Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 854, Runyan Barkelew, New Jersey
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SERVICE: New Jersey
Barkelew, Runyan
NUMBER: S.854.
carded
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New Jersey 17334 
Runyan Barkelew
of Middle[?] in the State of N. Jersey 
who was a Dragoon in the Comp commanded 
by Captain Johnson of the Reg. (10) commanded 
by Col ---- in the N. Jersey line for
2 m. Sergeant. 
2" Dragoon 
21"  priv.

Inscribed on the Roll of N Jersey
at the rate of 83 Dollars 81 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Aug 1833 
and to J. F. Randolph present 

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33 $171.62 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 42.90 
[=] $214.53 

{Revolutionary Claim,} 
{Act June 7, 1832.} 
recorded by Geo. C. Stiles Clerk, 
Book E. Vol. 3 Page 182 

Right side:
Seth N. Carrol Oct 12. 1843 
3d Aud. Feb 27/56
J. Barkelew March 4/56
(11)

Crosswise, very faint:
Pension paid the same day to [?]
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Runyan Barkelew

Certificate to Ja. F Randolph
W. [Bevin?] ? N Jersey
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State of New Jersey}
Middlesex County ss:}
On this eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex being a court of record and now sitting, Runyon Berkelew a resident in the County of Middlesex & State of New Jersey who being first duly sworn according to Law And examined and interrogated according to the instructions from the war department doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832- That is to say -
That he was born in the County of Middlesex & State of New Jersey on the 12th day of February in the year 1756 and is now in the 77th year of his age, that he resided in the County of Middlesex aforesaid at the commencement of the revolutionary war and has always resided there from the time of his birth - He has a record of his age copied from one Kept by his father -  On the breaking out of the revolutionary war he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer soldier & private in a company of Militia, under the command of Captain James Forson [?], but dont remember the names of his
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Colonel or Lieutenant - His first Tour of service was one month, and at Elizabethtown in Essex County - After his first Tour he returned home where he remained a [illegible] & was then called out again for a month, & served along the Line of Elizabethtown & Amboy & continued to serve every other month to the close of the war but under different Captains to wit Captain John Waldron and Nicholas Booraem but dont Know how Long he served under each - When the British Army Lay at New Brunswick he Joined a troop of horse under Captain Robert Nixon & served in the Capacity of a trooper for three months together Their Head quarters during the said three months were at Hightstown in said county of Middlesex but their service was principally in the vicinity of New Brunswick.  After the expiration of the three months he again joined the foot & continued as before he stated till the end of the war in that service, being out about every ^third or fourth month - He served part of the time as Sergeant but cant tell how Long - The country through which he marched was the counties of Essex, Middlesex & part of Somerset Hunterdon & Monmouth in the State of New Jersey, & it was in these counties were [sic] his services as a soldier were rendered - He was at the battle of Mon[mouth]
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[Mon]mouth in a flanking party but dont know under what Captain Nor does he know the names of any of the officers of the regular or continental army with whom he served nor the names or number of any militia or continental regiment - His memory at this distant day & at his advanced period of Life fails to supply him with facts and events relative to & connected with his services as a soldier of the revolution which were once fresh in his recollection nor can he now designate his various tours of service, nor the names of all the officers under whom he served, but of this he is fully assured, that he served in the whole at different periods more than two years. He has no written discharge from the service nor any documentary evidence thereof but is well Known to Jehu Dunham a soldier of the revolution who is still Living and who can attest to his service during the war as a soldier & is also well Known to the Rev. James Goble a a clergyman & Stark Van Deusen[?] both of whom reside in his neighbourhood and can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution - And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
[Signed] Runyan Berkelew
Sworn to & subscribed in open court}
the day & yr aforesaid}
[Signed] N. Booraem Judge
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State of New Jersey} 
Middlesex County ss.} 
I John Dunham of the County of Middlesex & State of New Jersey do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Runyon Berkelew who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration. That I knew him during the war of the Revolution & know that he served as a soldier during the war but for how long I am unable to say. I know also to be a man of veracity & have full confidence in the truth of the Statement made by him in relation to his service as a revolutionary soldier & contained in his said declaration.
[Signed] Jehu Dunham
Sworn & subscribed in open court }
the day & year aforesd.} 
[Signed] N Booraem Judge 

We James Goble a clergyman residing in the Township of North Brunswick & County of Middlesex and Staats [?] Van Duesen residing in said Township do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Runyon Berkelew who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be of the age of seventy seven years or thereabouts. That he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur
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in that opinion.
[Signed] James C Goble S
[Signed] Stash Van Dunner [?]
Sworn & subscribed in open court}
the day & year aforesd.}
[Signed] N. Booraem Judge

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogatories [sic] prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the said James Goble who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Middlesex in N Jersey & that Staats Van Duesen who has also signed the same is also a resident in said county & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit - Dated Septr 11 1832 [Signed] N. Booraem
[Signed] Thos Hance 
[Signed] Jos.  Ford 

