Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,954, Samuel Decker, New Jersey
Page 1

New Jersey

Decker, Samuel
               Sarah

W. 16,954
B.L.Wt. 490-100
B.L.Wt. 9446-160-55
Page 2

bottom left side:

Decker, Samuel
(N.J.) W-16954

top right side:

A Copy of this
wanted and to be
sworn (? smudged) to
Page 3

Samuel Decker came before Notary Public
______ and made oath Sam'l Decker to whom the original Cert. (?) issued (smudged word) of which the following is a copy.

State of New Jersey 1786 
      I do hereby certify that  (smudged word) of Sam'l Decker that he served in the 2nd New Jersey and was disabled by the loss of an arm and now (smudged word) of Hardy in the County of Sussex and is hereby of 5 Doll's per month from Oct. 15th 1785.

         Signed
                      (illegible)

ink stamp - the National Archives of the United States

And that he served at the time he was disabled and now resides.....
Page 4

N. 490

Samuel Decker
private
Invalid Corps

Witnessed 9th Mar 1810
& del'd to the Hon.
G.T. Mumford  -?-
Page 5

Text overwritten - writing illegible 

76302
March 3 / 55
April 18

Crossed out:
Sarah Decker
 wid.
Samuel Decker

Sarah Decker
wid. of
Samuel Decker pri.

N.J. Contl. Line

Rev. Pensioner
NJ July 36 -= 3968

(illegible name)  Nov. 3 1855
Boynton
Boynton

VB Livingston
New York
NY.

bottom left:
Vol. D 53
Page 6

New York 3768

Left side of page:

Sarah Decker
widow ofSamuel Decker
who died on the 7 Sep. 1829
of N. York Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain ______ in the reg't commanded
by (in big letters) N.J. in the ______
line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 80 Dollars -----Cents per annum
 to commence on the 4th da of March 1834

Certificate pf Pension issued the 15th day of August 1842 and sent to Hon C.G. Ferris
      House of Representatives

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1842               920.00
Semi-annual allowance ending ? Mar'43 40.00
                                                                    ______
                                                                  $960.00

Revolutionary Claim
Act July 9, 1842

Recorded by D.Brown
Book C Vol. 1 (?) Page 112

upper right side of page (torn):

Reported to Agent
Let.to Hon. J. VanBuren Aug (page torn)
1842  -?- Payt. Aug 19 1842
Page 7

The Honorable the Congress of the United States of America in the Senate and House of Representatives convened:  the Petition of Samuel Decker of the City of New York respectfully sheweth that soon after the commencement of the late revolutionary war with Great Britain, he enlisted for and during the said war as a private and joined the army of the United States in a company commanded by Captain James Broadrick and in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Spencer being the fifth Regiment of the New Jersey line.  That he continued to serve in the Station and Capacity above described until he was transferred into a Company commanded by Captain Elms belonging to the Second Regiment of the New Jersey line.  That your Petitioner continued to serve under the last mentioned arrangement until he was wounded and transferred  to the invalids, where he continued to serve faithfully until the close and full end of the said war.  That notwithstanding his meritorious and complete service rendered as above set forth, and which will be proved by such affidavits as he trusts will be satisfactory, your Petitioner never yet received or had the Benefit of any bounty lands as granted to, and reserved (received?) by other of his fellow soldiers of the same army.
Page 8

(continued from previous page)

.....Your Petitioner therefore respectfully represents the foregoing facts and presumes to appeal to the Legislature of his County in confidence that they will not, tho at this late day refuse to him those bounty lands which in Justice his sufferings his services, his zeal to promote and establish our Liberty and Independence, give him a right to expect  in Common with others of his fellow soldiers of the same army.
And your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray.
Samuel Decker

(next paragraph barely legible and some places not)

I do hereby certify that Samuel Decker was an enlisted soldier in the American war under Capt. James Broadrick in (short line written in - illegible) which company I served as first Lieutenant and that he was enlisted during the war  which time he served as a faithful soldier and was wounded at the Battle of Germantown which I was am bye Witness to and afterwards is I have been informed served in the Invalid Corp till the American army was discharged. Rich'd Edsall

State of New Jersey
Sussex County
     Richard Edsall was sworn before the subscriber the fourth of December one thousand and eight hundred and nine that the above is trust right this I give under my hand and seal this day and year above rite.  Thomas Dekay Justice

   I am well acquainted with Rich'd Edsall Esq. he is at present a member of the Legislature of New Jersey and a gentleman on whose certificate  full faith and confidence may be placed - I am also acquainted with Thomas Dekay Esq. he is a Justice of the Peace of respectable standing.
          W. Helms
Page 9

State of New York
City and County of New York 
    On this twenty fifth day of August 1837 personally appeared before the Justices of the Marine Court of the City of New York now sitting as a court of Record at the City Hall of said City Sarah Decker a resident of said City aged seventy years or thereabouts who being duly sworn upon her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 and the Act explanatory of said Act passed March 3rd 1837.  That she was married to Samuel Decker buy Calvin Shephard a Justice of the Peace residing in the Town of Warwick, County of Orange and State of New York, on the 4th of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty two - that at the time of their marriage the said Samuel Decker was a soldier in the Army of the United States then or soon thereafter lying near New Windsor in said County.  That the said Decker was discharged from the said Army about the time that their first child was born and at the close of said war.
     That she continued to live with said Decker her husband until the time of his death.  That the said Decker died in the City of New York on the seventh day of September 1829 and this deponent still remains his widow and unmarried.
That this deponent does not now recollect the company or Regiment in which her husband served; but he served as a private during the war and lost an arm in the service and she knows the fact that.....
Page 10

(continued from previous page)

.....he was an Invalid Pensioner at the time of his death and for many yers before that time.  That the papers and proofs of his service were sent on to the heads of Department for the purpose of obtaining and and for the increase of his said Pension which papers and proofs probably still remain there.
     That the annexed certificate of a letter of administration was granted to her as the widow of the said Samuel Decker on the next day after his decease in order to obtain the arrears of his pension then due to defray the expenses of his funeral.  And the annexed certificate of William Ovington Notary Public and letter of James Edwards dated 12th October 1829 are original and genuine dockuments as deponent believers and both of them relate to the said Samuel Decker.
Sarah Decker her X mark

Subscribed and sworn to on the day and year first above written before me -
     J. Hammond
     Justice of the Marine Court
Page 11

Act March 3rd 1855

Bounty Land claim
of
Sarah Decker

presented by
V.B. Livingston Jr.
New York City

76,303
Page 12

State of New York
New York City and County
     On this 6th day of April 1855 before me a Notary Public, in and for the State and County of New York, personally appeared Sarah Decker, a resident of the City of New York, aged ninety six years, who on her oath declares that she is the widow of Samuel Decker deceased, who was a private in the Revolutionary War; that her said husband continued in actual service  in said war, for fourteen days, and over, as will appear from the evidence already produced, and on file in the Pension Office at Washington; that she now receives a pension of eighty dollars per annum, under the Act of Congress, of July 4th, 1836, on account of the services of her said husband in said war.  She makes this declaration, in order to obtain the Bounty Land, to which she may be entitled, under the "act approved March 3d 1855", and further declares, that she has never before applied for, nor received any bounty land, under this, or any other act of Congress.  She furthermore declares that she is now a widow.
Sarah Decker her X mark

