Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 954, John L Bennet, New Jersey.
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(3-1776) Service  Number 
New Jersey  Bennet, John L.  S 954

carded
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[Left side of page]
New Jersey  22989
John L. Bennett - of Middletown in the State of NJ. who was a pri of Cav in the Com by Captain ______ of the Regt commanded by Col Taylor in the Com crossed out] Nov [image incomplete] for 18 mo - length of Infantry [image incomplete] mos N.J.

Inscribed on the Roll of N. J ~
at the rate of 105 Dollars ___ Cents per annum, to commence of the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Dec 1833 and sent Nov [image incomplete]
Parker [No] of Reps
____________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 $262.50
Semi-allowance ending Sep.4. 33 - 52.66
$315.06

Revolutionary Claim, }
Act June 7, 1832 
Recorded by ED Bullock Clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 103

[Right side of page]

Date of death not on A. D.
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State of New Jersey County of Monmouth SS.
On this nineteenth day of October 1833
personally appeared in open Court
before the Judges of the Inferior Court
of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth
now sitting, John L. Bennet, a resident
of the township of Middletown County
and State aforesaid aged seventy six
years on the fourth day of April last
past, 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. That about the middle of March
1776, he then living in the said township
of Middletown where he has ever since
resided, he joined a company of Volunteers
commanded by Captain John
Smock. John Schenck was the first
Lieutenant, one Joseph Brown was
second Lieutenant and one Cornelius
McClees[e] was Ensign and he this
Deponent and one Isaac Van Dorn
were elected Sergeants. The company
assembled at Garret Conover's Field in
the said township of Middletown, and
within one or two days after they
marched from thence to Perth Amboy
and were then stationed at the Barracks
for a few days, and from thence their company marched with another Company
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from Middleton County which joined
them at Perth Amboy to the Highlands
in Middletown township. Col Heard
commanded them from Perth Amboy
to the Highlands at Sandy Hook, one
Barbarce was the Adjutant. When they
got to the Highlands they were joined
by another company of Volunteers from
Shrewsbury township commanded by
one Captain Stephen Flemming. That he
continued with his company serving as a
Sergeant for one month when they were verbally discharged and their companies place
was supplied by another company command
he thinks by Capt Joseph Stillwell. Their
duties were to look out for the enemy and
to guard the coasts and shores, that he
was appointed a Sergeant by the company
before he left Middletown and went to
Amboy as before stated and served as such
during the month, that he never received
any certificate of such appointment in
writing none such being given, that about
the middle of May in 1776 he again volunteered, for another month and served Rank as a Sergeant under Captain Peter Schenck. James Whitlock was Lieutenant, the rest of the officers he has forgotten. They were stationed at Jacob Wardells at Long Branch in
Shrewsbury township. Their duties were
to look out for the enemy and to guard
the courts and shores of the County. George
Taylor was the Colonel of the Regiment
in that District, but he was not at this
station at Long Branch that he recollects,
that he served there four months in succession
as a Sergeant in Captain Barnes Smock's
Page 5

