Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5362, Asa Hewlett, Mass.
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[Column 1]
Mass.

[Column 2]
Hewlett, Asa
or
Hulet
Polly

[Column 3]
R.5362
B.L.Wt. 84049-160-55
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Mass.    Hewlett, Asa.  R.5362
          or Hulet.   BL(unidentified) 84049-160-55
                    Polly
{right justified} carded
CONTENTS: [blank]
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No 4447
New Jersey
Supt Nov. 29. 1832
5. 16.
comitted 13 Dec. '32
 Private 7 mo's.   23.33
 Sergeant 2 "[ mo's]      10.00
 Q.M. Sergt. 6 "[mo's ]    30.00
 $63.33

Y.N. Tuttle
Newark
N.J
Alpheus Hews claimt.
Newark
N: Jersey
E       S119.
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BRIEF in case of Alpheus Hews of Newark County of Essex in the State of New Jersey
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 79 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed
[table, headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served]
Augt  in 1776 and served till latter part of 1778 | enlisted for 3 years | Private | Capt Taylor, Col P Henry
1775 | - 2 - | Sergeant | 
1780 | - 4 - | Private | Capt Nicholls
5. In what battles was he engaged? Trenton
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Spotsylvania, Virginia
 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditimay 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct Except the length of time he served as Pri. Clerk & 2n Master Sargeant 
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
* also acted as Clerk in Commissary Department part of the time of his enlistment for 3 years
Jas Wilson Examining Clerk.
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No 3081 
New Jersey 
Alpheus Hews 
of Newark in the State of N. Jersey who was a Private, Serg. in the Company commanded by Captain Taylor of the Regt commanded by Col. Henry in the Virginia line for 1 year 3 months 
Va. and Nis Line. Records corrected 
Dec 21 03
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey 
at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of Dec 1832 and sent to Jos. N. Tuttle Newark, NJ
Arrears to 4th of September 1832 94.99 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 31. 1833 31.66
$94. ⎨ Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832 } Recorded by D. Brown Book D Vol. 4 Page 155 Date of not by death on aB 48
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Alpheus Hews, Declaration
(crossed out words)
Admitted

[this next is upside down]
Alpheus Hews
Private
76-78
7th Virginia Regt.
2 years
15th April 1818
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Alpheus Hews
Private
76 to 78
1st Virginia Regt
2 years
15th April
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District of New Jersey ss.

