Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,829, Henry Decker, New York

SERVICE
New York.
Decker, Henry
NUMBER
R 2829
CONTENTS
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27. 557
Henry Decker
Detached as Book
24 mo
2829

State of New York
Mye county to Alexander Croswell of the Town of Marlborough in Ulster County in the State of New York aforesaid, being duly sworn deposes & says, that he is now in his eighteenth year of age, & has been so since the twenty fifth day of May last past; was born at Newburgh (now Orange County) (formerly) Ulster County moved from that when young into the Town of Marlborough aforesaid; of which latter place he this deponent has ever since been, & now continues to be an inhabitant; that he was well acquainted with Henry Decker, who has subscribed and sworn to the aforesaid declaration, in the Revolutionary war: that he was a private in the Company of New York Militia, of which Stephen Coe of said Town of Marlborough was Captain, Matthew Mygant first Lieutenant, John Bond Second Lieutenant, & he this deponent Ensign, attached to the Regiment of New York Militia whereof Johnathan Markbreck of Newburgh aforesaid was the Colonel, & Lewis Dubois of Marlborough aforesaid was the Major: that the said Henry Decker was out on duty in said Company more than any private there in during the Revolutionary war, on account of his being a baker, (the only one in said Company) and a good cook: that the said Henry Decker was at Fort Montgomery about the time building of same was commenced, & continued in said Company from Spring till late in the fall of same year he was first there; And this deponent further deposing says, that he (remembering well) that, said Henry Decker was often afterwards out on duty during the Revolutionary war in the Company aforesaid where he this deponent was the Ensign as aforesaid, at Fort Montgomery West Point in the Woods below Newburgh

opposite the Chequamegon also below New Windsor at Fishkill (guarding) British & Tory prisoners; in the Highlands of the Hudson; at the Landing on West side of Hudson's River by Lewis Creek in Town of Marlborough aforesaid getting out logs for the Chequamegon or chain at West Point; and that according to the deponent's knowledge and recollection said (Amos) Drown was out in service of the United States during the Revolutionary war in the New York Militia two years at least. While out was a faithful fellow, & good soldier: underwent a great deal labour, & exposure; is now a perfect cripple: and in very poor circumstances: He is now living in the North Edge of the Town of Newburgh aforesaid about one mile distant from residence of the deponent who lives in the South Eastern part of said Town of Marlborough aforesaid.
Sworn to & subscribed this 19 th day of June 1863 before me J. B. H. Mace.
Alexander Crosby
Justice of the Peace In & for Orange County
Orange County ss. I do hereby certify that I am per- sonally acquainted with Alexander Crosby who hath subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit, and that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit. Dated June 19 th 1863
J. B. H. Mace Justice of the Peace

State of New York, County of Orange ss: On this twenty ninth day of May 1833 personally appeared before me Gilbert Ogden Fowler First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Orange. Henry Decker a resident of the Town of Newburgh in the said County, aged Eighty Six 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 1822: That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. His first term of service, was at the building of Fort Montgomery, does not remember the year, nor the particular day of the month. It was however a year or two, previous to the capture of the fort by the British and in the Spring of the year. Went as soon as he had planted his corn; staid until harvesting time; then obtained a short leave of absence; went home and ploughed his corn; staying for this purpose but one day; left his corn to be hoed by his wife; and hastened back to Fort Montgomery where he remained almost all the time during the season, until late in the fall. Went as a volunteer in the New York Militia, and as a private. Stephen Carr, of Marlborough in Ulster County and State aforesaid, was his captain; Matthew Wygant of same place, his first lieutenant; John Bond of same place, his second lieutenant; and Alexander Cropsey of same place his ensign. Jonathan Hasbrouck, of Newburgh, (then Ulster) now Orange County aforesaid, was Colonel of the New York Regiment of Militia, to which Captain Stephen Carr's Company aforesaid was attached. Lewis Dubois of Marlborough aforesaid, was the Major thereof. Forster, who was the Lieutenant Colonel. He said Henry Decker was detailed as a baker, and being the only one of his company acquainted with that business, he was constantly employed as such. Was com-

