Pension Application

S.7465 (Captain Wilbeck, Col. Van Berger.)
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
State of New York
County of Greene SS.
            On this fifth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before Dorrance Kirtland, Perkins King, Edward Daley Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting John Shuneman a resident of the town of Athens in the County of Greene and State of New York aged seventy three 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 entered the service of the United States a private soldier under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That Anthony Van Vergen was Colonel, Cornelius Dubois Lieutenant Colonel, Ignatius Van Order Major & Hurbert Van Loan Adjutant who acted as Field Officers. That John A. Wilbeck was Captain, and Francis Salisbury ‘s [?] Salisbury were first and second Lieutenants and this deponent acted as Ensign in said Company of Militia.   That this deponent being then about the age of sixteen years was regularly enrolled in the service—That he entered the service in the Spring of the year 1775 but what particular month he cannot say. That claimant marched from the town of Catskill with said company to the City of Albany where they remained sometime, but how long he cannot now recollect, from thence the company was dismissed & he returned home. That shortly after his return the company were ordered to march to Cagnawaga [Caughnawaga] where he remained for sometime but cannot with certainty state how long. That claimant believes he was drafted on the last mentioned tour as he cannot with certainty state his field and company officers.
            That claimant resided in the town of Catskill in the County of (now Green) when he entered the service. That claimant and his company marched to Fort Edward on or about the year 1777. That a skirmish ensued between the forces under the command of Genl. Burgoine [Burgoyne] & the Americans. That Claimant & his company & others retreated from the attack of Burgoine to or near Stillwater, that in this skirmish there was some firing & some of the Americans killed. That the American Forces were then under the command of Gen. Schuyler. That General Gates afterwards succeeded Genl. Schuyler in command. How long claimant was in service at the last mentioned place he cannot recollect.
            That Claimant was also engaged in a skirmish at or near a place called Bemis’s Heights in which some of the American were killed. That Claimant has not been engaged in any battle except as above stated.
            That claimant cannot state how long he was in Service at the last mentioned place. That Claimant and his company marched to Schoharie where they remained for some time but how long he cannot with certainty state. That Claimant was almost constantly on duty when not abroad with his company on scouting parties and as a minute man (so called) in that time, the enemy’s movements, Hostile Indians &c. That he cannot now recollect the different posts at which he did duty, besides those above stated.
            That he did not leave the service until the close of the war. That he believes that he has been more than three years in actual service. That Claimant having served for some time as a private received a commission in his said commission as Ensign signed by George Clinton (then) Governor of the State of New York bearing date the 21st day of October 1779 (which commission is hereunto annexed). That he was afterwards appointed a Lieutenant in said Company but never got his Commission from the Secretary’s Office—That Claimant did not leave the service until the close of the war. That most of the officers & privates with whom he was acquainted during the war, have died or removed to places unknown to him.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. (Signed) John Schunerman
            Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid. William V. B. Hermance, clerk.

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