Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25844, Michael Vreelandt, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Vreeland, Michael Vreeland or Rytha Freeland or
No. 25844.
CONTENTS

Date of death not on AB
4490
New York at Dytha Vreeland widow of Michael Vreeland Pen who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848. 3rd February 1853
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Sept, 1854 and sent to Mrs. Jay New York
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1848 Page 86 Vol. A 1853
4.5

Michigan No. 27,577, Enlistment
Michael Ireland of Wayne Co., in the State of Michigan who was a P. in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by Col. [blank] in the [blank] service [blank]
2 Yrs. 4 M. $ 80.
Inscribed on the Roll of Michigan [blank] at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Augh and [blank] to 31, Rev. Ireland, Detroit, Mich.
Arrears to the 4th of Feb 31, 240.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 2d Apr. 40.00 $ 280.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. C. Sprague Clerk, Book [blank] Vol. 8 th Page 102

Situate of Michigam County of Wayne
On this 25 day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the Judges of the Circuit Court of the County of Wayne in the Situate of Michigam now sitting Michael Freeland, a resident of Brown- =town in the County of Wayne aged twenty two years who being 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 y r 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as therein stated. He served first under Colonel James Monough in the Company of Capt. Asha Lygent and his brother Jacob Freeland was Lieutenant. He entered the service in June 1778 and continued in service at intervals whenever required by his commanding officers till he was captured by the Indians near Fort Freeland. on the 20 th July 1779 at which time his father, & his brother Lieutenant Freeland, were killed That he remained in captivity with the Indians & afterwards the British, till the 1 st January 1783 when he was sent under a Cartelle flag from Quebec to New York

and from thence to Dobb's Spring where he was exchanged with various others to wit: Col. Campbell from near the Falls of the Ohio, & Captain Hull & Stacey from the neighborhood of Pittsburgh, & Captain Boge, Captain Solomon, & Lieutenant Syers & also many others in all one hundred & seventy Seven and in all that time he received pay from the United States received  in a Certificate of pay which he sold to one Joseph Barnard a Merchant, he was in a partial engagement on the 16 th April 1779 with the Indians near Wheelands fort, and in that of the July following when he was taken, that the principal duty that he performed was that of a Scout on the frontiers between Wheelands Brady & Wallace's Station in that neighborhood, and east of that as far as Fishing Creek, and in that neighborhood, the Continental officers with whom he was acquainted were Colonel Cook, Maj. Dougherty, Capt. Boone & Capt. Brady, that he knows of no person that can testify as to his service, now living with the exception of the children herewith, accompanying this declaration.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency of any State to his knowledge.
Sworn and Subscribed to in open Court the day and year aforesaid. M c Winder Clerk
Sworn to & subscribed the day of Year aforesaid Michael Pres Arvt
De Donit S. Bacon a citizen resident in the County of Monroe and Thomas Rowland residing in Detroit hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Michael Pres Arvt. who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court of M c Winder Clerk
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Daniel S. Bacon Thomas Rowland
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Daniel S. Bacon and Thomas Rowland who have signed the preceding

Certificate as to  is a  Cleryman President in the County of of Wayne  stated in this  D. Thomas Rawland  that  that  Daniel Bacon , who has signed the same also, is a resident in the County of Wayne — and they are credible persons & that their Statements are entitled to credit. I the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County of Wayne do hereby certify that the fore- going contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Michael Prceland for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal of office this twenty fifth day of January. A D 1833 Jn Winder Clerk.
This book is not the property of the Library of Congress, but of the Library of the University of Michigan.
1 Where and in what year were you born? Answer I was born in Essex County, New Jersey in the year 1761. 2 Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Answer All records of that description were burnt at my father's house at Freehold N.J. & I have none. 3 Where were you living when called in to the service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war & where do you now live? Answer I lived in Northumberland Co. Penna. & have lived at the same place & in the State of New York & Michigan where I now live. 4 How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a Substitute and if a Substitute for whom?

did you volunteer, or were you a Substitute and if a Substitute for whom?
Answer I Volunteered
8 th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer } The same as are stated in the body of my Declaration.
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service & if so by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Answer } At 1 I never received a discharge, on my discharge I was set at Liberty & rec d no other discharge.
7 th State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your neighborhood & who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
Answer } Gen. Hugh Brady & Thomas Roulade of Detroit.
The above questions were propounded to the applicant in open Court and his answers were as stated.
Dated Detroit Jan y 25. 1833.
R. Winder Clerk.

