Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28711, John De Graft, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
De Graft, John De Graff
S. 28711
CONTENTS
b. 1760 in Schenectady N.Y. 1832 res. of Camillus (Onondaga Co. N.Y.) d. Feb. 22, 1838

3249
New York
John De Graft 2
of Canajoharie in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Myn Dine of the Regt. commanded by Col. Temple in the New York line for 3 Years
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 10 th April 1838 from 1 st Sept 1837 to the 22 nd Feby 1838 the day of her death. - age 70 Notice filed 29. April 1839.
See letter to Hon John Sandford June 30, 1841
Inscribed on the Roll of NEW YORK at the rate of 80 Dollars — £ per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of Dec 1832 — and Supt M c Newcomb Syracuse —
Arrears to 4th of Sep. 1832 $120 Pemi=ant. allowance ending 4 th Mo '33 40
$160
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Geo. P. Stiles Clerk
Recorded by Book D Vol. 5 Page 81
666

admitted 2 years 80 $

State of New York County of Onondaga } ss. On this twelfth — — day of September — — — in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared at a Court of Chancery held at our aged before  Vice Chancellor David Moseley Esq. Vice Chancellor of the 2 nd Circuit said County now sitting John De Graff a resident of the town of Camillus in said County, aged seventy two 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 June 7 th 1832
That he was born in the (then Town, now) City of Schenectady in said State on — — — — — in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty — That he has no record of his age except that contained in his family bible which was burnt with his father's house. That he this claimant lived in said town of Schenectady at the time he was called into the service of the United States. After the revolutionary war closed, he moved to the town of Amsterdam in the now County of Montgomery and resided there for the term of fifteen or sixteen years — Then moved to the fourth ward of the City of Schenectady aforesaid, now town of Glenville, lived there fifteen or sixteen years, there upon moved to Schoharie where he lived about one year, and about one year ago, came to to said town of Camillus where he now resides.
He entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated.
In the summer of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy- seven, he was enrolled as a private in a Company of militia command- ed by Captain John Myndorse in the regiment whereof Abraham Wemple Esq. was colonel. His other company and field Officers whom he recollects, were as follows, Laurence Myndorse first Lieutenant James H. Peek second Lieutenant and Abraham S. Pruax Ensign Abraham Swits & Myndert Wemple Majors. He continued to serve in said Company whenever called upon until the termination of said war.
He was with the detachments of militia from said regiment that were from time to time ordered out, besides being out on several occasions as a scout and in small reconnoitering parties among the Tories and Indians. He served for a longer or shorter period ev- ery year of the war but how long he served each year, and at what particular military posts or forts, he cannot possibly recollect yet

honestly and sincerely believes, that the time he served his country in the war of the revolution exceeds four year and
He served in the year 1777 under Generals Schuyler, Gates and Arnold, for the term of three months at fort Edward, Stillwater and places in that vicinity, previous to and at the time of the surrender of General Burgoyne and his army to the American forces.
In the fall of the year 1778, one third of the militia of this State being ordered out, he was among the number that were stationed at fort Paris in Stone Arabia. He was at that fort also on other occasions. He has likewise performed garrison duty at Fort Hunter, Fort Plank and fort Plain - at Fort Plank he thinks in the fall of the year 1779 - he has performed military duty different times at the lower and middle forts at Schoharie, Schoeneveldt, and Cobleskill - was at the last named place immediately after it was destroyed by the Tories and British and assisted in burying the dead - has also performed military service at Canajoharie, Palatine and Johnstown - Sir John Johnson having burnt all the buildings and destroyed the property of the whites at Caughnawaga, passed up the north side of the Mohawk river, and destroyed every thing in his course, he was then with the militia in pursuit of Sir John Johnson - He was at Dallston when it was burnt by the enemy in the year 1780 - he was then under the Command of Major Swift, and Major Mitchell - was at Beaverdam a place very much infested with Tories who made that a place of rendezvous - He assisted on one occasion in taking about one hundred of them prisoners.
A noted Tory by the name of Jo, Bettis was continually communicating intelligence to the enemy. Parties of militia were often out in pursuit of him and his associates - The claimant in company with others of the militia was several times in search of them, at Norman's Kill at the Helderbergh; and at Dallston, he believes in the year 1782.
He knew Generals Schuyler, Van Rensselaer, and Gates, Colonel Van Schaick, Colonel Van Dyck and captain Fink, Colonel Willett and many other officers besides those named in this declaration.

