Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,896, Adam Van Vlair, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Van Klair, Adam
R. 10,896
CONTENTS

33,534
Adam Van Blain Indiana
act-77 43 June 1832

Be it remembered that amongst the records of the Fayette County Probate Court is the following, to wit: —
Mattee of the Application of Adam Van Clair for a Pension
At a term of the Fayette County Probate Court begun and held at the Court house in Connersville in the County of Fayette and State of Indiana on the Second Monday and eighth day of February in the year of Our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and thirty six before the Honorable Justus Wright, Sole Judge of said Court and continued from day to day before the same Judge until Wednesday the third juridical day of said term. Then here comes into Open Court Adam Van Clair a resident of the County of Fayette and makes and subscribes thereto under Oath the following Written Declaration in this behalf, to wit: " State of Indiana Fayette County } ss, Fayette County Probate Court, February Term A.D. 1836. —
Be it remembered that on this 10 th day of February A.D. 1836 Personally appeared in Open Court, Adam Van Clair a Resident of Connersville Township in said County, Aged Seventy three or seventy four Years, Who first being duly sworn upon his Oath says for his declaration in Order to Obtain a Pension under the provisions made by an Act of Congress, Passed June 7 th 1832. that he was drafted into the Army of the United States in the year 1778. to the best of his recollection — Regiment and Line not recollected — Under the following named Officers, to wit: Colonel Bloomfield, Major Ogden and Captain Beesley. that he was drafted in the County of Sussex in the State of New Jersey at the house of Colonel Roscyerance, that he continued in the Service upwards of Six Months — during all of which time he was not marched Out of the State of New Jersey as he believes. that at the time he entered the Service he was a resident of said County of Sussex — that he was a Private dur- ing the whole time of his Service as aforesaid, during Part of

of which time he acted in the capacity of a Cook - that he was engaged in no regular Battle with the Enemy - but was engaged in several Skirmishes with them during his connection with the United States Army as aforesaid, that he was marched from the place Where he was drafted to Trenton in said State - At which place he continued, Under the Command of Colonel Blom Bloomfield, for about three Weeks - From there he was marched to Flemington in said State of New Jersey, At which place he was halted a few days - From thence he was marched to, and encamped at, several different places in said State - that he is now Old and quite frail, and having been very Young and inexperienced at the time he entered the Service he has not a clear and distinct recollection of many of the incidents and events which occurred during his said Service - that he was discharged from the Service some time about the first of March A.D. 1779, as he verily believes - that he never received any formal discharge from his commanding Officer because of the following circumstances - That Whilst the Regiment or Company to which he belonged was on its homeward March to be discharged, he became Sick and was xxxx left on the Road, under proper Attention and not being able to reach home with the Company which was regularly discharged - he then failed in receiving his formal discharge - And as the commanding Officer lived some considerable distance from his own residence, he never applied for or got his formal discharge - he however served out the full time for which he was engaged, and might have got his discharge had he reached home with the rest of the Company or had he ever subsequently applied for it - that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any Pension or Annuity, except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency of any State -
I saw his X Mark Nan Blair
Subscribed and sworn to in Open Court the 10 th day of February A.D. 1836 - G. Sinn Clerk -
Also the said Adam makes the following Answers to inter-

interrogatories propounded by the Court, to wit: "State of Indi- ana, Fayette County, Fayette Probate Court, February term 1836
Be it remembered that on this 10 th day of February, A. D. 1836 Personally appeared in Open Court Adam Van Klief, a Person applying for the benefit of the Act relative to Persons who served in the Cause of the United States during the American Revolution, Passed on the 7 th day of June A. D. 1832. Who having been first duly sworn to answer such interrogatories as may be pro- pounded to him by the Court touching his services in the American Revolution, upon his said Oath answers as below. —
1 st Question. (Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer — I was born in Sussex County New Jersey, on the Delaware River — I cannot tell the year exactly — but I think it must be either in the year 1762 or 1763. —
2 d Q. Have you any record of your Age, and if so where is it?
Ans. I have no record of my Age, but I presume there is one in existence, My Oldest brother got the Family Bible in which the Family Record Was — He died several years since in Vir- ginia, His Widow is now living I have heard in the Northern Part of this State — and I expect she has that bible — Least all I went to visit a sister in Ohio — and as near as we could calculate, I am now about 73 or 74 years of Age. —
3 d Q. Where were you living when called into service; Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and Where do you now live?
Ans — I was living at that time within a mile or so of the Place of my birth in the said County of Sussex — Some years after the War I removed from the Place of my nativity in New Jersey, to Virginia — near the mouth of Little Kenhaway — I lived there some 18 or 20 Years and then moved to Butler County, Ohio — I resided there something like five years — I re- moved from thence to Union County in the State of Indiana — I lived in Union County four or five years — Since then I have resided in this County with the exception of about one year

