Morrison's Pensions
LIEUTENANT PETER VROOMAN
The intent
of this article is again to correct some misinformation in various National
Archive Records concerning Peter Vrooman.
I am not pointing my finger at the National Archives and claiming that
they are incompetent as it is not their fault that there is more than one
Peter Vrooman and that they are not familiar with the local geography.
The following
letters pertain to Ensign Peter Vrooman of Captain John Littel's Company in
Colonel Frederick Visscher's Regiment of Tryon County Militia [Third Regiment].
This letter was misfiled as part of Colonel Peter Vrooman's Regiment
of Albany County Militia [Fifthteenth Regiment], Series M246, REVOLUTIONARY
WAR ROLLS 1775-1783, MICROFILM REEL 77, NATIONAL ARCHIVES, WASHINGTON, D.C..
How do I
know its wrong? First, the rank. There are two Peter Vrooman's from the
Schoharie area. One was the Colonel of the regiment from 1775 until 1784 and
his second cousin was a private soldier [Pension No. R18673].
Second,
the geography. By militia law, every able bodied man from the ages of
16 to 50 had to serve in the local militia company. For example if you lived
in Schoharie you would have to serve in the Fifthteenth Albany as that is the
district that you lived in. The Fifthteenth Albany served very little in the
Mohawk Valley as they were raised to protect the UNITED DISTRICTS OF SCHOHARIE
AND DUANESBURGH. One of the rare expeditions into the Mohawk Valley was after
Sir John John Johnson's raid of October 17, 1780.
Also the
National Archives have listed the men who paid their bounty to raise men to
serve in the New York State Levies [most likely to serve in Colonel John Harper's
Regiment] as also serving in the Fifthteenth. This is also wrong. The
list is strictly for the various classes of men who were paying bounty for
someone to serve from their particular class of militia, [there were usually
ten men per class].
Also one
other interesting fact is the file number. It appears to be a pension application
number but who does it belong to.
Then the
second document written by the son of Lieutenant Peter Vrooman was misfiled
with the pension application of Private Peter Vrooman R18673 adds some more
mystery about Lieutenant Vrooman.
Gilbert
Vrooman claims his father applied for a pension and also included
his commission as proof of service. There appears to be none. Mark Sullivan
while in Colorado was going thru the pensions on microfilm and the first one
he checked for more misfiled information was R18673 which did not have the
commission etc..
I am continuing
my search for Lieutenant Peter Vrooman and his service files. Peter was commissioned
as an Ensign on March 8, 1781 but he did serve as a Lieutenant but he
was never commissioned for that rank.
Peter H.
Vrooman who was born on March 7, 1756 and later married Sarah Van Brakelen,
the daughter of Gysbert Van Brakelen, had the following children: Nettie, born
on May 28, 1783, Gysbert [Gilbert], born on May 7, 1786 and Neeltie, born on
May 26, 1789.
Coughnwago April the 16, 1780
Sir
I have Recd
his Excellenys the governors orders to Raise the fiftant man out of our Regt
to sarve from the first Day of May untill the first Day of January Next in
June therefore I send you a class of the Man and is to be classed with Your
self you must furnish a good able Bodied man Wall accoutred the man you is
alowed as a bounty tow [two] Hundred Eackers of ounpropoited Lands for his
Nine months Sarvis you are to see that the man is to be [illegible] at Fort
plaine by the first Day of May Next in order to be mustered pray send me the
Mans name [two words illegible] I Hope You will Not faile in Raising your man
for in case of a failure[?] you will be assest [assessed] Dubble the sume any
other man may coast in the Regt
I am Sir
your Humble
Liet Peter Vrooman Sarvent
V
Veeder Lieut Col
[S
File 18673]
Peter
Vroman Ensine Timmy
Wessan [?]
16 pd gorg Shenk Timmy
Vagtars [?]
16 pd gorge Shenk Junr Duncan
Mc gregor
Handrick fishback Angus
Cameron
pd Niclas Shever [name
crossed out]
pd Samuel coplan pd John
Algire [?]
pd John Walter John
McDonald
pd John Oulman Adam
Foks
pd Barant Oulman pd Sam
Rogers
Frd Barnhart pd Christn
Gitman [?]absent
pd George Cough
To
[?] The People that are not Marching
give
the not payable
Ensin the
26th Day this month
Peter Vroman
The following numbers were written on the bottom of the back page which may represent what they paid. 8 5 61/2 8 5 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 4 4 2 6
SOURCE: REVOLUTIONARY WAR ROLLS 1775-1783, INCORRECTLY FILED WITH COLONEL
PETER VROOMAN'S REGIMENT OF ALBANY COUNTY REGIMENT [FIFTEENTH REGIMENT],
MICROFILM REEL 77, NATIONAL ARCHIVES, WASHINGTON, D.C.
State of New York
Jefferson County
On this
24th day of May 1857 Personally appeared before me James H Bowen a notary Public
in the County of state aforesaid. Gilbert Vrooman aged 65 years a resident
of the town of Aubush Jefferson County NY. Who being first Duly Sworn according
to Law declare that he is the son & only living child of Peter Vrooman
who was an Ensign & Lieutenant in the War of the Revolution that he was
first an ensign in the Company of NY Militia Commanded by Capt Lytle. and served
with said company as Ensign & Lieutenant during the whole term of the
War. that his father Commenced an application for a Pension near the year 1819.
while was not granted to him on account of his having to much property. that
the appreciation was renewed afterward and denied on account his name not having
been found on the Continental Establishment his Service having been in the
Militia Service that the said Gilbert Vrooman now desires that he may be allowed
to know if he may not use the claim of his father and receive the account that
justly belonged to him on account of said Service he desires that the Case
maybe taken up & considered and his legal rights as the Son & heir
of the said Peter Vrooman granted to him. The Proof of his Service & his
Commission are on file in the Department and makes this application that the
application as made by his Father & argued by Dr Trowbridge & Mr. E
Fowler may now be examined and for the purpose of the said examination
he does by these presents appoint & constitute F.E. Hassler Esq of Washington
D C his true & Lawful attorney for him & his name place & stead
to ask for. & prosecute the afore said claim of his Father Peter Vrooman
for all pension pay commutation & that may be due on account of Services
endured by the said Peter Vrooman in the War of the Revolution withfull power
to do all that I might or could were I personally present at the doing thereof
in the receiving aforesaid amount and giving full receipts & discharge
for the same fully satifying whatsoever my said attorney may do in the premises
my hand & seal
this 2n th day of May 1857.
Gilbert
Vrooman
Sworn to of subscriber before me the day & year above written witness
my hand & Seal
James
H Bowen
Notary
Public