Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,605, John Van Schaack, New York

SERVICE
New York.
Vandchaack, John
NUMBER
8.11.605
carded.
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for contents]
[Blank lined area for contents]

New York 66
M rs . Van Schaack
of Geneva in the State of New York who was an Ensign in the Comp. by Captain Tinker of the Reg. by Van Schaack in the New York time for 9 mos. 26 days
M rs . Ensign
Oct. 20, 1866
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 37 Dollars 18 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Aug 1832 and due the 1 st Month payable
Arrears to the 4th of Nov 30 $ 74 90 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th p 31 18 74 $ 93 78
Revolutionary Claim, due June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Jo. C. (State) Clerk Book 6, Vol. 3, Page 84
Dead & certificate returned.

10.065
Declaration of John Van Schaack of Coxs Sackie, County of Greene State of New York for a Pension under the act of 7 th June 1832
ex

State of New York Greene County ss
Greene ss: Rufus Ryan of the town of New Baltimore in the County of Greene being duly sworn saith that he has known John Van Schaeck of Coxsackie in the annexed declaration mentioned previous to the year 1775 and was intimately and familiarly acquainted with him during the revolutionary war and has been ever since - that he knows that the said John was bound to military service during that war - That he knows that he was very often out on duty in scouting parties and various special occasions - That he knows him to have been a faithful soldier for the United States during that period - That the said John did duty the same time this deponent did at Albany in the year 1776 - that he was present and saw him there - that the said John also joined the American forces on Van Schaick's Island opposite Green in the year 1777 and did duty to the knowledge of this deponent until after the battle of Stillwater - That he has always understood and believes that the said John is a person of good moral character & has sustained that reputation as long as this deponent has known him -
Sworn this 8 th day of September 1832
Rufus Ryan
before me
Worrance Kirtland
First Judge
Greene County State. New York
in open Court
Before me William T. B. Hermance Clerk

State of New York Greene County ss
Greene ss: I, Matthias H. Van Den Bergh of the town of Coxsackie in the said county of Greene being duly sworn, with that he is well acquainted with John Van Schaack of Coxsackie aforesaid and that he has known him as long as he can remember - that the said John has always sustained and still does sustain a good reputation - That he knows that the said John did military service in the American service from during the early part of the revolutionary war until the close of that war - That this deponent was present when he did duty at Coxsackie and upon various other occasions upon alarms and on scouting parties - This deponent understood during the war & then believed still does believe that he was present when Sir John Johnson surrendered, and was also present when one of the battles against Burgoyne was fought - That he knows that the said John is considerably older than this deponent and believes him to be nearly eighty years of age
Sworn this 20 th day of August 1832
Matthias H. Van Den Bergh
Before me
Abner Van Dyke Commissioner of Records.

State of New York Greene County ss
I William T. B. Hermance Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that Abraham Van Dyke Esquire before whom the within affidavit. and the annexed affidavit of James P. Van Dyke. were sworn was at the date of the same. a Commissioner of said of the said County. authorized to administer oaths &c. and that the signature of the said Commissioner annexed thereto is his genuine signature
Witness my hand and seal of office this third day of Sep. 1832
William T. B. Hermance Clerk

State of New York  Greene County ss 
I, Lewis P. Van Slyck of the town of New Baltimore in the County of Greene being duly sworn saith that he is sixty nine years of age - that he was acquainted with John Van Schaack before the revolutionary war - & has been acquainted with him ever since. That this deponent did service as a private soldier during the revolutionary war - That he knows that the said John Van Schaack did military duty for the United States as an Ensign since in the Revolutionary war since the year 1778 - That this deponent did duty under him on several occasions - that he recollects he was with him at Catskill in the said County of Greene for about a fortnight - that he was on another occasion with him under orders to march to Albany - That he recollects another time when he believes he was with him in a fort at Albany & deponent thinks he was there about a fortnight - That the said John was reported & believed during the war to be liable & bound to military duty for the United States & that since the said war he has always been reported & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution -
Sworn this 23 rd day of August 1832 before me Abraham Dyck Commissioner of Deeds
Lewis P. Van Slyck

