Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1081, for William Peirson, New Jersey
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(3-1776)

Service New Jersey    
Peirson, William  
Number S.1081
carded
contents
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New Jersey. 27. 998
William Peirson
of Essex in the State of N.J. who was a [illegible]
in the compy commanded by Captain Sudder of the - commanded by ------ in the N.J. Mil for 13 months
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey at the rate of 43. Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension ifsued the 1. day of Dec 34 Newark NJ and [illegible] Sam B. Miller
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. -34 $151.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending [illegible] :35 21.66
$173.32
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk, Book E Vol. 3 Page 126
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32.187
Declaration and Evidence of William Peirson for a Pension

Sam B. Miller
Newark N. Jersey
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Declaration 

State of New Jersey
Essex County 

On this Seventeenth day of August 1834 Personally appeared in open Court Before the Judges of the Inferior court of Common Pleas Now Setting  William Peirson A resident of the Township of Westfield County of Essex and State of New Jersey aged Eighty seven 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 act of Congress Passed June 7th 1832. 

Was Born in the Township of Elizabeth in that part now set off and known as the Township of Westfield in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey on the Twenty eighth day of March 1747.    Old Stile and was Eighty seven years old on the Ninth day of April last frost Agreeably to the present stile & According to the Record of his age which was entered by his Father William Peirson in his family Bible   Which Bible and Record is now in his possession.  

And that by reason of Old age the Great length of time and the consequent loss of Memory he Cannot swear positively as to the precise Length or periods of the war when he served but according to the best of his Recollection and full belief at this time he served as a Drafted and private soldier in the Revolutionary war at the time and not less then the periods mentioned below.  

That he first entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War at the then township of Elizabeth in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey as a private drafted soldier as he believes
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in the Month of April 177 in a Company of Militia Commanded by Captain John Scudder & done three months duty that year viz one Month in the Months of April and May under the Command of the said Capt John Scudder & in the summer of the same year done one Month duty under the Command of Captain Amos Morse  And in the Fall the same year done on Month duty under the Command of Lieutenant Eder Vermule attached to Captain Benjamin
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from Woodbridge to Elizabeth Town point under
the Command of Col Thomas and 
Colonel Jaquish.

And he further saith that in the year 1779
he still Continued in the same Company and in
the summer of this year done one Month duty under Capt John Scudder and in the Fall the same year
done one Month duty under Capt Amos Morse
making two Tours of duty this year of one Month each
stationd at Rahway Tremblys point & 
Elizabeth Town point
under the Command of Col Thomas &
Col Jaquish.

And he further saith that in the year
1780 he still Continued Enroled in the same
Capt John Scudders Company and in the spring of
the year done one Month duty under 
Capt. Amos Morse & in the fall done one Month duty under
Capt John Scudder  Making two Tours of duty
of one
month each stationd at Springfield Connecticut farms and along the Lines from Elizabeth Town point
to Rahway. under the Command of
Colonel Jaquish 
and he believes a part of the time under
Col. Jacob Crane.

And this deponant further saith that in the
year 1781. the said Capt. John Scudder having
Raised
a Company of yeon men [yeomen] he was Enroled under
Capt. Ephraim Scudder and in the summer or fall
done one Month duty under the said
Capt. Ephraim Scudder
stationd at Elizabeth Town point under the
Command of Colonel Jaquish. - And was in a
Number of Skirmishes with the British along the
Lines. - Making his whole service in the
Revolutionary war as a drafted private soldier one Year and one Month and for which service he
claims a pension. - And which he believes to be
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Several Month short of the service actually Rendered
the United States during said War.

And this deponant further saith that the
service herein Stated to have been performed by
him in the war of the Revolution was 
[illegible - Banified?]
and Actually Rendered viz one year and one
Month as a private drafted soldier in the Common Militia - That he was duly called out by the
government with his Company and Class & actually
stationed at the different places mentioned in this
Declaration during Military duty all that time

And that for the time during which the said
service was performed he was not engaged in any
Civil permit. -- He has no documentary
evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony
he can procure who can testify to his service further then
the affidavits hereto attached. as his main witnesses are
all ded. -

Interrogatories propounded by the Court

1st - Where & In what year were you born.
Answer - He was Born in the Township of Elizabeth
in that part now set-off and known as the
Township of Westfield in the County of Essex
and state of New-Jersey on the 28th day of
March 1747 Old Stile and was 87 years old
on the Ninth of April Last according to the
present stile. -

