Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1142, Abraham Voorhees, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Voorhees, Abraham
S. 1142
CONTENTS
banded

22.9.20 New Jersey Abraham Voorhies of Somerset Co. in the State of New Jersey who was a Sergeant (the) Corp. commanded by Captain Moyer — of the Regt. commanded by Col. Neilson in the New Jersey line for 2 years —
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Dec: 1833 — and dd. J. H. Randolph Present
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33 $300 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mo. '34 60 $360
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. H. Miles Clerk, Book E. Vol. 3. Page 137
260 6

Abm Booker
Application for?
Pension
No. 814
Certificate to
J. F. Randolph
G. Burns
h. g.

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss:
On this seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and thirty three personally appeared be- fore me one of the Judges of the Superior court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Somerset the same being a court of record Abraham Cookhead a resident in said coun- ty & State, aged ninety one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, and ex- amined & interrogated according to the in- structions from the war department with on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provi- sion made by the act of congress passed June 7 th 1832. That is to say -
That he is labouring under great bodily infirmity and cannot therefore leave his home & appear in open court without the greatest inconvenience, and imminent risk - That he was born in the Township of Franklin in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey on the 13 th day of November in the year 1742 & is now in his ninety first year of age Has a record of his age in an old Dutch family bible now in his possession from which he ascertains his age - Has always resided in said Township both before & after the revolutionary war, resided there when he first entered the service - Previous to the war he was regularly en- rolled in the militia of New Jersey, and performed Military duty as the company to

which he was attached was from time to time called out for exercise & improvement. Once he further states that he entered the service of the United States in the winter of 1776 and went with his company to Long Island on an expedition against the Tories or disaffected. This tour lasted one month. After this & in the month of June or July 1776 he was Sergeant and served in the company of Capt. Philip Fulkerson, as sergeant. He served in this company to the best of his recollection for three successive months, viz. July August & September, being all that time on duty at Elizabethtown, Newark & along the Staten Island sound. The British at this time had possession of Staten Island. While at Elizabethtown on this tour the battle of Long Island took place. During this tour also there was an alarm at night, that the enemy were crossing the Sound into New Jersey & his company were ordered out to the shore to oppose their landing. On this occasion their captain was missing and the command devolved upon Lieutenant James Van Dyke. The alarm proved false. They proceeded however to the shore where they commenced the construction of some military works to oppose the crossing of the enemy, but were interrupted by the firing from the opposite shore & were compelled to retire & were then ordered to Red Bank & from there to Bergen Point where they lay some time in sight of the Enemy. At Newark they were again joined by their captain who alleged that he had

been home to settle his worldly concerns make his will &c. His next tour was one month in the same company & in the same capacity of Sergeant at Pompton Plains.
In the year 1777 he served in the same capacity of Sergeant & was absent in active service to the best of his recollection at least four months & in the same company but which was then commanded by Captain J. Van Deyn, Genl. Frea 2 Feilingshagen was then commanding officer, who on one occasion & just before the British were driven from Hackensack ordered the men to wear green bushes in their caps instead in the place of plumes. He cannot dis- cern the precise months of this year that he served but there were at least four - Bergen, Bonumipond & Hackensack were the places.
In the year 1778 he was attached to the regiment commanded by Colonel Abraham Quick, to the best of his recollection he served was in actual service five months, viz May, June & July - Septem- ber and November - continuing to serve as Sergeant, in June his company lay at Pompton Plains as he well recollects hearing of the battle of Monmouth, on their return from Pompton to Newark. His service this year was principally at Newark Elizabethtown & Pompton Plains.
He thinks that it was sometime this year that Col. Simco a British officer with a company of Horse made an in

mission from Amboy to Millstone when they burned the court house, as soon as an alarm was given the company to which this declarant belonged was ordered to cut off their retreat. In this attempt Colonel Simco was taken prisoner and near New Brunswick & carried to the house of a Mr. Rappleyea & there guarded by this declarant he being sergeant. Immediately after the capture of Simco the same party, who made good their retreat, killed Captain Peter Boockers in the vicinity of New Brunswick in consequence of which this declarant had difficulty in preventing his own troops from destroying Colonel Simco.
In the years 1779 and 1780 He served in the same capacity & to the best of his recollection half the time that is 12 was months, serving his regular hours of one month each and that every other month. The places were those above mentioned and along the line between New York and New Jersey. He also served subsequently to this but cannot state how long. His whole actual service under arms exceeded two years considerably & he thinks not less than three years, he is positive as to the twenty six months above enumerated. He never served as a substitute. The country through which he marched during the war was Bergen Essex, Middlesex and Somerset counties & the officers whose names he recollects were Generals Fitzkinghuyse, & Hanc, Colonels