Witness Catherine Harned

We Catharine Harned, and Isabelle G. Baldwin, residents of the city of New York aforesaid, on our oaths declare, that we are personally acquainted with the above affiant Sarah Decker; that...
Page 13

(continued from previous page)

......we know her to be the same person, she represents herself to be, in the foregoing affidavit, to which she was subscribed in our presence; and that she is now a widow.
Catherine Harned
Mrs. Isabelle G. Baldwin

    The foregoing affidavit and declaration were sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day and year before written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be' and that I have no interest in this claim.
     M. Clarkson
         Notary Public

I hereby certify that Sarah Decker, who has signed the foregoing declaration, is a pensioner on the roll of this Agency, under act July 4th 1836.
New York City Pension Agency      Van Burgh           Livingston  P.A.
New York April 16th 1855
Page 14

Thomas W. Hathorn
  -   Affidavit



(upside down at bottom)

This is to certify that I have been acquainted with ThomasW. Hawthorn the deponent named within for the last ten years and consider him a man of veracity and his credibility as a witness
unimpeachable.
    J M Crismond
Page 15

This is to certify that I have been acquainted with Thomas W. Hathorn the Deponent named within for the last ten years and consider him a manor veracity and his credibility as a Witness unimpeachable.

    JM Crismond
Page 16

In the matter of the Petition of Sarah Decker
City and County of New York
  Rossetta Sherman of said city aged nineteen (?) years and upwards and one of the grandchildren of the Petitioner being duly sworn saith that she has seen the Bible mentioned in the annexed affidavit of the said Petitioner Sarah Decker with the entry of the births of some of the children of the said Petitioner but the dates and particulars of such entries she cannot now recollect;  that said Bible has not been seen by deponent for about six years, although deponent has made search and Enquiry for the same and Deponent is informed and believes that the said Bible among other things belonging to Petitioner were stolen soon after she saw the Bible as before mentioned.
Mrs. Rosetta Shurman

(this part very smudged)

Sworn the 9 June 1838
in Open Court before
me Judah Hammond
one of the Judges of
the Marine Court
of theCity of New York
and Justice of the
Peace
Page 17

City and County of New York 
      James McKeen of the City of New Oak being duly sworn saith that he has been acquainted withSarah Decker the within petitioner for bout twenty years and with Rossetta Sherman about one year and their characters are good so far as deponent has heard, or knows, and he believes their respective depositions to be true.
James McKeen

Sworn the 9 June 1838
In Open Court before
Judah Hammond
Justice of the marine Court
in the City of New York and Justice
of the Peace.

    It is hereby certified that the foregoing depositions of James McKeen Edquire, SarahDecker, and Rosetta Shurman are satisfactory evidence to me of the facts contained in them.
Dated New York June 9, 1838
Judah Hammond
Justice of the Marine Court
Page 18

On the matter of the Petition
of Sarah Decker

City and County of New York
       Sarah Decker the Widow of Samuel Decker deceased and the Petitioner in the matter being duly sworn saith that she has not, nor has any other person or persons to her knowledge or belief any family on the Record of her marriage or of the births or Baptisms of her children.  That formerly there was a Bible in Deponents family in which there was an entry of the time at which her two eldest children were born, as she believes, but said Bible has been lost for about six years and the dates of said entry she cannot now state from memory but she is sure that her first child was born within a few days of the time when her husband was discharged and returned from the army and that she was married upwards of a year before that time.  That about the time of her husbands discharge the army of some part thereof was stationed on the Hudson River at or near New Windsor or Fishkill about thirty miles from the said town of Warwick.  That the witnesses who were present at the marriage as mentioned in her former deposition are all dead.  That Joseph Brooks late of Warwick the last survivor of them, died about one year and a half ago.
     And deponent further its that she herself was baptized when an infant as she is informed and believes at the request of her parents according to the rites of the Episcopal Church yet her husband thought it more correct that their children should exercise their own Judgement and be baptized  when they came to years of discretion if they should then believe it to be their duty to do so and two of her three children who are now deceased were so baptised.  That her only child now living is a son who resides in the interior of Ohio but she has more than twenty grand and great grand children residing in the.....
Page 19

City of New York and Ohio

    That about six years ago deponent missed the said Bible and several other articles belonging to her and she believes the same were stolen from her, as upon most diligent search and inquiry she has never been able to find the same.
Sarah Decker her X mark

Sworn in Open Court
the 9th day of June
1838 before me
Judah Hammond
Justice of the Marine
Court of the City of
New York and
Justice of the peace

    I John Barberie Clerk of the Marine Court of the City of New York do hereby certify that Judah Hammond one of the Justices of said Court, and that the said Court is a Court of Record and that the signatures to the certificate annexed are his genuine signatures.
    In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Court this ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
John Barberie
Page 20

(top line torn off)
Passaic County
     Before me Josiah M. Crismond one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County personally appeared Thomas W. Hathorn who being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that he was intimately acquainted with Sally Decker has known her for fifty years and upwards that she was reputed to be married to Samuel Decker, and that they lived together as man and wife to his knowledge for eighteen or twenty years, that said Samuel Decker had but one arm the other it was said having been shot off with a ball at the battle of Monmouth or Brandywine during the Revolutionary War and further the deponent saith not.
Thos. W. Hathorn

Taken and subscribed before me this 6th day of April A.D. 1838
J.M. Crismond
Page 21

State of New York 
Orange County
     On the fourteenth day of August 1837 before me John Curtice a Commissioner of Deeds in and said County came Joseph Willcox of the town of Warwick in said County to me personally known and having been duly sworn according to law  did depose and say that he was well acquainted with Samuel Decker who lost an arm in the Revolutionary War - that soon after the loss of his arm said Sam'l Decker made his home at the house of the deponent's mother in said town of Warwick where deponent then himself resided.  Deponent well recollects that said Samuel Deckert was said to be courting Sarah Barns and went from his mothers house with a view to marry her.  That it was said at the time that they were married by Calvin Shepard Esq. of Warwick aforesaid and that soon after the said Decker brought the said Sarah as his wife to the house of the mother of this deponent.  That deponent knew them to reside together as husband and wife for many years after until about the time of the decease of said Decker and that Sarah Decker now present is the same identical woman whom he deponent has ever known as the wife of said Decker - that marriage was said to take place as near as this deponent can recollect in the summer of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two - this deponent  believes he was then in the fifteenth year of his age and is now in the seventieth year of his age will be seventy next month if he should live to see it.
Deponent further states that he recollects that the marriage was before the close of the Revolutionary War and that it was some time after they lived together as man and wife that Decker went after and obtained his discharge - that said Calvin Shepard Esq. is now deceased and further saith not.
Joseph Willcox

Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year first (?) above written.
   Jno. Curtice Comm. of Deeds
Page 22

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington,D.C., August 1893

Sir
     In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Samuel Decker, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information, as contained in the application for pension on in their Bureau by his widow - W. 16954

April 1777 - to Nov 17, 1783 - Pri - James Broderick - Oliver Spencer - NJ

He lost an arm at the Battle of Germantown Pen. Oct. 4 1777 and was transferred to the Invalid Corps. Col. Lewis Nicola