2nd - Have you any Record of your age & if
so where is it. -

A. - He has a Record of his age now in his
possession in his fathers old family Bible
as stated in the Declaration.

3rd. - Where were you living when called into
service where have lived since the
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Revolutionary War & where do you now live.
A. - He was living in the Township of Elizabeth in
that part now set-off and known as the Township
of Westfield County of Essex and state of New-Jersey
When first Called into service and has Resided
there ever since the Revolutionary war and
now Resides in the same place. -

4th - How were you Called into service  were you
drafted  did you Volunteer or were you a
substitute & if a substitute for whom.
A - He was a Drafted soldier in the Common
Militia service only. -

5th. - 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 service
A - He knew General Maxwell  Lord Sterling
Colonel Witherspoon  Col Heard  Col Barber
Col Matthias Ogen  Col Seely  Col Bott
Major Hayes & [illegible] all of whom he has seen with the troops when he served.

6th. - did you ever receive a discharge from the
service and if so by whom was it given &
what has become of it.
A - He never Received any written discharge from the service. -

7th - State the names of persons to whom you are
known in your present neighbourhood and who
can testify as to your Character for Voracity
and their belief of your services as a soldier
of the Revolution.
A. - Gedion Ross & Aaron Coe  
[illegible] Mason  Samuel Downer
John Scudder  William Clark  John Dunham
John B. Osborn  Major Stanbery  
Mr Jonathen H. Osborn & [illegible]
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He hereby Relinquishes every Clame whatever to
a pension or Annuity except the present and declares
that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the
Agency of any of the United states or Territories
thereunto belonging. -

Sworn to and subscribed
in open Court the day
and year first aforesaid

E Van Arsdale Js  Clk
William Peirson

We Stephen Thompson a Clergyman Residing
in the Township of Union. - County of Essex and
state of New Jersey. And William Clark
Residing in the Township of Westfield County of Essex
and state aforesaid. do hereby Certify that we
are well acquainted with William Peirson who
has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration
that we believe him to be Eightyseven years
of age that he is Reputed and believed in the
Neighbourhood where he Resides to have been
a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur
in that opinion.

sworn and subscribed the day
and year first Aforesaid
E Van Arsdale Js  Clk

Stephen Thompson
William Clark

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 Stephen Thompson who has signed
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Service New Jersey Pierson, William number S. 1081 carded
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Declaration of
William Peirson for
A Pension
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State of New-Jersey}
Essex County ss}  
Personally appeared before me
the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and
for said County Enoch Miller - of the Township of
Westfield - in the County and State aforesaid well
known to me to be of good standing in socity
and Entitled to belief as a Witness. - And
Being by me duly sworn doth on his Oath
depose and say that he is Seventy three years of
age  that he was a soldier in the Revolution
that he was during the Revolutionary war well
acquainted with William Peirson of the Township of
Westfield  in the County of Essex and state of
New-Jersey  that he believes the said
William Peirson  - to be as much as Eighty seven
years old
[That is - struck out] And is knowing that the said William Peirson
was Enroled and belonged to a Company of Militia under
the Command of Captain John Scudder in said county
during most of the Revolutionary war. or until the
four part of the year 1781. and was then under the Command
of Captain Ephraim Scudder. - But Cannot now say
what amount of Service was actually Rendered by the 
said William Peirson. - And this deponent further saith
that the service varied from one half to one Quarter of
the time during said war. That is to say that in
some part of the war one half of the sd Company would
be called out at a time and at other times one
fourth of said Company - And at alarms the whole
Company would be out in Mass. - And further saith not.

Sworn to And subscribed at 
Westfield in said County      
August 13th 1832 before me

Saml B. Miller - Justice of the peace

Enoch Miller
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State of New-Jersey
Essex County ss

Personally appeared before me
the Subscriber a Justice of the peace in and
for said County Clark Miller -- of the Township
of Westfield -- in the County and state aforesaid
Well known to me to be of good standing in
soity [sic] and Entitled to belief as a Witness - And
Being by me duly sworn doth on his oath depose
and say that he is seventy seven years of age that
he was a soldier in the Revolution that he was
during the Revolutionary war well acquainted with
William Peirson - of the Township of Westfield
in the County of Essex and State of New-Jersey
that he believes the said William Peirson to be as
Much as Eighty seven - years old. - That he is
Well knowing that the said William Peirson Belonged
to and was Enroled in a Company of Militia Commanded
by Captain John Scudder. - But Cannot now say
how much service the said William Peirson done
during saId war. - But he fully believes the Militia
was out on duty and in actual service one third
of the time during said war in this part of
New-Jersey. and further saith not.

