Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2379, Jacob Covenhoven, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Govenhoven, Jacob
R. 2379
CONTENTS

State of New York Montgomery County
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in & for the County of Montgomery State aforesaid Jacob Coenenhoven of the town of Canaj- -harie County & State aforesaid whose declaration for a pension is hereto annexed & who being first duly sworn by me deposes & saith that for the purpose of giving a more specific account of his revolutionary services - he was in the year 1780 a private soldier in a Titchfield Company commanded by Capt Jacob Frickens in Col. Frederick Fishers Regt when the whole company was called out. Upon this call this deponent with the rest of the company volunteered at Canajharie in said County as early as he thinks as the first of November & were marched to Fort Plain on the Moh- awk River a distance of 20 miles to guard the Fort - and was then under said Capt. doing duty at said Fort on guard standing sentry & doing other duty - They were marched after two or three weeks down the Mohawk about 14 miles to Fort Hunter another Fort on the Mohawk & then performed the like duties under the same Capt. until the first of December of that year as deponent thinks when they were dismissed at the latter place returning home - (both said Forts were said to be under the General command of Col. M. Mitchell) after having served at least one month - On the first of April 1781 as near as deponent can recollect. There was a call on Col. Fishers Regt - for a certain No. of soldiers for the purpose of increasing the Forces of Col. Mitchell on the Mohawk. And this deponent & either enlisted or volunteered & believes he volunteered for one year from that date at a place called Trips Kill at that time - on the North side of the Mohawk - near Johnstown in Montgomery County - Deponent was first placed under Capt. John Wemp - who de- ponent thinks was a Titchfield Capt. but was placed under the orders of Col. Mitchell. & formed a part of his Forces - They were shortly after being mustered, ordered to Schoharie Fort - under Capt. Wemp about 16 miles north of Johnstown as he thinks - They stood at said Fort doing duty - standing sentry - & guarding said Fort - They were no company at that Fort at the time except Capt. Wemp's after staying there 2 or 3 weeks - They were next marched
1780 - 1 Month

by order of Col. Willett to guard Lieut. Beckman & a little fort at Stone Arabia. Now Palatine in Montgomery County New York. When he had certain orders to execute they were then a few days & returned back with him to Johnstown Fort. Lieut. Beckman was at Scandaga with us - after staying at Johnstown. Deponent perfectly recollects during this year of spending a portion of his time after this at Fort Plain & Fort Hunter on the Mohawk. Was once portion of the time attached to the main body of Col. Willett's Regt. at other - when ordered to guard the little fort on the Mohawk - when only his Capt or Lieut would be with perhaps half a company - Deponent was at the Johnstown Fort in Oct of 1781. at the time of the Battle - Deponent was at the fort before & after the battle about four weeks - It was a season of constant alarm - with Indians & Tories - & the whole season was marked with conflagration & Indians murders - Deponent's father's buildings were burnt to ashes & all his stacks of grain & hay - Deponent rode beside Col Willett from Canajoharie to Johnstown at the time of the Battle there - Deponent says it is stated in his deposition that he volunteered for this last service at Charleston by inadvertence and perhaps because he had lived there but it was at Fifer's hill about five miles from Charleston where he actually entered the service - & was mustered with Capt. Weeks's Company - Deponent says that he continued in actual service this year under said Capt. until the first of December of that year - & there was excused because there seemed to be no actual service for the soldiers to perform for the remainder of the year at Fort Hunter & returned home to remain as minute men subject to calls as occasion should require during the winter - Deponent still thinks that he was dis- charged at Fort Hunter in April 1782 - as stated in his deposition but cannot on account of his loss of memory reconcile it to his mind how nor by what means he was called there in the spring as he is confident he did either on furlough or on being excused as aforesaid & spent a part of the winter of 1781-2. at home - and that he now on having the subject fully explained to him - cannot say that he served in the period last aforesaid a continued period of more than eight months - and that for that period at least he thinks he did serve and has no doubt of it - Deponent says in planting time & he thinks about the middle of May. he was called on & volunteered in Capt. Duer's company in Col. Kiddens Regt. of Artillery - but were placed
1781- 8 months

