Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,665, for John Johnson, New Jersey
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(8-1776)
Service Number
New Jersey Johnson, John S. 2,665
Carded
CONTENTS
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 Let to Hon J W Miller Aug 17 1842
184 [illegible]
New Jersey
John Johnson
[illegible] in the State of New Jersey
who was a Private in the Co, commander
by Captain Y[illegible] of the Aegn, commander
by Col. Seely in the N. Jersey
[illegible]
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
[missing] the rate of 40 dollars Cents per annum 
[missing] commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the [illegible] day of Oct, [illegible]
W33 and sent to L. Coudia[missing]
Arrears to the 4th of Feb [illegible] $100 [illegible]
Semi-anl. allowance ending [illegible] 20[illegible]
$120[illegible]
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by [signature] [illegible] Cle[missing]
Book 6 Vol. 2. Page 119
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State of New Jersey
Morris County
Morris Com. Pleas, Special term, May, 1833
On this [missing] day of May, 1833, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges
thereof now sitting, John Johnson, of the Township of Hanover in the County of Morris, aged 84 years, a man of good standing in the County for veracity, but whose memory seams
to be very considerably impaired, & frequently at a loss as to date of leading events, & names of persons, & who being duly sworn, & auth that he is the same John Johnson, who, in
the month of July or August last, 1833, before this Court, made a declaration under oath, of his Revolutionary services, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7th 1832, which Declaration, is, as he believes, now in possession of the Com=issioner of Pensions, in the War Department, & disallowed, or rejected, as this Deponent un=
derstands, principally because he therein states, that he served four years as a Captain
without ever having rcvd. a Captains commission: & that his other service amount
only to 4 months. It was therefore decided, that he is not entitled to a pension.
He is aware of the failure of his memory. & readily admit, that it has often led
him into wory of late years, & he feels reluctant to speak positively, as regards dated & names, & in some respects also as to some events, which may not have made a clich impression on his mind.-- But as regards his services in the war of the revolution, he
cannot be mistaken in saying, that they were arduous, often repealed, & continued
from the commencement of the war to its close. He was then young, active, & full
of ardor in the cause of liberty. The service was often hazardous of life, & attended
with so many circumstances & events calculated to make the deepest & most abiding impressions-- that whilst memory retains any thing-- these leading events of his early life must remain. And if he is mistaken in the impression of having been a Captain for 4
years-- he hope & trusts, that the services which he did perform, whether as subaltern or a private soldier, will not all be rejected & thrown aside as naught:- His age & want
(for he now subsists entirely on charity) will make him accept gratefully, whatever little boon his County may bestow for his revolutionary labors, even if & he shall say, they were rendered by him as a private militia man. He begs however to state to the Secretary of war a fact, which may in some measure explain or account for his impression, of having been considered a "Captain" - altho' in his former Declaration, he stated that he never recd a com=mission sometime during in the war, (the year he will not attempt to tell,) the militia com=pany to which he belonged, was ordered out upon an emergency, & when they came together at the place of rendezvous, not one of their commissioned officers was present, nor does he recollect
whether or not, any of the non-commissioned officers were present. The commander of
the Regiment, who was well acquainted with the Department proposed to the Company
to chose him for their Captain & he was at once voted in Captain, & performed Captains
duty. He feels confident he never recd. a Commission-- but was always called Captain, &
still is under the impression that he commanded that company when it was afterward called into service.
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under the firm belief that he is equitably entitled to some remuneration
for his services to his Country he solicit the Secretary of War & the Commissi=oner
one of pensions to reconsider his case, & to grant him such relief in his extreme
indigence & old age, as the facts may warrant, & not reject the whole of his
claim, because there may be errors found in his Declaration, resulting from his
infirmities-- which he hopes may rather be pitied than punished.
He is conscious, that his own memory, unsupported by testimony, is so frail
is in a great measure to disqualify him to undertake a detailed & regular story
of his services, but he feels confident in the belief, that from the beginning to the
close of the war, not a single year passed, in which he was not out performing
militia service more than one third part of the whole year.  As a general rule
one half of every Militia company in that part of Morris County in which he
lived, was in service one month, & the other half in the next month.  when
particular emergences called for stronger force, the whole was in service at one & the same time, & sometimes for six weeks & two months in succession.-
This Deponent was always ready, & believes, that in no instance did he ever omit or
refuse to go when a demand was made for Militia Service.  Since his first Decla=
ration was made out, he has reflected much on the subject, & endeavoured to refresh his recollection on these events, & verily believes, that he performed monthly tours of duty, at the places he will now mention, altho he cannot tell the year, nor with certainty the names of his superior officers.-
He was more frequently stationed at Elizabeth town point, than at any other
one port, & his duty was what was called guard duty, to prevent the landing of the enemy upon the Jersey shores & protect the inhabitants from being plundered, by foraging parties of the British & the tories & refugies.-
He believes he performed guard duty upon this station not less than eight
different months in the progress of the war.-
He remembers distinctly of being under command of Col. Ford, at this place, two different months,
under Colonel Jacob Drake, two months, under Colonel Luce , one month.  under
Colonel Lindsley one month & under Colonel Seely two months. General Winds, General Heard & General Williamson, frequently had command of the whole body, & Genl Winds more frequently than either of the three.-- He was stationed two different months at Van Muleness near Quibbletown-- one month at
Lyons farms one month at Amboy - two months at Trembly's point & the
Blazing Star ferry-- one month at Aquackanock bridge-- one month mar Hackensack.
two months at Springfield-- one month at Connecticut farms, one month at Chatham,
[following line is struck through on document] one month at Paramus, one month near Newark one month at Morristown, guarding.
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one month at Paramus, Bergen County- one month near Newark. one
month at Morris town, guarding prisoners, when one Captain Jlift & John hue,
Tory officers, were hung under sentence of Court,
Upon many of there town of
monthly duty, he was commanded by Colonel Seely, & often by Colonel Benoni
Hathaway- twice or more by Colonel Munson & Colonel Bott -
He can mention as company officers upon many of these tours, & associated with him
Capt. James P. Lory - Capt. Robert Young, Capt. Samuel Cozad - Capt Zenes
Condict, Capt. Joseph Luse,  Lieutt.  Elisha Deake, Capt. Elune Condict
Capt. Daniel Cook. There were other company officers, whose name he cannot recollect.