I Ferdinand S Van Arsdalen Clerk of the inferior court of common Pleas in & for the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Runyon Berkelew for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court this nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty  two
[SEAL]
[Signed] F.S. Vanarsdalen Clk
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ss.    Personally appeared before the Judges of the Inferior court of common Pleas in & for the county of Middlesex in open court Runyon Barkelew who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively 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 the period of one month [1- in margin] he served as a private and volunteer at at Elizabethtown in N. Jersey in the Militia of R.I. in a company commanded by James Johnson Capt. - The commencement of his service was in the summer of 1776 and as he believers in the month of July or August it was while the British were on Statten Island and shortly after the the Landing of the British army and a short time before the battle of Long Island. From this period he served till the end of the war mostly as a private but a part of the time (dont know how Long) as a sergeant, for every other month for part of the time & every three or four months the [illegible] that being the regular Tours except while the British Lay at New Brunswick where he Joined a troop of horse & served as a private for three months in succession [3 mo Dragoons in margin]. After he quit the cavellry he again Joined the infantry & served till the close of the war more than two years in the whole for which Service he claims a pension
[Signed] Runyan Barkelew
Sworn in open court}
March 16, 1833}
[Signed] Jos. Ford Judge
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And the court further certify their opinion that Jehu Dunham who has signed the first certificate hereunto annexed resides in the said County of Middlesex & in the neighbourhood of the said Applicant & is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit.  
March 16, 1833.  [Signed] Jos. Ford
[Signed] Thos Hance 
[Signed] Simeon Mundy

 I Nicholas Booraem Clerk of the Inferior court of common Pleas in and for the county of Middlesex in N Jersey do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original and supplementary proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Runyan Barkelew for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
[Ribboned Seal]
[Signed] N Booraem Clerk
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Runyon Barkelew
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(4) 
Supplemental affidavit of Runyon Backelew an applicant for a pension named in papers marked No 7885. 
State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ss. 	Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the Said County of Middlesex Runyon Barkelew an applicant for a pension named in papers numbered 7885 who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot Swear positively to the precise length of time of all his Services but to the best of his recollection he Served not less than the periods below mentioned & in the following grades. He entered the Service of the United States in the year 1776 in the Spring of the year as he now thinks from the well remembered fact that he Served three months before he entered the cavalry which was he knows at the time the enemy came to Brunswick which was in the early part of December 1776. He voluntarily Served being ordered out & Served (in May or June he thinks) one month ^as a private under Capt Johnson at Elizabeth town. [In margin, 1mo. Private]
Afterwards in the Same year he was ordered out & Served two tours of one month each as Serjeant at the Same Station under Capt Waylun (not Waldron as he is made to Say in his previous declaration) This service of two months ^was as Serjeant under Waylum at Elizabeth town he now distinctly recollects. [2 mo Sergt]  In the latter part of the Same year about the first of December he enlisted in a troop of horse just then raised by Captain Nixon for three months & Served three months under said Captain Nixon furnishing his own horse ^as a private. [3 mo. Dragoon] His Head Quarters was at Hights' Town but the Service was Principally performed about New Brunswick - the enemy then being their & on the route through New Jersey. Immediately afterwards he was ordered out in the [illegible] militia & Served in the year 1777 & on tours of a month each as a private [4mo.] in the first & fourth tours under Captain
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Dey & he thinks Col. Neilson at Elisabeth town and the second & third tours under Captain Morgan at Chinqually [?] engaged in Scouts & guarding those Sections of the State. 
In the year 1778 he was again ordered out & Served as a private five tours of a month each [5 mo.] - the first two tours under Captain Waylum and the last three tours under Captain Dey & he cannot now Specify the Colonel & was chiefly Stationed between Woodbridge & Elizabeth town engaged in Scouts & in watching the plundering parties of the enemy and during this year was marched to Spotswood & thence to Monmouth & was engaged in that [illegible] memorable battle & had well nigh perished with the heat & fatigue & recollects that many of his associates were killed & many wounded.
In the next year 1779 he was as before ordered out & Served as a private four tours of one month each under Captain Booraem and Col Webster [?] he thinks was one of his colonels [4 mo] Principally in the middle of the State engaged in guarding the lines along from Amboy to Blazing Star & east of it along the Jersey Shore. In 1780 he was ordered out and Served four tours of a month each as a private [4 mo] - the first three tours under Captain Dey & the last tour under Captain Waylum & believes that Heard was one of his superior officers & was during his Services this year quartered at the Woodbridge Station engaged as before in guarding the lines watching the enemy & well remembers the Battle of Springfield but was not there having been discharged a short time before. 
In the year 1781 he was ordered out again & served three tours of a month each^as a private under Captain Booraem & Col Corw or Col Webster & was stationed in the middle of east- New Jersey guarding the lives & protecting the families & property of his fellow citizens. He is Sure that during the years Specified he Served more than he has particularized being out on Alarms & was also out in the years 1782 & 1783 & was at New York & witnessed the evacuation
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of the city & Saw the transports men off And during all the periods Specified he was actively engaged in the Service of his country & was not engaged in any civil pursuit & for this Service he claims a pension
[Signed] Runyan Barkelew
Sworn & Subscribed this 17th July AD 1833 before me
[Signed] Peter P Runyon}
Justice of the Peace}
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(8) 
Treasury Department 
Third Auditor's Office 
March 1st 1836 

