Rev. War Pension of Peter VANDERBELT; Lycoming Co., PA



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Peter Vanderbelt, born 13 January 1758 Readington, Hunterdon Co NJ according to 

his pension claim, but the Vanderbelt Bible has 1757 at Alexandria and he even 

stated in his claim that he had the family Bible in his possession, served as a 

private in the Revolutionary War, enlisting from his home in Alexandria Twp. 

Pension File New Jersey #S11620. At age 75 he appeared in Lycoming County Court 

on 7th Sept 1832 and after being sworn according to law gave testimony to claim 

his pension as per the Act of Congress 7th June 1832. He had entered the service 

as a volunteer before the Battle of Long Island and was stationed 5 weeks at 

Perth Amboy under Capt John Sherrard of Hunterdon Co, PA and Lieut Daniel 

Palmer. He marched to Amboy and while there heard the guns at the Battle of Long 

Island. He returned home after 5 weeks and then was drafted as a militiaman and 

fought at Elizabethtown in a skirmish with the refugees from Long Island and 

they drove the refugees to a fort within eight ?miles of New York, took some 

baggage wagons from them. General (or Col) Frelinghuysen was in command. On the 

day of the Battle of Monmouth he was at Rocky Hill where he was in the service 

of his country hauling forage provisions with his own team of horses for the 

American Army from Alexandria Twp to Rocky Hill. He was never in a battle but 

his service was in hauling forage up until the time when Gen Burgoyne was taken 

at Saratoga. He continued in service until 1779 or 1780 after which the NJ 

militia was no longer called out. In support of his claim he had the testimony 

of Abraham Paulhamus and Adam Wagoner who knew him during the revolution. He 

also named William Wilson, Thomas Hay(e)s and that he has known them for past 30 

years and that they could testify to his good character.

He recalled the names of the other field officers, Col Beaver, Lieut Col 

Bonnell, Major Cronandike (sp?), and Capt Johnson who were all his neighbours 

and who were frequently in the service. He then recalls that he drove a team 

that took General Burgoyne's baggage from Frenchtown, NJ thru York Co, PA and he 

was discharged at Smyser's Tavern in York Co, PA. 

Burgoyne was then a prisoner of the American Army.

His total service 6 months in Sherrard's Co, 4 months in Capt Palmer's Co and 8 

months in Capt Johnson's Co of Col Beaver's Regiment. and 1779 another

6 months in same Co. Ref. Federal Pension Pension Application File - New Jersey 

#S11620.



After the war he went to (Bedminister?) Somerset Co, NJ, then he returned to 

Alexandria Twp, and then at sometime afterward (at least by 1790) he removed to 

York Co, PA. In the fall of 1792, he removed to Williamsport, Lycoming Co, PA 

where he was the first blacksmith in the town with a shop on 3rd and Mulberry 

Sts. He rec'd a pension of $80 annum beginning March 1831. Ref. 

Record Book E, Vol 5, page 63 as recorded by Geo B Whiting, Clerk. The entry for 

Abr'm Paulhamus is on page 45. The two served under the same officers and both 

claimed the other's testimony in claiming their pensions!