Battles: Brandywine & Germantown here wounded
Residence: New Jersey
Date:  by widow August 1837
Residence: of widow New York City
Age: of widow 70 years
Remarks:  Married at Warwick, Orange County NY July 4, 1782 to Sarah Barnes & he died in NY city Sept 7, 1829

Very respectfully,
George W. Brewer Esq.
513 College AVe.
New York City
Page 23

Supplemental

    Whatever statement was made by Samuel Decker in his original application for the Invalid pension which, it is believed, he obtained in 1784, it was destroyed by fire in the War Department in November 1800, and the widow didi not furnish a very full history of her husband's military services -
    He was born in New Jersey near the line separating that state from Orange County , NY , and was residing in 1785 in Vernon, Sussex County, N.J. and was there in 1810, but later, he moved to New York City and the widow in 1837 moved to Warwick, Orange County, NY
Page 24

New York August 5th 1893

Chief Clerk
Revolutionary War Division Pension Office

Sir
     My great grandfather Samuel Decker served in some command during the Revolutionary War, his widow Sarah Barnes Decker, received a pension for his services in that war, up to the time of her death, in the winter of 1859 or 1860.  I desire very much to ascertain in what command he served during that war, the information can no doubt be obtained by consulting the revolutionary war records in your office, and ascertaining why Mrs. Sarah Barnes Decker received a Revolutionary War Pension.
    My reason for wishing this information is I desire to join the Society of Sons of the American Revolution, and it is necessary to have the record of my ancestor who served in that war.
    By sending me the war record, and the command in which Samuel Decker served during the Revolutionary War, you will greatly oblige,  your obedient servant...
       George W. Brewer
       573 College Avenue
        New York City
          N.Y.
     Captain, Farragut Naval Veterans
Page 25

sideways ink stamp:

Old War And Navy
Aug 8 1893
FILES
Page 26

left side:
   Page cut off

center:
Rev. Widow, &c.
File NO. 16954

Sarah Decker
will of
Same Decker
Priv. Rev. War

Act:  July 9 1842

Index:-Vol. A, Page 177

right side top:

1893 Aug 31
to GW Brow (cut off)
New York
Page 27

(first word illegible) Sec Act 9 July 42 NY

    (signature - possibly Boynton)
Page 28

9446

(illegible word or abbreviaton)
Page 29

Pardes

Willis J Wade

Rose Waine. (illegible words)

(?? signature)
Feb 14
Page 30

left side:

J McDuffee

-?-  WB

Status widow Decker
is 91 years of age
married pensioner
to war _______

(first name) Decker NY
Act 1836  Sup.  -?-
Feb 18 1857
HH
 -?- Cole
Feb 18 1857

Ex -?-
Wade
Feb 57

right side:

Papers not filed
Page 31

(Note: writing very faint and much "bleed through" from other side)

Abr. Wade Sir your letter came to hand in due time but I have neglected to write till -?- you wanted to -?- the age of the widow Decker it is thirty eight last New Years Day.  ?- her oldest child remembers well about the war that she was with her mother removed into the different forts.  Also I want you to behold (?) of to it and go on and do the best you can write to me  if you want anything further or if to you can write and let me know as soon as convenient.
     Yours  John McDuffee

(date):  -?- the 9 1846


Mr. Wade Sir I want to know whether there is any chance of my Mother to get a (word crossed out) pension the reason -?- that I write is that I have bin told that she could get it by  replying and I want that I would (word crossed out) satisfy my self and my mother  was married in the year 1844 (?) her age is sixty five and my age is twenty six last September you write to me if there is any chance for her.
      Ezekiel Smith
Page 32

left side - vertically:
See W034 + 3768
Same Case

right side:

Sarah Decker
NY
Let. to J.M. Thayer
Sept 5th 1846

Act 4 July '36
Page 33

(Edges much torn)

Sarah Decker

Suspended

see Let. to W McDonald
November 2, 1837

Letter to O Hoffman 20 Dec '37
to E. Moore 25 May '38
to same June 13 1838
same June 20, 1838
same July 5, 1838

to Sec War  10 Oct 1838; to
Hon. E. Moore Dec. 28, 1838
Let to Hon. L.C. Peck Jan 6 1841
same Jan. 8 1841
Act 4 July 1836
Page 34

(illegible)
Report
Page 35

Sarah Decker

The only ground of the objection of this claim at the pension office was that there was not sufficient proof to the marriage.  The committee  are of opinion that the deposition accompanying the Bill from the House -?- from the marriage of Sarah Decker and her late husband Samuel Decker during the war of the revolution, and they therefore recommend the passage of this Bill.
Page 36

No. 76303

Act of March 3, 1855

Received Apr 18th 1855

Sam'l Decker Dec. Priv.
N.J Cont. Line
Rev. War

9446-160-55


V.B. Livingston
NJ
NY
Page 37

Col. Edwards

Dear Sir,
  M. Rowley who wrote the enclosed letter has kept with we a pretty active correspondence on the subject of Mrs. Sarah Decker's pension as her agent.
     Mr. Rowley is a man of character and a lawyer of high standing.
      Will you please comply with his request as expressed in the enclosed letter.  If proper and consistent under the circumstances of the case.
    I remain with respect. Your Truly
             John Van Buren
         Aug 15, 1842
         H. of Rep.
Page 38

Letter from R. Rawley, of No 49 Nassau Street N. York dated "Steamer Constitution August 13, 1842".  Addressed to Hon. John Van Buren HR requesting him to obtain the pension certificate of Sarah Decker.  Let. sent with answer to Hon. J. Van Buren Aug 16 1842
Page 39

Hon. Edward Curtis, New York Dec 10th 1840
Statement (underlined). According to your suggestion I will now call your attention to the Petition of Sarah Decker.  While this case was before the War Department - it was first objected that the marriage was not sufficiently proven.  The Affidavits of Winfield, Wilcox, Blain having been produced putting the Fact (underlined) of the marriage in the summer of 1782 beyond all reasonable doubt, it was then further objected that the Witnesses had not stated the day of the month when the marriage took place.  It appearing that no Record of the marriage can be found it shews  the caution and good faith of the Witnesses not to swear to the particular day.  Most men who had been at a wedding three months ago would not remember the day of the month (last 4 words underlined) that it took place unless there was some writing or date to refer to.  The widow swears she was married on the 4th of July 1782 and while her husband was yet in the service.  
It would come within the Statute and make no difference as to the Merits of this case if the marriage had happened at any time within a year before or after the 4th of July 1782.  The Witnesses testify to everything material (underlined) to the merits (underlined) - namely that it was in the Summer of 1782 the Summer previous to the disbanding of the Army or part of the Army then encamped at or near New Windsor in the County of Orange and State of New York, the County in which the parties resided and in which the marriage took place.  Decker and Winfield being then soldiers in that army.  This they give a good reason for remembering the year and season of the year but have no further data to fix the particular day.  If there had been no proof of a formal solemnization of the marriage in the case, uninterrupted cohabitation and the reputation  which ......
Page 40

(continued from previous page)

