Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 612, for Robert Mc Chesney, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey

McChesney, Robert

NUMBER
S.612
Carded
===
CONTENTS
Page 2

74044
New Jersey
===
Robert McChesney
of Middlesex in the State of N. Jersey
who was a Private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Dey of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Nelson in the N. Jersey
line for 7 months
===
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of May
1833 and sent to Dr. Chesney
Hightstown NJ
===
Arrears to the 4th of Ma '33 46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep '33 11.67
[total] $58.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo C. Stiles Clerk.
Book E. Vol. 4. Page 121
Page 3

C No. 4121
Robert McChesney
5 Mch 1833
Obj. 5.13
Hon. J. F. Randolph
P 283
Undefined service of 2 mo.
disallowed

Adm'd
7. mo pri
$23.33
Dr/ McChesney
Present

[column at right: 21 1.15 1.15 1]
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Robert McChesney
of Middlesex Co. in the State of N. Jersey
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Common Pleas

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 74 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. In 1777 Jany

Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days.
Times not specified, he believes between 9 months & 1 year

Rank. As a O. Sergt.
"

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen. (Militia)
Capt. Dey, Col. Nielson
" Combs " Hyre

5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middlesex Co. N. J.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.

D. Brown
Examining Clerk.
Page 5

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ss }

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress passed the 7 June 1832.
On this thirty first day of July Eighteen Hundred and thirty Two, personally
appeared in open Court being a special Term of the Court of Common
pleas in and for said County held at the City of New Brunswick in the
said County of Middlesex now sitting being a Court of Record
Robert McChesney, a resident of the Township of South Brunswick and
County aforesaid aged Seventy four years on the twentieth day of
March last, 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 the 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States in the Militia of
New Jersey as an orderly Seargeat [sergeant] under the following named
Officers and served as herein stated Viz. in the Company commanded
by Captain John Dey under the command of Colonel John Nielson
in the early part of January 1777- shortly after the Battles of Trenton
and Princeton, and which was stationed at a Town or, village called
Cranberry about fifteen miles from New Brunswick, and continued
in said Company at the same place until the first of April
following being releived one half of the time by other parts of the
Militia he then moved into the Township of Windsor in said County
into the company commanded by Captain Jonathan Combs under
Colonel Jacob Hyre, and shortly after was called out under the said
Officers to the same place, and continued there he thinks to sometime
about the first of June following, and while on those different tours
was on different services, one of which was commanded by the
said Captain John Dey who comanded that scouting party, and
near New Brunswick we attacked a party of the British light horse, and some Hessians
who were coming out as a plundering party, when we took three Hessians prisoner
and killed one, this rout was about thirty miles going, and returning, after this
tour ending about the first of June as above stated, the next I was order out
in the same Company under the said Colonel, we marched through Somerset
County to a place called Cox-town in Hunterdon County, and after laying
there some time we marched to Sourland mountain at the time the
British army marched from New Brunswick to Somerset Court-house,
and from there marched to a place called Staels-gap where part of
General Washingtons Army lay, and when the British retreated from
Somerset Court-house we marched in order to harrass the British on
there retreat to a place north of the Road leading from New Brunswick
to Perth Amboy, and continued out until the British army crossed over
from the latter place out of New Jersey to Staten Island, and then returned
home in the whole of this tour I marched about one hundred miles
Page 6

