent July 4. 1780 Disth Dec 31-1780
5 th 27 days
31 4 5.25

11,148
BRIEF in the case of Co. of Oswego
John Voorhees, - in the State of  New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
Oswego,
 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? 72 years  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.     In 1776 (indefinite) private Gen. Putnam, Col. Frelinghuysen.   9 mo do Cap. Van Klief   2 d Reg. N. Jersey Troops   Cap. Brokane   3 yrs or during the war  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Monmouth; Taking the Hessians in N. Jersey; Taking Cornwallis.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bridgewater, Somerset Co., New Jersey. 
 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Trad'y. 
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. Havert Examining Clerk.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832
State of New York County of Wayne, ss. Personally appeared on this 9 th day of February 1847, before me the Subscriber, a Judge of the Court in and for the County aforesaid Lucy Voorhies, Widow of the late John J. Voorhies, Aged Sixty-nine Years, Who after giving due Oath according to Law, deposes and saith, That she is the widow of John J. Voorhies, late a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, and who died on the 26 th day of October 1843 (Eighteen hundred and forty three) - This deponent asks on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That her aforesaid Husband John J. Voorhies, enlisted in the Army, in the Revolutionary War, from the State of New Jersey, as this deponent believes. That the time of said enlistment, as she understood from her said husband, was soon after the commencement of the war, and that he served until the close - but for a particular description of his service, & the names of the officers under whom the said Voorhies served, this deponent refers the Commission of Pensions to the declaration made by her said husband about 12 years since, as she is not able from her recollection to state these facts. That the residence of the said Voorhies when he applied for a Pension was in the State of New Jersey. This deponent, in the name of her deceased husband John J. Voorhies, makes the above application for the Pension due to her aforesaid husband at the time of his death viz. October 26 th 1843, she hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or an annuity, except the present, & she declares that her late husband's name was not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in this State, or in the United States.
This 9 th day of February 1847
Amos Snyder a Judge of Wayne County Court
Lucy Voorhies
I certify that the above named Lucy Voorhies is a Respectable person. That I believe her to be of the age represented by her that on account of bodily infirmity she cannot attend the court to make her Declaration
Amos Snyder a Judge of Wayne County Court

State of New York } County of Wayne } ss. Personally appeared before the subscri- -ber a Judge of the Court in and for said County Reuben Crippen, aged forty six Years; after being duly sworn according to Law deposes and saith. That from his earliest Recollection he has been personally acquainted with the within named Lucy Boorhes, widow of John Boorhes, who had the Reputation of having been a Soldier in the war of the Revolution. That this deponent was present at the Marriage of the said Lucy to the said Boorhes, which Marriage took place in the Month of April in the Year, one thousand Eight hundred and twenty five (1825) That the said parties lived together as husband and wife until the Death of the said Boorhes which took place in the Year 1843 That the said applicant still remains his Widow Sworn and Subscribed before me } This 9 th day of February 1847 } Reuben Crippen Amos Snyder a Judge of Wayne County Courts
I certify that the said Reuben Crippen is a Respectable person and worthy of credit — Amos Snyder a Judge of Wayne County Courts
Report to John H. Curtis Director Wayne Co. NY

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section R. 10962
MS
August 24, 1926
Mrs. G. F. Crippen 215 W. Chey St. Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Madam:
I have to advise you that it appears from the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau that JOHN J. VOORHEES, while a resident of Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey, enlisted soon after the commencement of the Revolution and served with the New Jersey Troops until the close of said war.
He married in April, 1825, Lucy, whose maiden name is not stated.
He was a resident of Oswego, New York, in 1836.
He died October 26, 1843.
His widow, Lucy, applied for pension February 9, 1847, while a resident of Wayne County, New York, aged sixty-nine years. Her claim was not allowed as she failed to furnish specific proof of service as required by the pension law.
The above noted is the only John Voorhees (searched under all spellings of the name) from Somerset County, New Jersey, that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner

10962
P. O. John Voorhees
Service: _____
Enlisted: Aug. 29, 1906  REJECTED , 18
Discharged: _____ , 18
Application filed: of suspension , 18
Alleges: The original papers were sent to Hon. A.P. Grant, June 7-1838, & have not been replaced. the claim was defective in proof of service.
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____ , 18
1923 - May 7. Heir to Mrs. H.B. Hampton - awd. 1923 - May 18. Let. to Mrs. H.B. Hampton with furnished May 7, 1923. R. 10962 pro. Thomas 1926. Daug. J.L. Irish to Mrs. H.B. Hampton. 10962 pro. Thomas 1923. Engineer Co. Minn. 1923. Chief of Staff 1923. W.D.