11 1 1 State of New York Greene County ss
On this the 10 th day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the court of Common pleas in and for the said County of Greene now sitting being a court of record John Van Schaick a resident of the town of Coxsackie in the County of Greene and State of New York aged between seventy nine and eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That he was born in the town of Coxsackie in the said County of Greene (formerly County of Albany) on the 27 th day of December 1752 as he has always un- derstood from his parents - That he has a family record in which his birth day is set down as having been on the aforesaid twenty seventh day of December and which he believes to be a correct entry - That from the time of his birth until the present time he has resided upon the same farm in the said town and has never resided elsewhere - That Anthony Van Bergen Esquire of Coxsackie in the then County of Albany (now County of Greene) and State of New York as early as the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five was Colonel of a regiment of Militia in the said County of Albany and that he continued such Colonel during the whole of the revolutionary war - This deponent was a private at that time in a company of Militia in the same Regiment whereof this deponent believes evidently Van Schaick was the Captain - That the adjacent Country was then almost an uninterrupted wilderness to the Canadas, infested with Tories and Indians, who

were continually making depredations upon the property of the inhabitants friendly to the American cause and frequently murdered and robbed these inhabitants - That about the same time orders were received by the said Colonel to have the regiment in readiness for actual service - That this deponent was one of those who was ordered to be in constant readiness and was called one of the " minute men " - That he considered himself from that time bound to actual service and liable to be called out at any moment; that he kept himself in constant readiness to march, was drilled and exercised by the officers of his company for that purpose almost every week and frequently weekly - That Leonard Brock and Schermerhorn Tryon were Lieutenants of the company to which this deponent belonged at that time, both of whom as also Ellyburt Van Schaeck the said Captain are dead - That in the winter of 1776, and this deponent believes in the month of January, a part of the aforesaid Regiment was ordered to Johnstown in the County of Montgomery, distant about seventy miles from Coxsackie to oppose the forces under Sir John Johnson, that this deponent volunteered and went as a private on that service - That General Schuyler was the commanding officer of the American forces - That Samuel Van Vaghten of Catskill was this deponent's Captain - that he thinks Ignatius Van Orden of the same place was Major - that both are dead - that he does not now remember any other officer who is at this time alive - That he was present when Sir John Johnson sur-

2 wks me - rendered - That he was from Coxsackie at the time not less than a fortnight - That afterwards and in the same year this deponent was ordered as a private to Schoharie in the State of New-York, distant forty miles from Coxsackie, to protect certain forts there erected by the Americans - That he remained there until he was relieved by another militia man from his company; That he was there he believes not less than one month - That he was there commanded by Schoharie John Tryon - a Lieutenant in the former part of this declaration mentioned - That he recollects that one Ephraim Brunk, who is still alive was there also doing duty as a private - That afterwards and in the fall of the same year and this deponent thinks in the month of October, he and a great part of the Regiment to which he belonged were ordered by Colonel Anthony Van Bergen to a place called Loonenburgh on the north river (now Albany ) in the County of Greene aforesaid to guard American boats and to defend the adjoining country against the threatened attacks of the Tories - That Myndert Van Schaick was his captain & Schoharie Tryon was Lieutenant & that this deponent officiated as Ensign having been elected by his company, altho he did not hold his commission as such - That he remained there doing duty from five to six weeks - That in the winter of 1776. 1777 part of the Regiment of Colonel Anthony Van Bergen was ordered to Albany that this deponent went there and was commanded at that time by left Henry Van Bergen of Coxsackie was deceased - That they were stationed at Albany as a place of rendezvous - That he was frequently

at that time engaged in scouting parties in different parts of the adjoining wilderness & country - That he was out on this duty a considerable time, but cannot with certainty state the precise time, it may have been a month - That after the declaration of independence, but the year he cannot state, he was ordered to & did duty at Coatskill against the Tories and Indians & was absent on this duty from ten to fourteen days - That in the spring or summer of 1777 he was ordered to Fort Edwards and Lake George in the State of New York between sixty and eighty miles from his residence - That he did duty as a private at that time not less than one month - That afterwards and in the same year he was drafted from his regiment for three months - That one Benjamin Dubois of Coatskill now deceased commanded the company to which he was attached & that this deponent acted as Ensign - That the Regiment was commanded by one Col: Whemp whom this deponent understood was from Schenectady - That they were drafted to oppose Burgoyne, that he went to Saratoga, was there at the first & second battle fought between the American forces under General Gates and the British forces under General Burgoyne; that shortly after the second engagement he was taken sick and remained so until after the surrender of Burgoyne - That on the 20 th June 1778 he was appointed an Ensign of Captain Myndert Van Schaick's company of Militia in the then County of Albany in the Regiment whereof Anthony Van Bergen aforesaid was Colonel - that the commission is signed by George Clinton

