Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,796, George Graham, New Jersey
Page 1

SERVICE:  New Jersey
Graham, George
NUMBER:  S. 22,796
Page 2

25,736
Pittsburgh - Agency
___________________________
George Graham    25736
Greene Co. in the State of Penn
who was a Pvt. in the Company commanded by Captain Glover of the Regt commanded by Col Hanerson in the New Jersey line for Militia
2 Ys Private - $80.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh Agency at the rate of 80 Dollars --Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
_____________________________
Certificate of Penson issued the 30th day of Dec 1833 and sent to Hon A Stewart, Ho of Rep

___________________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833             200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34    40.00
                                                             $240.00
{Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. T. Sprague, Clerk
Book E  Vol B Page 77.

Feb 6 - 1840    A.  B
Page 3

George Graham
Declaration
25289
Page 4

Pennsylvania }
Greene County } SS
On this 18th day of March A.D. 1833 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common pleas now sitting George Graham resident of Greene County Pennsylvania aged seventy seven years of age 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 May 1775 he enlisted in Capt. Peter Shovers Company of New Jersey regular troops of Col. James Hankerson Regt. for the period of two years and has first marched from Essex County New Jersey to Elizabeth town point, and
was stationed there for five or six months
performing duty, and was marched from thence to Brunswick and was stationed there eight or nine months guarding the Jersey shores. That he was then marched to Long Island New York
and was engaged in the battle of that place on the 27th August 1776 in which engagement he was wounded by a musket ball in the left thigh but not badly. That he continued on Long
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Island till April 1777 and was marched to Elizabeth town New Jersey, where his term of service expired in May, and was discharged by his Col. but has lost it. That he has no documentary evidence of his services, nor does he know of any person at present by whom he can prove his services. That his memory is much impaired and prevents him giving as circumstantial a detail of his services as he could wish. That he is well known to the Revd. Jno. Tendyke and Mr. William Chapman who will  certify as to his reputation.  He answers as follows the interrogatories prescribed by the war department.

1st.  Was born in Sussex County New Jersey
in the year 1756.

2nd.  He has a record of his age in his Bible.

3rd.  That he lived in Sussex County New Jersey when he entered the service, and continued there a short time afterwards,- then removed to the western country and settled in what is now Greene County Pa. where he still
resides.

4th.  By enlistment

5th.  On Long Island he well remembers that
Genl. Washington was with the troops. That
Genls. Putman, Sullivan and Lord Stirling were there. That Sullivan and Stirling were both taken prisoner in the engagement.

6th.  That he received a discharge signed by
Col. Hankerson but was long since lost, taking no care of it.
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7th.  The Revd. Jno. Fordyce & William Chapman will certify as to his reputation.

He hereby relinquishes any pension or annuity 
whatever except the present and declares that
his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State.
             his
George  X  Graham
           mark

Sworn & subscribed
in open Court
March 15, 1833
Enos Hook
Prothy

The Reverend John Fordyce and William Chapman of Green County do certify that we are well acquainted with George Graham who has sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the
revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
John Fordyce
Wm. Chapman

Sworn & subscribed
before me in open Court
March 15, 1833
Enos Hook Prothy.
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George Graham
Declaration
25,289

And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter + after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department. That George Graham who enlisted + swore to the foregoing declaration was a revolutionary soldier  served as he states.  And the court do further certify that it appears to them that John Fordyce who has signed the within certificate is a clergyman resident of Greene Co Pa. and that Wm Chapman who has also signed the same is a resident of the said county + is a reputed person + that their statement is entitled to credit.
{Greene County
Pennsylvania}  Ss
Enos Hook prothonotary of the court of common pleas in + for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of George Graham for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said court this 19th day of March AD 1843   Enos Hook Prothy
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No. 25289
George Graham Green County
Pennsylvania

Adm 2 years
$80


Hon. A. Stewart

['R.P Flinnikin R.P. Fleming' crossed out]
Union Town
Penna.
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
12 June 1833

Sir:

The evidence in support of your 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 a 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. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those 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 them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
--------------------------------
A Statement, shewing the Service of George Graham Green County Pennsylvania
[table follows with 6 columns; column headings as follows:]
(1) Period when the service was rendered.
(2) Duration of the claimant's service. {sub-headings:  a. Years. b. Months. c. Days.
(3) Rank of the claimant.
(4) Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
(5) Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
(6) Proof by which the declaration is supported.

[text beneath column headings as follows:]
(1) Enlisted May 1775 
(2) a. 2 b. - c. -
(3) private
(4) Cap. Glover, Colonel Hankerson
(5) 77 years, Essex County New Jersey
(6) Traditionary evidence certified credible
& Clergymans certificate paper correct; 
Battle of Long Island
[end of table]

I am, respectfully,

Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

It cannot readily be admitted that the above service is insusceptible of proof, and the regulations require the production of the best to be had.
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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 [musicians] 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 [blankk} }
County of {blank] } 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. -->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
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3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
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 services.
6. {To a Soldier { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
-------------------------
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, 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 mentioned below, and in the following grades: --For [blank] year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]. For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]; and for such service I claim a pension."

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 that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of such 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate

Proof of Service.
[j] 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 required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
-->The ntoes from [a]. to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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April 13, 1938

George Graham
S. 22796
BA-J/AWF

Mr. Roger Penn
Clyde
Texas

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of George Graham, born in 1756 in Sussex County, New Jersey, died in 1840 in Pennsylvania.

The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 22796, based on the military service of George Graham in the Revolutionary War.

George Graham was born in the year 1756 in
Sussex County, New Jersey. The names of his
parents were not given.