Rev. War Section.
aws.
May 7, 1923.
Mrs. H. B. Houghton, 1946 North Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dear Madam;
In response to your letter of February 20, 1923, I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolution- ary War pension claim, R. 10962, it appears that Lucy Voor- hees applied for pension February 9, 1847, while a resident of Wayne County, New York, aged sixty nine years, his  and alleged that her husband John J. Voorhees, while a resident of Bridgewater New Somerset Co Jersey enlisted soon after the commencement of the War and served until the close. Her claim was not allowed, as she failed to furnish specific proof of service as required by the pension laws..
It also appears in the claim that John J. Voorhees married Lucy, maiden name not stated, April 1825. He died October 26, 1843.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

February 20-1923 1946 North Ave. Bridgeport Conn.
Pension Office. Washington D.C. Revolutionary Dept 1776-
Dear Sir:
Please send me a copy of the application for pension or rejection thereof about the following soldier: -
{ John Voorhees, Private, Somerset Co., Militia, New Jersey. Claim for pension rejected (Rejected No 10 962) Died Oct 26, -1843. Residence, Bridgewater, Somerset Co.

I truly appreciate this service rendered by the Government, in giving information about old soldiers; that helps get the records correct.
Gratefully
Eona Wiscott Houghton
Address
Mrs H.B. Houghton 1946 North Ave. Bridgeport Conn.

Ex. MS Div. Rev. 81812 Wars Section Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C. May 21, 1926
The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is not sufficient to enable this Bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau.
First name of widow, No. of claim, Willie D. or Wilhelm Name of soldier, John Voorhees
P. O. address of claimant, Soldier at enlistment & after service Probably Somerset Co. N.J.
Company _____
Regiment _____
State where enlisted New Jersey
Date of birth enlistment _____
Date of discharge death _____
If unable to furnish company and regiment give names of commanding officers.
Return attached letter with reply. Winfield Scott WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

Ut. Pleasant Mich. Mar. 23-1926
Bureau of Pensions. Rev. War Section Washington D.C.
Will you please let me know if John Voorhees of Somerset New Jersey, or any of his family ever received a pension on his services in the Rev. War. Any information you could give me would be much appre- ciated. Yours Very Truly.
Mrs. G. F. Crippen 215 W. Cherry St Ut. Pleasant. Mich.

Mt. Pleasant Mich.
May 24 - 1926
Winfield Scott.
Comm. of Pensions Washington - D.C.
Dear Sir.
I received the enclosed blank today. I know very little about the John Voorhees I am trying to trace. He had a daughter - Wilhelmina or "Willity" who was named for her mother. I think the name was sometimes spelled "Williamtje" or "Willemptje" - The daughter

was born - Somerset Co. bap. Aug 22 1779 Married Dec. 31, 1798-9 to John Hoagland - Residence Franklin Township - Somerset Co. N.J.
not Pleasant
That is all I know at present - & am anxious to learn enough more to make it possible to join the D.A.R. on his name.
The Adjutant-General of N.J. sent me a list of four or five enlistments of that name, but nothing by which I could tell which one I wanted. There was one John Voorhees a Private in Capt-

Jones Co, Somerset Co. Militia 1780.
John Voorhees - Private Capt. Stryker's Co. 1781
" Ensign Somerset Co Militia -
John J. " Private " " " "
Essex Co Militia. Residence
Bridgewater Died Oct 1843 - Also John Van Voorhees Private Somerset Co Militia.
If you can give me any information which will show me which one was the father of the wife of John Hoagland it would please me very much.
Sincerely Yours,
Mrs. G. F. Cooppen 215 W. Cherry St.
Sub. Pleasant:
which

Let. to J. F. Curtis, 18 th March, 1847. to same
11.148
New York
Revo:
10962
John Voorhees
Suspended
let. ct. 12 June 33.
ol
See let. to Hon
J. Tunnicliff May 26 '34
do. to same April 22. 1836
do do March 6, '37
do do May 11 '37
let. to Hon. J. Platt 13 th Sept '37 A. P. Grant
same June 7. 1838 (enclosing paper.)
Act 7 June 32
Let. to N. Leake, June 9, '40
over

Washington April 21 st 1836
Sir
In the case of John Voorhies of Oswego in the state of New York which remains undecided in your office. It appears from his declaration that he enlisted first in the New Jersey militia for 6 months, that he left the company in which he was and enlisted for 9 months & finally that he enlisted subsequently for three years or during the War, and that he served to the end of the war & was regularly discharged. Mr V may not remember accurately all the attending circumstances, but from a long and intimate acquaintance with him, I can say without hesitation that he has stated nothing which he did not believe to be true, and he is sustained by the record. It appears from the New Jersey roll list that John Voorhies at one time served 6 months, lacking a few days 3 or 4 of which, he was his six months enlistment, and it appears from a statement of which the following is a copy that he must or he states, have served to the end of the war. "It appears by the records in this office that Land Warrant No. 8716 for 100 acres issued the 13 th Oct 1792 to "John