Oh - it is a very pleasant one, and gently more in surprise than any other one of his company. Thinks he was out this season at least six months.
The next year was again as a volunteer private in the New York Militia, under the same officers and for about the same space of time as the year before, to wit not less than six months. The company with which he went, was employed all the season in building Fort Montgomery. Does not remember the month and day which he entered the service this season. Commenced early in the Spring, and continued till late in the fall. Governor George Clinton commanded during the building of Fort Montgomery, his brother General James Clinton was on the other side of the break, at Fort Clinton. One half the company to which he said Henry Decker belonged was on duty two or three weeks, and then the remaining portion for a like space of time. But being a baker, he was retained and served nearly all the time said company was out on duty. From old age, infirmity & consequent loss of memory he cannot distinctly recollect whether it was this year, or the following, that Fort Montgomery was taken. On the day of the capture of said fort, he remembers however, that (the said Henry Decker and a part of his company) were on their way from Marlborough aforesaid down to Fort Montgomery, and had proceeded as far as Newburgh aforesaid, when by order of Colonel Jonathan Hasbrouck aforesaid, they staid all night. Heard the guns at Fort Montgomery. After Fort Montgomery was taken followed the British on their way up the Hudson River as far as Milton in Ulster County aforesaid; when taking advantage of a fair wind, the enemy left them. When the British returned down the River, they followed them some distance. Capt. Smith's Company of New York Militia of Newburgh aforesaid accompanied them up the River.

The next season, he the said Henry Brock was out again as a private and volunteer, at least three months; all the officers, both company and Regimental as before. He commenced his service in the Spring of the year as usual, and was out at different times to the forts in the Highlands of the Hudson. His Company Commanded by Capt. Stephen Care being divided and the two portions alternating as before. During the four last years of the Revolutionary War he was at the Forts in the Highlands of the Hudson every season for at least two months and a half, according to the best of his belief and remembrance. The members of his Company took turns as before mentioned. Being taken he was out more than the rest. Stephen Care aforesaid was always his Captain, Jonathan Hasbrouck his Colonel. Previous to the taking of Fort Montgomery, but when he does not distinctly recollect, he was at Fishkill in Dutchess County in the State aforesaid keeping guard over some British and Tory Prisoners. Capt. Care was not then, Alexander Cropsy the Ensign aforesaid Commanded the party. On one occasion too but when he does not particularly remember, he went to Morris Town New Jersey, to guard some waggons sent with clothing from Newburgh aforesaid to the American Army. Captain Wood Commanded they were absent more than a week. Some time also during the early part of the war he does not remember precisely when, he assisted to build a fortification below New Windsor opposite the Chevaux-de-frise there in the Hudson River. He was then so employed at least three or four weeks. Captain Care Commanded. By reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot state precisely the length of his service in the New York Militia during the Revolutionary War, but accord-

ing to the best of his recollection, he served not less than twenty seven months as a volunteer and private in the New York Militia. Alexander Cropey, the above mentioned Ensign, was knowing to much of his service, and is still alive, and is a resident of Marlborough aforesaid. He said Henry Decker was always a private, & always a volunteer in the New- York Militia: and was always during the Revolution any war discharged from service verbally. He never had any written or printed discharge. He was born at Goshen in Orange County aforesaid, on the twenty second day of February 1747: as he was always informed by his parents & family, but has no record of his age, & never had. From the time he was nine years old, he was brought up in Marlborough aforesaid, where his family resided, during the whole Revolutionary War, and from whence he always went, every time he entered into the service of the United States in the New York Militia as above mentioned. After the war, he still continued to reside in Marlborough for a period of about twenty five years. He then went to the town of Newburgh where he remained more than thru years, then to Smith's Clove, Orange County, where he staid about two years; then to Hoboken New Jersey one year: then to New York City two years : then to Hudson one winter: then to Saugerties in Ulster County aforesaid two years: then to Fishkill in Dutchess County afore- said two years: and then to Newburgh aforesaid, where he has lived ever since. He has no documentary evidence by which to show the amount of his services. The period of twenty seven months, during which he was employed as aforesaid, was no part of it spent in any civil pursuit. While he was in the service build- ing fort Montgomery, owing to his exposures he was attacked with the rheumatism. Afterwards during the Revolutionary War he had frequent slight attacks of this disease, and has ever since been more or less afflicted