.....they bore, and respect shown to them, as man and wife from the year 1782 to his death in 1829 and the bringing up a family of children would be enough to establish a marriage and to entitle her to the continuance of her husband's pension, but in this case we are not driven to the necessity  of relying solely upon the general reputation which they sustained as many and wife for a period of forty seven years.
     If any authority should be thought necessary on this subject I will here insert the Marginal note in the case of Fenton vs Reed 4 John Rep. 52. - "Except in cases for Bigamy and in actions for Criminal conversation a marriage may be proved from cohabitation reputation, acknowledgement of parties, reception in the family and other circumstances.  And no formal solemnization of marriage is necessary.  Contract of marriage made in verba de presenti (underlined) amounts to an actual Marriage, and is as valid as if made in faice exclesie (underlined)".
     The documents now before Congress - and the Petition of Sarah Decker appealing from the decision of the War Department of which a copy is herewith sent to you.  And the Documents, which I suppose the committee of claims in the house have obtained from the War Department are the original Declaration of the Petitioner, Affidavits of the Petitioner, of Wm. Winfield, Joseph Wilcox, Thomas Blain, Mary Green and others.  A letter of James Edwards Esq. of the War Department dated 12 October 1829, a certificate of a letter of Administration granted to Sarah as the widow of Samuel Decker, dated 8th Sep 1829, a copy of the pension certificate of Samuel Decker and certificate of Wm. Ovington Not Pub. dated 29 Oct. 1830.  The certificate of the Judges of the Marine Court and of other Magistrates before whom testimony was taken and besides a voluminous correspondence.
      Respectfully yours    James McKeen
Page 41

City and County of New York
  James McKeen of the city of New York being duly sworn doth depose and say that he became acquainted with the late Samuel Decker some time in the year 1811 or 1812 and knew him from that time until his death in September 1829. that the next day after his decease Sarah Decker his widow applied to this deponent to assist her in obtaining the arrears of his pension then due from the United States and this deponent advised her to take out letters of Administration, which she did as the widow of said Samuel Decker.  That the early application for said letter was made to obtain said arrears for the purpose "paying the expenses of her husband's funeral" - she having no other means - and deponent further saith that he knows that said Samuel Decker and Sarah Decker with whom he was acquainted to be the same persons mentioned and referred to in the annexed declaration and the other documents, and deponent further saith that he has been a short time acquainted with the before mentioned Sarah Decker and he  believes her to be the same person as within described and deponent believes that said Sarah Decker and Sarah Green are entitled to credit as witnesses.
James McKeen

Marine Court
Sworn in Open Court in the
City of New York Augt. 26, 1837
Judah Hammond
Justice of Marine Court

City of New York - the foregoing deposition together with the accompanying documents are satisfactory evidence of the facts therein contained.
August 26, 1837
 Judah Hammondf
Justice Marine Court
Page 42

City and County of New York 
     Louisa (?) Green residing at No. 110 Suffolke (?) Street in the 13th ward of said city being duly sworn doth depose and say that she became acquainted with Samuel Decker and Sarah his wife in this city in the year 1828 that the said Samuel Decker had but one arm, that he drew a pension from the United States as deponent was informed  and believes -  that he died in said city in the month of September 1829.  And this deponent further saith that she has lived in the same house and neighborhood of the said Sarah Decker ever since the death of her said husband, and that she still remains a widow of the said Samuel Decker and unmarried.
Sarah (?) Green her x mark

Signed in open Court and sworn before me the 26 day of August 1837
(the same having been first read to the deponent)
Judah Hammond
Justice of the Marine Court
Page 43

Sarah Decker
to
The Congress of the
United States

Copy of Petition
Page 44

To theSenate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled.

      The humble petition of Sarah Decker of the City of New York respectfully sheweth; that she is the Widow of Samuel Decker deceased.  That the said Samuel served as a soldier in the American Army during the revolutionary war and by a canon ball lost one of his arms in such service, for which loss he drew a pension from the United States until the time of his death.  that the said Samuel Decker died in the City of New York on the 7th day of September 1829.  And your Petitioner as his widow received from the Surrogate of the City and County of New York letters of Administration by which she received the balance of her late husband's pension due at the time of his death and which was all the property of consequence which he left.  And since that time she has remained his widow.  That being informed that the last Acts of Congress the widows of revolutionary soldiers were entitled to have the pensions of their late husbands continued to them she by advise of her friends appeared in the Marine Court of the City of New York on the 25th day of August 1837 and then and there upon her oath made her declaration or Petition in order that the said pension might be continued to her and produced different affidavits and documentary evidence in support of the same. And among the things she set forth in her said declaration that she was lawfully married to the said Samuel Decker on the 4th day of July 1782 and while...
Page 45

(continued from previous page

..... said Samuel was in the service of the United States. And your Petitioner further shews that on the 27th day of August 1837 the said declaration and the documents duly authenticated under the seal of the said Marine Court and proving the facts herein and therein  stated were sent on and presented to the War Department praying for such relief as she believed she was entitled to, under the said Acts of Congress.  And your Petitioner furthers shews and she is advised and believes that it fully appears by the said declaration and documents accompanying the same and by the correspondence between the War Department and the friends of your Petitioner  in relation thereto that no objection to her said claim or Testimony was at any time made except as regards  the proof of the said marriage.
   That in the month of June 1838 further proof being sent on to the Department so as to put the fact of the marriage beyond a doubt, the objection was then narrowed down to the date (underlined) of the marriage  and on this point Although the marriage was fully proved to have taken place in the summer of 1782 the claim of your Petition has been rejected by the Department - unjustly and contrary to the evidence as your Petitioner is advised and believes.
     That your Petitioner in her said Declaration and affidavits made by her, states that her marriage took place on the 4th of July 1782 and that she has not been able to find any Records thereof.
    The depositions of William Winfield and Joseph Wilcox each state positively  that the marriage took place in the Summer of 1782, although in the absence .....
Page 46

(continued from previous page)

.....of any Record they could not swear to any particular day.  Thomas Blain also testified that he became acquainted with the said Samuel and Sarah Decker in April 1785 that they were then living together as man and wife with their children about them and that to his knowledge they continued to live as man and wife and were reputed to be and respected as such man and wife in their neighborhood until the year 1810 and as long as the said Blain continued to reside in their neighborhood.
    To which said Declaration and Documents accompanying the same and to the correspondence aforesaid now in the possession of the War Department your Petitioner prays leave to refer your Honorable Body with the fullest confidence in the Justice of her claim and in the sufficiency of the proof in ever essential particular. She therefore appeals and doth hereby appeal, from the decision of the said Department to the Representatives of the People where she hopes that Justice will be done, and that the like pension as was granted to her late husband will be allowed and continued to her, for the short time which she can expect to enjoy it, according to the prayer of her original Declaration or Petition or that your Petitioner may have such other relief as the Honorable Body shall see fit to grant.
Sarah Decker her X mark

Sworn the 22d day of December 1838 -
in Open court before Judah Hammond
Justice of the Marine court and
Justice of the pPeace
Page 47

Sarah Decker
Page 48

Top part crossed out.

Hand written at bottom of page:

Approved July 9th 1842

A true copy from the Roll in this office
     WS Derrick
     Acting Chief Clerk

Dept. of State
July 11th, 1842
Page 49

(left side)

Sarah Decker, widow of Samuel
Decker, dec'd., N. York City Roll
Act July 9, 1842, at $80 per
annum, from thee 4th March
1831 (Register -?- Act July 4
1836)

Sent cert. to
Hon. C.G. Ferris
House of Reps.

