Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25578, Thomas Fish, New Jersey
Page 11

DECLARATION, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT
OF CONGRESS, PASSED JUNE 7, 1832.

State of New Jersey, )
County of Morris      )  SS.

   On this twenty seventh day of July personally appeared, in open court, before the court of Common Pleas now sitting, Thomas Fish a resident of the Township of Chatham in the County of Morris and State of New-Jersey, aged Seventy nine 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 Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
   That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated:

   he entered the service as an enrolled Militiaman at Morristown in the County of Morris in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy six in the Company of Stephen Day Captain belonging to the Regiment of Col. Jacob Ford and marched to Elizabethtown point to guard the lines and construct breast works while the British were on Staten Island; remained there a tour of duty, returned home after my tour was expired a short time afterwards performed a second tour of duty at the same place under the same Captain Day.  that afterwards he was removed to the company of Obadiah Ketchel Captain attached to the Regiment of Col. Ellis Cook and was employed principally as a scout and partole (patrol?) from that time to the end of the war.  he has served more than one year in active service, and never applied for any discharge or received any. -
   He was engaged in the battles of Monmouth and Red Bank and numerous skrimishes.  He served as a guard for the jail in Morristown to guard prisoners for a month.  I was born in the year 1759 and have a record of my age at home - I was living in the County of Morris aforesaid when I was called into service and have lived in the same place until the Revolution and still live there - I entered the service as a Volunteer - Captain Stephen Day commanded the Company in which I served I also served under Captain Munson and also under Captain Brown and Captain Lyn Halsey - I never recieved a discharge from the service
Page 12

   He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, is only on that of the Agency of the State of New Jersey.
      Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
    Thomas Fish

   We Daniel Hopping and William Brittin residing in the County of Morris aforesaid hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thomas Fish who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy nine 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 day and year aforesaid.
    Thomas Dickerson
        Danl. Hopping
        William Brittin

   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 Daniel Hopping who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey aforesaid, and that William Brittin who has also signed the same, is a resident in the County and State aforesaid and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
    Thomas Dickerson
    Stephen Vail
    Joseph Jackson

I David Day Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Fish for a pension.

    IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this Twenty Seventh day of July in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
[seal affixed]
      
      David Day Clk
Page 13

State of New Jersey
County of Morris   SS

On this 31 day of July AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty five Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Mary Fish aged 75 Resident of Columbia in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey aged 75 years who first being duly Sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3d day of February 1853 Granting Pensions to Widows of Persons who Served during the Revolutionary War; That She is the Widow of Thomas Fish who was in Service aforesaid and drew a Pension by virtue of Service Rendered to the United States  She further declares that She was Married to the Said Thomas Fish on the 10 day of March one thousand eight hundred and twelve - That her Said Husband died on the 22 day of April 1840 that She was not married to him prior to the Second day of Jan Eighteen hundred but at the time above stated  She further declares that She is now a widow but by reason of infirmaties cannot go to the Morris Court house  And I do hereby constitute and appoint Christopher Mulford my lawful Attorney
   Mary Fish
Sworn to and Subscribed before me the day and year above written and I hereby Certify to the apolog of Applicant
   Jonathan Miller Justice of the Peace
Page 14

State of New Jersey  )
County of Morris      )  SS

On this 31 day of July AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty five  Personally appeared before me June Ball and Christopher Mulford Residents of Madison and Columbia in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey who being duly Sworn declare they have had a Personal knowledge of Thomas Fish and Mary Fish while they were living together and know that Thomas Fish is really dead and that Mary Fish is his Widow at this time as she makes her Application for her Pension right under act of Congress passed 3d February AD 1852 and Second Section of Said act
   Jane Ball
   Christopher Mulford

Sworn to and Subscribed before me the day and year above written  And I hereby Certify that I believe the Said Jane Ball and Christopher Mulford are creditable and disinterested Witnesses
   Jonathan Miller Justice of the Peace
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State of New Jersey
County of Morris

On this 31 day of July AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty five Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for Said County aforesaid Moses D Ward a resident of Columbia in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey who being duly Sworn according to Law declares that he has been Chosen Clerk of the Session of Hanover and that he holds in his possession a Book of records Containing marriages performed by the Reverend Aaron Condit a former Pastor of the Churth of Hanover and that in Said Book is found thus Written 
Married Thomas Fish to Mary Yong on the 10th day of March AD 1812
[remainder of writing covered by clerk certification as follows:]

State of New Jersey, )
   Morris County,       )  ss.

