Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6302, Alexander Van Eps, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Van Eps, Alexander
S 6302
CONTENTS
Carded

142652 New York
Alexander Van Eps
of Schenectady in the State of N.Y. who was a private in the Com. V. commanded by Captain Fisher of the N.Y. commanded by Col Yates — in the N.Y. line for 12 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 40— Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of May 1833 — and sent to Stephen H. Daggitt. Schenectady New York
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833. $ 80 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. 1833. 20
$ 100—
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, Book 6, Vol. 4, Page 24

Alexander Van Eps. Pension Papers.
10396
✓
proposed
No 3.
Stephen A. Daggett Agent Schenectady N.Y.

State of New York County of Schenectady
On this nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schenectady and State of New York aforesaid now sitting Alexander Van Eps a resident of the Town of Glenville in said County of Schenectady Aged seventy years and upwards and 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 of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
That he was born in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & sixty two in the then County of Albany in the City of Schenectady in the State of New York as by the annexed certificate appears. That he has a record of his age in the Book of Records of the Prot. Ref. Dutch Church of the City of Schenectady that he before and ever since the war of the Revolution resided within a few miles of the City of Schenectady and now resides in the Town of Glenville in said County of Schenectady.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated.
In the month of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight he went on a scout at two different times in search of the famous Joe Bellis, and his associate. Forso the Party went once to Charlton and once to Clifton Park and Ballstow. They could not take this noted Party.
And this deponent further says that in the month of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine

He enlisted in to the Company whereof Henry  Henry  She  She was captain in the Regiment whereof Christopher B. Yates was Col. The Company mustered at Albany The Company in the said Regiment marched to Schuylers Falls to what is now called Schuylersville in the County of Saratoga That this deponent continued there the whole Term of nine months the Term for which he had enlisted doing duty on fatigue in Building Boats and erecting Barracks and Boat Houses and in doing other Military duties imposed on him in going on Scouts and other Excursions That in December 1779 he was Honorably discharged that he had no discharge in writing.
In the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty he this deponent was drafted into the Company of John Nyndense at Schenectady to go to Schoharie to Guard the place and the Company was marched there and remained there one month this deponent continued there all the time doing Military duty faithfully as a soldier on Scouts and in pursuit of Indians Tories and Spies he was then discharged he had no discharge in writing
In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one he was drafted to go to Stone Arabia into the Company of Abraham Van Eps this deponent together with the Company marched from Schenectady to the Fort at Stone Arabia he stayed there doing all kinds of Military duty one month he was then Honorably discharged he has no discharge in writing
In the same year he was drafted into the Company of Captain Van Eps to go to Trips Hill The Company marched from Schenectady to that place & deponent remained there one month when the Company were discharged he had no written discharge he has often done services in short periods not herein mentioned.

and he never received any pay for any of the services except a little clothing and rations. -
THE FOLLOWING are the names of some of the regular officers whom he knew, or who were with the troops where he served, and such continental and militia regiments or companies with which he served, or as he can recollect, viz :
Remained Col. Sam Brock at Stone Arabia; —
Gen Schuyler Major Wemple Major Swift. Captain Vrooman. Major Fonda. Philip Van Tassel.
He never received any written discharge from the service.
He has no _____ documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except the depositions hereto annexed _____
The following are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution, to wit John Sanders, Peter Sanders & the Rev. James Murphy, Stephen A. Duggett, Barnet Sanders & James Carr
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.
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first, aforesaid
John S. Newman.
Clerk.
his Alexander Van Eps mark
State of New York
County of Somersetshire
State of New York County of Schoharie ss. I the undersigned James Murphy Pastor in charge of the Prot. Ref. Dutch Church of Glenville in said County Do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Alexander Van Eps who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing dec- laration, that he, so far as known to the undersigned, is believed to be a man of frank & veracity - and worthy of belief in all his declarations.
Ellenville October 19 th 1832
For Newbury - Minutes of the Reformed Dutch Church - Iowa & Glenville & County of Schenectady - • Affirmed in open court this 19 th day of October 1832. John L. Woodman Clerk

