Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2448, Noah Crane, New Jersey
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(3-1776)
Service
New Jersey
Crane, Noah
Number R.2448
Contents
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27619
William M. Crane
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To the Honourable Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled, We the undersigned petitioners of Wabash County State of Illinois beg leave to represent to your honourable body the circumstance and situation of Noah Crane, a worthy revolutioner and citizen of this said County and who by reason of old age, the loss of mental faculty and being both deaf and blind, is unable to make a necessary report and as we understand the law passed in 1832 does not meet or make provision for such persons, or for such services rendered, he being as we understand the greatest part of his time in teaming as will be shown by the declaration of his son Wm. M. Crane  hereto annexed and as we believe a more urgent case has never been presented.  We therefore humbly request that your honours thoroughly examine the declaration of said Crane, investigate his claim, consider the losses sustained in the revolution, and grant a renumeration to the relief of said Noah Crane, both for his losses and a pension for his services rendered as therein stated and we your humble petitioners will ever pray.
November 30th 1833
George W. Higgins
Elijah Harris
Aaron Gould
Cuthbert Williamson
Moses Prestel
Joseph E. Thompson
James D. Knapp
Hiram Bell
Robert R. Williamson
Beauchamp Harvey
Ephraim Phar
John Compton
George Hannah
James Pool
George Danforth
Cyrus Danforth
C H McNair
Enos Higgins
Samuel Blunk
Daniel Ingraham
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24 Cong
1 Sep
Petition of sundry inhabitants of Wabash Co Illinois, praying that a pension may be allowed to Noah Crane, who is deaf, blind, & deprived of mental faculties.
1833 Dec 31 referred to the Committee on Pensions
1833 Jan 30 Discharged

1836 Jan 6 referred to Comm on Pensions
Apr 20 Refd on above said
April 26 concurred in
Capt Scudder  Col Carne

Wm Robinson
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State of Illinois
Wabash County }ss/
On this 8th day of October 1833 personally appeared in open court before the honourable Beauchamp Harvey and John Compton Judges of the County Commissioners Court of Wabash County now sitting William M. Crane, son of Noah Crane, a resident of the county aforesaid, who first being duly sworn according to law deposeth and sayeth that the said Noah Crane by reason of old age, the loss of mental faculty and deaf in extreme, together with the loss of dialect is totally incapable of making the necessary report of services rendered by him in the revolutionary war.  And for this cause, he, the said William M. Crane doth on oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.  I, the said William M. Crane certify that the said Noah Crane did previous to his affliction and before his loss of dialect and mental faculties give me the record of his age, which constitutes him Eighty eight years.  That he was born in Westfield in Essex County, State of New Jersey which record I have at my place of residence, and the said Noah Crane resided in said Co and State last above mentioned till 1800 then moved to the State of Ohio where he resided till 1824 then moved to the County of Wabash State of Illinois where he now resides with me, and have oft heard him say that he served more than three years in the Revolutionary War, that he was the most of his time pressed into service together with his team, that he was in service when General Washington moved his army from Elizabethtown, that he was also in service at Springfield, Morristown, Westfield, Bridgetown, Pompton Plain, Short Hills, and Scotch Plains, those period of services I do not recollect but I think he told me he was the most of his service during the war & the most of his service was rendered between seventy five and eighty one, that John Williams was his Capt of the guard of baggage at some of those periods and Jacob Carne was his colonel and John Scudder Capt of the company to which he was attached.  I have heard him say that himself and team was pressed into service and  bound by Mershall
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law to serve six months at a time.  I have also heard him say that he furnished forage for the teams which served with him, especially hay to a considerable amount and also sustained considerable loss from the army which encamped on his farm near Westfield, Essex County, New Jersy by the cutting timber.  I have heard him estimate his losses sustained by the war together with the loss sustained by the continental money at two thousand dollars.  He also entertained certain soldiers in time of small pox and as it respects this last assertion in the year 1801 I saw Col Ephraim Hebby in Ohio at my fathers residence who affirmed that he was one that was sustained and kept together with nine others by my father through their sickness with the small pox in time of the Revolutionary war and did then acknowledge gratitude for his kindness
I mention those circumstances to show that I have seen others whose testimony corresponded with that of my fathers (ss) Ephraim Hebby, Moses Decamp, John Marsh and Ezekiel Ross, all of those I have had information have expired and for which cause I have deferred making this application.  I have heretofore been searching in hopes to find positive proof of his services but have failed.  His neighbours in the Jersey who served with him have either expired or moved to such a distance that I have not been able to find them and do not know of no one by whom I can prove his services.  Neither do I know of his having any documentary evidence, of his service.  I would further state that he told me he was in actual service as a soldier and was in the battle at Shorthills and at Springfield New Jersey.  
Wm. M. Crane
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above written
Hiram Bell, Clerk
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We the undersigned Stephen Bliss a clergyman residing in the county of Wabash State of Illinois and Elijah Harris, Aaron Gould Geore W. Higgins
residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William M. Crane who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him a man of truth and respectability and his declaration is entitled to credit.  And further certify that we are personally acquainted with the said Noah Crane and know him to be afflicted as above described by his son in said declaration and from circumstances thus connected have no reason to doubt his services as a revolutionary soldier as therein stated.
Stephen Bliss
Elijah Harris
Aaron Gould
G. W. Higgins
Sworn to and subscribed this day & year above written.  Hiram Bell Clerk
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after examining the said William M. Crane that the above named Noah Crane was a revolutionary soldier and served as above stated in said declaration and the court further declares that it appears to them that the said Stephen Bliss, Elijah Harris, Aaron Gould and G. W. Higgins who has signed the preceding certificate are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and that the said Stephen Bliss is a clergyman in this vicinity of respectability and good report.  
Beauchamp Harvey
John Compton
I, Hiram Bell Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of Wabash County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William M. Crane for a pension for his father Noah Crane.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8th day of October A.D. 1833
Hiram Bell, Clerk
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2448
P.O.
Noah Crane
Service: Priv & Teamster Col Scudder
N.J.

