Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2552, John Fidler, New Jersey
Page 1

New Jersey

Fidler or Fiddler, John

S.2552
carded
Page 2

(left side of page)

NEW JERSEY 30956
JOHN FIDDLER
    of Hunterdon in the State of NJ
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Phillips of the Regt. commanded
by Col.  (blank)  in the N.J.
line for 6 months

John Fidler: Records OK. -?
 Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey
at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of Jan(?) 1837 and sent to Hon. L.
Southard Senate N.J.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836.             $110.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending4 Mar '37.        10.00      
                                                                     $120.00

Recorded by DD Addison Clerk
Book E2 Vol. 3 Page 129
Page 3

Declaration 
of 
John Fiddler





Benj Van Cleve
Trenton
NJ
Page 4

New Jersey
Hunterdon County
     Personally appeared before me Daniel Cook one of theJudges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Hunterdon aforesaid on this 27th day of June AD 1834 John Fiddler a resident of the township of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
    That he is unable to attend theCourt of Common Pleas of the County of Hunterdon on account of his advanced age and increasing debilities.
     That he was born in the township of Hopewell aforesaid on the fifteenth day of October 1759 and is now in the seventy fifth year of his age and that he has no record of his age as a verification of the same and that he has resided in the township of Hopewell ever since the above mentioned time
     That he entered as a volunteer in the militia of Hunterdon County aforesaid in the month of October 1776 in the Revolutionary War.
     That on the first of October in the year last aforesaid he joined the militia company commanded by Capt. Henry Phillips which was encamped at Smiths farms near Elizabeth Town in the County of Essex and state aforesaid which belonged to the regiment commanded by Col. Jos Phillips which said regiment was a
Page 5

(continued from previous page)

...component of the brigade commanded by General Philemon Dickinson - That he served in the third company at Smith's farms from the first of October until the first of November in that year making a period of one months service and that he was then taken sick with the dysentery which was then very prevalent in the New Jersey Militia and in consequence thereof was obliged to return home.
      That in the month of November in the same year when he had recovered  from his sickness he entered the company of Capt. Titus of the Hunterdon Brigade commanded by Genl. Dickinson and marched in the same across New Jersey with Genl. Washington  in his retreat from New Brunswick to Trenton and crossed with him the Delaware River and remained in Pennsylvania until the Battle of Trenton owing to his sickness for a few days when he again joined the same company and served three tours from the time of his commencement.
     That he next entered the company commanded by Capital Timothy Titus which was attached to the brigade commanded by Genl. Heard at Elizabeth Town and served their three tours to wit the months of July 1777 January and May 78 making three months service.
     That in the month of June aforesaid (1778) he joined the company of Captain Mott which was encamped at the Draw Bridge near Bordertown New Jersey with the Brigade of Genl. Dickinson in their march across New Jersey after the evacuation of Philadelphia...
Page 6

(continued from previous page)

....by Sir Henry Clinton and to obstruct their progress.  That from thence he marched in the said company to Freehold ands engaged at theBattle of Monmouth on the 28thof June. 78 ad left the said company in the following month of September having served three tours on months at the said places.
     That on the first of May 1779 he entered the company commanded by Capt Houten belonging to the brigade of Major General Philemon Dickinson and served on tour at the Passaic Falls in Essex County on tour at Pompton and one at Flanders in Morris County and that they were stationed at the above mentioned places to protect the inhabitants from the incursion of the Tories and to prevent and clandestine trading with the enemy and that at the above mentioned places he remained till the month of August of the same year making three months service
     That on the 10th day of November 1779 he served in the company of Capt Timothy Titus one tour at Maidenhead (now Lawrenceville) in the County where Genl. Dickinson's brigade there lay and from thence they returned home and stayed a short time there, marched to the Baptist Meeting House in Hopewell township aforesaid in the month of December where they remained until the first of January 1780 when they were ordered too march with the brigade of Genl. Dickinson to suppress the mutiny of the troops (crossed out: "of the New Jersey") which had taken place  (crossed out: "at Princeton") by the revolt of the Pennsylvania line and that they remained in arms until after the meeting of he Pennsylvania line was suppressed which was about the 20th of January 1780.....
Page 7

(continued from previous page)