No. 2547. Act 1836


(right side)

James Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
DC
Page 50

Aunt. 13th 1832

Mr. Edwards will confer a favor
on CG Ferris by examining the
enclosed letter from Mr. Jas. McKeen
and by complying with the request
therein contained so far as may be
consistent with the ruling of his department.
Page 51

New York August 4th 1842

Hon. Charles G. Ferris
   Dear Sir
         The act granting to Sarah Decker a pension has passed theSenate and was approved July 9th 1842.  We wish you to call on Mr. Jas. Edwards a commissioner or officer in the war department and request him to place the name of Sarah Decker on the roll of revolutionary pensioners, if not already done according to the said act; and request him to deliver to you the pension certificate.  This will probably save the expense and delay of a power of attorney with proof of the Identity of the widow and on the receipt of which certificate you will please to drop me a line.  Your prompt attention will very much oblige the widow and her friends in whose behalf I write.
    Your Obt. Sevt.  James McKeen
                                    No. 20 Chamber St.

If there should any objections to your receiving the certificate you will also please to inform me.
           Your  J. McKeen
Page 52

40:36 - 1st May '84

(vertically to right)

58846
60550
Page 53

2d. N. Jersey Regt.   Samuel Decker
app. for -?-} Col. Spencer / Capt. Broderick

Sam'l. Decker from Broderick's Co. Spencer's                       Reg't
enlisted 1 Apl 77 for the war
Page 54

Pension Office
January 4, 1841

Sir,
    I will be obliged to you if you will designate the state in which Samuel Decker, deceased, an Invalid Pensioner resided, in order that the information desired for the use of the Revolutionary Pension Committee may be furnished.

   I've the honor to be, 
     Very respectfully
         Your Obt. Serv't.
              J.L. Edwards

Hon. L.C. Peck
   House of Representatives
Page 55

House of Reps Dec. 31, 1840

Sir
     I been instructed by the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions to inquire whether there is any evidence in your office of the services of Samuel Decker, deceased, late an Invalid Pensioner (underlined) on account of services as a private in the Army of the revolution and that  if any such evidence should be found respectfully to request you to transmit the same to me at your earliest convenience.
Very Respectfully
Your Ob't. Serv't.
L.C. Peck
Member Commit. Pensions


JL Edwards Esq.
Comis. Pensions
Page 56

House of Reps.  Jany 4, 1841

Sir,
   I have the honor to acknowledge the act (?) of join (?) communications of this date asking me designate the state in which Samuel Decker deceased resided.
   I send herewith the petition of the claimant which it is presumed will furnish the information you desire.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Serv't.
L.C. Peck

JL Edwards Esq.
Comsr. Penskons
Page 57

Hon. Ely Moore M.C.
Page 58

New York Dec. 22 - 1830

Hon. Ely Moore,
     Dear Sir
          You will find enclosed the Petition of Sarah Decker applying from the decision of the War Department to the Congress of the United States -
     If/On the Department refuse to give you the documents in their possession,  and be presented with the Petition and appeal to Congress such appeal must be presented without such documents, and when referred to a committee  the committee will call for the documents I need not say more - as the course it will take is better known to you than to me.
     Considerable time and expense were consumed in collecting these documents and we hope they will be preserved as will as the correspondence.
    I will not repeat the matter stated in her appeal, and hope you will not neglect to have the matter brought before the proper committee as soon as possible and inform me of the proceedings thereon.
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Serv't
James McKeen

With regards to the merits of Mrs. Decker's case the difficulty while before the war department was reduced to one point namely  whether after it being fully proved that the marriage happened previous to the 5 Nov 1783 and while the soldier was yet in the service (as in the present case) it was proper in the Dept. to require positive proof of the particular day on which it happened, other than her own oath.  It appears to me that in either case, whether the marriage happened on the 4th of July 1782 as she swears or on any other day in the summer of 1782 it comes equally within the spirit as well as the letter of the law.  The time requiring such marriage to have been before Nov. 3, 1783 is now extended to the year 1784 as I am informed.
      Your - James McKeen
Page 59

New York 28th October 1837

Sir
    Mrs. Sarah Decker has desired me to inquire of you if you have received her declaration and papers in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of 4th July 1836.
     Her papers were sent for (?) Mr. McKeen above two months ago.
     If the evidence be satisfactory and the pension be granted, she has desired me to request that her pension certificate be forwarded to me.
        Very respectfully
           Your Obt. Servt.
              W. McDonald
                   85 Forsythe St.

James L. Edwards Esq/
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 60

No. 6 Frankfort St.
New York 28 Oct 1837

James Edwards Esq.

Dear Sir,
    On the 26 of Aug. last I sent to your Department papers in relation to the claim of Sarah Decker for a pension, as widow of Sam. Decker.
      During my absence in Sept. I understand the Mr McKeen - my associate in business - at the urgent importunity of the old Lady, wrote you respecting the matter.  He is now sick and I do not know what has been done as her age is far advanced and her necessities extreme -
     Mya I ask of you, under the circumstances, the favor to inform me what further papers, if any, are necessary?
           Respectfully yours
           H.H. Wheeler
            Attorney at Law
Page 61

--------
--------
--------

KNOW YE, that at the city and County of New-York, on the day of the date hereof
bu James Campbell Esq. Surrogate of our said County, Letters of Administration of all and singular the Goods, Chattels, and Credits, which were of 
Samuel Decker
 late of theCity and County aforesaid, a Pensioner of the United States, deceased, were granted and committed unto
Sarah Decker, the Widow of said deceased who was satisfactorily proved to be such person by the affirmation of Samuel Jones.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, we have caused the Seal of Office of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed.
WITNESS, James Campbell Esq. Surrogate of our said County, at the City of New-York, the eighth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty -?- and of our Independence the fifty fourth.
James Campbell
Page 62

V2547 NY
Sarah Decker
widow of Sam'l

(following very faint)

5 Jan 1778
-?- wounded
4 Jan 1779  in --
in Final -?- Certificate
Vol. 3 P. 112. no certificate-
cate 59266 - paid to
May 1 1784
Page 63

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BE IT KNOWN, That on the 29th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty I. WILLIAM OVINGTON, a Notary Public for the State of New-York, duly commissioned and sworn, residing in the City of New-York, Do Hereby Certify and Attest, that the annexed is a true coy of the original Pension Certificate granted to Samuel Decker by the United States, and that the said original Certificate has been surrendered to the Agent for paying Pensions at New York by Sarah Decker widow of said Samuel Decker.

         WAR DEPARTMENT INVALID PENSION
 I CERTIFY, That in conformity with the law of the United States, (words crossed out) Samuel Decker late a Private in the Army of the Revolution
  is inscribed on the Pension List Roll of the New-York Agency, at the rate of eight dollars ---cents per month (  words crossed out) to which his allowance was raised from five dollars per month by Law of 24th April 1816 to commence from the time to which he was last paid by the Agent -
         Given at the War Office of the United States, this tenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and twenty one.
             J.C. Calhoun
            Secretary of War

    IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at New-York, on the day first above mentioned.
    Wm. Ovington N.P.
Page 64

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BE IT KNOWN, that on the 29th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty I WILLIAM OVINGTON, a Notary Public for the State of New-York, duly commissioned and sworn, residing in theCity of New-York, DO HEREBY CERTIFY AND ATTEST, That the annexed is a true copy of an original Pension Certificate granted to Samuel Decker by the United States, and that the said original certificate has been surrendered to the Agent for paying Pensions at New York by Sarah Decker widow of said Samuel Decker and the balance of Pension paid to her as the Widow of the Deceased.

