Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9855, for Joseph Smith, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE                                        NUMBER
New Jersey      Smith, Joseph.     R.9855
                                        Sarah

================================
CONTENTS

Res at Mil. Millstone, Middlesex Co. N.J.
Da May 4, 1823

(13 blank lines)
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State of New Jersey Monmouth County.

    John D Applegate of said County and
State. Aged sixty years being dully sworn
according to law says that he is well
acquainted with Sarah Smith an applicant
for a pension under the act of July 7th 1838.
  Was intimately acquainted with Joseph
Smith, husband of said Sarah, having lived
a near neighbor to him for a number of
years during the last years of his life.
  Also that he was as well acquainted with
the circumstances of the said Joseph Smith.
As it was possible for a neighbor to became and
that he was in possession of and 
considerable property of much over the value of
one hundred dollars, at the time of his death.
Which this deponent thinks was in 1823. and
that the said Joseph Smith was not in such
indigent circumstances as to be unable to
support himself.   Nor was he in need of as
distance from his country for support as this
deponent believes.  Also that he, this deponent
has frequently heard his father Daniel Applegate
now deceased, who was a pensioner of the
United States, say that the said Joseph Smith,
husband of the said Sarah Smith, served as a
soldier in the war of the Revolution in the
New Jersey line.  Has heard his father speak
of the times & places when and where but, this the
deponent cannot now remember, not having charge his
memory with them.
                                                                             John D Applegate
    Sworn & subscribed the 6th day of
1846 before me a Justice of the pace of said
County State aforesaid. I further certify
that I am well acquainted with the above
named deponent and believe his ethics to 
be full credit [ill]
Thos. C. Throckmorton   Justice
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State of New Jersey Monmouth County [ill]

    D. Smith of said County and State aged
fifty four years, being duly sworn according to
law, says, that he is the son of Joseph
and Sarah Smith.  Which Sarah Smith is now
an applicant for a pension under the act of
the 7th of July 1838.   And that his father is
Joseph Smith at the time of his death, which
occurred in the year 1823.  Was the owner
and possessor of property over the value of
one hundred dollars.  And was not in
such indigent circumstances as to be unable
to support himself, nor was he in need of
assistance from his country for support.

Sworn & subscribed this
17th day of January 1846
at Freehold before the
Subscriber a Justice of the                              Hezekiah B. Smith 
peace in & for the County
and State aforesaid. I further
certify that I am well 
acquainted with deponent and
that he is entitled to full
Credit & belief.
      Thos. C. Throckmorton
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State of New Jersey Monmouth County 
    Aaron F Walker of said County and State aged eighty six years.
a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, being
duly sworn according to law says that he was well
acquainted with Joseph Smith the husband of
Sarah Smith.  At present on applicant for a pension
under the act of July 7th 1838.  That he knew the said
Joseph Smith during the Revolutionary war and
believes that the said Joseph Smith was a good
and faithful soldier.  That he frequently saw the said
Joseph Smith out in the service of the war at
different times but, he cannot now specify the
years or times of service or account of the last
of time.  Failure of memory nor can he name the
officers under whom the said Joseph Smith served
because this deponent was in the Dragoons
service.   The said Joseph Smith was in the foot
service.  This deponent was also acquainted with the
circumstances of the said Joseph Smith believes that he
owned considerable property over the value of one
hundred dollars at the time of his death.   That the
said Joseph Smith was not in such indigent circumstances 
as to be unable to support himself, nor was he
in need of assistance from his country for support
as this deponent believes. 

Sworn Subscribed this 4th day of
March AD. 1846. before me a Justice          Aaron F. Walker
of the peace as a State person the
said.  I further certify that I am well
acquainted with said  believe her entitled to be my belief

Thos. C. Throckmorton
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County

   I Daniel Christopher
Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas 
in and for the County aforesaid.

  Do certify that Thomas Throckmorton, before
whom the foregoing affidavits were taken, and
to the certificate or proofs of which whose
name is subscribed was at the time, when
such affidavits are taken a Justice of
the Peace in and for said County.
Commissioned and sworn and duly authorized
to take the same.  And That to his acts and
attestation is such full faith and credit
are and should be given.  And I do hereby
further certify that I am well acquainted with
the handwriting of said Justice, and verily
believe the signatures to the proofs of the foregoing
affidavits the genuine.