On the fifteenth day of April 1818 before me the subscribed one of the Judges of the circuit court of the United States for the said district, personally appeared Alpheus Hews
of the age of Sixty five, residing in the township of Newark
in the said district who being by me first duly sworn
according to law
doth on his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the
act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain [illegible]-ans
engaged in the land and naval service of the United States
in the revolutionary war that he the said Alpheus
Hews in the beginning
of August in the year One thousand
seven hundred & seventy six and in the
Culpeper in the State of Virginia for three years in the
company commanded by Capt Rich Tayler of the first
Virginia Regiment, that a few days after he joined his regiment in New Jersey he was made Quarter Master Sergeant
in that
capacity he was at the battle with the Hessians
at Trenton the 26 Dec and canonade at the same place
a few days after was on the lines The winter following quartered. 
The beginning of February the regiment went into quarters.
That towards the end of May following the deponent by
permission of Gen’l Stephens went into the commissaries department
after which he was never called upon to do duty in
in his regiment but continued in said department untill the
autumn of one thousand seven hundred & seventy eight.
And this deponent further saith that he is in reduced circumstances
and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support
and that he has no other evidence more in his papers and [illegible] and services.
Alpheus Hews
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid
William S. Pennington Judge  of aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Alpheus Hews served in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy and given the preceding and testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary
of the department of war persuant to the direction of the ┃
aforementioned act of Congress-
Alpheus Hews
William Pennington
District Judge
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I William Pennington Clerk of the district of New Jersey do certify that the signatures to this instrument are the proper handwriting of Wm. T. Pennington Esq. Judge of the United States for the District of New Jersey-
As witness my hand and the Seal of said District Court at Newark this sixteenth day of April A.D. 1818-
Wm Pennington
I William Pennington District Judge of the United States in and for the New Jersey District do hereby certify that from the testimony of two respectable witnesses so determined by me under oath. I am satisfied that the before named applicant Alpheus Hews, is in indigent circumstances and stands in need of assistance from his country for his support.  Newark 2nd January 1819-
William Pennington
District Judge
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No text can be seen on this document.
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State of New Jersey Essex County ⎬ S.S. On this seventeenth day of August in the year of our Lord, Eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Essex, now sitting, Alpheus Hews, a resident of Newark in the said County, aged Seventy nine 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 7, 1832. That he was born at Medfield in the State of Massachusetts on the sixth day of June, seventeen hundred and fifty three - he has the record of his age in his family bible copied from the original memorandum which is now in New England, more than forty years ago - that he was living in Virginia when he first entered the service and served as a volunteer & afterwards was attached to the Virginia regiment in the Continental establishment as he believes, altho he is informed that it was composed of State troops - that he afterwards enlisted in the militia service, and done duty throughout, as is hereafter more particularly stated. He never received a written discharge. He refers to the Hon Silas Condit, Theodore Frelinghuysen, Gen. Isaac Andress, Col. James Hedden, David Nichols, William Pennington & James Vanderpool Esqr for any evidence that may be necessary to establish this character, and the general belief as to his revolutionary services. That he first entered the revolutionary war as a Volunteer in a Company at Spottsylvania, commanded by Capt. Heirn, under whom he served for two months from the autumn of Seventeen hundred and seventy five. Applicant
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was a Sergeant. He marched with the company to Williamsburg, Virginia to guard the country against a vessel of war laying in the Bay, commanded by Lord Dunmore - He was taken sick the day before the company was discharged & returned home. In the beginning of August of seventeen hundred and seventy six, he enlisted in Orange County, Virginia for three years, as a private in Capt. Richard Taylor's company of the First Virginia regiment, commanded at first by Col. Patrick Henry, does not recollect who afterwards. The Lieutenant of his company was a Wm Eustis, and the ensigns, one Blackwell. After serving about three months he was appointed by Major Fleming (who was afterwards killed at Princeton, N.J.) Quarter Master Sergeant, in which capacity he acted until the ensuing May or June, when by an order of General Stevens he was removed into the Commissary's department where he continued to act as Clerk, until late in the following year of Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven-- While acting as a private soldier, his company joined the Virginia regiment at Kings ferry on the Hudson river, then marched to New Jersey, went to Elizabethtown, Newark, New Brunswick, then returned to Elizabethtown, where the troops engaged in cannonading against some of the enemy's forces - then marched to Princeton; after remaining there a week or two, went to Trenton then into Pennsylvania, where, as before stated he was appointed quarter Master Sergeant - was at Trenton, in the battle with the Hessians-- he does not recollect any of the field officers -- went to Burlington with ammunition, then to Morristown at Headquarters, and was on the Jersey lines until the ensuing February, when the troops went into winter quarters until may or June following - was afterwards in the Commissary department until the latter
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part of seventeen hundred and seventy eight, when deponent left the continental service. In January or February of Seventeen hundred and eighty, he entered the militia service, at Newark aforesaid under Capt. Robert Nichols, and served for four months two of which he was one of a horse guard stationed at Newark and its suburbs. Had but one skirmish with the enemy who came up to the latter place for plunder, one evening during cold weather. He served the other two months, (and he thinks rather more) on foot, under Capt Nichols and Lieut. Wheeler.
Deponent is certain that he was in actual service altogether, at least two years and three months - Exclusive of the Commissary service he was engaged in the war, fifteen months. He was taken from the ranks into the Commissary department, and at the time considered it as part of his military duty, and not as a hire for that particular service He is unable to obtain the Evidence of any of his Associates in either of the services; on account of the Virginia troops, who are now living, being out of his reach, and owing to the lapse of time, and the death of all of his intimate friends who were with him in the Revolutionary war. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declare that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State, or of any Territory in the United States 
Alpheus Hews
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid in open Court E Van Arsdale Jr Clk We, Philip C. Hay, a Clergyman, residing in the town of Newark aforesaid, and David Joseph Sayres
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[crossed out: Nichols] residing in the same place do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Alpheus Hews, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration: that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age - that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion 
Sworn and subscribed the day of year first aforesaid  in open Court 
Philip C. Hay E. Van Ardsdale Jr. Joseph Sayres
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the said Alpheus Hews was a Revolutionary Soldier and Served as he States. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Philip C. Hay who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, residing in Newark aforesaid, and that Joseph Sayers who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place, and is a credible person, and that their Statement is entitled to credit- E Van Arsdale Jr.
I, Elias Van Arsdale Jr. Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Alpheus Hews for a Pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this 20th day of August, A.D. 1832. 
E.Van Ardsdale Jr. Clk
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September 16, 1937

