Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 2488, Thomas Crispel, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Crispel, Thomas or Crispell
P 2488
CONTENTS

State of New York Ulster County ss
On the twenty third of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared before me Henry Wykkoop one of the Judges of the County Courts of the County of Ulster. Thomas Crispel aged eighty six years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following additional declaration
That in the month of October in the year 1777 while a prisoner in a church in the city of New York deponent was taken sick and entered his complaint to the British Officers on duty who replied that if deponent would enlist in their service deponent should immediately be paroled that deponent promised provided his health should be restored that deponent was then paroled and ordered over to Long Island and continued there sometime when deponent was again solicited to enlist in the British Service that deponent was sometimes employed as a Labourer that deponent again promised to enlist at some future day that deponent health was not quite restored that deponent did not then enlist but remained on Long Island until sometime in the Spring of June of 1778 that deponent watched his opportunity and made his escape and returned home into the town of Olive after an absence of one year or more, that deponent did not rejoin join the company of Captain Bevier, that deponent did not know that he was compelled to do so neither did he know where said company was stationed, that he was not called upon by any authority from said company at any time during said war of the revolution after deponent was returned from captivity and further deponent saith not
Sworn and subscribed before Thomas his Crispel me this day and year aforesaid } mark
Henry Wykkoop one of the Judges of the County Courts of the County of Ulster and I do further certify that said Thomas Crispel through bodily infirmity cannot attend Court,
Henry Wykkoop one of the Judges of the County Courts of the County of Ulster

York County Clerk's Office. I, Jacob Snyder Clerk of the County of Ulster and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County do hereby Certify that Henry Winkler was on the day of the date of the within affidavit one of the Judges of the County Courts of the County of Ulster and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge and verily believe his signature subscribed to the Certificate of the within affidavit to be genuine — In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court and County this tenth day of October 1834. —
Jacob Snyder Clerk of said Court and County

Declaration in Order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832
State of New York
Ulster County ss. On the Eleventh day of December One thousand eight hundred and thirty two, Personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County, being a Court of Records for said County, Proceeding according to the course of Common Law with a Jurisdiction unlimited in point of Amount. Keeping a record of their proceedings, & having having a Clerk and Seal of their Court Thomas Crispell of the town of Olive in said County of Ulster aged eighty four 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 act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832
That he Entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
That he was born in the town of Marbletown (now Olive) in the County of Ulster and State of New York in the Year 1748,
That he has a Record of his age in his family Record Kept by him and and his family —
That he lived at the time he entered the Service in the Town of Marbletown (now Olive) and That he lived there Since the Revolutionary war and that he lives there now,
That on or about the first of August 1776 he Volunteered in the Militia Service of the State of New York in the Revolutionary war as a private Soldier, and was

in the Company Commanded by Captain John Hasbrouck Lieutenant Moses Granton, in Colonel John Harden- bergh Regiment for Five Months. That he with the Said Company Rendezvoused at Marbletown went from there to Kingston Landing, and from there by Water to New York remained there with the Said Company until came there that then he went to Newburgh and from there to White Plains, was there during the Battle (not in the Battle) after a few days he with the Said Company went and Crossed the Hudson River at Ver- -Plank's Point to the West side of the River, When he and the Said Company were discharged about the first of January following (1777) after the full term of Five Months or more, (received No matter discharge and knows no person alive who can testify to the above Service.)
And this applicant further declares that, about the first of May in the Year 1777, he enlisted in the Company Commanded by Captain Philip Biver, in Col. Lewis Dubois Lieutenant Colonel Bruyn, at Kingston went from there by Water to Fort Montgomery, and Continued there until the Fort was taken by the British, when he was taken Prisoner, and taken to New York and confined in a Church where he Suffered Severely Making a Service From the first of May until about the Mid- -dle of October following (1777) or Five and a half Months, or more, (and knows of no person Alive who can testify to the above Service)

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or to an annuity except the present. And declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State.
Sworn to and Subscribed the 3 rd day and year aforesaid J D Wheeler Trustee John A Deyo } Judges J G Harnenbryk }
his Thomas Crispell Mark
We Titus Bishop a Clergyman residing in the Town of Olive in the County of Ulster and State of New York and Solomon Crispell of the same Town hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Crispell who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, That we believe him to be Eighty four 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 to and Subscribed the 3 rd day and Year aforesaid J D Wheeler Trustee John A Deyo } Judges J G Harnenbryk }
Titus Bishop his Solomon Crispell Mark
The Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ulster in the State of New York sitting this Eleventh day of December in the Year One thousand Eight hundred and thirty two at the Court house in Kingston in said County. do hereby declare their opinion after 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 Titus Bishop who has signed the preceding certificates is a Clergyman Resident in the Town of Olive and County aforesaid and that Solomon Crispell who has also signed the same is a Resident of the same town and a credible person and their statement is entitled to Credit —
D. D. Dyer First Judge John A. Deyo Judge J. H. Hardenburgh
I Jacob Snyder Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ulster in the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Crispell for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eleventh day of December 1832.
Jacob Snyder

State of the New York
Ulster County Clerks Office 3/4: I. Jacob Snyder Clerk of the County of Ulster and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County do hereby certify that Henry Winkler was on the day of the date of the within affidavit one of the Judges of the County Courts of the County of Ulster and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge and verily believe his signature subscribed to the Certificate of the within affidavit to be genuine — In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court and County this tenth day of October 1834. —
Jacob Snyder Clerk of said Court and County

Ulster County Clerks office ss I Jacob Snyder Clerk of the County of Ulster and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Ulster in the State of New York do hereby certify that Henry Wynkoop Esquire was on the day of the date of the annexed within affidavit one of the Judges of the County Court of the County of Ulster duly authorized to take affidavits &c and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge and verily believe his signature to the Certificate of the within affidavit to be genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of office this twentieth day of November 1833
Jacob Snyder
Thomas Grisfult affidavit
by
Henry Grisfult
29.007

29007 Thomas Griswold
Henry Wynkoop Esq. Saugerties N.Y.

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 Thomas Crispell NY.
   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.     Volunt. 1776. 5 - priv Col. Hasbrouck Col. Hardenburgh 84 years old born in State of NY and entered service in State and now lives in State   May 77. x 5 15 " Col. Dwer Col. Dubois. Traditionary and one Living Witness who knows general service. Certificate of Clergy and Citizens. Papers authenticated.  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Claimant should state how long he was kept in Captivity before exchange or parole as he is entitled for his captivity as if he had continued in the ranks for that term. If paroled or exchanged he should show some reason why he did not join his regt as he was enlisted for the war.

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 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.
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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
2488
P. O. Thomas Crispel
Service: New York
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

New York
Thomas Crispel Rejected
Lett to H Wynkoop 6 Novr 1834
2488

Nov 18 '34 N.Y. OCT 16 RECEIVED
FREE
Hon. J. L. Edwards Washington