company. He does not recollect the
other officers of the Company. Their Head
Quarters were at Freehold, though the
five months service they were at Middletown,
the second as part of the time there, and
the remainder at Brown's Point in Middletown
township, and the remaining two months
at Middletown, marching continually
along the coasts and shores of the Highlands
Long Branch and Shrewsbury. This service
was from the early part of the month of
June 1776 to the first of November of the same year, George Taylor still commanded
the Regiment, this service was upon the
call made on the Militia of Monmouth
County when the British Fleet appeared
off Sandy Hook, and he, this deponent,
considers he acted as a volunteer until
August of this year 1776 when the ordinance
was passed requiring the militia to
to be called out half alternately. After
that time until the first of November,
one or two months were under the monthly
calls and the remainder as a volunteer,
as he dare not be at home for fear
of the enemy, he preferred to remain in
the service from the time of the
determination of these four months services
in November 1776 to the first of February
or last of January 1777. The Militia in
Monmouth laid down arms and Col George
Taylor during this time joined the enemy.
That about the first of February 1777 he
again joined Captain Barnes Smocks Company
as a Sergeant and were stationed at Black
Point in Shrewsbury township as a
Guard, and there remained some days
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until the Guard was cut off at the Highlands at which place our Captain Barnes
Smock, Lieutenant Tobias Polhemus
and two privates John Johnson and
Lambert Johnson belonging to deponents
company were made prisoners with
the Guard at the High Lands, they
having gone over in a Skiff to learn
what was the cause of the fireing
the night before, this event deponent
thinks was about the middle of
February in 1777. The commander of the company, then under
Lieutenant Stephen Little, left Black
Point and marched to Freehold
and continued in the service until
after they had served these months
until the first of May when they were
discharged. Two of these months
was his own monthly tours. The other
was under the general call from the
alarm created by the Guard being
cut off and made prisoners at the
Highlands. Asher Holmes commanded
at this time from the time George Taylor,
then former Colonel, joined the enemy.
David Forman was their General and
Elisha Walton was their Major after
their return to Freehold. During the
remainder of these three months services
they were kept continually patrolling
the shores from the Highlands Long
Branch Shrewsbury Tinton Falls and
the intermediate ports and places
guarding the coasts and shores. That
from the middle of March 1776 until
the first of May 1777 he served nine
months at least as a Sergeant in the
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3
manner he has before stated, and
during all that time his services were
in Monmouth County except the
short time he was at Amboy as before
stated under the laws and ordinances
of New Jersey and regulations and
requirements of that time. That about
the first day of June 1777 he joined
Captain James Green's Company of
Dragoons at Freehold, finding his
own horse, arms, and accoutrements
and continued in the same company
as a private until the close of the
war under the different Captains
which commanded the same, serving
in the same every other month until
near the close of the war [line crossed out]. 
That he served but one month, namely
from the first of June 1777 to the first
of July in the same year under said Captain Green when he, Green, left the company and William Remsen was appointed
Captain, Jacob Covenhoven Lieutenant
and Rusif Covenhoven was commd. From
the middle of August in 1777 to
about the fourteenth day of May 1780 he served in said Company Eighteen monthly tours of one month, each alternately besides the above month under Captain Green when he commanded, namely from about the 16th of August 1777 to the 16th of October following. I served three months in succession, the first and third under my monthly call, the second when the whole company were ordered to join Washingtons Army before the Battle
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of Germantown. This was under Captain
Wm Remson. They marched from Freehold
to Bristol, and the company was there
made a guard for the Baggage removed
from Philidelphia to go to Yorktown in
Pennsylvania, said to be the property of
Congress. From there they went to Trenton,
thence to Easton, from there to Allentown
in Pennsylvania, from there to Redding,
and when there discharged from that service and returned to Monmouth after the Battle of Germantown.  From the middle of December 1777 to the middle of May 1778 he served alternately every other month, being Fifteen
monthly tours of one month each, namely
from middle of December 1777 to the middle of May 1778, under the said William Remsen, about which time he resigned & Jacob Covenhoven was appointed Captain & Barnes J Smock was appointed Lieutenant, and from
that time he was only a month or two
under said Captain Covenhoven when he said Covenhoven was made prisoner and the rest
of the alternate months he served under
Lieutenant Barnes J Smock who had
the command after the Captain was
prisoner until the close of the war. During this period of time their Head Quarters were principally at Tinton Falls, and their marches were to Long Branch, the Highlands, Shrewsbury, Mansasquan, Deal and Toms River, Middletown and the points and places between, guarding, patrolling and protecting
the coasts and shores from the British
and tories. That on the fourteenth day of
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4
May 1780 being then on duty, he obtained
the permission of the officers of his company to go home to his residence in Middletown to procure some clean clothing for himself. And was there surprised by a party of tories and British who had come over from New York and
made prisoner and was by them conveyed over to New York and there closely confined as a prisoner until about the sixth day of November following after his arrival in New York. He was confined for a few days in the
Sugar House, and was removed from there
to the North Church in William Street, and after some time being confined there, he became sick of the Small Pox and was removed from there to the Quaker Meeting House in Pearl Street where he remained until he partially recovered, it being kept as a Hospital
for the sick, and remained there until
he was exchanged in November when
he returned to his home in Monmouth
County, and remained there for about
a month until his health was restored
and about the first day of January
in 1781 he again joined the troop of
Horses, then commanded by Lieutenant
Barnes J Smock, and continued in the
service every other month until the
winter of 1782, being the months of
January, March, May, July, September,
November. In each of those years, their
Head Quarters were at Tinton Falls and
Freehold and their marches were from thereunto Long Branch, the Highlands, Shrewsbury, Toms River, Deal and
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Manasquan, guarding the coasts and shores
of Monmouth County from the inroads of
the British and tories. Col Asher Holmes
then Colonel and David Forman his General,
that at the time of the Battle of Monmouth
and the day previous he was appointed
and acted with Captain John Schenck
and one William Ogden & another 
whose name he has forgotten as a [ill.] to Colonel Milan or some such name of the
Cavalry and was on the outskirts of
the Battle. Said Colonel was in the Regular
service. That he never served with any
other continental regiments or companies
and there are no other Regular officers
whom he knew that he now recollects.
That he has no documentary evidence
of his services, and that he can prove
his services in the cavalry by Barnes J.
Smock who commanded the company
after Captain Covenhoven was made
prisoner. That he was born in the township
of Middletown in Monmouth County on
the 4th day of April 1757, that he has a
record of his age being his fathers family
bible in his possession, that he has ever
since lived in Middletown & now resides
there, that he was called into the
service under the regulations ordinances
and laws of New Jersey, that he was
in the field & not in garrison, and while
in the service was not engaged in any 
civil pursuit. 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.-
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Sworn and subscribed this day & year aforesaid} John L Bennet
John Patterson
William Lloyd
State of New Jersey Monmouth County Ss. William Anderson being duly sworn according to laws deposeth and saith that he resides
in Shrewsbury township, Monmouth
County, and is nearing seventy six years
of age, that he is well acquainted with
John L Bennet who has sworn and
subscribed the preceeding declaration.
That he, this deponent, was out in
the service as a private from the commencement to the close of the Revolutionary war, and that he knows the fact the said John L Bennet served as a Sergeant
from the commencement of the war
until he joined the company of Dragoons
under Captain Green. That in the
month of March 1776, he, this deponent,
Joined a Company of Volunteers commanded
by Capt John Smock, John Schenck First Lieutenant, Joseph Brown second
Lieutenant & one McClees ensign. He
joined the Company at Middletown, that
he was present when said John L Bennet
and one Isaac Van Dorn were elected
Sergeants of the Company at Middletown
township after he joined the company
by the members of the company. That
being then the mode of election, there
being no certificate given of such election,
that he then served one month with said
John L Bennett at the Highlands
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that he, this deponent, knows the fact
that the said John L Bennet served as a
Sergeant until he joined the Troop
in the summer of 1777 doing his duty
at first as a volunteer and then in
the monthly calls or drafts. That he
served as a Sergeant in Peter Schencks
Company and Barnes Smocks Company
and under Lieutenant Little, having
seen him frequently in said companies
acting as such until the summer
of 1777 when he joined the Horse. That
this deponent was a member of Barnes
Smocks company with the said John L
Bennet who was then the Sergeant
of said company when their Captain
Barnes Smock & Lieutenant Polhemus
were made prisoners when the guard
was cut off at the Highlands, and
that he, the said John S Bennet, must have
served at least nine months
in the service as a Sergeant before he
joined the Horse. That he, this deponent,
believes that from the Summer of 1777
until the close of the war he, the said
John L Bennet, served every other
month as a private in said troop
under Captain Green Remsen &
Jacob Covenhoven and Lieutenant
Barnes J. Smock, except during the
time he said Bennet was a
prisoner. He, this deponent, having
frequently seen him at Shrewsbury, Freehold,
Middletown, the Highlands, Long
Branch, Etontown, Manasquan and
Deal at different times and occasions
under said officers, that he recollects
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well that said Bennet was made
Prisoner in May of 1780 & believes
he was detained for six months
before his return, as it made
a considerable talk at the time in
the County, and there was a general
alarm through the County when
the British and Tories came to the
County until sometime after this time
they returned. That the said Bennet
was reputed to be a good soldier
during the war, and suffered, it
was said, much when a prisoner.
That the said Bennet is a man
of veracity whose character stands
fair and honorable in society.
That George Taylor was the Colonel
when deponent and said Bennet
where members of Barnes Smocks
company until the winter of 1776.
When after he joined the enemy,
Col Asher Holmes Commanded
David Forman, being then General,
that the duties of the Militia of Monmouth County now to guard the
coasts and shores of Monmouth
County from the British and Tories
and from the numerous points, bays,
and shores along the coasts. The militia
were kept patrolling from one
point to another continually as before
named [ill.] of which he this deponent has frequently seen the said John L
Bennet when a sergeant on foot
and afterwards as a private when he joined
the Horse -

