Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for Simon A. Groot or Groote

W.23140 (Widow: Rebecca)
State of New York
County of Schenectady SS.
            On this thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of common pleas in & for said county now sitting Simon A. Groot a resident of the City of Schenectady in said county and State, aged seventy five years and upwards 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.
            He was born in the then township of Schenectady in the then county of Albany (now Schenectady) in the State, then colony of New York on the twentieth day of November 1756.  He has no record of his age except that contained in his family bible and the Register of Baptisms of the reformed Protestant Dutch Church of said city.
            When he was called into the service of the United States in the army of the revolution, he was living in said township & since the revolutionary was he has lived in the same place & he now lives in the City of Schenectady aforesaid.
            He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
            In the spring of the year 1775, he was enrolled as a private in Captain Thomas B. Banker’s Company of Militia in the regiment commanded by Colonel Abraham Wemple. The names of his other company & field officers whom he recollects were Aarent Veeder Lieutenant.
            He served in said company of militia until the end of the war except on the occasion when he engaged as an Artificer in the army of the revolution as herein after particularly set forth.  In the beginning of the month of January 1776, he went with the detachment of troops called out from colonel Wemple’s regiment aforesaid to Johnstown on which occasion Sir John Johnson & his tenants & dependants surrendered themselves prisoners of war.  He was out in this expedition for the term of sixteen days.  It is impossible for him to specify the particular dates of all the other expeditions in which he engaged as a militia man, nor yet all the expeditions. Those which he now recollects and the principal ones in which he served, are as follows with the time he served in each.
            At the upper, middle & lower forts of Schoharie more than two months.  Walter Vrooman & Jellis Fonda Captains had the command. This was after CoblesKill was burnt—and he served one half of the time pursuant to a draft, the other half as a volunteer.  At fort Clyde under Captain Jesse VanSlyck for the term of one month. At fort Plank fifteen days—at the German Flatts pursuant to a draft two months or sixty three days under Captain Banker—At Lake George twenty days & more—At Germantown with his regiment to guard the harvesters sixteen days.  At fort Paris pursuant to a draft two months—To Cherry Valley one month—To Bemis’s Heights pursuant to a draft under Captain Jesse VanSlyck & Lieutenant Abraham Truax one month and fifteen days.  To fort Edward fifteen days—to Fort Plain with his regiment one month—To Cooperstown under Captain Simmons in General Sullivan’s expedition for the term of one month—To West Canada Creek when Walter Butler was killed for the term of fifteen days, on which occasion he took a prisoner—To Ballston & Galway in scouting parties in pursuit of Tories about one month – To Skeenesborough eighteen days—making in all more than fifteen months actual service as a militia man. When not out in distance expeditions he mounted guard at Schenectady & verily believes that the different terms of his services as such guard when added together will no be less than six months.
            In the year 1775, he enlisted as an artificer in a company commanded by Jacob Vrooman and served at Lake George for the term of six months.  He served at lake George landing in the same capacity for the term of one month.  In the year 1776, for the term of eight months at Skeenesborough under Captains Vrooman, Bradt & for the term of nine months under Capt. John V.Dusen at Tyconderoga continuing in service there till that fortress was evacuated in July 1777. At Coeyman’s he thinks in the year 1778, under Captain Teunis Bradt for the term of six months.
            He was in the battle that took place under Genl. Arnold against the British forces under Burgoyne when the former took the Hessian Camp.  He was also in the battle at Ticonderoga when that fortress was evacuated.
            The claimant was for a long time captain of the City Guard at Schenectady.
            The following are The names of some of the regular officers whom he knew, or who were with the troops where he served, and such continental and militia regiments or companies with which he served, or as he can recollect, viz: Those therein before stated.
            He never received any written discharge from the service.
            He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except those whose affidavits are annexed.
            The following are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their believe of his services as a soldier of the revolution to wit, Isaac Degraff & John Sanders.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever, to a pension annuity except the present, and declares that his name if not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.  (Signed) Simon A. Groot
            Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first aforesaid.  John S. Vrooman, Clerk.
           
Declaration, In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled “An act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows.”
State of New York SS.
            On this ninth day of October, 1838, personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of common Pleas in and for the County of Schenectada in said state, Rebecka Groot a resident of the City of Schenectada in the county of Schenectada aged seventy years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled “An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.”  That she is the widow of Simon A. Groot who as a private in the war of the revolution, and served as set forth in the papers now on file in the war Department in the matter of the application of said Simon A. Groot for a pension, under the act of Congress passed on June 1832, and that he received a pension under the act last named of $52 per annum and this declarant saith further that her maiden name was Rebecka Vedder.
            She further declares, that she was married to the said Simon A. Groot on the seventeenth day of September in the year seventeen hundred and eighty five; that her husband the aforesaid Simon A. Groot died on the fourth day of March 1838, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz, at the time above stated. Rebecca Groot.
            Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before the Judges aforesaid, in open court.  W.W. Tredway Dep.Clk.
            I certify the forgoing to be the original proceedings in the said court a matter of the application of Rebecca Groot for a pension, witness my hand & the seal of said court, this 9th October 1838.  W.W. Tredway Dep. Clerk.

State of New York
County of Schenectada SS.
            I certify that the following is a true copy of the record of the Marriage of Simon A. Groot and Rebecka Vedder as contained in the Register of the Reformed Dutch Church of Schenectada with the except of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair, legible figures as follows:  Sept. 17, 1785.  Simon A. Groot met Rebecka Vedder beijde van Schenectady Bevestight Sept. 17, 1785.
            That Rebecka Vedder fromwhich Register it appears and Simon A. Groot were regularly married on the seventeenth day of September one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five by the Rev. Dirck Romeyn then pastor of said church.  Jacob Van Vechten.
            I Jacob VanVechten above named, depose and say that I hold the office of pastor of said church and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Church with the exception above named as certified by me.  Jacob VanVechten.
            Sworn before me this 31st day of August 1838.  A. A. Vedder Justice of the Peace.

Letter dated August 29, 1923, replying to a request for information.
            I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary pension Claim W.23140 it appears that Simon A. Groot, son of Abraham Groot and he wife Willempje Donbar, was born November 30, 1756 in Schenectay Township, Albany County, New York.
            While a resident of Schenectady, New York he enrolled in the Spring of 1775 in Captai Thoams B.Banker’s Company, Colonel Abraham Wemple’s New York Regiment in which he served as a private at various times, and also under Captains Jesse VanSlyke, John VanDusen, Simons and Teunis Bradt until the close of the War, except when engaged as an Artificer in Captain Jacob Vrooman’s New York Company.  He was at the Battle of Ticonderoga, the first battle of Stillwater and in General Sullivan’s Expedition.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed October 13, 1832 at which time he was a resident of Schenectady, New York.  He died March 4, 1838 in said Schenectady.
            Soldier married September 17, 1785 in said Schenectady Rebecca Vedder who was allowed pension on her application executed October 7, 1838 while a resident of said Schenectady aged seventy years.  She died in said City March 25, 1845.
            The following children were the only ones living in 1850: John S.; Aaron V.; Simon S.; Mary or Maria Anderson (living in Schenectady in 1851); Catharine Swart and Esther N. Myers.

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