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/EEL
Alpheus Hews-S.2299

Dorothy E. Goets
236 Webb Street
Calumet City, Illinois

Dear Madam:

     Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Peter Fitch and of Alpheus Hews, of Virginia and New Jersey.

     There is no claim for pension on file based upon service of a Peter Fitch. The record follows of Alpheus Hews as found in pension claim, S.2299, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. No record has been found of any other Alpheus Hews or other spelling in the Revolutionary War pension records.

    Alpheus Hews was born June 6, 1753, in Medfield Massachusetts. The names of his parents are not shown.

     Alpheus Hews enlisted in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, in the autumn of 1775, and served two months as sergeant in Captain (handwritten information added: “could not identify”) Heirn’s Virginia Company, marched to Williamsburg and guarded the country against the British vessels lying in the bay commanded by Lord Dunmore:  while residing in Orange County, Virginia, he enlisted August 1, 1776, as private in Captain Richard Taylor’s [handwritten information added: “affirmed Col Taylor”] Company, 1st Virginia Regiment, Colonel Patrick (handwritten information added: “Henry was ap. as Col of the 1st but never served) Henry, joined the regiment at King’s Ferry, New York, at which time Major Fleming [handwritten information added: “(John Fleming)”] (killed at the battle of Princeton) was commandant and in a few days was appointed quartermaster sergeant, was in the retreat through New Jersey and in the battle  of Trenton and served until the following May when he was appointed to the Commissary Department and acted as clerk until nearly the close of the year, 1778. In January or February, 1780, he enlisted at Newark, New Jersey, and served four months, two of which he was one of a horse guard stationed at Newark, New Jersey, in Captain Robert Nichols’ New Jersey Company; he was in one skirmish [handwritten information added: “In N J had ” during this tour. (handwritten with a line from "Robert" In NJ Roll

     Alpheus Hews was allowed pension on his application executed April 15, 1818, while residing in Newark Township, New Jersey, under the Act of March 18, 1818. His pension was continued under the Act of June , 1832.
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     There is|no data as to the family of Alpheus Hews.

     In order to obtain the data of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Alpheus Hews(S.2299), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office,Records Division, this city and cite the following data:

     Alpheus Hews
     Certificate No. 3081
     Issued December 13, 1832
     Rate, $63.33 per annum
     Commenced March 4, 1831
     Act of June 7, 1823
     New Jersey Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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[Handwritten] 1987 - Sept 16 - Sent to
Dorothy E. Goetz - EL.

[written sideways in script: RevWar]
 2299
INVALID.
File No. [Handwritten] 2299
[Handwritten] Alpheus Hews
[Handwritten] Sergt. Rev War

Act: [Handwritten] June 7 1832
Index:-Vol.[Handwritten] A., 
Page [Handwritten] 167
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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With life of Patrick Henry, page 179, shows that the 1st Virginia Regt in which Alphius Hews states that he performed service was recd [received or recorded] into the U.S. Service.
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236 West St Calumet City Dec July 11, '37.
[postmark RECEIVED JUL 14, March 6, 37]

