Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 983, Sylvanus Crowell, New Jersry
Page 1

New Jersey
Crowell,Sylvanus
S.983
carded
Page 2

(Note: page torn upper left and lower left)

9472

New Jersey
Sylvanus Crowell

Essex Co. in the State of N. Jersey
was a Private in the company commanded by
Captain Smith of the Reg't commanded
by Col. Van Courtland in the N. Jersey Militia
...for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 80 Dollars -----Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of May
1833    and sent Isaac Pierson
                             Orange N. Jersey

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833.           $160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep '33.   40.00
      Died April 24, 1833.                         $200.00

Recorded by Geo. B. Whiting. Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 105
Page 3

No. 4,444

Application of
Sylvanus Crowell
   for Pension
Page 4

                DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit theAct of congress of the 7th June 1832

State of New Jersey
Essex County
     On this 15th (16th?) day of August 1832 personally appeared before me Abner Ball one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county and State of New Jersey  Sylvanus Crowell a resident in the township of Orange in said county of Essex and State of New Jersey aged seventy two years the 25th day of October next ensuing who being duly sworn according to law doth made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
     That he entered the service as a militia man on the 25th of October 1776 being 18 years old as at that age every abled bodied person did military duty and that he did his first monthly tour or more under Capt. Isaac Smith at Elizabeth Town point.  And through the year 1776 did monthly tours at Elizabeth Town and Newark.  That in 1776 and 1777  he believes did monthly tours and out on alarms half the time in guarding the lines as the British had possession of New York Bergen and Staten Island the -?- of Newark and Elizabeth being considered on the lines - that the deponent belonged the company commanded at the commencement of  -?- by Capt. Isaac Smith for a few years and then by Capt. Isaac  Gillan and Capt. Thomas Baldwin to the close of the war and was attached to Colonel Philip Van Courtland's regiment and Samuel Hayes as Major during the war -  the residence of deponent and company was 6 miles from Newark 7 from Elizabeth and 25 miles from New York and that the company were considered on the lines and in some of the enemies excursions came within its bounds and that the company were at all times in readiness at the shouted notice or an hearing the alarm gun -  that in 177- (last number smudged) deponent served as enlisted volunteer under Capt. James Wheeler three months as certificate of David Lynn will shew in 1778 deponent enlisted and served under Capt. Crag/Cray at Elizabeth Town. Samuel Hayes was Major as certificate of John Teed will shew - the deponent saith he was during some monthly tour does not recollect under what officer but was at Monmouth  in the first of the engagement - that he was doing monthly tours when the enemy lay at Amboy and was in several engagements below Westfield (?) with foraging parties - that when the green coats came to Elizabeth Town was in an engagement at Galloping Hill and followed on their rear guard to Belville and had an engagement there with them and followed on their rear over the fording above Hackensack in Bergen County and then returned to Newark after 4 days fatigue without any provisions only what he could get by buying or begging the year not recollected - That in June 1790 when the enemy invaded the Jerseys and burnt Connecticut Farms the deponent that...
Page 5

(continued from previous page)

....Memorial Day engaged in repelling them and was in the hottest of the engagement when the militia fought with a few of Col. Dayton's regulars fought like heroes and two were killed
 some wounded of the company the deponent belonged to and also the week following when Springfield was burnt by the same enemy the deponent was engaged through the day and followed the enemy hard on their rear to Elizabeth Town point, was at that time under Capt. Isaac Gillam field officers he believes Ens.Head - The different Captains the deponent did monthly tours under does not perfectly recollect but recollects the following: Capt. Isaac Smith several monthly tours at Newark and Elizabeth town under Capt Isaac Gillam several number cannot say as different places - also under Capt. Elijah Squire Capt. Isaac Reeves Capt. John Edwards Capt. Hunterdon Capt Matthias Lyon Capt. Thomas Baldwin and he believes others not recollected besides tours in alarms which were often and deponent verily believes was in the alarms six months if not more and that with the enlistment and monthly tours the deponent was in actual service more than two years exclusive of alarms.

