On this 25th day of September 1832 personally appeared before me, John Hand, one of the judges of Montgomery County courts (the same being a court of record) Abraham Covenhoven of Charleston, Montgomery County, state of New York, age 73 years, being first duly sworn, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed 7th of June, 1832.
In the year
1775, thinks about the first of May
it
was, drafted for one month and went out under Captain Gardenier to Fort
Plain
and Fort Dayton, doing guard duty at both places part of the time. At the
end
of the month was discharged and returned home. In the month of July was
out
again under Lieut. Quakenbush to Fort Plain and German flats for one
month.
Served the time and was discharged again. Out one month at Fort Herkimer
guarding the Fort. Does not recollect whether Captain Gardenier or Lieut.
Quakenbush commanded the guard. This last service was performed in
September.
In the 1776, in the month of April, he served for one
month
doing duty at Fort Hunter and Caughnawaga under Ensign Marlatt. In June
was
again out one month doing duty at Forts Plain and Dayton on the Mohawk
River-
served out the time and was discharged. In August he went to the state of
New
Jersey and on the 12th day of September he enlisted in Captain Nixon's
volunteer company of cavalry for six months, mustered at Cranbury, from
there
marching to Woodbridge and Morristown thence to Pluckering, thence to
Summerset then returned to Cranbury. Marched from Cranbury to Easton in
Pennsylvania, From Easton under the command of of Major Lee -marched to
Philadelphia, thence to Westchester, to Frederickstown in Maryland, and
thence
to Lexington in Virginia; he thinks there were two companies of cavalry
together at this time- Capt Culberson commanding one of the companies as
he
thinks -Remained at Lexington not more than 10 or twelve days when
he
returned to Philadelpphia by(sic) way of Baltimore, Marched from
Philadelphia,
crossed the Delaware River at Coryalls Ferry, went down the river to
Trenton
and was at the Battle of the Twenty Seventh of December. Accompanied the
army
on it's march to Princeton, having left the fires lighted to decieve the
British and arrived at Princeton and was present at the battle at that
place.
The Cavalry persued the retreating enemy as far as Poterstown. Saw Gen
Mercer
carried in after being mortally wounded-also saw Gen Washington after the
battle. He returned to Pluckering(sp?) and Morristown where he remained
until
the expiration of this time-where he was discharged by a written discharge
but
by whom signed he does not recollect as the discharge has long been
lost.
He may be in error as to the name of the Captain under whom he served but
remembers that the name of the first Lieut was John Barkelo and that of
the
Second Lieut, Levi Covenhoven.
In May 1777 he returned from Jersey to the Mohawk
Country
and in June following entered the militia under Capt Louk and
continued
in the service for two months, part of the time at the Fort at Johnstown
and
part of the time at the Fish House at at Sacandago, while at Sacandago was
under the command of Ensign Marlatt-acted in the capacity of Orderly
Sargent
-served out his time and was discharged verbally.
Was again out under Capt Gardinier for two months at
Johnstown from Schuyler, to Stolters, to Tripe (Tribes) Hill, thence to Guy
Johnson Storie House and thence to the meeting house at Ballstown where he
continued until the end of the time when he was verbally
discharged.
In the year 1778 in the month of May or June was out
one
month under Capt Mabee at German Flats, at home one month, and was then
again
out in Johnstown and Sacandago assisted in building the Fort at
Sacandago. Was out on this tour two months-recollects that Col. Willet and
Col. Fisher and Major Newkirk were there at the time-served out his time
and
was discharged.
In the fall of this year he, in company with his
brother
returned to new Jersay, in October this year joined Capt Pyatts Company of
Light Infantry or Minute Men. Mustered at Cranbury, marched to Bennetts
Island
for the purpose of disarming the tories, at this latter place took a Capt
Stocton prisoner and delivered him at headquarters. Served under Capt
Peyatt
for six months during which time ___? were at various places doing
guard
duty. At the expiration of the time as discharged at Cranbury by verbal
orders.
In May 1779 again returned to the Mohawk country, was
out
one month at Fort Hunter, Fonda Mills-at Nose Hill (so called) and at
other
places which it is impossible to recollect-___? the tour and was then out
again for another month at Stoltors and other places. Was again out
one
month at Johnstown, Sacandago and other places doing guard duty
alternately
month about.
In the year 1780 he was out three or four months
alternately month about at Johnstown and the different Forts on the Mohawk
and
also other short terms of duty at different times and various
places;
whole amount of service actually performed was two years and six
months.
He was born in on the 12th day of February, 1759 in the
town of Windsor, County of Middlesex and the State of New Jersey-from
thence
in the year 1774 to the Mohawk District County of Tryon, now to town of
Glen
County of Montgomery and the state of New York. In 1781 he removed to the
town
of Cranbury, County of Middlesex and State od New Jersey. From hence after
residing there for five or six years he removed to Montgomery County,
State of
New York where he since resided.
Has a record of his age in the family Bible of his
Brother
Isaac taken from the Family Bible of his Father. (Auth note:
Father was Cornelius Van Covenhoven b April 16, 1712, Wickatunk, NJ)
Has no documentary evidence of his services. Thinks he
has
a written discharge from Captain Nixon, which has long been lost, and that
from bodily infirmity he is unable to attend court. He hereby
relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present
and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
State.