the next tour he thinks was when the British army was marching from
the Chesapeake to Philadelphia was called out in the said Captain
Combs company does not recollect the name of the Colonel, and marched
to Trenton with an expectation of crossing the Delaware into Pennsylvania and
after laying there some time was order to Elizabeth Town opposite to
Staten Island where part of the British army, and the refugees lay, and
continued there for a month or half a month does not remember which
and was then relieved, the next tour this deponent thinks was back
to Elizabeth Town again and was then put into the company commanded
by Captain John Schenk under the command of Colonel John Nielson
when a plan was adopted to cross on to Staten Island with which
party this deponent went under the command of General Dickinson
and the aforesaid Captain and Colonel, the whole party was pretty
strong and marched almost over the whole Island, and about the time
we were coming off we were attacked by a party of the refugees,
sometimes called Greens, in which attack we had one man
wounded and taken prisnor, how long this tour lasted he does not
remember, but some who were out at the same time say it was one
month, Elizabeth Town is about thirty eight miles from where this
deponent resided at that time, but this deponent was out at every
call made upon the Militia untill shortly before the Battle of
Monmouth when he got his leg very badly fractutored in two places,
which rendered this deponent incapable of service, afterwards
and from the best of this deponents recollection he verily believes he
was engaged in the service as aforesaid for as long a time on the
different tours as between nine months and one year, but if the
said pension law is intended to include the time engaged in the
Company trainings to be instructed in the manul exercise, then
he verily believes he was engaged for more than one year, but this
he will leave to be determined by the proper departments, and this
deponent further declares that he has no documentary evidence relating
to his services, and he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension, or anuity except the present, and declares that his name is
not on the pension Roll of the agency of my state, and this deponent
also declares that the foregoing are the most material facts that he can at
this distance of time recollect of his services during the Revolutionary War.
and this deponent further declares that all the officers under whom
he served during that period are now dead as far as he knows
except the above named Colonel John Nielson, and not being long
under him, I dont expect he now remember any thing about my services-

Robert McChesney

Sworn and subscribed in open
Court this 31. day of July 1832
Thos Hance, Judge
Page 7

We Symmes C. Henry Pastor of the first Prysbetarian [Presbyterian] Church in the village
of Cranbury in the County of Middlesex and John Neilson
residing in the said County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Robert McChesney who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy four years of age, and that
he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to
have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion.

Symmes C. Henry
with the exception of a precise knowledge
of his age - John Neilson

Sworn and subscribed in open
Court this 31 day of July 1832
Thos Hance Judge

Interogatories put by the Court to the above named applicant

1. where, and in what year were you Born
Answer in the Township of South Amboy in the County of Middlesex
on the 20 day of March 1758.

2. Have you any Record of your age and if so where is it.
Answer it was entered by my father in a Book called the life of
Luther, and taken from the same by me and entered into Tennants
sermons, which I have now in my possession.

3. where were you living when called into service, where have you
lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live.
Answer in the Township of South Amboy in the County of Middlesex
in the said County except nine or ten years in the County of
Monmouth, But I have lived in the said County of Middlesex
this thirty seven years past, and I now live in the Township of
South Brunswick in the said County of Middlesex

4. How were you called into service
Answer always as a volunter, I never was draughted, nor served as
a substitute

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 service.
Answer I do not recollect that I was out under any regular officers of the
standing army I was out part of the time of General Dickinson of New
Jersey and the Colonels, and Captains that I have named in my
declaration and I do not remember any others as this time and as to
the general circumstances of my served. I do not now recollect any
other circumstances of importance than what is contained in my
foregoing declaration-

6. did you ever receive a discharge from the service.
Answer I never received any regular discharge, when the tours expired
for which I was called out I was always verbally discharged from those
different tours.

7. state the names of persons to whom you are known in your present
neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and
their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
I will name Major Andrew McDowell, Colonel David Chambers
Page 8

Abraham Gulick, John Rue, John Ervin and John Grove of the
Revolution, and John Dey Esquire, George Morris, John Stonaker
Lewis Dey, and Samuel Mount elders in the Church in Cranbury
to whom I will and Captain Timothy Horner and Captain Benjamin
M. Clark of late years.

Robert McChesney

Sworn and subscribed in open
Court this 31. day of July 1832
Thos Hance, Judge

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the
Investigation of the matter, and after putting the above 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 the said
Symmes C. Henry who has signed the preceeding certificate is a
Clergyman resident in the said village of Cranbury in the
County of Middlesex, and that John Neilson who has also
signed his name to the same is a resident in the said
County of Middlesex, and is a creditable person, and that their
statement is intitled to credit.
the foregoing affidavits were all
Sworn to and Subscribed in open
Court this 31 day of July 1832
before the subscribing Judges namely
Thos Hance
N Booraen
Jo's. Ford } Judges

I F. S. Vanarsdalen Clerk of the Court of
Common pleas in and for the County of Middlesex
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 Robert McChesney for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of
Office the 31st day of July 1832.

