Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 977, Ellisson Covert, New Jersey
Page 1

(8-1776)

[column headings:
Service
Number]

Service: 
New Jersey

Covert, 
Ellisson

Number:
S977

carded
Page 2

[Page 1]

New Jersey Number 28448

Ellison, Covent

[?] in the state of New Jersey

was a private in the Company commanded

By Captain [?]    of the Regt. commanded

by Col. Forman   in the New Jersey

line for 
                   9 months

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

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of  30  Dollars -- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

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

Certificate of Pension issued the  12th day of May
1834                         and
           [?]. [?]. Parker H.R.
----------------------------------------------------

Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834 .  . 90.00

Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 . Sept. . . . 15.00
                                                               --------
                                                             $105.00
                                                               --------
                                    { Revolutionary Claim  }
                                    { Act June 7, 1832        }

Recorded by  R. [?]  Clerk,
Book   9 .  .  .  Vol. 3 .     Page 106




[Page 2]
Page 3

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act
of Congress passed June 7 - 1832

State of New Jersey
Monthouth County ss ⎬

On this first day of
August Eighteen hundred & Thirty two personally
appeared in open Court before the Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth
in the State of New Jersey, now sitting Ellison
Covert a resident of the Township of Shrewsbury
in the County of Monmouth & State of New Jersey
aged sixty nine years who being duly sworn
according to law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7
1832

That he entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers
& served as herein stated, that he was born
at Piscataway in the County of Middlesex
the State of New Jersey on the 12th June 1763 &
believes he has a record of his age in his Fathers
Bible, that he was living at the Court house
of Monmouth County aforesaid when called
with service, and was called into duty under 
the monthly service of duty, knows the names
of Elisha Walton a Colonel in the Militia ┃
that he did not receive any discharge
that the field officers were General Davis
Forman Colonel Elisha Walton, Company of
Will David English. That he entered the
Militia service as a common Militia
man a little while before the Battle of Monmonth 
under Capt David English served
Page 4

then one month later as a guard at the courthouse that during this time he was in the Battle of Monmouth, He marched to Allentown the day the British reached there, And about 1/2 hour before British marched there, he marched to Hightstown with the Company. Stayed there all night - next day marched back to Allentown, stayed there all night. From that was on a flanking party down through the pines and was on the line of Battle on the south coast on the day of the battle, & after the battle marched to Mount Pleasant in said county - that immediately after the expiration of the first month that he served two months before as such militiaman under John Walters one of which he served as a substitute but for whom he does not volunteer later as a guard at the Monmouth Courthouse during that time. That shortly after the expiration of the last two months he served as a militia man under Captain John Walters for one month guarding the Raritan Bay Shore. That after the termination of the last month he served as such militia man for five other months forever under Captains David English & John Walters and acted during that time as a guard to the Bay Shore & at the Court House Monmouth County and as scouting parties through different parts of the County. Does not include any of the regular officers that at the time he entered the service he resided at Freehold in said County of Monmouth. Since the Revolutionary War has know does live live in the town of Shrewsbury in said County of Monmouth that he has no documentary evidence.  That John Brown & William Talman can testify to his service.
Page 5

But that he knows of no other that Michael Maps, William Throckmorton, Elisha Lippincott in his present neighborhood know him & can testify to his character for veracity & to the belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
   He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
   Sworn subscribed this  |   Ellison Covert
day & year aforesaid       |
               William Lloyd
_________________________________
  We John Brown, William Talman & Littleton White esquire residing in the Township of Shrewsbury, County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ellison Covert who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration & that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age that the said Covert is a credible person . This statement is worthy of audit and the said John Brown & William Talman but not the esquire White for themselves say that he is reputed & believes, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion & that we know him to have been a soldier of the revolution. We the said Brown & Talman having served with him as such - the said Brown not relating how long  & the said Talman for the span of three months.
   Sworn & subscribed in   | Littleton White
open court the day & year| X (John Brown) 
aforesaid                            | Willi Tallman
       William Lloyd
Page 6

[this page is a duplicate of the next page, page 7]
Page 7

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Littleton White, John Brown & William Tallman who have signed the proceeding certificate are residents in the said Township of Shrewsbury, County & State aforesaid are credible judges & that their statements are entitled to audit.
                            William Lloyd
                             John Stull
                             John Headden 

       I, the Subscriber, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Monmouth, in the state of New Jersey, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ellison Covert for a pension.