in which I resided in Henry County Indiana - the length of time that I have resided in this Fayette County must be something like twelve or thirteen years. -
4 th Q. How Were you called into Service, Were you drafted, did you Volunteer, Or Were you a Substitute?
Ans. I was drafted into the Service, for a six months tour - At the time I was drafted, I understood that the Enemy lay up to the North of Sussex -
5 th Ques. State the names of some of the Officers, who were with the Troops When you Served; Such Continental and Militia Regiments as you recollect, and the general Circumstances of your Services. -
Ans. I recollect the names of Colonel Bloomfield, Major Ogden, and Captain Beesley, they Were with the troops to which I belonged - My recollection is not clear as to the Regiments, but I think I belonged to the third Regiment, but of this I am not certain - I was in no general engagement during my Service - But the Troops to Which I belonged had One Skirmish with some of the enemy which I particularly recollect - as a few persons were killed as I was informed though I did not see them, as I was engaged as a Cook during the Most of the time I was in the Service - On several Other Occasions, trouble was anticipated with the Enemy - And We made all preparations for a brush On those Occasions - I marched from the place where I was drafted, with the Other troops to Trenton - We stayed there some time weeks, and then Marched to Flemington - We stayed there a While - And during the residue of the time I was Out, We was marched about and encamped from One place to another - The places I cannot particularly point Out - but I recollect the Towns of Trenton and Flemington very well. -
6 th Ques. Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service, and if so by whom Was it given, and What has become of it. -
Ans. I never got any discharge - As the Troops Were going home I was taken Sick - And left at a Tavern on the Road - I never

got Well until after the Troops were discharged. — The Colonel & Major lived a good ways off from my house — so I never got a discharge — but I served out my full time for which I was discharged, and might have got my formal discharge had it not been for this circumstance. —
7 th Query State the names of the 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. —
Ans. I think I can name to the Court Michael Petro, Simon Cassady, Thomas Baxter, John Death, and Elder Reuben Garriott. I do not know of any body in this neighborhood who of their own knowledge know of my Revolutionary services. I thought there were a few living in Ohio, in the neighborhood of my Sister — and I went last fall to see them, but they were all gone. —
Adam his Mark Van Blair
Also the following Affidavits were made in Open Court (To wit) "I Reuben Garriott a Clergyman residing in the County of Fayette and State of Indiana. And until recently in the neighborhood of Adam Van Blair, do hereby certify that during the last eight years I have been Well acquainted with Adam Van Blair Who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration and Answers. That I believe him to be at least seventy three or four years of Age — that I have heard him speak of his services in the American Revolution and also of some events that he had Witnessed during those services — and from the knowledge I have of him as a man of correct deportment and of truth and veracity, I can freely say that I believe his statements as to his Revolutionary services are strictly true to the best of his present recollection — Witness my hand this 10 th Feby. 1836. — Reuben Garriott.
Subscribed and sworn to in Open Court this 10 th day of February A. D. 1836. H. Sims Clerk