In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at New-York, on the day first above mentioned.
     Wm. Ovington N.P.
Page 65

NEW YORK

Samuel Decker
   pvt.
In the army of the Revolution 

Inscribed on Roll of New
York at $5 increased
to $8 by Law of 24 April
1816

Formal cert. issued Sept.
10, 1821 sent to Wm.
Ovington, Esq. New York

Dead.  See letter to J. McKeen
  Oct 1829

Vol. 3 Pg. 112
No. 59266
Page 66

APPLICATION FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE

City of New-York
     On this sixth day of September 1821, before me, the Subscriber, a Notary Public for the State of New York, personally appeared Samuel Decker who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded byCaptain Broderick in the regiment commanded by Colonel Spencer in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the state of New York that he received a certificat of that fact, under the signature and seal of the (Secretary of War crossed out)  Inspector (?) a copy whereof is hereunto annexed; which certificate, on or about the year 1802, at or near the City of New York he lost.

Samuel Decker his X mark

Sworn and subscribed to before me, the day and year aforesaid.
     Wm. Ovington Notary Public.
Page 67

War Department
Pension Office
October 12, 1829

Sir
     In reply to your letter of the 6th instant I have to inform you that the widow of Samuel Decker, dec'd, may obtain the amount due to him as an Invalid Pensioner up to the day of his death, by applying to the Pension Agent, at the U.S. Branch Bank in New York.  No further provision is made for widows of deceased Pensioners.
            I am respectfully
               Your Obt. Serv't.
                        James L. Edwards


James McKeon (McKeen?) Esq.
No. 6 Frankfort Street
New York
Page 68

In the matter of the
Petition Sarah Decker

Depositions

Hon. Ely Moore
HR
Page 69

State of New Jersey
Passaic County
        Be it remembered that on this Twenty Sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before me Abraham Reynolds a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Passaic, Thomas Blain aged eighty seven years a resident of Paterson New Jersey who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith That he is personally acquainted with Sarah Decker widow of Samuel Decker now applying for a pension, that he became acquainted with the said Sarah Decker and her husband Samuel Decker in the month of April 1785  who were then living together as many and wife at the town of Vernon in the County of Sussex in the State of New Jersey.  And this deponent further saith that he continued to live as a near neighbor to the said Sarah and Samuel Decker from the year 1785 until about the year 1810 during which time the said Samuel & Sarah Decker were reputed to be man and wife and raising a family of children and further this deponent saith not.
Thomas Blain

Sworn and subscribed before me at Paterson NJ the day and year first written above.
A. Reynolds

I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Thomas Blain the deponent in the foregoing deposition for six years, and that I believe him to be a credible witness and is highly respected.
     A. Reynolds
Page 70

State of new Jersey
Passaic County
     Be it remembered that on this Twenty Sixth day of April AD 1838 before me Abraham Reynolds a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Passaic personally appeared Nancy Knapp who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she has been personally acquainted with Sarah Decker now applying for a pension since the year 1798, that she lived as a neighbor of the said Sarah Decker and her husband Samuel Decker at least ten years during which time they were reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been lawfully married and were living together and raising a family of children and further this deponent saith not.
Nancy Knapp her X mark

Sworn and subscribed before me at Paterson the day and year first above written.
   A. Reynolds

 I  hereby certify that I believe Nancy Knapp the deponent in the foregoing deposition to be a credible witness.
     A . Reynolds
Page 71

State of New Jersey
Passaic County
     I George A. Ryerson Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Passaic do hereby certify that Abraham Reynolds and Josiah M. Crismore before whom the foregoing affidavits are made are Judges of the Inferior Court of the said County of Passaic duly commissioned and sworn.  That I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judges and verily believe that the signatures "A Reynolds" and "J.M. Crismore" subscribed therein are their genuine signatures and proper hand writing.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said Court this twelfth day of June AD eighteen hundred and thirty eight.
      Geo. A. Ryerson Clerk
Page 72

In the matter of the petition of Sarah Decker

Depositions of
Wm. Winfield
& Joseph Wilcox


Hon. Ely Moore
HR
Page 73

In the matter of the Petition
of Sarah Decker

State of New York and County of Orange
     Joseph Wilcox of Warwick in said County being duly sworn saith that some time in the Sumer of the year one thousand and seven hundred and eighty two, Samuel Decker then a soldier in the American Army were on furlough or relieved from the Military duty, made it his home at the house of deponents mother in the said town of Warwick.  And deponent well recollects that the said Samuel Decker was engaged to be married to Sarah Barnes (or as she was frequently called Sally Barnes).  that deponent well recollects that they went from the house of the deponent's mother for the purpose of being married and after being married by Calvin Shephard Esq.  then a Justice of the Peace returned to the said house of deponent's mother and resided there as man and wife for some time, and until he returned again to the army.  And although deponent was not present at the said marriage yet he saw them prepare for the occasion and go and return for that purpose and he has no doubt of the fact that such marriage (ink blot)-tually took place at the time before mentioned.  that the said Justice kept no record of marriages to his knowledge or belief of deponent.  that the marriage of the said Samuel and Sarah  was never questioned or doubted to the knowledge or belief of deponent.    And although deponent can not now state the particular date of the said marriage yet deponent well recollect the time when General...(next line - paper edge folded UP and covering many words)...in this county near....
Page 74

(continued from pervious page)

....Newburgh and the time when the army was discharged at the close of the War, and deponent well recollects that the said marriage took place before the close of said war and before the disbanding of the said army.
    That deponent will be seventy two years of age in August next, if he should live to that time.  And deponent further saith that in the month of August 1837 he went with the Petitioner Sarah Decker to the house of Moses Howell in said town of Warwick, the Executor of the last Will and Testament of said Calvin Shephard in order to search for the Record of the said Marriage if any there was and upon diligent enquiry at the said house and in where no such Record could be found.  That the family of the said Calvin Shephard now dec'd have removed some where in the far west as deponent is informed and believes.  That said Decker was born in this neighborhood, and lost and arm in the service of his Country for which in his lifetime he drew a pension. That deponent knows the petitioner to be the same person as above described.
Joseph Willcox

Sworn this 21st day of June 1838 before me
H.W. Houston Justice of the Peace (?)
Page 75

