Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,134, John Borrows, Continental New Jersey Penn.
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Service - 

Continental
New Jersey
Penn.



Borrows, John


Number - S.22134
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Probate Will of
John Borrows
Lycoming Co. Pa.




Presented by
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Will of John Borrows


Dated August 17th 1837

Will of John Borrows regularly proved and registered in Will Book "A" page 284 the 2nd day of September AD 1837

Wherein the said John Borrows recites the following named Children viz.
Nathaniel Borrows.
Samuel Borrows.
Susan Mann Intermarried with Samuel Mann, 
Mary Ann Torbet Intermarried with John Torbet
Sarah Coryell Intermarried with Tunison Coryell

And the said John Borrows in his said Will appointed Nathaniel Borrows, Tunison Coryell and James Armstrong Executors of his said Will.


Letters Testamentary Issued September 27th 1837 to the Executors named in said Will and Executors sworn


Extracted from the Will of John Borrows as the same remains of Record in the Registers' Office of Lycoming Co. in Will Book "A" page 284 and Witness my hand and seal of office at Williamsport
This thirteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and fifty one  - and do further certify that there are no papers on file showing the Renunciation of either of the above named Executors and c.

Jacob Rodearmel Register
J.S. Rumy 
Deputy
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Pennsylvania  2620

John Borrows
of Lycoming Co. in the State of Penn.
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Kirkbride of the Regiment commanded by
Col. Woods in the Pa
line for 

$173.33


Inscribed on the Roll of Penna
at the rate of 175 Dollars 33 cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.


Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd day of April and sent to 
William B. Anthony H.R.


Arrears to the 4th of March 34   $510.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept.  $86.66