He never to his knowledge received any written discharge from the service, and is not aware that such discharges were at any time given to any of the members of his company, or in fact to any of the militia.
The following are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier in the army of the revolution.
He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no persons now living, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service. Other of them
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first aforesaid
John X De Graft mark
Daniel Moseley
Current Judge of Vice Chancellor
We Esquire Justices of the Town of Onondaga & Garnet Van Alstine residing in the Town of Camillus in the County of Onondaga aforesaid do hereby
I Daniel T. Moseley Deputy Clerk of the Court of Chancery of the Seventh Circuit for 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
John De Graft for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12 th day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Daniel T. Moseley Deputy Clerk

He never to his knowledge received any written discharge from the service, and is not aware that such discharges were at any time given to any of the members of his company, or in fact to any of the militia.
The following are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier in the army of the revolution.
He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no persons now living, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service. other of them
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first aforesaid
John X De Graff mark
Daniel Moseley
Circuit Judge Vice Chancellor
We Esquire Patches of the Town of Onondaga and Garnet Van Alstine residing in the Town of Camillus in the County of Onondaga aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John De Graff who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood 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. Circuit Judge
Esquire Patches Garnet Van Alstine
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant John De Graff was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Garnet Van Alstine who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the town of Camillus in said County, and that Esquire Patches who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Camillus in said County that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Daniel Moseley Vice Chancellor
I Reuben L. Hays Clerk of said Court of Onondaga
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John De Graff for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this day of

I John L Groat of the Town of Clinton And County of Montgomery do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John De Graft who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration and believe him to be Seventy Two Years of Age and that he is reputed and believed in this place and Town to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed John L Groat before me this 29 th day of August 1832 Andrew Thatcher Justice of The peace
I do hereby certify that John L Groat who subscribed and sworn the foregoing affidavit or Certificate is a man of credibility and is entitled to the fullest credit as he has been acquainted with the said John De Graft from a child or for over Sixty Years Andrew Thatcher Justice
State of New York } Montgomery County } ss
I James Ferguson Deputy Clerk in the absence of George D Ferguson Clerk of the County of Mont- gomery do certify that Andrew Thatcher Esquire before whom the above affidavit was taken was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the peace in and for said County of Montgomery and duly authorized to take the same and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe the signature "Andrew Thatcher" subscribed to the said affidavit to be genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said County the thirty first day of August 1832
James Ferguson Deputy Clerk

State of New York County of Schenectady ss.
I, James H.
Peek of the town of Rotterdam in said county late a Lieutenant in the army of the revolution, do hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with John Selgraff the same person referred to and described in the foregoing declaration, a resident of the town of Camillus in the County of Onondaga in said State - that I knew him in the time of the revolutionary war - that he was enrolled as stated in his declaration aforesaid, as a private in the Company of militia commanded by John Mynders in the Regiment whereof Abraham Wemple was Colonel - Being myself one of the Lieutenants of said Company I have personal knowledge, I have personal knowledge of his service in said Company from the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven until the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty three that I served with him the said John Selgraff in several of the expeditions in said declaration mentioned to wit, at Schenectady, Ballston, Stone Arabia, Caughnawaga, Fort Plank, Fort Hunter, Canajoharie, Schoharie and Cobleskill -
As I was in service previous to the year 1777, and was for some time in the year 1780, an officer in the State troops, I performed military duty at places other than those mentioned in said declaration - and part of the privates of said Company served at one place, whilst the rest were ordered to another. In consequence I have no

personal knowledge of all the services of said John DeGraff, yet know that he remained a member of said Company & served when we called upon - Witness my hand this 23 d day of August 1832.
Subscribed & sworn to this 23 d day of August 1832 } James H. Tuttle before me
Wm Strong J.P.
I the said William Strong do hereby certify, that James H. Tuttle who subscribed & swore to the foregoing certificate, is a man of credibility, and that his statement is entitled to the fullest credit. August 23 d 1832 Wm Strong J.P.
x

