Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1135, Cornelius Van Doren, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Van Doren Cornelius
S. 1135
CONTENTS
carded

22.986  New Jersey  Cornelius Vanhook
of Essex Co. in the State of New Jersey who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Moom in the New Jersey line for 23 months and 3 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 77 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Dec. 1833 — and Det. J. H. Randolph President
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33 $192 50 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1m. '34 38 50  $231 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Not paid June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. Stiles Cle. Book E Vol. 3 Page 137
March 23/92 Mrs. Jane Vanhook given age of soldier &c.
154 38 50 192 50

Declaration of Cornelius Sanderson a Soldier of the Revolution -

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion from the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution, & served as he states. And the court further states certifies that it appears to them that Rev. John L. Labriskie who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the township of Hillsborough & county of Somerset, & that Henry Van Dusen Jun. who has also signed the same, is a resident in the township of Hillsborough. — in the county of Somerset aforesaid, & is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to cred- it.
Don: A. Dinsborough
Wm. Gaston
Deo: Vanderveer
Answers to the interrogatories propounded by the court to the applicant.
1. — The said Cornelius Van Doren was born in the township of Franklin in the county of Somerset, on the twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred & forty six. 2. — The day, month & year, in which he was born, are recorded in the family bible, now in the possession of his sister, & from thence transcribed into his own. 3. — Said Cornelius Van Doren was living in Middlesex in the township & county aforesaid, when called into service; & has ever since the war resided in the same place. 4. — Was drafted in the New Jersey Militia first, in Captain Coonrod Van Eyck's company of foot. 5. — The officers under whom he served, as well as his immediate recollection will send, were as follows, viz: Captain Coonrod Van Eyck, Captain Jacob Van Eyck, Captain Philip Van Riper, Captain Abraham Van Nest, & Col. Martin L. Quick, & others that he cannot now recollect. Also Col. Root he now recollects. 6. — Never received any discharge in writing. 7. — The following persons can testify to his character for veracity, & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. Peter Voorhies a soldier of the revolution, to whom he was personally known in the service. Ex Governor Peter D. Root for under whose father Col. Peter D. Root Sen. (now dec'd) he served in the war. Hon. Isaac Southard, Doct. Garnet Tuckerson another soldier of the Revolution who now receives a pension & with whom he was personally acquainted in the service. The Rev. John L. Labriskie, William B. Gaston Esq., Jas. Ainsworth Esq. Samuel Ainsworth the Revolutionary soldiers.
Cornelius Van Doren
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Wm. Gaston

I John M. Mann Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Somerset, in the state of New Jersey, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Cornelius Van Dorn for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred & thirty three.
J. M. Mann

I the undersigned do hereby certify that I am acquainted with Cornelius Van Dorn, who is an applicant for a pension under the act of June 10 th 1832, and whose statement is hereto annexed - I believe him to be a man entirely worthy of credit and whose declaration of facts may be relied on with as much confidence as that of any man of his name. I have no doubt that he served in the Revolution and moreover seems to be correct as to the length of his service - During a great part of the war, the State of New Jersey and particularly that part of it in which he lived was kept in a state of constant alarm - and the militia were very frequently under arms. They rendered much service without being called often and I have endeavored to give a correct account of it.
Closing by his declaration that he had served under my father the late Col. Peter D. Varn. I made search among his Revolutionary papers for some evidence of the fact that might be satisfactory to the department, and found several rolls with his name on - and I have no doubt that with a little search, others might be discovered. Those papers which are hereto annexed are all original and in the hand writing of my father - and being found among his files of the Revolution, there is no possible doubt of their authenticity. And I have no doubt that the known Cornelius Van Dorn & C. Van Dorn found in the rolls, is the same person who now applies for the bounty of his country. If this statement shall be of any service to a worthy and patriotic, I shall be most gratefully -
Doctor Semmes, Mount G. N. Henry -
June 29 th 1833 -
P. D. Varn