He well remembers being on a monthly tour at Elizabeth town when General Washington
with his army passed through the Jemus, retreating  before the British. His company fell in the rear of the Army & followed on as far as N. Brunswick, when the Militia fited off to
the North by Bound brook & Pluckemin to Morristown. This march was commonly
called the "Mud wounds: It was late in the fall, or early in December, & he thinks was
early in the war - before taking the Hessians at Trenton. - He was engaged in the
early battle of Springfield, when Robt Pollard was shot through the breast-- & was also
present at another battle at that place, when the Church & village were burnt. He was
also present at the skirmish at Connecticut farms, when the Church there was burnt, & when
Mrs Caldwell was murded by a musket shot thro her window. Saw her corpse after
it was laid out for burial. He was at the skirmish at Short hills- at ash swamp
at Martin's woods-- at acquakanonk- at Ward sefon- remembers one Jaby Bell
was killed by the accidental firing of a musket, the ball pasing directly thru his head.
The persons, & the years, when these events occurred, he will not pretend to tell, knowing
he might be mistaken-- but he knows he was personally present & performing duty when
there events occured, & many others which have escaped his memory.
He was also impressed with his team of horses, by continental officers, to transport
heavy cannon from Morris town to Easton-- from Morris town to Succasunny plains, & also
stores of ammunition, clothing, shoes etc: which had been captured from the enemy by the Militia & regulars, in an excursion over to Staten Island in the winter season, & which
were conveyed to Morris town as a place of safety.-- In the transporting of Cannon, stores
ammunition etc. he was employed as he believes, one full month, with his team, or associa
ted with others, of which he had the command.
Since forwarding his original Declaration to the War Department, he has taken
pains by travelling about the County, to find some living witnesses of his services, & he
respectfully refers the Secry of War & Commissioner of pensions to the accompanying
Depositions of Morris Aber, Ephraim Carner, Robert Young & Isaac Bedsle,
proving as he trusts, satisfactorily, that he has actually performed Revolutionary Servis
for which he is entitled to the favorable notice of his government.
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He abstain from claiming compensation as an officer, altho he knows he was called Capt
tain Johnson, & Sincerity believes he often performed officers duty, without any commission
In his 85th year & almost entirely blind, he is absolutely a pauper, dependent on his
children & neighbors for his morsel of bread, he cannot believe that his claim for a
pension as a private will be rejected, having served his country for years, with zeal
& fidelity, when the services of every good whig were needed.-- Lest his memory might betray him, he will not now say, he served four years in the war of the revolution, yet he
does declare his conscientious belief that he did actually serve faithfully, two full
years, in Militia duty, at various monthly tours, under different officers, & for which
he claims a pension. 
The Clergyman in the parish where he formerly lived, has been settled there for a short period only, & knows nothing of this Declarant's services,
And the Rev. Mr. Hoover, in whose facility he has lately resided, has been settled in
his present congregation but a few months, & of course is a stranger to him
Sworn & subscribed in open Court, this [blank]
day of May, 1833.
Sworn to & subscribed before the subscriber, a Justice of peace for Morris County, at Morris
town, this 4th day of June, 1833.
[signature] Charles Freeman J. Peace
John Johnson his mark +
State of New Jersey}
Morris County}
 Be it known that on this fourth day of June 1833, before the subscriber, a Justice of peace
in said County, personally came John
Johnson of said County, personally well known to me as a man of truth & respectable
standing & being duly sworn, saith, that he is the same John Johnson who has subscrib
ed the foregoing amendatory Declaration of his services in the war of the revolution. That the same was prepared & intended to be executed before the late Court of Common pleas of said County at its turn in May last-- but that this Deponent was so feeble & infirm as to be altogether unable to go to the Court house, until the Court had broken up, & he thereby lost the oppor
tunity. He avers that all the facts therein set forth, relating to his militia services are true
to the best of his knowledge & belief, & he desires that this may be used by the Secretary of War & Commissioner of Pension, as his amendatory Declaration, & that he may be allowed a pension therefor.
Sworn and subscribed before me at Morristown, New Jersey, the date last before mentioned
Charles Freeman J. Peace 
John Johnson his + mark
I hereby certify to the Secretary of War & Commissioner of Pensions, that Charles
Freeman Esq before whom the foregoing amendatory Declaration & Deposition was
taken, is a Justice of peace in & for the County of Morris in the [the is scratched out] State of New Jersey, duly authorized to take depositions, & that the signature of his name thereto in both places is genuine
[signature] Lewis Condict, late a Ris[illegible]
[directly underneath signature] from N. Jersey
---
Morristown N. Jersey, June 5th 1833
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State of New Jersey}
County of Morris} fr:
Before the subscriber, a Judge of the Common Plea Court & justice of the peace in & for said county [text above ^ hissonelly carns?] [0 fhrain?] Caisses? of said County, aged 75 years, well known to the subscriber, to be a credible witness in said County & being duly sworn, & auth, that he was, kin the revolutionary war, often engaged in the performance of Militia tours of monthly duty at different places & upon different occasions - that in the year 1776 as he believes, & about the [scar on pulling plan ?], he was stationed at Elizabeth town point & Tremebly's point, performing guard duty, under Capt. Lewis Condit, & that he will remember John Johnson, was at that time also stationed at the Blazing star ferry, offer =
site Staten Island, in the company under Capt, James P. Lorey, as this  [Depart?] believes, & performing the same duty - he saw said Johnson frequently during that month - was well acquainted him then, as well as before & since - but has no remembrance of his services upon any other occasion.
Sworn & Subcribed before me at Morris town 
[Signature] Ephraim Carnes
this 7th May, 1833 
[signature] Jesse Upson
1 month in 76, Blazing star, Capt. Lory
County of Morris fr State of New Jersey Be it remembered that on the 27th day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty three Personally appeard before jesse Upson Esquier one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Morris Isaac Bedell of full age and after being sworn according to law Larth [?] that in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven in the Month of August he this depenent served on month in the militia as a private Soldier in The Revolution in Elizabeth Town and in Newark two weeks each under Major Sealy in [illegible] Beats Company and John Johnson Served with me as a private and under duty by together although he belonged to another Regiment from Morris County I do not recollect who commanded said Regiment the next time we served together was in. The month of October following we marched from Newark to Markens ark and from there to Paramas in the Regiment commanded by Col Potter and I recalled that the said Johnson Served three weeks at that time and in March and April we Served together in Seventeen hundred Seventy eight at Elizabeth Town in the Regiment commanded by Col Seeley and within South mart
Sworn and described this day and year bauarmerstion [illegable] before me.
Jessie Upson }
1 Mo Augt, 77 Capt Bates}
1 Mo Oct. 77}
1 Mo March 78}
1 " Apr. 78}
-
4  Mos. 