REJECTED

Enlisted: _________,18  .
Discharged: _________,18  .
Application Filed: _________,18  .
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized.
Contract.
Cert. of Dis.
Searched for  _________,18  .
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Noah Crane
Act 7th June 1832
Illinois
Rejected

Noah Crane

See letter to G. W. Higgins 11th Nov 1833
Armstrong PA
Wabash Co Illinois

Papers returned from Congress June 1833

The papers in this case sent to Hon. J. M. Robinson Dec 30 1833 U.S. Senate

Let to Hon J. M. Robinson Senate U.S. Dec 18 1835
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Senate Chamber
Dec 23rd 1833
Sir
Application some time since was sent to your office for a Mr. Crane by his son of Wabash County Illinois to be placed on the Pension Roll alleging the old man deaf & blind and who could not make it himself which was rejected.  Will you be so good as send me the papers for the purpose of laying his case before Congress
Your obdt Sevt
J. M. Robinson

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office
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Armstrong Co Wabash Illinois Oct 11th 1833
Sir
You will discover from the within application the case of Mr. Noah Crane is a singular one, and if the department can be justifiable, needs their attention perhaps as much as any other, the old man both deaf and blind and loss of dialect in extreme, so that it is impossible to converse with him on any subject, and helpless as an infant, and has suffered by the revolution as much as any, being placed in that part of the country and a warm friend to the cause was the most of his time in the service, with his team, or as a soldier. And now to be deprived of his just right for want of positive proof it seems wrong when it is believed all who are acquainted with this aged man and family that this declaration is a just one.  You will do us this honor to write and give us directions should this fail to satisfy the department [illegible]

George W. Higgins
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Senate Chamber
Dec 16 1835
Sir
The friends of Mr. Crane of Wabash Co. Illinois whose application for a pension is on file & has I believe been rejected are desirous that an effort be made to have a special law passed for his benefit.  To enable me to comply with their desire, be so good as send me the original papers in the case if not incompatible with the rules of the office - & should it be - then a copy so authenticated as to be evidence before a Committee.
Respectfully your
obt Svt
John M. Robinson

J. L. Edwards, Esq
Comm of Pensions
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Senate Chamber
Jan 6 1836

Sir
With a large portion of the petitioners on behalf of Noah Crane I am personally acquainted.  They are gentlemen of good character and feel every confidence in the correctness of their statements.  I also have seen Mr. Crane. He is very old - said to be extremely poor & I consider him wholly incompetent to make answers to the ordinary interrogatories necessary to obtain a pension in the ordinary way.  
Yours
John M. Robinson

Hon.  Mr. Thomalson
Ch of Pensions