Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11852, Vallentine Woolf, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Woolf, Valentine
R. 11852
CONTENTS

No 25842
Valentine Woolf Montgomery County New York
X
Taken prisoner in a hay field
Regd
Jacob Snell (Palatine) Montgomery County New York
R/HV

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Valatine Woolf Montgomery County New York
   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.     1782 1 4 Genl. Fox, Colonel Muhlenberg, Colonel Waggoner 58 years Troy Rensselaer County New York Traditionary evidence & two Witnesses certified credits - papers correctly attached  
claimant was captured at 6 years old in a Hayfield by the Indians & did not return for 16 mo -
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. (L) 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

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. {

State of New York
Montgomery county } ss
On the 20 th day of December In the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Thirty two, personally appeared in Open Court, before the court of common pleas, New sitting, Natatine Woolf of the Town of Palatine, in the county of Montgomery aforesaid, & State aforesaid Aged about fifty Eight years, Believing & Satisfied to have been Born Now Town and county of Herkimer as he the said Natatine Always understood & Verily believes; there having been thorough search made, in the Church book in Herkimer County, kept by the Revd. John Rosekrantz and as he being informed and believes that no record is to be found, when he was born and Baptized, as he is informed,
That he the said Natatine being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in Order to obtain the benefit of the Act Passed in Congress on the 7 th day of June last past 1832,
That this Applicant in his Infancy hath understood that His Father Michael Woolf hath been Enlisted into the Service of the United States Service and Stationed at Fort Stanwix And while his Father was continued at the said Fort viz t Fort Stanwix, His Mother Undertaking to bind him over by Indenture as it is presumed to serve to the Age of Twenty one years as bound to John Shultis of the Town of Palatine then county of Tryon Afterwards county of Montgomery, he believes after the Age of Six But not long after he being bound to the aforesaid Shultis, he being informed, that his Father with others, to the No. of Thirty were ordered out of the Fort viz t Fort Stanwix on duty at a distance from the Fort on duty, that all were killed by the cruel and common Enemy from Canada
And that this Applicant further declares, that sometime In July 1782 That his said Master to whom he was bound viz t John Shultis, Henry Shultis, and William Shultis, Also a black Man by the Name of Joe, all Mowing Gras at a distance

Of About three Miles North from Fort Paris from the old settlement of Moncatabia, connectively with the said Katatine then About Eight years of Age, who was Spreading Grass. When the Band of Indians fourteen in Number, this claimant perfectly recollects from the side of the Woods went to a fence, all at once came rushing over the said fence, in taking each and Every One of them Prisoners, And that all, each and every one whom were taken in said Town of Patatine: and said County of Montgomery — And that all except, Henry Shuttis, who were taken prisoners with him, the said Katatine, are dead, and No more, And that after they were taken prisoners as Aforesaid, he was taken with the rest, through the Wilderness to Baker Island, and there kept in the Fort, on the said Island for About two Weeks in close confinement, Situate on Lake Ontario. When a Capt. by the Name of Vanderfelder a German Who separated him and took him away from the said Indians, in making a Servant boy of him, the said Katatine taking him Along to Montreal, there Arived late in the fall of the same year, and kept as a Servant Until forepart of the Winter When the said Capt. left his women, as he supposed and believing hath been kept merely as his packhorse, and as this Applicant understood hath gone to Quebec
That this claimant further saith that soon after the Capt. hath left them, that he was taken in by an English Merchant & With whom remained Until sometime in the fall, 1783 than Exchanged and legally discharged And again returned to his former place of Residence Situate in the Aforesaid Town of Patatine — sometime In November, Calculating from the time When he was made A Prisoner by the Indians, Until Returned, in having been Gone for One year and four Months
That the Applicant further declares that in consequence of his being taken Prisoner and on Account of the War, and Mr Shuttis the person to whom he was bound

also hath been taken at the same time, has and did Proof greatly to the disadvantage and prejudice of the Ap- plicant, that under the then existing circumstances and Occurrences during the said War. he hath obtained but little education, Scarcely enabled to read nor write —
That he the said claimant declares that he hath resided part during the War, and since his return, and ever since the the War, to the present day & date hereof, excepting from the time he was taken prisoner and while kept a Prisoner and Until Exchanged with Others, and Until returned Again To the Aforesaid Town of Palatine, County of Montgomery and State of New York Aforesaid, And that he has since the Expiration of his Servitude been Under the Necessity and obliged to support himself by days, months & years, hard labour, and Still supporting himself & Family by his labour, — — — — —
And he this claimant further declares that he is Personally known and acquainted, With Genl Peter C Fox, Col Charles Hukerk, Col Nicholas Waggoner, With John C Searles, Jacob Heer, Lawrence Mercellas and Charles Waggoner, Esqrs present Justices of the peace in and for the County Town of Palatine and County of Montgomery Aforesaid Besides, chiefly all the old Veterans of the Revolutionary War and Others of the most substantial part of the Inhabitants Residing in said Town — — — — —
And that he hereby relinquishes every claim Whatever to a Pension or Annuity, And declares that his Name is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of any State according to the best of this Applicant's knowledge and belief
Sworn to and subscribed } Valter Dinevoolt The day and year Aforesaid } Geo: D. Ferguson, Clerk
Sworn