Veterans Admin Wash. D.C.
Gentlemen:  Will you please send me the pension number of Peter Fitch Rev. Soldier Rockingham Co Va. Also any other information you might have. His wifes name was Nelson. I am looking up DAR. Material & Peter Fitch was my Grandfather. Thanking you I am 
Very truly Dorothy E. Goetz
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5703
New Jersey
Alpheus Hews of Newark Township in the State of New Jersey who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Gibson of the Virginia line, for the term of two years. Va and NJ line records corrected Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence the 15th of April 1818 
Certificate of Pension issued the 25th of Jany 1849 and sent the Hon Wm. Pennington Newark New Jersey 
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818. 40 20/30 37. 33 Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 March 1819. 48. 00 $85.33 {Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
Newark township New Jersey 
See letters Feb. 16. 1835 to Hon. L. Condict, H.R. 
29th Jan. 1829. do. Jan. 5. 1830 
to same July 7. 1832. 
See letter of objections (brief) to claim at Newark N.J. Nov 29. 1832. Obj. 5. 14.
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Affidavit of 
Alpheus Hews
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New Jersey, Essex County ss:
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in & for the said County of Essex, Alpheus Hews, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory the cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service - but according to the best of he his recollection, he served in the Revolutionary war not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: Two months as a Sergeant, then three as a  private, then at least Six, as a quatermaster Sergeant, then not less than seventeen  months in the Commissary department and afterwards four months as a private and for such service, the said deponent Alpheus Hews claims a Pension Sworn to and subscribed this Seventh day of December, 1832 before me David D Crane the Justice of the Peace & a Judge of the Infr Court of Common Pleas, in & for the County aforesaid State of New Jersey County of Essex the Inferior Court . ss: I, Elias Van Arsdale Jr. Clerk of of Common Pleas, in & for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that David D Crane Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Alpheus Hews was taken was at the time of taking the said affidavit, and now is one of the Judges of the said Court residing in the said County, duly commissioned & sworn
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and authorized to take the same - that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge, and verily believe the signature David D Crane office to said affidavit is genuine.  
     In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said court at Newark in the County aforesaid, this Seventh day of December in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two.
     
            Ethan Auclalely Colby
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Pensions
[postmark: NEWARK NEW JERSEY MAR 08]

Pens. Office
31st March 1829
Alpheus Hews
Stricken for Roll Book A. Not Contl [Continental]
See letter to S. Condict 29 Jan. 1829
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Pens. Office 31st March 1829
Alpheus Hews 
Stricken from Roll 
Book A. Not Contl [Continental]
See letter to Hon L. Condict 29 Jan. 1829 
The Hon John H Eaton
Secretary of war
Washington

[Oval stamp} Newark. New Jersey
Mar 28
Pensions
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                                     Newark Mar. 27. 1829

The Hon. John H. Eaton.  
Secretary of War 

D. Sir

At the request of a revolutionary
townsman, I take this liberty of enclosing to you his petition & the certificate of his friends to the integrity of his character & statements-
      I do hope Sir, that no insuperable
obstacle may be in the way of his relief-From
a paper Mr. Hews handed to me, it seems that it has been required of him to shew by two 
witnesses that he served in the Virginia line during this revolution- & that this proof would
remove all difficulties in the way of restoring
him to the pension list. This you will perceive 
is a condition that will shut the door
of hope upon a poor worn out worthy. He can
not go to Virginia. & if he could, death has very probably closed up all human testimony.
May I beg of you, the trouble of looking into his case and if relief is practicable, you will have the satisfaction of extending it to an upright and excellent citizen
Very Respectfully
I am your obt St [obedient servant]
Theod Frelinghuysen

