Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 932, David Voorhees, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Voorhees, David
8.932.
carded.
CONTENTS

9818 New Jersey
David Workman
of Middlesex in the State of N. Jersey who was a Private in the Guards commanded by Captain Babcock of the Regt. commanded by Col. Hunt in the Cont d line for 22 Months
N.J. July 26/65, Records corrected.
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 73 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of June 1833 and Rev. Mr. J. Randolph Patriot
Arrears to the 4th of Mar: '33 $146.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sep: '33 36.66 $183.32
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. G. C. Shles, Clerk, Book E, Vol. 3, Page 134
Recorded by

Flavia Cooke Application for Pension
Certificate to be sent to E. S. Harkness R. Burns R. Franz

State of New Jersey Middlesex county ss } On this Twelfth - day of September in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred & thirty two personally ap- peared in open court before the Judges of the In- ferior court of common Pleas in & for the coun- ty of Middlesex in the state of New Jersey be- ing a court of record & now sitting David Boorhen of the city of New Brunswick in the county and State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law on his oath and being examined & interrogated according to the instructions from the war department noted on his oath make the following de- claration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of bonus up passed June 7 th 1832 That is to say -
That he was born on the 6 th day of Septem- ber in the year 1757 in the county of Som- erset and State of New Jersey & is now seventy five years of age and upwards - The original record of his age kept by his father was lost many years since by the burning of the house in which he this declarant resided - That he resided in the Township of Franklin in said county of Somerset at the commencement of the revolutionary war & was then serving as an apprentice, That after the war and about forty seven years ago he moved in to the county of Morris & lived there for a- bout two years when he removed into to the city of New Brunswick where he has reside- d ever since
That he entered the service of the United States in March 1776 in a company of Militia com-

2 Mo mustered by captain William Verbrughe being drafted in the same for two months to de- fend the port of Perth Amboy in New Jersey and served out his term of two months. That in July 1776 he entered as a volunteer in the five months service in the company commanded by captain Joseph Badcock under colonel J Hunt, who shortly after resigned & was succeeded in command by col. David Johnson. They marched to Long Island & were in the engagement which took place there, with the British in which col. Johnson was killed. - After the surrender of Lord Sterling, colonels Honton, Magee and Livingston took command of the regiment to which he this declarant was attached & they fought their way through to the Fort. During these five months service he was in several skirmishes with the British 5 Mo but in no other general engagement than the one above mentioned & he served his five months fully out -
That in December following he volun- teered again under captain Babcock & marched to Gravelly Ferry on the Delaware river where he served another month - And in January 1777 served one month under captain Thomas Hall at Raritan where they were ordered to join General Dickerson. - And in March following served one month at Milistown & Griggstown & their vicinity in Somerset County in the company commanded by capt. Evan Paine & immediately after marched to Eliz- abethtown where he served a month un- der the last mentioned captain where he was discharged. His next home of ser-

vice was at Pompton Plains where he served as a substitute for Garrit Voorhies to whom he was apprentice, under capt. Benj n Baird one month & the succeeding month viz June he served for himself at the place last mentioned under captain Jacobus Duick & continued to serve under him during the month of July at New Brunswick Amboy and Elizabethtown - At this period the British army left New Brunswick - In September he served one month at Elizabethtown under captain Fulkerson, & Gen l Howe & in December of the same year another month at the same place under capt. bornstein's note -
His first term of service in 1778 was in the month of January at Elizabethtown under capt. Fulkerson where he served a month as a substitute for Garrit Voorhies, he also served the month of April at the same place under capt. Levi Ten Eyck, Gen l Howe was then chief in command - In June following he was called out on a term of two months at Elizabethtown under capt. J. Duick & in the latter part of the same month his company were ordered to march to Monmouth - Was in the battle of Monmouth, having with some others of his company volunteered during the battle & joined General Wayne when he attacked the British Grenadiers & was with him during the engagement - The regiment to which he was then attached was under the command of Col. Peter D. Brown - After the battle of Monmouth they marched with the main army to N. Brunswick