County of Schenectady to wit: Garret Van Eps of the Town of Glenville being sworn deposes and says that he is well acquainted with Alexander Van Eps who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that he has always known him before and since the Revolution that he was knowing to his going on the Scout as he has stated in his declaration and well recollects his the said Alexander going to Saratoga in the month of March 1777. with Chris- topher Yates Regiment as a soldier in said Regimen- t and that he continued there until December 1777.
that he did duty there for nine months in the Com- pany of Junis Fisher That this deponent was at St. John's Arabia in the same Company of the said Alexander Captain that this deponent and the said Alexander were in the same Company and deponent knows he did duty as stated in his declaration about one month. Likewise he knows the expedition to Scho- harie and Fripes hill were performed as stated in his declaration. that deponent has heard read the declaration read and knowing the said Alexander believes that more services were rendered than are particularly detailed in said declaration.
Subscribed & sworn in Open Court this 19th day of October 1832.
his Garret X Van Eps mark
John S. Noorman Clerk

This Certifies , that as appears from the Register of Baptism belonging to the PROTESTANT REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH in the City of Schenectady, Alexander, son Jan Baptist Van Eps & Jannetje Lansing. his wife, was baptized on the 28 th day of February in the year, 1768.
CERTIFIED,
Jacob Van Vechten
V. D. M.
Schenectady, July 13. 1882.

County of Schenectady ss: Jacob Report of the Town of Glenville being duly sworn doth depose and say he is well acquainted with Alexander Van Eps who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that deponent knew him in the time of War of the Revolution that this deponent was frequently out with him on scouts in pursuit of Tories and Indians & Hies and knows that the said Alexander was out at different times on scouts after Joe Bette, and other Tories at least one month.
Subscribed & sworn in Schenectady this 19th day of October 1832 Jacob Report mark John S. Wooman Clerk
WE Stephen A. Daggett & Barent Sanders residing in the town of Schenectady in the county of Schenectady aforesaid, and (Barent Sanders) Barnuff residing in the town of Grafton in said county do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alexander Van Eps who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy 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.
Subscribed and sworn the { day and year aforesaid } John S. Wooman Clerk. Stephen A. Daggett Barent Sanders James Crawford
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 Stephen A. Daggett is a resident in the city of Schenectady and Barent Sanders and James Crawford are residents in Glenville and that James Murphy is a clergyman who signed the same, is a resident in the Town of Glenville and that all of them are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I John S. Wooman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Alexander Van Eps for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two
John S. Wooman Clerk.

County of Schenectady ss. John  William Lord of the City  of  Schenectady  Rensselaer being sworn doth depose and say he was at Schoharie at the time the said Alexander Van Eps was there and knows the said Alexander Van Eps served in the company of Abraham Van Eps one month as stated in his said declaration. John Lord
Subscribed & sworn in open Court this 19 th day of October 1832
John S. Voorhies Clerk

N o 16396
Alir van Eps Schenutway 6 o
Steph A Daggitt ag o Schenutway N.Y.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Alex Van Eps Schenectady 6 o N.Y.
   Period when the service was rendered 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.   Yrs. Months. Days.     1778 Spy Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich Charlton 70 Traill's diary   1779 9 Private Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich Caistor Schenectady N.Y. 3 Mtn's   1780 1 Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich Ballston   1781 1 Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich Schenectady   " 1 Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich flats in Saratoga   1782 1 Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich Saratoga   Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich Schoharie   Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich Stemler's   Capt Lewis Fisher Colt Emmerich via Esopus Hill  
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 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 (i) 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 (1) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he 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, deponeth 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.

37 East St. May 23. d
Oneonta (Osteo. Co. N.Y.)
Commissioner of Pensions.
Kindly give me information about Alexander Venepps.
Pensioner of the Revolutionary War.
Please give birth marriage death and all data. for the benefit of his descendants and oblige.
Mrs Mary Thurman.
P.S. I may have directed this wrong if so please send it to the proper place

Reborn ✓
6302
INVALID.
Aug 13 '98 Mrs. Mary Thurman Queens NY.
File No. 6302
Alexander Tait Bi Rev war
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. M , Page 387
[Arrangement of 1870.]