....Having served two months during the said time.
     And this deponent further states that he served a longer time than the tours mentioned as above but is unable to give the length of time he was out under different officers during the revolutionary struggle.  And that Uriel Titus and Samuel Fiddler are witnesses who can corroborate the facts stated by him in his declaration as by references thereto more fully appear and that they are residents of the same township County and State, and that William McLenahan is the nearest clergyman to him and can testify to his character for veracity - his belief of my services as a revolutionary soldier.
John Fidler

Subscribed ad sworn the 27th day of June 1836 before me.
Daniel Cook
Page 8

     I Daniel Cook one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Hunterdon do hereby certify that John Fiddler was unable to attend the Court aforesaid  owing to his age and increasing infirmities and I do further certify and declare my opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and that William McLenahan a clergyman resident in the township of Hopewell aforesaid and that Samuel Fiddler and Uriel Titus who have signed the same are also residents of the township of Hopewell aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit - Given under my hand this 29th day of June in the year of our Lord and thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
   Daniel Cook


State of New Jersey 
    I James D. Westcott Secretary of State of  the State of New Jersey do certify that Denial Cook Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken and who has attested the same was at the time thereof and ow is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Hunterdon I  said State duly appointed, commissioned, and sworn and that full faith and credit are and out to be given to his official attestations - given under my hand and seal of office at the city of Trenton this 28th of June AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
James D. Westcott
Page 9

No. 6320

John Fiddler
Hunterdon County
New Jersey

Rev.

Return -?-

Names and date at bottom crossed out.
Page 10

War Department
Pension Office
25th May 1833

Sir:
     The evidence in support of our claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. Th see notes and regulations will "shew" what is necessary to be done.  These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with the; and you will, by complying with this request, great facilitate the investigation of your claim.

(Chart below - hand written words:)
 Period:  Summer 1777
Rank:  (illegible)
Officers:  Capts. Philips, Titus, Hunt, Tucker, / Col. Philips / Gen. Dickinson
    SEE 3 PAGE
Age: 73 Hunterdon Co.
Proof: Living & Traditionary

*He entered as a volunteer in the Militia and served 2 years.
Page 11

2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers, all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of
County of ss.

On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A.B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers:

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers ; the time he left the service ; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers:) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service ; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [graphic of a hand pointing right] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank]

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  A. B.

(And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank] who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)

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 A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission ; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his-
Page 12

 2  parts noted with a "#" in margin regarding missing information in application.

Written at bottom:

#Applicant will be requested to specify his device as above.
Page 13

2552
REv. War

INVALID

File No. 2552
John Fiddler
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832

Index: - Vol A, page 124
At bottom of page:

John Fidler. Records corrected
    Jany -?-  -?-
Page 14

To the pension department. Washington DC

 We   the subscribers residents of the township of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey do certify that we have been personally acquitted with the Rev. John Fidler of the said township (from childhood to the present time) hat he has always sustained a character for truth honest6y and integrity and that full faith and credit may be placed in the statement sworn to by him in his application to the pension department for the pay allowed to the militia by the government of the United States for services rendered in the revolutionary war.
    We do the more cordially recommend the said applicant to the favorable notice of the department as it is the general belief that he served his country faithfully and fearlessly in those perilous times of war and devastation of which New Jersey so largely shared and which the militia of New Jersey was so often called upon to repel as it is impossible from the length of time and the death of almost all his fellow militia men to get direct and positive testimony of all his services that we presume to solicit the department in favor of the applicant hopeing the said applicant will have the consolation in the decline of life to receive the reward so honestly and justly due him for his services and the United States have discharged a just reward.
August 1836
Page 15

These are the signatures of the signers of the previous page letter to the pension department for the benefit of John Fidler.

(Note of the right side half way down the page:  Jesse Moore in my 87 year of age
Asher R. Hart in my 76 year of age and was with him in battle and saw him fight)   !!!!!!!

Amazing outpouring of support......
Page 16

Hunterdon County
New Jersey
   I David Stout one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County pf Hunterdon do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the Rev John Fidler an applicant for pension and -?- was official (?) services in the New Jersey Militia during the Revolutionary War, and do most respectful recommend him to the department as a man of the strictest veracity for truth honor and Honesty and have not the least doubt but that he served his country faithfully as a militia man during the Revolutionary War.
David Stout

Hunterdon County
State of New Jersey
     I George W. Smith one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county do hereby certify and I am personally acquainted wit the Red. John Fidler the person mentioned in the foregoing recommendation and do most respectfully recomment him to the war department  to sustain the character therein stated and have not the least doubt but that his statement in his application could be fully sustained if his officers where now living of past was also acquainted with and further certify that the undersigners are all residents of the Township of Hopewell
George W. Smith