Peter Voorhies a militia man in the Revolutionary war, being Albany  Spencer duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose & say that the within named Cornelius Van Dorn as far as he knows & as he verily believes, was a militia soldier in the Revolutionary war, that deponent frequently saw said Van Dorn out in the militia, at that time, & that at the battle of Monmouth .
Sworn before me at Somerville this 3 rd day of October A.D. 1832.
Peter Voorhies
Wm. H. Gaston

Somerset County ss:
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, Capt. Abraham Van Nest, who being sworn according to law upon his oath saith, that he was well acquainted, before , and during the whole Revolutionary War with Cornelius Van Dorn the within named applicant, from extreme old age and great bodily infirmity he cannot distinctly remember the terms of duty performed by the said Cornelius, he living in the next adjoining Company, but deponent verily believes that he was war out, and performed his regular term of duty when called upon during the war, he was a true Whig , and deponent further states that he has not a lingering doubt of the truth of the statement of said Cornelius being out under him, and performed the duty as stated in his declaration, that the said Cornelius Van Dorn is a man of unquestionable truth and veracity, and always was considered such, and that his statement may be relied upon as strictly correct and worthy of credit, and further deponent saith not -
Abm Van Nest
Sworn and subscribed before me this 26 th day of September 1833
M. J. Gaston

Somerset County Ys
I William D. Gaston one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Somerset do hereby Certify that the Hon ble Peter D Vroom late Governor of the State of New Jersey, who has within Certificate, as to the credi- = bility, & his belief, of the services of said Cornelius Van Dorn, the applicant in the War of the Revolution, is a gentleman whose moral character is above reproach, and worthy of the utmost Confidence & belief. And that also Peter Voorhies who has sworn to the foregoing, affidavit, (who has since died) was a person whose Statement is entitled to full credit and belief, having been a man of uncompromising truth and veracity -
Somerville June 1833
W. D. Gaston

Supplemental declaration of Cornelius Van Dorn of Somerset for a Pension under the law of June 1832.
State of New Jersey, Somerset County, S.S. On this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three, before me a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas & a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Cornelius Van Dorn of said County, who being duly sworn doth say that he is the same Cornelius Van Dorn who heretofore made application for a pension under the law of June 1832, and whose papers were returned to him under date of Sep 19. 1833. as appears by a printed brief accompanying them - that being required to make some further specification of proof of his services, he says that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he is not enabled distinctly to specify all his services, nor to swear positively to their length and the particular connected therewith, yet to the best of his recollection, and with a full conviction that he has not overrated them, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the order they are mentioned, and always in the humble grade of a private:
At an early period he was enrolled in the company commanded by Capt Philip Fulkerson, Lieuts Stoothof & Myckoff & Ensign (afterwards Lieut.) Van Dorn, which company was attached to the regiment originally commanded by Col. Quick, & subsequently occupied by Col. Van Dyke, and ultimately and to the end of the war by Col. Brown. His first service was in 1776, as early as he thinks, as second, and was under Capt Conrad Ten Eyck & Col. Philip Fulkerson - was performed on Staten Island on occasion of an alarm that the enemy were coming from Boston, and lasted not less than two weeks. Very soon afterwards, in same year, he did another tour of two weeks under Capt Fulkerson & Col. Quick at Elizabethtown on a similar ground of alarm. Subsequently, in the same year, and a month or so before the battle of Long Island he was called three several times to Long Island to suppress the disaffection very extensive there at that time, and to make preparation for the enemy, then almost daily expected. These tours were not less than two weeks each and all under Capt Fulkerson.

