Pension Application

W.15,800 (Widow: Jane)
To the Honorable James Emott, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of the County of Dutchess which is a Court of Record of the State of New York.
            The Declaration under oath of Henry Schoonmaker formerly a Sergeant engaged in the Service of the United States, during the Revolutionary War, and now a Citizen of the United States, and resident of the Town of Poughkeepsie in the County of Dutchess and State of New York.
            Respectfully Showeth that the said Henry Schoonmaker in or about the month of June in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven enlisted in the American Army for during the war of the revolution in a company commanded by Captain Henry Godwin in the fifth regiment of the New York line commanded by Colonel Lewis DuBois and that the said Henry continued to serve in the said company as a sergeant until the reduction of Fort Montgomery on Hudsons river by the enemy when he was taken prisoner, and continued a prisoner for about nine or ten months, when he was exchanged and returned to his duty in the company aforesaid. And this declaration further representeth that the said Henry afterwards upon the derangement of the said Colonel DuBois’ regiment was transferred to a company commanded by Captain Henry Vanderbergh in the second regiment of the New York line, commanded by colonel VanCortlandt and continued to serve as a sergeant in the said company until about the month of August in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two at Pompton Plains in the State of New Jersey, he was honorably discharged after having engaged and furnished another man as a substitute to served in my place to the end of the war. And further that the said Henry in or about the year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen delivered his discharge with another paper to James Emott for the purpose of making an application to the Legislature of the state of New York for his relief which papers the said Henry is informed and believes have been lost or mislaid and can not now be found.
            And this Declaration further representeth that the said Henry Schoonmaker is not a Citizen of the United States and residing in Poughkeepsie aforesaid, and by means of his reduced circumstances in life in need of assistance from his country for support, and that he has never received any pension from the United States for or on account of his said cervices.
            Therefore he conceives himself entitled to the benefit of the Act of Congress of the United States entitled, “An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” approved, March 18, 1818, and requests that your Honor will examine into the truths of the matters aforesaid, certify and transmit the testimony in this case, and the proceedings had thereon to the Honorable the Secretary of the department of War, to the end that such relief may be had in the premises, as is by law in such case provided. And in support of the facts above set forth, he refers to the affidavit of himself and the affidavit of James [?] hereafter set forth.
            Dated the ninth day of April 1818. Henry Schoonmkaker
            Dutchess County SS.: Henry Schoonmaker being duly sworn, says that the matter by him set forth in the foregoing declaration are in all respects just and true.
            Sworn the 9th day of April 1818 before me. James Emott.

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