Levi & Nelson, captains Fulkerson Van Dyke & Cook. He resided near the city of New Brunswick on the breaking out of the war & his property lay there which was greatly injured & destroyed by enemy when they lay at New Brun- swick. He never had a written commif- sion nor did he ever receive a discharge from the service, nor has he now any documentary evidence of his service but believes that he can prove part if not the whole of his service by two credible wit- nesses viz. David Cook & Peter Mont- fort both of whom are aged men and were soldiers of the revolution & served with him frequently. He is also well known to the Rev. Samuel B. Howe a clergyman residing in his neighbourhood though in the adjacent county of Middlesex & to Lewis Barnum who resides with him who can testify to his character for veracity & to his their belief of his service as a sol- dier of the revolution.
For the service above mentioned he claims a pension whilst he hereby re- linquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state
Sworn & subscribed before me this 17 th day of June 1833 by the declarant, who I certify can not from bodily infirmity at- tend my open court
Abraham Cowley
John Lathum Judge of Common Pleas

We Samuel B. Howe a clergyman residing in the neighbourhood of the forgoing declarant and Lewis CARMAN residing also in the same neighbourhood & in the county of Somerset do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Voorhies who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration That we believe him to be of the age of ninety one 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 before me the day of year, aforesaid John D. Hume Judge of Somerset Pleas.
Samuel B. Howe CARMAN
We David Voorhies & Peter Voorhies
I David Voorhies of the city of New Bern which do hereby certify that I am of the age of 75 years & upwards am well acquainted with Abraham Voorhies the forgoing declarant, knew him well during the revolutionary war, & know that he was a soldier of the revolution.
Sworn & subscribed before me the day of year aforesaid
David Voorhies
John D. Hume Judge of Somerset Pleas

I Peter Montfort do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Abra- ham Boockus the forgoing declarant, that I knew him well during the war of the revolution, know that he served during the war as a soldier, have seen him in actual service as sergeant in different places, being attached to the same company & regiment myself Sworn & subscribed before me this day & year aforesaid John Fishburne Judge of Probate Pleas
I John Fishburne before whom the foregoing declaration & certificate have been made and sworn to as hereby de- clares my opinion that after the investiga- tion of the matter & after putting the entire oathors prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states And I further certify that it appears to me that Samuel B. Howe who has sign- ed the preceding certificate is a clergy- man resident in the city of New Bedford And that Lewis Barran, David Boockus & Peter Montfort who have also signed the foregoing certificate are residents in the city of New Bedford

said city or its vicinity and are all men of known veracity and are credi- ble persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
June 17. 1833
John Fishburn Judge of Somerset Pleas
I John M. Mann clerk of the Supe- rior court of common Pleas in and for the county of Somerset & State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings had before John Fishburn Esq. in the matter of the application of Abraham Boorhus for a pension. And I further certify that the said John Fishburn is one of the Judges of the said court and also a Justice of the Peace in & for said county duly com- missioned & sworn & that the name John Fishburn signed to the foregoing declaration & certificate is in the pro- per hand writing of the said John Fishburn.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
J. M. Mann

November 20, 1935.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. Edward M. Miller 18 Bridge Street Brooklyn, New York
BA-J/ady Abraham Voorhees, S.1143 Robert Coddington, W.3950
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers in that war.
A careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of Andrew Miller, Henry Moore or Albert Voorhees as described by you, all spellings of the names searched.
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.1143, based upon the military service of Abraham Voorhees, in that war.
Abraham Voorhees was born November 13, 1743 in Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. The names of his parents are not shown.
Prior to the Revolutionary War Abraham Voorhees was elected sergeant and belonged to Captain Fulkerson's Company of New Jersey Militia. While residing near the City of New Brunswick, Abraham Voorhees enlisted in the fall of 1775 or winter of 1776 and served one month as private in Captain Fulkerson's New Jersey Company. He enlisted about July 1776 and served at various times, over two years in all, and to the close of the war as sergeant in the New Jersey troops under the following officers, Lieutenant James Van Duyn, Captain Philip Fulkerson and Colonel Abraham Quick. He was in some skirmishes.
He was allowed pension on his application executed