1. he believes Col. Duer, and made altogether six weeks of service. He was next called to Communipaw, a village opposite to New York, where he served two weeks, and then to the City of New York, where he served two weeks, and then again to Communipaw, where he served two weeks more, all under Capt. Fulkerson, all in 1776, and before the enemy took possession of New York. The enemy now having possession of Staten Island, soon after obtaining also the City of New York, and making demonstrations to overrun New Jersey, the scene of operations was changed. In the fall, in October, he thinks 1776 he performed a tour of a month under Capt. Fulkerson at Pompton, engaged most of the time in throwing up breastworks. After the retreat of our army through the State, and the enemy had got settled down at New Brunswick & Perth Amboy, and in fact, from the moment the British set foot in New Jersey, the whole disposable force of the State was in requisition and in actual service to repel the invasion and the depredations then committing. The declarant can specify no service particularly, except during the winter of 76-7, when he was out all the time, performing not less than three months service as a militia man, in one continuous service, and from two to four weeks service as a wagoner, in carting stores and provisions for the troops in his neighborhood, along the Millstone. This service was all done under Capt. Fulkerson, along the Millstone, and under Col. Van Dyke. Afterward in 1777, after the enemy had left the State, he performed not less than three tours of a month each at Elizabethtown under Capt. Fulkerson & Col. Van Dyke  Van Dyke . The militia were at this time regularly clotted into right companies to a company, to perform monthly tours. They had been for some time subject, by law, to monthly tours, but the emergencies of the times was so pressing that little attention could be given to such a regulation. 2. In the year 1778, he served not less than four tours of a month each - the first at Elizabethtown, in the usual service of guarding that station under Capt. Johnson  Johnson & Col. Seely  Seely  (at that time stationed) the second at Trenton & that vicinity in expectation of the enemy from Philadelphia - the third farther advanced into West Jersey - as far as the Beach House in Burlington County, as so on to the plains of Monmouth, and ending in the memorable battle there, at which he was present - and the fourth at his old station at Elizabethtown & Newark, all under Capt. Fulkerson, and the three last mentioned under Col. Broom. Broom he is sure was at Monmouth, and he believes was with him all the time. In 1779, he was again on the Elizabethtown station, and performed not less than

4- four tours of a month each there - The first under Capt Van Keeste Col Frederick- len, the second under Capt Lott - The third under Capt Jacob Van Eyck, & the fourth under Capt Van Keeste. Col Broom he thinks was present during these three last tours, but of this he cannot be certain. The men hardly knew, one half the time, who their Colonel was, and was pretty likely to find out their captain sometimes. There was a great shifting about of officers, and great irregu- larity in their commands, for the laws did not seem to be made for them as they were for the men, or at least they were not so rigidly enforced. In the winter of 79 '80 he was engaged for several weeks in carting from Griggstown, the vicinity of his residence in Somerset County, to Morristown, to the continental army there. During the year 1780 he performed not less than three tours of a month 3- each under Capt Fulkeron Col Broom, at Elizabethtown, Newark & in Bergen County - Their duty requiring them to go the whole range of the frontier from Paulus Hook to Elizabeth & Amboy, though their station, or head quarters, were at Elizabethtown. In this year there was a severe engagement at Spryfield and another often consequence at Elizabethtown, but he was not present at either of them, not being, as he supposes, out at the time. 3- In 1781 he performed not less than three tours of a month each at the old station, Elizabethtown, all under his own Captain Fulkeron, & mostly, he thinks, under Col Broom. In 1782 he was still in service 3- at the same station, and did at least three tours of months each under Capt Fulkeron & Col Broom, in guarding that station. He is sensible that he presents but a meagre detail of his services, but the truth is, that for the most part, the history of a single tour with him, is the history of every tour and all his tours - for his services were not full of battles and stirring incidents, but simply related to defensive oper- ations, requiring great vigilance and labor, and sometimes attended with considerable risk. But there was no cessation of duty, whilst on a tour, and more of it was to be performed in the night than at any other time, for it was then the enemy would take their opportunities to steal over for plunder & forage. The troops were not in garrison at all, but were quartered round at the houses in the neighborhood, the militia for the most part, being without tents. In the claim which he has made, he is confident of not having exceeded the amount of the