Hunterdon County
New Jersey
     I Joshua Bunn one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County do hereby certify that I have been personally acquainted  with the Rev John Fidler for fifty years and also acquainted with the persons in this foregoing Recommendation, and it is my firm belief that it is the unanimous opinion of the neighborhood -?- that he is a Revolutionary Soldier, is justly entitled to a Pension - I well remember to -?- heard Mr. Titus, his Captain, say that in one action when the balls were flying Mr. Fidler's gun not going off, he got down deliberately on his knee, picked up the flint then rose and fired. He  is now infirmed and heading over the tomb, and I hope that he may hear the consolation of receiving the reward so justly due him.
Joshua Bunn
Page 17

Signatures of men in benefit of the applicant John Fidler.
Page 18

     I Samuel Fiddler residing in the Township of Hopewell aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Fiddler who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration.  I believe him to be in the seventy fifth year of his age - That I know he has served under Captain Titus and the other officers he has mentioned in his declaration and that the facts related by him are true to the best of my knowledge. I believe that the said John Fiddler to have served in the Revolutionary War eighteen months - That he is also reputed and believed in the neighborhood  where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion.
Samuel Fidler

Sworn and subscribed
this 27th day of June AD 1834 before me.
Daniel Cook

     I William McLenahan a clergyman residing in the township of Hopewell aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Fiddler who has subscribed  and sworn to the above declaration - That I believe him to be in the seventy fifth year of his age - That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion.
W. Lenahan

Subscribed and sworn
this 27th day of June
AD 1834 before me.
Daniel Cook
Page 19

New Jersey
Hunterdon County
      Personally appeared before me Daniel Cook one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of common Pleas of the County of Hunterdon aforesaid, Uriel Titus who being duly sworn according to law saith that he is acquainted with John fiddler mentioned in the within declaration and has known him from the time of his infancy to the present time and that he is seventy five years of age one one year older than this deponent.  And further saith that he served with him several tours during the revolutionary war in the Hunterdon Brigade commanded by Genl. Philemon Dickinson.  Was with him at Elizabethtown at the Draw Bridge, at the Battle of Monmouth and at the encampment at Princeton as stated by him in his declaration.  That he believes him to have served the term mentioned in his statement but is unable to relate the exact length of time which he served in the war - and further saith not.
Uriel Titus

Subscribed and sworn
this 27th day of June AD
1834 before me.
Daniel Cook
Page 20

Declaration 
of
John Fiddler
a
Revolutionary Soldier

No. 6320


Hon. F.S. Schenck
Page 21

(Note: difficult to read - much "bleed through" of dark ink from back side of page)

New Jersey
Hunterdon County
     Personally appeared before me David Stout one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the county aforesaid on this  11th (?) day of August AD 1832 John Fiddler a resident of the township of Hopewell and county aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law doth on this oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
     That he is unable to attend the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid on account of his age and increasing debility.  That he was born in the township of Hopewell aforesaid on the 10th day of October AD 1759 and is now in the 75th year of his age.  That he is a clergyman and has resided in Hopewell township aforesaid since the Revolution - That in the summer of the year 177- (smudged last number) he entered as a volunteer in the militia of this count and served two years in the Revolutionary War - That the Regiment in which he served was commanded by Col.   Joseph Philips, Lieutenant Colonel Joab (?) Houten and Major Ephrain Anderson and afterwards Major Henry Philips first commanded the company to which he belonged and that it was afterwards -?- commanded by Captain Timothy Titus, John Hunt, Ralph Guild, John Mott, William Tucker, and Phillip Phillips - That the regiment aforesaid formed a component part of the Brigade commanded by Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson and company aforesaid to Hedley's Mills, Blazing Star, Elizabeth Town, Passaic Falls, Pompton Plains, Flanders, Trenton, was with Washington in his retreat across New Jersey and over the Delaware - that he lay encamped in Hopewell Township, Princeton and (Maidenhead)now Lawrenceville with the Regiment aforesaid a considerable length of time -  That he was present at the Battle of Monmouth ad Trenton - That he was discharged from service when Peace was proclaimed and that he has no documentary evidence of the service he has rendered to his country
    And this deponent further states that his memory has been much impaired by his increasing years and that he cannot recollect the exact dates of his services but is convinced that he served two years in the militia company above mentioned and further.....
Page 22