Sworn
We Peter Smith Esq. residing in the Town of Johnstown considering him in lieu of one of the Rev d the Clergy, from Palatine who for neither of them could conveniently appear before the Open Court yet sitting in consequence of the inclemency of the weather and the badness of the roads And Jacob Snell of the Town of Palatine both residing In the County of Montgomery, That we are well ac- quainted with Walatine Woolf, who has subscribed his Name and sworn to the foregoing Declaration, that we believe him to be fifty eight years of Age, and that we believe him to be a man of good Reputation and Veracity, and truth and to be believed when Under Oath, and which appears to be the Opinion by those in the Neighborhood where he is known, and that we concur in that Opinion  Sworn and subscribed                      Peter Smith The day and year Aforesaid              Jacob Snell
Geo: D. Ferguson, Clerk
Declaration
Attest my hand and seal this 14th day of December  in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and  and fifty eight

State of New York } Montgomery County }
S c . Personally appeared before me Charles Waggoner one of the Justices of the Peace in the town of Palatine in the County of State aforesaid Henry Shultz of the same place who deposes & declares that he has been personally acquainted with Valentine Mark before & since the Revolutionary War & that he the said Valentine with himself & others was in the month of July in the year 1782 taken prisoner by a party of British Tories & Indians when the said Valentine was but about eight years old & that was in said Town & that the said Valentine was taken from Palatine with the deponent & others to Bush Gland in Lake territory and from thence to Kingston & from thence to Montreal where the said Valentine was made the property of a British Captain where he remained until the fall of the year 1783 when he was exchanged with others & in the month of December 1783 Returned to said town of Palatine in said County of Montgomery & formerly the County of Tryon. Where he has remained ever since. Henry Shultz his mark X Subscribed and sworn to this 14 th day of December 1832
Chas. Waggoner Justice
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Henry Shultz and know him to be a man of truth and veracity.
Chas. Waggoner Justice of Peace

State of New York Montgomery County, ss. I, George D. Ferguson, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, do hereby certify that Charles Waggoner before whom the within affidavit of Henry Shultz, & the following annexed affidavit of George Saltzman purport to have been sworn was on the day of the date of said affidavits a justice of the peace of said County. And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice & verily believe that the name of said justice subscribed to each of said affidavits, & also to the certificates of good character of said Henry Shultz and George Saltzman, is Genuine.
Affidavit of Henry Shultz
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the office this 20th day of December 1832.
Geo. D. Ferguson

State of New York } Montgomery County } ss, on the twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and thirty two before, Open court of common pleas held in and for the County of Montgomery, in sitting at Johnstown, came Jacob Snell of the Town of Palatine, County & State Aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to Law, doth depose and say that he was well acquainted with Valatine Woolf who, as he always understood and believes the said Valatine was bound to serve with John Shuttis, in the Town of Palatine County & State Aforesaid, knowing him to have been young & small when he first saw him, and not long before the close of the Revolutionary War, —————
That this deponent further declares and saith That the said Valatine Woolf, with John Shuttis Henry Shuttis, & William Shuttis & a black boy by the Name of Joe, Although this deponent not being present but there never was any doubt, in the Minds of their Neighbours, for reason, the Family, of the Shuttis were all true Whigs and friends to the cause of Liberty and freedom, All went to a meadow Situate about three Miles from the place then residing, North west to the Woods, mowing Grass, when a crew of Incendiaries, as saith by them after their return, from Canada Viz

Fourteen Indians in Number, by whom all were taken prisoners & taken to Canada, which Occurred Sometime in July in the year 1782,, this deponent recollecting that the said Natatine returning home About an Month previous to the returning of the Shultiss, they getting home viz John & Henry between Christmas & New Years, William the one Brother, taken Sick & died this deponent believes told, in the County of Berkshire, State of Massch'tts
This deponent further saith, that he hath been to the County of Berkshire making a thorough Search in the book of Record, kept by the Rev d Abner Rosekrantz deceased, to his son George Rosekrantz Esq who is in Possession of the Old Church Records but Apparently, pages containing dates, when the said Natatine was born & Baptized all torn out of the Book, but having seen one of his friends of the said Natatine he Assuring this deponent, that he the said Natatine was born in Berkshire, that his Father hath resided there before he was killed in the War by the Common Enemy, further this deponent saith not.
Jacob Small
Sworn subscribed and sworn before the Court the day and date in the forgoing Mentioned —
Geo: D. Ferguson Clerk

25842
Declaration & Affidavits on behalf of Valentine Woolf For Pension

And the said And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories as to the truth of the several facts set forth in his declaration, that the above named applicants relation as contained in his declaration is true — And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Peter Smith and Jacob Snell who have signed the preceding certificate are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to full credit.
I, George D. Ferguson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Montgomery, do hereby certify that the original foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Valentine Wolf for a pension —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 20th day of December 1832.
Geo: D. Ferguson

New York
Revo:
Valentine Woolf
Rejected let. to
Jacob Snell 26 July
1833. (See Mr. in Lm 523228 & Adam Harlock)
11852
Act. 7 June 32.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
11,852
P. O. Valentine Woolf
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Affidavit of George Saltzman
on Application Valatine Woolf

State of New York Montgomery County
Personally came before me Charles Waggoner one of the justices of the Peace in the town of Palatine in said County & that aforesaid George Saltzman of said town who deposes and swears that he was acquain- ted with Valentine Wolf in the Revolutionary War & ever since & that some time in the month of July 1782 the said Valentine was captured & said to have been taken as a prisoner with others by the British & Tories together with Indians & that the said Valentine was absent until some time in the month of December 1783 when he the said Valentine returned to said Town of Palatine in said County for awhile called the County of Tryon where he has resided from the Revolutionary War to the present date.
George Saltzman
Subscribed and sworn to this 14 th day of Dec 1782.
Chas. Waggoner Justice
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Geo Saltzman the above deponent and know him to be a man of good chara- cter as for truth and veracity Chas. Waggoner J. Peace