Sir,
I herewith return "the papers on which Runyan Barkelew was inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey, under act of 7 June 1832, at the rate of $85.80 per annum" enclosed in your letter of the 27th ultimo & in reply have to inform you that he died on the 13th of June 1843, & his pension has been paid in full to that date. 
Very Respectfully 
Your obt servt 
[Signed] Robt J [illegible- Traimer?]
Auditor

J Minot Esqr.
Commr of Pensions
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(12)

Rev War.
INVALID.
File No. 854 aw
Runyan Barkelew
Priv. N.J. Line
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:-Vol. A, Page 16
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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(9)
Runyan Barkelew
NJ - [act?] 1832

Papers 3d Auditor
Feb. 27/56.
Cole

Crosswise:
LANCASTER O FEB 16 [postmark]
FREE [postage]
Hon. Commr of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
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(5)
Middlesex County} 
New Jersey ss.}  Be it Known that on the sixteenth day of July 1833, before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Christopher Vandeventer, a surviving soldier of the Revolution & in the seventy Eighth year of his age, who being duly sworn deposeth & saith, that he is well acquainted with Runyan Barkelow, an applicant for a Pension named in papers numbered 7885, and has known him from his childhood - knows that said Barkelow served as a soldier in the Revolution  - recollects of being out with him at least one tour of a month in 1776, and another tour in 1778 - Knows also that said Barkelow belonged to a company of horse & served in said company. This, he thinks was in the beginning the year 1777. Knows that said Barkelow was out repeatedly in addition to these tours, but not being with him cannot specify times and place. Believes, [illegible] always understood, that he served his regular tours, which, as he well knows, were very frequent, hazardous & laborious. Believes said Barkelow to be a man of strict veracity & probity, and has no doubt of the truth of his entire statement in relation to his revolutionary services 
[Signed] Christopher VanDeventer 
Sworn & Subscribed before me the day & year aforesaid }
Peter P. Runyon }
Justice of the peace} 

I hereby certify that Christopher Vandeventer named in the foregoing affidavit is a credible person, and that his statement entitled to belief 
[Signed] Peter P. Runyon 
Justice of the Peace
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I Nicholas Booraem, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing are the ^supplemental proceedings in the case of Runyon Barkelew, an applicant for a Pension - that the Peter P. Runyon before whom the same were had, is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned & sworn, that his official acts as such are entitled to full faith & credit, and that the signature Peter P Runyon is in his proper hand writing. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court this Eighteenth day of July one thousand Eight hundred & thirty three.
[Ribboned seal]
[Signed] N. Booraem Clerk
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(7)
Lancaster Ohio
Feby 15 1836.

Commr of Pensions 
Sir,
My Father Runion Barkelew now deceased served as a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, and was at and for some years preceding to his death the recipient of a pension. He died in 1845. It is my opinion that he was entitled to back pay and land for his services in said war, which he never received, and to which his heirs are now justly Entitled - He served in the New Jersey line. Myself or his other heirs have no knowledge of the names of the Officers under which he claimed Service, and for death of which they are unable to be present their claims as required by law. I would therefore most respectfully thank you to furnish me, if consistent with the high duties of your Department, with the names of the [illegible-ary] Officers. my said father served ^under in the Jersey line, that I may be enabled to present the claims of his heirs in a legal manner for their examination. 
Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt.
Stephen Barkelew

Address Stephen Barkelew
[illegible]
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Aug 22d 43
N.J.
R. Barkelew

Crosswise:
Hon. J.L. Edwards
Commr of Pensions
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(6)
Washington Augt 21st 1843 

Sir
At the joint request of Hon. James F. Randolph and myself, we request you to examine the case of Runyon Barkelew who was a Sergeant of Dragoons, during the War of the Revolution, and pensioned under the Law of 1832, at $85.51 per ann. 
We believe that upon a re-examination it will be found that the service he proved entitled him to receive more than this - We believe that the papers now on file will be amply sufficient & would particularly direct your attention to his case 
You will please address the [illegible] upon the subject 
I have the honor to be 
Very Respy
Yr. Obt. Servt.
[Signed] Nichs. Carroll

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington
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Runyon Barkelow

Return this [?]

Admitted
2 mo Sergeant
3 " Dragoon Private
21 " Private

19

10
12.48
63.33
[=] 85.81

James F. Randolph
N. Brunswick N.J.

Right side:
26 mo.
3 m. Dragoon
2 " Sergeant
21 " Private
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(2)
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Runyan Barkelew which require further proof or examination.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?

V. *Has he mentioned 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 what amout [sic] of pension he is entitled?  See quere 5

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

X. Is the clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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2.
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 

XIV +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? 
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? 

XVI. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 

EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
[Quere 5 is bracketed]
*QUERE V. 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 ____  year ____ months and _____ days, I served as a _________ . For ____ months  and ____ days, I served as a ________ and for such service I claim a pension.
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(3)
[Quere 5 is bracketed]
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. [Underlined:] Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served; 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 required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants 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. 

++QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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. 
>>In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.