In October of the same year he served one month at Elizabethtown under captain Lott & in February 1779 he served one month at the same place as substitute for G. Voorhies & under capt. Fulkerson & col. Seeley & in March one month for himself at the same place under capt. S. Quick -
In the Autumn of 1779 he served two months in the Jersey Brigade at Aquackunk & its vicinity under col. Seeley & General Maxwell, at the time the Hessian made an attempt on Hackensack in the county of Bergen - Besides the service above mentioned he was frequently called out upon excursions against the enemy sometimes for a few days only & at other times for two or three weeks - And when col. Prince was taken prisoner & during the period when the British lay at New Brunswick he was almost constantly out in the public service as a guide or messenger - was with col. afterwards Gen c White when when he went to surprise the British Guard near New Brunswick & was wounded by a bayonet in the Arm - And he further declares that he himself received a flesh wound in his leg on occasion of his attempt to protect the property of Garet Voorhies from a party of Hessian & would probably have lost his life but for the interference of a British officer who fortunately came up at the time - The only battles in which he was engaged during the war were those of Long Island & Monmouth, but was in frequent skirmishes with the enemy at different places - The country through which he marched was the counties of Ber-

gen Spex Michael Jones at Hunt- non & Monmouth in New Jersey, and the officers he knows and whom he served & the regiments with which he served are detailed above as near as he can recollect - His whole service ex- tends two years - He has is enabled to be so what more particular as to the time & different periods of his service in consequence of his being an apprentice during the war which induced him to keep an exact account of his regular tours - He has no written discharge from the service nor any documentary evidence of his service but once had a written certificate of five months service which was burned about 32 years ago when his house ac- cidentally took fire - He is however well known to Aaron Hageman soldier of the revolutionary war whom he can attest to his services as a soldier part 2 is also well known to the Rev J. C. L. Cannon and Isaac Van Dine who reside in his neighbourhood and can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier the resolution - And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except present & declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any state -
I solemnly subscribed in open court the day & year aforesaid J. Woodcock
David Pughes

State of New Jersey Middlesex county ss: 3
We James S Cannon a clergyman residing in the city of New Brunswick & Haal Van Dusen residing in the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Voorhies who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be of the age of seventy five years or thereabouts, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn & subscribed in open court the day 2 year aforesaid N Woodruff
James S Cannon, Haal Van Dusen,
I Aaron Hageman of the county of Somerset & State of New Jersey do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with David Voorhies the above applicant & know him to have been a soldier of the revolution having on different occasions served with him during the revolutionary war & most assuredly but that he served as he states -
Sworn & subscribed in open court the day 17 of N Woodruff
Aaron Hageman
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 & served as he states - And the

count for this certificate that it appears to them that James J. Cannon who has signed the preceding certificate is a dis- cerning residing in the city of New Bern with & that Hart Van Dusen who has also signed the same is resident in said city & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit -
September 12 th 1832 - N. P. Mearns
Thos. Gancey R. Ford Ichabod Potter Simon Munday
I Ferdinand J. Van Amakem Clerk of the county of Inferior court of com- mon Pleas in & for the county of Middle sex do hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of David Boorhus for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and af- fixed the seal of said court this nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and thir- ty two - J. J. Van Amakem Clerk

David Cooks Application for pension 8721
certificate to be sent to J. L. Stevenson to New Bern. N. Jersey

And the said court do hereby further certify That it appears to them that Aaron Hayman who has signed one of the forgoing certificates is an aged man residing in the county of Som- erset and in the vicinity of New Berrymouth & is known as a credible person and man of veracity and that his statement is en- titled to credit.
June 17. 1838.
R Ford
Thos Barnes
JW Cartlett
I Nicholas Booracum clerk of the Inferior court of common Pleas in & for the county of Middlesex & State of New Jersey do here- by certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings & supplementary cer- tificates of said court in the matter of the application of David Boorhen for a pen- sion: In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court this 17 th day of June A.D. eighteen hundred & thirty three -
N Booracum Clerk

No 8721
David Voorhus N.J.
Return if —
Admission Paid at 23 monthly
James P. Macaulah for having a Merant N. Bruns? New Jersey

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
3 d June — 1839
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 David Voorhees, of Middlesex New Jersey
{    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.   Years. Months. Days.     Drafted 1776 2 Private Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Northampton Corners of Somerset Traditionary & living  Vol. 1776 5 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island Long Island State of New Jersey Witnesses   Vol. 1776 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Served 1777 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   " 1777 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Sub 1777 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Vol 1777 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Served 1777 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Served 1777 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Sub 1778 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Served 1778 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Called out 1778 2 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Served 1778 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   Sub 1779 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   " 1779 1 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey   " 1779 2 Capt. Van Cortlandt Colo. J. Van Riper Long Island State of New Jersey  
Besides the above service he alleges he was often called & sometimes served a few days & sometimes a few weeks & that his whole service exceeded Two Years
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 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, 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.

Dear War
INVALID.
File No. 932
David Voorhees
Dis. N.J. Mil.
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 386
[Arrangement of 1870.]
David Voorhees July 26/92 Records corrected