Decker" who was a soldier in the N Jersey line
W Gordon
Bounty L d office
March 19 1836
This is sufficient evidence I apprehend that he served to the end of the war. I will entitle him to as large a pension as any soldier receives, and I see no reason why he should not take his pension under the act of 1828
Most Respectfully
J Turrill
J L Edwards Esq
Pension office

War Dept
Pension Office
April 22 d 1836
Sir,
In reply to your letter of yesterday I have to inform you that I have carefully examined the papers on file in this Office in support of the claim of John J. Voorhees, and I can  do discover in them evidence sufficient to authorize the Dept t to grant a Pension. This claim has been before objected to because the rolls do not show that the  any one named John Voorhees, of the N. Jersey line, served so long as six months. His declaration is not drawn up as the regulations direct. He says, after mentioning his service for six months, (and which appears from the rolls to have fell short of that period) that he "enlisted in the regular Troops for three years or during the war, and he served faithfully to the end of the war; that he was in several different companies, but does not now recollect the names of any of his officers except Capt. Brokaw and his lieutenant Van Dorn." It is indispensably necessary in order to a due investigation of his claim, that he should give the names and ranks of the officers who commanded the reg t . and company to which he belonged. The names of Brokaw and Van Dorn do not appear in any of our rolls. They were not continental officers. It is also required that the claimant should give a more particular statement of the case, showing when and where he served, with  and and to give such a detail of circumstances as may have a tendency to ascertain the facts of his claim  satisfy the Dept t of the truth of his claim  to the facts of his claim .
no to remove all papers on file.

He alleges that he handed his discharge to Judge Grover, of Auburn, in 1818, for the purpose of obtaining a pension at that time: but it does not appear from our books, that a claim was then or made to a Pension. He showed procure letter from Judge Grover on this point. From Mr. Gordon's Certificate it would appear, that a man named John Voorhees drew bounty land from the U. States for revolutionary service, and that he belonged to the N. Jersey Line: but it does not appear that John J. Voorhees, who now claims a Pension is the same man. In order to avail himself of the benefit of such evidence he must prove that it is the identical person who received the warrant for the bounty land. Such proof, however, if produced, would not supersede the necessity of his making an amended declaration setting forth the particulars required by the regulations.
I have the L
Hon. J. Turrill
22. April 1836
O. C.
Hon. J. Turrill House of Reps
Enter this letter in N. York No. 11,148 Rec. Vol. 38

Washington Feb 26 1837
Sir
I have recd the enclosed additional evidence in the case of Col. J. Vanhook, and hope it will be sufficient to give the old soldiers their pension
Yr obedient servt
J. Merrill
J. L. Edwards Esq

ston J Swinell
6 March 1837
06
Rec. Vol. 45 pa. 179.

War Department Pension Office March 6 th 1837
Sir The affidavit of John Vandenburg in relation to the revolutionary service of John Voorhies has been contained in your letter of the 26 th ult o has been examined and placed on file The statement of this witness is wholly indefinite; he should state give the names of the officers under whom he himself, as well as those under whom the claimant served the time he was  period  period in period in which the service was rendered, before it can be determined what value  bearing his testimony has has in deciding the upon the claim
Hon J. T. Treadwell, Oswego New York

War Department Pension Office
Sept. 12 1837
Sir The papers of John Voorhies whose claim is re- ferred to in the inclosed letter, have again been ex- amined - The claimant states that he served in a company, in 1776, the name of the Captain of which he does not remember; that in consequence of being under size and under age was unemployed to assist in driving cattle &c, that soon after he enlisted in the 2 d Regiment of New Jersey State troops, Capt Van Blankum's company for nine months, that afterwards he enlisted in the regular troops for three years in Capt. Brokum's company, and was at Yorktown &c - There does not appear to have been a Captain in the Jersey line of the name of Brokum dur- ing the war nor is there any evidence in the Department that there was a Captain of the name of Van Blankum in the state troops - Unless the names of the company & regimental officers are correctly stated there can be no satisfactory investigation - A

Man of the name of John Voorhies gave a tour in the 2 nd reg t of the Jersey line in 1780 but did not continue there six months; there seems therefore to be no reason to believe this man and the claimant are one and the same in individual
Ent d .
Q.C. 100
For A. P. Gray Isaac Potts Home Rpts N G

No. of Rep?
June 7 th -38-
Hon Jas L Edwards Sir
The case of John Norhus an applicant for a Pension, from New- York, has been referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. Will you please send me at your earliest convenience all the Papers on file in your Office having any relation to this claim and much oblige
Respectfully Yours W. L. S. L. A. P. Grant

Hon. A. P. Grant
June 7, 1838,
06

War Dept.
Plenipot Office,
June 7. 1838
Sir,
Agreeably to Your request I enclose herewith the original papers in support of the claim of John Voorhees, and I will be obliged to You if You will acknowledge the receipt of them.
Hon. A. P. Grant, A.R.

