NATHANIEL VAN AUKEN REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION, SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

Copyright (c) 2002 by Harold I. Van Auken (leighj@mail.ptd.net)

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Nathaniel Van Auken's Revolutionary War Pension Application: National Archives,  
Washington, DC. (W6J60 NY line)

Sussex Pleas State of New Jersey Sussex County SS }

On this Fourth day of February in the year of our Lord, Eighteen Hundred and thirty four
Personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting,
the Same being a Court of Records in and fore said County of Sussex, Nathaniel Vanauken a
resident of the township of Wallpack in the County of Sussex aforesaid aged Sixty nine years,
who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath made the following declaration in
order to Obtain the benefit of the pension made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832 --
That he entered the Army of the United States as a substitute for James Vanaukin in the year
1779 in the fall of the year -- That he entered in the company of Capt. Moses Cortright --(who
deserted and became a Tory & 1st Lieutenant John Vantile [Van Tyle] D. Dewitt Martin Decker --
Major Daniel Decker-- Under Colonel Hatfield, That he entered at Carpenters Point in the state
of New York and marched to Goshen Orange County from thence to Newburgh and New Winsor The
British came up the North (or Hudson) River while we were at New Winsor on said River --- And
we shot at them as they proceeded up the River. --- they proceeded up the River to Sopus which
place they fired and Burned and then returned down the river to the City of New York --- we
marched from New Winsor to Banks Bridges (called) to the Northend of Newburgh at which place we
were stationed Some time was there until we were discharged and returned home after serving at
__ two weeks

That he entered again in the fall of the next year 1780 in the month of October -- in the
Company of Lieutenant DeWitt under Major DeWitt entered and marched from Carpenters Point to
Nappanock was there some time then marched up to the Lackawack was stationed here guarding
against the Indians who annoyed the white inhabitants of this district of county very much, by
committing their mischievous depredation -- we had several fights and skirmishes with the --
From the last named place we returned back home to Carpenters Point or near there That he was
out and done-- Duty this time forty five days.

That he entered the Army of the United States in the year 1782 for Eight months as a Substitute
for Elijah Vanaukin, thinks in April under Captain Abraham Westfall, 1st Lieu Seward Major
DeWitt and Colonel ___ marches to Peenpack on the Neversink River -- from thence to Minisink on
Delaware and other places along the River at which we were stationed guarding against and
repelling the invasions of the Indians, that he was out in this service and done duty for the
eight months--

That he then returned to Carpenters Point-- He said that there was a hand cut Log Fort at his
Fathers house near the Neversink and delaware rivers-- made to guard against frequent attracts
of the Indians--- he says that he was there when a party of Indians and Tories attacked it--
that the Leader of the Party was the Indian Chief Brant.-- next the party was defeated with the
loss of one or two of their party-- he says that the district of county in which he lived was
subject to the attacks and depredations of the Indians throughout the war--

He says that he was born on the 19th dec 1764 near Carpenters Point and near the junctions of
the Neversink and Delaware Rivers in the county of Orange and state of New York that there is
record of his age in the family Bible in his possession-- that he was living near Carpenters
Point aforesaid at the different times when called into service, that he was living since the
Revolutionary war mostly in Sussex County New Jersey That he now lives in the Township of
Wallpack afores and where has lived the last thirty two years-- that he served as a volunteer
and substitute when as a substitute for James and Elijah Vanauken aforesaid he says he never
received a written discharge nor has he any documentary evidence---but that Elijah Vanauken --
can Testify to most of his service he says that Colonel Jacob Dimon and Daniel Depue --can
testify as to their beliefs of his age and reputation as a Revolutionary Soldier ---, he Says
that there is no Clergyman residing in his neighborhood and that he could not consequently
procure the attendance of one before the Court who could testify as required by the De---- he
hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he
declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.

Sworn and subscribed in open Court the day & year above written. Jos. Y. Miller Presiding Judge

signed: Nathaniel Vanauken [poorly written]

We Jacob Dimon and Daniel Depue residing in the neighborhood of Nathaniel Vanauken who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration do hereby certify that we are well aquatinted
with said Nathaniel Vanauken that we believe him to be Sixty nine years of age that he is
reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the
Revolution and that we concur in that opinion--

Sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year above written. Jos. Y. Miller Presiding
Judge

signed: Jacob Dimon, Daniel Depue

And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and
after putting the interrogations of prescribed by the War Department that the above named
applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states And the court further certify
that Colonel Jacob Dimon and Daniel Depue are credible persons and that their Statement is
entitled to full credit-- and that they are further satisfied that there is no clergyman
residing in the neighborhood of the said Nathaniel Vanauken--

Jos Yettillin} John H. Hall} Judges John Bell}

New Jersey Sussex County} Be it remembered - that on this 26th day of April 1834 personally
appeared before me Henry I. Caurson Esquire Justice of the peace in and forsaid County Elijah
Vanauken aged Seventy FourYears who being duly Sworn according to law upon his oath doth depose
and Says that he is the brother of Nathaniel Vanauken who has sworn to and Subscribes the
foregoing affidavit-- That they resided at the time of the Revolutionary War near Carpenters
Point in Orange County New York That he recollects well that the said Nathaniel Vanauken was
out the period and at the time first mentioned in his said Declaration And further that he
recollects well that the said Nathaniel went out in the Army of the United States under the
Officers by him stated as a substitutes for the said Deponent as mentioned by him-- that he ...
from the place aforesaid in the said company mentioned by Sd Nathaniel-- And was out for the
period by his in that behalf mentioned he Says that there was a fort as mentioned by Sd
Nathaniel at his fathers and that they were frequently attracts and much ... the Indians during
the war and further loath not---

Sworn and Subscribed before me the day aforesaid Henry I. Caurson, JP

Elijah X Vanauken [his mark]

I Certify the Elijah Vanauken who has Sworn and Subscribed the foregoing affidavit is a
credible person and that his statement is entitled to full credit.

Witness my hand the day aforesaid Henry I. Caurson, JP

Note:Parenthesis are as shown in the original handwritten application; brackets are my
annotation-HV.