with it more or less and since, until six years past, since which time he has been an entire cripple, and during all that time has been, and now is altogether unable to attend in open Court to make the declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th June, 1832. He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
Henry Decker his mark Sworn to and subscribed this _____ day and year aforesaid, before me Gilbert Allen Fowler Clerk of Orange County
Whereupon on the twenty ninth day of May 1833 aforesaid immediately after Henry Decker the applicant for a pension in the above declaration named, had in my presence made his mark and sworn thereto, the undersigned, first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange in the State of New York, propounded to said applicant the Seven Interrogatories directed by the Regulations of the War Department to be put to all applicants for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 on account of service in the Militia, State Troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State Troops of Virginia, who being first duly sworn according to law by me to make true answer to the said Interrogatories, did on his oath make the following answers thereto, viz: To the 1 st of said Interrogatories. He answered he was born at Goshen in Orange County in the State of New York on the 22 nd day of February 1747. To the 2 nd of said Interrogatories. He answered he had no record of his age. To the 3 rd of said Interrogatories. He answered he had fully set forth in his above declaration where he lived when called into service, where he has lived

the Revolutionary war, and when he now lives. To the 4 th of said Interrogatories. He answered that as he has set forth in his aforesaid declaration, he always went into service voluntarily , and of his own accord without being drafted and without going as a substitute for any person. To the 5 th of said Interrogatories. He answered that the general circumstances of his service, he set forth as fully as he is now able to do, and can recollect in his said declaration. To the 6 th of said Interrogatories. He answered, that he never did receive a written discharge was always discharged verbally from service. And to the 7 th of said Interrogatories, He answered that Daniel Holmes, a clergyman, and David Fowler and many others to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
And I the said Judge do hereby certify that the foregoing are the answers of the said applicant to the Interrogatories aforesaid. Dated the day and year aforesaid at Newburgh in Orange County State of New York.
(First Judge) of Orange County. We Daniel Holmes, a clergyman, residing in the Town of Newburgh in Orange County, and State of New York, and David Fowler residing in the same Town, County and State aforesaid, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Henry Dicker, of the same Town, County and State aforesaid, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty six 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 & subscribed before } Daniel Holmes me the day & year aforesaid. } David Fowler Gilburt Ogden Fowler First Judge of Orange County

And the said Judge do hereby certify, that by reason of bodily infirmity, the above named applicant, Henry Becker cannot appear in open Court. And I do hereby also declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, and swearing the above named Daniel Holmes and David Fowler, and examining them particularly as to the general belief in their neighborhood of the said applicant's having been a Soldier of the Revolution, and also after examining and reading the affidavit of Alexander Cropsy hereto annexed bearing date the 19 th day of June 1833, That the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And I do also hereby further certify, That it appears to me, that Daniel Holmes who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergy man resident in the Town of Newburgh in the County of Orange and State of New York, and David Fowler who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same Town, County and State aforesaid, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit: and that Alexander Cropsy the deponent named in the annexed affidavit aforesaid, is a resident in the Town of Marlborough in the County of Ulster and State of New York, and is also a credible person, and that his statement is also entitled to credit. Data at Newburgh in the County of Orange and State of New York, this second day of September A. D. 1833. Gilbert R. D. Miller (Notary Public of Orange County.)
State of New York Orange County: } I, Issa Dunning Clerk of the County of Orange aforesaid, and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, do hereby certify, that Benjamin Hellace Esquire, was on the nineteenth day of June 1833, the day the certificate to the annexed affidavit of Alexander Cropsy bears date, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the said County of Orange, and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and truly believe

the signature "B. H. Mac" subscribed to the certificate of the said affidavit, and also the signature "B. H. Mac" to the certificate of the credibility of said Alexander Cropper, under said affidavit (written, to be genuine). And I do further certify, that Gilbert Ogden Fowler Esquire, on each of the several days, that his several certificates to the annexed and preceding papers in the matter of Henry Decker of the Town of Newburgh in said County, an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832, respectively bear date, was the First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County aforesaid; and that I am also well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge, and truly believe each of the several signatures "Gilbert Ogden Fowler," subscribed to the several certificates last aforesaid, to be genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, this 10th day of September 1833
A. H. W  W inning Clerk