{ Isaac Bedell
Jessie Upson Srgt. Before who the forgoing affidavit is made, is known to me to be a Justice of peace for Morris County, & the signature of his name thereunto is genuine.
The witness, Isaac Bedell, is known to me, to be a man of fair character & is fully entitled to belief.  Lewis Condict,  late a Representative from N, Jersey. Morristown, N. J. June 4th. 1833
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Isaac Bedell, Auth.
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I hereby certify to the Secry of War, that I have been well acquainted with
John Johnson the within applicant for a pension, for many years. He is an
illiterate man, but reputed & believed where known, to be a man of truth & intgrity.
He is paralytic in his limbs & body to considerable degree, & his mental powers have much fallen off within a few months. He is scrupulously conscientious as regards the truth,
& the solemnity of an oath. All who speak of him, as I believe, consider him as one of the
old soldiers of the Revolution.-- It is well known to me, that he took great
pains to procure testimony of his services, & that the 4 witnesses whose testimony is annexed
to his amended declaration, are all that could be found, or are know to be living.
Washington, August 19th 1833.-
Lewis Condict [Signature]

John Johnson
Morris Co N. Jersey
Amended Declaration

Admitted
Private 12 months

Lewis Condict [signature] Ourert [illegable]
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State of New Jersey}
County of Morris} fr:

Be it known, that on this fourth day of June
before the subscriber, one of the Justices of peace in & for
the County aforesaid, personally came Robert Young of
said County, aged Seventy ^seven [above line] years, & well known to me as a reputable witness, who
being first duly sworn saith that he was a solder in the Army of the Revolution upon the Continental establishment, and a Militia man under the laws of
New Jersey. That he was well acquainted with John Johnson when performing
Militia service during said war. That this deponent & said Johnson both
performed one monthly tour of Militia duty under Captain Young of Morris County
at Elizabeth town upon the lines, guarding the landing places against the enemy
& the inhabitants from being plundered by the tories & refugees. It was in the
season of harvest, but the particular year, he cannot tell. - This Deponent
also served two other monthly tours of Militia service in the same company with said
John Johnson, under command of Captain James Lorey, one of the tours at
Aqckanonk bridge over the Pisaic [Passaic?] river, in the fall of the year, it being in
the season of picking apples as he believes, but the year, he does not remember
At this place there was a severe skirmish with the enemy, in which both armies
lost and hundred men.-- He also served another month of Militia Service in
the same company with said Johnson & under Captain James Lorey again, & was
stationed at the Blazing Star ferry between Elizth town & Amboy. It was in the
Summer & during the season of flax pulling. The year he cannot tell, but it was
most probably in 1777 or 78. & whether the whole of the above 3 months service was
performed in the same year, or in two years, he does not remember.-- The duties
performed were guard duties-- protecting the inhabitants. & throwing up breastworks for
defence. When at Elisth town, they were quartered at a brick house, owned by Colonel
Thomas. Upon each tour, they performed one months service & were [offically?] dismissed,
He remember upon another occasion, when the Militia were ordered out on an expedition to Staten Island, that he & Johnson aided in transporting & conveying with trams
a body of Militia from Moses town to Elizabeth town upon sleds, & crossing over to Staten
Island upon the ice in the cold of winter.-- Upon these several tours, the militia
were under the command of Colonel Ford or Colonel Seely & Genl Winds commanding
the whole.
Robert Young [signature]
1 Mo. (harvest season) Capt. Young
2 Mo. (Autumn) " Lorey
1 Mo. (season of flax pulling) " Lorey
4 months
Sworn and subscribed before me
Silais C. Clark one of the Justice of
Morris County this fourth day of June one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three

Silais C. Clark Justice Peace
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I certify, that Silas C. Clark Esq before whom the within Deps =
sition [Deposition] was taken, is a Justice of peace in Morris County, & that his signa =
ture [signature] thereto is genuine.-
The witness, Robert Young is well known to
me, & is a credible witness in the County.
Lewis Condict Catr e [?]
Repu from N. Jersey
[Top paper is covering another.  Signature at the bottom is unreadable]
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[Faint writing at top may be Robt. loun, John, J.]
New Jersey, Morris Co.
Amendatory Declaration
& affidavit of
John Johnson
Hon. L. Condict
Present
June 13. 1833
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State of New Jersey} fo,
Morris County} 
Be it known that on this eight day
of June 1833 before the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in & for said county personally appeared Isaac Bedell
well known to me as a credible witness who being duly sworn on his oath saith that in the month of October 1777 he was
engaged in militia service in the Company commanded by Capt Stanbury and was well acquainted with John Johnson, now
an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7th 1832, who was then doing duty in Capt Joseph Lusis [may be Lindsley] Company & well remembers that when the troops were marching from Newark to Newburg, that when near Acquacanock, the said John John
-son was appointed to be the Captain of a guard of forty men who were ordered out by General Heard for the purpose of
capturing some British & tories who were suspected of furnish
-ing the enemy with supplies, and remembers that on other occasions the said Johnson acted as Captain of a Guard & that he was commonly styled among the man "Captain John
-son".  This deponent has made an affidavit of the services of Mr Johnson, & desire that this may be taken as amending & explaining the deposition heretofore made-
Sworn & subscribed the day & year above mentioned before me.
Isaac Bedell [signature]
Charles Freeman J. Peace [signature]