under the General command of Col. Willetts (Shenn it was inserted in his description. That it was in Col. Willetts' (left) in 1782. I were ordered & marched to a little Picket Fort - Called by the soldiers Fort. Peddie - On the Mohawk opposite Johnstown were also marched to Fort Pleasant. On this occasion he was in service at least 3 weeks. From the time he left home until they were discharged & returned home. Their Lieut on this occasion was Abishai Conyne. Deponent says it was promised that Col. Willetts Commanded on the Mohawk - Shenn his answer, when he was asked what Field Officer commanded him - He answered it was Col. Willetts because all orders at that time to the officers at the Forts seemed to come from him as he then & still supposed - along on the Mohawk - Deponent volunteered at Pikes Hill & was discharged at Fort Pleasant in the course of three weeks.
1782 3 Weeks
Deponent says also that he volunteered on a call for Militia under Capt. Peter Conyne at Pikes Hill aforesaid about the middle of May 1780 - at all events it was in planting time & was marched by the said Capt. to Secondaga Fort with about 15 soldiers - to guard said Fort. The Fort was fired at by the Indians at this time The soldiers killed two of the Indians - as they were setting around the Fire in the Woods - Deponent was on duty at said Fort at this time at least two weeks. I was discharged at said Fort about the first of June 1780 - as he thinks. Was absent 16 days from home - The deponent was called out on another occasion (among many) when it was rumored a spy Spy was harbored by the name of Wallis at the house of one Peter Bowen - Deponent with about 15 others under a Lieut. Conyne took the spy & delivered him up at the Fort at Johnstown Deponent was out on this occasion 3 days - Deponent of the service were as stated in his said description which on account of his loss of memory he cannot specify by way of giving dates - Deponent saith also that by reason of old age & consequent loss of memory he cannot remember positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not up in the periods above specified than ten months &
1780 2 Weeks
3 days

ten days as a private & for the time he claims a pension. That he served all the above time in an organized Corps - Commanded by competent au- thority. That he was all the time in the field - in garrison or marching under orders & that for the time during which the above specified service was performed he was employed in no civil pursuit. Deponent says that the Place which he calls Tripe Hill is a local name given to what is now Fortstown in Montgomery County N York. Deponent in answer to interrogations put him - says it appears by a record of his age found in the original declaration here annexed - he was born in Princeton N Jersey - in the year 1753. That he has a record of his age now in his possession was living in Charleston aforesaid when called into service & has since lived since the Revolution in this County & now lives in Canajoharie Mont. Co. N York. Was uniformly a private & entered the service by volunteering in obedience to call for Militia men - except the 8 months service he was under field officers in the State service but under stood his Captain to be Militia officers - Does not recollect any officers except the names of those given in his declaration Does not recollect that he had any written discharge
Sworn & subscribed the 3 d July 1834 } before me Stephen Ulmer } Jacob X Cavenhous mark

State of New York Montgomery County
Isaac Covenhoven of the town of Glena County of Montgomery State aforesaid, being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is a brothe- =er of Jacob Covenhoven whose application for a pension is hereto annexed - That he is 75 years of age - That by way of specifying more particularly, the service of his brother Jacob - referred to in his affidavit of the 20th Sept 1832 - hereto annexed he saith - That he was, with his said brother in the fall of 1780 under Capt. Jacob Gardiner - in Col Fisher's Regt - as near as he can recollect from first Nov - to first December of that year, & that they were marched from home to Fort Plain & from Fort Plain to Fort Hunter Down the Mohawk - Deponent thinks they were out on this occasion together at least one month. Deponent saw his said brother Jacob - at the Johnstown Battle in 1781 The applicant was in the Fort - at the time - This de- ponent served most of the 2 last years of the war in New Jersey - Deponent has always under- stood by said Jacob - & by his brother & also by de- ponent's father - that in 1781 - the said Jacob was nearly the whole year in the actual service of his Coun- =try - under the General Command of Col. Willett Deponent recollects - The service of his said brother at the Second Fort - in the spring of 1780 - under Capt. Ceryne - but deponent thinks it was ear- lier in the spring than May May - Deponent was then in service with said Jacob & would think they were there 2 or 3 weeks - recollects the cir- cumstances of the killing of some of the Indians - Deponent has personal knowledge of the fact that said Applicant - was in actual service

in the Revolutionary War under Capt. Gadsden Capt. Wimb. Capt. Snackenbop & Capt. Conyn for head Capt. Wimb. after Depont returned from New Jersey in 1783 - relate the services of Deponts brother Jacob - under him the said Capt. Wimb. in 1781 as related, in sub- stance in Deponts declaration. Depont thinks the said Jacob was with Depont on one occasion under Capt. Snook at Bellshorn about 3 weeks - under Col. Riddell & after his quite confident. Depont thinks this in the fall of the year 1778 as he thinks - Depont has no earthly doubt but his said brother was in actual service much longer than he has set forth in his amended declaration. Depont has always been intimately acquainted with his said brother from his infancy - & further saith not
Sworn & subscribed before me J. G. C. (Seal) Henry A. Duvendall Justice 1 August 1834
I certify that I am well acquainted with Sam Corporahouen who has subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit & that he is a person of truth & veracity in whom statement full credit is due -
Dated August 1 - 1834. Henry A. Duvendall