   I, ALBERT H. STANBURROUGH, Clerk of the County of Morris, do hereby Certify, that Jonathan Miller Esq., before whom the foregoing Affidavits was taken, was, at the time of taking such Affidavits one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Morris, duly elected, commissioned and sworn, and fully authorised by the laws of the State of New Jersey to take the same; and that the name Jonathan Miller thereunto signed, is in his own proper hand-writing.
[seal affixed]
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said County, at Morristown, this First day of August, 1855.
   A. H. Stanburrough Clerk.
Page 16

State of New Jersey  )
County of Morris      )

On this 31 day of July AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty five  Persoanlly appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for Said County aforesaid Moses D Ward a resident of Columbia in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey who being duly Sworn according to Law declares that he has been Chosen Clerk of the Session of Hanover and that he holds in his profession a Book of Records Containing marriages performed by the Reverend Aaron Condit a former Pastor of the Church of Hanover and that in Said Book is found thus Written
Married Thomas Fish to Mary Yong on the 10th day of March AD 1812 
by the aforesaid Condit
     Moses D Ward
Sworn to and Subscribed before me the day and year above Written
   Jonathan Miller Justice of the Peace
Page 27

Morristown N. Jersey, Apl. 25th 1833.

Dear Sir,

  Enclosed herewith are the original papers of Luke Miller & Thos Fish of this County with amendatory Declaration in each obviating the objections stated in the accompanying Briefs -
  I recd. two days past, a certificate for Enoch D. Camp.  I have not as yet recd. any instructions relative to the case of Ezekiel Stilwell & Evan Hinds, submitted to your consideration some weeks past. - There are instances of decd. pensioners leaving no widow, but children, widely dispersed. - some of whose residence is altogether unknown - not heard of in 7 or 10 years.

Respectfully,
Yours &c.
Lewis Condict
Page 28

Brief in the case of Mary Fish widow of Thomas
County and State of New Jersey
act 3 Feby 1853

Claim, ("original")
Proof exibited, (if original)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls?  If either, state the substance.

Her husband was pensioned under the Act of June 7 1832 at $35.96 a year.

Record of Marriage

Her identify as the widow of the pensioner, his death; and her present widowhood proved by 2 credible witnesses

Thornton Triplett
Examining Clerk.

Name and residence of Agent
Christopher Mulford Esq
Reading
New Jersey
Page 30

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
WIDOW'S PENSION

   I certify that, in conformity with the 2d section of the act of February 3, 1853.

         Mary Fish

widow of Thomas Fish
who was a private in the revolutionary war, is inscribed on the Pension List, at the rate of thirty five dollars and Ninety Six cents per annum, commencing on the 3d of February, 1853, and continuing for life, unless she should again marry: in which case the Pension is ot payable after the time of such marriage.

Given at the Department of the Interior,
this tenth day of August
one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five

RW Clelland
Secretary of the Interior.

Examined and countersigned.
J. Minot
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 32

ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.

PENSION OFFICES,
Nov 2d 1835.

Sir:

   The claim of Mary Fish for bounty land under the act of the 3d of March, 1855, No. 74.152 has been examined and suspended.
    The revolutionary service of Thomas Fish the husband of the applicant, does not appear of record in this office.
   The 3d section of said act requires a service of "FOURTEEN DAYS" to be established by "RECORD EVIDENCE."
   Upon the production of such evidence of services the claim will be favorably considered.

   Very respectfully,
   J. MINOT,
   Commissioner.

Chas. H. Mulford Esq
Morristown
N. Jersey
Page 33

Morristown N J Nov 6th 1855
Hon Com J Minot

Dear Sir I herewith transmit a Copy of a Certificate obtained by Cpr Mulford Mary Fishs appointed Agent under act of Congress passed 3d February 1853 in the which is embodied record Evidence to Wit
   Department of the Interior
   Widows Pension
I Certify that in Conformity with the 2d Section of the act of February 3 1853
   Mary Fish
Widow of Thomas Fish who was a Private in the Revolutionary War is inscribed on the Pension List at the Rate of Thirty five Dollars and Ninety six cents per annum Commencing on the 3 day of February 1853 and continuing for life unless she should again Marry in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such marriage