Governor of the State of New York and passed the Secretary's office on the 4 th day of August 1778 and is now in the possession of this deponent - That from that time he held his com- mission and did duty under it until the termination of the revolutionary war - That in the year 1779 he was again ordered out to Johnstown upon an alarm, that he then did duty as an Ensign and that he was out about a fortnight -
That in addition to the services in this declaration above particularly specified this deponent declares that from the year 1775 to the close of the Revolutionary war he was frequently ordered out and did duty upon alarms and special occasions - That he was repeatedly from home, some times a week, at other times one, two and a greater number of days and nights at different distances according to the orders received That when one part of the militia was ordered on a distant service, the other was usually on duty nearer their places of residence - This deponent unequivocally declares that he had no doubt that the time in which he was ac- -tually employed in positive military service on his own account and not as a substitute exceeds the term of two years - That since the date of his commission as Ensign he con- -sidered himself bound to military service until the end of the revolutionary war - that he very frequently was called out and did duty as such officer, but he cannot with certainty say that he was actively employed in military duty for two years as such

commissioned officer except that he was continually prepared and supposed himself bound to be prepared until the termination of the war — the services were on his own account & he has no discharge. 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 the agency of any state —  Sworn to and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid before me John Van Schravick Kirtland Paret Judge of Greene County, State of New York Given under my hand before me William W.B. Hermance Clerk
We Peter H. Van Bergen & Benjamin Van Orden residing in the town of Coxsackie in the County of Greene aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Van Schravick who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty years of age  seventy six 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 & subscribed to the day & year aforesaid before me Peter H. Van Bergen  Benjamin Van Orden Kirtland Paret First Judge of Greene County State of New York Given under my hand before me William W.B. Hermance Clerk
see Clerk's certificate of the 20 th May 1833.

And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion after the investigation of the Matter, and after putting the inter- rogatories prescribed by the war department. that the above Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jurus P Van Slyck, Rachel Ryan Affidavits and Matthias H Vandenbergh who have signed the preceding certificates are residents the two former, of the town of New Paltz and the latter of the town of Coeymans and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit - and that Peter H. Van Bergen and Benjamin Van Orden who have signed the preceding certificates are residents of the town of Coeymans and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Dorrance Kortland First Judge of said Court
I William T. D. Heermance Clerk of the Court of common pleas aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of John Van Schaick for a pension In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and the seal of the said Court this third day of September 1832
William T. D. Heermance Clerk

Coma 9 mo. 26. ds. pri — 14 days Ensign 10 mo - 10 \frac{14 \times 30}{300} 
11 4 30 86 20 4 2 86 11 0 4 68
14 10/30 33 3300 82 37448 42 10/30 6.62 3300

State of New York Greene County ss
Supplementary Declaration
On this seventeenth day of May 1833 personally appeared before me Dorrance Kittredge Esquire first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid (the said Court being a court of Record) John Van Schaack aged eighty years on the 27 th day of December last past, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration supplementary and in addition to his declaration heretofore made, and hereinunto annexed, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service, he served in the service of the United States, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: That in the month of January 1776 this declarant volunteered and went as a private to Johnstown in the present County of Montgomery in the State of New York to oppose the forces under Sir John Johnson. That General Schuyler commanded the American forces. That he was present when Sir John Johnson surrendered, and was on that duty not less than two weeks . That afterwards and in the same year he was drafted to go to Schoharie as a private for one month , that he went and did duty there in a fort for the said one month . That afterwards and in the month of October and in the same year (1776) he was drafted for the United States, but for what particular period he does not now remember. That this declarant was ordered to join the for American forces under Col: Gosen