   [picture of the seal]  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Freehold, this first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
                                      D. H. Ellis, Clerk
Page 8

I am subscriber, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey do hereby certify the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ellison Covert for a Pension.
  In the timing whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court at Freehold in said County this thirteenth day of July eighteen hundred thirty three.
                               D. H. Ellis, Clerk
Page 9

Supplemental Declaration of Ellison Covert to obtain a pension undercut of 7 June 1832
State of New Jersey, Monmouth County, Ellison Covert of said County being duly sworn according to law deposit & faith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more precisely as to the length of his service that he has in his original declaration made before the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Monmouth on the 1st of August 1832 so that is hand affixed. But according to the best of his recollection he served the period mentioned in his said declaration, & is the grade of a common militia man, being for the period of nine months & for said service he claims a pension. That during the several times mentioned in his said declaration he served with an ? Corps called out by the existing authorities of the state. That he was in the field  & not in garrison. That during the said times he served infantry he drew regular rations and pay, &  that during the time in which the said services were performed he was not employed in any civil pursuit. That there are no surviving witnesses except John Brown & William Talman that he knows of who can testify as to his knowledge of his service & whose testimony is appended to his original declarations from & hereby told before me one of the judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and from said County this Eighth day of July, 1843.
John Patterson               Ellison Covert
Page 10

Mr William Smith a clergyman residing in the
Township of Shrewsbury in the County of Monmouth and
Gabriel West residing in the same place
do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
Ellison Covert, who has applied for a pension under
act of 7 Jun 1832, that we believe him him to be
seventy years of age, that he is reputed & believed, in the
neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier
of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion
s/ William Smith
s/ Gabriel West

Sworn & subscribed before me
one of the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas of Monmouth
County this 8th day of July
1833
/s John Patterson Justices Peace

I the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Monmouth
do hereby certify, that it appears to me that William Smith
who has signed the preceding certificate is a
Clergyman resident in the township of Shrewsbury
in said Court & that Gabriel West who has
signed the same & a resident in the same place & is a
credible person & that their statement is entitled to
Credit Witness my hand this Eight day of
July 1833
s/ John Patterson

I the subscriber Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common 
Pleas in & for the County of Monmouth do hereby
certify, that John Patterson before whom the preceding
Page 11

affidavits were taken, & who has signed the preceding
certificate was at the time of the doing thereof a Judge of
the said Court of Common Pleas & a justice of the peace
in & for said County, duly commissioned & sworn
Enrrolled in my office, & that full faith & credit
are due & ought to be given to all his official acts
as such, and that I am acquainted with
the hand writing of the said John Patterson &
at the name Signed "John Patterson to the foregoing
affidavits & certificate are respectively in the proper
hand writing of the said John Patterson
In testimony whereof I have
set my hand & affix the seal
of said at Freehold this thirteenth
day of July Eighteen hundred
& Ninety Three
s/ D. H. Ellis, Clerk

Ellison Covert the above named
Applicant being duly sworn according to law deposeth
& saith, that the five months service mentioned in his
foregoing Declaration, were served in mostly tours of
one month each, two of them under Captain David
English the first part of the year Ensuing the battle of Monmonth
County. The other three months were under Capn John
Walton in the same year, acting as guard at the
Court house to said County & on scouting parties then
different parts of the County & as a guard along the
bay shore, that during these last three tours he recollects
going with part of the Company & taking a number of small
coasting vessels belonging to the refugees & British near Sandy
Hook in Parmcetle cove & took their Crews prisoners & of
them up to the Court house as such, that the general
officers were the same as near as he recollect in the
last five times as they were under the first tours
Page 12

s/ Ellison Covert
Sworn & subscribed this 29th day of
January 1834 of Freehold in said County
before me one of the Justices of the peace
in & for said County
s/ John Headden

Monmouth County ss. I the subscriber clerk of the Inferior
Court of Common pleas in & for said County do hereby certify that
John Headden before whom the affidavit next preceeding
was taken, was at the time of the doing thereof, & still is, a justice
of the peace in & for said County duly commissioned & from
rolled in my office, & that full faith & credit are due
and ought to be given to all his official acts as sent, & further
that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said justice
that the name Signed "John Haddon to the said affidavit is
in the proper hand writing of said Justice
The testimony whereof I hereto set
my hand & affixed the seal of said
Court at held in said County this
thirty first day of January Eighteen
hundred & thirty four
s/ D. H. Ellis, Clerk
Page 13

6341
Ellison Covert
Admit as private
Pamo $30
Rreturn this
Brief

Sent again to
Hon. J. Parker

[In left margin]
To J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC
Page 14

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
29 April 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will show what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of [blank]

Period when the service was rendered. June 1778 & following

Duration of the claimant's service: Years., Months,. Days. 1/2/1/5 [total] 9 months

Rank of the claimant. Common militia man

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Genl Davidsonan, Col Elisha Walton, Capn 
David English [&] John Walton

Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service. 70 years Resided at the Court house in Monmouth County

Proof by which the declaration is supported. John Brown & William Tolland who served with him. William Smith a clergyman. Gabriel West & Littleton White. Father's Bible of his age

I am, respectfully your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

s/ Mr Ellison Covert
Page 15

[page] 2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops, "militia," and volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general 
classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of ] ss.