Sworn & subscribed this day & year above named in open court} 
William [X his mark] Anderson
William Lloyd
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State of New Jersey Monmouth County ss: William Painton, being duly sworn according to
law, deposeth and saith that he resides
in the township of Shrewsbury, Monmouth
County and is being seventy five
years of age, that he was in the service
of his country during the Revolutionary
and was then and is now well acquainted with
John L Bennet who has sworn to
and subscribed the preceeding declaration.
That he recollects having seen the said
John L Bennet frequently in the service
from the beginning of the Revolutionary war
until the close, both in the foot and in the Horse, he thinks under John & Barnes Smock, Captains of the foot, and under Jacob Covenhoven, Remsen, & Lieutenant Barnes J Smock of the troop. That he, this deponent, has seen him at Freehold, Middletown,
Long Branch, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury
and other places in said County under
said officers of foot and in the horse.
That this deponent was in the Horse under Captain Remsen with said Bennet in the month of September 1777 when their company, with others under Col Holmes, marched from Freehold to join Washington's army previous
to the Battle of Germantown, and was
engaged in said Battle. A part of the
company he thinks was appointed as a
guard to the Baggage removed from Philadelphia belonging, it was said, to congress, that said Bennet was out in the service every other month he believes until he was made prisoner
Page 15