Van Schaick, that he went to Albany where there was ordered down the north river as far as Athens and remained on duty at Albany and Athens under the said draft for two months - That shortly after he was dischar- -ged from the last service, and in the following winter to wit the winter 1776.1777 a part of the Regiment of Col: Anthony Van Bergen to which this declarant was attached, was ordered to join the United States troops at Albany into the United States service and to go to Albany - That this declarant went there, but whether he was drafted at that time or volunteered , he cannot with certainty say, but he believes he was drafted - That he did duty at that time the United States service in a fort at Albany one month - That during that time he was occasion- -ally sent out into the country - That the forces to which he was attached were under the command of Col: Van Schaick - That this declarant's name Captain's name was Henry Van Bergen now deceased - That in the Spring or forepart of summer of 1777 he was drafted to go North, but for what precise time he was drafted he cannot say - That pursuant to the draft he went to Albany & from there to Fort Edwards & Lake George in the State of New York. That this deponent did not see General Schuyler, but understood at that time that the Troops were under his command and that he was at Tienderoga - That this declarant was absent from home on that duty six weeks - That after his return and in the same year to wit 1777 and either in the month of July or August, this declarant was drafted for three months to oppose the forces under the

command of General Burgoyne - That one Benjamin Dubois of Catskill now deceased commanded the company to which he was attached - That this deponent acted as Ensign - The Regiment was commanded by one Col: Schuyler of Schenectady - That this declarant went into the service of the United States immediately after his draft, that he had remained a short time on Van Schaack's Island near Troy; that from there he marched north to Saratoga, that he was in the first seven engagements against General Burgoyne - That he remained in active duty until a few days before the surrender of Burgoyne, when he was taken sick with the Camp Distemper (as it was called) and remained so until the expiration of the three months draft - liable to do duty if his health had permitted -
That this declarant was also drafted at another time not herein before mentioned to go to Johnstown, and as this deponent thinks & believes in the latter part of the year 1776 in the winter, or in the first part of the winter of 1777 he was again drafted , but that for what precise time he cannot say, but thinks it was for one month - That under that draft he went to Johnstown a distance of 70 miles from here under Capt: John Persen of Catskill - That the troops at that time were commanded by a Major but his name he has forgotten - That this declarant did duty at that time one month -
That on the 20 th June 1778 he received his commission as was appointed as an Ensign as appears by his commission to his main declaration annexed - That after he received his commission as Ensign the whole regiment to which he was

attached was ordered out to oppose the enemy on the Mohawk River. - That this was as he believes in the year 1779 - That this deponent went there and was stationed at what was called Johnson Hall - That he was then commanded by the labeled Col: Anthony Van Bergen, the Colonel of the Regiment to which he belonged. That he was on duty at that time not less than a fortnight -
That this declarant cannot with more precision than he has done in his declaration herunto annexed - That this declarant cannot show the length of his service by any witnesses now living to his knowledge - That this deponent believes he might find in the State other persons than those whose affidavits are attached to his original declaration, who know that he has performed military duty for the United States during the revolutionary war, but he has no reason to suppose or belief that they would know any thing more precisely or specifically than what has been stated in the aforesaid affidavits - That he has not  not  discharged  discharged or has  has  gotten  gotten or printed  printed  discharged  discharged  the  the  then  then his commission. He hereby relinquishes every claim whether 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 -
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me Danance
John Van Schaick
Hartland
First Judge of Greene County State of New York
and I do certify that I am personally acquainted with the said John Van Schaick & know him to be a man of respectability & credible person & his statement is entitled to credit
Dorrance Hartland First Judge

We Jeremiah Searle a clergyman residing in the town of Coxsackie in the County of Greene and State of New York and John L. Brook residing in the same place hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Van Schaick of the town of Coxsackie aforesaid who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that believe him to be more than eighty 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 opin- ion -
Jeremiah Searle John L. Brook
Secondly Subscribed the 17th day of May 1833 before me Dorrance Kirtland First
Judge of Greene County State New York
And I the Judge aforesaid do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Jeremiah Searle who is the Minister of the Gospel in the Town of Coxsackie here and John L. Brook of the town of Coxsackie and I know that they are persons of Credibility & that their State- ments is entitled to credit
Dorrance Kirtland First Judge aforesaid
see clerks certificate of 20 May 1833