State of New York Montgomery County ss.
Peter Flint of Canajoharie & County of Montgomery being of present age 81 years being duly sworn saith that he has been very intimately acquainted with Jacob Covenhoven whose declaration for a pension is herewith annexed - for the last forty years Deponent has heard his revolutionary statements in the annexed papers read over. That all the facts therein stated he has often heard him relate. Has often heard him in conversation with other Revolutionary soldiers state talk over the events above stated & many others. That he has always considered Jacob from his friends that he was with him long before there was any talk of a pension - being given to any of the soldiers. Deponent has heard him state the circumstances of his going for us Bowmans Creek when the British were in Schoharie & also to Ballstown, but that the said Jacob cannot now recollect those events although testified to by Mr. McGraw. Deponent has no doubt but said Covenhoven was in the war more or less in every year of the war from 1776 to 1782. He has heard him relate the occurrences of his services which he has now forgotten. Deponent saith also that the said Jacob is reputed a man of truth & veracity - but this deponent has always considered him - but that his memory is somewhat impaired by age & bodily infirmity. Deponent believes firmly that if he were able to detail his services as they occurred from the commencement of the war he would be entitled to a full pension as a private.
Peter Flint
Sworn & subscribed to the 8 th July 1834 before me Stephen Helmer D.P.
I certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Peter Flint who has sworn to the above affidavit before me & that he is a person of truth & veracity in whom statement full credit is due.
Stephen Helmer - D.P.
8 th July 1834

State of New York, Montgomery County, Clerks office.
SS. I George D. Ferguson, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Montg- omery aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Stephen Helmer before whom the annexed and rendered declaration of Isaac Covenhoven, & the annexed affidavit of Peter Flint purport to have been sworn, was on the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County. And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & only believe that his name subscribed thereto to the foregoing certificate of Character of said Peter Flint is Genuine. — And I further certify that Henry J. Divendort before whom the annexed affidavit of Isaac Covenhoven purports to have been sworn, was on the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County, & that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice & truly believe that his name subscribed to the said affidavit and also to the certificate of Character of said Isaac Covenhoven is Genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said County this 15th. August 1834.
Geo: D. Ferguson, Clerk.

State of New York Montgomery County
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in & for the County of Mont- gomery & State of New York Jacob Covenho- =ver who being duly sworn deposes & saith That by reason of old age & 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 period mentioned below & in the following order - First as a private he served for one year & two months - in the three periods which he has particularly designated in the annexed declaration. His last term therein designated in which he served under Capt. Quick he thinks was in the month of August in 1782
Sworn & subscribed the 16th day of May 1843.
before me
Wm L. D. I. B.
His Jacob Covenhoven mark
was in actual service

State of New York Montgomery County Clerk's office.
18. I George D. Ferguson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County do hereby certify that William Lane before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was on the date thereof a Justice of the peace of the 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 the within affidavit is Genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 22 d . May. 1833.
Geo: D. Ferguson.

State of New York Montgomery County ss
Sworn
I am Covenhousen of the town of Open & County aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose & say - That he is the brother of the said Jacob Covenhousen He has sworn & subscribed the annexed declaration that he has always known said Jacob - from his childhood - has heard the said declaration carefully read over to him & thinks The said declaration is to him substantially correct - Was with his said brother in town of the above named & was intimately acquainted with his revolutionary services - believes his declaration correct except as to some of his dates which the deponent cannot be certain - Deponent knows his said under oath of adieu Sworn & subscribed the 20th day of Sept 1832 Jacob Covenhousen in Open Court -
Geo: D. Ferguson Clerk.
State of New York Montgomery County ss. I George D. Ferguson, Clerk of the county of Montgomery do hereby certify that Jacob Covenhousen appeared & swore to the above affidavit in open Court before the Judges thereof at the September term of the said Court in the year 1832 - And the said Court directed as their organ to certify that thereby the said Jacob Covenhousen is a person of credibility & that his statement is entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 22 d day 1833.
Geo: D. Ferguson