F. S. Vanarsdalen Clerk
Page 9

INVALID. Rev War
File No. 612
Robert McChesney
Pri N. J. Line
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:-- Vol. A, Page 64
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 10

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ss

Personally appeared before me
Josiah Ford one of the Judges of the Inferior
court of common pleas for the said county
Andrew McDowell, Esqr who being duly sworn
according to law upon his oath saith that
he is well acquainted with Robert McChesney,
who is applying for a pension
under the Acts of Congress of the United States
and this deponent knows the said applicant
to be a soldier in the Militia of the revolution, and that
this deponent has personal knowledge of
the said applicant, being ["engaged" crossed out] with
the Militia of the State of New Jersey, at William
Farms or West Field in the Year of
Seventeen hundred and seventy seven or
Seventeen hundred and seventy Eight
under the command of Col. John Neilson
and this deponent has good reason to beleve
this applicant was frequently engaged with
the Militia during the war. The Tour of duty
at Westfield lasted about three weeks as
this deponent believes

Andrew McDowell

Sworn & Subscribed to before
me the day a year aforesaid

Jos. Ford

I do hereby certify that Robert McChesney above
named has been for many years a presiding Judge
of the Court of common pleas for s'd. County and that the
witness Andrew McDowell Esquire has been for
many years a Member of the Board of free holders
and is a Man in whom the utmost confidence
can be placed

Jos. Ford Judge
Com pleas
Page 11

I Robert McChesney an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7 1832
having had his declaration and papers returned from the war department
relating to his said application for further explanation in two particulars
Viz. requiring more precision as to the time of his actual service in the
Revolutionary war, and secondly as to proof of his actual service, who
after being duly sworn according to Law, doth in addition to his
original declaration to which this is attached, further declare as to the
first, that upon the most mature deliberation, and reflection to the best of
his memory, he was engaged in his first tour at the village of Cranberry
altogether as much as three months, and in his next tour at least as
long as one month and a half, and in his third tour as long as one
month and a half, and in the fourth as long as one month which as
far as he remembers are the most material tours he was out in,
making in the whole as relates to them altogether seven months
but from the long distance of time that have entervened since that
to the present, and from a state of very infirm health and loss of
memory, he cannot now recollect with precision, and certainty the
whole of the time and places that he was engaged in the said service
and it must be evident that those who lived on the lines as I did at
that time, and who were continually liable to short calls on various
occasions of alarm that it is possible to remember the whole of the time
But I think, and verily believe that I was engaged in the service at
least in the whole as long a time as nine months at least, and more
from first to last, and further than what I have above stated I cannot
under oath declare, and this applicant also declares that he would
rather go without any compensation for the hardships fatigue and
privations that he underwent, and endured during the arduous
struggle for Liberty, and the Independence of his Country than to
say more than he has above stated relating to his actual service
and as relates to the proof of actual service, he again declares
that as for as he knows and verily believes there is not one officer
under whom he served now alive, Col John Neilson who has departed
this life since I made my original declaration, that after the most
strictes enquiry that this applicant hath been enabled to make he
cannot find or discover any person by whom he can prove his
actual service excepting the affidavit hereunto attached made
Page 12

by Andrew McDowell Esqr. as to one town, as is therein stated
which it will be observed is one tour of three weeks which he this
applicant had forgot when he made out his original declaration
and there may be others in the same situation which has
escaped his memory, and further says not.

Robert McChesney

Sworn & Subscribed to before
me the 4th April A.D. 1833
Jos. Ford
Judge Court Com pleas

I Nicholas Booraem Clerk of the Inferior
court of common Pleas of Middlesex County
in the State of New Jersey do hereby certify
that the forgoing contains the original
proceedings had before the said court, and
the supplementary affidavit had before
Josiah Ford Esqr in the matter of Robert
McChesney for a pension & I further
certify that Josiah Ford before whom
the last mentioned affidavit was
taken is a Judge of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas of said County duly commissioned
& authorized to administer oaths
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said court this eleventh
day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred thirty three

N Booraem