in 1780, this deponent frequently seeing
him and serving with him, said service being
altogether confined to the County of
Monmouth except where at the time
of the Battle of Germantown, that he,
this Deponent, in the month of March
1780, was taken out of his bed a prisoner
in Shrewsbury by a party of Refugees
and Negroes & carried to New York &
was detained there a prisoner in
close confinement a part of the time
in the Sugar House and then in the
North Church. And while he, this deponent,
was there, a prisoner, the said John L
Bennet, was brought there a prisoner
and was there confined in the Sugar
House and Church. Deponent recollects
that a number of the Prisoners were
sick and died with the Small Pox
and thinks the said John L Bennet
was sick with it and removed to the
Hospital. That said John L Bennet
remained a close Prisoner until
the fifth day of November 1780 when
a number of prisoners were exchanged &
among others, this deponent and
said John L Bennet were exchanged
and returned home together to Middletown, and a joyful day it was never to be forgotten. That their sufferings were very great there. Somedays without a morsel to eat and covered
with filth and vermin, none but those who experienced it can conceive the sufferings we endured. That after their exchange he frequently saw said Bennet in the prison until the
Page 16

close of the war, that he said Bennet
had the reputation of being a good and
faithful soldier, doing his duty well
on all occasions, and in the dark
days of their imprisonment while
confined in New York, his good
stories and good spirits cheered our
hearts and prospects and made us
look forward with hope to better
days. That he is a man of good
character and standing in society
and all who know him admit his
veracity.