June 17, 1833 while a resident of Somerset County, New Jersey.
He died December 4, 1835, place not stated. an a B.
In 1833 David Voorhees, Sr., aged seventy-five years "and upwards" was living in New Brunswick, no relationship to the soldier stated.
It is not stated whether soldier was ever married. *****
Robert Coddington, W.3950
The records of this office show that Robert Coddington, the name is also shown as Codrington, was born October 6, 1760, place not stated. In 1793 his mother, Sarah Hodgson, a widow, was a resident of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey, her age not given. The name of his father is not stated.
While a resident of Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Robert Coddington served during 1777, 1781, and 1783, at various times as private and fifer under Captains Randolph and Freeman and Colonels Ogden and Samuel Crow in the New Jersey troops. In 1781 he was wounded in the head in an engagement at Perth Amboy, and in February 1783 he was wounded in a skirmish on Staten Island.
On account of disability resulting from the above named wounds his name was placed on the invalid pension list of the United States in 1786, while a resident of Middlesex County, New Jersey. His pension commenced January 1, 1785, rate $24.00 per annum, and later increased to $96.00 per annum.
Soldier married May 15, 1783, Margaret, the name is also shown as Margret, her maiden name not stated, who was born August 8, 1768, place not given.
Soldier died August 15, 1833, place not shown.
Soldier's widow, Margaret Coddington, was allowed pension on her application executed November 15, 1838, at which time she was a resident of Middlesex County, New Jersey.
She died February 12, 1850, place not stated.

The names of the following children of soldier and Margaret are shown:
William I. Coddington born April 1, 1784. Abigail Coddington " April 10, 1786. James Coddington " June 18, 1788. Randolph Coddington " June 9, 1790. Nancy Coddington " September 14, 1792. Grace I. Coddington " October 28, 1795. Mary Coddington " November 27, 1797, died December 13, 1797. Rachel Coddington " June 1, 1798. Sarah Coddington " August 21, 1800. Robert Coddington, Junior " December 2, 1802. Margaret Coddington " September 12, 1804. Eliza Coddington " June 21, 1807. Augustus Coddington " May 30, 1809.
There are no further family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

(2)
abraham roosees
Admitted August 2 years
J. P. Randolph Esq. New Jersey

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
19 Sept 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 Voorhees
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.      
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 and State, Territory or District A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of 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 A. B.
Sworn to 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 (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 days 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 inquiry 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.

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
L. W.B. W. 12635. I. 1142.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
October 13, 1898.
Sir:-
Replying to your recent communication you are advised that Margaret, widow of Christopher Post, made an application for pension on December 7, 1818, as guardian for the children William and Betsey Ann, at which time she was residing in Orange County, N. Y., and the pension was allowed for the actual service of Christopher Post as a private in Capt. Leavenworth's Company, 25th U. S. Infantry, War of 1812. It appears that he enlisted August 10, 1812, and was killed in service December 3, 1812.
Abraham Voorhees made an application for pension on June 17, 1833, at which time he was 91 years of age and residing in Somerset County, N. J., and his pension was allowed for two years' actual service as a sergeant in the New Jersey troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Moyer and Col. Neilson. He enlisted in Somerset County, N. J.
A very careful search has been made and from the data given the names of Roelif or Cornelius Peterson have not been found upon the Revolutionary war pension or bounty land records on file in this Bureau. Your attention is invited to the note in the upper corner of this sheet.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mr. Charles Maar, 208 Sedgwick St., Syracuse, N. Y.