State of Indiana
Fayette County } Fayette Probate Court, Feb. Term 1836. —
Be it remembered that on this 10 th day of February A.D. 1836, personally appeared in Open Court John Deeth, a man of lawful age who having been duly sworn upon his Oath says that he has been very well acquainted with Adam Van Blair during the last eight or nine years, that for some months past in particular he has frequently heard him spoken of in the neighborhood as a Revolutionary Soldier entitled to a pension, that he has never heard his Revolutionary Services doubted in the neighborhood that the said Adam is a man whose conduct has always been correct so far as he has ever heard — and that he thinks his statements are worthy of full credit. — John M. Deeth Subscribed and sworn to in Open Court this 10 th day of February A.D. 1836. — R. Fium Clerk
" State of Indiana
Fayette County } Fayette Probate Court, Feb. term A.D. 1836.
Be it remembered that on this 10 th day of February A.D. 1836, personally appeared in Open Court John Van Blair, who having been duly sworn upon his Oath says that during the last twenty years he has heard Adam Van Blair talk of his services in the Revolutionary War — that he has frequently heard conversations between the said Adam and other persons during the said twenty years relative to the services of the said Adam in the American Revolution & particularly does he recollect such conversations between the said Adam and Rev John Ayers, now living somewhere in the state of Ohio — if he is yet alive — that the said Ayers was understood to be a Revolutionary Soldier — and that he has understood that the said Ayers was a Revolutionary Pensioner — that he always understood from the conversations of the said Ayers that he knew the said Adam to be a Revolutionary Soldier — that some years ago the said Adam lived in the state of Ohio — and that he was generally reputed in the neighborhood where he lived to be a Revolutionary Soldier — and from Affiant's knowledge of the character

of the said Adam and from the traditional evidence aforesaid that he the said affiant has no doubt but what the said Adam was a Soldier in the American Revolution. And rendered Service to the American Cause as he states he has. And further this Affiant says not. — John Van Blair —
Sworn to and Subscribed in Open Court on the 10 th day of February A. D. 1836. — G. Sim Elk H. C. P. C.
And the said Court do hereby declare its Opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after 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 is satisfied that Reuben Garriott, who made one of the preceding certificates is a Clergyman Resident in said County of Fayette, and that he and the said John Deeth who made one of the preceding certificates Affidavits are Creditable Persons. And that their statements are entitled to full credit — that the court is not acquainted with the other deponent, John Van Blair, but have no reason whatever to doubt his statements. —
wrong the witnesses of his service as aforesaid, during part of

State of Indiana } Fayette County } ss
I Gabriel Sims Clerk of the Probate Court of Fayette County in the State of Indiana do hereby certify that the within and foregoing is a correct Transcript of the Record and Proceedings had in the said Probate Court on the Application of Adam Van Winkle as therein set forth.
In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed the seal of said Court at Connersville this 24 th day of February A. D. 1836. G. Sims Clerk F. C. P. C.

Mary Bell former widow of Adam Van Blair
Revolutionary
Suspended - 1832
State of Indiana
Propel L.M.

State of Indiana Fayette County ss
Be it remembered that on this 24 th day of May A D 1835-, I Mary Zell do make known and declare that I was the wife and am heir at law to Adam Van Blair who was a Revolution- ary Soldier, who served some six months or more under the Command of Captain Ogden in the forces raised in the State of New Jersey. That I was married to said Adam in the month of March or April A D 1798. That said Adam died about the month of March A D 1840. That no pension was ever granted him, or at least ever received by him or me, although some time in the years 1836- or 1837- he made application for a Pension on account of said services, and none since said application has any thing been heard from it, by him or me.
Mary Zell mark
State of Indiana Fayette County ss
The foregoing affidavit was sub- scribed and sworn to by Mary Zell on the 24 th day of May A D 1835- Witness my hand and notarial seal this day and year last above written
Seal
Junction of the roads B F Claypool Notary Public

And said Claimant is now sixty nine years of age, and it is believed and understood that there are allowances for Pension and other claims due for said services - Now thereof. The true intent of all this is to qualify and irrevocably appoint and empower Benjamin H Baldwin of Wash- ington, District of Columbia as my true and lawful attorney, with power of substitution, to investigate and substantiate said claim or claims, and to pay and do all things relative thereto, as amply as I might do, hereby ratifying every thing said or done by said Attorney, or his substitute, in writing hereof. Also acknowledging all Powers of Attorney, or other authority previously given for any such purposes -
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
This 24 th day of May A D 1887- Attest, William T. Mals Mary F Zell (Seal) B. F. Claypool

33,534 Rejected
Sub letter 5 March 1836 Hon. J. M c Garty do. 23 March 1836,
Did not seem six months in a mil l cap. Hon. S. W. Parker Dec 16/183 Same Jny 3 1832
act. 7 th June 1832

33,534
Adam Van Vlain
Indiana
Hon J. McCarty Mch 5 1836
" same Mch 23 1836
" J. Parker Dec 15 1853
" same Jny 3 1852
BH Baldwin August 29 1853
10896
June 7 1832