services he rendered. He thinks he did much more. He knows he was liable to do much more. That with the regular calls, and the extraordinary ones, he frequently, and most others who served faithfully, did nearer eight months duty in a year than four months. He has, however, chosen to be under rather than over the mark, and to feel clear in his conscience that his claim is a perfectly just one. In support of his claim, he adduces some further testimony of his old associates in arms, whose memories have retained him, though he had forgotten them, and trusts that he may be deemed to come fairly within the letter as well as the spirit of the law acts of 1832, and the instructions under it. He does not say that he can do any more than he now exhibits.
Subscribed upon the day and year aforesaid
John M. Mann John Serhune Justice of the peace & Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in said County
Corne Silver Fadoron
State of New Jersey Somerset County ss I John M. Mann Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that John Serhune before whom the above affidavit was made and whose proper signature is thereto subscribed was at the time of the date thereof and still is a Judge of said Court and Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn. In the whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twelfth day of October Eighteen Hundred & thirty three
J. M. Mann

State of New Jersey 31. On this 14th day of October 1833, before Mid le County, to me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Mid personally appeared David Voorhies, Law Huber, duly sworn on his oath, with, that he is a son dear of the Revolution now receiving a pension as such that he now knows Solomon Mason the applicant for a Pen- sion named in the foregoing paper, has known him from the commencement of the Revolution - recollects him well during that period, knows that he served there on the war - belonged to the same company with him, was out with him - knows that he was repeatedly enrolled & re-enrolled, performed his time with the best - believes that he entered the service as he states in 1776, and continued to the conclusion of the war, repeatedly faithfully doing his duty. Cannot specify the number of times he performed, nor where he performed them - that is out of the question, except in here there is an instance where the parties resided in the same fa- mily, as in the case of Dependent Peter G. Voorhies, and took him from about - but he can say generally that he did his duty well & faithfully, was out in each & every year to '82 or '83, and must therefore have served more than the year consi- derably. Said Mason is implicitly to be depend- ed upon in his statements, has a character for honesty, unimpeachable, and in all, is a worthy excellent man.
Subscribed to me this day year before me. David Voorhies Law
Dear P. Munyon I notice of the war
I hereby certify that the foregoing deposition is a correct transcript of that his statement is entirely worthy of credit.
Dear P. Munyon Justice of the Peace

State of New Jersey ) ss. Middlesex County } On this eighteenth day of October eighteen hundred & thirty three, before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of personally appeared John C. Myckoff, who being duly sworn, on his oath saith that he is a son of the Revo- lution and is now receiving a pension on account that he once knew Comdr. John Don, an officer for a Penna. Regiment in Capt. Don's Company, knew him from the year 1776, and lived a neighbor to him, since that time known him to be in service in the Revolution, belonged to the same company with him, and not being in the same class do not recollect to have seen much with him. Said John Don being older than de- ponent, began the service earlier, & to deponent's knowledge performed several tours before deponent went into service - cannot specify how much said John Don served, but remembers him dis- tinctly as being in service throughout the war, and can therefore with perfect safety say that he served two years or upwards. Said John Don is a highly respectable man, con- scientious in his statements, & worthy of all credit in what he says, with respect to his Revo- lutionary services.
Subscribed & sworn to the day John C. Myckoff before me
J. Ford
Justice of the peace
I hereby certify that the foregoing deponent John C. Myckoff is a credible person, his statement entitled to full credit.
J. Ford
Justice of the peace

Cornelius van Dorn
Epiphany Rym

State of New York Middlesex County ss
I Nicholas Morrill
Clerk of the Superior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that Joseph Ford and Peter P. Ruggles Esquires before whom the foregoing affidavits of John C. Wyckoff & Daniel Cookes Jr were taken were at the time and place of the same in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that their signatures attesting said affidavits are genuine
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office at New Brunswick this 22 nd day of October A.D. 1833
N Morrill Clerk