County of Schenectady ss.
Cornelius Van Dyck of the town of Rotterdam in said County, being duly sworn and examined, doth depose and say, that he is well acquainted with John DeGraff of the town of Camillus in the County of Onondaga, an applicant for a pension under the act of 7 th June 1832 that he this Deponent knew said John DeGraff in the time of the revolutionary war he does not recollect what Company said John belonged to in said war, but knows that he was a private in a Company of Militia in the Regiment whereof Abraham Wemple was Colonel, from the year One thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight until the termination of said war, this Deponent is certified that said John was a member of said Company previous to the year last aforesaid, but cannot tell how long that this Deponent served with him the said John in a Company commanded by Captain Abraham Oothout in said Regiment during the period aforesaid & was out with said John in nearly all the expeditions in his declaration mentioned; to wit, at Cobleskill after it had been burnt by the British & Indians, at Schenectady performing military duty there on several occasions - has performed garrison duty with him the said John DeGraff several times during said war at Fort Hunter, Schoharie, Fort Plank, Fort Plain, also at Ballstown where it was destroyed by the enemy, at Stone Arabia in the years one

Thousand seven hundred and seventy eight & one thousand seven hundred and eighty, & knows that said John DeWitt faithfully ser- ved the United States in the Company afore- said whenever his services were required.
Subscribed & sworn this 22 d day of August 1832 } Cornelius Van Dyck before me James W. Ryley Judge Schenectady County courts
I James W. Ryley, — before whom the preceding deposition of Cornelius Van Dyck has been taken, do hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with said Cornelius Van Dyck & know him to be a man of character & veracity; & that his statements are entitled to the fullest credit. Schenectady Augt 22 d 1832
James W. Ryley Judge
State of New-York — County of Schenectady } ss.
I, John S. Vrooman
Clerk of said County do hereby certify, that William Strong before whom the preceding deposition of James H. Peck has been taken was on the day of the date thereof and is, now a Justice of the peace in and for said County, and that James W. S. Ryley, before the preceding deposition of Corne- lius Van Dyck has been taken, was on the day of the date thereof and is now a Judge of the County Courts in and for said County, and the signatures of them the said William Strong.

peace in and for said County, and that James V. S. Ryley, before the preceding deposition of Corne- lius Van Dyke has been taken, was on the day of the date thereof and is now a Judge of the County Courts in and for said County, and the signatures of them the said William Strong,
and James V. S. Ryley respectively, are genuine signatures. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and af- fixed my seal of office this twenty-third day of August, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
John S. Vrooman L.H.R.

No 8277 John D. Graft
spore mentioned.
X (111111) that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case.
6. Are the papers defective as to form or sufficiency; and if so, in what respect?
Incidental evidence, as to the rolls?
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, or by all?
8. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
  Residence when he entered the service  Residence when he entered the service  Residence when he entered the service  Residence when he entered the service      Richland  220 Newcomb Syracuse New York  
Examining Clerk

No 8277
BRIEF in the case of  John De Graff of Camillus  County of Onondaga  in the State of New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy two years - 72  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     was enrolled in the summer In 1777 - 3 - 4 at dif. times during the war upwards of 40 years As a private Col. Abram Temple Capt John Myndorse's compy Lieut Laurence Hughes Col. James De Peyster Major Myndorse Temple & Col. Fritz. Ensign Imbrie Genl. Schuyler Gates & Arnold  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Not any  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? at Schenectady - New York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses; By the belief in each of two respectable citizens of same town, the character & credibility of all specified according to the regulations.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No defect 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. G. Wilcox Examining Clerk.

28 711 Rev INVALID.
File No. 28, 711
John De Graft Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index: —Vol. 2 , Page 106
[Arrangement of 1870.]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office, April 20 th 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The only child of John De Graft, deceased, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, New York, Agency, at the rate of Eighty — Dollars and — Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1837, to the 22 nd February, 1838, the day of his death.
Respectfully, yours,
Wilson B. Parrish Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.