Sworn to and subscribed
at Westfield in said County
August 13th A.D. 1834 before me

Saml B. Miller - Justice of the peace

Clark Miller
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State of New Jersey
Essex County   ss

Personally appeared before me
Samuel B. Miller a Justice of the peace in and for
sd. County James Doty of the Township of 
New Providence 
in said County   Well known to me to be a man
of good standing in Soity [society] and fully entitled to 
belief as a Witness   And being by me duly sworn
doth on his oath depose and say that he is 
seventy seven years of age  That he was a Soldier in the
Revolution  that he was during the Revolutionary war
well acquainted with William Peirson of the
Township iof Westfield in the County of Essex and
State of New Jersey  that he believes the said
William Peirson to be as Much as Eighty seven
years old
that he this deponent and the said 
William Peirson
both Belonged and were Enroled in a Company
of Militia Commanded by Captain John Scudder 
of Westfield Township in said County as private soldiers
and that said deponent and the said 
William Peirson were on duty together in the Revolutionary war several
Tours stationd at Elizabeth Town point and along the
enimies Lines under the Command of 
Col Thomas Col [Butler?] & Col Jaquish  and this deponent further
saith that from the knowledge he has of the service
of the said William Peirson [illegible] that he served as much or more
then [sic] he has clamed in his own statement viz. one
year and one Month  in said war and further saith not

Sworn and submitted this
14th day of August A.D.
1832 before me

Sam B. Miller   Justice of the peace

James Doty
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State of New Jersey }
County of Essex       } Ss.

I Elias Van Arsdale Junior Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common
pleas in & for the County of Essex do hereby certify that Samuel B Miller before whom
the several affidavits hereto annexed | of 
Enoch Miller, Clark Miller & James Doty, were
respectively made & taken, at the time of taking the same was & still is a Justice of the
peace for said County, duly commissioned & sworn, and that the name -
"Saml. B. Miller" subscribed to the Jurats of said affidavits respectively is
genuine -

[A seal with a ribbon is affixed at left.]

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my
name and affixed the seal of said Court, at Newark
in the said County the Sixth day of September, A.D.
Eighteen hundred and thirty four -

E Van Arsdale  Jr Clerk
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1081  Jn
Wm Pierson
_________________
Aug 20 1834.
Westfield NJ.
Born Elizabeth NJ  Mch 28 (O.S.) 1747
________________________________________
Enlisted Elizabeth N.J.
Send monthly term Each June
from 76 to 84  13 mos in all.
Capts Jno. Scudder   Amos Morse
Benj Laing, Jno. Craig -
Cols. Thomas, Potter, Jasquith r Crane
_______________________________________

Several skirmishes
______________________________________
No family histy
____________________________________

CTF 27998 - June 7, 32
Iss. Dec. 1, 34   NJ  Agcy
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[Trifolded paper- left side written vertically]

18.34
     77
______
     57

Get 25.
* Letter from L. B Miller
* N. Jersey - enclosed
*

N. J.

Admit as private
13mo 43.33

James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions

Washington City

[Round stamp on left]

NEWARK
OCT 22
N. J.
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[half of an illegible seal at top]

N.J.

Admit as private
13 mo    43.33

James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[Round stamp to left]

NEWARK
OCT
22
N.J.
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Newark New-Jersey October 22nd, 1832

J. L. Edwards Esq.

Sir

I Received your Letter
of the 18th Instant this morning Enclosing my
note to you of the 13th October Instant & appraising
me of the omission of my signature in my
Letter. - Which I have now added & again enclose
the same to you, And thank you for your prompt
attension. - Mistakes will sumtimes [sometimes] happen but I
dont Recollect to have ever made one of that kind
before. - Therefore you will please to excuse my
neglect in giving you so much unnecessary truble [trouble]

With do Respect & Esteem
I Remain your Obedient
Servant Et C.

Saml B. Miller
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[On left page]

Jany -7-1901. [illegible]
Chas. F. Gardiner - N.Y. City

[On right page]

INVALID.
Rev War [written at an angle]

File No. 1081
William Peirson
Priv. N.J. Mil.

Act: June 7. 1832.
Index:-Vol. A [not completely clear], Page 296

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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J. L. Edwards Esq
Washington City
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Samuel B. Miller Esquire
Newark
New Jersey
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This certifies that I am well acquainted with
Mr. William Pierson of Westfield. His character for probity & uprightness
has been unimpeachable for a long number of years. Such
also is the character of Mr. [illegible]ting the Minister of that
Congregation. Mr. Thompson another Clergyman
in this neighbourhood signed Mr. Peirson's certificate
because Mr. [illegible]ting was from home. 
Mr. Peirson is generaly supposed to be nearly ninety years old.

ElizthTown}
Septr 12- 1834}

David Magie
Pastor of 2d. Presby Churh