Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S.34163, Jabez Camfield, Continental New Jersey
Page 1

SERVICE

Continental
New Jersey

Campfield, Jabez

NUMBER

S. 34163
[BL.Wt.401.400. Surgeon
  Issued Sept. 3, 1790
  No papers.
Page 4

State of New Jersey, Morris County Ss:  Before me Gabriel H. Ford Esqr. President of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Morris aforesaid; this sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen, personally appeared Doctr. Jabez Campfield, who having duly sworn deposeth and saith.  That he is a citizen of the United States resident of Morristown in the county afsd. and Physician and Surgeon by profession - That he served as Regimental Surgeon on the Continental establishment in the war of the revolution against the common enemy from January seventeen hundred and seventy seven, continually till the fifteenth day of June seventeen hundred and eighty three, when Col. Sheldon's regiment of Light Dragoons, and this Deponent as Surgeon thereof, were disbanded at Danbury in Connecticut, by a regimental order.  This Deponent saith he was appointed Surgeon of Col. Spencer's regiment the first day of January seventeen hundred & seventy seven by an order of that date under the hand of William Shippen Junr. Director of the General Hospital, as will appear by the original order under his hand in this Deponent's custody, a true copy whereof is annexed hereto marked "Exhibit A", and subscribed with the name of the Judge; under which appointment this Deponent acted until the first day of April seventeen hundred & seventy seven when a Commission was granted by Congress appointing this Deponent Surgeon, as will appear by the original Commission under the signatures of John Hancock, President and Charles Thomson, Secretary, in this Deponent's custody, a true copy whereof is annexed hereto, marked "Exhibit B," and subscribed with the name of the Judge; under which commission this Deponent constantly served till sometime in June seventeen hundred and eighty, when an order from Head Quarters directed this Deponent to serve as Surgeon to a Regiment of Light Infantry commanded by Col. Mattias Ogden under The Marquis de la Fayette, and this Deponent served accordingly till the beginning of the year seventeen hundred and eighty one, when he was appointed by His Excellency the Governor, and Council of Safety in the State of Connecticut, Sur-
(geon)
Page 5

geon to the second Regiment of Light Dragoons instead of Doctr. John Homans resigned, as will appear by a certified copy under the hand of Robert Penberton, A. Adjt. General of an original Extract from the minutes of the Governor & Council believed to be under the hand of Jedediah Strong, Clerk, of which certified copy a true copy is hereto annexed marked "Exhibit C" and subscribed with the name of the Judge, under which appointment this Deponent served continually as Surgeon of the last mentioned regiment of Dragoons commanded by Col. Sheldon till it was disbanded at the conclusion of the revolutionary war:  And this Deponent saith he has preserved the before mentioned documents relating to an important passage in his life for informaion to his descendants; but, however reluctantly, will yield them up, if deemed necessary to his compliance with the act of Congress.  This Deponent saith he never received a pension under the laws of the United States and has just exhausted the commutation money which for years has been his principal support - that bodily infirmity occasioned him to lay aside the practice of Physic as many as twenty years ago, and from loosing its revenues and from misfortunes neither feigned nor necessary to relate, this Deponent, who is in the eighty first year of his age, is now in reduced circumstances and desires and needs assistance from his country for support - and further saith not.
  Jabez Campfield
Sworn before me the day &
year first above-written.
   Gab H Ford

   On the day and year first above mentioned before me Gabriel H Ford President as afsd. personally appeared Genl. John Doughty, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith -  That he has been resident in Morristown from his youth till this time, excepting the period of his military services during the revolutionary war and several years of military service under the United States establishment after the peace, during all which time he has been personally acquainted with Doctr. Jabez Campfield, and is well assured that he served as a Regimental Surgeon in the war of the revolution from the beginning of seventeen hundred & seventy seven, till the peace of seventeen hundred and eighty three - and this Deponent further saith that the said Jabez Campfield is
Page 6

in reduced circumstances, and this Deponent verily believes he needs assistance from his country for support.  This deponent hath inspected the original documents (of which Exhibits A.B. & C. hereto annexed are true copies) and has no doubt but that said documents are genuine and true - and further saith not -
   Jno Doughty
Sworn before me the
Day & year first above written
   Gab H Ford