Mr. [ill] whereof I
have hereunto subscribed
my name and affixed the
seal of said Court at Freehold
this Sixth day of March AD.
Eighteen hundred and forty six
D. Chistopher  Esq.
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County 

    On this tenth day of May in
the year eighteen hundred and forty four before the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of
Monmouth & State of New Jersey.  Personally appeared
Sarah Smith a resident of Jackson Township in
the County of Monmonth, aged seventy eight years.
      Who being first duly sworn, according to Law, doth
on her oath, make the following declaration, in
order to obtain the benefit of the provision made
by the act of Congress, passed July 7th, 1838.  Entitled
an act granting half pay and pensions to certain
widows.  That she is the widow of Joseph Smith
who was a private in the Army and in the militia
of Monmouth County, New Jersey.  That she has often
heard her husband speak of being in the Revolutionary War.
 And that of his being enlisted in the regular
army in the five months service in the year 1776 and
has heard him say that he was in the Battle of Long
Island & thinks his captains name was Willey or
Woolcott.   She has heard him say that when the
patriots laid down their arms in the fall of the same
year 1776, he went home to see his friends
in Middletown township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
For a short time & afterwards returned and joined
the army somewhere above New Brunswick, N.J.  While 
the British lay at New Brunswick. She has also
and her husband tole about his serving in the
Militia of Monmouth County, New Jersey in Col. Asher
Holmes Regiment.  That he was out in the service
on duty at the time of the Battle of Monmouth
was stationed at or near Barrentown, Monmouth
County, but was not in the Battle of Monmouth
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according to this declarant belief from what
she has heard her husband relate of his services
and hardship.  He was out in the army & militia the
greater part of the war, but declarant cannot
recollect particularly any others, of his officers or
the time of her husbands service.  Not having been
married until after the war.  Her husband
having died before any provision was made for 
Revolutionary soldiers & when she did not consider it
necessary to charge her memory with the facts about
his which she has heard speak.
     She further declares that she was married to the
said Joseph Smith on the twenty third day of September
seventeen hundred and eighty seven (1787).  That her
husband the aforesaid Joseph Smith, died on the 
fourteenth day of May, eighteen hundred and twenty three
(1823).  That she was not married to him prior to
his leaving the service, but the marriage took
place previous to the first of January, seventeen
hundred and ninety four, viz at the time above
stated.

Sworn to and subscribed, on the              Sarah Smith
day and year above written in
open court before
Thos. C Throckmorton Judge
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State of New Jersey, Middlesex County 
David Owens of the Township of South Amboy, 
Middlesex County N.Y. being duly sworn according to
law deposeth and saith that he is a Revolutionary 
Pensioner of the United States.  Aged
Eighty six years past, and that he is well acquainted
with Sarah Smith (widow of Joseph
Smith, the present applicant for a pension. That
he was well acquainted with the said Joseph
Smith.  
      Husband of the said applicant and recollects
serving with the said Joseph Smith in the
militia of Monmouth County in the war of
the Revolution for two months under Capt.
Benjamin Dennis in Col. Hendrickson's Regiment
at Tinton Falls but, cannot recollect the month
or year deponent thinks it was in the year 1777.
It was before the Battle of Monmouth.
Deponent did not see the said Joseph Smith
afterwards in service during the war.  Because
deponent returned to a different part of the
State of New Jersey to wit Somerset County.
       Deponent further saith that the said Sarah
Smith is a sister of this deponent. That he was
not present at the marriage of the said Sarah
Smith on Owens with the said Joseph Smith but that
he knows of the living together as man and wife.
Of their being recognized as man & wife as early
as the year 1791, and that they continue to live
together as man and wife until the death of said Joseph.
       Sworn & Subscribe this sixth day of July AD 1844.
before me a Justice of the peace in & for the County of Middlesex
New Jersey.  Who as well acquainted with the above
deponent do certify that he is [sp]
and belief                                                                                               David Owen
James M. Warn
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State of New Jersey Middlesex County.

  Ann Griggs widow of Thomas Griggs deceased  Late Ann Owen
of the Township of Perth Amboy County & State afore
said being duly sworn according to law deposeth
& saith that she is Seventy four years of age past.
That she is well acquainted with Sarah Smith
(widow of Joseph Smith) the present applicant
for a Pension.  Also that she was well acquainted with
the said Joseph Smith, husband of said Sarah.
That she recollects distinctly of the said Joseph
Smiths coming to her fathers house for the purpose
of asking her fathers consent to his marriage with
her sister the said Sarah above named.   Also of her
going on horseback upon a very wild horse.  To the 
marriage of her sister Sarah, but cannot recollect who
married them.  That she was married in September
seventeen hundred and eighty seven.  That is the
said Sarah & Joseph Smith) that this deponent
recollects visiting the said Joseph Smith & Sarah
the next summer after their marriage which was the
summer of 1788.   Also that she is further enabled
to fix the time of the Marriage of the said Sarah
Smith to Joseph Smith from the fact that she this
deponent was married the next October year after her
Sister the said Sarah Smith.   That the time of this
deponent marriage was the 9th of October 1788.
  According to her recollection & to a family Bible
and in her possession which is true & correct. 
    Sworn to & subscribed this 28th day of
August AD 1844 before me a Justice of the peace                Ann Griggs
in & for the County aforesaid  Who, as well as
with the above deponent & do certify
entitled to full credit & belief
James Harriet
Justice of the Peace
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   I, Samuel Mairs, clerk of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas in and for the County of Monmouth.
    Do hereby certify that Thomas C. Throckmorton before
whom the foregoing declaration & affidavit was
made is and was at the time of the making &
signing thereof a Judge of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth.  Duly
commissioned. sworn and enrolled in my office that the
said Thomas C. Throckmorton is entitled to full credit
and belief for all act, done in his official capacity.
   Also that I am acquainted with his hand
writing & that the signature of the said Thomas C.
Throckmorton, to the foregoing declaration is given.