State of New York Greene County ss. }
I William V. D. Hermance Clerk of the said county do certify that Dorrance Kirkland Esquire before whom the annexed supplementary declaration of John Van Schaack and affidavits or certificate of Jeremiah Peale and John P. Brant were sworn, was at the date of the same, First Judge of the county aforesaid and that his signature thereto is genuine - I further certify that I am personally acquainted with Rufus Phelan, Peter H Van Buren & Benjamin Van Orden, persons whose affidavits, sworn before me, are hereto annexed, that they are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit -
Witness my hand and seal of office this twenty sixth day of May in the year 1833
William V. D. Hermance Clerk

Albany Pension Agency January 15. 1840.
James L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
John Van Schaick late a Pensioner under the Act of June 7. 1832, having died shortly after the 4 th of Sept. 1838, to which time he was last paid, his son has left his office pension certificate at this agency to be surrendered to you, as the annuities due at the time of the Pensioner's decease, are so small that they will not be claimed.
Very Respectfully
Your obedt. Servt.
Thos. B. Olcott Pres. Pension agent for L. Schenck.

No 10066 John Van Schuick
11 Sept 1832 20 Nov 1832
5.16
John L Brunko
Coosackie New York
P116.

No 12,065
BRIEF in the case of John van Schaick of Coxsackie County of Greene in the State of New York. (Act 7th June, 1889.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before Court 2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 3. How old is he? Seventy nine years - 79 4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
    Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Entered the service In 1775 time not stated As a private Col. Anthony van Bergen, Albany Lieut. Col. Schuyler Capt. New York   relieved in June 1776 15 Militia Lieut. Militia Lieut. Leonard Rosnick & Dr.   afterwards in the same year was ordered not up then 1 private Colonel Schuyler Major Ignatius Van Buren   afterwards in the Fall of the same year at the Battle of From 5 to 6 weeks " Genl. Schuyler   In the winter of 1776-77 after the declaration of Independence 1 month " Genl. Schuyler   year not recollected 14 " Genl. Schuyler   was ordered out in spring of 1777 afterwards in the fall of the same year 1 Ensign Col. Anthony van Bergen, Capt. Henry van Bergen   to June 1778 was continued in 1779 was ordered out 3 " Colonel Schuyler   3. In what battles was he engaged? a fortnight   Not any   
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? at Coxsackie, New York
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? B. documentary proof, his conversion as his own, by living witnesses as to his services, his tradition supported by the aff. depts of two respectable citizens whose credibility is vouched by the rolls
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No.
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. S. Wilson
Examining Clerk.

June 2, 1908.
Mrs. Edwin H. Miner,
# 816 West Washington Street,
Bloomington, Illinois.
Madam:
In reply to your letter dated the 27" and received the 29" ultimo, relative to John Van Schaick , a soldier in the Revolutionary War, you are advised that from the papers in claim Sur. File 11,605 , it appears that John Van Schaick was born December 27, 1752 at Coxsackie New York, where he always resided.
In 1775 he was a Private in Captain Myndert Van Schaick's company, Colonel Anthony Van Bergen's regiment, length of service not stated. Volunteered in January 1776, Private under Captain Samuel Van Veghten, same regiment, was at Sir John Johnson's surrender, served two weeks. Drafted in 1776 under Lieut. Jochem Tryon, one month. October 1776 as Ensign under Captain Myndert Van Schaick, two months. Winter of 1776 and 1777, under Captain Henry Van Bergen, Colonel Anthony Van Bergen, one month. Drafted (no date given) under Captain John Persen; One month. No dates, no officers given, stationed at Catskill 10 to 14 days. Spring or summer 1777, Private, (no officers given) stationed at Fort Edward and Lake George; six weeks. July or August 1777, Ensign under Captain Benjamin Dubois, Colonel Whemp's(?) regiment, was in the battle of Saratoga; three months.