$596.66

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}


Recorded by J.T. Morgan Clerk,
Book C., Vol. 5 Page 5
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State of Pennsylvania Lycoming County On this second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Lycoming in open Court, John Borrows a resident of Fairfield Township in the County of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, age Seventy three 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th AD 1832. 
I entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served in the American army as follows viz. I belonged to the Regiment of Pennsylvania militia commanded by Colonel Joseph Kirkbride of Bucks County, we marched in the latter end of May or beginning of June AD 1776 to Perth Amboy in New Jersey, my brother Samuel + myself belonged to Captain John Wood's company, the Lieutenants were Stephen + Asher Carter, we lay at Amboy a month or more, when the Regiment marched to Bergen point, we had been called out for three months. My brother, while we were at Amboy , enlisted in the flying camp + took sick there. I was permitted by my officers to stay with him at Amboy + take care of him, we remained there till the American army retreated through New Jersey to Pennsylvania, when I was enabled to get him home. At the battle of Long Island I was attending upon my sick brother. After remaining at home about one or two weeks, Captain Woods company being most convenient with ferries in the neighborhood of Trenton, we were again called out and divided into small parties to guard the different ferries and the boats on the Pennsylvania shore. General Washington having lain a short time with the shattered remnant of his army near the River, remained with less than 3000 of
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fective men to Newtown (then the County of Bucks) from thence he marched early on Christmas morning (1776) to McKonkey's ferry about 8 or 9 miles above Trenton and crossed the troops to the Jersey side before midnight. There were no militia at that time with the army, but a number of our company as well as others, hearing of the movement + anticipating its object, determined to participate in the engagement. We accordingly crossed the river that night + fell in with the American army, on the Jersey side, as well as a number of others without any regular command. About daylight the morning after Christmas, we arrived at General Dickinson's house, about one mile above Trenton + surprised the Hessian piquet, several of them were killed by active young men who had joined the regular army on their approach to town. The army came in from the West [Shorth] + marched round rapidly to the East + surrounded + completely surprised the Hessians; the left wing arriving at the Bridge over the [Apanpink], just in time to take six [   ] six prisoners that were limbered + the horses hitched for flight. Those Hessians who were quartered on the South side of the Creek (said to be about 300) made their escape and fled to Bordentown, many of them ran off half naked, through a bitter storm of hail rain + snow so great was their fright. In the engagement seventeen Hessians were killed and twenty six wounded, the killed were all buried in one grave at the Eastern end of the Town. Our loss was two killed + five wounded, among the latter the late venerable President Monroe, then an Officer in the Virginia troops. The prisoners were crossed at the ferries above Trenton and sent to Lancaster + Carlisle. General Washington was joined by General Caldwallader, with upwards of two thousand militia from Pennsylvania, who lay at Durkes' ferry at the time of the descent on Trenton, they were to have crossed the River Dela
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ware at the same time + taken a garrison of eight hundred at Burlington + four hundred at Bordentown, and then joined General Washington at Trenton but the immense quantity of slush ice in the River prevented them. Just one week after the taking of the Hessians, Genl Washington with his whole force met the British army about six miles out of Trenton, he commenced a retrograde march through Trenton and halted in the Millhill (South of the [Afsanquik Creek) Captain Wood + company not being there with the army. I joined the Philadelphia militia in Captain Wonsell's company, having a number of relatives + friends among them. We   threw up a strong breast work at the Bridge to prevent the British from crossing. I put some thirty two pounders on it during the evening there was a considerable cannonading, principally by the British. After supper we gathered fences and made large fires + leaving some of our troops to keep up the fires, we marched a little before midnight towards Princeton by the back road, after crossing Stoney Brook a little after sunrise, we ascended the hill within one mile of Princeton and were attacked by about 500 of the enemy who had secreted themselves behind a thick thornhedge, when within a few paces they rose and gave us a warm reception. The Philadelphia militia were in front + broke + gave way but were rallied and formed again by the exertions of Genls Cadwallader and Mifflin. Our army moved forward again under very disadvantageous circumstances, as the hedge prevented them from extending their lines, a rush was made through the only gate in that quarter. General Mercer led the van + he and twelve others were bayonetted by the British before they were put to flight, they retreated towards the College, but were intercepted by the Massachusetts flying camp who had got ahead of them, they surrendered + the army and prisoners proceeded towards New Brunswick, the British ad
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advancing from Trenton, overtook the rear of our Army at Kingston (three miles from Princeton) while we were cutting down a bridge to prevent the advance of the enemy. Genl Washington lost no time in pushing ahead through Rockey Hill till he came to where the Road turned to the left in the direction of Pluckemin, the British proceeded straight forward to Brunswick where their Stores lay, instead of following us. From Pluckemin I returned home, and the regular army, having remained there about a week, went to Morristown.
In the latter end of April or the beginning of May AD 1777, through the influence of my friends I was employed by General Washington as an Express rider at Forty Dollars per month, I joined the Army at Morristown and General Washington always kept me near to him for that purpose, except when I was sent out as an express. I remained with him in that capacity until the day after the Battle of Monmouth (the latter end of June 1778) I could give an accurate description of the Battles of Brandywine + Germantown + the incidents connected therewith but the recital  would swell this statement to an unnecessary length. The Winter of 1777 while we lay at the Valley Forge the continental currency had depreciated so much that my monthly wages would not pay my expenses when out of Camp, I complained of this but General Washington caused my Wages to be raised to Fifty Dollars a month. At the battle of Monmouth I lost my horse, he dropt dead under me with heat fatigue, the next day I received an honorable discharge from Genl Washington signed by his private Secretary, which I carried in my pocket till it was worn out + lost. The General furnished me with a horse to ride home, though I never got any pay for the one that I lost on the day of Monmouth battle.  After remaining at home a few days I went to Trenton + bound myself
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to learn the Blacksmiths' trade, and in the Autumn of 1778, I joined an artillery company of Volunteers, chiefly composed of young men, and commanded by Captain Joseph Clunn; that same fall we were called out and served two months, we marched to Newark and lay there most of the time.  (the next summer (1779) I was out three months under the command of Captain John Yard of Trenton, we lay at a different places, at Woodbridge, Elizabeth Town opposite Staten Island and in the neighborhood.
In the winter of 1779-1780 we were again called out and lay the most of the time at Princeton we were under Captain Yard and served two months.
In June 1780 (The British landed a large force at Elizabeth Town, our company was immediately ordered to march, and we hurried on travelling all night and arrived at Springfield (seven miles from Elizabeth town, just in time to assist in defending the Town - another company of artillery, the Jersey Militia and the four Jersey regiments of continental troops, gave the enemy such a warm reception, that they thought best to retire after attempting to cross the Bridge which led over a deep morass to the Town.  The British fell back on Elizabeth town and encamped on the point, while they lay there a small party of us went down to a bank that overlooked their camp, at midnight, and fired three shots at the General's Marquee, which was pointed out by the guide at about 300 yards distance, our object was to alarm them, while another party was to bring off their piquest, but it failed.  I was out two months this tour and when we returned home, Captain John Yard quit the Company, and we elected Isaiah Yard Captain, whom we served under during the Summer of 1781 either two or three months, while out the Season we kept along the lines in East Jersey watching the movements of the enemy and preventing their depredations.
There was always a number of the Jersey Militia along with us.  During the four years I resided in Trenton