Pension Application

S.14.771
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7 June 1832.
State of New York
Columbia County SS.
            On this sixth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred the thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson in the county of Columbia now sitting, William Vosburgh, a resident of the Town of Kinderhook in the county of Columbia in the State of New York, aged seventy 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 7th 1832.
            That he was born in Kinderhook (in the then County of Albany), now County of Columbia, aforesaid in 1755. That the record of his age is in the Town of Stuyvesant, in the County of Columbia aforesaid.
            That he was first called into the service of the United States in October 1775, and then lived in the Town of Kinderhook aforesaid, and lived there when he was ordered into said service, at the times hereinafter stated. Since the Revolutionary War has lived in one or the other of the Counties of Green, Albany, Montgomery and Columbia, and now lives in said County of Columbia.
            That he did not at any time service with any of the Continental regiments or companies in any of his services herein stated, but was acquainted with Captain David Van Ness first lieutenant, Peter J. Vosburgh, who was his brother, second lieutenant, John Van Ness and Peter Van Rensselaer, who he believes was a Captain, all officers in the regular army.
            That in October 1775, he was ordered into the service of the United States, in the militia, as a private under the following named officers vis. Colonel Andries Whitbeck, Captain Lambert Burghardt, first Lieutenant Isaac VanVolkenburgh, Second Lieutenant John G. VanAlstyne and Ensign Andries Whitbeck, and served under them.
            In the same month marched under the above officers to Saratoga, thence to Schenectady, thence up the Mohawk River to Caghnauga [Caughnawaga now Fonda], remained there about a fortnight, and then marched farther up the River, but how far does not now recollect—was discharged he thinks at Caghnauaga in November of that year, and returned home. Cannot say whether hid discharge was in writing, if it was it is lost or mislaid—was in the service one month and an half.
            In 1776 was commissioned as an ensign of militia. The commission if he had one was signed by George Clinton then Governor of the State of New York and is now lost. In the month of June of the same year was again ordered in service and marched under some of the same officers to Greenbush and served about two weeks, as an Ensign and was then discharged, but whether in writing cannot say. In the fall of the same year was drafted as an Ensign, and was again ordered into service and marched under the command of Colonel VanAlstyne to Schenectady, (the other officers cannot recollect,) front thence marched up the Mohawk River, and was in this service as an Ensign one month, and was then discharged, but whether in writing cannot state, but if so it is lost.
            In 1777 in April or May was again ordered in service as Ensign, and marched under Colonel Abraham J. VanAlstyne, Captain Isaac VanVolkenburgh and Lieutenant John J. VanAlstyne from Kinderhook to Saratoga and served in the neighborhood of Saratoga at this time two months and was then discharged, but does not recollect whether the discharge was in writing.
            In the same year in the month of September was ordered in service with his horses and waggon by Captain VanVolkenburgh to carry the baggage of Major Stevans of the Artillery from Albany to Saratoga & sent his Brother Abraham Vosburgh with his horses & waggon with Major Stevan’s baggage to Saratoga—Shortly after which I went up to Saratoga and took charge of my horses & waggon—remained in this service two months and until the surrender of the Brittish [British] General Burgoyne, and then carried Major Stevans Baggage from Saratoga to Albany and returned from Albany to Saratoga and bought from there to Albany one of General Burgoyne’s ammunition waggons, my horses and waggon were employed in this service one month.
            In 1778 was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Captain Isaac VanVolkenburgh’s Company of Militia in the County of Albany in the Regiment of which Abraham VanAlstyne was Colonel as by reference to the commission hereto annexed will appear. Same year but the time cannot recollect volunteered to guard ammunition waggons up the North River [Hudson]. Had the command of a company of militia and marched from Kinderhook to Greenbush on arriving there was ordered back by Col. Abraham VanAlstyne to Kinderhook to quell the Tories—Marched back to Kinderhook with the company and served under his commission as Second Lieutenant in quelling the Tories there and at Schodac in the now county of Rensselaer at this time two months and was then discharged by whether in writing, can no say, if so it is lost.
            In 1778 in the month of September was again ordered out in service as second Lieutenant and served under the command of Colonel Abraham VanAlstyne, Captain Isaac VanVolkenburgh, first Lieutenant John J. VanAlstyne and marched from Kinderhook to Schenectady remained there a short time and marched thence up the Mohawk River and was in this service one month, and was then discharged, but whether the discharge was in writing, cannot say, if in writing it is lost—
            In 1779 was commissioned as first Lieutenant of Militia of the State of New York. The commission was signed by George Clinton the then governor but is not now in his possession it having been destroyed many years ago. In the month of September or October of that year was again ordered in service as first or second Lieutenant and served under the command of Colonel Abraham VanAlstyne Captain Isaac VanVolkenburgh and marched from Kinderhook to Schenectady. From thence was ordered to Schoharie and marched as far as Duanesburgh and then was ordered to Schenectady on the Mohawk River and was in this service one month and was then discharged—but whether in writing [?] if so it is lost. After which in 1779 or 80 was again ordered out & marched under Colonel VanAlstyne to Bemis Hill in Saratoga & was in this service a first Lieutenant two weeks & then discharged.
            In 1780 in September or October was again ordered in service as first Lieutenant and marched under the same officers from Kinderhook to Schenectady and was in this service one month, and was then discharged, but whether in writing cannot say if in writing it is lost.
            In 1781 in September or October volunteered as captain and marched from Kinderhook under the command of Colonel Abraham VanAlstyne to Fort Hunter on the Mohawk River. Pursued the enemy as far as Canajoharie on that river there was engaged in battle with the enemy under the command of Sir John Johnson. The Indians of the Enemy were killed in that battle. Pursued the Enemy up the river to the German Flats, was in this service one month and was then discharged but if in writing cannot say and if in writing it is lost.
            Has no documentary evidence of his service except the [?] herewith annexed.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the service roll of the agency of any state. (Signed) William Vosburgh
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Hiram Wilbur, clerk.

Letter written in reply to a request for information. August 30, 1928.
            I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.14771, it appears that William Vosburgh was born in Kinderhook, Albany county, (Later Columbia County) New York in 1735.
            While a resident of Kinderhook, New York, he enlisted in October, 1775, and served six weeks as private in Captain Lambert Borghard’ts Company, Colonel Andrew Witbeck’s New York Regiment.
            In 1776 he was commissioned ensign and served a tour, length not stated; and in June of that year served two weeks, and in the autumn one month, in Colonel VanAlsytne’s New York Regiment.
            In April or May, 1777, he served two months as Ensign in Captain Isaac VanValkenburgh’s Company, Colonel Abraham VanAlstyne’s New Your Regiment, and in September served two weeks as wagoner under Captain Van Valkenburgh.
            On July 2, 1778, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Captain Isaac VanValkenburgh’s Company, Colonel Abraham VanAlstyne’s New York Regiment, and in that year served two months, dates not given; from September, 1778, he served one month under the same officers.
            In 1779 he was commissioned First Lieutenant and in September or October of that year he served one month, and later two weeks, in Captain Isaac VanValkenburgh’s Company, Colonel Abraham VanAlstyne’s New York Regiment. In September or Oceober, 1780, he served one month under the same officers.
            In September or October, 1781, he served one month as Captain in Colonel Abraham VanAlstyne’s New York Regiment, and was in a battle at Canajoharie, on the Mohawk River.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed August 6, 1832, while a resident of Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York.
            There are no data on file relative to wife and children.

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