Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,007, George Brink, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Brink, George
S 15,007
carded
CONTENTS

24/887 New York George Brink
Alias 6 th in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Brink of the Reg't commanded by Col. Pierson in the New York Militia for 11. Months 2 days New Jersey
aw June 23. 88
inscribed on the Roll of New York the rate of 37 Dollars 95 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of Mar. 1834 and sent T. Maxwell Elmira N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1834 $113:85 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1, Sept 34. 18:97
$132:82
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo B Whiting Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 4 Page 46

23,299
George Brink Tioga county New York
Transfer
Admitted
Private 12 months & 12 days
Team since separately
J. Maxwell, Elmira, New York,

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
25 May — 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 subjoined 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, showing the Service of George Brink, Tioga county, New York,
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     called out 1777 1 private Capt Cartwright Col Rosenkrans Hermantown Hermantown 72 Sussex co. N.J.   ord ind out 1778 1 Westbrook tradition   do — 5   Enlisted 1779 + 9 transferred Capt Fordman Col Rosenkrans Wantage Easton   do 1780 9 private Brevet Capt Cartwright same New Windsor   — 7   11 12  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
# it will be necessary to state the Regiment to which Capt. Fordman belonged in order to ascertain the nature of the service as a Teamster

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops. 2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 3. Persons employed in the Naval service. 4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of _____ &c.
 If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this                      day of                      &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (1) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

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

At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Village of Elmira in and for the County of Tioga in the State of New York on the first Tuesday in March 1833 the same being a Court of Records having a seal and Clerk
Present
Hon. G. B. Baldwin First Judge
Darius Bently
J. L. Darling
Elijah Shoemaker
Esq m Judges
State of New York
Tioga County ss
On this 7 th day of March 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the above named Judge, George Brink a resident of the Town of Batharine in the said County aged seventy two years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States & served under the following named officers to wit:
In September 1777 he was called out with the Company to which he belonged in the town of Wantage Sussex County N. J. to wit a Company of militia under Capt. Cootright in Col. Rosenkrantz Regiment of the New Jersey Militia (there being a general call for the militia at that time) and was marched to the neighborhood of Brandyn Germantown & continued in service one month when he was discharged - was engaged in the battle of Brandyn Germantown In the year 1778 in the month of August as near as he can now remember he was ordered out with the said Company under Capt. Cootright for a month's service, to guard the military stores which were at a fort called Westbrookfort, on the Delaware; & served the term at that fort;
In the same year (1778) the said Company or a part of it, including the declarant, was ordered out in search of Tories up the Delaware River, and was employed in that service five days the month, in which this service was performed he does not recollect - In 1779 in the month of April he enlisted at Wantage aforesaid for the term of nine months, in a company under a Capt. Fordran, and was employed in driving the Continental

teams, between Easton in Pennsylvania & New Windsor in New York in transporting supplies, &c. for Sullivan's army preparatory to his Indian expedition and accompanied the said Army with the Teams to Wilkesbarre engaged in transporting baggage & provision, &c. and was discharged late in the fall.
In May 1780 at Wantage aforesaid he enlisted for the term of nine months, in a company of militia then commanded by Capt. James Punnell in Col. Rosenkrans' Regiment of New Jersey militia & was attached to a Battalion of troops, destined for the defence of the Delaware River or Minisink Indian frontier (as it was then called) under Maj. Samuel Westbrook & performed his term of service on the said frontier.
In April 1780 previous to the above mentioned enlistments he was ordered out with a party of militia under Capt. Cortright of Col. Rosenkrans' Regiment, in search of Tories, of whom they captured 12 or 13 & carried them to the jail in Sussex County: was employed in that expedition seven days.
That the whole of the service, above detailed make twenty months, & twelve days for which he claims a pension -
That he has no documentary evidence of his service, and does not know that there are any persons now living by whom he can prove them -
In answer to the Interrogatories propounded by the War Department he states -
1 st That he was born at Wantage in the County of Sussex & State of New Jersey as he has always been told by his parents the year of his birth he supposes by calculation to have been 1761 - : but the month & day he does not recollect: the only data by which he now can determine his age is that at the Battle at Germantown in which he was engaged he was sixteen years of age: the record of his birth as he has always understood was kept among the records of the Dutch Reformed Church in Wantage to which his parents belonged 2 nd When called into service he lived at Wantage aforesaid & remained there until about 40 years since he removed to Ulster in the (then) County of Seneca, now Tompkins

