Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 743, for Aaron Reed, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey

Reed, Aaron

NUMBER
S.743
Carded
===
CONTENTS
Page 2

11.671
New Jersey
===
Aaron Reed
of Monmouth Co in the State of New Jersey
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Walton
New Jersey
Militia
2 Ys [?] Private - $80.00
===
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 80 Dollars per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 23d day of March
1833 and Sent to H. D. Polhemus Freehold N.J.
===
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 40
[sum] $200.00
{ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by John F. Sprague Clerk
Book D. Vol. 4 Page 172
Page 3

Mon'th [Monmouth] Co. N.J.
Aaron Reed
Declaration &c.
under Act of June
1832 - for a pension
---
No 5129
Page 4

I Daniel H Ellis 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 annexed contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Aaron Reed for a Pension, and that John Patterson Esq before whom the annexed affidavits were taken was at the date thereof duly enrolled in my office as a Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in said County of Monmouth, duly commissioned and sworn into office and that full faith & credit are due and ought to be given to all his official acts as such - And further that I am acquainted with with the hand writing of the said John Patterson and verily believe his name subscribed to said affidavits to be his proper hand writing and Signature

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 27th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two

J.H. Ellis Clk
Page 5

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County } ss.

On this thirty first day of July AD 1832 Personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth now Sitting Aaron Reed a resident of the County of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey aged seventy six 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

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated

That in September 1776 he belonged to a Militia company commanded by Capt Hankinson of the Township of Freehold in the County & State aforesaid. That one half of said company performed a tour of duty for one month, he thinks in August 1776 under a Captain Hunn, That he himself went out the next month under Cap Hankinson who had command of a part of Captain Hunns Company. That he was marched to Deal near Long Branch in said County and performed one months duty under Cap Hankinson, and the company was then relieved by Captain Hunns Company That he served another monthly tour before they laid down arms, which was when the British and tories obtained the ascendency in the County, which was but a short time. That after the Battles of Trenton and Princeton they resumed their arms, and he commenced the performance of his monthly tours of duty
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and continued to turn out every other month and do military duty until the end of the war sometimes under Captain Hankinson at another time under Captain Elisha Walton and also under Captain John Walton. That very frequently he done duty in the intermediate months upon alarms and general calls of the militia. His services were confined altogether to the County of Monmouth as he does not recollect being upon any tour of duty out of the County. That they were principally engaged in the defence of the shores, In repelling the British and Refugees in their frequent predatory excursions into the County and in protecting the property and lives of its citizens from the attacks of the British Refugees and Tories, who after plundering burning and destroying the property, would oftentimes in cold blood take the lives of such as had rendered themselves obnoxious to the British Government or the Tory party. That he was very often engaged in skirmishes with the British and Refugees, when out upon scouting parties. That it is out of his power to detail minutely his various services upon such occasions. That on one occasion he marched under Genl Forman with the Monmouth Militia to Sandy Hook to take as he understood the Light House, but the British defeated them in their object and they were forced after a little skirmishing to retreat, he cannot tell precisely the time
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but thinks it was early in 1777. He does not recollect of serving with any of the Continental Troops He recollects Captain John Burrowes Company of regulars being in the County, stationed he thinks at the Court House, that his field officers when out in the service was Major or Col Holmes Col Scudder & Genl Forman, others he does not remember. He and John Reed were brothers lived with their father at Freehold, and so arranged, that but one of them would be out at a time although sometimes both were out together. That during the whole war one or the other was out all the time. He thinks the officers under whom he served are all dead and that he has no documentary evidence of his services, but Peter John Rose Wm Cheesman his Brother John Reed all still alive and can testify to his services, he does not at this time recollect any others That he was born in the Township of Freehold on the 27th of Jany 1756. That he has the family bible containing a record of his age. That he has always lived in the township of Freehold. That he went into service under the Militia laws of New Jersey That his neighbors James Herbert & Benjamin Van Schoick can testify to his character That he served with no Continental Troops and knew none of the officers. That he hereby relinquishes any claim to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State

Aaron Read

Sworn and Subscribed
John Patterson
Page 8

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County } ss:

Personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth William Cheesman and Peter Johnston both residing in said County who being sworn according to Law deposeth and say that they have known Aaron Reed for 60 years. That they have frequently seen the said Aaron Reed out with the Militia of Monmouth County in the performance of his monthly tours of duty and also upon alarms and general calls, during the Revolutionary war, That deponents served in the same company of Militia with him That they cannot pretend [?] how long the said Aaron Reed served in the militia. But
judging from the number of times they knew him to be out upon duty, and from the character the said Aaron Reed sustained as a good Whig and good soldier all the time deponents knew him they verily believe that the said Aaron Read served more than two years in the militia, and that he is justly and honestly entitled to be placed upon the Pension Roll under the Act of June 7th 1832. That the declaration of the said Aaron Reed has been distinctly read to the deponents and they believe the matters and things set forth therein are true