Distances of the act of Congress passed June 7-1832 State of New York } Montgomery County }   
70 On the 20th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two - personally appeared in open Court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas at the Court house in Farmington in & for the said County - being a court of Record now sitting. Jacob Coenhaner aged 76 years a resident of the town of Canaan- Darm & County of Ulster & State of New York - 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 under the following named officers & served as herein after stated - First - in the time of the Revolution & afterwards lived in what is now called Chesterton in Montgomery County State of New York - then called the County of Tryon - The deponent was then enrolled as a militia man in a com- pany commanded by Capt Jacob Gardener in Col Frederick Fisher's Regt When the whole Company was called out & this deponent with them in the month of November 1780 - I went to Fort Plain on the Mohawk River to guard the Fort

was then at Fort Hunter and the Fort on the Mohawk on month under the Command of Col. M c Wittet was discharged at the latter Fort in the month of December 1780 - after having served one month & a few days more Afterwards to wit in the month of April 1781 - on a call on his Reg t for Staten Island Depot on Voluntary enlisted for one year - was placed under the Command of Capt Wamp - in Col Wittet's Reg t - enlisted at Charlestown afterward - went to Secondega Fort - in the North part of what is now Montgomery Co - NY - spent some portion of the time then, at Fort Plain again - at Honanabia on the north side of the Mohawk & second Lieut Beckman - was in no battle except at Johnstown in the month of October of that year - there was great damage done in the vicinity by the burning of Barns & destruction of crops by Tories & Indians & they were on forays & in raids - on settlements on year and nearly all the time were discharged this season at Fort Hunter in the spring of 1782 as depots there in April.
In the summer of 1782 - Depot was in the same season in Capt. Deack enlist Company - in Col Wittet's Reg t - stationed at the several Forts on the Mo- -hawk - about 2 or 3 months - Depo- -nent believes he was in the season at least two years during the Revolution - was out on various - other alarms & scouts - which he cannot describe at the time - in a manner agreeably

to the institution from the department in consequence of his depot of memory except as to the three principal periods of his service above detailed in his de- claration - Fort Harnady was situated a- bout three miles from his residence in Charleston of course - The alarms for that section was the firing of three cannons at the fort - These alarms were frequent - he deponent on those alarms - always turned out - sometimes for 5 or 6 days - from that to 3 weeks these alarms occurred during a great portion of the war - on account of this section of the country being infested with Tories & Indians - so that inde- pendent of the service above specific- ally described deponent was in the character of a militia man dur- ing nearly the whole war - but in such detached periods, often he does not presume it can count for him except as to the 3 first periods above described - Deponent recalls Col. Venable - Col. Fiske - Brigadier Congreve - Has served under Capt. Poygan Deponent saith he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testi- fy to his service - except his brother Isaac Covenhoven whose affidavit is hereto annexed - He relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except

The present declarant that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state I do hereby subscribe the 3/1/18 his Jacob C. Conner day & year aforesaid - name
We Seth Wetmore Esq. residing in the town of Canajoharie & County of Montgomery State of New York & Daniel W. Grew of the town of Canajoharie & County of Montgomery hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Conner who has subscribed to the above declaration that we believe him to be 76 years of age that he is reputed & believed to be in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we con- -cur in that opinion - Seth Wetmore I do hereby subscribe the day & year aforesaid Daniel W. Grew
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War de- -partment that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier as described as he states - And the Court further certify that it appears to them that no Clergyman resided in the vicinity of the said applicant who could testify for him and that the said Seth Wetmore and the said Daniel W. Grew who have

is also  with  credibility person whose statement is also entitled to credit as also the annexed state- ment of Daniel Mcgraw - sworn in Open Court.
George Ferguson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Ulster do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jacob Covenhagen for a pension on testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29th day of September 1832. Geo: D. Ferguson
State of New York } Montgomery County } Daniel Mcgraw of Florida & County of Montgomery a State of said being duly sworn in Open Court doth depose & say that he is now & was in the Revolution Will agree with with Jacob Covenhagen whose declaration for a pension is hereto annexed - I know he was a soldier in the Revolution - I don't was with him in the service at Battletown in New York - a distance from Fort Herk about 35 miles - I took a parcel of loss - I don't think under Secret Beckham was with him at Bowers Camp - There = a broken & various other places - during the Revolution - & at several other places mentioned in his declaration and

have no doubt his detention is true & that he was in short excursion not mentioned in his said detention
Sworn & subscribed The 20th Sept. 1882 Daniel M c graw in open court.
Declaration of Jacob Coombs of Glen in Albany Montgomery State of New York for a person within the law of the present with his interest in estate
Marked agent
Marked agent
See Vol 7, page 1, 27
2579