   In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal
of office at Freehold in and
for the County of Monmouth
& State of New Jersey this Eleventh
day of December.  In the year of
then Lord one thousand Eight
Hundred and forty four
Samuel Mair, clerk
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          Case of Sarah Smith for Revolutionary Pension under
the act of July 7th 1838.  In right of her dec'd husband
Joseph Smith who died in 1823.-- Evans & Fant atto
                                  Evidence

1st  Declaration of Sarah Smith dated May 10th, 1844 in
which she claims for the services of her husband in the
New Jersey Militia of Monmouth County as related by him
the greater part of the War but, does not specify any particular
length of service to which is attached the affidavit
of David Owens who states that he is 86 years of age.
  That he served with Joseph Smith in the Monmouth County
Militia some two months during the Revolution but, can
not recollect the month or year thinks it was 1777.  Did
not see Smith afterwards in service during the war.
Also, evidence of marriage and certificate of the 
Secretary of State of New Jersey showing a payment of
{L} 5.5.87 to Smith for Military Services (paper - A)
2nd  Proof of Marriage which is not questioned (do B )
3rd   Affidavits of John D. Applegate and Aaron F. Walker
aged respectively be & 86 years - the former merely
testifies to reputation as to Smiths Revolutionary services
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the laster Walker) States that he frequently saw Smith in
the service during the war, but cannot specify the years
or tours of service.   See paper marked C

 4th     John Aumock, swears that he was 88 years old in
1848.  That he served with Smith in the artillery, that they
did much service but, that he cannot from failure of memory
specify either the number or length of the tours of service
See paper marked D

  5th      James Hendrickson testimony similar to Aumock
not at all specific as to term of service. See paper E

  6th   Certificate of Secretary of State of New Jersey Similar 
to the one attacked to paper marked A - merely showing
the amount paid to Smith.  The papers marked
correspondence have no bearing on the merits of the
case.  The Commissioner of Pensions in his report fully
presents the points upon which it was rejected the above
is a careful synopsis of the evidence relied upon by the claim
and attorney

Respectfully submitted
N. Cleary
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Pension Office.
13th Jany 1854

Sir,

   In reference to the claim of Abigail
Perkins dec'd widow of Abner of Maine.
I would refer you to my letter of 28th
Oct. 1853, for the objections of this office.
which have not been removed.
     For objection to the admission
of the claim of Samuel Maddox of
Maine, I refer you to my letter of 6th August
last to Hon. T.J.D. Fuller
      No such claim as that of Ver
Sarah Milliken widow of Samuel
of Maine Act 4th July 1836, is found
on our files.
      The claim of Sarah Smith
widow of Joseph of New Jersey has
been examined.  It was formerly
rejected by this Office, and the decision
affirmed by the Secretary of
the Interior because Joseph service
had not been established. No
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evidence has been adduced to
disturbed that decision. In addition to
this I would add that there is no
satisfactory evidence as to the date
of the marriage, now of Joseph
death.


F. E. Hassler Esqr.
Washington D.C.
Page 31

  David Owen the only witness who has testified
that appears to have had any personal knowledge
of claimants service says he served with him about
of ten months in 1777 under Capt. Dems. This statement
is contradicted by the fact that there were no such
line in the Militia of that State. That service was
divided into classes and each class required to serve
one month only, at a time
  The papers now presented officer no additional
evidence of the marriage.
Hon Geo. Sykes
House of Reps.
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Pension Office
Jany 3. 1832

Sir,
    
I have the honor herewith to transmit
the papers relating to the case of Sara
Smith, on which they ran and an appeal.
David Owens swears to having served 2 months
with the claimants husband during the revolution,
and this is all the service on his part of which the
witness is arguishon James Hendrickson, a
man seated to be more than 100 years old
says he knew her husband in service, but
given in particular, and has not
any specific decoration to it. John Aumock
says that he knows the fact of Joseph
Smith having send in Smith artillery.
In his memory is so for destroyed that
he can give no particular relating to
the times in which he was himself engaged.
  The other parole testimony as to the
length of his service is even less distant than
this. There is a certificate of the Secretary
of State of New Jersey, showing that there