Pastor's Study.
Second Reformed Church.
1142
P
No Peterboro
208 Sedgwick St. Syracuse, N. Y.,
Aug. 25, '98.
Honorable Sir:
Be good enough to inform me for what service in the Revolutionary war
Abraham Voorhees, originally of Somerset Co., N.J., then " Scipio or Fleming, Cayuga Co., N.Y.,
then " Perry, Wyoming Co., N.Y.,
Received a pension during life. I am told he was an officer of some grade.
Also let me know whether the names
Raelif Peterson, Somerset Co., N.J.,
Cornelius " " " "
and Christopher Post, " " "
were ever granted pensions for service in the Rev- olution.
Hoping this is not asking too
much, I am,
Yours cordially,
Chas. Maas.
ADP MAR 2 MAY AUG 30 1898 PENSION OFFICE

INVALID.
Rev War.
File No.
1142 Abraham Voorhees, Pro. N. J. Line.
Act
June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol.
a
Page
386
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

1935 Nov. 20. Hist to Edw. M. Miller. See his letter in Clm. of Robt. Coddington, W.D. 39 50. Q. 10. 4
Oct 13 '98
Chas Maar Syracuse
ny
7.

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss. On this twenty third day of Sep- temba eighteen hundred thirty three, before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace is and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Abra- ham Voorhees, an applicant for a Pension named in the paper marked 26, 814, who being duly sworn on his oath saith, that by reason of extreme old age, & the infirmities consequent upon it, he cannot suc- cessfully to the precise length of all his services, nor to all the particulars connected with it, but that to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the grades therein set forth. He entered the service, in active duty, in the fall of 1775, or Winter of 1776, he is not sure which, but inclines to believe that it was in the fall - it was cold weather, in the com- pany commanded by Capt. Mulhern, and served a term of one month on Long Island in disarming the forces. Gen. 1 st He was in command of this expedition. His service was rendered as a private, and as a substitute for one Peter Schenck. In the Summer of fall of 1776 he served three 3 rd terms of a month each in succession under Capt. Mul- hern, Lieut. Van Duzen on the lines between Elizabethtown & Newark, in guarding them from the enemy on Staten Island. His ser- vice was as Sergeant, in the company in which he be- longed at home, and in which he had been regularly elected Sergeant. Before this service commenced, as a substitute In the latter 1 st part of the same year he served another term of a month under Capt. Mulhern, at Pompton Plains, the enemy being at that time cooped up into New Jersey, and driven the militia from the lines along the Sound. 4 th In the year 1777, he served at least four terms of a month each at Bergen, Hackensack & Communipaw under Lieut. Van Duzen, acting as Captain, H. Gen. Melin, King.

9 Ser, in protecting that district of country from the enemy & from the Tories. In the year 1778, he served not less than five tours of a month each, as Sergeant all under Capt. McKean, the declarant being in the same class with him, and on the lines between Newark & Elizabeth Town, and occasionally scouring the country for some fifteen or twenty miles, into the interior, to suppress & prevent the Tories. This was the year of the battle of Monmouth, but he was not there, being as he recollects, at that time, in service at Pompton. He was, under the command of Col. Smith this year. In 1779 he was out, he is sure, not less than half the time, and served during the year, six tours of a month each, as Sergeant, under Capt. Fullerton, in guarding the lines on the Second from Woodbridge to Paulus Brook, including Elizabeth Town & Newark. In 1780, he also served not less than six tours of a month each, as Sergeant, under Capt. Fullerton & Col. Smith, on the lines as before, and in the same kind of service. During this year, he believes, there was an engagement at Springfield, and the church was burnt there, but he was not present. In 1781, he also served under the same Capt. on the same station, not less than four tours of a month each, as Sergeant. And so also in 1782, and as long as the militia were held in requisition, up to the Peace of 1783. He was regularly out, and always in the capacity of Sergeant, except in the single tour he has stated, and which may have been brought to Shire & off duty prior to his return when he served as a substitute. His actual service in the field during the war, was certainly not less than two years and a half, he thinks three years. It was his fortune, good or bad, not to be in a single battle, nor in any engagement except near Shirebrook. 30

and an occasional hurry hurry after the Tories and plundering parties of the British. For proof of his services, he refers to the affidavits of David Voorhees, Peter Montfort.
than whom he knows of no other living witnesses. There may be others, but they have passed from his memory. For such services, thus specified & made out, he claims a pension.
Subscribed & sworn to the day year aforesaid before me John Terhune
Justice of the peace in & for the County of Somerset
William Voorhees
State of New Jersey } I John M. Mann Clerk of the Inferior Somerset County } Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that John Terhune before whom the above affidavit was made and whose proper signature is thereto sub- scribed was at the time of the date thereof and now is a Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twelfth day of October Eighteen hundred and thirty three.
J. M. Mann