In the matter the Petition of Sarah Decker

State of new York
Orange County
         William Winfield of Warwick and said County being duly sworn saith that he is now in the eighty eighth year of his age.  That he served as a soldier during the revolutionary was.  That he was born and brought up in the town of Warwick in said County - That Samuel Decker was born over the line of New Jersey about a mile from where deponent lives. That deponent was well acquainted with the said Samuel Decker who was also a soldier and in the same war.  That this deponent now draws a pension for his services in said war and the said Samuel Decker also drew as pension in his life time.
    That deponent was also well acquainted with the Petitioner in this matter as well before as since her marriage with the said Samuel Decker.  That her maiden name was Barnes and she was some times called Sally Barnes. That the marriage of the said Samuel Decker and Sarah took place some time in the summer of the year one thousand and seven hundred and eighty two before Calvin Shephard who was then a Justice of the Peace and well known to this deponent.  And although deponent was not present as a guest at the wedding yet from the circumstances which took place before and since the said marriage and which he now recollects he has no doubt that the said marriage took place in the summer of one thousand seven hundred and eighty two as stated in the deposition of the Petitioner.  That deponent well recollects when General Washington was in the neighborhood of Newburgh in this County and when this deponent and the said Samuel ......
Page 76

(continued from pervious page)

....Decker were expecting discharged from the army at the close of said war the deponent well recollects that the said marriage took place before the army was discharged as before mentioned - that said Decker was on furlough or relieved from duty by his commanding officer at the time of the said marriage.  That this deponent knows the petitioner to be the same person as above described.
William Winfield his X mark

Sworn before me this 21st days of June 1838
A.W. Houston Justice of the Peace

In the matter of the Petition of Sarah Decker

State of New York and County of Orange.
    I Henry W. Houston a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Orange in said state do hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with William Winfield and Joseph Wilcox who have been sworn before me in this matter, from my -?- and know them to be respectable citizens and credible witnesses.
H.W. Houston Justice of the Peace

State of New York
Orange County
     I Lebbeus L. Vail Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County of Orange do hereby certify, that Henry w. Houston before whom.....
Page 77

(continued from previous page)

.....the foregoing affidavits was subscribed and sworn, was, at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County; and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe that the signatures to the said Affidavits and Certificate is genuine.
   In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, the 22nd day of June 1838.
    Lebbeus L. Vail, Clerk
Page 78

Bill 139
27th CONGRESS,
2d Session.

Rep. No. 93.
Ho. of REPS.

SARAH DECKER.
[To accompany bill H.R.No. 139.]
---

FEBRUARY 9, 1842.
Mr. TALIAFERRO, from the Committee on
Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT:

The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to whom was referred the petition
of Sarah Decker, widow of Samuel Decker, deceased, report:
That the petitioner states that her late husband was a soldier of the
American army during the revolutionary war, and by a cannon ball lost
one of his arms while in such service, and for which he drew a pension at
the time of his death. That the said Samuel Decker died on the 7th day
of September, 1829, and that she was married to the said Samuel Decker
on the 4th day of July, 1782, and while the said Samuel remained in the
service of the United States, and before his last term of service had expired;
and that she remains the widow of said Decker; that letters of administration
were granted to her, as the widow of the said Samuel, by the surrogate
of the city of New York; and that as his widow, she was permitted
to, and did receive the arrears of pension due her said husband at the time
of his death.
By an examination of the papers referred to the committee, the aforesaid
allegations seem to be fully proved. By a communication from the Commissioner
of Pensions, it appears that the papers on which the pension to
Decker was granted were destroyed by the burning of the War Office, several
years since; but it also appears, by the same communication, that, by
records remaining in the Pension and Bounty Land Offices, said Decker entered
the service as a private soldier on the 1st of April, 1777, for the war,
and that he remained in the service to the close of the war.
The petitioner swears that she was married to the said Samuel Decker
on the 4th day of July, 1782, at the place and by the justice of the peace
as above set forth, and while said Decker belonged to the army, and before
his said term of service had expired. 
Joseph Wilcox and William Winfield, who appear to be perfectly credible
witnesses, both testify that they were intimately acquainted with the
petitioner and the said Samuel Decker, at the time of their marriage; that
they both resided in the immediate neighborhood of the petitioner and said
Decker. Both these witnesses concur in their testimony, and both swear
positively that they were knowing to the said marriage, and that the same
took place in the summer of 1782, and while said Decker was a soldier in
the American army. The witnesses also refer to certain dates, and cir-
Page 79

2
Rep. No. 93.

cumstances transpiring at the time, which, in the opinion of the committee,
repel the idea that they are mistaken, either as to the fact of the said marriage, or the time when it took place. There is, also, other evidence to
corroborate the fact testified to by Wilcox and Winfield; and, also, to show
that there is no documentary of written evidence of the said marriage.
The committee are therefore of opinion that the prayer of the said petitioner
ought to be granted, and they report a bill accordingly.
Page 80

Pension Office
January 8, 1841

Sir
    The papers which you sent to the office in the case of Sarah Decker, widow of Samuel Decker, dec'd, are herewith returned.  The papers upon which the d deceased soldier obtained an Invalid Pension are not on our files, having been destroyed when the War Office was burnt several years ago.  The New Jersey records in their office shew that he entered the service on the 1st of April 1777, for the war, in Capt. Broderick's company, Col. Spencer's regiment.  From a paper on file in the Bounty Land Office it appears that after he was wounded he entered the Invalid Corps, and alleged to have served to the close of the war.  I find his name on the final Settlement Book in this office from which it appears that he received a certificate on the 1st of May 1784 for service in the year 1782 in said Corps.
 I have the honor to be
   Very respectfully
       Your Obt. Serv't.
           JL Edwards

Hon. L.C. Peck
House of Representatives
Page 81

In the matter of the Petition of Sarah Decker - the widow of Samuel Decker

State of New York
City and County of New York
     Sarah Decker of the City of New York being duly sworn saith that at the time of her marriage by Calvin Shephard Esq. as stated in her declaration made in the matter there were but three persons present at the ceremony to her recollection who are now all dead.
    And deponent further saith that she is not   informed whether or not the said Calvin Shephard  kept any record of the marriage by him.  That she never had any certificate of her marriage.  And she further saith that in the month of August last she went from the City of New York to Orange County and called on Joseph Wilcox - who has also made a deposition in this matter of the same Petition - and he accompanied her to the house of (blurred word - likely Moses) Howell the Executor of the last Will and Testament of Calvin Shephard Esq. in order to search for a record of the said marriage if any there was and on arriving at the house of said Howell in the Town of Amity near Warwick in the said County, they were informed that the said Howell was and for several years past has been deranged  in his mind, and upon the most diligent search and inquiry at the house of the said Executor, and as such other places as they hoped to find or hear of the said record, lent no such record could be found or heard of - and deponent verily believes that if ever an record of the said marriage was kept by the said Calvin Shephard that the same has been lost or destroyed
     And deponent further saith that she lived with her husband the said Samuel Decker from the time of their marriage, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two until his death in September one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine, in lawful matrimony; and to her knowledge or belief without any doubt whatever being entertained by any one as to her being the lawful wife of the said Samuel Decker.
Page 82

(continued from previous page)

.....And when this deponent received letters of Administration of the goods and chattels which were of the said Samuel Decker from the Surrogate of the City and County of New York as his widow - the proof then produced was such as satisfied the said Surrogate that she was the lawful widow and has been the lawful wife of the said Samuel Decker; and by virtue of such letters she received the balance of the pension which was due to the said Samuel Decker at the time of his death.
Sarah Decker her X mark

Sworn before me the 12th day of May 1838
Judah Hammond
Justice the Marine
Court in Open Court

    I John Barber Clerk of the Marine Court of the City of New York do hereby certify that Judah Hammond is one of the Justices of the said Court and that the said Court is a Court of Record and that the above signature is his genuine signature.
    In Witness whereof I have hereinto affixed the seal of the said Court this twelfth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
John Barberie
Page 83

New York 26 Aug. 1837

Dr.. Sir,
    Herewith you have enclosed the documents of Sarah Decker the widow of Samuel Decker late a Revolutionary Invalid Pensioner. Decker was discharged at the final close of the war in Nov. 1783.  She was married to him in 1782 and now remains his widow - Decker has been a Pensioner for many years, and his name is upon the Books and Records of the War Department, from time to time, from the organization of the Government to the present time -
      From the testimony produced she expects to receive the arrears of her husband's Pension at $8 per month, from the time of his death (Sept 7, 1829) to the present time -
    If any formality is omitted it can probably be supplied by writing to "Sarah Decker - care of H.H. Wheeler No. 6 Frankfort St. New York".