At the time McLane's Fort was captured by the Indians, it is probable that I was returned with Capt. Robertson's men, twelve of whom with a sergeant Neely were left in the Fort, when Capt. Robertson and the rest of his company had gone with Sullivan's Army.
Michael Vester

State of New York,
Seneca County (ss On this 12 th day of August 1854 personally appeared before the Subscriber County Judge, & Surrogate of said county, Dytha Freeland a resident of said county, aged 79 years, who first being duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 8 th Feb y 1853, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war; that she is the widow of Michael Freeland who was a pensioner of the United States.
She further declares that she was married to the said Michael Freeland in the year 1817 by John, or Jonathan Burroughs Justice of the Peace in the town of Fayette in the said county; that her said husband died in 1848 in the State of Michigan, and that she has remained his widow since his death, & is still his widow.
Sworn & subscribed before me this
12 th day of August 1854.
John E. Seeley. County Judge & Surrogate Seneca Co. N.Y.
her Dytha Freeland mark
Miss Girt
I certify that the above named Dytha Freeland is a respectable person. I further certify that I have no part or hand in the agency of this case.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my official seal at this 12 th day of August 1854.
John E. Seeley. County Judge And Surrogate Seneca County N.Y.

State of New York
County of Seneca ss Personally appeared before me William Sweet and Clara Sweet, and after being first duly sworn according to law, depose and say that they were personally acquainted with Michael Freeland and his wife Dytha Freeland, that the said Michael Freeland was a pensioner of the United States and died in the state of Michigan in 184 1  April 1845 that the said Michael Freeland was married to Dytha Catlin in the town of Fayette in said county in 1817 and that the said Dytha Freeland who is upon the first page of this sheet making her declaration on a pension is the identical person and widow of the said Michael Freeland the late pensioner, and that she has remained his widow since his death and is at this time his widow
Mrs. SWEET Clara Sweet
Sworn & subscribed before me This 12 th day of August 1854
John E. Seeley
County Judge and Surrogate of Seneca County
I certify that the above named William Sweet and Clara Sweet are respectable persons, & reside in the town of Fayette in the said county of Seneca - I further certify that I have no part in the agency of this case and that the erasure and the figure "1" in "1841" on the 7 th line from top were made before Execution.
John E. Seeley County Judge Surrogate

State of New York,
County of Seneca } ss Personally appeared before the Subscriber Mercy Burroughs and after being duly sworn ac- cording to law deposes & says, that her husband's name was Jonathan Burroughs that he was as early as 1817 to 1820 a Justice of the Peace in & for the said county, that this deponent was personally acquainted with Michael Freeland & his wife Dytha, that she knew the parties before they were married, that the said Dytha was a widow Dytha Cablin, that this deponent recollects of her said husband's going to the then widow Dytha Cablin to unite in marriage Michael Freeland & Dytha Cablin, that this was about 1817 that she well recollects of hearing her said husband say that he had united them in marriage, that she knew of the said parties living together as husband and wife, that she has examined her late husband's papers to find a record of the said marriage, but can find none, & then having been united in marriage prior to 1820 this deponent has no doubt
Sworn & Subscribed before me
this 29 th day of August 1854
Gordis Dunlap Justice of the Peace in & for Seneca County
I certify that Mercy Burroughs who executed the above affidavit informs me she was eighty one Years of age, that she formerly could write, but owing to a stroke of Palsy, she now is unable to write her name
hury Mercy Burroughs Mark
Gordis Dunlap Justice of the Peace for Seneca County

I certify that Gordon D. Dunlap is a Justice of the Peace in the District Court of Seymour, and that his signature to the within affidavit as Justice of the Peace, is true & genuine.
August 21 st 1854
John L. Seeb. Surrogate Seneca County N.Y.