Sworn and subscribed in open
Court the day & year above
mentioned}
William Pay ton
William Paynton
William Lloyd
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Mrs. Albert C. Abbott
10 South Dorset Avenue
Ventnor, New Jersey

May 13, 1932

BA-J/MLB
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
JOHN L. BENNET
S. 954

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter requesting the records of two soldiers of the Revolutionary War by the name of John Bennett, who served from Monmouth County, New Jersey,
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 954, based upon the military service in the Revolution of the only soldier named John Bennet as
described by you.
John Bennett was born April 4, 1757, in the township of Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey. While residing in said Middletown, New Jersey, he volunteered and served as a sergeant in the New Jersey troops, as follows:
from about the middle of March, 1776, one month in Captain John Smock's company, Colonel Heard's regiment; from May 15, 1776, one month in Captain Peter Schenck's company, Colonel George Taylor's
regiment; from June, 1776, to November 1, 1776, in Captain Barnes Smock's company, Colonel George Taylor's regiment; from
about February 1, 1777, three months in Captain Barnes Smock's company, Colonel Asher Holmes' regiment. From about June 1, 1777, he served one month as a private in Captain James Green's company
of dragoons; from about the middle of August, 1777, eighteen
monthly tours of one month each, as a private under Lieutenant Barnes I. Smock, Captains William Remsen, Jacob Covenhoven, and
Colonel Asher Holmes, and served until May 14, 1780, when he was taken prisoner by the British and carried to New York where he
was confined in the Sugar House and North Church and while being held there, contracted smallpox, was then taken to the Quaker Meeting House, used as a hospital, where he remained
Page 18

until November 15, 1780, when he was exchanged and returned to his home in Monmouth County, New Jersey. From about January 1, 1781, he served as private under Lieutenant Barnes I. Smock, Captain John Schenck and Colonel Asher Holmes, every other month until the winter of 1782.
The soldier was known as John Bennet in the Revolutionary War, but sometime in the year 1784 or 1785 he adopted for a middle name his wife's maiden name Logan, in order to be distinguished from others of the same name in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and from that time on he was known as John L. Bennet,
He was allowed pension under the name of John L. Bennet, on his application executed October 19, 1833, while a resident of Middletown, New Jersey.
The date of his death is not shown.
There are no family data on file in the claim other than the reference to his wife whose maiden name was Logan; her given name was not stated.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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[Left side of page]
Rev War
INVALID.
---
File No. 924
John L. Bennet 
Priv N. J. Mil.
_____

Act: June 7.1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 25
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[Right side of page]
1932 - May 13 - otist to Mr
Albert C. Abbott MLB
Page 20

War Department
Pension Office
November 12. 1833
Sir,
The rolls of the Company of Cavalry which
was commanded for considerable period by Lieut. Barnes J. Smock, which were forwarded by you to this office, have been carefully examined, and the name of John L. Bennett, who alleges that he served eighteen monthly tours under the command of Lt. Smock, during the periods, a portion of which is covered by these rolls, cannot be found upon any of them. The name of John Bennet is borne upon these rolls in one or two instances, but cannot be presumed to intend this claimant; as there appears to be another claimant of that name whose papers may refer to this service. Besides, John Bennet by one of these rolls, appears to have been in service at the end of May 1780, while from the statement of
the claimant, he was at that time imprisoned by the enemy. The papers of the claimant, John L. Bennett, have been placed on file, awaiting an explanation relative to the absence of his
name from these rolls, if he served as he states.
I am respectfully
Your Obt Servt.
J.L. Edwards
David B. Ryall Esqr
Freehold
N. Jersey
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Suspend
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Freehold, New Jersey
October 22nd_ 1833.
Sir
Enclosed are the papers of John
L. Bennett an applicant for a Pension, which
are forwarded to you at the request of Daniel
B. Ryall Esq. of this place.
Any communication upon this subject
may be addressed either to him or to myself at this place
Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
J. M. Hartshorne
⎬
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
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[appears to be a stamp "of Washington"?]