   He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 State -
Sylvanus X Crowell

Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid.
   Abner Ball Justice of the peace

      CERTIFICATE
    We Joseph Guilderswleeve a clergyman presiding in the township of Springfield County of Essex and State of New Jersey and -?- Isaac Pierson of Orange -?- hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Sylvanus Crowell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that we believe him to be seventy two years of age the 25th of October next and that he is reputed and believed to be a soldier in the revolutionary war by the inhabitants of the neighborhood where he resides and we concur in that opinion.
Joseph Guildersleeve
Isaac Pierson

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Abner Ball Justice of the peace
Page 6

The following interrogatories were propounded to the applicant:

Where and in what year were you born?
Answer- under the mountains near South Orange -?- the Township of Newark now the township of Springfield county of Essex State of New Jersey and have resided in the same county to the present day was born the 25th of October 1776
Have you any record of your age answer - yes here it is in the Family bible 
How were you called into the service? answer  -  first by drafts of monthly tours of militia  - by 2 enlistments one of 3 months some of 6 months and monthly tours by draft and alarms -
I do certify that Joseph Guildersleeve and Isaac Pierson are situated as stated by them and they are reputable and credible gentlemen and also  I do certify that Sylvanus Crowell the above applicant is from bodily infirmity unable to attend the County Court.
Abner Ball Justice of the peace

State of New Jersey
County of Essex
   I Elias Van Arsdale Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas holden at Newark in and for the County of Essex aforesaid do hereby certify that Abner Bell Esquire before whom the foregoing and annexed affidavits were taken and by whom the above certificate is signed was at the time of taking said affidavits and signing the said Certificate one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County residing therein and duly commissioned and sworn and authorized to take the same that I am acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and verily believe the Signature "Abner Ball" are genuine and that full faith and credit are due to his office acts.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the said Court at Newark aforesaid the Seventh day of March AD Eighteen hundred and thirty three -  7th day March 1833.
Elias Van Arsdale CLK
Page 7

State of New Jersey 
Essex County
   Personally appeared before me Abner Ball one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County Sylvania Crowell who being duly sent maaaketh the following explanatory observations on the Pentionary declaration and deposeth and saith 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 below.
That he served under Capt. Crag six months under Capt. James Wheeler three months under Capt. Isaac Smith two monthly tours at least - under Capt. Isaac Gillan three monthly tours at least - under Capt. Elijah Squire one monthly tour or more under Capt Abm. Speer two months or more under Capt. Matthias Lyon two months under Capt. ---man two months under Capt. Elias Baldwin one month under Capt. Thomas Baldwin one month making twenty three monthly tours as a draftee Militia man and volunteer -besides the extra seven on alarms which deponent verily believes amount to six months if to more through the revolutionary war.
Sylvanus X Crowell

Taken before me this 6th day of March 1833
Abner Ball Justice of the Peace
Page 8

hand written at top:

Did not use Oct. 35, 1776, as that was the date of his enlistment and his age could be calculated from the two statements in the beginning of his deposition.
Page 10

Left side:

9/97 - Hist. to Mrs. Garwin
 Rec. Div . - Pension bureau
-98 - same as above
June 13 1900
Mrs. E.C. Luther
Pawtucket RI

center of page:

Rev. War INVALI D
File No. 983
Sylvanus Crowell
Priv. N.J. Mil.

Act: June 7, 1832
Index:- Vol A, Page 80

right side:

Dec.
Jan 5
1929 - July 26 Hist. to Florence C. Thorkelson
              M.E.E.
Page 11

Sylvanus Crowell
 -?- N.J.


bottom of page:   
     $80
Page 12

Sylvanus Crowell

V.   No See June 5 (?)
Page 13

XIV.  No see June 14

XVI.  No See June 16
Page 14

3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the Milita, &c. without specifying the tours; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
Quere XIV Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are
Page 15

State New Jersey
Essex County
   Personally appeared before me Abner Ball one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county Isaac Tichenor and inhabitant of said County who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he in the revolutionary war deponent recollects being on monthly tours with Sylvanus Crowell under the following Captains - under Captain Isaac Gillan at least three monthly tours - under Capt. Elijah Aquire one month under Capt. Matthias Lyon two monthly tours - under Capt. Abm Speer two monthly tours - under Capt. - Zorolman two monthly tours - under Capt. Thomas Williams one monthly and one month under Elias Baldwin - the deponent further says he verily believes that the said Crowell was during the revolutionary war more than two years in actual service and further that the monthly tours were faithfully performed and said Crowell was esteemed a faithful Soldier.
Isaac Tichenor

Taken before me this 6th day of March 1833
Abner Ball Justice of the Peace
I also certify that said Isaac Tichenor is a person respected for his morals and credibility
Abner Ball Justice of the Peace
Page 16