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the seventh of June, 1832.
State of New Jersey Somerset County } ss.
On this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open court before the judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Somerset now sitting Cornelius Van Doren, a resident of the township of Franklin in the County of Somerset aforesaid, aged Eighty Six 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 the seventh, eighteen hundred & thirty two.
That the said Cornelius Van Doren entered the service of the United States in the beginning of the Revolutionary war. His first tour of service was in Captain Conrad Spaeth's company of Foot. Went from Middlesex, in the township of Franklin, & County of Somerset, where he then resided, to Staten Island, on occasion of the anticipated landing of the British. This, he believes, was in March 1776. Was out at that time, two weeks, under Captain Phillip Schuyler. Was afterwards, drafted in the New Jersey militia & went under the same officer, to Commack. Remained at that place two weeks, & then went to New York: was on duty there two weeks & returned again to Commack where he served again two weeks more. Was at Elizabeth Town three several times, & served at that station two weeks at each time. Part of his service at the latter place was under Captain Abraham Van Nest; Col. Martins & Quick being his superior officers. He was also at Long Island; he believes three several tours under Captain Schuyler, two weeks at each tour. His next tour of service was up the North river at the Dutch settlement, one month, under the last mentioned officer. He was also at Poughkeepsie one month under the same officer; & his duty at that place part of the time, was to labour at the breast works, which were being thrown up for defence against the enemy, who were expected to take that point. Was at New York one month, believes under Captain Schuyler. Was also at Newark, but only remained being at, or passing through the place. Was much employed in transporting stores for the army at their different encampments. For example; he went twice with his own team from Griggstown to Morristown, transporting provisions & baggage a distance of between thirty & forty miles.

at this time the Americans were encamped at Monmouth. Also when the army lay at Middletown was engaged two weeks in the same service with his own team. Also two weeks in transporting baggage and sick from Trenton to Easton, a distance of sixty miles & afterwards which service in all made six weeks. Was also at a place called the Black Horse near Mount Holly during the whole time the militia were there, but cannot recollect how long. From thence he marched to Monmouth through all the places, & underwent all the fatigues & difficulties incident to that march in common with the other soldiers. Was also at the battle of Monmouth in the left wing of the American line under Captain his son was one of the  the  the Cornelius Van Doran further states that by reason of old age, & consequent loss of memory (he being now upwards of eighty six years of age) 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 period of two years; though according to the above statement he can make out but nine months under Capt. the  the  the Van Ruyven, & one month under Capt. Van Nest. He was used always in service from the beginning of the war in the order of his call, & except when he was relieved in his turn, to the end, & solemnly swears that to the best of his memory & belief he served full two years. That Peter Voorhies is the only person now living whom he remembers to have seen in the service & can testify to his service as a soldier of the Revolution; or at least the only person he can think of at this time; but that his having served a Revolutionary soldier is a fact notorious in the neighborhood where he resided & is known & believed upon the evidence of many of his comrades in arms who have lately departed this life. He cannot be particular in his statement as many others who yet retain their vigour of body & mind, if he is now upon the verge of the grave, but to the above as far as is declared he swears most solemnly, as also that he was not engaged in any civil business. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or any annuity except the present & he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid -
W. H. Weston
Cornelius Van Doran
We John L. Labrishie, a clergyman residing in the township of Hillsborough in the county of Somerset, & state of New Jersey, & Henry Van Derveer, residing in the township of Hillsborough aforesaid in the county of Somerset & state aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Cornelius Van Doran, who has subscribed & shown to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty six years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resided, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid -
John L. Labrishie
Henry Van Derveer
Rev. A. D. Hillsborough

INVALID
Rev Mar
File No.
1135
Cornelius Van Dorne
His N. Line
Act
June 7, 1892
Index :—Vol.
a
, Page
386
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

Cornelius van Horn
C
Admitted
Private 23 months & 3 days
on a pay roll of Col Vroom - Vido 26.837
Signature James F. Randolph Deputy Brumind Lester B. Lee WB

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. 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 Conklin Van Horn
   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 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 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
Can't get capt Van Keest and other officers under whom he served while living?

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
The pay rolls attached to this case have been taken off while he kept securely until the papers are returned.
[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.
The law gives a rate of pension to be computed according to the length of service. The services must therefore be distinctly specified or no pension can be reckoned in them. The department cannot resort to conjectures where the memory of the claimant & his witnesses have failed.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Vandoren, Hezekiah GRADE Private LINE New Jersey
WARRANT NUMBER 8810 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED January 2, 1790 to not shown
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.