Orange Surrogate Court
Be it known, that personally appeared before me, Dame W. Fowler , Surrogate, in and for the County of Orange, in the State of New York, at the Surrogate's Office in the Village of Newburgh, in said County, Dame Pembroke a resident of said County, aged 63 years, who being first duly sworn, according to
law, in open Court, and on her oath states, that she is one of the children of Henry Decker , deceased, a late resident of Orange County, in the State of New York, aforesaid; that he died on or about the 15 th day of October, 1835, and that he left no widow at the time of his death; that he left him surviving the following named children to wit: John Decker , a resident of the City of New York; Cochelius Decker , who has removed to parts unknown; Eliza Shurter , and Dame Pembroke residents of the County of Orange, in the State of New York aforesaid; and that they are the only surviving children of the said Henry Decker deceased. Declarant further states, that her father, the said Henry Decker , served in and during the war of the Revolution some part of the time, as a Baker and baked Bread for the Army, as she has often heard her father, the said Henry Decker , say in his lifetime, and that she believes the same to be true; and that she has understood that her father's application is now on the suspended files of the pension Office; and that she makes this declaration, in order to obtain the pension that was due her said father at the time of his death, under the act of Congress passed June 7 th , 1832, which she now claims is due her this declarant as well as the other children of the said Henry Decker deceased; and that she gives reference to the papers now on file which contain the application of her father the said Henry Decker , for said pension Dame Pembroke .
Subscribed and sworn this 20 th day of September, A.D. 1853, before me, in Open Court,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Newburgh, in the County of Orange.
James W. Fowler, Surrogate.
14

same kind book
Book A sheet of paper The front page

Yes for the proof of death of Henry Dickens
Yours sincerely James H. Hensher

Orange County ss: Mary Smith, of the Town of Newburgh, in the said County of Orange, being duly sworn deposes and says, that she was well acquainted with Henry Decker, late of the said Town of Newburgh, (now deceased), and lived for many years previous to his decease a near neighbor to said Decker; that the said Henry Decker died at Hampton in said Town of New- burgh, about the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty five, and deponent well remembers the funeral of said Henry Decker. And depo- nent further says that she is now of the age of seventy two years in April last. Mary Smith Sworn this 15th day of September, 1852.
before me,
James W. Fowler,
Notary of Orange County.

Orange County ss: William Alben- son, of the Town of Newburgh in said County of Orange, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he was well acquainted with Henry Becker, late of said Town of Newburgh, now deceased; that he lived for many years in the neighborhood of the residence of said Henry Becker; that said Henry Becker died about the year 1835 at Newburgh, and that deponent attended his funeral from his dwelling-house. And deponent further says, that he is now of the age of fifty nine years in October next.
Sworn this 16th day of September, 1841.
W. S. [?]
James W. Fowler
Surrogate of Orange County.

Jane Pembroke & Eliza Shurton John Decker Esq Cornelius Decker Children of Henry Decker - deceased Joseph Esq. Attorney Bloomsburgh Sullivan County N.Y.
Henry Decker applied for a pension in his life time and I understand that his application is suspended for the reason that he was a Baker and baked bread for the army by a Reclamation = on you may find that his service was Revolutionary. I Ellis

Orange Surrogate Court.
Be it known that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me in open court, that Henry Decker, late of the Town of Newburgh, in the County of Orange, (now deceased, who is mentioned in the declaration of Jane Pembroke hereto annexed,) died about the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty five, at the said Town of Newburgh; that said Henry Decker left no widow surviving him; and that he left surviving him his children John Decker, Cornelius Decker, Eliza Shurter and Jane Pembroke, who were the only children surviving him at the time of his death. And I do further certify that I am personally acquainted with Mary Smith Williams, Albertson and John Polhamus, the witnesses examined before me in this matter, whose depositions are annexed, and that they are persons of good standing and credibility.
On testimony whereof, I, James W.
Forster the Surrogate of said County of Orange, have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal of office, at Newburgh in said County, this 21 st day of September, in the year 1852.
James W. Forster, Surrogate.

New York Rev.
Henry Beekman Suspended
let. W. C. Hasbrouck 13 Nov. 33
let. 27. March 1834
to Hon. J. W. Brown N. R.
Joseph Ellis 15 th Oct. 1854.
Act 7 June '32

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
1890 Apr 11 Mr Beckwith history in person Prior
DR 29
P. O.
Henry Decker
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

State of New York, County of Orange; John Polhamus, of the Town of Newburgh, in the County of Orange, having on this 21st day of September, in the year 1854, personally appeared before James W. Fowler, the Surrogate of said County, in open Court, and being by the said Sur- rogate duly sworn and examined de- poses, and says, that he was personally acquainted with Henry Decker, late of the said Town of Newburgh, now deceased, in his life time; that said Henry Decker died about the year 1835; that he left surviving him no widow; that he left sur- viving him the following children, viz: John Decker, Cornelius Decker, Eliza Thur- ter, Jane Pembroke, and that they were the only surviving children at the time of the decease of the said Henry Decker. And deponent further says that he was of the age of fifty nine years last September.
Sworn & examined this 21st day of September, 1854, before me,
John Polhamus
James W. Fowler, Surrogate.