Huron Wayne Co. MI Jany 29 th 1846
Hon. J. S. Edwards
Sir I am appointed agent in the case of John Voorhies, who applied for a pension under the act, 7 th June 1832 from this State - And I request that you permit Nathan Seaker Esq. of Washington to examine the papers now on file in your office in relation to that claim
Very Respectfully Yours
John H. Burns

Washington March 11 th 1846
Sir
I am requested by Mr John F. Curtis of New York, (who has been appointed agent in the case,) to examine the papers in the case of John J. Voorhies of that State an applicant for pension under the act of 7 June 1832 but who died in Oct r 1843. without success in his application his widow is living and desires to renew the claim with the hope of being able to satisfy the department with proof of his service. I enclose a note from Mr Curtis requesting permission for me to examine the case, which will save the trouble of reporting it over again -
I am Very Respectfully Your obt Servant Nathan Lake
Hon J. L. Edwards Court of Pensions Present

178 Pension Office, June 8, '40.
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 18 th March, in the case of John J. Voorhees, decd; I have to state that we do not allow the examination of papers under such circumstances, as you referred to, in your letter. If the widow has a claim it should be regularly set up, when she will have the benefit of such testimony as is on file in this office.
Nathan Leake, Esq. Present.

Pension Office, March 18 th , 1847.
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 11 th February last, enclosing a declaration in the case of John Voorhees, decd., I have to state that on the 7 th June, 1838, the original papers were enclosed to the Hon. A. P. Grant, at his request; since which they do not appear to have been returned to this office. We are unable, therefore, to give you the information which you seek.
John F. Curtis, Esq. Huron, Wayne Co., N. Y.

Feb 17. 1897
Deputy Clerk John J. Voorhies
Henry H. ... Feb 11

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Sir
Will You Report to me a description of John Woodhull's Service - as stated by him in his Declaration now on file in Your office
Very Respectfully &c
John P. Curtis
Hurran Feb 11 - 1847

11,148
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Voorhees  too which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? It does II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? He did 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? He has 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 Affidavit should state separately & distinctly the period term & grade of actual service in an embodied corp regularly called out & worded by Competent authority. VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? He has VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? He has VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? He has IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? He has 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? No

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? Hee has
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? Hee has
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?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? They are
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.”

War Dept
Pension Off
May 31
Sir
Upon a review of Lebbius Larabee's papers, it is questioned  may be questioned whether he has not been wrongfully admt His service as overseer of the prisoners, according to his first declaration or as Steward- Dr. Master Overseer in his late affidavit does not distinctly appear to have been under military obligations. From his age & the character of his employment on board the prison ship it is inferred that he was more likely  was the clerk of the Compy. than a Dr. Master - He should therefore make a declaration in open court & set forth distinctly the circumstances under which he engaged in that service - detail the duties he performed & disclose the authority to which he was amenable - the amt of his pay &c -
With respect to the grade of Sergeant in his other of his service  item , it seems  does he was not alledg that he rec d a warrant & account for its non-production; Nor does his witness, altho his affidavit is taken to support his claim to an increase of pension for that grade, sustain his allegation - The affidavit is returned for authentication - It is proper during the pendency of this
May 2. 1854 Dr. H. S. T. T. T. T.

X Nothing has been rec d in relation to the claim of Saml. Phillips to change the decision concerning concealed in mine of 15 mar. last.
application for an increase that the certificate now in his possession should be returned to this office. In the case of Aron Fish his alleged service (unreported by any proof) on board the Raleigh was not computed in his pension because it did not appear that it was a public ship . If he will establish the fact that he was corp t of artillery for 8 months it would increase his pension and if he should not establish that fact, he should return the certificate for correction as it appears to have been issued for $3.33/100 more than was authorized by the decision. John Voorhees sets forth in his declaration that after two terms of service he enlisted for 3 years "or during the war" in the regulars and served to the end of the war without stating the company regt. & line to which he belonged. No evidence is produced of his service - until he shall comply with  disclose the requisitions in setting forth his claim no examination can be made of the records of service. He also alleges two terms of service one of 6 mos in his 16 th year during which he was employed in butchering cattle &c - & the other of 9 mos in Col. Tuckey's regt. Capt. Lott's company. The proof of this service may be found if he will seek it in New Jersey  where it is most likely to be found and the regulations require the best proof the best evidence in the power of a claimant to produce - X
Hon T. L. Turrell
27 June