Know all Men by these Presents, That We the surviving children _____ of Dytha Vreeland late a Purvian — claiming a back pension, — do hereby constitute and appoint ARAD JOY, of Ovid, N. Y., our true and lawful attorney for us and in my  our name, being directly and personally interested in the claim or application for a back pension
Witness my hand and seal, this 26 th day of August 1857
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
} Edward J. Sweet Clara Sweet
Mary Catlin

Dythe Vreeland First of N.Y. law '58 I was her agent, I wish this file with her papers on file Adad Joy

29. 871.
Michael Vree landt
Michigan
for 1779 & 80 $80.
Return f.
✓
Thomas Norland
Detroit
Mo. Ser y

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
22 d March 1834.
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjocined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Michael Vreulant
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     June 1778 Col Monnough Capt. Tyger 72 years Voluntary  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
This claim cannot be admitted, unless the claimant shall produce some other than his own testimony as to the facts alleged.

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

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Territory of Michigan
County of Wayne
Personally appeared before me the undersigned Justice of the peace in and for said County, James Van Riper who being solemnly sworn deponeth and saith, that he is well acquainted with Michael Breelandt, and recollects when he returned from imprisonment with the Indians in 1793 as was then understood and can only report it, deponent being then young. That the mother of said Breelandt lived near where deponent resided, and since that time for the most part deponent has lived a neighbor to said Breelandt, that he knows he was heir to the property commonly known as Breelandts or otherwise Freelandts, etc. That Freelandt is the usual English orthography of the word Breelandt, and that the farm has the same sound in English that the latter has in Dutch in Dutch, and that the names are considered the same and are used indifferently. That said Michael afterwards administered on the estate and settled the affairs of his father and occupied the place on which Breelandts or Freelandts tent had stood.
Sworn to and subscribed before me James Van Riper the 8th July 1834.
Thomas Rowland Justice of the peace
I certify that the above deponent James Van Riper is a credible person Thomas Rowland. J.P.
Territory of Michigan
County of Wayne } I, Isaac T. Rowland clerk of Wayne County, do hereby certify, that Thomas Rowland esq. is a Justice of the peace for said County, duly commissioned & qualified to his acts as such full faith and credit are due.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Detroit this 8th day of July A.D. 1834
I. T. Rowland County Clerk

January 5, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. James W. Eckersley 623 North Geneva Street Glendale, California
BA-J/NEI Harman Van Riper-S. 1134 Jacob Vreelandt -W. 25844 Michael
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you state that you are the great great grandson of five soldiers of the Revolutionary War, namely Johannes Vreeland, Michael Vreeland, Harmon Van Riper, James Jacobus and Mathew Newkirk, all of New Jersey, and request that their records be furnished you.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers of that war.
A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made and no records found of such claims having been made on account of the services of Johannes or John Vreeland, as described, or of a James Jacobus or a Mathew Newkirk.
It is suggested that as a possible means of obtaining information in regard to the military service of soldiers of that war, you apply to The Adjutant General, War Department, this city.
The records of Harman Van Riper and Michael Vreelandt have been found and their histories are furnished herein, the data for which were obtained from the papers on file in pension claims, S.1134 and W. 25844, based upon the military services of those soldiers in the Revolutionary War.
Harman Van Riper S.1134
Harman Van Riper was born September 19, 1761, in Caldwell Township, Essex County, New Jersey, and his name was borne on the record book of baptized persons of the Dutch Reformed Church at Acquackanonck, New Jersey. The names of his parents are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.

While residing in Caldwell Township, New Jersey, Harman(he signed Harman-was pensioned Harmon) Van Riper enlisted and served at various times on monthly tours on alarms from September, 1777, until October, 1782, at least twenty months in all, as a private under Captains Abraham Speer, Cornelius Speer, Amos Dodd, Elijah Squire, Henry Jaralmon, Thomas Williams, Robert Nichols and Josiah Pierson, Major Caleb Dodd and Colonel Philip Van Cortland in the New Jersey Troops. He was at the battle of Springfield and in several skirmishes.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 9, 1834, while residing in Caldwell Township, Essex County, New Jersey, where, he stated, he had always lived.
There are no data as to soldier's family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Harmon Van Riper(S.1134), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Record Division, this city, citing the following data:
Harmon Van Riper, Certificate No. 28965, issued August 11, 1834, rate $53.33 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New Jersey Agency.
* * * * *
Michael Vreelandt W.25844
Michael Vreelandt(as he signed-pensioned Vreeland) was born in 1761, in Essex County, New Jersey: the names of his parents are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.
While residing in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, he volunteered in June, 1778, served as a scout in Captain Arthur Taggart's Company, Colonel James Murray's Pennsylvania Regiment: he stated that his brother, Jacob Vreelandt, was lieutenant of said company: Michael was in an engagement with the Indians on April 16, 1779, near Vreelandt's Fort which was a frontier garrison located on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River on land owned by soldier's father, and on

