Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,835, Abraham Van Camper, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Van Camper Abraham Van Campen
R 10,835
CONTENTS

State of New Jersey. Abraham Vancliefen Application under act of June 7: 1832
58311

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7: 1832 -
New Jersey Sussr. County ss. -
on this Twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord 1832 - person- ally appeared in open court before the judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County Abraham Van Campen a resident of said County 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 7: 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as follows - that in 1795 - He lived in Walpack Sussr Co. being of the age of Eighteen years he volunteered in the company of Capt: Abraham Miller Lieutenant Craig - Ensign Dick - in Col. Langill Regt. - of the  Infantry  Artillery went to Boston and lay on Prospect Hill - where they remained for 8 weeks - were then dismissed in '96 volunteered in Capt. Henry Stevens Company at Walpack Peter Van Cleft Captain - in the Regt. of Colonel John Cleave Symmes - went to the City of New York - remained there 7 or 8 weeks - and then were dismissed - about the 1 st of August following was drafted in the company of Captain Southwick's Company - Pro. Westbrook 1 st Lieut. - Col. Symmes Regt. went to South Amboy remained there 5 weeks while there acted as Quartermaster - was dismissed there - was drafted - in 1797 - in the summer - a fall in the company of Capt. Hope Jacob Rosenkrantz Lieutenant - under Col. John Rosenkrantz of of the C.V.F. Militia - for the term of three months. Went first to Trenton - afterwards to Germantown - was in the battle of Germantown after which they were dismissed -

that in the Spring autumn of the same year he enlisted  volunteered under Captain - Horse for the period of the War - and did duty for each summer season from that time till the close of the war - for about 8 months each year - along the Delaware River - in the capacity of guards on Indian Spies - That the whole term of his service is about 8 months in the previous service, and Twenty Four months on the Delaware - That Josephus Westbrook - was in the service with him at New- York - and Jno. Westbrook who was with him at South Amboy - Joseph Van Arken who was with him at South Amboy - that he is ac- quainted with Joseph M. Miller and James Stoll Esqrs Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County - who will testify of his character - That he is of the age of 75 years that his family Bible gives the year of his birth 1757 - that since the war he has lived in Walpack Sussex Co. N.J. still about five years he has lived in Sandyston same county - that he never had a written discharge - that he has no documentary evidence of his service He hereby relinquishes every claim to any pension or annuity except the present - and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State -
Given and subscribed in open court the 27 th August 1832
Wm. L. Linn -
Abel H. Cartwright Jury
We Josephus Westbrook of Montague Sussex Co. N.J. - and John J. Westbrook of Sandyston Sussex Co. N.J. and Joseph Van Arken of Montague Sussex Co. do certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Van Campen - and that the said Josephus Westbrook was in the same company with him the said Abra- ham under the command of Capt. Horse at New York City - and knows that he was in the service at that

time - and the said John J. Westbrook also certifies that he was Lieutenant under Capt: H. Courtwright at Amboy and that the said Abraham Van Campen was in the same company and did duty there - and the said Joseph Van Arken - remem ber the said Abram to have been in the same company with him - at New-York under Capt: Hove at Amboy under Capt: Courtwright & at Germantown under Ma jor Stover - and that he did duty faithfully in the same from Amboy to Red Bank - open court
August 28: 1832 - - - - - Andrew Wilson
Joseph Westbrook John J. Westbrook Joseph Van Arken
The James Stoll Esquire of Montague and Joseph Y. Miller of Newton of said County of Sussex - Judges of the said Court of Common Pleas - do certify that we are acquainted with the said Abraham Van Campen - and that we believe him to be of the age of 75 years - and that he is reputed and believed in his neighborhood to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that belief -
Given & subscribed in open court the 28: June 1832 - - - - - Andrew Wilson
James Stoll Jos. Y. Miller
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter - and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War-Dept and that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served in the State. And the Court further certify that it appears to them that James Stoll Esquire of Montague, and Joseph Y. Miller of Newton do sincerely reside as above stated - and that they are Judges of this Court - that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit -
Benj. Halzey } Judges Robert M c Cart

New Jersey Susssex Co. ss. I. Joseph E Edsall Clerk of said court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original Proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Abra- =ham Fancamp for a Pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said court at Newton this Tenth day of September, A.D. 1832 J. E. Edsall (CLERK)

11285 11285 Abraham Van Campen N.J.
M. Ela Return e f.
Suspend
Hon T. Frelinghuysen
Whitfield L. Johnson agt Newton Superior N.J.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
3 d June — 1833
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 subjjoined 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. These 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 Abraham Van Campen of Superior New Jersey
   Period when the service was realized Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Vol. 1775 1 12 Private Capt. Abraham Shillaber — Lieut. Peter Vanest — Ensign Dech Col. DeLancey By Battenkill & Brimfield Mts. Rifer, Co. 1 st Jersey 75 Traditionary & living   Vol. 1776 1 26 Capt. Henry Bonner — Lieut. Peter Vanest Col. John Clancey — Symmes To South Bridge   Drafted 1776 1 5 Acting as Master Master Capt. Cornelius Placent — Lieut. Peter Vanest Col. Symmes   Drafted 1777 3 5 Capt. Peter Vanest — Lieut. Peter Vanest Germanstown To Trenton & Germanstown   Vol. 1777 7 Indian Spys Capt. Henry Bonner Along the Delaware River  
Alleges that he served in these capacities Eight months in each year until the close of the war — that the whole of his previous service was about Eight months & that the whole of his service as a spy on the Delaware was only four months
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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 _____
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 _____ of the Court of _____ 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:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has 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 day 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 (l) 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 enquiry 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] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom 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 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 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.