1436 Declaration of Jacob Coonhorn of Glen in the County of Montgomery & State of New York for a pension under the Law of 7th June 1832 with an amended de- claration
Marsdell agent
$1000
P Randall agent
In Vol 7, page 1. 21
2579

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
9379
REJECTED
O.
Jacob Pownhoven
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
O. _____
Recognized. _____
Contract. _____
Cert. of Dis. _____
Searched for _____
, 18

Brief Letter from P. Randall the agent of J. Covenhoven, pension applicant
Any return in this matter may be addressed to the Subscriber at Ames-Cannondale. Montgomery Co. N.York P. Randall

Annes - Cassopham - July 24 - 1835 -
Hon L. C. S. of War,
Sir, The dictation & papers of James Copen haver , of Cassopham & County of Montgomery - State of New York - are including forwarded to the department for a pension. The reasons of their having been in the hands of the subscriber from last fall to this time are the same as stated in my letter accompanying the application of Walter - transmitted at this same time - To which I beg leave to refer the department -
The letter from the department - which accompanied their first return & Mr. Sherwood's return & beg leave to refer your Honor to the same - The only objections - then made were two designated as No - 5 & No - 14 - The amendment made did not it was thought - and as I now perceive cure these two defects - Although as to No - 14 - I think the department overlooked the fact - that the two witnesses were sworn - not by a justice - but by the Clerk in open Court - & by examining his certificate, it will be seen he entitles to their credibility.
Both the original papers of the date of Sept - 1832 - & the amend- ment - by the applicant of May 1833 - are now added - an- = amended dictation - of the applicant - and the affs. of Isaac Covenhaver - & Peter Flint - which are so circumstantial as to remove, it is hoped, all doubts as to his right to a pension as a private - for 10 months & 10 days -
The applicant is believed by all his old acquaintances to have saved much longer than he is able to designate - on account of defect of memory - He only recollects, with the most peculiar incidents,

Ames - Cassopolis - July 24 - 1835 - Hon L. Cap. Secy of War,
Sir, The declaration & papers of Jacob Copen Hoven, of Cassopolis & County of Montgomery State of New York - are including forwarded to the department for a pension. The reasons of their having been in the hands of the subscriber from last fall to this time are the same as stated in my letter accompanying the application of Wm. H. Hoven at this same time - to which I beg leave to refer the department -
The letter from the department - which accompanied their first return to me I herewith return & beg leave to refer your Honor to the same - The only objections - then made were two designated as No - 5 & No - 6 - The amendment made, didn't it was thought - and as I now perceive came these two defects - Although as to No - 14 - I think the department overlooked the fact - that the two witnesses were sworn - not by a justice - but by the Clerk in open Court - & by examining his certificate, it will be seen he entitles to their credibility.
To the original papers of the date of Sept - 1832 - & the amend- ment - by the applicant of May 1833 - are now added - an amended declaration - of the applicant - and the affs. of Isaac Copen Hoven - & Peter Flint - which are so circumstantial as to remove, it is hoped, all doubts, as to his right to a pension as a private - for 10 months & 10 days -
The applicant is believed by all his old acquaintances to have recd much longer than he is able to designate - on account of defect of memory - He only remembers, what at the time, was marked with the most peculiar incidents. And the department will perceive that the witnesses recd at the time of his which he has wholly forgotten -
All which is most respectfully submitted -
I am most respectfully. your obedt Servt P. M. and all agents

New York
Rev. —
Jacob Covenho
Rev. — —
Last known
Let to P. Randall
Aug. 5. 1835
to same 16 Nov. '35.
Rejected Let to Rev. A. Ellis June 29. 39

1881
Esperanza Feb 3
Padre
Gilbert D. Yates Esq.
Schenectady
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible but appears to be a formal letter.]

Jacob Covenhoven act of 7. June 1832
Giles F. Yates Attorney

Charleston January the 27 th 1844
To Giles F Yates Esq.
Dear Sir This will Inform you that Some time In this year last one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine General Elijah W  W  W  W took to prosecute my Claims for a pension against the General Government he has moved off to Wisconsin I have had no Information from my papers I wish to have my Claims Reviewed I Believe I am Entitled to a pension for services Rendered In the Revolutionary War I here by constitute & appoint you my Lawful attorney to Examin my papers on file at Washington and prosecute my Claims
Yours Respectfully
Jacob Covenhoven
Schenectada May 16. 1844.
To J. L. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pensions. Sir. In compliance with the above I have to request an examination of the state of the claim for a pension under the act of 7 th June 1832 of Jacob Covenhoven (sometimes spelt Conover)
I am very respectfully Your mo: Obt Servt
G. H. W H. S.