July 20 or 21, was taken prisoner by the Indians when Vreelandt's Fort was captured, in which engagement his father and brother, Lieutenant Jacob Vreelandt, were killed. Michael Vreelandt was carried to Quebec and held until about January 1, 1783, when he was exchanged.
After the Revolution, he lived on the land inherited from his father in the state of Pennsylvania; then moved to New York State and thence to Michigan, in which state in Browns Town, Wayne County, he was living when he was allowed pension on his application executed January 25, 1833.
He died in Michigan in 1841, exact date of death not shown.
The soldier married in 1817, in Fayette, Seneca County, New York, Dytha Catlin, a widow. The name of her former husband is not shown nor is there any reference to another wife of the soldier.
Soldier's widow, Dytha, was allowed pension on her application executed August 12, 1854, at which time she was aged seventy-nine years. Said application was made in Seneca County, New York.
In 1857, Clara Sweet and Marcy Catlin stated that they were the surviving children of Dytha Vreelandt; Their ages are not shown; in 1854, Clara Sweet was a resident of Seneca County, New York.
The names Edward F.E.Sweet and William Sweet appear; no relationship to the family was shown and there are no further family data.
The foregoing is the history of the only soldier named Michael Vreelandt (under any spelling of the surname) that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Dytha Vreeland (as she was pensioned) widow of Michael Vreeland (S.25844), you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following data:
Dytha Vreeland, widow of Michael Vreeland, Certificate No.4490, issued September 5, 1854, rate $80 per annum, commenced February 2, 1853, Act of February 3, 1853, New York Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.

1925 July 22 H. M. C. Young N.D. see Cl. 3-32564 John Van Winkle - N. J. for letter 1934 Jan 5 - H. M. to Jas H Eckersley - see letter in case Harman Van Riper, 11134 - E. E. H.
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 25844
Dytha Vreeland Wid. of
Michael Vreeland Priv. Rev. war
Act Feb. 27 1853
Index: Vol 5 , Page 297
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
July 22, 1925
W.C. Young 1925 Trinity Avenue Los Angeles, California
Sir:
I have to advise you, that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W-25844, it appears that Michael Vreelandt (also known as Vreeland and Freeland) was born in Essex County, New Jersey in 1761.
While residing in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania he enlisted in June 1778 and served as a private in Captain Arthur Taggart's Company, Colonel James Murray's Pennsylvania Regiment. He was in an engagement on April 16, 1779 at Fort Freeland of the West Branch of the Susquehanna which was on the land owned by his father, name not stated, and he was captured on July 20 or 21, 1779 by Indians near Fort Freeland, when his father and his brother Lieutenant Jacob Vreelandt were killed. He was held in captivity until exchanged about January 1, 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed January 25, 1833 while residing in Wayne County, Michigan. He died in Michigan in 1841.
See Penn. Record. Vol. 8 - Pg 648 Arthur Taggart - Capt. for Officer's names - " " Pg 647 James Murray Colonel Fort Freeland - a frontier Garrison on West Branch of Susquehanna -

He was married in 1817 in Fayette, Seneca County, New York to Mrs. Dytha Catlin and she was allowed pension on her application executed August 12, 1854 while residing in Seneca County, New York aged seventy-nine years. The date of her death is not on record.
It is stated that the following children survived her: Clara Sweet and Marcy Catlin.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.

2 Wits: that party, when Mar: 1817, & 1 Wit: all Wits of pr: Peace when Mar: the party: when they are Mar: 1817 1817. shall be cost of the, 2 Wits to Death 1817, & 3 Wits: L: i: B: n:
"B: n:"

Dept: 1 st 1854 (n o 4.997)
Loytha Freeland
Wid: of Michael,
Seneca Co:
Act 1853 MP
$80. 00 per An:
Annu: July: 3, 1853,
Rev:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Pension Office, Official Business.
Commissioner.
Wm.