J L Edwards
Commr of Pensions
FREE
David B. Ryall Esqr
Freehold
New Jersey

[upside down]
J L Edwards Nov 12 1833
Jno L Bennet
Page 24

27.804
Declaration of John L. Bennett} For a Pension

210.00
52.56
________
262.56
Page 25

State of New Jersey Monmouth County ss Barnes J. Smock being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he resides in
Middletown Monmouth County that he is
rising seventy seven years of age, that he is
well acquainted with John L Bennet
who has subscribed and sworn to the 
forgoing declaration. That he, this deponent,
was in the service of his Country from the
commencement to the close of the war
in the fore part as a private in the foot
and afterwards as a Lieutenant of the
Horse and commanded the troop from
the time his captain Jacob Covenhoven
was made prisoner until the close of the
war, doing his duty every other month
alternately from the commencement until the
conclusion of the war. That he knows the
fact that the said John L Bennet was
appointed and served as a Sergeant
in the foot from the month of March 1776
until the month of June 1777, he having
frequently seen him in the Companies
commanded by Captain John Smock,
the father of this deponent, Peter Schenck
and Barnes Smock, the latter of whom
this deponent also served under, he being
his uncle now deceased. That he frequently
saw the said John L Bennet in the service
between those periods of time at Freehold,
Middletown, the Highlands, Long Branch,
Manasquan, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury
and other intermediate points and places
guarding the coasts and shores from the British and tories. That he believes said John L Bennet during this period served alternately every other month, he seeing him so frequently in the service & he being an active and
Page 26

vigilant soldier, that during the period
of time he acted as Sergeant of said companies. That he, this deponent, was a member of his uncle Barnes Smocks company when his uncle Barnes Smock & Lieutenant
Polhemus were taken Prisoner at the
time the guard of Militia were cut off &
made prisoners at Sandy Hook at the
Highlands, and that said John L Bennet
was then acting as a Sergeant in said
Company & continued therein as such
Sergeant under Lieutenant Stophale Little or
as he was called Theophilus Little. The
company was stationed at Black Point
in Shrewsbury when the guard was cut
off & their Captain Barnes Smock and
Lieutenant Polhemus went over in the
morning with some few soldiers to enquire
the camp of the firing the night before
and were made prisoners. That in the
month of June 1777 said Bennet joined
Captain Green's Company of Horse and
served therein as a private until the
close of the war every other month
as this deponent believes, except while a prisoner, that this deponent was a private in the same company when said Bennet joined it, and was afterwards made [command], then
a Lieutenant in the same company and
commanded the company for several
years after Jacob Covenhoven was
made prisoner. After Green commanded a
short time, Captain Remsen was
appointed and commanded, and then
Captain Jacob Covenhoven & after he
was taken prisoner, this deponent commanded as Lieutenant Commandant
Page 27