Sur. File 11,605.
June 20, 1778 appointed Ensign of Captain Myndert Van Schaick's company, Colonel Anthony Van Bergen's regiment and served as such to the end of the War.
In 1779 he was in an expedition to the Mohawk river; two weeks.
He was allowed pension on an application executed September 8, 1832, at which time he resided at Coxsackie aforesaid. Names of wife and children not mentioned.
For the date of the soldier's death and name of the person to whom the last payment of his pension was made, apply to The Auditor for the Interior, Treasury Department, citing the following data, "John Schaack, Certificate No. 20,166, issued August 8, 1833 under the Act of June 7, 1832 at the New York Agency."
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

11605 Jno. Van Schuick Sept 3. 1832 - 79 Cooksackie NY
Born Dec 27, 1752
76 th Cooksackie
Capt Saml. Van Vughten Cal - 14 days
26 1 mo
76 Capt Schouahim Tryon 1 mo
Oct 76 Capt Myndert Van Schuick Cal Anthony Van Bergen 1 1/2 m 2 m
Oct 76-7 Capt Henry Van Bergen Cal Van Bergen 1 m
Sep 77 1 m
77 Capt Ray DuBois Cal Whamp 3 m
But Stillwater
Dec 20, 78 Capt Myndert Capt Myndert Van Schuick Cal Anthony Van Bergen to close of war

Oct. 9-1902 Hiss to Mrs. R. Polley - Catskill N.Y. for June 2, Hist. to Mrs. Edwin H. Miner
Rehran
11.605 ✓ INVALID.
File No. 11.605
Sp. Van Schaack Ensign Rev. Nat. Schraack
Act: June 7 th 1932
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 888
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Payments to be made at New York by President N. M. Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of
New York.
Recorded in the Pension Of- fice, in Book 6. Vol. 3 Page 54 by Col. (T. A.) Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1882, John Van Maack of the State of N. York who was an Ensign in the Revolutionary
Army is entitled to receive Thirty Seven dollars and Forty Eight cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1881, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this 8 day of Aug one thousand eight hundred and thirty- three
Secy War Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

John Van Schaick

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 Van Schaick 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? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
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? Yes
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
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? No
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? Yes
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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. —
†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.

Sir
Cossackie May 23. 1833
I re-enclose the original declaration of Mr. Schaeck with such additions as I presume satisfactorily obviate the objections noted in the brief - I now send you the certificate of the clergyman of this place which removes two objections - The papers are now properly authenticated -
The remaining objection and perhaps the important one has been answered so far as it can at present be answered according to the explanations heretofore received -
In the supplementary declaration, it will be perceived I have confined myself, as requested by your letter, to the answering of the objections I have not repeated what is sufficiently stated in the original declaration -
Mr. Van Schaack by his supplementary

Statement makes out ten months & a half service clearly within the rules adopted by the war department, one half month of which he served as an Ensign & had his commission -
I find it almost impossible for the aged respectable & religious soldiers to speak with certainty as to the length of the time they served -
I am also seriously of the impression that many from this district of country who served in the militia have much time deducted for which they ought to receive pay according to a liberal construction of the act - The present applicant being a man of high moral worth dare not, from conscientious scruples, specify over 10½ months & yet in his main declaration he positively declared that he did actual duty when called out in the service of the United States for a period not less than two years - In the Eastern States the militia were generally actually enlisted & therefore they can state with precision the length of the duty performed - Not so in this part of the State of New York - The militia were as a body in a constant state of preparation

were divided into classes and the classes were in each in their turn called out - many of these class lists are still in existence - A few miles west of the north River commenced a wilder- ness which extended to the Canadas from which hordes of Indians made inroads upon the settlements along the north River & also in its vicin- ity - These Indians were commanded by British officers accompanied by the Tories who had taken refuge in Canada - The consequence was that the Militia were all the time in service (not indeed the whole militia at the same time) and were posted at different rendezvous as they were called to protect the inhabitants from the continually expected invasions of the Indians - The extent of country was from Albany to Esopus, a distance on the river of about sixty miles - The classes were so arranged that when the father did service in his class, the son was left home to manage the farm & so when the class in which the son was due duty, the father's class did not - The militia here thus did service uninterruptedly for several years; and thus in