(continued from previous page - difficult to read much "bleed through" from dark ink on other side of page)

.....this Deponent saith not.
    He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is to on the pension roll of any agency of any state.
John Fidler

Sworn and subscribed the
13th day of August AD 1832
before me
David Stout Judge

    I Samuel Fiddler residing in the township of Hopewell aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Fiddler who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - I believe him to be in the seventy third year of his age - That I know that he served under Captain Phillips and the other officers he has mentioned in his declaration and that the facts related by him a re true to the best of my knowledge- That I believe that the said John fiddler was engaged in the service of his country during the Revolutionary War about two years - That he is also reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion.
Samuel Fidler

Sworn and subscribed this
13th day of August AD 1832
before me
David Stout
Judge

    I William McLenahan a clergyman residing in the township of Hopewell aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Fidler who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - That I believe him to be in the seventy third year of his age - That he is reputed and believed where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion.
Wm. McLenahan
Elder Methodist Church

Sworn and subscribed this
13th day of August AD 1832
before me
 D avid Stout Judge
Page 23

     I David Stout one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in the County of Hunterdon do hereby certify that John Fiddler is unable to attend the Court aforesaid on account of his age and increasing infirmities and also that Samuel Fiddler is likewise disabled from attending the said Court on account of recent sickness.  Witness my hand this 13th day of August AD 12832
   David Stout

    Common Pleas. Hunterdon County
       August Term 1832
    And the said Court  do hereby declare their opinion 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 William McLenahan who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman and resides in the township of Hopewell aforesaid and that Samuel Fiddler who has also signed the same is also a resident of the township of Hopewell aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement  is entitled to credit.  Given under our hands this fourteenth day of August AD 1832
Benj. Egbert
George Rea
John Barton
Page 24

John Fiddler

14 Oct to J.L.E.
Page 25

(Note:  VERY faint and faded.  Apologies some words illegible)

State of New Jersey 
Hunterdon County
      Be it known that on the 25th day of August AD 1836 personally appeared before me George W Smith one of the Justices of the peace in and for the said county Richard Hunt who being sworn upon his oath saith that he has been well acquainted with the Rev. John Fidler from boyhood and knew that he -?- Fidler was out several times in the militia service of the Revolutionary contest in Capt. Henry Philips company and Col. Joseph Philips Regiment and thinks he that he was out at different times with -?- Fiodler though did not belong to the same company but cannot remember where or the length of time but it was a general report that he was faithful in the service of his country.
Richard Hunt

Sworn and subscribed
this 25th day of August 1836 before me
   George W Smith

State of new Jersey
Hunterdon County
     Be it known that on the 25th day of August AD 1836 personally appeared before me George W Smith and of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said county George Muirheid who being duly sworn upon his oath saith that is well acquainted with the Rev. John Fidler and that he recollects of being sent out in the militia with -?- Fidler in Capital Henry Philip's company recollects of being with him at the Battle of Monmouth and once at Princeton and that he himself was out on monthly tours but cannot recollect the time with Fidler was out at those times and this deponent doth firmly believe that -?- Fidler was out many tours and through general report believes he was a faithful militiaman in time of the Revolution.
Geo. Muirheid

Sworn andSubscribed
the 25th day of August 1836
before me
     George W Smith Judge
Page 26

(Note: very faint and faded)

State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County
      Be it known that on this 25th day ofAugust AD 1836 personally appeared before me George W Smith one of the  Justices of the Peace in and for said county John Hart who being due sworn saith upon his oath that he is well acquainted with the Rev. John Fidler  and recollects of being out in the militia service with him one month at Hed----(?) Mills in Capt. Philip's company  but can not recollect of any other particular time but believes that he was out many different tours and is the general  belief that he was a faithful soldier in the Revolution.
John Hart

Sworn and subscribed
the 25th day of August
1836 before me
George W Smith

State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County
     Be it known that on the 25th day of August AD 1836 personally appeared before me George W Smith one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county Levi Hekley (?) who being duly sworn death on his oath saith the he is well acquainted with the Rev John Fidler and that he recollects of being with him in the militia service of the Revolution at two general tours (?) once at Princeton and once at Springfield but cannot recollect of any other particular time but from general report firmly believes that -?- Fidler acted faithfully in the Servis of his country as a militia soldier.
Levi Hekley (?)