until the close of the war. That the Head
Quarters of their troop was principally at
Tinton Falls, in Shrewsbury and at
Freehold, and their marches were from
thence to Middletown, the Highlands,
Shrewsbury, Long Branch, Deal most as
guard & the intermediate points and
places guarding the coasts and shores.
That in the month of September in
1777 as part of the company commanded
by Captain Remsen, joined the troops
under Col Asher Holmes at Freehold
and left the County to join Washington's
Army previous to the Battle of Germantown, this deponent with a portion
of the troop being left to guard the
County in their absence. That he believes
the said John L Bennet served with the
portion of the Company under Captain
Remsen to join Washington's army, and this
deponent understood a part of them
were selected as a guard for the protection
of Baggage appertaining to Congress.
That he recollects the said John L Bennet
appointed as one of the Guards to
Col Miland's Horse at the Battle of
Monmouth, this deponent being
there & leaving the command of the
Company Captain Jacob Covenhoven being a
prisoner. That he recollects well
that said John L Bennet was taken
prisoner in the month of May 1780
while at his own house, he having
had the permission of the officers on
command to go home for clean clothing
and that he was about six months a
prisoner when he was exchanged and
Page 28

returned home and again joined his
Company and served alternately every
other month until the close of the war.
That the services of the said John L Bennet,
this deponent believes, were at first
in the foot for a few months as a
volunteer and afterwards under the
monthly calls or drafts under the
laws ordinances and regulations
of the Militia in Monmouth County.
That the said John L Bennet was always
esteemed a good and vigilant
soldier allways ready & willing to
do his service, and a warm and
decided friend to his country, that
he is of good character and standing
in society and is entitled to credit
for veracity and truth.

Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid in open Court}
John Patterson
Barnes J Smock

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 William Anderson William Paynton and Barnes I Smock are surviving soldiers of the Revolution resident in said County of Monmouth, that they are respectively credible persons and their affidavits
are entitled to credit
John Patterson
William Lloyd
I Daniel H Ellis Clerk of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas in & for the County of Monmouth
Page 29

in the state of New Jersey do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John L. Bennett for a pension
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 22nd day of October in the
year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three.

D.H. Ellis Clk
Page 30

John L. Bennet's
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County} SS

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County. John L Bennett who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that during the
Revolutionary war he was always called John Bennett, but that he assumed the name of John L. Bennett sometime in the
years 1784 or 85 by reason of there being other persons by the name of John Bennett in the said County. That he frequently
had process served on him, which had been issued against others of that name and was put to much trouble. Thereby, in consequence
thereof and to distinguish himself from others of the same name, he called himself John Logan Bennett, his wife's name being Logan, and has been called known & recognized by the name of John Logan Bennett ever since the year 1784. or 85.  And that he has always since that time signed his name John L. Bennett: that he was taken prisoner by the enemy he thinks on the 14th of May 1780, and the only way in which he can account for his name being on the payroll of Lieut Smock in the latter part of that month is that being in service immediately before was taken prisoner he was entitled
to pay as well for his imprisonment as for his service, and therefore his name was continued
on the roll or that the roll being made out in the beginning of day of the month, Tuesday of Muster, it was continued and pay was drawn for him by the pay master: that
when he was taken prisoner he lost his horse and all his accoutrements, and further saith not,
John L Bennet
Sworn to and subscribed before me Justice as aforesaid  Dec 5th 1833 the words "the day of Muster" first interlined.}
William Lloyd