New Jersey Roll
Abraham Van Campen Suspended
See W. Leon T. Melinghuyson
January 3 rd R.D.H. —
Lane May 9. 1844.
10835
Ad. June 7. 1832

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
10830
P. C.
Abraham Van Pumper
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Abraham Van Campen N.Y.

In the matter of Abraham Van Campen an applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of June 7: 1833 —
New Jersey Sussex County ss. Personally appeared before me John Clayton Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Sussex — Abraham Van Campen of Walpack in said County — Who being first sworn according to law upon his oath so the deponent says — that he cannot by reason of loss of memory — he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of the service of each term — but accor- ding to his recollections he served not less than the periods mentioned below in the following grades For Six Months in 1775 — in Capt. Miller's Company under Col: Dugie — at, or near Boston — as a private — For Six Months — at New York — as a volunteer under Capt. Mammal Hovey, not Drury Hovey, Peter Van Dyk Lieutenant — under Col: John Closs Synner — private — this in the spring of 1776 — For Five Months when drafted in Company of Capt. Bertright in same Regi- ment of Col. Synner — where he acted as Quarter Master — though not commissioned — this service at South Amboy — For Three Months under Capt. Mammal Hovey — Col: John Rosenkrantz in N.J. Militia at Trenton, Germantown — as a private — For the term of Six Months as a volunteer under Captain Mammal Hovey — in Col. John Rosenkrantz's Regiment — in 1778 — beginning the first of June and continuing for 14 months till the first of December — and for the same period in 1779 — in same capacity — in same Company & Regiment during same months — & for the same length of time Six Months — in same capacity — in same Company and Regiment — during same months — making eighteen months as a Guard on Indian Spy — & for such service I claim a Pension —
6 6 5 4. 1. 1/2 6 6 6 22. 7 1/2 3. 1 25 7 1/2
Taken & sworn before me this 20 th day of July 1833 — John Clayton Justice of the Peace
Abraham Van Campen

New Jersey Sussex County ss -
Personally appeared before me John Layton Esq. one of the justices of the Peace in and for said County of Sussex - Elisha Decker of Sandyston in the said County of Sussex who being first duly sworn according to Law upon his oath saith that he resided in the year 1777 in the County of Northampton Pennsylvania - that he was of the age of 65 - grant that he knew Abraham Van Campen from infancy and lived near him - the river only separating them - that he recollects that the Company of Capt. Horrit lay on the Delaware for the Summer season of the years 1777 - 1778 - and 1779 - for six months in each year commencing on the first of June of each year and ending the first of December - and that this Deponent believes Abraham Van Campen to belong to said Company and that he did duty for the time mentioned six months in each of those years, that this Deponent was a volunteer during same time in Pennsylvania (nearly opposite where Capt. Horrit Company lay) under Capt. Johannes Barmatta that for a part of the time the Guards lay in forts along the Delaware River and that the Indians made frequent attacks on the neighbourhood - and that this Deponent recollects having seen Abraham Van Campen frequently during the time when he was on duty - and further saith not.
Take & know before me this 20th July 1830. John Layton justice of the Peace
Elisha Decker Subscribed & sworn to before me John Layton
New Jersey Sussex County ss
Personally came before me John Layton Esq. one of the justices of the Peace in and for said County - Colonel Benjamin Provenance - who being first duly sworn according to Law upon his oath saith

that he has lived near - to and has known Shahan Van Campen from infancy, that during the years 1777 - 1778 - & 1779 - there was a great alarm on the Delaware - near Fort Shippunk - and that the inhabitants who were able to bear arms, all, turned out to defend the frontiers - that he remembers that Shahan Van Campen was out on duty, several times during said years but this Deponent was young and does not know of the length of his service but remembers that all - who were able to bear arms were frequently & almost constantly on duty - during the summer season of those years and further saith not. —
Taken & sworn before me this 20: July 1833 John Layton justice of the peace
Benjamin Rosenkrantz
I John Layton justice of the Peace do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Elisha Decker - and Colonel Benjamin Rosenkrantz and that they are credible persons whose state- ments are entitled to credit — John Layton
State of New Jersey Superior County ss.
I Joseph E Edsall Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Sussex - do hereby certify that John Layton Esq. whose name is above written and before whom the above proceedings were had at the time of executing the same was a
Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that I believe his signature above written is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this twentieth day of december AD 1830
J. E. Edsall