Pension Application

S.22982
Dutchess Co., Lieut in Captain Conklin’s Company in the Regt commanded by Col. Frear. In 1838 the surviving children were: Isaac Schults, Abraham Schultz, Christian Schultz, James Schults, Catharine Elsiffer, Joan Oliver, Eliza Still. He left no widow.
State of New York
County of Dutchess SS.
            On this Seventh day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before me Robert L. Livingston one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Dutchess County Peter Schultz a resident of the town of Rhinebeck, in the County of Dutchess and State aforesaid who says that he was eighty two years of age on the twenty fifth day of May last past being 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 concerning Revolutionary Soldiers.
            That this deponent was born on the 25th of May 1750 at Rhinebeck in the County of Dutchess as appeared by a record of deponent's age at the Dutch Reformed Church at Rhinebeck aforesaid. Deponent when called into service was living in the town of Hydepark in the County and State aforesaid then called Charlotte Precinct that deponent after the Revolutionary War resided for a short time in Hydepartk as aforesaid and then removed to the City of New York and resided there for about seven years and then removed to Rhinebeck as aforesaid where he has ever since resided and now resided. That this deponent entered the service & served as a volunteer & in the Malitia in the first part of the summer of 1776, that deponent when he entered the service as aforesaid was a Lieutenant and continued to be a Lieutenant in the company commanded by Captain Isaac Conklin attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. John Frear belonging to the brigade commanded by General Tenbrook that deponent served personally at different times and in different kind of services as Lieutenant for the space of about Four years when deponent employed a substitute for the remainder of the war, deponent however often having employed said substitute immediately and voluntarily attached himself to a company of Volunteer Silver Greys so called whose duty it was to act in case of alarms, living as he did in a vicinity of the disaffected he was almost daily and hourly during the remainder of the war employed in this new capacity.
            That this deponent when first entering the service as aforesaid took command of a Lieutenants’ guard stationed at Poughkeepsie in the County and State aforesaid this was a guard for two Frigates at that time [?] & deponent served in this capacity for about two months that deponent passing through the Town of Poughkeepsie was stationed for a considerable length of time at VerPlank’s Point in the County aforesaid, he was next ordered to and stationed at West Point in the County of Orange and State aforesaid for several weeks, deponent cannot recollect precisely how long, he also passing through the Southern part of Dutchess County was stationed at White Plains in the County of WestChester at what was called the Lines where he was employed for several weeks deponent in the intermediate time was almost constantly employed upon Scouting expeditions within the County of Dutchess that he frequently apprehended Tories many of whom were executed, that upon one of these scouting expeditions among other Tories he apprehended his own Uncle showing no respect to persons, they were all brought to Justice.
            Deponent further says that in October 1777 a Schooner grounded near Hydepark loaded with spoils taken from the Americans, said schooner had on board 18 men armed with Muskets besides five swivels & ammunition deponent discouraged by most of his companions resolved to go and take said Schooner, accordingly 5 men and two boys with deponent at their head waded out to the Schooner and succeeded in making them surrender. They were all taken prisoners & the cargo delivered up to the victors, deponent also performed a variety of other services as an Indian Spy the precise dates of which he cannot recollect.
            Deponent further says that after having appointed a substitute he formed a company of Silver Greys as aforesaid and performed service in the Counties of Dutchess & Westchester and was continually employed upon scouting expeditions, apprehending tories acting as a guard & until the close of the war. Deponent further says that when he returned to Hydepark after the war his house was burned and with it all his household furniture all his papers together with his Lieutenant’s Commission under the hand and seal of Genl George Clinton nothing was spared from the flames save one featherbed. Deponent further says that he made great sacrifices during the war and that his healthy & property was much impaired, that he has been continuing against poverty and want ever since, that he has reared a large family but they are unable to support him that he even now has a wife dependent upon him and the charity of his friends for a maintenance that he is infirm and almost helpless and that now in the evening of his days he throws himself upon the liberality of his Country—Deponent further says that his infirmities and disease for the last two or three years has weakened his memory very much that he does not retain a distinct recollection of dates and his minor services, that he only remembers distinctly the more important parts of his revolutionary service & he trusts that if the War Department are satisfied no fraud is intended to be practised that they will have minor matters and give his case a favorable consideration.
            Deponent further says that the Reverend James B. Hardenburgh’s pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church at Rhinebeck (which church he has been a member for years) and Elias Cowles of the same place with whom he has been for years acquainted can testify to his veracity and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
            Deponent further says that he has no documentary evidence of his Revolutionary services and that he hereby relinquishes all claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State.
            Deponent hereby in answer to the interrogatories of the court says that he was born in the year 1750 at Rhinebeck in the county of Dutchess State of New York, that there is a record of his age at the Reformed Dutch Church at Rhinebeck, that when called into service was living at Hydepark in the County & State aforesaid, that since the Revolution he has lived at Hydepark, New York City & Rhinebeck that he was [?] to service as a volunteer in the American service that he was a Lieutenant in Gen Tenbrook, Col Frear, Capt. Conklin were Regular officers. That he had a Lieutenant’s commission under the hand & Seal of Genl George Clinton which was burned with his house & furniture at Hydepark as aforesaid in that Jas. B. Hardenburgh & Elias Cowles can testify to his veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
            Deponent further says that Genl Morgan Lewis of the town of Hydepark and Peter R. Livingston of the town of Rhinebeck can further certify as to deponent’s character for truth and veracity. (Signed with his mark) Peter Schultz Witness present: E. S. Cowles
            Sworn before me this 7th September 1832. Robt S. Livingston, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Dutchess County.

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