On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] 
A.B. a resident (b) of  [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District
of [blank] aged (c) 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, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank], with [blank] and
served in the [blank]  {e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers: [blank] 

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of [blank]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary 
soldier, and served as he states.
I [blank] of the Court of [blank] 
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
tha e application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] 
day of [blank] & c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C.D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank]
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] 
and who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank]
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank]
for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this [blank] day of [blank] & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission:
but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services 
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 16

[page] 3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted;
and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war,
and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier.  } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given,
and what has become of it?
{to an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what 
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, 
taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear postively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: [blank] For [blank] 
year [blank] months, and ][blank] days, I served as a [blank]. For [blank] months and [blank]- days, I served as a [blank]; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the services was performed; that the applicant served with [the remaining sentence lost to a fold in the paper]. 
authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in
civil pursuit.
(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i) The Clerk must affix his seal of office, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, er if he has no public seal of office,  the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.

(j) In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[right pointing finger] The notes from [a] to [i] are equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is [k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[i]If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

The last 5 months service must be set forth as to time.
place deffins. If in one term it must be alleged in terms
Page 17

State of New Jersey County of Monmouth and
Township of Shrewsbury ss. On this twenty first
day of November AD 1844 personally appeared
before me John Mookey one of the Justices of the
peace in and for said County

Ellison Covert a resident of the State County and
township aforesaid aged Eighty one years on the 12th day
of June last passed. Who being personally known to me
and first duly sworn according to law doth on his
oath make the following declaration and says he
formily drew a pension of thirty Dollars per annum in
virtue of his services rendered the  [illegible]
the militia as a private in this said State and County
in the war of the Revolution and that he drew his
pension at that time through the Pension Agency
kept at Trenton N.J.  And that he did his last
payment as aforesaid Since according to his best recollection 
years ago last Spring
[illegible] hich time he has deposed calling for his
pension on account of his former money falling
into the hands of a dissipated son But he himself
is in need of his pension and now situated so as
to be able to controll his money [illegible] of which he
now request may be transmitted to him through
the government regency of New York, and in
testimony of the facts herein set forth he is not able
to produce his former certificate having either
lost or mislaid it. And therefore respectfully requests
now certificate may be sent him through his
agent as herein authorized to receive whatever
communication should be made in his case

And for the purpose of forwarding his statements to Washington
and aiding him in securing to him his
Page 18

pension as herein set forth and conducting
the correspondance-- he this deponent does
hereby empower constitute and appoint
William Kimball Hoyt of New York as his lawful
attorney and agent through whom he requests
the business to be transacted, and this deponent 
further saith not
s/ Ellison Covert

Sworn to and subscribed on the day
and year first above written
Before me
s/ John Woolley
Justice of the Peace


I do hereby certify I am personally acquainted with
Ellison Covert, and know him to be the
person he represents himself to be in
the forgoing Declaration, and who was
fromerly a pensioner as therein set forth
before me
s/ John Woolley

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County Ss. G. Samuel Mairs, Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas
in and for said County do hereby certify that John
Woolley before whom the foregoing deposition was
taken, was at the time of taking the same, and now
is one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said
County, duly commissioned Sworn and called in my
office; and further, that I am acquainted with his
handwriting, and that his signature thereto is genuine
In Testimony whereof, I have
hereunto set my hand, and of
affixed the seal of said Court
at Freehold, this 21st day of
November A.D. 1844.
s/ J. Mairs Clk
Page 19

State of New Jersey
Monmouth Co ss.
Ellison Covert being duly sworn
according to Law deposeth and
saith that he was a little over the age
of Fifteen years when he first entered the
service of the United States as a soldier in 1778
just before the Battle of Monmouth, that he
was large of his age, that it was not uncommon for
boys of his age then to turn out in the monthly
Tours. that Garret Jeffery a Pensioner from said
County of Monmouth was younger when he entered 
the service than [illegible] deponent and has been
allowed his Pension that said Jefferys application
was first rejected because he alleged that he served
before he was 16 years old & deponent is informed
that his (Jefferys) papers contain proofs of the general
fact that boys of the age of 15 years and upwards
frequently served on the monthly tours. That there
are numerous applications for Pensions & allowed
to persons for services rendered before they were 15
years old. and the department is referred to the papers
of said Jeffery for further confirmation of the fact
s/ Ellison Covert
Sworn and subscribed
to before me the 22nd day
of March A.D. 1834
s/ Joseph Barclay 
Justice of the Peace

