Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23243, Derick C Groot, New York

SERVICE
New York
Groot, Derick b
NUMBER
S. 23243
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents entry
Blank lined area for contents entry

24. 199 New York
Derick C. Groot
of Schenectady in the State of New York who was a Sergeant in the Corps, commanded by Captain Fisher of the Dept. commanded by Col. Schornikov in the New York line for 14 months Sergeant
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 70 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Nov 1833 and settled G. A. Yates Schenectady
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 33 $ 175 Semi-annual allowance ending Apr 34 35
$210
Revolutionary Claim, acted June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Col. Stiles Clerk Book 6 Vol. 4 Page 102

14850 16
In the matter of the application of Derick C. Groot for a pension
Proceedings
Not to the care of Giles F. Yates Schenectady Feb 8 N.Y.
He  He  He

State of New York } ss. County of Schenectady }
On this eighteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirtyless personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the court of common pleas in and for said county, now sitting Derick C. Groot a resident of the town of Niskayuna in said County and State, aged seventy 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 June 7 th 1832.
He was born in the said town of Niskayuna in the then County of Albany in the State of New York on the thirteenth day of October 1758. He has no record of his age except that contained in the Register of the Baptisms in possession of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the city of Schenectady.
When he was called into the service of the United States in the army of the revolution, he was living in said town and since the revolutionary war he has lived in said town & he now lives in the town of Niskayuna aforesaid.
He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
In the spring of the year 1775 he was enrolled as a private in the militia company in his beat, commanded by Captain Nanning Fisher in the regiment commanded by Colonel James Van Schoonhoven. — The names of his other company & field officers whom he recollects, were Nicholas P. Van Vranken and Lieutenant John Van Vranken first Lieutenant, Maas Van Vranken Ensign. James Gordon Lieutenant Colonel Ezekiel Taylor Major, Simon Fort Quarter Master — Cook Adjutant John Cureton. Surgeon — After he had served as a private in said company for the term of two or three months, he received the appointment of orderly sergeant, and he served as such orderly sergeant in said company until the end of said war. The principal expeditions in which he engaged

are as near as he can recollect them as follows. He was in camp at Fort Edward in 1776 for the term of  months —
He was at Lake George in camp in 1776 for the term of one — months, at Bemis Heights in Schuyler's retreat one month Battle of Bemis Heights. Four weeks at Cherry Valley, eight days before Cherry Valley was destroyed. at Stone Arabia three weeks. At Ballston when it was burnt by the enemy, for about three weeks. He was engaged in several scouting parties. was also on guard at the Mohawk river, several times in pursuit of Tories to Heldebergh, Newtown, Clifton park and other places three different times. In 1780 he and some other members of said regiment, marched as Volunteers and joined a detachment of regular troops sixty four in number and proceeded to Ti-conderoga to cut off the communication of Sir John Johnson's army on their way to Canada after they had destroyed the west settlements. When not out in distant expeditions, he mounted guard at Forts ferry & Fisher's ferry, for a period in the whole exceeding six — months. —
He was in no battles or skirmishes during said war except the above mentioned battles. That he was in the service of the United States doing duty as a soldier for the Term in all of more than two years & was under arms nearly all the war.

THE FOLLOWING are the names of some of the regular officers whom he knew, or who were with the troops where he served, and such continental and militia regiments or companies with which he served, or as he can recollect, viz :
Gov. George Clinton, Col. Marinus Willet. Major Wemple. Gen. Grenze Fort. Gen. Schuyler. Gen. Jen Broeck. Captain Fisher. Lieut. N. P. Van Vranken. John Van Franken Capt. He never received any written discharge from the service.
He has no — documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service
The following are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution, to wit Nicholas Fort. Laurence Vrooman Cornelius Groot.
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 S. Vrooman
Clerk.
Derrick C. Groot
County of Schenectady ss. The aforesaid Derrick who has subscribed & sworn to the fore- going declaration, being further duly sworn & examined, doth depose and say, 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 periods mentioned below in the following grades. as a private soldier in said Company of Captain Nanning Fisher at Fort Edward and Lake George in the year 1778, beginning of 1777 he performed garrison duty for a term exceeding in the whole three months in the grade of an orderly ser- geant under command of the officers of said Company. In the Campaign against Burgoyne he served in said Company in the garrison and in

the field in the same grade of orderly sergeant took in the fall of the year 1777 for a term exceeding one month.
Before Cherry Valley was destroyed, and the enemy were expected to make a descent on that place, he marched with a detach- ment from said Regiment to said place performing garrison duty there. He was under arms in this expedition for a period exceeding thir- ty days, in the grade of orderly sergeant as aforesaid. In the year 1778 in the like grade he performed garrison duty under the officers of said Company at Fort Paris in Stone Arabia for a term of at least three weeks. In the like grade for a term exceeding three weeks under the immediate command of one Captain Hicks he marched to and performed military duty at Ballstown previous to the burn- ing of that place by the enemy in the year 1780. In the year last named he volunteered with others from said Regiment, and joined a party of regular troops in an expedition to Helderberg & its vicinity with the design to intercept a detachment of the British forces under Sir John Johnson on their way back to Canada after the commission of their depredations & cruel- ties on the inhabitants (their property) of the western settlements along the Mohawk. In this tour he was under arms for a term not less than twenty days. In the like grade of orderly sergeant he marched on three different occasions to the Helderbergs, & once to Newtown & Clifton - Park with a party from said Regiment, which places were the rendezvous of disaffe-