  On the day and year first above mentioned, before me Gabriel H Ford, President aforesd. personally appeared Lewis Condict Esqr. of Morristown in the county afsd. who being duly sworn deposeth & saith he has been personally acquainted with Doctr. Jabez Campbell many years and has always believed that he served as Regimental Surgeon in the Continental army during nearly the whole revolutionary war; - that the said Jabez Campfield having been many years out of practice is in reduced circumstances and as this Deponent verily believes needs assistance from his country for support.  This Deponent has inspected the original Documents (of which Exhibits A. B. & C. hereto annexed are true copies) and has no doubt but that said documents are genuine and true - and further saith not.
   Lewis Condict
Sworn before me the day
& year first above written
  Gab H Ford
Page 7

"Reposing confidence in his patriotism & skill I
"appoint Dr. Jabez Camfield Surgeon of Col. Spencer's
"Jersey Regiment.  General Hospital January
"1st. 1777.  W. Shippen Jnr. Dir. Genl. Hosl."
  Exhibit A.  Gab H Ford


"In Congress.  The delegates of the United States
"of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Isl-
"and, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn-
"sylvania, the Counties of New Castle, Kent and
"Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North
"Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to Jabez
"Campfield, Gentn.  We, reposing especial trust &
"confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct and
"fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute & appoint
"you to be Surgeon to a Continental Regiment of
"Foot commanded by Colo. Oliver Spencer in the
"army of the United States raised for defense of
"American Liberty and for repelling every hostile,
"invasion thereof.  You are therefore carefully &
"diligently to discharge the duty of Surgeon by doing
"and performing all manner of things thereunto be-
"longing.  And we do strictly charge and require
"all Officers and Soldiers under your command
"to be obedient to your orders as Surgeon.  And
"you are to observe and follow first orders and
"directions from time to time, as you shall receive
"from this or a future Congress of the United States,
"or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed,
"or Commander in Chief for the time being of this
Page 8

"army of the United States, or any other your superior
"officer, according to the rules and discipline of war,
"in pursuance of the trust reposed in you.  This
"Commission to continue in force until revoked by this or
"a future Congress.  Dated the first day of April 1777.
"By order of the Congress, John Hancock, President,
"Attest.  Chas. Thomson, Secy."
   Exhibit B.  Gab H Ford

"At a meeting of His Excellency the
"Governor and Council of Safety holden at Dan-
"bury in the State of Connecticut 17 August 1781-
"Doctor Jabez Campfield is appointed Surgeon to the
"2d. Regiment of Light Dragoons instead of Doctor
"John Homans resigned.  Extract from the mi-
"nutes.   Jedediah Strong, Clerk.  The above is a
"true copy from the original Warrant sent to Head
"Quarters Octr. 21, 1782 agreeable to Genl. Orders Octr. 20,
"1782.  Robert Pemberton. A Adjt. Genl."
  Exhibit C.  Gab H Ford

State of New Jersey, Morris County Ss:  I Gabriel H Ford, President of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Morris Afsd. certify my entire satisfaction that Doctr Jabez Campfield acted under the Continental establishment as Regimental Surgeon in the revolutionary war during the time stated by him in his foregoing Declaration - That I have inspected the original documents now in his hands (of which Exhibits A. B. and C. hereto annexed marked with my name are true copies) and have no doubt but the said Documents are genuine and true.  I further certify that I am personally acquainted with Doctr. Jabez Campfield - that
Page 9

he is in reduced circumstances and needs assistance from his country for support.  All of which I send to the Secretary of War pursuant to the Act of Congress in such case made & provided.  Witness my hand the sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen -
  Gab H Ford