State of New York from whence about fourteen years ago he removed to Catharine, Tioga County N.Y. where he now resides -
4. The manner of his entering the service is stated in the foregoing detail -
5. The regular officers whom he knew while in service were Genl Washington, Sullivan, Clinton & Wayne.
The militia officers were Col. Martin, Rosenkrans, Maj. Westbrook & Captain Bunnell, Middaugh of the New Jersey militia -
6. That he never received a written discharge
7. The names of the persons who are acquainted with him & who can testify as to his character & belief of his services are Joseph L. Darling, Esq. one of the Judges of this Court, John Foot, Phineas Gathlin & Saml Winton Esq. all of the Town of Catharine in said County of Tioga -
He hereby relinquishes all claim to any pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State -
Subscribed the day & year aforesaid In open Court Green N. Sathill Clk
George his Brink mark
We Elias Beard & Lee a clergyman of the Town of Catharine in the said County and Josiah Merrill Esq. of the same Town Attorney at Law do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Brink who has subscribed to the foregoing declaration & sworn to the same. That we believe him to be of the age of seventy two years & upwards; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid In open Court Green N. Sathill Clk
Elias Beard Josiah Merrill

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 said Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Elias Brantlee who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman Resident in the Town of Catherine in the said County of Fries, & that Josiah Merritt Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident of the same time & is a credible person, and that their statements is entitled to credit —
I Green M Fithian Clerk of the said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of George Brink for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the 7 th day of March 1833 — Green M Fithian
M c Madwell. agent Elmira N.Y.
23299
Geo Brink

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
Ans
March 22, 1927
John N. Brink Cochranton, R. R. 5 Pa
Sir:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 15007, it appears that George Brink was born in 1761 in Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey
While residing at said Wantage, he served from September 1777 at various times in the New Jersey Troops, under Captains Cortwright, Fordman, Bonnel, and Colonel Rosenkranz, was in the battle of Germantown, and served in all twenty months and twelve days, a part of which time he served as teamster.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 7, 1833, while a resident of Catharine, Tioga County, New York. It is not stated whether he was married.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.
Only George Brink in Rev. Files

P
1500 4 INVALID.
File No. 15.007
George Brink Prus. Riv. war.
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 437
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1924. mch. 22. H. S. to John N. Brink and 1929 June 6. to John N. Brink adv. Brink to obtain state land grant pen. etc. ms. A. 1

China Mt Feb 5 3
Free
Mr. Lab. Returned, 8 Feb 1834
J. Edwards Pogue Commission of Seniors Washington City D.C.
  3.33    333    66.63    1.92    87.93    113.85  
  131    72  

Elmira Feb. 1. 1834
Howardsg
I forward the case of George Brink with the objection supplied so far as it is in the power of the applicant to do so. I hope it may be satisfactory.
Yrs
J. H. Maxwell

State of New York Troy a County ss } George Brink the applicant named in the foregoing declaration in answer to the requisition of the War Department herewith returned being sworn according to law says that the Regiment to which Capt. Fordman was attached, he does not know that he can state certainly - but that Capt. Fordman rec d his orders from a Col d Waggoneer who then lived at Easton in the County of North- ampton Penn a . The teams were stationed for a considerable time at Easton - and they drew forage for their teams at Waggoneer's mill near Easton. Whether Waggoneer commanded a Regiment or not he cannot say - but presumes that he was connected with the Commissary department. He was called Colonel. Capt. Fordman lived in the neighborhood of Wantage, Sussex Co. N.J. was there enlisting Teamsters for Sullivan's Expedition, among which the deponent enlisted.
Sworn to and subscribed the 1 st Feb y 1834 before me } George his mark Brink Wm Dunn J.P.
I certify that the above named George Brink subscribed the foregoing by making his mark for want of education. Wm Dunn J.P.

State of New York Troy County ss
I Green M'Nuttill Clerk of said County do hereby certify that William Dunn Esq whose name is subscribed to the within affidavit is a Justice of the peace in & for said County duly qualified & that his signature to the said affidavit is authentic Witness my hand & Seal of Office the 1 st February 1834
Green M'Nuttill Clerk

Cochranton, Pa. R.R.# 5
January 31st 1927.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Sir- The Adjutant General has referred me to your Department in regard to my great-grandfather, George Brink, who served during the Revolutionary War. He was a pensioner and lived in 1840 at or near Havana, Chemung county, New York; now Montours Falls, Schuyler county, same State He was born in New Jersey, but I do not whether he enlisted there or in the state of New York. Would like to get all the information I can about him.
I have the honor to remain
Your obedient servant
John N. Brink.

Birdland Cottage
JOHN N. BRINK
R. F. D. NO. 5. COCHRANTON, PA.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
June 3 1929.
Gentlemen-
I wrote to you more than a year ago concerning the record of George Brink A Revolutionary soldier and learned that he was born at Wantage Sussex county New Jersey in 1761 and Enlisted at the same place in the New Jersey troops, in 1777, that he applied for a pension at Catharine Tioga county New York, in 1833. Now in order to get the year of his death could you give me the date when his pension ceased.
Yours Respectfully
John N. Brink

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section MCS/eel Ch
(5) June 6, 1929
John N. Brink R.F.D.# 5 Cochranton, Pennsylvania
Sir:
I advise you that in order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, George Brink (S.15007), you should apply to the Records Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C., citing all of the following data:
George Brink, Certificate No.24887, issued March 17, 1834, rate $37.95 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New York Agency.
Respectfully,
EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.