Respectfully yours
For Sarah Decker
H.H. Wheeler

James Edwards
War Department
Washington
Page 84

(much faded and many abbreviations)

Sarah Decker
Sam'l Decker (faded) - enlist 1 Apr '77 for war
   2nd NJ Regt (Col. Spencer)


Sarah Decker - w. of Sam'l  mar. 1782. he   
      died (faded) 1829

O. Hoffman 20 Dec 1837
Let. O.Moore 28 1838
LC Peck Jany. 6 18??
 do.          Jany. 8  '44
M. Mayer  ?month 5 1846
Page 85

New York City Pension Agency
Aug 17 1842

Sir
     In my letter of yesterday I requested a copy of the Act of July 27, 1842, under which I was directed to enroll the name of Sarah Berley.  Permit me to ask the same favor in regard to the Act of July 9, 1842, under which by your letter of the 15th insh I am instructed to inscribe on my roll the name of Sarah Decker, widow of Samuel Decker.
               Very respectfully
                    Your Obediant Servant
                          MA Stevens
                                 Pension Agent

JL Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 86

Jas. McKeen
Jany 9th Rec'd 11
(Mrs. Decker)
Page 87

Honble. Peck
House of Rep.
Washington
D.C.
Page 88

New York Jany 7th 1841

Dr. Sir,
     Mr. Curtis informs me that the Petition of Sarah Decker claiming the continuation of the pension of her late husband was referred to a committee of which you are a one, and that he had requested you to attend to it. Her husband Samuel Decker was an invalid pensioner of the Revolutionary Army at eight dollars per month and died Sept. 7th 1829 and we think she is entitled to the full pension from that time.  At the commencement of the present session I sent a brief statement of the case with some remarks in favor of the petitioner drawn from the Testimony in the case which I presume he had handed to you - Mr. Curtis thinks you will do justice to the case and we hope you will - The proof I believe to be amply sufficient - though the case was rejected by the War Department.  If the committee should think that any part of the proof is not satisfactory I wish you to write to me - perhaps we might explain or throw some light on the matter.
 In behalf of Mrs. Decker

                  Very Respectfully
                         Your Obt. Serv't
                               James McKeen
                                No. 6 Frankfort St. N.Y.
Page 89

(note: many unknown abbreviations in this paper)

SARAH DECKER widow of
Samuel Decker, late a Rev-
olutionary Invalid Pensioner

THE CONGRESS OF THE U.S.

        PETITION

Jan 7 1839
Ref to the Committee
on Rev. Pensions

Jan 4 1841 - Ref. - (under Resol.) to
the Comm't on Rev. Pensions

March 5, 1840  Com. dis. and to be

Dec 14 1840
Ref. to Comm. Rev Pensions

Feb 12 1841
Bill No. 647

Dec 14 1841
Ref. to Comm. on Rev. Pensions

Feb. 9 1842 - Bill No. 139

Moore Curtis (crossed out)

Ferris
Page 90

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled

   The humble Petition of Sarah Decker of the City of New York respectfully showeth that she is the widow of Samuel Decker deceased.  That the said Samuel Decker as a soldier in the American army during the revolutionary war, and by a cannon ball lost one of his arms in such service; for which loss he drew a pension from the United States until the time of his death.  That the said Samuel Decker died in the City of New York on the 7th day of September 1829.  And your Petitioner as his widow received from the Surrogate of the City and County of New York letters of Administration by which she received the Balance of her late husband's pension due at the time of his death and which was all the property of an consequence which he left.  And since that time she has remained a widow.  That being informed that under the late acts of Congress the widows of Revolutionary Soldiers were entitled to have the pensions of their husbands continued to them she by the advise of her Friends appeared in the Marine Court of the City of New York on the 25th day of Congress 1837 and then and there upon her oath made her Declaration or Petition in order that the said pension might be continued to her, and produced affidavits and documentary evidence in support of same.
     Among the other things she set forth in her said Declaration that she was lawfully married to the said husband Samuel Decker on...
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....the 4th day ofJuly 1782 and which the said Samuel was in the service of the United States.
     And your Petitioner further stated that on the 29th day of August 1837 the said Declaration and other documents duly -?- treated under the seal of the said Marine Court and proving the facts herein and therein stated were sent on and presented to the war department praying for such Relief as she believed she was entitled to under the said acts of Congress.  And your Petitioner futures shows and she is advised and believes that it fully appears by the said Declaration and Documents accompanying the same and by the correspondence between the war department and the Friends of your Petitioner in relation thereto, that no objection to her said claim or testimony was at any time made, except as it regards the proof of said marriage.  That in the month of June 1838 further proof being sent on to the Department as to prove the fact of her marriage beyond a doubt, the objection was then narrowed down to the date (underlined) of the marriage - And on this point, although the marriage was fully proved to have taken place in the summer of one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, the claim of your Petitioner has been rejected -  unjustly and contrary on the Evidence rejected as your Petitioner is advised and believes by the Department.
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..... That your Petitioner in her said Declaration and affidavits made by her states that her marriage took place on the 4th day of July 1782 and that she has not been able to find any record thereof - The depositions of William Winfield and Joseph Wilcox each state positively that the marriage took place in the summer of 1782.  Although in the absence of any record they could not swear to the particular day.  Thomas Blain also testified that he became acquainted with the said Samuel and Sarah Decker in April 1785 that they were then living together as man and wife with their children about them, and that to his knowledge they continued to live as man and wife and were reputed and respected as such and wife in their neighborhood until the year 1810 and as along as the said Blain continued to reside in their neighborhood.   To which declaration and documents accompanying the same and to the correspondence aforesaid now in possession of the war department your Petitioner prays leave to refer your honorable body with her fullest confidence in the Justice of her claim and in the sufficiency of the proof in Every Essential particular.  She therefore appeals and doth hereby appeal from the Decision of the said department to the Representatives of the people where she hopes that Justice will be done and that the like pension as was granted to her late husband will be allowed and continued to her, for the short period which she can expect to enjoy it, according to the prayer of her.....
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....said original Petition or that your Petitioner may have such other relief as this Honorable Body shall see fit to grant.

Sarah Decker her x mark

In the Marine Court
Sworn the 22nd day of
December 1838 in
Open Court before
Judah Hammond
Justice of the Marine
Court and Justice of
the Peace.