D. Jones
John Palmer

Senetory of Michigan & p county of Wayne
We the under signed Persons resident in the county and Territory aforesaid do certify that we have personally known Michael Vreulandt of said county That he is to all appearance upwards of seventy years of age. That he is reputed and believed by his neighbors to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we have no doubt of the fact. and further that it is believed and generally accredited that he was a Prisoner of war amongst the Indians and British during the Revolutionary War. And we further certify that from the character of Mr Vreulandt for veracity and general probity and respectability we should entertain no doubt of the entire truth of any declaration that he may make relative to his revolutionary services.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands at Detroit the 24 th January 1832
Levi Cook
Am Brown
Thos B. Clarke
Thos Palmer H. Hensley
J. R. Williams
Geo. Riddle
Hasan Palmer Theo. Williams
Thomas Rowland Andrew Macko
J. C. Schwarz.
John H. Howard Les Campare
Elliot Gray
Peter Van Every
John Noble
Julius Elard
D. Smith
John Clarke

State of Pennsylvania Northumberland County
Personally came before me the Subscribed one of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County Bethuel Vincent who being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that in the year 1779 Fort Freeland was the frontier Garrison on the west branch of the Susquehannah River and that by order of Colonel Samuel Hunter all the men capable of bearing arms were enrolled, amongst whom was Michael Freeland, and that on the 21 st of July 1779 the Indians made an attack on six persons who were laboring in the field in which Fort Freeland was situated, and killed three of the men, took two of them prisoners and one made his escape, Michael Freeland was one of the men that was taken prisoner and remained in captivity until December 28 th 1782 it being three years five months and seven days. The reason I can be thus particular is that the Fort was Captured on the 29 th of July seven days after Michael Freeland was made prisoner, and I was taken in the Fort at the time of its Capture

deponent further says that Michael Frickland and himself returned from Quebec in the same vessel and were landed at Dobbs Ferry in New Jersey and there released on parole, and that Ensign Jacob Frickland was Commanding officer in the Fort at the time of its capture and but was killed seven days previous to its cap- -ture, and that the State of Pennsylvan- -ia paid this deponent and the other men that were enrolled for their services and further saith not.
Sworn and subscribed this 18 th day of March AD 1834 Before me Jos. Round
B. Vincent
I do certify that I am personally acquainted with Bethuel Vincent the above deponent, and have no hesitation in declaring that he is a very credible witness and worthy of belief.
Jos. Round Justice of peace

The humble complaint
I, William J. Bright, Notary Public of the county of Common Pleas of San Antonio do hereby certify that Francis Brum before whom the within affidavit was sworn was, at the time of justice of the Peace in and for the county also the only commissioner thereof and that I believe the signature thereto is his
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at San Antonio the 23 rd day of March A.D. 1834
Wm. J. Bright, Notary

Post Office.
Sept. 5 th 1851.
Sir. Please certify the time to which the last in named pension was paid to the date of his death.
Very Respectfully,
40 40
*80
J. S. Cole
Acting Commissioner.
"B. B."
W. W. Taylor Esq.
Act. Secy. War Dept. Dec. 3
Michael O'Keefe, paid to 4 Sept 1840
Met. Thompson
Actg. 3rd Auditor
Mr Randall

For J. L. Edwards Com. of Plurals

Detat Aug 21 st 1834
Sir
I herewith transmit the papers relating to the claim of Michael Neelandt having supplied the omissions noticed by you in your letter of the 11 th inst. The omission to send the declaration resulted from inadvertency
Respectfully &c
Dr. V. Edwards.
Thomas Rowland

Qvid N.Y. Augt 29. 1854
Sir
I inclose declaration & proof in the case of Dytha Vreeland, her late husband died in Michigan & the balance of pension at his death was collected there by reason of  some See paper at 3 d Ar st
most respectfully
Your Obl. Servt.
Abad Joy
Hon L P Waldo
Court of Pen!

Breit in the case of Oystra Freeland, wid. of Michael Seneca County and State of New York act 3 rd Feb y 1853.
Claim, ("original," or "for increase." )
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was pensioned under the Act of June 1832, at the rate of $80. per An m . Two witnesses of known credibility testify the parties were married in 1817, as well as the Minister of the Gospel, Magistrate who performed the Marriage Service, who swears that he knows no superior than they are husband & wife. Pensioner died 1841, as per Affidavit of two Credible Witnesses Report of their Auditor. Widowhood & identity of Applicant established by affidavits of three Credible Affiants.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Arapahoe Esq. Q id .
Name and residence of Agent
N.Y.
"B. B." Examining Clerk.