P.S. Have this moment been an officer of the Revolution who tells me that there is a provision in the act for such service.
addition to standing their foreign drafts - or drafts for foreign service - Mr. Van Schaack has not included any class service, because it I have correctly understood your former letters, such service was not deemed to be within the act - But I would humbly submit whether such class  classi-  fying is not a drafting within the purview of the act within the construction of the act by the Secretary at war - The militia by this mode did more actual duty far necessary & useful as the enlisted soldiers - Indeed there are men in this neighborhood who did from 6 to 8 months duty per annum this way for a number of years, and notwithstanding their faithful, useful compelled service, can not receive a dollar under the act - Can this be just? were not these men, in the language of the Secretary at war, "bound to military service"? were they not drafted soldiers?
I hope you will pardon me for asking these questions & soliciting your views, since there are so many who have done service in the above manner -
Yours JLB
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Servant John L. Brooks

U.S. Senate Papers
Pension Rolls
1833-34
Greene County N.Y.
   Annual Allowance Sum received Description of service When placed on the pension roll Commencement of pension Age     John Van Schaack Ensign 37.48 93.70 N.Y. Continentals Aug. 8-1833 Mar. 4-1831 80  

Hon: J. L. Edwards
Russian office Washington
14 1 - 2 - 1 - 1 12 3 - 1 9 26 14

The People of the State of New York
by the Grace of God, FREE and INDEPENDENT.
To John Van Schaack Esq m Greeting.
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence, as well in your Patriotism, Con- -duct and Loyalty, as in your Valour and Readiness to do us good and faithful Service. Have Appointed and constituted, and by these Presents DO Appoint and Constitute you the said John Van Schaack Ensign of Captain Mynderd Van Schaacks Company Albany Militia of Albany, in the Regiment where Buttler Van Bergen Esquire is Colonel YOU are therefore, to take the said Company into your charge and care as Ensign thereof. and duly to exercise the Officers and Soldiers of that Company in Arms, who are hereby commanded to obey you as their Ensign and you are also to Observe and follow such Orders and Directions, as you shall from time to time, receive from our General and Commander in chief of the Militia of our said State, or any other your Superior Officer. Accor- -ding to the Rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust reposed in you; and for so doing this shall be Your Commission, for and during our good pleasure, to be Signified by our Council of appointment. In Testimony whereof, we have caused our Seal for Military Commissions to be hereunto Affixed. Witness our Trusty and well beloved George Clinton Esquire our Governor of our State of New York, General and Commander in chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the Advice and Consent of our said Council of Appointment, at Poughkeepsie the Twentieth day of June in the Second year of our Independence, and in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight
Passed the Secretarys Office Aug t 4 th 1778
By His Excellencys Command.
For W. Bancher D r Secretary
G. Clinton
John Van Schaack N.Y. S. File 11,605.

2.11605.
Record To Chf. .... Div. Action ..... MAY 28 1908 COMMISSIONER,
For advice through desk.
M

816 W. Washington St. Bloomington Illinois
May 27 th 1907.
Hon. J. P. Warner:
Pension Commissioner Washington. D. C.
Will you kindly have looked up the name of John Van Schaick wife's name also his childrens names
John Van Schaick 1772 to 1838 was on pension roll of Green County 1833 for service of ensign in New York Continental Line. born and died in Coxsackie. I wish to enter the Daughters of Revolution. so need this information, for that purpose.
Respectfully.
Lillian Van Schaick Miner.
{ Mrs. Edwin H. Miner }

WTH
Boston Oct. 3 - 1900
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
In the Boston Public Library I found a volume of U.S. Senate papers, pension rolls of 1833-34, and among the Greene Co. N.Y. soldiers list, I discovered the name of John Van Schaack Ennaji . The tabulated form I copied and enclose. I think that he is my great-grandfather. I would know when the government ceased sending pensions to him or when he died, what Regt. & Co. he served in and to what address these pensions were sent. Any information I can get about him will be thankfully received.
O. W. & N. DIV. OCT 8 1900 RECEIVED
Very truly Jas. B. Jolley
Address
Jas. B. Jolley 106 Sunnyside Ave. Catskill N.Y.