to persons who met for the purpose of enlisting men in the British service & arrange measures to carry intelligence to the enemy & aid him in his opera- tions - In these last named expeditions he this Deponent was under arms for a period in the whole not less than five weeks. When not out in distant expeditions he mounted guard in the like grade of orderly sergeant at Toots ferry & Fisher's ferry being in the town of Half moon in the vicinity of the place where he then resided - also at other posts and pickets along the Mohawk river aforesaid to prevent disaffected persons from passing over to the South side of the river; which they were in the habit of doing at the different fords of said river when not watched & prevented by the Americans - For part of the spring & nearly the whole of the summer of the year 1780, he thus mounted guard, making in all a period of service thus rendered greatly exceeding six months - and for the aforesaid period of more than fourteen months in the grade of orderly sergeant as afore- said, this Deponent claims a pension - And this Deponent further saith, that

While rendering the services herein before specified, he did not engage in any civil pursuit whatsoever - Note the word "beginning of 1777" interlined -
Subscribed & sworn this 8 th day of September 1783
Derick L. Groot
Yours &c
J. D. Harman - Justice of the peace

State of New-York County of Schenectady } ss.
On this eighteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirtytwo personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of common Pleas in and for said county now sitting, Nicholas Fort a resident of the town — of Waterkilt — in the county of Albany in said state who being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he was in the time of the revolutionary war and is now well acquainted with Derick C. Groot — who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration, that this Deponent knows said Derick C. Groot served as set forth in said declaration in the same company with this Deponent at Saratoga & other places in said declaration mentioned during said war. Subscribed & sworn in open Court this day My ear aforesaid
Nich. Fort
John S. Wooman Clerk
I the undersigned do certify that that I was during the life time of Nicholas Fort by whom the above deposition purports to have been taken, well acquainted with him the said Nicholas Fort, for more than thirty years during which period he uniformly sustained the reputation of a man of veracity, and I believed him to be such and that full faith and credence are due to his alle- gations. Witness my hand this 7 th day of October 1833
Thomas M c Intire Justice of the Peace & Records of the City of Schenectady

I David Boyd first Judge of Schenectady County afore- said fully concurs in the opinion herein before expressed relative to the credibility of Nicholas Post deceased - Witness my hand this 8 th day of October 1833.
D. Boyd
County of Schenectady I Nicholas P. Van Vranken, late a Lieutenant in the aforesaid Company of Captain Manning Dicker do hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with the before named applicant Derrick C. Gots that he served in said company except for a few months after his enrollment as an orderly ser- geant to wit for more than six years that he was always zealous & punctual in the discharge of his duties as such, and engaged in all the expeditions and tours of duty required of him - I remember in particular that he served with me at the following places & for the following terms to wit - at Fort Edward & Lake George in the year 1776 in camp for a period not less than two months as an orderly sergeant as aforesaid - in the year 1777 during the northern campaign against Burgoyne and his army as such sergeant at Stillwater (Fort Edward), Brookville & the other posts occupied by the American forces for a period not less than six weeks - at Stone Arabia not less than three weeks exclusive of the time taken to march to and from that place at Ballston un- der Captain Hicks aforesaid not less than three weeks I think in the year 1780 also as such sergeant at Fort's & Fisher's ferry & other posts & places along the Mohawk river in the years 1780 & 1781 for a period exceeding three months & further I cannot specify.
his
Nicholas P. & V. Vranken
mark
I the undersigned, do hereby certify that on this

8 th day of September 1833, the above named Nicholas P. Van Vranken to me well known, personally appeared before me & made oath that the facts set forth in the deposition by him above signed are true; and I further certify that said Nicholas is a man of verac- ity, whose statements are entitled to credit. Witness my hand.
J. D. HARMAN Justice of the peace
I, John S. Vrooman Clerk of said County do hereby certify, that Joshua D. Harman before whom the foregoing depositions of Derick C. Groot & Nicholas P. Van- Ryn purport to have been sworn, was at the time thereof a justice of the peace in & for said County, & that his signature thereto is genuine - And I further certify that Harman's Res- By whom the foregoing certificate of credibility is signed was at the time thereof & is now a justice of the peace in said County and that David Boyd who signed the like cer- tificate is First Judge of said County. Witness my hand & the Official seal this 2 nd October 1833. For John S. Vrooman Clerk
WE John H. Van Wagener a clergyman residing in the town of Newkayuna in the county of Schenectady aforesaid, and Nicholas Fort & Cornelius Groot residing in the town of Newkayuna in the County of Schenectady do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Derick C. Groot who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three 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.
Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid
John S. Vrooman
Clerk.
John H. Van Wagener Corn Groot Nich. Fort
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 John H. Van Wagener who signed the above cer- tificate is a clergyman resident in said town & that Corne- lius Groot & Nicholas Fort who also signed the same, are residents in the same place & are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I John S. Vrooman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Schenectady do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Derick C. Groot for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this Eighteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- two
John S. Vrooman Clerk.

Remotion
23243 INVALID.
File No. 23, 243
Derick G. West
Long New Year
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 161
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Derrick C. Groot
N.Y.
Adm. 1 year and 2 Months Serf. —
70.00
Giles H. Wates
Schenectady
N.Y. —

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Deriack C. Groot _____ which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Not with precision V. * Has he mentioned 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes — the Court has
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Answers to each are embodied
in the Declaration
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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."
Witness re: to detail all the facts he may be able to verify respecting service of claimant.

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 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.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
†QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.