(written up the left side in the margin)
P.S. The reason of striking him from the pension Roll, also said monies, under the consideration given to this issue indeed he is poor & dependent upon the charity of his neighbors.
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J. L. Edwards Esqr 18 1/~
Care of the Hon'bl sect of War 27 John Calhoun Sect. of War
[round stamp] Newark. N.J. Oct 23
Washington City
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Sir Newark 27 October 1819 
I have to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 11 instant certifying that my name had been struck of the pension list on account of the corps I served in not being on the continettal establishment/ I humbly conceive there must be some mistake in the circumstances. For all the applications made, to the war department in my behalf through the medium of Judge Pennington reference was always made to the first Virginia Regiment which at the time of my enlistment and ever since were considered in the service of the United States. I never heard of Col Gibson whilst in the service to my knowledge. The Hon Judge before whom they were taken thought it unnecessary to note all the perticulars respecting ting my being in the service/ but I feal it a duty I owe to myself to give the war department a more detailed history). In the latter part of the Summer in the year 1776 I resided in the County of Orange State of Virginia I enlisted with a Lieut Blackwell of with several other young men in Capt. Taylors company (who was alive in the same county) for three years to reinforce the 1st Virginia Regiment then in the vicinity of New York/ We marched some time after with a detachment of like recruits for the 3 Virg Regt. we joined our Regt at Kings ferry on their retreat through New Jersey on our arrival at Princeton I became acquainted with Major Fleming who was at that time commandant of the Regt after our arrival on the Pensylvania shore the Brigade or division consisted of that and 3 Virga Delaware and 1 Maryland Regiment, said to be under the command of Lord Sterling/ After the battles of Trenton and Princeton the army was scattered in different direction the remnant of ours were sent down on the [illegible] lines on New Jersey where we continued the rest of the winter untill Feb 7 1777 we went into quarters, when the troops took the field in the spring a Major Nicholson had the command of our Regt/ In May of this year I was by permission of Gene Stephens employed in the commissaries department where I continued untill near the close of 1778 during which time I
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was never called on to do duty in my Regt though I often saw the Officers and soldiers in the time - Those sir I have endeavored to show that if serving in a corps of state troops I have been ignorant of it till the receipt of your letter many circumstances now occur to my mind to confirm my belief viz I believe no state troops were during the war for so long a period on other circumstances is that some of our men who were the most needy received money and clothes from the United States for myself I have never received 100 cents for all my service whilst with them / with regard to my patriotism during our arduous struggle for independence and my present circumstances in life. I have others to attest -

N.B.[note well] If reference could be had to the chief Magistrate he could shed some light on the subject as I believe held a Captains commission in the 3 Reg' at the time.  I served in the first 

I am Sir your humble servant
Alpheus Hews
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Recd [received]
Dec. 10, 1833
[stamp] Newark N.J.
Dec 7
Pensions papers

New Jersey returned

Hon. Lewis Cass -
Secry. of War,
Washington, City
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Hon Lewis Cass
Dr. Sir, 
The enclosed papers of Alpheus Hews [missing word or words] returned to the Department. On behalf of the applicant, (who [missing word or words] very feeble and infirm) I would state, that it is impossible [missing word or words] him to state with any more precision, than has already been [missing word or words] in his Declaration, the extent and nature of his services, [missing word or words] he has to the very best of his calculation, and not to exceed [missing word or words] bounds of his belief, made the affidavit herewith forwarded, according to the requirement of the Department.

In relation to the 16th general objection, that is, the second one taken, to the form [and] authenticity of the papers, the department will observe that the sheet on which the declaration is written, has never been entirely separated. The sheet which is detached is a blank sheet, on which nothing material is written.

Mr. Hews has not the testimony of any additional witnesses, as is stated in his declaration–and of course, the underscoring to the note on the XIV general objection does not apply, as I understand, to his papers.

With high respect
YrMoobt Servt [your most obedient servant] 
Joseph N. Tuttle

Newark, N.J. December 7 _ 1832
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Vets admx
[stamp] Received 
JUL 29 1937
SEARCH SECT.
INDEX
SUB-DIV.
Page 33

236 Webb St
Calumet City, Ill.
July 24, '37

Vets Admx
Wash. D.C.

Gentlemen,
Will you kindly advise what the pension no is of my Grandfather Alpheus Hews, Essex Co., New Jersey. (Va. State Troops). I am interested in a DAR paper.

Very truly
Dorothy Cooper Goetz.

[stamp] Received Jul 28 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM. 29
READER #
confident
7.29.37
JM