State of New Jersey
Monmouth County} ss. 
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of
the Peace in and for the said County Barnes I. Smock who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is surviving soldier of the Revolution aged seventy seven
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years: that he was a Lieutenant in a company of Horse commanded by Captain Jacob Covenhoven during the Revolutionary
War: that he is well acquainted with John L. Bennett who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavit. That he knew the said John L. Bennett for the name of John Bennett during the Revolutionary war: that the said John L. Bennett joined the said Company of Horse or Cavalry in June or July 1777 being then called John Bennett, and served therein until the close of the war, doing his duty every other month as a good and faithful soldier, except from the month of May until the month of November 1780, when he was a prisoner: that the pay rolls made out by this Deponent during the time he was commandant of said company are many of them lost and destroyed, and that the few forwarded to the department by him, these but a small proportion of the service of the said Company during the period he had command thereof:  that the said John Bennett whose name is found on the said pay rolls at the Department, is the same person now called John L. Bennett, for there was no other person by the name of John Bennet belonging to the said Company or who served therein during said period; that sometime after the Revolution he always understood and verily believes that the said John Bennett assumed the name of John Logan Bennett on account of his having married in the Logan family, and to distinguish himself from other persons in said County at that time, by the name of John Bennett, and that he has ever since known him and heard him called by the name John Logan or John L. Bennett: that the fact of the said John Bennett's name being found on the rolls in the latter part of May 1780, is explained by his being in service immediately before his imprisonment, and his name was continued on the roll after his imprisonment, in order to draw pay as well for his imprisonment as for his service, or that the roll being made out on the day of Muster his being taken prisoner would not have justified its erasure
Barnes I Smocks
Sworn to and subscribed before me Dec 5th 1833} William Lloyd
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And I, the said William Lloyd Justice as aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears to me that John L. Bennett and Barnes I Smock who have sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavit, are surviving Soldiers of the Revolution, residents in said County of Monmouth, that they are respectively credable persons and that their affidavits are severally entitled to credit. Witness my hand Dec. 5th 1833.
William Lloyd Justice

I, Daniel H Ellis Clerk of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, do Hereby Certify that William Lloyd Esquire, whose name is signed to the Jurats of the two preceeding affidavits and to the above certificate, was at the dates thereof respectively, and now is a Justice of the Peace of the said County of Monmouth, duly commissioned and sworn, and that the said signatures of William Lloyd to said jurats and certificate, and the proper hand writing and signatures of the said Justices, and that to all his official acts as such full faith ought and should be attached as such-

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this Seventh day of December Anno Domini 1833.
R. H. Ellis Clk
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Set paper of John L. Bennet
New Jersey 
[Decided ?]
Dec. 20. 1833
Hon James Parker
HR

50
25
30
____________
105

[upside down text]
[6 mo day - illegible] 3d infantry
18 mo private of cavalry
$105
Hon James Parker
HR

J L. Edwards Esquire
Comssr of Pensions
Washington -
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New Jersey
Freehold Dec 11th 1833
J L Edwards Esq.
Sir
Enclosed are the affidavits of John L Bennet and Barnes I Smock in explanation of your letter of the 12th of November last to me, by which it appears that the name of Logan was assumed by Mr Bennet after the war of the Revolution for good reasons. The order of things has been in his case a letter record in his taking the name of his wife, the custom he admits to me is for the wife to take the name of the Husband, but in his case he returned her the compliment. Mr Smock also testified to it & the fact here is notorious, he being generally called John Logan Bennet to distinguish him from others-- upon the receipt of this I trust you will at once [reconsider] his certificate. His testimony is ample accompanying his declaration, & the fact of his being one of the few survivors of the Revolution who suffered the horrors of the Sugar House imprisonment in New York is here notorious. His character & standing is highly respectable, & all say he was
an active vigilant soldier in the Revolution.
You will please accept the thanks of the [four] old soldiers whose certificates you lately remitted me & my own for your attention to my letters in relation to them -
Your very truly
Daniel B Ryall
P.S. The original Declarations you wrote me were placed on the files awaiting the enclosed explanation
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Ventnor, N.J.
Apr. 8, 1932.

Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C

Dear Sirs,

Will you kindly send me the pension claim records of the two John Bennetts [hand-written above:  'only one, d - Morris Co. NJ] who fought in the Revolutionary War from Monmouth County, New Jersey?  The name is
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sometimes spelled Bennet or Bennit.  

They may be father and son or no relation at all. Your records will probably show.

I am anxious to get the dates of birth,
marriage, death; also list of children.

Will appreciate an early reply as the
information is necessary to complete some genealogical records.
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Very truly yours
Helen E. Abbott

Mrs. Albert C. Abbott
10 So. Dorset Ave.
Ventnor, New Jersey