Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for Barent Becker
S.12193
State of New York
Schoharie County
On this fifth
day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
three, personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas of the County of Schoharie in the state aforesaid, Barent Becker a resident
of the Town of Middleburgh in the said County of Schoharie & State aforesaid,
who being first duly sown according to law doth on his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed
June 7th 1832.
That he
entered the service of the United States under the following named officers
and served as herein after stated.(1)
That in the
year 1780 this deponent lived in the town of Schoharie & County of Albany
now called the Town of Middleburgh situate in the County of Schoharie, that in
the month of October of said year to wit 1780, (the particular day this deponent
does not recollect), he this deponent volunteered as a militia man in the service
of the United States & was stationed at the Middle Fort in the Town of Schoharie
and County of Albany, since changed into the Town of Middleburgh & County
of Schoharie.
That this
deponent as such volunteered and served under one Col. Peter Vrooman.
That this
deponent does not recollect the names of the under officers, that this deponent
together with others, volunteered his services for the defense of said Middle
Fort & to repel the attacks of one John Johnson (3) who with about eight
hundred men was endeavoring to take & get possession of said Middle Fort. That
Col. Peter Vrooman succeeded one Major Woolsey(2) in the command of the militiaman
stationed at said fort.
That said
Major Woolsey was about surrendering said Middle Fort into the hands of the British & Tories
under command of said Johnson when the aforesaid Col. Peter Vrooman took command
of the soldiers then stationed & defended said fort and prevented it
from falling into the hands of the British.
That this
deponent is confident & therefore expressly declares that he served faithfully
as such volunteer full two months being from the middle of October until
the middle of December 1780.
This deponent
further declares that on the first of April 1781 he this deponent enlisted into
the army of the Revolution for the period of nine months. That he served
principally in that part of the State in New York then called Schoharie in the
County of Albany but since erected into the County of Schoharie. That
he served under one Captain Hale. (4)
That said
Captain Hale’s Company was stationed principally at the Middle Fort aforesaid. That
said Fort during the nine months service of this deponent was commanded by one
Col. Peter Vrooman. That during said term of service. He this deponent
was in the battle fought against the British and Indians near the head of the
Delaware River. That this deponent was under the command of Capt Hale
(5) in said battle. That this deponent was one of a scouting party who surprised
said party of Indians and Tories at a place then called Harpersfield.
That there
was a battle took place between the scouting party of which this deponent was
one, & the Tories & Indians at said place. That the party to which
this deponent belonged as aforesaid, were repulsed with the loss of two men. That
said scouting party retreated untill they met Col. Peter Vrooman with his army. That
then the army under command of Col. Peter Vrooman advanced to the attack of said
party of Indians & Tories but upon reaching the place then called Harpersfield
near the head of the Delaware River, they discovered that said party of Indians & Tories
had retreated & left that place. That then Col. Peter Vrooman with
the Soldiers under his command returned to the said Middle Fort. That this
deponent during said nine months service was frequently out as one of a scouting
party sent out to discover the situation of the enemy forces. That
at the expiration of his said term of service to wit, the first of January
1782, he this deponent was honorably discharged but that his discharge is
now lost and cannot be found.
And this deponent
further declares that in the month of May 1782 he this deponent was ordered out
as a militiaman and served under Captain George Rytchmeyer & in Col. Peter
Vrooman’s Regiment.
That this deponent was stationed the principal part of the time at the Middle
Fort in Schoharie aforesaid.
That he frequently served as sentry at said Middle Fort & was frequently
sent out in scouting parties in various parts of the counties of Tryon and
Albany.
And this
deponent further declares that he faithfully served as such militiaman for
the full period of seven months being from the first of May until the first
of December 1782.
And this deponent
further declares in answer to the Interrogatories presented by the War Department
that he was born in the Town of Schoharie & County of Albany. Since
changed into the Town of Middleburgh & County of Schoharie.
That he was
born about the year 1762 but he cannot state positively how old he is, but to
the best of his information and belief he is now about 70 years of age. That
he has no record of his age and his parents have long been dead nor does
he know of the existence of any church or other record of his age.
And this deponent
further declares that he is now infirm and in indigent circumstances; that he
has for a long time been affected with a Rheumatic affliction, which has deprived
him of the use of his limbs & entirely incapacitated him for any kind of
labor, & this cut him off from his only source of support.
That petitioner
hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares
that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John Gebhard Jr., Clerk
Signed by Barent, Becker
Barent
Becker End Notes
By James F. Morrison