Trenton Dec 23. 1853
Hon S. W. Parker
Sir
I would respectfully inform you, that no rolls of service during the revolutionary war, of the Militia , are in this office, or in any other office, that I am aware of — These were gathered up, and transmitted to Washington, and consumed, when the buildings were destroyed in 1814. — From the description you give of the service of Van Olain, he was evidently of the Militia
Regretting my inability to aid your effort to prove this claim, I am respectfully,
Thos S. Allison Sec of State

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

Ho. Peps. Wash. City Dec. 8. 1853
Sir,
Several years ago - it must have been prior to the year 1840 - Adam Van Klief then a resident of Fayette County, Ind. - Now decd. Made application for a Pension as a Revolutionary Soldier - For some cause the application was then disallowed -
The Widow & heirs still reside in said County - and desire to renew the application for their own benefit - Hoping that recent Laws & more liberal con- -structions may enable them to succeed
Will you therefore be so good as to have me furnished - if not with the original papers - Copies of the same - now on file in your Department, in this case - with such Forms & instructions as may enable the said Widow & heirs to prosecute said claim - this at your early convenience
Yrs truly J. W. Parker
Hon. Comm. Pensions Wash. City

House of Reps Washington
March 3 d 1836
Sir
The enclosed declaration and manner of showing Van Buren's salary of the Revolution- time is here with transmittal for your Honorable office and as a favor I know person- ally the patronage & some of the members and know there to be as patriotic will be kind enough to have this document in- trans as early as practicable.
Very respectfully
Your obedient
J. M. Carty
Copy of L Edmond

Ho. P. P. Wash City Dec. 24 - 1833
Sir
I am in rec d . of your favor of the 16 th Containing, agreeable to my request, Copy of the application of Adam Van Kein late of Fayette County Md. dec d for a Revolutionary Pen- sion - Made in the Year 1836 -
The widow of the dec d . Now seeks a pension on account of his services & in virtue of recent Acts of Congress -
You suggested to me that "the parties claiming a pension for his services, must procure the evidence of his service from the office of the Secretary of State of New Jersey" -
I accordingly addressed a note to said Secretary in that behalf & enclose your his reply - Permit me to call your attention to this matter again - and if upon a careful examination of the Papers of the dec d . on file in your Office - if there be

Not sufficient grounds to predicate an application by the widow - she furnishing proper evidence of the marriage with Van Klief & his death - will you be so good as to have me advised, if you can, of the way in which her case may be made out -
I am sure the case is a meritorious one - & solely on her account I am anxious that it may prevail -
Yrs. truly
S. W. Packard
Hon. L. P. Waldo Comm. Pensions Wash. City

House of Representatives
Washington March 22 nd 1836
Sir
In your letter to me of the 5 th instant in rejecting the claim of Adam Vanclair to a pension, you say his claim is rejected upon the ground that the Militia in which he alleges he served, as a Cook did not serve six months under our engagement, and that he alleges he served as a Cook, and that the law of 1832 does not provide for such service, and therefore his claim is rejected; now with all due deference to the opinion of the Department upon this subject, I must be permitted to differ in this construction of the law - I care not upon what service the soldier may have been put, it does not change his right to a pension under the law for as a soldier, he was bound to obey the command of his Officer, and if he did not served as Cook, it was not his fault; he was subject to be put upon any service his Officers required of him, and such service if done under orders was legal and legitimate service, whether as Cook, or in the field - If he served, and the testimony shews this fact, he is entitled to pay for the term of service shewn to have been performed - 'tis possible, the applicant served under two engagements, or he may not have served but one tour, and that for six months, tho' the draft may not have been for that time, the troops

may have been detained, or he may have been drafted or understood to have been drafted for six months, these are all facts to be now decided upon, from the papers in his case, and the history of the then times, but if he served, whether as cook, or in the field, I contend the services to the country and the applicant is the same—
I must therefore respectfully request that his case be re-examined— I feel confident the Department will come to a different conclusion upon a full review of the subject— Under this conviction, I have been constrained to make this request in behalf of this very deserving old man— It cannot be expected at this advanced age stage of the history of our Government, and age of the actors in the events of that day, that those men should recollect with any precision or accuracy, all the facts or particulars of that day, either as to time, or the manner of the service they performed.
I am very respectfully Your Obedient Servant
D. W. Garty
Hon. J. L. Edwards