State of New Jersey
County of Morris  SS   I Robert H McCarter Clerk of the County of Morris aforesaid, do hereby certify that Gabriel H Ford Esqr. before whom the foregoing affidavits are made, is, and was at the doing thereof, duly enrolled "president of the several
"and respective courts of Oyer and terminer and general Goal
"delivery, General quarter sessions of the peace, Inferior Court of
"Common pleas and Orphan Court, in and for the County of
"Morris" and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given, to his official acts as such
[seal affixed]
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said County this seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen -
Robert H McCarter
Page 13

Dear Sir

  I feel myself under many obligations to you for your friendly attention to me - I herewith inclose my deposition as required by the War Department and shall be under further obligation to you for your care in presenting them to the Secretary of War
  I am with much esteem
  Your obedient Servt
  Jabez Campfield

Morris Town Aug. 17h, 1818
Page 14

(Filled in form)

DISTRICT OF New Jersey, SS.

  On this Seventeenth day of August 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Morris & President of said Court, personally appeared Jabez Campfield aged eighty years, resident in Morris town in the said district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war:"  That he, the said Jabez Campfield entered into the Service in the state of New Jersey in the Regt. commanded by Colonel Oliver Spencer one of the sixteen additional Regiments as Surgeon of said Regiment on the first day of January 1777; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the 15th June 1783, when he was discharged from service in 2d Regt. Light Dragoons Commanded by Col. E. Sheldon of Danbury in the state of Connecticut, that he was in the battles of ash Swamp, Short Hills Brandewine - Germantown - Springfield and at New Town on the Western expedition under Genl Sulivan and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support;
  Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Gab H Ford    Jabez Campfield

  I, Gabriel H Ford esq Judge, &c. as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Jabez Campfield did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.  I also certify that the claimant is in reduced circumstances.  Dated 17th, Augt. 1818
  Gab H Ford

[seal of 
the court]
Page 15

State of New Jersey
County of Morris  Ss }  I Robert H McCarter Clerk of the County of Morris aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Gabriel H Ford Esqr before whom the foregoing affidavit is made is, and was, at the doing thereof, duly enrolled "President of the Superior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Morris" and that full faith is credit, is due to his official acts as such.
[seal affixed]
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said County, this seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen
  Robert H McCarter
Page 16

  I hereby certify that Jabez Campfield made his first declaration on the sixteenth day of June 1818, for the foregoing purpose, & that it was sent to the War Office.

  Gab H Ford
  Judge
Page 18

Morris Town Jany. 27th 45.

Sir,

  Yours of 24th relating to the case of Doctr. Jabez Capfield is recd.  You state, that "the Law of March 18, 1818, gives no higher rate of pay to a Surgeon, then $10. pr. month":  This is no doubt correct, but his representations suppose that under the act of June 7th 1832, they may rightfully claim an additional allowance inasmuch as under its provisions officers of the same rank & quantum of service, have larger sums allowed.  It also provides that certain officers receiving under the law of 1818, a smaller pension than is given by the act of 1832, may on certain conditions have the benefit of the latter law.  I state an instance from memory - but you will find it substantially true.  Thomas Cobb, a Sergt. in the army recd under the former law a pension of $8. pr. mo. equal to $96. pr. an:  This had been recd. several years.  Some years after the act of 32 passed, he was admitted on application under the latter act, to an enlargement - viz: $10. pr. mo or $120. pr. an. & the difference between the two, paid from 1831 (perhaps from 1818) to the time of the addition.
  If then it extends this privilege to a subaltern - can it be refused to a Surgeon or others of a different rank?
  Doctor Campfield's respentations claim the difference between $20 pr. mo. & the pay of a Regtl. Surgeon of  Cavalry from his first payment to the last paymt. (perhaps to the time of his death.)  If the act of 1820, requiring a schedule of property cut him off from March 4, 1820, it could not affect his rights prior to its passage, & while he was in rect. of the $20. pr. mo.
  The act of 1832 contained no poverty or property restrictions - but extends its benefits equally, in proportion to rank & service
  In Sergt. Cobbs case - he probably furnished a schedule - or he wd. not have been continued:  but it is not perceived that this fact could avail him any thing under a subsequent law, unless special reference is therein made to the fact.

Very respectfully
Your obt. Servt.
Lewis Condict

Col. Edwards