Abraham Van Tassel Revolutionary War Pension File
DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of July 4, 1836
State of New York
Westchester County
On this twenty ninth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County being a court of record, Elizabeth Van Tassel, a resident of the town of Mount Pleasant in the County of Westchester aforesaid aged seventy nine 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 4, 1836. That she is the widow of Abraham Van Tassel, who was a private in the war of the revolution. That according to her belief the said Abraham Van Tassel entered the service of the United States some time in the month of August 1776 in the company of militia of the County of Westchester commanded by Captain William Dutcher in the Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Hammond for the term of five or six months she cannot tell which and served out said term of five or six months at Tarrytown fort independence and White Plains in said county and was honorably discharged.
And the declarant further saith that the said Abraham Van Tassel again entered said service as she thinks some time in the month of January 1777 and served five months in the said County of Westchester in a company of militia commanded by Captain Sybert Acker in the Regiment commanded by said Lieut Col James Hammond and was then honorably discharged.
And the declarant further saith that the said Abraham Van Tassel again entered said service in or about the month of November 1777 in the company of militia of said County commanded by Captain Sybert Acker aforesaid in the said regiment and continued in said service four months and was then honorably discharged from said service in the month of May 1779 or thereabouts, in the Company of Militia of said County commanded by Captain Jesse Baker in the regiment commanded by said Lieutenant Colonel James Hammond and continued in the said service one year ending some time in the month of 1780 and was then honorably discharged from said service.
And the Declarant further saith that the said Abraham Van Tassel served as a private during the said terms of service above set forth and served in the said County of Westchester at the different military posts established therein for the defense of said County and the protection of the inhabitants thereof and was in actual service as the declarant then thought and has always been informed by her said husband and others.
She further declares that she was married to the said Abraham Van Tassel
in the month of February in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six that
her husband the aforesaid Abraham Van Tassel died in the month of October 1826
at Mount Pleasant - and that she was remained a widow ever since that period
as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Sworn to and subscribed on this 29th day of March 1837 before me.
Elizabeth Van Tassel (her X mark)
Aaron Vark one of the Judges of said County
I Aaron Vark Judge as aforesaid do hereby certify that Elizabeth Van Tassel who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration is unable to attend a court of record in said County of Westchester ?in order?
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State of New York
Westchester County
John Yerks of the town of Mount Pleasant in said Couny being duly sworn on his oath saith that he as well acquainted with Abraham Van Tassel then resided in the neighborhood of the deponent in the said town of Mount Pleasant in the neighborhood of the crossroads. That said Van Tassel entered the service of the United States some time in the month of August 1776 in the company of militia of said County commanded by Captain William Dutcher in the Regiment commanded by Lieut Colonel James Hammond and continued in said service in said company and Regiment five or six months the Deponent thinks six and was then discharged. That the said Van Tassel served during said term at Tarrytown, fort independence, and White Plains in said County and served as a private.
And the deponent further saith that the said Abraham Van Tassel again entered the said service in the month of January 1777 in the company of militia of said County commanded by Captain Sybout Acker in the regiment aforesaid and continued in said service five months and was then honorably discharged. That he served as a private during the last mentioned term of five months on the lines in the said County.
And the deponent further saith that the said Abraham Van Tassel served in the same company and regiment four months commencing in the month of November 1777 and continuing until the expiration of four months and that the said Van Tassel served as a private during the said term on the lines in said County and was stationed at Youngs house in said County and other military posts in said County.
And the Deponent further saith the said Abraham Van Tassel again entered the said service as a private in the company commanded by Captain Jesse Baker in the Regiment aforesaid in the month of May 1779 and continued within said service in said company and regiment one year on the lines in the said County and was at the expiration thereof honorably discharged. That the said County of Westchester was during the said war partly occupied by British troops and party by American troops which made it the scene of hostile operations for the greater part of the war and the militia was consequently obliged to be much in the service. And the deponent further saith that said Van Tassel was in actual service during each of the said terms.
And the deponent further saith that the said Abraham Van Tassel was while in actual service in the company of Captain Baker aforesaid in the said Regiment in the County of Westchester taken a prisoner in an engagement with the British at ?Croton? pond in said County and was taken to the City of New York and confined in the sugar house in said City or in the north church the Deponent is not certain which, at least five months and was then exchanged. The Deponent saith that he cannot recollect what time it was the said Van Tassel was taken prisoner as aforesaid but that it was towards the latter part of the war.
And the Deponent further saith that the said Abraham Van Tassel was married to Elizabeth Yerks in the year 1776. That the said Elizabeth Yerks is the sister of this Deponent and he knew that they were engaged to be married before the marriage took place, but he was not present when they were married being from home at that time but on his return a few days after he understood they were married and that they were then reputed to be man and wife and lived together as such from that time until the death of the said Abraham Van Tassel which was about eight years ago.
And the Deponent saith that the said Elizabeth Van Tassel has remained a widow ever since his death and further Deponent saith not.
John Yerks (his X mark)
Sworn to and subscribed this 25th day of March 1837 before me.
Charles ?Yoe? Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the aforesaid John Yerks and that he is a credible witness. Dated Sing Sing March 25, 1837.
Signed: Charles ?Yoe?, Justice of the Peace