State of New Jersey } Rather full day of October, 1833. Middlesex County, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally ap- peared Aaron Hapeman, who being duly sworn, on his oath saith, that he is a soldier of the Revo- lution and is now receiving a Pension as such; that he now knows, and has known for seventy years, Abra- ham Voorhees of Somerset County, the applicant for a Pension named in paper marked 2d S th H th that he knows of his service in the war of the Revolution belonged to the same company with him, served with him repeatedly. Knows that he served from 1776 to the close of the war, that he served several tours of a month each in each of the years 1776, 7, 8, 9, 80, 81 He thinks 82, that he served always as Sergeant he being one of the oldest men in the company, and one of the best soldiers, was elected a Sergeant at the commencement of difficulties before the militia were called out, generally, as he thinks. As early as 1776 the militia were enrolled, all between 16 & 50 and classed, originally, he thinks, they were divided into two classes, but afterwards into more, but always in such a way that ordinarily one half were liable to be called out at a time. The commissioned and non-commissioned officers were also classed, and charged as to go out alter- nately as the service did. Said Voorhees was under this organization, subject to all the rules of the company, and so far as this deponent recollects he believes was always out in his regular turn. He entertains no doubt from the unquestioned integri- ty & high conscientious character of said Voorhees, that his statement is true in all its parts, & his claim a perfectly just one. He cannot undertake to state in detail how much service the said Voorhees performed, but

he knows from the very nature of the service, and the fidelity with which said Bookee rendered it, that he must have been out from two to three years altogether.
Subscribed known to the day of 3 David Hagerman year aforesaid, before me 3 J. S. Ford
Justice of the Peace
On the day & year aforesaid before me a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid, also appeared David Bookee & Peter Montfort, who being duly sworn, on their respective oaths depose & say, that they have already been examined as witnesses in the case of Abraham Bookee, an applicant for a Pension named in papers marked No. 874, but that understanding that a more full account of their knowledge of his service is desirable, they cheerfully render such as it is in their power to give. They know said Bookee well, and remember distinctly that he was in the service of the Revolution from the beginning to its close. That he was elected, they think, before actual service, a sergeant in Capt. Fickelson's company, to which they all belonged, and served as sergeant throughout the war. They themselves were in service most of the war, and although they did not belong to the same with said Bookee company, and consequently were not always out together, yet they were frequently out at the same time, when the whole company was called, and they are enabled to say, as well from the organization of the company, which admitted of one half's being called out at the same time, as from their proximity as neighbors to said Bookee, that he was regular in his tours

and as answers to extraordinary calls, and conse- quent therefore have served less than from three to six and eight times in several of the years of the war. This was the amount of service which all who were faithful & able to do duty, were obliged to render, in many of the years of the war, from its commencement to its termination. The militia were all enrolled & claned, - into two clanes, they then - as early as 1776, and continued to be claned the whole war, though the number of clanes might have been, & they believe  has increased - but their liabil- ity to serve always remained the same, and always subjected one half of a company to be taken at a time. This they remember as well as if it had been yesterday, for many were the times they bitterly felt this necessity. They therefore have no hesitation in say- ing that the said Voorhees served in all much more than two years, and as he has stated. They know from his character he would make no unfounded claim.  Subscribed from to the day of David Voorhees Sen year aforesaid, before me J. M. Voorhees  Th. Ford
Justice of the peace  I hereby certify that Anna Wageman, David Voor- hees Sen & J. M. Voorhees, the foregoing deponents, are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.  Th. Ford  Justice of the peace

State of New Jersey, Union County, I, Nicholas Boorman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing are the sup- plemental proceedings in the case of Abraham Workes, an applicant for a Pension - that Israel Ford, before whom the same was had is a Justice of the Peace duly commissioned & sworn, and that the signature of said Ford is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand & seal of office this twelfth day of October one Thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
N Boorman Clk