    Personally came before me Abner Ball one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Essex and State of New Jersey John Teed of said county and state who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that Sylvanus Crowell was in the revolutionary war in 1778 was enlisted and served six moths under Capt. Crag and Sam'l Hayes Major at Elizabeth Town in which company the deponent was also enlisted and served six months and further deponent perfectly recollects monthly tours under different captains in which said Crowell was during the revolutionary war.  did not belong to the (smudged word) company under alarms - and further saith not
John Teed

Take before me this 15th day of August 1832
Abner Ball Justie of the Peace
Page 17

   I certify the within named John Teed is a. credible person.
Abner Ball Justice of the Peace
Page 18

     Personally came before me Abner Ball one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Essex and State of New Jersey David Lyon a resident in the said County who being duly sworn deoseth and saith that he has perfect knowledge of that Sylvanus Crowell served and an enlistment  three months under Capt. James Wheeler in 1777 he the deponent  was in the same company and served also three months and also perfectly recollects said Crowell served monthly tours under different Captains in the revolutionary war.
David Lyon

Taken and subscribed before me this 15th day of August 1832
Abner Ball Justice of the Peace
Page 19

I certify the within named David Lyon is a credible person.
Abner Ball Justice of the Peace.
Page 20

horizontally at top:

New Jersey
Returned Case
11th March 1823

N. 4444
Sylvanus Crowell


Vertically below the top:

Hon. Secretary of the
  War Department
       Washington
              D.C.
Page 21

(Note: paper torn and smudged at various places - illegible to read)

    Orange  Essex County  N. Jersey
The papers of Sylvanus Crowell have been -----back from the War Department for further ---- explain the  -?- .  I called upon him and found present two additional witnesses present viz: Isaac Tichenor and Deacon Joseph Pierson who were with him much in the revolution - Mr. Tichenor immediately stated that Crowell had not in his first declaration stated all the monthly tours of duty performed by him - he brought to recollection of Crowell a number of incidents on which Crowell remembering the same has made affidavit to more service than was contained in his first declaration to which the said Tichenor has added his own testimony - I have only to state for your information that Mr. Crowell is much broken down by age and disease - this disease is dropsy and asthma combined  which in all human probability must very shortly terminate his life - he is poor and totally unable to get out of door to look up any testimony - I hesitate to to say that in my opinion more -----(this whole line on a crease in the paper smudged)---- and the testimony of such men as Tichenor and Deacon Joseph Pierson than on his own recollections - altho I firmly believe that Crowell is a man of conscientious veracity and no pecuniary consideration would lead him to mistake any fact but to expect of him a......
Page 22

(note: continued from previous page - words and whole lines smudged where paper was folded)

.....declaration of the present time of service won/done to the year is out of the question - I shall add that Crowell is reputed to have been a  stern wh---  in the war - public fame awarded to him -------- much faith (rest of line blurred) Militia Man in the County and I have no doubt rendered more service than is contained in his declaration -  You will please to sworn that he had/lived on the lines that the British kept a Military Fort in Bergen I think under the command of Major Ward a refugee that during  the winter the River Passau and Newark bay are usually frozen over sufficiently hard to admit a passage on the ice to Elizabeth Town, Newark and -?- and neighborhoods - The refugees were in the winter season constantly and sending out marauding  parties, to drive off cattle, horses, burning houses -?- and carrying away individuals who by their zeal had rendered themselves obnoxious  to the Tories - Mr. Crowell with certain others were particularly noticed for their alertness in watching these Marauders  and have no doubt that he was called into service a he states more than six months in cases of alarms - and rendered great service to his country -  I have not the practice of the War Department but should they be ------- papers as now sent on and grant the Warrant the Warrant may be enclosed to me and sent to the Post Office in Orange Essex County - It may perhaps be proper for me to say that I have had the....
Page 23

(continued from previous page)

....honor of serving as a representative of New Jersey for four years and am the immediate predecessor of the Hon. Silas Condit -
With great respect
Yours
Isaac Pierson

March 8th 1833
Page 24

Dickinson, N. Dak.
April 2, 1929

United State Dept. of Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:
    Do the Revolutionary war records of your bureau afford any information in regard to Frederick Mills, Michale Woodward of Belgrade Maine
John Mills of Belgrade, Maine, Ezekiel Crowell or Sylvanus Crowell?
Your truly,
Florence Crowell Thorkelson
Dickinson, N. Dak.