Given at the Department of the
Interior this 10th day of August
one thousand eight hundred and
fifty five    Signed
RW Clelland
Secretary of the Interior

Examined and
Countersigned
J. Minot
   Commissioner 
   of Pensions
Page 34

[top of letter blocked]

Dr
   Sir You will readily perceive a reference must have been made to the Pension List to have established a Pension for the aforesaid Mary Fish
Your Humble Servant
Chas H Mulford

Please attend to this immediately
and oblige yours
C H M

Hon Commissioner
J Minot
Page 35

Hanover April 3 1855

This may certify that I, George I King Paster of the First Presbyterian Church of Hanover in the County of Morris & State of New Jersey have in my possession the books of Records & Statistics of this parish kept by my predecessors in the Pastoral office of this congregation, and that I find the following among the Records of marriages by Rev Aaron Condit then Paster of this congregation
"1812 March 10  Married Thomas Fish to Mary
  Young of Chatham"
I further certify that it is in the same hand writing in which other marriages by Rev Mr Condit are recorded in other records of the Church kept and herewith appear to be & that I believe to be, in Mr Condit's hand writing & that the record was made at the time

Witness my hand this day & year above written
   Geo I King Paster
   First Pres Church Hanover
Sworn and Subscribed before
me the 3d day of April 1855  William Brittin Justice Peace
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I hereby certify that according to the records of this Church refered to in the within certificate but of a latter date I find recorded in the same hand writing in which other deaths are recorded on the same page a record of the Death of "Thomas Fish on the 22 of April 1840 at the age of 82."
April 3 1855
Geo I King Paster
of the Pres Church Hanover

Sworn and Subscribed
before me the 3d day of April
1855  William Brittin Justice Peace



74152
Page 40

Know all men by these Presents that I Mary Fish of the County of Morris and State of New Jersey do hereby Appoint and Constitute Charles H Mulford of Morristown in the Same County and State my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my Name to ask and demand of the Honbl. Commissioner of Pensions that he would transmit the Warrant for which She has made Application for through Wm Brittin of Madison by virtue of her Decd. Husbands Service in war of 1776 when the same is taken up for Consideration and approved unto the aforesaid Mulford  And I do hereby annul my former Agency by the aforesaid Brittin as far as the Return of said Warrant is Concerned and earnestly request the return to be made to the said C H Mulford for Good and Justifiable reasons
   Mary Fish
State of New Jersey )
County of Morris   )  ss

On this 16th day of October AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty five Personally came Mary Fish before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and state aforesaid and Acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be her act and deed for the uses and purposes herein expressed.  And I do hereby Certify that I believe the Said Mary Fish to be the Identical Person she respesents herself to be and that her power of Attorney acknowledged and Subscribed to is verity
   Jonathan Miller
   Justice of the Peace
Page 41

State of New Jersey
Morris County S.S.

I, Albert H. Stanburrough Clerk of the County of Morris do hereby certify that Jonathan Miller Esqr. before whom the within acknowledgement was taken was at the time of taking the same and still is one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County duly Elected Commissioned and Sworn, and that the Signature thereunto Signed is genuine.
[seal affixed]
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Said County at Morristown this Twenty Second day of October A.D. Eighteen hundred and fifty five
   A. H. Stanburrough Clk
Page 43

Statea of New Jersey
Morris County  SS

Personally appeared before me
Daniel Hopping one of the
Judges of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas, in and for
Said County

Aaron Condit a member of the gospel residing in Hanover, in the County and state aforesaid and John Woodruff, residing in the same who certified and said - we have been long well acquainted with Thomas Fish who this day makes a Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 -  We believe said Declaration may be Depended upon as true.  We believe him to be, as he states, in the seventy third year of his age -  We have known him for many years as a member in regular standing in the Church of Christ in Hanover aforesaid - that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in the same opinion.  And further these Deponents say not 
   Aaron Condit
   Jno Woodruff
Sworn & Subscribed before me
the 27th Day of July AD 1832
   Danl. Hopping

I hereby certify that Danl. Hopping Esqr. before whom the above deposition was taken is a Justice of the Peace in the County of Morris, & that the signature of his name thereto is genuine.  And that the Rev. Aaron Condit, whose name is subscribed to the said Deposition is the regular Minister, settled & living for many years past in the parish of which Thomas Fish is a member.
   Lewis Condict, late a Repr.
   from N. Jersey
Morristown, N. Jersey Aprl. 15th 1832.
Page 44

I hereby certify, that Thomas Fish, the within Declarant is a man of fair & unimpeachable character in Morris County & is fully entitled to implicit confidence & belief.
Morristown, N. Jersey   Lewis Condict late a Repr.
April 15, 1833.               from New Jersey

[note on right side of document:]
Thomas Fish of
Morris Co. N. Jersey
Amendatory Declaration
Page 45

State of New Jersey
County of Morris      SS

   Morris Court of Common Pleas, Special term, April, 1833.