While residing in said Sussex County, George
Graham enlisted sometime in May, 1775, served as private in Captain Peter Shaver's Company, Colonel Hankinson's New Jersey regiment; was wounded in the battle of Long Island, by a musket ball in his left thigh, and continued in the service until discharged in the month of May, 1777.

He was allowed pension on his application
executed March 18, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Greene County, Pennsylvania. He died February 8, 1840.

The papers on file in this claim contain no
Page 13

reference to the family of the soldier, George Graham.

In order to obtain the name and address of
the person paid the last payment of this pension, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and furnish the following data:

George Graham
Certificate # 25736
Issued December 30, 1833
Rate $80.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Pittsburgh Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 14

Greene County }
Pennsylvania } Sct.
Be it known that William Chapman Appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for said 
County personally and being duly sworn did on his oath say that he was present and saw George Graham who has applied for a pension in Greene County on the list in Capt. Peter Shavers company in the spring of 1775 in
Sussex County Hardwick township for two or three years that he went out and was absent in the service to the end of the term when he
returned home that he saw him while in the army & knew he went out & when he returned & further saith not.
             his
William  X  Chapman
           mark

Sworn & subsided
before me this
17 September 1833

I certify that the said
William Chapman is 
a credible witness
Richd. Long
Page 15

I Enos Hook Clerk of the Court of Greene County certify that Richard Long is a magistrate as herein stated, and that the within signature purporting to be his is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have
hereunto affixed my seal of office and
subscribed my hand this 18th day of September
1833-
Enos Hook
Prothy.
Page 16

['Fayette County' crossed out]
Greene County }
Pennsylvania } SS
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace in & for said County John Shields who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith:
That  he personally knew George Graham
in the State of NewJersey (the same man
whose declaration for a pension accompanies this)  That he knew him to perform service in the revolutionary war in Captain Peter Shavers compy. of Regular troops in Col. Hankinsons Regt that this deponent frequently saw the aforesaid Graham in the service in the said company during the year 1775 & 6. that this deponent and Graham lived near each other in Sussex County New Jersey, and he is positive that the afforesaid Graham served in the Revolutionary War & he believes as he states in his declaration, and further saith not.
         his
John  X Shields
        mark

Sworn & subscribed before
me this 17 September
1833 & I certify that
said John Shields is a
credible witness
David Worley
Page 17

I Enos Hook Clerk of the Court of Greene County certify that David Worley is a magistrate as within stated and that within signature purporting to be his is genuine-

In testimony whereof I have
hereunto affixed my seal of
Office and subscribed my 
name this 18th day of September
in the year 1833.
Enos Hook
Clerk
Page 18

March 27, 1938
Clyde, Texas

Veteran's Administration
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:

Please send me the Pension record of George Graham born in 1756 in Sussex County, New Jersey and died in 1840 in Waynesburg, Pa. He was a soldier in the Revolution. Please also send me his certificate number. Thank you
very much.

Yours truly,
Roger Penn

[stamp:]. RECEIVED MAR 31 1938 MAIL SUB-DIV. VETS ADM. READER #35
Page 19

August 5, 1930

AWF: MLB
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section

Office of the Quartermaster General
Cemeterial Branch
War Department
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 22796, that George Graham was born in 1755, in Sussex County, New Jersey.

While residing in Sussex County, New Jersey, he enlisted in May, 1775, and served in Captain Peter Shaver's Company, Colonel Hankinson's New Jersey Regiment; was in the battle of Long Island, where wounded by a musket ball in his left thigh, and was discharged in May, 1777.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 18, 1833, at which time he was living in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

He died February 6, 1840.       A. B.

Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner

Tombstone Data
Page 20

[stamp:]. OLD WAR & NAVY JUL 8 1902 FILES. U. S. P. B. 

815 E. TAYLOR ST.
BLOOMINGTON, ILL.,
JULY 3, 1902.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Sir, Enclosed please find data for two of my ancestors Job Throckmorton and George Graham, Revolutionary Soldiers. I would like
their military histories. The information is desired for both historical and genealogical purposes.

Sincerely Yours,
Mrs. George D. Sitherwood.

[stamp:] U.S. PENSION OFFICE G JUL 5 1902
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WAR DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL
WASHINGTON

IN REPLY REFER TO QM 293 A-M
Graham, George

July 28, 1930.

Subject: Verification of military service.

To:  Bureau of Pensions, Department of the
Interior, Washington, D.C.

1. It is requested that this office be advised
concerning the military service of one George Graham, soldier of the Revolution, as shown by the files of your office.

2. No record has been found of the service of
this decedent in the official files of the War Department.  In this connection, however, please refer to the inclosed letter from the applicant for a headstone to mark the grave of this decedent, especially that part of same
as refers to a pension.

For The Quartermaster General:
A.D. Hughes
Captain, Q. M. Corps,
Assistant.

Incl.
Letter 7-24-30

[stamp:] U.S. PENSION OFFICE X JUL 30 1930
Page 22

22796
Geo. Graham
----------------------
Mch. 18, 1833. 77
Greene Co. Pa.
----------------------
May 75. Sussex Co.    N.J.
Capt. Peter B. Shaver
Col. Aaron Hankinson
Bat. L-J
-----------------------
Born Sussex Co. NJ
1756
Page 23

[left side]
Revolution  22.796
INVALID.
--------------
File No.  22,796
George Graham
Pri. Rev. War
------------
Act.  June 7"32"
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 61
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side]
July - 1-1902
Mrs. Geo D. Sitherwood
Bloomington Ill.
---------------------
1930 ['Oct.' crossed out] Aug 5 ['Hist. to' crossed out] 
Tombstone Data Clme Bt.     AWF
-----------------------
1938 - Apr 13 - hist. to Roger Penn