William Cheeseman
Peter Johnston

Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid

John Patterson
Page 9

We John Clayton of Freehold & Benjamin Van Schoick of Upper Freehold hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said Aaron Reed who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 76 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

Benj Van Schoick
John Clayton

Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Patterson

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 mentioned applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that no Clergyman resides in the neighborhood of said applicant and that John CLayton & Benjamin Van Schoich who have Signed the preceding certificate are resident in the neighborhood of said applicant and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit

John Patterson
John Headden
John Hull

I Daniel H Ellis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Aaron
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Reid for a Pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 31st day of July AD 1832

D. H. Ellis
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No. 5129
Aaron Reed
Susp'd Nov 28
4. 3. 14. 16.
Adm'd
[illegible]
H. D. Polhemus
Freehold
N. J.
[illegible]
Page 12

BRIEF in the case of Aaron Reed
of Monmouth 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? 76 years

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

[Table has only headings and one row of data]
Period.
In 1776 Sept'r.

Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days.
every other month during the war

Rank. As a
Private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Capt. Hankerson sometimes, & sometimes under Capt. Walton

5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Freehold N Jersey

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Living witness, Traditionary evidence
(not certified)
No clergyman near

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

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

D. Brown Examining Clerk.
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Rev War INVALID.
File No. 743
Aaron Reed
Priv. N. J. Line
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:-- Vol. A, Page 310
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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$80.~
Certificate
Aaron Reed
Payments to be made
at Trenton
by P Dickinson, Prest
Trenton Bking Co.
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of
New Jersey
#43

Recorded in the Pension Office,
in Book E Vol. 5
Page 48 by
John F. Sprague Clerk
Page 15

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States
of the 7th June, 1832, Aaron Reed of the State of New Jersey who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Eighty dollars and -- cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this 22d day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty three

Lew Cass [Lewis Cass]
Secretary of War

Examined and Countersigned. }
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 16

April 5 1833 Paid to Mar 4, 1833.
Sept 26, 1833 paid to Sept 4, 1833
Mar 21, 1834 Paid to Mar 4 1834
Sept 16. 1834 Paid to Sept 4 1834
Mar 14 1835 Paid to Mar 4 1835
Sep 5 1835 paid to Sep 4 1835
Mar 5 1836 Paid to Mar 4 1836
Dec 8 Paid to Sep 4 1836
Mar 9 Paid to 4 Mar 1837
Paid to 4pp [?] 1837 Paid to 4 Sep 1838
Page 17

Aaron Reed's
Supplemental
Affidavit &c
Page 18

Supplemental Affidavit

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County } ss:

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Aaron Reed an applicant for a Pension, being the same person named in the papers marked No 5129 who being duly sworn deposeth & saith, That he is in the 76th year of his age, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively 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 grade. That I served in the Militia of New Jersey as a Private and in no other capacity. That I served in the year 1776 two months. That in the year 1777 I served six months, in the year 1778 six months. In the year 1779 six months, in the year 1780 six months. In the year 1781 six months and in the year 1782 six months and for such service I claim a Pension. That the periods of service mentioned above fall short of the time I actually served in the war. That I rendered these services under the militia law of New Jersey, doing duty one month at a time sometimes longer as stated in my declaration. That at this late period of my life I cannot designate the months in which I served having no kind of memorandum to refer. And that I am unable to detail my services in the war more precisely than I have already done Aaron Reed

Sworn & Subscribed before me this 21st day of December AD 1832

William Lloyd
Page 19

I John Patterson a Justice of the Peace, and one of the Judges 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 Affidavit of William Cheesman & Peter Johnston relative to the services of Aaron Reed in the Militia during the Revolutionary War, and annexed to the declaration of the said Aaron Reed, and forming a part of the Original Proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of the said Aaron Reed for a Pension, (a [illegible] proceedings are marked No 5129,) was sworn to & Subscribed before me in open Court, and that the said Wm Cheesman and Peter Johnston are Known to the and are persons of credibility

Given under my hand this twenty Sixth day of December Eighteen hundred and thirty two

John Patterson

I Daniel H Ellis 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 William Lloyd Esq before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken, was at the date thereof duly enrolled in my office as a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Monmouth duly commissioned and sworn into office, and that full faith & credit are due & ought to be given to all his official acts as such, and further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Wm Lloyd and verily believe his name subscribed thereto to be his own proper hand writing and signature, and that I am also acquainted with the hand writing of John Patterson Esq, and believe his name subscribed to the above certificate to be his
proper hand writing & signature

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office at Freehold this twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two

W. H. Ellis