I hereby certify that Isaac Bedell, the above deponent, is a man of good
standing for veracity & of fair character in the County of Morris - Charles
Freeman Esqr before whom the Deposition was taken, is well known to me, to be a
Justice of peace in said County, & the signature of his name thereto is genuine.
Morristown N. Jersey, June 8th 1833
Lewis Condict, Catr a Repu
from N. Jersey.
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Rev War [handwritten on side of paper]
2665
INVALID

File No. 2665
John Johnson
Print Rev War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: - Vol. A, Page 194

[Arrangement of 1870]
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John Johnson       $40.00 [handwritten]
Payments to be made  Oct. 24th 33 [handwritten]
[word partially missing] Trenton
by [signature] pres tr: BlgCo [illegable]
Agent for paying Pension=s, in the Agency of

New Jersey
[handwritten] #2665
Recorded in the Pension of=ice, in Book E. Vol. 2
Page 117 by Golettelez [signature]
Clerk
Page 16

L. Condict submit the following brief of the Militia services of John Johnson, of Morris Co. N. Jersey
He performed 8 monthly tour of duty at Elizth town, at different periods.
" 2 monthly tours at Van Mulenas [?], near Quibble town.
" 1 month at Lyons farms
" 1 month at Amboy.
" 2 months at Trembly's point & Blazing star
" 1 " at Aquakanonk bridge
" 1 " at Hackensack
" 2 " Springfield
" 1 " Connecticut farms
" 1 " Chatham
" 1 " Paramus
" 1 " near Newark
" 1 " Morristown guarding prisoners
" 1[underlined]  month, transporting Cannon & Continental stores
In all 24 months - as a private.
In his 8 monthly tours at Elizth town, he was under command
of Col. Ford 2 mo. - of Col. Drake, 2 mos Col. Luce 1 mo Col Lindsly [Lindsley] 1 mo.
& Col. Seely 2 mos - Genl. Winds - Heard & Williamson.
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upon his other tours at Quibble town, Amboy - Springfield, Chatham etc:
he was commanded by Colonels, Seely- Hathaway - Munson, & Both
as his Captains, he mentions, James P. Lorey, Robert Young, Samuel Cozad- Zenas Condict, Joseph Luse, Elisha Drake, Ebenr Condict,
& Danl Cook.-
He states he was in the Jersey Militia, & with General Washington in his retreat thro' N.J. Just before the capture of the Hessians.
Was engaged in both battles at Springfield (one in 1776 - the other in 1780) battle of
Short hills-- Ash-swamp - Martin woods - Acquakanonk & Wardsesson, now
called Bloomfield -- He refers to events, but expressly declares, he cannot
connect them in order of time [underlined], owing to frailty of memory & old age, being 84.
He does not attempt to specify dates [underlined].- He has the testimony of 4 living
witnesses-- viz: Eph Carnes, Morris Aber, Isaac Bedell & Robert Young, all
serving with him-- being men of good character-- & stating, time, place of service,
& names of officers &: These witnesses testify-- one to 1 months service - one to 3 months,
& two others to 4 months each - in all, making proof of 12 months militia duty.
Lewis Condict
Pension Office, June 22d 1833
.
Jas. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions-
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Silas C. Clark Esq before whom the within deposition was taken, is known
to me, to be a Justice of peace in in the County of Morris & the signature of
his name thereto is genuine. The witness Morris Aber, has been well known to me
many years & he is a credible witness well entitled to belief, wherever he is known.
Morristown, N.J. June 7th [unsure of number] 1833
Lewis Condict, late a Rep
from N. Jersey
Morris Alus rath [signature written sideway
Page 19

County of Morris State of New Jersey Be it remembered that on the 30th day of March one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three
personally appeared before me Silas C. Clark Esqr one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County of Morris.  Morris
Aber of full age and after being duly sworn according to Law saith that in the year seventeen hundred and seventy
seven during the month of September he the deponent served
in the militia as a private soldier in the revolution at Elizabeth Town point in the regiment commanded by Col Jacob
Drake and Capt Ebenezer Condict company of Militia and that John Johnson served the whole of said month with me. The next time we served togeather, was the whole of the month of January following, our quarters was at
Chatham the regt commanded by Col Jacob Ford our company by Capt Daniel Cook, we also served the whole of the month of March following, togeather, at Chatham
in Col Lords regt Capt [inserted above and in between] Robt Youngs Company and our quarters
was at Doct Balls, and further this deponent saith not
Sworn and Subscribed
the day and year
More Aber
above written before me
Ollas C. Clark
Mr Sept 77
1 mo.
Mr
Jan 78
March 78
3 mos.