The Committee on Revolutionary Claims, to whom were referred the petition and papers of Abram Thomas Van Buskirk's heirs-at-law, would respectfully report:

That the petitioner, Mary Ett Van Buskirk, is the lenial descendant of Abram¹ Thomas Van Buskirk, who was in his lifetime, a citizen of Bergen county, New Jersey, a wealthy farmer, and a man of large pesonal influence in his day. He was one of the most ardent whigs of the Revolution, though he lived in a region of coutry where a large part of the population were hostile to the American cause. The testimony shows that the American army, under the command of General Wayne, in 1778, '79, and '80, were, at various times, encamped at Harrington, in the State of New Jersey; and it also appears that when General Washington, in the year 1780, was in winter quarters at Morristown, from the known poverty of our treasury they found it difficult to procure supplies for their armies.

It abundantly appears from the testimony that the ancestor of the petitioner, living in the immediate neighborhood of the encampment of General Wayne, at Harrington, was applied to by him for subsistence and forage, which calls he promptly responded to, and readily complied with, and for which he received no payment in money, but the certificates of General Wayne of the several purchases, pledging the government at a future day.

It further appears from the testimony that the said Abram Thomas Van Buskirk, at a number of times, between 1779 and 1780, at the calls of Baron de Kalb, Colonel Lee, and other officers on duty, furnished grain, forage, cattle, horses, and other supplies, for which also he received their several certificates as he furnished them supplies from time to time. The testimony shows that the said Abram Thomas Van Buskirk often purchases supplies for these officers when he was without them, and in no instance seems to have refused when called upon, nor to have charged profits on his purchases.

It is proven, also, that when the British took possessio of Philadelphia, in 1779 in order to prevent supplies from falling into the hands of the enemy, Colonel Lee was sent into New Jersey to destroy and carry off all that might fall into their hands. Among those who suffered was the ancestor of the petitioner. All these deprivations, the testimony abundantly shows, he submitted to cheerfully, and obtained certificates from the officer of their seizure, destruction, and value.

It is satisfactorily proven that the amount of supplies of every kind furnished by him to the American army, and those destroyed to prevent falling into the hands of the enemy, amounted to the sum of twenty thousand dollars, and for which he received the certificates of the American officers, none of which have ever been paid.

It appears from the testimony that the said Abram Thomas Van Buskirk died in March, anno Domini 1811 and never applied to the government for pay, refusing, when urged to do so, on the ground that his country was impoverished in the struggle for independence, and required the mony more than he did.

It is abundantly proven that up to the time of his death the said Abram Thomas Van Buskirk kept these memorials of the service he rendered his country with a fondness and tenacity only known to the patriots who lived in the day that tried men's souls.

The petitioner, his lineal descent and only² heir, now for the first time presents these demands for payment, and asks that she may be paid the same; and your committee, not taking into consideration the services and zeal of her ancestor, but simply recognizing the debt due for these supplies, acknowledged by these certificates, have unanimously come to the conclusion that they ought to be paid, and they therefore report the accompanying bills.

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