On this 11th day of April, AD. 1833, personally appeared in open Court now sitting, Thomas Fish, a resident of Chatham in said County, well known to this Court as a man of fair character & fully entitled to belief, who being duly sworn, declares that he is the same Thomas Fish, who on the 27th day of July 1832, made his Declaration before this court, to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That at the time of making said Declaration he was not aware of the necessity of specifying minutely each monthly tour of service rendered & that in the great number of appliants then before the Court, it was almost impossible to recollect & recite minutely & in detail, events which recurred in services performed fifty years before.  Since making his first Declaration he has given more reflection to his revolutionary services, & desires that this his amended Declaration may be viewed by the Secretary of War & Commissioner of Pensions, as detailing more minutely his several tours of Militia duty, than could be done or expected in the haste which seemed unavoidable in his first application to this Court.
   His first tour of Militia duty was performed in August 1776, in the company then commanded by Capt. Stephen Day, in Col. Jacob Fords regiment. - He joined his company at Morristown, marched thence to Elizth.town point, where he was stationed for one month upon guard duty & building fortifications opposite Staten Island, then in possession of the enemy - He served out the month & was discharged. -  In October of the same year, he served another monthly tour of Militia duty in Capt. Day's company, was stationed near Elizabethtown to guard the lines & protect the inhabitants between that place & Morristown from inroads of the enemy.  He served out his month, was discharged & returned.-  In December of the same year, he served another month under the same Captain & Lieutant Hand, in guarding the lines & landing places & protecting the inhabitants.  He was in service the whole of this winter, viz:  in January, in Captain Stephen Munson company & Col. Seelys regiment, stationed at Eliz.thtown upon guard duty as before.  In February he was attached to Captain Hinman's company & Lieutant Post, was stationed near New Brunswick, guarding the lines & landing places & protecting the inhabitants. -  In the autumn of the same year, he performed two other monthly tours of Militia service - viz:  the 1st at Morristown under Captn. Ezra Holly, guarding prisioners confined in the Morristown jail. & the 2d under Capt. Daniel Brown upon the lines along the Delaware, in the vicinity of Philadelphia.  These two last tours embraced as he believes, a part of the month September & of November & the whole of October.  In the summer of 1778, he served a monthly tour under Captain Lindely & Lieutenant Caldwell, in the neighbourhood of New Brunswick & was personally engaged in the Monmouth battle. -  He was out twice as a Volunteer & served six weeks at each time when the British came over in force to Elizabethtown & overan the County through Connecticut farms & Springfield, both of which villages & Churches they burned.  There were two or three severe skirmishes had with the enemy in these excursions - one at Springfield - one at the farm - & one between Elizabethtown & the point, in which large bodies of Militia from all the surrounding County were engaged.  He is not certain who was his Captain.  He believes Colonel Seely, Genl. Winds & perhaps other superior officers were present.  the year he does not remember, but most probably it was in 1780 & in that the month, or the seasons, he cannot state.
   He was also engaged a considerable time in Captain Kitcholl's company in Scouting parties & watchin the motions of the enemy, from place to place & from time to time, but cannot say with certainty, how long, but he only believes two months, at the least.  He is confident that he served a full period of a year in the war of the revolution, & always as a private, for which he claims a pension.  He never recd. a written discharge, nor does he know at present, of any living witness of his services.

Sworn & subscribed in open Court, the date first mentioned.
Stephen Vail           Thomas Fish
Silas [illegible]
Page 46

I, David Day, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify, that the within is the original amended Declaration of Thomas Fish, taken this day in open Court, in the matter of the application of said Thomas Fish, for a pension. -

  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 11th day of April AD. 1833. -
     By order of the Court
[Morris County
Seal affixed      ]     David Day Clk