Sworn and subscribed
this 25th day of August
1836 before me
George W Smith Judge
Page 27

(vertically to left)
N. Jersey Sept 16
Ret'd

J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
Washington
Page 28

Trenton Sept 10 1834

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Sir
   I enclose the papers returned with the application for pensions made by John Fiddler and Henry Simmins Senior - They do not claim so much time as before because they cannot specify according to your requirements - They can not distinctly specify the tours further than is contained in the last (underlined) declaration
    They are both failing so very fast that it will be impossible  to renew their examination - I had not observed that it was necessary to return the original papers until my attention was called to the circular by your letter.

Yours Respectfully
Benj. F. Vancleve
Page 29

Note: this is a duplicate of the previous page.
Page 30

vertically to left:
Oct. 24

-?- Saml. L. Southard


J.L. Edwards Esq.
Comm. Of Pensions
City of Washington
Page 31

J.L.Edwards Esq.
Sir:
     A very worthy and excellent old man, John fiddler, has called upon with his papers, in the hope that I may be able to obtain his pension. I have examined his papers, but cannot exactly understand the difficulty.  It seems to be that the precise and separate terms of service are not distinctly set out by the applicant, and sworn to by the witnesses.  I cannot judge correctly and surely of this point without to papers before me.  it is obvious however that an honest (underlined) man at this time of day, would find just difficulty in the specification of the particular months - a rogue (underlined) would find none - the applicant and witnesses would lose their pensions before they would go beyond their memory.  Those of them whom I know are pious good men - reputed for good soldiers and patriots - The Law did not intend that cautious men should fail - while others succeeded.
As to the succession of the months, not being authorized by Law - there was often really no law to guide us in this State - Our militia went when they were called and that was almost constantly.  It is hard that the very severity of their service ad their devotion should place them in a worse situation than those who were seldom called and less seldom served .
Page 32

(continued from previous page)

....grant the pension, will you oblige me by sending them to me - that I may see what can be done? I have in my hands papers, in his favor, signed by very many of his neighbors and Fellow Citizens - one of whom Asher R. Hart adds to his name these words "In my 76th year of age.  I was with him in battle - I saw him fight".

I am respectfully
Small. L. Southard
14 Oct 1836
Page 33

Pension

John Fidler -

$20 per annum

Hon S.L. Southard
Page 34

War Department
Pension Office
Nov 4 1836

Sir
     I have again examined the case of John Fiddler, and as I cannot admit his claim on such proof as is adduced, I herewith return the papers.  He sets forth 15 months service, but he has not conformed to the regulations, as you will perceive by comparing the papers wit the enclosed printed regulations.
     I regret exceedingly that these regulations bear hard in some cases; but if we did not adhere to some regulations like these, there would be no end to imposition.  I have no doubt but this claim is just.  But still, if the proof is not   such as the rules require the Department can afford no relief.

I have the honor to be
Very respectfully 
Your Obt. Sevt.
JL Edwards
Page 35

Trenton Bank
Pension Office
Septum 20 1838

Sir
   Income voucher of John Fidler requiring your special direction for payment.

I am Sir very respectfully
Your Ob. Sevt.
W.P. Hunt   for
P. Dickinson Pres.


J.L.Edwards Esq.
Page 36

Postmark upper left:

Sep 23
City of Washington 

JL Edwards
Comm. of Pensions

Benjamin F. Van Cleve Esq.
Trenton
New Jersey

(upside down at bottom)
John Fiddler
Page 37

War Department
Pension Office
Sept 20 - 1834

Sir
     In the new declarations of John Fiddler and Henry Simmins when original statements were that they performed two years service such in general terms, there are stated several times of service of the successive months duration. As such service in the militia was not authorized or required by the laws of New Jersey, it cannot be recognized.  This service is generally called three terms of one month each, in the declarations, but as the militia was by law divided with classes who performed duty in rotation and not in successive months, a further examination of actual service is necessary before any  computations of their allowances can be made.  The papers remain on file.  It does not distinctly appear whether there are survivors of each term of Service or not.  Uriel Titus and Samuel Fiddler testify in general terms to the service of John Fiddler and Jesse Moore to that of Henry Simmins, but their  witnesses furnish no proof in detail (?) of the services of the claimants and it does not appear but distinct proof might with proper diligence be procured, and then each term of actual service in which the claimants were engaged.

I am RespectfullyYour Obt. Servant
JL Edwards

Benj. F. Van Cleve Esq.
Trenton
N.J.