New Jersey
Monmouth ss
John Brown being duly sworn
according to Law deposeth and saith
that he has a perfect recollection of seeing
Ellison Covert on duty at Monmouth Court
House shortly after the battle of Monmouth
and that it was quite common for boys
even at the age of 15 years to enter the service
of the United States at that time
s/ John Brown (X - his mark)
Sworn and subscribed
before me the 22nd day
of March 1834
s/ Joseph Barclay Justice of the Peace
Page 20

State of New Jersey
Monmouth Co Ss
Garret Jeffery being duly sworn
according to law deposeth and saith
that he was under the age of 16
years when he entered the service of
the United States and that he received a
pension for service while under that age
s/ Gant Jeffery (x his mark)

Sworn and subscribed
before me the 22nd day of ⎬
March 1834
s/ Joseph Barclay
Justice of the Peace

State of New Jersey Monmouth County said the
Subscriber clerk of the Inferior Court of Common
Pleas in & for said County do hereby certify that
Joseph Barclay before whom the foregoing affidavits
were taken was at the doing thereof & still is a
Justice of the peace in & for said County duly 
commissioned & Sworn & called in my office
that full faith and credit are due and
ought to be given to all his official acts 
as such. And further that I am acquainted with
the hand writing of said Justice, and
that the name Signed Joseph Barclay
to the foregoing affidavits are severally the
proper hand writing of the said Justice

In Testimony I have
hereunto set my hand & affixed
the seal of said Court at Freehold
in said County this third day
of May Eighteen hundred
thirty four-
s/ D. H. Ellis, Clerk
Page 21

Rev War
INVALID.
File No. 977
Ellison Covert
Priv. N. J. Line,
Act June 7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 71
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 22

Washington 9 May 1834
I enclose the papers of Ellison Court of New Jersey with
Supplementary proof to rebut the objection made by your letter
to me of the 24 February last. Thinking the additional proof
satisfactory I hope the claim to be allowed
respectfully
s/ James Parker

James L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Page 23

N.Y. November 22nd 1844

James L Edwards Esquire
Sup J Horowith
Enclose to you the statement of Ellison Court
with a request for the renewal of his pension
which it seems has been suspended on his
own account for reasons therein set
forth. And which he request may be
transcribed to him through the agency
in this City hereafter
I am Sir
Respectfully Your
humble Servt
William Rolloy
No 97 Barrow Street
Page 24

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
March 29th 1845.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act
directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners,
and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United 
States, and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending
the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension 
agents, Ellisson Covert
a Pensioner on the Roll of the New Jersey
Agency, at the rate of Thirty Dollars
per annum, under the law of the 7th June
1832, has been paid at this Department, from the
4th of March 1837, to the 4th Sept. 1843
Respectfully, yours,
s/ Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
Page 25

Peter Fredenburgh Esq
Freehold
N. Jersey
Page 26

War Department
Pension Office
February 24, 1834

Sir

Ellison Covert alleges that he was born in June 1763. That he entered the militia before the battle of Monmouth which was fought in June 1778. (ill) satisfactory explanation and distinct proof be furnished it cannot be supported that the claimant served in the militia befo- 
arrived at the age of 16 years. It must --- whether there are survivors of his several  ____ he arrived the the age of 16 as the regulation require evident in detail where it may be procured as was heretofore pointed out in the brief with which the papers were returned. They are again returned. 

I have the honor to be
Your obd. servant

s/ J L Edwards

Hon J. Parker
House of Representatives
Page 27

J. L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
Washington City
DC
Page 28

Freehold March 17. 1845
Sir
Mr Ellison Covert of Shrewsbury, or
Monmouth County who is entitled to receive $30
per annum as a Rev Pensioner under act
of 7th June 1832 & who holds the pension
Certificate numbered 28. 348, & dated 12th May
1834 Signed by Lew Casher of War has on
titled to draw his pension since the fourth
of March 1837-
His reason for not drawing
it for so long a period was, that one of
his sons used to when he did draw it, at
hold of the money & get intoxicated on it.
The old man now again wishes
to draw his money-
Will the Department
inform me how to proceed in
order to obtain it-
I have applied at
Trenton & they have referred me to 
Washington
Truly yours
s/ P Vredenburgh